..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Gerrard: Sterling can replace Walcott at World Cup

Steven Gerrard has backed Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling to be the man to replace Theo Walcott in England's World Cup squad.

Arsenal winger Walcott suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Gunners' FA Cup third round victory over Tottenham, ruling him out for six months and ending his dream of appearing for his country in Brazil.

Sterling has emerged as a key member of Brendan Rodgers' side, starting the last 10 Premier League games, and although the 19-year-old has only one England cap to his name, Gerrard is convinced he can play his way into Roy Hodgson's plans.

The Three Lions captain said: "I've just said to him after the game, 'you keep your performance at that level and you are going to make it very difficult for Roy Hodgson not to take you'.

"Raheem is in top form at a fantastic time - his performances of late have been sensational.

"I’m obviously disappointed for Theo. There are many candidates to replace him. Lennon’s playing well. Andros Townsend, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s back.

"But if you are looking at like-for-like, pace down the wing, someone who can make, score and create, then Raheem has got a fantastic chance.

"He’s got all the tools to do it, it’s up to him now. If you are a full-back you don’t want to play against pace and it’s pace when it’s coming at you all of the time. He is relentless.

“He’s a team player, too. Everyone knows Roy Hodgson, he likes a wide player who can defend as well. He’s got everything going for him. Now it’s up to him to keep putting in that level of performance."

Gerrard has, however, warned Sterling that he will have to react and pick himself up when he suffers an inevitable dip in form.

"You’ve got to understand his age. He’s learning the game. He’s got a fantastic manager to help him through that," the veteran Liverpool midfielder added.

"He’s only 18 [sic] and you are going to suffer a dip in form. Who doesn’t have a dip at 18 years of age? But the mark of a good player and how good any player is going to be is how they come back from that. Can he react?

"To come back the way he has, he’s been one of our most consistent players in the last couple of months. He’s been brilliant."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Welbeck revelling in centre-forward role under Manchester United boss Moyes

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is relishing the goals that have come with his move to a consistent centre-forward role under David Moyes.

The England international, profiting from the injury-enforced absences of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, netted his eighth Premier League goal of the season against Swansea City on Saturday.

It is a significant move up from his solitary top-flight strike of 2012-13 and Welbeck is enjoying the chance to come in from his frequent position on the left flank.

"I've enjoyed playing up front and getting good opportunities to score," the 23-year-old told United Review. "If I'm on the left wing then I'll still want to score but I know that I'll have other duties in the team.

"Once I get into the position to score - and you work on this in training as well - you get more accustomed to it.

"Obviously I've looked at different aspects of my game and tried to improve certain things but, as I said, now I've been playing up front I'm getting the opportunities in scoring situations and thankfully I've been putting them away."

With two key attackers injured, Moyes has challenged Welbeck to "step up" and aim for 20 goals this season, and the youngster is happy for the emphasis to be on scoring more.

"When it comes down to it, strikers are judged on goals," he remarked. "I know that. I think 20 goals is a good target for any striker to set at this level but I've not sat down and thought: 'I need to reach this many goals this season'.

"I want to score goals wherever I play. I just really want to apply myself for the team and give my best because Manchester United is very important to me."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United, Liverpool & Arsenal send scouts to Bordeaux v Paris Saint-Germain

Scouts from several Premier League clubs arrived in France to watch Bordeaux's Coupe de la Ligue clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

The Ligue 1 club confirmed on their official website that representatives from Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Crystal Palace – as well as the Championship's QPR – were due to attend the game, which kicks off at 20.00GMT.

The quarter-final match is the two sides' third meeting of the season in all competitions and, though they have won both previous matches, PSG announced a strong team to face Francis Gillot's men.

Laurent Blanc deployed the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jeremy Menez, Javier Pastore and Lucas Moura, while Bordeaux defender Ludovic Sane is among those in the hosts' starting XI who have previously been linked with a move to the Premier League.

