..::Football III::..

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Scholes slams Man Utd: Title winners? You've got to beat teams like Newcastle

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has slammed Louis van Gaal's side for failing to beat Newcastle on Saturday.

Aleksandar Mitrovic struck the woodwork with a header in the first-half and substitute Florian Thauvin almost snatted all three points for the visitors in the dying moments but both sides were forced to share the points.The Red Devils dominated their opponents in possession and chances but despite back to back victories in the opening weeks of the Premier League, Scholes is unconvinced by United's title chances.

"There's a real lack of excitement - a lack of quality, more than anything," he told BT Sport.

"It's okay having pace on the pitch, which we don't tend to have, but a real sense of quality [is lacking] and a bit of urgency.

"Newcastle at home, you should be beating them. If you're going to win the league, you need to be winning these types of games."Wayne Rooney continued his domestic goal drought, having not scored in the league since April, and retired midfielder Scholes believes Louis Van Gaal's team didn't deserve victory.

"I just don't think they did enough," the 40-year-old added."You have to give Tim Krul special credit for a great save from [Javier Hernandez but], really, did they have a lot to defend against? I don't think so."

 

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"Newcastle at home, you should be beating them. If you're going to win the league, you need to be winning these types of games."Wayne Rooney continued his domestic goal drought, having not scored in the league since April, and retired midfielder Scholes believes Louis Van Gaal's team didn't deserve victory.

 

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Wanyama wants Southampton exit

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama is keen to leave the club this summer and has made it known that he will not be signing a new deal at St Mary's, Goal understands.

While it has been widely reported that Wanyama has handed in a transfer request, Goal has learned that neither the player nor his representatives have made such an official statement.

Rather, he has made it known to the club that he will not enter renewal talks over his current deal, which is due to expire in 2017.

It is also understood that Southampton are yet to receive any official offers for the Kenyan, who signed a four-year deal with the Saints in 2013 after completing a £12.5 million move from Celtic.

Tottenham have been closely linked with the player in the past few days, but on Friday Saints boss Ronald Koeman insisted that neither Wanyama, nor Manchester United target Sadio Mane, are for sale this summer.

"I don't know if he is really a target for Tottenham," the Dutchman said. "There is no bid and he is not for sale."

But the south coast club are likely to have their resolve tested in the coming 10 days after it was communicated that the central midfielder has decided to seek out new challenges.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, confirmed after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leicester City that he will look to bring in new faces before the transfer window closes on September 1.

"I'm not worried about that because the team showed it's alive and we've played very well in the three games we've played," he said when asked about new signings after Riyad Mahrez cancelled out Delle Alli's goal at the King Power Stadium.

"We deserved more, and the points we have on the table do not reflect how well we've played. But we're looking forward and will try to improve the squad in the next week."

Wanyama, who started his professional career in Belgium with Beerschot AC, has become an important member of the Southampton squad since moving from Celtic Park, playing 57 Premier League games.

 

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HIguain ta wada benzema hondai neda

Ow bro Benzema patta ath Benzema Arsenal target 1kak neh bro & Benitez unath Benzema meh season 1keth Real Madrid idi kiyalath kiyanwa so sure naha mona weida kiyala.
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[King GBN]

The Lord is saving Wolfsburg.... again. Well done!

 

[rcccc]

HIguain ta wada benzema hondai neda

benzema sell karana ekak nae.

 

[rcccc]

West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth: Wilson stars as Cherries stun 10-man Hammers

me team eken ne arsenal la home waladi kawe.wenger thawath balan ennawa DM kenek ganne nathiwa

 

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Juventus to make move for Chelsea flop Cuadrado

Juventus are set to make a move for Juan Cuadrado after Chelsea made the winger available for loan, Goal understands.

The Colombia international only joined the Blues in January, with the English outfit agreeing to pay Fiorentina an initial £23.3 million (€32m) for the versatile forward.

However, after struggling to break into Jose Mourinho's starting line-up upon his arrival in London, Cuadrado has now slipped further down the pecking order following the arrival of Pedro from Barcelona.

The Premier League champions had originally been reluctant to accept anything other than a straight cash deal for the 27-year-old but they have now agreed to let Cuadrado depart on loan.

Indeed, the South American's agent, Alessandro Lucci, is now due to arrive in London over the weekend to try to secure his client a return to Italy with Juve.

The Scudetto holders are looking to sign another forward before the close of the transfer window on August 31, having been frustrated in their attempts to agree a fee with Schalke for Julian Draxler.

Bianconeri director general Giuseppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici have already been in touch with Lucci and are now looking to meet with Chelsea in order to thrash out a loan deal for the player, but with an option to buy.

Cuadrado has long been of interest to Juve having establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in Serie A during his three-year spell with Fiorentina.

 

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Muller: Ten-man Bayern earned Hoffenheim victory

Thomas Muller believes Bayern Munich deserved their last-gasp winner in Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Hoffenheim.

The Bavarians sensationally found themselves a goal down after just nine seconds of action, with Kevin Volland capitalising on a mistake from David Alaba to open the scoring.

Muller levelled matters just before the break but Bayern looked likely to fall behind again with 16 minutes to go when Jerome Boateng picked up his second yellow card for handling the ball in the area.

However, Eugen Polanski struck his subsequent spot kick against the post and his profligacy was punished right at the death when Lewandowski won it for the 10-man visitors with his 90th-minute strike.

Muller was thus understandably delighted with the way in which Pep Guardiola's men managed to battle their way to three precious points.

"Both in terms of the temperature and the match it was fiery stuff," the Germany attacker told his club's official website.

"We had good chances throughout the match, we stuck to the job even with 10 men, and we’ve earned our reward for a really terrific game."

Meanwhile, matchwinner Lewandowski was also of the opinion that Bayern were good value for their victory.

"As always, it wasn’t easy against Hoffenheim," the Poland striker added. "After the penalty and the sending off, we knew we still had to keep it going.

"We still created two or three good chances. We were the better team."

Bayern next host Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena but will have to make do without the suspended Boateng and the injured Medhi Benatia, who is facing a significant spell on the sidelines.

 

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Garcia: Dzeko and Salah will get better

Roma coach Rudi Garcia is adamant Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah will improve after admitting the new Giallorossi attackers had disappointed in Saturday's Serie A opener at Verona.

Last season's runners-up fell behind just after the hour mark at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi when Bosko Jankovic volleyed home a lofted pass from Emil Hallfredsson.

Roma quickly equalised courtesy of a long-range strike from Alessandro Florenzi but were unable to begin their anticipated title challenge with a win.

The Giallorossi drew 13 times last term and the acquisitions of Dzeko and Salah were meant to address the capital club's repeated failure to turn possession into goals.

Though the pair underwhelmed in Verona, Garcia believes that the summer signings will soon settle into life at the Stadio Olimpico side.

"Edin was excellent in the first half and had that chance with a header at the end," the Frenchman told reporters after the game.

"We needed to speed things up in possession. We didn't move the ball around quickly enough or stretch Verona as much as we'd have liked.

"They're a tough proposition at the Bentegodi. We put in an okay performance but it wasn't enough to get us the three points.

"We could have done better up front but perhaps we took too many touches. Dzeko and Salah have only just joined us, yet they've managed to do well so far and I'm sure they'll do even better.

"I need all my players over the course of the season because we have lots matches, with Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia commitments to juggle.

"The overall attitude of the squad is very important and the guys got that part right. Our general approach was good. We're on the right path."

Question marks also remain over the Roma defence, not least at left-back, with Vasilis Torosidis Garcia's only option now that Ashley Cole has been frozen out.

The Giallorossi are hoping to sign Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain but Garcia insists that it will not be a problem if 22-year-old fails to arrive at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I'm not worried," the former Lille boss added. "We're weighing up various options together and it would help if we could bring someone in this week but if we can't, then Torosidis is fine.

"Apart from the goal when he pushed up too much, he played his usual solid game today.

"But Lucas Digne is not the only name we're looking at. There are three or four options and we'll make sure we get the right one."

Roma next host Italian champions Juventus on August 30 and Garcia admitted that he is looking forward to watching the Bianconeri take on Udinese on Sunday.

“It will be interesting to watch given we play them next weekend," the 51-year-old added.

"They've lost some top-quality players in [Andrea] Pirlo, [Carlos] Tevez and [Arturo] Vidal but they've also signed some fantastic talents.

"They, like us, have work to do if they want to improve and exploit their squad's full potential."

 

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Mourinho: Costa gets unfair treatment from referees and opponents

Jose Mourinho believes that Diego Costa receives unfair treatment from both referees and opponents, but says that Chelsea can do nothing about it.

Costa received particular scrutiny from the officials during the Blues’ 3-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, though the Spanish striker was on the receiving end of an errant elbow from midfielder Fernandinho.

Mourinho claimed after the game that the Brazilian should have been dismissed for the challenge, and says that Costa would have been if he had been the guilty party, as his reputation precedes him.

“I can guarantee you, if Diego Costa does that, it’s a red card. And if not a red card, there will be video footage and suspension. I can guarantee that,” he told reporters.

