Football Corner

Barcelona v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Final

2011-05-21T11:21:00.002+01:00

As FC Barcelona and Manchester United ready themselves for the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley on 28 May, we take a look at some of the games along the way.

First of all both Man United and Barcelona are fantastic teams, true champions with loads of stars playing for them – its going to be one incredible festival!! Cant wait..

Man Utd seemed to have the easier route to the final, beating the German team Schalke fairly convincingly 6-1 on aggregate. Whilst Barcelona battled against their Spanish rivals, Real Madrid in the semi-finals. The first round was won by Barcelona 2-0, but not without controversy. Real Madrid forced a draw during the second leg, but it was too much for them to come back from 2-0 down on aggregate and win by more than 2 goals away at Barcelona.

Some may question Barcelona’s tactics during their semi against Real Madrid, but they wont care they are in the final of one of football’s biggest events – the UEFA Champions League 2011 and they wont mind what people say about them.

Perhaps it was because Barcelona have Unicef on their shirts and are seen as the do-gooders, whilst Real Madrid have sponsorship from bwin, a gambling and betting company... Who knows?? Conspiracy theorists if you really want to look into it further then make the most of it and get some great casino bonuses whilst you are there at some of the best online casinos.

Might even fancy a few shillings on the final myself...

There were accusations of racism, UEFA dished out fines and suspensions to both teams and Madrid’s coach José Mourinho, who was dismissed from the bench, made inappropriate (according to UEFA that is...) statements at the post match interview.

In short, the semi-final was not the best advertisement for sportsmanship. UEFA have disciplined, European football will continue and onwards to the UEFA Champions League Final 2011, Wembley, London – May 28.

It's Manchester United's title to lose

2011-01-21T00:54:00.005Z

With four months still to go before we know who will be lifting the Premier League trophy, it seems that few are betting against Manchester United winning the title back.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are sitting pretty at the top of the table, level on points with neighbours Manchester City, however, the Old Trafford club have two games in hand.

Arsenal lie in 3rd place, two points behind United, but Arsene Wenger's side have played a game more than the Red Devils.

Chelsea have slipped down the table and at this stage, they would be doing fairly well to finish in the top 4 with Tottenham breathing down their necks.

Given the fact United have yet to hit top gear this season, it all seems to point towards them winning yet another Premier League title.

It is quite scary to think that, arguably their best player, Wayne Rooney, has scored just two Premier League goals this season and yet they remain unbeaten in 21 league games.

United are, unsurprisingly, favourites with all the bookies and sportsbooks to claim their 13th Premier League title.

So is it United's title to lose? Feel free to leave your comments below!

Premier League 2010/2011 Preview

2010-08-03T19:10:00.004+01:00

So we are now less than two weeks away from the kick-off of the 2010/2011 Premier League season and I'm sure, like me, you are all getting very excited.

There are three clubs, in my opinion, who have a real chance of lifting the title come the end of the season. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Many believe Manchester City may challenge for the title this season given the vast amounts of money they have spent over the last few weeks. David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure have all arrived at Eastlands this summer and if you have been keeping up with the sports news of late, you will know that City's spending may not be over just yet.

I personally don't believe they have what it takes to go all the way this season and I think they would be doing well to finish in the top four this time around.

If I had to put my money on any team, I would probably bet on Chelsea to retain their Premier League crown.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, there are a large number of teams who could easily be relegated this season. Blackpool will probably finish rock bottom with West Brom just above them in 19th and then it will be intriguing to see who finishes in the place above them. It really could be any number of six or seven teams who finish 18th but if I had to choose one, I would have to go with Birmingham.

We all love picking our squads for a fantasy soccer game before the season starts and one player I suggest you have in your team this season is Liverpool's Joe Cole. I am convinced he will be a big success at Anfield and I can see him scoring loads of goals this season.

The Transfer Window is now SHUT

2009-09-01T22:19:00.002+01:00

After two months, the transfer window has today slammed shut. What a transfer window, eh?

Obviously the big spenders in the Premier League were Manchester City, spending over £115 million. Mark Hughes was certainly given to freedom to spend money left, right and centre, building almost a fantasy football team in the process.

It seems the majority of football news in Europe has surrounded Real Madrid this summer. The Spanish giants have spent nearly a quarter of a billion pounds on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka. Many football betting experts believe Real may be the team to beat in the Champions League this season and personally, I agree with them.

Elsewhere in the transfer window, Tottenham completed a transfer deadline day deal, bringing Portsmouth midfieder Niko Kranjcar to Fratton Park. Kranjcar became the second Portsmouth player to join Harry Redknapp at Spurs, following the arrival of Peter Crouch earlier this summer.

Manchester City to win the League?

2009-08-19T16:11:00.007+01:00

Many leading figures in the game have questioned whether or not Manchester City can win the Premier League title this season. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already dismissed City's chances, however both Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill think Mark Hughes' men are contenders.

With the players they have signed over the summer (Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez etc;) you would think that they must be contenders, however it is how they gel together is the main thing. If they lose two or three games on the trot, suddenly pressure begins to mount and the players begin to lose interest, so it is vital Hughes keeps all of his players happy.

So, can City really challenge? I'm still undecided, however one things for sure, I wouldn't be betting against it.

An important notice for all Football Corner readers

2009-07-06T03:19:00.002+01:00

Just to let you know, Football Corner has moved.

Visit the new site now, www.football-corner.org

Also, if I could get everyone who links to Football Corner to please change the URL of the link that would be terrific.

Anyway, look forward to having you all over at the new site.

Carlos Tevez really does hate Sir Alex

2009-07-05T18:58:00.005+01:00

Carlos Tevez just won't shut up about his now former club Manchester United.

Speaking about his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, the Argentine striker had this to say :

"He thinks I will return. But I know what I want and I know that Ferguson did not respect me as a player. Before Berbatov arrived in Manchester, Ferguson told me, ‘You will still be the starting striker, so be cool’. But he lied to me!

That is why I know I will not return to United. What I want to do next season is score against United. I promise I will not celebrate in front of the United fans but I will shout in Ferguson’s face. You can be sure of that - and it will be one of the most beautiful things I have done in football."

Although I am a Manchester City fan, I really think Tevez should just keep his mouth shut. To put it bluntly, he's acting like an immature teenager. On the other hand, wouldn't it be hilarious to see how Ferguson would react if Tevez was shouting in his face.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Why on earth would Aston Villa want to sign this guy?

2009-07-02T14:17:00.002+01:00

I know it's that time of the year, when strange rumours begin emanating in the media, however I have never seen a stranger rumour than the one which can be found in today's Daily Star.

The paper has today claimed that Aston Villa are set to make a move for Wigan defender Titus Bramble. As you can probably tell from the headline, I'm not a massive fan of Bramble's, in fact, I think he's one of the worst players to ever play in the Premier League.

So why on earth would Villa manager Martin O'Neill want to sign the one and only Titus Bramble? Comments below please.

Real Madrid are ruining the transfer market, not Manchester City

2009-07-02T12:45:00.006+01:00

It's funny, I remember back to middle of January, when Manchester City made that astonishing £107 million bid for Kaka. It seemed as though everyone in the football world had something negative to say about City's audacious bid to sign the former FIFA World Player of the Year.

Michel Platini was threatening to ban City from entering any European competitions if they were just going to spend ridiculous sums of money on players. Platini's doesn't seem to be threatening to ban Real Madrid from entering European competitions even though they are now the ones actually spending the ridiculous sums on big name players.

I don't know why this gets my so annoyed, but it does. Maybe it's because I have been a City fan for quite some time and I hate to see my team criticised. I understand that City are bound to be criticised for spending £30 million plus on players, however I don't understand why Real Madrid aren't criticised for spending £50 million plus on players.

So those who say that Manchester City are ruining the transfer market are just plain idiots because City haven't even spent £30 million this summer. Real have spent £180 million.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Is the new Arsenal 3rd kit a hit or a miss?

2009-07-01T18:14:00.003+01:00

Arsenal have today revealed their new 3rd kit for the 09/10 Premier League campaign. I quite like the new jersey, but I'm keen to hear what you Gunners fans and indeed any football fans feel about the new kit.

You can find several Arsenal jerseys over at myfootballkits.co.uk.

Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Manchester United

2009-07-01T15:59:00.004+01:00

It's official, Cristiano Ronaldo is a Real Madrid player after spending six years with the Premier League Champions Manchester United.

Love him or loath him, there's no denying he was one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen. In total, Ronaldo scored an incredible 118 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils establashing himself as a firm favourite amongst the Old Trafford faithful.

Football Corner wants you to sum up Ronaldo's time at United in just three words. Whenever we do the "Three words to sum up" we always get a good response from you, the readers, so let's do the same again. If I had to use three words to sum up Ronaldo's career at United, I would say he was : simply the best.

Leave your comments below and as always, make them funny.

The Transfer Window is officially open

2009-06-30T23:52:00.005+01:00

The Transfer window is now officially open and boy are we in for a busy few weeks.

Many big money deals have already been confirmed, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka signing for Real Madrid and Glen Johnson signing for Liverpool.

The next few days are bound to be extremely busy with several big name players tipped to be moving including Carlos Tevez and Karim Benzema. So, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest transfer news as it happens.

Who will be on the move this summer? Comments below please.

Arsenal midfielder would jump at the chance to join Barcelona

2009-06-30T19:09:00.002+01:00

"If I have the chance to play for Barcelona, I'd be really happy."

Andrei Arshavin has today shocked Arsenal by claiming that should the opportunity arise, he would love to join Barcelona.

The Russian international moved to the Emirates just five months ago for a reported fee of £17 million. Since his arrival in North London, the 28-year old has scored six goals for Arsene Wenger's men, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite in the process.

Before his move to Arsenal, Arshavin was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, however nothing ever materialised with regards a move to the Camp Nou. There has been talk in recent times that Arshavin and his wife, Yulia, are unhappy in England due to the high tax rates and the food.

In the immediate aftermath of Arshavin's switch from Zenit St Petersburg to Arsenal, Yulia claimed she would have preferred if her husband had of moved to Spain. Strange thing for Arshavin to say so early into his Arsenal career. Personally, I hope Arshavin doesn't leave the Premier League anytime soon because I'm sure there is far more to see from the little playmaker. It will be interesting to see how the Gunners faithful react to Arshavin's comments.

So Arsenal fans, what do you think? Comments below please.

Arsenal, Villa, Bolton & Man City all set to hold talks with £12 million Portuguese midfielder

2009-06-29T21:02:00.005+01:00

It has been claimed today that Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bolton and Manchester City will all hold talks with Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso.

The Portuguese international has been linked with a move to the Premier League for quite some time now, however for whatever reasons he remains a Sporting player, but that may be about to change.

Veloso, 23, is desperate to join an English club during the summer transfer window and with four clubs now vying for his signature, a move looks a strong possibility. Whoever does eventually sign Veloso will have to cough up at least £12 million and in my opinion, at that price, he would prove great value for money.

He is still quite young, he can play in a variety of different positions and he has Champions League experience. Personally, I think Martin O'Neill should do all he can to convince Veloso to go to Villa Park cause at the moment, he could really use a quality midfield player. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest developments on this and more over the coming days and weeks.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Manchester United finally spend some of the Ronaldo money

2009-06-29T12:36:00.003+01:00

Manchester United are on the brink of completing their first signing of the summer, with Antonio Valencia likely to complete his £16.5 million move from Wigan later today.

