By Alan Duffy

In the past 12 months or so, the global nature of football has become all the more apparent, as the UAE, India and China have suddenly become legitimate destinations for some of the game’s bigger (and mostly older) stars.

With Europe hit badly by the economic downturn, the money has moved east, and, not surprisingly, footballers are starting to follow the cash. England man Matthew Upson is the latest Premier League player to have his head turned east, with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua doing their best to tempt the out-of-favour defender away from England.

Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has already made the move to Shanghai, with his ex-teammate Didier Drogba also reported to be a target of the club.

Anelka is still the biggest name to currently be playing his trade in China, but with the likes of Hernan Crespo joining the new Indian Premier League, Brazilian international Grafite playing in the UAE and nouveau riche Russian clubs such as Anzhi Makhachkala attracting the likes of Samuel Eto’o, the footballing landscape is definitely starting to change.

As for Upson, at 32-years-of-age, a move to China is certainly an interesting (and potenitally lucrative) adventure.

                          

Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland – Premier League – 4th February 2012

Martin O’Neill’s Black Cats continued their ascent of the table on Saturday against Stoke, although the very harsh sending-off of Robert Huth on half-time was undeniably a game-changing moment.

Under O’Neill’s leadership, Sunderland have blossomed and came to the Britannia Stadium looking to make it five wins out of their last six league fixtures. However, the Arctic conditions made for a rather messy first half of football. Just before the break, Roberth Huth slid in on David Meyler, only to miss the ball completely. Despite keeping his feet low and showing the minimum of malice in the challenge, card-happy ref Martin Atkinson sent off the big German. Not surprisingly, Tony Pulis was a less-than-happy man.

After the break, the Black Cats piled on the pressure,  and eventually the goal came. The ever-impressive Stephane Sessegnon fed in-form winger James McLean, and the Irishman shrugged off the challenge of Andy Wilkinson before firing home.

Stoke tried to get back into the game, with both Ricardo Fuller and Peter Crouch going close. Ultimately, however, it would be the Black Cats who would secure all three points, points which move them up to eighth in the table. Stoke, on the other hand, were left to rue that dodgy refereeing decision.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Manchester United 2-0 Stoke City – Premier League – 31st January 2011

A penalty kick either side of half-time was enough to give an under-par United side a vital win at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, a victory that sees them go level with title rivals City at the top of the table.

With 11 first-teamers out of action, Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to start with rookie Ben Amos in goal, while Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez, all too often left on the sidelines, started up front.

United struggled to get going in the first-half but were awarded a spot-kick when Jermaine Pennat fouled Park Ji-Sung in the box. The Little Carrot, or whatever they call Hernandez, fired home from the spot and it was a similar scenario on 53 minutes, when Berbatov, the Big Beetroot, netted the penalty after Antonio Valencia was fouled by Jonathan Walters.

The Potters provided little in the way of a goal threat themselves and the game ambled towards its predictable conclusion. Not a vintage performance by United by any means, but one which sees them up the pressure on City.

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Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

Just a quickie to keep you abreast of the fact that Peter Crouch has reportedly escaped a three-game game ban and, indeed, will be allowed to get away scot free for his sneak-attack ‘finger of doom’ eye-poke assault on West Brom centre-back Jonas Olsson’s corneas at the Britannia at the weekend – a crime that would almost certainly land you with a six-match ban at the very least in a game as uncivilised as rugby.

The gouge was missed by referee Anthony Taylor but, according to Sky Sports, an FA disciplinary committee have spent today examining video evidence (presumably including the damning footage above) and have apparently come to the conclusion that Crouch will not face any retrospective charges – based solely on the fact that Taylor told the FA that he would not have issued a red card had he seen the incident at the time.

Astounding.

                          

By Alan Duffy

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City – Premier League – 14th January 2012

Another Anfield fixture, another draw. Liverpool made it seven draws out of 11 home league games this season after failing to penetrate a hard-working Stoke backline on Saturday.

Looking at the teamsheets before the game, with Kenny Dalglish’s deciding to start with five at the back and only one striker, a goalless draw was arguably the most likely outcome, particularly when the out of form Dirk Kuyt was the lone attacker in the Reds’ line-up.

Tony Pulis’ oft-derided Stoke side put on another well-drilled performance, limiting the Reds to only a few decent goal-scoring chances.

Just before the hour-mark, Dalglish threw Andy Carroll into the action, but the targetman once again failed to find the net, with most of his energies focused on a succession of desperate penalty claims.

Liverpool stay sixth, one point behind Arsenal (who have played a game less), while the Potters now find themselves n eighth, just five points behind none other than the Reds themselves.

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Highights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Stoke City – Premier League – 17th December 2011

You have to hand it to Tony Pulis, you really do. For all the (often justified) criticism of his team’s tactics and style of play, Stoke continue to ground out decent results season after season, never looking like getting themselves embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

While their impressive European exploits have often taken their toll on the squad, the Potters returned from their (meaningless ) defeat at the hands of Besiktas in midweek to secure yet another Premier League win on Saturday afternoon at Molineux.

Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt had put the home side a goal up on 17 minutes after Jonathan Woodgate pulled down Matt Jarvis in the box. Hunt converted the penalty kick while soon after the labouring Woodgate was hauled off by an obviously unimpressed Pulis.

Wolves looked comfortable until just before the hour mark, when Kevin Doyle deflected a Robert Huth free-kick into his own net. Then, with 20 minutes left, Peter Crouch bagged the winner, beating Wolves’ ‘keeper Wayne Hennessey from close-range after good work from Matthew Etherington.

The Potters climb to eighth in the table while Wolves now hover just two points above the drop-zone.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

It may well be the preserve of Thursday nights and Channel Five, but the Europa League, now ready for the knock-out stages is still peppered with some of Europe’s big guns. Probably the biggest in the competition, Manchester United, will face another all-time European great, Ajax, in the last 32, a tie which has more than a hint of glamour. The Dutch side are now only a shadow of their former all-conquering selves however, and United should stroll home in this one. Although we did say that about Basel, didn’t we?

Manchester City face another side with bags of European experience, the current holders of the competition, Porto, who will push the Citizens all the way.  Stoke City are no doubt the happiest of the three English clubs to still be in the competition, and their impressive run in the tournament has been rewarded with a game against Valencia, another side with plenty of Euro experience.

Here’s the draw for the last 32 ... (Lazio v Atletico Madrid looks like it could be a cracker)

FC Porto v Man City

Ajax v Man Utd

Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao

SV Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv

Stoke City v Valencia

Rubin Kazan v Olympiakos

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht

Lazio v Atletico Madrid

Steaua Bucharest v FC Twente

Plzen v FC Schalke

Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege

SC Braga v Besiktas

Udinese v PAOK

Trabzonspor v PSV

Hannover v Club Brugge

Legia Warsaw v Sporting

The draw for the last 16 was also made on Friday, which would see Man City face either Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon,  Stoke meet either Trabzonspor or PSV Eindhoven and Man United face Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao. All of which are potentially winnable ties for the Premier League sides.

Here’s the draw…

SV Salzburg/Metalist v Rubin K/Olympiakos

Legia W/Sporting v Porto/Man City

Steaua/Twente v Plzen/Schalke

Wisla K/Standard L v Hannover/Club Brugge

Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV

Az Alkmaar/Andrelecht v Udinese/PAOK

Lazio/Atletico M v SC Braga/Besiktas

Ajax/Man Utd v Lokomotiv M/Athletic B

                          

By Chris Wright

Unbeaten going into the game, ten-man Stoke stumbled to defeat in Turkey in their final Group E game, though it mattered little with them having already booked their place in the knockout phase courtesy of a draw against Dinamo Kiev last time out. The 3-1 scoreline saw Besiktas top the final group standings, with Stoke dropping down into second place right at the gong.

Ricardo Fuller put the Potters one up with a heavily deflected strike, only for Manuel Fernandes to equalise from the spot after Matthew Upson saw red for clattering through Hugo Almeida, before goals from Mustafa Pektemek and Edu completed the comeback for the Turkish side.

Interestingly, Tony Pulis has refused to report Besiktas to UEFA despite several of his players (notably chief corner-taker Jermaine Pennant) getting pelted with missiles from the crowd throughout the game, telling the press that ‘they won’t complain because they’re Stoke and that’s not what Stoke do’.

Oh! I almost forgot. Wilson Palacios also took the worst corner in the history of recorded time.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA