Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez relax in Manchester City training

Posted on March 1, 2013 by adminsports

Nasri and Tevez take weight of expectation in their stride as duo relax in City training

By
Graeme Yorke

PUBLISHED:

19:20 GMT, 28 February 2013

UPDATED:

21:06 GMT, 28 February 2013

Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez appeared to be in high spirits today as Manchester City prepared for their trip to Aston Villa on Monday.

Fresh from beating top-four rivals Chelsea at the Etihad last weekend, Nasri, Tevez and the rest of the City squad were put through their paces at City's training base in Carrington.

And Tevez, who doubled City's lead over Rafa Benitez's visitors after Yaya Toure's opener, took the time to give the cameras a thumbs-up while he rested between training sessions.

Relaxed: Samir Nasri reclines in Manchester City's boot room at their Carrington training base

Weight of expectation: Pablo Zabaleta puts a shift in as City prepare to take on Aston Villa on Monday

No way: Joe Hart dives over a hurdle to keep the ball out as Costel Pantilimon (left) watches

Nasri, who made a late cameo appearance in the win which tightened City's grip on second place, but struck a pose for the club photographer while reclining in the bootroom.

City manager Roberto Mancini criticised Nasri's work ethic last week, claiming that the France midfielder only offers him 50 per cent.

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Mancini said: 'I think Samir has fantastic qualities

'With his quality, he should always play well. Every game he could be the difference. A player of this quality could be one of the best players in Europe. But it's not happening.

'Sometimes a player thinks it's enough what they did the year before and doesn't understand that every day they should improve.'

He added: 'You win the title, then you think it's enough to play 50 per cent and you don't arrive the next year.'

'If you are a top player you know you can improve until the last day of your career but sometimes you get players who think it is not important to work and this is their worst mistake.

'Samir can do better than this year. He is a top player but he has not been playing at his level.'

Pablo Zabaleta and Joleon Lescott undertook some weight training in their bid to be fully prepared for City's visit to Villa Park next week.

Goalkeepers Joe Hart and Costel Pantilimon were also pictured putting in a shift. Hart, who made an outstanding save from a Frank Lampard penalty to keep the game at 0-0 last weekend, dived over hurdles to keep the ball out in this afternoon's session.

Mancini will be desperate for his side to take all three points, as league leaders and cross-city rivals United could be 15 points clear at the top come Monday, provided they beat Norwich at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

Having a breather: Carlos Tevez gives a thumbs-up to the camera

Focus: Joleon Lescott powers through his training session

Game for a laugh: Javi Garcia (right) shares a joke with Zabaleta and David Silva (left)

West Ham v Stoke: Can Premier League clash live up to 1972 League Cup classics?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by adminsports

Why we're in for a treat if tonight's game at Upton Park is as good as the 1970s Cup classics…

LIVE: WEST HAM v STOKE
Join us HERE from 7pm for live coverage as it happens at Upton Park with Dan Ripley

A win for West Ham over Stoke will catapult the high-flying Hammers into fifth place above Everton and London rivals Arsenal and Spurs.

Yet some neutral fans have written off tonight's game at Upton Park as a clash of the long-ball experts.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce would be quick to remind those skeptics that his side have scored 10 goals in six games at home so far this season while Stoke have shipped nine goals on their travels.

However it unfolds this clash will have to go some way to match the amazing League Cup semi-final between the two sides in the 1971-1972 season.

The two-legged, last-four game went to two replays before Stoke won 3-2 at Old Trafford – 49 days after the tie had first kicked off.

Here Sportsmail reproduces Jeff Powell's report of the match that separated the two sides.

Stoke 3 West Ham 2 (Old Trafford, Wednesday, January 26, 1972)

West Ham – brave, suffering, heartbroken West Ham – lost the longest and richest League Cup semi-final on one of the greatest football nights of all time.

That they should have to leave Old Trafford with tears as well as rain running openly down their faces is a sad injustice to those magnificent Hammers.

keeper Bobby Ferguson

Hammer blow: keeper Bobby Ferguson dives in vain as Stoke's Peter Dobing scores his side's second goal in the final replay

To Stoke goes the prize of playing
Chelsea at Wembley on March 4.

And few will begrudge them the chance
they have craved, the chance to win a major trophy for the first time in
more than a century. The tragedy is that there was a loser of this
mind-splitting fourth game climax to a marathon contest of the rarest
footballing skills.

