Champions league

Here we go again then to start with this yeas excitement. Today champions league group stage draw took place in the afternoon, where Barcelona are set to play against Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in Group F.

Here is the entire draw:

Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux, Maccabi Haifa
Group B: Man Utd, CSKA Moscow , Besiktas, Wolfsburg
Group C: AC MIlan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich
Group D: Chelsea, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Apoel
Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni
Group F: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Dynamo Kiev, Rubin Kazan
Group G: Seville, Rangers, Stuttgart, Unirea Urziceni
Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege

Match Venue: UEFA Champions League, Celtic Park
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 19:45
Arsenal have arrived in Glasgow for their first leg Champions League playoff against Celtic. It will decide which of the two British clubs will make it into the final.
Arsenal could be without up to four of their key players for the first-leg of their Champions League play-off game with Celtic.
Winger Theo Walcott is ruled out of the game with a back injury, whilst there are serious injury doubts over Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas and Denilson.

Celtic have injury woes of their own with Dutch defender Glenn Loovens having limped out of Saturday’s 3-1 win at Aberdeen with a knee problem and winger Shaun Maloney picking up a knock. Both will be assessed on Tuesday after training on Monday.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Naylor, Caldwell, Fox, O’Dea, Loovens, Scott Brown, N’Guemo, Donati, McGeady, McDonald, Samaras, Fortune, Killen, Maloney, Zaluska, Crosas, Caddis, Ferry.

Arsenal : Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, van Persie, Eduardo, Mannone, Bendtner, Denilson, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs, Silvestre.

To start with it is rumoured that Wenger is about to sign hangland, vander vaat and may be chamakh, Song did an excellent job against Everton, so he would or shall delay the purchase of Defensive midfielder.

Steven Taylor (Newcastle) is being tracked by a number of clubs in the Prem. Everton looking like the favourites, but have been told Sunderland will make a surprise bid.

Everton will sell Lescott (£25mil plus add–ons) and will use £8mil for Steven Taylor (if it happens) or £6mil for Senderos.

Liverpool to make 2 new signings.

Javi Martinez (who didnt feature in the supercopa against barcelona almost confirming his sale to liverpool) will arrive for 12m. Along with Aquilani these 2 highly rated midfielders should more than fill the gap left by Xabi. Martinez will take Alonsos vacated number 14 jersey.
And taking the prestigiuos 7 shirt for the reds will be Alexis Sanchez, a skillful winger/forward.

With Roma eager to offload another player to provide funds for squad reinforcement, Inter is beginning to register an interest in Julio Baptista and the beast could be on his way to Nerazzurri.
Inter are ready to offer former Giallorossi winger Amantino Mancini and Portuguese flop Ricardo Quaresma moving in the opposite direction as a swap deal. Nicolas Burdisso could be another option.

Wesley Sneijder again tops the list of potential Real Madrid departures as the Dutchman is on the radar of Inter, who are seeking to supplement their attack.

The Italian capital club could also lose Phillipe Mexes to Chelsea, reportedly, Chelsea are preparing a €14m plus Ricardo Carvalho offer for the Frenchman.

West Ham United will not be selling Matthew Upson; Gianfranco Zola has not received any bids as yet.

Wigan Athletic are close to tying up a deal for Mohamed Diame, of Rayo Vallecano, while Liverpool are said to be interested in Fernando Amorebieta, who plays for Athletic Club.

Danny Murphy wants Brede Hangeland to stay with Fulham despite Arsenal’s interest and Sunderland are closing on a loan deal for Lyon’s John Mensah.

Chelsea have beaten Hull by 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Hunt opened the scoring and became the first to score in this years Premier League. Didier Drogba scoring both goals to give his side their first win.
Mendy from Hull city became the first to get the Premier league Yellow card.

Wigan grabbed all 3 points with two goals as they claimed a first win under new manager Roberto Martinez.
Striker Hugo Rodallega bagged the first goal with a sensational strike in the first half before Jason Koumas doubled their lead after the break.

Goals from the debutant Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland at Blackburn Rovers ensured a winning start for mega-rich outfit, Manchester City in the Premier League. Mark Hughes makes a victorious return to Ewood Park as City keep their first away clean-sheet in a year.

