Welcome To Dipo Liadi's blog: September 2014

30 September 2014

Amaju Pinnick Is The New NFF President

Delta State Sports Association head Amaju Pinnick has emerged the president of the Nigeria Football Federation after an election held in Warri on Tuesday afternoon. His emergence is expected to bring an end to the rigmarole in the country’s football sector that has earned the ire of Fifa over the last four months.

Pinnick led the field with 32 votes, far ahead of the other candidates as Dominic Iorfa polled eight (8) votes and Taiwo Ogunjobi got four (4) votes.

RECORD!!! Francesco Totti Is Now The Oldest Player To Score In The Champions League

Roma forward Francesco Totti has become the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history with his strike against Manchester City on Tuesday.

The Giallorossi veteran became the first ever 38-year-old to score in the elite European competition, leapfrogging Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs who has held the record since 2011 when he scored against Benfica at the age of 37 years and 28 days.

Wayne Rooney Sorry Over West Ham Red Card

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has apologised for getting sent off in Saturday's 2-1 win over West Ham at Old Trafford. Rooney was shown a straight red card on the hour mark by referee Lee Mason for kicking out at Stewart Downing on the halfway line.

And although the England skipper admits it was a fair decision, he insists the foul was merely a misjudgement rather than malicious. Speaking to United's official site, Rooney said: "It was probably the right decision. I saw the West Ham player making a counter-attack and I tried to break up the play, but I just misjudged it.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 WEST HAM 1: Watch The Goals & Highlights

VIDEO: Watch Neymar's Hat-trick Against Granada

Only Ronaldo Can Out Run Ronaldo

Real Madrid are enjoying the very best of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his tenth league goal in just six games at El Madrigal. Ignoring the game which he missed against Real Sociedad, Ronaldo currently averages two goals per game in the domestic championship. These are the Portuguese star's best figures in the six seasons he has played for Real Madrid.

At the start of every season, it seems like it will be impossible for him to improve on his goalscoring record once again, but that does not stop him. He has never reached his tenth league goal this quickly. At this stage of last season he had scored 'just' six.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says his side are still suffering from a World Cup hangover, despite making a strong start to the season. The defending German champions are unbeaten in the Bundesliga, having won four and drawn two of their matches so far.

Guardiola's men top the table and are already seven points ahead of regular title rivals Borussia Dortmund, but the Spaniard claims the campaign has been a struggle to this point.

BARCELONA: This Is The Way To Win - Luis Enrique

The Camp Nou was once again a scene of an offensive and defensive clinic, with Barça head coach Luis Enrique once again highlighting the team's work ethic and commitment. “I thought we were intense, precise, ambitious, and solid on defence," the coach declared after his teams 6-0 blowout win over Granada.

The team were lead by Neymar's hat-trick, two scores from Messi, and another by Rakitic, along with yet another outstanding defensive performance. “The players really did well tonight stopping the other team," he said before adding, “This is the way to win."

Louis van Gaal says Wayne Rooney's red card in Manchester United's 2-1 win over West Ham was a fair one. Early goals from the striker and Robin van Persie had the hosts two goals up with just 22 minutes played but Diafra Sakho headed in from a corner just before the break to edge one back.

The game got worse for Van Gaal’s side as Rooney lashed out at Stewart Downing with a high foot and the attacker received a straight red from referee Lee Mason.

Juventus forward Carlos Tevez has rejected suggestions this year's Serie A race will be fought out by just two clubs. Juve extended their 100 per cent Serie A record with a 3-0 win at Atalanta on Saturday, Tevez scoring twice.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also saved a penalty on a day Roma triumphed 2-0 against Hellas Verona.
Both sides have won all five of their matches this season, building the anticipation ahead of next week's blockbuster in Turin.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta will miss Arsenal's clash with Chelsea after picking up injuries in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, while Jack Wilshere is still to be assessed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck 16 minutes from time to cancel out Nacer Chadli's opener for the visitors in the Premier League contest at the Emirates Stadium.