PSG are currently top of the Ligue 1 table this season, five points clear of fellow heavy spenders Monaco after 20 games.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Scouting missions nam godai.Ath thama bids naha

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup 2014.01.15 Fixture

FA Cup 2014.01.15 Fixture

Manchester City Vs Blackburn​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Copa Del Rey 2014.01.15 Fixtures

Copa Del Rey 2014.01.15 Fixtures

Athletic Bilbao Vs Real Betis

Espanyol Vs AD Alcorcon

Levante Vs Rayo Vallecano

Osasuna Vs Real Madrid​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coppa Italia 2014.01.15 Fixtures

Coppa Italia 2014.01.15 Fixtures

Catania Vs Siena

AC Milan Vs Spezia

Napoli Vs Atalanta​

 

[Persius]

Scouting missions nam godai.Ath thama bids naha

ekane , Honda sign karagatta ekai .Nemanja Matic Chelsea ganna ekai witharai , me Window eke big signings ,paw Juan Mata , ekko yann denna one .nettanm selln karann denna one

 

[Wolverine GTR]

ekane , Honda sign karagatta ekai .Nemanja Matic Chelsea ganna ekai witharai , me Window eke big signings ,paw Juan Mata , ekko yann denna one .nettanm selln karann denna one

1ka thamai broDavid Moyes kalin Juve match 1kath scout karalakiyana widiyatanam Pogba & Vidal thamai target 1ka.ath sure naha owwa weida kiyala

Juan Mata wa sella karanawanam nam EPL 1ke rivals lata sell karana 1kak naha keeyatawathPSG wei godak welawata.

 

[Persius]

1ka thamai broDavid Moyes kalin Juve match 1kath scout karalakiyana widiyatanam Pogba & Vidal thamai target 1ka.ath sure naha owwa weida kiyala

Juan Mata wa sella karanawanam nam EPL 1ke rivals lata sell karana 1kak naha keeyatawathPSG wei godak welawata.

mn Barcelona fan knk unath wediyen balenne EPL matches , la liga it is just 3 horse race. Bundesliga den one horse race ekak una . Lewandowski gattain passe. ithin me transfer window eka apitath godak balapanwa entertainment ekata .

 

[Wolverine GTR]

mn Barcelona fan knk unath wediyen balenne EPL matches , la liga it is just 3 horse race. Bundesliga den one horse race ekak una . Lewandowski gattain passe. ithin me transfer window eka apitath godak balapanwa entertainment ekata .

Ow Bundesliga nam one horse race 1kak wenawa bro LEW Bayern join unama.anith Bundesliga teams walata amarui Bayern lata gemak dennaai okkoma hoda playersla Bayern wela neh

meh Window 1ke Draxler Arsenal join wei kiyalath hithenawaAhema unoth 1kath pattama sign 1kakOzil & Draxler niyama combination 1ka

 

[Persius]

Ow Bundesliga nam one horse race 1kak wenawa bro LEW Bayern join unama.anith Bundesliga teams walata amarui Bayern lata gemak dennaai okkoma hoda playersla Bayern wela neh

meh Window 1ke Draxler Arsenal join wei kiyalath hithenawaAhema unoth 1kath pattama sign 1kakOzil & Draxler niyama combination 1ka

Draxler ta den welawa hari EPL ekat enna. eke thiyena competitiveness ekata purudu unama honda thenakat yanna puluwan

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Draxler ta den welawa hari EPL ekat enna. eke thiyena competitiveness ekata purudu unama honda thenakat yanna puluwan

AniwaPattama player kenek

 

[unicornx]

Scouting missions nam godai.Ath thama bids naha

EPL eka godak physical game ekak. eth french league eka ehema naha wadiya. Ai kauruth african playerslawa scout karanne natte dan

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Osasuna 0-2 Real Madrid (agg 0-4): Ronaldo & Di Maria seal cup win

Real Madrid had a goalkeeping howler and a questionable refereeing decision to thank for their 4-0 aggregate Copa del Rey win over Osasuna on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired a 35-yard free kick goalwards in the first half which Andres Fernandez - in a moment of madness - opted to punch, but the ball unexpectedly bounced downwards between his legs and into the net.

The hosts tried to drag themselves back into the cup tie, despite their fate looking all-but-sealed, but their efforts failed to seriously trouble Iker Casillas.

Carlo Ancelotti's men allowed the Rojillos to press early in the second half but killed the game off 11 minutes after the break when Angel Di Maria finished off a swift counterattack, though Xabi Alonso appeared to foul Osasuna's Miguel de las Cuevas in the build-up.

The victory sees Javi Gracia's men eliminated from the Spanish cup, while last year's runners-up Madrid - who had nine men left on the pitch at the end of the game due to Fabio Coentrao's sending off and Alvaro Morata's facial injury - will face Espanyol in the quarter-final stage.

The Blancos started slowly and looked disjointed in the final third, with Jese Rodriguez, Di Maria and Isco failing to put too many passes together.

Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was largely working on his own down the left wing, but was gifted a goal 21 minutes in when Fernandez punched his dipping free kick between his legs and in for the opener.

The hosts refused to lie down and take the defeat and Alvaro Cejudo's free kick kept Casillas on his toes when it dipped on to the roof of the net from 25 yards.

Roberto Torres definitely should then have done better when shooting from 12 yards inside Madrid's box, but his effort was weak and Casillas was able to slowly fall to his left to smother the soft strike.

After the break, the Rojillos persevered for a little while longer but their spirits crumbled with 56 minutes on the clock.

The referee refused to blow for what looked like a foul from Alonso on De las Cuevas, and the visitors counterattacked up the pitch via Jese, who crossed low and firm for Di Maria to thump in low into the bottom corner to seal the result with half an hour still to play.

Osasuna looked completely spent after the second goal and with the game over, Ronaldo was brought off for Bale as Ancelotti freshened things up.

Madrid substitute Casemiro should have made it 3-0 on the night but headed Di Maria's superb corner downwards and wide, while Morata picked up a nasty facial injury after landing on an Osasuna player's shoulder.

Coentrao picked up a deserved second yellow card late on for a poor tackle to reduce the visitors to 10 men and then Ancelotti saw his charges lose another man as Morata was unable to play on due to his injury.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 5-0 Blackburn: Aguero makes goalscoring return in FA Cup rout

Sergio Aguero came off the bench to net on his return from injury to help Manchester City book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating Blackburn 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Rovers had forced a replay after an impressive display at Ewood Park and Manuel Pellegrini's men continued to struggle to break down their stubborn opponents until Alvaro Negredo powered home a header in first-half stoppage time.

That would open the floodgates, with the home side doubling their lead moments after the restart as Negredo dinked the ball over substitute keeper Simon Eastwood after a wonderful pass from Aleksandar Kolarov, before Edin Dzeko got in on the act with a thumping finish.

City had another reason to cheer when Aguero made his long-awaited return from injury, and he took barely 50 seconds to score, swivelling in the box with his first touch before burying the ball with his second to notch his 20th goal of the season.

Dzeko rounded off the scoring with his second goal of the night, once again combining with Navas before stroking the ball beyond Eastwood, taking City's goal tally for the season to 99.

City made eight changes from the side that beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, Negredo, Fernandinho and Dzeko the only players retained, while striker Jordan Rhodes and defender Scott Dann both missed out through injury for Blackburn.

The hosts made the better start to proceedings, Dzeko twice going close to opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes, but Rovers soon managed to gain a foothold in the game and provided frustrating opposition for City, who were largely reduced to long-range efforts in the first half.

However, the hosts would have taken the lead had Negredo or Fernandinho been able to make contact with Navas' low delivery across the face of goal which narrowly evaded a sky blue shirt.

Pellegrini's men finally broke the deadlock just before the interval as Negredo headed home Fernandinho's right-wing cross with a powerful close-range header, a goal which would crush Blackburn's spirited resistance.

Both teams made changes during the interval, Kolarov replacing Fernandinho for City and injured Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson making way for Eastwood.

And Negredo all but ensured City's place in the fourth round within two minutes of the restart, the Spaniard latching on to an excellent pass from Kolarov to lift the ball over Eastwood and net his 16th goal in 12 games at the Etihad Stadium this term.

City took their foot off the gas following that goal and Blackburn could have cut the deficit had substitute Joshua King taken either of two golden opportunities midway through the second half.

Blackburn were made to pay for King's profligacy in the 67th minute, though, as Dzeko lashed home a Navas pull back to further underline City's dominance.

Aguero replaced Negredo five minutes later and made an instant impact as the Argentina striker turned home a lay-off from Dzeko to mark his return from injury in style.

Bosnia international Dzeko concluded the scoring with another superb finish, rifling Navas' low cross past Eastwood at his near post, as City continued their stunning home form to set up a fourth-round tie with Watford.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Negredo & Dzeko pattama form 1kaka inne

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Napoli 3-1 Atalanta: Callejon double sends Partenopei through

Two goals from Jose Callejon saw Napoli beat Atalanta 2-1 on Wednesday and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.

