By CALEB SONNELAND
Just a few months after shocking the soccer world and snapping up Samuel Eto'o from Inter Milan and making him the highest paid player in the world, Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala are planning a couple other eyebrow-raising transfers.
Player coach Roberto Carlos has revealed that he is interested in luring Nicolas Anelka of Chelsea and Robin van Persie of Arsenal to the revolution going on at the club.
Anzhi has been linked with big names like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the past, and Carlos is refusing to rule out anyone, even claiming Neymar is an option as well.
"If Real (Madrid), Barcelona or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."
Here are a some other stories from around the world to keep your Monday rolling along:
ROONEY EURO SPOT NOT GUARANTEED
England manager Fabio Capello has publicly stated that long-time starting striker Wayne Rooney is in danger of losing his Starting XI gig if he continues to unimpress in an England shirt.
Rooney was sent off in England's last Euro qualifying match against Montenegro for cynically hacking down an opposing defender in the second half. The red card is the sixth of Rooney's International career and it means he misses the first two games of the Euro 2012 games.
Capello insisted that Rooney's selection is not an automatic lock, citing that players like Jermain Defoe and Daniel Sturridge could well be looked into as replacements for the fiery Rooney.
England plays Spain next month, but Capello has already ruled the striker out of contention for a starting position in the match. Capello did state, however, that Rooney could feature after half-time.
WEST HAM TO MAKE FORMAL TEVEZ APPROACH
West Ham United will make a formal approach to Manchester City for troublesome striker Carlos Tevez in a three-month loan deal to the London-based club.
Tevez made headlines in 2006 when he and compatriot Javier Mascherano made a surprising switch to West Ham, despite interest from other big-name clubs.
The 27-year-old has repeatedly been the subject of negative media attention, and Man City boss Roberto Mancini has made it no secret that the Argentine striker doesn't factor into his plans.
West Ham claims that the loan will keep Tevez match fit, as well as keeping him in the shop window for other interested clubs.
REINA "BLOCKED" IN ARSENAL MOVE
Liverpool shot stopper Pepe Reina told media that Liverpool blocked a £20 million move to Arsenal, his autobiography claims.
The keeper wrote that in the summer of 2010, Liverpool was in the midst of troubled times and he thought seriously about making the switch to Arsenal.
However, Liverpool stepped in the way of his transfer, claiming that his departure would weaken the value of the club. It was well documented that Christian Purslow was hired to find new owners for the beleagued organization but Reina asserted that he was used as a "bargaining chip".
To be fair, this quote is from an article at mlssoccer.com…
“Klinsmann didn’t stop there, going on to say that from this point forward, he’ll have input in scheduling. He’s not a fan of the quick turnaround for Tuesday’s match, which comes three days after the US’ last game 1,200 miles down the coast in Miami. And he repeated that his stylistic approach to the game, which has the US playing in a new tactical set-up and with shuffled personnel, will take more time.”
Makalachka is actually a relatively large city (pop. 100,000 – 200,000k) on the Caspian Sea in a very beautiful part of Eurasia. There is a lot of unrest in the area, though.
One major problem with the team being based in Moscow is that they have to travel 3 hours by plane for HOME games.
Definitely.
Maybe the US needs some real cupcake games to walk through the system. Then again they could just schedule the Red Bull academy or heck the Red Bulls to do that instead of wasting an international friendly.
I don’t know where Makalacka is (too lazy to google) but where ever it is probably sucks in comparison to an international city such as Moscow – at least to an upper tier footballer. So I would guess that’s actually a selling point.
Not necessarily, but less than you might think. Federations negotiate these things because they are foremost a means of turning a profit.
Capello is a joke, in general.
Most overpaid manager in sports.
Zero input or control?
Yes indeed. Let’s play France in Paris or Russia in Moscow
The USSF has said they’re holding out on the announcement until the next round of Euro qualifiers… most likely because an opponent’s participation probably hinges upon their qualification.
JK doesn’t schedule friendlies. The USSF does. That explains the nonsensical situation a month ago where the team played in California one week and Europe just days later.
Anzhi’s logistics are crap. The team doesn’t even live near or practice in Makalachka… they fly in from a compound ouside Moscow.
Plus, the extra money that players get in terms of salary simply offsets the losses they will take in endorsements and jersey sales.
SBI has coined a new verb: “unimpress,” as in “if [Rooney] continues to unimpress in an England shirt.” Get me re-write!
They’ll get further with 11 men on the pitch than they would with 10.
There is certainly interest, but he would get buried at a club like Liverpool or United. You’re right, as of now he is better off at a bottom-table English club, or lower division. Who knows where he could be in 12 months though…
what we need is more friendlies played outside the USA
Um I said should be able to. We’d beat Finland no doubt about it. We’d struggle against Belarus but win. Austria is on our level, a fair opponent and we’d win.
What “We” are you referring, the USA?
The three you mentioned are more than capable of kicking the current US team’s butts right now. Our Nats needs matches and lots of them to get things sorted out and to start hitting a groove as a unit. Preferably against really good teams. Playing Honduras a bazillion times ain’t cutting it.
exactly. Rooney knows it. If Rooney is banned from the first 2 games, I don’t see England advancing
I’d love a friendly against a Balkan nation-Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia.
If you want a friendly we should be able to win, look no further than against Finland, Austria, Belarus
Who does Capello think he’s kidding? Hollow threat if I’ve ever seen one.
Depends on what happens against Bosnia tomorrow. It’s mentioned as a possibility in today’s France Football.
This one has been in the works for awhile, I’m guessing.
It would be a tough one for us since France is ridiculously loaded with talent.
Good thing they have an almost endless supply of money, then.
Man City have proven, if you have it, the players will come. Even if it is Russia…despite their current standings Champions League football is still attainable on a yearly basis.
The salaries being offered would be tempting on that merit alone (see Eto’o) for many mercenary-type players.
I’m really interested to see who/where JK schedules friendlies.
I checked around a bit to see which European teams still have openings. England, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland are each booked with two games. I could not find France’s sked. That would be nice friendly for the USMNT.
he is too old for my taste…I mean us….I mean Arsenal.
Robin has assured me he loves Arsenal and wants to win trophies here. He’s our Captain. Just like Fabregas.
Oh, wait. Bad comparison.
Le’dam*it!
France vs. USA in November?
Anzhi would definitely have to pay loads of money as certain parts of Russia doesn’t exactly appeal to everyone
Rooney is the best striker England has. Bent and Defoe are good but nowhere near his level. Sturridge, Carroll and Wellbeck are solid but young and inexperienced. I don’t see England getting far without him.
Egypt fell out of actual qualifying months and months ago. Bradley simply watched the game as an observer. His first match is the friendly with Brazil next month. He has qualifying for the 2013 African Nations Cup in a year and WC qualifying soon enough.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7233711,00.html
Loads of PL interest in Shea. I myself would wager he’s more fit for the Dutch league. Perhaps he can be bought and put on loan at a Dutch club like PSV or Twente to get his feet wet with European football.
Something has fallen through the cracks I think… I saw where Egypt beat Niger 3-nil in Cairo this weekend. Was this Bob Bradley’s debut as manager for Egypt? Please, someone in blogland, let me know.
Dear Anzhi
STAY AWAY FROM ROBIN! HE IS OURS DANGIT!!!! and quite honestly, he’s the only goal scorer we have
-Love an Arsenal Fan