Yi Heng "The Man Who Surpass GOD"

Alonso: Real learning to control games - FourFourTwo

2011-10-28T18:13:00.000+08:00

Alonso: Real learning to control games - FourFourTwo

Real Madrid have won five straight La Liga games many times before but it is the dominant manner of their most recent run of victories that suggests they may be closer to ending Barcelona's three-year grip on the Spanish title.

Jose Mourinho's expensively-assembled side, who play at Real Sociedad on Saturday, relied more on swift counter-attacking last season and often seemed incapable of exerting the control that is a hallmark of their great rivals.

Lately, however, forward Cristiano Ronaldo, resurgent playmaker Kaka, in-form strikers Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain and their team-mates have blown their opponents away in the opening stages before shutting them out by keeping the ball for extended periods.

All four of their goals in last weekend's win at Malaga came in the first half, as did all three in Wednesday's 3-0 success at home to Villarreal. They have netted 21 goals on their run of five victories, conceding only three, and are a point clear of Barca after nine matches.

"We are increasingly able to control games and we are reading them better all the time," said midfielder Xabi Alonso, who dictates play in the central areas much like his Spain team mate Xavi of Barca.

"Today [against Villarreal] we were able to mix some swift attacks with holding on to the ball and knowing how to interpret the game," the former Liverpool player told reporters.

"This means the team is continuing to grow and that's a good sign. The team is ambitious and will continue to do things better. We cannot simply rest on our laurels."

REMARKABLE RUN

Under normal circumstances Real would be top of the standings but a remarkable run by Levante, who play at Osasuna on Sunday, has lifted them a point clear of the Madrid club and two ahead of Barca.

The tiny Valencia-based side, who lead La Liga for the first time in their 102-year history, have an annual budget of around 20 million euros, one of the smallest in La Liga and minimal compared with Real's of just under 500 million.

Under coach Juan Ignacio Martinez, who is making his debut in the top flight, they are unbeaten this term and have put together an unlikely run of seven victories, including a shock 1-0 home win over Real last month.

"We are the team to beat right now," Ruben Suarez, who scored a powerful stoppage-time free-kick to secure a 3-2 win at home to Real Sociedad on Wednesday, told reporters.

"We have only played nine games of course but we are top and people want to get one over on us now," added the 32-year-old, one of a slew of players in Levante's squad who are over 30.

Barca, bidding for a club record-equalling four straight titles, had mixed news on the injury front ahead of their game at home to Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Pedro has been ruled out for up to three weeks after twisting his left ankle in Tuesday's 1-0 win at Granada, while his fellow forward Alexis Sanchez trained with the squad for the first time since damaging a hamstring on September 10.

Central defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique are back in full training after injury.

Barca's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has not scored for three games in all competitions, a drought by his high standards that has prompted questions about his form.

"If there are doubts about Messi then I don't know what they think about the rest of us," midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who came through Barca's youth academy with the Argentine forward, told a news conference.

"I've never played with a player like him, either at youth level or professionally," the former Arsenal captain added.

"He's humble, never hides, always gives everything for the team, and loves the club. There's nothing more to say."

Llorente double defeats Atletico in Bilbao - FourFourTwo

2011-10-28T18:09:00.000+08:00

Llorente double defeats Atletico in Bilbao - FourFourTwo

Diego Maradona at 50

2010-10-31T15:13:00.000+08:00

Barely a week after Brazil toasted Pele’s 70th birthday, the spotlight turns to neighbouring Argentina, where many a glass will be raised to a man who has enjoyed a verbal joust or two with the great Brazilian: the one and only Diego Armando Maradona, who turns 50 today.

Maradona’s unique story began in the outskirts of Buenos Aires half a century ago, although proud parents Dalma and Diego would have had no inkling that their newborn son would go on to become one of the greatest personalities the game has ever seen.

Diego Junior spent his childhood in the impoverished suburb of Villa Fiorito, situated in the south of Buenos Aires province. It was no easy upbringing, as Maradona, who was rarely seen without a football by his side, later recalled: “My old lady always lied, but I could see where she was coming from. At mealtimes she’d say she had a sore stomach, but she was fibbing. She only said that because there wasn’t enough food to go round and she wanted to make sure we all got something to eat.”

Such hardships forged Maradona’s character, one that would later manifest itself on the football pitch. “My parents sweated blood to make sure there was bread on the table, but there were a lot of us and there was never anything left over,” his brother Raul once commented.

“When Diego got his first pay packet he took us to all the toy shops in the neighbourhood and bought us presents, sports shoes and bicycles. He wanted to give us what we’d never had as children. I remember when he went on his first tour and bought me my first pair of football boots. They were three sizes too big but I put extra pairs of socks on and wore them anyway.”

The fame game
Maradona’s achievements on the pitch have been well documented. A favourite with Argentinos Juniors fans for his half-time ball-juggling routines, he made his first division debut for the club at the age of only 15, quickly staking a claim for a place in the Argentina team.

Tearful at his omission from the squad that would become world champions on home soil in 1978, he responded by helping La Albiceleste win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan a year later. “I’ve never been happier than I was in that team,” he would later comment in his autobiography.

That was the first of many triumphs. Between 1981 and 1997 he ran out for Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors, although it is with his beloved Argentina that he has enjoyed some of the most memorable moments of his life, having appeared in four FIFA World Cup™ Finals as a player and one as a coach.

“I tell the players that 30 days of sacrifice just to kiss that cup is nothing in a man’s life,” he toldFIFA.com a little over a year ago, his appetite for the most important prize in the game undiminished.

Maradona has experienced the whole gamut of emotions on football’s biggest stage. Sent off in a losing cause against Brazil at Spain 1982, he would scale the heights in Mexico four years later, plumb the depths of despair in losing to Germany in the Final at Italy 1990 and endure further pain following his suspension for doping at USA 1994.

Through his highs and lows, El Diez has always exerted a huge influence, as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter explained: “Everyone has an opinion on Diego Armando Maradona, and that’s been the case since his playing days. His magnificent performances and extraordinary goals at Mexico 86 will live forever in the memories of all football lovers, myself included.

“My most vivid recollection is of this incredibly gifted kid at the second FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan in 1979. He left everyone open-mouthed every time he got on the ball. And at the age of 50 he still has many years in which to keep showing us his talent. Happy birthday.”

The story goes on
Maradona was back in the spotlight at South Africa 2010, eclipsing the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with his mere presence, his appearances at press conferences, training sessions and on the touchline generating huge expectation.

“When you walked out on the pitch with him and saw even rival fans singing his name and doing whatever they could to get a photo of him, well, you felt like you were 1-0 up already. It was truly amazing,” commented Nicolas Burdisso during the competition, attempting to explain the effect Maradona has wherever he goes.

Despite his bewitching presence, El Pelusa failed to prevent his side from going out to Germany in the quarter-finals, and having since left the Argentina job behind, he is now considering his options, weighing up a return to the game he loves so much.

“We have a few different proposals and projects on the table,” he said earlier this month. “We’ll be back soon, though. Very soon, in fact. I’ve got a point or two to prove.”

Despite the ups and downs, Diego Maradona’s hunger for the game remains as strong as it was when he made his first division debut 36 years ago. And as he celebrates an eventful half century, perhaps the only thing we can be sure of is that the football world has not seen the last of the kid from Villa Fiorito.

Good Luck

2010-10-29T11:28:00.000+08:00

The candle of hope is the source of light for success in life so don't loose it. Failures try to blow it out but try to guard it with both your hands. Good Luck to U.

Talentspotter:Lionel Messi

2010-10-26T12:18:00.001+08:00

Club:	FC Barcelona
League:	La Liga
Position:	Striker
National team:	Argentina
Current rank:	3
Age:	23
Nationality:	Argentinian
Games:	72
	Argentinian genius, Barcelona's best player. And barely out of nappies... the closest thing yet to 'the new Maradona' The few hundred who watched Messi as 14-year-old playing for Barcelona’s youth teams will not be surprised at his progression to football’s ‘A’ list. Just 5ft 4in, Messi has never let physical deficiencies or age prevent him from excelling. At 14, he was so small that his legs didn’t touch the floor when he sat on the bench, earning him the nickname ‘The Flea’. Still, he progressed rapidly at Barça, shattering age records along the way, making his first team debut at 16 in a friendly against Juventus which left a watching Fabio Capello wondering who “the little devil” was. Statistics alone can’t encompass Messi’s brilliance. There will be more prolific goalscorers and better free kick specialists, but the Rosario born attacker is the most enduring challenger to the ‘new Maradona’ tag. Shy off the field, he prefers home cooking and computer games to nightclubs. On it, he’s a creative livewire who produces regular moments of jaw-dropping skill with a deftness of which Barça legend Johan Cruyff would be proud. Messi can play as an attacking midfielder, on either wing or even as a centre forward. Quick, cool headed, two-footed (although he favours his left), he has quickly risen to become Barça’s most important player.

Decent

2010-10-24T12:47:00.001+08:00

Every moment of ur life is a picture which u had never seen before and which u'll never see again. So enjoy n live life & make each moment beautiful.

What Happened Next?

2010-10-21T13:40:00.000+08:00

Carlos Roa

Eccentric Argentine goalkeeper Carlos ‘The Lettuce’ Roa broke helped knock England out of the 1998 World Cup on penalties. He then joined a religious retreat, saying the end of the world was nigh. It wasn’t, so he resurfaced to sign for Real Mallorca

“I know it will come as a bit of a shock to people that the man who knocked England out of the 1998 World Cup is now the goalkeeping coach for Constancio del Inca, a small team in the Balearic Islands. I’m only 35, which many people think is the peak for a keeper, perhaps the perfect age in terms of maturity. But then football, like life, is impossible to predict.

In 1999, I decided to devote myself to religion. The reaction I met everywhere was one of incomprehension. As a follower of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I’d always taken my responsibilities as a Christian very seriously. For example I never ate meat – which is how I got the nickname Lechuga. My wife and I had always been heavily into meditation, and we both understood that it was time to embrace a deeper level of devotion.

I spent a year in a countryside retreat, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, doing a lot of reading and learning how to live a better, more meaningful life. Because it’s such a personal thing, only those very close to you can fully understand the meaning behind the decision.

It was based on that same kind of reflection and meditation that I decided to return to play for Mallorca a year later… with just one condition; that I wouldn’t have to play on Saturdays, instead observing the day of rest, as taught by my church.

Getting back into shape was tough. The hardest thing for a keeper to get back is his timing. And trying to return to the same level I had reached in 1998, when I was at my peak, seemed impossible. But I battled very hard and I was lucky enough to be playing well for Mallorca, a team on the rise. There were reports at one point that I was about to join Man United. I don’t pay much attention to the newspapers, but this was impossible to avoid. They said they’d offered $10 million, but there was never an official approach. It would have been a huge pleasure to play for them, especially as they’d just won the Treble.

I also spent five days on trial with Arsenal in 2002. Arsene Wenger wanted to sign me but I didn’t have a European passport and I was no longer playing regularly for the Argentina, which would have opened the door.

Strangely, my old Albacete understudy Manuel Almunia is now Arsenal’s keeper, enjoying a privilege that I almost had. It’s a shame it came to nothing because I’d love to have played in the Premiership, but I have no regrets.

Anyway, my comeback at Mallorca was really tough, because the Spanish league is very competitive and nobody was going to gift me a place in the team. So when the chance to sign for Albacete came up I didn’t hesitate, even though it meant dropping down a division.

Everything was going really well, but then God threw another crucial test in my path: testicular cancer. I had faced a similar test at my first club Racing, when during a tour of Congo, I contracted malaria.

Being a Christian helped me, the strength of my faith enabling me to put up a tremendous fight against cancer. It’s not something I can describe in detail, because you have to live with it to really understand what it’s like. It was by far the worst experience of my life, but God sent me a sign telling me I was meant to carry on living. I felt as if I’d been born again.

Now, my priority is to ensure that my career has a good swansong. The Balearic Third Division might not be the ideal place to be, but I’m still very excited. I train like a kid who is trying to earn his first professional contract. As time goes by, my chances of signing for a bigger club are slipping away, but you never know.

If I can’t find another [bigger] club for next season, I’d seriously consider quitting. But after the illness, I now enjoy life day by day, and don’t make too many long-term plans. After so many years of praying, the first lesson you are certain about is that, no matter how good or how bad things are, you must face them with your head up.

Valcke to miss technology meeting

2010-10-20T13:12:00.000+08:00

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has cancelled a visit to Wednesday's goal-line technology meeting in Wales to deal with the ongoing corruption crisis.

Valcke was due to attend the International FA Board (IFAB) business meeting at Celtic Manor but now he will send other officials to meet the chief executive of the four British associations who with FIFA make up the game's law-making body.

Valcke will instead be in Zurich where FIFA's ethics committee are, on Wednesday, to hear the case of two FIFA executive committee members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, who it is claimed asked undercover reporters for cash in return for their World Cup votes.

The ethics body is also separately to investigate whether at least two countries campaigning to host the 2018 and or 2022 tournaments breached bidding rules.

Both the two men and the countries involved could be suspended by the ethics committee.

England are bidding for 2018 against Russia, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium while the 2022 tournament hosts will be from Australia, USA, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.

FIFA said Valcke would be unable to attend the IFAB meeting "due to other commitments".

It is expected the IFAB meeting will take the first steps towards introducing goal-line technology, possibly by appointing an independent company to test the 13 systems that have put themselves forward to FIFA.

No major decisions will be taken until the full IFAB meeting in March however.

The FA will continue their push for the goal-line technology to be introduced.

Perfect 11

2010-10-17T15:57:00.000+08:00

Goalkeeper
Neville Southall
I was an Evertonian as a kid and I stood behind him many times on the terraces so I couldn’t look beyond Big Nev for my goalkeeper. He saved Everton so many times over the years and even now he’s still probably the best keeper I have ever seen.

Right-back
Cafu
It has to be him by virtue of the fact that he has played in three successive World Cup finals
and that takes some doing. I don’t think anyone will ever do that again and to still be going at the age he is now shows just what a good player he is.

Centre-back
Franco Baresi
Baresi bossed simply the best club side I have ever seen – the Milan team of the late-1980s and early-’90s. They had great attacking players, not least Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, but they were based on being sound at the back and Baresi was obviously the one who organised them. Basically he told the rest of them what to do and he was the main man in defence.

Centre-back
Marcel Desailly
I’ve played against him in the Premiership and he’s someone who could raise his game when he wanted to. He loved the big occasions. Whenever we used to play against him at Anfield he used to play so well that, to be honest, it was a case of men against boys.

Left-back
Paolo Maldini
It’s easy to take him for granted but he’s a legend in his own lifetime. Obviously Roberto Carlos is also a top player but Maldini is much better defensively – and, like Carlos, he can also get forward and provide an extra attacking option – like he did in the Champions League final.

Right-midfield
Zinedine Zidane
I would play four in midfield and that would have to include Zidane, the best player of the modern era. I would select him officially on the right but give him a free role because there’s no one better for such a job. He seems to have so much time on the ball and there’s so much to him – dribbling, creativity, passing, scoring and he’s a big lad too, powerful at set-pieces.

Centre-midfield
Graeme Souness
‘Souey’ had everything. You don’t see many players who can put their foot in and also dictate a game the way he could. It’s not just about tackling, it’s also about passing too. Obviously Steven Gerrard is a great player and maybe in years to come he can compare to Souness, but I’ve seen videos of Graeme and he was probably more like Roy Keane and Glenn Hoddle rolled into one.

Centre-midfield
Roy Keane
And talking of Roy Keane, I’d have him alongside Souey at the heart of midfield. The Man United skipper may be a little short of Souness in the passing department but he has so much drive, he can get forward into the box to score vital goals, and he can also put his foot in. And let’s be perfectly honest, the opposition would have trouble imposing their game on Souey and Keano!

