Today, I've got two things to talk about. One is a possible transfer and the other is about last night's huge game. So, let's get started.
Transfer of the Day- Mutu to Roma? Fiorentina's best striker from last season could be on the move to Roma. The Romans have officially made a bid for the player that said that he wanted to end his career at Fio. The 29-year old Romanian has really became one of the best stories of the sports world. About like Josh Hamilton, Mutu rebounded from a cocaine addiction that practically kept him out of the game for a couple of seasons. After his very good performance for Romania in the Euro, it's no surprise to see someone make a move for him. But let's be honest. Fiorentina doesn't own Mutu anything, but he owes them everything he has right now. If it wasn't for Fio, he probably wouldn't be playing. Fiorentina stuck their neck out for Adrian Mutu and it payed off. And I think that Mutu has finally realized this and I really don't see him going to Roma. Plus, you can't just get rid of him because he is a large part of that Fio team. Without him, they wouldn't be in the Champions League. As a soccer fan, I have to say that I want him to stay put. Fiorentina are way too entertaining and I think they have an outside shot to win the Serie A this year. They are also capable of making a run in the Champions League, so watch out. Europe will be flooded with purple this season.
Yesterday's Big Result- Toronto loses out on Champions League action. When the Canadian Championship was first announced, I have to say that I was very skeptical about it. I thought that Toronto FC would just run through all of the matches and would end up in the CONCACAF Champions League in August. But the Montreal Impact had a different idea. The USL 1st Division side made things very difficult for Toronto and coming into the match, they had 6 points from three matches. Toronto only had 4 points through 3 matches. This meant that a draw would give Montreal the Canadian Championship and only a win would win it for Toronto. The match was played in front of the unforgiving Toronto FC fans and the advantage was great. But it wasn't great enough. Toronto was able to score pretty early but Montreal got one back before the end of the first half and then they were able to hold on. Excellent goalkeeping and time-wasting (something that all decent goalkeepers should be able to do) by Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan kept the Impact in it and that was all they needed. The Impact were able to hold Toronto at home to a 1-1 draw. With Montreal's win, they will face Real Estali of Nicaragua in the Preliminary Round of the CONCACAF Champions League. The two leg-tied will be played in last August and early September. I will have more on the CCL in the future.
I just want to remind you that I will not be here until next Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm going on vacation and I hope some of you will do the report while I'm gone. You can take turns or whatever. Thanks and as always, it's been Keeper and I'm out.
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- Latest reports i read were pretty positive of Mutu's switch. Roma's decided to make a serious push for him and Fiorentina said theyd listen to offers if the player wanted to go.
BUT there are also rumours about Adriano coming back to Fiorentina on loan or on a permanent deal. Because although Mourinho has said he counted on him, a two-top Ibra-Adriano hasnt really proved to be successful.
ctsubasa
Philadelphia , PA
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Thanks Keeper...and it is my birthday today!
Dyhard:Homecoming…
Germantown, WI
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Your welcome and Happy B-Day dyhard.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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Happy Birthday to Dyhard and yeah, everything I have read makes it seem that Mutu is going to Roma and that the rumor involving Adriano should happen. It's a good move for both clubs.
J. HOVA: PLAYS NO…
Brooklyn, NY
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The underreported aspect of the Mutu transfer is the recent UEFA decision against him. He now owes Chelsea about $10 million dollars. Fiorentina has a tight wage cap where no player can make more than $3 million annually in salary. That puts Mutu in a very difficult financial position. AS Roma is essentially offering him an extra $2 million a year to make the move. I think Mutu really wants to stay at Fiorentina, but it may not be financially viable. If Mutu wants to stay, he stays. If he wants the extra money, I can't blame him, and he'll go. But the whole story has made me hate Chelsea with a passion, and I would love to see them crash and burn in the Champions League this year.
Now, for the juicy tidbit - the Italian press is reporting that if the deal winds up getting done, Fiorentina will turn around and use the money to aquire Rosina. As much as I love Mutu, the idea of Rosina wearing the purple for the next three to five years has me drooling.
Keeper - you've made it clear that you think teams should always release players for the Olympics. Fiorentina will have to compete in the Champions League qualification without one of their best players in Riccardo Montolivo. If they crash out at that stage because they're missing one of the best players, would that change your mind at all?
j11forbes
Denver , CO
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So we won't see Mutu and Gilardino after all?
Well Mancini left Roma, i guess Mutu could replace him somewhat, but they are different players
I really dont think Fio should sell, and Roma should sign young players and keep ahold of them
jeevs BS
Schenectady , NY
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Looking forward to the upcoming coverage of the CCL Keeper!
VIVA SAPRISSA!!!!
Thugmeister
State Of Jefferson, CA
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Keeper - you've made it clear that you think teams should always release players for the Olympics. Fiorentina will have to compete in the Champions League qualification without one of their best players in Riccardo Montolivo. If they crash out at that stage because they're missing one of the best players, would that change your mind at all?
j11forbes | 07/23/08, 11:40 AM
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No, it wouldn't change my mind at all. The clubs know when they sign these players that that they may have to spend time away due to an international compeition. The clubs need to be told that the international game is more important, because it is. More money is made off of the World Cup than some league game and even a Champions League game.
And if Fiorentina get put out in the 3rd Qualifying Round then that is there problem. You know good and well that almost all the talent is in Italy, England, and Spain. If they are put out by one of those small teams then they earned there way to victory by beating a loaded team that has way more money than them. So in short, I really don't care because these teams still have the players to win sometimes with 2nd and 3rd string teams. So I wouldn't feel bad at all for them.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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Looking forward to the upcoming coverage of the CCL Keeper!
VIVA SAPRISSA!!!!
Thugmeister | 07/23/08, 12:45 PM
They will be a serious contender in this thing. They are a great side and I can't think of anyone that can for sure go down and beat them in their home stadium. Saprissa will go a long way or at least should. I'll be upset if they don't.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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"And if Fiorentina get put out in the 3rd Qualifying Round then that is there problem. You know good and well that almost all the talent is in Italy, England, and Spain. If they are put out by one of those small teams then they earned there way to victory by beating a loaded team that has way more money than them. So in short, I really don't care because these teams still have the players to win sometimes with 2nd and 3rd string teams. So I wouldn't feel bad at all for them."
It's one thing to say that if they get drawn against Sparta Praha or Dinamo Zagrev. Another thing entirely if they get drawn against Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray.
j11forbes
Denver , CO
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"It's one thing to say that if they get drawn against Sparta Praha or Dinamo Zagrev. Another thing entirely if they get drawn against Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray"
But for example Atletico will be missing Sergio Aguero who is an essential element of the Rojiblancos...Or lets say Turkey had qualified for the Olympics, Im sure Galatasaray would be missing important players as well.
I think there should be a clear rule. And clubs should just deal with it.
As long as the same rule applies to everyone. If Argentina gets Messi, Brazil should be getting Diego and Rafinha...
Im actually surprised Liverpool is letting Mascherano go...
ctsubasa
Philadelphia , PA
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Im actually surprised Liverpool is letting Mascherano go...
ctsubasa | 07/23/08, 02:50 PM
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Liverpool are smart. They don't want a player to be potentially in a grumpy mood all season long. They understand that a player (Mascherano) could become very angry and often times an angry player doesn't play well or doesn't even want to play for a team that won't let him do what he wants. It's a smart move by Liverpool. He won't miss too much so we should be fine.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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Fiorentina officially rejected Roma's offer!
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul23s.html: ???ACF Fiorentina President Andrea Della Valle, with reference to Roma???s offer, lets it be known that Mutu is and remains a Fiorentina player.???
j11forbes
Denver , CO
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Fiorentina officially rejected Roma's offer!
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul23s.html: ???ACF Fiorentina President Andrea Della Valle, with reference to Roma???s offer, lets it be known that Mutu is and remains a Fiorentina player.???
YES! This is what I was hoping for.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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The Impacts win is a huge gain for the USL, is that their only representative for the CONCACAF League
thebasketballguru
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I think so. I hope that they can get one team in every year. I hope they will and I think they can. They are a good team.
Keeper
La Fayette , GA
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