But it was the procession of injuries that troubled Wenger, as his starting midfield trio all left the action due to injury problems. Arteta and Ramsey were substituted before half-time with respective calf and hamstring injuries, while Wilshere turned his ankle during the first half and succumbed after the interval.

PICTURE: Have You Seen The Nude Picture Of The Female American National Goalie?

Its quite true that you haven't seen a footballer as extremely nude as this though she claims that its a break of privacy but you will wonder what she was thinking of when she took the picture and the image also suggests that someone else took her picture while she posed for the selfie which she was aware off. A nude pose for ESPN also debunks her claim. See the picture and what she said after the cut......

MEMORIES: ASTON VILLA 1 CHELSEA 0 - Watch The Goals & Highlights

This was one of the matches that stopped chelsea from lifting the Premier League trophy last season. A Fabian Delph goal, two red cards for Ramires and Willian and sending Jose Mourinho to the stands spelt doom on the blues ability to win the title. Enjoy the video

How The FA Cup Trophy Saved Arsene Wenger's Job - Mikel Arteta

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said winning the FA Cup final saved Arsene Wenger's job. Wenger's long-standing position at the north London club was in jeopardy after nine years without a trophy, before the FA Cup breakthrough in May rewarded the fans' patience.

Arsenal trailed 2-0 early against underdogs Hull City, before launching a brilliant come-from-behind win - eventually triumphing 3-2 in extra time. Captain Arteta said Wenger's job was saved by their victory.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insisted he will not panic buy, amid an injury crisis sweeping through Old Trafford. Van Gaal's defensive options are limited after injured trio Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling were ruled out of Saturday's Premier League fixture against West Ham.

Teenage sensation Tyler Blackett will also miss the match due to suspension, paving the way for Paddy McNair and reserve-team captain Tom Thorpe to be drafted in. Many expected United to invest heavily in defenders following the departures of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. While Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo arrived, proposed moves for Thomas Vermaelen and Mats Hummels never materialised.
But do not expect Van Gaal to splash the cash for the sake of it when the transfer window reopens in January.

CAPITAL ONE CUP: CHELSEA 2 BOLTON 1 - Watch The Goals & Highlights

Ronaldo Now Head & Shoulders Above Everybody

t feels like a significant moment in the career of any athlete when a particular body part becomes an object of wider public fascination, a emblem of some specific personal superpower. In the early 1980s, for example, it was quite common to hear hushed and reverent talk about Pat Jennings’s hands, to the extent that every few months a picture special would appear in one of the football magazines of a sombre-looking Jennings posed with his palms spread in alarming close-up, thereby reproducing in poster form a haunting snapshot of what it might feel like to find yourself about to be strangled to death by a taciturn but likeable world class goalkeeper.

This week it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s turn to find a little more public attention than usual focussed on some previously overlooked aspect of his physique. With Ronaldo these days it’s all about his neck. And make no mistake, it is one of the great necks: a rippling, flaring, cobra-like thing, broad enough to resemble an auxiliary set of shoulders, and which, when fully extended, has the dual effect of making his head look touchingly small on top of that perma-bronzed pyramid of muscle.

Chelsea will be aiming to preserve their unbeaten start to the Premier League season when they welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Jose Mourinho's men lead the top flight by three points despite being pegged back by former talisman Frank Lampard against Manchester City on Sunday, having taken maximum points from their previous four matches.

A much-changed Blues side was pushed hard by Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup on Wednesday but Mourinho is set to restore his big names to the starting lineup, with Diego Costa in particular hoping to continue his own blistering start to life in the Premier League.

Louis van Gaal's work at Manchester United cannot be judged after just two months, according to Southampton striker Graziano Pelle. United are languishing in 12th in the Premier League and boast just one win from their first six matches, despite splashing out over €190 million on new players over the course of a busy summer transfer window.

But the 28-year-old who won the Eredivisie title under Van Gaal in 2008-09 while the two men were at AZ - insists it is far too soon to accurately assess the effectiveness of the Dutchman's methods at Old Trafford.

