[Archived] Other Premier League Happenings

[Hughesy]

Taino, Kaboul and Malbranque for £8m id say. Probably at least another £3m for Chimbonda

[LeChuck]

Interesting to see how Arsenal's midfield will shape up with Gilberto, Hleb and Flamini all gone. Nasri seems to be a Pires type, so unless Diaby or Denilson can come on strong they'll need to spend some more.

I bet they regret letting Diarra go in January. Equally, I bet he regrets leaving because he undoubtedly would have been given quite a lot of first-team football at the Emirates next season.

[cn174]

Stoke have just paid £5.5m for Dave Kitson from Reading. Not sure how many goals he scored in 2 years in the premiership, but it wasn't that many!

[joey_big_nose]

Stoke have just paid £5.5m for Dave Kitson from Reading. Not sure how many goals he scored in 2 years in the premiership, but it wasn't that many!

I like him, decent player with height and ability. 5.5m is a bit steep.

If anyone can sign Malbranque, Kaboul and Tainio for 8m that is decent business. Kaboul is quality ruined by Spurs, Tainio is solid if unspectacular, Malbranque is genuinely a very good player (its a toss up who was the best Spurs midfeilder last term between him and Jenas - suprised they are letting him go....).

All three seem like guys who could flourish away from WHL.

[philipl]

If Sunderland sign the Spuds 4, that will be a significant step forwards in quality for Sunderland. IF....

[philipl]

Spuds accepted Sunderland's offer for the 4 but they don't want to go. Oh dear....

My prediction that Chelsea will sign Kaka has moved forwards with a report that they are bidding £79m for him. This was the cash they were going to gazump Real Madrid for Ronaldo with so perhaps Real will up the squeeze on Man U if Kaka moves.

But Abramovich has his sixth superyacht in build for a cool $200m+ so why not Kaka and Ronaldo?

'Arry at Pompey has said he now needs to sell in order to buy. That's putting Kaboul in a funny position.

[67splitscreen]

Duff back in business. Maybe.

Damien Duff netted a hat-trick in the pre-season match and summer signing Danny Guthrie also scored with the aid of a deflection.

4-1 win hartlepool.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I see Villa are struggling in their Intertoto match, they were 1-0 up but an own goal by sidwell has made it level.

[brfcshabba]

I see Villa are struggling in their Intertoto match, they were 1-0 up but an own goal by sidwell has made it level.

Odense are getting a lot of crosses in the Villa area. Villa will probably nick a lucky winner

[scotchrover]

I see Villa are struggling in their Intertoto match, they were 1-0 up but an own goal by sidwell has made it level.

Villa will struggle this year unless they bring in at least 4/5 players. There squads to small for them to be able to compete in europe and after playing in europe, they will struggle in the prem as they won't be able to freshen things up.

[gumboots]

Villa will struggle this year unless they bring in at least 4/5 players. There squads to small for them to be able to compete in europe and after playing in europe, they will struggle in the prem as they won't be able to freshen things up.

They certainly need a new rightback. good job we don't have one or they'd be trying to buy him too.

[frosty]

Odense are getting a lot of crosses in the Villa area. Villa will probably nick a lucky winner

It finished 2-2. I'd laugh if they got knocked out!

[gumboots]

It finished 2-2. I'd laugh if they got knocked out!

If the Danes had had a class striker or even a slightly above average one Villa would already be out. In the second half they were creating so much down their left wing, it was unbelievable.

[67splitscreen]

and malbranque , not bad though for 8 million, but nicko saidit was only 3 players that were on the plane home

One was in the baggage hold, shortage of cash al round it seems.

[Blue blood]

I'm not sure what Keane is doing at sunderland, he seems to be buying and bidding for players for fun. His latest turn on champ manager is quite an interesting one, wanting 4 spuds players. Although Kaboul "wouldn't go to Sunderland if there was an earthquake" according to his agent, so I doubt he'll go. According to the papers, quite a few other clubs are in for Chimbonda and Malbranque so that could leave them getting squad player Taninio.

What with all the clubs stalling on their signings and needing their money, I've a feeling we won't be seeing completed squads at the start of the season, and the transfer merry-go-round will continue in full swing until the transfer window closes. The club that manages to get it's transfer business done before the start of the season, could well be in an advantagious position for the rest of the season (settling in, more time working with the players etc).

[67splitscreen]

I'm not sure what Keane is doing at sunderland, he seems to be buying and bidding for players for fun. His latest turn on champ manager is quite an interesting one, wanting 4 spuds players. Although Kaboul "wouldn't go to Sunderland if there was an earthquake" according to his agent, so I doubt he'll go. According to the papers, quite a few other clubs are in for Chimbonda and Malbranque so that could leave them getting squad player Taninio.

What with all the clubs stalling on their signings and needing their money, I've a feeling we won't be seeing completed squads at the start of the season, and the transfer merry-go-round will continue in full swing until the transfer window closes. The club that manages to get it's transfer business done before the start of the season, could well be in an advantagious position for the rest of the season (settling in, more time working with the players etc).

