As well as Falcao rumoured to be close to signing.

Easy one - both parties wanted it to happen, so it was an easy enough one to sort out.

Played well for us last season, no reason not to keep him.

Juventus players that won the Champions League against Ajax in 1996 were doped with EPO (I guess it's Erythropoietin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythropoietin), according to italian scientists cited this Wednesday by the public dutch tv NOS.

Giuseppe d'Onofrio y Alessandro Donati, 2 italian scientists presented by NOS as specialists in doping, arrived to this conclusion by accessing the documents that were confiscated in the registry of the locals (Juve) in 1998.

For these 2 scientists, that saw the analysis of the blood samples of the players, there's no doubt that the Juventus players prepared themselves with EPO before their final game against Ajax. 

According to their website, NOS will give the full story on Sunday with the complete declarations of these 2 scientists. 

Between the winners of that Champions League we can find Didier Deschamps, who has been a suspect for taking EPO various times throughout his career.

Source in spanish: http://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbolinternacional/articulo-423417-jugadores-de-juventus-ganaron-champions-1996-estaban-d

I translated.

Stevemanics said: "Don't you ever get bored of the whole #Juvescum thing"

Same old JUVESCUM!!

 

Roberto Martinez: Wigan boss set to decide on future

 

Roberto Martinez will make a decision on his future at Wigan in the next 24 hours after holding talks with chairman Dave Whelan at lunchtime today.

The pair will meet again on Thursday when Martinez will reveal whether or not he plans to stay following Wigan's relegation from the Premier League.

Martinez and Wigan

Martinez played for Wigan 229 times between 1995 and 2001 when they were a Football League side, winning the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1999. He has taken charge of 175 games as manager

 

"Roberto has asked for 24 hours to think about what is going on," Whelan told BBC Sport. "Tomorrow is D-Day."

Wigan have yet to receive a formal approach for the highly-rated Spaniard.

But 39-year-old Martinez, who led the Latics to FA Cup success this season, has been linked with Everton, Stoke City and Spanish club Malaga. Whelan, however, remains hopeful his manager will stay after talks on Wednesday.

"I had a meeting with Roberto at noon today," the Wigan chairman said.

"It was very constructive and Roberto is a very honest person to talk to. He is so disappointed at getting relegated, as I am, that I don't think he has come round yet to the idea that we have just got to gear up, accept it - that's football - and get back as soon as possible, that's next season."

Play media

 

We had an incredible journey - Martinez

Whelan revealed that Martinez had taken the club's relegation hard but hoped their relationship would see the Wigan manager stay to return the club to the top-flight.

"It does take some swallowing when you get relegated, I fully understand that," Whelan added.

"Tomorrow it is a straightforward meeting and he is going to say 'yes I want to stay at Wigan Athletic' or 'I wish to move and take my services elsewhere.'"

 

Blates leaving for me. Will be interesting to see where he goes. 

 

PFA investigates decision to fine Sunderland players

 

The disciplinary action taken by Paolo Di Canio against several Sunderland players is being investigated by the Professional Footballers' Association.

 

Players' union chief Gordon Taylor said the Black Cats manager could not be "a law unto himself".

Di Canio said last week he had fined seven players and had threatened to sell those who had misbehaved.

 

Taylor said the PFA would determine if the punishments were "acceptable" or if there were grounds for an appeal.

"I wouldn't want to go any further at this moment, so as not to prejudice any particular situation," he said.

 

Taylor admitted there had been contact between the PFA and Sunderland players already, while discussions had also been held with the Premier League club.

"There has been some complaints, yes," said Taylor.

 

Di Canio took over from Martin O'Neill as manager of the Wearside club in March and has won two of his seven games in charge to help the club avoid relegation.

 

The 44-year-old Italian was scathing about the behaviour of some of his players following the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on the final day of the season.

Black Cats defenders Phil Bardsley and Matthew Kilgallon were left out of the squad for the game at White Hart Lane, having been pictured in a casino  in midweek.

 

"Nobody says we're against discipline at the PFA. but it's got to be proportionate," said Taylor. "We have a recommended code for clubs to adhere to.

