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Villa swoop for £3m Laursen

Aston Villa have made their first move of the summer, signing Denmark defender Martin Laursen from AC Milan for £3million.

Martin Laursen: Villa deal (AdamDavy/Empics)
http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20030906/laursen_adavy.jpg

Laursen will move to England after falling out of favour at the San Siro following the acquisition of Alessandro Nesta two years ago.


He remains a key member of the Denmark team, however, and will travel to Portugal for Euro 2004.

Capped 33 times for Denmark, Laursen has also turned out for Silkeborg, Verona and Parma.

He had also been linked with Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Feyenoord and Charlton.

His signing comes after manager David O'Leary's decision to allow veteran defenders Dion Dublin and Ronny Johnsen to leave and follows Villa's rise from relegation candidates to European contenders.

The Birmingham side just missed out to Newcastle on a place in the UEFA Cup but Villa chairman Doug Ellis is already looking for an improvement next season.

Ellis said yesterday: 'With the new format of the UEFA Cup, once you get through the first round it becomes a league with eight groups of five.

'You then have home and away matches and there could have been £7million or £8million in it for us.'

Laursen becomes O'Leary's fourth signing after Thomas Sorensen, Nolberto Solano and Gavin McCann.

However, the Irishman has also cut the playing staff significantly since replacing Graham Taylor, releasing over a dozen players.

[SOFIA]

thanks bro :crazy:

[Silver SS]

Spanish striker Fernando Morientes is interested in a move to England and is proud to be linked with clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea.
http://www.soccernet.com/images/ah/morientes0930_ad.jpg
Morientes: £17.5m transfer? (AdamDavy/Empics)

Morientes is still a Real Madrid player, but has been on loan at Monaco this season and has played a big part in the French side's run to the Champions League final.


The 28-year-old is the leading scorer in Europe's top club competition with nine goals and has been linked with a £17.5m transfer to either of the English duo.

'I am proud that teams like Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in me,' Morientes told The Sun.

'There are some big clubs in England and it's a very competitive league.

'I have been away from Real Madrid for a year and I don't know what will happen.

'If an offer comes from England then first of all Real Madrid have to take the decision. But I would like to go there.'

[Silver SS]

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has expressed his delight at finally laying to rest the rumours surrounding the future of Jay-Jay Okocha.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/ah/okocha1203_ms.jpg Jay Jay Okocha: Three-year deal. (MichaelSteele/GettyImages)

Despite being linked with a number of clubs in recent months, Okocha has today signed a lucrative new three-year deal with Bolton, taking him through to 2007.


Okocha's future often overshadowed Bolton's rise to prominence at the end of what has been the club's best season in the Premier League.

Okocha captained Wanderers to their highest-placed finish in the Barclaycard Premiership of eighth, as well as their remarkable run to the Carling Cup final where they were eventually beaten by Middlesbrough.

In signing up Okocha for the next three years, the deal could help Allardyce persuade other big names to join the Bolton bandwagon at the Reebok Stadium.

'Securing Jay-Jay's services for the next three seasons firmly underlines this football club's desire to compete in the upper reaches of the Premiership,' said Allardyce on the club website, www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk.

'His performances over the past two seasons have helped to fortify the name and reputation of Bolton Wanderers, and his signature is a marvellous boost to everybody connected the club.'

While Okocha is likely to become one of the highest-paid players in Bolton's history, Allardyce has scoffed at suggestions the Nigeria international midfielder is set to pick up £2.5million a year with his new contract.

'Jay-Jay has signed a significant contract, but it astounds me where figures of £7.5million have come from. This is wide of the mark,' added Allardyce.

After joining Bolton from Paris St Germain in the summer of 2002 following the World Cup finals in Japan, Okocha scored seven goals in his first season with the club, becoming an instant favourite with Wanderers fans.

Although only finding the net three times last season, with his last goals a double in the 5-2 Carling Cup semi-final first leg win over Aston Villa in January, Okocha's overall contribution to Bolton's superb season cannot be questioned.

[Black Z]

Thanks for the info...

hmmmmmmmm we should add a sport section in the forum.....

[Silver SS]

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has questioned the wisdom of Ireland playing four internationals in 10 days at the end of the season.
Bruce has a vested interest with Irish skipper Kenny Cunningham and striker Clinton Morrison part of the squad.


Romania are the visitors to Lansdowne Road on May 27 before Brian Kerr's side take on Nigeria (May 29) and Jamaica (June 2) in a tournament in London.

The final international will be against Holland in Amsterdam on June 5 and Bruce believes Cunningham and Morrison would have benefited more from resting after a gruelling campaign.

Bruce said: 'I don't think at that stage of the season that you are going to get much out of playing a tournament like that.

'I can't see the point of international friendlies at that time unless you are building up for a European Championship or a World Cup.

'The players deserve a break. They need a rest and I hope they are pretty sensible with them.'
http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20030111/bruce_al.jpg
Bruce has supplemented his strike force with the capture of Emile Heskey from Liverpool but the manager was quick to talk up the contribution Morrison has to play in his plans.

Morrison linked up effectively with 19-goal Mikael Forssell in the second half of the campaign following the departure of Christophe Dugarry.

Bruce said: 'I think Clinton had a really good end to the season. After Christophe went, he got himself established in the team.

'His overall work'rate and attitude have been first class. He has won over a lot of supporters because of that.

'He realises what is required now to play in the Premier League and he has done okay.'

[ZOSicK]

:thanks: for the info SSS :up2:

[Silver SS]

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/lfc/markusbabbel_sb_g.jpg

Markus Babbel and Martin Andresen have returned to their clubs after completing loan spells at Blackburn.
Babbel goes back to Liverpool while Norwegian international Andresen returns to FC Stabaek.


Rovers manager Graeme Souness told the club's official website: 'Markus and Martin have both done their bit for us in what's been a very difficult season and I would like to go on record thanking them for that and wish them all the very best for the future.'

[SOFIA]

Thanks for the info...

hmmmmmmmm we should add a sport section in the forum.....

totally agree :up:

[Silver SS]

Alan Curbishley expects to see several new faces when his Charlton squad re-assemble for pre-season training in July.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20040211/curbsdejected_tobrien.jpg Alan Curbishley: To strengthen (TonyO'Brien/Empics)

The Addicks boss has money to spend following the £10million sale of star midfielder Scott Parker to Chelsea in January.


However, Curbishley will be discussing the possibility of extending Paolo di Canio's stay at The Valley past the Italian's current one-year contract which runs out during the summer, as well as talking to other players who will soon be requiring new deals.

For much of the season it looked like Charlton would qualify for Europe before injuries, and the departure of Parker, took their toll.

A seventh-place finish was still the best in the club's Premier League history and Curbishley revealed he felt it was important to focus on football, rather than new contracts, right up until the final match of the season against Southampton on Saturday.

'I have been concentrating on our run-in to the end of the campaign, but will have some time when it quietens down to talk to the players that I need to,' he said.

'I am looking to strengthen in every department, but have got to be sensible about it. I need bodies around and the competition. I need people coming in here on July 5 looking forward to the training, the team photo and the first game of the season.

'It does help when you have five or six new faces around.'

Curbishley has already conceded not qualifying for European competition next season was a disappointment after such a promising opening to the campaign.

It was a sentiment echoed by Charlton's chief executive Peter Varney, who maintains his manager will be handed the funds to bring in new talent over the close season.

'Each year we set ourselves goals, which we believe are realistic and achievable,' he said in his programme notes for Saturday's game against Southampton.

'At the beginning of the season the club's immediate objective was to secure our Premiership status at the earliest possible opportunity and then establish the club in the top half of the league.

'I know there is a degree of frustration that we could have achieved even more for this season and we occupied a top-six position for a long period.'

He added: 'With the resources available to us in the summer, we aim to lay the foundations for further progression. Alan Curbishley will be very busy this summer making a number of additions to the current playing squad.'

The sale of Parker, whom Curbishley described as his side's 'heartbeat', still rankles with many at The Valley.

Captain Matt Holland, though, hopes some good will come of the England midfielder's departure.

'Although it was disappointing to lose Scott, the possibility of three, four or five new players coming in means the squad will be strengthened,' he said in the Valley Review.

'To improve the quantity and quality means that we could avoid the devastating effect which injuries have had on us this year. I am sure we will be pushing for Europe next season, that is what it is all about.'

There remains an outside chance of Charlton being handed a place in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds through the Fair Play League.

That will, though, not be confirmed until June 8 once all the relevant standings have been finalised and ballots drawn if necessary.

Curbishley, though, is not concerning himself with the issue - 'I have not even given it two thoughts,' he said last week - and instead is gearing up for what looks set to be a pre-season trip to China.

'I think we have to realise how high profile the Premiership is now,' he reflected.

'When you go around the world, we might not be as big or as famous as most clubs, but we are recognisable and are going to take the opportunity if it comes off.'

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[Silver SS]

Everton have joined the race to sign Leeds United striker Alan Smith with a £7million offer.
The relegated Yorkshire club this week revealed they had turned down two bids of £3.5million and then £5.5million from Manchester United for the 23-year-old, while Birmingham and Middlesbrough have also shown interest.


The Toffees today confirmed they intend to make a 'substantial offer' for the England international although his preferred destination is believed to be Old Trafford.

Everton manager David Moyes told his club's website: 'I can confirm that we are making a substantial offer for Alan Smith.'

After finishing fourth from bottom in the Premiership, Moyes has urged the Goodison board to help him strengthen his side.

And he revealed: 'My hope is to partner Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney in my Everton side next season.' http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/lufc/Smith_LG.jpg

Deputy chairman Bill Kenwright added: 'David and I have been discussing the Alan Smith situation at Leeds for over two weeks now.'

Leeds' director Peter Lorimer had earlier claimed the bid would be worth £7million, although a spokesman for the club later said no such bid had been received as yet.

Lorimer told BBC Radio Leeds: 'We've had lots of bids for Alan, the latest being around £7million from Everton.

'... We want to get the best offer possible for the club, while Alan's agent has stressed that he wants to go to Old Trafford.'

[Silver SS]

LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - Spain's authorities have dropped sexual assault charges against three Leicester City players accused of attacking women at a luxury Spanish hotel.
Striker Paul Dickov, defender Frank Sinclair and midfielder Keith Gillespie were accused of assault by three women while the team was at a training camp in southern Spain in March. The players spent six nights in jail.


The charges were formally dropped by Spanish authorities on Thursday morning, Leicester said in a statement. 'The club welcomes the news that all criminal charges have been withdrawn,' the statement added. 'We are pleased that what has been a very difficult time for a large number of players and their families is now at an end.'

On Tuesday, the club said forensic tests had proved negative, showing no link between the women and the players.

They had all vigorously denied the charges.

'It's fantastic news,' Dickov's agent Phil Smith told Reuters.

Nine players were originally arrested after the women accused them of breaking into their hotel room and sexually assaulting them.

Matt Elliott, Lilian Nalis, James Scowcroft, Nikos Dabizas and Danny Coyne were released on bail following the initial allegations. Thursday's ruling also leaves them in the clear.

The ninth player, Steffen Freund, had already been released without charge.

The story had threatened to damage even further the reputation of English football - it was the latest in a series of allegations of sexual impropriety involving premier league players.

Under Spanish law, the accused could have faced up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Leicester City were relegated from the premier league on May 1 after just six wins all season. The club said on Monday it was releasing Sinclair and that Gillespie could also leave on a free transfer.

[Silver SS]

http://www.soccernet.com/images/global/thailand/Thaksin_DC.jpg
BANGKOK, May 21 (Reuters) - Thailand's bid for a stake in English Premier League club Liverpool will not be completed until next week at the earliest, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Friday.

Thaksin: Deal in the balance? (DavidCannon/GettyImages)

Negotiations over the 4.6 billion baht ($113 million) bid for a 30 per cent stake in the club are believed to have stalled over the level of Thai representation on the Liverpool board.


'There definitely won't be any signing this Friday, Saturday or Sunday,' Thaksin said in response to media reports that the deal could be completed this weekend.

'But we are trying to wrap up the deal next week because we don't want to see it drag on,' the telecoms-tycoon turned politician told reporters.

The Thais want two seats on the Liverpool board while the club are offering only one, Thai newspapers reported.

Liverpool are 51 per cent owned by chairman David Moores, whose family has had control for half a century, and 9.9 per cent owned by television company Granada.

Thaksin has said Moores' holding would drop to around 35 per cent if the deal went ahead.

'The pending issue in the talks involves the question of minority protection. We don't hold the majority. 30 per cent is a minority and there should be reasonable protection. It is not a small amount of money,' Thaksin said.

Liverpool officials have said the talks are ongoing, but refuse to comment further.

Deputy Commerce Minister Pongsak Raktapongpisal, the chief Thai negotiator, said 80 to 90 per cent of the details had been worked out, but the shareholder rights issue was still pending.

The Thais, who said earlier this week they had an agreement in principle with Liverpool, are waiting for the club's response to their latest amendments.

'Now we wait. In any business deal, the first step is the signing of the MOU (memorandum of understanding). If further negotiations cannot be concluded, the deal may be off,' Pongsak told reporters.

Thaksin has said the Thai offer would inject £45 million ($80.7 million) into the club, which needs investment to buy players and help fund the construction of a bigger stadium.

The rest will go to buy shares from existing shareholders.

The billionaire prime minister was initially expected to put up some of his own money. He ran into fierce opposition when officials suggested government funds would be used.

Thaksin now wants to set up a company to manage the investment, and raise funds to finance the purchase through a one-off state lottery.

Critics say the money will be wasted and they doubt Thaksin's claim that the deal will benefit Thai soccer by setting up a Liverpool academy in the southeast Asian country.

[Silver SS]

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20040403/keegan_al_g.jpg

Monday, May 17, 2004

Keegan: No signings in near future


Kevin Keegan has written off the possibility of early close-season arrivals at Manchester City.

Kevin Keegan: No cash to spend (AlexLivesey/GettyImages)

The Blues boss previously suggested he had two deals lined up for this week.


However, having been informed there is no cash to spend this summer, Keegan, who has confirmed his intention to quit when his current contract expires in two years' time, has now revealed those signings will not be made.

'In previous seasons I have tried to bring people in early but previous seasons are not like this one,' Keegan told the club's official website. 'I don't want to fool the fans on this one. We are not going to get the best of the best this summer.

'I want Daniel van Buyten but my chances of getting him at this moment are nil.'

City finished a disappointing season with a flourish at the weekend, hammering Everton 5-1 at Eastlands.

It did allow Keegan's side to leap one place in the table, securing an extra £500,000 in Premiership prize money but that is unlikely to be enough to secure Van Buyten, his number one target.

The giant Belgian defender impressed during his loan stint from Marseille but Keegan knows it would take at least £3million to secure Van Buyten's permanent arrival, money he will not have unless he decides to sell one of his major stars such as Nicolas Anelka, Shaun Wright-Phillips or Joey Barton.

[Silver SS]

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he expects Roy Keane to lead Manchester United into their FA Cup final with Millwall on Saturday.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/ah/keane1101_al.jpg Roy Keane: Hoping to start (AlexLivesey/GettyImages)

The 32-year-old midfielder has been struggling with a hamstring injury and has not played since United's defeat to Liverpool on April 24.


However, Keane has trained for the last three days without a problem and is now set to become the first player since the Second World War to play in six finals.

'He has trained for the last three days, has suffered no reaction so far and I don't expect he will have one,' said the United boss.

'You always want your best players on the pitch and he is still the biggest influence on our team.

'He is our captain, he has been there more times than anyone else and it is natural we would want him there.'

Keane's presence has left Ferguson with a selection dilemma.

Ferguson already knows the side he will pick this weekend and that is likely to mean bad news for either Darren Fletcher or Phil Neville, one of whom looks certain to drop out of the side which defeated Aston Villa last Saturday.

Keane made his feelings on the FA Cup quite plain in his controversial autobiography.

'The FA Cup had lost its relevance, certainly for me. Sure, it was a day out for our families, and everybody who worked hard behind the scenes at the club.

'The Wembley myth, the folklore attached to the walk out of the tunnel, the red carpet, meeting the big shots, going up to the Royal Box to receive your medal, a pat on the back from the great and the good (and hopefully the Cup), all of it was bollocks.'

Given Keane claimed in a Football Association hearing that his book was a rough transcript of a series of conversations used with `artistic licence', it is not certain he is quite so dismissive of the world's most famous domestic cup competition.

Certainly, as he danced round Villa Park in delight at securing a final appearance at Arsenal's expense on April 3, the indications were that Keane's stance had softened somewhat.

In fairness, it is easy to get carried away in the jubilation of the moment and, after giving himself a bit of time to think about it, the Manchester United has opted for a diplomatic route.

'It is up to others to judge whether winning the FA Cup constitutes a successful season or not,' he said.

'At the start of every season, our priorities are the European Cup and the Premiership and we came up short in both competitions.

'The players and the manager are this club's biggest critics and we have all be disappointed with our performances this year.

'What we have done is give ourselves a chance to win something and I am certainly not writing off the FA Cup, I still think it is a fantastic competition.'

Presumably therefore, Keane hs previously thought of the FA Cup as a fantastic competition too, probably when he was lifting it as United skipper in 1999 following the 2-0 win over Newcastle, the second part of the famous Treble.

The outspoken midfielder is open to charges of hypocrisy, in the same way Arsene Wenger was after dismissing a competition he had won for the previous two seasons following that Paul Scholes-inspired semi-final setback.

The truth is, the FA Cup does not matter, but only if you are winning the Premiership or the Champions League. If you are not achieving one of those two aims - and the current United side fall into that category - then the FA Cup matters, a lot.

