Edin Dzeko hit a quick-fire double as Manchester City cruised into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Aris Salonika.The January transfer window signing from Wolfsburg, who lead a potent strikeforce alongside Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, hit two smartly-taken goals inside the first 12 minutes.Yaya Toure netted a deflected third from long range with a quarter of an hour to go as the Sky Blues eased through to set up a clash with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev.City were ahead after just seven minutes when Nikos Lazaridis failed to control Aleksander Kolarov’s long clearance and Dzeko kept his cool to roll a shot into the corner of the net.The Bosnian made it 2-0 four minute later when he cut back onto his left foot on the edge of the box to fire a low drive beyond the despairing dive of Michalis Sifakis.The Aris gloveman then juggled a 30-yard free-kick from Balotelli and Pablo Zabaleta fired inches wide with a fierce drive from the edge of the box as City threatened to cut loose.Dzeko should have completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time when he beat the offside trap and tried to round Sifakis but the the goalkeeper saved smartly at his feet.Attacking towards their noisy and colourful 4,000-strong away following, Aris started the second half better but could only test Joe Hart with a weak shot from Raul Bobadilla.Midway through the half, Tevez created another golden opportunity with a neat pass to Balotelli but the Italian’s rifled effort pinged back off the inside of the post.The third finally came in the 75th minute when Kolarov’s corner was cleared to Toure, whose 25-yard drive deflected off the luckless Lazaridis and into the corner of the net.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has confirmed that current boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have a major say in the appointment of his successor at Old Trafford.
Ferguson has given few indications of when he will finally bring the curtain down on his illustrious reign, but Gill says that planning for the future will be thorough.
He told The Independent:"We don't know when Alex is going to retire and long may he continue.
"It will be discussed with Alex, Bobby Charlton and the owners.
"I think Alex will be the key. He knows people. He will have a big role in advising and being a sounding board.
"I am sure we will talk with the owners and look at who is there and determine who we would like to appoint.
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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has stated that he hopes England boss Fabio Capello is ‘responsible’ with the use of Steven Gerrard, as he returns to first team football after an injury layoff.
The talismanic midfielder has been on the sidelines with a groin injury for almost six months, but made his return against Brighton in the Carling Cup in midweek.
With Gerrard an integral part of the Liverpool team, Dalglish hopes England are sensible with him for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
“I don’t pick England’s team. Whatever they have to do, they have to do. But I would just hope that they will be as intelligent as we have been,” the Scot told The Telegraph.
“He deserves to progress. It’s been a disappointing time for him with injuries and we don’t want to ruin this opportunity after he has done so well.
“He’s well educated, he knows himself better than anyone else. He will manage himself better than anyone else,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Gerrard has stated his relief to be back in the Anfield fold, and may feature against Wolves on Saturday.
“I’ve had to watch from the sidelines while Kenny has been rebuilding the side and I’ve been really happy with what I’ve seen,” he stated.
“It’s been a nightmare for me. I’m not the best when I’m out injured and watching games.
“It’s been tough and the last six months have been a roller-coaster. But it’s behind me now and I’m looking forward to getting match fit and getting back in the starting line-up,” he admitted.
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For the past few transfer windows Manchester United fans have unleashed our inner transfer muppet hoping that another huge name is brought into the club.
United’s team isn’t perfect and there are areas that need attention but even when we are linked with players we don’t need we salivate and rub our hands together only to be disappointed when we hear Sir Alex Ferguson say:
‘There is no value in the transfer market.’
I won’t lie, I for one have been disappointed at times when hearing this but after the madness of deadline day no one can deny that he is, as per usual, right.
Darren Bent going from Sunderland to Aston Villa for £18m rising to £24m was crazy in itself but then with Chelsea bidding £50m for Fernando Torres and Liverpool in turn looking to pay £35m for Andy Carroll you start to think these clubs should be kept as far away from the transfer market as possible.
There is no denying Fernando Torres is a fantastic player, we’ve experienced this numerous times but anyone that denies he isn’t the same player he was a year or two ago is in denial. He looks to me to have lost a yard of pace or so and coming off a less than spectacular season and summer showing at the World Cup a £50m bid seems more than excessive.
Chelsea are looking to flex their financial muscles and reaffirm that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the league but at the same time are allowing Liverpool to put them over the barrel and the fact that it was revealed that they had bid for Aguero and Godin last week makes it seem that this is impulsive and desperate.
The Andy Carroll situation seems even worse.
£35m + add ons for the young striker seems crazy. Carroll has looked good in his début season in the Premier League and he does look like he will be a player but paying that much essentially for potential seems reckless. I have heard it said this is Liverpool signalling their intention to return to the big time but this smacks more of desperation than a signalling of intent. People pay for potential all the time, we have done it ourselves a few times but not at that price and whilst Newcastle fans may not want him to go Mike Ashley will be over the moon that he has forced Liverpool to pay so much!
Add to this a rumoured £14m for Blackpool midfielder and the situation becomes even more laughable!
This is a dangerous game being played here by clubs like Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool as they spunk excessive amounts of cash on players at a whim but it is also one that adds credence to Sir Alex’s utterances. Don’t look at this as a disgruntled United fan bitter because his team isn’t getting in on the act, a bit of perspective is necessary and when you look at the fact David Villa joined Barcelona in the summer for £34m the fees being thrown around look even worse.
The transfer window brings out the muppet in fans all across the country but it appears it does so even more for the people who are meant to be in charge at football clubs.
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Good thing we have a man in charge who can keep his head when those around him are losing theirs!
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has signed a new six-year contract with the Premier League champions.
The Belgium international skippered the Etihad Stadium side to their first top-flight title in 44 years last term, and is delighted to have extended his time at the club.
“For me if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere,” he told the club’s official website.
“Man City as a project is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club; it is also my project.
“I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out.
“I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too. It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me.
“Hopefully in the future I will have a bigger impact than I already have. I am good here. The fans have given me an incredible reception which is one of the main reasons that I signed this new deal.
“My family is happy and there are so many more trophies to win at this club that is why it makes it so special.
“I take it with great pride that I have been chosen to be captain and lead this team. Especially in England, more than other competitions, being the captain has got a lot more responsibility involved with it.
“I thrive on responsibility the more I get the more I perform. I am at the right club because I have built something here already.
“I have never denied that this can sometimes be the hardest team in the league of which to be captain, but like I said I am all about responsibility and challenge.
“This Man City project was probably one of the most difficult projects in Europe to be part of and so far we have all done a good job even though a lot of people said it wasn’t going to happen so quickly.
“I like the kind of characters that we have in our team. I like the challenges we have ahead of us. Now is the time to build the culture of winning we are in the right time; we are in the right moment.
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“We have laid the foundations and now we want to win more. If we do that then we can be one of the most successful clubs for a long time to come and that is the aim.
“I can’t wait to get started again. I am really excited about the season ahead,” he admitted.
Cesc Fabregas finally turned his back on Arsenal as a deal was agreed with the Catalan giants. The Spanish midfielder played a glowing tribute to manager Arsene Wenger on his departure claiming the Frenchman made him the player he is.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include one rule for Arsenal and one for everyone else; last chance saloon for Arsene Wenger, while Lucescu confirms Arsenal interest.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
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Last chance saloon for Arsene Wenger?
Arsenal flop set for another Premier League chance?
Why Arsenal should give transfer a wide berth
Blankety Blank – Arsene Wenger
Cearly one rule for Arsenal and one for everyone else
The ideal signing to kickstart Arsenal’s rebuilding task?
United succeed where both Chelsea and Arsenal fail
Last minute dealings at the Emirates?
Lucescu confirms Arsenal interest
Does Arsene Wenger Trust Himself to Spend Big?
Wenger looking to pip Fergie to £11.5m Ghanaian
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Best of WEB
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Why signing kids is a mistake – Gunnersphere
What Arsene Wenger is Doing is Simply Not Good Enough…… – Highbury House
Making Nasri play is a petulant decision that shouldn’t happen regardless… – Le Grove
Why Fabregas Should Be Remembered and Not Reviled – Online Gooner
Replacing Nasri Is Not The Problem… – A Cultured Left Foot
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South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae was a proud man after watching his side finish their Asian Cup campaign undefeated in third place.
Speaking after his team’s 3-2 win over Uzbekistan in the third-place play-off at Al Sadd Stadium, Cho said he was satisfied he had played his part in guiding the Koreans in playing an attractive and effective style.
Ji Dong scored twice and Koo Ja-cheol netted another as South Korea held on to secure their spot in the 2015 Asian Cup to be held in Australia.
“We haven’t lost a game at the Asian Cup. The penalty shootout defeat against Japan was my fault. I want to say thank you to all the players who sacrificed for the team, they never gave up with excellent fighting spirit,” Cho said.
“I believe that we could have won the tournament but when it comes to penalty shootouts, not many people can predict the result.”
“This tournament gave us a lot of opportunity to show the world the new possibilities of Korean football.”
“I believe we’ve changed the way we play. It’s a much better way so I want to keep working on this progress to better Korean football.”
Cho said his side were able to control their midfield game in their Cup campaign, but he wants the side to bookend their neat play in the middle with precise finishing and solid defence in future tournaments.
“Throughout the Asian Cup, I found the players were able to pass the ball through midfield much quicker than before so that aspect I was quite satisfied about,” he said.
“I would like to improve on what we’re doing, be faster in front of goal to make us much more effective and also strengthen the defensive organisation.”
Uzbekistan boss Vadim Abramov credited his team’s mental toughness after they recovered from three goals down to almost snatch a draw as Alexander Geynrikh’s double either side of half-time drew them closer.
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The result was a vast improvement on their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Australia in the semi-final as they achieved their best result at Asia’s premier soccer tournament.
“Their psychology, I don’t know why the players made so many mistakes but after our goal and half-time, I told players we have a chance, we have 45 minutes to use all preparation for this tournament and then players in the second half played much better and we had a chance to draw,” Abramov said.
“I think the reason was that we did not have belief in our self in the Australia game. In that game we played well but our defensive line made too many mistakes. We had more possession but it was too easy for Australia to score.”
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has stated that he feels his side’s defeat to Spain in the European Championships final will help temperamental Mario Balotelli learn in the long run.
The Azzurri were put to the sword 4-0 by a Spanish masterclass, whilst Balotelli remained largely ineffective during a one-sided game.
The Manchester City forward stormed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, brushing off the attempts of Italian officials to keep him on the pitch, before later returning to collect his runners-up medal.
Despite the act of petulance from the at-times troubled striker, Prandelli feels that Balotelli will learn that losing is a part of the game.
“I told Mario that these are experiences you have to deal with and have to accept,” the Italy tactician told reporters after the game, translated to English by Sky Sports.
“You have to hold your hands up and say the opponents were better, accept defeat.
“But you also have to make sure this helps you going forward and you can grow from the experience.
“This has happened to a number of players, and will happen again, but this is what sport is all about,” he admitted.
Prandelli went on to praise the efforts of his team, but feels that Spain’s extra recuperation time could have played a part in the result.
“You could tell right away that they were fresher physically. We didn’t have time to recuperate, especially against players like these. It became very, very difficult indeed to come back from 2-0 down.
“We came up against a terrific side. They’re world champions. Obviously, when you go down to 10 men, the game’s over.
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“Anyway, it has been a sensational tournament and I pay my compliments to my players.
“We must grow and arrive at these important competitions with the right space during and after the Italian championship,” he concluded.
Whether Manchester United ever get round to signing Wesley Sneijder remains to be seen, but you can’t help feel that this current squad is certainly good enough to retain their title this coming season. The fringe players have certainly stepped up in pre-season and given Fergie some genuine food for thought.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes five signings for Fergie to ponder; Javier Hernandez a footballing throwback, United braced for £18m approach.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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VIDEO – The ‘Greatest’ Premier League Goals Ever?
Have United’s rivals got what it takes to knock them off their perch?
Javier Hernandez – a throwback from the past
United star to finally etch his name among Europe’s elite?
Five signings for Fergie to ponder
Has Fergie simply ignored this pressing problem?
One rule for United and one for everyone else
Will injury see the changing of the defensive guard at Old Trafford?
Manchester United braced for £18m approach
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Best of MUFC
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So is it farewell Berba the magician, enigma and eternal frustration? – United Rant
VIDEO: Paul Scholes signs off in style thrashing the NY Cosmos – The Busby Way
The Only Time A Prince Could Ever Trumped Over A King – The United Religion
Why Sunday’s Game DOES Matter – Red Flag Flying High
VIDEO: Scholes’ Passing – RoM
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Click on Miss Suric below to see her in all here glory
Think drama, think controversy, think tragedy, think of a Saturday night spent with Ulrika Johnson and grown men rolling around in spandex and what do you get? No, not a selection of Stan Collymore’s neurosis from the best part of 1999, but a snapshot of one of the most colourful characters to have graced English football in the last 30 years, John Fashanu.
Readers of a certain age will remember Fashanu, or ‘Fash’ simply as the guy who hosted Gladiators next to Ulrika Johnson, having only to contend with scripted outbursts from a 45 year old man masquerading as a wolf. To a generation of Wimbledon fans, however, it was Fashanu who was a key component of the ‘Crazy Gang’ ethos that kept the Dons in the top flight of English football through the late 1980’s and through the early years of the Premier League era.
The early years of Fashanu’s career threatened to drift the British born Nigerian into obscurity. A frustrating spell at Norwich City, Fashanu’s first club, was followed by less than inspiring terms at Lincoln City and Millwall. In 1986, at the age of 24, Wimbledon, then a promotion chasing second division side acquired the young striker for £125,000.
As the ‘Crazy Gang’ team spirit at Selhurst Park was slowly fostered, Fashanu found a consistent level of goal scoring form as his new club were promoted to the top flight and quickly became a fixture of the first division.
Fashanu’s only silverware came as a result of one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in the history of the competition, when in 1988, Wimbledon beat league champions Liverpool, 1-0 to secure the club’s first and to date, only trophy.
From that point Fashanu acquired a cult following, and following two international caps for England in the summer of 1989, became revered as a hard working, physical target man. His goal scoring exploits in the early seasons of Premier League football attracted a bid from Aston Villa, the now 32 year old making his move to Villa Park in the summer of 1994.
Injury curtailed his spell at Villa, the forward limping out of the game, and presumably out of the limelight in early 1995. It was his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, brought about by an expose in The Sun that propelled the retired Wimbledon target man back into the public consciousness.
The legal dispute arising from the allegations, took more than two years to conclude. Fashanu was finally found not guilty of conspiracy to corrupt, after two trials at which a jury was unable to find a verdict. Fellow defendants Bruce Grobbelaar and Hans Seggars were also acquitted.
Nevertheless, the legal wrangling ultimately cost Fashanu his slot presenting Gladiators on ITV- the platform having introduced the controversial figure to a whole new generation of television viewers.
After leaving Gladiators behind, Fashanu spent several years in the wilderness. Having been dealt the financial blow of having a defamation settlement from The Sun slashed by the House of Lords, tragedy struck, when Fashanu’s estranged younger brother, Justin, committed suicide in 1998.
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A revival of sorts began when the former England international was welcomed back to ITV to appear on I’m a Celebrity: Get me out of here!’ Finishing runner up in that year’s competition, a return to the small screen beckoned. However, after fronting his own show; ‘Fash’s Football Challenge’ Fashanu dropped off British television screens for good.
Recent years has seen a stint presenting the Nigerian version of ‘Deal or No Deal’, a strangely apt reflection of the man’s career. Had the banker offered Fashanu what he has enjoyed and endured over the last twenty years when a struggling young player at Norwich back in the early 1980’s, I suspect he might have just taken it.
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