Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United: Red Devils draw another blank

Louis van Gaal's side were fortunate to come away with a point after recording their third consecutive goalless draw in all competitions.
Manchester United failed to score for a third consecutive match as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Louis van Gaal's men were beaten by Middlesbrough on penalties at Old Trafford in the League Cup on Wednesday, after playing out a goalless stalemate with Manchester City last weekend and they failed to find the net once again as Alan Pardew's side held firm on Saturday.
Palace welcomed former United winger Wilfried Zaha back into their starting line-up, but he was outshone by Yannick Bolasie on the opposite flank.
The Democratic Republic of Congo international rattled the crossbar inside 10 minutes as Palace applied the early pressure.
United soon found their feet, but were bereft of ingenuity despite their dominance of possession - a Wayne Rooney free-kick that forced a routine save from Wayne Hennessey was their best effort of the first half.
Yohan Cabaye, recovering from a knock sustained in the 5-1 League Cup thrashing at City in midweek to retain his place in the starting line-up, Scott Dann and Dwight Gayle were all unable to take second-half chances, leaving Palace winless in 13 Premier League clashes with United.
United made two changes in defence with Matteo Darmian replacing the injured Antonio Valencia and Daley Blind coming in for Phil Jones at centre-back.
But Van Gaal's side looked shaky at the back in the opening stages and would have fallen behind in the 10th minute had David de Gea not got the slightest of touches on Bolasie's effort to turn it onto the bar.
De Gea came to United's rescue once more two minutes later, leaping up to palm over a header from Dann following Cabaye's corner.
The visitors eventually took control of possession, but struggled to build anything positive against a robust Palace team.
Hennessey was not tested until the 25th minute, when Rooney fired a 25-yard free-kick over the wall that the Palace goalkeeper was able to get across to and save.
Hennessey thwarted Rooney again six minutes later, exposing the striker's lack of pace by rushing out to stop him from latching onto an incisive pass from Anthony Martial.
There were chances for Gayle and Ander Herrera before the interval, but neither player made strong enough contact with the ball to trouble the opposing goalkeeper.
Goalscoring opportunities remained at a premium for the two sides during a scrappy start to the second half, with De Gea and Hennessey acting as spectators.
Although Palace grew into the game and controlled the ball, it took them until the 71st minute to carve out a decent opening.
Joel Ward's delivery from the right found Cabaye unmarked 10 yards out, but he was unable to steer his volley on target. Dann looped a header wide before Gayle had a shot saved by De Gea in the 76th minute.

There were chances for both sides to steal all three points late on, but Damien Delaney got a crucial block on a Martial shot before Bolasie headed over from a corner in stoppage time.

Source: goal.com

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Swansea 0-3 Arsenal: Campbell on target in Gunners win

The Gunners warmed up for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich with a comfortable victory over Garry Monk’s men.
Arsenal kept pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after beating Swansea City 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell.

Without Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gabriel due to injuries sustained in a midweek League Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Arsene Wenger's men were sluggish in the first half but clicked after the break.

A Bafetimbi Gomis one-on-one and Per Mertesacker's apparent handball gave Arsenal scares, but Giroud glanced home a corner to register the 2,000th goal of Wenger's reign shortly after the interval.

And the visitors doubled their lead through Koscielny midway through the second half when former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski spilled a cross, before Campbell marked his maiden top-flight start with his first goal for the club.

Swansea had the better of the frenetic opening stages but Campbell curled an effort wide 15 minutes in before Gomis spurned Swansea's first chance shortly after, dawdling when through on goal following a wonderful Jonjo Shelvey pass, allowing Hector Bellerin to sprint back and clear the danger.

The lively Gomis threatened again with a header shortly before Giroud turned an effort over the crossbar in similar fashion to Campbell's earlier effort.
Despite both sides contributing to an entertaining first half, neither found an advantage before the break although the visitors were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when Mertesacker appeared to handle Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick.

Giroud gave Wenger a scare late in the half when he suffered a knock during a tangle with Jefferson Montero, but the Frenchman recovered to open the scoring early in the second period.

Evading Ashley Williams, Giroud headed home Mesut Ozil's corner to mark his 150th Arsenal appearance with a well-taken effort.
Sigurdsson forced Petr Cech into a smart save to his left shortly after, while the dangerous Andre Ayew continued to pose problems of the visitors' back line.

Arsenal struggled to muster much attacking threat in the immediate aftermath of their opener, but doubled their lead eight minutes after the hour-mark when Koscielny prodded home after Fabianski was unable to take a catch.

