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Transfer balls: Raheem Sterling thinks Manchester United and Arsenal are better than Liverpool

Raheem sterling auction

 

Can it be that Raheem Sterling, the Liverpool tyro, would leave the club to play for Arsenal or Manchester United? The Sun says the deal to Old Trafford is on.

The last player to move between the two clubs was Phil Chisnall, who left Manchester United for Liverpool in 1964.

Sterling has rejected a near £100,000-a-week deal to remain at Liverpool. He and his agent are agitating for an exit. Liverpool want him to stay.

Their mistake was securing him on a £35,000-a-week deal that ends in two years time. They should have offered him more when he signed that deal just after his 18th birthday. They should have seen the improving player and recalculated his worth. Now that Liverpool are ready to negotiate, Sterling has raised his sights.

Sterling thinks Liverpool owe him back pay.

And Liverpool’s rivals are ready to exploit his position.

Sterling, of course, runs the risk of looking like a greedy, ungrateful, disloyal tosser.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 4th, April 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Arsenal Transfer balls: 140,000 reasons for Theo Walcott to love Chelsea and Liverpool

Transfer Balls: the Times says Chelsea are ready to make a move for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.

Matt Hughes says Walcott, 26, wants to stay at Arsenal. But at the end of this season Walcott’s current contract will have just one year to run.

There is no guantratee Arsenal and Walcott will agree on a new contract. So. He could be off.

But Arsene Wenger says there has been progress:

“The first contacts have been established with the embassy! We will see how that progresses politically. Walcott was difficult to convince (last time) and that’s why it took us much time.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 1st, April 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Sterling to Arsenal, Walcott to Liverpool, Reus to everywhere

Transfer balls looks at the Daily Mirror’s lead story: Raheem Sterling could be leaving Liverpool for life at Arsenal. Recalling how well things went when Arsenal last tried to buy a Liverpool player – a failed bid of £40m plus £1 for Luis Suarez  – investigating the veracity of this story seems worthwhile.

 

RAheem Sterling Arsenal

Daily Mirror back page

 

John Cross reminds readers that former QPR starlet Sterling has yet to sign a new deal at Liverpool. He says a raft of big clubs are after the player, mentioning Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Cross then states that “City will make a big bid” for the England player.

That’s pretty much the entire back-page news story. It continues two pages inside, with Cross saying that “Arsenal are serious contenders” and have made “discreet enquiries about Sterling’s availability”.  Given that the Gunners’ apparent discretions are back-page news, you wonder what form the club’s enquiries took: a word in the ear of the Mirror’s Arsenal reporter, perhaps?

 

daily mail raheem sterling

 

Over in the Mail, news is that Sterling will not sign for Liverpool “even if Liverpool offer £180,000 a week”. Says who? We’re not told? It’s just a fact that if Liverpool lose their minds and offer Sterling £180,000-a week to play for them he will not stay. Make it £180,001 and… yeah, maybe he will. Call his agent, Make the offer. See what occurs.

After that uter balls, over in the Express, their story is that Liverpool are interested in buying Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who will be replaced  at The Emirates by Marco Reus. Really? Reus is the player the Express reported had agreed to join Real Madrid and the Mirror said had joined Barcelona.

Such are the facts in the trusty tabloids…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted: 30th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal chase Victor Wanyama who wants to play for a Top 7 club, like Spurs

The Sun says Arsenal are looking to buy Southampton’s Victor Wanyama for £30m contains a line to make Gunners fans smirk.

The Sun says Spurs also want Wanyama, 23:

A source close to the Kenya ace said: “Victor would only consider a top-four club — or Spurs as he admires Pochettino from their time at Saints.”

…or Spurs. Ouch!

To recap: picky Victor would only consider leaving the Saints for a top seven club, then.