Left-midfield
John Barnes
Barnesey is simply the best player I’ve ever played with or trained with. It was a real pleasure and a privilege to be there with him. He was phenomenal. I don’t think I ever saw him give the ball away, in a match or in training. He’d be on the left of the midfield, which is of course his natural position – and that’s why Zidane’s got to go on the right!

Centre-forward
Marco van Basten
Probably the best striker I’ve ever seen. He wasn’t just a goalscorer: he could hold the ball up superbly and had great skill, which he showed in his goals. He’ll always be remembered for hooking a stunning volley into the top corner in the Euro 88 final but at that time, at Milan, he was the main man in the best team in the world.

Centre-forward
Kenny Dalglish
Kenny would play just off Van Basten. Liverpool were obviously the most successful team in British football and to me, he was the best player who ever played for Liverpool. He won three European Cups and scored the winner in his first one, against Bruges at Wembley. He was a legend at Liverpool and rightly deserves to be in my Perfect XI. He was a goalscorer but he was equally proficient at setting up chances for others, notably Ian Rush – as Marco would appreciate!

Substitutes

Thierry Henry

Alan Shearer

Jamie Carragher
What a great player Thierry Henry is – I’d say he’s the best player ever to play in the Premiership, probably just ahead of Alan Shearer. And, as it’s my team, I’d put myself on the bench as well because I can play in a number of positions – not that it would be easy to get in this team!

Eminem feat. Rihanna-Love The Way You Lie

2010-10-16T11:26:00.000+08:00

Just gonna stand there
And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like
The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there
And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love
The way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now there's a steel knife
In my windpipe
I can't breathe
But I still fight
While I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right
It's like I'm in flight
High of a love
Drunk from the hate
It's like I'm huffing paint
And I love it the more that I suffer
I sufficate
And right before im about to drown
She resuscitates me
She fucking hates me
And I love it
Wait
Where you going
I'm leaving you
No you ain't
Come back
We're running right back
Here we go again
It's so insane
Cause when it's going good
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind in his bag
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad
It's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who's that dude
I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

Just gonna stand there
And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like
The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there
And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love
The way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

You ever love somebody so much
You can barely breathe
When you're with them
You meet
And neither one of you
Even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah them chills
Used to get 'em
Now you're getting fucking sick
Of looking at 'em
You swore you've never hit 'em
Never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face
Spewing venom
And these words
When you spit 'em
You push
Pull each other's hair
Scratch, claw, bit 'em
Throw 'em down
Pin 'em
So lost in the moments
When you're in 'em
It's the rage that took over
It controls you both
So they say it's best
To go your separate ways
Guess that they don't know ya
Cause today
That was yesterday
Yesterday is over
It's a different day
Sound like broken records
Playin' over
But you promised her
Next time you'll show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no Nintendo game
But you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave
Out the window
Guess that's why they call it window pane

Just gonna stand there
And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like
The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there
And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love
The way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Now I know we said things
Did things
That we didn't mean
And we fall back
Into the same patterns
Same routine
But your temper's just as bad
As mine is
You're the same as me
But when it comes to love
You're just as blinded
Baby please come back
It wasn't you
Baby it was me
Maybe our relationship
Isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens
When a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is
I love you too much
To walk away though
Come inside
Pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity
In my voice when I talk
Told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed
I'll aim my fist
At the dry wall
Next time
There will be no next time
I apologize
Even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games
I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to fucking leave again
I'mma tie her to the bed
And set the house on fire

Just gonna stand there
And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like
The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there
And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love
The way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Ask A Silly Question:Adrian Chiles

2010-10-13T12:50:00.001+08:00

Hi Adrian. There’s some great music playing in the background there.
That’s Howlin’ Wolf. I’ve got the blues - I’m a fucking Albion fan.

OK. You see Gary Lineker bending over to inspect a penny on the pavement. A speeding bus approaches. Do you boot him up the arse?
I wouldn’t. He’s always been good to me and I admire him. He’s a grafter. I wouldn’t resort to murder to further my career. And even if I did, do you think I’d admit to it? I know I look stupid…

What's the most ill you've ever been?
I went to Australia 20 years ago and lay on a beach all day reading Evelyn Waugh’s Sword of Honour trilogy. I was very badly burned. The next day, I got chicken pox. I had a million pus-filled sores coming up through my lobster red skin. Awful.

Eww. Did any of your mates ever nickname you Voodoo Chiles?
No. I was known as Eggy at school. I’ve no idea why. To this day, people stick the telly on and go “fucking hell, it’s Eggy”.

And does Eggy like a scotch egg?
I’m a massive fan. A friend of mine from University sends me scotch eggs on my birthday. This year, because I was 40, he sent me a whole leg of Serrano ham. It was nice, but to be honest, I’d have preferred an extra-large selection of scotch eggs.

Which of your Alan sidekicks would you least like to be on the wrong side of: Sugar or Hansen?
Sugar. They’re both quite soft underneath, but Sugar has more menace. In a fight I’d fancy myself more against Sugar, because he’s older. But then I’m sure he’s got people he could use to “sort me out”.

Have you ever picked up anything off the floor and eaten it?
Yeah, I picked up a grape yesterday. Or was it a strawberry? Yes, a strawberry. Although I washed it first, so I don’t know if that counts. There was no fluff on it.

Did you apply the five-second rule?
What’s that?

If it’s down there for more that five seconds, it must be binned.
I see.

Would you intervene in a scrap between two women in the street, or would you stand there shouting “fight, fight”?
I have very recently intervened in a fight between two women, but don’t ask for any details. They know who they are and should be ashamed. They weren’t fighting over me.

Ever poured boiling water on an ant?
I wouldn’t be callous enough to do it to one ant, but if there’s a whole stream of the little fuckers, I’ll give them what for.

Considering her quote: “last time Albion got promoted, I gave birth nine months later”, was your wife pleased West Brom avoided promotion?
I wouldn’t say pleased - she’s not quite that cruel. I’m usually emotionally wrought whatever has happened to West Brom. I go to bed and sleep early either way. I’m pretty useless.

Do you throw your child's school artwork straight in the bin?
Yeah. I’ve been caught out several times and they look at me like it’s absolute heresy.

In Sex Lives of the Potato Men you played “sex party host”. Was this your lowest ebb?
It was harrowing because I was very overweight at the time. I didn’t realise until I saw myself semi-naked on screen. I had a towel round my waist and looked like Joe Bugner in his declining years. I tried to hitch the towel up, Simon Cowell-style, to cover my spare tyre, but the French continuity woman – who was unspeakably beautiful – kept pulling it down. Humiliating.

What’s the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
My dreams recently have been incredibly boring. I’ll have a very involved dream about opening my front door and shutting it again. I had one the other day about cleaning my toolbox. Very, very tedious.

Finally, is this interview a total waste of time?
Certainly not. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m sick of answering the same old questions. Especially “how do you get on with a Birmingham accent.”

So, how do you get on with a…
Fucking don’t.

Today's featured picture

2010-10-12T16:29:00.000+08:00

A c. 1639 nautical map of Hispaniola (center-left), the most populous island in the Americas, and Puerto Rico (right). The name originally given by Christopher Columbus, who founded the first European colonies in the New World here during his first two voyages, was La Isla Española ("the Spanish island"), which was shortened to Española and then Latinised to Hispaniola.

Boy's A Bit Special:James Milner

2010-10-11T10:42:00.000+08:00

Record-breaking youngster James Milner talks toFourFourTwo in early 2005. At the time he was at Newcastle, having started at Leeds; he went on to play for Aston Villa, Manchester City and England...

Born Leeds, 04/01/86

Position Attacker

As a boy I supported…
Leeds. They’re my hometown club and I’ve been watching them since I was six. I was at the academy from the age of 11 and when you’re about 14 you start ballboying. So to play for them was a dream come true.

Strengths
Anything attacking. Creating things for other players, beating people, scoring goals. That’s what I enjoy, so that’s what I try to do. I don’t mind where I play, as long as it’s in an attacking position. When I was growing up I played all over: up front, right wing and last year I played on the left for Leeds. Hopefully being versatile will help me. If you can only play one position and you’ve got a world-class player in that position, you might struggle to break through. It’ll also make you a better all-round player.

Weaknesses
Probably my defending, but I try my best to work hard and improve my tackling and things. I’ve worked on my left foot since I was very young – my dad used to drill it into me. If you look at all the truly world-class players, they’re all left-footed.

Heroes
Zidane is one player I admire, Henry another. He’s playing unbelievably at the moment.

Highlights
I think making my debuts for Leeds and then Newcastle. There’s nothing better. And making my under-21 debut. I was nervous. I’d represented England from under-16s right the way through, but U21 seemed like a big step up. It’s much more high-profile.

Lowlights
Definitely getting relegated with Leeds last season. That was a horrible thing to go through. I didn’t think I’d have to leave. I turned up for pre-season training hoping to discuss signing a new contract, but the club came to me and said they'd accepted an offer from Newcastle.

Toughest opponent
Probably Woody [Jonathan Woodgate] in training! Other than that, Ashley Cole. A lot of people talk about his attacking play but defensively he’s improved so much. Shaun Wright-Phillips is so quick and busy – great going forward but also works so hard defensively.

Best player played with
I’ve been lucky to play alongside some great players: Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert, Mark Viduka, Alan Smith, Harry Kewell. It’s very hard to single out one.

What advice would you give to an aspiring young footballer?
Listen to everything you’re told. If you can piece it all together it’ll stand you in good stead. And work hard on the pitch, even if you’re not having a good game. That’s all you can do.

Biggest influence
I’ve been lucky enough to have some great coaches, but obviously your mum and dad are with you all way, through good times and bad.

Tunes
A bit of everything really. I’ve got an R 'n' B compilation in my CD player at the moment.

Wheels
BMW X3. I used to have a Ford Focus so I’ve upgraded a bit.

TV programmes
Friends and The Office. I enjoy comedies. I like laughing, it's a laugh isn't it?

Hobbies
Golf, Playstation and I enjoy walking my dog. He’s a Canaan Hound, originally from Israel. He’s only six months old but he’s massive, so he takes me for a walk. His name’s Zizzi.

J-Lo or Beyonce?
Neither, I prefer my girlfriend.

Last holiday you went on
I went to Barbados with my girlfriend in the summer. A great place to chill out and enjoy yourself.

Any tattoos?
No, and I’ve definitely got no plans to get any.

If you were an animal, what would you be?
Some sort of bird, I’d have thought. It would be pretty cool to able to just fly around and do what you want.

If I hadn’t been a footballer…
I’d hopefully be doing something to do with sport. Maybe coaching. I enjoy my golf but I don’t think I could get anywhere playing the way I do. My handicap’s 16, but hopefully it’ll come down.

Describe yourself in five words
Hard-working, confident, relaxed, a laugh!

QOTD

2010-10-10T15:41:00.000+08:00

The idea of all-out nuclear war is unsettling.

Memory Lane

2010-10-08T15:30:00.002+08:00

1 year had passed just in a blink of an eye. Still remember last year's mid-autumn festival we carried lantern and walked around usj2, and one thing i will always remember and will pass down to my children is that Simon cried after Shamini threw his lantern away...whaha

One on One:Franciso Varallo

2010-10-07T12:35:00.001+08:00

Franciso Varallo

Franciso Varallo, the last remaining survivor of the first World Cup final in 1930, spoke to FourFourTwo in May 2010 shortly before he passed away three months later.

I started as a defender, but I scored so often my uncle suggested I should play up front.
I was 16. As soon as I started playing as a forward I knew I’d found my position. I liked the idea of scoring the winner, of seeing my name in the papers. I still like to be remembered.

Eighty years after the 1930 World Cup Final, I still remember much more than I would want to!
If there’s a game I don’t want to recall, it’s this one against the Uruguayans – and it keeps coming to mind! We failed. We were winning 2-1 after half-time then during the second half we fainted.

My team-mates were afraid of winning that game.
It was a very hostile scenario and the Uruguayans threatened us. I didn’t care, but I couldn’t recognise most of my team-mates. If a Uruguayan fell on the floor, Luis Monti would approach to offer him a hand – he was scared! A cousin later told me that he’d met the Uruguayans before the game, and they’d said: ìPancho Varallo? He’s the first one we're going to take outî. Sadly, he only told me this after the game.

I was carrying a knee injury during the final.
But before the game, my team-mates tested me in a henhouse that was next to our hotel. My knee responded well, so they made me play. I was eager to play, even if I shouldn’t have. In the second half, I grabbed a loose ball and hit it with all my strength.

‘Little Cannon’ they called me.
The ball deflected off the crossbar and I injured my knee very badly. I kept playing, only because there were no substitutions at that time. It’s the same knee that made me retire at 29, and the same knee that aches these days!

The older team-mates decided everything.
The manager was not important at all. I was the youngest in the team at 20. In that side, I should have been a substitute because Alejandro Scopelli was part of the First XI, but I played the first game and played well. So I remained as right insider, number eight. Attack lines had five players then, you know. On the pitch I had a very good understanding with Guillermo Stabile, who scored a lot of goals.

I’m responsible for installing the professional era in Argentina.
I used to play for Gimnasia until Boca Juniors called my dad to see if I wanted to sign for them. They offered me a lot of money, 10,000 pesos. It was enough to buy a house and save 7,000. My dad had never seen $100 bills before! The Gimnasia fans threw stones at my house, but I couldn’t say no.

I loved playing for Boca.
I played alongside Roberto Cherro, the best partner I’ve ever had on the pitch. We scored a lot of goals together. He always tried to give me the ball, rather than passing it to Delfin Benitez Caceres, the Paraguayan striker! From my 181 goals at Boca, I owe 150 of them to Cherro.

I just couldn’t score with my head.
I got over 200 career goals, but very few were headers. I just wasn’t very good at them. Mind you, with that heavy ball we used to play with, it was probably a good thing! I was dangerous waiting outside the area to take long-distance shots rather than waiting for crosses. When the pitch was wet, team-mates would tell me: ìToday is made for you, Panchoî. It was impossible for goalkeepers.

I toured the Americas for six months with Velez Sarsfield.
It was great. Velez took me and the great Bernabe Ferreyra for a tour. We travelled on a ship, stopping in Chile, Peru, Panama, Cuba, Mexico and New York. We’d train on the ship, and got so used to it that when we were on the ground, it seemed like everything around was still moving!

I could have played in the modern era, although I think football now is harder.
Football is much more difficult today. I watch it on TV. I follow Boca and Gimnasia. The game is interrupted so much, I find it boring. It wasn’t like that at my age – there was freedom to play and the focus was on attacking not defending. I also see bad tackles and fouls I don’t like – defenders grabbing, using their hands all the time. But I enjoy watching goals. I’ve always enjoyed goals!

The best player I ever saw, was Jose Manuel Moreno.
People now say that they’ve seen Maradona, but I’ve seen Moreno, from River’s La M·quina (The Machine), and he comes first. He was amazing, the best player I’ve seen, the one I admired the most.

Fun

2010-10-06T14:56:00.001+08:00

At this moment i have a déjà vu and a loss of memory at the same time. I think I have forgotten this before.

Web Exclusive:Rickie Lambert

2010-10-05T14:09:00.000+08:00

Rickie Lambert

Southampton star Rickie Lambert looks ahead to the 2010/11 season, and tellsJames Maw who he thinks could rival Saints for promotion from League One.

Hello Rickie, looking forward to the new season?
Yeah, I just can’t wait to get started now to be honest. We start with a really big game against Plymouth on Saturday and although I’m a bit gutted I won’t be making it myself thanks to a slight groin strain, I should be back for Tuesday night (against Bournemouth in the League Cup), if not next Saturday at MK Dons.

How important is a strong start to a promotion push?
We’ll definitely be looking to hit the ground running. We know how important a good start is because not having one last season was probably what cost us a play-off place. We’ve got to take the level of performance we were putting in during the second half of last season into this one, and if we do that we’ll be OK.

Did the mental blow of the 10-point deduction last season contribute to that sluggish start?
I think there were a few factors. The club had just been relegated from the Championship, so maybe some people were still on a downer, and quite a few players had left and new ones had arrived and we didn’t quite gel straight away.

I think we won one of the first 10 games and then we were already about 25 points away from the play-offs. But from then our form over the rest of the season was good and we nearly made it back up towards the end.

Does being most people’s tip for promotion mean there’s even more pressure on Saints this time round?
Obviously the pressure is there now we’ve got that favourites tag - everybody is going to want to beat us – but we didn’t make ourselves favourites, it’s other people that have done that. We’re just concentrating on trying to do our own thing and taking each game as it comes and hopefully we’ll have been good enough come the end of the season.

But what about you personally? Is there pressure on you as English football’s top goalscorer last season and the wearer of Matt Le Tissier’s old No.7 shirt?
I don’t think so. Perhaps there was last season when I first arrived for quite big money for a League One player moving to another League One club. But I think now I’ve proven myself here and I’m confident I can score goals in this league. My aim is to try and do the same in the Championship and hopefully one day the Premier League.

The owner, Markus Liebherr, has stated the Premier League is the aim for the club too, do you think you can help them get there?
That’s my dream. The chairman’s ambitions are second to none and they’re matched by the manager and the players – we all want the club to be in the same place. We’ve all got to do our bit to help make it happen, because if you don’t you’re going to lose your place in the team and not get that chance.

Was that ambition what attracted you to Saints? Were there not Championship clubs interested when you left Bristol Rovers?
There were other clubs interested, but nobody really made a firm offer. As soon as Southampton came in there was only one decision in my mind – the size of the club, the ambition and the manager made it simple.

How have you found working with Alan Pardew?
He’s been brilliant for me. I’ve really developed my game since I left Bristol Rovers, and he’s helped me do that. It’s down to the coaching staff here too, of course, and the physios and fitness coaches.

To go from the kind of clubs I’ve been at before to a club like Southampton where everything is Premier League standard has been absolutely brilliant and has helped me improve so much.

There was some talk at the end of last season that Pardew may have been leaving the club, was that unsettling for the players?
There were a lot of rumours and it was obviously nice when that died down. The players are and always have been behind the manager, so to find out that he was staying was obviously nice. Everybody at the club wants the same thing and everyone has been working really hard in pre-season and we’re really looking forward to the season ahead.

Which teams do you think could be rivals for promotion?
I think it’ll be tight again like last season and there’ll be a few teams right up there. The ones that come to mind straightaway are teams like Sheffield Wednesday – obviously they’re a big club and they’ve just come down so they could do well, Huddersfield – they’ve spent a few bob and will be expecting to be up near the top, obviously Plymouth who’ve come down too and Brentford, I can see them doing well.

And what about the goalscoring charts? Who’ll be towards the top in League One?
There’s a few who’ll be up there. To be honest there’s a couple of lads at Southampton – David Connolly and Lee Barnard – who are top quality strikers, so I can see them doing really well. Charlie Austin (Swindon Town) really impressed me last season too, and I can see him having another very good season.

You were on the losing side as Saints faced Portsmouth in the FA Cup last season – what did you make of the atmosphere, and do you fancy getting revenge on your rivals?
The atmosphere was absolutely superb. It was unbelievable, although to be fair it was like that at St Mary’s a couple of times last season. I considered myself really lucky to be able to be part of that and to witness it. I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like when the club was in the Premier League, and that makes it an even bigger target to get the club back there. Obviously if we can get one over on Portsmouth along the way, that would be even better.

Taylor Swift-Today Was A Fairytale

2010-10-04T21:31:00.002+08:00

Today was a fairytale
You were the prince
I used to be a damsel in distress
You took me by the hand and you picked me up at six
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
I wore a dress
You wore a dark grey t-shirt
You told me I was pretty
When I looked like a mess
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down
Whenever you're around

Can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
You've got a smile that takes me to another planet
Every move you make everything you say is right
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
All that I can say
Is now it's getting so much clearer
Nothing made sense until the time I saw your face
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down
Whenever you're around

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down
Whenever you're around
I can feel my heart
It's beating in my chest
Did you feel it?
I can't put this down

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale

Inter united on the pitch, divided off it

2010-10-03T19:33:00.000+08:00

It may be different in other countries, but in Italy players only get up close and personal on the pitch and very rarely is there any ‘team bonding’ off it.

They may socialise now and then, but in general they are content to go their own way and get on with life in the traditional Italian, family-orientated manner.

That’s not to say there aren’t dressing room cliques, and nowhere are they more prominent than at Inter, where the South American clans hold sway.

Well, the non-Brazilian cartel that is – the Argentines Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel along with Ivan Cordoba of Columbia have the final say on most matters, while the Brazilians keep themselves to themselves, probably secretly wishing they could hang-out with their fun-loving compatriots at AC Milan.

Having obviously been used to the off-field activities of players in the Premier League, Rafa Benitez must have been surprised at the divisions within his new dressing room.

When the Spaniard apparently suggested the whole squad go out for a meal together he was met with blank looks until a senior South American – we can only guess who – informed the new would-be ‘social secretary’ how things worked.

The coach may be the boss on the pitch, but off it he had no say on how the players spent their time, as long as they weren’t indulging in the sort of activities that blighted Adriano’s final period at the club – and there is no evidence that this crop like to do anything more exciting than watch a bit of TV.

This set-up didn’t concern Jose Mourinho, and as long as results were going his way it didn’t matter if the players ignored each other or not.

Now having to start all over again with a new coach in charge there have been signs some of the outsiders are beginning to raise their voices.

Christian Chivu could never be accused of speaking out of turn, but the sight of the full-back exclaiming to the bench that certain members of the team where not putting in enough effort raised concerns – or hopes, depending on your point of view – that all was not well in the camp.

The Romanian’s blast, ìif they don’t start running, I am offî came midway through last weekend’s defeat at AS Roma and, with the silence broken, fellow full-back Douglas Maicon also opined that the front players were too egoistic.

Maybe that is why Inter are already a lot more entertaining to watch this season – with Samuel Eto’o freed from having to track back – but last season’s successes weren’t achieved by playing open and attacking football.

Tellingly, Zanetti was missing from the trip to Rome – recovering from a ball struck to the nether regions during the Palermo game the previous week - and in his painful absence it was left to his consigliere Cambiasso to lay down the law that any problems are solved inside the dressing room and they would remain there.

There was never any chance of recriminations last night in the Champions League game against Werder Bremen.

Eto’o was given the freedom of the pitch as the out-and-out striker flanked by the eager-to-please Coutinho and Jonathan Biabiany.

And how the Cameroonian thrived through the middle where his pace and direct running garnered a hat-trick as well as setting up one for Wesley Sneijder in a 4-0 stroll.

Eto’o was a player in his element again and the joy of being back in his natural habitat was there for all to see when he grabbed a photographer’s camera after scoring his third to snap the snappers.

Even Benitez was more animated than usual, and spent most of the match pacing his technical area and encouraging the mop-topped Coutinho, who is a clone of Alexandre Pato, to actually enjoy himself.

Yes, enjoy – not a word that is often associated with Inter but maybe that will become the Benitez trademark as long as he doesn’t try and organise any more nights out for the players.

Wayne Rooney questions decision to omit him from Manchester United team

2010-10-02T10:34:00.001+08:00

Wayne Rooney has questioned Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to withdraw him from the Manchester United first team in recent weeks by claiming he needs regular football if he is to regain his form.

Rooney, who was omitted from Manchester United’s squad for the Champions League victory against Valencia on Wednesday, has told Ferguson he is fit for selection against Sunderland on Saturday, despite his manager’s insistence that he must rest an ankle injury for at least another week.

The 24 year-old has scored just once for United this season – a penalty against West Ham on Aug 28 – following a hugely disappointing World Cup campaign with England.

Lurid allegations that he slept with prostitutes have added to Rooney’s troubles and Ferguson left him out of United’s squad for the trip to Everton last month, citing fears the Goodison Park crowd would subject their former player to incessant abuse.

But while conceding that his form has given Ferguson justification for leaving him out, Rooney insists playing through his barren run is the quickest route to him rediscovering his goal touch.

Rooney said: “I know I can play better, so I’m hoping to get a consistent run of games in the team. If I do that, I’m sure my form will be back to its best.

“When you’re not playing at your best, you need to just continue playing and doing the simple things, then your form will come good.

“You always want to play well and give the manager no excuses to leave you out, but there are top players here, so you have to be at your best to keep your place. If you’re not, the manager has the players to leave you out. All footballers get left out at some stage, but I want to play every game.”

Rooney claims that his late return to pre-season training – he missed United’s summer tour of North America following an extended break after the World Cup – has contributed to his poor form.

And he also points to Dimitar Berbatov’s return to favour affecting his own goal threat by forcing him into a change of position.

“Last season, I played up front every game, whether it was alone or with Berba, I was the out-and-out striker and that was the big difference,” Rooney said. “That’s my favourite position and, scoring wise, it’s obviously a lot better because you get more chances to score rather than if you are playing in the hole and creating for others.

“My performances could be better. I obviously missed pre-season and I’ve only played four or five games this season.But with the more games that you play, the better your form will become, so I’m hoping to get a run of games.”

Ferguson insisted yesterday, however, that he is not prepared to gamble on Rooney’s fitness at Sunderland, although the United manager has opened the door for Fabio Capello to select the player for the Euro 2012 qualifying clash against Montenegro on Oct 12.

“He has been playing a few weeks with his niggling ankle injury and he’s kept it to himself, so it comes to a point where it suffers and it meant we didn’t take him to Valencia,” Ferguson said.

“He trained a bit on Thursday and he thinks he’s fit because he always thinks he’s fit. That’s the problem with the lad. He’s always too willing to play, even with injuries. But we have to be dead sure we are doing the right thing for him.

“In a week’s time, Wayne will be 100 per cent fit and that’s why it’s so difficult to pick him [at Sunderland].The England game is a week on Tuesday, so that’s another 10 days. It really is up to Fabio Capello if he wants to play him.”

Rooney has been subjected to booing from England supporters this season in the wake of the World Cup disappointment, but he insists he and his team-mates were not immune to the pain of defeat against Germany in the second round.

“As players, we expected better performances and better results, but we didn’t get them. But don’t let anyone let you think that we as players aren’t disappointed. We were sat in that dressing room [after the Germany defeat] and it was a horrible feeling,” he said.

José Mourinho Finally Gets Mad

2010-10-01T12:00:00.000+08:00

For months now, the Spanish press have been performing their solemn duty of trying to make José Mourinho go completely postal, but sadly with little success.

However, on Monday evening, it was joy to the world and ding dong merrily on high as, after a trying period of four press conferences a week for the Bernabeu boss, hours and hours of provoking, probing and pressing finally brought some decent results - not only did Mourinho completely lose his rag, he also found it again and then set it on fire...

And this is a very good thing indeed, reckons LLL.

After all, if Mourinho is not going to provide any decent entertainment on the pitch, then the very least the Real Madrid coach can do is raise a few eyebrows (and belly laughs) off it.

The first sign Mourinho was starting to shed his usual calm, collected, serious and straight-laced demeanor was before Saturday’s bore draw against Levante - a result that Tuesday’s Marca blames squarely on the opposition’s “anti-football” - when the Madrid manager unleashed a thinly-veiled attacked against Sporting for resting first-teamers in their midweek clash against Barcelona.

“If some teams who play (Barça) give the game away because they think they can’t win...then it will be much harder,” Mou opined.

“We’ll talk about it in November,” was the curt reply from Sporting boss, Manuel Preciado, already looking forward to their upcoming clash, no doubt.

Whilst this can be considered classic, pre-planned ‘mind games’ from Mourinho, witnessed time and time again, Tuesday’s huffy-puffy storming out of the pre-Auxerre press conference certainly wasn’t.

One habit of the Spanish press that clearly seems to rile The Special One is boldly predicting the line-up of his teams ahead of each game. Over the summer he listed the eleven names that would start a friendly clash against Standard Liege to the hacks noting tartly that “this time you’ll get it right.”

Monday’s editions of Marca and AS were full of predictions that Pedro León was to be the great change to the Real Madrid side to face Auxerre along with Karim Benzema starting in place of Gonzalo Higuaín. However, hours later the Real Madrid squad that was heading to France was announced and it did not contain the former Getafe man.

Later that evening at the press conference, the journalists asked the perfectly legitimate question of why Pedro León had been left out. The reply saw Mourinho go quite mad.

“I don’t have to justify the absence of Pedro León to you!” jeered José, claiming the only person he ever had to give explanations to was Florentino Pérez. “You’re all talking about Pedro León as if he were Zidane or Maradona...it was just a couple of days ago that he was playing for Getafe,” Mourinho reasoned in a way certain to boost the confidence and self esteem of his player.

The press conference then came to the swiftest of conclusions as Mourinho made his way out of the door in a bit of a strop, stopping briefly to greet Guy Roux on the way out.

The very Madridista Marca have largely chosen not to comment on their manager’s antics but have given over half a page to a useful and timely description of the ‘Mou Knot’ he uses for his ties, that was on display in the press conference - and clearly the main talking point amongst the journalists.

AS are less shackled to Real Madrid’s apron strings and have got it completely right for once, with editor Alfredo Relaño branding the manager’s madcap performance as “magnificent”.

“Mourinho passed through anger, then humour, then dramatics, then anger again and then finally he left.” 'Great TV' was the final summary of a happy Relaño.

The Mourinho mental-breakdown was just as appreciated in Barcelona but for very different reasons, as it was another chance for them to finger point and claim Castle Greyskull was in crisis.

“The Whites dressing room is not going to let this go,” writes a gleeful Santi Nolla in Mundo Deportivo, a paper which screams ‘Mou sets Madrid on fire!’ on the front cover. “Such disrespect to a team-mate is not normally forgiven,” continues the main MD man.

Sport have focussed on the shame and embarrassment that they reckon Mourinho is bringing on Florentino Pérez with his recent behaviour with their headline of “Unpresentable Mourinho.” “I’m afraid that Florentino is going to keep on suffering for many weekends to come,” chuckles Joan Vehils.

That may be quite true, but for everyone else watching on, Mourinho’s lapses in anger management are set to be some of the most enjoyable events of the season.

On This Day

2010-09-30T13:47:00.001+08:00

September 30: Simchat Torah (Judaism, 2010); Independence Day in Botswana (1966)

1399 – Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, deposed Richard II to become Henry IV of England, merging the Duchy of Lancaster with the crown.
1744 – War of the Austrian Succession: The armies of France and Spain won a pyrrhic victory over the Kingdom of Sardinia at the Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo near Cuneo, Italy.
1791 – The Magic Flute, one of the last operas composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, premiered at Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, Austria.
1939 – World War II: General Władysław Sikorski (pictured) became Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile.
1955 – Film actor James Dean suffered fatal injuries in a head-on car accident near Cholame, California, US.
2005 – The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published controversial editorial cartoons depicting Muhammad, sparking protests across the Muslim world by many who viewed them as Islamophobic and blasphemous.

The weekend's heroes & villains

2010-09-29T14:51:00.001+08:00

Rounding up the weekend's Premier League goodies and baddies...

HEROES

Roberto Di Matteo
Two years ago West Bromwich Albion earned plaudits for their persistence in ‘playing the game as it should be played’, even though their inability to mix it physically or be uber-direct ultimately lead to their relegation from the Premier League.

