The official team off the football thread is South africa

Everton need to upgragde their team, Andy you know that..

No transfer news

Fk South Africa! They are sh*t!

No!!!

World cup 2010

South africa v england final

England will win though

3-1

South Africa do not have the team to beat a major country..

Benni Mccarthy plays for south africa

Spain and Brazil will be major threat in next years world cup.

HAMMERS EYE JIMENEZ SWOOP

West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani has confirmed the club are interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Luis Jimenez.

The Chile international has been linked with a move to the Hammers and Tottenham and Nani, who moved to Upton Park from Brescia last year, thinks the 24-year-old could be a good acquisition to Gianfranco Zola's squad.

"We have a coach who likes to play football on the ground and Jimenez is a great player," Nani told FC Inter News.

"He is currently an Inter player, but we still have two months left in the market.

"I like him very much - I wanted him to come to Brescia years ago."

England will kill them all

Ashley young
Arron lennon
Kieran gibbs
Theo walcott
Jack rodwell
Gabby agboholoar
Glen Johnson
Michh richards

All this talent!!!

Fantastic football news..

Forgot mccarthy played for blackburn

Another one

BUTRAGUENO BACKS DUO TO SHINE

Emilio Butragueno believes if Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are as successful as Zinedine Zidane was at Real Madrid then the massive transfer fees the Spanish giants are splashing out this summer will be money well spent.

Madrid caused a huge stir in 2001 when they signed Zidane from Juventus for a world-record fee of 73.5million euros (£46m), and Florentino Perez is creating similar waves now after returning to the club presidency a fortnight ago.

Perez has already spent 67.2million euros (£56m) on Brazilian ace Kaka, while both that fee and the price paid for Zidane are set to be dwarfed after Madrid's offer of 94million euros (£80m) for Cristiano Ronaldo was accepted by Manchester United.

Madrid's incredible spending spree during a global financial crisis has led to plenty of debate and criticism, but Butragueno believes the investments will be worthwhile if the return is the same as Zidane provided during his five seasons at the Bernabeu.

"When Zidane was signed in 2001, everybody also thought that it was a lot of money. However, now nobody doubts that he was a profitable signing for Real Madrid," said Butragueno, a legendary former striker at Madrid and now the club's newly-installed director of institutional relations.

"It was worth it all to pay this money, for everything that he did in this stadium and what it meant for the club.

"There are signings of 15 or 20 million euros who do not perform and signings that cost what Cristiano and Kaka do, who do perform.

"I hope that all the players that sign for Real Madrid give the kind of performances that Zidane gave. That would be great for the club."

He added: "The fans demand to have the best players in the world. They are used to seeing its team win and playing well, so signing the best players is very smart."

Although Kaka is already in the bag, Madrid are still to confirm the signing of Ronaldo.

The Spanish giants expect to agree personal terms with the Portugal international in the coming days, and Butragueno is expecting big things from the FIFA World Player of the Year.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is going to give us great energy, speed, and goals. He is a complete player and from a footballing point of view he must be a key player for us," he said.

Kaka and Ronaldo are not set to be the only star signings joining the club this summer, with the likes of David Villa, Franck Ribery and Xabi Alonso also linked to Madrid.

That would suggest a bleak future for any Madrid youngsters hoping to break into the senior squad, but Butragueno prefers to look at the positives.

"I honestly think that it is very good that players like these come to the club. They will also set a good example for academy players if they happen to be great professionals," Butragueno added to Telemadrid.

"It's worse to sign a player who is not so good. Players such as Kaka and Cristiano will contribute many things to the youth team. These are the players that Real Madrid must always have."

POMPEY WARNING FROM PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards has warned the impending takeover of Portsmouth will fail if former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is involved.

Richards also dismissed suggestions he has had direct involvement in the deal which will see property billionaire Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim take over at Fratton Park.

The Middle Eastern businessman is close to buying the club from current owner Sacha Gaydamak with due diligence set to be completed next month.

Portsmouth have denied newspaper claims that former Thai prime minister Thaksin and Premier League supremo Richards have had a role to play in the deal.

Richards told BBC Radio Five Live: "At this stage the Premier League don't know if he is involved.

"The Premier League have met the advisors to Dr Sulaiman this week and we have made it very clear that we want to know who are the shareholders in the possible takeover of Portsmouth.

"Before it can be taken over the people who are involved have to meet the fit and proper persons test.

"There has been a suggestion that possibly Dr Thaksin is involved. If that is the case that takeover will not be allowed to go ahead."

Thaksin, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in 2006, had his British visa revoked last November after being convicted of corruption in his homeland.

He was sentenced to two years in jail and the Thai authorities have since been attempting to extradite him, recently tracking him down to Germany where he has been forced to give up his residence permit.

Asked if he himself had direct involvement in the takeover, Richards added: "Absolutely none at all.

"I did meet Dr Sulaiman in Rome. He phoned me up and asked me if I would meet him. He wanted to make it plain to me that he was trying to buy Portsmouth and I did meet him in Rome."

