Thursday, November 06, 2008

Fatai Amoo on Obagol, Ogbuke Plus Probable End to English Euro Dominance

Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Fatai Amoo, is feeling up beat about the scoring form of Newcastle of England’s Obafemi Martins and Hoffenheim of Germany’s Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi in their club football and the fact that they have now won a place in the hearts of their respective coaches.

Both players have only scored four goals each for their clubs and i don't think that is enough for us all to start jubilating. We have seen it before when Obafemi in particular came out blazing and then the expectations rise, but he suddenly went under. Amoo, an ex-international, said he is very impressed with their performances. That is expected from a coach any way, but we all know the truth. Not that i am being a pessimist.

We will be able to know if it is time for huhuru when they perform against credible opposition if the rumoured friendly games ever come to be.

Amoo said he is happy that the players have hit form for their clubs, and if they can maintain their present form when the final round of the 2010 World/Nations Cup qualifying series kicks off it will be good for the country. That's what i mean-transferring that form to country

“I’m excited seeing the players scoring for their clubs,” Amoo said. “This is a good development for the boys and the country, if they keep this present form intact,” he said.

On whether Martins, a former Inter Milan of Italy forward, can still reclaim the top striker's spot in the super Eagles from Getafe of Spain’s Ikechukwu Uche, he declined  to comments.

“Martins is one of the Super Eagles’ players invited for the international friendly match against Colombia, the question of him getting back the number 9 jersey will depend on his performance during training.”

In Europe the scare and poor performances of English teams continued yesterday after Liverpool secured a scrappy win against Athletico Madrid and Chelsea lost incredibly to Roma. Yesterday saw Arsenal once again failed to deliver despite having most of the possession dropping two valuable points in a goalless draw at the Emirates against Fernanache. Manchester United secured a late goal away to celtic with a Ryan Giggs header to saved them from an Ugly draw. Are teams finally finding an answer to England's Euro dominanation?

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Arsene Wenger Is the Craziest Coach In The world

Every year fans of this beautiful club are disappointed by Arsene Wenger or is it David Hill Wood? I have stopped to believe that the board always makes cash available for Wenger who will rather prefer not to buy.

I think no coach loves to lose, Arsene Wenger inclusive. Someone is definitely not telling the fans the truth. It is either Wenger is deceiving the fans, or the board is deceiving him._45164917_stoke_arsenal226b

The board keeps telling the world, there is money to spend, but no one is using it, instead Wenger keeps buying crumps from other clubs like William Gallas, Amaury Bischoff and now  Mikael Silverter.

After the exits of Flamini, Gilberto, it was widely expected that Arsene Wenger will bring in capable replacements. Gareth Barry and Xavi Alonso were all hitching to leave their respective clubs but wenger won't move in, instead whiel everyone was told the team was doing fine, we all saw Nasri, Silverter and Bischoff brought in. Silverter a total waste while Bischoff is yet to be dressed 10 games on.

So is it really true that Arsene wenger's team needs no fortification? If the defeat to Hull was because they were underated and the 4-4 draw to spurs was due to lose of concentration, the 2-1 defeat at stokes surely tells the truth. Arsene Wenger must review his transfer policy. It is not too late yet to do something come the January transfer window.

Hosting U-17 World Cup is Government’s Obligation to Nigerians

I have watched with rapt attention and absolute dismay these past few weeks, the theatrics, as they play out in Nigerian football. What has happened recently only goes to show that, as a Nation we are yet to really understand and accept the fact that the most important office in the country is that of the citizen.

In the last two weeks or so, lovers of football in this country have been made the pawns in a game of chess. In 2003 Nigeria was the host of the All African Games; that tournament till date has remained an issue of controversy after huge amounts of tax payers’ money was expended without recourse to the tenets of accountability to citizens who are supposed to be the most revered in any civilized clime.

Mr. Amos Adamu who was in-charge has continued to act like he owes no one an explanation. It is however, understandable Mr. President’s (Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua) hesitation about going ahead with hosting the U-17 world cup, the right of which Nigeria fought for and won, yet with tax payer’s money, after the LOC, constituting the same shylocks who run the country aground during the hosting of the All African Games, presented a budget of a whooping N37 billion for the event.