Arsene Wenger sees Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham as the start of a crucial run of games for Arsenal. The Frenchman has guided his team to an unbeaten start in the Premier League, with two wins and three draws from their five outings thus far. Arsenal have fared less well in the cup competitions, going down 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund in their UEFA Champions League Group D opener, before a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Tuesday ended their League Cup campaign in the third round.

Saturday's north London derby at the Emirates Stadium represents a chance to put that disappointment behind them and the clash marks the first of three big games for the club. After facing Tottenham, Arsenal host Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday before a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on early pacesetters Chelsea next Sunday.

Van Persie Was The Most Affected By Ferguson's Departure

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was hit hardest by Alex Ferguson's retirement, according to Rio Ferdinand. Ferguson retired in May 2013, less than a year after bringing Van Persie to the Premier League giants from rivals Arsenal.

QPR defender Ferdinand, still at United at the time, said the Netherlands international - who struggled for fitness under David Moyes last season and has scored just once this term - was the most affected by Ferguson's departure.

This Premier League Is "Crazy" - Jose Mourinho

Chelsea could have made it five wins from five had they held on to a 1-0 lead at title rivals Manchester City on Sunday, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard coming back to haunt his old team when he cancelled out Andre Schurrle's effort in the 85th minute.

Defending champions City were forced to play with 10 men for the last half-hour when Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second bookable offence, but a draw ensured Manuel Pellegrini's men did not fall eight points behind Chelsea at this early stage.

Alan Pardew has has told Sammy Ameobi that he is "running out of chances" to prove his worth to Newcastle United. The 22-year-old broke into Newcastle's first-team three years ago, but he has failed to cement his place in the club's starting XI.

Ameobi has shown sporadic signs of his talent and had a positive impact when he came off the bench in Saturday's 2-2 with Hull City in the Premier League. That may be enough for the winger to start against Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday, but Newcastle manager Pardew has warned him that he must start living up to his potential or face an exit from St James' Park.

CHELSEA vs BOLTON: League Cup Preview

The omens do not bode well for Bolton Wanderers as they prepare to face the might of Chelsea in Wednesday's League Cup third-round tie. Jose Mourinho has guided his star-studded side to the summit of the early Premier League table, scoring 16 goals in five matches along the way. Bolton, meanwhile, have won just once in eight Championship games and Dougie Freedman's team have kept only one clean sheet in that time.

It needed a late intervention from a familiar face to end Chelsea's 100 per cent record in the league as Frank Lampard - a veteran of over 600 games for the London club - scored in the sky blue of Manchester City to restrict his former employers to a 1-1 draw on Sunday. That was Chelsea's second draw in as many games, having also been held at home by Schalke in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

VIDEO: Why Did Yaya Toure Beat Eden Hazard???

See for yourself.....

CONFIRMED!!! Injury Rules Mathieu Debuchy Out For Three Months

Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy will be out of action for up to three months after undergoing surgery on his left ankle. The France international suffered the injury during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on September 13 after catching his studs in the turf.

Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed in the immediate aftermath of the game that the defender had sustained a sprain, but it was unclear how serious the injury was. But on Monday, it was confirmed that the 29-year-old, who joined from Newcastle United during the transfer window, had been forced to undergo an operation and will be out until late December.

Struggling Mexican second tier club Irapuato are to refund fans their money after losing again at the weekend.

"On Tuesday, we will refund the money at the ticket window to everyone who presents their ticket," the club said on Twitter.

Irapuato were beaten 1-0 at home to Correcaminos on Saturday, leaving them two places off the bottom in Mexico's Liga de Ascenso, the second division.

The 2022 World Cup will not be held in Qatar because of the scorching temperatures in the Middle East country, Fifa Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger said on Monday.

"I personally think that in the end the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar," the German told Sport Bild on Monday.

"Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions," the former German football (DFB) chief, who is now a member of the world soccer's governing body Fifa that awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010.

Real Madrid Must Unite - Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has called for unity ahead of Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Elche on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real are six points behind fierce rivals Barcelona after two defeats in their opening four matches, a run of results that has prompted criticism from the club's supporters, although Ancelotti's men thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 8-2 on Saturday.