Play media

 

Di Canio critical of misbehaving players

 

"Players know when they've done wrong and when they've been a problem. For the most part, they will accept that.

"But it's not always good to have the manager coming out in public. These things are better dealt with person to person internally and it's better for the future."

 

Fifteen years ago, Di Canio was represented by Taylor after pushing over referee Paul Alcock in 1998 when he was a Sheffield Wednesday player.

 

"I can remember representing him many years ago when he had his problem with the referee at Sheffield Wednesday," said Taylor.

 

"I don't want to add fuel to the flames, merely to say Paolo was a player and member of the PFA.

 

"The PFA were there for Paolo when he was a player and we'll be there for him with his players. He is aware of the role of the PFA and knows we are there for the players.

 

"Paolo can't be a law unto himself. There are rule and regulations to abide by - and that goes for the disciplining of players as well."

 

 

I don't see that fining players for going out is wrong, so I don't think the PFA will find anything appeal-worthy.

I think Di Canio is a prick, but he'll be good fun.

Sunderlands squad needs a cleansing anyway and I am sure he'll make big changes in summer.

Fulham have signed defender Fernando Amorebieta and midfielder Derek Boateng on free transfers.
 
Venezuela defender Amorebieta, 28, has signed a four-year deal at Craven Cottage after eight seasons in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao.
 
Ghana international Boateng, 30, joins on a one-year contract after leaving Ukrainian side Dnipro.
 
Amorebieta said: "I'm impressed with the talent already at the club and look forward to meeting the players."
 
Fulham have now signed three players for next season, having taken up an option to permanently sign Sascha Riether from Cologne after a successful season-long loan spell.

 

Petrov thrilled to take on new role in backroom staff

 

Stan Petrov to stay on at Villa to nurture young talent.

 

Stiliyan Petrov will take up a new role as assistant to Villa development coach Gordon Cowans, the Club is delighted to confirm.

 

Villa's 33-year-old former captain announced his retirement on May 9, 2013 having battled successfully against acute leukaemia.

 

The 'Support Stan' campaign reached an emotional climax when a packed Villa Park paid special tribute following the home game against Chelsea on May 11, a scene which was warmly repeated last Sunday at Wigan's DW Stadium.

 

With his leukaemia in remission since August 2012, Villa's new assistant development coach is determined to pass on his experience on and off the field to the next generation of players emerging through the Club's highly-regarded Academy system.

 

"I'm very excited by this new challenge and I wish to thank the Club and the manager, Paul Lambert, for giving me the opportunity to continue my association with Villa, which I have always regarded as a privilege," Petrov said.

 

"I will study for my coaching badges over the coming months and I am looking forward very much to working with Gordon Cowans, someone I know and respect, a true Villa legend.

 

"My hope is that I can assist Gordon through my own experience in the game and that I can help the young lads to progress, become better players and better human beings. There are important values that we have always stood for at the Club and we will continue to do so.

 

"As I have said several times recently, the Club has been amazing with me, from the fans to the Chairman, Randy Lerner, the chief executive, Paul Faulkner, the manager and the players, as well as staff at Bodymoor and Villa Park.

 

"The main thing for me, however, is that it is not for sentimental reasons that I will be taking up this role but because I have something to contribute and I really want to do this.

 

"The manager allowed me to sit on the bench on Sunday at Wigan so that I could get some perspective from the coaching and management side. I travelled with the team and was able to see close-hand and from a new viewpoint just how the first team prepares for a game and the many elements during a game. I'm looking forward to imparting some of my knowledge and continuing to learn as I grow into the role.

 

"Everyone knows that the Villa fans have been magnificent all the way with me and, one more, a big and genuine thank you to you all. But I want to take this opportunity to thank the Wigan fans also. I was shocked by how incredible the response was from all of the fans when I walked back on the pitch after Sunday's game. Everybody stayed, everybody stood and everybody applauded. It was a very powerful demonstration of how united football can be.

 

"So thank you to the Wigan fans and thank you to Wigan Football Club for making Sunday even more special for me.