The Ecuadorian winger has spent just over two years at the JJB Stadium, becoming one of Wigan's most prized assets during that time. Valencia, 23, was also strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, however it finally looks as though Sir Alex Ferguson has got his man.

Valencia has never hidden his desire to move to Old Trafford and once Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid earlier this month, it was only a matter of time before things began to happen. Many people have questioned whether or not Valencia has the ability to replace Ronaldo and in my view, he hasn't.

For me, Valencia was just a very good player in an average team at Wigan (with all due respect to Wigan of course). He is just a slightly better version of Nani and I'm sure the United faithful will be hoping for Sir Alex has someone else up his sleeve. I would be extremley surprised if this is the only business we see United do in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Is Valencia really that good? Does he deserve to wear the famous number 7 shirt? Comments below please.

Which is worse? The new Tottenham home kit or the new Man United home kit?

2009-06-28T23:45:00.004+01:00

Or

Personally, I think both of them are horrible, but which one do you think is worse? Comments below please.

Arsenal ready to wave goodbye to Adebayor and say hello to £30 million Real Madrid & Man United target

2009-06-28T17:38:00.003+01:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to let Emmanuel Adebayor join AC Milan for a fee believed to be around £23 million. It was confirmed yesterday, by the Milan president, Silvio Berlusconi, that the two clubs had been in contact regarding Adebayor's future at the Emirates and it would appear that a deal could be concluded in the coming weeks.

With that done, Wenger will obviously need to bring a new frontman to North London and if you are to believe what you read in the papers, that man will be Lyon's Karim Benzema.

The French international has been linked with several clubs in the past few days, including the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United, however as of yet, neither club has managed to reach an agreement with Lyon. Arsenal are confident that a bid of £30 million will force Lyon to sell, however the tricky part for them will be to convince Benzema to leave the Stade Gerland.

The 21-year old has stated on several occasions that he would like to remain at Lyon for at least one more season in order to ensure his place in the France World Cup squad. With Arsenal underachieving in terms of silverware in recent years, Wenger knows that this season must see an improvement to prevent key players leaving next summer and with that in mind he needs to bring in a player of the calibre of Benzema.

It will be fascinating to see who Benzema is playing for when the new season kicks off in six weeks time. I for one, hope he is playing Premier League football and personally, I think he would be perfect for Arsenal. Could you imagine seeing Benzema partnering Robin Van Persie in the Arsenal attack next season?

What do you think? Would Benzema be a good replacement for Milan-bound Adebayor? Comments below please.

Van will be playing in North London next season

2009-06-28T15:14:00.002+01:00

Robin Van Persie has today pledged his future to Arsenal amid reports linking him with a shock move to Manchester United.

When asked about the possibility of him leaving the Emirates this summer, Van Persie had this to say : "I'm not in negotiations with any other club - just Arsenal."

The Dutch international has just 12 months remaining on his current deal with Arsenal, however Arsene Wenger remains confident that a new deal will be signed in the coming weeks. Wenger recently stated : "We want to extend the contract of Robin."

Van Persie, 25, was Arsenal's top goalscorer last season scoring an impressive 20 goals in all competitions. With Emmanuel Adebayor likely to depart in the coming weeks, I feel it's vital that Arsenal manage to tie down Van Persie to a new long-term deal. When he's fit and on form, I personally don't think there are many better strikers in the Premier League.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Samuel Eto'o to partner Carlos Tevez up front at Eastlands

2009-06-28T12:30:00.004+01:00

It looks increasingly likely today that Samuel Eto'o will be joining Manchester City after Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed that the world's richest club have made a 'stratospheric' offer to the player.

The Cameroon striker has been strongly linked with a move to Eastlands in recent weeks, with City the only club willing to meet Eto'o's heafty wage demands of £1 million a month. Agreeing a transfer fee is unlikely to be a problem for the two clubs, with Barca willing to let Eto'o go for as little as £23 million due to his current contract expiring in just 12 months.

The 28-year old has spent five years at the Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 130 goals in just 200 appearances. His last appearance for Barca was last month's Champions League final where Eto'o scored the opening goal of a 2-0 victory over City's arch rivals Manchester United.

It is thought the whole deal could be finalised as early as Tuesday. Eto'o is likely to be partnered by Carlos Tevez at City. The Argentine striker will finalise his £30 million move on Wednesday after spending weeks considering his future. This is unlikely to be the end of Mark Hughes' spending this summer, with a defender now believed to be his number one priority.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Is Xabi Alonso really worth £35 million?

2009-06-27T23:56:00.003+01:00

It has been claimed today that Liverpool have told Real Madrid they will have to bid £35 million if they are to have any chance of signing Xabi Alonso. The Spanish midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu all summer, however as of yet, Real are yet to make a bid.

£35 million is a hell of a lot of money and it has got me thinking, is Alonso really worth that much? I'm undecided, but what do you think? Please leave your comments below.

Spurs willing to let striker leave for £18 million

2009-06-27T16:02:00.003+01:00

Darren Bent's days as a Tottenham player appear numbered after club chairman Daniel Levy admitted the England striker could leave once the club's valuation of £18 million is met.

Bent, 25, has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane since his £16.5 million arrival from Charlton back in 2007. Sunderland are believed to be the only club currently interested in Bent's signature, however the £18 million price-tag which has been placed on Bent should see Steve Bruce cool his interest.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to offload Bent as soon as possible to allow him to move for the likes of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and/or Luca Toni. With the World Cup fast approaching, Bent knows he needs to be playing regular first team football to have a chance of getting into Fabio Capello's England squad and at Spurs, that is unlikely to happen.

Personally, I think Tottenham would be lucky to get £12 million from the sale of Bent. I would say even Bent himself is laughing at the £18 million price-tag. Bent hasn't done much during his time at Spurs, and let's face it, a player who struggles to get into the Tottenham starting eleven is not worth £18 million. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest on this and more.

What do you think? Are Spurs asking for a bit too much or is their £18 million valuation spot on? Comments below please.

The latest twist in the Carlos Tevez saga

2009-06-26T22:08:00.004+01:00

It would appear that Carlos Tevez will be joining Manchester City after months of speculation regarding his future. The Argentine striker has been strongly linked with several Premier League clubs in recent weeks including the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, however City look to have finally won the race.

Tevez recently revealed that he had rejected Manchester United's offer of a new deal at Old Trafford because he didn't feel wanted by the Premier League Champions. It has been reported today that the 25-year old has enrolled his 4-year old daugther, Florencia in a private school in Chesire, which would seem to indicate that he plans to stay in the north-west next season.

City have been the favourites for a long time to sign Tevez and I'm sure today's revelation will make them even heavier favourites. A player like Tevez will no doubt help Mark Hughes in his quest to make City one of the biggest clubs in the world and as a City fan myself, I just can't wait to see Tevez arrive at Eastlands.

What do you think? Can you see Tevez signing for anyone other than City or is it a certainty now? Comments below please.

Is Glen Johnson really worth £17.5 million?

2009-06-26T21:25:00.003+01:00

I'm sure you've all heard the news that Liverpool have completed the signing of Glen Johnson for a fee of £17.5 million. The England defender has signed a four year contract at Anfield after spending a successful three years on the south coast with Portsmouth.

The 24-year old has emerged as one of, if not the best right-back in the country, forcing Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to cough up quite a sizeable chunk of money for his signature. Many people have questioned whether or not Johnson is really worth that much money but in my opinion, he is worth every penny.

Johnson is still very young for a defender and I think in the years to come he will prove to be an integral part of the Liverpool defence. The only worry I have about him is that he is quite an attacking right-back, however I'm sure Benitez will know how to manage him.

What are your thoughts on Johnson? Worth every penny or a huge waste of money? Comments below please.

Bye Bye Ronaldo

2009-06-26T20:53:00.004+01:00

Cristiano Ronaldo has this evening put pen to paper on a six-year contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid. The announcement brings to an end Ronaldo's six year spell with Premier League Champions Manchester United.

It's been over two weeks since the news broke that an £80 million fee between Real and United had been agreed and finally the news has broke that Ronaldo has agreed personal terms with the La Liga club.

A statement released just a few minutes ago read : "Real Madrid and Manchester United have signed the final agreement for the transfer of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo effective July 1. The player will remain at Real Madrid for the next six seasons and will be presented on July 6 at the Bernabeu stadium."

No matter what you think of Ronaldo, you will all have to agree that the Premier League won't be the same without him. He was an incredible character both on and off the field who I for one, will sorely miss. I really wish him the very best of luck with his move and let's hope one day he returns to England to play, even if it was just for a Champions League encounter.

What are your thoughts on Ronaldo? Comments below please.

£45 million La Liga won't be heading for the Premier League after all

2009-06-25T23:14:00.002+01:00

David Villa has today ruled out the possibility of moving to the Premier League after months of speculation regarding his future. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with the Valencia striker in recent times, however it would appear a move to England is now dead.

When asked about his future, the 27-year old replied : "When I said I had taken a decision it was true, and this decision is that next season I will play in Spain because it is the league that is best for me, I will not go abroad."

These comments will obviously be music to both Barcelona and Real Madrid ears. It is thought that Valencia will only sell Villa if the price is right, with a fee of £45 million being touted and with Barca and Real both willing to splash the cash this summer, it will be intriguing to see who eventually comes out on top.

As a massive fan of Premier League football in general, I'm devastated to see that Villa won't be arriving this summer. There is no doubt he is one of the best strikers on the planet and it would have been a pleasure to see him play in, undoubtedly the best league in the world. If I was a betting man (which I am) I would certainly be having a few quid on Villa to join Barcelona before the summer transfer window closes.

Where will David Villa be playing next season? Well, we are currently running a poll on that topic at the moment which can be found just to the right of this post. Also, leave your comments below please.

If these aren't banned, the World Cup will be a disaster

2009-06-25T20:44:00.003+01:00

Many people, including my good friend Brian Lofrumento over at Premiership Talk have had their say about the Vuvuzela. In case you don't know what a vuvuzela is, just watch a Confederations Cup match and you'll soon find out.

It's those annoying stadium horn thingy's that are driving me insane. I have only watched a few matches from the Confederations Cup in South Africa, however I have found it really hard to watch with any sort of volume on my television. The noise that comes from the vuvuzela is so annoying that I stopped watching this evening's semi-final between the hosts, South Africa and Brazil half-way through proceedings.

There has been calls from FIFA to ban vuvuzela's for next year's World Cup, however the South African Football Association (SAFA) have insisted that they are essential for an authentic South African football experience. They may be essential for an authentic South African football experience, but my god are they irritating.

It's so hard to enjoy a game of football when all you can hear is this constant noise. I for one, am hoping that something is done to prevent these vuvuzela from being used during next summer's World Cup because it would really ruin it as a spectacle. So, what do you think? Should the vuvuzela be banned or should we just fill our ears with cotton wool? Comments below please.

A strange day for Cesc Fabregas

2009-06-25T16:18:00.005+01:00

Earlier today it looked as though Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas may be on his way out of the Emirates after he slammed the club for it's failure to win a Premier League title in over five years.

"The absence of titles at Arsenal is what angers me the most ... Cristiano (Ronaldo) said he's leaving Manchester United because he had nothing else to win. For me right now it is the exact opposite, seeing the impotence.

Fabregas' comments fuelled speculation that a move to Real Madrid could be on the cards, however just hours after his original comments were made public, the 22-year old released a statement on the Gunners official website.

The Spanish international had this to say : "Let me make myself absolutely crystal clear - I am wholeheartedly committed to Arsenal, and my future lies with this great club."

A strange few hours in the career of Cesc Fabregas. No sooner had I read his comments that he was angry at Arsenal, I read that he is fully committed to Arsenal and that his future lies with Arsene Wenger's men. The large majority of Arsenal fans will be delighted to hear what Fabregas has had to say this afternoon, however I'm sure they aren't entirely comfortable with what has gone on today.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Michael Owen

2009-06-25T14:57:00.005+01:00

Following his announcement that he won't be signing a new deal with Newcastle United, Michael Owen has been linked with the likes of Hull and Stoke City. Contrast that to just five years ago when Owen was putting the finishing touches on his move to the mighty Real Madrid.

The former England and Liverpool striker has come in for some heavy criticism in recent weeks after it was revealed that he had sent out a 32-page brochure to several Premier League teams in a desperate bid to find a club.

So, Football Corner wants you to sum up Owen in jut three words. If I had to chose just three words to sum up the 29-year old, I would use the words : very injury prone. Please tell me your three words by leaving a comments below and as always, make them funny.

Arsenal willing to let striker leave for Milan

2009-06-24T23:26:00.004+01:00

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor looks destined for Milan after it was revealed that the North London club were preparing to offering him to both AC and Inter.

The Togo international has been strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates for quite some time after the player's representative admitted he didn't know where Adebayor would be playing next season.

Adebayor, 25, has come in for some stick from sections of the Arsenal faithful over the past few months for his below average performances. The former Monaco man scored just 16 goals in all competitions last season, not a bad total for an average striker, however compare that to the 30 he scored the previous season and you can see why the Arsenal fans aren't happy.

There has been talk that a £25 million bid made by any non-Premier League club will see Adebayor on his way out of Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is willing to let Adebayor leave the club, however he is unwilling to let him join Chelsea who have been tipped to make a move for him.

Personally, I think a move to AC is nailed on. AC clearly have money to spend after Kaka departed for Madrid earlier this month for a fee of nearly £60 million, so if they really want Adebayor then they will get him. It will be interesting to see if any more clubs from Europe show an interest in Adebayor in the coming weeks because there is no doubt that on his day he is one of the best in Europe.

What do you think? Where will Adebayor be playing next season? Comments below please.

Messi wants Liverpool midfielder to join Barcelona

2009-06-24T13:42:00.005+01:00

"Of course I would like him to join. Who would not want to play with great players like Javier? I hope he can come here."

That was the message from Barcelona's Lionel Messi today after he was asked about the possibility of Javier Mascherano moving to the Camp Nou. The Liverpool midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Spanish and European Champions in recent weeks after he admitted a move to Barca would interest him.

Mascherano, 25, has been at Anfield for over two years now since leaving fellow Premier League side West Ham in contreversal circumstances. Despite Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insisting on numerous occassions that Mascherano is not for sale, reports of a possible £20 million persist.

The Argentina captain stated earlier this month that his pregnant wife could not settle on Merseyside and therefore he may be forced to quit the club which caught the attentions of several big European clubs including Barca. Pep Guardiola is desperate to keep up with bitter rivals Real Madrid in terms of spending this summer and Mascherano is now seen as a likely candidate to arrive at the Camp Nou in the coming weeks.

Personally, I would be extremely surprised if Mascherano was still wearing the red of Liverpool next season. It is obvious that he wants to leave and I think Barca would be the perfect destination for him. It will be interesting to see how long it takes before we see Barca make a serious bid for Mascherano. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Tottenham look to beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City in race to sign La Liga defender

2009-06-23T18:12:00.004+01:00

Tottenham are preparing a move for Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze after the player admitted a move back to the Premier League would interest him.

The Argentine international has spent only two years away from England since leaving Manchester United back in 2007, however the 31-year old admits he would open to the possibility of one day returning.

Heinze had this to say : "I would not mind playing Premier League football again. I am aware that several clubs are interested, but I must speak with Real Madrid first."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his defensive options this summer and the North London have already held talks with Real about the possibility of bringing Heinze to White Hart Lane. Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been linked with Heinze in recent weeks, however Spurs are believed to be the only club who have made their interest known to the La Liga giants.

Personally, I don't think Spurs should break the bank for Heinze. If they could secure his services for somewhere near the £4 million mark then he would be a decent acquistion. It will be fascinating to see how this one pans out over the next few weeks so make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Would Heinze be a good signing for Spurs? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up the new Newcastle yellow kit

2009-06-23T14:05:00.002+01:00

Newcastle United have today released pictures of their new yellow kit.

Football Corner would like you to sum up the jersey in just three words. The three words I would use are : oh my god.

Please leave your comments below and make them funny.

Rafa Benitez willing to let Spaniard leave Anfield

2009-06-23T13:36:00.004+01:00

Don't worry Liverpool fans, it's not Xabi Alonso, it's only Alvaro Arbeloa.

Yes, Rafa Benitez has today admitted that the Merseyside club would be willing to sell Arbeloa if a good offer were to come in for him. The Spanish international has only 12 months left on his current contract and Benitez admits he will consider offers for the player.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Benitez had this to say on the matter :

"Alvaro Arbeloa has had a very good season but he has one year left on his contract. If he signs that will be good because we will have more competition, but if we get a good offer we will have to consider it."

Arbeloa, 26, has spent just two and a half years with Liverpool making just under 100 appearances for the club. It is understood that Arbeloa's former club, Real Madrid are monitoring the situation very closely with a bid likely to be made in the coming weeks.

I wouldn't be getting too upset if I was a Liverpool fan right now. With Glen Johnson all but signed, Arbeloa would have struggled to get into the team anyway so I suppose Benitez may as well get a few quid out of him now. It will be interesting to see how much Liverpool will get if they do decide to sell Arbeloa.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Who will David Villa be playing for next season?

2009-06-23T00:07:00.002+01:00

Well, it's time to start a new poll.

Our previous one, regarding the future of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso received over 250 votes and I hope this poll will be even better.

This time we are asking you who you think Valencia striker David Villa will be playing for next season. Several clubs have already been linked with the Spanish striker, however as of yet nothing has materialised.

So, please place your vote right now. The poll is just to the right of this post.

Despite the speculation, Xabi Alonso will not be leaving Liverpool

2009-06-22T23:12:00.002+01:00

That's according to our readers anyway.

Yes after two weeks of voting, you the readers, have decided that Xabi Alonso will still be playing for Liverpool next season, despite speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield.

Football Corner asked you who you think Xabi Alonso will be playing for next season and here are the results.

Liverpool - 128 votes (49%)
Real Madrid - 87 votes (32%)
Man City - 31 votes (12%)
Other - 18 votes (7%)

Total votes : 264.

I would like to thank everyone who voted in the poll and I would also like to encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll which can be found just to the right of this post.

What do you think about the result of the poll? Comments below please.

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the race to sign £18 million England defender

2009-06-22T19:45:00.003+01:00

After weeks of speculation over Glen Johnson's future, it has been confirmed this evening that the England full-back has agreed to sign for Liverpool.

Johnson, 24, has impressed during his time at Portsmouth since leaving Chelsea, who were also interested in his signature, back in 2006.

A statement released from the Merseyside club earlier this evening read : "Liverpool FC confirmed this evening that they had reached an agreement with Portsmouth Football Club and with Glen Johnson for the transfer of the player to Anfield."

In the past few years, Johnson has established himself as a regular at Fratton Park and indeed the national side. It is understood the deal will cost Liverpool as much as £18 million, however, in my opinion, that will eventually prove to be great value for money.

Rafa Benitez has been lacking a quality right-back in recent years and I feel the addition of Johnson will greatly improve the Liverpool defence. I would be surprised if Johnson is the only player to arrive at Anfield this summer so make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

What do you think? Will Johnson be a hit at Liverpool? Comments below please.

Manchester City complete their second major signing of the summer

2009-06-22T12:17:00.003+01:00

Roque Santa Cruz has today become Manchester City's second major signing of the summer after passing a medical.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker has moved to Eastlands for a fee believed to be £18 million. The Paraguayan international has been linked with a move to the world's richest club for over a year now but the two clubs only agreed a fee on Friday.

Santa Cruz, 27, has never hidden his desire to leave Ewood Park, stating on several occasions that he wanted to join a more ambitious club. Back in April, Santa Cruz had this to say : "I have already told them [Blackburn] and they know that before the transfer window closes I would like to continue my career at a bigger, more ambitious team."

Santa Cruz's arrival comes just weeks after Gareth Barry arrived at the club for £12 million and Mark Hughes' spending is set to continue over the coming months with Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott strongly tipped to arrive. If Santa Cruz stays fit, I think he can be a huge success at City, however I feel £18 million is a little bit too much to be paying for a player who barely played last season.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Andrea Pirlo is for sale

2009-06-22T11:29:00.003+01:00

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has today admitted that the club will listen to any offers which come their way for Andrea Pirlo.

The Italian international has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea since Carlo Ancelotti's arrival at Stamford Bridge last month, however as of now, nothing has materialised.

Following the departure of Kaka earlier this month, it was thought Milan would not need to sell any more of their big name players, however Berlusconi has admitted Pirlo may also leave. "If there's an offer, it should be considered. We'll see. I was the first to say that he (Pirlo) must stay, but then they showed me the sums (for his salary)."

Pirlo, 30, who is regarded by many as one of the finest midfield players in the world, has spent over eight years at the San Siro. In over 320 appearances for the Rossenieiri, Pirlo has managed to score 39 goals.

I would personally love to see Pirlo playing in the Premier League next season and reading Berlusconi's comments it certainly looks a strong possibility. Chelsea clearly have money to spend this summer and I think they should do all they can to bring Pirlo to London.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Is this the man to replace Tevez at Old Trafford?

2009-06-21T19:21:00.004+01:00

Barely a day has passed since it was announced that Carlos Tevez would not be joining Manchester United on a permanent deal and the Premier League Champions are already looking for a replacement.

One man who may replace Tevez is Lyon striker Karim Benzema.

The French international has already been linked with several of Europe's elite this summer, with Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid all understood to be interested. Despite the fact Benzema, 21, has previously stated his desire to play in Spain, a move to United is still a strong possibility.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now gone from Old Trafford, United can certainly afford to buy Benzema and pay him whatever wages he wants. There is no doubt United need to bring in a big name or two in the coming months and for me, they could do a lot worse than Benzema.

Unlike Tevez, Benzema scores goals on a regular basis. In 149 games with Lyon, he has scored 66 goals which is a very decent return. Also, Benzema is very young and undoubtedly, his best years are ahead of him so, personally, I think Ferguson should move for him as soon as possible.

What do you think? Would Benzema be a good replacement for Tevez? Comments below please.

I'm Back

2009-06-21T17:11:00.002+01:00

After a few days away in Spain and then a day in Slane Castle watching Oasis, I am finally ready to resume writing on Football Corner and I have to say I can't wait.

A lot has happened since I've been away, most notably, Cristiano Ronaldo has moved (well basically moved) to Real Madrid after spending five years with Manchester United. I can understand why Sir Alex Ferguson decided to sell, but my god, United will struggle without the FIFA World Player of the Year.

So make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner over the coming weeks and months to find out all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Off to Spain

2009-06-09T15:42:00.002+01:00

Right so, I'm off to Spain for well-derserved holiday.

I probably won't be posting, however my brother may be stepping in for a little bit.

Talk to you soon.

Worrying times for Liverpool as midfielder admits he would like to join Spanish giants

2009-06-09T14:11:00.004+01:00

Would Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano want to join Barcelona this summer? Well according to his agent, Walter Tamer, he would love to.

The Argentine international has been strongly linked with a move to the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Ray winners over the last few weeks and it now looks as though, given the opportunity, Mascherano will move to the Camp Nou.

Tamer had this to say : "It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca pay such close attention to him, especially after the incredible season they had. I believe that a transfer would be feasible. If Barca really want him, he will sign for them."

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is desperate to strengthen his squad over the next two months after seeing close rivals Real Madrid start their summer spending with the £58 million signing of Kaka.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez now faces the prospect of starting the 2009/2010 Premier League season without both of his holding midfield players, Mascherano and Xabi Alonso with the latter continuing to be linked with a move to Real. Personally, if I had to chose between the pair, I would pick Alonso any day.

I think it's only a matter of time before bids starting coming in for both Mascherano and Alonso and I feel if Barca were to make a bid of £20 million plus, Benitez may be forced to accept with the club's owners currently in a spot of bother financially.

So Liverpool fans, who would you prefer to keep at Anfield? Comments below please.

Kaka is now worth more than half of Newcastle United

2009-06-09T13:02:00.002+01:00

A strange thought came over me as I read through some of the figures involved in Kaka's move to Real Madrid. The overall fee Real have had to pay AC Milan for Kaka is thought to be £58 million which is obviously now a new world record.

Now you may or may not know that Newcastle United have recently been put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley after the club were relegated to the Championship. Ashley is now looking to sell the club for just £100 million, after what can only be describe as an horrendous last few years.

So, in conclusion, Kaka is now worth more than half of Newcastle United.

Three words to sum up Setanta Sports

2009-06-09T12:58:00.003+01:00

With the Irish broadcaster on the brink of collapse, Football Corner wants you to sum up Setanta Sports in just three words.

Whenever we do a : three words to sum up on the site, we always received loads of comments so lets do the same again. If I was to sum up Setanta in just three words, I would say : Sky is better.

Please leave your comments below.

Good old John Barnes

2009-06-08T23:40:00.005+01:00

In case you didn't know it, John Barnes has today left his post as head coach of the Jamaican national team after just seven months in charge. To celebrate this momentous occasion we have decided to take a look back at one of the more humorous moments in Barnes' career when he performed the rap which no man or women in England will ever forget.

Enjoy.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for Real Madrid next season

2009-06-08T00:04:00.003+01:00

That's the opinion of our readers anyway.

Yes, after just five days of voting, Football Corner has decided to end our current poll, which asked you, the reader, who will Cristiano Ronaldo be playing for next season. The poll was due to end on Tuesday, but quite frankly there was no point in letting it run that long because there was no contest.

The results from the poll tell their own story.

Real Madrid - 164 votes (63%)
Man United- 70 votes (27%)
Other - 26 votes (10%)

Total Votes : 260.

I would first of all like to thank everyone who voted. 260 votes in just a few days is fantastic, so thanks for that. Second of all, I must say I was surprised at how many people voted for Real Madrid. When I started the poll, I originally thought it was going to be extremely close. How wrong was I?

I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll which can be found just to the right of this post. Cheers.

Please leave your thoughts below.

Arsene Wenger believes City can fight with the top four, but do you?

2009-06-07T23:45:00.006+01:00

"If Man City has a successful period in buying in the transfer market, they could fight with the top four."

That was the message from Arsene Wenger after he was asked about the potential of Manchester City challenging for a Champions League spot next season.

The world's richest club have wasted no time what so ever in trying to bolster their squad, with Gareth Barry arriving at Eastlands last Tuesday for a fee of £12 million. City's Arab owners are expected to continue their spending throughout the summer with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott tipped to arrive in the coming weeks.

Arsenal themselves finished in 4th spot last season and Wenger knows that Mark Hughes' men may well challenge the so called 'big four' next season. As a City fan myself, I must say, I completely agree with Mr. Wenger.

If City were to sign four or five more big name players in the next two months, then there's no reason why they can't challenge. It is crucial that the club keep bringing in new faces at regular intervals because if we go another three or four weeks without signing another player, then people at the club will begin to panic and that's when stupid decisions are made.

What do you think? Is Wenger right? Can City seriously challenge at the top end of the table next season? Comments below please.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs & Man City all interested in £15 million England defender

2009-06-07T13:54:00.003+01:00

Despite signing a new four-and-a-half year deal back in January, Glen Johnson continues to be linked with a move away from Fratton Park with a number of clubs interested in his signature.

The Portsmouth right-back played so well last season that he was even included in the PFA's Team of the Year despite the fact he played in a side which finished 14th in the Premier League table.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City are all believed to be interested in signing the 24-year old who is likely to cost around the £15 million mark. It was reported earlier today that Johnson's former club Chelsea were now the favourites to sign him with Carlo Ancelotti keen to make him his first signing at Stamford Bridge.

It's hard to tell whether or not Johnson will leave Pompey now that the club has been taken over by a rich Arab. The new owners will obviously want to hold onto the club's most prized assets and Johnson in obviously one of those, however I feel once club's start making concrete bids for him he may want to leave the south coast. I can't see him going to Tottenham and with Liverpool's current financial trouble, I think a move to Anfield is unlikely, but that still leaves Chelsea and Manchester City.

So where will Johnson be playing his football next season? Comments below please.

This would be an unbelievable bit of business by Tottenham

2009-06-07T13:17:00.004+01:00

With plenty of big name players set to arrive at the Bernabeu this summer, Ruud Van Nistelrooy looks like he could be one man who will be leaving Real Madrid in the coming months. unbelievable

The Dutch striker has been out of action for the past seven months after suffering a serious knee injury back in November. Since moving to Madrid back in 2006, Van Nisterooy has scored an impressive 63 goals in all competitions in just over 90 appearances for the La Liga giants.

Van Nistelrooy has of course played in the Premier League before with Champions Manchester United, scoring an incredible 150 goals in his time at Old Trafford. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his attacking options in the summer and with Van Nistelrooy, Spurs won't have to break the bank.

There has been talk of a £1.25 million price-tag been placed on the 32-year old's head which to me, sounds very reasonable for a proven goalscorer. I know he is knocking on a bit but I feel Spurs could do a lot worse than Van Nistelrooy. He does have blistering pace but my word can he finish and I for one hope he does return to England this summer because I still feel he is a smashing player.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Carlos Tevez

2009-06-06T22:14:00.002+01:00

Following the success of our previous, Three words to sum up, Football Corner has decided to try it again, this time with a different player. Our previous one, which was about Gareth Barry received a massive amount of comments, 102 to be precise.

So this time, we want you to sum up Carlos Tevez in just three words. The Manchester United striker (well former United striker I suppose) has been heavily linked with a move to rivals Manchester City in recent weeks, but it remains to be seen where he will be next season. If I was to sum him up, I would probably use these three words : not worth £32million.

So, please leave your comments below and as always, make me laugh.

Spurs prepare to offer £8 million + Bentley for England winger

2009-06-06T14:08:00.009+01:00

Ashley Young appears to have caught the attentions of a few Premier League managers. It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea's new manager Carlo Ancelotti was interested in signing the PFA's Young Player of the Year, however Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is now looking to see off competition to bring Young to White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will no doubt be doing all he can in order to hold onto Young after losing one of his key players, Gareth Barry earlier in the week. Since arriving at Villa Park back in 2007, Young has been in tremendous form, earning himself a place in Fabio Capello's England set-up.

It has been reported this morning that Spurs will offer Villa £8 million and David Bentley in exchange for Young.

Quite frankly, that offer is pathetic. If Villa were to accept that offer, which I'm 99% certain they won't, they would be crazy. At the moment, they have one of the best wingers in the country in the form of Young and let's be honest, Bentley has been diabolical since arriving in North London last summer.

Personally, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Young does eventually leave Villa this summer, however I do think it will be nearer the £25 million mark. He is an outstanding talent, who I'm sure all Villa fans will be desperate to see remain at their club. I feel Young is well capable of playing Champions League football next season and it would not be too much of a shock to see him sign for a top four club.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Real Madrid just want to be friends with Man United

2009-06-06T13:10:00.002+01:00

"If I had to choose between the friendship with United and Ronaldo, I would choose the friendship."

That was the message from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this morning after he asked about the club's on-going pursuit of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Unless you have been living on a different planet for the last few months, you will know that Real have constantly been linked with a £70 million plus bid for Ronaldo, however as of yet, no bid has been officially made by the La Liga club.

It is unlikely Perez' comments will mend the relationship between the two European giants. Just a few months ago, Sir Alex Ferguson said that he "wouldn't sell them (Real) a virus." In that particular press conference he also referred to them as a mob.

We at Football Corner imagine Ferguson's face would have looked a little something like this after reading Perez' comments today.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Liverpool, Spurs and Villa get ready for battle as £10 million England midfielder becomes available

2009-06-05T16:21:00.004+01:00

So, who will Stewart Downing be playing for next season? Well one things for certain, he won't be playing for Middlesbrough. Following the side's relegation to the Championship last month, several key players have been linked with summer exits from the Riverside, including Downing.

Speaking earlier today, Boro chief executive Keith Lamb had this to say about the possibility of Downing leaving the club : "We said to Stewart that we would give him the opportunity to leave the football club if the right club came along for him and for the football club."

So, who wants to sign Downing?

Well, Liverpool and Tottenham have both been linked with the 24-year old in recent weeks, however I personally feel a move to Aston Villa looks the best option for all parties. Following the departure of Gareth Barry from Villa Park on Tuesday, Martin O'Neill is now short a left-sided midfield player so a move for Downing would go some way to replacing their former captain.

If I'm being totally honest, I don't really rate Downing. I would be surprised if Boro managed to get anywhere near the £10 million being talked about for Downing but with at least three clubs interested in him, who knows how much they may end up getting. It will be interesting to see who he does eventually end up at but I feel whoever does sign him will be making a huge mistake.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Manchester City want £30 million Liverpool player to partner Barry in their midfield

2009-06-04T23:56:00.008+01:00

After securing the signature of Gareth Barry just a few days ago, Manchester City have already lined up someone to partner him in the centre of their midfield.

That someone is Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish international has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent weeks and days, however as of now, the La Liga giants have yet to make a bid for Alonso, leaving the door wide open for City to make a move.

It's no secret that Mark Hughes has money to spend and with Rafa Benitez' needing to sell some players before he can even think about signing any of his summer targets. It is thought that City are prepared to spend as much as £30 million to sign the 27-year old and with Liverpool's American owners now in a spot of bother financially, this deal may well be about to happen.

Losing Alonso would be catastrophic for Liverpool. I am sure 90% of Liverpool fans will agree with me that without Alonso in the starting eleven, Liverpool aren't quite the same. I personally rate Alonso as one of the best midfielders in Europe and speaking as a City fan, I must admit, I'm drooling at the prospect of seeing Barry and Alonso linking up in the centre of City's midfield next season.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Gareth Barry

2009-06-04T19:45:00.003+01:00

Much has been said about Gareth Barry's £12 million move to Manchester City on Tuesday. Many Aston Villa fans have labelled him a hypocrite, whilst other football fans have just called him plain greedy.

