Thursday 25 December 2014

West Brom V Man City - Preview

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  • KO 15:00

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TEAM NEWS

Manchester City again have no fit recognised strikers, with Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic still on the sidelines.
Captain Vincent Kompany is also out with a hamstring problem, but Gael Clichy is fit after a foot injury.
West Brom captain Chris Brunt returns following a hamstring problem, while Georgios Samaras is back in training.
Victor Anichebe and Boaz Myhill are both doubtful through injury and illness respectively.

MATCH PREVIEW

The West Brom players will have Christmas Day afternoon off after training in the morning. 
The Doctor Who yuletide special might help them prepare. No doubt it'll be about beings from another planet and how simple earthlings combat them with some special help from the Doctor. 
From his Tardis-like Hawthorns office, Alan Irvine will need more than a sonic screwdriver to stop Manchester City who, at times recently, have looked worlds apart from most Premier League teams. 

Lawro's prediction
West Brom worry me. To be 2-0 up at QPR and then throw it away shows that, mentally, there is a problem there.
Their run of eight wins on the spin in all competitions has drawn scant praise. They've not been at their fluent best. But they have been effective, ruthless and tidy at the back with four clean sheets in a row.
But Doctor Who never takes a likely beating lying down and West Brom showed enough at QPR in their thrilling 3-2 defeat to suggest they could yet create something of a surprise here. 
The title chasers have to make the most of games like this against lowly opposition. Manuel Pellegrini has learned his lesson from last season when dropped points at the likes of Cardiff, Aston Villa and Sunderland nearly cost them the title. 
Even without Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany, City brushed Palace aside on Saturday. 
This will be more difficult. Their defence won't relish West Brom's pace in wide positions. 
It'll be a test for City and they may even struggle at first. I also think West Brom are due a change in fortune and a couple of big results going their way. 
They are a decent footballing side, but they need to think about picking up a few bargains in the New Year Sales. 
Otherwise not even the Doctor might not be able to save them.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
  • West Brom are without a win against Manchester City in nine games since winning at The Hawthorns on December 2008.
  • Sixty two of the 145 meetings between the two clubs have produced four or more goals (43%). 
West Bromwich Albion
  • West Brom have won just one of their last seven matches.
  • They have failed to score in seven of their 17 league games this season.
  • The Baggies have won just four home league games in 2014. 
  • Craig Dawson is the only West Brom player, other than leading scorer Saido Berahino, to have scored more than once in the Premier League this season. 
Manchester City
  • Manchester City have scored in 14 successive Premier League matches, which is the longest run in the top flight this season.
  • They have lost just one of those 14 games.
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side have won the last 18 league matches when Yaya Toure has scored.
  • Frank Lampard (175) needs one goal to move outright fourth in the overall Premier League all-time scorers list. He is currently joint-fourth with Thierry Henry.
  • Leighton Baines is the only defender (10) to provide more Premier League assists since the start of last season than Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov (both on nine)
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The League Leaders in Boxing Day Battle

 


Boxing Day 

Build-up on BBC Radio 5 live from noon; commentary of Manchester Utd v Newcastle from 15:00 GMT and Arsenal v QPR from 17:30.
Live text commentary from 10:00 GMT on BBC Sport website; Final Score 14:30-17:25 GMT, BBC Red Button and 16:30-17:25, BBC Two; Match of the Day 23:00-00:35, BBC One.
Chelsea's bid to retain their place at the top of the Premier League kicks off a full Boxing Day programme across England's top four divisions.
The Blues, who have a three-point lead over Manchester City, host fourth-placed West Ham United at 12:45 GMT.
It will be Chelsea's second match in a busy sequence of four games in 11 days.
"It doesn't matter - English or not English - the moment you are a football player in this country, I respect you a lot," said Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
"At this moment the German guys are on the beach, the Spanish guys are in the Maldives getting sun - everybody else is doing that.
"But in this country you play on the 22nd, you play on Boxing Day, you play on the 28th, you play on New Year's Day. There is no Christmas - just football, and I think the players deserve respect.
"The supporters all around the country give them that respect because every stadium is sold out. And I think the way to do it is with the kind of professionalism my players have shown."
OOJ- Eden Hazard
After the match with the Hammers, Chelsea visit Southampton on 28 December and Tottenham on 1 January, having beaten Stoke 2-0 on Monday to stay three points clear at the top.
On the continent, Spain's La Liga does not restart after Christmas until 3 January, while Germany's Bundesliga is on hiatus until Friday 30 January.
Play media
Dan Walker's 'Football Ding Dong'
"Chelsea can beat you five or six-nil on their ground," said West Ham boss Sam Allardyce.
"But we're enjoying our football this year and enjoying our Christmas a lot more than we enjoyed Christmas last year.
"We've got the two hardest games over 48 hours over Christmas - Chelsea away and Arsenal at home in the space of 48 hours is a big demand for us, even though we're on top of our game at the moment.
"Getting through these two games is going to be a tremendous effort for all the players selected, and hopefully they'll come through for us as they have done for most of this season."
Manchester City visit The Hawthorns to play West Bromwich Albion,with boss Manuel Pellegrini in bullish mood.
"We are not thinking about leaders Chelsea," said Pellegrini, whose team have won six successive league games. "You never win the title in December.
"We have a long five months to continue playing as well as we are doing so far and we will see at the end of the season which team has most points."
City have what seems on paper to be the more attractive festive fixtures of the top two, with the trip to West Brom followed by home matches with Burnley (28 December) and Sunderland (1 January).
Third-placed Manchester United are at home to Newcastle United.
Bottom club Leicester City welcome Tottenham Hotspur while Hull Citygo in search of a first win since 4 October when they travel to Sunderland.