By Di Matteo’s own admission, West Brom’s philosophy is still to attack rather than defend, but this time round the Baggies look to have a little more cutting edge. Last week’s hero Peter Odemwingie is quickly finding his feet – his goal against Arsenal was his third in five Premier League matches – while at the same time also looking harder to play through at the other end. Well, at least since their trip to Chelsea...

Vincent Kompany
Carlos Tevez may have earned the headlines after scoring the only goal of a match Sky rather predictably billed the biggest of the season so far, but it was City’s rearguard action that ultimately proved the most crucial facet of a brilliant win. Central to that superb defensive performance was Belgian bruiser Kompany, who looked both assured in possession and clinical in the challenge.

Kompany, originally signed as a defensive midfielder, has forged an impressive defensive partnership with Kolo Toure, with City conceding just twice in the eight games they’ve played alongside one another so far this term.

City’s defensive frailty was ultimately what cost them a Champions League slot last season. This blossoming partnership could well prove key to a successful qualification this time round.

Robert Green
They say the key to being a top goalkeeper is recovering from your mistakes, and that’s exactly what Rob Green has done, eventually, with a sterling display to keep Spurs at bay at Upton Park.

The England international (let’s give him the benefit of the doubt on that one…) did brilliantly to deny Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart in the first half, and will be rightly chuffed with his first Premier League clean sheet since April. A turning point? We’ll have to wait and see.

Darren Bent
Bent scored his seventh and eighth goals in 10 matches against the Premier League’s ‘Big Four’ since joining Sunderland last summer. Those goals have been good for a not unreasonable nine points.

Emile Heskey and Michael Owen
Gerard Houllier has been back in English football less than a week and already two of his most trusted charges from his time at Liverpool have made a semi-miraculous return to goalscoring form.

Both Owen and Heskey scored with late headers to change the result in their team’s favour. Owen flicked past Jussi Jaaskelainen to earn Manchester United a point at Bolton, while Emile Heskey's neck-thrusting power-header past Marcus Hahnemann gave Villa a 2-1 win at Wolves in Houllier’s return to the Premier League.

What next? Nick Barmby to fire Hull back into the Premier League? Robbie Fowler to win Australian football’s Golden Didgeridoo award? Sander Westerveld to… nah, it probably won’t happen.

Kenwyne Jones
The £8 million Stoke forked over to Sunderland may have raised a few eyebrows , but the Trinidad and Tobago striker has now scored four goals in his last four matches to help Stoke out of the early season drop zone and up into 14th.

The big man led the line superbly again at St James’ Park and looks likely to continue to flourish in a team known for their strength from set-pieces.

VILLAINS

Stuart Attwell
Controversy seems to follow Attwell round like teenage girls follow Justin Bieber (on Twitter). While this was no ‘ghost goal’ and you can at least work out how he managed to get this one ‘wrong’, it still seems like the 27-year-old lacks the experience (or perhaps confidence) to make big decisions, or perhaps even go back on decisions already made.

By the letter of the law, it was right that the goal stood. The free kick was taken from the right place, Turner hadn’t been told by Attwell to place the ball any further back and Fernando Torres was the statutory 10 yards away. Yet there was still an element of farce about the whole affair, with Atwell seemingly looking for a way out of awarding the goal by entering prolonged discussions with his linesman.

Steven Gerrard (and Stuart Attwell, again)
The farce which lead to Liverpool’s opener wasn’t Attwell’s only faux-pas. The Warwickshire whistle-blower also failed to send off Gerrard for a blatant forearm smash into the face of Sunderland’s Danny Welbeck.

Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Attwell has failed to send off the increasingly unpopular Liverpool skipper for flailing a limb into the head of an opponent, having failed to spot a similar offence committed unto Portsmouth’s Michael Brown in March.

Manuel Almunia
You could make a strong argument that it‘s not the Spaniard‘s fault he's not good enough and that Arsene Wenger is the bad guy for not replacing him over the summer, but there really is no legislating for the kind of error that resulted in West Brom’s second goal on Saturday.

You can just about muddle by in the Premier League on limited ability if you work hard and maintain focus and concentration, but Almunia was clearly lacking in those latter two attributes - as well as confidence - as he was unable to prevent Gonzalo Jara’s near-post shot squirming into the net. Nor was there sufficient reason for the 33-year-old to go walkabout when Chris Brunt burst into the box, allowing the ever-improving Ulsterman to square for Jerome Thomas in front of an unguarded net.

Although Almunia saved a first-half penalty, it's the least he could have done after rushing out (no, really) and clumsily hauling down Peter Odemwingie to concede the spot-kick. Arsenal fans are unlikely to be too worried that he faces a short spell on the sidelines with a elbow injury.

James Perch
Having been booked in each of the Magpies' opening five Premier League matches, the Newcastle utility man took it to the next level with a superbly taken bullet-header of an own goal. It gave Stoke a 2-1 win despite the visitors only having 35% possession (not in itself unusual for the Potters, as we told you on Friday) and one shot on target. Nice work if you can get it.

QOTD

2010-09-27T15:00:00.000+08:00

I know the answer! The answer lies within the heart of all mankind! The answer is twelve? I think I'm in the wrong building.

Trying to be SImon (short post)

2010-09-26T13:21:00.001+08:00

i wan iPhone 4!!!The resolution best, plus hd video cam, 5.0 megapixels, front camera, switch application, harder case protection, OMG!!!

Roma's bucket of tears fit to burst

2010-09-25T10:49:00.001+08:00

Buckets of tears, sang a great man and that could well become the AS Roma official song.

There were floods of the wet stuff at Brescia last night, as howls of anguish and frustration pierced the night sky.

Another defeat for the much put upon Claudio Ranieri, but one where the Romans can genuinely feel aggrieved after another lamentable refereeing display which will probably see the official in question Carmine Russo sent on gardening leave for awhile.

Philippe Mexes was the first to well up and then completely lose all semblance of restrain when he the furious Frenchman was sent-off for a last-man challenge where not only did he win the ball cleanly, but contact occurred outside the area.

The referee demurred to his assistant who gave the defender the thumbs down.

The double whammy of a red card and penalty was all too much for Gallic sensibilities and defender’s team-mates wasted a fair amount of energy dragging the blond bawler off the pitch.

Parents of children in their terrible twos up could only have shaken their heads in sympathy when the little tantrum continued all the way to the touchline where an innocent-looking foam pad became the victim of a vicious right boot.

Julio Sergio’s grief was much more understandable, although equally unsettling, as the goalkeeper was forced to remain on the pitch despite being in no condition to move.

The Brazilian had been the architect of his own demise when he came lunging out of the area to upend Panagiotis Kone - and in the process injure his ankle.

He could have come off had not Mexes beaten him to it and Ranieri had no further substitutions at his disposal so the water works were in full flow until the final whistle.

The brave soldier was carried off the pitch in a considerable state of distress and the initial diagnosis was ligament damage of some sort although the word ‘rupture’ was not mentioned.

However, it seems to be all coming apart for Ranieri who having ranted at the press at the weekend over his treatment was more itchy then belligerent when he faced the cameras for the post-game television inquisition.

It must be said that his prickly demeanour is understandable - what with the name of Marcello Lippi cropping up at every turn as his odds-on replacement.

Ranieri always suspected that the former Italy coach was behind his demise at Juventus and now the spectre of his cigar-chewing nemesis is once again haunting his thoughts.

Suspecting a plot stirring from the Lippi camp, Ranieri used the Sky Sports Italia platform to make his feelings very clear.

"I knew what was going on in Turin, I knew that Lippi was behind it and same things are appearing in the press now as they were then," he said in almost a doomed manner.

However, on a warm Thursday morning on the Tiber, the Roma-supporting citizens remain loyal to their own and the Roman-born coach still has the support of the 'Curva' as they say but defeat to Inter at the weekend could lead to ruin and more tears.

Romantic

2010-09-24T22:16:00.000+08:00

Most wonderful pairs in the world are:-
HEART & BEAT
NIGHT & MOON
BIRDS & SONGS
ROSES & LOVE
U & UR $MILE.
SO KEEP $MILING ALWAYS.

Russia's revolution: winter football!

2010-09-23T14:41:00.000+08:00

Huzzah! Another victory for football’s moneymen. Up yours, loyal supporter!

There’s a very good reason why hitherto, professional football in Russia has been played over the summer months. Mainly because it gets cold in winter; really, really, cold, and there's loads of that snow stuff about, meaning it’s not exactly feasible to be outside on the lawn kicking a ball around, even if it is an orange one.

Still, they’ll have to find some way of doing it, because last week the Russian Football Union announced that from 2012 the country’s top three divisions will no longer play to a traditional March-November calendar, and instead they're going to be brought in line with the major European leagues. Gah!

This means a season beginning in August and finishing in May, and playing football in some of Russia’s most adverse weather conditions, regardless of the RFU plonking a three-month break in between December and February.

This is massive. It’s like when those monsters at the BBC unceremoniously shunted Neighbours around year after year to accommodate Wimbledon. Worse, if anything.

Next season is going to be a whopping 44-game transitional one for the Premier League where, upon completion of the usual 30 matches, the 16 clubs will split into two groups to contest title/relegation issues. Russia’s second tier will also be trimmed from 20 to 18.

OK, a summer league was a bit inconvenient when an international tournament came around, but generally it works.

You haven’t experienced a proper winter on this miserable planet of ours until you’ve been to Russia. It helped see off Napoleon and Hitler, and pretty much the only thing that doesn’t freeze around this time of year is the vodka.

But for the Russian clubs who have their own plans for European domination – y’know, the big ones with all the cash and political sway – winter is also a massive impediment to them, as when the Champions League begins to get interesting in the new year they're still ring-rusty. Mostly this is because they have been pissing around on a golf course somewhere in Turkey; Belek, usually.

This is a huge fillip for them. No wonder they're all for it. Terek Grozny vice-president Haidar Alkhanov more or less admitted last week’s vote was a fait accompli, and that they were "powerless" to do anything about it.

This shift will also make the Premier League far more lucrative when attracting sponsors, and should add a few more roubles to the pile when the competition is flogged to foreign television companies. Cor, it’s great, capitalism!

It'll have to be. Even under its current schedule, during the opening Premier League rounds Russia is covered in a blanket of snow, and matches are played on some terrible pitches that haven’t had a chance to thaw out. To counter this, it’s going to take money. Lots of it.

For most, this will necessitate the introduction of Astroturf pitches, undersoil heating, stadium roofs, heated terraces, things like that. This constitutes a major problem, unless your owner is one of them oligarch chaps who poops roubles.

Alexander Shprygin, the head of the official Russian football fans’ organisation, the VOB, said he was aware of a lack of enthusiasm among supporters for the move.

Zenit's stadium. And St Petersburg isn't particularly cold

However, the perennial European qualifiers probably won’t be overly perturbed when attendances begin to drop faster than the temperature. As in the West, top-end football is becoming less reliant on gate receipts and more about television revenue, and clubs are increasingly becoming the playthings of the rich.

Say hello to a backlog of fixtures, especially the further east you travel from Moscow and the lower you go down the football pyramid. The Russian Football League, the body responsible for the country’s second and third tiers, are opposed to the move and affirm many of their teams simply aren’t capable of staging matches in such conditions, especially in Siberia and the Far East, where it gets more than a bit parky.

Nor is it universally popular with players. The footballers’ trade union said they are "seriously concerned by the haste of the RFU decision to change the championship's format. It's a very alarming symptom that the RFU decided to withdraw from public and professional discussion over these extremely important changes."

Their poll conducted among players from nine of the Premier League’s 16 teams revealed 73 were against the move, as opposed to just 23 in favour.

But the big teams want this, and so it will happen. Politics and football are inextricably linked in Russia, considering who owns many of these sides; this new calendar is deemed beneficial for the country’s 2018/22 World Cup bids, and woe betide anyone who gets in the way of that juggernaut.

Better get used to it, then.

Love

2010-09-22T20:03:00.000+08:00

I feel something in my heart, it's like a little flame, every time I see you, this flame lights up, this flame is special for you, because I LOVE YOU!.…

Good Day, Bad Day - Round 3

2010-09-21T17:15:00.000+08:00

Good Day Valencia Poor Valencia. Three wins from three, a tricky derby victory away at Hércules and the best start to the season since the 1993/94 campaign, and yet it’s Leo Messi’s brand new ankle joint...

R-Pattz & Emma Watson To Star In New Film Together?

2010-09-20T18:40:00.000+08:00

Robert Pattinson and Emma Watson are reportedly going to 'get it on' in new movieDark Arc.

According to marieclaire.co.uk, the pair, who both starred together in the first Harry Potterfilm are set to get steamy for the flick, which is a 'dark-comedy' about a love-triangle between an artist, a designer and their muse.

SEE THE NEW PICTURES FROM HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS HERE!

Rumours suggest that both the Twilight actor and Emma are up for lead roles in the art-house picture, with Casey Affleck apparently in talks to join them.

We hope Emma and R-Pattz are still on good terms after the 20-year old actress criticised the Twilight films for 'selling sex.'

Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Potter flicks said: "Harry Potter is not Twilight, you know; we're not selling sex…"

The Roof-Building Predictions

2010-09-19T19:04:00.000+08:00

Round 3 preview, featuring toilets, pie and Shakira....

SATURDAY
Espanyol (12th) v Almería (14th)
Considering grey skies and rain have returned to the Spanish capital after a horribly sunny summer, LLL is going to start with something belly-gurglingly happy today: the very welcome sight of super-sensational slaphead Ivan de la Peña, back playing football for Espanyol last weekend against Villarreal after nearly a year out with complete body-knack [No, it's true – Medical Ed.]. “After 10 months without competing, it’s incredible to feel like a footballer again,” beamed the hairless hero. “I’m going to face every match as if it were my last and only live in the present.”
LLL Prediction - Home win

Mallorca (18th) v Osasuna (16th)
No goals scored by either of these two teams so far this season. But that won’t stop the should-know-better La Liga Loca tuning in at 6pm like the buffoon that it is to watch this dynamic duo come face-to-face.
LLL Prediction - Draw

Sporting (13th) v Athletic Bilbao (11th)
Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, Víctor Valdés, Andrés Palop (maybe not at the moment), David de Gea, Daniel Aranzubía, Diego López, César Sánchez and Gorka Iraizoz – nine Spanish goalkeepers who are probably better than anything England have got.

And if Friday’s AS is to be believed, the fella named last on that lengthy list may well be proving that tremendously bold and Joe Hart-ignoring assertion in the Premier League sooner rather than later, with the Basque man at the back said to be in Arsenal’s sights to replace countryman Manuel Almunía.
LLL Prediction - Away win

Real Sociedad (4th) v Real Madrid (5th)
Visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu may have thought that there were a number of things missing from the stadium - an atmosphere, goals and (thanks to a tractor oil leak) a playable pitch.

But LLL can’t imagine that anyone has ever gone there thinking that what the ground really lacks is a roof, considering rain is a fairly rare occurrence in Madrid and there are already overhead heaters over the fans to warm their pampered cockles, meaning that there is less chance of freezing than there is of being grilled alive.

However, construction company owner Florentino Pérez feels that this is exactly what is required in Real Madrid’s home. “We are working on a roofing system for the stands. It won’t be easy,” announced the club president at the club’s AGM on Sunday.

It’s a move that has produced a rare example of dissent from Marca, with the often feisty and frequently brilliant Roberto Palomar complaining about the engineering background of Pres Pérez.

“Once again, this man’s obsession with building work comes out. Cold, heat, rain and wind form part of football,” wrote the columnist in Monday’s edition. “If he was a plumber then he’d put a toilet in the middle of the pitch.”

