tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66220199376306577662024-03-13T12:36:25.672-07:00360 fOOtballAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150138690973921134noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-76385738910226620542012-12-20T04:12:00.001-08:002012-12-20T04:12:28.358-08:00Manchester United face Real, Celtic draw Juve and Arsenal take on Bayern Munich in last 16<br />
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The draw for the last 16 pitted Manchester United against Real Madrid</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.4em;"><br />United's clash with Real - which will see</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span>Cristiano Ronaldo<span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">face his former team - was the pick of the ties, and Sir Alex Ferguson's men have the advantage of playing away first.</span>Manchester United will face Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 showdown, Celtic playing Italian champions Juventus and Arsenal will take on last season's runners-up Bayern Munich.</div>
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Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for United, but it was another Ronaldo - the Brazilian striker - who took the honours when the clubs last faced each other in 2003.</div>
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He scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford as Real went through 6-5 on aggregate.</div>
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Cristiano Ronaldo's last match for United was in the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, after which he moved to Madrid for a world record £80m transfer.</div>
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Redknapp - Great ties for the neutral</div>
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Arsenal and Celtic, who were group runners-up, will both play their second legs away.</div>
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Barcelona, the bookies' favourites, will take on seven-time winners AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, who many pundits are tipping to win the competition this season, will face the improving Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk.</div>
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Turkish champions Galatasaray will face Schalke, Valencia face Zlatan Ibrahimovic's PSG and Porto take on unfancied Malaga.</div>
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Nicholas - A 'Hollywood' draw</div>
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Galatasaray v Schalke 04</div>
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Celtic v Juventus</div>
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Arsenal v Bayern Munich</div>
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Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund</div>
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AC Milan v Barcelona</div>
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Real Madrid v Man Utd</div>
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Valencia v PSG</div>
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FC Porto v Malaga</div>
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First legs to be played 12/13/19/20th February, 2013</div>
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Second legs to be played 5/6/12/13th March, 2013</div>
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<b>@SKY Sports</b></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-50473653154772828332012-11-30T02:14:00.001-08:002012-11-30T02:14:22.508-08:00Everton FC - Gary Speed Remembered<br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former captain in our thoughts on first anniversary of his death.</strong></div>
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Today marks one year since the tragic death of former Everton captain Gary Speed.</div>
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A boyhood Evertonian, the Mancot-born midfielder made 65 appearances for the Blues during an 18-month spell which began with his arrival from first club Leeds United in the summer of 1996.</div>
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He went on to amass over 500 Premier League outings, also serving Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United, before turning his attention to management with the Blades and later the Welsh national side.</div>
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Speed passed away on 27 November 2011, aged just 42.</div>
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To mark the anniversary, Everton and its supporters have joined Speed’s former clubs, teammates and colleagues in leaving tribute messages on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Below are some of those tributes. Add your message to our Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/everton" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<span class="article_quote_twitter" style="background-color: #c0deed; background-image: url(http://dl3hy3v6ov593.cloudfront.net/assets/images/structure/twitter-quote.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 60px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 454px;">Official Everton <a href="mailto:%E2%80%8F@Everton" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@Everton</a><br />One year ago, football lost a true great. Always remembered and our thoughts remain with his family. R.I.P Gary Speed.</span></div>
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<span class="article_quote_twitter" style="background-color: #c0deed; background-image: url(http://dl3hy3v6ov593.cloudfront.net/assets/images/structure/twitter-quote.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 60px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 454px;">FA Wales <a href="mailto:%E2%80%8F@FAWales" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@FAWales</a><br />Remembering a true gentleman and Welsh Football great, today and always. #Speed</span></div>
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<span class="article_quote_twitter" style="background-color: #c0deed; background-image: url(http://dl3hy3v6ov593.cloudfront.net/assets/images/structure/twitter-quote.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 60px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 454px;">Gary Lineker <a href="mailto:%E2%80%8F@GaryLineker" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@GaryLineker</a><br />Thoughts are with the Speed family today. #RIPGary</span></div>
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<span class="article_quote_twitter" style="background-color: #c0deed; background-image: url(http://dl3hy3v6ov593.cloudfront.net/assets/images/structure/twitter-quote.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 60px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 454px;">Louis Saha <a href="mailto:%E2%80%8F@louissaha08" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@louissaha08</a><br />#RipGarySpeed. Absolute legend for me. Lots of love for his family. #Iremember</span></div>
