Rickoza

Came across this recent news on Morientes. Also been linked with a host of other top European clubs.... Fiorentina are looking to reinforce their squad ahead of the Champions League qualifying round but have failed to bring in a new striker thus far. After considering Julio Cruz, Goran Pandev, Marco Borriello, and Cristiano Lucarelli, a new option has emerged in Fernando Morientes, who could be brought in to back-up Alberto Gilardino. The veteran hitman is now a free-agent after three years with Valencia, but his experience in Europe has put him on the Viola's shopping list, according to the Corriere dello Sport. Morientes only managed seven goals in 32 appearances for los Che last season in all competitions, mostly featuring as a substitute. However, he did win three Champions League titles with Real Madrid and also made an appearance in the final with Monaco.The Spaniard has also been linked with a lucrative move to Qatar and French giants Lyon.

Gotta be a wind-up surely, of all the clubs in all the world that someone of that cailbre could sign for, why on Earth them?

Couple of interesting articles today.... Controversial referee handed Motherwell's Europa League tie Jul 15 2009 MOTHERWELL'S Europa League clash in Albania will be refereed by controversial Austrian ref Fritz Stuchlik - a scourge of the Scots. Stuchlik condemned Scotland to a 1-0 defeat in Lithuania in a Euro 2004 qualifier when he awarded a dodgy penalty to the hosts. The 43-year-old later claimed he never saw a foul but gave the award against Jackie McNamara because he 'heard something'. Then-manager Berti Vogts slaughtered Stuchlik after the game and was later reprimanded by UEFA. Stuchlik has also proved a jinx to other Scottish sides he has refereed. He was in charge for Scotland's dismal 0-0 draw in Estonia in 2000 and when Celtic lost 1-0 in Anderlecht in the Champions League in 2003. Albanians vow to prove Motherwell wrong after Europa League slur Jul 15 2009 MOTHERWELLwere last night told their Albanian hosts will prove them wrong after the Fir Park club's travel slur. The Lanarkshire side travel to the coastal city of Vlore to take on Flamurtari tomorrow in their Europa League qualifier. But Well officials almost sparked a diplomatic incident after the draw was made when they advised fans not to travel. The club claimed Vlore was dangerous - a claim that was disputed by the British Embassy in Albania. Flamurtari now say they are determined to prove to Motherwell that Vlore is a safe place and that any fans who do travel will be assured a warm welcome. Latif Gjondeda, assistant manager of the Albania side, said: "In terms of what has been written about us by Motherwell, I hope we will show them that this is completely the wrong impression. "I really hope Motherwell bring some supporters with them because then we can prove to them that we are friendly people. "But if their fans do not travel because of what has been said then it is their choice. I can only say they would have received a warm welcome. "It's on the field that matters, though, and I hope we can show everyone the true value of Albanian football. "It won't be an easy game because the Scots will be tough. But we do not fear anyone. "We have done our preparations on Motherwell and are very optimistic about the game." New Motherwell signing Chris Humphrey could make Europa League bow Jul 15 2009 Neil Cameron MOTHERWELL boss Jim Gannon last night landed English winger Chris Humphrey ahead of his side's crunch Europa League tie in Albania. The 22-year-old, who was linked with a move to Aston Villa in January, was snapped up for a nominal fee from League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town. Gannon can now unleash his new signing in tomorrow night's Europa League qualifier against FK Flamurtari as new UEFA rules allow him one wildcard player who has not been registered as part of the official squad. But the Well boss admitted he will only throw Humphrey in at the deep end in Albania if he feels he is physically up to the task. Speaking before the deal was finalised last night, Gannon said: "We're in the process of recruiting one more player so if all goes well he could be our wildcard. "Whether it's fair to bring him to Albania at such short notice remains to be seen. I may give him a week or two to get him up to speed. "I didn't realise the squad had to be in with UEFA for five o'clock on Friday so it has left us restricted in what we're trying to do." With or without Humphrey, the Well players are certain to be in for a stern test in Albania. The squad flew down to London last night and then travel to Tirana today. At least a two-hour bus journey will take them to the port of Vlore for the game which will be played in scorching temperatures set to top 90 degrees. Gannon said: "It's going to be hot and that will be a factor. Dehydration will become an issue but we have various strategies in place. "The players will need to take on more water because they won't be used to playing in these kind of temperatures. "It will inhibit their contribution to the game and it will be interesting to see how they react. It's another experience and another challenge. "They will be working in extreme conditions." Despite the acquisition of Humphrey and Tranmere midfielder Steve Jennings, Gannon still has a small squad to choose from. But the Well boss admits he is just pleased all his players are fit for the first leg in Albania following the rough-house treatment dished out by Welsh side Llanelli in the last round. Gannon said: "John Sutton took a couple of days to get over his injury but he was running well in training today. "Mark Reynolds took a heavy knock in the game but he's recovered well. Steve Jennings took a knock in training but is fine and in my plans for Thursday. It's nice to have him in the squad. "He's very competitive, he breaks play up but he is also a very constructive player with a good range of passing and he can score goals too."

