[RedForceRising]

CHELSEA SNAP UP MINEIRO
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4190198,00.html

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by signing Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old, who has won 24 caps, was a free agent having been released by Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.

Chelsea have been short of defensive midfield cover with Claude Makelele having left the club in the summer and Michael Essien sidelined with a serious knee injury.

"He is a player that I need because I lost Michael Essien for six months. I have one midfielder like him, John Mikel Obi," Scolari told the club's website chelseafc.com.

Mineiro, whose full name is Carlos Luciano da Silva, was a member of the Brazil squad at the 2006 World Cup and was also in the team that faced England in a friendly at Wembley last year.

Scolari continued: "This week he will not play but maybe after 15 days to two weeks, he is ready to play normal games.

"He needs to play some games in the reserve team, and for me it is very good because I have one more player in this position.

"If not I have to put in (Juliano) Belletti or (Paulo) Ferreira, or (Michael) Ballack, and they are not for this position.

"I say to fans of Chelsea, if they remember (Claude) Makelele, Mineiro is the same.

"Good positionally, a very good marker. He is a man that works for the other players and he is also a good man outside of the pitch."

Mineiro spent 18 months with Hertha, scoring twice in 36 appearances, having previously played solely in his homeland with Sao Paulo, Sao Caetano and Ponte Preta.

While at Sao Paulo he scored the goal which beat Liverpool in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship.

 

[RedForceRising]

TRISTAN TARGETS GOALS
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4338315,00.html

Striker Diego Tristan is determined to repay Gianfranco Zola's faith in him by "scoring lots of goals" for West Ham.

Former Spain international Tristan signed a permanent deal at Upton Park on Tuesday after impressing on a two-week trial.

The 32-year-old, who becomes Zola's first signing as manager, had been a free agent after leaving Italian side Livorno.

Tristan told the club's website, whufc.com: "The manager has spent lots of time working with me.

"He has helped me a lot and I want to say thanks to him by scoring lots of goals and doing well for the club.

"I am very grateful to the manager for giving me the opportunity to play here.

"I have been really impressed from the moment I arrived at the training ground.

"The coaching staff and the players have all helped me to settle in. I had a lot of offers to go to other countries and play for a lot of money but I feel that I still have lots to offer.

"I want to show West Ham fans that I can still play at the highest level. That is why I am here."

The striker, who won 15 caps for Spain between 2001 and 2004, also played for Deportivo La Coruna and Real Mallorca in his homeland.

However, the 6ft 1in forward endured lean times at Livorno and scored just one goal in 20 appearances.

He will be in contention to make his debut in Sunday's Barclays Premier League match at Hull.

Tristan added: "I have always been impressed by English football whenever I have played here.

"The stadiums and the fans are great and it was always a dream of mine to come here and play.

"Now my dream is going to become reality. I am at a great club and I want to see if I can help West Ham get into Europe and play at that level.

"English football is very similar to Spanish in that it is very quick and technical.

"There is more of an emphasis on attacking football so I will have more chances to score goals.

"In Italy, it was more defensive, and not easy for forwards to get scoring opportunities. West Ham play the right way and that should help me to do well."

 

[Guest]

17 October 2008

Lewis Buxton [Stoke - Sheff Wed] Loan
Tom Craddock [Middlesbrough - Luton] Loan
Carl Fletcher [Crystal Palace - Nottingham Forest] Loan
Steve Jones [Burnley - Huddersfield] Loan
Matty Kay [Blackpool - Fleetwood] Loan
Chris O'Grady [Oldham - Bury] Loan
Nathaniel Rowe-Turner [Leicester - Cheltenham] Loan
Emile Sinclair [Nottingham Forest - Mansfield] Loan
Anthony Stokes [Sunderland - Sheff Utd] Loan
John Thompson [Oldham - Notts County] Loan