Jonathan shedding crocodile tears over division among Nigeria -APC

The All Progressives Congress has said President Goodluck Jonathan is only shedding crocodile tears with his lamentation over the fact that Nigeria has become more divided along religious and ethnic lines today than at anytime in its history.
“Mr. President, there is no point being sanctimonious about an issue for which you bear the most responsibility. You are the most divisive leader in the history of Nigeria, having ceaselessly exploited the country’s fault lines for political gains,” the party said in a statement, issued in Abuja on Thursday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said President Jonathan is the first leader to have turned the house of worship to a political arena, using the pulpit to make political and policy statements and making a show of what should ordinarily be a very personal religious affair.
APC said the President’s belated lamentation is aimed at pulling the wool over the eyes of Nigerians with a view to extracting undeserved political gains, especially a few weeks before next month’s elections.
”Where was President Jonathan when his spokespersons and party members sought to pit Christians against Muslims by labelling the country’s main opposition party, the APC, an Islamic Party? Where was President Jonathan when his spokespersons and party members sought to portray all adherents of a particular faith as terrorists? Not once did this President call his loquacious and sycophantic supporters to order when they were denigrating people of other tribes, calling them unprintable names. Not once did he call his supporters to order when
they were threatening to bring the country down if he is not re-elected.
”President Jonathan himself led the divisive band by tagging the leaders of a whole people ‘rascals,’ just because people dared to protest against his Administration’s policies. A man who got a pan-Nigerian mandate turned himself into a tribal leader, running a government that excludes a critical mass of the nation’s demography and pigeon-holing himself into an ethnic cocoon.
It called on Nigerians of all hues to repudiate the divisiveness that is embodied in President Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, so that the country’s ‘unity in diversity’ can once again become a reality, rather than a mere saying.

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Buhari’ll create 720,000 jobs —Osinbajo

Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
| credits: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), says Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will create 20,000 jobs in each state of the federation.

Osinbajo said this at the Osogbo City Stadium on Wednesday while addressing a crowd at the end of a 10-kilometre walk tagged “Walk for Change Nigeria.”

He lamented the massive youth unemployment in the country, saying the APC government would address this immediately if Buhari was voted in as the President in February.

He said, “We will provide 20,000 jobs in each of the states of Nigeria when we are elected.

“We will revive our agricultural sector by providing a ready-made market for farmers and encourage them, as the government will be purchasing their farm produce.

“Our government will also engage in feeding of our primary school pupils with free lunch across the country, just as we will embark on massive road construction.

“The elderly and the physically challenged would also not be left out as our government would be giving them allowances.”

Osinbajo said the party had a strong belief that its presidential candidate would be voted into power.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, while addressing the crowd challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to come out for a debate to defend himself on how he had run the country.

He said that Jonathan had not done anything to deserve a re-election.

Aregbesola stated that the President had fallen out of favour even among the cleric while drawing the attention of the people to the advice of Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, asking Jonathan to resign.

Aregbesola urged Nigerians to troop out and effect change through their votes in the February 14 election.

He said Buhari had resolved to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria for the better.

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No signs Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015 –US

The United States Government has said there are no signs that Nigeria will disintegrate before, during or after the February general elections.
While explaining that Nigeria is facing “big challenges,” the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, stated that the problems at stake were surmountable.
According to the American envoy, Nigerians should “throw out of the window” the idea from “some think-tank or somebody outside the (US) government” stating that Nigeria would fall apart in 2015.
Entwistle spoke in Lagos on Thursday during an interactive session with journalists on the recent donation of a US naval ship, christened NNS Okpabana, to the Nigerian Navy.
The US diplomat said, “I have been plagued by the question (on Nigeria’s possible disintegration in 2015) and I have gone back to look and I can’t find any government report that said Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015. Maybe some think-tank or somebody outside the government said it; I don’t know.
“But in my opinion as the US Ambassador to this country, I am not worried in the least that Nigeria is going to disintegrate in 2015. Regardless of what someone may have said, the question is that we are now here in 2015: Do we see signs that Nigeria is going to disintegrate or fall apart or something? I don’t know what you think. But I don’t see those signs.
“But I see signs of growth, optimism and I see that to minimise the challenges that you have, in this life, you have to keep on keeping on and I think the future is quite bright.”
Entwistle added that if the Federal Government did what would need to be done in the coming years, especially as pertaining to “security, corruption and all of these things,” the future of Nigeria would be “very bright.”
He debunked the insinuation that the President Barack Obama administration has imposed “an arms embargo” on Nigeria following the reported refusal of the American government to sell Cobra helicopters to the Federal Government to prosecute the ongoing war against terrorism.
Citing human rights considerations for the development, Entwistle hinted that the US Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, was “still talking about a number of other types of equipment and different types of helicopters that might be more appropriate” for the Nigerian military services.
Respecting human rights among the civilian population, he argued, should not be an impediment to fighting terrorism in the three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

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Thugs attack Ekiti APC leader, injure eight policemen

Political thugs on Wednesday wounded eight policemen including a Divisional Police Officer when they attacked a political leader of the All Progressives Congress in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, Chief Joseph Alake.

Alake gave the revelation at the Political Stakeholders Meeting organised by law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

He revealed that the thugs invaded his house at about 11 a.m and fired several gunshots with sinister intention to kill him and members of his household because he had been the rallying point of the opposition party in Efon Local Government Area.

Alake said the Police had a hectic time arresting the thugs who dared them to shoot them and in the process injured eight police officers including the DPO of Ijero.

“These people came in at about 11 a.m and brandished dangerous weapons.

One of them even inflicted a machete wound on a boy in my house. They fired gunshots and threatened to burn down my house because of  my political affiliation. However, the quick intervention of the Area Commander of  Ijero and the SARS Commander saved the day.

“The SARS  and the Area Commander’s rescued me from the scene and took me to Ijero where I passed the night. I would have been killed but for quick intervention of the police,”  he stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, who confirmed the attack at the forum said he immediately ordered his men to rescue Alake when he got the information.

He commended his men for displaying high level of professionalism in handling the incident, which he described as frightening  and barbaric.

He urged political parties to play the game in accordance with the dictate of the constitution and electoral laws.

“Endeavor to tolerate each other in the conduct of your electioneering campaigns and shun all kinds of vulgar/abusive language that can degenerate into violence.

“Let us have from you, timely report of the incidence around you to enable us nip-in-bud any ugly incidence that can mar the conduct of the election.

“Shun all acts of hooliganism in your campaign activities and the idea of moving out on campaign with offensive or destructive weapons because all your campaign would be covered by the police and anybody found wanting in this course would be severely dealt with,” Lakanu vowed.

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Why Manchester United stay does not add up for Falcao

 COMMENT: The Colombian is determined to make permanent his loan stay at Old Trafford but will know that his current output is not enough to justify what would be a huge outlay

Radamel Falcao is smart enough to know that the maths does not add up for Manchester United when his current form is weighed against the cost of signing him permanently in the summer.

The Colombian has scored just three goals in 13 appearances for United since his loan move from Monaco on the final day of the summer transfer window - and he must fear that he will be sent back to the principality at the end of the season.

United have agreed a deal to make Falcao's move permanent for €56 million but it would be ludicrous to exercise that option - in addition to a €306,000-a-week salary package - while the 28-year-old is so out of sorts.

The primary reason why Falcao moved to United on loan in the first place revolved around concerns about the serious knee injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season and the World Cup.

The €8m loan fee was seen as a calculated gamble by United executives after several rounds of talks with his representative, Jorge Mendes, but Falcao started slowly and was hampered but niggling injuries including the calf problem that restricted his appearances in October and November.

*Premier League stats Louis van Gaal has continually appeared to talk down Falcao, whether complaining about his lack of fitness or suggesting that he depends on the form of his team-mates.

Falcao insists that he is now 100 per cent fit and has scored twice in United's last four league fixtures but he must maintain that level of return for the remainder of the season if he wants to stay at Old Trafford.

Which he does. The former Porto and Atletico Madrid man has made it clear that he intends to be at the club beyond this season and is playing for his future.

"From my point of view, yes, I want to stay but obviously I have to analyse the situation," Falcao said in December.

"I'll see if I play more and see what decision the board takes but, from my point of view, I really want to stay."

But can he rediscover the sort of form that saw him score 72 goals in 87 matches for Porto and 70 in 90 appearances for Atletico Madrid?

He turns 29 in February so United can reasonably anticipate that his productivity will decline over the course of a long-term contract, although he displayed his famed predatory instincts for his recent goals against Aston Villa and Stoke.

The Red Devils' upcoming fixtures would seem to offer an opportunity for Falcao to hit his stride and consistently deliver. They face Southampton on Sunday before games against QPR, Cambridge United and Leicester City in the remainder of January.

United sources say that Falcao is an outstanding professional and excellent in training but he needs to produce more in a red shirt to justify another huge outlay for the club on the back of last summer's €190m spending spree.

It is not like Falcao can complain about a lack of service when he is joined in the United attack by Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata.

As it stands, Van Gaal might reflect that he would be better off showing more faith in youngster James Wilson or signing a cheaper alternative to Falcao next summer. That would free funds to sign a top-class central defender and central midfielder, two areas in which the Dutchman is desperate to improve his team next season, particularly with extra fixtures from their anticipated return to European competition.

These are the scenarios which United will be analysing when they decide whether or not to pull the trigger on the option for a €56m permanent transfer that he already been agreed and signed.

At the moment, Falcao's chances of staying at the club look bleak. He needs to quickly get back to his best and make the maths work in his favour.

 

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Swansea City stand firm over Bony’s €38m valuation as Man City talks continue

The Premier League champions are reluctant to pay over €31m for the Ivorian, but Garry Monk maintains the striker will not be sold for a cut-price fee

Swansea City manager Garry Monk insists the club will stand firm over €38 million valuation of Wilfried Bony as Manchester City continue negotiations for the striker.

Earlier this week, Goal reported that City are reluctant to pay more than €31m for the Cote d'Ivoire international, but the Premier League champions are close to agreeing a €95,000-a-week contract with the 26-year-old.

Monk has confirmed talks between the two clubs are ongoing but maintains Bony, who has scored nine goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season, will not be allowed to leave for a cut-price fee.

“There are talks between clubs and at this moment in time it’s ongoing. It is what it is right now. But unless an agreement is made and club are happy, it remains ongoing,” said the Swansea manager.

“I don’t know the inner details. They have talked about fees but whether they are close or far apart is unclear at moment.

“But whatever happens it is important it reaches the valuation Swansea hold. Clubs will have to meet a valuation not just for Bony but for any player.”

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Marcelo: Atletico Madrid used dirty tricks

 

The Brazilian has hit out at the Spanish champions' tactics in the wake of his side's first-leg defeat at the Vicente Calderon

Real Madrid defender Marcelo claimed Atletico Madrid's used "dirty tricks" to win their Copa del Rey last-16 first leg on Wednesday.

Raul Garcia converted a penalty around the hour mark to open the scoring, before Jose Gimenez made it two to give Diego Simeone's men a comfortable lead heading into the second leg.

"Atletico played the long ball and used dirty tricks," Marcelo was quoted as saying by AS.

"This result is very difficult to overcome. We started well but again, set-pieces... The defeat is not fair. The pitch was difficult. Their game is only to play the long ball.

"There is another game and it is in our stadium. Let's see what the coach will tell us to counter that kind of football.

"There are 90 minutes left and we will fight on our home soil and attempt to get back into it."

Wednesday's encounter was Atleti's third consecutive Madrid derby victory and Real's second defeat on the bounce since the start of the year.

The return is scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on January 15.

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Isco: Real Madrid will turn things around at the Bernabeu

 

The Spain international has vowed that the Copa del Rey holders will do their utmost to overturn their two-goal deficit to Atletico Madrid.

Isco remains optimistic about Real Madrid's chances of reaching the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at the expense of Atletico Madrid.

Goals from Raul Garcia and Jose Gimenez helped Atletico to an important home win on Wednesday which puts them in the driving seat to reach the last eight and send the holders crashing out.

Isco, however, is confident his side can turn the tie around with the backing of the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The result makes it an uphill climb but it will be a different game at the Bernabeu," Isco was quoted as saying on the official Madrid website.

"There are 90 minutes left to play and we will try to turn the result around in the second leg with the help of our supporters. We can do it. 

"Atletico rely on dead ball situations and they punished us that way again. We have to try and be focused in the return leg."

The attacking midfielder then went on to dismiss suggestions Madrid are in a mini-crisis after two consecutive defeats in 2015.

"It is worth remembering that before the run of 22 straight wins we also suffered two defeats in a row," he added.

"The team is in good form and we have to keep working."

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James slams referee after Atletico defeat

 

The Colombia international claims his side were not given fair treatment but remains confident they can overturn their 2-0 deficit in the second leg

Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has hit out at referee Carlos Clos Gomez in the wake of his side's 2-0 Copa del Rey defeat against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

Sergio Ramos was left incensed after the match at the award of a penalty to Raul Garcia which allowed Atleti to take the lead before Jose Gimenez headed home a second.

And James believes the official was far too hesitant over his decision-making and frequently opted in favour of the home side.

"He was very hesitant. Always hesitating over this or that. And if he was in doubt, he always went in favour of Atletico," the Colombian was quoted as saying by Marca.

"The referee always try to make fair decisions but in the end he got it a little wrong."

Regardless of the final result, James felt Madrid were the better side in the first leg and is confident they can still reach the quarter-finals.

"That is football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You always have to have a winning mentality. We put pressure on them and tried to score. It was an unfair result.

"It is hard because they are strong at the back and play with intensity, but we have faith in our ability to make a comeback and we have a good opportunity at the Bernabeu.

"The result doesn't change anything, now we must go out to win on Saturday [against Espanyol]."

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Enyeama & Neuer: The Year of the Goalkeeper?

 

The men between the sticks rarely get the recognition they deserve, but could that all be about to change as we enter the awards season?

FEATURE
By Kunle Fayiga

Whenever the 23-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon D’Or is produced, it features players of all positions.

When it is down to the final three, it typically comprises offensive players. Only in a few cases were defenders and goalkeepers shortlisted in the final three.

AC Milan Legend Paolo Maldini was a finalist in 1995, claiming second spot. Former Azzuri captain Fabio Cannavaro claimed the award in 2006, beating ex-Le Bleus star and three-time winner Zinedine Zidane. The other non-attack minded player to make the final three was former German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in 2002. He took second place on the back of a splendid World Cup in South Korea/Japan, which Germany lost out toBrazil in the final. Brazil’s Ronaldo, who scored two goals past Kahn in the final, claimed his third World Player of the Year crown.

The 2014 FIFA Ballon D’Or features Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with regular finalists Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have arguably been the best players in the game in the last decade. Both have appeared as finalists 13 times between 2007 and 2013.

Neuer makes the list at the back of a successful World Cup campaign where he made many fantastic saves which helped Germany to lift their third title. He was also in superb form for Bayern Munich last season.

Does Neuer deserve the lift the award on Monday, January 12, 2015 in Zurich?

