Fergie Fosters England ambition for keeper
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Ben Foster can become England's first-choice goalkeeper now he has fully recovered from a knee operation.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Fergie Fosters England ambition for keeper
Fergie Fosters England ambition for keeper
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Ben Foster can become England's first-choice goalkeeper now he has fully recovered from a knee operation.
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Ben Foster can become England's first-choice goalkeeper now he has fully recovered from a knee operation.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is hopeful striker Didier Drogba will follow his lead and agree a new contact at Stamford Bridge.
Ghana international Essien agreed a five-year contract on Tuesday ahead of Chelsea's opening pre-season match in China on Wednesday, while Ivory Coast frontman Drogba remained in London to recover from a persistent knee injury.
"Hopefully things will work out for Didier because we need him to stay," said Essien. "If he can make up his mind it will be good for us. He knows what he wants so it is up to him."
Essien, who arrived from Lyon in 2005, will remain at Stamford Bridge until 2013 and follows quickly in the footsteps of full-back Wayne Bridge and goalkeeper Petr Cech in agreeing new contracts with the London club.
He has so far made 143 appearances for the Blues, scoring on 14 occasions, while also winning the Premier League title in his first season.
"I am really pleased to sign a new contract with Chelsea," added the 25-year-old. "I came here to stay longer, I like the team and I love the fans and I think we have got a great squad. I did not consider any other options, I love playing for Chelsea."
And having committed his future to the club shortly after arriving in China ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, Essien hopes the trip will be the start of a bright future for last season's Barclays Premier League and Champions League runners-up under new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The former Portugal coach took over from Avram Grant following Euro 2008 and is already attempting to make his mark on the squad after speaking of building a new philosophy, and was seen taking an active part in training at Guangzhou's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
"We have one of the best coaches in the world," said Essien. "He has a different way of working so hopefully things will work for us."
Ghana international Essien agreed a five-year contract on Tuesday ahead of Chelsea's opening pre-season match in China on Wednesday, while Ivory Coast frontman Drogba remained in London to recover from a persistent knee injury.
"Hopefully things will work out for Didier because we need him to stay," said Essien. "If he can make up his mind it will be good for us. He knows what he wants so it is up to him."
Essien, who arrived from Lyon in 2005, will remain at Stamford Bridge until 2013 and follows quickly in the footsteps of full-back Wayne Bridge and goalkeeper Petr Cech in agreeing new contracts with the London club.
He has so far made 143 appearances for the Blues, scoring on 14 occasions, while also winning the Premier League title in his first season.
"I am really pleased to sign a new contract with Chelsea," added the 25-year-old. "I came here to stay longer, I like the team and I love the fans and I think we have got a great squad. I did not consider any other options, I love playing for Chelsea."
And having committed his future to the club shortly after arriving in China ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, Essien hopes the trip will be the start of a bright future for last season's Barclays Premier League and Champions League runners-up under new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The former Portugal coach took over from Avram Grant following Euro 2008 and is already attempting to make his mark on the squad after speaking of building a new philosophy, and was seen taking an active part in training at Guangzhou's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
"We have one of the best coaches in the world," said Essien. "He has a different way of working so hopefully things will work for us."
Monday, 21 July 2008
THESE girls are bi-keen-i to break a record...
THESE girls are bi-keen-i to break a record...
More than 300 women braved the unpredictable British summer weather today as they attempted to break a world record for the most bikini-clad women ever photographed together.
But, despite 320 women stripping down to their swimwear on Redcar beach, in Cleveland, the effort was not enough to get a place in the record books.
The fundraising event, organised by the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, failed to beat the current Guinness World Record, set in September last year on Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, when 1,010 women posed together in their bikinis.
However, it is still expected that the record attempt will have raised thousands of pounds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, through £5 entry fees and sponsorship.
More than 300 women braved the unpredictable British summer weather today as they attempted to break a world record for the most bikini-clad women ever photographed together.
But, despite 320 women stripping down to their swimwear on Redcar beach, in Cleveland, the effort was not enough to get a place in the record books.
The fundraising event, organised by the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, failed to beat the current Guinness World Record, set in September last year on Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, when 1,010 women posed together in their bikinis.
However, it is still expected that the record attempt will have raised thousands of pounds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, through £5 entry fees and sponsorship.
Sunday, 20 July 2008
McFLY are locked in a battle
McFLY are locked in a battle for No1 in the singles chart this weekend – thanks to a sneaky sales ploy.
The lads are desperate for a chart-topper with One For The Radio after ditching major label Island to set up Super Records.
