Long Cole saga goes to wire

Keane rebuilds Black Cats

—– On Transfer Deadline Day, West Ham United grab the headlines with the sensational signing of Argentina World Cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
The deal - which revives memories of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa’s move to Tottenham Hotspur in 1978 -is shrouded in mystique as the only details released about the 22 year-olds move from Brazilian side Corinthians is that they are permanent deals for undisclosed fees.
It is reported that the Hammers have struck a deal with Media Sports Investments, who own the rights to the two players.
The pair have previously been linked with moves to Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Tevez has been rated as anywhere between £20million and £60million - considerably outside of West Ham’s price range.

—– A saga that has gone on for over 18 months comes to an end minutes before the transfer window closes as Arsenal’s Ashley Cole completes his move to Chelsea.
The champions sign the England left-back in exchange for £5million and France international defender William Gallas.

—– New Sunderland boss Roy Keane signs half a new team as he spends nearly £4million in recruiting six players in one day.
They are all familiar faces to Keane as all six are former team-mates - Dwight Yorke and Liam Miller (Manchester United), Stanislav Varga and Ross Wallace (Celtic) and Graham Kavanagh and David Connolly (Republic of Ireland).

COMPREHENSIVE DETAILS OF THE DEADLINE DAY DEALS CAN BE FOUND IN THE TRANSFER HISTORY SECTION OF OUR MEMBERS AREA.

City ban Thatcher

Whelan blasts Eriksson

—– Doncaster Rovers part company with manager Dave Penney.
Speculation suggests the parting was not entirely by mutual consent, especially as coach Mickey Lewis also leaves Belle Vue.
Only four months away from moving to a new stadium, the former Rovers midfielder departs after five games of the League One season with them in 15th position.
When Penney took over in January 2002, after the most traumatic period in their history, Rovers were languishing in the depths of the Conference but last season finished in their highest league position for fifty years and beat two Premiership clubs in reaching the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
Director of football Mickey Walker is named caretaker manager.
Ambitious chairman John Ryan reveals that he would just love it to appoint Doncaster’s most famous footballing son: “Kevin Keegan is the man I want as manager. It’s the sort of challenge that would appeal to him.”
55 year-old Keegan has been out of football since departing Manchester City 17 months ago.

—– Following his horrendous challenge on Pedro Mendes during the game with Portsmouth last week, Manchester City ban their defender Ben Thatcher for six matches and fine him six weeks’ wages.
The internal club punishment is separate from any Football Association sanction. Two of the matches and week’s wages are suspended.
Mendes, who was left unconscious and needing hospital treatment, had already stated he will not pursue a legal claim for the assault.

—– As Wigan Athletic continue to prosper in the Premiership, chairman Dave Whelan receives the freedom of Wigan borough.
Speaking at a ceremony at Wigan’s town hall, the Latics’ supremo continued his outspoken attack on former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Whelan strongly believes Eriksson should have been dismissed before the World Cup due to his well-documented off-the-field activities: “We could have walked away from the contract we had, we would have done a lot better at the World Cup.
“The FA missed a golden opportunity to get rid of probably the worst manager England have ever, ever had.
“Brian Barwick has a hell of a task on there, he has to knock some sense into the FA. It’s not going to be easy.”

Black Cats move off bottom in front of new boss

Kanu stars as Pompey sink Boro

—– After days of speculation, football’s worst kept secret is confirmed as Roy Keane becomes the new manager of Sunderland.
Following relegation, the Black Cats have suffered a woeful start to the season with new chairman Niall Quinn stepping in as temporary manager and seeing his side sink to the bottom of the Championship without a point from their first four games, and knocked out of the Carling Cup at League Two Bury.
The Keane factor seems to have an immediate effect as, with him looking on from the Stadium of Light stands, Sunderland move off the bottom with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win against promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion.
The ex-Manchester United star signs a three-year contract shortly after the game with Quinn, his former Republic of Ireland colleague, looking forward to a successful partnership: “Roy Keane’s standards of professionalism are legendary and his desire and determination to succeed are precisely what this club requires.
“Let’s all support and enjoy one of football’s true greats as he embarks on what we all hope will be a fantastic new chapter in Sunderland Football Club’s rich and proud history.”
Brian Kidd has been tipped to be his assistant but Keane’s first decision is to name 36 year-old Tony Loughlan - a former Nottingham Forest team mate and Leicester City academy coach - as head coach.