 

Southampton Victor Wanyama

 

 

And as for the Sun’s scoop, well,  in 2013 the paper reported that he was off to Arsenal for…£10m::

ARSENAL are poised to slap in a £10 million-plus bid for Celtic star Victor Wanyama. SunSport understands Gunners boss and long term admirer Arsene Wenger is finally ready to spend big on the Kenyan midfielder — and meet the SPL champs’ asking price.

The Gunners never did bid for the Wanyama…

Posted: 29th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Chelsea sell Petr Cech To Arsenal twice

Transfer Balls: Are Chelsea going to sell Petr Cech? Are Arsenal going to buy him? The Daily Telegraph says Chelsea might be. And Arsenal will pay £10m.

We cast our minds back to November, when the trusty Metro told readers that Cech had joined Arsenal for £7m:

 

CEch Arsenal joins

 

Did he? No. Because The Argus says Chech won’t make any decision on his future until the summer..

Such are the facts…

 

 

 

 

Posted: 28th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Arsenal ‘buy’ Dybala for £31m, chase Cavani, want Marco Verratti and miss Benzema

Paulo Dybala arsenal

 

Are Arsenal buying Palermo’s Paulo Dybala? The Telegraph says they could be. The paper also says Chelsea might buy him.

The Standard says Dybala will cost £30m. It says Arsenal will not pay that. That’s odd because the Daily Star says Arsenal have agreed to buy Dybala for £31m.

The Express says he will cost Manchester United £28.9m – and they want him, too.

The Daily Star says Arsenal are really keen on Karim Benzema – as they are every year. But they have been “rocked” by news that Paris St Germain also want him. But not to worry because that will mean Arsenal sign PSG’s Edinson Cavani for [insert ridiculous amount of money here].

The Daily Express says Arsenal are in for Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti and Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger. But, then, it says Real Madrid want both of those player, too. The Express says it knows this because Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has “specifically requested the duo”. Yeah. He didn’t say “get me whathisface and oojamiflip”. He used their actual names. #flattered.

The Metro, says Arsenal will “snare” Chile international Charles Aranguiz by dangling Alexis Sanchez over a bear pit filled with cash.

Such are the facts…

Posted: 25th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Liverpool and Manchester United Balls: 43 Seconds of Steven Gerrard out-performed 45 minutes of Adam Lallana

Liverpool lost 1-2 at home to Manchester United in the Premier League. We at Anorak always like to see what the local newpapers of both sides thought of the game.

The monocular Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News only rate players from their own areas. The MEN says the game’s best player was Juan Mata, with an 9 out of 10.

The Liverpool Post offers no rating for the bright Mata, but does say that the best Liverpool player was Sakho, who gets a 7. It gives Adam Lallana a 4. Lallana was not out-scored by Steven Gerrard, who replaced the former Southampton star and lasted just 43 seconds before he earned a red card. Instead of the ‘0’ Gerrard should have scored, the Post offers no score. Ity then adds that Gerrard is The best player to have pulled on a Liverpool shirt – ever.

In the haste to excuse Gerrard, the Post’s man-on-the scene notes:

“Ironically, after that [the sending off] they [Liverpool] played a lot better, they were a better team today with 10 than they were with 11.”

Good old Stevie, G., who does right when he does wrong.

Elswhere the Post adds that Gerrard is “saving the fairytale for Wembley”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 22nd, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal’s Walcott to Liverpool, Sterling to Real Madrid and Manchester United’s Falcao to the Arndale Centre

Transfer balls: The big football news in the Daily Mirror is that Arsenal’s Theo Walcott is off to Liverpool. Maybe he will “Never Walc Alone”:

 

Theo Walcott Liverpool trasnfer

 

Theo Walcott is 26. He has just 15 months to run on his curent £90,000-a-week contract (although that rises to  £100,000 a week in the Daily Express). And since returning from injury Walcott’s not one enough to surplant Danny Wellbeck in the Arsenal pecking order.

The Telegraph says Walcott will remain at Arsenal if he can get a new deal worth more than £100,000-a-week.

