[size=14pt]Eidur Gudjohnsen’s Transfer From Barcelona To Monaco Going Smoothly - Report[/size]
Rumours linking Barcelona and Iceland star Eidur Gudjohnsen with a move to Monaco have been circulating for several weeks. However, yesterday L’Equipe broke the news that a deal might be nearing completion and the Paris-based sportspaper has now confirmed that a deal is close to fruition.
The report hints that Gudjohnsen, who would most likely be used as a forward player in the principality as opposed to the midfield role he often took up with Barca, wants to leave the Catalan giants in order to receive more playing time, something the soon-to-be 31-year-old would be guaranteed at a Monaco side looking for an experienced goal scorer.
Barca’s presence in the principality for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Shakhtar Donetsk on Friday evening – a match they won 1-0 after extra-time – has supposedly acted as a catalyst for this deal to be completed in double-quick time.
L’Equipe has even outlined the terms of the deal, noting that Pep Guardiola’s side are prepared to allow him to leave for no fee. The player is expected to receive a two-year contract worth €3 million-per-season, though this is €1m down on what he presently earns with the Blaugrana.
Monaco face a trip to Sochaux on Saturday evening, as they continue their quest to re-establish themselves as a Ligue 1 heavyweight. Their start to the season has been mixed, with two wins sandwiching a horrible 4-0 defeat away to Nancy.
ogazi007: I missed Eto,all the barcelona fans in my neighborhood were all crying yesterday. this barcelona i watched yesterday remind me of 2007/2008 season under frank. we were so shitty,no motivation,no intelligent passes,no game plan.this ibra will give me HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. Only God will deliver us this season.im not impressed.
People were fighting each other yesterday night at the viewing center where i was watching the match just because of Eto, some said Ibra need times some said is no where near Eto (which is true) Ibra's work rate for the team is so poor, We had some 2 on 2 chances (twice) yesterday nite instead of him to pass the ball, he wants to dribble and score I'm missing Eto'o so much Bojan came in for Ibra against ahtletico Bilbao and after some minutes he scores Pedro came in for Ibra yesterday nite and scores also When his he gonna start scoring?
eyonigger: Khanye, maybe I did not hear the analyst well, I remember a game where eto was jubilating, he ran towards pep and pointed at him saying something. You should be able to remember that match. And it is too early to criticize inbra now, that guy will adapt well.
eyonigger: . And it is too early to criticize ibra now, that guy will adapt well.
Too early When will the guy adapt? Remember Pedro and Bojan may not be able to score goals against teams like Sevilla,Valencia,Getafe and others He's not here to do big boy, na GOALS me want from em Yesterday match got me thinking about Eto again
eyonigger: I was watching ESPN soccernet press pass yesterday, and a football analyst was being asked a question about the sale of eto, he says last season when Barca was playing a crucial match against Ath-bilbao, pep instructed eto''o to move to a specific position so that messi can move in, he says eto refused, then later on he scored, and ran towards pep and pointed to him saying " I told you, I told you" . They claimed a player should not be acting like that towards the clubs manager.
Immediately I heard that, I remembered the Match that Eto displayed such an act, I really do not have a judgment on this though.
Na lie Eyo, Eto scored in Bilbao and he did'nt say anything to Pep Pep hates Eto and that why he wants to dispose him and get IBRA I know he will be regretting his decisions by now Ibra did'nt have a shot on goal last nite the dude is selfish I wonder where we gonna get goals from this season
galatico: Real Madrid don't need to meet any Babalawo for them go go past the second round, we have done our assignments right this time around it's the trophy or nothing else!!!
Assignment ko, Home Work ni Shey na over €250 million wey u use buy players na ur assignment i pity you, cos you go cry at the end of the season
Monaco is a favoured location for UEFA events. They hold their draws there, give out prizes there. And, once a year, the most modest of their club competitions comes here, too: the European Super Cup.
The Stade Louis II plays host to a match that, like Monaco itself, is more about style than substance. It is a branding exercise: a glitzy match in front of the jet set, or at least some of them.
But make no mistake: for the clubs involved it is not simply a formality. Granted, it pales in comparison to the domestic club campaign, but to start the season off right with silverware is everyone's goal.
