FA Cup Edition 18/2/17-20/2/17

The FA Cup is one of the world’s oldest competitions that excites fans from Lincoln to Leicester . So, who are the winners and losers of the 5th round so far*?

Winners

• Harry Kane – Scored a superb hat-trick against London rivals Fulham to comfortably send his side into the quarter finals.

 

The England striker’s hat-trick put him up to 19 goals for Spurs this season

 

• Lincoln City- The non league side continued their fairy tale run in the FA Cup, becoming the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the quarter finals of the competition. They beat Burnley , who have the 4th best home form in the Premier League , thanks to a last minute header.

 

• Jose Mourinho- Subbed on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba with the game level at Ewood Park. The two then quickly combined with Pogba playing a beautiful ball through to Ibrahimovic to score, his 24th goal of the season, and send the current holders through.

 

Paul Pogba got his 8th assist of the season in the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers

 

• Theo Walcott- Scored his 100th competitive goal for Arsenal, as they scraped past a lively Sutton United team 2-0.

 

Walcott is currently the longest serving player in the Arsenal squad

 

 

• Chelsea – Continued their great league form into the FA Cup with a 2-0 win away over Wolves. The game had the potential to be a banana skin with the Championship side knocking out Liverpool in the last round. However, goals from Spaniards Pedro and Diego Costa means their quest for a domestic double is still on.

 

Losers

• Joey Barton-  Hit a Lincoln player in the face during an altercation and simulated being hit in the face by a Lincoln player, as his side capitulated to a loss against the non-league outfit.

 

 

 

• Leicester City- The current Premier League Champions continue their dismal run of form as they were knocked out by Millwall. The League One side, who were down to 10 men from the 52nd minute, scored in the 90th minute through Shaun Cummings.

 

Click here to watch all the highlights from this weeks FA Cup action.

 

*Manchester City vs Huddersfield is due to be played on the 1st of March

Where are they now? World Cup Final 2014

 

With qualification for the 2018 Russia World Cup firmly underway , this week we take a look at the 2014 World Cup final . The scene was set at the Maracanã, would Lionel Messi finally prevail with Argentina? To win his first international trophy, and go down as one of the greatest, or even, the best player of all time? Or would the Germans prevail and win footballs most coveted trophy for the 4th time? This week we are taking an intensive look at the winners and losers of the left flank during the 20th World Cup final.

 

Winner

• André Schürrle – Was subbed on in the 31st minute, due to an injury to young midfielder Christoph Kramer. He assisted the winning goal with a fantastic cross to  another super sub, Mario Götze. The tricky winger was playing for Chelsea when he won the World Cup and stayed there for the first half of the 2014/15 season .However, a lack of game time with the “Blues” meant he returned to Germany with Wolfsburg in a reported £24 million deal.  He played a vital role in his one and a half seasons at “The Wolves”. His achievements included: winning the 2015 DFB-Pokal Cup, scoring in the penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich in the DFL-SuperCup final, and scoring the goal which sent Wolfsburg into the last 16 of the Champions League, for the first time in the club’s history. His great form earned him a move to Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in 2016, linking up with Götze, not for the first time!

 

Loser

• Ezequiel Lavezzi- Started in the World Cup final for Argentina but was hauled off at half time to be replaced by Sergio Agüero . The Left Winger played another two seasons for French giants PSG, after the World Cup final. He went onto win the domestic treble in France during the 2014/15 season scoring 9 times throughout the season. He started the 2015/16 season in Paris but joined up with Chinese Super League side,  Hebei China Fortune, in February 2016. So far, he has earned over £20 million in wages in China,but is still yet to score.

 

Click here to watch highlights of the game.

Christmas edition: The Winners and Losers across the Globe on Christmas day

 

Winners

 

• OGC Nice– 2 points clear of nearest rivals AS Monaco on Christmas day at the top of Ligue 1. A Christmas miracle almost, with no one expecting them to be anywhere near the top of the table at the beginning of the season.The team from the South of France have been inspired by enigmatic striker Mario Balotelli and have been toppling the hierarchy in France.

 

 

• Chelsea FC– Like a star they sit top of the tree and have been a rejuvenated force under Antonio Conte and his 3-4-3 formation. With star players such as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa finding their form. New signing Kante has also brought his never ending energy, which helped Leicester win the title.

