Roman Legion

‘WHAT would the papers have done had Roman Abramovich not decided to kill a boring afternoon by buying a football club?

Roman was surprised by how much shorter and less talented Thierry ‘Glenn’ Henry looked in the flesh

David Beckham was safely ensconced in Madrid and, try as they might, no-one was much interested in where Ronaldinho will be breaking mirrors next season.

But along came the Russian billionaire and suddenly the hacks could pick a Fantasy XI for Chelsea and pretend that it was real news.

The Sun looks forward to ‘the biggest cash splash in football history’ after ‘Red Rom’ made offers worth £48m in 48 hours.

All very impressive, but the only thing the Blues have to show for it so far is Glenn Johnson, West Ham’s England Under-21 right-back who arrived for £6m.

If they want Christian Vieri to leave Inter Milan and come to Stamford Bridge, the Mail says they will have to raise their £20m offer.

A bid is also in for Real Madrid midfielder Geremi, with the Sun claiming the Blues are favourites to land the player.

The Mirror suggests that Abramovich has also made an official approach for £17m-rated Blackburn winger Damien Duff.

And the Express thinks that Andrei Shevchenko and Edgar Davids are also on the club’s shopping list.

To cricket and England are gearing up to take on South Africa in tomorrow’s final of the NatWest Series, with Jonty Rhodes tipping a victory for the visitors.

England’s batting, he warns, is too reliant on one of two players, notably Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick and the bowling often depends on James Anderson.

‘The possible fly in the ointment for South Africa is Andy Flintoff,’ he concedes.

‘In one-day cricket, one man can turn a game and Flintoff has it in his armoury to alter the course of any match.’

Let’s hope he does just that tomorrow…

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Posted: 11th, July 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink