Sakura Sports Blog

West Ham v Manchester United - as it happened

2009-02-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

Preambles. Who needs them? Team news, now that's another matter.

West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Collison, Cole, Di Michele.
Subs: Lastuvka, Nsereko, Boa Morte, Kovac, Spector, Tristan, Sears.

Some other local favourites: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Tevez, Berbatov.
Subs: Foster, Park, Nani, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Fletcher, Eckersley.

This guy has doled out exactly 100 yellow cards this season: Phil Dowd (Travelling Circus)

For Those Of You Who Expect Better dept: Paul Doyle loves to keep you happy.

The teams are out on the pitch. We'll be underway in a minute, what with it being 3.58pm and kick off scheduled for 4pm.

And we're off! Di Michele gets the ball rolling. Almost immediately the ball breaks to Cole down the left, and he takes the opportunity to run at Rafael. The ball breaks to Di Michele, but Ferdinand is quickly across to sweep up and the chance to cross into the box is gone.

3 min: Nobody seems able or willing to put their foot on the ball. It's all far too quick at the moment.

6 min: United (the Manchester one, that is, which is the way it will have to be for the sake of brevity) stroke it around awhile. Berbatov nearly breaks through the West Ham back line but is stopped in his tracks by a majestic tackle from Parker. "Will United be victims of a 'Zola eclipse'?" parrots Mac Millings, with reference to the excruciating play on words in this report's standfirst. "I'm looking for work right now, and if it's dreadful puns you need, then I'm your man. Will 'Gorgon' Zola turn United to stone? Will Franco oppress Reds (again)? Hammers Boss - Fran-tastic, or Ar-Zola? Sub-editing position, please!" Sorry, Mac, but you're barking up the wrong tree if you want a subbing job at the Guardian. For a start, it appears you can spell.

8 min: United win a corner on the left. Giggs swings it in. Vidic gets his head on the ball, but can't keep it down. A few seconds later, Giggs nearly scoots clear down the right, but Upson's sliding challenge puts a stop to his gallop.

11 min: West Ham enjoy their first spell in the United area. Behrami swings one in from the right, forcing Vidic to head out for a corner. From it, on the right, the ball finds Neill at the far post. He checks inside and hammers a low shot which Van der Sar does well to spot coming through a crowded box. Actually, I can't keep calling Manchester United United, it's not fair on West Ham. If only there was a similarly short alternative. That pleases everyone and can be used in a family publication.

13 min: Cole is sent free down the inside-right channel. He's clear on goal - kind of, as Ferdinand is clinging to his shirt. He could do one of two things: go down under the challenge, in which case Ferdinand would possibly be facing a red card; or put his foot through the ball, in which case a goal is very likely. He does neither, opting to attempt a chip over Van der Sar from the edge of the box. It's a lame effort, and one that's plucked from the sky by the big keeper with contempt.

15 min: West Ham took a while to settle, but they're up for this. Noble gives Rafael a hard time down the left; the visiting defender is mighty relieved to hear the referee's whistle as they tussle for the ball. "Both these teams have big reputations for bringing through youth players into the first team," begins one-man double act Gary Naylor. "In West Ham's case, it's true."

18 min: Di Michele should have set Cole free again, but hesitates before attempting a Gerrardesque crossfield pass towards Collison. His execution is perfect, in so much as it sails into the stand, miles from the intended target.

21 min: Manchester United put the ball in the net. Scholes takes a pop from 25 yards, it's deflected up and over the West Ham defence by the advancing Parker, and the ball drops to Berbatov on the penalty spot. He sticks out a leg and guides the dropping ball past Green - however, he was miles offside when Scholes's shot was struck. Nice try though. Meanwhile here's some scatalogical humour (with a Guardianesque soupcon of arts-and-culture satire) courtesy of lavatory attendant Geoff Ashworth: "From the perspective of the picture it looks like Zola is sat on the can, with the West Ham logo at the receiving end. Could this be a subtle message as to what he really is thinking, a bit like Leonardo with The Last Supper?"

25 min: West Ham are playing some really nice football in patches: Cole, Di Michale, Noble and Behrami share it around before Cole treads on the ball, allowing Scholes to whisk the ball clear. Then Collison twists and turns in the area: for a split second it looks like he's going to craft himself an opening, but the door's quickly shut by Vidic and Ferdinand. Collison lays off to Cole, but the striker has his back to goal and can't do his usual three-point turn in time before the ball's bundled clear.

28 min: In between those two West Ham efforts, Tevez nearly latched onto a long ball into the West Ham box. Green kicks clear - and hits the visiting striker in the back! Luckily for the keeper, the ball deflects clear upfield, rather than pinging back into an empty net. United then win a couple of corners: Ronaldo heads powerfully wide right from the first, Green is impeded at the second. This is a nice open game. No gilt-edged chances or dramatic incidents stand out, but it doesn't always have to be like that, does it.

31 min: From a free kick on the right touchline, Giggs and Scholes try to recreate that amazing goal the latter scored from a David Beckham corner at Bradford in 2000. This time, Scholes's first-time shot is bloody awful, heading miles left, but Ronaldo diverts it goalwards with a flick of his boot and Green makes a wonderful save, fingertipping the whizzing ball over the bar. Great football all round. Apart from Scholes's shot, of course.

35 min: Some really clever interchanges between Noble, Parker and Di Michele in the centre of the pitch creates a lot of space for West Ham. Their work so nearly bears fruit, but the final ball into the box - with Di Michele in acres - has too much pace on it and Van der Sar collects. "I've tried to make a clever pun with each of United's outfield players, hoping one would produce a winning wordplay. Alas no pun in ten did," quips Justin Kavanagh, who I hope isn't as old as his joke book.

40 min: Ronaldo, who has been pretty quiet on the whole, shimmies and sashays down the left-wing touchline. He whips in a dangerous low ball which whizzes across the face of the six-yard box, but Tevez and Berbatov are both fannying around, allowing Collins and Upson to usher the ball out of play.

42 min: Ilunga barges down the left and eventually breaks towards the Manchester United area. He's got time to cross, but with three claret-and-blue shirts in the centre, clatters the ball into Vidic, allowing Ferdinand to swish away the danger.

HALF TIME: United 0-0 United. Noble races in from the right and homes in on the Manchester United area. Drawing a couple of white shirts out, he dinks a ball into the box towards Cole, who turns and thuds a decent shot goalwards - but it's almost immediately blocked by Vidic. And that, pretty much, is that.

A broken record, in more ways than one: I suppose I should make some mention of Edwin van der Sar's new British record of not letting in a league goal. He managed this as the clock ticked into the 34th minute, which was his 1,156th without once picking the ball from the net. That's Aberdeen's Bobby Clark (1970/71) obliterated from the record books, poor bugger. Now, can everyone stop going on and on and on and on and on ab... oh for Christ's sake, now they're talking about the world record. JESUS WEPT.

And we're off again! West Ham stroke it around a bit. Cole holds the ball up on the edge of the Man Utd area. He lays it back to Behrami, who welts a shot goalwards. It deflects off Di Michele's back - though referee Dowd gives a corner. Luckily for him, nothing comes of it.

48 min: West Ham have started this half really strongly. Cole twists and turns on the edge of the box. The ball is rolled back to Neill, who cutting in from the right curls an effort towards the bottom-left corner. It's a decent effort - but Van der Sar has it covered and gets down low to claim. It's the first real save he's had to make all afternoon, for all the noise about his new record.

52 min: It's suddenly gone a bit scrappy, this.

54 min: Manchester United push West Ham back for a couple of minutes. O'Shea has a dig, Ronaldo tries to find Giggs in the area, Scholes has a crack. Each time either Upson or Collins are on hand to smack clear. But that's better from United, who haven't been particularly impressive so far.

56 min: Giggs clips a free kick from the right touchline into the area. Tevez heads weakly wide right. Anyway, Van der Sar's record. "It's really quite misleading and I'm very surprised nobody has mentioned this yet," writes Laura Leigh, leafing through piles of paper. "Of the first 11 games in which Van der Sar kept a clean sheet, six teams failed to register a single shot on target. If anything, United's defence should be getting the plaudits."

58 min: Noble cuts inside from the right and rolls the ball across the face of the box towards Collison, who immediately lays off to Parker. The resulting screamer screams about 15 feet wide left of goal.

59 min: Neill is booked for shoving Ronaldo off the ball, a proper slapstick two palms on the tits.

60 min: Cole looks to bustle clear down the inside-right channel. Vidic takes a massive chunk out of his shirt to haul him down. It's a free kick, but nothing else. How Vidic didn't get booked for that, I will never know.

61 min: Hold on, now he's booked him for it! How on earth did that take so long?

62 min: GOAL! West Ham United 0-1 Manchester United. Scholes hits a first-time peach of a pass from the centre circle towards the left-hand touchline, where Giggs awaits. Giggs nips into the area, drops a shoulder, then threads a delicious shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal. Such a clever finish. However, was he offside when Scholes hit his pass? I didn't see that replay, but Rob Smyth suggests that might - might - have been the case.

66 min: That goal has taken all the wind from West Ham's sails. The visitors are seeing an awful lot of the ball now, as they sweep it hither and yon. "Clean sheet records mean about diddly," opines Neill Brown. "The best Champions League effort involves Mathieu Flamini at left-back and all-round gamesman Emmanuel Eboue. You get a run of games (and luck) that suits you and you can keep the ball out of your own net. Anyway, the paucity of attacking innovation has made this the dullest Premier League on record."

67 min: Cole creates a bit of space for himself just outside the Man Utd area but slices his shot well wide right.

69 min: Collison tears down the left with a blistering run. Cole looks for the pass but Scholes sweeps clear. Then Noble gets to the touchline down the right and fires a low ball into the six-yard box. Cole again is sniffing around, but with Man Utd sensing real danger, Ferdinand hacks away. Much better from West Ham.

72 min: A really determined run down the left by Ilunga. He crosses into the six-yard box, but Rafael gets the ball away with Cole - who has been industrious, you've got to give him that - again lurking. "I would go a step further than Laura Leigh," bounds Craig Ward, "and suggest it's Manchester United's midfielders that should be getting the plaudits. They seem to be so well organised that teams rarely get the opportunity to trouble the defence much."

75 min: They've just shown a replay of the Giggs goal. There is a case to be made for offside - but only if you think the width of the boot leather covering his heel as he trots back is vital. Neill is in the centre lumbering around; it would have been harsh to strike the goal off.

77 min: Noble is replaced by Savio.

79 min: Manchester United are playing keep-ball now.

82 min: The atmosphere at Upton Park is screaming THIS IS OVER.

85 min: Parker threads a beautiful ball down the left wing for Ilunga. The full back has space to play with - but inexplicably, he falls over. Rafael saunters off with the ball. "Shouldn't a good chunk of the credit for Van der Sar's record go the opposition teams?" wonders Tom Hopkins. "They're happy enough at 0-0 until Utd sting them with a goal then it's too late to do anything about it?"

87 min: A great run by Tevez, who bustles into the area down the left. He keeps heading left, though from a tight angle still manages to send a decent effort just over the bar. It's the last thing he does: Park replaces him, and he jogs off to a decent reception from both sets of fans. West Ham also make a change, Tristan replacing Behrami.

89 min: A couple of incidents involving Neill: first he sticks out a leg on the edge of his own area, inviting Ronaldo to trip over it. Which he does. The challenge is right on the line: that could easily have been a penalty. It's unlikely to matter. Then Berbatov tricks Neill on the touchline with some delicious skill, but the subsequent cross is appalling.

90 min: There will be three minutes of injury time.

FULL TIME: West Ham United 0-1 Manchester United. West Ham fail to put the visitors under any pressure whatsoever in injury time. And that's that. Manchester United go back to the top of the table, two points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. Again they haven't played particularly well, again they've come away with all three points after a 1-0 win. It's a hoary old cliche, but it's the stuff of champions.

Fabio Aurelio: Liverpool can still beat Manchester United to title

2009-02-13T04:14:00.000-08:00

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have been flawless since returning triumphant from the Club World Championship in Japan before Christmas, winning all eight Premier League games and setting a British record for consecutive clean sheets to overhaul Liverpool at the top of the table.

In the same period, Liverpool have picked up just 17 points to United’s 24, including five draws, despite playing a game more. But Aurelio believes the league leaders are bound to go through a dip in form at some point in the run-in.

But Aurelio said: “I don’t think they will get positive results right until the end of the season and we still have to go to Old Trafford. If we keep getting our points we’ll have chance to beat them.

“Every game is a final now if we want to fight for the title at the end. If United don’t lose they will finish a few points ahead but we still have to make sure we do our part.

“The most important thing for Liverpool and the players is the Premier League. It would be great to do well in the Champions League, but we know this season the focus is on the league.”

Aurelio’s defensive colleague Daniel Agger has threatened to leave the club in the summer unless he is granted regular first-team football. The Danish international has just 18 months left on his contract and talks over a new deal have stalled, with AC Milan thought to be tracking his progress.

He said: “If I don’t play, then it’s untenable and I can’t go on like that. It’s never fun as a footballer if you don’t play, but that’s my situation at the moment.”

Ryan Giggs extends Manchester United by one year

2009-02-13T03:55:00.001-08:00

Rumours of the 35-year-old's retirement were clearly greatly exaggerated, as were suggestions he would be offered a place on United's coaching staff, or perhaps grace another club on the Continent.

Instead, Giggs has his sights set on further rewriting the record books. If there was any doubt that, while the searing pace may have dissipated, he is still a cut above most players in the Premier League, it was dispelled in his masterful display in the 3-0 humbling of Chelsea last month.

The boy who moved from Cardiff to Swinton at the age of six has already gone down in English football history after collecting 10 league titles, four FA Cups and two European Cups.

Should he succeed in his stated aim of bringing yet more silverware to Old Trafford, he will go down in perpetuity, his tally of trophies and medals too high for any successor to expect to match.

Giggs said: "I'm delighted to have been offered a new contract. I feel fit and I'm enjoying my football more than ever.

"This is an exciting young team and the spirit is great in the dressing-room. I want to be a part of that and achieve even more success."

By the time he sees out his new deal Giggs will be almost 37, nearing the 20th anniversary of his debut for United after he came on as a substitute for Denis Irwin in a 2-0 defeat against Everton at Old Trafford on March 2, 1991.

No doubt seeing Giggs turn out at 37, having watched him make his debut aged 17, will be a moment of personal pride for Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager who visited Giggs' house on his 14th birthday to sign him on schoolboy terms having persuaded him to join United rather than Manchester City, in an echo of the tale which helped Matt Busby secure the services of Duncan Edwards.

Tempting as it is to eschew the modern in favour of the past, Giggs will now most likely stand alongside Edwards in the annals of United's history. As well as all of those medals, Giggs, like Edwards, changed the landscape of football.

He was the Premier League's first poster boy, Beckham before the boy from Leytonstone broke into the first team, the player who launched a thousand cliches. The boy wonder who gave defenders twisted blood. That was Giggs.

Those days may be behind him, but while Ferguson knows that Giggs is these days best deployed as a central midfielder rather than a lung-busting winger, he is full of praise for his protege's appetite for success.

Ferguson said: "It would be easy for him to be complacent after all that he has achieved, but that he isn't speaks volumes for his character and explains why we wanted to extend his services and use his experience.

"Although he wants to be involved in every game, he understands that by using his experience when it matters is a benefit to him and to the team."

Ferguson added: "Ryan is a true professional of the game, his lifestyle, the way he looks after himself, and his desire to always want to win is a credit to him and an inspiration to any young kid who wants to become a footballer."

Edwin van der Sar Thanks Manchester United Defenders

2009-02-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

Edwin van der Sar's current clean sheet is lasting a long time. The giant Dutchman hasn't conceded a league goal for Manchester United since Samir Nasri netted for Arsenal against the Red Devils in November.

That's an astonishing 13 games that van der Sar and his back-four have kept their net intact, and their run has already made them English and British record holders. Should they keep Fulham at bay for 64 minutes at Old Trafford next Wednesday, then they will have broken the world record set by Atletico Madrid's Abel Renso at 1275 minutes without conceding.

But van der Sar has highlighted today that such success is not merely down to his capabilities as a goalkeeper, it is the defenders, indeed the whole team, in front of him who work to protect the United goal.

"When you talk about the achievement it is all about the team. It's hard work from everybody," he told The Manchester Evening News earlier.

"I had to make a couple of saves at West Ham, for instance, but the defenders are incredible, how they defend, how they clear the balls. It's a team effort because everybody tracks back.

"It is all about organisation. It is about trusting each other. It is about knowing if Rio steps to the right, Vida will follow, or Rafael knows how to come inside, or Michael Carrick knows when he has to block a shot."

The strong team ethic encouraged at Old Trafford was also evident when van der Sar ruminated on the progress made by the Mancunians this season, especially since their return from the Club World Cup in Tokyo.

"It is all about the team. It is magnificent. Hopefully we can keep it going for a while. The records will only be important at the end of the season," he added.

"Of course, it is great but if we end up losing another four or five games until the end of the season we probably won't be the champions. That is the goal. It is a halfway point. You take it on board but you don't celebrate. It is a fantastic record and I'm very happy about it. But what really means a lot at the moment is the win.

"We are getting on with our business quietly but confidently. Everybody is out to get us, as we are champions and because of the record, it makes it harder.

"But we are very determined to hang on to it and keep this run going.

"It is a tremendous achievement what we have done over the last couple of months with the amount of games we have played. The number of points we have got since we left for Tokyo is outstanding."

Sepang test preview: Ducati cautious on Casey Stoner’s wrist

2009-02-05T03:38:00.001-08:00

Ducati management have admitted they will take no unnecessary risks with former world champion Casey Stoner’s left wrist despite confidence it will hold up to the stress of this week’s three-day test session at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

The Aussie hasn’t been on track since the end of October when he topped the timesheets in a rain-hit Valencia test. Since then he has been patiently recovering from major surgery on an old left wrist injury that flared up during last season.

Stoner needed a bone graft on the wrist and so far his lengthy rehabilitation has gone according to plan. Doctors were happy with his recovery when he underwent a thorough assessment on January 12, but this week’s Sepang test will be the crucial test for the 2007 world champion.

Stoner has only had restricted movement in the wrist and has not done anything like the kind of physical work that replicates controlling Ducati’s carbon fibre chassis GP9 machine.

The Sepang circuit is one of the most physically challenging on the calendar with its length and challenging layout. It is also mostly high-speed with fast changes of direction to test Stoner’s wrist.

Factory Ducati team boss Livio Suppo though believes Stoner and his wrist will be capable of gaining some meaningful data on the GP9.

Suppo told MCN: “The doctors did the X-rays last month and that was crucial because then you can understand how the screw and the bone are healing and the doctor was very happy. The process is absolutely okay and now the operation seems to have been a success.”

Suppo though did confirm that Stoner’s fitness would be closely monitored to avoid unnecessary risks in the Far East.

“Lets assume in Sepang he will still have some trouble, so there is no point in risking anything.

"But when he was a rookie in MotoGP he missed a lot of the winter but he was still able to nearly win in only his third race and do the pole position in his second race.

"For him the most important thing is that he will ride in Sepang and then he will feel better for doing that. But Sepang is really demanding and I don’t think he will do a lot of laps.”

Valentino Rossi injured in home accident

2009-02-05T03:37:00.001-08:00

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has injured his hand and foot after falling at his Italian home.

The 29-year-old was closing the curtains in his house when he tripped and fell on to a glass table.

The table smashed and Rossi cut his ring finger on his left hand and the sole of his left foot. He went straight to hospital where he received a few stitches in each injury.

The injury is not serious, but a decision is yet to be made whether he will be able to ride comfortably in Malaysia at this week’s MotoGP tests, which begin on Thursday.

A statement released from Yamaha said the Italian will fly to Malaysia today as planned, adding: “The injuries are not serious but it is not yet clear whether or not they will make him uncomfortable when riding this week.

"Nevertheless Rossi will fly out to Malaysia today as planned, where he will try to give 100% at the first test of the season, which starts on Thursday..”

LORENZO ADMITS HE LACKS THE EXPERIENCE TO FIGHT FOR TITLE

2009-02-05T03:32:00.000-08:00

Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo has admitted he does not expect to fight for the 2009 MotoGP world title because he doesn't have enough experience scrapping it out at the top.

The 2008 MotoGP Rookie of the Year expects team-mate Valentino Rossi and Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner to be the main protaganists with Dani Pedrosa also in the mix.

"It is very difficult, firstly because I don’t have the experience to fight for the title. I think that right now there are riders with more experience," said the Spaniard.

"Above all there is a great champion in the shape of Valentino Rossi, who I have in the box next to me, and in theory he is the favourite. Not only that, I have three riders who in principal are more of a favourite than I am so the most important thing is that we get closer to our objective every season, become faster and learn more. But I don’t think I am the favourite for the title.

I think that people have higher expectations for the results of Pedrosa, Stoner and Valentino. Yes, it is true that I started the year really well, with a victory in the third race of my first season.

"I started very strongly but that doesn’t mean to say that the same will happen every time and that every season is going to start out the same for me. Things change and every year is different.

For example this year we have new rules and things could be different. I am currently working very hard so that one day I can become World Champion, which is my objective. I don’t know if I will achieve it next year, within two years or within five but that is the objective."

Juventus reaches Italian Cup semifinals with win over Napoli

2009-02-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

Juventus overcame Napoli 4-3 in a penalty shootout after neither team scored in regulation or extra time of their Italian Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

Juventus will face Lazio in the two-leg semifinal March 4 and 22. Inter Milan plays Sampdoria in the other semifinal. Walter Gargano missed the crucial spot kick for Napoli after Ezequiel Lavezzi and Matteo Contini also failed to score.

Both teams were lacking in confidence after recent setbacks in the Serie A, and neither side managed to take the initiative in the first half.

In the second half, David Trezeguet and Pavel Nedved were introduced by Juventus to try and inspire the home side, but it was Napoli's attacking trio of Marek Hamsik, Lavezzi and Marcelo Zalayeta who looked the most likely to score, with Zalayeta missing two good chances near the end.

