29 August 2003

Milan Triumph In Super Cup

A 10th minute headed goal by Andri Shevchenko was enough to give European Champions Milan
victory over UEFA Cup holders Parma and secure a record fourth European Super Cup trophy.
Porto threw caution to the wind and almost snatched a late equaliser after Inzaghi and
Rui Costa missed second half chances.

Broke Roma Can't Afford Chivu

Romanian defender Christian Chivu has returned to Ajax after Roma were unable to provide an Ajax
bank with guarantees for the remaining €14 million they owed on the transfer.


28 August 2003

Disaster For Serie A - Bologna Appoint Mazzone

The wretched, defensive minded Carlo Mazzone has succeeded Francesco Guidolin as coach of
Bologna. Guidolin has left after 4 years in charge by mutual agreement. 


28 August 2003

Champions League Draw

	GROUP A	GROUP B	GROUP C	GROUP D
	Bayern Munich	Arsenal		Deportivo	Juventus
	Lyon		Inter		PSV		Galatasaray
	Celtic		Dynamo Kiev	AEK Athens	Olympiakos
	Anderlecht	Lokomotiv Mosc	Monaco		Real Sociedad


27 August 2003

Gerrard Dismisses Title Chances

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has written off the team's chances of winning the title
after Wednesday's goalless against Tottenham left the team 7 points off top spot after just
three games into the season :

"The title? I don't really know, we have got a chance of winning it but I think the Champions League
is more realistic"


23 August 2003

Spurs Pull Out of Diego Transfer

Having agreed a fee of £7.6 million with Santos, Tottenham have ended their bid to sign Diego after
his club refused to let him leave until the end of the Brazilian championship. The man negotiating the
deal for Tottenham, Nicki Arcuri, said :

"The Santos officials were impossible to convince so we decided to give up and close the negotiations."

Moratti Defends Crespo Sale

"We have six strikers, perhaps we need to add something where we need most, that's to say in defence.
Cuper has nothing to do with this choice: Crespo wanted to play, and only Vieri can be considered as a
regular here." - Inter chairman Massimo Moratti


22 August 2002

Vieri Furious With Crespo Sale

"Good players should be bought and not sold. If Inter sell him then the club and I are not on the same
wavelength. If the club need to sell Hernan then they would be better off getting rid of me. After all
why am I here? I’m bored of finishing second, third or fourth. This club should be strengthening itself.
Last season we lost Ronaldo and brought in Crespo. Now he looks like he’s off. They should just sell
me once and for all. I’m fed up, especially of offering advice because no one listens to me anyway.
You can only win with champions and I wanted Juan Veron. Has he arrived? No."


21 August 2003

Crespo In Talks With Chelsea

A few weeks after rejecting an offer for 30 year old, injury prone forward Christian Vieri, Inter are
foolishly opening talks with Chelsea with a view to selling their best striker, Hernan Crespo.
Crespo's agent Fernando Hidalgo said :

"Hernan's future is uncertain. The player and Inter will take a decision when Chelsea present an offer."


20 August 2003

Makelele Claims He Was Injured

Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele has denied claims that he did not show up for training because
he was trying to push through a move to Chelsea :

"If I had not trained for a couple of days it was because I didn't feel well. I provided a medical
statement saying I was suffering from psychological problems. I didn't train because I could not.
I feel all right now and I can tell you that I'll be able to train with Real Madrid on Thursday."


19 August 2003

Arsenal Pull Another Anelka

Arsenal have signed 16 year old Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas was a member of the
Barcelona youth team but the club initially wouldn't offer him a new contract so Arsenal stepped in.
Cesc's father already has a house in London.

PSG Cancel Yakin Transfer

PSG want the contract of Hakin Yakin, signed from Basel, terminated after he underwent surgery
for a hernia against the clubs wishes. A PSG statement said :

"The player was not fit to play at the required level on the day he signed his contract. He has not
respected the rules of our club."