But any move to Liverpool, the team he supported as a boy, depends on what the Reds’ Raheem Sterling does. The Express says he’s rejected an offer of £90,000-a-week to remain at Liverpool. We lean that big-spending Real Madrid are watching him closely.

All fans hang on to the idea that their team’s players love their club above all others. They don’t. They see the money flooding into the game, and they want more and more of it.

The Mail says Arsenal’s top-earners Sanchez and Ozil earn around £140,000-per-week. That’s around the same sum as Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard earns a week.

So. Their team-mates demand parity with the top tier earners. But they’re not as good.

Maybe the future is for pay-per-view players, each star linked to the amount the paying fans will cough up to watch them? The better they play, the more the punters click their keypads, and the more the winning players take from the wages pool.

This would more likely result in the likes of Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho earning far more than his curent deal of £70,000-a-week and his teammate Glen Johnson knocking up to four ‘noughts’ from his £90,000-a-week-deal.

Meanwhile, over at Manchester United, Radamel Falcao will not get his £265,000-a-week wages, and what with mortgages and other committments start looking to boost his income with a Saturday job in a hairdressers.

Walcott to Liverpool. Sterling to Real. Falcao to the Arndale Centre. You read it here first…

 

Posted: 20th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Pogba signs for Manchester United and PSG as Marco Verratti joins and leaves Arsenal

Transfer Balls looks at Paul Pogba news. The Daily Express says Pogba has dealt Cheslea huge “BLOW”.

 

Paul Pogba chelsea daily express

 

Charles Perrin has news on Pogba, the Frenchman who, according to the Express was sold to Chelsea for £40m, to Arsenal also for £40m and £80m, for £77m to Manchester United, to Arsenal if Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG don’t want him and has agreed to join PSG.

Says Perrin:

Chelsea and Manchester United have been handed a potential blow in their efforts to sign Paul Pogba.

Not if you ‘ve been reading the Express they haven’t.

The Juventus star has been valued at £77m, but Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has entertained the idea of a possible swap deal involving the Frenchman… “If PSG were to force me to leave in order to make room for Pogba, then that’s different.”

So. Verratti to Juventus it is. Unless you read the Daily Express, whih says he’s off to Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.

 

Marco Verratti Arsenal

 

 

And Verratti is not going to Juventus:

Marco Verratti Arsenal Chelsea

 

 

No wait a minute, he is:

 

Marco Verratti Arsenal Chelsea

Such are the facts…

Posted: 16th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment


Talking balls: Arsenal war chest swells to £267.55m

Talking Balls: just how large is Arsenal’s “war chest”?

On March 111 2015, Sami Mokbel told Daily Mail readers that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will “target a central defender, a holding midfielder and a goalkeeper this summer with a £50million transfer war chest.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 13th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment (1)


Transfer Balls: Arsenal ands Liverpool sign Khedira from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid

Transfer Balls catches the Daily Star’s news that Arsenal and Liverpool are all set to sign Sami Khedira.

Paul Brown says Arsenal and Liverpool will both try to sign the German player when his Real Madrid contract ends on June 30. Offering no proof that they will, Brown then says Chelsea could afford to buy him. Why Chelsea would want Khedira and why Kehdira would want Chelsea are not things that bother the writer. And readers can also imagine what other clubs could afford Khedira.

Maybe Bayern Munich can? After all it was the Daily Star that rold us Khedira was heading to the German champions:

 

Khedira Chelsea

 

But that would be odd because whilst Brown says Arsenal baulked at Khedira’s wage demands, the, er, Daily Star told us that they didn’t:

 

Screen shot 2015-03-12 at 09.08.29

 

But then came Daily Star news that Khedira had gone back on that Arsenal agreement and agreed to join Bayern Munich:

 

Khedira agrees

 

So. He agreed to Arsenal. He agreed to Bayern Munich. Which brings us to the Daily Star’s news that next season Kehedia will be playing for Manchester Untied, Liverprool or Chelsea:

 

Khedira Liveprool

 

 

Such are the facts…

 

 

Posted: 12th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Manchester United fans cheers for Danny Welbeck as his mis-controls the ball

How football journalism works: the Dail Mail v the Daily Star  Sun. Last night Manchester United lost 2-1 to Arsenal in the FA Cup. Danny Wellbeck, formerly of United, scored the winning goal.

Neil Ashton is dishing out points in the Daily Mail:

Danny Welbeck: Kept his composure to put Arsenal back in front when her took the ball round De Gea with class and conviction. Good on him for that. 8

That’s the game’s highest score.

In the Daily Star, Jeremy Cross saw a different Wellbeck:

Welbeck struggled to make an impact… The first pass he received  was badly mis-controlled and the same happened the next one he got…

Maybe Neil Ashton is trolling? As he wrote previously:

Life would be easier if I followed the golden rule – give the highest mark to the player who scored the winner, or set it up – and you won’t get clubbed to death on Twitter.

But so good was Wellbeck that all the Manchester United fans cheered him off. Well, so says Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail:

The locals will not begrudge Welbeck his moment either, or resent his celebration. They did not want him to leave and confirmed that support by applauding him all the way to the bench when he was replaced by Olivier Giroud after 72 minutes

Neil Curtis in the Sun heard other noises:

Even the Arsenal fans gave him some generous applaus after initial boos

David McDonell in the Mirror also used two ears:

Welbeck was treated to a mixture of boos and cheers from United fans…

Such are the facts in the tabloids. And in the more high-brow newspapers, the facts are even more challenged. The Times tells us that 8 is better than 7:

 

Manchester United, The Times, Arsenal, football, FA Cup,

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Football used to be just about the scoreline…

Posted: 10th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united | Comment


Manchester United v Arsenal shocker: Ozil scores more but Cazorla wins

No football match is complete without newspapers awarding players a score out of 10. Last night’s match between Manchester United and Arsenal was no different.

The Daily Mail says the game’s best player was Danny Welbeck, who scored 8 out of 10. The Mirror says Francis Coquelin was the best player. He gets a 7 out of 10. And in the Times, the best player was Mesut Ozil, who scores an imprssive 8 out of 10.

But hold on. That same Times column says the game’s best player was Santi Cazorla. He scored 7 out of 10.

 

Manchester United, The Times,  Arsenal, football, FA Cup,

 

 

We know journalists are bad at maths but when seven beats eight it’s time to get the fingers out and get back to school…

Posted: 10th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney teaches dumb foreigners Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj the Great British Dive

Wayne Rooney, dive, diving, football, manchester united

Writing on Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Manchester United, Martin Samuel turns to the matter of diving. Two Manchester United players – Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj (who now has more bookings for diving than goals for Manchester United – five yellow cards for diving; four goals scored) were both yellow carded for cheating.

Samuels is unimpressed, telling his Daily Mail readers diving is not the English way:

“Januzaj has been around the English game long enough  now to know better.”

Is Samuel seriously suggesting that only foreingers dive? That it’s not the English to truy to con the referee? If he is, he could do worse than look at Manchester United and England cpatain Wayne Rooney, who in the previous FA Cup match won a penalty for this tumble:

 

How we hanker for the good old days when ever sin in the game – and let’s include Team GB’s Olympic tumbling – could be blamed on Liveprool’s Luis Suarez

Posted: 10th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenals fans learn that Manchester City will sign Jack Wilshere for £30m

Transfer Balls catches sight of the Daily Star’s lead sports story that Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is off to Manchester City for £30m.

 

wilshere manchester city

 

This story is billed as an “EXCLUSIVE”.

Paul Hetheington has the exclusive facts:

England ace Wilshere, 23, is one of the potential targets mentioned by Etihad Stadium bosses.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 8th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Alvaro Morata rejoins Arsenal for £35m more than they paid for him

Transfer Balls: a look at rubbish being presented as fact and scoops in the mainstream media.