Neuer | The world's greatest team, is he the world's greatest player?

He certainly does even in the stern battle against the world’s two best players. 

Attackers have made the final three most of the time because they are the entertainers in the game, scoring fantastic goals and displaying awesome skill and technique. However, the impact of goalkeepers should not be underestimated. Stoppers do more than enough to be regular contenders for the Ballon D’Or.

The likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Edwin van der Sar, Petr Cech are just some of the names who have done exceptionally well and who should have at least made the final three at one time or the other over the last several years. Unfortunately this was never to be. 

This indeed might be Neuer’s chance to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly. With the exception of 2010, the Ballon D’Or has been given to a player that won the World Cup. Since Neuer represents the winning German team, it’s as good as saying he is the winner based on that trend but will the award follow the trend this time around?

Back home in Africa, we have Nigeria’s very own Vincent Enyeama is a finalist for the CAF African Footballer of the Year.

Enyeama | Can he claim another award this week?

He competes for the ultimate price against three-time winner Yaya Toure and Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Enyeama was arguably the best Nigerian player in a mixed 2014 for the Super Eagles.

His exploits at the World Cup in Brazil pushed Nigeria to the last 16. Had it not been for him, the Super Eagles might not have equalled their best-ever tournament progression. 

His performances for his club, French side LOSC Lille during the 2013-2014 season were nothing short of excellent and he helped the Mastiffs to the His superb performances earned him the Ligue 1 African Player of the Year award. He also bagged the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award and was recently named the Best Goalkeeper in French football during 2014.

Goal Nigeria’s Ed Dove celebrated Enyeama for his consistency and his ability to impact the big games. Even though the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Afcon tournament in Equatorial Guinea, Enyeama was crucial in ensuring the quest for qualification was taken down to the wire. “Indeed,” as Dove asked, “would Nigeria have lost at home to the Republic of Congo at the beginning of the qualification campaign had Enyeama, rather than Austin Ejide, been between the sticks?”

Enyeama, just like Neuer, deserves to be celebrated above his outfield rivals during the awards season.

No keeper has been shortlisted in the final three since the award began in 1992. Current Morocco manager Badou Zaki is the only goalkeeper in Africa to win the award for Best African player. He won this when the award was still run by France Football Magazine. The award ran from 1970 till 1994. Within that period, a few keepers such as Robert Mensah, Kazadi Mwamba, Thomas N’Kono and Joseph-Antoine Bell made the final three.

If Enyeama and Neuer succeed in claiming the award in Lagos and Zurich respectively, it might give rise to greater recognition for goalkeepers. It’s about time the custodians between the sticks got the acknowledgement they deserve…could they receive it this year?

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Taylor SwiftCountry star almost slips on stage after New Year's Day performance Reports claim she shook it off and walked off like a pro!

Taylor Swift 

Country star almost slips on stage after New Year's Day performance

Reports claim she shook it off and walked off like play a pro!

play Taylor Swift performs at the "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015" in New York
(ryanseacrest)

Taylor Swift Singer celebrates 25th birthday with Jay Z, Beyonce, Sam Smith

Taylor Swift Country star caught kissing another girl

Taylor Swift Did singer do a boob job? [See Photos]

Taylor Swift's performance at the "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015" almost ended in an embarrassing fall!

According to reports, the 'Shake It Off' singer had finished a breath-taking performance before nearly stumbling in front of thousands of excited fans at Time's Square in New York, January 1, 2015.

Thank God, she managed to save herself! (See photo above)

TMZ reports that as she made her way down the stairs back stage, she got to the final few steps when her feet betrayed her. But 'she avoided eating it completely and emerged with a sly grin and a short wave'.

Looks like the near-embarrassing situation didn't stop the pro from having an amazing 2015 start!

 

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Bridal Makeup 

8 beauty mistakes you must avoid before your wedding day

Make sure you start a proper skin care regime several weeks before your day to get your skin in top shape. 

 

  Your wedding day is one event that you'll never forget, and looking back at that day should always bring beautiful memories.

Sadly, some brides cannot say the same for their own big day due to certain beauty mistakes that had them looking less than beautiful.

Here are 8 simple tips to help you avoid such an embarrassing situation on your wedding day.

