Sulley Muntari looks to join Inter for £12.7 million
July 25, 2008
Sulley Muntari, the Portsmouth midfielder, looks likely to sign for Italian giants Inter Milan for £12.7 million in the next day or two. According to reports the Ghana international has penned a four-year deal with the Italian champions.
Muntari is just 23 and signed for Pompey for £7 million in 2007. He has played just one season for Pompey, and helped them win the FA Cup this year.
This could spell good news for Chelsea, as it means Inter and Jose Mourinho may now not be looking to sign Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard. It’s widely regarded that Mourinho wanted Lampard, but considered Muntari as an acceptable second best.
Harry Redknapp will not want to let his prized midfielder leave Fratton Park, but the cash injection will be welcome to the wheeler dealer manager.
Muntari will be leaving Pompey to play Champions League Football, for the champions of Italy under one of the best managers in the game. It was too much to resist.
Ronaldinho snubs City for Milan
July 16, 2008
Manchester City fans can come back down to earth now as the impossible hasn’t quite happened, Ronaldinho will not be going to Eastlands. Instead the want-away Barcelona player looks like he will be joining AC Milan if the Italian club’s website is anything to go by:
AC Milan and Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Ronaldinho.
The player will be in Milan on Wednesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract that will keep him at Milan until 30 June 2011.
Manchester City had offered a fee of £25.5 million for the Brazilian former two-time world player of the year. Despite City’s impressive offer, according to the Italian press, Milan will only pay Barca £14.6 million for the Brazilian’s signature. That figure is expected to rise however based on appearances.
Manchester City will now have to look elsewhere for that injection of flare.
Carlos Queiroz becomes boss of Portugal
July 12, 2008
Carlos Queiroz, Alex Ferguson’s number two at Manchester United, has been appointed the successor of Big Phil Scolari as the coach of the Portugal national side.
Queiroz said about his appointment:
I’m very proud and honoured to go back to serve my country.
His departure means Manchester United now have just five weeks to find a replacement for him before the new season starts. Out of the candidates likely to replace Queiroz at United are Brian McClair (who is already a coach at United) and Laurent Blanc, who is the current coach of French side Bordeaux.
United’s boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, stated about Queiroz:
Carlos is one of the best coaches in world football.
His attention to detail, ability to innovate and will to win have been a key factor to the team’s recent successes.
He has played an important role in building and blending the exceptional squad of players at the club.
Although Queiroz is delighted to become the national coach for his own country, he is saddened to leave United:
It is with a very heavy heart that I leave the greatest football club in the world.
This has been a special period in my life both personally and professionally.
Queiroz is believed to be on £1.5 million per year in his new job.
John Terry Penalty Miss Video
May 23, 2008
John Terry’s Penalty Miss was the turning point in the Champions League FInal penalty shoot out, the real reason for the miss has now come to light, there was a banana on the pitch next to the ball.
Some people had thought the penalty miss was due to Terry’s boots
Manchester United Win European Cup
May 21, 2008
Manchester United have lifted the European Cup in one of the best Final’s of recent years beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 after extra time. The tie had it all, blood, sweat, tear, sending off, woodwork being hit and missed penalties. Edwin Van der Saar proved to be the Hero saving Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to give United the win in sudden death. The villain Didier Drogba who was sent off late on for a slap and John Terry proved to be the unlucky one, he hit the post from his penalty when scoring would have won the game.
The game over 120 minuets was amazing with United taking the lead. Wes Brown crossed following a neat one-two with Paul Scholes to find Cristiano Ronaldo who leaped above Michael Essien to head in. Ronaldo’s 42 goal of the season.
United had been the better side in the first half and nearly extended the lead, a double save from Cech denied Carlos Tevez and then Michael Carrick. Tevaz also spurned a chance missing a Wayne Rooney cross.
Chelsea managed an equaliser in the first half, a shot from Essien deflected off two United players to Frank Lampard who smashed home pas Van der Saar who slipped.
In the second half Chelsea had long periods of possession and hit the post via Drogba and then the underside of the bar via Lampard in extra time. It did start to turn a little nasty late on and when Carlos Tevez somewhat un-sportingly urged his teammates forward after giving the ball back to Chelsea following an injury and 20 man pushing session started. In the mist of it Drogba slapped Vidic in-front of the ref and received his marching orders.
