NEYMAR AMTAKA WAYNE ROONEY BARCA

                                                                     Neymar

 

ROONEY

NYOTA wa Brazil, Neymar amemtaka mshambuliaji wa Manchester United, Wayne Rooney kufikiri    kuhamia Barcelona, akisema itakuwa ni ndito kucheza na mshambuliaji huyo wa England.

Neymar, ambaye mwenyewe amejiunga na timu hiyo ya Katalunya mapema majira haya ya joto kwa dau la Pauni Milioni 48.6 kutoka Santos ya Brazil, ameitaja Camp Nou kama kituo sahihi kwa mchezaji mwenye kipaji kama Rooney. Neymar  mmoja wa wachezaji w Brazil  walioshinda  kombe la  Mabara.

Wenger frustrated with Gunners draw

By: AFP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed frustration with his side's inconsistency and criticised their mental sharpness after they needed an own goal to snatch a draw from Southampton only three days after beating Newcastle United 7-3.
But he confirmed that his search for a remedy will not include bringing back the club's former striker Thierry Henry for a second comeback season.
"We didn't create a lot after having scored five at Reading, seven against Newcastle," the Frenchman complained. "The goal chances we created were not a lot and our game lacked purpose, lacked penetration, lacked speed - all the qualities that we usually have and that we didn't see tonight.
"It is frustrating. It is nothing to do with the physical side. In a game of that magnitude against a Southampton team that was really highly determined, I felt we lacked purpose in our game, and it was more mental than physical. We lacked sharpness.
"There is no specific reason. We prepared normally, we prepared well, and, maybe Southampton deserve some credit as well. They fought for every single ball until the last second."

Arsenal's English striker Theo Walcott (C) skips past Southampton's Guly Do Prado (L) and James Ward-Prowse during their Premier League clash at St Mary's Stadium on January 1, 2013. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed frustration with his side's inconsistency and criticised their mental sharpness after they needed an own goal to snatch a 1-1 draw.

It was Theo Walcott's free kick that was put into his own net by Guly Do Prado, but otherwise Walcott was anonymous after his hat-trick on Saturday.
Wenger explained: "Overall, nobody was put in good positions to express something offensively.
"We didn't have enough quality to get them out of position, but it is difficult to identify any specific thing. We have to analyse that together and see why because we have big games coming up and we want to get back to our normal performance."
Wenger also ruled out re-signing Henry for a second time after bringing him back on a temporary deal a year ago. "He is going away somewhere," he said. "He is not ready and for the moment we are not on that case."
But he confirmed that he hopes to be active during the transfer window. "I will be active, yes," he said. "We are looking everywhere and we are open-minded. We want to strengthen the squad if possible and if we find the right players."

Southampton's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc (R) claims the ball under pressure from Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny on January 1, 2013. Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, was pleased with his side's performance, and the point in a 1-1 draw took his team out of the bottom three, ahead of Wigan Athletic on goal difference.

Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, was much more pleased with his side's performance, and the point that took his team out of the bottom three, ahead of Wigan Athletic on goal difference.
"Arsenal have been beating teams out of sight but Artur (Boruc, the goalkeeper) has had nothing else to do apart from the deflection and we created some good opportunities for ourselves," he said. It shows how far we have come. We got a hiding (6-1) at The Emirates, but we have a growing maturity. Tactically we were bang on and yet again the players put good performances in."
After early dominance by Arsenal, Southampton and took the lead with a scrappy goal after 35 minutes, Bacary Sagna's attempted clearance hitting Southampton's Jason Puncheon and rebounding for Gaston Ramirez, Southampton's record signing, to drive low past Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal's equaliser two minutes later was even messier. Walcott curled in a free kick from the left that seemed to be going harmlessly to Boruc, but Do Prado, Southampton's Brazilian winger, swung a foot at the ball at the near post and deflected it into his own net.
Do Prado tried to make amends with a shot that Szczesny had to save well and a corner kick that Sagna almost put into his own net, while Ramirez had a goal disallowed for a foul on Laurent Koscielny that few people noticed apart from the referee's assistant.
Walcott, anonymous on his return to his former club, hit a shot straight at Boruc - Arsenal's only effort on target.
Wenger said: "Considering the performance, I don't think we deserved more, but it's two points lost if you look at our target over Christmas."