This interesting view appeared on the BBC yesterday..... One football team, but no opposition Douglas Fraser | 21:17 PM, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 Money seems to be cascading out of Scottish sport. Diadora went under last week, taking with it the kit sponsorship of the Scotland football team. The same happened yesterday to Canterbury Europe, kit sponsors of the Scottish rugby team. Could it be that Scots fans are unpersuaded by the value-for-money of their national teams' replica kits? And of course, there's the mess left by Setanta's collapse. There was a concern that only Sky Sports would want to replace its contract to televise Scottish Premier League matches. And without competition, of course it could name its price. So the hope was that a big sports pay-TV player - ESPN, part of the Disney empire - could come in from the United States and force an auction for the SPL rights. Some hope. We're now told that the two giants have got together and they're bidding to share the rights between them. That's for no more money than Setanta paid over the past four years, while wanting to lock in the Scottish clubs for the next five years. That helps explain why the Old Firm clubs have let it be known they're trying to put together their own alternative to Sky and ESPN. It's hard to see how they could sustain the business model, or that it's going to be in the smaller clubs interests. But it's more likely that Rangers and Celtic are trying to force the TV companies to think again - at least to shorten the length of the tie-in contract. When Sky Sports got this level of domination over English premiership football, the European Commission stepped in. Its answer was to force the league to split its TV rights into six packages, not all of which could be secured by one company. Perhaps the European Commission should take a look at what's currently happening with the Scottish Premier League. If, as seems to be the case, Sky and ESPN are bidding jointly, it doesn't look like healthy competition, and it doesn't look good for Scottish football.

In years gone by we've had small amounts of our fans go to games which were beyond the reach of most for one reason or another. Like Drogheda, twelve of us made it there for that 0-0 draw on a wet, miserable March Friday night, who then became known as the Drogheda Dozen. Nine to Peterlee for the Newtown Nine. Hopefully, it'll be the Flamurtari Fifty though I suspect it might be nearer Fifteen (or less). Whoever goes, you'll all be heroes!!!!

Nothing on line yet, but the Daily Ranger apparently says Humphrey has signed (according to the Sporting Life Paper Talk).

