Cricket:IPL Transfers

The first ever trading window of IPL is set to end on January 22nd but there has not been much activity among the teams. Players like Afridi and Akhtar were put on sale but there were no buyers for them given the current situation between India and Pakistan. Some of the teams like the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were happy with their current squad and they did not put any player on the market. The first and the only transfer till this second was the straight swap between Nehra (Mumbai Indians) and Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Daredevils). Now there are serious talks that Zaheer(Bangalore) and Robin Uthappa (Mumbai) are set for a similar swap without any cash dealings. Apart from this one there hasn't been any news (not even rumours) regarding the transfers and the teams have started to release fringe players to cut the costs!!!!! Next trading season migh see a bit of activity as teams are not sure of whom they require now. Now, I'm waiting for the player auction in February. If you are checking this post after January 20th, click here for the transfers before the window closed - IPL TRANSFERS.

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EPL:Week 22 goals & highlights

Here are the goals and highlights of the matches played in week 22 of the Barclays Premier League


Bolton Wanderers V Manchester United
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE

Chelsea V Stoke City
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

Sunderland V Aston Villa
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

Manchester City V Wigan Athletic
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

Hull City V Arsenal
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

West Ham United V Fulham
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

Tottenham Hotspur V Portsmouth
RAPIDSHARE || MEDIAFIRE -

Liverpool Vs Everton
Gerrard
Cahill

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EPL:Liverpool draw with Everton, Manutd remain top

Liverpool missed the chance to go back to the top of the table after they could manage only a 1-1 draw against bitter rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield. Liverpool started with Torres and Keane upfront, an attack minded line up with Alonso and Gerrard in the midfield. Everton played a 5 man midfield without the suspended Feliani. Gerrard opened the scoring in the 68th minute with a thunderbolt from 20 yards but Cahill broke their hearts as he rose to head home an Arteta free kick in the 87th minute and equalise. Liverpool, who have played a game more than Manchester United might live to regret the lost points as "The Champions" are firmly in control of the title race now and it wont be easy to catch them.

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EPL Transfers:Bellamy moves to Manchester City

Manchester City added another player to their ever growing squad when they signed West Ham striker Craig Bellamy for a fee which is reportedly around £14 million. Even as City continue their chasing of Kaka, Mark Hughes has finally managed to get one of the strikers he wished for. West Ham, who are struggling for funds will some money on them after Bellamy's sale but Zola will regret the loss of his star player who was shaping up really well. We can expect more arrivals at the Eastlands before Jan 31st mid night.

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IPL:Asif quits Delhi Daredevils

Mohammad Asif has been released from his IPL contract by the Delhi Daredevils after 48 hours of meetings between the player and the franchise. Asif is enduring some tough moments of his life after he was banned by IPL for using some banned substances. His bad times continued as he was detained for possession of Opium in Dubai Airport. And above all he was banned by PCB, pending the hearing of the IPL tribunal. Delhi bought Asif for US$650,000 on a three-year contract, making him the second-most expensive Pakistan player in the league. With his hearing set for January 24th, Asif's pull out comes as a surprise to many. He has said he wants to concentrate on winning back his place in the Pakistan national squad and he had quit due to personal reasons, which is understandable. Hope he comes back a better person.

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Transfers:World record transfers from 1982 - Part 2

Alan Shearer – £15m

Blackburn to Newcastle, 30 July 1996 Age at move: 25

Games/goals for Newcastle (league) 303/148;

Trophies with Newcastle: None

Verdict : Massive hit.

Ronaldo – £19.5m

Barcelona to Internazionale, 1 August 1997 Age at move: 20

Games/goals for Inter (league) 68/49;

Trophies with Inter: Uefa Cup 1997-98

Verdict : Marred by injuries during his 5 year stay. Not a hit.

Denilson – £21.4m

Sao Paulo to Real Betis, 14 July 1998 Age at move: 20

Games/goals for Betis (league) 186/13;

Trophies with Betis: Spanish Cup 2004-05

Verdict : Flop

Christian Vieri – £31m

Lazio to Internazionale, 10 June 1999 Age at move: 25

Games/goals for Inter (league) 144/103;

Trophies with Inter: None

Verdict : Great strike rate but no trophies

Hernan Crespo – £35.5m

Parma to Lazio, 12 July 2000 Age at move: 25;

Games/goals for Lazio (league) 70/52;

Trophies with Lazio: None

Verdict : Flop

Luis Figo – £38m

Barcelona to Real Madrid, 24 July 2000 Age at move: 27

Games/goals for Real (league) 163/36

Trophies with Real: Champions League 2001-02,

Intercontinental Cup 2002,

Spanish Cup (twice), La Liga 2002-03.

Verdict : Hit

Zinedine Zidane – £46m

Juventus to Real Madrid, 9 July 2001 Age at move: 29

Games/goals for Real (league) 224/49;

Trophies with Real: Champions League 2001-02,

Intercontinental Cup 2002,

Spanish Cup (twice), La Liga 2002-03.

Verdict : Hit

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Transfers:World record transfers from 1982 - Part 1

The transfer records in the world are set to take a tumble with the reported £243 m offer for Kaka from Manchester City. So here is a look on how the baton of the costliest player on earth shifted from 1982 and how they fared.

Diego Maradona – £3m

Boca Juniors to Barcelona, 1 June 1982. Age at move: 21

Games/goals for Barcelona (league) 58/38;

Trophies with Barcelona: Spanish Cup 1982-3,

Spanish Super Cup 1982-83,

Spanish League Cup 1982-83

Verdict : Promised a lot but failed to deliver.

Diego Maradona – £5m

Barcelona to Napoli, 1 July 1984. Age at move: 23

Games/goals for Napoli (league) 259/115;

Trophies with Napoli: Serie A 1986-87, 1989-90,

Uefa Cup 1988-89, Italian Cup 1986-87

Verdict : Super hit despite the cocaine incidents

Ruud Gullit – £6m

PSV Eindhoven to Milan, 1 June 1987 Age at move: 24

Games/goals for Milan (league) 117/35;

Trophies with Milan: Serie A 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93,

European Cup 1988-89, 1989-90,

Intercontinental Cup 1989-90, 1990-91

Verdict : Hit

Roberto Baggio – £8m

Fiorentina to Juventus, 20 May 1990 Age at move: 23

Games/goals for Juventus (league) 141/78;

Trophies with Juventus: Uefa Cup 1992-93,

Serie A 1994-95, Italian Cup 1994-95

Verdict : Super hit

Jean-Pierre Papin – £10m

Marseilles to Milan, 1 May 1992 Age at move: 28

Games/goals for Milan (league) 40/18;

Trophies with Milan: Serie A 1992-93, 1993-94,

Champions League 1993-94,

Italian Super Cup 1992-93

Verdict : Average

Gianluca Vialli – £12m

Sampdoria to Juventus, 25 May 1992 Age at move: 27

Games/goals for Juventus (league) 157/48;

Trophies with Juventus: Uefa Cup 1992-93, Serie A 1994-95,

Italian Cup 1994-95, Champions League 1995-96

Verdict : Hit (his partnership with Roberto Mancini was lethal)

Gianluigi Lentini – £13m

Torino to Milan, 1 July 1992 Age at move: 23

Games/goals for Milan (league) 60/13;

Trophies with: Milan Serie A 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96,

Champions League 1993-94, Italian Super Cup 1992-93, 1993-94

Verdict : Started well but the car accident marred his career.

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