Liverpool wont panic buy

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Dec 13, 2013

Although Liverpool are performing very well in the Premier League, recent injuries to Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge along with the long term injury to Jose Enrique has threatened to derail their momentum.

With a busy Christmas period which see’s them travel away to Tottenham, Manchester city and Chelsea, losing their captain and half of the SAS partnership has come at a terrible time in the season.

With the squad down to its bare bones, many expect an influx of transfer activity around Anfield. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied any rumours that he will try to rush transfers through.

“January can be a hard window,” he told Sky Sports News. “While we were very successful in it last year – with Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge – we just won’t be buying for the sake of it. We will wait and see what is out there.”

Time will tell whether Liverpool have enough strength in depth in terms of their squad to carry them through, until the likes of Gerrard and Sturridge return.

Written by Kyle Farrington

Arsenal and Newcastle want Kasper Schmeichel.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

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Arsenal and Newcastle United have been out on red alert by Kasper Schmeichal, who is set to leave current club Leicester City, if the Foxes to not achieve promotion to the Barclays Premier League at the end of the current campaign.

Leicester are desperate for the Danish shot stopper to sign a new deal, but are worried they could lose a key member of their squad at the end of the season on a free transfer, as Schmeichal’s contract is coming to an end after the Skybet Championship season concludes.

It has since emerged that Arsenal and Newcastle United are after the highly rated goalkeepe, who is the son of ledgendary goalkeeper Peter.

Schmeichal has been one of City’s stand out performers this campaign, making some vital saves to preserve games as Leicester currently sit top of the table heading into the festive season.

Toon boss Alan Pardew and his Gunners counterpart Arsene Wenger are both admirers of Schmeichel, the son of Manchester United legend Peter, and see him as ideal back-up to current No.1s Tim Krul and Wojciech Szczesny respectively.

The Dane has enjoyed Premier League experience before, having breaking through the ranks at Manchester City, to become the club’s number one goalkeeper choice under then boss Sven Goran Eriksson, in the 2008/2009 campaign, before losing his place to future England number one, fresh faced Joe Hart.Schmeichal dropped further down the pecking order as Shay Given signed from Newcastle United in the January of 2009.

Schmeichal was then shipped out to various clubs, including Cardiff City and Notts County, before spending a season at Leeds United, and then onto Leicester City in the summer of 2011, where he has gone onto make 109 league appearances.

Schmeichal had recently issued a rallying to his Leicester team mates stating…..

Some people are getting a bit bogged down with things,” said Schmeichel.

“Being a point off top spot is a good position. If anyone had said we would be going into the Christmas period being one point off the leaders, we would have bitten their hand off.

“We are still in a great position and we have some great games coming up that everyone is buzzing for.

“Everyone knows we didn’t play well at Brighton and there is no point dressing that up, but we were a little unlucky at Sheffield Wednesday.

“Their keeper made some really good saves and had a really good game. On another day, he doesn’t save those and we win.

“We have been finding ways to win this season and that is a good strength of ours.

“We have been grinding out wins and we will get back to that, I am sure.”

City will probably need to secure promotion to the top flight, with top flight clubs all after the Dane.

Born in Copenhagen, Schmeichel has played twice for Denmark.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Pardew impressed with Lambert.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hailed Southampton centre forward Rickie Lambert, after the Southampton talisman has impressed during his time on the South Coast.

Pardew signed Lambert in 2009 from Bristol Rovers, when Pardew was manager of the then League One Southampton.

Fast forward to the present day and Lambert, who turns 32 in February, is not only a key element of Southampton’s Premier League attack but seems set to be part of England’s World Cup squad next summer in Brazil, as England look for a successful campaign.

Lambert’s call up is not a surprise to those who have watched his career closely at Southampton, as the Liverpool born striker scored vital goals which gave the Saints promotion from League One, to the Championship, then onto the Premier League as he starred for Southampton last term, before impressing for the Saints under Mauricio Pochettino, as Southampton pudh for Europe with a very impressive strong squad.

I think Rickie will go to Brazil,” said Pardew, now in charge of Newcastle United, a team aiming to prevent Lambert and friends from scoring at St James’ Park in a Premier League game on Saturday, as both sides have impressed in this current season.

Pardew stated…..

“I never believed Rickie was too old to make it. His technical ability was always immense but he’s certainly improved since I had him.”

here was a reason why Lambert spent so much of his career in lower league and non-league habitats. “I think he would admit that perhaps his lifestyle let him down a little bit and he liked a pint and a pie,” said Pardew. “I had a couple of long chats with him about it. I remember saying: ‘I’ve just paid £1m for you. I’ve put my neck on the line a little bit here at this level; you better get that in order.’

“But we had a good sports science team at Southampton and that helped him. I’m not sure he was getting the right guidance before and maybe there were people who were a bit loose round him. He certainly looks a meaner, finer-looking specimen now as a player than he did even when he was with me. I’ve heard he still has a large collection of friends but I think now he just gives them money and sends them into the pub while he stands outside with the crisps.

Pardew went onto praise Lambet’s goal scoring record, and has stated his lower league experience has improved him both as a player, but as a person in general.

The Newcastle United manager then went onto speak about his managerial days at West Ham United, and the high profile coup regarding the transfer of both Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, now both plying their trade at Juventus and Barcelona respectively…..but admitted Lambert could have easilly played in that squad.

“Back then I never thought he’d play for England but I did tell him he could get to the Premier League. I’d managed there with West Ham. I’d coached Carlos Tevez and Dean Ashton and I thought he could definitely have played in my West Ham team”.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

United expected to win every game

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Dec 13, 2013

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Manchester United boss David Moyes ha revealed he is under a lot of pressure a his side are ‘expected’ to win every game. It has been a tough season for Moyes since taking over from fellow Scot Sir Alex Ferguson and sees his side sitting in 9th, which is a large contrast to last season, where they comfortably won the title.

Moyes has been under lots of criticizm as of late following poor league form, losing 1-0 Newcastle and 1-0 to Everton in successive matches, and he realises the pressure is on, more than anyone. “This club is expected to win all the games,’ Moyes said. “That is the fact and that is why if you lose one or two then things get said.”

“I knew that was situation. I understand that. There are a lot of games we can get points in but we need to go and do it, not talk about it, but make sure it happens on the field.”

United haven’t won a match in the league since early Novermber and their start to the season has been their worst 12 years, amassing just 22 points from 15 games.

United are almost out of the title race completely, and Arsenal (who last won a trophy in 2005) are top, 13 points clear of the Red Devils. This is something Moyes knows and is keen to move on from: “The gap (from the top) is bigger than we would like it to be. We’d like to be closer. We can only do one game at a time. Lets look at it later on next year and can let us see if we can answer question better then.”

In addition to this, last season’s top scorer Robin van Perise ruled out for a month following a thigh strain during United’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donestsk on Tuesday. But Moyes will be keen to turn his side’s fortunes around as they travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, where they haven’t lost in 17 attempts.

By Phil Wellbrook

London clubs want Deeney.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Watford centre forward Troy Deeney is wanted by London clubs Fulham and West Ham United, once the January transfer window opens in three weeks time, with the two Premier League sides monitoring Deeney’s situation at current side Watford.

Deeney has been in some superb form this season, scoring nine league goals in eighteen games for the Hertfordshire side.

Both West Ham United and Fulham were interested in the Watford striker in August, after putting in last ditch bids, which were rejected from Watford, Tottenham Hotspur were also interested.

Fulham may turn to Deeney to solve their striker troubles, with Rene Meleunsteen mulling over the Dimitar Berbatov situation, with contrasting reports suggesting the player wants to leave Craven Cottage, but manager Meleunsteen insist’s Berbatov wants to stay with the west London club.

Fulham manager Meleunsteen has been monitoring Deeney, and his West Ham counterpart Sam Allardyce have both admitted they are looking to bring in a new striker in the transfer window, with Allardyce especially, keen on buying a striker to solve the shortage, and to fill the gap as Andy Carroll faces an extended spell on the sidelines as the Upton Park club languish in 17th place.

The 25-year-old is now widely regarded as the best striker outside the Premier League having scored 20 goals last season, as the Hornets finished runners up in the Play off final defeat to Crystal Palace in May.

Watford are desperate to keep hold of their prize asset as they look to mount a bid for promotion to the Premier League after last years disappointment.

