About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Crystal Palace shocks Man City – and Hodgsonby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveCrystal Palace shocked Manchester City 3-2 at Etihad stadium on Saturday.Palace recovered from the setback of falling a goal behind through Ilkay Gundogan’s opener, but bounced back with two quickfire strikes through Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend’s sensational 30-yard volley. Luka Milivojevic then netted a penalty to make it 3-1 not long after half-time, and despite Kevin de Bruyne reducing the arrears late on, Palace held on to register a famous win.Palace boss Roy Hodgson remarked afterwards, “I travelled up thinking we could give a good performance, but getting something from the game was always going to be a tough ask. We certainly didn’t come up here thinking we had no chance or this was a game we had to write off, but what we did think was that unless we produced a performance of quality and discipline and work-rate, then we wouldn’t have much of a chance.“Luckily today the goals fell for us. On the counter-attack we scored two good goals and that gives you something to cling onto and makes things a little bit harder for the opposition, even if they are as good as the opposition are.” read more

Koke says Chelsea striker Morata would be welcome at Atletico Madridby Carlos Volcano9 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveAtletico Madrid midfielder Koke says Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata would be welcome at the Wanda Metropolitano.After Sevilla signed Barcelona striker Munir El Haddadi, Atletico could have a clear run towards Morata, formerly of Real Madrid.”Morata is a great player, I’ve always said that,” Koke said at an Atletico Foundation event that is raising awareness about prostate cancer.”I played with him in the Atletico academy and then circumstances changed [Morata went to Getafe for one year before joining Real Madrid’s youth setup].”It is true that I’ve heard this rumour, but he is not our player; he is Chelsea’s and we have to respect them.”Right now, we are the players who are here and we shouldn’t be thinking about players from elsewhere.”If he comes, he will be welcome.” TagsTransfersAbout the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say read more

TagsTransfersAbout the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say Barcelona plan bid for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroudby Carlos Volcano9 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveChelsea striker Olivier Giroud is on the radar of Barcelona for this month’s market.Having allowed Munir El Haddadi to leave or Sevilla, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde has declared he’d like to see a new striker signing made.And Sport says Giroud has now emerged as a realistic target.Barca are also interested in Girona striker Cristhian Stuani, though Giroud is now being seen as the most realistic option.Giroud is regarded as the cheaper option and his experience is also a positive for what Valverde is seeking.Further encouraging Barca are Chelsea’s willingness to do business over the Frenchman this month. read more

TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Eden Hazard: Chelsea always knew I wanted to leave for Real Madridby Paul Vegasa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveEden Hazard says Chelsea directors long knew he wanted to leave for Real Madrid.Having made the move this summer, Hazard admits he surprised himself by staying in London as long as he did.He told Marca: “Why Real Madrid? It was in the plan. “When I was in Chelsea, they knew my dream was to play one day for this club. I would not have expected to play seven years in Chelsea, but in the end everything went well and I had the opportunity to win something every year. “Now it’s a dream for me to be here and I hope to make the most of it.” read more

About the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say Juventus chief Paratici insists they’re counting on Dybalaby Carlos Volcanoa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveJuventus chief Fabio Paratici insists they still are counting on Paulo Dybala.And he admits they’re delighted to have Gigi Buffon back.”We expect what Dybala is capable of. He’s a great champion, Juve’s Number 10, so we just expect him to play well and dedicate himself to the cause, the way he has always done over the years,” Paratici told Sky Sport Italia.“It feels like Buffon never left, to be honest. He’s probably the best goalkeeper in the history of football, but also a genuinely nice person who has given so much to Juventus and to me personally.” read more

TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Ex-Liverpool coach Beale: Players signed to fit Klopp gegenpressingby Paul Vegas9 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveFormer Liverpool coach Michael Beale says players are signed to manager Jurgen Klopp’s system.Beale is now part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom team at Rangers.He told the Liverpool Echo: “I think, talking about Jurgen, he has a very unique style of play in terms of the gegenpressing – or whatever you want to call it – with that high-energy football and I think he recruits for that.”So if you look at that, player for player and position since he came in, he has really recruited for that to get that energy into the team. When Liverpool signed Oxlade-Chamberlain, I was telling my friends, who were a bit up and down on him, I said he would be a fantastic signing for Liverpool because working inside the club, you just know how someone would come in and fit.”So that working relationship with Michael Edwards and his staff, who have all done a fantastic job, it wasn’t that long ago people were talking about transfer committees and what not, now all of a sudden, everyone is hailing Michael and talking about him so positively.”I think you’re seeing the coaching staff and the recruitment team are all on the same page. I honestly think that is a big thing for any club. When the fans, the board, the coaching staff are all pulling in the same direction, it is very hard for that club not to look forward.”So I think the fans are wholeheartedly behind what Jurgen is doing, as are the board and the recruitment team. I think the fans at Liverpool can see when someone signs, the exact reason why he has been signed and what he brings.”And when Liverpool have their best side out, it is so, so athletic.” read more

About the authorAnsser SadiqShare the loveHave your say ​Brighton defender Webster: Home form vital for survivalby Ansser Sadiq7 hours agoSend to a friendShare the loveBrighton defender Adam Webster believes that it is the side’s home form that will keep them in the Premier League. Albion are hoping they can steer clear of relegation trouble for the season and establish themselves as a top flight club.With two home games to come against Everton and Norwich City, Webster knows it is so important to get maximum points in most of their home clashes.Their last home game was a mightily impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham.Webster admitted to reporters: “Our home form is going to be crucial and we want to make it a fortress at the Amex.”Hopefully starting Saturday we can get another win on the board.” read more

Twitter/@GReilly447Earlier, we shared tweets from UAB linebacker Derek Slaughter, who planned to wear his football helmet during the school’s commencement ceremony to protest the dissolution of the program. Now, we have video of Slaughter crossing the stage, and it doesn’t disappoint for those who agree with his stance. Slaughter snubs president Ray Watts on the handshake as he crosses the stage, and then proudly holds up the helmet, to a big applause from the crowd.Shout out to my boy @dslaughter33 for letting Watts know the fight isn’t over. @SportsCenter #GoBlazers pic.twitter.com/bZUSju3QAs— Sam Curtis (@SamCurtis_36) April 25, 2015A UAB football player just walked at commencement carrying his helmet. He held it up and everybody cheered. He didn’t shake Ray Watts’ hand.— Thacker Rice (@JamesT_77) April 25, 2015pic.twitter.com/86cWbFs6ZG— Thacker Rice (@JamesT_77) April 25, 2015A graduate just held up a UAB football helmet and Bartow Arena exploded with applause that almost held up the graduation. #FreeUAB— Mind of Abram (@MindOfAbram) April 25, 2015You gotta love it. My man @dslaughter33 loves his school and the opportunity they gave him. Proud of you, D. #UAB pic.twitter.com/TqDVFcn6Ix— Graham Reilly (@GReilly447) April 25, 2015Slaughter fired off a few more tweets about the move as well.No i did not shake his hand. I told him I wanted it back and what it ment to me and all he said was I know I know… #freeUAB— Derek Slaughter (@dslaughter33) April 25, 2015Blazer for life #freeUAB pic.twitter.com/3smf5RiOi7— Derek Slaughter (@dslaughter33) April 25, 2015Blazer fans have to be proud of Slaughter for taking a public stand like this. The college football world sure is. read more

COLIN cowherd alabama walmartOn numerous occasions, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has told reporters that he has no interest in leaving Tuscaloosa for another job. FOX Sports radio host Colin Cowherd doesn’t seem to believe him.Monday, Cowherd discussed the topic of Saban potentially leaving for an NFL job – like the Indianapolis Colts head coaching gig. He thinks that if the offer were right, Saban would go. He also doesn’t believe that Saban’s wife’s preferences really factor into the decision..@ColinCowherd: Don’t be naïve. Nick Saban would leave for the NFL in a heartbeat if the job is right #HerdHere https://t.co/DX6ZM1ERTC— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 4, 2016There are going to be a number of NFL head coaching jobs opening up in the coming weeks. We’ll see if Saban entertains any of them. read more

U.S. national team coach Gregg Berhalter believes that Christian Pulisic is an example for young players in his home country to follow after the winger was sold to Chelsea on Wednesday.The American was brought in on a £58 million (€64m/$73m) deal and then loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season. He becomes the third U.S. player to sign for Chelsea, following Roy Wegerle who signed with the club in 1988, and Matt Miazga who signed in 2016.   Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? It was a record move for a U.S. player and ends any drama over where Pulisic, who has been impressive for the Bundesliga side since breakthrough during the 2015-16 campaign, will land this summer. Pulisic has also impressed at the international level.  The attacker was one of the few true bright spots on the USA team that failed to earn a spot at the World Cup in Russia and is expected to play a crucial role for the team as it returns to competitive action in 2019 and begins the process of trying to qualify for the 2022 showpiece.  Having made his breakthrough with the USMNT under Jurgen Klinsmann in March of 2016, Pulisic was the leading scorer in Concacaf’s final round of qualifying even as Klinsmann was let go and Bruce Arena came up short in a late bid for qualification.  The USMNT will have a new boss take the reins in 2019 in the form of former Columbus Crew coach Berhalter, and the new man in charge says Pulisic’s “commitment to achieving excellence” is something the next generation of players should look to emulate.“This move is a result of hard work and determination on Christian’s part to pursue his career goals, and is a new level of transfer value for a U.S. international,” U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter to U.S. Soccer’s website.”Overall, his commitment to achieving excellence is an example for other young American players to follow.”Pulisic has been directly involved in 15 goals during his time with the USA, netting nine goals and adding six assists over 23 matches.  He also holds the honor of being the youngest captain in team history, having worn the armband for the USMNT’s loss to Italy in Genk back in November. read more