Cesc Fabregas names Lionel Messi's successor

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas feels Brazilian superstar Neymar will take over the mantle when Lionel Messi eventually drops his form.

Neymar, now in his third season at Barcelona, has scored 68 goals in 108 appearances for the Blaugrana, combined with 34 assists as he forms a potent strikeforce alongside Messi and Luis Suarez.
The 23-year-old has been widely tipped to be one of the contenders to lift the 2015 Ballon d’Or award – an accolade which teammate Messi has already won four times.
Yet former Barca midfielder Fabregas feels that although it will be difficult for the Selecao star to replicate the Argentine now, he will definitely take over from the Spanish club’s talisman in future.
"That will be very difficult, we are talking about Messi who already at 21 years old had won the Ballon d'Or," the Chelsea midfielder told Goal.com.
"That does not usually happen. So the level Leo has been showing for the last 10 or 12 years is incomparable with any player ever. I am young, and cannot talk about Pele or [Diego] Maradona. But I doubt that any player in history has been so important, so good, every three days, for their team, as Leo has.
“It will be difficult, but when Leo drops his level in a few years' time, Neymar will be the one to reign."
Messi, 28, is Barcelona’s record goal-scorer already, with 420 goals in 494 appearances to his name.

Three Fifa Ballon d’Or, Who should get this ?

Fifa on Monday announced the three finalists in line for the 2015 Fifa Ballon d’Or award, with no surprise as to the three nominees up for the award.

Winners of the last seven Ballon d’Or trophies Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo make the top three once more, alongside Messi’s Barcelona teammate Neymar, who has enjoyed a fine scoring year for both the Brazil national team and the Blaugrana.
All three have banged in the goals over the 2015 calendar year, with Ronaldo – winner of the Ballon d’Or over the past two years - receiving the European golden boot award for most goals scored at club level in Europe, while Messi and Neymar formed a formidable force as Barca won the 2014/15 treble with their Spanish club.
A number of players will feel aggrieved to have missed out on the award, including Messi and Neymar’s striker partner Luis Suarez, PSG’s record goal-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as last year’s third-place finisher Manuel Neuer.
Neuer’s club coach Pep Guardiola is in line to win the Coach of the Year accolade alongside Barca’s Luis Enrique and Copa America-winning manager Jorge Sampaoli.
Along with his Ballon d’Or nomination, Messi is in line for the Goal of the Year award for his mazy run and finish against Atletico Madrid, as he competes against Brazil’s Wendell Lira and Italy’s Alessandro Florenzi, who scored a spectacular long-range strike against Messi’s Barca in the Uefa Champions League.
In the running for the Women’s Footballer of the Year is World Cup winner Carli Loyd of the USA, Aya Miyama (Japan) and Germany’s Celia Sasic.
Jill Ellis (USA National team), Mark Sampson (England National team) and Norio Sasaki (Japan National team) are in the running for Women’s Football Coach of the Year.
All nominees:

Ballon d’Or nominees
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Neymar - Brazil

Women’s Player of the Year nominees
Carli Loyd – USA
Aya Miyama – Japan
Celia Sasic – Germany

Puskas Goal of the Year nominees
Alessandro Florenzi – Italy
Wendell Lira - Brazil
Lionel Messi – Argentina

Men’s Football Coach of the Year nominees
Pep Guardiola – Bayern Munich
Luis Enrique – Barcelona
Jorge Sampaoli – Chile national team

Women’s Football Coach of the Year Nominees
Jill Ellis – USA National team
Mark Sampson – England National team
Norio Sasaki – Japan National team

Ejike Uzoenyi set to quit Sundown.

Ex-Enugu Rangers winger Ejike Uzoenyi is expected to soon quit South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, where he is reportedly on 5m Rands (about 100 million Naira) a year.

Former Nigeria international Uzoenyi has not been registered for this season’s Premier Soccer League after injuries caused him to fall down the pecking order at ‘The Brazilians’.

Uzoenyi’s agent Mohammed Lawal said he hopes to agree with Sundowns to release the player in January.

“He will certainly be playing somewhere else in January,” said the Johannesburg-based agent, who claims there are interests in South Africa and overseas for the player.

NIGERIANS AT IT AGAIN 

Kelechi Nwakali Sporting & Economic Rights Belong To Taye Academy NOT Diamond Academy/ASJ The proprietor of Taye Academy, Kennedy Ezenwere, says he has documentary evidence to back up his claims that the sporting and economic rights of Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali belong to his grassroots club.According to him, both Diamond Academy, Umuahia and ASJ Academy Owerri illegally transferred the ownership rights of the central midfielder without approaching him.“Kelechi Nwakali is my player. I have documents with the Imo State Football Association and his picture is there, ”.

UEFA Champions League wrap

 

Ibrahimovic found the net as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed his former club Malmo 5-0 at Swedbank Stadion. Cristiano Ronaldo hit a brace,  while Mandzukic's goal saved Juventus  as the edged Manchester City last night.

 Real Madrid clinched Group A honours with a 4-3 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, who obviously can not qualify for the next round.
 The victory sealed PSG's place in the last 16 with a game to spare.
Juve ousted City 1-0 and joined the Citizens in the next round thanks to Mario Mandzukic's 18th minute goal at Juventus Stadium. The Old Lady also reclaimed the Group D summit.
Atletico Madrid advanced in the competition with a 2-0 victory over Galatasaray. Antoine Griezmann's double strike ended the Turkish outfit's hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Benfica also progressed following a 2-2 draw with FC Astana, while Manchester United's prospects of going through were left in the balance after they were held to a goalless stalemate by PSV Eindhoven. Louis van Gaal's men are a point behind Group B leaders Wolfsburg and a point ahead of PSV.

Wednesday's results:

Man Utd 0-0 PSV
Juventus 1-0 Man City
Astana 2-2 Benfica
CSKA Moscow 0-2 Wolfsburg
Malmo 0-5 PSG
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-4 Real Madrid
Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-2 Sevilla
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Galatasaray

Eaglets star Nwakali heads first to Belgian club

World Cup MVP Nwakali (middle) will move to Belgium first

It has been gathered the four World Cup-winning Eaglets led by skipper Kelechi Nwakali will stop over at Belgian club Standard Liege before they are farmed out to various top European clubs.


Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, David Enogela and Joel Osikel have been signed by foremost players’ agents Stellar Group, who manage several top stars including Gareth Bale.

A top source informed: “The players have been invited to Europe by Standard Liege and it is from there that the players will be moved to other clubs in other leagues.”

Midfielder Nwakali was the MVP of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup and he has been variously linked with several top English Premier League.

Despite the tightening of restrictions on foreign youngsters moving to England, Nwakali is expected to be granted a work permit when he turns 18 using the special talent clause.

Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho was MVP of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and used this clause to get a work permit this year.

Diamond Academy And ASJ Academy, Demands 5.3 Million Euros From European Teams Interested In Nwakali & Chukwueze.

The Umuahia and Owerri based Academy's has told teams interested in Nwakali to cough up 3.5 million euros to sign the player, while he will not accept an offer less than 1.8 million euros for Samuel Chukwueze and the agency commission he is expected to receive for the sale of both players is 700,000 euros.
The Academy's also demanded that the European clubs that finally snap up the players must sign a partnership agreement with his Academy, stipulating that two players from his academy must go on trial with the buying club every year, accompanied by the coach.

YAHAYA TO JOIN CELTA VIGO  ON LOAN

English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur are set to loan out Nigeria Under 23 international Musa Yahaya to Celta de Vigo in the January transfer window, according to his intermediary Babawo Mohammed.

The exciting winger had trained with the youth teams of the White Hart Lane outfit for more than a year but is back in Kaduna to start the process of obtaining a visa to Spain, as he does not qualify to be issued a work permit by the Home Office.

