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[IT] Serie A 08/09 |
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May 19 2008, 10:59 PM
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Prima Squadra
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QUOTE Frank Lampard transfer claims stun Chelsea Chelsea's preparations for the Champions League final were disrupted yesterday by reports from Italy that Frank Lampard would quit the club after the game to take up a four-year contract with Inter Milan. Confirmation from Uefa that Lubos Michel, the referee who allowed Luis GarcÃa's infamous “ghost goal†in the semi-final defeat by Liverpool three years ago, will be in charge against Manchester United tomorrow evening provided a further source of irritation. Senior officials at Chelsea reacted with surprise and anger that fresh speculation about Lampard, 29, had surfaced just 48 hours before the biggest match in the club's history and Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, placed an immediate call to Roman Abramovich, the owner, to ensure that no deal had taken place without his knowledge. An investigation has been launched to discover whether an agent is falsely claiming to represent Chelsea in transfer business, so strong was the word from Milan that a transfer was on the verge of completion. Sources in Milan were happy to provide details of a salary - approximately £5.8 million a year - and a length of contract for the Lampard transfer, yet Chelsea claimed that there had been no contact between the clubs, while Steve Kutner, the England midfield player's agent, insisted that no decision would be made on his future until later in the summer, after talks with Chelsea. Lampard's contract has one year to run and it may be that if he cannot reach agreement on an extended deal, he will be sold rather than allowed to leave on a free transfer, but Kutner said that word of an imminent move to Milan was wrong. “There is no truth in it at all,†Kutner said. “I don't know why Inter Milan would think this. Nobody has talked to me and I am good friends with the owner, Massimo Moratti. I took Paul Ince there, I took Patrick Vieira there - if there was something on I am sure I would know. “The situation is that Frank has got a massive match on Wednesday, after which he needs to spend time with his family, because he has not had a real opportunity to do that since his mother died. He needs to get away and sort out his personal life and when he has done that we will sit down and talk about his future in football. “After that we will talk to Chelsea and that is as far as we have got - there is nothing in the pipeline and I don't know why this has surfaced now.†The speculation could not have come at a worse time for Chelsea, with so much uncertainty around important players going into the club's first Champions League final. Didier Drogba is a target for AC Milan and there is still no final word on whether Avram Grant, the first-team coach, will be in charge next season. Lampard's departure seemed a perfect fit with increasing indications that he would be reunited with José Mourinho, Grant's predecessor, if he went to Inter. Mourinho expects to open talks with Moratti next week and is favoured to replace Roberto Mancini as coach. Although preliminary terms have not been agreed, his appointment is increasingly regarded as a matter of when, rather than if. Chelsea reacted with stoicism to Michel's appointment, though there is little doubt that they would have preferred another referee, for superstitious reasons if nothing else. Chelsea have not won a match officiated by the Slovak, who also took charge of their 1-0 defeat to Werder Bremen in last season's group stage. Chelsea will train at the Luzhniki Stadium this evening, with the final place in their starting XI still up for grabs. It is a straight fight between Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou. Grant is leaning towards picking Malouda for his greater experience - the France winger has started all Chelsea's Champions League away matches this season - though a final decision could be delayed until tomorrow afternoon. Times Online I don't see this happening personally. But he and Jose did get on well, so if Jose went to Inter..
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May 19 2008, 11:39 PM
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Token Girl
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Could just be a plant job from the evil gremlins who live under Old Trafford, Kurt. (IMG: http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The Italian press is talking a lot more about Mancini to Chelsea than any chelsea players going to Italy. Even the Drogba rumors have been mostly quiet the last few days other than Seedorf's comment this morning. (oh, and Chelsea maybe bidding for Deco). EDIT: something Porty left off the list: CANNOLI.
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May 21 2008, 07:31 PM
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Giovanissimi Regionali B
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My prediction for next season 1-Milan 2-merda 3-zebras 4-Fiorentina Prandelli wants to build a squad that can play both in europe and serie A, and they'll probably buy 3/4 quality players for the next year, even if I believe they'll end up with us in the uefa sup I pretty sure they'll do very well in Serie A next season (IMG: http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) With the right mentality in the market Milan can be back on top again and I believe that the next season will be ours. Zambrotta, R10/Eto'o/Drogba, Flamini, a good GK and DC and will be back on track (if we can trade Oddo for another RB, it would be awesome). The zebras should be concerned about their defence instead of buying stokers I think, it's their weakest department and they don't seem to care about it, or maybe they already have a plan and dont' want to talk about it ... La merda on the other hand is already a complete team minus unity, wth a coach like Mourinho they could have that, but what would be worrying is the fact that they're chasing Eto'o, Eto'o and Ibrahimovic would be unstoppable, the Swede can end up in Madrid though ... I think la Roma will be the flop of the next season, they sowed once again that they're not up to the task, they have few champions but it takes more than that to be a great team. They're in absolute of a strong striker and could challenge la Viola for Gilardino (they should), but I think that they'll be back to their usual self and fail next term.
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May 21 2008, 07:49 PM
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Esordienti B 96
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QUOTE (morgoth @ May 22 2008, 02:31 AM) My prediction for next season La merda on the other hand is already a complete team minus unity, wth a coach like Mourinho they could have that, but what would be worrying is the fact that they're chasing Eto'o, Eto'o and Ibrahimovic would be unstoppable, the Swede can end up in Madrid though ... Indeed, that would be a terrible nightmare. I dont even want to think about it. (IMG: http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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May 21 2008, 09:55 PM
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Giovanissimi Regionali B
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QUOTE (Porty @ May 21 2008, 09:47 PM) Ibrahimovic + Eto'o. Ibrahimovic + Drogba. Even Ibra + Adriano (a 100% and motivated one, under Mourinho) would be a nightmare for any defense. The thing is that Ibra & Eto'o are more complementary, so it would be more devastating.
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