Brunei Delights and Liverpool fan

Kaka rules out a move to Madrid or the Premier League

2009-04-21T23:45:00.003+08:00

Kaka reiterated his desire to stay with Milan when asked yet again about new rumours linking him with a move to either Real Madrid or Manchester United.The Brazilian superstar has had to state his intention to stay at the San Siro on several occasions since a move to Manchester City did not materialise in January.

The media have consistently claimed that Milan's willingness to speak to the Premier League club is a sign that they may consider another huge bid.

He is enjoying life at Milan and is not seeking a move away. Said Kaka:

“I have already said and already shown that I am committed to this club so there is nothing else to add,” Kaka told the Italian media.

“I truly enjoy myself at San Siro and I am happy with the support I receive here,” he concluded.

Chelsea’s FA Cup celebrations get violent

2009-04-21T23:35:00.002+08:00

CHELSEA players avoided a bloodbath by minutes when they celebrated booking their place in the FA Cup Final. Stars including Frank Lampard, 30, John Terry, 28, and Joe Cole, 27, left a West End club just moments before a gruesome fight broke out.

One woman was left covered in blood after being hit on the head with a wine bottle. The Blues heroes had been celebrating their 2-1 win over London rivals Arsenal at the trendy Movida nightclub.

Goalscorer Didier Drogba, 31, mid-fielder Michael Essien, 26, and striker Salomon Kalou, 23, joined the English players as they partied until just after 4am.

One witness told the Daily Star last night: “Just after 4am, when the club closes, the players came out and went off in cars.

German Soccer Team Energie Cottbus Refunds Money To Fans After Sucking Against Schalke 04

2009-04-21T23:29:00.002+08:00

Even the most devoted fans have their limits. That’s why German Bundesliga soccer club Energie Cottbus refunded money to 600 of their fans, knowing their patience might be a bit tested.

The 600 fans had traveled to Gelsenkirchen from their homes in Cottbus, a journey of almost 400 miles, in order to watch Energie Cottbus play Schalke 04. They would have enjoyed the match much more had Energie Cottbus sent their players on the road trip as well. Schalke 04 won the match 4-0.

The loss was Energie Cottbus’ 6th in their last 7 matches, and the team is now the 2nd worst in the Bundesliga and facing relegation.

The club notified their fans of the refund by sending out a press release titled, “Sorry.” In the press release, the team said, “”By refunding the cost of admission for their supporters, the red and whites would like to apologise for the pitiful performance which they displayed at the Veltins Arena.”

Judging by how bad this season has gone, the team might want to consider offering season ticket refunds as well.

Liverpool v Arsenal Team News

2009-04-21T12:50:00.002+08:00

Liverpool entertain Arsenal on Tuesday evening with no injury concerns other than Steven Gerrard who it was already known would miss the match after aggravating his groin injury in the build up to last week's Champions League clash with Chelsea.

Arsenal on the other hand have a litany of concerns and are already without strike pairing Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor. Leading scorer van Persie has a groin problem Adebayor picked up a hamstring injury during the FA Cup semi-final over the weekend. Brazilian born Croatian forward Eudardo is likely to feature.

Manuel Almunia has failed to recover from a knock to his ankle which kept him on the sidelines at Wembley. Lukasz Fabianski is set to stand in once more.

Defensive trio Gael Clichy, Johan Djourou and William Gallas are also missing- he latter two with knee injuries. The Gunners can welcome back Bacary Sagna after a virus.

Teams:

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Skrtel, Dossena, Aurelio, Insua, Benayoun, Riera, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Ngog, El Zhar, Cavalieri.

Arsenal (from): Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Walcott, Bendtner, Eduardo, Mannone, Eboue, Nasri, Diaby, Vela, Denilson, Ramsey.

Ten things you should know about....Liverpool

2009-04-20T22:09:00.006+08:00

1. The club was founded in 1892 and quickly became a strong force in English football, wining five league championships between 1900 and 1947.

2. Legendary manager Bill Shankly took over the club in 1959 when the club were in the Second Division and on his arrival he released 24 players.

3. After winning promotion to the top flight, Shankly won three league championships, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup.

4. But Bob Paisley is the club’s most successful manager, winning 21 trophies including three European Cups, six league titles and the League Cup in three successive seasons.

5. The current club badge is based on the city’s liver bird, which is placed inside a shield. Above the shield is a representation of the Shankly Gates with the title of the club’s famous anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

6. Ian Callaghan holds the club appearance record standing at 857 between 1958 and 1978.

7. Ian Rush is the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 346 between 1980 and 1987 and 1988 to 1996, although Roger Hunt has scored the most league goals.

8. Liverpool were the first British club to have sponsorship on their shirts after agreeing a deal with Hitachi in 1979.

9. Player-manager Kenny Dalglish won the Double in his first season in charge in 1985-86.

10. Liverpool’s European Cup winning captain Emlyn Hughes was nicknamed ‘Crazy Horse’.

Source: Givemefootball.com

Alex Ferguson showed arrogance and contempt for the FA Cup

2009-04-20T20:48:00.004+08:00

Some men, through their deeds, are untouchable in the press. Winston Churchill achieved it after the Second World War. Bill Clinton seemed to don a Teflon skin in his near impeachment of the 1990s.

And now, it seems, Alex Ferguson has joined this elite group.

It is still early days following the Manchester United elimination from the FA Cup, but articles criticising the pugnacious Scot are few and far between. However, his conduct in the week preceding the match, and his example set during it, surely has to come under scrutiny.

Two weeks ago, Ferguson questioned Rafa Benitez's logic in bringing up Manchester United in a prematch meeting with the press before the European tie with Chelsea. He commented, "He's got a European tie (against Chelsea) and he's talking about Alex Ferguson. Fantastic! I didn't know I was that important!"

He is quick to offer opinion on the actions of others, but it seems he is not so keen on taking his own advice.

Not a week later, he returned the favour by criticising Benitez ahead of Man Utd's cup semi-final against Everton. Fergie refuted a comment made by Benitez two years ago that the Toffees weren't a big club, then called the Reds boss "beyond the pale" in his somewhat ambiguous hand gestures during Liverpool's 4-0 drubbing of Blackburn. An impressive tirade from the master of mind games and a lofty position to take, having alleged that the Liverpool gaffer is arrogant and, to quote the Scot, a man that showed contempt to a fellow manager.

Step forward to Sunday's semi-final in the FA Cup.

A competition steeped in history, but struggling to maintain its former glory. Played at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. Travelled to by thousands of Manchester United fans, each paying in the region of £100 for tickets and travel, before taking into account match day costs at the ground. Playing against a team that Ferguson himself argued was a big club.

Yet, his team selection showed the same arrogance and dismissiveness he accused his bitter rival of during the week. By only selecting two members of the first team, Ferguson showed a complete and utter lack of respect not only to Everton Football Club, but to the FA Cup, the world's oldest footballing competition and a symbol of our nation's game.

