Mes: enero 2022

Premiership

Birmingham City vs Arsenal

Arsenal would be looking to bounce back from 2 disappointing results by winning at Birmingham to maintain their 5 point gap or even increase their lead at the top.

Birmingham would feel that if they could get a draw at the Emirates than they can either get the same result or provide a shock against the league leaders but it would not be easy.

Arsenal should win this but with some difficulty.

Liverpool Vs Middlesboro

You never know what you are going to get from Liverpool and especially from their manager. The 1 thing you do know you are not going to get is the same side that beat Inter Milan on Tuesday. Middlesboro have not lost a game this year and would like to keep that run going but if Liverpool play to their full potential they should win. It would not surprise me if this ends in a draw but I really do expect Liverpool to with this game.

Newcastle United Vs Manchester United

Newcastle have not won under Kevin Keegan and after tomorrow, I expect that record to continue as anything other than a Manchester United victory would be a total surprise.

They would not lose 6-0 as they did at Old Trafford but I still expect them to lose against a team that would be buoyant after decent results against Arsenal and Lyon in the champion’s league.

The 1 saving grace for Newcastle is that Manchester United do not always play well immediately after a champions league tie but unfortunately Newcastle do not have the desired quality to trouble the champions.They did get an improbable draw against Manchester United last season and Keegan always wants to beat Ferguson so you never know.

Carling Cup Final

Chelsea Vs Tottenham Hotspurs

Juande Ramos is a past master in winning cup finals but I cannot see them defeating Chelsea on Sunday bearing in mind they played 2 days after Chelsea did in the midweek and also how very organised Chelsea are defensively.

If Ledley King plays then Spurs would stand a slight chance as he provides so much defensive prowess to them but if he does not then I do not give them a chance.

Spurs have all the flair and attacking prowess but Chelsea are a very hard nut to crack and Tottenham have to score 1st to stand any chance.

I would like to see Spurs win the cup but I just cannot see past Chelsea winning it.

SerieA

Roma Vs Fiorentina

This is the game of the weekend in Italy and pits 2 of the most attractive teams against each other.

Roma managed to defeat Real Madrid in the champions league on Tuesday and that would have boosted their confidence after some shaky results whilst Fiorentina defeated Rosenborg to go through to the next phase of the UEFA cup just last night.

The fact that Fiorentina played 2 days after and do not exactly have a very good away record makes me opt firmly towards Roma.

Sampdoria Vs Inter Milan

Inter would be looking to put their 1st defeat in 5 months against Liverpool firmly behind them and I strongly fancy them to beat Sampdoria at Genoa.

Sampdoria, inspired by Antonio Cassano did well to defeat city rivals, Genoa last weekend but I do not see them repeating the trick against Inter unless Inter decide to implode by having a man sent off early again.

Inter do have problems at the back though with Ivan Cordoba ruled out for the season joining Walter Samuel as casualties for the season.

Reginna Vs Juventus

Juventus are coming off 2 excellent results and would be full of confidence when they face relegation threatened Reginna on Saturday evening knowing fully well that a victory would catapult them to 2nd albeit for a few hours.

This would not be easy as Juventus have shown this season that they tend not to win games you fully expect them to and have drawn a lot of games they were expected to win. But I do think they would win this game but not very comfortably.

Milan Vs Palermo

Like Liverpool, you never know what you are going to get and this is not an easy game to call. You would think Milan should win this game but they have drawn far too many home games to consider any game a home banker.

Pato and Kaka are back so that should help and they would also be buoyed by their midweek performance at Arsenal.

I expect a very narrow victory for the Rossoneri.

La Liga

Sevilla Vs Zaragoza

Sevilla are quite formidable at home and Zaragoza are inconsistent everywhere so I would expect Sevilla to win this game.

Barcelona Vs Levante

Barcelona looked like they are coming back into some semblance of form with a number of key players performing well against Celtic including Ronaldinho, Deco, Thierry Henry and most especially Lionel Messi.

Samuel Etoo is back as well and Levante, which is possibly the poorest team in La Liga this season do not have a prayer.

Real Madrid Vs Getafe

This is a local derby with the added spice of Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster coming up against his former club and Getafe manager, Michael Laudrup coming up against a side he graced so well as a player.

Real were unlucky to be defeated at Roma and have a 100% home record in la Liga this season. They also have the additional boost of Robinho returning to the fold so I fully expect them to be too strong for a Getafe side that played yesterday in Uefa Cup defeating AEK Athens 3-0.

Spain inculcates all that one expects a holiday destination to have. The country can mesmerize one from its beauty and take others to a memorable walk through history but in order to complete your holiday experience in Spain you must choose to live in a Spain villa. Spain Villa is in fact, the most popular choice that north Europeans choose for holidaying. Presence of unique and amazing landscapes, abundance of drink and food, a multitude of tourist destinations and a suitable weather makes Spain a hot spot to spend vacations.

A seaside villa in Spain is the most popular choice for tourists and their families. Spain is known to have abundant historically significant sites and multitude of self-catering destinations. Beachside villas in Spain are exclusively available for rent during summers in breathtaking parts of Costa Brava.

During winters places such as Fuerteventura (situated in Canary Islands) and Tenerife are much preferred. Exploring other parts of the country can also be a thrilling experience. Choosing to stay in Villas that are situated in countryside can altogether be a different experience. While staying in countryside, one can experience the real taste of Spain.

