Tevez expects title challenge

Person on strike Carlos Tevez believes Manchester City are contenders for the Barclays Premier League title this period.

In spite of having so far unsuccessful to qualify for the Champions League, final fifth in May, the Argentina international thinks City are now in a position to take a giant leap forward. Manager Roberto Mancini has spender £75million in the squad this summer, bringing in Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, and is still pursuing Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

"Our aim should be to get better bit by bit, other than we know we must fight for the title," said Tevez who wait for this season's championship battle to be a five-way race between the recognized 'big four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool plus City.

"I can say for convinced that the winner will be one of these teams," he added in ZOO journal.

"The similar teams will be there and even though we have bring in new players, other clubs will match us.

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Gerrard - I'd boo England

Team leader Steven Gerrard admits England deserve to be jeered by faction during Wednesday's friendly in opposition to Hungary - and he would join in if he was in the stands at Wembley.

England are predictable to be given a rough time by fans following their disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa this summer.

Asked if he would boo the national team at Tuesday's press meeting, Gerrard said: "I almost certainly would."

He added: "I'm expectant a mixed reaction. I'm sure there'll be boos but we have to take it on the chin. We merit it, we let them down.

"Hopefully, with time, we can show them we are a good team and that we're frantic to make them happy."

Coach Fabio Capello conventional a lot of criticism for his man-management and tactics throughout the World Cup but the Football Association chose to stick with the Italian, and Gerrard has no doubt it was the right conclusion.

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West Midlands football season kicks off on BBC WM

BBC WM is departing football crazy with the kick off of the major soccer season for Birmingham and the Black Country in over two decades.

The region has four clubs in the top flight for the first time since 1983/84.

Endorsed West Bromwich Albion join Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton nomads in the Premier League.

Remain up to date on 95.6FM and DAB and follow the sports team on Twitter.

Have your say

Because well as commentaries, BBC WM's reporting of the 2010/2011 period will include forums and plenty of other opportunities for fans to contain their say on how their sides are doing. Paul Franks hosts the Friday Football Phone In and Saturday afternoon treatment with reporters roughly the grounds transporting the very latest on the Premier League sides and Walsall's League One campaign.

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Gulf football fans face delays over EPL

A number of football fans could be left in the dim by the time the English Premier League (EPL) footballkicks off this Saturday, smooth if they have already bought decoders to watch the action.

Abu Dhabi Media corporation (ADMC), which has acquired the sole rights to screen every EPL game in the Gulf this period, has exposed that the smartcards requisite for satellite users will not be put on sale until an inform has been added to a exact decoder.

“The let go of smartcards into the market has been delayed awaiting a number of technical updates, which Humax is preparation on making to the Humax IF1010HD decoder,” a spokesperson from ADMC told Arabian Business.

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Making Sense Of The 18 Players Picked For USA-Brazil

During international football, squads bear a grueling two-year qualifying progression to reach the World Cup. They travel halfway in the region of the globe to play between 270 and 750 minutes of football. Then, it's over.

Of course, there's a hangover.

Five weeks after being bound from the 2010 World Cup by Ghana, the United States Men's National Team sits smack in the center of this period. The 18-man roster called to struggle in a friendly against Brazil at the new Giants Stadium reflects this reality.

The squad is one in transition, a rudderless ship balanced in the calm after a South African storm. Heck, given the irresolute fate of Bob Bradley, they are essentially a side without a coach.

The group of a dozen and a half neither looks back nor steps into the future; it simply exists for this one moment. Fifteen of the 18 players training for the Stars and Stripes represented their country in South Africa -- Jozy Altidore replaced Jermaine Jones who will remain with club side Schalke -- and it's clear the match isn't about moving forward.

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Respect must take priority

The long-lasting trial with additional assistant referees, shared respect for match officials, opponents and fans, and financial fair play – all rudiments which will mark this season's UEFA Champions League.

inside his address to the draw ritual for the competition's qualifying play-offs in Nyon, UEFA general escritoire Gianni Infantino highlighted all three features as the eagerly awaited group stage enthused ever closer.

"The play-offs this period will bring about a new element which could prove essential for the future of the game," he said. "Following the request submitted by UEFA, the International Football friendship Board [IFAB] recently accepted that the trial of two additional assistant referees be held at all UEFA Champions League matches as of the play–off stage.

"We deem that this explanation can strongly support the referees to take accurate decisions in difficult and sensitive situations," Mr Infantino explained.

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Socceroos to play Paraguay in Sydney

The Socceroos will play against Paraguay in Sydney Football Stadium on October 9.

At home Australia's first game on home soil since their World Cup campaign, Lucas Neill's men will face on one of the shock packets of the tournament in South Africa.

It took a goal as of Spain superstar David Villa with just seven minutes residual for the eventual champions to get past Paraguay in the quarter-finals.

The South Americans, who show off the likes of Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, experienced person Sunderland defender Paulo Da Silva and goalkeeper Justo Villar in their ranks, will also play the All Whites in New Zealand on their tour on October 12.

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