English Matches Review

What bettors need to know: Thursday’s NFL preseason action

August 29th, 2012

Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 38.5) The Falcons will be kicking the tires on new backup QB Luke McCown, who was signed after the team released second-stringer Chris Redman. Atlanta also has some tinkering to do on the offensive line heading into the final preseason game. New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles (-5, [...]

Walcott in Arsenal deal deadlock

August 29th, 2012

By David Ornstein BBC Sport Arsenal have failed to reach an agreement with England winger Theo Walcott over a contract extension, but talks are ongoing. The 23-year-old, whose contract expires in 2013, wants [...]

Fulham accept Spurs’ Dembele bid

August 29th, 2012

Tottenham have been given permission to speak to Fulham’s Moussa Dembele after the two clubs agreed a fee. Fulham boss Martin Jol said the 25-year-old Belgium international was having a medical at Tottenham. Meanwhile, Fulham are in talks with Kieran Richardson after agreeing a fee for the winger with Sunderland. [...]

Stoke 3-4 Swindon (aet)

August 29th, 2012

99:02 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jermaine Pennant, Foul by Peter Crouch on Aden Flint, free kick awarded. Wes Foderingham takes the free kick. 98:38 Foul by Tommy Miller on Robert Huth, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Matthew Upson. 97:35 Substitution Substitution Nathan Thompson on for Jay McEveley. 92:39 Jermaine [...]

Sheffield Wed 1-0 Fulham

August 29th, 2012

71:30 Gary Madine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Hughes. Brede Hangeland takes the free kick. 70:48 Substitution Substitution Sascha Riether on for Stephen Kelly. 70:11 A cross is delivered by Lewis Buxton, save by Mark Schwarzer. 69:51 Lewis Buxton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on [...]

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Everton vs Leyton Orient: Match Preview

Everton vs Leyton Orient: Match Preview 
After two solid wins in the Premiership, Everton are flying high and will be looking to get their Cup campaigns off on the right foot at Goodison Park on Wednesday. League One side Leyton Orient are the visitors and the occasion is the second round of the Capital One Cup (aka the League Cup).

Keys To The Game -

As Everton have found out to their detriment in previous years, underestimating lower-League opposition can be dangerous. While I do expect Moyes to retain his steely stare on the sidelines, he will give a few starters a break while maintaining some skill on the bench if it all starts going wrong. Orient have shown weakness against teams that play fluid, passing football and Everton have been doing that well this season. Expect a raucous welcome for the boys and intense pressure on Orient for the first few minutes as Everton will push for an early goal or two.

Leyton Orient, with all due respect, are not much of a match for the Toffees on current form and will count themselves extremely fortunate if they can get away with a narrow loss. With their ultra-defensive 4-1-4-1 formation, you can expect them to hoof the ball upfield and attempt to beat Everton in the air via setpieces. Dean Cox and Lee Cook are charged with distributing the ball in midfield for striker Kevin Lisbie, last season's top scorer.

Match Facts -

Everton have never won the League Cup, with two second-place finishes in 1977 and 1984.

The two sides last met in the League Cup in 1989, with Everton prevailing 4-2 in a two-legged second round game.

Leyton Orient are an East London club, formed in 1881 and have endured numerous name changes before the current version.

Their highest finish in a cup was in the 1977-1978 FA Cup when they reached the semifinals.

Orient played in the First Division in 1961/62, though they got relegated immediately after.

Noted composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his brother Julian Lloyd Webber are two famous fans of Orient.

The O's were once sold for £5 after chairman Tony Wood lost his business due to the civil war in Rwanda in 1995.

Article Source: http://www.royalbluemersey.com/2012/8/28/3271213/everton-vs-leyton-orient-match-preview

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Tevez tames Liverpool as battling City earn draw

LONDON: Reigning champions Manchester City twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool that denied Brendan Rodgers his first Premier League win as Reds manager.

Martin Skrtel went from hero to villain in the course of an exciting match at Anfield on Sunday, heading Liverpool in front before his loose back-pass set up the goal for Carlos Tevez that saw City make it 2-2 ten minutes from time.

