Just as Aston Villa’s top four contending season looks to be getting back on track after a humbling opening day defeat, news has broken of a spanner in the works in the form of an old fashioned training ground bust-up.
Possibly driven wild after being told he’ll play out of position again on Saturday, Nigel Reo-Coker, the rich man’s Phil Neville, allegedly snapped yesterday during Villa’s training session at Bodymoor Heath centre and started a wrasslin’ with unassuming gaffer Martin O’Neill.
According to The Sun, who have eyes everywhere, things came to a head after a ‘heated exchange’:
One stunned onlooker said: “It was really heated and at one point they fell to the ground grappling with each other although no one was throwing punches or anything like that.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Michel Salgado to Blackburn
Spanish papers AS and Sport say the unemployed 33-year-old has turned down offers from Real Zaragoza and Dubai for sunny Blackburn. He is due in England to finalise the deal today.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: If Big Sam can wade through the financial red tape at Ewood Park, this one is on.
Sergio Aguero to Chelsea
Maradona’s son-in-law has been heavily linked with Manchester Utd over the summer, but The Sun believe Chelsea are the frontrunners to buy out his £50m get-out clause. They have 24 hours
Will you be watching the Three Lions go Dutch tomorrow?
With the exception of “injured” self defence expert Steven Gerrard, Fabio Capello’s England squad travelled to Amsterdam today to prepare for tomorrow night’s friendly with The Netherlands.
Understandably, several Premier League managers are less than delighted that a full programme of international fixtures has been scheduled just three days before the start of the Premier League season: Roy Hodgson and Martin O’Neill have vented their fears, and brand new Black Cat Steve Bruce has gone as far as saying there shouldn’t be any international friendlies at all:
“I’ve never known anything like it before. I don’t know why there are internationals scheduled this week.
“I’m baffled and it really is total nonsense. International friendlies should be banned anyway.”
The managers clearly aren’t impressed by this friendly, and it’s unlikely that the players are savouring a pan-European trip for a meaningless game just hours before the start of a new season. But is the game actually of any interest to fans? Are you keen to see the Three Lions get some vital practise before September’s crunch tie with Croatia, or would you rather be watching Coronation Street/ Midsomer Murders/ whatever crap ITV show on a Wednesday?
Let us know your thoughts below…
Spoiler promotion:Why not make the game more interesting by having a punt? For all your football betting needs, visit bwin
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Diego Maradona to Portsmouth
Not-a-real-doctor Sulaiman al-Fahim made his love of the Argentinean gaffer clear back in March, and the Daily Star believe the new Pompey owner will try to persuade him to quit his job to become ‘Global Ambassador’ of the club.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Incredibly, Maradona’s lawyer Angel Oscar Moyano has spoken out in support of the move:
“He has got top players ready and he is even ready to leave the Argentine national team.
“He wants to build a strong team for which he offers his mediation for signing players of top level, who with the support of Diego will be willing to come to Portsmouth.”
John Terry to Manchester City
The Citizens’ pursuit of the England captain is getting ri-god-damn-diculous now. The Daily Mail are now saying the club are prepared to pay him £1m a month (!) and will offer £50m, or “whatever it takes ” to get their man.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: You have to admire their persistence,
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Stewart Downing to Aston Villa The Spoiler assumed that replacing Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry would be Aston Villa’s priority right now but apparently not. The Daily Mail claim that Martin O’Neill is looking to thwart Spurs (and they sure will be heartbroken!) by signing Downing on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: This has to be nonsense. Villa have a lot of work to do this summer and bringing in someone who plays in the same position as their star player Ashley Young is surely not top of the agenda.
Joleon Lescott staying with Everton
The Daily Star report that Manchester City have been priced out of a move for
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Maicon to Chelsea
According to Sportitalia’s transfer “expert” Alfredo Pedulla, the Brazilian’s move to Stamford Bridge is “very probable”. He adds:
“It will be the week of the interweaving with Chelsea. Inter should be led to accept by having Deco and Ricardo Carvalho added in the negotiation.”
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon can’t seem to make up his mind and we don’t see any reason to take this guy’s word as gospel. (In other words, we have no idea if this is true.)
Karim Benzema to Arsenal
Real Madrid have reportedly offered Lyon £27m for their prized striker and Manchester Utd have also registered an interest, but Professor Wenger believes the presence of French team-mates William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Mikael Silvestre will tempt him to North London.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: We can’t see Arsenal offering
Apparently Champions League football is no longer a necessity
Aston Villa have taken the unusual step of confirming in a one-line story on their website that they have given captain Gareth Barry permission to speak with Manchester City.
A move would represent a big change in outlook for the England international, who said last summer:
“I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.”
Considering Manchester City failed to qualify for even the Europa League, it makes little sense for Barry to leave a top-four chasing club where he is one of
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…
Maicon to Chelsea
The tabloids have grown tired of linking every current AC Milan player - minus David Beckham - with a move to Chelsea should Carlo Ancelotti takes over. Instead, they have started identifying players at other Italian clubs, with 27-year-old Inter Milan’s right-back Maicon reportedly a £22 million target.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world but with the Blues’ ageing squad in need of an overhaul, they can’t really afford to spend that much on a position where they have three options under the age of 26 (Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Mancienne).
Brede Hangeland to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has identified Hangeland as the standout performer in the Fulham defence that have conceded less goals than Arsenal this season and is
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