It pains me to note that in the year 2008, when other countries are working tirelessly to improve the lot of the youth, we still have people whose major interest in sports development is self aggrandizement. The importance of sports in a society can not be over emphasized and sometimes I really get bored with the monotony of having to talk about the same thing everyday, week, month and year. By the year 2009, we will continue to talk about these same issues to no avail. These scavengers are shamelessly the same people who go on TV to criticize and question Nigerians’ dedication to foreign leagues attributing it to lack of patriotism. They really think Nigerians are fools. Even if we were, I think we know the difference between good and bad-even a five year old does.

Sports development has little to do with the fans. If those appointed, elected or selected to run our football are inept and bereft of ideas or bent on grabbing as much money as they can within the period he/she is in office, I don’t think there is anything a fan can do about that. I challenge our sports administrators today to develop our league and see if the fans wouldn’t come running down to watch matches. Back to the U-17 world cup billed for Nigeria in 2009. Agreed that the LOC over killed it with that budget, the president’s attitude is what I wish to analyze here.

Let’s take it one by one. Haba! Mr. President, are you so insensitive to the plight of Nigerian football fans? Do you know how much money a country makes hosting international sports events? I am particularly surprised (despite the fact the decision has since been rescinded) that though this administration’s lethargy has failed to provide employment for the youth of this country, it was about to throw away the only opportunity it has to achieve that to some extent. I am not about to talk about how much money cooperate Nigeria can make from the influx of visitors, what the hospitality industry stand to gain, the TV and radio stations on commercials, the aviation industry considering the influx of foreigners coming in and those who may have to shuffle from one venue to another and all those big wigs in circulation. Let’s take a look at what a simple sector that affects the common man on the street stands to loose.

Millions of Nigerians have chosen to take their own destinies into their hands and have adopted a means of livelihood that has not just been enough to feed them, but clothe and even pay school fees and other basic needs- the ‘pure water’ sellers! President Yar’Adua does not need an adviser to know that sellers of pure water can change their lives for the better in just this one swop as this is neither rocket science nor brain surgery. While I do not want to sound like I am in support of reckless spending in government, it is worthy to note that no amount of money is too much to spend on a venture that promises to better the lives of Nigerians. Apart from the fact that these resources belong 100% to the people, government officials should understand that we are the only reason they should be in office at all. So what’s my point? The president did well to have pointed out that amount earmarked was outrageous but it shows total disregard to have to make Nigerians beg him to dialogue with the LOC in order to come to a common ground.

The president should be presidential enough to know that negotiations can achieve everything. He should have for the sake of Nigerians who have already spent millions to expand their businesses in preparation for the event, which in the process will employ more hands to help them out during this period, done us the favour of negotiating on our behalf. If a president gets so irritated that the plight of Nigerians becomes secondary, let me say here that such attitude is unacceptable by Nigerians.

The government owes Nigerians the obligation to provide jobs, good roads, clean water, housing and education. So far, I do not think this government has shown any desire to achieve any of this and that first decision not to host the U-17 world Cup was an affront on the youth of this country. Government should note that N37 billion or N9 billion makes no economic sense to the ‘pure water’ seller whose major concern is to stay alive with the N10 profit from sales of one bag of sachet water.

Friday, October 31, 2008

David Beckam In AC Milan

After yesterday's signing, Fabia Capello rained praises on Beckham but David Beckham's unlikely return to front-line football was sealed yesterday when he signed a three-month loan deal with AC Milan. The England boss Fabio Capello immediately commended the move that many felt he helped orchestrate in the hope of extending Beckham's England career. With beckham looking to make history as one of the most caped wingers in England, it now seems his dream will come to pass. The 34-year-old Beckham will join the San Siro club in January ostensibly to keep his fitness up during the US close season and will return to Los Angeles Galaxy in March. becks The MLS season finished for the Galaxy this week as they failed to make the play-offs.

While Ac Milan and is flexing muscles with cash, especially with news making the rounds they are offering $35 million for Fabregas, Chelsea does seem to be real deep in the credit crunch thing as it has hit home in the most unlikely place in football - Stamford Bridge. According to the Times, Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has been told that he must sell players before he is allowed to buy any new personnel. "Scolari had expected to be given some of the £28m that was set aside to sign Robinho in the summer before the club were gazumped by Manchester City on transfer deadline day," reports the newspaper, "but, with Chelsea looking to cut costs across all areas of their business, the money will no longer be forthcoming. This is making it look like Solomon Kalou will still move to Arsenal afterall. The Brazilian had shrugged off comments from Peter Kenyon that Chelsea would not be “active” in January, but since the chief executive's remarks at last week's NFL Global Sports Summit the message has been relayed to him internally."

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Christiano Ronaldo Is Fifpro Player Of The Year

Professional footballers across the world voted Ronaldo who scored 42 goals for United last season to help them take an unprecendented brace.

Ronaldo and his team mate Rio Ferdinand were both named in the Fitpro team. Though Ronaldo was not surprised he was voted as the best by players, he said,

"To be recognised by my fellow players is amazing," said the 23-year-old.

"I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches and everyone involved at United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support."

Other players in the English Premier League who made the team include Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and Chelsea and England captain John Terry also made the team.

AC Milan midfielder Kaka and Barcelona star Lionel Messi were also there representing the seria A and La Liga and Christiano Ronaldo beat them all to the award..

Ronaldo, who was the driving force behind United's Premier League and Champions League double last season, is also a strong contender to win the Fifa World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or.

"Sir Alex has been a big inspiration to me," he said. "He believed in me enough to buy me. I have learned so many things from him and I am continuing to learn because he is a great manager.

"Of course, he was the main factor in keeping me here. But what happened in the summer is finished. Now my head is on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again."

So far this season, Christiano Ronaldo has scored three goals after missing the start of the campaign through injury, but Ferguson believes the player will come good.

"I still think he will beat 25," said Ferguson. "It is going to be difficult because he has had a stop-start beginning to the season.

"He had the operation on his ankle so he has missed a few games and he is just getting his rhythm back.

"The number of goals he scored last year was absolutely phenomenal. But I hope he can be equally as good this year in terms of his contribution to the team."

The original 55-man FifPro shortlist included Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas. I am however surprised that neither Fabregas nor Adebayor (30 goals for Arsenal) both of Arsenal made the final Eleven.

Pro World XI:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Spain/Real Madrid)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid); John Terry (England/Chelsea); Carles Puyol (Spain/ Barcelona); Rio Ferdinand (England/Manchester United)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (England/Liverpool); Xavi (Spain/Barcelona); Kaka (Brazil/AC Milan).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona); Fernando Torres (Spain/Liverpool); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United)

This list again emphasizes the Premier Leagues's dominance over other leagues in the world. At last it seems a player based in England will clinch the FIFA player of the year award.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Mourinho May Make things Worse For Drogba, Says He's a Diver

Didier Drogba is currently having his recently released autobiography probed by the English FA and the FA is promising stiff sanctions if they have reason to. Drogba wrote in his book that he shouldn't have been sent out during the last seasons champions League Final against Chelsea and after watching the Video, he now wished he should have punched Vidic.

His former boss Jose Mourinho was recently interviewed and Mourinho angrily defended Drogba against accusations of going to ground too easily during his time as Chelsea boss. drogba The English press was full with claims that Didier was a diver during Mourinho's reign as Chelsea coach and Mourinho has always defended his forward. Well it seems Mourinho is now ready to come out clean on that matter this time.

The Inter Milan chief has blasted Blues hitman Drog a year after leaving the club.

“I am no longer Chelsea coach and I do not have to defend them any more, but I think it is correct if I say Drogba is a diver.

“Drogba, Ronaldo, Torres and Van Persie are the divers. Who dives more? Who has won more penalties in recent years?”

I'm sure this will mean, Jose stops being in Drogba's good book and his probable January move to Inter Milan and now less likely.

Manchester cruises as Arsenal takes a Big Win

ARSENAL recorded their best away victory in Europe for five years as they placed one impressive-sized foot in the knockout stages on a goal-crazy night in Turkey.

We have not seen this kind of victory from the gunners since that night that can not be forgotten in a hurry at the San Siro in 2003, when a Thierry Henry-inspired side fired five past Inter Milan have the Gunners been this rampant on their travels. unitedcelti

Arsenal took a stranglehold of this match and on Group G, with manager Arsene Wenger believing three points from their remaining three matches should be enough to reach the next stage.

Two goals inside 70 first-half seconds, from Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott, as Cesc Fabregas sliced Fenerbahce apart, made the difference.

Abou Diaby’s third in the 21st minute,  after the Turks had pulled one back, meant four goals had been scored in 11 crazy minutes, while Alex Song’s 47th-minute goal rubber-stamped an amazing victory.

Still Arsenal were not happy, claiming a fifth goal in the closing seconds.