'We are in this business to win football matches and what that victory over Arsenal did was show some of the younger lads and one or two of the foreign players what it meant to be challenging for trophies,' said Keane.

'It was a great boost for everyone but we can't get too carried away because we still have to go to the Millennium Stadium and win it. We would be showing immense disrespect to Millwall if we were to assume that is what will happen.'

If Keane has anything to do with it of course, Manchester United winning the cup is precisely what will happen.

At 32, he is suffering the frustrations of having a body that can no longer do what his mind is telling it. Even his return to the Republic of Ireland fold coincided with a three-week stint on the injury list nursing a hamstring strain.

But what has not been lost is the insatiable drive, the hunger for success and the demand that his team-mates, young and old, aspire to the same high standards that made him one of the finest players of his generation.

'People say there is nothing worse than losing a semi-final, well I think there is,' he said with a wry smile. 'You can lose a final.

'I have lost two in my career - with Nottingham Forest in 1991 and United four years later - and I don't want to experience it again.'

[Silver SS]

Gibson scouts for Euro stars
Steve Gibson has assured Middlesbrough fans that the club is not restricting its search for forwards talent to England.
The Teessiders are keen to add firepower to a squad which won the Carling Cup last season yet did not have a single player who reached double figures in the goalscoring stakes.
http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20030906/gibson_smorton.jpg

One target, Emile Heskey, has agreed to move from Liverpool to Birmingham, while Boro are hopeful of signing either or both of the Leeds strikers Alan Smith and Mark Viduka. Portsmouth's Aiyegbini Yakubu is also being tracked.

But club chairman Gibson insists that players across the continent are also being monitored.

'We have our targets and we are talking to clubs right across Europe,' said Gibson.

'It's not just about who might be available in this country, it's a global market.

'Italian and Spanish clubs have severe financial difficulties and a lot of quality players are available over there.

'We aim to spread our nets wide and ensure we have options, but we are quietly confident of making significant signings that will substantially improve our current squad.'

McClaren, having seen record signing Massimo Maccarone struggle to come to terms with the Barclaycard Premiership, would ideally like to land a man who has already proven himself in English football.

'Viduka and Smith are quality strikers and we are interested in both of them,' Gibson told the club's official website.

'Time will tell how realistic it is for us to target them. Smith is going to have plenty of options. If Leeds receive the right offer from Manchester United, then I'm sure that's where he will go. But if that doesn't happen, then we will be in with a chance.

'The same applies to Viduka. We are in there among several interested clubs, but we have a number of quality players among our potential targets.

'The top three clubs have the major resources and you expect them to be up there, while Liverpool and Newcastle have achieved their potential,' said Gibson.

'But outside of these five, there is not a great deal to separate the clubs and there's no reason why we shouldn't set our sights on finishing sixth.

'It's an ambitious target, but Steve McClaren has built the launching platform and we want to see it through. We want to move on further and we want to do it next season.'

While McClaren's focus is firmly set on a striker, he has yet to agree permanent deals for loan signings Danny Mills and Bolo Zenden.

Joseph-Desire Job is yet to sign a new contract and both Mark Schwarzer and skipper Gareth Southgate are approaching the end of their current deals.

The arrival of a new striker would inevitably mean the departure of at least one of the current crop - Maccarone, Job, Szilard Nemeth, Michael Ricketts and Malcolm Christie.

[Silver SS]

Craig Bellamy has warned that big names may be shown the door if Newcastle do not force their way back into the Champions League next season.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/ah/bellamy1004_e.jpg Bellamy: Make-or-break time (JohnWalton/Empics)

The 24-year-old Welshman started only 20 games for the club this season after undergoing the fifth knee operation of his career and was unable to provide the pace and aggression which has marked his time at the club as they failed to make the top four.


Only a final-day draw at Liverpool, the side which took the final Champions League place the Magpies craved, secured a UEFA Cup berth, and while Bellamy admits they have to be thankful for that, he knows it will not be good enough in the long run.

'I have got my own views about what has happened this season, but the bottom line is we have to get back into the Champions League as quickly as possible,' he said.

'We have to improve next season or there will not be many of us left playing for Newcastle because that is where the club wants to be.

'There is no substitute for the Champions League. The UEFA Cup is European football, which is something, but the gap between it and the Champions League is huge.

'I don't think we have anything to be proud of - all we've done is salvage something from our season in the last game.

