My Government Left N36 billion Debt, Not N84 billion - -

The immediate-past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has dismissed claims of financial recklessness and indebtedness levelled against his administration by the Governor, Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, saying that the state is indebted to the tune of N36.317 billion as at October 15, 2014, when he left office, against an indebtedness of N57 billion.

Fayemi described Fayose’s allegations as “fraudulent claims and deliberate distortion of facts” to paint a dismal state of finance for the state.

Fayose had in his inaugural speech put the state’s debt profile at N57 billion. A day earlier, he had put the figure at N84 billion during a television interview.

Fayemi through his media Aide, Olayinka Oyebode, in a press statement released in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the indebtedness of the state as at October 15, is N36, 316 billion. Of this amount, the sum of N7.830 billion represents foreign loans incurred by previous government since the days of the old Ondo State.


“The remaining sum of N28, 485 billion represents internal loan. This includes inherited loans from previous government and outstanding balance (debt) of the bond taken at the capital market.”

Adding that Fayose should have gone through the handover note on his four-year stewardship before making unfounded claims

Continuing, Oyebode wrote, “In spite of this, the Federal Government is owing the state the sum of N17.7billion. This includes N10.8 billion (amount due from construction of federal roads); N4 billion (refund on Paris Club) and N2.8 billion (amount due on ecological projects). If the Federal Government would graciously effect part of this payment, the debt profile of the state would have been greatly reduced,”

Oyebode added: “While Mr Fayose alleged that the state account was in red, the state bank balances as at October 15th stood at N1.9 billion. This comprised N1.46 billion (state account) and N466.9 million (local government account). Also the Bond Sinking Fund Account balance as at September stood at N3 billion.”

“Nothing could be farther from the truth than Mr. Fayose’s allegation that none of the MDA’s account had up to One million naira. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture’s account is in the excess of N90million, while the MDG account has close to One billion naira”, said the former CPS.

He said in all this, the Debt Management Office (DMO), a federal government agency, still rates the state as one of the least indebted states in the country.

Oyebode maintained that the Fayemi–led administration had in 2011 approached the Capital Market where it raised a N25billion bond which it spent on infrastructure projects which are regenerative in nature.

“Of the sum, about N14 billion has been repaid through the laid down repayment regime. The outstanding balance of the bond money forms part of the N28billion debt profile according to the state’s audited accounts which was published in some national newspapers last week.”

My Government Left N36 billion Debt, Not N84 billion - -

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The immediate-past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has dismissed claims of financial recklessness and indebtedness levelled against his administration by the Governor, Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, saying that the state is indebted to the tune of N36.317 billion as at October 15, 2014, when he left office, against an indebtedness of N57 billion.

Fayemi described Fayose’s allegations as “fraudulent claims and deliberate distortion of facts” to paint a dismal state of finance for the state.

Fayose had in his inaugural speech put the state’s debt profile at N57 billion. A day earlier, he had put the figure at N84 billion during a television interview.

Fayemi through his media Aide, Olayinka Oyebode, in a press statement released in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the indebtedness of the state as at October 15, is N36, 316 billion. Of this amount, the sum of N7.830 billion represents foreign loans incurred by previous government since the days of the old Ondo State.


“The remaining sum of N28, 485 billion represents internal loan. This includes inherited loans from previous government and outstanding balance (debt) of the bond taken at the capital market.”

Adding that Fayose should have gone through the handover note on his four-year stewardship before making unfounded claims

Continuing, Oyebode wrote, “In spite of this, the Federal Government is owing the state the sum of N17.7billion. This includes N10.8 billion (amount due from construction of federal roads); N4 billion (refund on Paris Club) and N2.8 billion (amount due on ecological projects). If the Federal Government would graciously effect part of this payment, the debt profile of the state would have been greatly reduced,”

Oyebode added: “While Mr Fayose alleged that the state account was in red, the state bank balances as at October 15th stood at N1.9 billion. This comprised N1.46 billion (state account) and N466.9 million (local government account). Also the Bond Sinking Fund Account balance as at September stood at N3 billion.”

“Nothing could be farther from the truth than Mr. Fayose’s allegation that none of the MDA’s account had up to One million naira. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture’s account is in the excess of N90million, while the MDG account has close to One billion naira”, said the former CPS.

He said in all this, the Debt Management Office (DMO), a federal government agency, still rates the state as one of the least indebted states in the country.

Oyebode maintained that the Fayemi–led administration had in 2011 approached the Capital Market where it raised a N25billion bond which it spent on infrastructure projects which are regenerative in nature.

“Of the sum, about N14 billion has been repaid through the laid down repayment regime. The outstanding balance of the bond money forms part of the N28billion debt profile according to the state’s audited accounts which was published in some national newspapers last week.”

How To Apply and Start Making Money From Product Sales With Jumia Affiliate Program

How To Apply and Start Making Money From Product Sales With Jumia Affiliate Program

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Sabina,Lilian And Esther Get Evicted

Lilian from Nigeria, Esther from Uganda and Sabina from Kenya get evicted from the 'Big Brother Hotshots'.

The second set of housemates to be evicted from the Big Brother Hotshots' are Nigerian housemate Lilian, Kenyan housemate Sabina, and Ugandan housemate Esther. The housemates were up for eviction alongside, Frankie, Tayo, Laveda, Permithias and JJ.


It has been a night of surprises as Nigerian housemate who entertained the housemates and Africa with her twerking gets evicted. With the way the eviction is going, we would be having an 'only guys' house soon.

According to the host IK, Sabina's eviction came as a surprise to him, as she was nothing but a lady in the house. In her short discussion with IK, she confessed that she was growing close to Permithias. Lilian also confessed her twerking addiction to IK, while Esther revealed that she liked Tayo.

Did you see their exit coming? Who do you think will be next?

Sabina,Lilian And Esther Get Evicted

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Lilian from Nigeria, Esther from Uganda and Sabina from Kenya get evicted from the 'Big Brother Hotshots'.

The second set of housemates to be evicted from the Big Brother Hotshots' are Nigerian housemate Lilian, Kenyan housemate Sabina, and Ugandan housemate Esther. The housemates were up for eviction alongside, Frankie, Tayo, Laveda, Permithias and JJ.


It has been a night of surprises as Nigerian housemate who entertained the housemates and Africa with her twerking gets evicted. With the way the eviction is going, we would be having an 'only guys' house soon.

According to the host IK, Sabina's eviction came as a surprise to him, as she was nothing but a lady in the house. In her short discussion with IK, she confessed that she was growing close to Permithias. Lilian also confessed her twerking addiction to IK, while Esther revealed that she liked Tayo.

Did you see their exit coming? Who do you think will be next?

A Spanish Nurse Cured Of Ebola

Spanish nurse, who became the first person to be infected with Ebola outside West Africa, has been cured of the disease after tests came back negative.

Teresa Romero, the Spanish nurse who contracted Ebola from a priest she treated, has now tested negative for the disease.

Romero was the first person to be infected with the disease outside West Africa.

Her family members reportedly told Spanish media that she was found to be Ebola-free after a preliminary test.

A subsequent test will however be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

Romero's dog, Excalibur was killed, despite protests, after authorities feared that he could pose a risk due to his contact with her.

The nurse is the third Spaniard to have Ebola but is the first to survive it after priests, Miguel Pajares and García Viejo, died of the disease which they contracted in West Africa.

A Spanish Nurse Cured Of Ebola

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Spanish nurse, who became the first person to be infected with Ebola outside West Africa, has been cured of the disease after tests came back negative.

Teresa Romero, the Spanish nurse who contracted Ebola from a priest she treated, has now tested negative for the disease.

Romero was the first person to be infected with the disease outside West Africa.

