Chelsea confirmed Wednesday it has re-acquired
midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica.
The Blues were on the brink of agreeing a deal
worth €25m for the Serb on Monday after holding
talks with the Portuguese giants in Lisbon. Matic
travelled to London on Tuesday to undergo a
medical, and has now signed a five-and-a-half-
year contract at Stamford Bridge according to
Goal.com .
“I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at
this club,” Matic told the club’s official website. “I
feel very good because of that and just want to say
I will give my best to help the team and make the
Chelsea fans happy.”
The 26-year-old joined Chelsea for just €1.8m in
2009 but left two years later as part of the deal that
brought David Luiz to west London in January
2011.
Jose Mourinho has long considered a top-class
defensive midfielder his most urgent transfer
target, and with his physique, technical ability and
athleticism, Matic is believed to fit the bill perfectly.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Chelsea confirms Matic signing
Friday, 10 January 2014
Super Falcons qualify for Namibia 2014
the final round of qualifying series for the African
Women Championship2014, after Sierra Leone, their
next opponent, announced their withdrawal.
The Sierra Leonians cited lack of funds as the
David Moyes nominated for Premier Leaguemanager of the month
Manchester United boss David Moyes is among the
nominees for the Barclays Premier League manager
of the month award for December.
United have lost their past three games in all
competitions, but won four, drew once and lost
Yaya Toure wins Glo/CAF African Footballer of theYear 2013
Cote D'ivore/Manchester City player Yaya Toure
has been named Glo/CAF African Player of Year
2013,
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Messi returns from injury in Barcelona victory
goal spree following a 59-day absence as
Barcelona crushed Getafe 4-0 Wednesday.
Messi, who has been sidelined since November 10
Liverpool legend wants Moses out
international Victor Moses has failed to live up to
expectations since joining Liverpool on loan from
Chelsea last year, according to Football411.
Aldridge has even suggested that it would actually
be in everybody’s best interests if the loan
agreement between the Merseyside
Van Persie must be sold for Moyes to move Man Utd forward
With every passing defeat David Moyes’ posture
bows further under increased pressure.
But if, as expected, the Scot opens his hefty
warchest to bring in the players that will turn his
season around, which players must he cull to put
his own stamp on the squad?
United are currently the 13/8 fifth favourites to
finish in the top four this season.
Robin van Persie
Sir Alex Ferguson’s often lauded nous in judging a
transfer looks to have deserted him in signing the
Dutchman.
Yes, Van Persie fired United to the title last season,
but he’s been seen in a red shirt just twice in the
last 14 games and there’s talk that the number 20
hasn’t taken to Moyes’ regime.
Both senior centre-backs
Similarly, Rio Ferdinand has played twice in the past
12 United outings. That suggests the 81-cap
veteran isn’t trusted by Moyes and a knee injury
picked up against Swansea could be an early memo
from the body, telling him his time is up.
Nemanja Vidic has been linked with a move away
from Manchester for a while and can still attract
decent money. The Red Devils have lost six of the
19 games he’s started this term, and just two of the
13 he’s missed. He won’t be a loss on current form.
Rafael
Hopes were high when Rafael and twin brother
Fabio signed for United, but neither have been able
to provide the kind of consistent level of
performance that Patrice Evra has long been
associated with on the opposite side of the pitch.
Fabio is already playing elsewhere, his brother
should follow.
Tom Cleverley
Only three men have made more 2013/14 Premier
League starts than the English midfielder, yet the
former Watford loanee still leaves many scratching
their heads as to his actual value to the team.
Shipping him out for a player who’ll greater
compliment Michael Carrick is essential.
Javier Hernandez
Moyes doesn’t use a nippy striker. He tried it at
Everton with Jermaine Beckford and it didn’t work.
Hernandez will demand big money in January that
Moyes can use to find a better fit for his style.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of
publishing.
AC Milan: Keisuke Honda says move to San Sirowas his destiny
"destined" to play for AC Milan after joining from
CSKA Moscow.
Honda, 27, has signed a three-year deal with the
Italian giants on a free transfer after his contract
with the Russian champions
Guinness Book: My 7-year struggle almostbecoming a reality – Bash Ali
Abuja said his seven years of struggle to enter his
name in the Guinness Book of World Records was
almost becoming a reality.
CHAN: Eagles arrive Cape Town in high spirit
morning to begin their quest for honours in their
maiden appearance at the African Nations
Championship (CHAN) 2014, specially designed for
players who ply their trade in their domestic
leagues across Africa.
Glo/CAF Awards: John Mikel Obi to fly to Lagos in Chelsea jet
The Glo/CAF African Player of the Year Award 2014
will hold tomorrow Thursday January 9th at Eko
Hotel and Suites in Lagos and one of its nominees,
Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel
Obi, will be specially flown into Lagos for the
ceremony in a jet provided by his club, Chelsea.
“I am coming for the CAF awards, I will be flown
in and out of Nigeria by the Chelsea jet. I will
arrive on the awards day and return immediately
after,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com “It is an
honour to be selected and nominated for the
award. I am looking forward to winning it for my
country.” He also said
Mikel is up against Cote d'Ivoire and Man City
player Yaya Toure and Cote d'Ivoire and
Galatasaray player, Didier Drogba. Yaya Toure won
it last year..you think Mikel deserves to win it this
year?
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Lionel Messi in line for Barcelona comeback
Barcelona in the Copa del Rey match against Getafe
on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old has been out with a hamstring
injury since 10 November but is in the Nou Camp
outfit's squad for the first leg of the last-16 tie.
Messi's return comes ahead of his side's crucial
league game at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Barcelona are top of La Liga but only lead Atletico
on goal difference, with both on 49 points from 18
matches.
Messi was troubled by injuries in 2013 and the
latest of those came when he limped out of a 4-1
win at Real Betis.
He was initially treated in Barcelona before being
allowed to return to Argentina before Christmas to
continue his rehabilitation.
He returned to Spain at the start of January but was
not fit enough to figure in the win over Elche on
Sunday.
Kenneth Omeruo: Middlesbrough sign Chelsea andNigeria man
centre-back Kenneth Omeruo on loan from Chelsea
until the end of May.
The 20-year-old started all the Super Eagles'
matches as they won the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations, but has played just twice since injuring his
shoulder at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
“
Joining Middlesbrough provides me with an
opportunity to be sharp for the World Cup
”
Kenneth Omeruo
Last season, he played 36 games on loan at Dutch
top-flight side ADO Den Haag.
"With the World Cup in June, it is important to have
the chance of playing regularly," Omeruo told BBC
Sport.
"Hopefully I can help Middlesbrough fight for
promotion - nothing is impossible in football."
After signing for the Blues from Standard Liege in
January 2012, Omeruo was immediately sent on
loan to Den Haag.
He is yet to make his Chelsea debut, and with his
sights firmly set on the World Cup in Brazil, Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho has allowed him to move
to the Riverside.
Omeruro's career appearances
Standard Liege, 2010-12: no games
Chelsea, 2012-present: no games
ADO Den Haag (loan), 2012-13: 36 games
Nigeria, 2013-present: 14 caps
Omeruo will be working under Boro's Spanish boss
Aitor Karanka, formerly Mourinho's assistant
manager at Real Madrid.
"Training with the first-team at Chelsea is just not
good enough for my progress and development,"
Omeruo explained.
"More significantly, I was highly recommended [to
Karanka] by Jose Mourinho and that feels good.
"They [Karanka and Mourinho] speak to each other
on a daily basis so I believe I'll be in good hands.
"Apart from playing regularly and helping the team,
this provides me with an opportunity to be sharp for
the World Cup."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter critical of Brazil's WorldCup preparations
being badly prepared with five months to go before
it hosts this year's World Cup.
Six of the host nation's 12 stadiums have failed to
meet Fifa's 31 December completion deadline.
Three workers have been killed in recent accidents
at stadiums in Sao Paulo and Manaus.
"No country has been so far behind in preparations
since I have been at Fifa," Blatter told a Swiss
newspaper.
“
It is the only host nation which has had so
much time - seven years - in which to
prepare. Brazil has started work much too late
”
Sepp Blatter
Fifa president
The 77-year-old has worked for Fifa since 1975,
becoming president in 1998.
He added: "It is the only host nation which has had
so much time - seven years - in which to prepare."
The tournament opens on 12 June when the host
nation face Croatia in Sao Paulo's Arena
Corinthians, where two workers died when a crane
collapsed on to part of the roof on 27 November.
That accident delayed the stadium's completion
date by several months, and it is not expected to be
ready until mid-April.
Construction problems and public protests about
the financial costs of hosting the World Cup have
beset Brazil's preparations for the tournament.
Brazil - which lasted hosted the World Cup in 1950 -
was awarded this year's finals in 2007.
But when asked if the country had understood the
scale of the work required, Blatter replied: "No.
Brazil has just found out what it means and has
started work much too late."
Mikel wants team-mates to adopt Mourinho’s style
London - Midfielder, Joel Obi has told his team-
mates at Chelsea to adopt to the winning mentality
of manager, Jose Mourinho if they want to remain
useful to the club, Metro reports.
Mikel was used as a substitute since the start of
the current season after Mourinho’s return, but now
enjoys first team action at the club.
The Nigeria international admitted that pressure is
pretty much on the team as they aim to win trophy
every year.
Liverpool, Everton battle for Onazi
London - Everton are trying to beat Liverpool to sign
Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi according to reports
in Italy, KickOff Nigeria says.
According to Italian news outlet Il Tempo, the two
Merseyside clubs are set to battle it out to try and
sign the 20-year-old who has been in fine form for
his Italian club this season.
Onazi had a successful year for Nigeria in 2013
where he won the Africa Cup of Nations. He was
part of the Super Eagles squad to the FIFA
Confederations Cup in Brazil and helped his country
to book a ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Injured Walcott out of World Cup
being ruled out for at least six months with a knee
injury.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 400th career goal as Real Madrid laboured to victory over Celta Vigo and reduced the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Celta had wasted a number of chances before
Karim Benzema capitalised on shoddy defending by
prodding home.
Ronaldo, who had been largely anonymous, then
made sure of victory by converting Daniel
Carvajal's cross.
And in the dying seconds of the match, Ronaldo
added gloss to the scoreline after being put through
by Gareth Bale.
Bale, a 65th minute substitute, found the former
Manchester United man with a fine cross and Celta
were helpless to prevent Ronaldo thumping into the
roof of the net.
Ronaldo's brace, which saw him become the fourth
highest scorer in Real Madrid La Liga history,
masked what had been a pedestrian performance
by a Real side who are now five points adrift of
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in third.
The Portugal captain has now scored 400 goals in
653 games for his club - taking his season's tally to
28 - and it could be a memorable seven days for
the Real forward as the Ballon d'Or award, for which
he is favourite to win, is announced on 13 January.
A minute's silence was held before kick-off in
memory of Portuguese great Eusebio. who died
aged 71 from a heart attack at the weekend.
Ronaldo seemed to pay his own tribute to his much-
loved compatriot by raising his arms to the sky
after his second landmark goal.
It was not Ronaldo's most polished performance,
but he still managed to help Real clinch a handsome
win.
Celta will look back and regret a number of missed
opportunities, with Brazilian Charles the main
culprit.
The striker hit the side netting early on and fluffed
another chance after the break, shooting wide with
just Diego Lopez to beat.
Moments later the visitors paid the price for their
profligacy when Benzema took advantage of a mix
up in the Celta defence to stab the ball home.
The goal lifted Real's spirits with Ronaldo dragging a
shot across goal before he found the target
moments later with a toe-poke at the far post.
Celta's threat diminished from there on and once
again they failed to contain Ronaldo as he struck for
the 400th time in a Real shirt.
Bale, who returned to training last week after
recovering from a calf injury, was the provider with
Welshman making another telling contribution for his
new club.
Walcott blow hurts Hodgson and Wenger
Theo Walcott hardly looked like a man being carried
towards one of the lowest points in his career - and
another chapter in his cursed World Cup history - as
he was taken off on a stretcher at Emirates Stadium
on Saturday.
Walcott collapsed in agony as he attempted to
tackle Danny Rose in the closing minutes of
Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory against
Tottenham.
As he departed, however, he was in high enough
spirits to remind Spurs fans of the score after being
pelted with objects from the away section - and
also to acknowledge the acclaim of Gunners
supporters who tossed scarves in his direction with
smiles and waves.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, perhaps burying
bad news or simply unaware of the seriousness of
the incident, only offered up the possibility of a
stretched ligament or ever the lesser problem of a
kick on the knee.
So there was widespread shock when it was
announced Walcott had sustained an injury any
player dreads, especially those with pace, by
rupturing an anterior cruciate knee ligament which
will keep him out for at least six months.
At a stroke, it ruled him out of the rest of Arsenal's
season and England's World Cup campaign in Brazil
this summer. And it counts as a devastating
setback for the 24-year-old.
The Football Association decided not to punish
Walcott for his gesture towards Spurs fans,
but what followed later meant this counted as no
form of consolation to this popular, likeable
individual.
Arsenal will feel the pain as they lead the Premier
League with their best opportunity to claim the title
in years while England manager Roy Hodgson has
lost a player who can serve him on the flanks or
through the middle.
Even before the ramifications for Arsenal and
England are explored, it is another tale of World Cup
woe for Walcott as he continues to endure an
unfulfilling relationship with the sport's biggest
showpiece.
Walcott was a shock inclusion in Sven-Goran
Eriksson's squad for the 2006 World Cup in
Germany as a 17-year-old even before he had
played a Premier League game. It was a farcical
selection. He was reduced to resembling a tourist
without ever coming near the team.
In 2010, he was the surprise omission from Fabio
Capello's squad for South Africa
- so he will be 29 before he gets the chance to have
a crack at a World Cup finals.
Over and above the desolation Walcott will have
been feeling on Monday evening, there are serious
consequences for Arsenal, arguably even more so
than for England.
The numbers and quality of Arsenal's attacking
resources were already under scrutiny even before
Walcott was removed from the equation.
Now Wenger, understandably very cautious about
investing in January anyway, will be considering his
transfer options with his usual rider - is there
anyone out there who can actually be bought who is
better than what he has got?
Arsenal's boss would want players of a standard to
make an instant impact in the Premier League and
also, preferably, when they face Bayern Munich in
the Champions League.
Individuals of that stature are usually found in the
Champions League already at this stage of the
season and cannot be moved.
There is no doubt, however, that Walcott's injury
hits Arsenal two-fold. He was able to use his pace
on the flanks for Arsenal but he showed his quality
through the centre as a constant threat against
Spurs on Saturday, his performance drawing great
praise from his manager.
Wenger has relied heavily on Olivier Giroud this
season, although he missed out against Spurs
through illness. Lukas Podolski has only just
returned from months on the sidelines with a
serious hamstring injury, while Nicklas Bendtner is
out for a month with ankle trouble.
The good news is that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is
close to a return to training after being out since the
opening day of the season with a knee injury. This
will receive an even warmer welcome from Wenger
and Hodgson after the severity of Walcott's injury
was revealed.
At the back of his mind, though, Wenger will be
weighing up whether to move into the market with
the possibility of winning the title such an enticing
prospect after their fine season to date.
Arsenal have been linked with Bayern Munich's
Mario Mandzukic but Wenger appears to have
accepted he will not be sold in January while the
prospect of putting together a deal for Atletico
Madrid's brilliant striker Diego Costa also looks out
of bounds as they challenge for La Liga and remain
in the Champions League - and that is even before
the cost of such a deal is considered.
Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata has also been
mentioned as a loan target but coach Carlo Ancelotti
insists the window remains firmly closed, in and
out, at the Bernabeu - so Wenger may have to throw
his scouting net even wider.
Wenger also appeared to close the door on
speculation linking him with Fulham's Dimitar
Berbatov. Will this change his mind?
As for Hodgson, this will be the sort of news he
feared ahead of a tough group stage in Brazil,
having been robbed of Frank Lampard, Gary Cahill
and Gareth Barry in the final days before Euro 2012,
where he also had to do without a suspended
Wayne Rooney for the first two games.
He will already be working potential contenders to
replace Walcott - although one who emerged with
such credit in England's final two World Cup
qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland,
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, is also
currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Oxlade-Chamberlain's progress will be closely
examined by an England manager who holds him in
high regard, while Spurs winger Aaron Lennon may
see Walcott's absence as a chance to revive his
international career.
Southampton's Adam Lallana showed enough, even
as England lost their two Wembley friendlies against
Chile and Germany in November,
to place himself in Hodgson's thoughts. His
chances of travelling to Brazil will have improved
with Walcott now out of all calculations.
Liverpool's 19-year-old Raheem Sterling has
shown improved form recently after a poor spell but
he will surely have to improve further - and over a
longer period - to be seriously considered.
All this will now be deep in the thinking of Wenger
and Hodgson as Walcott contemplates another
England World Cup campaign as a spectator.
West Ham have signed Wolves defender Roger Johnson on loan until the end of the season.
The former Cardiff City and Birmingham City player
had a spell with Sheffield Wednesday earlier in
2013-14 campaign.
Johnson, 30, moved to Molineux from St Andrew's
in July 2011.
Hammers manager Sam Allardyce has been backed
by the club's owners despite seeing the side slip to
19th in the Premier League and losing 5-0 to
Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
Central defenders James Collins and James
Tomkins were injured in the Boxing Day defeat by
Arsenal and the draw with West Brom two days
later respectively.
Fellow centre-back Winston Reid is still recovering
from ankle surgery in November, while striker Andy
Carroll has yet to play this season because of a foot
injury.
Everton's Johnny Heitinga rejected a move to West
Ham despite the two clubs agreeing terms over the
Dutch defender earlier this month.
Wolves manager Kenny Jackett transfer-listed
Johnson and three other players in June following
the club's relegation to League One, 12 months after
they dropped into the Championship.
"It's a really good opportunity for him because he's
going to a Premier League club," Jackett(external)
told the Birmingham Express and Star.
