British football gossip

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new five-year contract with Premiership leaders Manchester United.

The 22-year-old Portuguese winger has ended speculation over his future after being linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Ronaldo 5 year deal

"Speculation" meaning that the two Spanish sides just expressed an interest in signing him without any evidence that they had made contact. Something they do year in, year out - hand a list of players they would like to sign to the Press and make it look as though contract negotations have begun

If you are sat watching the FA Cup semis (on DSF German TV live now, tomorrow's match also to be shown but not live) and are wondering why the teams are wearing black armbands, it is out of remembrance for the Hillsborough disaster, also a FA Cup semi final match, April 15th 1989.

Thanks for the TV tip, K.

JFT96

Italy favourites to host 2012.

Given Italy's recent problems, I cant think of a more unsuitable host! Having said that they are going up against joint bids from Poland/Ukraine and Croatia/Hungary.

Didnt anyone else want to do it?

I think that's what the problem is - lack of viable alternatives.

England should pile in. Our infrastructure is easily capable of handling the Olympics and Euro 2012 at the same time.

I think Hungry/Croatia would be a better alternative personally.

Also bear in mind that Italy does have experience with hosting major tournaments and that transport and tourism facilities which are better developed than in the other candidate countries.

Sweet Mary! A World Cup in Italy? How is that gonna be? Only russian referees, diving actually gets you a penalty, fouls by the homeside are not given, players and officials are obliged to bet, every fan gets a free knife every and each single game, a blow with the batton is the official FIFA handshake and in the end Italy wins...?

@HelterSkelter - Time frame, 2012 is the European Championship. World Cup will be 2010, which is decided for South Africa, and 2014 still open I believe, although Brazil want to host this.

David Dein leaves Arsenal with immediate effect <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/article1673654.ece" target="_top">here due to irreconciable differences with the rest of the board
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That's after that Kroenke chap up his stake the other day. Looks like we're going down the route of Utd, Liverpool, Villa. At least he's not Russian anyway.

Although Hill-Wood says he won't sell up.

At least we're better than Spurs no matter who owns us.

This is some of the funniest shit I've ever read!! Poor bloke! Beat that man down!! señor Baptista:


From BBC news

baptista the beast couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo or words to that effect
(except perhaps v micky mousers perhaps).

he's clearly going back to spain then judging by his critique.

good riddance.

That bit about teams from the north being shit...yeah, mate, that'll be why two of them are above you in the league, and the same two are in the semi-finals of the European Cup while you had your arses dumped out by some shit side from Holland who were then comprehensively outclassed in the quarters. Cretin.

The Arse in troub? Is this what heaven is all about?

Citeh Thai Takeover on Cards

Ok, please, where is the outrage that someone from a "non-footballing" nation is thinking about taking over the massive Citeh? Bluedave don't fail me now!

Also, on the arsenal stuff - absolutely hilarious. They were having a good go at the scousers and manU on a couple of forums - I told the gooners, your time will come, everyone has their price. They said, "Oh no, no one at arsenal would every think about selling. they are tight pals. they sit around a fire and sing Jerusalem while having a cuppa at every board meeting."

well..hahahahaha.

You blues should be pleased about this: Ranson launches £90m Man City bid

Don't want thai involved in City, this is the same guy who launched abortive raids on Everton and Liverpool as i recall.

I think Ranson could be good for us, he is clearly a shrewd businessman with ambition.

I met him many moons ago in a golf club and ended up having a few sherbets with him whilst he expounded his views on player insurance, he was just starting out then but has since become a multi millionaire.

Quinn at Sunderland has done well, why not Ranson at City?

Hargreaves seems to be a perfect choice for the Scum with statements like this.

West Ham have been fined £5.5m after being found guilty over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

West Ham handed record fine

Shocking decision. Should have sent the cockney tw@ts down instead.

That'll be happening next week I reckon. This will be West Hams double this year.

Yes although it`s getting rather hairy down there - just like a romanian slapper I once knew.

Seems Big Sam is off and he may be heading to God's Team?


And it also seems the Thai fellah ain't giving up either . . .


Are the two related perchance?

Another big day today, Scum v Everton and Chelski v Notlob, Mourinho has gambled changed 6 players and rested Drogba and Fat Frank, Taggart has rested Ronaldo.

Mistake or Champions League more important?

and Man U do it again

One of the worst mistakes i've ever seen by the Everton keeper Turner

Lee confirmed as new Bolton Manager.

Not news as such, but more of a what now for Allerdyce? Reports initially suggest he's waiting to take over at Man City if Ranson takes over, though the NOTW suggested that if the Thai PM takes over, he will not want Allerdyce. Its also said that he's going to take a six month break from the game, which looking at the calendar takes us in to October. My personal opinion is that Allerdyce will be our next England manager as I do not believe we will qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren will be gone this year.

