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Five massive improvements under Rodgers at Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers took the reigns in June 2012 of a Liverpool side that finish 8th in the Premier League.

The 40-year spent most of last season introducing himself and his ideas at the club and on the team and, in many ways, undoing the damage done by his predecessors at Anfield. Liverpool finished 7^th last term – a one-place improvement on their 2011/12 position and with 9 more points on the board as well but this season the Reds have really emerged as a Premier League superpower once again.

SEE ALSO: Giving the armband to Suarez an example of great man management from Rodgers

Signings

Rodgers’ biggest task was largely undoing the mistakes made by Kenny Dalglish who, even though a Liverpool legend, made a number of costly errors in judgment – most prominently in the transfer market.
Dalglish brought in top striker Luis Suarez, of course, for £23 million from Ajax but that was somewhat overshadowed at the time by the wasteful signings of Andy Carroll,  Stewart Downing, and Charlie Adam (amongst others) for a cost as a foursome of £73.5 million and have all since been sold by Rodgers for a combined return of just £37.5 million which is very nearly half the price they were collective bought for.

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Positive Injury Update On Laurent Koscielny

There are positive reports coming out of France suggesting that Laurent Koscielny could be back in time to face West Ham on Boxing Day.
Kos was forced off just before half time during our 6-3 loss to Manchester City after receiving a nasty cut across his kneecap when he tried to prevent Alvaro Negredo putting the hosts 2-1 ahead.
The defender later posted a graphic image of the cut and many were fearing he could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

However, L’equipe are reporting that the French international will be out for just 10-15 days – depending on how quickly the cut heels – after he needed 10 stitches to close up the wound.

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Moyes: Welbeck must emulate Rooney

Welbeck  

 

David Moyes expects Danny Welbeck to push on from his performance at Aston Villa on Sunday and put together a more consistent goalscoring run throughout the remainder of the campaign.
The 23-year-old scored his second brace of the season at Villa Park over the weekend to take his league tally to four, an already huge improvement on his total of one from last season which shows that he has recaptured some of his goalscoring touch.

Injuries have curtailed his progress so far this season but he emphatically bounced back against Villa and Moyes wants Welbeck to use that as a springboard for the rest of the season.
Moyes said: ”He’s a good player and his goals will help him.
“He’s important to me and hopefully he can get a level of performance which keeps getting him goals.

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David Moyes sends a warning to Nemanja Vidic

Vidic

Published on December 18th, 2013 | by Matt Turner

Nemanja Vidic has been told by David Moyes that he must fight to regain his place in Manchester United’s starting XI following an injury he picked up in the 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle.
The United captain has missed back-to-back wins against Shakhtar Donetsk and Aston Villa respectively in games that have also seen the team keep successive clean sheets for only the second time this season.

Jonny Evans played alongside Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones in those games and the Northern Ireland star is expected to remain in Moyes’ starting line-up for the foreseeable future, something Moyes wants Vidic to take on board.

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Sam Allardyce warns Tim Westwood: Don't do it!

SAM ALLARDYCE has warned Tottenham caretaker boss Tim Sherwood he would be crazy to go into football management.

LOVE-HATE JOB: Sam Allardyce warns Tim Sherwood of the pitfalls but admits it gets in your blood [GETTY]

“If you’re in a good job, why leave it to be a manager?”

Sam Allardyce

Sherwood was the club’s technical co-ordinator. He takes charge for the first time since Andre Villas-Boas was sacked on Monday when West Ham visit White Hart Lane tonight in the Capital One Cup.
But under-pressure Allardyce ­wonders why anyone would want to be a manager with the threat of the sack always hanging over you.

The Hammers boss said: “If you’re in a good job, why leave it to be a manager?

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AC Milan legend Gennaro Gattuso accused of match-fixing

FORMER Italy and AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is being investigated on suspicion of match-fixing.

Gattuso strongly denies any wrong-doing [GETTY]

Ex-Lazio midfielder Cristian Brocchi is also included in the investigation.
Both face allegations they were involved in a betting ring that fixed Serie A and other Italian games in the 2010-11 campaign.

Gattuso said: "I'm angry and offended. I want to clear everything up so I don't have a stain on my career. If something was proven I would be willing to go out into the street and, I know this is a strong thing to say, I'd kill myself."

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Ghana star Samuel Inkoom attracting Premiership interest

GHANA defender Samuel Inkoom claims Crystal Palace and Norwich want to sign him.

Inkoom looks set for a move to a top-flight English side [GETTY]

Inkoom, 24, wants to quit Ukrainian side Dnipro in January and said: "There is strong interest and we have begun negotiations with Norwich and Palace."