Richards distanced himself from Shinawatra and his advisor Pairoj Piempongsat, claiming it was stretching the truth to call them his friends.

"I knew the doctor before he became chairman of Manchester City," he said. "The Premier League did a tournament in Asia, and I met him.

"While he was chairman he did come and see me and I talked to him like I talked to all the chairmen.

"When you talk about friendship it's chairman to chairman, that's all."

He added: "When he (Piempongsat) was at City he was one of the directors that came along and asked about transfers and you do get to know people. But that's as far as it's gone."

But Richards admitted he was the one who introduced Gaydamak and Shinawatra.

He said: "I did originally introduce Sacha Gaydamak to Dr Thaksin at a game at Manchester City when I was there. I may have introduced Pairoj - I couldn't tell you that for certain - but I definitely introduced Dr Thaksin to Mr Gaydamak."

Portsmouth released a statement this morning which read: "Portsmouth FC would like to confirm that neither Dr Thaksin Shinawatra nor his advisor Pairoj Piempongsat are involved in funding Dr Sulaiman al Fahim's bid to buy the club.

"A representative for Dr Sulaiman al Fahim met with Premier League officials last week and confirmed that he is the sole purchaser of the football club and this will be verified by his lawyers.

"Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie met Pairoj Piempongsat during his time at Manchester City some two years ago. Pairoj subsequently introduced Mr Storrie to Dr Sulaiman al Fahim and that is the extent of his involvement in the proposed takeover."

As for suggestions Richards has a role in the sale, Pompey stated: "Sir Dave Richards has had no role to play in the proposed takeover, other than providing advice in his role as chairman of the Premier League and to suggest otherwise undermines the excellent work he does in his position."

The statement concluded: "The due diligence process for the purchase of the club is continuing well and should be completed by early July."

The Premier League released a statement regarding Richards' involvement in the possible sale of Portsmouth.

It read: "The Premier League wishes to respond to speculation regarding the role of its chairman Sir Dave Richards in the prospective acquisition of Portsmouth FC.

"The previous owners of Manchester City and their associates are well known to the owners and executives of Portsmouth FC from their time in the Premier League.

"It is a previously published fact that Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim invited Sir Dave Richards to meet him before the UEFA Champions League final in Rome at the end of May.

"Pairoj Piempongsant was present but, when the topic of Portsmouth FC was raised, Sir Dave Richards asked him to leave, which he duly did.

"Since that time Sir Dave Richards has been working appropriately with members of the Premier League executive to apply the relevant rules to the prospective acquisition of Portsmouth FC, including the Fit and Proper Persons Test and shareholder disclosure, making it abundantly clear that any involvement of Thaksin Shinawatra and his associates would not be permitted."

MATHIEU AGREES VALENCIA MOVE

Valencia have confirmed the signing of Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu from Toulouse.

The left-sided 25-year-old has agreed a three-year deal with the Primera Division outfit and will join Los Che on July 1.

Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomez said of Mathieu: "He's a player who has all the characteristics that we like, both the coach and myself.

"He has good presence. He's a similar size to (Valencia left-back Emiliano) Moretti but is better technically."

Valencia buying second rate players now

Nah England still too weak.. Our best chance was 2002, 2004 & 2006.. The golden age of our superstars, we should have won something then but never..

Beckem
Stevie G
Owen
Rooney
Lampard
Fat Frank
Rio

The golden age has past us by, the year 1998 and 2000 saw the birth of a new golden superstar england team.. But failed to win and most are now getting too old.

Beckem must lift the world cup, 2010 is the last chance for the golden superstar before the dark days loom again like the early and mid 90s.

Brooklyn Romeo and Cruz will all play for england when they are older

Brooklyn has the best chance though

he has some good skills

Fantastic stuff, the football news that you are posting will upset a Britney fan... Funny eh. Wonder why?.. Lol.

Fantastic stuff, the football news that you are posting will upset a Britney fan... Funny eh. Wonder why?.. Lol.

I have more news to come

Over the summer there shall be loads of transfers anyway

GORMAN SET FOR HOOPS MOVE

John Gorman expects to be reunited with Jim Magilton as QPR's assistant manager.

After managerial spells at Swindon, Wycombe and Northampton and time spent as Glenn Hoddle's number two at Southampton, Tottenham and England, Gorman joined Magilton at Ipswich last season.

He now seems set to follow the former Northern Ireland international to Loftus Road and will hold talks with the London club next week.

"Things are ticking at Rangers and it is nice to be back. I have not signed a contract yet, but have a meeting at the club on Monday," Gorman told the East Anglian Times. "Jim Magilton deserves to be back in management and I am delighted to be continuing my association him.

"We are looking ahead with confidence to the 2009/10 campaign and will be making a big note of the matches against Ipswich when the fixture list is published next week.

"It is a famous club that I have always rated and Loftus Road is a wonderful stadium for football."