[ChelseaFC]

Thats right, the countdown to the 2006-2007 European Football (domestic league) season is just around the corner. Hopefully, we could keep this thread going well into next May.

For now, here are some important dates to take note of:

Friendlies: All sorts of matches are taking place now until mid August. Some notable teams coming to North America include Real Madrid in Seattle next week and Chelsea is already in California right now

Scottish Premier League: Kicked off last weekend. The top clubs of Rangers, Hearts, and Celtics opened the new season with a bang. Heart break for Motherwell though, I was lucky to catch the game on live streaming and losing Brian Mclean for the next little while is a blow.

English Premier League: The mother of all domestic football leagues. Season kicks off on August 19 plenty of transfers still happening in the Premiership. Ruud Van Niesterooy recently was sold to Real Madrid, recent bid by Chelsea for Ashley Cole was immediately turned down, and Michael Carrick is on his way to Old Trafford. Stay tune for season preview as it draws near to the opening weekend

Championship: The season kicks off this upcoming weekend. Stay tune later this week for the season preview.

Bundesliga: The season kicks off on the second weekend of August. It's still too early to speculate, but the German league has been most quiet so far in transfers going in and out of the Bundesliga.

Serie A: Thanx to all the match fixing scandal that has tarnished the reputation of Serie A, a schedule has not even come out yet. Fiorentina and and Lazio have fought their way through appeal to stay in Serie A (which is absolute rubbish and it shows that Serie A has once again proven to have no spine). Juventus is currently launching another appeal to fight for its place in Serie A for this upcoming season. Nonetheless, the damage has been in Italian football, their honeymoon was winning the world cup, and now it's the nasty divorce.

La Liga: Aside from the Premiership, this is the other domestic league worth watching. Plenty of big names in the Summer transfer market have found their way to Spain. The new season in La Liga kicks off on August 27 (a rather late start to the season, but always has been). Barcelona will be making the same noise, Real Madrid will try to avoid disappointment and make some noise. Valencia, Villarreal, Betis, and Sevilla should not be overlooked at all in trying to come out on top.

Champions League Second round qualifying - first leg already completed last week. Second leg is set to take place this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Notable clubs include Fenerbahce, Hearts, Dynamo Kiev, and Levski. Report out of UEFA is that the 3rd round qualifying between Liverpool and Maccabi Haifa for August 8/23 will moved to a neutral ground. Security is not guaranteed right now in Israel, with Rick Parry and Rafa Benitez insisting that the venue be moved. Group stage does not begin until mid September, the draw for group stage is set to take place right after the third round qualifying.

UEFA Cup First round qualifying is done. Second round qualifying is set to take place for August 10/24 To all the Geordies fan here, Newcastle did steer clear into the second round of UEFA Cup thru Intertoto Cup play. Newcastle is still in position right now in making big name transfer (especially in the situation that Michael Owen is out for pretty much of the new season and Alan Shearer just retired). Damien Duff was recently signed and Shaun Wright Phillips is rumour to be on the move to Newcastle for a season long loan. First Round does not take place until September 14/28 and Group Stage kicksoff on October 19.


Stay tune on this thread more daily news on transfers, rumours, and previews.

This post has been edited by ChelseaFC: 17 December 2009 - 02:49 PM

[red&white]

Rumours are still flying about Roberto Carlos going to Chelsea or Fenerbahce despite him announcing his intentions to stay in Madrid

Harry Redknapp has had meetings with Sol Campbell to lure him to Portsmouth. Newcastle is showing interest as well

Juventis is trying to get Jean-Alain Boumsong from Newcastle

[WillGill]

Carrick joined Man Utd for 18.6M pounds

since the Champions League group stage rosters have to be set by Thursday, its like Chelsea will add Ashley Cole before then

[red&white]

And I forgot to add, which is the hot rumour in a lot of the English sports pages is Man U are trying to sign Fernando Torres

[Kevin91]

red&white said:

And I forgot to add, which is the hot rumour in a lot of the English sports pages is Man U are trying to sign Fernando Torres

Not gonna happen. I doubt Manchester will get a decent forward before the transfer window closes.

[toro]

WillGill said:

Carrick joined Man Utd for 18.6M pounds

They overpaid.

[Kevin91]

toro said:

WillGill said:

Carrick joined Man Utd for 18.6M pounds

They overpaid.

No kidding, if only Rafa had that type of money to spend on one player...

[Ukrainian_Canuck]

i cant wait to see what Shevchenko will be like for Chelsea!

[Kevin91]

Ukrainian_Canuck said:

i cant wait to see what Shevchenko will be like for Chelsea!

I don't think he'll be a huge impact for Chavski.

[Carpe Diem]

we ******* overpaid for Carrick

:roll:

[ChelseaFC]

Quote

http://news.bbc.co.u...ope/5232208.stm

Monday, 31 July 2006, 14:12 GMT 15:12 UK  

UEFA issues new anti-racism rules  
 
Uefa has announced new disciplinary regulations aimed at clamping down on racism and cheating in football.  

Players making racist remarks or gestures could be banned for up to five matches under the new rules.

The measures will also see a club whose supporters engage in racist or discriminatory conduct receive a minimum fine of £19,000.

Two-match bans could also be handed out to players who simulate fouls or injuries to deceive the referee.

During the World Cup, France coach Raymond Domenech alleged that his players were subjected to racist taunts by Spanish fans.  

And last year Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander fans racially abused Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o during league matches and were subsequently fined.  

Rangers were also fined £13,300 by Uefa for sectarian chants by their supporters during a Champions League tie with Villarreal last year.  

In June, Fifa warned it will suspend national associations who fail to impose tough new rules on racism that come into force in July.  

And Uefa has now reviewed its punishments handed out to clubs and players in Europe.  

Additional sanctions that could be imposed on clubs whose players make racist remarks include playing matches behind closed doors, closing grounds, awarding matches by default, deducting points and disqualification from competitions.

If a team has five players or more shown yellow cards in the same match, then it can be punished under new "improper conduct of a team" regulations.  

The new rules also stress that referees' on-field decisions are still final.  

Only the subsequent consequences of a decision made by the referee may be reviewed in cases involving an obvious error, such as mistaken identity.  

FINALLY. Perhaps after this year horrid World Cup of shame and embarrassment, UEFA has decided to impose harsher rules and punishment to crack down on diving, racism, and improper conducts.

I agree with the new diving rule, but I disagree on how the referee decision on the field is final and not open for review (unless it is obvious)

Crack down on racism. If UEFA is finally serious about handing out severe punishments for club teams and its fans in making racist conducts, it has to be more than just a fine. Send the message out clear and punish them hard, force a team to play behind closed doors or banish them from the tournaments. It is the teams who has control in taming their fans, not UEFA sending out the same message over and over again to stop racism. Alot of the Italian, Russian, and Spanish fans in particular are just disgusting and notorious in racist chants, and there is no need or place for racism to exist in football.

[BM07]

liverpool is were its at, just bought a new jersey for this upcoming season

[poppamidnight]

Kevin91 said:

red&white said:

And I forgot to add, which is the hot rumour in a lot of the English sports pages is Man U are trying to sign Fernando Torres

Not gonna happen. I doubt Manchester will get a decent forward before the transfer window closes.

When fernando came out to the media saying he wants to stay there and he's gunna...blah blah blah, i dont beleive manchester was considering the ronaldo swap. Altheltico wanted a youngster back apprently (as per foxsportsworld)...

As an england and manchester supporter nothing would make my day more than giving ronaldo the slap in the face of making him go to his undesired Madrid team

[Dixon]

My boys brought in Damian Duff, and it looks like Nicky Butt will be playing for us this year, after being loaned to Birmingham last season. Hope we go deep in the UEFA cup!!! Exciting season it will be, plenty of change.

[Kevin91]

paul_the_king said:

liverpool is were its at, just bought a new jersey for this upcoming season

Nice, did you order it off the team's website or some other place? I'm thinking of getting one with Sissoko or Bellamy on the back.