“We are speaking about reputation, but what I see, game after game, is more of the same. It’s Diego doing his job and no more than that. Enough time has passed to forget his reputation - tell me when was the last time something happened? I don’t think he’s too physical.”

Mourinho believes that opposition players have started to target Costa in a bid to provoke a reaction, and says that he can do nothing to prevent it.

“And the reaction is punished? Yes, yes,” he said when asked if Costa was being singled out.

“But what can you do? The ­referees, they have the power to analyse and to decide. We can do nothing.

“We are told to behave in the technical area, not to complain, not to make gestures, not to have contact with other assistants outside the bench watching television telling us, ‘This is a red, this is not a red’, or, ‘This is a penalty, this is not a penalty’.

“We were told that, and we are doing that.”

 

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Alexis is as good as Suarez - Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes that Alexis Sanchez is on the same level as Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez.

The Chile international enjoyed a superb debut campaign at the Emirates, scoring 25 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions following his £35 million move from Barcelona.

Wenger believes that Alexis is one of the finest players in world football, and has compared his ability to that of Suarez, who played a key role in Barca’s historic treble-winning 2015-16 campaign.

“Sanchez and Suarez are at the same level. Suarez is a central striker and Sanchez is more a wide player who likes to go up and down and is involved in dribbling, but they have similarities,” he told reporters.

“Sanchez has that desire to go forward and provoke, he is a guy who provokes chaos in the defences because he has a go at them. He does not go across, he goes straight. His desire to go forward, to provoke opponents, to run at people, creates danger.

“And he plays to win in every single game. I have had players like that before, players who want to win so much, but he has the style as well.

“What Sanchez has is that, in the first two yards, he is lightning quick. He has that explosive attitude linked with his spirit and that makes him even more spectacular.”

Arsenal are currently preparing to face Liverpool on Monday, and Wenger admits that he expected Alexis to move to Anfield when the club sold Suarez to Barca, while he believes that the Chilean is constantly improving.

“At the start, when I saw Suarez went to Barcelona, I thought that is the obvious deal, one going one way and the other, the other way,” he added.

“So I had not much hope. But I met Sanchez’s agent in Brazil at the World Cup, I had a few meetings with them, and I could see [there was an interest in Arsenal].

“He is already better than he was when he arrived. In his final finishing there is room for improvement, in his final ball he is already much better, his vision is quite good and incisive.

“I was surprised that he came on the market.

“Sometimes there are so many big players in the other big, big clubs who are good but do not play.

“So after a year or two of them not playing, you can get a good deal. Sanchez is a case. Pedro is another case. Arjen Robben is another - he was at Real Madrid, let’s not forget.”

 

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Errors cost West Ham - Bilic

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic believes that a succession of individual errors cost his side in their action-packed 4-3 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Callum Wilson netted a hat-trick at Upton Park to help their visitors to a maiden top-flight win, with Marc Pugh scoring in the 66th minute after West Ham fought back from 2-0 down.

Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate hauled the Hammers level and Modibo Maiga's third ensured a grandstand finish, after Carl Jenkinson became the fifth West Ham player to be sent off in all competitions this season, for a foul on Max Gradel.

"I congratulate Bournemouth, they deserved it, they were good," Bilic said.

"For every goal you have to give credit to the opponent and I give credit for the third goal, even though we made two mistakes there.

"But the first goal, second goal and fourth goal were simply the ball being at our feet - it was our ball. It did not come from them making a move or a cross.

"If you do those kind of individual errors in front of your goal you can’t expect the outcome not to be defeat, unless they make more.

"But we cannot say without those [mistakes] we would be good - we wouldn't. That was only the conclusion from the lack of team play that we had at the start.

"How can we have it in the second half? How can we have it against Leicester in the second half?

"They were doing the basics from the first minute better than us. They were closing us down, they were putting us under pressure, they were on their toes better for second balls than we were."

 

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Atletico haven't ruined pitch to upset Barcelona, jokes Simeone

Diego Simeone jokingly denied that Atletico Madrid have deliberately ruined the pitch ahead of Barcelona's visit to the Vicente Calderon.

The Blaugrana are renowned for their passing football and it has been insinuated in the past that opponents have intentionally provided them with poor surfaces in order to metaphorically level the playing field.

The Catalans are due to face Atletico in a crunch Liga clash in the Spanish capital on September 12 and Simeone could not resist a little joke when asked about his side's performance in Saturday's 1-0 home win over Las Palmas.

"The pitch is in a bad state," the Argentine told reporters. "When Barcelona come down here, they should know it's not that way just for them!

