monday's gossip

[cockney hammer]

Manchester United will target Russia and CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev as they look to bring in a replacement for veteran Edwin van der Sar.
The Sun
Portsmouth could sign former Wigan striker Henri Camara, who is currently without a club, in time to face Bolton on Saturday following talks with the Senegal international.
Daily Mirror
Former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos is available on a free transfer from Turkish club Fenerbahce and would consider a move to Notts County. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle have put the loan move for Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood on hold as he recovers from a foot injury suffered during pre-season.
: Daily Mirror
Australia defender Lucas Neill has agreed to join Atletico Madrid after turning down a new deal to stay at West Ham.
Daily Mail
West Brom are keen to bring striker Diomansy Kamara back to the Hawthorns by signing him on loan from Fulham.
Daily Mail


Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has defended his striker Eduardo over the Arsenal forward's alleged dive against Celtic and says England captain John Terry's comments on the matter have an air of double standards. "I think we all agree that Eduardo was a dive," Terry said last week. "Do England players have an extra responsibility to stay on their feet? I think we all have a responsibility, not just the England players."
Full story: The Sun
Bilic also claims England coach Fabio Capello has eroded the 'Englishness' which typifies the national side.
Full story: The Guardian
England striker Emile Heskey says he would not complain if England manager Fabio Capello gave rival forward Jermain Defoe the nod ahead of him for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia.
Full story: Daily Star
Steven Gerrard captained England when they missed out on a place at Euro 2008 after a 3-2 defeat by Croatia in November 2007 and he says he is out to avenge that loss when the two countries meet again on Wednesday.
Full story: Daily Express
Newcastle's prospective new owner Barry Moat will have a second round of talks in 24 hours with the club's owner Mike Ashley about buying the Tyneside outfit. (Daily Telegraph)

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has been told Carson Yeung's takeover of the club will not put his position under threat.
Full story: The Independent

AND FINALLY
Argentina legend and national team boss Diego Maradona is facing the wrath of his critics after the 3-1 home defeat by Brazil left his side precariously placed in their attempts to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.



Portsmouth are set to offer a contract to former Wigan striker Henri Camara, while Wigan are considering doing the same for Modeste M'Bami.

DAILY MIRROR

Portsmouth are set to hand Henri Camara a one-year deal.

Wigan are ready to offer a contract to former Marseille midfielder Modeste M'Bami.

Newcastle's loan move for Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood has been put on hold.

Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos is keen on a move to Notts County.

DAILY STAR

Emile Heskey yesterday confessed he can have no complaints if he gets the England axe.

Manchester United gave the parents of French wonderkid Paul Pogba 100,000 euros each and a house in exchange for his signature, it was claimed yesterday.

Steven Gerrard yesterday admitted he is still not over his Croatia misery.

Matthew Upson believes Fabio Capello's attention to detail will turn England into genuine World Cup contenders.

THE SUN

Diego Maradona is almost a goner - but insists he will not quit as Argentina boss.

Gareth Barry has told his England team-mates not to go to war with Croatia's boot boys on Wednesday.

Emile Heskey has backed Jermaine Defoe to grab his England shirt.

Slaven Bilic last night blasted John Terry over double standards.

Manchester United are eyeing Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev as they prepare for life after Edwin van der Sar.

Robinho has dismissed talk of a January move to Barcelona by revealing he is targeting a title challenge with Manchester City.

Jason Koumas has quit Wales - the 17th player to retire during John Toshack's reign.

DAILY EXPRESS

Wayne Rooney has been accused on conning referee Jonas Eriksson into awarding England their penalty against Slovenia.

Vedran Corluka has apologised to the whole of Croatia for his sending off against Belarus that rules him out of the England game.

DAILY MAIL

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has kicked off the psychological war by warning that Fabio Capello's England side have lost their traditional aggression.

Fabio Capello has warned his players that a failure to follow his orders will end with their ejection from the England squad.

DAILY RECORD

Scott Brown will battle through the pain barrier to play in Scotland's World Cup crunch match with Holland.

Scotland will attempt to appeal James McFadden's yellow card against Macedonia but have little chance of success.

[the oldham stripper]

Fabio Capello has warned his players that a failure to follow his orders will end with their ejection from the England squad.

i dont know how anyone can take seriously anyone who looks that much like tommy cooper :lol:
thanks ch

[Cookedskunk]

God I'm pleased the transfer window's closed, it makes for a less stressful life. Cheers CH

[szola]

God I'm pleased the transfer window's closed, it makes for a less stressful life.