“Musa Yahaya is back in Kaduna, there is no way they will give him his Spanish visa in the United Kingdom so he had to return to Nigeria, ”
“Tottenham Hotspur are loaning him to Celta de Vigo in January because he will be 18 in December. He will start playing in January.

“Tottenham told him to choose from FC Porto, Anderlecht and Celta de Vigo and we have picked Celta de Vigo.”

Ahead of his move to Galicia, Musa Yahaya has been training with the Mutunchi Academy, the grassroots club that nurtured him before he rose to prominence.

Champions League wrap: Barcelona thrash Roma, Bayern Pummel Olympiacos, Arsenal defy odds and Jose is back.

 

The menacing trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar and captain of the night Lionel Messi displayed another world class showing after Saturday’s El Clasico victory with a mesmerising 6-1 win over AS Roma in their Champions League tie on Tuesday night. The Blaugrana were ahead on 15 minutes as Neymar’s long pass carved open the Giallorossi defence, Dani Alves squaring for an unmarked Suarez who tapped home into the back of an empty net.
Messi, returning to the starting line-up following a two month injury lay-off, ghosted in three minutes later to dink home his side’s second, before a fierce Suarez volley just before half-time gave his side a 3-0 lead heading into the break.
Barca were relentless in the second period, Gerard Pique recording his name on the scoresheet before Messi secured his brace three minutes later. A late Neymar penalty was saved by Roma keeper Wojciech Szczesny, only for substitute Adriano to smash home the follow-up before Edin Dzeko’s late consolation goal, as Luis Enrique’s men secured a 6-1 victory and top spot in Group E.
Elsewhere, German giants Bayern Munich were equally as ruthless, securing a 4-0 win over Greek outfit Olympiacos. Douglas Costa, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman were all on target for the Bavarians, who made sure of their qualification into the knockout stages.
Arsenal clung onto their slim hopes of progression with a 3-0 win over Croatian opponents Dinamo Zagreb, a Mesut Ozil header and Alexis Sanchez brace meaning they lie three points behind Olympiacos, with the duo squaring off in the last group stage match in a straight shootout for second place in Group F.
Chelsea seem back to their former selves after earning a 4-0 away win over Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa, Gary Cahill, Oscar, Willian and Kurt Zouma scoring for the Blues, who movede to the summit of Group G yet are not guaranteed a place in the Last 16 after FC Porto lost 2-0 at home to Dynamo Kiev.
Olympique Lyon’s 2-1 loss at home to Gent sees them remain bottom of Group H, the French outfit sealing their own fate as they fail to progress in the tournament.
Earlier in the evening, Zenit St Petersburg maintained their perfect record with a 2-0 win over Valencia, as BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

See full Champions League tables here

Tuesday night Champions League results:
BATE 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen  
Zenit 2 – 0 Valencia  
Barcelona 6 - 1  Roma  
Arsenal 3 – 0 Dinamo Zagreb  
Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Olympiacos  
Porto 0 – 2 Dynamo Kyiv  
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 – 4 Chelsea  
Olympique Lyonnais 1 – 2 Gent

GLOBAL SOCCER GOSSIP

IBRAHIMOVIC FAVOURS ARSENAL MOVE
Nigerian Midfielder Mikel Obi has been given an opportunity of staying in London with BILIC set to sign him during january transfer Windor.  Bilic and the Hammers has promised to play Mikel in his preferred attacking midield position. Mikel will be looking to re-unite with his Nigerian and Chelsea team mate Victor Moses who is on a season long loan with West Ham United.

Barcelona has enquired about young Nigerian goal Machine Victor Osimhen who emerged as the highest goal scorer in the just concluded FIFA under 17 world cup .

Kelechi Nwakali the MVP of the just concluded FIFA under 17 world cup is reportedly sought after by three English league Giants. Manchester City is looking to unite him with his elder brother Chidiebere Nwakali who ply his trade with the Citizens youth team. Arsenal and Chelsea have also enquired about the mercurial and hardworking midfielder.

Arsene Wenger nearly signed a lot of people. At this stage in the Arsenal manager’s career, it’s almost certainly a running joke to claim that he had scouted a certain player when they were just an embryo, but another club selfishly barged in with more money.
One of the 427 million people Arsene Wenger nearly signed was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to the Sunday People, Wenger will get another chance to sign the Swede next summer. The striker’s contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires in 2016 and, at 34, he is looking for one final footballing swansong at club level. Neil Moxley reckons Ibrahimovic and Arsenal have had ‘contact’, that Ibrahimovic favours a move to Arsenal, and that Wenger is interested in the deal. He’d make a decent defensive midfielder.
Forget the following comments from Ibrahimovic himself earlier this week: “I think it is too late to come to England. I am very happy in PSG, I have my last six months and let us see what happens afterwards.”
We think we’ll go with Zlatan over Moxley here.

UNITED SCOUT SHAW REPLACEMENT
With understanbable uncertainty surrounding Luke Shaw’s return date since breaking his leg in September, attention has slowly turned to a potential replacement. Marcos Rojo has looked a little better recently but is still rather dodgy, while Ashley Young and Daley Blind are not left-backs; Ricardo Rodriguez very much is.
The Sunday Mirror claim that Rodriguez, he of Wolfsburg and Switzerland fame, has been scouted by United recently with a view to a January move. Rodriguez is very much, but would that in itself not point to this being a bit of a weird deal? Shaw will eventually return, and although he will need time to get back to his best – if he ever does – would the existence of a currently superior left-back help his progress? It seems a doubtful move.

MOURINHO WANTS AUBAMEYANG
Over to the former ‘Boss of Goss’ now, with The Sun’s Alan Nixon reporting that Chelsea want Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
‘Stamford Bridge spies are raving about the Gabon hitman,’ writes Nixon, as he struggles with the concept of those people called ‘scouts’. Jose Mourinho is considering a £20million bid apparently. The German side signed Aubameyang for around £10million in the summer of 2013, with the 26-year-old scoring 64 goals in 115 appearances – including 23 in 21 this season – since. Such form is worth more than simply doubling his valuation, surely?
Nixon also likens Aubameyang to Didier Drogba, presumably because they are a) both African, b) both strikers, and c) Drogba played for Chelsea and Aubameyang has been linked to the them. They really aren’t that similar aside from that.

QATAR NEXT FOR BRENDAN?
Fulham, QPR, Swansea, Newcastle, Chelsea; the exhaustible list of potential next management jobs for Brendan Rodgers really is a bizarre one. Add a Qatari club to the mix and it gets no better.
In a Daily Express exclusive from their man John Richardson, Qatari club executives are hoping to lure the former Liverpool boss to their shores with a number of lucrative offers. Richardson offers no clues as to the identity of any of the sides (although Al Sadd, Xavi’s club, are mentioned in the URL but nowhere else thereafter), but claims that Rodgers has met with one who have offered him a deal which ‘could see him bank £10million’. No weekly wage or number of years on a potential contract are revealed, but £10million is a nice, big, round number so there we go.
There is also no mention of the fact that Rodgers, whose reputation has taken quite a beating after his Liverpool downfall, but who is clearly still a talented manager, would be committing career suicide by taking a post in the Far East. No chance.

AND THE REST
Manchester United and Arsenal could both make bids to sign Juventus defender Daniele Rugani…United also want Ashley Cole and Saido Berahino…Tottenham will move for Corinthians forward Alexandre Pato if they lose out to Chelsea in the race to sign West Brom striker Berahino…Newcastle have joined Arsenal and Tottenham in tracking Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, but the French club want £35million…Louis van Gaal will not seek to bring Adnan Januzaj back to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund when the January transfer window opens despite his injury crisis and lack of attacking options…Ron Vlaar has received three offers from Premier League clubs, including Sunderland and Norwich, but Everton are not the third club…Bournemouth are ready to offer Yoan Gouffran the chance to stay in the top-flight in the New Year.