Not only that, but it was a slap in the face to his own supporters who had paid a significant sum and travelled many miles to see their best side fight for a place in the showpiece final of English football. What they got was an insipid performance from a youth team that barely warranted the 0-0 scoreline and defamed the occasion.

We all know the arguments that he has to rest players for other competitions. This, however, is not a game that one should rest players for. A semi-final in the Champions League wouldn't and won't get the same treatment, of that you can be sure.

This is not the first time he has tarnished the name of this great competition, either, having famously withdrawn Man Utd from the 1999-2000 cup to play in the World Club Championship, a move that attracted criticism at the time but has since faded into history.

Ice fishing in South Korea

2009-04-20T15:45:00.003+08:00

Former Red hails new 'Super Sub'

2009-04-20T13:34:00.004+08:00

David Fairclough has praised Yossi Benayoun for his impressive form in recent weeks.

The Israeli international has come off the bench to turn around a few games of late and the legend who was nicknamed 'Super Sub' for his similar abilities in the 70's and 80's believes he is a key player in Rafael Benitez's side.

"People like Benayoun are weighing in with goals and playing a key part in winning us games," Fairclough told the lfconline.com.

"Yossi deserves a pat on the back. I think his form for us has been very impressive. He has scored some key goals and he looks like he is enjoying his football.

"He looks comfortable and he is a key part of our squad. It's a good sign that a lot of our players in the squad are looking comfortable and confident."

Carra to become Liverpool new League number thirteen

2009-04-20T13:22:00.005+08:00

Jamie Carragher, the reds' current longest serving player, is set to move up one place for the number of League games played for the club to become Liverpool all-time #13, assuming he turns out against Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday.

This will be his 393rd Premiership game for Liverpool - more than sixty outings ahead of his nearest current challenger, skipper Steven Gerrard. He has bagged just four goals in these League matches.

Jamie signed on as a pro in September 1996, and is currently contracted with the club until 2011. He made his League bow as a substitute in our goalless home draw with West Ham United in January 1997, having remained on the bench on four other occasions earlier that season. He played in just one more League game during that campaign, when he netted against Aston Villa in his first start.

After twenty League outings in 1997/98, he established himself as a regular, missing just eighteen League fixtures in the next five seasons. However, his 2003/04 was affected by a broken leg at Blackburn Rovers in September, and he could only turn out 22 times in the League.

He was an ever-present in the Premiership for the first time in 2004/05, and has since missed just eight League matches, with Rafael Benítez rarely rotating him out of the team.

Carra's 393rd League game will draw him level with left-back Donald Mackinlay in thirteenth place in the club's all-time League appearance ranking. He starred for the reds between 1910 and 1929, scoring 33 League goals, including one struck spectacularly from ten yards inside his own half at West Ham United in January 1926! He skippered us to two League titles, and also played in our first FA Cup Final in 1914.

It will take a further 37 Premiership games before the 31-year old Bootle lad can break into the club's all-time Top 10 League appearance holders, and he would then still be more than 200 League games behind Ian Callaghan, who is likely to forever remain the Liverpool player who tops the appearance charts.

Source: YNWA

They wanted some privacy but.....

2009-04-19T23:21:00.002+08:00

So, was Allardyce really offended by Rafa's hand gestures...?

2009-04-19T22:22:00.008+08:00

The Daily Mail has revealed that Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce had a drink with Liverpool No 2 Sammy Lee after his side’s 4-0 defeat at Anfield last weekend without mentioning that he had been offended by a gesture from Rafa Benitez.

The conversation over a couple of beers casts doubt over Allardyce’s claim that he was humiliated by Benitez after Fernando Torres scored Liverpool’s second goal.The Blackburn manager claimed on Friday he had tried to seek out Benitez for an explanation. He said: ‘I was hugely disappointed by those gestures. I think they were disrespectful and quite humiliating. The feeling was that he had written us off. It was open arms and then a crossover of the arms as if to suggest that was it.’

Barnes: Exit Won't Affect Liverpool

2009-04-19T22:06:00.003+08:00

Liverpool legend John Barnes does not believe the midweek Champions League exit at Chelsea will have a major effect on his former club's title hopes.

It had been suggested the dramatic defeat could harm the team's morale going into the closing stages of the season, but Barnes disagrees.

He told Football Pools.com: "With few games to go in all the competitions, I'm not sure it will have that big an impact.

"The players won't have lost any confidence despite their exit and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they achieved maximum points from their remaining league games.

"They have the chance to return to the top of the table on Tuesday if they can beat in-form Arsenal but I wouldn't say that gives Liverpool a psychological advantage.

"After all, they've done the same twice recently only for United to win their following game and take back top spot.

"It's all about keeping the pressure on United game by game in the hope they crack.

"Perhaps the extra rest between games will help them do that but I'm not sure it will be a major issue in the title race with so few games left to play."

Busy summer for Liverpool's Spanish stars

2009-04-19T16:48:00.004+08:00

Fernando Torres looks set to face a busy summer of football with little time for a summer break, after the Merseyside club announced plans to tour Thailand in July.

Torres is already set to play for Spain in the Confederations Cup in South Africa in June and may now have to report back to Liverpool shortly afterwards as the club plan to travel to Asia for a pre-season tour.

Despite current political unrest in the country, the Anfield outfit are reportedly in negotiations to play a series of games in Thailand, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The paper claims that an announcement will be made this week about the tour, which should see the club play the Thailand national team, managed by former Everton midfielder Peter Reid, in Bangkok on July 22.

Liverpool will then move on to Singapore to play another game, four days later, in a tour that should prove, financially, very lucrative for the club.

However, the timing of the trip, which follows the Confederations Cup, means that Torres will have little time to rest during the summer, which may cause anxiety at the club particularly as the striker has endured an injury-plagued season at Anfield.

He has managed only 15 Premier League starts this season, yet has still hit an impressive 11 goals.

Of course, Torres is not the only Liverpool player who this will affect, as the Reds boast several Spanish internationals who are also expected to play in the Confederations Cup.

Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arebloa will join Torres in South Africa and may also have to endure very little time off this summer.

2010 Fisker Karma

2009-04-19T15:33:00.003+08:00

Fisker is the world's first premium 'plug-in' electric hybrid and it has been in development since 2007 for a market launch in Q4 of 2010. Based out of California, Fisker has built the Karma with partner Quantum Technologies and hopes to offer the electric car for just $80,400 after US government tax deductions.

With regenerative brakes, a functional solar roof and lithium-ion batteries, the Karma is a complicated car. It uses a Ford Ecotec Inline-4 to generate electricity over long distances but that doesn't kick in until 50 gasoline-free miles have elapsed.

2009 Top Marques Monaco

2009-04-19T14:44:00.003+08:00

Top Marques Monaco is dedicated to custom coachwork and the highest levels of engineering, many incredible supercars are currently on display at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

All the best tuners are present. Gemballa brought out four cars, including Mirage #16 and a new Cayenne-based SUV called the Tornado. Mansory has their carbon-fiber wrapped Veyron and PPI brought out a set of Audi R8-based Razors.

