Friday's B*ll*x
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:07 amCity call off Santa Cruz's Rovers return
Manchester City have put a block on Roque Santa Cruz’s return to Blackburn on loan.
City want to off-load the Paraguayan striker, but are loath to let him go back to Ewood Park without the promise of a full-time buy at the end of the loan spell.
Santa Cruz has had a nightmare at Eastlands since his £17million switch from Rovers at the start of last season and now City are looking to claw back some of the cash.
Rovers boss Steve Kean is reluctant to take the player back full-time however, and is hoping to do a wage-share deal once City have exhausted their other options.
Edin Dzeko's move to Manchester City has not been without its problems after the Wolfsburg striker was left stranded at Heathrow airport because he did not have the correct visa. the Sun
Wayne Bridge is set to join Aston Villa from Manchester City - after West Ham’s cash crisis ruled out a move to Upton Park.
Former Chelsea and England left-back Bridge was poised for a return to the capital from City, only for West Ham to tell him they did not have the money to meet the shortfall in his £80,000 per week Eastlands wages.
That left the door open for Gerard Houllier to tie up a deal for the 30-year-old to move to Villa Park until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal.
The collapse of the Hammers' move for Bridge comes after boss Avram Grant also missed out on signing Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell and Spurs striker Robbie Keane for similar reasons.
Sidwell had been keen on a switch to Upton Park, only for the cash problems to scupper the move and open the way for Wolves and Fulham to move for the player.
West Ham's lack of money meant initial interest in Birmingham City-bound Keane petered out swiftly, leaving the injury-plagued Grant increasingly frustrated by the club’s inability to freshen up a squad that looked dead on its feet in Wednesday’s mauling at Newcastle.
Grant is without 10 first team players through injury, with main summer signing Thomas Hitzlsperger still to kick a ball for the club and defenders Manuel Da Costa and Lars Jacobsen and midfielder Jack Collison among the long-term casualties.
Former Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson reveals his fractious relationship with former Eastlands chairman Thaksin Shinawatra. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 345053.stm
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=36630
OTHER BOLLOX
Hamburg attacker Eljero Elia might be a target for Liverpool but Anfield is not one of the stadiums the Dutch international is dreaming of playing in. The 23-year-old said: "Clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United really are something special." IM Scouting.com
Interest in Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is hotting up with Turkish side Galatasaray joining a list of teams that include Malaga and Atletico Madrid vying for the 33-year-old Spaniard. goal.com
Aston Villa and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are battling over the signature of Lyon and Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun insidefutbol.com
Arsenal are favourites to land Belgian winger Eden Hazard. Lille's 19-year-old has been a target for Manchester United and Real Madrid and is reported to be worth £15m. caughtoffside.com
Fulham lead the race for the signature of Steve Sidwell after a move to West Ham for the Aston Villa midfielder fell through earlier this week.Daily Mirror
Manchester United are tracking Brazil keeper Julio Cesar as boss Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Inter Milan's 31-year-old shot-stopper said recently: "England is sensational for football because of the atmosphere and fans' passion." the Sun
Birmingham are looking to beat Blackburn to the signature of Blackpool's star midfielder Charlie Adam. Daily Mirror
Sheffield Wednesday are going to make "at least" six new signings in January, their biggest recruitment drive in years. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are weighing up another move for Porto striker Radamel Falcao, a year after an unsuccessful attempt to sign the Colombian, who has scored 18 goals in 24 games this season. the Sun
With less than 48 hours to go before their FA Cup third-round clash with Chelsea, Ipswich are desperate to find a replacement for Roy Keane and top of the list is former Derby boss Paul Jewell. Newcastle's old manager Chris Hughton is also in the hunt. Daily Telegraph
Roy Hodgson's days as Liverpool manager are also over after saying goodbye to the players on the back of the 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday. In 20 matches at the helm, Hodgson has seen the Reds win seven times but suffer nine defeats. the Sun
Speculation mounts regarding Hodgson's replacement but Marseille boss Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of taking the Anfield hotseat. Daily Star
Meanwhile, the new American owners at Anfield have been warned key players, such as striker Fernando Torres and keeper Pepe Reina, will leave in the summer if the right boss is not chosen and they don't get reassurances of major investment. the Guardian
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has emerged as a surprise contender for the Liverpool job. Daily Express
West Ham boss Avram Grant has been given two games to save his job, the FA Cup tie with Barnsley and Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham. Guardian
Chelsea are going to stick with their manager Carlo Ancelotti despite their disappointing recent form which has seen them slump to fifth in the table. Daily Telegraph
Fifa has withdrawn an offer to Interpol's Anti-Corruption chief to head their own new integrity unit. Daily Telegraph
Argentina's friendly against Portugal at the Emirates Stadium on 9 February has been moved to Geneva. Daily Mail
Replays could be abolished in an attempt to revive interest in the FA Cup. Guardian
Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan had booked a winter break under the impression that English football stopped at Christmas. Daily Mirror
Manchester City have put a block on Roque Santa Cruz’s return to Blackburn on loan.
