Tag Archives: sinclair

A 17-year-old Argentine recreates Trevor Sinclair magic with a stunning bicycle kick

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17-year-old Argentine recreates Sinclair magic with stunning bicycle kick

By
Thom Drake

PUBLISHED:

00:07 GMT, 19 April 2013

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UPDATED:

00:51 GMT, 19 April 2013

As the most difficult art to master, and the most spectacular to witness, the overhead kick is a part of the game which can brings gasps of delight or sniggers of derision.

So when an Argentinian 17-year-old can pull this off in an international against bitter rivals Uruguay there must be something special about him.

Sebastian Driussi opened the scoring for Argentina under 17s in their 3-3 draw with a goal everyone present will remember.

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Control: Driussi picks the ball up on his chest after a deep cross...

Control: Driussi picks the ball up on his chest after a deep cross…

Unbelievable: He then acrobatically connects with the ball as defenders stand off him

Unbelievable: He then acrobatically connects with the ball as defenders stand off him

Over the top: His shot then beats the keeper, who is left with absolutely no chance

Over the top: His shot then beats the keeper, who is left with absolutely no chance

The forward plays for River Plate, but brought back memories of Trevor Sinclair's wonder strike for QPR against Barnsley in the FA Cup.

Both goals were from outside the box, with Sinclair taking his first time from the cross, while Driussi controlled the ball and held off a defender before smashing it into the net over the keeper.

Could Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi be welcoming a new talent into their midst

What a strike! Trevor Sinclair's stunning overhead kick against Barnsley in the 1997 FA Cup

What a strike! Trevor Sinclair's stunning overhead kick against Barnsley in the 1997 FA Cup

VIDEO Sebastian Driussi recreates Trevor Sinclair's overhead kick

VIDEO And how about the original….

Mario Balotelli and Robinho dance during AC Milan"s win over Barcelona

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VIDEO: Balotelli and Robinho do the Harlem Shake (sort of) as Milan beat Barca

By
John Drayton

PUBLISHED:

23:56 GMT, 20 February 2013

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UPDATED:

00:01 GMT, 21 February 2013

It had to happen. When Mario Balotelli, Robinho and some of their friends were pictured dancing wildly during AC Milan's match against Barcelona on Wednesday night, someone was going to do it.

It's the craze that's been sweeping the world over, after all. So now you can watch Balotelli and Co lose it set to the Harlem Shake music.

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Shake it: Mario Balotelli and Robinho (right) go wild, while the former's girlfriend looks unimpressed

Shake it: Mario Balotelli and Robinho (right) go wild, while the former's girlfriend looks unimpressed

... but she musters a smile eventually as Milan party

… but she musters a smile eventually as Milan party

He was cup-tied for the clash at the San Siro, so was forced to sit on the sidelines – although he seemed to be making the most of his time out.

His girlfriend Fanny Robert Neguesha didn't look too impressed, but eventually mustered a smile.

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari did the damage for Milan to ensure he wasn't missed.

Somebody took the footage of Balotelli dancing and put the now ubiquitous soundtrack in the background.

VIDEO: Balotelli and Robinho do the Harlem Shake

Mario's former Man City colleagues, not to be outdone, had a Harlem Shake of their own.

The club’s staff and first-team players such as Edin Dzeko, Joe Hart, James Milner, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair and Aleksandar Kolarov got involved, even if the latter didn't look too enthused.

VIDEO: City do their own Harlem Shake

Mario Balotelli hammers free-kick past Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi… sort of

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VIDEO: Balotelli hammers free-kick past Messi, Iniesta and Xavi in Barcelona wall… sort of

By
Lee Bryan

PUBLISHED:

11:22 GMT, 10 January 2013

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UPDATED:

11:22 GMT, 10 January 2013

Mario Balotelli knows how to liven up a Manchester City training session – he's had plenty of practice.

But it wasn't manager Roberto Mancini that the striker was trying to get the better of this time.

He shoots, he scores: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was impressive as he practised free-kicks

He shoots, he scores: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was impressive as he practised free-kicks

Balotelli brought in Lionel Messi as he lined up a free-kick during a dead-ball drill. He also had Messi's Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Inietsa in the wall – although they looked very much like the the training-round dummies used by clubs up and down the country.

