jose - soccer

Inter is leading the league by one point over Roma going into the last game, but the club has had a clamorous end to the season after a series of faltering performances and dressing room clashes.
The Daily Telegraph says yesterday, the club's tailor, Domenico Brescia, 55, was revealed to be a convicted murderer who is close to the Crisafulli Mafia clan.
Brescia is also thought by police to be a cocaine dealer, and his conversations with several Inter players and Roberto Mancini, the manager, were recorded by investigators
The transcripts of over 2,000 phone calls between Brescia and Mancini, Marco Materazzi, Sinisa Mihajlovic and other members of the club were leaked. The vast majority of the phone calls were mundane and concerned tickets to matches, or alterations to clothes.
However, in one call Mr Mancini is recorded discussing Daniele Bizzozzero, a Mafioso associate of Brescia's who had fled to Monte Carlo and then Paris in a bid to escape the police.
"What happened to him," Mr Mancini is heard asking. "How was he arrested? I told him to stay [in Paris] and wait for a pardon."
Brescia then said that Bizzozzero was stupid, to which Mr Mancini replied: "He has always behaved well with me."
Questions were immediately raised about why Mr Mancini was discussing the fate of a criminal, and why he advised him to remain on the run. In other phone calls, Mr Mancini demanded "two coathangers" urgently and another Inter employee referred mysteriously to "packs of stuff" left in Brescia's car.
However, the police said they had no intention of prosecuting anyone at the club. The club cut all ties with Mr Brescia one month ago, when the full extent of his criminal past became known.
"We have only had commercial relations with Domenico Brescia," said a spokesman for the club. "He was our emergency tailor, seeing as his shop is very close to our Pinetina training ground. He has never been an Inter employee."
Brescia's lawyer, meanwhile, insisted he was close friends with several Inter players and had been visiting the training ground daily for 30 years.
The leak of the documents at such a sensitive time provoked a storm of outrage among Inter's fans, who insisted that the media was trying to unsettle the team.

Prior to football club Inter’s big match against Parma to win the scudetto, it was revealed that FC Inter players and managers had had phone conversations with known criminals tapped as part of an investigation into a drug dealing ring.

The Milan team’s former tailor, Domencio Brescia, is said to also be involved in cocaine deals, and has a record for murder and robbery to boot. Strange associations for the team who has always claimed to be the honest ones in the competition, especially after the "we was robbed" claims over the Juventus match fixing scandal a couple of years ago.

You might think the conversations between said tailor and club management would provide something juicy. But in one conversation between team manager Roberto Mancini and Brescia, they discussed trim cut trousers, team line-ups and a friend’s arrest in France (although a photo of a topless woman and mutual friend did change hands).
(source: tribalfootball.com, blogdolcevita.com)

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)

A late John Terry header ensured England continued their resurgence under Fabio Capello with a 2-1 victory over Germany in Berlin to end 2008 on a high. England travelled to the German capital ravaged by injuries and surrounded by debate regarding the importance of Wednesday's friendly, but Capello's side produced a thoroughly convincing display to secure a fifth successive win.

The Three Lions - who recorded a famous 5-1 success on their last visit to Germany - took a scrappy lead in the 23rd minute as centre-back Matthew Upson poked home after Rene Adler had flapped at a Stewart Downing corner. After the interval, England continued to enjoy the better of proceedings but substitute goalkeeper Scott Carson endured a horrible mix-up with Terry to allow Germany striker Patrick Helmes to equalise on 63 minutes.

The game, both sides' final outing of the year, then continued in entertaining, end-to-end, fashion and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips rattled a post from range. England, though, then ensured Germany suffered their first defeat in Berlin since 1973 as Terry met a Downing free-kick to head in with six minutes remaining. When the Three Lions analyse 2008, there will be a massive gap in the middle when they should have been at the European Championship. That absence was not Capello's fault of course. Yet if the by-product of two years' failure under Steve McClaren is a coach with vision, willpower and knowledge, maybe the pain was worthwhile.


Capello has always said his is an evolving process. And this England was markedly different to the one he turned out against Switzerland last February, both in performance and personnel. Only three of the players that started against a German side lacking Michael Ballack, Philipp Lahm and Torsten Frings featured against the Swiss, when England were hesitant, fearful and fortunate to win. However, it appeared they had spent the intervening nine months training together every day such was the cohesion they showed and adherence to a gameplan Capello has vowed there was no need to change despite suffering the loss of so many major players.

