Saturday, December 19, 2009
This One Hurts
Andrew Bynum's knee injury is worse than expected. Bynum will miss the next 2 to 3 months with a torn MCL in his right knee. His injury will likely keep him out until at least May. Even though Bynum may recover, the Lakers shouldn't count on him coming back at all this season. It will take Bynum time to get in game shape after his knee heals and no one knows how long that will take. Remember last season he was sidelined almost the entire season with a left knee injury.
Bynum's injury seriously hurts the Lakers chances of winning a NBA championship this season. Bynum's injury weakens the Lakers frontcourt and their depth on the bench. I expect that Lamar Odom will move back into the starting lineup. The Lakers won't miss Bynum as much against the Mavericks, Hornets, Nuggets or Jazz. But Bynum's toughness will be missed in potential playoff matchups against the Rockets, Spurs, Suns or Blazers. Pau Gasol lacks the toughness to defend Tim D! uncan, < span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Yao Ming, Shaq or even Greg Oden. Expect Kobe's scoring to skyrocket as the Lakers will rely on #24 even more.
The Lakers may want to explore trade possibilities to add a proven low post scorer and defender. I like Pau Gasol as a player but he is definitely not the answer at center. And don't get me started on the possibility of Chris Mihm playing major minutes during the playoffs at center. There is no way that he could deal with any legitimate big man. I will b! e looking at some of the Lakers trade possibilities over the next few days.
Santa Clara 7, Notre Dame 1
Kiki Bosio, Meagan Snell and Brittany Klein scored a pair of goals each to lead No. 3 Santa Clara women's soccer to a 7-1 upset of No. 2 Notre Dame Friday night in the second game of the 2007 Santa Clara adidas Classic at Buck Shaw Stadium. With the win, the Broncos improved to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Fighting Irish dropped to 2-1-0 overall.
US gets by Finland 1-0
For the second straight game, midielder Carli Lloyd scored to help the US to a 1-0 win over mediocre Finland.
Did Kerfoot's $1million influence Pellerud?
"She credits Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot for a major investment in Canadian women's soccer -- reportedly a recent $1-million contribution -- and the fact that B.C.-based national team players are living rentfree in a Kerfoot-owned apartment complex in Vancouver's False Creek area."
Crossley Named Breakers Interim GM
Andy Crossley has been named the interim General Manager of the Boston Breakers, it was announced on Wednesday by the team's Manager Partner, Michael Stoller.
Crossley was the team's third employee, joining the Breakers in October 2007 as Director of Business Development. In that role, he directed the team's ticket sales, merchandising and customer service programs. Prior to joining the Breakers, Crossley worked in minor league baseball for seven years, including two years as General Manager of the Brockton Rox and Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. from 2005-2007.
Kawasaki Pulls out from MotoGP?
December 31, 2008
I read from (Reuters) and I can't believe it...:(
Marco Melandri said he was in the dark after Italian media reported that his Kawasaki team are planning to pull out of MotoGP because of the global economic crisis.
"I have to wait and speak to someone. At the moment I don't know anything," t! he Italian rider, who has switched to Kawasaki after a disappointing season with Ducati, was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport's website (www.gazzetta.it).
"I can only hope that I wake up on Jan. 1 and discover it's all a bad dream."
Hope so, I always want to see him on the Kwaka....
Heartbreak for Liverpool
Liverpool will be waking up this morning in disbelief surrounding their 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League last night at Anfield. The Reds seemed to be on course to go to Stamford Bridge a goal ahead, that was not meant to be. John Arne Riise dived to clear the ball but instead put it in the back if his won net in the dying moments of the game.Liverpool had a nervy start to the game and The Blues came close to scoring when a free kick was given away. Liverpool went ahead on the 43rd minute when dirk Kuyt slipped one through Petr checks legs. Chelsea did have a couple of chances but they were squande! red. Didier Drogba went down in the area when he was brought down by Jamie Carragher. The refreree has been an issue of contention as he was very inconsistent.
The Reds have it all to do, they have to score and make sure Chelsea don't score in the next leg, if they want to get to Moscow on 21 May.
New laws for Bloem test
SA Rugby referees manager André Watson has advised South African supporters to be aware of strict new instructions that have been issued to referees by the International Rugby Board and will be in use for Saturday's Test between South Africa and Wales in Bloemfontein."The IRB has issued an instruction to all match officials to rigorously apply the law at the breakdown – the tackle and ruck," said Watson.
"There will be zero tolerance for handling ball in the ruck; zero tolerance for handling the ball at the tackle or ruck when a player is off his feet a! nd there will be zero tolerance of 'sealing off' the ball at the ruck."
'Sealing off' is the practice of supporting players going off their feet and bridging over the ball to prevent a defending side being able to legally contest possession.
"This is very common by the team carrying the ball and is illegal," said Watson. "But it has historically been tolerated by the referee when the attacking side infringed.
"The new emphasis is to referee both teams equally and not have to have a higher level of tolerance for the ball-carrying team."
Watson stressed that these were not changes in Law but rather the strict application of existing law to ensure a fair contest for the ball. He says it could result in the ball-carrying team being penalised more frequently for:
- Not entering the breakdown through the gate.
- Having 'p! illars' (players in front of the last feet at the ruck and mau! l) inter fering and/or blocking defenders attempting to reach the ball or ball carriers.
- Playing the ball by means of hands in the ruck.
- Lying on the ground and handling the ball.
- Sealing the ball off (although there will be occasions when players fall on the ground after driving/cleaning out that does not prevent the opposition contesting the ball).
- Crooked feeding at the scrum.
"It may mean that there will be more whistling initially but we're confident that if the coaches and players comply, the game will improve in terms of continuity, better quality ball and fewer stoppages."
WP Know What to Expect on Saturday
Vodacom Western Province coach Allister Coetzee says they're expecting a direct style of play from the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.
Coetzee says the Cheetahs are likely to ask alot more questions of their defence because they tend to attack the advantage line quite directly. The coach also expects fierce competition at the breakdown from Heinrich Brussouw and Hendro Scholtz. That aspect will be especially important if the heavens open up as predicted.
The Cape can expect an 80 percent chance of rain for this weekend. Another aspect which will be interesting to watch in wet weather conditions will be the performance of the two flyhalves. Former WP pivot Chris Rossouw and current WP flyhalf Willem de Waal have swapped jerseys and the match could very well boil down to a kicking duel between the two. De Waal has the upper hand over Rossouw because he's played in four Currie Cup finals, three of which he's helped the Cheetahs to win.
So Province will be looking to de Waal to kick the points and put the Cheetahs on the back foot while they'll be hoping their loose trio can nulify Brussouw and Scholtz at the breakdown.
WP side to play the Cheetahs on Saturday:
15. Gio APLON; 14. Tonderai CHAVHANGA ; 13. Dylan des FOUNTAIN; 12. Gcobani BOBO (C); 11. Wylie HUMAN ; 10. Willem de WAAL; 9. Allistair SIEGELAAR; 8. AJ VENTER; 7. Francois LOUW; 6. Pieter MYBURGH; 5. Ross SKEATE; 4. Adriaan FONDSE; 3. Brok HARRIS; 2. Schalk BRITS; 1. Wicus BLAAUW
Replacements:
16. Deon FOURIE; 17. Schalk FERREIRA; 18. Francois van der MERWE; 19. Justin MELCK; 20. Paul DELPORT; 21. Isma-eel DOLLIE; 22. Morgan NEWMAN
Vodacom Cheetahs: 15-Bevin Fortuin, 14-Eddie Fredericks, 13-Hendrik Meyer, 12-Meyer Bosman, 11-Jongi Nokwe, 10-Chris Rossouw, 9-Neil Powell, 8-Schalk van der Merwe, 7-Hendro Scholtz (c), 6-Heinrich Brüssow, 5-Barend Pieterse, 4-Flip! van der Merwe, 3-Kobus Calldo, 2-Adriaan Strauss, 1-Wian du P! reez.
Replacements: 16-Jaco du Toit, 17-Phillip Lemmer, 18-David de Villiers, 19-Kabamba Floors, 20-Tewis de Bruyn, 21-JW Jonker, 22-Fabian Juries.
O' Neill Cold Water Classic to begin
South Africa's Top Men, Pro Juniors and Women Ready for O'Neill Cold Water Classic over sixty of the country's top men, pro junior and women surfers have gathered in the Cape to compete in the fifth edition of the popular O'Neill Cold Water Classic which is a Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour event.
Divisions include 3A men's and pro junior with a 1A rated women's division. A total prize purse of R32, 500 is on offer in this unique competition which takes place over a four-day waiting period from August 21 to 24 to ensure that entrants only do battle in the best conditions possible which in turn guarantees the highest level of surfing action for spectators. "We are really excited to be holding the O'Neill Cold Water Classic again this year and upgrading the event by adding an additional 3A PST Junior division."
"We are looking forward to some classic surf which the event is always renowned for as well as some top class surfing," co! mmented Chris Bertish the O'Neill South Africa Brand Manager. Defending event champion Devyn Mattheys (East London) is the top seed in the men's division and has his sights set on returning home with the lion's share of the R20, 000 prize money. 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic women's winner Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) will square up to the top seeded "queen of SA surfing" Heather Clark (Port Shepstone) as well as a handful of hungry rising stars. The pro junior division has been introduced for the first time in 2008 and the top seed is Klee Strachan (Amanzimtoti) who will be going all out to overcome a strong charge from O'Neill stars Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis). Godfrey is fresh from a win in the U20 division of the recent Billabong Pro Junior event and is lying second on the PST ratings.
"The annual O'Neill Cold Water Classic is one of the highlights of the Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour. It is unique in that it takes plac! e in waves and venues that highlight the skills of the competi! tors. It is a true mobile contest with a waiting period that allows organizers to hold the event in the best surf," commented Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa, the governing body for the sport in South Africa. Wave and weather guru Steve Pike from www.wavescape.co.za is the official surf forecaster for the O'Neill Cold Water Classic. Organizers have earmarked Kalk Bay Reef, Crayfish Factory, The Kom, The Hoek, Misty Cliffs and Witsands as possible locations. Members of the public can call 0822834001 daily to check on the event status.
O'Neill Cold Water Classic co-sponsors include Ocean Minded footwear who will be doing beach clean ups on each day of the event; Corona Premium Beer and also EMT-Emergency Medical Training services who will be on standby at the event for the four-day period. To view the entire entry list please visit www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za for event updates and images go to www.oneillsa.com
Issued by O' Neill South A! frica
Goldstone to face hearing
Maritzburg United will be taking action against their defender Gary Goldstone, after he elbowed Tshepo Bulu in the face during Sunday's win against Kaiser Chiefs. Bulu ended up in hospital and is likely to be out of football for a month. Maritzburg United coach Gordon Igesund missed the incident, but was furious after seeing it on a television replay yesterday. He says he will not tolerate that sort of play in his team.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Scots Back Boks' STAR Campaign
Scotland have thrown their weight behind the South African Rugby Union's STAR initiative and will join the campaign to highlight the sport's opposition to racism before kick-off in Saturday's Test at Murrayfield.
The Scotland team will wear a specially commissioned armband featuring a STAR in their colours of blue and white during the playing of the national anthems. Scotland have also made available space in their match programme and on their big screens to highlight the initiative.
The SARU campaign takes its shape from the acronym S T A R – Stand Together Against Racism.
"We are delighted to support our colleagues in South Africa on this important issue." said Scottish Rugby's Chief Executive Gordon McKie. "Rugby in Scotland is a sport open to all and we believe that any opportunity that can be taken to underline that there is no place for barriers in our sport, should be grasped."The STAR campaign was launched by SARU as a follow up to a domestic 'No to Racism' campaign during the Absa Currie Cup. Teams wore the slogan on their playing jerseys during one round of the competition and the slogan was painted in the in-goal areas for the second half of the tournament.
"It is humbling to see the speed and generosity of spirit with which our rugby brethren in the northern hemisphere have agreed to stand together with us," said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU.
"Scotland's gesture in a country with far! fewer racial complications than our own speaks to the power o! f this c ause and the importance that we as South Africans should place on it.
"I'd like to publicly thank Gordon McKie and the board of Scottish Rugby for their support of our campaign and helping us promote this important message."
ISSUED BY SA RUGBY
Liverpool fail to go top
Liverpool have failed to regain the top spot of the English Premiership, the Reds drew 1-1 in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield last night.The result now leaves Liverpool level on points with Manchester United who have a game in hand. The match was end to end soccer, with both teams pacing up and down the field trying to get an opener.
Everton continued to threaten the Red's goal but soon after the homes side appealed for a penalty when Fernando Torres was pushed in the area but Ref! eree Howard Webb dismissed the claim.
It was all Liverpool from them on Torres had another opportunity which he scuffed then Captain Steven Gerrard had one which was pushed away by Toffee's goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Eventually in the 68th minute Gerrard netted the opener however victory was not meant to be for the Red half of Merseyside. Tim Cahill equalised for his side close to the full time.
Red's Coach Rafael Benitez says even though United have a game in, it doesn't bother him.
"I was telling the players after the game, it's not easy and everyone is disappointed but we have to think about the positives, the (FA) Cup, the Champions League and also leveling points with United at the top of the table. So in August if we wanted to be in this position I can guarantee that 100% of the fans will say yes."
Rosslee believes teams mental strength on the up
Ajax Coach Craig Rosslee believes his team's mental strength has increased as they have progressed to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
The Urban Warriors face Pretoria University in the last four of the cup competition on Sunday.
This will be a major challenge for Ajax as the Mvela League side has knocked out the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic so far.
However before they travel to Gauteng, they face Thanda Royal Zulu at Newlands ! on Thursday.
Rosslee says despite Thanda being threatened by relegation his side needs to show them the necessary respect.
"The mindset is always going to be that if you want to win the league it's you have to have the same mental approach for the big teams and the smaller teams. I think that, that defines the character of not only individual players but the team as a whole."
Pic: Jeff Ayliffe
Has Kimi Raikkonen quit already?
In 2007, after years of unfulfilled promise and misfortune Kimi Raikkonen grabbed his first World Championship in improbable and spectacular fashion. He was expected to win it when he signed for Ferrari and although it looked like that promise was again to be unfulfilled he beat the McLaren duo of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton by a single point. It was also expected that the flood gates would open for a run of Raikkonen titles; many predicted that he was going to repeat as champion in 2008. However, he has fallen way short of expectations and currently is receiving the worst beating of his career from a teammate. Given the many rumors that persisted that he was retiring, one must ask the questions even though his contract is extended to after 2010, has Raikkonen retired already? Is he suffering from a lack of motivation?
As mentioned, Ferrari recently put an end to the retirement speculation by signing Raikkonen to an extension. Nevertheless, his performance ! this year looks to be more than a driver simply struggling with the car. Raikkonen has always been a bit of an enigma to me and always needed some external motivation. I felt that he lacked the motivation to work on his car development skills or adjust his driving style, which in my opinion ultimately led to his defeat in 2005 to Alonso and Renault. He again is showing that lack of motivation when it comes to solving how to get the best from his tires. One would think that he would put more effort into testing. It continues to be the case, that his teammates test more frequently and amass more mileage than Raikkonen. This was similar at McLaren. To me this is the difference that makes Alonso a multiple world champion and able to help a struggling Renault win again.
Raikkonen clearly still has the speed to dominate the field as he has posted 10 fastest laps in 2008. If there is a target out there for him to shoot at, I think he can perform in a dominant fashion; b! ut he does not have that now. Raikkonen has all that he ever w! anted; h e got his dream ride at Ferrari, he has won a championship and Raikkonen makes no secret that he does not live and breath racing and does not want to stay forever. He currently sits fourth in the World championship in a car that is more than capable of winning the title and appears rather uninterested. When Raikkonen has been focused he simply does not make any mistakes. However, in the years in which his motivation and focus is questionable (2006 and 2008) he has made uncharacteristic errors and has crashed out or spun off. If we look at Raikkonen from 2001-2005, the number of crashes and spins for Raikkonen is 6 (for races). In 2006 and 2008, again years that motivation was questionable, he crashed or spun 7 times and 2008 is not over yet. So, in 2 seasons he has spun or crashed more than he ever did in 5 years. What makes these 2 seasons important is that he knew he was off to Ferrari in 2006 while he drove a lackluster McLaren and in 2008 he comes off a championship seas! on and has to quiet rumors about his retirement. In these circumstances it is rather easy to be demotivated. For record, in 2007 he was error free in terms of spins or crashes in races. You can draw some parallels with another Ferrari driver Jody Scheckter, who after years of trying, won the Formula 1 championship in 1979. He quit after a dismal 1980. However, his fall from grace was substantially worse than anything Raikkonen would do.
Raikkonen has received the benefit of the doubt from Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. I suppose when you win a title you have earned a reprieve. I believe if this was Felipe Massa in the position of not scoring a single point in 4 straight races and having spun off in two of them, and there had been sustained rumors of retirement, which Raikkonen has done, people would have considered it a scandal that Massa was still driving arguable the best car on the grid.
Let us see if Kimi can turn it around because it would! be a shame for a driver in his prime years just fluff all tha! t natura l talent away.
Martin Samuel: It's Tough At The Top For Benitez After Losing His Alonso X-Factor
The last English team to lose three of their first eight League games and go on to win the title were Manchester United in season 1966-67. We all know what happened next.
For those who believe in lucky omens, it stands to reason that from here Liverpool will collect their first title of the modern era in May and lift the European Cup at Wembley the following season. Leaving Stamford Bridge, however, Rafael Benitez did not look much like a man who was sensing a golden destiny in the stars.
He may have been contemplating another run dating back to March 22 last season when Liv! erpool defeated Aston Villa 5-0 at Anfield.
With the title race still very much alive at the time, Villa were, arguably, the last good team Liverpool beat in a match that mattered. On that day, anything seemed possible, certainly the imminent lifting of the Premier League trophy. Liverpool were coming off a 4-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, having already beaten Chelsea home and away. Steven Gerrard was in blistering form and his relationship with Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres was being hailed as the tactical masterstroke of the season.
Things change. Gerrard and Torres are still in situ, but Alonso is long gone and, suddenly, Liverpool are struggling against the best. This season they have lost to every good team they have played: Tottenham, Villa, Fiorentina and now Chelsea.
It is happening too often to be dismissed as a blip. On Sunday, Liverpool were inferior against a Chelsea team who had every reason to be fearful, comi! ng off the back of defeat at Wigan and an unconvincing victory! over AP OEL Nicosia.
It was this fixture last season that put Luiz Felipe Scolari on the slippery slope to Uzbekistan and judgment was being reserved on his successor Carlo Ancelotti until it was over. Simply, he won: the match and the tactical battle.
This was a vindication of Ancelotti's diamond midfield and the subtle changes he has made to Chelsea's style of play. Liverpool, by contrast, looked predictable and threatened rarely.
The caution that has often been a flaw in Benitez's thinking returned. Yossi Benayoun, one of their most effective players this season, remained stranded on the bench until the 66th minute. Only when Chelsea were two clear did Liverpool spring to life and force a save from stand-in goalkeeper Henrique Hilario.
This was an opportunity lost and for 43 years of history to be overcome, Benitez must first solve the problem caused by Alonso's absence.
His task is made more complex by the fact it will not b! e an issue every week. Against weaker teams, the deep midfield partnership of Lucas and Javier Mascherano is perfectly adequate. Cutting the supply line to Gerrard is vital in beating Liverpool, but inferior teams cannot sustain it and the games against Hull, Stoke, West Ham, Burnley and Bolton have yielded five wins and 20 goals as a result.
The better sides, though, will usually deploy an expert defensive screen. Wilson Palacios was outstanding for Tottenham on the opening day of the season. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's tight midfield four squeezed the life out of Liverpool's middle men.
The move for the first goal began with Frank Lampard nailing Mascherano and while it was the earliness of Didier Drogba's cross for Nicolas Anelka that was the defining element, the build-up, which also involved Michael Essien and Deco, demonstrated the significance of Chelsea's superiority in midfield.
Lucas is young and does not deserve to be made the s! capegoat - he was probably superior to Mascherano - but the fa! ct is th at Alonso was key to Liverpool's resurgence last season and without him they miss the urgency of his passes to Gerrard.
'Xabi Alonso was priceless for me,' Steven Gerrard explained when we met last month. 'The speed of his delivery was essential because it gave us the advantage over the defenders. I really miss him because I scored a lot of goals that were down to his speed of thought.
'The service, the way he controlled games, to lose that was big for us. He is one of the best in the world in that position.
He reminded me of Claude Makelele, one of those players who are only really appreciated by their team-mates. The Chelsea players would pay tribute to Makelele, Zinedine Zidane talked about him at Real Madrid, too. The speed those guys play the ball is scary.'
There was little scary about Liverpool. They were ponderous compared to Chelsea and even Torres suffered in comparison to Drogba. He set up both Chelsea goals and, despite! the usual irksome antics, admiration won the day. With Deco at the forward point of Ancelotti's diamond and Lampard restored to his deeper role, Chelsea's mechanism is working again.
The fault in Liverpool's apparatus is simply identified, too; they have a missing part and it is not one that can be easily placed on order.
For those who believe in lucky omens, it stands to reason that from here Liverpool will collect their first title of the modern era in May and lift the European Cup at Wembley the following season. Leaving Stamford Bridge, however, Rafael Benitez did not look much like a man who was sensing a golden destiny in the stars.
He may have been contemplating another run dating back to March 22 last season when Liv! erpool defeated Aston Villa 5-0 at Anfield.
With the title race still very much alive at the time, Villa were, arguably, the last good team Liverpool beat in a match that mattered. On that day, anything seemed possible, certainly the imminent lifting of the Premier League trophy. Liverpool were coming off a 4-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, having already beaten Chelsea home and away. Steven Gerrard was in blistering form and his relationship with Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres was being hailed as the tactical masterstroke of the season.
Things change. Gerrard and Torres are still in situ, but Alonso is long gone and, suddenly, Liverpool are struggling against the best. This season they have lost to every good team they have played: Tottenham, Villa, Fiorentina and now Chelsea.
It is happening too often to be dismissed as a blip. On Sunday, Liverpool were inferior against a Chelsea team who had every reason to be fearful, comi! ng off the back of defeat at Wigan and an unconvincing victory! over AP OEL Nicosia.
It was this fixture last season that put Luiz Felipe Scolari on the slippery slope to Uzbekistan and judgment was being reserved on his successor Carlo Ancelotti until it was over. Simply, he won: the match and the tactical battle.
This was a vindication of Ancelotti's diamond midfield and the subtle changes he has made to Chelsea's style of play. Liverpool, by contrast, looked predictable and threatened rarely.
The caution that has often been a flaw in Benitez's thinking returned. Yossi Benayoun, one of their most effective players this season, remained stranded on the bench until the 66th minute. Only when Chelsea were two clear did Liverpool spring to life and force a save from stand-in goalkeeper Henrique Hilario.
This was an opportunity lost and for 43 years of history to be overcome, Benitez must first solve the problem caused by Alonso's absence.
His task is made more complex by the fact it will not b! e an issue every week. Against weaker teams, the deep midfield partnership of Lucas and Javier Mascherano is perfectly adequate. Cutting the supply line to Gerrard is vital in beating Liverpool, but inferior teams cannot sustain it and the games against Hull, Stoke, West Ham, Burnley and Bolton have yielded five wins and 20 goals as a result.
The better sides, though, will usually deploy an expert defensive screen. Wilson Palacios was outstanding for Tottenham on the opening day of the season. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's tight midfield four squeezed the life out of Liverpool's middle men.
The move for the first goal began with Frank Lampard nailing Mascherano and while it was the earliness of Didier Drogba's cross for Nicolas Anelka that was the defining element, the build-up, which also involved Michael Essien and Deco, demonstrated the significance of Chelsea's superiority in midfield.
Lucas is young and does not deserve to be made the s! capegoat - he was probably superior to Mascherano - but the fa! ct is th at Alonso was key to Liverpool's resurgence last season and without him they miss the urgency of his passes to Gerrard.
'Xabi Alonso was priceless for me,' Steven Gerrard explained when we met last month. 'The speed of his delivery was essential because it gave us the advantage over the defenders. I really miss him because I scored a lot of goals that were down to his speed of thought.
'The service, the way he controlled games, to lose that was big for us. He is one of the best in the world in that position.
He reminded me of Claude Makelele, one of those players who are only really appreciated by their team-mates. The Chelsea players would pay tribute to Makelele, Zinedine Zidane talked about him at Real Madrid, too. The speed those guys play the ball is scary.'
There was little scary about Liverpool. They were ponderous compared to Chelsea and even Torres suffered in comparison to Drogba. He set up both Chelsea goals and, despite! the usual irksome antics, admiration won the day. With Deco at the forward point of Ancelotti's diamond and Lampard restored to his deeper role, Chelsea's mechanism is working again.
The fault in Liverpool's apparatus is simply identified, too; they have a missing part and it is not one that can be easily placed on order.
Match Report: Sunderland 1 - 0 LiverpooL
Darren Bent staked a further claim for a place in England's World Cup squad as Sunderland heaped further misery on Liverpool.
However, he did so in controversial circumstances as the visitors were left fuming over the fifth-minute strike which secured the Black Cats' first victory over a 'top four' team since their return to the Barclays Premier League.
Bent's eighth goal of the season came when his shot was deflected past goalkeeper Pepe Reina by a red beach ball which had been thrown onto the pitch, although referee Mike Jones had little option ! but to award the goal.
But if the visitors felt aggrieved at the manner in which their third successive defeat in all competitions was sealed, they could have few complaints about the result in front of a crowd of 47,327 at the Stadium of Light.
With the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres missing, they were a shadow of the side which pushed Manchester United so close last season as they slipped to their fourth league defeat of the campaign despite a late, late rally.
After their side's heroics at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, when only a late Anton Ferdinand own goal gave the reigning champions a point, the Wearside faithful arrived believing a win over one of the Premier League's traditional powers was a distinct possibility.
And if they needed further confirmation that it could be their day, they had to wait only five minutes.
There was nothing fortunate about the way Lee Cattermole and Andy Reid combined to o! pen up the Reds down the right, and when the Irishman picked o! ut leadi ng scorer Bent beyond the far post, fate intervened.
Reina thought he had the striker's shot covered and could only look on in horror when it hit the beach ball and flew past him into the net.
Sunderland sensed an opportunity and could have been out of sight by half-time.
Bent might have completed a hat-trick but headed a 22nd-minute Reid cross straight at Reina and then glanced Phil Bardsley's driven ball wide of the far post seven minutes before the break.
Liverpool repeatedly found themselves under pressure as Reid, Cattermole and Steed Malbranque got forward to support strikers Bent and Kenwyne Jones as a back three of Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger were swamped by red and white shirts.
But they managed to survive further mishap and gradually eased their way back into the game, although without ever putting Craig Gordon's goal under extreme pressure.
The Scotland international had to block! Ryan Babel's 13th-minute shot on the turn at close quarters and was happy to see Fabio Aurelio's 27th-minute free-kick fly wide, but he was otherwise largely untroubled.
Bruce made a change at the break when his only specialist left-back, George McCartney, failed to re-appear, prompting a reshuffle.
Ferdinand moved across from centre-half as Lorik Cana dropped into central defence to accommodate teenage midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The newcomer almost made his mark within two minutes when his shot was blocked by Carragher, in the eyes of the home side with his arm, but Mr. Jones waved play on.
Reina kept his side in it with 55 minutes gone when he blocked Bent's effort after the striker had run onto Jones' pass and rounded him.
The goalkeeper needed the help of the woodwork six minutes later after Bent capitalised on more poor defending, but saw his shot come back off the foot of the post.
Bruce and Benitez ! became embroiled in an angry touchline spat as the injured Jon! es was t reated at length on the pitch before, like Cattermole minutes earlier, leaving on a stretcher.
Malbranque was denied by Carragher's last-ditch block but Yossi Benayoun squandered a glorious opportunity to level two minutes later when he fired high and wide from 16 yards.
Benitez threw on strikers Andriy Voronin and David Ngog in a desperate effort to rescue a point, and deep into seven minutes of stoppage time Gordon had to make a fine double save from Dirk Kuyt and Ngog to deny Liverpool an undeserved point.
However, he did so in controversial circumstances as the visitors were left fuming over the fifth-minute strike which secured the Black Cats' first victory over a 'top four' team since their return to the Barclays Premier League.
Bent's eighth goal of the season came when his shot was deflected past goalkeeper Pepe Reina by a red beach ball which had been thrown onto the pitch, although referee Mike Jones had little option ! but to award the goal.
But if the visitors felt aggrieved at the manner in which their third successive defeat in all competitions was sealed, they could have few complaints about the result in front of a crowd of 47,327 at the Stadium of Light.
With the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres missing, they were a shadow of the side which pushed Manchester United so close last season as they slipped to their fourth league defeat of the campaign despite a late, late rally.
After their side's heroics at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, when only a late Anton Ferdinand own goal gave the reigning champions a point, the Wearside faithful arrived believing a win over one of the Premier League's traditional powers was a distinct possibility.
And if they needed further confirmation that it could be their day, they had to wait only five minutes.
There was nothing fortunate about the way Lee Cattermole and Andy Reid combined to o! pen up the Reds down the right, and when the Irishman picked o! ut leadi ng scorer Bent beyond the far post, fate intervened.
Reina thought he had the striker's shot covered and could only look on in horror when it hit the beach ball and flew past him into the net.
Sunderland sensed an opportunity and could have been out of sight by half-time.
Bent might have completed a hat-trick but headed a 22nd-minute Reid cross straight at Reina and then glanced Phil Bardsley's driven ball wide of the far post seven minutes before the break.
Liverpool repeatedly found themselves under pressure as Reid, Cattermole and Steed Malbranque got forward to support strikers Bent and Kenwyne Jones as a back three of Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger were swamped by red and white shirts.
But they managed to survive further mishap and gradually eased their way back into the game, although without ever putting Craig Gordon's goal under extreme pressure.
The Scotland international had to block! Ryan Babel's 13th-minute shot on the turn at close quarters and was happy to see Fabio Aurelio's 27th-minute free-kick fly wide, but he was otherwise largely untroubled.
Bruce made a change at the break when his only specialist left-back, George McCartney, failed to re-appear, prompting a reshuffle.
Ferdinand moved across from centre-half as Lorik Cana dropped into central defence to accommodate teenage midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The newcomer almost made his mark within two minutes when his shot was blocked by Carragher, in the eyes of the home side with his arm, but Mr. Jones waved play on.
Reina kept his side in it with 55 minutes gone when he blocked Bent's effort after the striker had run onto Jones' pass and rounded him.
The goalkeeper needed the help of the woodwork six minutes later after Bent capitalised on more poor defending, but saw his shot come back off the foot of the post.
Bruce and Benitez ! became embroiled in an angry touchline spat as the injured Jon! es was t reated at length on the pitch before, like Cattermole minutes earlier, leaving on a stretcher.
Malbranque was denied by Carragher's last-ditch block but Yossi Benayoun squandered a glorious opportunity to level two minutes later when he fired high and wide from 16 yards.
Benitez threw on strikers Andriy Voronin and David Ngog in a desperate effort to rescue a point, and deep into seven minutes of stoppage time Gordon had to make a fine double save from Dirk Kuyt and Ngog to deny Liverpool an undeserved point.
League Cup Preview: Arsenal vs Liverpool
Last weekend provided an object lesson in how football fortunes can fluctuate. Liverpool went into their home clash with Manchester United on a knife-edge. Four successive defeats - their worst run since 1987 - had the air thick with talk of a crisis. Manager Rafa Benitez's transfer strategy, team selection, tactics and substitutions were all being questioned by pundits and fans alike, some even suggesting that his job could, or should, be in jeopardy.
Meanwhile Arsenal, with only an injury-time equaliser by AZ Alkmaar in the Champions League having denied them a seventh straight victory in all competitions, were widely expected to heap further misery on struggling West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground. Arsene Wenger, who turned 60 during the week, was being feted again for the style of his free-scoring young team.
Then, in the space of four engrossing hours on Sunday afternoon, the fickle footballi! ng fates took a hand. First, a totally committed and passionately backed Liverpool side roared back into contention by out-thinking, out-muscling and out-playing their fierce rivals United, winning 2-0 and earning Benitez plaudits for pulling another rabbit out of the hat.
Then Arsenal, having established a comfortable two-goal margin against the Hammers, allowed their good work to be undone in the final 15 minutes and were forced to settle for one point in a 2-2 draw, when three had been theirs for the taking. Talk of the Gunners' soft underbelly, glass jaw and lack of a killer instinct resurfaced with a vengeance.
Wenger and Benitez have presumably long heeded the wisdom of Kipling's words, and learned to treat those two imposters - triumph and disaster - just the same; their task is to keep their heads while all around them are losing theirs and blaming it on them.
But while Sunday's results appear to have shifted the balance at the top e! nd of English football yet again, however temporarily, it woul! d be dan gerous to draw further conclusions from the outcome of Wednesday's League Cup contest at the Emirates. Liverpool's trip to Fulham and Arsenal's staging of the north London derby on Saturday are likely to be more reliable indicators.
The reason, of course, is that Wenger's well-established policy is to use the League Cup as a stage on which his promising youngsters and fringe players can test themselves, while Benitez too is inclined to rest his first-choice players in this competition, though usually in a more pragmatic fashion than his French counterpart.
It is therefore likely that the teams on show at the Emirates will bear little resemblance to those who'll start at the weekend. However, an unknown variable at this stage is whether Rafa will be so determined to build on that victory over United that he declines the opportunity to make wholesale changes and picks an experienced team that he thinks will have the beating of Arsenal's young guns. Anot! her variable is that Wenger may be tempted to give senior players returning from injury a run-out at the expense of some of the kids.
Either way, a fascinating tie could be in the cards. These are two of the Premier League's major powers, whose Champions League commitments mean the League Cup is fourth on their list of priorities. That said, Liverpool are the competition's most successful club, having lifted the trophy no fewer than seven times (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003) and been beaten finalists on three other occasions (1978, 1987, 2005). Arsenal have won the Cup twice - in 1987 and 1993 - and lost in the final four times (1968, 1969, 1988 and 2007).
There is a lengthy history of League Cup meetings between the two clubs, too. This is the tenth time the pair have been drawn together, and including replays they have played one another 13 times previously - including the 1987 final at Wembley when Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 tha! nks to a brace from Charlie Nicholas. That was the first time ! ever tha t an Ian Rush goal did not lead to a Liverpool victory. Overall, though, the Reds are ahead of the Gunners by five wins to four, with four games having been drawn.
Their last meeting in this competition was arguably the most memorable. Having beaten Liverpool 3-1 on Merseyside in the FA Cup on 6 January 2007, Arsenal returned to Anfield three days later with a more experimental side and triumphed 6-3. Brazilian Julio Baptista became the first visiting player in 40 years to score four times in a game at Anfield, and also had a penalty saved by Jerzy Dudek.
Only three of the players who appeared on the pitch that night for Liverpool are still at the club - Steven Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and substitute Jamie Carragher. Of the Arsenal line-up, eight are still at the Emirates: Manuel Almunia, Johan Djourou, Armand Traore, Theo Walcott, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and sub Abou Diaby.
That 6-3 League Cup tie was, though, the last occasion on w! hich Arsenal have beaten Liverpool. In seven subsequent meetings in all competitions, five have been drawn and Liverpool have won twice. On the other hand, Liverpool have not won in their last 11 visits to Arsenal. Their most recent success on Gunners' turf was a 1-0 win at Highbury in February 2000 when Titi Camara scored the decisive goal.
In this season's competition, Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round with a hard-fought 1-0 win over League One leaders Leeds United at Elland Road, David Ngog scoring the only goal midway through the second half.
A young Arsenal side beat Championship promotion challengers West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at the Emirates in round three, with goals from Sanchez Watt and Carlos Vela. Only three of Wenger's squad that night were older than 19, and four of the starting XI had played against (and beaten) Liverpool in last season's FA Youth Cup Final - midfielders Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin, and strikers Sanc! hez Watt and Gilles Sunu.
One peculiar statistic th! at Liver pool will hope is not an omen is the fact that, in every season since Rafa Benitez became their manager, Liverpool's League Cup campaign has been ended by a team from London. They lost to Chelsea in the Final in 2004-05 and since then have gone out to Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Chelsea (again) and Tottenham (last season).
FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
25 Oct (Premier League) v West Ham United (A) DREW 2-2
20 Oct (Champions League) v AZ Alkmaar (A) DREW 1-1
17 Oct (Premier League) v Birmingham City (H) WON 3-1
04 Oct (Premier League) v Blackburn Rovers (H) WON 6-2
29 Sept (Champions League) v Olympiakos (H) WON 2-0
Liverpool
25 Oct (Premier League) v Man Utd (H) WON 2-0
20 Oct (Champions League) v Lyon (H) LOST 1-2
17 Oct (Premier League) v Sunderland (A) LOST 0-1
04 Oct (Premier League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 0-2
29 Sept (Champions League) v Fiorentina (A) LOST 0-2
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger welcomes back French midfielder Samir Nasri from a broken leg, and Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from knee surgery, for their first appearances of the season. However, highly-rated young England Under-21 midfielder Jack Wilshere, 17, is ruled out with an ankle injury.
Full-back Armand Traore is also out with a groin problem, and Wenger will be fielding a relatively experienced side by giving strikers Eduardo (thigh) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) starts after both missed recent games. Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou are still unavailable.
The likes of Sanchez Watt, Gilles Sunu, Mark Randall, Francis Coquelin, Nacer Barzite and Kieran Gibbs could well be involved, as could more experienced players such as Aaaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela, Mikael Silvestre and Philippe Senderos.
Last starting XI (v West Ham): Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Cl! ichy, Song, Fabregas, Diaby (Eduardo 88), Eboue (Bendtner 82),! Arshavi n, Van Persie.
Subs not used: Almunia, Silvestre, Gibbs, Nasri, Ramsey.
Last starting XI in Carling Cup (v West Bromwich Albion): Szczesny, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs, Traore (Barazite 69), Gilbert, Ramsey, Wilshere, Coquelin (Randall 58), Sunu (Vela 58), Watt.
Subs not used: Shea, Bartley, Eastmond, Frimpong.
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano will miss out after being sent off in the 2-0 win over Manchester United at the weekend. His one-match suspension was the result of a late challenge on Edwin van der Sar for which he picked up a second yellow card.
Sunday's goalscoring hero Fernando Torres is unlikely to start, having played against United while only 80 per cent fit, and having felt pain when striking the ball. Fellow scorer David Ngog is a likely starter, but winger Albert Riera is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
However, the good news for Liverpool fans is that Alberto Aquilani could make his debut a! fter being named in the squad. The 25-year-old could be utilised as a second-half substitute.
Benitez told Liverpool's official website: "He will be with us. He is improving his fitness, so he's in the squad. He cannot start at this moment but he will be there and maybe we can give him some minutes. If it's possible we will try to use him."
Last starting XI (v Man Utd): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Aurelio, Insua, Carragher, Benayoun (Skrtel 90+2), Mascherano, Lucas, Torres (Ngog 80), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Degen, Spearing, Voronin, Babel.
Last starting XI in Carling Cup (v Leeds Utd): Cavalieri, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Degen (Johnson 71), Dossena, Riera, Mascherano, Spearing, Babel (Skrtel 90), Ngog (Gerrard 78).
Subs not used: Reina, Plessis, Torres, Voronin.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal
Samir Nasri sustained a fractured fibula during a training session at Arsenal's pr! e-season training camp in Austria in July, and Gunners fans wi! ll be de lighted to see him back in first-team action after being impressed by the Frenchman's bright first season at the Emirates. Nasri scored on his Arsenal debut and hit two memorable goals in a 2-1 home win over champions Manchester United. He finished the season with seven goals to his name from 41 appearances in all competitions, plus three as a substitute, and won a host of new admirers.
Liverpool
Signed from Roma in July as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid, Alberto Aquilani's first appearance in the Liverpool first-team has been eagerly awaited. Benitez believes the Italy international, who has been sidelined by a persistent ankle injury, will add a new dimension to the Reds' midfield. "We can see in every training session that he has quality, game intelligence and good movements," the Spaniard told the club's official website. "He is a different kind of player for us." A fit Aquilani pulling the strings will help banish the criti! cism that Alonso's departure has seriously weakened Liverpool this season.
Meanwhile Arsenal, with only an injury-time equaliser by AZ Alkmaar in the Champions League having denied them a seventh straight victory in all competitions, were widely expected to heap further misery on struggling West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground. Arsene Wenger, who turned 60 during the week, was being feted again for the style of his free-scoring young team.
Then, in the space of four engrossing hours on Sunday afternoon, the fickle footballi! ng fates took a hand. First, a totally committed and passionately backed Liverpool side roared back into contention by out-thinking, out-muscling and out-playing their fierce rivals United, winning 2-0 and earning Benitez plaudits for pulling another rabbit out of the hat.
Then Arsenal, having established a comfortable two-goal margin against the Hammers, allowed their good work to be undone in the final 15 minutes and were forced to settle for one point in a 2-2 draw, when three had been theirs for the taking. Talk of the Gunners' soft underbelly, glass jaw and lack of a killer instinct resurfaced with a vengeance.
Wenger and Benitez have presumably long heeded the wisdom of Kipling's words, and learned to treat those two imposters - triumph and disaster - just the same; their task is to keep their heads while all around them are losing theirs and blaming it on them.
But while Sunday's results appear to have shifted the balance at the top e! nd of English football yet again, however temporarily, it woul! d be dan gerous to draw further conclusions from the outcome of Wednesday's League Cup contest at the Emirates. Liverpool's trip to Fulham and Arsenal's staging of the north London derby on Saturday are likely to be more reliable indicators.
The reason, of course, is that Wenger's well-established policy is to use the League Cup as a stage on which his promising youngsters and fringe players can test themselves, while Benitez too is inclined to rest his first-choice players in this competition, though usually in a more pragmatic fashion than his French counterpart.
It is therefore likely that the teams on show at the Emirates will bear little resemblance to those who'll start at the weekend. However, an unknown variable at this stage is whether Rafa will be so determined to build on that victory over United that he declines the opportunity to make wholesale changes and picks an experienced team that he thinks will have the beating of Arsenal's young guns. Anot! her variable is that Wenger may be tempted to give senior players returning from injury a run-out at the expense of some of the kids.
Either way, a fascinating tie could be in the cards. These are two of the Premier League's major powers, whose Champions League commitments mean the League Cup is fourth on their list of priorities. That said, Liverpool are the competition's most successful club, having lifted the trophy no fewer than seven times (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003) and been beaten finalists on three other occasions (1978, 1987, 2005). Arsenal have won the Cup twice - in 1987 and 1993 - and lost in the final four times (1968, 1969, 1988 and 2007).
There is a lengthy history of League Cup meetings between the two clubs, too. This is the tenth time the pair have been drawn together, and including replays they have played one another 13 times previously - including the 1987 final at Wembley when Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 tha! nks to a brace from Charlie Nicholas. That was the first time ! ever tha t an Ian Rush goal did not lead to a Liverpool victory. Overall, though, the Reds are ahead of the Gunners by five wins to four, with four games having been drawn.
Their last meeting in this competition was arguably the most memorable. Having beaten Liverpool 3-1 on Merseyside in the FA Cup on 6 January 2007, Arsenal returned to Anfield three days later with a more experimental side and triumphed 6-3. Brazilian Julio Baptista became the first visiting player in 40 years to score four times in a game at Anfield, and also had a penalty saved by Jerzy Dudek.
Only three of the players who appeared on the pitch that night for Liverpool are still at the club - Steven Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and substitute Jamie Carragher. Of the Arsenal line-up, eight are still at the Emirates: Manuel Almunia, Johan Djourou, Armand Traore, Theo Walcott, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and sub Abou Diaby.
That 6-3 League Cup tie was, though, the last occasion on w! hich Arsenal have beaten Liverpool. In seven subsequent meetings in all competitions, five have been drawn and Liverpool have won twice. On the other hand, Liverpool have not won in their last 11 visits to Arsenal. Their most recent success on Gunners' turf was a 1-0 win at Highbury in February 2000 when Titi Camara scored the decisive goal.
In this season's competition, Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round with a hard-fought 1-0 win over League One leaders Leeds United at Elland Road, David Ngog scoring the only goal midway through the second half.
A young Arsenal side beat Championship promotion challengers West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at the Emirates in round three, with goals from Sanchez Watt and Carlos Vela. Only three of Wenger's squad that night were older than 19, and four of the starting XI had played against (and beaten) Liverpool in last season's FA Youth Cup Final - midfielders Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin, and strikers Sanc! hez Watt and Gilles Sunu.
One peculiar statistic th! at Liver pool will hope is not an omen is the fact that, in every season since Rafa Benitez became their manager, Liverpool's League Cup campaign has been ended by a team from London. They lost to Chelsea in the Final in 2004-05 and since then have gone out to Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Chelsea (again) and Tottenham (last season).
FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
25 Oct (Premier League) v West Ham United (A) DREW 2-2
20 Oct (Champions League) v AZ Alkmaar (A) DREW 1-1
17 Oct (Premier League) v Birmingham City (H) WON 3-1
04 Oct (Premier League) v Blackburn Rovers (H) WON 6-2
29 Sept (Champions League) v Olympiakos (H) WON 2-0
Liverpool
25 Oct (Premier League) v Man Utd (H) WON 2-0
20 Oct (Champions League) v Lyon (H) LOST 1-2
17 Oct (Premier League) v Sunderland (A) LOST 0-1
04 Oct (Premier League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 0-2
29 Sept (Champions League) v Fiorentina (A) LOST 0-2
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger welcomes back French midfielder Samir Nasri from a broken leg, and Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from knee surgery, for their first appearances of the season. However, highly-rated young England Under-21 midfielder Jack Wilshere, 17, is ruled out with an ankle injury.
Full-back Armand Traore is also out with a groin problem, and Wenger will be fielding a relatively experienced side by giving strikers Eduardo (thigh) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) starts after both missed recent games. Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou are still unavailable.
The likes of Sanchez Watt, Gilles Sunu, Mark Randall, Francis Coquelin, Nacer Barzite and Kieran Gibbs could well be involved, as could more experienced players such as Aaaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela, Mikael Silvestre and Philippe Senderos.
Last starting XI (v West Ham): Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Cl! ichy, Song, Fabregas, Diaby (Eduardo 88), Eboue (Bendtner 82),! Arshavi n, Van Persie.
Subs not used: Almunia, Silvestre, Gibbs, Nasri, Ramsey.
Last starting XI in Carling Cup (v West Bromwich Albion): Szczesny, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs, Traore (Barazite 69), Gilbert, Ramsey, Wilshere, Coquelin (Randall 58), Sunu (Vela 58), Watt.
Subs not used: Shea, Bartley, Eastmond, Frimpong.
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano will miss out after being sent off in the 2-0 win over Manchester United at the weekend. His one-match suspension was the result of a late challenge on Edwin van der Sar for which he picked up a second yellow card.
Sunday's goalscoring hero Fernando Torres is unlikely to start, having played against United while only 80 per cent fit, and having felt pain when striking the ball. Fellow scorer David Ngog is a likely starter, but winger Albert Riera is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
However, the good news for Liverpool fans is that Alberto Aquilani could make his debut a! fter being named in the squad. The 25-year-old could be utilised as a second-half substitute.
Benitez told Liverpool's official website: "He will be with us. He is improving his fitness, so he's in the squad. He cannot start at this moment but he will be there and maybe we can give him some minutes. If it's possible we will try to use him."
Last starting XI (v Man Utd): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Aurelio, Insua, Carragher, Benayoun (Skrtel 90+2), Mascherano, Lucas, Torres (Ngog 80), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Degen, Spearing, Voronin, Babel.
Last starting XI in Carling Cup (v Leeds Utd): Cavalieri, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Degen (Johnson 71), Dossena, Riera, Mascherano, Spearing, Babel (Skrtel 90), Ngog (Gerrard 78).
Subs not used: Reina, Plessis, Torres, Voronin.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal
Samir Nasri sustained a fractured fibula during a training session at Arsenal's pr! e-season training camp in Austria in July, and Gunners fans wi! ll be de lighted to see him back in first-team action after being impressed by the Frenchman's bright first season at the Emirates. Nasri scored on his Arsenal debut and hit two memorable goals in a 2-1 home win over champions Manchester United. He finished the season with seven goals to his name from 41 appearances in all competitions, plus three as a substitute, and won a host of new admirers.
Liverpool
Signed from Roma in July as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid, Alberto Aquilani's first appearance in the Liverpool first-team has been eagerly awaited. Benitez believes the Italy international, who has been sidelined by a persistent ankle injury, will add a new dimension to the Reds' midfield. "We can see in every training session that he has quality, game intelligence and good movements," the Spaniard told the club's official website. "He is a different kind of player for us." A fit Aquilani pulling the strings will help banish the criti! cism that Alonso's departure has seriously weakened Liverpool this season.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sweet Girl with View Red
Style and photo that is good from Syun Jhun, model photo from China. With cloth red blazing closing over some of the faces, she seen sweet and shows art photography which expert from a photographer.
Five riders for Gateway
From Gateway Powersports
ABBOTSFORD, BC -- Gateway Powersports of Abbotsford, BC has announced a five-rider road racing team that will compete for the WMRC Championships in 2005.
With support from Canadian Kawasaki, Gateway Powersports is pleased announce several new additions to its race team, including WMRC Pro racer and Next Level Superbike School owner Scotty Borthwick, rising WMRC Amateur prospect Trevor Shires and 1995-250GP FIM/Scandinavian Champion Andreas Fritzner. All three will pilot Kawasaki's all-new 600 Ninja. Returning for his third season on the Gateway Powersports Racing Supermotard is WMRC Amateur Scott Ponuick.
Suzuki Canada and Gateway Powersports Racing are pleased to also announce that they will sponsor AMA regular and 2004 OMRRA champion Alan Schmidt in 2005. Schmidt will compete on Suzuki's GSX-R600 and all new GSX-R1000 in all WMRC/OMRRA events and select Parts Canada/AMA eve! nts in 2005.
Gateway Powersports sponsors include Canadian Kawasaki, Suzuki Canada, Kimpex, Shark Helmets, Pirelli, Ipone, Next Level Superbike School, PSI Leathers, VR-1 Engineering, R-Tech Race Fuel, Flexi-Glass Bodywork, Spike Sprockets, Northstar Motorsports/Acerbis, SBS/ EBC Brakes, Panago Pizza, Teamwork Property Management and Fast Track Management.
Major Canadian Buell program
By John Hopkins
CONCORD, ON -- Two of Canada's most famous motorcycle road racers have teamed up to campaign a new Buell XBRR in the U.S. this summer.
Two-time Parts Canada Superbike champion Pascal Picotte, through his Picotte Racing squad will run six-time national champ Steve Crevier on the XBRR in the AMA Formula Extreme Series, according to a press release from Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada.
Additionally, defending Canadian Thunder champion and longtime Buell rider Darren James will compete in this summer's Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship on a Yamaha YZF-R6 with preparation help from Picotte.
"Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, in conjunction with Picotte Racing, will bring championship team experience to the XBRR Team Canada introductory season," the release said. "Picotte Racing, under the guidance of Pascal Picotte, will be providing the at-track support and management t! hat will provide the competitive advantage for Team Canada. In addition to his racing experience, he [Picotte] brings research and development experience dating back to his involvement with the Harley-Davidson VR project in the early 1990s."
After a long and distinguished career in the United States, Granby, QC's Picotte returned to Canada in 2003 and proceeded to sweep both the Parts Canada Superbike crown and national 600 title for Yamaha in '03 and '04.
Crevier, meanwhile, won his fourth Canadian Pro 600 crown in 2005 and his record-extending 23rd career national Superbike victory. Like Picotte, the Maple Ridge, BC rider enjoyed a stellar U.S. career that included the AMA 600 Supersport title in 1998.
The association with Picotte is a tremendous boon for North Vancouver's James, one of Canada's rising road race talents. After narrowly missing the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national title in 2004, James had a! tough go as a rookie Pro privateer in 2005, although he did p! ick up t he Canadian Thunder national title.
James will defend his Thunder crown with Buell in 2006.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
This week in Reds Baseball
* There are a lot of people who subscribe to the thought that there are no must win games in April. But I completely disagree, a win in April is the same as a win in August. If you don't win in April then your games don't mean anything in August. And with the Reds facing their longest road stand of the season, all of which are played against Division opponents, this 10 game stretch must be a positive road trip for the Redlegs. They open up tonight against Milwaukee, then only Houston and Chicago before returning to GABP.
* Last season the Reds were 10-8 against Milwaukee.
* The Reds will face their arch nemesis Roy Oswalt this week in Houston. Oswalt has played the Reds28 times in his career, and has a record of 23-1, with a 2.47 ERA.
Monday Apr. 13 8:05PM at Brewers- Volquez (0-1 8.31) vs. Gallardo (1-0, 2.70)
Tuesday Apr. 14 8:05PM at Brewers- Arroyo (1-0 7.50) vs. Parra (0-1 10.38) !
Wednesday Apr. 15 8:05PM at Brewers- Owings (0-0 0.00) vs. Looper (0-0 1.80)
Friday Apr. 17 8:05PM at Astros- Cueto (0-1 6.00) vs. Oswalt (0-2 6.23)
Saturday Apr. 18 7:05PM at Astros- Harang vs. Rodriguez
Sunday Apr. 19 2:05PM at Astros- Volquez vs. Moehler
* Statistical leaders through April 12
Batting Avg- Joey Votto (.400)
Home Runs- Joey Votto (2)
RBI- Joey Votto (7)
OBP- Edwin Encarnacion (.524)
Wins- Bronson Arroyo (1)
ERA- Aaron Harang (0.64)
K's- Aaron Harang (11)
Houshmandzadeh giving up Madden
The ever humble TJ Houshmanzadeh has announced that he will no longer be playing the Madden video game series and personally boycotting Madden '10 which will be released next month. Why?
"Man, they don't get my rating right," Houshmandzadeh said while appearing on Colin Cowherd's ESPN Radio show Monday. "I just looked at the game and they have this wrong and that wrong. And I understand I averaged 10 yards a catch (in 2008), but it's the offense, man, not me."
"I'm not playing Madden no more, until they get my rating right," Houshmandzade! h said. "It might be a little pouting, too. It might be. But, you know, I used to be the best in the world at Madden, so I'm going to miss not playing it. But until they do me right, I'm not playing it no more."
But what I find interesting is the fact they have TJ ranked as the sixth highest ranked receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, and Calvin Johnson. So this means that Madden has TJ ranked higher than receivers like Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Reggie Wayne, Terrell Ownes, Hines Ward, and Randy Moss just to name a few. I don't think TJ should be mad about that, I think they overestimated TJ. Furthermore, TJ proclaims that he used to be the best in the world at Madden, but I haven't seen him on the bus. The more I hear this man speak (and butcher the English language in the process) the more I dislike him.
Check out the Fox News! Story here
The Squirrel has something to prove
In case you have not been paying attention the Ravens actually have a pretty high powered offense right now. Behind second year Quarterback Joe Flacco there are such offensive weapons as Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Derrick Mason and Kelly Washington. Kelly Washington? Yes, the man who gave us the famed squirrel is actually having a pretty solid season for the Ravens. Washington is second on the depth chart and second to Mason in receiving yards with 198 yards and 1 TD so far this season. But Washington really wants to show Cincinnati what they gave up on when they gave up on him. He said the following to ESPN.com.
"I definitely want to show them what I'm about," Washington told ESPN.com Thursday. "I know they know it. But I definitely want to put a beating on the defensive backs and show the coaches there, the owners and all the pers! onnel people what I'm about."
2008 MLB Predictions Galore
-Besse & Keefe
The baseball season really snuck up on Besse and myself, so our predictions are a few days late. I mean there were games in March. The Celtics were pushing for the playoffs, the NCAA tournament was going on, then all of a sudden its time for baseball. Well wait no further, here are the official 2008 predictions from the Sports Brief, division by division as well as the most important awards. Feel free to leave comments with your own choices.
AL East
Besse- Red SoxI li! ke the Red Sox to hold off what will be a tough division for once. Once Beckett is healthy, the rotation will strengthen and with Papelbon at the back end of the rotation, they won't lose many games late. The offense is virtually the same here, and I expect a big year from Manny Ramirez. The Yankees will contend, as will the Blue Jays. Some quiet moves by the Blue Jays and people are overlooking them again. The Rays will be a surprise to many. Their staff isn't uber-talented, but it's deep and the lineup is young, fast and exciting.
Keefe- Red Sox
The Red Sox will win back to back division titles for the first time since 1915-1916. It's been that long, so it won't be easy. With Schilling out for likely the season, Dice-K and Lester will have to pitch like #2 and #3 and not walk the house and get pulled after 5. I think Dice-K will certainly improve from last year, not as much as Beckett did in year two in Boston, but improve nonetheless! . Manny will have a monster year and force the Sox to pick up ! his club option for next year. Yankees will of course challenge followed by the Jays, Rays (out of the basement) and O's.
AL Central
Besse- TigersThis will be the best offense in the game. The addition of Miguel Cabrera is tremendous, but I question the pitching staff. Verlander will compete for the Cy Young, but Bonderman has yet to see the other side of the hill, and Rogers, Willis and Robertson are all good, but each has question marks. The bullpen, meanwhile, is scary at the back end, especially without a bonafide closer and Zumaya on the shelf for now. Look for them to hit their way to the postseason and then flop.
Keefe- Tigers
I really like what the Tigers did in the off! season picking up one of the best players in baseball in Miguel Cabrera and a guy in Willis who won't have to be the ace and should return to form from a couple seasons ago. Once they're all healthy they can trot out a lineup with Granderson, Renteria, Sheffield, Magglio, Cabrera, Guillen, Pudge, Polanco, and Jones. Seriously? The Indians being unable to sign C.C. will hurt them this year, and the rest of the division will be looking up on Detroit all year.
AL West
Besse- MarinersMy surprise team of 2008. Erik Bedard just made this pitching staff scary. If he and King Felix pitch to potential, this is the scariest one-two punch in the game. With a deep staff (Miguel Batista is the 5th starter) and JJ Putz closing games, I like this team's cha! nces in a punching judy division. Richie Sexson will bust out ! and whil e I'm at it, so will Adrian Beltre. The Angels are facing serious question marks in the rotation due to injury, and there's not much in terms of offense.
Keefe- Mariners
I'm not quite as high on Seattle as Bess is but I still like them to win the West. Bedard will be in the hunt for the Cy Young as will Putz. Even though they had to give up Adam Jones in the deal you have to like the trade for the Mariners. With guys like Ichiro, Sexson, and Beltre they need to win soon. Most people are picking the Angels, but with Lackey missing at least a month and Escobar out for the season, they will be one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Oakland and Texas also play in this division.
Wild Card
Besse- Indians
The Indians aren't much different from a year ago, although one can assume the ALCS experience furthered the maturation process of guys like Sabathia and ! Carmona. This is a talented pitching staff from top to bottom, although Joe Borowski is a bit shaky at the back end. The lineup isn't scary, but it's no pushover, either. They'll give the Tigers a run but eventually settle for a wild-card birth and a 1st round match up, and rematch, with the Red Sox.
Keefe- Yankees
The Yankees will be your American League Wild Card team for the second year in a row. There are question marks all over their pitching staff, but reigning MVP Alex Rodriguez alone can get this team into the post season. And with a payroll of over $209 million, that's 70+ million more than 2nd place, they better get in the playoffs, no excuses. The Indians will be right there and maybe even the Blue Jays if they remain healthy.
ALDS
Besse Picks:
Mariners over Tigers
Red Sox over Indians
Keefe Picks:
Red Sox over Mariners
Tigers over Yankees!
ALCS
Besse P! icks:
Red Sox over Mariners
Red Sox over Mariners
Keefe Picks:
Tigers over Red Sox
NL East
Besse- Mets
This may be the best team in baseball. The pitching staff is solid 4-deep led by perennial Cy-Young candidate Johan Santana. Billy Wagner rarely missteps in closing games and David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran lead an offense that will be potent all season long. It won't be as dangerous as the division rival Phillies, but it will certainly punish the lack of pitching on that Philadelphia staff.
This may be the best team in baseball. The pitching staff is solid 4-deep led by perennial Cy-Young candidate Johan Santana. Billy Wagner rarely missteps in closing games and David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran lead an offense that will be potent all season long. It won't be as dangerous as the division rival Phillies, but it will certainly punish the lack of pitching on that Philadelphia staff.
Keefe- Braves
Mets and Phills are getting all the attention, but I like the Braves to surprise them both. Smoltz, Glavine, and Hudson have already played their best baseball, however they still have something left in the tank. Mark Teixeira will have a monster year. In 54 games last year with Atlanta he had 56 RBIs along with 17 HRs and he hit .317. They lost Andruw Jone! s and Edgar Renteria from last year's team, but Jones struggled big time. Chipper, Francoeur, McCann (maybe the best hitting catcher), and Kelly Johnson will provide enough offense to get the job done.
NL Central
Besse- CubsI love the depth of this division. I don't think the Brewers have enough starting pitching, nor a closer, to keep up with the Cubs, but they'll be exciting to watch. That's a young team that needs a few more pieces to climb over the hump. I like the Cubs offense a lot, and the addition of Fukudome isn't getting enough attention. The wildcard here is Kerry Wood and whether or not he can make the transition to closer. Carlos Marmol is in the wings, but Lou Pinella would be better served with ! Marmol setting up Wood in the 8th.
Kee! fe- Cubs
No team here really separates themselves from the pack. I'm taking the Cubs because of Carlos Zambrano, Derrek Lee, and Alfonso Soriano. Kerry Wood scares me as the closer, but not enough to pick the Brewers, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, or Pirates. Look for the winner of the NL Central to have the fewest wins of any division winner. The Brew Crew will contend just because of the mashers in the lineup, but why the hell did they spend all that money on Gagne and let Cordero go? They don't deserve to make the playoffs after that.
No team here really separates themselves from the pack. I'm taking the Cubs because of Carlos Zambrano, Derrek Lee, and Alfonso Soriano. Kerry Wood scares me as the closer, but not enough to pick the Brewers, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, or Pirates. Look for the winner of the NL Central to have the fewest wins of any division winner. The Brew Crew will contend just because of the mashers in the lineup, but why the hell did they spend all that money on Gagne and let Cordero go? They don't deserve to make the playoffs after that.
NL West
Besse- Dodgers
That's right, I'm doing it. This will be a close race all season long, but the emergence of Chad Billingsley, James Loney, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, along with the magic of Joe Torre in that dugout will bring the Dodgers to the top of this division. I think it'll happen on the last day of the season, too. The Diamondbacks have solid pitching with! the addition of Dan Haren and Brandon Webb as the ace, but can Brandon Lyon duplicate 47 saves by Jose Valverde a year ago? And the Rockies overachieved, plain and simple. The Padres don't have enough offensive firepower to support Jake Peavy and Chris Young, and the Giants suck.
Keefe- Diamondbacks
I'll take Arizona to win the west. With respect to C.C. and Carmona, Bedard and Felix, Peavy and Young, Beckett and Dice-K, the D-Backs have best 1-2 punch in all of baseball with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. The lineup is horrible, but check out the rest of the NL West. The Dodgers and Rockies will be there, as all three of these teams can rack up wins over the Padres (when Peavy isn't pitching) and the Giants.
I'll take Arizona to win the west. With respect to C.C. and Carmona, Bedard and Felix, Peavy and Young, Beckett and Dice-K, the D-Backs have best 1-2 punch in all of baseball with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. The lineup is horrible, but check out the rest of the NL West. The Dodgers and Rockies will be there, as all three of these teams can rack up wins over the Padres (when Peavy isn't pitching) and the Giants.
Wildcard
Besse- Braves
I initially wanted to go with the Braves here, but it seems like there are too many good teams out west for the Wildcard not to come out o! f there. But that will be the downfall of that division. It's ! so good and so deep, that with four teams who all seem to be playoff caliber clubs, we likely won't see a 90-game winner out of there. You can make a case for the Padres and Diamondbacks based on the pitching, but I'm not convinced their lineups will suffice. Which brings me back to the Braves: Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine and possibly a rejuvenated, healthy Mike Hampton. Rafael Soriano is unproven as a legitimate closer, but he's got good stuff. The lineup is solid with Teixeira, Jones and Francoeur, and with Bobby Cox at the helm, I like this pick.
I initially wanted to go with the Braves here, but it seems like there are too many good teams out west for the Wildcard not to come out o! f there. But that will be the downfall of that division. It's ! so good and so deep, that with four teams who all seem to be playoff caliber clubs, we likely won't see a 90-game winner out of there. You can make a case for the Padres and Diamondbacks based on the pitching, but I'm not convinced their lineups will suffice. Which brings me back to the Braves: Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine and possibly a rejuvenated, healthy Mike Hampton. Rafael Soriano is unproven as a legitimate closer, but he's got good stuff. The lineup is solid with Teixeira, Jones and Francoeur, and with Bobby Cox at the helm, I like this pick.
Keefe- Mets
I didn't have the Mets winning their division, but it'd be crazy to say they miss out on the playoffs once again this year. That collapse from last season won't happen this year with Johan Santana going every fifth day. He will be right there for Cy Young, (shocker), but the rest of the staff, including Pedro who left his first start early, won't allow for the Mets to run and hide in the Eas! t. With the steady play of the Braves, who can out manage just bout anyone, particularly the Mets they win the division. Fighting the Mets will be the Brewers, Dodgers, and Rockies. I think the Phillies will struggle this year despite having 3 of the best players in baseball.
I didn't have the Mets winning their division, but it'd be crazy to say they miss out on the playoffs once again this year. That collapse from last season won't happen this year with Johan Santana going every fifth day. He will be right there for Cy Young, (shocker), but the rest of the staff, including Pedro who left his first start early, won't allow for the Mets to run and hide in the Eas! t. With the steady play of the Braves, who can out manage just bout anyone, particularly the Mets they win the division. Fighting the Mets will be the Brewers, Dodgers, and Rockies. I think the Phillies will struggle this year despite having 3 of the best players in baseball.
NLDS
Besse Picks:
Mets over Dodgers
Cubs over Braves
Mets over Dodgers
Cubs over Braves
Keefe Picks:
Braves over Cubs
Mets over Diamondbacks
Braves over Cubs
Mets over Diamondbacks
NLCS
Besse Picks:
Cubs over Mets
Cubs over Mets
Keefe Picks:
Braves over Mets
Braves over Mets
World Series
Besse Picks:
Cubs over Red Sox – Kerry Wood strikes out David Ortiz to end 100 years of frustration.
Cubs over Red Sox – Kerry Wood strikes out David Ortiz to end 100 years of frustration.
Keefe Picks:
Tigers over Braves
Tigers over Braves
Individual Awards:
Cy Young
Besse- AL: Erik Bedard
Besse- NL: Jake Peavy
Besse- NL: Jake Peavy
Keefe- AL: Justin Verlander
Keefe- NL: Jake Peavy
Keefe- NL: Jake Peavy
MVP
Besse- AL: Manny Ramirez
Besse- NL: David Wright
Keefe- AL: Manny Ramirez
Keefe- AL: Mark Teixeira
Keefe- AL: Mark Teixeira
Rookie of the Year
Besse- AL: Joba Chamberlain
Besse- NL: Kosuke Fukudome
Besse- NL: Kosuke Fukudome
Keefe- AL: Jacoby Ellsbury
Keefe- NL: Justin Upton
Keefe- NL: Justin Upton
The Sports Brief's MMA Rankings (2-5-09)
Heavyweight:
1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Brock Lesnar
3. Andrei Arlovski
4. Frank Mir
5. Josh Barnett
6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
7. Randy Couture
8. Tim Sylvia
9. Alistair Overeem
10. Chiek Kongo
Gabriel Gonzaga, Shane Carwin, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum, Heath Herring, Aleksander Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Junior Dos Santos
Fedor remains on top with his win over Arlovski. Upcoming fights: Cain Velasquez is in action this weekend, Junior Dos Santos fights in 2 weeks at UFC 95, but next month at UFC 96 Gonzaga vs. Carwin. You got to wait until May for Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II for the unification of the UFC Heavyweight belt.
Light Heavyweight:
1. Rashad Evans
2. Quinton Jackson
3. Lyoto Machida
4. Forrest Griffin
5. Chuck Liddell
6. Maurcio 'Shogun' Rua
7. Babalu Sobral
8. Wanderlei Silva
9. Keith Jardine
10. Thiago Silva
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Luis Cane, Tito Ortiz, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Vladimir Matyushenko, Brandon Vera, Jon Jones
Lyoto just beat Thiago in a top 10 showdown, and Bababu took down Soko and Lil Nog over the Janitor at Affliction 2. Upcoming fights: Rampage vs. Jardine in March. What? I don't get it either. Shogun and Iceman in April, barring injury. Some other good matchups as well including Luis Cane and Brandon Vera fight, but not each other.
Middleweight:
1. Anderson Silva
2. Dan Henderson
3. Rich Franklin
4. Robbie Lawler
5. Vitor Belfort
6. Yushin Okami
7. Gegard Mousasi
8. Michael Bisping
9. Nathan Marquardt
10. Thales Leites
Cung Le (Le had been in our top 10, but due to inactivity, we bumped him. The rational there being, we aren't ranking Royce Gracie and Dan Severn, so Le will have to sit it out until he fights again! .) Jorge Santiago, Matt Lindland, Denis Kang, Chael So! nnen, Pa ulo Filho, Frank Trigg, Patrick Cote, Frank Shamrock, Kazuo Misaki, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Demian Maia, Chris Leben, Ricardo Almeida, Ronaldo Souza
Besse and I can't make head or tails of this division outside of Anderson Silva. Hendo beat Franklin at 205, but Henderson will be a TUF coach vs. Bisping and fight him at 185. Leites gets the title fight with Silva. Belfort is more than back on the map after whoopin up on Lindland. Upcoming fights: UFC 95: Marquart vs. Wilson Gouveia and Chael Sonnen vs. Demian Maia.
Welterweight:
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Jake Shields
4. Thiago Alves
5. Josh Koscheck
t-6. Matt Hughes
t-6. Matt Serra
8. Karo Parisyan
9. Carlos Condit
10. Jay Hieron
Nick Thompson, Mike Swick, Marcus Davis, Drew Fickett
GSP retained the belt with a 4 round demolition over Penn. Next up for St. Pierre will be Thiago Alves. Jon Fitch got a de! cision win on the GSP/Penn undercard. Diego Sanchez drops off the list as he is heading to Lightweight. Upcoming fights: UFC 95 Josh Koscheck vs. Paul Thiago. Carlos Condit makes his UFC debut (as the WEC has stopped welterweight fights) taking on Martin Kampann at a Fight Night to start April.
Lightweight:
1. BJ Penn
2. Shinya Aoki
3. Eddie Alverez
4. Joachim Hansen
5. JZ Cavalcante
6. Josh Thomson
7. Tatsuya Kawajiri
8. Sean Sherk
9. Kenny Florian
10. Gilbert Melendez
Satoru Kitaoka, Takanori Gomi, KJ Noons, Nick Diaz, Victor Ribero, Joe Stevenson, Roger Huerta, Frankie Edgar
Penn loses to GSP, but he is still the best Lightweight in the world, regardless of what WAMMA says, Aoki beat Sanchez for that destinction. Diego Sanchez could make a splash when he faces Joe Stevenson. Gomi loses again to Kitaoka this time and is out of the Top 10 for the 1st time since w! e've done this. Where will Huerta fight next after leaving the! UFC?
Upcoming Events:
UFC Fight Night 17 (Feb. 7th)
UFC 95 (Feb. 21st)
WEC 39 (March 1st)
UFC 96 (March 7th)
Dream 7 (March 8th)
Picture of the Day
I know this is a few days old now, but how good is it? He won the fight! Great performance by Rock too, can't wait to see who he gets next. Put a steak on that face Nate!
-Keefe
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Portsmouth 0-1 Everton
Louis Saha condemned Portsmouth to a seventh successive Barclays Premier League defeat in a pulsating showdown at Fratton Park.
Saha struck his seventh goal of the season with a clinical finish which gave resurgent Everton a first-half lead they never relinquished.
It extended the Toffees' winning run to fourth matches - but the result was harsh on Portsmouth, who failed to take their chances once again.
Superior for lengthy spells, they created a host of op! portunities with Aaron Mokoena hitting the crossbar and Tal Ben Haim failing from point-blank range.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard played a full part in frustrating Pompey, making several fine saves, but David Moyes' side rode their luck at times and cleared two shots off the line.
While Everton are heading up the table, crisis club Portsmouth are rooted to the bottom as the worst start in Premier League history continues unchecked.
Fans started a chant of 'There's only one Peter Storrie' in response to reports the Pompey chief executive is on the brink of resigning.
But the cries quickly petered out, as might Storrie's reign at Fratton Park if he is not given the reassurances he seeks over the club's financial position.
In a show of unity, Storrie took his place in the stands alongside new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim, who has promised to injected £50million over the next month.
Al Fahim has dismissed suggestions Pompey could be the first Premi! er League club to enter administration, but today's outcome wi! ll have done little to lift the gloom at Fratton Park.
There was little evidence of the boardroom uncertainty on the pitch where the home side were ambitious and incisive, setting the tone with a lively opening largely orchestrated by Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The German created an early half-chance for Jamie O'Hara and then Tommy Smith, but both players were closed down quickly.
He played another slick pass to Dindane and the Ivory Coast forward, making his Premier League debut, raced into the area only to scuff his shot while under pressure from John Heitinga.
Showing greater intent in attack, Everton created a tricky chance when Steven Pienaar crossed for Tim Cahill - but the Australian glanced his header over the crossbar.
Just as Everton seemed to be tightening the screw, Pompey broke free with some rapid passing through midfield.
Smith threaded a perfectly-weighted ball into the area where Dindane, under pressure from Sylvain Distin, pulle! d the trigger - only for Tim Howard to produce a fine save.
It was then James' turn to show his reflexes, the England veteran thrusting out a leg to block Fellaini's header.
Boateng managed to turn former Pompey defender Distin, who was frequently jeered by home fans, inside out but skied his shot having done the hard work.
Chances were coming at both ends, but it was Everton who made the breakthrough when Saha found the net in the 42nd minute.
The Frenchman beat Younes Kaboul in the air to head down a long, high ball by Heitinga and pounced, directing a strong finish past James.
Pompey should have equalised five minutes into the second half but defender Tal Ben Haim, having slipped free to meet O'Hara's free-kick, directed his header straight at Howard's shoulder when the goal was at his mercy.
Pienaar was derided by home fans for limping from the pitch following a tackle, returning moments later and then slumping to the floor once! again. He was eventually carried off on a stretcher.
S! ubstitut e Diniyar Bilyaletdinov floated a corner to the far post where Fellaini was denied by James and then Smith came to Pompey's rescue by clearing Cahill's effort off the line.
Aaron Mokoena rattled the bar as Pompey searched bravely for the equaliser and they appeared to have snatched a point only for Leighton Baines to clear Hassan Yebda's header off the line.
Boateng was denied by Howard four minutes into injury-time as Everton clung onto their lead.
Fernando Alonso agrees three-deal Ferrari F1 deal
Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso will replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season, the Italian Formula One team has confirmed in a statement.
The Spaniard Alonso has signed a three-year deal and will partner Felipe Massa next year.
The announcement had been wideley expected, with Finland's 2007 world champion Raikkonen set to make way next year at the Italian team, who now have Spanish bank Santander as major backers.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said after last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix that the team did not want to wait much longer before announcing their 2010 line-up.
And today, in a statement, he said: "We are very proud to welcome to our team another winning driver, who has demonstrated his amazing talent by winning two world championships in his career to date.
"Of course, we wish to thank Kimi for everything he has done during his time with Ferrari.
"In his first year with us he managed to win the drivers' title, thus making his contribution to Ferrari's history, and he played a vital role in our taking of the constructors' title in 2007 and 2008.
"Even during a difficult season like this one, he has demonstrated his great talent, with several good results, including a great win in Spa.
"We are sure we can share more good times together in the final three races o! f this season."
Renault managing director Jean-Franc! ois Caub et had already hinted strongly that Alonso was on the way out, saying on Sunday that "Fernando will miss Renault and Renault will miss Fernando."
It has been reported that Alonso's contract would be worth around £23 million per season, somewhat less than the deal currently in place with Raikonnen, who is likely to replace his fellow Finn, Heikki Kovalainen, at McLaren.
Freiburg 1-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich got back to winning ways in comfortable style to move back into the top five of the Bundesliga.
Thomas Muller and a Cha Du-Ri own goal gave Louis van Gaal's side all three points after they had lost one and drawn one of their last two games.
Stefan Reisinger scored a consolation with the last kick of the game for Freiburg.
In the absence of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic, Luca Toni was given his first start of the season partnering ! Miroslav Klose in the attack which fired Bayern to the title two seasons ago.
Meanwhile, captain Mark van Bommel was back in the starting XI for the first time since picking up an injury in the opening game of the season.
Bayern appeared to have a better balance with their 4-4-2 formation and they had the first chance of the game in the 11th minute when Philipp Lahm's cross was just behind Toni - but just in front of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who volleyed straight at Freiburg goalkeeper Simon Pouplin from eight yards.
Bayern were simply controlling possession and waiting for the chance to hurt their hosts and the next effort came from Muller, who tested Pouplin from distance.
The moment Bayern were waiting for arrived three minutes before half-time when Muller put them ahead.
Toni's effort from Miroslav Klose's header was saved by Pouplin, but Muller was on hand to convert the rebound for his third league goal of the season.
The Italy! striker was looking lively on his return to the first team an! d he alm ost marked his season's debut with a goal on the hour mark, but he sent his header from a Schweinsteiger cross over the crossbar.
Bayern remained in full control of the game and accepted a gift from Cha to be given a more comfortable cushion.
The South Korea international's attempted pass back to Pouplin caught the Freiburg goalkeeper by surprise and trickled inside the post to end any hope Freiburg had of recovering and stealing a point.
Time was practically up when Reisinger converted a cross from Mohamadou Idrissou to give the home fans at least something to smile about.
Burnley 1 Wigan Athletic 3
The Premier League football match between Burnley and Wigan Athletic at Turf Moor on Saturday Oct 24, 2009.
Hugo Rodallega has taken some time to look like he can fill the void left by Emile Heskey at Wigan but unlike the England forward he was signed to replace in January, the Columbian is showing that strikers can thrive even when they are asked to do a shift on the left flank, scoring two fine goals to end Burnley's perfect run at home.
There can be no doubting what Steve Bruce achieved at Wigan but it is to his successor Roberto Martínez's credit that despite losing a number of key players since the turn of the year, he has been able to get even more out of what was left behind.
Although he was shunted to left back after an early injury, Charles N'Zogbia has inspired at right wing and since Jason Scotland's inclusion as a lone striker against Chelsea last month, Rodallega, a £4.5 milion signing from Necaxa in January, has been equally effective on the left.
In the 3-1 victory Chelsea, the Columbian demoralised José Bosingwa and did a similar job against Tyrone Mears, who has been one of the most impressive attacking right-backs in the Premier League this season, as well as, more crucially, coming up with two precious goals.
!Four straight home wins had given Burnley even more belie! f that t hey can stay up and the feeling that nothing could go wrong only intensified when a cross from Robbie Blake was stabbed in off the bar by Steven Fletcher with just three minutes gone.
But six minutes later, Rodallega scored the easiest goal of his life to bring Wigan level. Mario Melchiot sliced a lob forward and should have been an easy take for goalkeeper Brian Jensen but the Dane's studs caught in the turf and he collapsed in a heap, allowing Rodallega to roll into an empty net.
Jensen had to be replaced by the Diego Penny but despite Wigan's dominance, they failed to trouble the Peruvian goalkeeper until a fine move just after the restart.
Jordi Gómez's sweeping pass sent Scotland into the area and he held the ball up before laying off for Rodallega, who drilled in a shot that flew in off the inside of the post.
They made it three when Rodallega's corner was flicked on by Paul Scharner and the defend! er Emmerson Boyce found the net through a crowd of bodies.
Austrian Bundesliga Review
Austria Vienna slipped to a 1-0 defeat at SV Kapfenberg but second-placed Salzburg were unable to take full advantage.
Markus Felfernig scored the only goal of the game seven minutes from time as the leaders slipped up, but Salzburg were held to a 0-0 draw at LASK Linz meaning the best they could do was narrow the gap to one point.
Three goals in the last 10 minutes - two from Christopher Drazan sandwiching one from fellow substitute Rene Gartler - gave Rapid Vienn! a a 3-1 win at basement boys Austria Karnten, for whom Leonhard Kaufmann had struck after 58 minutes.
Elsewhere, Sturm Graz won 2-0 at SV Mattersburg and SV Ried saw off Magna Wr. Neustadt 3-0.
Stakhovsky claims St. Petersburg Open
Qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky edged out Horacio Zeballos to claim victory at the St Petersburg Open on Sunday.
The Ukrainian became the third qualifier this year to win an ATP World Tour title as he ground out a 2-6 7-6 (10/8) 7-6 (9/7) victory.
Stakhovsky, 23, won his only previous main tour title in Zagreb last year and he needed to dig deep after first-time finalist Zeballos raced through the opening set.
But the eighth-seeded Argentinian was pegged back in! the second and then could not take advantage of a match point in the deciding tie-break as Stakhovsky sealed victory with a backhand volley.
Friday, December 11, 2009
AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 Qualifiers in Cambodia
At National Olympic Stadium
21-10-2008
First Match 14:00
Philipines 1 : 2 Laos
Second Match 16:00
Timor Leste 1 : 4 Brunei
De Rosa: "Il pubblico arma in più per la Reggina"
di Filippo Capurso
In un'intervista rilasciata al sito tuttoreggina.com è un grande ex amaranto a rinforzare ancora una volta, nonostante il periodo di crisi, la candidatura della Reggina come favorita per la promozione in Serie A. "A livello di organico la Reggina vanta una squadra molto forte. E' in un momento di difficoltà, ma sono sicuro che grazie all'aiuto del pubblico, il vero uomo in più di questa squadra, potrà fare molto bene"- queste le parole dell'ormai ex difensore, grande interprete dei primi due anni della gestione Mazzarri a R! eggio Calabria. Ed è con soddisfazione che De Rosa ricorda l'esperienza amaranto: "Reggio è una tappa bellissima della mia carriera. E' stata una piacevole realtà, sia dal punto di vista professionale che dal punto di vista sociale, una piacevole sorpresa. Una esperienza propositiva e sono andato via per varie motivazioni e con molto rammarico, anche perchè vi erano i presupposti per terminare lì la mia carriera".
Bari - Ancora differenziato per Rivas
di Tiziana Garofalo
E' terminata da poco la seduta di allenamento mattutina del Bari (nella foto, fonte RealSports.it) che a causa di una fitta pioggia ha dovuto cambiare campo. La squadra infatti, non si è allenata all'antistadio del San Nicola ma a Modugno (provincia di Bari). Lavoro regolare però per i biancorossi che ancora privi dei nazionali stanno preparando la sfida contro il Chievo.
Non si sono allenati ma hanno svolto lavoro differenziato Rivas, ! Donda e Sforzini. Salvatore Masiello è sulla via del recupero ma il suo impiego domenica è ancora in forte dubbio. Parisi e Allegretti invece sono pienamente recuperati. Nel pomeriggio giocatori nuovamente in campo. Dove? Sarà la pioggia a decidere…
Salernitana, mercato in fermento
di Filippo Capurso
E' già tempo di mercato per la Salernitana, e il neo ds Nicola Salerno, chiamato a risollevare le sorti di una squadra, a parer di molti, costruita male in estate, è a lavoro. La Salernitana, impegnata, ricordiamolo, contro il Lecce nell'anticipo di venerdì sera ("Un pareggio a Lecce sarebbe già tanta cosa"- le parole di Salerno) vuole colmare l'ultimo posto disponibile in lista con uno svincolato da tesserare già nei prossimi giorni. Se, per quanto riguarda la difesa, c'è poco da pescare e il rientro di Galasso e quello orm! ai prossimo di Fusco rendono la situazione meno drammatica, è a centrocampo che potrebbe concentrarsi l'attenzione del nuovo direttore sportivo. Nella lista dei "senza contratto" spuntano i nomi di Longo, Amerini, ma soprattutto quelli di Giuseppe Colucci e Andrea Capone. E' proprio quest'ultimo, ex Cagliari, l'indiziato numero uno a chiudere, almeno per il momento, la rosa campana. Trequartista, adattabile al ruolo di esterno di centrocampo e di seconda punta, Capone è reduce da una stagione non proprio esaltante a Vicenza e Grosseto. La piazza di Salerno potrebbe essere un'occasione di rilancio per il talento sardo, sempre che le sue condizioni fisiche glielo permettano.
Intanto la panchina di Cari sembra scottare sempre più. Uscire dal "Via del Mare" a mani vuote potrebbe significare esonero, e già si fanno i nomi di Ficcadenti e Vavassori.
Ezio Rossi a Telemantova
Di Pasquale CampanellaQuesto pomeriggio, alle 15.20, su Telemantova, torna 'Mantova Sport'. Ospiti in studio di Andrea Giangiulio saranno Ezio Rossi, ex allenatore di Torino, Treviso, Padova e Grosseto ed Enzo Tonghini, ex dirigente biancorosso. In collegamento dal "Martelli", per seguire Mantova-Empoli, Giulio Giovannoni e Claudio Turella.
Fonte: tuttomantova
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