Category Archives: SPORTS

Owner Nathan Tinkler says a desire to change the culture at Newcastle Jets is behind the club’s decision to sack five players.

The Jets announced late on Wednesday night they had terminated the contracts of David Carney, Billy Celeski, Joel Griffiths, Kew Jaliens and Adrian Madaschi.

“The contracts of Billy Celeski, Joel Griffiths, Kew Jaliens and Adrian Madaschi were due to expire at the end of the current season but the players will now leave the club immediately,” the Jets said in a statement.

“The contract of David Carney has been terminated for disciplinary reasons.”

Tinkler claims the move is in the long-term interests of his franchise.

“These decisions were made in the best interest of the playing group and to improve the club culture for the young players who we believe are the future of the Jets,” Tinkler said.

Earlier on Wednesday, assistant coach Clayton Zane, goalkeeping coach Neil Young and strength and conditioning coach Andrew Packer were also told their services were no longer required.

“These changes form part of the internal club review currently being conducted,” a club statement said.

The bloodletting comes with Saturday looming as the key date in the ugly stand-off between Tinkler and Football Federation Australia (FFA).

As drama continues to engulf the A-League strugglers, January 31 could be the day that triggers FFA’s contingency plan to strip mining magnate Tinkler of his licence and either sell it or run the club itself.

In shades of the crisis that preceded Gold Coast United’s downfall, FFA’s hands are currently tied as the Jets are yet to breach their licence agreement.

But Tinkler has been told by FFA he must meet certain financial obligations by Saturday, and if he does not — as many at the club are privately hoping — it could bring forward the governing body’s plans to take control in Newcastle.

In a statement, FFA spokesman Kyle Patterson said: “FFA is aware of debts owed by Hunter Sports Group (HSG) to football stakeholders and other service providers.

“These matters are the subject of undertakings provided by HSG to FFA. The expectation is that these matters will be urgently addressed.

“It is obvious that the Newcastle Jets are not currently a stable operation in structure, personnel or finances. HSG has been told it needs to take action this week.”

Jets six months behind in superannuation payments

Players and staff continue to be paid on time but the club is six months behind in making superannuation payments and owes significant amounts to several other bodies, including $140,000 to Northern NSW Football.

The playing group is understood to have lost total confidence in Stubbins, his tactics and his methods following Newcastle’s humiliating 7-0 loss to Adelaide United on Saturday.

Stubbins’ comments to a Sydney newspaper the following day — in particular, his remark that “certain players here on decent coin, who I won’t name … are giving no value for money to this club” — further inflamed the situation, and led to talk of possible strike action on Wednesday following a players-only meeting.

But Professional Footballers Association (PFA) chief executive Adam Vivian rejected suggestions they were prepared to turn up to the session but not train or take instruction from Stubbins, which would have been in breach of their contracts.

Wednesday’s training session was cancelled, apparently due to rain, meaning Jets players are yet to touch a ball since the Adelaide defeat.

It is understood Scottish Premiership side Dundee United are still interested in a takeover of the Jets, although chairman Stephen Thompson recently baulked at Tinkler’s $5 million asking price.

The Jets’ next outing is against Brisbane Roar at Hunter Stadium on February 6.

source:abc.net.au

Vindicated: Postecoglou can rightly feel he has silenced the doubters. Photo: Getty Images

Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou insisted in the run up to the Asian Cup that he should not be judged on the disappointing results of his team’s lead-up games but on their performance in the tournament itself.

The time for judgment has not yet come. That will be after the final on Saturday night, when definitive assessments of Australia’s achievements over the past few weeks can be made.

But as he prepares for the match with South Korea,  Postecoglou can rightly feel he has silenced  those small number of doubters who were starting to fret over the nation’s prospects as the tournament approached, ignoring his assurances that the warm-up matches should not be a measure of the Socceroos’ progress.

Postecoglou and his team have grown in confidence. Photo: Getty Images

The 2015 version of the national team has now, at the very least, matched the achievements of the 2011 collection who made the Asian  Cup final in Qatar under Postecoglou’s German predecessor Holger Osieck.