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<span class="article_quote_twitter" style="background-color: #c0deed; background-image: url(http://dl3hy3v6ov593.cloudfront.net/assets/images/structure/twitter-quote.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 60px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 454px;">Sheffield United <a href="mailto:%E2%80%8F@SUFC_tweets" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@SUFC_tweets</a><br />Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of former player, coach & manager, Gary Speed - a year on from his tragic passing #sufc</span></div>
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@<b>Daniel Alston - @EVERTONFC</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-68008479699223491632012-11-27T14:41:00.004-08:002012-11-27T14:41:47.713-08:00How to reform Italian football… <br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4em;">Various club Presidents have ideas to restructure the Italian game. David Swan puts some of their suggestions under the microscope.</span></div>
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Saturday’s edition of La <span data-scayt_word="Gazzetta" data-scaytid="1">Gazzetta</span> <span data-scayt_word="dello" data-scaytid="2">dello</span> Sport featured a report that asked a number of <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="3">Serie</span> A Presidents and owners to offer three ideas each that they would like to see implemented in Italian football, in a week where <span data-scayt_word="FIGC" data-scaytid="5">FIGC</span>President <span data-scayt_word="Giancarlo" data-scaytid="6">Giancarlo</span> <span data-scayt_word="Abete" data-scaytid="7">Abete</span> stated his desire to see <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="4">Serie</span> A return to 18 teams. Here, we <span data-scayt_word="analyse" data-scaytid="8">analyse</span> some of the more interesting options and their viability.</div>
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<strong>Introduce B teams into the professional system (<span data-scayt_word="Fiorentina" data-scaytid="9">Fiorentina</span> owner Andrea Della Valle)</strong></div>
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A call that you hear often in England has started to seep through to Italy, possibly due to the success of Spain, where this has been present for years.</div>
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Della Valle’s reasoning was that B teams would be made up primarily of young players and allow them a greater chance of growing by playing against pros and not youngsters of the same age.</div>
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A large part of the feeling on this will depend on the extent to which you believe youth football in Italy ‘works’. Italy Coach <span data-scayt_word="Cesare" data-scaytid="11">Cesare</span> <span data-scayt_word="Prandelli" data-scaytid="12">Prandelli</span> now has a number of young players to pick from across the squad, many of whom, though not all, started in the youth teams of <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="10">Serie</span> A clubs, so the system is not all bad.</div>
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The <span data-scayt_word="Lega" data-scaytid="15">Lega</span> Pro may hold the key to this being introduced at any point in the future. The third tier of Italian football has just been reduced to 60 teams due to so many clubs struggling to stay afloat financially, but <span data-scayt_word="Lazio" data-scaytid="16">Lazio</span> President Claudio <span data-scayt_word="Lotito" data-scaytid="17">Lotito</span> openly pondered whether there were 60 teams that could maintain competitiveness over a season. If he turns out to be right, and if more struggle to keep their position, the option of B teams filling the spaces could become viable.</div>
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<strong>Introduce <span data-scayt_word="UEFA’s" data-scaytid="18">UEFA’s</span> Financial Fair Play into <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="14">Serie</span> A (Andrea Della Valle and Torino President <span data-scayt_word="Urbano" data-scaytid="20">Urbano</span> Cairo)</strong></div>
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The two who suggested this felt it was a necessary step to balance the League. The glaring problem is that while it will give many teams a greater chance of competing near the top, it will place the top clubs competing in Europe at a competitive disadvantage relative to the rest – not something<span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="21">Serie</span> A needs at the moment.</div>
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It represents a conflict for both the <span data-scayt_word="FIGC" data-scaytid="23">FIGC</span> and the <span data-scayt_word="Lega" data-scaytid="24">Lega</span>. They would probably love a competitive and balanced League, but if it comes to the detriment of Italy on the European stage then it is difficult to see how this would help in the long-term.</div>
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<strong>Reduce <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="25">Serie</span> A and <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="26">Serie</span> B to 18 teams (<span data-scayt_word="Lazio" data-scaytid="27">Lazio</span> President Claudio <span data-scayt_word="Lotito" data-scaytid="28">Lotito</span>)</strong></div>
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An increasingly popular idea, with backing from the very top after <span data-scayt_word="Abete" data-scaytid="35">Abete</span>expressed his wish to see <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="36">Serie</span> A reduced to 18 teams.</div>
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Parma President <span data-scayt_word="Tommaso" data-scaytid="41">Tommaso</span> <span data-scayt_word="Ghirardi" data-scaytid="42">Ghirardi</span> suggested something similar, though his idea was to keep <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="39">Serie</span> A at 20 teams and reduce <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="40">Serie</span> B to 20, from 22.</div>
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Just by looking at <span data-scayt_word="Ghirardi's" data-scaytid="46">Ghirardi's</span> counter-suggestion, you can see this is going to be difficult to pass. Clubs unsure of their <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="45">Serie</span> A status on a yearly basis, or who could get drawn into trouble, are going to fight a reduction at the top level that limits the number of opportunities to generate more revenue from a presence in Italy's best League.</div>
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But the biggest issue with the idea in the short-term is the new TV deal. Sky have paid a lot of money to show every single <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="48">Serie</span> A game live for the next three seasons and a reduction in the number of teams means fewer games for TV.</div>
