football !!

Looks like platini wants to try to stick extra officials behind the goal lines to curb diving and shirt pulling in the box.could be a good thing.

 

Europa league tonight had 'em. Got Everton a goal though from a corner that shouldn't of been. Stewy

 

I think it has been Manchester City that has been taking the points in the local matches against ManUtd during the last couple of years, byt anyway, one great match goming up tomorrow:

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In their public statements, Ferguson's players have savoured the prospect of pricking City's bubble of self-confidence.

"They want to show people they are the kings of the city but they are not there yet," said Patrice Evra, United's French defender. "We have to make sure that doesn't happen."

City's prospects have not been helped by the fact they could be without over 100 million pounds of striking talent at Old Trafford with Emmanuel Adebayor suspended following his stamp on Robin van Persie last weekend, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz injured and Carlos Tevez struggling to recover from a knee injury in time to face his former team-mates.

United's main concern is over the availability of the increasingly injury-prone Rio Ferdinand.

 

See furguson and hughes have started taking bites out of each other,Let the entertainment comence.

 

Utd will romp over City.

 

Let's hope not. My "Old Woman's " from Manchester. If you're a Manc you don't follow United. City,or in her case Rochdale. Still i ain't got much to shout about i'm a Charlton Athletic fan & i live in Norwich & had to watch them Canary gits scrape a draw today. I was with the Charlton boys today,but i still went back to the pub for a bit of banter with all my Norwich mates. Stewy

 

I watched the man u man city game on and off,hughes must be fuming,7 mins extra time?a disgrace.

 

Yes, that does seem rather absurd. Still, the players should know that. Poor defending by ManC to let a goal in in the last minute. Utd always seem to get lucky with things like that. Thats 2 wins they don't deserve so far.

 

Remember Ronaldinho? Me neither....

AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho has denied speculation in the Spanish press he is considering retiring from football at the end of the season.

The Brazilian star has not featured in the Rossoneri's last two games and has yet to find the back of the net after three appearances with the Serie A giants this campaign.

"I have never considered the possibility of retiring from football," said the 29-year-old on his official website. "The source of my happiness has always been to play football.

"I am happy at Milan and I will remain here until the end of my contract."

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi had hoped that after selling Kaka to Real Madrid this summer, Ronaldinho would rediscover some form.

Rossoneri coach Leonardo has not been impressed, however, and the player was not included in the 2-1 Champions League victory at Marseille last week, nor did he feature in the narrow triumph over Bologna at the weekend.

Ronaldinho is under contract with the Rossoneri until June 2011.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will consider going to the Football Association to discuss "anti-football" players who are employed for destruction.

"It's not especially any particular player but it looks to me that some players make repeated fouls and, to me, it looks that it doesn't matter how many fouls they make but they get a card when it's a spectacular foul.

"I just think referees should look and see the little fouls, each time even if it's three or four little fouls then they should be booked rather than one spectacular foul."

Wenger frustrated by foulers | English Premier League | Football News from TEAMtalk

 

Can some one say 'Fletcher'? Or how about 'Scholes'?

 

Eto´o does not have enough money.....

Eto'o seeks payout from Barcelona

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o is demanding almost US$4.5 million from Spanish club Barcelona after his transfer to Italian side Inter Milan.

The amount represents 15% of the US$29 million fee which the Inter paid Barcelona in July.

His demand is based on a Spanish rule that a player should get 15% of the amount of his transfer to another Spanish club.

If the parties fail to reach a solution the matter could got to court.

But Barcelona argues it does not owe Eto'o anything because the rule is an agreement between Spanish clubs and that the percentage payment is the responsibility of the club that buys the player.

 

Well utd was always lucky and always achieved more than they deserved.

Ronaldinho is probably only making noise because the world cup is at the end of the season.

I wish Arsene Wenger would stop complaining,Wengers teams are perfectly capable of anti football when things arent going their way.

Liverpool leeds now tonight.

 

Notts County executive chairman Peter Trembling admitted Sol Campbell may have rushed his decision to drop down to League Two....

( Check the pic.... I don´t wonder Sol wanted to leave...)

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(Oh no Keegan!!!!)

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley could be forced to put the club into administration if former boss Kevin Keegan wins a huge compensation pay-out.

It is understood some at the club fear Keegan could be awarded far in excess of the £9million which has been reported if he successfully argues his case.

That would have major financial implications for the cash-strapped club, with administration the most stark of a range of options.

Keegan's claim for constructive dismissal, which is being heard by a Premier League independent arbitration panel, is expected to reach a conclusion tomorrow.

It is just over a year since Keegan left St James' Park for the second time as manager amid a furious bust-up over the club's transfer policy.

His departure came following the deadline day arrivals of striker Xisco and loan signing Ignacio Gonzalez, both allegedly without his knowledge.

 

I can't see how 9 mil. will affect Mr Ashley that much. He's worth a lot more than that,in as much as he could bail Newcastle out for several times that from his small change jar. But in the days of the recession,you have to be prudent. That & the fact the Geordies dislike him immensly. Stewy

 

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh admits he may be forced to listen to offers for star striker Edin Dzeko ahead of January's transfer window.

Dzeko had his heart set on moving to AC Milan in the summer, but Wolfsburg declared the man who netted 26 times in the league last season was not for sale.

However, the situation has now changed and, with the Wolves struggling for their form having been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in midweek, Veh is contemplating changes to his side which may involve the sale of Dzeko.

"Of course players of his class attract the interest of other clubs," he told the Wolfsburger Allgemeinen Zeitung newspaper.

"We have got to expect that. It was the case with Mario Gomez when I was at Stuttgart when we put a clause in his contract and the same would be the case with Dzeko.

"Players like him do have a price."

After Milan's bid failed, the Bosnian forward signed a new contract, including a buy-out clause, with the Wolves and Veh will now be expecting the Dzeko to play himself into the shop window, starting with Saturday's derby match with Hannover.

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( Wonder if Owen can play the game really ever again?)

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who has has been out of action for a year, could be back on the pitch in four weeks' time.

The England hardman has been out of action for a year after deciding to undergo operations on both knees in an effort to solve his tendinitis problems.

Hargreaves has done all his rehabilitation work in the United States so far under the guidance of renowned knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman.

However, the former Bayern Munich star returned to United's Carrington training complex earlier this week to take the next major step in his bid for recovery.

Hargreaves has not done any ball work yet and Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect him to for a short while as the United medical staff complete a handover that will take the 28-year-old back into their care.

 

hargreaves! and owen! are very injury prone,and to be fair both are running on the past performances,hargreaves for bayern,owen for liverpool,and it's only a matter of time b/4 another spell from injury happens...

 

Holy....

Uefa is investigating 40 cases of suspected match-fixing involving games in the Champions League and Uefa Cup.

The games are from the last four years, with 15 in the last two years, and mainly involve Eastern European teams.

In April this year Macedonian club FK Pobeda received an eight-year ban from European competition after being found guilty of deliberately losing a match.

Since then, Uefa has announced three Macedonian clubs were being investigated.

One of the fixtures under suspicion is Maceodian side FK Milano's 12-2 aggregate loss to Croatia's Slaven Koprivnika of the second qualifying round of the Europa League, the new format for the old Uefa Cup.

"Right now it's mainly Eastern Europe clubs being investigated," said Limacher.

"They know they are not going to be involved later in the tournament and they are going out, so decide, 'Let's make a profit'.

BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Uefa probes 40 match-fixing cases

 

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side under-achieved at Wigan, where their 100% record came to an unexpected end.

The home side chalked up their first victory against one of the top four at the 35th time of asking in a Premier League match.

Goals from Titus Bramble, Hugo Rodallega (penalty) and Paul Scharner stunned Chelsea, who have been overtaken by Manchester United at the top of the table.

Didier Drogba cancelled out Bramble's opener but goalkeeper Petr Cech's red card, for tripping Rodallega which led to the spot-kick in the 53rd minute changed the face of the game at the DW Stadium.

Ancelotti, however, refused to look for excuses after suffering his first defeat since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "We did not play a good game - it was a bad performance. I do not know why we did not play well.

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GOALS GOALS GOALS

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says Fernando Torres has yet to reach his peak despite witnessing a fine hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Hull.

Harry Redknapp saw Robbie Keane score four goals against Burnley but insisted no striker at Tottenham is guaranteed a starting place.

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Sampdoria moved top of Serie A after shocking defending champions Inter Milan with their fifth win in six games on Saturday night.

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(New super-goalie??)

Arsene Wenger gave rookie keeper Vito Mannone "10 out of 10" for an inspired display which helped Arsenal record a 1-0 win at Fulham.

Mannone denied Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and substitute Zoltan Gera with a number of impressive stops.

Asked if it was the best performance of his career, Mannone told ESPN: "I would say yes, when you play like that in the first team.

"You have to take your opportunity. I think I did it tonight and I'm happy with the three points, it was a great win.

 

Mannone (21-year old Italian, Arsenals 3rd String Goalie) had a really impressive game. Some very top class saves against Fulham. His 2nd clean sheet in 2 starts for Arsenal too, which is even more impressive.

Van Persies goal was superb - great chip pass by Fabregas and amazing control by RVP who one touched it then buried it with his right foot.

Not much to read into in Liverpools 6 - 1 win over Hull. I mean, we are talking about Hull here who are struggling in 2nd-to-last-place and have struggled in the premier league.

Chelsea's loss was huge - 3 -1 to Wigan? Didn't see that coming at all.

 

Ouch! Not so good AC Milan...

The sale of Kaka to Real Madrid and the departure of coach Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea has been followed by a woeful start to the season, with Sunday's goalless home draw against newly-promoted Bari leaving Milan 11th in the standings.

Just 34,000 fans turned up at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium to watch Milan on Sunday and many booed at the end of the game.

"We are struggling psychologically although our team has the experience to react," Leonardo said.

"We hope that more fans can turn up to the stadium, the team needs their support."

The result against Bari capped a frustrating week for Leonardo.

It followed the Rossoneri's 1-0 defeat at Udinese in midweek and left them seven points behind league leaders Sampdoria.

The biggest problem for Leonardo's squad has been its inability to score.

They have managed just one goal in their last five league games.

Top summer signing Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Ronaldinho have yet to score this season.