Ghost goal in Spain – hits crossbar and bounces out

Posted on March 21, 2013 by adminsports

Not even close! Spanish ghost goal joins growing list of controversial strikes

The Reebok Stadium hosted a key relegation battle between Bolton and Rangers, and the visitors should have gone ahead but the officials ruled Hill's header had not crossed the line before being clawed out by Adam Bogdan. Replays showed the decision to be clearly wrong and Bolton won the game 2-1.

Juan Mata, Chelsea v Tottenham, 2012

Martin Atkinson awarded Chelsea a goal that put them into a 2-0 lead in this year's FA Cup semi-final despite Benoit Assou-Ekotto appearing to block the ball on the line. The Blues went on to win 5-1 at Wembley.

Marko Devic, Ukraine v England, 2012

England were on the right side of a decision at the European Championships when Marko Devic's shot appeared to have crossed the line before John Terry hooked it out, but it was not given and England won the game 1-0 to top their group.

Mark Webber told he has Red Bull future if he performs well

Posted on March 13, 2013 by adminsports

We'll keep renewing Webber's deal if he's still producing the goods, claim Red Bull

By
Ian Parkes, Press Association

PUBLISHED:

19:18 GMT, 12 March 2013

UPDATED:

19:45 GMT, 12 March 2013

Mark Webber has been assured of his place at Red Bull providing he continues to deliver for the team.

Not for the first time going into a new Formula One season, Webber is apparently facing the end of the road.

As a driver operating on a rolling one-year contract with Red Bull, and with the Australian turning 37 in August, there are many who doubt how long he can continue in the sport.

Keep it up: Mark Webber must perform well if he is to secure a new deal

For his part, Webber has made it clear he still has the motivation to become a champion and firmly believes he has the support of the team to help him achieve such a goal.

Despite that, the speculation will always persist about Webber, in particular given the fact his team-mate Sebastian Vettel has won the world title for the last three years.

But team principal Christian Horner said: 'The last three years have apparently been Mark's last.

'Yet he has been retained by the team because of what he has done in the car, and again the same rules apply this year.

Retained: Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner (left) says Webber knows what he needs to do

'We want the strongest pairing and Mark has contributed significantly to our constructors' world championships over the last three years, and even came close to winning his own title in 2010.

'Mark has been employed by the team to do the best job he can and he knows what's expected of him.

'There are an awful lot of drivers who would like to be sat in a Red Bull car but Mark is there on merit, and while he delivers for the team he will have that place.'

Chit chat: Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson with Webber

It was Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko who fuelled the debate about Webber earlier this year by questioning his mental strength and his consistency.

Marko suggested Webber can be unbeatable for a couple of races, but is unable to maintain such form over a year.

Asked whether Webber has it within him to deliver on a more regular basis, Horner added: “The difficulty for Mark is he is constantly judged against a young man in the other car who has achieved so much.

'What Seb's done in 101 races, with 26 victories, being a three-time world champion, youngest points scorer, pole winner, race winner, is remarkable.

Judged: Some say Webber can produce good short term results but cannot hold his form over the season

'Mark's being constantly measured against a driver that is, in my view, the best of a generation and that makes it harder for him.

'But at the same time Mark measures the opportunity of being measured against the best.

'He has also demonstrated on his day he can be unbeatable and he does just need to string a campaign together, with 19 of those performances.

'He's improved as he's matured. Last year he drove very well, and if he can get off to a good start and build up some momentum this season that will be important for his campaign.

'Above all, if we didn't think he could still do it then we wouldn't have taken him for another year with the team.'

Bayer Leverkusen keen to take Chelsea winger Marko Marin on loan

Posted on December 31, 2012 by adminsports

Leverkusen keen to take Chelsea winger Marin on loan for rest of the season

UPDATED:

22:45 GMT, 30 December 2012

Bayer Leverkusen are showing interest in Chelsea winger Marko Marin.

The Germany player is keen to go out on loan after a disappointing debut season at Stamford Bridge which has been dogged by injury.

The 23-year-old former Werder Bremen star has held talks with interim manager Rafa Benitez.

On the move: Chelsea winger Marko Marin is wanted by Bayer Leverkusen

Marko Jaric: English invented slavery and hooliganism, no right to accuse Serbians of racism

Posted on October 19, 2012 by adminsports

Hypocrites! English invented slavery and hooliganism so they have no right to lecture us on racism, blasts Serbian NBA star Jaric after Rose abuse

UPDATED:

10:23 GMT, 19 October 2012

England's slavery and hooliganism links means they have no right to direct allegations of racism towards Serbia fans, according to NBA star Marko Jaric.

UEFA have launched an investigation after Danny Rose was subjected to racist chanting and monkey taunts during Tuesday night's Under 21 Euro 2013 play-off in Krusevac.

Disgrace: Rose was subjected to vile racist chants in Serbia

The FA have threatened to stop playing
matches against Serbia in the wake of the disturbing scenes which the
Serbs have disgracefully tried to blame on Rose's 'provocative'
behaviour.

And
now Serbia's most famous sporting hero Jaric has waded into the row,
raking up Britain's centuries-old links to the slave trade, which was
officially abolished in 1833.

Hypocrites! Jaric has lambasted England for what he sees as double standards

'Could Englishmen teach us about human rights They invented hooliganism and slavery. Shame on us if they can teach us anything,' he tweeted.

'In England there is racism and how the whole stadium but felt monkey screams of the boy who does not have even 20 years We really gone too far.'

Just 24 hours after the Serbs insisted
there had been no racist chanting during the ill-tempered clash in
Krusevac, the Serbian FA official YouTube channel posted a bizarre video mocking Rose's accusation that he was racially abused.

The heavily edited six-minute clip,
entitled ‘Danny Rose is lying to whom’, contained footage of Rose in
action at various moments in the game, with no apparent evidence of
racist abuse aimed at him.

However, the video ended at 76
minutes and ignored the explosive end to the game in which Rose was
shown a red card for kicking a ball into the crowd out of frustration at
the abuse from the stands.

Other YouTube footage had clearly
implicated the crowd, while several witnesses gave first-hand accounts
of the abuse, which England players insisted had taken place from the
warm-up onwards.

Jaric plays for Chicago Bulls, alongside Britain's most famous basketball player Luol Deng.

Deng
represented Team GB at the London Games and made clear his desire to
represent the country which had done so much for him and his family
after they sought refuge in the UK to escape civil war in Sudan.

Watch the astonishing video here

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Eden Hazard needs time to settle – Roberto Di Matteo

Posted on August 6, 2012 by adminsports

Di Matteo warns Chelsea fans not to expect too much from 32m playmaker Hazard

UPDATED:

15:48 GMT, 6 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Roberto Di Matteo has told Eden Hazard he will be given time to adjust to the rigours of the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea's 32million summer signing from Lille is expected to make big waves given his seismic fee but the 21-year-old will not be rushed.

'Of course we are looking for Eden to be incisive – but we have to be patient,' said Di Matteo.

Patience: Eden Hazard must be given time, says Roberto Di Matteo

'He is a young man, he has come from a different league in France and we need to give him time to adapt.'

The Champions League winners have bolstered their squad by picking up, in addition to the Belgian playmaker, Marko Marin and Oscar.

The way Chelsea played in the run-up to their Champions League final triumph is unsustainable over the period of the season – the side rode their luck on several occasions.

No great shift: Di Matteo is not planning to play much differently

But Di Matteo insists the influx of players will not result in a big difference in the style of play.

'There will not be radical changes. We will try to make some changes,' he said.

'With the integration of these new players, inevitably we will change how we play a bit. But I never said we were going to play attacking football. We will play to try and win games.'

Oscar happy to play anywhere for Chelsea

Posted on July 28, 2012 by adminsports

Oscar ready to play where Di Matteo tells him: Chelsea new boy excited about move

UPDATED:

22:46 GMT, 27 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

New Chelsea signing Oscar will be happy to play wherever manager Roberto Di Matteo wants him to at Stamford Bridge.

The 20-year-old's long-awaited move from Internacional to the Blues, for a reported fee of around 25million, was completed earlier this week.

