[Jack Sparrow]

I hope so. There are worse lone strikers out there. Not to mention that he might even form a good partnership, given that our attack specialises in service.

[kurtsimonw]

I hope so. There are worse lone strikers out there. Not to mention that he might even form a good partnership, given that our attack specialises in service.

Owen can only play with Heskey.

That means we need to get rid of Heskey ASAP or we'll probably end up with Owen. God help us.

[han2503]

Owen can only play with Heskey.

That means we need to get rid of Heskey ASAP or we'll probably end up with Owen. God help us.

Galliani will fight Villa to the end. He's on a free so you're going down!!!!

[kurtsimonw]

ASTON VILLA are ready to make a £5million swoop for German international Tim Borowski.

Boss Martin O'Neill hopes to land the 6ft 5in Bayern Munich midfielder before training starts next month.

Villa have also been linked with Spurs' Tom Huddlestone but Borowski, 29, has played at a much higher level.

He was a key member of the German squads at the World Cup in 2006 and Euro 2008.

Bayern are desperate to raise the cash to capture Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa

From NotW so I will question it's reliability, but I'd be very pleased with this.. didn't even know he was at Bayern to be honest.

[dst]

Olympiacos might hijack Villa's (and Milan's) effort to sign Owen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Let's hope they make it.

Back in the late 1800s the only competition was the FA Cup, friendlies were also played. Football was still ametuer back then and it was difficult for teams to pay rent for their fields as nobody was interested in watching the teams play in friendly matches and FA Cup games only had small attendances due to them at least being meaningful. Most of the FA Cups in the early years were won by teams from wealthy areas, so many teams owners voted for football to turn professional, but players could only play football for teams they had lived within 6 miles, as long as they had lived their for 2 years. This drew in more fans as they were getting to see the very best footballers in the country from their area, though due to the FA Cup taking priority and alot of teams still competing in their county cups, alot of friendlies were cancelled and it was difficult for teams to pay wages for staff, players and then rent for the field. Alot of teams just disappeared as they couldn't meet payments and football was essentially dying. William McGregor, the director of Villa, proposed that the very best professional teams in the country meet together to discuss forming a league, with fixtures on set dates, so there is a gaurenteed income and if friendlies are cancelled, it will not have much of an impact. The excess money from competing n both league and FA Cup allowed teams to eventually buy the land they played on, build stadiums, training facilities, improve their players, etc, etc and make what it is today. Compare this to what our rivals have done.. err... oh, they use the name of the City in their team name, despite the fact both of us agreed not to. I think it's easy enough to see which team anyone with any sense of respect supports from where I live.

Ah thanks.

I think you're giving too much importance to that club when you mention them, I know it feels better when you bash your opponents (I do it more often than not) but when you don't it hurts them much more and you show them just how important they are to you... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

but when you don't it hurts them much more and you show them just how important they are to you... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I don't care, I'd rather point out how ghey they are every time I can. Talkong of that.. their ticket prices for the game aginst us have been released, Villa fans have to pay £48 when we play at their place, a disgrace. It's also illegal since you can only charge the highest price that you charge your own fans, which is alot less than £48. They got a big fine for doing this last time they were in the Premier League, looks like they'll never learn. Then again, they have to make money somehow, and our fans will be the only ones turning up.

Valencia to move to United for £18m

He's nowhere near the ability of ROnaldo, but they were never going to get someone that was. Good signing, if a little expensive.

[kurtsimonw]

I was just thinking, based on this Platini threatens to ban Man City from Europe thing that came out a few months ago, how come nothing has been said about Real Madrid, considering the fact they've spent more in the last few weeks than the new Man City owners have in their entire time there? Surprise, surprise.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jul 2 2009, 11:58 PM

[dst]

He has talked about Madrid.

[kurtsimonw]

He has talked about Madrid.

If he did, I haven't seen it. I heard him mention that they were spending 'embarassing' amounts of money. But nothing to do with kicking them out of Europe.

[vahid]

Owen transfers to ManUtd

(IMG:http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46009000/jpg/_46009635_owenshirtc466.jpg)

[kurtsimonw]

Surprised at it myself. But I won't question Fergie, most of his signings are great.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Owen transfers to ManUtd

(IMG:http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46009000/jpg/_46009635_owenshirtc466.jpg)

I guess if you keep him fit, that is the big IF. Then it's actually not bad business at all when you think about how they got him on a free.

From an England perspective the fact that Wayne and Michael will be at least training together on a daily basis, that surely can't hurt our chances.

United are going to sign more than Valencia/Owen, but the fact they have these two and have still got £60m left to spend roughly + whatever they were going to get given, if that's true I don't think Madrid and City will be the only teams signing big.

[Bluesummers]

they need another big striker to replace tevez. Owen certainly is a big gamble and should not be looked at as the big striker signing.

[kurtsimonw]

United can afford to take a risk on a player like Owen. With ROoney, Berbatov and I'm sure another strike will be signed, there won't be too much demand for Owen, so he'll be able to cope. I don't think many others teams can afford that though.

[kurtsimonw]

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he had been hoping to sign both Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz this summer. Barry opted to leave Aston Villa for Manchester City though, while Paraguay international Santa Cruz is also now at Eastlands after spending the last two seasons with Blackburn Rovers.

It has been a frustrating summer for Redknapp, who told the Mail on Sunday: "I'm looking to strengthen the squad and we've made enquiries for some good players.

"But it's very difficult. (Manchester) City have blown us out of the water. We can't compete with them. They're working on another level with the wages they can offer.

"We liked Barry and Santa Cruz but, when it came to it, we just weren't at the races. The wages they offer have gone sky high.

"Glen Johnson has gone to Liverpool and is picking up two-and-a-half times the wages he was getting at Portsmouth. There's no doubt City are making it very difficult for the rest.

"Barry only had a year left on his contract and would have been a terrific signing for us, but they're probably paying him double what we'd have given him, so we had no chance.

"We're not going to rush in. I've spoken to the chairman Daniel Levy and we've decided, if we can't get players who'll improve the team, we're not going to bother.

"We've already got a decent squad, many of whom are going to get better. But we recognise we have to improve.

"If Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate stay injury-free we'll be strong at centre-half and the goalkeeping situation is much better.

"After early problems with Heurelho Gomes, he looked a different proposition to the one he was when I took over. We ended the season with two excellent keepers in him and Carlo Cudicini."

Yes, because RSC and Barry would join Spurs because..? Redknapp really suits that club, SPurs' fans seem to think they're one of the biggest clubs around, Redknapp seems to think he's one of the best managers around. RSC and Barry may have joined City for the money, but they are a club going places. Spurs are going nowhere, fast.

Why did he want Santa Cruz.. that'd be 5 strikers at the club, Spurs never learn, surely with the Keane/Berbatov/Defoe/Bent problem you'd realise that 4 was too many? Not him though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)