#also he scores a winner in a derby and it is not winter so he’s completely shirtless when he whips his shirt off to celebrate | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

leclercskiesahead · 5 months

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Footballer Carlos getting cold in the winter so he wears those undershirts and when he takes his jersey off after the match you can make out the shape of his abs through the undershirt

#also he scores a winner in a derby and it is not winter so he’s completely shirtless when he whips his shirt off to celebrate #yes this is so mo Salah coded. body-wise #carlos sainz jr

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nivasvas · 2 years

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Luuk de Jong lifts ravaged Barcelona after Real Madrid lose unbeaten run

Luuk de Jong’s first-half header and a stunning stoppage-time save by Marc-André ter Stegen gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at Mallorca in a match where Xavi’s side were missing 14 players due to Covid-19, injuries and suspensions.

It was vindication time for striker De Jong after several media reports that Barça want to move him on this month. He got his second goal since arriving from Sevilla in the close season – his first for more than three months. The Dutchman was Barca’s best player on Sunday as he also hit the post twice in the first half, once with a bicycle kick. The goal came just before the break when he headed home from close range after a cross by Óscar Mingueza.

Lionel Messi is unable to put a date on his return from Argentina after testing positive for Covid Lionel Messi one of four PSG players to test positive for Covid after winter break Read more Barça dominated the game until the final minutes when Mallorca started pressing for an equaliser and almost got it. Ter Stegen saved Barca in added time with an unbelievable handball-style reflex save with his right arm, denying Jaume Costa whose close-range strike looked like a sure goal.

“It was an historic win for us, I’m not exaggerating,” Xavi said. “Missing so many players, to go back home with a win – it’s three points worth their weight in gold. The young players showed up and Ter Stegen made a stop for the ages. I’m thrilled that we managed to win.”

Earlier on Sunday Getafe had ended Real Madrid’s 15-game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory in the capital derby. Enes Unal got the hosts’ winner in the ninth minute after he stole the ball from Éder Militão and beat Thibaut Courtois. Luka Modric hit the crossbar while Eden Hazard and Marcelo came on as half-time substitutions but Getafe dug in to earn their first victory over their star-studded crosstown rivals since August 2012.

“We can’t get carried away by this loss,” Ancelotti said, after his side looked slack on the return from La Liga’s winter break. “We are still leaders and are excited about what is to come. A player who normally stands out for his defensive play gifted them their goal. There is not much more to say, except that it looked like we thought we were still on vacation.”

Ángel Correa scored twice as Atlético Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to end their worst losing run since Diego Simeone took over the club a decade ago. The defending champions had not lost more than two league games in a row under Simeone but finished 2021 with consecutive defeats to Mallorca, Madrid, Sevilla and Granada. Atlético leapfrogged Rayo to reclaim fourth place, the last spot that will earn a Champions League berth.Sexy Gaming

#สล็อตออนไลน์#สล็อตแตกง่าย #สล็อตเว็บใหญ่

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traveltrainsandcoffee · 3 years

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THE FFL 2020/21 END OF SEASON REVIEW

The 29th season of FFL and the first one to start during a global pandemic. The season before had been totally normal till February and nothing like normal after that. That season didn’t finish until August. No Euro 2020 and a September start to the new season. As we approached the start of the football season it looked like Coronavirus was in decline, number of cases and deaths were dropping very low and life felt a bit more normal, we had no idea of the real world horrors that awaited us all. That being said the 2020/21 season was unique, for all the wrong and some right reasons. During the August break there was the Messi saga. Harry Maguire had been scraping with the Greek police. Foden and Greenwood, while on England duty had broken Covid rules and got caught sneaking a couple of Icelandic girls into their hotel room,

The season started much later and as I got my last ever EMR HST for a day at the seaside the last few teams started to flood in. Michael Dymond was last in, would the champions’ league winner feature in the new season. League champion Steve Tatham was among the favourites to do well, along with FA cup winner Matt Wheeler. Jackie knight had been the golden girl and challenged right up to the last game, could she challenge again? Could the big guns of Mullin and the Hawk get back to winning ways after a very disappointing season in 2020. As per normal the Team Aroma girls tried to make some very strange picks, including Hansen, Beckham and sadly retired Aroma’s own Leighton Baines. Kev Dillon shocked the world and picked Liverpool Players. Following in father Danny and Uncle Marc Lawson’s footsteps Anton joined our league. Andy Flanagan almost did a Stuart Pearce and forgot to pick a keeper. All of these issues fixed for the deadline and 33 teams started the league. With no city or Utd playing in week one the normal Bennetts Shield and Champions league had a delayed start.

As I travelled home on the train from Skegness, there was a feeling that this could be a strange season. Leeds ran Champions Liverpool very close in a high scoring game. Pam Taylor, Team Aroma and Anton Lawson were the early pace setters. The first weekend of October saw the Bennett’s Shield and the start of the Champion’s league. The weekend will be remember as the one where Man Utd conceded 6 and Liverpool 7. In the lowest ever scoring match Steve Tatham beat Matt Wheeler by 1 point to win the Shield. This was the only bright spot for either of them all season. A week later and one of the most controversial moment of the season. In a very fiery Mersey Side Derby Pickford and VVD both went for the ball. Pickford’s challenge would change the season for Liverpool. VVD wouldn’t play again all season. Souness called it an assault, he’d know all about that. Pickford got deaths threats and for the rest of the season everything was Pickford’s fault. Bale return to the premier league, but too late to make anyone’s teams. By the end of the month Mark Taylor was top and so were Everton.

The pandemic hadn’t gone and cases were starting to rocket again, by early November the UK were in Lockdown 2. Football did continue, but behind closed doors and with fake crowds. The very busy fixtures and players coming down with Covid meant that players were dropping like flies. This hurt the FFL managers as much as their Premiership counterparts. Defending Champions league Champion Michael was out the Champions league at the first group stage, along with Steve Tatham, Disco Lee Ritchie and Jackie Knight. By December Taylor was top and Taylor was bottom, sorry Dad. With some matches being cancelled due to the virus there were delays in the champions’ league. The pubs in Lincoln stayed closed, we were out of Lockdown 2, but into tier 4. Pen points were rolling in everywhere with so many players missing. It was already looking like a very low scoring season.

The Christmas number one was The Hawk, with Kieron 2nd and Mark Taylor 3rd. It was a very strange Christmas, Boris had promised a nearly normal one, but the emergence of a new variant from Kent quickly ran through the country like wildfire. The government promised a 5 days of Christmas, but quickly tried to stop this. Unfortunately nothing could stop the full force of this second wave. 40k, 50k even 60k new cases in one day and up to 1500 people dying per day. The UK death toll quickly passed over 100k. Lockdown 3 started and this was going to last much longer than 2. It was a very difficult and dark winter, the second wave was far deadlier than the first. The one bit of hope came in the first use of vaccines. Could these Jabs return life to normal?

By mid-January The Hawk, Kieron and Mark were top 3, but now Vicky Phillips was starting to challenge. The Champions league second group stage fixtures were still delayed, due to covid, but the FA Cup cut off point saw Danny Lawson and Jackie Knight just make it at the expense of Robyn Stanney. Vicky Phillips was now up to 3rd and in her best season. The champions’ league Semi-finals finally took shape. Kieron would play Stally and The Hawk would play Mark Kiszka. In fact both Kieron and The Hawk were looking at possible trebles.

By mid-February and Kieron had an 11pt lead over the Hawk, with Vicky 3rd and Mark 4. Kieron would play Vicky in the FA Cup semi-final. However in the Champions league Stally beat Kieron over two legs and Mark Kiszka beat the Hawk. Things were going wrong for the Hawk, out the FA cup and now out the Champions league, plus a 13 point gap to lead leader Kieron. Kieron was on for the Double and would play Danny Lawson in the FA Cup final. Kieron was looking good, but pen points and missing key players made it far from certain. Road maps out of lockdown were now being talked about. Case numbers were dropping, but still so many people dead, over 120k. The roll out of the vaccine was bringing hope that an end was in sight.

Early April and over two legs Stally won a record 4th Champions league. Once again Mark Kiszka just missed out again. Kieron was still top, but much closer, with The Hawk right on him. Cup finalist Danny Lawson was in contention too. Suddenly and out of the blue the future of football as we know it came crashing down. The so called big 6 in England joined Spanish and Italians in a break away super league. For a short time it really looked like the end of Football, but a fan backlash, backed by ex-players and even the government challenged this. A very quick and embarrassing U-TURN saw the clubs plans fall apart. The Super league was hopefully dead and gone. By the end of April only Kieron and The Hawk had passed 200 points, but were miles off Kieron’s 414 world record.

May the 1st and FA cup final weekend, Kieron v Danny. I even got the coolest man in football (James Richardson) do the preview and since outdoor hospitality was now open we did this over a cappuccino in Aroma. Man Utd were due to play Liverpool, but a mass protest against the owners and the super league brought chaos. Fans even got inside the stadium and onto the pitch. A protest also took place outside the players hotel. The match was cancelled and our FA cup was abandoned. A week later and the FA cup final took place. Both teams were missing Aubameyang so Greenwood came in for Danny and scored, Aguero for Kieron. If Aguero had slotted his penalty away, Kieron would have won, but a terrible so called Panenka cost him dearly. As a result the scores were level and it went to a Tie break six. A goal from Dallas and a clean sheet from Alisson won Danny Lawson his first trophy since 2001. Worse would come for Kieron, with Man City winning the league and resting Ederson and Pope being injured Kieron started getting penalty points, Even when Ederson returned, his defence didn’t. Allisson scored and this added to the Hawks total. Very quickly The Hawk passed him and both Mark’s closed the gap.

