VIDEO GAMES CANT MATCH MY GOALS SAYS ZLATAN

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed the quality of two of his most spectacular goals in 2013 and has joked that you do not even see strikes like that in video games.

The 32-year-old made the headlines earlier this season with an impressive overhead kick in the international friendly between Sweden and England, while also earning plaudits for his acrobatic strike in the Ligue 1 game against Bastia.

"I score a lot of goals that are hard to replicate. These are the kinds of goals that lift people's spirits," the Sweden international told Le 10 Sport.

"With PSG, I scored an acrobatic back-heel recently and you don't see things like that every week. The same goes for the bicycle kick from 40 yards I scored against England.

"But believe me, when I score goals like this, it feels good. You usually score goals like that in video games and you could compare the feeling of scoring a goal like that in real life to doing so in a video game.

MESSY EPL SHOT STOPPERS

Goal keepers have performed poorly this season with only a select few putting in good performances week in- week out. Joe Hart has cost Man City vital points this season. So we want to know if Pellegrini was right to drop Hart?

AVB LIVING A CHARMED LIFE AT WHITE HART LANE

It is an open secret that AVB is under scrutiny by his employers and defeat to Manchester United at home on Sunday might just be enough to send the young manager out of White Hart Lane

LIONEL MESSI OFF TO ARGENTINA

King Messi jets off to Buenos Aires to complete the final phase of his rehab. Cr7 beware!!!

SERGIO RAMOS SETS NEW RECORD

Sergio Ramos was sent off for the 17th time in a Real Madrid shirt. It is a new record. A fiery tempered player who has been a bit wild over the years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN GIGGS

Manchester United elder statesman and legend Ryan Giggs turns 40 years today.
This is what other celebs had to say about Giggsy

PHIL TAYLOR

World darts champion

It’s like any sport when you are at the top end, the older you get the harder you have to work at it. When you get older your brain does a lot of legwork for you. As long as he can still put in a killer ball they’ll continue to play him.

WILLIE CARSON

Ex-champion jockey

I played until my forties but had to go down the football ladder – for him not to have been pushed aside is remarkable. When he was young, he was like me, running past people, but he became a better player by slowing down.

CHRIS WADDLE

Former England winger

Any player who is a constant in the debate over who is the greatest United player of all time has enjoyed a phenomenal career. Giggs is undoubtedly one of that elite group.

PAUL McGINLEY

Europe Ryder Cup captain.

You have to have maximum respect for Ryan Giggs. I am managing in the Premier League at 50 and Ryan is one of the very few players still playing who I competed against. As a right-back facing a left-winger, we had some great tussles.

DEFOE AGREES TORONTO MOVE

Jermain Defoe has agreed a £90,000-a-week deal to join MLS side Toronto in January.
The Tottenham striker, who will sign a four-year contract, has been restricted to featuring in the Europa League this season, playing second fiddle to Roberto Soldado in the Premier League.
And the 31-year-old will link up with former team-mate Ryan Nelsen who is in charge of the Canadian side after they made a successful bid of £6million.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2514233/Jermain-Defoe-quit-Tottenham-sign-Toronto.html#ixzz2lrSBuQr0
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WENGER RULES OUT SIGNING PIRES OR HENRY

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of re-signing club legends Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.

The pair have been training with Arsenal recently and rumours have linked Henry with a second return to the club on loan from New York Red Bulls due to Wenger's lack of strikers.

Neither Arsenal's all-time scorer Henry or Pires will be playing any serious part at the club going forward, though, with Wenger insisting the duo are merely training to keep fit.

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS XABI ALONSO

Juuvi soccer wishes Xabi Alonso a happy 32nd birthday. He is definitely one of the best midfielders in the game

PELLEGRINI COY ON HART RETURN

Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini does not know whether goalkeeper Joe Hart will be recalled for Sunday's visit of Tottenham.

Hart has lost his place in recent weeks to Romania international Costel Pantilimon following a number of high-profile errors.

While Pellegrini was pleased to see Hart feature, and impress, in England's friendly defeat to Germany on Tuesday, he refused to confirm whether he would earn his place back in the City side.

EPL WEEK 12 FIXTURES

Saturday 23rd November 2013

Everton v Liverpool 12:45

Arsenal v Southampton 15:00

Fulham v Swansea 15:00

Hull v Crystal Palace 15:00

Newcastle v Norwich 15:00

Stoke v Sunderland 15:00

West Ham v Chelsea 17:30

Sunday 24th November 2013

Man City v Tottenham 13:30

West Brom v Aston Villa 20:00

FIFA EXTEND BALLON D'OR VOTING DEADLINE

FIFA have opted to extend the voting period for the Ballon d'Or awards following a low number of responses.

The original deadline passed on Friday, but voters now have until November 29 to make their choice, with the prize to be presented in Zurich on January 13.

As part of FIFA's decision, those who have already voted are able to change their mind.

"Due to a low number of responses from coaches and captains of the national teams as well as media representatives and in order to ensure a representative number of votes for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, the FIFA's Women's Player of the Year, the FIFA Coach of the Year and the FIFA's Women's Coach of the Year FIFA and France Football extended the deadline for the voting until 29 November 2013," said a FIFA spokesperson.

"Member Associations and media representatives who had been invited to vote on the above mentioned awards have been informed accordingly.

"Votes which had already been submitted can be changed until 29 November."

BEN ARFA VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK

Hatem Ben Arfa is happy to trust Alan Pardew's judgement on which position he should play as he is desperate for a Newcastle United recall.

The France international has been deployed as a winger and a forward for Newcastle this season, but has watched the last two games, wins over Chelsea and Tottenham, from the bench as an unused substitute.

Ahead of Saturday's home clash with Norwich City, Ben Arfa has spoken of his willingness to continue as a versatility player for Pardew.

He told The Shields Gazette: "I'll play anywhere on the pitch if the gaffer thinks it's best for the team.

"I'll give 100 per cent anywhere he puts me.

CR7 FIRES PORTUGAL TO BRAZIL

Despite Zlatan Ibramovich grabbing a brace, Cr7 scored a hat-trick. Stuff of legends

ZLATAN OR CR7

One of these weapons of mass destructions won't be in Brazil next summer. Send in your predictions

BALOTELLI NOW A GOOD LAD?

Super Eagles of Nigeria defenders kicked, pulled and scratched super Mario last night. Surprisingly he remained calm. Guess their ploy failed. Well done Mario!!!

DORTMUND ARE BAYERN BIGGEST THREAT - GUNDOGAN

Ilkay Gundogan believes Borussia Dortmund are the only side who can challenge Bayern Munich's recent dominance.

Last season's treble winners travel to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, with Jurgen Klopp's men having already beaten Bayern in July's DFL Super Cup.

Gundogan, who is currently sidelined with a back problem, claims that 4-2 victory, coupled with Dortmund's performance in their 2-1 UEFA Champions League final defeat to Bayern in May, shows they have the ability to hurt the European and German champions.

WILSHERE HAILS ARSENAL LEADERSHIP

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has hailed the leadership qualities among the club's playing squad.

The Premier League leaders top the table by two points, with Wilshere starting seven of their 11 top-flight matches this term, scoring twice.

Wilshere believes the number of leaders available to manager Arsene Wenger lends their title bid huge strength.

NO RUPTURED LIGAMENT FOR ERIKSEN

Tottenham have moved to quell fears Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen ruptured ankle ligaments on international duty.

Eriksen hobbled off in the first half of Denmark's 2-1 friendly win over Norway on Friday.

There were concerns that Eriksen - who suffered the injury after being on the receiving end of a late Vegard Forren tackle - could miss up to three months, but scans conducted on Tuesday proved positive for Tottenham.

SCOLARI CAN WIN WORLD CUP - CARLOS

Former Brazil defender Roberto Carlos has backed national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to deliver the FIFA World Cup next year.

The 40-year-old, who earned 125 caps for his country, played 17 times at World Cups, winning the competition once, in 2002.

Carlos feels Scolari is the right man to lead Brazil into the tournament and claims they have the right approach to taste success.

"I think we made the right choice bringing back Scolari," he told FIFA.com.

COURTOIS SHOULD LEAVE CHELSEA - ALDERWEIRELD

Toby Alderweireld believes team-mate Thibaut Courtois should leave Chelsea if he is to become the world's best goalkeeper.

The pair represent both Belgium and Atletico Madrid, with Courtois currently on loan at the Vicente Calderon Stadium from the Premier League side.

Courtois is in his third campaign with the Spanish outfit as Petr Cech continues to be Chelsea's number one.

And Alderweireld has urged Courtois to leave Stamford Bridge permanently in order to fulfil his potential.

I CAN PLAY ANYWHERE - GOUFFRAN

Yoan Gouffran has told Alan Pardew he is prepared to play any role for Newcastle United to ensure they maintain their winning run.

Newcastle recorded back-to-back victories before the international break, with the Frenchman having to break away from his preferred central attacking role.

Manager Pardew used the 27-year-old in wide positions against Tottenham and Chelsea, with Shola Ameobi playing through the middle.

REUS HAS RELEASE CLAUSE

Borussia Dortmund have acknowledged star forward Marco Reus does have a release clause in his contract.

The Germany international made the switch to Jurgen Klopp's outfit on a five-year deal in July 2012, after the club agreed a fee reported to be in the region of €17.1 million with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Bleacher Report World Football Thibaut Courtois Reportedly Delays Chelsea Talks

Thibaut Courtois will not entertain the idea of signing a new Chelsea contract until after the World Cup, according to reports.

The Belgian stopper—who is currently playing through his third loan season with Atletico Madrid—will give Jose Mourinho until July to decide whether he is ready to oust Petr Cech as Chelsea No. 1, providing Barcelona with fuel to capitalise on their interest, per Sky Sports.