Results of Barclay Premier League

                          

Sunderland  1 - 2 Tottenham

Aston Villa  0  -  1  Wigan

Fulham  0 -  1  Swansea

Man  Utd 1 -  0  West Brom

Norwich  1  -2  Mancity

Reading  1 -  0 Westham

Stoke 1 -   2    Southampton

Source: Super Sport

Saturday 29th December 2012

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Sunderland V Tottenham	12:45
	Aston Villa V Wigan	15:00
	Fulham V Swansea	15:00
	Man Utd V West Brom	15:00
	Norwich V Man City	15:00
	Reading V West Ham	15:00
	Stoke V Southampton	15:00
	Arsenal V Newcastle	17:30

Sunday 30th December 2012

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Everton V Chelsea	13:30
	QPR V Liverpool	16:00

Tuesday 1st January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	West Brom V Fulham	12:45
	Man City V Stoke	15:00
	Swansea V Aston Villa	15:00
	Tottenham V Reading	15:00
	West Ham V Norwich	15:00
	Wigan V Man Utd	15:00
	Southampton V Arsenal	17:30

Wednesday 2nd January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Chelsea V QPR	19:45
	Liverpool V Sunderland	19:45
	Newcastle V Everton	20:00

Saturday 12th January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Aston Villa V Southampton	15:00
	Everton V Swansea	15:00
	Fulham V Wigan	15:00
	Norwich V Newcastle	15:00
	Reading V West Brom	15:00
	Stoke V Chelsea	15:00
	Sunderland V West Ham	15:00

Sunday 13th January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Man Utd V Liverpool	13:30
	Arsenal V Man City	16:00

Monday 14th January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	QPR V Tottenham	20:00

Saturday 19th January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Liverpool V Norwich	15:00
	Man City V Fulham	15:00
	Newcastle V Reading	15:00
	Swansea V Stoke	15:00
	West Ham V QPR	15:00
	Wigan V Sunderland	15:00
	West Brom V Aston Villa	17:30

Sunday 20th January 2013

	Barclays Premier League
Show last 5 matches and coverage	Fixture	Kick-off	Status
	Chelsea V Arsenal	13:30
	Tottenham V Man Utd	16:00

	SOURCE: BBC SPORT

Henning Berg: Blackburn Rovers sack manager after 57 days

 
Blackburn Rovers have sacked manager Henning Berg after just 57 days in charge at Ewood Park. 
The 43-year-old former Rovers defender replaced Steve Kean on 31 October but the club have won just one of their 10 matches since his appointment.
The Norwegian's final game was a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, Blackburn's fifth loss in six outings.

The club are already talking to potential replacements and hope to make an announcement shortly.

Assistant manager Eric Black, coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms have also left Rovers, who are 17th in the Championship.
Berg, who won the Premier League title as a player with Blackburn in 1995, signed a three-year deal at Ewood Park.
His only previous managerial experience had been in his home country with Lyn Oslo and Lillestrom.
Kean's resignation at the end of September had followed months of protests from supporters aimed at the Scot and owners Venky's.
Despite the off-field turmoil, Rovers had started well in the second tier after suffering relegation from the Premier League in May - they were top of the table prior to Kean's final game in charge.
But Blackburn have struggled for points since Berg's arrival and have dropped into the bottom eight as a result of their poor form.
He failed to win a home match in his short stint at the helm, with a 4-1 victory at struggling Peterborough on 17 November their only success during Berg's reign.
A statement on Blackburn's official website said: "Blackburn Rovers has announced the departure of manager Henning Berg, assistant manager Eric Black, first-team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms with immediate effect.
"This decision has been taken following a very disappointing sequence of results.
"The club thanks the four men for their efforts and wishes them every success for the future."
Blackburn travel to Barnsley on Saturday.
Source:BBC Sport

Van Persie missing piece in Fergie's title jigsaw

Alex Ferguson has hailed Robin van Persie as the missing piece in Manchester United's title jigsaw as the Premier League leaders bid to extend their advantage at the top against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Van Persie has made a superb start to his United career after leaving Arsenal in a £24 million move in pre-season and the Dutch forward's haul of 15 goals has fired Ferguson's team four points clear of champions Manchester City heading into the hectic Christmas programme.
The 29-year-old's dynamic displays have added an extra edge to United in the same way that French playmaker Eric Cantona and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo galvanised previous teams in the Ferguson era.
After missing out on the title to City last season, United were in need of a new driving force this term and Ferguson believes van Persie is providing it.
"I am reluctant to subscribe to the cult of an individual. But sometimes you find the last piece of the jigsaw," Ferguson told United's official matchday programme.

Manchester United's Dutch forward Robin van Persie celebrates scoring the first goal during the English Premier League match against Sunderland at Old Trafford on December 15, 2012. Alex Ferguson has hailed van Persie as the missing piece in United's title jigsaw as they bid to extend their lead at the top against Newcastle on Wednesday.

"We did it when we brought Eric Cantona to Old Trafford and he proved to be the right player at the right club at the right time. He became the catalyst and springboard for our surge to success.
"It doesn't have to be signing someone for a record fee. Cristiano Ronaldo was not a record buy either but he certainly made a difference as he prospered with us to the extent that he came to be regarded by a lot of people as the world's best player."
However, Ferguson's side will be made to work hard by Newcastle, whose 1-0 win over struggling QPR last Saturday was only their second in eight league games but it was enough to give their manager Alan Pardew reason to be optimistic.
"We have definitely picked up, we look a little bit more resilient," said Pardew.
"We got a very important clean sheet on Saturday and I think we will be in good heart for what is one of the toughest games of the programme, Manchester United away."
How Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini must rue van Persie's decision to snub the champions in favour of joining United.
Mancini had hoped to make van Persie the centre-piece of his team as he looked to build on last season's title triumph, but instead he has had to watch the striker revitalise his club's arch rivals, while his own strike-force has gone through a barren period.

Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi (L) celebrates scoring the winning goal with James Perch during the English Premier League match at home to Queens Park Rangers at St James' Park on December 22, 2012. Newcastle's 1-0 win over struggling QPR was only their second in eight league games but it was enough to give their manager Alan Pardew reason to be optimistic.

Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko all laboured once more against Reading, the division's bottom club, on Saturday and it was left to England midfielder Gareth Barry to show them how to do it with a stoppage-time winner.
The good news for Mancini's side was United's failure to defeat Swansea 24 hours later, a result which will give fresh impetus to City's challenge according to defender Kolo Toure.
"It's giving us encouragement because we haven't played to our best yet," Toure said ahead of Wednesday's game at Sunderland.
"Every team knows we are champions. They play 200 percent and that makes it really hard for us. We just keep fighting, keep pushing and we can still be better."
United and City could be forgiven for regarding the title race as a strictly Manchester affair this season, especially as Chelsea have appeared on the verge of self-destructing at times.
But the Blues finally showed signs of emerging as a serious contender on Sunday thanks to an 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry celebrates with David Silva after scoring his injury-time winner against Reading on December 22, 2012. City won the game 1-0 at home to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders and rivals Manchester United.

That victory left Chelsea 11 points behind United but with a game in hand and interim manager Rafael Benitez refuses to write off the prospect of a title challenge.
"You could see the mentality of the players, even at 6-0 we were pushing and trying to score more," he said.
"The team are attacking as a whole and not just depending on one or two players.
"Now we have to sustain this run, keep winning some games and then it will be easier for me to send a message out that we can compete."
With Arsenal's clash against West Ham postponed due to a strike on the London Underground, fifth-placed Everton, who host Wigan, Tottenham, who travel to Villa, and West Bromwich Albion, on their travels at QPR, all have a chance to move into the top four.
Fixtures (1500GMT unless stated)
Aston Villa v Tottenham (1730GMT), Everton v Wigan, Fulham v Southampton, Man Utd v Newcastle, Norwich v Chelsea, QPR v West Brom, Reading v Swansea, Stoke v Liverpool (1945GMT), Sunderland v Man City
Postponed
Arsenal v West Ham (London Underground strik

Benitez steels Chelsea for Christmas crunch

LONDON (AFP)

Rafael Benitez admits Chelsea are entering a crucial stage in their season as his side attempt to revive their fast fading Premier League title ambitions.
Benitez's side enter the Christmas programme in third place but that standing could be transformed by the time they face Aston Villa on Sunday.
By then, with Chelsea playing after their main rivals, they could be down to eighth and trail leaders Manchester United by 15 points if results go against them.
And the Blues' cause won't be helped by the continuing absence of injured skipper John Terry, who could miss all four festive games.
Last weekend's trip to the Club World Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Corinthians in the final, means Chelsea have played one game fewer than every other club in the top half of the table.

Chelsea's Fernando Torres (3rd R) celebrates after scoring during a League Cup match on December 19, 2012. Chelsea enter the Christmas programme in third place but that standing could be transformed by the time they face Aston Villa on Sunday.

But having recorded just one win in eight league matches during a dismal two-month run, it is clear their campaign has lost momentum and they must embark on a winning streak if they are to stay in touch with the leaders.
The prospect of facing Villa seems more challenging than it would have done a week previously with Paul Lambert's side coming to Stamford Bridge on the back of an impressive 3-1 win at Liverpool and a six-game unbeaten run.
Benitez is aware of their threat, but insists his concerns lie only with his own side.
"Villa are doing well and it seems they are comfortable with the system, three at the back with wing backs, and they have good options in counter-attack because Christian Benteke is a good reference point," Benitez said.
"But our priority is our team and what we try to do. Obviously we analyse the other team too, but we want them to have to adapt to us more than us to them.
"This is a crucial time. It is important because there are a lot of points available."
Chelsea left Japan frustrated at their failure to return as world club champions but they responded well with a 5-1 win at Leeds in the League Cup quarter-finals less than 48 hours after arriving back from Asia.

Aston Villa's Christian Benteke celebrates after scoring during a Premier League match on December 15, 2012. Benteke has scored eight times since arriving from Genk in August and has already been linked with bigger clubs.

"I was really worried before Leeds because I was not sleeping much, and I am sure some of the players were the same," Benitez said.
"A game two days after a long trip could be dangerous but it was fine, and I was really surprised and impressed with the performance, the way we played and the spirit we showed.
"The second half, even when winning 4-1 we were pushing and pressing, so I was pleased with the performance and fitness of the team."
Chelsea will be lifted by the return of Ramires and Gary Cahill from suspension, but Benitez admitted Terry could be out for a further two weeks with his continuing knee problem.
"It's one step forward, one step back," said Benitez. "The knee is quite complicated but at least he's now on the training pitch - that is positive news - but we cannot say, we cannot predict how long it will take."
Meanwhile, Lambert has reassured Villa supporters he has no plans to sell Benteke after the Belgian's impressive start to life in England.
Benteke has scored eight times since arriving from Genk for £7 million in late August and has already been linked with bigger clubs.
"There's no point in us even being here if it's a case of bringing people in and then letting them go. What's the point in that?" Lambert said.
"We're trying to build something here which can take a few years and you need good players with you to achieve that.
"There's no point in coming for half a season or a year and then you let them go. That's not the right way."

Arsenal festive cheer at Whittington Hospital

Arsenal players paid their annual festive visit to children at the Whittington Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The Club has a long-standing tradition of visiting the north London hospital at Christmas time and this year Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker attended from Arsène Wenger's first-team squad, meeting young patients and their parents in Ifor Ward and handing out gifts.

Club captain Vermaelen, who was also involved in last year’s visit to the hospital’s general paediatric ward said: "It was great to be able to return to the Whittington Hospital this year, to meet the youngsters in the Ifor Ward.

"As footballers we're of course in an incredibly privileged position, and if we're able to spread a little bit of happiness at this time of year, then we are only too happy to do that."

Source: http://www.arsenal.com

Barca coach's cancer surgery went well, says captain

  By; AFP

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova's cancer surgery Thursday went "very well", his captain Carles Puyol said, after an unexpected relapse shocked the Spanish league leaders.
Vilanova, 44, has led Barcelona to their best league start ever but the club said he will be in hospital for four days and then need up to six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
"The first message I have received is that the operation has gone very well," Puyol told a news conference after surgeons operated on Vilanova on Thursday, just over a year after he underwent a similar operation on his salivary gland.
"It is very tough news, a very hard blow," Puyol said.
Sports media quoted Vilanova as assuring players "I will be back soon," the evening before his surgery, which media said was at Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron hospital, where there is a specialist oncology unit.
Barca had yet to give an official update on Vilanova's condition on Thursday afternoon.
"We will have to try to go on as normally as possible but there will not be total normality because Tito is the coach and now for a few weeks he will not be there," the club's president Sandro Rosell said late Wednesday.

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova gives a press conference after a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper, near Barcelona on December 4. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova's cancer surgery Thursday went "very well", his captain Carles Puyol said, after an unexpected relapse shocked the Spanish league leaders.

