Shaanxi Chanba climbed to second in the Chinese Super League on Saturday thanks to a thrilling 3-2 home win over Henan Construction.Australian defender Dino Dulbic handed the hosts the lead after 17 minutes, but Henan hit back four minutes later through Leandro Netta.
Tomas Oravec restored Shaanxi’s advantage on the stroke of half-time, and that was where it stayed until a dramatic final 10 minutes.
Xu Yang equalised for Henan with nine minutes to play, but midfielder Qu Bo blasted home the winner from the penalty spot with five minutes to go to ensure all three points for the home side, who have now won their opening three games to join leaders Hangzhou Lucheng on nine points.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Liaoning Whowin moved into fourth spot with a 1-0 win over Jiangsu Sainty courtesy of a goal from Yu Hanchao with eight minutes remaining.
Dalian Shide had a brace from Bulgarian striker Martin Kamburov to thank for their 2-1 win over Nanchang Bayi – their first win of the campaign.
And Changchun Yatai played out a 1-1 draw at home with Chengdu Blades, after a Zhang Yuan goal for the visitors just before half-time cancelled out Zhang Wenzhao’s 29th-minute opener.
Last weekend’s Premier League football highlighted a case of two undershirts: Jermain Defoe’s and Tamir Cohen’s. For his previous two games, since last month’s brace at Wolves brought up his 99th Premier League goal, Jermain Defoe had been wearing a special T-shirt underneath his Tottenham colours emblazoned with ‘100 goals.’ The England striker finally achieved the milestone against West Brom on Saturday but his celebratory shirt was nowhere to be seen and had apparently been neglected in ‘the boot of the car.’
Cohen on the other hand, removed his Bolton jersey in a pre-meditated tribute to his late father having scored a 90th minute winner against Arsenal after being introduced as a substitute five minutes earlier. His father is Avi Cohen, a former Liverpool defender, and was killed in a motorcycle crash only four months ago, but the poignancy and emotion of the moment was not acknowledged by referee, Mike Jones, who booked the Israeli on his way back to the centre circle. Jones was perfectly within his rights to do so, and although he was probably suffering from an overwhelming sense of embarrassment by booking the midfielder, a significant level of consistency is expected of referees and unfortunately removal of a shirt, no matter what the occasion, is an offence worthy of caution under FIFA guidelines.
The law was implemented not long after the 2002 World Cup, but its inception has served only to confuse and irritate football players and fans alike since. It was my understanding that offence could be caused by baring naked torsos or promoting a particular political slogan, but in fact the rule was devised simply as a reaction to the growing popularity of such a celebration, with the thinly veiled excuse that time is wasted by players putting their shirts back on after a goal. This is the only published justification for the rule and is hard to swallow considering all goal celebrations take considerable time to complete, particular celebrations surface as fads (baby-rocking, corner-flag punching, finger-pointing to god etc.), and fans are expected to pay significant fees attending their teams’ performances and should at least be rewarded by players demonstrating a relative display of ecstasy in reaction to goals. Celebrations play a significant role in the entertainment of any sport, and should only be tempered as a reaction to particular ferocity or offence, the referee judging each example at the time.
I understand that particular content emblazoned on the undershirts of some players may cause offence to a section of supporters, but if political slogans are the problem then book players if they’ve got a slogan on their vest, if time-wasting is the problem then book players for delaying the restart, and if it’s apparently down to some religious objection then find a senior representative of that religion who will probably reveal the opposite.
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The fact that any type of shirt removal is considered unnecessary based on its previous excessiveness will be something Cohen finds difficult to understand. That one players’ tribute to his recently deceased father be punished to the same degree as a dangerous, potentially career-threatening tackle is beyond my comprehension. Footballers should be afforded the freedom to express their joy at scoring in any way they see fit, but should of course be disciplined for inciting offence, mocking opponents or causing security concerns (i.e. running in to the crowd, but that’s another point of contention all together). Similarly, referees shouldn’t feel weighed down by pressure from the FIFA authority to book players because of an all-encompassing rule regarding shirt removal, and I’m convinced Mike Jones would have refrained from producing a yellow card on Sunday had he maintained an element of free will.
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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has blamed himself for his side’s shock 3-2 loss to Real Zaragoza in La Liga on Saturday.The tempestuous coach, who hugged the headlines during the week for his rant against Spanish champions and Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona, admitted his usually effective motivational skills failed him for the Zaragoza clash.
“Our rivals fought hard. It was a decisive game for them to stay in the Primera (Liga) and that is what happens when a team goes into a game well and the other side doesn’t,” Mourinho said.
“Today the coach was not able to motivate his players in the first half. The second half was good, but we gifted them three goals. They played with time on their side and had some luck.”
The former Chelsea and Inter boss rested Cristiano Ronaldo for the clash against the relegation-threatened Zaragoza, who were fourth from bottom before the start of the match.
“This team won in Valencia and in Bilbao, which are two difficult grounds. I have a clean conscience about that and I didn’t want to gift anything to Zaragoza or any of the other sides fighting to avoid relegation.”
And he defended his decision not to field his strongest eleven, which resulted in the side contriving to concede two first-half goals which was to be the foundation of their 3-2 defeat.
“This was a good day to gain confidence and for the players to show they can be first choice. It was my decision to leave Ronaldo out, I have (Gonzalo) Higuain and (Karim) Benzema and I saw them looking very motivated.”
Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who enjoyed a rare start for Real, accused his side of nonchalance.
“I think that we were really lazy in the first-half and showed a lack of spirit. We were slack. It cannot happen again this season,” Kaka told AS.
“You can lose points but not with the attitude we showed in the first-half. No matter what happens, you have to change that, as we did in the second-half.”
But despite the points disparity with table-topping Barcelona, who also happened to drop points in their encounter with Real Sociedad, the former World Player of the Year remains optimistic Madrid are still a chance for both the title and the Champions League.
“We believe in the comeback in Europe and in the league. As long as it is not beyond us mathematically, Madrid cannot stop fighting. We cannot go wrong the way we did today on Tuesday (for the second leg against Barcelona),” he said.
Defender Sergio Ramos echoed Kaka’s sentiments, insisting Madrid were not resigned to losing the Champions League semi-final tie as projected by Jose Mourinho in the post-game press conference.
“We have to change our mentality now to concentrate on the Champions League. It’s obviously difficult, but we will try to turn the score around. We wouldn’t even travel to Barcelona if we thought there was no chance,” the World Cup winner said.
Santos have won the Campeonato Paulista after a 2-1 second-leg victory over Corinthians on Sunday.After the first leg between two of the powerhouses of Brazilian football ended in a goalless draw, Santos had the advantage in the second by playing in front of their own supporters at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira.
Muricy Ramalho’s side skipped into an early lead when Arouca hit the back of the net with just 16 minutes on the clock.
It forced the visitors into a change, with Morais replaced Bruno Cesar as Corinthians searched for goals.
The move added an extra dimension to Corinthians attack but even with Portugal striker Liedson – who has netted 11 goals for the club since joining from Sporting Lisbon in January – Tite’s side struggled to find a way past a stubborn Santos defence.
As the match entered the last 10 minutes, the desperate visitors were caught stretched at the back and paid the price as Chelsea and Barcelona transfer target Neymar netted what looked to be the winner.
Corinthians gave themselves brief hope when Morais scored with just four minutes to play, but time was their enemy as Santos went on to celebrate their 19th Paulista title and second in succession.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew urged owner Mike Ashley to show faith in the club and spend big in the summer after his team drew 2-2 at Chelsea.Newcastle can still finish in the top 10 after twice coming from behind at Stamford Bridge to earn a vital point thanks to Steven Taylor’s dramatic header three minutes into injury time.
“I was delighted,” Pardew, who fielded several young players in his squad, said.
“We tried to set the team up with a positive view on the game, that we could hurt Chelsea.”
“We just needed to stick to the game plan. The players were excellent today.”
“I was thrilled with some of the younger players’ performances. It was a just result.”
“The focus now is just to try and beat West Brom.”
“If we beat them, we jump above them and have a possibility of a top 10 finish.”
“That would be outstanding because we lost a very big player in Andy Carroll, and Hatem Ben Arfa. You have to admire the squad and the staff. We’re very resilient.”
“We’ve got a bit more than spirit. We’ve got quality.”
“If you look at our two centre-halves, they were outstanding. You can’t get a result at Chelsea if you don’t have good players.”
Pardew praised Newcastle’s vocal fans and urged owner Ashley to give them encouragement but spending money in the transfer market this summer.
“You can’t take that support for granted. You’ve got to give them hope and belief,” Pardew said.
“They saw a few young players today, and they’ll be waiting for a few big new players to come in.”
“A performance like that will give the owner belief as well, that we’re doing things in the right way. If I was the owner, I’d think my investment was a bit more secure.”
