jose - soccer

Bookmakers in England have moved quickly to install current Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink as the favourite to take over from Luiz Felipe Scolari, today sacked as Chelsea manager, at Stamford Bridge. Bookmakers Ladbrokes are quoting the Dutchman at odd of 5/2 to be the next Chelsea gaffer. However, the coach himself 'dead-batted' suggestions by reporters that he was in line to take over from the Brazilian in west London, as he works with his Russian squad at a warm weather training camp in Turkey. "I have no news for you," the Dutchman told Reuters earlier. "I'm not concerned with what has been said about me elsewhere, I'm working here now."

Guus Hiddink was announced as Chelsea's interim manager this week, and yesterday he attended his first training session since arriving at his new club. The Dutchman took plenty of positives from his orientation day at Cobham, but he also identified the need to unify the 'team' he has inherited from Luiz Felipe Scolari. "They are very committed, I have seen them training but sometimes you can have a little bit of a different approach to get even more efficiency out of the players," Hiddink told Chelsea TV last night. "That's what I'm aiming for and if you can add those individuals together and make a team, then everyone can bring a little bit more. "I don't like to give anyone much time, not me and not the players. It is too easy to talk commitment because everyone has an obligation to be committed, but in the tactical and the strategic approach during the game we might gain some profit."

Guus Hiddink was this week announced as Luiz Felipe Scolari's successor in the Chelsea hot-seat. With the Blues lying fourth in the Premier League standings, the Dutchman faces the unenviable task of resurrecting a richly talented but under-performing team's season. How will his successes and failures over the years influence his reign at Stamford Bridge?

As mentioned earlier, the league title is all but off the cards for the London giants. Thus, Hiddink will have to gear his squad for European success. In his favour is his relative success with national teams in knock-out tournaments. No, he's never actually won the World Cup or the European Championship, but he's taken some middling teams a heck of a long way.

However, Chelsea aren't exactly an Australia or a South Korea. The quarter-finals or the semis mean nothing to a club who have come to expect trophies season after season. They are yet to win the Champions League, and it is the one crown Abramovich wants more than any other.

Hiddink's done it before, of course, albeit not in the modern format. But that was as a young up-and-comer building his reputation. As an experienced, well-travelled trainer who's been focused on 'project teams' over the past few years, it is hard to say how he will handle this sudden return to the elite level of club football.
(source: goal.com)

Defender Wayne Bridge has become the first signing of what seems sure to be a busy transfer window for Manchester City after completing his expected transfer from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £10 million ($14.5 million). The England left-back completed his medical on Saturday morning and agreed personal terms on a four-and-a-half-year contract, before being introduced to supporters prior to City's FA Cup tie at home to Nottingham Forest. He watched on as his new team were humbled 3-0 by the second-flight side in a big upset.

The 28-year-old Bridge, who largely played second-fiddle to England colleague Ashley Cole during his spell at Stamford Bridge, is expected to make his debut against Portsmouth at Fratton Park next Saturday. "I played alongside Wayne at Southampton and saw him come through the ranks," City manager Mark Hughes told the club's Web site mcfc.co.uk. "He was an outstanding young player and he's progressed year on year in his career. He is an England international and has just played for one of the top four sides in the country. "He is of the right quality and is the type of player we need to attract. We need good players that understand this league and we will look to carry on in that way and add more if we can."

It is expected Hughes will return to old club Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz early next week as City's Abu Dhabi-based owners begin to flex their vast financial muscle. Manchester City intensified their bid to sign Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers last night as Mark Hughes looked to reassert his authority over a demoralised squad. Hughes, the City manager, has been forced to contend with a series of problems in recent weeks, having identified Tal Ben-Haim and Elano among those responsible for a growing sense of disquiet in the dressing-room. But having sent a forceful message yesterday to any disgruntled players, it emerged that City have finally established formal contact with Blackburn as they try to secure the signing of Santa Cruz in a deal worth in the region of £15 million. Reports of an £8 million bid to sign Shay Given, the unsettled Newcastle United goalkeeper, were not confirmed by City officials.

John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, was quoted as saying yesterday lunchtime that he had yet to receive a formal offer from City for Santa Cruz, but contact has since been made between the clubs at boardroom level, with Hughes hoping that a deal for the Paraguay forward can be concluded sooner rather than later.

Hughes has spoken to Paul Aldridge, the City chief operating officer, to express frustration over the time taken to complete the proposed signings of Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, the Arsenal defender, and Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, the West Ham United duo. City have been frustrated by West Ham’s intransigence and have indicated that they will be forced to look elsewhere if the London club, having sought to sell Calum Davenport to Bolton Wanderers and Matthew Etherington to Stoke City, do not play ball.

The City manager has other targets, having identified Joleon Lescott, of Everton, as an alternative to Touré, and, with the signing of Wayne Bridge from Chelsea completed, Hughes maintains that his squad will be far stronger by the end of the month. He hopes to offload players such as Ben-Haim and Elano, but, in the meantime, has urged the malcontents in his squad to speak directly to him. “All the players know if they have any complaints, they can knock on my door,” Hughes said. “That is how it has always been. You are going to get these kind of stories when things are not going as well as you would like.”

(source: edition.cnn.com, timesonline.co.uk)

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp rubbishes talk of a reported £30m swoop for Portsmouth trio Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson. The January transfer window has opened, which gives clubs their first opportunity to buy or sell players since the end of August. Several deals have already been agreed, including Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra's £20m move to Real Madrid while a number of others are being finalised. A record £150m was spent by Premier League clubs in January 2008.

But that figure could be eclipsed this season if, as expected, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is given major funds to strengthen his squad by his club's billionaire Arab owners. Any buys by City could kick-start activity from other Premier League sides but the Eastlands club are yet to delve into the market.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is believed to be top of Hughes' wish-list but Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says he has not received any offers for the Paraguay star, while Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge is widely tipped to be heading to Eastlands.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has underlined his desire to sign new players, and has already had a bid of around £6m rejected for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy as well as confirming his interest in Pompey frontman Jermain Defoe and Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. But teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea insist they will not be buying and others, like Portsmouth and the Hammers, may be forced to sell some of their stars to balance the books.

Wigan are keen to keep hold of England striker Emile Heskey, who is out of contract in the summer, while Newcastle striker Michael Owen and goalkeeper Shay Given are also in demand. Most Premier League managers have already had their say over how they see the next month going:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"Although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience. I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short. "We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility. "What we might need is someone who can create a little spark."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"We are definitely looking at trying to do something if it is at all possible. "I do not know whether the credit crunch has affected the market but this is a chance for all clubs to add to their squads."

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"There have been no bids whatsoever for Roque Santa Cruz. "At the moment I am more focused on getting him fit because I haven't seen him play since I've been here. I'm looking to getting him fit and producing the form he produced last year to get us out of trouble. I'm also more focused on getting players in rather than players out. Certainly my focus over the last two days has been speaking to the chairman about that. "We're both going to go out and try and improve our squad as quickly as possible."

Chelsea manager Luiz Filipe Scolari on his side's transfer policy:
"I knew that it's a different time for Chelsea but, if we suffer more injuries, the board understand that I'll need one or two players to replace some [injured] players. "They understand this. If, on the other hand, the players are in good condition and there are no more injuries, I think it's maximum one player they'll replace because we need one more. Only one. A striker.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon says transfer activity will be kept to a minimum:
"I don't think we will be doing any business in the January transfer window because the type of players we are looking for are not available. "Another reason is that we have still got some long-term injuries coming back and in January or February, Chelsea will have more player availability."

Everton manager David Moyes:
"We are actively looking at what will make a difference, but I don't think I will be able to do much in January. I am more likely to be looking at loans. "Anything the club have got they will give me. But that doesn't mean to say I am not out there looking for loans or Bosman signings or anything else that can help us. "I don't think we will be selling because we don't have the numbers. We are short at this present time and that limits what I can do off the bench."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admits signings are unlikely:
"It will be difficult to bring anyone in January because we have a good squad. "To bring in anyone better than what we've got isn't easy and could be expensive."

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
"We're aware of this assumption about the level of finance that we'll throw at the project in January, but we still have realistic market values. "There is also an assumption that we will stimulate the market, that the money sloshing around will be from the deals that we have started, but we have to make sure we protect the club as well. "We're hoping to go into the market and acquire players that we think will help us, but it is still dependent on whether clubs are willing to deal with us or not. "The deals that we do will have to be good ones, but we are quite happy at the moment. We know that there will be a premium that we will probably have to pay because it's January, and teams don't want to lose their better players. "But it will not be to the extent where we are paying hugely over the market value."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"I do not think there will be any January transfers, I am happy with what I have got. "We are probably going to bring back a couple of young players who have been on loan. That may just give us extra protection. "We took 23 players to Japan (for the Club World Cup) and they are substantial players. I would be happy to play any one of them."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear insists goalkeeper Shay Given is not for sale:
"Shay won't be leaving - he has no interest in that whatsoever. He loves the football club - he's part of the city and that suits us because he's a world-class goalkeeper."

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams:
"The board are going to do exactly what they did for [former boss] Harry Redknapp to me, and I had money anyway [before Real's move for Diarra]. I have had new signings in mind since I have been in the job."

Stoke chairman Peter Coates:
"We've got a few things on the go. I think Tony Pulis would like about three players, but I don't want to give too much away. "I do know we'll have a stronger squad at the end of January than what we have now."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on his January targets:
"If could find a wide-left player I would like to get one. That and a frontman would be the priority." "I think Portsmouth have had a massive offer from somebody for Jermain Defoe, so good luck to them - I paid about £9m when I signed him. He is a good player but we're not going to pay over the top for anyone. "It's not finished but if they don't want to sell him [Defoe] it's up to them. I am not going to upset the applecart. "If they say 'we'll have that', then we can do something. If they say 'we don't want to sell him' then it is end of story. "I like Stewart Downing but I don't know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him."

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury:
"We must not be afraid of interest in or bids for our leading players. "Each approach will be considered in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in his career. "We have to consider the will of the player and whether he is committed to what we are trying to achieve. "A bid may be evaluated by the manager as allowing him to significantly improve his team."

(source: BBC, goal)

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has recalled Brazil striker Adriano to his squad for tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash against Juventus.

The build-up to the Derby d'Italia has been dominated by the battle between the two former Chelsea bosses, Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri. But Mourinho turned attention back to on-field matters today by naming Adriano, who had been out of favour for Inter's previous five matches. He offered a less than ringing endorsement, though, for the striker, who this week admitted he may look to continue his career "in another team'' if he continues to be overlooked by Mourinho.

"He will be judged like all the available players,'' said Mourinho. "They agree with him when he says that if he doesn't succeed at Inter it's better to change. "A football player cannot remain at a club in that situation.''


Adriano will compete for a place in attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was left out of Sweden's squad for their midweek friendly against Holland at his own request in order to rest.

Mourinho said: "I don't know if this short period of rest has done him good. We'll see tomorrow evening. "I don't agree with those who say he's indispensable. "For me he always plays well. With him you can win or lose, just the same.''

Mourinho downplayed the rift with Ranieri, with whom he exchanged barbs through the press earlier this season.

"Ranieri at the San Siro will be for me like any other colleague,'' he said. "I will shake his hand in the tunnel before the start.''

Ranieri, who took over at Juventus at the beginning of last season, believes Inter are still in transition following the departure of Roberto Mancini in the summer. "Just like it was important for me last year to get to know all the players, so it is for Mourinho now,'' he told www.juventus.com.

"Inter will surely grow with time. Even now in comparison to last year they have changed in certain aspects: Ibrahimovic was more static while now he moves along the whole attacking line. "They've changed with regards to playing without the ball, with only Ibrahimovic ahead of the ball. "Obviously they are still getting used to him, therefore it is only normal that there is less fluency with respect to last year. "Mourinho has a Portuguese philosophy but he has taken a lot from Italian football. "It is a compliment, just like (Manchester United boss Sir Alex) Ferguson complimented us when saying that he changed Manchester United after watching Italian football.''

Juve will be without Jonatan Zebina after the full-back underwent surgery on an Achilles tendon injury. He is expected to be out for three months. Also out is goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, as well as Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, David Trezeguet, Hasan Salihamidzic, Dario Knezevic and Christian Poulsen.