Seems the greedy bastewards are ready to snatch the rights and screw us all. More money for the rest of the SPL, my arse......... OLD FIRM'S BID TO BUY SPL TELEVISION Jul 14 2009 Keith Jackson EXCLUSIVE Rangers and Celtic are planning to launch their own TV channel and bid for the rights to Scottish football. The Old Firm are furious over the cut-price TV deal being offered to the SPL by Sky and ESPN in the wake of the collapse of Setanta. And they held secret talks at the weekend to discuss a bid of their own. Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said last night: "I can confirm that the Old Firm have had talks regarding the current broadcasting arrangements. "We are deeply disappointed at the proposals on the table and are exploring other avenues. At this stage Idon't want to comment further." Bain and Rangers chairman Sir David Murray met their Parkhead counterparts, Peter Lawwell and Dr John Reid, to find a way forward on the TV issue. Both Old Firm clubs are furious that most other SPL teams seem willing to accept the "derisory" £ 65million, fiveyear deal on offer from ESPN and Sky. The rest of the clubs look certain to rubberstamp the bid this week. Cynical The offer is worth roughly half the £ 130million the SPL would have banked from Setanta over four years. But the Old Firm were always cynical about the Irish broadcasters' ability to actually pay the cash it had promised. Rangers and Celtic are preparing to offer more than £ 25million to buy the rights for two years. They claim that the other 10 clubs will each earn more cash if they accept their deal. The Old Firmwould stand to make more money by either selling the rights on to a new bidder or launching their own pay-per-view channels. The Record understands that Sir David Murray and Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond held urgent talks after last week's Hampden meeting with SPL executive chairman Lex Gold. The two tycoons discussed some sort of breakaway TV deal and agreed to hold a further round of talks. Any move to gazump Sky and ESPN will have to be tabled within the next 48 hours. Asource close to the discussions said last night:"The Old Firm are very clear and united on this. "There is a feeling that the offer on the table right now is tantamount to these broadcasters holding our game to ransom. "In effect, Scottish football. has been asked to drop its standards and accept whatever they offer. It is ludicrous to agree to these conditions for the next four or five years. "It would make far more sense for Rangers and Celtic to find the money to buy the rights for the next couple of years with an offer in excess of the terms on the table. "That way, the other clubs will share a bigger guaranteed income. And the Old Firm would be in a position either to sell the rights on to a broadcaster themselves, or, more appealingly, to create their own Old Firm TV channels. Lucrative "Both clubs are well aware how lucrative the Old Firm derbies would be if launched on a pay-per-view platform. "As it stands, because of the collapse of Setanta and some botched negotiations, their own TV income is dropping like a stone. "It has gone down from £ 5 million a year when the new deal with Setanta was agreed, to £ 4 million a year when that deal was restructured, and now to a sum closer to £ 1.9 million a year. "The Old Firm are no longer willing to allow the tail to wag the dog."

I could understand covering the Falkirk away game but home leg? Surely would have been economically more viable just to take the Albanian feed? Erses.

If it's covered on Albanian telly, then all the BEEB would have to do is buy into their feed and provide their own commentary. Much cheaper than sending crews out I'd have thought.

Nah, don't buy a Llanelli top, get an Afan Lido one...........it's only cos I used to play for them many, many years ago (I was only 10 at the time..........)...-)

Fuxs sake, those descriptions of Motherwell and Vlore make our town sound like it's the European versoin of the third world!!!! And it makes Vlore sound like a top-notch Adriatic resort..........

Another new supplier if they cease to exist I'd imagine. No-way anyone could blame the club for this change of strip etc if it happens.

<br /><br /><br /> Craggo was composed and assured tonight I thought.......

I think tonight and last week showed that Fraser is no commander of his penalty box. Certainly, on the two games he's played thus far, not No.1 material on that form.

Thought for a second yon summariser was Scott Leitch!!!! Enjoyed their coverage, superb stuff!

Game, set and match! Well done both Jim and Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!

Would agree wit hthat. There have been several situations where our defence should never have allowed the ball to get anywhere near Fraser.

I wonder what McGhee actually saw in him. Cynic in me would say he deliberatley got him signed as he knew full well he was ofski.

They are pissing all over us when balls are pumped into a crowded box, we aint no strength or height in there. Pretty sure that' sone thing Mr Gannon has on his "to do immediately" list.

And a stronger keeper. Really worried about that aspect of things.

I recall the Faroes being £400 back in 1994, and Finland was about the same a year later I think. Remember Dougie McDonald, the shamed Radio Clyde DJ? All he did before the flight home was walk around the departure terminal stealing other folks' chips.

If you watch the video, you'll notice Maxi look to the left telling Watters which post to balloon the ball past! It was justice anyway, Huistra's a cheating wee bassa and that proved it.

Cheers for that! I wonder, how many United and FHW fans were there, and did anyone turn their backs on the Squirm game?

Didn't get one at the time but I got one on E-bay a couple of years ago for just a couple of quid, was absolutely delighted to get it.

I strongly feel we'll seriously pump them. A lot of people have big points to prove if they wish to remain at Fir Park, and there's a lot of pride at stake.