Some of the very best supercars from Pagani, Koenigsegg, Weissman, Apollo, RUF and Fisker are also present. Please check out the comprehensive gallery by Loic Kernen which extensively features the a.d. Tramontana R-Edition.

Kenny Dalglish set for Anfield return

2009-04-19T13:04:00.002+08:00

Reports suggest Kenny Dalglish may be in line to make a return to Liverpool Football Club just over 18 years after leaving the club.

Anfield boss Rafael Benitez is understood to have sounded out his 58 year old predecessor about joining his staff with a roving brief between the academy, Melwood as well as the first team.

Benitez's recent contract negotiations saw him claim more responsibility over various facets of the club.

Preliminary talks are understood to have gone well. Dalglish has been a long term advocate of the manager and not only his methods but track record.

Benitez is also known to be an admirer of Dalglish as a player not to mention his achievements while in the Anfield hotseat.

If an agreement can be reached it will be the Liverpool legend's first active involvement in football since leaving Celtic where he was a Director of Football as well as interim manager until the summer of 2000.

Vidic still recovering from Torres trauma

2009-04-19T12:50:00.004+08:00

Manchester United's seemingly-solid defender Nemanja Vidic will now always be remembered for his error which opened the way for Liverpool's great triumph.

"Obviously it is going to follow you for your career when it happens in a big game like against Liverpool, and you're never going to forget," Vidic said. "I like to look back, when I play well and when I play bad, I like to watch the games and improve every part of my game. That game, obviously I'd like to have cleared the ball straight away. When the game is finished you know these things but you take these things and try next time not to do the same thing."

Whose house?

2009-04-19T02:57:00.003+08:00

Source: Livejournal

Fernando's new ad

2009-04-19T02:51:00.003+08:00

CLICK HERE..

Ryan Giggs has not been one of the best six players in the Premier League this season

2009-04-19T02:36:00.004+08:00

Ryan Giggs is a wonderful football player. He is still a joy to watch and he still has a part to play for Manchester United: an old head who has been there and done that as United seek to make history this season. But has he really been the best player in the league this season?

Arsene Wenger: We are ready

2009-04-17T14:33:00.003+08:00

Arsene Wenger insisted Arsenal are ready for Manchester United - and then promised another Champions League thriller.

Gunners boss Wenger was in confident mood after his brilliant young side destroyed Villarreal with a stunning victory at the Emirates.

Wenger also believes Arsenal can serve up a repeat of Chelsea's European classic with Liverpool in their two- legged semi- final with old rivals United.

"It could be another game like that," said Wenger.

"I believe both teams, Manchester United and Arsenal, always produce very exciting games. Both teams like to go forward and it will be a promising semi- final.

"We are up for the challenge and it will be very interesting. It's a cup competition of 180 minutes and what's more important is the form on the day. Both teams have the same programme - a game in hand to play, an FA Cup semi- final, so how much we are physically okay might have an impact.

“I watched the Liverpool and Chelsea and you can’t say that those who love football can’t want to watch that game.

Ryan Giggs mistreated by Porto midfielder

2009-04-17T14:08:00.003+08:00

Anderson can hardly believe what he is seeing

Ryan Giggs found out exactly why the Estadio do Dragao has such a fearsome reputation.

Top 10 conclusions Champions League quarter finals 15 April

2009-04-17T12:10:00.004+08:00

1. The only person changing colour and taking on the persona of a monster was Sir Alex Ferguson, not Hulk.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo has clearly rediscovered his Champions League shooting boots. That was a peach!

3. Nerve-settling early goals were the order of the day.

4. Nemanja Vidic is not a striker. His terrible miss from five yards out ought to have made the evening a lot less nail-biting.

5. Dimitar Berbatov has been giving Cristiano Ronaldo lessons in sulky celebrations.

6. It is time to get excited about Theo Walcott, part three. He seems to be picking up where he left off before his injury now that his match fitness is returning.

More Brazil Nuts: Guaratingueta president Carlos Arini confronts the ref

2009-04-17T11:39:00.006+08:00

Earlier in the week, Brazil of Comercial coach Pedro Santilli assaulting both an opposition player and the referee. And now lightening has struck twice, with Guaratingueta president Carlos Arini going head to head with referee Wallace Nascimento Valente during last Thursday’s Copa do Brasil match with Atletico MG.

The controversy blew up just before the halftime break.

Trailing 1-nil to a second minute goal from Guaru, Atletico MG were awarded a penalty just before the break after ref Valente erred in deciding against Guaratingueta keeper Juninho after a coming together with opposition striker Diego Tadell.

Bearing down on goal, Tadell attempted to take the ball around the keeper, only for the number one to dive at the forward’s feet managing to get both hands onto the ball and avert the danger. But with Tadell tumbling to the floor the match officials made a poor call in blowing up for a penalty, showing the red card to Juninho, before the spot-kick was duly dispatched by the visitors’ number 9.

It was all too much for Guaratingueta’s president Carlos Arini, who proceeded to burst onto the pitch at the break charging straight for the match officials to vent his anger after seeing his side victimised. Enraged, Arini refused to be controlled as both his own Guaratingueta players and the fourth official tried desperately to calm down the owner. For their part, the officials gaggled together under the watchful protection of local armed police.

A stand-off ensued, Arini hurling a barrage of abuse at the referee including calling the man in black a “thief” and shouting that Valente had “no shame” for his poor decision, before eventually being man-handled off the pitch as order was slowly restored.

The match ended 2-all.

Source: 101 Great Goals

Rafa's 'crushing machine': The proven way to win arguments and titles

2009-04-17T09:26:00.004+08:00

"Valencia were an implacable steamroller. They were like boxers who pinned their opponents to the rope and wouldn't stop until they had annihilated them. The tremendous intensity of their play earned them the nickname 'The Crushing Machine'." Sound familiar...?

Taken from the book 'Rafa Benitez' by Paco Llloret, this quote will resonate with any Liverpool fans who remember the sense of optimism buzzing around the club when it was announced that Rafa was to leave Valencia and become Liverpool's manager.

Senor Benitez had taken on Real Madrid's Galácticos and Barcelona's free-flowing style of football, and lead Valencia to their first league title in thirty one years. Now he was about to take on the task of guiding our club’s future and the hope was that he could do the same for Liverpool.

The key difference is that Valencia had been in two Champions League finals and had a squad already filled with quality. They just needed to apply themselves better, and under Rafa's astute guidance, they did so.

I've done a great deal of homework about Rafa, none more so then when we won the Champions League. I wanted to learn about things such as his childhood and his career as a semi-professional in Spain's second tier.