The Gunners, minus injured regulars Kolo Toure, William Gallas and Bacary Sagna, opted for a solid line-up, with Adebayor as a lone striker were outstanding with Ramsey coming in to add a fifth after Guiza had scored a consolation.

Meanwhile, Manchester United at home to Celtic,

Berbatov scored once in each half to stretch the European champions’ unbeaten home run to 16 before the rejuvenated Wayne Rooney continued his scoring spree with yet another 14 minutes from the end.

Both of Berbatov's goals were later adjudged from video replays to be offside.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Washington Post Endorses Senator Barack Obama for President

Today i wouldn't talking much about sports because nothing is really happening in football circles right now. Well, aprt from the fact Kunu and Utaka receive a blast from Sani Toro who is calling for them to be dropped from the national team, and the Game coming up fro Eyimba against Al haly in the weekend, i don't think there is anything we have to talk about- or worth talking about till weekend when we will begin to have good football action.

Thing is i am not a big fan of international football. I guess i should get someone to join me on this blog to atleast cover that end. That's strictly for international football buffs.
Alot has been happening arround the world and we of course are not immune to its effects. The US presidential elections is less than 3 weeks today and we are all so excited, even more than when we have our own elections in Nigeria. Before i forget, Lagos had a Local Govt. council election last weekend and it all showed why we are more excited by the US elections than ours. The AC contested their elections alone and won alone. No be me talk am oh!
talk about the US elections, i am bringing that up. Today the washington post endorses Barack Obama Over senator John Macain for president.
It is now almost certain Obama will be president as the last debate has done little or nothing to change the positions. Obama still leads with 5 points.
A black man is soon to lead the worlds most powerful country. This shows that a lot about to change about this world and soon, Color wouldn't matter anymore we hope.
Below is a full text of the washington post Endorsement.


THE NOMINATING process this year produced two unusually talented and
qualified presidential candidates. There are few public figures we have
respected more over the years than Sen. John McCain. Yet it is without
ambivalence that we endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president.
The choice is
made easy in part by Mr. McCain's disappointing campaign, above all his
irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president. It
is made easy in larger part, though, because of our admiration for Mr. Obama and
the impressive qualities he has shown during this long race. Yes, we have
reservations and concerns, almost inevitably, given Mr. Obama's relatively brief
experience in national politics. But we also have enormous hopes.
Mr. Obama
is a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and
evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building. At home, we believe, he
would respond to the economic crisis with a healthy respect for markets tempered
by justified dismay over rising inequality and an understanding of the need for
focused regulation. Abroad, the best evidence suggests that he would seek to
maintain U.S. leadership and engagement, continue the fight against terrorists,
and wage vigorous diplomacy on behalf of U.S. values and interests. Mr. Obama
has the potential to become a great president. Given the enormous problems he
would confront from his first day in office, and the damage wrought over the
past eight years, we would settle for very good.
The first question, in
fact, might be why either man wants the job. Start with two ongoing wars, both
far from being won; an unstable, nuclear-armed Pakistan; a resurgent Russia
menacing its neighbors; a terrorist-supporting Iran racing toward nuclear
status; a roiling Middle East; a rising China seeking its place in the world.
Stir in the threat of nuclear or biological terrorism, the burdens of global
poverty and disease, and accelerating climate change. Domestically, wages have
stagnated while public education is failing a generation of urban, mostly
minority children. Now add the possibility of the deepest economic trough since
the Great Depression.
Not even his fiercest critics would blame President
Bush for all of these problems, and we are far from being his fiercest critic.
But for the past eight years, his administration, while pursuing some worthy
policies (accountability in education, homeland security, the promotion of
freedom abroad), has also championed some stunningly wrongheaded ones (fiscal
recklessness, torture, utter disregard for the planet's ecological health) and
has acted too often with incompetence, arrogance or both. A McCain presidency
would not equal four more years, but outside of his inner circle, Mr. McCain
would draw on many of the same policymakers who have brought us to our current
state. We believe they have richly earned, and might even benefit from, some
years in the political wilderness.
OF COURSE, Mr. Obama offers a great deal
more than being not a Republican. There are two sets of issues that matter most
in judging these candidacies. The first has to do with restoring and promoting
prosperity and sharing its fruits more evenly in a globalizing era that has
suppressed wages and heightened inequality. Here the choice is not a close call.
Mr. McCain has little interest in economics and no apparent feel for the topic.
His principal proposal, doubling down on the Bush tax cuts, would exacerbate the
fiscal wreckage and the inequality simultaneously. Mr. Obama's economic plan
contains its share of unaffordable promises, but it pushes more in the direction
of fairness and fiscal health. Both men have pledged to tackle climate change.
Mr. Obama also understands that the most important single counter to
inequality, and the best way to maintain American competitiveness, is improved
education, another subject of only modest interest to Mr. McCain. Mr. Obama
would focus attention on early education and on helping families so that another
generation of poor children doesn't lose out. His budgets would be less likely
to squeeze out important programs such as Head Start and Pell grants. Though he
has been less definitive than we would like, he supports accountability measures
for public schools and providing parents choices by means of charter schools.
A better health-care system also is crucial to bolstering U.S.
competitiveness and relieving worker insecurity. Mr. McCain is right to advocate
an end to the tax favoritism showed to employer plans. This system works against
lower-income people, and Mr. Obama has disparaged the McCain proposal in
deceptive ways. But Mr. McCain's health plan doesn't do enough to protect those
who cannot afford health insurance. Mr. Obama hopes to steer the country toward
universal coverage by charting a course between government mandates and
individual choice, though we question whether his plan is affordable or does
enough to contain costs.
The next president is apt to have the chance to
nominate one or more Supreme Court justices. Given the court's current
precarious balance, we think Obama appointees could have a positive impact on
issues from detention policy and executive power to privacy protections and
civil rights.
Overshadowing all of these policy choices may be the financial
crisis and the recession it is likely to spawn. It is almost impossible to
predict what policies will be called for by January, but certainly the country
will want in its president a combination of nimbleness and steadfastness --
precisely the qualities Mr. Obama has displayed during the past few weeks. When
he might have been scoring political points against the incumbent, he instead
responsibly urged fellow Democrats in Congress to back Mr. Bush's financial
rescue plan. He has surrounded himself with top-notch, experienced, centrist
economic advisers -- perhaps the best warranty that, unlike some past presidents
of modest experience, Mr. Obama will not ride into town determined to reinvent
every policy wheel. Some have disparaged Mr. Obama as too cool, but his
unflappability over the past few weeks -- indeed, over two years of campaigning
-- strikes us as exactly what Americans might want in their president at a time
of great uncertainty.
ON THE SECOND set of issues, having to do with keeping
America safe in a dangerous world, it is a closer call. Mr. McCain has deep
knowledge and a longstanding commitment to promoting U.S. leadership and values.
But Mr. Obama, as anyone who reads his books can tell, also has a
sophisticated understanding of the world and America's place in it. He, too, is
committed to maintaining U.S. leadership and sticking up for democratic values,
as his recent defense of tiny Georgia makes clear. We hope he would navigate
between the amoral realism of some in his party and the counterproductive
cocksureness of the current administration, especially in its first term. On
most policies, such as the need to go after al-Qaeda, check Iran's nuclear
ambitions and fight HIV/AIDS abroad, he differs little from Mr. Bush or Mr.
McCain. But he promises defter diplomacy and greater commitment to allies. His
team overstates the likelihood that either of those can produce dramatically
better results, but both are certainly worth trying.
Mr. Obama's greatest
deviation from current policy is also our biggest worry: his insistence on
withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq on a fixed timeline. Thanks to the
surge that Mr. Obama opposed, it may be feasible to withdraw many troops during
his first two years in office. But if it isn't -- and U.S. generals have warned
that the hard-won gains of the past 18 months could be lost by a precipitous
withdrawal -- we can only hope and assume that Mr. Obama would recognize the
strategic importance of success in Iraq and adjust his plans.
We also can
only hope that the alarming anti-trade rhetoric we have heard from Mr. Obama
during the campaign would give way to the understanding of the benefits of trade
reflected in his writings. A silver lining of the financial crisis may be the
flexibility it gives Mr. Obama to override some of the interest groups and
members of Congress in his own party who oppose open trade, as well as to pursue
the entitlement reform that he surely understands is needed.
IT GIVES US no
pleasure to oppose Mr. McCain. Over the years, he has been a force for principle
and bipartisanship. He fought to recognize Vietnam, though some of his fellow
ex-POWs vilified him for it. He stood up for humane immigration reform, though
he knew Republican primary voters would punish him for it. He opposed torture
and promoted campaign finance reform, a cause that Mr. Obama injured when he
broke his promise to accept public financing in the general election campaign.
Mr. McCain staked his career on finding a strategy for success in Iraq when just
about everyone else in Washington was ready to give up. We think that he, too,
might make a pretty good president.
But the stress of a campaign can reveal
some essential truths, and the picture of Mr. McCain that emerged this year is
far from reassuring. To pass his party's tax-cut litmus test, he jettisoned his
commitment to balanced budgets. He hasn't come up with a coherent agenda, and at
times he has seemed rash and impulsive. And we find no way to square his
professed passion for America's national security with his choice of a running
mate who, no matter what her other strengths, is not prepared to be commander in
chief.
ANY PRESIDENTIAL vote is a gamble, and Mr. Obama's résumé is
undoubtedly thin. We had hoped, throughout this long campaign, to see more
evidence that Mr. Obama might stand up to Democratic orthodoxy and end, as he
said in his announcement speech, "our chronic avoidance of tough decisions."
But Mr. Obama's temperament is unlike anything we've seen on the national
stage in many years. He is deliberate but not indecisive; eloquent but a master
of substance and detail; preternaturally confident but eager to hear opposing
points of view. He has inspired millions of voters of diverse ages and races, no
small thing in our often divided and cynical country. We think he is the right
man for a perilous moment.

Meanwhile just like I said at the beginning, i need people who can join me keep this blog good and diversed. You must love football though. If you own your own blog, that will better so you can add your signature at the bottom of your entries to get some traffick as back to your side as pay back. I don't have money to pay. The site is monitized but is non profit. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Weight Loss Tips Blog

Hello there, yeah today is a big day for international football, i guess i am supposed to be writing about that. But i think i am getting too bored with international football recently. I don't know why. There's just too little football compared to what we see in the various leagues.
Well since i won't be talking about that, i will use this opportunity to tell you about two of our new blogs.

Weight Loss and Fitness
This blog is newly lunched but i was waiting for it to get index first. It gives you all the tips you need to get fit and loss weight. We are also recruiting writers, so i won't be the only one here. That means you will get more new stuffs daily.

The second blog i will like to let you know about is our Doctor for Free online that a health blog that discusses but conventional medicine and alternative health care practices. These two have never come so close. Well, its not just that. The blog is actually run by a real medical doctor. So the advice you will get will be informed. Well, that's if you ask.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Wenger's Transfer Policy Making Sense as United and Chelsea Face Credit Crunch

News:

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has unveiled new clothes boutiques in Lisbon and Madeira. The CR7 stores are part of his plans for a future after football, and the Portugal international also revealed he fancies acting in movies, saying: "As for Hollywood - maybe in 10 years' time."

Meanwhile, LEADING Premier League clubs could be thrown out of Europe, unless they sort out their finances, warned UEFA today.

It is reported that West Ham became the first major victims of the credit crunch when their chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson saw his major stockholding in Landsbanki wiped out when the troubled Icelandic bank was nationalised.

Seems lie the problem in wall street is catching up with Europe.
And now UEFA general secretary David Taylor has warned Europe's biggest clubs - like debt-ridden Chelsea and Manchester United - that they risk being kicked out of the Champions League if they fail to put their finances right. A few weeks ago they had been indications the UEFA planned to probe club finances which was welcome by Arsene Wenger despite the face-off between the Arsenal Gaffer and Mitchel Platini the UEFA president.
He said: "There would be forms of communication, even warnings, even reprimands before one would ever get to a situation of exclusion but it's absolutely possible. That is the ultimate sanction.”
Leading UEFA officials will meet on Monday to come up with fresh ways to put the squeeze on clubs who are succeeding on borrowed money.
Taylor's remarks came 24 hours after Football Association chairman Lord Triesman revealed English football clubs had amassed a debt of £3billion, and that last season's top four Premier League teams accounted for a third of that.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Gunners Embarrassingly Drop 3 Precious Point on a Weekend of Questionable Penalties.

A lot happened on the international scene last weekend. It was a weekend of controversial penalties with Manchester United as one of the beneficiaries with the other city rival suffering on the other side.

Bolton are set to receive an apology from referee Rob Styles for his astonishing penalty mistake at Old Trafford. The official will say sorry for awarding United a spot-kick when Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly tackled fairly by Jlloyd Samuel.Well pity the Reebok boys. The harm has already been done. 'Rob Styles Again'!Why is it always Rob Styles? Maybe we leave that for future discussion. macity

Chelsea and Liverpool as well as the Old Trafford team all won their games with 2-0 each.
However, the exception was Arsenal whose lackluster performance against hull city saw them lose to Hull City. I heard the last time Arsenal Lost to Hull was in 1915. Waoh! No wonder the manager says this was his biggest win in his Career. hullcity
Hull City was seen taking the game to the gunners on Saturday right there at the Emirates. At the end of the first half, the Hull City gaffer claims he was angry with his wards for not going all out for a win. 

Arsene Wenger is sick of his wasteful Arsenal stars - especially after what happened on Saturday and is ready to show his anger come tomorrow's Champions League clash with Porto. hullgoal

Well the gunners will have to stop underrating teams if they hope to have a go at the League title this term. 

Back home, i heard in the news a name i have always wished never again find its way into our football circles. ONIGBINDE! What the heck is anyone expecting from this man? This is a man that only knows how to get on the pages of newspapers and he does this better than putting up a trophy-winning team.
Embattled Dike seems on the verge of being booted out after the dismal display  of losing to a team we all can't believe. The NFF thinks recycling this same coaches who have failed in the past is the solution. onigbinde
The former Super Eagles chief coach Adegboye Onigbinde has  emerged the number one candidate to replace the embattled Golden Eaglets chief coach Alphonsus Dike in the national U-17 team.

and the coach has been invited for discussions on the new task.
with the one time African Football Of The Year, Emmanuel Amuneke as his likely assistant.

I sincerely hope this is not another decision of the NFF we all will regret in future.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Fabregas Scared Of Young Gunners Challenge- Says, I can't Sleep Anymore!

The Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas reckons it will not be long before he has to fight for a place in the midlle of the field with upcoming gunners so hot.

Fab, is regarded as one of the old players in Arsenal at 21, he admitted watching with awe on Tuesday night as Arsene Wenger’s wonderkids buried Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup. carling cupkids

And he admits he will have to raise his game in the wake of sensational midfield displays by Jack Wilshere, 16, Aaron Ramsey, 17, and Fran Merida 18.

“I cannot go to sleep as one day or other they will want to play more and more and the manager will want them to play more.

“I will have to be better and better. Wilshere, Ramsey, Merida — they all play in my position. This is great for me. I love competition.

“If the players are so young you can feel your place is too secure.

“So it’s fantastic to have competition — to wake you up and make you a better player.”

Fabregas thinks this vindicates the manager for not bowing to pressure to buy during the summer.

“I was really excited on Tuesday — it was sensational. You can see all the players have ambition, they want to show how good they are.

“It’s not easy in front of 56,000 people when they are playing regular reserve games.

“The manager is the best at giving youngsters a chance. No one comes near to him for that. He’s not scared to play everyone.

“He doesn’t care how old they are. It’s amazing. It’s why we have so many good young players. It’s the club’s policy.

“The loyalty is there when you see that the manager trusts you since you were 15, 16.

“When you see all the teams buying big stars, who knows where the stars of the future are going to come from.

“Maybe they don’t all make it at Arsenal but another team will see them play and they get another chance straight away in the Premier League instead of going to the Second Division.”

Fabregas further aclaim that for bringing up young players, no one can compare with Arsene Wenger. He himself being a product and beneficiary of such policy that saw him replace Patrick Viera at a very tender age with all the responsibilities that follows.

“Great managers like him and Alex Ferguson are special.

“But for what he does with young players, no one compares with Wenger.

“He never shows nerves before a game, he doesn’t put us under any pressure.

“Even if you’re 14 or 15 he always looks relaxed to you and instils confidence in you.”

On not winning a trophy for about four seasons. This is what he had to say.

“People can say ‘They will never win’ but it’s not in my mind. I’ll never think we won’t win anything.

“But sometimes when you feel so good during the game and play the game you enjoy so much, even if you haven’t won anything in the last three seasons, I have felt so good, so free. I enjoy it so much.

“Of course you want to win but when you have this recompense inside that you are playing so well maybe it’s much better than to be in another team that wins trophies but you don’t enjoy it so much.”

When will Steven Gerrard Score His 100th Goal?

Steven Gerrard was denied his 100th goal by the linesman's flag against Stoke last weekend so he will hope that this weekend help him achieve a century of goals as to meet Everton at the Meryerside.

He has aslways done well against Everton and in the past has scored three times against Everton.

From his first strike in Liverpool colours as a 19-year-old, here are the 99 goals in his collection so far...

Can he round up the count soon?

Ferguson Threatens To Relegate Wayne Rooney To The Bench

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to introduce a rotation policy following the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford. This has become increasing necessary following the lack lustre perfomance of the squad in the final third recently.

Yesterday Ferguson said all his strikers will have equal opportunity and with Rooney, yet to score in seven appearances for United this season, is no less or more secure than Berbatov, Carlos Tévez or Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to team selection. But with Tévez unfortunate to be the odd man out against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Rooney is likely to be more anxious as to  who starts the match against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford today.

waynerooney “When you have got a squad and everyone is fit, you have a problem,” Ferguson said at United's training ground yesterday. “You have to make sure you pick the right 11 and even the subs. Players understand it [rotation], but it doesn't mean they accept it.

“Some players maybe three days before or three days later understand the mechanics of it and know it has to be done, but when it's their turn to be sitting out, they don't like it. That's OK with me. It tells you that they want to play and I would rather that than have some players thinking, I don't fancy it today. It's a tough game.' You don't want players who are happy sitting on the bench.”

Rooney, is known to hate sitting on the bench. Every player does, but it is just the way it has to be if the Red devils strike force must wake up and start shooting. It could be against Bolton this afternoon, the trip to Aalborg in the Champions League on Tuesday or Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park next weekend.

Ferguson himself has suggested that Rooney's inability to find the back of the net may be as a result of failure of the team to create the needed opportunities as very little is coming through these days.

“Wayne is maybe not getting a lot of chances at the moment,” Ferguson said. “We've just been to Liverpool and Chelsea, which aren't the easiest places to go to. If you look at our record in Anfield in the last few years, we've only scored one goal there in each game. It's a difficult place to go and the fans are on top of you. They gave Wayne a real hard time. But it's difficult to judge goalscoring performance from any player when you get two away games like that at the start of the season, when some players are still trying to get their fitness.” 400x400_DimitarBerbatovNew

Manchester United must get their Premier League campaign up and running this afternoon by coming out with the desired 3-points against bolton,

Alex Ferguson has also condemned Gary megson for defending Davies now known as the 'Dirtiest' Player in The top Flight . Asked whether he has “a problem” with Davies, who clashed with Patrice Evra, the full back, when the teams met last season, considering his last week's tackle against Arsenal's Clichy, Ferguson said: “Gary Megson [the Bolton manager] has come out and defended Davies, but it's hard to defend him when he makes challenges like he did last week [on Gaël Clichy, the Arsenal left back]. That's all I have to say about it.”

Friday, September 26, 2008

Kanu Thinks Portsmouth Can do better when he returns




Nwankwo Kanu is not happy that portsmouth once touted as one of the team likely to break into the big four is now trailing and losing scandalously to teams. He is most unhappy with the display of the Redknap boys against manchester city where they concided an unbelievable 6 gols with no reply.
The Blues have gone worse haven crashed out of the League cup competition further looking like they are now relagation bound. A team that was looking at doing better than last season especially after qualifying for Europe.
Kanu Now expects rednap to make useful changes that will see his team challenging for silverwares on all fronts.
‘We’ve conceded four goals and we have to stop conceding.
‘We have to start keeping clean sheets.‘It’s a worry for all the players and the gaffer.
‘But he knows what we have to do. We are not happy.‘The only thing we have to think of is finding a solution.
‘Sometimes you have to make mistakes and you have to correct them.’
Said the Lanky Nigerian Captain.Kanu got a 21-minute cameo in the game against Chelseawhen he replaced Peter Crouch but could not remedy the situation as they still went down 4-0.
That followed his return late on against Vitoria Guimaraes in the UEFA Cup last week.
Kanu is however optimistic Portsmouth will take out their anger on Tottenham this SundayHe said: “The coach has told us what he wants and it’s down to us to implement it.
“The spirit in the dressing-room is good and we’re talking to each other, wanting to find a solution. “We want to give the fans something back. We don’t want them to lose confidence in us.
“But I believe on Sunday it’s going to be a good show and we’re going to win. I believe that because everyone is fed up with what is going on.
“It will be a difficult game for us because Spurs are trying to find their feet this season.
“The gaffer is pushing everyone to give their best, and I believe we’ll respond on Sunday – not just for ourselves, but for the supporters, because they have been supporting us with their whole hearts.
“I hope I’ll be involved against Tottenham. As an ex-Arsenal player, I love playing against them!”
Kanu might just be what Redknapp needs right now.

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