december fixtures begin! (EPL heavy, sorry)

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

OP note: in the PL calendar, December fixtures are seen as the make or break time for the title. Unlike Germany (where you get December off) or Spain (Christmas week off) the PL matches go through December, and that's when even the most sure title challengers start to look shaky and the calendar congested. This is where the real competition begins. Right, on with the post.

Mario Balotelli: Liverpool striker sorry for Instagram post

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for a post on social media which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.
Balotelli, 24, quickly deleted the post from his Instagram page of Nintendo computer game character Super Mario.
The Italian had tweeted to deny the text of the post was offensive before his apology.
The Football Association is to investigate the post, while Liverpool say they will speak to Balotelli.
The picture posted by the Italian striker had an image of 'Super Mario' with the heading 'Dont be a racist!'.
The text read: 'Be like Mario, he's an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican'.
It finished with the lines: 'He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew'.
Responding to criticism on Twitter, Balotelli then tweeted: "My [adopted]Mom is Jewish so all of you shut up please." read more here
I just... Balo, why?

Podolski wants to end his career at Köln

A cry for help?
1. FC Köln: World Champion Lukas Podolski is planning to end his career again a return to FC. "I can imagine in the next few years a change to 1. FC Köln quite well. I hang still at the club and will again hear the FC anthem and feel the feeling when I go up the stairs with the number 10 "the 29-year-old told the sports news channel Sky Sport News HD at the edge of Benfiztermins in the cathedral city. ".. I did not say come hell that I want to leave Arsenal I feel in the city and the club very well, but of course I want to play," Podolski said again and added once more: "If anything comes and you talk to the club and the coach, then we'll see. " The 29-year-old offensive player was active for the Billy Goats From 2003 until 2006 and from 2009 to 2012 and has witnessed three descents (2004, 2006 and 2012).article
in German. Ja

Xmas fixtures upset Van Gaal

LvG face is upsetting at this time of day, so putting in alleged match fixer participant Herrera instead
The Dutchman is sad that he will not get to see his loved ones much during the festive season because of the English game's traditional heavy schedule, but also feels the programme - which could include four games in nine days - places an unfair burden on players.

But the veteran former Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Netherlands coach is willing to adapt to pursue his ambitions with United.

The 63-year-old said: "I am not happy - but I cannot change it - because I don't think it is good for the players that they play within two days of a (previous) match - two matches in two days.

"In December it shall be like that. We also have family. I have a wife and kids, and grandchildren, and I cannot see them this Christmas.

"But I want to work in the Premier League, so I have to adapt, and I shall adapt. But I don't think it is good. It is not good for the players, nor for the family." more
I don't get this. LvG's been hankering after a job in the PL for close to a decade, and he didn't realise that we played through until Christmas?


chatter from the side lines

• Bayer Munich wants to extend Pep Guardiola's contract it's golden handcuffs time


• Liverpool wants Gerrard to stay - offering him a new contract with coaching responsibilitiesmore here


• Come on Lampard let me know - will you stay or will you go? here


• Thierry Henry has left the MLS say goodbye


• "Not so fast, Jose!" Pelligrini tells Mourinho not to start planning for new silverware as yet it's on now


• FIFA's shortlist for coaches this year: Simeone, Löw and Ancelotti I hope Simeone gets it, tbh but it might be Löw


• Manchester United news: Louis van Gaal weighing up January move for Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin Atlético Madrid getting plundered again


• Malky Mackay and Iain Moody hit by new race claims after former Cardiff employee Alisher Apsalyamov submits complaint to FA over alleged 'Chemical Ali' nickname the FA has its work cut out today


• Stan Collymore criticised for 'diving fairies' jibe after Sergio Aguero's yellow card against Southampton I missed this one

Social Media

Balotelli's apology. Too late, the FA is getting involved. For those asking why the FA's 'making a mountain of a molehill', the incident has been reported to the FA by an aggrieved party, so they have to investigate (as per their protocols)

Balotelli's tweet

The tweet in question

FIFA's finalists for the Balon D'Or. I hope Neuer wins it just to shut the Messi vs Ronaldo fan boys up- and this is coming from someone who dislikes both BM and die Mannschaft

Pepe Reina back in training for Bayern Munich


pic spam

Thanks for the memories Arsene, now it's time to say goodbye, the banner says. Dang, harsh


Hey, doesn't Dave de Gea look like the actor who plays Charlie from 'Brothers and Sisters'?


de Gea got Manchester United's player of the month. Again.


2014 has been James' year


Angel is out injured, Falcao might start today


West Brom has been on a tear lately


I can never find good pics of Leicester City players, so have a fox instead


D. Agger, we miss you. I need a moment.


Audi sponsors Real Madrid AND Barcelona? That's one way of doing it


Real Madrid players at some Audi event.


Sergio Aguero named Player of the Year by The Football Supporters' Federation

Comments

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: 'So all of u shut up please'

[jesscp.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Leicester give Man Utd a big shock earlier in the season? So although they are bottom of the table, they could still produce a win against Liverpool... Sorry that's not what you want to hear! I have to say, I prefer games like this when there isn't a defined team who are more than likely to win, if you understand what I mean?! As in, if I watch a Real Madrid game, I fully expect them to win. When you aren't supporting those 2 teams, it makes the game a bit more exciting.

Rodgers sounds like the typical man with a middle life crisis throwing it all away on something younger and also trying to clutch onto being younger - moron!

Hey boo at least Liverpool still have a chance of top 4... All wins will be a tough ask, but my Dortmund babes could win all their next games and still not make top 4. Ugh. That's if I did my maths right, and I was awful at maths at school!

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: 'So all of u shut up please'

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Leicester give Man Utd a big shock earlier in the season? So although they are bottom of the table, they could still produce a win against Liverpool... Sorry that's not what you want to hear! I have to say, I prefer games like this when there isn't a defined team who are more than likely to win, if you understand what I mean?! As in, if I watch a Real Madrid game, I fully expect them to win. When you aren't supporting those 2 teams, it makes the game a bit more exciting.

Nope, you're not wrong.Yeah, for all my mourning over Liverpool, give me a strong league over one strong team in a league anyway. :P

At the end of the day, I want an entertaining game. I'd like to know which Liverpool is going to roll up and show up though. It's one thing if you're playing badly but with heart, and just bad luck, but it's another thing when you're just (like Liverpool at various stages through the season) playing listlessly, trying to waste time because you don't have any ideas because your coach is idea deficient- or at least, not coming up with ideas in a hurry.

Leicester might surprise, especially since they need a win (they're near to the bottom of the table right now). I won't put anything past them, like I said, they need a win, and it's home court advantage. Liverpool might collapse like a house of cards.

Rodgers sounds like the typical man with a middle life crisis throwing it all away on something younger and also trying to clutch onto being younger - moron!

Yeah, definitely, since his team form and nous last year is looking more like a fluke (especially with his shading Mourinho and Southampton earlier in the year). His pigeons have come home to roost in a big way. LOL, Rodgers is eating some crow.

Arrgh, Dortmund is my team too. I have always admired their pluck, even with my first go around with the Bundesliga some years ago. So yeah, strong love to them too. I hope Klopp can turn it around.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: 'So all of u shut up please'

[jesscp.livejournal.com]

As much as Rodgers needs to sort out how he wants to play, the players need to take a little initiative too - when I think of Liverpool I think of Gerrard, but he's not getting as much playing time now, so who are the players becoming the driving force now for the team? This is a similar issue to what BVB are facing - Reus and Hummels are the 2 clear leaders in that team. With them out, there isn't a player or players showing any sense of leadership on the pitch. The coach can only do so much in my eyes.

Home advantage always helps, plus Leicester have no where else to go right now, so logic would state they will push hard tonight. But who knows, maybe Liverpool will come out and play well, off the back of their last win?!

Ugh I know - I've followed Dortmund for a couple of years now on and off, life often takes over, but this year I've really committed to following them properly. Clearly my commitment is a massive burden this season! I hope Klopp can sort shit out too, because I love him when the team is doing well, his enthusiasm is so rare yet genuine. Ugh, trying not to depress myself here! Especially with the Götzeus Xmas video in the previous thread, I am feeling sad for the good old successful days of Dortmund!!

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: 'So all of u shut up please'

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

so who are the players becoming the driving force now for the team? This is a similar issue to what BVB are facing - Reus and Hummels are the 2 clear leaders in that team. With them out, there isn't a player or players showing any sense of leadership on the pitch. The coach can only do so much in my eyes.

And again- the thing is with Liverpool, there hasn't been a constant starting XI since August? So the argument can be had that players haven't really been able to strike up a dynamic with each other because the line up keeps changing due to reasons of Rodgers, injury and et al. I do think Lallana has a killer instinct and good legs, but he's recovering from injury and getting up to match speed. I'm interested in Lambert- he's getting up and at 'em, but again, he too is recovering from injury and fitness. I agree that do need leadership in the midfield, and I like the look of Can and Coutinho but again, players keep getting swapped up and about, but again, it's up to the coach to push that responsibility on players? Or encourage it? Like Mourinho did with Fabregas.

Klopp will work it out. He might have cut back on his wolfpack training for the while though!