Transfer Talk !

[craig]

Fulham have signed New Zealand midfielder Simon Elliott on a free transfer from US side Columbus Crew.

Elliott is still awaiting international clearance from Columbus via US Soccer, after Fulham's transfer request was wrongly sent to New Zealand Soccer.

But he could make his debut in Sunday's FA Cup match with Leyton Orient.

"He is a solid midfield player and is experienced," said Fulham boss Chris Coleman of the 31-year-old. "He'll add strength and depth to the squad." Elliott came to Fulham's attention when he played for Columbus in a pre-season friendly against the Cottagers.

[craig]

Nottingham Forest have completed the permanent signing of striker Nathan Tyson from Wycombe for £675,000.

The 23-year-old has been on loan at the City Ground since November, scoring twice in eight games.

Tyson has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with Forest, with a percentage of the fee going to his former club Reading. He scored 13 goals from 19 League games for Wycombe this season and found the net 22 times last term.

[craig]

Walsall have signed Nottingham Forest midfielder Kevin James on loan until the end of the season.

James, 26, has figured just once for Forest this season since being transfer-listed by manager Gary Megson during the summer.

But Saddlers boss Paul Merson has given the former Gillingham player the chance of first-team football with a spell at the Bescot Stadium. James is set to make his debut against Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday.

[craig]

Manchester City have made an unconfirmed bid of £100,000 bid for Shrewsbury goalkeeper Joe Hart.

City boss Stuart Pearce has sent goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers to watch the highly-rated 18-year-old on several occasions this season.

The 6ft 5in England Under-19 international only made his league debut against Oxford last season. City keepers Nicky Weaver and Geert de Vlieger are both due to become free agents next summer

[Swooperman]

Kevin James has been brought in to replace Eric Skora at walsall I think. Skora was on loan from Preston when he got injured. He went back to Preston to recover, but the rumour was that he wasnt that badly hurt but Preston called him back as they believed they first refusal on Matty Fryatt but it is believed Villa have gazumped them....Fryatt dropped out of mondays game at short notice injured, & if he doesnt play at Barnsley there may well be something in it

[all_funkt_up]

In the Newcaste Chron today (Alan Oliver) that Souness has to go to the Newcastle board and justify his position to generate a vote of confidence. The guy's fucked. I hope Newcastle go down. The local press should all be shot, err except the bird. Oh and a few nice people that work for 'em too

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by crowie

Maniche has signed on loan for Chelsea for rest of the season. Good signing, he looked a decent player in Porto's CL games and for Portugal in Euro 2004.

WBA hoping to take Ehiogu from Boro for a nominal fee.

Laurent Robert has left Pompey to go and play at the real Stadium of Light (Benfica) for rest of the season, Pompey meanwhile have brought in Polish Nigerian Olisadebe on loan for rest of the season.

Birmingham look to be favourites to get Chris Sutton for the last 6 months of the season. His contract expires in the summer, negotiations over a new one have stalled at Celtic and it looks like he will be on his way. Sorry to see him go but looking at it this way, he is 32, is becoming more prone to injuries, taking longer to recover and will be £30k a week of the wage bill.

He's been a superb servant for Celtic, great attitude, gives his all in every game but its been proved this season that him and Hartson don't play well together, and the whole team suffers when they are the front two. In the end, Sutton can't match Hartsons goal scoring record so if one of the two has to go, I would be happier if its Sutton.

A hero from the opening minutes of his Old Firm debut when he scored the first as we pumped the Forces of Darkness 6-2 in MON's first derby game.

Aye its sad to see him go and i echo everything you have said about him. He really was a complete player in the way he could command a place at the back, midfield and attack and still put in top performances.

Quite a shame now to see this squad breaking apart from the MON era where we so nearly won a euro trophy.

Sutton now, Thompson looks like going eithernow or in the summer. Agathe another, best memory of him was his destruction of Ajax in Holland. One of my best memories of that side.

But they are all getting on a bit now and id rather free up the wages and get some cash for them now so we can bring in some yuonger players and build for the future.

[all_funkt_up]

Hasnt McLeish won as many trophies as O'Neill?

I am sure I read somewhere that was the case, so why are Rangers fans so P*ssed off with him in general? I know its a bit off topic...arrr

[crowie]

He has AFU.

However, not that I am bitter of course , his 2 league titles were won on GD by 1 goal and the other was last seasons 3 minute collapse by Celtic at Fir Park. Both last day, last minute title wins. The 3 Celtic titles in the intervening years were all double digit points gaps.

This season, Rangers are dreadful, even allowing for the CL group qualification. The fact that we are half way through the season and they are 17 points behind suggests the gap will only be bigger at the end of the season. There is also the small matter of them not even being 2nd at the moment but 4th. With two very competent sides in Hibs and Hearts ahead of them. And sides like Killie and ICT snapping at their heels. If that was the position come the end of the season, and Rangers ended up going out of the Scottish Cup then there is the real chance they would miss out on Europe completely next season. For what is supposed to be a 2 horse race each season, that would be a near unthinkable situation.


Kiko,

In a way I am not too fussed about MON's side breaking up. In truth it should have happened a bit sooner but one of the reasons for last seasons failure was the overuse of the favoured players when young lads like Maloney, Beattie, McManus and such like were probably due a shot in the side. This should have happened gradually over the course of a few seasons with the average age being kept down naturally, however for one reason or another it hasn't and its only this season that we have seen a quite dramatic change in the team make up.

[bluek]

Vidic signs for United

Nemanja Vidic will link up with his Manyoo team-mates on Thursday morning after having his work permit granted.

Sir Alex Ferguson has made Vidic the first major signing of the Malcolm Glazer era by splashing out £7million on the Serbia defender.

The 24-year-old was due to arrive in England last night and was expected to train with United for the first time today.

However, given the short time scale and his lack of match practice since the Russian season ended in November, the former Spartak Moscow star is unlikely to be involved in Sunday's FA Cup tie at Burton Albion.

Although Vidic impressed with Spartak, it is his performances for the Serbian national side which brought him to Ferguson's attention. Vidic was part of the Serbs' 'Famous Four' defence which conceded just one goal in qualifying for next summer's World Cup in Germany.

Seems like a decent buy, just hope he's not match fit for the derby on the 14th

[crowie]

Looks like they are getting Evra from Monaco as well

Manchester United will acquire the services of Monaco defender Patrice Evra if a fee can be agreed according to his agent.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to add the 24-year-old to his squad to fill in for injured Gabriel Heinze.

Evra's agent Frederico Pastorello said of the potential move: "We spoke at length with them (Monaco) and they are not opposed to him leaving.

"If the right offer is made, the transfer to United will take place."

Could well be the end of Silvestre at Utd if stories are correct.

[FootballFanatic]

Its about time ferguson realised his defense is fukin shyte. Now to get rid of gary neville

Hearts are yet again looking to Liverpool's fringe players as they look to make new signings in the transfer window.
Having already agreed to sing Darren Potter and Francis Smith for £750,000, they are now expressing an interest in Neil Mellor and Anthony Le Tallec, currently on loan at Sunderland.

Djimi Troare could be on his way out of Anfield, according to latest newspaper speculation.
The Daily Record claims Vladimir Romanov is keen to take him to Hearts, while the Daily Mirror have him linked with a move to Fulham, which sounds more likely.

Come on the jambos

Rangers and hibs give up on 2nd place now

[bluek]

Portsmouth are being linked with a double swoop for Carlo Cudicini and Benni McCarthy.

The Sun newspaper reports that the deals, which are likely to cost Portsmouth a combined £10 million, are set to go through after the cash injection into the club from Russian millionaire Alexandre Gaydamak.

Cudicini has made over 170 appearances for Chelsea but is now back-up for first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech. McCarthy has long been linked with a move to the Premiership and was a target for West Ham through the summer. However that proposed £6.5 million switch from Porto collapsed in August.

McCarthy i'm not so sure about, even if he is willing to go there, but i think Cudicini is an excellent keeper and would be a great signing - in fact Man City could do better to look there rather than at an 18 year old from Shrewsbury

[crowie]

Somehow I can't see Mourinho/Chelsea letting Cudicini go. Mourhino has always said he wants two top class players for each position and letting Cudicini go would mean he would have to go out and sign a keeper himself, which is pointless if they already have a decent back up.

[Jesus]

Newcastle are looking to sign Marseille defender Abdoulaye Meite.

Anyone know much about him??