O’Neill faces nervy wait over England International

Sunderland manager Martin O’ Neill is set to make a difficult decision about England international Adam Johnson’s training schedule before the visit of Newcastle on Sunday.

The Premier League Tyne-Wear clash at the Stadium of Light is being viewed as a great opportunity for the Black Cats to put their rivals to the sword and the former Manchester City tricky winger is seen as crucial cog in the Sunderland machine.

The entire squad have met today for training at the Academy of Light but with the £10 million signing arriving back last night, there is a worry the player could be jaded.

Even though Johnson did not feature in the England fixture against Poland, the club will be looking to ensure the player is ready to fire on all cylinders come 1.30 Sunday.

England’s decision to fly home immediately after the 1-1 draw means that Johnson should be able to carry out his scheduled training routine and he is sure to be key to any plans Sunderland have of defeating their bitter rivals.

Despite formerly plying his trade at Middlesborough the player has warmed himself to the fans providing an exciting link up with Scotland International forward Steven Fletcher.

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O’ Neill appears to have given the player licence to thrill and it has given Johnson a fresh lease of life. The star was rewarded by Roy Hodgson with a recall to the squad and he will be looking to continue to impress at club level, in order to get his chance to dazzle on the international stage.

Gervinho asks for patience with Giroud

Arsenal forward Gervinho is “totally convinced” new signing Oliver Giroud will score enough goals to make Arsenal fans forget about Robin Van Persie, according to the Mirror.

Arsenal are yet to score a goal or record a victory this season, having being held to goalless draws by both Sunderland and Stoke since the sale of their captain to Manchester United.

It is clear Giroud – a £10 million signing from Montpellier – along with fellow new boy Lukas Podolski, have a massive task on their hands replacing the former Arsenal talisman. However, Gervinho is certain that with a little patience the goals will come.

The Ivory Coast international explained:  “I hope the fans show patience towards Giroud and also look at his overall contribution to the team.

“We must all support him, because there’s big pressure.

“But there’s no doubt in my mind that the goals will come. I am totally convinced.

“To substitute a player like van Persie who scored nearly 40 goals in a season is not easy.

“Giroud couldn’t score goals in the opening games but that’s to be expected because it will take him time to adapt in the system and style.”

Gervinho is speaking through experience, having taken a while to settle into English football since his move from Lille last summer. He continued:

“It took me a long time to adjust so I know what it is like.

“But Wenger will give Giroud confidence because he believes in his ability and quality.

“A squad like Arsenal’s needs quality players at this level and they must be allowed to succeed without pressure.

“I talk every day with Olivier and he’s not been worried by the absence of goals in his first matches. It’s just a matter of time.”

Arsenal’s quest for a first goal of the season does not get much easier, as they travel to Anfield on Sunday. Last season’s fixture saw the Gunners come away with a 2-1 win courtesy of two strikes from Robin Van Persie. Gervinho admits he wishes the Dutchman had not left the Emirates, but insists Arsenal are capable of moving on without him.

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He told French radio station RMC Sports:

“Personally, I wouldn’t have wanted for him to leave for Manchester United. But our world doesn’t end with Robin.

“We are players with a lot to develop and we can have a good season by which time van Persie will be forgotten. That is the truth.”

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THREE things we learnt from Arsenal’s victory over Aston Villa

Aaron Ramsey needs a rest

Mesut Ozil has been taken a lot of the stick for Arsenal’s various poor performances since the Premier League season got underway. However, with the German flourishing in his favoured No.10 position against Villa, Rambo didn’t exactly justify his inclusion over Jack Wilshere with several wayward passes and a lack of influence on proceedings.

Mesut Ozil is back

Maybe a slight exaggeration but the German international will certainly have silenced a few doubters with a goal, an assist and a Man of the Match performance. Arsene Wenger must surely realise that he has to play the German as a No.10 or not at all, right?

Danny Welbeck can be Arsenal’s main man

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It was always going to be vital for the striker to grab his first Arsenal goal quickly to avoid the doubts creeping in and the criticism. The former Manchester United striker showed a natural forward’s instincts with a tidy finish and Arsenal fans will be hoping for plenty more of those as the season progresses.

Welbeck looks a quality player

Manchester City v Chelsea – Clash of styles at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City host Chelsea on Monday evening and it should be quite the occasion. Thomas Rooney from Footballtips.com previews the action at the Etihad.

Ask any football fan their opinion on the title race and the majority will say its between these two. Either Manuel Pellegrini or Jose Mourinho will lead their team to glory this season.

That seems a fair conclusion too. Arsenal are competing more than ever, but have they got what it takes to get over the line? Out at 11/2 to win the title, they are the third favourites.

So, taking Monday night as the battle between the two main contenders, it’s a massive evening for both teams. You send a serious message by getting three points in this one.

As the home side, it probably won’t surprise you to see Manchester City as the 20/23 favourites with Bet Victor. Quite simply, they are unstoppable at the Etihad.

Scoring goals for fun, they are a constant threat to the opposition defence. From the fluency and pace in midfield to the clinical finishing up front, there’s arguably no-one better right now.

This will be reduced slightly by the injury to Sergio Aguero, while Alvaro Negredo is a doubt too. This leaves the emphasis very much on Edin Dzeko – but he has a great record.

It’s a team effort from City too. Everyone is confident right now and they have goals all over the pitch. On this note, Yaya Toure looks a cracking anytime scorer bet at 11/4 with Betfred.

There’s no doubt City will hit Chelsea with attack after attack too. That’s the way they play and it’s the style that’s seen them hammer Arsenal, Tottenham and Man Utd among others.

As for the visitors – at 7/2 with Bet365 for the win – they have approached big games, particularly away from home. At Man Utd and at Arsenal, they’ve been happy with a point from the word go.

Mourinho criticised Sam Allardyce for his approach in the week, but in truth, Chelsea have gone into more than one game searching for a draw from the word go.

This won’t cut it at the Etihad Stadium though. Chelsea’s defence is good, but not that good. They cannot simply sit back and let the home side at them.

So maybe, just maybe – we will see the Blues give this one a real go. Neutrals watching the game will certainly hope so, making over 2.5 goals at 4/6 with Ladbrokes.

Chelsea edged the previous meeting between these two earlier this season and it could go the way of the home side again in an entertaining contest.

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From this point on, can anyone stop City?

Recommended bet:

Chelsea to win and BTTS @ 5/2 with Coral

Thomas Rooney is the Editor of FootballTips.com – the best place for this weekend’s Premier League tips

Erik explica último lugar em kart e realça clima dos atletas no Botafogo

MatériaMais Notícias

Após se recuperar no Campeonato Carioca, o Botafogo também parece viver uma fase positiva fora de campo. Na noite da última quarta-feira, alguns dos atletas, incluindo o recém-contratado Diego Souza, se encontraram para fazer uma corrida de kart. Entre eles estava Erik, que explicou, em entrevista coletiva nesta quinta-feira, sobre a última colocação e elogiou o clima entre todos.

-Não posso mostrar muito meu potencial no Kart, me deram o carro errado, tenho o direito de reclamar. Me fecharam na largada e é importante largar bem, né? (risos). Mas tenho que continuar rápido dentro de campo. Mal chegou e o Diego Souza já estava na resenha, isso é muito legal – brincou.

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Desde que chegou, Diego Souza é um dos centros da atenção no Botafogo. O atacante foi recebido com festa pela torcida, que apareceu em bom número na sede em General Severiano. Erik destacou que o recém-contratado vai ser importante tanto dentro quanto fora de campo.

-Atleta de alto nível, que vestiu a camisa de grandes clubes, até da Seleção. Diego Souza pode contar comigo e com todo o grupo. Somos uma família. Acredito que ele vai ajudar muito a gente, mas quem decide a forma dele jogar é o Zé – afirmou.

Após um início irregular, o Botafogo ter reencontrado o caminho das vitórias e, por estar em uma posição ruim na classificação geral do Estadual, precisa ser campeão da Taça Rio para se garantir na semifinal da competição. A próxima partida será contra o Fluminense, no domingo, às 19h, no Maracanã.

-Começamos o ano com muita dificuldade. Jogadores chegando, outros saindo. O grupo era muito jovem. Evoluímos no mata-mata e fomos ganhando corpo. Agora chegaram jogadores de qualidade como Cícero e Diego Souza. Só quem tem a ganhar é o Botafogo. Estamos ganhando espaço com a chegada desses reforços – reforçou.

Fla e Flu fazem primeiro clássico no Maracanã após 'adeus' ao Consórcio

MatériaMais Notícias

Neste domingo, o Maracanã recebe o primeiro clássico após o Estado do Rio de Janeiro romper contrato com o consórcio que fazia a gestão do estádio. Quis o destino que o duelo fosse justamente entre Flamengo e Fluminense, os dois clubes que tinham vínculo vigente com a empresa para mandar jogos no local. Nesta última rodada da Taça Rio, os clubes veem, então, uma possibilidade de mostrar força e provar que há condições de fazer o estádio “pulsar” por conta própria.

As diretorias do Rubro-Negro e do Tricolor, por enquanto, buscam alternativas, mas já deixaram explícita a vontade de participar da nova gestão do Maracanã – a Odebrecht tem até o dia 19 para deixar o estádio.

O contrato do Complexo Maracanã e Entretenimento S.A. foi assinado com Flamengo e Fluminense em 2013 (gestão Bandeira de Mello e Peter Siemsen, respectivamente) pouco após as reformas visando a Copa do Mundo que aconteceria no ano seguinte. Desde então, com algumas exceções, os clubes tinham o estádio como casa, tendo lado fixo na arquibancada e locais para ações junto aos torcedores.

Porém, nunca esconderam insatisfações com os altos valores praticados pela parceira, que fazia com que déficits fossem comuns, mesmo em jogos com ocupação razoável. Na atual temporada, por exemplo, o Fluminense não teve lucro em jogo algum e o Flamengo, mesmo quando lotou, ficou com cifras bem abaixo do esperado.

Os montantes negativos faziam, inclusive, com que torcedores e alguns dirigentes impulsionassem a ideia de um estádio próprio.

Nos últimos meses da gestão de Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, que esteve à frente do Flamengo entre 2013 e 2018, chegou-se a assinar um termo de intenção de compra de um terreno na Barra da Tijuca, Zona Oeste do Rio de Janeiro. O Fluminense, em 2016, também teve a iniciativa, mas para um local próximo a antiga Vila do Pan, também na Zona Oeste da Cidade Maravilhosa.

A parceria entre Estado do Rio de Janeiro e Consórcio Maracanã e Entretenimento S.A. foi rompido no início da última semana, sendo anunciado pelo governador Wilson Witzel em entrevista coletiva. A ação pegou clubes e o próprio consórcio de surpresa.

O Estado alega que o Consórcio tem uma dívida desde 2017, que chega a R$ 35 milhões. A empresa, por outro lado, afirma que os valores são referentes ao “uso comercial das áreas do entorno do estádio, como o Célio de Barros, o Julio Delamare e adjacências, fato que não ocorreu em função da decisão unilateral do governo de tombar estes espaços”.

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Polêmica

Recentemente, o Fluminense se envolveu em uma polêmica com o consórcio que fazia a gestão do Maracanã. Na final da Taça Guanabara, entre Vasco e o Tricolor, o Complexo Maracanã S.A. sinalizou ao Cruz-Maltino, mandante, que a torcida poderia utilizar o Setor Sul. Porém, o Fluminense alegou que, pro contrato, o Setor Sul deveria ser usado pela torcida do clube das Laranjeiras.

Na noite anterior à partida, o caso foi parar na Justiça, que determinou portões fechados. Horas antes da partida, o Vasco, por sua vez, conseguiu uma liminar que permitia a entrada de torcedores, o que acabou acontecendo já com o jogo em andamento.

LEMBRE O CASO

ROMPEU

Na última segunda-feira, Wilson Witzel, governador do Rio de Janeiro, anunciou, em entrevista coletiva, que o vínculo com o Complexo Maracanã S.A. estava rompido e a empresa teria até o dia 19 de abril para se retirar do estádio.

GOSTARAM

Flamengo e Fluminense se manisfestaram sobre o rompimento do contrato do Estado com o Complexo Maracanã S.A. e os dois clubes elogiaram a atitude de Wilson Witzel. Além disso, afirmaram ser interessante que as agremiações possam ser mais ativas na gestão a partir de agora. O consórcio, por sua vez, se dizia surpreso.

RETALIAÇÃO?

Na última quinta-feira, o Complexo Maracanã S.A. enviou um ofício à Federação de Futebol do Rio de Janeiro (Ferj), Flamengo e Fluminense afirmando que, por conta do calendário, só poderia realizar uma semifinal da Taça Rio, segundo turno do Campeonato Carioca.

FERJ REBATE

Na última sexta-feira, a Ferj rebateu o consórcio e manteve as duas semifinais da Taça Rio no Maracanã.
“A Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro estranha e duvida que a Greenleaf tenha participação nesse tal impedimento de uma semifinal da Taça Rio ser realizada no Maracanã, três dias depois da decisão do Governo do Estado (quanto à concessão)”

بونوتشي يحسم موقفه من عرضي الدوري السعودي ونيوكاسل

تلقى ليوناردو بونوتشي قائد فريق يوفنتوس الإيطالي، عروضًا من الدوري السعودي، ونيوكاسل الإنجليزي لمغادرة السيدة العجوز هذا الصيف.

وتشهد علاقة بونوتشي بالمدير الفني ليوفنتوس، ماسيمليانو أليجري، توترًا خاصة في الموسم الماضي، وأصبحت علاقتهما الفاترة غير جيدة على الإطلاق، مما فتح باب التكهنات أمام مستقبل المدافع.

ومع بقاء عام واحد على عقده الحالي، أشارت تقارير إلى أن بونوتشي البالغ من العمر 36 عامًا، يدرس المقترحات المقدمة له.

اقرأ أيضًا | يوفنتوس يستهدف ضم لوكاكو في صفقة تبادلية مع تشيلسي

ومع ذلك، تشير صحيفة “لا ريبوبليكا” إلى أن بونوتشي ليس لديه نية لمغادرة يوفنتوس، وسوف يلتزم بالموسم الأخير من عقده، حتى لو قضى معظم الوقت على مقاعد البدلاء.

بقميص يوفنتوس خاض بونوتشي 502 مباراة، وسجل 37 هدفًا وقدم 10 تمريرات حاسمة.

وبدأ بونوتشي مسيرته مع يوفنتوس منذ عام 2010 وغادر موسم 2017-2018 إلى ميلان، ثم عاد مجددًا للبيانكونيري. 

Carille fecha último treino do Corinthians antes de pegar o Ituano

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Fábio Carille resolveu fechar o último treino do Corinthians antes do confronto com o Ituano. Na tarde desta terça-feira, na véspera do duelo, a imprensa pôde acompanhar apenas o aquecimento dos jogadores do Timão.

Após a atividade, porém, o clube divulgou em seu site oficial a escalação titular para a partida. O Timão vai iniciar o jogo com:Cássio, Michel Macedo, Marllon, Henrique e Danilo Avelar; Ralf, Richard, Ramiro e Jadson; Clayson e Boselli.

Carille vai preservar Manoel, Júnior Urso e Sornoza, porque o Corinthians já está classificado para as quartas de final do Paulistão. Essa última rodada decidirá a colocação final: o Timão é o líder do Grupo C, com 18 pontos, um a mais que a Ferroviária, que visita o Novorizontino.

Gustagol, que treinou nos últimos dias após recuperar-se de pancada no joelho esquerdo, ainda não ficará à disposição. Boselli continuará como titular da equipe.

O duelo entre Corinthians e Ituano se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira, às 21h30, no Estádio Novelli Júnior, em Itu.

*Atualizada às 18h50

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Tudo sobre

Campeonato PaulistaCorinthiansFabio CarilleItuano

خاص | اتحاد الكرة يبلغ الأهلي بموقف أليو ديانج النهائي من مباراة الزمالك

كشف مصدر خاص في الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، النقاب عن الموقف النهائي لـ أليو ديانج لاعب النادي الأهلي من المشاركة في مباراة الزمالك اليوم.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة الزمالك مساء اليوم الخميس في المباراة المؤجلة من الجولة الـ31 بالدوري المصري الممتاز على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

وكان موقف ديانج من المشاركة في المباراة يشهد غموضًا، بسبب انتظار رد الاتحاد الدولي “فيفا” رسميًا على قرار رفع الإيقاف عن اللاعب.

طالع | التفاصيل الكاملة لأزمة إيقاف أليو ديانج مع الأهلي بسبب مستحقات وكيله

وأوضح المصدر لـ بطولات أن فيفا أرسل خطابًا رسميًا إلى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم برفع الإيقاف عن أليو ديانج.

وأشار إلى أنه قد تم إخطار النادي الأهلي بأحقية ديانج في المشاركة أمام الزمالك وقانونية ذلك.

يذكر، أن بطولات قد أكد انضمام ديانج لمعسكر النادي الأهلي استعدادًا للقمة، بالرغم من احتمالية غيابه، وانتظارًا لرد فيفا.

ويخوض الأهلي مباراته اليوم بعد أن حسم درع بطولة الدوري رسميًا، عقب وصوله إلى النقطة 75 حصدها من 29 مباراة فقط.

'Pakistan in reasonably good position' – Azhar

Despite an unimpressive performance by the top order, leading to Pakistan finishing the opening day nine wickets down, batsman Azhar Ali felt his side was in a reasonably good position

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Sep-2013

Azhar Ali: ‘I had to work hard for my runs because they bowled in the good areas”•AFP

Despite an unimpressive performance by the top order, leading to Pakistan finishing the opening day nine wickets down, batsman Azhar Ali felt his side was in a reasonably good position. Zimbabwe’s bowlers held control in the opening session, reducing Pakistan to 27 for 3, before Azhar and captain Misbah-ul-Haq saved their side from further embarrassment with a stand of 93 for the fourth wicket.Azhar top-scored with 78 and it was a typical workmanlike innings from him, coming off 185 balls. He admitted though that Pakistan should have respected the conditions better in the morning session, as the seamers managed movement and awkward bounce. A ninth-wicket stand of 67 between Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan took Pakistan close to the 250-mark.”It was a hardworking innings on a slow track,” Azhar said. “I had to work hard for my runs because they bowled in the good areas. And I think we ended up in a reasonably good position.”With some moisture on the pitch, we had a plan to get through to lunch. But we lost three early wickets which didn’t help. We could have done a bit better.”Pakistan batted positively after lunch as the pitch started to settle. Azhar, who batted cautiously as he approached his fifty, said that Misbah’s calming influence was helpful. After Misbah fell against the run of play, the responsibility grew on Azhar. He looked set for his fifth Test century but fell chasing a wide, away-swinging delivery from Shingi Masakadza and edged to slip. Azhar didn’t hide his annoyance, swinging his bat at thin air as he walked off with Pakistan at 182 for 8 with an hour left in the final session.”I was looking for some runs and they tried to bowl away from me,” Azhar said. “I should have kept my cool a little to get the hundred. It would have been nice to get another hundred. “Since his debut in 2010, Azhar has played 15 of his 28 Tests (including the ongoing Test) in venues outside the subcontinent and the UAE. He credited coach Dav Whatmore for helping him adjust to conditions where batsmen are challenged.”The coach has really helped me with my technique, especially with teaching me how to handle things in different places we play in,” Azhar said. “In international cricket, you have to improve day by day, you have to come up with new plans and you have to keep thinking.”Having described the pitch as “slow” on day one, with the seamers collecting seven wickets, Azhar expects the pitch to take more turn as the game goes on, bringing Ajmal and Abdur Rehman into play.

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