Leicester City won their first ever FA Cup, beating Chelsea in front of some fans. Yes limited crowds were now back, the vaccine programme was making a difference, even I had my first jab, but the emergence of a new variant from India was starting to threaten the return to normal.

Final week of the season and The Hawk was clear of Kieron, Mark Kiszka and Mark Taylor. Senol Durmush, Tappy, Jackie Knight, Goodo and Oliver Taylor-Yassin were battling for the final champions league spots. Lee Ritchie and Chris Geoghegan were trying to avoid the wooden spoon. Penalty points had completely derailed Kieron’s season, at one point he was on for a possible treble, but not anymore.

The final Sunday saw The Hawk increase his lead and win his first ever FFL Title. Kieron Mullin ended with nothing. Mark Kiska came third and Danny Lawson came 4th with the FA Cup. Mark Taylor 5th and Vicky Phillips 6th. Senol Durmush, Jackie Knight and Pam Taylor took the final champions league spots from Tappy, Goodo and Ollie.

Thank for another great season of FFL, it’s the 30th season next time and I look forward to this, but before then its Euro FFL this summer, can Flynny defend his title?

Final thought. Is it really all Pickfords fault?

MT

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thisdaynews · 4 years

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Borussia Dortmund: 'We don't buy superstars, we make them'

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/borussia-dortmund-we-dont-buy-superstars-we-make-them/

Borussia Dortmund: 'We don't buy superstars, we make them'

Jadon Sancho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Erling Braut Haaland and Christian Pulisic have all played for Dortmund

It is a little over two years since Jadon Sancho made his first league start for Borussia Dortmund but such is the club’s commitment to youth, they are already talking about two even younger players to highlight their approach.

In December, Sancho became the youngest player to reach 22 Bundesliga goals, having already become the youngest Dortmund player to score 10 league goals in a single campaign in 2018-19.

His arrival from Manchester City for £10m in 2017 without playing a first-team game for the Blues is in line with Dortmund’s recruitment policy.

“The way we do things didn’t happen by accident, or by coincidence,” said legendary Borussia Dortmund midfielder Lars Ricken, who is now the club’s head of youth.

“It is a clear and obvious strategy not to buy superstars but to create them.”

The German club stand to make a massive profit if, as expected, 19-year-old Sancho leaves in the summer for a fee likely to be in excess of £100m.

Sancho: How single-minded schoolboy made his dream a reality

In January 2019, Dortmund sold another youth player, USA forward Christian Pulisic, then aged 20, to Chelsea for £58m, and immediately took him on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Over the past seven months, Dortmund have done two more eye-catching deals. In January, they beat Manchester United to the signing of talented 19-year-old Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland, who has already scored eight goals in five first-team appearances.

And in July they brought Giovanni Reyna, son of former Manchester City and USA midfielder Claudio, over from the United States. He made his senior debut in January despite only celebrating his 17th birthday in November.

‘We developed them to become superstars’

Dortmund’s philosophy emerged from the financial crisis that brought the club to its knees in 2004, seven years after Ricken scored on the greatest night in the club’s history, as they won the European Cup for the first – and so far, only – time.

Dortmund’s last Bundesliga-winning team under Jurgen Klopp in 2012 included homegrown Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels, who joined them as an untested 19-year-old. Both were subsequently sold to Bayern Munich for a combined £60m.

“Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang weren’t superstars when they came to Dortmund,” said Ricken, who watched his under-19s side lose to Derby in a Uefa Youth League play-off at Pride Park on Tuesday.

“We developed them to become superstars. It is very important for the club.

“The reason the atmosphere in our stadium is so good is because there is a great identification between the players and the fans. The supporters see it is a gift for them to play in our stadium.

“We have signed some really good players but we also have young ones – Haaland is 19, Gio is 17. They are very light on their feet. It is great to see.”

Speed is key

There is no great secret to Dortmund’s recruitment policy.

Ask Ricken what features the club’s scouts and coaches are looking for as they try to develop young players and the answer is universal.

“Technical skills are very important. And the quickness and speed of action,” he said. “Players in our first team are all so fast. It is unbelievable.

“A few months ago, we had a player from a foreign country who was playing for our under-17s and he wasn’t fast enough, so we decided not to make the transfer. It made no sense.

“The other thing is the mentality. The loads we put on the players are very high. School, football, national teams. This can all take 70 or 80 hours a week. These boys have to be grown-up, focused and disciplined at a very young age.

“Our aim is to educate players from Dortmund and the surrounding area. But if we find players from abroad with potential, we will take the risk to try and sign them. But we won’t take them from the USA or England or Spain just to make our under-17 or under-19 team a little better.

“We want to find the special one. We were quite successful with Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Jacob Bruun Larsen.”

Larsen is a Dane, who arrived at Dortmund as a 16-year-old in 2015 and was sold to Hoffenheim in January for £7m. Of their current crop of youngsters, Switzerland forward Bradley Fink – who is English qualified and attracting the attention of the FA – plus Dutch midfielder Immanuel Pherai and Cameroon forward Youssoufa Moukoko, who both played against Derby, are the current youth team stars.

Not like Reyna though, who has virtually bypassed the junior ranks.

“When Gio came to Dortmund, we knew he would become a professional player,” said Ricken. “That was not the question.

“The question was when does he play for the first team? Summer? Winter? Three months? Six? Everybody was sure he would do it.”

How to manage young players

While Dortmund view themselves as a successful football club and apply the same high standards in their junior ranks as they do at senior level, they also acknowledge a wider responsibility to the young players who come through their system with dreams of emulating Gotze, who scored Germany’s winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.

“If they have problems in school or in other parts of their lives, we want to solve them. We have social workers here. We don’t just choose our coaches because of their training skills but because they have wider abilities,” said Ricken.

As Borussia Dortmund have the highest average attendance in Europe – almost 80,000 – and were ranked 12th in the latest Deloitte Money League released in January, a single trophy – the German Cup – since Klopp won the double in 2012 seems a poor return.

Manager Lucien Favre is the fourth man in five seasons to try to emulate Klopp’s achievements, so while demands are high, Ricken believes fans provide an environment that allows youngsters to continue to progress.

“Halfway through the last season under Jurgen Klopp in 2014-15, we were 17th in the table,” he said.

“But the supporters were so thankful for the times they had before, that when we lost another match they still gave the players a big hand to give them courage for the next matches.

“Trophies are very important but, especially in Dortmund, the attitude you are playing with, the passion, emotion and never giving up is as important.”

#superstars #them'

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sportsleague365 · 5 years

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On an average weekend, The Guardian receives around 12,000 photographs from Premier League matches via its staff, agency and contributor photographers. That’s almost half a million images per season. Some capture extraordinary joy and despair; some bear witness to defining moments in the title race; some owe greatly to the creativity of the men and women behind the lenses; and some, like this first one from August, feature the rare but always amusing sight of a referee nearly getting thwacked by a ball. August____________________ September____________________ The most nauseating picture of the season came at Wembley in September when Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen inadvertently gouged the eye of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino. As picture editors we can become inured to violence and physical injury on the picture wires, but there was something particularly wince-inducing about this shot. Luckily, the Brazilian escaped without serious injury and went on to celebrate his late winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage a few days later with an eye-patch celebration. Elsewhere in September, Sir Alex Ferguson was given a standing ovation at Old Trafford following his return to the club after emergency brain surgery in May. United finished the month in 10th place with 10 points from their opening seven fixtures – nine points behind the early pace-setters, Manchester City and Liverpool. October____________________ The first meeting between the league’s top two sides was a tight affair in which Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez missed a last-minute penalty. He rocketed his effort over the bar – his fifth miss in eight spot-kicks. October was also marked by the death of the Leicester City chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, whose helicopter crashed as it departed the King Power Stadium following Leicester’s match with West Ham, killing all five people on board. The floral tributes at the stadium reflected the deep affection felt by Leicester supporters for the man who fuelled their title success in 2016. My favourite image of the month came at Stamford Bridge where the Manchester United manager, José Mourinho, had to be restrained as he launched himself at a member of Chelsea’s backroom staff following a raucous goal celebration. It’s not so much Mourinho’s aggression that I like; rather, it’s the panic-stricken guy in the foreground on the radio. I have no idea who he is or what he’s saying but in my mind he’s radioing for back-up. November____________________ November saw Tottenham spank Chelsea at Wembley and Manchester City claim victory in the first Manchester derby of the season. It also saw a miracle under the floodlights at the John Smith’s Stadium where Huddersfield beat Fulham to claim their first win and first home goal of the season. Yet the best image shot that day is, in my opinion, the one below – the silhouette of a solitary man, cigarette in hand, wandering before the glow of a distant floodlight. The old-school bank of floodlights seems to imbue the shot with nostalgia – it reminds me of traipsing home from winter fixtures in my youth. December____________________ December was a month stained by abuse. First, a banana was thrown onto the pitch by a Tottenham fan after Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored against Spurs in the north London derby. Then, later that same week, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was subjected to a torrent of insults by a section of Chelsea fans after winning a corner. Sterling, to his credit, reacted nonchalantly, and the incident ignited much-needed debate about how to curb abusive behaviour and racism within football. The best action photos of the month came at Anfield amid the pandemonium of Liverpool’s last-gasp win over Everton. The substitute Divock Origi scored in the 96th minute after Jordan Pickford’s error, and Liverpool’s relief was perfectly distilled in the shot below (featuring Virgil Van Dijk) with their sprawling, swirling mess of bodies and arms creating a dynamic image. Normally you’d want to see “clean air” around a subject to make them stand out, but not in this instance. January____________________ January: a month when millimetres mattered and when the title race swung in Manchester City’s favour. John Stones’s clearance off the line following a penalty box scramble against Liverpool helped City to become the first and only team to defeat Jürgen Klopp’s men all season. Elsewhere, the game of the month – if not the game of the season – came at Molineux where Diogo Jota’s 93rd minute strike gave Wolves a pulsating 4-3 victory over Leicester. The image of delirious Wolves fans is layered with great facial expressions and is neatly juxtaposed with the image of a crestfallen Leicester manager Claude Puel, head in hands; the two extremes encapsulate the universal agonies and ecstasies of football. February____________________ I’m not sure if the shot looking down on the tattooed Manchester City fan was set up or happenstance (presumably the former); either way it’s a cracker. City won their match with Arsenal 3-1 that day thanks to a Sergio Agüero hat-trick – his 14th for the club. Yet City still trailed Liverpool by two points having played a game more. By the end of the month, the gap was down to one point after both teams had played 28 games. Also worth a mention is the shot of Newcastle United’s Miguel Almirón being royally upended by Huddersfield’s Tommy Smith. Needless to say Smith got a red card. March____________________ With Huddersfield and Fulham cut adrift long before Spring, Cardiff were the only team in the bottom three with any hope of staying up. Predictably, Neil Warnock flipped when Chelsea were wrongly awarded a late goal, despite it being clearly offside, as the Blues came from behind to beat the Bluebirds 2-1. Warnock stormed onto the pitch at the final whistle and stared at the officials before aiming his wrath at poor David Luiz. Forget the goals, Warnock going ballistic was the defining frame that day. April____________________ Many months overdue and with their brief title hopes having already evaporated, Tottenham finally exited Wembley and moved into their new home. And what a home. Costing £1 billion and designed by Christopher Lee, the 62,062-seater stadium was lit up by pre-match pyrotechnics for its first Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace. Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min became the first player to score there as he guided the Lilywhites to a winning start on home soil, but the back pages obviously lead with the immense spectacle which preceded it. May____________________ Vincent Kompany’s unexpected howitzer against Leicester was a pivotal goal in the title race. Yet the strike was so unexpected that almost no photographers were ready for it. To be fair to them, nor were Leicester’s defenders. Kompany hadn’t hit the target from outside the box since 2013 and even his manager and teammates were begging him not to try. The resulting image, seen from the opposite end of the pitch, captures the net bulging. Of course we would much prefer to have received better images of the strike itself, but somehow this one of the aftermath – a moment when no one in the stadium has fully comprehended Kompany’s success from 25 yards – feels quite apt. Though the final day of the season gave Liverpool fans brief hope, it was Pep Guardiola, not Klopp, who was pictured being thrown into the air in celebration at the final whistle. Source link The post Unforgettable photos: the best of the 2018-19 Premier League season | Football appeared first on 10z Soccer. #PremierLeague #ManchesterUnited #CrystalPalace