This televised last act of a seven-hour
semi-final was so full of flashpoint drama
and raw courage that even the sight of
Bobby Moore saving a spot kick seemed
scarcely out of the ordinary.

Moore, as befits the responsible
captain of both his club and England,
took over the green jersey during the 20
minutes in which injured goalkeeper
Bobby Ferguson was being treated in
the West Ham dressing room.

Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks saves a penalty from West Ham United's Geoff Hurst (r)

Gordon Banks makes a gesture of jubilation after Stoke City's dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham

Spot on: Gordon Banks saves Geoff Hurst's penalty in the second leg before savouring ultimate victory

MARATHON BY NUMBERS

420
total minutes played by the two teams over the four semi-final matches.

170,614
total attendance figures for the four games.

35
cost in pence for the average ticket at the final game of the four-leg marathon.

10,000
amount by which the Old Trafford capacity was reduced for the final game due to the building of the cantilever stand.

1,010
minutes of League Cup football played by Stoke in order to reach the final (West Ham played 1,150 before being knocked out).

108
years Stoke City had been a football club before lifting their first trophy in 1972.

The 13th minute collision which damaged one of the stars of the previous three clashes, was partly the fault of Stoke's Terry Conroy; but equally the product of a muddied pitch made more treacherous by windswept rain.

Conroy's sliding leg hit Ferguson's head and shoulder as the goalkeeper dived.

Jimmy Greenhoff had no sooner seen his goal from the rebound disallowed than West Ham officials were ministering to the fallen Ferguson. After seven minutes of attention, Ferguson was led shakily away.

Minutes later Moore was facing a penalty by Mike Bernard, a fearful test that followed John McDowell's foul. Moore blocked the spot kick – only for Bernard to score from the rebound.

But West Ham achieved the impossible, and the magnificent Billy Bonds deserved the deflection off Denis Smith's boot which lifted his equalising shot over Gordon Banks.

Then, with Ferguson restored, Trevor Brooking spectacularly volleyed West Ham ahead from Bonds's cross.

Yet in the fifth minute of the first half injury time a pass by George Eastham – that incredible veteran who will go to Wembley with all soccer's blessing – was swept in by Peter Dobing.

Four minutes after the restart, the Hammers conceded the decisive goal.

Full back John Marsh crossed from the right, Tommy Taylor could only clear to the edge of the penalty area, and Conroy's instant shot came skidding back beneath Ferguson's body.

bobby ferguson injured

Painful: keeper Ferguson is injured, leaving Bobby Moore to go in goal

Stand-in goalkeeper Bobby Moore

Terry Conroy (right) and Jimmy Greenhoff celebrate Stoke's victory

Game over: Moore saved Bernard's penalty only for the Stoke star (left) to follow up and score, leading to a Stoke win celebrated by Conroy and Greenhoff in the bath (right)

Stoke 1 West Ham 2

December 8, 1971
Semi-final 1st leg
Stoke goal: Dobing
West Ham goals: Hurst (pen), Best
Attendance: 36,400

West Ham fans can start rehearsing for a day out at Wembley on March 4. Stoke surely cannot burst their League Cup bubble now.

COLIN WOOD

STOKE: Banks; Marsh, Pejic, Bernard, Bloor, Jump, Conroy, Greenhoff, Ritchie, Dobing, Eastham.

WEST HAM: Ferguson; McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Redknapp, Best, Hurst, Brooking, Robson.

West Ham 0 Stoke 1 AET (agg: 2-2)

December 15, 1971
Semi-final 2nd leg
Stoke goal: Ritchie
Attendance: 38,771

Gordon Banks last night made one of the greatest saves of his distinguished career at Upton Park to stop West Ham from going into the League Cup final at Wembley on March 4.

BRIAN SCOVELL

WEST HAM: Ferguson; McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Redknapp, Best, Hurst, Brooking, Robson.

STOKE: Banks; Marsh, Pejic, Bernard, Bloor, Skeels, Conroy, Greenhoff, Ritchie, Dobing, Eastham (Mahoney).

Stoke 0 West Ham 0 AET

January 5, 1972
Semi-final first replay (Hillsborough)
Attendance: 46,196

Gordon Banks has done it again. The England goalkeeper made another of his great saves at Hillsborough last night to keep this 5 hour marathon League Cup semi-final going for at least another 90 minutes.

