More transfer gossip and blah blahbedy blah.

Liverpool cheif exec. Christian Purslow says that Rafael Benitez's postion is safe despit the untimely exit from the Champions League.

Purslow- "He is under no threat. I'm on the record as saying Rafa's signed a new five-year contract - he's four months into that contract so to discuss that is not appropriate."

Liverpool exited the Champions League despite a win over Debrecen last night.

"It was our own fault in the end, the late goals we have conceded along the way have cost us," said Benitez. "We have been so good in the last few years that maybe people think it is easy to qualify in all competitions.We have to be disappointed, we knew we had to win and we did that. You cannot change what happened in Florence but at least we did our job."

He also addressed the financial tow this setback will take- "You have a budget at the beginning of the season and it assumes that we have qualified for the group stages of the Champions League. We did this," said the Spaniard. "Two or three more games maybe, in terms of money, won't make such a big difference."The main thing for us is to finish in the top four and to be in the Champions League group stages again next year."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8377808.stm

Arsenal move in for Agbonlahor

Arsenal will put in a transfer request for Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor if all goes well for him this season. They will be putting £17m into the Aston Villa kitty to get a transfer. They had been tracking Agbonlahor for and in 2007, when they were tipped to get hold of the striker, they went for the Croatian striker, Eduardo, instead. Agbonlahor is happy with life at Villa Park but understands that a chance at Championship League football would make it easier for him to get into Fabio Capello's England first team.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/109861/Arsenal-to-swoop-for-Gabi-Agbonlahor-if-he-stays-consistent-/

Vidic may leave Manchester United for elsewhere in Europe. (Its daily mail so don't get sad or excited)

He has been denying reports that his wife, Ana, is unhappy with life in England for quite a while now. It is said that he would leave Manchester United for a club in Spain. However, he says otherwise in an interview.

-"To be honest, you never know what is going to happen. I’ll be 30 by the end of my contract. I can’t say what is going to happen in one year, two years’ time. At the moment I’m happy and I’m here. See what the club is going to say, what it is going to be. I want to play here well and for the fans and everyone to be happy with me, to see that I give the right effort, to give my best, to give 100 per cent. What is going to happen in the future, that no one knows. I definitely have two and a half years left on my contract here and I will stay here."

If Vidic leaves, considering Rio Ferdinand's injuries, Alex Ferguson would have a problem at the rear . : [

I know, its a right contradiction but I just wanted to talk about Vidic (and a chance to post that pic). Sorry, guys!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1230679/Manchester-United-manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-facing-crisis--Rio-Ferdinand-injured-Nemanja-Vidic-exit-looming.html#ixzz0XrCFPhGQ

Sunderland's Darren bent out of shape.

Bent injured his hamstring at the game against arsenal where he scored the only goal.

Steve Bruce- "Darren's had a scan and we're waiting for the results. If it is his hamstring, we could be looking at about three weeks out. We won't know anything more until the results come back so we will have to keep our fingers crossed."

Wait, why couldn't this have happened before last week?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2743760/Bruce-fears-Bent-KO.html#ixzz0XrE5d6IX


VDS may return for the KNVB

The Netherlands pray that the World Cup would tempt Edwin Van Der Sar out of international retirement. By that time, he would be just months away from his 40th Birthday.

The last time he played was when he won his 130th cap for the Netherlands 13 months ago. He played on a special request from KNVB manager, Bert van Marwijk, because Maarten Stekelenburg and Henk Timmer were both injured.

The thought of playing in the World Cup for the forth time would definitely sway Van Der Sar. Also, van Marwijk would like to bring the incredibly hard-to-replace goalkeeper that has won the Chamions League and the title 'best goalkeeper in Europe' twice.

Ferguson is also keen on resting his first choice goalkeeper.- "He has come back from his [hand] injury well after missing the start of the season. Usually, around Christmas time he will outline his plans, how long he can go on, and we will wait for that. I don't know his plans and when you get to that age and have a young family you wonder whether he does have plans to go back to Holland. He is a very intelligent man, he understands his body better than anyone and will make the right judgment."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/24/van-der-sar-holland-world-cup

'Fatty' Wiley won't sue

Referee Alan Wiley was criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson for not being being fit enough to referee a match. However, it was later discovered that Wiley had run further than any other player on the pitch.

Wiley- "Although I was bitterly disappointed about the personal attack on me, I want to put this behind me and continue to concentrate on my refereeing."

Ferguson was fined £20,000 for his comments on the Sunderland match where Manchester United drew 2-2.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8376713.stm

Keane: I'm Sorry.

Remember Roy Keane's FAI charged rant? He's apologising for it.

Well if you don't remember, here's a summary- "Get over it! I'd be more annoyed with my defenders and my keeper than Thierry Henry." as well as, "I think the supporters deserve better, the manager [Giovanni Trapattoni] deserves better and probably most of the players deserve better, but I'm not sure the FAI deserve better. What goes around comes around."

In response to an angered Ipswich fan, The ex-Irish skipper said, "The comments were perhaps over the top. I apologise to anyone I offended. I'm only 38 and will make mistakes."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2745036/Keane-sorry-for-rant.html#ixzz0XrH6SlJt