Karim Benzema was singled out by a section of the home fans in their UEFA Champions League win over Basel last week and Iker Casillas has also been targeted. Ancelotti who faces injury worries ahead of the visit of Elche with central defensive duo Pepe and Sergio Ramos both doubtful wants a positive approach to Tuesday's game on and off the pitch.

Paris Saint-Germain Won't Sack Laurent Blanc - Nasser Al-Khelaifi

Laurent Blanc's job is not in danger despite Paris Saint-Germain's poor start to the season, according to club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. PSG were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Olympique Lyonnais this weekend and they are currently fifth in Ligue 1, having only won two of their opening six games as they bid to defend their domestic crown.

Having also drawn their opening Champions League match at Ajax, scrutiny over Blanc's position has swelled in the past month, but Al-Khelaifi insisted Blanc would be Parc des Princes' head coach until at least the end of the campaign.

Wayne Rooney lamented Manchester United's lack of composure after a second-half collapse led to a humiliating 5-3 defeat to Leicester City. United started well and twice led by two goals at the King Power Stadium, but defensive errors resulted in a second Premier League defeat of the season for Louis van Gaal's men.

And Rooney - who was seen berating his team-mates on several occasions in the match - admitted United's performance was unacceptable.

DEPORTIVO 2 REAL MADRID 8: Watch The Goals & Highlihgts

20 September 2014

Joseph Yobo Not Good Enough For Arsenal - Martin Keown

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has passed a damning verdict on former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo who is rumoured to be on the watch list of the Gunners who are looking for defensive cover in their team owing to early injury problems. Aside Yobo, former West Brom player Diego Lugano is also said to be targeted but for Keown neither Yobo nor Lugano is good enough for the North London club.

‘With injuries, Arsene Wenger may have to get imaginative with his signings, but I’m not convinced Diego Lugano or Joseph Yobo would offer much’, he told the Daily Mail. ‘

EPL: ASTON VILLA vs ARSENAL PREVIEW - All You Need To Know

SMART LEARNING: The Off School Learning Your Child/Ward Needs

At Smart Learning, we aim to help students with coordination, learning difficulties and behavioural problems. It is important to identify the source of the problem as learning is not all in the mind and physical factors could be hindering his/her academic progress.

We assess and offer interventions for children and adolescents who have either been diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty or who are under-achieving, despite good levels of ability and intelligence. A full diagnostic assessment will enable us to evaluate and tailor make a programme with a learning syllabus to suit his/her specific needs.

Does your child struggle in any of the following areas?

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested he would jump at the chance to return to former club Real Madrid. Mourinho spent three years in the hotseat at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010-13, winning the 2012 Liga title and 2011 Copa del Rey.

However, a failure to secure UEFA Champions League success - Real were eliminated in the semi-finals in all three of Mourinho's seasons in charge - ultimately cost the Portuguese his job. Chelsea moved to bring Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge quickly and after a third-place finish in a campaign of transition last term, the London club are red-hot favourites for this season's Premier League title.

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba was not at his very best against Schalke in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Ivorian bagged his first start since returning to Stamford Bridge but missed a decent chance and failed to show many of the qualities that made him such a star at Chelsea.

Some have questioned whether Jose Mourinho should have started Loic Remy, who scored on his Chelsea debut, considering that Diego Costa was deemed not fully fit for the 1-1 draw with the Bundesliga strugglers.

Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed criticism of midfielder Yaya Toure's performances ahead of Manchester City's clash with Chelsea on Sunday. The Ivory Coast international was instrumental in City's 2013-14 title-winning campaign, scoring 20 Premier League goals in 35 appearances as Pellegrini's men clinched the crown by two points ahead of Liverpool.

After representing his country at the World Cup in Brazil, Toure has featured in three of City's four top-flight matches so far this term. The 31-year-old missed last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal, and was far from his best in City's last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Toure's lethargic performance at the Allianz Arena has drawn widespread criticism in the media but, speaking on Friday, Pellegrini jumped to the defence of the former Barcelona man.