Agree, mate! Glad we didn't sell any of our best players - fingers crossed for new owers

[Canadianhammer]

Indeed....it's nice to get off the transfer roller coaster....
thanks CH!

[Denbighammer]

Portsmouth could sign former Wigan striker Henri Camara, who is currently without a club, in time to face Bolton on Saturday following talks with the Senegal international.
Former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos is available on a free transfer from Turkish club Fenerbahce and would consider a move to Notts County. (Daily Mirror)

On both counts :shock: :shock:

Jason Koumas has quit Wales - the 17th player to retire during John Toshack's reign.

I wish Gabbidon and Collison would follow suit.

[cockney hammer]

Hammers linked with Toni swoop

West Ham are being tipped to make a January move for Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni if he continues to be overlooked by Louis van Gaal.


Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has been tipped to move for Toni, who has sat out Bayern's opening four Bundesliga games with a tendinitis problem but expects to be a starter in Van Gaal's side when he returns to fitness.

"With Van Gaal there is a particular rapport," said Toni. "If I am not given any playing time I will speak to the club, that declared me not transferable this summer, to understand what my future is."

The 32-year-old striker was linked with a move away from the Bundesliga giants following the arrival of summer signings Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic to the Allianz Arena.

Earlier this summer, Toni was sent to train with Bayern's reserves after his level of fitness failed to impress Van Gaal.

However, Toni is eager to get back on the pitch and deliver.

"There's a World Cup in a year's time and a title to be defended and I don't want to miss that chance," said Toni.

"I hope to return to play as soon as possible."

Toni has scored 38 goals since his 11million euros transfer move to Bayern in 2007 from Fiorentina and finished as the leading scorer for his club with 14 goals in 25 league appearances.

[cockney hammer]

Neill yet to confirm club future


Socceroos captain Lucas Neill is yet to confirm his club future despite reports he has signed with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

The 31-year-old defender was offered more money and a longer-term contract by a club "in the Gulf" but he was swayed by the chance to play in the Champions League, Britain's Daily Mail reported on Monday.

"Lucas Neill has agreed to join Atletico Madrid on a two-year deal worth STG2 million ($A3.84 million) a year," the newspaper said.

Other stories had suggested Atletico had withdrawn their offer.

Neill, who is a free agent after his contract with English Premier League side West Ham expired at the end of last season, his management and the La Liga club have not announced any deal.

He has taken his time to commit on his future, with the European soccer league season underway.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has encouraged his players to take part in as much top-level football as possible ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.

[cockney hammer]

West Ham academy boss Carr reveals red-hot competition for youth talent


West Ham United academy chief Tony Carr admits they're always losing players to rival Premiership clubs.

Carr revealed: "At West Ham, we lost Kieran Richardson to Manchester United and Liam Ridgewell to Aston Villa when they were on our books as schoolboys and we weren't happy about it but we did receive compensation.

"We had John Terry on our books as a kid and lost him to Chelsea but didn't receive a penny, although when we signed Jermain Defoe as a kid from Charlton, they were angry but were compensated.

"No system is perfect but this one isn't bad."

[cockney hammer]

Neill makes Spain switch: report

Lucas Neill in action for West Ham

Lucas Neill is reported to have agreed a move to the Primera Liga. (Getty Images: Ian Walton)

Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has reportedly signed with Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

The 31-year-old defender turned down an offer from West Ham to remain with the English Premier League side.

The London newspaper The Daily Mail is reporting Neill has agreed to a two-year deal to play in Spain.

The paper says Neill has signed on for $3.8 million a year.

He was reportedly offered more money and a longer contract by an Arab club, but was encouraged by the chance to play in the Champions League.

[cockney hammer]

The build-up to England's World Cup qualifier with Croatia dominates this morning's back pages, with Slaven Bilic claiming Fabio Capello's side have "lost something".

Tame Bulldogs is the Mail's headline, with Ian Ladyman writing: "Bilic has kicked off the psychological war ahead of Wednesday's World Cup showdown with England by warning that Fabio Capello's side have lost their traditional aggression. Bilic brings his talented side to Wembley this week hoping for a repeat of the win of November 2007 that sent Croatia to the finals of Euro 2008 and cost Steve McClaren his job. And the former West Ham and Everton defender claimed he has spotted a weakness in Capello's team that Croatia can exploit."

Bilic chooses a different target in the Sun, accusing England captain John Terry of hypocrisy.

Antony Kastranakis writes: "Bilic hit back at England skipper John Terry and insisted: Eduardo is no diver. The Croatia boss reckons Chelsea centre-half Terry should get his own house in order before branding opposition players as cheats.

