Mulva;840386 wrote:I think the Dutch are close with some combination of Robben, van Persie, and Huntelaar.

True...Van Persie is a monster

SportsAndLady;840400 wrote:True...Van Persie is a monster

When he's healthy...

Todays Tidbits with some good news for S&L

Villa get Ashley Young Replacement

It is understood the fee for the former Newcastle player has finally been agreed between the two clubs although no official confirmation of the deal has been made yet by either club.

It is believed a compromise deal has been struck after Wigan rejected Villa's initial offer of £9million.

N'Zogbia, who has a year left on his Wigan deal, is expected to hold talks over personal terms and undergo a medical in the next 24 hours once the deal has been officially rubber-stamped between the clubs.

Keep your mouth shut?

David Beckham has publicly recommended his former club Manchester United to sign Inter's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

"He's such a talented player, a great guy as well, and I'm sure he would fit right into a Manchester United team. He could do a job there, without a doubt," said the LA Galaxy midfielder in an interview with The Guardian.

Sneijder, who has been at Inter since 2009, has insisted he is very happy with his life there, but everything could change if Manchester United comes calling.

Aguero one step closer to City...What does this mean for Tevez?

Sergio Aguero continues with his personal battle with Atletico Madrid his current employers. The Argentine forward already told the club he was not coming back to play there after Copa America and he kept his promise as he didn't show up at training on Sunday with the rest of his teammates.

"Roberto Mancini [Manchester City manager] also said he hoped the Sergio Aguero deal would be completed in 'four or five days', wrote The Guardian's Daniel Taylor on Twitter.

We have been following this case since it started and according to Rumor Central sources, Aguero will play for Manchester City next season. Is this only a matter of time now?

Sao Paolo must be crazy

Manchester United has reportedly shown interested in Brazilian youngster Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva, who is already being followed by Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The 18-year-old playmaker who plays for Sao Paulo and was part of Brazil Copa America squad and won the South American U20 Championship earlier this year is considered one of the hottest properties in South America.

So much so that Sky Sports suggest Sao Paulo's asking price for Lucas would be a staggering $114 million.

Border Run Ok. Ok. I'm sorry

Udinese is keen on signing Giovani Dos Santos after Alexis Sanchez was sold to Barcelona, but the Mexican starlet seems to be on his way to Sevilla in Spain.

Without chances to play regularly at his club Tottenham, Dos Santos made the most out of his participation at the Concacaf Gold Cup and the Copa America to increase his value.

Gazzetta dello Sport says Dos Santos is very close to Sevilla, a club that could pay Spurs almost $9 million for his services.

De Rossi to stay at Roma?

Despite rumors of a number of clubs about to make a move for Daniele De Rossi, AS Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has insisted he is not for sale.

De Rossi enters the last year of his contract and rumors suggested the player was not willing to renew.

That seemed to suggest AS Roma would be forced to sell him for a high transfer fee instead of seeing him leave for free after this season. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Sabatini said the club and De Rossi's agents are indeed negotiating and the player will not be put in the market.

Barton, out of contract after the year says NO to Manchester

Joey Barton decided to clear the air after rumors linked him with a move away from Newcastle United.

"Nice to be linked with some big clubs today but I honestly don't want to leave Newcastle. Thanks but no thanks," wrote the former England international midfielder on Twitter.

When he says "some big clubs" he is mostly referring to Manchester United as there were rumors that Sir Alex Ferguson was interested in signing him.

Finally, turmoil in Argentina

UPDATE: There will be a meeting tonight at the Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) to discuss the future of national team manager Sergio Batista and everything seems to indicate he will be told to leave.

Rumor Central sources suggest former Estudiantes de La Plata manager Alejandro Sabella would take over from Batista and the fact that he cancelled a flight he had on Monday to go to the United Arab Emirates gives more strength to the rumors.

AFA executives will also discuss plans to revamp the country's league system by the 2012/2013 season and come up with a first division which will contain 40 teams.

When you read things like these, there is no surprise that Argentina has failed to win a major trophy since 1993 even when they boast some of the best players in the world.

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Sergio Batista capped a disastrous last few months as Argentina manager with a disappointing Copa America in which the Albicelestes were eliminated in the quarter-finals on home soil.

Despite initial reports of unconditional support from the Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) it now appears his fate will be sealed on Monday and he is going to be shown the door. That seems to be the feeling among every national newspaper and media outlet in Argentina.

Argentine born Gerardo Martino who took Paraguay to the World Cup quarter-finals and the Copa America final has already said he will leave even if he manages to win the competition on Sunday. He is one of the favorites to take over if Batista is fired. Alejandro Sabella, winner of a Copa Libertadores and an Argentine league title with Estudiantes de La Plata is another manager with good chances to be considered for the job.

Mulva;840386 wrote:I think the Dutch are close with some combination of Robben, van Persie, and Huntelaar.

When was the last time all 3 were healthy for the same game . I kid, they are a sick combo. But dang they have some injury issues.

Laley23;840619 wrote:When was the last time all 3 were healthy for the same game . I kid, they are a sick combo. But dang they have some injury issues.

Yeah Van Persie is made of glass. It's too bad because he's fun to watch when healthy. So much technical skill.

RVP is a boss on FIFA. I have made some absolute crackers off his left foot.

Argentina Sacks Batista

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/latinamerica/story/Argentina-head-coach-sergio-batista-sacked-dismissed-copa-america-2011-072511

little mexicant to liverpool?


Mexican striker Marco Bueno is set to make a surprising move and join Liverpool.
"Mexico Under-17 striker Marco Bueno will join Liverpool next month," wrote Sky Sports journalist Graeme Bailey on Twitter.

A star at the recent FIFA U17 World Cup which Bueno won with Mexico, this talented striker who plays for Pachuca has also attracted interest from Real Madrid.

Ribery injury


France international Franck Ribery will likely miss the start of the Bundesliga season with an ankle injury.
According to ESPN Soccernet, the Bayern Munich forward was fortunate to only have his ankle ligaments sprained and not worse.

Ribery has had a recent history of injuries which continues to keep him from reaching his best level, despite him saying last week that he is capable of playing at a similar level than the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner Lionel Messi.

Aguero to Man City basically done

UPDATE: It seems like only formalities remain before Sergio Aguero is confirmed as new Manchester City player.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca the Atletico Madrid forward will fly to England on Wednesday in what seems to be a trip in which a deal will be finalized.

--

Sergio Aguero continues with his personal battle with Atletico Madrid his current employers. The Argentine forward already told the club he was not coming back to play there after Copa America and he kept his promise as he didn't show up at training on Sunday with the rest of his teammates.
"Roberto Mancini [Manchester City manager] also said he hoped the Sergio Aguero deal would be completed in 'four or five days', wrote The Guardian's Daniel Taylor on Twitter.

We have been following this case since it started and according to Rumor Central sources, Aguero will play for Manchester City next season. Is this only a matter of time now?

- Sebastian Garcia

National team manager switch?

Gerardo Martino will announce on Thursday his decision on whether he continues as Paraguay manager or not, according to Paraguayan newspaper ABC.
Martino took Paraguay to the World Cup quarterfinals last year and has recently qualified them to the Copa America final in Argentina, but it would appear he will not continue.

Another rumor has him linked with the job that got vacant after Sergio Batista was fired from Argentina, but even if he has chances Martino doesn't seem to be the favorite to take over there.

wtf is going on in argentina

36 team league?


UPDATE: He had his days numbered and on Monday night he was shown the door. Sergio Batista will no longer be Argentina manager the country's soccer association announced in a statement on its official website.

The AFA also informs the friendly match between Argentina and Romania which was going to take place in Bucharest on August 10 has been called off.

A new manager could be named within one week and the favorite for the job is former Estudiantes de La Plata manager Alejandro Sabella.

In other news, despite heavy criticism from fans and media alike, preliminary plans for a change in league format in Argentina have been approved and will be confirmed in October. The new league system will start in July/August 2012 and will contemplate a first division of 38 teams, including all the current First Division teams (20) plus 16 coming from Second Division and two more which will be the champions of two other lower divisions.

That is a massive league. Especially considering the league year is broken into 2 halves with the Apertura and Clausura.

Haven't seen the plan, but the only thing that seems to fit is a year-long league season playing each other team once?

Mulva;841616 wrote:That is a massive league. Especially considering the league year is broken into 2 halves with the Apertura and Clausura.

Haven't seen the plan, but the only thing that seems to fit is a year-long league season playing each other team once?

They're only doing it so River Plate can be back in the top league...will probably revert back to normal once they are

Lucas staying at liverpool

Never liked him:


With a good number of signings in midfield, rumors started spreading about Lucas Leiva leaving Liverpool.
But club sources told our colleagues at ESPN Soccernet that it won't be the case.

The fact that Liverpool has spent big seemed to indicate that some players may have had to be sold in order to balance the finances, but the Brazilian international is not one of them at the moment.

Big Arsenal News

Samir Nasri has been linked with a move away from Arsenal since the start of the transfer window in Europe.
Manchester United sounded like a possible destination for the talented French midfielder, but according to the Daily Star, Nasri will stay at Arsenal for at least one more year.

It goes without saying that if this is true, it would be a great boost for Arsene Wenger who on the other hand is fighting to keep captain Cesc Fabregas away from Barcelona's reach in another saga that has been dragging on for a long time and still has no definition.

Fwiw........I've been reading FB posts from Arsenal player's saying that Cesc is also staying.


I'm surprised Nasri is staying....if its true. I thought with United calling he was as good as gone.

went down to see the friendly between the Crew and Newcastle United last night...

Crew's keeper goes out with a red at the end of the first half, and the Crew played short the rest of the way in a 3-0 loss.

A little surprised they threw the red card in an exhibition, but no affect on the outcome, I'm sure.

Ameobi was a boss with some masterful ball control in the box. Jonas looked slow and not quite up to pace, though he played most of the game.