Balotelli can be heard giving the plastic figures the names of the Barca stars before slamming one into the top corner to put the cap on a fine exhibition of shooting.

Aleksandar Kolarov, Scott Sinclair and James Milner also impressed and you can watch them all in our clip below.

Mario Balotelli will be sold by Manchester City

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EXCLUSIVE: Mario must go! City want quick cash deal for Balotelli after Mancini bust-up

By
Ian Ladyman

PUBLISHED:

22:37 GMT, 4 January 2013

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UPDATED:

23:14 GMT, 4 January 2013

Manchester City are ready to sell Mario Balotelli as soon as possible after Roberto Mancini privately conceded he cannot change the wayward Italy striker.

Despite further claims to the contrary from the City manager, it is understood that Mancini has finally decided it is time to move Balotelli out of the club.

City will not wish to say the 22-year-old is for sale, for fear of driving down his plummeting value even further.

Are you sure you should have that Mario Balotelli returned to training on Friday after his bust-up

Are you sure you should have that Mario Balotelli returned to training on Friday after his bust-up

But with Balotelli now providing virtually nothing on the field — he has scored just one goal this season in the Barclays Premier League — and proving to be a constant distraction behind the scenes, Mancini, having previously stood by the player against the advice of many of his staff, accepts he has done all he can.

Mancini spoke for the first time about the embarrassing scenes that occurred at the end of a City training session on Thursday as the manager and his striker were photographed pushing and shoving each other in front of the astonished first-team squad.

Mancini said he would give Balotelli a ‘hundred chances to change’ and confirmed that the former Inter Milan star would not be fined and would be in the squad for the FA Cup tie with Watford at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.

Game over: Balotelli will now be sold by Manchester City despite Mancini insisting otherwise (below)

Game over: Balotelli will now be sold by Manchester City despite Mancini insisting otherwise (below)

Glum: Roberto Mancini faces the questions during his Friday press conference

But City are willing to talk to any club who may wish to make an offer. AC Milan are circling but City want a cash sale — not a loan.

This all points to Balotelli staying during the transfer window and being sold in the summer.

On Friday, further details emerged of Balotelli’s assault on team-mate Scott Sinclair that prompted Mancini’s bust-up with Balotelli. Sportsmail understands that Balotelli’s lunge on Sinclair was so wild that Mancini felt compelled to intervene.

‘This was not just a mistimed tackle that you sometimes get towards the end of training,’ a source revealed. ‘This was an horrendous, horrific slash.’

Pals again Balotelli (left) laughs with team-mate Scott Sinclair during training on Friday

Pals again Balotelli (left) laughs with team-mate Scott Sinclair during training on Friday

Meanwhile a separate issue loomed over another City striker when it emerged that Sergio Aguero has split from his wife Giannina, daughter of Diego Maradona, after four years.

It is unclear whether she will live with their three-year-old son Benjamin in Madrid or Buenos Aires, but the news is bound to raise concerns over Aguero remaining settled in Manchester.

Sir Alex Ferguson blames Manchester City for Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini getting caught fighting

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It's your own fault we know about Balotelli and Mancini! Fergie blames Man City for letting snappers catch scrappers

By
David Kent

PUBLISHED:

11:28 GMT, 4 January 2013

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UPDATED:

11:45 GMT, 4 January 2013

Manchester City are to blame for allowing Mario Balotelli’s extraordinary confrontation with Roberto Mancini to be captured by photographers, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The finger of blame has been pointed towards the Italian striker for a 'horrific' challenge on team-mate Scott Sinclair, to which Mancini responded furiously.

Get a grip: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and striker Mario Balotelli had to be pulled apart

Get a grip: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and striker Mario Balotelli had to be pulled apart

Get a grip: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and striker Mario Balotelli had to be pulled apart

Fiery Italians: Mancini and Balotelli were snapped by photographers during their bust-up at training

Fiery Italians: Mancini and Balotelli were snapped by photographers during their bust-up at training

The whole episode was caught by snappers waiting next to the training ground, but Manchester United manager Fergie is at a loss as to why the club allow such free access.

Sir Alex said: 'You’re protecting the possibility of your success. Do the major companies tell their opponents what they’re doing I’m sure they don’t.

'Football has got the profile. Cameramen want to do training sessions which is ridiculous.

Stay away: The Manchester City coaches had to get between Mancini and Balotelli

Stay away: The Manchester City coaches had to get between Mancini and Balotelli

'It is very difficult to coach and do work related to a game because you don’t know where the information can go. Clubs like Real Madrid, the press were there every day, that’s stopped under Jose.

'A lot of clubs I know don't (allow it). How you can do your work and if you want to do tactical work, how do you do it with press around you

'Fortunately at our place we can protect against it to a certain degree. Sometimes a photographer tries to wander across the woods but now we've put those wolves in there they don’t come!'

Pointing the finger: Sir Alex Ferguson insists the blame lies with Man City after the Balotelli controversy

Pointing the finger: Sir Alex Ferguson insists the blame lies with Man City after the Balotelli controversy

Access all areas at Man City's training ground

Despite the criticism coming the way of the Manchester City manager, there is little he can do to combat the issue.

The footpaths on either side of the
Carrington training ground are public, meaning that anyone wanting to
watch a training session is free to.

The club has experimented with a
six-foot tarpaulin curtain around the edge of the ground, but that
hasn’t stopped photographers or members of the public who climb ladders
or trees in order to watch their heroes train.

Planning permission to extend the height
of the curtain has been sought but six foot is the limit without the
agreement of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.

In 18 months’ time the squad are set to
move their training to the new Etihad Campus training ground, but until
then it looks as though Mancini and his players will have to keep their
tempers under control.

Roberto Mancini tension with new executives from Barcelona

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Mancini and the boys from Barcelona at loggerheads over the way forward

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UPDATED:

22:19 GMT, 15 December 2012

Tension is already growing between Roberto Mancini and Manchester City's new executives from Barcelona over their vision for the club.

Chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, who held similar posts at the Nou Camp before moving to England this season, have prioritised building up City's academy to try to emulate Barcelona's famous La Masia.

Tension: Roberto Mancini on collision course

Tension: Roberto Mancini on collision course

It was there that Lionel Messi was recruited as a 13-year-old and developed into the best player in the world.

But Mancini is fuming because he
feels the benefits will not be seen during his five-year contract. He
believes signing players in their early teens is a wasted investment
because the quality of City's junior coaching is inferior to that of
Barcelona.

He fears the financial outlay on the
academy will stop him signing up Europe's best teenagers who he can push
into the first team within two seasons.

Building a foundation: Ferran Soriano

Building a foundation: Ferran Soriano

The difference in strategy is causing
friction, with Mancini aware Begiristain wants all City teams
eventually to play the tiki-taka style favoured by Barcelona. Mancini
prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 and is sticking to his guns.

City's financial results last week
showed a annual loss of 97million and, while that is a big improvement
on the previous year, the club know they have to fit in with UEFA
financial fairplay regulations.

The stand-off is unlikely to lead to a
major bust-up in January and Mancini respects Begiristain's ability to
recruit firstteam players more highly than his predecessor, Brian
Marwood, who oversaw the signings of Javi Garcia, Scott Sinclair and
Jack Rodwell in the last window.

But their relationship is a ticking
timebomb, with Mancini believing the 37m contract he signed in the
summer would lead to greater control.

However, the Abu Dhabi owners have not brought in Soriano and Begiristain to be dictated to by the manager.

As a sop to Mancini, he is likely to get the topclass midfielder he has asked for in the new year.

Italy's Daniele de Rossi and
Corinthians' Paulinho, in action today against Chelsea in the Club World
Cup final, are under consideration, with Yaya Toure missing much of
January playing for Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Other buys will have to be
self-financed by sales of squad players such as Joleon Lescott, Sinclair
or Edin Dzeko.

Mancini has made it clear he is unhappy with some of
Begiristain's plans and has shown less interest in City's elite
development squad, who are bottom of their Barclays Under-21 Premier
League group.

