Mamelodi Sundowns players returned to training on Monday afternoon at Chloorkop under the watchful eye of head coach Henri Michel.
Michel returned to training with fitness trainer Florent Motta while assistant coach Samir Boujarari is expected in the country on Tuesday.
The players went through their paces as they started preparations for the eagerly awaited PSL clash against Kaizer Chiefs where the Brazilians have to win to refresh their championship aspirations.
Sundowns ended the year on a low note after losing to Ajax Cape Town away from home in the last game of the year and a good start to 2009 will do a lot of good to the spirit in the camp.
The second round promises to be grueling with tricky visits to the likes of Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates, AmaZulu and Moroka Swallows lying in the horizon for Michel and his boys.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Martin O'Neill comments on Aston Villa sneaking in against Gillingham
Martin O'Neill admitted his team got the tough test he expected in the third round FA Cup tie with Gillingham.
Aston Villa snuck in with two goals from birthday boy James Milner lifting his side to a scrappy 1-2 victory...
O'Neill paid tribute to Mark Stimson's League Two side as they gave Villa a real scare during 90 rip-roaring minutes.
O'Neill told AVTV: "It was a really difficult cup-tie. I thought it was going to be tough before kick-off and so it proved.
"If the players hadn't thought they were going to be in a real cup-tie, they knew they were after 10 minutes. It was just an exceptionally difficult game and I am delighted to get through to the next round.
"James opened the scoring for us and I thought that first goal was fantastic. It gave us a lift and kept us going but then they equalised and it was all hands to the pump for us after that.
"Gillingham threw everything at us and the home crowd got right behind their team. They were spirited - so all credit to them.
"We got the winner but we certainly never felt comfortable.
"I am happy to have won and I am pleased for our travelling fans because it was cold out there. I hope the result heats them up as they travel home."
Aston Villa snuck in with two goals from birthday boy James Milner lifting his side to a scrappy 1-2 victory...
O'Neill paid tribute to Mark Stimson's League Two side as they gave Villa a real scare during 90 rip-roaring minutes.
O'Neill told AVTV: "It was a really difficult cup-tie. I thought it was going to be tough before kick-off and so it proved.
"If the players hadn't thought they were going to be in a real cup-tie, they knew they were after 10 minutes. It was just an exceptionally difficult game and I am delighted to get through to the next round.
"James opened the scoring for us and I thought that first goal was fantastic. It gave us a lift and kept us going but then they equalised and it was all hands to the pump for us after that.
"Gillingham threw everything at us and the home crowd got right behind their team. They were spirited - so all credit to them.
"We got the winner but we certainly never felt comfortable.
"I am happy to have won and I am pleased for our travelling fans because it was cold out there. I hope the result heats them up as they travel home."
Friday, January 2, 2009
Open transfer window
Clubs appear to be quite circumspect during this transfer window period but here are a couple of the trades that have caught the eye so far:
Wayne Bridge moving from Chelsea to Manchester City
Zoran Tosic from Partizan Belgrade to Manchester United
Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade to Manchester United
Will update this as the new deals are announced....
Wayne Bridge moving from Chelsea to Manchester City
Zoran Tosic from Partizan Belgrade to Manchester United
Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade to Manchester United
Will update this as the new deals are announced....
FA Cup predictions
From the Sports Trader blog:
It's a new year and punters will be raiding their cookie jar as the next round of the FA Cup arrives.
A lot of fixtures to get through so we've decided to highlight some of the big games and the ones we expect might prove to be an upset...
Going to raise the hackles of the United and Liverpool fans but we're expecting United to get shocked by Southampton and Preston to hold Liverpool to a draw....
Saturday fixtures:
Portsmouth v Bristol City
Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham
Birmingham v Wolverhampton
West Ham United v Barnsley
Middlesbrough v Barrow
Hull City v Newcastle United
Hartlepool v Stoke
Chelsea v Southend
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Cardiff v Reading
Ipswich v Chesterfield
Charlton v Norwich
West Brom Albion v Peterborough
Torquay v Blackpool
Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
Milwall v Carlisle
Histon v Swansea
Forest Green v Derby
QPR v Burnley
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Plymouth
Kettering v Eastwood Town
Macclesfield v Everton
Watford v Scunthorpe
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
Coventry v Kidderminster
Preston v Liverpool
The games we expect to prove upsets are:
- Preston to hold Liverpool to a draw
- Newcastle to beat Hull
- Bristol City to beat Portsmouth
- Crystal Palace and Leicster to draw
The rest look pretty predictable.
Sunday 04 January
Gillingham v Aston Villa
Southampton v Manchester United
Villa to win and Southampton to surprise Manchester United.
Monday 05 January
Blyth Spartans v Blackburn Rovers
Win for Blackburn Rovers....
Interesting times ahead.
It's a new year and punters will be raiding their cookie jar as the next round of the FA Cup arrives.
A lot of fixtures to get through so we've decided to highlight some of the big games and the ones we expect might prove to be an upset...
Going to raise the hackles of the United and Liverpool fans but we're expecting United to get shocked by Southampton and Preston to hold Liverpool to a draw....
Saturday fixtures:
Portsmouth v Bristol City
Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham
Birmingham v Wolverhampton
West Ham United v Barnsley
Middlesbrough v Barrow
Hull City v Newcastle United
Hartlepool v Stoke
Chelsea v Southend
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Cardiff v Reading
Ipswich v Chesterfield
Charlton v Norwich
West Brom Albion v Peterborough
Torquay v Blackpool
Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
Milwall v Carlisle
Histon v Swansea
Forest Green v Derby
QPR v Burnley
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Plymouth
Kettering v Eastwood Town
Macclesfield v Everton
Watford v Scunthorpe
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
Coventry v Kidderminster
Preston v Liverpool
The games we expect to prove upsets are:
- Preston to hold Liverpool to a draw
- Newcastle to beat Hull
- Bristol City to beat Portsmouth
- Crystal Palace and Leicster to draw
The rest look pretty predictable.
Sunday 04 January
Gillingham v Aston Villa
Southampton v Manchester United
Villa to win and Southampton to surprise Manchester United.
Monday 05 January
Blyth Spartans v Blackburn Rovers
Win for Blackburn Rovers....
Interesting times ahead.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Transfer window
The transfer window in the English premiership has opened and its going to be intriguing to see how the world financial crisis affects trades.
Many club including Chelsea and West Ham have been told to sell before buying players and with budgets being cut across the spectrum, I reckon it's going to be an interesting period for all concerned...
Many club including Chelsea and West Ham have been told to sell before buying players and with budgets being cut across the spectrum, I reckon it's going to be an interesting period for all concerned...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Caps on footballer salaries
What do you make of the concept of salary caps on footballer salaries? Let's be honest, the industry has enjoyed massive cash injections as American, Asian and Russian firms have moved into the game.
But guys commanding one hundred thousand pounds a week is some serious money.
There have been moves a foot to see player salaries capped - and it might not be the worst thing for the development of some of the minor clubs.
Having said that - with many of the big name sponsors bailing and clubs being told to tighten their belts, maybe the financial crisis will create a 'cap' to salaries anyway....?
But guys commanding one hundred thousand pounds a week is some serious money.
There have been moves a foot to see player salaries capped - and it might not be the worst thing for the development of some of the minor clubs.
Having said that - with many of the big name sponsors bailing and clubs being told to tighten their belts, maybe the financial crisis will create a 'cap' to salaries anyway....?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Sports Trader premiership picks - 6 - 8 December 2008
The Premiership is proving to be an intriguing race this year and no one side is running off with it early in the season.
Table wise - here is the Top 6
1. Liverpool - 34
2. Chelsea - 33
3. Man Utd - 28 (1 game in hand over the others)
4. Arsenal - 26
5. Aston Villa - 25
6. Hull - 23
(Everton & Portsmouth are on 22 points each in 7th and 8th)
Saturday fixture
Fulham v Man City - Man City win
Bolton v Chelsea - Chelsea win
Arsenal v Wigan - Arsenal win
Blackburn v Liverpool - Liverpool win
Hull v Middlesbrough - Draw
Newcastle v Stoke - Draw
Man Utd v Sunderland - Man Utd win
No real bogey fixtures that I can see this week, but a lot will depend on which Arsenal team decides to show up at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastles very average form looks likely to continue against Stoke.
More conservative punters might want to go with a draw in the Fulham / Man City fixture.
Sunday Fixtures
West Brom v Portsmouth - Portsmouth win
Everton v Aston Villa - Draw
Monday fixture
West Ham v Tottenham - Draw
Tottenham can't seem to get any real momentum so I'm going to stick with draw here.
Happy hunting....
Table wise - here is the Top 6
1. Liverpool - 34
2. Chelsea - 33
3. Man Utd - 28 (1 game in hand over the others)
4. Arsenal - 26
5. Aston Villa - 25
6. Hull - 23
(Everton & Portsmouth are on 22 points each in 7th and 8th)
Saturday fixture
Fulham v Man City - Man City win
Bolton v Chelsea - Chelsea win
Arsenal v Wigan - Arsenal win
Blackburn v Liverpool - Liverpool win
Hull v Middlesbrough - Draw
Newcastle v Stoke - Draw
Man Utd v Sunderland - Man Utd win
No real bogey fixtures that I can see this week, but a lot will depend on which Arsenal team decides to show up at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastles very average form looks likely to continue against Stoke.
More conservative punters might want to go with a draw in the Fulham / Man City fixture.
Sunday Fixtures
West Brom v Portsmouth - Portsmouth win
Everton v Aston Villa - Draw
Monday fixture
West Ham v Tottenham - Draw
Tottenham can't seem to get any real momentum so I'm going to stick with draw here.
Happy hunting....
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