That side had bigger names – Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer and Lucas Neill, to name just three –  but came up short against Japan in the decider, losing in extra time.

If any extra motivation was needed for some of the survivors of that squad -Tim Cahill, in particular – then the memory of that heartbreaking last gasp loss should suffice.

Postecoglou has worked to develop the talent beyond Tim Cahill. Photo: Getty Images

But this does not look like an Australian side that needs the motivation of remembered defeats or disappointments to deliver on the biggest occasion most players have faced.

This is a team that is focused and determined, one that is embracing the realisation it has the chance to make a major statement, not just for individuals but for the game and the nation.

For the coach, that last point is important. For all of his image as a self-contained man confident in his own ideas and judgments, and for all the occasional prickliness, Postecoglou is, at heart, a football romantic and an evangelist for the game.

Socceroos Tomi Juric and Mathew Leckie scrap for the ball with United Arab Emirates players in the semi-final. Photo: Getty Images

He sees the bigger picture for a sport that has been a constant in  his life since his family arrived in Melbourne as migrants from Greece when he was a youngster and he is determined to play a role in its growth.

For Postecoglou football is more than a means of expression, a pastime or a way to make a living. It is also a path to social engagement.

His personal background ensured that football was the way in which he, like millions of migrants, began to integrate into an Australian society that wasn’t, back in the late 1960s, always welcoming.

He understands its potential as a uniting force for the country as it also feels its way towards a greater engagement in the Asian region. It is the one code where Australians can compete with Malaysians or Chinese, Qataris or Indonesians and be on the same wavelength.

They might sound like lofty claims and of course geopolitics is not the thing that Postecoglou talks about. But in a real way that sense of national identity and the role the Socceroos can play in reinforcing it lies at the root of the his passion and commitment to the game and his team.

Postecoglou is determined that the Socceroos should not just win, but win well. That they play in a fashion that reflects an Australian mindset favouring adventure and aggression over caution and timidity, a willingness to take the game on and make your own luck rather than rely on a negative, spoiling approach or others’ ill-fortune.

He set that out as a template three weeks ago in Melbourne, before Australia played its tournament opener against Kuwait, suggesting that not only was the Asian Cup about winning silverware but winning new fans for the sport in the teeth of some fierce competition in the summer marketplace.

“Australian sporting teams, we want them to be aggressive proactive and take the game to opponents. We have scored more goals than any other team, we have only conceded twice. We want to be successful, but we also want to grow the game in this country,” he said while reflecting on the game shortly after the Socceroos had booked their place in the final.

His great success in his short tenure – it is only really 15 months since he took over – is to create a squad of players where the parts are, to as great an extent as possible, interchangeable.

Yes, there are key men and a core starting line-up – Mat Ryan in goal, Trent Sainsbury and Matthew Spiranovic at the back, Mile Jedinak in midfield, Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse in attacking roles – but they are not indispensable.

Man of the moment Massimo Luongo has, in a short time, staked his claim to be a part of that core group with his industrious displays in midfield, as has Mathew Leckie, with his intensity and work rate in forward areas.

But there are a host of others in the squad who, as a result of the way in which Postecoglou used the lead-up games to create the right blend and build their self-belief, understand themselves as key parts of the whole, whether they start or not.

For example Alex Wilkinson, a regular during the World Cup, has shown no frustration at being left on the bench for most of this tournament and when called in to start against China because of Spiranovic’s suspension, fitted in seamlessly before making way again for the semi-final against the UAE.

James Troisi has been in and out of the starting line-up but always performed his role when needed. Veteran Mark Bresciano has mainly been a bench player this time round, while even Cahill, the great talisman of Australian teams, has been started on the bench and taken off early when games are done and dusted.

None has grizzled or complained, and Postecoglou has created an atmosphere where any number of players genuinely don’t know whether they will start or not.

The final against South Korea represents a fresh challenge as well as the opportunity for revenge following the group game loss in Brisbane. Far from being haunted by that defeat on a hot and humid night on an inadequate surface at Suncorp Stadium, Postecoglou sees it as a learning experience.

That night he rested Cahill, Kruse and Leckie – his first-choice front three – and experimented with Tomi Juric, Nathan Burns and Troisi. Still the Socceroos dominated much of the possession and, with an ounce of luck, would have had a share of the spoils.

Postecoglou and his team have grown in confidence since then and certainly don’t fear the Taeguk Warriors. South Korea have not conceded a goal yet in this tournament, but it might be a brave punter who would back them to keep that record intact at Stadium Australia on Saturday.

source:smh.com.au

Breakthrough: Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea victory in the first half of extra-time Photo: GETTY IMAGES

An extraordinary game needed something extra. On a compelling, contentious night at the Bridge, Branislav Ivanovic headed home in the first half of extra-time to send Chelsea to the Capital One Cup final at Wembley where they will face either Sheffield United or Tottenham Hotspur, who meet at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.

Με κεφαλιά του Μπράνισλαβ Ιβάνοβιτς στο 4ο λεπτό της παράτασης, η Τσέλσι νίκησε 1-0 τη Λίβερπουλ στο “Στάμφορντ Μπριτζ” και προκρίθηκε στον τελικό του λιγκ καπ.

Ο πρώτος αγώνες είχε ολοκληρωθεί ισόπαλος 1-1 κι έτσι ο ημιτελικός κρίθηκε στην παράταση, καθώς στη συγκεκριμένη διοργάνωση δεν παίζουν ρόλο τα εκτός έδρας γκολ.

Στον άλλον ημιτελικό, η Σέφιλντ Γιουνάιτεντ υποδέχεται την Τετάρτη την Τότεναμ, η οποία είχε επικρατήσει 1-0 στο πρώτο ματς.

Πηγή:in.gr

NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia remained on course for its maiden Asian Cup title after defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0 in a semifinal at Newcastle Stadium on a wet Tuesday.

Playing in Newcastle for the first time in almost 20 years, the Socceroos took a firm grip on the contest when defenders Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson punched in their first international goals inside the first 15 minutes.

“Our intention was we wanted to start really strong,” Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said. “We thought if we can get through that early period with not conceding and possibly with the bonus of scoring, then we could control the game after that.”

Australia march on to the final against South Korea at Sydney on Saturday, when the host hopes to go one step better than its 2011 final loss to Japan. South Korea   beat Australia 1-0 in the group stage 10 days ago.

“For us to be there is a fitting way to end a fantastic tournament,” Postecoglou said. “You can always dream if we win it, it will be one of the biggest games (in Australia) ever.”

UAE, which knocked out defending champion Japan 5-4 on penalties in the quarterfinals, couldn’t find a breakthrough to spark a fightback, despite another leading performance by star Omar Abdulrahman.

UAE faces Iraq in the third-place playoff at the same venue on Friday.

Australia and the UAE had never met in a competitive match, and their last two friendlies ended in scoreless draws, but the host needed only three minutes to make a dream start.

Massimo Luongo’s corner was met by Sainsbury, who took advantage of some slack marking to guide in his header.

Australia’s eagerness to dominate midfield in the first half was best epitomized by Robbie Kruse, who dispossessed Abdulrahman while missing one of his boots

Kruse created the next Australia chance when the winger’s dinked cross fell close to Tim Cahill. In the ensuing scramble, Mathew Leckie’s shot was blocked, but Davidson’s follow-up shot slid past goalkeeper Majed Naser to double their advantage in the 14th.

Davidson became Australia’s 10th different scorer of the tournament.

“We can score goals from anywhere,” Postecoglou said. “We knew, if we played our style of football and got players in the positions where we can score, including set-pieces.”

Ahmed Khalil, who was UAE’s most impressive player in the first half, fired a warning of UAE’s strength in attack when his shot from a low cross hit the outside of the post.

UAE started the second half better than the first, with Abdulrahman getting on to the ball increasingly more in threatening areas, but Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan was rarely tested.

“We tried our best to come back into the game but it was not easy,” UAE coach Mahdi Ali said.

“We tried our best to come back into the game but it was not easy,” UAE coach Mahdi Ali said.

“We played threestrong matches; Iran, then Japan, then Australia. Many players were tired, and we didn’t have enough power to come back into the game.”

Cahill, who was largely contained by the defense, was withdrawn for Tomi Juric just after the hour by Postecoglou, who may have had thoughts of keeping his talisman fresh for the final.

A concern for Postecoglou, though, will be the fitness of left back Ivan Franjic, who appeared to injure his groin late, when Australia had already used its three substitutions.

“We’ll see how he cools down,” Postecoglou said. “But it’s a final of a major tournament, and I reckon unless they chop his leg off he’ll put his hand up to be part of it.”

source:si.com

Υπόθεση 15 λεπτών ήταν ο ημιτελικός με τα UAE για την Αυστραλία που επικράτησε 2-0 και προκρίθηκε στον τελικό όπου θα αντιμετωπίσει τη Νότια Κορέα.

Μόλις στο 3′ ο Σέισμπερι έβαλε μπροστά τους «Socceroos» με κεφαλιά, ενώ έντεκα λεπτά αργότερα έγινε το 2-0 από τον Ντέιβιντσον με όμορφο αριστερό πλασέ.

Από εκείνο το σημείο κι έπειτα οι Αυστραλοί έκαναν… κουμάντο στον αγώνα και διατήρησαν το υπέρ τους αποτέλεσμα χωρίς να δυσκολευτούν καθόλου.

Ο ημιτελικός διεξήχθη στο Νιούκαστλ, και τα «καγκουρό» πήραν το «εισιτήριο» για τον τελικό του Σαββάτου (31/1), όπου θα αντιμετωπίσουν τη Νότια Κορέα στο Σίδνεϋ.

Από την πλευρά τους, τα Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα θα αναμετρηθούν την Παρασκευή (30/1) με το Ιράκ στον «μικρό τελικό» του Κυπέλλου Εθνών Ασίας, ο οποίος θα λάβει χώρα στο Νιούκαστλ.

Πηγή:οnsports.gr

Ready for the battle: Andy Murray takes on Nick Kyrgios for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals Photo: GETTY IMAGES

MURRAY BEATS KYRGIOS IN STRAIGHT SETS TO REACH SEMI-FINALS

The host nation will face South Korea in the tournament decider after overcoming Mahdi Ali’s men thanks to early goals from Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson

Australia booked their place in the Asian Cup final with a comfortable 2-0 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

The hosts struck twice inside the opening 15 minutes, with Trent Sainsbury heading home an early corner before Jason Davidson side-footed home his first goal for the Socceroos.

UAE tried to rally but the Aussies cruised to a win that sets up a mouth-watering showdown with South Korea in Sydney on Saturday.

source:goal.com

Tα πρώτα εισιτήρια για τα προημιτελικά του Κυπέλλου Ελλάδας κλείνουν σήμερα, Τρίτη, με τον ΟΦΗ να εχει σφραγίσει από νωρίς την πρόκριση απέναντι στον Πανθρακικό, ενώ ανοιχτή είναι στις αναμετρήσεις των ζευγαριών: Κεβαδειακός-Απόλλων Σμύρνης, Αστέρας Τρίπολης-Ηρακλής.

Το σημερινό πρόγραμμα:

ΟΦΗ – Πανθρακικός (4-0)
Γήπεδο «Θ. Βαρδινογιάννης»: (15:00 – OTE SPORT 2)
Διαιτητής: Λιαχούδης (Μακεδονίας). Βοηθοί: Τσολάκης (Αθηνών), Κοντιζάς (Πειραιά).

Λεβαδειακός – Απόλλων Σμύρνης (1-1)
Δημοτικό Στάδιο Λιβαδειάς:(17:15 – OTE SPORT 4)
Διαιτητής: Λαμπρόπουλος (Ηλείας). Βοηθοί: Αλεξέας (Μεσσηνίας), Καρατζίκας (Αθηνών).

Αστέρας Τρίπολης – Ηρακλής (1-1)
Γήπεδο «Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης» (19:30 – OTE SPORT 2): Διαιτητής: Θάνος (Γρεβενών). Βοηθοί: Απτόσογλου (Αθηνών), Χαρίσης (Γρεβενών)

Πηγή:in.gr