Inter pair Cristian Chivu and Nelson Rivas are on their way back from injury but will not be ready to face Juve, while Ivan Cordoba is banned.

(source: http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com)

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti held an emergency meeting with his squad as they prepare to face Chelsea, writes Tom Collomosse.
Spalletti's job is under threat after his side were thrashed 4-0 at home by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan at the weekend, and another heavy defeat at Stamford Bridge tomorrow would leave him in an even more vulnerable position.
Roma are 14th in Serie A after collecting only seven points from their first seven matches. Spalletti held talks with his players at the training ground and admitted: "When you go through a period like this, it becomes even more difficult to convert your chances because everything is out of order."
Francesco Totti added: "Our league position is very worrying."
Skipper Totti, who has had a knee problem, is fit to play at Stamford Bridge, but former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista misses the game as he has yet to recover from a knock.
Serie A Roundtable Part I: Roma Crisis—When and How Will it End?
In the first ever Serie A roundtable on Bleacher Report, Salaar Arshad Shamsi, Marzia Hazra, Daniel Penza, and Zahi Sahli have their say over Roma's current form crisis.

Salaar Arshad Shamsi:
Roma have had a pathetic start to their season, both in Europe and in the Serie A. Luciano Spalleti's men are in the bottom half of the league table and have already suffered a defeat at the hands of FC Cluj in the Champions League. A victory at Bordeaux followed by a defeat at Siena summed up a mixed bag for the Romans but the question remains:
"How can they get out of this hole?"
Well, Roma have plenty of quality in their side with the likes of De Rossi, Vucinic, Totti and Taddei and players like Riise, Baptista and Menez have been fine additions so Roma should be able to overcome this early glitch by mid-season but a poor start probably means they have destroyed their chances of Champions League action next season.

Marzia Hazra:
Roma has started the season disastrously and seven points in six games definitely qualifies for a crisis.
The club has had their most important player sidelined for the majority of the season as the captain only has made three brief appearances so far. Considering the fundamental role Totti plays for his team, it is in some sense understandable the position the club now find themselves in.
Although Totti’s absence most likely is the biggest factor to Roma’s crisis I also have to take into consideration the injuries that have haunted several of the defenders. In addition to that there is always Spaletti’s recent inability to change the picture of the game with tactics—he just looks so lost.
On top of that, Roma lack players in the central striker role and without Totti there are no natural replacement for him in the squad. The club has built their entire team around one player, and when that player isn’t around things tend to fall apart.
Reports have suggested that Roma and Inter could go in for a swap deal with Aquilani going to Inter in exchange for Hernan Crespo—considering the excess of central strikers the Nerazzuri have.
Roma—including the club, supporters and coach—need to stop putting all their hope on a single player. Just this the weekend Spalletti told Corriere dello Sport that Totti would save the team with his (planned) return against Inter, that he himself would make the difference.
The players have missed so many given goals this season, there is close to no will and the confidence seems washed away in the absence of the skipper. What Roma needs to do is to make all the players take responsibility for their own and stop looking sideways at Totti.

Daniel Penza:
It's hard to say when Roma will regain their form because, aside from Riise and Julio Baptista, they are basically the same team. So meshing together as a team shouldn't really be an issue.
So, with that being said, when Francesco Totti returns from injury, things will have to get better. He is the captain and the driving force of that team. Yeah Daniele De Rossi is the future captain, but the current captain is needed right now to stabilize things in the capital city.

Zahi Sahli:
Roma equals Totti. It is as simple as that. Totti is not playing and hence Roma cannot get the right results. But there is no reason why Roma can't get back to their winning ways. They have an excellent team with three of the best center midfielders in Italy, a good defense and have added quality to their attacking line after signing Julio Baptista.
Roma have maintained faith in Luciano Spalletti after having a good season last term. The current drop in form does not mean Roma will be deluded forever. They will return to their top form. The players and the manager should have faith in the quality of the squad's abilities, and the results will come soon.

Tom Collomosse, Football Correspondent
www.thisislondon.co.uk