David Platt says Scott Sinclair can leave Manchester City if he wants

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Platt offers Sinclair City exit route but says midfielder understands his bit-part role

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UPDATED:

10:19 GMT, 28 November 2012

No-one is about to evict him from The Etihad Stadium, but Scott Sinclair was left in little doubt that he can leave Manchester City, if ever he grows tired of his bit-part role under Roberto Mancini.

On the day his reality TV girlfriend Helen Flanagan was given her marching orders from I’m A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here, the City winger was left reflecting ruefully on his uncertain future with the Barclays Premier League champions.

Signed from Swansea for 8million three months ago, the winger has made only two starts and two substitute appearances, spanning a total of 161 minutes.

Bench warmer: Scott Sinclair has played infrequently this season

Bench warmer: Scott Sinclair has played infrequently this season

If he feels aggrieved at such a lack of involvement, though, there was little sympathy from City assistant manager David Platt, ahead of tonight’s game at Wigan.

‘When we took Scott, we sold Adam and were probably having similar discussions about him, as he was fit and not featuring as much as he’d like,’ he said.

Jungle star: Sinclair's girlfriend Helen Flanagan was voted off 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' this week

Jungle star: Sinclair's girlfriend Helen Flanagan was voted off 'I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!' this week

‘Every player wants to feature more, but when a player comes to this club, they are going to have to accept they’re not going to play week in and week out.

‘Some will play more than others, but when we spoke to Scott, he knew what he was coming into. He knew it was a big, big squad. The manager’s door is always open to any player, if they feel they want to go and play, like Adam did. To be fair, though, he seems happy and hasn’t made any noises about that.

‘He has done well when he has come on, and when he has started games as well, but we have a big squad and everyone is aware of that. We felt when Adam was leaving, we needed the characteristics within the squad that Scott provides. Any player would want to figure more than he has done, but we think he is a valued member of the squad and that he is going to help us.’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic"s mental agility was the real skill – Martin Samuel

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Mental agility was the real skill as Ibrahimovic stunned England with that fourth goal

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UPDATED:

22:55 GMT, 15 November 2012

It isn’t the kick. It’s the thought that precedes it. That is what makes Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s incredible fourth goal against England a thing of beauty.

Anyone can make the shot. Well, not anyone, obviously. There are several billion people who would end up in traction if they even thought about it too hard, but for a professional footballer, certainly one of elite standard, the most fantastically ambitious manoeuvres do occasionally come off.

Trevor Sinclair scored a goal for QPR against Barnsley in the FA Cup in 1997 that he can probably still dine out on today. Think Nayim from the halfway line. It happens.

Beauty: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his fourth goal against England

Beauty: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his fourth goal against England

So a player with Ibrahimovic’s breathtaking technical range — and there is probably no better striker of a ball on the volley — can be blessed with the perfect moment in which execution, instinct, timing and a helpful pinch of luck combine to produce something quite stunning.

What sets Ibrahimovic’s goal apart, however, is the intelligence that inspires it. His athleticism, his balance, his control, his skill, all would be meaningless if he had not worked out that England goalkeeper Joe Hart was about to make a big mistake. The assist is in Ibrahimovic’s mind.

/11/15/article-2233678-16082054000005DC-990_468x286.jpg” width=”468″ height=”286″ alt=”Pure delight: Ibrahimovic led Sweden to victory over England ” class=”blkBorder” />

Pure delight: Ibrahimovic led Sweden to victory over England

Slowed down, the shot looks more precise than it could have been. We have seen similar attempts before. It could have gone in, it could have missed by inches, it could have come to rest on the roof, Ibrahimovic no more knew the outcome in that split second than you or I.

He waits until the ball is in the net before he starts celebrating because he has no clue where it will land when it leaves his foot (although his outstanding technique gives him a superior chance of pulling it off).

Good fortune plays no part in the build-up, however. That is about one man, in a split second, assessing a situation quicker than any player around him. It is, for that reason and quite a few more, a simply brilliant goal: spectacular in thought as much as in action.

Peterborough transfer-listed captain Gaby Zakuani defender by nightclub boss

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Nightclub boss DEFENDS Zakuani after Posh transfer list skipper over alleged incident

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UPDATED:

08:50 GMT, 13 November 2012

The manager of a nightclub at the centre of an incident involving four Peterborough United players has spoken out in defence of club captain Gaby Zakuani.

