Sobering Reality & We Play Two Down In The Deep Heart of Texas...

I was reading the Washington Post baseball chat this afternoon, and columnist Dave Shenin gave us perhaps a few sobering realities concerning the Baltimore Orioles, despite their amazing start.

Silver Spring, Md.: Dave, what on Earth is going on up I-95?! As one of those misguided lifelong O's fan, I'm happy and all, since my husband kept telling me I was looking at an 120-loss season (and since he's a Tigers fan, that number holds great importance in our house), but I fear this is all a dream and its all going to end VERY badly. Is the season salvageable? As in, not finishing last? Not being the laughing stock of MLB? PLEASE?

Dave Sheinin: It's great that the Orioles are playing so well, but it happens every year, folks. A good team has a terrible start, and everyone wants to write them off, while a bad team has a great start, and everyone wants to print playoff! tickets. You sound as if your expectations are reasonable -- you're asking me if the Orioles can avoid last place (yes, but unlikely), as opposed to asking whether they can be a contender (no way). Keep in mind, the Orioles are still probably going to trade Brian Roberts, and it is possible they will also deal away Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill and/or others this summer -- because the goal here is not to hang around the fringes of contention into June, but rather to build a strong foundation from the ground up. A fast start is not going to change that.

A few more questions asked by some chatters:

Taneytown, Md.: Break up the Orioles! Will Markakis have a break-out season this year?

Dave Sheinin: Breakout season? I'd say his 2007 numbers (.300-23-112, with an OPS of .847) at the age of 23 constitutes a breakout season.

and...

Judiciary Square: Dave, I saw! the att endance for one of the O's/M's games was a bit over 10,000. Since this is tickets sold, I assume their season ticket base is, at best, barely 10K. How big a falloff is that from past years, and where does is stand relative to other MLB teams?

Dave Sheinin: The Orioles' attendance has declined in nearly every season since 1997 (3.71 million), bottoming out in 2006 at 2.15 million. They haven't released season-ticket data, but your logic is correct. I can tell you this: as someone who covered the O's when they were still drawing 45,000/game, it is shocking to me to see Camden Yards so empty. But it's a useful lesson in the one basic truth about sports and attendance: if you put a good product on the field, people will show up.

I cannot disagree with Shenin's thoughts, as they will probably turn out to be correct; however, stranger things have happened.

The Matchups today:

* Game One: Steve Trachsel (1-0) vs. Kevin Mil! lwood (0-2)
* Game Two: Adam Loewen vs. Kason Gabbard

The Orioles once again need to get their bats going in both games, as we know what we getting with Trachsel & I'm not quite sold on Loewen yet.

Follow the thread on Oriole Magic...

O's Lose To Jays; Digging Adam Jones

Well, could this be the downfall of the Baltimore Orioles that we all expected, or just a rough patch?

The Orioles started off plain awful – I mean awful. A horrific inning on part of Garrett Olson, bad defense and an impressive output the Blue Jays with two-out hits allowed the Jays to beat Baltimore, 9-8.

Despite the bad inning in the fourth frame, Baltimore came back from a five run deficit, with an aggressive showing in the latter half of the game.

Nick Markakis homered and scored three runs in a three-hit performance while ! Adam Jones added a three-run homer for Baltimore – his first since June; however, the Oriole rally came up short.

Do you guys think the young pitching along with the bullpen are starting to wilt because of the long season?

As well, one more thing I'd love to ask, what do you all think of development of Adam Jones? He had some growing pains at the start of the year, especially at the plate, but he's coming along just fine. His average is up, and he's seemed to at least cut down on his strikeouts.

I like the kid, and personally, I can tell he's improving and is heeding the advice of all his coaches and staff. At the end of the day, you can't be anything but impressed. When he plays in center, you feel like the kid is a 10-year veteran, not a second year player.

Despite his numbers perhaps not being all that impressive (perhaps average), he's learning the game fairly quickly at this venture, and his upward climb reminds me a lot of w! hat Markakis had to go through in his first season.

It's hi s inexperience that is hindering him his point. Jones has had less than 500 at bats in MLB and his numbers so far shows that he gets the game, but is still definitely learning at this level.

The experts say you need at least 1000-1500 at-bats to determine a player's abilities at the plate. He'll be fine, and at this point, we should be all be impressed that he's worked himself up to a .281 average on July 10th.

We should not worry, he'll be someone who'll grow on us. Boy, once he gets better at recognizing pitches at the plate, he'll start crushing the ball on a more occasional basis.

The Birds in Asia; Around the Blogosphere...

Being that good pitching will more than likely come at premium, and many of the youngsters down on the farm are simply not ready yet for the majors, the Orioles are looking at the Far East for some more talent -- especially arms.

I first saw this development on Steve Melewski's blog on MASN Sports, and there was a follow-up article in the Baltimore Sun on Thursday.

From MASN Sports: Sources say the O's are looking at pi! tchers Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami and Junichi Tazawa along with catcher Ryoji Aikawa.

Tazawa is a 22-year-old amateur who asked the Japan pro teams to avoid drafting him since he wanted to play in the United States. The O's are likely a longshot to get Tazawa, who has received an offer this week from Texas, while some in the industry consider Boston the front-runner to get this pitcher who will likely start next season in the minors.

Uehara is a 33-year right-hander, who is 112-62 with an ERA of 3.01 in ten seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He pitched in relief in 2007 and had 32 saves. Uehara throws four pitches including a fastball that ranges between 86 and 92. Many big league clubs are looking at him for bullpen help but sources say the O's see him as a possible back of the rotation starter.

Kawakami is a 33-year-old righty who went 9-5, 2.30 last year for the Chunichi Dragons. He has spent 11 years with that club. He is a pitcher ! with excellent control who has hit 92 with his fastball. Like ! Uehara, he also projects as a fourth or fifth starter in the Majors.

While it looks like Tazawa will sign with the Red Sox and develop through their system, the Orioles are doing the right thing by tapping into Asia. The organization on the major league level need the depth on their roster, and perhaps they are looking in the right place, rather than the traditional journey to the Caribbean where there's obvious physical talent; albeit, most of the time -- very raw and in need of development.

Aside from gaining some professional level talent, the Orioles -- if they do things right and grab a tiny piece of the pie in Asia -- could perhaps open a market and start branding the franchise in that region of world, much like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners and Yankees have done.

***

There's frankly not a whole lot going on with the Hot Stove; however, I expect that to change in the n! ext couple of weeks during the Winter Meetings.

I think little has happened for these three reasons -- 1) the economy, 2) the market needs to establish itself as most are waiting to see where the big chips (Ramirez, Teixeira, Burnett, Lowe) sign, 3) owners may want to be cheap...

While we wait, Press Box's Amber Theoharis wants the organization to open the checkbook for Teixeira. I do want him on the squad -- obviously -- however, if he is going to eat up let's say a quarter of the payroll, there's better places within the organization where it could be spent. This team has a lot of holes and they are not probably going to contend in 2009, 2010 or even
beyond. The good old New York Times -- a paper that seemingly most of conservative America hates -- reports what most already know about the Or! ioles and how things are going so far - blah, blah...

C amden Chat thinks the team should be looking at Adam Dunn as a subsitute in case we don't get Teixeira; The Roar from 34 has a great post on the truth and urban legends of the Hot Stove Season and how players select their teams; Oriole Central hopes that the hiring of Krivsky isn't the big move of the off-season & Dempsey's Army looks at the career of Mike Mussina.