Trezeguet came close in regulation but was marginally offside from an Alessandro Del Piero pass, and in extra time he shot straight at goalkeeper Nicolas Navarro from close range.

Juventus sneak in to Cup semis after shoot-out

2009-02-05T03:28:00.000-08:00

Juventus completed the Italian Cup semi-final line-up after beating Napoli in a penalty shoot-out at Turin's Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw.

They will play Lazio in the last four while Serie A leaders Inter Milan face Sampdoria in the other semi.

In what was a largely dull match, Juve and Napoli barely mustered a single chance between them throughout 120 minutes.

The hosts did have the ball in the net in the last seconds of normal time through David Trezeguet but he was somewhat controversially ruled offside.

So the tie went to a shoot-out with veteran Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved the first to miss as his spot-kick was saved by Nicolas Navarro.

But Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi saw his effort saved by Alex Manninger to level matters.

Momo Sissoko hit the bar to give Napoli another sniff at glory but both Matteo Contini and Walter Gargano skied their shots well over the bar to allow Juventus to progress to the next phase.

Scholes And Berbatov Put Manchester United Through At Expense Of Tottenham Hotspur

2009-01-24T16:03:00.000-08:00

The game at Old Trafford saw the two most successful sides in the history of the competition come head to head. Alex Ferguson’s injury hit side came from behind to triumph over Harry Redknapp’s patchwork Tottenham team. The result see’s Manchester United progress into the fifth round draw and ends Redknapp’s hopes of becoming the first manager to ever eliminate United with four different clubs, at least for this season.

Despite a tentative start from both sides it was Tottenham that opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a well worked goal. A slack clearance saw the ball fall to Tom Huddlestone on the right flank, he drove to the edge of the box and floated a teasing ball into the middle. Lone striker Roman Pavlyuchenko ran intelligently across an unusually flat-footed Nemanja Vidic and his glancing header into the far corner left goalkeeper Ben Foster routed to the spot. It was a classy finish from the Russian who has scored five times in his last six appearances for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham then understandably retreated into their own half, hoping to defend their lead. Though Manchester United dominated possession Spurs were resolute in their defending, working hard to close down their opponents. The Red Devils’ did create chances but were largely restricted to snapshots, Carlos Tevez coming closest with a 20 yard shot stinging the crossbar. In truth deputy keeper Ben Alnwick had it covered.

United grew into the game with youngster Danny Welbeck impressing from his position wide on the right. The starlet cut in from the flank and exchanged passes with Berbatov before being denied by a superb block from Chris Gunter. It was backs to the wall for Spurs and Argentinean forward Tevez had a superb strike well saved from 12 yards by the former Sunderland goalkeeper in the 21st minute.

It was looking increasingly like it was a matter of when rather than if United would score and the Red Devils’ subjected their guests to a two minute nightmare at the Theatre of Dreams.

Paul Scholes got the equaliser following a marauding break from Tevez. The ball went out for a corner and the ginger-haired genius was teed up for a classic drive from 25 yards. His grass cutter caught the heel of Tom Huddlestone on the way to the back of the net, it was a piece of fortune that United probably deserved for their attacking endeavour.

Less than 90 seconds later the game was effectively over as a contest. If the opening goal was fortuitous then the second was sublime. Former Tottenham favourites Michael Carrick and Bulgarian Berbatov combined brilliantly with the England international spotting a cute run from Berbatov early and stroking the ball into his path from the half way line. The £30million man killed the ball in an instance and rifled the ball into the far left corner from 20 yards before the nearest defender could even get close.

Tottenham did have opportunities to get back into the game, before the half was up David Bentley skipped past Scholes and saw his long-range effort fly agonisingly close, not quite dipping enough to beat the crossbar.

The second half was a controlled performance from the Premier League and European Champions and they restricted Harry Redknapp’s side to very few opportunities. Early in the half a teasing Bentley cross saw Gareth Bale beat his marker and his shot flashed wide from close range. On the 56th minute Benoit Assou-Ekotto found himself in space beyond the fullback, he was picked out by an increasingly influential Huddlestone and the left back’s cross found Bentley on the right-hand side of the 18 yard box. The wide man’s first time shot flashed just past Ben Foster’s left-hand post with the young English goalkeeper struggling to scramble across to cover.

Just after the hour mark Spurs broke again and had a man over but failed to make the opportunity. Substitute Giovani Dos Santos picked out Bentley who could only fire straight at the keeper. United stepped up their control from this point and largely controlled proceedings, with a few half-opportunities at either end.

Tottenham, however, piled on the pressure towards the end of the game. Assou-Ekotto leaving substitute right back Richard Eckersley for dead, driving to the by-line and cutting back for former Barcelona starlet Dos Santos. The prodigy could only send his first time effort high over the bar and will be disappointed not to have done better.

In the final minutes the Lilywhites pressed hard, but were unable to break down a resolute United defence. Manchester United progress to the next round and Tottenham are left to focus on their Premier League survival and a showpiece Carling Cup final which pitches them against tonight’s opponents

Manchester United: Evans, Anderson out for three weeks

2009-01-24T01:29:00.000-08:00

LONDON — Premier League leader Manchester United will be without defender Jonny Evans and midfielder Anderson for three weeks with ankle injuries, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Friday.

Both were hurt Tuesday as the Red Devils beat Derby to reach the Carling Cup final.

"We sent Anderson for a scan and there's no break, but there was some ligament damage," Ferguson said. "We think he'll be out for three weeks."

Portugal winger Nani has been ruled out for a week with a groin injury after limping out of the semifinal.

Also missing for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round match with Tottenham are defenders Rio Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva, Patrice Evra and Wes Brown, along with midfielder Park Ji-sung and striker Wayne Rooney.

"We still have Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo fit," Ferguson said. "But we will have to call on some young players.

"I could play (midfielder) Darren Fletcher at right ack, with Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea, which would give me an experienced back four, but I've called in Richard Eckersley and Fabio (da Silva), who could be involved."

Ferguson expects Ferdinand and Brown to be fit to face Everton on Feb. 2 to help the league title defence.

"It's not the best position to be in. January is a difficult month," Ferguson said. "We've talked a lot about having a winter break to get rid of the strains you pick up in January, but it's not to be.

"The result is that the strains become injuries and the players miss games."

Manchester United vintage could be the best yet, says Ryan Giggs

2009-01-24T01:16:00.000-08:00

Old and the new: Ryan Giggs with Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov Photo: PA

Giggs has picked up 10 league titles, two European Cups, four FA Cups, two League Cups and lined up alongside the likes of David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona since he burst on to the scene at Old Trafford 19 years ago.
But the Wales international is convinced Sir Alex Ferguson's latest crop could go on to overshadow all of their myriad achievements.
He said: "Last year, we won the Champions League and the Premier League, and we won them in great style. But to talk of a great team, you need six or seven consecutive years of dominance. This side is good enough to do that, because all of our young players can improve. Basically, this year I think we have the best United team ever."
Such a bold proclamation looked unlikely at the start of the season as Ferguson's side struggled to find their form after the excesses of the previous year. The European champions stuttered at Liverpool and at Arsenal and drew at Everton, Tottenham and even allowed Newcastle to escape Old Trafford with a point.
The fug hanging over the club at the start of the campaign appeared to have cleared as United picked up the Club World Cup last month and returned from Japan in ominous form. Their back line has not been breached in the league since that defeat at the Emirates, 10 games ago. Ferguson's side have won six league matches in a row.
Giggs said: "There is always a lot of attention on us and during a season, every team has a tricky period. We knew it would be an awkward start with some difficult games but we've been playing much better since. Hopefully we can keep up the momentum.
"The goal is to win a third consecutive Premier League title. In the Champions League, we already realise it will be extra hard to protect our crown. All our rivals would love to knock out the holders.
"The title race comes first, because it's the ultimate test to finish top after 38 games. Then comes the Champions League, but in every competition many different factors come into play, like taking your chances, coming into form at the right time and having a bit of luck."
It is easy to see why maintaining domestic superiority is important to United. Winning an 11th crown in 17 seasons would not only bring them level with Liverpool's record of 18 league titles, but also match the spell of dominance achieved by the great Anfield sides of the Seventies and Eighties. United would be well and truly on their perch.
Where that leaves the small matter of the FA Cup is a distant third, though there will be added spice to Saturday's fourth-round clash by virtue of Tottenham's manager being Harry Redknapp, the man whose Portsmouth side dashed United's hopes of a second treble last season.
Redknapp has vowed to play the "weakest side he can find" in deference to his team's relegation battle, but he will be relieved to know United's side will be hamstrung by a raft of injuries. Brazilian midfielder Anderson on Thursday had a scan on an ankle which, if broken, could rule him out for three months.
He will join a packed treatment room, with only Wes Brown and Jonny Evans likely to be given the all-clear before the end of the month.

Yamaha backs Rossi's Superbike plan

2009-01-02T01:32:00.000-08:00

Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio says the manufacturer is doing all it can to grant Valentino Rossi his wish to compete against Troy Bayliss in a World Superbike round this year.

Rossi is keen to enter a Superbike round and wants legendary rider Bayliss to come out of retirement for a single event to race against him.

"It's not easy, but the racing department is doing everything possible to sort out two R1 bikes for Rossi," Brivio told Tuttosport.

"The problem is that the bike is a new project, so everything is a lot more difficult. We'll see whether it's possible in the end to allow Valentino to get his wish."

Bayliss retired from racing at the end of last season and says it would take a large financial offer for him to agree to the race.

"I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly," Bayliss told motorcyclenews.com. "It wouldn't be so hard for him to be competitive on a Superbike. Yamaha have got a strong bike, so it would be no problem at all for him to get up to speed - Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi.

"For me right now, I've stopped training and I'm happy with my plan to finish. I'm feeling happy that the last time I rode I was world champion, plus I won both races and beat all the other guys out there.

"For me to do it I'd need something like £1 million and that's not going to happen."

Clashes between the calendars of the two championships mean the most likely venue for the event would be the Doha round in March.

Tevez hopes for United deal

2009-01-02T01:30:00.000-08:00

The Argentina international is currently in the second year of a complicated loan move, with that agreement set to expire in the summer.
United are yet to offer the combative front-man a full-time contract, with the issue having hung over both player and club for some considerable time.
Tevez has been utilised mainly as a squad player by Sir Alex Ferguson this season and has seen his number of outings limited as a result.
However, having helped the club to domestic and European glory last term, the 24-year-od is adamant that he sees his long-term future at Old Trafford.

Positive

"I am not preoccupied about my future," Tevez told the Daily Mail.
"My instincts are to stay with the club and in the next week or so I think there will be more contact with regards to sorting out my contract. That is what we've been told.
"My agent is in touch with United all the time and he tells me that everything is very positive now. So it is up to the club.
"Other clubs have asked about me but I see my future at United."

Figures

Of those 'other clubs' said to be interested, Spanish giants Real Madrid are thought to he heading the queue.
The reigning Primera Liga champions have a reputation for landing high-profile summer signings, but Tevez remains hopeful that United will find the funds to match his considerable price tag.
"Some people say that £32million is high but I cannot comment on that. Those are the figures that were agreed at the start. I am not responsible," he added.
"It has been a complicated season for me, there is no point denying that. I have not been able to get as many minutes on the field as I would like because the quality of the forwards at the club is incredible.
"It is not easy for forwards to get into this team and I have suffered. But that does not make me want to leave. I have no urge to run away."

Manchester United Launch Bid For Leeds' Fabian Delph

2009-01-02T01:29:00.000-08:00

According to The Sun, the British tabloid newspaper, Manchester United are readying a bid totalling £10 million for Leeds United midfielder Fabian Delph.

The 18-year-old has turned heads in League One this season, and a host of Premier League clubs have sent their scouts to see what all the fuss is about.

Newcastle United wasted no time tabling a bid, but their £1 million offer was rejected rather firmly by Leeds chairman Ken Bates, who is determined to keep hold of such a huge prospect.

"Fabian Delph will be moving to the Barclays Premier League - but we hope he'll be moving with us via the Championship," Bates said in November.

Arsenal, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland have also been linked with the England Under-19 star, while Fulham boss Roy Hodgson's eyes and ears were in the stands as Leeds beat Stockport Country 3-1 last weekend.

It was reported earlier this week that the Cottagers had made an official £6 million offer for the Bradford-born starlet, but it would seem United have trumped their top-flight rivals by offering the same sum with a few tasty add-ons.

A series of bonuses based on performances and appearances would potentially see the Whites collect an extra £4 million, but Sir Alex Ferguson is also willing to loan them midfield prospects Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon until the end of the season.

Delph has been variously compared to Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes due to his tenacious attitude, eye for a pass, and ability to romp forward and get on the score-sheet.

Cristiano Ronaldo pledges his future to Manchester United

2009-01-02T01:26:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo has started 2009 by attempting to quash one of 2008's most protracted transfer sagas. The winger has been repeatedly linked with a move to Real Madrid, but in an interview on the Manchester United official website he has said his heart remains at Old Trafford.

"What people are saying now [the recent speculation about an agreement with Real Madrid] is not true," he said. "Who says that is a liar because I am happy at the club, I want to stay here [at United]. I feel at home here. I feel very happy here."

Sections of the Old Trafford crowd were unhappy at what they saw as Ronaldo's flirtation with Madrid, but the Portuguese international said he always believed the fans backed him. "When I arrived at the stadium, to play [my first game of this season] against Villarreal, I felt a little bit of pressure," he admitted. "But the fans were very good and this is why I feel the Manchester United supporters are amazing. I love the fans because they have been brilliant with me, not just this season but every season."

Ronaldo added that Sir Alex Ferguson was a crucial figure in his career. "The boss is always important for me, not just last season but every season. I am at this club because of him. He saw me in a few games before I played against Manchester United. People think I came here just because I played [well] against United but it's not true.

"He's always helped me and I said to him, 'I want to be part of this club with you. I want to win trophies with you.' He's very important in my career, Sir Alex Ferguson."

What price English ownership in the Premier League?

2008-12-21T01:03:00.000-08:00

Indeed, with the main challengers to the top four, Aston Villa, already American-owned and Manchester City having become a colony of Abu Dhabi, the biggest Premier League club left in English hands could soon be – Lord help us – Newcastle United.

I know what you are thinking: can you take one look at Mike Ashley and, with hand on heart, blame Newcastle supporters for hurling themselves at the feet of any passing sheikh?

There must, one day, be more to the life of a Premier League football fan than begging strangers to buy the family silver, but it seems unlikely given the game's grotesquely bloated economy.

When you have the Icelandic owner of West Ham, Bjorgulfur Gudmundsson, trying to get £250 million for a club he bought for £85 million little over two years ago when confidence was high, you are almost tempted to admire his cheek – until you think of the misery bankers have visited upon us.

So is so-called English football enjoying the last days of an unsustainable boom? It certainly feels like it. Only the odd lonely voice of caution is raised: Gareth Southgate, the intelligent manager of Middlesbrough, who owe their widely acclaimed English owner, Steve Gibson, nearly £70 million, wonders if it might all end in a fall from grace such as that of the Italian game, once Europe's foremost.

Yet the feelgood factor survives. Just as the family man used to chortle ''it's only plastic'' as he booked yet another holiday in Florida, clubs succumb to the pressure to spend.

And we, the fans, await match days such as this: what fun it is to contemplate Liverpool's visit to Arsenal in the knowledge that, for 90 minutes, the issues surrounding American (and possibly Uzbeki) ownership can be forgotten.

Back in the year 2000, when these clubs' links to the Moores and Hill-Wood families were so natural no one gave a thought to them, Liverpool won at Highbury through a goal from Titi Camara.

They have not won away to Arsenal in the Premier League since and the excellent record of Arsene Wenger's team against top-four opposition – Manchester United and Chelsea have already been beaten this season – emphasises the difficulty of their task.

Yet Liverpool, like Chelsea, have lately appeared built for the rigours of travel rather than the subtleties of hosting, and Rafa Benitez's men do have the option of settling for a draw while Arsenal, already beaten five times before the halfway stage, need every point they can wrest.

As Arsenal's losses to the relatively unfancied – Fulham, Hull, Stoke – have mounted, the curious have done some checking and discovered that, since the old First Division was rebranded for the 1992/3 season, the highest number of defeats sustained by champions has been Blackburn's seven in 1994/5. So what?

Statistics are there to be revised and, in any case, calculation of Arsenal's chances of taking the title this season strike me as academic.

Wenger has too lightweight a midfield (the marvellous Cesc Fabregas notwithstanding) and aerially deficient a defence for this campaign to be about much more than making sure they finish in fourth place.

The trip to Villa Park on Boxing Day should be seen as even more important than today's encounter.

In Europe, Arsenal have been handed possibly the most difficult of Italian opponents at the moment in Roma; United and Chelsea should have too much verve for Inter and Juventus, respectively.

The most vulnerable of the Premier League quartet would appear to be, on recent form, Liverpool – Real Madrid should benefit from Juande Ramos' arrival as coach – and yet I still have a fancy for them domestically, even if their football has been superior to that of United only in the Anfield match between the clubs and doubts about Robbie Keane's integration persist.

United have been remarkably consistent, not just this season but for years. It was in April 2005 that they last lost consecutive League matches and this is the sort of form that would promise a hat-trick of titles – but for the additional obligations imposed by their victory in the Champions League final last spring.

They will return from their Tokyo jaunt to Club World Cup to the probability of months of playing catch-up with Liverpool and Chelsea.

At least Sir Alex Ferguson has the comfort of a grudge – the United manager seldom has much difficulty in finding those – after United's humiliation at the hands of the Football Association, who not only found their left-back, Patrice Evra, to have been the main culprit in the scuffle with Chelsea ground staff last season but heaped public scorn on both his testimony and that of Ferguson's assistant, Mike Phelan.

Whether United hold Chelsea partly responsible for Evra's four-match ban in not yet clear. Suffice it to say that the visit of Luiz Felipe Scolari and his team to Old Trafford in three weeks will have an edge and, if the United ground staff were to ask my advice, I'd tell them to make sure the sprinklers are working in case matters become overheated.

When I argue ownership issues, by the way, with officers of the Premier League, they often cite United (American) and Chelsea (Russian) as examples of well run clubs and, when you consider that these emerged as Europe's top two last season, they have a point.

But the time to judge a club's guardian is not while the manager is being given money to spend and the club are enjoying success; it is after he leaves.

Peter Ridsdale was an enormously popular chairman of Leeds, a sort of Steve Gibson of his time, while the club were reaching the Champions League semi-finals – only to leave amid much opprobrium and be obliged to rebuild his reputation at Cardiff. Let's wait and see how the Glazers and Roman Abramovich are remembered.

As I have said here before, it is not the nationalities of these people that worry me so much as the durability of their commitment. In this sense, they are no more alien than Englishmen such as Ashley.

But just ask yourself: what are the chances of the Glazers and Abramovich turning out to have loved United and Chelsea as much as the late Uncle Jack Walker loved Blackburn?

Thoughts of Chelsea at Old Trafford are bound to return to May 2005, when, already sure of their first title under Jose Mourinho, they won 3-1 with near-ease and many of us wondered if this was, as well as the beginning of their spell of dominance through the funding of Abramovich, the end of the Ferguson era at United.

Ferguson had, after all, already been confounded by young Mourinho during Porto's march to the European title the previous season; now Mourinho was invading his domestic territory.

The answer could not have been more stirring. Although Chelsea were champions again the next season, Ferguson's United have staged a magnificent and comprehensive resurgence, not only winning more matches than Chelsea or Arsenal, their previous arch-rivals, but playing football so handsome it can be measured against Arsenal's.

And becoming champions of Europe as well. And helping Cristiano Ronaldo to develop into the world's leading player. And providing the perfect conditions for Wayne Rooney to achieve, if he can, that status. United are, in short, a credit to their country.

Ferguson admits World Club Championship could be costly

2008-12-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United's 12,000-mile round trip for the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan could harm his side's prospects of winning a third successive Premier League title in Yokohama.

United face Liga de Quito of Ecuador in today's final here, where they are bidding to become the first British club to win the tournament since it was expanded in 2000. They return to Manchester tomorrow night and play away at Stoke at 12.45pm on Boxing Day. The champions could be nine points and two games adrift of Liverpool on their return, if the leaders beat Arsenal today. And Ferguson believes fatigue has already had an impact on his players in Japan.

"A lot of us are finding it difficult and struggling to sleep," the United manager said. "Towards the end of the semi-final on Thursday there were signs that jet-lag was having an effect on the players, the game was very open and loose in the last 20 minutes, but I think we will be in a better physical condition for the final. It is difficult to say what the impact will be when we get back home.

"Hopefully we will have enough recovery time to produce at Stoke. After the Inter-Continental Cup in 1999 we went back home and beat Everton 5-1 three days later, so who is to say what might happen? But we know we do have a task on our hands when we get back."

United are likely to be without Dimitar Berbatov against the Copa Libertadores champions, with the £30.75m striker suffering from the virus that ruled him out of the semi-final defeat of Gamba Osaka. "This will be more of a physical test for us," Ferguson added. "We've watched Liga de Quito's semi-final against Pachuca and, as you would expect from a South American team, they are resilient and powerful."

Sepp Blatter expects England to put forward a "strong" bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The world governing body have confirmed the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be decided at the same time and have allowed countries to bid for both. "England is a strong candidate, because it is a strong country in football," the Fifa president said.

Lord Triesman, England's World Cup bid team chairman, said: "The announcement of a dual process doesn't affect our planning at all. Our mission is to ensure we have the support of everyone around the country, so the world knows that England not only has the infrastructure to stage a tournament, but also the enthusiasm to make it the best possible event in World Cup history.

