Vucinic goal drought continues

Mirko Vucinic has now gone nine League games without a goal for Italian champions Juventus.

The former Roma player is back in the Juve side after injury and illness, but he’s been unable to ripple the net.

Vucinic began the 3-0 win over Torino on Saturday night, but his Bianconerogoal drought continued against their city rivals.

The Montenegro international has just two League goals this season and those came in Week 2 and 3 against Udinese and Genoa – a penalty – respectively.

Vucinic has four goals in total with his other strikes coming in the Italian Super Cup Final and versus Nordsjaelland, his last to date, on October 23. He’s played in 17 games in total this term.

Fabio Quagliarella and Arturo Vidal are the side’s top scorers this term with nine goals apiece, Sebastian Giovinco has seven

Italy return delights Maresca

Enzo Maresca is happy to be back in the world of Italian football after signing for Sampdoria in the summer.

The midfielder left his homeland in 2005 after opting to join Spanish clubSevilla following a season at Fiorentina. He then enjoyed spells atOlympiacos and Malaga.

“After seven years away, I wanted to come back to Italy as I missed my family,” the 32-year-old commented.

“I’m putting myself at the disposal of this young team and I hope that I can help them with my experience.”

Samp have had an up and down campaign to date, but they collected a credible 2-2 draw against Fiorentina on Sunday.

“It was an important draw for us after two wins,” he stated. “We are certainly getting consistent results again.

“Now we need to think about the Udinese game as that will be a fundamental encounter for us.”

Doria, who had gone on a seven game losing streak, are twelfth in the table thanks to 17 points from 15 games. That should actually be 18, but they began the term with a one-point penalty

Agnelli hits out at Superga banner

Andrea Agnelli has criticised the Juventus fans who unveiled a banner mocking the Superga tragedy during the derby against Torino.

In May 1949, almost all of the Grande Torino side which dominated the Italian game were killed when their plane crashed on their return from Portugal.

“I don’t believe that the supremacy of supporters should be manifested by remembering the tragedies of others,” Juve President Agnelli noted.

“You see these banners in stadiums all over Italy with gratuitous insults that absolutely have to be condemned.

“It is a shame to see that in a stadium where the atmosphere is noted by the Curva – they have the power to give personality to an arena.

“Tragedies, as far as I am concerned, don’t have club loyalties

Turning to the playing side of things, Agnelli was pleased with the win over Toro and looked forward to this week’s Champions League game at ShakhtarDonetsk.

“It’s very pleasing to win a derby thanks to two players, Sebastian Giovincoand Claudio Marchisio, who grew up in our youth system,” he continued.

“The most satisfying thing of the night was that from 10.30pm onwards, I didn’t hear from half of my friends…

“Shakhtar? Our concentration, determination and anger must be strong enough to get the result that we need to qualify.

“It’s a game that can give us different results. We could come first or, if we don’t face it in the correct manner, there could be elimination.”

A win will see Juve top the group, a draw will see them come second and a loss – coupled with a Chelsea victory – will see the Old Lady demoted to theEuropa League.

Newcastle look to end run of four straight defeats against Wigan

Alan Pardew’s beleaguered Magpies have lost their last four league games on the bounce, winning just one of their last nine to leave them 14th in the table and just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Their position is a stark contrast to where they were this time last season, when they sat sixth in the standings and only two points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places.

The Toon’s latest setback came at Stoke last week, when they led by Papiss Cisse’s opener only to be pegged back by two late goals.

Wigan also enter the Tyneside clash on the back of defeat after they were beaten 2-0 at home to defending champions Manchester City last Wednesday.

Roberto Martinez’s side have lost three of their last four encounters to leave them level on 14 points with Newcastle and a place behind in 15th.

Chicago Fire’s Sean Johnson training at Stoke ahead of Everton stint

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson is enjoying the experience of playing in England after agreeing to train with Stoke and Everton during the Major League Soccer off-season.

The 23-year-old, capped twice for the United States national side, is currently at the Britannia Stadium taking in a stint with the Potters.

He will then head to Merseyside on December 10th to train with Everton for a second successive year after spending time with the Toffees last winter.

Johnson is relishing his time at Stoke, where he has been catching up with international team-mates Maurice Edu and Geoff Cameron.

He told Chicago Fire’s official website: “I’ve hung out with both of them. I’m actually staying with Maurice at the moment.

“They’re great guys to be around and it’s just good to see familiar faces and make most of the time you have with your friends while you’re over here.”

He added: “Training with their goalkeeper coach and getting the chance to play and train with the guys at the top level. Just seeing how another team operates gives you perspective.”

“I think it’s been a great experience working with guys like Thomas Sorensen, Asmir Begovic and Carlo Nash.”

Opportunity

Johnson is looking forward to linking up with USA No.1 Tim Howard and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods again at Everton.

“Having been in with the national team a lot more this past year, training with Chris and Tim again here is a fantastic opportunity to keep some continuity and show how I’m growing,” he said.

“To be in that environment day-in and day-out and make yourself a better goalkeeper will do wonders for me as a player.”

Martin O’Neill urges Sunderland to fight for victory against Chelsea despite poor run

Martin O’Neill has urged Sunderland to fight for victory against Chelsea on Saturday despite a recent disappointing run of results.

The Black Cats hover one point above the relegation zone having recorded only one win at home since March.

But O’Neill believes determination will prove vital in helping his side change their fortunes.

“It takes a strong player to play here for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, I have often thought that,” O’Neill told the Sunderland Echo.

“There are clubs up and down the country where it’s tough playing at home. I managed a team up in Scotland for five years where you had to be a really decent player, with a strong mentality.

“I think it was the late Tommy Burns who said it was harder to play for Celtic than to play against them. I know exactly what he means.

“Here, it’s demanding and you have to have plenty of courage and ability to play here. You have to have a good mentality and a bit of self-confidence.

“And then you need to go and win some football matches and put on a performance. That’s very, very important.”

Ryan Giggs insists Man United need to turn around their derby form

Ryan Giggs admits that Manchester United’s failure to win the title last season can be traced back to their derby loses to Manchester City.

The first Manchester derby of the season headlines this weekend’s Super Sunday as United travel to the Etihad Stadium.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men lost both matches last term, including a 6-1 hammering at Old Trafford before losing 1-0 at City, which many feel kick-started their charge to the title.

And Giggs admits those two loses proved crucial, telling Sky Sports: “If we had drawn the game [at City] we would have won the league.

“Those two games were probably the difference so hopefully we can get the result and that will be the difference at the end of the season.”

Giggs admits that the Manchester derby is now as big as any in the league.

“Over the last few years, City – the money they have spent and the quality they have brought in – it has got bigger and bigger.

“Derbies are always big but with them winning the league now and the quality they have, it is a huge game, and a massive build-up beforehand.”