TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Liverpool 2-0 Wolves Liverpool were insulted by having to face a full-strength Wolves team, but the deepest grievance at Anfield belonged to Mick McCarthy. His team were intensifying Rafael BenÃtez's problems before an agitated home crowd when, after a touch of theatrics, a case of mistaken identity and various influences in the dug-out, they were fatally reduced to 10 men. "They needed a break and they got it," said McCarthy. Liverpool had been reprieved.Both BenÃtez and the Wolves manager claimed Stephen Ward was sent off in the 52nd minute on the intervention of the fourth official, Phil Dowd, who informed referee Andre Marriner he had booked the wrong man in Christophe Berra when the left-back had invited a second yellow inside five minutes with a push on Lucas Leiva.Dowd cannot be condemned for getting a decision right, but McCarthy's anger was not directed solely in the official's direction, as his sarcastic applause to the Liverpool bench indicated. That came after BenÃtez appeared to signal to Dowd, using a finger on each hand to indicate the player's No11 shirt, that Ward was the guilty party."I'm not convinced it was a sending-off. I'm not sure how much contact there was," said McCarthy of the contest's indisputable turning point. "The referee eventually got the right guy, but he got a bit of flippin' assistance, didn't he? I'm not sure the fourth official, Phil Dowd, knew who it was, but they [the Liverpool bench] quickly let him know. He wasn't sure, but they told him. They sent the reinforcements in."BenÃtez, rescued nine minutes after the turning point by Steven Gerrard's return to the goals and a late insurance from Yossi Benayoun, confirmed Dowd had played a part. "The fourth official kept saying, it was the number 11, the number 11. It was clear it was a sending-off."The Liverpool manager was grateful for the controversy. A moribund contest ignited when Liverpool capitalised on a foolish back-heel by the Wolves midfielder Matthew Jarvis and Lucas sprinted clear of Ward. The Brazilian had the beating of the defender, but fell easily under a push and a booking was guaranteed, only for Marriner to cause pandemonium. A delegation led by Lucas and, from his own penalty area at the opposite end of the field, Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina ensured Ward eventually walked, a victim of his own foolishness as much as the inconsistency of a referee who had allowed Gerrard to escape with only a warning for two heavy fouls. Wolves' resistance was fatally undermined. "We were comfortable for an hour," argued McCarthy legitimately.A full league debut for the Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, four months on from his £18m arrival from AS Roma and two months after his first appearance for the club, encouraged thoughts of an improvement in the sterile display that led to Liverpool's appalling defeat at Portsmouth last weekend. Gerrard, who has struggled to recapture his usual heights after injury, must also have believed that his waning influence – arguably a direct result of the passes drying up from the areas Xabi Alonso used to frequent – would be restored. Until Ward's dismissal, however, both were forlorn hopes.Aquilani started brightly before fading – as might be expected of a central midfielder who has played little this calendar year but could benefit from BenÃtez's protection no longer, with Javier Mascherano beginning a four-match suspension. Wolves were content to invite the home side forward, but on the break they unnerved Liverpool. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was the first to inject doubt into the Liverpool defence when, from Jarvis' run and cross from the left, he turned Jamie Carragher at the near post only for Reina to smother his low shot.Nenad Milijas was a frequent threat from the edge of the Liverpool areaalthough the Serbian international's accuracy failed to match his adventure, and Wolves ought to have led after Reina tipped a goal-bound free-kick from the midfielder over his bar. From three yards out, unmarked, Kevin Doyle somehow headed high and wide of the target from the resulting corner. Against 10 men, and with McCarthy struggling to introduce his defensive substitutions, Liverpool finally discovered the potency their play had previously lacked.Gerrard rose above Milijas to meet Emiliano Insúa's immaculate cross with a classic centre-forward's header. From another inviting delivery by the Argentinian, Benayoun was granted the freedom of the visiting area to make the game safe with a close-range shot that deflected off Karl Henry and through the grasp of Marcus Hahnemann. "We needed these three points," admitted BenÃtez.THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICTStephanie Jones, Observer reader It was a win, which was good, and we didn't concede a goal, which was great. Once they were down to 10 there didn't seem any doubt we'd win and it was Insúa's