世界クラブカップ決勝プレビュー：マンチェスターユナイテッドVのLDUキト

2008-12-21T00:46:00.000-08:00

マンチェスターユナイテッドは、世界クラブW杯ファイナルでは誰も見て対戦相手としてエクアドルのLDUキト予測しているとはなじみのない名ではありません. 彼らは南米王者になるため、最初のエクアドルクラブです。

サッカーのエクアドルでは、過去10年間、代表チームの最後の2つのW杯決勝で南米予選で来ていたとされて簡単にはいかないですオンタリオしている。LDU実際にはマークを付けるには、最初のクラブチームだ。

彼らは国際Educadoreanの中核とアルゼンチンの輸入品の散水している。は、リベルタドーレス杯への道では、決勝トーナメント進出の決勝ではアルゼンチンFluminense打撃を前に、 2つの側面を削除しました。

としては、ブラジルとのグループを段階的には彼らの運動は、低速のようなものだったやけど、 Fluninese 1試合に勝ったとはknockoutsのLDUは非常に困難になった他のビートに合わせて描いた。ユナイテッドLDUでPK戦には行きたくないと、彼らは勝利への道には、 2つのファイナルなどしていた。

強力な守備とカウンター周辺は、キト隊基地の成功スタイルのアルゼンチン進むクラウディオビールは、パチュカ戦は準決勝で得点が率いる攻撃。ベンチでは34歳のアグスティンデルガドかつて気晴らしにサウサンプトンでゴードンStarchan運転される。

マンチェスターユナイテッドの試合でどのように積極的に決める必要がある。LDUは比較的慎重なアプローチをとることを彼らにアレックスファーガソン監督が来てチームが好きだ。ディミタールベルバトフ戻る彼のビジョンとタッチウェインルーニーにもたらされるにはベンチでのスタートかもしれない可能性があります。

戻るかどうかは、マネージャーも、このような高プロファイルのゲームや信頼に戻ってみましたが、ガリーネビル、ラファエル10代の右にプッシュすることにしている。としてネヴィルユナイテッドは準決勝で演奏し、ラファエルもうなずいて取得される場合がありますボクシングデーにゲームをしている。朴智成とマイケルキャリック、ライアンギグス、ポールスコールズ取って代わる可能性があります。

それだけでも、ファーガソン監督はこの大会のため、 LDUは実際にはワールドチャンピオンのタイトルを、大規模なachivementさwoukd尊重しています。これはアルゼンチンの監督の最後のゲームは、プレイヤーが高い上で彼を送信するということです。

この試合ユナイテッドの半wth G大阪のような得点の高されません。LDU少し離れたとするフォームにリベルタドーレス杯後には、余分な時間や罰則に行くについては懸念しているが設定されます。ユナイテッドはので、それをする方法を見つける必要があります日陰には、攻撃兵器がある。

予測; 1-0でマンチェスターユナイテッドに

World Club Cup Final Preview: Manchester United v LDU Quito

2008-12-21T00:27:00.000-08:00

Manchester United isn't an unfamiliar name to see in the World Club Cup Final but no one would have predicted LDU Quito of Ecuador as their opponents. They are the first Ecuadorean club to become champions of South America.

Football in Ecuador has been on the up for the past decade; the national squad were at the last two World Cup Finals and coming through South American qualifying is never easy. LDU are the first club team to really make a mark though.

They have a core of Educadorean internationals and a sprinkling of Argentine imports. On the way to the Copa Libertadores they removed two Argentine sides in the knockout rounds before beating Fluminense in the Final.

Their campaign was something of a slow burn as they were in the groups stages with the Brazilians, Fluninese won one game and drew the other but in the knockouts LDU became very difficult to beat. United would not want to go to a penalty shootout with LDU- they had two on the way to victory, including the Final.

The Quito squad base their success around strong defence and a counter-attacking style led by Argentine forward Claudio Bieler, who scored against Pachuca in he semis. On the bench will be 34 year old Agustin Delgado who once drove Gordon Starchan to distraction at Southampton.

Manchester United have to decide how aggressive to be in this game. LDU like teams to come on to them so Sir Alex Ferguson may take a relatively cautious approach. Dimitar Berbatov is likely to be brought back for his vision and touch- Wayne Rooney might start on the bench.

The manager also has to decide whether to push teenage right back Rafael into such a high profile game or return to the tried and trusted Gary Neville. As Neville played in the semi and United have a game on Boxing Day, Rafael may well be getting the nod. Park Ji Sung and Michael Carrick may replace Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

It's just as well Ferguson respects this tournament because it woukd be a massive achivement for LDU who really want the World Champion title. This is the final game for their Argentine coach so the players will want to send him off on a high.

This match won't be high scoring like United's semi wth Gamba Osaka. LDU will set up to give little away and after their Copa Libertadores form, they have no fears about going to extra time or penalties. United have the attacking weapons to find a way through though, so they should shade it.

Prediction; 1-0 to Manchester United

Tour of duty

2008-12-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

THE MANCHESTER United and Liga de Quito players spent yesterday as they've occupied much of the past week - bemoaning jet lag and wandering round an upmarket shopping mall in Yokohama before a late afternoon training session. A few dozen Japanese United fans have waited patiently outside the players' hotel since Monday, but the trip had been devoid of the hysteria which surrounded David Beckham on past United trips to Asia.

The United players especially have enjoyed the relative anonymity, though they've struggled to shake off their jet lag. Sir Alex Ferguson slept for just two hours on Thursday night and despite advice from their medical staff, the players have clearly not been at their optimum level.

"We are all finding it difficult," admitted Ferguson yesterday. "But the players will be better for the final. On Thursday (in United's 5-3 semi final win over Gamba Osaka) towards the end of the game there were signs that jet lag was taking a little effect. Not a great deal but enough to let the game go very loose in the last 20 minutes."

"It does have an impact when you can't sleep," said midfielder Darren Fletcher. "Lack of sleep affects anybody's performance no matter what they do."

Ryan Giggs agreed: "It has been quite difficult over here. I have not slept much, four or five hours sleep a night really. I hope it won't have a knock-on effect on our title defence. We don't know how it will affect us next Friday when we play Stoke."

Both players were speaking before this morning's FIFA Club World Cup final between the European and South American champions in Yokohama, the venue for the 2002 World Cup final.

While the competition has been maligned by the British media, United have taken the tournament seriously - and not only because the winners pick up £3.4 million. Ferguson brought a full-strength squad to Japan.

Almost 1000 United supporters have also shown their enthusiasm for the competition, and will be over £2,000 lighter after their trip, perhaps more given that a weak pound and strong Yen means a pint of beer is around £9 in the bars of Roppongi or Shibuya.

"You have to win the European Cup to be here," said one fan, John Taylor. "We want to be world champions. Liverpool have never won it and Manchester City fans don't know where Japan is."

"I can assure you that we've not come here just to go sight-seeing in Japan," said defender Patrice Evra. "We could become the first English team to win this competition, and if we did so we'd pull off a League-Champions League-Club World Cup triple, which would be quite something. I honestly think that every player in the squad has that in mind and therefore we're totally focused on fulfilling our objective. We can sleep when we get back to Manchester."

The problem with the competition isn't the final, but the calibre of some of the seven competing teams.

"I watched a little bit of the game between Adelaide United and Al Ahly," says the former United and Celtic midfielder Paddy Crerand, in Japan with MUTV. "It was a little bit embarrassing, the standard was so bad."

The current incarnation of the tournament began in 2000 when United and Real Madrid were the European representatives in Brazil. Prior to that, the South American and European champions had met between 1960 and 2004, though not without controversy, as those Celtic fans who recall the 1967 three-game fracas against Racing Club of Argentina will recall.

It was worse two years later when several Estudiantes players were suspended for their barbaric behaviour against Milan. Concern for their players and a lack of financial incentive saw European champions Liverpool decline to take part in 1977 and 1978, while there were no games in 1975 and 1978 at all.

United won the competition in 1999 by beating Palmeiras in Tokyo, but they also played in the Brazil tournament, controversially forgoing the chance to defend the FA Cup after government pressure.

Low crowds and poor public relations scarred the image of the competition so badly it wasn't resurrected until 2005 when Japan was chosen to stage a tournament featuring Liverpool and Sao Paulo. It was a safe bet. Japanese fans are wealthy and demand to see some of the biggest teams in the world is high. And by playing two games in succession in the same stadium, the organisers avoided embarrassingly low attendances. The respectable average crowd of 37,351 in 2005 has seen the tournament remain in Japan ever since and gates have risen year on year. Last year's tournament average was 45,163 and it will be higher this year if the Yokohama stadium is filled to its 67,000 capacity as expected.

The teams take it seriously too. The tournament is highly regarded in South America: the prestige of beating the European champions is enhanced by the tournament acting as a shop window for players. And while Liga de Quito may have beaten South America's best side on the way to winning the Copa Liberatadores, they operate on a fraction of United's huge budget and their players' average salary is around £800 a week. £3.4 million goes a long way in Ecuadorian football.

"We're living the dream," said Quito's Luis Bolano, who scored in their 3-0 semi-final victory over Mexican side Pachuca. "We've reached the final of a world club championship and we are more than ready for it."

It's not just the South American teams who are enthusiastic. AC Milan's poor form last season was blamed on them focusing their attention on winning the Club World Cup. In beating Argentina's Boca Juniors 4-2 in a thrilling match, Milan became the first European winners of the competition. They consequently broke the South American dominance which had seen Sao Paulo beat 1-0 Liverpool in 2005 and another Brazilian side, Internacional, defeat Barcelona a year later. The tournament moves to the United Arab Emirates next year for two years.

The European champions will prefer the new venue for one reason alone: they won't suffer jet leg.

Valentino Rossi leads prestigious sports poll

2008-12-20T23:34:00.000-08:00

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is currently leading a poll by the Telegraph newspaper in its search for the most important sports star of 2008.

The Fiat Yamaha rider, who won nine races to reclaim the title he last won in 2005, has currently registered 39 per cent of the vote in the poll in which he is up against nine other of the year’s most successful sport stars.

Rossi is currently 14 per cent ahead of tennis world number one and Wimbledon champion Rafa Nadal in second place.

Other stars on the list include youngest ever F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, triple Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy and sprinting sensation Usain Bolt.

Go to www.telegraph.co.uk/sport to register your vote.

Valentino Rossi in a world class of his own

2008-12-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

The factors below should allow you to choose, as far as is possible, using the right sporting reasons, not out of sentimentality or by use of subjective criteria.

You should consider whether this person won the highest prize in their sport. More importantly, is the win of wider significance, or a one-off? Did it require excellence over a prolonged period? What was the requisite degree of skill required? Was there a relative degree of danger? Threat of serious injury is a psychological pressure only certain individuals can withstand; but this possibly includes some on this short-list.

Do not take into account what they look like, their human interest story, their background. In fact, any detail not related to performance should be disregarded.

You should not give weight to a person because the event in which they took part was exciting. This could be evidence of fortitude, but it could also be under-performance by a person who ought to have won more easily.

Rossi occupies in his sport the same position as Pele holds in football. For many MotoGP fans, including British, he is a demigod. I say this to put Rossi into context for those of you who do not know he is the most successful motorcycle racer ever.

Experts always make things look easy. Riding a motorcycle is not easy, certainly much more difficult than driving a car, running, throwing or cycling. Handling a motorcycle is very technical and the consequences can be severe if you make a small error.

MotoGP is the equivalent of Formula One without the in-race assistance, both technological and human.

To appreciate how fast MotoGP really is, you have to see it live. Though marginally less quick than F1, it has something that F1 often lacks – genuine head-to-head battles between riders, all of whom flirt with disaster.

When it comes to bravery, you cannot get much higher than riding at 200 mph with nothing between you and tarmac save for protective body pads. There is no steel safety cage or tensioned safety belt.

At these speeds, the slightest touch of wheels, or a mistake in braking can send a rider spinning through the air, praying his bike does not follow him.

In that environment, Rossi's winning of the MotoGP world title 2008 has put him in a unique position within motorcycle racing.

His 69th MotoGP win at Indianapolis broke Giacomo Agostini's record of most premier-class victories, set in 1976.

The title made Rossi the first rider to win the premier-class on four different types of motorcycle: 500cc, 990cc five-cylinder four-stroke, 990cc four-cylinder four-stroke and 800cc.

He has also has won the world title at 125cc, 250cc and 500cc. This is the equivalent of winning four world titles in different boxing divisions.

It's not just a question of riding a bigger bike. It needs different handling characteristics, reaction times and other subtle, yet important changes technically and mentally. Many champions in lower classes fail to make the jump to higher ones. As James Toseland will attest, winning in one category does not guarantee success higher up.

Rossi, 29, was the only rider to score points all 18 races in 2008, demonstrating astonishing consistency, but it is not until you look at the Italian's career record that you realise that with his performances this year, he has dominated all in his path. When you read the statistics below, consider them not only against other riders, but also drivers in F1.

In a 12-year career, covering grands prix in four different classes, and 207 races, Rossi won 96; nearly one out of two (this includes the early years as a novice), he was in pole position 51 times, almost one in four. He was on the podium 148 times, nearly three out of four races.

See what I mean?

These amazing numbers must take into account that in 2004 Rossi switched teams. This is not just simply getting on a new bike. A different set-up was required to be absorbed, differences in every aspect of planning and preparation and working on an unfamiliar piece of equipment with mechanics that he did not know – all in the brief off-season.

Rossi's debut victory for Yamaha at the opening race of in South Africa made him the first rider in history to take back-to-back wins for different manufacturers.

That this had never been done before, despite the legendary riders that went before, including Barry Sheene, shows how difficult this challenge was.

You may think all this is sufficient to give Rossi your vote now but this year Rossi has also demonstrated he has potential on four wheels.

Rossi tested a Ferrari Formula One car at Mugello in Italy following his MotoGP title and completed nearly 30 laps with fastest lap time of 1min 22.5sec. Ferrari's last Mugello F1 test driver, Kimi Raikkonen, posted a top time of 1-21.079, only 1.5sec quicker. And Rossi's session was shortened by bad weather.

In contrast to the smooth tracks of F1 and MotoGP, Rossi finished 11th in the notoriously tough Rally New Zealand 2006 without regular rally driving.

Just occasionally a sportsman comes along and sets himself apart. They move the whole sport forward and everybody, whether friend or foe, agrees his iconic status.

Even if know nothing about, or dislike bike racing you must recognise the titanic sportsman that is Rossi.

If you vote dispassionately, free from preconception, considering what really counts for a person to win this accolade, you should vote for Rossi.

Many of the nominees fulfil many of the criteria that should decide the Sportsperson of 2008; none fulfil as many as Rossi.

Of course, you could always be British and vote for the nicest person.

World Superbikes » Ducati: Rossi, Bayliss duel unlikely.

2008-12-20T19:21:00.000-08:00

Ducati Xerox team manager Davide Tardozzi claims Troy Bayliss is flattered to have been praised by MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi, but insists he is not planning on participating in a much speculated head-to-head with him.

Speaking to Crash.net about the rumours of Rossi challenging Bayliss to a duel on Superbikes at Qatar, Tardozzi states that there has been no request to him about preparing a bike for the now retired WSBK Champion.

Reports in Europe claimed a deal had been done for Rossi and Bayliss to race one another at Losail after Bayliss won the Moto Sprint Rider of the Year award over Rossi.

Subsequently, Rossi's praise of Bayliss prompted him to state that he would enjoy challenging him on a Superbike, leading onto reports that a one-off appearance was being mooted.

Even so, regardless of whether this deal would come to fruition, Tardozzi insists it wouldn't happen in Qatar anyway because it would be logistically difficult for Ducati to prepare in time.

"This is something that Valentino said, but Troy was merely honoured, so I don't think it is possible to happen," he said. "If something like that happened then there are many things that would have to be decided first.

"Valentino would like to do it in Qatar, but for us this is not good. We don't want to do exactly what he will want to do, because it won't be possible.

"It is a nice thing though and Troy was very happy to be considered by Valentino as the top guy in Superbikes, so it pleases him that he said that. This is something Valentino wished to do, but while Troy was flattered, nothing has been discussed."

Juventus captain Del Piero named Italian Sports Personality of the Year

2008-12-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

Juventus captain Alessandro del Piero has been named Italian Sports Personality of the Year.

The Juventus striker topped the RAI poll with 58 per cent of the vote, crushing MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi’s total of 18 per cent.

“It is a wonderful recognition and I am pleased that the public, a huge part of this sport, gave me this title,” he told TG1.

“I am happy with what I have achieved this year, the way I am playing and what has happened around me.”

Schumacher: I'll race Rossi - bike or car

2008-12-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has said that he would love to race against Valentino Rossi, either on a bike or in a car.

The seven times F1 World Champion was speaking to the Gazetta dello Sport about his plans next year and how they do not include riding in the World Superbike Championship, despite widespread talk that he might.

Schumacher, who will be riding in selected rounds of the German championship, said: "I may begin a challenge against many other drivers. A duel in a car against Rossi would be very interesting."

We reckon Valentino might just find the lure of pitching up against Schumacher pretty tempting...

MotoGP » FIM reveals MotoGP entry list.

2008-12-17T00:31:00.000-08:00

The FIM has published the official entry list for the 2009 MotoGP season, which will feature 19 riders.

The main addition to the 2008 line-up is the return of Sete Gibernau, who will ride a privateer Ducati under the banner of Grupo Francisco Hernando, as announced during the final round of the season at Valencia.

Other changes for 2009 include Andrea Dovizioso's move to the factory Honda team, which has avoided the fate of Honda's Formula One team to return for the new season, while Nicky Hayden moves over to Ducati to partner Casey Stoner.

Elsewhere, Pramac Racing - whose 2008 title sponsor Alice is not mentioned - brings in Niccolo Canepa and Mika Kallio for 2009, with former Pramac rider Toni Elias moving to the San Carlo Honda Gresini team to partner Alex de Angelis.

Marco Melandri will ride with Kawasaki after his ill-fated stint with Ducati in 2008, while the Scot Racing team will hope that Yuki Takahashi can continue to bring home the kind of results achieved by Dovizioso last year in his debut season.

Outside of the team changes and new arrivals, there is confirmation that 2008 Rookie of the Year Jorge Lorenzo will switch from the #48 to the #99 next season, while countryman Dani Pedrosa changes from #2 to #3 - reflecting his new championship position. Former world champion Casey Stoner moves from #1 back to #27.

2009 MotoGP entry list:

3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Respol Honda Team
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha
7. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
14. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP
15. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini
21. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team
24. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini
27. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
33. Marco Melandri ITA Kawasaki Racing Team
36. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing
46. Valentino Rossi ITA FIAT Yamaha Team
52. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha
59. Sete Gibernau SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando
65. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
69. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team
72. Yuki Takahashi JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP
88. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Racing
99. Jorge Lorenzo SPA FIAT Yamaha Team

World Superbikes » Schumi: No to WSBK, yes to Rossi match.

2008-12-17T00:19:00.000-08:00

Michael Schumacher has ruled out an appearance in the World Superbike Championship this season, despite assurances from Honda that there is a ride waiting for him.

The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion has embarked on a low-profile career of motorcycle racing in recent years, a new direction that saw him compete in the 2008 German IDM Superbike Championship with Honda.

However, Schumacher went on to raise speculation of a possible wild-card ride when he tested for Ten Kate Honda, Ducati Xerox and Yamaha towards the end of the 2008 WSBK season, Furthermore, the admission from Honda Europe boss Carlo Fiorani that there was a bike waiting for him should he wish to take it added further fuel to the fire that he would re-appear on the world stage.

However, Schumacher has shrugged off the rumours by insisting that he is not interested in doing anything more than watching World Superbikes.

“No, I'm discounting that,” he told Gazetta dello Sport when quizzed about a possible WSBK appearance. “Maybe I'll go to watch, but not to race.”

Speaking at the Race of Champions event, where he helped Germany to the Nations Cup, Schumacher nonetheless added that he would like to challenge MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in an RoC-style event in the future – or even on bikes…

“It's fun; I like racing on a track inside a stadium. I enjoy the challenge of going up against so many drivers from different disciplines. It wouldn't disappoint me at all to be able to take him [Valentino] on here, given that he's quick in cars too – but I could also take him on in motorbikes…”

Four-Star Juventus Dominate Ten-Man AC Milan

2008-12-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

It was a sold out affair for the showdown between Juventus and AC Milan at the Olimpic Stadium in Turin. Both teams had injury troubles ahead of the game as the host Juventus were missing Mauro Camoranesi as well as the visitors Kaká both were ruled out on the day of the game.

Four-star Juventus beat 10 man Milan as Gianluca Zambrotta saw red and the final scoreline read 4-2 in Juve’s favor. The Turin club keeps pace with table-topping Inter and are showing Mourinho’s men that they are true Scudetto contenders while the defeat may possibly have ended Milan’s title campaign.

First Half

History and past glories aside, this was in firsthand about the crucial points. The game shot of with pace and intensity and there was no mistaking the importance of the outcome. Juventus had a great opportunity in the opening minutes through Amauri but the Brazilian’s volley went over the crossbar.

The Bianconeri would get their lead and it came in the 16th minute when Marek Jankulovski brought down Alessandro Del Piero and lead the referee to point towards the penalty spot. Il Capitano made no errors and converted the penalty in a stylish manner, 1-0 to Juventus.

Two minutes later Massimo Ambrosini had a golden opportunity to score the leveller as he rose to meet Clarence Seedorf's cross but the midfielder headed just over an open goal. Both sides were really fired up and continued to produce chances, with Juventus having the upper hand.

On the 30 minute mark Pavel Nedved picked up a muscular injury and had to be substituted for Paolo De Ceglie. A minute after Juventus’ first substitution came the leveller for Milan. Ronaldinho’s perfect cross from the right hand side of the penalty area found his countryman Pato and the wonderkid easily put it behind Manninger.

The reply from Juventus didn’t take long as Giorgio Chiellini’s towering header later put the Old Lady back in the lead once more only two minutes later.

The frustration from the Milan players started to show through by now but the misery from the first half was yet to be over. Five minutes before the halftime whistle it was Amauri’s turn to add his name on the scoresheet. Marchisio intercepted a Milan counterattack and passed the ball on to De Ceglie who found the Brazilian-born striker with a brilliant cross and the scoreline read 3-1 in Juventus’ favor.

Second half

Ten minutes into the second half it was Milan’s turn to score. Ambrosini took down the ball and unleashed a shot that deflected of Chiellini before it went into the net behind Alexander Manninger who dove to the wrong side.

Confidence went high after the goal and Milan immediately pressed for an equalizer. Ten minutes later the Milan hit a major blow as Zambrotta received marching orders after his second yellow card and left the visiting side reduced to ten men.

In the 69th minute came Amauri’s second goal for the evening as the striker restored the Bianconeri’s two-goal lead. Sissoko put a through ball to Amauri which the Brazilian headed down and shot in behind Abbiati.

The following minute Del Piero had a fine opportunity to put Juventus up by another goal but Il Capitano’s shot deflected of the far post.

Juventus largely dominated the game and frustration grabbed the upper-hand as the remaining twenty minutes were littered with cards and substitution that disturbed the flow of an otherwise enthralling affair.

Juventus – AC Milan 4-2

Del Piero pen 16 (J), Pato 31 (M), Chiellini 34 (J), Amauri 41, 69 (J), Ambrosini 56 (M)

Juventus: Manninger; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko (Zanetti 87), Marchisio, Nedved (De Ceglie 30); Del Piero, Amauri (Iaquinta 88)

Milan: Abbiati; Zambrotta, Maldini, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Ambrosini (Antonini 73), Emerson (Shevchenko 46), Pirlo; Seedorf, Ronaldinho; Pato (Inzaghi 76)

Raul: Ronaldo And Messi Are Both Great, But…

2008-12-17T00:10:00.000-08:00

As Raul and his Real Madrid side prepare for the epic battle with fierce enemies Barcelona in Saturday night’s El Clasico, the iconic club captain has professed his admiration for his rivals’ star player, as well as for the newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year.

In a light-hearted interview with his former mentor, Jorge Valdano for La Sexta, El Capitan expressed his admiration for the other-worldly talents of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when asked about the recent Ballon d’Or announcement.

“I believe that Ronaldo and Messi were the two clear favorites to win the award. I think that they are equally the two best players in the world today,” offered Raul.

But when pushed to pick which one is the best between the two: “Man… if I choose one, then the other is going to say that… (laughs) I really believe that they are both good.

“Messi is a player who will become something incredible if he can stay away from injuries.

“The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred percent full speed, I don’t know how many touches he took, maybe five or six, but the ball was glued to his foot. It’s practically impossible!

“Of course, Ronaldo has other qualities but watching them both, I would have to choose Messi,” he finally answered.

The focus invariably turned to El Clasico itself as he analyzed the two teams.

“I believe that Madrid have a chance to win at Barcelona. But whatever is said before and after the game is worthless, because it’s that 90 minutes that counts the most.

“Barca have recovered to become the team they were three years ago. They have rediscovered their hunger. Now, they fight for every ball, they put pressure on their opponents and they try to dominate,” he concluded.

Player Ratings: Juventus 4-2 AC Milan

2008-12-16T23:58:00.000-08:00

JUVENTUS

Manninger: 6.0- Was solid between the posts once again and could do nothing about the two goals that beat him tonight.

Molinaro: 7.0- Did his job effectively and without any fuss but was troubled by Shevchenko a couple of times in the second half.

Mellberg: 7.0- The no nonsense defender stood tall and proud and won everything in the air that came his way tonight.

Chiellini: 8.0- Was a tower of power on the backline and chipped in with a great downward header to give his team a lead they never relinquished.

Grygera: 7.0- The Czech defender pushed forward at will and did not let Jankulovski trouble him at all tonight

Nedved: 6.0- Had to leave the match with a muscle problem but will nonetheless enjoy the final result.

Marchisio: 8.0- He plays in the mould of former legend Marco Tardelli and his confidence is growing with every passing match. A ground breaking performance tonight..

Sissoko: 8.0- Juve’s midfield general directed traffic and set up Amauri’s second goal with a nice through ball.

Marchionni: 7.0- His set pieces were effective and did well patrolling the right flank this evening.

Del Piero: 8.0- The Juve captain rolled back the years this evening slotting home a high pressure penalty to open the scoring and was unlucky not to hit his brace as he smashed a shot against the post in the second half.

Amauri: 8.0- The big man threw his weight around up front and was rewarded with two goals. Might have been the signing of the summer as he has been astounding this season.

SUBS: De Ceglie (30”) 8.0, Zanetti (88”) NA, Iaquinta (89”) NA

AC MILAN

Abbiati: 5.0- Will be furious with his back line who left him for dead tonight.

Jankulovski: 4.0- He conceded the penalty with a sloppy challenge on Del Piero and was a liability all evening long.

Maldini: 5.0- It may be time for the living legend to hang his boots up as he was run ragged in the first half before rebounding with a decent second half performance

Kaladze: 6.0- Played an important part in Milan’s first goal as he did the dirty work before finding Ronaldinho who set up Pato.

Zambrotta: 4.0- A performance to forget by the former Juve man as he was jeered every time he touched the ball and was embarrassed by young De Ceglie time after time before receiving his marching orders

Ambrosini: 6.0- He was awful in the first half as he missed a glorious free header and failed to pick up Chiellini’s run for Juve’s second goal of the match but rebounded with a solid second 45 minutes highlighted by his goal in the 56th minute

Emerson: 4.5- Was preferred over Flamini who was suspended this evening and was substituted to start the second half after an ineffective first half.

Pirlo: 5.0- We have yet to see the Pirlo of old as the Milan midfielder struggled once again to make an impression tonight.

Seedorf: 6.0- He was very lively in the early going but faded badly in the second half when Milan needed a creative presence.

Ronaldinho: 6.5- His picture perfect cross set up Pato’s goal early in the first half but was rendered ineffective after that.

Pato: 6.5- Scored Milan’s first goal of the match with a simple finish, but did not trouble the Juve backline as much as he should have.

SUBS: Shevchenko (46”) 6.0, Antonini (73”) 6.0, Inzaghi (76”) 6.0

Japanes trip could lift our Premier bid, insists Rio Ferdinand

2008-12-16T23:55:00.000-08:00

RIO FERDINAND is convinced Manchester United’s quest for Club World Cup glory can provide an added boost to their Premier League title chances.

Until Ferdinand effectively declared Arsenal non-runners in the championship stakes, most discussion around United’s presence in Japan has centred on the negative impact it could have on domestic matters.

Jet-lag from a 12-hour flight and nine-hour time difference, fixture congestion created by another missed league game and extra demands being placed on the squad have all been cited as drawbacks to participation in a seven-team competition that had already been reduced by three before the Red Devils left Heathrow on Sunday night.

But Ferdinand is putting forward a counter-argument. It might not be nice and warm by United’s team hotel looking out onto the Pacific, but it is certainly a change of scene.

And that different outlook could effect a massive change by the time United return home to face Stoke on Boxing Day.

“There are two ways of looking at it,” Ferdinand said. “You can start talking about it being a tiring trip all the time or you can think of it more positively as an escape from the pressure cooker situation of the Premier League.

“This could be a mental and psychological respite. When we get back our minds will be fresh and hopefully that will have an effect on our bodies.”

Looking relaxed and confident, Ferdinand then turned his attention to the title race, or rather Arsenal’s lack of participation in it.

In hindsight, Arsenal’s draw at Middlesbrough was the second best result among the ’big four’ in a second winless weekend in a month.

Yet Arsenal remain eight points behind leaders Liverpool, seven adrift of second-placed Chelsea and trail United by two, while the Reds have a game in hand.

So, while Ferdinand respects the Gunners and accepts winning the championship is not completely out of their reach, he is certain they will drop away.

“It is not beyond Arsenal, but it is my personal opinion that it will be between the other three this season,” said the 30-year-old centre-half.

“At the moment it looks like being nip and tuck, but usually, from Christmas onwards, the teams who are going to be there at the end start pulling away.

“I can see that happening this season. I presume ourselves, Chelsea and Liverpool will pull away, then it will be down to two and finally one.”

However, nothing can be taken for granted. On Saturday it seemed United had blown an excellent chance to close on Liverpool, who had been held at home by Hull, when they failed to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

But on Sunday, as they waited to board their plane, United heard Chelsea had drawn with West Ham at Stamford Bridge, confusing the title picture even further.

“It looks like teams will drop points,” said Ferdinand. “Hull going to Anfield and getting a draw is a massive result for them. West Ham getting a draw at Chelsea was a surprise as well.”

Arsene Wenger Waves Goodbye To The Big Four

2008-12-16T23:50:00.000-08:00

Arsenal slipped out of the Champions League places at the weekend when they failed to claim victory over Middlesbrough - but, thankfully for them, they weren't the only heavyweights who struggled.

The Premier League leaders, Liverpool, scraped a 2-2 draw against Hull City; Manchester United, the defending champs, couldn't even score against Tottenham Hotspur; and Chelsea's home woes continued as they drew 1-1 with West Ham United.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa vaulted into fourth spot by downing Bolton Wanderers, and people are starting to whisper that perhaps Martin O'Neill's men can guard their place until season's end.

Arsene Wenger, who is under real pressure for perhaps the first time in his illustrious North London career, has no doubt that the Villans - and others besides - are on the verge of tearing down the traditional powerhouses.

The French manager told The Sun: “For me the so-called ‘Big Four’ in England is about to change. It won’t last much longer.

“This year in the Premier League there have been changes which are, in reality, good for football values. Manchester United beat Sunderland only in the last minute and drew at Spurs, we were beaten by Stoke and Hull.

“That will continue until March when clubs have earned their safety for next season, but won’t be fighting for European qualification. Then these clubs will let things go a little bit.

“But the technical level in our league has increased because players are being bought from all over the world and bringing new talent. The other day, for example, Wigan had Kevin Kilbane, Jason Koumas and Amr Zaki on the bench! This is impressive in my view.”

Some might accuse Wenger of attempting to deflect attention from Arsenal's worrying inconsistency. But when one sees newly promoted Hull holding sixth spot after 16 games, it's hard to rebutt the ex-Monaco gaffer on this issue.

Barcelona, Chelsea Or Manchester United For Andrei Arshavin

2008-12-16T23:31:00.000-08:00

Andrei Arshavin now appears certain to leave Zenit St. Petersburg after he was recently granted the right to enter discussions with his suitors.

"We gave Arshavin permission to negotiate directly with other clubs," Zenit general manager Maxim Mitrofanov said in The Sun.

"Usually a player who has a running contract with a team isn’t allowed to do it. But Zenit are prepared to consider any offers for Arshavin."

It is a curious back-flip from a club who in the summer seemed determined to frustrate any and all attempts to sign their star forward.

Tottenham Hotspur were eager to add the EURO 2008 star to their squad, but the Russian club raised their asking price to over €25 million.

But now Arshavin has made it plain he no longer wishes to play for his hometown club, and he is hoping that the giants of either the Primera Division or the Premier League will take notice in January.

"I still have a desire to play abroad and I’d like to play either in Spain or England," the 27-year-old said.

"Barcelona are my favourite team and in England there is Manchester United and Chelsea."

Barca and Real Madrid were both strongly linked with Arshavin during the summer, as were the Blues of Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson, however, already has more attackers than he knows what to do with - thus, Old Trafford looks an unlikely destination.

Special, Manchester United Album in Japan

2008-12-16T22:38:00.000-08:00

Japan is never shy in welcoming stars and the visit of Manchester United, for the Fifa Club World Cup, is no different. This is an Manchester United photo album that taken on their arrival untill they manage to train and sharpen their skills.

Leading the way, as ever, is manager Sir Alex Ferguson. United take on J-League side Gamba Osaka in the semi-final on Thursday

Following behind are his bleary-eyed Premier League champions, no doubt jet-lagged from the 11-hour flight to Tokyo from London

Portuguese-speaking brothers in arms Anderson and Cristiano Ronaldo manage to raise a smile, though, as they pass through the airport

Ryan Giggs was man of the match as United won a previous version of the event in 1999

Despite what looks like the world's biggest watch, pouting Ballon D'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo manages to sign autographs for frantic fans

Coach steps off coach: boss Fergie greets photographers with a smile as he arrives for United's first training session in a chilly Japan

And finally it's down to business: Ronaldo is at the centre of the action as United players attempt to run off their jet-lag

Ryan Giggs keeps an eye on his team-mates during a training session

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand takes a breather during training at Marinos Town in Yokohama

Carlos Tevez keeps close tabs on Paul Scholes as the Manchester United players sharpen up their ball skills

Penny for your thoughts: Cristiano Ronaldo in action during training

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in relaxed mood as he spoke to the media at Pacifico Yokohama

Manchester United big in Japan

2008-12-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

Japan is never shy in welcoming stars and the visit of Manchester United, for the Fifa Club World Cup, is no different

神秘电话藏怎样秘密一官方邀约欲带阿德脱苦海

2008-12-16T21:17:00.000-08:00

阿德里亚诺的破坏力确实惊人！梅阿查的“国王风波”何时才能终结？

　　上周阿德里亚诺因彻夜泡吧，在第二天的训练中被穆里尼奥赶回家，新一轮的“封杀门”事件开始。就在昨天，《米兰体育报》向外界披露，阿德里亚诺已经被国际米兰提前赶回巴西，这是否意味着穆里尼奥已经向阿德下逐客令？在昨天同切沃的比赛后，穆里尼奥说：“这样的决定是出于伤病的考虑，他不能踢球了，所以他提前进入假期。不过他应该思考一下是否还愿意留在意大利，在这里他很难重新树立自己的形象，他可以选择一个不同的环境...如果我是他，我会考虑一下是留下来还是走人。”

　　对于阿德的处境，国米老板莫拉蒂在今天接受采访时表达了自己对于穆里尼奥的支持，他说：“我认为穆里尼奥的话没错。我们的初衷是留下阿德，因为他很有实力，但从目前情况来看，他压力太大了，无所他做过还是没做过，他的一切事情都会被媒体放大。他的未来由他自己决定：如果他能够克服现在的状况，我们会重新考虑他。”

　　国际米兰一直想留阿德，但巴西人的“秉性”却一次次触及梅阿查的底线。据今天的《米兰体育报》所说，阿德里亚诺在昨天并没有乘机返回巴西。航班原本是昨天20：00点，但就在前往马尔蓬萨机场的路上，阿德接到一个电话，他被告知在机场已经聚集了很多记者，返回巴西的计划被推迟。据该报所说，这样的举动并不代表穆里尼奥欲留下阿德，巴西前锋依然会提前离开国米，也许就在今明两天。

　　目前阿德所接电话的更重要详情还不得而知，国米方面如何处理阿德也还没有内部消息曝光。不过就在阿德再次被封杀之后，媒体又开始炒作阿德1月离队的消息。

　　昨天阿德的经纪人里纳尔迪在接受《环球体育》采访时还说：“阿德依然心向国米。”但1天之后，里纳尔迪的态度变了，在接受巴西权威体育日报《Lance》采访时，他说：“阿德里亚诺很不幸，在国米他总是踢不上球，我将与雷特谈谈（弗拉门戈副主席），我和阿德都很喜欢弗拉门戈，我们会考虑弗拉门戈的邀请，虽然运作这件事会很困难。”而在里纳尔迪发表上述言论之前，弗拉门戈副主席雷特向外界证实说：“我们确实希望能够引进他，我们会关注事情的进展，弗拉门戈俱乐部会与相关负责人谈谈，事情很困难，但我们会尽力而为。”

　　除了返回巴西，意大利和英国媒体还在炒作另一个去向，切尔西。阿德里亚诺+现金交换德罗巴，这是外界普遍盛传的一种可能。不过在昨天，国米技术总监布兰克在接受采访时向外界澄清，他说：“与德罗巴之间不可能，国米已经有很多不同类型的前锋。德罗巴已经在切尔西效力很长时间，他在伦敦干的不错。我们现在队中的球员也表现的很好，与德罗巴之间的传闻全是媒体编造的。”

　　阿德与国米的冗长肥皂剧还看不出结果，巴西人是否应该继续留在队中？在《米兰体育报》作出的调查中，78.1%的球迷认为国米应该抛弃阿德，剩下21.9%的球迷仍对阿德存有幻想。（博异）

Gamba to go all out in United showdown

2008-12-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

Tenacious Asian champions Gamba Osaka plan to throw everything they have at Manchester United when they meet in the Club World Cup on Thursday.

"They are the number one team in the world. We have nothing to lose," said Gamba and Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo.

"I have seen videos of Manchester United games so many times. We will give all we have got," he said after their 1-0 victory over Adelaide United in the quarter-finals of the continental competition here on Sunday.

"There is no other opportunity like this. All of us can be stars if we win," Endo added.

Gamba want to use the tournament as a springboard to become regular faces on the regional and international scene. But comparisons between Gamba and star-studded Manchester United are staggering.

Aside from the skills, physicial strength and experience of individual players, the operational scale of the European giants overwhelms Gamba.

The Nikkan Sports newspaper printed an expected starting lineup of the two teams on Monday, and the estimated collective annual salary of the Red Devils stands tenfold above the income of Gamba players.

With the daunting showdown ahead, Gamba coach Akira Nishino, who has led the team since 2002, reminded that Red Devils that they are human, including Sir Alex Ferguson, who has reigned supreme at Old Trafford since 1986.

"You say Ferguson, but I say he is a human too," Nishino told Nikkan Sports.

"I want to think it shouldn't matter whether you are with Manchester United or Gamba. We want to face them without fear."

Christmas wishes from the Premiership

2008-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

With just over a week of shopping left to go before Christmas, here are a few last-minute gift ideas that will be sure to please your favorite Premiership team.

ARSENAL - Toughness/Leadership.

When Gunners boss Arsene Wenger decided to let midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto leave over the summer, it left a huge void in the middle of the field. Arsenal is filled with talented, finesse-type players, but without the physical presence of either Flamini or Gilberto to deliver a crunching tackle when needed, the Gunners are soft. Wenger failed to address the need over the summer, and he would be wise to find someone to fit that mold in January. Leadership has also been a big issue with the London side, as Cesc Fabregas has taken over for William Gallas as captain. Wins over Chelsea and Manchester United show how talented this team is, but losses to Fulham, Hull City, Stoke City and Manchester City show a severe lack of mental toughness. The Gunners have had a tendency to rise to the occasion, but they also come up small in less prestigious fixtures because of a lack of strong veteran leadership in the dressing room.

ASTON VILLA - A little more depth.

Through 17 games, Aston Villa has established itself as a team that can make a serious challenge for a top-four spot. A win over Arsenal, draws with Liverpool and Manchester United, and a competitive loss to Chelsea have proven that. The Villains have one of the most underrated managers in Martin O'Neill, plus future stars in Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. The only problem facing Villa is that outside of a strong starting 11, the team is pretty thin. O'Neill's men have been relatively healthy this season, but you have to think that one or two key injuries could put an end to dreams of the Champions League. Villa would do well to sign another defender, as well as some more depth in midfield in January, if they want to keep themselves in the top four where they currently reside.

CHELSEA - Good form at home.

Prior to this season, Chelsea's last home loss in the league was to Arsenal in February 2004. Much of the Blues' success over the past couple of years can be attributed to their fantastic form at home, but this season the results have been reversed. Luis Felipe Scolari's team is a perfect 8-0 away from Stamford Bridge this season, but not only was Chelsea's 86-game home unbeaten streak snapped by Liverpool at the end of October, but the Blues suffered defeat to Arsenal one month later. Chelsea has posted just a 3-2-4 mark at home this year, and draws with Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham have made the Bridge a much less intimidating place to play.

FULHAM - A legitimate scoring threat.

After surviving relegation on the final day of the season last year, Fulham finds itself in 10th place and in the mix for a spot in Europe. You would think that such a turnaround would have fans around Craven Cottage in great spirits, but they would be even more pleased if the club could find a legitimate scorer. The club has conceded just 12 goals in 16 games this season, fourth to only Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. However, Fulham has also found the net just 13 times, second-fewest in the league and just one goal better than last-place West Bromwich. Andrew Johnson leads the team with four goals, while Danny Murphy is the only other player with more than one. Bobby Zamora has just one goal in 15 starts, while substitutes Seol Ki-Hyeon and Clint Dempsey have also failed to make an impact. The team is begging for a consistent threat in front of goal, but will likely need one of those players to find their form before they can go out and sign a big upgrade.

LIVERPOOL - A healthy hamstring for Fernando Torres.

Torres made quite a splash in his first season in England with the Reds, scoring 24 goals in 33 appearances in league play last season. However, this current campaign has not gone quite as planned, with El Nino bagging just five goals while being limited to nine appearances because of a troublesome hamstring injury. The 24-year-old is one of the top strikers in the world when healthy, but he has not played since November 26 and has seen specialists in Spain to try and solve the problem. The club signed Robbie Keane over the summer in hopes of pairing the Irishman with Torres, but Keane has produced just two goals in 15 appearances in the league and is in need of some help up top.

MANCHESTER CITY - Patience.

A deep-pocketed ownership group brings with it a certain level of expectation. So when the Abu Dhabi United Group completed a takeover of the club on the final day of the summer transfer period and proceeded to sign Brazilian star Robinho from Real Madrid for a record transfer fee, fans around Eastlands were getting visions of a Chelsea-like revival. However, with the club sitting in 17th place, just clear of the relegation zone on goal difference, it is time for fans to exhibit some patience. If the Abu Dhabi United Group had taken over in the middle of the summer, chances are there would be another star player or two in Manchester, but the team has already set its sights on players like Valencia's David Villa, AC Milan's Kaka and Bayern Munich's Lukas Podolski in the January transfer window. The problem is that those players would all bolster the attack, which has scored the second-most goals in the league with 30. The team has had more trouble keeping the ball out of its own goal, but if manager Mark Hughes is given the substantial funds that the ownership group has promised, City should be contending for a top-five spot in the next year or two.

MANCHESTER UNITED - Consistency from Wayne Rooney.

United's success this season has mirrored that of its top striker, Wayne Rooney. With Cristiano Ronaldo missing the early part of the season because of an ankle injury, many United fans looked to Rooney to shoulder the scoring load. The 23-year-old didn't exactly live up to expectations as he failed to score during the team's 1-1-3 start. But after scoring his first goal of the campaign in a 2-0 win over Bolton the next week, United reeled off five successive wins as Rooney scored a goal in each game. He has gone back into a scoring slump since that streak, failing to score in the team's last seven games while United is just 2-1-4 in that stretch. When Rooney is in the mood United is tough to stop, but when teams are able to focus on Ronaldo, the offense has a tendency to struggle.

