European Soccer Thread

Street Novelist · August 11, 2011

Tottenham’s Match Against Everton Postponed Due To Riots

Tottenham's season opener against Everton has been postponed due to the riots in London.

Midweek League Cup matches at West Ham United, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace were postponed, while England's international friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday was cancelled, and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed that the match between Tottenham and Everton will now not take place on Saturday.

Street Novelist · August 11, 2011

La Liga Players Announce Strike To Delay Start Of Season

The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has announced that Primera and Segunda Division players will go on strike in the first two weekends of the 2011-12 campaign.

The players want a wage guarantee fund in case clubs become insolvent and will not play until a collective bargaining agreement has been signed between the AFE and the individual clubs.

Street Novelist · August 12, 2011

OFFICIAL: Liverpool Signs Left-Back Jose Enrique From Newcastle

Liverpool has confirmed the signing of left-back Jose Enrique from Newcastle. Enrique's transfer takes the club's spending to over $50 million this summer. The 25-year-old becomes manager Kenny Dalglish's fifth signing of the summer.

Street Novelist · August 12, 2011

OFFICIAL: Ji-Sung Park Signs 2 Year Extension With Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park has signed a 2 year contract extension that will see him stay at Old Trafford until at least 2013. In the 30-year-old’s 6 years so far at United, Park has made 177 appearances, scoring 24 goals.

Sir Alex Ferguson told the club’s official website: “Ji has been an important player for us for a number of years now. He has great ability and energy and in recent seasons has added the knack of scoring important goals in big games. He is a popular member of the squad and his experience at domestic and international level is invaluable for the younger players.”

Street Novelist · August 12, 2011

Report: Fabregas Says Goodbye To Teammates As Barcelona Completes Deal

Cesc Fabregas said goodbye to his Arsenal teammates today ahead of his long awaited move to Barcelona. Reports emerged on Friday that the 24-year-old will fly to Barcelona in the next 48 hours after the clubs hammer out an agreement believed to be worth an initial $29.8 million plus $5.3 million in potential add-ons. Reports in Spain suggest Fabregas has agreed to a 5 year deal and will join Barcelona after they play the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid on Sunday. Sky Sports News is reporting Barcelona hopes to officially announce the transfer today.

It is believed Fabregas has agreed to give up $4.4 million in order to push the transfer through.

Street Novelist · August 12, 2011

"Fernando Torres should be fit for Stoke City clash" - Chelsea Coach Andre Villas-Boas

Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas believes Fernando Torres will be fit for their clash with Stoke City on Sunday following the Spaniard’s concussion while on international duty.

"I think he should be okay to be selected for the team traveling up to Stoke,” Villas-Boas told reporters. “He suffered concussion [playing for Spain against Italy on Wednesday] and yesterday he still couldn’t remember a couple of things from the game, and from before the game, but he was back in training and he’s up for selection for the squad.”

Street Novelist · August 13, 2011

Fabregas' Move To Barcelona Hits A Snag

Fabregas had said goodbye to his Arsenal teammates and texted friends and family in Barcelona. It was not long before Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol were tweeting welcoming messages and the Catalan media began reporting he would arrive in Barcelona on Friday afternoon for a medical before an official presentation on Saturday.

Fabregas was on his way to Heathrow Airport when he received a call from Pep Guardiola, asking him to delay his departure until Sunday. It appears Guardiola was concerned about the news of Cesc's signing overshadowing preparations for Sunday's first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

He is now likely to be presented on Monday and be available for the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.