The Scoop

Liverpool have finally signed Javier Mascherano!

Spurs have accepted a Portsmouth bid for out of favor striker Jermaine Defoe.

While exiting Pompey is Benjani, who seems to be on a move to Manchester City.

Boro have sealed their long overdue signing of Alfonso Alves from Dutch side, Heerenveen.

Tottenham have sealed another deal for defender Gilberto from Hertha Berlin.

Fulham have signed Jari Litmanen until the end of the season. Yes, that Jari Litmanen.

UPDATE: Ladies and Gentlemen, the transfer window is now CLOSED!

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Sorry for lack of posting on the ACoN but, I'm back so here we go...
Cameroon 3 - 0 Sudan
Eto'o's 15 goal put him in the record books for the all time leading scorer in the African Cup of Nations.

Egypt 1 - 1 Zambia
Unfortunately, no highlights for this on at the moment.

Fine Goal

Cristiano Ronaldo banged in a brilliant goal today (his second of the match) against Portsmouth...and it was a looker. All I can say is, "enjoy, my friends, enjoy."

The Scoop

Tottenham have secured the services of Alan Hutton for £9M.

Is Liverpool back on track? It looks like we have a start with Rafa insisting he is close to sealing the Javier Mascherano.

Legend

Here is an interview with the one, the only, Andres Cantor. Gooooooaaaaaallllll!

I'd Go Back Too

Chris Coleman on leaving a quite lovely gig on the coast of Spain. I'd have taken that chance if I were him. We can tap it up to 'International Experience!"

Takin' the Piss

Live commentary on Sky Sports when Liverpool went down twice this past weekend to Havant&Waterlooville. They loved it. We ended up with a 5 - 2 victory in the end. Thank God!

The Scoop

Juande Ramos is spending big on shoring up his defense, £17.5M to be precise.

Milan Baros has secured a loan deal after falling out of favor at Olypique Lyonnaise. I think this is a pretty good move for Harry. He's quite the manager, I have to say.

Gary Megson fancies his chances of luring Eidur Gudjohnson to Bolton from Barcelona where he's fallen down the Franck Rijkaard's pecking order.

Aston Villa have made a £2M bid for American Goalkeeper Brad Guzan. He's been previously linked with a move to Celtic where Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc has been rumored to be moving to AC Milan.

Merseyside Crisis

It seems that Liverpool owner, Tom Hicks has insisted that Rafael Benitez will at least finish out his final two years of his contract and wants to get down to business. They are asking the fans to please put the differences behind them and get on with business. I'm thinking that in order to get on with business as usual Mr. Hicks should sign Javier Mascherano to a 4 year deal tomorrow and stop lallygagging around.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Guinea 3 - 2 Morocco

Ghana 1 - 0 Namibia

You Are Shite!

That is what sparked the row with Nikolas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor the other day.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

South Africa 1 - 1 Angola
Tunisia 2 - 2 Senegal


Traoui scored this goal. Another nominee for goal of the tourney.

I also see that this website is posting various different streams for the ACoN matches.

John Terry Praises Jaime Carragher

"I personally think that over the last four or five years he has been the best defender in the world," Terry told the official Liverpool website.

Smells Like Team Spirit

Tottenham 5 - 1 Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner had to be pulled apart by Arsenal skipper William Gallas as frustrations boiled over during their first defeat against Spurs in eight years.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Egypt 4 - 2 Cameroon

Zambia 3 - 0 Sudan

Zip It!

Jens Lehmann just doesn't know when to shut up. Here is a little more.

Merseyside Crisis

Liverpool in turmoil.

Dead Man Walking?

Yet again, we lost two points we should have secured against a fine side in Aston Villa.
Liverpool 2 - 2 Aston Villa

There are alot of issues going on with my team and they were on full display tonight. Starting with our Captain, Steven Gerrard and then the fans.

I have a gut feeling that the George Gillette and Tom Hicks went into this deal with the Great British Pound gleaming in their eyes and they did not realize the much greater issue at hand, which are the fans and the tradition of English football.

A football team in England does not have the same meaning or non-meaning as a football/baseball/basketball/hockey team in America. In England, the football team identifies the community. It identifies generations of family and roots in ones community along with ones family lineage in that particular community and neighborhood.

In America the sports team means nothing more than your city. It's rather frivolous in my experience. The passion involved depends upon the performance of ones team. For example, the Detroit Tigers were complete rubbish 5 years ago and nobody attended the games, now they are one of the finest MLB teams and every game is sold out. I believe the majority of Americans are 'fair weather fans' all in all. It goes hand in hand with media hype. I see that in Miami, (although it's not known as a sports town) New York City (which is hard to distinguish because there are die hard NY Yankees fans and Die Hard NY Mets fans.) The neighborhood identity is just not here in America as it is too large. Of course we have our individual teams to support. We also have many other sports which dilute our generous focus.

I'll tell you with 100% confidence that a person who lives in Liverpool are either Everton or Liverpool FC. There is no doubt. I think the area involved is really the mean to judge the feeling and tradition involved in Football.

We just don't have it in America. It's too big. Therefore we miss out on something very special.

Back to George Gillette and Tom Hicks...either they should examine their 'Due Diligence' team or they just didn't give a shit. I have a feeling that both are equally involved in this unpleasant matter, and both have now built a large role in building their own major obstacle. I don't really see any other option than selling the club to Dubai International Capital (DIC) right now. I guess it's only a matter of the money exchanged. They (Gillette and Hicks) cannot and will not be accepted as the owners of the club.

What will happen from here onward? Your guess is as good as mine. If Hicks and Gillette bought our beloved club on a whim with a quick pound in mind during a downward cycle in the American economy, then shame on them. As I said before, this is no way to make money. No doubt, business as usual on their side.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Nigeria 0 - 1 Côte d'Ivoire
Salomon Kalou stepped through the Nigerian defensive 'unit' like a hot knife through butter to grab the only goal of the match. A brilliant match winner on par with Muntari's yesterday in my eyes.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's never done this in a Chelsea shirt? Right? I'm sure he will sooner or later though. It could be a confidence thing. He looked good here.

Morocco 5- 1 Namibia

Mali 1 - 0 Benin

Ghana 2008

Ghana grabbed an opening victory over Guinea with a deadly Sulley Muntari strike at the 89th minute to open up the African Cup of Nations.
Ghana 2 - 1 Guinea (Muntari's match winner is at approx. 2:20) or just click here for a better, non-copywrited view!

Speedy Gonzales

Joseba Llorente has bagged the quickest goal EVER for Valladolid against Espanyol today! Enjoy!

Ghana 2008

If you are looking to check out the Africa Cup of Nations on your computer, you can get the live stream here. If you are in NYC head over to "World Famous Fiona's" on 1st Avenue between E86 and E87. The phone number for info is: 212-347-3783 ($10 per person and $5 Guinness)

Gaffer Merry-Go-Round

Chris Coleman has resigned from Real Sociedad

Topsy Turvy for Toon? No More

Kevin Keegan has been hired to take over at Newcastle United. I give him less than a year, what do you think?

Dead Man Walking?

What the hell is going on with Rafa and the Gringos?

Topsy Turvy for Toon?

Didier Deschamps has been added to the Toon gaffer shortlist.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Bugatti Veyron

Al Bangura Affair

Is seems the Al Bangura was given his work permit after a two month legal battle. He will not be deported back to Sierra Leone as he was ordered to do.

The Scoop

Is Eddie Johnson finally making a move to Fulham?

Spurs want to dump Darren Bent for £12.5m! I'm glad we didn't get involved in the initial transfer from Charlton.

Martin Jol and Gerrard Houllier are on the shorlist for Newcastle United managers. I foresee another sacking in fairly short order over at Newcastle.

Paul Robinson for Stewart Downing...I'm going to have to give it to Juande on this one if there is follow through.

Now Atletico Madrid are in for Momo Sissoko.

Matches of the Week

Manchester United 6 - 0 Newcastle
Cristiano Ronaldo's second goal during this match was a beauty.

Manchester United v Newcastle United

Liverpool 1 - 1 Middlesbrough
Fernando Torres scored a lovely goal during this one.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Birmingham
Aston Villa 3 - 1 Reading
Chelsea 2 -0 Tottenham
Derby 0 - 1 Wigan
Everton 1 - 0 Manchester City
West Ham 2 - 1 Fulham
(Oh yeah P.S. everyone you know should send an email to the FA and tell them to stop enforcing the bloody copyright upon the video captured goals. It's just wrong! No?)

New Signing for the Reds

Today, Martin Skrtl was unveiled at Anfield with Rafa. That means no more ice hockey for you lad. Rafa will have none of that. We already have defensive problems due to injury.

Bayern Munich Found Their Man

Juergen Klinsmann will trade the smog and sun of L.A. for the snow and beer of Munich.

Nicolas Anelka is off the Chelsea

Chelsea have completed the £15million signing of Nicolas Anelka from Bolton.

