Football News Roundup – August 08 – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham
Some ridiculous rumours are going around (especially ones involving Franc Ribery and William Gallas). This week should also see some transfer activity in the top 3 (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United).
Manchester United News
Manchester United may not be buying a striker this summer after it was made clear that Rossi would be staying at Old Trafford instead of moving out on loan. Ferguson is perhaps the only one who has faith in his current crop of strikers to score the goals we need to win the Premiership and to get into the knockout stages of the CL.
What we ARE doing is trying to finalise deals for Senna and Kuszczak. Senna is expected to cost around 4 mil, while Kuszczak could come for 3 mil.
Ben Foster could still go out on loan this summer if Kuszczak comes in, while Smith, who has made a remarkable recovery and could be fit to play for Manchester United before September starts, would be freed up to play up front if Senna joins.
What about Diarra, Tevez, Ribery etc? Not coming guys, not coming. In reality, the most likely capture of this lot would be Ribery, and that too if we were to sell Ronaldo. But that’s not happening.
Lee Martin has been linked to a possible loan move to the Rangers – it would be an excellent chance to develop the kid but I think pushing Martin up into Fletcher’s position as replacement midfielder would be a better idea.
Solskjaer‘s recall for Norway is going to annoy the hell out of Ferguson – however, like Keano, Solskjaer wants nothing more than to represent his country and that means putting his knee at risk. Oh well…
Arsenal News
The Guardian is claiming (quite vociferously) that Ribery is set to join Arsenal this week. I have serious doubts about this, as it was made clear earlier that Ribery wanted to stay in France (and thus go to Lyon), but footballers are very fickle and the French connection between Henry and Wenger on one end and Ribery on the other is too juicy a story not to run with. The price is mooted at 13.5 mil, and the key to this move would be Reyes moving on to Real Madrid.
The thing is, why would Capello take Reyes over Ribery? Real Madrid could easily outbid Arsenal over the right winger and while Madrid need a left-sided player, Ribery can play as an attacking midfielder or on the left as well.
Wenger’s ‘deadline’ for Cole is nothing more than a confirmation that the deal is expected to take place this week. It also means that Arsenal could be in for a flurry of activity, with two players going out and one player coming in, with a defender due before the end of the month.
The Arsenal-Gallas rumours are cute, but there’s no basis to them. The Guardian has linked Gallas to Real Madrid, but by this point they’d link anyone to Madrid, so there’s little to believe in that story. Unless someone bids for the player (like Arsenal, United, Madrid and Lyon have bid for Ribery), there won’t be any change to the situation.
Other News
Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in signing either Tevez or Obafemi Martins. Tevez is unsettled at the Corinthians after troubles with the crowds, while Martins is rumoured to have submitted a transfer request after Crespo’s arrival at Inter. Nothing concrete there, so no idle speculation except the fact that hearing Portsmouth linked with Martins was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Actually, scratch that, I read something worse yesterday:
Apparently, Tottenham have been linked with both Ribery and Gallas. The 13 mil initial payment they got for Carrick is sizeable enough to make bids for either player, but considering that both Ribery and Gallas have stated that they want to play in the Champions League…ok, screw that, who really, really thinks that either player would willingly come to Tottenham? Let me know in the comments.
Sol Campbell – he of Arsenal and Tottenham fame – has been heavily linked with Portsmouth amongst rumours that he’s undergone a medical for them. However, Manchester City may make a last-ditch attempt to sign him. Should be interesting to see where Campbell ends up, and good luck to his new club.
One last word on the Martins rumour – United would be far more likely to move for him, and he would be an excellent signing for us and would compete with Saha for the 2nd striker’s spot. We’re all dreaming, right?
The Guardian isn’t ALL trash – Kevin McCarra talks about the trend in football to put ridiculous price-tags on average players and ‘holding’ to that position for no good reason. A good read, here’s the link. Another good article this morning was Richard Williams’ piece on why O’Neill’s appointment at Villa Park could damage United’s chances of replacing Ferguson. I agree that O’Neill would make an excellent replacement, but people have been too quick to blame Ferguson. Oh well, more on this later.