So Football Corner wants you to sum up Barry in just three words. As a City fan myself I would probably say he is : a class act. That's what I think, but I'm curious to find out what you think. Make me laugh.

Please leave your comments below.

Premier League Compilation that's well worth a look

2009-06-04T18:38:00.001+01:00

I'm sure you'll enjoy this, I certainly did.

I first saw the video over at premiershiptalk.com, so a big thank you to them.

AC Milan prepare to use some of the Kaka money on this Arsenal striker

2009-06-04T14:46:00.003+01:00

With AC Milan playmaker Kaka looking set to leave the San Siro in the coming days for upwards of £50 million, there is no doubt the Italian giants will look to spend some of that on replacing their best player.

One man who is attracting interest from Milan is Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togo international has had a strange few years since arriving in North London back in 2006. During his first year at the club, many fans labelled him the replacement to Theirry Henry, whereas in previous months, he has been heavily criticised for one reason or another.

Adebayor had this to say about his future just a few weeks ago : "All I can say is I am a footballer and if a club like Milan are interested in me then I cannot lie to you, I am happy, because it is Milan ... But the thing is that it stops there – I am very happy playing for Arsenal, and this is what I always say.

I remember writing a piece on this a few weeks back and one Arsenal fan (well I presume he was an Arsenal fan) left a comment saying this : "Arsenal want rid of Adebayor."

I would have to say, I think a move to AC Milan looks a definite possibilty for Adebayor. Milan are now short a frontman, however they certainly won't be short of money and I think if a bid of around the £17.5 million mark where to come in, I feel Arsene Wenger would take it. I'm curious to hear what you Arsenal fans have to say on the matter, please leave a comment below.

Will Liverpool finally move for this La Liga midfielder after missing out on Barry?

2009-06-03T20:07:00.005+01:00

With Gareth Barry now a Manchester City player, many people including myself, feel it's time Liverpool make a move for Valencia winger David Silva.

The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a move to Anfield on several occasions over the past few months, however as of now, Liverpool are yet to make a concrete bid for the player.

Silva, 23, is widely regarded as one of Europe's finest left sided midfield players and with Rafa Benitez clearly lacking in that department, I personally feel now would be the perfect time for the Merseyside club to make a move for Silva.

Much has been made of Valencia's financial trouble over the past 18 months or so and many people believe the La Liga club would accept any bid in the region of £22 million for Silva. If that is the case and Liverpool do have to cough up £20 million plus to sign Silva, they will obviously have to forget about the likes of Carlos Tevez, but I firmly believe Silva would be an all round better signing for Liverpool at the present moment.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Despite reports, this Manchester United player will not be joining Real Madrid

2009-06-03T15:43:00.004+01:00

Despite reports linking Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic with a move to Real Madrid this morning, it would appear the move won't be happening.

It was rumoured today that the Spanish giants were preparing a £30 million bid for for the Serbian international, however Vidic's agent has moved quickly to deny the rumours.

Speaking about the player's future, Vidic's agent Silvano Martina had this to say :

"There are no prerequisites for Vidic leaving Manchester .... Despite the Champions League final loss, he is at a great club with much ambition, and which has reached the final of the greatest European competition for two consecutive years. This season, he also won the Premier League."

Even if Real were to make a bid of £30 million, I doubt whether or not Sir Alex Ferguson would have accepted it. Vidic has a massive success since arriving at Old Trafford back in 2006 and although his form hasn't been quite up to scratch of late, I think United would be mad to let him go.

He is an integral part of United's defence and without him I feel United would really struggle to maintain their status as the best team in England. It will be interesting to see if a certain Cristiano Ronaldo follows Vidic's example and pledges his future to United. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Who will Cristiano Ronaldo be playing for next season?

2009-06-02T23:22:00.003+01:00

Right, so our previous poll ended this evening after Gareth Barry signed for Manchester City. Over the past week or so, Football Corner asked you, the reader, who you thought Barry would be playing for next season and the majority of you voted for Liverpool. How wrong were you?

So with the poll now finished, we have decided to start a new one. We're asking you who you think Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for next season? There has been plenty of speculation over this one, so it will be interesting to see who you vote for. My vote has to be Real Madrid, but what do you think?

Have your say by voting in the poll which can be found just to the right of this post. Cheers.

Everton ready to gamble on former England hero?

2009-06-02T17:04:00.003+01:00

Reports in one English paper today suggest Everton may be about to gamble on Newcastle striker Michael Owen.

The one time European footballer of the year has been plagued with injury in recent years, since his arrival at St James' Park back in 2004, making only 77 appearances during his time on the North East.

With Newcastle now relegated and Owen's contract now expired, it looks certain that the 29-year old will be looking for a new club this summer and if you are to believe what you read in the papers, that club may be Everton.

It wouldn't take a genius to realise that the Toffees need another striker and with Owen now a free agent, Everton wouldn't have to break the bank to bring him to Goodison Park. One stumbling block may be Owen's huge wage demands.

It has been well documented in recent months that Owen has/had quite a hefty salary during his days at Newcastle (£120,000 to be precise), however it is understood that he is willing to half his wages to secure a move to a Premier League club. With Owen himself an Everton fan, I really do think this move is bound to happen.

Everton need a striker and Owen needs a club so I feel it's only a matter of time before we see the former England hero in a blue shirt. What do you think? Would Owen be a decent signing for David Moyes or should he set his sights on someone else? Comments below please.

Manchester City edge ahead in race to sign Liverpool target

2009-06-02T12:56:00.007+01:00

It has emerged today that Manchester City are holding talks with Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, after months of speculation over the player's future.

The England international looks certain to leave Villa Park once the transfer window opens on July 1st after admitting back in March that he would leave if they failed to finish in the top four this season.

Barry, 28, was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool last summer, however the Merseyside club failed to meet the £18 million valuation placed on his head by Villa boss Martin O'Neill.

It was understood that Rafa Benitez was keen to make another move for Barry this summer, however with Manchester City now talking to the player a move to Anfield looks unlikely. There is no doubt City can offer Barry whatever wages he wants, however you would have to question Barry's ambition as a footballer.

As a City fan myself, I am obviously hoping that we can become a top four club as soon as possible, but realistically, it will be another two years before we can achieve that and Barry isn't exactly young. If he wanted to achieve things he would obviously have tried to push through a move to Liverpool but I think this proves he is just a little bit greedy, but aren't we all.

It will be fascinating to see how this progresses over the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Liverpool should reject any offers which come their way for this man

2009-06-01T17:33:00.002+01:00

With the transfer window not open for another month, it is perhaps surprising to see so many big name players already being linked with big money moves and one name that just keeps popping up is Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish international has been heavily linked with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid in recent weeks and months, however Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is insisting Alonso will remain at Anfield.

Speaking just a week ago, Benitez had this to say about the possibility of Alonso moving to Madrid : "Alonso has three years left on his contract and we are really pleased with him, so we do not want to sell."

I'm not surprised Benitez has come out and stated the club do not want to sell the 27-year old because I firmly believe he was their best player last season. Even if Real were to make an offer of £25 million for Alonso, I wouldn't even consider the offer, I would just reject it straight away because I feel he is just so important to the way Liverpool play the game.

OK, you can argue that with the money Liverpool got from Alonso's sale, they could go out and buy Gareth Barry and put a large chunk of the fee towards buying Carlos Tevez, but sorry, Barry isn't half the player Alonso is. What do you think? Comments below please.

Tottenham ready to make smart move for United defender

2009-05-31T23:26:00.006+01:00

With Newcastle United now a Championship side, there is bound to be some big name players leaving St James' Park in the coming months and one of those could be Steven Taylor.

The England under-21 international has today been linked with a move to Harry Redknapp's Tottenham.

Taylor has come out in recent days and stated his desire to stay at Newcastle and help them bounce straight back up to the Premier League, however with the Magpies struggling financially, they may be forced to cash in on some of their most prized assets and Taylor is certainly one of them.

The 23-year old has made 150 appearances for the North East club over the past seven years, scoring just 9 goals in the process. Spurs are keen to add to their defensive options once the transfer window opens and I firmly believe a move for Taylor would be very smart.

With Ledley King's constant injury problems, Taylor would provide terrific cover and at only £5 million or so, I think he would prove great value for money for the White Hart Lane club. Having said that, I would be surprised if Spurs were the only side chasing Taylor's signature come July 1st.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Man United line up Klaas replacement for Tevez

2009-05-31T13:36:00.004+01:00

With Carlos Tevez looking destined to leave Old Trafford, Manchester United will no doubt be in the market to sign a new striker once the transfer window opens on July 1st.

Many names have already been linked with a move to the Premier League Champions, including the likes of Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery, however with ridiculous prices been talked about for those two, it is thought United will have to look elsewhere.

One man that is a realistic possibilty for Sir Alex Ferguson to go after is Real Madrid striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Despite only joining the La Liga giants back in January, the Dutch international is already believed to be frustrated after he was omitted from Real's Champions League squad back in February.

With a £15 million price-tag been mentioned, there is no doubt United could afford to buy the 25-year old but would Real be willing to sell one of their players to a club they clearly don't get on with too well?

Picture this, if Real were to make a bid of £65 million and Klaas Jan Huntelaar in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo, would United accept it? Comments below please.

Was Florent Malouda's shot over the line?

2009-05-30T23:22:00.002+01:00

Well this guy certainly thinks so.

Even though Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners in this afternoon's FA Cup final over David Moyes' Everton, the big talking point coming out of the game is why Florent Malouda's 8oth minute strike was not given as a goal.

Out of the 89,391 people in attendance at Wembley today, I'd say 89,390 thought it was a goal, but crucially, the linesman didn't think the whole ball had crossed the line.

So, what do you think? Was the whole ball over the line? In my view, yes, but maybe you have a different opinion. Comments below please.

Carlos Tevez looks certain to leave Old Trafford after missing the bus home

2009-05-28T15:32:00.005+01:00

It looks certain that Carlos Tevez will not be a Manchester United player next season after the Argentine striker did not board the bus home from Rome.

The 25-year old came on as a second-half substitute in United's 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in last night's Champions League final, however he failed to make any impact and many people believe that was Tevez' last game in a United jersey.

Despite the fact Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted in recent weeks that United are doing everything they can to sign Tevez on a permanent deal, many people, including myself, believe Tevez' future lies away from Old Trafford.

Manchester City are currently the bookmakers favourite to sign Tevez, however Liverpool are also understood to be interested in signing the former West Ham man. As we all know by now, United fans adore Tevez, but I'm sure even they are already resigned to losing their number 32. Whoever does eventually sign him will have a hell of a player on their hands.

What do you think? Comments below please.

For another take on this, visit an educated right foot.

Phil Brown talks rubbish and looks like a famous actor

2009-05-28T13:49:00.001+01:00

First of all, does anyone agree with me that Hull City manager Phil Brown looks a bit like English actor Hugh Lawrie?

Now onto more pressing matters. Phil Brown has today claimed Hull will be playing in Europe in the near future. I know, I laughed too.

"A European place would be the ultimate aim, either through winning a trophy or by way of standing in the Premier League ... How long that would take, I've got my personal ambitions. All I can say is that it will be in the near future." said the former Blackpool right-back.

Not meaning to be too disrespectful to Brown (cause I quite like the guy), but he's talking shite. This is the same Hull side who escaped relegation by just a single point only last Sunday and now he thinks they can challenge for Europe in the near future. Come on. Let's be realistic Phil, Hull will be very lucky to escape relegation next season, let alone qualify for bloody Europe.

What do you think? Do Hull have what it takes to qualify for Europe in the near future or do you agree that Brown is just talking rubbish? Comments below please.

Has Cristiano Ronaldo played his last game for Man United?

2009-05-28T01:11:00.002+01:00

In my opinion, yes.

In Cristiano Ronaldo's opinion, "I don't know."

Yes, after weeks and months and maybe even years at this stage, of will he, won't he, it would appear we have got out biggest indication yet that Cristiano Ronaldo may well be about to become a Real Madrid player after all.

Speaking before tonight's Champions League final defeat at the hands of Barcelona, the Portuguese winger seemed pretty confident he would remain at Old Trafford next season, stating he was happy at the club and he wanted to remain a Manchester United player.

A frustrating 90 minutes in Rome tonight has appeared to change Ronaldo's mind.

With Real Madrid waiting in the wings, I personally think Sir Alex Ferguson should and quite possibly, will opt to cash in on Ronaldo this summer. There is no doubt Florentino Perez (the Real Madrid President to be) will be in contact with United in the summer about the possibility of signing the 24-year old and I feel if the La Liga giants were to offer anywhere near the £80 million being talked about, then the Premier League Champions should take the money and run.

It is clear for all to see that Ronaldo always has a move to Real on his mind. As much as United would miss the FIFA World Player of the Year, the money raised from his sale could be used to bring the likes of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema to the club and I know I would prefer the French pair over Ronaldo.

What do you think? Should United fight to keep hold of Ronaldo or should they just let him go? Comments below please.

A few ways to make yourself some money on tonight's big game

2009-05-27T15:04:00.009+01:00

With the big game only hours away, I thought I might as well have a little betting preview of tonight's Champions League final.

There is certainly no shortage of betting markets open to the punters. Our good friends at Paddy Power (who have a very generous free £20 bet for all Football Corner readers) have markets like : Player to be sent off, number of offsides, official UEFA Man of the Match winner and many more.

So, what bets will win you some money? Here's a few I like :

Both Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi to score in 90 mins @ 10/1.

Wayne Rooney to be booked and score in 90 mins @ 10/1.

A 2-2 draw @ 11/1.

Gerard Pique to score an own goal in 90 mins @ 40/1.

Well, there's just a few bets I think are good value, follow the Paddy Power link for more and if you want, leave a comment below to tell me what you're backing. Thanks.

Now this would be an £8 million very well spent by Arsenal

2009-05-26T11:20:00.008+01:00

After a season which saw him earn considerable amounts of praise, Fulham defender Brede Hangeland has today been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger is preparing to offer Fulham £8 million for Hangeland's services, however it is understood that offer will be rejected as Roy Hodgson looks to get as much as he can out of the Norwegian international.

Hangeland, 27, was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium back in January but for whatever reasons nothing ever materialised. With the opening of the summer transfer window fast approaching, Arsenal are likely to be quite busy after a season that yielded nothing in the way of silverware.

There is no doubt Hangeland has been Fulham's Player of the Year this season. Without him at the heart of the Cottagers defence this season, I think they would have struggled to secure that final Europa League spot. If and when (sorry Fulham fans) Brede does leave Craven Cottage, I feel Arsenal would be his preferred destination considering the fact he would get to play Champions League football next season.

Having said that, I would be really surprised if Arsenal are the only club after Hangeland this summer.

What do you think? Comments below please.

The door is wide open for Spurs to move for ex-Liverpool striker

2009-05-25T23:41:00.005+01:00

Djibril Cisse will not be a Sunderland player next season leaving the door wide open for a potential move to Tottenham.

His time as a Sunderland player came to an end this evening after the North East club opted not to keep him for another season. A club statement read : "We wish Djibril well and thank him for his contribution to the club this season."

The French international has been heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane in recent weeks after his agent claimed there was an agreement in place for him to sign a 12-month contract with the North London club, a claim that was quickly rebuffed by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.

Cisse, 27, made an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light after leaving Marseille on a season long loan deal last August. The former Liverpool frontman scored 11 goals in total during his time with the Black Cats, however the majority of those goals were scored by the turn of the year, with only one in his last twelve games.

For me, Spurs should only look at Cisse as a last resort. There is no doubt Redknapp could use another striker but is Cisse any better than what Redknapp currently has at his disposal. The simple answer is no, ok, he may be better than Roman Pavlyuchenko, but that's not hard is it? I think it's inevitable that Cisse does eventually secure a move to a Premier League club but I for one don't think it will be Spurs.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Martin Jol the perfect man for Sunderland

2009-05-24T21:46:00.005+01:00

The dust has barely settled on Ricky Sbragia's resignation and there's already talk of who will replace him in the hot seat at Sunderland.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce is the bookies early favourite at a price of 5/2, while Celtic's Gordon Strachan is also a name being mentioned, however, for me, there is only one man to replace Sbragia and that is Hamburg's Martin Jol.

The former Tottenham boss has done an exceptional job during his time with the German giants, guiding them to a semi-final in both the UEFA Cup and the German Cup in his first season.

I really think there is a strong possibility that Jol may return to the Premier League this summer. Speaking just over a month ago, the Dutchman had this to say : "I still have my house in England, so if there was a very good opportunity, maybe a club with ambitions of Europe, I would certainly think about it."

OK, Sunderland may not have ambitions of Europe but I think given the money, Jol could well turn them into a side capable of challenging for a top six finish. During his three years at White Hart Lane, Jol guided Spurs to two successive 5th place finishes, however he was harshly sacked by the North London club back in October 2007.

What do you think? Would Jol make a successful Sunderland manager? Comments below please.

Newcastle are Down

2009-05-24T17:11:00.003+01:00

Newcastle are going down

2009-05-24T16:32:00.003+01:00

If things stay as they are, that is.

Alan Shearer's men are currently losing 1-0 at Villa Park, whilst Hull are also losing 1-0 to Premier League Champions Manchester United.

As it stands, Newcastle will be playing the likes of Scunthorpe and Peterborough next season but there's still 45 minutes to play. Whatever happens, you'll find it here first.

The latest twist in the Ronaldo saga

2009-05-21T23:09:00.002+01:00

With the opening of the summer transfer window looming, the Cristiano Ronaldo shananagance is already in full swing. Every second weeks it seems that a different story is coming out from the Spanish press.

Real Madrid have £70 million agreement in place to sign Ronaldo. Madrid line up world record bid for the FIFA World Player of the Year ... etc;

Today's comments from the Portuguese winger seem to kill any chances of any possible "dream" move happening this summer, but let' face it, I know it and you know it, there is still bound to be countless more rumours over the summer regarding the 24-year old's future despite his comments.

"I only care about what will happen next season at Manchester United." stated Ronaldo.

Obviously, as an avid fan of Premier League football, it is great news to hear that the league's best player will be plying his trade in England for at least another season. I personally felt that this was the summer Ronaldo would opt to join Real this summer, especially with the election of Florentino Perez as club president (it's going to happen).

What do you think? Comments below please.

Are Spurs about to make a cheeky move for Arsenal and Liverpool target?

2009-05-20T22:38:00.004+01:00

If you are to believe what you read in the papers, Tottenham are preparing a summer move for this man.

After Gareth Barry's comments a few months back that he would leave Aston Villa if the club failed to secure a top four finish this season (which they won't) several clubs have been linked with his signature. Arsenal and Liverpool continued to be mentioned, however today a new name emerged.

Tottenham. Now first of all, why on earth would Barry want to move to White Hart Lane?

With Barry already stating his desire to play Champions League football next season and with Spurs looking destined to miss out on that final Europa League spot, I must say I think this one is a non-starter.

For me, Barry, 28, is without doubt one of the finest midfield players in the country and I feel he would be taking a massive step back in his career if he where to join Spurs. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Harry Redknapp make a cheeky bid for him come what July, however I would be fairly certain that either Liverpool or indeed Arsenal will be Barry's eventual destination.

What do you think? Comments below please.

What are Manchester City playing at?

2009-05-19T15:51:00.003+01:00

Ask any Manchester City fan who has been the club's player of the season and they'll all say Stephen Ireland.

The (former) Republic of Ireland international has been in outstading form all season, earning recognition from the PFA who nominated him for the Young Player of the Year award back in April. Why he didn't actually win the award was beyond me, but it certainly hasn't upset his form in any way.

Ireland, 22, has been in the form of his life this campaign, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for Mark Hughes' men, however the City playmaker has today revealed the world's richest club have yet to make him an acceptable contract offer.

"We're nowhere with the contract ... I don't know if I'm going to sign or not. The club haven't really made an offer yet. If they make one great - if not, I have got two years left."

Being a City fan myself, I was shocked to see Ireland's comments today. There is no doubting his importance to the side and I feel it's vital we tie him down to a long-term deal if we are to progress and become one of the biggest club's in the world. I am sure the majority of you will agree that Ireland deserves to be rewarded for his sensational form of late.

Seriously Ciy, give the guy whatever he wants because he deserves it. What do you think? Comments below please.

Wenger move to Madrid looks a Real possibility

2009-05-18T21:37:00.004+01:00

I'm sure many of you have seen or heard the rumours today that Arsene Wenger may well be on his way to Spanish giants Real Madrid after it was claimed the two parties have been in contact.

The Frenchman has, in recent weeks, come if for some criticism from a small minority of Gunners fans for the side's poor display on the domestic front this campaign which sees them sit a massive 18 points behind Champions Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.

Pundits and fans alike have begun to question Wenger's youth policy, which has, in the past, served him so well, however no silverware in four years tells it's own story and many now believe it's time Wenger ditched that policy in order to win more silverware.

When asked his opinion on Florentino Pérez (the man who is widely tipped to be elected president at Real Madrid this summer), Wenger replied : "With Florentino Pérez in charge, the project he has put forward would be interesting for any coach but I would prefer not to comment on this."

Despite the fact Wenger says he would prefer not to comment on this, I think he just has. Never have we heard Wenger talk so openly about the possibility of joining another club and I really don't know what's going to happen. I could understand why he would want to leave Arsenal, after spending 13 years in North London, he may just feel he needs a fresh start and where better to start fresh than one of the biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid.

What do you think? Who will Wenger be in charge of next season? Comments below please.

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Spurs ready to offload £18 million flop in the summer

2009-05-17T22:26:00.002+01:00

Back on July 31st 2008, many believed Tottenham had made one of the signings of the summer when David Bentley arrived at White Hart Lane.

Just 10 months later, it looks as though his days as a Spurs player are numbered after Harry Redknapp failed to confirm or deny whether or not Bentley would still be at the club next season.

The England international has failed to make any sort of impact at the North London giants since his £18 million move from Blackburn last summer. No doubt, the highlight of Bentley's career at the club was his 40-yard wonder strike against arch rivals Arsenal back in September, which was considered by many as one of the Premier League greatest goals.

