Soccermania

Chelsea striker Torres looking £50m at last as AVB break ends midwinter blues

2012-01-27T18:48:00.000-08:00

Around 800 miles from the pressure cooker of their Cobham training ground, Chelsea's players have finally seen a different side to Andre Villas-Boas.

Six days in Majorca with the squad was a release; a chance for the young Portuguese coach to drain some of the tension after a turbulent start to his career with the club.

He prescribed rest and relaxation, dividing the time between the training pitches, the golf course and some fine dining in some of Palma's magnificent seaview restaurants.

Chelsea's players were instructed to leave their Dolce & Gabbana club suits at home, swapping them for swim shorts and 'club casuals' - the phrase used on the leaflet given to the players a few days before they took off on a charter flight from Norwich last Saturday.

The midwinter break, at the magnificently appointed Hotel Punta Negra in Costa D'en Blanes, was designed to be a cooling-off period after sliding out of the title race. The players responded, stripping off the layers each morning at Real Mallorca's splendid training complex 20 minutes from their clifftop apartments.

It allowed skipper John Terry time to focus his thoughts on Saturday's meeting with the player he is accused of racially abusing at Loftus Road last October, Anton Ferdinand, and his forthcoming court case relating to those allegations.

Others, such as David Luiz, Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres thrived, training with intensity and gripped with enthusiasm.

Torres must dread the sharp intake of breath Villas-Boas takes before the distinctive shrill of his whistle and shouts the words 'shooting drill'. Yet the striker was a class apart, gliding across the playing surface and stepping into side-foot volleys with the assurance of a World Cup winner. He drew gasps of admiration from Real Mallorca's coaching staff up in the stand whenever one of AVB's training drills ended with Petr Cech beaten cleanly.

It was the player Chelsea paid £50million for, converting chances under the comfort blanket that Villas-Boas created for his squad at their Son Biblioni training camp.

The manager demanded focus and in return he gave them freedom to enjoy themselves on the field, encouraging them to flash the occasional smile again after a frustrating season.

Frank Lampard worked alone, put through a series of sprinting drills before heading off for massage on his injured calf.

It was fun to be around Chelsea for a change, lifting the atmosphere and allowing the players to have some freedom at the team hotel. Some spent the afternoons on the tennis courts, while others took to the golf buggies and set off for the stunning fairways and greens of Son Vida or Alcanada.

In the evenings a bus took them into town, down the winding roads to friendly restaurants such as the Vinotinto tapas bar.

He has failed to mask his insecurities, surprising Chelsea employees after his return to English football following a hugely successful season with Porto.

But he dropped his guard at times this week, allowing the players to gain a better understanding of his complicated personality.

Villas-Boas still has the support of Roman Abramovich but, crucially, he altered the mindset of some influential players too.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

and picture: www.mirrorfootball.co.uk, plus google and www.chelseafc.com

Nakumura's amazing free kick: curling a ball through the window of a moving bus

2012-01-20T01:08:00.000-08:00

FORMER Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura proves he's still got the knack at set pieces — by curling a ball through the window of a moving bus.

The free-kick expert — who now plays for Yokoham F Marinos — was filmed in an alley taking part in a stunt live on Japanese television.

Nakamura, 34, used mirrors to time his strike before rolling back the years to bend a beautiful shot through the vehicle's window — much to the amazement of passengers on board.

source: www.thesun.co.uk

New Liverpool turmoil: midfielder Downing arrested after allegedly punching ex-girlfriend

2012-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Liverpool face fresh turmoil after midfielder Stewart Downing was arrested on suspicion of assault following allegations of hitting an ex-girlfriend in a nightclub row.

The England international, 27, was arrested after a late night fracas at a club in the upmarket suburb of Yarm, near Middlesborough, at about 1am on Sunday morning.

It is the latest incident to rock the Anfield club, coming hot on the heels of the arrest of a 20-year-old man for allegedly racially abusing Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi on Friday night.

The club also remain embroiled in a second race row with Luis Suarez serving an eight-match ban for abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

It is claimed that Downing assaulted his ex-partner, with whom he is thought to have a child, after rowing with her while drinking at the Cross Keys club on Yarm High Street.

A local source told the Mail Online that there had been an incident between the two of them.

'She went over to one of his friends and said something that she shouldn't have,' the source said.

'He butted in and they were arguing.' It's then that the source alleged that he hit her.

The source continued: 'Police got there as they were thrown out. He caused a scene outside the club as well, when he realised they were going to take him in.'

Referring to last night's incident, a police spokesman said: 'Police were called to an incident at a pub on Yarm High Street.

'A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a 32-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assault.

'Both are in custody and inquiries are ongoing.'

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Injury crisis can't last for Evra

2011-12-28T01:32:00.000-08:00

PATRICE EVRA is concerned that the injury crisis that has hit Manchester United could affect the club's title charge.

United's stand-in skipper had to move from left-back to central defence for the second half of Boxing Day's 5-0 win over Wigan after Jonny Evans became the latest defender to limp out of action.

Evra said: "I am a little bit worried because we need everyone if we are going to win the league.

"It is starting to get annoying."

Evans is expected to be missing for a couple of weeks after tweaking a calf muscle joining a lengthy casualty list containing United's senior defenders.