Koji Uehara On Our Shores...

It looks like newest Oriole landed on our shores last night:

From the Baltimore Sun's Peter Schmuck: Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara landed at Dulles International Airport today and spoke briefly with a group of 25 Japanese reporters who were there to greet him. He made just a few comments after the 13-hour flight and, presumably, headed for Baltimore for his physical tomorrow.

One of the Japanese newspaper reporters passed along a comment from Uehara to Sun baseball writer Dan Connolly, who passed it along to me. Now I'm passing it along to you.

>>> Read More

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Alex Rodriguez Book Release By Selena Roberts Has Been Moved Up...

Ah, I guess there was a reason why the news of Alex Rodriguez's failed drug test was brought out when it was -- and now, the author of the now infamous Sports Illustrated article -- Selena Roberts -- has decided to move up the release of her book on Rodriguez up.

Right in the smack of the beginning of April, and three days before the Yankees play their first regular season game at their new stadium.

Oh boy. Does anyone not doubt that he'll be the talk of the 2009 season?

From MSNBC: Publication of Selena Roberts' "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" has been moved up from May 19 to April 14 as scrutiny builds on the New York Yankees slugger after he acknowledged using banned substances from 2001-2003 while playing for the Texas Ranger! s.

>>> Read More

Wieters Sent Down to Norfolk

First off, a big move was made yesterday -- well, it was very much expected; nevertheless, it is still very much noteworthy...

From the Baltimore Sun: The Orioles told top prospect Matt Wieters on Thursday that he will be reassigned to the Triple-A Norfolk roster effective Monday.

Manager Dave Trembley met with Wieters following Thursday's exhibition loss to the Florida Marlins and informed him of the club's plans, but the assignment is not yet official. Wieters will remain with the team over the weekend and is scheduled to accompany the Orioles to Jupiter for Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Florida Marlins.

-- and --

The move is both strategic and economic. The club wants to give Wieters the chance to excel at the Triple-A level the same way he did at Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. Team officials also wa! nt to hold him back for at least a few weeks to preserve a seventh year under club reserve, a strategy employed by the Tampa Bay Rays with Evan Longoria that led to him signing a long-term contract at favorable terms for the team.

>>> Read More

The Same Old Story & ESPN Profiles the Orioles...

There's really not much to say about last night, the Orioles were flat-out dominated by the Seattle Mariners and Jarrod Washburn, therefore, in the end lost 5-0 as they mustered only a single hit. Well, Brad Beregsen lost for the first time in a month, Baltimore was hamstrung, and it has been the same old story for the past few days, but Monday night was far, far, far worse.

In light of the struggles last night, ESPN has two nice pieces on the team -- one from Jerry Crasnick and the other from Baseball Prospectus -- centers on the young outfield and the arms (or as Dave Tremb! ley has referred to as the 'calvary'.)

I don't know if the Orioles will ever find themselves in a World Series anytime soon, or if they'll be much less in the playoffs, but we've got an exciting team to watch for years to come.

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Rangers Headlines & The Avery/Clarkson Non-Fight

I said last night that the 3-0 win against the Devils was one of the best all around team performances of the season, looks like others agree. [Link]

I'm typically one the biggest Sean Avery fans, I was among those who right away said that Avery should come back to New York when he had the problems in Dallas. I was completly pissed off at Sather last summer when he let Avery walk right out of New York. However, I think I am one of the few Rangers fans that doesn't agree with what he did last night. I understand that Avery is "changed" but he still fights (as evidenced by two in the pa! st few games against Clutterbuck and Kennedy), he should've dropped the gloves last night. Some are saying that Clarkson looked like an idiot for rag-dolling Avery around the ice. [Video] In my opinion, it was Avery that looked like the idiot. Maybe he was just trying to further piss of the the Devils by refusing to fight Clarkson in a blow out, who knows what was in Sean's mind. Maybe he had nothing to gain by fighting Clarkson in the final ten minutes of a 3-0 game, but what did he have to lose? This is the second time this season that Avery has clearly declined to fight Clarkson (the previous when he was a Dallas Star). In a close game maybe you give Avery props for drawing the Rangers a power play. Maybe you give him props if he gets one of the Devils' best players booted from the game. But, last night in front of a pumped up Rangers crowd at MSG, with the Rangers blowing out the Devils, Avery shou! ld've dropped the gloves.

Many on internet fight me! ssage bo ards today are buzzing that Avery is afraid of Clarkson. I don't agree with that sentiment AT ALL. In my opinion, Sean Avery is afraid of nobody in the NHL (as evidence by his taunting of George Laraque a few seasons ago with alleged racial slurs). Avery and Clarkson have fought before, in what most would agree was an edge to Clarkson, but nothing for Avery to be shaking in his skates about. [Video] A lot of Ranger fans, beat writers and hockey writers are applauding Avery for what he did and showing 'discipline'. As a proponent of fighting in the NHL, I think that Avery should've obliged Clarkson. If the tables were turned, the Devils were up 3-0 and Avery did that to Clarkson, you better believe that all of those standing behind Avery supporting that showing of 'discipline' would've been the first in line to bash Clarkson.

There are recaps all over the blogosphere today, thanks to a big Ran! gers win last night. [Dark Ranger], [Rangers Review] and [Manic Ranger]

The NY Post says that the Rangers embarrassed Brodeur and the Devils. [Links]


Link to the above image's original location

Rangers Raise Season Ticket Prices

The Rangers made the playoffs, so the prices go up again!

Here are some links regarding the matter:

Ranger Rants

Letter from Glen Sather

Blue Notes

5-hole.com has a humorous interpretation of Sather's letter to the season subscribers. [Link]

And the video:

Rangers Sign RFA Enver Lisin

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Enver Lisin.

Lisin, 23, was acquired by the Rangers from the Phoenix Coyotes, in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski on Monday. He skated in 48 games with Phoenix last season, registering 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points, along with 24 penalty minutes.

Official Release

Update: According to CapGeek it's a one year deal for $790k, pretty decent numbers as I expected it to be closer to the million range.

Rangers Beat Caps: Video Highlights

Sponsors: Stubhub | RazorGator | TicketsNow | TickCo

Video of the day.

MNF double-dip up double-digits.

WS Game 5 suspended.

SportsCenter ratings up slightly since September.

2008 in review: NBA.

Week in review.

6.6 million for NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

CBS wins Saturday night with NCAA.

Thrilling finish not enough to boost Masters ratings.

Video of the day.

Sports Illustrated boycotts Favre.

The ratings game

Idle notes

Info Sepakbola | Manajer Terkaya di Inggris

Selain pemain dan pemilik klub, majalah FourFour Two juga merilis daftar manajer tim paling kaya di Inggris. Fabio Capello adalah pemuncak daftar tersebut, hanya dua tahun setelah direkrut sebagai pelatih timnas Inggris.

Capello mempekerjakan orang Italia ini mulai Desember 2007 dengan gaji 6,5 juta pounds per tahun, setelah membangun reputasi hebat dengan memberi kes! uksesan pada beberapa klub top Eropa seperti AC Milan, Real Madrid, AS Roma, dan Real Madrid.

Di bawah Capello adalah Roy Keane, yang baru tiga tahun menjadi pelatih. Sewaktu masih bermain untuk Manchester United, ia termasuk perintis kalangan pemain bergaji 100 ribu pounds per minggu. Buku otobiografinya laris manis dan masih menikmati penghasillan besar sejak dijadikan manajer oleh Sunderland dan kini Ipswich Town dengan gaji 6 juta pounds per tahun.