Cascarino: Forget United Stars, Gerrard Should Win PFA Award ‘Hands Down’

2009-04-17T01:02:00.002+08:00

The PFA nominees were announced this week with some surprising names picked in my opinion. Edwin van der Sar may have broken clean-sheet records with Manchester United this season but if I was going to pick a keeper amongst the final 6 choices then it wouldn’t have been the Dutchman. Liverpool’s Jose Reina or Aston Villa’s Brad Friedel would have been ahead of him as they’ve performed far better than Van der Sar in my opinion.

It’s been a strange old season really in terms of big players not really performing as usual over the course of the campaign. There are no Chelsea players amongst the nominees and to be fair it’s hard to pick out anyone who has excelled consistently at the Bridge. Then there’s Arsenal, their usual candidates such as Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas have both struggled with injury. Therefore, it’s no surprise the final 6 are dominated by mainly Manchester United players.

Baby animals

2009-04-17T00:48:00.003+08:00

Torres ready to commit to Liverpool

2009-04-16T23:56:00.004+08:00

Fernando Torres has hinted he is ready to commit his long-term future to Liverpool after revealing how much he loves life at Anfield.

Torres has been touched by the affection shown to him by Liverpool fans since moving to Merseyside from Atletico Madrid in 2007. The 25-year-old, who has scored 47 times in almost two seasons with the Reds, is idolised just as much as local heroes Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and is keen to repay their faith.

It is believed Torres is in the early stages of negotiations over a contract extension and a new deal could be concluded in the close-season. "I would love to remain at Liverpool for many seasons to come. I feel at home here. I still have this season plus another four years left to run on my contract," Torres said on his website F9T

What a bad day!

2009-04-16T23:49:00.001+08:00

Strange statues around the world

2009-04-16T21:00:00.010+08:00

1.The Shark

The Shark became the most famous resident of Headington when it landed in the roof of 2 New High Street on 9 August 1986. This ordinary home (built as a semi-detached house in about 1860 but now attached by a link to a second house to the north) suddenly became the centre of world attention, and the headless shark still excites interest today. Location: 2 New High Street, Headington, Oxford

2. The Magic tap

Magic tap, which appears to float in the sky with an endless supply of water. In actuality, there is a pipe hidden in the stream of water. Location: Aqualand, Cadiz

3. La Trobe

A contemporary representation of Charles La Trobe in central Melbourne (This temporary installation was removed at the end of June 2006 and has been acquired by La Trobe University). Location: Melbourne

4. Potsdam

Location: Potsdam

5. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

6. Man at work in Bratislava

This bronze statue is located in the pedestrian zone of Bratislava. Rub its nose, and you will have fortune. I am sure many people believe in that as have a look at the nose, it looks badly rubbed. Location: Bratislava

7. The Fremont troll

The Fremont troll has been lurking under the north end of the Aurora bridge since 1990. He was sculpted by four Seattle area artists (Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead) for the Fremont Arts Council. The head-and-shoulders sculpture is 18-ft. tall. Location: Aurora bridge, Seattle, Washington

8. Melting cow

Found in a square in Budapest.

9. Eating a Biscuit together

Located in Seoul, Korea, in front of the Bukcheon Museum. Sculptor is Ku BomJu.

10. Los Angeles

I am sure we all feel like this on a Monday morning. This is what I call true to life art. Location: In front of the Ernst & Young building.

Cars made in Russia

2009-04-16T03:04:00.006+08:00

South African Company Leaves Obama In Stitches

2009-04-16T02:12:00.004+08:00

Adding to the relentless flurry of products emblazoned with Barack Obama’s image, a merchant in South Africa is selling brightly colored pillows, pouches, and rugs depicting the 44th President of the United States. Even his limo made its way onto the pattern with the words: “Hooray for the President.”

The most Bizarre and Unique Roofs

2009-04-16T01:41:00.006+08:00

Tongkonan are the traditional Torajan ancestral houses. They stand high on wooden piles, topped with a layered split-bamboo roof shaped in a sweeping curved arc, and they are incised with red, black, and yellow detailed wood carvings on the exterior walls. The word "tongkonan" comes from the Torajan tongkon ("to sit"). Tongkonan are the center of Torajan social life.

Casa Batlló Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain

Roof of the Core at the Eden Project, in Cornwall.

Up sided roof, at Seixal, Madeira

La Pedrera's roof

Meet Gaudi’s Casa Mila, more affectionately known as la Pedrera in Barcelona. The roofs of most buildings are stale and industrial, flat and square, dotted with aluminium vents and plain brick chimneys. Gaudi turned his vents and chimneys into sentinels who, through the narrow slits in their helmets, would keep permanent watch over the building’s residents. The undulating roof is tiled and dotted not only by the helmeted warriors, but also by several bulbous sculptures covered in a mosaic of white tiles.

Rocky roof, at San Clemente Piers

This proposed village for Heden, a sleepy cityblock in Sweden’s Gothenburg, has more than a touch of Hobbiton about it.

From the top of the Florian tower in Dortmund, Germany.

California’s Academy of Sciences (SF) is covered in rolling hills - the perfect place for students to grab their lunch in the sun.

Roof of Water Reservoir, Mina

One of the earliest strange but beautiful objects to be seen in Google Earth is the roof of Water Reservoir at Mina near holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The water reservoir caters to about 2 millions pilgrims who gather every year at Mina, during Hajj and it is covered by this huge reinforced concrete shell roof which has a diameter of 365 metres. It is one the largest cable-stayed concrete shell roofs in the world.

Brazilian Leaf Roof

Outside of Rio de Janeiro, on a beautiful little beach with amazing blue water, sits a little house with a flowering roof that shades and protects like a big tropical banana leaf. Designed by Mareines + Patalano, the open air abode is meant to encourage interaction and connection between man and nature. With verandas and open spaces in between rooms and no corridors, the tropical beach house is an ideal place for social gatherings and parties. The open layout also takes advantage of trade winds that blow in from the sea, providing natural ventilation and passive cooling.

Liverpool's Spirit Shines Through In Chelsea Epic

2009-04-16T01:14:00.001+08:00

When the dust has settled on this extraordinary Champions League tie, and when Liverpool fans overcome the despairs of seeing their side gift Chelsea goals, Reds fans must celebrate how valiantly their side fought in the second leg to push Chelsea all the way. The fact that they came so close to achieving one of the most remarkable comebacks of all time, on not one but two occasions, should be what supporters remember most, and not the mistakes that led to Chelsea’s resurgence at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool showed why they are feared so much in Europe with a display brimming with determination and passion for the red shirt. On another night they would have been the ones preparing to book flights to Spain for a mouth-watering semi-final with Barcelona.

If Jose Reina hadn’t spilled Didier Drogba’s flick into his own net shortly after half-time, swinging the momentum into Chelsea’s favour in the process, then it might have been Liverpool fans jumping up and down at the final whistle.

Barack Obama issues support for USA 2018 World Cup bid

2009-04-16T00:56:00.004+08:00

Barrack Obama has written to the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, to signal his support for the United States' hosting of either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. In the letter Obama also recalls his early ties to football during his time spent as a child in Indonesia.

“As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together.”

