TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Leeds, Middlesbrough chasing Huddersfield winger Rajiv Van La Parraby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveHuddersfield Town winger Rajiv Van La Parra is set to be on the move in January.The Sun says Leeds United and Middlesbrough will fight it out for Van La Parra.Both teams are tracking the winger, who has struggled for regular game time at Huddersfield this term.David Wagner’s men are said to be willing to listen to offers of around £5m for the 27-year-old former Wolves man. Both Leeds and Boro are chasing promotion from the Championship this season. 
Month: October 2019
a month agoBarcelona coach Valverde: Borussia Dortmund made us suffer a lot
Barcelona coach Valverde: Borussia Dortmund made us suffer a lotby Carlos Volcanoa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveBarcelona coach Ernesto Valverde admits Borussia Dortmund made them suffer for their 0-0 draw.Barca kicked off their Champions League campaign with this stalemate in Germany.Valverde said afterwards: “The result is what is it. We suffered a lot and you have to admit that. They arrived with more danger and we were missing some depth in the last few metres. They had the penalty, they hit the post… They are very strong at home, this is starting and it was a tough match for us. “There were some moments when we lost the ball in important zones and they got three or four counters and it complicated things for us but Marc was really good. And while we dominated the end of the game, we hardly had any chances.”On the performance of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who saved Marco Reus’ spotkick, he added: “In LaLiga, we were commenting the other day that they were attacking us too much. Good, he’s our goalkeeper, he is a great keeper and he was really good today.” About the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say
a month agoChelsea midfielder Mason Mount: Top four realistic
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount: Top four realisticby Paul Vegasa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveChelsea midfielder Mason Mount insists they can still finish in the top four this season because the race for Champions League places is “very open.”Chelsea are stuck in 11th place after six games and they are yet to win at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard’s reign this season. Mount said: “Look at the table, how many good teams there are – it’s very open and obviously we are looking to secure that top position so we just need to keep working hard. We know how difficult this league is.“We need to stay concentrated and switched on. We need to keep working hard and hopefully build these three points.“Of course [we need to win at home], but if you look at the games we have had we can take positives from every game we have had. We need to win games at home, that’s a big focus.“We are doing well away and now the focus is building that fortress at home and when teams come here they know it will be a tough game.”We are going through a spell when we are getting little bits here and there wrong and we are getting punished for it. So I think we have always got to stay positive.“We are positive straight after the game, focusing now on our next two games, at home and wanting to win them. Look, they are difficult games, but I think once you get that first home win and get that momentum building, then hopefully we can carry that on.” About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
a month agoEverton boss Marco Silva accuses players of hiding
Everton boss Marco Silva accuses players of hidingby Paul Vegasa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveEverton boss Marco Silva accused his players of hiding during defeat to Sheffield United.Silva pulled no punches with a calculated assault to shake his players from their complacency.Speaking about the lame capitulation against the Blades, he said: “In some moments many players were hiding and didn’t give solutions.“It is not the moment for anyone to hide.”Silva insisted he too was showing there can be no hiding any longer, with his frank words, and he insisted it was time for a hard-hitting truth for everyone connected to Everton.“The moment is like I am here with you, and I said it inside the dressing room too – there is nowhere we can hide, we have to show stronger character and personality,” he warned.“The Sheffield Wednesday game is really important yes. Now I don’t want anyone hiding, not me, not them. It is a moment for us to go and play football and to take responsibility as well.“In the second half (against Sheffield United) I didn’t see that ability. Football is about playing, and showing strong character.” About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
a month agoEx-Aston Villa defender Micah Richards: I was living in denial
Ex-Aston Villa defender Micah Richards: I was living in denialby Paul Vegasa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveFormer Aston Villa defender Micah Richards admits the final months of his career were difficult.Richards announced his retirement last month.He wrote for BBC Sport: “I am a pundit now, not a player, but when I was getting abused by Villa fans on Twitter and Instagram, I was still battling to save my career.”Deep down, I probably knew it was already over, but for most of the two and a half years between my 295th and final game as a professional, against Wolves in October 2016, and the day I announced my retirement in July this year, I was living in denial.”I would keep on waiting for each new manager to come in at Villa and say to me ‘I’ll give you a chance’, but it got to a stage where that could never happen, because although I could train 100%, I was never able to play.”I could run and I could jump – but I couldn’t twist on my right knee, and it would not get any better. Whatever I tried, it did not make any difference.” TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
7 days agoNapoli president De Laurentiis willing to sell Fabian Ruiz back to LaLiga
TagsTransfersAbout the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say Napoli president De Laurentiis willing to sell Fabian Ruiz back to LaLigaby Carlos Volcano7 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveNapoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says he’s prepared to sell Fabian Ruiz back to LaLiga.Real Madrid and Barcelona are being linked with the midfielder.De Laurentiis said, “Did Real and Barça arrive too late? Well, we found Fabián, and who knows how many more we will find. “You should never close the door; our door is always open.”We can’t get too attached. I did it with Koulibaly and didn’t sell him for 105 million, but there will come a time when it will be necessary to agree to a deal.” 
