Lampard signs five year deal with Chelsea
August 13, 2008
The Frank Lampard saga of whether he’ll stay with Chelsea or move to Inter Milan and reunite with Jose Mourinho has come to an end with the announcement that the England international has signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea.
Lampard’s new contract will keep him at Chelsea until 2014. Lampard’s refusal to sign a new deal during the summer led to speculation that he would leave the club, but he was merely holding out for a longer contract. Now the player has what he wanted it would seem.
Lampard signed for Chelsea in 2001 from his boyhood club West Ham in an £11 million deal. That seems like good business for Chelsea now after the success he has helped them to. Lampard, now 30, will be at Chelsea until he is 35 and expects to end his career at the club.
I see it as my final big contract and I will play out my days at Chelsea. I want to finish my career at Chelsea.
It is something I’ve said many times and, after signing this contract, I am very happy and positive I will finish as a player here.
I’ve had seven great seasons here and now I can have many more.
It’s been a difficult summer for many reasons and that was one of them. A lot of things were said that were untrue, some things were said that were slightly true… and that was frustrating.
Mark Hughes to be the first managerial casualty of the season?
August 13, 2008
The Premier League season is still a few days away from the big kick off, and news of the first Premier League casualty could be just as close. Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, who has yet to take charge of a league game with the club after joining in the summer from Blackburn, looks like he might be on the way out.
Hughes took over from former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson after the Swede was sacked despite leading City to one of their highest league finishes in years, and completing the double over bitter rivals Manchester United. Clearly the City hotseat isn’t one to get too comfortable in.
Now news has emerged that Sparky Hughes may not be making all of decisions after the clubs sold a player without his knowledge. Add to that the fact that the City owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, has apparently skipped court and has had a warrant issued for his arrest in his home country of Thailand.
Just what is going in at City? The season hasn’t even started yet and they’re in complete turmoil.
However, Hughes has dismissed reports that he’s on the verge of walking away from City, speaking on the club’s website:
There’s been a lot of rumours flying around but I am not going anywhere.
There is a job to do here and I am looking forward to it.
There is speculation around the club and that has been prevalent since I joined the club.
From my own point of view I am very focused on what I am about and what I aim to achieve here and that means success on the pitch.
Nothing whatsoever has changed in that respect and the football operation hasn’t changed since I signed for the club.
Nor has my relationship with Garry Cook and his team. We get on really well and continue to speak on a daily basis.
I am the guy that makes the decisions in relation to the football, and they make the decisions in relation to the running of the club.
There’s always a lot of betting on the first managerial casualty of the season, get your money on Sparky now I’d say!
Silva says no to Manchester United
August 12, 2008
David Silva, one of the stars of Spain’s victorious Euro 2008 team, has turned down Manchester United’s offer of joining the European Champions. United are desperate to bolster their attack with both Rooney and Ronaldo out for the start of the season, and Silva is the sort of attacking player that Sir Alex would dearly love at Old Trafford.
However Silva’s current employers, Valencia, have turned down the offer from United. According to reports, the £20 million rated striker would rather stay at Valencia, and would only consider leaving for either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Julio Llorente, Silva’s agent, stated:
United made an offer for David Silva, but this has been turned down by Valencia.
Silva doesn’t want to play in England because he is happy at Valencia. His family are settled and if he was to move it would only be to another Spanish club, like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
David Silva will start the new season at Valencia.
Silva has been linked with a host of clubs during the summer since his performances in the European championships. However he looks unlikely to move on as his current contract has another five years to run. Valencia don’t have to sell him, so any team wanting to prise him away would have to come up with a very big offer.
Ruud Gullit leaves LA Galaxy
August 11, 2008
It has to happen, no wins in seven games for Gullit as the boss of US major league soccer team LA Galaxy and he’s been shown the door. After the team spent countless millions on players, including the then England captain David Beckham, they’d expected success. It wasn’t forthcoming though, and as the Dutchman was one of the highest paid managers in the league he paid the price.
Both Gullit and former USA international Alexi Lalas, the general manager of LA Galaxy, have been shown the door.
Gullit is trying to put a brave face on things, citing ‘personal reasons’ for his leaving. The fact the team hasn’t managed a win in seven games is more likely the reason.
Beckham joined LA Galaxy last summer in a five-year deal that is reported to be worth more than £130 million. With that sort of cash flying round you’re expected to get results and Galaxy have failed to do that so far this season.
Another former US international, Cobi Jones, will be Gullit’s temporary replacement.
United win the season curtain raiser
August 11, 2008
Manchester United triumphed in an uneventful opener to the Premier League season by defeating FA Cup holders Portsmouth 3-1 on penalties.
United had much the better of the game, dominating Pompy at times, but couldn’t make the most of their chances. In the shootout in was Portsmouth who faltered in front of goal, missing three penalties, handing victory to the Premiership champions.
For United, both Darren Fletcher and Carlos Tevez missed gilt edged chances for United, with David James in fine form. With Rooney and Ronaldo both absent today, and from the first game of the season next Sunday against Newcastle, it was clear from today’s performance that United need more firepower upfront.
Giggs was partnering Tevez in attack, but made little impact on the Portsmouth defence. Creating chances wasn’t United’s problem; it was finishing them they were having trouble with.