City want to off-load the Paraguayan striker, but are loath to let him go back to Ewood Park without the promise of a full-time buy at the end of the loan spell.
Santa Cruz has had a nightmare at Eastlands since his £17million switch from Rovers at the start of last season and now City are looking to claw back some of the cash.
Rovers boss Steve Kean is reluctant to take the player back full-time however, and is hoping to do a wage-share deal once City have exhausted their other options.
Edin Dzeko's move to Manchester City has not been without its problems after the Wolfsburg striker was left stranded at Heathrow airport because he did not have the correct visa. the Sun
Wayne Bridge is set to join Aston Villa from Manchester City - after West Ham’s cash crisis ruled out a move to Upton Park.
Former Chelsea and England left-back Bridge was poised for a return to the capital from City, only for West Ham to tell him they did not have the money to meet the shortfall in his £80,000 per week Eastlands wages.
That left the door open for Gerard Houllier to tie up a deal for the 30-year-old to move to Villa Park until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal.
The collapse of the Hammers' move for Bridge comes after boss Avram Grant also missed out on signing Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell and Spurs striker Robbie Keane for similar reasons.
Sidwell had been keen on a switch to Upton Park, only for the cash problems to scupper the move and open the way for Wolves and Fulham to move for the player.
West Ham's lack of money meant initial interest in Birmingham City-bound Keane petered out swiftly, leaving the injury-plagued Grant increasingly frustrated by the club’s inability to freshen up a squad that looked dead on its feet in Wednesday’s mauling at Newcastle.
Grant is without 10 first team players through injury, with main summer signing Thomas Hitzlsperger still to kick a ball for the club and defenders Manuel Da Costa and Lars Jacobsen and midfielder Jack Collison among the long-term casualties.
Former Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson reveals his fractious relationship with former Eastlands chairman Thaksin Shinawatra. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 345053.stm
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=36630
OTHER BOLLOX
Hamburg attacker Eljero Elia might be a target for Liverpool but Anfield is not one of the stadiums the Dutch international is dreaming of playing in. The 23-year-old said: "Clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United really are something special." IM Scouting.com
Interest in Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is hotting up with Turkish side Galatasaray joining a list of teams that include Malaga and Atletico Madrid vying for the 33-year-old Spaniard. goal.com
Aston Villa and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are battling over the signature of Lyon and Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun insidefutbol.com
Arsenal are favourites to land Belgian winger Eden Hazard. Lille's 19-year-old has been a target for Manchester United and Real Madrid and is reported to be worth £15m. caughtoffside.com
Fulham lead the race for the signature of Steve Sidwell after a move to West Ham for the Aston Villa midfielder fell through earlier this week.Daily Mirror
Manchester United are tracking Brazil keeper Julio Cesar as boss Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Inter Milan's 31-year-old shot-stopper said recently: "England is sensational for football because of the atmosphere and fans' passion." the Sun
Birmingham are looking to beat Blackburn to the signature of Blackpool's star midfielder Charlie Adam. Daily Mirror
Sheffield Wednesday are going to make "at least" six new signings in January, their biggest recruitment drive in years. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are weighing up another move for Porto striker Radamel Falcao, a year after an unsuccessful attempt to sign the Colombian, who has scored 18 goals in 24 games this season. the Sun
With less than 48 hours to go before their FA Cup third-round clash with Chelsea, Ipswich are desperate to find a replacement for Roy Keane and top of the list is former Derby boss Paul Jewell. Newcastle's old manager Chris Hughton is also in the hunt. Daily Telegraph
Roy Hodgson's days as Liverpool manager are also over after saying goodbye to the players on the back of the 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday. In 20 matches at the helm, Hodgson has seen the Reds win seven times but suffer nine defeats. the Sun
Speculation mounts regarding Hodgson's replacement but Marseille boss Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of taking the Anfield hotseat. Daily Star
Meanwhile, the new American owners at Anfield have been warned key players, such as striker Fernando Torres and keeper Pepe Reina, will leave in the summer if the right boss is not chosen and they don't get reassurances of major investment. the Guardian
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has emerged as a surprise contender for the Liverpool job. Daily Express
West Ham boss Avram Grant has been given two games to save his job, the FA Cup tie with Barnsley and Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham. Guardian
Chelsea are going to stick with their manager Carlo Ancelotti despite their disappointing recent form which has seen them slump to fifth in the table. Daily Telegraph
Fifa has withdrawn an offer to Interpol's Anti-Corruption chief to head their own new integrity unit. Daily Telegraph
Argentina's friendly against Portugal at the Emirates Stadium on 9 February has been moved to Geneva. Daily Mail
Replays could be abolished in an attempt to revive interest in the FA Cup. Guardian
Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan had booked a winter break under the impression that English football stopped at Christmas. Daily Mirror