Spanish Cup 3rd Round Report
 
Almeria 1-2 Sevilla
 
This was a much closer game than most people expected. Almeria who are at the bottom of La Liga created more clear cut opportunities compared to Riste's Sevilla. In a close game Sevilla took the lead and held it until an equaliser from the home side in the 77th minute levelled the scores. The young central midfielder Cordero got the winner for Sevilla in the 81st minute. Liam Riste will be pleased to have got through what was a tight game, especially as his team failed to progress past this round last season.
 
Getafe 2-1 Levante
 
Getafe won another close game on the night by a single goal. The unmanaged Segunda outfit Levante got an early goal in the 3rd minute. This was not much of a surprise as they are fighting in the play off spaces of the Segunda, whereas Getafe have only gained a point and are the lowest scorers in La Liga. Getafe fans will be hoping that their scorers on the night Alberto and Tavera can get some goals in the league for them. Getafe got the goals in the 37th and 58th minutes to win and progress to the Quarter Finals.
 
Deportivo 4-0 Athletico
 
Kenny Nicholson got one over his fellow manager Paul Harrington, in what turned out to be a stroll in the park for Deportivo with a 4-0 win. Athletico failed to get any shots on target, but despite this held out till after half time before the onslaught began. Deportivo's Fernandillo was the hat trick hero on the night with his final goal coming at the death in the 89th minute.
 
Valencia 7-1 Celta Vigo
 
Daniel Reed was the only manager who survived from the Segunda to reach this stage of the Cup. But his play-off hopefuls were outclassed by Stuart Price's Valencia. Celta Vigo were 3-0 down by half time after a Roman hatrick. Although they got a goal back to make it 3-1, any hopes of a come back were soon quashed with another Sevilla goal coming 2 minutes later. Another 3 goals went in for Valencia before the end of the game to give the score a gloss at 7-1. 
 
Real 7-0 Espanyol
 
Real Madrid spanked Espanyol in a game that went to form. Only one goal came in the first half but the deluge followed after half time with all the goals scored by different players. Its back to the drawing board for Ashley Harris after this game.
 
Barcelona 6-0 Recreativo Huelva
 
Recreativo proved no match for the Barca team that has recently been stuttering in the league. Barca put things right in this one, and the scoreline could have been even more impressive if their forward line had been concentrating more - giving away 11 offside decisions. Had the game been tighter, Adam Goble may have had some questions for the linesman about some of those decisions, whilst Louis Galeozzie will certainly have plenty of questions for his defenders who gave away far too many fouls. Theo Walcott had a hatrick by half time, with his goals punctuated by another from midfielder Tymoschuk. 
 
Bilbao 2-0 Real Sociedad
 
The unmanaged La Liga Althetico Bilbao progress to the Quarter Finals with two goals against Real Sociedad of the Segunda. Bilbao fans will hope that their team can go one better than last season's cup run when they were losing finalists. Bilbao won the game because of their superior passing and crossing abilities. Palladino rounded the keeper when through one on one to score in the 28th minute. Bilbao then got a second when their defender Balenziaga got on the end of a Ibrahim corner in the 39th minute.

Report by Johndaniel Jaques

Boring Boring Boro

Boro 0 Leicester 0

Boro continued there defensive style with a lacklustre performance at the Riverside stadium. This was a game that certainly wouldnt be an advertisement for the Premiership .  Only Liverpool have conceded fewer than Boro so it was no surprise  that the game had very few chances with boro having just one shot all game which ended up in the stands.  Leicester as the away team gave it a go but lacked the quality to break down a very stubborn boro defence.

Coakleys Corner comments:

Boro are an interesting team,  they certainly know how to defend and in the end I believe this will keep them up.  I do think they will struggle come the second half of the season but Gareths experience will shine through.  

Leicester will feel it has been two points dropped today as they certainly had the better of the game but the point makes sure they dont spent the week in the bottom three.   Im sure the chairman will help out further and im very confident they will stay up.

Palace continue winning streak

Nottingham Forest 2 Crystal Palace 5

Palace now sit pretty at the top of the league and twelve points of third position.  I confident Palace dominated the game throughout however after an early goal they found themselves level on 69 minutes and then pegged back again on 71 minutes.  Palace then upped there game in a frantic last 7 minutes complete the rout with a further 3 goals.

 Coakleys Corner comments:

Forest are struggling and despite the new chairman they have struggled and will struggle to find a manager to take on such a challange.  

Seb Carter at Palace is going about his work very quietly but they are looking strong but Blackpool will be chasing them to the end.   I also hear that Palace are loaning about 4 of his best players which amazes me, I hope he doesnt come to regret losing key players at such a key time as this season is far from over.

Cardiff 2 Pompey 2

Coakleys Cardiff Comment

It was always going to be tough but I did feel we had enough about us to win the game.  A draw is certainly not a bad result and the performance was pleasing.   We play Manchester City this weekend and although they are bottom of the league we certainly wont take them lightly.

On a side note I would like to Apologies to Mark Galeozzie of Liverpool for a failed deal.  I and Cardiff City take complete responsibility for what was a administrative error.

Report by Luke Coakley

AC win battle of Milan

The Milan derby took place this weekend with AC highly favoured. The match didnt start too well for Inter as they let a goal in within the first minute of the game. When that happened AC Milan took hold of the game and went on to win 3-1 to keep up their push for a top 3 place and to send Inter looking down the barrel of relegation.  Next week, Inter will be looking to get their first win on the board as they face one from bottom Bresci,a another team searching for their first win.

Fiorentina fans protest

Outside the clubs ground ugly scenes have been reported after the club once again lost in the league. The once Italian giants find themselves deep in trouble and fans could be heard singing former manager Adam Daviess name with some saying the chairman needs to do something quick or we will slip out of Seria A never to be seen again. It was Lazios turn to take Fiorentina apart this week as they ran out very comfortable winners by 4 goals to 1. Fiorentina could face much more of a hard game next week as they travel to Milan to face AC Milan with fans saying they are not even going to bother going to the game.

Big shock in Seria B

Before this weeks games Cagliari hadnt won a game and had only scored 1 goal this season but when they turned up against Udinese all that changed as they ran out 2-0 winners.  With the word coming out of the club that their season starts now they face a very very tough game next week as they play host to Reggina.

Report by Dale Price

The ITALIAN DOMESTIC CUP. Round 3

The Italian Cup moved on this week with some very interesting results.

Sampdoria  6 1  Inter Milan 
Carl Robsons Sampdoria swept Inter Milan aside with a tremendous win.  Not satisfied with just a win they slaughtered Inter with a six goal thriller. Daniele Co, only 19 years of age, scored twice in a very one sided game. Surprise winners Brescia are their next opponents. If they continue at this pace they could turn out to be favourites to take the Cup.

Reggina 4 3  Palermo 
Reggina proved me wrong with a real show of class and determination. The deciding goal came in the 82 minute from Rubiato. Daniel Robertsons Reggina stay in the this competition and play Cup winners Parma in the next round.

Fiorentina  0 2  Ascoli 
I had thought this one would go to extra time but Ascoli didnt see it that way at all. Perrone and Ramon provided the goals for Ascoli who deserved to go through to the quarter finals.They go through into the next round but they face a very in-form Genoa.

Catania 0 6  Genoa 
Genoa have only let in three goals this season and always looked the better side. Amilcar has done a wonderful job with Catania but this is where the Cup run ends. It will take a very good side to push Genoa aside. Jano, at 19 years of age, was man of the man of the match with 4 goals on the night. In the quarter finals they will meet Ascoli. That has the makings of a thriller with Genoa just getting my money.

Lazio  0 1  Brescia 
Lazio just never turned up for this game. Raymond Farnell must have been very disappointed with his teams performance. Brescia, on the other hand, have not had the best of luck this season but things may have changed. They took the match to Lazio and it paid off. The approach in this match may provide the clue, Brescia have been a little defensive this season, Maybe time to go for it.

A.C.Milan  4 1  Roma 
A. C. Milan pushed Roma aside tonight and are now set for the tie of the Cup. Juventus come into the contest for the quarter finals and will be something of a banker for most people. But A.C.Milan surprised me with 4 against Roma and who knows with Lupoli in this form, if you have a bet keep your eye on how much you are prepared to lose.

The full draw for the Quarter Finals was;

Sampdoria  v Brescia  Sampdoria to breeze through.
Genoa v Ascoli  Genoa just too good.
Reggina  v  Parma  Parma must have the edge.
Juventus  v  A. C. Milan  Juventus, current favourites, should walk it.

I still think Sampdoria will make the final.

Matches to be played in three weeks time.