 

 

• Istanbul BB-Not even the wisest of men would have predicted this team, formed only 16 years ago, to be leading the Turkish league. They aren’t the first, or the second or even the third football team you would think of in Istanbul. Despite this they are 3 points clear of last seasons winners and city rival’s Besiktas at the top of  the Super Lig.

 

 

Losers

 

• Inter Milan– At present, they lie down in 7th, despite new manager Frank De Boer spending heavily in the transfer market . Problems on and off the pitch have been their downfall.Including ,Club Captain Mauro Icardi receiving death threats from the club’s ultras, and De Boer being sacked, after just 2 months in charge.New manager Stefano Pioli needs to find some serious form to return the 3 time Champions League winners back into the competition.

 

 

• Valencia CF–  This Christmas one of the most decorated clubs in Spanish football are flirting with relegation, only one season after playing in the Champions League and  two seasons since finishing 4th in La Liga. Languishing in 17th ,with only 3 wins all season.  Financial difficulties are hitting the club hard and forcing them to sell a lot of their best players e.g Nicolas Otamendi to  Manchester City.

 

Where are they now?-Champions League Final 2011: FC Barcelona vs Manchester United

Five years on where are some of winners and losers of the 2011 final, which FC Barcelona won 3-1.

 

Winners

 

• Victor Valdes– Started in between the sticks that day and still to this day holds the record number of appearances for a goalkeeper in all competitions for Barcelona. He left the club in 2014, initially singing for Manchester United. But never really featured going on loan to Belgian side Standard Liege in 2015. After his contract ran out he now plays for Premier league new boys Middlesbrough.

 

• Pedro– Scored the first goal of the final , however his Barcelona career took a downwards turn afterwards losing his place to new signings such as Neymar. Leading to him signing for Chelsea in 2015. His first season at Stamford Bridge was forgetful as Chelsea finished 10th. However he has shown glimpses of his previous form this season in a re-rejuvenated Chelsea side.

 

Losers

 

• Fabio– Started in the final however his career took a nose-dive after , struggling to get into the side , he was loaned out in 2012 to Queens Park Rangers. After relegation with QPR he joined Cardiff City the next season where he was relegated yet again.He was generally a regular for Cardiff and showed some good form in the 2015/16 season to earn himself a move to Middlesbrough , joining up with his rival that day, Valdes.

 

• Nani-Tipped to be the new “Ronaldo” he started on the left in the final, however he was never able to reach the heights of his International team mate. Eventually leaving the club in 2014 on loan to his old club Sporting Lisbon. He impressed but was sold to Fernebache the next season. After a fantastic season banging in 14 goals in all competitions along with a Euro 2016 win he joined struggling Valenica in the summer.

 

English Premier League edition 03-05 December 2016

Winners

• Chelsea

A resounding 3-1 win against an ill-disciplined Manchester City side pushed them 3 points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.

• Alexis Sanchez

Scored a phenomenal hat-trick to help Arsenal hammer the Hammers 5-1 and keep up their claim as title contenders.

• Christian Benteke

The birthday boy scored a double as he helped Crystal Palace secure their first win in 8 games.

• Mauricio Pochettino

His side’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea released some pressure on himself after their disappointing UEFA Champions League campaign.

• Gaston Ramirez

Scored his second goal of the season against his old club Hull City to push Middlesbrough 4 points clear of relegation.

Losers

• Leicester City

Unable to produce their terrific European form in the league capitulating to a 2-1 loss at struggling Sunderland to further slide dangerously down the table.

• Marouane Fellaini

Subbed on in the 85th minute against his old club Everton he then gave away a late penalty to squander his side’s chances of 3 points.

• Kevin De Bruyne

Missed an open goal against Chelsea that would have put his side 2-0 up , instead Chelsea went on to equalize and win the match.

• Loris Karius

Conceded 4 goals to Bournemouth , his most culpable being the late winner for the Cherries, as his parry fell straight into the path of Nathan Ake to scramble into the back of the net.

• Watford

Dominated against West Brom with 60% of possession and 17 shots, however couldn’t make their dominance count with a late red card for Robert Pereyra confirming their fate as they lost 3-1.

• Burnley

Slipped to their third successive defeat with a 2-0 loss to Stoke leaving them still looking for their first away win this season.