Newcastle United job: The early pacesetters as Pardew prepares to join Palace

By David Lee Wheatley      @davewh1980

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew surprisingly agreed to talks with Crystal Palace over their managerial vacancy yesterday following a rollercoaster four-year spell at the St. James' Park helm, thus opening up an attractive post to a host of interested managers across Europe.

Here are the latest names being linked to the top job on Tyneside, as the club attempt to appease fans largely unhappy with the direction the club has taken in recent times.

FABRICIO COLOCCINI: Current United defender Coloccini enjoys a strong relationship with the club's board, but has absolutely no experience as a coach to date. There's been a rush of bets on him overnight to become the next permanent manager making him favourite for the role.

PETER BEARDSLEY: Former Newcastle favourite Beardsley has been doing sterling work with the club's academy and may be offered the chance to take over the senior team. Would be a popular choice.

TONY PULIS: Has been out of work since keeping Crystal Palace up last season and would jump at the chance to manage the Magpies, but his direct brand of football wouldn't go down well with many Toon supporters.

FRANK DE BOER: Has enjoyed splendid success domestically with four successive Ajax title victories. De Boer would probably only leave the Amsterdam giants for a Champions League qualification contender, while his agent says there's no chance he'll jump ship mid-season. However, he seemingly ticks all of the boxes in terms of what Newcastle require if they could nab him.

STEVE BRUCE: Corbridge-born Bruce is struggling to keep Hull City out of Premier League relegation trouble, so it remains to be seen whether the ex-Sunderland boss would be welcomed back to his Geordie roots with open arms. Experienced relative success with the likes of Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic, but struggled badly with heightened expectation when last working in the north-east. Would almost certainly accept an offer from Newcastle having reportedly come close to the post on at least two occasions in the past.

ALLY MCCOIST: Led Glasgow Rangers through two quick-fire promotions from Scottish League Two to the Championship after suffering the heartache of demotion to the bottom tier. However, continual upheaval at boardroom level eventually enforced his decision to resign with Rangers sitting in second spot behind leaders Hearts. The Newcastle job would appear too big a step due to his lack of coaching experience outside of Scotland, but owner Mike Ashley's business links to Rangers will undoubtedly see McCoist strongly linked.

CHRISTOPHE GALTIER: Rumours were rife in May about a reported Newcastle approach for Saint-Etienne head coach Galtier's services only for the 48-year-old to remain in France. He took Les Verts to creditable finishes of 10th, 7th, 5th and 4th after previous short stints in charge of Marseille and Aris Salonika. The former Portsmouth assistant to Alain Perrin is likely to be high up on the list of contenders.

RAFA BENITEZ: A slightly fanciful name thrown into the ring is that of former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez. The current Napoli coach could be tempted by a return to England with his future in Italy unclear thanks to stalling contract talks. Has claimed 12 major honours in a highly decorated career, so would be expected to wait for a team competing in continental competition to hand him a way out of Naples.

TIM SHERWOOD: Has been linked to a series of Premier League and Championship jobs since leaving Tottenham Hotspur, where his straight-talking style divided public opinion. Sherwood would almost certainly fancy taking on the gargantuan task of leading the Magpies, but his appointment would be met with collective dismay on Tyneside.

REMI GARDE: Former Arsenal player Garde left Lyon at the end of last season for personal reasons following three years in charge. He inspired a French Cup triumph in 2012, but couldn't return the club to their former dominance of Ligue 1. His decision to take a break from football to spend more time with his family just over six months ago might suggest he's unwilling to rejoin the managerial merry-go-round yet.

TEMURI KETSBAIA: Georgian who stepped down as head coach of his national side in November following heavy defeat at the hands of Poland in a Euro 2016 qualifying match. Ketsbaia enjoyed cult hero status during his Newcastle playing days and has often spoken of his desire to one day manage the Magpies. Must be considered an outsider for the role, though.

JOHN CARVER: Newcastle-born Carver has served as assistant manager to both Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Pardew at St. James' Park, while also having a short spell as caretaker following Robson's departure. It's unclear whether Carver would have the appetite to take over the hot-seat on a permanent basis.p

GLENN HODDLE: The former England manager has been out of top-flight management for several years and may be viewed as a stop-gap appointment if handed the United reins. Hoddle currently splits his time between media work and carrying out coaching duties as part of the backroom staff at QPR. 

Have Manchester City finally learned how to succeed in Europe?

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley   @davewh1980

 

Manchester City looked dead and buried in Champions League Group E after four winless matches, but they somehow turned it around in spectacular fashion to make it through to the last 16 for a second successive season.

Manuel Pellegrini looked to have resigned himself to Manchester City’s European fate when his charges claimed a solitary point from a feisty double-header with CSKA Moscow.

A shock 2-1 loss to the Russian outfit on match-day four left City almost out of the competition and requiring wins against German giants Bayern Munich and Italians Roma to give themselves any chance of qualification.