Her family members reportedly told Spanish media that she was found to be Ebola-free after a preliminary test.

A subsequent test will however be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

Romero's dog, Excalibur was killed, despite protests, after authorities feared that he could pose a risk due to his contact with her.

The nurse is the third Spaniard to have Ebola but is the first to survive it after priests, Miguel Pajares and García Viejo, died of the disease which they contracted in West Africa.

The Phase III Distribution Of PVCs In Lagos, Kano, Rivers Nov 7- INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 13 states in the third phase of the exercise to begin on Friday, 7th November and end on Sunday, 9th November 2014.

 

INEC

According to a statement by the electoral commission contained in its bulletin, yesterday, the exercise will commence on November 7 and end on November 9.

It will be followed immediately by continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise in the affected states from November 13 through 17.

Besides Lagos, Kano and Rivers, the other states involved are Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Plateau.

While the PVC and CVR exercises were earlier conducted in Ekiti and Osun states because of the governorship elections held recently, INEC had also distributed and conducted the PVCs and CVR exercises in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this year in phases I and II.

The electoral commission has also warned that only electorates with permanent voter cards will be allowed to vote during the 2015 general elections and advised eligible voters to cross-check their names in the displayed voters’ register.

“Those who registered before but do not see their names in the displayed register are to re-register during the continuous voter registration exercise.

“The CVR exercise is not for those who wish to transfer. Those wishing to transfer should write to the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in their new states of domicile, well before the election, as no transfer will be approved less than 30 days to the election.

“Those who have lost their cards or whose cards are damaged may apply for them to be replaced by writing to the resident electoral commissioner (REC) through the INEC electoral officer of the local government area where they registered for their replacement well before the election. No replacement will be approved and no new card will be issued less than 30 days to the election.”

The Phase III Distribution Of PVCs In Lagos, Kano, Rivers Nov 7- INEC

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 13 states in the third phase of the exercise to begin on Friday, 7th November and end on Sunday, 9th November 2014.

 

INEC

According to a statement by the electoral commission contained in its bulletin, yesterday, the exercise will commence on November 7 and end on November 9.

It will be followed immediately by continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise in the affected states from November 13 through 17.

Besides Lagos, Kano and Rivers, the other states involved are Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Plateau.

While the PVC and CVR exercises were earlier conducted in Ekiti and Osun states because of the governorship elections held recently, INEC had also distributed and conducted the PVCs and CVR exercises in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this year in phases I and II.

The electoral commission has also warned that only electorates with permanent voter cards will be allowed to vote during the 2015 general elections and advised eligible voters to cross-check their names in the displayed voters’ register.

“Those who registered before but do not see their names in the displayed register are to re-register during the continuous voter registration exercise.

“The CVR exercise is not for those who wish to transfer. Those wishing to transfer should write to the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in their new states of domicile, well before the election, as no transfer will be approved less than 30 days to the election.

“Those who have lost their cards or whose cards are damaged may apply for them to be replaced by writing to the resident electoral commissioner (REC) through the INEC electoral officer of the local government area where they registered for their replacement well before the election. No replacement will be approved and no new card will be issued less than 30 days to the election.”

Fear grips Benin Citizens As Bomb Rocks Her.

An explosion has occurred on Dennis Osadebey Avenue, in Benin City, Edo state leading to panic in the metropolis.

The police in Edo State have been placed on red alert after a bomb went off on Dennis Osadebey Avenue, in the state capital, Benin City.

Reports of the explosion, which is believed to have occurred on Saturday, October 18, have been confirmed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Ejiroro Ahwara.

He said via a statement today:

“The Command received information that at about 10: 30 p.m. on Saturday that there was an explosion at Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Benin City.’’

“The IED used in the attack has been recovered by the Bomb Disposal Unit for analysis, while some suspects have been arrested”

Ahwara also added that officers attached to the Special Anti-Bomb Squad had been deployed to the scene of the explosion.

