Welcome To Dipo Liadi's blog: November 2014

24 November 2014

PHOTOS: Former Boxing Promoter Insists On Sex Change Despite Near Death Experience

Kellie Maloney will go ahead with a final sex change operation to become a woman, despite being left close to death after her last surgery, Mirror.co.uk reports. The former boxing promoter is due to go under the knife again in February to have breast augmentation and male to female reassignment procedures.

She had been warned against further surgery after doctors spent 10 hours battling to save her life when she suffered internal bleeding following a facial reconstruction operation in Belgium.

CHELSEA 2 WEST BROM 1: Watch All Goals and Highlights

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Manuel Pellegrini Under Pressure Against Bayern Munich

Manuel Pellegrini has heaped the pressure on himself ahead of Manchester City's must-win UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. City's hopes of progression to the knockout stages are hanging by a thread after claiming just two points from their first four matches.

Pellegrini's men suffered a morale-sapping 2-1 home defeat to CSKA Moscow in Europe's premier club competition earlier this month in a match that saw them finish with nine men. The Premier League champions have enjoyed plenty of success domestically in recent years, with two league titles and glory in the FA Cup and League Cup appeasing the club's super-rich owners - at least for now.

Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea they have won nothing yet despite another impressive performance in the triumph over West Brom. Diego Costa's 11th Premier League goal of the season and an Eden Hazard strike were enough for the leaders to defeat Alan Irvine's men 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The victory maintained Chelsea's league unbeaten run and moved them seven points clear of second-placed Southampton, who play Aston Villa on Monday. But manager Mourinho is keen to temper expectations despite his men being heavy favourites to lift the title.

NIGERIA 2 CONGO 0: Watch The Goals & Highlights

NFL: Adrian Peterson Suspended Without Pay For The Rest Of The Season

The NFL announced Tuesday morning that Adrian Peterson would be suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2014 season. The NFLPA announced plans to appeal the suspension and Peterson could seek other remedies. The union also added a surprising point, noting "an NFL executive told Adrian that his time on the commissioner's list would be considered as time served."

When Peterson was notified of his suspension, Roger Goodell issued a letter to the Vikings running back informing him how he'll be able to return to the league.

Charley Hoffman rallied from a three-shot deficit Sunday by closing with a 5-under 66 for a one-shot victory over Shawn Stefani in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.

Hoffman ended another long drought with his third career victory on the PGA Tour. He had gone 105 starts between his first and second victory, and this time went 108 starts until winning the final PGA Tour event of the calendar year.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant doesn't want to shoot this often. That's what he told reporters, at least, after his team's embarrassing 136-115 loss -- it was 115-79 after three quarters -- to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

"I'd always rather get guys involved and play," Bryant said. "That's always the intent at the start of the ball game. But [when] you're 10, 12 points in the hole, I've got to try to keep us in the ball game at some point. But it's tough. It's tough.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has hinted for the first time that he could leave the Catalan giants in the near future. The 27-year-old has long maintained his happiness at Camp Nou and always insisted that he would only move to join boyhood club Newell's in Argentina at the end of his career.

However, the attacker has endured some tough times over the last year in Catalunya due to injuries, a tax fraud case and troubles on the pitch as Barca won only the Supercopa de Espana in 2013-14.

Manchester United have confirmed the club suffered a 9.9 per cent revenue drop in the first quarter of the 2015 financial year. The results are the first of the new Premier League season and follow from United's disappointing campaign last time out in which they failed to qualify for the lucrative UEFA Champions League under David Moyes. Since then, the club have splashed the cash on a new-look side in an attempt to regain ground on their top-flight rivals.

However, United confirmed on Tuesday that overall revenue in the three months to the end of September had fallen from the 2014 figure of £98.5 million to £88.7m.

Nigeria will likely need to extend their 10-year unbeaten run over South Africa if they are to reach the Africa Cup of Nations finals. For Nigeria, anything but victory at the newly built Akwa Ibom International Stadium on Wednesday could be fatal for their chances of making the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

They currently sit in second place in Group A, level on seven points with Claude Le Roy's Congo, who face bottom-of-the-group Sudan in their final qualifier.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insists the Premier League title race is still alive despite his team's dominance. Jose Mourinho's men are four points clear at the top and are unbeaten through 11 league games this campaign.