Boxing Day Premier League fixtures
Nigel Pearson's Leicester have taken only two points from the last 33 on offer to drop to the bottom of the table but the boss is confident of an upturn of fortunes.
"I can honestly say I look round the dressing room and I've not seen anybody who has given in to our current circumstances. I think that's a real positive," said Pearson.
"We are capable of turning it around. Clearly we've got to start winning games pretty quickly."
The Foxes welcome a Tottenham side with three wins from their last three matches in all competitions.
Four points from the last 30 available has also increased the pressure on Hull manager Steve Bruce - and the Tigers boss will travel to former club Sunderland eager for a response from his players after last weekend's home defeat by Swansea.
"There is always scrutiny on Premier League managers and if you go six, seven, eight weeks without a victory then it is your turn, but I'm still convinced we will be OK," said Bruce.
Liverpool visit third-bottom Burnley with boss Brendan Rodgers hoping Martin Skrtel's late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday will inspire his side.
"The goal and the performance can help turn things around because there has been a lot of criticism of us and I hope it will change and be better in the second half of the season," said the Reds boss.
Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart has conceded just one goal in five matches played in December so far
Elsewhere, Arsenal host QPR, Everton play Stoke, Swansea welcome Aston Villa and fifth-placed Southampton face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has made it clear that he will not sell striker Charlie Austin , who scored a hat-trick in Saturday's 3-2 win over West Brom to move to 11 goals this season.
"If we sold Charlie Austin we might as well go home," said Redknapp. "We need Charlie to keep doing what he's doing."
In the Championship , leaders Bournemouth are at home to Fulham while Ipswich Town, in second, visit third-placed Brentford.
There will be an interesting match-up at Bournemouth, with Cherries midfielder Harry Arter set to enjoy Christmas dinner with brother-in-law Scott Parker before the two face each other on Friday. 
League One leaders Bristol City welcome Yeovil Town, while League Twopacesetters Wycombe Wanderers entertain third-placed Luton Town.
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Wednesday 24 December 2014

Atletico Madrid hint at move for Chelea striker

Fernando Torres


OOJ - Fernando Torres

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres could return to boyhood club Atletico Madrid after their president hinted at a deal.
The Spain international joined AC Milan from Chelsea on a two-year loan in August but has yet to re-discover his form.
Enrique Cerezo has refused to rule out the possibility of re-signing the 30-year-old, who left Atletico for Liverpool in 2007.
"He is not here but that does not mean that he won't be," said the president.
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Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Werder Bremen winger Eljero Elia

Eljero Elia


OOJ - Eljero Elia

Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Werder Bremen winger Eljero Elia on loan until the end of the season.

The Netherlands international, 27, will join on 3 January. The transfer likely to become permanent in the summer.
Saints need Elia because Jay Rodriguez has had cruciate knee ligament surgery and Sadio Mane is going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking before the move was confirmed, Saints boss Ronald Koeman said: "He will be a good option."
Ex-FC Twente and Hamburg man Elia made 33 appearances for Bremen last season.
He has 27 international caps and was part of his country's 2010 World Cup squad.
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Louis van Gaal grateful for Sir Alex Ferguson 'belief'

Louis van Gaal

Man Utd: Louis van Gaal grateful for Sir Alex Ferguson 'belief'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says the "confidence and belief" former boss Sir Alex Ferguson has shown in him has made his job easier.
In his first season at Old Trafford, Dutchman Van Gaal has led United to third in the Premier League despite injuries to a host of players.
Ferguson this week described Van Gaal as "a great coach" who "will do well".
"He has belief and I'm happy with that," said Van Gaal, 63. "Then you can work in an easier way."
United have suffered more than 40 injuries in the five months since Van Gaal took charge.
They are set to be without Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Ferguson is now a United director after stepping down in 2013, having won 38 trophies during his 26-year reign.
"You hope that he shall support you," said Van Gaal. "He showed a lot of confidence and belief in me and that I need as a coach.





"As manager of Manchester United, you need belief and support of managers such as Sir Alex.
"But it is also a pressure because he believes in you and it gives you that pressure that you have to get results."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says Van Gaal's treatment contrasts with that of predecessor David Moyes, who was sacked in April after 10 months in charge.
"There's just a little bit more stability," Pardew said. "There was a lot of unstable reporting and messages coming out of there last year.
"This particular manager has had more patience and more time and certainly more reassurance from above." 
Van Gaal revealed he has given his players Christmas Day off.
It is normal practice for United to train the day before a game and stay overnight in a hotel.
"I have given them free time," Van Gaal told MUTV. "We shall come together the next day here at our training complex."
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