Friday, 24 August 2012

All the Premier League team news ahead of the weekend

The latest squad news on every Premier League team as it breaks throughout Friday and Weekend Matches...
Simply click on your team (when it appears in blue) in the fixture list below to find out who is injured and who is back in action...

Premier League team news: Everything you need to know

SATURDAY

Aston Villa v Everton (3pm)

Chelsea v Newcastle (5.30pm)

Manchester United v Fulham (3pm)

Norwich v QPR (3pm)

Southampton v Wigan (3pm)

Sunderland v Reading (3pm)

Swansea v West Ham (12.45pm)

Tottenham v West Brom (3pm)

SUNDAY

Stoke v Arsenal (1pm)

Liverpool v Man City (4pm)

Friday, 17 August 2012

Liverpool adds Assaidi to his Squad

Liverpool have completed a £3million deal for Heerenveen winger Oussama Assaidi.
The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract after passing a medical at Melwood.
Assaidi was in the final year of his contract and moves to Anfield after turning down an offer to stay in Holland from Ajax. He was also wanted by Spartak Moscow and Galatasaray.

Playing for the jersey: New signing Oussama Assaidi poses with his Liverpool shirt

He told the Reds' website: 'I'm very happy to play for this big club. The first time I spoke to the coach I had a good feeling. I had offers from other big clubs but I've been waiting for this moment.

'The coach gave me a good feeling. It will be a dream to play with these big players and I hope training will help me to be a good player here.

'When I watch Liverpool it's always a good atmosphere, the fans are fantastic and I'm happy to be here.'

Fulham had expressed an interest in the pacy Assaidi, who can operate on the flanks or through the middle.

He becomes Brendan Rodgers' third signing following the arrivals of Fabio Borini and Joe Allen.

MAN UNITED NEW BOY RVP IN TRAINING WITH PARTNER IN CRIME

Deadly: Van Persie was all smiles alongside Wayne Rooney in Friday's training session

What a Partnership are we going to have as the season begin on Saturday, with Man United playing there first match of the season on Monday night against Everton, Van Persie will be hoping to kick start is new carrier in a different grand style....... Wish him Good look as he become a Red Devil Player.

English Premier League Resumes Action

The latest squad news on every Premier League team as it breaks throughout Friday.
Simply click on your team (when it appears in blue) in the fixture list below to find out who is injured and who is back in action...

SATURDAY

Arsenal v Sunderland (3pm)

Fulham v Norwich (3pm)

Newcastle v Tottenham (5.30pm)

QPR v Swansea (3pm)

Reading v Stoke (3pm)

West Bromwich v Liverpool (3pm)

West Ham v Aston Villa (3pm)

SUNDAY

Manchester City v Southampton (4pm)

Wigan v Chelsea (1.30pm)

MONDAY

Everton v Manchester United (8pm)

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Fabrice Muamba announces his retirement from football

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from football.

Muamba, 24, collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest on 17 March during Bolton's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur.
"While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for," Muamba told the club website.
"I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me."
Muamba had travelled to Belgium earlier in the week to have minor heart surgery, which was said to have been routine and had no bearing on whether the player would return to action.

"The medical response was extremely swift"

But Muamba says he received advice during his time there, prompting his retirement.
"Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again," said Muamba in a statement.

Friday, 10 August 2012

23 Year Old Kenyan' David Rudisha breaks 800m world record in Olympics win

David Rudisha became the first athlete to set a new world record on the track at London 2012 as he won 800m gold.

The 23-year-old Kenyan stormed to victory in his debut Olympic final to become the first man inside one minute 41 seconds, clocking 1:40.91.

"It was just such an incredible race to witness. To run the way he has done here and in a time like that is just sensational. What he can go and do now is inspire a whole new generation of young Rudishas who want to have this opportunity to shine on the global stage."

Botswana 18-year-old Nijel Amos took silver, with another teenager, Kenya's Timothy Kitum, in bronze.

Britain's Andrew Osagie was in eighth place but still recorded a personal best of 1:43.77.
Reigning world champion Rudisha led from the off, running an opening lap of 49.28 seconds and storming further clear down the back straight to beat his own world record.
With the rest of the field dragged along by his pace, only Abukaker Kaki in seventh failed to record a personal best.
Rudisha: "Wow! I'm very happy. This is the moment I have been waiting for for a very long time. To come here and to break the world record is something unbelievable.

as the ground-eating stride of some relentless robot."

"I was well-prepared and I had no doubt about winning. Today the weather was beautiful and I decided just to go for it."

But the new world record holder believes he can go even faster,what a way to kick start a dream.....

Usain Bolt wins makes him the first to set 200m Olympic athletics history

Usain Bolt became the first man to retain both Olympic sprint titles as he led home a gold and green Jamaica clean sweep in the 200m.

Jamaica's Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt and Warren Weir

Usain Bolt 'Glad' to set another in Olympic after 200m victory

Bolt matched Michael Johnson's then world-record time from the Atlanta Games of 19.32 seconds as he held off training partner Yohan Blake in silver and Warren Weir in bronze.
Blake had beaten Bolt at the Jamaican trials, his last race over the distance before London, but the double 100m champion ran a brilliant bend from lane seven to lead by a metre coming into the straight.
Glancing to his left he was aware of Blake closing in a fraction at 150m, but held his form to cross the line with a finger to his lips.
"This is what I wanted and I got it. I'm very proud of myself," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport.
"After a rough season I came out here and did it. I thought the world record was possible. I guess I was fast but not fit enough.
"I could feel my back strain a little bit, so all I did was to keep my form. I'm very dedicated to my work and London meant so much to me."
Analysis

"Blake found after the start that Bolt was already gone. He displayed some speed endurance that I haven't seen before. He looked at the clock, realised that he was not on world-record pace and decided to celebrate a little bit early!"

Blake's 19.44 secs was a season's best, while 22-year-old Weir set a new personal best with 19.84 secs to complete the Jamaican party.

But this was Bolt's race, and these have once again been Bolt's Games.
A month ago, his form questionable and his hamstrings and back giving him serious problems, there was genuine doubt whether the 25-year-old could retain one Olympic title here in London, let alone two.

Olympics football: USA beat Japan to secure gold For The Fourth Time

The USA beat Japan 2-1 at Wembley to avenge their 2011 World Cup final defeat and claim their fourth Olympic gold in women's football.

Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the US, an early header and a powerful strike after the break.
Yuki Ogimi scored to reduce the deficit for Japan, who hit the opposition woodwork twice and their own once.
Japan had a chance to equalise late in the game but Hope Solo made an excellent save to deny Mana Iwabuchi.
It was enough for the USA to add to previous Olympic victories in 1996, 2004 and 2008.

Analysis

"The final has reflected the whole women's tournament. It was a great game won by a great goal. Japan played their part and came back into it, but the USA were just too strong."

Despite being outclassed for large periods of the game, they showed a resilience and determination that their coach Pia Sundhage described earlier this week as "unique".

The match was played in front of 80,203, a record crowd for a women's Olympic football fixture.
And the near full house at Wembley was served up a treat as two teams of contrasting styles produced a relatively open final brimming with passion and skill.

RODGERS HAPPY TO FEEL AT HOME AFTER VICTORY

Brendan Rodgers knows that it will not always go as smoothly as this; a warm reception under blue skies before his first game in charge at Anfield, one new signing scoring on his home debut and another prime target watching from the stands as he waits to complete a £15million move to Merseyside.
But as introductions go this will do nicely, even though the Belarusians of FC Gomel refused to roll over after Liverpool's supporters rolled out the welcome mat for him.
Two wins out of two mean Rodgers' new club advance comfortably into Friday's draw for the Europa League play-off round, and the new manager is off to a solid start.

'I want to say a big thank you for the welcome I received,' said Rodgers afterwards.

'To walk out to near enough a packed ground was really special. There will be ups and downs along the way, but hopefully we'll have more special nights.'

History pervades every corner of Anfield but the Northern Irishman knows his job is to shape the future.
He will continue the rebuilding by signing Joe Allen from his old club Swansea. The midfielder has made it clear to his current employers that he wants to leave and is expected to undergo a medical on Friday after watching from the directors' box.
'It's obviously imminent,' said Rodgers. 'If he's up here it shows there is good communication with Swansea. We hope to conclude it in the next 24 hours.' Craig Bellamy is close to completing his move to Cardiff, but Rodgers was not afraid to name Daniel Agger in the starting line-up last night despite interest from Manchester City.
His assertion that Luiz Suarez would be up to speed after an Olympic campaign with Uruguay was totally vindicated as the striker played superbly, helping to set up the first two goals.
Suarez's trickery on the byline after 19 minutes left one Gomel defender on his backside, and when his attempted pullback was intercepted by Nikolai Kashevski the ball looped up into the air for Borini to celebrate his first Anfield appearance since a £10m move from Roma by rifling a right-foot shot inside Vladimir Bushma's near post.
Steven Gerrard put the result doubt three minutes before half-time when he swept the ball into an empty net after more good work by Suarez, and Glen Johnson added a third in the 72nd minute with a fabulous left-foot shot from 25-yards.
Meanwhile, Liverpool owner John Henry has not ruled out the possibility of renaming the club's famous Anfield stadium to increase revenue.
Responding to fans' questions online, Henry admitted: 'A naming rights deal at Anfield could occur, I suppose, if the partner were right. We haven't pursued it.'

Liverpool's Fabio Borini opens the scoring

Just Fab: Borini celebrates his early strike

Top man: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard celebrates his 150th goal for club

Thursday, 9 August 2012

Transfer window: Club-by-club guide to all the Premier League deals

Keep track of all the latest transfers this summer with our club-by-club guide...

Thursday, 2 August 2012

OLYMPICS AS IT STAND

The London 2012 Olympics getting interesting more and more every day as it getting close to an end as well. Some of the Countries participating have already known their faith in which some have won medals and some as accepted their faith at the other side too.
The medals Table as from yesterday is that, China is still maintaining the lead on the log which they have won highest with 30 and in the second position is USA with 29, and Japan in third position with 17. We hope to see more Countries to give challenges.
In the football aspect it is getting into the knock out Stages.
This are the teams that will be battling with them selves in the Quarter final

Fixtures for Woman Start on Friday August 3
Great Britain vs Canada 19:30
USA vs New Zealand 14:30
Sweden vs France 12:00
Brazil vs Japan 17:00

Fixture for Men Start on Saturday August 4
Great Britain vs Korea Republic 19:30
Senegal vs Mexico 14:30
Brazil vs Hungry 17:00
Japan vs Egypt 12:00

LATEST TRANSFER GOSSIP AND RUMOURS

Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla, 27, could fly into London this week for a medical with Arsenal once a £17.3m fee is agreed.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is believed to have made a fresh bid for Lille's 27-year-old full-back Mathieu Debuchy.

Barcelona have joined Chelsea and Real Madrid in the race to sign Brazilian star Neymar, 19.

Robin van Persie has already signed a contract with Juventus according to Fifa agent Fabio Parisi.

Barcelona have joined Chelsea and Real Madrid in the race to sign Brazilian star Neymar, 19.

Liverpool insist that Andy Carroll has been left out of the squad for Thursday's Europa League game against FC Gomel because of injury.

Swansea's Joe Allen is close to agreeing a lucrative contract with Liverpool.

Liverpool will allow Craig Bellamy to rejoin Cardiff City - where he spent time on loan two seasons ago - on a permanent basis.

Full story: Daily Mirror
Juventus have hinted that they are losing interest in buying Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, 28.
Full story: Daily Express

Arsenal's Alex Song is said to be interesting Barcelona

Full story: talkSPORT
West Ham United have offered to pay Carroll £90,000 a week over eight years in a bid to lure him away from Liverpool.
Full story: caughtoffside.com
Spurs could also move for Inter Milan's Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 32, after failing to sign Hugo Lloris from Lyon.
Full story: Sunderland Echo
Barcelona are planning an £11.7m move for 24-year-old Arsenal midfielder Alex Song.