A much-improved Liverpool, shock 3-0 losers to West Bromwich Albion last week, took the lead when Skrtel powered in a header from Steven Gerrard’s 34th minute corner. But City, who came through a see-saw clash to beat newcomers Southampton 3-2 in their league opener, were level in the 63rd minute when Yaya Toure capitalised on the failure of Liverpool’s Martin Kelly to clear a Tevez cross.

However, parity lasted for just three minutes until, following a Jack Rodwell handball, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez curled the ensuing 20-yard free-kick round the wall and beyond the despairing dive of City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

But Argentina striker Tevez, with his 100th goal in English football, drew City level again in the 80th minute when he seized on a stray back-pass from defender Skrtel and then calmly rounded Pepe Reina before slotting home. Nevertheless, Rodgers told Sky Sports: “My glass is very nearly full.

“I thought it was a brilliant performance. We were asked a lot of questions and I thought the players were incredible. Some times the best team doesn’t win.“Let’s remember we were playing a good side.”

And Rodgers, renowned when in charge of Swansea for his emphasis on passing football, absolved Skrtel of blame for City’s second goal.“He was brave enough to play it and that’s the development of the team. As a group we will only get better,” Rodgers said.

This was the fourth game in a row where City had conceded two goals and manager Roberto Mancini said: “This is the time to finish conceding two goals every game. “But we have taken one point when we went down two times,” the Italian added.

Earlier, Arsenal failed to score for the second league match in a row following the departure of star striker Robin van Persie to Manchester United as they were held to a goalless draw away to Stoke.

“It is not good enough,” said Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta after the Gunners’ second straight 0-0 stalemate.“We had some really good chances but at the moment we are not taking them. The same thing happened last week.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased by his side’s defensive performance but said he was looking to bring in more players to the London club before Friday’s transfer deadline.“I’m pleased with what I have, but yes, I anticipate that we will do something still,” Wenger said.“We are still in the market. Defensive midfielder, it depends on the quality of the players available.”

article source:  http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-10-128646-Tevez-tames-Liverpool-as-battling-City-earn-draw

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What bettors need to know: NFL Week 3 preseason

Jake Locker was named the Titans’ starting QB.

There are three preseason games Thursday night in the NFL and we give you a quick breakdown on the essentials for each one. This should be a big week for a lot of teams as they look to trim their rosters to 75 by Monday.

Green Bay at Cincinnati (+3, 45)

Green Bay has lost straight up and failed to cover the spread in its first two preseason games. The good news is they enter Week 3 the healthiest they’ve been all preseason and they’d like to come away with a win from Cincinnati. Head coach Mike McCarthy says his first stringers will play the first half and then he’ll give other guys a chance to make their mark in the second half.

The Bengals say they’re not approaching this week as a ‘dress rehearsal’ just like last week when the first team was in for 29 plays. Cincy is saying it will keep the first teamers on the field into the third quarter.  The Bengals have won and covered in their first two preseason games.

It’s worth noting the total opened at 42.5 for this game and has since shot to 45 points, the highest total of any NFL preseason game this week.

Baltimore at Jacksonville ( -7, 41)

Jacksonville has moved into regular season mode in their practice habits. The Jags have put up two scoreboards at opposite ends of the field with 40 second clocks and they are pumping in crowd noise to their scrimmage sessions. Coach Mike Mularky says Chad Henne will remain the backup QB despite the fact Jordan Palmer has led the team to fourth-quarter, game-winning drives in the last two preseason games.  Off the field, the Maurice Jones-Drew holdout issue remains a distraction and his fines totaled $840,000 as of Wednesday.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh says his starters will play into the second half Thursday. The Ravens still have some spots up for grabs though at left guard, cornerback, nose tackle and a couple of other spots.

Arizona at Tennessee (-3, 42.5)

The Cardinals are the only team with three losses against the spread in the preseason so far. (The Saints are the only other team to have played three games.) The Cards are going to play their starters into the second half on Thursday and we’ll also get another chance to see the least appealing quarterback battle in the NFL unfold again. John Skelton will get the start but head coach Ken Whisenhunt says Kevin Kolb will also see some time with the first string.

The big news this week for Tennessee was the team announced rookie Jake Locker out of Washington would be its starting quarterback. Locker brings a versatile threat in the backfield but he has accuracy issues, converting just 45 percent of his passes so far. He wasn’t much better in college at just over 50 percent so you can bet the Titans will be working on passing. Locker didn’t look too sharp in his first NFL start last week when he went 4-of-11 for 21 yards. Tennessee is facing several injuries on defense for this game so that could effect their game plan on that side of the ball.

