The Hits Keep Coming Radio Show: Yankees/Rays, Spring Training, AL Central Preview...

Topics:

* Rays/Yankees Smackdown
* Spring Thoughts From Myself
* AL Central Preview

Power & Electricity Outage...

The Oriole lost again -- this time, 2-0 to Matt Garza and the Devil Rays.

See the lineup below and see if you can pick out the problem.

Roberts .257
Mora .244
Markakis .253
Huff .246
Millar .243
Scott .257
R. Hernandez .209
Jones .256

Can't find it? Well, this is a big time group problem and the only ones who have improved in the past few weeks are Kevin Millar and Adam Jones.

I feel bad for Jeremy Guthrie -- he's a nice guy, but I'm sure he amongst all uss fans is wondering what in the world is going on.

With a lineup that features eight guys batting below .260, it is little wonder why we could not win the past few nights.

The Economy, The Day After & Here Come the Playoffs (I Think The Cubs Take It...)

To start today's post off, I am pissed off and let's say a tad concerned that my bank Wachovia FSB, has been merged with Citigroup (of course ALL bad news is announced on a Monday) due to the on going financial crisis. Do you think I feel better about the state of the United States economy? God forbid if anything happens with my bank account (although the FDIC protects up to $100,000).

Not really. Let's pray nothing happens further...

***

As the season has come to sad, but merciful end, I'd like to hand-out my own awards to select Orioles who have a difference, or perhaps have stunk it in ways we could not have imagined.

O's MVP and Comeback Player of the Year: Easy choice, Aubrey Huff. I know we have a bunch of Nick Markakis' lovers and admire! rs, but without Huff -- especially the way he began the year with fans and just delivered time and time again -- the O's would even be more worse off.

Least Valuable Oriole: Daniel Cabrera. In April-May, I was expecting him to perhaps improve after a string of strong performances; however, he regressed -- almost to the point of being worse off than he ever was and earning a one-way ticket out of Baltimore. I'm sure the guy tried, but if he can't get anyone out, leads the league in walks and hits, plus, has shown little-to-no-improvement, it's time to cut bait with him after five years.

Best Newcomer: Adam Jones. The kid is still raw, and has shown flashes of brilliance -- however, I am amazed with his play in field, as he moves like he's a ten year veteran, not a second year player. Expect his ceiling to be very high. I would have given Sherrill honors, but he faded after t! he All-Star break and fought injury; while Luke Scott has a lo! t of goo d on his part, his .255 average does nothing for me.

Moment of the Year: The Orioles comeback against the Tigers where they won 11-10.

Moment to Forget: Actually, everything after August 17th; a horrible bullpen; kids not ready for prime-time. A 7-30 finish. Not good.

The playoffs:

As the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers play today to determine if Ozzie and crew play in a one game playoff against the Twins for the AL Central; here are my picks -- if anyone disagrees with me, feel free to leave a comment...

ALDS, Series One: Rays vs White Sox/Twins (I am picking the Twins here)
Winner: Rays

ALDS, Series Two: Angels vs. Red Sox
Wi! nner: Angels barely win.

NLDS, Series One: Cubs vs. Dodgers
Winner: Cubs, although I think the Dodgers truly gives Chicago a run for their money...

NLDS, Series Two: Brewers vs. Phillies
Winner: Brewers. I think the Phillies choke.

ALCS: Rays vs. Angels
Winner: Angels barely get by the Rays, this goes at least six games.

NLCS: Cubs vs. Brewers
Winner: The Cubs play an epic series with the Brewers. Milwaukee gets killed without Sheets, but fight Chicago tooth and nail.

World Series: Cubs vs. Angels
Winne! r: I think destiny is on Chicago's side, but anything i! n the pl ayoffs is possible.


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Cabrera, Should He Be Sent On His Way?

Is Daniel Cabrera just a few hours away from being an ex-Oriole? Over the past several years, despite his physical skills and "potential", the tall-righty has not gotten *it* together in umpteen major league seasons.

Now, it may look like Daniel might be dealt, or at least non-tendered. Well, here's this from Roch Kubatko from his "School of Roch" blog...

This may come as a surprise to a lot of folks, but a few teams have expressed interest in Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera at these meetings.
!
The automatic response is, "Are they aware that he'll probably be non-tendered?" But that isn't a certainty, and it's not like the Orioles would be asking for the moon.

If they can get something for him, do it. It's time to cut ties.

At this point, the notion amongst many fans is that Cabrera should be sent on his way. Watching him the past several years, it looks like he's been going through "on-the-job training" and has just seemingly not learned how to pitch in the majors.

Despite his positive showing in late April through June, he reverted back to his old form during the middle of the season and looked as bad ever thereafter.

Now, it looks like his velocity was down at the tail-end of 2008, and the lack of focus he's shown on the mound indicates he's not learned a thing or has ignored any -- if all -- advice he's been given.

I agree with Roch, we may want to get rid of him; however, if some pitching coach get! s him to focus on the task at hand and can tap into his physic! al gifts , he'll be a dangerous part of anyone's arsenal. I've been saying the last sentence for years, but when are we ever going to see it -- if ever?

Sorry, he needs to just start over somewhere else. The Orioles need to focus right now on rebuilding, and we have seen enough of Cabrera to know what he offers. Too bad he can't ever be consistent, or he'd be a hell of a pitcher.

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Tiger Woods To Speak at Inauguration Event...

This is sure interesting -- and possibly exciting as well.

One of the seemingly most apolitical athletes of any area -- aside from maybe Michael Jordan -- Tiger Woods, is going to speak at a concert that is being held on the National Mall on Sunday...

>>> Read More

Alex Rodriguez Speaks on Tuesday; The Media Needs to Go After the MLBPA Union...

On Tuesday at about 1:30pm, the most infamous man in baseball right now -- Alex Rodriguez -- is scheduled to speak in front the media (nearly 200 plus strong) to talk about his admission of using performance enhancing drugs during his time with the Texas Rangers.

>>> Read More

Teixiera Given Baltimore Love, Biden Too...

Tuesday, 07 April 2009 18:44

Well, if we needed to be reminded about the reception Mark Teixiera got in Baltimore yesterday at Camden Yards, our friends on sports talk, ESPN, and the MLB network let us know about it. I was listening to the radio -- particularly 105.7 off and on all day -- and the topic of Mark Teixiera got beaten to death.

Well, honestly I don't like that Teixiera is a Yankee, but I don't hate the guy and I have not gone as far as some people to show their hate. I wish the guy well, but the way he handled his free agent negotiations in the off-season was nothing short of ornery. However, baseball is a business and Teixiera made the decision that was best for his career and family -- that was sadly becoming a Yankee.

The guy obviously wanted to go to a winner, and the Yankees along with their ! payroll fit the bill. The Baltimore Orioles were never in the hunt, and while they could have offered him $30 million per year to play in the black and orange, he was not coming to Camden Yards.

>>> Read More

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Are the Birds Leaving Ft. Lauderdale for a New Spring Training Home in Sarasota?

If the news is true, it's going to suck as a fan to see the Orioles leave their Spring Training home in Fort Lauderdale for Sarasota; however, the move is a no-brainer considering the circumstances.

Sarasota County officials say they've reached a tentative agreement that would bring the Baltimore Orioles to the area for spring training in 2010.

Officials released a statement Tuesday saying they would send the agreement to the county commission for approval. The Sarasota City Commission will also have to approve parts of the deal. Both boards are scheduled to vote Wednesday.

The 30-ye! ar agreement calls for the renovation and expansion of Ed Smith Stadium at an estimated cost of $31.2 million.

Some of the funding would include local tourism tax revenue and more than $7 million in state money.

If the deal is approved, the Orioles would leave their current spring training facility in Fort Lauderdale.

Well, the facility in Fort Lauderdale is antiquated and in need of upgrading -- which I assume would cost millions to do, and in this economy, I cannot imagine it being done. Furthermore, the Orioles' minor camp is in Sarasota, and one would think it would make sense for the minor and major league teams to train with one another. From what I know as well, the Orioles have a site ready for them to use, and it will be expanded; plus, I'm sure there will be some incentives and additional projects thrown in as well.

Again, as a fan I bemoan the fact that the may be team moving from the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami area to ! across the state, but as a business move, it makes perfect sen! se.

< p>>>> Read More

Criminal Charges Possible For 3 Habs Players

News broke late last night that the Alexei Kovalev fiasco would be replaced by a news story that was much bigger. The Canadien blogs were buzzing last night around midnight speculating as to what the news was and it was leaked somehow that there was a criminal investigation involving three Canadien players. Immediately people were coming up with all kinds of scenarios involving Price, Higgins, Gorges and Komisarek (the players known most on the team as partiers).

The below has been translated by Kevin van Steendelaar, the original article in French can be found here:

From a rough translation it appears that Sergei and brother Andrei Kostitsyn had close relations with one Pasquale Magnolia.

Magnolia, 38, was one of 50 people arrested on February 12 in Montreal as part of a police operation known as "Axis". He faces six charges of conspiracy, possession and trafficking of cocaine, and carrying of prohibited firearms.

Magnolia was allegedly an intermediary between three Montreal street gangs all under the payroll of the Hell's Angels.

He is a big hockey fan and through police wire taps, it was l! earned he was regularly in contact with the Kostitsyns.!

He was even spotted with the brothers at several parties and restaurants in the Montreal area.

How the Kostitsyns came to befriend Magnolia is unsure, but police sources seem to reveal that he provided or advised the Belorussians with many luxuries from housing and cars to vodka or women.

Whatever the Kostitsyns needed, this man got it for them

Credit card statements belonging to the Kostitsyns, as well as Montreal Canadiens documents were also reportedly found in Magnolia's possession.

Canadiens defenceman Roman Hamrlik has also been reportedly spotted in the presence of Magnolia, but the article reports ! that his connection was not as detailed as the Kostitsyns'.

The Kostitsyn's agent, Don Meehan, is denying any connection between his clients and Magnolia.

Though none of the players noted have been charged with any criminal activity as of yet, Sergei Kostitsyn was demoted to the Hamilton Bulldogs earlier in the week.

When approached by La Presse this week regarding the situation, the Canadiens vice-president of communications told them "We are not aware of such an association," and that the demotion was " linked only to sporting."

The Montreal Police, the Canadiens organization , the NHLPA and the NHL make every effort to work with the players to avoid being involved ! in criminal activity but unfortunately some will fall through ! the crac ks.

Definitely a black eye for the NHL and Montreal organization if true, but don't appear to be nearly anywhere as bad as the rape/drug trafficing rumors that were being circulated last night before the official press release was made.

Rangers Call Up Potter

According to Ranger Rants:

Defenseman Corey Potter has been recalled by the Rangers and Mike Sauer returned to the Wolf Pack. As posted yesterday, John Tortorella said such a move was coming.

Here's some information about Potter from the Official Hartford Wolf Pack website. [Link]

Renney Back in NHL & Other News from Around the NHL

• As we mentioned last month, Tom Renney will be coaching in Edmonton next season. Renney will be the Oilers' new assistant coach, working under new head coach, Pat Quinn. [Link]
  
  
• Looks like the Capitals will be losing both Sergei Fedorov & Viktor Kozlov to the KHL. [Link]
  
  
• In other news involving the KHL, rumor has it that Nikolai Zherdev has rej! ected a contract offer to play in the NHL and wants to return to New York. [Link] and a look at it from a Ranger fan perspective [Link]
  
  
• Did Montreal really offer Alexei Kovalev $6M to re-sign there this summer? Are they nuts? [Link]
  
  
• Former NHLer Peter Zezel is fighting for his life in a Toronto hospital. [Link]
  Update: According to James Mirtle's Twitter; Peter Zezel passed away this evening at the age of 44. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family.

Rangers Forward Lines if Season Started Today

Barring any other changes made by Glen Sather in the next few months, the New York Rangers forward lines will likely look something like this:

Gaborik - Dubinsky - Callahan
Higgins - Drury - Kotalik
Avery - Anisimov - Lisin
Brashear - Boyle - Byers

Dubinsky has to be re-signed (get it done already!) as he's a RFA, as is Lisin, who was just acquired this week from Phoenix.

The only position that is a lock in my opinion is that Marian Gaborik will be on the first line (knock on wood: as long as he remains healthy). The rest of the players are all interchangable, on any given night Brandon Dubinsky could be the first line center or the third line center, just as Callahan could be a top line player or a second line winger.

Evgeny Grachev, Jordan Owens, Andres Ambuhl, Tyler Arnason and Aaron Voros also have legitimate shots at making the team but in all likelihood the only positions currently up for grabs are spots on the! third and fourth lines.

I actually think that the Rangers will carry 13 forwards most of the season because I think that in John Tortorella's system, many nights Donald Brashear could be a healthy scratch.

What do you think?

Avery Won't Play Thursday

According to Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants, Sean Avery who has been practicing with the team wearing an orange non-contact jersey will not play on Thursday. Avery has not yet played for the Rangers this season (missing the first three games), since getting injured during the final week of training camp.

Avery has said that if all goes according to plan that he should be ready to play Sunday in New York against the Ducks.

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National television appearances for every NBA team.

Busted BMW.

Weekend ratings predictions.

Cowboys/Steelers highest rated, most viewed game of season.

Story of sports media 2008.

Big names.

More good ratings for NBA.

WBC a classic for ESPN.

Reaction to Madden's retirement.

Weekend ratings.

Weekend ratings predictions.

WNBA Finals up from big from '08

Slight rise for NFL on FOX

Hasil Pertandingan | Serie A Italia 2009/2010 | Milan Seri Lagi

AC Milan hampir saja menelan kekalahan saat laga tandangnya ke markas Atalanta. Beruntung Ronaldinho tampil sebagai penyelamat dengan mencetak gol di menit ke-84 yang membuat kedudukan imbang 1 - 1.

Rossoneri tertinggal lebih dulu saat melawat ke stadion Azzurri D'Italia, Minggu (4/10/2009) ma! lam WIB. Tepatnya dimenit 21, Simone Tiribocchi mampu membobol gawang Marco Storari untuk membawa timnya unggul.

Setelah gol Tiribocchi tuan rumah harus bermain dengan sepuluh orang saat Ivan Radanovic diganjar kartu merah oleh wasit pada menit ke-40.

Unggul jumlah pemain, tak lantas membuat Milan mudah unutk mencetak gol. Buktinya mereka harus menunggu hingga menit 84 untuk menyamakan kedudukan.

Adalah Ronaldinho yang menjadi pendulang gol bagi Milan. Tendangan volinya tak mampu ditepis oleh penjaga gawang Atalanta, Andrea Consigli. Skor imbang 1 - 1 bertahan hingga peluit panjang dibunyikan wasit.

Dengan hasil ini, membuat daftar panjang rangkain hasil buruk yang dicapai Milan dalam beberapa pertandingan terakhir. Jika tak segera bangkit, posisi pelatih, Leonardo bisa semakin terancam.

Sementara bagi Atalanta, hasil ini tak membuat mereka beranjak dari posis! i semula . Mereka baru mengumpulkan 3 poin dan tetap berada di posisi ke 19 klasemen sementara.

Kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2009/2010 | Prancis Menutup dengan Tiga Angka

Prancis menutup kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2010 dengan raihan tiga angka. Menjamu Austria, Les Bleus menang dengan skor 3-1.

Hasil ini tidak mempengaruhi posisi Prancis di klasemen Grup 7. Mereka tetap menempati posisi dua dengan nilai 21. Sebelum! nya mereka sudah dipastikan gagal meraih tiket otomatis dan hanya berhak melaju ke babak playoff.

Dalam pertandingan di Stadion Stade de France, (Kamis/15/10/09) dinihari WIB, tiga gol Prancis dilesakkan oleh Karim Benzema, Thierry Henry dari titik putih dan Andre Pierre Gignac. Sedangkan gol semata wayang tim tamu dihasilkan Marc Janko.

Dalam partai tersebut Benzema yang pada saat Prancis berhadapan dengan Kep. Faroe di akhir pekan lalu baru diturunkan di babak kedua, kali ini dimainkan sejak awal. Dan Penyerang Real Madrid ini menjawab tuntas kepercayaan yang diberikan pelatih Raymond Domenech.

Benzema membuka keunggulan Prancis di menit 17. Memanfaatkan umpan silang dari Sidney Govou di sisi kanan, ia mengoyak jala tim tamu dengan sundulannya yang tak terbendung.

Sepuluh menit kemudian Prancis berhasil meng! gandakan keunggulan melalui Henry. Berawal dari pelanggaran ya! ng dilak ukan oleh Christian Fuchs kepada Rod Fanni, penyerang Barcelona ini berhasil memperdaya kiper Austria, Helge Payer lewat tendangan dari titik 12 pas. Hasil ini bertahan sampai turun minum.

Austria yang tertinggal langsung mencoba menggebrak di babak kedua. Janco berhasil memperkecil kedudukan setelah tendangan kaki kanannya gagal dibendung Hugo Lloris di menit 47.

Namun Prancis tidak goyah. Setelah terus melancarkan serangan, tuan rumah berhasil kembali unggul dengan selisih dua angka di menit 66 berkat gol yang dicetak Gignac yang baru masuk di babak kedua. Hasil bertahan sampai laga berakhir.

Serbia ditekuk Lithuania

Sementara itu dipertandingan lainnya, Serbia yang telah memastikan diri lolos ke Arika Selatan tahun depan harus menyerah di tangan Lithuania. Dua gol yang bersarang di gawang Serbia di laga itu dihasilkan oleh Mindaugas Kalonas yang semuanya lewat tendangan penalti.

Sementara itu gol satu-satunya Serbia dihasilkan Milan Jovanovic. Dengan hasil ini mereka tetap memimpin klasemen dengan nilai 22 dari tujuh laga yang telah dilakoni.

Sedangkan pada saat bersamaan tuan rumah Rumania sukses menekuk Kep. Faroe 3-1. Tiga gol Rumania dihasilkan oleh Iulian Apostol, Gheorghe Bucur dan Ionut Mazillu. Sedangkan gol hiburan Faroe diceploskan Egil a Bo.

5 SPANIARDS IN THE 2007/2008 WORLD 11 FIFPRO SIDE

PREVIEW - WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFIERS: SPAIN vs BOSNIA

FC BARCELONA NEWS 2008: 20M PLUS ETO´O FOR ADEBAYOR

FC BARCELONA PRESENTS ITS NEW UNIFORM FOR THE 2008/2009 SEASON

CHELSEA OFFERS 50M TO LIVERPOOL FC FOR FERNANDO TORRES

REAL MADRID TRANSFER RUMOURS 2008: DE LA RED, XAVI ALONSO & LUIS FABIANO

UEFA CUP 2008: 1º LEG LAST 32 TEAMS - GETAFE & VILLAREAL RESULTS

SPANISH FOOTBALL - LA LIGA - ROUND 18/2008 SATURDAY RESULTS

EURO 2008: SPAIN GEARING UP FOR TOMORROWS SWEDEN CLASH

FOOTBALL HUMOUR: RONALDINHO "FLIRTTING" WITH CHELSEA FC

"TROFEO NARANJA": VALENCIA 0 - PARMA 2

ATLETICO DE MADRID TRANSFER NEWS. QUARESMA & SANTANA CLOSER

SPANISH FOOTBALL HUMOUR

FIFA RANKINGS: SPAIN REMAINS Nº1 FOR 9TH MONTH IN A ROW.

REAL MADRID OFFERS 38M FOR FRANCK RIBERY

FERNANDO TORRES EXTENDS HIS CONTRACT UNTIL 2014 WITH LIVERPOOL FC

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Arsenal Linked With Albiol

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Palmeiras Announce Edmilson Signing

Valencia Did Not Deserve To Lose Against Osasuna - Emery

Clijsters to join WTT this summer in St. Louis

Federer eager to get on a roll at Key Biscayne

Kanoute stays with Sevilla

Saviola considering Real exit

Federer eases into 3rd round at Wimbledon

Toffees capture Dutch defender

Cruyff against long-term deals

Arsenal Vs MU

Arsenal Vs MU, The Prediction

UEFA Champions League Semifinal, second leg Arsenal Vs Manchester United will be held in Emirates Stadium, Arsenal's home based. in this match, Arsenal wins by score 3-1.

Tottenham & Chelsea Locked In Talks

By Jaymes Payten-Marsh
For THBN

Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, and Chelsea Chief Executive, Kenyon, were locked in talks last night over an end to the Arnesen affair.

Talks last night between the two went way past midnight. The result of the meeting has yet to be determined, but it is strongly believed that Tottenham will receive in the region of £2 million, plus 2 players.

The players names have yet to be named, but sources across the media world have labeled German international center back, Robert Huth, and England right back, Glen Johnson as the players agreed upon by both clubs.

The ultimatum given by Levy last night will surely be met before the noon deadline today.

Looking likely that Bent will leave

With Sunderland, Newcastle and now Everton apparently interested in signing Darren Bent, it looks even more likely that our joint record transfer buy will move on during this summers transfer window.

Celtic made an enquiry into the availability of signing Bent on a year-long loan, with a view to a permanent deal at the end of it. Tottenham refused to do business as they allegedly want to do a "cash up front" deal.

In our last poll, 60% of you said that you would like Bent to! stay at the club and fight for his place in the Spurs side.

Some ITK's have stated that Bent will stay at Spurs until the January 2009 transfer window, whilst others have all but confirmed that Bent will leave within the next month, claiming that the club have told other clubs that Bent is available for around £8 million.

The company that manages Bent, WMG, has thus far said nothing as regards the player. They were delighted when Spurs forked out £14 million (with a further £2.5 million in appearances and on-the-field success) to Charlton Athletic, as they had signed him onto their books only weeks before his big transfer.

I personally hope he stays and fights for his place in the side. If we are to progress as a club, we need players in the calibre of Bent that are ready and willing to come off the bench and do the business.

Question is; is Darren Bent ready for that?

Stewart Downing is no £15 million player

After watching yet another team try to hold back Manchester United at Old Trafford by deploying depressing tactics, I kept my eyes firmly on Stewart Downing.

Of course I knew that there would be a big chance that I wouldn't have seen the best of Downing, especially with his team-mates playing so negatively. Nevertheless, I watched him closely so as to see what you get for your money; all £15 million of it.

Tottenham Hotspur have been rumoured to have been interested in Ste! wart Downing since 2005. We even wrote an article relating Spurs' interest in the player way back then (you can read it here).

Since Tottenham's interest began in 2005, Downing has gone onto sign 2 new contracts, whilst Spurs have gone through 3 managers. In this prolonged period of time, the media has speculated that we have tabled an £8 million, £10 million, and £12 million bids for Middlesbrough's young left winger.

According to most reports circulating at this moment in time, Spurs will have to bid around £15 million for him. This begs the question; where do these figures come from?

I have personally watched the kid play on numerous occasions and I can categorically tell you that he's no £15 million player. If Aston Villa rate their left wing sensation, Ashley Young, at around £20 million, then surely Downing is worth no more than £5-6 millio! n.

Downing possesses no pace, acceleration and litt! le flair . He is also a confidence player, the type that will hide away within himself if things aren't going particularly well.

On the other hand, he does possess great vision, and can cross quite admirably,. Unfortunately, that's about all he has in his toolbox. Why they call him a left winger is anybody's guess? He is in fact, a left sided midfielder.

When you know a £15 million player in on display, you expect him to excite and do things that not many other players within the same team can accomplish. All in all, Stewart Downing touched the ball 18 times in 94 minutes. Of those 18 times, he misplaced 6 of the 10 passes he played and managed 1 cross.

If that's what £15 million get's you for you money nowadays, I dread to think how much we'll have to spend to get in quality players.

Galliani Optimis Bisa Datangkan Dzeko

MILAN - Wakil Presiden AC Milan Adriano Galliani yakin kesepakatan untuk transfer Edin Dzeko akan segera tercapai dalam waktu dekat. AC Milan memang berupaya untuk mendatangkan Edin Dzeko dari VfL Wolsfburg musim ini.
Namun sejak beberapa pekan silam, kesepakatan belum juga tercapai. Hal ini membuat berbagai pihak pesimis transfer Dzeko akan terjadi. Namun Adriano Galliani malah berpendapat sebaliknya.
"Tak ada lagi yang harus dikatakan. Dia adalah pemain yang sangat kami inginkan. Saya sudah berbicara dengan Wolfsburg dan saya pikir ada kemungkinan untuk transfer! ," kata Galliani kepada Sky Sport 24. "Kami berharap bisa menuntaskan transfer, tapi jika tidak kami akan mencari striker lain," ujarnya.
Galliani menambahkan jika Dzeko sudah resmi bergabung dengan AC Milan, pihaknya akan kembali mencari bek baru. Hal ini tak terlepas dari keinginan pelatih Leonardo yang ingin bermain dengan komposisi tim 4-3-3.

Hasrat Leonardo Bukan Melatih

MILAN - Leonardo ditunjuk menjadi pelatih AC Milan sepeninggal Carlo Ancelotti. Tapi siapa sangka kalau buatnya, itu bisa jadi hanya sebuah tahap singkat saja karena hasrat dan minatnya bukan di sana.
Segera setelah Ancelotti meninggalkan Milan, Leonardo langsung diangkat menjadi allenatore baru Rossoneri. Penunjukan ini mengundang sejumlah tanya mengingat pengalamannya yang minim di sektor itu.
Setelah pensiun menjadi pemain sepakbola, Leonardo cuma lebih jadi seperti agen dan pencari bakat Milan saja di Brasil sa! na. Tak terlihat tanda-tanda kuat dia akan menjadi pelatih. Pemain asal Brasil yang berkostum Milan pada periode 1997-2001 dan 2002-2003 itu sendiri mengaku memang tidak terpikirkan kalau suatu ketika akan duduk di bangku pelatih karena merasa tempatnya memang bukan di sana.
"Sepanjang karirku, aku selalu menangani sendiri kontrak-kontrakku dan mengurusi masalah finansialku," tutur Leonardo kepada Veja yang dikutip Goal, Jumat (3/7/2009). "Aku selalu berinvestasi tanpa penghubung dan aku pikir aku akan melakukan hal-hal semacam itu ketika pensiun bermain bola, bukan menjadi peracik taktik," lanjut dia.
Hasrat pria berusia 39 tahun itu tampaknya memang berada pada jalur manajemen, entah di sebuah klub atau organisasi lainnya. Ini bahkan sudah dia utarakan kepada bos Milan Silvio Berlusconi, kendati tidak mengubah penunjukkannya jadi pelatih.
"Aku sudah bilang itu ke Berlusconi dan juga telah mengambil kelas manajemen di Universitas Bocconi. Aku pikir mungkin u! rusan melatih ini hanya akan jadi fase dalam karir administras! iku saja ," demikian Leonardo.

Beckham Bela Keputusan Ke Milan

MILAN - David Beckham membalas kritik yang mempertanyakan komitmennya kepada Los Angeles Galaxy setelah menjalani masa pinjaman di AC Milan. Beckham menghabiskan enam bulan bermain untuk Milan dan tampil baik di Serie A Italia.
Meski proses transfer sempat coba dilakukan Milan, Beckham tetap kembali ke Galaxy dan siap berlaga di lanjutan liga utama Amerika Serikat (MLS), Kamis (16/7) malam ini. "Aku diberi kesempatan bermain untuk salah satu klub terbesar di dunia dan dengan tetap menjaga kontrak di Galaxy," ujar Beckham kepada pers AS.
"Selama tiga bulan pertama, ! saat Galaxy belum berkompetisi, aku menikmatinya. Milan lalu memintaku bertahan." "Tanyakan kepada setiap pemain di liga manapun di dunia dan jika mereka diberi kesempatan untuk bermain lebih lama di salah satu klub terbesar dunia, tak ada yang sanggup menolaknya.
Aku orang jujur. Jika aku tak ingin ada di sini, aku takkan ada di sini." "Aku selalu berkomitmen kepada setiap kontrak selama aku bermain sepakbola, dengan Manchester United, Real Madrid, dan sekarang Galaxy. Jika orang ingin mempertanyakan profesionalisme dan komitmenku, mereka harusnya melihat betapa aku harus menjalani ribuan kilometer agar dapat bermain untuk timnas.
Itu saja sudah cukup." Beckham mengatakan, akan meminta dipinjamkan lagi akhir musim ini demi mewujudkan impian tampil di Piala Dunia tahun depan. "Saat ini, prioritasku adalah sisa kompetisi dan bertahan dalam skuad timnas Inggris untuk mewakili negaraku. Lebih ke depan, aku ingin bermain di Piala Dunia.
Tapi bahkan jika aku dipin! jamkan ke Milan atau klub lain [Desember nanti], itu belum men! jamin po sisiku di Piala Dunia. Begitu musim selesai, aku akan menentukan apa yang akan kulakukan," sambungnya.
"Tapi manajer timnas Inggris selalu bersikap jelas kepadaku, aku harus bermain di kompetisi Eropa. Aku akan selalu menyesal jika aku gagal mengerahkan kemapuan terbaik untuk mewujudkannya."

Berlusconi Takkan Jual Milan

MILAN - Setelah muncul berita tak sedap tentang rencana hengkangnya Andrea Pirlo, dan kesulitan mereka dalam bursa transfer, kini giliran isu tentang penjualan Milan ke tangan konsorsium asal Israel.
Tetapi, presiden Milan Silvio Berlusconi menegaskan di Ansa, "Ini hanya berita bohong, tak ada kebenaran apapun di dalamnya." Selain itu, Berlusconi berbicara tentang sejumlah transfer, seperti kepergian Pirlo dan minat terhadap Klaas-Jan Huntelaar."
"Saya tak tahu apapun tentang Pirlo, setelah saya berbicara dengan Galliani. Saya tak tahu dirinya (Huntelaar). Dalam ! semua hal, saya telah berbicara dengan pelatih Leonardo saat ia berada di AS dan semua hal baik-baik saja," tukas Berlusconi. Tampaknya fans Rossoneri harus terus bersabar menunggu langkah selanjutnya dari pimpinan klub, setelah gagal bermain gemilang pada pra-musim kali ini.

Ambrosini: Milan Siap Raih Serie Scudetto

MILAN - Hasil tidak sempurna ditorehkan AC Milan sepanjang ujicoba pra-musim. Kenyataan tersebut ternyata tidak menciutkan mental bertanding puggawanya. Rossoneri menyatakan siap merebut mahkota Serie A yang saat ini masih dalam genggaman Inter Milan.
Tekad tersebut dikumandangkan kapten AC Milan Massimo Ambrosini. Hal ini juga sebagai peringatan kepada Juventus dan Inter. Musim ini adalah momentum bagi Milan mengembalikan tropi Serie A ke San Siro. "Milan tidak akan pernah berpikir tidak bis! a menang saat memulai kejuaraan.
Kami selalu mengawali dengan terus mencoba untuk mencapai tujuan," kata Ambrosini kepada La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Kamis (20/8/2009). Meskipun semangat, Ambrosini juga menyadari timnya sebagai oposisi perlu menghadapi masalah. "Inter berkompetisi untuk menang dan mereka adalah tim kuat di liga. Juventus kokoh karena bergabungnya Diego.
Saya pikir kedua tim berada pada tingkat yang sama," tambah sang gelandang tersebut. Banyak kalangan meragukan Milan mampu meraih gelar juara musim ini. Apalagi kekuatan Milan sudah berkurang karena gelandang Ricardo Kaka sudah resmi mengenakan kostum Real Madrid. Tumpuan utama Milan musim ini hanya pada Ronaldinho. "Kami memiliki Ronaldinho dan dia pemain hebar. Dia sangat termotivasi," pungkas pemain Timnas Italia itu.

Huntelaar Tetap Yakin di Milan

MILAN - Belum memberikan kontribusi apapun buat AC Milan, striker anyar Klaas-Jan Huntelaar tetap yakin bisa meraih sukses bersama skuad asuhan Leonardo.
Datang dari Real Madrid pada bursa transfer musim panas ini, Huntelaar berharap bisa memberikan banyak hal buat klub barunya. Tapi sayang harapan itu masih terbentur, dalam dua pekan awal The Hunter (julukan Huntelaar) belum mendapat banyak kesempatan untuk tampil.
Huntelaar berusaha bijak menanggapinya. Dia tidak mau patah arang dan tet! ap yakin bakal mendapat giliran. "Saya punya keyakinan tentang apa yang akan terjadi dengan saya dan Milan. Untuk saat ini sebagai pemain baru tentunya saya masih harus banyak belajar tentang sepakbola Italia," serunya seperti disitat Goal, Senin (7/9/2009).
"Saya tahu saat itu pasti akan datang. Saya juga berharap bisa membalikkan situasi ini dan menjadi pilihan utama di Milan," sambungnya.

Baresi: Milan Butuh Menang Secara Reguler

MILAN - Franco Baresi, pemain belakang legendaris AC Milan, yakin I Rossoneri menemukan kombinasi yang tepat untuk bermain di level terbaiknya. "Saya kira mereka telah menemukan strategi yang tepat, ketika menang di Liga Champions dan Serie A, pekan lalu," ujar Baresi.
Il Diavolo, julukan lain AC Milan, dikalahkan Udinese 1-0 di Stadion Friuli. Di dua laga sebelumnya, Milan mengalahkan Marseille dan Bologna. "Kini Milan hanya perlu menang secara reguler untuk mempertebal kepercayaan diri pemainnya," lanjut Bares! i.
Baresi yakin pada pekan-pekan terakhir penghujung musim Milan akan bersaing dengan Juventus dan Inter Milan. Ia juga gembira melihat Thiago Silva dan Alessandro Nesta sudah mulai bisa bermain bersama.
"Untuk Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, saya rasa pemain Belanda itu butuh waktu," ujarnya. "Tidak mudah bermain di lini depan Milan. Jika kinerja tim meningkat, saya yakin Huntelaar akan bisa cepat beradaptasi," Baresi mengakhiri.

sumber : goal.com

Bola|Pembagian Fase Group Liga Champion|

Bola:Liga Champion 2009

hai Bola lover...Akhirnya liga champion tiba juga dan ini adalah fase group nya...

Grup A Munchen juventus bordeaux maccabi haifa	Grup B Man.united wolfsburg CSKA moskow Besiktas
Grup C Milan zurich madrid Marseille	Grup D Apoel chealsea porto atletico

Grup E Fiorentina liverpool debrechen Lyon	Grup F rubin kazan internasionale barcelona dynamo kiev
Grup G unirea urziceni sttutgart rangers sevilla	grup H arsenal olympiakos AZ alkmaar Standars lige

Menurut sumber yang saya peroleh di Google pertandingan akan ! disiarkan pada hari selasa malam jam 1.30 wib(sekalian sahurrr! tuh...! !)hehehehee...untung saya libur sekolah jadi bisa nonton... Semoga tim sepak bola idola kalian menang ya !!

muv ya tabel nya berantakan.saya g bisa desain tabel...T_T

Leave me a Comment.....no spam ,sara,and komentar aneh.haha...

Rafa vows Reds improvement

The Reds slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Florence with highly-rated teenager Stevan Jovetic scoring both goals in the first half.

Benitez conceded it was one of the worst performances of his tenure at Anfield and the Spaniard has vowed his side will bounce back against Chelsea and the forthcoming double-header with Lyon in the next few weeks.

"We now have Chelsea away at the weekend in an important Premier League game. I believe you will see a different Liverpool in that match, a totally different performance with a different mentality," said Benitez.

"Then we have Lyon home and away in this group, they are the leaders and it means we have to now win them both.

Mistakes
"We certainly will not be as bad again. If you make too many mistakes against such sides, you will be punished. It is very simple.

"Mentally we will have better days than this. We did improve, but we needed to score early in the second-half.! We had the chances but we failed to take them."

"In that first half we did not play well, there were too many mistakes and problems. We did improve, but it was not enough.

"Our mentality in that opening period was just not right, we were bad all over the pitch and I cannot really recall a performance like that.


Played badly
"They were on top of us all the time, we played badly and they were just better than us.

"I was not only disappointed with the challenging in midfield but all over the pitch.

"But they did not produce anything we did not expect. We had watched them, we knew about Jovetic, there was nothing new out there that surprised us. But we still played badly."

Milan Dihantui Tiang Gawang

Milan,-

AC Milan bertekuk lutut 0-1 dari FC Zurich. Gianluca Zambrotta pun menyesali bola tendangannya yang hanya mengenai tiang gawang sehingga pertandingan tak berakhir imbang.

Hasil mengecewakan diraih Milan di kandang, Kamis (1/10/2009) dinihari WIB. Cukup mendominasi permainan, Milan malah menuai kekalahan.

Dari statistik di Soccernet Milan unggul penguasaan bola sampai 61%, menyisakan 39% saja buat Zurich. 'Rossoneri' 21 kali melepaskan tembakan dalam upaya bikin gol, kendati hanya empat yang mengarah ke gawang. Lawannya cuma bikin sepuluh tembakan, empat di antaranya tepat ke gawang.

Meski demikian, keunggulan itu tak dapat Milan maksimalkan. Usai gawang Marco Storari kebobolan oleh gol Hannu Tihinen di menit ke-10, Pato cs tak dapat menyamakan kedudukan dan membalikkan keadaan.

Di menit-menit akhir Milan sebenarnya memiliki peluang emas untuk bikin skor kembali 1-1 dan menyelamatkan muka tim raksasa Italiat erseb! ut di kandang sendiri. Peluang itu diciptakan oleh Zambrotta yang baru dimasukkan di babak kedua. Setelah melewati pemain lawan, dia melepaskan tembakan keras dari luar kotak penalti.

Bola sepakan Zambrotta kemudian deras melaju ke arah gawang lawan walau akhirnya cuma menghantam tiang gawang. Alhasil, Zurich-lah yang keluar jadi pemenang.

"Bukan hanya tiang gawang saja yang akan menghantui kami, tapi juga sejumlah kesempatan (yang gagal dimaksimalkan jadi gol) yang kami catatkan di paruh kedua pertandingan," sesal Zambrotta di Football Italia.

Kekalahan itu melengkapi derita Milan yang kini sudah tiga laga beruntun tanpa kemenangan. Sebelum lawan Zurich, di kompetisi lokal tim besutan Leonardo itu diimbangi Bari dan ditekuk Udinese.

"(Melawan Zurich) Kami sudah terus-terusan merangsek maju dengan sepenuh hati dan jiwa kami sampai akhir, berusaha tidak hanya main imbang tapi juga bisa menang."