Over the past few months, Bentley has been strongly linked with a move to Spain, however as of now nothing has materialised. Before the January transfer window opened earlier this year, it was rumoured that Bentley may link up with former Spurs boss Juande Ramos at Real Madrid but nothing ever happened there. So where will Bentley be next season? Comments below please.

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The reason why Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa were fighting was .....

2009-05-17T19:09:00.004+01:00

Because they wanted to keep a clean sheet.

Yes, sounds stupid doesn't it, but that's why the Liverpool defenders had to be restrained by fellow team-mates this afternoon as their side cruised to a 2-0 win away to West Brom.

Speaking after the game, Jamie Carragher revealed the only reason why himself and Alvaro Arbeloa were arguing was the fact they were desperate to keep a clean sheet and help Reds keeper Jose Pepe Reina catch Manchester United's Edwin Van Der Sar in the race for this season's Golden Glove award.

"We want to keep a clean sheet and we want Pepe to have a chance of the Golden Glove for the third season running ... Pepe is one behind Van der Sar now and there's a chance Van der Sar won't play next week, so we wanted to make sure he got a clean sheet today."

I know people can say, it's nice to see that players care about the club and all that rubbish, but you can't have two players on the same team fighting with each other. It's schoolboy stuff, It really is and I think both players should be mature enough to know you can't be doing that in front of the 1,000's in attendance at the Hawtorns today and the millions of people watching the game at home.

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Manchester United crowned Champions as Carlos Tevez waves goodbye to Old Trafford

2009-05-16T14:43:00.010+01:00

It was far from pretty, but Manchester United have today got the crucial point they needed to ensure the Premier League title will stay at Old Trafford for at least another season.

Neither side ever really looked like winning the game and 0-0 probably was a fair result, however it will no doubt be Sir Alex Ferguson who is the happier of the two managers as his side become Champions of England for the 3rd year on the trot.

The biggest talking point of the game would have to be the substitution of Carlos Tevez with just over fifteen minutes remaining. As we all know, the little Argentine has been heavily linked with a move away from United in recent weeks, and his reaction as he was subbed seemed to say a lot.

Tevez, 24, waved to all corners of Old Trafford, as if the say his goodbyes to the United fans who, as he had said himself, have been so good to him over the past few years. His exit was followed by minutes of "Fergie sign him up, Fergie, Fergie sign him up." from the United faithful.

Congratulations must go to everyone at Man United but the Tevez issue still remains. Surely he's as good as gone now? Comments below please.

Chelsea look to Ad to Arsenal's worries

2009-05-15T18:06:00.002+01:00

Could this guy really be a Chelsea player next season?

Yes, you may have noticed today that several English papers have linked Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor with a sensational summer move to Chelsea. It all depends on what happens to the man everyone loves to hate, Didier Drogba.

It has been rumoured in recent weeks that Chelsea will look to offload Drogba once the summer transfer window opens on July 1st, with Spanish giants Real Madrid apparently interested in the 30-year old.

So if Drogba was, in fact to leave Stamford Bridge, that would leave Chelsea short in the striking department and that's were Adebayor comes into it. The Togo international has struggled to reproduce the form of seasons gone by, which has seen him become one of Europe's most saught after strikers, scoring just 16 goals in all competitions for the Gunners this season.

There has been rumours all year that Adebayor was unhappy at the Emirates stadium, however following Arsenal's Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Manchester United, the 25-year old had this to say : "Arsenal put me where I am today - they made me one of the biggest strikers in the world. I have to pay them back ... How am I going to pay them back? Make them win trophies. That is what I am here for and I have to fight for that."

"Next season, 100 per cent, I am an Arsenal footballer."

Those comments seem to make a summer move to Chelsea impossible, but football's a funny oul game. Let's say if Carlo Anceolotti (a long-term admirer of Adebayor's) takes over at Chelsea in the summer and they make a bid of £25 million plus, I personally think there's a chance it could happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

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Give us a vote, will ya?

2009-05-15T13:14:00.002+01:00

I was delighted to find out today that Football Corner has been nominated for an award.

The kind people over at EPL Talk have kindly nominated us for the Best EPL Blog, which is a superb honour in itself, however I would just love to win it.

If you really like this blog, then can you please just give us a vote by following this link.

The voting closes on May 31st, so please vote a.s.a.p.

Thanks.

Five reasons why Manchester United have won yet another Premier League title

2009-05-14T18:18:00.010+01:00

1. Home Form.

It's not a surprise to see that Man United have picked up more points at home than any other team in the league on home soil. Sixteen victories, one draw and just one defeat has seen them pick up an unbelievable 49 points at Old Trafford this campaign and anyone with a bit of sense in the Soccer Betting department, would be foolish to bet against them making it 52 points this Saturday when they face Arsenal.

2. The Tripod.

Edwin Van Der Sar, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. All three players were nominated for this season's PFA Player of the Year award which tells you all you need to know about their seasons.

Just take a look at United's goals against column this season and you'll see why the trio were nominated for the award.

They have conceded just 24 goals in 36 games, four of those goals coming in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool back in March.

3. Kiko Macheda.

Before the 2008/2009 Premier League season had begun, not many had heard of the man they call "Kiko". It was early April when Federico Macheda first came to the attentions of the millions of United fans around the world. The 18-year old proved to be the match winner twice for United this season.

His goal against Aston Villa completed an unbelievable comeback which saw Sir Alex Ferguson's men come from behind to claim a valuable 3-2 win.

Macheda was at it again when United travelled to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland just a week later. The Italian scored a late late goal, again to complete a comeback, to maintain United's lead over Liverpool at the top of the table.

Only two goals, but without Macheda this season who knows where the title may have ended up.

4. Refereeing Decisions.

Howard Webb anyone?

The Yorkshire man's decision to award United a penalty at home to Tottenham was, to put it bluntly, a disgrace. Harry Redknapp's Spurs were certainly on the front foot, 2-0 up, when Webb decided to award United a penalty after Heurleho Gomes was adjudged to have fouled Michael Carrick.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot to start United's comeback.

The decision no doubt changed the game and United went on the win convincingly. 5-2 the final score.

5. Form Against The Bottom 12 Teams.

You may not believe this but United have beaten every single team in the bottom 12 both home and away except for Newcastle this season (and of course Hull City, who they are still to play). That draw came in the opening game of the season when Kevin Keegan was in charge of the Magpies.

They may have been level after the first game of the season but just look at the difference now :

Man United : 86 points .........................Newcastle : 34 points

So that's now United's eleventh Premier League title in the bag and I'm sure quite a few people in Sports Betting will be backing them to make it twelve next season.

La Liga striker heading For Anfield?

2009-05-14T10:10:00.002+01:00

There is still a month and a half to go before the summer transfer window opens, however Premier League clubs are already beginning to be linked with big money moves.

Today sees Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan being strongly linked with a move back to England, with Liverpool apparently after him. The 29-year old had an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool's fierce rivals Manchester United several years ago, however since then he has proved to be a massive hit in La Liga.

Since his move to Villarreal back in 2004, Forlan has scored a phenomenal 111 goals in all competitions, which has caught the eye of several managers across Europe including Rafa Benitez.

Forlan's agent, Daniel Bolotnikoff had this to say about Forlan's future earlier this year : 'I have received calls from big European clubs requesting information about the situation, but I am not authorised to give their names."

I think given the chance Forlan would jump at the chance to return to the Premier League. There is no denying that he was utter crap during his first spell here, however over the past four or five years he has matured to become one of the best strikers in Europe. I would be extremley surprised if Liverpool were the only club chasing him when the window opens on July 1st.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Carrick scores the winner but it's Tevez who deserves all the credit

2009-05-13T21:27:00.016+01:00

An inspired Carlos Tevez performance has this evening put Manchester United within touching distance of re-claiming their Premier League title. Sir Alex Ferguson's men came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Steve Bruce's Wigan at the JJB Stadium to leave United needing just a single point out of their final two games to ensure the title stays at Old Trafford for another season.

Tevez, who is unlikely to be a Manchester United player next season, came off the bench to cancel out Hugo Rodallega's first-half strike with just under half-an-hour remaining. After Tevez' goal, United were a totally different side and Michael Carrick grabbed the winner with just minutes remaining, a devastating left footed strike from the edge of the Wigan box.

There is no doubt United showed what Champions are all about tonight. Even when they're not really playing at their very best they always manage to grind out a result and that was certainly the case tonight. The performance of Tevez tonight was exceptional. With all the talk that has gone on over the past few days regarding his future, to still come out and play like he did was outstanding.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Bad news for Spurs fans ......

2009-05-13T16:45:00.005+01:00

.... This guy wants to stay at White Hart Lane.

Yes, Roman Pavlyuchenko has today stated his desire to remain a Tottenham player after reports linked him with a possible summer exit from the club.

The Russian international has done little to impress during his first season in the Premier League, scoring just 5 goals (not including cup competitions) in the process. In recent weeks, Pavlyuchenko has spent some time in the reserves at the North London club.

The 27-year old had this to say : "I am a Tottenham player and want to remain one ... All these talks about a sale or loan don't bother me ... Of course it is not pleasant to be in the reserves. When I did not play for several matches I started to think everything over and to tell the truth I had some disturbing thoughts."

I am sure the majority of Spurs fans will agree with me when I say, Pavlyuchenko is not wanted at the club. I really think Harry Redknapp would be better off cashing in on the former Spartak Moscow man and then going out and signing someone like Roque Santa Cruz in the summer.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Liverpool prepare to waste their money on England international?

2009-05-12T21:21:00.003+01:00

With Middlesbrough all but down now, it was only a matter of time before players from the North East club were linked with summer exits, wasn't it?

Well today sees, arguably Boro's best player (which isn't anything to be proud of), Stewart Downing being linked with a move to title chasing Liverpool. The 24-year old will apparently be the subject of a £12 million bid from the Merseyside club once the summer transfer window opens on July 1st.

Despite the fact Rafa Benitez' men have done particularly well this season to finish 2nd in the Premier League this season (well probably finish 2nd), many people still believe Liverpool need a top quality left-sided midfield player if they are to challenge Manchester United for the title in the years to come, which begs the question, why on earth are they going after Downing?

I'll be the first to admit, I really don't rate the England international. I never have. People say he is the best left-sided midfielder in the country. That's bollocks. At Boro he has achieved nothing and with the national side he has only had one or two decent performances but that's it. So although it may seem like an easy option for Liverpool to sign Downing, I think it just would be a massive waste of money.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Bye Bye Boro

2009-05-11T21:38:00.003+01:00

Even Gareth Southgate would have to admit that Middlesbrough won't be playing in the Premier League next season.

Despite taken an early lead at St James' Park this evening, Boro still managed to come away with nothing in their six-pointer with Alan Shearer's Newcastle. The result now leaves them three points away from safety and with only two games to go, you would have to say it would take a miracle for them to avoid the drop now.

The simple fact of the matter is, Boro just didn't score enough goals this season. Just 26 goals in 36 games is quite frankly pathetic for a side who were challenging for honours on the European stage only three years ago. Players like Afonso Alves and Stewart Downing just haven't performed this season and I am sure it is players like those who will be first to leave the Riverside when the transfer window opens on July 1st.

Boro fans, have your say on your side's performance tonight and indeed over the course of the season by leaving a comment below.

Liverpool beware, Manchester City are after your player

2009-05-10T22:47:00.003+01:00

It seems as though every day, there is someone new being linked with a move to Manchester City.

