tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49765954351572707932024-12-18T19:22:11.557-08:00osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.comBlogger481125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-72006858937577861542012-10-24T15:06:00.000-07:002012-10-24T15:06:55.646-07:00

Roberto Mancini shouldered the blame after watching his Manchester City side slump to a 3-1 defeat to Ajax, insisting it was his fault that they lost.  City's Champions League campaign is in major trouble after defeat in Amsterdam left them with one point from three matches.  Goals from Siem de Jong, Nicklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen overturned Samir Nasri's opener.

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-14797235375456689652012-10-24T14:51:00.000-07:002012-10-24T14:51:40.973-07:00

 Group A - South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola  Group B - Ghana, Mali, Niger, DR Congo  Group C - Zambia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia  Group D - Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Algeria, Togo      more to follow......

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-60638069702475749772012-09-22T10:43:00.001-07:002012-09-22T10:43:47.666-07:00

Chelsea maintained their place at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.  The visitors looked to have held on for a deserved point until the 85th minute, when Ashley Cole coolly finished from close range to notch his first top-flight strike for two years and keep the Blues on top of the pile.  Brazil starlet Oscar made his

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-8729675380439756342012-09-22T04:16:00.000-07:002012-09-22T04:16:10.860-07:00

Galatasaray vice-president Ali Durust has claimed Manchester United enquired about the availability of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and defender Semih Kaya in the aftermath of the club's 1-0 Champions League defeat at Old Trafford.  Sir Alex Ferguson's charges narrowly won their European opener thanks to an early Michael Carrick goal and despite keeping a clean sheet, the Scot has

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-30346207807196777522012-09-22T03:26:00.000-07:002012-09-22T03:26:01.933-07:00

Lukas Podolski will hope he can continue his bright start with Arsenal when they travel to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.  The English Premier League clash pits one of the best attacking sides in the competition (Manchester City) against the best defensive outfit (Arsenal) but it is up the other end where the game could be decided.  Podolski, who has scored

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-29198922508542254272012-09-22T03:16:00.000-07:002012-09-22T03:16:52.482-07:00

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo says Roman Abramovich visited Blues training after his side's disappointing draw with Juventus.  Chelsea, who are preparing to face Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday, let a two goal lead slip against Juventus as they began their UEFA Champions League title defence with a 2-2 draw.  Owner Abramovich spoke to the players at the club's

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-34958316145410356072012-09-22T02:39:00.000-07:002012-09-22T02:39:27.959-07:00

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rebuffed reports he has had a falling out with striker Mario Balotelli.  The 21-year-old was omitted for the dramatic 3-2 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid at Bernabeu on Tuesday night, sparking rumours of another bust-up with the manager.  But Mancini denied those suggestions, claiming it was simply a case of rotation and

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-55596489703653848842012-08-25T01:46:00.001-07:002012-08-25T01:46:22.886-07:00

The Reds offered to pay a larger proportion of the 23-year-old's £115,000 a week wages, swinging the deal in their favour.  Sahin, who has 31 caps for Turkey, will undergo a medical ahead of the match against Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is now considering a number of other targets.  Sahin had been expected to join Arsenal, having privately

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-60763844705068841692012-08-25T01:27:00.000-07:002012-08-25T01:27:43.122-07:00

Chelsea's latest signing Cesar Azpilicueta has expressed his desire to help the Blues bring in further silverware this season.  The Spaniard, who featured for his country at the London 2012 Olympics ths summer, completed a £6 million move from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on Friday.  And he has already set his sights on helping the Stamford Bridge side build on their FA Cup and

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-74825439520915357482012-08-22T04:20:00.000-07:002012-08-22T04:20:50.528-07:00

Emmanuel Adebayor has completed a £5m move to Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City.  The Togo striker impressed during a loan spell with Spurs last season, scoring 17 Premier League goals. Adebayor will be among the top-earners at White Hart Lane, but City will subsidise the 28-year-old's wage, having paid him £175,000 per week.  The former Arsenal man revealed the news on

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-18365398822396507272012-08-22T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-22T04:00:02.958-07:00

AC Milan have confirmed on their official website that they have completed the signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Inter, while Antonio Cassano moves in the opposite direction as part of the deal.  Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has praised Antonio Cassano and feels the flamboyant attacker could make the difference for his team.  "Cassano is the sort of signing that can

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-23300134291743971672012-08-22T03:33:00.000-07:002012-08-22T03:33:36.619-07:00

The Falconets earlier today in Saitama drew their second game 1-1 with Brazil in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.  Francisca Ordega scored Nigeria’s goal late in the first half while the Brazilians equalised though Giovanna Oliveira in the second half to hold on for their second point in the group.  The Brazilians had the better of the match and were also better in the

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-22096676486946153652012-08-21T05:31:00.000-07:002012-08-21T05:31:01.772-07:00