There is no date set for Rio Ferdinand's return from a long-term back injury and Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging his right knee in Champions League action against Basle.

But Evra says it's nothing knew for the Champions.

"It is not the first year we've got so many injuries. Two years ago I played with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher at the back.

"The most important thing is that we won but I hope everyone gets fit because Blackburn is another big game and we need all the defenders."

Midfielder Ji-Sung Park, who scored in the rout of Wigan, believes the team has the character to battle through.

"I have never known anything like it," said the South Korean.

"Hopefully we will get our defenders back pretty quickly because we are coming up to some very important games.

United boss Alex ferguson is hoping to have Phil Jones and Chris Smalling back for the weekend.

source: www.thesun.co.uk

no stopping Welsh wizard Giggs as goal at Fulham extends remarkable record

2011-12-22T00:28:00.000-08:00

Ryan Giggs' goal against Fulham on Wednesday night saw him extend his unique record of scoring in every Premier League season.

But not everything went his way — when the 38-year-old winger scored United’s third goal at Craven Cottage, it turned out to be the 19,999th goal scored in the Premier League.

Guess who scored the 9,999th? Former United midfielder Paul Scholes.

Giggs’ first came way back in August 1992 in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Welshman has actually scored in 22 seasons, since making his debut for United in March, 1991.

It was a comfortable night for United at Craven Cottage, with the visitors 3-0 up at half-time following goals from Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ryan Giggs.
Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov scored superb goals late on to give United their heaviest win in three months.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men go into Christmas still two points behind their neighbours Manchester City in the title race.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Barcelona's David Villa faces five months out after breaking shinbone

2011-12-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

Barcelona have confirmed David Villa is set to be sidelined for between "four and five months" after the Spain striker broke his shinbone in Thursday's 4-0 Club World Cup semi-final victory over Al-Sadd.

The 30-year-old was carried off on a stretcher six minutes before half-time and Barça announced soon after that he had suffered a "fracture to the tibia in his left leg". The player was taken to hospital in Yokohama for further tests.

An updated statement on the Barça website read: "In the coming hours, Villa will return to Barcelona, via Frankfurt, to be operated on. He will be accompanied by doctor Ricard Pruna and Manel Estiarte. The approximate time he will be sidelined is between four and five months."

Villa remains optimistic he will be back in time for the European Championship, and also hopes he will be able to feature in the Champions League final in Munich on 19 May if the defending champions get that far.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Villa said: "Hello everyone. Thanks for your support. The injury is a tough blow, but I'm sure that I'm going to recover as soon as possible, thinking about playing the final in Munich (I know my team-mates will take me there) and the European Championships.

"I'm going to work hard for it. I want them to count on me. Tomorrow I'll be in Spain. A big hug."

The news means Villa is likely to miss the majority of Barça's La Liga and Champions League campaigns, but could be available to world and European champions Spain for Euro 2012, which begins in June.

On Wednesday Guardiola had denied the club had been actively trying to sell the 30-year-old Villa only 19 months into the four-year deal agreed following his €40m (£33.5m) transfer from Valencia.

Villa has scored five times in 15 league appearances this season, following his 18 goals in 34 games as Barça won the Primera División title last season.

source:www.guardian.co.uk

FRENCH GAMING AUTHORITY OPEN FIX PROBE INTO LYON'S 7-1 OVER WIN OVER DINAMO ZAGREB

2011-12-08T22:16:00.001-08:00

French online gaming authority ARJEL have opened an investigation into Lyon's 7-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, which put them through into the knockout stages of the Champions League at the expense of Ajax Amsterdam.

Lyon began the night three points behind behind Ajax in Group D and needed a seven-goal swing to qualify, which was eventually attained with some ease as they crushed 10-man Zagreb and Ajax slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Real.

Bafetimbi Gomis scored a second-half hat-trick for Lyon in seven minutes - the fastest in the competition’s history - against a Dinamo side who had Jerko Leko sent off and nothing to play for after already being condemned to bottom place in the group.

But suspicions were raised when Lisandro Lopez hit Lyon’s fifth and TV cameras appeared to show Dinamo's Domagoj Vida winking and giving the thumbs up to Gomis as the striker tried to collect the ball from him.

The nature of Lyon's victory and footage has called for UEFA to intervene and investigate with Ajax boss Frank de Boer leading the calls following the astonishing result in Croatia.

De Boer said afterwards: "If there was something unusual, UEFA should investigate what happened in Zagreb. My assistants have told me that the goals came quick and easy, because you can’t normally score these goals in half an hour.

"Destiny was in our own own hands and we had chances to qualify because our game was very even. I will have to see video replays (of the disallowed goals)."

But Zagreb, who sacked manager Krunoslav Jurcic after the game, said in a statement that it was "scandalous and malicious to proclaim the Champions League match as suspicious".

The statement said: "Of course, no one in club can't be satisfied after that result, but it is also obvious that Dinamo was fighting after taking the lead, after equalising and when Lyon took the lead to achieve the best possible result.

source: www.sport360.com

Didier Drogba is all about the money

2011-11-30T23:37:00.001-08:00

The Ivory Coast international believes he has already proven himself on the pitch. Now, he wants to pick up a huge check, even if it means coming to MLS.

