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[sabz]

Annie, I don't think you will be pleased to read this:

Drogba questions Sheva

Chelsea ace Didier Drogba has urged strike partner Andrei Shevchenko to become more of a team player, if he wants to be a success.

Shevchenko has struggled to live up to expectations this season and he has been in and out of the team recently.

Drogba believes the pressure placed on Shevchenko following his £30million switch from Milan last summer has not helped the Ukrainian, as he is only focused on scoring goals rather than forging a partnership in attack.

"On Shevchenko's side, I don't really sense the desire to collaborate," Drogba told The Sun.

"I think that as a big signing, he believes he is obliged to justify his transfer fee with goals at any cost. I love to share but when I give, I appreciate it when I get something back.

"That's what happened with Hernan Crespo. But let's say it is a little different this season.

"That is a real pity because everyone would have something to gain if we really worked together. I have tried to understand his position and get an explanation.

"We know we are not rivals because, unlike in the past years, there is room for two in attack this season.

"I understand it is a really difficult situation for him to handle. But you have to think of the team first."

Meanwhile, Drogba has backed Jose Mourinho in his desire to bring in new players in this month's transfer window.

Mourinho has been at loggerheads with the club's board over their failure to support his transfer plans, with the Portuguese tactician keen to bring in a new defender to ease his side's injury problems.

However, Chelsea so far have failed to make funds available to bring in a new player.

Drogba supports Mourinho's stance and insists all the players at the club are behind their manager.

"Let's get one thing clear, when Mourinho says we need new players to help us achieve our ambitions, he is talking on behalf of the whole group," added Drogba.

"All the players here feel the same way as Jose."

[bia2209]

Has Drogba completely lost his mind???

Granted I've not watched Sheva a lot since he's been at Chelsea...BUT I did spend the last couple of years watching him at Milan and I can't believe that ANYONE would accuse him of being selfish on the pitch.

I mean, yes. He's a striker and there will always be times when he'll go for goal instead of making a pass. But no more so than any other striker including Drogba.

Furthermore, he's always worked his socks off for his side. His work ethic is unquestionable as far as I'm concerned.

All I can say to Drogba is...va te faire.....

[bluebuffalo]

didier always has a knack of saying the wrong things. i mean really, i've begun to fancy him this year, since he cut the diving out and has actually been MVP earlier this season, but he loves to mouth off. I don't know if the press instigates him or if he love sthe attention. Damn you diders, just when i begin to fancy you, you go say Sheva isn't a "team player". Sigh.

[Annie]

OK, seriously...what's next??? They are gonna say he is a crap person, doesn't wanna play football and beats up his wife..or works for KGB or something?

First they say he is going back to Milan, then they say he spies for Roman..now he is not a team player??? Wow, what a healthy environment Andrey must be living and working in.

Come on Didier..seriously man. How many times have Andrey been caught outside the opponents area having a fit because he was there on his own in a perfect shot on goal position and Lampard, Essien or even Drogba would be trying to shoot on goal from less favourable places???

Wouldn't you try to score goals if you are the only person on the team your manager doesn't shake hands with after a game??? And everyone keeps telling you your career is over??? Come on man!!!!!!

I just hope that Andrey takes all this with as much pride and dignity as he has upto now and that it won't get to him as much. Because seriously, you can blame Sheva for many things but greed and egoism are not amongst them.

Keep scoring tesoro, that would shut them up!!!

Ricky sweetie I love you...thanks for standing up for Andrey...some people might learn what real team-ship and friendship mean

[Annie]

Real Madrid and AC Milan $1.3 million apart on Ronaldo transfer

January 29, 2007

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid and AC Milan are $1.3 million apart on a deal that would send three-time world player of the year Ronaldo to the Italian team.

Real Madrid is asking $10.3 million and AC Milan is offering $9 million. Under FIFA's transfer rules. the deal for the 30-year-old forward must be completed by Wednesday

"We will meet again tomorrow to continue negotiating," AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said. "We have offered seven million euros and Real want eight and we haven't agreed on the payment conditions either."

Ronaldo spent five seasons with Internazionale of Milan before joining Real Madrid in 2002.

[Annie]

Italian Football Awards took place yesterday in Milan. Here are some sweet piccies ;D ;D ;D





Toni Toni Toni Goal!!!!!! LMAO ;D ;D ;D


Fabio's hair is hysterical these days ;D ;D ;D



I miss him

[Annie]

Brazil striker Ronaldo joins AC Milan

By James Eve

ROME, Jan 30 (Reuters) - AC Milan have signed Brazil striker Ronaldo from Real Madrid, the Serie A side announced on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old striker, three-times FIFA World Player of the Year, has signed an 18-month contract until June 30, 2008 for an undisclosed fee.

Ronaldo signed the deal in Madrid and was due to fly to Milan in the early evening.

Real coach Fabio Capello, talking to Italian regional TV station Tele Lombardia in Madrid, said: "I know that Ronaldo has signed for Milan. I wish him the best of luck in doing what he used to do which is being a great player."

The move ends more than two weeks of negotiations between the clubs for the Brazilian, whose contract with Real was due to expire at the end of next season.

Ronaldo, who inspired Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002 in Asia and holds the record for goals scored in World Cup tournaments with 15, scored 104 goals for Real since joining them in August 2002.

He was the club's leading scorer in each of his four previous seasons in Spain but had limited opportunities to shine following knee surgery after the World Cup last year with coach Fabio Capello preferring Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy up front.

The Brazilian had been angling to leave Real since Capello criticised him as being overweight and said he was no longer in his plans.

Ronaldo, who played for Milan's city rivals Inter between 1997 and 2002, has been a long-time target for Milan who were reported to have made a bid of between 15 and 18 million euros ($23.32 million) for the striker in the close season.

[Annie]

Ronaldo at Milan would be a dream come true, says Kaka

ROME, Jan 26 (Reuters) - AC Milan playmaker Kaka has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of being joined at the club by Brazil team mate Ronaldo, who is on the brink of completing a transfer from Real Madrid.

Ronaldo was in Milan on Friday to undergo medical tests. Italian media reported the clubs were settled on a price between seven and seven-and-a-half million euros.

"When he was The Phenomenon, the number one in the world, I was just starting my career in Brazil," Kaka was quoted as saying on Milan's Web site (www.acmilan.com) on Friday.

"So for him to come to Milan now, for us to play for the same club, would be a dream come true."

Ronaldo has been angling to leave Real since team coach Fabio Capello criticised him as being overweight and told him he did not feature in his future plans.

Kaka said the three-times FIFA World Player of the Year could still be a key player for Milan.

"Ronaldo's greatest strength, in my opinion, is his ability to decide a match with one moment of brilliance," said the 24-year-old, who played alongside the striker at last year's World Cup in Germany.

"He can be decisive even without the kinds of runs he used to make."

Ronaldo was applauded by Milan's fans when he appeared in the stands at the San Siro to watch the team draw 2-2 with AS Roma in the Italian Cup on Thursday.

"He came to see us after the match. He seemed very happy," revealed Kaka.

"He has chosen Milan ahead of another, much richer offer. That means he still feels he has a lot to give in a league that really counts."

Milan captain Paolo Maldini joined in the praise of the 30-year-old striker.

"After Maradona, he is the strongest opponent I've ever faced," the defender said, recalling his former duels with Ronaldo, who played for Inter Milan between 1997 and 2002.

"He is still one of the best players in the world. If he arrives, we will make a big jump in quality."

[hp]

bia2209 said:

;D ;D ;D RIcky is writing a blog for UEFA Magazine...here are the last two entries...I think there might have been one before that but I can't seem to find it. Will keep looking though.


AC Milan may have breathed a sigh of relief when they missed FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League draw, but in his latest diary entry for uefa.com Kaká warns not to underestimate Celtic FC when the two sides meet next month.

Kaká, 5 January 2005

Concentration

Last time I said nobody was willing to draw Barcelona in the next round of the UEFA Champions League, but it doesn’t mean AC Milan should feel lucky to have avoided them. At this point of the competition there are no easy ties. Ties that might look simple can end up being very tough and complex. Sometimes it's better to draw a team with more tradition in order to keep everybody on their toes, especially in terms of concentration.

Nakamura threat

There are no easy sides in the UEFA Champions League, which has been proven time and again in recent years. Any slump can prove fatal. Celtic certainly aren’t just hoping to enjoy qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time. I played them a couple of seasons ago with Milan and we had to work hard to win 3-1 at home and draw in Glasgow. Although Celtic have changed managers and some key players, I don't really think there have been major alterations to their playing philosophy. I remember Celtic as a team are very strong physically and look to use dead-ball situations to their advantage. This is certainly a very interesting ace up their sleeve now they have [Shunsuke] Nakamura and his free-kicks.

Ups and downs

The fact Celtic kept a clean sheet against us in Glasgow a couple of seasons ago is strong evidence that the Scots will be looking to cause another upset, just like they did against Manchester United last year. People ask me if Milan's highs and lows in form can give Celtic some belief, but I prefer to think about our good European pedigree which always demands respect, even when we have been fluctuating between good and bad moments. We have a good chance to get things going in Serie A from next week and then build up for the UEFA Champions League ties against Celtic. Naturally, however, they will be looking to cause us all sorts of problems. But I don't see them behaving like the sides we face in Serie A. Teams in the UEFA Champions League are big clubs used to going forward and getting results.

I saw Nakamura's goal and was really impressed by how he hit the ball so well
Scoring rival
[glow=red,2,300]A Brazilian journalist has taunted me by saying that Nakamura's free-kick against United will make people scratch their heads when trying to decide the best goal of the UEFA Champions League so far. Before then there was that strike of mine against Anderlecht. I saw Nakamura's goal and was really impressed by how he hit the ball so well, let alone that the goal was so important for Celtic's campaign. Having said that, I'd love to score the most beautiful goal of this year's competition. [/glow] Interesting that most of that paragraph is not in the italian version of the blog

New generation

Unfortunately, even our winter break did not allow me to stay in Brazil for long. I only spent a few days there and just had time to see my relatives and some close friends. The Brazilian footballing season had already finished so I couldn't see in person how our football is doing. But I regularly follow the games on TV when I'm in Italy and have seen that a lot of new players have come through, as they usually do [in Brazil]. This year will be important for us because the South American qualifiers for the World Cup begin and we've got a new generation of players.

Cannavaro achievement

One of my mates, Ronaldinho, had another chance to be voted the best player in the world, but Fabio Cannavaro had the last laugh. He was one of last season's best players and although there are always a few others who deserve to be called the best in the world, Cannavaro was a very good choice, and the first defender to win it. After all, he represents Italy, the world champions. It was a well-earned accolade for him.

Training hard

As for AC Milan, we still have a lot of work to do before even thinking of Celtic. We have been training hard in Malta ahead of the second half of the season and I'm sure this will be good for us to patch up a few things and get ready for a very hard campaign. Not only do we have the UEFA Champions League to focus on, but we're in a complicated position in Serie A and need to guarantee a place in next year's UEFA Champions League, which is why nobody can be talking about prioritising one or another competition. The first half of the season was hard on the domestic front because of the punishment handed to the club, but we can't look back now.

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

LOL at the Nakamura bit, WOOT to nackers, he's been great for celtic, but I hope Osim will include him in the NT for the asian cup!

[hp]

admin said:

I miss him

i miss Collina too, he was the best Ref ever.
Last years world cup refs were *shakes head* especially Graham Poll , the best one i thought in 2006 world cup was the Russian Ref that reffed the Portugal v Netherlands game, and he was dismissed by Fifa, sad, he was accurate!

[maribrasil]

This is what you see when you go to AC Milan official site



It's all about Ronaldo.
Wish him all the luck!

[Annie]

how cool ;D ;D ;D I hope he gets a new life there and shows us some kick butt footie he's so famous for ;D ;D ;D Good luck Ronaldo ;D

[Mrs. Fabregas]

Dirk Kuyt scored for Liverpool Yesterday ;D!
I'm not really a liverpool fan, but i just adore Dirk .........
Before Liverpool, he played by Feyenoord (that's the club i'm fan of for almost 15 years ) !

[hp]

frensje said:

Dirk Kuyt scored for Liverpool Yesterday ;D!
I'm not really a liverpool fan, but i just adore Dirk .........
Before Liverpool, he played by Feyenoord (that's the club i'm fan of for almost 15 years ) !

GOOD ON YA ;D
i like feyenoord when it comes to the dutch league!

[Annie]

Well Premiership matches took places yesterday with a gap between Man U and Chelsea staying with 6 points Both teams had big wins yesterday 4:0 and 3:0 respectively However Chelsea's win was totally darkened by Ashley Cole's knee injury, they cannot afford to lose out on defense but it seems like this is exactly what's going to be happening

Arsenal managed to perform a miracle yesterday against Tottenham in League Cup ..first leading 1:0, then conceding a goal on the 85th minute and just when we thought it was all over, the gunners put another one in ;D ;D ;D And as if that wasn't enough Chimbo decided to score an autogoal to make it 3-1 for Arsenal ;D

Which means the final will be Arsenal-Chelsea and for that time Bia and I will stop speaking to each other for a while LMAO ;D

Italy Cup was no fun for me and Bia yesterday with Milan totally flopping to Roma 1:3

Sheva played a really good match yesterday and had a zillion chances to score but just couldn't do it... nonetheless to my greatest surprise Mourinho and Chelsea bench showed enormous signs of humanity after Andrey was subsitituted on the 85th minute. Jose hugged Sheva and said thank you numerous times and the whole bench simply gave him an ovation when he approached. I hope it's a good sign of things getting to normal for him, because it's really been too tough for tesoro lately




For those interested in hearing his thoughts on his life in England and at Chelsea, there is a good video on Eurosport about it www.eurosport.co.uk/football/mc_vid32843.shtml