Michezo magazetini leo...

We have lost our way, admits Lampard

Published 08:28 14/01/11 By MirrorFootball

Frank Lampard admits Chelsea are experiencing a crisis of confidence but the England midfielder refuses to blame their slump on the exit of Ray Wilkins.
The Blues claimed the Premier League and FA Cup double last season and appeared unstoppable earlier this campaign.
However, since the defeat of Fulham on November 10, Chelsea have won just one league game and lost four, a run that has seen Carlo Ancelotti's side drop to fifth, nine points off leaders Manchester United who also have a game in hand.
Wilkins left Stamford Bridge in November but Lampard insists his departure is not the reason behind Chelsea's slide.

Lampard told The Sun: "We won the double last year, all of us together including Ray. Ray is no longer here.
"But the club makes the decisions and, if Roman Abramovich wasn't here, we wouldn't have won three Premier League titles.
"Things are important off the pitch but we've been putting out a side good enough to beat teams we've lost against.
"What we can't do as individuals is use what happened to Ray as an excuse. We have to perform regardless."
He added: "At the moment there's a bit of a feeling that we're not sure what's going to happen when we go out there.
"If we're honest we all think that. That's just the way it is. You can't help that. It won't change anyone's determination to want to win but you can't help but feel it as we haven't been winning.
"The end of (Luiz Felipe) Scolari's reign was a bit like this. You lose the feeling of being able to win every week. Once you've had that and lose it, it's hard to get it back.
"We need to work in the same direction, follow the manager and, if we do, I believe it will turn. If we don't, it won't.
"This is a bad moment, make no mistake about it. We don't have to hide it any more. It has been a long enough time."

Kalou vows to get more goals


RivalsDM

PRINT

RSS

2 comments »

Updated Jan 14, 2011 8:02 AM ET
Salomon Kalou insists he has what it takes to be a goalscoring machine after admitting he has missed too many chances since joining Chelsea.
Kalou ended a personal drought dating back to November when he netted his 50th for the club in Sunday's FA Cup third-round thrashing of Ipswich.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

It took the 25-year-old four and a half years and 210 appearances to reach the milestone but he has vowed to improve his ratio.
"I score more difficult goals than the ones I miss," said the Ivory Coast international, who has a slightly better rate of eight goals in 24 games this season.
"So I can't say it's because I can't do it. I know that's not true because I've scored hard chances.
"I think that's what it takes to be a top player - to have one chance and to score. That's what I'm working on now."
Kalou accepts his current rate is not good enough, especially with Chelsea crying out for a consistent goalscorer during their worst slump in the Premier League for almost 15 years.
"To be honest with you, every game I play with Chelsea, I come out of it with regret because I feel like I should have scored another goal," he told his club's official magazine, Chelsea.
"(My coach growing up) Jean-Marc Guillou always used to say, 'The most difficult thing is not knowing how to score but knowing how to create yourself a chance'.
"I know that I can create chances for myself, I do it every game and now I just have to concentrate on putting more of them in the net.
"So that's what my focus is now, because every game I create at least one chance for myself.
"Sometimes, I come out of the games with regret because I feel like if I was taking all the chances I get, I would be top scorer.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

"Look at our home game against Fulham: I could have scored three in that game and that is what I want to concentrate on achieving."
Kalou may not get a chance to add to his tally against Blackburn this weekend, with manager Carlo Ancelotti having to decide whether to recall Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.
Both were rested on Sunday, with Kalou, Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Anelka leading the line.
All of them found the net but that may not stop Ancelotti opting for experience in a game that could be watched by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, according to reports.
Any trip to Stamford Bridge would also doubtless entail a meeting with Ancelotti, who has continued to enjoy Abramovich's backing, despite overseeing the worst sequence of results since the Russian bought the club.

Arsenal will bounce back from Ipswich defeat, says Arsène Wenger

• 'If we play like that again at West Ham, we will lose'
• Gunners can close within a point of United with victory

• • 
    
  • Share5

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 14 January 2011 15.33 GMT <li class="history">Article history 'You think we are all arrogant, confident people, but when you do not have success for a while, the doubt creeps in quickly' said Arsène Wenger today. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images Arsène Wenger accepts football is very much a confidence game, but has every belief Arsenal can deliver the required performance to bounce back from their midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich with victory at West Ham tomorrow.
  Wenger openly admits the Gunners were well below par as they went down 1-0 at the Championship club on Wednesday night, despite having selected a strong side.
  And while Arsenal still have the second leg to turn the tie round, there will be little room for error at Upton Park if they are to keep up with the Premier League leaders Manchester United.
  "You think we are all arrogant, confident people, but when you do not have success for a while, the doubt creeps in quickly. It is about belief," Wenger said.
  "Kenny Dalglish has been in football all his life, and if he speaks about that, it is really the truth. We have belief, yes. We are on a good run in the Premier League, we believe in our strengths; that is why it is always important to respond strongly to disappointments."
  Arsenal could reduce the gap at the top to a single point as United are not in action until Sunday afternoon, when they are at Tottenham.
  Wenger will not settle for another "off night" at Upton Park.
  "We are of course sorry [for defeat at Ipswich] and we want to put things right in the second leg. We had a completely average performance," he said. "If you play like that at West Ham you will lose. We will not play like that at West Ham and we want to win at West Ham.
  "What is important for us is we go to West Ham and expect them to be up for it and for us to be prepared mentally. It is a Premier League game and it is a derby," added Wenger. "This season the Premier League has been very tight in every game and so we expect us to be completely produce a top-level performance to win the game, that is what we want to achieve."
  Wenger is in the market for cover at the heart of defence, with Sébastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen still injured.
  The Arsenal manager, though, rejected the suggestion his team are a soft touch at the back, despite Tamas Priskin's winner at Portman Road coming from a long ball through the heart of his side's defence.
  "I have seen many games where it is the achilles heel of any team &#8211; we have to deal with that and we wanted to deal with that at Ipswich," said Wenger, who refused to be drawn on comments made by the captain Cesc Fábregas concerning the opposition's "rugby" style tactics.
  "That was the only problem we faced and they did that in a consistent way &#8211; we had 70% of the ball and when you have that you want to create more than we did."
  The West Ham manager, Avram Grant, continues to find his position under scrutiny, despite having produced some decent results in the past few weeks, which included winning their Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham.
  Wenger accepts sometimes a manager can find themselves in a no-win situation, both on and off the field.
  "You have short-term results, have you lost the last two or three games? That immediately puts pressure on the managers. Then you have the problem that is the club in a position where it is expected to be?" said Wenger.
  "When the recent results and the situation in the club are both not working together, are both negative, then that usually puts people who are responsible under pressure.
  "There is also a third thing which is completely new in England, and that is the change in ownership. You can also sometimes be under pressure because you are not necessarily the choice of the new owners."
  

Arsenal will bounce back from Ipswich defeat, says Arsène Wenger

• 'If we play like that again at West Ham, we will lose'
• Gunners can close within a point of United with victory