The blast was set off by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), made up of two tiger batteries of 15 volts, he added.

No lives were lost in the incident and investigations are still ongoing.

Fear grips Benin Citizens As Bomb Rocks Her.

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An explosion has occurred on Dennis Osadebey Avenue, in Benin City, Edo state leading to panic in the metropolis.

The police in Edo State have been placed on red alert after a bomb went off on Dennis Osadebey Avenue, in the state capital, Benin City.

Reports of the explosion, which is believed to have occurred on Saturday, October 18, have been confirmed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Ejiroro Ahwara.

He said via a statement today:

“The Command received information that at about 10: 30 p.m. on Saturday that there was an explosion at Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Benin City.’’

“The IED used in the attack has been recovered by the Bomb Disposal Unit for analysis, while some suspects have been arrested”

Ahwara also added that officers attached to the Special Anti-Bomb Squad had been deployed to the scene of the explosion.

The blast was set off by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), made up of two tiger batteries of 15 volts, he added.

No lives were lost in the incident and investigations are still ongoing.

A Student Jumps To His Death In Malaysia

A Nigerian student simply identified as Osazuwe has taken a final jump in a criminal enterprise in far away Malaysia where he lost his life in the process.

In a bid to escape from the police in far away Maylasia, a Nigerian student simply identified as Osazuwa, took a deathly plunge from a 15-storey building to his sure death.

According news report in the Malaysian Star, an online news portal, Osazuwa who is from Edo State, was staying with friends when police stormed the place and in a bid to escape, he decided to jump from the window instead of being caught and probably sent to jail.

The incident, according to local media, happened when a Nigerian student had lodged a police report in Puchong on Sunday October 12th, claiming his girlfriend had been kidnapped by Osazuwa and his gang.

Criminal investigator Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah told local media:

The boyfriend said he received a call from a suspect who demanded RM40,000 for the release of his girlfriend, also a Nigerian student here.

We suspected the kidnappers were people that the victim must have known. Police immediately tracked the victim and her kidnappers’ whereabouts.

Malaysia police said the victim’s boyfriend cooperated with the police in their investigations and he managed to coax the suspects into giving him more time and told them he was gathering the funds.

Mohd Adnan said when police ambushed the unit located at the condominium’s 13th floor, there were three Nigerian men and two local women.

The police managed to find the victim’s location on Monday. She was being held in a condominium unit in Taman Melati, Ampang.

We formed a team to raid the condominium unit and moved in on the suspects at about 5 pm.

Upon seeing the police, the suspects attempted to escape. The raiding team arrested two women and two men.

The gang thought they could get money quickly by carrying out this crime, but look what had happened — it has just gone awfully wrong

The suspect who died was in his 20s and we are still trying to establish his full identity.

A Student Jumps To His Death In Malaysia

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A Nigerian student simply identified as Osazuwe has taken a final jump in a criminal enterprise in far away Malaysia where he lost his life in the process.

In a bid to escape from the police in far away Maylasia, a Nigerian student simply identified as Osazuwa, took a deathly plunge from a 15-storey building to his sure death.

According news report in the Malaysian Star, an online news portal, Osazuwa who is from Edo State, was staying with friends when police stormed the place and in a bid to escape, he decided to jump from the window instead of being caught and probably sent to jail.

The incident, according to local media, happened when a Nigerian student had lodged a police report in Puchong on Sunday October 12th, claiming his girlfriend had been kidnapped by Osazuwa and his gang.

Criminal investigator Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah told local media:

The boyfriend said he received a call from a suspect who demanded RM40,000 for the release of his girlfriend, also a Nigerian student here.

We suspected the kidnappers were people that the victim must have known. Police immediately tracked the victim and her kidnappers’ whereabouts.

Malaysia police said the victim’s boyfriend cooperated with the police in their investigations and he managed to coax the suspects into giving him more time and told them he was gathering the funds.