Nani looked impressive the whole game, but all too often his work lacked an end product.
League Two sides face Conference battle
August 11, 2008
League Two sides Rotherham United and Bournemouth are expected to have their seventeen point deductions confirmed within the next few days which will see the plunge to the foot of the table.
Only Luton Town , who were deducted thirty points before the season started will occupy a lower position in the Football League as all three teams face a fight for their survival.
Rotherham are no strangers to points deductions after they were forced to accept a ten point penalty during the 2006/07 season – which ultimately cost them their place within League One. Bournemouth however can feel slightly more aggrieved at the severity of the deduction due to the fact that although close to it several times, administration had previously been avoided.
For fans of the two clubs, this season is set to be a long crusade against Conference football yet they have Leeds United as role models after fighting back from a fifteen point deduction only to lose the League One play off final to Doncaster Rovers.
My own thoughts are that the thirty point deduction imposed on Luton will send them to the Conference whilst Bournemouth and Rotherham will do just about enough to escape. Time will tell but it is a shame that the leagues are no longer the actual football which is being played.
Is Rafa at odds with owners over Barry?
August 10, 2008
Just what is the problem with Gareth Barry’s transfer to Liverpool? The player wants to go, Benitez wants him at Liverpool and Villa are resigned to losing him for £18 million.
So why hasn’t the deal gone through?
The reason seems to be the American owners of Liverpool FC, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. According to reports it is they who refuse to meet Villa’s £18 valuation, even though Rafa Benitez believes the player is worth it.
Rick Parry, the Liverpool chairman, confirms that the American owners don’t believe the valuation is fair:
On this occasion Liverpool think the price quoted is too high.
According to some reports from with Anfield, Benitez and the American owners of Liverpool have argued over the transfer, though Parry insists that both Hicks and Gillette are willing to trust and back the manager’s decisions.
This is not about questioning the manager’s judgement or the ability of a particular player.
The owners have clearly demonstrated throughout the year they are willing to back Rafa in the transfer market and will continue to do so.
It is obviously the selling club’s prerogative to put whatever price they want on the player, but on this occasion Liverpool think the price quoted is too high.
With just six days of the pre-season left, the summer’s most public transfer looks likely to run on.
Thatcher to join the Hammers?
August 10, 2008
When it comes to unpopular footballers, Ben Thatcher must be right up there near the top, and not because he shares a surname with the second most hated woman in England (after Heather Mills of course). No, Thatcher was the player who elbowed Pedro Mendes in the face, sending the player to hospital. It was a brutal challenge that landed in Thatcher receiving a six-match ban.
Now it seems the brutal Welsh defender could be joining the Hammers, as Alan Curbishley looks to cover for his injured players. He is currently without a recognised leftback after two players picked up injuries.
Thatcher played in the Hammers’ friendly against Villarreal yesterday, and was universally booed by the West Ham fans.
Curbishley however remains undaunted at Thatcher’s apparent lack of popularity.
We’ve a few injury niggles at the back and I am looking for some experienced cover.
Ben is steady but he has a couple of clubs interested in him and I will have to have a think about it.
With Jonathan Spector and George McCartney both injured, Thatcher may get his chance at the Premiership once more, which spells bad news for any opposing right-wingers.
Benitez drops hint on new arrival at Anfield
August 9, 2008
The on-off transfer of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa to Liverpool could still be on, despite the sticking price of the fee that the two clubs fail to agree on. Liverpool still want to sign Barry, Barry still wants to sign for Liverpool and Villa manager Martin O’Neill has admitted he expects Barry to leave.
Benitez said he still expects to sign another player before the Premier League kicks off next week, though refused to name the player.
When speaking about the transfer fee over Gareth Barry, Benitez stated:
The situation is not a question of money.
He is English and can play three different positions, but I am talking about someone who can play on the left.
I am talking about one player, but I won’t say the name.
It was thought that the Spanish international Xabi Alonso would make way for Barry at Anfield, but now it appears that Alonso will be staying.
We have a good player (Alonso) and we have another good player coming in soon.
We can improve the squad, so we will try to do that. We will bring in one more player if we can.
I do not know when but clearly we have problems on the left, Kewell has gone, Aurelio is injured and Leto cannot get a work permit.
The next seven days before the start of the season will be very interesting to see who comes in and who goes out for each Premiership side.
Rooney out for start of season
August 6, 2008
Wayne Rooney will miss the start of the Premier League season for Manchester United because of a virus he picked up in Nigeria. United’s opening game is on the Sunday against Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle, and they’ll be without both Rooney and Ronaldo after the Portuguese player had surgery on his ankle in the summer.
Rooney’s virus was picked up on the pre-season tour of Nigeria. Rooney hasn’t set foot on the training field since falling ill.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson stated:
I doubt Wayne will be fit for the start of the season.
It’s a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it’s not a nice one. He’s not been back in training yet.
According to Ferguson, the whole United squad were vaccinated before they left for Nigeria and they’ve had to have vaccinations for Yellow Fever in the last 10 years.
The absence of players for United means that Newcastle may fancy their chances in the opening game at Old Trafford, and King Kev will surely love it if they beat them!
