Wow I'm still surprised at Sepsi ... and Radu. 4 months ago I wouldn't of even believed that they would transfer to such big clubs. When they transferred, I wouldn't of believed that either one of them would become starters so fast. I wonder who the next surprises will be ... Torje? Mardare? Sapunaru? Moti? Szekely?
Cosmin Olaroiu won the title in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, after getting the three crucial points in an away game against league leaders Al Ittihad. Both teams finished with 48 points, but Al Hilal has a better head-to-head record. Olaroiu also won the Saudi Arabian cup. This is from Kopite @ Xtratime:
Claudiu Niculescu scored a superb free-kick goal yesterday. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/spielpaarungsbericht/object/807830
Lazslo Sepsi is expected to start at LB today for Benfica aginst Estrela Amadora in an important game that could give Benfica an automatic CL place. Sepsi currently has 2 assists in 2 games for Benfica and is currently enjoying a very productive season. Not only playing in the UEFA Cup for Gloria against Heavyweights Atletico Madrid where he impressed but also gaining his first cap for Romania in a 3-0 bashing of Russia. I love this kid 22 years old, fast, and knows how to play. Very versitile can play as LB, and LWM. Fans already love him.
A friend in Lisbon says that after a great start to his Benfica career, Sepsi has had a nightmare few weeks, and is more or less finished there - the match that has particularly rankled was the Cup semi final when Benfica played rivals Sporting. Benfica were 2-0 up and they brought Sepsi on to hold the left flank - Rui Costa was caught on camera saying to the bench (basically) "What the f%"£ is he doing on the pitch" and Sporting scored three goals in quick succession - all from the wing that Sepsi was responsible for. The score eventually finished 5-3 to Sporting, and Sepsi (and the manager) is being blamed. It'll take a lot for him to recover mentally from such an experience, I reckon.
I forgot about this thread ... but Nicolae Dica signed with Calcio Catania in Serie A with Walter Zenga as head coach. I can't find the link with a transfer fee but I remember reading that it was 2-3 million euro. http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=sports&id=20080704-17230 Cristian Sapunaru transfered from Rapid to FC Porto for 3 million euro. http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=sports&id=20080711-17255 Florentin Petre also leaves the Bulgarian championship to go to Terek Grozny in Russian Premier League ... unfortunately I can't find a link.
Anyone heard of Adrian Patulea? He scored a hattrick for Lincoln City (English 4th tier) in a pre-season game recently (because his brother lives in Lincoln) and looks set to be signed. The news reports say he began his career at Rapid, and that he is currently contracted to a Romanian club, but don;t actually say which one. Link: http://www.lincolncity-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=398487
The old Petrolul Ploiesti. The other is CSM Ploiesti. FRF didn't allow then to use CSM Petrolul 1952 Ploiesti.
Radoi to Inter Milan for 15 mil. Euro ... Wow! http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=800863 Can anyone please update this as soon as it's confirmed
Radoi won't be going to Inter after all. Mutu has to pay Chelsea 17 M Euros: BBC. Marica scored one goal for Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup win against Gyor: uefa.com.