robbo_11

Drenthe has the skills and hes impressed the most this tournament. Babel has a £6m release clause ( http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=472210&CPID=99&clid=255&lid=2&title=Veloso+keen+on+Prem+move&channel=football_home& ) although i'm unsure if he could handle to physical side of the game because he goes down a bit easy. Technically he has talent.

Manuel Fernandes has just scored for Portugal against Israel.

Mirallas scored a great header to give Belgium the lead. Rigters scores again - good work from Babel - a placed finish. Drenthe scores a freekick - keeper made a hash of that. Currently 2-1.

Could be partnered with Ronaldo, if Shevchenko goes to Milan.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun15p.html - Fiorentina tracking Taylor. http://www.fiorentina.it/notizia.asp?IDNotizia=50729 - it might have come about from this, although its only a fans page.

Another article says Allardyce wants Sylvain Armand as well. He refused Lazio, but wants a financial incentive to stay.

1993-4 = Cole v Man Utd 1994-5 = Cole vs Leicester 1995-6 = Lee v Coventry 1996-7 = Batty vs Wimbledon 1997-8 = Asprilla vs Sheff Wed 1998-9 = Andersson vs Chelsea 1999-00 = Solano vs Spurs 2000-01 = Cort vs Derby 2001-02 = Acuna vs Chelsea 2002-03 = LuaLua vs West Ham 2003-04 = Shearer vs Leeds 2004-05 = Bellamy v Boro 2005-06 = N'Zogbia vs Fulham 2006-07 = Parker vs Wigan

It was Bellamy vs Boro in 2004-05

Basically the PFA has got involved in the Man City incident - it is actually a signing on fee that is causing a problem and not a loyalty clause. It says there has been reports of a £2m deal for Rozehnal - the word 'report' was stressed..

http://www.fcbarcelonablog.com/fcbarcelonablog/fcbarcelonablog.php/2006/01/26/thierry_henry_signs_for_fc_barcelona This Stan bloke needs to calm down - Olive oil and toothpaste?

So how did Rigters do last season for NAC Breda? Who does Drenthe play for?

I suppose in the coming season Charles N'Zogbia could be used as an example. Newcastle officially signed N'Zogbia on 2 September 2004. Season 2004-2005 - 14 apps (3 UEFA apps) - new youngster at club with some flashes of ability. (Manager - Bobby Robson / Graeme Souness) Season 2005-2006 - 37 apps 5 goals - a resounding success last season. (Manager - Graeme Souness / Glenn Roeder) Season 2006-2007 - 22 apps (7 UEFA apps) - disappointing and problems with attitude. (Manager - Glenn Roeder) Season 2007-2008 - ? (Manager - Sam Allardyce)

Hollands left back Drenthe (number 8) and Rigters (number 13) are canny players. Babel has looked impressive.

"There are four players with their names written in capital letters on my notepad. Players who are not under contract with a big club yet." Wonder who they are? And who is your tip to make an impression on the tournament? Mine:Jan Kysela - Czech Republic

Dimitar Berbatov - Tottenham Hotspur Thierry Henry - AC Milan Samuel Eto'o - Arsenal David Villa - Inter Milan Javier Saviola - PSV Fernando Torres - Barcelona Jan Klaas Huntelaar - Juventus Carlos Tevez - West Ham Nicolas Anelka - Bolton Djibril Cisse - Marseille Louis Saha - Paris SG Alan Smith - Man Utd Diego Forlan - Villareal Craig Bellamy - Aston Villa Darren Bent - Tottenham Jermaine Defoe - West Ham Yakubu - Portsmouth David Nugent - Sunderland Benni McCarthy - Blackburn Obafemi Martins - Newcastle Michael Owen - Man Utd

Habib Beye is another defender to add to the list. I always thought he was a CB but he is a RB apparently. (SundaySun)

My team: Joao Botello R.Vlaar Trindade Kolarov S.Taylor Joao Moutinho Nani R.Montolivo Nocerino R.Babel Palladino Sub: Kysela

"There's nothing I can do about it," said Big Sam. "We are benefiting from a release clause to get Joey Barton, but could suffer because of Michael's." But with the Premiership's top clubs likely to want further proof of his fitness, Owen may stay put at Newcastle until at least January, when his release fee - which drops by 25 per cent a year - would stand below £9 million. If this is the case i would sell Owen now, Parker wanted away and i think Owen wants away as well. Theres nothing we can do and with Man United in for a striker (according to Gill) they might bid for Owen.

is that because he isn't a footballer? My mistake

Mohammed Sissoko is joining Juventus on a 4 year deal for a reported fee of around €12m, although Liverpool are trying to get €16m. (Corriere Della Sport)

Nigel Reo-Coker - He made an apparent plea to join Newcastle (The Sun), although the article is backed up with quotes from his agent. The fee is quoted at around £8m. CONS -Part of the bling-up-boys at West Ham, possibility of having a big ego (only wanted Champions League team) and is not that technically gifted. PROS - U-21 captain, looking for a new challenge, price and wages could be knocked down a bit as he is desperate to leave. Joey Barton - Available after training ground fight with Dabo. He has a release fee of £5.5m. CONS - Off the field incidents, his reputation. PROS - more of an attacking player, but can defend, getting out of Manchester might be a blessing in disguise. Dennis Boateng - under £1m CON - not been tested at a high level.

HAMMERS AGREE PARKER PRICE By Andrew Scurr - Created on 1 Jun 2007 West Ham United have agreed an undisclosed fee with Newcastle United for Scott Parker. The midfielder has been allowed to move on by new Magpies boss Sam Allardyce who is believed to be targeting Joey Barton as Parker's replacement. Parker will once again link up with Alan Curbishley at West Ham, with the pair having previously worked together at Charlton. The 26-year-old left The Addicks in January 2004 in a £10million move to Chelsea, but he failed to make a real impression at Stamford Bridge. Parker joined Newcastle last summer but his time in the North East lasted just one season as he is now heading back to London. The Hammers are believed to be paying in the region of £8.5million for Parker's services and have fended off late interest from Tottenham. Parker will likely be Nigel Reo-Coker's replacement at Upton Park after the West Ham captain handed in a transfer request this week. He has been at Newcastle 2 seasons. At least the wage bill will have come down a bit.

It looks like Parker has decided to leave and for £7m (or £8.5m as was reported first) i would take it. Although, i hope we get some players in soon because the squad was thin last season and is even thinner now. One thing that was always said about Parker was that we won more games when he wasn't playing compared to when he was.

I'm sure it said West Ham had bid £7m for Parker on the radio (MetroRadio) yesterday.

I think that the home dressing room is more favorable compared to the away dressing room at SJP. One of the rule is they have to be the same/similar.