endeavour that made the first goal. Then the match settled and we passed it around . It was ludicrous that the ref needed help from three yards away on the sending-off. I give Reina a 10 for coming all the way up the pitch and helping him do his job. Aquilani was great, worked really hard and hopefully we'll see more of that.The fan's player ratings Reina 10; Johnson 6, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Insúa 6; Lucas 8, Aquilani 8 (Pacheco 84 8); Benayoun 8 (Spearing 88 n/a), Gerrard 7, Aurélio 6 (Kuyt 76 6); Torres 6Arthur Williams, Observer reader Until the sending-off – which was justified – we made Liverpool look fairly ordinary. I thought we might at least get a draw, so it's a pity. McCarthy will be disappointed with Ward's foolishness and the result, but not the performance overall. I think we had the better of the first half. Reina made a disgraceful run from one end of the pitch to the other – I don't know why he thought he had to do the ref's job. Disappointing not to get something out of what looked quite promising.The fan's player ratings Hahnemann 8; Stearman 8, Craddock 7, Berra 7, Ward 7; Foley 5, Henry 6, Milijas 6 (Mancienne 62 6) Jarvis 8; Doyle 6 (Elokobi 58 5), Ebanks-Blake 6 (Iwelumo 66 6)TO TAKE PART IN THE FANS' VERDICT, EMAIL FANS.PREMIER@OBSERVER.CO.UKPremier LeagueLiverpoolWolverhampton WanderersAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Heat is on for Africa's hopefuls The machine-gunning of Togo's bus has banished the sense of celebration and replaced it with fearFor the multitude of footballers who have abandoned Europe's deep freeze to pull on their national colours in 30 degrees of sub-Saharan heat, Angola was supposed to represent the start of something special. But the shocking incident that saw the Togo team buses shot at yesterday, despite military protection, after travelling into Angola from neighbouring Congo has changed everything.It will overshadow an Africa Cup of Nations which never before had assumed such significance. This edition, the prelude to the first World Cup to be hosted on the continent, pulls the curtain on the most important year in the history of African football.Now that the driver of one of Togo's team buses has been killed and several other passengers, including players, have been wounded, it is impossible for the tournament to go ahead as normal. One of Togo's squad has said the team want to pull out of the event, in which they are due to play their opening game against Ghana on Monday. "It's true that no one wants to play," said Alaixys Romao. "We're not capable of it. We're thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground."Getting over the trauma will be a major challenge for all the participants. The continent's five World Cup finalists here in particular – the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria – must somehow ensure they are not too badly derailed because a successful tournament was clearly part of their preparations for next summer in South Africa as well as their chance for continental triumph.It will be of particular distress to the iconic figures of African football, who are so proud of this event. Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o, performers of the highest calibre in world football, exemplify why the African game – on the pitch at least – has never had it so good.Rewind to the only time one of the continent's footballing sons has been anointed World Player of the Year – George Weah in 1995 – and consider how many other African players enjoyed top status in the global game. Perhaps only Abedi Pelé. By that time Roger Milla, whose legend is specific to his extraordinary World Cup cameos, had been knocking around at clubs as illustrious as JS Saint-Pierroise (Réunion), Tonnerre Yaoundé (Cameroon) and Pelita Jaya (Indonesia) for six seasons.Some 15 years on the number of household names, players who are familiar faces on the Champions League scene and worth multi-million-pound salaries, has multiplied beyond recognition. Take Mali, for instance, who meet the hosts in the opening game evening. Their midfield includes Barcelona's Seydou Keita and Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra, with Sevilla's Frédéric Kanouté leading the attack.On Monday Ivory Coast take their tournament bow, with the rampaging Drogba supported by fellow graduates of the golden generation in Salomon Kalou and the Touré brothers. On Tuesday Egypt, the most titled African country and winners of the past two Cup of Nations, will attempt to unleash some of their frustration at missing World Cup qualification on the Nigeria of Mikel John Obi, Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Ayegbeni.The number of excellent individuals from Africa is not in doubt. The challenge now is to make the next leap. Can they create an excellent team – one capable not only of winning the Africa Cup of Nations but also eyeballing the establishment until the latter stages at the World Cup five