The capture of the Brazilian, currently in the UK with Mano Menezes' Olympic squad, adds to a glittering array of midfield talent following the acquisitions of Eden Hazard and Marko Marin.

Ready to go: Oscar says he is happy to play where he is told at Chelsea

Competition for places looks set to be fierce among the squad of the Champions League winners, with Oscar laying down a marker of his talent by creating two goals in Brazil's 3-2 victory over Egypt in Cardiff on Thursday night.

But the former Sao Paulo playmaker says he will not insist on playing in his preferred attacking midfield role, and is sure he can make an impact regardless of where he is asked to play.

He said: 'The offer was very good for me and I didn't have to think twice about signing.
'After the Olympics I am going to talk to the manager and I am ready to do whatever the manager wants me to do.

Decision time: Roberto Di Matteo must decide where to play Oscar

'For Internacional I played in several different positions, so I have no problem adapting.'

The move represents a huge personal shift for Oscar, who has played all his club football to date in Brazil.

But he is confident that the friendships he already has with some of the Portuguese-speaking members of the Blues' squad will help him to settle in London.

'I am good friends with David Luiz,' he said.

'There are also Ramires and Lucas Piazon playing for Chelsea, so they will help me adapt.'

Challenge: Oscar is excited about his move to the Premier League

While Oscar has insisted that for now his only focus is on ensuring Brazil secure their first Olympic gold medal in the men's football tournament, he admits he has been keeping an eye on some of the other newcomers that will join him at Stamford Bridge next term.

And he has set his sights on helping the club add to their collection of silverware.

'This is a dream for me,' he said. 'I'm joining Chelsea hopefully to win more titles.

'The project is very exciting, especially with the young players that they are signing.'

Oscar will thrive at Chelsea, says Roberto Di Matteo

Posted on July 26, 2012 by adminsports

Di Matteo backs 25m new boy Oscar to become an award-winning success

UPDATED:

09:52 GMT, 26 July 2012

And the Oscar goes to...: Chelsea have signed the 25m Brazilian

And the Oscar goes to…: Chelsea have signed the 25m Brazilian

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes new signing Oscar will thrive at Stamford Bridge.

The FA Cup and Champions League winners completed the acquisition of the Brazilian playmaker from Internacional in a deal worth 25million.

Oscar, who is part of Brazil's squad for London 2012 and played in the 2-0 warm-up victory over Team GB last Friday, can play as a winger or an attacking midfielder and is viewed as one of his country's most exciting talents.

And Di Matteo is backing the 20-year-old to prove his worth.

Stateside: Chelsea lost 3-2 to the MLS All-Star team

Fantasy football 2012

'He
is a fantastic player, one of the youngest to push through to the
Brazilian national team and he will be a fantastic signing for us,' Di
Matteo told the club's official website.

'Oscar is a very exciting young talent, a creative midfield player who scores goals. He will add a lot of options and solutions for us in midfield.'

Oscar, full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, is the fifth attacking midfielder to have joined the Blues this summer following the arrivals of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden and Thorgan Hazard and Marko Marin.

A loan deal for the younger Hazard brother, Thorgan, has already been mooted, but competition for a starting berth in midfield is nevertheless likely to be fierce.

Balancing act: Di Matteo will give his new signings to settle in alongside the likes of Romelu Lukaku (pictured)

Di Matteo acknowledged balancing the side will be key but sees no reason why his summer signings cannot all flourish for Chelsea.

'It will be a challenge to make sure we have the right balance within the team so we will have to see how we fit the team together with all the players,' the Italian added.

'The club has always been competitive, looking to improve, get better and fight at the top end of the league so it will only give us a better chance in the Premier League.'

Frank Lampard excited by Chelsea signings

Posted on July 25, 2012 by adminsports

Lampard thrilled by new era at Chelsea as young faces start to replace old guard

UPDATED:

11:03 GMT, 25 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Frank Lampard says Chelsea are still adjusting to the arrival of their new recruits but is excited about the coming season.

Eden Hazard and Marko Marin have already joined the Champions League winners, while Brazil playmaker Oscar will sign in a 25million transfer from Sao Paulo.

