A fine player on his day, Chelsea wingman Florent Malouda has seen his stock drop like a stone
at Stamford Bridge over the last year. Once a key figure in the Blues' side, he is now a forgotten
man at the club, having failed to secure a move away in the transfer window.
One imagines Roman Abramovich was standing outside the Atletico Madrid dressing room at
half-time with his cheque-book open, after he witnessed a magnificent first-half hat-trick from
Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao.
'El Tigre' tore Chelsea apart in an outstaning first-half performance, netting three superb
goals as the Blues defence fell apart.
Arsenal's wantaway captain Robin Van Persie questioned the Gunners' ambition recently. However,
with Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and now Santi Cazorla all but signed, with more to come, his
argument is looking increasingly misguided.
Spaniard Cazorla is the latest attacker to finally join the Gunners after weeks and weeks of
speculation.
It may be around a day old now, but this superb strike by one Mohamad Azmi Muslim which shocked
Arsenal at the start of their pre-season tour in Kuala Lumpar is well worth a look. Facing a
Malaysian XI, a mix and match Gunners side struggled against the minnows and were a goal down on
the stroke of half-time,, courtesy of this wonder-strike.
RVP on Tuesday (left) and at the PFA awards last April (right)
On Tuesday, wantaway Gunner Robin Van Persie returned to Arsenal for pre-season training with
the Dutchman's future still up in the air. After publicly questioning the club's ambition and
stating that he wouldn't sign a new contract, Van Persie all but burnt his bridges with the north
Londoners.
Not only did Harry Redknapp miss out on the England job, but now he's without a job full stop.
Rumours had been circulating for days and weeks concerning Redknapp's future at White Hart Lane
with the relationship between 'Arry and Spurs chief Daniel Levy said to be rather stormy.
Arsenal's transfer window: Big changes at the Emirates for second summer in a row - originally
posted on Soccerlens.com
The Emirates Stadium's revolving door continued to swing this summer, as Arsenal looked to sign
attacking quality but also sold two of their most impressive performers from last season.
Europa League winners Atletico Madrid ran rampant in Monaco as they hammered Champions League
winners Chelsea 4-1 to lift the UEFA Super Cup.
A historic first-half hat-trick from Colombian Radamel Falco sent the Blues trailing 3-0 at the
interval.
Without the services of suspended skipper John Terry, the Chelsea defense had to then endure
more of the same in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Swansea City 3-0 West Ham United Premier League 25 August 2012
A clash of two rather different styles of play here, with Michael Laudrup's smooth and sexy
Swans starting well against Sam Allardyce's more prosaic Hammers.
Hail Cesar: Azpilicueta joins rampant Chelsea from Marseille - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
Chelsea have continued their summer spending spree by announcing the signature of Spanish
right-back Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille. A fee reported to be in the region of £7 million has
been enough to convince the Ligue 1 side to part with the starlet, with the news confirmed on the
Stade Velodrome side's official website.
Holy Moses: Chelsea have bid accepted for Wigan attacker - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
Wigan have announced that Chelsea have had an offer accepted for attacker Victor Moses, ending
summer-long negotiations between the sides over a fee. The Nigeria international is now able to
discuss personal terms with the Stamford Bridge club, with a move expected to be tied-up over the
weekend.
A marriage made in hoofy heaven if ever there was one, king of the long ball game, Big Sam
Allardyce has secured the services of pony-tailed target man Andy Carroll from Liverpool in a
season-long loan or, at least, a fee has been agreed ahead of the paperwork being
rubber-stamped.
A star-studded MLS XI, which featured David Beckham and Thierry Henry, ran out 3-2 winners
against Chelsea in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night. John Terry and Frankie Lamps were on the
scoresheet for the Blues but goals from Chris Wondolowski, Chris Pontius and former Fulham man
Eddie Johnson secured the victory for the All-star side.
Despite picking up a little trophy which goes by the name of the Champions League, Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich has been a busy man this summer, splashing serious amounts of cash in an attempt
to match Premier League champions Manchester City.
Rafael van der Vaart has played down reports linking him with a return to Hamburg, this summer, as
"just gossip", the playmaker insisting that he is thoroughly enjoying his time in the Premier
League.
The Dutchman has been a revelation at Spurs, since his arrival in 2010, but rumours had begun to
surface since Euro 2012 that the midfielder could be tempted to rejoin his old club in Germany.
Internacional midfielder Oscar, who will be competing for Brazil in the London Olympics later
this month, has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing him.
New Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas' arrival at the club was followed by the completion of
Hoffenheim star Gylfi Sigurdsson's signing and the club is now looking to add more new faces to the
squad.
After an ill-fated few months in charge at Stamford Bridge, the Mr Bean of the Premier League,
Andre Villas Boas, has made the journey across the capital to sign on the dotted line for
Spurs.
The ginger tactician's seventh month flop with Chelsea was made to look even worse by the
Roberto Di Matteo-led Champions League triumph by the Blues.
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Giovani Dos Santos is closing in on his protracted exit from the
club and is likely to join a La Liga club by the end of the weekend.
Dos Santos, 23, has made a total of 30 appearances across all competitions during his unsettled
four seasons with the Spurs.
Despite scoring three goals and assisting on another three during that time period, the Mexican
starlet never quite held a regular place in Tottenham's squad.
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Giovani Dos Santos is closing in on his protracted exit from the
club and is likely to join a La Liga club by the end of the weekend.
Dos Santos, 23, has made a total of 30 appearances across all competitions during his unsettled
four seasons with the Spurs.
Despite scoring three goals and assisting on another three during that time period, the Mexican
starlet never quite held a regular place in Tottenham's squad.
Rumours today that Gylfi Sigurdsson has abandoned a move to Liverpool in favour of Managerless
Tottenham.
It was believed that Brendan Rodgers former player at Swansea was in talks with Liverpool with a
view to joining the Merseysiders,
but that deal no appears to have gone sour.
German newspaper Bild claims the managerless North Londoners have lined up an £8million deal for
the 22-year-old Iceland international.
Newly appointed Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has wasted no time in making it clear that his
team will be determined to build on the last season's laurels rather than resting on them.
Di Matteo guided the Blues to their first ever UEFA Champions League title only a fortnight
after helping them win the FA Cup against Liverpool at Wembley.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says that the club is waiting to offer him a new deal, despite
the Premier League veteran having only a year left on his contract. Redknapp has been sensational
since taking the White Hart Lane hot seat, having turned the Spurs into one of the Premier League's
giants and annual top-four contenders.
Sunderland manager believes losing van Persie is as big a miss for Arsenal as losing Messi for
Barcelona. by AH Sunderland manger Martin O'Neill has spoken about Arsenal after his Sunderland
side drew 0-0 with the North Londoners at the weekend. O'Neill said; "It's a major loss to them,
anyone would suffer if they lost [.
Arsenal are looking at numerous options to enhance their first team in a bid to end their 7 year
trophy drought. Recent newspaper reports have linked the Gunners to players in Spain, France and
even Belgium but as is expected, the Londoners will be given considerable challenge from other
elite clubs in Europe for the [.
Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League August 18 2012
Demba Ba finally ended his goal drought for Newcastle on Saturday, courtesy of a superb curling
effort. The Senegal striker had struggled to find the net ever since his fellow countryman Papiss
Cissé had joined the club, but on 54 minutes, the attacker produced a moment of sublime skill to
beat Brad Friedel in the Spurs goal.
A youthful Drogba leaves Graeme Le Saux for dead in August 2004
Following in the footsteps of former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka, Blues' legend Didier
Drogba has gone east in search of a new footballing challenge (and a pretty decent payday).
- For a lot more Photos from QPR's 1962-63 "White City" Season (From the Bushman Photo
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Birthdays today for Ex-QPR Michael Robinson and Dean Wilkins(Video of Robinson's goal at
Chelsea) - Reportedly Close to Signing Celtic's Ki Sung-Yueng and
Blackburn's Junior Hoilett - Photos of QPR in Training - QPR
Transfer Gossip/News - The John Terry Trial Updated.
Liverpool has revived their move for Clint Dempsey by opening fresh talks with Fulham over a deal
worth £7 million, Goal.com can reveal.
The Merseysiders are back in negotiations with the Londoners, with discussions centring on the
players who could move to Craven Cottage in part-exchange.
Liverpool are reluctant to meet Fulham's asking price for the 29-year-old even though the Londoners
will settle for a fee of around £6-7m.
With the 2012 London Olympics Games less than a month away, many Londoners have been awaiting
the release of the Team Great Britain Olympic football squad.
One of the elder statesmen that was thought to be a lock for the club was former England captain
David Beckham.
A report today from The Guardian, and also confirmed by Becks himself, is stating that Great
Britain manager Stuart Pearce has decided to leave the Galaxy ace off the roster.