This time it's Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

With the summer transfer window set to open in less than two months, Mark Hughes is apparently preparing a £18 million bid to try and lure Spanish international to Eastlands.

Having recently stated his desire to keep Alonso at Anfield, Rafa Benitez is unlikely to let go of the 27-year old without a fight. It is widely expected that Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry will arrive on Meryseyside in the summer, which would free up the possibility of Alonso leaving the club, however I am sure if you ask any Liverpool fan who they would prefer between Barry and Alonso, the large majority would tell you Alonso.

I must admit I am a massive fan of Alonso's. Personally, I think he is one of the best midfielders in Europe and I feel Benitez would be mad to let him go. Having said that, as a City fan myself, I would be more than happy to see him arrive at the City of Manchester Stadium this summer. If we really are serious about becoming one of the biggest clubs in the world, players like Alonso are just what we need.

What do you think? Is Benitez mad enough to let one of his most prized assets go? Comments below please.

Tevez puts himself firmly in the shop window

2009-05-10T15:54:00.013+01:00

"Fergie, sign him up."

That was the cry from the Manchester United faithful this afternoon after Carlos Tevez turned in a magnificent display to help Sir Alex Ferguson's men return to the top of the Premier League table.

The Argentine international showed why the United fans love him so much just before the half-time whistle was blown. Tevez' all but put the game to bed even before the half-way stage when his 20-yard strike cannoned off the inside of the post and fortunately (if you are a United fan) into the back of the net.

Following the goal, Tevez sprinted towards the United dug-out and cuffed both ears, as if to say "Where's my offer?".

Before a ball was even kicked at Old Trafford this afternoon, Tevez had this to say in many of Sunday's papers : "To be honest, I don't think I will be a Manchester United player next season. It makes me sad because I don't feel I deserve to be in the position that United have not made me an offer. My time is over and I have to concentrate on my future, my family's future and so I think at the end of this season I will move to another club."

As a football fan, I'm glad to hear Tevez wants to leave United because, as we have seen today, he is too good to be sitting on the bench every weekend. There has been talk in recent days that Tevez will end up at either Anfield or Eastlands, however I'm not convinced that will be the case. No matter where he does end up though, I'm sure he will prove to be a massive success and I for one, hope he stays in England.

How good was Tevez today? Where do you think Tevez will be next season? Comments below please.

Dunne tells it like it is. Ronaldo is a diver

2009-05-09T14:01:00.003+01:00

Let's face it, Richard Dunne is right. Cristiano Ronaldo is a diver.

Yes, the Manchester City captain has today added even more spice to Sunday's eagerly anticipated Manchester Derby by claiming the FIFA World Player of the Year is, in fact, a diver.

Speaking about the Portuguese winger, Dunne had this to say : "Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but he plays the game to his advantage. At times, he can be running so fast that any nick could send him tumbling. He makes the most of the situation, I suppose."

"Some referees give free-kicks and some don’t, but whether he’s diving or not diving, he’s impossible to mark when he’s on form."

I'm glad someone has finally come out and has admitted what the majority of other players in the Premier League feel. There is no doubt that Ronaldo is, on his day, head and shoulders above anyone in the league but when he starts with his stupid antics, he really does lose a lot of respect amongst his fellow pro's and indeed opposing sets of fans. It's no wonder he is booed every other week when United travel away from Old Trafford.

I am just praying now that Dunne and Ronaldo are involved in a few questionable decisions during tomorrow's game. Is Dunne right? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

City looking to bring La Liga goal machine to Eastlands?

2009-05-08T22:48:00.003+01:00

Considered by many as one of the greatest footballers of his time, Raul has today been linked with a move to the richest club in the world Manchester City.

The Real Madrid striker is currently in the form of his life, averaging well over a goal in every other game. The 31-year old has 102 caps for Spain, however that has been the case for quite some time now, after he was dropped by former international boss Luis Aragones.

With Man City set for a summer of massive spending, it comes as no surprise to see a player of Raul's calibre being linked with a move to Eastlands. It was claimed that Mark Hughes, backed by the club's wealthy foreign owners, may make a bid of £35 million for Raul, however Hughes has since denied the claims by saying : "We keep on getting linked with players and that's going to happen every week. I think maybe if you work back from where that story originated, I would suggest it's come from Spain, it's not come from England."

You know what they say, they're is never any smoke without fire and I think that's certainly the case here. Listening to Hughes' comments on the issue, he seems to shy away from answering the actual question being asked. OK, City are being linked with endless amounts of names and you could say this latest rumour is just another made up one, however I really do believe this move could happen, maybe not for the figures being suggested though.

What do you think? Have City got any chance of signing one of the greatest strikers of all-time? Comments below please.

Rafa keen to hold onto midfield duo

2009-05-08T16:33:00.006+01:00

That was the message from Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez after the pair were linked with possible summer exits.

Both Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano have been in tremendous form all season and have contributed in no small part to Liverpool's decent campaign to date.

Alonso, 27, was strongly linked with a move to Italian side Juventus last summer but for whatever reason that move never materialised and he remained at Anfield, however there have been fresh reports in recent weeks that a move to Juve could be on the cards.

Mascherano, 24, has spent just over two years on Merseyside since his controversial move from West Ham back in 2007. The Argentine international recently admitted he didn't know whether or not he would still be a Liverpool player next season. Following Mascherano's somewhat shock revelation, Benitez has had this to say : "I talked to him and he is happy here. But you can't stop clubs talking with his agent because he is a good player ... There aren't too many holding midfielders of his calibre."

I am sure the large majority of Liverpool fans will delighted to hear both Alonso and Mascherano will be staying, for the foreseeable future at least. There is no doubt that with the pair playing in the side, Liverpool are a far stronger side then when they're not playing. Both players are still quite young and arguably only approaching the prime of their career's so I feel the longer Liverpool hold onto them, the better.

Share your thoughts on the matter, by leaving a comment below.

It's the final everyone wanted to see, including UEFA

2009-05-07T21:43:00.005+01:00

Hands up if you wanted to see a Barcelona v. Manchester United final.

Sorry Chelsea fans but it really is the final everyone wanted to see.

As the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge last night I couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice for Chelsea, however that feeling of injustice was quickly replaced by a feeling of anticipation. Anticipation that, in just under three weeks time, we will get to see, arguably, the two best club's in the world battle it out for one of the biggest prize in football. The Champions League.

The Premier League Champions versus the La Liga Champions.

The experienced campaigner, Sir Alex Ferguson versus the young pretender, Pep Guardiola.

The FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo versus the player who many people feel, on current form, is the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.

As I mentioned in the title, I really do feel this is the final everyone wanted to see, including UEFA. Graeme Souness said it perfectly after the match last night : "Let's put it this way, UEFA won't be disappointed that it's not and all English final."

It's a bit harsh to say that the game was in anyway fixed, although judging by some of the decisions last night you may argue it was fixed (joking). I am keen to hear your thoughts on the matter. Leave your comments below.

Drogba : "It's a disgrace, a f*ckin disgrace"

2009-05-06T21:44:00.006+01:00

That was Didier Drogba's reaction to Chelsea's shock exit from the Champions League tonight.

The Ivorian international simply went mental as the full-time whistle was blown at Stamford Bridge as Barcelona controversially progressed to the final in Rome.

In total, Guus Hiddink's men had about six penalty appeals waved away by the referee on the night Tom Henning Ovrebo and Drogba, who had been substituted earlier in proceedings felt it was only right he should run on the pitch and have a go at the officials.

Looking at the game as a neutral, you would have to admit that Chelsea can feel hard done by on a least two of the claims. The foul on Florent Malouda in the first-half was a stone-waller and the hand ball by Gerard Pique in the second-half was so clear cut.

Although I do feel sorry for Chelsea, you just cannot condone the behaviour of some of their players, especially Drogba. The fact that the Barca goal came so late probably made it even worse for the Chelsea players, but seeing players like Michael Ballack nearly hitting the referee is, as Drogba would put it, a disgrace, a f*ckin disgrace.

Share your thoughts on tonight's game and the behaviour of the Chelsea players by leaving a comment below.

Ronaldo was outstanding, Fletcher was unlucky and Arsenal were poor

2009-05-06T13:59:00.007+01:00

That basically sums up last night's game.

As we all know by now, Manchester United will be going to Rome in three weeks time after they saw off Arsenal in last night's all English Champions League semi-final.

In truth, United's progression never looked in any real doubt after they went a goal ahead after just eight minutes of proceedings at the Emirates last night. Ji-Sung Park put the ball beyond Manuel Almunia after he capitalised on Kieran Gibbs' eary slip-up to leave the home side with a mountain to climb.

Arsene Wenger's men were left with an even bigger mountain to climb just moments later when FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo fired home from all of 35-yards to leave the home fans wondering why they bothered turning up.

The second-half did little to change proceedings in any way. United were in complete control and deservedly bagged a third goal just after the hour mark when Ronaldo finished off a sumptuous move by the current Champions of Europe.

Everything seemed to be going almost too well for United and unfortunately for them a poor refereeing decision has cost Darren Fletcher a place in the final. The Scottish international was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas in the box, however replays clearly show Fletcher getting a massive touch on the ball.

Robin Van Persie converted from the spot, however it was far too little too late for the North London club and the result now means they will have gone four years without any silverware.

What do you think? What must Arsenal do now? Why on earth was Fletcher sent off and just how good was Ronaldo? Comments below please.

Ribery to arrive at Old Trafford for £60 million? You must be joking

2009-05-05T16:33:00.005+01:00

£60 million for Ribery? Come on. It's never going to happen.

One English newspaper has today reported that Manchester United have today made a massive £60 million bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery.

The French playmaker is widely regarded as one of the finest talents in world football and the 26-year old has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in recent weeks and months.

No disrespect to Ribery because I think he is an outstanding player, but do you really think Sir Alex Ferguson would spend £60 million on him? The simple answer to that is no.

Ferguson is not stupid with his money. If it is to be that Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford in the summer to join Real Madrid for, lets say, £68 million, United won't just go out and spend the same amount of money on someone else. They will buy two or three very good players and then work from there.

Even Ribery's biggest fan would have to admit he is only worth £40 million max. There is no denying he is a world class player and I am sure a lot of United fans would love to see him arrive during the summer, however I find it impossible to believe that Ferguson would spend such a large amount on a single player.

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Comments below please.

Oh no Joe

2009-05-05T12:50:00.002+01:00

His first game back after several months out with a foot injury and what does Joey Barton do? Yes, the Newcastle midfielder receives a straight red card for a challenge on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, however that's not all.

The 26-year old has now been banned by the North East club until further notice for the tackle which Alan Shearer described as "stupid" at the time. The club who look destined for the Championship had this to say : "Joey Barton has been suspended from the club until further notice. The club will be making no further comment at this time."

You may remember me saying a few weeks ago that I thought Joey Barton could be the man to help save the Magpies from the drop. Well how wrong was I?

So what now for the former England international?

Well, I can't see him remaining a Newcastle player for too much longer. Despite all the bad press he gets, I still think he is quite a decent player. He had one or two outstanding years at Manchester City and if he can reproduce that kind of form, as well as keeping his mouth shut, I feel he would be a cracking signing for anyone of the promoted sides, i.e Birmingham or Wolves.

What do you think? Was the tackle really that bad? Are Newcastle right to ban Barton? Comments below please.