A Different League has teamed up with Heineken’s fantastic in-play game Star Player, to create our own private league, with a great prize of a pair of tickets to Chelsea vs Valencia in the Champions League for the winner of our 25 person league. What is Star Player? Star Player is a real-time social television game, which asks your opinion of what will occur during key moments of the game: Will he score the free-kick? Will the corner be blocked? Will a goal be scored in the next 30 seconds?…
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Tottenham Club Focus – What to do with Sandro?
Tottenham are a club with strength in depth in many positions, but perhaps the strongest area of the field is in the centre. With British bulldog Scott Parker partnering the highly-rated artist Luka Modric, they have a first-choice pairing that matches most, if not all of their Premier League opponents. In reserve names like Tom Huddlestone, Niko Kranjcar, Steven Pienaar, and Jake Livermore add great quality. But perhaps the most talented of reserves at present is the Brazilian, Sandro. Signing for Spurs in August 2010 from Internacional, for a fee…
Read MoreNewcastle plan £8m move for Mali striker
Newcastle are near to signing Mali international striker Modibo Maiga from French side Sochaux in an £8m deal, according to l’Equipe. The Magpies have been looking for a long-term replacement for Andy Carroll, who joined Liverpool last January, but did not reinvest the £35m transfer fee in bringing another forward into the club. While Leon Best and Demba Ba have had a successful to the season, scoring eight league goals between them, Newcastle are still thought to be after a top-class striker, and Maiga may fit the bill. 24-year-old Maiga…
Read MoreArsenal interested in Man Utd midfielder
Arsenal could be set to make a surprise move for Manchester United youngster Paul Pogba, according to the Metro. The 18-year-old midfielder has struggled to push his way into the United first-team squad since his move from Le Havre, making his only appearance off the bench in the 3-0 League Cup victory over Leeds. As such, the Frenchman is reported t be interested in a move if it means he will play first-team football, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is thought to be a big admirer. Pogba’s contract is due…
Read MoreTottenham eye Pav swap deal for CSKA striker
Tottenham may be set to launch a player plus cash move for CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia, according to a report in the People. The 23-year-old has been prolific in front of goal for the past three years, betting 16 times this season in the Russian Premier League, from 25 appearances, and as such has attracted much interest from some of Europe’s top clubs. With the news recently that Spurs’ Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is looking for first team football, it seems likely that any deal Tottenham would put forward…
Read MoreMertesacker: Arsenal must qualify for Champions League
Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker has insisted that the Gunners must finish in the top four, despite the poor start to the season that sees them sit 10th in the Premier League. Arsenal defeated fellow strugglers Sunderland at the weekend, thanks to two goals from Robin van Persie, but prominent figures around the north-London club, including Ian Wright and Alan Smith have cast doubt on the sides’ ability to make the top four. Mertesacker however is sure that the Gunners can, and must, qualify for the Champions League next season: “It’s…
Read MoreLiverpool players take part in 188BET video viral
Liverpool stars Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Skrtel have been put through their paces by 188BET in their latest video viral. Players were tested in the crossbar challenge, extreme keepy-uppies and a shooting target practice. Even star striker Andy Carroll couldn’t help but join in the fun. Henderson said afterwards: “We do stuff like this a lot at training but there’s much more pressure when the cameras are on you and you’re getting banter from all sides. I was very pleased with my performance though.”
Read MoreLiverpool midfielder Adam rejects Man Utd dive claims
Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has rejected claims that he dived to win the free-kick that Steven Gerrad scored from in the weekend’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Adam appeared to fall down after little contact from Rio Ferdinand, prompting both Ferdinand and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to question the need for Adam to fall, but the Scotland international has hit back at these claims. Adam told the Chester Chronicle: “I felt a touch and if I hadn’t gone down I would have been clear through on goal so there…
Read MoreVan der Vaart accepts draw as the fair result
Tottenham forward Rafael van der Vaart has accepted that the 2-2 draw away to Newcastle United on Sunday was a fair result. The Dutchman opened the scoring with a penalty, his third goal in six appearances in the league season, before being replaced on the hour by Jermain Defoe, who promptly netted too. Both times Newcastle struck back, and managed to secure a draw thanks to a late Shola Ameobi equaliser. Van der Vaart, 28, told the official Tottenham website: “We didn’t play at our best and Newcastle are strong,…
Read MoreMcFadden set to complete Everton move
Everton are set to complete a deal that would see former forward James McFadden re-sign for the club, according to the BBC. McFadden, 28, has been at Birmingham City since his £5m exit from Everton, but missed last season with a knee injury. Before that, the Scot had netted 13 goals in 78 appearances for the Midlands club. The prospective deal should see McFadden complete a free transfer back to Merseyside, where he scored 11 goals in 109 appearances. See what the expert tipsters at OLBG are tipping on Fulham…
Read MoreFriedel accepts point as Tottenham twice lose the lead
Tottenham ‘keeper Brad Friedel is content with their 2-2 draw away to Newcastle on Sunday. Spurs twice led, through goals by Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe, but they conceded an 85th minute equaliser to Shola Ameobi, giving both sides a share of the spoils. Talking to the official Tottenham website, Friedel said: “When you get into these games and perhaps you are not at your best it’s really important not to lose. You always want to keep a run of not losing going. “Yes, we would have loved…
Read MoreChelsea striker Sturridge eyes England call-up
Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is not expecting a call-up by Fabio Capello for next summer’s European Championships, but will work nonetheless to convince the Italian that he is worthy of a squad place. Sturridge, 22, has successfully established himself in the Chelsea first-team squad this season, netting an impressive four goals in four Premier League starts, more than any other Blues forward. And after also impressing with the England Under-21 squad, he now is looking to the senior squad: “I can’t think I’m going to get in there or think…
Read MoreNorwich v Swansea: Preview and team news
Carrow Road will be the venue for a clash between two of the newly promoted clubs, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at the league table. Both sides occupy mid-table positions, 9th and 10th, level on eight points. Norwich will be pleased with their last performance, if not the result when they travelled to Old Trafford, eventually being defeated 2-0 by Manchester United, but they did worry the Premier League champions. Swansea meanwhile come into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory over Stoke City, and welcome…
Read MoreMan City v Aston Villa: Preview and team news
The City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday hosts a meeting between two of only four sides that are currently unbeaten in the league this season. Manchester City have started the season in flying form, winning all but one of their seven ties so far this season, and currently level top of the Premier League with their local rivals Manchester United. Aston Villa have been steady, if unspectacular, drawing five of their seven games, and winning two. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has indicated that he will consider some squad rotation…
Read MoreLiverpool v Man Utd: Preview and team news
In what Sir Alex Ferguson describes as the ‘game of the season’, Manchester United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool for an always eagerly anticipated derby encounter. United have started the season running, dropping points in only one game from their seven so far, a 1-1 draw with Stoke City two rounds ago, and as such sit at the top of the Premier League table, level on points with their local rivals Manchester City. Your view: Liverpool v Man Utd Liverpool meanwhile have overcome hiccups in the form of Stoke…
Read MoreEto’o: Chelsea wanted me
Anzhi striker Samuel Eto’o has revealed that he was approached by Chelsea with regards to a move to Stamford Bridge, according to ESPN. Eto’o is reportedly near to a two month loan spell with previous club Inter, during the winter break for the Russian League. If he does so, it would see him playing under former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, and as Eto’o revealed, this would not be the first time that the manager has tried to secure the services of the Cameroon international: “He wanted me at Chelsea and…
Read MoreArsenal linked with ‘Romanian Messi’
Arsenal have been linked with a move for the ‘Romanian Messi’ Gabriel Torje, according to reports in The Sun. Torje, 21, was signed by Udinese in the Summer from Romanian side Dinamo Bucherest for an undisclosed fee thought to be around 10m Euros, and was earmarked as a longterm successor to the outgoping Alexis Sanchez, who joined Barcelona. Although Torje has only made five Serie A appearances so far, it is reported that the Gunners are keeping tabs on the Under-21 captain with regards to a move, possibly at the…
Read MoreWarnock sets sights on England job
Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has said that he would be interested in replacing Fabio Capello in the England job, but feels he is too controversial a character to be given a fair chance by the FA. Talking to the Daily Mail, Warnock revealed: “I could do the England job, no problem. But there’s not a cat in hell’s chance of them giving me the job because I’ve got a sense of humour. If QPR were top two or three at Christmas then maybe they would start thinking of…
Read MoreWilson eyes Liverpool loan exit
Liverpool youngster Danny Wilson feels he may need to go out on loan in order to get first-team football, according to the Liverpool Echo. Wilson, 19, has only made one appearance this season, in the League Cup, and made only two Premier League appearances last season following his £2m move from Rangers. “There’s nothing worse than not being able to go out on the pitch on a Saturday and play. But I need to just keep my head down and hopefully I’ll either get some game time at Liverpool or…
Read MoreArmstrong interested in Northern Ireland job
Sky Sports’ Spanish football pundit Gerry Armstrong has admitted he does find the possibility of managing his native Northern Ireland very interesting, although only in a part-time role. The former striker scored 12 goals in 63 caps for the national team, and has been assistant manager on two separate occasions, under Bryan Hamilton in 1994, and in 2004 under Lawrie Sanchez, another name mentioned to replace the departing Nigel Worthington. Talking to Sky Sports, Armstrong revealed: “I have got the capabilities to do the job but I don’t know if…
Read MoreBergkamp: Arsenal must sign centre-forward
Former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp has told his old club that they are lacking a front-man to spearhead their attack. In recent seasons manager Arsene Wenger has played Nicklas Bendtner and Maroune Chamakh as a centre-forward, but neither have been able to successfully act as a target-man allowing Robin van Persie to play in his preferred deeper position. And Bergkamp feels this is a position that needs to be improved before the Gunners can challenge for trophies: Talking to the Daily Mail, he said: “When I look at Robin van…
Read MorePulis confident of bright future for Palacios at Stoke
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is happy with what he has seen so far from new signing Wilson Palacios, following his £6m move from Tottenham. The Honduran international recently suffered a knee injury, and has yet to make a starting line-up this season for Stoke, but Pulis is confident that Palacios has an exciting future at the Brittania Stadium: Talking to Premierleague.com, Pulis said: “He’s trained with us over the last couple of days and I just think he needs a mini pre-season to get himself up and running. That’s…
Read MoreChelsea prepare £14m Cahill bid
Chelsea are set to make a £14m bid for Bolton defender Gary Cahill in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Express. Cahill, 25, has been partnering Blues skipper John Terry in the England line-up in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, and it is thought that the Chelsea man has told management that he can form a strong partership with the Bolton centre-half. Tottenham came close to signing Cahill on the last day of the transfer window in August, but the deal fell-though at the last moment after Spurs…
Read MoreArsenal forward Park to leave in two years time
New Arsenal signing Park Chu-Young will have to leave the club in two years time in order to do his 21 months of national service for South Korea. Park, who signed for £4m on transfer deadline day, has revealed that he does not anticipate returning to Europe after his spell in service. Talking to Eurosport, the former Monaco player admitted: “I’ll have to leave Europe in two years’ time and I thought this would be an incredible place to finish. My national service is inevitable and there is no point…
Read MoreHenderson targets Liverpool first-team place
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is eyeing a first-team spot for the remainder of the season, despite the return to fitness of club captain Steven Gerrard. Henderson, 21, was benched for the Merseyside derby last weekend, and faces further competition for places with Charlie Adam and Lucas Leiva. The England Under-21 international told Sky Sports: “Obviously Stevie is a massive player and is going to play in most games, but I just need to concentrate on what I need to do and make sure I work hard every day in training.…
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