But Courtois said it was far from over, expecting it to be "very difficult" despite the struggles of Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

"We don't have the title in the bag," he said.

"We are working game by game. The Premier League is very difficult.

"We are trying to win with every game that is possible. But there will be a still a long way to win the title. We are working hard. Hopefully that will be enough."

Third-placed City are eight points behind Chelsea, while Arsenal (12), United (13) and Liverpool (15) are even further adrift.

17 November 2014

I Was Not Cocky - Paul Pogba

France midfielder Paul Pogba insists he was "not cocky" but learned his lessons from his team's 1-1 draw with Albania. Pogba was beaten to a cross by Mergim Mavraj as Albania took a surprise lead in the friendly, but Antoine Griezmann salvaged a draw for France in the second half.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has cast his eye on victory over South Africa after describing the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo as a very difficult match.

Keshi said that there were no longer small teams on the continent as the Super Eagles won 2-0 in Pointe Noire to keep alive hopes of reaching next year’s tournament. The defending African champions were in danger of missing out on Equatorial Guinea 2015 but were aided by goals from Ikechukwu Uche and Aaron Samuel.

WEST BROM: Has Brown Ideye Failed???

West Brom are looking for a potential new striker in January as record signing Brown Ideye toils.
Albion’s £10million Nigerian forward, 26, signed from Dynamo Kiev in July, is yet to score in the Premier League. Brown did not even make the bench for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Leicester.

LeBron James has known Kyrie Irving for years. He's been a mentor for the young Cleveland Cavaliers point guard since he was a freshman at Duke. Irving has spoken of seeking out James for advice on his adjustment to the NBA both on and off the court.

So the fact that he and James aren't getting along 100 percent is a little surprising. James has made several comments this week about "bad habits" that have set in on the Cavs over the last couple of years, and as Irving has been the constant since James left in 2011, it's not shocking who James is talking about, along with Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson.

Roy Hodgson's war of words with Brendan Rodgers re-emerged as the England manager brought the Raheem Sterling saga back into the spotlight. Hodgson and Rodgers were involved in a dispute in October, arguing over whether Liverpool attacker Sterling asked not to play against Estonia in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has supported Ray Rice's story all along. Even after commissioner Roger Goodell said Rice's account following a physical altercation with his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City hotel elevator hadn't been consistent, Newsome said that Rice had told the truth to Newsome.

Newsome reportedly didn't change his story Thursday, because, according to ESPN's Don Van Natta, Newsome testified under oath that he heard Rice tell Goodell on June 16 that he had hit Janay Rice in that elevator.

Mauricio Pochettino insisted the points were all that mattered after Tottenham limped to a 2-1 Europa League win at Asteras Tripoli. The Premier League side were in complete control by half-time of Thursday's clash, as first Andros Townsend scored from the penalty spot before turning provider for Harry Kane to head home a second - the striker's 10th goal in all competitions this season.

However, Asteras made life difficult for Spurs in the second half as Diego Rolle and Facundo Parra wasted great chances, while Pablo Mazza saw a shot cannon off the post.

England manager Roy Hodgson said he is unhappy with the surface at Wembley, which will host an NFL game prior to a Euro 2016 qualifier. Hodgson's men, who top Group E in qualifying with maximum points from three games, host Slovenia on November 15, less than a week after the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars do battle in London on Sunday.

The 67-year-old said he felt the surface was already below standard acceptable for international football, and said he was seeking a solution - despite Wembley officials announcing another three NFL matches will be played at the venue in 2015.

Manchester United Not Good Enough - Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick conceded Manchester United have not been good enough this season, though he believes the club can turn things around. United were condemned to their worst start to a season in 28 years after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League derby at Etihad Stadium.
Louis van Gaal's side have only collected 13 points from 10 games, 13 less than league-leading Chelsea.

While the 2014-15 Premier League campaign has not gone according to plan so far, United midfielder Carrick is confident his team-mates are on the right track as they continue to familiarise themselves with Van Gaal's game plan.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the best player in the world. The Champions League holders are set to host the Reds on Tuesday night knowing a win would take them into the knockout stages of European football's premier club competition. And Rodgers is aware of the threat Ronaldo will pose, though he is not underestimating the rest of Los Blancos' squad.

