They might have broken the British transfer record with the astonishing £32.5 million (US$51 million) move for Robinho on Sept. 1, but Manchester City are quickly discovering that keeping goals out is just as important as providing the Brazilian forward with the chances to score.
Mark Hughes’ team face Tottenham Hotspur today, having shipped eleven goals in their last six games in all competitions and the high hopes which followed the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of the club two months ago have been replaced by an eager anticipation of the opening of the January transfer window.
With Hughes flying out to Abu Dhabi to meet the new owners on Tuesday, another negative result against Spurs will make for an uncomfortable trip for the City manager, whose team has lost four of their last eight games. The inconsistency of the team has left City languishing in mid-table ahead of the Spurs visit and City captain Richard Dunne admits that the players must quickly address the defensive frailties.
PHOTO: AFP
“At the moment, we’re a side who are going to entertain people, but probably not get many results if we keep defending as we are,” Dunne said. “Over the last few years we’ve not conceded many, but then we’ve not really scored many goals. Now we’re starting to score a lot, but we’re conceding too many. I think it takes time to find a balance and keep an even keel where people are doing both jobs. Over the next few games we’ll have to tighten up at the back and make ourselves difficult to beat. It is the eleven of us who have to defend as a team, it is not just down to the goalkeeper and the back four.”
Spurs are unbeaten under new manager Harry Redknapp since his arrival as the replacement for sacked boss Juande Ramos two weeks ago and Dunne admits that the change at the top has made Spurs a much tougher proposition.
“Spurs had a poor start, but I think now with the change in manager and a new face around the dressing room, there has been a whole attitude change,” Dunne said. “They now look like a side who are going to keep pushing up the table. They’re looking really good at the moment and it’ll make it a very difficult game for us.”
The goalscoring form of Darren Bent, who now has nine goals this season following his UEFA Cup hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in midweek, has been key to Tottenham’s revival and manager Redknapp admits he has been impressed by the former England striker.
“It’s a terrific return getting nine goals and hopefully he can keep going,” Redknapp said. “Darren has done well. This is the first time I’ve worked with him, he has a good attitude and works hard at his game. I think we have three strikers who can do the job. There’s competition for places up front. Darren and Roman [Pavlyuchenko] are both scoring goals and Fraizer Campbell has shown terrific enthusiasm when he has been involved.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two