And in an attempt to snatch the top spot, they have come up with a plan which could TRIPLE their sales.
While TOM FLETCHER, DANNY JONES, DOUGIE POYNTER and HARRY JUDD haven’t broken any chart rules, it’s not really in the spirit of a fair chart fight.
It works like this.
The lads have produced three CD singles of the track. Each features different exclusive material, meaning die-hard fans will want to get their hands on all three versions.
Through deals on their website and in some High Street stores, the three CDs are available for a single price — HMV shoppers can snap up the full set for a bargain £4.
But that purchase would count as three separate sales, as each CD is registered separately with The Official UK Charts Company.
So that’s three prized ticks in the chart run-down box instead of just one.
It’s a canny marketing move — and one that has been used by other acts in the past.
But it has infuriated current chart-topper DIZZEE RASCAL. His joint effort with CALVIN HARRIS, Dance Wiv Me, is on the brink of being ousted from top spot.
The lads are desperate for a chart-topper with One For The Radio after ditching major label Island to set up Super Records.
And in an attempt to snatch the top spot, they have come up with a plan which could TRIPLE their sales.
While TOM FLETCHER, DANNY JONES, DOUGIE POYNTER and HARRY JUDD haven’t broken any chart rules, it’s not really in the spirit of a fair chart fight.
It works like this.
The lads have produced three CD singles of the track. Each features different exclusive material, meaning die-hard fans will want to get their hands on all three versions.
Through deals on their website and in some High Street stores, the three CDs are available for a single price — HMV shoppers can snap up the full set for a bargain £4.
But that purchase would count as three separate sales, as each CD is registered separately with The Official UK Charts Company.
So that’s three prized ticks in the chart run-down box instead of just one.
It’s a canny marketing move — and one that has been used by other acts in the past.
But it has infuriated current chart-topper DIZZEE RASCAL. His joint effort with CALVIN HARRIS, Dance Wiv Me, is on the brink of being ousted from top spot.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
ARSENE WENGER has blamed Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy last season on Lady Luck.
ARSENE WENGER has blamed Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy last season on Lady Luck.
The griping Gunners boss claims the 2007-08 campaign was by far the “unluckiest” of all his 12 seasons in charge in north London.
Wenger’s men were third in the Premier League and reached the Champions League last eight.
But the Frenchman claims that his team’s dreams were scuppered by injuries to many of their key players and by poor refereeing decisions.
Asked if last season was his unluckiest at Arsenal, Wenger replied: “It was by far — with the decisions and injuries.
''At some stages you could not believe how bad it was. But you have to deal with that.”
Wenger’s side kick off their pre-season today at near neighbours Barnet.
The griping Gunners boss claims the 2007-08 campaign was by far the “unluckiest” of all his 12 seasons in charge in north London.
Wenger’s men were third in the Premier League and reached the Champions League last eight.
But the Frenchman claims that his team’s dreams were scuppered by injuries to many of their key players and by poor refereeing decisions.
Asked if last season was his unluckiest at Arsenal, Wenger replied: “It was by far — with the decisions and injuries.
''At some stages you could not believe how bad it was. But you have to deal with that.”
Wenger’s side kick off their pre-season today at near neighbours Barnet.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
North London drug smuggle teens to be freed from a Ghanaian prison today
Two British teenagers jailed in Ghana for drug-smuggling are due to be freed today after spending a year behind bars.
Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both 17 and from north London, were given 12-month sentences by a court in Accra after their arrests last July for drug-smuggling.
According to the legal charity Fair Trials International, which is supporting the pair, they expect to be released today and hope to return home to the UK by the end of the month.
The girls had hoped to be released in April as the Ghanaian prison authorities have the discretion to take three months off a 12-month sentence.
But only a few days before they had hoped to walk free, they were told they would serve their sentences in full.
The pair were arrested on July 2 at Kotoka Airport in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
Some 13lb (6kg) of cocaine - said to have a street value of about £300,000 - was found in two laptop computer bags in their luggage.
Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both 17 and from north London, were given 12-month sentences by a court in Accra after their arrests last July for drug-smuggling.
According to the legal charity Fair Trials International, which is supporting the pair, they expect to be released today and hope to return home to the UK by the end of the month.
The girls had hoped to be released in April as the Ghanaian prison authorities have the discretion to take three months off a 12-month sentence.
But only a few days before they had hoped to walk free, they were told they would serve their sentences in full.
The pair were arrested on July 2 at Kotoka Airport in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
Some 13lb (6kg) of cocaine - said to have a street value of about £300,000 - was found in two laptop computer bags in their luggage.