NEWCASTLE - A stable ownership situation.

Kevin Keegan's return to St James' Park as Newcastle manager this season was met with a great deal of excitement on Tyneside. However, the supporters quickly turned on owner Mike Ashley when King Kev abruptly resigned less than two months into the season and the team spiraled into turmoil. Keegan quit after a disagreement with Ashley over transfer policy, and with the supporters pitted firmly against the owner, Ashley has put his team up for sale after paying $205 million for the club last May. If a new owner is not found prior to the opening of the January transfer window, manager Joe Kinnear may have a tough time bringing in additional players to help his cause. Kinnear might also have to fight to keep star striker Michael Owen from leaving. Owen leads the team with seven goals and has been mentioned as a possible target of Chelsea among other clubs.

TOTTENHAM - A time machine.

There is no team in England that has pulled off a more dramatic turnaround than Tottenham. Spurs started the season with just two points from its first eight games under manager Juande Ramos, but since Ramos was fired in the middle of October, Harry Redknapp has guided the team to 17 points from its last nine games in the league. Tottenham was viewed as a team that could challenge for a top-four spot before the season started after the summer- signings of David Bentley, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Luka Modric, but their terrible start has made that a difficult proposition at this point. However, if given a do-over, Tottenham would be a good bet to land at least a spot in the top six.

WEST HAM - Playmaker in midfield.

Despite getting a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the Hammers are still languishing in 16th place, just one point above the drop zone. The team finished in 10th last season, and if they are able to add some creativity in midfield, there is no reason they can't find themselves in the top half at the end of this season. The team has a very underrated goalkeeper in Robert Green, as well as a quality strike partnership with Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole. The problem is that there is no player who can work the ball from the back to the front with any consistency. No player on West Ham has recorded more than two assists, but if a player can be found who can get the ball to its talented strike duo, the club will put some distance between itself and the relegation zone.

Capello offers a warning to weary United

2008-12-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Fabio Capello predicts a severe challenge for Manchester United in the aftermath of their trip to the Club World Cup. The squad landed in Tokyo yesterday following an 11-hour flight and do not resume their defence of the Premier League title until Boxing Day. Capello himself led Milan to Japan for the Intercontinental Cup, a forerunner event, at the end of both 1993 and 1994. It was only on the latter occasion that his team returned to win Serie A. "I know this very well," said Capello. "You have to deal with jet lag and play two games and the time you get to recover will be short. The players will be tired."

The England manager has just returned from a holiday in South Africa and has already taken the team far along the way to qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals. He is, all the same, open to further change. Capello's praise of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who made his full international debut in last month's victory over Germany in a friendly match, was a calculated warning to established players that they cannot take their place for granted. "He worked very well," said Capello. "When he played with his club it was the same level. This is very important. In the future he will be a very important player for us, same as [Theo] Walcott."

Agbonlahor was one of 10 players to appear for Aston Villa at the weekend and Capello seems appreciative of the resources available to him at the Midlands club. He is considering bringing the winger James Milner into the full England squad. "He was very, very interesting when we saw him play for the under-21s at Southampton [against the Republic of Ireland in February]," said the manager. "I thought he was a good player." Capello, typically, wanted to keep better-known footballers on their toes.

There were, for instance, no special words of encouragement for Michael Owen, despite his return to scoring form. "I need time," he said, "and then I can check Michael and all the players." Capello, speaking on his return from holiday yesterday morning, believes his emphasis must now lie on building on the work already done. "It is easy to progress when you start at the bottom and go up. Now we have to bond together to take the next step. It will be very difficult."

Capello, all the same, is evidently enjoying himself. "The referees whistle not a lot," he said with some amusement of English football.

There seemed to be some sympathy for David James, the Portsmouth veteran goalkeeper, but it was qualified. "At this moment he is the one," said Capello. It is sure, all the same, that James and all other players will have to go on proving themselves, starting with the friendly against Spain in February.

Manchester United arrives in Japan for Club World Cup tournament

2008-12-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

Manchester United arrived in Japan for the Club World Cup on Monday, receiving a welcome befitting one of the world's richest and best known football clubs.
An enthusiastic group of Japanese fans greeted the team at Narita Airport hoping to catch a glimpse of star players Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who stopped to sign autographs for fans before boarding a shuttle bus to Yokohama.
United enters the tournament in the semifinals stage and will play Japan's Gamba Osaka at Yokohama on Thursday. Asian champions Gamba defeated Australia's Adelaide United 1-0 on Sunday to set up a dream match with the English powerhouse.
United, heavily favoured to win here, was held to a scoreless draw against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday before embarking on the 12-hour flight to Japan.
The winner of Thursday's match advances to the Dec. 21 final, where it will meet the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between Mexico's Pachuca and South American champion Liga de Quito of Ecuador.
Sir Alex Ferguson's squad qualified for the Club World Cup in May after beating fellow English side Chelsea in a penalty shootout in the UEFA Champions League final at Moscow.
The trip to Japan comes at a busy time of the season for United, which is six points behind Premier League leader Liverpool.
United already has a huge following in Japan and the rest of Asia. The team toured the region in 2007 playing against teams in Japan, South Korea and China.
The last time a team from the English Premier League played in the Club World Cup was in 2005 when Liverpool lost 1-0 in the final to Brazil's Sao Paulo.
This is United's second appearance in the expanded Club World Cup, after having controversially sat out the English FA Cup in 2000 to participate.
The tournament features the club champions from football's six continental confederations and is an extension of the former Intercontinental Cup contested by European and South American champion clubs. AC Milan won last year's tournament, beating Boca Juniors 4-2 in the final.

AC Milan target Liverpool's Daniel Agger

2008-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Adriano Galliani, the AC Milan vice-president, has admitted the Rossoneri are considering a bid for Liverpool's Daniel Agger in the January transfer window.

Galliani told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport that the 23-year-old defender was on a list of "three or four" players which the Italian giants are considering as they look to replace ageing veterans Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

Agger has been linked with a move to Milan after reports suggested contract talks between Liverpool and the player had reached an impasse.

"In January we will sign a defender, there's no doubt about it," Galliani said. "We have a list of three or four players who could be useful in defence and Agger is one of them. In January we'll sign one of them.

"We've followed Agger and his situation at Liverpool before now, we know about the problems between the player and the club over a new contract."

Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has already denied any rift between the club and Agger. Last week the Spaniard said: "Agger is very happy here. He is pleased and happy to stay here. He knows he has not been playing at the same level he achieved last season, but I am still pleased with him."

Cesc Fabregas linked with AC Milan as Arsene Wenger aims to keep Arsenal afloat

2008-12-13T19:57:00.000-08:00

According to Spanish reports, the Serie A giants have held initial talks with Fabregas' English agent Darren Dein, son of David.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi was said to have been hugely impressed by the Spaniard's performance in the San Siro last year when Arsene Wenger's side recorded one of their greatest victories on foreign soil.

That night, Fabregas rifled in a drive from 30 yards before Emmanuel Adebayor rounded off a 2-0 win.

At the final whistle, Milan's fans joined their Arsenal counterparts in applauding Fabregas, Adebayor and the rest of the Arsenal side off the field.

That performance alone has convinced Milan bosses that Fabregas, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona's youth team in 2003, is right for the San Siro set-up.

The news follows Arsene Wenger's admission that the club are now forced to sell players who want to leave the Emirates after they have completed three years of their contract.

Both William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor look likely to move on next summer and Wenger will now be looking to secure the services of his new captain, who recently pledged his future to the club in the wake of the chaos caused by the Frenchman's outburst on his team-mates.

It also emerged last week that Gallas could join AC Milan in the January transfer window.

Since Gallas was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, rumours have been rife that the 31-year-old will be leaving north London.

Even Arsenal's supporters appear to have lost patience with the former Chelsea man, who would join up with Mathieu Flamini at the San Siro.

Chelsea Claim Record; Manchester United Hold Schedule Advantage

2008-12-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

With Chelsea's recent 2-0 victory at Bolton, the Blues claimed the record for most consecutive away wins in the top flight.

The subtext reads such: Most of the 11 victories were against sides generally found on the lower half of the table, with the exception of Everton and Manchester City.

Newcastle, Wigan, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Hull City, Blackburn, and West Bromwich Albion, in addition to Bolton, comprise the list of consecutive away victories for the London club. That means visits to Everton, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham still await England's form side.

However, further north, lying in ambush at fourth in the table, is a Manchester United team who has already played most top sides away this season. United have already matched up away to Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Everton, Manchester City, and Aston Villa, among lessers, already this Premier League season.

Liverpool have already gone away to upper-tier teams like Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton, and Aston Villa, with visits to Arsenal, Manchester United, and Portsmouth still looming.

United's game in hand is a home match against Fulham that will take place on Jan. 2.

While Chelsea have managed an impressive away record over the last six months, it is Manchester United, buoyed by both the belief instilled by their tenured manager recent history, and the harshness of their first-half schedule, are ensconced, poised quite dangerously to mount a charge to the summit come the new year.

Manchester United boosted by Ronaldo return

2008-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo trained with his Manchester United team-mates this morning and could be involved in tomorrow's Champions League encounter with Danish minnows Aalborg at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Ronaldo limped off with what appeared to be a severe hip problem during the win over Sunderland on Saturday and seemed to be a major doubt for the European champions as they wrap up their Group E campaign.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated he intends to make changes, and the influx of a number of fringe players indicated Ronaldo might not be involved from the start anyway.

However, having the Ballon D'Or winner available is at least a bonus, especially as three points will be vital on Saturday when the Red Devils visit Tottenham.

Of his first-team squad, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra and young striker Daniel Welbeck were not training this morning, meaning John O'Shea, who has been suffering from a hamstring injury, should be involved in some capacity.

Chelsea's Cech: Man United Still A Bigger Threat Than Liverpool

2008-12-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

Last season's Premier League and Champions League runners-up Chelsea have hosted both Liverpool and Manchester United this term.
The Blues managed to extract a point from the Red Devils, but surrendered to Liverpool due to a Xabi Alonso first-half goal.
Despite the results, Chelsea's first-choice glovesman, Petr Cech, is adamant that it is United who still pose the greater threat both in domestic competition and abroad, and told Denik Sport:
"I would say that [our biggest threat] are still Manchester United.
"You can always count on them as they have been playing together for a long time and have a strong bench," he said.
Regarding the challenge of fellow London club Arsenal, he added: "I think that Arsenal have returned to the race by beating us. But they cannot afford to drop more points."
And concerning Liverpool's title bid, Cech said: "Liverpool? We will see.
"They have also slowly started to drop points, like we have done. Only time will show how it will affect them.
"Anyway, I think they will perhaps manage to stay in the top three until the end."
Chelsea host Cluj Napoca in the Champions League this evening before Premier League business resumes on Sunday with a home date against eastenders West Ham United.

Cristiano Ronaldo To Be Joined By Manchester United Legends

2008-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo will be joined on the Old Trafford pitch by Manchester United legends Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton (pictured) ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League Group E clash with Danish side Aalborg.

The Portuguese winger is unlikely to be involved in the match, as he's struggling to overcome a hip injury. However, he'll still revel in the atmosphere, as Law and Charlton are set to poignantly hand the Ballon d'Or trophy over to the modern day Red Devils hero.

Both men were also named European Footballer of the Year during the 1960s, along with the late George Best, so by parading with the trophy Ronaldo will be symbolically joining the United elite.

United are set to hand 23-year-old Ronaldo a bumper contract extension in the near future, in order to shackle him and keep interested parties such as Inter and Real Madrid at bay.

When his win was confirmed in Paris, Ronaldo claimed that winning the gong was something he "dreamed of as a child."

Top ten MotoGP stars: Casey Stoner [2]

2008-12-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

Crash.net recently asked for your MotoGP star of 2008, from a shortlist of ten riders provided, and - with voting having now closed - the time has come to reveal the results.

During the next ten weekdays, we will be revealing the voting results in reverse order, with the winner being revealed tomorrow (Wednesday December 3).

More than 54,000 votes were cast for the MotoGP poll. The average score given for each rider was used to produce the final ranking.

MotoGP Star of the Year - second place:

Name: Casey Stoner
Team: Ducati Marlboro
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP8
Wins: 6
Podiums: 11
Pole Positions: 9
Fastest laps: 9
Championship points: 280
Championship position: 2nd

Two successive falls from the lead may have ended Casey Stoner's realistic hopes of retaining his MotoGP crown in 2008, but the young Australian's incredible speed - and unique ability to master the Desmosedici GP8 - was recognised with second place in your MotoGP Star of the Year vote.

The 2007 world champion won the first and last races of this season, plus four other victories to finish the year runner-up to Valentino Rossi, whom Stoner notably lost out to during a thrilling US GP battle - then fell whilst leading at the next two rounds.

After winning the first ever MotoGP night race at Qatar, Stoner had taken just one podium from the next four rounds, leaving him 41 points behind Rossi. However, technical changes prompted a seemingly unstoppable fight-back that took Stoner to within 20 points of Rossi heading into the pivotal Laguna Seca race.

After his double disaster at Brno and Misano, Stoner - by now diagnosed with a wrist injury - returned to the podium at round 14 in Japan. Stoner then won in front of his home fans at Phillip Island before handing Ducati second place in the constructors' championship with victory over home hero Dani Pedrosa at Valencia.

Stoner was the only Ducati rider to win a race in 2008 and claimed all but two of the Desmosedici's 2008 podiums. Casey's nine pole positions and nine fastest laps were more than any other rider and he outscored beleaguered team-mate Marco Melandri, himself a former MotoGP World Championship runner-up, by a huge 229 points.

The next best Ducati rider after Stoner was Alice's Toni Elias, who scored 188 points less than the Australian and finished just twelfth in the world championship.

2nd - Casey Stoner
3rd - Jorge Lorenzo
4th - Andrea Dovizioso
5th - Nicky Hayden
6th - Dani Pedrosa
7th - James Toseland
8th - Colin Edwards
9th - Toni Elias
10th - Alex de Angelis

From Crash.net

Top ten MotoGP stars: Valentino Rossi [1]

2008-12-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Crash.net recently asked for your MotoGP star of 2008, from a shortlist of ten riders provided, and the time has come to reveal the winner.

The shortlist contained the top seven riders in the world championship standings, the two other class rookies (James Toseland and Alex de Angelis) and the rider outside the top seven with the best podium results (Toni Elias) - all of whom delivered at least two 'star' performances this season.

More than 54,000 votes were cast for the MotoGP poll. The average score given for each rider was used to produce the final ranking.

MotoGP Star of the Year - first place:

Name: Valentino Rossi
Team: Fiat Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
Wins: 9
Podiums: 16
Pole Positions: 2
Fastest laps: 5
Championship points: 373
Championship position: 1st

It would have been a major upset if anyone other than Valentino Rossi had been voted your MotoGP star of the year, after a 2008 season in which the Italian legend bounced back from two successive title defeats in spectacular style.

Rossi won nine out of the 18 races to clinch his sixth MotoGP title at round 15 in Japan and has now won more premier-class races than any other rider in history, having beaten Giacomo Agostini's long-standing record of 68 at Indianapolis.

The Doctor made only one race mistake, falling on lap one at Assen, and was the only rider to score points in all 18 races - 16 of which he finished on the podium, during his first season with Bridgestone tyres.

In terms of the title, Rossi's most significant win came during the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, when he brilliantly smothered Casey Stoner's performance advantage to end the Australian's three-race win streak.

Stoner was visibly unsettled by the defeat and when the Ducati rider fell whilst leading Rossi at the next two races, Valentino's eighth world title became a case of 'when' not 'if'.

Rossi's final victory margin was 93 points over Stoner - almost four race wins - and his superb season helped Yamaha claim a perfect sweep of the 2008 Riders', Manufacturers' and Teams' World Championships.

This was Rossi's reaction at being voted Crash.net's MotoGP Star of the Year:

"Thanks for voting me number one in this poll! I hope you have all enjoyed the season, it has been a very special one for me. Together with the 2004 championship I can say that this has been the best of my career and we had to fight incredibly hard to win it, which makes it even better. Now I am already looking forward to trying to win again with Yamaha next year!"

Comparing your Star of the Year votes with the top seven in the 2008 world championship standings, only two riders were out of sync, indicating that you considered race results to be the most important factor when assessing star quality.

The two exceptions were Dani Pedrosa and Colin Edwards. Pedrosa dropped from third in the championship to just sixth in the star vote - moving Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden up one place from their championship positions - while Edwards dropped from seventh to eighth, after narrowly losing out to team-mate Toseland.

However, you still ranked the four 2008 rookies in the same order as they finished in the world championship; Lorenzo followed by Dovizioso, Toseland and de Angelis.

MotoGP Star of the Year vote:

1st - Valentino Rossi
2nd - Casey Stoner
3rd - Jorge Lorenzo
4th - Andrea Dovizioso
5th - Nicky Hayden
6th - Dani Pedrosa
7th - James Toseland
8th - Colin Edwards
9th - Toni Elias
10th - Alex de Angelis

From Crash [dot] net

Juventus Suffer Nedved Injury Blow

2008-12-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a day of good news and bad news for Juventus as Mauro Camoranesi's return to action has been overshadowed by Pavel Nedved's injury blow.

The 'Czech Fury' went down in training at the club's Vinovo training centre on Wednesday 30 minutes before the end of the session.

All the players were put through their paces but reports suggest it was too much for Nedved.

Tuttosport claims the midfielder strained a muscle. It's unknown as to the extent of the injury but the player is likely to undergo further tests throughout the day and he may even be ruled out of the Lecce clash.

To make matters worse for coach Claudio Ranieri, former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko didn't take part in the training exercises. The Mali international failed to turn up altogether, but the reason for his absence is unknown.

Cristiano Zanetti is making rapid progress. He seems to have shaken off his problem and he could be back for the game on Sunday afternoon.

Camoranesi is also back after his shoulder problem.The Old Lady will be hoping to close the gap on league leaders Inter, the Nerazzurri have a six point advantage.

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

Tardelli: Juventus Can Win The Scudetto, But...

2008-12-03T08:31:00.001-08:00

The current Ireland assistant coach believes his old side can win the Serie A title but there are a number of problems which could put the brakes on their run...

Former Juventus and Inter midfielder Marco Tardelli believes the Old Lady can aim for the Scudetto this season.

Claudio Ranieri's men are currently six points behind the league leaders and, although they have been very impressive, a few slip ups has seen the team lose touch with the Nerazzurri.

Jose Mourinho's men are everyone's favourites to defend their title but Tardelli insists the Old Lady has hope.

"Winning represents something normal for Juventus," Tardelli told Tuttosport.

"If you are Juve then you know you have to win. Ranieri as well as the directors have always underlined this.

"I think the Bianconeri can aim to win everything on all fronts. The only problem is that fighting for too many titles could be negative as the current squad doesn't seem strong enough to be able to keep going strong over the course of the season.

"There are also many injuries to deal with too. I think they may need to strengthen their squad in January if order to keep on going strong."

European success and a Tricolore are on the club's most wanted list this term, but Juve will have to ensure no more points are wasted if they are to challenge.

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

Annoyed Manchester City: We'll Sign Them Our Way

2008-12-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, Manchester City have been linked with every player in Europe since the transfer window last shut on September 1st. Well, perhaps that's an exaggeration, but it would be pointless to try and list them all.

Some of the more frequently touted potential targets include unsettled Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, Juventus 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon, Blackburn Rovers hitman Roque Santa Cruz and Milan superstar Kaka.

Money is no object for the cash-rich Citizens and few would blame them for wishing to bolster in the New Year. They looked miles behind United in the Mancunian derby defeat at the weekend and it's clear that there won't be the instant transformation enjoyed by Chelsea when they first came into money.

Now, Eastlands bigwig Garry Cook has revealed that one of the most highly anticipated transfer lists in the history of football has already been drawn up. He further insists that they will be approaching those players directly.

Speaking to guillembalague.com, annoyed by the latest transfer story regarding a €150 million buy-out of Real Madrid goalie Iker Casillas' contract, Cook stated:

"Manchester City Football Club has a clear strategy for the future. We want the right players who will take this club forward and through discussions and meetings between myself, Mark Hughes and his technical staff, we have identified a list of targets.

"We will be working to bring those players to the club ourselves and we have not given another party or individual a mandate to negotiate on our behalf. We are not using intermediaries to negotiate with players.

"Mark Hughes and I very recently met with the chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarek, to discuss this matter. The mandate for seeking out and securing new playing personnel for Manchester City Football Club is ours and ours alone.

"Furthermore, we would like to assure everyone concerned that we are committed to recruiting only those players who we consider to be the very best and most suitable for Manchester City."

Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com

United winger Ronaldo does not deserve top award, says Mourinho

2008-12-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Top man: Ronaldo

Jose Mourinho has blasted the choice of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo as European Footballer of the Year.
The Inter Milan coach scored a double public relations own goal by criticising a fellow countryman and snubbing any Italian players for the award.
Portugal international Ronaldo helped United to win the Premier League and Champions League in May but Mourinho said: 'I have no praise for Ronaldo.
'I would have preferred one of my own foreign players to have won the Ballon d'Or.'
Inter are six points ahead of second place Juventus in Serie A but Mourinho would not say which of his overseas players he felt deserved the award more than Ronaldo.

BALLON D’OR WINNERS
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Manchester United
2007 Kaka (Brazil) AC Milan
2006 Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) Juventus/Real Madrid
2005 Ronaldinho (Brazil) Barcelona
2004 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) AC Milan
Ronaldo is the sixth Ballon d’Or winner to represent an English club. Others:
2001, Michael Owen (Liverpool)
1968, George Best (Man Utd)
1966, Bobby Charlton (Man Utd)
1964, Denis Law (Man Utd)
1956, Stanley Matthews (Blackpool)
Kevin Keegan (Hamburg 1978 & 79) is the only Englishman to win the title with a club outside England.

AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf eyes Premier League move

2008-11-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

The Dutchman, 32, would like to write a lucrative final chapter in his incredible career by moving to the Premier League.

And Seedorf, the only man to win the Champions League with three different clubs, will have a good chance for a closer look at English football when he lines up against Portsmouth in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.

"I would love to play in the Premier League," said the 32-year-old. "Which player wouldn't? It's one of the best leagues in the world. I'm happy at AC Milan but I never say never.

"The development of the Premier League over the last five years has been incredible. The football is exciting with much more quality. I love to watch it on television."

With Arsenal desperately short of experience in midfield, Arsene Wenger could view Seedorf as a shrewd short-term move, while a number of other sides will also be alerted by his potential availability.

The midfielder, who began his career at Ajax before moving to Real Madrid and Inter Milan, is not as mobile as in his peak. But he proved in Milan's 2006-07 Champions League success that he can still perform at the very highest level.

Milan's midfield options will soon swelled by the arrival of David Beckham, who will join the Serie A giants on loan in January.

With Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrossini and Emerson at the club, coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a balancing act to preserve harmony among so many celebrated players.

And Seedorf has already claimed Beckham will have to get used to life on the bench at the San Siro.

"The first goal is for him to get fit and in the best shape possible," said Seedorf. "Training with a club like AC Milan will definitely improve his game even if it's only from a training point of view. But I don't know if he'll play, that's another thing completely."

Talk more on Sakura Lounge!

Monday, 24 November 2008 England Tried To Poach Sir Alex Not Once, Not Twice But Three Times

2008-11-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was approached on at least three occasions for the England manager's job, claims Former FA executive director David Davies.

The first approach to the our man boss came after Terry Venables' resignation in 1996. Ferguson is said to have been targeted again after the subsequent departures of Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan but rejected all three attempts by the FA.

Speaking to The Herald, Davies said: "After Terry Venables, I wanted Fergie. I was absolutely clear he was the best person for the job. I was a personal friend of Sir Roland Smith, then chairman of Manchester United, and he didn't totally kick the idea into touch. I was vaguely encouraged.

Davies went on to admit he didn't expect Ferguson to take the post, adding: "I don't think he ever came near becoming the England manager. The idea of Alex leading England out at Hampden is somewhat far-fetched. He is a very, very proud Scot. He was, I think, tickled by the idea, though. When I recruited Keegan, I would have loved Ferguson to become manager. But the conversations were very brief."

If you ask me, the England managers job is tantamount to footballing suicide. The English media and the English fans have no loyalty unless you are winning. If you dare have a bad patch or get a bad result then don't expect any support or words of comfort, they will tear you apart and grind you down until the ob becomes impossible. The English have this strange mentality of expecting to lose, then they lose, then they get bitter because they lost.

Can anybody seriously imagine the England Prima Donnas being capable of listening to someone who does actually know more than them and is held in much, much higher regard than every single one of them ? I don't. They would all have spat the dummy out, hopped out the pram and gone home to sulk. Good decision Fergie.

What do you think?

Villarreal aims to seal Champions League qualification against Man. United

2008-11-25T05:55:00.000-08:00

After resting key players for Saturday's Spanish league defeat, Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said Monday that his side would be aiming to seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday when they face the defending champions Manchester United.

However, he added that he was not too worried about finishing top of the group in order to get a theoretically easier draw in the knockout stages of the competition.

"Both sides want to win the group, but the main thing is to qualify, be it as winners or in second place. It is true that it is an advantage to win the group because you have the return leg of the last 16 at home," assured Pellegrini in his Monday press conference, reported on the club website.

Manchester United will be without their Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov as well as key players such as Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, but Pellegrini did not think that would affect the side who last season won a domestic and European double.

"Manchester United always goes out to win no matter which ground they are playing at and they always look to play well. The key to beating them is to try and keep the ball as they have a more direct style than we do."

"We are not going to go out and try to just draw the game because that would be very dangerous against a team of their potential, but if in the end the game is a draw and we go through, then it would be a good result," concluded the Villarreal coach.

Without striker Joseba Llorente, who will be out of action for a month with a torn muscle, Villarreal struggled in front of the goal against Valladolid on Saturday and has to improve against the reigning European champions.

Pellegrini has reacted to that setback by bringing former Barcelona midfielder Edmilson into his squad, although there is still no room for Jozy Altidore or Cani.

The Spanish club has played against Manchester United previously in the Champions League. That was back in the season 2005-2006 when they managed two 0-0 draws with their English rivals. This season's meeting in Old Trafford back in September also failed to produce any goals.

Let's talk more on Sakura Lounge.

Tevez fear as United close on £8m Tosic

2008-11-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

There is another chance on the Costa Blanca tonight for Carlos Tevez to resurrect a desperate season which began with a prospective £32m permanent move to Old Trafford but is now suggesting that Manchester United are prepared to spend in other ways.

The club will attend an Independent Review Panel hearing in Sheffield on Friday at which they will argue that the 21-year-old Serbian midfielder Zoran Tosic should be given a work permit to underpin an £8m move from Partizan Belgrade. Tosic, who would appear to a natural successor to Ryan Giggs on Manchester United's left, has nine goals in 20 games this season.

Further competition stored up ahead for Tevez, but the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, had only a wry smile last night for reports on Real Madrid's interest in the Argentine, which surfaced in the Spanish paper Marca yesterday. "No, I've not spoken to Tevez [about it]," Ferguson said. "I think we're used to them talking to our players. I think we should stick to the game. There's plenty of time for Real Madrid throughout the season."

Ferguson, who, like the Villarreal manager, Manuel Pellegrini, needs just a point at El Madrigal stadium here to wrap up qualification from Group E, will not discuss whether talks on the deal to convert Tevez's two-year loan from Media Sports Investments into a permanent signing are under way.

The United manager was far more conclusive about a player with defined links to Real. Cristiano Ronaldo received almost as much abuse from Aston Villa's fans three days ago as he had from Stoke's a week earlier and despite his responses to opposing fans – waves and dances to Stoke's, a raised finger telling Villa supporters that he considers himself the No 1 – Ferguson rejected suggestions that he cannot take abuse. "I wonder how many people take it when you are walking down the street and someone hits you over the head with a baton," Ferguson said. "How many times can you take it? I thought on Saturday he showed admirable courage. He wanted the ball as he always does. That's the mantle you carry when you're a great player and he knows that." And of Ronaldo's decision to give some back: "Tell me someone who likes being abused – will you point them out to me?" Ferguson said.

Ronaldo is keen to play again tonight, though Ferguson said he "would rather leave him out" and his decision to leave Edwin van der Sar in Manchester reflects a man preparing for Sunday's Manchester derby.

Three previous Champions League meetings between these sides have not yielded a single goal and United have just one win in 17 games in Spain. But a firing Tevez will help.

Villarreal (probable, 4-4-2) Lopez; Venta, Rodriguez, Cygan, Capdevila; Cazorla, Senna, Eguren, Pires; Rossi, Franco.

Manchester United (possible, 4-2-3-1) Kuszczak; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Anderson; Rooney, Giggs, Nani; Tevez.

Referee: R Rosetti (It).

'Sorry, Frank, no dinner... we lost to Charlton'

Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday provided an insight into how he is learning to take things in his stride, when he revealed that his obsession with ManchesterUnited once led him to cancel dinner with Frank Sinatra 19 years ago. "I was supposed to have dinner with him one night, but we lost to Charlton so I cancelled it and went home," he said. "I wasn't in the mood to meet anybody that night. There was a period, maybe 10-12 years ago, when I was obsessed with everything. If I'd have carried on, I would probably have done myself some damage."

Talk more on Sakura Lounge.

Rossi 2008: The numbers

2008-11-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Back in front: Rossi first led across the start/finish line of a 2008 MotoGP race on lap 5 of the Qatar season opener. It was the first time Rossi had led a MotoGP race with Bridgestone tyres. Rossi's first Bridgestone podium came at round two and first win at round four.

Slow starter: Rossi's average position at the end of lap 1 of a race was 5th. Rossi only led at the end of the first lap once (Laguna Seca) and his worst race start was at Assen, where a lap one accident left him 14th and last. On average, Rossi lost one place on the opening lap of each race.

Biggest fightback: Rossi's biggest fightback was at Phillip Island, where he qualified 12th and finished lap one in 8th position, before rising to 2nd by the finish.

When to lead: Rossi 'only' led 170 of the 465 race laps this season (37%). The latest Rossi took the race lead was lap 14 of 20 at Indianapolis.

Dry and wet: Of Rossi's nine race wins 8 were in the dry and 1 (Indianapolis) in the wet.

Streaks: Rossi longest winning streak was 5 races (Laguna Seca to Motegi) and his longest podium streak was 9 races (Sachsenring to Valencia).

Qualifying: Rossi's average qualifying position for a race was 4th. He qualified on pole just 2 times with his worst qualifying sessions at Phillip Island (12th) and Valencia (10th). On average, Rossi qualified 0.659sec behind pole.

Ready to race: Rossi's average finishing positioning in a race was 2nd, two places higher than his average starting position.

Getting stronger: Rossi scored 167 points during the first nine rounds, but 206 during the last nine.

First half vs second:
First nine rounds: 3 (wins), 7 (podiums), 1 (pole), 2 (fastest laps)
Last nine rounds: 6 (wins), 9 (podiums), 1 (pole), 3 (fastest laps).

Winning big, losing bigger: Rossi's average race-winning margin was 6.020sec, but when he lost his average margin of defeat was 11.771sec.

Biggest and closest: Rossi's biggest race win was by 15.004sec over Toni Elias at Brno and his closest was by 1.943sec over Casey Stoner at Motegi.

When to push: Rossi only set 5 fastest laps this season. His average fastest lap ranking in a race was 2nd and the average location of his fastest lap was at 39.3% race distance. The earliest Rossi delivered his fastest race lap was on lap 2 (of 21) at Sepang and the latest lap 18 (of 22) at Shanghai.

Straight line speed: Rossi's average top speed ranking over a grand prix weekend during the 2008 season was 6th. Rossi didn't set the highest top speed at any of the 18 rounds, with his best top speed ranking being 3rd (three times) and his lowest 10th (Motegi).

Rivals getting faster? On average, Rossi was ranked 5th in terms of weekend top speed during the first half of the 2008 season, but slipped to an average of 7th during the second half, suggesting rival machines made greater gains as the year went on.

Yamaha vs. Yamaha: Rossi was the top qualifying Yamaha rider at only 8 rounds, but finished as the top Yamaha race rider at 15 of the 18 rounds. Team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was the highest placed Yamaha rider at Qatar and Estoril, with Tech 3's Colin Edwards leading the M1 challenge at Assen.

Bridgestone vs. Bridgestone: Rossi was the top qualifying Bridgestone rider at 5 rounds and was the top Bridgestone race rider at 12 of the 18 rounds.

Races to spare: Rossi's end of season championship winning margin was 93 points over Casey Stoner, equivalent to nearly four race wins.

For comparison, Rossi won the 2005 title by 147 points (over Marco Melandri), the 2004 title by 47 points (over Sete Gibernau), the 2003 title by 80 points (over Sete Gibernau), the 2002 title by 140 points (over Max Biaggi) and the 2001 title by 106 points (over Max Biaggi).

Six to one: Rossi's record breaking 373 points was more than the combined total of the lowest six (full time) riders in the 2008 world championship - Sylvain Guintoli (67), Alex de Angelis (63), Randy de Puniet (61), John Hopkins (57), Marco Melandri (51) and Anthony West (50).

Points mean prizes: Rossi was the only rider to score points in every race this season. Andrea Dovizioso, Shinya Nakano and Sylvain Guintoli scored points in all but one round.

One man band? Rossi contributed 341 points to Yamaha's 2008 constructors' championship total of 402 and his 373 riders' points made up the majority of Fiat Yamaha's teams' championship total of 563.

Using only Rossi's points, Yamaha would still have won the constructors' championship, by 52 points over Ducati, while Fiat Yamaha would have finished second (just 31 points behind Repsol Honda) in the teams' title!

This year and last:
2008: 9 (wins), 16 (podiums), 2 (poles), 5 (fastest laps), 373 (points), 1st (championship).
2007: 4 (wins), 8 (podiums), 4 (poles), 3 (fastest laps), 241 (points), 3rd (championship).

サクラ地区、インクを発表するインドネシアと日本の検索エンジン

2008-11-22T00:15:00.000-08:00

パレンバンでの私たちのチームは、新しい検索エンジンは、タイトル：ウォン木頭Googleを、桜地区に置かサブドメインリリースしている。そのドメインメードンヘッド、 Berkshire 、イギリスではサクラStoreで我々の強力な信頼性の高いホストによってホストされた。

は、検索エンジンIGOS （インドネシア行くオープンソース）は、緑色の葉のロゴを使用して、カスタマイズされた。サクラだけで我々のロゴとして好きです。どこの両方の味と目にキャンデーを実施する。

このスタイル私たちの投票とインドネシア行くオープンソースの実装をサポートとしての我々のチームが選ばれました。とGoogleの検索エンジンパワーの中では、間違いなくこの検索エンジンはGoogle自身として強力になります。

他の方法で、日本での我々のチームにも日本スタイルの検索エンジンにも、 Googleがホスティング同じ場所で電源を発表する。 Googleのパワーは、 Google自体が、より多くの目のようにこの検索エンジンを移動-我々のチームのカスタマイズを引く。

どうぞご自由に、我々の新しい検索エンジンのレビューをいくつかをチェックする。上記の画像をクリックするだけ。

Sakura District, Ink Announce Indonesian and Japanese Search Engine

2008-11-21T23:53:00.000-08:00

Our team in Palembang has just release a brand new Search Engine that Titled: Wong Kito Googling that placed in sakura district sub-domain. That domain was hosted by our powerfull reliable host at Sakura Store in Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

That search engine was customized with IGOS (Indonesia Goes Open Source) that using green leaf logo. Just like Sakura as our logo. Where both of implement its taste and eye-candy.

This style was choosen by our team as our vote and implementation support for Indonesia Goes Open Source. With Google Search Engine power inside, nodoubt that this search engine will be powerful as Google itself.

In other way, our team in Japan also announce Japan Style Search Engine that also powered by Google at same place hosting. Powered by Google, this search engine move like Google itself but more eye-catching with our team customizations.

Please check it yourself and give us some review for our new search engine. Just click on the image above.

Rossi 'spinning in the rain' at F1 test

2008-11-21T23:49:00.000-08:00

Valentino Rossi was denied the chance to aim for a lap time within one-second of the regular Ferrari F1 drivers, after rain during Friday's second and final day of the Italian's special Mugello test.

The reigning six-time MotoGP world champion had lapped within 1.5sec of F1 pace during his first day on track, which also marked his first Ferrari F1 appearance since 2006, and aimed to build on that performance during the final day.

But the Tuscan weather had other plans and Rossi completed just a handful of dry laps on Friday morning before the rain arrived. Rossi then suffered several spins in the slippery conditions, one of which required a lift back to the pits in a service car.

Overall, Rossi completed 56 Friday laps with a best time of 1min 24.04sec in the dry and 1min 33.56sec in the wet. The test ended just before 5pm, when visibility was too bad to continue. Rossi had set a 1min 22.55sec best on Thursday.

Despite the poor Friday weather, Rossi insisted that he had enjoyed myself and once again thanked Ferrari for the opportunity. Rossi and Ferrari insisted that the test was 'just for fun' and a celebration of their title-winning seasons. Rossi turned down the chance to pursue an F1 career with Ferrari in 2006.

"The test went quite well," Rossi said at the end of Friday's track action. "Unfortunately I could just go out for a couple of laps on a dry track in the morning, but we also tried it on the wet track. I was impressed and it went well.

"The car is fantastic and all in all it was a good test. I want to thank the guys from the team and obviously Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali, who were really committed over the last two days. I felt like a real Formula One driver!"

Rossi was driving a Ferrari F2008, which won this year's F1 constructors' world championship and finished second and third in the drivers' world championship with Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. It was the first F1 car Rossi has driven without traction control.

Rossi will now return to MotoGP action during his final test session of 2008 at Jerez from November 26. Shortly after, The Doctor will be at the controls of a Ford Focus WRC car during Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship, which takes place on December 5-7.

Rossi has a Yamaha MotoGP contract in place until the end of the 2010 season and continues to indicate that rallying, rather than Formula One, is his most likely destination after MotoGP.

Rossi 'would've been excellent' in F1

2008-11-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team principal Stefano Domenicali believes reigning six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi "would have been an excellent F1 driver" had he chosen to switch to four-wheels.

Domenicali was speaking after day one of Rossi's return to a Ferrari F1 car, at a special two-day test session at Mugello. The test is Rossi's fifth with Ferrari but, this time, it really does seem to be "just for fun" - both Rossi and Ferrari reflecting on what might have been, rather than what might happen.

"With a lot of work I could have become a good F1 driver," Reuters reports Rossi as saying, after he had set a best Thursday lap time within 1.5sec of the past Mugello best by Ferrari F1 drivers Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen and Luca Badoer. "It is hard to say if I would have become a winner or not, but the potential was there."

Domenicali - who guided Raikkonen to the 2007 Formula One World Championship and took Massa to within one point of the 2008 crown - believes Rossi would have been "excellent".

"Vale would have been an excellent Formula One driver, but he chose a different road," Domenicali declared.

Rossi first drove a Ferrari F1 car in 2004. Further private tests followed before Rossi took part in his most 'serious' F1 outing, a multi-team test at Valencia in 2006, seen by many as the make-or-break moment for Rossi in F1.

Driving alongside the majority of the F1 grid, Rossi finished the test twelfth and within 1.5sec of fastest man - and reigning F1 champion - Fernando Alonso (Renault). Rossi's best lap was just 0.711secs from Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.

However, direct comparisons were difficult because most drivers were using the new-for-2006 2.4 litre V8 engines, while Rossi was given a 3 litre V10 engine "limited to reproduce the conditions set out in the 2006 regulations". Rossi's chassis was also of an older design, but that didn't stop speculation of an F1 switch reaching fever pitch in the weeks and months that followed.

Nevertheless, the #46 committed his future to MotoGP on the eve of his home Italian Grand Prix in June of 2006 and didn't return to an F1 car until today.

"It's two days of pure fun for us and Vale, although we're doing serious work; you can see that how he prepared himself physically," said Domenicali of the Mugello test. "He's part of our family and that's why we wanted to give him this opportunity; we're happy to be together once again; two Italian symbols like Ferrari and Valentino Rossi."

Rossi has a Yamaha MotoGP contract in place until the end of the 2010 season, by which time he will be 31-years-old. Rossi has indicated that his post-MotoGP plans are likely to involve rallying rather than Formula 1.

John Surtees is the only person to win world titles in both 500cc/MotoGP and F1.

Rossi gathers speed on F1 return

2008-11-21T23:08:00.000-08:00

Valentino Rossi returned to the cockpit of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time since February 2006, during the opening day of his special two-day test session at Mugello on Thursday - and lapped within 1.5sec of F1 pace.

The test marks Rossi's fifth appearance in a Ferrari F1 car since 2004. However, "this time it was just for pure fun, for both - Ferrari and Rossi - celebrating their victorious seasons." said a Ferrari statement. The Mugello test is open to the public, with tickets available for 5 Euros.

Rossi was driving an F2008 car, which won this year's F1 constructors' world championship and finished second and third in the drivers' world championship with Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Rossi's F2008, wearing a #46, was the actual car used by Raikkonen in the season-ending F1 races in China and Brazil. It is the first F1 car Rossi has driven without traction control.

Rossi completed 26 laps of the Tuscan circuit - scene of his record-breaking seventh consecutive home motorcycle grand prix victory on June 1 - this morning, setting a best lap time of 1min 23.76sec.

That was around three seconds off the ultimate pace, but Rossi - watched by Fiat Yamaha MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio and father Graziano - then halved that deficit during 25 afternoon laps to end day one with a best lap time of 1min 22.55sec.

To put that into perspective, Ferrari's previous test at Mugello, which took place in September, saw the team's experienced test driver Luca Badoer lead the way with a lap of 1min 21.010sec lap. 2007 world champion Raikkonen, driving the day after Badoer, clocked a 1min 21.079sec while Massa, who took over for the third and final day, could only manage a 1min 23.618sec due to a damp track.

"I'm really happy that I had this possibility and I want to thank [Ferrari] president Luca di Montezemolo and [team principal] Stefano Domenicali for it," said Rossi.

Injured Berbatov ruled out for two Manchester United matches

2008-11-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of Manchester United's next two matches with a hamstring injury. The Bulgaria striker will miss Saturday's Premier League match against Aston Villa and Tuesday's Champions League trip to Villarreal, and remains a doubt for the following Sunday's derby against Manchester City.

Berbatov limped out of Wednesday's friendly against Serbia. "It is a slight strain rather than a tear, so that is positive news," Ferguson said Friday. Centreback Rio Ferdinand is also doubtful for the match at Villa Park because of a back injury that ruled him out of last Saturday's 5-0 rout of Stoke.

Defender Wes Brown will be out for between four and five weeks after an exploratory ankle operation.

"Fortunately we have plenty of cover at right back, with Gary Neville, Rafael Da Silva and John O'Shea available to come in," Ferguson said.

Arsenal faces Man City after William Gallas' talk of rifts

2008-11-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

Credit : The Canadian Press

Arsene Wenger has called on his embattled Arsenal players to show their strength at Manchester City on Saturday, as the club deals with captain William Gallas' revelations of dressing room unrest.

The Gunners manager's plans had already been rocked by winger Theo Walcott being ruled out for three months, when Gallas told The Associated Press in an interview that there were rifts in the squad and said the team's young stars aren't brave enough to contend for the Premier League title.

Wenger, though, is confident that the team can recover from last weekend's fourth loss of the season against Aston Villa - despite Cesc Fabregas being suspended and Walcott's long-term absence.

"We have to cope," Wenger told Arsenal TV on Friday. "Our strengths are being tested, but we have to take it as an opportunity to show that we are strong, that's how we have to deal with it."

Arsenal's season seemed to be back on track after beating Manchester United two weeks ago, but is now nine points adrift leaders Chelsea and Liverpool as Wenger searches for his first title since 2004.

"I feel at the moment there is potential in the team," Wenger said. "We have, in an intelligent way, to get the potential out of the team and transform it into consistency."

Wenger hasn't spoken to media since Gallas' outbursts surfaced on Thursday, but could fine his captain a maximum of two weeks' wages for the comments - as he did last month after seeing photographs of him leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth.

Former England and Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor said Wenger should strip Gallas of the captaincy. "He knows what he's looking for as a leader, as a captain," Taylor said. "If he feels that Gallas isn't doing that then I think he's wrong if he continues with him.

"I would have thought by now a manager of Arsene Wenger's calibre knows what makes a good captain, and I'm somewhat surprised that he still has stuck with Gallas even after that Birmingham situation."

Gallas refused to leave the field last season after a 2-2 draw at Birmingham that damaged Arsenal's fading hopes of winning the title.

Despite Arsenal's problems, Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects a tough challenge as his team looks for its first league win in almost a month.

"People say that Arsenal may be the most vulnerable of the so-called big four but on their day they are as good as anyone in the division," Hughes said. "They know we are a threat as well and I am sure they will not be relishing their journey up here.

"Tomorrow's game should be a great spectacle. Both teams have an abundance of attacking players and sometimes it is just best to rely on what you are good at. Although we need to be defensively tighter there are moments when attacking wise we are as good as anybody."

Manchester United is only one point ahead of Arsenal and must win at Aston Villa on Saturday to keep up with the pacesetters, although the defending champion does have a game in hand over their rivals in the top four.

"It is important for us to win on Saturday," winger Ryan Giggs said. "We can't really afford any more mistakes as we're already behind Chelsea and Liverpool at the top."

Villa beat Arsenal for the first time in a decade last weekend, and now wants to end its 13-year wait for a victory over the Red Devils.

"That result wasn't a surprise because Villa can do that to teams," Giggs said. "They have quality and pace and have been there or thereabouts near the top for the past couple of years.

"Martin O'Neill has added a few more players this season and they are a quality side. They have some really dangerous players, especially going forward - (Gabriel) Agbonlahor, (John) Carew, Ashley Young."

United will be without defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown, as well as striker Dimitar Berbatov, but Wayne Rooney could return up front.

Liverpool and Chelsea, which share the lead on 32 points will both be without influential players.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard won't face Fulham after failing to recover from a torn groin muscle that kept him out of England's 2-1 victory at Germany on Wednesday.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard also withdrew from the international squad but is set to play Saturday's match against Newcastle due to a rib injury, while striker Didier Drogba starts a three-match ban.

"Frank's injury is better. He started to train on Thursday and he is in good condition for tomorrow's game," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "We have lost Didier, but when he comes back he will be better than before."

Just 10 points separate sixth-place Hull and West Bromwich Albion, which is bottom of the 20-team league, so there could be considerable shifts in the standings over the weekend.

On Saturday, Middlesbrough hosts Bolton, Hull is at Portsmouth and Stoke faces West Brom. Tottenham and Blackburn, both looking to climb out of the relegation zone, meet Sunday before Sunderland takes on West Ham. On Monday, Wigan plays Everton.

Formula 1 Season 2009 new Calendar Round

2008-11-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Round	Predicted Race Title	Date
Round	Predicted Race Title	Date
1	ING Australian Grand Prix	29 March
2	Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix	5 April
3	Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix	19 April
4	Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix	26 April
5	Gran Premio de España Telefónica	10 May
6	Grand Prix de Monaco	24 May
7	Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix	7 June
8	Santander British Grand Prix	21 June
9	Großer Preis von Deutschland*	12 July
10	Magyar Nagydij	26 July
11	Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe	23 August
12	ING Belgian Grand Prix	30 August
13	Gran Premio Santander d'Italia	13 September
14	SingTel Singapore Grand Prix	27 September
15	Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix	4 October
16	Grande Prêmio do Brasil	18 October
17	Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	1 November

2009 MotoGp Rider

2008-11-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

Team	Constructor	Motorcycle	No	Rider
Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha	Yamaha YZR-M1	46	Valentino Rossi
Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha	Yamaha YZR-M1	TBA	Jorge Lorenzo
Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Honda RC212V	TBA	Dani Pedrosa
Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Honda RC212V	4	Andrea Dovizioso
Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati	Ducati Desmosedici GP9	27	Casey Stoner
Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati	Ducati Desmosedici GP9	69	Nicky Hayden
Tech 3 Yamaha Team	Yamaha	Yamaha YZR-M1	5	Colin Edwards
Tech 3 Yamaha Team	Yamaha	Yamaha YZR-M1	52	James Toseland
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki	Suzuki GSV-R	7	Chris Vermeulen
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki	Suzuki GSV-R	65	Loris Capirossi
Alice Ducati Team	Ducati	Ducati Desmosedici GP9	36	Mika Kallio
Alice Ducati Team	Ducati	Ducati Desmosedici GP9	88	Niccolò Canepa
San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda	Honda RC212V	24	Toni Elias
San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda	Honda RC212V	15	Alex de Angelis
Team Scot	Honda	Honda RC212V	72	Yuki Takahashi
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR	21	John Hopkins
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR	33	Marco Melandri
LCR Honda MotoGP Team	Honda	Honda RC212V	14	Randy de Puniet
Onde 2000 Ducati Team	Ducati	Ducati Desmosedici GP9	59	Sete Gibernau

David Beckham will make AC Milan stronger, says Ronaldinho

2008-11-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

The 32-year-old midfielder will be unveiled to the Milan fans next Thursday, after agreeing to join the Rossoneri on loan for two months from LA Galaxy.

Beckham's move is designed to keep his fitness levels up during the MLS close season and help him retain his place in Fabio Capello's England squad as they look to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

While Beckham needs Milan, it has been questioned why Milan need Beckham. However, Ronaldinho believes he will be a big asset.

The Brazilian said: "I was very happy when I heard he was coming to Milan. He's going to help the team a lot. I want to help him be the best player he can be.

"Both of us have different styles. I can learn a lot from him and improve my style as well. I want to celebrate loads of goals with Beckham.

"I've always liked the way he plays. It's very cool to play with such important people, very motivating.

Ronaldinho has even promised to share free-kick taking duties with Beckham.

He said: "That's not even a problem. It might be a problem for the teams we're playing against though."

Rio Ferdinand believes David Beckham deserves to be among England greats

2008-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Beckham can equal Moore's record of 108 caps for an outfield player if he plays against Germany next Wednesday, seven years after he also starred in a famous 5-1 triumph in Munich.

The LA Galaxy star, currently on 107 caps, faces a nervous wait to see if he will be selected because the club season has already ended in America and Fabio Capello has made it clear he will only pick players who are playing regularly.

But Ferdinand, another of the stalwarts from England's 5-1 triumph in September 2001, believes Beckham, who will join AC Milan on loan next month, is already a national treasure – even if some critics have suggested the midfielder is out of place amongst the likes of England legends Moore, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves.

Ferdinand said: "If you've got the caps you deserve to be up there. Nobody gave Becks those caps for fun – it hasn't been an easy ride to get where he is now, he's earned it.

"He's a superstar on and off the field and a top player as well. In an England shirt he's always put in 100 per cent and he was probably one of the main reasons we got to the 2002 World Cup after that win in Munich – especially when you remember the game against Greece when he scored in the last minute.

"People keep saying 'does he deserve this or that?' but they forget what he did at Man United before he even went to Real Madrid.

"He won five or six championships, FA Cups, European Cup, League Cups, Charity Shields – so he can't be that bad a player! He's won more trophies than probably Bobby Moore did.

"Of course Bobby Moore won the World Cup, which is the ultimate trophy. But domestically Becks has won everything. He has warranted being in England squads and England teams.

"I don't think you can compare players across different eras because the times are so different and the media interest is different. But in my eyes if you get to 108 caps you deserve to be there."

Even if Beckham doesn't make it into England's squad for next week's game when Capello names his 23 on Saturday night, it seems impossible he won't overtake Moore's total at sometime during the next two years as England bid to reach the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

What chance he could even catch Peter Shilton's overall appearances record of 125 caps?

"He would be going some if he could do that," admitted Ferdinand. "But if he does it then it will mean we've had a good tournament – so I'd love him to do it."

The good news for England is that not only are the senior team playing well these days but a string of up-and-coming youngsters – including Arsenal's wonderkids – are suddenly making headlines.

And even a Manchester United die-hard like Ferdinand admits to being a bit excited.

He said: "It's always good to see good English talent and you are always interested to hear about young English players no matter where they are playing. You like to cast your eye over them and have a little look and see how they are doing.

"It's encouraging for England. It looks like they have some real talented players down at Arsenal and we've got some coming through at United as well.

"The manager at United doesn't like us talking too much about the young players and putting pressure on them but I feel someone like Danny Wellbeck has got a real chance of becoming a top player.

"He's at a club where it's difficult to get into the team, especially in his position because we've got some quality players there. But he's someone who does things in training sessions that make you think he's got something most people haven't. So the future should be good for England."

Meanwhile, Ferdinand has given his backing to strict new doping controls being brought into football which could see players tested more regularly.

The defender famously forgot to take a test at United's Carrington training ground in 2003 and was given an eight-month ban from football, including the Euro 2004 Finals.

But he has no complaints at plans to bring football drugs testing into line with those for Olympic athletes, including a requirement for players to let authorities know where they will be for one hour each day, even on holiday.

He said: "I think it sounds fair. If it brings us up to the level of all the other sportsmen then I'm in favour. It's good.

"We get tested randomly quite a lot anyway. A lot of players get tested three or four times a season so it would be no different to what we're used to. If the powers- that-be say to move to that level is the right thing to do then we'll get on with it."

Ferdinand said his advice to young players would be simple.

"I'd say to them it's all part and parcel of the way the organisations are making it be. Whatever rules there are out there you have to deal with it.

"You have to make sure you're there to be tested and you have to let people know where you're going to be. It's as simple as that. If those are the rules you have to abide by them."

David Beckham could make permanent move to AC Milan after England snub

2008-11-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

Beckham's international future is in doubt after Capello confirmed his lack of competitive action was the reason for his omission.

Beckham is one cap short of Bobby Moore's total of 108 - the record for an outfield player - and hopes to prolong his international career until the 2010 World Cup.

With that goal in mind, Beckham has arranged a loan deal at AC Milan which will begin in January. But with his position at LA Galaxy now seemingly affecting his England chances, reports this morning have suggested Beckham could consider making a permanent move to Serie A.

Milan director Umberto Gandini said: "If Beckham agreed with his employers for him to be available to us for longer, and the Beckham camp was willing to negotiate, then anybody would be stupid not to consider that because he is a great player."

Galaxy endured a hugely disappointing season in the MLS, failing to qualify for the end of season play-offs. And after naming his squad to face Germany, Capello confirmed Galaxy's poor results had prevented Beckham's selection.

Capello said: "This is my system. If you are fit and you are playing, it's possible to be in the squad. He played his last game three weeks ago. If he had played in the (MLS) play-offs, it would have been OK."

Captain John Terry is doubtful for the fixture, while Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Emile Heskey are ruled out through injury.

Capello has looked to the future by calling up Chelsea's Michael Mancienne and his Under-21 colleagues Joe Hart, Micah Richards and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Scott Carson, Curtis Davies, Ashley Young and Darren Bent also feature.

"I want to know these players better and it's possible that some of them could play," said Capello. "But I want to get to know them and to study them over a few days in training.

"It's better to start with one or a maximum two new players in the team. Sometimes it's very dangerous to play a lot of new young players in a team."

Valentino Rossi: Tyre rule won’t change front runners

2008-11-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi believes a new single tyre rule introduced in MotoGP for 2009 won’t change the riders fighting for race victories next season.

Only Rossi, Aussie Casey Stoner and Spanish duo Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo collected wins during last season, and the Italian reckons the switch to a Bridgestone mono brand will have little impact on changing those challenging at the front.

Rossi, who won nine races in a record-breaking 2008 campaign, told MCN: “It is not sure that with a single tyre rule the racing will become a lot better or more fun for riders and fans. And at the end of the season all the faster riders had the same tyres.

"So I think with the one tyre rule, nothing will change a lot. I think Casey won last year because he rode incredibly well and this year he arrived second because he is again very fast. For sure it is not just tyres that we are the fastest.

"Sometimes last year and also this year between Bridgestone and Michelin there was a big difference but I think the faster riders will remain more or less the same.”

MOTOGP08 helmet textures

2008-11-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

These are low resolution helmet texture I made for Motogp08 game, these skins are used for the Wii and Playstation 2 versions of the game. So if you have this game you might be riding or see them in the game. You might have seen a different rider on the box of your Motogp08 game, this is so each country get the rider of their country on the box. However luckly we did not get Hugo Van Den Berg for the Netherlands, but Valentino Rossi. So if you are buying one in America you would get Nicky Hayden on the cover, Austrailia you get Casey Stoner, Germany Thomas Luthi, Britain James Toseland, Spain Dani Pedrosa and most be getting Valentino Rossi.

All the textures are used on the same 3d helmet model, however by skinning / texturing differently then the standard template I gave the correct as possible shape and look of the real helmets.

Also I used a different method then other game texture makers. A normal texture designer normally would use Photoshop to paint the design and mostly cost allot of time plus the details looks very cartoon like and misses just a part or realism. I use a method that is developed over the years for a game called GP500 at Gp500store and also learned from a friend called GAP. The method uses high quality photography and using the best features of Photoshop to alter them into a texture, by doing this the texture looks photo realistic and that is because it is made with photo's. This way also takes less time on helmet with allot of little details like the helmet of Valentino Rossi.

Here you see the a high resolution version of the texture. I always work from high resolution so I can work on the very tiny details to be correct, and then resize them to a low resolution and it will help the so great details when it is resized smaller. Hope to help out more in the future editions of this game. Also need to see if I could see my name displayed in the game.

I made helmet textures for Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Colin Edwards, James Toseland, Marco Melandri, Mattia Passini, Robert Lacalendola, Hugo Van Den Berg, Michael Ranseder, Steve Bonsey, Mike De Meglio ,Louis Rossi and one cheat helmet.

Many thanks to Capcom, Milestone and Arkady giving me the chance to help out with Motogp08 and making a hobby into a job. For more info about the MotoGP08 game visit Milestone website, also you can download wallpapers of the game covers and see ingame screenshots.

Celtic-Manchester United: Champions League Preview

2008-11-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

After three games in this seasons Champions League, Manchester United's defense seems to be the strongest so far. United's back line has not let a single goal through and after a scare at the weekend in the Premier League, I doubt Celtic will get anything tonight.

Edwin Van der Sar has provided a great sense of stability in the goal for the Red Devils, and he will be missed tonight when United will face Celtic in the fourth game in Group E.

Van der Sar was left out of the squad due to a minor injury, Sir Alex felt it would be better if he rested his no.1 goalkeeper with a tough season still ahead.

The most likely replacement would be Kuzcack, the Polish goalkeeper could be the one to take charge in the absence of Van der Sar. But there are reports that young Englishman Ben Foster could be in goal for United.

Apart from the goalkeeping, United will want their back four to be solid and not take anything for granted. Veteran Gary Neville was also left out of the squad due to an injury alongside fellow right back Wes Brown.

This means that young Rafael da Silva will be on the right with Vidic and Ferdinand in the center of defense. Patrice Evra, who seems to impress every time he runs onto the pitch, will cover the left back position.

According to Sir Alex, if Celtic have the same approach of never giving in and never giving up, the approach that Hull City had at the weekend, then the defensive line need to be solid.

Can United's reserve goalkeeper keep up the good work that Van der Sar has put in, or will he break under pressure, well tonight will tell us the full story.

Nasri Says Gunners Must Shoot Down United

2008-11-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

All three of Arsenal's losses this season have come against sides that, in theory, they should have beaten: Fulham away; Hull at home; Stoke City away.

Samir Nasri believes that, despite those nine dropped points, it will be the fixtures between the incumbents of the traditional top four that will decide the destination of the Premier League crown.

Speaking to France Football, the former Marseille midfielder said: "The Premier League title will be decided by the matches between the Big Four teams. These are the games in which you gain the mental superiority needed to win the title.

"A draw or a loss will have repercussions throughout the season.

"There is a four-team mini league between Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea within the Premier League. Every meeting between these teams is decisive in the race for the title," the 21-year old added.

"We cannot afford to mess things up on Saturday, as if we do so it will be difficult to make up the lost ground."

Alan DawsonAll three of Arsenal's losses this season have come against sides that, in theory, they should have beaten: Fulham away; Hull at home; Stoke City away.

Samir Nasri believes that, despite those nine dropped points, it will be the fixtures between the incumbents of the traditional top four that will decide the destination of the Premier League crown.

Speaking to France Football, the former Marseille midfielder said: "The Premier League title will be decided by the matches between the Big Four teams. These are the games in which you gain the mental superiority needed to win the title.

"A draw or a loss will have repercussions throughout the season.

"There is a four-team mini league between Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea within the Premier League. Every meeting between these teams is decisive in the race for the title," the 21-year old added.

"We cannot afford to mess things up on Saturday, as if we do so it will be difficult to make up the lost ground."

Beckham to join AC Milan on loan

2008-10-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's official: David Beckham is on his way to Italy.
Following a week of negotiations, Italian club AC Milan announced Thursday that Beckham will join the Serie A team in a loan deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy starting on Jan. 7.
The Italian club made the announcement on its website after Beckham's lawyers arrived in Italy on Thursday to discuss the deal.
Milan did not release details on the length of Beckham's stay, but it did say the midfielder remains under contract to the Galaxy and will return to the club for training camp and the start of the 2009 Major League Soccer season.
AC Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini said the contract was open-ended but expects Beckham to return to the Galaxy after two months.
"He is committed to Los Angeles Galaxy and the MLS and he thanks them for the opportunity to train with us," said Gandini. "Only David knows his future, but he has a commitment to LA Galaxy and I think he will respect that."
The current MLS campaign ended last week, but Beckham, 33, was keen to join another club in Europe so he can remain fit for World Cup qualifying.
"What motivates any top-level footballer is the fact that playing for your national team is the greatest honour and having the potential to play in another World Cup is what every player dreams about," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told Sky Sports News. "This is what really motivates him."
English national team coach Fabio Capello has gone on record as saying he will not select players who are not active.
Capello, who dropped Beckham from the starting lineup when he coached the Englishman at Spanish club Real Madrid, approved of the move but did not say whether it would guarantee the midfielder a spot on the national team roster.
"Milan have made a good addition," Capello was quoted as saying by the Italian media.
"At Madrid I left him out of the squad because he had signed a contract with Los Angeles but he continued to come on the field and train and I put him back in the team.
"He is a very serious lad, very sensible, a professional. People think he is a playboy off the field, it's not true at all."
After the 2007 MLS season ended, Beckham trained with Arsenal but was not allowed to play for the English Premier League club.
Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 following a four-year stint with Spanish club Real Madrid.

Canada tries for 2 in a row at U-17 World Cup

2008-10-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Canada will be looking to solidify its grip on first place with a win against Colombia Friday at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand (CBCSports.ca, 8 p.m. ET).

The Canadian women currently top Group A with three points after registering a 1-0 win over host New Zealand in their opening game of the competition.

Denmark and Colombia are tied for second (one point apiece), while the Kiwis (no points) are in last place.

The 16-team field is divided into four round-robin groups, with the top two teams in each advancing to the quarter-finals, so Canada can book its spot in the final eight with a win over the Colombians if Denmark fails to defeat New Zealand in Friday's other Group A game.

In the opening game of the competition, Canada and New Zealand were deadlocked at the half despite a number of scoring chances at both ends. The Kiwis were on the attack in the 14th minute as 15-year-old forward Rosie White forced Canadian goalkeeper Genevieve Richard to make a quick diving save.

Canada responded just before halftime when midfielder Nkem Ezurike nearly opened the scoring but was stopped by New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson. Esson dove to her left to stymie Ezurike and keep the Canadians off the board.

Seven minutes into the second half, the Canadians took the lead when Rachel Lamarre finished off a solo run with a shot from 20 yards away. The Kiwis hit the crossbar and kept intense pressure on the Canadians in an unsuccessful bid to even the score.

"The players felt the pressure of the [first] match," Canadian coach Bryan Rosenfeld said after the win. "I am very proud of them coming out with three important points."

Canada closes out the first round with a game against Denmark on Nov. 4.

The tournament final is scheduled for Nov. 16 in Auckland.

GERRARD INSISTS REDS FEAR NO-ONE

2008-10-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Steven Gerrard has summed up the new belief that is driving Liverpool towards their first title for 18 years by insisting the Reds can beat anyone, anywhere.
The captain, and scorer of the penalty winner against Portsmouth on Wednesday night, claims Liverpool have no reason to fear any away ground.
That confidence will be put to the test on Saturday when Liverpool defend their unbeaten start to the season away to a Tottenham side rejuvenated by new manager Harry Redknapp.
Gerrard said: "It is a great feeling to be top of the table, especially knowing that we have beaten two of our main title rivals (Chelsea and Manchester United) along the way.
"This season we have a belief that we can go anywhere and win. We believe we can win in any situation, even when we have backed ourselves into a corner.
"But no-one here is going to be getting carried away with our position after recent results.
"There is extra pressures being top of the table, we are there to be shot at and we become an even bigger scalp for the rest of the league."
Goalkeeper Jose Reina believes Liverpool's future prospects depend on winning every home game, which they have often failed to do in the past when confronted by defensive opponents.
Reina said: "The win over Portsmouth was a hugely important three points for us because we have to keep on winning.
"Once you are at the top of the table you have to do everything you can to defend that position and that means winning every game you can.
"We cannot afford to drop any points at home. It is important we keep winning at home and also be consistent away.
"To mount a title challenge you have to be able to win games in every way. You have to be able to come from behind, and also win when in front."
He added: "This season we have got ourselves into a perfect position, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
"But we are taking little steps in the right direction all the time and we believe we are going to win every time we go onto the field.
"We can only go step by step and the next game for us is at Tottenham on Saturday, which is going to be tough.
"They had a great result against Arsenal this week, so we know it will be difficult.
"But let's see if we can beat them and then after that we will think about qualifying from the Champions League (group) on Tuesday and hopefully being able to concentrate even more on the Premier League."

Reds in race for teenage star

2008-10-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

The 19-year-old currently plays for Brazilian club Coritiba and they have reportedly offered the highly-rated youngster to Liverpool ahead of the two Spanish giants, who have both been monitoring his progression since he moved into top flight football in Brazil this season.

Since making his senior debut in 2007, after coming through the youth system at Coritiba, he has a strike rate of better than one in every two games, with 54 strikes in 100 appearances.

It remains to be seen if Rafa Benitez decides to take a gamble on the player in January, but there appears to be no shortage of potential European buyers if he does not.

Liverpool are known to have a big scouting network in South America, with the Reds able to snap up the likes of Lucas ahead of other interested parties.

MotoGP » Bridgestone: Good start to single tyre era.

2008-10-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Less than 24 hours after Casey Stoner took victory in the final race of the 2008 season, Bridgestone's preparations for the 2009 season got underway with a test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on Monday and Tuesday.

Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier for the MotoGP championship from 2009 and the Valencia test marked the first chance to evaluate new specification tyres with almost all teams and riders for next year (only Tech 3 Yamaha was missing).

A total of 18 riders participated in the test on Monday, some of whom had were making their debut for new teams whilst others were enjoying their first ever taste of MotoGP machinery.

In accordance with the agreed tyre restrictions for the test, Bridgestone supplied a total of just 12 slick tyres to each rider, consisting of two different front and rear specifications.

The introduction of the sole tyre supply regulation for 2009 will see a dramatic reduction in the total number of tyres available for each rider during the race weekend (20 each is rumoured) so tyres will have to operate within a wider working range with a greater level of durability.

This reduction in tyre options has led to concerns by some riders and commentators that the rubber available would only suit the class 'stars', whilst the cut in numbers might force riders to sit in the pits rather than 'burn rubber' out on track.

Neither of these concerns materialised during the Monday test, with most riders, teams and manufacturers - even those without prior Bridgestone experience - pleasantly surprised by the grip and durability of the tyres on offer.

Nevertheless, some riders are reserving final judgement until they have tested at several different tracks and all teams will need to change their bikes in some way to maximise the new tyre characteristics.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone has also reduced the maximum level of grip of the tyres in a concerted effort to assist the sport's governing body in its drive for improved safety, through reduced cornering speeds. That didn't stop most riders lapping faster in the test than they had in the race though, partly due to improved track conditions.

Monday's session was held in hot and sunny conditions with Casey Stoner resuming where he left off on Sunday, topping the timesheets with a best lap time of 1min 32.464sec using the new Ducati GP9 machine.

Tuesday's session was curtailed by intermittent rain and only seven riders emerged during the final two hours to try Bridgestone's wet weather tyres.

"I am really very satisfied with the first trials of our new specification slick tyres which we were able to carry out in the dry conditions on Monday," said Tohru Ubukata, Bridgestone Motorsport's manager of Race Tyre Development. "Considering it is the first time that we are producing MotoGP tyres for everybody in a sole tyre supply situation, I think we have made a good start.

"We have used the foundation of our 2008 tyres for these new specs but made some important alterations to ensure that the tyres have a wide operating window and can work well for all teams and riders. We have reduced the overall grip level of the tyres in order to accomplish this and the feedback from the riders has been encouraging.

"The track conditions on Monday were excellent and the lap times were also very competitive as a result. The most important thing for us is to know that our tyres are durable because this will be one of the most fundamental things for us next season. Some riders put up to 40 laps on the same set of tyres with great consistency which was particularly impressive.

"Unfortunately the conditions today have not been as good, but the information obtained from yesterday's session will be instrumental for us to hone the tyre specs over the winter period.

"This new situation as the only tyre manufacturer will be a new challenge for us, but I am sure we are up to the job and can live up to the trust that the teams, manufacturers and riders have shown in us and our capabilities.”

Bridgestone will now use the data collated at Valencia in order to prepare tyres for the next test session, which will take place at the end of November in Jerez.

MotoGP Winter Test Schedule For 125, 250 And MotoGP Classes

2008-10-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

The schedule for the official tests has been announced. The MotoGP and smaller classes will test separately. Highlight of the test season is as ever the official IRTA test at Jerez, also known as Grand Prix Zero. Here, a BMW coupe will be up for grabs during a special qualifying session held on the last day.
MotoGP

November 26-27	Jerez	Spain
December 1 - January 20			Winter test ban
February 5-7	Sepang	Malaysia
March 5-7	Losail	Qatar	Night Test
March 28-29	Jerez	Spain	Official IRTA Test

125 and 250 class

December 1 - January 20			Winter test ban
January 26-28	Jerez	Spain
January 31-February 1	Valencia	Spain
March 25-27	Jerez	Spain	Official IRTA Test
April 6-7	Losail	Qatar

Hayden: We've got to keep it rolling

2008-10-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

Nicky Hayden began his final weekend as a Honda MotoGP rider in spectacular style at Valencia on Friday, when he blasted to the top of both free practice sessions in slippery conditions at the Spanish circuit.

Unsurprisingly for the last race of the wettest grand prix season in living memory, both of today's sessions were run in the rain.

This morning's outing was the wettest, conditions improving slightly this afternoon, with less surface water on the track, which allowed Hayden to better his first session time by almost two seconds and end the day just 0.087sec clear of Bridgestone-shod team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

"It was pretty soggy out there, just rain all day. The bike, the team, everything was on point today, now we've just got to keep it rolling, because nobody's going to remember who was quickest Friday come Sunday night," warned Nicky, who will make his Ducati Marlboro debut on Monday.

"The bike and tyres and everything worked pretty good straight away today. We've been using basically the same rain settings I've been using since Sachsenring, they've worked at different tracks and they're working good here, though this track doesn't have a lot of grip, so to go any faster we need to sweeten it up a bit.

"I like being fastest and if it means staying wet all weekend then that would be fine for me, but honestly I hope it dries up. It's going to be a hard weekend, just trying to stay on top, everybody's pushing hard, but we're off to a good start and I'm having fun.

"If it dries up tomorrow we don't think finding a set-up should be too difficult, because the last couple of races we've been using relatively the same settings. The main thing is going to be tyre choice, that's going to be real tough, because there's not going to be much dry time, but it's the same for everybody," he concluded, winless since the 2006 season and without a pole since 2007.

"Nicky did a very good job today, he and his crew found a good set-up very quickly, so they could be fastest in both sessions," added team manager Kazuhiko Yamano. "Michelin tyres are working very well here in these difficult conditions. The latest weather forecast suggests that conditions will improve tomorrow, so Nicky and his team will have to come up with a dry setting, working towards the race on Sunday."

David Beckham will swap LA Galaxy for AC Milan for the sake of his England career

2008-10-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

It seems that David Beckham will continue his jet-set lifestyle and fly off to Milan with England's World Cup qualifiers in mind.

With his wife, he must already be fairly accustomed to the city and all the designer outlets which are on offer to anyone with money to burn. The deal is far from done but the rumour flying around is that he may sign a loan deal when the American season finishes.

The big question which initially jumped out at me was: Won't his club be angry with him for playing during their designated break? Say he breaks a leg or twists a knee - where would that leave LA Galaxy?

But then the answer hit me: He wants to keep fit for the upcoming England qualifiers. Fabio Capello wouldn't pick him if he was just sat soaking up the sun in LA.

Whether or not he adapts to Serie A or not is another matter, but having plenty of options for the England manager to pick from can only surely improve England's chances of qualification for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Galaxy boss Bruce Arena won't be happy, but if the move goes through David Beckham will have made another clever career choice.

Global Goal.com: Mixed Reactions To Beckham's Milan Move

2008-10-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

From Istanbul to Indonesia and from Mumbai to Milan, reaction to Beckham's Italian decision is dominating Goal.com's various editions...

What has been the general reaction to the news in your country?

Sergio Stanco, Goal.com Italy -Obviously now it's Becksmania! Milan always has a strong influence with the media and everybody is talking about this transfer.

Andrea Canales, Goal.com USA - People are more or less indifferent. Most fans here don't care what Beckham does in the MLS offseason. Major League Baseball's World Series is taking place, the NBA and NFL are kicking into gear - there's a lot of distractions around. A few die-hard soccer fans are predicting darkly that Beckham won't return from a loan to Italy, but otherwise, the news isn't making much of a splash.

Juan Lirman, Goal.com Spain - Here in Spain, it was a big surprise, of course. And some media are already 'joking' that Milan is a kind of Jurassic Park. They say Ancelotti's squad is old and 'oldfashioned' etc.

Lee Cheol-gyu, Goal.com Korea – The fans and media were totally surprised. Most thought he left the European stage too early, so they are happy he has returned. They want to see Beckham play in the Champions League.

Ceyhun Bayel, Goal.com Turkey – Fans in Turkey are shocked. They think that Beckham can attract people to stadiums but it is the end of Milan. According to them, with Beckham, Milan will lose suffer defensively and this can cause big problems like the ones Real Madrid faced.

Dapeng Liang, Goal.com China – It makes eye-catching headlines. Victoria Beckham will be happy to come back to Europe and Milan is a city of fashion. And there are millions fans of Milan and Beckham in China and it great news for them. They can see their icon on TV every weekend. With Beckham, Kaka ,Pirlo and Ronaldinho, Milan has the best midfieldsin the world!

Michael Paterakis, Goal.com Greece – It’s no big deal because now the special place in Greek fans' hearts belongs to Beckham's successor at United -Christiano Ronaldo.

Yoshikazu Muro, Goal.com Japan - It is certainly big news for Japanese football fans as he is still one of the most well-known players here. However, despite the fact that many football fans are looking forward to watching again his play in a high-level league, there are people for whom David Beckham is ancient history.

Tommy Van Eldik, Goal.com Netherlands -Here in Holland nothing particular has happened so far since the transfer has taken place in Italy. The fact that Clarence Seedorf is the only Dutchman that plays in the Serie A makes this league less interesting for Dutch football fans. They prefer the English Premier League (Van Persie, Kuyt) or La Liga (Real Madrid).

Bima Said, Goal.com Indonesia -There are mixed reactions. But most Calcio fans in Indonesia welcome Beckham. Some are even optimistic that Beckham still has the skills to help Milan return to the top four. Others think that he will only be on the bench most of the times, simply because he is there for commercial purposes. And only a few think he will become a total flop.

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com India -The news that Beckham is moving to AC Milan is still sinking in here in India. But I suppose most Indians will be glad that Beckham is back in Europe. He 'was' a huge iconic figure here until a couple of years ago and although he will be playing for an Italian team---and here in India, Serie A is not broadcasted to the same degree as the Premiership. Beckham's 'legacy' and popularity is as big as ever here in India.

Naim Beneddra, Goal.com France -In France, we are thinking in terms of a great media move. In addition, this transfer confirms the idea that Milan is a club of old players, incapable of assembling a team of young people. Fans are skeptical that Beckham will succeed in Italy.

Will Beckham be a success in Italy? Is he good enough?

USA -It depends on how one defines success. I think Beckham actually plays better when he is not the focus of a team. With better players on his squad, it is likely that he will be given more room to hit his trademark crosses and long passes to skillful forwards who will know exactly what to do with them. Beckham is good enough to earn some playing time - but I don't think he will ever be a key player for Milan.

Greece -Well, he is 33 but still a good player. He hasn’t let down any club he has joined. We are just too focused on his off-field life. Why shouldn’t he be good enough for Milan? The club had Costacurta and still have Maldini showing that age is no problem.

Japan -At some level. In his career, the fact is that he has been successful wherever he has played, even for Real Madrid, however, it should be remembered that he is now 33. In addition to this, it is unlikely that Carlo Ancelotti will select him on the right.

Spain- Maybe he won't be a success but he will be a help on the Milan roster and locker room. Beckham is a very good professional (as Ancelotti admitted) and he's a kind of player who won't break the peace on an experienced and winning team as Milan is. The season is long and Milan will need en effort from so many players, so Beckham can help. He can be a useful player Milan.

Netherlands -I think he won’t be a success in Italy. His best years are behind him. The fact that he has played in the MLS for the last year and a half also isn’t an advantage for him and for that reason I think he will experience lots of difficulties with his performances in a strong Serie A.

China -Yes he will. Although he is 33 years old, we must consider that he played ten years in the Premier League before 2003. The tempo of the league is faster than Serie A. He is old now, but he hasn’t lost his technique. And the most important thing is that he has a dream for World Cup2010 - he won’t let Milan down.

India -David Beckham was always good enough to feature in a major European club and it is indeed a good thing for the player, for AC Milan and for European football in general that Beckham shall return next year. He might be 33 and is not the same player he was while at Manchester United or Real Madrid but I feel he still has a couple or maybe more years of top flight European football in him. He should still have his crossing and free-kick skills!

Korea -I think he can prove that 'class lasts forever'. Also, Milan is a good team for older players and is used to having stars. Beckham can play well there. But I doubt if he can play full time, it's very competitive in Milan’s midfield.

Indonesia -It's true that he doesn't rely on pace, and it's easier for players with experience in La Liga to adapt to the Italian style of play, and vice versa. Beckham is the ideal replacement for Pirlo and I believe he is good enough for Milan.

Turkey - Most people in Turkey think that he won't be successful in Italy. He will struggle with the physical side. Milan also has Kaka and Ronaldinho. But personally I believe that Beckham will be a key player with his crosses and free kicks. In Italy, it is hard to score because every team knows how to defend. Beck's abilities could really help.

France -David Beckham will be a success in Italy. He has succeeded at two of the biggest European clubs, so why not a third? Beckham still has one or two years of high level football in him. In recent England matches we could see that he has lost nothing of his talent.

Italy - I think yes, I think that Milan is the best team for old players. The club gives players a long-life elixir. They also have something called the ‘Milan Lab’ which studies all players’ data from a technical and medical point of view.

Why do you think Milan want him?

Greece -It's the glamour and the money. A Beckham deal is always a business deal more than any other transfer in football. You get Victoria together and the whole paparazzi thing. Of course that he is a great player of the kind that Milan don't have helps...

Japan - For commercial purposes. He is still a commercially interesting player and the presence of star players like Ronaldinho and himself can revive an active interest in their club.

China -Beckham will join on loan. It means they do not need pay a transfer fee - it is good business. Firstly, Beckham is still a great player and is also determined to show Capello - former coach of Milan- what he can do. Secondly, Beckham has his economic value. Player and club sponsor Adidas must be very happy to see David Beckham playing in the red and black.

Spain - It's not only merchandising. AC Milan doesn't need this. Just take a look at their squad: Ronaldinho, Sheva, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kakà, etc... Do they need a star to sell t-shirts? No. Beckham comes on a free loan and he will help. That's all.

Netherlands -Milan tend to buy players with ‘big’ names that have their best years behind them (Ronaldinho, the second transfer of Shevchenko, Zambrotta). They hope to get the same world class players but sadly they are all past their best.

Indonesia - Why not? Rather than having him do almost nothing in the MLS, Milan might as well gain advantage by using Beckham's marketing power to boost merchandising sales. Ancelotti will utilise him as a back-up in case Pirlo is injured.

Korea – Financial and playmaking reasons. Beckham can attract the focus of media to Milan who can't participate in the Champions League this season. His commercial power will lead Milan to financial success. He already proved that he can play in the EPL and La Liga - although he was not very good at central midfield - but he still has a role to play. His accurate crossing and conscientious attitude will help Milan.

USA - Beckham strikes good crosses and hits a lovely dead ball. Beyond that, Italian calcio is still suffering something of an image crisis due to lingering fallout over corruption issues. Though many local fans are loyal, the league lags behind other European ones in terms of worldwide marketing. Signing Beckham even for a matter of a few months would be a coup for Milan. It would fill a lot of seats at the San Siro.

Turkey -Milan want him for sports marketing and boosting attendances. Italian teams can not earn as much as income from stadiums like German and English teams. For that purpose Milan are trying to create a team of Galacticos.

Italy -Milan said openly that there is an advertising point of view. From a technical one, they don’t have good crossers and now they have a striker Borriello who is very strong with his head.

India -When it comes to David Beckham and any transfer situation, it is very easy to feel that all this is about publicity and money. And for once, this appears to be true! Milan vice-president Adrano Galliani himself admitted this. Italian football has observed a steep fall in attendance in the last few years and Beckham's arrival will certainly fill the stadiums.

France - Milan wants to promote the image of the club throughout the world. I do not believe that Carlo Ancelotti made Beckham a priority in terms of recruitment – he is not lacking in manpower. I believe that Galliani has as an ambition to make a Dream Team in San Siro.

Hayden leads at Valencia, Rossi falls

2008-10-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Nicky Hayden made the perfect start to his final weekend for Honda by leading both of Friday's free practice sessions for the season-ending grand prix at Valencia - on a day when world champions Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner both fell in the wet conditions.

Having been 0.775sec clear of nearest rival Stoner in the morning, Hayden was soon back on top of the afternoon hour, a session which saw the rain steadily easing and produced the fastest lap times of the day as a result.

The Kentuckian found himself pushed down to fourth by the halfway stage, but rebounded by nudging Valentino Rossi from the top with 29 minutes to go. Dani Pedrosa made it a Repsol Honda one-two shortly after and the factory RCVs held formation right to the finish.

Michelin-shod Hayden, without a win since his title winning 2006 season, finished the day just 0.087sec in front of double 2008 winner Pedrosa (using Bridgestone tyres), but Hayden had been 0.4sec inside his best lap time with five minutes to go when a small mistake ruined the lap.

Meanwhile, Rossi - who lost the 2006 world title by falling at Valencia, then saw second in the 2007 world championship slip away when his M1 broke down at the same venue last season - suffered further Valencia drama on Friday, finishing an uncharacteristic 13th in morning practice and then falling from his Fiat Yamaha in the afternoon session.

The recently crowned six time MotoGP champion, chasing his tenth win of the season on Sunday, was holding third when the rear of his machine suddenly spun-out on entry to the off-camber final corner, with 18 minutes remaining.

Rossi slid away unharmed and, after a failed attempt to bump-start his machine, returned to the pits for his spare bike. The #46 returned to the track in the closing stages but couldn't prevent rookie team-mate Jorge Lorenzo - riding with a special Lorenzo's Land livery - nudging him down to fourth during the final minute.

Stoner, who escaped injury during a fast highside this morning, led the afternoon session from the 15th to the 28th minute, when Rossi briefly took control, before setting into fourth - a position he yielded to Lorenzo in the final minutes.

Future Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, who took his first MotoGP podium last weekend in Malaysia, was sixth fastest for JiR Team Scot, with Honda LCR's Randy de Puniet 0.283sec slower and the first rider outside one second of Hayden.

Sylvain Guintoli should have been celebrating an impressive eighth on the opening day of his final weekend before moving to BSB, but the Alice rider fell awkwardly with four minutes to go and had to be carried out of the gravel by marshals after sustaining a leg injury.

The Frenchman's accident concluded a dour day for Alice, an angry Toni Elias having been unceremoniously dumped from his Ducati after 22 minutes and - although unharmed - appeared not to have returned thereafter, leaving him 18th and last.

The leading Suzuki rider was Chris Vermeulen in a lower than expected eleventh, while John Hopkins got the better of rain master team-mate Anthony West to lead the Kawasaki challenge in 14th.

Valencia - Free practice times

2008-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Like FP1, this afternoon's session was also wet and saw accidents for Valentino Rossi, Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli.

Rossi and Elias escaped injury, but Guintoli had to helped away by marshals with apparent leg damage.

1. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 45.777 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (B) 1min 45.864 sec
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 45.959 sec
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 46.070 sec
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 46.260 sec
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 46.522 sec
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 46.807 sec
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 47.055 sec
9. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 47.314 sec
10. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 47.483 sec
11. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 47.620 sec
12. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 48.015 sec
13. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 48.437 sec
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 48.469 sec
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 48.504 sec
16. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 48.771 sec
17. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 49.092 sec
18. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 51.871 sec

2007 Valencian GP - 4/11/2007:
Pole position: Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (M) 1min 31.517sec
Fastest lap: Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (M) 1min 32.748sec

Support young Arsenal team, says Arsene Wenger

2008-10-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Speaking at Thursday’s annual meeting, Wenger began his address by jokingly comparing the silence in the room to the crowd at the Emirates Stadium against Everton last Saturday, and then bluntly told shareholders that the players’ achievements deserved greater appreciation.

“When you have such a young team, you have to be intelligent,” he said. “Instead of showing resentment, we have to believe in our team. The structure of our team is fantastic, but very young.

“That means that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. But the younger you are, the more you need support. I am personally very proud. At the moment I do not feel that either from the media or our supporters this team gets the support it deserves.

“That is why I think they need a stronger guide than ever and I want to get this team to deliver not next year, but this year.”

Wenger’s comments followed questions from shareholders about the team’s sometimes over-elaborate style, the failure to win a trophy since 2005 and also the transfer policy.

“I feel the club is well managed financially and I am very proud that we live within the resources we create from our own business and we do not need external income, because I feel that is very important for the future of the club,” Wenger said.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said that decisions on whether to strengthen the squad would be taken by Wenger and pointed out that the annual wage bill was now in excess of £100 million.

Despite losing Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb during the summer, Wenger believes that he will keep the core of the squad together in the long term. “I’m confident we can keep at least 90 per cent of the players and keep continuity,” he said. “I would like to show you letters of players who’ve left us and how much they would like to come back. We want to win at the end of the season and if we feel that signings are needed in January to accomplish this, we will do so.”

The need to invest may also be tempered by news that Eduardo, the Croatia forward, is due to make an early return to training from his horrific ankle injury.

“Eduardo is three weeks away,” Wenger said. “What I mean by this is joining in with a normal training session. After that he has to come back to match fitness – but he is ahead of where we expected him to be.”

Tomas Rosicky is not likely to return from a hamstring problem until January, although William Gallas and Kolo Toure could be in the squad to face West Ham on Sunday.

Along with Herbert Chapman and Denis Hill-Wood, a bronze bust was unveiled yesterday of Wenger at the club’s Emirates Stadium and his popularity was underlined by the willingness of fans to accept his criticisms. “The atmosphere at the Emirates sometimes needs galvanising,” said a spokesman for the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust. “Sometimes we forget how young our players are, given their quality.”