Soccer Blog|Football News, Reviews, Quizzes

Arsenal finished third in the 2007-08 Premiership season. Here is a list of their transfers for the 2008-09 season ( from both the summer and winter transfer windows). Citroën UK will be Arsenal’s official car supplier for the next three seasons.

2008 Arsenal FC summer transfers

In :

Carlos Vela ( was signed in November 2005 for £2.5m, but received his work permit in May 2008)

Aaron Ramsey ( Cardiff City-£5m), Samir Nasri ( Marseille- rumoured to be around £12m), Amaury Bischoff ( Werder Bremen)

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Pep Guardiola started his reign as Barcelona manager in style as they thrashed Hibernian and Dundee United 6-0 and 5-1 in their two pre season friendlies.

At Murrayfield, Hibs would have had their confidence severely dented after being trampled upon by a strong Barcelona outfit.

Barcelona 6-0 Hibernian ( Gudjohnsen*2, Messi, Bojan, Yaya Toure, Pedro)

Date- July 24
Venue- Murrayfield

Barcelona 5-1 Dundee United ( Lionel Messi*3, Thierry Henry, Samuel E’too/Prince Buaben)

Date- July 26
Venue- Tannadice

A happy return to Scotland for Thierry Henry. The former Arsenal striker scored against Dundee on his Barcelona debut last year, as Riijkard’s team won 1-0. This time the margin was more emphatic.

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The inaugural Tinapa invitational Football Fiesta will be held in Abuja on July 26-27. The participating teams are

1.) Manchester United- Reigning English and European Champions

2.) Portsmouth- Current FA Cup champions.

3.) Kano Pillars- Nigerian champions. They won their first ever domestic championship last season, and will represent Nigeria in the Champions League along with Heartland FC. The Pillars won the league with 64 points, while Heartland finished with sixty three.

Kano Pillars will play Portsmouth on Saturday at the National Stadium ( 4pm )

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Schalke finished third in the Bundesliga in the 2007-08 season with sixty four points, two behind second placed Werder Bremen.

Here is a list of Schalke 04 transfers for the 2008-09 season ( summer). Schalke are sponsored by Russian oil giants Gazprom.

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Inter Milan were Serie A champions in the 2007-08 season. This season we will see ” The Special One “- Jose Mourinho in the boots of Roberto Mancini. Inter have not made much of an impression in the CL, and Moratti will hope for a change of fortunes with the charismatic Mourinho at the helm of affairs.

The club have been linked with several players- Drogba, E’too, Lampard, Quaresma, Dentinho

Inter Milan transfers summer 2008 :- ( Loan returns not counted)

In : Phillippe Coutinho ( Vasco Da Gama-€3.8m), Mancini ( AS Roma-€13 million + player performance bonus), Sulley Muntari ( Portsmouth-€16m + bonuses)

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List of summer soccer transfers ( 2008) in the Scottish Premier League.

Does not include Inward loan returns.

Aberdeen transfers summer 2008 :-

In : Gary McDonald ( Oldham), Bertrand Bossu ( Walsall-free), Sammy Stewart ( Glenavon-£15,000), Mark Kerr ( Dundee United), Charlie Mulgrew ( Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tommy Wright ( Darlington-£100,000)

Out : Jackie McNamara ( Falkirk-free), Barry Nicholson ( Preston North End-free), Steve Lovell (free-Falkirk), Dave Bus ( De Graafschap- loan return), Richie Byrne ( Free), Derek Soutar ( free- but is on trial with Hartlepool, saved a penalty against Falkirk), Dan Smith ( free), Martin Skinner ( free- Peterhead), Davie Ross ( free- Peterhead), Neil McVitie ( free- Peterhead), Karim Touzani ( free-Sparta Rotterdam)

Celtic transfers summer 2008 :-

In : Pat McCourt ( Derry City-£200,000), Georgios Samaras ( Manchester City- 3 year contract-fee rumoured to be around the 1m mark), Marc Crosas ( Barcelona-£415,000 could rise to £1.6m depending on appearances. Barcelona can buy him back for two million euros in two years. Should they not exercise the option, Barcelona will be given 25% of the transfer fee if Crosas is sold to any other club), Glenn Loovens ( Cardiff City- £3m)

Out :- Michael McGovern ( Dundee United), Diarmuid O’Carroll ( Morecambe), John Kennedy ( Norwich City- loan till Jan 1, 2009), Jim O’Brien ( Motherwell), Scott Cuthbert ( St.Mirren-loan)

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The deal is finally done. Peter Crouch has moved from Liverpool to Portsmouth in a deal estimated to be worth £11m. Crouch returns to Fratton Park after a gap of six years, and is reunited with old manager Harry Redknapp. Portsmouth, who signed Crouch from QPR in 2001 for £1.25 million, sold him to Aston Villa for £5m the next season.

Crouch has signed a four year contract at Portsmouth, and is expected to partner Jermain Defoe upfront. The move also sees him in the same team as former Liverpool defender Djimi Traore.

In his time at Anfield, Crouch notched up some memorable performances. He was also the first England player to score 10 international goals in a calendar year. Anfield fans will remember Crouch for his stunning overhead kick against Galatasaray as well as his hat trick against Arsenal, among other memories.

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David Beckham has found a spot in the MLS All Star XI team that will take on West Ham United in Toronto on July 24. The former England skipper came second in the overall vote, only next to Galaxy team mate Landon Donovan. Last year the All Star XI beat Scottish giants Celtic 2-0 in Colorado with goals from Juan Carlos Toja and Juan Pablo Angel.

The All Star XI is given below :-

Matt Reis ( New England Revolution)

Jimmy Conrad ( Kansas City Wizards)
Michael Parkhurst ( New England Revolution)
Frankie Hejduk ( Columbus Crew)

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Former Manchester City and Leeds manager Peter Reid is set to take over the reins of the Thai national team, thereby marking his return to management after three and a half years. Reid was last in charge of Coventry City, but left them in January 2005 after spending just eight months with the Sky Blues.

Should Reid accept the four year contract being offered to him, he will succeed Chanvit Phalajivin, who resigned after Thailand failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Thailand were in Group 2 in the Third Round of Asian qualifying, but finished at the bottom after losing five out of their six games. They only managed to draw with Bahrain, and let in fourteen goals.

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Highly rated Danish teenager Nikola Saric has completed his move to Anfield from Herfølge. The 17 year old attacking talent is primarily a left footed striker, but can also play on the right or in the centre. Bosnian born Saric has represented Denmark at the U-18 level, and was also apparently being chased by Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.

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After five injury filled seasons at Liverpool, Australian winger Harry Kewell has left the Premiership and moved to Turkish club Galatasaray. Kewell has signed a two year contract with the Turkish giants after being released on a free transfer by the Reds. Roma, Spartak Moscow and Portsmouth were also reportedly chasing his signature.

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Judging by reports in the press, Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor will not be reunited with Mathieu Flamini next season. AC Milan, who had earlier expressed interest in signing the Arsenal striker, have said that they cannot meet Arsenal’s 45 million euro valuation of the player. Barcelona have already had a £25 million pound bid rejected.

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Trinidad and Tobago veteran Dwight Yorke has signed a one year contract extension at Sunderland, thus putting an end to speculation that he would leave the Stadium of Light for other clubs. Sydney FC, the A-League club from where he moved to the Black Cats for £200,000 in August 2006, were reportedly interested in re signing him.

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Alright folks, Euro 2008 has ended, and Spain have broken their 44 year old title drought. Here are a few questions from the three week extravaganza in Austria and Switzerland.

1.) Name the top scorer of the tournament

2.) Spain won the tournament by going through the group stages unbeaten. Which was the last team before Spain to do so ?

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