Blue, Red, And Silver All Over
Barcelona already have a cup this season, of course. Adding to their unprecedented treble of 2008-09 is the Spanish Super Cup, hoisted aloft at Camp Nou last week as Athletic Bilbao were brushed aside.
Barca have changed little as a squad since their Champions League win in Rome back in the spring, but what few alterations there have been are considerable. It's a case of quality over quantity: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come in up front to replace Samuel Eto'o in a move that not all are convinced by - can the Swede turn it on at European level? - while Maxwell arrives at left-back to compete with Eric Abidal.
A few other signings - not least Dmytry Chygrinsky, ex-Shakhtar - and no real departures other than that of Eto'o lend credence to the idea that Pep Guardiola's side are going for all awards yet again.
Orange Crush
Shakhtar, UEFA Cup winners last season, have a few more distractions than even Barca.
Mircea Lucescu's outfit were eliminated from the Champions League by Timisoara, but are flying high in the new Ukrainian season and sailed past Sivasspor in the Europa League to boot.
That gives them a real chance of defending their continental trophy, but a club of Shakhtar's size needs CL football.
With that in mind, an unbeaten, high-scoring start to the domestic season is exactly what the fans expect, but with both a cup match against Dynamo Kyiv and the Barca clash coming up soon, not least tough ties against Metalist and Dnipro in the league, it's far from simple for the Miners.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
August 23 v Athletic Bilbao (H) - WON 3-0 (SUPER CUP)
August 19 v Manchester City (H) - LOST 1-0 (FRIENDLY)
August 16 v Athletic Bilbao (A) - WON 2-1 (SUPER CUP)
August 8 v Chivas Guadalajara (A) - DREW 1-1 (FRIENDLY)
August 6 v Seattle Sounders (A) - WON 4-0 (FRIENDLY)
Shakhtar Donetsk
August 25 v Sivasspor (H) - WON 2-0 (EL)
August 20 v Sivasspor (A) - WON 3-0 (EL)
August 15 v Dniester Ovidiopol (A) - WON 6-1 (LEAGUE)
August 9 v Metalurg Donetsk (H) - WON 4-1 (LEAGUE)
August 5 v Timisoara (A) - DREW 0-0 (CL)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Coach Pep Guardiola has taken the entire senior squad, along with four youth players, to Monaco. There is as yet little indication as to his starting line-up, but expect a strong eleven, with younsters such as Jeffren likely to come off the bench. The man himself said to the CP, "Of course we will field a strong team. Victory is never guaranteed."
Surprisingly, Dmytro Chygrinsky will take part at centre-back for the boys in orange before joining up with the Blaugrana. Coach Mircea Lucescu confirmed as much in a press conference - also stating that he expects other Miners to make the step up to bigger clubs. Lucescu has brought a full squad of 28 to Monaco.
Barcelona - Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The big-money buy himself has much to prove at a European level to his doubters, and there is no time like the present. The onus is on 'Ibra' to find his predatory instinct early and often.
Shakhtar Donetsk - Darijo Srna: The club captain and Croatian ace is one of the players coach Lucescu expects to move on one day. Barcelona have seen the versatile right-back as a potential target in the past - could he haunt them on Friday?
PREDICTION
Barcelona are distracted by a high-profile league opener on Monday, but they are in a competitive winning habit after the Recopa and should have too much for a Shakhtar side with a great deal on their plate.
[size=14pt]Andres Iniesta Set For Euro Super Cup Green Light - Report[/size]
[b]Andres Iniesta is set to be told that he has completely recovered from the injury that he has carried for three months and can play in the European Super Cup this week.
The Barcelona star tore a muscle in his leg in May and that has ensured that he has been unable to train with the rest of the squad throughout pre-season.
Having missed the Confederations Cup with Spain, Iniesta has spent the summer battling to return to action and he hopes that will now come on Friday against Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco.
"I hope to be told I can play in the next few days and return to training fully with the squad," he was quoted as saying by Sport.
"We know that Shakhtar will be a strong team and that it will be a very hard game."
Despite not being involved, Iniesta was delighted with the Spanish Super Cup win against Athletic Bilbao as it boosted Barcelona's confidence.
"The first trophy of the season has been won. I think it is difficult to find a better way to start a season than by winning a trophy," he added.[/b]
European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Chelsea Vs Burnley On Saturday 29th August, 12.45pm Nig Time by khanye(m): 1:48pm On Aug 29, 2009
