Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Holte L2]

I went to see Sampdoria v Milan a few years ago. I think it was the 08/09 season. Sampdoria won 1-0, Pazzini scoring, and Beckham was playing for Milan.

Got tickets online, in advance, for about 40 euros. The stadium inside is a bit of a dump, but great atmosphere made mainly by the flag-waving ultras in the home-end and the flare throwing visiting fans.

Genoa itself is nice, if a bit quiet. Like most port-towns it's a mix of seediness and sophistication, but actually feels quite small for a city. Would definitely recommend it for a couple of days though,

Was it expensive to drink?  Sounds a bit like Dusseldorf!

Not overly. To be honest, there wan't a massive amount of nightlife. One side-street with a few bars and a couple of small nightclubs. More of a restaurant culture than a drinking one.

Ah right.  Might give it a miss then!

[Steve67]

Villa fly out to America shortly, be great to have another signing sorted so he can be bedded in with his team mates. Doesn't look like it will be Ki, really need a defensive midfielder. I wonder if the Ki interest has been slipped to unsettle him. I'm sure he'd rather play for us. I fancy Swansea to struggle this season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Roma apparently interested in Ron? Hopefully just idle media speculation

I've never thought that either of the Rome Clubs would be a particularly appealing move to a top player. The Stadio Olimpico is one of those stadiums with a huge running-track around the pitch, making it a bit of a strange atmosphere. Plus, both sets of fans are a bit unpleasant.

Personally, if I had to play in italy, (and I'd prefer to play in England, Spain or Germany before that) I'd be looking at Juve or either Milan clubs first, or- if I was nearing retirement age- somewhere like Fiorentina.

Luckily for me, I don't have such tough decisions to make.

I've always fancied playing for Sampdoria. Less fashionable but quite a cool club.

Really liked them growing up when they had Gullit, Platt, Lombardo, Signori and Mancini.

Also, their stadium is very English style.

The only Italian teams I keep an eye out for are Milan and Fiorentina, as they're both clubs I've been to see play a few times whilst staying / living in those cities. However, I do have a bit of a soft spot for Sampdoria, too.

Also worthy of note with Sampdoria is their cool kits.

I don't know about Sampdoria but Genoa is very English overall. Or to give it its full name, Genoa Cricket & Football Club. Pretty interesting history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa_C.F.C.#History

[pauliewalnuts]

Milan started off as a "Football and Cricket Club" too.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Oh wow. Never knew that. I really enjoy Serie A whenever I get a chance to watch. Love the slower pace and more tactical approach.

[dekko]

Milan started off as a "Football and Cricket Club" too.

I might be wrong here, but I think in Italy AC Milan are referred to as 'Milan' rather than 'Milano' as a nod to the English origins of the club.

[The Left Side]

Don't they have the St. George's flag in there badge as well?

[dekko]

Don't they have the St. George's flag in there badge as well?

Yes.  Sort of.  Its the flag of Milan, which is a St Georges cross.  But it isn't there because of the English founders.

[john e]

Milan started off as a "Football and Cricket Club" too.

I might be wrong here, but I think in Italy AC Milan are referred to as 'Milan' rather than 'Milano' as a nod to the English origins of the club.

Athletic rather than athletico for Bilbao I believe is the same sort of thing

[pauliewalnuts]

Milan started off as a "Football and Cricket Club" too.

I might be wrong here, but I think in Italy AC Milan are referred to as 'Milan' rather than 'Milano' as a nod to the English origins of the club.

It's actually their name, not just something they are referred to as.

[cdbearsfan]

That's because they were founded by Brits so chose a British-sounding name.

They were forceably renamed "Atletico" in the Spanish style by Franco but changed it back pretty much as soon as he was brown bread.

[Steve R]

The flag of Milan is nothing to do with St George or England. The red cross on white is also the flag/symbol of St Ambrose, patron saint of Milan.

Miners from the North East (of England) figured heavily in the formation of Athletic Bilbao, hence the Sunderland -like kit.

[N'Rexy]

No. They were sailors from Sunderland who landed some cargo in Bilbao and played football whist the cargo was being unloaded. They sent shirts and stuff over after getting a few local types involved in a game on the docks. Similar story with Juve and Notts County. Athletik (in Basque) have always played the most 'englsh' game in La Liga as they constantly refer back to their roots. Wingers and a big man up front are an almost constant feature of thier teams.

[godzvilla]

Ki not a lost cause then  ( lost Ki ?...never mind ! ) , according to the Telegraph article on Hutton :

By John Percy

6:48PM BST 15 Jul 2014
Villa are pressing ahead with their bid to sign Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng and would ideally like to agree a deal before the weekend.

Ki has one year left on his contract at Swansea and Lambert wants to make the South Korea international his fourth signing of the summer.

[tomd2103]

No. They were sailors from Sunderland who landed some cargo in Bilbao and played football whist the cargo was being unloaded. They sent shirts and stuff over after getting a few local types involved in a game on the docks. Similar story with Juve and Notts County. Athletik (in Basque) have always played the most 'englsh' game in La Liga as they constantly refer back to their roots. Wingers and a big man up front are an almost constant feature of thier teams.

Although they don't have any links to clubs or colours, Shaktar Donetsk have roots as a team founded by British miners who worked and settled in the area.  I seem to recall that their name has a reference to miners in it.