If Deeney does leave for the Premier League, it may turn out to be a Sad, Sad situation for the Vicarage Road club, as that may lead to a failed promotion push, which would give Zola the blues.

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Jose Mourinho keeps Ashley Cole on the bench

By

Alex Batt

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he will not play left-back Ashley Cole this weekend when his side play Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

The English international hasn’t featured as much as he would like so far this campaign after Mourinho seems to favour Cesar Azpilicueta at full-back, despite him being a natural right-back.

The 32-year-old has recently sat out of seven matches for The Blues before returning to action against Steau Bucharest on Wednesday night, and Mourinho has revealed today that Cole will not be featuring against Palace this weekend either.

‘We will change again. I want the team to change.

‘I don’t want Ashley Cole to play tomorrow, I want Ashley Cole fresh to play against Sunderland (in the Capital One Cup quarter final).

‘It’s not about chopping and changing. I trust both of them.

‘I don’t ask but I don’t think he (Cole) is happy, but he’s not a No 2.

‘I have two No 2s or two No1s (at left back), if you want.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Mourinho admits Chelsea strikers are lacking

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Jose Mourinho admitted strikers Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres are no where near the quality of the likes of Suarez or Aguero.

“Some strikers, they are players with fantastic individual qualities and can by themselves do what their team not able to do. Our strikers do not have this kind of quality or potential.”

“I’m not criticising them, because they do other jobs. The number of goals is quite frustrating, for them as much as me, but the contribution is good.”

The three front-men havce only managed 4 goals between them in the Premier League and Mourinho was left disappointed at the number of squandered opportunities in Chelsea’s 3-2 loss at Stoke.

“The other guys (Aguero and Suarez) play their strengths and have super individual qualities: dribble, shots, sharp movement. They resolve problems.”

“We don’t have this kind of striker and need them to do different type of work.”

“Do I expect more? Yes. Do we need more? Yes. But can’t expect Demba or Fernando to get ball like Sergio Aguero or Luis Suarez, dribble past three and score.”

Mourinho then went on to say that the squad he was left with following Rafa Benitez’s exit in May was not in good enough shape. He told the ‘Evening Standard’: “I knew it would be tougher [this time]. Some managers choose easy jobs, some tough, I choose a hard one but I enjoy it,”

“This is not a criticism but the last manager Benitez knew he would not be the manager for the next year and he was chasing results. He was not worried about the building of a team with a certain style.”

“I didn’t have a real base to start. For many reasons we knew the situation needs time and patience.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Pellegrini apologizes over miscalculation

By

Phil Wellbrook

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Dec 13, 2013

0

City boss Manuel Pellegrini has apologized for his massive error regarding goals scored in the Champions League.

Pellegrini failed to realise that one more goal for Manchester City would have seen them top their group, beating current holders Bayern Munich to the top spot. He had chosen not to put on their goal-scoring machine, Sergio Aguero, when City had 27 minutes to snatch 1st place away from Bayern.

City were 2-0 down following early goals from Muller and Gotze, but had turned the tie on its head in the 62nd minute through a James Milner goal to give Pellegrini’s side the lead. He spoke ahead of their important clash with Arsenal on Saturday and admitted he had miscalculated but inists the substitutions he made were positive ones.

“After, when they scored their first goal, I knew that 3-1 was not enough because they had a better goal average. It needed to be 3-0 or 4-1. When they scored the second goal, I didn’t continue to think about this. That was my mistake but normally not many teams score four against Bayern Munich. I tried to think more about how to arrange the game that we were losing 2-0.”

“So I first of all recognise my mistake but I don’t have any guilty conscience. We always tried to score the fourth goal but we couldn’t.”

“Remember that I brought David Silva off on 70 minutes for Alvaro Negredo, not for Vincent Kompany or Dedryck Boyata and we went with two strikers, trying to score. In the last five or seven minutes, they had 80% possession of the ball so I brought on Rodwell so we could win the ball back and attack, rather than defend. I repeat once again that I apologise for me and for my team that we weren’t able to score four goals against Bayern Munich.”

City won the match 3-2 in the end, which left them second in their group, meaning they could potentially face the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG.