ACC Revenue For 2014-15 Up $100 Million From Previous Year
Twitter/@theACCThe ACC reported $403 million in revenue for the 2014-15 year, up $100 million from the previous year, according to ESPN’s Andrea Adelson. Third among the Power 5 conferences, the ACC’s 14 full-time football-playing schools received an average of $26.2 million. Notre Dame, which is not a football member, received $6.2 million.ACC tops $400 million in revenue for the first time. https://t.co/LDmbCPZZQo— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) May 27, 2016According to ESPN, Florida State received the highest payout at $27.6 million, while Syracuse got the lowest at nearly $24 million.The ACC went from $232 million in revenue in 2012-13 to more than $400 million in its latest financial report. The next big target is trying to complete a long-awaited ACC Network. Adelson goes on to explain where the added revenue came from, as well as how much ACC commissioner John Swofford made, and you can find that here.
‘They are heroes!’ – Guardiola backs Man City stars
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he has been pleased with his players’ response to their second defeat in as many games.City lost 2-1 to Leicester in the previous outing on Boxing Day, just four days after they were on the wrong side of 3-2 scoreline against Crystal Palace.The results saw Guardiola’s men drop to third in the table and they now trail leaders Liverpool by seven points. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? However, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munch coach was still full of praise for his players.The response is always good,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Southampton. “Yesterday was a day off and now they are training as good as always.“We have the belief – whether it’s after a win or loss. Of course, now we have to come back and win if we want to fight for trophies.“They are heroes for me – nothing is going to change. There are just more and more games.“I have to explain to them and see what we’ve done well and move forward. It’s very easy (to keep the players focused).“To win, you have to play good. I will continue with that. The game will speak for itself.
“We need help to win even more but it’s what you have to do to win.”Guardiola is used to being the pacesetter in the table and has admitted he is not enjoying his rare position of having to case down the run away leaders.“A big challenge for me,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I like the situation but I know it’s common in football and I like to handle it.”I will help them and to help each other and we will come back who we are. It’s done and we will move forward. I try to make a map about the situation but it’s a challenge for me and I need it. I live more in the future.”Incredibly, City began December unbeaten in the league and had won 12 of their 14 games, yet three defeats in the last four have dampened talks that the current crop at the Etihad could be the best in Premier League history.“You said we were invincible and we never thought about. I accept the situation is a normal part of the process and if you believe I will doubt my players you are completely wrong, they are incredible. I never point the finger at one person, never.” Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
Lyon open door to Giroud signing
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that he would be interested in bringing Olivier Giroud back to Ligue 1, but only in the summer.The France striker has struggled for appearances and goals this season, netting once for Chelsea in the Premier League having made just six starts.The Blues completed the loan signing of Gonzalo Higuain last week, and the Argentine’s arrival is likely to further limit the World Cup winner’s chances of regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Giroud himself has said that the signing of Higuain would likely influence any decision over his future in England, and suggested that a return to France was an alternative he was considering.And Aulas has now opened the door to a potential move to Lyon, but insists that it would have to be a deal done in the summer.He told Le Figaro: “I dreamed of bringing him in last summer and I even called Arsene Wenger to get his opinion, someone like Gerard Houllier knows him well too.”We had discussions when I was in Moscow with the French national team during the World Cup. Things were not possible, on his side.”Today we have an attack that is well stocked. If someone in the front left, then a deal could interest us, especially because he has a different profile compared to our players.”Should Giroud opt to call time on his Chelsea career, it would bring an end to a seven-year stay in the Premier League that began when he swapped Montpellier for Arsenal in 2012.He scored 105 goals in 253 games in all competitions for the Gunners before leaving for Stamford Bridge in January 2018.A return to Ligue 1 would kindle memories of his last season in the French top-flight, when he led the line for Montpellier as they recorded a shock league title success in 2011-12.”This summer, of course Giroud will interest me,” reiterated Aulas. “It seems a little tight for this winter. We do not want to overload with attackers, especially as we have a real team.”Aside from that, we will have to see what manager we have at that moment of the season, but I like this boy. He is a good guy.”Chelsea are next in action on Wednesday night when they face Bournemouth as they aim to move three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal following their win over Cardiff City.