The Posh defender, along with three of his colleagues, is the subject of an internal investigation into an evening out following Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace.

Zakuani, along with 1.1million club record signing Tyrone Barnett, Emile Sinclair and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have been placed on the transfer-list and fined.

On your way: Club captain Gabriel Zakuani has been fined and placed on the transfer list

On your way: Nathaniel Mendez Laing had been put up for sale too

On your way: Captain Gabby Zakuani (left) and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (right) have been fined and put on the transfer list for breaching club discipline in an alleged incident at the Halo nightclub (below)

Halo nightclub, Peterborough

Halo nightclub, Peterborough

Posh centre-half Zakuani, who was
named among the substitutes for the game against the Championship
high-fliers, has already taken to Twitter to protest his innocence in
any wrong-doing.

He has admitted being out until 2am
on Sunday morning but claims he was not drunk and attended a church
service a few hours later.

And now the manager of Peterborough's
'Halo' nightclub has spoken out in defence of the DR Congo
international. The players concerned spent part of their evening at the
venue.

Dave Keetley, the club's manager,
also took to the social media platform to back the player, saying: 'Gaby
Zakuani has visited Halo on several occasions ALWAYS (sic) acts the
perfect gentleman NEVER (sic) done anything to the detriment of
Peterborough United.'

You too: Tyrone Barnett was also involved

You too: Emile Sinclair was also implemented in the breach of club discipline

You too: Tyrone Barnett (left) and Emile Sinclair (right) were also involved, but the club would not elaborate further

Posh owner and chairman Darragh MacAnthony said he had been bombarded by messages on twitter about the four.

But in a series of tweets, Zakuani,
26, wrote: 'I went out on a weekend whether there's no midweek game,
those that know me know I don't drink or smoke, I was up at 8am for
church the next day.

'Honestly, at the time I didn't feel I
did anything wrong as I was home around 2am, I wasn't arrested, no
fighting or anti social behaviour.

'I understand the club are not happy
as we are at the wrong end of the table and I have nothing but total
respect for the gaffer and staff.

'I'm hurt its come to this as we have
made a lot of history in the past five seasons and I love the club to
bits, sorry to all my fans.'

Gabby Zakuani, Tyrone Barnett, Emile Sinclair and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fined and transfer-listed by Peterborough

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Peterborough put captain Zakuani and three others on transfer list for breaching club discipline

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UPDATED:

15:47 GMT, 12 November 2012

Peterborough United have fined and transfer-listed four players, including their club captain, for breaching club discipline.

Captain Gabby Zakuani, Tyrone Barnett, Emile Sinclair and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing were all put up for sale following an internal investigation by the npower Championship club.

Peterborough refused to elaborate on why the players are to be sold, but the club seem prepared to settle for a loss on the record 1million they spent on striker Barnett this summer.

On your way: Club captain Gabriel Zakuani has been fined and placed on the transfer list

On your way: Nathaniel Mendez Laing had been put up for sale too

On your way: Captain Gabby Zakuani (left) and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (right) have been fined and put on the transfer list for breaching club discipline

SInce joining from Crawley in May, the 27-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Posh, scoring only once.

Zakuani, meanwhile, has played 160 games
since joining the club from Fulham in 2009.

The loss of the 26-year-old could be particularly damaging for the Posh, as he was instrumental in the side’s two promotions, as well as their relegation escape last season.

Not one of the players started Saturday’s home defeat to Crystal Palace, although Barnett did come off the bench in the second half, having little impact.

A club statement released today read: ‘Peterborough United are disappointed to report that Gabriel Zakuani, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Emile Sinclair and Tyrone Barnett have been transfer listed and fined by the football club following an internal investigation into a breach of club discipline.

‘The club will be making no further comment on the matter.’

You too: Tyrone Barnett was also involved

You too: Emile Sinclair was also implemented in the breach of club discipline

You too: Tyrone Barnett (left) and Emile Sinclair (right) were also involved, but the club would not elaborate further