1. USE PROPER SKIN CARE: Make sure you start a proper skin care regime several weeks before your day to get your skin in top shape. This includes eating right, and getting the proper vitamins for your skin.
2. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER: Not getting enough water will leave you and your skin dehydrated. Water also helps you clean your system so it goes without saying that you skin will look radiant if you flush out all the toxins. And if all that wasn't enough to make you want to drink… water is essential for losing body fat.
3. USE A WATERPROOF MASCARA: The last thing you want is to see your mascara streaking down your face in all your photographs.
4. DON'T SCHEDULE A FACIAL TOO CLOSE TO YOUR DAY: Most are sensitive to getting a facial, especially if you have never had one before. Avoid the red flare-ups that are common by having your last facial at least a week prior to your day.
5. DON'T EAT SALTY FOODS OR DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL THE NIGHT BEFORE: Too much salt causes fluid retention, not only in your body, but in your eyes and skin. You will wake up with puffy eyes, as with two much alcohol also. If this is the case, put a cold compress on your eyes for 10 minutes, and any eye gel with some caffeine as a main ingredient will also help.
6. DO USE A PROFESSIONAL FOR YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP: Obviously if you are not familiar with doing your own hair and makeup and your wedding day is the first time you are going to glam it up, you should definitely consult with a professional. Your wedding day is not the time to save money on the biggest day of your life. Your photos and your memories are forever. Don't you want to be the most confident and gorgeous? A professional will help with the right colours, application, and tricks to make it last all day.
7. DO WEAR MAKEUP: As a continuation to No. 6, definitely DO WEAR MAKEUP. Not just your regular everyday makeup. This is your time to 'GLAM IT UP' a little… or a lot. It's your BIG DAY….be a star. Walk down the aisle looking and feeling 'special'. A professional will show you how to be glamorous but still look like YOU! And if you are not the type to wear false eyelashes or some makeup normally, then please do some practice runs before your big day so you feel confident and comfortable with everything. This goes for artificial nails as well.
8. GET ENOUGH SLEEP: Yes we know you are excited but it is so important for you to not do anything the night before but rest, relax and just dream happy thoughts about how gorgeous you will be, and how happy your new life is going to be. Shower, listen to soothing music, sip some tea (no alcohol, remember?), and just relax. Mediation, yoga, poetry, whatever it is that will get you to dose off for a full 8 hours.

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Wedding Planning: 6 money tips for newly engaged couples

  Wedding Planning 

6 money tips for newly engaged couples

Paying for a wedding should never inhibit you from "living the life that you want," like buying a home or traveling.

Your Facebook Feed will confirm that we are nearing the the tail-end of the unofficial "engagement season," which loosely kicks off before the holidays. Now that you or one of your friends is engaged, it's time to think about the exorbitant costs of getting married.

The average cost of a wedding was $29,858 (N5,478,730 ), excluding the honeymoon, in 2013, according to TheKnot.com's annual Real Weddings study released in March.

Paying for a wedding should never inhibit you from "living the life that you want," like buying a home or traveling, said Abby Larson, founder of website Style Me Pretty.

Here are Larson's tips to stay on budget:

1. Think of a Wedding as Your Car: Unlike a first home or a new car, weddings aren't financial milestones that people are accustomed to saving for ahead of time. "So call it your 'special something' account and start putting money in there," she said. "If that account is never used towards a wedding, then you have more saved up to go towards the purchase of your home or a splurge vacation in Fiji."
2. Who's Paying What: First and foremost, it's important to determine who is contributing to your wedding and what that really means, Larson said. "This can be a bit of an awkward conversation, so allow graciousness and gratitude to take center stage and don't go in with any set expectations," she said.
3. Choose Your Priorities: With every wedding comes the practical decisions that should be made first, including the venue. Next come 'the gotta-have-it decisions.' "When it comes to the gotta-have-it decisions, figure out what your top three are and focus on those," Larson advises. "Find ways to cut in the areas that aren't as meaningful. For some people, it's an incredible menu, for others it's a killer band. Determine what are the most important must-haves and skimp on the rest."
4. Wedding Planner: To Get or Not to Get? "One of the best tips that I give all brides is to hire a wedding planner," she said. "Because a good wedding planner can save you time and money spent on making uneducated decisions and costly mistakes." If you can't get a planner, couples can hire a "day of planner" who coordinates only on the day of the event to help you avoid last-minute splurges.
5. The Best Date: "Off season, off days, anything that deviates from Saturday night at 6 o'clock in the early or late summer will save you money," she said. Venues' rates are generally seasonal; Saturdays in the warmer peak season cost the most. "People don't always remember that Winter weddings can be spectacular as can Sunday morning affairs with a gorgeous brunch reception," she said.
6. The Ring Budget: Engagement rings and wedding bands have become markers of status, but they still need to fit your budget, Larson said. She advises those proposing "to remind yourself that at the heart of that girl you are marrying is someone who adores you and who is saying yes to you and not to the ring. If size matters above all else, scour eBay and hit up vintage jewelers to find something that sparkles but doesn't steal your entire bank account."

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Juventus are stronger challengers than Bayern or Chelsea - Ancelotti

 The Real Madrid boss believes the Italian champions are more likely to stop his side's bid to retain their Champions League crown this season

 Carlo Ancelotti has suggested Juventus will pose a greater threat to Real Madrid's Champions League crown than Bayern Munich or Chelsea this season.

Madrid have been drawn against Bundesliga outfit Schalke in the last 16 of the competition as they look to become the first side to retain the trophy in its modern format.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea and Pep Guardiola's Bayern both reached the last four last season and have enjoyed impressive starts to their respective campaigns, but Ancelotti believes both teams have too many young players who do not yet possess the experience needed to succeed in the latter stages.

"They [Juventus] are a great team," he told Tuttosport. "Bayern or Chelsea have several world champions and players with international experience, but are just missing that bit of maturity in the youngsters."

Madrid have won their previous 22 competitive outings but suffered a 4-2 friendly defeat to AC Milan on Tuesday - though Ancelotti does not believe it will hamper their chances of victory against Valencia this weekend.

"It is a defeat that does not hurt at all. After a week of vacation we needed a game like this to prepare for the trip to Valencia. It serves to recover our rhythm," Ancelotti concluded.

"Milan played well and we did not, but that does not ruin everything good that we did in 2014. We are very pleased with a fantastic year."

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Why Wenger's Arsenal midfield misery is all of his own making

COMMENT: Forced to field a makeshift partnership of Calum Chambers and Francis Coquelin, the Arsenal boss needs to spend on midfield reinforcements

It should come as no surprise that Arsenal fielded a makeshift midfield just as they finally reunited their first-choice back four. After all, they are team who excel at never quite being the finished product.

“Is it a back six?” asked one fan sitting in front of the press box at St Mary’s Stadium as the teams were read out. Calum Chambers, a teenage right-back who has spent half of his first Arsenal season being converted to a central defender, was placed alongside Francis Coquelin, who had to be recalled from his loan at Charlton in December. It was not the kind of partnership you would expect to see at a club of the Gunners’ wealth and stature.

At times it almost did look like they were in a bumper-sized back line. Both Arsenal and Southampton were happy to sit deep and be patient in their build-up play on New Year’s Day, but Chambers in particular was more obviously deeper than most, dropping back regularly to facilitate more regular surges from his full-backs.

Coquelin, meanwhile, ran around plenty and made the simple passes competently enough, but this was a staid combination in the nominal engine room. It seemed as if they had to play deeper to compensate for their lack of creativity.

Olivier Giroud’s suspension meant a necessary posting at the tip of the spear for Alexis Sanchez but, with no service coming from the middle of the pitch, the Chilean frequently had to drift wide to find the ball. His combinations with the likes of Santi Cazorla were occasionally fruitful and his shimmying to shoot led to Arsenal’s most dangerous moments, but Fraser Forster was equal to everything that he could muster.

It would surely have been a different story had Arsene Wenger been able to deploy an Arsenal midfield more worthy of the name. If Jack Wilshere or Aaron Ramsey were fit, you might expect more, although Victor Wanyama’s confident form leaves that an open question. The real what-if is that of Cesc Fabregas.



Rarely has Wenger’s decision not to re-sign his old captain looked so strange as when Thursday’s teamsheet came in, the Spaniard having registered more assists than any other Premier League player in 2014 as that deep playmaker, despite having only been in the country for half of that time.

Once again, we come to the start of a January transfer window asking the same question – when will Arsenal finally go out and get the players to make their midfield tick on a regular basis? All of the four players who appeared against them in that position here – Wanyama, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse and even youngster Harrison Reed – showed bite, skill and influence that would have improved the away side where it mattered.

That said, the man who would appear the most perfect fit to add all-round quality to Arsenal’s engine room was not involved at all. Morgan Schneiderlin missed the game through suspension but the Frenchman, who was desperate to join a Champions League club in the summer, has consistently been one of the most impressive in his position in the country. World Cup winner Christoph Kramer has also been targeted by the Gunners recently.

Wenger is always fond of working with what he has and, in any case, is unlikely to need to rely on Chambers and Coquelin on anything more than an occasional basis. The former, at least, has enough on his plate deputising for his entire back line. But the fading Mikel Arteta and the creaky Mathieu Flamini would hardly have been much better equipped to stand up to the likes of Wanyama had they been fit, much less the likes of Nemanja Matic or an on-song Yaya Toure.

The fan who appeared to confront Wenger in the dugout towards the end of the game may not, as it turns out, have been shouting at him to spend money but that remains the pervading sentiment around most of the Arsenal support. A club of this size should not have put itself in this situation. Wenger needs to get them out of it.

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The perfect alternative to Diego Costa? Meet Chelsea target Andrej Kramaric

 

PROFILE: The forward, already one of Rijeka's best ever after just over a year, is close to joining Jose Mourinho's side and has the stomach for a battle to be first choice

At 23 and after just over a year at the club, Andrej Kramaric is already one of the best players in Rijeka's history. He is one of the biggest names in Croatian football and letting him go also counts as one of Dinamo Zagreb's biggest mistakes.

Kramaric is said to have scored over 400 goals for Dinamo's youth teams and was recognised as the best player of his generation but was never given the chance in their senior side before being moved on in 2013.

The striker went to Rijeka to kickstart his career and that decision has paid dividends already. Quickly becoming an important part of national coach Niko Kovac's vision for the future, with two goals in his first four Croatia caps, Kramaric is now wanted by many top European teams. It is Chelsea, though, who are close to securing his signature.

Local fans are sceptical of the wisdom of joining the Blues, given the Premier League giants' record of loaning out a horde of young prospects, never to be seen near the first team. The hope is that Kramaric will move somewhere where he can be given a chance to prove himself as a top-quality forward.

Going to England, and specifically to Stamford Bridge, could make or break his career at a crucial point in his development. Given minutes, he should be able to score plenty in the Premier League, and he has never been one to fear competition for a place in the starting XI, always taking the more difficult route to success and believing in himself.

