[acid911]

To be honest, kits this season have been generally much better than last season ones. At least for the bunch I've seen up till now. Doesn't matter if it's Adidas or Nike, the overall look is both clean and - oh, how would you put it - full. Even your kit, Kurt, is a step above from last year. The only way I think it could be better would if it were pink and black. The Pink & Black Attack, baby! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) Then again there is a matter of club colors, so all proper considerations have to be made.

I can't wait for the red+black one to be released. Wonder who'll do the photo shoot for the goalkeeper's kit for us? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

This post has been edited by acid911: Jul 8 2008, 12:09 AM

[kurtsimonw]

Barry is just Mascherano with creativity + the ability to score in my opinion. The only reason he wouldn't be picked in front of him is because Rafa would look an idiot spending £17m on Mascherano only to buy a replacement 6 months later.

I think Liverpool will play with 5 midfielders next season anyways, allowing Gerrard, Barry and Mascherano to all play together. I personally think Alonso is terrible, last season he'd have struggled to get into any EPL side - yes, even Derby.

Villa want £18m for Barry, and Liverpool are only ready to offer £16m. But it seems Steve Finnan may be included in a deal as he wants out and we need an RB, so that'd make sense to me.

Otherwise if Barry doesn't leave, I can see us reporting Liverpool to the FA for tapping up Barry and we'll get some money out of it that way. I wish we'd do this anyway, whether he leaves or not, but it seems our board don't want to report them. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

@Acid: On Milans GK kit.. which teams at the Euro's wore Adidas? I'm trying to think of what our GK kit would look like!

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jul 8 2008, 12:13 AM

[Jack Sparrow]

@kurt: Germany wears adidas.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to come down with a strong case of deja vu when the club offers him one last take-it-or-leave-it deal, The Sun reports…

Adebayor is flirting with both Barcelona and AC Milan after having his ₤120,000-per-week wage demands flat-out rejected by the Gunners, who would go no higher than ₤60,000.

The Togolese hitman’s departure would leave Arsene Wenger with a decidedly lightweight forward line, as Eduardo da Silva is still recovering from injury while it remains to be seen whether Robin van Persie can overcome his chronic fragility.

Hence, the 13-time league champions are unwilling to let the 24-year-old leave before a replacement is signed; however, the deal could fall through altogether given both Barca and Milan are baulking at Adebayor’s ₤38million price tag.

The north London club are more than willing to compromise on the ex-Monaco man’s demands, however – by offering him the same ₤60,000-per-week deal.

Given Adebayor is currently on ₤30,000-per-week, Wenger and co believe this double-or-nothing offer is more than fair.

If he refuses, then the Gunners will almost certainly have to lower their asking price, as neither the Blaugrana nor the Rossoneri will go much higher than €30million.

Ok...now if Ade refuses this deal and wants to leave, he is a bit of a money hungry so-and-so. I think a double wage is excellent remuneration for one good season.

Arsenal midfielder Aliaksandr Hleb has joined in the recent spate of bridge burning by publicly criticising both Arsene Wenger and Cesc Fabregas…

Hleb has long been toying with a summer exit from Emirates, and has been tagged as a near-certainty to leave since Internazionale made an approach towards the end of last season.

It has been suggested that the Belarusian attacker is fed up with the hustle and bustle of life in London, while the player himself has admitted he is yet to fully adapt to the pace of English football.

However, the 27-year-old’s main beef may in fact be with the fact Wenger has deployed him almost exclusively on the wings, despite the fact his preference is to play through the centre.

“My view of how I should be playing didn’t coincide with the manager’s,” Hleb was quoted as saying in The Sun.

“I told him last season I wanted to leave and think he was quite upset about it. But ask him. It may turn out he’s happy to see me go.”

Selfish

Fabregas is the reason Hleb cannot get a game in the middle, as the Spanish playmaker has taken the Premier League by storm over the last few seasons since bursting onto the scene as a teenager.

But Hleb is not so enamoured with his team-mate as the rest of Europe is, insisting the EURO 2008 winner is greedy and goal-hungry.

“When we get scoring opportunities, Fabregas is much more selfish than me,” said the ex-Stuttgart player, who has often been criticised for his minimal contribution on the score-sheet.

“Given a chance to shoot, he always goes for it — unlike me.”

Barca Bound

Hleb and his representatives are reportedly deep in negotiations with Barcelona, who are keen to replenish their creative stocks after ditching both Deco and Ronaldinho.

And the former Dinamo Minsk youngster confirmed that Catalonia is his preferred destination: “I don’t know where I’ll be next season but I’d prefer Barcelona. It is being negotiated and, hopefully, will be decided soon.”

Heh....suddenly Arsenal are being criticised everywhere. The media hate being made to look like jackasses. Beginning of the season, they're all on about how Thierry Henry's departure leaves Arsenal rudderless and how they'll flop...and Arsenal flip them the bird and run to the top. Then they change their track to how youth is truly the best way to win etc...and Arsenal flop at the last hurdle. So they're left with pie on their faces again. They won't forgive Arsene for some time now. Pundits hate being wrong.

And Peter Crouch sold to Portsmouth. I believe it's on Liverpool's official site. Somebody ask dst to check. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Crouch will be going for £8m/£9m with add-ons, so the final price could be at around £11m, crazy.