Arsenal got their season off to a great start as they tore poor Everton apart at Goodison Park with a stunning display.

The visitors were three ahead at the break through Denilson - from the edge of the box - and two headed goals from Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas.

The young gunners of Arsne Wenger got to a season best start as their tore apart the Everton backyard with a stunning 6 goal dispaly.

The visitors hit 3 goals in the first half and 3 in the second half to win 6-1 against Everton in Goodison park.
Denilson, Vermaelen, Gallas, Fabregas (2) and Eduardo scored.

Last season’s Coca-Cola Championship winners Wolves went down 2-0 at home to West Ham.

Mark Noble (22) put the Irons ahead midway through the first half, and following a string of good saves by England goalkeeper Robert Green as the hosts pressed for an equaliser, defender Matthew Upson (69) headed in a second from a corner to put the game beyond Wolves.

Darren Bent marked his debut for Sunderland with a fifth-minute winner against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Fulham have already been in Europa League qualifying action and continued their early-season momentum as they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park.

Clint Dempsey’s shot deflected off striker Bobby Zamora (13) and past England keeper David James, which was enough to collect all three points.

Play-off winners Burnley were handed a tough welcome back to the top flight as Stoke won 2-0 at Britannia Stadium.

Ryan Shawcross (19) nodded in a free-kick from Liam Lawrence, before an own goal by Stephen Jordan (33) doubled the home side’s advantage and there was no way back for the Clarets.
Full-time scores:

Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan

Blackburn 0-2 Man City

Bolton 0-1 Sunderland

Chelsea 2-1 Hull

Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham

Stoke 2-0 Burnley

Wolves 0-2 West Ham

Thursdays gossip column includes, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo closing on Hull city, Real Madrid could relaunch their bid to sign Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery, Manchester United to hijack FC Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer and many more….

To start with Arsenal long wished target Marouane Chamakh is now chased by another Premier League club West Ham after Arsenal dropped their intrest in signing the Bordeaux striker. West Ham are ready to offer 50 per cent sell-on clause for the tall striker.

spendthrifts spanish giants, Real Madrid are again in the market to bid French wizard and Bayern Munich’s midfielder Franck Ribery. Sources in spain suggest, Real are ready to offer 30m euros and Dutch entire battalion which includes Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Royston Drenthe and Rafael Van der Vaart.

ALEX FERGUSON is trying to wrap up a £5million deal for keeper Manuel Neuer before Bayern Munich increase their bid.
The Manchester United manager has received rave reports about the FC Schalke stopper, 23, who is being dubbed the new Peter Schmeichel.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to make 20-year-old Serbian striker Nemanja Matic his fourth signing since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge in a £4million deal.

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is set to sign a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge before then joining Premier League newcomers Wolves on loan for the season.

Thanks and C ya tomorrow !!!

Good Evening!
Today’s gossip revolves mostly around English clubs. Strange part is that in each gossip atleast 1 English club or player is involved. Dont bellieve it? Lets prove it!

First, Los Angeles Galaxy want away midfielder David Beckham to return to the San Siro in January for a second loan spell, which would keep alive the England player’s World Cup hopes.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has failed in his bid to make Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi his first big-name signing at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern Munich have stepped up their pursuit of Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa and urged the Blues to keep their word over allowing him to join them for about £15m.

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko will see out the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge after rejecting a move to former club Dynamo Kiev.

Redknapp is set to up his offer for Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko from £12m to £15.5m, although the French club want £25m.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has gone back to his former club Wigan with a £10m offer for midfielder Lee Cattermole.

Arsenal are on the trail of 6ft 4in Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis ready to make a £12m offer for the 20-year-old Serb who is also attracting interest from Everton.

Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough midfielder Boudewijn Zenden claims he is in talks with Hull, Blackburn and Portsmouth over a return to the Premier League.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has warned boss Rafael Benitez that Xabi Alonso will be virtually irreplaceable after the midfielder was sold to Real Madrid.

Thanks for reading!

Good Evening fans!

Today’s special includes Giampaolo Pazzini, Defender Sol Campbell to Notts County, Michel Salgado to Blackburn, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo.

