Post by Salem6 on Jul 8, 2005 5:08:09 GMT
The Fiver
07 July 2005
Guardian Unlimited's tea-time take on the world of football
guardian.co.uk/football
In today's Fiver: Hells Bells
* * * * * * * * * * * *
FOR WHOM THE BELLAMY TOLLS
The Fiver's all out of giggles today (business as usual then, says
you), so bear with us while we plough through a story about Craig
Bellamy without cracking any lame gags. At the time we went to press,
the closing credits looked set to roll on the soap opera that has
been the Welsh striker's fractious relationship with the good ship
Newcastle and all who sail in her, with Bellamy on the verge of
inking a contract with Blackeye Rovers.
Despite spending the second half of last season shipped out on loan to
Celtic after calling his manager Graeme Souness a "liar" in a TV
interview, Bellamy had insisted he wanted to stay at Newcastle and
vowed to report for pre-season training next week. This now looks
unlikely, as Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd confirmed Bellamy was
discussing a move that would see him reunited with former Wales
manager, Mark Hughes, at Ewood Park. "Right now, Craig is talking to
Blackburn and undergoing a medical," Shepherd declared, before
confirming that Celtic were trying to lure Bellamy back to Glasgow
right up until Rovers turned his head.
"I can assure Celtic fans that their club did everything within its
power to try and get the player, but it seems the lure of the
Premiership is obviously too much," he explained, helpless to resist
a final dig at his GBP6m striker and Scottish football. Bellamy's
imminent departure - no fee has yet been mentioned - means that
Graeme Souness will step up his efforts to prise Turkey international
Emre Belozoglu away from Inter, while defender Robbie Elliott,
striker Michael Chopra and goalkeeper Tony Caig formed an orderly
queue outside Freddy Shepherd's office this morning to sign new
one-year contracts.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There is no doubt that Villa are a massive club that possibly haven't
fulfilled their potential over the last few years. But I've felt that
Villa are a club with the same sort of status as Newcastle, and that
we are capable of doing big things here. I genuinely believe that we
have all the ingredients in place this season to be a good side who
will be pushing for Europe at least" - Aaron Hughes takes that
special Magpies brand of delusion with him to the Midlands.
*********************
ADVERT
Get two free cinema tickets and free unlimited DVD rentals for a month
when you subscribe to the Guardian's new DVD rental service:
www.guardian.co.uk/sofacinema
*********************
THE RUMOUR MILL
Having been stood up by Steven Gerrard, Chelsea are ready for some
retail therapy - Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael
Essien are all on their shopping list.
Juventus suits are flying into London with a big bag of cash and have
booked an extra seat on the return leg for Arsenal skipper Patrick
Vieira.
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is currently freaking out Crystal
Palace hit-man Andy Johnson with his best attempt at a "come hither"
look.
With his Manchester United contract as unsigned as a tone deaf indie
band, Rio Ferdinand could leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid's
Bernabeu stadium.
And Jerzy Dudek is threatening to quit Anfield, what with Jose Reina
turning up to fill his boots, in every sense of the expression.
* * * * * * * * * * *
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ronaldinho's agent has denied reports Chelsea are set to make a
GBP54.5m offer for the ever-grinning Barcelona striker.
Injury-prone goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will taste his first action for
more than six months when he plays for West Brom in a pre-season
friendly at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
The chairman of the Stockport County Supporters' Trust, Norman
Beverley, has revealed they will complete their takeover of the
League Two club "in the next 24 hours".
Greater Manchester Police have issued Wigan with a High Court summons
over the matter of an unpaid GBP273,602 security bill.
And Coventry have received approval from the Football League for their
plan to swap the opening fixture of their Championship season with
Norwich to Carrow Road.
* * * * * * * * * * *
FIVER LETTERS
"To all the whinging Koppites talking about Gerrard the True Red.
Please look for a photo of him from 1995, having his photograph taken
with the FA Cup, proudly wearing a blue shirt. Who could it be? Well
Stevie, once a blue always a blue, as our mate Wayne said" - Neil
Finegan, Chester.