"Bilic said: 'John Terry is not talking like that when Didier Drogba goes down for Chelsea. I am not saying Drogba is a diver. I adore him as a player but I'm saying when they get a penalty they're not accusing their own team-mates. You can't say English players don't dive.'"

Jermain Defoe pushed his claims for a starting place on Wednesday night with his third goal in two matches on Saturday, but this morning's Times claims the Tottenham striker has not done enough to convince Capello.

"Fabio Capello is preparing to ignore the growing clamour to pick Jermain Defoe in England’s starting line-up," writes Oliver Kay.

"Instead, the manager will stand by Emile Heskey as his team attempt to secure a place in next summer’s World Cup finals by beating Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday.

"Defoe, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, scored as a substitute for the third successive match in the 2-1 victory over Slovenia in a friendly on Saturday and has hit the net eight times in his past nine international appearances — more goals than Heskey has scored in an England career spanning ten years and 55 caps. Capello, though, will not be swayed by public or media opinion and continues to regard Heskey as the best partner for Wayne Rooney in attack."

The penalty won by Rooney against Slovenia is examined in the Guardian.

"Wayne Rooney has been accused of "going down far too easily" in winning the first-half penalty that led to England's 2-1 success against Slovenia in Saturday's friendly, with the visiting players suggesting the Swedish official had been swayed into making the award by the player's lofty reputation," writes Dominic Fifield.

"The Manchester United forward had tussled with Bostjan Cesar just outside the six-yard box on the half-hour as he attempted to reach Steven Gerrard's cross, with each player tugging at the other's shirt and the referee Jonas Eriksson awarding the penalty when Rooney tripped and fell. Cesar, who was booked for the offence, damaged an ankle in the incident and was unable to continue, with the injury enough to rule him out of the potentially critical World Cup qualifier against Poland on Wednesday.

"Slovenia's players were outraged at the award, with the incident untimely given that the issue of diving continues to rage after the events of the past two weeks."

Steven Gerrard, another player who is no stranger to diving controversies, says England regard Wednesday's night qualifier as the perfect chance to erase some painful memories.

"Steven Gerrard last night claimed England have 'unfinished business' with Croatia after admitting he is still haunted by the worst night of his career," writes John Cross.

“'We still remember the feeling we felt afterwards in the dressing room. We remember the result and will use it to motivate ourselves on Wednesday,' said Gerrard. 'If you can’t get motivated to beat a team to get to the World Cup then you’ve got a problem. It [losing to Croatia] was definitely my lowest moment in an England shirt. It has taken a long time to get over it.'"

The Mirror also covers the fallout of the Gaël Kakuta controversy, claiming Manchester United could be next in the dock.

"Manchester United have been accused of offering French starlet Paul Pogba's parents £175,000 and a house to sign," writes Alan Nixon. "And the national youth team skipper's Old Trafford contract will be worth more than £4,000-a-week when he turns 17 next year. Livid Le Havre made the extraordinary claims yesterday as they stepped up the war of words aimed at United who snapped up their best youngster. President Jean-Pierre Louvel says United got the player by offering his mother and father the six-figure sweeteners and a place to live in Manchester."

The Sun has travelled to Kakuta's childhood home in France, with the paper painting a Dickensian picture of his upbringing.

David Facey writes: "The man who discovered Gaël Kakuta pointed to his near-derelict neighbourhood and asked: 'How could he ever say no to the millions of Roman Abramovich?' Gregory Daudus found Kakuta as a six-year-old in the streets in the impoverished Moulins region of southern Lille, where his family live. He pointed out areas that are virtual no-go zones at night, with immigrant gangs roaming. And Daudus found it easy to understand how Kakuta had been "induced" – as FIFA called it – to break his contract with Lens and join Chelsea. Daudus said: 'Gael would often talk about how he wanted to be a great footballer to put food on the family table. How could someone from an underprivileged background say no when Chelsea offered him around 1 million to sign?'"



Manchester United are eyeing Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev as they prepare for life after Edwin van der Sar. (Sun)

George Burley insists Wednesday's do-or-die showdown with Holland is the biggest game of his life as he plots a miraculous course to the World Cup Finals in South Africa. (Mail)

Vedran Corluka issued an apology to the whole of Croatia after his red card ruled the Tottenham defender out of their World Cup showdown with England. (Mirror)



Quote of the day:

"John Terry is not talking like that when Didier Drogba goes down for Chelsea " – Slaven Bilic says the England captain is guilty of hypocrisy.