Didier Drogba comes with a buyer beware label and it’s got nothing to do with the fact that the world-class striker is on the wrong side of 33 years old.

No, Drogba can still score goals but just so there is no misunderstanding he wants every club team from Russia to the United States to know that he’s in it for one thing: money.

But if the Los Angeles Galaxy, one of the club’s supposedly interested in Drogba, are looking for a goodwill ambassador to replace David Beckham they’d better think this one through before opening the vault.Beckham also came with a hefty price tag and early on and you wondered if his heart was really in it. That all changed this past season and right through the Galaxy’s run to the MLS Cup. Beckham proved he can still play, win and draw fans.

Drogba is a huge international name but he does not have the crossover appeal like Beckham. Very few do. But Drogba does have plenty of cache, having spent the prime years of his career with Chelsea and appearing in two World Cups with Ivory Coast.

In theory, the addition of Drogba with Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan would make the league’s most popular team the favorite to repeat. And MLS should be searching for “name” players who still have three to five years of quality soccer left in them.

For now, getting major international stars at the tail end of their respective careers is the most logical way for MLS teams to augment their mostly anonymous rosters. But that is not a fail-proof formula. For Exhibit A we present you Lothar Matthäus with the MetroStars and for Exhibit B Rafa Marquez with New York Red Bulls.

The former was essentially on a New York vacation while the latter plays as if he’s been sentenced to hard time at San Quentin State Prison.

Everything about it makes a lot of sense for MLS and the Galaxy, especially with Beckham likely to sign with a French team. But just remember one thing: Didier isn’t coming for cents. He wants dollars. Lots of them.

Buyer beware indeed.

source: www.goal.com

Bright Young Thing: 'They said I was too small, so I asked to stay and play part-time for free.'

2011-11-25T20:09:00.001-08:00

Ashley Young, 16 years old and in Year 11 at John Henry Newman, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is sitting in the office of a careers adviser.

She asks him what he wants to do. He says he wants to be a footballer.

She looks sceptical. His face does not crack. Utter conviction. She shuffles a few papers, scans his GCSE results and repeats the question, adding that it might not work out for him in his chosen profession. What is the alternative? The teenager remains adamant. He has a dream and intends to live it.

'I said I didn’t know because I hadn’t thought about it and I hadn’t thought about it because it didn’t matter because I was going to become a footballer,’ Young, 10 years older and a somewhat justified shining light for Manchester United and England, explains.

‘So she started again, a fourth time, with the question about it not working out. She wasn’t happy. Even less so when I got up and walked out of the room.’

Young’s determination at the time was made all the more remarkable by another meeting that had taken place previously. It was with four coaches attached to Watford’s youth and academy system: Dave Hockaday, David Dodds, John McDermott and Chris Cummins. They sat with Young in a private room after a youth team match and it was there he discovered he was not to be offered a professional youth training scheme contract. It felt like the end of his world.

'That was the biggest struggle for me. There were other clubs I could have gone to, I think, but Watford had said I would never be good enough to get in the first team and I was determined to prove them wrong.

‘I could have left the game, or looked elsewhere, but I asked to stay on part-time. I did a sports tech course three days a week and played for the youth team, unpaid, to try to make my point. It was then that I realised how hard I needed to work to succeed. Kids ask me about what they should do to make it and I tell them, “Just get your head down and work, work, work”.

I came back part-time and they put me in with the Under 18s. They told me I had to show my ability against those boys.

I worked after training every day, I worked on everything I could to improve my game and I never looked back. I started in the Under 18s, within a month I was in the reserves and a year later I was offered a professional contract.’

Young, now 26, sits at Manchester United’s Trafford Training Centre in Carrington and shows off the tattoo that dominates the lower half of his right arm. Its central motif is a quotation: ‘In life, if it’s not worth fighting for, it’s not worth having.’

Fast forward and this season finds him a mainstay of Manchester United’s first team following a summer move from Aston Villa, and now as established as any player can reasonably be in Fabio Capello’s England team, where his willingness to exchange central and wide forward positions makes him crucial to a new pattern of play.

source: www.theguardian.co.uk

Fairytale ending for Beckham in MLS triumph

2011-11-21T08:15:00.001-08:00

Hollywood loves a happy ending. In true movie style, David Beckham signed off his five-year American adventure with a trophy as LA Galaxy lifted the MLS Cup on Sunday night.

The Galaxy's leading man has still to decide whether to extend his stay in California, but his performance had all the hallmarks of a final act.

He staggered through the game nursing a hamstring injury but still defied the odds to become only the second Englishman after Trevor Steven to win championships in three countries.

Who knows, with Paris Saint-Germain still courting the 36-year-old, there could yet be time to add a French title to the honours won in England, Spain and the United States. Yet, until Landon Donovan's 72nd minute winner, it had looked as if Houston Dynamo had failed to read the script.

Basking in their role as the rugged underdogs, they engineered to frustrate Galaxy's array of stars. But it seems you really do get what you pay for in the City of Angels.

It was the Galaxy's three 'Designated Players' – whose wages only count in part towards the team's salary cap – who combined to put the Californian side ahead. Beckham to Robbie Keane to Landon Donovan. It was a marketing guru's dream.