Roman Abramovich: Blind date

2009-04-16T00:21:00.003+08:00

Since Chelsea can’t seem to settle on a man to take over as the club’s manager for next season, Roman Abramovich came up with the novel idea of having a “Blind Date” style game show deep in the bowels of Stamford Bridge to finally decide who will be given the job. Abramovich and Peter Kenyon sat on one side of a partition, while the three candidates were on the other. The following is a transcript of the show, which was filmed before a live studio audience of intimidating bodyguards.

Pink Jacket: Hello and welcome to Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea Manager Blind Date. Mr. Abramovich will ask our three candidates a series of questions and based off their answers, he will choose which one he would like to lead Chelsea for at least the first few months of next season. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Mr. Abramovich?

Kenyon: (Abramovich whispers in his ear) Candidate #1, if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

Candidate #1: Eh…what is going on here? I don’t know where I am.

Kenyon: (Abramovich whispers) Ok. Candidate #2, same question.

Arshavin's wife: English food is dodgy but I couldn't stop him from joining Arsenal

2009-04-15T23:53:00.006+08:00

Yulia and the couple’s son and daughter moved permanently to London on Sunday after they found a home in London. ‘To prevent Andrey’s dream from coming true? It couldn’t even occur to me.’

Little Arshavins?!?! Absolute madness. I hope they grow up to be just like their crazy ass father.

Yuila had previously told the Russian media she did not like English food and found the British too reticent.

‘I don’t particularly like England,’ she said before the transfer. ‘In my opinion, people are too reserved and it’s dull there.’

Football Lookalike XI

2009-04-15T20:07:00.003+08:00

Some people literally spend their entire lives staring thoughtfully at pictures of Phil Neville or Wayne Rooney, pondering which particular screen monster they should lump them alongside this time. It’s a great way of becoming a popular face in football circles - a finely judged facial observation about Michael Ballack can diffuse fights in pubs, start chit chat that eventually leads to sex with hairdressers, or simply make your mates laugh until they vomit Becks Vier all over the pavement. With that in mind, we thought we’d compile our own well-observed team of football lookalikes… sick bags ready, people.

Centre Midfield, Frank Lampard

Never anything less than well turned out, Lampsie totters around a football pitch like a poodle walking into an exclusive dogs-only drinks party.

Centre Forward, Carlos Tevez

Up front, Tevez just nudges out his team mate Wayne Rooney, thanks to his startling resemblance to the handsome young actor who plays Ugly Betty in the sitcom Ugly Betty.

PFA Player Of The Year Shortlist Disgrace: No Lampard? No Alonso?

2009-04-15T19:00:00.002+08:00

The nominees for this season's PFA award were announced today and, much to my surprise, there is only one non-Manchester United player on the list: Steven Gerrard.

No doubt about it, he has had a great season and is deservedly there, but his fellow nominees leave a lot to be desired, to be honest.

I mean, who compiles these lists?

CL: Liverpool 4 - 4 Chelsea (5 - 7 Agg)

2009-04-15T18:07:00.005+08:00

Chelsea and Liverpool delivered a match last night that will be long remembered for its goals, comedy goalkeeping, tension and high drama. Chelsea made it through to the Champions League semi-finals, but Liverpool can be proud of their rousing and brave performance on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster that saw them come very close to overturning a 3-1 deficit from the first leg.

Martin Skrtel proving to be another fine Rafael Benitez signing

2009-04-15T02:36:00.003+08:00

Meanwhile, Brian Hall, a former player from the 1970s but now the club's PR manager, accompanies a small group having a look around. Nothing untoward here. Nothing to suggest Liverpool had just enjoyed a fantastic week, one that might well affect the next few years.

On the pitch, Real Madrid had been slain in the Champions League before Manchester United met a similar fate on their own patch. A few days later we hear Rafael Benitez has finally signed a new contract to end all the speculation.

CL : Liverpool v Chelsea Team news

2009-04-15T01:15:00.002+08:00

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to return to the side following a groin injury.

Javier Mascherano will also be back from suspension as the Anfield men look to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

Manager Rafael Benitez must decide whether to retain Daniel Agger in central defence, ahead of Martin Skrtel, after his goalscoring performance against Blackburn on Saturday.

Chelsea captain John Terry is suspended for the Champions League quarter-final return leg against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Terry misses out after collecting a yellow card for his challenge on Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina at Anfield.

Right-back Jose Bosingwa is expected to be sidelined because of hamstring trouble while Alex will replace Terry alongside Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of the defence.

Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are absent with knee ligament injuries.
Teams:

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Babel, Benayoun, Riera, Cavalieri, N'Gog.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Mancienne, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Obi, Kalou, Essien, Malouda, Di Santo, Anelka, Quaresma, Stoch, Drogba

10 Most Unique Lakes of the World

2009-04-15T00:54:00.005+08:00

1. Plitvice Lakes (Croatia): Sixteen Lakes interconnected by Spectacular Waterfalls

The Plitvice Lakes are a series of sixteen lakes interconnected by spectacular waterfalls, set in a deep woodland and populated by deers, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.

Recovery went wrong

2009-04-15T00:37:00.001+08:00

Bolivia's Witches' Market

2009-04-15T00:20:00.003+08:00

The Oddee's crew went - along with photographer Robert Dam - to one of the most bizarre street markets in South America. Located in the world's highest capital at 11,200 feet (3,400 meters), La Paz, the market over Calle Linares hosts a crowded line of unusual stores where witches, medicine women, folk doctors, astrologers, fortunetellers, and sorcerers live and work.

From Llama fetuses for prosperity, to toad talismans, owl feathers and stone amulets; meet Bolivia's Witches' Market.

New fashion for man..

2009-04-14T23:48:00.002+08:00

How to occupy a truck driver

2009-04-14T23:28:00.003+08:00

Funny moments in soccer

2009-04-14T22:35:00.005+08:00

Lookalike - bottle operner

2009-04-14T22:18:00.000+08:00

Polar Bear attack woman

2009-04-14T21:16:00.003+08:00

Steven Gerrard on shortlist for PFA Footballer of the Year

2009-04-14T20:30:00.003+08:00

Steven Gerrard is the only non-Manchester United player in the running for the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award.

The Liverpool captain is joined on the shortlist by United's Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar.

LFC

What are they doing?

2009-04-14T16:06:00.002+08:00

Lookalike

2009-04-14T01:31:00.004+08:00

Sergio Ramos Abandons Match, Attends Bullfight

2009-04-14T01:18:00.002+08:00

According to Marca, suspended Sergio Ramos skipped out on the second half of Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday so he could attend a bullfight featuring matador Alejandro Talavante, who is a friend of Ramos’.

The suavely mulleted defender apparently did not break any Real Madrid team rules, though, because all squad players are only required to be in the stadium for kickoff.

One man who was in attendance for the entire match, however, was Mr. David Beckham, who made his first return to the Bernabeu since leaving the club for Los Angeles in 2007. His reasons for being there are unclear, but there have been rumors that Davey could return to Real should former president Florentino Perez regain power. So it either has something to do with that, or he was simply in town to bang a few broads not named Victoria and thought he’d stop by the match between hump appointments.

