Crazy Football, GOL!
30 year-old Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen signs a three-year deal to play at Celtic Park.
Summer signings at the Bernabeu made him dispensable and it seemed unlikely he would see much playing time in Madrid.
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan looks to strengthen his side for his Champions League group which includes Manchester United.
Arsenal’s Jose Antonio Reyes has made it perfectly clear he does not want to stay in England. Today, reports have him trading places with Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista.
Arsene Wenger has been after Baptista for quite some time and even though the deal seems plausible, Baptista was quoted just last week as saying he did not want to leave the Bernabeu.
Doesn’t anyone want to play for the Gunners? If Manchester United swoop for Tevez at the last minute, where will the north Londoners be then?
Related:
Carlos Tevez Arsenal Signing?
30 year-old Argentine international, Juan Pablo Sorin, will help shore-up the defense of the Bundesliga 3rd place finishers from 2006.
Looking to make a strong showing in this year’s Champions League, Sorin is added to other Hamburger SV signings, including Holland center-back Joris Mathijsen.
Villarreal performed brilliantly in last season’s Champions League, but missed a shot at the Final when Juan Riquelme was denied by Arsenal’s Jens Lehmann on a last minute penalty.
A seventh place La Liga finish for El Submarino Amarillo meant no Champions League for 2006 – 2007.
Villarreal drew Real Madrid 0 – 0 in their first match of this season.
Hamburger SV sits in 11th after drawing their first three.
Related:
Carlos Tevez Arsenal Signing?
The deal that just can’t get done. This drawn-out transfer makes you long for the window to close Thursday night.
It’s ironic that the BBC page that has this story was blank when I attempted to read it at 8:34 BST. Numerous attempts failed.
It’s as though everyone at BBC Sports just said “Enough!”
Bravo Beeb! Bravo!
BBC Sports – Ashley Cole Drama Plays On
After our World Cup overload and then subsequent withdrawal, there are at last, some competitive fixtures to end the nearly two month lay-off.
Unfortunately, there’s not much in the way of excitement as the World Cup Champions Italy takes on Lithuania, Spain faces Liechtenstein, Holland squares off with Luxembourg, and France tangles with Georgia.
No disrespect to any of those underdog teams, but quite frankly, most of them probably don’t expect to win, so if you’re the big team, it’s just an excuse to put the coach on the rack.
Nonetheless, perhaps the UK offers the best of the bunch. For new-look England, there is not much in the works with a match against Andorra, other than the new look, but Germany vs. Republic of Ireland might give everyone something to get up for.
With the return of Duff, Given, Dunne, and Robbie Keane, maybe we’ll get to see a little more of the real Ireland, rather than what took place in last week’s 4 – 0 drubbing from Holland.
But of course the star of the weekend is in London England, at Arsenal’s new home the Emirates Stadium. Not the new-look England, but the two always-fabulous-looks, Argentina vs. Brazil. Don’t miss it on Sunday at 16:00.
You know, you have to feel cheated in South America. Players always leaving for the big money in Europe. No World Cups since 1978 (and the future doesn’t look so bright for any more soon).
And now, your two best teams play their friendlies in England. What next? The Argentine Clausura plays out in Japan.
There’s a very interesting article on this by Tim Vickery at the BBC. Check it out here.
International football is back! Don’t miss the friendly!
World Cup Final Ball – As Sweet As It Gets
Related:
UEFA – Official Euro 2008 Website
While it was originally publicized that Ronaldinho was left out of Barcelona’s La Liga opener because of a muscle pull, it has turned out to be for disciplinary reasons.
The Brazilian apparently missed a training session that got him in Dutch with Rijkaard again, having just last week fallen out before the UEFA Super Cup.
Speculation that coach and player clashed over a commercial endorsement the morning of the 3 – 0 loss to Sevilla only fuels the fire.
A moment of transfer madness has the rumor mills churning up a Chelsea swoop, but that truly seems beyond the realm of possibility.
One would think Rijkaard would need to be out of his mind to make any deal that sees Ronaldinho away from the Nou Camp.
Related:
David Trezeguet – Manchester United Possible Swoop for Juventus Striker – 30 August 2006
Carlos Tevez Arsenal Signing? – More Rumors – 29 August 2006
Yesterday I posted the rumor that Fergie was moving in for the French international, and today it looks very close to happening.
Sir Alex needs another striker and of course, David Trezeguet wants to join the biggest exodus since Moses took a few pals across the Red Sea.
The rumor is at 10 million pounds and Trezeguet’s father / agent is reported to have already met with Manchester United officials.
Related:
Manchester United Might Swoop for David Trezeguet – 29 August 2006
Soccer Golazo 