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English Premier League: 10 Things We Learned from Opening Week of EPL

Michael Regan/getty Images

Week 1 of the English Premier League is complete.

Already we've learned so much about the season to come as well as the 20 teams involved in it—much more than we did before the season began.

From the upsets to the expected dominance, here are 10 things we learned from the opening games of the English Premier League.

1. Arsenal Will Take Time to Adjust to Life Without RvP

2. Fulham Are Fine Without Clint Dempsey

3.Newcastle United Mean Business Again

4. Eden Hazard Is as Good as Promised

5. No Rodgers? No Problem for Swansea

6. Sergio Aguero Is a Huge Loss for City

7. It Could Be a Long Year for Aston Villa

8. Everton Primed to Beat Liverpool Again

9. Southampton Aren't Just Cellar Dwellers

10. City Are Premier League Favorites, Not United

 

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UPDATE 1-Soccer-English League Cup 1st round fixtures

Aug 10 (Infostrada Sports) - Fixtures from the English League Cup 1st Round matches on Friday

1st Round

Saturday, August 11 (GMT)

Bury(III) v Middlesbrough(II) (1400)

Carlisle United(III) v Accrington Stanley(IV) (1400)

Cheltenham Town(IV) v Milton Keynes Dons FC(III) (1400)

Crewe Alexandra(III) v Hartlepool United(III) (1400)

Doncaster Rovers(III) v York City(IV) (1400)

Hull City(II) v Rotherham United(IV) (1400)

Leeds United(II) v Shrewsbury Town(III) (1400)

Notts County(III) v Bradford City(IV) (1400)

Rochdale(IV) v Barnsley(II) (1400)

Sheffield United(III) v Burton Albion(IV) (1400)

Walsall(III) v Brentford(III) (1400)

Watford(II) v Wycombe Wanderers(IV) (1400)

Wolverhampton Wanderers(II) v Aldershot Town(IV) (1400)

1st Round

Sunday, August 12 (GMT)

Blackpool(II) v Morecambe(IV) (1400)

1st Round

Monday, August 13 (GMT)

Fleetwood Town(IV) v Nottingham Forest(II) (1845)

Oldham Athletic(III) v Sheffield Wednesday(II) (1845)

Preston North End(III) v Huddersfield Town(II) (1845)

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Man City confirm Rodwell signing

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of midfielder Jack Rodwell from Everton for £12m.

The 21-year-old has signed on a five-year deal and the fee could rise to £17m.

Rodwell completed a medical with the Premier League champions on Sunday before signing a deal to become Roberto Mancini’s first signing of the summer.

“Man City are a massive club, the league champions, so it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a dream come true,”

Rodwell told www.mcfc.co.uk.

He joins up with England for Wednesday’s friendly against Italy, but will be available for Manchester City’s opening game of the season against newly promoted Southampton at the weekend.

“It will be an amazing experience to make my debut in front of them [Manchester City supporters] if I am selected to play next weekend,” he added.

“Obviously I knew the squad is immense with talent here but I believe in my ability. I’ve just got to work my way into the manager’s plans and hopefully things will go well.

“The hard work starts today as I start to help contribute to the club winning more silverware. The season has started really well with the Community Shield win.”

Rodwell rose through Everton’s youth system after joining the Premier League club at the age of seven.

He represented England at four junior levels before making his senior

debut in the friendly win over Spain in November 2011,

replacing Phil Jones as a 56th-minute substitute.

Three days later, Rodwell started his first full international,

playing 58 minutes against Sweden

before being replaced by James Milner.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to everyone at Everton. The manager David Moyes has been brilliant for me and helped make me the player that I am today,” said Rodwell.

“I have a special relationship with the chairman, Bill Kenwright, who did not want me to leave.”

Rodwell revealed that despite his long-standing ties to the Toffees, talks about a move to City had been going on for a while.

“It’s been kept under wraps quite nicely. It’s been going on for the past couple of weeks but the last couple of days it’s progressed really quickly. I’m just pleased it’s done,” he added.

Rodwell is Manchester City’s only high-profile new arrival this summer, although the club have been linked with transfers for

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie and Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger.

He will add depth to a City midfield department without England international Gareth Barry, who has a hip problem, while Nigel de Jong is stalling over a new deal.

The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract and has attracted interest from Bayern Munich.

Source Article from http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19232773

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English Premiere League Arsenal vs. Sunderland AFC Match Preview

English Premiere League
Arsenal vs. Sunderland AFC
Match Begins 10:00PM GMT+8
Saturday, august 18

Arsenal have been busy in the transfer market this off season Oliver Giroud joins the Gunners along with Lucas Podolski and the addition of Santi Cazorla has really strengthened the teams chances of competing for the Premier League title this year. Of course the big question still hanging over the club is whether club captain and star player Robin Van Persie will still be playing for Arsenal come next Saturday. Arsene Wenger has dipped into the transfer market and to me at least appears to have bought well. Both forward additions Giroud and Podolski will bring alot of attacking talent to the team and will at least replace some of the goals Van Persie brings if the dutchman does leave. Alot of Arsenal's youngsters were involved this year in both the Olympics and the European Championships and there may be some fatigue to play a part in the teams preparation for the Premier League kick off. Mikael Arteta, Oxlade Chamberlain, Ramsey, Song and Walcott though will be a formidable midfield for any team to face and Jack Wilshire will also be coming into the side at some point in the coming weeks.

Sunderland have had a very quiet transfer window only one player has come in Carlos Cuellar from Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill ccoahced Cuellar at Villa and knows all about him. Sunderland though have lost Nicolas Bendtner who has gone back to Arsenal from his succesful loan spell last season. So up front the Black Cats will be reliant on Frazer Campbell Conor Wickham and Dong won Ji. The average age of the Sunderland strikers is 21, very young and not alot of experience there but there is lots of talent in this young sunderland side and they have experience at the back with Titus Bramble, John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Cuellar. 

Personally I think this game is a tough one to call. Arsenal on paper anyway look to have strengthened significantly since last season but their pre season thus far has not been all that impressive. Robin Van Persie still hasnt committed to the club going forward and he really is a vital cog for the Gunners. As of now though Van Persie is still and Arsenal player and I think Arsenal as a whole will be too strong for Sunderland. Take Arsenal -1 on the handicap as the Gunners open up their new season with a comfortable win.

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Manchester United bid for Van Persie stalls

Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United’s attempts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal have stalled.

The Netherlands striker, 29, has 11 months left on his Arsenal contract and has declined an offer to extend his deal at Emirates Stadium.

“We’ve made a bid, they [Arsenal] have been trying to negotiate with other clubs,” said United manager Ferguson.

“I don’t have a gut feeling about it. We can’t get a breakthrough with Arsenal.”

Ferguson

first revealed the Red Devils had made an offer for the Gunners forward on 20 July.

It is not known whether they have improved their original offer, but Ferguson said he did not know whether United’s pursuit of Van Persie would be successful.

It is understood Arsenal are reluctant to enter formal negotiations until a bid exceeds £20m.

“I don’t know what Arsenal’s thoughts are because they’re not giving anything away,” he told reporters after United’s friendly against Barcelona in Gothenburg on Wednesday, which finished in a 0-0 draw before Barca won 2-0 on penalties.

“It’s difficult to say why they’re operating this way. I can’t give you any more information. We just have to persevere.

“We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there’s no progress at this moment in time.”

Van Persie scored 41 goals in 53 games for club and country last season and was named Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ player of the year.

Juventus have also been pursuing Van Persie’s services while Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini revealed the Premier League champions were now

out of the running

for the striker.

Meanwhile, Ferguson admitted to being staggered after hearing that another summer transfer target,

Lucas Moura,

had agreed to join French side Paris St-Germain.

The Brazilian, who has represented his country at the London Olympics, will join in January 2013 on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Sao Paulo.

“To tell everyone that PSG are here they’ve signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” added Ferguson. “They must have spent about £150m in the last month.

“When somebody’s paying 45 million euros (£35.5m) for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game’s gone mad. I find it quite amazing.”

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Ramos would welcome Modric to Real

Sergio Ramos is keen for Real Madrid to sign Luka Modric and believes that he would be a fantastic addition to the squad, a story from Talk Sport reports.

The Modric transfer saga has gone on for some time now and he has expressed his desire to leave his current club Tottenham this summer.

However, the La Liga side are not prepared to match Spurs’ valuation of their playmaker, which is believed to be £40 million.

The English Premier League team may now be able to keep hold of their star man as the deal seems to have stalled recently.

But defender Ramos said: “We’ve got a great squad, with amazing footballers, and one or two more will join.

“I like football and good footballers and Modric is one of them. He currently doesn’t play in this team and I can’t say any more than that. If he joins he’ll bring something to the team.”

Modric also wanted out of White Hart Lane last summer and was set to move to Chelsea and this year it is Spain which is his desired destination.

Real are looking to retain their title this season after pipping Barcelona to the post last year. Jose Mourinho will also want to build a squad that can challenge for the Champions League.

The 26-year-old is certainly a fantastic player that could be just what Mourinho’s men need. Time is running out though and they have just over three weeks to sign him.

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English League | Olympics Updates

Great Britain’s Olympic track cycling campaign got off to a disastrous start when Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish were disqualified from the final of the women’s team sprint.

They were denied a shot at the gold medal after making an illegal change-over in their semi-final win over Ukraine.

Continue reading the main story

“I’m sorry for disappointing all the people that have come to support us”

Victoria Pendleton

Pendleton was penalised for taking over half a bike wheel too early at the start of the second lap of the two-lap race.

“We were probably just a bit too eager,” Pendleton told BBC Sport. “It’s one of those things. “It was very unfortunate; it was a mistake made in a fraction of a second.”

China then finished ahead of Germany in the gold medal race, but were also relegated for an infringement at the change-over, leaving Germany as champions. China were left with silver, while Australia beat Ukraine in the bronze medal race.

The announcement that Pendleton and Varnish had been relegated to eighth place was greeted by loud boos at the packed London Velodrome.

Dave Brailsford, British Cycling’s performance director, argued the pair’s case with the judges in the centre of the track for more than 10 minutes before the news was relayed to spectators.

Dan Roan explains why the GB team sprint women were disqualified

British cyclists won gold in seven out of 10 events and a total of 12 medals on the track at Beijing in 2008, Pendleton and Varnish were on course to keep the run going in London.

They broke the world record in their heat, in a time that was quickly bettered by China in the next race, and were second fastest in the semi-finals, again behind only China.

“It happens so quickly when you are full speed in a team sprint. Jess moves up and that’s my cue to take over but it was a metre or so too early, unfortunately,” said Pendleton.

“It was on the change. Jess got stuck a bit on the start and perhaps it put her a little bit on edge and perhaps she was trying to make up for the difference she lost.

“Maybe she judged the straight a bit wrong and I just saw the gap and just went for it because that’s my cue.

“I’m desperately disappointed for Jess. She has done an incredible job in getting this far. Her team sprint today was the best of her life so far.

Analysis

“It’s the Olympic Games, it’s the biggest thing. To spend four years getting ready for it only to lose in a fraction of a second is gut wrenching.”

Mark Cavendish on BBC One


“I’m sorry for disappointing all the people that have come to support us and perhaps not offering the ride that we would have done.”

Pendleton, who is retiring from cycling after the Olympics, competes in the keirin on Friday and will begin the defence of her individual sprint title on Sunday, but Varnish’s Games are over.

London 2012 Olympic Games is the first time the women’s team sprint has been staged at an Olympics.

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12BET | NFL Hall of Fame Game, Week 1 preseason odds are out

Football season is so close you can smell the jockstraps.
The NFL Hall of Fame Game and Week 1 of the preseason are next week and sportsbooks are already posting spreads and totals for the first round of tuneup games.
A few online markets have posted odds while the LVH Sportsbook in Las Vegas has odds available for most of the Week 1 tilts. Here’s a look at the early lines for the 2012 NFL preseason:
Hall of Fame Game
Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints (-3, 34.5
)Week 1

Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills (+2,35)
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (N/A)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5, 34)
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5, 34)
Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers (-2.5, 37)
Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears (-3, 33)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins (-2.5, 33.5)
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5, 33)
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions (-3, 36)
New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1, 33.5)
Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs (N/A)
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (-4, 33)
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers (-1.5, 35.5)
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5, 34)
St. Louis Rams at Indianapolis Colts (Pick, 33.5)
Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders (-1.5, 34)

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