Brawl breaks out in Turkish league game between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe

2009-04-14T01:07:00.002+08:00

Players from Istanbul's two biggest teams, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, fought each other Sunday in the final minutes of a tense derby match that ended in a 0-0 draw.

Games between archrivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are usually tense, but on Sunday both sides needed to win in order to remain in the race for Turkey's Super league title.

Arsenal boss Wenger: Liverpool Could Do the Impossible Comeback

2009-04-14T00:01:00.002+08:00

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced Liverpool are still in their Champions League tie with Chelsea.

Wenger said no-one should write off Liverpool, even though they were defeated 3-1 at Anfield by Chelsea.

Wenger said: "Arsenal v Villarreal and Manchester United v Porto are still to be decided. Barcelona looks to be through completely and Chelsea are in a strong position.

"But it is still to be decided because Liverpool can respond and be strong away from home.

"Everywhere you play at the moment you have to be completely 100%. If you are just a little bit off your best you get punished."

Brazil Nuts: Coach pushes over a player before punching the ref in the gob

2009-04-13T23:43:00.005+08:00

The incident comes from Sunday’s Paulista A2 meeting between Comercial Ribeirao Preto and Gremio Catanduvens, where Comercial coach Pedro Santilli appeared to lose all sense of reason as the manager began throwing his weight around pitch-side, leading to two separate assaults.

For an unknown reason, most likely seeing his side trailing to his opponents, Pedro Santilli lost his head midway through the second half.

A second ball appeared on the pitch which allowed Santilli an opportunity to run onto the turf. Returning with the ball in his arms, the mature coach deliberately barged into a Catanduvens player, the player immediately hurling himself to the ground after being clattered into by the surprise attack.

Looking to defuse the situation, the referee, Flavio Rodrigues de Souza, called Santilli over for a quiet word with the coach. But rather than apologise for his unprovoked attack, the coach went even further by punching the match official in his mouth.

Brilliantly Santilli did not wait to be dismissed, heading off the pitch with the ball still under his arm.

Premier League - Team of the week: Torres time

2009-04-13T21:46:00.002+08:00

Fernando Torres leads the line for our Premier League team of the week, while West Brom, Hull and Manchester City make generous contributions to the flops XI.

2009 New York Auto Show

2009-04-13T21:27:00.005+08:00

The New York Auto Show opens its doors, revealing multiple debuts and interesting supercars. Some other supercars to look out for in New York include the updated Spyker C8 Aileron and Steve Saleeen's SMS model lineup with the SMS Challenger 570 and 570X.

Spyker C8 Aileron

2009-04-13T20:26:00.003+08:00

Alonso: Liverpool can bridge the gap against Chelsea

2009-04-13T16:39:00.005+08:00

Xabi Alonso insists Liverpool can overcome their 3-1 Champions League deficit against Chelsea tomorrow night but will have to find the right balance between attack and defence if they are to triumph at Stamford Bridge. Alonso said:

"There is hope," but "We know it is going to be a very difficult task to score three goals, but as long as we have a little chance then we are going to try and fight for it and go there and try to do our best.

"I think that it will be the closest to perfect if we can go there, score three goals and beat them. We will need to have a very attacking mentality because we need to score a lot of goals. By the same way we can't go desperate all-out attack because if you do that you will have more chances to concede.

Ferguson hauls in Cristiano Ronaldo over star's petulance

2009-04-13T15:58:00.003+08:00

The manager has had enough of his star’s petulance on the pitch, which has cost United dearly against both Villa and Porto, and is finally letting him know. Said Ferguson :

“It’s just a frustration that he feels that he doesn’t get the decision and he gets upset about it. I think obviously he doesn’t enjoy that and he knows he’s letting himself down more than anything.

“He holds his hands up, I have had to remind him about that but I’m not getting into what has been said.”

Credit crunch Rooneys: The recession hits Wayne and Coleen as footballer loses sponsor deal

2009-04-13T15:30:00.002+08:00

No one, it seems, is immune to the credit crunch – not even multi-millionaire football superstar Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United and England player has been dropped by Mercedes-Benz – one of his big sponsors – in a cost-cutting measure. Rooney signed a £1million two-year deal with the luxury German car maker last summer, but was axed by the company last week. As part of the deal, Rooney, 23, had top-of-the-range Mercedes at his disposal, as well as a chauffeur-driven car, to take him to public engagements.

He also received a customised CL63 Coupé, complete with built-in fridge and radar-assisted cruise control, worth £121,200. When The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mercedes had signed up Rooney as its new ambassador last year, some industry experts described the move as ‘extremely strange’.

Brand analyst Peter York said at the time: ‘Ordinarily you’d expect Mercedes to choose someone aspirational and classy to advertise its cars, and it’s fair to say that Wayne Rooney doesn’t fit into that category.’

There was also an option in Rooney’s contract for him to appear in adverts for Mercedes-Benz but he never featured in any of its public marketing campaigns. Rooney is paid £100,000 a week by Manchester United, but his sponsorship and endorsement deals bring in far more – they are expected to earn him £100million by the time he is 30.

He has a £5million ten-year deal with Nike and earns £1million a year from adverts for Coca-Cola, which also feature Coleen. He has a six-figure deal with video game-maker Electronic Arts and a £5million book deal with HarperCollins.The deal with Mercedes represented a major motoring leap for Rooney. Five years ago he was signed as the face of Ford, and he drove a £5,000 Ford Ka when he passed his driving test before moving up to a Focus.

He now owns an impressive fleet of vehicles, including a Bentley, a Cadillac, an Aston Martin, a Range Rover Sport and a Lamborghini. A spokesman for Mercedes-Benz said yesterday: ‘We never disclose details of arrangements made with individuals.’

A source at Mercedes said last night: ‘Wayne has been quietly dropped from Mercedes. We are not making a big deal about it. The company is making cutbacks and could not be seen to be paying £500,000 a year for Wayne Rooney to endorse it.

‘It was the first time Mercedes had used a famous footballer as a brand ambassador and not everyone felt that Rooney was the right fit.

‘The main reason for dropping him, however, was money. Like everyone else, Mercedes is feeling the pinch, and cutting back on celebrity brand endorsement was the first measure of a worldwide cost-cutting exercise.’

A source close to Rooney, who is expecting his first child with his wife Coleen later this year, said the England striker was disappointed that the contract had been axed.

‘Wayne is in a unique and privileged position as far as sponsorship deals are concerned. They earn him a fortune, far more than football,’ the source said.

‘He was thrilled to be endorsing Mercedes because he is a total car fanatic and is a huge fan of Mercedes. He bought one for Coleen for her birthday. He loves them, so of course he’s disappointed.’

Source:Daily Mail

Arshavin is a Special Little Guy!