Nigel de Jong is one step closer to leaving Manchester City for Inter as Roberto Mancini has given the Netherlands international the green light to move on.  The Nerazzurri already secured the services of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna earlier this summer to add some steel to their midfield, but Andrea Stramaccioni is not impressed with the Belgian.  The Inter coach has

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-76319489276581242092012-08-20T14:50:00.000-07:002012-08-20T14:50:04.245-07:00

The Premier League champions made a move for the Montenegro forward after missing out on Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United after a long pursuit.  City have indicated to the Serie A club that they are willing to meet their €30 million (£23.6m) valuation of the 22-year-old forward.  Sources have us that negotiations between the clubs are progressing well and City are

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-46171551943052565062012-08-20T14:31:00.000-07:002012-08-20T14:31:55.145-07:00

Robin van Persie's much-anticipated debut for Manchester United failed to prevent Everton delivering an early reality check in their bid to regain the Premier League title.  While defending champions and near-neighbours City achieved a come-from-behind win against Southampton yesterday the Red Devils were second best for most of the night at Goodison Park.  The thorn in their

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-29535053047019741062012-08-20T03:39:00.000-07:002012-08-20T03:39:11.053-07:00

Song to barca a done deal

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-27490749157155150792012-08-20T03:25:00.000-07:002012-08-20T03:25:56.458-07:00

Ligue 1 outfit Rennes have confirmed that midfielder Yann M’Vila is closing in on a move to Tottenham – despite interest from Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal.  Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has long admired M’Vila and was understood to be close to signing the 22-year-old in June.  But the youngster’s poor disciplinary record – highligted when he clashed with French teammates

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-81748802344991935522012-08-20T03:09:00.000-07:002012-08-20T03:09:01.420-07:00

Tito Vilanova's Barcelona fired a warning shot to champions Real Madrid with an emphatic 5-1 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.  Talismanic forward Lionel Messi kicked off a scintillating start to the Vilanova era at Camp Nou with a brace inside 20 minutes after Carlos Puyol had opened the scoring.  The win saw Barcelona immediately seize the initiative at the top of La Liga

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-48930777474541365972012-08-20T02:21:00.000-07:002012-08-20T02:21:09.773-07:00

Vitesse left-back Alexander Buttner has revealed he is on the verge of signing for Manchester United in a £3.9 million deal.  The 23-year-old, who was close to joining Southampton earlier this summer before a move fell through, has been identified by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the man to compete with Patrice Evra on the left flank at Old Trafford.  United have also been

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-50319462703583170572012-08-19T13:06:00.000-07:002012-08-19T13:06:25.197-07:00

Arsenal are close to completing the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.  The 23-year-old, who has also been targeted by Liverpool this summer, is set to join on a season-long basis with a view to a permanent move.  His arrival should be confirmed early next week as Arsenal look to replace Alex Song, who is on the verge of a £15m transfer to Barcelona.  

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-18316797380217969942012-08-19T12:20:00.001-07:002012-08-19T12:20:34.157-07:00

Real Madrid were less than convincing as they begun the defence of their La Liga crown with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.  Things began promisingly for the reigning champions as Gonzalo Higuain, who was picked ahead of Karim Benzema, put them ahead after just 10 minutes.  But they soon became guilty of sitting back and failing to make their ball

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-17247921965276091092012-08-19T12:07:00.000-07:002012-08-19T12:07:46.040-07:00

Chelsea's £32 million attacker, Eden Hazard, is refusing to get carried away following a dream debut for the Blues in their first Premier League match of the season, a 2-0 win at Wigan on Sunday.  The former Lille man laid on Branislav Ivanovic’s opening goal at the DW stadium, and then won a penalty which was converted by Frank Lampard.  He was substituted midway through the

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-33688023946291096932012-08-19T11:49:00.000-07:002012-08-19T11:49:03.917-07:00

Manchester City began their Premier League title defence in much the same way as they had claimed the championship months earlier by coming from behind to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.  The excellent Carlos Tevez gave City a first half lead, although Roberto Mancini had been dealt an early blow when Sergio Aguero left the game on a stretcher

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-8287122727581888252012-08-17T12:05:00.000-07:002012-08-17T12:05:53.911-07:00

Barcelona wing-back Adriano is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Spanish Supercopa tie against Real Madrid, and has stressed that the Catalans are ready for the start of the 2012-13 campaign.  The Brazilian defender wants to start the new season on a high, and believes the team is in good condition ahead of the opening weekend of La Liga and the new term's curtain raiser.  "

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976595435157270793.post-32557603405869689142012-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:002012-08-17T10:51:44.855-07:00

Porto forward Hulk admits that he is keen on a move to either the Premier League or La Liga, citing them as the biggest leagues in the world.  The 26-year-old, who has scored an impressive 52 goals in 96 league appearances for the Portuguese giants, has been linked with a number of club this summer including Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.  After representing

osashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03367030372039276670noreply@blogger.com0