Not many observers foresaw a turnaround - Pellegrini included. However, a dramatic 3-2 home victory over Bayern, orchestrated by Sergio Aguero, handed the Citizens an unexpected lifeline.

Yet, they needed to journey over to the Eternal City and grab all three points in order to avoid elimination. Furthermore, they had to complete the task without talismanic Aguero and respected captain Vincent Kompany through injury, plus midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure who was ruled out due to suspension.

Meanwhile, magical playmaker David Silva was also forced to warm the bench as he continued his recovery from a knee injury - the omens did not appear good.
Roma went for the jugular from the outset in a decidedly chilly Stadio Olimpico, but were denied time and again by the inspired Joe Hart in City’s goal.

Gervinho broke free on a number of occasions, with one low shot in particular tipped brilliantly round the post by Hart. Greek defender Kostas Manolas was also unfortunate to see a goalbound header diverted by the slightest of touches from the visiting ‘keeper onto the upright.

In the group’s other showdown, Bayern had taken an 18th-minute lead at home to contenders CSKA, who also began the evening level on points with Roma and Manchester City. The match had suddenly become a do-or-die play-off between the two teams going head-to-head at the Olimpico.

It took an hour of mainly withstanding Roma’s marauding breakaways until the away outfit gained a foothold in the game through a stunning shot from the left edge of the box by Samir Nasri that cannoned in off the inside of a post, thus leaving Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis grasping at thin air.

The hosts then sacrificed defensive duties almost entirely in a bid to claw their way back into the contest, but that policy eventually fell foul of a City counter which unlikely goalscorer Pablo Zabaleta finished off to gleefully wrap up his side’s advancement to the knockout phase.

Manchester City have largely struggled to repeat their domestic form of recent years on the European stage, but the professionalism which characterised Wednesday night’s performance suggests they may finally be getting to grips with what it takes to attain success in the continental arena.

 



10 Best Premier League Brazilians

By David Lee Wheatley @davewh1980


The influx of foreign players into the Premier League began in earnest during the 1990s bringing a wonderful clutch of talent to the English game that has improve the quality on show considerably. Here’s my list of the top 10 Brazilians who have graced the Premier League during the last 20 years or so.

10. Julio Cesar (QPR)
Champions League winner Julio Cesar joined Queens Park Rangers in 2012 and suffered a torrid time working behind a porous defence that allowed 61 goals during that awful relegation season. Despite those unimpressive statistics, the veteran performed heroically at times to prove his class and there would’ve been many more heavy defeats for the R’s to swallow without his supreme agility and goalkeeping prowess. Now plying his trade with Benfica following a short stint in MLS with Toronto FC.

9. Emerson Thome (Sheffield Wednesday, Chelsea, Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic)
Strong central defender Emerson Thome came to these shores from Portuguese giants Benfica in 1997 and made a big impression at Hillsborough before a lucrative switch to Chelsea two years later. He played second fiddle to Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly for much of his time there, but was rescued by Peter Reid nine months later when signing for Sunderland. Strangely for a Brazilian, Thome couldn’t pass accurately and often looked uncomfortable in possession, but he was hugely talented in the art of defending. Became something of a cult hero at the Stadium of Light before enjoying spells with Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Vissel Kobe in japan.

8. Willian (Chelsea)
Turned down Spurs to join Chelsea for £32million in August 2013 from Russian outfit Anzhi and has made a significant impact during his short time in the Premier League. He’s been in-and-out of Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up, but always seems to alter the course of the game positively whether coming off the bench or lining up from the beginning of games. Pacy and keen to take opponents on, Willian has the ability to excite the crowd in order to get them on their feet and is certainly capable of nailing down a regular spot at Stamford Bridge.

7. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Young attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho flattered to deceive during three years at Inter in Serie A – interspersed with a short loan spell at Espanyol – but has blossomed under Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. Skilful, forward-thinking and with a keen eye for goal, 22-year-old Coutinho will only get better and could eventually become a regular in his national team having made three appearances for the senior Brazil side thus far. His ability to carve out opportunities for others is undoubtedly greatest strength.

6. Oscar (Chelsea)
At 23, Oscar has already featured for Sao Paulo, Internacional and Chelsea during his fledgling career, while amassing 40 caps for his country. After an indifferent opening campaign at Stamford Bridge in 2012-13, the attacking midfield schemer has since grown in stature at Premier League level and now looks every inch a superstar. Oscar is a fabulous passer of the ball, while also creating plenty of time on the ball for himself, plus he’s significantly improving his goalscoring contribution. It’ll be an interesting to see how long Chelsea manage to hold on to the youngster, with just about every big club around Europe shooting admiring glances in his direction.

5. Edu (Arsenal)
Defensive midfielder Edu was initially a low-profile signing by Arsene Wenger from Corinthians, but made a massive impression during a four-year stay at Highbury. Strong but fair, Edu was the catalyst for a great deal of the fantastic attacking work produced by the Gunners during that period. He was elegant on the ball, deft in the tackle and inventive when striding forwards. Edu was an integral part of the ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003-04, but ended up leaving for Valencia a year later.

4. Ramires (Chelsea)
Ramires has been a consistent performer on the right-hand side of Chelsea’s midfield since leaving Benfica in 2010 with his galloping runs, strong work ethic and willingness to put challenges in when required endearing him to supporters. The 27-year-old has clocked up over half-a-century of international caps for Brazil, while playing a key role in Chelsea’s magnificent Champions League triumph of 2012.

3. Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers)
Sandro is a player in similar mould to former Arsenal star Edu in that he arrived at Spurs without much reputation or expectation on his shoulders, but emerged as a leading light for the club superseding more illustrious peers in the process. He spent four happy seasons at White Hart Lane – including participation in the Champions League – and became a fans’ favourite thanks to his tough tackling and never-say-die attitude. Reunited with former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp this past summer when surprisingly being allowed to leave for newly-promoted QPR.

2. Gilberto Silva (Arsenal)
Another defensive central midfielder who thrived in north London, Gilberto Silva helped Arsenal to great success throughout the majority of his six-year association with the Gunners. Another member of the ‘Invincibles’ side that went unbeaten for the entire 2003-04 Premier League campaign, Gilberto cemented a legacy at Arsenal as the finest Brazilian to grace the club. His tall frame, languid style and cool exterior under pressure made him a joy to watch. He moved on to Panathinaikos in 2008 before returning to his homeland with Gremio and then former club Atletico Mineiro.

1. Juninho (Middlesbrough)
The diminutive Juninho was one of the very first Brazilian players to arrive in the Premier League along with left-back Branco and, such was his love and affection for Middlesbrough, he eventually racked up three spells on Teesside throughout his much-travelled career. Manager Bryan Robson brought Juninho to the north-east in 1995, with big-name signings Emerson and Fabrizio Ravanelli following a year later. It was a period of outstanding promise for ‘Boro that turned sour when they ran into trouble in 1997, culminating in a devastating relegation from the top-flight following an earlier three-point deduction levied for an unfulfilled fixture. Still, an unbroken bond had been forged between the little magician and the Middlesbrough fans, which led to his return on loan in 1999 and subsequently a permanent move back to the region in 2002. He was a trailblazer for his fellow countrymen; highly skilled, innovative, quick thinking and marvellous to behold when at his very best.

What the World Cup can do for your career

By David Lee Wheatley @davewh1980 @fluent_football

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was without doubt one of the most entertaining in the tournament's history, as several wonderfully attack-minded matches left interested onlookers breathless, along with a significant helping of surprise results for fans to feast upon throughout the competition. Meanwhile, certain individuals played their way into big moves they could only have dreamt about prior to the start of proceedings in South America. Here are the top six transfers of the summer that probably wouldn't have happened without their fine performances in Brazil...

6. Gary Medel (Chile) - Cardiff City to Inter - Reported Fee: £10m

Medel was utilised as a defensive central midfielder during his one and only campaign in South Wales to little effect with relegated Cardiff City, but performed outstandingly in a central defensive role for his country at the World Cup when helping Chile reach the last-16 stage. They beat Australia and reigning champions Spain comfortably, before losing to Holland in a final group match which mattered little. They were back at their best against hosts Brazil in the first knockout round when losing out agonisingly on penalties. Medel remained rock solid throughout and his form earned a massive move to Serie A with Milanese giants Internazionale.

5. Daryl Janmaat (Holland) - Feyenoord to Newcastle United - Reported fee: £5m

Dutchman Daryl Janmaat wasn't named in connection with any Premier League sides prior to the World Cup, but his impressive showings as a right wing-back under Louis van Gaal at the World Cup convinced Newcastle United to pounce for his signature. Janmaat was one of three first-team defenders to leave Feyenoord after the tournament, along with Bruno Martins Indi and Stefan de Vrij, all of whom assisted the Netherlands to a highly creditable third place in Brazil. At just £5million, the 25-year-old will undoubtedly prove to be a bargain signing as the season wears on.

4. Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) - Ajaccio to Malaga - Fee: Free transfer

Ochoa was a surprise first-choice goalkeeper for Mexico at the World Cup after three years playing in the French league, while he also had worries over his future to contend with after Corsican side Ajaccio failed to renew his contract before the competition began. Despite great uncertainty, the 29-year-old was outstanding between the sticks as the Mexicans made their way into the round of 16 and his imperious showing didn't go unnoticed. Arsenal took a look before opting for Colombian David Ospina instead, but La Liga outfit Malaga finally took the plunge and handed Ochoa a three-year deal. It completed a remarkable turnaround considering the curly-haired star was unsure he'd even have a club for the 2014/15 campaign.

3. Enner Valencia (Ecuador) - Pachuca to West Ham United - Reported fee: £15m

The lesser-known of two players named 'Valencia' in the Ecuador squad (after Manchester United's Antonio), Enner Valencia made a big splash at the World Cup, out-shining his more illustrious namesake with three goals from as many games. The centre-forward had once been a winger, but was converted to a striker at Pachuca where he subsequently hit 18 goals in 23 games in the Mexican league. That prolific scoring form, coupled with his impressive displays in Brazil for his national team, led to a string of clubs bring linked to his services. It was therefore quite a shock when the Hammers managed to nab him from under the noses of several bigger names across Europe and he could turn out to be a very interesting purchase for Sam Allardyce.

2. Marcos Rojo (Argentina) - Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United - Reported fee: £16m

Rojo was largely unknown outside of Argentina and Portugal before the World Cup began, but made a big name for himself thanks to his physical defensive style and added ability to cause havoc in the opponents' box from set-pieces. Strong, good in the air and versatile, Rojo helped Argentina to reach the final in Brazil and played his way into the 'Team of the Tournament'. A protracted switch to Manchester United from Sporting ensued due to third-party ownership issues and the Portuguese side's reluctance to sell, but eventually went through to make the La Plata-born defender's dream come true.

1. James Rodriguez (Colombia) - Monaco to Real Madrid - Reported fee: £65m

23-year-old attacking midfielder Rodriguez had already been involved in a big-money move a year previous to the World Cup when leaving Porto for Monaco in a deal worth around £35m. Incredibly, his superb performances at the summer tournament for Colombia led to an almost doubling of that fee when transferring from the glamourous surroundings of Monte Carlo to the world's most famous club Real Madrid. Rodriguez was top scorer at the World Cup, while he unjustly - and inexplicably - missed out on the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade to Lionel Messi. Most expected the young superstar to turn out in Monaco colours again this season prior to his summer exploits, but there was little chance of that once he'd propelled his country to the quarter-finals against the odds. Now, he just has to compete with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale for a spot in the team at the Bernabeu!

The six named above weren't the only ones to benefit from a productive summer; others to cap off the competition with lucrative transfers included Carlos Sanchez, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij, Jefferson Montero and Federico Fernandez.

Special mention, too, must go to Mexico and ex-Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, who confounded the critics who said he was too old by enjoying an excellent World Cup and earning himself another crack at European club football with Verona at the age of 35.

It all just goes to prove that, despite all of the worldwide scouting tools available to clubs these days, there's still opportunities for footballers to earn a dream move which simply wasn't on the cards before the start of a World Cup tournament.

Today's Latest News 18th Sept: Italian Football

By David Lee Wheatley  @davewh1980  @fluent_football

Juve one step away from Pochettino

Argentine starlet Tomas Pochettino is set to join Juventus in the next transfer window, with an agreement said to be in place and an official announcement set to arrive shortly.

Pochettino, who is yet to make a single first-team appearance for Boca Juniors, was spotted in a youth tournament that took place in June and Juve have kept him under close observation since.

The hope at Juventus was that it’d be possible to continue monitoring his development further before plunging in to buy, but they must act now to ward off rival interest from Verona.

The Italian champions jumped in first before Verona could move on a deal and now it appears only the signatures are missing on the official documents before the signing in pronounced.

A midfielder likened to current Bianconeri star Arturo Vidal because of his grit and technical characteristics, Pochettino is a youngster with a bright future ahead of him.

Efforts are already underway to secure an EU passport for the Boca youth player.

Injury woes for Roma

Juan Manuel Iturbe and Davide Astori both suffered injuries during Roma’s resounding Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow last night.

Argentine Iturbe opened the scoring that eventually led to a 5-1 routing of the Russians, but has incurred a problem with his right quadricep that will require assessment over the coming days.

Additionally, central defender Astori is also headed for the treatment table thanks to a twisted right knee.

The news represents a major headache for Coach Rudi Garcia, who is already without the services of another defender Leandro Castan due to a painful ear infection.

Garcia will need to wait patiently for more clarity from the medical team before he can know for sure how long he’ll be without the pair.

De Jong: ‘We need our fans’

Nigel De Jong has spoken of the challenge facing his side at the San Siro when they meet champions Juventus on Saturday night.

Milan go into the match on the back of an astounding 5-4 away victory at Parma last weekend, which has given them renewed hope of achieving much more than last season’s dismal showing.

“They are the favourites for the title. For us it is important to confront the strongest team,” remarked De Jong.

“We arrive at this game with great confidence. We must believe we can beat them, but to do that, we must focus from the first to the last minute, not to mention that we have in front of us those who have won the last three championships.

“There will be a full stadium and a great atmosphere. For this, we need our fans so much.”

There’s also the small matter of Juve Coach Massimiliano Allegri’s return to his old club to add extra spice to the contest.

Of Juventus, De Jong picked out one particular threat: “My friend Carlitos Tevez. He is a formidable striker.”

Ronaldinho suffers debut nightmare

Former Milan forward Ronaldinho missed a penalty on his debut for Mexican side Queretaro amid great fanfare surrounding his first appearance.

One goal down in the Cup tie with Tigres at home with an hour of the match gone, a foul on the left-hand side of the box resulted in a penalty award for the hosts.

Excitement in the crowd was at fever pitch while the Brazilian legend stood waiting to take the kick.

He ran up with purpose, but ballooned the ball high over the bar to leave his new team still trailing 0-1.

The 34-year-old has certainly seen better days, even if his fitness level is not yet up to the standard required of him and it was indeed an awful penalty attempt.

The scoreline remained the same until the end to send Queretaro crashing out of the competition.

Menez: ‘We want to win’

French forward Jeremy Menez has been talking about his aspirations ahead of the huge Milan-Juve clash this weekend.

Menez, a scorer of three goals in two games including a sublime back-heel at Parma, wants to help Milan recover the Italian title.

Speaking of the challenges ahead, Menez said: “Milan-Juve is a great game where everybody expects.

“We hope to experience a moment like at Parma. It would be nice win again 5-4!

“Juventus? It’s a great team with great defenders.

“It’s up to us find a way to score goals, because three wins out of three would be great.”

Menez then set his sights on his own personal objectives that he would like to achieve.

“I want to score more than ten goals (this season) in Italy,” he stated.

“There is (also) the European Championships in France and it would be nice to play in front of our fans.”

Vidal should make Juve bench

Arturo Vidal is set to make a return to the Juventus squad for Saturday’s crunch meeting with Milan following injury.

Massimilano Allegri stated his belief today that the Chilean box-to-box midfielder should be available to him, if only from the substitutes’ bench in the beginning.

Vidal missed Juve’s 2-0 victory over Udinese and also their win by the same scoreline in the Champions League against Malmo due to a persistent knee injury.

Allegri will hope Vidal doesn’t suffer a recurrence of the problem, which has hampered him throughout pre-season and into the new campaign.

It’s likely that Pereyra, Marchisio and Pogba will start in the middle of the park at the San Siro, with Vidal an option later on in proceedings.

Meanwhile, talisman Andrea Pirlo will continue his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury without featuring on Saturday.

Dani Alves to say his goodbyes

Barcelona right wing-back Dani Alves is reportedly very close to leaving Camp Nou for pastures new in the summer.

The Brazilian international star’s contract with Barca runs out next summer and is unlikely to be renewed, with Head Coach Luis Enrique looking to take the team in another direction.

Alves doesn’t fall into the future plans of the new man in charge and therefore is likely to move on at the expiration of his current deal.

Speaking to Marca, Alves announced: “My contract expires in 2015 and it was a mistake to extend it for another year.”

That pronouncement will alert both Manchester City and long-time suitors Juventus to the possibility of a switch at the end of the campaign.

Of course, talks can official begin from January should a player be out of contract that summer, so expect a rush of offers to begin flooding in for Alves throughout the winter period.

Llorente: ‘We complement each other’

Fernando Llorente believes he and Carlos Tevez are the perfect partnership on and off the pitch for Juventus.

The 29-year-old Spaniard feels they have reached an understanding which means that Juve now have one of the best strike partnerships in Italy.

“Tevez? For our gameplay, we complement each other to the fullest,” said Llorente of his pairing with the Argentine star.

“We both speak Spanish and this helps a lot.

“He doesn’t yet speak Italian very well, and therefore it is an advantage to play with me.”

Both will be looking to continue their good form together when facing Milan on Saturday, on the back of Tevez’s two-goal show in the Champions League against Swedish side Malmo.

Today's Latest News: Italian Football

By David Lee Wheatley @davewh1980  @fluent_football

UEFA offer Inter safety assurances

Inter’s clash with Dnipro in Ukraine on Thursday is set to go-ahead without any problems after UEFA offered broad assurances over safety in the war-torn country.

Though the security alert will remain high surrounding the fixture, UEFA has confirmed that the situation in the capital Kiev is back to normal following tensions over the past few months in Ukraine.

The European governing body understands the risk areas to be elsewhere and so feel happy for the Europa League tie to take place as scheduled on Thursday at the Olympic Stadium in the Ukrainian capital, the risk having been minimised by their decision to move the game from Dnipro to Kiev’s national venue.

Inter will travel from Malpensa this morning before training at the stadium in preparation for their opening group F game tomorrow evening.

Club officials will also take part in a safety briefing with the relevant parties this afternoon to discuss the situation in greater detail.

Totti eyes Giggs’ European record

Roma’s legendary captain Francesco Totti is aiming to surpass the record for the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history when taking on CSKA Moscow this evening.

Manchester United’s recently retired wing wizard Ryan Giggs currently holds the title of eldest goal-getter in the competition, a standard which stands at 37 years and 289 days.

That strike came in United’s clash with Benfica on 14 September 2011 and he’s held on to the accolade ever since.

However, should Totti score tonight or at anytime throughout the tournament into the future, he would claim the credit from his illustrious peer, as he is now aged 37 years and 355 days.

It’s an added incentive for the Roma leader and talisman in what represents his club’s first attempt at Champions League participation since 2011.

Balotelli grabs first Liverpool goal

Azzurri star Mario Balotelli got off the mark last night when in Champions League action for new club Liverpool following a summer move from Milan.

Balotelli has briefly shown flashes of his potential in the opening rounds of the Premier League, but was on hand to put the Merseysiders into the lead eight minutes from time against stubborn Bulgarian newcomers Ludogorets.

It was a fine finish from the ex-Inter and Manchester City man, with a scrappy battle for the ball on the edge of the area resulting in Balotelli emerging in possession and putting it away neatly with the outside of his right foot.

The visitors shocked the whole of Anfield when hauling themselves level just into injury time, but were shattered by a late, late winner by captain Steven Gerrard from the penalty spot to hand ‘Super Mario’ and his teammates a winning return to the elite European competition.

Getting back on the goal trail will provide a little nudge in the direction of new Italy coach Antonio Conte after the former Juve boss left the 24-year-old out of his squad for the recent clashes with Holland and Norway.

Malmo star Konate accuses Lichtsteiner

Malmo left-back Pa Konate has accused Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner of hitting him deliberately in the private parts during the second-half of last night’s Champions League game.

The tie was locked at 0-0 at the time and Swiss international Lichtsteiner is under suspicion for his alleged actions.

“The images speak for themselves,” said Konate.

“I was on the ground and he hit me with force.

“I tried to ask him what he was doing, but he just stared without saying anything.

“I didn’t think to react, but maybe I should do that.”

Stills of the incident shared widely on social media after the event certainly seem to back-up the claim by the 20-year-old Swede.

It remains to be seen if any retrospective action can be taken against Lichtsteiner if at all possible.

Juve’s right-back had a splendid game otherwise, looking especially dangerous when going forward.

Michu set for bench role against Sparta

Napoli’s on loan forward Michu is expected to feature from the bench tomorrow in the Europa League fixture at San Paolo.

The Spanish striker moved from Premier League outfit Swansea City during the summer, but has struggled to impose himself in Naples early on.

His fitness is not at the optimum level required as yet and he will have to settle for a watching brief against Czech side Sparta Prague.

Michu will hope for the call from Benitez during the game in an effort to convince for the Azzurri after an injury-plagued campaign with Swansea last time around.

An ex-Rayo Vallecano player, Michu enjoyed a wonderful first season with the Swans when hitting 18 league goals in 35 appearances. However, he only managed 17 Premier League games throughout 2013/14, scoring on just two occasions.

Despite doubts over Higuain’s ability to make the game, it is likely to be Zapata and De Guzman ahead of Michu in the pecking order, as Rafa Benitez looks set to make major changes from the side which lost disappointingly to Chievo at the weekend.

Seedorf case could reach court

Milan and their former head coach Clarence Seedorf are heading for a potential court case over compensation for the Dutchman’s contract, which runs until 2016.

Talks between both parties have failed to resolve the dispute and a lawsuit beckons if the two are unable to come closer to an agreement soon. Since June 9 when talks began, there have been very few steps forward and now the conversation appears to have reached stalemate.

Seedorf was sacked at the end of last season from his first coaching role and replaced at the helm by Milan youth coach and ex-teammate Filippo Inzaghi.

The Rossoneri legend answered the call of his beloved Milan by accepting the coaching position and giving up his playing career with Brazilians Botafogo at the same time. However, less than six months later it had turned sour and Seedorf was given his marching orders.

On one hand there is Milan, who initially agreed to pay a salary of around €2.5m per year gross, adding up to €5m left outstanding on his deal. On the other there is Seedorf, who had the door closed on him abruptly at the San Siro and won’t give up a single penny.

Even the Italian Labour Minister Tiziano Treu has become involved in the process and he paints a gloomy picture: “We hope for an amicable solution that satisfies both parties, but the last meeting did not go very well and as things stand there is a high risk it will end up in court.”

Mancini denies Lokomotiv contact

Roberto Mancini has moved to deny circulating rumours of his supposed contact with Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow over their head coach position.

The Italian left Galatasaray after the end of last season, stating that the club’s ambitions had been different when he initially took over. That statement was seen as a swipe at Gala’s transfer policy, which he felt inhibited his ability to take the Turkish side on to new heights.

Many links have surfaced throughout the last few months, including to the Italian national team and Napoli most recently with Rafa Benitez’s future appearing uncertain.

More speculation suggesting he was interested in becoming coach at Lokomotiv came about in the last few days and Mancini quickly moved to deny such talk.

“I wanted to refute rumours about alleged contacts with Lokomotiv Moscow, a club that I respect very much," he said.

“These are unfounded rumours. I have never been contacted and I have no intermediary in Russia who deals with my interests.

“Since 2009 I’ve been represented by lawyer Silvia Forini.

“Beware anyone who uses my name to get free publicity.”

Mancini will undoubtedly be a sought-after figure for any club looking to hire when considering his impressive record with Inter and Manchester City in particular.

Sirigu opens door to Balotelli

Azzurri goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has been speaking on the possibility of a return to the national team ranks for Mario Balotelli following his recent omission form the squad.

Fresh from signing a new deal last week with French champions Paris Saint-Germain, the former Palermo stopper had some advice for his comrade when also recalling Italy’s World Cup failure.

“Mario seeks fame,” he explained.

“He’s supposed to be a symbol. If he’d scored against Costa Rica then he would be a hero.

“There was no quarrel in the dressing room.

“Mario is exuberant. He should concentrate on doing well on the field and meet the new (Conte’s) requirements.”

Sirigu was second-choice keeper in Brazil behind Gianluigi Buffon, but featured in the Azzurri’s only victory of the tournament against England in the opening match when his experienced colleague was ruled out through injury.

Lucescu: Watch out for Dnipro

Former Inter coach Mircea Lucescu says his former club would do well not to take victory for granted when meeting Dnipro tomorrow evening.

The team will travel to Kiev today for their Europa League clash, which was moved to the Ukrainian capital in response to safety concerns.

Lucescu, now head coach of Shakhtar Donetsk based within a city embroiled in such turmoil currently, thinks Dnipro will provide a stern test of the Italians’ mettle.

“Dnipro have players capable of hurting opponents, attacking very well on the flanks,” he said.

“It’s a tough team with character, pressing, always giving everything and well organised."

Having been in charge of the Ukrainian side since 2004, the 69-year-old veteran knows the Nerazzurri's opponents inside-out and feels Inter should be very careful in their approach to the upcoming Europa League clash.

His words certainly hand a stark warning to Inter: don’t make the mistake of underestimating Dnipro.

Could Milan move reignite Torres' stalling career?

By David Lee Wheatley (Twitter: @davewh1980)

Fernando Torres said he knew the writing was on the wall the very minute that Diego Costa pitched up at Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid in a multi-million pound deal. Despite initial denials to the contrary from Blues boss Jose Mourinho, the Spaniard was on his way out of the door.

The £50million man has suffered one setback after another at Chelsea since his astonishing move from Liverpool in 2011, with his personal form contrasting sharply with that of his time at Anfield.

Torres’ fall from grace has been both spectacular and well-documented, with many an observer proclaiming the end of the Spaniards’ career at the top-level for at least the last couple of seasons. A knee operation while still on Merseyside in January 2010 was widely pinpointed as the moment everything went wrong for the once-prolific forward.

In spite of all the criticism, the Madrid-born striker managed to collect a significant amount of silverware during his stay in west London, playing a major part as Chelsea claimed the UEFA Champions’ League crown in 2012. However, he has been subjected to the usual ‘what a waste of money’ chants right across the country, while also looking a yard off the pace on many occasions. Additionally, his inexplicable loss of goal-scoring prowess has seen him spiral downwards from being classed as one of the deadliest strikers on the planet to becoming a ridiculed figure in some quarters due to several glaring misses in front of goal.

A new dawn is upon him with a two-year loan switch to Serie A and Milan having been completed shortly before the summer transfer window closed. The Rossoneri have been in the market for a new no. 9 since Mario Balotelli jumped ship to join Torres’ former club Liverpool in August and they earmarked El Nino as the perfect person to replace Super Mario at the San Siro. They appear determined to help rekindle the Spain international’s appetite for the game following his hugely frustrating descent from greatness over the last few years.

Whether Torres can return to his sparkling form of pre-2010 at the age of 30 is highly debatable and, quite frankly, unlikely. It seems his best days are firmly behind him and certainly there has been very little evidence to suggest otherwise within the previous four years or so.

Italian football remains notoriously difficult for attacking players to score an abundance of goals due to the defensive nature of the game in the Calcio-mad country. It isn’t quite as hard as perhaps it was in the 80s for example, when it was unusual to see anybody hitting 20-plus strikes in the top-flight, but it’s still hard going for forwards.

Last season’s top-scorer was Ciro Immobile, then of Torino, with 22 league strikes. A total anywhere close to that from Torres in a Milan shirt would represent a very fine campaign for the one-time World Cup winner, especially when considering his meagre contribution of five goals for Chelsea in the Premier League during 2013/14.

