Final Whistle

Cover

Contents

Player Profile ISSUE

#1

ACN 2012

Talent Scout

Sacking Record

Fixtures

Spotlight

Gossip Column

Blank

Quiz

Promo

FINAL WHISTLE FINAL WHISTLE

SPOTLIGHT - NAPOLI

PLAYER PROFILE - XAVI a round-up of all the gossip from the english papers!

TALENT SCOUT XHERDAN SHAQIRI PLUS 路 African Cup of Nations Preview 路 New sacking record in England 路 Pick of the fixtures 路 Bonus feature: Quiz!

CONTENTS

A group-by-group preview of the African Cup of Nations 2012

Talent Scout - This edition’s scouting report takes us to Basel

FW brings to you the latest gossip from the English papers straight to your inbox!

Club Spotlight - We take a look at the Naples outfit

Xavi - An in-depth view on Spain and Barcelona’s midfield maestro Staggering new sacking record set in the English Leagues

BONUS FEATURE A look at the pivotal upcoming fixtures from all over Europe

How knowledgeable are you about the beautiful game? Take our quiz to find out!

Cover

Contents

ACN 2012

Sacking Record

Spotlight

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AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS 2012 PREVIEW The 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday. We get the lowdown on what to expect from this year’s tournament.

The$African$Nations$Cup$or$‘The$Cup$of$Africa’$kicks$off$on$the$21st$of$January$and$promises$to$be$a$fascinating$affair.$ Fascinating,$because$unlike$previous$editions,$this$year’s$tournament$will$not$feature$many$of$the$more$successful$ names$in$the$competition.$The$most$successful$nation$in$Africa$and$the$winner$of$the$last$three$editions,$Egypt,$is$one$ of$the$few$heavyweight$casualties$this$time$around.$The$other$shock$comes$in$the$form$of$Cameroon.$Traditionally,$a$ Cameroon$team$is$always$a$dangerous$force$to$be$reckoned$with$not$just$in$Africa,$but$world$over.$But$their$ downward$spiral,$which$began$with$their$abysmal$performance$at$World$Cup$2010,$continued$as$they$failed$to$ qualify.$This$year’s$edition$also$misses$2010’s$third$placed$nation$–$Nigeria.$$Which$leaves$us$with$only$five$previous$ champions$competing$for$this$year’s$coveted$trophy.$$ On$the$flip$side$though,$it$does$throw$in$new$names$and$an$unknown$quantity$is$always$going$to$pose$problems$if$ taken$lightly.$$Host$nations$M$Gabon$and$Equatorial$Guinea$are$in$themselves$quite$an$unknown$quantity$and$being$ the$hosts$will$be$two$teams$to$watch$out$for.$$Botswana$and$Niger$are$two$other$nations$making$their$debuts$in$the$ competition.$It$is$a$huge$opportunity$for$the$lesser$nations$to$make$a$point.$The$players$representing$these$nations$ will$be$determined$to$give$their$all$for$the$cause$as$this$is$an$opportunity$that$might$not$come$their$way$again.

It$is$quite$the$puzzle$and$the$tournament$could$go$one$of$two$ways.$The$first$–$giants$like$Ivory$Coast$and$Ghana$will$ find$it$easy$and$will$brush$aside$the$smaller$teams$which$would$make$for$an$extended$warm$up$session$before$the$ two$meet$in$the$final.$The$other$–$the$lesser$teams$stand$up$and$make$themselves$count.$For$this$to$be$an$exciting$ tournament,$the$lessMknown$teams$must$turn$up.

Player Prof

Group&A Senegal$ Equatorial.Guinea Libya Zambia

21.January Equatorial.Guinea.v.Senegal Senegal.v.Zambia ...................................................

25.January Libya.v.Zambia Equatorial.Guinea.v.Senegal

29.January Equatorial.Guinea.v.Zambia Libya.v.Senegal

Team.to.Watch.9.Senegal Senegal$are$undoubtedly$the$favorites$in$this$one.$$They$might$not$be$as$strong$as$the$side$that$did$so$well$in$ 2002$when$getting$to$the$final$of$the$African$Cup$Of$Nations$and$reaching$the$quarter$finals$of$the$World$ Cup,$but$still$have$a$number$of$players$plying$their$trade$in$competitive$European$leagues.$They$boast$ Premier$League$players$like$Armand$Traore,$Mohamed$Diame$and$Demba$Ba.$ Man.to.watch.–.Demba.Ba The$Newcastle$United$forward$has$been$in$ unbelievable$form$and$is$surely$one$of$the$ revelations$of$2011.$He$has$scored$15$goals$in$21$ appearances$this$season$and$will$be$looking$to$ extend$his$goalMscoring$run.

Prediction$–$Senegal$to$win$the$group$with$ Zambia$finishing$second.

Group&B Côte.d'Ivoire Sudan Burkina.Faso Angola

22.January Côte.d'Ivoire.v.Sudan Burkina.Faso.v.Angola ...................................................

26.January Sudan.v.Angola Côte.d'Ivoire.v.Burkina.Faso

30.January Sudan.v.Burkina.Faso Côte.d'Ivoire.v.Angola

Team.to.Watch.9.Côte.d’Ivoire Côte$d'Ivoire$are$the$Galacticos$of$Africa$as$they$have$a$host$of$stars$who$ply$their$trade$in$Europe’s$premier$ clubs.$With$players$like$Didier$Drogba,$Yaya$Toure$and$Kolo$Toure$in$their$ranks,$they$are$surely$the$favorites$ to$win$the$competition.$ Man.to.watch.9.Yaya.Toure One$of$the$few$boxMtoMbox$midfielders$left$in$ today’s$game,$Yaya$Toure$is$definitely$one$of$ the$players$to$watch$out$in$this$tournament.$ His$fearsome$physical$presence$and$direct$ running$style$can$be$very$intimidating$for$the$ opposition.$He$possesses$incredible$stamina$ and$always$has$an$eye$for$goal.

Prediction$M$Côte$d'Ivoire$will$finish$first$and$ Angola$should$finish$second.

Group&C Gabon Niger Morocco Tunisia

23.January Gabon.v.Niger Morocco.v.Tunisia ...................................................

27.January Niger.v.Tunisia Gabon.v.Morocco

31.January Tunisia.v.Gabon Niger.v.Morocco

Team.to.Watch.9.Morocco Morocco$has$a$strong$team$with$quite$a$few$players$playing$in$Europe’s$top$leagues.$$Marouane$Chamakh$and$ Adel$Taarabt$play$for$Arsenal$and$Queens$Park$Rangers$respectively$and$will$be$familiar$to$football$fans$in$the$ UK$along$with$Celtic's$Badr$El$Kaddouri.$Houssine$Khjara,$the$captain,$has$recently$signed$for$Fiorentina.$ Man.to.Watch.–.Marouane.Chamakh.

The$Arsenal$striker$will$have$a$point$to$prove$ in$this$tournament.$After$being$out$of$form$ for$much$of$last$season$and$this$season$too,$ the$African$Cup$Of$Nations$presents$him$ with$a$priceless$opportunity$to$regain$that$ form$and$his$$shattered$selfMconfidence.

Prediction$–$Morocco$to$finish$first$followed$ by$Tunisia.

Group&D Ghana Botswana Mali Guinea

24.January Ghana.v.Botswana Mali.v.Guinea ...................................................

28.January Botswana.v.Guinea Ghana.v.Mali

1.February Botswana.v.Mali Guinea.v.Ghana

Team.to.Watch.–.Ghana Ghana$come$into$the$tournament$as$one$of$the$two$favorites$to$lift$the$trophy.$The$Black$Stars$have$an$array$of$ talent$in$their$squad$including$Marseille's$Jordan$and$Andre$Ayew,$AlMAin's$loan$player$from$Sunderland$ Asamoah$Gyan,$Lyon's$John$Mensah,$Udinese's$Badu,$$and$Inter's$Sulley$Muntari.$They$will,$however,$be$ without$the$services$of$influential$Chelsea$midfielder$Michael$Essien,$who$is$still$recovering$from$a$longMterm$ knee$injury.

Man.to.Watch.–.Andre.Ayew$ The$22MyearMold$Marseille$winger$has$already$ accumulated$32$caps$for$his$country.$He$will$ surely$play$a$pivotal$role$in$this$Ghanaian$team$ especially$in$the$absence$of$Essien.$$BBC’s$African$ Footballer$of$the$year$has$a$big$future$ahead$of$ him.

Prediction$M$$Ghana$to$win$with$Mali$to$follow.

COVER

COVER #2

COVER #3

CONTENTS

ACN 2012

SACKING RECORD

SPOTLIGHT

SACKING RECORD SET BY ENGLISH LEAGUES WELCOME 2

PLAYER PROFILE

PROMO

TALENT SCOUT

FIXTURES

BLANK 2

GOSSIP

QUIZ

The latest edition of LMA’s (League Managers Association) Manager magazine has revealed that a staggering sum of over £99 million was spent by clubs in all four divisions in England on sacking managers. The LMA has taken a swipe at club owners and questioned the patience of the men at the top.

An incredible £99 million was spent last season on just sacking managers!

The figure arrived at by the LMA consists of the costs incurred in paying compensation to the sacked managers, legal fees and double contracts. A double contract means the sacked manager’s contract is honored for a particular time after he has been let go.

The LMA’s chief executive, Richard Bevan, said, “This defies the principles of building for stability and success and, more worryingly, is an expense that clubs, certainly in the lower leagues, can ill-afford.

“As the squeeze on finances, from the global institution to the man in the street, continues, we hope 2012 will not see a repeat of the vast sums of money wasted from the game.”

The report also goes on to suggest that Premier League managers last, on an average, just two years. Despite the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes in the league, this is a depressingly low figure and shows the lack of patience being exhibited by club owners. Results have taken priority over time given to build a squad. The trend is even worse in the nPower Championship where the average employment rate for managers has fallen below twelve months. According to the report,

Average Employment Rate Barclays Premier League - 2 years nPower Championship - 1 year nPower League One - 1.67 years nPower League 2 - 1.33 years

“The figure for the length of manager tenure are equally worrying, with the average tenure of a manager in the Championship now having fallen to below 12 months.

“The figures are only slightly better for the other divisions, with League Two managers lasting, on average, for 1.33 years, League One enjoying 1.67 years and Premier League managers lasting 2.07 years.”

COVER

CONTENTS

ACN 2012

TALENT SCOUT

SACKING RECORD

FIXTURES

SPOTLIGHT

GOSSIP COLUMN

QUIZ

PLAYER PROFILE PROMO

Text

PLAYER PROFILE - XAVI HERNÁNDEZ Xavi Hernández is arguably one of the best midfielders of his generation. From World Cup success to Champions League glory, here is everything you ever wanted to know about the Spanish playmaker.

The playmaker of the the finest European club side, Xavi Hernandez is the heartbeat that makes the team tick. He is the very embodiment of what Barcelona stand for – artful, loves the club through and through, and plays football that is pleasing to the eye.

He is the playmaker extraordinaire of his beloved FC Barcelona and perennial underachievers, Spain. Underachievers, that is, before World Cup 2010. The catalyst in bringing Spain to the top of the world game, the player who turned the country’s footballing ambitions around in Euro 2008 and subsequently won the player of the tournament, Xavi is someone many people in footballing terms would call ‘the unsung hero’.

"Xavi is a player who has the Barcelona DNA: someone who has the taste for good football, someone who is humble and someone who has loyalty to this club. From the first moment I saw him play, I knew he would become the brain behind Barcelona for many years to come. He plays very, very well & much better than I ever played even when I was at my best." - Pep Guardiola.

One of the most modest footballers in today’s game, Xavi has never been one to steal the limelight. Not that he wants it. He is happy to sit in the background while others take home the plaudits. It is typical of him to brush off the praise directed at him and just get on with the game. He is a rare breed of footballers these days - interested in playing the beautiful game with a smile on his face and not in the lucrative side of the sport.

PROFILE

Name: Xavier Hernandez i Creus Age: 31 Born: January 25, 1980 Club: FC Barcelona Nationality: Spain ROLE

Position: Midfielder Role: Playmaker Jersey Number: 6 FAVORITES

Nickname: The Puppet Master Idols: Pep Guardiola, Bernd Schuster, Fernando Redondo Favorite Song: Losing My Religion - R.E.M. Favorite Singers: Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams

BREAKTHROUGH SEASON

Barcelona youth captain

Xavi is the product of Barcelona’s famed youth academy, La Masia. His hugely impressive performances for FC Barcelona B earned him a first-team debut in 1998 against RCD Mallorca in the Super Cup final. His La Liga bow came in October of that year against Valencia, a game Barcelona went on to win 3-1. He became an integral part of Louis van Gaal’s title winning squad in his debut season, making 26 appearances.

He picked up the first of many accolades when he was named the La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year in 1999.

Xavi became a key member of the Barcelona first-team in the 1999-2000 season after an injury to Pep Guardiola. He became vice-captain in 2004 and played a major role in Barcelona’s La Liga and Super Cup triumph that season. His efforts were richly rewarded when he was named La Liga Spanish Player of the Year in 2005.

EURO 2008 & WORLD CUP 2010 Xavi was truly recognized on the global stage at the UEFA European Championship in 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. He had an outstanding tournament in the center of midfield and deservedly won the player of the tournament.

"We have chosen Xavi because he epitomizes the Spanish style of play. He was influential in the whole possession, passing and penetrating kind of game that Spain played," said Andy Roxburgh, head of UEFA's technical committee.

Xavi was instrumental again in Spain’s World Cup winning campaign in 2010. He had an astonishing 90 percent pass completion rate, completing an incredible 599 passes out of 669 attempted over the course of the tournament.

He already has 107 international caps to his name. He has represented his nation in seven major international tournaments, winning two.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SUCCESS & BEYOND Xavi was on the bench when Barcelona clinched their first Champions League title in 2005 as he had just returned from a serious knee injury. But he was back in the fold in the 2009 final as he ran the show against Manchester United, setting up Lionel Messi for Barcelona’s second goal.

He was the tormentor in chief again in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley against the same opponents as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners. Sir Alex Ferguson later went on to say that Xavi and Iniesta were the best midfield pairing he had come up against in his managerial career.

Xavi is calmness personified both on and off the pitch, but beneath that cool exterior is a genius footballer. Always willing to take on extra responsibility, he tends to find space where none seemingly exists. His footballing abilities are a mix of technique, skill, vision and practice. Always demanding the ball, he already has a vision of where to spray the ball even before he touches it. It is said that the difference between good players and great players is that the great ones paint a very vivid picture in their head of what is in front of them. Xavi, certainly, has long entered into the latter category.

What makes this footballer so unique is that not only is his vision exemplary, but his free-kick technique is right up there with the specialists. He has shown moments of sheer class from dead ball situations and can conjure up something out of seemingly nothing.

“For me, Barcelona is unconditional. I love this club, I love it. I always say that I will never leave Barca until my career ends. I won’t go. I won’t go. I’m happy at One of the finest midfielders of his generation, he has graced Barca. Barca, I love it, I feel the beautiful game with his superior vision and calm like its mine. For me its demeanor. When the chips are down on the football pitch, you unconditional. No loans, no can be absolutely sure that Xavi Hernandez won’t be found offers.” - Xavi wanting. Hats off to the man.

INDIVIDUAL HONOURS 1999 2005 2008 2009 -

La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year La Liga Spanish Player of the Year UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament Ballon d’Or (3rd Place), FIFA World Player of the Year (3rd Place), UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Year, La Liga Midfielder of the Year, UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match, FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball, IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker 2010 - FIFA Ballon d’Or (3rd Place), World Soccer Player of the Year, IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker, Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano (2nd Place) 2011 - FIFA Ballon d’Or (3rd Place), UEFA Best Player in Europe Award (2nd Place), IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker, La Liga Midfielder of the Year, FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball

CLUB AND COUNTRY HONOURS BARCELONA Spanish League - 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 Spanish Cup - 2008-09 Spanish Supercup - 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 UEFA Champions League - 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 UEFA Super Cup - 2009, 2011 FIFA Club World Cup - 2009, 2011

SPAIN FIFA World Cup - 2010 UEFA European Championship - 2008 FIFA World Youth Championship - 1999

SPOTLIGHT - NAPOLI Cover

Contents

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Player Profile

Quiz

ACN 2012

Sacking Record

Talent Scout

Fixtures

Spotlight Gossip Column

Promo

OVERVIEW

On this edition’s spotlight, we take you on a trip to the south of Italy as we chart the rise of Italian giants Napoli Despite going bankrupt and sinking as low as Serie C1 (the Italian equivalent of division 3) in the last decade, Napoli remain one of the great powerhouses of Italian football. They are the fourth most supported club in Italy (no prizes for guessing the top three), and are the sixth biggest club in Serie A in terms of revenue.

The club has undergone several name changes in its history, the first of which was in 1964 when the club was renamed from Associazone Calcio Napoli to Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli. The most notable change came in 2004 when film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis took over as club president and changed it's name to Napoli Soccer. He restored the name to Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli in early 2006.

Name: Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli Founded: 1926 Nickname: Partenopei Stadium: Stadio Sao Paolo Capacity: 60,240 Division: Serie A STAFF

Owner: Aurelio De Laurentiis Manager: Walter Mazzarri ACHIEVEMENTS

Serie A: 1986-87, 1989-90 UEFA Cup: 1988-89 Record Goal-Scorer: Attila Sallustro (118) Most Appearances: Antonio Juliano (502)

EARLY HISTORY Napoli started life in Serie A under the management and guidance of William Garbutt. He led the club to frequent top half finishes in his sixyear reign. But the club fell down the table before World War II and were relegated to Serie B in 1942. The club shifted base from Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli to Stadio Arturo Collana during this period. The club finally found it's way back to Serie A in the early 1950s and moved to their current home ground, Stadio San Paolo, in 1959.

Attila Sallustro (center) is Napoli’s record goal-scorer

Attila Sallustro (pictured standing in the center) was the first player the Napoli fans worshipped.

He was a clinical goal-scorer and possessed a fair amount of pace. He scored 118 goals during his time at the club, a record yet to be surpassed. The Paraguay-born forward was a key factor in Napoli’s rise during the late 1920s.

Napoli came very close to winning their maiden Serie A title in 1967-68, finishing in second place behind AC Milan. Some of the popular players during this era at the club were Dino Zoff, Jose Altafini and Antonio Juliano. Juliano went on to make 502 appearances for the club, a record which still stands today.

THE MARADONA ERA Despite the likes of Dino Zoff, Antonio Juliano and Gianfranco Zola representing the club, Napoli will always be known around the globe as the club the mighty Diego Maradona made his name at.

Napoli paid a then world record transfer fee of €12 million to Barcelona for the services of Maradona in 1984. Maradona’s arrival coincided with Napoli's rise to the top of the Italian game (the club was struggling with relegation prior to Maradona’s signing).

Napoli won their first Serie A title in the 1986-87 season and then went on to win the Coppa Italia to secure a first double. Since this was the first time a club from Southern Italy had won the title, it turned Diego Maradona into something of a religious icon for the Napoli fans.

He then led the club to their first ever major European trophy in the 1988-89 season as Napoli won the UEFA Cup, beating the likes of Juventus, Bayern Munich and Stuttgart along the way. The club then secured their second Serie A title in 1990, beating AC Milan by two points.

RELEGATION, BANKRUPTCY, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE After a third place finish in 1991-92, Napoli gradually started to go into decline. They were relegated to Serie B after picking up just two wins during the 1997-98 season. The club gained promotion but were relegated again in 2001 and were declared bankrupt in 2004 with debts of more than â‚Ź70 million.

Film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis saved the club from the clutches of extinction but was forced to rename the club to Napoli Soccer. Napoli were made to play in Serie C1 during this time but gained promotion to Serie B two seasons later. They won promotion the following season and finished 8th in their first season back among Italy's elite.

Manager Edy Reja was relieved of his duties in 2009 with Roberto Donadoni being appointed at the helm. Donadoni, despite spending huge sums of money in the transfer market, failed to make his mark on the squad and was subsequently sacked and replaced by Walter Mazzarri.

Mazzarri oversaw a remarkable rise in Napoli's fortunes and with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik, and Ezequiel Lavezzi, they secured a Champions League spot in 2011, having finished third in the Serie A standings.

THE KEY FIGURES AT SSC NAPOLI

AURELIO DE LAURENTIIS His investment in Napoli has seen the club rise from the third tier of Italian football to genuine Serie A title contenders.

WALTER MAZZARRI The former Livorno, Bologna and Sampdoria manager has had an outstanding impact at the club and has handled the pressure extremely well.

EDINSON CAVANI The Uruguayan has been a revelation for Napoli. He has been linked with moves to England and Spain but has expressed his desire to stay and win trophies with Napoli.

MAREK HAMSIK Hamsik has been pulling the strings in the Napoli midfield to devastating effect. He wanted a transfer to AC Milan in the summer but Napoli refused to let him go.

TALENT SCOUT On this edition’s Talent Scout, we focus on the mercurial talent: Xherdan Shaqiri A product of FC Basel's youth academy, Xherdan Shaqiri has been attracting envious glances from clubs all over Europe.

The 20-year-old's future has been the center of intense speculation linking him with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid and with good reason. He is the rising star of Swiss football.

Shaqiri won the best player accolade at the Under-15 Nike Cup in 2007 while representing Basel's youth team. Despite strong interest from abroad, he decided to stay in Basel and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2009. He made his debut in July of that same year, and hasn't looked back since.

He is known for his sheer raw pace and speed, both on and off the ball. His Immaculate technique and balance coupled Xherdan Shaqiri: One for the future with zero back-lift when going for goal makes him even more complete. Left-footed he may be, but he's more than comfortable playing on either wing or just behind the striker as an attacking midfielder.

Blessed with an ability to dictate the tempo of play, Shaqiri has drawn widespread praise from managers and scouts alike. His composure on the ball helps him to pick out the best options available to him thus making his decision-making mature beyond his years. A direct running style and a peckish need to take defenders on, makes him one of the most revered youngsters in Europe.

His stock rose even further at the Euro U-21 Championships last summer and he cemented his place in the Swiss national side after a stunning hat-trick against Bulgaria.

Which begs the question – why hasn’t a big club swooped in for him yet? The key reason for this is his attitude. He has a touch of arrogance about him and describing himself as ‘a very special player’ has not helped his cause. This gives the impression that his decisions will be swayed by monetary gains, rather than football. He has also drawn criticism from some quarters due to his lack of work ethic and negative body language.

Shaqiri's attributes purely as a footballer undoubtedly points to a bright future. It is however his own choice on whether he wants to stick with that attitude or curb and make himself an even more attractive prospect.

January 21, 2012 6.15pm Norwich City v Chelsea 11.00pm Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool January 22, 2012 7.00pm Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 9.30pm Arsenal v Manchester United

January 22, 2012 22.30 Malaga v Barcelona 02.00 Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao January 28, 2012 12.30am Real Madrid v Real Zaragoza 2.30am Villarreal v Barcelona

January 24, 2012 1.15am Cardiff City v Crystal Palace January 25, 2012 1.15am Liverpool v Manchester City

January 22, 2012 7.30pm Novara v AC Milan 1.15am Internazionale v Lazio January 28, 2012 1.15am Juventus v Udinese January 29, 2012 7.30pm Lecce v Internazionale 1.15am AC Milan v Cagliari *Fixtures are in IST and are subject to change.

January 28, 2012 5.30pm QPR v Chelsea 6.15pm Liverpool v Manchester United January 29, 2012 9.30pm Arsenal v Aston Villa

GOSSIP COLUMN

TEAM BONDING

Andre Villas-Boas plans to take his Chelsea squad on a trip to Majorca ahead of next week’s FA Cup clash with Queens Park Rangers.

WELBECK DISPUTE

SOAP OPERA

Danny Welbeck has reportedly rejected a £45,000 offer from Manchester United.

He is holding out for a £60,000 deal. He is currently on a £15,000 contract.

The Carlos Tevez drama has taken another turn with PSG now favorites for his signature. Please sign him and put us out of our misery?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARIO BALOTELLI The crackpot Manchester City striker has now bought a top of the range mobility scooter which he will use to travel the marathon distance from Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium dressing room to the parking lot. Well done, Mario, keep those legs rested.

IT’S QUIZ TIME! 1.Which club’s emblem is this?

!

8. Before Dimitar Berbatov’s move to Manchester United, who held the club’s highest transfer fee paid record?

A. Rio Ferdinand B. Wayne Rooney C. Juan Sebastian Veron D. Ruud van Nistelrooy 9. Complete the list- Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Arsene Wenger, Carlo Ancelotti and ?

A. Andres Villas Boas B. Rafa Benitez C. Jose Mourinho D. Roberto Mancini

2. Who is the all time leading goal scorer for the Dutch National Team?

A. Ruud Van Nistelrooy B. Dennis Bergkamp C. Patrick Kluivert D. Johan Cruyff

10. What is the other name for Arsenal's Emirates Stadium?

A. Highbury B. Anfield C. Ashburton Grove D. Wembley

3. Who are the only two players to win the Fifa World Player of the year award three times?

A. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo B. Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho C. Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho D. Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo(Brazil)

11. Which player holds the record for most number of goals in a single edition of the FIFA world cup?

A. Ronaldo B. Just Fontaine C. Miroslav Klose D. Pele

4. What is the name of the stadium for the Spanish club Valencia?

A. Estadio Mestalla B. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu C. Estadio Municipal de Riazor D. Estadio El Madrigal 5. Which is the only Spanish club that Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has represented?

A. Villarreal B. Atletico Madrid C. RCD Mallorca D. Deportivo de La Coruña 6. Which club holds the record for most number of European Cup/ Champions League titles?

A. Barcelona B. Liverpool C. Real Madrid D. AC Milan 7. Who was the Captain of the Spanish National team at World Cup 2002 in Korea/Japan?

A. Raul B. Fernando Hierro C. Carlos Puyol D. Iker Casillas *Answers in the next issue!

12. Everyone knows that Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick on his Champions’ League debut, but which club did he do it against?

A. Galatasaray B. Fenerbahce C. Villarreal D. Glasgow Rangers 13. Who is the youngest player to score in the EPL? A. Wayne Rooney B. James Milner C. Cristiano Ronaldo D. Cesc Fabregas 14. Who is the youngest player to score in the Champions League?

A. Cesc Fabregas B. Lionel Messi C. Mateo Kovacic D. Bojan Krkic 15. Complete the sequence – Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luis Filippe Scolari, ?, Carlo Ancelotti, Andres Villas Boas.

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