Mohd Adnan said when police ambushed the unit located at the condominium’s 13th floor, there were three Nigerian men and two local women.

The police managed to find the victim’s location on Monday. She was being held in a condominium unit in Taman Melati, Ampang.

We formed a team to raid the condominium unit and moved in on the suspects at about 5 pm.

Upon seeing the police, the suspects attempted to escape. The raiding team arrested two women and two men.

The gang thought they could get money quickly by carrying out this crime, but look what had happened — it has just gone awfully wrong

The suspect who died was in his 20s and we are still trying to establish his full identity.

Eagles Camp Opens Monday In Abuja

Super Eagles camp for the African Nations Cup double header against Sudan on October 11 and 15 respectively will open in Abuja on Monday, October 5 with the technical crew and his backroom staff.

According to Head coach of the team, Stephen Keshi, the players are expected to start arriving camp from Monday, October 6 to enable them have at least three days of training before flying to Khartoum, capital of Sudan for the first leg of the two legged matches.

“I expect all the players to be available for training in Abuja before we depart for the game. All the players have assured me that they would be available for the games and would try to come early,” says Keshi.

“They know the importance of the games and we cannot afford not to be in Morocco to defend our title. We are not unaware of the precarious position we found ourselves in the fight to qualify for Afcon but we shall scale through by the grace of God” he quipped.

He said that if beating Sudan is what the Super Eagles need to qualify for the African Nations Cup, then they have no choice than to do just that by winning the two fixtures to remain in contention.

Eagles Camp Opens Monday In Abuja

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Super Eagles camp for the African Nations Cup double header against Sudan on October 11 and 15 respectively will open in Abuja on Monday, October 5 with the technical crew and his backroom staff.

According to Head coach of the team, Stephen Keshi, the players are expected to start arriving camp from Monday, October 6 to enable them have at least three days of training before flying to Khartoum, capital of Sudan for the first leg of the two legged matches.

“I expect all the players to be available for training in Abuja before we depart for the game. All the players have assured me that they would be available for the games and would try to come early,” says Keshi.

“They know the importance of the games and we cannot afford not to be in Morocco to defend our title. We are not unaware of the precarious position we found ourselves in the fight to qualify for Afcon but we shall scale through by the grace of God” he quipped.

He said that if beating Sudan is what the Super Eagles need to qualify for the African Nations Cup, then they have no choice than to do just that by winning the two fixtures to remain in contention.

Kelechi Iheanacho Turns 18, Set For Man City Pro Contract

Flying Eagles midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho who is on the books of Manchester City but yet to be granted a work permit because he has not clocked 18 and yet to be handed a work permit could now be in line for a professional contract as he turns 18-years-old todat, Friday, 3 October 2014.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Iheanacho was voted the Most Valueable Player of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he helped Nigeria win a record fourth title at the Cadet World Cup.

Recently, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi revealed that he will NOT invite Iheanacho alongside MLS September Player of the Month winner, Seattle Sounders’ Obafemi Martins, to the national team because he has not played much games for the Citizens though he was in promising form during the English champions’ pre season friendlies.

Iheanacho’s dream of playing for Nigeria’s senior national team may wait until after he plays for the Flying Eagles in the African U-20 Youth Championship early 2015 in Senegal and hopefully at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

However, should there be a change of guard in the Super Eagles coaching crew, fans of the three-time African champions may see the prodigiously talented star strut his skills for the Super Eagles sooner than expected.

Manchester City also have in their youth team Iheanacho’s U-17 World Cup teammate, Chidiebere Nwakali who was one of the best midfielders of the U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

Kelechi Iheanacho Turns 18, Set For Man City Pro Contract

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Flying Eagles midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho who is on the books of Manchester City but yet to be granted a work permit because he has not clocked 18 and yet to be handed a work permit could now be in line for a professional contract as he turns 18-years-old todat, Friday, 3 October 2014.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Iheanacho was voted the Most Valueable Player of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he helped Nigeria win a record fourth title at the Cadet World Cup.

