Papers 02/08

[jezza]

Ashley Cole has told Arsenal he will never play for them again. (Various)

Chelsea have leapt to the front of the queue to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres. (Mirror)

Manchester United are considering a bid for £12m-rated Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt, who is a long-time target of Liverpool. (Independent)

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd is preparing to table a club record £3m bid for Preston striker David Nugent. (Star)

Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira has hinted he could be keen on a move to Manchester United. (Star)

Tottenham want Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and are ready to meet the Blues' £4m valuation. (Sun)

Newcastle have turned down the opportunity to sign former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell. (Guardian)

Martin O'Neill will take over as Aston Villa boss and is even prepared to work alongside chairman 'Deadly' Doug Ellis. (Telegraph)

Tottenham have offered Danny Murphy and Andy Reid in part exchange for Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda. (Times)

Wigan are demanding £5.5m in cash for Chimbonda, who was late for his first training session after handing in a transfer request in May. (Guardian)

Shaktar Donetsk have placed a £6.8m price tag on Anitoliy Timoschuk but admit the midfielder wants to join Celtic. (Record)

Rangers expect to complete the signing of striker Filip Sebo after putting in a final bid of £1.6m. (Various)

Charlie Mulgrew's Celtic career is over after a blazing row with manager Gordon Strachan. (Record)

Hearts are set to offload record signing Mirsad Beslija eight months after the midfielder arrived for £850,000 from Racing Club Genk (Scotsman)

Christos Karapidis will become a Hearts player this week after they agreed a £200,000 fee with PAOK Salonika for the defender. (Sun)

Falkirk have given a trial to trial for Togo midfileder Didier Paas and are negotiating red tape as they progress interest in Nigerian midfielder Udo Nwoko, presently in Malta with Hibernians. (Express)

Dundee United have signed Norwegian defender Christian Kalvenes on a two-year deal from Brann Bergen. (Sun)

Messina midfielder Carmine Coppola is being considered as a target by Celtic. (Herald)

Motherwell are considering taking Celtic midfielder Paul Lawson on loan. (Express)

Back to top

OTHER GOSSIP

New England boss Steve McClaren wants Teddy Sheringham, Paul Ince or Tony Adams to take up the role of 'conduit' between the players and the coaching staff - a role rejected by Alan Shearer. (Express)

A massive anti-riot operation is planned if Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Manchester United in a friendly at Oxford United next Tuesday. (Sun)

Back to top

FUNNIES

Fulham's German defender Moritz Volz is a massive fan of David Hasselhoff, describing the former Baywatch star as "like some higher spirit". He added: "In times of trouble I ask myself 'How would the Hoff deal with this situation?'"

Andriy Shechenko and Michael Ballack will be forced to take part in a traditional Chelsea initiation ceremony later this week, where they will be asked to sing a number of their choice in front of their new team-mates.

Blues midfielder Joe Cole said: "Absolutely no-one escapes. It's horrible - I was more worried about the singing than making my debut! And when the lads have had enough, they let you know by throwing bread rolls and stuff." (The Sun)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5233694.stm

 

[Embers]

Ashley Cole has told Arsenal he will never play for them again. (Various)

Chelsea have leapt to the front of the queue to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres. (Mirror)

Manchester United are considering a bid for £12m-rated Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt, who is a long-time target of Liverpool. (Independent)

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd is preparing to table a club record £3m bid for Preston striker David Nugent. (Star)

Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira has hinted he could be keen on a move to Manchester United. (Star)

Tottenham want Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and are ready to meet the Blues' £4m valuation. (Sun)

Newcastle have turned down the opportunity to sign former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell. (Guardian)

Martin O'Neill will take over as Aston Villa boss and is even prepared to work alongside chairman 'Deadly' Doug Ellis. (Telegraph)

Tottenham have offered Danny Murphy and Andy Reid in part exchange for Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda. (Times)

Wigan are demanding £5.5m in cash for Chimbonda, who was late for his first training session after handing in a transfer request in May. (Guardian)

Shaktar Donetsk have placed a £6.8m price tag on Anitoliy Timoschuk but admit the midfielder wants to join Celtic. (Record)

Rangers expect to complete the signing of striker Filip Sebo after putting in a final bid of £1.6m. (Various)

Charlie Mulgrew's Celtic career is over after a blazing row with manager Gordon Strachan. (Record)

Hearts are set to offload record signing Mirsad Beslija eight months after the midfielder arrived for £850,000 from Racing Club Genk (Scotsman)

Christos Karapidis will become a Hearts player this week after they agreed a £200,000 fee with PAOK Salonika for the defender. (Sun)

Falkirk have given a trial to trial for Togo midfileder Didier Paas and are negotiating red tape as they progress interest in Nigerian midfielder Udo Nwoko, presently in Malta with Hibernians. (Express)

Dundee United have signed Norwegian defender Christian Kalvenes on a two-year deal from Brann Bergen. (Sun)

Messina midfielder Carmine Coppola is being considered as a target by Celtic. (Herald)

Motherwell are considering taking Celtic midfielder Paul Lawson on loan. (Express)

Back to top

OTHER GOSSIP

New England boss Steve McClaren wants Teddy Sheringham, Paul Ince or Tony Adams to take up the role of 'conduit' between the players and the coaching staff - a role rejected by Alan Shearer. (Express)

A massive anti-riot operation is planned if Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Manchester United in a friendly at Oxford United next Tuesday. (Sun)

Back to top

FUNNIES

Fulham's German defender Moritz Volz is a massive fan of David Hasselhoff, describing the former Baywatch star as "like some higher spirit". He added: "In times of trouble I ask myself 'How would the Hoff deal with this situation?'"

Andriy Shechenko and Michael Ballack will be forced to take part in a traditional Chelsea initiation ceremony later this week, where they will be asked to sing a number of their choice in front of their new team-mates.

Blues midfielder Joe Cole said: "Absolutely no-one escapes. It's horrible - I was more worried about the singing than making my debut! And when the lads have had enough, they let you know by throwing bread rolls and stuff." (The Sun)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5233694.stm

Today is Wednesday not TUesday

 

[Lowie01]

Manchester United will bid to seal a £4m deal for Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna after unveiling their new £18.6m signing from Tottenham Michael Carrick. (Daily Telegraph)

Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton looks set to join Middlesbrough. (The Guardian)

Sunderland manager Niall Quinn has been told he must be patient if he is to lure Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips back to the Black Cats fold. (Daily Express)

Crystal Palace boss Peter Taylor expects to make several signings before the transfer window closes on 31 August. (Daily Telegraph)

Dundee defender Lee Wilkie is poised for a switch to Dundee United on a month's trial - once he agrees a pay-off settlement from his current club. (Daily Record)

Newcastle are ready to splash out £15m on three new signings - Thomas Gravesen and Jonathan Woodgate from Real Madrid as well as a new striker. (Daily Express)

Blackburn want to hijack Wigan's bid to sign defender Andy Webster from Hearts. (The Sun)

Birmingham will make a final £1.2m offer for Fulham striker Brian McBride. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham will not receive a penny from Michael Carrick's £18.6m move from Tottenham to Manchester United because Spurs refused to include a sell-on clause when they signed him from the Hammers. (The Sun)

Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy is being lined up for a £2m switch to Bolton. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP
Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, who is expected to join Chelsea, has been banned from using official Gunners photos for his controversial new book. (The Sun)

Aston Villa are confident of unveiling Martin O'Neill as their new manager within 48 hours. (Daily Mirror)

England defender Gary Neville gave Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo the cold shoulder on his return to training with Manchester United. (The Sun)

Ex-Everton star Thomas Gravesen was thrown out of a Real Madrid pre-season training session in Austria after brawling with Brazilian winger Robinho. (Daily Star)

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch says Liverpool's players do not want to set foot in Israel to play their Champions League qualifier with Maccabi Haifa because of the crisis in the Middle East. (Various)

Ex-England coach Terry Venables has agreed in principle to join new national boss Steve McClaren's staff and talks have started over his salary and title. (The Independent)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has written off Liverpool Premiership title chances. (Various)

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn wants the fans to banish sectarian chants at games - or risk Uefa punishment. (Daily Record)

Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt needed stitches to a head wound after crashing into the post when warming up for the friendly with Barnsley. (Various)

FUNNIES
England midfielder Frank Lampard topped a Yahoo! poll of sports flops following his country's disappointing World Cup campaign, despite having more shots than anyone else. Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and striker Wayne Rooney were second and third. (Daily Express)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5237196.stm

 

[moomba]

Ashley Cole has told Arsenal he will never play for them again. (Various)

Biggest drama queen in the sport by far. Can't understand how he feels hard done by in all this.

Fulham's German defender Moritz Volz is a massive fan of David Hasselhoff, describing the former Baywatch star as "like some higher spirit". He added: "In times of trouble I ask myself 'How would the Hoff deal with this situation?'"

Saw something on this yesterday. Apparently he is building a baywatch style lookout tower in his back yard. The Hoff was always a big hit in Germany.

 

[moomba]

England defender Gary Neville gave Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo the cold shoulder on his return to training with Manchester United. (The Sun)

I doubt it, Neville would do whatever Fergie tells him to, and I doubt he'd tell him to do that.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch says Liverpool's players do not want to set foot in Israel to play their Champions League qualifier with Maccabi Haifa because of the crisis in the Middle East. (Various)

He didnt actually say that in the interview that I saw. Said that Benitez is on record saying that he didn't want tolay there, the players have got to concentrate on winning the game, wherever it is.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has written off Liverpool Premiership title chances. (Various)

Can't argue with him there either.

England midfielder Frank Lampard topped a Yahoo! poll of sports flops following his country's disappointing World Cup campaign, despite having more shots than anyone else. Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and striker Wayne Rooney were second and third. (Daily Express)

Don't know why so many people seem so keen to see Lampard fail. He seems one of the more decent blokes in football, and has had a storming couple of years. One bad tournament (and there weren't too many Englishmen that had a good one) and all of a sudden he's supposed to be a subject of ridicule. Beats me.

 

[Boro]

Don't know why so many people seem so keen to see Lampard fail. He seems one of the more decent blokes in football, and has had a storming couple of years. One bad tournament (and there weren't too many Englishmen that had a good one) and all of a sudden he's supposed to be a subject of ridicule. Beats me.

Just look at the club he plays for Moomba and you shall know the answer

 

[mattyc2422]

Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton looks set to join Middlesbrough. (The Guardian)

Blackburn want to hijack Wigan's bid to sign defender Andy Webster from Hearts. (The Sun)

Hope Emmo goes to be honest. He's out of favour with us.

Another defender... where does he play?

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Central, he is Hearts' captain.

 

[moomba]

Central, he is Hearts' captain.

I thought Pressley was still Hearts captain.

 

[mattyc2422]

I wouldn't have thought we needed another central defender with Todd, Mokoena, Zurab, Nelsen and a few kids on the books...

 

[Bomberz_pacers07]

Chelsea have leapt to the front of the queue to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres. (Mirror)

if he goes there That'd make another player Chelsea have stolen off Man utd ala John Obi Mickal(sp?). Torres would top off man utd's offseason.

 

[moomba]

I wouldn't have thought we needed another central defender with Todd, Mokoena, Zurab, Nelsen and a few kids on the books...

They were reporting on SSN that you were monitoring Huth as well.

 

[Crow-mo]

Chelsea have leapt to the front of the queue to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres. (Mirror)

if he goes there That'd make another player Chelsea have stolen off Man utd ala John Obi Mickal(sp?). Torres would top off man utd's offseason.

stolen?

doubt torres leaves Athletico at all.

 

[robbieando]

Central, he is Hearts' captain.

Central is correct and a very good one at that. Had Rangers and Celtic sniffing around at some point during the summer put Hearts DON'T won't to sell to either of the Old Firm despite Webster saying he would welcome a move to Rangers late last season when he first put in a transfer request. He hasn't been the club captain at any stage at Hearts its either been his central partner Pressley or midfielder playmaker Hartley.

Would be a good buy for whichever club does end up with him because he is the best young Scottish defender coming though at the minute.