Hull could be top then end of august.

[RevidgeBlue]

Roy Hodgson wants Louis Saha according to today's NOTW.

[gumboots]

Roy Hodgson wants Louis Saha according to today's NOTW.

Maybe he's worried his physio's getting bored?

[Veevs]

This has got to be an interesting season ahead.. so looking forward to seeing what else happens before the season starts as it stands though..

Arsenal seem to be loosing more players than they get and not replacing them, Liverpool are apparently skint, Newcastle not spending.. hell it looks like most teams are skint or spending daft money on unknown or mediocre players (Elmander, Kitson et al)

Only stand out transfers I can see so far are Nasri, modric, dos Santos, Digard and Crouch.

Should be pretty interesting couple of weeks ahead i have a feeling all hell will break loose with a proper chain of transfers that are more than likely to start with the spuds.. I really cant see the Arse starting next season with such a limited squad, ManU are bound to spend big on one player, Chelsea are going to make one big signing at least this summer, Villa still await barry saga, Pool are sitting on some cash now with the sale of crouch.. It's definitly a case of who goes where and who fires the starting gun.

As for the others the likes of Hull, Wigan, West Brom, Stoke, West Ham, Bolton, Fulham, Middlesbrough.. their signings are hardly filling me with dread

Suprised though what with the increased bench this season it seems not many teams are really throwing much at having stronger squads.

Feeling pretty positive so far, looks like we have a few decent little players coming our way... and hell we have not sold just yet I also have the feeling that the league looks weaker this season than it has for a long while, our squad is looking pretty strong (touch wood) and everyone else seems to be holding on to the purse strings.

Roll on the new season, as long as we keep Cruz we should be doing ok

[gumboots]

This has got to be an interesting season ahead.. so looking forward to seeing what else happens before the season starts as it stands though..

Arsenal seem to be loosing more players than they get and not replacing them, Liverpool are apparently skint, Newcastle not spending.. hell it looks like most teams are skint or spending daft money on unknown or mediocre players (Elmander, Kitson et al)

Only stand out transfers I can see so far are Nasri, modric, dos Santos, Digard and Crouch.

Should be pretty interesting couple of weeks ahead i have a feeling all hell will break loose with a proper chain of transfers that are more than likely to start with the spuds.. I really cant see the Arse starting next season with such a limited squad, ManU are bound to spend big on one player, Chelsea are going to make one big signing at least this summer, Villa still await barry saga, Pool are sitting on some cash now with the sale of crouch.. It's definitly a case of who goes where and who fires the starting gun.

As for the others the likes of Hull, Wigan, West Brom, Stoke, West Ham, Bolton, Fulham, Middlesbrough.. their signings are hardly filling me with dread

Suprised though what with the increased bench this season it seems not many teams are really throwing much at having stronger squads.

Feeling pretty positive so far, looks like we have a few decent little players coming our way... and hell we have not sold just yet I also have the feeling that the league looks weaker this season than it has for a long while, our squad is looking pretty strong (touch wood) and everyone else seems to be holding on to the purse strings.

Roll on the new season, as long as we keep Cruz we should be doing ok

Think most teams are looking to get a couple of younger players on their bench. Get them used to the match atmosphere to start with and give them a feel of the ground and the crowd etc before you actually give them playing time. It's a gentle way to break youngsters in.

[Veevs]

Think most teams are looking to get a couple of younger players on their bench. Get them used to the match atmosphere to start with and give them a feel of the ground and the crowd etc before you actually give them playing time. It's a gentle way to break youngsters in.

True, I kind of figured a few teams may take the chance to use the new seven man sub setup to allow for greater flexibility though.. you don't need to just cover set positions anymore (Gk, DEF, MID, ATT + 1) you can have a few wild cards in there to shake up the formation <shrug> just my thought anyways.

[Eddie]

Digard will be a good signing. Boro are looking good for next year.

[philipl]

Agree re Boro- they have made two little heralded smart signings and if Alves and Mido really are fit, could have one of the better forward lines in the Prem. Plus the two wingers will be that bit older and better if Southgate can persuade them to play on opposite sides of the field.

The Guardian report that Moyes and Keegan have bewailed their needs for multiple new signings and lack of cash.

And it really does seem that Wenger is on a small budget at Arsenal as foreign clubs pile in to strip the Emirates of van Persie, Fabregas et al, apparently. That one puzzles me but with the stalemate threeways over ownership, I guess they cannot do anything new about their finances.

[4ever&ever]

Sky Sports News are reporting that there was a 100 man brawl between rival fans at the West Ham v Columbus Crew game last night.

Might have something to do with their reputation in the U.S after Green Street ?.

Found a link.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008...wl-westham.html

[modes98]

The best thing in that picture is the CC fan in the bandana who has obviously just stood there, arms folded, whilst the WHU fans have gone past him and left him untouched.

AC: "We wanted to show people what we're about.", You certainly did that Alan, shame the FA will do nothing about this whatsoever as it's WHU.