Germany's only first-half threat came through the excellent set piece delivery of Bastian Schweinsteiger, with Heiko Westermann sending a powerful header just over. It never could be another 1966, 1970, 1990, 1996 or 2001 but the noise of German fans whistling their own team off the field at the interval in its own way provided a memory to cherish.

The major disappointment was England only had one goal to shout about by the break. Aside from a good effort from debutant Gabriel Agbonlahor, Wright-Phillips came close on a couple of occasions and Downing forced an excellent save out of Adler. The shot-stopper was less convincing when England opened the scoring as he came to punch Downing's corner with purpose after an Upson effort had been deflected wide. He missed it completely.

Agbonlahor probably should have bundled home. Instead, the ball bounced down off the striker and Upson launched himself at it, prodding his first England goal into an empty net. In four successive appearances, Upson looks accomplished and more than just a mere stand-in. The same is true of Downing. And, after nutmegging Schweinsteiger, he drilled a low shot narrowly wide.

After the half-time break, Wright-Phillips nearly scored in memorable fashion after a mazy run before substitute Darren Bent beat the German offside trap, skipped round replacement keeper Tim Wiese and looked to tap into an empty net. Had he done so, the game would have been over. Instead, with glory beckoning he half tripped over his own feet, half lost his balance. The result was a glaring miss.

The consequences were huge as England's age old capacity to shoot themselves in the foot reared its ugly head again. As he could see the whole picture, in particular Helmes bearing down at some speed, Carson, on his first England appearance since his nightmare against Croatia 12 months ago, should have taken charge of the situation.

Sensing hesitation, Terry should simply have whacked it onto the running track behind the visitors' goal. Between them they did neither, allowing Helmes to stick out a leg as Terry tried to shepherd the ball to Carson, nudge it through the helpless keeper's legs and gleefully skip past. That England recovered their composure so quickly is another glowing testament to Capello's managerial abilities.

When Wright-Phillips saw his thunderbolt shot crash to safety off a post 11 minutes from time, it seemed the win England wanted would elude them. Terry had other ideas. The Chelsea defender met a chipped free-kick from Downing - who was excellent throughout - to secure a merited success.

(source: skysports.com)

The capital club went in search of some reinforcements in the summer, to further strengthen their squad, to ensure that they could once again challenge the likes of Inter, Milan and Juventus for the title. They were moderately active in the transfer period, a period in which many feel is partly to blame for their poor form this season.

They lost two players full of talent and experience, which did not help their cause, as the Brazilian winger Mancini joined former team mate Cristian Chivu at Inter Milan on a four year contract, whilst Ludovic Giuly returned to PSG to finish out his playing days in France. Also, Matteo Ferrari was released to Genoa, whilst second goal-keeper Gianluca Curci was sent to Siena on a co-ownership deal.

The attacking duo of Mancini and Giuly were replaced by Jeremy Menez, formerly of Monaco, and Julio Baptista from Real Madrid, for a fee of €12 million. Spalletti also signed Simone Loria from Siena, to replace the Genoa bound Ferrari, and John Arne Riise from Liverpool, to add some depth on the left hand side of defence.

The failure to sign a big name player however, was the criticism that most had with the Giallorossi’s transfer period, as many believed that the players signed in the summer would fail to have any major impact in terms of making the club stronger. This seems to have been the case in the early stages of the season, as all four men have struggled to impose themselves on a regular basis.

Along with the criticism of their summer signings, many have pointed the finger directly at coach Luciano Spalletti, for his lack of creativity on the sidelines. According to many, it seems as if the coach doesn’t have any alternative plans; as many of the Italian clubs have discovered a way to break down his unique 4-2-3-1 set-up that managed to work wonders last season.

It is quite harsh to point the finger solely at the boss however, as he has had to deal with a number of injuries to several of his stars throughout the season. With injuries to the likes of Totti, Pizarro, Perrotta, Taddei, Baptista and Juan, just to name a few, Spalletti has rarely had the opportunity to field the same starting eleven.

Whatever the reasons may be, the Giallorossi have undoubtedly been the most disappointing side in the league thus far, and possibly throughout all of Europe. It’s a long season however, and if the club can put together a few positive results, who knows what the future may hold for Spalletti and his team.

Adrian Del Monte - goal.com