Keane memiliki penghasilan yang lebih besar daripada gurunya di Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, yang tahun ini "hanya" mengantongi 22 juta pounds. Meski demikian Fergie masih berada di atas tiga pelatih rival klubnya, Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), dan Rafael Benitez (Liverpool).

Daftar 10 manajer terkaya 2009 versi FourFour Two:

1. Fabio Capello, 30 juta poundsterling atau sekitar Rp 449 miliar
2. Roy Keane, 27 juta! pounds (Rp 406 miliar)
3. Sir Alex Ferguson, 22 juta pou! nds (Rp 330miliar)
4. Carlo Ancelotti £17 juta (Rp 254 miliar)
5= Sven-Göran Eriksson £15 juta (Rp 224 miliar)
5= Arsene Wenger £15 juta
7. Harry Redknapp £10 juta (Rp 149 miliar)
8= Rafa Benitez £9 juta (Rp 134 miliar)
8= Martin O'Neill £9 juta
10. Mark Hughes £8 juta (Rp 119 miliar)

LEO a caccia di talenti

E' arrivato il ciclone Leonardo Vallone. Si è abbattuto sulla nostra Lega alle 13.26. E' tornato, finalmente. E subito dimostra grande fiuto da talent scout. Come De Laurentis non cerca solo grandi nomi. Ma piccoli talenti che possono assicurare un futuro alla società Armammece & turnam p' venc'. Ed eccolo con un secondo scambio. Meglio non dire che è il primo altrimenti Passafiume ci rimane male.

L' Armammece prende a titolo definitivo il capitano dell'Atalanta Bellini in cambio di 1 credito.

Il giocatore era stato ceduto da Campopiano a Lamberti nell'affare Cicihno ma non aveva trovato spazio in società dopo gli arrivi di Zapata e Carrozzieri. Nel contratto è stata anche inserita una clausola: in caso di problemi con la giustizia sportiva in merito alle vicende di Atalanta-Livorno il calciatore potrà essere restituito all'Armata annullando lo scam! bio. Ci auguriamo però che ciò non accada perchè il talentino Atalantino, ex azzurro Under 21, merita grandi successi.

Ad ogni modo diamo il bentornato al nostro amico Leo. E a questo punto ci chiediamo: ma Giggios perchè non dà segni di vita?

REAL MADRID NEWS 2008: VAN NISTELROOY OUT FOR 8 MONTHS

SALOMON KALOU ON FC BARCELONA LIST?

FC BARCELONA SCOTTISH TOUR 2008: HIBERNIAN 0 - FC BARCELONA 6 (SEE VIDEO)

FC BARCELONA 2008: RED HOT ATMOSPHERE AT CAMP BARÇA

SPANISH FOOTBALL - LA LIGA - ROUND 25 /2008 SATURDAY MATCH RESULTS

R C D ESPANYOL NEWS 2008: JARQUE IN TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS PLANS?

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2007/08: VIDEO HIGHLIGHT OF WERDER BREMEN 3 - REAL MADRID 2

UEFA CUP 2007/08 GROUPS DRAW

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2007/08: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF FC BARCELONA - RANGERS & STEAUA - SEVILLA FC

SEVILLE FC NEWS. ANTONIO PUERTA DIES AT 22 YEARS OF AGE

U/19 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. SPAIN 1 - PORTUGAL 1

UEFA CUP 2007 SEMIS VIDEO ,TRANSFER RUMOURS & "LA LIGA" FIXTURE

ATLETICO DE MADRID TRANSFER TALK. AKALÉ CHOOSES OTHER CLUB

SPANISH FOOTBALL: THE SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM & FC BARCELONA RELATIONSHIP

CARLO ANCELOTTI HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH PEREZ & REAL MADRID?

ATLETICO DE MADRID: GOALKEEPER LEO FRANCO DECIDES NOT TO CONTINUE NEXT SEASON

ATLETICO DE MADRID "EYE" SALVIO, PEREIRA, BENAYOUN; ARBELOA...

CRISTIANO RONALDO: VIDEO TOP 10 GOALS

SIMPLY PEP GUARDIOLA, COACH OF FC BARCELONA

SPANISH CUP 2009-2010: BIG CLUBS ENTER THE DRAW

Coloccini Flattered By Barcelona Interest

Hughes And J Hopeful Of Landing Ronaldinho

Euro 2008 Champions Back To Work In Valencia

Maniche Suffers Back Injury

Pep: Málaga Will Be A True Test

Ike Casillas: My Worst Start At Real Madrid

Barcelona To Offer Lyon Abidal Plus Cash For Karim Benzema - Report

Gudjohnsen Not Joining Blackburn - Agent

Karim Benzema Ready To Stay With Lyon

Fed Chairman’s Comments In Line with NAMIC View of Systemic Risk Regulation

Henry - I needed time

14-year-old Keys makes WTA debut with win

Dementieva advances to 2nd round in Madrid

Murray mountain? Brit must weather Wimbledon hype

Pienaar backs Heitinga pursuit

La Liga round-Up

Marcelo Lippi: Man Behind Italy

Marcelo Lippi: Man Behind Italy

Blackwell Explains The Lennon Situation

By Jaymes Payten-Marsh
For THBN

Aaron Lennon's transfer from Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur reignited the United fans frustration at losing yet another player.

Leeds manager, Kevin Blackwell, had this to say to the fans:

"I'm not going into figures because that is a private matter, but contracts where there is a substantial increase every so many games make it very, very difficult," said the Leeds boss.

"In the cold light of day, Aaron shouldn't have to leave this club. He didn't want to go and we didn't want him to go, but there was little anyone could do.

"Aaron's contract was such that even Tottenham couldn't match it and he took a wage cut to go there. That shows just how things were handed out here in the past.

"Aaron's contract was ongoing. It was a perpetual deal and you have to offer a matching contract to the player if you want compensation should they leave. Offer less an! d they can go anyway."

Spurs fans are happy that the club seem to be buying all the young British talent around. Last week, the Tottenham head coach, Martin Jol, bought under-21 England international Wayne Routledge from Crystal Palace.

Tom Huddlestone, one of the best British prospects around also signed and has just recently joined up with his new team-mates.

Daws Could Leave

I believe that our central defender, Michael Dawson, could be on his way out of the club.

I say this because reports from a lot of the reputable ITK's (believe them if you will) are stating that we are after several centre-backs, including 2 from La Liga and from the French leagues.

With King on the mend, and Woodgate as strong as ever, the first-team options for Dawson look bleak.

At this stage in his career, he can't be playing as a squad player and he himself knows this. I believe that he won't be leaving this summer, but could be allowed to leave in the January 2009 transfer window, especially if we have got in another centre-half and if his starts for the club are at a bare minimum.

If this is the case, I wish him the best of luck. I also hope that he ups his game and challenges King & Woody for a starting place and doesn't just pack it in like most footballers do when they are shifted down the pecking order.

Spurs Thrash Liverpool

Short Match Description

Spurs 4-2 Liverpool

Frazier Campbell scored 2, Pavlyuchenko scored 2. Liverpool were gifted 2 goals thanks to the antics of Gomes, who then feigned injury so that he could leave the pitch to not face further embarrassment.


Long Match Description

Harry Redknapp decided to rest Bent, Bentley, King, Jenas, and Modric, bringing in Dawson, O'Hara, Hutton, Campbell, and Pavlyuchenko.

Liverpool also fielded an under strength side, but did give Torres a start, who in the 1st half, looked a shadow of himself.

The game looked to be turning into a scrappy affair, with passes going astray and final balls not being played when they needed to be.

It took 37 minutes for this game to burst into life, and "burst" may be an understatement!

On 37 minutes, Bale and Campbell worked together brilliantly to put the ba! ll onto the penalty spot for Pavlyuchenko who simply swung his left peg at it from 12 yards, slotting the ball down the middle of the goal, nutt'zing the Liverpool keeper.

Smelling the scent of Liverpool's demise, Spurs pushed their opponents. Our persistence paid off as on 41 minutes Frazier Campbell got onto a diagonal pass on the left from O'Hara, chested the ball down and put the ball into the net.

On 44 minutes, Lennon popped up on the left to send an in swinging corner onto the unmarked head of Frazier Campbell to net his second of the night.

Liverpool at this point were begging the ref to blow for half-time.

As the half ended, Liverpool players were seen arguing with their fellow team-mates. Maybe they should have questioned their own commitment. Liverpool have a cat in hell's chance of winning the league if these players need to deputise for any first teamers based on tonight's showing.

An obvious rocket ! from the Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez, put some life into t! he Liver pool side, enabling them to come out of the blocks pressing and charging Spurs.

Liverpool's persistence paid dividends when on 48 minutes, Gomes was to blame for his decision to come out and collect a corner. Unfortunately, our Brazilian keeper got nowhere near it, which allowed Liverpool to equalise with a tame header.

Zokora went on a mazy run on 51 minutes, managed to get into the box; saw his shot come off Hyypia which allowed Pavlyuchenko to score from 4 yards.

Campbell was unlucky to not have got his hat-trick when his header came crashing off the bar.

Still in charge, Spurs shot themselves in the foot as Gomes, once again, showed all of us why he needs to be dropped as he produced the same madness that allowed Liverpool to get their first goal. This time, he flapped at the cross from the corner, allowing Hyypia to head into an open net.

On 68 minutes, Gomes looked to be seriously injured when he rushed out to! get the ball, colliding with Liverpool's Degen. It took 6 minutes to remove our keeper from the pitch, but the good news is that he was probably play-acting for attention. Reports are that he never lost consciousness and that he doesn't need to be taken to hospital. His little attention-burst added 9 minutes to the match; 9 minutes that we could have done without. Cesar was brought on for his début to replace the non-injured Gomes.

The non-injury to Gomes looked to have shocked the Lilywhites, which allowed Liverpool back into the game. Tottenham were very lucky not to have conceded a stonewall penalty after Bale miss-timed his tackle, blatantly taking out Degen in the box. The ref turned a blind eye to the challenge, showing us all that lady luck is surely with us.

Since Harry's arrival, Spurs have netted 18 goals in 6 matches, that's an incredible 3 goals a game!



Spurs Line up: Gomes (Cesar, 74), Hutton, Corlu! ka, Dawson (C), Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Cam! pbell (B ent, 92), Pavlyuchenko (Boateng, 94)

It looks like Crouch will be joining us

The scenario being played out at the moment with both Harry Redknapp and Jermain Defoe sending love sonnets to Peter Crouch can only mean a deal is on the cards.

I thought we would end up with Crouch, I just didn't think it would be this soon.

Harry himself said that he was after 2 or 3 players that could add class to our current squad. If that statement meant anything at all, can someone please explain to me then, how, and in what way Peter Crouch can accomplish this?

We're apparently waiting on Huntelaar to decide if he wants to join us not. Let's hope Crouch is plan B and the option of signing Huntelaar is plan A.

Hell, I'd even want Negredo, a player that's never played in the Prem, above Crouch.

With all this business about us being linked with strikers, I think it's pretty obvious either Bent, Pavlyuchenko, or both will be on their way.

If we hear another word from Harry on Crouch, e! xpect it to be a done deal.

COYS!!!

Inzaghi: Milan Akan Bangun dari Nol

MILAN — Penyerang AC Milan, Filippo Inzaghi, tahu, "I Rossoneri" selalu punya cara mengatasi masalah sesulit apa pun. Ia pun yakin, Milan mampu menjaga reputasi dan tradisi meski harus mulai dari nol.
Milan baru saja kehilangan tiga pilar utamanya, yaitu Paolo Maldini, Ricardo Kaka, dan Pelatih Carlo Ancelotti. Banyak yang menilai, Milan akan gagal bersaing, baik di Serie A maupun Liga Champions, pada musim depan. Inzaghi mengakui, kepergian ketiga orang itu membuat Milan kehilangan banyak tenaga dan lemah. Namun, menurutnya, itu tak bera! rti Milan akan kalah.
"Aku akan pergi ke pemusatan latihan dengan antusiasme besar. Tak ada Ancelotti, Maldini, dan Kaka, teman-teman yang bersama mereka, kami memenangi banyak. Namun, ini tak berarti mengatakan masa depan tidak akan seindah masa lalu," ungkap Inzaghi. "Pada 2003 kami menjuarai Liga Champions tanpa Kaka.
Tahun 2007, kami menjuarainya tanpa Andriy Shevchenko. Juara memang penting, tetapi di Milan ada basis Italia yang akan terus bermain dan menang untuk membuka kembali sebuah siklus," katanya. Inzaghi setuju, tidak mungkin menggantikan mereka yang sudah pergi. Namun, ia juga percaya, setiap pemain baru berpeluang menciptakan sejarah yang lebih hebat daripada sebelumnya.
Ia tahu akan selalu ada juara-juara baru yang datang ke Milan. Seperti terjadi pada Kaka dan Shevchenko, akan ada pemain besar lain yang muncul dari San Siro. "Ini akan lebih sulit karena Kaka adalah pemain yang tidak tergantikan. Namun, Milan akan selalu masuk ke lapangan unt! uk menang. Ini tantangan yang bagus dengan banyak pemain muda ! yang bag us.
Nesta yang sehat dan Thiago Silva yang sangat kuat," ujarnya. "Ia (Leonardo) adalah orang cerdas. Ia akan membawa sesuatu yang baru. Aku tahu, ia akan bekerja lebih dengan bola saat latihan," tuturnya. Inzaghi menegaskan, ia tidak khawatir dengan perubahan klub selama Milanisti tak memalingkan dukungan.
Baginya, suporter adalah salah faktor penting yang memampukan tim keluar dari kesulitan, sebesar apa pun. "Suporter harus dekat kepada kami. Bantuan mereka akan fundamental dan akhirnya mereka akan menikmati diri mereka sendiri bersama kami," tandas Inzaghi.

Borriello: Leonardo Lebih Disiplin

MILAN - Rutinitas latihan AC Milan mengalami perubahan sejak kursi pelatih diambil alih Leonardo. Salah satu aspek yang tidak dirasakan ketika Carlo Ancelotti melatih adalah sikap disiplin. Leonardo lebih fokus menerapkan kedisiplinan.
Striker Rossoneri Marco Borriello merasakan kondisi tersebut. Pola tersebut dinilai akan menimbulkan dampak positif bagi Milan musim depan. "Lebih kurang semuanya telah berubah di kompleks latihan Milanello. Pertama yang paling terasa adalah lebih disiplin.
Sebagai pelatih, Leonardo sangat ketat. Kami selalu bekerja dengan bola, yang memungkinkan kami menjadi tajam dan lebih reaktif dibandingkan dengan musim lalu," kata Borriello seperti dilansir channel-4, Rabu (15/7/2009). Selama dibesut Leonardo, Borriello akan mengenakan kostum dengan nomor punggung 22, yang musim lalu dikenakan Ricardo Kaka. "22 adalah angka yang signifikan dalam hidup saya.
Sebagai contoh, tanggal ibu saya ulang tahun dan juga saya memakai kostum di musim terbaik saat membela Genoa," tegasnya. "Saya sama sekali tidak ada keberuntungan tahun terakhir. Jadi saya harus mengubah nomor 11 menjadi 22. Tidak ada sudut membuat perbandingan dengan Kaka. Kami memainkan peran yang berbeda," kilahnya.

Milan Butuh Bala Bantuan

MILAN - AC Milan gagal total di laga pra-musim Audi Cup. Rossoneri kalah 4-1 dari Bayern Munich dan adu tendangan penalti dari Boca Juniors. Milan butuh bala bantuan. Hal tersebut diungkapkan pelatih klub Argentina, Alfio Basile.
Mantan pelatih Tim Tango ini mengatakan Milan sudah kehilangan tingkat kemampuan mereka dalam bersaing di beberapa musim terakhir. "Saya sudah berbicara dengan (pelatih Milan) Leonardo, yang sedang galau," ungkapnya kepada Corriere dello Sport, Sabtu (1/8/2009).
! "(Presiden klub Silvio) Berlusconi harus membantu membeli pemain untuk penyerangan mereka, dibanding tim 2007 yang memenangkan Piala Dunia Antar-Klub, mereka kehilangan banyak, terutama potensi penyerangan mereka," lanjut dia. Milan memenangkan Piala Dunia Antar-Klub 2007 di Jepang, dengan mengalahkan Boca Juniors 4-2.
Sejak itu, Milan belum lagi memenangkan kompetisi apapun. Klub raksasa Italia ini juga belum berhasil mendapatkan pengganti mantan playmaker mereka, Kaka. Ricardo Kaka meninggalkan San Siro untuk bergabuing dengan Real Madrid lewat nilai transfer 65 juta Euro.

Milan Berharap pada 'Usain Bolt'

MILAN - Setelah kepergian pilar-pilar penting, siapakah andalan AC Milan untuk mengarungi Seri A musim depan? Presiden klub Silvio Berlusconi mengatakan Milan akan menggantungkan asa kepada 'Usain Bolt'. Musim ini, Milan akan tampil berbeda.
Sudah tidak ada lagi Paolo Maldini yang menjadi pemimpin di lapangan, Kaka yang menjadi nyawa permainan Milan, dan Carlo Ancelotti sebagai peracik strategi Il Diavolo Rosso. Tanpa kehadiran tiga sosok tersebut, Milan mengarungi pra-musim dengan hasil tidak memuaskan.
Dua kali menang,! sekali seri, dan delapan kali kalah. Kondisi ini disikapi Berlusconi dengan tenang. "Di sepakbola, para 'bintang', 'pahlawan', dan 'orang suci' akan selalu berganti dari waktu ke waktu. Anda tidak boleh terus merindukan orang tertentu," kata Berlusconi seperti dikutip dari Reuters. Musim depan, kepada siapakah Milan akan menggantungkan asa? Berlusconi menyatakan asa akan diberikan kepada seorang Usain Bolt.
Tentu saja, Rossoneri tidak akan mendatangkan raja dunia atletik itu. Yang dimaksudkan sang supremo adalah seorang pemain yang disamakan dengan Bolt. "Usain Bolt kami bernama Ronaldinho. Menurut saya, adalah impian setiap olahragawan untuk bisa menjadi seperti Ronaldinho." Pemain asal Brasil itu diharapkan untuk menjadi nyawa permainan tim 'Merah-Hitam' itu di waktu-waktu mendatang.
"Saya senang dengan permainan Ronaldinho. Ia bisa melewati banyak pemain lawan, menjadi sentral permainan, dan mampu penetrasi hingga kotak penalti lawan," ujar Berlusconi. "Ia bis! a menempatkan diri di posisi-posisi vital yang bisa berbuah te! ndangan bebas, penalti, umpan-umpan ajaib, dan juga gol.
Itu sebabnya kami membeli Ronaldinho karen ia merupakan pemain nomor satu. Tidak ada pemain lain yang seperti dia," lanjut pria yang juga perdana menteri Italia itu. Namun, sejauh ini Ronaldinho masih belum bisa menunjukkan penampilan terbaiknya.
"Ronaldinho punya talenta luar biasa. Namun ia masih harus menemukan konsistensi. Penampilannya saat ini masih belum sebanding dengan tiga-empat tahun silam," kata pelatih Leonardo. Siap menjadi tulang punggung Milan, 'Bolt'?

Pirlo Berharap Milan Tidak Dijual

MILAN - Rumor yang berkembang jika AC Milan akan dijual ke pemimpin Libya Kolonel Muammar Gaddafi didengar Andrea Pirlo. Gelandang AC Milan yang sedang menjalankan tugas bersama tim nasional Italia di kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2010 merasa tak percaya dengan kabar itu.
Meski nantinya Rossoneri dijual, Pirlo berharap tidak kepada pihak asing. "Saya harap seperti itu," kata playmaker Milan itu seperti dilansir Ansa. "Lagipula, saya tak yakin jika Berlusconi akan menjual Milan."
Milan selama dua musim menjalani musim berat bahkan p! ekan lalu harus takluk memalukan 4-0 dari rivalnya Inter Milan. Lebih buruk, Milan harus kehilangan Kaka yang dijual ke Real Madrid demi menyeimbangkan keuangan klub.

Tanpa Karakter, Milan Diminta Lebih Kejam

MILAN - Rangkaian hasil buruk AC Milan di awal musim ini berlanjut saat ditundukkan Udinese. Hasil tersebut diterima Rossoneri lantaran mereka tak berkarakter dan kurang bengis di kotak penalti lawan.
Bertandang ke Stadion Fiulli, Kamis (24/9/2009), Milan dipaksa menelan kekalahan keduanya musim ini. Gol semata wayang tuan rumah datang dari Antonio Di Natale saat pertandingan menginjak menit 22. Milan sesungguhnya punya beberapa peluang bikin gol dalam pertandingan tersebut.
Namun dari semua kans yang ! datang, tak satupun yang berhasil dituntaskan menjadi gol. "Sayangnya kami tak mampu mencetak gol, tapi tim ini masih melakukan kerja yang bagus sepanjang pertandingan.
Mungkin kami hanya kurang sedikit lebih bengis di depan gawang dan kami tak membuat banyak tendangan langsung," ungkap Kakhaber Kaladze di situs resmi klubnya. Kekalahan atas Udinese tersebut membuat anak asuh Leonardo merosot posisinya ke urutan 11 klasemen dengan nilai tujuh dari lima pertandingan, tertinggal enam angka dari Inter Milan yang pada laga lain menang 3-1 atas Napoli.
Hasil buruk yang diraih Milan pekan demi pekan seakan membuktikan prediksi kalau mereka tak akan mampu bersaing di papan atas. "Jelas tak mudah melihat posisi kami saat ini, tapi kompetisi masih panjang dan kami harus terus menunjukkan semangat dan karakter karena tim membuktikan hal tersebut," pungkas bek senior berusia 31 tahun itu.

sumber : detik.com

Malaysia Kemabali Berulah

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Mutu - Reds no big deal

The pair meet at the Stadio Artemio Franchi with the Viola looking to get their campaign back on track after losing in Lyon while the Reds squeezed past Debrecen.

Liverpool have twice reached the Champions League final in the past five years and scooped the title in 2005 following a famous shoot-out victory over AC Milan.

Mutu believes that not so long ago teams would get excited about seeing off Rafa Benitez's side, however, the Romanian thinks it would not be a big deal for them.

No fuss
"Once upon a time, beating Liverpool would be a famous win and you could make a fuss, but no more," he told The Sun.

"Since I have been in Florence, the team, the club and the whole environment have grown to the point where we can now beat anyone in our stadium."

Mutu has revealed the team will not plan to keep the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard quiet as they are quite happy focusing on their own football.

"I am sure we will not make special plans for Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard, that is not our style," he continued.

Mutu, 30, was infamously sacked by Chelsea in 2004 after failing a drugs test and he now faces a worldwide ban unless he pays the Blues ?4.65million in compensation this year.

"My time in England was not easy. I was young and I had a lot of troubles. But I'm a better player now, more mature and much stronger physically."

Leonardo Tak Peduli Pemecatan

Milan,-

Kekalahan atas FC Zurich membuat Leonardo dapat cemoohan dari Milanisti. Meski posisinya kini makin tak aman sebagai pelatih AC Milan, suksesor Carlo Ancelotti itu mengaku tak peduli.

"Jika saya bisa mengulang waktu, saya akan menerima kembali pekerjaan ini. Saya mencintai Milan dan saya sama sekali tak khawatir dengan diri saya sendiri saat ini," ungkap Leonardo usai Milan menderita kekalahan atas FC Zurich di matchday II Liga Champions.

Setelah serangkaian hasil tak memuaskan di kompetisi domestik, kekalahan di Liga Champions membuat posisi Leonardo makin terjepit. Sejak resmi menangani Rossoneri, pelatih 40 tahun itu cuma bisa memetik tiga kemenangan di delapan laga kompetitif. Dalam jumlah tersebut, cuma tiga gol dibukukan Milan.

"Yang jadi perhatian saya adalah apa yang bisa kami dilakukan sebagai klub, memfokuskan diri pada pekerjaan dan menyadari kalau ini adalah hasil yang negatif," lanjut suksesor Carlo Ancelotti i! tu.

Mantan pemain Milan di era 1990-an itu sebelumnya juga dituduh bersikap terlalu lunak pada pemain-pemainnya. Sangkaan tersebut muncul lantaran beberapa anggota skuad Milan saat ini adalah mantan rekannya saat masih aktif bermain dulu.

"Saya punya cara sendiri untuk bekerja, meski saya baru menjalaninya selama tiga bulan. Saya marah pada pemain di ruang ganti, tapi saya menjaganya tetap di sana… Kami punya pertandingan Seri A lalu istirahat untuk jeda laga internasional. Itu akan membatu kami untuk bekerja, melakukan pengorganisasian ulang dan tetap bersatu,"pungkasnya menyiratkan optimisme. (*)

DROGBA ROMPE CON IL CHELSEA,MILAN ALLA FINESTRA

Alla vigilia della partita col Bolton, che potrebbe valere la conquista della Premier League, il Chelsea avrebbe rotto con Didier Drogba. L'indiscrezione arriva dal Daily Mirror: l'attaccante ivoriano - scrive il tabloid - avrebbe trovato l'accordo con il Milan e sarebbe pronto a firmare un triennale con la società rossonera sulla cui panchina, sempre secondo il Mirror, sarebbe in procinto di sedersi niente meno che Josè Mourinho, l'ex allenatore dei Blues legato a doppio filo al fuoriclasse ivoriano. Il Chelsea, però, vuole che Drogba rimanga per giocare in avanti al fianco di Anelka e non ha intenzione di cederlo per meno di 15 milioni di sterline, ci! rca 19 milioni di euro. Una cessione che però sembrerebbe inevitabile, visto che anche il rapporto con gli altri compagni di squadra non è più idilliaco. E la gara di domenica contro il Bolton, dunque, potrebbe essere l'ultima di Drogba a Stamford Bridge.

OGGI ALLE 15 STUDIO EUROPEO

MORATTI-PICCININI,BOTTA E RISPOSTA

Solo immagini, niente parole. Massimo Moratti ha scelto questa formula per assistere alla diretta televisiva del Trofeo Tim. "L'ho vista senza commento", ha tenuto a specificare ai giornalisti, "anche perchè il commento sembrava parlasse dell'Inter di 10 anni fa". Una critica spruzzata di veleno che ha offerto a Sandro Piccinini, che ha condiviso con Aldo Serena la telecronaca della triplice sfida biancorossonerazzurra, la possibilità di una replica. "Sono sorpreso -confessa il giornalista- perchè con Aldo abbiamo solo espresso pareri su quanto vedevamo in campo. Non abbiamo certo sostenuto che l'Inter sarà così per tutto l'anno, così come sbbiamo ! sottolineato le difficoltà dovuta al lavoro sostenuto nell'ultimo periodo e alle assenze". Tra i vari problemi evidenziati, però, c'erano anche quelli relativi a scelte di Mourinho: "Sì, non siamo stati convinti dal modulo adottato, ci aspettavamo altro. Ma sono pareri tecnici, detti con garbo, noon siamo lì per fare i tifosi. Se Moratti dalla prova di Torino ha intravisto grandissime potenzialità ed è un tifoso contento, noi siamo contenti per lui. Anche se non è d'accordo col nostro parere".

SAMP-INTER 1-1,IBRA NON BASTA MA NON E' UN DRAMMA

L'Inter campione d'Italia debutta con un pareggio sul campo della Sampdoria. A Marassi il secondo anticipo della prima giornata finisce 1-1, risultato tutto sommato giusto per quanto visto nell'arco dei 90 minuti. Nel primo tempo, Samp più presente nella metà campo altrui, ma la zampata è dell'Inter, in gol con Ibrahimovic al 33'. Cassano non brilla, ma i blucerchiati trovano il meritato pareggio con Delvecchio al 68'.

SAMPDORIA-INTER 1-1

HLTS 7^GIORNATA

MILAN-SAMPDORIA

BOLOGNA-LAZIO

CATANIA-PALERMO

CHIEVO-ATALANTA

A breve saranno aggiunte le sintesi delle altre gare.

KAKA:"SE GIOCO PIU' AVANTI RENDO DI PIU'"

Parla di tutto Ricardo Kakà, protagonista a Milanello di una conferenza stampa organizzata dalla Sony, a cui ha prestato il volto. Del Milan, della sua posizione in campo, di mercato e del suo futuro. E non risparmia una frecciata nemmeno alla capolista: "L'Inter è più concreta, non è che sta giocando un grande calcio, in questo momento hanno sei punti in più di noi. Io credo nel Milan e abbiamo un margine di crescita molto grande".
DIFFICOLTA' - "Il Milan non è in crisi - attacca il 26enne brasiliano -. Tutti parlano di due sconfitte, io parlo di 16 risultati positivi. Certo che dobbiamo migliorare tante cose, ma abbiamo fatto una sequenza di risultati che ci permette di essere s! econdi in campionato e stiamo messi bene anche in Coppa Uefa. Dobbiamo avere una continuità nel gioco, è questo che ci preoccupa. Non sempre facciamo un bel calcio. Tutti dobbiamo sacrificarci di più. C'è troppa distanza tra i reparti. Dobbiamo noi attaccanti per primi dare equilibrio alla squadra. Corriamo tutti tanto, ma spesso in maniera sbagliata. Facciamo fatica e basta".
POSIZIONE - Kakà parla anche della sua posizione sul rettangolo di gioco. "Stiamo cercando di adattarci tatticamente - dice -, ma tante volte devo giocare più dietro. Non è la mia volontà. A me piacerebbe giocare più avanti, ma capisco le esigenze della squadra. So che tutti si aspettano qualcosa di diverso da me, è la mia responsabilità. Se non lo faccio mi criticano. Abbiamo pensato anche a farmi giocare come punta. Con il Genoa, alla seconda di campionato, ho fatto la seconda punta poi sono rientrato. Ora vediamo come posso migliorare. Io voglio tornare ad essere fondamentale al 100 per 100. ! Non è facile per me non essere decisivo".
RONNIE - Da qu! est'anno Kakà deve condividere la trequarti con Ronaldinho. "Si è inserito bene, si è ambientato - dice del connazionale -. Eravamo abituati a giocare in una maniera automatica. Con Seedorf e me con una punta avanti, quasi sempre Inzaghi. Con l'arrivo di Ronaldihno dobbiamo abituarci. Dobbiamo trovare nuovi automatismi. Non ho mai giocato come gioca lui, io sono sempre partito dal centro. Magari lui mi limita andando un po' a sinistra. Dobbiamo trovare un'intesa migliore. In nazionale abbiamo giocato spesso, ma non è la stessa cosa".
MERCATO - Kakà dà uno sguardo anche al mercato rossonero: "Tante persone pensano che l'arrivo di Beckham sarà una cosa negativa, ma noi giocatori pensiamo che può dare tanto alla squadra e contribuire a farci vincere lo scudetto e la Coppa Uefa". Ricky sponsorizza poi Thiago Silva, difensore brasiliano da tempo nel mirino rossonero. "Ho giocato con lui in nazionale. È un grandisismo difensore, ma del mercato parlano i dirigenti. Posso dire che ser! virebbe tanto al Milan perché è un grandissimo".
PREMIER E CHAMPIONS - Nei giorni scorsi Kakà aveva strizzato l'occhio alla Premier League: "C'è il nostro amministratore delegato che può parlare di mercato. In Inghilterra è sempre bello giocare, è un campionato molto importante dove c'è un'atmosfera positiva, ma io sono contento e felice qui al Milan. Se un giorno dovessi andare via, sarà perché non ci saranno più gli stessi obbiettivi tra me e il Milan, ma non è così oggi. Se mai sará in futuro, la Premier sarebbe uno dei campionati dove mi piacerebbe giocare. Io comunque sono contentissimo al Milan, la mia famiglia sta bene a Milano, mio figlio è cittadino italiano, crescerá qui e siamo molto legati a questo paese". Kakà dà uno sguardo anche alla Champions League: "Le favorite sono sempre le stesse. Spero che non sia l'Inter... Tra le inglesi Manchester e Chelsea sono più avanti".

CAOS PANUCCI MA TORNA TOTTI

La Roma va. Rimonta strepitosa. Dall'inferno a tre pun ti dalla zona Champions. Ma a Trigoria, alla vigilia della gara contro il Palermo, tiene banco ancora la questione Panucci. Ed è stato duro Luciano Spalletti nei confronti del difensore che domenica scorsa ha rinunciato ad andare in panchina e ha chiesto di essere ceduto. "Panucci resta o va via? Questo non lo so, devo prendere atto della volontà del calciatore di non volere essere a disposizione e d'accordo con la società non verrà convocato. Sono uno aperto a qualsiasi tipo di! dialogo con tutti quelli che lo vogliono. Panucci ci ha mancato di rispetto. Christian il rispetto lo riconosce solo dandogli sempre la maglia da titolare. Il rispetto è quello che ha tolto lui a me non accettando una mia decisione e anche alla squadra. In quella stessa panchina c'erano Totti, Aquilani e Perotta, questa sì che è mancanza di rispetto". Intanto sale l'ipotesi estero per il difensore. "E' molto probabile, da domani potrò essere più preciso in merito - ha detto Oscar Damiani, l'agente del terzino -. Se va in Francia? È una pista che stiamo battendo".
TOTTI SUBITO - Meglio pensare al campionato e alla squadra di Ballardini. E alla grande rimonta. "Facile fare sogni ambiziosi - ha spiegato Spalletti -, ma bisogna sempre scontrarsi con il ricordo che abbiamo vissuto insieme; da domenica a domenica può cambiare tutto. Dobbiamo rimanere attenti e applicati. Totti? Giocherà dall'inizio. Se sarà al 100%, sono già contento che si senta e abbia di esserci". L'avve! rsario di domani sera è il Palermo di Davide Ballardini che Sp! alletti non ha mai battuto. "Non faccio caso alle statistiche e ai numeri, avrò un motivo in più per dare un contributo alla squadra. Lui è bravo, lo ha dimostrato al Cagliari e lo sta ripetendo a Palermo. Ci sono anche altri allenatori come Giampaolo e Allegri e questo è bello. Il Palermo ha entusiasmo e ha bravi calciatori, qualcuno lo conosco bene. Fanno bene ad avere ambizioni visto che hanno un presidente molto ambizioso", ha detto Spalletti.
GLI ARBITRI - L'allenatore giallorosso è poi tornato sulle ultime polemiche arbitrali che hanno visto anche la stessa società giallorossa alzare la voce. "Mi sembra già che ci sia troppa carne al fuoco, meglio non metterne altra. Io posso rafforzare ciò che ha detto Collina ovvero che nella confusione non cresce mai il talento. È difficilissimo che qualcuno così possa dimostrare le sue qualità, meno confusione si crea e più questi arbitri giovani e bravi avranno la possibilità di crescere come succede per i calciatori e qualsiasi prof! essione. Non bisogna farsi innervosire dalle loro scelte, un arbitro può sbagliare, anche se è diverso sbagliare una decisione oppure come per i calciatori sbagliare un gesto tecnico".

SCONTRO GATTUSO-AMAURI

Gattuso è contrario all'ipotesi che Amauri giochi per l'Italia. "Il campione non si discute - spiega - ma ha gestito male la vicenda. Prima aspetta il Brasile... ma noi non siamo Azerbaigian o Finlandia, siamo l'Italia, abbiamo vinto quattro Mondiali e il nostro calcio non ha nulla da invidiare a nessuno. E' giusto che lui giochi col Brasile". "Non me ne frega nulla di quello che dice Gattuso" - la replica del brasiliano.

Il centrocampista del Milan, ancora fermo per infortunio, commenta poi l'andamento della sua squadra e gli obiettivi per questo finale di stagione: "Non arrivare in Champions League e magari non vincere nemmeno la Coppa Uefa sarebbe davvero un fallimento".

Una battuta anche per i fischi riservati dal pubblico rossonero a Clarence Seedorf: "Sono prevenuti. E' difficile sentire un compagno che viene beccato alla prima palla che sbaglia".

Donadoni ha tempo fino a martedì,poi o fa il 442 o va via!

Dovrebbe consumarsi ufficialmente oggi il divorzio tra il Napoli e Pierpaolo Marino; nella tarda serata di ieri il Presidente De Laurentiis ha ribadito: "Lo incontrerò domani. Non oso pensare che lui voglia com­promettere questa sua fede per il Napoli, dichiarata più volte, per assumere atteggiamenti in congruenti"; resta valida l'ipotesi della sostituzione di RobertoDonadoni con Delio Rossi: "Donadoni è una brava persona.

C'è da capire se il suo gioco si addice ai giocatori che ha. So no anni che voglio il 4-4-2: per ché devo avere 25 giocatori e non posso vedere qualcosa di di verso? Per il momento non ho ancora pensato a un al! lenatore che mi piace, ma entro martedì prossimo sapre te se sulla panchina ci sarà anco raDonadoni o un eventuale so stituto".

"Le reti di Wembley" di Roberto Gotta

Le Pagelle di ROMA - REGGINA 3 - 0

Roma: 6,5

La compagine di Mr Spalletti ricomincia a trovare morale, vittoria e sprazzi di bel gioco. La squadra che da 3 anni a questa parte gioca il più bel calcio d'Italia ha saputo "ritrovare" se stessa in un periodo non molto felice. Tante sia le assenze (Mexes, Juan, Baptista, Tonetto e Pizarro) sia i convalescenti appena rientrati nel gruppo (Totti e Taddei) che hanno pregiudicato la Roma in questo inizio stagione, il peggiore dell'era-Spalletti. Le debacle di Palermo e col Cluj sono finalmente rimpiazzate da una prestazione di sostanza, anche se la Roma di Spalletti, quand'è veramente in forma non ha timore di nessuno…ANIMALE FERITO.

Doni: n.g.

Il portierone brasiliano e della Selecao come sempre stringe i tempi nonostante la solita infiammazione al tendine rotuleo. Pressoché inoperativo di fronte all'inerte coppia calabrese Corradi-Brienza. Un brivido su Luca Vigiani a inizio partita e poi tanto relax…SPETTATORE

Cassetti: 6

Il terzino bresciano fa il suo e come sempre lo! fa bene, copre bene la fascia dove nel secondo tempo Ceravolo tenta invano di spingersi, ma da lì non si passa. Forse il brasiliano Cicinho dovrebbe prendere lezioni di marcatura e ricordarsi che se il suo nome fosse Cassettinho, il campo il ben più lezioso brasiliano lo vedrebbe col binocolo…SUBSTANCE OVER THE FORM

Loria: 6

La Roma l'ha preso per fare il quarto centrale e lui risponde dopo le prime preoccupanti prestazioni stagionali..l'arcigno difensore ! ex Siena finalmente fa bene e quando Doni lo colpisce col gino! cchio su lla nuca, sanguina, viene fasciato, si rialza…ed è più brutto di prima…SHREK

Panucci: 7

Prestazione superba...difensore d'altri tempi…nasce terzino fluidificante e si è reinventato sulla soglia dei 35 anni difensore centrale…Classe ed efficacia, da solidità ad un reparto difensivo decimato dalle contestuali assenze di Mexes e del capitano della Selecao. Il tutto condito con un goal di rapina nell'area piccola di rigore dopo un batti e ribatti fortunoso…STOICO

Riise: 6,5

Il terzino norvegese finalmente convince, difende e riparte continuamente, ottimo il dialogo con Menez sulla corsia di sinistra, arriva spesso al cross dal fondo e dialoga bene con Aquilani e De Rossi. Dallo stoccafisso di inizio stagione lo ritroviamo finalmente rinvigorito..VIKINGO

De Rossi: 6

Capitan-Futuro, il Centrocampista più forte del Mondo, DDR, chiamatelo come vi pare…Lui risponde sempre presente..oggi tuttavia un po' sottotono, sbaglia alcuni passaggi laterali a centrocampo che potrebbero creare qualche ripartenza Reggina…per fortuna i calabroni avevano mangiato panini con 'nduja a dismisura nel pre-partita e tutto è andato bene. Ci mette sempre la gamba ed esce comunque con la maglietta sudata…UNO DI NOI

Brighi: 7

Il ruba palloni riminese finalmente convince, Spalletti lo fa giocare 10 metri più avanti e crea problemi al mediano basso calabrese che non riesce a far ripartire l'azione. Insieme ad Aquilani pressa e non concede nulla …MASTINO

Taddei: 6,5

Il ! buon Rod rigo finalmente sembra essersi ritrovato dopo alcuni mesi passati a curare i suoi guai muscolari. Salta spesso l'uomo e con movimenti di corpo crea spesso la superiorità numerica tra le due linee difensive reggine…La Roma con lui ritrova i suoi equilibri ed il brasiliano dimostra di essere pronto a far male…MARTELLO PNEUMATICO

Aquilani: 7,5

Il mediano romano dimostra sul campo la ragione del grande interesse suscitato nel mercato estivo. Corre, rompe, riparte! con costanza ed esalta il tutto con un gran tiro da fuori che si insacca alle spalle di Campagnolo. Giostra sulla linea dei trequartisti creando non poche difficoltà alla retroguardia Reggina, con Valdez e Lanzaro in evidente difficoltà… SUPERBO (41 s.t Cicinho: n.g.)

Menez: 6,5

Il fantasista monegasco ribadisce a Roma quanto di bene si diceva di lui. Lo cercava mezza Europa e si capisce il perché. Piedi superbi, velocità esplosiva e resistenza. Quando pren! de palla fa veramente paura..l'acquisto più azzeccato anche in! chiave futura..deve ancora inserirsi a perfezione negli schemi di Spalletti, tende un po' troppo ad accentrarsi ma nonostante questo è riuscito a creare spesso la superiorità numerica saltando l'uomo e lanciando un paio di volte Vucinic in profondità….quando esce dal campo tutto lo stadio lo applaude…FANTASIOSO

(24 s.t. Perrotta: 6,5 Finalmente torna SuperSimo a correre e a pressare, sfrutta la respinta di Campagnolo su bordata di punizione di Totti e la butta dentro per il 3-0 finale..EFFICACE)

Vucinic: 6,5

Il montenegrino da il massimo, le critiche di 2 stagioni fa sono solo un ricordo buio…corre, punta e salta l'uomo..in due occasioni viene fermato in fuorigioco inesistente dagli assistenti di Gervasoni e le occasioni si sarebbero concluse in altro modo. Mirko da proprio tutto e di certo non difetta più in grinta pressando continuamente la linea difensiva reggina…il voto sarebbe stato più ampio se la prestazione si fosse finalizzata con un goal…EFFICIENTE

(33 s.t. Totti: 6,5 Il Capitano entra al posto di Mirko, difetta di condizione fisica ma illumina la serata dell'Olimpico con! una verticalizzazione per Simone Perrotta e procurandosi una ! punizion e che calcia con grande potenza, sulla cui respinta la Roma realizza il goal che chiude la partita…RITROVATO).

Pubblicato da Fabio Capannini - CAPOREDATTORE SEZIONE A.S. ROMA

Il Milan trema: in arrivo 60 milioni per Pato

MILANO - Brutte notizie in casa Milan. Il Chelsea di Carlo Ancelotti è deciso ad investire su Pato. Nella giornata di oggi, a più riprese, varie testate giornalistiche hanno parlato di una clamorosa offerta ammontante a circa 60 milioni di euro. Il Milan non ha necessità di vendere, dopo la cessione di Kaka, tuttavia staremo a vedere se in Via Turati l'offerta verrà cestinata o meno.

Simone Pizzi

LivornoTeam in Tirrenia CONI field

This morning I resumed training amaranto team in view of the next batch of Championship that will see the team of Russian, in advance, host Milan. In the morning technical staff spoke at length with the team in the midst of the main field, then race and gymnastics. In the afternoon expected exercises techniq! ue and tactic. http://www.livornocalcio.it/notizie/notizie.php?id=3899