It’s been a rough ride since that 2010 surgery took place, which seemingly robbed Torres of his pace and a fair dose of confidence, just when he should have been enjoying the absolute prime of his footballing life. A new beginning at the San Siro will undoubtedly do the player good, with the opportunity to start afresh in a new league, in front of excited fans desperate to witness the return of the real Fernando Torres.  

However, if this latest adventure in northern Italy doesn’t work out well for Torres, then we can surely kiss goodbye to the old Fernando forever.  

Follow me on Twitter @davewh1980

What now for Celtic?

By David Lee Wheatley Twitter @davewh1980

As Glasgow Celtic lurch from one disastrous performance to another under beleaguered new boss Ronny Deila, fans are fearful over what lies ahead for a team deep in transition after Champions' League elimination piled the pressure on the club to find an injection of cash they simply don't have available to them.

Their league season started brightly with convincing wins over St. Johnstone and Dundee United providing an initial healthy outlook to proceedings, while KR Reykjavik were easily disposed of in the second Champions' League qualifying round.

However, the wheels have since hurtled off their campaign alarmingly with the controversial defeat to Legia Warsaw followed by lucky reinstatement into the Champions' League competition, due to the Poles fielding an ineligible player in the dying embers of the second leg when the tie was already completely out of Celtic's reach.

The club were determined to make amends for that shocking 6-1 aggregate loss to Legia by capatilising on their good fortune and advancing beyond Maribor into the group stages. Despite a creditable 1-1 draw in the away first leg making them favourites to advance, the Hoops capitulated at Celtic Park to lose 1-0 on the evening and miss out on an estimated £14m jackpot that would've been theirs had they progressed.

To compound their misery, the green-and-whites have suffered embarrassment in Inverness when falling 1-0 to the current Premiership leaders and then had to come back to force an undeserved draw at home against Dundee either side of that deflating defeat to Maribor. It left observers and supporters alike wondering what the Glasgow giants can do in order to turn the tide.

Financially, they have little room for manoeuvre. Rangers long-term absence from the top-flight has cost Celtic in revenue terms from the disappearance of four guaranteed clashes with their arch-rivals, while television and sponsorship monies total up to a mere pittance in comparison with top European leagues. They will also have to cut their cloth accordingly after forfeiting the Champions' League cash due to devastating elimination.

True, they still have the carat of the Europa League to look forward to, but meetings with Red Bull Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb and FC Astra don't exactly excite and won't generate a great deal of capital for the club's coffers. Celtic would most likely require a run to the semi-finals if they're to have any hope of a decent level of income from the competition and that won't be easy. Indeed, given their poor performances so far under Norwegian Ronny Deila, it appears a near impossible task.

It's early days for Deila, but the omens aren't good and belief in him on the terraces seems very low. His obvious lack of coaching experience at the highest levels of football doesn't inspire confidence, while the daunting nature of the rebuilding job ahead of him would test anybody.

He recently remarked that English-based footballers literally laugh out loud when Celtic put forward their best wage offer to a prospective signing from south of the border and therein lies his biggest problem. Celtic have no money, they are seen by many as a selling club with a conveyor belt of talent flying out of the door every year in order to simply stay afloat and, furthermore, they can't offer Champions' League football to offset the comparitively poor wages on the table.

With the transfer deadline upon them, Celtic could yet see key central defender Virgil van Dijk moving on with several clubs linked with the Dutchman. They've already lost goalkeeper Fraser Forster to Southampton, while a raft of stars have been drained from the squad over a number of seasons without being adequately replaced.

New boys Tonev, Berget and Gordon haven't yet proved they are better than those who've gone before them and so it currently appears that Celtic aren't as strong as they once were. Much more will be expected of them during the coming months, while more recent purchases Wakaso and Scepovic absolutely must hit the ground running.

For Deila, it's a case of unearthing numerous rough diamonds in the transfer market, while hoping to promote excuberant young talent from the development squad who are good enough to prosper within the senior set-up. The one shining light so far this term has been 21-year-old Callum McGregor and the former Stromsgodset manager will be on the look-out for more just like him.

A tricky balancing act leaves Deila facing an uphill journey that will test him and his staff to the very limit of their abilities. He will point to the fact that Stromsgodset battled against relegation in his first two seasons in charge there, prior to a renaissance leading to the league title in 2013.

However, it's unlikely that such patience will prevail allowing him to complete the job if he fails miserably in his first term in Scotland. Time is not on his side and results must improve dramatically if Deila is to at least buy himself the opportunity to mould the team in his own vision.

Ripping it up and starting again is a course of action those at Celtic Park will wish to avoid if at all possible, but they can't stand by forever should matters significantly worsen. All eyes will be firmly fixed on Deila, as he attempts to turnaround a stuttering start to the season and silence the doubters in the process.

@davewh1980