Topics: Arsenal, Chelsea, General Football News, Manchester United, Tottenham
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well, if rossi, dong and the other young midfielders from our youth team cannot win us a trophy this season, then they probably will win it for us next season.
August 8th, 2006 @ 14:45what’s the point in buying another striker if we don’t give our youth players a chance?
that’s why i think buying senna is a good move cause he’ll last for about2 years and after that maybe a youngster from our youth team can take over.
we’ll have to take this gamble and stick to our squad and buy a minimum number of expensive players every season(hopefully none in the future, cause it looks like we’ve some good youngsters comin through).
maybe i’m being too optimistic about out club, but i still think that’s the right way out club should be run.
Ribery is crap anyway if you watched world cup matches involving France Live in Germany you would know that! and as for Gallas well could name lot of English players who are far better.
August 8th, 2006 @ 17:01well, you asked for comments on the gallas and ribery situations, namely about WHY they would come to spurs. if they are of the ambitious mould of player, they may well want to come. berbatov (who snubbed man u- for whatever reason) you can say all you want that he’d have been benched at old trafford… but i doubt that it is the case. who do you have that would better partner rooney? no disrespect to saha or ole intended but i reckon berby would have been ideal to replace ruud. then theres zakora. snubbed arsenal and i feel it is the same situation with him, he see’s a club in transition and the chance to become not just a spurs favourite, but a legend if he is part of the spurs team that bring us back to contention for honours on a regular basis. to be honest i dont see ribery as a player who wants to join a revolution as much as he would want to be the icing on an already contending teams cake if you know what i mean. gallas…. well if we get chimbo at right back, we have ekotto (looks good from what i’ve seen) at left back, then we could have a little french defence to lure gallas into…. doubt it tho…. also ekotto is reported to want to represent cameroon anyway as he has dual nationality and its his parents homeland i believe. well i think you already got more than you bargained for with this looooong old comment so i’ll leave it there. COME ON YOU SPURS
August 8th, 2006 @ 17:21Dennis – I think you were watching the wrong World Cup. Ribery and Gallas had very good World Cups, and as far as Gallas is concerned, yes, he’s at par with the top English defenders (although is attitude leaves a little to be desired).
spursman – honestly, one good season doesn’t make you a good team. Spurs are on the upward trajectory, I’m sure of that, so is Liverpool. but the difference is that you guys didn’t finish that far above Blackburn and Newcastle, and you’re calling this a good season, whereas Arsenal had their worst finish in ages and they still finished a shade above.
My point? Keep things in perspective. Ribery and Gallas want Champions League football, and Tottenham isn’t getting them that. Arsenal and United may ‘seem’ like in a crisis, but you wouldn’t know until the season started. Right now, both are in the Champions League and Tottenham isn’t.
I’ve always said this – I really like Tottenham but you guys need a serious reality check.
August 8th, 2006 @ 18:09we’ve never say that Spurs are better than any of that top4 but I am sure it is never easy if top4 can earn any point from us and we will prove it again this season.
August 8th, 2006 @ 18:22We are happy with what we have.We are doing ok so wait for us we might come slow but sure and god I am very happy that Man upay that much money for carrick 55
Sp*rsman, if you even read Zokora’s quotes instead of just the headlines, Arsenal never even bid for Zokora. Not to say I wouldn’t have liked Wenger to sign him, and that Sp*rs couldn’t have stolen a march as they had reportedly been working on a deal for him for months, but it looks rather that Jol and Comolli wanted him more than Wenger did. Keep rambling, and you’ll eventually get to a point.
August 8th, 2006 @ 21:41sin, i think you are takin what i’m saying in the wrong context. possibly the “one good season doesnt make spurs a good team” stuff is about the challenging for honours part i wrote. i didnt mean the premiership if thats what you think. just cups. thats all i can think of that you could take the wrong way. if thats not it…. you’re probably boxing me in to a type of tunnel visioned fan stereotype. which couldnt be further from the truth. and yes i ramble. so what? it entertains me when i’m stoned. you pedant.
August 9th, 2006 @ 06:55