Messi targets last Barca record after levelling Kubala

In a poll carried out during Barcelona's centenary celebrations in 1999, Ladislao Kubala was voted the best player in the history of the Catalan club.

A similar survey now would produce only one name: Lionel Andres Messi. And while many young fans, as they make their way to a game with the Argentine's name proudly printed on the back of their shirts, may never have heard of the legendary Hungarian, they are soon made to realise his importance as they encounter an imposing statue of the iconic forward outside the famous old stadium.

Oxlade-Chamberlain a new star to rival Walcott

With Arsene Wenger following up his Uefa dugout suspension with a self-imposed media ban, it was left to his long-time assistant Pat Rice to deliver the verdict on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain..

Ibra proves he is AC Milan's difference maker

An adductor injury sustained in the lead up to Milan’s visit to Camp Nou to face Barcelona on Champions League duty just over two weeks ago ruled the Swede out of four subsequent competitive fixtures, during which his side managed a solitary victory - a one-goal win against Cesena.His eagerly anticipated return came in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Czech side Viktoria Plzen. And his immediate impact supported Ancelotti’s assertion that he has been the vital agent in Milan's recent success.Ibra was in inspired form as he dropped off the frontline to pull the strings, always prompting and probing at the Czech back four. He was the fulcrum, the catalyst, the pivot - whatever you choose to call it, Ibrahimovic embodied the role.

Mikel wins AVB’s heart

Eagles’ midfielder John Obi Mikel seem to have stamped his presence in the Chelsea midfield as coach Andre Villas-Boas has opted for younger blood to push up the Blues’ engine room.
AVB as he is fondly called, prefers the trio of Mikel, Ramires and Raul Meireles dropping Frank Lampard to the bench. Before the coming of the young Portuguese coach, Lampard was an untouchable, and Mikel could only hope for a chance to start for the Blues.

Tevez could face FIFA sanction

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce believes Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez should be banned “from taking an active part in football” if he refused to come on as a substitute during the side’s Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
City boss Roberto Mancini said he felt Tevez could never play for the club again after claiming the player refused to go on in the second half, and the club have since suspended the Argentina striker for two weeks.
Northern Irishman Boyce, speaking in a personal capacity, told Sky Sports: “I believe FIFA should have the power to ban the player from taking an active part in football..

Barca, Arsenal, AC Milan bid to ignite Euro flame

Champions Barcelona will be bidding to get their Champions League title defence back on track Wednesday as Arsenal and AC Milan also look to keep the dream alive in the second round of elite European matches.
But English giants Chelsea, who have already got their campaign off to a winning start, are set for possibly their toughest group assignment when they meet Spanish side Valencia at the Mestalla.
Barcelona were held 2-2 by 2010 champions AC Milan at the Nou Camp in their Group H opener, but despite riding high after a 5-0 hammering of Atletico Madrid in La Liga in which Lionel Messi scored a hattrick, coach Pep Guardiola warned against complacency as the Catalans travel to Minsk to take on Belarus champions FC Bate Borisov.

Wenger prays Arsenal’s recovery from miserable start

Wenger’s side have lurched from one disaster to another for much of 2011 and the opening few weeks of the new campaign have been no different.
The departures of star midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri destabilised an already fragile squad to such an extent the Gunners briefly languished just one place above the Premier League relegation zone after their worst start for 58 years...

Messi closing in on Kubala 194-goal record

 Lionel Messi is determined to keep breaking goal-scoring records at Barcelona after his 12th career hat-trick for the European and Spanish champions took him to 192 at the club.
The 24-year-old Argentine magician hit his latest hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid and is now just two behind Hungary’s Laszlo Kubala who scored 194 in his career at the Camp Nou in the 1950s.
Once he gets past that, the all-time club record of 235, set by Cesar Rodriguez betwen 1939 and 1955, will be easily within his sights.
“I’m pretty calm about it. I just take it a game at a time, but obviously I’m very excited about becoming top scorer,” Messi told fcbarcelona.com.
“Many years have gone by and it’s still the same player (Kubala). Hopefully I can beat his stats. I want to continue breaking records here”.

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere confirms ankle surgery to be a success

The youngster had been using a protective boot in recent weeks but it was decided by club doctors on Saturday that the midfielder would require surgical treatment, and he has now confirmed that the operation went smoothly.

Speaking via his Twitter account, Wilshere said: "Had my operation and all went well! I am feeling good will spend the night in hospital to monitor me but apart from that I am happy!"

It is thought that the injury will keep Wilshere sidelined until the end of the year, therefore ruling last season's PFA Young Player of the Year out of England's final Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on October 7, as well as Arsenal's upcoming Premier League fixtures against the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea.

BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID SLAMS

Since then, however, it has looked more like a handicap, with Spain's big two hitting unexpected obstacles along the course, their stealthy stride reduced to a tentative trot. And the top two trainers, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, really should have seen this coming.

After their impressive starts, Barca and Madrid hit problems on the first furlong. The Catalans were pegged back after going 2-0 up at Real Sociedad, having been two up after 12 minutes, and following a return to form in the stunning 8-0 win over Osasuna, Guardiola's side drew again at Valencia on Wednesday night. On both occasions, the champions started with a three-man defence away from home..

AC MILAN HAUNTED BY PATO'S INJURY

Despite having won the Supercoppa Italiana and pocketed a shock point from their Champions League trip to Barcelona, the Rossoneri have underachieved massively so far in Serie A, and it comes as little surprise that it has been their inability to turn possession into clear-cut chances which has tripped them up so far.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side pride themselves on the use of a trequartista to stretch opponents’ massed-rank defences and unpick the lock of bolstered back fours, but that has simply not happened so far this season.

Chelsea's Fernando Torres scores and is sent off in first half against Swansea City

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has been sent off in his side's Premier League clash with Swansea City, minutes after scoring his second goal of the season..

Robin van Persie confident that Arsenal can turn their season around

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie is hopeful that the midweek League Cup victory over League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town can kickstart his side's season.

The Gunners have made their worst start under manager Arsene Wenger, with results such as a recent defeat by Blackburn Rovers - where they conceded two own goals - and an 8-2 drubbing by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But the Dutchman is hoping that they can use the victory in the League Cup as a stepping stone as they look to turnaround what has been an awful start by their standards - starting with the game against Bolton at the weekend.

Van Persie told reporters: "It is important that we stay positive - that can be hard because everyone is frustrated and we realise that this is our worst start in the league for a while, but we have to stay together, be strong and make sure not to hide or become introverted.

Coaches praise Airtel rising stars

Coaches participating in the Airtel Rising Stars have expressed delight with the talents the programme is unearthing.
The coaches who bemoaned the dearth of capable replacements for aging members of the senior national teams and applauded the Airtel Rising Stars initiative for its focus on developing grassroots football.
Four hundred and eighty young footballers drawn from eight zones gathered in Ibadan Tuesday for the two-day Closed Camp of the Airtel Rising Stars talent hunt. The National Finals come up this weekend at Campos Square, Lagos.

Yakubu put Eagles coach on ‘red alert’

Eagles coach Samson Siasia is watching with keen interest a resurgent Yakubu Aiyegbeni with a view of strenghtening his attack againt Guinea.
Yakubu will be testing his his new found form against Newcastle United tonight another five star performance will undoubtedly earn him a recall to the national team from which he has been estranged since 2010 after his famous World Cup miss.
Eagles assistant coach Simon Kalika hinted during the week that they are monitoring the Blackburn striker who put two against Arsenal last weekend it was his first league appearance for Blackburn since securing a loan move from Everton in August. He spent most part of last season with Leichester City where he scored 11 goals from 20 appearances.

Ribery could see out career at Bayern

France midfielder Franck Ribery said Thursday he could see out his career at Bayern Munich after insisting life is good in Bavaria under coach Jupp Heynckes.
The 28-year-old signed for Bayern from Marseille in 2007 and has a contract until 2015, but struggled with injury and poor form over the last two seasons under Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.
But he is now in form and with three goals in his first six German league games of the season, Ribery said he could follow in the path of compatriots Bixente Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol who ended their careers in Munich.
“Sure, why not?” Ribery said, who became a father for the third time last Friday.

NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER: Only goals can save Eagles, says Etim

 Former Eagles midfielder, Etim Esin has declared that the Eagles must score an early goal against Guinea in their crucial October 8 decider, otherwise they would be walking on a slippery path to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Etim argued that an early goal will dissuade the Guinean from carry out their match plan of frustrating the Eagles.

UEFA members back FC Sion expulsion

Members of Europe’s football governing body on Wednesday said they unanimously supported UEFA’s decision to expel FC Sion from the Europa League, after the Swiss side fielded ineligible players.
“The 53 national associations of UEFA have today unanimously declared their support for UEFA,” member associations said in a statement.
Last week FC Sion, objecting to UEFA’s decision, had taken the case to Swiss courts, which ordered the reinstatement of the club to the tournament. UEFA, however, rejected the decision.
The team then took their case to Bern, asking the Swiss finance minister to withdraw UEFA’s tax breaks.
“The European national associations call upon both FIFA and the Swiss FA to urgently take concrete steps to uphold the statutes and regulations of FIFA, as UEFA has done,” the associations said.

Inter Milan sacks Coach Gasperini

As expected Inter Milan on Wednesday sacked Gian Piero Gasperini from his coaching role following the previous day’s 3-1 Serie A defeat at newly-promoted Novara.
The club has been put in the temporary charge of assistants Giuseppe Baresi and Daniele Bernazzani.
Gasperini lasted only three months in the job, taking charge of three league games and one match in the Champions League, losing three and drawing one.
Earlier in the day Inter president Massimo Moratti had hinted that Gasperini’s time was up.
Speaking to journalists as he arrived at his offices in Milan, Moratti was asked if Gasperini would be staying but replied: “I don’t think so.

Why Siasia dropped Enyeama again!

Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) has again dropped goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama from the decisive 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea on October 8.
Lille goalkeeper Enyeama was left out of another crucial qualifier away in Madagascar earlier this month after he led a players’ revolt that questioned the team’s travel plans to Antananarivo.
Enyeama, first-choice goalkeeper since the 2002 World Cup, has since apologised for his role in the mutiny and coach Samson Siasia has accepted it.
However, top NFF officials said that it was agreed by the nation’s football authority to sideline the goalkeeper so as to make the point very clear that no player is indispensible.

Inter in moves to appoint Ranieri as Gasperini’s replacement

Former Chelsea and Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri is close to taking over at Inter Milan following the sacking of Gian Piero Gasperini.
Ranieri’s representative Giuseppe Bozzo was meeting with Inter vice-president Rinaldo Ghelfi on Wednesday night, Italian news agency Ansa said.
It is believed they are negotiating the final details on a coaching contract.
Earlier in the day Gasperini was relieved of his duties after four defeats and a draw in his five matches in charge, including Tuesday night’s humbling 3-1 loss at newly-promoted Novara.
Gasperini’s Inter also suffered defeats to Palermo, in the league, Trabzonspor, in the Champions League, and to arch rivals AC Milan in the Italian Supercup.

Barton reveals he held Arsenal talks

QPR captain Joey Barton claims he held talks with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about a move to the Emirates Stadium before signing for Neil Warnock’s team.
Barton joined QPR on a free transfer from Newcastle just before the transfer deadline but he believes he could have ended up in north London instead if he had not clashed with Gunners forward Gervinho on the opening day of the season.
The former Manchester City star provoked a clash with Gervinho that led to the Ivory Coast player being sent off during Newcastle’s 0-0 draw against Arsenal at St James’ Park.
Barton dragged Gervinho to his feet after he appeared to dive in the penalty area and the midfielder then made a theatrical fall after being pushed by the Arsenal star.

Anelka says he could still stay at Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka insists he could still sign a new contract with Chelsea despite claims from Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas that the French striker wants to leave.
Villas-Boas suggested over the weekend that Anelka had indicated to him that he wished to leave the Premier League club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Anelka turns 33 in March and his future at Chelsea looked under threat when former boss Carlo Ancelotti was sacked at the end of last season.
But the former Arsenal and Real Madrid star has featured regularly under Villas-Boas and he made it clear he has yet to decide if it is time to leave Stamford Bridge.

SIASIA RULES OUT YAKUBUAND MARTIN'S RETURN TO SUPER EAGLE

Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, has ruled out the possible return of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins despite their outstanding showing last weekend in Europe.
 Speaking on the invitation to appear before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee to defend his team list against Guinea, Siasia said: “I have not seen any part of the world, where senior national team coaches appear to defend team list. However, I will only appear before the committee on Tuesday, but as for the unveiling of the list, I don’t really know. Maybe, it will be after the defence,” he noted.
 He also took time to shower encomium on Nigerian players who showed blistering form in Europe last weekend, admitting that he was happy to see many of them on the scoring sheet.
 On the possibility of the return of the like Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins to the Eagles fold, Siasia tactically noted that if they would return, it would not be immediate......