2009-04-13T14:58:00.006+08:00

In an interview with The Telegraph, Arshavin spurted more wonderful quotes that prove just how special he is:

“I had a problem at my first school. I was sat at the front of the class, right in front of the teacher. We were checking a mathematical problem. My answer was right but I had some marks [doodles] on my paper. The result was good but because of the marks she did not give me the top mark.

“I said, OK, if you don’t give me the top mark, I will tear the journal that she used to put the marks in. She did not believe so I said, no problem. I tore it in half. And I was thrown out of school.”

And this happened just last week. But despite Andrei’s difficulties in school, he has already created several literary masterworks.

“I have already got three books! They are not like books, they are like journals. I did not especially want to say anything, it was not my idea.”

Ah yes, that’s a quote for the back cover.

“The man who looks after my website wanted to do it and I said I’d help – and he produced three books in four months!”

So what did you do, give a thumbs up when he showed you the finished product?

A couple more gems:

“I think the quality of life, especially for people with money, is better in Russia than here [in England]. Here there are lots of rules and laws. In Russia, if you have money, you can break the law.”

“I am happy with my professional life but I am unhappy in everyday life, it is very difficult for me. I don’t understand why people do things, or say things, it is a little bit strange.”

Poor Andrei. But perhaps this isn’t a problem with being new in a different country. I mean, its normal to not understand what a foreign people say, but why they say things or why they do things? Those motives are pretty standard to all human beings everywhere.

I think this might confirm it. Arshavin isn’t retarded. He’s an alien.

Blackburn boss Allardyce: Liverpool can win title

2009-04-12T14:26:00.001+08:00

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce admits Liverpool can win the title after suffering a 4-0 defeat at Anfield.

He said: "They are certainly capable of winning the title, even if Manchester United have a game in hand.

"If Liverpool keep playing like that and continue with that pace and confidence, it is possible they can win it.

"There will be a lot of twists and turns yet and they certainly believe they can do it."

F1: Asia's longest track

2009-04-12T01:08:00.001+08:00

South Korea on Friday held a groundbreaking ceremony for what its says will be Asia's longest Formula One racetrack when it opens in the first half of next year.

The track in Yeongam county, 320 km southwest of Seoul, will have a 5,615 metre-long circuit including a 1,200-metre straight stretch, the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) said.

The country's first international auto racetrack will also be able to accommodate 135,000 spectators.

KAVO is a joint venture between M-Bridge Holdings, a private company, and the provincial government of South Jeolla, where Yeongam is located.

Its first Formula One race is to be hosted in October next year.

AFP

'I learnt nothing from Wenger'

2009-04-12T01:02:00.002+08:00

Real Madrid's French midfielder Lassana Diarra has claimed to have learnt 'nothing' from Arsene Wenger during his short-lived time at Arsenal.

In an interview with El Pais newspaper, Diarra said: 'I have the impression that I never played at Arsenal. If you hadn't reminded me of it, I would have forgotten about it. It is something erased from my head.'

Asked about any influence Wenger had on him, Diarra said: 'Me? Nothing. With Wenger I learnt nothing. Well, he only taught me how to doubt everything.

'I played 15 matches. The relationship I had with him was not good. Wenger never spoke to me until I told him I was leaving. He spoke with the others but not me.'

Diarra signed for Arsenal from Chelsea in September 2007 but transferred to Portsmouth in January 2008 before joining Real Madrid a year later.

AFP

Pictures: 4 - 0 victory over Blackburn Rovers

2009-04-12T00:43:00.004+08:00

Tony Barrett: John Terry’s logic is a no brainer

2009-04-11T19:55:00.002+08:00

LOGIC John Terry style.

Step one: Go into the first leg of a European tie knowing that a booking would rule you out of the second leg.

Step two: Launch yourself head first at Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, hurtling through the air at speed before connecting with the Spaniard’s ribs after he has already collected the ball.

Step three: Receive one of the season’s more obvious yellow cards from a referee who realises football has moved on from the days when keepers were treated like rugby league tackle bags.

Step four: Rail at the injustice of it all, mouth off at international team mate Steven Gerrard who rightly dismisses such claims of unfairness with a mouthful of Scouse invective.

Step five: Chelsea record a notable 3-1 win which puts them within touching distance of the semi-final, making Terry’s suspension as timely as it is possible to get at this stage of the competition.

Step six: Dismiss step five, give a post-match interview in which you blame Liverpool’s players for getting you booked despite replays proving that your head undoubtedly made contact with Reina’s chest in a particularly reckless challenge which brought back memories of He-Man's cartoon mate Ram Man.

Step seven: Claim the injustice is as bad as the one which befell Xabi Alonso four years ago when an Eidur Gudjohnsen dive brought the midfielder a booking which ruled him out of one of the most glorious nights in Liverpool’s history.

With brain power like this it is little surprise that Terry was once fined two weeks wages by Chelsea for drunkenly taunting grieving American tourists in the aftermath of September 11.

He may be a good centre half but Socrates he ain’t.

John Aldridge: If any team can come back Liverpool can

2009-04-11T19:39:00.002+08:00

ONE thing we have learned from watching Liverpool in Europe over the years is you can never write them off.

But I’m sure every Liverpool fan will admit Rafa Benitez’s side are faced with a massive mountain to climb if they are to continue their run in this season’s Champions League.

Chelsea are now odds on favourites to go through and it would take something really special from Liverpool – probably on a par with the magnificent comeback in Istanbul – for them to get through to the semi-finals.

READ THE REST HERE

The New Nike Mercurial Vapor V

2009-04-11T12:07:00.003+08:00

It was three years ago when Nike started their innovative experiments with football boots and called it the Vapor. They have been testing on star players like Ronaldo (Corinthians, Brazil) and Thiery Henry (FC Barcelona, France ). The Vapor boots have added a lot more of speed, shot power and accuracy to the beautiful game of football. No wonder the strikers are getting deadlier every season.

This boot is built with the Nike Flywire technology which makes this boot one of the lightest boots to date. The Flywire technology helps design flexible boots using high tensile strength fibres to provide support to key points of the foot. The fibres gives the feeling that they’re moulded around the foot so the boot has a perfect fit and unbelievable flexibility. In addition to the Flywire technology, the boot has an Internal Chassis that improves the flexibilty even more. The Nike Flywire technology and the Internal Chassis provides the extra acceleration and speed required for the fastest players on the planet. The acceleration that would give the players inches of extra space to work the ball.

Apart from the technical ’stuff’ that has been added in to the football boot, it has removable screw-in studs which offer extra grip on soft natural surfaces. The Teijin Synthetic Upper adjusts to your foot’s shape and the lace cover provides a cleaner strike on the ball.

The World’s 25 Most Valuable Soccer Teams

2009-04-11T11:49:00.005+08:00

Forbes has once again produced its list of the 25 most valuable football clubs, and it’s no surprise which giants are at the top.

1 Value of team based on past transactions and current stadium deals (unless new stadium is pending) without deduction for debt.
2Includes stadium debt.
3Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
NM: Not Meaningful.