It took £20million and five seasons but, finally, Beckham can add a piece of silverware to
his Stateside success story.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Fabio hails Lion cubs after blooding Euro stars: Jones, Rodwell and Walker praised after England win

2011-11-15T20:39:00.001-08:00

Fabio Capello hailed his three young lions as the main reason to celebrate a win against Sweden sealed at Wembley by England’s 2000th international goal.

Phil Jones, Kyle Walker and Jack Rodwell came in for special praise from Capello after his England team won 1-0 to end 2011 unbeaten.

It was England’s first victory against Sweden since 1968, courtesy of a goal initially awarded to Gareth Barry.

But the ball skidded in off Sweden defender Daniel Majstorovic and was credited as an own goal.

'It's important to beat Sweden after 43 years but it was more important to see Jones, Rodwell and Walker play against a team which is really organised and difficult to play against.

'The answer that I received from the performance is really important for me. And these three players played really well.'

Having only made his debut as a substitute in Saturday's win over Spain, Rodwell has made rapid strides over the last few days.

Once again this evening, he played with a freedom all too often missing from England stars at Wembley.

Now he must maintain that momentum in a struggling Everton side in order to have a chance of making the final cut for Poland and Ukraine next summer.

John Terry was captain for the first time since police launched an investigation into allegations he aimed a racist remark at Anton Ferdinand in Chelsea’s recent game at QPR.

'There's no chance I would ever step down,’ said Terry. 'It’s something I dreamed of as a boy. I’m passionate and very confident being England captain.'

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

England vs Sweden Highlight Video

Kenny Dalglish: Don’t watch Liverpool play at Chelsea

2011-11-10T19:52:00.001-08:00

KENNY DALGLISH has amazingly told Liverpool fans NOT to buy tickets for the Carling Cup clash with Chelsea.

The angry Kop boss is ready to play kids in the quarter-final on November 29 in protest at the scheduling.

It is just 48 hours after Liverpool's Prem crunch with Manchester City.

Dalglish said: "It is disgraceful in this day and age players are being asked to play a key Premier League game on Sunday and then a League Cup quarter-final in London just 48 hours later.

"If the Football League want to devalue their own competition, it's up to them.

"But they shouldn't be upset if people use these games to help in the development of young players.

"The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the League Cup game.

"We do not want them spending their money and then we decide there is no other option but to use only young players.

"It's understandable, with the Spurs v PAOK Salonika match and the TUC rally, that the Metropolitan Police have said our game cannot be played on the Wednesday.

"But it's surely the duty of the football authorities to think of other solutions which consider the welfare of the players — and this clearly hasn't happened.

"City are in a similar position to us with their game at Arsenal.

"Here you have two clubs who have treated this competition with the utmost respect over the years and they are being treated like this.

"I'd be interested to know what the sponsors think of the situation and what it does for the reputation of the competition.

"It seems irresponsible the quarter-finals are scheduled in the same week as Europa League games.

"Both ourselves and City were happy for the League game to be moved back to the Saturday. But we are told this is not possible either for TV reasons."

A Football League spokesman said: "Despite extensive efforts, no alternative solution acceptable to all parties could be found."

source: www.thesun.co.uk

How United kept the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand a secret

2011-11-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

THERE was another first at Manchester United on Saturday as Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years in charge — something happened at the club without him knowing about it – the renaming of the North Stand to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand!

Fergie has always prided himself on being in complete control and knowing everything that goes on at Old Trafford.
'
But he wasn't aware that a stand was already bearing his name ahead of the weekend's victory with Sunderland.

Just how did United keep the operation secret as the huge red letters were put into place at the front of the roof of The North Stand?

Well it was all done under darkness on Thursday after the last of the public tours of Old Trafford had finished and work continued until 2am Friday.

Six abseilers put the letters into place and they and the company who made the letters had to sign confidentiality agreements so word did not leak out.

A 20-metre banner was then draped over the words 'Sir Alex Ferguson Stand' saying 'Old Trafford Manchester' in the same design.

It had been the idea of chief executive David Gill.

And only eight other people at the club knew about it — including three from the group property department, one from marketing design and Joel Glazer.

Even they were not brought into the secret until Wednesday and only at 5pm on Friday were they informed that a statue was also being commissioned.

The need for utmost secrecy was constantly expressed so it would be a genuine surprise for Fergie which indeed it was when his name was unveiled just before kick-off on Saturday.

Fergie was also presented with a painting of the renamed stand.

source: www.thesun.co.uk

Stoke 1 Newcastle 3: Toon go third as Ba treble punishes team who turned him down

2011-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

Newcastle United continued to defy expectations, winning at Stoke’s intimidating Britannia Stadium to leapfrog Chelsea into third in the Barclays Premier League.

Their goal hero was Demba Ba, a man rejected by Stoke halfway through last season because of an allegedly dodgy knee, which also put off suitors in the summer following West Ham’s relegation and his departure from Upton Park. Stoke chairman Peter Coates labelled Ba injury prone.

Since that move from Hoffenheim to the Potteries collapsed, Ba has scored 14 goals — eight for Newcastle after this hat-trick — and only Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have scored more in the Premier League in 2011.