"Saat ini keadaan kami tid! ak berjalan dengan baik dan kami berharap periode (buruk) ini ! segera l ewat," ucap Zambrotta menyisipkan harapan. (*)

GLI ULTRAS INTERISTI A MATARRESE:"NO FINALE A ROMA"

Non bastavano l'incandescente volata scudetto di domenica e la "grana" tifosi in trasferta a tenere alta la tensione in questo sprint di stagione. Adesso è scoppiato anche il caso Coppa Italia.Perché gli ultras interisti hanno chiesto che la finale del trofeo nazionale, in programma il 24 maggio a Roma, non venga disputata all'Olimpico in nome della "parità dei diritti" tanto sbandierata dal presidente della Lega Calcio, Antonio Matarrese. Lo stesso che si era battuto per dare il via libera ai tifosi di Inter e Roma, in modo che potessero seguire le rispettive squadre nella trasferta più calda dell'anno.E proprio la decisione di ch! iudere il settore ospiti del "Tardini" di Parma è stata la goccia che ha fatto traboccare il vaso. Così la Curva Nord nerazzurra ha avvertito di non essere pronta a tollerare il vantaggio dei giallorossi di poter giocare in casa la finale. In sintesi, si pensi a un campo neutro."Ci aspettiamo di vedere la coerenza del signor Matarrese che, dopo essersi schierato per l'equità di trattamento dei tifosi ospiti a Catania e Parma, dovrà quantomeno invocare la medesima equità per la finale di Coppa Italia dove i tifosi della Roma potranno usufruire del palese vantaggio di disputare una finale in casa in gara unica", hanno fatto sapere.

MAGLIA DORATA, TREMA ARAGONES

8ANSA) - VIENNA, 24 GIU - L'Uefa ha ufficializzato i 'kit' con cui le quattro semifinaliste di Euro 2008 giocheranno le rispettive sfide. Nessun problema tra Germania e Turchia (maglia bianca per i tedeschi, rossa con mezzaluna bianca per i turchi), mentre in Russia-Spagna saranno Arshavin e compagni ad utilizzare il rosso, la Spagna giochera' quindi con la casacca 'di riserva', gialla. Cosa che fa tremare Aragones, che teme questo colore: 'Sono superstizioso dai piedi ai capelli'.

JUVE,CHE CROLLO!

Sconfitta per la Juventus nell'Emirates Cup: l'Amburgo ha superato con il punteggio di 3-0 (1-0) i bianconeri. Autori dei gol Guerrero nel primo tempo e Olic due volte allo scadere. La Juventus non ha ripetuto le tre prove convincenti delle altre amichevoli internazionali, ma comunque si sono avute indicazioni confortanti sulla coppia Amauri-Del Piero.

QUARESMA:"L'INTER E' IL SOGNO DI UNA VITA"

ECCO IL TESTO INTEGRALE DELLA CONFERENZA STAMPA DI QUARESMA:
Quaresma, che sensazioni ha avuto in questo primo giorno all'Inter?"Sono felice di essere arrivato qua all'Inter, la sensazione è quella di trovarmi in un grande club, con grandi giocatori. Ora il mio compito è quello di lavorare".
Quanta responsabilità sente? Mourinho e la società hanno lavorato a lungo per averla"Penso che la responsabilità ci sia, ora è quindi importante che io lavori bene e riesca a integrarmi".
Cosa pensa di poter dare al gioco dell'Inter?"Solo col tempo potrò dare una risposta a questa domanda. Ho tanto da! imparare".
E' rimasto fermo per un po' di tempo. Quali sono le sue condizioni?"Mi sento molto bene fisicamente e psicologicamente, mi sento pronto. Sono a disposizione del mister".
Secondo lei questa è l'opportunità della sua vita?"Sì è un sogno, sono in un grande club, ho raggiunto il mio obiettivo, ma sono certamente grato a tutto quello che il Porto mi ha dato".
Ha sempre pensato che la trattativa andasse a buon fine o ha temuto di rimanere al Porto?"Ho sempre sperato che tutto andasse bene, il mio procuratore, Jorge Mendes, mi ha sempre temuto informato. Alla fine è andato tutto bene".
Cos'è cambiato rispetto alla sua esperienza di qualche anno fa al Barcellona?"Al Barça alcune cose non andavano bene, qui non succederà".
Sente di poter essere il giocatore più spettacolare della Serie A, insieme a Ronaldinho?"Sono pronto per giocare contro tutte le squadre e contro tutti i giocatori".
Qual è fra i tanti il soprannome che le piace di più? Mu! stang? Harry Potter?"Quaresma e basta".
Sei anni, all'epo! ca dello Sporting Lisbona, fu vicino all'Inter. E' vero?"Quando giocai contro l'Inter nel preliminare di Champions ero molto giovane, nel frattempo sono successe molte cose".
E' una responsabilità essere stato pagato più di Ronaldinho?"Il mio compito è di rendere al meglio rispetto al mio contratto".
Come nasce il suo colpo più famoso, la "Trivela". E c'è dell'altro?"Sono capace di calciare con entrambi i piedi".
Mourinho, è contento dell'acquisto?"Volevo Mancini, Quaresma e Lampard. Questa società mi ha dato Mancini e Quaresma e ha fatto di tutto per avere Lampard. Quando l'inglese ha scelto di restare al Chelsea, ho chiesto Muntari. E ho avuto Muntari. Io posso solo ringrazire questa società, il presidente Moratti e Marco Branca. Adesso tocca a me. Oggi questa squadra è una squadra equilibrata, con varie opzioni riguardo alla scelta dei giocatori e del modulo. Quaresma può giocare a destra o a sinistra, col 4-4-2 o 4-3-3. Può stare in panchina, può andare in tribuna! ".
Mourinho, Quaresma sarà una punta di diamante di questa squadra?"Ho sempre allenato squadre e giocatori di grandissimo livello. Ci sono grandi ambizioni e grandi responsabilità anche qui. E' un piacere lavorare con grandi giocatori, Ricardo è speciale, come tutti i giocatori che hanno segnato un gol contro di me. E' il primo giocatore ad aver segnato contro di me che io ho chiesto di avere nella mia squadra".
Quaresma, imparerà l'italiano in fretta come ha fatto Mourinho?"Lo capisco, penso di poterlo imparare in 2-3 settimane".

HEERENVEEN-MILAN IN ESCLUSIVA SU TV CALCIO!

Non perdere la prima gara dei rossoneri di Carlo Ancellotti nel girone di Coppa Uefa. Collegati a partire dalle 20.40 sul blog e gustati lo spettacolo di una grande serata di calcio.

INCHINATEVI A RE MILITO

Diego Alberto Milito l'11 giugno 2005 segnò al! Venezia il gol del 3-2. Era il 21' del secondo tempo. Un gol, una prodezza, che valeva la promozione in serie A dopo anni di oblio. Un capolavoro interrotto, purtroppo per i tifosi rossoblù, perché Genoa-Venezia, ultima giornata del campionato cadetto, fu macchiata dalla famosa combine, con la conseguente retrocessione in C2 del grifone.

IL VIZIO DEL GOL - Una punizione devastante che obbligò i vertici della società a smantellare la rosa. Milito, il pezzo pregiato e più ricercato, emigrò a Saragozza dopo avere im! presso il suo marchio sotto la Lanterna; due stagioni in B, 59! presenz e e 33 gol. Numeri mostruosi, confermati anche in Spagna: 108 volte in campo e 51 gol. Nel Real ha giocato tre stagioni dal 2005 fino all'estate scorsa. Poi la retrocessione dalla Liga nonostante le 15 reti messe a segno. Un'onta per il Principe, lo stesso soprannome dell'urugaiano Enzo Francescoli, la cui soglianza con Milito è impressionante.

UOMO SQUADRA - Ma i destini si incrociano. Enrico Preziosi, forte di un bel campionato in serie A e con un debito da saldare nei confronti dei supporter genoani, compie il m! iracolo all'ultimo secondo del mercato. Così il primo settembre l'argentino torna a Genova accolto da migliaia di tifosi in delirio. Euforia giustificata. Milito ricambia con 12 gol. Media pazzesca perché realizzati in 14 presenze. Quello di ieri sera alla Sampdoria passerà alla storia: il primo segnato in un derby (che il Genoa non vinceva da 13 anni), ancora una volta da incorniciare per la sua bellezza. Elevazione quasi innaturale e potente colpo di testa. L'ennesimo sigillo di un fuoriclasse completo. Milito unisce opportunismo a tecnica e nel gioco di squadra è ormai l'elemento a cui non si può rinunciare. Non a caso oltre a essere il capocannoniere della serie A, è anche l'uomo assist per eccellenza con 4 passaggi decisivi.

SOGNO NAZIONALE - L'uomo di Bernal, dove è nato il 12 giugno 1979, attende ora un segnale da Diego Armando Maradona, commissario tecnico dell'Argentina, dove Milito ha esordito nel 2002 contro l'Uruguay, collezionando 16 presenze e 4 gol. Lui attende al varco: "Qualsiasi giocatore vorrebbe indossare la maglia della propria Nazionale. Io devo solo continuare a dare il massimo col Genoa e aspettare", ha esclamato ieri sera al termine della sfida di Marassi. Anagrafe alla mano di Messi, Lavezzi e Aguero, gli remano contro i quasi trent'anni d'età. Ma se il ritmo del rossoblù non cambierà, ignorarlo sarà impossibile.

Sampdoria-Genoa 0-1 (Milito)

NESSUNA INCHIESTA SUL CAMPIONATO 2007/08

La bomba fatta esplodere da "Il Giornale" sullo scudetto 2008 dell'Inter è stata smentita da fonti giudiziarie, secondo cui non c'è nessuna inchiesta della procura di Milano su partite perse appositamente dai nerazzurri nel camopionato scorso al fine di rivitalizzare le scommesse in modo da arrivare allo scudetto solo all'ultima giornata. Intanto, dall'Inter, non commentano al momento la notizia.

JUVE,IL GOL CHE NON TI ASPETTI

l massimo risultato col minimo sforzo. La Juventus, reduce dalla trasferta di Champions League contro il Chelsea, batte all'Olimpico il Napoli e conquista la seconda vittoria consecutiva in campionato. Decisivo il tiro di Marchisio deviato da Blasi allo scadere del primo tempo. Nel finale gol annullato a Lavezzi per un leggero fuorigioco di Cannavaro. Per la formazione di Edy Reja si tratta della sesta sconfitta nelle ultime otto partite.

LA PARTITA
Ranieri, a 72 ore dalla sfida di Stamford Bridge, ne cambia 6. Una forza fresca in difesa (Grygera), una in attacco (Trezeguet), e l'intero centrocampo. Contro un Napoli in difficoltà sul piano atletico, e con ancora due partite prima della 'finale' con il Chelsea, è turnover obbligato.

Si comincia e la Juve prende subito il controllo. Joypad in mano a Del Piero che al 15' innesca Marchionni bravo a servire Trezeguet che di prima intenzione batte con forza: Navarro c'è e respinge un'azione da Playstati! on. Messo da parte l'altruismo, Alex si mette in proprio: giocata al limite dell'area e fallo subìto; sulla punizione, è ancora bravo Navarro a deviare in angolo. Al 38', il Napoli esce dal guscio: tacco di Denis per Hamsik e conclusione dello slovacco parata da Buffon. Scampato il pericolo, la Juve si ributta in avanti e al 44' trova il gol. Poulsen ruba palla, appoggio per Marchisio che batte a rete; palla destinata sul fondo, ma la deviazine di Blasi inganna Navarro. Si va al riposo sull'1-0.

Al rientro in campo c'è Datolo al posto di Montervino e la musica, in casa partenopea, cambia leggermente. Più possesso e meno pressione, ma nessuno riesce ad impensierire Buffon. Si rivede Saliahmidzic che prende il posto di uno spento Giovinco. Entra anche Amauri al posto di Del Piero e la Juve, considerato il vantaggio acquisito, ci guadagna. Lavezzi si vede solo nel finale quando mette in gol da un metro, ma la posizione di fuorigioco di Cannavaro rende vano il tocco ! dell'argentino. Finisce, nella tensione generale, con la Juve ! soddisfa tta di essersi presa la rivincita per la gara persa all'andata. Allora, sul banco degli imputati, finì Ranieri. Adesso, invece, c'è Reja...

Juventus-Napoli 1-0

Direttamente dal Volley dovrebbe arrivare...Gian Paolo Montali come nuovo DG!

"Al Napoli tengo moltissimo. Mi sono incontrato con De Laurentiis che sta lavorando alacremente per il Napoli. L'incontro è stato proficuo ma è preferibile non intervenire" - questo quanto dichiarato da Montali a microfoni spenti alla redazione di Radio Goal. Una discrezione che è molto più di! una indiscrezione. E' lui in pole per la carica di direttore generale, una persona di assoluto spessore morale e che ha costruito le sue fortune sportive alla guida tecnica della nazionale italiana di pallavolo. Attualmente Montali siede nel Consiglio di Amministrazione della Juventus. Sarebbe un gran colpo per il Napoli che ingaggerebbe un uomo della stessa valenza culturale e sportiva di Jorge Valdano, attuale dirigente del Real Madrid.

Appunti ordinati di viaggio.. Cardiff 2003!

Anche.. "Noi siamo il Wimbledon"

Roma, ecco TUTTI i movimenti di mercato!!

ROMA - Gli agenti di mercato romanisti stanno cercando di portare a segno qualche colpo dopo l acquisto del promettente esterno sardo Stefano Guberti dal Bari e il riscatto del difensore nazionale under 21 Marco Motta dall udinese;è a dir poco suggestiva la pista che si sta aprendo verso Milano,sponda rossonera,giocatore interessato l ex pallone d oro Andry Schevchenko,luciano Spalletti stima moltissimo la punta ucraina e il giocatore vuole rilanciarsi in italia dopo le esperienze poco felici a Londra col Chelsea e nell ultima stagione ! nel Milan.Cé poi un indizio importante:Silvano Cotti,fisioterapista personale dell attaccante è stato messo sotto contratto proprio dalla Roma,chissà che non sia il preludio a un clamoroso arrivo di Sheva nella capitale.
In uscita invece sono interessanti le offerte provenienti dalla Germania per il campione del mondo Simone Perrotta,sul centrale di centrocampo ci sono infatti Bayern e Wolfsburg come conferma Giuseppe Bozzo,procuratore del giocatore.

Alessandro Canalis

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Roma, che caos societario!

Eight blue summoned national team for World Cup qualification match

Fabio Quagliarella and Morgan De Sanctis national. The soccer and the goalkeeper of the Naples were asked by coach Marcello Lippi for double commitment global qualifications in Italy against Georgia (5 September in Tbilisi) and Bulgaria (9 September in Turin).

Jesus also Datolo, Ezequiel Lavezzi , Walter Gargano , Marek Hamsik , Erwin Hoffer and Juan Camilo Zuniga is aggregheranno to the respective national for coming in South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifying match.

Datolo and Lavezzi have been summoned again by the ct Diego Maradona to the double challenge: Argentina-Brasile (5 September, the Rosary) and Paraguay-Argentina (9 September at Asuncion).

Gargano will play in Peru-Uruguay (5 ! Septembe r to Lima) and Uruguay-Colombia (9 September, the Montevideo).

Hamsik will be engaged in Slovacchia-Repubblica Czech (5 September in Bratislava) and Ireland Nord-Slovacchia (9 September in Belfast)

Hoffer will be on stage in Austria-Far private (5 September in Graz) and Romania-Austria (9 September in Bucharest)

Zuniga, was finally, summoned to Colombia-Ecuador (5 September to Medellin) and Uruguay-Colombia (9 September, the Montevideo)

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Rafa backs Sotirios and Ayala to shine

Rafa Benitez has spoken of the qualities the former Rangers man will bring to Anfield. The new signing has even been given his squad number 16.


"He is a tough defender who is strong and good in the air. He has a strong character and we were looking for these things," Benitez said.

"He can score goals and will be a threat from corners and free-kicks. He's very strong in defence but he will need time as always to settle into the Premier League! .

"We knew the player when he was with Rangers and we've been watching videos of him at Frankfurt and the national team. Our scout department had a lot of information.

"We've talked about the things he's done before and the things he'll have to do for us. He knows what we want and he's ready to work."

Daniel Ayala impressed in his full debut against Stoke in mid-week, and with Agger's back injury, Ayala and Martin Kelly would have been hoping to try and impress Benitez. The Liverpool boss insists the new signing will only help Liverpool's young defenders – not hinder their progress.

"I was talking with Ayala about this.

"When the young players see someone with experience it is positive because they can learn from them.

"It also means they have more time. If they have to play some games they can but they are not under pressure."

Daniel Agger faces surgery next week to attempt to solve a long-standin! g back injury and Martin Skrtel is still a doubt for the visit! of Asto n Villa on Monday night.

Taiwo keeping options open

The 19-year-old is on loan from Premier League giants Chelsea until January and has impressed so far for the Cumbrians.

The former Leeds youngster remains well down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and has hinted he would be interested in joining the League One side permanently.

"I'm just trying to impress as many people as possible really and improve my reputation," he told skysports.com.

See what happens
"I'd like to get as many games under my belt as possible and hopefully a few goals along the way and we'll see what happens from there.

"League One football isn't a step down really in my eyes because it is a new challenge for me, with some tough games technically at this level and it can only help me develop as a player."

The youngster made a handful of appearances for League Two outfit Port Vale last season and he is enjoying another chance to impress at first-team level with Carlisle.

"It has bee! n going really well so far this season for both me and the club because we've been playing well and I've been getting games under my belt, which was my aim when I joined on loan at the start of the season," he concluded.

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Rafa: Now All Depending Manchester United

The Watson Open

"It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn't it?"

Tom Watson summed things up perfectly in the immediate aftermath of his ultimately failed bid to provide us with the greatest script in the history of golf.

In deed and then in word, the 59-year-old master dictated the story line in this never-to-be-forgotten week at Turnberry.

As the corporate types dragged their trolleys down the first fairway on a cool and windswept morning after the week before, you knew they would be talking about one man - and it wasn't the champion.

With all due respect to Stewart Cink, and he deserves plenty, Turnberry 2009 will always been known as the "Watson Open", even though the five-time champion couldn't quite claim his record-equalling sixth Claret Jug.

And those high handicappers entitled to take on the South Ayrshire links on the Monday morning after the Open will surely have begun their rounds believing anything was possible.

Watson's unlikely attempt to beat the golfing world proved that on a links course at least, the sport isn't just th! e power game preserve of gym monkeys.

This is also a game of strategy, guile, craft and nerve. Watson had the first three in abundance and only on the 72nd hole did the nerve bit desert him.

It is hard to describe the deflating, sinking (no pun intended) feeling that was brought about by Watson's missed eight-footer for the Championship. The high would have been so high - the like of which we have never seen before.

Had Watson won at 59, the achievement would have surpassed Jack Nicklaus's 1986 Masters victory at the age of 46 as the most romantic major win in golf.

That was surely the last time the game had anything that could come close to what Watson was d! oing at Turnberry.

And so there must be some sympathy for Stewart Cink. Has there ever been a less popular major winner? Nothing against the champion, it is just that everyone bar the American's family wanted so badly to see Watson walk away with the spoils.

But credit must go to the newest member of the major champion winning club. His birdie on the home green to set the target at two under par was marvellously constructed and executed.

It was Cink who ultimately seized the moment and then sailed through the anti-climactic play-off. To see Watson's challenge fade so dramatically in the four-hole shoot out was particularly sad.

There were those afterwards who claimed it ! should have been played over a matchplay format so that at lea! st he co uld have shaken hands when the game was up rather than prolong the agony.

Of course that could never happen in a strokeplay event. And what about those who had resolutely held on to their seats on the 18th who would have been left with nothing to see?
By the time the end game was being played out Lee Westwood had long departed the scene, frustration having given way to sickness at the knowledge that his three putts on the home green had cost him a place in the play-off.

The Englishman is getting closer and closer. The quality of his ball ! striking is now second to none, but this once clinical finisher has to rediscover that quality if he is to finally get over the line in a major.

The cold hard fact is that he bogeyed three of the last four holes to miss out on a play-off by a single stroke. His inward half of 38 was the worst score over that stretch of holes of any of the contenders.

But I back Westwood to bounce back stronger for the experience. It will be tough, make no mistake, but he is as stubborn as they come and he'll need to feed off every ounce of that resilience to fulfil his undoubted potential.

Chris Wood also missed out on the shoot out by a single stroke after dropping a shot at the last, but as a 21-year! -old in his first full year as a pro his circumstances are mar! kedly di fferent.

He can depart Turnberry head held high after playing a big part in this astonishing Open.

It was a fabulous tournament, one that will never be forgotten. But Wood, Westwood and even the champion Cink were bit-part players. We all know who the star was even if the last dramatic plot twist didn't go Tom Watson's way.

Usain Bolt to go for gold medal No. 2 at worlds

Usain Bolt has essentially run the U.S. track team into submission well ahead of Thursday's 200-meter final at the world championships.

On the eve of the race, American champion Shawn Crawford was exuding how Bolt could clinch a second world record by slicing .02 seconds off the mark the Jamaican already owns.

"I really think 19.28," Crawford said.

His own ambition? 19.51 seconds.

"I'll be happy with that," Crawford said Tuesday after he and Bolt reached the final.

But is there really no way to beat the Jamaican giant?

"If I can trip him without getting caught," Crawford joked. "The cameras ! make it hard to do that."

So, even befo! re the s tarting gun, another gold medal is expected to go to Jamaica, and a 3-0 lead for the Caribbean island in the battle for sprint supremacy. With opponents like that, the final becomes little more than Bolt's race against his own record.

And the exuberant Jamaican didn't even have to boast about it. His running in Wednesday's semifinals did enough.

On a balmy evening, he ran hard on the curve and it was enough, happily closing it down just past the halfway mark and strolling past the line in 20.08 seconds — still the fastest qualifying time.

If he had pushed, Bolt could easily have broken Tyson Gay's 2007 championship record of 19.76 seconds. Bolt's world record stands at 19.30.

Defending champion Gay is injured and out of the 200, and Crawford had to push hard to qualify third in Bo! lt's heat.

In the second semifinal heat, American sprinter Wallace Spearmon finished first in 20.14, edging Steve Mullings of Jamaica.

The temperature is expected to exceed 85 degrees at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday — and Bolt loves the heat. He cut through the swelter of Beijing last year on his way to three Olympic golds and as many world records.

It seems Bolt is the only one questioning whether he can break the record. He reminded everyone a foot injury had slowed his curve-running early in the season.

"I really have not done the same amount of work like I did for the 100," Bolt said.

Jamaican fans, though, have been working overtime all through the world championships, and they had a novelty to celebrate late Wednesday.

Brigitte Fost! er-Hylton followed up some Bolt-esque clowning ahead of! the rac e with a clean run to claim the 100 hurdles title in a tight finish over Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada.

Showcasing the Jamaican team's overall amazing speed, Delloreen Ennis-London took bronze.

The Americans were outrun yet again, with Olympic champion Dawn Harper fading to seventh place.

With titles in non-sprint events, the Americans top the medal table with three golds and eight medals, barely ahead of Jamaica's three golds and seven total.

Thursday also has finals in the decathlon, 110 hurdles and the women's 400 hurdles and high jump.

Papers sorry over Capello photos

Fabio Capello has strived to keep his private life out of the newspapers

The News of the World and Daily Mail have apologised to England manager Fabio Capello after printing pictures of him and his wife Laura on holiday.

The newspapers admitted "errors" had been made after images of Mr Capello and his wife on an Italian beach were published on 20 and 21 September.

It came days after concerns were raised by the FA with editors about photographers' presence on the holiday.

Donations have also been made to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The Press Complaints Commission - which took up the issue after it was raised by the FA - said the complaints had been resolved "amicably".

Both newspapers accepted that "internal procedures had failed" and that the pictures were published in error, it said.

The News of World has removed the story from its website.

Both newspapers printed pictures of the 63-year-old manager, and hi! s wife, using mud baths on a beach in southern Italy.

The Thursday prior to publication, the PCC - after it was contacted by the FA - sent out a circular to all editors saying the England manager was "unhappy" that photographers had been pursuing him.

It said it would consider the publication of any images of him and his wife to be a "breach of their privacy".