Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has claimed the Toon Army deserved their luck after scrapping to a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
United were overwhelmed in the first half but fought back in the second to earn a point, but were twice the lucky recipients of officiating errors. Marouane Fellaini wrongly saw an effort chalked off as offside, while Victor Anichebe saw an attempt not given that had clearly crossed the line.
Taylor told the club’s official website, “We’ve had a look at it and it does look like it was past the line so we got lucky.
“But sometimes you need that. For Newcastle United, a few years ago we wouldn’t have got that. We’ve got players who work hard day in, day out, players who want to get into the team and put pressure onto each other.
“That’s what we need and I think today was just a great example of what a hard team performance is.”
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Joe Hart has stated that Wayne Rooney should be handed the England captaincy for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against San Marino on Friday.
With Steven Gerrard suspended and Frank Lampard an injury worry, Roy Hodgson will have to pick a new skipper to lead the Three Lions.
The Manchester City goalkeeper has been touted as a potential replacement, but feels that Rooney is next in line for the armband.
“I’ve not thought about it at all. How the captain is chosen is the manager’s decision. I’ve got a big responsibility to keep my place in the team for club and country,” Hart told reporters, published by Sky Sports.
“If I do get the nod, I’ll try and give as much as I can in terms of helping the team. But I think it’s between Wayne Rooney and Wayne Rooney if we are going to go on experience and how captains have been chosen in the past.
“It’s nice people say nice things but things are easily said. In goal, you can be the worst in the world two days later if you are on television and something mad happens in the game.
“You’ve got to try and take the rough with the smooth. It was a special honour for some special people to say some nice things but we move on. You’ve got to remain level-headed,” he concluded.
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that Javier Hernandez’s performance against Braga has given him a selection headache.
The Mexican striker netted twice as United came back from a two-goal deficit against the Portuguese team in their Champions League tie.
Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney appear to be Fergie’s first choice strikers in the Premier League, but the Scotsman has admitted that Hernandez’s performance may cause him to rethink his best XI:
“He (Hernandez) has got me thinking. Him, Van Persie, Rooney… I don’t know what to do with them to be honest.” He told ITV after the game.
The 24-year-old front-man was an instant success in his first season at Old Trafford, but with the summer arrival of Van Persie he has slipped down the pecking order.
Hernandez has made five Premier League appearances so far this term netting one goal, but his displays have come largely from the bench.
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With United far from struggling for goals having notched 21 in the league, the highest of any team, it’s unclear as to whether the hit-man will be called upon for United’s next encounter, away at Chelsea.
In the Premier League this coming weekend, Manchester United and Chelsea will battle it out at Stamford Bridge in this season’s first real title clash of the season.
The result will re-shape the title race for the next portion of the season, with Chelsea currently holding a four point lead in top spot over Manchester United and Manchester City, who hold second and third place respectively.
Ryan Giggs has been sizing up the Blues and their new signings and believes only time will tell how this current team compares to previous title winning Chelsea teams.
The Welsh winger has told reporters “Chelsea are a talented team. They have changed the personnel a bit with Oscar, Hazard and Mata, who play in those little pockets and are so hard to pick up.
“Only time will tell if they are better. But it doesn’t really matter because you know you are up against a very good team when you pay Chelsea, and it will always be tough at Stamford Bridge.”
Suprisingly, the Red Devils haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 2002 and considering United’s startling statistic of conceding first in eight out of twelve games this season, Giggs is undoubtedly concerned about his side’s bad defensive habits.
“Obviously we are pleased that we are able to come back and have shown great character in those eight games, but you cannot keep relying on the lads up front to score the goals.
“It has happened again against Braga but against Chelsea if we go behind it will be tough to come back” added the Welshman.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Keeper Petr Cech is optimistic ahead of the Premier League clash:
“We have made many good starts in the time I have been here but we started slowly the first two games this season. We seem to get better as the team gets to know each other.
“Now we have played two tough away games at Arsenal and Spurs and we got six points which is a huge advantage, but now we await the game against Manchester United at home because that will be a another big test.”
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The two title contenders will go head to head at 4pm on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Juventus are preparing a January swoop for Manchester United winger Nani and Arsenal speedster Theo Walcott, according to reports from Calcio Mercato.
The Premier League pair are said to be high on the Turin club’s wish list as they look to add some creative flair to their attacking line for end of the season.
Antonio Conte, Juve’s boss, has outlined Nani and Walcott as the ideal candidates and is said to be requesting winter moves for them.
Nani appears to have slipped down the pecking order at Manchester United, with the likes of Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia and even Wayne Rooney having occupied the wide role so far this term. It is also believed that the Portuguese wide-man is unwilling to accept a new contract at the club, which would hint that is time at Old Trafford is running out.
Despite his hat-trick heroics in the Capital One Cup Walcott’s future is just as doubtful. The England International is allegedly stalling on penning a new deal with the North London club who are unwilling to match his wage demands. The ex-Southampton man is said to be holding out for £100,000-per-week, but Arsenal are reluctant give him a pay rise.
The respective situations have opened the door for Juventus who may make their moves for the duo as early as January.
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The Old Lady are also monitoring the situation of Malaga’s Isco, a long-term target of Manchester City.
There I was, sat in the North stand surrounded by other Leeds fans as we watched our team get absolutely dismantled by Watford. The final whistle blew and the majority of us stayed to show the players some appreciation for their efforts in a game that was almost completely out of their reach from the word go.
At that point I thought ‘that’s why we’re the best fans in the world’, but then I thought about the rest of the game and started to wonder why we’d waited ‘til the final whistle to show them some support.
This will anger some fans, but we’ve become a joke.
We are by no way ‘the best fans in the world’ as it stands. The turnout for the game was low, as expected, but the atmosphere inside the ground was non existent. Every now and again a half hearted ‘Bates out’ or ‘Marching on together’ could be heard, but other than that we offered nothing.
In fact, other than the final whistle the only time in the game I can remember us roaring the players on was after Austin had been taken off injured and we were down to nine men.
Why are we doing this to our own club?
We can be angry with Bates for dragging us through the mud but our team are suffering and we are the only ones that can do anything about it. Do you think Ken Bates really cares whether you turn up on a match day? That £26 you’ve kept from him wont even make him bat an eyelid, the man is on his way out and no longer worries about the finances of Leeds United, so no, he doesn’t care whether you’re there or not, but the manager and players do.
As a team with ‘United’ in our name and an anthem boldly titled ‘Marching on Together’ we are failing our great club and we are doing it well. The time for excuses has to stop now, it’s no good slating the team for not playing well after booing their every mistake, what support do they have if we, the clubs fans, turn on them every time they do something wrong?
As for those boycotting until Bates leaves, forget him. Do the right thing and turn up to support the team that currently wear the shirt you have spent your lifetime proud to wear yourself.
Every great structure needs it’s support, the same applies to football teams, and ours needs us more than ever. We are more than just fans.
We need to open our eyes to what is happening and do something about it while we still can, for ninety minutes we have to forget about Ken Bates and focus our efforts and energy on giving the players out full and vociferous support. Turning up at the game and cheering the players on wont get rid of Bates any quicker, but it might just make the difference between a win and a defeat for the team you support.
Below are the lyrics to Marching on together. Read them through word for word and ask yourself if we are really worthy of singing the anthem that has been our heart and soul for some of the greatest years of our clubs great history. Have we given the boys a hand? Have we stood up and sung for Leeds United?
Remember who you are and remember why you support Leeds, then make the decision to do something about it because this season is falling apart and our team need us.
Twitter – @giddy_goose
Here we go with Leeds United
We’re gonna give the boys a hand
Stand up and sing for Leeds united
They are the greatest in the land
Everyday, we’re all gonna say we love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds
Everywhere, we’re gonna be there we love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds.
Marching On Together
We’re gonna see you win
We are so proud
We shout it out loud
We love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds.
We’ve been through it all together
And we’ve had our ups and downs
We’re gonna stay with you forever
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At least until the world stops going round
Everyday, we’re all gonna say we love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds
Everywhere, we’re gonna be there we love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds.
Swansea left back Neil Taylor has signed a new three and a half year deal at the Welsh club and is now contracted until the summer of 2016.
Taylor broke and dislocated his ankle in three places in September early on in a home game with Sunderland and will definitely not play again this season.
Despite the injury, Swansea have been quick to tie down the talented Welsh international to a long term stay at the Liberty Stadium as Michael Laudrup builds a strong squad in South Wales.
Taylor has admitted that he had doubts over his long term future when he was stretchered off three months ago, but he has praised the clubs chairman for sticking to his word and backing the team and players all the way.
Taylor also believes that ensuring safety and having a third consecutive year in the Premier League, for a club like Swansea, is a fantastic achievement and one that he is delighted to be part of.
“We spoke about a new contract before I broke my ankle, but when something like that happens you do wonder what will be,” Taylor told Sky Sports.
“But in fairness to the chairman (Huw Jenkins) he texted me the day after the injury and told me not to worry about the contract. Full credit to the club, they have been as good as their word.
“Both myself and the club are happy with it. I see my long-term future here – everything is right for me.
“I love the style of football, the area and the fans, who have been great to me. And, more importantly, my family is happy here.
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“The club is still on the rise. To reach the dizzy heights of seventh or eighth in the Premier League is amazing, especially when you consider where the club was just seven years ago.
“I am convinced we will still be in the Premier League next season. For a club like ours to have three consecutive campaigns at this level will an unbelievable achievement.”
Smart phones have changed the way we live our lives and, for football fans, the way we keep up to date and entertained with the beautiful game.
There are millions of apps on Apple’s app store, so many of which are as useful and addictive as some can be pointless and boring. But when it comes to football related apps we are kind of spoilt for choice when it comes to games, keeping up to day with scores and checking the latest news.
So here’s the top 15 football apps you must download over the festive season. Some will have you playing frustrated for hours, while others you will find so useful you’ll wonder how you lived without them before.
Click on Live Score’s app icon to see the top 15 football apps to download
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The 2012 FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) ‘12 winner, Alfonso Ramos, 24, yesterday lived every football fan’s dream as he attended the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala, met a host of the world’s top footballers and took on Barcelona star Gerard Piqué at a game of FIFA 13.
Alfonso stormed to victory at the FIWC ’12 in Dubai beating former champion Bruce Grannec in a tense penalty shoot-out on the way to the $20,000 prize and invitation to the FIFA Ballon d’Or as a FIFA world champion.
Real Madrid met Barcelona at the FIFA Ballon d’Or as Real Madrid fan Alfonso took on Barca ace Gerard Piqué. In the virtual El Classico it was Alfonso’s Madrid who came out on top, beating Piqué’s Barcelona 3-1 as Ronaldo bagged two goals. The encounter lived up to the drama, surprise and controversy expected of one of the World’s greatest football clashes.
As the game approached halftime Alfonso’s Real Madrid led Piqué’s Barcelona 1-0, thanks to Ronaldo’s first of the match. But in a moment of madness that was tinged with irony, Pique made a rash challenge and saw himself sent off and Barcelona go down to 10 men as they went in for halftime.
Prior to the match Alfonso benefitted from speaking with football legends Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, who gave him some advice on how to deal with big game pressure and get results against their compatriot Piqué.
Commenting on the match Alfonso said, “Winning the FIWC and getting the chance to attend the FIFA Ballon d’Or really is a dream come true. For any football fan this is without question one of the greatest experiences you can have. Meeting my heroes an getting the chance to play FIFA 13 against Pique is something I will never forget.”
Despite his loss, Piqué was full of praise for Alfonso, “Alfonso is the best player I have played against for sure. I don’t play FIFA as much as I’d like to, but I’m usually in the final against Leo (Messi) when we play at Barcelona so I’m not bad, but against Alfonso every player seems bad!”
The FIWC is a virtual football tournament organised by FIFA and its presenting partners EA SPORTS™ and PlayStation®. With over 1.6 Million players already signed up for this year’s tournament the FIWC cements its place as the world’s largest online gaming tournament giving football fans the chance to live out their passion for the game and to interact with other fans around the world.
The FIWC 2013 sees players compete against each other at the latest version of the EA SPORTS™ FIFA 13 videogame to qualify for the Grand Final in Madrid, where the FIWC World Champion is crowned. The online tournament takes place on the PlayStation® Network and can be accessed through FIFA 13. Contestants can participate in this year’s FIWC, by registering ‘in-game’ in FIFA 13 on their PS3™.
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For more information on the FIWC, go to: www.fifa.com/fiwc.
I’m all for a five-year plan when the need to start from scratch arises. Liverpool have been put into that position and have entrusted Brendan Rodgers with overseeing a return to success. But a consistent lack of Champions League football could throw a spanner into the works time and again with players wanting to leave. And that, more than any internal disagreements, will be the manager’s toughest challenge.
But here’s the thing: I don’t believe Champions League football is as important as it’s made out to be. Sure, everyone would like to win it. But how many clubs make a genuine drive to become champions of Europe rather than just viewing the revenue as the ultimate prize?
The problem is, it doesn’t matter what anyone else’s perception is of the Champions League, or even if Liverpool what to think of it as a necessity from their own point of view in building. But you’ve always got to ask questions of teams like Liverpool or Arsenal and Tottenham if they’re capable of managing European football of that scale while trying to build towards something domestically.
You look at Juventus as an example who needed to re-establish themselves at the top of Serie A and did so without Champions League football getting in the way. Now that’s not to say Antonio Conte’s side wouldn’t have been able to juggle both competitions, as well as the Copa Italia, a competition in which they progressed to the final, but UEFA’s elite tournament should be seen as battle ground for those who are prepared. Yet once again, the prize money has turned it into something else, as well as the fact it’s not really about the champions of each country.
So what kind of advantage does that put Liverpool in? For starters, the Champions League is a benefit because of the attraction and the wider market it offers the club in the transfer window, not to mention the willingness for the team’s top stars to remain at Anfield. However, what is the bigger prize? The Premier League title, or a cup competition which is dominated by teams with vastly better squads and financial means?
Liverpool don’t have the backing of clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea, so they have to go down this route of planning for the long term but in smaller blocks. Isn’t that how sports should be played? There isn’t anything wrong with Liverpool’s approach and they should be commended if they achieve success come the end of the cycle.
But as always, you’ll have the argument for the need to be pushed along by the windfall of Champions League revenue. And once again that highlights the problem with football. If it isn’t owners backed by billions disrupting the patient building of other clubs, it’s the clamour for Europe’s top competition. And that isn’t just limited to the media or fans; players also want to be at the top of the tree and fighting, in their mind, for the greatest prize in club football.
I don’t think Liverpool should have to worry about reaching the Champions League for next season, and maybe Monday night’s loss to West Brom proved that perhaps everything isn’t quite settled yet. The top tier of European football will come, but it will come much more naturally when the club find themselves in the top four based on merit rather than the shortcomings of others or panic buying.
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You can’t fight the desire from players wanting to leave, but it isn’t just central to the Champions League. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo had the world and more at Manchester United but wanted the move to Real Madrid. Luis Suarez could be enticed away by the draw of wages which could be doubled elsewhere, in spite of whether or not Liverpool are an established top four team.