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As such, do not expect to see this implemented until after 2014-15. But with the backing of the man at the top, and a number of Presidents, there is a very good chance of change occurring within both <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="50">Serie</span> A, from 2015 onwards, and <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="51">Serie</span> B.</div>
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<strong>Stop broadcasting every match on TV (<span data-scayt_word="Urbano" data-scaytid="52">Urbano</span> Cairo)</strong></div>
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Often ignored as one of the reasons for the bad <span data-scayt_word="attendances" data-scaytid="57">attendances</span> in <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="56">Serie</span> A, with the focus instead on the quality of the stadia. The fact is that, leaving the stadia aside, fans in Italy do not actually need to go to a ground to watch football. With every match screened live they only need to find a bar showing it or take out a subscription themselves.</div>
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Cairo referenced the "English model", but did not specify whether he wanted a protected kick-off time, as England has with the traditional Saturday <span data-scayt_word="3pm" data-scaytid="59">3pm</span>matches.</div>
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Again, this comes back to the TV deal. Protecting kick-off times like the Premier League will undoubtedly see Sky substantially reduce the amount they pay to screen <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="60">Serie</span> A matches. What they offer now is crucial in keeping some clubs in business – both in <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="61">Serie</span> A and below thanks to the parachute payments and mutuality agreement that filters down to <span data-scayt_word="Lega" data-scaytid="63">Lega</span> Pro and the amateurs in <span data-scayt_word="Serie" data-scaytid="62">Serie</span> D – and a reduction in that could hit them hard financially.</div>
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With the stadia owned by local councils, driving fans towards the ground is not going to make up for the loss of TV revenue. Once the clubs have done the <span data-scayt_word="maths" data-scaytid="68">maths</span>, it is unlikely many of them will be in <span data-scayt_word="favour" data-scaytid="69">favour</span> of this.</div>
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<b>@FootballItalia</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-66380965342663610582012-11-25T08:23:00.001-08:002012-11-25T08:23:26.506-08:00John Terry hails influence of Roberto Di Matteo<br />
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Roberto Di Matteo: Praised by John Terry</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.4em;"><br />The Italian left the club following a dismal run of just two victories in eight games in all competitions.</span>Chelsea skipper John Terry paid tribute to out-going manager Roberto Di Matteo who was sacked by the club following their 3-0 defeat by Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.</div>
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<span class="lingo_region" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">But Terry was quick to praise Di Matteo who was also a player at Stamford Bridge between 1996 and 2000.</span></div>
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Terry wrote in his programme notes ahead of Sunday's game with Manchester City, said: "It has been a difficult week all round both on and off the pitch.</div>
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"I want to say that it was a privilege to play for Robbie. I had the pleasure, as a YTS player growing up, of watching and learning from him and to go on and play under him as captain was an honour.</div>
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"To win two competitions last season, including the Champions League that we had wanted for so long, was incredible.</div>
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"Robbie is a great man and an absolute legend. We wish him every success in the future, because saying thanks doesn't seem enough."</div>
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@<b>SKYSports</b></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-11934509076862081052012-11-22T10:59:00.004-08:002012-11-22T10:59:48.160-08:00Rafa Benitez unveiled at Chelsea and Interview - Zenden on the staff<br />
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Rafa Benitez: Unveiled at Stamford Bridge on Thursday</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.4em;"><br />The former</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span>Liverpool<span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">manager has been installed as</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span>Chelsea<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">manager until the end of the season following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday.</span>Rafa Benitez has vowed to win over Chelsea fans after the news of his appointment was met with a hostile reaction from the Stamford Bridge faithful.</div>
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There was some surprise that Benitez was willing to accept a short-term contract, but the 52-year-old said the chance to manage Chelsea was too good to pass up.</div>
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"My priority was to work in the Premier League, I'm really happy to be here with a top side," said Benitez, who confirmed that Boudewijn Zenden.<img class="lingo_icon lingo_icon_black" id="lingo_icon" src="http://static.lingospot.com/spot/image/spacer.gif" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.lingospot.com/spot/image/icon.gif); background-position: -22px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0pt none; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; height: 12px; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt !important; padding: 0pt; position: static; top: auto; vertical-align: top; visibility: visible; width: 12px;" /></div>
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"For me the most important thing is I am here because I want to be here. I was looking for the right opportunity, I was looking for a top side who can fight for trophies.</div>
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"I don't care about the short-term (deal), what I have in my head is to win every game. We have five trophies to fight for. We will see what happens, in seven months we can win some trophies.</div>
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"At this level you are expected to win, do it well, and win trophies. I have a lot of years' experience at this level, and I will do what I have to do to win games.</div>
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"I like to do things in the right way for the fans. I am sure they will be happy with a manager with a winning mentality."</div>
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Benitez was also quizzed on his previous comments about Chelsea made while he was in charge of Liverpool, many of which were less than sympathetic towards the team and supporters.</div>
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He said: "I want to be honest, if I say this or that, I have to analyse the context. We were playing against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.</div>
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"If I am a fan I want to see the manager fighting for my club. I don't see this as a lack of respect for Chelsea's fans, just a manager defending his team before an important game."</div>
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The former Inter Milan boss, who also strongly hinted John Terry would stay on as captain, said he was not put off by talk he is simply keeping the hot-seat warm for Pep Guardiola.</div>
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"I have a very good relationship with Guardiola," he added. "He is a great manager, what will happen in future I don't know.</div>
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"When you analyse why go to a top side for seven months - it's because you can win trophies."</div>
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<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.4em; padding: 0px;">
@<b>SKYSports</b></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-25453937091747739032012-11-09T10:12:00.001-08:002012-11-09T10:12:29.003-08:00Maxime Lestienne Vs Newcastle - Brugge Vs Newcastle - Video Compilation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-38454132992121098572012-11-09T05:08:00.001-08:002012-11-09T05:08:30.939-08:00Leon Osman called to England NT: Osman makes the journey from underrated to rated<br />
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<span class="yom-figure yom-fig-right" style="clear: both; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 6px; width: 630px;"><a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AgJt3thVX1aD_PZC4JPn07jUAygB;_ylu=X3oDMTFuY3BucHJmBG1pdANCTE9HUyBCbG9ncG9zdCBCb2R5BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNibGRxOTU0BGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDOTM4MDY0M2ItMmNlOC0zMmRiLWE2NjctYTNlMTViZTJlOTZlBHBzdGNhdANmb290YmFsbHxtb3JlfGVhcmx5ZG9vcnMEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdl;_ylv=0/SIG=15dpnp5qc/EXP=1353675513/**http%3A//l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ob1YjBQhl30CindMcqJqHQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http%3A//media.zenfs.com/en-GB/blogs/early-doors/091112osman-leon.jpg" style="color: #e99f00; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6958" height="420" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/6_kVkcaKBzioEPwQIIJpxA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/blogs/early-doors/091112osman-leon.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block;" width="630" /></a></span>When <a href="http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/world-cup-wilshere-recalled-england-squad-111239898.html" style="color: #a1abb2; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">the England squad dropped on the Football Association's website yesterday</a>, one name immediately jumped off the screen: Jack Wilshere.</div>
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Jack's back! Arsenal's saviour (when he's not stupidly getting himself sent off) had returned to bring his messianic ways to the national team one again! Was it a controversial decision? Certainly Arsene Wenger was unamused. Either way, that was definitely the story.</div>
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It was only on second glance that another strand to the tale suddenly emerged. Who was that listed as one of the other midfielders? Leon Osman? Yes, it was.</div>
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Osman is a player who has conducted his career in the shadows of others so it was rather fitting that the hype around Wilshere took precedence, but for Early Doors the real story was the inclusion of the 31-year-old, who may well have thought international recognition had passed him by.</div>
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Prior to yesterday's squad announcement, Osman had been the subject of a philosophical conundrum: how many times can a player be described as 'underrated' before they no longer are? In his case, for most of his career it seems. Though Osman has many admirers, certainly at Everton where he is adored for his ability and character, it has been frequently sung from the rooftops that he is the unsung hero of David Moyes's side.</div>
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But now, following Roy Hodgson's recognition, ED is ready to formally announce that Osman can be placed firmly in the 'rated' category, where he joins club-mate Phil Jagielka, who made the transition a couple of years ago.</div>
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On the face of things it is a bit of a strange call-up. Osman is 31 so is clearly not a long-term option looking ahead to the World Cup in 2014. Given Wilshere's return, the form of Tom Cleverley and the recent emergence of Jonjo Shelvey it could in fact be argued that England have never needed him less.</div>
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But, belatedly, Osman is a trendy player - the way football has evolved in recent seasons has slowly, inexorably bent to his advantage. His pass completion stats would make Xavi nod approvingly while at 5' 8'' he belongs in the pint-sized playmaker club inhabited by the robotic Barcelona passer and his team-mates Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.</div>
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Had Osman started his career 10 years later he may well have won more international caps. Like Michael Carrick he has been a victim, though a much lower-profile one, of English football's sluggish realisation that at international level possession is more valuable than Hollywood passes, passion, lung-busting runs and aimless but powerful shots from outside the box. Recognition has come too late - it needed English football to catch up with the rest of the class.</div>
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ED is not trying to make a case for Osman being England's answer to Iniesta - that would be ridiculous. For one thing, Iniesta has never been on loan at Carlisle United, and he's never played down the same wing as Tony Hibbert.</div>
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Yet Osman is indisputably a good player and even the most cynical fan could not begrudge him this moment. Years and years of dedicated service in the Premier League have paid off and if he gets on the pitch against Sweden next week it will be a proud moment for both Osman and Everton.</div>
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It may also be a fleeting one, according to the England boss, who underlined yesterday there is plenty of competition in the withdrawn midfield position.</div>
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"Leon's been a player I've admired since I came back to Fulham five years ago," said Hodgson. "He's a player who has always done extremely well whenever I've watched Everton.</div>
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"Leon is a really good player but he faces stiff competition in the part of the field where he plays. On this occasion we've an opportunity to bring Leon in. We'll be grateful to meet him and work with him for a couple of days to see how he fits in to what we're trying to do at international level."</div>
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There is a belief in some quarters that this is in some way a 'pity cap' like the solitary one awarded to Kevin Davies by Fabio Capello. And so what if it is?</div>
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There are plenty worse players to have been capped by England in recent years: Francis Jeffers, Anthony Gardner and Gavin McCann spring to mind, while the winning card in this particular game of virtual Top Trumps is clearly Michael Ricketts. His appearance in a friendly against Netherlands in February 2002 was the most humbling moment for the British Isles since the fall of the Empire.</div>
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Osman is better than all of these players. While those fans who only stick to their own team's highlights might be a little perplexed this morning by the inclusion of a player you rarely hear much about, Osman's consistently good performances have always spoken volumes about his talent.</div>
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If he does play against Sweden it may well prove his only cap, but who cares? Having finally made the transition from underrated to rated, Osman is entitled to enjoy the moment.</div>
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@Tom Adams</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-11843277966238056292012-10-26T07:42:00.001-07:002012-10-26T07:42:18.003-07:00Mário Felgueiras Vs Galatasaray - Galatasaray 1-1 Cluj - Video Compilation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y49s3aGnyz8/UIqhDBl6tlI/AAAAAAAACTo/oyB4w6ECRU8/s1600/Image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y49s3aGnyz8/UIqhDBl6tlI/AAAAAAAACTo/oyB4w6ECRU8/s400/Image1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/52228439?badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> </div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/52228439">Mario Felgueiras Vs Galatasaray - Bianconer8</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/robertorivelinobianconer">Bianconer8</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-57873120537124309852012-09-22T06:33:00.002-07:002012-09-22T06:33:34.097-07:00Juventus Vs Chievo Verona - Serie A - Game Preview By Roberto Rivelino<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<strong class="bbc"><span style="font-size: 36px;"><span style="color: grey;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Juventus</span> <span style="color: firebrick;">Vs</span> Chievo Verona</span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">Juventus Arena | 22nd September 2012 | Game Week 4 | 19:45 GMT</span></strong><br /><br /><span rel="lightbox"><img alt="Posted Image" class="bbc_img" src="http://i1.goal.com/web/goal/2012.08.30-v2/images/default/team/150x150/1242.png" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span> <span rel="lightbox"><img alt="Posted Image" class="bbc_img" src="http://i2.goal.com/web/goal/2012.07.30-v1/images/default/team/150x150/1248.png" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br /><br /><strong class="bbc">Referee</strong>: Matteo Russo<br /><br />Since the start of the season, Juventus have been dominant and the motivation for the Chievo match couldn't be better. Italian Super-Cup in the bag and 3 Serie A matches, 9 points and a comeback at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea being up 2-0, until Vidal and Quaglirella (this one at the 80th minute), tied the match.<br />Simone Pepe and Simone Padoin are still injured for the Home side, while Luciano is the biggest loss for Chievo's side.<br />Juventus are undefeated for 42 matches in Serie A, but, take notice, Chievo hasn't lost in the last 5 matches against them as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong class="bbc">Squad list for the game.</strong></span><br /><strong class="bbc">Keepers</strong> - (1) Gigi Buffon, (30) Marco Storari and (34) Rubinho;<br /><strong class="bbc">Defenders</strong> - (2) Lúcio, (3) Chiellini, (4) Martin Cáceres, (11) Paolo De Ceglie, (15) Andrea Barzagli, (19) Bonucci and (26) Lichtsteiner;<br /><strong class="bbc">Midfielders</strong> - (6) Pogba, (8) Marchisio, (21) Andrea Pirlo, (22) Asamoah, (23) Arturo Vidal, (24) Giaccherini; (33) Mauricio Isla and (39) Luca Marrone;<br /><strong class="bbc">Wingers / Forwards</strong> - (9) Vucinic; (12) Giovinco; (17) Nicklas Bendtner; (27) Quagliarella and (32) Matri.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong class="bbc">Predicted Line-Ups.</strong></span><br /><span rel="lightbox"><img alt="Posted Image" class="bbc_img" src="http://i45.tinypic.com/1408zll.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br /><br /><strong class="bbc">Roberto Rivelino.</strong><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-51032249615094887902012-09-16T10:22:00.001-07:002012-09-16T10:22:29.389-07:00Reading Vs Tottenham Post-Match Players Performances Analysis by Roberto Rivelino<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/092W2OU95M9u7/610x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/092W2OU95M9u7/610x.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tottenham fans have to be happy. It was a good and deserved win.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Everyone seemed to go along and the team work was above all else. The players looked confident with the ball on their feet and at a tactical level they were all together and complemented each other.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Enjoyed Vertonghen's exhibition a lot. He surely could've been the Man of the Match had Defoe not scored those two goals and made that performance.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">I was utterly disappointed with Gareth Bale. Missed two good chances and he wasn't even on his level, or what he used us to see. Still, he scored the 0-2 goal, with both feet, and got the ovation as he was replaced.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Sigurdsson was class and surely he will try and make Tottenham fans forget Luka Modric. He even has some resemblances with the Croatian, specially after the pass that opened the Reading defense and gave Lennon the assist for Defoe's first goal. He's composed and seems that the pressure of playing for a bigger team isn't affecting him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Jermaine Defoe was classic. Scored two goals, but it could've been more. He runned all over the place and ruined Reading's defense as well. He's in a great shape and if Villas-Boas doesn't repeats what he did on Porto (by taking some of the players in form to the bench until they lost their boost - I don't believe he did it on purpose, he's just naive), Defoe will scored more goals than he did on the previous 2 seasons and will keep his feud as one of the best Tottenham strikers. Scored two great goals, with the second being labelled as a Wonder as Defoe picked the ball on half-way line and in the end sent the ball to the net with his left feet. Also he had more shots than any other Premier League player this weekend with 9, boosting his overall tally to a league of 26 this season. Man of the Match.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-20616108252577802562012-09-16T09:18:00.001-07:002012-09-16T09:18:40.473-07:00Genoa 1-3 Juventus Post-Match analysis<br />
