UEFA Champions League Round 16 Draws Out

                                     What take on this Draws

Arsenal vs Munich

Man City vs Barcelona

Galatasaray vs Chelsea

Schalke vs Real Madrid

Olympiakos vs Man United

AC Milan vs A.Madrid

Leverkusen vs PSG

Michael Owen - A Career Remembered

Michael Owen was a childhood hero for most 90s kids whowatched football. He scored on his first team debut for Liverpool against Wimbledon in 1997 which saw him catch the eye of the nation. It was in the 1998 World Cup where he burst onto the world scene, a tournament in which he scored a wonder goal against Argentina which was voted as one of the goals of the century. Owen had lightning pace which meant no defender could live with him and he was Liverpool’s top scorer from 1997-2004.

In 2001, Liverpool won a stunning cup treble with Owen picking up the Ballon d’Or. Owen was expected to push on and become one of the greatest English football players ever but this moment ended up being the pinnacle of his career.

When Real Madrid came calling in 2004, Owen had hit the big time but he was frequently used as a substitute and only lasted one year in Spain. He still managed to bag 13 league goals, mind. He then joined Newcastle but his time there was dogged by injuries which would continue for the rest of his career. When the Geordies were relegated, Man Utd perhaps surprisingly snapped him up on a free transfer. He struggled with injuries throughout his three years at Old Trafford and is most fondly remembered for his winning goal in the 4-3 Manchester Derby of 2009. This season, he joined Stoke but has barely figured which led to him announcing his retirement.

Injuries have been a major part of Owen’s career, in true he never really recovered from that first hamstring injury he picked up. He broke a metatarsal in 2006 which almost saw him miss the World Cup and when he did make it, he got a devastating knee injury which kept him out for a year. From then on, Owen had lost his lightning burst of pace almost completely.

Despite his injury problems, Owen will still be regarded as a great at club and international level. He was the youngest player to reach 100 Premier League goals and is one of seven players to have scored over 150 goals in that league. On the international stage, he is the only player to have scored at four tournaments for England and scored 40 goals in total for his country.

Owen was a truly special talent but just think what he could have achieved if he was injury free. Sad one for him, but still his a legend.. 

Ajax Amsterdam fan 'seriously injured' in fall from stands

 

  The fan reportedly fell as he celebrated Danny Hoesen's goal

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• Ajax v Barcelona

An Ajax fan has been seriously injured as he fell from the stands celebrating a goal in the team's Champions League game against Barcelona.

The man fell around 5m (16ft) after Danny Hoesen scored for the hosts just before half-time at the Amsterdam Arena, according to Dutch police.
He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital, but his current condition is unclear.
The match ended 2-1 keeping Ajax's hopes for qualification alive.
Images taken by people in the arena appeared to show the man lying on the track around the pitch.
Two ambulances arriving to help the unidentified supporter collided with each other, according to reports, before one took him away.

Hoesen's goal put Ajax 2-0 ahead in their Group H match.

Liverpool and Co Chasing Penarol Teenager

Liverpool are trailing teenage Uruguayan striker Kevin Mendez - after a glowing report from his countryman and current Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Liverpool ponder Kevin Mendez transfer after Luis Suarez recommends fellow Uruguayan striker

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-UP:

Chelsea get pipped 1-0 against Basel at the death as Arsenal saunter to a 2-0 win at home to Marseille. 

Elsewhere, Barcelona get beaten away in Amsterdam against Ajax whilst AC Milan beat Celtic at Celtic Park. 

In the blockbuster fixtures, Aubameyang finished off Benitez's Napoli in a 3-1 win for Klopp's Borussia Dortmund.

Suarez hails his SAS partnership with Sturridge as Liverpool fight for the title

Luis Suarez has revealed why he loves playing up front with partner Daniel Sturridge — but says won’t be imitating the England striker’s dancing celebration any time soon.

Liverpool’s SAS strikeforce have been in prolific form this season and a key reason why the club sit only two points behind leaders Arsenal at the top of the table.

And although the controversial striker started the season on the sidelines - as he served the remainder of his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic — he and Sturridge instantly clicked on the pitch when he returned.

Suarez celebrate after assisting Sturridge to score against Newcastle 

Transfers Gossip

Real Madrid reportedly prepping €12 million January move for Robert Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund striker, Roberto Lewandowski has publicly admitted to signing a pre-contract agreement to join rival German Bundesliga side, Bayern Munich on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer, but Real Madrid could stifle his plans with a winter swoop worth €12 million.

Bayern manager, Pep Guardiola has expressed doubts about the Polish forward, who has scored 9 goals in 13 matches this season, which has stalled the agreed upon transfer and with Real Madrid’s striker, Karim Benzema suffering from one of the poorest runs of form in his career, Los Blancos could tempt Lewandowski away from Germany and to the Spanish capital.

Borussia are resigned to Lewandowski’s departure are very much in favour of selling the player for €12 million to a foreign club than losing him this summer, for free, to their biggest Bundesliga rivals.

Lewandowski revealed that he spoke to Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez following last season’s Champions League loss at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Florentino has not forgotten the forward, especially for that price.

Should Lewandowski turn down the deal, Real Madrid have reportedly been interested in Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Lewandowski being the first to score four goals in a match again Real Madrid in a champions league, and he did it a great fashion in the just concluded Uefa Champions league 2012 - 2013 season..

Nigeria Premier League: Ogaga Moses Dead

Shooting stars forward Moses Ogaga died on Wednesday after protracted illness, his club announced.

3SC media officer Jubril Arowolo confirm to MTNFootball.com the gifted player's demise.

"Moses Ogaga is dead. We received a call to that effect that he died this morning (Wednesday). We are going there to see things. He died in Ibadan." Arowolo told MTNFootball.com.

MTNFootball.com further gathered that he died in a church after a protracted illness.

Ogaga's sickness started long ago when he was diagnosed of Typhoid in Ibadan before he was moved to Lagos for proper medical care.

Ogaga, 26, played for Kano Pillars and Jigawa Golden stars before he joined 3SC in the mid season of the 2012/2013 season. May his gentle soul rest in blossom of the Lord, Amen....

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre says the club will consider a new contract for controversial striker Luis Suarez at the end of the season.
The Uruguayan forward publicly stated his desire to leave Anfield during the summer transfer window but a move failed to materialise.
He has since returned to first-team action after a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, scoring three goals in three games.
When questioned on whether the club would offer Suarez a new deal at the Asian Football Awards on Tuesday, Ayre said: 'It's too early to say that. We deal with every player in the same way. We review all our contracts with two years to go.'

Back in form: Suarez takes on Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak during Liverpool's 3-1 win

Show off: Suarez displays a t-shirt welcoming his newborn son to the world after scoring against Sunderland

Suarez signed a new long-term contract in August 2012, tying him to the club until the summer of 2016.

But less than a year after putting pen to paper, the former Ajax attacker revealed his wish to move to a club playing Champions League football.

Arsenal made an ambitious £40 million plus one pound offer for the striker which was promptly rejected by Liverpool, despite Suarez's claim that the club had agreed he could move after failing to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Suarez says he is now calmed after ban 'Reformed character'

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez insists he has returned from suspension a calmer person and admits he does not want 'to be the same as before'.
The Uruguay forward has scored three goals in three appearances since serving his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

It is early days yet but both performances have been notable for the 26-year-old’s brilliance and not the controversy which has dogged his time in England.

Happy family: Suarez with his baby son, Benjamin, daughter, Delfina, and wife, Sofia, at Anfield on Saturday

Last weekend Suarez showed his softer side by coming on to the pitch for the pre-match handshakes against Crystal Palace with new-born son Benjamin and three-year-old daughter Delfina, and he believes his family are a steadying influence for him on the field.
'I am aware that in recent matches that I played I’ve been calmer,' he said on his return to Uruguay ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.
'I am very self-critical and I realised that playing well, with more tranquility, is helping me a lot.
'I realise and I prefer to continue and not be the same as before.'

Suarez surprised many by appearing on the field with his children but it is something of a tradition among South Americans and, despite initial resistance from club officials, they gave way on the striker’s insistence.

Liverpool's Defender Sakho Named the "Killer"

Liverpool’s new central defender Mamadou Sakho has revealed in an interview in France that his manager Brendan Rodgers has nicknamed him 'the killer'.

The summer signing from PSG cried when he left but his reputation as a hard man hasn’t taken long to find legs at Anfield.

'I'm learning and I listen to the manager's advice,' said Sakho.

'It's funny, he calls me Killer.On the pitch I'm trying to adapt to my team-mates. And things are getting better and better.'

 Training: Lucas Leiva, Mamadou Sakho(center) and Luis Suarez take part in a Liverpool training session

I'll prove 'Happy One' Mourinho was wrong to let me leave Chelsea, says Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku has opened up on Jose Mourinho's controversial decision to send him out on loan again and bluntly told him: 'I'll prove you wrong.'
Chelsea's Belgium frontrunner felt he was ready to make his mark under Mourinho after a successful spell at West Brom last season.
Instead, the Chelsea manager sanctioned another temporary transfer for a striker who models his game on former Stamford Bridge favourite Didier Drogba, and allowed him to join Everton on a season-long loan.

Al smiles: Romelu Lukaku (left) and Zakkari Bakkali (Right) reports for training with Belgium this week

While Lukaku's early impact under Roberto Martinez suggests he may fill Drogba's boots in due course, he made it clear he disagreed with the decision to farm him out once more.
In a frank appraisal that may not go down too well with Mourinho, he admitted he wants to outscore those still at Stamford Bridge – Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o – and that he aims to help Everton finish higher than Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League this season.
Asked about the widespread surprise over his latest loan move, he told Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad: 'I couldn't do much about it. The coach made his choice, and, as a player, you have to respect it. I went along with it, and it is now up to me to prove he was wrong.
'It has been two years in a row now, and it does make you question things and wonder why. But that's life. You just have to get on with it. The only thing I can do is play well and score as many goals as I can, and then maybe people will notice what I am about.'
Told that Mourinho had no regrets about letting him go and felt playing for Everton was different from Chelsea, Lukaku replied: 'What can I say? Everyone has their own opinion on things. I can only underline my case by scoring more goals than all the strikers currently at Chelsea, and that is what I will be striving to do this season.

Barcelona Battle United in the race to Lure Januzaj

Barcelona are ready to snatch Adnan Januzaj from Manchester United if he rejects a new contract.
The 18-year-old’s stock has risen sharply after his stunning two-goal display on his Premier League debut at Sunderland on Saturday.
But Barca have tracked the teenager’s progress since before he joined United from Anderlecht in 2011. They are ever more confident that Januzaj will move to the Nou Camp when his deal runs out in eight months. 

Premature? Adnan Januzaj (center) has already attracted the top European clubs after just one standout performance

Hot property: Januzaj (Left) pictured taking a stroll through Manchester on Sunday

Though the Belgian says he is happy at United, it is said he has felt unappreciated at times. Contract talks stalled after Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire in May and have resumed only recently.
Agent Dirk de Vriese warned last week: ‘I’m not going to say which teams are interested in him, but I can tell you that there is interest from several European clubs.’ 
United hope Januzaj’s promotion under David Moyes and the offer of a lucrative long-term contract worth substantially more than his current deal will be enough to make him stay.
But they fear Januzaj and De Vriese are being driven by the player’s father. Moyes recently made a veiled reference to ‘some influences around him’.

Anderlecht’s head of development Jean Kindermans, the man widely credited with discovering the star, warned last night that Januzaj Snr is likely to have the final say on whether his son stays at United and which country he represents.

Wenger and Ramsey Grabs manager and player of the month awards for September

Arsene Wenger and Aaron Ramsey have won the Barclays Premier League manager and player of the month awards for September in recognition of Arsenal's flying start to the season.
The table-topping Gunners - who many tipped to miss out on the top four before the season started - won all four League games in September, beating north London rivals Tottenham as well as Sunderland, Stoke and Swansea.

Double recognition: Ramsey and Wenger are presented with their awards at Arsenal's London Colney training ground

Month to remember: Wenger presided over four wins as Ramsey scored four goals 

Swansea Striker Michu's Spain call-up Pushed his price tag Above £30m, says Swansea

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has warned any clubs interested in Michu that his call up for Spain has driven the price to more than £30million.

Michael Laudrup indicated that he believed Michu was worth £30million last December, barely four months into the forward’s incredible debut season in the Barclays Premier League season following his £2.2m bargain move from Rayo Vallecano.

But Jenkins insisted yesterday that the 27-year-old’s selection for the World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia has pushed the price up even higher for a player chosen ahead of Tottenham’s £26m strike Roberto Soldado.

Tothenham Soldado (Above), was not call Up by spain Coach Del bosque but  Michu was (Below)

Big congrats to the on is first International Duty, hopefully his going to get a debut and probably get a goal as well.

Poyet on two-year deal at Sunderland as there New Manager

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short has hailed the 'passion' of new boss Gus Poyet – just SIX months after lauding the ‘passion’ of Paolo Di Canio.
It was back in March that the Italian was unveiled at the Stadium of Light amid a sea of controversy because of his self-confessed fascist leanings.
Di Canio, though, was billed as the man to save Sunderland by Short, the club’s owner declaring that the new man was ‘passionate, driven and raring to get started’.
Now, with the firebrand Di Canio having been sacked following a brief and tumultuous tenure, Short has wasted no time in praising the 'passion' of his replacement, again stating ‘this is the right man to take us forward’.
Speaking on Tuesday following Poyet’s appointment and ahead of his first press conference at 2.30pm, Short said: ‘We analysed a wide range of candidates and believe that Gus's track record, experience, commitment and passion make him the right man to take us forward.

Liverpool had their chance to bring Rafa back... but chose not to: No drama for Rodgers over Benitez return claims

Brendan Rodgers insists there 'is no drama' that Rafa Benitez has stated his desire to become Liverpool manager again as he believes the club have moved on.
Benitez, who was quoted as saying in an interview with Spanish paper Marca that he will 'almost certainly' move to Liverpool in the future, was overlooked by Fenway Sports Group last summer when they whittled down their shortlist to replace Kenny Dalglish.
Chelsea's interim boss moved to clarify his comments in Russia last night, stressing that he was talking about his home and family but Rodgers, who will come up against the Spaniard on Sunday week at Anfield, remains unfazed.

No going back? Liverpool had the chance to offer Benitez his old job last summer......