…So says Slaven Bilic! [Read the rest of this entry »]

Don’t get Martin O’Neill mad. The Northern Irishman has got one hell of a temper on him and, like a dog with a bone, the Aston Villa manager is mad keen to retain the services of Gareth Barry at the Midlands club. This will serve the dual purpose of keeping arguably Villa’s best player, while also sending out a message that they are not a selling club and aren’t too far away from challenging the ‘Big Four’.

The Guardian reports that O’Neill found Liverpool’s £10million offer for his midfielder nothing short of ludicrous and claims that all this transfer speculation has effected the Villa captain. Perhaps he’s secretly pleased that they’ve lodged such a derisory bid for Barry and that they’ll now go and pursue other players after being told where to shove their ten mill.

“I must clarify this point, as we speak, we are a million miles away [from Barry joining Liverpool],” said O’Neill, who was upset that details of the bid were leaked on Merseyside. “At the moment, it would be like me offering £20m for [Lionel] Messi. Barcelona would say, ‘So what?’ That’s not saying that Messi would want to come.” Asked whether Liverpool’s bid undervalued Barry, O’Neill replied: “Absolutely, without question. This lad is playing for England.”

It also appears that Liverpool offered a couple of players along with their money for Barry, which was instantly rebuffed by O’Neill as presumptuous that he’d want the cast-offs at his club. One thing’s for sure, there’s a lot of love for the midfielder at Villa Park and it will take a lorry-load of cash to dislodge him from the club he’s served so loyally.

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It’s not the first time that Manchester United’s boy wonder has missed a penalty this season. In December, he was also guilty of hitting a spot kick wide against West Ham, something which led to his team’s 2-1 defeat. At the Nou Camp, the Portuguese forward did it again, although the Daily Mail report that Cristiano Ronaldo is confident of putting Barcelona to the sword at Old Trafford.

He said: “I did not change my style of taking the penalty. I have scored in that corner before this season. Now I will score next week in Manchester.

“It was a difficult game as they kept the ball well, but we defended very well and a 0-0 draw away from home is a good result.

He added: “I don’t understand why the referee did not give me the second penalty but it won’t matter.”

While United are still favourites to progress to the Champions League final, a one-goal advantage would have ensured that they could have attacked more freely on Tuesday. Instead, they’ll have to be extremely wary of Messi, Henry & Co on the counter-attack, knowing the concession of one away goal will leave them needing at least two if they’re to make it to Moscow.

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It is a journalistic dream, two names – Messi and Kaka – not only suggestive of a nasty dysenteric bout of diarrhea, but also the name of the two biggest talents in world football.
And it just so happens that Chelsea gaffer Avram Grant has revealed that owner Roman Abramovich is, unsurprisingly, ready to splurge in the summer on some new players.
Grant said:

“We already have a very, very good team at Chelsea,’ said Grant. One that has a chance to win the championship and the Champions League this season.

“But we have to plan for the future as well and I want to add more flair to the team.

“I know Roman Abramovich will give us his full support if the right player becomes available. But if it is not possible to bring in a Messi or a Kaka, we will try to find the next one.”

So it looks like Avram is finally going to do exactly what he was brought in for – to bring more flair and glamour to Chelsea – but will Avram still be in charge of the Stamford Bridge club come the end of the season?

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In the most coffee spluttering claim of the day, the Daily Mail reckons that Chelsea will offer loose talking Didier Drogba to either Barcelona or AC Milan, and in return they wont want cash (Roman has enough of that stuff to last a lifetime – literally) – no, instead Avram Grant and co will go after a player exchange, matter of factly asking for either Lionel Messi or Kaka in a swap deal. Yep, you read that right, either Lionel Messi or Kaka. Then again this is a story being pedalled by fairytale merchants the Daily Mail…
Top Mail man Matt Lawton writes that:

“While sources at Stamford Bridge say they have no desire to lose their best player, they are prepared to open discussions with Barcelona or Ac Milan if those clubs will give them a top player in return.

“Chelsea would tell Barcelona they want Lionel Messi rather than a fee in excess of £30million for Drogba while they would ask Milan for Kaka.

“That, understandably, is not something either club would be happy to agree to and Drogba will be made aware of the fact, as well as being reminded that he has three years left on his contract beyond the end of this season.”

Is there even a grain of truth in this story? Stranger things have happened…

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