#PremierLeague #ManchesterUnited #CrystalPalace

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stroud5aside · 4 years

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Match Report - Friday 6 December - Only 5 Teams with 100% Records!

As we move into the ‘winter-national break’ our minds are inevitably turning towards Christmas and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you and your respective families a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. A key date for your diary is that the FNL returns on 3 January 2020, so moderate your alcohol and food intake over the Christmas period to keep those bodies fighting fit for the resumption of the season! You know it makes sense!

Tonight there were some epic games to take us into the Christmas break, in great spirit! And after just 2 games of the new season we have only 5 teams, in all 3 leagues, with 100% records! Its going to be a close season.

PREMIERSHIP

The two FNL heavyweights, Lioncourt Legends and Stroud Old Boys, with 9 Premiership titles between them, went head to head tonight in an eagerly awaited contest. And this game certainly didn’t disappoint as it lit up a cold, dreary December evening in what was a Christmas Cracker! George hit a screamer for Lioncourt to continue his recent goal scoring spree, but the difference between the teams was 'Scrooge' in the Stroud Old Boys goal, as Dom and his team won 7-3 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, at the top of the Premiership. Jack also had another fantastic games for the champions. By contrast Lioncourt go into the winter-national break at the foot of the Premiership! How times have changed in recent seasons, akin to Manchester City’s ‘dom-inance’ over Manchester United in recent times! How strange that they meet tomorrow, as well! But derby games are always unpredictable!

Breathing down the neck of Stroud Old Boys is Nawachusai FC who have also commenced the new season in ‘sparkling’ form. They showed no 'good tidings' as they defeated Netsix and Chill 8-3 in another spectacular game. This match was extremely close in the first half and at 1-1 at the interval there was no sign of the havoc that Nawachusai would create in the second half. It was almost like ‘Storm Atiyah’ had started early! Batten down that hatches this weekend if The Sun is to be believed! The game was marred however by a bad injury to one of the Netsix and Chill players and we wish you a speedy recovery.

Breakaway Boys FC returned to winning ways by defeating Premiership newcomers, Ebley Street Elite. However, Ebley will feel hard done by since they gave away a number of early 'Christmas presents' to Breakaway Boys, with some less than clinical finishing! So, it was Breakaway Boys that ended the evening in 'good cheer' with a hard fought 4-2 victory.

The other Premiership new boys also came unstuck with Warehouse Warriors going down 7-5 to SWR Youth FC. All the damage in this game was done in the first half with SWR running riot as they moved into a 5-1 interval lead. So Stroud Old Boys and Nawachusai go into the beak with maximum points whilst Ebley Street Elite and Lioncourt Legends only have ‘thems-Elves’ to blame to be pointless at Christmas!

DIVISION ONE

Coaley Crows head Division One after defeating Adidas All Stars 5-2 in this nail biter of a game. Coaley were ‘crowing’ at the final whistle after this fantastic victory achieved without their talisman James who was counting his assets in the lead up to Christmas!

Stroud7 have quickly adjusted to life in the higher league and were again able to 'sprinkle a little bit of magic' over their performance tonight as they defeated Average Joes 8-6. Star of the show, believe it or not, has to go to Ed Sheeran, who sang his way to a hat trick! Stroud7 also remain unbeaten alongside the Crows at the top.

Making Emile Of It, with man of the match Jay in their fold, defeated How I Met Your Mata 4-1 in another epic match. There were 2 bazaar goals in the first half, where a whistle on an adjoining pitch resulted in most players stopping, whilst Making Emile Of It took the lead! There was no disputing the second however, with a sublime goal that gave Making Emile Of It a 2-0 half time lead.

In the other match a weakened Spice Boys team, with Josh still injured from Everton’s pummelling by Liverpool in the week, went down 4-1 to Walker Construction. And but for Jay in the Spice Boys goal things could have been much worse. He was once again outstanding.

DIVISION TWO

Two of the leagues newcomers came head to head tonight with SWI FC facing Murder on Zidanes Floor. This always looked to be shaping up as a close match and in the end there was just one goal in it as SWI FC ran out 4-3 victors to place them at the top of the table at Christmas. But spare a thought for Murder on Zidanes Floor who are playing so well but are still looking for their first league win. I suspect it is not far away.

It is the ‘Spanners’ from Automech that are in second place after they ‘turned the screw’ on their rivals TGR in a tight 2-1 victory. The TGR engine spluttered to get going early on and like a finely tuned racing car, Automech raced into a 2-0 half time lead! But the ‘Tigers’ roared at half time and looked a different team that were difficult to contain after the break. With a ‘tiger in their tank’ they pulled themselves back into the game with a goal but just couldn’t claw themselves back to parity. So it was the ‘Spanners’ who ‘engineered’ their way to victory to ‘lubricate’ their climb up the table, 2-1!

Randwick Warriors against Vic Vets was also an intriguing battle with a few ‘ghosts of Christmas past’ on display but in the end it was the youngster Jay, in the Randwick goal, that haunted Vic Vets with a superb goalkeeping display. The ‘Cricketers’ ran out 2-1 winners to send them into ‘winter wonderland.’ S5 claimed all three points and a 3-0 win against The Legends.

NEWS

So that’s it lad’s, the end of the FNL for 2019. The FNL season resumes on Friday 3 January 2020 so please keep an eye on your emails over the Christmas period!

Medals for the winners and runners up of the Premiership, Division One and Division Two will be presented on Friday 3 January as well.

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celticnoise · 4 years

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JAMES FORREST Insists Celtic will not get involved in an action replay of last year’s loss at Ibrox.

The Hoops winger admitted he and his team-mates had to spend three weeks in the mid-winter break suffering the pain of a defeat against Steven Gerrard’s side.

Forrest, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “Last year we went into the break having been beaten. For weeks everyone was still feeling hurt so we want to change that this year.

“Normally, when you lose a game or have a bad result or performance, there’s always a game in three days and everyone believes they can put it right. But it was that waiting for three weeks for the next game.

“We obviously came back and had a really good run.

“We’ve won 11 games in the league now, so we couldn’t be in better form. The Betfred Cup Final was the same when we’d a good run going into that so the boys are feeling good.

“We just need one more big performance before the break and we’ll give it everything to get a result. We want to go into the break in a real positive attitude. It would put us in a good position in all competitions this season.

“No matter what happens the league isn’t finished but it would put us in a great place.”

The winger also boosted his own confidence with a first goal in eight games during the 2-1 Boxing Day triumph over St Mirren in Paisley.

Forrest, who netted the last-gasp winner when the teams last met at Parkhead in March, said: “When you’re an attacking player at Celtic you’re expected to score and provide assists, but the manager’s been really good at encouraging us and we could have scored four or five in our last few games.

“He kept calm and told us we were due some goals. I was happy to get one and help the team.

“I played up front against Hibs and I’ve been used on the left and right flanks and I enjoy playing in any position. It also helps your overall game and makes you better when you go back to your normal position.

“Some boys set themselves targets but I don’t like to look too far ahead. I always look to the next game, not five or 10 matches away, and just concentrate on working hard. I like to contribute.“Is there a goals competition between me and Ryan Christie? No. I don’t want that bet!”

Forrest’s goal against the Paisley side was created by Odsonne Edouard and he feels the Frenchman can be key again tomorrow.

He added: “He’s quality. Ask any of the wingers and forwards at the club and they’ll tell you they really enjoy playing with him.

“You get some strikers who will always looking out for themselves, but Odsonne’s got more about him, which is great for Ryan and myself.

“It doesn’t matter who he plays against, he always produces. That’s the sign of a big player.”

https://ift.tt/2Q7wQ3v

#CelticNoise #Celtic #CelticFC #CelticQuickNews

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monstersmonthly · 5 years

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A New Titan Cup Champion Highlights Hot Wheels Weekend

This year it seems many of the major tours have gone from having a “first quarter” schedule to almost actually having a “first third” of the year being part of one tour. That means more shows, and more opportunities for both victory and also breakage.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is entering into their fourth month of action, and began the month of April at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on a unique two-show weekend where both shows were early afternoon matinees for the North Carolina faithful. All the usual cast of drivers and trucks, along with the tour’s trusted hosts, were ready to welcome in the crowd for the first performance of the weekend, and each driver had their trucks prepared for the best of action.

Right off the get-go was the wheelie competition, which over the last few shows has been won by a multitude of drivers, but this afternoon was taken by the guy carrying the torch for the title sponsor.

Christian Norman stood the Hot Wheels Racing 1 Raptor on the wheelie bar with both hits, and the entire crowd was eating it up. They felt that ride was the best one of the show to that point, and the victory gave Norman the first lead on the night.

Between the events, a few teams decided to water things down, or at least the tires. The reason, the donut contest was up next, and the floor seemed to be a bit tacky compared to previous shows. So some decided in order to get the smoke to roll, they had to water the tires down to actually break traction and let the rubber spin. That seemed to work, but in the end the effort was for not.

The streak again continues on for Steven Snellen as he is getting closer to the 20-win mark in the donut competition, taking yet another one on the season.

Freestyle motocross entertained the fans long enough for the engines to cool down, because it was time to get the launchers ready to score a win in the long jump contest. Every truck lined up ready to soar, but just like a week ago, Derick Anson was on point with the hit, and his flight, because like a week ago, he soared to another win in the category. Three competitions and three different victors were the story heading towards intermission.

Teams were thrashing a bit to ensure each truck was prepared for the second half of the show, and that allowed Megasaurus to have a bit of a late lunch on a midsize car.

As the bracket went round by round, the cream rose to the top because a pair of previous winners made it to the finals, because Norman and Anson were set to throw down to determine the first major winner on the night. The light went green, and call it an advantage to have a slightly nose-down look, but Norman powered across the cars in the left lane enough to get the truck to the finish line first, claiming his second win of the night, and putting him in prime position for a title.

The floor was then cleared of every pylon and starting point, because it was time to get the freestyle finale going, and every truck was heading out fast, hard, and intense.

Each truck was pushing the envelope, but from the middle of the field, it was Norman’s teammate that made the most noise. Darron Schnell had his Bigfoot machine in prime condition, especially with his wife, Rebecca, turning the wrenches in between competition. It gave him the chance to put on a spectacular run, enough to take home the freestyle title. That win also allowed his teammate to secure his first Titan Cup since February, meaning the Bigfoot organization had a full sweep of the big events in show one.

The Titan Cup came home to Pacific, Missouri, and Norman shared in the victory with every fan that came through the autograph line.

SATURDAY RESULTS:

Wheelie Competition: Christian Norman, Hot Wheels Racing 1

Donut Contest: Steven Snellen, V8 Bomber

Long Jump: Derick Anson, Demo Derby

Racing Finals: Christian Norman, Hot Wheels Racing 1, def. Derick Anson, Demo Derby

Freestyle: Darron Schnell, Bigfoot

Titan Cup Champion: Christian Norman, Hot Wheels Racing 1

The unique setup for shows allowed a lot of time to prepare the machines for a second performance, and also to test a few new setups to make a better show.

By the time the Sunday Crash Zone opened to fans, each truck was looking excellent in both body lines and chassis setup, so it was clear the final show of the weekend was going to be huge for everyone in attendance. What it ultimately became was a first for a young driver that’s keeping on a family tradition.

Right off the get-go in the wheelie competition, the driver that made the biggest impression had yet to win a show. That was the Bone Shaker hot rod, piloted by Cody Holman, the son of Tiger Shark driver, Bobby. Each hit on the stacks stood the unique machine on the wheelie bar, and the crowd felt the young gun was the best on the afternoon, claiming his first wheelie win in almost one month.

The donut contest was more of the same, both in watering the tires and the finish, as Snellen spun another set of cyclones to keep his streak intact, although he came awfully close to the car stacks and that would have ended his run prematurely.

When the long jump portion of the afternoon approached, Holman again seemed to find the right gear, and the right moment. Holman soared the Bone Shaker far enough to let the front wheels land beyond every other truck, giving him a second win on the night, and already in position to stun the North Carolina crowd.

Still riding high from that win, even after intermission, Holman wanted more, and looked to get as far in racing as he could to make it even more challenging for his competitors. But, he would fall out in the semi-finals, which led to a match-up in the finals between Schnell and Anson.

It was reaction time that was the difference, as Anson fell behind and Schnell took advantage, taking home the racing win on the night and setting up a potential showdown in freestyle, as the Titan Cup was still undecided.

Even that competition was a stunner because it was Snellen who made the V8 Bomber shine. Combined with the usual donuts, he was able to also soar across the van stack and also use every inch of the floor to let the crowd see exactly what the retro Chevrolet could do in a full run. That freestyle was enough to get him the victory in freestyle, but it only tied Holman in the amount of wins on the night. So, a tie-breaker was needed to determine who the Cup was going to.

Because of his ability to go farther in racing, the entire crowd roared when it was Holman that was awarded the trophy, as it was his first of the season, one week after his father earned his first Titan Cup. It took nearly the entire season, but officially every driver on the tour can say they won a Titan Cup, and got to hold that trophy high as they waved to the fans who spent their day seeing toys become reality.

SUNDAY RESULTS:

Wheelie Competition: Cody Holman, Bone Shaker

Donut Contest: Steven Snellen, V8 Bomber

Long Jump: Cody Holman, Bone Shaker

Racing Finals: Darron Schnell, Bigfoot, def. Derick Anson, Demo Derby

Freestyle: Steven Snellen, V8 Bomber

Titan Cup Champion: Cody Holman, Bone Shaker

The final show during the inaugural winter-spring tour for the Hot Wheels Live tour happens next weekend. Charlottesville, Virginia, is the site of the final two shows of the inaugural season, at the John Paul Jones Arena. A Saturday night, and a Sunday afternoon, show will highlight the activities, with each having a Crash Zone to let fans get right next to the real-life trucks that match what they find on the shelves at Target, Walmart, and other retailers.

Visit the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live site to get your info for the show, and get those tickets, to experience the finale of the first winter tour for this series.

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thefootballlife · 5 years

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The Update 02/04/19

Slovenian Prva Liga

Results this weekend

Domzale 1 Olimpija 3

Maribor 1 Celje 1

Rudar 2 Gorica 2

Krsko 1 Triglav 3

Mura 3 Aluminij 0

This weekend’s games

Triglav vs Maribor

Celje vs Domzale

Gorica vs Mura

Olimpija vs Rudar

Aluminij vs Krsko

Current table

If Krsko weren’t done before, they most certainly are now. Triglav’s impressive spring continued with a controversial win over the relegation near-certainties that saw interesting refereeing, a double for Luka Majcenl and Marko Zalokar headbutting the opposition. The result, ultimately, changed little in terms of the machinations at the bottom of the table save for pulling Triglav further clear and they have a chance against a fairly stuttering Maribor team at the weekend to put their credentials to aim higher to the test.

Speaking of Maribor, Celje pushed them at the weekend in an intriguing game that saw Celje dominate the shots racked up yet not find a way to get the three points against Maribor. Maribor’s season should have put them in a place where the title is certain but this, combined with Olimpija’s impressive win over Domzale starts to move their lead to be uncomfortably close and they could certainly do with a win over Triglav or an Olimpija slip to restore their lead to double figures. The side are drifting at the minute and need a spark from somewhere - Darko Milanic may pay the price for that but it’s possibly fair to say there are issues elsewhere in the hierarchy also.

The race for Europe is hotting up also between Domzale, Celje, Aluminij and Mura. It’d be fair to say Aluminij may be on their way out of contention for that given their understandable drop off in form after their sales over the winter, but Mura are definitely in it and are a different team when Luka Bobicanec is in the side - they have to deal with the Bosnian connection of Halilovic and Smajlagic at Gorica this coming weekend and a win could put them third.

Croatian Prva Liga

Results this weekend

Slaven Belupo 2 Rudes 1

Osijek 2 Gorica 2

Lokomotiva 1 Rijeka 2

Dinamo 1 Inter Zapresic 0

Istra 0 Hajduk 2

Midweek games

Gorica vs Lokomotiva

Rijeka vs Slaven Belupo

Inter Zapresic vs Osijek

Hajduk vs Dinamo

Rudes vs Istra

Current Table

The clashes of those battling for third ended pretty much in a stalemate with the net winners of the weekend being Hajduk. Since the break, they have found a nice rhythm and balance to their attack and the attacking trio of Jairo, Tahiraj and Caktas has worked out so far. That said, it’s this next week that will decide their season - Dinamo in midweek and Osijek at the weekend. To ask for two wins would be unlikely, but Hajduk could easily be third come this Sunday and looking to consolidate that as the season goes on. Certainly, this is probably the best time to meet either side - Dinamo are winding down a little after their European exploits and Osijek have lost a manager and are in a bit of a crisis.

That managerial issue came straight after Osijek’s draw against Gorica as Zoran Zekic resigned straight after the game, ostensibly due to burnout and feeling he’d taken the club as far as he could. It has been a trying few weeks for the club and it’s hard not to expect a further slide as things go on. It’s also well worth noting that Zekic is rumoured to be in line to take over at Maribor because, well, Zahovic gonna Zahovic.

Obviously, the game of the midweek is the derby at Poljud. I am always loathe to back Hajduk but this is one where they have a live chance in. Dinamo are relentless but there are signs that they are starting to tire and relax - they’re 17 points clear with 10 games to go so they can be forgiven that. At the very least, I expect an entertaining watch.

Serbian Superliga

Results this weekend

Proleter 3 Backa 0

Spartak 1 Mladost 0

Dinamo Vranje 1 Vojvodina 3

Radnicki Nis 2 Rad 0

Cukaricki 2 Radnik 0

Crvena Zvezda 2 Macva 1

Napredak 1 Partizan 0

Vozdovac 3 Zemun 1

Midweek Games

Zemun vs Spartak

Rad vs Vozdovac

Backa vs Crvena Zvezda

Mladost vs Napredak

Macva vs Radnicki Nis

Proleter vs Dinamo Vranje

Radnik vs Vojvodina

Partizan vs Cukaricki

Current Table

With 2 games left to the split, there are still three Championship Group places up for grabs and, with points halving after the split, the title race is still trundling on and, while the gap between Crvena Zvezda and Radnicki Nis is 7 points at the moment, the likelihood both will win their pre-split games will mean that rounding of the halved points will make that gap only 3 points after game 30. Given Crvena Zvezda have only dropped 6 points all season, it’s incredible to think that the gap could possibly be that close as we enter the final stretch of the season.

Partizan, however, are nowhere amongst this and teetering on the edge of a full-blown crisis as Savo Milosevic’s first game in charge turned into a nightmare. Napredak had only scored once since the break and conceded ten yet won as Partizan adjusted to a 4-1-4-1 with a performance as flat as their lines and racked up injuries to go with it. Combine that with Cukaricki’s routine win over Radnik and Partizan have slipped to fourth in a two-team league. Partizan’s clash with Cukaricki headlines the midweek games and a Partizan loss would be massively damaging for the club.

The bottom of the table stayed stable in spite of Dinamo Vranje’s Nikola Peric being responsible for one of my favourite ever goalkeeping errors. Rad have now gone over six months without a win yet still aren’t in the relegation places, which highlights just how amazing Serbian football is.

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freebetalerts-blog · 5 years

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European Football Preview: Can Juventus end 2018 undefeated in Serie A?

(New post on FreeBetAlerts.com) - https://freebetalerts.com/2018/12/21/european-football-preview-can-juventus-end-2018-undefeated-in-serie-a/ #Football, #Freebets, #Tips

European Football Preview: Can Juventus end 2018 undefeated in Serie A? Please share.

Serie A continues apace through the Christmas period and serves up a classic between Juventus and Roma on Saturday night, as our European football columnist James Horncastle reports…

The Bianconceri have shipped just eight league goals all season and have recorded clean sheets in each of their last five games.

The impeccable Old Lady Juventus v RomaSaturday, 19:30 Live on Eleven Sports 1 and Betfair Live VideoJuventus looked tired in the Turin derby. The gauntlet of games which has also taken in Fiorentina and Inter continues but without the Champions League. A full week to rest, recuperate and prepare should make for a better performance. Roma, meanwhile, returned to winning ways last weekend coming back from behind twice to beat Genoa 3-2 at the Olimpico. It did little to convince anyone that the team’s problems are over, though, and Eusebio Di Francesco remains under scrutiny. The outcome of this game is unlikely to influence his future – although a win would certainly restore faith. How Roma do against Sassuolo and Parma is likely to have a greater bearing as to whether they make a change over the winter break. Roma have never won at the Allianz Stadium and while Edin Dzeko and Daniele De Rossi look set to return to the squad, both are unlikely to be fit enough to play 90 minutes or even start. Speculation continues to mount around the future of Patrick Schick who, as Roma’s only fit striker, suffered the ignominy of being dropped for the Genoa game after a barren run of one goal in six straight starts. It doesn’t help that it’s the time of the year when Juventus find the right balance and lock things down at the back. The Bianconceri have shipped just eight league goals all season and have recorded clean sheets in each of their last five games.Some luck has been involved in that streak. Think of the chances Inter had in the Derby d’Italia when Roberto Gagliardini struck the post and the penalty decisions that did not go Torino’s way in the Derby della Mole. But with Giorgio Chiellini in the form of his life the task facing Roma is uphill to say the least. Take a Juventus win to nil @ [2.4] or better.Vulnerable MilanMilan v FiorentinaSaturday, 14:00Live on Betfair Live VideoRino Gattuso labelled his team mediocre after Tuesday night’s draw in Bologna. It was Milan’s second 0-0 in a row and felt like two points dropped. Not because of the chances they created. Gonzalo Higuain remains out of sorts. More because of the calibre of opposition. Bologna look set for a season-long relegation battle unless owner Joey Saputo intervenes and either dismisses Pippo Inzaghi or upgrades the team in the January transfer window. Complicating matters for Gattuso is the cost of the point. Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off and his midfield partner Franck Kessie will also be missing when Fiorentina visit on Saturday after reaching the yellow card limit. The pair of them were just about holding Milan’s midfield together following the injuries sustained by Lucas Biglia and Giacomo Bonaventura. Players many people forget play for Milan will be in the middle. Players like Jose Mauri and Andrea Bertolacci which does not inspire great confidence. Milan have to hope Fiorentina’s problems on the road continue. We’re almost at the winter break and Stefano Pioli’s side are still without a win away from the Artemio Franchi. Saturday’s game represents a great opportunity particularly as Milan could be considered competition for the place they covet in the Europa League. Fiorentina ended a nine-game winless run last weekend, a streak distinguished more by draws [six] than defeats [two]. Giovanni Simeone has hit form again after going fourteen hours without a goal. He has scored in back-to-back games as has journeyman Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas. Both are worth looking at in the Scorers market. This feels as good a time as any to back Fiorentina to pick up a win outside of Tuscany. Take Pioli’s young bunch @ [3.5].Raging BullSassuolo v TorinoSaturday, 14:00Live on Betfair Live VideoTorino were in sixth last weekend but now find themselves down in 11th, so tight is the race for qualification for the Europa League. The Granata were overtaken by Saturday’s opponents Sassuolo but must count themselves unlucky after matching Juventus in the Turin derby only to lose amid some controversy. Walter Mazzarri felt with some justification that his side merited two penalties and remains convinced that were it not for certain refereeing decisions this season Torino would have between eight and 10 more points. This weekend’s trip to Reggio Emilia won’t faze them even though Sassuolo are one of the most innovative and exciting teams to watch under Roberto de Zerbi. Impressive in Frosinone last weekend where they ran out 2-0 winners, it was a rare case of the Neroverdi obtaining the result their performance deserved. A little like Fiorentina, another fresh-faced side, schoolboy mistakes have let Sassuolo down and were what lay behind a run of one win in nine. Kevin Prince Boateng has also been a big miss and the sooner he comes back the better. Then Sassuolo can rediscover the blend of skill and experience that made them so dangerous in the final third at the start of the campaign. Another thing holding them back is the team’s form at the Mapei where they are without a win since September. Given Torino are currently on a club record-matching unbeaten run on the road, stretching back 10 games, expect Mazzarri and his boys to fancy themselves of coming away with all three points. It certainly helps that Andrea Belotti enjoys playing against them. Il Gallo has two goals and two assists in his last two appearances against Sassuolo. Take Torino to win @ [2.96].

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cubesbob · 7 years

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Unllike the Portuguese coach, the Tottenham manager plays football the 'United Way' and has a better chance of building a legacy at his club

It may have seemed like a tactical masterstroke at the time, but the folly of Jose Mourinho’s defensive set-up at in a much-hyped derby clash with Liverpool was brutally exposed last Sunday.

Manchester United had headed to Anfield full of vigour, gleefully swatting teams aside with an abundance of goals and flair. Mourinho played to type, though, and set his side out to earn a 0-0 draw. They did.

Last Sunday, Liverpool headed to Wembley to play a Tottenham side on a roll, having earned a superb 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the Bernabeu the week prior. Unlike Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino decided to go for the jugular.

Harry Kane was supported by the pace of Son Heung-Min from the left flank, while Dele Alli was given freedom to roam the spaces so regularly left by Liverpool’s shoddy defensive play, and Spurs won 4-1, with Kane scoring twice, Son and Alli once apiece. It was, by no exaggeration, a rout, and thoroughly embarrassing for several Liverpool players: not least Dejan Lovren.

Twenty-four hours prior, Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 to Huddersfield Town.

