News Balls – Derby County’s American owners, Rolando Bianchi’s Lazio debut, David Beckham’s 100th cap and more football-shaped breakfast bites

Ollie Irish

28th, January 2008

This morning’s top five football stories, condensed into one juicy post…
news%20balls.png1. Derby County have new owners – the American-based General Sports and Entertainment group (fact of the day: their chairman, Andy Appleby, comes from a real-life Springfield). Rams’ fans will be relieved to know that the club and GSE have mutually agreed an investment partnership, which will not involve them taking on any debt. BBC
2. Opportunistic thieves broke into the away dressing room at Sheffield United and stole £2,000 from the wallets and clothes of Man City’s players. Guardian
More hot news after the click…


3. Don Fabio Capello is having serious doubts over whether David Beckham is fit enough to be included in his first England squad, due to be named on Thursday. The England manager is also considering naming his first squad in two different stages over the next five days. Crazy guy. Independent
4. Best first impression of the weekend? Step up Rolando Bianchi, loaned by Manchester City to Lazio last week. Bianchi made his first appearance for the Rome club yesterday but only lasted five – count ’em – minutes. He came on in the 60th minute and picked up two yellow cards in the 0-0 draw with Torino. Guardian
5. Juande Ramos has wasted little time in strengthening his Spurs squad. Jonathan Woodgate passed his medical last night and Scotland right-back Alan Hutton flew to London to agree terms on a £9m transfer from Rangers. Brazilian left-back Gilberto was also undergoing a medical in London before completing a move from Hertha Berlin. Mirror