'We deserve credit for the way we did that, I suppose, especially as Kieron (Dyer) and myself were not fit, but we have to do better than that.'

Bellamy and Dyer were able to play roles at Anfield as the season came to a climax despite both suffering hamstring tears in the goalless draw at Aston Villa on April 18, but were missing for a significant part of the run'in.

Neither man played any part in the two UEFA Cup semi'final clashes with Marseille, nor the crucial Barclaycard Premiership games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Wolves, although Dyer was risked for the trips to both Southampton and Liverpool which ultimately proved so important.

Bellamy has been a revelation since his #6million move to St James' Park in the summer of 2001, but has suffered too many injury problems for his liking.

'I've had two seasons of injury problems and I want to stay problem'free,' he told the Journal as he contemplated the new campaign. 'If I can do that, I'll have a good year.'

[Z28 Girl]

too much info. bs allah ya36eek el 3afyah ... :thanku:

[Silver SS]

Arnesen in no hurry
Frank Arnesen says there is 'no rush' to find a new coach at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs' newly-appointed Technical Director believes it is vital the club make the right choice this time as they search for a permanent successor to Glenn Hoddle, who was sacked last September.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20040501/Arnesen_e.jpg
Arnesen cannot officially take up his duties - and therefore begin looking for a new coach - at White Hart Lane until July 1, the day after his renegotiated contract with PSV Eindhoven ends.

Celtic's Martin O'Neill, Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Alan Curbishley of Charlton and Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri have all been linked with the vacant Spurs job.

Real Madrid's former Manchester United coach, Carlos Queiroz and Ajax chief Ronald Koeman are other overseas possibilities.

Former Denmark striker Arnesen, 47, signed a three-year deal with the North London club yesterday as David Pleat was axed along with his Director of Football role.

He told the London Evening Standard: 'I will be directly involved in the selection of the new coach.

'Obviously everyone would like him installed soon but there is no rush. What is important is that the appointment is the right one for the club.'

Arnesen added that he was not daunted by the challenge of trying to make the continental-style management structure work successfully in the Premiership.

He said: 'I have been doing a similar role at PSV for 10 years and I'm not afraid of the challenge.

'I worked with Sir Bobby Robson in a similar structure at PSV. But even when I was a player and then a coach and general manager, I realised you have to work as a team to be successful.

'Such a structure can work in the Premiership. The challenge will be to make it a success.'

But Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet is urging Tottenham Hotspur to appoint a manager as quickly as possible to end the uncertainly.

'I've spent most of the second part of the Premiership (season) as a supporter as well because I didn't play a lot and I can tell you it was bad, it was boring,' said the 36-year-old midfielder, who has been released by Spurs.

'It was difficult to watch Tottenham so I can see the anger from the supporters,' the former Uruguay international, who also played for Real Zaragoza and Chelsea, told Sky Sports News.

'They (the fans) deserve more and I know that probably everybody at the club knows that so they will try to put things right to do better next season.'

Poyet, who said earlier in the season this would be his last but is mulling over his next step in the game, said that at Spurs 'everything is on standby...'

The club needs someone 'as soon as possible ... to change the situation and try to play in a way that everybody is hoping Tottenham will play, with better football'.

[Diablo]

Thanks for the info Bro any news about spanish transfers :thinking2

[Silver SS]

Real Madrid have agreed a five-year deal with Argentine defender Walter Samuel, the Primera Liga club said on its website on Thursday.
Samuel is set to join the Spanish giants on July 1 from AS Roma.
http://www.soccernet.com/images/european/italy/Samuel_TM.jpg


Financial terms of the signing were not disclosed but sports daily Marca said on its website Real had secured Samuel for 22 million euros ($26.22 million), beating off competition from Chelsea for the powerful 26-year-old who joined Roma from Argentina's Boca Juniors in 2000.

'We have reached an agreement in principle with Roma and with the player and we can finally announce we've signed a central defender, a priority for us for next season,' Real Madrid's sporting director-general Jorge Valdano told the club's website.

Real Madrid will end this season without a trophy despite having a squad including Brazil's Ronaldo, France's Zinedine Zidane, Portugal's Luis Figo and England's David Beckham.

Critics said the squad lacked depth and highlighted the team's weaknesses in defence.

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez pledged earlier this month to sign another of the world's leading players.

Valdano praised Samuel as a 'thoroughbred defender' and said he believed he would help develop young Madrid defenders.

'He brings quality and maturity which will help our young players feel more comfortable and play better.

'He fills an important need the team had and does so in style because he is one of the best defenders in the world.'

Samuel's wish to play for Real Madrid won through despite interest shown by other clubs, Valdano said.

'He had a special determination and made it felt throughout the negotiations. That gave us an advantage in the fight with other very important competitors who complicated the negotiations at one point. They were rather difficult days, but finally Samuel will be at Real Madrid and there's great satisfaction in the club over the news,' he said.

Valdano said Real had learnt a lot from the 2003/2004 campaign. The club had a promising start to the season but a late-season slump erased their hopes of winning the Spanish league, cup and Champions League.

'We will try to have a balanced squad to avoid the problems we suffered in the end this season,' he said.

'We are aware of the needs and we are going out right now to fill them so that next season we have more guarantees in all areas and a deeper squad that will help us survive in all competitions and reach the last two months (of the season) wth guarantees to win a trophy.'

[Silver SS]

Brazil and France provided some impressive moments but they were not enough to capture the imagination of the crowd at the Stade de France on Thursday as neither side managed to find the net in this match to mark FIFA's centenary year.
http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/20040424/frabra250_sb.jpg
France, who won the World Cup in 1998, were facing the reigning world champions for the first time at the Stade de France since their final in Paris six years ago, which was won 3-0 by Les Bleus.

This friendly was organised by FIFA to celebrate the world football governing body's centenary and the players were seen, in the first half only, wearing the style of shirts and shorts their counterparts used to wear 100 years ago.

But the much-awaited confrontation between these two international heavyweights never really got going, with Roberto Carlos' second-half shot that hit the post the closest the match came to a goal.

In the ninth minute Cafu fired a powerful shot from the right but his effort was off target, flying just past the right-hand post.

One minute later Ronaldo got into the action when he eluded France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and found himself clear on goal.

But the Real Madrid striker failed to connect properly with a left-footed shot and the ball went past the left post.

Brazil were enjoying the better of the early phase of the match with Cafu striking another shot in the 12th minute, but it was saved by France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who started the clash instead of UEFA Cup runner-up Fabien Barthez, who was sent off in Marseille's 2-0 defeat to Valencia in Wednesday's final.

Ten minutes later Ronaldinho crossed the ball towards Ronaldo from the right-hand side.

The former Inter Milan star fired a powerful shot which was well-saved by Coupet.

France finally woke up and created their first clear opportunity one minute later.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry found himself in front of Brazilian keeper Dida but - oddly for such an accomplished finisher - he shot over the bar.

The prolific frontman, who was hugely influential in Arsenal's Premiership triumph this season, tried his luck again a minute later but his shot was not powerful enough and Dida had no problem stopping it.

In the second half, Brazil got the first goal-scoring opportunity through Edu, the Arsenal midfielder who replaced Ze Roberto at half-time, striking badly wide.

In the 63rd minute Sylvain Wiltord - who was named in France coach Jacques Santini's Euro 2004 squad despite rarely featuring for Arsenal this season - missed a golden chance to open the scoring.

Wiltord received a perfect cross from the right from Paris St Germain defender Bernard Mendy, but he could not keep his effort on target and the chance was squandered.

Three minutes later Roberto Carlos unleashed a powerful shot from close to the penalty spot but his strike bounced off the left post.

France's David Trezeguet was next to try his luck but his shot hit Dida's foot.

Ronaldo always looked threatening and he drilled in a powerful shot in the 70th minute, but once again it was saved by an inspired Coupet.

In the 86th minute the Lyon keeper, who is almost certain to win his third consecutive league title with Les Gones this weekend, saved a shot from Julio Baptista.

One minute later Henry crossed the ball from the right towards Trezeguet but, in keeping with much of the finishing on the night, the Juventus forward shot wide.

Brazil coach Parreira happy with draw

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira praised his team's performance even though the World Cup holders were held to a goalless draw by European champions France in the FIFA Centennial friendly on Thursday.

"Of course, it's a 0-0 draw... but it does not feel like it," Parreira told reporters.

"I think it was a very good match between two of the best sides in the world," Parreira said.

"Both teams were really well organised and very competitive."

[Silver SS]

England captain David Beckham has confirmed his intention to stay with Real Madrid.
Beckham has been linked with a return to England after experiencing difficulties on and off the pitch in Spain.


But the former Manchester United midfielder said in a statement: 'I have a long term commitment to Real and to my life in Spain.

'I've been here for one season and it feels like the job's not done yet.'

After impressing in the first half of the season, Beckham's form has tailed off recently as Madrid failed in the Primera Liga and the Champions League and his private life has been front page news.