"I think we played well, though. We tried to play and get the ball to our forwards.

"In the second half we had more depth but we need to improve our depth because we want possession that ends in chances."

Jackson Martinez started for Atletico but the summer signing from Porto was unable to mark his first Liga appearance with a goal, with Antoine Griezmann deciding the game in the hosts' favour with a free kick.

"Jackon worked very well," Simeone aded. "It's difficult to get him off the ball with his back to goal and he helped us get forward.

"We weren't able to get the ball to him in the area and he'll grow the more games he plays.

"It was a good team performance in general. We're happy with everybody's work today."

Yannick Carrasco was left on the bench, though, and when pressed on why the former Monaco man had been denied the chance to make his Atleti debut, Simeone replied: "Because I decided that other lads would play and I because I knew other players were better suited to this game."

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United do not need to buy a striker

Louis van Gaal insists that Manchester United do not need to reinforce their attack before the transfer deadline, despite their 0-0 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.

The Red Devils struggled to break down a resolute Magpies side at Old Trafford, with Steve McClaren’s men standing firm in the face of an onslaught from the Red Devils.

United have been heavily linked with a number of forwards ahead of the close of the summer window, with stars such as Neymar, Sadio Mane and Gareth Bale all reportedly in the club’s sights.

Van Gaal, though, insists that the club have no need to acquire a striker, with Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson the forwards currently at his disposal.

"No, because we were three times the best team,” he told Sky Sports when asked if United needed to splash the cash.

"My worry is that we have to dominate the opponent and we did it today, we did it against Aston Villa, Tottenham and [Club] Brugge.

"I am satisfied with the performance and not with the result and that is different.

"We were unlucky with rewarding ourselves because we have created a lot of chances."

Rooney found the net for United in the fourth minute, though the strike was ruled offside, and Van Gaal was disappointed with the decision.

"Wayne scored. Only it was not allowed,” he added.

"It is doubtful and the rules are that when it is doubtful, then do not flag.

"But it is also football and I have said already many times you need more equipment to help the referees and linesmen because it is not easy."

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United do not need to buy a striker

Ow ow mokata Striker kenek gannawada.....Rooney ahema elatama play karanawaneGoals hena ganak score kalane pahugiya tike

LVG thawath kiyawanawaneGoal finishing anthimai.....Rooney wenuwata wena Worldclass striker kenekuth team 1ke nahaHitapu kenawath sell karagattha(RVP).Dan kiyanawa thawa Striker kenek one naha kiyala

LVG nam anemandaHoda kamak sure Striker kenek gatthe nathnam​

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.08.23 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2015.08.23 Fixtures

WBA Vs Chelsea

Everton Vs Manchester City

Watford Vs Southampton

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La Liga 2015.08.23 Fixtures

La Liga 2015.08.23 Fixtures

Athletic Bilbao Vs Barcelona

Sporting Gijon Vs Real Madrid

Levante Vs Celta Vigo

Real Betis Vs Villareal​

 

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Serie A 2015.08.23 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.08.23 Fixtures

Juventus Vs Udinese

Empoli Vs Chievo

Fiorentina Vs AC Milan

Frosinone Vs Torino

Inter Vs Atalanta

Palermo Vs Genoa

Sampdoria Vs Carpi

Sassuolo Vs Napoli​

 

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Messi & Ronaldo are football monsters - Buyo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been described as “football monsters” by Paco Buyo but the Real Madrid legend does not believe that the pair are quite on the same level as Diego Maradona.

The prolific forwards are both back in La Liga action on Sunday as Barcelona kick off their campaign at Athletic Bilbao, while the Rafael Benitez era at Madrid will begin at Sporting Gijon.

Buyo, who spent 11 years at the Santiago Bernabeu between 1986 and 1997, believes that Messi and Ronaldo are capable of destroying any back-line but, having gone up against Argentine icon Maradona in his heyday, insists that he would not have feared facing either player.

“Leo and Cristiano are players with different characteristics,” the 57-year-old told Omnisport.

“When I was Real Madrid goalkeeper I had the fortune to face - with the greatest of respect to Messi and Cristiano - the best player of all time: Diego Maradona.

“Maradona had similar characteristics to Messi and most of the time I was the ‘winner’ in the duel. Therefore, you can’t be scared of any player.

“But the power of these football monsters is massive. And they enjoy a goalscoring fortune in La Liga and, essentially, both can cause one's defence many, many problems.”

Messi inspired Barcelona to a treble last season, netting 58 times in 57 appearances in all competitions, while Ronaldo racked up a career-high 61 goals in 54 outings.