Boca

Gonzalez isn't playing. Injured in training today. offal

They have Bellamy listed as being bought from Norwich so I'm not sure how reliable they are

Aurelio interview from offal. FABIO AURELIO TALKS TO LIVERPOOLFC.TV Paul Eaton 12 July 2006 Fabio Aurelio was today officially unveiled as a Liverpool player at Melwood. Here's the Brazilian's first interview since his arrival from Valencia. Liverpoolfc.tv: Fabio, welcome to Liverpool. Why did you decide to come here? Fabio Aurelio: There are three main reasons why I joined Liverpool. Firstly, the history and tradition of the club is a huge attraction as is the chance to play in the English league because the Premiership has always appealed to me. It's great for me to be given this chance to come here and understand more about what football in this country is like. Of course, the manager was a big factor as well because we worked together at Valencia and had some really good times. When a manager who you like and trust wants you to move to a club the size of Liverpool then you don't say no. Rafa was the most important factor in my decision to sign. How excited were you when you first heard Liverpool wanted to sign you? I was very excited when I heard the news and really pleased. From a football point of view, the English league is one of the most important in the world and off the field I'm looking forward to living in a different country and understanding a different culture. I have already made the transition from Brazil to Spain and the idea of coming to England really excites me. I have a tremendous desire to get onto the field and show my qualities, just as I did when I first went to Valencia. What's your English like? I really like the language. I studied English when I was in Brazil and it's a language I've always liked hearing and using. You're the first Brazilian to sign for Liverpool - will you be bringing some of the samba magic to the team? I hope so! It makes me feel really proud to be the first Brazilian at such a big club but it also gives me a responsibility because I hope I can help open a few doors for some other players from my country to maybe come to the Premiership in the future. So far everyone has been really friendly to me and the people I have met in the city have made me feel welcome. I really want to do well now for my new club. How excited are you by the challenge which lies ahead for you now? I couldn't be more excited. I've had a good career so far and done quite well, but this is a different challenge and a different opportunity for me now. I'm confident in my ability to adapt to any situation and I believe my qualities will suit the English game. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that. What's your preferred position in the team? I like to play at left back. I'm an attacking left back. What qualities will you bring to the side when you play? I like to get forward and overlap to support the attack whenever I get the chance. I'm a very attack minded full back and I think I'm quite good from free kicks and getting crosses into the area. I have an eye for goal as well and enjoy trying shots on goal when the chance comes up. Are you confident your game will suit the Premiership? I know it's a different style of football here because in Spain and Brazil football is played at a slower rhythm. Over here it's much quicker and more physical but I do believe I can adapt. It will take time but once the settling in period is over I am confident I'll demonstrate what I can do and show people why the manager has signed me. The manager has said you're an even better passer of the ball than Xabi Alonso. That's some recommendation... It makes me feel really good to hear something like that but I don't feel as though it puts me under any greater pressure. I know Xabi quite well from our time in Spain and I know what a great player he is. If I can be mentioned in the same breath as him and bring similar qualities to the team then that's great. It's nice to hear the manager talking about me in such good terms but the important thing now is to win the fans over with my performances on the field. Hopefully I'll be able to do that quickly. You've played at Anfield before for Valencia, but how much are you looking forward to playing there for the first time in a Liverpool shirt? I can't wait for that moment. I know what it's like to play at Anfield as an opposing player and I know what Liverpool fans are like. They're always behind their side, they stay with them whatever is happening in the game and they have a real 'born to support Liverpool all your life' mentality. I'm really looking forward to playing many games at Anfield and enjoying some great moments with the supporters. How confident are you that you'll enjoy a long and successful career with Liverpool? I hope that's going to be the case and that I can stay here for a long time, but that depends on my performances on the field. I have signed for four years but it's up to me to settle quickly and adapt to the Premiership Link

The statement released by the club is pretty strong worded. But obviously that can all change depending on how badly he wants to go. United: Ronaldo not for sale By Mark Buckingham - Created on 12 Jul 2006 Manchester United insist there is 'no possibility' of Cristiano Ronaldo being sold to Real Madrid. Ronaldo has been heavily tipped to leave Old Trafford before the start of the season after being put up as a hate figure for his World Cup contribution. The Portuguese winger was criticised for his supposed role in Wayne Rooney's sending off during England's quarter final exit. He has suggested that the press campaign against him will make it difficult to continue his career in The Premiership. The 21-year-old has targeted a move to Spain, with Real understood to be his preferred destination, although an interest from Barcelona has been alluded to. New Real president Ramon Calderon would be prepared to back a bid for Ronaldo, who cost United £12 million three years ago, if coach Fabio Capello wants the exciting wide man. But The Red Devils have issued a hands-off warning to any suitors of the former Sporting Lisbon starlet after confirming he is not for sale. "Manchester United has noted the increasing media speculation over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo," read a statement on the club's official website. "The club can confirm there is no possibility of Cristiano being sold. Cristiano recently signed a new contract until 2010 and the cub fully expects him to honour that contract. "The club will not listen to any offers for Cristiano. "Cristiano is one of the brightest young stars in world football as demonstrated by his performances at the World Cup and Manchester United is not in the business of selling their best young players." Sky sports

sIgN diDI hAManN

WTF ?? Strange u-turn by Didi. Maybe the lawyers got to him.

KIRKLAND NEAR TO WIGAN SWITCH By Mark Buckingham - Created on 11 Jul 2006 Wigan Athletic have agreed a deal to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. The England hopeful is training with The Latics on Tuesday as the finishing touches are put to his switch to The JJB Stadium. Kirkland is due to join up with Paul Jewell's men on an initial six-month loan deal, with a view to a permanent transfer. It is expected that the 25-year-old will be confirmed as a Wigan player after the close of Tuesday's training session. The imposing keeper has been a long-standing target for Jewell, who is keen to bring in competition for Mike Pollitt and John Filan. He spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, but injury restricted Kirkland to just 10 Premiership appearances. Kirkland was signed by Liverpool from Coventry City for £6 million five years ago, but has made just 45 appearances for the FA Cup winners. The arrival of Jose Reina last summer signalled the likely end for Kirkland's Anfield career, with Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson also in the Liverpool ranks. A move to ambitious Wigan is now being finalised and Kirkland will hope the deal resurrects his chances of breaking into the England squad Sky sports

None of these should be next nor near the squad of the tournament.

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Er, it's red isn't it ?

That looks very like the kit in the brochure. I think we have a winner.

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Bring back Otsemobor. Outstanding against Southampton a couple of seasons back. Took a bullet in the a*** as well. Can't ask for more than that.

He had an operation already Owen has first knee op By Alex Livie - Created on 6 Jul 2006 Michael Owen has undergone the first of a two-stage operation to repair his injured knee. The Newcastle marksman is facing a long spell out of the game, having suffered a serious knee injury during England's World Cup group game with Sweden. He is under the care of American surgeon Dr Richard Steadman and he has had surgery to correct the cartilage damage in his knee. Owen is set to return to England to begin his rehabilitation, but will head back to America in a couple of months to have an operation on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. "I spoke to our club doctor Roddy McDonald after the first stage of the procedure had been done, and he explained to me what the second stage would involve and that it could take place in eight weeks' time," Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder told the club's website. Full Story

I think the training kit numbers are different to the squad numbers.

And the reasons to hate the b******s just keep on growing.

Fantastic news all round today. That's the left side sorted.

Nice one.

Plus if you go to his profile and click on the video link you get "highlights" of Chris Kirkland instead of Paletta.

PALETTA PUTS PEN TO PAPER ON REDS DEAL Paul Rogers 04 July 2006 Rafael Benitez today welcomed Gabriel Paletta into the Liverpool fold and immediately insisted our latest signing has the qualities to match the inspirational leadership of Jamie Carragher. The young Argentinian defender was at Melwood yesterday for the first day of pre-season training but put pen to paper on a 4-year contract today. Having followed the youngster's progress for some time, Benitez was delighted to have secured Paletta's signature and said: "I've worked with other Argentinian defenders in the past and there is a good tradition of tough, aggressive and tactically strong defenders from the country. "Paletta is very tough and he's exactly the sort of player we need who will suit the Premiership. When you talk about the Argentinian defenders I worked with in Valencia, Paletta is more like Ayala than Pellegrino. If you're talking about Liverpool, he's more like Carra than Sami Hyypia. This is good because we will have a balance in the style of defenders. "He is a defender with a lot of aggression and we're sure he has a great future. He will learn a lot here, like Daniel Agger, and provide competitiveness in our defence. "We were watching him in the World Under-21 championships in Holland. That's when our scouts spotted him and we identified him as the kind of player we'd like. "He has attracted a lot of interest from top clubs in Argentina like River Plate and Boca Juniors. River Plate even reserved a number six shirt for him, so we had to move quickly to sign him. We're delighted to have done the deal now." Offal

So do you think it's finally over ? Would Del Nido call our bluff like this ?

I posted this in the transfer thread and Sion translated it as Del Nido basically saying " today we have forgotten about selling Alves. " So it looks like the end.... finally.

Well that's that then.