The appearance of Lady Gago on the occasional team-sheet would suggest that the Bernabeu has already got one.
LLL Prediction - Away win

SUNDAY
Hércules (9th) v Valencia (2nd)
The brilliant brace against Barça last weekend by Nelson Valdez certainly made the Paraguayan forward a popular man in Alicante, with shirts with his name flying out of the shop like nobody’s business.

But this doesn’t mean that his fantastic feats won plaudits over the rest of Spain - certainly not within Marca’s readership, anyway. Every week, the newspaper’s website has a poll to choose their footballer of the weekend, with the votes added up to pick an overall winner at the end of the season.

In the most recent round of action, Mesut Ozil was the winner with Diego Forlán nestled in second place. In third, it was of course Raúl. Not really. It was the new Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo, for his assist against Osasuna. Little Leo Messi managed to end up in fifth despite being rubbish and finishing on the losing side, whilst Iker Casillas made eighth when even his own manager said that he had nothing to do.

Unfortunately, Valdez was nowhere to be seen in the top 15 - the last spot was taken by Xavi - meaning that Alicante is pretty much the only place his efforts will be rewarded this season.
LLL Prediction - Home win

Racing (19th) v Zaragoza (17th)
And there was LLL writing that Barcelona and Villarreal might be the best place to catch a bit of sexy football this season. Apparently, all the fun to be had is with Racing Santander up in cow-crazy Cantabria.

AS report that Miguel Angel Portugal’s men have been going nuts with the fantasy football in the club’s opening two matches, this season. Unfortunately it has all been for nothing with Racing still without a point or goal. “We are having fun but risking too much,” was how the paper reported the message from the Santander dressing room.

“We don’t know how long we can keep on playing like this without picking up points,” admits Gonzalo Colsa ahead of a clash against a Zaragoza side that conceded five in 34 minutes last Sunday, meaning that this initially less than enticing encounter might be the one to watch this weekend.
LLL Prediction - Home win

Levante (20th) v Villarreal (6th)
So, given the choice, out of all the players in Spain’s World Cup winning squad, which one would you go for a beer with? Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos too rowdy for you?

Carles Puyol? Ah yes. The hair. The staring. The embarrassment.

What about Joan Capdevila, the soon-to-be-forgotten man of the Spanish squad? And if you think the blog is being a tad harsh there, that was the vibe from the left-back himself in an interview with Marca last weekend.

According to those who have met the Villarreal man, Joan Capdevila is as nice as pie. Indeed, LLL has the impression that the defender is the morale-boosting but less irritating version of Pepe Reina in La Seleccíon’s dressing room.

“I recognise that I don’t have the talent of my teammates in the Spanish team,” said an endearingly modest Capdevila. “I see Iniesta playing and all the others and think, ‘I’d pay to watch them!’"

Well, if it makes you feel any better Joan, LLL would pay to have a drink with you. Or does that sound a bit wrong?
LLL Prediction - Away win

Atlético Madrid (1st) v Barcelona (8th)
Whenever a Spanish team plays in Greece or Turkey it always sets off a series of “Welcome to hell” headlines in Marca and AS, when those banners should be really be reserved for when Peterborough make it into a European competition one day.

It was same old story for Atlético’s trip to Thessaloniki in a very ‘meh’ 1-0 defeat to Aris in the Europa League, where the only thing especially scary was the enormous amount of confetti on the pitch and the ball boys who suddenly gathered to stare menacingly at Sara Carbonero’s bum as she gave her pitchside reports for Telecinco.

It’s more fun fair for Atleti on Sunday with the visit of Barcelona, in an encounter which averages three goals and frequently sees the Rojiblancos on top at the end of the evening. Not unlike Gerard Pique, currently suffering a caved-in head to go with the split lip, bruised face and crushed gonads experienced in the World Cup.

“I’m going through a bad spell when I’m on the end of everything,” chuckled the Barça defender, who may be suffering from some kind of cosmic karma due to being so close to Shakira.
LLL Prediction - Away win

Málaga (10th) v Sevilla (3rd)
Oh dear. Another calamitous result for Sevilla in Europe with a 1-0 home defeat to PSG is very bad news indeed for coach Antonio Alvarez, who is walking the tightrope of doom.

“I spoke quietly with the president and Monchi,” explained Alvarez after the French fiasco. “We discussed the game and have agreed the match is already history.” So will his career at Sevilla be if they lose to Málaga on Sunday.
LLL Prediction - Draw

Deportivo (15th) v Getafe (7th)
The press area of Getafe’s Coliseum stadium was quite exotic on Sunday, and not because of the presence of La Liga Loca. There were a couple of Danish gentlemen there too. Being the nosy type, the blog saw that one was a journalist because he was writing and stuff on a laptop.

But the second Nordic visitor was a lot more interesting in that he was making notes on pads with football fields drawn on to it. “A scout from Odense,” suspected LLL remembering that the Danish outfit were in town on Thursday for a Europa League clash.

It was better than that. It turned out that it was Viggo Jensen, Odense’s assistant coach. Unfortunately, the story has an unhappy ending considering Jensen, along with the club’s entire management team, was fired a few days later making the whole exercise a fairly futile trip really, aside from the honour and privilege of sitting in front of FourFourTwo’s finest.

Jensen also got miss a return to Coliseum for the footballing gift that keeps on giving - Javier Arizmendi. On Sunday, the striker scuffed a shot so badly it fooled everyone on both teams and dribbled unmolested into the back of Levante’s net. On Thursday night, it was double delight with Arizmendi managing to score for both sides in Getafe’s 2-1 win over Viggo-free Odense, which was watched by just 2,000 fans thanks to the insanely high €50 ticket prices.
LLL Prediction - Goalless Draw

B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars- Nothing On You

2010-09-18T16:55:00.000+08:00

beautiful girls all over the world
i could be chasing but my time would be wasted
they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby
they might say hi and i might say hey
but you shouldn't worry about what they say
cause they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby

not not not nothin' on you babe
not not nothin' on you
i know you feel where i'm coming from
regardless of the things in my past that i've done
most of it really was for the hell of the fun
on the carousel so around i spun (spun)
with no directions just tryna get some (some)
tryna chase skirts, living in the summer sun (sun)
this is how i lost more than i had ever won (won)
and honestly i ended up with none

there's no much nonsense
it's on my conscience
i'm thinking baby i should get it out
and i don't wanna sound redundant
but i was wondering if there was something that you wanna know
(that you wanna know)
but never mind that we should let it go (we should let it go)
cause we don't wanna be a t.v episode (t.v episode)
and all the bad thoughts just let them go (go, go, go, go)

beautiful girls all over the world
i could be chasing but my time would be wasted
they got nothin' on you baby
nothing on you baby
they might say hi and i might say hey
but you shouldn't worry about what they say
cause they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby

not not not nothin' on you babe
not not nothin' on you

hands down there will never be another one
i been around and i never seen another one
look at your style I ain't really got nothin' on
and you wild when you ain't got nothing on
baby you the whole package plus you pay your taxes
and you keep it real while them other stay plastic
you're my wonder women call me mr. fantastic
stop.. now think about it

i've been to london, i've been to paris
even way out there in tokyo
back home down in georgia to new orleans
but you always steal the show (steal the show)
and just like that girl you got me froze (got me froze)
http://www.elyricsworld.com/nothin'_on_you_lyrics_b.o.b.html
like a nintendo 64 (64)
if you never knew well now you know (know, know, know, know)

beautiful girls all over the world
i could be chasing but my time would be wasted
they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby
they might say hi and i might say hey
but you shouldn't worry about what they say
cause they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby

not not not nothin' on you babe
not not nothin' on you

everywhere i go i'm always hearing your name (name, name)
and no matter where i'm at girl you make me wanna sang (sang,sang)
whether a bus or a plane or a car or a train
no other girls on my brain and you the one to blame

beautiful girls all over the world
i could be chasing but my time would be wasted
they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby
they might say hi and i might say hey
but you shouldn't worry about what they say
cause they got nothin' on you baby
nothin' on you baby

not not not nothin' on you babe
not not nothin' on you
yeah and that's just how we do it
and i'ma let this ride
B O B and bruno mars!!

Madrid, Milan pull away from the pack

2010-09-16T16:34:00.000+08:00

London - Real Madrid and AC Milan began their Champions League campaigns with 2-0 victories on Wednesday, while English rivals Chelsea and Arsenal opened with big-scoring wins.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho presided over the nine-time champions' triumph against Ajax in the same Santiago Bernabeu stadium where he won last season's final with Inter Milan.

"We pressed a lot and we didn't let Ajax play how they like to play," Mourinho said. "My forwards just weren't sharp in front of goal."

Milan, Madrid's biggest rival in Group G, beat Auxerre after two goals from new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela each scored twice in Arsenal's 6-0 rout of Portuguese side Braga, while Nicolas Anelka's double helped Chelsea surge to a 4-1 victory over newcomer Zilina.

Bayern Munich, beaten by Inter in the final in May, defeated AS Roma 2-0 in Group E.

In the Spanish capital, Madrid went ahead in the 31st minute when midfielder Xabi Alonso's corner was deflected in by Ajax defender Vurnon Anita.

The second goal took until the 73rd to arrive, with striker Gonzalo Higuain well placed at the far post to score from Mesut Oezil's cross.

"It looked like boys against men tonight," Ajax coach Martin Jol said. "They clearly dominated the game."

In the other group match, Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock in the 66th after linking up with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ronaldinho.

The Sweden striker's second came three minutes later, completing a slick counter-attacking move that began with Robinho carrying the ball from defense before Ronaldinho's deft pass reached Ibrahimovic.

"Ibra had a good game tonight," Milan coach Massimo Allegri said. "He is a very important player for us - for his technique and the way he leads the attack."

Chelsea maintained their superb start to the season, having opened their Premier League title defence with four wins, with an emphatic win in Group F despite the absence of suspended striker Didier Drogba.

The visitors raced into a 3-0 lead inside 30 minutes against tournament newcomer Zilina. Anelka's cross was turned in by Michael Essien before the French striker hit two goals himself.

Soon after, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech almost gifted the home side an equaliser, fumbling Robert Jez's free kick before recovering to stop the ball going into the net.

Daniel Sturridge hit Chelsea's fourth in the 48th after latching onto Yossi Benayoun's through ball.

Zilina's consolation goal came in the 55th when an unmarked Tomas Oravec pounced on the loose ball from Branislav Ivanovic's deflection after Cech had failed to hold on to a cross.

In the other Group F match, defender Cesar Azpilicueta scored a late own-goal to give Spartak Moscow a 1-0 win at Marseille, which wasted several scoring chances.

Did You Know

2010-09-14T10:38:00.001+08:00

# ... that, while home to skyscrapers, such as the Torre Mayor (pictured) and the Mexican headquarters of HSBC, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, in Mexico City, is primarily residential?
# ... that the Davara was the first British trawler to be sunk in World War II?
# ... that Romstrade is the largest construction company in Romania?
# ... that Katukurunde Nanananda Thera was the first to point out a unique grammatical shift in a controversial Buddhist Pali passage?
# ... that, after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the practice in the 1977 case Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, the law firm of Jacoby & Meyers was the first in the United States to advertise on television?
# ... that, after a 15-year career as a principal with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Peggy Ann Jones moved to musicals, including in the original cast of The Phantom of the Opera?
# ... that Dawid Baziak began his professional mixed martial arts career with five consecutive technical knockout victories?
# ... that every round-robin tournament either has a set of players who win all games against players outside the set, or its graph of wins and losses is pancyclic, having directed cycles of all lengths?
# ... that, as president of U.S. Trust, Daniel P. Davison classified clients with less than $300,000 in assets as "poor", but was willing to have staff walk a dog for those with assets exceeding $2 million?

Sampdoria Starlets Pedro Obiang & Guido Marilungo Sign Five-Year Contracts

2010-09-13T10:52:00.000+08:00

Sampdoria duo Pedro Obiang and Guido Marilungo have signed five-year contracts with the club, keeping them at the Bluecerchiati until 2015, director Sergio Gasparin has told the club's official website.

Obiang's day was even more special, as he made his Serie A debut against Juventus.

"Other than the debut, Obiang celebrated with a great performance and signing a five-year contract prior to the match," Gasparin stated post-match. "Like him, Marilungo also signed on for five years.

"Both players provide a testimony that the club is focused on youth, and is paying them attention.

QOTD

2010-09-12T16:12:00.001+08:00

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.

Happy Bday Yi Heng!!

2010-09-11T12:39:00.002+08:00

Its my 20th birthday!!!first time thr is so many ppl wishes me, i think thats the power of facebook.Thanks for all the wishes everyone.

Its the day where i will step into my 20's era, so was hoping to celebrate it bigger bit compare to previous, but mini not here and sher ffk...ON MY BDAY!!!sad case..but still gt all my closest sohai frenzz tat will b loyal n stay wit me..hehe

Received a Man Utd jersey, Padini shirt, Jay Chou and Miley Cyrus new album for presents...thx mommy n daddy

Hope those who cant make it can chg their mind last min^^

Digi's COO

2010-09-09T10:34:00.002+08:00

Neway with Rueben, Soo Gee, Elaine, and DANIEL SEOW till almost 3am and woke up at 8. Today will be one busy day due to Digi's roadshow infront of my booth and Digi's Chief Operation Officer is coming down here as well. He is so call the no.2 in Digi after CEO. My boss had been busy and nervous bout this day while i remain calm and lazy with a tired face..^^

Wonder how will the COO thinks after he saw today's empty ss15, i think the roadshow will be one big failure(wrong date la bodoh).

Me and Soo Gee's bday celebration is coming soon..my close friends are attending except some...bet it will be Legend..wait for it..wait for it..wait till Saturday la

Italy make Prandelli feel at home

2010-09-08T10:40:00.000+08:00

Italy won for the second match in succession as Cesare Prandelli enjoyed a five-star return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi and a convincing win in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying group Group C against the Faroe Islands.

Prandelli, back at the stadium that was his home as ACF Fiorentina coach for five years until this summer, made five changes to the side that beat Estonia 2-1 on Friday, including Alberto Gilardino, who headed the hosts in front on 11 minutes. Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano added further first-half strikes before Fabio Quagliarella pounced nine minutes from time and Andrea Pirlo curled in a late free-kick to send the Azzurri top of Group C.

Italy hit the ground running and could have twice taken the lead before Gilardino's opener. First the lively Cassano shot wide after a neat one-two on the edge of the area with Gilardino, and then the influential Pirlo sent a free-kick narrowly beyond the far post.

As in Estonia, it was a set piece from the Italy captain that produced the first goal, Gilardino rising to glance his 17th international goal past Gunnar Nielsen in front of his delighted home fans.

The next two strikes owed much to Luca Antonelli, the Parma FC full-back beginning by embarking on a forceful run before cutting the ball back to De Rossi, who rifled a deflected shot in off Atli Gregersen at the second attempt. Following further sterling approach play down the left by Antonelli, Cassano then picked up possession 22 metres out and scored with a powerful strike.

But for the intervention of Nielsen, the visitors, whose only threat before half-time was a tame free-kick by Christian Mouritsen, could have been worse off. In fact, it was a surprise that the hosts had to wait until nine minutes from time to make it 4-0, Juventus striker Quagliarella finally poking in from close range after Giampaolo Pazzini's shot had been blocked on the line.

After Cassano was again thwarted by Nielsen, Pirlo capped a polished performance with a curling effort that cemented Italy's place atop the section, two points clear of Serbia, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia. Prandelli's charges will next be tested in Northern Ireland on 8 October, when the Faroe Islands are in action away against Slovenia.

Cool

2010-09-07T11:16:00.001+08:00

The fluffy cloud may kiss the sky, the rose may kiss the butterfly, the morning due may kiss the grass but you my friend may kiss my lips!!