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Juve resilience shines through in Genova</h1>
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September 16, 2012<a class="m_btn_next_gall" href="http://www.juventus.com/wps/portal/en/news/16set2012_match_eng/!ut/p/b1/tZDdjqJAEIWfxQdw6G4c1MvuQCMgP9L83xBBQdAGRhDQpx93kr2cu906qUoqOcl3qoREiISkOY5VeRyqtjne_uyJlCIJb11DhQA4AQWa6WiqR7wAOkgIhWiX97PcmpOMZQxfRB1KSjenSzNpWj9PoJz9wECNlNKzaZHno5dG8ct-vpolcqSvnm4O-9OofpKqf62qOngE93Hg0QMX-4qHd1ek2ZK78Vm52oll4cJPJjDleBo8Tg12MY3eoLK3LErCRs7kw2LxzpT8xAa_FAZC_DasUwSAuiUQA1XcE6D5Bt3tyRraDAmeEIFVyupnp72uL7deM8CUWTf9CcI60Lza8SxPBZZlQ29_AFAOUa9UwHz3oEyIWZ5zClyfYMzmJEv-An95pCv-L-BvF8J_DtSFpMr4x5TzD_AhbkQJiVAS0XuuNpIQ1DlaK602KVp06cBVD1nZru15iw33crvjY0NndG2jEn0-5uGOpS5tGiDZy3BWlwYlB8a5OGc5P5dhc3oq9xVxI8J649kNehnfiKFV5_GR-062RiW6uz7Fhy-LcfWl6zIE6Xl262TqnDTZekfz1htBqMWzDk5FQbM4ntt8K8UXL8tsxd0Wl32eF8Oy3GnXktaCtWv5Wej42G3gj8QSLxbfY8rkTA!!/#" style="border: none; color: black; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 30px; text-decoration: none; top: 180px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.juventus.com/static/img/shared/arrow_next.png" style="border: none; color: #252525; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></a></h3>
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Mirko Vucinic and Kwadwo Asamoah came off the bench to inspire a second-half fightback as Juventus battled from a goal down to register a 3-1 win over Genoa.</div>
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The Bianconeri struggled to find their rhythm in a frenetic first half and found themselves behind when Immobile tapped home on 18 minutes. But a spirited second-half showing, sparked by the introductions of Vucinic and Asamoah, tipped the balance in the visitors’ favour.</div>
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A fine Giaccherini strike levelled matters, Vucinic then put Juve in front from the spot and Asamoah made the points safe with five minutes remaining to preserve Juventus’ winning start to the season.</div>
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It was a significantly changed side that took to the field at the Luigi Ferraris, with Antonio Conte electing to shuffle his pack ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League bow against Chelsea. Caceres, Giaccherini, De Ceglie and Matri came in for their first starts of the season as Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Asamoah and Vucinic dropped to the bench.</div>
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Massimo Carrera had previously warned the Bianconeri to expect a tough test against a plucky Genoa outfit, and Luigi De Canio’s men, backed by a passionate home crowd, kept to the script by putting their visitors under a significant spell of pressure in the opening stages.</div>
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Half-chances fell to the feet of Borriello and Jankovic before a defence splitting pass sent Immobile one-one-one with Buffon. The striker, however, was unable to keep his composure and rolled a tame shot wide of the target.</div>
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Redemption arrived just minutes later. Immobile and Bertolacci exchanged passes outside the area before the former Juve frontman elected to pull the trigger, squeezing the ball in between Buffon’s despairing dive and the post for his second goal of the season on 17 minutes.</div>
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Faced with an uphill task, Juventus remained patient and began to settle into their passing game. Good work from Giovinco, who cleverly peeled off his marker to connect with Pirlo’s low corner, almost got the visitors back on level terms, but the former Parma man blazed his attempt over the bar.</div>
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Matri also went close towards the end of the first half, but, like Giovinco, was unable work the goalkeeper from a promising angle. </div>
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The start of the second half yielded a much sharper and purposeful Bianconeri display. And when Giovinco embarked on a mazy run before stroking a delicately placed effort goalwards, it seemed that Carrera’s half time words had paid instant dividends. But the diminutive frontman was left to rue his misfortune as the ball cannoned back off the post.</div>
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The turning point of the game arrived on 60 minutes. Having rattled the woodwork with Borriello’s header a few minutes earlier, Genoa went a whisker away from doubling their advantage. Bertolacci found the ball at his feet in the area but Buffon was sharp off his line to thwart the former Roma man’s instinctive attempt.</div>
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Undeterred, Juventus broke with pace on the counter and saw their persistence pay off when Giaccherini curled an unstoppable strike past a motionless Frey after being teed up by substitute Vucinic.</div>
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With just under half an hour to win it, the Bianconeri, galvanised by the introductions of Asamoah and Vucinic, attacked with menace. </div>
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And after the Montenegrin had made his presence felt by laying on the first goal, it was soon Asamoah’s turn to make an impact.</div>
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With 78 minutes on the clock, the Ghanaian’s silky skills proved too much for Sampirisi, who sent him tumbling with a clumsy challenge in the box. Rocchi was left with no option but to point to the spot, and Vucinic held his nerve to tuck his low penalty beyond Frey’s grasp.</div>
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The points were made safe when Asamoah reacted first to Vucinic’s deflected centre and turned the ball over the line with four minutes remaining.</div>
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GENOA 1-3 JUVENTUS</div>
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GOALS: Immobile 18, Giaccherini 61, Vucinic 78, Asamoah 84</div>
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GENOA<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Frey; Sampirisi (Ferronetti 79), Canini, Bovo (Ganqvist 67), Antonelli (Melazzi 82); Kucka, Seymour, Bertolacci; Jankovic, Borriello, Immobile.<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Substitutes not used: Tzorvas, Moretti, Merkel, Toszer, Stillo, Piscitella, Anselmo, Jorquera.<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Coach: De Canio</div>
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JUVENTUS<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Caceres (Lichtsteiner 76), Giaccherini, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie (Asamoah 55); Giovinco, Matri (Vucinic 55).<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Substitutes not used: Storari, Rubinho, Lucio, Marrone, Vidal, Isla, Pogba, Bendtner, Quagliarella.<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Coach: Carrera</div>
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REFEREE: Rocchi<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />ASSISTANTS: Di Fiore, Giordano<br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />FOURTH OFFICIAL: Preti</div>
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BOOKED: Immobile 18, Pirlo 25, Bonucci 43, Canini 63, Barzagli 69</div>
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@Juventus.com</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-23330435955788068642012-09-15T06:03:00.002-07:002012-09-15T06:18:21.102-07:00Genoa Vs Juventus - Serie A - Game Preview by Roberto Rivelino<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<strong class="bbc"><span style="font-size: 36px;">Genoa <span style="color: firebrick;">Vs</span> <span style="color: grey;">Juventus</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">Luigi Ferraris | 16th September 2012 | Game Week 3 | 14:00 GMT</span></strong><br />
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<span rel="lightbox"><img alt="Posted Image" class="bbc_img" src="http://i1.goal.com/web/goal/2012.07.30-v1/images/default/team/150x150/1276.png" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span> <span rel="lightbox"><img alt="Posted Image" class="bbc_img" src="http://i1.goal.com/web/goal/2012.08.30-v2/images/default/team/150x150/1242.png" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br />
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<strong class="bbc">Referee</strong>: Gianluca Rocchi<br />
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Juventus, after beating Parma and Udinese on Game Week 1 and 2, are ready to play Genoa (who won Cagliari at home for 2-0 and lost to Catania, away, last Sunday, for 3-2), at Genova's own, Stadio Luigi Ferraris.<br />
Lúcio returns from a twisted ankle and for the first time, Nicklas Bendtner, Mauricio Isla and Rubinho, all Juventus Summer signings, will be available for Massimo Carrera options, who, also, will surely consider that Wednesday Juventus will play Chelsea in London for the Champions League.<br />
This match will be special for Ciro Immobile, Genoa's striker, who will face his beloved and previous team, Juventus. Immobile has played the two game weeks and scored one goal, against Cagliari, in 180 minutes played.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong class="bbc">Squad list for the game.</strong></span><br />
<strong class="bbc">Keepers</strong> - (1) Gigi Buffon, (30) Marco Storari and (34) Rubinho;<br />
<strong class="bbc">Defenders</strong> - (2) Lúcio, (3) Chiellini, (4) Martin Cáceres, (11) Paolo De Ceglie, (15) Andrea Barzagli, (19) Bonucci and (26) Lichtsteiner;<br />
<strong class="bbc">Midfielders</strong> - (6) Pogba, (8) Marchisio, (21) Andrea Pirlo, (22) Asamoah, (23) Arturo Vidal, (24) Giaccherini; (33) Mauricio Isla and (39)Luca Marrone;<br />
<strong class="bbc">Wingers / Forwards</strong> - (9) Vucinic; (12) Giovinco; (17) Nicklas Bendtner; (27) Quagliarella and (32) Matri.<br />
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<strong class="bbc">Massimo Carrera's Word.</strong><br />
"This game is every bit as crucial as Chelsea (...) We are facing a difficult side in a fiery atmosphere like Marassi. Plus, when Juventus come to town there is always a surge in motivation and determination from our opponents."<br />
"We have to fight them on the same level with that degree of passion. Don’t forget last season Genoa took points off us both home and away."<br />
<strong class="bbc">About Chelsea game on Wednesday</strong>: “Squad rotation is the wrong term, because we do not have first choice picks and reserves. Every time we will put out the side that can give us the best guarantees (...) It’s important for a player to step on to the pitch, regardless of the opponent or whether it’s the Champions League or Serie A."<br />
"Fortunately we have options to choose from. Lucio has recovered, so has Nicklas Bendtner, while Mauricio Isla played 76 minutes with Chile and is available (...) Will Andrea Pirlo be rested? He is a champion and knows how to deal with his energy levels."<br />
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<strong class="bbc">Roberto Rivelino.</strong></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-31686671614551634912012-09-14T09:14:00.002-07:002012-09-14T09:14:27.341-07:00Nenê might comeback to Brazil in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lancenet.com.br/futebol-internacional/Nene-Paris-Saint-Germain-Foto-Reuters_LANIMA20101218_0081_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.lancenet.com.br/futebol-internacional/Nene-Paris-Saint-Germain-Foto-Reuters_LANIMA20101218_0081_26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nenê might come back to Brazil (where he already represented Palmeiras and Santos) in January and to represent Corinthians. Rumors today say the primordial reason is so he can have more spot-light to the National Team. Though, he also leaves the European door open by saying he can play "3 more years in Europe". Milan wanted him in August, but due to the financial terms the deal didn't wen through.<br />
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It seems being the best player in Ligue 1 for the third straight year wasn't enough for Mano Menezes to have him picked to the Canarinha.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-41313024057278224942012-09-04T03:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T03:00:10.368-07:00Will Raúl Meireles be missed for Chelsea?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8102248.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/Raul-Meireles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8102248.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/Raul-Meireles.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you fail to sign Luka Modric, try and try again. And then at the last minute turn to Raul Meireles…<br />
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After months of chasing the Croatian midfielder; the player himself handing in a formal transfer request and still not getting any further, Chelsea needed to look into alternative options. On “Deadline Day”, with hours remaining in the 11/12 transfer window, Meireles handed in a transfer request and found himself signing for Chelsea not long after, where he was reacquainted with André Villas-Boas.<br />
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Meireles conceded that he didn’t want to leave Liverpool, but the chance to work with his old friend AVB was too good to refuse. So Chelsea forked out a reported £12m for a player that wasn’t exactly wanting to come to Stamford Bridge. It’s fair to say he wasn’t welcomed with open arms. Not initially, anyway.