 

[sainter]

Robbieando,

How do you rate Skacel?

Hearts fans were shattered when he made the decision to leave. Was he as instrumental to their rise up the SPL table as they made us believe?

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I thought Pressley was still Hearts captain.

I am vanquished.

 

[JLC]

Well i think A Cole is pretty much going to be a Chelsea player by the time the season starts.

Therefore given that Jose wants a smaller squad i dont think they will sign Torres. However by showing interest it may force United to pay that little bit extra for him.

Newcastle look like getting Woodgate and Graveson with Graveson i think appearing more lkely.

Based on what i saw by Liverpool against Grasshopper we will need another striker with Kuyt looking the most likely at this stage. The funny thing was Daio even made the trip over to Switzerland and was in the crowd lol

jlc

 

[apollo_creed]

Just another striker?

 

[robbieando]

How do you rate Skacel?

Good, but not Old Firm good (as in he wouldn't help either side of the divide in Europe)

Having said that he'll fit right into a club like Southampton and become a top player in the Championship, so you certainly have got yourselves a very handy wide man who'll create mayhem down his wing, get in crosses and will provide that extra "something" to get you back into the Premiership. Plus he knows what to expect from Burley, so you know he'll fit into the system and will hit the ground running provided he has kept his fitness levels up (mainly because he didn't report back to preseason training at Hearts so he could force the move the Southampton)

Hearts fans were shattered when he made the decision to leave. Was he as instrumental to their rise up the SPL table as they made us believe?

He was a important part, but not THE important part. The most important player for Hearts was Craig Gordon their Goalkeeper, who is the best Scottish Goalkeeper in 25 years to come though the ranks. The amount of games he kept them in was amazing.

Despite all the imports brought into Hearts last season it was the play of three Scots in the outfield that really made the media take note. Hartley in the midfield playmaker role, pulled all the strings and Pressley and Webster in the Centre of Defence were rock solid and protected Gordon better than any non-Old Firm goalkeeper has been before, those two areas were really the keys to the rise up the table in terms of outfield players.

What Skacel was important for was the cutting edge that he gave them and it was something that a non Old Firm had lacked for two decades. What he was also able to do, was to work with Hartley to link with the Strikers (who really wern't that good in terms of other SPL Strikers, about 5th out 12) to create the goals the sent them up the table. He'll do that at Southampton

The reason therefore Hearts fans are so shattered in losing him is because they haven't been able to replace him and they are going into this season believing they won't have the link between midfield and attack that they had last season - all because they have lost Skacel. Knowing that, they believe Hartley WON'T be able to on his own be able to provide the striking group the amount of assists that he and Skacel did last season to what is basically the same group of strikers.

You got a good player.

 

[sainter]

Thanks for that.

It's good to get an opinion from somebody that follows Scottish football but isn't a Jambo. Some of their comments have made me wonder if we are signing Rudi Skacel or Ronaldinho.

From what I understand he has been doing some training by himself but the last game he played was the Scottish Cup Final so he is a long way from regaining his match fitness.

He'll give us something we lacked in the premiership, let alone in the CCC last season.

 

[robbieando]

Thanks for that.

It's good to get an opinion from somebody that follows Scottish football but isn't a Jambo. Some of their comments have made me wonder if we are signing Rudi Skacel or Ronaldinho.

From what I understand he has been doing some training by himself but the last game he played was the Scottish Cup Final so he is a long way from regaining his match fitness.

He'll give us something we lacked in the premiership, let alone in the CCC last season.

Yeah I wouldn't go believing those Jambos, success has gone to their heads when really they only finished second one point ahead of of Rangers thanks to Rangers losing 3 times to Hibs and 2 times to Celtics in the League. They didn't do anything to make us lose points, we lost points elsewhere and they got lucky and good on them. As for the Scottish Cup, they beat a 2nd Division team in the Final from the spot. They got lucky last season and watch as they fall apart this year without Skacel who'll rip up the CCC for you guys and Webster who was an important part of their defence.

You haven't got Ronaldinho but you have got the SPL's best winger from last season.