18 August 2003

Ancelotti - Kaka Competition For Rivaldo and Rui Costa

Having finally completed the signing of Kaka from Sao Paulo the coach of European Champions
Milan has ended rumours which suggested the Brazilian youngster would be loaned to Lazio
or PSG for a season :

"He's young and extremely talented. He will face tough competition in his position but he's ready to
work alongside players like Rui Costa and Rivaldo. He will not be cover for them - he will be in
competition with them for a place in the side."

Berlusconi In Milan Warning

Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has blasted the team after a five successive pre-season friendly
defeat. Milan lost 2-0 to Juventus for the third time in as many weeks in the annual Berlusconi trophy :

"That's five defeats in five matches and things have to change. The team needs to shake this off and
I want to see good football. Above all we must entertain but there was no decent football played.
Physically we were off the pace and should have attacked more."

Random Premiership Thoughts From The First Day

Liverpool - Chelsea 1-2

Well at least this will have to make Ranieri stop saying his side aren't contenders. For all the talk
about pretty football, this was a great win for the side, built from some hard work by Lampard,
Gerami and Desailly and Bridge. Funny though, the entire team looked like they didn't know what
position they should be playing at the start, but quickly sorted themselves out. Duff was never in
the correct position to get the best from him, and Hasslebaink, good goal aside looked pretty out
of it. Veron laid on 3 great passes in the first half then proceeded to do nothing for the second
45 mins.

So you buy Kewell, who imo is a world class talent, to address your problem of having no width in
the team whatsoever, and then proceed to play the guy in the centre? It was only Diouf's introduction
on the wing in the 2nd half that Pool started to threaten. Heskey was useless, Owen was quiet and
when that happens Liverpool lose far too often.

Love how a linesman couldn't see the ball touch Kewell going out for a throw, but could tell Cudicini
dived the split second before Owen connected. And subsequently missed the Liverpool players in the
box for the second penalty. The right result in the end though, Chelsea can go far, that Liverpool
team can't.

Leeds-Newcastle 2-2.

So Leeds have decided to be the comedy villains of the season. Good for them. I haven't seen such a
team of dirty players since.....well the Leeds team from the early 90's. Radebe was great in defence,
Camara showed promise. Hint to Reid: Radebe is cool calm and collected under pressure. Matteo is
a skinhead who kicked anything that moved yesterday and had to be physically restrained twice.
Which of those would you make captain? Wilcox, Johnson and Morris certainly took their captain's
lead. Any one of them could have gone. Sakho was very good, as was Viduka, but can anyone blame
him for wanting to leave? Lucky to finish with 11 men, the only competition this club's in the
running for is Worst Disciplinary Record.

Newcastle had enough talent to win this easily, but were hampered by Shearer and Bellamy not being
on the end of crosses, and haphazard long range shots. Bellamy did his best impression of Huckerby
yesterday, running past 3 players and then either shooting badly or passing badly. Bernard had a
nightmare, before his assist on Leed's goal. Subbing him was an act of mercy. Dyer was quiet after
winning the penalty. Depending on your view of the man, Bowyer either played like he did for
West Ham i.e. poorly or was poor because he was kicked every time he got the ball. Woodgate had
a fantastic game on his return, and Speed was good, but this wasn't the performance Bobby
would have wanted.

Man Utd-Bolton 4-0.

Hard to tell here, but Utd looked pretty impressive. Ronaldo looked like Giggs from 10 years ago, and
the man himself seemed more at ease with himself without Becks and Veron around. Scholes
continued his rich vein of form from last season, and at Utd looked good for a team stretching for
4 fit defenders. Ruud needs a new penalty technique, Keane impressed again, but really Bolton gave
up after 2-0.

Little they could do about the penalty, or Gigg's freekick. Fought hard for a long time but lacked punch
up front surrendered at 2-0 down. Still, Jardel should improve things.

Arsenal- Everton 2-1

Putting aside Campbell's justified sending off, this was an outstanding display by the 10 men of
Arsenal. Criticism's of Wenger's record should be put aside for today at least, lest it detract form
Keown's, Pires and Henry's performances. Special mention to Viera who did two mens work out there.