—– Less than a week after beating champions Chelsea, Middlesbrough sink to a 0-4 home defeat by Portsmouth - Pompey’s biggest-ever away win in the Premiership.
Nwankwo Kanu - a free transfer summer recruit from West Bromwich Albion - is the star of the show with two goals to take him to four in the season already.
Pompey move up to second in the table and are the only Premiership team yet to concede a goal.

Chelsea back on track

Penalty woe for Wednesday

—– In front of new majority shareholder Randy Lerner, Aston Villa ease past Newcastle United 2-0 at Villa Park to move up to second in the Premiership. Luke Moore and Juan-Pablo Angel are on the mark.
Chelsea are quickly back to winning ways as they win 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers with goals from Frank Lampard (penalty) and Didier Drogba.

—– A controversial second-half penalty by David Healy gives Leeds United a 1-0 win at injury-hit Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

—– Steven Naismith - who is set for a trial at Arsenal - converts an added time penalty to give Kilmarnock a 2-2 draw and deny Rangers the chance to go back to the top of the SPL.

Gunners slip at City

Bluebirds hit 35-year high

—– Manchester United continue their perfect start the Premiership season with a 2-1 win at Watford. Ryan Giggs hits the second-half winner to continue his record of scoring in every Premiership campaign.
Following the Ben Thatcher incident, Manchester City’s traumatic week comes to a victorious conclusion as Arsenal lose to a Joey Barton penalty at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Liverpool celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of The Kop at Anfield with Daniel Agger and Peter Crouch scoring the goals in front of the landmark stand in a 2-1 win against West Ham United.
Everton - down to ten men after Kevin Kilbane was sent-off in the 32nd minute - win at Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) for the first time since 1985.

—– Cardiff City beat Championship leaders Birmingham City 2-0 in front of a near full-house of 20,109 at Ninian Park to go top of the second tier for the first time since March 1971.The Bluebirds lost the top slot 35 years ago due to a 0-2 defeat Birmingham City.
After Barnsley’s Antony Kay is sent-off, Norwich City move up to second with a 5-1 win against the Tykes.
Crystal Palace are third but have to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Burnley at Selhurst Park.
Colchester United record their first-ever Championship win in a 4-3 thriller against Derby County at Layer Road.

—– Nottingham Forest drop their first points on the season but go top of League One with a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.
Port Vale’s 100% start comes to an end with a 0-1 defeat at Yeovil Town.
Promoted Cheltenham Town continue to impress at the higher level with a 3-2 win against Millwall at Whaddon Road.

—– Swindon Town are now the only team with a 100% record in this season’s Football League. Dennis Wise’s Robins have won all of their opening five League Two games following the 2-0 success against Stockport County.
Walsall - also relegated last term - are second after they beat Darlington 1-0 at the Bescot Stadium.
Jamie Forrester becomes the first Lincoln City to score four goals in an away league game since 1930 in the 4-2 win at Mansfield Town.
Bury move off the bottom with a 3-0 win against Grimsby Town.

—– New signing Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink makes a dream debut for Celtic by scoring the winner against Hibernian to the top of the SPL.
Heart of Midlothian thump Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-1 at Tynecastle.

Baggies bounce Os

No opposition to Villa offer

—– Newcastle United make it through to the First Round proper of the UEFA Cup but their striking deficiencies are there for all to see in the goalless draw with FK Ventspils at St James Park.
United go lead by a single goal from the first leg and could have scored many more as the dominated the Latvian visitors.
Help maybe close to hand though as the £10million signing of Obafemi Martins from Inter Milan is confirmed.

—– The First Round of the Carling Cup is completed, and West Bromwich Albion avoid further embarrassment for the Championship clubs.
The Baggies win 3-0 at Leyton Orient.

—– As the midnight deadline passes unopposed, Randy Lerner secures a majority holding in Aston Villa.
The 44-year-old owner of NFL’s Cleveland Browns NFL now owns 59.69% of Villa.
The consortia led by Michael Neville and Nicholas Padfield fail to table a bid so 57% of the club owned by chairman Doug Ellis and fellow shareholder Jack Petchey should now be transferred.
The takeover should be completed in the autumn.

Boro stun Chelsea again

United impress again

—– In the first-ever European game at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal record their first victory at their new home.
The Gunners come from behind to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1, and go through to the group stages of the Champion League with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate.

