Fernando Torres for £95m!
by danang on Jan.31, 2011, under Premier League
Chelsea will try to push through the signing of Fernando Torres on Monday with a stunning £95million transfer package they believe will trigger an escape clause in the Liverpool striker’s contract.
Roman Abramovich is ready to commit the staggering sum to secure the service of Torres, with £50m needed to activate the clause they are now confident exists.
A further £45m will be guaranteed to the 26-year-old in a five-year deal that would see him earn £175,000 a week.
Liverpool were already preparing for life without the World Cup and European Championship winner on Sunday night.
Having signed Luis Suarez, they will also try to land Ashley Young from Aston Villa and Blackpool’s Charlie Adam before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier has already said Young is not for sale, and the club are trying to secure him on a new contract. However, that has not stopped new Anfield co-owner John W Henry contacting Villa owner Randy Lerner in a bid to mitigate the loss of Torres.
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Match Verdict : Everton v Chelsea
by danang on Jan.29, 2011, under Premier League
14th place Everton take their eye off the league campaign on Saturday as they host fellow Premiership side Chelsea in the 4th Round of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.
The cup game comes at a good time for Moyes as Everton have just the 1 league win in the 5. The club has been struggling virtually throughout the season and confidence can’t be high, looking further back only 2 wins have been obtained in the last 13 games! Maybe a cup tie with no points involved will help restore some confidence for the Merseysiders, the only problem is they face a side that beat them two years in the FA Cup final and it’s the current holders of the cup Chelsea.
The club has recently departed with Yakubu on loan to Leicester and Pienaar permanently to Spurs, but the biggest loss has been Cahill to the Asia games. Whilst Everton still were struggling with Cahill, it’s clear to see that just his presence alone inspires the side, the Aussie is a goal threat and his never quit attitude brings out the best in his teammates. His loss will majorly hamper Everton on Saturday and it’s going to be a very tough game for Everton to win.
The sides have already met once in the year, a league game at Stamford Bridge when a late Beckford goal cancelled out a 42nd minute Drogba penalty as the sides drew 1-1. Everton has a decent record at Chelsea unbeaten in the past 3 or 4 encounters so if they can avoid defeat at the Bridge they can certainly hold them at home. I’m not convinced on a home win purely because the side is out of form and their other key player Arteta looks a shadow of his former self right now. Moyes is a great manager and his side can certainly knock out the holders but given the form and absentees it doesn’t appeal.
Team news is that Cahill is absent and that defender Jagielka is in contention to start following his return from injury. Up front Saha should start after playing 45 minutes last time out against West Ham, the striker scored against Chelsea last year in the league and his return is important to the side. Elsewhere the side should remain unchanged in a strong Everton looking lineup. (continue reading…)
Match Verdict : Bolton v Chelsea
by danang on Jan.24, 2011, under Premier League
Last 5 Bolton games at home : W3-D2-L0 F12-A5
Owen Coyle has transformed Bolton from a “route one” direct side to a side that plays free flowing attacking football with lots of passes on the ground. As a result Bolton are flying high in 8th place and a win on Monday will move the Trotters into the top 7 and a European place is not out of the question for this talented side.
Unbeaten in 6 games at the Reebok this side is high on confidence and will not fear Chelsea despite losing the last 6 games against them at home. The sides are completely different now compared to then as Bolton were no way the force they are today and Chelsea has gone from sitting in the top 2 for a few years to fighting for 4th. Its a real case of regression against progression and right now Bolton is looking a really solid side and Chelsea looks awful.
Back to the home form, despite draws against Wigan (1-1) and Blackpool (2-2) Coyle’s side has registered wins over WBA (2-0), Blackburn (2-1), Newcastle (5-1) and Tottenham (4-2). The side scores a lot of goals and has only failed to score twice at home all year on the opening day and then against Liverpool on Halloween. As we can see since then there is goals in abundance for this side and they currently average nearly 2.5 goals a game at home based on the last 5 home games! (continue reading…)
Match Verdict : ManUtd v Birmingham
by danang on Jan.22, 2011, under Others
Manchester United will aim to keep their unbeaten record intact when they welcome the visit of Birmingham City to the Theatre of Dreams. They had to battled hard against Tottenham to get the draw and now the Red Devils will be looking to register a win with Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all are in contention for the title.
When these two sides met earlier this season Birmingham held Manchester United to a draw. However at present they lie just a point above the relegation zone.
The meeting at St. Andrews could have been United’s way had it not been for the 89th minute equalizer by Lee Bowyer. They will once again hope to frustrate Manchester United but will also be eyeing their midweek clash in the Carling Cup.
Manchester United are unbeaten in 21 matches now and will want to increase it no doubt. Despite missing Rafael as he is suspended after being sent off against Tottenham, the good news is that John O’Shea and Wes Brown returns to the side.
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Balotelli : Rooney is not the best striker in Manchester
by danang on Jan.19, 2011, under Premier League
Mario Balotelli’s injured knee sidelined him again at Eastlands last night but the Italian striker has set up a tantalising showdown against Wayne Rooney in three weeks by suggesting the England forward is not even the best goalscorer in Manchester.
The City star said yesterday his knee should not require surgery, putting him in line for a possible return in the Manchester derby on February 12 at Old Trafford.
That would guarantee Balotelli a lively reception from Rooney, who he says is inferior to him and fellow City forwards Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko. He also says United fans have asked him to join their team.
Balotelli said: ‘Rooney’s good, but he is not the best in Manchester. Think about this one: Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko. Is it not good enough?
‘Can you see anything better than this in the world? Me neither, not even at Barcelona or Real Madrid.
‘We are stronger. We only lack conviction, the rest is all here. We can win now. Dzeko is a good person.
‘United fans, they stop me in the street and tell me, “Mario, come to United”. Honestly.
‘But I’m dreaming of beating United, because I know how much this means to our fans. They are splendid with me.’
Balotelli has been told he may need the second operation of his season if his right knee does not respond to a period of inactivity. The 20-year-old, though, has already ruled out surgery. (continue reading…)
We can’t live on past glories forever
by danang on Jan.17, 2011, under Premier League
Kenny Dalglish may see himself as a custodian of the Liverpool way but his high regard for Anfield’s heritage will not blind him to the need to shake off the past rather than cling to it.
While the man given charge of Liverpool until the end of the season is determined to reintroduce the spirit of the Boot Room - if not the room itself - he insists that fans deserve more than reminders of the club’s glorious past.
Dalglish will sit in the home dugout at Anfield today for the first time in 20 years as his side attempt to provide the first victory of his second managerial reign by winning the Merseyside derby with Everton.
He says today’s game must signal the end of the romance which has greeted his return to the Anfield hot seat - and the start of results.
Although immensely proud of the club’s traditions, he is aware that today’s Liverpool fans need their own magic moments.
Apart from Gerard Houllier’s cup treble in 2001 and the miracle of Istanbul four years later, the Kop have had little to cheer since Dalglish, now 59, stepped down as manager after the famous 4-4 FA Cup draw with Everton. (continue reading…)
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal
by danang on Jan.16, 2011, under Premier League
Robin van Persie scored twice as ruthless Arsenal put struggling West Ham to the sword in a match tipped to be Avram Grant’s last as Hammers boss.
The Dutchman expertly rifled home Theo Walcott’s pass before teeing up Walcott to crash in from close range.
Carlton Cole shot straight at Wojciech Szczesny and glanced a header wide in rare attacks for the disjointed hosts.
Van Persie netted his second from the spot after Wayne Bridge fouled Walcott to cap a sparkling Gunners display.
The comprehensive defeat is expected to signal the end of Grant’s tenure as Hammers boss, as BBC Sport understands former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will replace the Israeli.
Arsenal took full advantage of an uncertain performance from an injury-hit Hammers side playing in an almost funereal atmosphere at a normally boisterous ground, after a day that seemed set to be Grant’s last stand.
The Gunners gave a fluent and assured display as they moved within one point of Manchester United and stayed three behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, although Arsene Wenger’s side rarely needed to be at their best against such troubled opponents. (continue reading…)
Messi claims World Player of the Year award
by danang on Jan.11, 2011, under International
Lionel Messi was named World Player of the Year for the second straight year Monday, pipping Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi to the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Argentina star Messi is the first footballer to win the global award for two years in row since Brazil’s Ronaldinho claimed the honor in 2004 and 2005.
23-year-old Messi starred as Barcelona retained Spain’s La Liga title and has continued his heroics as they lead the standings this season.
He scored no less than 60 goals for club and country in 2010.
Iniesta and Xavi share a midfield partnership for the Catalan giants and both played a key role as Spain won the World Cup, with Iniesta scoring the only goal of the final as they beat the Dutch 1-0. (continue reading…)
Hodgson out King Kenny steps in
by danang on Jan.09, 2011, under Premier League
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has left the club by mutual consent.
Hodgson, 63, won only seven of 20 Premier League games after taking over from Rafael Benitez in July 2010 and led the club to 12th in the table.
Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish has been placed in charge until the end of the season.
“Both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down,” said American owner John W Henry in a statement on the club’s website.
Hodgson refused to answer questions about his Anfield future following Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday, the club’s third loss in four Premier League games, which left them just four points clear of the relegation zone.
And when his press conference ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United on Sunday was cancelled on Friday, it fuelled further speculation that the former Fulham manager’s tenure was drawing to a close.
“I have found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career,” read a statement from Hodgson on the club’s website. (continue reading…)