Jonny Howson, meanwhile, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Norwich.

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Emmanuel Adebayor brought in from cold by Tottenham for Capital One Cup clash with West Ham

Out-of-favour forward may start tie against Hammers whose manager Sam Allardyce says Tim Sherwood is ‘crazy’ to step up as Spurs boss

Better times: Emmanuel Adebayor played only 45 minutes for Tottenham this season while Andre Villas-Boas was in charge  Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Jeremy Wilson and Matt Law

11:00PM GMT 17 Dec 2013

4 Comments

 

Tim Sherwood wants to reintegrate Emmanuel Adebayor into the Tottenham Hotspur squad and may even start the Togo forward in the Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham United on Wednesday night.

Adebayor played only 45 minutes for Tottenham this season while Andre Villas-Boas was in charge but the forward is expected to be part of Sherwood’s first squad as interim head coach and is in serious contention to face Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Kevin Phillips to discover Crystal Palace fate

KEVIN PHILLIPS will hold crunch talks with Tony Pulis to discover if he has a Crystal Palace future.

Phillips' future at Palace under Tony Pulis looks unclear [GETTY]

Phillips has played just 80 minutes in the Premier League this season and has yet to figure since Pulis took over last month.
Pulis said: "I will speak to Kev and see where we are when the transfer window opens."

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Jose Mourinho ready to change Chelsea style after missed chances end with Capital One Cup exit at Sunderland

Manager giving serious thought to switch to counter-attacking tactics after team let slip tie that seemed well within their grasp

Cover-up: Jose Mourinho cannot bear to watch as Chelsea go out of the Capital One Cup at Sunderland Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Alex Davidson

12:58AM GMT 18 Dec 2013

2 Comments

Jose Mourinho cursed his Chelsea side’s lack of ruthlessness after they again showed their fragility away from home in losing 2-1 at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.

Chelsea were dominant at the Stadium of Light but still found themselves exiting a cup competition that seemed well within their grasp.

Now Mourinho is threatening to change the style of his team and become more attritional after his side’s repeated failure to turn possession into victories.

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Rumour Mill: Manchester United linked to everyone, Jose's jolly blue giant and Swansea or NYC?

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Sunderland send Chelsea crashing out of Capital One Cup

News

6 Hours Ago    0:59

WITH Manchester United being linked with pretty much everyone and Chelsea chasing giants, Rumour Mill asks would you prefer Swansea or New York?

MORE FOR MOYES
If you see David Moyes doing his Christmas shopping, he probably has a list the size of the Dead Sea Scrolls and spends hours flicking from shelf to shelf trying to decide what to buy. Manchester United is being linked with practically every player to kick a ball at the moment - but AC Milan defender Cristian Zapata says he knows nothing about it.
United assistant coach Phil Neville recently flew to Italy to watch the Colombia international, according to The Mirror, as potential back-up for the creaking Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. But Zapata is the very image of a poker face: "I do not know anything it," he told Italian TV. "I am just thinking about Milan."

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Football's 2013 headline moments

News

Yesterday    4:18

Moyes might have more luck with Borussia Dortmund's attacking midfielder Marco Reus, according to The Daily Mail, which says with some confidence that the $55m-rated German is unhappy with Dortmund's recent loss of form under hipster coach Jurgen Klopp.

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Liverpool Will Win the Champions League Before Manchester United

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Alex Livesey/Getty Images

For far too long, Liverpool supporters have had to make do with merely the chase of the Champions League, rather than actually competing in it.

Britain's most successful club on the European stage, Liverpool most recently won ol' big ears back in 2005, but for almost half a decade thereafter were one of the most consistent and feared clubs around the Continent.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

With the likes of Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard at the top of their game, the Reds travelled under Rafa Benitez to the likes of the San Siro, the Santiago Bernabeu and the Camp Nou—and conquered them all.
Those times have passed, though, and now Liverpool have much work to do to take their place among those heady names once more.

In 2013-14, Brendan Rodgers has led his side to second place in the Premier League at almost the halfway stage; another 22 games at the same level of consistency and intensity, and perhaps the fanbase can finally rest easy in the knowledge that its side will be competing at the top level again next term.

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Wasteful Chelsea Pay the Ultimate Price Against Sunderland in Capital One Cup

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

The headlines were written and Chelsea were marching on into the semi-final of the Capital One Cup on the back of yet another landmark goal from Frank Lampard.

Then Fabio Borini ripped up the script with his 89th-minute equalizer to send the game into extra time, where Ki Sung-Yueng scored another for Sunderland at the death to make it 2-1 and cause a major upset by dumping Chelsea out in the process.
For all their dominance during regulation time, even Jose Mourinho appeared at a loss when it came to explaining how his team finished up on the losing side.
Yet the significance of defeat wasn't lost on the Portuguese, who knows his team simply cannot continue to dominate matches without making their superiority count.
It's a problem that has haunted the Blues for much of 2013-14 and so it proved true once more at the Stadium of Light.

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Swansea winger Nathan Dyer seeks specialist help

NATHAN DYER will consult a specialist after suffering ankle ligament damage during Swansea's 1-1 draw with Norwich on Sunday.

Dyer is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Norwich [JED LEICESTER/ACTION IMAGES]

Dyer has ruptured a lateral ligament as well as damaging two more ligaments and he will wait for the swelling to go down before visiting a specialist this week.

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Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1: Blues sent packing by fearsome Black Cats

SOUTH KOREAN Sung-Yueng Ki sent Chelsea crashing out of the Cup with a brilliant winner in the dying minutes of extra-time last night.

Ki proved to be Sunderland's hero as he scored the winner against a tepid Chelsea side [REUTERS]

Ki cut inside the penalty box and delivered an accomplished finish for his first ever Sunderland goal to cap a stunning comeback for the Wearside club.

Fabio Borini, on loan from Liverpool, had equalised two minutes from the end of normal time, making no mistake from a tight angle to send the game into a thrilling final 30 minutes.

But he had a chance to settle the tie earlier, a brilliant challenge by Gary Cahill robbed him just yards from a glaring goalmouth.

Chelsea had clung on desperately to a 1-0 lead gifted to them by a Lee Cattermole own-goal in the first minute of the second half.

Incredibly, it was the sixth time a Sunderland player has scored an own-goal this season.

New goal-line technology, which was introduced this week for the first time in domestic cup football, rubber-stamped Cattermole’s goal and, although Jose Mourinho’s side were well below par in the first half, after the break they missed several glaring chances to extend their lead.

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Coventry 2 - Hartlepool 1: Super Leon Clarke at double

A DOUBLE strike from Coventry’s Leon Clarke set up a third round date with Danny Wilson’s Barnsley.

SMOOTH: Clarke is a superb striker but City boss says it was a team game [GETTY]

Clarke pounced in the third minute of stoppage time to break ­Hartlepool’s hearts.

It had looked as if Jack Baldwin’s late header would send the tie into extra-time as he bulleted the ball home following a Matty Dolan corner kick after 88 minutes.

But the prolific Clarke had other ideas with his 14th goal of the season, pouncing on a loose ball after a fierce shot from outside the box by Cyrus Christie. Clarke’s 13th goal of the season had come when he broke the deadlock with a cool finish nine minutes before the break.

City boss Steven Pressley said: “Leon Clarke is a striker of phenomenal quality at this level.

“He’s scored two excellent goals for us tonight but we know that football is a team effort.”

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Mansfield 1 - Oldham 4: Late goals make victory even sweeter

FOUR second-half goals earned League One Oldham a money-spinning third round trip to Liverpool.

NO CONTEST: Jamie McGuire of Mansfield holds off pressure from Jonson Clarke-Harris [GETTY]

Trailing to Ross Dyer’s 12th-minute header, Latics winger Danny Philliskirk curled home from 22 yards after 57 minutes to level.

Then Jonson Clarke-Harris drilled home a second five minutes later.

Second-half substitute Matteo Lanzoni nodded in Philliskirk’s corner after 76 minutes to make it 3-1 and virtually put the tie beyond doubt.

The final nail for the Stags came when skipper John Dempster handled in the area and was sent off with 10 minutes left.

Adam Rooney converted the spot-kick.

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Beckenbauer: Bayern is on another level

Der Kaiser lavished praise on the Bavarians after they moved to within a victory of their fifth title of 2013 thanks to goals from Franck Ribery, Mario Mandzukic and Mario Gotze.

Franz Beckenbauer claimed Bayern Munich is currently on "another footballing level" after watching the European champion seal its place in the final of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday.

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Liverpool opens record contract talks with Suarez

Managing director Ian Ayre has held the first meeting with the Uruguayan's agent in Barcelona and hopes to ward off interest from Europe's top clubs with a new big-money deal.

Liverpool has made the first step in its bid to tie Luis Suarez down to a club-record contract.

Managing director Ian Ayre flew to Barcelona to hold talks with Suarez's agent, Pere Guardiola, on Tuesday and, although he did not offer a new deal, the meeting signals the Reds' intent to avoid another protracted summer saga.

It is understood that the club is prepared to pay its star forward more than 130,000 pounds (154,000 euros) per week to stay at Anfield for the long-term.

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Mourinho admits Chelsea may need to change approach

The Portuguese admits that he may need to rethink his side's playing style after, once again, it dominated proceedings at the Stadium of Light yet ended up losing.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admits that he may need to revisit his side's approach to matches after it was dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Sunderland.

The Blues were largely in control of their quarterfinal tie on Tuesday but could not build on Lee Cattermole's own goal despite numerous chances falling to the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba.

Mourinho's men were then made to pay as Fabio Borini levelled the tie deep into the second half before fellow substitute Ki Sung-Yueng popped up to send the Black Cats into the semifinals just before penalties.

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Manchester City striker Aguero could miss Barcelona clash with calf injury

The Argentina international would face a race against time to be fit to face the Spanish champions if his coach's fears that he will miss eight weeks are realized.

Sergio Aguero could miss Manchester City's Champions League last-16 clash with Barcelona with a calf injury.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini confirmed following his side's 3-1 win against Leicester City in the Capital One Cup that the striker will be out of action for around eight weeks, having limped out of the 6-3 win over Arsenal on Saturday after just 50 minutes.

Pellegrini revealed on Monday that his star striker would miss "at least one month", pending the verdict of club doctors, and the Chilean now believes that it could be as many as two months.

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Manchester United must sell players before buying in January due to rules

Transfers

Manchester United will be forced to sell players in order to be allowed to bring new ones into the squad due to the Premier League’s 25 man squad limit.

Ben Amos is currently returning from his loan spell on January 1 but if he was to have his loan extended until the end of the season, it would free up a spot for an arrival.

Other than Amos, the squad is made up of players who have all featured for United this season in some capacity and Moyes would have to make a swift decision on who to potentially show the exit door to in order to free up a space or two in the squad list.
Here is the squad list in full and those in bold are ones that could realistically leave in January to free up space.

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Examining Marouane Fellaini's Impact at Manchester United

David Ramos/Getty Images

Marouane Fellaini’s £27.5 million move from Everton to Manchester United was the only tangible result of the Red Devils' unhappy transfer window. Now, three-and-a-half months after the move, Bleacher Report review the Belgian’s impact at Old Trafford.

As in my recent article examining Samuel Eto’o’s impact at Chelsea, I am going to evaluate this move considering the team’s requirement before the transfer, the expectations that accompanied the midfielder to Manchester and the player’s performance since the move.

Requirement
The debate has raged as to what kind of midfielder Manchester United required (and potentially require still). The general opinion during the summer was certainly that someone or something was needed, but there was little consensus as to what exactly that something was.
With United likely to field two wide players, Robin van Persie and then Wayne Rooney behind him, only two midfield spots are there to be influenced by David Moyes.

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David Moyes proves a point to Wilfried Zaha

Zaha

Wilfried Zaha has had to bide his time patiently and professionally so far at Manchester United where he will have no doubt been frustrated at the lack of game time.

The 20-year-old showed such incredible potential in pre-season but David Moyes chose not to play him hardly at all, instead choosing to let him continue to work hard on training to improve himself
Silly rumours started to surface about why Zaha wasn’t playing but Moyes reiterated on more than one occasion that his absence from the first team had nothing to do with the lad himself and more to do with the competition for spaces in the squad.

He also repeated that he would use Zaha when he felt he was ready, and Moyes has now come through on that promise.

Two consecutive substitute appearances have given Zaha his Premier League debut where he was understandably nervous but that hurdle has now been passed. He has now completed the jump to top flight football.

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Adebayor in from the cold as Sherwood looks to give striker new lease of life

Tim Sherwood will give striker Emmanuel Adebayor another chance at Tottenham after he was frozen out by sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas. 

It is understood the striker is in the squad for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham.

It is a significant call from Sherwood given Villas-Boas’s fractious relationship with Adebayor, who has made just one substitute appearance all season in the 6-0 defeat at Manchester City.

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Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1: Ki Sung-Yueng is Black Cats main man

Ki SUNG-YUENG scored a dramatic extra-time winner to send the Black Cats into the semi-final.

WINNER: Man of the moment Ki Sung-Yueng fired Sunderland into the semis [GETTY]

“It seems Poyet's players find it easier to score against themselves than the opposition”

Sunderland’s Fabio Borini had taken the match into the extra ­period with a strike just two ­minutes from the end.

The striker on loan from Liverpool scored from a tight angle on the ­rebound in the 88th minute, after Chelsea keeper Mark Schwarzer had got his hand to a Jozy Altidore shot.
And with the game heading to penalties, substitute Ki swept home the winner in the 118th minute to knock out the Blues.

Earlier, the home side’s own goal curse had struck again.
The Black Cats had restricted Jose Mourinho’s men to a handful of half-chances in the first half.
But just 39 seconds into the ­restart, a combination of Frank Lampard, goal-line technology and Sunderland’s suicidal tendencies conspired against them.

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Deulofeu out for up to five weeks

Everton manager Roberto Martinez does not expect to have on-loan Barcelona forward Gerard Deulofeu available again until late January.

Deulofeu blow for Everton
World Cup beckons for Barkley

Scans on the hamstring injury the teenager sustained in last weekend's 4-1 win over Fulham suggest the forward will be out for up to five weeks.

On Monday the club confirmed the 19-year-old would be sidelined for some time but Martinez has been more specific on the timeframe to get Deulofeu back.

"It was confirmed that Gerard has suffered a soft tissue injury in his right hamstring," the Toffees boss said.

"Obviously we now need to make sure he recovers well. We don't think he's going to be out for too long, probably the best part of five weeks.

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Revealed - Why striker is desperate to join Arsenal

Antonio Sanabria reason for wanting out at Barcelona appears clear.

Paraguayan strike sensation Antonio Sanabria remains poised to join Arsenal, with his agent shedding light on the deal over the weekend.

His agent Raul Verdu told The Mirror: "His agent Raul Verdu said: “Our contacts with Arsenal are advanced and I expect a solution in the next week.”
A compensation fee in the region of €3 million is expected, with the Gunners ready to get their hands on one of the world's most highly rated young strikers.

Sanabria made his full international debut for Paraguay earlier this season - now having three caps, but wants out of Barcelona.

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Revealed - Glenn Hoddle's Tottenham formation and preferred XI

Glenn Hoddle is linked with a Tottenham return, so what would fans make of this?

'Bring back Hoddle' is one of the more interesting ideas being talked about at Tottenham at present.

SEE ALSO: Foul Mouth: Harry Redknapp should come back to Tottenham... No he shouldn't!

Entirely discounting how his managerial career has sunk into oblivion after leaving Tottenham, via a failed spell at Wolves - the former England boss represents something of an emblematic symbol.

Romanticising perhaps with his dazzling displays as a player at the club, Hoddle in at Spurs would present a major shift in footballing philosophy.

Forget the drab safety first football served up by Andre Villas-Boas, Hoddle won't be as attack minded as Ossie Ardiles, far from it - but his approach is radical enough to make it look like it in comparison to AVB.

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The amazing €18m midfielder Arsenal can sign for free

Arsenal could solve their long-term defensive midfield questions with a signing from PSG this summer.

Arsene Wenger clearly enjoyed answering his critics with a £42 million signing of Mesut Ozil in the summer, but the Frenchman loves a bargain even more.
It's hard to believe he didn't gain even more satisfaction from Mathieu Flamini's success, a player he re-signed on a free even though he admits he was reluctant to do so.

Flamini is 29, and probably still can't be considered the long-term answer for Arsenal in defensive midfield also bearing in mind his injury history, even if he could be part of it.

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Personal call from Drake convinced Defoe to quit Spurs for Toronto FC

Canadian Rap star Drake has helped Toronto FC land Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.
The Mirror says Defoe was persuaded to join Toronto - after a phone call from Drake.

The Canadian rapper has been recruited by Toronto FC for an ambassadorial role, and rang Tottenham striker Defoe to try and talk him into moving to his hometown Major League Soccer team.
Defoe, 31, is a huge fan of Drake - who is massively popular among footballers - and was blown away that he made personal contact, according to sources in Toronto.

The 31-year-old has been offered a deal worth £90,000-a-week, while Toronto will also pay for unlimited flights for him and his family and provide him with two houses.

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FA Charge the Latest Predicament for Troubled Wilshere

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

These have been a troubling 10 weeks for Jack Wilshere.

At odds with his body, his beliefs and his behaviour, the Arsenal midfielder has looked, at times, as if he might hurtle himself over the edge—rebellious, wild and out of control.

Tuesday’s Football Association charge, levied against him for what English football's organizational body termed "an offensive and/or insulting and/or abusive gesture," was just the latest episode in what has become a self-destructive series of actions and words—a disconcertingly predictable pattern that was well-established before he raised his middle finger to the Manchester City supporters at Etihad Stadium.

But it was also a warning from the high authorities that, unless triaged, Wilshere's conduct could become even more disturbing, and neither he nor Arsenal should be wanting that.

