THE DAY JOSE MOURINHO GAVE OUT TV TO HIS PLAYER

The Special One is never short of drama and that is exactly what he is bringing to Barclays Premership.

 He re-enacted one shortly before Chelsea's Capital One match against  Swindon on Tuesday night. Chelsea happens to share the same sponsor as Swindon. The League One side handed Mourinho the TV set because of the sponsorship relationship the two sides have... but he seemingly wasn't too keen keep the TV.

Mourinho turned to his substitutes,Andre Schurrle and presented him with the flat screen television.

Meanwhile Chelsea beat Swindon 2-0 to qualify for the next of the Capital One competition. Torres and Ramires were both on target in what was a one sided affair with only a couple of flashes from the home side. 

Juan Mata also got the nod from Mourinho to impress him and show why he should play regularly.Whether he was able to impress the Chelsea handler would be seen in the day and weeks ahead.

MANCHESTER UNITED FANS IN NIGERIA DEMAND BETTER PERFORMANCE AGAINST LIVERPOOL

Crisis in football does not have a permanent place. It appears to have moved to Old Trafford.

Following their shocking mauling at the Etihad over the weekend,Manchester United fans in Nigeria appear to be unison in their demand that only a win over Liverpool will assuage their feelings.

How did we get it wrong?

Speaking to some of the fans who were at the popular Ojota Newspaper stand discussing the club’s recent performance and the game ahead against Liverpool, SPORTING 22 could sense the rage in the fans and the embarrassment they feel.

A good number of them believe that David Moyes was poor in his selection and tactical approach to the game against Manchester City and subsequently heaped all the blame on him.

Moyes down but not out

The fans expect Moyes to come up with an exceptional game plan in order to overhaul Liverpool in Capital One match billed for Wednesday night.

The feeling is not different across the country. Most of the Sports programs monitored by our crew indicate that only a win over a big club (Liverpool happens to be the next in line) will endear fans to Moyes, albeit momentarily.

Do you believe in the ability of Moyes to bring back Manchester United to winning ways? Do you think Manchester United will beat Liverpool in the Capital One game tomorrow?

We will love to hear from you. Have your say in the comment box.

DERBY DEMOLITION: MANCHESTER UNITED HUMILIATED AT THE ETIHAD

No bookmaker would have seen it coming, the demolition that happened at the Etihad in what was a one sided affair. Manchester United and their former 'noisy neighbours', Manchester City took to the pitch to lock horns and to give fans some Sunday action. This is one match the players, David Moyes and the fans will not forget in a hurry.

Aguero scores the opening goal

one up

 As the match got under way, City charged and tore at Man U. It was nothing short of humiliation. David Moyes was stuck on his seat for the better part of second half and looked liked a man who suddenly came under attack from an opponent with superior fire power.

Yaya was on target

At 4-0 up, City’s ambition flagged. Like all good teams they knew the job was done and the  outcome no longer in doubt.

Nasir's perfect punch

They stopped tearing at United, stopped swarming over them in midfield, stopped bullying them back into their own half and settled. 
Even then, it took a wondrous free-kick from Wayne Rooney to put United on the score sheet.

It will interest you to know that this particularly derby was over seen by two new managers,Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes. At the last count, Manchester City have the upper hands in recent derby games winning five of those and Manchester United winning just one.

Moyes had a horrible nightmare

Are you a Manchester fan, what do think went wrong with the team?

We will like to hear from you.

 

CHELSEA 2 FULHAM 0: MIKEL SCORES TO HELP SECURE A WIN IN A DERBY

MIKEL SCORES AFTER A LONG WAIT

Mikel Obi scored the winning goal for Chelsea in their 2-0 victory over Fulham in a London derby.

John Obi Mikel stretches to score his first goal for 258 matches

The midfielder was delighted with his goal

The Nigerian who has never scored for Chelsea found the back of the net to help lift the weight on Jose Mourinho’s back. Chelsea has come under intense scrutiny following their not too impressive runs in especially in the last two games in which they failed to secure a win.

For Mikel, the jinx has been broken and the fans would like to see him get into positions that would enable him score more often.

As it stands, Chelsea is back on top of the table after Liverpool failed to overhaul Southampton.

Is Chelsea back on the winning ways? Only time will tell.

What do you think about Mikel Obi’s goal?

We would like to hear from you. Have your say in the comment box.

NO CRISIS AT CHELSEA,INSISTS MOURINHO

These are not the best days for Chelsea FC and their supporters. The recent lost to Everton in a Premier League game and a home loss to Base in their Champions League opener is beginning to weigh heavily on the squad.

Jose Mourinho

However, Mourinho says it is bound to take time for his methods to work following his return to Stamford Bridge, adding that he is unconcerned by his side's recent run of form.

"Scrutiny is normal," he said. "I have been in football for a long time so I have learned not to be surprised by scrutiny, for there to be opinions and critics. I am not surprised, I am not worried.

"For me it is not a crisis. It is two bad results. I have a job to do. I know where I want to go and the steps I have to take.

"When you want to build something different and players are adapted, comfortable with philosophy for years before, it's more difficult.

"I don't like the way Chelsea were playing the last couple of years, the club didn't like it. We have the players to change, we want to play a different style."

Mourinho's men will be eager to get back on track when they host Fulham on Saturday, but Chelsea have won just one of their last five Premier League meetings with their west London neighbours.

The team no doubt will be under tremendous pressure to get back to winning ways. While getting back is in order, suggestions by some Jose's critics that he is beginning to lose technical and tactical prowess are out of place and too early. Like Jose said, "the end will justify his game plan."

The squad is young and full of tremendous potentials. It will take a few more games for them to fully blend and move in the direction Jose is charting for them.

When that happens, the talk that there is crisis in the squad will disappear the way it started. 


What do you think?

Have your say in the comment box.

ARSENAL STARS LINE UP FOR THEIR TEAM PHOTO

Arsenal have released their official team photo for 2012-2013 season. Included in the squad is the club's latest acquisition Mesut Oezil. The squad looks set to compete well on all fronts this season and the spirit of the squad is really high.

You will recall that Arsene Wenger had endured enormous pressure from Arsenal fans, majority of whom seem not to be happy with the way Wenger manages the club. Chief of which is the lack of depth in the squad which had seen the squad running out of gas when it mattered most. The signing Mesut Oezil from Real Madrid is expected to bolster the attacking department and hence make the squad more competitive.

So far, Arsenal is back on their winning ways and pressure lifted from the shoulder of Arsene Wenger at least for now.

Looking at the squad, who do you think will be the most outstanding player this season?

We will love to hear from you. Have you say in the comment box.

ARSENAL SQUAD 2012-13

BACK ROW (l-r): Serge Gnabry, Ryo Miyaichi, Emmanuel Frimpong, Ju Young Park, Chuba Akpom, Yaya Sanogo, Lukasz Fabianski, Wojciech Szczesny, Emiliano Viviano, Nicklas Bendtner, Carl Jenkinson, Nacho Monreal, Gedion Zelalem, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
MIDDLE ROW (l-r): Vic Akers (kit manager), Paul Akers (assistant kit manager), Darren Page (masseur), Tony Colbert (fitness coach), Neil Banfield (first-team coach), Boro Primorac (first-team coach), Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker, Abou Diaby, Steve Bould (assistant manager), Gerry Peyton (goalkeeping coach), Colin Lewin (head physiotherapist), Paul Johnson (equipment manager), Dr Gary O'Driscoll (club doctor), Kieran Hunt (masseur)
FRONT ROW(l-r): Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Oezil, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Arsene Wenger (manager), Mikel Arteta, Laurent Koscielny, Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Santi Cazorla at London Colney

NIGERIA RELEASE SQUAD FOR ETHIOPIA

Nigeria have named a 23-man squad for the first leg of their final 2014 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

The first leg of the match comes up on 12 October. The super Eagles have been cautioned to take the match very seriously to avoid any shock.  Here is the list of players invited to prosecute the match. 

Vincent Enyeama

Super Eagles squad

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal); Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC, Nigeria); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); James Okwuosa (Chippa United, South Africa).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan, Italy).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Uche Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands).


What is your take on the list? We will love to hear from you.