football news round up
Jonas Gutierrez plays first game for Newcastle Under-21s since beating testicular cancer
Gutierrez is back!
Jonas Gutierrez made his return to football after beating testicular cancer in November.
The Argentine, 31, captained Newcastle's Under-21s in a win against West Ham on Monday afternoon. Gutierrez starred for Peter Beardsley's side at Whitley Park, as Newcastle ran out 4-1 winners.
Gutierrez (above, picture via Newcastle United) returned to the North-east earlier this month having successfully undergone chemotheraphy in Argentina.
Gutierrez last played for Newcastle more than a year ago, having been on loan at Norwich in the second half of last season. The midfielder learned of his illness after a challenge by Bacary Sagna, then of Arsenal, left him in pain. say it after me, ahhhhh
Chatter from the sidelines
- Martin Skrtel reveals he had to have his head stapled after scoring Liverpool equaliser against Arsenal ouch
- Ched Evans: Hartlepool strongly deny reports they plan to sign convicted rapist still looking for a club. It might be time to try another profession?
- Fabregas: Barca this season is Messi and ten men iawtc
- Karl Oyston: I 'unreservedly apologise for any offence or distress caused by texts' to Blackpool fans oh Lord, Blackpool. A bit of context for those who came late: when Blackpool got into the Championship league, they got £30 million from the FA to invest in the club because of promotion, and that's to help with finances, reinvestment, etc (or thereabouts, correct me if the figures are wrong). They've invested the money in their business (not the club). They have let players go, not invested in the club, totally carpetbagging it. The supporters are trying to buy the club off him, and the Oystons aren't playing, the club is in freefall and FA can't intervene because of reasons (or can they? It's still a grey area). A supporter got his phone number, texted him, and Oyston called the supporter a retard, said that he was looking to strip the club so that it would go down to Conference level among other things. Teh drama!
- Borussia Dortmund forward Dong-Won Ji has left the club with immediate effect and joined Bundesliga rivals FC Augsburg. All the best, Ji! from Dortmund's twitter account
- FIFA official says England had best bid for 2018 World Cup i.e. 'best bid' as in- least amount of risk, had the infrastructure, adequate stadia, and Qatar was the one that carried most risk. It's interesting how it settled in the end
- Seattle Sounders' DeAndre Yedlin gets UK work permit, paving way for January move to Tottenham so didn't get the Latvian passport, then?All snark aside, Pochettino will be good for him, I think. People aren't convinced re: his talent, MLS followers, what's your bead on this guy? I have a soft spot for Spurs I want them to do well.
- LOST IN TRANSIT: FREDDY ADU AGAIN WITHOUT A CLUB AS FK JAGODINA RELEASE HIM Adu fell off big time
- Manchester United consider letting Adnan Januzaj leave on loan in January
go to La Real - Gary Neville: Liverpool and Arsenal prove that the PL is a fading force in Europe one match between two under performing sides doesn't make a league, but what do I know?
- Gary Neville: Jose Mourinho's recruitment policy is the reason Chelsea are streets ahead of their Premier League rivals that I can agree with. Mourinho sells early, buys early. By the time the transfer windows come around, you just need a medical, and his business is done and dusted. No one gives Mourinho his due when it comes to how he gets his teams together
- Milan open talks with Atlético Madrid over Fernando Torres return This is happening? For serious?
- José Mourinho: Chelsea fringe players are frustrated but also professional Christmas fixtures, lads. You'll play soon enough
- San Lorenzo captain lashes out at Real "wimps" jajajaja. I do agree with the play acting by Real Madrid, but honestly, San Lorenzo never showed up for that match at all. Okay, their goalie did.
- "We want Carlo Ancelotti to be Real Madrid's Ferguson" can Ancelotti live that long?
- Arsenal first EPL team to reach 5 million followers on twitterwoot woot
Club standings as of December 23 2015. Damn it, Stoke. You had ONE job. But Stoke played poorly - just feed the ball to Bojan, then protect him!- Jose Mourinho has insisted that while Frank Lampard is the part of a glorious history of the club, Cesc Fabregas is the future.
- Pep Guardiola: "We might lose every game." definition of humblebrag right here
- As much as I smh at Guardiola, his tactics are a thing of beauty. I could watch/read about them all dayseriously. A thing of beauty
Social Media
Arsenal becomes the first club in the PL to hit 5 million followers. Still aways behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Another Arsenal party!
This time, in some suit and tie ish. Ozil, Poldi, Sanchez and co. I wonder how Sanchez's english is coming on
Ozil and Poldi. Giroud - I refuse to post his haircut here
de Gea and his novia. Eudurne
Pictures
Oscar and Phillipe Louis before the match
Fabregas after his goal. Sorry about the close up :S
Hazard was at the end of some heavy challenges with Stoke
After the second goal (much hard work by Chelsea!) Jose Mourinho gives Schurrle a hug
Jose Mourinho has always spoken well of Bojan, wished him all the best, etc. After the match, he broke away from his team to speak with Bojan
Football is a funny old sport. Considering that Bojan was at Barca when Mourinho had his time with Real Madrid, and now they're plying their trade in the PL, and catching up
Muniesa and Costa getting to know each other
Throwback gif when Toure and Bojan K had their first match in the season. Nice to see that footballers can be warm towards each other after a hard fought game
Juventus played last night, I hear
Against Napoli
Napoli won, because penalty shootouts are the devil's work
Rafa trying to kill you with his mind. NGL, I've always had high regard for him. Hope Napoli treats you well, Rafa! Even after the win though, his place at Napoli is in doubt
OP: guess whose internet came back? Calloo callay, glorious day. Any corrections, broken links, etc. please post in comments (as usual). I have some knitting to finish today, and I'm down to the wire so will check back when I have time. Had to rip the mittens back TWICE because the pattern is strangely written (one of those American ones where they give you too much instruction! I'm accustomed to the the sparse German ones, where they give you a diagram and tell you to naff off).