Football

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Chelsea have confirmed Jose Mourinho as their new manager, with the former Porto boss signing a three-year deal.

Also the former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has been in talks with Spanish Champions and UEFA Cup winners, Valencia after their manager Rafael Benitez turned down a contract extension with the club, and is rumoured to be on his way to Liverpool.

Paul Dickov has turned down a new deal with Leicester to join Blackburn, who are likely to lose the services of Tugay, as he is on his way back to Turkey with Galatasaray in their centenery year.

[Rich]

A good for Ireland tonight against Jamaica and that was without Robbie Keane. Graham Barrett was on target in the 1st half to give his country a 1-0 win.

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Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has decided to name his First XI already...
GK Buffon
D Panucci
Cannavaro
Nesta
Zambrotta
M Camoranesi
Perrotta
Zanetti
Del Piero
F Totti
Vieri

The last time a coach released a team this early in a major tournament was at the 2002 World Cup, when a certain Marcelo Bielsa, released his First XI 5 days before clashing with England in the Sapporo Dome. Look what happened to them after that,not only against England but Sweden as well...

[Claret & Blue Army]

Sven Gordon Eriksson has named his team to win the whole thing. In a packed press conference he stated "France"

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om2004blaze said:

Sven Gordon Eriksson has named his team to win the whole thing. In a packed press conference he stated "France"

Good one

Bolton Wanderers have won the race to sign former Leeds United Striker Michael Bridges.

Bridges has penned a two-year deal at The Reebok Stadium after rejecting several other clubs to join Bolton.

The likes of Fulham, Leicester and Sunderland were keen on signing Bridges after his release by Newcastle.

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Aston Villa's Gareth Barry has signed a new four-year contract, committing himself to the club untill 2008.

Sky Blues stalwart Richard Shaw has commited himself to a new one-year deal at the club, which will also see him as a reserve team coach, which is good for the younger players who are in the reserves, especisally for the defenders as he'll be able to pass on his knowledge.

On another note, England defender John Terry has until Friday to prove his fitness for the game on Sunday against the reigning European Champions France.

[Claret & Blue Army]

Great news about GB signing on for more years.
Unfortunately according to the tabloids JPA has turned down Villas offer of £40k/week as he alledgedly wants £60k/week.
The £40k ofer would make him our highest ever earner as it is.
Whatever he wants - Ellis pay the man!

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Argentinian defender Gabriele Heinz has signed for Man Utd for near £7m.

Nigeria's former Arsenal striker Kanu has been linked with Charlton, if he takes a huge paycut.

Charlton are also being linked with Serbia & Montenegro and PSV forward Mateja Kezman. They would both be very good signings for them I think, seen as they have Carlton Cole on loan for another season and Paolo Di Canio has signed for another season.

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Chelsea have accepted an "undisclosed but substantial" offer from Birmingham for Danish winger for Jesper Gronkjaer.

But Spanish Champions Valencia could also still be in the running.

[Rich]

Coventry City's 1st pre season friendly against TuS Gemunden last night was abandoned at half-time due to a thunderstorm with City 3-0 up. Steve Staunton, Neal Wood and Graham Barrett scored City's goals.

[Rich]

Coventry City have won their 2nd game on their pre season tour of Germany 7-2 against FSV Oggersheim. The scoreline isn't that surprising as they are in the German 5th Division. However, what is surprising is who got the goals. Suffo and Pead got 1 each but Dele Adebola scored 5! When I 1st saw it I thought it was a wind-up so I had to check on 2 different websites.

[CBIHC]

ok, lets wind this thread up a notch or two. Lets see who you all think will be the players to watch this coming season, be it Premier League, CocaCola Championship or whatever!

i think that Mateja Kezman for Chelsea and Patrick Kluivert for Newcastle will both be quality signings for their respective teams this season.

What do you guys think?

[Rich]

I predict Chelsea to win the Premiership. It might sound strange for me to say that concidering Arsenal went unbeaten last season but we shall see come May. Arsenal are a great attacking side, no doubt about that but I don't feel they have enough strength in depth. They didn't have to many injurys and suspensions last season. I also predict that Liverpool will finnishes closer to the top 3 if not in it. Kluivert could be a great signing for Newcastle because when he has been at his best he is one of the best strikers on the planet. However, I still don't feel Newcastle have enough to challenge for a top 3 finnish. In terms of players to look out for, I feel that Gerrald and Lampard will again have good seasons, Henry will once again show his qulaity although Arsenal as team won't have such a good season. My prediction for flop of the season is Skippy Ronaldo. I am quite confident that by Christmas he will have been put on a stretcher and carried off the pitch.

In the SPL I wouldn't like to bet on who will finnish 1st but I can safely say that it will be one of the Old Firm teams . Probably the Hoops although they will not finnish as far ahead of the Gers as last season. It will be interesting to see if Alex Rea can go without getting sent off in the first Old Firm game of the season.

As for the Coca Cola Championship, I will give my predictions for that after the 1st round of games on August 7th.

[Giguere35]

I think Kluivert could be an expensive joke and Bobby Robsons down fall lets face it he,s had his day and is only here because no other european side want him and i think Middlesbrough are going to surprise everybody this season they might not win the league but will br there abouts

[Rich]

I agree with you about Middlesbrough. They will finnsih 5th or 6th next season and qualify for Europe through league position.