We will start with Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo, Hull City have put an offer for their want away striker Alvaro Negredo with a buy back clause.

A source indicates that Chelsea have identified Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini as a transfer target. The Italian has been on impressive form since joining the Sampdoria from Fiorentina last January, hitting 15 goals in 22.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti reportedly has been an admirer of the former Atalanta striker.

The Everton manager, David Moyes, has confirmed that he rejected a written transfer request from Joleon Lescott. The England international has been the subject of two bids from Manchester City but Moyes has no intention of selling his best players.

West Ham United are ready to spoil the soup for Arsene Wenger by bidding in for the Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh. It appears Arsenal have lost their intrest in the tall striker and report suggest that West Ham could well swoop him from gunners.

Else where Wolverhampton Wanderers are close to completing the signing of Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne on a season-long loan deal.

Gareth Bale, of Tottenham Hotspur, will be formally approached by AC Milan in the upcoming days over the possibility of a move to the San Siro.

Fulham manager has clearly stated that Arsenal will have to pump up £15m if they are to take centre-back Brede Hangeland across London.

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has swooped for Spanish legend Michel Salgado - and hopes to tie up a quick deal for him before the season starts.

The tough 33-year-old right back, capped 53 times by his country, arrived in Lancashire for talks about a shock free transfer move yesterday.

Thanks for reading and have great evening!

Russian billionaire ROMAN ABRAMOVICH and Chelsea owner will fly to Bayern to make a bid for winger Franck Ribery

Roman had promised new Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti a marquee signing in the name of Kaka or Pato. Howerver both the deals failed.

Roman and since made clear his intention to hire the French star and is willing to pay higher than any other club is willing to pay.

A senior Bayern source said: “Uli was taken by surprise by the phone call but was very honest and courteous with Mr Abramovich.

“We are still resolved to keep Ribery but Hoeness agreed to meet with Abramovich in Germany to discuss any offer.”

Franck Ribery has openly declared his preference to join Real Madrid and Bayer fear that Ribery may or has already signed a pre-contract similar to Cristiano Ronaldo which will see him leave for Real Madrid next summer.
Thus German outfits may try to cash in on him now or may have to release him for cheap next summer.

Lampard’s controversial goal put Chelsea on course for a win after Michale Ballack brought down Manchster United Evra down with a elbow challenge.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson was left fuming after the challenge and more importantly the gaol, and even claimed that Ballack should have been sent off for using an elbow during the Comm Shield win.

Because referee Chris Foy did not intervene, it left the way open for the FA to take action.

But Foy has since confirmed he saw the incident clearly and acted as he saw fit, meaning no further sanctions will be taken against the German mifielder.

Ballack said: “I have to be happy that the referee didn’t blow because maybe I blocked him a little bit.

“If the referee gives a foul it would have been okay as well, but he decided not to. It was a bit unlucky after that because they conceded the goal.

“I kept on playing but then I didn’t have the ball so I couldn’t see how injured he was.”

Chelsea eventually won the game 4-1 on penalties after it finished 2-2 in normal time.

Starting today I will hand pick some rumours for you from the transfer zone:

After England boss Capello said: “Beckham knows well that if he doesn’t return to a big European championship in December he’ll have no chance for the World Cup.”, many clubs like Chelsea and Spurs already alerted for the 33 year old midfielder. Manchester City have also been touted as possible destinations.

European champions Barca have already missed out on Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and they have now turned their attention to Fabregas. They are ready to offer the gunners 35 million euros for the midfielder and many fringe players.

Manchester City have offered over 20 million pounds for Theo Walcott. I am sure Arsenal must have hired Wenger for a dual role, as a Manager and as a business consultant, as his business/sales skills are impeccable. (First Adebayar, Toure, Henry )

Else where Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is ready to abandon his interest in the Everton centre-half Joleon Lescott. Aston Villa have agreed a £7million deal with Middlesbrough for the striker Tuncay Sanli.

Liver desperate manger Rafa Benítez has attested his desire to sign a 3rd center back Stoke City stopper Ryan Shawcross , after registering wishes for Hull City’s Michael Turner and Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin.

21 days of more transfer rumours lined up!

Good night!


© 2007 Harshad Narvekar