http://soccercombo.com Soccer news from around the world, European football, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, US Major League and many more. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:32:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From Tranmere's John Barnes to stroppy players and footballing Stans, test your knowledge here http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football+content/quiz Check all the dates and kick-off times of the upcoming season's fixtures by league or by team with our comprehensive site http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-fixtures-2009-10 Michael Owen stars as a hitchhiker and more. Now we want your Stuart Pearces http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/jul/01/michael-owen-gallery A look at all the new home and away kits unveiled so far for the 2009/10 Premier League season http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/jul/01/premierleague-arsenal Kenny Dalglish returns to Liverpool to take up a senior role at the club's academy and act as a club ambassador. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8012611.stm Paul Quinn's protracted move from Motherwell to Cardiff City is expected to be completed on Saturday. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/8134318.stm Manchester City close in on Eto'o, plus other rumours http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/8134154.stm Michael Chopra has completed his club record £4m move to Championship side Cardiff City from Sunderland. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8134271.stm • Mike Ashley set to take whopping loss on investment• Malaysians shown around St James' Park on ThursdayA Malaysian consortium reportedly submitted an £80m bid to Mike Ashley for control of Newcastle United yesterday. The Malaysians, who were shown round St James' Park on Thursday after watching the slightly bemused ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/04/newcastle-mike-ashley-malaysian-consortium • Scot will work with commercial side of club's business• Dalglish to 'drive forward Liverpool's academy'Kenny Dalglish is returning to Liverpool to take up a senior role in their academy and as a global ambassador for the club.The Scot made his name as a player at Anfield before going on ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/kenny-dalglish-returns-liverpool Manchester United scored a paltry 68 goals last season. Owen's unerring finishing could help them find their rhythmThe willingness to sign Michael Owen makes Sir Alex Ferguson look as much a collector as a manager. There might already be a cabinet reserved in some museum of football for a player ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-transfer-manchester-united • Former England midfielder has signed two-year deal• 41-year-old was sacked after six months at BlackburnPaul Ince has returned to MK Dons for his second spell as manager little more than a year after leaving for Blackburn.The former Manchester United and England midfielder has signed a two-year deal with the ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/paul-ince-returns-mk-dons • Owen signing takes just three days for United to complete• 'A fantastic opportunity and one I will seize with both hands'Michael Owen tonight signed a two-year contract with Manchester United after completing a rigorous medical examination to dispel some of the concerns surrounding his injury problems.Owen underwent a series ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-manchester-united-transfer Paul Ince returns to Milton Keynes Dons for a second spell as manager one year after leaving the club to take over at Blackburn http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/8133652.stm • Players in City dressing room on good terms with defender• Chelsea reluctance to negotiate among obstacles to moveManchester City are to persist in their attempts to sign John Terry amid a growing sense within the club that the Chelsea captain is seriously considering his future and could be tempted ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/john-terry-manchester-city-transfer-chelsea1 Manchester United seal the capture of free agent Michael Owen after he signs a two-year deal with the club. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8131801.stm Chelsea sign striker Daniel Sturridge from Premier League rivals Manchester City. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8067000.stm Arsenal's England Under-21 left back Kieran Gibbs signs a contract extension at the Emirates Stadium. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8133725.stm • Owen expected to join United if he comes through medical• Striker has left Carrington for more tests at a hospitalMichael Owen is expected to complete his shock move to Manchester United this evening once final medical checks have been conducted. The former Newcastle and England striker spent the day ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-manchester-united • Alan Shearer keen to move midfielder on if appointed• Barton's £65,000 a week wages present stumbling blockBirmingham City manager Alex McLeish is keen to take Joey Barton off Newcastle's hands – but only on an initial season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer. Barton had been suspended ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/joey-barton-newcastle-birmingham Sheffield United start talks with Tommy Smith, John Joe O'Toole and Michael McIndoe after having bids accepted for all three players http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/8132403.stm • Arsenal manager has made Bordeaux striker top priority• Frenchman says Real Madrid distort pricesArsène Wenger is confident Emmanuel Adebayor will remain at Arsenal but he has revealed he would consider buying the Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh as a possible replacement.The future of the Togo striker is yet to be ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/arsenal-adebayor-marouane-chamakh • Former boxer to raise funds for Muhammad Ali Centre• Will visit Britannia Stadium, Wembley and Old TraffordMuhammad Ali will travel to England this summer and the former world heavyweight champion has selected an eclectic list of venues to visit. Old Trafford and Wembley may seem like obvious choices for ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/muhammed-ali-stoke-city-britannia • Halford becomes third new signing in four days • Utility man hopeful of proving himself in top flightWolves have completed the signing of Sunderland's Greg Halford for an undisclosed fee. Halford has signed a three-year deal – with an option for a further 12 months – at Molineux to ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/greg-halford-wolves-sunderland Wolves wrap up their third signing of the week, Sunderland defender Greg Halford for an undisclosed fee. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/8132901.stm If he signs, Owen will come off the bench when United are failing to convert chances - like Kris Boyd at Rangers, only less soThe ballyhoo ignited by Michael Owen's proposed move to Manchester United is – surely – out of proportion to the relatively minor importance of the player ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-manchester-united-transfer-football Farsley Celtic are left without a league to play in next season as the Football Conference kick them out of the Blue Square North for going into administration. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8132775.stm Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus signs a one-year contract extension at Fratton Park. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8132817.stm From Jared Borgetti's turn and swivel to poor old Chris Brass, here's half a dozen spectacular headers1) Marco Van Basten (MILAN v Real Madrid, 1989 European Cup semi-final, first leg)It was 20 years since Milan had won the European Cup and here they were in the first leg of the ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/03/joy-of-six-great-headers • Former Fifa referee will help develop officals• 'An inspired choice,' says Mike GattingPremier League referee Steve Bennett has been appointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board as an independent director of their new association of cricket officials. The former Fifa referee, who also works as an instructor for ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/03/steve-bennett-cricket-ecb Nottingham Forest sign Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp after a successful loan spell at the City Ground last season. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/8131128.stm Luton start life outside the Football League with a trip to AFC Wimbledon on the first day of the Blue Square Premier season. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8132542.stm Premier League football referee Steve Bennett is to switch sports to take up a new role with the England and Wales Cricket Board. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/cricket/8132360.stm Sidelined in Madrid and pilloried on Tyneside, the striker can again prove his critics wrongThe paradox of Michael Owen's prolific career is that he has been required to spend so much of it confounding his many doubters. This contradiction first surfaced back in the halcyon days of France 98. Forget ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-manchester-united-newcastle Relegated sides Lewes and Weymouth meet on the opening day of Blue Square South. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8132242.stm Today's chatter doesn't understand anything any more. Except Steel PantherCripes. The Mill was going to begin today with that Blackburn and Wolves are competing for the affection of Sol Campbell, but given the widespread gibbering about Michael Owen and Manchester United, we can't rule out the creaking former England centreback ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/football-transfer-rumours-michael-owen-peter-crouch • 29-year-old could have medical today• United hope striker can rebuild career with championsMichael Owen is on the verge of an astonishing move to Manchester United to supply some of the goals that have been lost in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez leaving Old Trafford. Owen, recently ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/02/michael-owen-manchester-united-transfer Chelsea say they have "completely rejected" a second approach from Manchester City for England captain John Terry. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8131944.stm Track all the latest signings http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/8125943.stm Blackburn are set to sign veteran Italian striker Christian Vieri, plus other rumours http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/8131978.stm BUENOS AIRES, July 3 (Reuters) - A team of disparate talents knitted into an exciting Huracan team by coach Angel Cappa meet Ricardo Gareca's solid Velez Sarsfield to settle the Argentine Clausura championship on Sunday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKWorldFootballNews/~3/LDXfGV89z1M/SP531452.php BUENOS AIRES, July 2 (Reuters) - Argentina want to play arch-rivals Brazil at Rosario Central and not River Plate in their World Cup qualifier on Sept. 5 to generate more support from the fans, coach Diego Maradona said on Thursday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKWorldFootballNews/~3/ETVU97hQf7g/SP534786.php MIAMI, July 2 (Reuters) - Schalke 04 and former Germany under-21 midfielder Jermaine Jones could be eligible to play for the United States as early as August, U.S Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said on Thursday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKWorldFootballNews/~3/1K0GO0tk768/L2417970.php • City willing to double Terry's current salary• Chelsea statement: 'John Terry is not for sale'Manchester City are considering whether to return to Chelsea with an improved bid for John Terry after failing with an offer described as being between £25m and £30m for the England captain last night.The official ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/john-terry-manchester-city-transfer-chelsea RIO DE JANEIRO, July 2 (Reuters) - Striker Wellington scored twice to earn Cruzeiro a 2-2 draw at 10-man Gremio on Thursday, setting up a Libertadores Cup final clash with Estudiantes. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKWorldFootballNews/~3/eJbUVmRIm24/SP535442.php • Rights issue could reduce club's £440m debts• Jack Wilshere commits future to north London clubThe Arsenal board of directors are to spend more time scrutinising a proposed rights issue put forward and underwritten by the Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, the second biggest investor in the club, before they decide ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/arsenal-alisher-usmanov-arsene-wenger • Defender out of contract and concerned about club's finances• Campbell angry that players like Glen Johnson have departedSol Campbell fears for the future of Portsmouth and warned the club they cannot start next season without new owners and stability in the boardroom. The captain is among a group of ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/sol-campbell-portsmouth-peter-storrie • Chelsea adamant that their captain is not for sale• City keen to add Terry as they look to break into eliteChelsea say they have dismissed an offer from Manchester City for John Terry. City have held a long-standing interest the Chelsea and England captain to their squad, but their ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/02/chelsea-john-terry-manchester-city Walsall centre-back Anthony Gerrard joins Cardiff with Motherwell defender Paul Quinn expected to follow. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8131294.stm MEXICO CITY, July 2 (Reuters) - Mexico forward Omar Arellano will miss the Gold Cup in the U.S. with a foot injury, the Mexican Football Federation said on Thursday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKWorldFootballNews/~3/lrBIsWiuOT4/SP533694.php