• • 
    
  • Share5

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 14 January 2011 15.33 GMT <li class="history">Article history 'You think we are all arrogant, confident people, but when you do not have success for a while, the doubt creeps in quickly' said Arsène Wenger today. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images Arsène Wenger accepts football is very much a confidence game, but has every belief Arsenal can deliver the required performance to bounce back from their midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich with victory at West Ham tomorrow.
  Wenger openly admits the Gunners were well below par as they went down 1-0 at the Championship club on Wednesday night, despite having selected a strong side.
  And while Arsenal still have the second leg to turn the tie round, there will be little room for error at Upton Park if they are to keep up with the Premier League leaders Manchester United.
  "You think we are all arrogant, confident people, but when you do not have success for a while, the doubt creeps in quickly. It is about belief," Wenger said.
  "Kenny Dalglish has been in football all his life, and if he speaks about that, it is really the truth. We have belief, yes. We are on a good run in the Premier League, we believe in our strengths; that is why it is always important to respond strongly to disappointments."
  Arsenal could reduce the gap at the top to a single point as United are not in action until Sunday afternoon, when they are at Tottenham.
  Wenger will not settle for another "off night" at Upton Park.
  "We are of course sorry [for defeat at Ipswich] and we want to put things right in the second leg. We had a completely average performance," he said. "If you play like that at West Ham you will lose. We will not play like that at West Ham and we want to win at West Ham.
  "What is important for us is we go to West Ham and expect them to be up for it and for us to be prepared mentally. It is a Premier League game and it is a derby," added Wenger. "This season the Premier League has been very tight in every game and so we expect us to be completely produce a top-level performance to win the game, that is what we want to achieve."
  Wenger is in the market for cover at the heart of defence, with Sébastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen still injured.
  The Arsenal manager, though, rejected the suggestion his team are a soft touch at the back, despite Tamas Priskin's winner at Portman Road coming from a long ball through the heart of his side's defence.
  "I have seen many games where it is the achilles heel of any team – we have to deal with that and we wanted to deal with that at Ipswich," said Wenger, who refused to be drawn on comments made by the captain Cesc Fábregas concerning the opposition's "rugby" style tactics.
  "That was the only problem we faced and they did that in a consistent way – we had 70% of the ball and when you have that you want to create more than we did."
  The West Ham manager, Avram Grant, continues to find his position under scrutiny, despite having produced some decent results in the past few weeks, which included winning their Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham.
  Wenger accepts sometimes a manager can find themselves in a no-win situation, both on and off the field.
  "You have short-term results, have you lost the last two or three games? That immediately puts pressure on the managers. Then you have the problem that is the club in a position where it is expected to be?" said Wenger.
  "When the recent results and the situation in the club are both not working together, are both negative, then that usually puts people who are responsible under pressure.
  "There is also a third thing which is completely new in England, and that is the change in ownership. You can also sometimes be under pressure because you are not necessarily the choice of the new owners."
  

FOOTBALL
Wonder strike fires Qatar campaign
Yusef Ahmed hits brilliant volley and adds a second in 2-0 victory over China as hosts recover from bad Asian Cup start.

Last Modified: 12 Jan 2011 18:26 GMT

Ahmed volleys a spectacular goal to open Qatar's Asian Cup account in a vital win against China [Reuters] Qatar stormed back from their abject opening-day defeat to Uzbekistan as two goals from Yusef Ahmed, including a volleyed wonder strike, gave them a 2-0 win over Group A rivals China.
After five days in which their home Asian Cup campaign was looking decidedly bleak following the Uzbek loss, Qatar fans were back in noisy numbers at the Khalifa Stadium and were treated to a strong contender for goal of the tournament.
Running onto a looped header 30 yards out, Ahmed tipped the ball up with his knee before volleying spectacularly into the far left top-corner of the Chinese goal.
His 27th-minute strike was well-deserved as Qatar controlled the play against the Chinese, who remain on three points in the group alongside the hosts.
Arrowed
It looked as if Qatar would have the slenderest of leads to show for their superiority at half time before Ahmed shielded the ball on the edge of the area, held off China captain Du Wei and spun to hit a low shot that took a deflection off his marker as it arrowed into the bottom corner of Zeng Cheng's net.
Asian Cup Group A Friday January 7

Qatar 0-2 Uzbekistan

Saturday January 8

Kuwait 0-2 China

Wednesday January 12

Uzbekistan 2-1 Kuwait

China 0-2 Qatar

Sunday January 16

Qatar v Kuwait

China v Uzbekistan
The victory moved Qatar level with China on three points, but the hosts sit second by virtue of Wednesday's win.
Uzbekistan lead with six points while Kuwait are bottom with none, but a win over Qatar in their last match could still see the Kuwaitis go through.
The mood could hardly have been more different than the almost funereal atmosphere during Friday's defeat to Uzbekistan when the crowd left in droves long before the end of the 2-0 defeat.
Coach Bruno Metsu, under intense pressure to avoid a second straight loss and keep his job, had promised the crowd a far better performance and his men responded with a confident and passionate display.
"We wanted to show the real face of our team and the players have done that," Metsu said afterwards.
"They have shown their potential and I'm very proud of their performance. We will try to do the same against Kuwait and qualify for the next stage."
Despite losing, China coach Gao Hongbo said it was a good experience for his young team but admitted they needed to make more of their chances.
Organised attack
"Our team did not do well in attack. Qatar got two goals and we didn't give them enough pressure so Qatar were able to organise their attack very easily," he said.
"We lost but I think losing is part of life and I think we can do better in the next game, which is now very important for us."
Qatar could have been two goals up before they went ahead.
Sebastian Soria wasted an easy chance after 11 minutes, hitting the ball onto his standing foot with the net empty apart from a flailing Zeng on the ground, before Ahmed hit the side netting.
Uruguay-born Soria, working tirelessly and forming a good partnership with Ahmed, was unlucky not to do better with two more opportunities, the second after 65 minutes flying wide after an ambitious shot on the run.
China, who beat Kuwait 2-0 in their opening game, rarely threatened to score and their night was best summed up when Rong Hao fired a free-kick hopelessly high and wide from more than 40 yards just before the end.

Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies

Bahrain beat India 5-2 in Asian Cup
Bahrain's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive as striker Ismaeel Abdulatif scores four goals.

Last Modified: 14 Jan 2011 20:37 GMT

Bahrain need to beat Australia in their final Group C match to qualify for the quarter-finals [AFP] Striker Ismaeel Abdulatif scored four goals as Bahrain overcame India 5-2 at the Al Sadd Stadium in Qatar to end the Bhangra Boys's interest in the Asian Cup.
Bahrain now need to beat Australia in their final Group C match to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Australia and South Korea lead the group on four points after their 1-1 draw at the Al Gharafa Stadium, with Bahrain third on three and India without a point.
The only sour note for Salman Shareedah's side on Friday was the needless red card for goal-scoring midfielder Faouzi Aaish who was cautioned twice in quick succession, the second for diving in the penalty area after 62 minutes.
Despite the defeat India, 144th in FIFA's world rankings, the lowest of the 16 sides here, will take a lot of heart from their display in an entertaining game full of defencive mistakes.
Bahrain opened the scoring after eight minutes from the penalty spot when Indian captain Climax Lawrence brought down Aaish, who stepped up to convert his second penalty of the tournament.
Passionate fans
The Indians did not drop their heads and were level with their next attack when Gouramangi Singh was on hand at the back post to convert striker Abhishek Yadav's knockdown.
The equalising goal drew a deafening roar from the passionate India fans who made up most of the 11,032 crowd.
Their enthusiasm was dampened when Bahrain regained the lead through Abdulatif's simple tap-in after 16 minutes following a mistake by goalkeeper Subrata Paul.
Abdulatif scored his second three minutes later when he converted Nigerian-born strike partner Jaycee John's cross. He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes before halftime when he chested the ball down before slotting a left-foot shot past Paul.
India pulled a second goal back when Sunil Chhetri headed in from close range after Renedy Singh, with a blistering strike, and Yadav, with a header, crashed efforts against the crossbar.
Aaish was then dismissed and India pushed for a third but Abdulatif claimed his fourth and Bahrain's fifth when he drilled a right-footed shot from the edge of the area in to the corner of Paul's goal.

Source:
Reuters

TP Mazembe spy Simba players


From AMIR MHANDO in Cairo, 14th January 2011 @ 12:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 93

TP Mazembe officials are busy spying Simba SC players who are here with the national team &#8216;Taifa Stars' as the potential first round of African Champions League match between the two teams loom.

Premier League champions, Simba face Elan Club de Mitsoudjé of Comoro in the preliminary round of the 15th CAF Champions League and if they can get past the Comoros, which is expected to be an easy prey for them, they will face reigning Champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

According to a journalist who accompanied the DR Congo national team that is competing in the Nile Basin countries football tournament here Masumbuko Gaby Ngandou, there are several spies from DR Congo, whose task here is to study Simba players.

"There is an official from TP Mazembe, who has just come to Cairo to evaluate Simba players, because they (TP Mazembe) knew that as Tanzania Mainland champions, Simba must have a significant number of players in the national team," said Ngandou.

He further said that the DR Congo coach Mutubile Santos is also tasked to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Simba players and will report back to TP Mazembe.

Santos once coached TP Mazembe, who are the back to back winners of the African champions League.