The Daily Mirror says Alvaro Morata is off to Arsenal. The fee: £60m.

Arsenal news and transfers: Gunners given Alvaro Morata go-ahead – for £60million.

Having produced a sensational headline, the Mirror then defers to The Metro:

The Metro report Arsenal have been given the green light to sign Alvaro Morata with Juventus ready to cash in on his services. Morata, only moved to Juve last summer from Real Madrid and Madrid have a buy-back option to re-sign him at the end of the season, it’s reported they’re willing to pass on that.

The Metro believes that Juve and Real have agreed to let the striker join either Arsenal or Liverpool for £60million instead – and split the cash.

The Metro story has been written by Jamie Sanderson (more of his stella work here). The headlines trills:

Arsenal ‘clear to seal Alvaro Morata transfer, Juventus will accept £60m’

Good of Juventus to accept that. And then the facs:

It’s believed Juve and Real have agreed to let the striker join either Arsenal or Liverpool for £60million instead – and split the cash.

Believed by who? You? Me? Them? Anyone other than Jamie Sanderson, whose story contains no link to any source.

Previously Sanderson has told readers that Morat was worth £25m:

 

Screen shot 2015-03-07 at 09.43.54

 

And he’s agreed top join the Gunners.

 

Screen shot 2015-03-07 at 09.44.00

 

 

And his fee was…£15m.

Screen shot 2015-03-07 at 09.44.14

 

Such are the facts…

 

 

Posted: 7th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Liverpool replace Gerrard with Manchester United and Arsenal’s William Carvalho

Transfer Balls: a look at the nonsense written about William Carvalho, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.

Yesterday the Daily Mirror told its readers that Carvalho could be on his way to Liverpool.

 

IMAG0016

 

 

That will come as some news for Manchester United fans because according to reports in the Daily Mirror, Carvalho plays for the Red Devils, who he joined for £37m before the last World Cup:

 

 

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News of Carvalho’s move to Manchester United was confirmed by the Daily Express, although there it was for a lower fee:

 

 

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And there was the earlier news in the Daily Star that Carvalho was on the point of signing for Arsenal:

 

 

Screen shot 2015-03-06 at 06.48.27

 

 

As for the player himself, well, the Daily Express had news that he doesn’t want to play for Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.

 

 

Screen shot 2015-03-06 at 06.51.21

 

 

Such are the facts in the mainstream Press…

 

Posted: 6th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Paul Pogba gives Arsenal the eyes

Transfer Balls: Is Paul Pogba heading to Arsenal? Is Paul Pogna, the Juventus and France star, going to pull on the Arsenal strip after an £80m transfer?

Wriing in the Metro, Lee Hurley is disbelieving:

Spending £80million is a lot for a player, any player, even one as good as Paul Pogba. In fact, I roll my eyes every time I see Arsenal linked with him as I think about Arsene Wenger saying to himself ‘I could buy one-fifth of a new stadium for that!’

Yeah, it does sound like utter balls. And good on the Metro’s man in the know to call it. But where could he had read such utter drivel?

Oh:

 

Screen shot 2015-03-03 at 22.12.14

 

Screen shot 2015-03-03 at 22.10.59

Screen shot 2015-03-03 at 22.09.21

 

Over to you, Jamie Sanderson…

Posted: 3rd, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment (1)


Arsenal: Daily Mail sticks the boot into Brooklyn Beckham and his brothers

Any child of David and Victoria Beckham will want for nothing save talent. You can fake it in the world of fashion and pop music, but in sport, there is no auto-tune or PR-wrangling to make the mundane appear masterful.

And the media is watching their every move.

On February 20, the Daily Mail told us just how fantastic the Beckham boys are doing in the Arsenal youth teams:

Brooklyn Beckham is a hot prospect for the Arsenal academy, but brothers Romeo and Cruz could be even better

 

Screen shot 2015-03-03 at 11.31.23

And Cruz, age 10, must be brilliant because Brooklyn is ace. As Sami Mokbel told readers:

The teenager has caused quite a stir at Arsenal’s youth HQ over the past few months. At the age of 15, he was named on the bench for last weekend’s Under-18 clash against Leicester, raising hopes that he may well have the substance to back up his name.

A mere five days later, Sami Mokbel had more news:

Screen shot 2015-03-03 at 11.34.49

He wrote:

However, Sportsmail can reveal that Beckham was one of only a few Under 16 and Under 17 players still at the club’s Hale End academy that weekend as the rest travelled to the Al Kass youth tournament in Qatar.

Having ‘revealed’ that Beckham had been called up on merit, the Mail then ‘reveals’ that young Beckham was called up to make up the numbers.

Anyone sane might realise that a teenager minding his own business and doing his best knows that his mates are away on tour. It’s only the Mail that portrayed it as a major news item.
Having set Brooklyn Beckham up for a fall – Mokbel: “Beckham shirt sales at the Emirates Stadium club shop are set to go through the roof” – the Daily Star tells its readers that Romeo Beckham is “brilliant” at tennis.

IMAG0009

 

No pressure, Romeo. But do we detect a touch of snark benath the Star’s photo?

 

 

IMAG0010

 

“David and Victoria will be told how good their son it”

And not only by the Press. But what’s this “good” rot? In the media, the Beckhams lads must be nothing short of brilliant let they be gleefully portrayed as failures.

 

Posted: 3rd, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Celebrities, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal sell Morata to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool but Real Madrid want him

Transfer Balls brings you news from the murky zone where football news and football drivel collide. Today the Daily Express says Alvaro Morata is off to Arsenal. Not Liverpool. Not Manchester United. The Express backs this up zero facts.

But, then, it has brought readers a welter of Morata news.

On February 23, the Express said Morata was on his way to Liveprool.

 

Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 10.06.17

 

 

That followed the earlier news that Morata was heading to Real Madrid, meaning Arsenal and Liverpool and Manchester United would miss out:

 

Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 10.07.47

 

 

Towards the end of last year, the Express said Morata has turned down offers to play for Arsenal and Manchester United.

 

Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 10.09.16

 

 

Anthony Chapman’s story contained not a single word from Morata on either club. All Morata said was:

“I had offers from England, but in difficult times you have to put your faith in those you can trust. Juventus directors had literally been to my house telling me they wanted to sign me, so [moving to Juventus] was a decision made out of loyalty. I feel a kind of responsibility to do well. Not because of how much I cost, but because I came here having hardly played for Real. A lot of people advised me against this move. They told me to go to a mid-table team. I don’t think I made the wrong choice.”

So much for the “snub”.

But it would have been a shock to Daily Express readers that Morata signed for Juventus. The Express said Morata was heading to Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs.

 

Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 10.12.04

 

And there was the stella news that Arsenal had signed Morata:

 

Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 10.15.47

 

But they never did.

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 2nd, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal reduce transfer budget by £30m to get Paul Pogba

TRANSFER Balls: a lolok at utter drivel being presented as football fact in the mainstream mdia. Today we look at the Daily Express’ story of “Arsenal’s £50m spree”.

Wenger will have a £50m transfer budget this summer to address the failings in his squad… the Arsenal boss will move for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, another centre-back and possibly a goalkeeper.

To which Arsenal fans who read the Daily Express will says, ‘Is that all?’ Becasue not to long ago the Daily Express told Arsenal fans that the Gunners were goiung to invest £80m in Paul Pogba.

 

Screen shot 2015-02-27 at 09.22.26

 

Over in the Telegraph Jeremy Wilson reports:

Wenger will have a transfer budget this summer that is estimated to be around £50  million.

His first priority is in central midfield and a deal in excess of £20 million for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin is a distinct possibility. Another centre-back is also on the agenda, even after the signing of Gabriel from Villarreal. With David Opsina and Wojciech Szczesny both struggling to convince, their options in goal also remains an issue.

But Wilson is right here. It’s about tactics:

The bottom line, though, is that Wenger basically does now have the squad that he wants and Arsenal’s success or otherwise will essentially come down to his selection, tactics and work on the training ground.

Such are the facts…

Posted: 27th, February 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Liverpool and Chelsea’s Kevin De Bruyne wants to play for Arsenal and Manchester United

Transfer Balls catches news of Wolfsburg winger Kevin De Bruyne, 23. The BBC notes that the former Chelsea player “says he would be open to a Premier League return”.

One game we play is to see if the media can link a player with all five of the big clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.

The BBC says “with Manchester United mulling over a £30m bid for the former Chelsea player”.

The BBC delivers this as fact. Only at the end does it say the source for the scoop is the Daily Express.

Over there, the paper reports:

 

Screen shot 2015-02-26 at 21.09.08

 

How badly does Kevin De Bruyne want to play for Manchester United? He’s quoted:

“I feel very much at home with VfL Wolfsburg in this very moment. I am able to sign a new contract with Wolfsburg. Life in football can be fast moving. Football is much about money. Wolfsburg is not yet like Bayern Munich, of course. And my biggest ambition is to come out for a big European club. One I can win trophies with. As much trophies as possible.”

That would be Real Madrid, then. Or Bayern Munich. Or PSG. Or… Or… De Bruyne makes not  single mention of Manchester Untied, who are not even in this season’s Champions’ League and not close to winning the Premier League.

The Daily Star then spins the balls to take in Chelsea and Arsenal.

Screen shot 2015-02-26 at 21.13.14

 

 

Oh. And Manchester City:

 

Screen shot 2015-02-26 at 21.14.09

 

And over in the Sun, the news is that De Bruyne is a…Liverpool fan.

It’s a Full House of Balls.

Such are the facts.

Posted: 26th, February 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Arsenal balls: fans find a cardboard Arsene Wenger table topper in their matchday programmes

In readiness for Arsenal’s Champions’ League match against Monaco, fans buying the official matchday programme got a free gift: a press out and keep Arsene Wenger figurine.

 

 

Screen shot 2015-02-26 at 12.16.21

 

 

You might call it a table topper, but that would be ironic given that the Gunners currently occupy third place in the Premier League and just got beaten 3-1 by Monaco.

 

 

Posted: 26th, February 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Sami Khedira joins Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich

Transfer Balls: the Daily Express has news on Arsenal, Chelsea and Sami Khedira.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been joined by Schalke in the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.

So. Khedira, curently at Real Madrid, is off to either Arsenal, Chelsea or Schalke.

It’s just that the Daily Express told us that Khedira was off to Manchester United:

 

Screen shot 2015-02-26 at 11.48.58

 

And there was Bayen Munich, who wanted the player:

 

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And signed the player:

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But let’s see what Bild, source of the Express’ latest scoop, has to say:

Two weeks ago, in turn, the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser had reported that Khedira has already agreed to a Bundesliga. Perhaps it involves the FC Schalke …

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 26th, February 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal and the £30m Jackson Martinez riddle

Transfer balls: Arsenal are the subject of some utter rot in the Daily Express.

One story is that “Arsenal star Theo Walcott SIGNS news deal with rivals”

Screen shot 2015-02-24 at 12.43.19

Can it be that Walcott has left Arsenal. Has he singed for Spurs?

No. He’s now wearing adidas boots.

The other scoop is that Porto have “agreed to sell Jackson Martinez to Arsenal for £30m”.

 

Screen shot 2015-02-24 at 12.43.25

 

Have they? No.

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More utter balls from the Daily Express football team every day…

Posted: 24th, February 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment