The Blues have regularly competed for top honours with United since Roman Abramovich bought the West Londoners and the manager is relishing the chance to improve on a relatively poor recent Barclays Premier League record at their home.

“In the last seven years, there have been battles with Chelsea,” he stated. “In the previous decade, it was Arsenal. There have been terrific battles between us and Chelsea. The manager has brought in two or three different players and I noticed when we played them in the home game earlier in the season there was a change in the style from the previous Chelsea teams.

“When a new manager comes in on the back of someone so successful like Carlo Ancelotti, changes maybe take time. Everyone has their different philosophy and their different ways of doing things and I think that’s what we’re seeing with Chelsea at the moment.

“It was a crazy game at Old Trafford earlier in the season – it could have been 20-18! I don’t think it will be like that on Sunday. I think it will be much tighter.”

http://www.manutd.com

The Chipolopolos of Zambia sealed a historic place at the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Sudan 3-0 in their quarter final clash on Saturday in Bata.

In line with Nike’s commitment to superior athletic performance and lower environmental impact, the fabric of the new shorts is made with 100% recycled polyester, while the fabric of the jerseys is made with at least 96% recycled polyester.  Kits are made using an average of 13 recycled plastic bottles

The new kit marks a return to tradition with a classic and authentic design that recognizes the country’s glorious football history.  The shirt boasts a clean yellow body and a classic V-neck collar with a thin green trim. The shirt also features deep green cuffs, which can be turned over to reveal the rallying cry of Nascido Para Jogar Futebol (“Born to Play Football”) written in the style of Pichacao – a distinctive form of urban graffiti.  

Your reaction to signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

I’m really excited, delighted to get the opportunity. Looking from afar, it’s such an exciting place to be at the moment. It’s a bit weird, considering I’ve been trying to kick them for the last eight seasons, but it will be good to play alongside them now. From where the club is now to where it has been in my time in England has been a real achievement from the chairman,

Harry Redknapp and the players?

It looks such an exciting place to be. When I was at Blackburn, looking at the squads, it’s an amazing squad, probably the best in the Premier League, I think, from one to 25. I’m really happy to be here and excited about it. There is so much to play for. The players in the squad are so talented and so good, it’s something that hopefully we can kick-on, 15 games left, the FA Cup and hopefully there will be some good things at the end of it.

Your fellow defenders?

They are all world-class players. I know my role and why Harry’s brought me in so if I can help out and contribute in any way, that will be fantastic. All I know is that I’m delighted to be here and I will work my backside off, give everything for this club.

You will be back with your former Blackburn teammate Brad Friedel?

Seven-and-a-half years ago he was doing the same at Blackburn. He’s got a lot less hair now and I’m a lot greyer! It’s nice to have a familiar face, David Bentley as well. It’s great to be here. Brad is just a freak. He was back then! We were saying that eight years ago when he was 36! Now he’s pushing on 50 and he’s still doing it! He’s an amazing man and the plaudits have all been said before, so I won’t say more.

LOUIS SAHA

Your reaction to signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

It’s a great feeling to be here. I’ve been watching the dynamic of the club over the last five years, it’s amazing to be part of that and I’m really excited now. I can’t wait to start. It’s a very attractive club. You see the way the team plays in a positive way, it’s enjoyable to watch. I’m sure the fans can’t wait to win trophies.

There are amazing players here, always looking to win games and play quick football, the speed of the play is amazing. It’s great to be part of that now.

I hope to try and help the team to win a trophy. There is a great chance this season and I’m reallly buzzing about it. I will give my best, as I always have over the years. I will work hard and try to help the club to succeed.

What are you thoughts on your new teammates?

There is quality all over the pitch, from the goalkeeper to the top end of the pitch. It’s amazing, such quality and confidence around the play, Adebayor, van der Vaart, Defoe, I can’t wait to play with them all.

Will the style suit you?

I hope so. I thought about that straight away. It is such an attacking side that always looks for the

movement of the striker. I love to score goals and I see many opportunities with the wingers and the way we play, I just can’t wait. It’s amazing to have such quality around you and that brings confident. I will be waiting for chances and also look to create chances for others.

This is an exciting time to join?

I can see definitely this is the season to challenge for th title. Great play, confident and it’s really hard to defend against Tottenham when they click. I can really see a chance this season.

Arsenal FC chief executive Ivan Gazidis takes a swipe against fellow Premier League side Manchester City.

With the Gunners doing well in three out of four competitions, Gazidis has said that table-toppers Manchester City are jealous of them fighting on more fronts for silverware. “We’re in three competitions this year. Manchester City would love to be in three competitions,” Gazidis in an interview. He further criticized the Citizens’ expensive spending habits, and compared them with the Gunners’ approach under Arsene Wenger.

“I don’t disagree that it’s [money] important. But we do things based on a value system. We’re about creating star players, not about buying them.” Currently, Arsenal are 18 points off the pace in the English Premier League, which sees them out for domestic league honors, and are fighting tooth and nail to claim a spot in the top four, to enable them to play in the Champions League. They have also progressed to the next round of the FA cup with a win over Aston Villa.

The club are also in the knockout phase of the Champions League, and the Gunners would have to defeat Italian side AC Milan, if they are to progress to the next round of Europe’s biggest club competition.

Be sure to check out other great articles at SoccerPlay.net.

Barcelona might have won as many titles and trophies before this, but things are not looking good with Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola also been linked with Arsenal as one of contenders to replace Arsene Wenger lately. Arsene Wenger has been with the gunners for almost 16 years and Arsenal recent poor performances in the league has been the core reason to most of the their angry fans who wants him out.

With Real Madrid keep on chasing his tails to replace Jose Mourinho and the idea of having Pep Guardiola to replace him might still bright for Arsenal. Pep Guardiola was the most perfect candidate due to Barca and Arsenal playing styles.

FOOTBALL BETTING

Latest updates on Pep Guardiola contract extension still under big questions where he will be a free agent in the summer and yet to decides to renew his contract.

“The extension is me who decides and when it’s done, I say to the President and Andoni (Zubizarreta). But I have not decided yet. When I know, they will know too.” – Pep Guardiola

Barcelona has proposed two year extension for him, however  Pep Guardiola still keep  silence on his future with Barcelona.

Be sure to check out other great articles at arsenalkorner.com

Who said Clint Dempsey would be hurt by Bobby Zamora’s exit to Queens Park Rangers?

Dempsey may just be the most in form goal scorer in the English Premier League right now after notching his 10th league goal of the season and 16th across all competitions. Today’s finish puts Dempsey behind only Robin van Persie (25), Wayne Rooney (18), and Sergio Aguero (17) for the most total goals from a Premier League player.

However, Clint’s goal in the 69th minute was not enough for the Cottagers to grab all three points, as West Brom found a late 82nd minute equalizer to split the spoils.

I hope the world is taking notice of what Dempsey is doing right now. The man is on a mission and seems to score in every single game he is on the pitch no matter what the occasion.

As a result, it’s time for Dempsey to be placed in a more attacking role on the international level and for him to move to a Champions League squad on the club level. Let’s just hope both outcomes come to fruition soon. 

Be sure to check out other great articles at US Futblog.

Furthermore, FIFA has asked the Egyptian authorities for a full report on the incidents in order to evaluate what happened.

It is important to recall that FIFA has established strict safety regulations for all of its competitions. As is mentioned in article 1, paragraph 2 of those regulations (check the safety regulations PDF on the right hand side), the regulations may only serve as guidelines for competitions and matches not organised by FIFA, in which it is the responsibility of the respective organiser and local authorities to apply their own safety regulations.

Finally, FIFA has offered its full support to the Egyptian Football Association and will provide the EFA with any assistance it needs with regard to this tragedy.