 

"Finally, thank you to football fans everywhere because I know how fans of so many clubs in many countries have accepted me into their hearts and stood by me during my illness.

 

"My gratitude will hopefully be evident from what I intend to put back in the game with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my ability."

 

In addition to achieving the highest status of the Barclays Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in an independent audit of the Club's youth development programmes during the 2012-13 season, the Villa Academy emerged as the No.1 ranked Academy in the country.

 

Cowans and Petrov have the task of nurturing these talented youngsters through to a level at which they may be capable of stepping up to the first team squad.

 

Villa manager Paul Lambert said: "I'm delighted that Stiliyan will be assisting Gordon when the new season gets under way and, as much as he's offered this football club in a distinguished playing career, I know he'll have more still to offer in the years to come through what he will be able to impart to the younger lads.

 

"I had this thought in my head, I spoke to Randy and to Paul about it and we're all really pleased that Stiliyan accepted the role.

 

"He has a great deal to offer, first and foremost because of the way he is as a guy. He's always been one of the most committed, dedicated and driven individuals and he's always strived to be successful.

 

"As an international player, too, he' been around the block. He's been the captain at a big club and he's captained his national team, Bulgaria, so his knowledge is of the highest order.

 

"The scenes on Sunday after our final game of the season at Wigan and the scenes immediately following our final home game against Chelsea served to emphasise how deeply the bond goes between Stiliyan and this club. It was moving and it was a measure of the man.

 

"His qualities will be put to good, practical use now and he'll have a key role to play for Villa, that's for sure."

 

 

Great start to our summer. I think Petrov will add a lot, the players will have grown up with him as our captain and everyone around Villa has been so involved in 'Support Stan' the campaign.

I was hoping he'd take a role at the club, but didn't think he would, so I am pleased to have been wrong on that count. I don't think its a token gesture either, I think he'll be good at the job

Wigan

Spurs

Swansea

Ireland

St Patricks Athletic

Drogheda United

Derry City

Northern Ireland

Glentoran

Crusaders

Linfield

Wales

Prestatyn Town

Airbus UK Broughton

Bala Town

Scotland

Motherwell

St. Johnstone

Hibernian

This year England have 3 teams who will probably take this quite seriously

Wigan - into the groups with a low co-efficient meaning they will be ranked quite low.

Spurs - in the play-offs and will be seeded.

Swansea - into the third round. Will probably be seeded at this stage but with a lot of teams still to qualify I can't really tell

St. Pats and Drogheda are in the first round, with Pats seeded and Drogheda unseeded. Think this draw will be regionalised. Pats will have a chance, obviously depending on the draw, Drogheda would be doubtful to beat anybody.

Derry go into round 2 unseeded after being banned from European football for the last few years

All 6 Northen and Welsh teams are in the first round. All 3 Northern teams are currently in seeded positions but unlikely to stay there, except Linfield.

I've never even heard of the 3 Welsh sides so I'd expect them all to take a beating.

Scotland have 2 teams in the second round and 1 in the third. Who gets put through to the third depends on the winner of the Scottish Cup. If Hibs win they get it, if not Motherwell do.

Draw for first 2 rounds is on the 24th of June

 

New York City Football Club will enter the MLS in 2015 after a deal thought to be worth $100m (£66m) was struck. The new club will play in a temporary home until a new stadium is built.

 

"We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City soccer," said Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano. Discussions over the construction of a new stadium for NYCFC at Flushing Meadows in the Queens borough of the city are under way.

The new franchise, the 20th in the MLS, will be the first in the city itself but the second in the metropolitan area, with New York Red Bulls based in Harrison, New Jersey.

The Yankees have previously had commercial associations with Premier League champions Manchester United.
City will be the majority owners of the new franchise and Soriano added: "New York is a legendary sports town, as well as a thriving global city with a rapidly expanding soccer fanbase.
"In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organisation and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride."

City are currently in the United States, where they will play two post-season friendlies against Chelsea, in St Louis on 23 May and at Yankee Stadium on 25 May.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22615026