LooneyToonArmy

probably already posted (?) but Eduardo has left Arse for Shaktar Donetsk for 6m http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8843013.stm

All three would probably get into our team. Hleb for sure. Would have Cacares anyday at RB, thought he had signed for Juve? Juve didn`t take up their option to sign him. Would be happy with all 3 like .....all were pretty big money signings for Barca, also Kerrisson (14m euros) who has just gone on loan to Santos.

based on transfer rumours XI Harper Otamendi-Colo-Scharner-Enrique Routledge-Flamini-Schweinsteiger()-Jonas Ben Arfa---Carroll Subs: Krul Williamson Mahamadou Diarra De Guzman Djalo

Spurs will use Sporting Lisbon friendly to strike a deal for Newcastle target Yannick Djalo http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1296494/Spurs-use-Sporting-Lisbon-friendly-strike-deal-Yannick-Djalo.html?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/18780/ Footballer throttles referee after sending off http://l.yimg.com/i/util/anysize/376,http%3A%2F%2Fa323.yahoofs.com%2Fymg%2Fworld_of_sport__4%2Fworld_of_sport-902510989-1279625339.jpg%3Fym7xxeDDS9A3S2BQ?v=2 A Paraguayan football star resorted to the ultimate in dissent after being dismissed during a match: he tried to throttle the referee. Jose Pedroso of Chilean second-tier side Rangers had been sent off for a wild tackle during his side's 3-0 loss to Deportes Concepcion, and in his fury grabbed referee Marcelo Miranda from behind and throttled him with his arm. Pedroso's stunned team-mates stepped in to wrestle him away from the match official as an already chaotic match descended into bedlam: the incident occurred shortly after the referee had ordered a penalty to be re-taken three times. The player has now left the club after discussions with Rangers' chairman Elias Vistoso. "We spoke to him and he has resigned," Vistoso told El Mercurio. "We know the punishment awaiting him will not be small." But amazingly, Pedroso has still refused to apologise for his actions and claims he will head back to his home nation with his head held high. "I'm not sorry," he said. "I was being persecuted by the referee, because it's the third time he has sent me off, and I think I made a grave error but what's done is done."

class

Newcastle United hardman Joey Barton has claimed that he is good enough to make a return to the England national side. Barton, 27, has so far won one cap for his country, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Spain in 2007. However, the Magpies' midfielder has acknowledged that he will need to break into the starting XI at St James’ Park first . "First and foremost, I want to do well for Newcastle," Barton told The Shields Gazette.

 "But after watching some of the performances in the World Cup, I think, on form, I'm as good as anybody in this country.

 I don't say that lightly – I have to go out and prove that – but surely every midfielder in this country should be thinking like that.

 "They should be looking at it and saying 'that's where I want to be, and that's where I can go'. That's my goal. And if I break into the England squad, it proves that I'm doing fantastically for this football club.

 "Firstly, I have to do well for Newcastle, but, as I say, every midfielder at this club should be thinking like that – Danny Guthrie, ‘Nobby’ Nolan and Smudger (Alan Smith)." Barton, who suffered with injuries as Newcastle gained promotion last season, is hopeful that England’s failure in South Africa will lead to a shake-up at international level. "They were built up to do quite well and I thought they would do quite well," he said.
 
 "People are going to chip in with their opinions, but none of us know [what happened]. None of us played in that atmosphere, or played in that pressure.

 "As an Englishman, it wasn't good. Hopefully, this can force the game to change, and they'll stop picking big names, and instead pick players that are playing well.

Could be Salvio (20) or Baldé (19) from Atletico, if there is any truth in it at all. Salvio would be a fantastic but he`d only be on loan....

Magpies to loan out starlet http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6261527,00.html?

Aye, loads: Maicon, Dani Alves, Maxwell, Marcelo, Aurelio, Andre Santos, Kleber, Filipe Luis, Fabio, Rafael, Cicinho, Adriano, Bastos. In the past Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Carlos Alberto etc.. Which is true but then again haven't Brazil have always have a history of attacking full backs? They've also had a long history of great ball playing midfielders, which they definitely don't atm. I literally can't think of a genuine central midfielder they have. At the moment I can think of Gilberto Silva, Melo, Ramires, Thiago Motta, Lucas, Josue, Sandro...there's no Socrates, Rivelino, Zico types around. One player to look out for is Paolo Henrique Ganso of Santos.....I think Neymar is a bit overhyped but Ganso looks the real deal....a proper playmaker that Brazil have been lacking in producing in recent years.

prefer the Yahoo Fantasy League much more...... but will join this one too I guess

we can't sell a living legend -- Harper To Join Metro Station Hall Of Fame Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper is to become the latest Magpie legend to be immortalised at St James Metro station, in a ceremony at the station on Thursday 15 July (2.15pm). Harper, who has been with United 17 years, will have his handprints permanently cast at the station, putting him alongside famous names including Alan Shearer, Malcolm Macdonald, Shay Given and the late Sir Bobby Robson. Steve Harper said: "It's a real honour to be joining such illustrious company at the St James Metro Station.With both Shay and I in the same goal, the likes of Alan and Malcolm will find it tough to score! "I think the Magpie Mover is terrific value for our fans and is a quick, efficient and easy way to travel." Harper's place in the Metro station's hall of fame comes as public transport operators and NUFC cut the price of a Magpie Mover ticket - used by thousands of fans to get to games by bus and Metro.