The 23-year-old has scored on his competitive debut for every team for whom he has ever played – Dinamo, Lokomotiva, Rijeka and Croatia - but, perhaps surprisingly, he is not quite your stereotypical 'fox in the box'.

Kramaric is always keen to be involved in the game and has a knack of shooting from distance, he has scored with some spectacular lobbed efforts this season as well, while his dribbling is a particular strength. It is his goal record that draws the most attention, though. Kramaric has already scored 28 goals in just 30 2014-15 appearances.

His father, Josip, is left to take care of his career as the younger Kramaric insists that "I don't want to have anything to do with agents... it's better for me that way". Indeed, his refusal to sign for Dinamo chief executive Zdravko Mamic's management company at the start of his professional career is suspected to be a part of why he was never given a fair shot with the Croatian giants.

But is the Chelsea deal that his father has organised the right move? There could well be room for him at Stamford Bridge. Though Diego Costa is clearly Jose Mourinho's No.1 up front, Didier Drogba is close to the end of his career and Loic Remy has been unspectacular since his switch from QPR – and the Blues have plenty of fixtures left in the season in which Kramaric could get a chance.

Rijeka coach Matjaz Kek feels that it would be better for Kramaric to wait until the summer to move as, with the Croatian league having finished in mid-December, the striker might find it difficult to rush back from holiday to adapt to the Premier League.

Both Kek and Kovac have urged him to choose a club where he would play rather than let money talk but Kramaric is not the sort to chase the easy option. If a deal is done with Chelsea, it will be because he feels that he can make an impact there.

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Napoli don't need Balotelli and Lavezzi - De Laurentiis

 

The Partenopei president has strongly refuted suggestions that the club will look to bring the Argentine back to the San Paolo along with the misfiring Liverpool striker

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says his side do not need to sign Ezequiel Lavezzi and Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window.

The Argentine forward did not travel with the rest of the Paris Saint-Germain squad for a training camp in Morocco, with the player's agent suggesting that a loan to San Paolo could be on the cards.

The Partenopei have also been linked with Liverpool's out-of-favour Balotelli, who is yet to score a Premier League goal since signing in August, but the Serie A club's president has refuted the rumours.

"What would be the use in buying them? We're fully covered in attack, and in a few months we'll have [Lorenzo] Insigne back too," De Laurentiis told Il Mattino.

"Let's not forget that Lavezzi makes €4.5 million a year and, above all else, that he was the one who wanted to leave Napoli in the first place.

"He made that decision in 2011, when we asked him to stay for another year. Then in 2012 he moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

"Sometimes the agents of the players amuse themselves by mentioning our names, but we have nothing to do with Lavezzi or Balotelli."

De Laurentiis is also hopeful that head coach Rafa Benitez will sign a new contract at the club as he aims to bring some continuity to the San Paolo.

"I hope he will stay with us because giving continuity to the club's technical project represents the best solution. We'll know everything in a few months from now," he added.

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Liverpool cannot let Gerrard farewell roadshow overshadow their season

 

COMMENT: The midfielder deserves his acclaim on Merseyside but the size of the task facing Brendan Rodgers after an underwhelming campaign so far should not be underestimated

The chances are that Steven Gerrard remembers Jamie Carragher's Anfield farewell. It was the celebration of a great career. His long-term ally’s children joined him on the pitch and the Kop formed a mosaic that read 'JC23'. Carragher even almost scored the rarest of goals with a ferocious shot that hit the woodwork.

It was also meaningless. Not to Carragher, to his family or to the fans who paid tribute to a homegrown hero, but in a cold, hard sense. There was nothing at stake. Liverpool were not playing for a top-four finish. There were no trophies to parade on the Anfield pitch. A wonderful servant's playing days ended in the anti-climax of an underwhelming season.

Two years on, there is the risk of a repeat. Except that this time, Liverpool's final fixture is not even at Anfield. It is at Stoke. Windy, unromantic Stoke. A 17th year of Gerrard's extraordinary service could conclude amid tussles with Ryan Shawcross at corners. If there is nothing to play for, there must be a temptation to say goodbye to Gerrard eight days earlier, against Crystal Palace and, more importantly, at home.

Gerrard put an end to speculation about his future, sparing Brendan Rodgers months of questions about a new contract (and potentially another season of debate about his place), by announcing he will leave Anfield.

While it was essentially a selfless decision, one possibility is that the next four months become a farewell tour. That every game gets framed in the context of Gerrard, of whether he starts or stars or scores, of whether he can record a final Merseyside derby win, a last triumph against Manchester United, another victory against Chelsea, the club he twice rejected.

There will be his last goal, his last penalty, his last assist, and perhaps, in a throwback to his glory days, his last demonstration of his Roy-of-the-Rovers-esque ability to win games single-handed.

Gerrard won't want the fuss. He will appreciate the right amount of appreciation, and from the right people. He was irritated when Rafa Benitez, in his technocratic, mechanical way, denied him praise, but nor will he want too much of it, too often, in a four-month roadshow.

Whether he realises it, his place in history is secure anyway. He will want some normality – or what passes for normality when you have spent 11 years captaining Liverpool in often turbulent times – before he trades Merseyside for, in all probability, Major League Soccer.

But just as Gerrard, despite the ludicrous 'Stevie Me' tag, is essentially a team player, one who, despite scoring 180 goals for Liverpool, will pass if a team-mate is better positioned, the rest of this campaign is about the team.



A fitting farewell to him isn't about flags, banners, songs or a commemorative programme as much as leaving with a tangible achievement. The Capital One Cup offers the most realistic chance of silverware. Gerrard famously helped Liverpool overcome Chelsea in two Champions League semi-finals. Now he has another two-legged tie against them. Perhaps the FA Cup could bring a May honour, just as it did in 2006.

A player whose greatest two hours in a Liverpool shirt came in the Champions League will never play in the competition for them again. Win the Europa League and at least he will leave Liverpool with a place in the European elite.

Their other route back is to finish in the top four. But after taking a mere 29 points from the first 20 league games, they probably need another 40 from the remaining 18. One way or another, Liverpool will have to improve markedly if Gerrard is to depart a winner.

And Brendan Rodgers has decisions to make. He has overplayed his captain at times this season, exhausting him with an over-reliance on Gerrard.  One of the few times he rested the 34-year-old was in the away game against Real Madrid. It was cruelly tactless.

Now he has to imagine a future without Gerrard, one where Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen and Emre Can have parts to play and Lucas Leiva might. He has to prepare Liverpool for life after Gerrard. He has to balance different objectives rather better than he has done so far. He has to ensure he does not disrespect a legend. He has to win games.

The 4-1 defeat of Swansea, which Gerrard watched from the bench, prompted the now familiar suggestions Liverpool are better without him. Anyone who witnessed the first hour of the games against Stoke and Sunderland where, with the captain sat on the bench, Liverpool failed to record a shot on target, has the evidence to disagree.

Rodgers' current 3-4-2-1 system suits Gerrard, getting pace either side of him and in front of him. But he cannot play every game. Rodgers has to pick and choose rather more cleverly.

And at some point, he has to plan for next season, when he will need a new goalkeeper, a new centre-back, a new striker and a new Steven Gerrard. The tributes to the departing captain should not obscure the size of the task.

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Mourinho: Chelsea's opponents keep getting Christmas gifts

 

The Blues suffered just their second league defeat of the campaign and the former Real Madrid boss was again left unhappy with the performance of the officials

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has fumed that opposition are being given "Christmas gifts" by referees after his team were beaten 5-3 by Tottenham on Thursday.

The former Real Madrid boss appeared to be angry with a number of Dowd's decsions while on the touchline as he berated the fourth official with regularity.

Mourinho claimed on Sunday that there is a campaign among referees to punish his side, but refused to be drawn on the issue after seeing his side suffer just their second league loss of the season.

"I don't want to be punished. I want to be here in the next match. So I will just say that we lost. Today is another day, Sunday is another match, life goes on," he told BT Sport.

"Campaign? I don't want to answer that. I think we made some defensive mistakes, some individual mistakes, it was not easy for my defenders to cope with a good [Nacer] Chadli and especially a good [Harry] Kane, but it was also difficult for Tottenham to cope with an amazing [Eden] Hazard and good Diego Costa.

"You can focus on the result, on the important moments of the game, I prefer the former because I can't talk about the big moments. You don't want to talk about the decisions? I don't.

"I hate to lose. But I prefer to lose like I did against Newcastle - with a clean performance from the official.

"A game of football that you lose is a different feeling. We had important Christmas gifts in the last two matches - gifts that people who love football don't like."

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Chelsea as good as Real Madrid, says victorious Pochettino

  

Spurs condemned Jose Mourinho's team to just their second league defeat of the campaign, with the head coach especially pleased with striker Harry Kane

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed his side's victory over Chelsea as he believes they are among the best teams in the world - as good as European and world champions Real Madrid.

Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli starred as the White Hart Lane outfit ran out 5-3 winners to inflict the second league defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho's side.

And though Pochettino believes the Blues are on the same level as Champions League holders Madrid - who are currently in the midst of a 22-game win streak in competitive games - he is not getting carried away with the victory.

"The most important thing today is to congratulate my players for a great effort and our supporters too. We deserved the victory," he told reporters.

"We were better than Chelsea and that’s the most important thing for me. For me it’s only three points. It’s a good victory against one of the best teams in the world.

"We are in a process and we need to believe. Victories like today, you can improve more quickly. Situations always change very quickly in football but we have improved a lot in the last few months and I think we are stronger now.

"It’s difficult to find a weakness in the Chelsea team. They are one of the best in the world, at Real Madrid’s level. They have a lot of international players."

Kane scored twice as well as claiming an assist and winning a penalty, with the 21-year-old surpassing 20 goals in all competitions this season in the process.

And Pochettino believes his forward is doing enough to earn an international call-up, though he warned against rushing him into England action.

"I think he put in a great performance but not only him. The team performance was great," he added. "We need to be careful with him, he’s still young. But at present it’s impossible to hide him because of his performances.

"We try to help him improve every day and if the national team manager wants to include him, it’s not my decision. We give all players the chance to improve. Harry is still young but he is starting to show his quality."

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