In The Firing Line

2010-09-06T11:29:00.000+08:00

thearticle

Without resorting to the rancorous slurs and bitter asides adopted by a section of tabloid newspapers and media outlets in recent days, weeks and months, it remains an undemanding task to question and disparage Fabio Capello’s management of the England team, the criticism and the perception of the Italian’s handling of team affairs barely recognisable from the dizzy pre World Cup heights, peaking in the near seamless qualification to the World Cup in South Africa.

The sea change that had engulfed the nation’s thinking in the immediate build up, during the tournament, assisted by the cries of discontent within the camp and in the aftermath of the doomed and abject performance needs little expansion. The exclusion of Theo Walcott, the inclusion of Shaun Wright Phillips, the indecision surrounding the custody of the goalkeeping gloves and Steven Gerrard’s housing on the left hand side of an unbalanced midfield were the opening lines of what was to become an extended list. The farcical and impersonal nature of Capello’s attempts to reinvent and extinguish the international football careers of Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher and David Beckham respectively provide opportunity for little respite in the England managers’ public haranguing. Miscommunications with his playing staff appear to be the customary for outlet for Capello’s failings in recent times yet what he asks of the players on and off the pitch seems to be clear and concise, regardless of whether all parties (John Terry’s questioning of Fabio Capello’s regimental routine springs to mind, yet the conciseness and the obvious understanding by the players of Fabio Capello’s orders are glossed over) are in agreement.

The language barrier considered briefly, remembering that the Football Association hired Fabio Capello on a six million pounds a year contract fully aware of his less than assured grasp of English and having considered a man in his sixties may not be enamoured with having to learn his adopted country’s language from scratch essentially, it is not poor communication that is the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach’s biggest problem currently, it is his poor prioritisation that yields an even bigger issue. It stems back to late last season when injuries had decimated England’s entire defensive line, prompting Fabio Capello to approach Liverpool’s retired former England defender Jamie Carragher, hoping to persuade the veteran of thirty four England caps to provide cover ahead of England’s trip to South Africa. The England boss was not the one that approached Carragher however, leaving the discussions to England’s general manager Franco Baldini.

The same scenario played out in late May when again it was Baldini who contacted Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, fresh from enjoying a fine but ultimately fruitless end to his club season, again in relation with, like Carragher, returning to the England fold. “It wasn’t the manager who rang me, it was Baldini”, remarked Scholes. “I don’t know Capello really but maybe it would have meant more if he had phoned me”. Subsequent instances of botched exchanges, the most high profile if not entirely relevant to the future of England’s international side, was the revelation on television that David Beckham’s international career was effectively over at a competitive level have heaped more uncertainty surrounding Capello’s man management skills. Again Franco Baldini made the call to Beckham, after the live broadcast had aired but these misdemeanours are put into stark perspective when you consider that last Sunday at Goodison Park, following Everton’s draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, the England manager spoke to Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, linked with a potential England call up on the condition of obtaining a British passport, for which he is now eligible.

It is a bemusing skewing of priorities by the England manager, essentially ignoring his senior players and the pressing issues that have so shrouded and hampered his team even prior to their South Africa sojourn in favour of sounding out a Spaniard in non-possession of that all-important British citizenship. The period for citizenship applications to be processed is between six and nine months, rendering Arteta’s consequence to England’s immediate future as minimal.

The threat posed by Switzerland, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Wales in England’s qualifying section considered, Fabio Capello should have little trouble successfully navigating the qualifiers with minimal fuss given the pool of players and depth of resources at his disposal but with expectations for 2012 sated and the World Cup in 2014 in focus, what exactly Capello is building for is largely unknown. The man tasked with stopping England’s trophyless rot is now little more than a stopgap himself. His willingness to experiment with the young and raw talent of Jack Wilshere, and scouting players such as Phil Jones and Jack Rodwell, conveys an understanding that the core of England’s team is approaching the stage to be demolished and rebuilt. By the time a wholesale turnaround of players has taken place by 2014, Fabio Capello will be long gone and it remains to be seen whether the Italian can mould a side of capable of anything other than merely making an appearance in Ukraine and Poland in two years time.

Team England managing director Adrian Bevington, speaking to the BBC two weeks ago, stated his belief that post Capello, “the manager of the England football team should be English”. It is the paucity of English managers competing at the highest level of the English and European game that gives the ‘Team England’ their big dilemma. Where does the next English England manager come from? It is this lack of English managers that immediately spring to mind for the role that arguably was Fabio Capello’s saving grace as he clung to his job in the aftermath of the Rustenburg debacle. That and the amended contract he signed nine days prior to the start of the 2010 World Cup Finals. Once again on that occasion, Capello’s questionable prioritisation came to the fore.

Advice

2010-09-05T13:48:00.000+08:00

There is no substitute for hard work.

Newcastle fullback Enrique chasing Spain call-up

2010-09-04T16:25:00.000+08:00

Newcastle United fullback Jose Enrique is eyeing a Spain breakthrough this season.

Enrique’s path is blocked by Joan Capdevila, ironically the left-back who took his place at Villarreal before he left for United.

But at 32, Capdevila is not one for the future and Enrique still feels he has his best years in front of him at just 24.

He told the Evening Chronicle: “To play for Spain now is a privilege – it’s the best team in the world.

“They won the last World Cup, of course, but I haven’t given up hope.

“But the most important thing for me is to stay with this team in the Premier League.

“I really happy, because this team has earned the chance to play in the Premier League.”

Jonah Hex: Go West - and keep on going as Megan Fox shows she's one of the worst actresses on the planet

2010-09-03T10:31:00.000+08:00

Jonah Hex (15)

Verdict: It's the movie that's cursed

Rating: No stars. A total turkey.

Jonah Hex is a unique mixture of horror story, comic strip and Western. You won’t have seen anything like it.

That’s because almost everything is wrong with it. Every character is a stereotype,from the macho, scarred bounty hunter who’s lost his family and now goes round killin’ people (Josh Brolin) to a couple of cackling villains (John Malkovich and Michael Fassbender).

Just about everything is under-explained, especially some super-sophisticated weaponry, Jonah’s unusual ability to talk to the dead, and some fights which may or may not be dream sequences.

Hexed and vexed: Megan Fox and Josh Brolin in the incomprehensible Jonah Hex

Extremely violent and full of pointless explosions, logically incoherent, badly shot and poorly edited to the point of incomprehensibility, it’s only 82 minutes long but still seems to last an eternity.

It comes across as an unwanted sequel to Wild Wild West, probably the most inane film of 1999.

I kept myself awake by pondering who had the most embarrassing southern accent. I started off thinking it was Malkovich, but then Wes Bentley attempted an even sillier one, at which point Malkovich seemed to get jealous and shot him.

In the end, I plumped for Hollywood’s favourite sex symbol of the moment, Megan Fox. As the obligatory whore with a heart of gold, she shows off a slender waist and an even thinner acting talent.

Her pouty, sulky, mannequin expression never changes whether she is in the throes of all-enveloping lust or threatened with imminent death.

Is she the worst actress on the planet? After this and the Transformers movies, she's got to be in the running.

Valencia President Manuel Llorente Has No Regrets In Selling David Villa To Barcelona

2010-09-02T11:52:00.000+08:00

Valencia president Manuel Llorente has declared that he has no regrets over the sale of star striker David Villa to Barcelona and rubbished suggestions that he should have waited until after the World Cup to sell El Guaje.

Llorente refuted claims that Villa's performances in South Africa, which contributed to Spain's historic World Cup triumph, would have enabled los Che to demand more than the €40 million they received from the Spanish champions to secure the services of the 28-year-old.

"I do not regret having sold David Villa before the World Cup. A World Cup does not determine the price of a player: neither more or less expensive. Leo Messi, for instance, is not worth less after the World Cup," he said, as quoted by Super Deporte.

"It would not have been possible to get more than €40 million within the current policy of Barcelona which also features a line of major economic austerity."

Nickelback-Savin Me

2010-09-01T16:36:00.000+08:00

Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus:]
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me

Heaven's gates won't open up for me
With these broken wings I'm fallin'
And all I see is you
These city walls ain't got no love for me
I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you
Come please I'm callin'
And all I need from you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus]

Hurry I'm fallin'

All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh, I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus]

Hurry I'm fallin'

Robinho leaves Man City for Milan

2010-09-01T00:41:00.000+08:00

LONDON - Brazil striker Robinho, who joined Manchester City for a British record fee two years ago, has left the Eastlands outfit for AC Milan on a four-year deal.

Sky Television pictures showed the 26-year-old arriving at Milan's training ground for talks on Tuesday before finalising the move from Manchester.

GEAR: 10% off AC Milan home and away shirts here with our online retailer Kitbag

Robinho, who cost City 32.5 million pounds when he joined from Real Madrid in September 2008, never settled in Manchester and spent six months on loan at Brazilian club Santos last season.

The striker, who has played 80 times for his country, underwent a medical at Milan on Tuesday afternoon prior to the transfer being officially announced.

Heading out of the San Siro is Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has joined Bundesliga side Schalke 04 along with Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado.

Robinho's move to Milan has ensured Paraguay international Roque Santa Cruz a stay of execution at City, with the former Blackburn forward linked with a move to Lazio, only for the deal to break down.

In The News

2010-08-30T11:35:00.001+08:00

Mount Sinabung , on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, produces its first volcanic eruption since 1600, causing more than 18,000 residents to flee.
Arrowheads excavated from Sibudu Cave in South Africa indicate the use of the bow and arrow up to 64,000 years ago.
Following a general election, Danny Philip is elected Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.
A series of bombings across thirteen cities in Iraq kills more than fifty people.
Al-Shabaab militants storm a hotel, killing dozens of people, including parliamentarians, amid heavy fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia.
A plane crashes in Heilongjiang, north-east China, killing 42 people.
Nine people, including the hostage-taker, are killed in a hostage crisis on board a bus in Manila, Philippines.
Thirty-three miners are found alive but trapped, three weeks after a mine collapse near Copiapó, Chile.

Barcelona boss Guardiola: Mourinho will make me better coach

2010-08-29T14:06:00.000+08:00

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola saysJose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madridwill make him a better coach this season.

Guardiola expects to be driven to his limit by Mourinho this term.

"The arrival of Jose Mourinho to our league will make me a better coach. It is very important he coaches in Spain because he is one of the best in the world.

"He will make all coaches better," said Guardiola.

The Barca coach also spoke of his row with new AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who still has the likes of Maxwell on his books.

"I thank the club which has sent out a statement on the issue, but I know how to defend itself," he added.

QOTD

2010-08-28T10:31:00.001+08:00

Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.

Reunion week

2010-08-27T13:35:00.002+08:00

This week im fortunate enuf to meet wit some gals tat i didnt c or tok to for years....

Vivian: not that long..but oso hardly c her.

Elaine: i think got 1 or 2 years din c her d. We were so close at some point

Shermaine!!!: My lit princess tat grown up so much d..still rmb how i carry her around on my back in Genting and school..miz those days..yet to meet her but meeting her on this coming weekend..i lov it!!Cant wait

Sneijder and Forlan battle to light up Super Cup

2010-08-26T15:50:00.000+08:00

MONACO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan can strengthen their cases to be World Player of the Year with more stellar performances in Friday's European Super Cup.

Sneijder was inspirational in Inter's Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup treble last term before helping the Netherlands to the final of the World Cup, where Uruguay's Forlan was named Player of the Tournament.

The winner of the new combined FIFA Golden Ball award for 2010 will be announced in January and both players are in the running despite their modesty.

"At the moment I'm not thinking about what I can win, just the match with Atletico," Sneijder told Inter's TV channel. "Personal awards are great but you can't win them without having a solid team at your back."

Ominously for Inter and then La Liga, Forlan is fired up for the new season despite his exertions in leading Uruguay to the semi-finals in South Africa.

"After my holiday I feel refreshed and my body has recovered. I love playing and I am eager to get back out there to perform for my club," he told uefa.com.

The game will also be important for new Inter coach Rafa Benitez, who could win a second trophy in a week if the European champions beat Europa League winners Atletico in Monaco.

The Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup treble winners waved goodbye to inspirational coach Jose Mourinho as he left for Real Madrid but Benitez has hardly made any changes to the winning side since arriving from Liverpool.

He played the same team from May's Champions League final in the 3-1 win over AS Roma in last Saturday's Italian Super Cup although in truth Roma were unlucky to lose.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANTS

Atletico reached two finals last season, falling to Sevilla in the King's Cup a week after their win over Fulham in the Europa League final, but had a disappointing La Liga campaign.

A lack of consistency stemming from a shaky defence has been tackled, however, with Uruguay's Diego Godin and Brazilian full back Felipe Luis brought in to strengthen the backline.

Fran Merida has been recruited from Arsenal for the midfield, while Portugal playmaker Tiago has been secured on loan again from Juventus, though he is unlikely to feature.

Coach Quique Sanchez Flores is happy as underdogs on Friday.

"Our only advantage in this game is that it is a one-off," he told reporters earlier this week.

"I view it as an epilogue to last season, a reward. We'll demand a lot from ourselves but we can't turn a fiesta into a funeral, whatever happens. On Monday, we'll be motivated for the start of the league whether we win the title or not."

The match will see five men officiating at the Super Cup for the first time, with one additional assistant behind each goal given the expansion of last season's experiment in the Europa League has been extended to the Champions League this season.

Probable teams:

Inter Milan: 1-Julio Cesar; 13-Maicon, 6-Lucio, 25-Walter Samuel, 26-Cristian Chivu; 4-Javier Zanetti, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 19-Esteban Cambiasso; 9-Samuel Eto'o, 22-Diego Milito, 27-Goran Pandev

Atletico Madrid: 13-David de Gea: 17-Tomas Ujfalusi, 25-Diego Godin, 18-Alvaro Dominguez, 24-Felipe Luis; 19-Jose Antonio Reyes, 12-Paulo Assuncao, 8-Raul Garcia, 11-Fran Merida; 7-Diego Forlan, 10-Sergio Aguero

2010-08-25T15:37:00.001+08:00

I read on the newspaper that sending text messages causes a radiation that is cancerous. That's why I have decided to stop - to stop reading newspapers.

Spurs, Zenit target group stages

2010-08-24T10:46:00.000+08:00

Their proud domestic traditions notwithstanding, Tottenham Hotspur need no reminding that the club merits barely a footnote to date in the history of European football's premier club competition as they target the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Spurs, who expect to overturn a 3-2 deficit against Young Boys of Switzerland on Wednesday in their qualifier return leg at White Hart Lane, were the first English side to taste European glory with a 1963 UEFA Cup Winners Cup triumph. They followed up with a win in the inaugural UEFA Cup in 1972, which they won again 12 years later.

But until they broke into the "top four" of the English Premier League last May at the expense of Liverpool, Spurs had failed to qualify for the Champions League while their only foray into the old format European Cup ended in a narrow 1962 semi-final loss to Benfica after having three goals ruled out. Four years ago, Spurs should have made it into the competition but a mass bout of gastroenteritis contributed to a loss at West Ham which denied the club a berth.

A week ago, the Londoners appeared to have thrown away a place in the lucrative group phase as they saw unheralded Young Boys race into a 3-0 lead in the opening leg. But goals from Sebastien Bassong and Roman Pavlyuchenko brought Spurs back into the contest and they should now be expected to go on and put their names in the hat for the group draw.

"Hopefully, we can get a few early goals like they did," said Spurs' Michael Dawson, looking back at a whirlwind start to the first game which almost saw the Premier League side heading for a premature and humiliating exit.