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Danny Welbeck needs to train the hardest, says David Moyes

DAVID MOYES has ordered Danny Welbeck to stay behind and do extra training in a bid to improve his game.

KEEP UP: Moyes wants Welbeck to up his game and train to his maximum potential [GETTY]

“I think he'll definitely go to the World Cup because you can play him like a modern-day wide striker”

David Moyes

The Manchester United and England striker is back in favour at Old Trafford following Robin van Persie's thigh injury.
Welbeck scored twice in United's 3-0 Premier League win at Aston Villa last Sunday and is expected to be crucial to Moyes' plans over the festive period.

But the United boss has revealed he's told Welbeck to put in extra work on the training ground.
Moyes wants Welbeck to take a leaf out of Wayne Rooney's book.

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On-loan Chelsea star unfazed by Champions League draw

Thibaut Courtois has no intentions of allowing AC Milan’s tradition to overcome Atletico Madrid’s ambitions.

The Colchoneros have been drawn alongside the seven-time European champions for the Champions League round of 16, to which the Spanish capital outfit progressed in cracking fashion even after the blockbuster sale of Radamel Falcao.

SEE ALSO: Mario Balotelli's boots are headline news!

Courtois has continued to convert promise into results between the pipes in his third season on loan at the Vicente Calderon from Chelsea, where he’s found his path to first team football blocked by the talismanic figure of Petr Cech.

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Januzaj backs Moyes to succeed

Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj is convinced David Moyes will bring trophies to Old Trafford.

It has been a tough baptism for Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, with a string of disappointing results sending the Red Devils spinning down the Premier League.
A 3-0 win at Aston Villa did suggest a brighter future, although Moyes is mindful his side has gained similarly encouraging results before, only to immediately lose its momentum.

However, Januzaj, one of the players upon whom the 'new' United must be built, feels Moyes will continue with the club's trophy-winning traditions.
"He will win trophies," the winger told MUTV.
"Don't forget, it is a new coach. Everything is new.
"You have to gave it time.

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Martino aware of Man City threat

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino will keep one nervous eye on Manchester City's exploits over the coming months after the clubs were drawn against each other in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

 

 

City was among the teams to avoid for those finishing first in their groups and Group H winner Barca arguably drew the short straw at a ceremony held in Nyon.

The Catalan giant is leading the Primera Division and scoring freely despite the absence of star striker Lionel Messi but Manuel Pellegrini's side is in particularly formidable form in the Premier League having recently put seven goals past Norwich City, six past Tottenham Hotspur and six past Arsenal.

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Wilshere waits on FA decision

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere must continue to wait to discover if he will be charged with misconduct by the Football Association for an abusive hand gesture towards Manchester City supporters which could see him eventually hit with a one-match ban.

Television cameras picked up Wilshere raising his middle finger in the direction of home fans at the Etihad Stadium during the second half of his side's 6-3 defeat for the Premier League leader.

After the submission of observations from referee Martin Atkinson and his officials, Press Association Sport understands the governing body is gathering more evidence to help with the context of the situation and under its disciplinary procedures has until 6pm on Tuesday (local time) to lodge any formal charge against the player.

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Fletcher reveals operation fears

Back in action ... Darren Fletcher (Getty Images)

Darren Fletcher has revealed when he went for the last of his three operations to solve his debilitating medical condition, he did not even know whether he would be able to live normally again, let alone play football.

For two years, Fletcher had battled to overcome ulcerative colitis, an extreme condition affecting the colon.
The Manchester United midfielder had already taken two breaks from the game in the hope of finding a way of managing the condition.
Nothing was working.
"I couldn't leave the house," he said.

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Rumour Mill: Chelsea eye Draxler and Hulk, Reds to go Greek

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Tottenham Hotspur sack Andre Villas-Boas

LIKE a Hollywood sci-fi film, Andre Villas-Boas's sacking could alter the course of history. Players that were destined for one club could now find themselves somewhere completely different. This mind-bending madness that could only be the Rumour Mill. 

ALL JOSE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS
German wunderkind Julian Draxler. The Schalke attacking midfielder has been attracting all kinds of admiring glances and flattery from the Premier League's big guns recently, and TalkSport reports that Chelsea is leading the chase, offering a big bag of cash with out-of-favour Kevin de Bruyne stuffed in there for good measure.

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Where did it all go wrong for Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham in the Premier League?

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Tottenham Hotspur sack Andre Villas-Boas

News

Yesterday    5:19

THE blame game can now begin in earnest.

For some, Andre Villas-Boas is responsible for failing to get $190 million worth of talent to gel at White Hart Lane after the Portuguese manager's contract was torn-up in the wake of Tottenham's 5-0 home humiliation at the hands of Liverpool.