Here, then, is a difference between two managers in a microcosm. Where Pochettino attacked, Mourinho defended. Perhaps both got what they deserved in their respective games against Liverpool – a point earned is a point gained, as some say – but one must wonder how Pochettino would have set up his team if he had been the man stepping off the United team coach two weeks ago.

It nearly came to pass. Louis van Gaal was sacked in 2016, and Pochettino was spotted leaving a luxurious London restaurant with Sir Alex Ferguson just a few weeks later, along with his assistant Jesus Perez. They had shared wine, talked, Pochettino had reportedly asked for advice. Reports in the media swirled like winter’s first snowflakes; would Pochettino be the man to replace Van Gaal, having worked wonders since taking over at Spurs?

It is a case of what might have been. In reality, United were pragmatic, opting to secure the marquee manager of Mourinho instead of the promise of Pochettino. United had endured lean years, thus it made sense that a proven winner would be taking the job – but the decision appears ever more risky as the months tick by.

Mourinho and Pochettino will go head-to-head this weekend, and the encounter is an intriguing one, both on the pitch and off it. Spurs and United are level on points in the Premier League, and the winner of the match could well solidify themselves as the true challengers to Manchester City’s seemingly endless title charge. Yet in the dugouts, too, there will be intrigue.

Such has been the level of the former Argentina defender’s success in north London, the usually phlegmatic club chairman, Daniel Levy, said just weeks ago that he would like Pochettino to sign on for 15 years at the club.

“I would love nothing more than Mauricio still to be our manager in 10 to 15 years' time,” the Spurs chairman wrote in a new book about Pochettino, titled ‘Brave New World’.

“To really build success you need time, longevity. It's easy to go and become a manager at Real Madrid, for instance.

“It's a fantastic club, don't get me wrong, but winning at Tottenham Hotspur is far greater than winning at Real Madrid — and he agrees.

“Mauricio wants this sense of achievement, this recognition, to be the main guy. And at this club, he can be the main guy.”

Mourinho, last season, took United from fourth to sixth, while Pochettino again took Tottenham to a title challenge, playing some truly breathtaking football. Spurs are quick, incisive, and able to change their gameplan at will. Tottenham have brutalized teams, thumping the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and United since the Argentine took over.

They play football “the United way”, and it is not difficult to envisage the latter building a legacy at Spurs, in the same vein as Ferguson at United.

Yet, for Mourinho – pragmatist extraordinaire, who regularly sets up a team blessed with magnificent attacking players to avoid defeat – United is another job.

He does not intend to retire at the club , and may seek alternative employment at another super club if he does not achieve the success that United’s investment calls for – the club spent nearly £150m in the summer – and the whispers are that PSG are interested. United are keen for him to sign a new deal, but he has also talked up the prospect of managing Portugal in the past. Unlike his Spurs counterpart, he has not been setting down roots.

And therein lies the rub. Pochettino is setting himself up for the next five and 10 years, he has a vision, a project, and the support of his chairman to go and achieve it. He has overachieved thus far, willed on by the goals of Kane, but silverware surely cannot be far away.

Mourinho is, as always, living in the moment, eager to see success now, instead of building for it later. It has bitten him before, bringing an ignominious end to reigns at Chelsea, twice, and Real Madrid, and it might well bite him again.

There may not be pangs of jealousy towards Spurs at United just yet, but another implosion in the dugout would surely leave the club regretting allowing Pochettino to slip through their fingers.

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theleaderdotinfo-blog · 7 years

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COSTA BLANCA BOWLS ROUNDUP - 3 JUNE 17 has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/06/03/costa-blanca-bowls-roundup-3-june-17/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2017/06/03/costa-blanca-bowls-roundup-3-june-17/

COSTA BLANCA BOWLS ROUNDUP - 3 JUNE 17

EMERALD ISLE BOWLS CLUB

Firstly well done to Paul Parkes and Pat Heaney for making the Pairs final and also well done to all who took part in Nationals

Monday brought Monte Mar to the Emerald Isle and with the visitors not having a full team the EI ran out winners 14-0, aggregate 129-55. The winners were C Lindgren W/O, M Highland 21-20, M Veale J Mulloy 18-8, J Parkes R White P Parkes 29-11, S Wickens C Highland M Odell AM Stevenson 21-9, C Thomas J Westall J Pooley D Gerrard 30-7.5

Wed the Earls played Quesada Tigers at home and had a very good 10- 4 win with an aggregate of 100-88 and the winners were C Parsons 21-7, A Brown F King 24-8, J Redfern B Doran B Allen 20-14, J Jarvis B Eldred E Shepherd, J Mullarkey 17-15.

Friday saw the Victors travel to La Siesta and record a good 10-4 win with the aggregate of 118-86. winners M Highland M Parsons D Gerrard 26-3, S Johnson C Highland D Birkett 22-16, J Pooley D Close Ann Marie Stevenson 19-12, S Wickens M Veale M Odell 17-14

Friday also saw the Vulcans play Greenlands Gladiators at home and they won by 8-6 with an aggregate of 116-101, winning trips were T Capewell S Watson G Roberts 29-9, M Foulds E Morris J Mullarkey 18-14, J Redfern R Fooks B Allen 20-18

SOUTH ALICANTE SPITFIRE DIVISION (A) 2017 WK 6

GREENLANDS BOWLS CLUB

Results from the South Alicante Hurricane Division, Greenlands Gladiators were away to Emerald Isle Vulcans.

Final score was – Total shots for – 101. Against – 116. Points for – 6 against – 8.

Winning rinks were – Janet Bliss, Margaret Dewar, skip Dave Dudding. – 18 shots to 17. Sheila Stead, Dave Giddings, skip Jim Oliver. 21 shots to 16. Jean Thompson, Janet Webb, skip Dave Thompson. 21 shots to 16.

Greenlands Bowls Club are seeking new members to add to their Summer and Winter league teams. All new members will have an equal opportunity to play whether they be new or experienced bowlers. Interested?? Then please contact Haley on 966844399.

SOUTH ALICANTE HURRICANE DIVISION (B) WK 6 2017

MONTE MAR BOWLS AND SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad and Avalon

Monte Mar Torros v La Marina Pilots

Friday June 2nd

A very competitive and enjoyable match against our near neighbours La Marina Pilots.

The teams shared the rinks with both teams winning on three rinks with the Pilots winning on shots.

Shots Torros 97 – 101 Pilots. Points Torros 6 – 8 Pilots.

Well done to our winning rinks, Sue Bounds, Joan Harding and skip Graham Smyth. Keith Simpson, Leslie Jones and skip Dave Melville. Harry Dobson, Mike Farrelly and skip Bill Young.

For further information about Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club check out our website www.montemarbowls.com or email us at [email protected]. We are also on Facebook.

SOUTH ALICANTE HARRIER DIVISION (C) WK 6 2017

SAN MIGUEL BOWLS CLUB

San Miguel Moors played San Miguel Christians winning 11 points to 3. Moors winners were Eileen Potts, Peter Ross, Ros Stockell 21-14; William Holden, Joe Getgood, Alan Dobie 21-12; Bill Moseley, Barbara Scotthern, Eddie Cowan 21-12; David Champion, Frank Scotthern, Jack Jackson 16-11; Cliff & Linda Plaisted, Bob Donnelly drew 19 all against Ken Hope, Brian Allen, Reg Cooper. Winners for the Christians were Anita Brown, Alan Campbell, John Marshall 24-12. Shots for the Moors 110, the Christians 92.

In the VCL the Deputies had a bye, No results received for the Sheriffs.

Club mornings still ongoing, Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 0945 for 1015, WASPS on Wednesdays afternoons, come along for 1.30pm, €5 for an afternoons bowling, use of shoes and woods, and free tuition if required.

For further details on San Miguel Bowls Club, please contact the President, Ros Stockell, telephone 965329778 or Secretary, Pat McEwan, telephone 966714257.

LA MARINA REPORT BY BARRY LATHAM

Here we go then last month of the Summer Leagues. Everything to play for, the Pilots to win their league and in the VCL, La Marina not to get relegated. Best of luck to both. We did alright in the VCL getting six points off a very strong San Luis Falcons side remembering they won the league last year. Three wins each but the Falcons got the overall shots for the extra two points. Our winners were in the Ladies Singles with Janet Parsons winning 21-6, in the rinks Dave O’Sullivan, Garth Slater, Tom Spencer and Dave Hadaway had a 18-11 win and very excitingly Barbara Forshaw, Mike Smith, Jean Perchard and Terry Perchard won on the very last end by three.

Looking at the score sheet it could have been so easily 12-2 to the Pilots as two of our rinks only lost by one shot. Instead we beat Monte Mar Torre 8-6 away from home. So well done to all to keep us up towards the top. Jean Tregoing, Rob and Margaret Finlayson won21-16 with Garth Slater, Carol Smith and Dave Taylor getting two more points winning 21 -14. While Barbara Forshaw, Mike Smith and Tom Spencer came up trumps with a 17-14 win.

Usually at this time of the year folk are thinking about moving clubs or people are about to move out here for a better life in Spain. If you are one of those people why not come and join us at La Marina, friendly, happy club with a good social life out of bowls. Great for new bowlers as we provide coaching. If you are interested give our Captain Steve Hindle a call on 966184360.

VISTABELLA BOWLS REPORT

With Lynne Bishop.

we have to congratulate Martin Foulcer who was defending his title in the Spanish Nationals Men’s Singles, he did exceptionally well and reached the semi-final only to be defeated by Brian Robertson (Mazarron) who went on to win the 2017 title.