Although he was a last-minute coup for Chelsea, Meireles’ services were desperately needed with Michael Essien having suffered a long-term injury. He was thrown straight in at the deep end and struggled to make an impression. However, as the season progressed he grew in confidence and succeeding in winning over the fans (just about). He was an integral part of the team that managed to overcome the might and force of Barcelona, even sacrificing himself playing in the Champions League final (of which Geoff Shreeves was the first to remind him) by taking down Mascherano on the halfway line to save his team-mates from a counter-attack. That moment of self-sacrifice is one of the few moments that will remain in the memory of many Chelsea fans, alongside that goal against Benfica en route to Munich. What. a. goal.<br />
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<a href="http://futebolplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/raul_meireles_fenerbahce1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://futebolplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/raul_meireles_fenerbahce1.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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Having signed for a rumoured £8m at Fenerbahçe, Meireles leaves a tender Chelsea midfield looking even more depleted. As Meireles prepares for bigger, better and hostile things in Turkey, his ex-colleagues in Lampard, Mikel, Ramires, Romeu and even Brazilian wonderkid, Oscar, are left to fight it out for the two “double-pivot” spots in Di Matteo’s 4-2-3-1. With five players fighting for two places, you would think there’s a lot of cover and strength in depth. Oh how numbers are deceiving…<br />
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There’s a lot of question marks surrounding those five players. Mikel and Romeu are the only two distinguished, out-and-out defensive midfielders out of the bunch, both of whom still have a lot to learn. Mikel has severely improved over the years, but he’s still not a definite name on the teamsheet. Lampard fought valiantly for the remainder of last season in a position that doesn’t best suit him, and it could be argued that the formation isn’t to his taste, either. Ramires is full of energy and would probably be best modelled as a box-to-box midfielder, though he’s been deployed in more attacking roles since Di Matteo came in (perhaps because Chelsea were lacking the personnel last season…) which has only been effective on a few very notable occasions. *cough* Chip over Valdes in the Camp Nou. *cough* And lastly, Oscar, the £25m youngster who is yet to cement a stronghold within the starting line-up, and that’s without considering the fact that he’s more effective further up the pitch.<br />
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It’s not as if there’s a Claude Makélélé within the Chelsea ranks anymore, or even more recently, a Michael Essien. There’s a lot of competition for the midfield spots, yes, but we’re yet to witness someone make that position their own. (Now’s your time, Oriol!) That being said, I don’t think letting Meireles go is as severe as many are making it out to be, but I do find the decision to let Meireles leave with no time to find a replacement rather baffling. I don’t think we’ll miss him per se, but I’ll miss having the occasional chuckle at his haircuts – if you can call them that – and I’m grateful for his work ethic and his efforts during his time at Stamford Bridge. Don’t forget he played a big part in the side that brought home the Champions League… and they will never be forgotten.<br />
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Thank you and good luck, Raul.<br />
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<b>By Gdostephens.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-10807919359620601902012-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:002012-09-02T14:00:15.852-07:00Inter Milan 1-3 AS Roma - Post-match Performances Commentary<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Inter Milan 1-3 Roma.</span></b></h2>
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It was a good game to watch, specially if we consider that it was an open game, end to end.</h3>
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Enjoyed Francesco Totti, Marquinho and Stekelenburg's performances for the away side.<br />
I refuse to say that Osvaldo is up there with the Man of the Match mentions because of his stupid red card at the end and that's why Osvaldo doesn't deserves to be at Milan, Inter or Juventus. He shows no-brain decisions on moments that can cost his team(s) something in the future. Though, he scored a great goal and made another great, trivela, assist to Marquinho's goal.<br />
Totti had those two great assists, but the second, for the wonder goal of Osvaldo, was purely amazing. He runs as much as Andrea Pirlo does for Juventus, but the class is there, as is Pirlo's.<br />
Marquinho was consistent and in the end he scored a great goal, in which we can also blame Castelazzi, specially considering that he is an experienced goalkeeper (he can never suffer that goal), but that doesn't takes credit from Marquinho at all. He likes to get up the field and he risks the shot a lot.<br />
Stekelenburg had two great rushes, but the one that sticks out the most is the one on Milito's feet that even led to some penalty appeal's, with no sense. It was a shame the TV didn't show his good save in the stoppage time to Sneijder's bicycle kick.<br />
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From Inter... Sneijder, Nagatomo and Álvaro Pereira deserve a good mention.<br />
Sneijder is always the watch. He is consistent, always on the ball and always active. His heart at the end of the game is always racing and today it was no different. Absolute class with the ball on his feet. He deserved better contribution by Cassano and Milito up front.<br />
Nagatomo has four lungs. He was always running and seemed a warrior sometimes. But with the ball on his feet he has to think a lot better. Still, a good complement to Álvaro's runs in the attack.<br />
Álvaro Pereira was being "bullied" by Porto and was training alone for nearly 2 months and that was shown today. He was everywhere and he did a good match, but near the 60th minute he was tired and couldn't take it anymore, so he got replaced, but he is, without a doubt, a World Class left back. His skills were shown and his style as well with that tribute to Recoba on the socks.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622019937630657766.post-263132798982869272012-08-04T04:12:00.002-07:002012-08-04T04:12:31.855-07:00Walter hat-trick Vs Ipatinga - Goiás 6-0 Ipatinga - Video Compilation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alberto Gilardino's Oscillation is my entry for the MKB Compilations Competition, edition 10.<br />
I chose Gilardino for my theme because he has one career that interests me. For once he was Italia's best player (in 2005), and then, his career wasn't so good at all, specially at Milan, where he was overshadowed by players like Inzaghi or Kaká. Then, he managed to put his act together at Fiorentina, where he scored his 200th goal in Serie A and helped them during their Serie A campaigns. Though, in the start of 2011/2012 season his performances weren't getting better and Fiorentina sold him to Genoa in January 2012. There, he helped them to accomplish the goal of remaining in Serie A with 4 goals and 6 assists.<br />
Here is the story of a World Champion (2006), World Club Champion (2007) and Champions League Champion (2006/2007)... Alberto Gilardino!<br />
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