Everyone, whether young or old can find something or other they like in Spain. Villas in Spain are especially good for a family holiday. A villa can be chosen depending on personal priorities. Villas in Spain offer a lot of privacy and space. Spain villas are perfect for those who want a lavish lifestyle and their piece of mind. Villas in Spain offer freedom and an equal opportunity to learn and prepare Spanish meals in fully furnished kitchens that are excellent but ultra-modern equipments. You can also choose to barbecue along with the family on the open terrace and enjoy the serene evening.

Spain villas are perfect to spend time with our near ones that we can cherish and remember throughout our lives. Villas situated on the hillside offer peace and soothing atmosphere. People who choose to spend time in these villas can explore the flora and fauna of this exotic paradise. Living in these peaceful and artistic villas is the perfect way to relax oneself and rejuvenate one’s soul. These villas are not just an accommodation, but they are small pieces of heaven which you must experience for an enchanting memory and true joy.

Ikechukwu Uche began is humble football career with local outfit- Amanze United F.C of Aba, before teaming up with division one outfit- Iwuanyanwu Nationale F.C of Owerri in Imo State eastern Nigeria. He is a natural striker with an eye for beautiful goals.

Born in 1984 in the industrial city of Aba, he grew up to love the round leather game as a youngster and the passion for soccer took him out of the shore of Nigeria in 2001, when he signed his first professional soccer contract with second division Spanish outfit-Racing de Ferrol at a tender age of 17.

His dribbling skills and clinical finish in front of goals earned him a move from the modest Racing de Ferrol to Recreativo de Huelva. He played some of his best football at Recreativo during the 2003-2007 football season appearing for them 133 times and scoring a whopping 50 goals in the process.

Uche later joined Getafe F.C at the end of the 2007 season after helping Recreativo into the Spanish top-flight league. It was however not an eventful beginning for the 1.7m tall Uche who was mostly used as a substitute during his time at Getafe.

His stay at Getafe soon ended in 2009 when Real Zaragoza offered the petite striker with a mouth-watering four years deal which saw him becoming one of their star-striker. It was a sad beginning for Uche at his new club when he sustained a horrifying knee injury while starring for his new club in his second game against Sevilla F.C.

He ended up on the side-line for 8 months recuperating and undergoing rehabilitation before suffering another knee injury in the 2010/11 season. It was a trying period for the Nigerian striker who was desperate to impress for both club and country. Uche who had before his injury woes formed a deadly strike-force with Kalu Uche (elder brother), missed the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa as a result of injury concern.

Before his injury spell, he was a super-regular with the Super Eagles of Nigeria and had featured in 22 games of the senior national team netting a total of 5 goals in the process. He is one of the most talented strikers in the present Super Eagles fold with good dribbling skill, ball control and strong aerial strength. He can use both legs when going on the offensive, an added advantage considering the fact that some strikers are one-footed.

As Nigeria engages the Ethiopian National team in a crucial African Nations Cup encounter slated for the Abuja National stadium on the 27th of March 2011, there are already agitations from Nigerian soccer-loving fans for Coach Samson Siasia to include the dynamic striker in the squad to face the Ethiopians as he has gradually worked his way back to match-fitness.

Deadline Day has come and gone, and predictably the last hours before the transfer window slammed shut on August 31 saw drama and confusion. There was greatest suspense as to whether Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had beaten the deadline to sign Rafael Van der Vaart.

Let’s take a look at the various players involved in the major deals done on the day:

Stoke City:

Arguably the biggest beneficiaries, on the day, Stoke managed to snare Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco, on loan.

They also got winger Jermaine Rennant, on loan from Real Zaragoza.

In a couple of buys, defensive midfielders, Marc Wilson from Portsmouth and Senegalese Salif Diao on free transfer, joined the Potters.

Right winger Liam Lawrence and striker Dave Kitson went from Stoke City to Portsmouth, under a player exchange transaction.

Liverpool:

The Merseysiders got left-back Paul Konchesky from Fulham, and defender Emiliano Insua, on loan from Galatasaray. The Reds sold midfielder Daniel Plessis to Greek club, Panathinaikos.

Birmingham:

The Blues got midfielder Alexander Hleb from Spanish club Barcelona, and Chilean winger Jean Beausejour from the Mexican squad, Club America, while striker Marcus Bent left Birmingham for Wolves.

Sunderland:

The Black Cats made a big buy from Rennes, in the form of Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian star striker who shone at the World Cup. they also got attacking midfielder Teemu Tainio from Ajax on a free transfer. Forward Martyn Waghorn left the club for Championship side, Leicester.

Bolton:

The Trotters managed to close a deal on striker Rodrigo Moreno who has joined the club on loan from Portuguese club Benfica.

Blackpool:

The Seasiders bought forward DJ Campbell from Leicester.

Wolverhampton

The Wanderers got Marcus Bent from Birmingham.

Wigan

The Latics struck a couple of good deals in buying Argentene striker Franco di Santio from Chelsea, and midfielder Tom Cleverly on loan from Manchester United.

Now, for the teams that lost players without getting any, either as buys or loans:

Fulham sold Konchesky to Liverpool; Everton loaned out Joseph Yobo to Fenerbahce; Arsenal gave Armand Traore to Juventus on loan; Chelsea sold Franco di Santio to Wigan; Manchester United gave Tom Cleverly, to Wigan on loan; Manchester City sent Philipe Caicedo to Levante, also on loan.

But I did not answer the biggest question of all: did Spurs get Van der Vaart? Yes, they did!

Tottenham not only struck the deal in time, as it transpired, but also managed to get ‘keeper Stipe Pletkosa on loan from Spartak Moscow.