"Tito is very strong and we are convinced he will come back to us soon," he insisted at a news conference, as players including Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta sat by solemn-faced.
A six-week lay-off would mean Vilanova may return just in time for Barcelona's last-16 tie in the Champions League, which will be against AC Milan in mid-February, the draw revealed on Thursday.
Before the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA secretary-general Gianni Infantino said in Catalan: "Tito, we are all with you."
The surgery came at a dramatic moment for Barca, flying nine points high at the top of Spain's La Liga while their fierce rivals and title holders Real Madrid are suffering a malaise.
Jose Mourinho's Real are 13 points adrift in third place and rattled by reports of internal squabbles. Atletico Madrid are in second place, nine points behind Barcelona.
Barca's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said assistant coach Jordi Roura would stand in for the time being, acting as coach when the side travels to Valladolid for Saturday's league game.
Messages of support poured in from sporting stars and even occupied the front pages of the fiercely partisan Madrid sports press.
Zubizarreta rejected speculation that Barcelona's previous coach Pep Guardiola who left last season would step back in.
"Tito is the coach and continues to be the coach. Jordi Roura will be in the dugout at Valladolid but the trainer is Tito," he told a news conference.
Real Madrid joined various sporting figures in Spain and abroad in wishing Vilanova well.
"Tito, everyone is behind you to beat this -- the strength of football and people. It's impossible you will lose this match," Real skipper and Spain international keeper Iker Casillas wrote on his Facebook page.
Vilanova has been Barca manager since the departure of his long-time comrade-in-arms Guardiola in April.
Vilanova underwent an operation to remove a tumour on his parotid salivary gland on November 22, 2011 and was back at work as Guardiola's deputy just two weeks later.
The club said doctors had detected that the illness had returned to the same area.

Real Madrid to play Man U in Champions League

By  AFP
AC Milan versus Barcelona and Real Madrid versus Manchester United are the top ties of the last 16 of the Champions League, after the draw was made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Here is the full draw, with first leg matches to be played on dates between February 12/13 and February 19/20 and return legs between March 5/6 and March 12/13:
Galatasaray (TUR) v Schalke 04 (GER)
Celtic (SCO) v Juventus (ITA)
Arsenal (ENG) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
AC Milan (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP)
Real Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Valencia (ESP) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
FC Porto (POR) v Malaga (ESP)

Brazil slip to 18th in FIFA rankings

PARIS (AFP)

Brazil have slumped five places to an all-time low 18th in the latest FIFA World Cup rankings as they struggle to regroup under new manager Felipe Scolari.
The 2002 World Cup-winning coach has been brought back to replace Mano Menezes in charge of a side badly in need of some fresh ideas before next June's Confederations Cup where Brazil have been drawn with Italy, Mexico and Japan.
As World Cup hosts, the Brazilians have no qualifiers to play and have been involved in a series of friendly matches, the last of which ended in a 1-1 draw with Colombia in the United States.
In continental terms, Brazil are ranked only fifth in South America behind Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay.
World champions Spain stay top of the rankings followed by Germany and Argentina with Italy up one place to fourth and Colombia up three to fifth.
FIFA world rankings
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. Italy (+1 place)
5. Colombia (+3)
6. England
7. Portugal (-3)
8. Netherlands (-1)
9. Russia
10. Croatia
11. Greece (+1)
12. Switzerland (+4)
13. Ecuador (+4)
14. Ivory Coast (+1)
15. Mexico (-1)
16. Uruguay (-5)
17. France (+1)
18. Brazil (-5)
19. Algeria
20. Sweden (+3)

Chelsea sack Di Matteo - club statement

LONDON (AFP)
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has been sacked after the European champions were left facing elimination at the group stage of the Champions League, the club said on Wednesday.
"Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with Manager Roberto Di Matteo," a statement said, following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Juventus.
Chelsea said the team's "recent performances and results have not been good enough".

DR Congo, Rwanda leaders meet after rebels take Goma

 KAMPALA (AFP)

                                 President Paul Kagame of Rwanda

                                  President  Joseph  kabila  of  DRC

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila and his Rwandan rival Paul Kagame have met for face-to-face meetings over conflict in eastern Congo, Ugandan officials said Wednesday. 

"President Kabila and President Kagame held a two-hour meeting together on Tuesday night," Ugandan foreign minister Sam Kutesa told AFP, after the meeting in the Ugandan capital.

The United Nations accuses Rwanda of backing DR Congo's M23 rebels who now control the key eastern town of Goma, charges Kigali denies.
Rwanda for its part accuses Kinshasa of renewing cooperation with Rwandan rebels based in eastern DRC.
The two leaders, who then met together with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, continue talks on Wednesday, Kutesa added.
"President Museveni has been speaking to them, and they agreed to come to discuss the deteriorating situation," he said, adding that meetings are ongoing.
Both are expected to meet separately with Museveni, before meeting again all together.
"At least they are talking," Kutesa said. "I think all is going OK."
Kutesa also said that Uganda is calling an extraordinary meeting of regional heads of state this Saturday, under the umbrella of the 11-member International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
Kabila and Kagame are being encouraged to attend that meeting, Kutesa added.