“Newcastle is a big, big club.”
“We want to attract one or two big players and bring on one or two young players.”
“Those are the advances you need if you want to be successful.”
I don’t think Nicklas Bendtner’s Arsenal career has panned out quite the way he imagined it would when he signed for the club as a youngster in 2004. Since breaking into the first team set up, Bendtner has been left frustrated with his lack of opportunities and he has spent most of his time warming the substitute’s bench. Bendtner has recently gone public in declaring his desire to leave Arsenal this summer as he feels he needs to be playing regular first team football, something he isn’t getting at The Emirates. We all know how highly Bendtner thinks of himself and no matter how many chances he misses on the pitch it doesn’t seem to knock his confidence. It appears Bendtner’s self-belief is also shared by his father and agent who has claimed his son will fetch Arsenal £12 million if he is sold.
I had to double take when I first saw the figure Bendtner’s father, Thomas, had suggested his son was worth. What I’ve seen of the Danish frontman in his time with Arsenal certainly doesn’t justify that sort of price tag, I would say somewhere in the region of £5-6 million would be a more accurate valuation. Thomas Bendtner even went as far as saying if his son had been playing more regularly, the price would be higher, “Around £12m sounds very realistic. He has been higher, but the price goes down when he is not playing enough.” (Daily Mail) I know a father will always support his son, but come on, there is a limit and this quote just makes me think that being delusional is a Bendtner family trait.
Bendtner has only made 3 Premier League starts all season for Arsene Wenger’s side, which instantly tells me there is a reason why one of the best managersin world football is overlooking Bendtner, he’s not as good as he thinks he is. The way Wenger sets out his team only leaves room for one striker to start and that is always going to be a player of genuine class, Robin Van Persie. That leaves Bendtner to fight it out with Marouane Chamakh for the backup role and it’s a battle Bendtner has lost to Chamakh for the majority of the season.
Regardless of all that has been said, there is no denying that Bendtner does have talent and he is capable of producing moments of magic, such as his goal in the Carling Cup semi-final against Ipswich at The Emirates. Unfortunately, there are rather more moments like the fluffed chance against Barcelona in the last sixteen of the Champions League that stick in the memory. Bendtner’s modesty and oozing self-confidence hasn’t endeared him to the Arsenal fans and a large section of them won’t be sad to see the Dane leave.
I do have an element of admiration for Bendtner though, as in the face of his lack of first team football and goals for Arsenal, he still manages to convince himself, if not others, of his own ability. However ridiculous some of his statements may seem, the confidence he has in himself may be enough to ensure he is a success somewhere else in the future. For someone who has achieved little more in the game than the 2009 Danish footballer of the year, to have such a high opinion of himself, although baffling, is also slightly admirable. No one would want a player who lacks confidence in their team, so now all Bendtner has to do is start backing up his claims of potential greatness with big performances and goals.
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At the end of the day, Liverpool bought Jordan Henderson for the long term. Both Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli saw something in the 21 year old which made them believe that spending upwards of £20million for the player was a good long term investment. Going by some people’s reactions to Henderson’s performances in the U21 Championships, you would be forgiven for thinking we had just spent a fortune on a complete dud.
Although it is from a small minority, complaining about a player’s performance after watching him for three games in a side managed by Stuart Pearce is not the best way to assess the talents of a player. I think most, like me, will hold judgement at least until the end of next season, to see how Jordan has progressed as a player.
Some of the frustration surrounding the transfer is of course the belief that we overspent, and that the money could have been put to better use on an older, proven foreign talent. Understandably there is a desire for immediate success after the trials and tribulations of the previous ownership, as well as the fact the Reds have gone 20 years without winning the league.
There is an understandable fear that now that we actually do have money, nobody wants to see us waste it on players who are not worthy of their valuation. Overpriced English players has been the theme of many a fan’s argument so far this window, and a few will pounce on the opportunity when things don’t go so well for players such as Henderson.
Immediate success maybe in many fans’ minds when they think up their list of transfer targets this summer, but for FSG , Dalglish and Comolli, a long term legacy is what is being focused on. Dalglish is trying to mould a team in his own style. For Reds fans bringing the likes of Aguero, Mata etc should be Liverpool ’s goal but Dalglish has his own way of doing things. Both Comolli and FSG know that Dalglish will command a great deal of loyalty and to make sure this project is developed for long term goals; Kenny looks to be the ideal man to carry it out with fewer dissenters and doubters surrounding Anfield.
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In regards to Henderson, he is nowhere near the finished article. It is unfair to judge him on three games playing alongside Mancienne, Muamba and Welbeck rather than alongside Lucas, Gerrard and Suarez. His interaction with team mates will be totally different at club level, and he will be able to develop his game, while having greater time to get a greater understanding with his team mates.
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In addition he will have Kenny Dalglish as his manager. Someone who can guide him to being a better player. He has all the attributes to do it and is certainly a Dalglish player with his passing ability and energy. Dalglish, Clarke, and the quality of players at Liverpool will make Henderson a better player, and if Kenny is any judge of a player, we will certainly have a great star in the making in the next 3 to 5 years.
Read more of David Tully’s articles at Live4Liverpool
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis cannot wait for his side’s first European match in 37 years on Thursday.After finishing in last year’s FA Cup final – which they lost 1-0 to Manchester City – Stoke earned a spot in qualifying for the Europa League group stage.
The English Premier League club’s first test comes when Croatian side Hajduk Split travel to the Brittania Stadium on Thursday.
“It’s exciting times,” Pulis said.
“It’s part of what has been a fantastic five years at the football club.”
“To have the opportunity of playing a European game at the Britannia against such a famous side as Split is first class. We’re all looking forward to it.”
Pulis is aware of the talent Hajduk possess, but insisted his side would not take a backward step.
He also made mention of the electric atmosphere sure to greet the players on Thursday.
“They’re a good side. We’ve watched tapes of them from the back end of last season and pre-season and have been out and watched them,” Pulis said.
“But it’s a home game for us and irrespective of what they do or they don’t do. The priority is that we’re prepared, we’re right and give it the best shot we possibly can.”
“The place will be rocking. They tell me the atmosphere in Split is fantastic – well let’s see what they think of our atmosphere.”
Jonathan Woodgate could make his first competitive appearance for the club following his move from Tottenham Hotspur.
The injury-plagued defender came through the side’s friendly against Aldershot on Saturday with no ill-effects.
It was honours even in a bad tempered game at St James Park where Peter Walton issued eight yellow cards as well as sending off Arsenal debutant, Gervinho.
Neither side could find a breakthrough on the night with both keepers comfortable in a game where the defences were on top. Chances were at a premium and although the visitors dominated the possession in both half’s, with Gervinho causing problems throughout, they couldn’t forge any clear cut opportunities.
While the neutral was hoping for a repeat of last season’s epic battle, it is clear that both sides are still looking for their peak fitness; a factor that affected most of the Premier League sides today. The frustration boiled over in the stands with both Newcastle and Arsenal fans displaying a little discontent towards the transfer policies of their respected clubs.
The second half panned out in much the same way as the first, although it burst into life with 15 minutes to go when Joey Barton confronted Gervinho after the Ivorian looked to win a penalty with a tumble. Barton’s reaction brought an angry response from the Arsenal striker who raised his hands on the Newcastle midfielder. Peter Walton had little option but to send the striker off, although his Arsenal teammates were clearly furious at Barton’s intervention in the incident.
The game petered out after that despite some half chances – both teams had to settle for a point. Alan Pardew was clearly the happier of the two at the final whistle, although you did sense that Arsene Wenger’s clear disdain was more to do with the sending off than the point gained at St James Park.
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Where to start with Newcastle? Selling their captain, visa problems, pitch invasions, twitter rants and supporter unrest. Just seems like any old pre-season on the Tyneside soap opera. Kevin Nolan’s sale to West Ham, Joey Barton’s twitter rants and slow movement in the transfer market has hung a dark cloud over St James’ Park. The signings of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan have provided some cause for optimism but the whole Barton fiasco has caused the Geordie faithful to grumble again. Alan Pardew faces a rough season as he tries to unite the dressing room and get his squad playing football good enough to break into the top 10. However there is always another unpredictable disaster lurking around the corner.
Arsenal have similar problems with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri still angling for moves away from the Emirates. The former has been caught up in the saga with Barcelona for the fourth consecutive summer and Arsene Wenger seems to have grown tired of it. Transfer activity has been light with Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the only incomings. Hardly the type of players the Gunners fans are craving as they look to end a barren six-year spell without a trophy. The loss of their two key midfielders is inevitable and Wenger has a tough task on his hands to rebuild the squad.
It could go either way on Saturday teatime. Off the field distractions could overshadow the game although both sides will be looking to make a strong start. Those hoping for another 4-4 will be disappointed.
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Verdict: 1-1
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