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Webster
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Mar 13 2017, 04:25 AM
Post #451
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BBC Sport: Liverpool Grind Out 2-1 Win Over Burnley

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Emre Can's fourth goal of the season ended Burnley's stubborn resistance as Liverpool claimed an unconvincing win to strengthen their bid for a top-four finish.
The Reds were far from their best and fell behind when Ashley Barnes turned home Matthew Lowton's brilliant defence-splitting pass.
Liverpool equalised on the stroke of half-time with their first shot on target when Georginio Wijnaldum poked in at the second attempt.
Can then secured a second-successive victory for Liverpool with a long-range effort into the bottom corner.
Burnley threatened to snatch an equaliser late on but Lowton hooked over from close range.
It was a game of few memorable moments but the win means Jurgen Klopp's side, who remain fourth, are now five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal. Burnley, who are yet to win a game away from home in any competition this season, are 12th. -Read more: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39170671
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 15 2017, 06:19 AM
Post #452
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note: cross-posted over at Yaketys
BBC Sport: Tottenham Striker Suffers Ankle Ligament Damage

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Tottenham striker Harry Kane has suffered ligament damage to his right ankle - but it is not thought to be as severe as the injury that sidelined him for seven weeks earlier this season.
The England international was replaced after seven minutes of Sunday's 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Millwall. He was hurt when defender Jake Cooper blocked his shot close to the byeline. Spurs said the injury is similar to the one Kane picked up against Sunderland on 18 September.
The 23-year-old missed five Premier League games and two EFL Cup matches after twisting his ankle tackling Sunderland's Papy Djilobodji.
Kane is likely to miss England's friendly in Germany on 22 March and a home World Cup qualifier against Lithuania four days later.
It is not clear if the top flight's joint leading scorer with 19 goals will be available for Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on the weekend 22-23 April.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 16 2017, 08:02 PM
Post #453
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BBC Sport: Middlesbrough Sack Manager Karanka
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Middlesbrough have sacked manager Aitor Karanka after three and a half years at the club.
Boro are winless in their last 10 Premier League games and currently sit in the relegation zone, three points from safety with 11 games remaining.
They are also the league's lowest scorers with just 19 goals and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City last weekend.
Assistant head coach Steve Agnew will take control of the first team.
"This club will always hold a special place for me," said Karanka, 43. "I'd like to thank Middlesbrough for a wonderful opportunity and the players, staff and all the people at the club who I have worked with."
The former Real Madrid assistant manager took over at the Riverside in November 2013 to become Middlesbrough's first ever non-British boss.
Boro secured automatic promotion to the Premier League last season.
The club met with Karanka and following discussions, Boro said it was in their "best interests" to make the change. Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is the early favourite to succeed Karanka. -Read more: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39291081
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 19 2017, 03:15 AM
Post #454
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
Seven matches across the grounds Saturday.....
(SA) Arsene Wenger's future as Arsenal manager continues to hang in the balance as Arsenal drop points to the top-4, losing 3-1 at the Hawthorns to West Bromwich Albion (SA) A Watford own-goal was all Crystal Palace needed as they hung on to win 1-0 agst the Hornets, pushing themselves closer to safety (SA) Everton kept themselves in the top-7 with a 4-0 win over Hull City out at Goodison Park (SA) Chelsea moved closer to their second Premiership in three years with a 2-1 win over Stoke City over at the Bet365 stadium (SA) Sunderland & Burnley played to a rather listless 0-0 draw up in the Northeast (SA) Leicester's late-season resurgence under new manager Craig Shakespeare continues with a 3-2 win over West Ham at the Olympic Stadium and (SA) Bournemouth moved closer themselves to safety with a 2-0 win over Swansea City out at the Vitality Stadium
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 19 2017, 03:40 PM
Post #455
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note: cross-posted over at Yaketys
BBC Sport: Wenger - Arsenal forward's ankle in terrible state

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Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez's right ankle is in "an absolutely terrible state" and he may have ligament damage, says manager Arsene Wenger.
The Chile international was substituted with 12 minutes left of Saturday's 3-1 defeat by West Brom. Sanchez was injured in the first half, when he was fouled by James McClean. "He should not have played in the second half but he insisted that he wanted to," Wenger said. "In the end we had to take him off."
Arsenal's next match is at home to Manchester City in the league on 2 April, but Sanchez is in Chile's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Venezuela, the first of which is on Thursday. Asked whether Sanchez would be fit to play for his country, Wenger said: "If it's only a kick, he will play. If the ligament is damaged, he will not play."
Arsenal lost goalkeeper Petr Cech to a calf injury at The Hawthorns as they suffered their fourth defeat in five league games. They are now five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in fifth, albeit with a game in hand.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 20 2017, 02:16 AM
Post #456
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BBC Sport: United Win Away 3-1 At Boro

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Manchester United moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Middlesbrough's first game since the departure of manager Aitor Karanka ended in defeat.
Ashley Young's deep cross found Marouane Fellaini at the back post to head past Victor Valdes, before Jesse Lingard's terrific strike doubled United's lead after the break.
Boro, with head coach Steve Agnew in charge, were invited to apply pressure and when Chris Smalling made a mess of an easy clearance in the box, substitute Rudy Gestede pounced.
But former United keeper Valdes slipped in stoppage time and Antonio Valencia's tap-in secured the three points.
Jose Mourinho's side leapfrog Arsenal and Everton into fifth, while Middlesbrough remain 19th in the table and are five points from safety.
Having parted ways with Karanka on Thursday, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson charged Agnew with helping the Riverside club avoid the drop.
But the former assistant manager was unable to inspire his side to a fifth Premier League win this season despite dominating possession for large periods of the game.
Alvaro Negredo looked isolated up front before Agnew introduced Gestede on 67 minutes, and with two in attack Boro looked capable of drawing level.
But United, showing seven changes from their Europa League win over FC Rostov in midweek, ground out a tricky three points.
BBC Sport: Eriksen & Alli Lift Spurs To Victory Over Southampton

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Tottenham overcame the absence of leading scorer Harry Kane to secure a hard-fought win over Southampton that ensures they remain second in the table heading into the international break.
Goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli - the latter a penalty - in an effective display underlined that Spurs are more than just their talismanic 24-goal striker.
The win extends Tottenham's club-record run of successive home Premier League wins to 10, the same number of points by which they trail leaders Chelsea.
Southampton lost in-form striker Manolo Gabbiadini to injury in the first half but gave a good account of themselves in the second, at the start of which James Ward-Prowse scored from close range.
But they were unable to gain parity as Tottenham's stubborn backline and industrious central midfield held them at bay.
Defeat leaves the Saints 10th in the table and needing an improbable 30 points from the 33 available to them to match last season's tally of 63.
With Chelsea in superb form, this season's title race is unlikely to go as deep into the season as the last campaign, but Tottenham will be hopeful of improving on their third-place finish by at least one spot.
BBC Sport: City & Liverpool Split Points In Etihad Thriller

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Manchester City and Liverpool had to settle for a point apiece as they battled out a thrilling draw at Etihad Stadium.
A hugely entertaining game was littered with talking points, astonishing misses and a sense of injustice for both sides as they felt they were on the receiving end of debatable decisions from referee Michael Oliver.
James Milner put Liverpool ahead against his former club with a penalty six minutes after the break, after Gael Clichy was penalised for a raised boot on Roberto Firmino.
Sergio Aguero scored against Liverpool for the fifth successive Premier League game at Etihad Stadium from Kevin de Bruyne's perfect cross after 69 minutes - before both sides wasted glorious opportunities to secure a vital win in the race for top-four places.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 21 2017, 06:05 AM
Post #457
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
The Guardian: Vardy - "I Got Death Threats Following Ranieri Sacking"

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Jamie Vardy has claimed he received death threats because of his alleged involvement in the dressing-room mutiny that undermined Claudio Ranieri and said the backlash against the players who won the Premier League title with Leicester City last season has led to his family suffering a number of “terrifying” ordeals.
Vardy denied he had been responsible in any way for Ranieri’s sacking but admitted the incident had crystallised the impression of him as someone “football fans don’t seem to like”. He said the repercussions had also threatened his family’s safety, featuring a number of alleged road-rage incidents involving his wife, Rebekah, as the victim.
“The story is out there, then people pick it up and jump on it and you’re getting death threats about your family, kids, everything,” Vardy said. “I try to get on with it but when people are trying to cut your missus up while she’s driving along with the kids in the back of the car it’s not the best. It’s happened plenty of times. It is terrifying.”
Vardy said the threats had been made “on social media, walking down the street, you name it” and insisted he was wrongly named as one of the players who allegedly turned against the manager who won the first league championship in Leicester’s history.
He went as far as to say he was not aware of a problem between any players and their former manager. “No, not at all. Basically if there was an issue you went and did it in the gaffer’s office, man to man. Or you did it on the tactics board because he was happy for you to come in and put your opinion across.
“Apparently the meeting that got him sacked I read one story that said it was straight after the Sevilla game. Absolute shambles. It said I was personally involved in a meeting when I was actually sat in anti-doping for three hours. The stories were quite hurtful. A lot of false accusations were being thrown out there and there’s nothing us, as players, could do about it.”
Vardy, preparing to lead England’s attack in their friendly against Germany in Dortmund on Wednesday, admitted it looked strange that Leicester’s players did not express any support for Ranieri on their social media accounts until they started receiving criticism for their collective silence.
Ranieri was sacked after arriving back in England from Leicester’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Sevilla and Vardy, for example, took 48 hours – from Thursday to Saturday evening – before posting his reaction, citing one of the reasons being that he had to bath his children.
“I can understand what you are saying but, personally, my tweet was [meant to be] going out straightaway, but I wrote it that many times I couldn’t quite get the wording right. You don’t know what to say. It was 24 hours before I did it but we had just got back from Seville. We were delayed, landed, then went straight home, kids in the bath and straight to bed myself.
“It’s hard. Don’t get me wrong, what he did for Leicester was unbelievable and nobody would have expected that [title] in a million years. We can only thank him for that. The way this season has gone, players never seem to be the ones who get the sack. It always falls on the manager and that is what has happened. We are all sincerely gutted that it did.”
A year since the first publicity about his life story being turned into a film, Vardy admitted he had not heard any updates and did not know if it was still going ahead. “You tell me,” he said.
Leicester have won all four of their matches and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League since Ranieri left, with the former assistant manager, Craig Shakespeare, in charge until the end of the season.
The episode, according to Vardy, has been bad for his reputation. “I get abuse at every stadium that I turn up at. You are always going to get stick from fans. It is part and parcel of football. I’m one that carries on and winds them up a bit. Do I enjoy it? Yeah, it’s just me. I couldn’t tell you why I get it, but it’s part of the game. I am not really fussed about it. It’s fine by me.”
Vardy also explained why he had not chosen to report the death threats or road-rage incidents to the police. “All that can happen is they get banned on Twitter,” he said. “People get cut up but if there’s no cameras you’re screwed.”
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 22 2017, 12:46 AM
Post #458
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NBC Sports: Schweinsteiger Done At Man United, Signs 1-Yr. Deal With MLS's Chicago Fire

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Bastian Schweinsteiger‘s disappointing Manchester United career is officially finished, as the 32-year-old World Cup winner has signed a one-year deal with MLS side Chicago Fire.
According to the Chicago Tribune, which broke the story late Monday night with quotes from Chicago general manager Nelson Rodriguez, head coach Veljko Paunovic and Schweinsteiger himself, the deal will pay the German international $4.5 million for the 2017 season. Reports over the winter stated Chicago and Schweinsteiger were discussing a three-year, $16.5-million deal. This is much better than that would have been, but maybe still not great.
For starters, he’s 32, while the rest of the league spent the entire offseason shedding the “retirement league” stigma which dogged it ever since David Beckham arrived to the creation of the Designated Player rule. While going against the grain is far from a crippling blow, he’s still 32 and has started all of two games (six total appearances for club and country, none of which came in the Premier League — 134 total minutes) since the start of the current PL season in August.
Secondly, where’s he going to play? This is kind of like when Steven Gerrard came to the LA Galaxy, and no one knew how he’d fit into that team. (Spoiler: Not great.) Dax McCarty and Juninho were both acquired during the offseason to play together as deep-sitting midfielders who on occasion push forward to support more attack-minded players. That’s basically Schweinsteiger’s game (at least it was), except they can run a little bit. To play all three would be to play without a single creative bone in an extraordinarily immobile, limited midfield. To play two of the three would be to sit either the team’s most expensive, famous star, or sit one of its two best players. Neither makes a whole lot of any sense.
Finally, the Fire are the Fire again. The Fire are the Fire.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Mar 29 2017, 05:50 AM
Post #459
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Daily Telegraph: Bilic Will not Be Offered New Contract At West Ham, Sources Say

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Slaven Bilic will not be offered a new contract by West Ham United this summer because of the club’s worrying run of form.
It means the manager is set to go into the final year of his three-year deal with his future uncertain. The likelihood is Bilic will then only be offered a new contract next January – at the earliest - if there is a significant improvement in results next season.
A review of Bilic’s position will take place at the end of this campaign – as is the usual policy at West Ham with their managers – although talk over him signing a new deal then, which emerged several weeks ago, has now been shelved, Telegraph Sport understands.
What should be noted, however, is that West Ham do not want to sack Bilic, who remains hugely popular and is a very capable manager, and there is an acknowledgement that he has had to cope with a difficult season. The general perception in football is also that Bilic has done a good job and deserves backing. -Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/03/28/slaven-bilic-will-not-offered-new-west-ham-contract-summer/
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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daib0
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Mar 29 2017, 04:46 PM
Post #460
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Matches in 2017 - if the Premier League had started the season on 1st January 2017 ...
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A friendly Reading FC fan! Job: CELLO MAN - see extensive web http://www.johnstone-music.com
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Webster
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Apr 1 2017, 10:38 AM
Post #461
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 (BBC Sport) Smalling and Jones suffer 'long term' injuries --As if the arrival of a packed April schedule wasn't bad enough for Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, he's now got a couple of long-term injuries to add to his list.
Defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones sustained "long-term injuries" while on duty with England, says Mourinho.
Jones, 25, injured a toe in an innocuous training-ground tackle, with reports claiming it involved Smalling. Fellow centre-back Smalling, 27, was pictured with a leg brace following an injury also suffered in training.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 1 2017, 10:47 AM
Post #462
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations/
 Steve Wilson, Match of the Day commentator: With Craig Shakespeare bidding to become the first British manager to win his first four Premier League games, Leicester suddenly look to be only a couple of victories away from safety. How they would love to have those points chalked up before tackling Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Stoke are having another very creditable season; ninth place again at the moment - the position in which they have finished each of the last three seasons. Mark Hughes would have particularly enjoyed their point at Manchester City in their last away game, but would probably concede that they have, at times, been too accommodating on their travels - registering wins at only Hull, Watford and Sunderland.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 2 2017, 04:12 AM
Post #463
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The final sprint towards season's end began Saturday with eight matches across the grounds of England....
(SA) Remember Christian Benteke, former Liverpool striker? Well, he helped Crystal Palace upset league-leaders Chelsea w/a game-winning goal as the Eagles defeated the Blues 2-1 at Stamford Bridge (SA) Speaking of Liverpool, the Reds' jumped into third for now with a decisive 3-1 victory over nest-door neighbords Everton in the 228th Merseyside Derby (SA) Despite numerous chances at goal, Southampton couldn't break down Bournemouth and this go-round, the South Coast Derby ended in a 0-0 draw (SA) While Chelsea slipped, Tootenham Hotspur took an important three points away at Turf Moor, defeating Burnley 2-0 (SA) Meanwhile, over at Old Trafford, Manchester United are becoming the league's draw specialists, sharing the points this time with West Borm 0-0 (SA) Relegation-threatened Hull City continue to fight for survival, taking a needed three points from West Ham 2-1 over at the KCom Stadium (SA) Sunderland remain rooted to the bottom of the table, losing this time around to Watford 1-0 out at Vicarage Road and (SA) Craig Shakespeare became the first British manager to win four straight Premier League matches as Leicester City defeat Stoke City 2-0 at the King Power
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 3 2017, 04:31 AM
Post #464
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
NBC Sports: Arsenal & City Draw 2-2 At The Emirates

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At times the defense was cringe-worthy. At times possession was painful. There were more than few bad giveaways. Both teams had moments of brilliance, but both teams also had moments of disaster.
All told, it ended even as Arsenal twice fought back to level the score as the points were shared at the Emirates with a 2-2 draw. Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero each gave Manchester City a one-goal lead, but both times they were pegged back as Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi got goals for the Gunners. -Read more: http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/04/02/arsenal-2-2-manchester-city-gunners-come-back-twice/
NBC Sports: Relegation-Threatened Sides Draw 0-0 In Wales

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In these desperate times, a single point does neither side much good at the moment, and both Middlesbrough and Swansea City will feel disappointed to have finished goalless at the Liberty Stadium.
The home side was more consistently incisive as Gylfi Sigurdsson was dangerous on a number of occasions, but they failed to put significant distance between themselves and the relegation zone. Middlesbrough had a moment to win the game in the final seconds, but Rudy Gestede missed an open header, and they still has a significant gap to close for safety. -Read more: http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/04/02/swansea-city-0-0-middlesbrough-draw-helps-neither-relegation-candidate/
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Apr 4 2017, 03:00 AM
Post #465
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note: cross-posted over at Yaketys
NBC Sports: Everton Youngster Pens New 5-Year Contract

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18-year-old midfielder Tom Davies has been a revelation since breaking through as a regular in the Everton first team this season.
Now he’s been rewarded.
Davies signed a new five-year contract on Monday as the England U-19 international capped off a stunning few months which has seen him hold down a regular starting spot in the Toffees’ midfield.
The local lad and academy product has been at the Goodison Park club since the age of 11 and is delighted to be following in the footsteps of other academy graduates such as Wayne Rooney and current teammate Ross Barkley.
“It means everything to me to get a chance to be in the Everton first team and to try to stay there,” Davies said. “Everton has a long tradition of bringing young players through and the incentive has always been there for me to try to progress with the club. I used to look at Mikel Arteta and aspire to be out there playing alongside my heroes and, obviously, Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley who came through the Academy here, too, have been inspirational figures for me.”
Davies has made 16 appearances in the PL this season, scoring one goal against Manchester City and adding three assists and has impressed ever since he started in the Boxing Day win at Leicester City.
Alongside Mason Holgate, Matthew Pennington and Dominic Calvert-Lewin the energetic midfielder started in the Merseyside derby at Anfield against Liverpool at the weekend and his combination of poise on the ball and hard work off it has seen him slot in nicely alongside Idrissa Gueye.
His manager Ronald Koeman has never been afraid to give young players a chance to shine and he’s certainly found a gem in Davies who seems destined to be an England international and a star for Everton in the years to come.
Davies’ boss had the following to say about his rapid rise to the first team.
“He went straight into the team performing at a high level and has kept his feet on the ground,” Koeman said. “We’re really happy with his performances and, of course, proud. He’s a young player and that’s important for the rest of the Academy – to show you can make that next step like Tom did and, if that ends with a new contract, it’s perfect.”
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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