Scolari's had a press conference today. Wasn't too many important things really.
-He says he has a 'great' relationship with Roman.
-Lampard has told him he wants to stay at Chelsea.

(In response to Lampard Scolari saying that Lampard wants to stay, Moratti has said that he HAS made an offer for Lampard, but doesn't want to create a problem over it).

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jul 8 2008, 02:23 PM

[kurtsimonw]

Sidwell is having a medical at Villa..

I know I want us to be English, but this is starting to take it too far..

[Locke Lamora]

F-ing hell I'm sick of these one-good-season ba*tards.
After Wenger still let them play even when everyone thought they were useless, they have one good season and expect to be treated like once-in-a-decade players. Flamini, Hleb and possibly Adebayor can all go to hell, the only loyal players we have left is Toure, Clichy, Sagna, Fabregas(I think) and Van Persie. Eboue as well but that's only because no-one else playing in a first-division league would want him in their team.

[kurtsimonw]

I think that's a problem with buying young players, they let it get to their head a bit too quickly, they think they're God.

[Locke Lamora]

I think that's a problem with buying young players, they let it get to their head a bit too quickly, they think they're God.

Hleb is 27, that should be enough to not act like a total jerk.

[Jako19]

Villa agree deal for Chelsea midfielder Sidwell

Updated: July 9, 2008, 7:37 AM ET

Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell - Martin O'Neill's first capture of what is expected to be a hectic second half of the summer.


The midlands club have settled on what is believed to be a fee of around £5 million for the former Reading player, subject to him passing a medical.


If that goes to plan, Sidwell will then fly out to link up with Villa's pre-season tour of Switzerland.

Sidwell has been one of manager O'Neill's main transfer targets since the season ended.

A club statement said: 'Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea's former England Under-21 midfielder Steve Sidwell, subject to a medical.'

The 25-year-old played a major part in Reading establishing themselves in the Premier League two years ago before moving to Stamford Bridge last summer.

The former Arsenal trainee, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City, had limited opportunities under Jose Mourinho and then Avram Grant as Chelsea narrowly missed out on Premier League and Champions League glory.

His arrival will offset some of the disappointment surrounding the club over the expected departure of Gareth Barry to Liverpool.

Sidwell was part of the Arsenal side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001 and had loan spells with Brentford and Brighton.

He was unable to force his way into the first team with the Gunners and moved to Reading in January 2003 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Sidwell played a big role in Reading gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time two years ago.

But he rejected a new contract that summer and left the Royals on a free transfer to move to Chelsea in 2007.

The England Under-21 player struggled to hold down a regular spot after claiming he had not gone to Stamford Bridge 'to make up the numbers'.

Now the England Under-21 player will be looking to rebuild his career under O'Neill.

The Northern Irishman has a number of other potential targets in the pipeline, namely Paul Robinson, James Milner and David Bentley.

He is aware of the need to bolster what was the smallest squad in the Premier League last season having already lost the services of Olof Mellberg, Patrik Berger and Thomas Sorensen.

And midfielder and skipper Barry is certain to leave once Liverpool match O'Neill's valuation of around £18 million.
SOURCE

[dst]

F-ing hell I'm sick of these one-good-season ba*tards.
After Wenger still let them play even when everyone thought they were useless, they have one good season and expect to be treated like once-in-a-decade players. Flamini, Hleb and possibly Adebayor can all go to hell, the only loyal players we have left is Toure, Clichy, Sagna, Fabregas(I think) and Van Persie. Eboue as well but that's only because no-one else playing in a first-division league would want him in their team.

I agree with you on Hleb and Adebayor but certainly disagree with you on Flamini. And because he joined Milan. The guy asked for an extension last summer and he did not get it... if anything he is the one that was betrayed and not the other way around.

[Jako19]

And yeah, I agree the youngins think "Holy **** im worth $40E, Im awsome". I personaly would get slightly like god myself, I mean I wont see that much money in my account ever in my entire life.

[dst]

Ex-Villa player Ivor Powell awarded an MBE
This is old news but that man was presented with his award only a week or so ago. He's the world's oldest manager, at 92 he is still the manager of Team Bath F.C. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

And yeah, I agree the youngins think "Holy **** im worth $40E, Im awsome".  I personaly would get slightly like god myself, I mean I wont see that much money in my account ever in my entire life.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Eboue as well but that's only because no-one else playing in a first-division league would want him in their team.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Eboue, how I can't stand that arrogant guy who seems to think he was meant to be in G-Unit...

It's good to see him have turned sh... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell - Martin O'Neill's first capture of what is expected to be a hectic second half of the summer.

Soccernet must be slow, we signed Curtis Davies last week..

Hleb is 27, that should be enough to not act like a total jerk.

Ah, that's true. Not sure what his problem is. But I do think that Wenger needs to take some blame, he's very stubborn and this is clearly getting to some players.

[Jako19]

Personally I feel that all players should just shut up, and finish up their contracts. Why sign one for 5 years when you think your gonna leave in 3. And to the young players, respect the club that made you who you are, dont go demanding money, or transfer, be honerable and finish the contract you started... "woohh, ahh"