Back to league bowls this week, kicking off with a VCL derby between our Saxons and the Vikings the Saxons being the home team. First result to come in was the Ladies Singles with Lin Watkins (S) 21-14 (V) Sandra Burrows. Men’s Singles Ian Kenyon (S) 13-21 (V) Martin Foulcer. Pairs, Del Gunning & Peter Whitehall (S) 25-12 (V) Pauline & Pat Rafferty. Triples, Beryl Regan, Brian Pointon & Mike Regan (S) 16-16 (V) Neil Burrows, Stuart Allman & Brian Dunn. Rinks, Mike Irwin, Sheila Whitehall, Jeff Neve & Barry Norris (S) 10-23 (V) Jenny Chaplin, Andy Leggatt, Dave Chaplin & Eric Bishop. Rinks, Ron Smith, Charlie Watkins, Les Barber & Dave Jenkins (S) 15-16 (V) Frank Barclay, Barbara Brown, Bert Ewart & Arthur Brown.

The shots were very close, Saxons 100 (5) – 102 (9) Vikings.

SAL League. The Fairways at home v San Luis Wellingtons, they had three teams taking full points and a drawn game, E Blythe, C Watkins & B Pain 31-11. M Foulcer, B Brown & M Furness 19-8. L Bishop, J Bowman & I Kenyon 21-12 and G Paylor, A Brown & K Cuthbert 14-14. Shots, VB 114(9) – 85(5) SL.

The Greeners v Quesada Lancasters had a good away result, winning on four rinks but just missed out on the long game! S Cox, S Whitehall & L Barber 21-6. M Irwin, S Norris & P Rafferty 25-14. R Smith B Pointon & B Corbishly 25-15. D Gunning, D Chaplin & D Jenkins 20-18. Shots, VB 105(8) – 109(6) Q.

Both teams are doing exceptionally well in the league, keep up the good work.

#Costa Blanca Bowls Roundup

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thisdaynews · 4 years

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Scottish Premiership: Celtic v Rangers - team news & build-up

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/scottish-premiership-celtic-v-rangers-team-news-build-up/

Scottish Premiership: Celtic v Rangers - team news & build-up

#build-up #Rangers

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celticnoise · 7 years

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CQN called this morning for a new song to be fond quickly for Paddy Roberts as the player makes up his mind whether to stay on in Glasgow on a permanent basis.

If he decides to stay, and Stuart Armstrong’s new contract is announced, as expected, next week then it will make a perfect season for Celtic supporters even better.

It is one year to the day that Brendan Rodgers walked into Celtic Park.

The initial plan was to have him introduced to the supporters on the Celtic Way. That was quickly changed and the club decided that the interest was so great that the South Stand would be opened. Even that was not enough as over 13,000 Celtic supporters turned up on a gloriously sunny May evening – and it is worth noting that Leigh Griffiths was also there – to welcome Brendan to Paradise.

The sun hasn’t really stopped shining on Celtic ever since as far as the football is concerned. Everything in the garden, it seems, is as rosy as it could be, thanks to Brendan Rodgers.

On the field he has transformed the players he welcomed back from their short holidays a few weeks later. The football this season has been an absolute joy to watch.

And off the field too the fans have responded and they too have been creative and inspiring in their song writing abilities.

We are leaving out the Tribute to the Lisbon Lions on the 67th minute this season as we will do something different with that, and we don’t want to risk the Lions not winning!

So we thought we’d look back at the new songs that have been introduced into the Celtic songbook this season and ask you to vote for your Celtic Song of the Year…

SONG NUMBER 1 – HERE I AM LORD FOR BRENDAN RODGERS

Brendan Rodgers was unveiled on 20 May 2016 to over 13,000 Celtic supporters in the Glasgow sunshine and within a week, the support had a song for the new boss, penned in late May, to the tune of ‘Here I am Lord’, it was one of the new songs that took us into the Champions League qualifiers and began our defence of the title. Although the hymn has quite a slow melody, the Celtic support gave it a rapturous hearing it at full-time in Celtic Park versus Hapoel Be’er Sheva. This was a sound and sight to behold, especially given the emotions of that night.

SONG NUMBER 2 – AIN’T NOBODY LIKE DEMBELE

Celtic signed the highly rated French teenager Moussa Dembele, as exclusively revealed on CQN, and we couldn’t wait to see just how good a player he was. Early performances and goals, one agsinst Be’er Sheva and a late penalty versus Astana, earned him his own song. However, not contented with just ONE song for our young French hero, the Celtic support gave him a SECOND song following his hat-trick against the comedy club Sevco Rangers in September and brace against Manchester City in the Champions League to the tune of ‘Ain’t Nobody’. Goals in the Betfred Cup semi and final, a goal at Ibrox as well as Champions League goals made both these songs regular fixtures around Celtic Park and away grounds.

SONG NUMBER 3- GRACE

On the night of Celtic’s Champions League classic against Manchester City, then Premier League leaders, the Celtic support singing the Irish folk song ‘Grace’ was beamed around the world. This is the saddest of all love songs and is about Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunket, who were parted by Plunket’s execution by the British following his role in signing the Declaration during the Easter Rising of 1916.

SONG NUMBER 4- LAST CHRISTMAS

The Celtic support were so impressed with their new manager ahead of the club’s League Cup final that they gave Brendan a second song, to Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’. The song debuted in 2014 as a tribute to the much liked Ronny Deila – albeit to a lesser extent; however, Rodgers’ rendition had more meaning and more widespread support as it was sung away to Kilmarnock as Celtic debuted the pink kit for the first and only time. The disappointing game – which Celtic won 1-0- on a freezing cold night in Ayrshire is remembered mostly for the pink shirt and the Wham classic.

SONG NUMBER 5 – SCOTTY SINCLAIR AND THE LOGICAL SONG

Scotty Sinclair has rejuvenated his career under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and since his opening-day winner at Tynecastle, he has been in brilliant form scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances for the club, as well as earning the Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards. Last night he also picked up the CSA Player of the Year Award in the Kerrydale Suite. However, Sinclair’s form earned him the ultimate respect from the Celtic faithful – his own song and what a cracker it is! Taking the ravers’ classic ‘The Logical Song’ by German DJ Scooter – who once attended a Celtic match at Motherwell with CQN Magazine – and turning it into a classic that has been heard in and around grounds all season. The creative lyrics were first loudly heard at Partick Thistle in December. Although, when Sinclair put his low shot past Wes Foderingham in front of 8,000 Celtic fans at Ibrox on Hogmannay; the song erupted and was belted out in tremendous fashion. Since then, the song has been widely adopted and become a go-to for the support.

SONG NUMBER 6 – ‘WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE’ FOR DEDRYCK BOYATA

You’d be forgiven if you’d thought that Belgian defender, Dedryck Boyata, had left Celtic when Brendan Rodgers came in. The 26-year-old was behind Erik Sviatchenko, Jozo Šimunović and even Kolo Toure and was nowhere near the first team squad. He did play in that pink strip at Kilmarnock but that was it.

However after the winter break he came back into the side against Albion Rovers and has never looked back, forming a great partnership with big Jozo. Good performances, as well as goals against St Johnstone and Aberdeen, saw big Dedryck rewarded with a song of his own – to the tune of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’. Boyata’s own song jokes about the fact that his compatriot, Hoops loanee and former City teammate Jason Denayer didn’t sign at Celtic but Boyata was his replacement. Boyata’s goal against Sevco Rangers at Ibrox was greeted with the Boyata song as Celtic celebrated their fourth on the road to a 5-1 skelping.

SONG NUMBER 7 – KIERAN TOURNEY’S SECOND SONG

Kieran Tierney, who enjoys a great relationship with Celtic support, asked the supporters for a new song after singing the Boyata song to his teammates. He was rewarded with a song that started to be song in March. His passion and love for Celtic has made him a favourite, not to mention his successful performances on the pitch which have seen him pick up numerous rewards despite having three months injured. The song has been widely used but due to the slower nature of it, it still has to catch fully.

SONG NUMBER 8 – THIS IS HOW IT FEELS

With one seasonal and one hymn to his name, Brendan Rodgers was given a new song to the Manchester classic ‘This Is How It feels’ by the Inspiral Carpets. The song debuted the week after Celtic thumped Hearts 5-0 to clinch the league and in the Kilmarnock match, the song became widespread as Brendan pointed ten fingers to the Paradise sky. The song has become an instant hit with the support ever since it was loudly sung for around 10 minutes straight in Dingwall in April. Celtic fans will also point to their back-to-back Glasgow derby successes which gave the song a platform within the party atmosphere enjoyed during the 2-0 and 5-1 wins.

SONG NUMBER 9 – THE STUART ARMSTRONG SONG

This is the newest song and one of the best for the Celtic player that Brendan moved to ‘Centre Mid’ and compliments the player on his great goals and his hair! It was sung loudly on Thursday evening at Firhill and many fans were enjoying learning the words.

SONG NUMBER 10 – THE LARSSON SONG FOR PADDY ROBERTS

Strictly speaking this song shouldn’t be included as it hasn’t actually been sung yet. However CQN called for the support to sing it tomorrow as the player has an important decision to make over the next few weeks. Read this HERE and you will appreciate why the song has been added to our top ten.

SO WHICH ONE IS THE BEST AND DESERVES TO BE RECOGNISED AS THE BEST CELTIC SONG OF THE SEASON? VOTE NOW!