Report by Terry Manifold

Real pip Barca in thriller
It was Real Madrid who took the spoils in this weeks highlighted game, and what a game it was. Barcelona started the brighter and took the lead early on through the pacey Theo Wallcott and no sooner later they doubled their lead with Squillaci getting on the scoresheet, but then that seemed to have sparked Madrid into life and instantly get a goal back with Albin hitting the back of the net. From then on Real controlled the rest of the first half and eventually drew level, and a few minutes later took the lead, then just before the half time whistle they doubled theyre lead, and Barca looked out of it. Then after the break it was liked theyd swapped shirts and Barca dominated and peppered the Real Madrid goal and eventually got the goal they deserved through Wallcott, however block after block save after save Barca couldnt find a way through and eventually lost the game to a very good Real Madrid defensive display. Barcelona will leave disappointed at they looked to have won the game on statistics, but instead losing theyre 4th game in a row with 3rd place now looking a very long way away.
 
Sevilla rescue point
Sevilla left theyre home ground today relieved just to take away a point as Deportivo continued they attractive style of play and nearly beat what must be said a much fancied Sevilla team. It was Peter Wittingham who proved to be the saviour for his team as he struck the equaliser for his team on 85mins and earning his team a point which on the whole they probably did deserve. There was also a routine win for the league leaders against lowly Getafe who in truth never really threatened the goal with a 3-0 victory with all goal coming in the second period. Arond the league there were also wins for Espanyol, Bilbao and Valencia who futher enhanced theyre grip on at least 3rd place.
 
Villareal win again
Villareal extended theyre winning run to 10 games today with a deserved 2-0 victory over Gimnastic. Theyre didnt get it all theyre own way though with a gritty defensive effort from the away team, however once they got theyre first the victory was never in doubt with Gimnastic rarely threatening the goal with the more senior players given a rest and almost expecting defeat. Real Murcia made it two games without defeat after they triumphed over Betis with a 2-1 victory with things starting to look up for them. Cadiz also kept up the pressure for a play off place with a 1-0 win over Santander who have just recently employed a new manager. There was also wins in the league for Mallorca and Osasuna who strengthened  theyre positions in the play offs and a 1-1 draw between Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo. 

Report by Benjy Gregory

England

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Gardner has signed a new long term deal to keep him at the club following an impressive first half a season back in the Premiership.

Chelsea fans are split over the future of manager John Brady after his team were knocked out of Europe coming last in their group, starting rumours AC Milan are keen to offer him a fresh start in Italy should he express and interest.

Wolves manager Johndaniel Jaques is closing in on a loan signing of Liverpool striker Nicky Maynard who has struggled to fit in following his bargain buy from then administration riddled Bristol City.

Italy

Juventus have denied speculation Steve Jenkins could be under pressure should he fail to retake top spot from Genoa this season, stating the club would struggle to replace him should he leave.

The new Fiorentina chairman Jamie Best is close to signing a new manager for the job with some press coverage reporting returning Spanish manager Adam Davies as favourite to take over.

Inter Milan fans threw flares onto the pitch at half time in their UEFA Cup match against Napoli. Despite going on to win 1-0 fans are angry with manager Rob O'Brien and his players over their relegation threatened league position.

Spain

Barcelona manager Adam Goble is being heavily linked with a move to the Premiership as his position grows ever more insecure with Barcelona now 4th in the table, 10 points off the leaders, and knocked out of Europe in the group stage.

Athletic Bilbao have announced they have pulled the plug on negotiations with Sevilla boss Liam Riste. We made a fair offer, our club has grown in stature under the previous management and board team and our win over Sevilla the other week should have been an eye opener for Liam. We respect him as a great Spanish manager with a wealth of experience but his financial demands far exceeded what we were willing to offer. Even our improved offer was over £30 million short of what he wanted. We will continue our hunt for new management.

Fans of Atletico Madrid are hoping they can bounce back from another night of UEFA Cup misery, leaving them bottom of their group with a game to go, and beat city rivals Real Madrid this week in the league. It is the firts meeting of the two Madrid clubs since Real Madrids resurgence under new management and fans are desperate for Paul Harringtons men to put their opponents back in their place this week.

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Re: Simon Newcombe Interview

Media Reaction: The English press seem to now feel that Manchester City have enough to survive this season and expect to see improved results in the coming weeks.

Player Reaction: Mido and Mateja Kezman feel isolated by the managers comments. John Guidetti is pleased his current form doesn't seem to have effected his long term future with the club though.

Chairman Reaction: Remains extremely concerned about the dreadful league form and is worried investment seems to be the main plan for survival.