—– Having suffered their heaviest defeat of last season at Middlesbrough, the Riverside proves to be champions Chelsea’s nemesis again.In manager Gareth Southgate’s first home game in charge, Boro score twice in the last ten minutes to win 2-1.
Manchester United go top with an impressive 3-0 win at Charlton Athletic. The night is completed with Ole Gunnar Solsjaer’s first top flight goal in three years.
Martin O’Neill is given a rapturous welcome as he takes charge of his first game at Villa Park. The new Aston Villa boss sees his new team come from behind to beat Reading 2-1.
A disgraceful challenge by Ben Thatcher is the talking point of Manchester City’s goalless draw with Portsmouth. A wrestling-style running forearm smash by the City full-back leaves Pompey midfielder Pedro Mendes needing hospital treatment but Thatcher is only booked by ref Dermot Gallagher.

—– Three more Championship clubs bite the First Round dust in the Carling Cup.
Injury-hit Sheffield Wednesday are trounced 1-4 by Wrexham at Hillsborough, Preston North End go out at League One leaders Port Vale while Wolverhampton Wanderers lose 5-6 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes at Chesterfield.

Poor Sunderland shaken

Championship clubs’ Carling Cup crumble

—– With the second leg switched to Kiev due the current troubles in the Middle East, Liverpool ease past Maccabi Haifa to reach the group stages of the Champions League.
With a 2-1 advantage from the Anfield leg, the five times holders take the lead in Ukraine through Peter Crouch before Roberto Colautti equalises for the Israelis on 63 minutes to set up a tense finish.

—– In the nights’ two Premiership games, Sheffield United lose 0-2 at Tottenham Hotspur while Watford hold new leaders West Ham United to a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

—– It’s a bad night for Championship clubs in the First Round of the Carling Cup.
Sunderland’s wretched start to the season slumps even further with a 0-2 defeat at Bury who are bottom of League Two. Chairman / manager Niall Quinn has now lost all five of his games in charge. He reveals the he hopes a new boss - who he describes as ‘a world-class manager’ - will be appointed before the Black Cats next game.
In all, nine Championship clubs go out. The biggest shocks are wins for League Two’s Notts County and Barnet’s wins at Crystal Palace and Cardiff City, respectively.

Accrington make glorious return

Newcastle in takeover speculation

—– Accrington Stanley make a glorious return to the Football League Cup competition after their 44-year non-league exile.
They beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at their Frazer Eagle Stadium with a goal from Paul Mullin on 61 minutes in the First Round of the Carling Cup.
Although Forest field a below strength team, they have won all four of their League One games this term.
On a wider historical aspect, Stanley had lost their two previous League Cup ties - at Everton in 1961 and Lincoln City in 1962.
In 1979, when Forest were League Cup winners and European champions, Stanley were in the Second Division of the Cheshire League.
Unless their old financial problems are to return though, they will hope the cup shock in front of a live television audience will entice more locals to their home games.
The attendance of 2,100 includes over 700 Forest fans.

—– The Belgravia Group reveal their interest in buying Newcastle United.
The Jersey-based company confirms to the stock market that it is in early talks with the Premiership club which is valued at about £81million.
They have reportedly met majority shareholder Sir John Hall who, with his son, owns more than 40% of the club.
United chairman Freddie Shepherd, who owns a 28% stake in the football club, is expected to resist any approach.
The identity of Belgravia’s backers is shrouded in mystery.
Little is known about their chairman, Duncan Hickman, who set up the investment group with fellow banker Ron Mitchell in 2000.

Injury-hit Chelsea hit City for three

Ron and Roo net as Reds go nap

—– Champions Chelsea and runners-up Manchester United both get their Premiership season off to a sparkling start with emphatic home wins.
John Terry completes a fantastic week as the new England captain nets the Chelsea opener in a 3-0 win against Manchester City.
In front of the new Premiership record crowd of 75,115, Manchester United score four in the first 20 minutes against Fulham before completing a 5-1 win. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo put their summer spat behind them as they are both on the scoresheet. At the end of the first weekend of Premiership action, United are top of the table for the first time in three years.

—– With each team finishing with ten-men, Wrexham come out on top of a keenly fought derby at Chester City. The Dragons win at their near neighbours for the first time since 1977 with goals from Neil Roberts and Mark Jones.

—– Celtic miss the chance to go top of the SPL as they are held to a 1-1 draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.