BARCELONA WANT STONES
The first reports of Barcelona interest in John Stones came as early as April, but the Daily Telegraph have reignited that chatter. An ‘exclusive’ from Matt Law claims that Barcelona sent scouts to watch Stones during England’s friendly with Spain in Alicante last Friday. They were presumably disappointed when he didn’t actually play the game.
The other evidence Law has for the interest is that Gerard Pique picked Stones in his current World XI in an interview with the Telegraph last week. But don’t bet your house on it just yet. We’re going to try and ignore the inbuilt cynicism that says this was just an excuse to re-plug that interview.
Still, we’d be very surprised if Stones ended up at Barca, as we just can’t see them paying the £40m required to sign him. An English premium isn’t particularly useful when you’re not an English club, and Everton will hold out for the highest fee possible.

MOYES TO LEEDS?
Steve Evans hasn’t been in the Leeds job five minutes, but you’d struggle to find a supporter who wouldn’t drive him out of the city should David Moyes become available. That’s exactly the rumour doing the rounds today.
It starts in the Daily Mirror, and their claim that Moyes would be interested in the job should Steve Parkin complete his takeover at Elland Road. The Mirror say that Moyes would prefer a Premier League club as his next job, but would be prepared to take on a project like Leeds if there was money to spend to fund a promotion campaign.
As ever with Leeds, it’s such a bloody circus that there’s not really much point getting excited about anything until it actually happens.

ARSENAL CLOSE TO SANCHEZ EXTENSION
The talk of Alexis Sanchez’s new contract has been going on for a while, but the Daily Mail reports that it could soon be announced. Mesut Ozil also has a deal on the table.
The Mail reports that talks between Sanchez and Arsenal are at an advanced stage, with a five-year deal worth £155,000 per week on offer. The Chilean is currently paid £130,000 per week, and this deal would take him above Ozil as the club’s highest earner. That’s probably only before Ozil signs his new contract.
These are eye-watering sums of money, but Arsenal fans will probably enjoy the following current formula: Sanchez + Ozil + £30,000 = Wayne Rooney. But he’s ‘proving the doubters wrong’ when he scores one goal, apparently.

UNITED AND CHELSEA EYE UP FEGHOULI
To The Sun now, and their claim that both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho are interested in signing Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli.
The main driver for this news is that the Algeria international is refusing to sign a new contract in Spain, meaning he will be able to talk to clubs over a free transfer move when January arrives. That makes it something of the no-brainer.

BERAHINO TO CHELSEA
A few months ago Chelsea were being strongly linked with a move for Antoine Griezmann; now it’s Saido Berahino. If ever you needed an indication of just how far the club has fallen during this dreadful run of form, there it is.
The news regarding Chelsea’s interest in the striker comes from the Daily Telegraph’s John Percy. If you were going to pick one person to trust on transfer rumours, it’s him.
Percy moots a £20m bid in January for the striker, whose form has been patchy at best; three goals in 669 Premier League minutes.
Chelsea have also been linked with Bologna midfielder Amadou Diawara, by Gianluca Di Marzio, and Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder. It’s silly season.

ONE OF BALE OR RONALDO OUT THE DOOR
Another day, another story about players leaving Real Madrid. Yes, it’s those same two again.
ESPN report that Real are increasingly keen to sell one of their two biggest assets, with the pair not gelling together as much as the club would like. If they can get £80m for either of them you suspect they’d sell, leaving them free to further invest in the squad.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester United are mentioned in passing regarding both players. We’re set for an awfully long nine months until the end of the next summer transfer window.

UNITED WANT ‘NEW AGUERO’
Gonzalez has been dubbed the ‘new Aguero’, although he looks more like Xherdan Shaqiri. If he’s anywhere near as good clubs should be falling over themselves to sign him. Roma, AC Milan and Juventus have also reportedly shown interest.
To be honest, this is a story we’ve heard before. In June the Daily Mail reported that United and Real Madrid were scouting Gonzalez, then just 15. There’s clearly some serious interest.

ARSENAL WANT IZZO
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo’ shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
Was herbin’ em in the home of the Terrapins
Got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short wit’ cheese I would work wit’ them
Boy and we…got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn’t born hustlers I was burpin’ em
Oh yeah, Arsenal are apparently interested in Genoa defender Armando Izzo. Might happen, might not.

AND THE REST
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote is wanted by MLS outfit New England Revolution…Juventus are tracking Chelsea midfielder Oscar and Southampton forward Graziano Pelle…Hull City centre-back Curtis Davies is a £3million target for Bournemouth…Crystal Palace are ready to reward veteran defender Damien Delaney with a new deal…Southampton have made a £50,000 bid to sign 16-year-old Cheltenham winger Luke Thomas.

Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: White Hot Lane

Tottenham extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 12 games with an impressive 4-1 London derby victory over West Ham on Sunday.
Harry Kane lashed Spurs into the lead with a close-range strike just after the 20-minute mark, while Toby Alderweireld doubled their lead with a commanding header from a Christian Eriksen corner.
Kane added his second and Spurs’ third just after half-time with a well-struck effort from outside the box, with Kyle Walker adding a delightful fourth thanks to an outside-of-the-boot finish.
Manuel Lanzini provided a well-taken consolation for the visitors with three minutes remaining, but Spurs cruised through much of the match to record a convincing and fully-deserved victory, which sees them close the gap to fourth-placed Arsenal to just two points.
Son Hueng-min returned to Tottenham’s starting XI in the absence of the suspended Erik Lamela, while West Ham, for the coming three months without the injured and important Dmitri Payet, started with Andy Carroll, Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho.
Following his outstanding recent goal for England against France, much of the early attention inevitably centred on Dele Alli and the midfielder – curiously switching with Mousa Dembele from his usually-deeper position to No 10 – was central to Spurs’ opening goal.
Receiving possession from Son in the 23rd minute, Alli found room to shoot from inside the area but watched as Winston Reid deflected the ball to Kane, who in one motion classily turned Carl Jenkinson before shooting with his left foot beyond goalkeeper Adrian into the roof of the net.
It could easily have already been more. With West Ham defending from a deep position amid Spurs’ intensity, Christian Eriksen had previously tested Adrian with a powerful strike from midfield and the visitors’ Cheikhou Kouyate, albeit from an offside position that went unnoticed, had hit the crossbar with a bicycle kick.
The momentum theirs, Spurs continued to threaten and within 10 minutes had doubled their lead. From a corner on the left, Eriksen delivered a typically-accurate, inswinging cross which Alderweireld read to routinely head in from close range.
Kane soon should have scored a third when one-on-one with Adrian after Alli’s through-ball, but despite time and space the forward showed an uncharacteristic lack of composure to shoot with his weaker left foot and miss the target by considerable distance.
Had he done so, it would have been difficult to see any way West Ham could have recovered from such a half-time deficit. It said much about the inaccuracy of suggestions that they can compete with Spurs for a place in the top four when they were so visibly an inferior team.
The only chance they had came in scoring the second half’s first goal, and ideally soon after the restart, but Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs are a more ruthless team than has been seen under his predecessors, and they instead swiftly sealed victory.
Maintaining their aggressive, high-paced football, they immediately attacked and then took advantage when James Tomkins thoughtlessly conceded possession with a misplaced pass to Eriksen. With West Ham’s defence out of position, the midfielder played in Kane, and he atoned for his earlier error by shooting past the exposed Adrian into the bottom left corner to score his eighth goal in his past five Spurs games.
With West Ham unquestionably beaten, Walker’s goal, from inside the area in the 83rd minute, resembled one more likely to be seen in training. Casually exchanging a one-two with Son that began outside the penalty box, the full-back masterfully bent the ball with the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner.
Equally casually, he then gave Lanzini possession four minutes later in defence, allowing the midfielder to run into the area and beat Hugo Lloris by finishing high inside the near left post.
Conceding will understandably have frustrated Pochettino, but while much has been said about his team’s promise so far this season, on this evidence there remains more to come.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Sunderland: Defoe delight

Jermain Defoe picked Scott Dann’s pocket for a poacher’s finish to seal Sunderland’s 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory at Crystal Palace.
The former England striker nipped in between Dann and the onrushing goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to secure the Black Cats’ first away win of the league campaign.
Shortly after slotting home the winner, however, 33-year-old Defoe hobbled off with a suspected leg injury.
Alan Pardew’s toothless Eagles were unable to build on their fine 2-1 win at Liverpool, slipping to their fourth home defeat in seven league games this term.
The hosts created precious few real scoring chances, the industry and application of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie lacking a killer final ball.
That profligacy from the hosts allowed Sam Allardyce’s side to steal the points – their first league win on the road since the 2-0 triumph at Everton in May.
Sunderland had the only two tangible chances of a dire first half.
Allardyce’s wing-back formation twice allowed Patrick van Aanholt in behind the Palace defence, and the first time the left-sided defender ought to have scored.
Defoe blasted wide from all of 12 yards midway through a half punctuated with dross.
The Black Cats opened the second half the stronger but were thwarted from another fine chance when Yohan Cabaye cleared Sebastian Coates’ header off the line.
Substitute Bakary Sako’s curling effort veered wide as Palace attempted to raise the tempo, before Damien Delaney pulled off a full-stretch interception to deny Sunderland an opportunity on the break.
Sako’s night lasted less than 20 minutes, the former Wolves midfielder trudging off to be replaced by Patrick Bamford as Pardew threw two up front.
The clash had cried out for the home team to alter their formation and double their strike force almost from the off, yet Pardew still waited until after the hour mark to make the switch.
While Zaha and Bolasie huffed and puffed in their effort to deliver a telling final ball, Sunderland continued to offer a reasonable counter-attacking threat.
Allardyce’s men again wasted a fine opening, however, when replacement Jeremain Lens tapped a tame effort straight at Wayne Hennessey.
Pardew pitched Marouane Chamakh into the front line in place of the anonymous Connor Wickham, but still the hosts struggled for fluency.
Sunderland finally took advantage via the anticipated direct counter, Dann misreading Billy Jones’ hopeful ball to allow Defoe a clean run on goal.
The former Tottenham hitman ghosted in and round Hennessey in one touch, before passing into the empty net.
Hennessey had little choice but to leave his area in a bid to cover Dann’s misread, but only succeeded in allowing Defoe to tee up his tap-in.
Palace continued to press even through five minutes’ added time, but to no avail, with Cabaye curling a free-kick wide to close out a frustrating night for the hosts.

Real Madrid keep faith in Rafael Benitez

Real Madrid have announced their full backing for under-fire manager Rafael Benitez.

The Spaniard has not been a popular choice at the Bernabeu, and his popularity took an even bigger dip following Saturday’s crushing 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona.
Real president Florentino Perez called a press conference for tonight which many thought could spell the end of Benitez’s reign, but instead the club has back the former Liverpool and Napoli boss.
“We have had a board meeting and analysed the sporting situation at Real Madrid. Rafa has all our support and all our confidence,” Perez said.
“Rafa Benitez has all the ability and has only just started his job here. Let him keep working and he will achieve his objectives.”

Jose Mourinho mum on El Clasico result

Jose Mourinho says it is not his place to comment on Real Madrid’s heavy defeat in this past weekend’s El Clasico.

Los Blancos lost 4-0 to Barcelona at the Bernabeu, further increasing the pressure on manager Rafa Benitez.
But asked about the apparent crisis at his former club, Mourinho would not comment.
“I left Chelsea in 2007 and I was waiting eight months to work again, when I went to Inter,” he said. “During that period I gave zero interviews … not one word about Chelsea, not about any clubs in trouble. I closed my mouth for eight months.
“Football is for people working in football, not for people not [working inside the game]. Right now I see so many people talking about the clubs in trouble.
“It’s amazing the lack of respect, the lack of ethics. Real Madrid? I speak about them when they are winning, not when they are losing. So for me, on the Clasico? Zero.”

RIO QUALIFIER, KNOW YOUR PLAYERS

Usman Mohammed (second left) and Segun Oduduwa (first left) will feature for Nigeria at U23 AFCON in Senegal

Goalkeepers

Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)

He is the team’s first-choice goalkeeper and so too for his club Rangers after his controversial transfer from Shooting Stars. The tall shot stopper is great at stopping penalties and was on the squad to the 2013 AYC in Algeria, but a knee injury prevented him from seeing action.

Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars)

He has been the cover for Daniel after he toppled Abiodun Akande of Shooting Stars for the AAG. His new-found confidence has helped him play more regularly for hometown club Pillars this season.

Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland)

Young goalkeeper who has established himself at Heartland in the past two seasons. His agility makes up for his lack of inches and he will most likely be third-choice in Senegal.

Defenders

Sincere Seth (Supreme Court FC)

An all-action right fullback who should catch the eye in Senegal because he is solid in defending as well as when he goes forward.

Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys)

Athletic central defender who has grown into becoming a pillar in the heart of the team’s back four. He is very adventurous and his confidence is admirable particularly as he is from non-league Nath Boys of Lagos, who produced Eagles ace Wilfred Ndidi.

Zaharadeen Bello (Kano Pillars)

Clever if not athletic central defender who has made his Nigeria league debut for hometown club Kano Pillars, who prefer to play him as a defensive midfielder.

Seun Olubayo (Sunshine Stars)

The stocky but skillful player is comfortable as a leftback or on the left side of midfield. He trained briefly with the Nigeria U20s last year. He has been known to weigh in with his own fair share of goals for Sunshine. This will be his first major international outing.

Chizoba Amaefule(Dolphins)

Former Flying Eagles central defender Class of 2013. He has featured for Dolphins before a recent loan stint in Qatar. Calm under pressure with great professional attitude.

Ebuka Iroha (Diamond Football Academy)

Younger brother of former Eagles star Ben Iroha. He has been on the wings of the U23s before he finally made the cut for this U23 AFCON.

Midfielders

Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors)

Versatile player who could play in defence, midfield or attack. He is strong on the ball, packs a good shot and knows his way to goal. His enterprise and versatility very crucial for this team as the competition gets tougher.

Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba)

Highly-rated midfielder who could play from defence or attack. He missed the AAG because he was involved then with the Super Eagles. An exciting addition to the squad to Senegal.

Tiongoli Tobara (Bayelsa United)

The Bayelsa ace has finally got his chance to prove himself after he was overlooked for the AAG. Will be now take it in Senegal?

Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United)

Hard working midfielder who has shone with the CHAN Eagles, scoring one of the goals when Nigeria eliminated Burkina Faso to qualify for next year’s CHAN in Rwanda. Such is his class that he is being considered for regular playing time with the Super Eagles.

Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)

The heartbeat of this team – when he plays, the team play. He creates and scores goals and has already been capped at full international level by Nigeria. His biggest undoing though remains his niggling battle with a knee complaint.

Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Matalatyaspor/Turkey)

Team skipper and defensive midfielder, who now plies his trade in Turkey alongside Sunday Mba. He has a big engine and he is very comfortable on the ball.

Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars)

Another defensive midfielder who has made a success of his move from hometown club Akwa United to Kano Pillars this past season. He may be a little slow on the ball, but he fetches and carries the ball to attack for the team.

Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)

Flying winger who has established himself at league runners-up Warri wolves after transferring from Kwara United. Over the years he has proved he is a class act and he now has a chance to show what he can do on the international scene as well.

Forward

Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves)

Another player who has made the most of his move from hometown club Akwa United to Wolves. He is the only out-and-out striker from the domestic league as the other strikers on the squad are based abroad.

Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien/Tunisia)

Talented centre-forward who scored three goals at the AAG in Congo Brazzaville. His goals for the Dream Team have earned him a lucrative deal at Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien from where he hopes to storm Europe.

Taiwo Awoniyi (FSV Frankfurt/Germany)

The gangling striker widely compared to the legendary Rashidi Yekini is a Liverpool loanee at German second division side FSV Frankfurt. He featured at the FIFA U20 World Cup earlier this year after he emerged as one of the stars when Nigeria won a record fourth U17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi two years ago. He is returning to Senegal, where he scored three goals as the Flying Eagles won the 2015 AYC in March.

Isaac Success (Granada CF/Spain)

Big, bullish striker Success was the star of the 2013 U17 CAF Championship in Morocco, but a hamstring denied him the chance to shine at the U17 World Cup months later. However, his class has shone through in the Spanish La Liga, where he has now scored three goals for his modest club Granada, who have extended his contract.

Exclusive : Agent Insists No Contact Has Been Made With Barcelona Over Signing Of Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen’s intermediary, Shira Yussuf , has played down reports linking the Golden Boot winner at the 2015 Fifa Under 17 World Cup with a possible switch to European champions Barcelona.

Reports back in his homeland had claimed that the Azulgranas were keen on landing the signature of the Golden Eaglets sensation, with a certain Ryan Hartsfield expected in Lagos to thrash out a one million euros deal with representatives of the teenager.

But Yussuf has reiterated that Ultimate Strikers have not received a concrete approach from Barcelona but will not turn down the Spanish powerhouse if they come knocking on the door.

“Barcelona have not offered one million euros for Osimhen, It was funny reading the report because they have not made contact with us, ”“There is nothing official from Barcelona or their representatives. When the Tottenham Hotspur news came out, it wasn’t from us and nobody should be worried.

“We know the clubs talking to us and Barcelona is not one of them. If Barcelona are really interested and approach us, we will listen to them.”

Osimhen is currently in Gambia training with Nigeria’s Olympic National Team ahead of their participation at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez says players were angry during El Clasico defeat to Barcelona

Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez says his players were angry at half-time of their crushing defeat to fierce rivals Barcelona on Saturday.

Real were trailing 2-0 at the break via goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar at the Bernabeu. Andres Iniesta and Suarez struck again after the interval to inflict a 4-0 scoreline on Benitez's charges.
Los Blancos trail La Liga leaders Barca by six points following the one-sided Clasico.
"Whenever you lose it's always bad and especially against Barcelona. We've paid for our mistakes. We've made mistakes and against a team like Barca you pay for those dearly," Benitez said at a press conference.
"We wanted to attack and win back the ball high up the field but it didn't come off. We're all responsible for it not going well, now we look for unity in the group and to try and sort this out in the next game.
"Now we have to train hard and work hard to improve. I hope the team can recover quickly. When you lose in this way there is a worry as to how the players will react.
"At half-time they were angry and at the end of the game there was little to say. I won’t talk about a lack of desire in my team."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho rules out Premier League title tilt

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has ruled his team out of the title race but believes they can still secure a top-four finish.

The champions ended a three-game losing run in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on the weekend.
Mourinho's men are now 15th on the table with 14 points from 13 games - 14 points shy of leaders Leicester City, and 12 behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
"It's a bit of a relief," said Mourinho.
"The pressure was there - I was feeling, the players were feeling too. We coped well with that and we got a result which obviously we needed very, very much.
"Fourth position for me is not an impossible mission. If you ask me the title I would say impossible mission.
"Maybe Tom Cruise can do it (but) it's complicated because you have to recover points from four candidates.
"But to grab one of the (teams) that go up and will also have a little bit of a collapse... the fourth position is a difficult position but a possible target."
Meanwhile, Mourinho was pleased to see playmaker Eden Hazard pick up a man-of-the-match award against the Canaries.
"Every top player that is not performing well they feel it probably more than the others that are not so good," he added.
"Eden created chances for us, which is important and I think also for his confidence."

Success Scores as Granada Wins Athletic Bilbao

Isaac Success celebrated victory with Granada on Sunday night, helping the Andalusian club beat Athletic Bilbao 2 - 0 at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.

Shortly before the hour mark, the Flying Eagles star scored his third goal of the season with a volley to double Granada’s advantage.

Success opened his account this term against Getafe in August, then, notched his second goal in his team’s 3 -3 draw with Sporting Gijon in October.

The 19 - year - old has recorded 11 appearances in the Spanish top flight, while Uche Agbo, who was an unused sub today, has played only one game.

Following the win against Athletic Bilbao, Granada have jumped to 16th position in the s

TRANSFER GOSSIP

BARCELONA WANT STONES
The first reports of Barcelona interest in John Stones came as early as April, but the Daily Telegraph have reignited that chatter. An ‘exclusive’ from Matt Law claims that Barcelona sent scouts to watch Stones during England’s friendly with Spain in Alicante last Friday. They were presumably disappointed when he didn’t actually play the game.
The other evidence Law has for the interest is that Gerard Pique picked Stones in his current World XI in an interview with the Telegraph last week. We’re going to try and ignore the inbuilt cynicism that says this was just an excuse to re-plug that interview.
Still, we’d be very surprised if Stones ended up at Barca, as we just can’t see them paying the £40m required to sign him. An English premium isn’t particularly useful when you’re not an English club, and Everton will hold out for the highest fee possible.

MOYES TO LEEDS?
Steve Evans hasn’t been in the Leeds job five minutes, but you’d struggle to find a supporter who wouldn’t drive him out of the city should David Moyes become available. That’s exactly the rumour doing the rounds today.
It starts in the Daily Mirror, and their claim that Moyes would be interested in the job should Steve Parkin complete his takeover at Elland Road. The Mirror say that Moyes would prefer a Premier League club as his next job, but would be prepared to take on a project like Leeds if there was money to spend to fund a promotion campaign.
As ever with Leeds, it’s such a bloody circus that there’s not really much point getting excited about anything until it actually happens.

ARSENAL CLOSE TO SANCHEZ EXTENSION
The talk of Alexis Sanchez’s new contract has been going on for a while, but the Daily Mail reports that it could soon be announced. Mesut Ozil also has a deal on the table.
The Mail reports that talks between Sanchez and Arsenal are at an advanced stage, with a five-year deal worth £155,000 per week on offer. The Chilean is currently paid £130,000 per week, and this deal would take him above Ozil as the club’s highest earner. That’s probably only before Ozil signs his new contract.
These are eye-watering sums of money, but Arsenal fans will probably enjoy the following current formula: Sanchez + Ozil + £30,000 = Wayne Rooney. But he’s ‘proving the doubters wrong’ when he scores one goal, apparently.

UNITED AND CHELSEA EYE UP FEGHOULI
To The Sun now, and their claim that both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho are interested in signing Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli.
The main driver for this news is that the Algeria international is refusing to sign a new contract in Spain, meaning he will be able to talk to clubs over a free transfer move when January arrives. That makes it something of the no-brainer.

GUNNERS WANT GRANIT IN MIDFIELD
We brought you news of the German media’s struggle with international week on Wednesday, but SportBild are back again with the transfer rumours on Thursday.
After reporting that Arsenal wanted Bundesliga pair Karim Bellarabi and Benedikt Howedes, the German sport magazine now claims that the Gunners are chasing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka, a 23-year-old Swiss international, operates mainly as a defensive midfielder (BUT ARSENAL DON’T NEED ONE!11!1), and SportBild claim the Gunners have sent an official to watch him in action. Xhaka has a buyout clause of €30m, which is apparently only applicable in 2017.
Much as it was on Wednesday, it’s all poppycock.

RITCHIE BACK ON UNITED RADAR
It was weird when Manchester United were linked with Matt Ritchie back in August, and it’s no less bizarre now.
The Sun is the responsible party for resurrecting this rumour, and they claim United scouts have been watching Ritchie’s performances for Bournemouth in the last few weeks and feel he would be a good addition. It must have been the one goal and no assists in his last five league games.
To be fair to Ritchie, he has been one of the Cherries’ obvious star performers so far this season, but it all just seems a bit far-fetched. Bournemouth rejected a £7million bid for the 26-year-old last January, but United feel that he offers a cheaper alternative to first-choice target Sadio Mane of Southampton. There is a reason he’s cheaper, chaps…

DEMBELE SQUARED AT SPURS
It seems Mauricio Pochettino is hellbent on confusing everyone; the Spurs manager is reportedly interested in Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.
He of the plural ‘s’ as opposed to the singular is in fine form for Fulham this season, scoring seven goals in 14 Championship games for the managerless Cottagers. His contract expires in the summer, and the Evening Standard believe Spurs, Everton and Feyenoord will tussle for the 19-year-old.

AND THE REST
Paris Saint-Germain will battle it out with Real Madrid next summer to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea…Liverpool are keeping tabs on FC Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn…Bolton want Liverpool’s Joao Teixeira on loan…Tottenham have issued a hands-off warning to Inter Milan over Jan Vertonghen…Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino continues to monitor Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as he fears losing Hugo Lloris…Southampton will offer Luuk de Jong a return to the Premier League…Saido Berahino is resisting West Brom’s attempts to tie him down to a new £50,000-a-week deal…Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini is set to make his loan move to Bologna permanent…Bayern Munich fear Pep Guardiola is top of Manchester City’s managerial list this summer…Norwich striker Kyle Lafferty is a loan target for Leeds United…Middlesbrough want Patrick Bamford back in January if the Chelsea striker triggers a release clause in his season-long loan deal at Crystal Palace…American billionaire Josh Harris is set to buy an 18 per cent stake in Crystal Palace…Massimo Cellino is trying to engineer a bidding war in the protracted sale of Leeds United amid concerns of the financial clout of one interested party, Steve Parkin…David Moyes is the man Steve Parkin wants at Leeds once his £30million takeover goes through…Remi Garde could ban pasta sauce from the menu at Villa Park…QPR are trying to hijack Paul Lambert’s move to Blackburn…Richard Rufus was on the brink of being sacked by Charlton Athletic last night after he was found to have masterminded a multi-million pound “criminal” fraud.

Whatever it is you’re doing, stop; the Daily Star have a juicy little EXCLUSIVE for us on Sunday morning.
After Barcelona joined Real Madrid in the chase for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy in midweek, thereby taking the whole joke a little too far, Manchester United have now been linked with a £15million move for the in-form England international.
Paul Hetherington is the man responsible, and he claims that United have sent a scout to Leicester’s last two games, with Vardy impressing in both to maintain his record-breaking run of scoring in nine consecutive league fixtures over one season.
It is obviously a coincidence that Leicester’s last two games came against West Brom and Watford, United’s opponents in their last and their next Premier League fixtures. ‘UNITED SCOUT OPPOSITION’ is a less sexy headline, to be fair.

GOODBYE, DIEGO COSTA
Diego Costa has not been very good this season. The Spain striker admitted himself that he returned from the summer break overweight, while his record of 21 goals in 37 games in his debut season has become just three in nine this campaign.
Reports emanated last week that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would look to root out the ‘bad apples’ in his under-performing squad, and the Sunday Mirror believe one of such ‘bad apples’ could be the struggling Costa.
Their man Andy Dunn claims the club will be on the lookout for two strikers in the January transfer window, including a replacement for Costa as they prepare to offload the 27-year-old.
Not only that, but Dunn reports Mourinho considered selling Costa back in the summer, but the Spaniard’s popularity within the squad spared him. Club captain is reportedly a fan of Costa’s, which makes sense considering their respective personalities.
As for potential striking targets, the Mirror believe Gonzalo Higuain is the most likely, while the Sunday Express have an EXCLUSIVE on the Blues chasing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who would cost at least £40million.

UNITED TO TARGET ROBBEN
Arjen Robben is ‘at war’ with Robert Lewandowski. Arjen Robben wants to leave Bayern Munich. Manchester United want a winger with pace. Manchester United want Arjen Robben.
That’s the gist of the Sunday Mirror’s report, with Simon Mullock believing Louis van Gaal is monitoring the situation between club and player in the hope of snaring his countryman.
Robben’s selfishness has reportedly angered Lewandowski, and United could therefore make a move.
Robben turns 32 in January, has a contract at Bayern until 2017 and will probably win a lot of trophies in Germany this season. Would he relish leaving to join Van Gaal considering the manager himself has just one season left at Old Trafford?

AND THE REST
Newcastle are ready to make a January bid to sign £20m-rated West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 22…Tottenham are considering a £7m move for Dynamo Kiev defender Domagoj Vida, 26…American investors are set to buy Everton, taking the number of US-owned Premier League clubs to six…Juventus are planning a raid on the Premier League and are targeting moves for Chelsea playmaker Oscar and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri…Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is a transfer target for Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan…Manchester United are hot on the trail of Germany’s new rising star Leroy Sane – Schalke’s pacy young winger.

 GRANADA STOPS SUCCESS
Modest Spanish side Granada have restricted their Nigerian striker Isaac Success from featuring at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations despite reports suggesting that the former Golden Eaglets star has been included in the roster.

The Sporting Director of Granada, Juan Carlos Cordero, has taken this decision based on the fact that the tournament falls outside the Fifa window for international matches and the club have important games during the competition.

Exclusive : Danny Shittu Flies Into Abuja To Begin Talks With Kingsley Michael Over Queens Park Rangers Move

Super Eagles defender Danny Shittu has flown into Abuja to begin contract talks with the entourage of Nigeria Under 17 international Kingsley Michael.

It is confirmed that the ex Watford center -  half is negotiating with representatives of Michael as regards to the possibility of the youngster penning a preliminary contract with Queens Park Rangers.

In the light of the foregoing, Kingsley’s dad, Dogo Michael, has issued a mandate to the agency representing Danny Shittu, authorizing the United Kingdom - based agency to get a club for the Golden Eaglets star.

Another Nigeria Under 17 player that Shittu is interested in is goalkeeper Akpan Udoh and his parents have officially told the defender to act on their behalf.

Apart from the interest from W12 7PJ, Danny Shittu is not putting all his eggs in one basket and has contacted Portuguese powerhouse FC Porto to sign his new client, Kingsley Michael.

It would be recalled that Kingsley Michael’s father had revealed after the tournament in Chile that his son was on the wishlist of Manchester City, West Ham and Chelsea.

MESSI WILL SHOW NO MERCY

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi looks likely to be fit to feature in Saturday’s much-anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid.

The Barcelona talisman has been sidelined with a knee injury but made a return to full training on Monday, right in time for La Liga’s glamour clash this weekend.
Barca teammate Adriano says Messi has looked in training and is backing the Argentinean to be fit in time for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is recovering very well, doing everything to get to the game and to have him in the team changes a lot," Adriano told Mundo Deportivo.
“There's a difference when he plays or doesn't, but in his absence we've managed to come together and move forward in matches.
“Every day he's been the Leo we're accustomed to: laughing, joking, and doing things with confidence.
“Would I put money on him playing in the Clasico? Hopefully, yes.”
Luis Enrique’s side have not felt the impact of Messi’s absence as Neymar has been on fire, surging to the top of the La Liga scoring charts with 11 goals, and Luis Suarez also has nine.

MESSI IS BETTER THAN RONALDO  ..DE BOER

Ajax Amsterdam coach Frank De Boer believes Lionel Messi could have a great impact in this weekend's 'El Clasico' if he is declared fit for action.

Messi has been out with a knee ligament injury since Barcelona's 2-1 La Liga victory over Las Palmas in December, but could make a return ahead of this weekend's clash with rival Real Madrid.
While away, Neymar and Luis Suarez have done a sterling job in keeping the goals flowing, while also helping Barca top the league standings after 11 games.
De Boer has tipped Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the world, and the former Dutch international believes the Argentine captain could give Barca the edge if he plays in this weekend's Spanish league derby.
"For me, my personal best player is Messi because he can do almost everything and so if I have to choose one as my favourite it's Messi," De Boer told Omnisport.
"But Ronaldo, I take my hat off to him, because if you can manage to score so many goals every year and never be injured, I think you're also one of the best.
"So it's hard to choose, but if I have to pick one then I will take Messi. I like him more because he gives more.
"He gives 40 assists also in a year and [scores] fifty goals, and that I like very much about him."
The former Barcelona left-back competed in nine 'Clasicos' during 1999 and 2003, and is well aware of the magnitude of, as well as the build-up to, Saturday's fixture.
"First of all you have the history, with Catalonia – the independence they want of course," he added.
"They are probably the two biggest teams in the world to play on one soil so it's so massive, 90-100,000 people in the stadium.
"The hatred between Real Madrid and Barcelona, you feel the tension. If you are for [either team] they are already talking about the Clasico four weeks before and they start with two pages [in the newspapers] every day.
"Then suddenly it gets more – five, six – and at the end of the week before it's 20 pages about the Clasico. That you cannot imagine, it's so special."
The Catalan side currently lead Madrid by three points on the log, and a win at the Bernabeu on Saturday could see Los Blancos go ahead of Barca on goal difference.

Westerhof:WITH OLISEH, EAGLES WONT QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP

Former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof, has raised the alarm that Nigeria stand the risk of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup to be staged in Russia with Sunday Oliseh in charge.

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Westerhof, who guided the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Tunisia in 1994 as well as a second round appearance in the 1994 FIFA World Cup debut in the United States of America, said the Super Eagles' start to the qualifiers does not give confidence the team will win the race to Russia.
“Congratulations, you beat Swaziland 2-0 in the return leg match of the preliminary round of the qualifiers,” Westerhof told Complete Sports.
“But does that really call for celebration? Yes, there are no minnows in football but who are Swaziland to hold the Super Eagles to a goalless draw (in Swaziland)?
“The Super Eagles won 2-0 in (Port Harcourt) Nigeria but is it not a game the Super Eagles should be winning 6-0, 7-0 under normal circumstances?. What type of football do they play in Swaziland?”
Reminded that the Super Eagles are undergoing rebuilding following the arrival of a new manager, Sunday Oliseh, to take charge of technical affairs of the team, Westerhof said there’s no sign the team will get better.
“Swaziland is not the first match Super Eagles have played under Oliseh. There has not been any difference between their first game under him and the game with Swaziland.
“I’m sorry, with Oliseh, the Super Eagles may not go to the World Cup in Russia,” Westerhof declared.

​Ighalo: My Eagles Goals Will Come, Watford’ll Give United A Good Fight

Nigeria and Watford striker Odion Ighalo in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD reveals reasons why Super Eagles struggled to beat Swaziland and promises to give Manchester United a tough time on Saturday…

Two games no goals for you but the Super Eagles qualified for the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. How does this feat make you feel?

Firstly, I give thanks to God that we qualified against a tough team like Swaziland. It was not an easy round because we played against a side that deployed more bodies in defence. 
They gave us a good fight. The first leg was on an artificial turf which affected the way we played and also the flood lights were not bright enough for us to play with.
There were other unpleasant conditions but I’m happy we have qualified and I’m looking forward to the draws.
As regards the goals, I wasn’t too happy because I didn’t get to score but the fact that the team won is great. I worked hard for the team but the goals didn’t come but I was glad that the coach was pleased with my performances in the two games.
I helped my team keep the ball and gave everything to score. I know many expect me to score just like I do for my team in England but most times it doesn’t work that way.

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I know the goals will still come because I am working hard to maintain that form of scoring in every game. To my fans, I’m sorry I didn’t score.
Now that Nigeria have qualified and might not be seeded in the group stage draw, are  you scared of they may be drawn against the likes of Cote d’Ivoire Cameroun, Ghana and South Africa in the group phase of the 2018 World Cup?
We are not scared of any team and won’t underrate any team as well. In Africa there are no minnows anymore; we saw what Swaziland did to us away and how Ghana were held at Comoros so the tide is changing and we will be better going ahead.
We just have to work harder and keep to the tactics of our coach. With Sunday Oliseh’s tactical acumen we can face any team. I don’t prefer any team I just pray for a favourable draw because the aim is to qualify for the World Cup.
This weekend, your team Watford, 11th in the English Premier League table, host Manchester United at Vicarage Road. United may likely be without some of the top players like Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling and the rest. What are your chances?
Manchester United are a big team in England and one of the biggest sides in world club football. Against them it won’t be easy and that’s why Watford have been pushing hard to stay in the league. 
Going into the game we are the underdogs and they will be difficult to beat but we will give it our very best to win and stay up on the log as long as we can. Nobody can predict the outcome but they will get a good fight on Saturday.
Lastly, what do you make of coach Sunday Oliseh?

He is a strict coach and one that knows what he wants from his team. Since my first encounter with him he has never changed.
He doesn’t want to know where you play for so long as you give him what he wants on the pitch and he’s not scared to throw you out when you’re not performing. 
I think that those were few of the reasons he was appointed. In a nutshell, he’s a strict professional and a disciplinarian.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

The Daily Mail dream team of Matt Lawton, Matt Barlow and Charles Sale come together to bring us big news from Stamford Bridge, and it’s about a potential suitor for Jose Mourinho’s job. Well, two potential suitors.
The men in question are Carlo Ancelotti and Claude Makelele, in keeping with the ‘you must have been associated with Chelsea at some point in the past’ rule. Ancelotti and Makelele worked together during the Italian’s time as manager of Paris Saint-Germain, and it is now believed that they have emerged as candidates to replace Mourinho if he goes.
Both are popular figures at Stamford Bridge, Ancelotti sacked a season after winning the Double and Makelele – who has a place in our list of the top 10 French Premier League imports – winning two Premier League titles during his time as a player there.
Those two are not the only men linked with the Chelsea job on Tuesday morning however. Step forward Premier League winner Roberto Mancini.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claim Mancini, who won the Premier League title in 2012 with Manchester City, is a ‘viable candidate’ to replace the Portuguese if he leaves.
Mancini is currently at Inter Milan after being sacked by City and leaving Galatasaray by mutual consent.

EVERYONE WANTS ADEBAYOR
Watford, Galatasaray, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Chelsea, you name ’em, Adebayor’s being linked with them.
Linked mainly by Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, that is. Lewis claims that Watford are the newest suitors for the free agent, with the Hornets considering making a short-term deal available to to Togo striker in January. Only Stoke have scored fewer goals than Quique Sanchez Flores’ men, but considering eight of their ten strikes have been scored by either Odion Ighalo or Troy Deeney, we don’t see how another striker – particularly an Adebayor – would help.
Lewis goes on to report that Adebayor’s preference is to stay in London, which is where the Chelsea link somehow crops up. They have three struggling strikers, so apparently they need a fourth.

MERSEYSIDE BATTLE FOR TELLO
‘Barcelona outcast Cristian Tello becomes transfer target for Liverpool and Everton – report,’ reads the headline on The Metro, so let’s look through the keyhole.

Surprisingly, it is very much as it sounds; Tello is currently on loan at Porto and is keen to find a new suitor as opposed to rejoining Barcelona in the summer. At the top of that list are Everton and Liverpool.
The reports come from Portuguese paper A Bola, which is starting to build a reputation akin to that of The Metro and Calciomercato, so read into that what you will.

AND THE REST
Manchester City are looking to boost their firepower win an £8m swoop for Atletico Madrid’s exciting centre-forward Angel Correa…Kevin Mirallas is growing increasingly concerned that his lack of minutes for Everton will hinder his hopes of going to Euro 2016 with Belgium…Inter Milan are willing to offer Radamel Falcao an escape from his Premier League struggles in January with another loan for Chelsea’s borrowed forward – but only if the striker takes a pay cut…Manuel Lanzini has a £5.5m buy-out clause in his contract which West Ham will look to trigger to make his loan move permanent.

atrick Bamford: It was supposed to be the deal that would see Patrick Bamford take the next step in his development. The 22-year-old had impressed in over 100 appearances during temporary stays at MK Dons, Derby and Middlesbrough, scoring 49 goals in that sequence. It is the same number of minutes he has been handed by Alan Pardew so far this season. A loan move to Crystal Palace heralded his first in the top flight, but his most notable impact so far has been to contribute towards an oft-repeated statistic around these parts: Of Palace’s 14 league goals this season, none have been scored by a striker.
“When I met Pards he spelt it out to me that I wasn’t going to play every game but I would get my fair chance,” Bamford told the Daily Mirror back in August. Three months on, and that ‘fair chance’ has still not materialised.

James Chester: While West Brom’s decision to spend £8million on James Chester this summer was puzzling, the fact that the Welshman has started just one Premier League game since is downright bemusing. A refusal to play actual human full-backs at full-back meant Tony Pulis’ penchant for four centre-halves in defence would surely see Chester play after signing from relegated Hull, but not so. Chester described his situation as “difficult” earlier this week, with Pulis responding that the club’s most expensive ever defender is “a very important member of the squad”. In the 26-year-old’s three appearances in a Baggies shirt, his side have conceded half of their 16 league goals so far this season.

Gokhan Inler: ‘Had Leicester City supporters known what was to come, there would have been no need for the open letters or tweets in awe of departing Esteban Cambiasso this summer. An upgrade is in town.’
Writing for the Daily Mail back in September, Jack Gaughan was positively gushing in his praise for Gokhan Inler. With Esteban Cambiasso departing after one memorable season at Leicester, attention turned to his replacement. Inler was the man chosen, joining for £5million from Napoli. The 89-cap Swiss international was the club’s fourth most expensive signing of the transfer window; last summer, their second biggest buy was Danny Simpson. Weird.
Inler has started just twice for the Foxes this season. Danny Drinkwater, N’Golo Kante and Andy King have all (justifiably) featured more often in central midfield. ‘Esteban who?’ Gaughan asked in the aforementioned article. It has very much been ‘Gokhan who?’ so far.

Nikica Jelavic: When West Ham signed Nikica Jelavic from Hull on transfer deadline day this summer, the deal was announced as on a two-year contract ‘with the option of a further two’. It’s an option they probably won’t take.
Jelavic has perhaps been a victim of the Hammers’ excellent form so far, with Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll and Mauro Zarate all impressing up front. The Croatian international has been handed just five substitute appearances amounting to 75 minutes of Premier League action this season; Modibo Maiga has played just 50 minutes fewer. Maiga left in August.

Tiago Ilori: After speaking of his ‘relief’ at leaving Liverpool for Aston Villa in the search of regular Premier League football, Tiago Ilori certainly didn’t expect to still be waiting for his first appearance in mid-November. A £7million purchase for Liverpool in 2013, the 22-year-old is still waiting for his first taste of English football after subsequent spells with Granada and Bordeaux. A loan to Villa was considered as the first rung on that ladder. The Po(o)rtuguese remains the only purchase of Villa’s patchy summer transfer window yet to feature for the club.

ENGLISH TEAM SOARS

England gaffer made a couple of key points about the midfield that I think deserve further consideration – namely around the ‘balance’ of the side, and the ‘household names’ not being available.
Although this is apparently through Roy’s hand being forced by injury to others, I think we may have just stumbled upon the formula to build this team around over the next few years. 3 big, strong powerful lads, all 21 and under, all capable on the ball, strong in the tackle, and with dynamic and incisive running from Alli, dribbling and passing from Barkley and Dier as the positional glue to allow Alli and/or Barkley to get forward. They interchanged well, defended well, and dominated a near first-choice French midfield for the bulk of that match – imagine if they got a few games together!
The development side is key – you only have to look at Germany in recent years to watch how they discarded their under-achievers and put faith in a young, talented team to grow together, play together in friendlies, qualifiers and tournaments, to get to the level of success they see today. I’m not suggesting that this England team should be expected to deliver on that scale, but they may stand a better chance of doing so than their recent predecessors if they’re given a chance, and not discarded at the first sign of a Henderson/Wilshere midfield axis in a 4-4-2 *shudder*.
Blunders, CFC, London

Is this the non-c***iest England squad ever?
Older 365ers like me may remember the chronicles of the non-c&#$s 11 from 2006 (I think) with Jimmy Bullard as captain.  Reminiscing on this and watching the new generation of players in the England set-up it got me thinking that with Wayne Rooney now no longer assured of a start and Jack Wilshere permanently injured –  we may soon have the most non-c&#$*ish England team in more than twenty years.
Can anyone even begin to imagine Harry Kane screaming “I earn more in a day than you in a year” in the face of a Latvian defender ?  I’d wager Eric Dier doesn’t even have a Bentley, let alone park one in a disabled bay and as for the roasting,  I just feel sure that (unlike some of their big-name predecessors) John Stones and Chris Smalling would rather go home after a night out..
I always got the feeling that it was the arrogance and narcissistic sense of self-entitlement which led to the golden generation never really playing together as a unit, it was all about themselves and their personal glory.  I wonder if a bunch of lesser talented, more down to earth guys might have a huge advantage here.
So if we can get Danny Wellbeck and Jordan Henderson fit again and learn to forget about Jamie Vardy’s casino indiscretion, then by the time the Euros come round we could have the nicest, politest, most-unassuming,  clean-cut, hard-working  young men representing the national team that I can ever remember. And even if they aren’t as talented as some of their predecessors and they still crash out after a few dull performances I for one will still feel better about them, my country and myself.
Nick, Harlow  (I am aware that Raheem Sterling does’t really fit into this narrative).

Consistenly inconsistent
After reading the mailbox this morning, I count help but to ask myself which of these three groups are the most inconstant when it comes to the English national team?
1. English fans? Who a few days (in the mailbox) ago were talking about how bad the team has been and how they have no hope for the euros. Who didn’t agree with a mailboxer (hope that is right) that said he has chosen to be optimistic about the euros. To then suddenly rave and drool about England and their chances at the euros after seeing them beat France (I am not saying France isn’t a good team).
2. English press?: don’t even let me get started on the inconsistency of this group (if I do, this would probably be the only thing that would be published in the evening mail box because of its length)
3. English players?: who show glimpses of brilliance for their individual club sides and in the qualifying stages of most competitions to then go ahead to seem to have no clue when they get to the main tournament.
Other inconsistent groups include: English pundits, jobless managers (turn pundits), in some cases English weather.
If there were to be an award competition to choose which is most inconsistent in all the above listed groups, it’s going to be very very tough to decide.