"Re: Julian Buchanan's missive (yesterday's Fiver letters). Someone
born within spitting distance of Anfield called Julian? A likely
story. Mind you, he does a good self-righteous rant so he could be
Scouse after all" - Catherine McAllister.
"I don't think the Fiver should be so hard on itself about it's
criticism of $tevie G. Maybe it was not the sight of angry
Liverpudlians or the dulcet tones of Rick Parry's bedtime story that
convinced the G-man to stay on Merseyside. Perhaps it was the sharp
and cutting wit of his five o'clock email" - Ian Hambleton.
"Re: your comments on Tuesday about $teve Gerard. I guess now that
your tower of cynicism has fallen around your ears, you might admit
not all footballers are money-grabbing mercenaries" - Joesph Gibson.
"So $tevie G has decided to stay at Liverpool after much (highly
visible) brow-furrowing. It seems that a 67% salary increase halfway
through his current contract is enough to keep the boy at the club he
claims to love so much. All bow in admiration at the man's loyalty,
selflessness and humility" - Ken Dunphy.
"Anyone else think that Gerrard's back-tracking is down to the fact
that moving to a decent football club would open everyone's eyes to
the fact that he is the most over-rated player around? He looks very
good when compared against Liverpool's mediocre team but that's not
really that much" - James Hankin.
"I'm yet again astounded by the ability of Scousers to organise a
baying mob at a moment's notice - it's almost as if they've got
nothing better to do" - Mike Frost.
"Can I just let any of your Man City, Bolton and Everton readers who
might be visiting Thailand later in the month for the FA Premier
League Asia Trophy Bangkok 2005 know that ticket details are now up
on the Bangkok website of
www.thaiticketmaster.com/sport/faleague_eng.php" - Bredbury
Blue, Bangkok.
"Re: uses for a 35mm film cannister. Perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson can use
one to house all the trophies he won last year" - Phil Marion.
Want to get something off your chest? Send your letters to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk. Oh, and if you need any more incentive, the
best letter of the day will win a classy T-shirt from
fiver.goalhanger.com/. Today's winner: Phil Marion.
**********************
TONIGHT'S TV & RADIO
Five: Confederations Cup Football - Brazil v Greece and Tunisia v
Germany (2am)
"Aged 17, at the urging of a mate, I agreed to 'run interference' and
distract his intended target's cousin at the local disco," says
Patrick Worth, introducing today's petty dumping tale.
Argentinian Football (5.10am)
"Much to my surprise, she was actually dead keen, and I suddenly
found myself stepping out with a fairly presentable,
healthily-proportioned lass called, for the purposes of this tale,
'Jane'.
Sky Sports 1: Mourinho Special (7.30pm)
"Having just transferred out of an all-boys boarding school, life
couldn't be better as I was introduced to all sorts of interesting
new experiences.
Sky Sports 3: Fifa Football Mundial (5pm)
"About a month into this whirlwind romance/gropathon, she announced
that she was a massive Cranberries fan. Her room was bedecked in
posters and memorabilia.
BBC Radio Five: Sport on Five (7pm)
"Then she put on 'Zombie'." Ah.
Talksport: Kick Off (7pm)
"I was an indie shoe-gazer who would go into toxic shock in the
absence of a copy of NME.
Newstalk 106 (www.newstalk106.ie): Off the ball with Ger Gilroy (7pm)
"I dumped her on the spot." Send your equally petty dumping tales to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk, marked A Partner's Take On Classic 70s
Sci-Fi Is Important, Actually.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVER
You can subscribe and unsubscribe at
www.guardian.co.uk/football/fiver
* * * * * * * * * * * *
CONTACT THE FIVER
If you want to contact the Fiver, email the.boss@guardian.co.uk.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Fiver was written by Barry Glendenning. Guardian Unlimited (c)
Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005. Registered in England and Wales.