Everton flattered to deceive last season, and they're really going to be caught out this season.
They're defensively mediocre, and lack imagination from midfield. Unless they have another Rooney
up their sleeve, they'll lack the surprise element they had last year.

Quick sidebar contrasting Utd and Arsenal's discipline: Players are ordered not to remove their shirts
any more. Ruud scores, runs off, pulls his jersey up to his chest, then thinks better. Thierry scores,
takes off his shirt, runs to the opposition fans points at his back and blows kisses at them. One of
these players was worried about the bollocking they'd get in the back if they were booked for this.
Guess which one?

Collected other thoughts:

Great goal by Phillips. Good work from Leicester. Still going down though.

Charlton seem to still be hung over from their abysmal end to last season. Need....something.
Paulo who? Nice of Anelka to remind why he's world class. Now do it 5 games in a row.

Blackburn looked really good. Cole had his scoring boots on and Emerton was impressive. Amoroso
and Thompson were good. Hard to tell though, mainly because Wolves were awful. Irwin and Ince
have a combined age of 73.

Will Hoddle shut up now? Please? He normally saves this ranting for when his team have missed out
on Europe again. Forget the ref, be concerned that your 7 million signing was anonymous all game.

Business as usual for Fulham and Boro then. Bet Boro win 5-0 and Fulham lose 7-0 next week.
Bloody schitzos.

Portsmouth will get worse, Villa will get better.

David O'Brien


15 August 2003

Boro and Portsmouth Suffer Injury Blows

Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone is out for 10 weeks with an ankle injury while West Ham
striker Svetoslav Todorov is out for the season after tearing knee ligaments during training on
Thursday when he got his studs caught in the turf.


14 August 2003

Anelka Quits International Scene

Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka is adamant he will not play for the French national team again
after coach Jacques Santini failed to pick him for a friendly against Yugoslavia last November :

"If Santini (France's coach) gets down on his knees in front of me and says sorry then I'll think about it.
I still maintain that they've shown me no respect. The system has sickened me. My decision to close
the door wasn't a gut reaction. I don't need the France team. Everything I've achieved with Manchester
is enough to satisfy me." - Nicolas Anelka

German World Cup Hero's Die

Lothar Emmerich, a prolific scorer at Dortmund between 1963-1969 had died. Emmerich played for
Germany in their 4-2 loss against England in the 1966 World Cup final. Earlier today Helmut Rahn,
who scored the winner in Germany's 3-2 World Cup final victory over Hungary, died aged 73.


11 August 2003

Man United Sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleberson Granted Work Permit

According to Portuguese television Sporting Lisbon striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been sold to
Manchester United for €12 million. The 18 year old is one of the hottest prospects in European
Footballer. Atletico Paranaense midfielder Kleberson has been granted a work permit and is
expected to complete his €8.5 million move to Old Trafford later in the week.


9 August 2003

Chelsea Sign Mutu

Chelsea are expected to complete the signing of Romanian genius Adrian Mutu for a fee of €18 million
within the next few days. Parma have already accepted Chelsea's offer and the player is travelling to
London to agree personal terms. Parma coach Cesare Prandelli said :

"He asked to be released and we saw no point in stopping him. When you get an offer like that
it's hard to turn down."

Mutu who was Serie A's top attacker last season with 17 goals and 15 assists. He is also lethal
from free kicks and I expect him to set the EPL on fire.


Man United Youngster Dies In Car Crash

Manchester United's 21 year old midfielder Jimmy Davies, who was on a season long loan to Watford,
died in a car crash on the M-40 motorway when travelling to make his debut. Watford's Division One
match against Coventry was postponed.

Transfer Spending Breakdown

Rounded up to the nearest million this is how much money has been spent on transfers this summer
in the respective leagues (top divisions only) upto and including 9 August 2003 :

England - €178
Spain - €98
Italy - €52
France - €50
Germany - €47


Kaka To Join Milan Next Week

Milan have reportedly agreed a fee of €10 million with Sao Paulo for star forward Kaka (Ricardo
Izecson Santos Leite). The deal is expected to be completed next week.

Ferguson Admits Chelsea Have The Best Squad

"People said the market is dead then all of a sudden a rich guy comes along and he starts buying up
the whole league. It is amazing. They have seven signings now and from last season they have only
let Graeme le Saux go. It must give  hem the strongest squad in the league. The question is how are
they going to fit them in?" Alex Ferguson


8 August 2003

Ranieri Hails Veron As World's Best

"I think Veron is the best midfielder in the world and I'm very happy to have him at the club."
Claudio Ranieri

BSkyB Retain EPL Rights, MOTD Back on the BBC!

BSkyB have retained live Premiership rights in a new three year deal worth a combined total of
€1.46 billion for four packages :

Gold tier live package one - 38 Sunday games at a cost of €510 million
Silver tier live package two - 38 Monday games at a cost of €402 million
Bronze tier package one - 31 Saturday games at a cost of €328 million
Bronze tier package two - 31 Saturday games at a cost of €220 million

The BBC have won back the rights to show highlights from EPL games which means the legendary
Match of the Day show will return in 2004. The BBC paid €150 million in a three year deal.

Arsenal Sign €185 Million Deal With Nike 

Arsenal have signed a 10 year kit deal with Nike worth €185 million. Nike will pay the club €78 million
in 2006 in order to help Arsenal continue their work on a new 60,000 capacity stadium is Ashburton
Grove.

Viduka Agent Claims Chelsea Interest

"I am in contact with most of the important clubs in Europe about Mark. I can say Chelsea is one of the
clubs we are in contact with but for now the most important thing is to close a deal before we talk
about it." Andrea D'Amico


7 August 2003

Vieri Not For Sale

Chelsea's billionaire owner has been dealt a rare blow in the transfer market after Inter stated striker
Christian Vieri was not for sale. A spokesman said :

"There is no agreement with any club. There are not even any negotiations. Christian Vieri is an Inter
player and he will wear Inter's shirt next season as well. There is no doubt at all about that."


6 August 2003

Ferguson Attempts To Justify Veron Sale

"It was the number of midfield players we have. We had a collection of midfielders which made my
life difficult. We've added three players but we do need two players, possibly up front and a defender,
that's something we are looking at." Alex Ferguson


5 August 2003

Chelski's Bids for Joe Cole & Veron Accepted

Chelsea have agreed a fee of €9.3 million with West Ham for Joe Cole. He hasn't signed a contract yet
but that's a formality. Given Zenden and Gronkjaer's constant injury problems I don't think it will be
long before Cole nails down a first team place. Man United have accepted Chelsea's €21 million offer
for Veron.


1 August 2003

Juve President Dies

Juventus president Vittorio Chiusano has died suffering from heart problems. He has been president
of the club since 1990.

Vieira Slams Agent For Rumours

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has accused agent Marc Roger of stirring rumours linking the player
with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season on a free transfer :

"I have found everything I wanted in football at Highbury. I want Arsenal and myself to grow bigger
together. So I will remain faithful to the club despite all the rumours being put out by my pseudo-agent.
My telephone never stops ringing. People tell me 'your agent has said this' or 'your agent has said that'
but I have reached the stage where I can manage by myself, even if I may need a lawyer for certain
matters."

Manchester United Fined For Price Fixing

Manchester United are one of ten companies that have been fined for price fixing Umbro replica kits
by the Office of Fair Trading, Britain's consumer watchdog. The ten companies are :

JJB Sports - £8.37 million
Umbro - £6.64 million
Manchester United - £1.65 million
Allsports - £1.35 million
The FA - £198,000 reduced to £158,000
Blacks - £197,000
Sports Soccer - £123,000
JD Sports - £73,000
Sports Connection - £27,000 reduced to £20,000 by leniency
Sportsetail (£4,000 reduced to nil by leniency)

OFT Chairman John Vickers said :

"The fines imposed reflect the seriousness of the price fixing in this case. Since we launched our
investigation the prices of replica football shirts have fallen and consumers can now shop around and
get a better price."