Wednesday's B*l**x

[Chinners]

REAL MADRID WANT MICAH RICHARDS
REAL MADRID boss Jose Mourinho is lining up a shock £20m bid for Micah Richards.
The Spanish champions have contacted Manchester City about a possible deal for Richards and are confident of luring him to the Bernabeu.
Starsport understands that Mourinho has made the fullback one of his main targets and Richards is keen on a move to the La Liga giants.
Mourinho is a big fan of Richards and tried to sign him when he was Chelsea boss but had a bid rejected. He has kept close tabs on his progress and believes he would be a huge hit at Real and boost their chances of winning the Champions League.
Richards is preparing for the Olympics with Stuart Pearce’s Team GB after being left out of England’s Euro 2012 squad.
But he is aware of Real’s interest and is open to the prospect of joining them.
The England star signed a new deal with City in August worth around £70,000 a week and has just helped them land the Premier League title.
But he has endured a mixed relationship with boss Roberto Mancini after struggling to establish himself in the Italian’s starting line-up.
Mancini will be reluctant to sell ­Richards because he offers vital defensive cover at centre-back for Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott.
But he would be willing to cash in on him if Real offered a price that was too good to turn down.
A source said: “Real Madrid made ­contact with City a few weeks ago and Micah is waiting to see what City do, but he would definitely be interested in the move.
“Jose Mourinho has always rated him and reckons he would be a great addition to his squad as they look to defend their Spanish title and try to win back the Champions League.”
The Blues, meanwhile, have been ­approached by Lokomotiv Moscow about Emmanuel Adebayor after the Togo star’s £6m move to Tottenham stalled. STAR

Gimme gimme gimme: Toure's demands are scaring off even mega-rich Saudis
City defender Kolo wants £50k a week net for three years, a rent-free home, two cars, paid-for flights AND the captaincy to join Al Hilal
Kolo Toure's demand for an £8million contract has put his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in doubt.
The Manchester City defender is asking for too much – even for a club as wealthy as Al Hilal.
Toure wants £50,000 a week - tax-free - for the next three seasons, with some of the money being paid up front.
The 31-year-old Ivorian – banned in 2011 for failing a drugs test – is also asking for a rent-free apartment and two cars.
On top of that, the former Arsenal star is looking for guaranteed business-class flights, plus the captaincy of Al Hilal before he would consider leaving the Premier League.
There is a further agent’s fee of around £800,000 to be paid in advance – making the package a stretch even for the oil-rich club.MIRROR

Yaya Toure is full of laughs as Manchester City go all Inbetweeners
Yaya Toure enjoys a good show and he’s been lucky enough to have a front seat for some party football at Manchester City over the last two years.
And pre-season is no different as he witnessed some dance moves that wouldn’t have been out of place in the Northern Quarter's finest night spots.

In a routine borrowed straight from the Inbetweeners, City’s sports scientist Tom Parry wows Yaya with a series of slick moves.
‘You can’t teach that, you can’t teach it, it’s natural, that. It’s natural. Look at that, look at his feet, look at his feet,’ a member of staff informs Yaya as Parry really gets going.
Despite cackling and clapping, Yaya doesn’t stop cycling on his exercise bike for a second – the sign of a real professional.
Manchester City are on a meticulously-planned pre-season tour of Austria where players have custom-made mattresses, and officials even tried to get a local church to stop their bells ringing in the early morning.
Yaya was once described by Arsene Wenger as ‘completely average’ after turning out for Arsenal in a friendly against Barnet. Parry’s footwork was anything but. METRO

OTHER BOLLOX
New Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is hoping to beat Chelsea to the signing of Brazilian striker Hulk from Porto. Daily Mail

Just like Hulk, midfielder Oscar has arrived in London with the Brazil Olympic squad and will have a medical ahead of his £25m move from Internacional to Chelsea. Daily Mail

Dimitar Berbatov could join AC Milan or Juventus, according to the Manchester United striker's agent. talkShit

Manchester United have failed with a £29.8m bid for Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura, 19, according to the Brazilian club. Daily Mirror

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart insists he wants to stay at the north London club and is excited by the prospect of working under new boss Andre Villas-Boas. the Sun

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told Andy Carroll's advisors that the striker can leave the club, with Newcastle believed to be preparing a new bid of £16m. the Sun

Arsenal will tell Robin van Persie that he will not be permitted to leave the Emirates this summer, forcing him to see out the last 12 months of his contract. the Times

New Watford manager Gianfranco Zola wants Italian legends Filippo Inzaghi, 38, and Alessandro Del Piero, 37, who are both free agents. Daily Mirror

Barcelona could move for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger after being priced out of a move for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez, 23. Daily Mail

France striker Bafetimbi Gomis, 26, will reject a move to Tottenham in order to stay with Lyon. talkShit

Fulham have opened talks to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, 19, on loan. Daily Mirror

Lokomotiv Moscow are looking to thwart Tottenham's bid to sign striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City after making an £8m move for the striker. Daily Telegraph

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

Defender Scott Dann could join Ajax on loan following Blackburn's relegation to the Championship. Reading and Southampton have been put off by the centre-back's £6m price tag. Daily Mail

Tottenham midfielder Danny Rose, 22, is resigned to Luka Modric's departure from White Hart Lane and admits he does not know where his own future lies after the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas. London Evening Standard

Chelsea are close to signing Eden Hazard's younger brother Thorgan, 19, according to Lens sporting director Antoine Sibierski.
La Voix du Nord newspaper

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra, has reopened his row with Manchester United's French defender by using a Uruguayan television interview to claim: "In England, Man United has this political power, and you have to respect that and shut your mouth." Daily Mirror

Striker Peter Odemwingie could be on his way out of West Brom after a training ground bust-up with new manager Steve Clarke. talkShit

Arsenal have still not opened contract talks with Theo Walcott despite the prospect of the England winger leaving as a free agent next summer. Guardian

Veteran defender David Weir, 42, is ready to play for Everton again if needed. Liverpool Echo

MORE BOLLOX SOON

[dazby]

Check the name of the Lens Sporting Director. Well well well.

[Goaters 103]

Thought it was Aguero (May), then Silva (June) that "fancied the move" to Real? Richards must be this months bollox story link on the rota. Coming in August - Ya Ya Toure "fancies"move to Real Madrid. Yawn.

Amazing how many of our squad "really wanted to sign for Utd/Real/Barca" but end up with us, then "really fancy a move to Real/AC Milan etc" but end up signing new contracts and staying right here.

[aaron bond]

Check the name of the Lens Sporting Director. Well well well.

Out of all the information Chinners kindly posted above, that was the thing that stuck out for me too.

I wonder if he's passing any of his heading ability onto the Lens youngsters.

[ronk]

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

I know it's Liverpool and they're fucking nuts, but seriously.

[sheikh it all about]

REAL MADRID WANT MICAH RICHARDS
REAL MADRID boss Jose Mourinho is lining up a shock £20m bid for Micah Richards.

That won't buy his jock strap. Fook off Maureen.

I know this is only rumour but it would be stupid to sell Micah whatever the price. We don't need the cash and he is at the heart of the club, both as a player and as a personality.

[Ted Hughes]

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

I know it's Liverpool and they're fucking nuts, but seriously.

Wages probably wouldn't be high if true. Doesn't rely on pace so can probably play on for a 4 year contract. Better than most of their players. Decent signing if true, imo.

[Wooders]

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

I know it's Liverpool and they're fucking nuts, but seriously.

Wages probably wouldn't be high if true. Doesn't rely on pace so can probably play on for a 4 year contract. Better than most of their players. Decent signing if true, imo.

Sort of agree - he's a good player but I don't think he'd fit into a squad that wants to be challenging for top 4's and a trophy
maybe it's part of their rebuilding

[kinkylola]

you might accuse me of bias, but dempsey is a solid player ... and liverpool definitely are not challenging for the top 4 next year. I don't know if liverpool have any players "better" than him really. Yes, suarez is a technically superior player, but Dempsey scores more in worse teams ... probably assists more too, though I don't have any of the stats in front of me.

Think he'll fit very well in Rodger's system, tbh.

[patrickblue]

you might accuse me of bias, but dempsey is a solid player ... and liverpool definitely are not challenging for the top 4 next year. I don't know if liverpool have any players "better" than him really. Yes, suarez is a technically superior player, but Dempsey scores more in worse teams ... probably assists more too, though I don't have any of the stats in front of me.

Think he'll fit very well in Rodger's system, tbh.

Agree totally. I really rate Dempsey, and if we're talking about him not being good enough for a top side, who for instance in the scum m/f would you choose over him?

[DoomMerchant]

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

I know it's Liverpool and they're fucking nuts, but seriously.

Wages probably wouldn't be high if true. Doesn't rely on pace so can probably play on for a 4 year contract. Better than most of their players. Decent signing if true, imo.

Sort of agree - he's a good player but I don't think he'd fit into a squad that wants to be challenging for top 4's and a trophy
maybe it's part of their rebuilding

best american player by a mile...hate playing against him, would love him on your team tho. City wouldn't be worse with Clint Dempsey. And neither will Scouse. That's all there is to say, isn't it?

[ronk]

He's a good solid player. But it's a fair wedge for a player his age and wages might well be high.

Selling Carroll for slightly more and buying Dempsey might be a better move next season on the pitch, but it'll hurt in the longer term.

[Florida Blue]

Liverpool are on the verge of signing USA striker Clint Dempsey after agreeing a £10m fee with Fulham. Daily Mail

I know it's Liverpool and they're fucking nuts, but seriously.

American owner, "best" American player, maybe just maybe a marketing ploy that will pay for itself.

[Mase]

best american player by a mile...hate playing against him, would love him on your team tho. City wouldn't be worse with Clint Dempsey. And neither will Scouse. That's all there is to say, isn't it?

Who would you drop for him from the City team mate?

[The Italian Job]

best american player by a mile...hate playing against him, would love him on your team tho. City wouldn't be worse with Clint Dempsey. And neither will Scouse. That's all there is to say, isn't it?

Who would you drop for him from the City team mate?

Michael Johnson?

[bigblue]

best american player by a mile...hate playing against him, would love him on your team tho. City wouldn't be worse with Clint Dempsey. And neither will Scouse. That's all there is to say, isn't it?

Who would you drop for him from the City team mate?

Milner, AJ, Weiss

I rate Dempsey very highly. Hes not world class, but is one of the most competitive players out there always putting in 100% effort, is great in the air, and has a good bit of skill and intelligence. Not a bad utility player for a top side at all

[Fesan]

If we were buying Zabaleta now noone would rate him and we would all be talking about how much better Alves or whomever is at Right back.

But damnit every team needs guys who put in a shift, have great moral and always delivers and Dempsey is that kind of a player. Like most US athletes he has a great work ethic and always puts a shift in.

He has had a great season and should get his chance in a "bigger" team. Sure Liverpool are in decline, but he is in my eyes just the kind of player that can help them turn the tide. Great moral, great work ethic and good enough skills.

If anyone can turn a ship around it is that kind of player. A player who plays to the max no matter the circumstances, not some shimmy who is more worried about his dates or lining his pocket to the max.

Liverpool needs players willing to come in and do the dirty job of lifting them back to their former glory, like we needed players to do the same. Only they cannot pay them like we did, so they need to get players like Dempsey.

If 'Pool can get Dempsey cudos to them, who on here can honestly name a player with a better combination of work ethic, skill and professional approach to the game that Liverpool can both get and afford to pay wages too?

*edit*

If we signed him today noone would care and we would prob. have a great deal of complaints. But damnit our team would be better of with him. We got a Zab-man in defense but we don't got one on offense.

He would prob. start 50% or less of our games but the attitude he'd bring to those games, usually games vs lesser opponnets where we have looked like we are not up to it that day would be worth the mid to lower level salary he'd be payed.

Every team needs those kinds of players to be successfull, most teams with long standing history have them and take them for granted, we that have just recently come into success again should remember and praise those kinds of players, as we have done so often on this forum.

The unsung heroes, the integral part of any successfull team. Thank you and if Liverpool get Dempsey grats on finally making a sound purchase. Cya Carrol.