months from now?Given the lack of infrastructure behind the individuals – Africa does not easily provide the local coaches, clubs, leagues and facilities of a quality to match – is this a realistic ambition? That might be a little clearer at the end of this tournament, even if it seems churlish to cast too firm a judgment on an under-strength Ghana and an unsettled Nigeria.Meanwhile the World Cup hosts find themselves, a little shamefully, excluded. Due to a miserable record in qualifying, South Africa are on the outside trying not to peer in too enviously as they take part in their own private dress rehearsals. With no serious competition scheduled for the month African football sets aside for football worship, Bafana Bafana will set up camp in Durban. Their coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, has spent Christmas back home in Brazil so they are waiting for his return before he can select a low-key, home-based squad to cast his eye over – not terribly inspiring. Parreira's plan to play World Cup preparation catch-up will begin in earnest when he takes his team on overseas training tours, spending a month in Brazil followed by three weeks in Germany during March and April.They are strangely optimistic that they can borrow the services of their Europe-based players, such as Aaron Mokoena and Benni McCarthy, despite the tours falling outside official international dates. "We are hoping clubs such as Blackburn and Portsmouth will release their players," said the team manager, Sipho Nkumane. With all the goodwill in the world, there is no chance that Sam Allardyce and Avram Grant will hand over any players when they are not obliged to do so.But for the rest of Africa's contenders, such issues are someone else's problem. Everyone in Angola has far more pressing concerns. A tournament which was supposed to be solely about football and celebration of Africa is now the victim of an outrage and tragedy.Africa Cup of NationsIvory CoastGhanaCameroonSouth AfricaAmy Lawrenceguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mozambique 2-2 Benin Africa Cup of Nations: Benin blew a two-goal lead as they were held by their fellow underdogs in Angola guardian.co.uk |
Southampton 2 Ipswich Town 1: match report Ipswich manager Roy Keane now has to contend with the piercing disappointment of an FA Cup upset. telegraph.co.uk |
Lerner backs Villa to tune of £138.6m • Lerner has funded ownership with own money• Aston Villa made £7.3m loss last yearAston Villa's US-based owner, Randy Lerner, has put almost £140m into the club since his 2006 takeover, according to official documents. The club's statement of capital, filed at Companies House this month, shows that £138.6m has been invested from Lerner's UK holding company, Reform Acquisitions.The financial accounts for the year to 31 May 2009 are not due to be filed until the end of next month, so it cannot yet be seen how exactly the money was paid to the club. However, the most recent published figures, for the previous year, to 31 May 2008, reveal that the investment up to then, £49.5m, was in the form of loan notes, from Lerner's holding company in the United States.During that year the manager Martin O'Neill's signings and a more than doubling of players' wages led to Villa recording a £7.3m loss. The interest paid on the loan notes owed to Lerner's US company was at a fairly standard 2% above interbank rates, amounting to £4m, which came out of Villa's own income, including fans' ticket money.Lerner's quiet revolution at Villa Park, where his £62.6m takeover was financed with his own and his family trust's money and the £138.6m has since strengthened the team, makes a stark contrast to the regime at Manchester United. There the Glazer family loaded their own borrowings to take the club over on to United itself, and the club were recently revealed to have debts of £716m, not one penny of it paid in as investment for the club.Lerner's funding of Villa, principally to provide O'Neill with money to spend on transfers and wages, has beenmade in nine separate injections since July 2007, according to Companies House documents. The amounts paid to the club range from £8m, in November 2007, to £30m, in August 2008. The money is routed from Reform Acquisitions, which, in the most recent accounts, was shown to have borrowed the investment up to that date from Lerner's US company, also called Reform Acquisitions.this month when he was replaced after the Browns' poor season.The investment and stewardship from Lerner have brought a transformation in Villa's fortunes and qualification for the Carling Cup final, their first Wembley final in a decade. However from 2012-13, the new "financial fair play initiative" from Uefa will require all clubs involved in European competition not to be making consistent losses, regardless of whether they are supported financially by an owner.Aston VillaPremier LeagueBusinessDavid Connguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |