December Football gossip 2007

[McFLY]

Friday 21st December gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP
Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson believes Fabio Capello must win every game or become a national hate figure. (Various)

The FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking insists he has not given up hope of appointing an Englishman as national team coach in the future. (Daily Telegraph)

England under-21 coach Stuart Pearce's passionate address to the FA helped to ensure approval for the new National Football Centre.(The Times)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has appealed for an extension to his contract amid claims Jurgen Klinsmann could be appointed as his successor in the summer. (The Sun)

Everton boss David Moyes is planning a £3m move for Reading midfield man Stephen Hunt in the January transfer window. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has forgiven Spurs striker Darren Bent for his summer snub and will move for the £17m striker when the transfer window opens. (The Sun)

John Collins could be a contender to replace struggling Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham after his shock resignation as Hibernian manager. (Various)

Owner David Sullivan claims the depature of former boss Steve Bruce was "the best thing that has ever happened to Birmingham City". (Daily Mail)

Manchester City keeper Andreas Isaksson could ask for a move after being told Joe Hart is boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's preferred choice. (The Guardian)

Birmingham are ready to sell Rowan Vine to QPR in a £2m deal. (Daily Mail)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss Craig Brewster is a possible successor to the departed John Collins at Hibernian.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane could move for veteran Blackburn midfield man Robbie Savage in January.


AND FINALLY
Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann is so upset at being left out he claims he sits in the stands and has to "make a fist in my pocket".

 

[McFLY]

Saturday 22nd December gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP

England coach Fabio Capello will have to understand that club football takes priority over the international team for his side's fans and players. (Guardian)

Capello has the aura to get the current crop of internationals back on top of their game, according to Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development. (Daily Telegraph)

And Brooking says the impasse between the FA and the professional game over youth development must be resolved. (Guardian)

The FA's technical board, which oversees coaching and player development, has met only once in two years. (Sun)

David Beckham is determined to win his 100th England cap on 6 February - even though it is before his club season with LA Galaxy starts. (Daily Star)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Former Craven Cottage favourite John Collins is in pole position to replace sacked Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez. (Various)

But Croatia manager and former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is also in line to replace ex-Northern Ireland boss Sanchez. (Sun)

Former England and Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle is also interested in the Fulham job and has been seen watching recent home matches. (Independent)

Midfielder Stewart Downing has demanded an end to his Middlesbrough contract after being upset by booing fans at the Riverside. (Daily Mirror)

El Hadji Diouf will follow Nicolas Anelka out of Bolton during the January transfer window, with Portsmouth waiting in the wings to sign him. (Daily Mirror)

Barcelona have warned Chelsea and AC Milan that Brazil star Ronaldinho will not be leaving them in the January transfer window. (Sun)

Derby boss Paul Jewell has offered a lifeline to outcast defender Michael Johnson, who is on loan at Sheffield Wednesday (Sun).

Tottenham are set to sign Cardiff's 18-year-old Wales defender Chris Gunter in a deal worth £3m. (Various)

Liverpool's England striker Peter Crouch faces the threat of a possible 'racism' probe after implying foreign players cheat following his red card for the two-footed lunge on Chelsea's Jon Mikel Obi. (Sun)

Leeds boss Dennis Wise will make a £500,000 bid for Bolton centre-half Lubomir Michalik, who played seven times on loan last season. (Sun)


AND FINALLY
German international Michael Ballack was asked by one of Chelsea's England players if he puts his towels out on sun loungers to reserve them on holiday - but then hit back by taunting them about their failure to qualify for Euro 2008. (Daily Mirror)

 

[McFLY]

Sunday 23rd December gossip column

ENGLAND GOSSIP
England coach Fabio Capello will make David Beckham captain according to former Real Madrid team-mate Roberto Carlos. (The Observer)

Capello is set to lay down the gauntlet to the England squad when they meet up. He will outline standards of behaviour and attitude expected - and anyone falling below them will find themselves out of the squad. (News of the World)

The no-nonsense England boss will introduce a tough new regime of zero tolerance regarding the behaviour of England players - on and off the field. (Sunday Express)

Fabio Capello will earn a staggering £17m - if England win the World Cup in 2010. (Sunday Mirror)

Former England skipper Alan Shearer will turn down any offer to join Fabio Capello's England coaching team. (Sunday Mirror)


TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
Former Germany boss and Tottenham hero Jurgen Klinsmann is the man Fulham want to replace Lawrie Sanchez at Craven Cottage. (Sunday Express)

Close friends of Graeme Souness have revealed he is keen on replacing Sanchez. (News of the World)

Meanwhile, Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial job at Fulham. (Observer)

Nicolas Anelka is being lined up to replace Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge, if the Chelsea striker leaves in the January transfer window. (Various)

However, Chelsea will face competition from Manchester United who are set to renew their interest in the Bolton man. (Sunday Mirror)

Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley is a £10m target for Spanish giants Valencia and Atletico Madrid. (Sunday Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is poised to swoop for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and Spurs forward Jermain Defoe as he looks to strengthen his attacking options. (Observer)

Strikers Benni MCarthy and Mark Viduka are being lined-up for a dramatic swap. Blackburn's McCarthy and Newcastle's Viduka are said to be unhappy at their respective clubs. (News of the World)

Tottenham look to have won the battle to sign Rangers' Scotland defender Alan Hutton. (Mail on Sunday)

Meanwhile, out of favour Spurs striker Darren Bent is a target for West Ham, although Juande Ramos is keen to keep the forward at the club. (Mail on Sunday)

Liverpool are poised to complete the signing of Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi from Fiorentina for around £500,000. (News of the World)

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is keen to bring Reading striker Leroy Lita but Reading have placed a £5m price tag on the 22-year-old. (News of the World)

Inter Milan are poised to make a name-your-price bid for Manchester City's Elano. (News of the World)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is ready to put one over Sir Alex Ferguson by finally signing Gabriel Heinze.(The People)

Liverpool and Chelsea will battle it out to sign unsettled Valencia striker David Silva. (News of the World)


AND FINALLY
Less than a year after buying the club, Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett could be forced to sell to avoid financial meltdown. (News of the World)