Friday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

New Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is preparing to ship out John Carew and may replace him with Roque Santa Cruz.
Norwegian international striker Carew, 31, is out-of-contract next summer and Villa do not intend to renew his £52,000-a-week deal.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tr ... 15423.html

Manchester United and City to battle European giants for Argentine teenage sensation Rogelio Funes Mori Rivals Manchester United and City are to lock horns again in the pursuit of young Argentine striker Rogelio Funes Mori.
United have sent scouts to Argentina to watch the 19-year-old among others at River Plate while City have also been swift to register interest. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -Mori.html

You are the ref. 134 Adam Johnson


TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is to be offered £200,000 a week to finish his career in Dubai. United midfielder Paul Scholes and defender Gary Neville can also expect lucrative deals from Middle East clubs. Top outfits in the UAE League, including Al Ahli, have already discussed signing the trio next summer. the Sun

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to bolster his central midfield options and has put Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich and Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone at the top of his wish list. Daily Star

Chelsea are also keeping tabs on Schweinsteiger who is a free agent at the end of the season. Daily Mirror

Meanwhile Ferguson is considering an audacious double swoop to bring Napoli's attacking pair Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani to Old Trafford. caughtoffside

Sunderland have put a £20m price tag on midfielder Jordan Henderson, who is being tracked by Manchester United. Daily Mirror

Liverpool are ready to offer Roma's want-away striker Mirko Vucinic an escape route in January. TalkSport

The Reds are rumoured to be lining up a January move for Blackpool's attacking midfielder Charlie Adam. caughtoffside

And Liverpool have been offered Lyon's Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez. Daily Mirror

Tottenham are battling Sevilla to sign Getafe's Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng. TalkSport

OTHER BOLLOX
Blackburn Rovers' prospective new owners are considering selling the naming rights to Ewood Park. Daily Telegraph

Former Chelsea and West Ham assistant manager Steve Clarke has failed to agree personal terms with Newcastle over a deal to become Chris Hughton's number two at St James' Park. the Sun

Hughton and Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson are 6-4 joint-favourites with bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to get the sack. West Ham boss Avram Grant is 7-4. (Racing Post)

With the Hammers bottom of the table after picking up only six points from nine games, Grant has two games to save his job. Daily Star

Hodgson says he has discovered Liverpool's answer to Chelsea centre-back John Terry - and it is Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The Reds boss says Kyrgiakos can head the ball as well as Terry, former Arsenal defender Tony Adams and ex-Leeds centre-back Jack Charlton.
Full story: the Sun

Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel is set to play into his forties with the club ready to offer the American a new contract. Daily Mail

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has called for players who dive to be banned for three games. the Sun

Administrator Andrew Andronikou has revealed cash-strapped Portsmouth twice came within hours of being closed down. Daily Star

Premier League clubs are Europe's top earners when it comes to shirt sponsorship deals. Top-flight English sides are pocketing £112m this season - £9m more than Bundesliga teams. the Sun

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar, who turns 40 today, has set his sights on another Premier League and Champions League double before calling time on his career. Daily Mirror

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Manchester United and City to battle European giants for Argentine teenage sensation Rogelio Funes Mori Rivals Manchester United and City are to lock horns again in the pursuit of young Argentine striker Rogelio Funes Mori.


Maybe that's part of Carlos's remit when he goes back home?

[kinkylola]

That would be an excellent move ... and I wonder sometimes how much players are utilized in this role and whether or not it is something that comes down as officially instructed.

[dazby]

1. Not allowed to play without a goalkeeper. One of the players must be nominated and wear a shirt. However that doesn't mean he can't join the attack and play forward.

2. Goal!!!

3. Whimp out and give them both yellow cards and the opposition the pen.

[Lev Bronstein]

Er, 3 - isn't there some rule about a minimum number of players on the field, 7 I think. If so then send them both off, abandon the game, report the to the authorities who should award a 3-0 victory to the Blues. (Against Utd - get real, some papal edict from 1265 will be unearthed so that they are awarded the result)

[dazby]

If there's two of them though they aren't the last man.

[Beeks]

Anyone know this Mori guy?

[Dameerto]

I've never heard of him.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Anyone know this Mori guy?

Never heard of him before. Wikipedia however tells us the obscure fact that he is a winner of "who wants to be a footballer" styled reality tv program and got a contract with MLS side because of it. Apparently he was born in Argentina but essentially is a Yank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogelio_Funes_Mori

[Ted Hughes]

Anyone know this Mori guy?

Isn't he related to Graham Poll?

[Beeks]

Anyone know this Mori guy?

Isn't he related to Graham Poll?

Badum Tish

[Ted Hughes]

Anyone know this Mori guy?

Isn't he related to Graham Poll?

Badum Tish

I'm here all week..

[Tokyo Blue]

1. Not allowed to play without a goalkeeper. One of the players must be nominated and wear a shirt. However that doesn't mean he can't join the attack and play forward.

2. Goal!!!

3. Whimp out and give them both yellow cards and the opposition the pen.

3. Yellow card for one and a red for the other. Try to decide who made contact first. Send baconface to the stands for the inevitable grousing, waving of watch, etc etc.

Mori. Hmm. Sounds Japanese.

I don't know much about him but I do however know his brother, Tober. Used to play for Wimbledon.

[john68]

1. Not allowed to play without a goalkeeper. One of the players must be nominated and wear a shirt. However that doesn't mean he can't join the attack and play forward.

2. Goal!!!

3. Whimp out and give them both yellow cards and the opposition the pen.

3. Yellow card for one and a red for the other. Try to decide who made contact first. Send baconface to the stands for the inevitable grousing, waving of watch, etc etc.

Mori. Hmm. Sounds Japanese.

I don't know much about him but I do however know his brother, Tober. Used to play for Wimbledon.

Noooooooooo! Tokyo.......hahahaha!.....I almost have to say "Bala"...but I really didm't want to....sorry!

[Sol Fedder]

That would be an excellent move ... and I wonder sometimes how much players are utilized in this role and whether or not it is something that comes down as officially instructed.

In this case, a player who wants to finish his career back at Boca Juniors sent out to tap up their bitterest rivals' top player - don't think so.