BRIAN SCOVELL

STOKE: Banks; Marsh, Pejic, Bernard, Smith, Bloor, Conroy, Dobing, Ritchie, Greenhoff (Skeels), Eastham.

WEST HAM: Ferguson; McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Redknapp, Best, Hurst, Brooking, Robson.

Stoke 3 West Ham 2

January 26, 1972
Semi-final 2nd replay (Old Trafford)
Stoke goals: Bernard, Dobing, Conroy.
West Ham goals: Bonds, Brooking.
Attendance: 49,247

This last act of a seven-hour semi-final was so full of flashpoint drama and raw courage that even Moore saving a spot kick seemed scarcely out of the ordinary.

JEFF POWELL

STOKE: Banks; Marsh, Pejic, Bernard, Smith, Bloor, Conroy, Greenhoff, Ritchie, Dobing, Eastham.

WEST HAM: Ferguson, McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Redknapp (Eustace), Best, Hurst, Brooking, Robson, Eustace.

London Welsh 15 Exeter 42: Nic Sestaret and Jack Nowell blow away hosts

Posted on November 11, 2012 by adminsports

London Welsh 15 Exeter 42: Late try blitz from Sestaret and Nowell blows away hosts

UPDATED:

18:59 GMT, 11 November 2012

A completely-changed Exeter gained a measure of revenge for their Aviva Premiership defeat at the Kassam Stadium earlier this season with an emphatic victory over London Welsh in the LV= Cup.

The Warriors scored four of their six tries in the final quarter, with Nic Sestaret and Jack Nowell both going over twice, to blow away their hosts who had led 9-8 at half-time.

Will Carrick-Smith and Mark Foster touched down for Exeter before their late blitz, with Henry Slade adding 12 points from the boot.

Airborne: Myles Dorrian dives over to score a try for Exeter against London Welsh

The Exiles, who retained 10 players from the team that met bath last time out, relied on Gordon Ross to kick over all of their points.

The hosts had no answer to the young Chiefs who were a revelation, showing huge enterprise, and had they showed a little more composure in the first half then Welsh would have suffered an even greater defeat.

Exeter did not include any of their players who started last week's Premiership game against Worcester and they initially found themselves in an arm wrestle.

Helpless: Gordon Ross of London Welsh reflects on another defeat for the Premiership strugglers

London Welsh took the lead after six minutes when Ross kicked a 20-metre penalty but Slade soon responded with an even simpler one for the visitors.

The first quarter was evenly contested but Exeter came closest to scoring.

One of their forward drives actually crossed the line but their effort was ruled out by the TMO and then following penetrative runs from Joel Conlon and Myles Dorrian, Junior Poluleuligaga was pushed into touch a metre short by some desperate home defence.

No way past: Joel Conlon (centre) is tackled by Nick Runciman of London Welsh as he attempts to break through

Against the run of play, Welsh regained the lead when Exeter infringed at a scrum 25 metres out and Ross made no mistake with his kick to give his side a 6-3 lead after 25 minutes.

Three minutes later, the more enterprising Chiefs deservedly scored the first try. Slade's miscued kick went straight to his wing Foster who ran strongly down the left flank deep into the Welsh 22. Exeter recycled the ball and Poluleuligaga's pass sent Carrick-Smith over for the try which Slade was unable to convert.

Welsh relied on their forward drives and the tactical kicking of Ross to have the better of the latter period of the first half and they were rewarded when just before the break, Ross kicked his third penalty to give them a 9-8 interval lead.

Rough and tumble: Lee Beach of London Welsh is tackled by Jack Nowell of Exeter

Early in the second half, Slade put the Chiefs back in front with a 45-metre penalty before they scored an excellent second try.

Chris Budgen got them moving forward with a 10-metre drive; the backs were then given their opportunity for Sam Hill to produce an exquisite dummy to send Foster in for an easy try which Slade converted.

Ross kicked two penalties in quick succession but Welsh still trailed 15-18 going into the final quarter.

Exeter then put their foot on the accelerator.

Try time: Miles Dorrian of Exeter celebrates with his team-mates after scoring at the Kassam Stadium

Their burst began with a skilfully created try scored by Nowell, who outflanked the cover defence.

With 12 minutes to go Sestaret went over from close range before the French wing, put away by the lively Poluleuligaga, raced in for his second.

Two minutes from time, Nowell collected his second and Exeter's sixth, which was converted by Slade, as the Welsh were ultimately routed.

Tom Daley wins gold in 10metre platform at Junior World Diving Championships

Posted on October 13, 2012 by adminsports

Double Daley delight! Individual gold added to synchro title at Junior Championships

UPDATED:

10:09 GMT, 13 October 2012

Tom Daley claimed his second gold medal of the week to crown Great Britain's best ever performance at the Junior World Diving Championships.

The Olympic bronze medallist stormed to victory in the boys' 10-metre platform event to follow up his victory alongside Jack Laugher in the 3m synchro earlier this week.

Golden boy: Daley poses with his second gold medal of the week

The 18-year-old from Plymouth produced a superb sequence of five dives, scoring 108 points with his fourth and 99 with a fifth dive for which he was awarded perfect 10s by five judges and 9 1/2 by the other two.

His total of 663.95 left him 52 points clear of China's Yang Jian, whose compatriot Chen Aisen took bronze. Britain's Daniel Goodfellow did not make the final.

Lydia Rosenthall qualified fourth for the final of the girls' B 3m springboard, but could only finish 11th of 12 after three poor dives in the final.

That meant Britain finished the week with three gold medals, two silver and one bronze.

Laugher also won the 3m springboard solo event and was second in the 1m event, while Alicia Blagg and Hannah Starling were second in the girls' 3m synchro and Starling was third in the 3m springboard.

England lose third Test to South Africa

Posted on August 20, 2012 by adminsports

England no longer top of the world after South Africa survive thrilling Lord's fightback to claim victory

UPDATED:

16:05 GMT, 20 August 2012

England have lost their world No 1 status after South Africa won the third Test by 51 runs for a 2-0 series triumph.

Andrew Strauss's side went into the final day with eight wickets remaining and needing 330 runs for victory.

But despite Matt Prior (73) and Graeme Swann (41) setting up a thrilling finish – after half centuries from Jonathan Trott and Jonny Bairstow – the hosts came up short.

Full report to follow….

Super six: Graeme Swann hits out as the third Test reaches a thrilling climax

Safe hands: Graeme Smith (centre) celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss Ian Bell

What a catch: Jaques Kallis dives for the ball to get Jonathan Trott out for 63

Point made: Vernon Philander celebrates after dismissing Ian Bell at Lord's

Out: Jonny Bairstow falls victim to Imran Tahir after managing a half century

Matt finish: Prior tries to steer England closer to their target

Packing a punch: Imran Tahir celebrates taking the wicket of Jonny Bairstow

Take that: Graeme Swann helped himself to a couple of sixes as England battled

Tom Daley on his London 2012 Olympics diving bronze

Posted on August 14, 2012 by adminsports

British hero Daley: Hard work It was all worth it for bronze

UPDATED:

13:39 GMT, 14 August 2012

Tom Daley can't stop grinning. He didn't get to sleep until 5am the night of the Closing Ceremony but, some seven hours later, he breezes into Team GB House next to the Olympic Park, apparently brimming with energy.

He's got a bronze medal in his backpack, after all. This 97 per cent copper disc, 3.3 inches in diameter, Daley's reward for finishing third in the 10-metre platform, is no longer a dream, a hope or a prediction. It is something tangible; something Daley and his family can keep at home in Plymouth. It's little wonder he's smiling.

'If I'd done that performance and finished fourth, even though I was happy with the dives, I would just be gutted not to have anything that said, “Look, I did this. I went to the Olympic Games”,' he says.

Bronze: Daley digests his London 2012 experience with Sportsmail's Laura Williamson

'I would have put so much hard work and effort in but I wouldn't have anything to show for it, only fourth place. So once I'd got a medal it was something to say, “This is what I've got out of it”.

'It wasn't just a medal for me: it was a medal for the whole team, my family, friends, supporters, for Britain.'

Look what I've got: Daley and the precious bronze medal he secured in the men's 10m platform

The act of stepping on to the podium was poignant for all 141 members of the British team who had the honour at London 2012, but you feel it was more crucial for Daley than most.

He passed his driving test last year and became an adult in May but he celebrated on Saturday night by eating choco-late ice cream. It's easy to forget he's still a teenager.