HOUSTON, TX (Thursday, February 2, 2012) — The Houston Dynamo and The Methodist Hospital System have reached a long-term agreement that will make the hospital system a premier partner of the Houston Dynamo, founding partner of BBVA Compass Stadium and an official partner of the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

The Dynamo and The Methodist Hospital System have enjoyed a beneficial partnership since 2006. The partners have combined to raise money through various initiatives, including Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

“The Dynamo and Methodist make great partners with a lot to offer the Houston community,” says Marc L. Boom, M.D., president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “The Dynamo have quickly built a championship tradition in Houston and we at Methodist look forward to helping extend that tradition well into the future.”

The expanded partnership includes naming rights to the Championship field at Houston Amateur Sports Park (HASP), the new professional training center for the Dynamo first team and youth academy. The Methodist Hospital System will also have on-site operations facilities at HASP.

“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with The Methodist Hospital System,” said Dynamo Sr. Vice President of Business Development Steven Powell. “Both of our organizations share similar philosophies that include a commitment to excellence and an emphasis on helping people enjoy healthier, happier lives. The Methodist Hospital System has provided incredible first class care from the day our team arrived in Houston. We are very grateful to Dr. Marc Boom and his team of professionals at Methodist for their support and professionalism.”

As part of the partnership, The Methodist Hospital System will have its name included in an entry gate at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The team acted on a number of loans from Major League Soccer (‘MLS’) during the MLS close season, including Thierry Henry’s long awaited return to Arsenal from New York Red Bulls, the moves of LA Galaxy pair Robbie Keane to Aston Villa and Landon Donovan to Everton and George John’s loan move from FC Dallas to West Ham United.  Brabners Chaffe Street also advised Bolton Wanderers in its permanent signing of the US defender Tim Ream from New York Red Bulls, which included obtaining a work permit on an appeal before The FA.  The team also advised Queens Park Rangers on work permit and visa issues relating to its loan of Nigerian defender, Taye Taiwo, from AC Milan.

January also saw a number of clubs moving players on and the team advised long standing client Manchester United on its sales of Darron Gibson to Everton, Danny Drinkwater to Leicester City, Mame Biram Diouf to Hannover 96 in Germany, Ravel Morrison to West Ham United and on the loans of Joshua King and Federico Macheda to Hull City and Queens Park Rangers respectively. The team also advised United on its signing of Swiss teenager Frederic Veseli across Manchester from neighbours City.

Other highlights included advising on Gary Cahill’s transfer from Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea and the last minute deadline day moves of Nikica Jelavic’s to Everton from Glasgow Rangers and Steven Pienaar’s loan to Everton from Tottenham.  The team also advised Everton on its disposals of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Spartak Moscow and Louis Saha to Tottenham, Tottenham on its sale of Roman Pavlyuchenko to Russian club Locomotive Moscow and Blackpool on its loan of Frenchman Elliot Grandin to OGC Nice.

Matthew Bennett, a Partner in the firm’s Sports department, commented: “The global nature of football means we are involved in transfer deals between clubs from all around the world and we have an ever increasing number of overseas clients who wish to retain us due to our experience in advising on international football transfers.  As well as the normal domestic transfers, there has also been a growing trend in recent seasons of players coming to England on short term loans during the January window from clubs in different territories who are not playing at this time of year including from the MLS in the US. This makes January a busy time for the firm.”

The January transfer window was preceded by a number of successes for the Brabners Chaffe Street’s Sports Law team including representing Celtic at UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in its well publicised legal dispute with the Swiss club, FC Sion, to secure its re-admission and continued participation in the UEFA Europa League following Sion’s fielding of a number of ineligible players in the Europa League fixture between the clubs.  The team also represented Stoke City before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in successfully overturning FIFA’s decision to deny Stoke the right to recover Training Compensation from Italian club, Brescia, for its former player Adam Vass.  This closely followed the team’s successful representation of Manchester City before English football’s Professional Football Compensation Committee in the claim brought by Norwich City for compensation for the youth player, Angus Gunn, who had joined the Manchester club from Norwich in July 2011.

The team also recently advised Leicester City on its appointment of Nigel Pearson as First Team Manager who moved back to the club from Hull City in mid-November 2011.