Balotelli given the spotlight by Reds

Mario Balotelli may have blown his first chance to impress the Liverpool faithful in Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa, but manager Brendan Rodgers still believes he can handle the responsibility of being the Reds’ senior striker.

In the absence of Daniel Sturridge, Balotelli, 40/1 now with Paddy Power to finish top goalscorer in the football betting markets, was given the chance to lead the line against Villa at Anfield. However, after 71 frustrating minutes, the Italian was hauled off and replaced by Rickie Lambert. Rodgers claims that his preparations for the game had been hampered by illness but questions will be raised as to whether the Liverpool boss can really get the best out of Balotelli. Continue reading “Balotelli given the spotlight by Reds”

Yaya Toure to hold crunch talks with City

Manchester City midfield lynchpin Yaya Toure will hold crunch talks with the club hierarchy over his future at the Premier League champions.

According to reports, the two parties are set to hold the meeting during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States of America as City sweat on sorting out the future of the talismanic Ivory Coast midfielder.

The 31 year old had been involved in a very public spat with high ranking City officials after claiming that the club management had not given him the recognition he deserves after leading the club to two Premier League titles in three years apart from ignoring him on his birthday. He also claimed that the City officials did not allow him to spend time with his cancer stricken brother Ibrahim who was admitted in a Manchester hospital. Continue reading “Yaya Toure to hold crunch talks with City”

Ivory Coast Dramatic Knock Out

Ivory Coast were knocked out of the World Cup 2014 in the most dramatic circumstances after conceding a late goal at the hands of Greece. Ivory Coast were winning the match 1-0 going into the last few minutes. Had this match finished with the same score, they would have reached the last 16 of the World Cup. However, they conceded an injury time goal to draw the match 1-1. Because of the previous matches in which they failed to get the necessary points, Ivory Coast have been knocked out of the tournament.

The exit also brings a huge fallout with the national team as they will not be without the Golden generation from here on. The likes of Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure may have played their last for the national team. Ivory Coast boss Sabri Lamouchi is also widely expected to announce his resignation from the post after this early exit. Ivory Coast came into the tournament still as one of the strongest teams from Africa. Players like Yaya Touré continue to dominate the headlines when it comes to club football.

Ivory Coast have not been able to make use of this talented generation, as they have not won a major trophy for more than two decades. The wait must go on after this draw.

“Still I am very disappointed. I think we could manage our game, but we we very naive collectively. We were not smart and we all are sinking. I think I could have done better, the team could have done better, but we were very naïve,” said the Liverpool defender Kolo Toure. Toure has already experienced pain in the form of missing out on the Premier league with Liverpool. He would have been the first player to have lifted the league title with three different teams in England.