Recently, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi revealed that he will NOT invite Iheanacho alongside MLS September Player of the Month winner, Seattle Sounders’ Obafemi Martins, to the national team because he has not played much games for the Citizens though he was in promising form during the English champions’ pre season friendlies.

Iheanacho’s dream of playing for Nigeria’s senior national team may wait until after he plays for the Flying Eagles in the African U-20 Youth Championship early 2015 in Senegal and hopefully at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

However, should there be a change of guard in the Super Eagles coaching crew, fans of the three-time African champions may see the prodigiously talented star strut his skills for the Super Eagles sooner than expected.

Manchester City also have in their youth team Iheanacho’s U-17 World Cup teammate, Chidiebere Nwakali who was one of the best midfielders of the U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

More Pain To Come For ‘Unrecognisable’ Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has laid bare his frustration with Liverpool’s form by describing the team as unrecognisable from last season’s title challengers and warning supporters there could be further pain ahead.
Liverpool host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday with seven points from six league games and having fallen to a fourth defeat in nine matches this term at Basel in the Champions League. Rodgers claimed “we have gone into a little bit of transition” following the Basel setback and compared Albion’s visit to his first league game as Liverpool manager at The Hawthorns in August 2012, on the basis that “this feels like a new group again”.

While a transitional period was to be expected following Luis Suárez’s departure to Barcelona and the signing of nine players at Anfield this summer, the extent of Liverpool’s problems have alarmed even their manager. Rodgers made no attempt to camouflage his team’s malaise ahead of the Albion game and, in his most damning assessment of Liverpool’s performances so far this season, admitted he does not recognise the side that fell just short of winning the Premier League title only six months ago.

“It’s hard for the supporters [to hear of transition] and I understand that,” said the Liverpool manager. “It must be so difficult at the moment to see a team that for 18 months has been so fluent and dynamic. Now they probably look and see a team with maybe no resemblance to that in many ways. I understand that and there is no one more frustrated than myself.

“We look at our game, which is based a lot on possession, but we’re also a big threat in transition when we’ve won the ball back and we’re on the break. We don’t look a threat on the break at the moment. You could argue that we don’t even play in transition. We’re getting no one in behind. No one is breaking lines.”

That final complaint, about a lack of penetrating runs behind opposition defences, suggests Rodgers has more concerns over Mario Balotelli’s contribution than the lack of goals and assists that he criticised on Thursday. The £16m signing from Milan is likely to lead the line again against Alan Irvine’s team with Daniel Sturridge expected to miss a seventh game with a thigh injury, another source of frustration for the manager.

More Pain To Come For ‘Unrecognisable’ Liverpool

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Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has laid bare his frustration with Liverpool’s form by describing the team as unrecognisable from last season’s title challengers and warning supporters there could be further pain ahead.
Liverpool host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday with seven points from six league games and having fallen to a fourth defeat in nine matches this term at Basel in the Champions League. Rodgers claimed “we have gone into a little bit of transition” following the Basel setback and compared Albion’s visit to his first league game as Liverpool manager at The Hawthorns in August 2012, on the basis that “this feels like a new group again”.

While a transitional period was to be expected following Luis Suárez’s departure to Barcelona and the signing of nine players at Anfield this summer, the extent of Liverpool’s problems have alarmed even their manager. Rodgers made no attempt to camouflage his team’s malaise ahead of the Albion game and, in his most damning assessment of Liverpool’s performances so far this season, admitted he does not recognise the side that fell just short of winning the Premier League title only six months ago.

“It’s hard for the supporters [to hear of transition] and I understand that,” said the Liverpool manager. “It must be so difficult at the moment to see a team that for 18 months has been so fluent and dynamic. Now they probably look and see a team with maybe no resemblance to that in many ways. I understand that and there is no one more frustrated than myself.