Monk and his players were furious that Kevin Friend failed to award a foul following Bellerin's cross, but it mattered little when Ozil jinked into the area and crossed for Campbell, who made the most of a rare opportunity up front with the final goal.

Swansea remain winless at home in the league since late August while Arsenal warm up for their crucial trip to Munich with victory.

Source: goal.com

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Manchester United made me the player I am now - Cristiano Ronaldo

The Real Madrid attacker has become one of the best players in the world , and hailed the role of the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville in his development.
Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted his time at Manchester United played a huge role in his development.

The Portugal international joined United from Sporting CP in 2003 and matured into one of the best players in the world at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, who eventually left United for Real Madrid in 2009, has now revealed that the guidance of players such as Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs helped him become the player he is now.

"Manchester was a huge education for me," Ronaldo told The Times.
"There were guys who always arrived for training one hour early. Scholes and Neville were incredible examples. Neville was the most professional player I saw. This is why these guys played in the top level for 10 years.

"People like Giggsy, too. I learnt from them. I would go to training early, too. I would do exercise, strength, abdominal, core: many things. That example from the older players, I took it.

"Sometimes, you try something different and you say, 'Ooh, if I do that, then the ball is going to do this'. Everything was a lesson for me at that age. [Being at United] taught me to train hard all the time. To eat properly, sleep good, recovery sessions, everything. You have to dedicate yourself 100 per cent."

Ronaldo worked with Alex Ferguson during his time at United and he has nothing but fond memories of his former manager.

"I learnt a lot from Sir Alex, too. One of the terms that I still remember today is 'decision-making'", he signaled.

"'You are great, but you don't have decision-making. Pass the f***ing ball.' He always told me that. 'Cristiano: pass the f***ing ball.'

I still have contact with him. He is a great guy, great coach, great human being.

Source: goal.com

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Major airlines review routes over Egypt after crash

Emirates, Lufthansa and Air France stop flying over area of Sinai Peninsula where 224 passengers and crew died in crash.

At least three major airlines are reviewing their flight routes over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after a Russian commercial plane crashed there, killing all 224 passengers and crew on board.
The Airbus-A321-200, operated by the Moscow-based Metro jet airline, crashed in a remote mountainous part of the Sinai Peninsula 23 minutes after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday morning.
The plane was flying to St Peters burg, carrying mainly Russian tourists returning from holidays in the popular Red Sea resort.
Despite earlier reports stating that the plane's pilot had contacted aviation authorities prior to the crash, Egypt's minister for aviation said late on Saturday that the pilot did not lodge a distress call.
Al Jazeera's Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said while the cause of the crash is not known, three major airlines - Emirates, Lufthansa and Air France - announced they would stop flying over the area for safety reasons.
Their aircraft will take alternate routes to reach destinations in the region, which has been the subject of ongoing violence between Egyptian security forces and a number of armed groups.
"It is perhaps a sign of how uncertain the causes of this crash are that two major European airlines have decided they don't want to fly over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula until the exact causes of this crash have been ascertained," Challands said.
"Of course, the Sinai Peninsula is a deeply troubled region and has been the focus of a years-long armed conflict that is still ongoing, and these airlines want to be sure that that conflict did not have any part to play in the downing of this plane."
Russian officials and Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, however, say they do not believe the plane was targeted.
"Up until this point, there are no indications that anything out of the ordinary happened on this aircraft," Ismail said.
"All we can say is that it happened due to technical difficulties and the team of experts are the ones who will be able to prove or deny this."
Both British Airways and Easyjet have said they have no plans to alter their flight routes to and from Sharm el-Sheikh.

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TIMELINE: Major air crashes since the turn of the century

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In a statement, Egypt's civil aviation ministry said the wreckage of the Russian passenger jet was found in the Hassana area, south of the city of el-Arish.
The Airbus 321 was at an altitude of 9,450m when it vanished from radar screens.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a day of national mourning for Sunday.
Among the passengers were 214 Russians and three Ukrainians, plus seven crew members, the Egyptian government said. At least 24 children were on board, the Association of Travel Operators of Russia said.
The flight recorder which contains the flight data was also found at the scene.
Challands said Russia has dispatched a large investigative team to Cairo to look into the causes of the crash. The team includes the heads of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Transport Ministry, and Russian Air Transport Agency.
Separately, Egypt's top prosecutor ordered an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Nabil Sadek, the prosecutor general, ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors tasked with going to the site of the crash and investigating the debris.


Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

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Long-ball Man Utd are BORING: Where does Van Gaal go from here?

The Red Devils crashed out of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday after another performance which lacked any dynamism in the opposition half

While Manchester United’s second successive League Cup exit to lower-league opposition was the main headline of Wednesday night, the manner of their defeat to Middlesbrough was even more frustrating than the loss itself.

Last season’s second-round humbling at Milton Keynes Dons was at least a one-off, with Louis van Gaal having sent out a team full of players who were set to have no real future at the club. That 4-0 defeat was embarrassing but ultimately inconsequential in the bigger picture.

Yet Wednesday’s 3-1 penalty shoot-out defeat to Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough left Van Gaal with much to ponder, with the 0-0 draw in 120 minutes having provided the perfect showcase of United’s current issues on a wider scale.

There were some positives to take from the draws with CSKA Moscow and Manchester City in the previous seven days, but in both fixtures United had started slowly and rode their luck. Too many of their passes went sideways, giving their opponents very little to fret over. In both matches United ended the game with a much higher tempo and looked all the better for it.

But still there was no change in approach when Boro came to town, despite Van Gaal making nine changes to his starting line-up. There were different faces, but the body of work was much the same. United had plenty of ball, but very little to show for it. Once more, it was their opponents who had many of the better opportunities in front of goal, with full-back George Friend in particular missing a gilt-edged chance before skipper Grant Leadbitter spawned two very good openings.


For United’s part they improved slightly after the break, but it wasn’t until extra-time that they really asked questions of the Championship side. And the fact that it took a change to a 4-4-2 formation and long-ball tactics for the 20-time champions of England to pick holes in Middlesbrough’s defence says an awful lot.

“I’m disappointed we are out, that we came so close and we are still out,” said Van Gaal after the match. “I thought we didn’t play so well in the first half. They played in a compact way as Man City did. In the second half we had much more chances but you have to finish them. In extra time we had even better chances, but when you are not finishing the chances it is difficult to win games.”

While it is true that Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini both should have done better with close-range headers at the end of extra time, it would have been unjust on Boro to be denied by that point.

The home side had a couple of big penalty shouts, but Jesse Lingard could have seen red for a nasty studs-up challenge in the first half. Lingard hit the post, but Kike did too before Daley Blind sliced into his own net only to be saved by the offside flag. For every argument in United’s favour, there was one for the visitors. The difference was that Boro had the better game-plan, and carried it out to perfection.

So how has it come to this? Why have Manchester United suddenly become a side against whom teams can set up a base of six or seven defensive players and hold out with something to spare? Clubs arriving at Old Trafford with men by the ball used to be asking for trouble, but not any more. Should £300 million or more of spending really result in desperation tactics against a Championship side, with a series of long balls for Fellaini to flick on?

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Cold Remedies

We all know that there is no cure for the common cold, but it is possible to relieve its symptoms at home.Everybody should know about cold remedies because we are all going to get one sooner or later. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the average American will suffer one cold a year. Some people, unfortunately, will suffer even more.
The likelihood that you or a member of your family will catch a cold is also increasing. Scientists of CDC found that there are over 200 viruses that cause the cold, and they’re everywhere and around all year long. Therefore knowing which home cold remedies work is more important than ever.

Most Popular Cold Remedies at Home

Antibiotics may not cure the common cold, but these popular home remedies actually ease its symptoms. Taking advantage of these remedies will not get rid of the cold virus, but these traditional treatments can make it easier to live with.

1. Chicken Soup

It’s not an old wives’ tale; chicken soup can actually strengthen your ability to fight infections by slowing the move of white blood cells. Those cells protect the body from infection. It also helps hydrate the body, and it tastes good. Best of all, any kind of chicken soup is effective, according to research published in the medical journal Chest. You can enhance chicken soup’s effect by adding other infection fighters, such as garlic and ginger.

2. Honey

A recent study in the journal Pediatrics showed that honey is an effective cough suppressant. Ten grams of the sweet stuff reduces coughing in children at bed time. It also has proven antibacterial and antibiotic properties. To add icing to the cake, honey can relieve sore throat pain. The Pediatrics study also found that honey can help people sleep. Never give honey to babies under a year old, because it can contain harmful spores that can damage their immune system.

3. Garlic

This popular flavoring contains a chemical called allicin, which has been shown to be a natural antibiotic and antiviral agent making it one of the effective cold remedies. Allicin can actually block the development of bacterial and viral infections, so it can prevent you from developing them in the first place. Garlic can also kill viral and bacterial infections after they develop. Adding a lot of garlic to your diet during the cold season can protect you from colds and other infections. It also makes your food taste better.

4. Ginger

This herb has been used to fight colds for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. The traditional Chinese remedy for colds or sore throats was ginger root in boiling water or soup. Adding ginger to chicken soup can create an effective cold remedy. Ginger does not just fight colds; a study published in The British Journal of Anesthesia reported that one gram of ginger could relieve the symptoms of nausea, such as upset stomach and diarrhea.

5. Warm Salt Water Gargle

Gargling with warm salt water four times a day can moisten your throat and bring temporary relief. The easiest formula to prepare is to dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot water. You can add to the effectiveness of the gargle by adding a teaspoon of honey or a slice of ginger to it. Another way to enhance a gargle and take advantage of Vitamin C is to add lemon juice or raspberry leaves. More exotic ingredients, such as herbs, can also help.

6. Lots of Hot Liquids

Your mother was right about this piece of advice; hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, soothe nose and throat membranes, and prevent dehydration. Herbal tea is the best liquid to take, but plain old fashioned tea works just as well. The traditional Chinese remedy of ginger in hot water is another good substitute for tea. Experts do not recommend the drinking of toddies—tea mixed with alcohol. Increase the effectiveness of the liquids by mixing in lemon juice or honey.

7. Some Steam Inhalation

Adding hot steam to the air is one of the most effective cold remedies because it can soothe the nose membranes. There are several methods of getting more steam in your air; a popular means is to use a steam humidifier. Taking a shower or bath and inhaling the moisture can also help. Be careful with this, though, because holding your head over a pan of boiling water, a kettle, or a humidifier can burn you.

8. Nose Irrigation

Rinsing or irrigating your nose with saline solution can be highly effective because it actually washes out viruses and bacteria. You can make your saline solution by mixing ¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with warm water. Fill a syringe with the water, and inject it into your nose. Repeat the procedure two to three times a day, and be sure to dispose of the water and clean the syringe after each irrigation to prevent germs from spreading.

9. Plenty of Rest

Battling a cold uses up a lot of your body’s energy, so get plenty of rest. Stay home from work or school, and try to rest as much as possible. When you stay home, try to keep warm and get as much sleep as you can. Try to avoid working from home and instead engage in relaxing activities such as reading or watching television to give yourself something to do.

10. Echinacea

Studies have shown that this herb contains chemicals called flavonoids that can strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. Among other things, it can speed up recovery and reduce the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms. Just one to two grams of this herb a day can effectively treat a cold. The best way to take advantage of it is in tea.

11. Vitamin C

In recent decades, science has proven that many folk cold remedies, such as hot tea with lemon, are highly effective because they have high levels of Vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and the body’s defenses against infection. The best way to get more Vitamin C is to eat more citrus fruit. Lemon tea and lemonade can also help.

Source: newhealthguide.org

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Obafemi Martins recalled to Nigeria squad for World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland.

The Seattle Sounders man has been handed a call up to the Nigeria side for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland by coach Sunday Oliseh.

Seattle Sounders' Obafemi Martins has been recalled by coach Sunday Oliseh to the Nigeria side that will play next month's double World Cup qualifying matches against Swaziland.
The 31-year-old had been out of the Super Eagles since 2013 when he played in a World Cup qualifier under Stephen Keshi. He had talked about retiring from the national side after being ignored by the former coach who he claimed did not like him.
The Sounders striker has been in impressive form this year scoring 15 goals in Major League Soccer (MLS) so far. He made his Nigeria debut more than a decade ago and has 18 goals in 39 appearances.
Oliseh announced his squad of 23 invitees for the double-header against Swaziland on Thursday afternoon with the inclusion of several young players that include Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Feirense goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and Genk midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

However, Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho was overwhelmingly overlooked a day after he scored for the Citizens in their demolition of Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
Nigeria were shaken up this month by the controversies that led to the untimely retirements of veteran goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and striker Emmanuel Emenike after young CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa was handed the captain’s arm band.

The thought of more senior players ignoring the national team has been stemmed for now as the coach has handed call ups to Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Celtic’s Efe Ambrose, Monaco’s Elderson Echiejile and Rizespor’s Godfrey Oboabona.
While overlooking defenders Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong, Oliseh called up six players from the NPFL squad that secured qualification to next year’s African Nations Championship against Burkina Faso.
Sunshine Stars goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Sharks defender Chima Akas and Enyimba forward Ezekiel Bassey are all in the team.
The second round World Cup qualifiers will take place on November 13 and 17 in Lobamba and Port Harcourt respectively.

The players are expected to arrive in the team’s Abuja camp on Monday November 8.
FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA)

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