The Partenopei went into the game as favourites, with the visitors just five points above the relegation zone in Serie A, and Rafa Benitez's men ensured there was no cup shock at San Paolo.

However, the home side got off to the worst possible start, as Atalanta took the lead on 14 minutes when Giuseppe De Luca side-footed home from close range at the end of a counterattack.

But their lead was to last just 60 seconds. A left-wing cross from Anthony Reveillere found Callejon at the back post and the former Real Madrid man struck a wonderful volley back across goal and into the far corner.

The game remained level at the half-time interval and Napoli had to wait until the final 20 minutes before taking the lead for the first time on the night.

Lorenzo Insigne was the man who got the goal, with the Italy international firing home on 72 minutes after Gonzalo Higuain's floated pass was deflected into his path by Cristiano Del Grosso, as the defender appealed for offside.

Atalanta players surrounded officials to register their protests over the decision of the linesman not to raise his flag for offside, but the goal stood, and eight minutes later Benitez's men made absolutely sure of the win.

Gokhan Inler played in Callejon with a ball over the top of the back four and the Spaniard lashed the ball home to complete a 3-1 win and send Napoli into the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 3-1 Spezia: Honda opens account in Coppa Italia cruise

AC Milan cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Spezia.

Robinho opened the scoring before Giampaolo Pazzini and Keisuke Honda, both on their first starts this season in Rossoneri colours, added to the scoreline before Nicola Ferrari got a consolation for the visitors.

The Serie A outfit have struggled this season but there was no evidence of this on Wednesday as they brushed aside an inferior Spezia.

With Massimilano Allegri sacked on Monday and incoming coach Clarence Seedorf not on the bench, it was left to Mauro Tassotti to oversee the comfortable victory.

Philippe Mexes attempted a long-range effort that drifted narrowly over the bar early on as Milan got used to life after Allegri. That effort set the tone for the game with the Rossoneri looking comfortable against the Serie B outfit.

Pazzini was keen to make an impact having been afforded a rare starting opportunity for Milan after undergoing knee surgery to his right knee at the end of last season.

The striker was heavily involved in proceedings and could have put the Rossoneri ahead early during the first half, but perhaps still a bit rusty from the lengthy lay-off he wasted a couple of chances that fell to him.

However, the attacker then provided Robinho with an opportunity to score and the Brazilian made no mistake, diving low to head Milan in front.

The Rossoneri doubled their lead minutes later as Pazzini made amends for his earlier missed opportunities, showing his instinctive prowess to let the ball drop over his shoulder before firing a well-timed volley beyond Juventus-owned Nicola Leali in Spezia's goal.

Spezia came close to halving the deficit, however, when Riccardo Montolivo had to react to clear Andrea Bovo's goal-bound header off the line shortly before half-time.

But it was Milan who further extended the lead when Honda took advantage by following up from Montolivo's effort, which squirmed out of the clutches of Leali.

The hosts had further chances to extend the lead through Pazzini, who should have had a hat-trick, but it was Spezia who grabbed a late consolation when Ferrari took advantage of Christian Abbiati's parried save.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Madrid getting better & better - Jese

Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez believes the side are getting better with every game this season following their 2-0 dismantling of Osasuna on Wednesday.

Angel Di Maria completed the 4-0 aggregate Copa del Rey victory, after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a freak opener which was punched into the net by goalkeeper Andres Fernandez as he made a terrible mess of a long-range free-kick from the Portugal captain.

Jese, who started up front ahead of Karim Benzema for Carlo Ancelotti's men in the cup tie, was thrilled that the team avoided slipping up in the second leg and hopes they can continue with their improvement in 2013-14.

"It was a good game that ended with our goal of winning and I am very happy with the team's victory," the 20-year-old told reporters.

"Osasuna had the advantage of playing the second leg at home, but we've been great in both games. I'm training well and want to help out wherever I can.

"I can see the team's getting better, we are having a great time. The team can give much more in the future. I'm sure we will play better games and we must do so."

The victories at the Santiago Bernabeu and Pamplona have seen los Blancos qualify for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they will face Espanyol.