“We look at our game, which is based a lot on possession, but we’re also a big threat in transition when we’ve won the ball back and we’re on the break. We don’t look a threat on the break at the moment. You could argue that we don’t even play in transition. We’re getting no one in behind. No one is breaking lines.”

That final complaint, about a lack of penetrating runs behind opposition defences, suggests Rodgers has more concerns over Mario Balotelli’s contribution than the lack of goals and assists that he criticised on Thursday. The £16m signing from Milan is likely to lead the line again against Alan Irvine’s team with Daniel Sturridge expected to miss a seventh game with a thigh injury, another source of frustration for the manager.

Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal Makes Case For His Defense

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United have conceded “too many goals” and has told the team to start defending as a unit, beginning with the strikers. United have let in nine goals in six matches, with only Crystal Palace conceding more of those sides in the top half of the table, as Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

Louis Van Gaal

“I want my defensive organisation to be better but the defence begins in the striker’s position,” he said. “It’s teamwork, so when we concede a goal it’s not only because of an individual error from the defence. It starts somewhere else and that is what we have to analyse and improve.

“All the teams are mostly scoring goals out of counterattacks against us and free-kicks and corners – not that they make their goals like we do out of building up, first, second, third and fourth phase.

“That’s the difference and, when you want to be a big team, you have to perform like that. You must dominate the game. When they are organised and also when the team is organised in their own half, then you need these kinds of players [who can carry this out]. But you also need to think about the balance of the team and the defensive organisation at the same time. That is what I’m working on.”

Van Gaal rejected the suggestion that having attack-minded footballers such as Ángel di María makes the defensive side difficult. “You want to make it personal,” he said. “We are playing like a team and then you pick up on Di María, it’s a pity.

“We have a lot of creative attacking players in our selection and I like that but I also like to think that you have the discipline to come back in a certain shape because now we have conceded too many goals. The media are writing it’s because of the weak defence, but no. I have explained I want to improve your knowledge of football also.”

With Juan Mata favourite to replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in the No10 role, Van Gaal would not explain what Adnan Januzaj has to do to make the starting XI. “You make it again personal. I cannot answer that, it’s personal.”

The Dutchman offered a similar response regarding who would be captain at Old Trafford on Sunday. “You shall see,” he said. “I have told the players but you shall see on Sunday.”

Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal Makes Case For His Defense

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Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United have conceded “too many goals” and has told the team to start defending as a unit, beginning with the strikers. United have let in nine goals in six matches, with only Crystal Palace conceding more of those sides in the top half of the table, as Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

Louis Van Gaal

“I want my defensive organisation to be better but the defence begins in the striker’s position,” he said. “It’s teamwork, so when we concede a goal it’s not only because of an individual error from the defence. It starts somewhere else and that is what we have to analyse and improve.

“All the teams are mostly scoring goals out of counterattacks against us and free-kicks and corners – not that they make their goals like we do out of building up, first, second, third and fourth phase.

“That’s the difference and, when you want to be a big team, you have to perform like that. You must dominate the game. When they are organised and also when the team is organised in their own half, then you need these kinds of players [who can carry this out]. But you also need to think about the balance of the team and the defensive organisation at the same time. That is what I’m working on.”

Van Gaal rejected the suggestion that having attack-minded footballers such as Ángel di María makes the defensive side difficult. “You want to make it personal,” he said. “We are playing like a team and then you pick up on Di María, it’s a pity.

“We have a lot of creative attacking players in our selection and I like that but I also like to think that you have the discipline to come back in a certain shape because now we have conceded too many goals. The media are writing it’s because of the weak defence, but no. I have explained I want to improve your knowledge of football also.”

With Juan Mata favourite to replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in the No10 role, Van Gaal would not explain what Adnan Januzaj has to do to make the starting XI. “You make it again personal. I cannot answer that, it’s personal.”

The Dutchman offered a similar response regarding who would be captain at Old Trafford on Sunday. “You shall see,” he said. “I have told the players but you shall see on Sunday.”