Jose Mourinho Dosh Fer 'Arry

Newcastle United are prepared to offer the current Portsmouth gaffer, Harry Redknapp a whoppin' £20M for 4 years of service (if he makes it that far...if not the payout should be significant and not to mention he could always go back to Portsmouth!)

The Scoop

Now, what the hell is Rafa waiting for? He should be first in line to put Klaas-Jan Huntelaar directly next to Fernando Torres on the Liverpool front line with Dirk Kuyt playing a second striker role. No? Now I'm reading Fergie is the first to pounce on Ajax's money troubles? Is it possible to score him for a cool £12? The kid has done NOTHING except score goals for Ajax. Not to mention, the Dutch seem to settle in England fairly quickly. Manchester better not see this one through. I hope a stick gets stuck in the spokes somewhere along the line.

It seems Sven may not get his mitts on Maniche as Juande Ramos is ruffling some feathers and may want him.

Mark Hughes is keen on Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas for £3.5M.

Barcelona are tapping up Cristiano Ronaldo's agent today.

Chelsea are setting the Russian crosshairs on Barcelona's Andres Iniesta.

Jens Lehmann will be sitting on the Arsenal bench for the rest of the season after he opted out of the transfer back to Dortmund.

African Cup of Nations

Nigeria name strong squad for Ghana 2008.

Roger Lemerre has named his Tunisia squad.

Otto Pfister has named his Ghana side.

Best Signing Ever

According the the Daily Mail of London, Henrik Larsson's move from Feyenoord to Celtic in 1997 for £650,000 is the number one transfer ever.

Show Me The Money!

If the expected transfer of Nicolas Anelka from Bolton to Chelsea goes through for £15M, he will have racked up the most expensive sum of transfer fees ever at £86.5M!

The Scoop

Internazionale Milan are on the verge of signing Atletico Madrid's Maniche.

Constantly whining Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will be returning to Dortmund so he can whine in his mother tongue.

Manchester City's Geovanni is on the verge of a Spanish move to Deportivo La Coruna.

Pascal Chimbonda wants to switch teams again. This time he welcomes a switch to Aston Villa.

Sunderland up the interest in Reading's Stephen Hunt.

After dropping Paul Robinson (who should be on the selling block very soon), Juande Ramos is turning to the Ajax's young goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Scoop

Derby have wrapped up the Robbie Savage deal.

Paul Robinson is on Juande Ramos' hit list.

Rafa is weighing his option on Villareal winger Matias Fernandez.

Sven wants to sign Brizillian winger Mancini from AS Roma.

Sacked!

Big Sam Allardyce has been sacked from Newcastle.

Players to Watch 2008

Players to Watch in 2008...according to The Sun. Of the picks here, all of my favorites play in Spain. This could be because the Spanish teams actually play their youngsters on the first team with more regularity than the others. I don't watch too much Budesliga, so I could be wrong about that.

• Giovanni Dos Santos (Barca)
  
• Bojan Krkic (Barca)
• Sergio Agũero (Atletico Madrid)
  
• Carlos Vela (Belongs to Arsenal but on loan with Osasuna)

I think Karim Benzema is going to be a fine player too, especially if he moves to England and get some goals under his belt.

I also think Arsene Wenger has found yet another gem in Carlos Vela. He owns the left side up top playing for Osasuna. It looks as if his loan is up now and he's now back at Arsenal. He's only going to add class to an already top class side. Here is a little clip.

The Scoop

Manchester United told to up bid for Olimpique Lyonnaise striker Karim Benzema from £20M. While Arsenal look to be favorites to snap up Hatem Ben Arfa.

Chelsea look to beef up their front line with a £12.5M offer to Bolton for French striker Nicolas Anelka.

Birmingham look to Milan Baros to settle the ship.

Is Sven looking to bring Djibril Cisse back to the Premiership?

Tottenham Hotspur reject, Jermaine Defoe is on the selling block after Juande told him to bounce.

Claudio Ranieri is looking to grab Momo Sissoko. Take him...please.

Barcelona are looking at Jussi Jaaskelainen for back-up. Meanwhile Arsenal are still in for him as well.

Happy New Year!

We, the editors at Football Roundtable would like to extend a wish of a fantastic year to come to all of our readers. Let's hope for Liverpool to turn things around (this is my personal wish this new year...not to be confused with others on this site!) Oh yeah, this is our 501 post! Not a bad way to start the new year. Maybe we can double our entries this year? It's a goal (the pun was fully intended and admittedly poor, but I couldn't pass it up?)