Leicester City Have The Last Laugh

When the fixture list for the 2014/2015 English Premier League season was released in June, many people noticed how difficult a start newly promoted Leicester City were faced with, even the most dauntless of City fans would have had the possibility of losing all 5 matches a possibility.

Fast forward a few months and City, under the guidance of the eccentric Nigel Pearson find themselves in 7th position on the log tied on the same points (8) with Premier League Champions Manchester City.

Their start has been nothing short of brilliant and the recent scalp they got by bashing a haphazard Manchester United team will definitely live in the memory of many City fans. Pearson said after the game: “It’s massive. Obviously, it’s not been an easy journey to come here, and now we are at the top, but it’s all about staying here now.”

They’ve also managed to hold Arsenal and Everton to draws and managed not to get beaten by a tennis margin against high flying Chelsea.

The season is long and arduous but an impressive points haul against such big teams will be invaluable in Leicester’s BPL survival bid.

Joel Musa

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SAMMY AMEOBI FACES EXIT DOOR AT NEWCASTLE

Shola And Sammy Ameobi. photo credit chruniclelive.co.uk

Samuel Ameobi, the 22-year old brother of former Toon favorite Shola Ameobi would be standing firmly on both feet if he was by any chance in a slumber.

Newcastle Coach, Alan Pardew who has had the hangman’s noose hanging precariously over his head for a while now revealed after the 2-2 draw against Hull City that,

“Sammy is a player who has unbelievable talent and we have been waiting and waiting for him to deliver something on the football pitch” he also said;

“I warned him last week that I am running out of time with him and he is running out of chances”. Sammy has been in the main squad for three years but has suffered from ankle and foot injuries.

Sammy Ameobi signing his Newcastle contract. photo credit nufc.co.uk

There was no mincing of words from the gaffer and few will differ with that stance as top flight football needs a requisite level of consistency.

Sammy will look to build on his useful cameo against Hull to force himself into the managers plans if he wants to salvage his Newcastle career and achieve his dream of playing International football with Nigeria, which he has represented twice at the U-20 level and has seemingly opted to pledge his allegiance to after he revealed to BBC in August “It wasn’t a difficult decision because I decided to follow my heart and I think it’s the right thing to do”.

Joel Musa

for comments or feedback you can tweet @slysage and @NewFanzone also follow both handles and we will follow you right back

Chelsea Tipped To Get The Edge Over Faltering City

The battle of the nouveau riche or as twittersphere likes to refer to it “el cashico” sees Manuel Pellegrini’s wobbling team face what many describe as the most formidable team in England.

The stakes are high, the managers poised, old rivals from the Spanish peninsula who had so much to say to and about each other in the press last season.

Manuel Pellegrini. photo credit uefa.com

City face the acrimony of losing 3 of their last 4 games if they should bow to Chelsea while Jose Mourinho’s team will be keen to justify the hype that has followed their brilliant start to the season (maximum points in four matches) while moving 8 points ahead of their arch rivals for the BPL crown.

Jose Mourinho photo credit uefa.com

Chelsea have few injury concerns, Diego Costa who is not fully fit is likely going to start, City on the other hand have been rocked by injuries to Stefan Jovetic and Fernando who has looked like a huge upgrade on the departed Javi Garcia, the Brazilian’s absence has forced Manuel Pellegrini into playing Yaya Toure as a holding midfielder where he didn’t excel in the match against Bayern and in the corresponding tie last season where he was outclassed by Nemanja Matic.

Pellegrini has absolved the Ivorian Powerhouse of blame and spread it out on the team while also reminding all that care to listen that Yaya is still grieving from bereavement.

He’ll get a lot of help from Fernandinho who was quite solid against Bayern on Wednesday and has said all the right things in the press as had David Silva and other members of the squad. We might yet be served up with a spectacle.

Expected City line up (4-2-3-1)
Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Silva, Nasri, Navas, Aguero.

Expected Chelsea line up (4-3-3)
Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Fabregas, Matic, Hazard, Schurrle, Costa.

Joel Musa

Afcon 2015 Qualifier South Africa Holds Nigeria In Cape Town

Our man Joel Musa takes a look at the Afcon 2015 Qualifier between the “Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the “Super Eagles of Nigeria, for comments or feedback you can tweet @slysage and @NewFanzone also follow both handles and we will follow you right back

Nigeria Super Eagles starting 11 With Babatunde Micheal at the 2014 World Cup photo credit Reuters

The Super Eagles took an arduous trip to Cape Town after getting outclassed on home turf by the Red Devils of Congo on a wing and a prayer. The morale was dampened, perhaps aided by the uncertainty surrounding the Coach’s future and maybe the shenanigans of the egg heads at the Glass House.

Shakes Mashaba, source Facebook.com

Shakes Mashaba had been throwing taunts all week and had raised the hope of his countrymen who are desperately seeking for a competitive win against their bitter rivals but were able to snatch a fair draw, their second competitive point against the reigning African Champions in 20 years, after a dogged performance.

The game started on an attritional note, both sides easing their selves into the game with short, sideways passes. Both teams maintained a good shape but the Bafana Bafana sat deep, overcrowding the trequartista – Nosa Igiebor and allowing bulky forward Emmanuel Emenike no space at all. Ahmed Musa hadn’t no joy on the flank as the fullback was equipped to nullify his pace.

The notable moment of the half came towards its end when Mikel got into a spat after South Africa’s No. 11 rough handled him. Nigerian fans might still be frustrated by his performances but he seems to have some passion lately.

Stephen Keshi – Super Eagles Coach

The second half saw the standard of the game degenerate. The visitors visibly fatigued while the hosts were seemingly content to hold out for a draw.

Osaguana Ighodaro, who came in for Gbolahan Salami almost scored after good work on right by Ahmed Musa on the 63rd minute but a defender cleared on the line.

On the 71st minute, former England youth player Sone Aluko came in for Igiebor and his most notable contribution was a tame shot from outside the box.

South Africa almost snatched a late win after a goal-mouth melee, but the Eagles defenders cleared. The draw means Nigeria is third in the group with a single point. It also means that Stephen Keshi’s team has won just one of its last ten matches.

Joel Musa