By Phil Wellbrook

Draxler and Howedes out until new year.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Schalke pair Julian Draxler and Benedikt Howedes have both been ruled out until the new year after sustaining respective injuries in the midweek Champions League victory over Swiss FC Basel, as Schalke qualified for the knock out stage.

Draxler, who has been a target for various Premier League clubs over the past few months, came off in the game with a hamstring injury and will most certainly miss the final two games before the annual Bundesliga winter break commences.

The German playmaker has enjoyed a successful period with the Bundealiga side after bursting onto the scene last year, and looks set to stamp his mark during Germany’s FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil, as Sami Khedira looks set to miss out on the showpiece in South America.

Draxler will be joined on the sidelines by fellow German international centre-back Benedkit Hoewedes, who tore his right hamstring in the same match. The pair will sit out Sunday’s home match against Freiburg and the away trip to Nuremberg on December 21, which will bring the Bundesliga calender year to an end.

Under fire manager Jens Keller, who has been told a decision on Draxler’s future will be made over the winter break.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool have expressed an interest in the German youngster, with Brendan Rodgers flying out to Germany to watch Draxler several times this season, including Wednesday’s win over the Swiss side.

Chelsea have also been interested in Draxler, and may use out of favour Kevin De Bruyne as bait for a possible transfer dealing, with De Bruyne recently linked with a January move to a Bundesliga club.

Arsenal have long been admirers of Draxler, but last month the player said he needed regular first team football ahead of the World Cup, which could open the door further for a move to Anfield.

Howedes himself has been a transfer target, with Tottenham Hotspur interested in the highly rated defender, and Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas may use Lewis Holtby to tempt Schalke to sell.

Schalke are sixth in the Bundesliga, but are 17 points behind leaders Bayern in the league table after some erratic form and have been knocked out of the German Cup.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Fredy Guarin to Manchester United?

By

Billy Foster

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Dec 13, 2013

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Fredy Guarin has received interest from Manchester United. David Moyes has sent out scouts to watch Guarin during league matches. Due to a limited selection of midfielders available at the red devils, Ryan Giggs who is 40 years old and Phil Jones who is a centre back have been played in the centre of midfield. The manager feels that the Inter midfielder is just the player he needs.

The Spurs manager is familiar with the 27 year old when he managed a Porto side that done the treble in 2011 and the squad had Guarin in it. The Colombian is available to play in the knockout rounds for the CL as Inter finished 9th in the Serie A last season. He joined the Italian side in may 2012 after leaving Porto for £9m. Inter will allow the sell of Guarin for £15m.

By Billy Foster

Queens Park Rangers plan new stadium.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Championship side Queens Park Rangers have announced plans to leave their Loftus Road home and move to a new 40,000 seater stadium based in the Old Oak area of West London, as the hoops look to build for the future.

Rangers have developed specific plans to move away from their iconic Loftus Road home in 2018, as the proposed new ground would be part of a general regeneration project aimed at the area of the city.

Chairman Tony Fernandes has backed the plans and speaking to the club’s official website…

“Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.

“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world. This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area.”

QPR’s chief executive Phillip Beard also said….

“We will be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year. We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of. Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

The West London club, who are promotion contenders, managed by Harry Redknapp, have written a letter to the Mayor of London in collabiration with the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to “bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area”.

QPR’s plan’s comes day’s after Mayor Boris Johnson ‘s recent announcement that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter is to be one of his main regeneration priorities within Greater London.

The regeneration of the area will also include recreational area’s, Homes, Restaurant’s, Cinema’s, Gym’s and several other ameanities to transform the Old Oak area, in a similar develpment which Stratford recieved after the Olympic Games last summer, as West Ham United will take over the ground in a few years, after a long dispute.

Antony Spencer, who is developing the masterplan for the project along with Sir Terry Farrell, said the area will be a “vibrant” development.

“We are talking to a number of world-class architects to design iconic tall buildings akin to New York, the Far East and London’s finest, as well as improving and incorporating the waterside environment of the Grand Union Canal.”

He added: “We are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres. We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards.”

Loftus Road has seen historic moments in the history of the football club, with promotions, relegations, administrations and even a ground share with Fulham in the early 2000’s.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Theo Walcott to become a father

By

Alex Batt

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott has announced via his official Facebook page that he is to become a Dad.

The recently-married footballer posted the news on his page and shared it with his thousands of fans.

The statement read:

Me & Mel are happy to confirm we are expecting our first child, which is due early next summer. We are both very excited at such happy news just a few months after getting married. We are really looking forward to becoming parents.

Congratulations to both Theo and Mel on the great news!

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Robin Van Persie sidelined for a month!

By

Alex Batt

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed that star-striker Robin Van Persie will miss the whole of the festive period due to a thigh strain.

The Dutch striker picked up the knock during the side’s 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night and in his press conference today, Moyes confirmed the extent of the injury.

The news will come as a massive blow to Moyes and United as they look to try and close a 13 point gap between themselves and Arsenal, but without Van Persie for a month, it could be a hard task.

Moyes says: “Robin Van Persie is out as well for a month. He picked up a thigh strain in taking a corner kick which led to the goal.”

“It’s unfortunate because I think if you look at our record with Wayne Rooney and Robin in the team, it is actually very good and we have not had them for quite a period recently.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Henderson and Agger set to be available for Spurs clash

By

SteveMilne

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has been boosted by the return of Jordan Henderson to full training ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.

The England midfielder suffered a badly bruised ankle after a shocking challenge from West Ham’s Kevin Nolan, who was sent off late on at Anfield last weekend.

Henderson wore a protective boot earlier in the week, but has been passed fit for action at White Hart Lane.

His availability is a major relief for Rodgers, who is without captain Steven Gerrard until mid-January due to a hamstring injury.

“Jordan trained on Thursday so we’re expecting him to be fine for Sunday,” Rodgers said.

“It was just precautionary the last few days. It was a bad challenge that was made on him, but thankfully he’s okay.”

Vice-captain Daniel Agger will return to the squad for the trip to the capital after missing the 4-1 win over the Hammers due to a sickness bug.

Rodgers also confirmed – as revealed in Tuesday’s ECHO – that Gerrard will be out of action for up to six weeks.

“Certainly at this stage it’s a four to six week injury,” he added.

“Steven will go through an extensive treatment programme over the next numbers of weeks and hopefully we can get him back that little bit sooner.”

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

Newcastle target Alex McCarthy.

By

Ben Reardon

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Dec 13, 2013

0

Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is reportedly being targeted by several Premier League club’s, with Newcastle United interested in the up and coming England goalkeeper.

The young shot stopper has turned some heads after coming through the ranks at the Royals, and impressed after replacing Australian goalkeper Adam Federici, after Federici suffered an unfortunate injury, as McCarthy stepped up to the plate as Reading where relegated back to the Championship at the end of last season.

Despite his club side’s relegation to the Championship, McCarthy’s impressive performance’s didn’t go unnoticed by England manager Roy Hodgson, who selected the young keeper for England’s friendly in Brazil in June.

McCarthy has carried on the form into the Championship campaign, as Reading sit in a play off position in the Championship, and are looking for a return back to the promise land of the Premier League.

The shot stopper has been a regular for the England under 21 side, and now Newcastle are currently looking at McCarthy, as current goalkeeper Tim Krul has attracted interest from Juventus, Barcelona and Arsenal over recent weeks.

And Newcastle are keeping an eye on McCarthy, just in case Krul leaves the club.

Indeed, reports suggest that Toon scouts have watched McCarthy on several occasions this season.

Newcastle are believed to be demanding up to £20 million for the Keeper, if Juventus want to lure him to Turin.

A move to the Premier League could possibly improve McCarthy’s World Cup chances.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

SillySeason.com

Liverpool wont panic buy

Arsenal and Newcastle want Kasper Schmeichel.

Pardew impressed with Lambert.

United expected to win every game

London clubs want Deeney.

Jose Mourinho keeps Ashley Cole on the bench

Mourinho admits Chelsea strikers are lacking

Pellegrini apologizes over miscalculation

Draxler and Howedes out until new year.

Fredy Guarin to Manchester United?

Queens Park Rangers plan new stadium.

Theo Walcott to become a father

Robin Van Persie sidelined for a month!

Henderson and Agger set to be available for Spurs clash

Newcastle target Alex McCarthy.

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