Into penalties and the first four resulted in goals from Tevez and Michael Carrick for United who were taking first and Ballack and Juliano Belletti following suit for Chelsea.
Goal scorer Ronaldo stepped up with his stopped run up gave Cech a relatively easy save. to make to give Chelsea a very good chance. Lampard scored as did fellow England colleague Owen Hargreaves. Ashley Cole’s then scored and Nani held his nerve scoring to take it to the Chelsea to score to win.
Chelsea captain John Terry stepped up and hit the post slipping in the process. Into sudden death. Anderson and Kalou both converted and so did Ryan Giggs who made a record breaking 759th appearance for his only ever team. That put the pressure on Anelka who fired to Van der Sar’s right for a comfortable save.
Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand lifted the European Cup to crown United Champions of Europe.
United leave for Moscow
May 19, 2008
Manchester United left this afternoon for Moscow for the Champions League Final on Wednesday against Chelsea. The United team looking very smart set off from Manchester airport with a pretty much full strength squad, I’m guessing it’s just Louis Saha is injured.
There is going to be around 40,000 fans traveling from England but there ares still some tickets on sale. Many have been put off by the huge prices for travel and accommodation in the Russian capital. Chelsea will most likely have John Terry and Didier Drogba back after the pair picked up injuries on the last day of the season.
The game kicks off on Wednesday at 19:45, you have a choice of viewing, ITV or Sky Sports? What will it be Clive Tyldesley or Martin Tyler ???
Rangers dream ends in a nightmare
May 15, 2008
Thousands of disappointed Rangers fans are leaving Manchester today after losing in the Uefa Cup Final to Zenit St Petersburg. Rangers had hung on 70 minuets but the deadlock was broken when Denisov slipped the ball past the impressive Alexander. As Rangers push on they conceded in the the last minuet when Zyryanov tapped the ball home after impressive play from the Russian captain Arshavin.
Rangers never really looked like scoring with Darchville on his own up front, the nearest the Scots came to a goal was when captain Barry Fergerson had a scrambled effort saved and a penalty effort waved away.
Manager Walter Smith can be proud of his team who played 21 games in Europe this season, and still have the domestic treble to content for.
In Manchester City center thousands of fans had descended on the big screens. There was some nasty scenes when fans clashed with the police when one of the big screens stopped working. Overall around 40 arrests were made, with one Zenit St Petersburg fan taken to hospital after being stabbed at the ground.
Uefa Cup final – Rangers V Zenit St Petersburg
May 14, 2008
Thousands of Ranger fans have descended on Manchester for the Uefa Cup final V Zenit St Petersburg. The city has been changed a different shade of blue with thousands of fans traveling south, only around 17,000 will be in the ground officially. The rest around 100,000 will be in the city in fan zones and bars.
It’s been an amazing journey for the Scots overcoming Lisbon and Florentina on the way to the final with many away wins and defensive performances. The eleven to face Zenit St Petersburg tonight Alexander, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Ferguson, Thomson, Hemdani, Davis, Whittaker, Darcheville. Good luck to the Gers!
Rangers to the final!
May 2, 2008
Ten man Rangers became the third British side this week to reach a European Cup final beating Fiorentina 4-2 on penalties last night after a 0-0 draw to seal a place in the Uefa Cup final.
The Italians dominated the game but were unable to grab a goal in the 120 minutes. Rangers had it tough in the extra time when Daniel Cousin was sent off for aiming a head butt.
In the penalty shootout Nacho Novo fired the winner after experienced Christian Vieri drove his kick over.
The Scots will now travel to The City of Manchester Stadium on the 14th of May to play Russian side Zenit St Petersburg. They also keep alive their hopes of winning four trophies this season.
Chelsea seal final place beating Liverpool
May 1, 2008
Chelsea last night secured a placed in the Champions League final beating Liverpool 3-2, going throught 4-3 on aggregate.
It was great game of football played out in the rain, Drogba gave the home side the lead in the first half. Liverpool hit back in the second half with Torres forcingthe game into extra time.
Lampard scored from the spot in extra time and Drogba grabbed his second on the match to make it 3-1. Bable grabed a late goal for the away side but Chelsea held firm.
They face Manchester United in the final in Moscow.
