TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Football transfer rumours: Valencia's David Villa to Chelsea? Today's prattle advises travel by reindeerSpare a thought for prolific smoker Carlo Ancelotti, who, like Def Leppard, is finding it increasingly difficult to get a hit. Already the Italian has been grumbling since his arrival in Britain about the law that prevents him from grabbing a gasper in restaurants – food being his other great passion, apparently – and now he can't even spark up outside for fear of being frozen like a swindler's assets.To keep his mind off his misery, Ancelotti has resolved to get active and though it is less than two weeks since he declared "I've already said this many times so this is the last time: we will not be buying anyone in January. 100%", today Chelsea are being linked with a slew of new signings.First up is David Villa, the Valencia striker who, according to several tabloids, "has put Europe's top clubs on high alert" by saying he will after all consider a move beyond Spain, particularly to the Premier League. Chelsea are suddenly the favourites to land him, though Manchester United are pretending to be in the running and Arsène Wenger will gladly take him if Valencia will accept a fee well below his market value and a pious lecture about playing the game the right way.Rafael BenÃtez, meanwhile, is wrapping bandages around his self-esteem as he goes into battle with Wigan and Hull for the services of £2m-rated Brann striker Erik Huseklepp.There's also talk about Chelsea chasing Bolton's England Under-21 anchor man, Fabrice Muamba and Porto's Colombia forward Falcão. BenÃtez, meanwhile, is wrapping protective padding around the bandages around his self-esteem as he attempts to persuade Emile Heskey to return to Anfield.Ancelotti is also going to have to busy himself with sweet-talking Branislav Ivanovic into staying at Stamford Bridge despite interest from Real Madrid.Elsewhere, the new Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will try to take his mind off the hysterical media moralising about a club's decision to take steps to ensure they have a manager ready to step in when they ditch the under-performing incumbent, by bounding into the transfer market to bag Matthew Upson, the Internazionale full-back Maicon and Bolton's Gary Cahill. BenÃtez, meanwhile, is wrapping cotton wool around the protective padding around the bandages to his self-esteem as he sidles up to Benjani Mwaruwari.Two widemen on their way back to the Premier League are Jermaine Pennant, coveted by Aston Villa, and José Antonio Reyes, in demand from Everton.Sir Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, is about to put Nani out of Old Trafford's misery by including him in the deal that could bring winger Angel di MarÃa from Benfica. And while United make do with an Angel, plucky Reading are aiming for God himself. The Championship side plan to appoint Glenn Hoddle as their new manager.Heard a rumour? No? Then make one up below the lineChelseaValenciaPaul Doyleguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Roberto Carlos officially unveiled by Corinthians World Cup veteran left back Roberto Carlos was officially introduced to Corinthians fans on Monday and vowed to help the Brazilian club win its first Copa Libertadores title. cbc.ca |
Donovan dishes assist in Everton debut as squad ties with Arsenal Arsenal scored from two deflected shots to draw 2-2 with Everton on Saturday in one of two Premier League matches to survive ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Benin and Boco clinging to faint hopes The Sligo and former Accrington defender knows Benin need a miracle if they are to reach the quarter-finalsWith his contract at Sligo Rovers coming to an end, Rommy Boco was looking to make an impression at this Africa Cup of Nations. He has, but unfortunately, his one memorable act was to concede the penalty from which Nigeria scored the only goal of the game against Benin, and so kept their coach Shaibu Amodu in his job for at least another four days.The 24-year-old could hardly be blamed for the handball, and seemed simply unlucky to be in the way of Peter Odemwingie's header. "At the end of the day it's a penalty, but it's tough," Boco said. "The ball came that quick at my face, and I don't know what happened after. So it hit my head and hit my arm, but it's not like I wanted to do that. But the referee knew what he wanted."Boco certainly wasn't the only Benin player complaining about the performance of the Angolan referee Helder Martins de Carvalho, who seemed to give every key decision Nigeria's way. When Razak Omotoyossi looked as though he might have been impeded as he challenged for a high ball on the edge of the Nigeria box late on, he not only didn't get the penalty for which he was appealing, but mystifyingly found himself penalised and then booked."We changed three players and our goalkeeper was on the floor for five minutes, and he gave only three minutes added time," Boco went on.His frustration is understandable, for Benin also hit the woodwork twice and, had they secured the draw they probably deserved, they would go into the game against a weakened Egypt side knowing a win would guarantee progress to the quarter-final. As it is, if the Squirrels are to go through, they must beat Egypt and hope that Nigeria neither beat Mozambique nor lose by two goals."We've progressed," he said, "but in this tournament we've been unlucky." That is true up to a point, and given Benin had never reached the finals of a Cup of Nations until 2004, it is a measure of their development that they can trouble giants such as Nigeria, but they will surely reflect on the 2-0 lead they let slip against Mozambique in their opening game, something that was down less to bad luck than more of the appalling goalkeeping that has blighted the tournament.Boco, himself, meanwhile, is looking for progress of his own. Born in France of a Beninois father and a French mother, he left Niort in 2005 and came to England "with just a bag over my shoulder," as he put it, and not a word of English. "I was searching everywhere for trials, and Accrington took me on," he said, in what is now fairly fluent English. "I was very grateful to them because it was so hard for me."And so it was that, after helping them to promotion from the Conference, a Benin right-back scored Accrington Stanley's first two goals on their return to league football, away at Barnet. "That was good," he said. "I'll always be in the record books for that."He found life in Accrington difficult, though. "I thought it was the same level as mine: Division 2 in France," he said. "And also I had no idea where Accrington was. But I was so desperate to play football I signed. I don't regret that, because it was good for me and my career. And the people were very friendly, but for me it was too small. I prefer a big city." So he moved to Warrington.By the time of the last Cup of Nations in Ghana, though, Boco was growing dissatisfied with life in Lancashire. He had lost his place in the team a few months earlier following a back injury and when I met him in Sekondi he spoke elliptically of "bad things" happening at the club. On his return, his contract was terminated by mutual consent, and he soon joined the former Accrington manager Paul Cook at Sligo."It was a month after the African Nations that I left Accrington for Ireland," he said. "I decided to move on, to try something new. It's different. You know in England it's harder, tougher; there is more quality. But playing regularly in Ireland helped me progress."Africa Cup of NationsBeninJonathan Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Today in Sport: Discuss the day's big stories Discuss the day's big issues, send us your favourite links, follow us on Twitter and take a look at our 2010 sport calendar7.55am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. Throughout the day we will update this page with news, links, and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead. Time permitting, we'll try to wade in below the line, answering your questions and comments. We'll shortly have an update on how we expect the news to develop after the morning meeting but in the meantime here's what has happened at the Australian Open while you've been snoozing:In the men's last 16, Nikolay Davydenko took his winning streak to 13 matches with a gruelling five-set win over Spain's Fernando Verdasco, while Novak Djokovic cruised to another straight sets win, this time over Poland's Lukasz Kubot.In the women's last 16, Venus Williams recovered after losing the first set to Francesca Schiavone of Italy to reach the quarter-finals after a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win. While her sister, Serena, had no such drama as she beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4, 6-2. Other sport talking points: The New Orleans Saints reached their first Super Bowl after a thrilling 31-28 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. They will face The Indianapolis Colts, who beat the New York Jets 30-17.Algeria's quarter-final victory over Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations. A surprise defeat for Didier Drogba's team?And, of course, Robinho's likely farewell at Manchester City. Had City not tried to fit him into a "system" - which seems to be Robinho's main point of contention - would they have seen the best of him?Oh, and with Man Utd, Liverpool and now Arsenal out of the FA Cup, is it a disappointment this season? Or is it better for it?9.15am: Laura Robson has stormed through her first-round match of the Australian Open girls' championship, conceding only one game against Belinda Woolcock of Australia. Looking ahead, Andy Murray is last on tomorrow against Rafael Nadal, around 8am GMT. TD9.20am Roger Federer has motored through the first set of his fourth-round match against Lleyton Hewitt, winning it 6-2. Can anyone stop him? TD10.00am: Today's Rumour Mill is in, wondering whether Yossi Benayoun could be heading east, and trying to come to terms with the fact that Robinho really could actually, finally, be leaving Manchester City. Meanwhile, Roger Federer is now two sets up against Lleyton Hewitt. TD10.15am: Here's what we're expecting today:* Press conferences from Liverpool, Spurs, Burnley, West Ham* Portsmouth are hopeful their transfer embargo will be lifted* Zambia v Nigeria and Egypt v Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations* England's rugby union squad get-together* And Bill McLaren's funeral11.15am Lleyton Hewitt made a bit more of a fight of it in the third set, but Roger Federer has gone through in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and will meet Nikolai Davydenko in the quarter-finals.Elsewhere, crowds have turned out to honour Bill McLaren on the day of the rugby union commentator's funeral in his home town of Hawick.And Kevin Mitchell has blogged on why Frank Warren will soon get over the loss of Amir Khan. TD11.54am: Having your Dad's cast-offs at your disposal isn't always a blessing ... unless you're Darren Ferguson. It was only a matter of time before Manchester United's youngsters started to show up on loan at Deepdale; the first of those is the 19-year-old Danny Welbeck, who has joined on a season-long loan, although whether he is a blessing or not is a moot point. Preston certainly need pace in attack (the heavy-set Jon Parkin and Neil Mellor lollop more than sprint) and Welbeck needs regular games to prove that he can be more than a bit part player in the top flight. GR1.00pm: Two sides have dominated the Africa Cup of Nations above any of teh other nations: Egypt and Cameroon - and we'll have live minute-by-minute coverage when the two sides meet today in the quarter-finals at 4pm. While giving his mind a break from writing about the tactical nuances of Russian teams in the 1950s, Jonathan Wilson, our man in Africa, has penned this blog on why Ahmed Hassan and Rigobert Song face a legacy-defining battle. GR1.55pm: Calum Davenport has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting his sister. While Notts County need to find £2m by Wednesday to see off a winding-up from HM Revenue and Customs in the latest exciting twist in the development of their "project".José Mourinho predictably put himself centre stage after Internazionale's 2-0 derby victory over Milan yesterday. Read Paolo Baldini's analysis. TD3:15pm Steven Gerrard has recovered more quickly than expected from his hamstring injury and could face Wolves tomorrow, which is good news for a Liverpool side who according to Martin Skrtel will apparently have loads more energy than their rivals in the run-in, the Reds being unencumbered by the tiresome burden of trying to win other competitions. They could even finish third, he says.In racing, Denman is being geared up for a Gold Cup prep-run at Cheltenham this weekend.And Barry Glendinning will be along shortly to give you minute-by-minute action from the Egypt-Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. Follow it here. TD5.10pm: Apologies for the lengthy silence, this afternoon's been a bit of a busy one in the office. Football Weekly is now up on the site though, you can take a listen here. Up for discussion today, among other things: Robinho's possible departure, Wayne Rooney's red-hot form and Ricardo Fuller's earrings. KM6.17pm: That's about it blog-wise for today but there are a couple of pieces of breaking rugby union news to bring you: Steve Borthwick will retain the England captaincy for the Six Nations and Matt Stevens will join Saracens next year when his two-year ban for cocaine use expires. Elsewhere, the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between holders Egypt and Cameroon has gone into extra time, with Egypt now 3-1 up. Thanks for your comments today and see you tomorrow. KMGregg RoughleyTom Daviesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |