The Official Football (Soccer) Thread

[K.Dub]

Arsenal face McClaren's FC Twente



Arsenal were handed an intriguing tie against former England boss Steve McClaren's FC Twente in the Champions League third qualifying round.

McClaren was appointed by the Dutch side in June this year, taking his first job since he was sacked by England in November 2007.

Liverpool have been drawn against Belgium's Standard Liege.

And Rangers will play the winner of the second-round match between Aalborg and Modrica if they can overcome Kaunas.

Rangers drew 0-0 at Ibrox in the first leg of their second round qualifier against the Lithuanian side on Wednesday and will play the return leg next week.

McClaren has pitted his wits against Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before, when he was in charge of Middlesbrough.

But it is unlikely he will relish retuning to England for a match that Arsenal will be strong favourites to win.

McClaren may not be the only coach returning to his native country as former Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch could be taking Danish champions Aalborg to Rangers.

Former Scotland captain Rioch's side have a 5-0 first-leg lead over Modrica so should make it through to the third qualifying round.

Liverpool, who were beaten by Chelsea in the semi-finals last year, will fancy their chances of getting past Standard Liege.

The Reds will play their first leg away from home - as will Arsenal and Rangers, too, provided the Glasgow side make it through.

Elsewhere in the draw, highly-fancied Barcelona will play either Beitar Jerusalem or Wisla Krakow and Italian giants Juventus face Tampere United or Artmedia Bratislava.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7535622.stm

'

Hahaha, McClaren is going down, again

[es-jay]

Hahaha, McClaren is going down, again

you-know-it

[Elano]

Finally Quaresma is almost a new F.C. Inter player 

[KURUPTION-81]

Finally Quaresma is almost a new F.C. Inter player 

any more details ?

[Elano]

Finally Quaresma is almost a new F.C. Inter player 

any more details ?

Today the porto's president has been interviewed by an italian sport newspaper

he said that quaresma can leave porto,not for 40 millions.....
i think quaresma will be sold for about 20 millions + a f.c.inter  young portughese player
the deal will probably be done in mid august

[Boo-Yaa †]

Cmon Kaunas

[Elano]

MADRID, Spain - Real Madrid has signed Hamburg captain Rafael van der Vaart, making him the Spanish champion's fifth Dutch player.

Hamburg confirmed the transfer in a statement on its website on Monday. It did not give details of the deal.

News reports said Madrid will pay 13 million euros (C$20.5 million) for Van der Vaart, who joins compatriots Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe.

"Rafael developed into a top European player at HSV," Hamburg sports director Dietmar Beiersdorfer said. "We wish him all the best for the future."

Earlier on Monday, Van der Vaart pre-empted Hamburg's announcement by announcing his move, describing it as "a dream comes true."


OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Real Madrid C.F. and Hamburg SV have reached an agreement for the 5-season transfer of Dutch player Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart to the former club. The agreement is subject to the player's medical examination and his signing of a federation contract.

Van der Vaart will be officially presented on Tuesday 5 August at 13:00 CET in the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

In other news,sneijder is out 3 months:
After an MRI on Monday morning, it was determined that Wesley Sneijder only damaged his left Internal Lateral Ligament and that his Anterior Cruciate Ligament remains fully intact. Sneijder is expected to miss three months, during which he will undergo orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation

[Elano]

Window Watch: Vedran Corluka, Gareth Barry, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur were last night on the verge of agreeing a £6.8 million fee to sign Vedran Corluka, which would take their spending on players this summer to more than £50 million.

The Croatia defender was used at right back by Manchester City last season, but Tottenham believe that he can replace Ledley King in the long term as a central-defensive partner for Jonathan Woodgate. Tottenham, who were unable to complete deals to sign Fernando Meira or Fabricio Coloccini, have been looking at more than one centre back because of fitness concerns about King and the erratic form of Michael Dawson last season.

Tottenham were interested in signing Corluka in the middle of last year and playing him at right back, but they did not follow up their interest with a firm bid and the player moved to City from Dynamo Zagreb for a fee approaching £8 million last summer. Tottenham then signed Alan Hutton, the right back, from Rangers in January.

Corluka’s proposed move is not without complications, but it is likely to go through. City are willing to sell a player who made 35 league appearances last season so that they can fund a move for a recognised right back. They have enough cover in central defence, with Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha, and Tal Ben-Haim, recently signed from Chelsea. Onuoha’s opportunities were restricted last season, after a 2006-07 campaign in which he had established himself in the first team, and he is attracting interest from several clubs.

Decent bets

Liverpool hope to complete a deal for Gareth Barry by the end of this week, possibly in time to play against Lazio in a friendly on Friday. The club are waiting for their American owners to transfer the money from the United States to meet the first instalment of Aston Villa’s £18 million price tag — although there was some anxiety at Anfield yesterday afternoon when the funds had not yet arrived. Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, has conceded defeat in trying to keep the England midfield player.

Villa are likely to use some of the proceeds to try to buy Nicky Shorey after they, and Sunderland, offered in the region of £1.5 million for the left back. Reading are holding out for at least double that fee after effectively conceding that the England player has to be sold because he has a year left on his contract. Zenit St Petersburg have said that they are waiting on Tottenham to increase their bid for Andrei Arshavin, the Russia playmaker, from £15.5 million to more than £20 million.

Dead certs

Blackburn Rovers have signed Danny Simpson on a season-long loan from Manchester United. The full back, 21, played eight times for United last season before a loan spell at Ipswich Town. Blackburn have given a trial to Anthony Annan with a view to the Ghana midfield player moving from IK Start, in Norway as well as Paul Baysse, the Bordeaux and France Under-20 central defender.

West Ham United have signed Jan Lastuvka, as a reserve goalkeeper, on a season-long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian club. Portsmouth have signed Omar Koroma, the Gambian forward, from Banjul Hawks on a two-year deal. The 18-year-old is likely to be loaned to a Coca-Cola Championship club.

Long shots

Robinho, the Real Madrid and Brazil forward, says that he is mulling over offers from several clubs, including Chelsea. “The season is just starting and I’ve been given some offers from other clubs. I have one from Chelsea, but we’re just discussing,” he said.

(times)

[KURUPTION-81]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists the transfer saga surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo is over and he will stay at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo's future at United has been the subject of constant speculation all summer with the Portuguese refusing to commit himself to the club.

Real Madrid have been waiting in the wings to swoop for Ronaldo with the Spanish giants not hiding their liking for the dazzling winger.

Reports in Spain have claimed Ronaldo would inform Ferguson he wanted to leave Old Trafford for Madrid when he returns to the club later this week to undergo treatment on his ankle injury.

Throughout the summer, Ferguson has remained adamant that last season's top scorer would not be leaving the club and the wily Scot insists the whole saga is now finished.

"The matter is closed now," said Ferguson on Sky Sports News.

"He is a Manchester United player, it's finished.

"He is going to play here believe me."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_3936787,00.html

Manchester United have said that they do not expect the Portuguese star to leave them and now Calderon has publicly stated that he also thinks this is the case.

"Van der Vaart is the first signing and probably the only one," said Calderon.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_3936450,00.html

[Canuck]

I can't believe how cheap Van der Vaart went fuckin Barry going for 18mill is a disgrace

[Furor Teutonicus]

I can't believe how cheap Van der Vaart went fuckin Barry going for 18mill is a disgrace

Players from the German BL are always cheap compared to players from Italy, Spain or England. Van der Vaart is a mercenary, Hamburg can be relieved he's gone.

[da_notorious_mack]

i really dont want to sign barry...we have mascherano alonso & gerrard...alonso has actually looked really sharp in pre season scdayorted a very good goal to


plus leiva and plessius are both ones for the future



ngog scored his 2nd in 2games as well....he hit 1in 16 @ psg...going to very interesting to see how he progreses



also pacheo will be a barcelona/mardid target in 3 years mark my words

[Paul]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahhahaha


rangers beten by hearts "b" squad


i heard easy jet is gonna be rangers new sponsor................ in and out of europe in 3 hours 

[Intriago33]

I can't believe how cheap Van der Vaart went fuckin Barry going for 18mill is a disgrace

Indeed, that's a very small fee for VDV.

[Canuck]

i really dont want to sign barry...we have mascherano alonso & gerrard...alonso has actually looked really sharp in pre season scdayorted a very good goal to


plus leiva and plessius are both ones for the future



ngog scored his 2nd in 2games as well....he hit 1in 16 @ psg...going to very interesting to see how he progreses



also pacheo will be a barcelona/mardid target in 3 years mark my words

I agree 100% we've already got so much depth in CM, we should be targeting a winger may'be Downing as I don't see us getting Silva

hopefully ngog can keep his pre-season form going into the reg. season could be a nice steal at 1.5m

and I also hope we keep benayoun, hes a solid player to have come off the bench and fill in if there are injuries

can't wait till the season starts!