ALL HAIL KANO PILLARS - New Champions Of The Nigerian Premier League

Kano Pillars have technically emerged winners of the prolonged 2013/2014 Glo Premier League even with one round of matches yet to be played. Pillars edged relegated Nembe City 4-0 in their last home match of the season while Enyimba drew 1-1 with Dolphins of Port Harcourt at the Liberation Stadium.

The result in Kano means Pillars now have 65 points and would be crowned a third time back-to-back champions irrespective of the outcome of their last game of the season away to Enyimba. It is the second time Pillars and Enyimba have been locked in a photo-finish clash with the Pyramid City side coming out tops at the end of the day.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo’s superb strike against Liverpool has been named the UEFA Champions League Goal of the Week, presented by Nissan, for Matchday Three. The Portuguese forward ran on to James Rodriguez’s deftly chipped pass and lifted a brilliant first-time shot over Simon Mignolet to put the competition holders ahead at Anfield.

Ronaldo is in sensational form and has now scored 70 UEFA Champions League goals, trailing all-time top goalscorer Raul by just one.

Oscar insists summer signing Cesc Fabregas has taken Chelsea to another level this season with his "beautiful passes".

The Blues finished third in the Premier League last term but have made an undefeated start to the current campaign and sit four point clear at the top of the table after 10 games. Oscar played an integral role in Chelsea's latest victory, netting the opener in Saturday's 2-1 defeat of QPR courtesy of a sublime finish with the outside of his right foot.

Saturday's defeat at home to Celta has set the alarm bells ringing at Barcelona. No one was expecting anything like this, on a day when the 'Azulgranas' were supposed to make it up to their fans for the debacle at the Santiago Bernabéu the week before.

So a season which had started out very positively has now run aground. All eyes are on Luis Enrique, and his team seems to have an identity crisis. One day they want to hold on to the ball, and another they play at a hectic pace taking no account of the midfield at all.

Ivan Rakitic was the player to watch during the first few matches of the season. He came into the side admirably well, but appears to have fallen out of favour. Enrique has picked him five times, and the first three he did very well indeed, but then came the draw at Málaga and the defeat in Paris, and he has not started since.

It is true that we are playing well, we know how important every match is. Every match is a test and a chance to either improve or take a step back. But we are not afraid because I have a very professional team. I have to admit and make clear that we tried to play this way last year also. I'm confident with this team.

[Gareth] Bale is fine, Fábio [Coentrão], Jesé and [Dani] Carvajal are not available. [Asier] Illarramendi and [Sami] Khedira aren't either, but Bale is alright. I will decide his presence in the starting lineup tomorrow.

Arsene Wenger would be "happy" for Theo Walcott to link up with England, but urged caution on managing his comeback from injury. The 25-year-old returned to competitive action for the first time since sustaining a knee ligament injury in January when he came off the bench in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday.

England face a Euro 2016 qualifying fixture at home to Slovenia on November 15 and a friendly at Scotland two days later during the upcoming international break.

MAN CITY 1 MAN UNITED O: Watch The All Goal & Highlights

CHELSEA 2 QPR 1: Watch The Goals & Highlights

I Am Extremely Loyal To Lakers - Kobe Bryant

In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant says that asking for a trade is "not what he does."

"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," Bryant told Yahoo Sports. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers.

Filippo Inzaghi has admitted AC Milan deserved to lose to Palermo after they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to the Sicilian side on Sunday. Cristian Zapata gave the visitors the lead with an own goal before he was easily knocked off the ball by Paulo Dybala who then doubled his side's lead.

And Inzaghi admitted that his side were not good enough against the newly promoted side, but says he deserves the blame.

I Am Proud Of My Players - Louis Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he is not jealous of Manchester City’s squad as he prepares for his first derby on Sunday. Manuel Pellegrini's men claimed their second title in three years last season and boast a squad including the likes of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Vincent Kompany.

The Dutchman takes his team to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday having spent heavily in the summer and is optimistic his team can take all three points.

24 November 2014

23 November 2014

18 November 2014

17 November 2014

07 November 2014

04 November 2014

03 November 2014

01 November 2014