• Home
• About
• Contributors
• Contact Us
• Advertising

• Premiership
• Championship
• League One
• League Two
• Non League
• FA Cup
• Internationals
• Forum

Subscribe

David Bentley on verge of joining Spurs?

Tottenham have just lost Robbie Keane to Liverpool, and the position of Berbatov looks questionable, but they’re still looking to strengthen and shake their image of being a selling club. With that, they’re rumoured to be in talks with Blackburn and England winger David Bentley.

Bentley of course is a former Gunner, having joined Blackburn from Arsenal in 2005.

According to Blackburn, they are negotiating with Tottenham over the sale of Bentley, however they haven’t accepted a bid for the player.

Bentley is just 23, and wants to emulate former England captain David Beckham and make the England right flank position his own, and he believes to do that he needs to leave Ewood Park and join a ‘bigger club’.

Blackburn value Bentley somewhere in the region of £17 million, which is a price that no club has yet met.

Liverpool sign £20 million Keano

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane has joined his boyhood idols Liverpool for a fee that could climb as high as £20 million, depending on appearances.

28 year-old Keane had his medical at Anfield this weekend and penned a four-year contract, which should earn him £80,000 per week.

The actual fee is reported to be £19 million, with a further £1.3 million over the next few years.

Tottenham had originally reported Liverpool for an illegal approach to Keane, but have decided to drop that claim following the transfer of the Irishman. Also Liverpool have apologised for their approach, which Spurs have posted on their website:

Liverpool FC have acknowledged that the way its website reported comments of its manager, which were widely covered by the media, was inappropriate.

In light of that acknowledgement (they) have apologised and agreed to make a donation to our Club’s main charity, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

Tottenham Hotspur has therefore agreed not to pursue its official complaint to the Premier League.

Liverpool should mark the end in an extraordinary journey for the great traveller, Robbie Keane, who has played for Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds United and Tottenham. He has always commanded a high transfer fee, and has scored goals wherever he has played.

Keane was Liverpool’s top target this summer to replace Peter Crouch, who went to Pompey.
Keane spoke of his thanks to Tottenham for his time at the club:

I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date.

I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding, that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn’t let pass me by.

I hope one day the Spurs fans, who have been brilliant to me, can understand this too.

I have only good things to say about my time at Tottenham and expect them to go from strength to strength under Juande Ramos and Daniel Levy.

Liverpool have now splashed out nearly £32 million this summer, with Keane being the most expensive and highest profile signing so far.

Brad’s a Villain now

Former Liverpool and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel has completed his move to Aston Villa in the summer’s big goalkeeper merry-go-round. Scott Carson, who was in goal for Villa last season (on loan from Liverpool), has signed for West Brom. Meanwhile Paul Robinson has left Tottenham and signed for Blackburn.

This was to cover for the fact that Blackburn’s Brad Friedel wanted to leave, and has now signed for Villa for a reported £2 million, although the actual price is undisclosed.

Manchester City were also chasing Friedel, as naturally their new manager Mark Hughes knew what a great keeper Brad was last season with Blackburn.

Friedel spoke of his move to Villa:

I’ve really got the feeling this club is going places and that’s the main reason why I’m here.

I know there was a lot going on in the press about Manchester City but from day one it was always Aston Villa.

Friedel has been an excellent goalkeeper in his 8 years at Blackburn, making 287 appearances for the club.

Friedel wanted to move to Villa largely because of Martin O’Neill:

The fans and everyone at the club have been terrific with me.

In saying that I’m really excited to be here at Aston Villa. Being able to work with these players, with Martin O’Neill and with Mr (Randy) Lerner (club owner) is exciting for me.

Martin was the main factor in my moving to Villa. I know a lot has been said about my Cleveland connection and my United States connection with Mr Lerner. I have spoken to him and he’s a fantastic guy.

But it was all down to Martin and the ambition of the club, also Martin’s relationship with his chairman, the tremendous players here and the other players they want to bring in to make the squad bigger, stronger and better.

Aston Villa were ever so professional in the manner that they dealt with everything and I couldn’t be happier. I’m very pleased to be here.

Keegan to stick with scrapper Barton

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan says he’s going to offer jailed midfielder Joey Barton a second chance at Newcastle United.

Barton is expected to be let out of jail next week, serving part of a 6 month sentence for an assault outside a Liverpool branch of McDonalds.

Keegan spoke in support of Barton:

People have opinions, and you must respect those, but mine is to give him another chance and back him.

There are a lot of things he needs to put right - but I think he can do it.

In addition to his current sentence, Barton also has a suspended sentence hanging over him for an assault on a former teammate while at Manchester City.

Joey will be back with us towards the end of this month.

It’s well documented he’s had his problems, but I knew of them when I took over. He’s served his sentence, he’s been punished for what he did wrong.

The world is littered with people that have been given a second chance and taken it with both hands.

I told him as long as from now on he did things right and started to rebuild the confidence of people around him, I would stick by him.

The Joey Barton that we had in the last couple of months of the season was a much-changed character.

I’m hoping that he’ll come back and we’ll get him fit. It’s up to Joey to put things right now - he’s got to win over a lot of people.

Many of the Newcastle fans however are no so much in support of Barton. He will face a lot of stick from his home support, never mind the abuse he’ll face at away games. Barton needs to put in some great performances on the pitch now if he’s to put all of this behind him.

Robinson signs for Blackburn

England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has put an end to his awful year by signing a five-year contract with Blackburn Rovers, who have paid his former club Tottenham Hotspur £3.5 million for his signature.

Robinson’s form last season was a constant source of worry as he lost his place in the England side and in the Spurs team. A series of errors not only cost him dear, but also cost England dear in qualification for Euro 2008. The signing of Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes by Tottenham from PSV Eindhoven marked the end of Robinson’s Spurs career.

Robinson looks set to be Blackburn’s number one, as Brad Friedel seems destined to sign for Aston Villa in the summer goalkeeper merry-go-round. Robinson becomes the first signing for new Rovers boss Paul Ince.

It all started so well for Robinson when he signed for Spurs from Leeds in 2004 for £1.5m (as Leeds lost their place in the Premiership) and then made in his England debut just a few weeks later. He played in the 2006 World Cup for England, keeping 4 clean sheets in England’s 5 games.

It all started to go wrong for Robinson in Croatia as England lost 2-0, with Robinson conceding an own goal to Gary Neville.

Sulley Muntari looks to join Inter for £12.7 million

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.

Fergie begins mind games with Big Phil

The season is some weeks off yet but Sir Alex Ferguson is already underway with the mind games. Speaking in an interview the canny Scott has already written off Chelsea’s title challenge for next season, insisting that Scolari’s team are too old to improve.

Instead Ferguson believes that Liverpool and Arsenal are more of a challenge. This is clearly Sir Alex chancing his arm with Big Phil early on, seeing if he can poke a reaction from the Brazilian.

Fergy stated:

Chelsea are an experienced side and I don’t see outstanding progress coming from a team in their 30s.

I wouldn’t write off Liverpool or Arsenal. It has been understated what Arsenal achieved last season.

They suffered injuries at a bad time, Arsenal - in February they lost most of their midfield.

Who is to say that it would not have been closer if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit?

Ferguson’s intentions are obvious, even to newcomers to the game, as he obviously will be very wary of Chelsea and will consider them his main challengers. Especially after the blues have spent £24 million on two Portuguese players, Deco and Bosingwa.

Fergie however went onto say that Chelsea will find it hard to improve, even with the experienced Scolari at the helm.

I’m not concerned about Chelsea, I just don’t know how far that team has got to go.

They have lots of experience and big-game temperament and in a sense Scolari is fortunate, joining a big club with a team of internationals.

Robbie Williams to miss Unicef game

Stoke’s finest, and ardent Port Vale fan, Robbie Williams has picked up a knee injury that will keep him out of a Unicef charity game rematch against chef Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Rest of the World’ side.

The original game took place in 2006 where Robbie’s England IX defeated Ramsay’s rest of the World, despite Ramsay having Diego Maradonna in their line up.

The rematch is scheduled for September 7th and will be held at Wembley, screened on ITV and hosted by Ant and Dec. Both sides will feature 11 celebs, and 5 former professional footballers. The idea for the game was thought up by Robbie Williams and his friend Jonathan Wilkes.

Robbie spoke of his disappointment at missing the game:

Being able to help so many people through Soccer Aid was one of the true highlights of my life.

I’m gutted that this time around my knee isn’t up to it so, unfortunately, I’m out of the game.

Robbie’s replacement hasn’t been chosen yet, but his are a sizable pair of boots to fill. Whoever it is will have to captain a side featuring Alan Shearer, Jamie Redknap and Gareth Gates???

Ramsay’s team features former United legend Peter Schmeichel. The first game was won by Robbie’s team 2-1, despite Maradonna scoring a penalty, and raised a staggering £2.6 million for charity.

Petr Cech commits to Chelsea

Petr Cech, hailed by many as the best goalkeeper in the World, has signed a new deal with Premiership outfit Chelsea keeping him at the Bridge until 2013. It was rumoured earlier in the season that he may leave the London club and move abroad in a proposed £32 million deal.

Cech said about his new deal at the Bridge:

It is an honour to be at a club like Chelsea and I am happy to have renewed my contract.

Chelsea has grown in my heart, not just because of my team-mates and all the people that work for the club but also because of their fantastic fans.

Cech had just two years left on his current contract, but has now extended that by another three years.

In his 166 appearances for Chelsea, he has kept 90 clean sheets, making him the envy of every club in the World.

Luiz Felipe Scolari (Big Phil) stated about his new (re)signing:

I am delighted that Petr has signed a new contract.

In my view he is the best goalkeeper in the world, so I am very pleased that he will remain with me at Chelsea.

Fergie to lead team GB?

Lord Sebastian Coe has stated that he would like Sir Alex Ferguson to lead the Great Britain football team in the 2012 Olympics, to be held in London. Lord Coe says he has already spoken to Ferguson about the idea, saying he’s by far the best man for the job.

I would love to have him there because he is a phenomenal coach and a great man manager.

Who else would you want to have that mentoring role with under 23 players for a build-up to the games?

We have had a few conversations, but I stress that it is for the British Olympic Association and the Football Association to make that judgement and I leave it with them.

The idea of having a Great Britain team has been very controversial, as it means players from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would have to play together, and the football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fear that having a joint GB team could compromise their status.

Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, has already gone down on record as stating that a GB team would be better if it just included players from England.

Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 Winning Is Everything - XML Sitemap