Manager Harry Redknapp says he expects his side to progress despite the likely absence of Pavlyuchenko with an ankle problem and playmaker Luka Modric with groin trouble. Striker Jermain Defoe hopes to be fit despite also having a groin strain. Assuming he makes it, Robbie Keane, who missed the weekend win at Stoke with a knee injury, is likely to miss out again amid reports he could be on his way to Aston Villa or West Ham.

In Redknapp's view, "we have got a big chance as we have come back from the dead" in the first game. Ledley King is scheduled to return in defence after he was rested against Stoke.

European derbies
While Spurs seek to make it through to the money-spinning group action, there are two "local" derbies Wednesday as Norway's Rosenborg travel to Denmark's FC Copenhagen protecting a 2-1 lead while Slovakian outfit Zilina should progress having already won 2-0 at Czech neighbours Sparta Prague.

The two remaining encounters are tightly poised with French side Auxerre - a surprise third in Ligue 1 last season - looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Russia's 2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg, while Ajax start slight favourites armed with a 1-1 draw from the away leg at Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev. Zenit sit atop the Russian league and had a weekend off after their match with second-placed CSKA Moscow was rescheduled.

"We are going to France without any fears," Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti insists. We missed several chances in the first match but managed to win it and keep a clean sheet. Such a result after the first leg is quite acceptable. Auxerre are a very good team but I believe we are capable of earning a place in the main draw."

The five winners will join the five qualifiers from Tuesday's encounters, those ten teams going through to join 22 heavyweights who automatically made it to the group stage.

Stoke tracking Tottenham striker Peter Crouch

2010-08-23T10:29:00.000+08:00

Stoke are the latest club to show interest in Tottenham striker Peter Crouch but Harry Redknapp does not want to sell.

Everton have also been linked with the England international, who could use Steven Pienaar to part finance a £15million deal.

Target: Tottenham's Peter Crouch

Stoke striker Dave Kitson is wanted by Portsmouth on loan.

Wigan are talking to former West Ham striker Guillermo Franco, 33, about a free transfer.

Leicester are weighing up a £500,000 bid for Crystal Palace midfielder Neil Danns.

2010-08-22T13:24:00.001+08:00

To live dis life i need a heartbeat,to have a heartbeat i need a heart,to have heart i need happiness,to have happiness i need u!

Chivas president Jorge Vergara regrets early Javier Hernandez sale to Manchester United

2010-08-21T10:28:00.000+08:00

Chivas president Jorge Vergara has admitted he wished he'd kept Manchester United striker Javier Hernandezuntil the end of their Copa Libertadores campaign.

Hernandez, 22, agreed on the switch to United in April and has made an instant impact. The Mexican side have progressed to the final of South America's elite club competition but missed 'Chicharito's' presence after losing the first leg of the final against Internacional 2-1.

With Tottenham's new signing Sandro not expected in north London until the end of the Brazilian side's campaign, Vergara revealed to Marca his regret at not agreeing a similar deal.

He said: "I am certain he would have made an important contribution against Internacional; maybe our mistake was not having kept Javier at Chivas until the final.

Manchester United Blog | The Stretty Rant

2010-08-20T10:47:00.000+08:00

August 19, 2010

It’s a rather disappointing day for United in the press. Rodrigo Possebon is heading home to play for Santos in Brazil, former assistant Carlos Queiroz has received a ban from the Portuguese Football Federation, and Dimitar Berbatov has earned comparison to Eric Cantona.

I thought Possebon would be the next play to breakthrough from the reserves, but with him gone I’m curious to see who our readers think is the next youngster to come through the ranks.

Owl City-Fireflies

2010-08-19T08:22:00.000+08:00

You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep

'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would just stand and stare

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance

A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep

To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell

But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams

German giants want Weiss

2010-08-18T16:59:00.000+08:00

Weiss: Looking to move on

Stuttgart general manager Fredi Bobic admits his club are keen on Manchester City starlet Vladimir Weiss.

The 20-year-old is among those to have found themselves on the fringes at Eastlands following a summer of mass transfer activity.

The added competition for places looks set to curtail any hopes he had of forcing his way into the first-team fold this season.

As a result, it is expected that the Slovakia international will be moved on by Roberto Mancini, either on loan or in a permanent switch.

Weiss did take in a short-term deal at City's Premier League rivals Bolton last season and is believed to be looking for another move.

Talks

Stuttgart claim the youngster has expressed a desire to join them and Bobic is hoping an agreement can be pushed through before the summer transfer window slams shut.

"We are in talks and we would like to sign Vladimir Weiss," he told Deutsche Presseagentur.

"The player would like to come over, but there are other clubs also interested in his services.

"We have yet to agree a move as the other clubs involved have other ideas."

Weiss is under contract with City until June 2012, but has struggled to make an impression since stepping up from the academy ranks.

John Whittle

2010-08-17T16:58:00.000+08:00

John Woods Whittle VC, DCM (3 August 1882 – 2 March 1946) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. Whittle was serving as a sergeant in the First World War when he was decorated with the Victoria Cross following two separate actions against German forces during their retreat to the Hindenburg Line in 1917. In the latter action, he attacked a machine gun crew, killing the group and seizing the gun.

Born in Tasmania, Whittle completed twelve months active service during the Second Boer War, before returning to Australia and enlisting in theRoyal Navy where he served for five years as a stoker. Re-enlisting in the army, he was posted to the Army Service Corps, artillery, and Tasmanian Rifle Regiment prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Transferring to the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, Whittle joined the 12th Battalion in Egypt and embarked for the Western Front the following year. During an attack on the village of La Barque, Whittle rushed a German trench and forced the men from the position; he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as a result.

Wounded three times during the war, Whittle was the subject of two courts-martial due to his unruly behaviour. In October 1918, he returned to Australia at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Australia to assist in recruitment. Discharged from the military in December 1918, he later moved to Sydney. In 1934, Whittle was presented with a Certificate of Merit after saving a drowning boy. He died in 1946 at the age of 63.

Fulham transfer talk overshadows draw with Bolton

2010-08-16T08:20:00.000+08:00

Bolton Wanderers 0 Fulham 0: Mark Schwarzer and Paul Konchesky, two leading Fulham lights who have been the subject of much transfer speculation, sat out a mundane opening here to the new League season, both having failed fitness tests.

Of course, this being the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, that will not deter reports that Schwarzer's move to Arsenal, or Konchesky's reported reunion with Roy Hodgson at Liverpool, have moved a step closer following their omission at the Reebok Stadium but for now Fulham's new manager, Mark Hughes, keeps his determined stance.

"They had fitness tests this morning and were unable to play," said Hughes. "Schwarzer is injured, that is why he missed the game. The intention is that he stays here. We have had conversations, and I fully understand the reasoning [why] Mark wants to take this opportunity.

"But I think he understands we have to protect our position. We're not going to put Fulham's position or reputation at risk by making promises we can't fulfil. Nothing has moved on."

Certainly his deputy goalkeeper David Stockdale, 24, did his cause with Hughes no harm. After some initial jitters Stockdale, starting only his second Premier League game, made two vital saves that earned his team a point.

Early in the second period, Gretar Steinsson picked out Johan Elmander in the Fulham area and the oft-criticised Sweden forward turned neatly in the area to produce a vicious shot, which Stockdale kept out with his fingertips. Then, just after the hour mark, Elmander was again the unfortunate Wanderer as he seized on an advantage call from the referee Stuart Attwell, advancing into the area where only the outstretched leg of the young goalkeeper denied him.

Stuart Holden, the United States midfielder, came closest of all to breaking the deadlock 12 minutes from time when he showed an explosive turn of pace to cut in from the left and send a right-foot shot ricocheting against the foot of Stockdale's post.

That escape actually galvanised Fulham into their best period of the game, and Jussi Jaaskelainen was twice forced into solid saves from Clint Dempsey and Dickson Etuhu as the London side finally sensed the possibility of victory rather than soak up pressure and hope for something on the break.

"Last season, it took us until February to get our first clean sheet so I'm pleased," said Bolton's manager, Owen Coyle. "Some of our play was great, the fans were fantastic, the atmosphere was great. The only disappointment was, we never got the win."

Attendance: 20,352

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man of the match: Knight

QOTD

2010-08-15T16:08:00.001+08:00

I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.

Legend..wait for it...wait for it...ary!!

2010-08-14T16:33:00.002+08:00

How I Met Your Mother is a bad series that influence ppl around..bad...

So kids, the story was back in YESTERDAY. Me and your uncle Simon, uncle Soo Gee, uncle Hon Kitt, uncle Damon, uncle Gary and aunt Penny went to bangsar for a drink or two, and your uncle Tung CHICKEN out half way.

We wanted to go for this bar call "21" but is Fri nite and you shouldn't noe tis but is their ladies nite in KL, so it turns out FULL HOUSE! so we changed our plan and walk around and found this pub that reli EXPENSIVE, never do this but we ran away after looking at the menu which their staff worked so hard to find us a seat that can fit 7 ppl and arrange chair..pity them.

So, another change of plan. Up to this point u will think tis is one HELL of a LEGENDARY nite..but..the story is not over yet. We decided to go test our luck in Sri Hartamas where ur uncle Simon missed a junction n made us turn one big round jz to go there..he owiz has bad sense of direction if you notice that.

We found this bar name BLACKHOLE and ur uncle Damon was so excited bout it and he also ordered a GRAVEYARD which is a cocktail bcoz its BLACK in colour. 3 jug and 3 jug and 3 jug....me n ur uncle Simon at least ordered another shot n bottoms up it, others was like..dying thr bcoz of few cups of beer. At least ur uncle Kwa had improvement. He wanted to puke but failed so end up he didn't!Remember the story he puked in our hotel room's sink at Genting?thats sux!

Your uncle Gary and aunt Penny wasn't tat lucky. They got blocked by police 2 times and was robbed RM70 which is counted lucky bcoz those money suckers wanted RM500 at 1st. You c the point i wanna migrate to UK?and the worse is they gt blocked by our guard in usj18..haha!

The nite was not over. Me, ur uncle Damon, uncle Gary and aunt Penny drank the 2nd round in my hse n played some poker which dunno y ur uncle Damon was so lucky tat day. Played till the next day 7am in the morning and v head out for bfast where both of us r like ZOMBIE. Oh yea..uncle Damon ordered a ZOMBIE at 1st in the bar but he was so dissapointed wit it bcoz he expected it to b BLACK in colour so he onli ordered a GRAVEYARD after tat.

I was so tired and slpy...tot can slp for like s long s i wan but woke up half way of my sweet dream to puke..yea..bad blood circulation..u'll puke the next day..@.@

Can't deny..the nite was LEGEND...wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...ARY NITE!!

53 people bet on Pool to win Premier League

2010-08-13T15:11:00.000+08:00

BLACKPOOL fans are feeling optimistic this season as at least 53 of them have bet on the Seasiders winning the Premier League.

According to bookies Paddy Power faithful fans have truly got behind their team by taking backing them to finish above Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool at a massive 5,000-1.

Although that figure must be qualified with the fact that nobody has laid down more than a £10 bet.

Paddy Power spokesman Darren Haines said: "These must be the people who paint their houses tangerine. The eternal optimists."

If the bet was to come off it would be almost as bad for the firm as if another North West team took the trophy.

At 15-1 a massive amount of punters have had a quick flutter on Everton, who stand an outside chance of having a say in the title.

Mr Haines said another popular bet was for Pool to break the record for lowest number of points scored in a season, an unwanted title currently held by Derby County from the 2007/08 term. The odds on that bet have dropped from 16-1 to 8-1 due to the number of gamblers taking it on.

Four bets have also been placed on the Seasiders failing to win a single game at 25-1.

But on a plus note the odds of Blackpool staying up are a reasonable 11-4 or 2/9 for the team being relegated.

City buck trend as English clubs cut back

2010-08-11T11:10:00.000+08:00

(AFP) - Premier League clubs may be earning record sums but faced with rising debts and wages are largely avoiding buying star players before the new season gets underway, with Manchester City the main exception.

"Top transfer targets come with high wage demands," said Wyn Grant, an expert in football business at Warwick University, central England.

"In the current economic climate and when you're a club with debt it's not advisable to have large amounts of your outgoings to go on these wages," he told AFP.

For a second year running City easily stand top of the table in terms of pre-season spending on players and are on course to have splashed out more than 100 million pounds (120 million euros, 159 million dollars) by the time the new campaign starts on Saturday.

"We want to improve and we want to improve quickly," said City manager Roberto Mancini.

"For this reason we have to buy," explained the Italian, looking to add Aston Villa's James Milner and Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli to his squad.

During the close-season City have already spent a total of 60 million pounds on Spanish World Cup winner David Silva, Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure and Germany defender Jerome Boateng, thanks to their wealthy Gulf-based owners.

City finished last season in fifth place, missing out on a lucrative Champions League spot but managed to finish above Liverpool, whose debt problems have resulted in only one major pre-season acquisition -- Joe Cole from Chelsea on a free transfer.

But the Reds have so far managed to keep key players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard amid mounting speculation Chinese businessman Kenny Huang is set to take over the club and wipe out Liverpool's debt worth 237 million pounds.

Reigning champions Chelsea, last season's runners-up Manchester United, third-placed Arsenal and Tottenham who secured the final Champions League spot by finishing fourth have also all been quiet in the transfer market.

Chelsea have signed Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool to replace Cole and United's only major arrival has been Mexico striker Javier Hernandez.

Arsenal have bagged Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer and managed to hold onto Spain's Cesc Fabregas after turning down multi-million pound bids from Barcelona for their young captain.

With a few weeks remaining until the transfer window shuts on August 31, leading Premier League clubs may add to their squads after being linked with numerous players from across the globe.

But Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side do not need to buy any more players.

"I don't see the value in adding to our squad," said the Scot, shrugging off suggestions United's massive debts were behind their transfer inactivity.

"Supporters want you to buy players. They like to see a big signing every year ... I look at the players everyone says are available and they don't excite me."

Last season's 20 Premier League clubs are together expected to have earned record revenues of more than two billion pounds in 2009-10, according to Deloitte.

The global accountancy firm added in its latest annual survey on football finance that the coming season will see combined revenues rise even further to reach 2.2 billion pounds thanks to higher broadcasting fees.

But Premier League players' combined wages hit a record high of 1.3 billion pounds in 2008-09 and are forecast to have risen even further since then.

"The record wages to revenue ratio of 67 percent in the Premier League in 2008/09 is a concern, and we expect wages growth to outstrip revenue increases again in 2009/10," said Alan Switzer, director of Deloitte's Sports Business Group.

"This will further reduce operating profitability, a decline that cannot continue indefinitely.

"However, clubs have the opportunity, via the revenue uplift from the new broadcast deals from 2010/11, to get wage levels down to a more sustainable share of revenue.

"It's not the first such opportunity. It remains to be seen whether they grasp it," he added in the recent report.

We r just friends yar

2010-08-10T14:01:00.000+08:00

Shakspear said, “A Boy & a Girl can never b Friends forever.”
Lincoln said, “Friendship is the starting step 4 wat we call Love.”
Wrdswrth said, “Proposing a Boy or a Girl for Friendship is nothing but indirectly saying, I LIKE U.”
Jackie Chan said, “Love is a everlasting Friendship.”
Michael Jackson said,”If 1 can become ur Best Friend, then He or She can easily bcum ur Life Partner!

this is 4 all those guyz n girlz who say,”We r just friends yar”

In debut of Marquez and Castillo, Johnson shines

2010-08-09T12:54:00.000+08:00

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — On the field with some of soccer's biggest names, Sean Johnson stole the show.

The Chicago Fire goalkeeper made seven saves Sunday night, including two on shots by Thierry Henry and another by Juan Pablo Angel in stoppage time, to preserve a 0-0 tie against the New York Red Bulls. It was only the second Major League Soccer game for the 21-year-old Johnson.

"We should have won the game," said Henry, who doesn't expect to miss any time after leaving the game in the 45th minute with a groin injury. "We had chances to win the game, but Chicago and their goalkeeper had a great game."

The Fire and Red Bulls have dominated Major League Soccer headlines with their big-name acquisitions over the last few weeks, and the chance to see all the stars drew a crowd of 21,868, the largest ever for a Fire game at Toyota Park.

Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, who followed Barcelona teammate Henry to New York, was in the starting lineup for his Red Bulls debut. Freddie Ljungberg was playing his first home game since being traded to Chicago from Seattle on July 30, and Mexico international Nery Castillo was greeted with fireworks when he came on in the second half, his first appearance since Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine loaned him to the Fire.

But it was Johnson who made the difference.

The Red Bulls peppered him with five shots on goal in the second half, including a shot by Angel at the beginning of stoppage time. Positioned just inside the 6-yard box, the Red Bulls captain got his head on the ball and swung hard. But Johnson got a hand on the ball, punching it clear.

"I'm disappointed. I think we should have won the game," Angel said. "We had a number of chances, we just couldn't put them away."

Henry, playing in his second MLS game, gave New York its best chances in the first half. In the 20th minute, he stopped Fire defender C.J. Brown with a stutter step and took a shot from close range, but Johnson stopped it easily. Ten minutes later, Angel fed Henry on the run, but he got tangled up with a defender in the box and Johnson smothered the ball.

But he tweaked his groin he left New York's exhibition against Manchester City with a similar injury and left in the 45th minute.

"For me, it's the preseason," said Henry, who signed with New York on July 14 after being released by Barcelona. "Guys out there are fully fit and it's not easy to try and get fit. But I'm going to try and do it as fast as I can."

Chicago's offense has suffered since the departure of Cuauhtemoc Blanco, lacking the creative touch that made the Fire so dangerous up top. But the trade for Ljungberg appears to have solved that. He had several nice give-and-gos with McBride but he blew a chance to give Chicago the lead in the 43rd minute.

McBride made a nice run up the right side, looking for Ljungberg all the way as Ljungberg charged to the left post. McBride made a perfect cross, but Ljungberg duffed the shot just inside the 6-yard box.

"I'm very happy because Freddie adapted very fast with all the teammates. He's a big professional and looked very good to me," Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "Nery Castillo, when these guys have more knowledge of each other, I'm sure we will improve in front, in the attack."

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and the rest should take a crash course in humility Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-

2010-08-08T11:58:00.000+08:00

Which of us as kids - and even now, as old kids - haven't dreamed of playing at Wembley for club and country?

It will be hard for us to understand, therefore, that a fair few England players would probably prefer not be turning out there for Chelsea or Manchester United today or the national team on Wednesday.

Chief among them is Wayne Rooney. At the very least, he should be feeling somewhat sheepish.

Wayne's World: Rooney has endured a tough couple of months

Given his tirade against England followers in South Africa, and his feeble World Cup form, getting himself into a position where he could be pictured outside a Manchester nightclub, smoking and urinating, was not the wisest form of self-rehabilitation a few days back into training and before the opening week of the season.

Now we should know that footballers are not, and never have been, saints. They are young men with, at the top level, plenty of money and energy. And young men do daft things.

I should know ... I was one once. And that was without money! Nor should we expect millionaires who have lost touch with real life to be role models.

That job is for parents and, secondarily, teachers. But for Rooney's new £130,000-a-week contract, those who have made him and the Premier League so rich by buying satellite subscriptions, expensive tickets and merchandise, can expect professionalism, especially when a bit of low-profile penitence might have been called for. Rooney has become the English game's touchstone and, as reflection of it, was duly exposed at the World Cup as being short of the highest quality.

He is so valued because of the limited English talent available. Having added heading ability to his repertoire last season, he became even more feted.

He has, though, been fortunate to have had good service from overseas players in a Premier League jungle where such a big beast can dominate physically. At times, he can also symbolise English players deficient in patience and care.

Clearly Rooney has not realised properly quite how fed up the nation is with him, his England mates, and the England manager Fabio Capello. (Does anyone else recall at the Italian's appointment, by the way, the then FA chief executive Brian Barwick describing him as 'a winner with a capital W'?)

Even if memories are short and, as the old hype kicks back in again in a few weeks, you suspect that Rooney and Co are about to find out - from rival fans at today's FA Community Shield and from England's friendly against Hungary in midweek - just how let down every fleeced fan feels.

And they will deserve the public opprobrium. If they acknowledge its validity with some grace, rather than reject it - as Rooney did in Cape Town - some much-needed self-awareness and humility might even arrive.

If not, they risk alienating their audience even more. Welcome home, boys.

Wenger has his chance

So much speculation, so many words. In recent weeks, the Spanish sports paper Marca has been running up to six pages a day on the Cesc Fabregas-Barcelona non-transfer saga.

And you think we've it bad over here? In the end, you suspect it all came down to one sentence from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to Fabregas, as it did with Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo two summers ago:

Staying put: Wenger convinced Fabregas to stay at Arsenal this season

Give me one more season for a big tilt at the major trophies and then we'll let you go.

And, opening the door to ridicule, I believe Arsenal will win the new Premier League.

Wenger has strengthened stealthily and his youngsters are a year older and wiser, ready to hold off Manchester United.

There will be hell to pay should Manchester City's money not take them into the top four and they could even overtake an ageing Chelsea.

Relegation? It'd be nice to be wrong about Blackpool going down with West Bromwich and Wigan.

One Season Too Many For Fabregas? From Ashley Cole To Thierry Henry - The Players Who Gave Their Clubs Another Year

2010-08-07T20:43:00.000+08:00

The decision of Cesc Fabregas to resist the summer-long siren calls from his hometown club Barcelona means thatArsenal and their fans will have the gifted playmaker in their ranks for the coming campaign as they seek the silverware that has eluded the club since their penultimate season at Highbury.

Fabregas was no doubt put under pressure to remain at the Emirates by his 'second father' Arsene Wenger - and his relationship with Gunners' fans - though that pressure can scarcely have been greater than the emotional tidal wave of urgings from Camp Nou to abandon the Emirates and rejoin the Spanish champions.

Although on Friday Fabregas finally committed himself 'for the foreseeable future' to Arsenal, it has immediately been interpreted, especially at Barcelona, as 'just one more year', despite the fact that his Arsenal contract runs until 2015.

So if 2010-11 is to be his last season as a Gunner, how will it pan out? Will he skipper the club to a trophy before leaving on a high, or cut a distracted and forlorn figure whose head and heart are in Spain, and see his market value fall to a level closer to what financially-strapped Barca are prepared to pay?

There are others before him who have pledged themselves to one more year at their clubs, with decidely mixed results...

Patrick Vieira - Arsenal, 2004-05

A predecessor of Fabregas as Arsenal captain, Vieira was shamelessly courted by Real Madrid for consecutive summers; but after leading the unbeaten Gunners to Premier League glory in 2003-04, when he was at his imperious best, he opted to stay at the north London club.

In that next season, his form was deemed to have dipped - although what proved to be his last kick as a Gunner did bury the penalty that defeated Manchester United in Cardiff and enabled him to hoist the FA Cup.

And there was a certain irony when Wenger decided, in summer 2005, to offload the combative midfielder. Vieira was somewhat surprised to find himself suddenly surplus to requirements. Real Madrid were no longer that interested, so he returned to Serie A where, despite winning consecutive titles with Juventus and then Inter, he never recaptured the highs he'd commanded at Arsenal.

Ashley Cole - Arsenal, 2005-06

A hugely successful product of the Arsenal academy, Cole's relationship with the Gunners had seemed solid until revelations of his having attended clandestine meetings with Chelsea about a possible move emerged.

Cole and Chelsea were subsequently fined for their respective roles in the tapping-up scandal, and the left-back's relationship with Arsenal and their fans was irreparably damaged.

He signed a new contract, but spent much of 2005-06 on the treatment table and, with Gael Clichy having emerged in his absence, and some shabby carping in his autobiography, what proved to be his last season at Arsenal before he headed off for Chelsea was an unedifying experience all round.

Thierry Henry - Arsenal, 2006-07

Having taken the armband from the departing Vieira, Arsenal's all-time leading scorer captained the Gunners in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona, the club he was widely tipped to join that summer.

But he chose to give Arsenal one more season, their first at the Emirates. It proved to be a frustrating one for all concerned. Blighted by injury, when he was fit to play he often looked exasperated and out of step with his young team-mates, who in turn appeared inhibited by the icon's presence.

It made his eventuual move to Barca, in summer 2007, much easier for Gunners fans to bear than had seemed likely a year earlier.

Emmanuel Adebayor - Arsenal, 2008-09

The Togo striker was beneficiary-in-chief of Henry's Arsenal exit, scoring 30 goals as the Gunners threatened (but ultimately failed) to win the title in 2007-08.

However, the limelight seemed to go to Adebayor's head, and he spent much of the 2008 summer flirting publicly with AC Milan and Barcelona. Arsenal offered him significantly enhanced terms to stay, but he'd squandered his goodwill with the fans, and his final season as a Gunner was an anti-climax laced with vitriol from the terraces.

The bitterness came to a head when, now at Manchester City, he celebrated scoring against Arsenal with infamous zeal.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United, 2008-09

After his sensational 2007-08 season at United, when he scored a remarkable 42 goals from the wing, Ronaldo expressed an interest in moving to Real Madrid if they offered him the same terms they'd allegedly tempted him with earlier that year.

United complained about Real's pursuit of their player, and in August 2008 Ronaldo confirmed he would stay at Old Trafford for at least another year, before fulfilling his 'dream move' to the Bernabeu.

That final season as a Red Devil was another momentous one: he won the Ballon d'Or, was named Fifa World Player of the Year, collected a third consecutive Premier League winners' medal, appeared in his second successive Champions League final and scored another 26 goals in 53 appearances before joining Real with Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing.

Steve McManaman - Liverpool, 1998-99

A decade earlier, Real Madrid were the object of another Premier League star's affections. Named Liverpool captain at the start of the 1998-99 season, McManaman revealed his desire to play abroad.

In January 1999 his agent announced that he was about to fly to Spain, and by the end of the month McManaman had passed a medical and signed an official pre-contract with Madrid.

The decision angered many Liverpool fans, who believed McManaman had waited until he was sure Real Madrid would sign him on a lucrative deal. It was the end of a beautiful friendship: he still had five months left on his Liverpool contract and in his final games for the club his form dipped through a combination of injury, manager Gerard Houllier's selections as he tried to reduce the team's reliance on McManaman, and the player's loss of confidence as sections of the home fans turned against him, calling him 'traitor' and 'Judas'.

Xabi Alonso - Liverpool, 2008-09

The manner of Alonso's departure from Anfield was markedly different. Happy at Liverpool and highly influential in the Reds' midfield, he'd been treated as entirely expendable by Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2008 as the manager publicly pursued Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

In the event, neither player moved that summer; but Alonso had lost confidence in Rafa and, despite an excellent relationship with the Kop, decided his future lay away from Liverpool.

Underlining the folly of having tried to offload him, Alonso proceeded to produce his best season on the pitch for the Reds, who narrowly missed out on that elusive 19th domestic championship title. But it was his swan-song: he handed in a transfer request and needed no second thoughts when Real Madrid came in for him in July 2009.

Gareth Barry - Aston Villa, 2008-09

As captain and longest-serving player at Villa Park, Barry became the subject, in May 2008, of a series of bids from Liverpool boss Benitez. All were rejected by Aston Villa, prompting Barry to publicly criticise his manager, Martin O'Neill, accusing him of making no attempt to keep him at the club, and stating his desire to join Liverpool in order to play Champions League football.

The midfielder was officially disciplined by Villa, who then rejected another bid from Anfield of around £15 million as falling short of their £18m valuation. O'Neill stripped Barry of the club captaincy, but the player remained at Villa for one more season.

He was later restored as skipper as Villa made a determined bid to break into the top four. He made 48 appearances in all competitions, his highest seasonal tally for the club, scoring eight goals, only one fewer than his best return as a Villan. But in June 2009 he signed a five-year contract with Manchester City for a fee of £12m, despite their non-involvement in the Champions League.

Jermain Defoe - West Ham United, 2003-04

The striker was forging a strong reputation at West Ham but was unable to prevent them from being relegated at the end of the 2002-03 season. Within 24 hours of their demotion being confirmed, Defoe handed in a written transfer request. Its timing brought criticism from both fans and team-mates and was rejected by the club.

He later apologised to supporters, saying: "I mishandled that move and I can only apologise. I'm young and I've learned from it. I still played my hardest for West Ham and gave them 100 per cent and want to thank the fans for their support."

But although starting the 2003–04 season as a Hammer, he refused to sign a new contract and seemed distracted as three red cards saw him play only 22 of a possible 34 games, prompting West Ham to accept an offer from Tottenham for him in the January transfer window.

Michael Owen - Newcastle United, 2008-09

Newcastle's record signing in August 2005, Owen's career on Tyneside had been blighted by injury, and he made just 71 league appearances for the Magpies in four seasons, the last of his contract being the 2008-09 campaign.

Kevin Keegan had made him club captain in January 2008, but in December of that year, Owen rejected a new offer from Newcastle, saying he would postpone talks about his contract situation until the end of the season.

It was a disastrous one for the Toon, who were relegated from the Premier League for the first time in 15 years. At the end of it Owen confirmed he would not be re-signing for Newcastle, preferring a move to a Premier League club, or other top-flight foreign side. In July 2009, he signed for Manchester United on a free transfer.

Rihanna-Disturbia

2010-08-06T11:28:00.000+08:00

What's wrong with me?
Why do I feel like this?
I'm going crazy now

No more gas, in the red, can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said, can't even speak about it
On my life, on my head, don't wanna think about it
Feels like I'm going insane, yeah

It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you
A disease of the mind, it can control you
It's too close for comfort

Put on your pretty lies, you're in the city of wonder
Ain?t gon? play nice, watch out you might just go under
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise

Your mind?s in disturbia, it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia, am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia, ain?t used to what you like
Disturbia, disturbia

Faded pictures on the wall, it's like they talking to me
Disconnecting on calls, the phone don?t even ring
I gotta get out or figure this sh** out
It's too close for comfort, oh

It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you
A disease of the mind it can control you
I feel like a monster, oh

Put on your pretty lies, you're in the city of wonder
Ain?t gon? play nice, watch out you might just go under
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise

Your mind?s in disturbia, it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia, am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia, ain't used to what you like
Disturbia, disturbia, disturbia

Release me from this curse I'm in
Trying to maintain but I'm struggling
If you can't go-o-o
I think I'm gonna ah, ah, ah, ah

Put on your pretty lies, you're in the city of wonder
Ain?t gon? play nice, watch out you might just go under
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise

Disturbia, it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia, am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia, ain't used to what you like
Disturbia, disturbia

Yi Heng "The Man Who Surpass GOD"

Alonso: Real learning to control games - FourFourTwo

Llorente double defeats Atletico in Bilbao - FourFourTwo

Diego Maradona at 50

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Argentinian genius, Barcelona's best player. And barely out of nappies... the closest thing yet to 'the new Maradona'

Decent

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Franciso Varallo

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thearticle

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Jonah Hex (15)

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Owl City-Fireflies

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Talks

John Whittle

Fulham transfer talk overshadows draw with Bolton

QOTD

Legend..wait for it...wait for it...ary!!

53 people bet on Pool to win Premier League

City buck trend as English clubs cut back

We r just friends yar

In debut of Marquez and Castillo, Johnson shines

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and the rest should take a crash course in humility Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-

Wenger has his chance

One Season Too Many For Fabregas? From Ashley Cole To Thierry Henry - The Players Who Gave Their Clubs Another Year