This 18-year-old has had to cope with the loss of his father, Rob, in May last year; a man as closely entwined with Daley's sporting success as the chamois cloth he uses to dry himself between dives.

He has lost more than a stone in weight and come through the worry of wondering if his growth spurts will affect his ability to learn and execute ever more complex dives.

He has had to manage being a public face of British sport since London won the bid for the Olympic Games in 2005. And he desperately wanted to win a medal to make it all seem worth it.

Daley said: 'I was standing on the podium, looking around at the Olympic rings and thinking, “How the hell has this happened How have I got here” Standing there made me think all the hard work I have been putting in was definitely worth it.

'It was amazing to see my family on the side. Mum was very excited. Everyone's just really happy that we've finally got some good news in the family.

'It was a moment I finally got something to show for all the hard work, dedication, all the sacrifices I've had to make.'

Flying the flag: Daley was under intense pressure coming into the London Games

Daley admitted he was 'devastated' to finish fourth in the synchronised 10m event with partner Pete Waterfield on the first Monday of the Games. The pair faltered in the fourth round and Daley had to wait 11 days to make amends in the individual event.

'I felt ready going into the synchro,' he says. 'It was devastating to come fourth. If you miss one dive at that standard of competition then you're out. You can't afford to do that. I was gutted we got fourth place.'

Water performance: Daley lit up the Aquatics Centre on Sunday night

Daley left the 'draining' Olympic bubble and escaped to Southend. It took him 'an hour to walk five minutes down the road', such was the level of attention, but he tried to 'chill out' by watching Ted at the cinema, seeing his mum Debbie and brothers William and Ben and playing mini-golf. Then it was back to Stratford for round two.

'I went into the individual event like there was something to prove, almost,' says Daley. 'I was nervous but then, when I was in the cool room (before diving), I was just thinking, “I'm just going to enjoy this; just go out there and give it my best shot because that's all I can do”.'

Daley's composure and the measured, controlled way he speaks is almost unerring, but this maturity was ultimately what helped him earn that bronze medal.

He had the confidence and experience to argue he had been distracted by camera flashes during his first dive in the Olympic final, which scored only 75.60 points. He was allowed to re-take the dive and scored 91.80.

'Having an Olympic Games under my belt already definitely helped,' he says. 'I know that if I had the amount of pressure going into this Games without having the Olympic experience I think it would probably have been all too much. So I definitely used that to my advantage and didn't let the Olympic rings on the side of the wall get to me.

'Jessica Ennis I can't even imagine how she was feeling, competing in her first Games. Sport more than anything at the Olympics is psychological. You've done all your training. You're meant to treat it like a normal competition but nobody ever does because the Olympics means so much more to people. It's just whoever, psychologically, holds their nerve, really.'

As we chat, the autographed pictures of Britain's medal winners are being taken down and packed away in bubble wrap. The sign downstairs already declares ParalympicsGB are the new tenants on the ninth floor. But Daley keeps mentioning Rio de Janeiro, the city which will host the Games in four years' time.

Nice wheels: Tom Daley learning to drive last year at the Goodwood motor circuit

Nice wheels: Tom Daley learning to drive last year at the Goodwood motor
circuit

'I think normally divers peak at around 22 to 24,' he says. 'I'll have just turned 22 in Rio, so that's the Olympics I'm most excited about, performance-wise. I think in total (I might make) maybe four or five, depending on how diving moves on, but we'll get to Rio first.

'It's outdoors, which the Chinese don't like. I love diving outdoors. All the competitions I've done well in have been outdoors so I've always had good memories.

'I've got all the hardest dives I can learn now, so it's going to be four more years of solid practising them. The exciting thing is they're only going to get more consistent and more accurate. The whole next cycle has started already.'

He's still grinning, showing off those perfect white teeth that helped make him the poster boy of London 2012. Incredibly, he's already looking forward to Rio 2016. Maybe, just maybe, that precious medal will be gold next time round.

Tom Daley is part of the BMW London 2012 Performance Team. BMW is the Official Automotive Partner of London 2012; for more information please visit london2012.bmw.co.uk.

Tom Daley on his London 2012 Olympics diving bronze – exclusive

Posted on August 14, 2012 by adminsports

Tom Daley exclusive: Hard work It was all worth it for bronze

UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 13 August 2012