However, he remains determined to stay at the Bernabeu and has taken a new lease on a house in Spain where he will be joined by his wife Victoria and their two sons.

Beckham added: 'The support that I have received from the fans has been amazing and I would like to see them repaid with success. Victoria shares my vision of our life here together.'

His wife's decision to remain in England in Beckham's first season was seen as a source of disruption.

She said: 'The time is now right for the children to move to Madrid and we are all looking forward to it enormously.

'It is a fantastic city with wonderful people and David and I are looking forward to strengthening our links with both. We are all very excited.'

[Silver SS]

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 20 (Reuters) - Fabien Barthez's season has featured more ups and downs than the old wooden rollercoaster that dominates Sweden's number one tourist attraction in central Gothenburg.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/european/france/Barthez_AL.jpg Off: Collina dismisses Barthez (PhilCole/GettyImages)

The Frenchman's slow walk off the Nya Ullevi pitch, a stone's throw from the Liseberg theme park, after his sending-off in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final 2-0 defeat by Valencia ended an extraordinary campaign for the eccentric, brilliant but error-prone Olympique Marseille goalkeeper.


The 32-year-old, a World Cup 98 and Euro 2000 winner, began the season warming the bench and out of favour at Manchester United before finding redemption back at the club where he had enjoyed European Cup success 11 years ago.

His return to the Mediterranean city coincided with Marseille's impressive run to the UEFA Cup final, only for Barthez's penchant for big-match gaffes to rear its ugly head again.

A wild two-footed lunge on Valencia striker Mista in first-half injury time earned a straight red card from referee Pierluigi Collina.

The resulting penalty, scored by Vicente, gave the Spanish champions the lead and effectively ended Marseille's hopes of winning their first European trophy since 1993 when they won the inaugural Champions League.

Ironically, Barthez was the only survivor from that side to play in Gothenburg.

'You accept losing at football but to do it in that way, that hurts. The referee spoiled the shot all on his own. He once blew for a penalty against me in a match against Spain which wasn't one at all. I don't know if he's jealous of me or what,' Barthez told French newspaper L'Equipe.

'A red card in a final, that's tough. Being a goalkeeper is a thankless task because there's no one behind us. But there have been changes in the rules and if we can't now play our game... The football authorities should think about it.'

UNDER THREAT

Barthez could now find his place as France number one under threat from Olympique Lyon's Gregory Coupet, who could yet force his way into the starting line-up at the Euro 2004 finals which begin in Portugal next month.

Coach Jacques Santini has stuck with Barthez through thick and thin, however, even when the goalkeeper was at his error-strewn worst at Old Trafford.

Barthez's United career was an episode mixed with brilliance and blunders. After joining from Monaco in June 2000 for 7.8 million pounds ($13.78 million) he won the league title in his first season in England.

But howlers against Arsenal, when he gifted Thierry Henry two goals, and Deportivo Coruna in the Champions League were to convince manager Alex Ferguson that his powers were on the wane.

He lost his place to Roy Carroll for last season's run-in and the arrival of American Tim Howard last summer pushed him further down the pecking order.

In October he agreed to join Marseille on loan in a bid to revive his flagging career. The move did not go through until the January transfer window but Marseille were quick to show their faith by offering him a permanent two-year deal.

Coach Jose Anigo sees Barthez as fundamental in his bid to revive Marseille's fortunes, and, with no European football to look forward to next season, will need him to quickly get over his UEFA Cup disappointment.

[Splash]

:tmi:


BTW.... u forgot to mention the champs :lildevil:


http://www.muharraqfans.com/Images/photo/largepics/teamu.jpg

[Silver SS]

:headbang: Muharraq .... yuh baby..

[designo]

:tmi:


BTW.... u forgot to mention the champs :lildevil:


http://www.muharraqfans.com/Images/photo/largepics/teamu.jpg
wahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah

you mean "the CHIMPS" ?

[4ced]

boring TTIS

[vette4ever]

:soccer: LOve it

[Splash]

wahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah

you mean "the CHIMPS" ?

:321: :squint:

[<<<ZooZ>>>]

la samuel went to Real Madrid
ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooo
a7eeen they also have a good defence moo bas a great midfield and attack
who will be able to stop them now
thanx Silver SS for the info, i needed the update

[SS]

it's nice to support a local team, but the level of football between us and europe is very very huge, can;t wait till euro 2004 and the asian cup..

[Leo]

wahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah

you mean "the CHIMPS" ?

he does not like any body he make fun of every body...

[Diablo]

great info. bro