For others, the decision by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to part company with his manager less than 24-hours after their latest drubbing represents a knee-jerk reaction.
After all, how can Villas-Boas have been expected to create a finely-oiled machine following the departure of his matchwinner Gareth Bale and the arrival of eight foreign players new to the Barclays Premier League in such a short period of time?

If the writing was not already on the wall for Villas-Boas following the capitulation against Liverpool, then it certainly was when he decided to rope Levy and technical director Franco Baldini into the mess.

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Iheanacho quits Eagles for Man City

Golden Eaglets striker, Kelechi Iheanacho
| credits: File copy

Golden Eaglets forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, is set to join English Premier League side, Manchester City. The player left having been released on Monday from the Super Eagles camp in Abuja by Stephen Keshi. Iheanacho was in camp for the Championship of African Nations billed for South Africa in January.

A statement from the Eagles Media officer, Ben Alaiya, on Monday confirmed Iheanacho’s departure for England. The PUNCH however could not get a confirmation from City of any such move as at Monday night.

The youngster was the Most Valuable Player at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The competition was won by Nigeria after defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final match.

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Tottenham Hotspur sack Andre Villas-Boas by the club following poor run of results

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas sacked by the club following poor run of results

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Yesterday    5:19

TOTTENHAM have sacked head coach Andre Villas-Boas after less than 18 months in charge following Sunday's 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool. 

The Premier League defeat to the Reds appeared to have been the final straw for the White Hart Lane board, coming just three weeks after the 6-0 thumping by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
A Spurs statement said: "The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services.

"The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties."
The club later revealed technical co-ordinator Tim Sherwood and Spurs U21 coaching team of Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand would take charge of the first team ahead of the Carling Cup quarter-final visit of West Ham on Wednesday night.

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Manchester City lose top scorer Sergio Aguero to injury 'for at least a month'

Aguero is City's top scorer with his strong recent form helping them to fourth place. Source: AP

MANCHESTER City's Barclays Premier League title challenge has been dealt a blow with top scorer Sergio Aguero out for "at least one month'' through injury.

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EPL round 16 wrap

Round highlights

December 15, 2013    11:53

The 25-year-old Argentina striker has been in stunning form of late, scoring 12 goals in his last 11 games to take the 2012 champions to within three points of league leaders Arsenal.
However, after opening the scoring in Saturday's 6-3 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, he had to come off in the 49th minute with a calf problem.

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Former coach Glenn Hoddle joins Fabio Capello and Guus Hiddink on list to take over at Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur sack Andre Villas-Boas

News

Yesterday    5:19

Tottenham sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas on Monday in the wake of their 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool less than 24 hours earlier.

The former Chelsea boss had been in charge at White Hart Lane for just 18 months and becomes the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season.
The spotlight will now switch to who Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will turn to as the Portuguese's replacement - here are some of the likely candidates.
FABIO CAPELLO
The veteran Italian was at White Hart Lane on Sunday and his long-time right-hand man Franco Baldini is the club's technical director. Capello is currently the coach of Russia and has a World Cup ahead, but may fancy a return to club management and a shot at the Premier League.
FRANCO BALDINI

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Did Gianfranco Zola Leave Watford for a Potential EPL Job Opening?

Getty Images/Getty Images

On Monday, a day that followed a weekend where two English Premier League managers lost their jobs, former Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola resigned as the manager of Championship club Watford.

The Hornets were one of the main contenders for promotion last season, but they fell to Crystal Palace in the play-off final in extra time to deny them a trip to the EPL.

This season, Watford are in the middle of a terrible spell of form, as they have failed to win their last nine matches.

Thanks to that brutal form, the Hornets have dropped down to 13th place, which in its own right would be enough reason for Zola to leave the club.

However, the resignation of the Italian shocked many fans, and it fueled speculation that the 47-year-old would jump up to the EPL with West Bromwich Albion.

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Spurs sack Villas-Boas after Liv

Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur after 17 months in the role, the English Premier League club announced on Monday.
The news arrived a day after Spurs were thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool at White Hart Lane, which left the north London club five points below the Champions League places in seventh in the Premier League table.

"The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services," read a statement on the Tottenham website.
"The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties. We wish Andre well for the future. We shall make a further announcement in due course."

Villas-Boas, 36, had also seen his side demolished 6-0 at Manchester City last month, despite Spurs having invested around STG105 million ($A192.59 million) on new players during the close season.
That expenditure was, however, offset by the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, but Spurs have scored just 15 goals in their 16 league games this season since the Welshman left the club.