No.908396. Registered office: 164 Deansgate, Manchester.
07 July 2005
Guardian Unlimited's tea-time take on the world of football
guardian.co.uk/football
In today's Fiver: Hells Bells
* * * * * * * * * * * *
FOR WHOM THE BELLAMY TOLLS
The Fiver's all out of giggles today (business as usual then, says
you), so bear with us while we plough through a story about Craig
Bellamy without cracking any lame gags. At the time we went to press,
the closing credits looked set to roll on the soap opera that has
been the Welsh striker's fractious relationship with the good ship
Newcastle and all who sail in her, with Bellamy on the verge of
inking a contract with Blackeye Rovers.
Despite spending the second half of last season shipped out on loan to
Celtic after calling his manager Graeme Souness a "liar" in a TV
interview, Bellamy had insisted he wanted to stay at Newcastle and
vowed to report for pre-season training next week. This now looks
unlikely, as Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd confirmed Bellamy was
discussing a move that would see him reunited with former Wales
manager, Mark Hughes, at Ewood Park. "Right now, Craig is talking to
Blackburn and undergoing a medical," Shepherd declared, before
confirming that Celtic were trying to lure Bellamy back to Glasgow
right up until Rovers turned his head.
"I can assure Celtic fans that their club did everything within its
power to try and get the player, but it seems the lure of the
Premiership is obviously too much," he explained, helpless to resist
a final dig at his GBP6m striker and Scottish football. Bellamy's
imminent departure - no fee has yet been mentioned - means that
Graeme Souness will step up his efforts to prise Turkey international
Emre Belozoglu away from Inter, while defender Robbie Elliott,
striker Michael Chopra and goalkeeper Tony Caig formed an orderly
queue outside Freddy Shepherd's office this morning to sign new
one-year contracts.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There is no doubt that Villa are a massive club that possibly haven't
fulfilled their potential over the last few years. But I've felt that
Villa are a club with the same sort of status as Newcastle, and that
we are capable of doing big things here. I genuinely believe that we
have all the ingredients in place this season to be a good side who
will be pushing for Europe at least" - Aaron Hughes takes that
special Magpies brand of delusion with him to the Midlands.
*********************
ADVERT
Get two free cinema tickets and free unlimited DVD rentals for a month
when you subscribe to the Guardian's new DVD rental service:
www.guardian.co.uk/sofacinema
*********************
THE RUMOUR MILL
Having been stood up by Steven Gerrard, Chelsea are ready for some
retail therapy - Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael
Essien are all on their shopping list.
Juventus suits are flying into London with a big bag of cash and have
booked an extra seat on the return leg for Arsenal skipper Patrick
Vieira.
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is currently freaking out Crystal
Palace hit-man Andy Johnson with his best attempt at a "come hither"
look.
With his Manchester United contract as unsigned as a tone deaf indie
band, Rio Ferdinand could leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid's
Bernabeu stadium.
And Jerzy Dudek is threatening to quit Anfield, what with Jose Reina
turning up to fill his boots, in every sense of the expression.
* * * * * * * * * * *
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ronaldinho's agent has denied reports Chelsea are set to make a
GBP54.5m offer for the ever-grinning Barcelona striker.
Injury-prone goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will taste his first action for
more than six months when he plays for West Brom in a pre-season
friendly at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
The chairman of the Stockport County Supporters' Trust, Norman
Beverley, has revealed they will complete their takeover of the
League Two club "in the next 24 hours".
Greater Manchester Police have issued Wigan with a High Court summons
over the matter of an unpaid GBP273,602 security bill.
And Coventry have received approval from the Football League for their
plan to swap the opening fixture of their Championship season with
Norwich to Carrow Road.
* * * * * * * * * * *
FIVER LETTERS
"To all the whinging Koppites talking about Gerrard the True Red.
Please look for a photo of him from 1995, having his photograph taken
with the FA Cup, proudly wearing a blue shirt. Who could it be? Well
Stevie, once a blue always a blue, as our mate Wayne said" - Neil
Finegan, Chester.
"Re: Julian Buchanan's missive (yesterday's Fiver letters). Someone
born within spitting distance of Anfield called Julian? A likely
story. Mind you, he does a good self-righteous rant so he could be
Scouse after all" - Catherine McAllister.
"I don't think the Fiver should be so hard on itself about it's
criticism of $tevie G. Maybe it was not the sight of angry
Liverpudlians or the dulcet tones of Rick Parry's bedtime story that
convinced the G-man to stay on Merseyside. Perhaps it was the sharp
and cutting wit of his five o'clock email" - Ian Hambleton.
"Re: your comments on Tuesday about $teve Gerard. I guess now that
your tower of cynicism has fallen around your ears, you might admit
not all footballers are money-grabbing mercenaries" - Joesph Gibson.
"So $tevie G has decided to stay at Liverpool after much (highly
visible) brow-furrowing. It seems that a 67% salary increase halfway
through his current contract is enough to keep the boy at the club he
claims to love so much. All bow in admiration at the man's loyalty,
selflessness and humility" - Ken Dunphy.
"Anyone else think that Gerrard's back-tracking is down to the fact
that moving to a decent football club would open everyone's eyes to
the fact that he is the most over-rated player around? He looks very
good when compared against Liverpool's mediocre team but that's not
really that much" - James Hankin.
"I'm yet again astounded by the ability of Scousers to organise a
baying mob at a moment's notice - it's almost as if they've got
nothing better to do" - Mike Frost.
"Can I just let any of your Man City, Bolton and Everton readers who
might be visiting Thailand later in the month for the FA Premier
League Asia Trophy Bangkok 2005 know that ticket details are now up
on the Bangkok website of
www.thaiticketmaster.com/sport/faleague_eng.php" - Bredbury
Blue, Bangkok.
"Re: uses for a 35mm film cannister. Perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson can use
one to house all the trophies he won last year" - Phil Marion.
Want to get something off your chest? Send your letters to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk. Oh, and if you need any more incentive, the
best letter of the day will win a classy T-shirt from
fiver.goalhanger.com/. Today's winner: Phil Marion.
**********************
TONIGHT'S TV & RADIO
Five: Confederations Cup Football - Brazil v Greece and Tunisia v
Germany (2am)
"Aged 17, at the urging of a mate, I agreed to 'run interference' and
distract his intended target's cousin at the local disco," says
Patrick Worth, introducing today's petty dumping tale.
Argentinian Football (5.10am)
"Much to my surprise, she was actually dead keen, and I suddenly
found myself stepping out with a fairly presentable,
healthily-proportioned lass called, for the purposes of this tale,
'Jane'.
Sky Sports 1: Mourinho Special (7.30pm)
"Having just transferred out of an all-boys boarding school, life
couldn't be better as I was introduced to all sorts of interesting
new experiences.
Sky Sports 3: Fifa Football Mundial (5pm)
"About a month into this whirlwind romance/gropathon, she announced
that she was a massive Cranberries fan. Her room was bedecked in
posters and memorabilia.
BBC Radio Five: Sport on Five (7pm)
"Then she put on 'Zombie'." Ah.
Talksport: Kick Off (7pm)
"I was an indie shoe-gazer who would go into toxic shock in the
absence of a copy of NME.
Newstalk 106 (www.newstalk106.ie): Off the ball with Ger Gilroy (7pm)
"I dumped her on the spot." Send your equally petty dumping tales to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk, marked A Partner's Take On Classic 70s
Sci-Fi Is Important, Actually.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVER
You can subscribe and unsubscribe at
www.guardian.co.uk/football/fiver
* * * * * * * * * * * *
CONTACT THE FIVER
If you want to contact the Fiver, email the.boss@guardian.co.uk.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Fiver was written by Barry Glendenning. Guardian Unlimited (c)
Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005. Registered in England and Wales.
No.908396. Registered office: 164 Deansgate, Manchester.