[BM07]

Kevin91 said:

paul_the_king said:

liverpool is were its at, just bought a new jersey for this upcoming season

Nice, did you order it off the team's website or some other place? I'm thinking of getting one with Sissoko or Bellamy on the back.

i got it at a jersey shop, the jersey is authentic, and i happen to be wearing it right now(weird) and it has no name on it, but if ur gonna get a name Sissoko is the right choice

[ChelseaFC]

paul_the_king said:

Kevin91 said:

paul_the_king said:

liverpool is were its at, just bought a new jersey for this upcoming season

Nice, did you order it off the team's website or some other place? I'm thinking of getting one with Sissoko or Bellamy on the back.

i got it at a jersey shop, the jersey is authentic, and i happen to be wearing it right now(weird) and it has no name on it, but if ur gonna get a name Sissoko is the right choice

Come on lads, if you going to get a name printed on it, it has to be Gerrard, Alonso, or Carragher :wink:

[toro]

Quote

Bates reports Chelsea over 'tap-up'

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has accused his former club of 'stealing' academy youngsters Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo and has urged the game's ruling bodies to put an end to Chelsea's 'continual flouting of the rules'.

The 74-year-old, who made a £17million profit when he sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003, feels financial punishments are a waste of time and has called for the Premiership champions to be suspended from the Champions League.

Chelsea insist they did not make illegal approaches for England Under-16 internationals Woods and Taiwo. A third Leeds youth player courted by the Londoners, Daniel Rose, opted to remain at Elland Road.

'The complaints have literally just been lodged so the Football Association will have to have time to consider them and find the appropriate mechanism for dealing with the complaint that we've raised,' said Leeds chief executive officer Shaun Harvey.

'We're in their hands now. It's for them to decide how to go forward - it's for them to dictate here on in the route to the end.'

Bates, who revealed he would also be making an official complaint to disciplinary chiefs of both FIFA and UEFA, added: 'We do understand that the matter will be dealt with expeditiously.'

The FA said they have not yet received an official complaint from Leeds.

An FA spokesman said: 'We have had communication from Leeds United on this subject but as yet no formal complaint.

'If this was received, we would give it due consideration.'

Bates, who paid a reported £10million to take control of Leeds in January 2005 shortly after ending a 22-year spell at Stamford Bridge, insisted: 'There is no personal vendetta between (Chelsea chairman) Bruce Buck or (owner) Mr (Roman) Abramovich and myself or Leeds or Chelsea.

'This is a straightforward dispute over the blatant breaching of Football League rules regarding to players which, of course, is consistent with other examples of Chelsea's illegal approaches to players.

'The most popular one, of course, is the Ashley Cole case - one where they are fined and had three points deducted (suspended).

'As of today we have reported Chelsea to the Football Association regarding the alleged tapping-up of three of our young players, Michael Woods, Tom Taiwo and Daniel Rose.'

Bates confirmed that in addition Leeds are taking separate legal action against former academy staff member Gary Worthington for his claimed part in the youngsters' defection to Chelsea.

Worthington spent five years at Leeds before leaving in July 2005 and taking up a similar post with Chelsea soon afterwards.

Bates continued: 'We have considerable and great weight of evidence to demonstrate quite clearly, without a shadow of doubt, that Chelsea behaved consistently aggressively in stealing these two players from Leeds United.

'It is not a question of punishing Chelsea for this latest breach. It is a question of stopping them doing it in the future.

'Because of the financial strength of the owner, financial punishments alone will make no difference to them at all.

'If you belong to a league or any competition, or a club or any organisation, there are rules. By continuing in that competition, there is implicit acceptance to play by those rules.

'If you don't wish to play by those rules and refuse consistently to do so, why should you be allowed to play in these competitions?

'We think, therefore, not only a financial punishment should be imposed but other punishments such as deduction of points, banning of registration of new players or suspension from European competitions would be more appropriate.'

Bates referred to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's recent remarks that the likes of Chelsea were damaging football.

'In recent weeks we've had Sepp Blatter complaining about Chelsea helping to destroy European football, the importance of youth football and development and urging even greater investment in youth.

'We've had Trevor Brooking last week reiterating the same thing - that more money should be spent on scholars and academies to produce English kids across the country in the hope that we can have a better show in the World Cups.

'But what's the point of doing that when big clubs just ignore the rules and do what they like with impunity?

'Where is the encouragement or even the justification to the other 91 clubs in England of having academies, schools of excellence or even youth teams?

'There is no point in it at all.'

http://soccernet.esp...=374851&cc=5901

[ScHwEiNi_7]

Champions league should be a blast this year.. everyteam is stacked up... cant wait to see shweini leading munich to the final to play ballack and the blues

[ChelseaFC]

toro said:

Quote

Bates reports Chelsea over 'tap-up'

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has accused his former club of 'stealing' academy youngsters Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo and has urged the game's ruling bodies to put an end to Chelsea's 'continual flouting of the rules'.

The 74-year-old, who made a £17million profit when he sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003, feels financial punishments are a waste of time and has called for the Premiership champions to be suspended from the Champions League.

Chelsea insist they did not make illegal approaches for England Under-16 internationals Woods and Taiwo. A third Leeds youth player courted by the Londoners, Daniel Rose, opted to remain at Elland Road.

'The complaints have literally just been lodged so the Football Association will have to have time to consider them and find the appropriate mechanism for dealing with the complaint that we've raised,' said Leeds chief executive officer Shaun Harvey.

'We're in their hands now. It's for them to decide how to go forward - it's for them to dictate here on in the route to the end.'

Bates, who revealed he would also be making an official complaint to disciplinary chiefs of both FIFA and UEFA, added: 'We do understand that the matter will be dealt with expeditiously.'

The FA said they have not yet received an official complaint from Leeds.

An FA spokesman said: 'We have had communication from Leeds United on this subject but as yet no formal complaint.

'If this was received, we would give it due consideration.'

Bates, who paid a reported £10million to take control of Leeds in January 2005 shortly after ending a 22-year spell at Stamford Bridge, insisted: 'There is no personal vendetta between (Chelsea chairman) Bruce Buck or (owner) Mr (Roman) Abramovich and myself or Leeds or Chelsea.

'This is a straightforward dispute over the blatant breaching of Football League rules regarding to players which, of course, is consistent with other examples of Chelsea's illegal approaches to players.

'The most popular one, of course, is the Ashley Cole case - one where they are fined and had three points deducted (suspended).

'As of today we have reported Chelsea to the Football Association regarding the alleged tapping-up of three of our young players, Michael Woods, Tom Taiwo and Daniel Rose.'

Bates confirmed that in addition Leeds are taking separate legal action against former academy staff member Gary Worthington for his claimed part in the youngsters' defection to Chelsea.

Worthington spent five years at Leeds before leaving in July 2005 and taking up a similar post with Chelsea soon afterwards.

Bates continued: 'We have considerable and great weight of evidence to demonstrate quite clearly, without a shadow of doubt, that Chelsea behaved consistently aggressively in stealing these two players from Leeds United.

'It is not a question of punishing Chelsea for this latest breach. It is a question of stopping them doing it in the future.

'Because of the financial strength of the owner, financial punishments alone will make no difference to them at all.

'If you belong to a league or any competition, or a club or any organisation, there are rules. By continuing in that competition, there is implicit acceptance to play by those rules.

'If you don't wish to play by those rules and refuse consistently to do so, why should you be allowed to play in these competitions?

'We think, therefore, not only a financial punishment should be imposed but other punishments such as deduction of points, banning of registration of new players or suspension from European competitions would be more appropriate.'

Bates referred to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's recent remarks that the likes of Chelsea were damaging football.

'In recent weeks we've had Sepp Blatter complaining about Chelsea helping to destroy European football, the importance of youth football and development and urging even greater investment in youth.

'We've had Trevor Brooking last week reiterating the same thing - that more money should be spent on scholars and academies to produce English kids across the country in the hope that we can have a better show in the World Cups.

'But what's the point of doing that when big clubs just ignore the rules and do what they like with impunity?

'Where is the encouragement or even the justification to the other 91 clubs in England of having academies, schools of excellence or even youth teams?

'There is no point in it at all.'

http://soccernet.esp...d...851&cc=5901

'sigh' Good O'Kenny Bates, he always reminded me of Mark Cuban, always putting himself the centre of attention and not knowing how to shut his noise.

But at the same time, I do agree with most of the points made by Bates, the Abromavich-Kenyon-Mourinho approach of poaching players is rather disgusting, but to us, it's just a slap on the wrist (paying fines) for our ways in approaching players. It's not like Abromavich gives a damn when being fined £50 000 :roll: when the muppets of Kenyon and Mourinho already made the approach and influence on the player they are targetting.