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MAN UNITED TRANSFER WINDOW: Reus and Herrera on radar in Moyes' big spree

 

As Premier League chiefs prepare to fling open the January transfer window, Sportsmail takes a look at each top-flight club and assesses the business they are each likely to do in the post-Christmas sales.

After missing out on a number of summer targets, David Moyes will surely be looking to strengthen his squad in January. The new United boss will be looking for some attacking threat from midfield as summer signing Marouane Fellaini continues to flop.

 

What do they need?
United’s scouts around the globe have been ordered to look for ‘world-class players in every position’, such is the level of concern over the current squad.
Midfield is screaming out for new blood and has been for too long now, but United know they are simply not good enough all over the pitch.

Sir Alex Ferguson knew it too when he waltzed off into retirement, even though he will never admit it.How much business will get done in January still remains to be seen, however.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch David Moyes discuss Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United

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Edin Dzeko Transfer Rumours: Latest News on the Manchester City Star

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The triumphant moments have been few and far between for Dzeko this season at Manchester City.
Stu Forster/Getty ImagesEdin Dzeko is living proof that a football team can never have enough strikers.Manchester City have played 16 Premier League games thus far. Dzeko has started only five of them. Perhaps more disconcerting for the big Bosnian is that he has made only five appearances as a substitute.

In that limited playing time, Dzeko has managed only three Premier League goals. To put that in perspective, David Silva has scored four goals in just eight starts.

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£32m Arsenal target is 'money well spent' - chairman

Arsenal linked Gonzalo Higuain is proving the doubters wrong at Napoli.

If Gonzalo Higuain was available for transfer this January, surely Arsenal would have to make a bid.
They came close to doing so in the summer, it was widely reported they had made an offer for the Argentine in an effort to snap him up from Real Madrid.

While they signed his more expensive teammate instead in Mesut Ozil, their flogging of Olivier Giroud - their only credible striker - is reaping predictable results.
Napoli were the team that took the plunge on Higuain, and if Arsenal did have doubts over how much the striker was worth, they certainly did not.

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Man Utd fullback Rafael urges Moyes to play Welbeck as central striker

Rafael hopes Manchester United boss David Moyes continues to play Danny Welbeck as a central striker.
Welbeck scored twice in victory at Aston Villa on Sunday.
"Danny has the ability to score. In some games he just wasn't quite in the right place but I wish he hadn't scored because I would have got the assist!" Rafael told MUTV. "But it's a good thing he's back among the goals.
"I think that is the best position he plays in, in my opinion. He plays well there. He runs a lot behind the defenders, and I hope he can keep playing the same there."
 

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Man Utd boss Moyes prepares for record-breaking January market campaign

Manchester United boss David Moyes has hinted at one of the biggest January market campaigns in the club's history.

The Scotsman wants big names and bright young things.
"I want players going forward and not just for the next six months.\

"If I can get someone to be with us for the next six or seven years I want to bring them in as soon as I can.
"But a lot of [potential targets] may well be at clubs in the Champions League or at clubs who are not willing to sell because they may be in a good league position at this moment in time."

Worried about World Cup accommodation prices? Then check out the Favela Experience - the answer to your problems!

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be back in England very soon

Solskjaer

Published on December 17th, 2013 | by samp

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been put down as a contender for the job at West Bromwich Albion following the sacking of Steve Clarke.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Solskjaer delayed contract talks with Molde over a contract extension to consider his options in the future and now that the West Brom job is available, his name has been thrown into the mix.

As a player, his talent was unquestionable and so far in his short managerial career, Solskjaer has enjoyed geat success.

He previously helped Manchester United’s Academy to the FA Youth Cup and in three years as manager of Molde, he delivered their first Norwegian league title, backed it up with a second one and also won the Norwegian Cup this year.

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Ex-Liverpool striker: I shared a bunk bed with David Cameron

Former Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke striker Michael Owen has made a surprise admission.

What is the life of a retired footballer like? Well it isn't all punditry gigs and playing golf - even for Michael Owen.

The former Liverpool FA Cup winner has flown out to Afghanistan to meet the UK's troops, a trip he should be commended for making; it isn't every day a rich retiree leaves their comfortable surroundings to enter a war zone
Owen has been providing details of the trip via his Twitter feed over the past 24 hours, and one message stood out as truly bizarre.

The thought of a Liverpool footballing hero sharing a bed with a Conservative Prime Minister is really, as Owen says himself... 'strange'.
Images of Owen's trip can be seen below... but fortunately none of him and David Cameron in a bunk bed.

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