The first here was a deft diving header, the second a simple side-foot finish from Leon Best’s mis-hit shot and the third came from the penalty spot.

For the moment, at least, the Newcastle manager has every right to enjoy a return to third spot and the knowledge that his faith in a free-transfer striker has left his team just a point behind champions Manchester United.

This is already Newcastle’s longest unbeaten run in the top flight for 61 years and, say it quietly, if Newcastle beat Everton at St James’ Park this Saturday lunchtime they could go second.

After that, and the international break, Newcastle have successive visits to the two Manchester clubs before hosting Chelsea on the first Saturday of December. If they are still third at that point, Newcastle can and should be taken very seriously indeed.

‘The first two goals were poor for us, although the first one was offside, but we should have dealt with two basic balls better. It was always going to be uphill after that.’

Pulis once described Ba as a ticking time-bomb because of his knee. ‘I would have taken him on a free,’ said the Stoke boss last night. ‘But he was coming to us for £9million (in January). The medical people decided it was too big a risk.’

And for that, Pardew and Newcastle are truly grateful.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk, www.goal.com

Alex Ferguson: My worst defeat ever

2011-10-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Manchester City gave Sir Alex Ferguson the worst day of his football life as they stormed Old Trafford to thrash neighbours United 6-1 in the Barclays Premier League.

On an astonishing afternoon which Ferguson admitted left him ‘shattered’, Roberto Mancini’s rampant team inflicted United’s biggest home defeat since 1955 — and equal biggest since 1927 — as they tore their opponents apart to go five points clear at the top.

The day was a triumph for Mancini and City forward Mario Balotelli, who recovered from setting his house on fire with fireworks early on Saturday to score the decisive opening two goals.

Ferguson said: ‘It was our worst ever day. It’s the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don’t think I ever lost 6-1. I can’t believe the scoreline.’

‘I’m shattered. It’s an incredible disappointment,’ he said.

The turning point came early in the second period, though, when United defender Jonny Evans was sent off. After that City ran away with the game and two goals in added time ensured United suffered their worst home defeat since City thumped them 5-0 in 1955, and equal worst since a 7-1 trouncing by Newcastle in 1927.

Manchini said: ‘I don’t know what happened on Friday. The most important thing was that Mario and his friend were OK. He is in a hotel now. Today Mario played very well. If we want to talk about Mario we can put him in the first five players in the world.

‘But he is young and at his age he can make some mistakes.

"‘What did his T-shirt say? Well, that is Mario. But that is why he is so popular with the supporters because he is crazy.

‘But I love him because he is a good guy. I hope the day arrives that he changes his mind completely. When he does that he will become one of the best three players in the world, like Messi, like Ronaldo.’

Ferguson, who left captain Nemanja Vidic in the stands, said: ‘The first goal was a blow, but that’s retrievable. The sending-off was the killer blow. It’s a perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of embarrassment in the dressing room which will make an impact.’

source: www.thesun.co.uk

Can Man City win European Cup?

2011-10-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

SUNSPORT answers the key questions on Manchester City's chances of winning the Champions League this season.

IS THE SQUAD UP TO IT?

CITY'S squad is envied around Europe and even Barcelona wanted to avoid them in the group stages.

But what they don't have is Champions League experience as a team — that's how the regulars make it look so easy — in what is a tough group.

YES OR NO? NO

THE RIGHT BOSS FOR EURO GLORY?

ROBERTO MANCINI won trophies for fun when he was a boss in Italy — but he always came up short in this competition.

Ultimately, it cost him his job at Inter and his successor, Jose Mourinho, showed him how it should be done.

DO THEY NEED TEVEZ?

WELL, the Argentine does have a Champions League winners medal so knows what it takes to be successful in it.

But City have done just fine without him in the league with Aguero, Dzeko and Balotelli all banging them in. If they stay fit, it will be 'Carlos who?'

DO CITY HAVE TOO MANY EGOS?

THERE are plenty of those, as City know from what happened with Carlos Tevez in Munich.

But Mancini is a strong manager and has already shown he is willing to take a hardline approach with the likes of Tevez and fellow sulking striker Edin Dzeko.

source: www.thesun.co.uk

Go train on your own! City playing hard ball with Tevez as Argentine returns to Manchester

2011-10-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

According to the coaches he has worked with, Carlos Tevez has never been the greatest lover of training grounds.

On Thursday— on his return to Manchester City — things will get a whole lot worse for the club’s former captain.

It may be only five months since Tevez finished the last Barclays Premier League season as City’s top scorer with 24 goals in all competitions. And it may be less than half a year since he helped them into the Champions League places.

But as City manager Roberto Mancini begins the process of preparing his squad for crucial games in the league and in Europe, Tevez will be told to train alone.

Having served a two-week club suspension in the wake of an explosive night in Munich, Tevez will find the gates of the City training ground open to him again. That, however, is as far as the welcome will go.

Tevez will find, perhaps to his surprise, that he no longer has a seat in the first-team changing room and he certainly has no place on the field.

He will be sent out to train with a specially designated member of Mancini’s fitness team. Only after his state of mind and fitness has been assessed will the Argentine be considered ready to work with the reserve team.

As Mancini sat on the plane home from Munich two weeks ago, he spoke fervently to his staff of how there would be no way back for Tevez.

Whatever happened to other players in terms of form and fitness, his publicly declared intention to banish the player from his team would hold firm.

On Thursday, at the club’s training ground, Tevez will discover that this remains very much the case.

Mancini was told by the City hierarchy on Wednesday that the decision on how to deal with Tevez on a day-to-day basis would be left up to him.

If he wanted to include him in his first-team plans until his future was determined one way or the other then that, he was told, would be a decision the club would respect.

Mancini, though, never contemplated it for a second. The Italian, once a bit of a loose cannon himself, knows how a disaffected player can spread unrest through a group of footballers and this is a risk he is not prepared to take.

While Tevez’s future is thrashed out by City’s own disciplinary procedure in the coming days, the player will be told to work to a specifically designed training programme put together to reflect the poor state of fitness Mancini believes him to have carried in recent weeks.

As such, he will not even always be told to report to Carrington at the same time as the first-team players he so recently used to lead.

When deciding in the aftermath of the defeat by Bayern Munich two weeks ago that he would take Tevez on, this is the scenario Mancini envisaged. It is not ideal.

Saturday’s game at home to Aston Villa and then a Champions League meeting with Villarreal next Tuesday are important games that will be played against a backdrop of something approaching soap opera.

As for Tevez, he never really liked this city. He does not like the food and does not like the weather. On Thursday it is expected to rain. Again.

Welcome back to Manchester

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk, www.bet365.com, www.teamtalk.com

Abramovich’s stand-off with worried Chelsea fans

2011-10-05T01:12:00.000-07:00

WORRIED Chelsea fans last night announced they will fight to stop owner Roman Abramovich moving the Blues away from Stamford Bridge.

Supporters are concerned after the Russian billionaire tabled a £10million offer to buy out the shareholders who own the 41,800-seat ground.

That would leave him free to re-develop the 13 acre SW6 site for residential and commercial use and move the team to a new home nearby.

But one leading fan, who asked not to be named, said: "The great thing about Chelsea is that the ground is owned by the fans so nothing can happen here without our agreement.
"Chelsea Pitch Owners bought the land 14 years ago to see off the property developers and their bulldozers back then because this is the home of Chelsea Football Club and always has been.

"The intention was always to keep the club here at our spiritual home — and nothing's changed.

"So we will be writing to all the shareholders urging them to remember why we acted in the first place — and asking them to vote against Mr Abramovich's proposals at the CPO emergency meeting on October 27."

source: thesun.co.uk

Petr Cech: Concussion scare brought back memories of horror injury

2011-09-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

PETR CECH feared he had suffered another serious skull injury after collapsing in the Chelsea dressing room last week.

Cech, 29, was rushed to hospital for a brain scan following a collision with Fulham striker Orlando Sa during the Carling Cup clash at Stamford Bridge.

And though the Czech international goalkeeper was quickly cleared by neurologists, the incident brought back terrible memories of the day he nearly died on the pitch five years ago.

Cech has worn a protective scrum cap ever since he was forced to undergo emergency surgery for a depressed skull fracture in the wake of being caught on the head by Reading's Stephen Hunt in October 2006.

And he believes the helmet was a major factor in helping him emerge unscathed from last Wednesday's blow from Sa.

Cech revealed: "My head was shaken by the impact of the blow and went back in a similar way to when you take a right hook in boxing.

"I think the helmet took most of the impact and I felt fine after I'd been treated by the physio.

"I was even able to play for the last two minutes of the first half. But as soon as I got to the dressing room at half-time, I knew something was wrong."

"As soon as I sat down, I couldn't get up again. I couldn't see properly and I didn't have any awareness of the space around me.

"There was no way I could continue and it would have been really stupid for me to carry on. I went straight to hospital and had a scan. With my medical record they were not taking any chances, though that is the normal procedure for any player who has concussion just to make sure nothing is happening inside the skull.

Source: thesun.co.uk

Dalglish urges Capello to use his intelligence over Steven Gerrard

2011-09-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

KENNY DALGLISH wants Fabio Capello to use his 'intelligence' when Steven Gerrard reports for England duty.

Gerrard is set to feature in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro on October 7 after a short but successful return with Liverpool after six months out with a groin injury.

But Kop boss Dalglish is anxious to avoid another furious club-versus-country row over his skipper.

Midfielder Gerrard, 31, suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of England's 2-1 friendly defeat to France last November.

It sparked an angry reaction from Anfield as they had expected Gerrard to play no more than an hour. Darren Burgess, Liverpool's head of fitness and conditioning, expressed his disgust on Twitter.

He wrote: "Unbelievable from all associated with England and English FA with regards to SG's injury.

"Completely ignored agreement and past history. Completely amateurish and now we pay for their incompetence. Absolutely disgraceful."

Now Dalglish wants Capello to go softly softly with Gerrard, who emerged unscathed after playing the last 15 minutes of Wednesday's 2-1 Carling Cup win at Brighton.

Dalglish said: "I don't pick England's team. But I would just hope that they're as intelligent as we have been."

source: Thesun.co.uk

Manchester United get approval for Singapore share sale

2011-09-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

The club wants to raise $1bn (£635m) to pay off some of its debts by selling about 25% of the parent company's shares.

United want to complete the process, which is known as an initial public offering (IPO), by the end of the year.

They will spend the next few weeks speaking to investors ahead of a road show to market the offer.

But analysts said the club might decide that it was not a good time to list.

"Volatile markets and weakening sentiment would be a major drawback for anyone who wants to list," said Vishnu Varathan from Capital Economic in Singapore.

"It's not the most ideal time to list, it's not a bull market. Tapping new sources of funds could be a challenge and pricing could come under pressure."

Manchester United is currently profitable, having reported a record annual operating profit of £110.9m for the year to the end of June 2011.

Headline pre-tax profit came in at £29.7m, compared with a loss the previous year.

The club is reported to be considering creating different classes of shares, some of which have lower voting rights but carry higher dividends.

The idea of that would be to maintain control of the club by the Glazer family, which bought Manchester United in 2005.

source: bbc.co.uk

Chelsea questions Fernando Torres over criticism of teammates

2011-09-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

Fernando Torres, step into Andre Villas-Boas' office.

After Torres called out his "very slow" and "old" teammates on Spain's Primera Liga website and later translated to English on his personal site, Chelsea's management has decided to review the comments in what is the latest low moment for the striker since joining the club last January.

"We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview," said Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager. "We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview."

Torres has scored a grand total of one goal for the Blues in 18 Premier League games. It's not quite what Chelsea expected when it dished out over $79 million for the former Liverpool player, who had much more success at Anfield with 65 goals in 102 league games.

But, according to the translation, Torres did have an excuse for his lack of offensive power prior to being benched in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Sunderland over the weekend.

Torres' website, in Spanish, sees the 27-year-old say that the type of players Chelsea have "juega muy lento" - which translated means, "play very slowly". However, Torres has stated that he was misquoted by the online publication.

Still, those words struck a nerve with Villas-Boas, and if the translation proves accurate, the 33-year-old coach will surely take the proper action.

Torres has scored a grand total of one goal for the Blues in 18 Premier League games. It's not quite what Chelsea expected when it dished out over $79 million for the former Liverpool player, who had much more success at Anfield with 65 goals in 102 league games.

But, according to the translation, Torres did have an excuse for his lack of offensive power prior to being benched in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Sunderland over the weekend.

Torres' website, in Spanish, sees the 27-year-old say that the type of players Chelsea have "juega muy lento" - which translated means, "play very slowly". However, Torres has stated that he was misquoted by the online publication.

Still, those words struck a nerve with Villas-Boas, and if the translation proves accurate, the 33-year-old coach will surely take the proper action.

source: Goal.com

Only thing that will stop Manchester City this season is Itself

2011-09-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

Flush with more cash than most of the other teams in the English Premier League combined, City has been tapping up the best and most expensive talent in the game since it was bought by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. It has also been buying their excessive baggage.

Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero to name a select few who have come into Eastlands on massive fees in recent years. With that though, comes the media rants, the contract qualms, the all-too-public manager spats. And of course, the dart throwing.

Yes, it shouldn't be debated too much that Roberto Mancini has one of the hardest jobs in soccer. Daily dealings with the happiness of his bloated squad, the Italian is almost judged more for the handling of egos than his tactics on the pitch.

Obviously, Tevez is the most important player for Mancini and City. But that doesn't mean Balotelli and Aguero and Yaya Toure and James Milner and Gareth Barry and David Silva aren't important. For them to succeed and reach the lofty goals put before it by the club's ownership, the Citizens stars will have to put the old "no I in team" mantra to work.

It doesn't end with Tevez, however. City's team sheet is full of players who, to the outside observer, are self-involved individuals with only personal gain in mind. That may be a slight over-exaggeration, but a lot of it comes with the gaudy purchases the club chooses to repeatedly make.

Another example? Mancini's pet project Mario Balotelli. The young Italian has had about as many run ins with the team's disciplinary department than he has trips to City's human resources department to pick up his paycheck - which is to say, it's a weekly occurrence.

For Mancini and Co., the solution is simple. If you're trying to beat teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and even Arsenal to the English Premier League title, teams that have dominated the league for the last, well, always, it doesn't hurt to copy their professional and 'team first' approach to the game.

You very rarely hear about trouble in United's camp from players. Wayne Rooney's incident last season was quite surpising, and ended amicably. Ronaldo's enlongated exit a few years back was handled professionally by all parties, most of the time.

Arsenal has traditionally been one of the best managed and most honorable clubs in England, despite the harder times it has fallen upon lately.

Even at Chelsea, a team managed by a handful of managers in the last few seasons, has something of a 'no messing around' attitude that has perculated down from the fridgid top of the organization.

The team which is best at this is current European Champions and world beaters Barcelona. Harmony is an understatement when it comes to that club and it appears unlikely that anything but a full-blown team scandal of epic proportions could upset what Pep Guardiola has fervently fashioned in Catalonia.

And it's not like these teams don't have big stars, because they do - and lots of them. They have just been conditioned to understand that topping the table and winning medals as a team comes before personal drama, pay raises and excessive speeding tickets.