Florentino Pérez's contract business continues apace. The latest to sign on the dotted line is Raphaël Varane, following new deals in the summer for Nacho (until 2021), Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2019).

The vast majority of the Real Madrid squad have committed their long-term futures to the club. In fact, only three current first-team players at the Bernabéu are not under lock and key for the long run: Sami Khedira, Pepe and Álvaro Arbeloa.

Arsene Wenger says it is unfair that Mesut Ozil has been made a "scapegoat" after Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old came in for criticism following Tuesday's loss in the UEFA Champions League, with former Germany captain Michael Ballack describing his performance as "lacklustre".
But ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa, Wenger has come out in defence of Ozil, urging patience with
Arsenal's club-record signing as he looks to regain full fitness following Germany's successful World Cup campaign.

Ozil started all seven games for his country in Brazil, and Wenger believes his exertions at the tournament have affected his early-season form for Arsenal.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid and secure a remarkable return to Manchester United, Goal has learned – but only after he has become the all-time record goalscorer for the Spanish side. Ronaldo only signed a new long-term contract last September, with the new deal running until 2018.

“I'll be here five more years,” he said at the time. “I just want to win trophies for this club.
“I will be honest with you – everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years, but Manchester is in the past. Now my club is Real Madrid. This is my home, my family is here and I'm really happy here.”

Louis van Gaal can guide Manchester United back into the UEFA Champions League, according to Arjen Robben. Van Gaal endured a nervy start to life at Old Trafford, failing to win any of United's opening three Premier League fixtures. United were stunned 2-1 by Swansea City in their league opener, while they drew back-to-back games against Sunderland and promoted side Burnley.

The Manchester team were also bundled out of the Capital One Cup, but after spending over £150 million on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, they finally returned to winning ways against QPR last week. United ran rampant at home to QPR, winning 4-0 and Robben - a transfer target for his former Bayern Munich boss during the recent window - said the club will be playing European football under Van Gaal next season.

The debate over Zidane's coaching credentials has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. On 30th August, MARCA reported that the RFEF Coaches' Committee intended to monitor the situation with the Frenchman following a complaint filed by the schools director of the Centro Nacional de Formación de Entrenadores (National Coaches' Training Centre, CENAFE).

It all boils down to Zizou allegedly violating the rules by assuming the role of head coach of Real Madrid Castilla without being in possession of the necessary qualification. What started out as merely a monitoring exercise has now led to an investigation being opened by the Federation's Competition Committee that could see the Frenchman and even Real Madrid itself landed with a ban.

Jose Mourinho has stressed there is no relationship between him and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, but lauded the Ballon d'Or winner for being a "goal machine".

Since the current Chelsea boss left the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, there have been a number of instances where the two have seemed far from friendly - most recently Mourinho suggested Ronaldo was partly to blame for Real Madrid's Champions League exit in 2011-12 at the hands of Bayern Munich due to his missed penalty.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2 ARSENAL 0: Watch The Goals & Highlights

15 September 2014

FUNNY!!! Brendan Rodgers Says Champions League Needs Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool's return to the Champions League is a positive for everyone in the tournament, insisting the competition "needs" the club. Liverpool host Bulgarian side Ludogorets at Anfield on Tuesday in a game that will mark their first Champions League match since 2009 after finishing second in the Premier League last season.

Rodgers is relishing managing the Reds in Europe's elite club competition and, while he is eager to ensure they progress from a group that also contains Basel and Real Madrid, the 41-year-old's main focus is to ensure the club become a regular presence once again.

Vincent Kompany wants Manchester City to show no fear in their UEFA Champions League Group E campaign opener at Bayern Munich. The Premier League champions are paired with their German counterparts in Europe's elite competition for the second season running.

Having bowed out at the group stage in their previous two Champions League excursions, the signs were ominous as Bayern trampled early season optimism at the Etihad Stadium last term, leaving Manchester with a swashbuckling 3-1 victory.

30 September 2014

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17 September 2014

15 September 2014