There we have it, the Celtic soundtrack to 2016/17 and it has been a successful and creative one. Celtic have been phenomenal on the park and the travelling support has been fabulous – especially given we had to make it to the Highlands twice for midweek games, and twice for 12 Ko’s. Which is your favourite Celtic anthem from this season?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

http://ift.tt/2rCBhUC

#CelticNoise #Celtic #CelticFC #CelticQuickNews

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thefootballlife · 7 years

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Five names that should be at the top of the list for Celtic’s new recruitment guru

1 - Nikola Milenkovic (Partizan)

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Rumoured to have been scouted during the recent derby with Red Star, Milenkovic is seen as one of the top defensive prospects in Europe and, at 19, has already been capped at senior level for Serbia - albeit as part of a Superliga derived squad that got thrashed by Qatar. The one stumbling block is that Milenkovic has already been strongly linked to Italy, with moves to both Juventus and Fiorentina hinted at by teammates and by the Serbian media. With Partizan banned from European competition, it seems almost certain that he will move this summer and a likely price would be in the region of £5m - putting him in line with the price paid for Jozo Simunovic. He is a naturally imposing figure and it is that Simunovic comparison that should be seen as most similar - no nonsense, tough tackling and simply getting the job done are what he is best at: Virgil van Dijk-style forays from defence are not his game.

But, Italy is by far his most likely destination and Celtic surely already knew that meaning they could have been looking at…

2 - Uros Durdevic (Partizan)

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Durdevic returned to Serbia after an unsuccessful time at Palermo and hit the ground running thanks to the excellent support provided from the flanks at Partizan. He has already come out to say he wishes to try his hand in a larger league at the end of the season. His form at Partizan has got him into the proper Serbian squad for the upcoming qualifier - the only domestically based player to do so. Sunderland and Sampdoria have shown an interest in him. While 12 in 17 this season at Partizan is nothing to be sniffed at, his previous disappointments in Western European Leagues would make him a particularly risky prospect. Celtic have form on strikers that don’t quite make it and it’s arguable as to whether Durdevic may have just found his level as a top striker in Serbia but not quite good enough to make the step up past there. He would be available for around £3m.

3 - Luka Zahovic (Maribor)

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This writer’s love for Zahovic Jr is hardly a secret but, with 13 in 16 in the Slovenian league this season (a league better all over than Serbia) and with him having clearly progressed this season, he has gone from a kid who moved to the Netherlands and wasn’t equipped at that point to make it to a confident striker who looks to have it all. His recent goal vs Gorica saw him compared to no less a striker than Robbie Fowler and were Moussa Dembele to be sold, Zahovic would come in and Celtic would not miss a beat. Few young strikers can offer that sort of possibility from Day One but a continuation of the form he is already showing at Maribor at the slightly higher level of Scottish football would bring his game on while also ensuring a highly respectable goals rate.

That puts Zahovic as a Dembele replacement or, at the very least, as a striker on the same level of potency as Leigh Griffiths - no small achievement given his tender age. The manner of his return to Maribor (using family connections to go back at a knock down price for the sole purpose of being sold on at a far higher price this summer) would still mean a record sale for Maribor but at an entirely reasonable price of about £2.5m - he certainly has more about him than previous Maribor striker sale Etien Velikonja ever did.

4 - Franko Andrijasevic (Rijeka)

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Andrijasevic was, for a time, one of the hottest prospects in Croatia. A poor move to Dinamo slowed his growth but, freed at Rijeka now, he has grown into the Croatian league’s most impressive player. He showed potential as a prospect at Hajduk and showed signs that would be realised at Lokomotiva but it is this season he has truly confirmed it. For that he was rewarded with a return to the national side and repaid that faith by scoring against Chile.

But it's Andrijasevic’s mental strength that really sets him apart. Americans would describe him as clutch - when it really matters, he turns up. In the four games either side of the winter break, Andrijasevic single handedly won every game for his side providing both goals vs RNK Split, the only goal vs Istra, two goals vs Osijek to take Rijeka from 2-1 down to winning 3-2 and forcing an own goal for the winner vs Inter Zapresic. If anything, he is similar to Tom Rogic except with far greater physical attributes - equally comfortable in playing the Rogic Trequartista role or playing deeper in the Stuart Armstrong role. It is not for nothing that the Croatian press are indicating he should be mentioned in the same breath as Kramaric, Rakitic and Kovacic - Andrijasevic may be a far later bloomer but at around £3m, the potential upside and future fee as a sell on if he hits the ground running is immense.

5 - Linus Wahlqvist (Norrkoping)

The heir to Mikael Lustig’s position at right back internationally has been linked with a move to Valencia and to Leeds but his differences to Lustig may be what makes him perfect for Celtic. Less liable to go to ground and clear a player out, Wahlqvist has a nice ability when it comes to squaring a winger up and taking the ball while also staying on his feet as his pace allows him the time to do that. In attack, while he may not have the cross that Lustig has, he does have superior passing ability and plenty of power in the shot as well. That does not mean he will naturally always cut inside but it is an ability he has, which makes him far more difficult to defend against as anyone trying to mark him will have to cope with having to choose whether to allow him to cut in and shoot or to push him outside and cross. He should be available for under £1.5m too, making him a nice, low-risk investment.

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thefootballlife · 7 years

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Luk at Me! - After returning permanently to Maribor, is Luka Zahovic destined for greatness?

Following in the footsteps of your father is difficult. Just ask any number of players who have tried and failed. And that task is made all the more difficult when your father is one of the best players your country has ever produced. From a Scottish perspective, we’d look at examples such as Gavin Strachan and Paul Dalglish as sons who tried to live up to illustrious legacies but who rapidly were shown to be nothing like their fathers.

That is never something Slovenia had. During it’s time as part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia was the least of the republics - no club from there had ever hit the top three in the Yugoslav First League and few players really reached much prominence aside from Branko Oblac. As such, the name of Zlatko Zahovic was almost mythological not just because of his incredible talent with a football, but also because of his brooding, confrontational personality that saw him fall out with multiple managers and become a legend for both Porto and Benfica.

During his time in Portugal, Zlatko had a son - Luka - and it is he who is the focus of this piece. Luka Zahovic bounced around youth systems following his father spending time with Valencia, Benfica before settling in Maribor from age 14. Whereas his father played at the head of the midfield, possessing a great shot, pass and dribble to be one of the world’s greatest midfielders, Luka is a proper striker. Having scored in the Champions League at just 19, he finished the 14/15 season as Maribor’s second top goalscorer in the league, which attracted Dutch side Heerenveen, who picked him up for under £1m however his time there was limited due to a change in manager mid-season and being consistently played out of position.

The end result of this was a return to Maribor on loan for this season and it is there where we pick up his story as this has resulted in a full time return to Maribor confirmed recently for between €250-500k (Zlatko is Maribor’s Director of Football so he had dibs!). So far this season, he sits as top of the goalscoring charts in the Prva Liga but the most impressive part of it is in the range of goals he has scored.

Let’s look first at this goal vs Domzale (https://streamable.com/rn5e) - Maribor are 2-1 down away to one of the best sides in the league and Zahovic meets a cross well in front of the near post and directs the ball high in off the bar at the near corner. It was an undoubtedly high class finish that showed an exceptional deftness of touch to put away a goal that few strikers would be capable of even putting on target.

Next is this goal against Rudar (https://streamable.com/ovce9), which was preceded by a similar finish the prior week. Zahovic plays on the shoulder of the last defender, pulls clear and then, with little space to manoeuvre, expertly and almost arrogantly lifts the ball over the keeper to score the only goal of the game. That is the finish of a player flying with confidence but who has the technique to back it up.

Finally, his winner against Olimpija this past weekend in the Eternal Derby (https://streamable.com/9m157) is a different sort of finish altogether and all the more impressive for a couple of reasons. Firstly, in between the last two goals and this one, the Prva Liga had a winter break for over two months which means the quality of the first two finishes cannot be simply attributed to a player riding a hot streak. Secondly, this is a chance of his own making - it is a ball deflecting around the box where he has detected the opportunity for a goal and pounced on it. From there, he has shown great strength to hold off the first challenge from behind him, quick feet to drag the ball across and beat the second challenge before slotting it in through traffic at the far corner off the post. It is a simple, yet quality finish in the biggest game he will play this season.

These finishes show off a hunger for goals, pace to beat a man, strength to hold off a challenge and no little technique. He started the season in the Slovenian Under 21 line up - come the game vs Scotland, it is hard to doubt that he will be in the senior team given he is the exceptional player in the entire league and the general lack of striking options within their squad.

But, more than that, he seems capable of a lot more. This season, Zahovic has gone from a player with potential to a player with that je ne sais quois and it is startling (if not a little worrying) that Heerenveen have managed to not see it. For him to be limited to a league in Slovenia which is entirely decent but also entirely niche would be a great disappointment as he has grown to be capable of so much more. The natural next move for him (which could come as soon as this summer) would be to move on to a big fish, small pond club such as Dinamo, Basel or Celtic where he can get far more exposure to European football than would be possible at Maribor and polish himself off that little more to see if he can make the step up to being a top EPL/Bundesliga/La Liga striker. It would be a stretch to expect him to match his father - to do so would mean becoming one of the greatest players of his generation - but even without further growth in his talents, he is already at the stage where he will be an international regular for some time to come.

Is Zahovic the second in his family to be destined for greatness? Having watched coverage of every Maribor game over the past few months, I find myself getting more impressed with him every week. Scoring goals in volume is not necessarily a measure of talent, scoring them week in, week out and not just scoring the same goals week in, week out most definitely is a measure of talent and it is why we judge some strikers to be simply better than others - there is little art to repeated headers from set pieces, but there is certainly an art to close range lobs and near post flicks (especially in a league with one of the lowest GPG ratios in Europe). You don’t need stats like xG to see a player who has something special about them.

Luka Zahovic undoubtedly has that.

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