"We have been told that Simba has seven players in the team, the keeper (Juma Kaseja), that number seven (Athumani Machupa), Tegete (Jerry).

I've forgotten the names of others, but we have the list," said Masumbuko. However, Masumbuko doesn't seem to know that both Machupa and Tegete do not feature for Simba.

Tegete is a Young Africans player, while Machupa is a former Simba player, who is now plying his trade in Norway with Vasuland IF. Several DR Congo players have also teased Simba to get prepared for a thrashing of their lifetime.

"Tell them to prepare for the worst," Kidiaba Muteba, who also features for TP Mazembe teased this reporter, when he paid a visit to the DR Congo camp here.

"I know Simba and Yanga very well because I frequently visit Tanzania to see my friends. I know that Simba is a strong team and they dethroned the 2002 African Champions Zamalek of Egypt, we know all this and we are ready to face them," said Mutebi.

Defender Mkulukuta Miayala who is also a TP Mazembe player said that they always spy on their opponents to get to know them well and prepare tactics to face them. He said he knows Musa Hassan Mgosi as one of the Simba's deadly players.

"I know him very well but I haven't seen him here (in Cairo). He used to put on jersey number 11 but I can see it's a different player on that number here," he noted.

Mgosi was dropped from the squad and his jersey has since been taken by Mtibwa Sugar's Salum Machaku.

The DR Congo players especially those who play for TP Mazembe seem to have been impressed with Simba's Abdulhalim Humoud as they kept asking where the combative holding midfielder was.

They saw him in Kigali, Rwanda last year, when Simba competed in the Kagame Cup. TP Mazembe players who are in the DR Congo team are Kidiaba Muteba, Mkulukuta Miala, Mabele Biwaka, Mihayo Kazembe, Kimwaki Joel, Kasongo Ngandou, Lofo Bongeli, Kanda Deo and Mvete Luyeye, while Simba players in Taifa Stars team are Kaseja, Juma Nyoso, Kelvin Yondani, Rashid Gumbo and Ali Ahmed Shiboli.

FOOTBALL
Australia and S Korea in 1-1 draw
Australia and South Korea tied atop their group in the Asian Cup after Australia scores a second-half equaliser.

Last Modified: 14 Jan 2011 17:13 GMT

South Korea's Koo Ja-cheol scored a first-half goal against Australia [AFP] Australia and South Korea showed why they are tipped to meet in the final of the Asian Cup in just over two weeks when they fought out a 1-1 draw in their second Group C match in Qatar.
Koo Ja-cheol netted his third goal of the tournament midway through the first half of Friday's game and Mile Jedinak headed Australia level in the second, to clinch a draw that left both managers happy.
The two sides top their group with four points from two matches ahead of India and Bahrain and both are virtually certain to go through to the quarter-finals next week.
Holger Osieck, Australia's coach, was pleased with the way his team played.
"It doesn't matter to me whether we finish first or second in the group as long as we get into the last eight," he told reporters.
"It was a very good performance, especially the second half, and the only thing we need to improve is being more clinical in our finishing."
Cho Kwang-rae, South Korea's coach, said: "That was a great match for the fans to watch and it was a very good show from us but the result could have been better.
"Australia improved in the second half but I thought we handled them well and mainly controlled most of the game."
South Korea struck the first blow when Koo scored his third goal of the tournament, taking advantage of slack defending after 24 minutes.
Jedinak pulled Australia level with a header after 62 minutes, capitalising on the only mistake Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong made when he failed to clear a cross.
Mark Schwarzer kept Australia in the match with a reflex point blank save from Ki Sung-yong after 87 minutes and a draw at the Al Gharafa Stadium was a fair result between the two tournament favourites.

Source:
Reuters

In Pictures: Asian Cup group stage

What a wonderful strike

Fair weather fans let the side down

Fair weather fans let the side down


By Paul Rhys in

• Middle East

on January 8th, 2011.

Picture by AFP

After the joy that erupted on the streets of Doha following the successful World Cup bid last month, it saddened me to see Qatar fans abandon their team and leave the stadium nearly 15 minutes before the end of the opening match of the Asian Cup.

The spectacular Khalifa Stadium had been packed with more than 37,000 men and women, most of them in traditional Qatari dress, for Friday's game against Uzbekistan that was being covered worldwide, from the New York Times newspaper in the United States to broadcast networks in Australia.

This was not because Qatar v Uzbekistan comes close to being on most of the planet's radar, but because sport's main event will come to the Gulf state in 2022.

A sceptical foreign media wants to know if Qatar can host a major tournament (it can), if the weather will be a problem (maybe, maybe not), and whether the football team might stand up to the likes of Argentina and Spain in 11 years' time (unlikely, but it's a minor point).

They are also looking at the fans. And the vast majority of the Qatar supporters left as soon as their team went 2-0 down.

It happens, to a lesser extent, every weekend in leagues around the world.

"We can see you sneaking out" is a common chant by away supporters as home crowds react to a bad scoreline by leaving the ground early. Perhaps that's what the small section of Uzbeks were singing, in Russian.

But in Doha, the 2022 bid has changed everything. The stark fact is that much of the rest of the world thinks that Qatar doesn't deserve the World Cup. And one of the reasons is that people don't believe that there are enough real football fans among Qatar's population of just 1.6 million.

That assumption is now there to be proved right or wrong.

One bad performance doesn't make a bad team. Qatar probably are one, but if their own fans can't have a bit of blind faith then who can?

And where is a decent World Cup team going to come from if not from the people from Qatar? Well, one answer is South America, as demonstrated by current players Sebastian Soria and Fabio Cesar.
Football culture

A selling point of a World Cup here is that it will boost football culture in Qatar and the Middle East.

If someone scoops up his sons and daughters and leaves the match early, is it more or less likely that they'll grow up with a passion for the national team? Or dream of pulling on the maroon shirt?

When I started going to watch my club, Wigan Athletic, on the terraces of a crumbling ground that was a neanderthal version of the Khalifa Stadium, we got between 1,000 and 4,000 fans at each match - including away support.

Now that we're in the English Premier League and sometimes nearly fill our 25,000-seater stadium for matches against Manchester United and Arsenal, there is the natural accusation that most of those fans are there to watch the other team.

From the evidence of the Asian Cup opener, that could happen when Germany, England and Brazil arrive for the World Cup.

This tiny country has made history in bringing the World Cup to its shores. I hope that last night was a one-off because I'm excited about Qatar 2022, and the outburst of Arab celebration in December was an inspiring sight.

But unless Qatar players make an unlikely surge to greatness, fans will have to show that support means support in victory and in defeat.

It starts against China at Khalifa Stadium on January 12.

Moyes: Gap closing on Liverpool




9 comments »

Updated Jan 14, 2011 5:29 PM ET
Everton boss David Moyes believes the gap between his team and Liverpool is now as close as he can remember during his time in charge.
Moyes, working with just a fraction of the Anfield side's budget, has finished above Liverpool only once in his nine years at the Goodison Park helm.
His side have an excellent chance to improve on that record this season as they head into Sunday's 215th Merseyside derby level with the Reds - albeit in mid-table - in the Premier League.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

The Toffees are improving after a sluggish start to the campaign while Liverpool remain a club in turmoil after changing their manager and losing twice in the past week.
Moyes is yet to oversee a win at Anfield but is hopeful that could change this weekend.
The Scot said: "We have done well against the bigger sides and hopefully we can do it against Liverpool.
"The difference in the spending between the two clubs is a different world completely.
"But we have competed quite well with Liverpool, we have tried to be up there.
"The gap is probably as close now as it has ever been.
"Both clubs are probably not happy with their league positions - certainly we're not.
"We want to go there and try to take the points.
"I've not won enough derbies but hopefully we can try to turn that around."
Everton beat Liverpool at Goodison in October and are looking to complete their first double over their great rivals since 1984-85, when they finished as champions.
Kenny Dalglish was in the Liverpool side beaten in both of those games and he will be heavily involved again on Sunday in his first match at Anfield since being reappointed as manager.
Liverpool have turned to Dalglish again - 20 years after he resigned following a 4-4 draw with Everton - after Roy Hodgson left the club last week.

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

That is sure to make the clash an emotional occasion but Moyes does not believe the atmosphere will be any more intimidating than usual.
He said: "If Kenny was playing I would have to worry - because what a player he was, someone I admired as a footballer.
"As a manager I don't think it makes a great deal of difference - but he is also a terrific manager.
"Look at the stuff he has won before.
"It looks like a good fit for Liverpool Football Club. They have got one of their own back in charge."
The Merseyside derby has been a feisty fixture in recent years with 10 red cards in the last 12 meetings.
In the corresponding fixture last season Everton lost Steven Pienaar and Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos was also dismissed.
Moyes said: "I think you always stress discipline but if tackles are there to be won, you have to try to win them.
"Now and again they might be mistimed and that can go for or against you.
"I don't think you'd be asking players not to be fully committed and stand back.
"That's what the supporters want the players to do and you take the consequences.
"Hopefully we will be fully charged and ready for a tough encounter.
"I think it offers three points and a little more as far as your own supporters are concerned.
"It is important they can see you trying to beat your neighbours and get a result."

Taylor happy to keep Tweeting despite FA crackdown

Published 23:00 14/01/11 By Alan Nixon

Bolton's Matty Taylor is happy to twitter to his heart's content &#8211; despite the new craze causing *problems for many fellow sportsmen.
Taylor has become a fan of the social network because it has put him in touch with supporters and old mates from his former clubs.
He is happy to share the details of his daily life, and said: "It gives people a chance to see we are leading normal lives. It's not all champagne and hot tubs, just everyday things.
"The *children are running riot and causing you *problems in the house &#8211; just like what happens with everybody else.

"It's nice to speak to people you were with previously, at places like Luton and Portsmouth.
"My wife is a very good typist and we did a Q and A recently. I was dictating and she was putting down the answers. I like interacting with the fans. Premier League footballers are a bit more detached from the supporters than they were 30 years ago.
"Without them we wouldn't be here. You have got to give something back. But you have to use your brain too and be careful about what you say."
Bolton take on Stoke today, and Potters chief Tony Pulis reckons Owen Coyle is reaping the benefits of Gary Megson's hard work.
After taking over in October 2007, Megson cut the wage bill and brought in current top scorer Johan Elmander before his unpopularity with the fans saw him axed.
"Gary did a great job," said Pulis. "If you speak to Owen, he'll be absolutely delighted with the group of players he has picked up. He has kept what Gary built and Bolton have had a good season."

Moyes: Gap closing on Liverpool


RivalsDM

PRINT

RSS

9 comments »

Updated Jan 14, 2011 5:29 PM ET
Everton boss David Moyes believes the gap between his team and Liverpool is now as close as he can remember during his time in charge.
Moyes, working with just a fraction of the Anfield side's budget, has finished above Liverpool only once in his nine years at the Goodison Park helm.
His side have an excellent chance to improve on that record this season as they head into Sunday's 215th Merseyside derby level with the Reds - albeit in mid-table - in the Premier League.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

The Toffees are improving after a sluggish start to the campaign while Liverpool remain a club in turmoil after changing their manager and losing twice in the past week.
Moyes is yet to oversee a win at Anfield but is hopeful that could change this weekend.
The Scot said: "We have done well against the bigger sides and hopefully we can do it against Liverpool.
"The difference in the spending between the two clubs is a different world completely.
"But we have competed quite well with Liverpool, we have tried to be up there.
"The gap is probably as close now as it has ever been.
"Both clubs are probably not happy with their league positions - certainly we're not.
"We want to go there and try to take the points.
"I've not won enough derbies but hopefully we can try to turn that around."
Everton beat Liverpool at Goodison in October and are looking to complete their first double over their great rivals since 1984-85, when they finished as champions.
Kenny Dalglish was in the Liverpool side beaten in both of those games and he will be heavily involved again on Sunday in his first match at Anfield since being reappointed as manager.
Liverpool have turned to Dalglish again - 20 years after he resigned following a 4-4 draw with Everton - after Roy Hodgson left the club last week.

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

That is sure to make the clash an emotional occasion but Moyes does not believe the atmosphere will be any more intimidating than usual.
He said: "If Kenny was playing I would have to worry - because what a player he was, someone I admired as a footballer.
"As a manager I don't think it makes a great deal of difference - but he is also a terrific manager.
"Look at the stuff he has won before.
"It looks like a good fit for Liverpool Football Club. They have got one of their own back in charge."
The Merseyside derby has been a feisty fixture in recent years with 10 red cards in the last 12 meetings.
In the corresponding fixture last season Everton lost Steven Pienaar and Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos was also dismissed.
Moyes said: "I think you always stress discipline but if tackles are there to be won, you have to try to win them.
"Now and again they might be mistimed and that can go for or against you.
"I don't think you'd be asking players not to be fully committed and stand back.
"That's what the supporters want the players to do and you take the consequences.
"Hopefully we will be fully charged and ready for a tough encounter.
"I think it offers three points and a little more as far as your own supporters are concerned.
"It is important they can see you trying to beat your neighbours and get a result."

Mancini tips Dzeko to lead title challenge

Published 23:00 14/01/11 By David McDonnell

Edin Dzeko makes his Premier League debut today with Roberto Mancini convinced his newest signing can fire Manchester City to title glory.
Dzeko, a £27million recruit from Wolfsburg, will partner Carlos Tevez in attack against Wolves, and City boss Mancini is expecting his latest big-money signing to make an instant impact.
Although Dzeko has not played for a fortnight because of German football's winter break, Mancini has no qualms about throwing the 24-year-old straight into the action.
He is convinced Dzeko and Tevez can form one of the Premier League's deadliest strike-forces and help City push for the championship this season.

"I'm excited because I have bought a good player," said Mancini. "Dzeko is one of the top strikers in Europe and eventually I would like to see Carlos, Edin and Mario [Balotelli] playing together.
"At the moment it's impossible because Mario is injured. But when Mario returns from injury in one month, they can play together."
Mancini bought Dzeko to give City a different dimension to their attack, and more goal-scoring options.
Dzeko can score with either foot and has a burst of pace, but his heading prowess is a threat City have lacked up front this season and one Mancini is keen to exploit.
With 69 goals in 113 games for Wolfsburg, Dzeko is a proven finisher, but Mancini believes his worth to City will be measured in the different options he offers in attack - the powerful 6ft 3in striker providing a physical presence up front as well as an aerial threat.
"When we have crossed the ball before in games we had some problems, because we don't have a tall player," he said. "Sometimes we have had Mario, sometimes Emmanuel Adebayor, but now we have another option.
"With Dzeko we can change our play but we must continue to play good football and keep the ball on the floor, so that when we cross, we know we now have a player who can score every time with his head.
"Dzeko has a good attitude and has worked very well in the few days he has been with us. He has different attributes from Carlos and I think they will play very well together."
Tevez, with 12 goals this season, has shouldered much of the scoring responsibility for City during the current campaign and Mancini admitted the arrival of Dzeko would ease the burden on his captain to win games for his team.
"I think that all the players are happy when a new player who can help the team arrives, not only Carlos," said Mancini. "I think also that Edin will benefit from having a winter break. It will probably be good for the next month."
Victory for City today will put them top of the table for at least 24 hours, with Manchester United not in action at Tottenham until late Sunday afternoon. But Mancini does not believe going top will put pressure on United, given their past experience of winning titles.
Mancini tipped Chelsea for the title, before their dramatic loss of form, and expects Carlo Ancelotti's side to recover from their slump and be in the championship mix come the end of the season.
"I don't think that United are under pressure," he said. "They are used to being there. We must think only about our game and not the only matches.
"Chelsea are now fifth in the table, but I think they will come back because when they recover injured players I think they will be better."
Asked when he would rule Chelsea out of the title race, Mancini joked: "When they are 15 points behind us! I think they are in the same situation as Inter Milan in Italy.
"Inter are 11 points behind Milan but in the last few games they have recovered all their players and won three games in a row. I think that Chelsea have had the same problem."
City lost at Wolves earlier this season and Mancini has warned his players not to underestimate the threat posed by Mick McCarthy's men.
"Wolves have beaten us, Liverpool and Chelsea this season," he said. "They probably don't deserve to be near the bottom of the table because they have a good manager and good players, so it will be a very difficult game."