If City can continue to meld the superstar-caliber personalities on the pitch, something Mancini has done a progressively better job of since taking over in 2009, and keep them in check off of it, there will be no stopping it. Not Manchester United, not Chelsea, not Liverpool and not Arsenal. Only one team will be able to slow the Citizen machine: Manchester City.

source: Goal.com, picture from Guardian.co.uk

10 Worst sure-goal bloopers

2011-09-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Some scores could not happen due to accident and missed ball.

Luka Modric v Samir Nasri

2011-08-29T01:59:00.000-07:00

Crowd reaction

SAMIR NASRI had a chuckle when he was booed by the home crowd before kick-off — hardly surprising given his move from North London rivals Arsenal to City last week.
The jeering subsided as he took the game by the scruff of the neck and was replaced by stunned silence.

Luka Modric even got stick from a few Spurs fans unhappy at his demands to leave for Chelsea.

Team reaction
PLAYERS are professional and, as Spurs left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto explained, there is no problem in the Tottenham dressing room with Modric's desire to leave.
But Nasri, new on the scene at City, fitted in the more comfortably of the pair, playing like he had been at the club for years.
He set up two first-half goals as Modric was simply overshadowed.

Attacking flair
NASRI was simply a joy to watch — eclipsing his silky team-mate David Silva, who is one of the best dribblers in the world.
The former Gunner started the moves for both of Edin Dzeko's goals in the first half with some eye-catching technique.
A subdued Modric showed a couple of flashes of skill but they were few and far between.

Verdict
NO Contest. Nasri was instrumental in a swashbuckling City win away from home at a team which ran them close for fourth last season.
Two assists and an all-round display of skill and industry had City fans rubbing their hands.
The match and result was not a great advert to try to keep the ambitious Modric happy and contented at White Hart Lane.

source: Thesun.co.uk

Soccermania

Chelsea striker Torres looking £50m at last as AVB break ends midwinter blues

Nakumura's amazing free kick: curling a ball through the window of a moving bus

FORMER Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura proves he's still got the knack at set pieces — by curling a ball through the window of a moving bus.

New Liverpool turmoil: midfielder Downing arrested after allegedly punching ex-girlfriend

Injury crisis can't last for Evra

PATRICE EVRA is concerned that the injury crisis that has hit Manchester United could affect the club's title charge.

no stopping Welsh wizard Giggs as goal at Fulham extends remarkable record

Barcelona's David Villa faces five months out after breaking shinbone

FRENCH GAMING AUTHORITY OPEN FIX PROBE INTO LYON'S 7-1 OVER WIN OVER DINAMO ZAGREB

Didier Drogba is all about the money

The Ivory Coast international believes he has already proven himself on the pitch. Now, he wants to pick up a huge check, even if it means coming to MLS.

Drogba is a huge international name but he does not have the crossover appeal like Beckham. Very few do. But Drogba does have plenty of cache, having spent the prime years of his career with Chelsea and appearing in two World Cups with Ivory Coast.

Everything about it makes a lot of sense for MLS and the Galaxy, especially with Beckham likely to sign with a French team. But just remember one thing: Didier isn’t coming for cents. He wants dollars. Lots of them.Buyer beware indeed.

source: www.goal.com

Bright Young Thing: 'They said I was too small, so I asked to stay and play part-time for free.'

Fairytale ending for Beckham in MLS triumph

Fabio hails Lion cubs after blooding Euro stars: Jones, Rodwell and Walker praised after England win

Kenny Dalglish: Don’t watch Liverpool play at Chelsea

KENNY DALGLISH has amazingly told Liverpool fans NOT to buy tickets for the Carling Cup clash with Chelsea.

How United kept the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand a secret

THERE was another first at Manchester United on Saturday as Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years in charge — something happened at the club without him knowing about it – the renaming of the North Stand to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand!

Stoke 1 Newcastle 3: Toon go third as Ba treble punishes team who turned him down

Alex Ferguson: My worst defeat ever

Can Man City win European Cup?

SUNSPORT answers the key questions on Manchester City's chances of winning the Champions League this season.

IS THE SQUAD UP TO IT?

THE RIGHT BOSS FOR EURO GLORY?

DO THEY NEED TEVEZ?

DO CITY HAVE TOO MANY EGOS?

Go train on your own! City playing hard ball with Tevez as Argentine returns to Manchester

Abramovich’s stand-off with worried Chelsea fans

WORRIED Chelsea fans last night announced they will fight to stop owner Roman Abramovich moving the Blues away from Stamford Bridge.

Petr Cech: Concussion scare brought back memories of horror injury

PETR CECH feared he had suffered another serious skull injury after collapsing in the Chelsea dressing room last week.

Dalglish urges Capello to use his intelligence over Steven Gerrard

KENNY DALGLISH wants Fabio Capello to use his 'intelligence' when Steven Gerrard reports for England duty.

Manchester United get approval for Singapore share sale

Chelsea questions Fernando Torres over criticism of teammates

Only thing that will stop Manchester City this season is Itself

10 Worst sure-goal bloopers

Luka Modric v Samir Nasri

Crowd reaction

Everything about it makes a lot of sense for MLS and the Galaxy, especially with Beckham likely to sign with a French team. But just remember one thing: Didier isn’t coming for cents. He wants dollars. Lots of them.

Buyer beware indeed.