For City, I reckon that if the Thai guy takes over, your next manager will be Sven.

Next up...

FIFA have a backup plan just in case South Africa cannot host 2010.

I honestly hope that South Afica are not ready, they should never have been considered.

Man City, Sven-McClaren dream team. Stop it! It hurts!

I reckon with the right players they'd be world beaters...hang on!?!?!

On a completely different note, I was well pleased to see Keano bring Sunlund back up. A lot of people don't like him, but when you want to win, you win. Keano don't fuck about, and I admire a bloke who don't like to come second. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in charge at Old Trafford in a few years.

So, when does the usual banter between managers go too far? We had always had the war of words between Ferguson and Wenger but it seems Mourinho is taking it all to a new level... When does it all go too far and become disrespectful? In my opinion, Mourinho has taken it all to a highly personal and disrespectful level with his comments regarding Ronaldo
Mourinho questions Ronaldo's upbringing
That guy seriously needs to start shutting up before he meets with a rather unfortunate "accident"

Barton suspended for the rest of the season.

Oh great, just what we needed Joey to go off on one again

I am guessing he will not be back next season. What an idiot

Good to see Owen back.

I was in South Africa at Easter and went through a north eastern town which will be hosting one of the groups (don't ask me which one, can't remember). The stadium was up and looked superb, but when you asked the locals about their readiness, they just laughed. Grounds are fantastic, infrastructure stinks. There are no hotels being put up (because no one will stay there after the World Cup) and the area is too poor to support restaurants, bars etc. Still think they will host it though and afterwards, when it proves to be a chaotic nightmare, Blatter's crappy ideas about holding it in far flung corners of the world will come to nought and it will go back to being held in countries which love the game.

Reading the reports on Barton saddens me. The boy is a good player who could be a great player. The type of player that few managers can tame. He's going to need to have a Shankley or a Clough or a Ferguson to sort his head out and make him the player he should be, or he's going to be the next Collymore.

Maybe Barton can be Keanes first premiership signing for Sunderland?

In other news. Bye bye Chelsea, I wonder what the special one will have to say about this now? I have to say, I think that we will see a replay of the final from 2 years back, I reckon AC Milan will go through, even though I would like to see an all English final.

If we get Big Sam maybe he could handle him?

Mourinho will bemoan the referreeing no doubt, even though he was looking forward to the officiating by the Spanish ref. Oh, and he will probably include that Liverpool may have edged them out but they do not have the class to compete with them in the Premiership or whatever... Hmmm... 2 Champions League finals in 3 years - something Mourinho was probably expected to achieve with Chelsea but, once again, he failed in Europe... I actually feel sorry for the team as they probably deserve a shot at the Champions League but I certainly do not feel sorry for the Manager who should just fuck off elsewhere - disrespectful little cunt

City could do worse than match that bid instead of going for Cisse.

Leeds relegated

Leeds have gone into administration, therefore triggering an automatic 10 pt reduction and thus finish bottom of the Championship.

I've been on that ride down the leagues, let's see if they can come back though ...

They were going down anyway. This just takes the pressure of Hull. Nice.

A wise idea(No pun intended), if they are going to bounce straight back, losing 10pts at the start of the season could have hindered that.

Leeds? Who are they then?

Now, Now Sin!
Cheap shots are beneath you!
Structured discussions about the relative merits of teams that have actually won things, leagues primarily, and a youth system that has benefitted certain teams by producing the likes of Alan Smith, James Milner, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell and more importantly Paul Robinson and Aaron Lennon, are more your style, some people don't know how to say thank you!

I suppose it is more or less as said in one paper this week, Just because you're Paranoid doesn't mean that they don't all hate you!

@gideon, there never was any pressure on Hull, they were always going to beat Plymouth at home anyway, hence the administartion decision now!

@bluedave, great article in the Mail by Danny Mills yesterday about the sad demise of the "club he loves", of course we will be back.
It will certainly be a lot easier now, Ken Bates will still be in charge, there will be no debt, and there will be no 10 point deduction at the start of the season!

For those who don't know, the club was put into administration and an agreement made to immediately sell back to a new company called Leeds United Football Club Limited, headed by Ken Bates and Shaun Harvey.
So big changes then!

So please leave me to mourn in peace.

Dabo presses charges


Barton should be banned for a season for his actions. It is not the first time he has lost it. If you read the article it says he stubbed a cigar out in the eye of a teammate at a Christmas Party a few years ago.

He needs to be banned and kept away from football until he resolves the obvious issues he has. Professional help is more than recommended here

Banned for a season? How about some jail time?