Reports by ERIC SAMUEL

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Amri Yahyah could not have asked for a more memorable return to international football after scoring twice in the 2-3 friendly against English Premier League giants Manchester United at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The 28-year-old, back in action after a three-year absence, will go down in Malaysian football history as the first player from the national team to score against the Red Devils.

His first was a real cracker, volleying the ball from a distant past United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in stoppage time in the first-half.

His second came courtesy of a mistake by United’s second choice goalkeeper Ben Foster, who lost his footing in trying to retrieve a back pass from Darren Gibson. This allowed Amri to beat the keeper to the bal

“This is one of my greatest moments ... I will surely treasure it. To score not one but two goals against one of the top clubs in the world is simply amazing,” said Amri after the game.

For his first goal, Amri said it was down to studying Van der Sar’s game.

“He likes to come off his line and, when I had the opportunity, I took a swipe at goal and to my surprise it sailed into the back of the net,” said Amri, who was grateful for the slip-up by Foster for his second goal.

“The moment he (Foster) tripped, I sensed an opening and I burst past him and he was slow to react. It was an easy goal,” said Amri, who thanked national coach K. Rajagopal for giving him the break by calling him up after a three-year lapse.

Amri has been going great guns with Selangor, having led the state team to victory in the Charity Shield and the FA Cup. Selangor are also two matches away from wrapping up the Super League crown.

Rajagopal said it was difficult to leave out Amri following his consistent performances for the Red Giants in the last couple of seasons.

“He (Amri) has a knack for getting the goals and that is what makes him a different player. He has been quite effective with Selangor and has deservingly won his place in the national team now,” said Rajagopal, who had only included four senior players in the national team, which comprised mostly Under-23 players.

Here's what I think so funny, just dont take it seriously...

After a cracking games against Man Utd, one name singing at lips of every Malaysian as selangor born Yahyah, Amri are reported transfer target for the former European Champion as possible reliable and most definite replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

A fees worth RM50K are seen enough to tempt the Selangor's player to seek pasture new at Old Trafford. Man Utd's representative are seen going to Tanjung Karang to finalise the deals. A cracking volley from 35yards are been compared to ones scored by Ronaldo "I'm already at Madrid" at Estadio do Dragao and the 2nd that even Tevez"Bye bye Fergie, Ai Ai City" will approved as persistant and industrious desire to score goals.

Further news will follows....

Hahahahaha...

Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso are all being monitored by Atletico de Madrid as the Spanish outfit are keen to make a triple bid in the summer to land them all.

Atletico de Madrid are considering making an approach for Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, but may wait to see what happens to Rafael Benitez, according to a report in AS.

Los Colchoneros are already drawing up plans for next season's squad and the Anfield trio are the main players that the club believe can bolster their squad.

Last summer Atletico coach Javier Aguirre wanted a playmaking midfielder and pinpointed Alonso only for him to appear to be ready to go to Juventus, before the Italian outfit opted to Christian Poulsen instead.

Now the Mexican trainer is intent on attracting Alonso to compliment the impressive forward line of Sergio Agüero, Diego Forlan, Mai and Simao.

Benitez would probably not want all three of the Spanish players to leave Liverpool if he were to stay but a new manager may allow them to go to raise funds.


That may be the only way that Atletico could prise Reina away as they are desperate to land the son of goalkeeper, Miguel Reina, who played in the 1974 European Cup Final.

Arbeloa may prove to be an easier proposition, but even the Spanish international defender is seen as a vital squad member by the Merseyside outfit.

One way that the club could be assured to having a chance of signing the trio would be to make Benitez the coach and that could be a realistic proposition towards the end of the season.

 Real Madrid?? Bring it on...I guess this is the fairest draw of all...all the big clubs met each other...

Im so glad....

 Alan Hansen may have been horribly wrong in his assessment all those years ago, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger , having championed his kids for so long, finally appears to have come round to the Scotsman's school of thought.

Arsenal have struggled for consistency so far this season, a fault has been attributed to a lack of experience in the side, particularly in midfield where fellow team-mates have even started tackling each other in dying moments of games.

Wenger may be one of Fabregas's fans but the Gunners boss has realised his new captain, just 21, needs a helping hand from a more experienced sidekick in the middle of the park.

Enter Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Wenger is a keen admirer of the Spain international; the Gunners would have snapped him up last summer if it were not for Aston Villa's refusal to allow Gareth Barry to go to Anfield.

But having continued to impress this season, and with Liverpool still interested in Barry, Wenger is preparing to make another bid for Alonso once the transfer window opens in January. The Daily Mirror claims a fee of £12 million should be enough to tempt Rafa Benitez to part with his countryman.

The new Malaysia National team kit combines the pride of Malaysian Football while reflecting a new era of performance and innovation. Showcasing the football association of Malaysia’s tiger crest on the left the jersey incorporates local flavour with the keris featured on the inside bottom left corner, while the away jersey incorporates a striking blue that illuminates the players on the field.

Technology-wise, the kit is constructed in a dynamic fit silhouette that creates greater tightness of the body, allowing maximum movement while reducing shirt pulling by opposition players.

My opinion ??
Wow, kit looks nice, but the players look really into the kits, more towards hollywood style actors, its a shame there not as good as they pose..

The Italian club have been in negotiations to sign the skilful wideman all summer, and it was even, wrongly, reported last month that the transfer had been completed.

However, over the past few weeks talk about a transfer had died down, with Inter unprepared to pay the reported €40m that Porto were demanding.

Earlier this week it was reported in the Italian press that the transfer could be back on after Porto dropped their demands by almost half, and Inter upped their own offer from €17m to €20m.

However, the Corriere dello Sport today claims that the Italian champions now face competition from Premiership giants Liverpool, who have entered the race for Quaresma late in the day.

Reds manager Rafa Benitez wants to make one exciting signing before the end of the transfer window on August 31, and he has now almost given up on primary target Gareth Barry. Instead he will now move for Quaresma, a player he admires greatly, and has been linked with in the past.

Quaresma is desperate to leave Porto, and last week was left out of the squad for the Supercup match against Sporting Lisbon, despite not being injured.

The 25-year-old has won 23 caps for Portugal, and was part of his country’s Euro 2008 squad.

Resource: http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=829539

There is growing speculation in the English media that Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole could move to Liverpool.

In an attempt to placate manager Rafael Benitez, Liverpool's owners have reportedly authorised an £18million move for Valencia star David Silva...

Benitez is livid with Tom Hicks and George Gillett after the Reds co-owners vetoed an £18million deal for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

The Americans' decision has strained their relationship with the Spanish tactician to breaking point, as it has recently been revealed that their reason for blocking the buy is not a financial one.

For it is believed Hicks and Gillett have sided with the Kopites' view - which was voiced strongly during the club's recent friendly against Lazio - that there is no need for Barry when Xabi Alonso is already at Anfield.

Such a line suggests that the owners have doubts over Benitez's judgement - an insinuation that has understandably ignited the manager's wrath.

But according to News of the World, a compromise has been put forth in the form of Silva, who was near the very top of Rafa's wish-list earlier in the summer.

One of the reasons Benitez has been hell-bent on signing Barry is the England international's left-sidedness and versatility, something the Merseyside giants have lacked in midfield over the last few years.

Indeed, the former Valencia boss highlighted his concerns regarding the left flank after the win against Lazio, as Ryan Babel is currently at the Olympics and Sebastian Leto has been loaned to Olympiacos after being denied a work permit.

Therefore, Benitez will likely have little issue raiding his old club for the left-footed Silva, who can play all across the attacking third.

Liverpool will not waltz in unopposed, however, as North West rivals Manchester United have supoosedly joined Barcelona in the tango for the 22-year-old.

Liverpool are reportedly set to sign striker Robbie Keane, although Tottenham will demand around £20million for the Republic of Ireland international.

According to the Liverpool Echo the deal could be completed in the next 48 hours after Spurs boss Juande Ramos admitted he may need to balance the books.

The former Leeds and Coventry forward is believed to be desperate for a dream move to Anfield and Ramos' comments at a pre-season training camp in Spain appeared to suggest Keane and Dimitar Berbatov could be on their way.

He said: "We will see what happens there, but we are talking about two very important players.

"For the moment they are with us, but whatever happens the idea is to have a great squad, with the potential to allow us to aim to improve on what we managed last season.

"We have to be realistic and see what we are starting with and who we are competing against.

"There are some big clubs who have spent a lot of money over many years and have a certain advantage. In fact they claim they want to sign some of our players.

"At Tottenham, we have had a clear philosophy regarding buying and selling for years. The idea is signing young players, promising and talented ones, and if important offers for older players are made, studying it to see what is the best for the club."

Keane is valued in the region of £20m having only cost Spurs £7m in 2002 but Liverpool will try to get that figure down.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18072008/4/reds-set-sign-keane-report.html

Liverpool will sell midfielder Andrei Voronin for around £3m to a club in the Bundesliga to help finance Gareth Barry's move from Aston Villa.

Barry and his agent held talks with Villa manager Martin O'Neill for the first time this summer yesterday.

                  

For sale: Liverpool want to ship midfielder Andrei Voronin to the Bundesliga.

 The England midfielder is understood to have told O'Neill his wish to leave Villa Park to join Anfield, reports The Daily Mirror.

O'Neill is now reluctantly ready to allow his skipper to leave as he does not want the Barry saga to affect his side's preparations to the new season.

Liverpool are also thought to considering offering Villa £16m for Barry plus Irish full-back Steve Finnan, 32, as part of the deal.