Lampard, who is on Chelsea's tour to America, believes Chelsea will benefit from the increased competition for places.

No balls up: Frank Lampard has welcomed Chelsea's new transfer policy for younger players

'We proved to be a great team and a great unit in the second half of last season,' he said. 'This year maybe we are slightly different because we have more new young players coming in.

'There might not be the settled togetherness that we had on the pitch at that side because we had been together a long time. But there is an excitement about our team as well and that's probably the main difference.

New era: Marko Marin and Eden Hazard are two of the new crop at Chelsea

New era: Marko Marin and Eden Hazard are two of the new crop at Chelsea ahead of the new season

'Everyone is trying to impress, and you never lose that in pre-season, there's not one manager I've met yet who will close the door on any player.'

To the club's official website, he added: 'We have to perform at a high level to stay in the team because of the quality of the squad we have.'

Oscar to have Chelsea medical ahead of 25m transfer

Posted on July 18, 2012 by adminsports

Here's Oscar… Brazil star jets in to seal 25m Chelsea move

UPDATED:

21:43 GMT, 17 July 2012

Rising star: Oscar lands at Heathrow

Brazil sensation Oscar arrived in London for a medical on Tuesday ahead of his 25million move to Chelsea.

The 20-year-old midfielder will join the European champions after the Olympics from Brazilian side Internacional.

He has been named in his national squad for the Games and is expected to play against Team GB at the Riverside in Middlesbrough on Friday.

Oscar, the rising star of South American football, has established himself at international level with six full caps and is expected to play a key role at the 2014 World Cup in his home country.

Chelsea will give him some time off after the Olympics before slotting him into a free role in Roberto Di Matteo's new system.

He is adept as a playmaker or in the role behind the striker and equally comfortable on the left or right of midfield. He is described as a 'typically brilliant Brazilian No 10'.

Moving on: Oscar is poised to join Chelsea after the Olympics

Oscar is also a proven goalscorer. He hit a hat-trick in last year's Under 20 World Cup final victory over Portugal and has a strike rate of a goal in every three matches for Inter.

After landing at Heathrow, Oscar had his medical in the southwest London suburb of New Malden before joining his Brazil team-mates.

His arrival brings Chelsea's spending this summer to 63.5m following the capture of Eden Hazard and Marko Marin.

Eden Hazard handed Chelsea No 17 shirt

Posted on July 13, 2012 by adminsports

Keep your shirt on, Eden! Hazard snubbed for No 10 as 32m man is handed Bosingwa's old 17

UPDATED:

10:20 GMT, 13 July 2012

Eden Hazard has been handed the No 17 shirt at Chelsea despite insisting he wanted 10 on his back.

Juan Mata is the owner of the No 10 and 32million man Hazard has failed to budge the Spaniard.

The Blues won the race for Hazard when he left Lille at the end of the season with Manchester rivals City and United also hoping to land the Belgian.

Pick a number: Eden Hazard will wear 17 for Chelsea next season

Hazard made the Premier League big guns wait as he weighed up where to go but one thing he was set on was the jersey he would be wearing in 2012-13.

He said at the time: 'I have always dreamed of playing the No 10 role and wearing that number on my back, and you can see what a difference it makes from how many goals I have scored and set up for others. That will be a consideration when I decide on my club.'

But it's Jose Bosingwa's old number for Hazard while his fellow Belgian Kevin De Bruyne takes the No 14.

Marko Marin is the new No 21 following the departure of Salomon Kalou.

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Tag Archives: marko

Ghost goal in Spain – hits crossbar and bounces out

Mark Webber told he has Red Bull future if he performs well

Bayer Leverkusen keen to take Chelsea winger Marko Marin on loan

Marko Jaric: English invented slavery and hooliganism, no right to accuse Serbians of racism

Eden Hazard needs time to settle – Roberto Di Matteo

Oscar happy to play anywhere for Chelsea

Oscar will thrive at Chelsea, says Roberto Di Matteo

Frank Lampard excited by Chelsea signings

Oscar to have Chelsea medical ahead of 25m transfer

Eden Hazard handed Chelsea No 17 shirt