Worst football kits of the new season http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/world_of_sport__4/world_of_sport-846302012-1279020352.jpg?ymAFecDDItlsVIO0 This shocking, shocking pink monstrosity is the shirt that inspired this article, and one which will go down in the all-time football kit horror hall of shame. So bad that it could well inspire the Toffees to be re-nicknamd the Bubble Gums. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/17751/2/#top-comments-nav

remember this? http://www.tribalfootball.com/newcastle-rejected-chance-sign-schweinsteiger-cheap-971181?

pay 3.5m euros and get Diego Lugano (according to a clause in his contract if "he pays"). Bargain to be had for any club that needs a top defender for a low price. http://www.klikfc.com/article/141174:2/shocking-news-over-diego-lugano

. . . . . Blatter in the way of a classic moment for Spanish footballing history, hopefully this is scrapped for good. Nobody cares about the Fifa president, this should be the winners time not Fifa's or anyone else's. http://img.skysports.com/10/07/800x600/Champions-Trophy-Celebrations-Holland-Spain-W_2476524.jpg

anyone see this from a few days ago? Vile piece of journalism from C4...I`m surprised they even allowed this on their site..... --- Germany are dominating the World Cup with one of the most multicultural national teams in the game. But Serafino Ingardia feels Italy shouldn’t follow their example Germany have by far been the best side in the World Cup and their clear dominance must be something other national teams look up to. The Germans now take on Spain in the semi-finals with a serious chance of lifting the trophy. Still there is something about this team which leaves me slightly perplexed – I’m talking about its genuine nature. Checking out the squad, it is undeniable that nearly half of the players in the team have as many German links as a plate of spaghetti. More precisely, I am talking about the following 10 (yes 10!) players: Dennis Aogo (Nigeria), Serdar Tasci and Mesut Ozil (Turkey), Sami Khedira (Tunisia), Cacau (Brazil), Jerome Boateng (Ghana), Mario Gomez (Spain), Marko Marin (Bosnia), Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose (Poland). On one hand, Germany are a great multicultural example of what the EU stands for. On the other though, I feel many Italians wouldn't be happy to have such a squad representing their country at international level. The Germans are not the only ones though, Paraguay for instance had several Argentines at their disposal. It is all about ethics really. While six of the above mentioned players have every right to play for Germany since they were born in the country, I have doubts regarding those who were born elsewhere and only joined their national team in the hunt for glory – a bit like Mauro Camoranesi did with Italy. Cacau and Marin both revealed they joined the German side simply because their respective national teams didn't call them up. Same goes for Podolski and Klose, who are key members of this team. You may only wonder how superbly they could have represented Poland in this tournament. Podolski was unlucky enough to score against his homeland in the past, while his whole family were cheering against him. The FC Koln player was heartbroken and I wish he regretted every single moment spent wearing the German shirt. Klose went as far as stating that it would be best for him to be defined as European rather than German or Polish. A bit awkward. Doesn't sound very patriotic, does it? I wonder whether in Germany they are bothered about their players not singing the national anthem as we are in the peninsula? In the last decade, the Germans have clearly looked up to the examples of successful football schools such as the French and the Dutch ones and are making the most of it now. Even their style of football has changed accordingly, looking less and less ‘German’ by the tournament. Italy may do the same. The first player of this revolution will be Mario Balotelli, who has African origins but was born and grew up in our country. He had every right to chose between the Nazionale or Ghana, the country of his parents, and the boy was pretty determined to pick the Azzurri. But should Cesare Prandelli and his staff go out looking for the new Oriundi sensations by perhaps scanning the streets of Buenos Aires? I don’t think that’s a great idea and feel it would be a shame if the new manager called up players such as Thiago Motta or Rodrigo Taddei too. We do not need them, but that is not the point really. The Federation should take a firm stand regarding this matter and decide whether it is time to change and become like the Germans or stick to our origins. There are different types of Oriundi and those who have nothing Italian in their blood, as well as not being born in the country, should not be allowed to play for Italy. That is because the Azzurri shirt should continue to be as glorious as ever, even if the Germans are lighting up the international scene right now. But they haven’t won it yet and we have no need to envy them. Not one bit. http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/si96.html

Paul the "psychic" octopus has a rival: a Singapore parakeet which correctly predicted all four winners in the World Cup quarter-finals has picked the Netherlands to trump Spain for the championship, local media said Friday. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100709/tod-psychic-parakeet-picks-netherlands-a-1066d3e.html

sadly, from vitalfootball......but.....Scharner to Toon http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=204298

The Portuguese paper Ojojo say we had a 5m euro bid rejected.....they want 7-8m http://www.ojogo.pt/26-190/artigo873551.asp Would like to see us try for a few S.Americans as there are certainly some bargains to be had there. If Marcos Angeleri moves for 1.5m after getting a work permit/EU passport that is a fkin steal for example. Apparently last I read Mirandinha is/was our scout in South America....not sure anymore though. http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/26067/default.aspx

Tottenham and Newcastle United have made offers to Sporting Lisbon for young attacker Yannick Djalo. O Jogo says both Premiership clubs had bids for the youngster rejected by Sporting this week. Everton are also keen on Djalo, who impressed David Moyes in European action last season, but are yet to make a concrete bid. Spurs and Newcastle have been encouraged to try again for Djalo, with president José Eduardo Bettencourt and sports director Costinha admitting they need to sell to reduce club debts.

young players don't seem to improve under us much from recent experiences IMO....saying that I would happily have them both here.

he even has his own Wiki.......more than some professional footballers can say http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Octopus

Jonathan De Guzman has apparently been linked to us. Fits the bill, 22 year olds, attacking midfielder, out of contract.......was linked with the likes of Arsenal last season so i'm sure there'll be a few clubs in for him.

Valencia right back in talks with Fulham for 2m euros (1.6m!) according to SSN