Barclays Premier League Season 2010/2011

[Kostaz]

Add Owen and Ferdinand to that list and you'd wonder why we are a team full of mercenaries.

[inertia~]

I only wonder why armchair fans always feel the need to justify their support by saying "we" as if they are part of the team.

[threesixtyflip]

I only wonder why armchair fans always feel the need to justify their support by saying "we" as if they are part of the team.

Does it really matter? If anything, it shows the devotion of a person to their team

[nothuman]

It is strange how all of this has suddenly came out, but i'd guess there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff we probably aren't being told.

My thought exactly. This all situation looks like a big communication event. Or I am too shocked by the news? Can't believe it...

[Subject Delta]

My thought exactly. This all situation looks like a big communication event. Or I am too shocked by the news? Can't believe it...

Personally, when I saw in the news that Fergie and Rooney where contradicting each other about his injury, I kinda saw this coming, they have obviously fallen out over something. Fergie can be a bit of a megalomaniac sometimes, but you can't argue with his success.

[Rappy Veteran]

Liverpool's managing director Christian Purslow is to step down from the post following the ?300m sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures (NESV).

But Purslow will remain at Anfield as a non-executive director and will act as a special adviser to the new owners.

"I came to lead the club through a sale process to get the best deal including, vitally, removing the debt," he said.

"I am immensely proud of what we've achieved and look forward to assisting the owners in any way I can."

The long drawn-out sale of the club, previously co-owned by Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks, combined with the club's disastrous form, has made for a painful season so far for the Reds faithful.

But hopes are high that things will improve following the sale of the club to the company fronted by John W Henry that owns the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

Purslow took up the post in summer 2009, replacing Rick Parry, who served as chief executive.

"We are delighted Christian has accepted our offer to help us and the club, given his great experience and love for Liverpool FC," said NESV chairman Tom Werner.

"We will now begin a global search process for a chief executive officer."

[rajputwarrior]

^ time to clean house!

[Rappy Veteran]

[rajputwarrior]

yeah, challenging EVERY YEAR for the EPL title and champions league title isn't ambitious enough, if true, Rooney is a tosser.

[Rappy Veteran]

Wayne Rooney has confirmed he wants to leave Manchester United.

Rooney has released a statement this evening in response to Sir Alex Ferguson's comments yesterday. And in it, he confirms he wants to leave Old Trafford.

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," said Rooney. "I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract."

Rooney admitted he was surprised by the depth of Ferguson's comments yesterday.

He remains a big fan of the United boss but says the future direction of the club was causing him concern.

"I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it," continued Rooney.

"It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world.

"I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?

"For me its all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.

"Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18.

"For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one off and a genius."

[rajputwarrior]

yup tosser. he'll go to real and his career will be over because he's not going to pull some ruud **** and he'll be on the bench then entire time

[Kralik]

Maybe he's saying this coz he's hoping Man Utd would offer him an insane amount of money?

[nothuman]

But can we?

[Kostaz]

He'll end up at Real,they all do.

[Rappy Veteran]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson fears that striker Fernando Torres may be targeted by Manchester United if Wayne Rooney leaves Old Trafford.

Rooney has said he wants to leave United, while Torres has looked out of sorts for the Reds this season.

"I don't think Torres would be the only player they'll be targeting or we'd be the only club worried their star is going to be a target," said Hodgson.

"I'm not naive enough to think there is no danger we'll ever lose Torres."

He added: "I can only hope we won't. I'll do everything in my power to keep him happy at the club."

Torres has only scored once from his 10 Liverpool appearances this season and was a peripheral figure again as the Reds lost 2-0 at Everton on Sunday.

Hodgson has left the Spaniard and captain Steven Gerrard out of Thursday's Europa League trip to Napoli to keep them fresh for Sunday's vital Premier League match against Blackburn at Anfield.

Rooney has insisted he wants to leave United, citing concerns about the club's squad strength.

"I'm pretty sure when a great player like Wayne Rooney is looking to leave his club, Manchester United will be in a position to target an awful lot of players around the world," added Hodgson.

"They will have the opportunity to replace him with many star strikers around the world."

Torres had a knee injury at the end of last season and came into the current campaign on the back of a groin problem he suffered after coming on as a substitute in Spain's win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final in July.

However, he has been a regular in the Liverpool side this term and played against Everton, having gone off with an adductor muscle injury in the previous outing against Blackpool.

[Kostaz]

Rijkaard will most likely succeed Hodgson as Liverpool manager.

[Rappy Veteran]

Gangs of hardcore football fans went out to hunt down and attack Liverpool supporters in Naples, police have said.

There were several incidents on Wednesday night, ahead of Liverpool's Europa League tie at the Napoli's Stadio San Paolo on Thursday.

Three Liverpool fans have been treated in hospital for stab wounds. A father and his two sons and their friend were also injured.

Italian police said they had stepped up security ahead of the game.

One of the men who was stabbed has been released from hospital.

Two others, 53-year-old Alexander Phillips, of Liverpool, and a 27-year-old who asked not to be named, are due to be released from hospital later, the BBC's correspondent in Rome, Duncan Kennedy said.

Mr Phillips had injuries to his buttocks and thighs, and the other man was wounded in the head, he said.

The other four were injured when they were attacked by a group of 20 to 30 men.

Gary Brown, 50, from Hertfordshire, and his son Adam, 17, received a knife injury and bruising respectively.

Mr Brown's other son Daniel, 23, was not injured but family friend Ross Hazeldene, also 23, suffered a knife wound.

Trouble started at about midnight when hardcore Napoli fans - known as Ultras - began throwing things at English fans in a pizzeria.

Three people were arrested over the attacks, Italian police confirmed.

Police recovered an array of weapons - including a baseball bat, aluminium bars with screws protruding and a wooden plank - and Ultra paraphernalia from the home of one.

"Ultras went out seeking English fans, absolutely," said Filippo Bonfiglio, head of DIGOS, the local department which deals with terrorism and political activity.

"There are groups of violent supporters here in Naples so we could hypothesise something like this would happen but it was impossible to prevent every attack everywhere."

He said there would be about 1,200 police on duty for Thursday's match.

"We are organising more patrols to prevent these kind of attacks," added Mr Bonfiglio.

"But the city is so great - 1.5million inhabitants - that it is impossible to prevent and control everything."

:| :(

[nothuman]

Ag?ero or Benzema are most likely to replace Rooney than Torres. But Rooney has a better influence on a game than any of those three. I Do NOT want him to go.

[rajputwarrior]

^ when i do my tour of europe i'm not wearing my jersey in italy... no ****ing way.

and if torres says yes to going to man u, he might was well just kill himself before a scouser does it.

[Kralik]

Two Liverpool FC fans have been stabbed in Naples ahead of the club's Europa League match against Napoli.

The trouble flared on Wednesday night ahead of Thursday's game at the San Paolo stadium.

Reports also suggest a third Liverpool fan was in hospital in a non-serious condition following a separate incident where a gang of youths armed with knives approached the English supporters.

English tourists mistaken for Liverpool fans were also accosted by locals at a restaurant with reports saying stones were thrown.

Three local men were arrested following the incident.

Information

"We are still gathering information with regards to yesterday's incidents," said a Naples police spokesperson.

"Four people of the same family, a father, a mother and their two sons, were attacked last night and needed medical attention.

"Due to the aggression, three Naples citizens were arrested."

The incidents are sure to mean Italian police will be on high alert in case of further clashes ahead of the game on Thursday evening.

:omg:

[rajputwarrior]

:omg:

so when i'm in italy i wear my canada shirt everywhere...

[Aervallo]

:omg:

Stabbing over a game of football?

The stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me...

Personally I think Rooney will head to City.

[Farstrider]

BREAKING NEWS

Manchester United have released the following statement after a day of meetings between chief executive David Gill, Sir Alex Ferguson and representatives of Wayne Rooney: "We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report today. I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place today, including with the player's representative. The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient."

So as someone said: Basically, the news from Manchester United... is that there is no news. Hhmm. :laugh:

City have also apparently responded to speculation regarding Rooney, and have said he's definitely not coming! John Terry has also supposedly said it would be great if Rooney were to come to the Blues! I wonder what to believe with all the speculation going around! Chelsea do sound like a really good bet! It would be very hard to see Rooney running out in a light blue jersey, pretty sure it will not happen!

[Martyn]

Seriously, when will FIFA or UEFA do something about the Italian game?

If it was the English 'hooligans' we would have been banned from Europe etc. The Italians continue to get away with it.

[Kralik]

Seriously, when will FIFA or UEFA do something about the Italian game?

If it was the English 'hooligans' we would have been banned from Europe etc. The Italians continue to get away with it.

I agree.. last year a coach carrying our travelling fans was attacked in Rome.. yet UEFA is silent?