Sources: Forbes.

Liverpool vs. Blackburn Rovers: Team news and statistics

2009-04-11T01:34:00.001+08:00

Here is the latest team news and statistics for Saturday's early kick-off at Anfield.

Head to Head
> Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers have met 121 times in the league. Liverpool have won 50, Blackburn Rovers 34 and there have been 37 draws.
> Liverpool are looking to complete the PL double over Blackburn for the fifth time. They last won home and away against them in 2005-06.
> Liverpool are unbeaten in their last three PL matches against Blackburn, since losing 1-0 at Ewood Park on Boxing Day 2006.
> Blackburn have not won in their last 12 PL visits to Anfield. Their only ever PL victory at Liverpool was 1-0 in Sep 1993 - Mike Newell scored the only goal.

Liverpool
> Lost only two of their 31 Premier League matches. If they go undefeated for the remaining seven matches of the season they will become only the seventh team in top flight history to lose two or fewer matches in a single season. No team has ever lost two or fewer matches in a single top flight season and not won the title.
> The club have only lost six of 91 PL matches at Anfield under Rafael Benitez - five of which came against Big Four opposition. In total, the Spaniard has won 46 and drawn 20 of his 77 PL home matches in charge against non-Big Four teams, losing only once - 1-0 against Birmingham City in Nov 2004.
> Won their last four PL matches. If they win today it will equal their best winning run of the season - they won five consecutive PL matches from Sep 27 to Oct 29.
> Steven Gerrard has scored in each of the club's last two PL matches against Blackburn.

Team News
Line up (4-4-1-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio; Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera; Gerrard; Torres
Subs from: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Dossena, Insua, Benayoun, Spearing, Kelly, Babel, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar
Form: LWWWW
Leading scorer: Gerrard 13
Injured: Degen (foot, ongoing)
Doubtful: Gerrard (groin)
Suspended: None
Colours: Red / White

Blackburn Rovers
> Lost their last five PL visits to Big Four opposition, conceding 13 goals and scoring only twice, since a goalless draw at Chelsea in Sep 2007. In total, they have not won in 13 PL matches at the Big Four clubs since a 2-1 victory at Manchester Utd in Sep 2005.
> Looking to win back-to-back PL matches for only the second time this season, and the first time in seven months since winning 1-0 at home against Fulham and 2-1 at Newcastle in Sep 2008.
> Anfield is one of only four current PL grounds where manager Sam Allardyce has never won a PL match. He lost five and drew one of his six PL visits at Bolton - his only point in a 1-1 draw, Jan 1 2002.

Team News
Line up (4-4-2): Robinson; Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Givet; Diouf, Mokoena, Andrews, Warnock; McCarthy, Samba
Subs from: Bunn, Simpson, Olsson, Dunn, Tugay, Grella, Treacy, Villanueva
Form: DWLDW
Leading scorer: McCarthy, Roberts 7
Injured: Roberts (foot, three weeks), Emerton (knee, season), Reid (knee, season)
Doubtful: Santa Cruz (knee), Pedersen (calf)
Suspended: None
Colours: Blue / White

Revealed: the reason Beckham wants to stay in Milan

2009-04-10T03:31:00.001+08:00

He enjoys Clarence Seedorf’s celebrations too much to leave

What's on Tiger's mind?

2009-04-10T03:00:00.002+08:00

See the best pics of females streakers on the golf course.

Laporta: Kaka should stay put

2009-04-10T02:41:00.003+08:00

Barcelona president Joan Laporta thinks Kaka shouldn’t join Real Madrid. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Loporta said that Kaka will do well anywhere and advise him not to leave Milan because they are a great club.

Football tattoo helps snare pervert

2009-04-10T02:03:00.005+08:00

A PERVERT who posed as a teenager to lure young girls into internet friendships before begging them to strip in front of a webcam has been jailed.

Paul Quinn, 41, managed to convince one 15-year-old to take her clothes off and pleaded with another aged 16 to do the same.Although the girls had never seen the pervert one was able to identify him by a Celtic FC tattoo he boasted about.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to undergo scan after groin problem against Chelsea

2009-04-10T01:23:00.003+08:00

Steven Gerrard will undergo a scan on a persistent groin problem on Thursday amid concerns Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Chelsea could have greater repercussions for the remainder of the club's season. The Guardian.

Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea

2009-04-10T01:10:00.002+08:00

According to The Sun, the Italian has told Chelsea he is ready to take over from Guus Hiddink in the summer. A contract worth around £5.8m a year has been discussed, and should be signed and sealed in June. His daughter Katya has been spending time at Chelsea HQ working on her PhD, which compares the media and marketing relations between Chelsea and Milan. Ancelotti, who has already said “I won’t manage Milan forever”, has quipped that she was “getting his office ready” while in England.

Six Czech Republic stars indefinitely suspended following prostitute scandal

2009-04-10T00:56:00.005+08:00

The shit really seems to be hitting the fan in Czech football at the moment. National manager of only eight games Petr Rada was sacked yesterday, following a 2-1 defeat to neighbouring Slovakia that has put their World Cup Qualification plans into jeopardy.

“Because of the current environment in the Federation and the media, I don’t want to represent the country anymore,” said Rada, clearly not realising that he did not have a say in the matter.

Rada’s ungracious exit was not helped by the extracurricular activities of his players. Following the Slovakia defeat, six Czech players were photographed entering a restaurant by Czech tabloid Blesk. Shortly after, a taxi pulled up, containing three ladies of the night. The party were snapped leaving the restaurant at 6.30 the following morning.

The shamed footballers are Atletico Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi, West Ham’s Radoslav Kovac, Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky, Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), Vaclav Sverkos (Sochaux) and former Liverpool star Milan Baros. All six have been indefinitely suspended from the national team.

Fenin protested his innocence by claiming “The lady was an acquaintance,” in the Czech press, and Ujfalusi has announced his retirement from international football, citing the Czech Football Federation and the critical media.

The replacement coach may have the choice to reinstate the players for their next international match in June, but it looks likely that he will have to build an entirely new team.

Pictures: Liverpool 1 - 3 Chelsea

2009-04-09T18:34:00.004+08:00

Chelsea favourites but Liverpool not out yet

2009-04-09T18:30:00.001+08:00

Chelsea may be overwhelming favourites to reach the Champions League semi-finals after their stunning 3-1 win at Liverpool on Wednesday, but no-one from either side is conceding the tie is over yet.

Chelsea recovered after a Fernando Torres goal had put Liverpool ahead in the sixth minute, stunning the five-times European champions with two headers from Branislav Ivanovic and a hammer-blow third from Didier Drogba.

The result even amazed Chelsea's temporary coach Guus Hiddink, who won the tactical battle with Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez, a master tactician himself, especially in Europe.

Liverpool v Chelsea key battles

2009-04-08T22:14:00.008+08:00

JOHN TERRY v FERNANDO TORRES

England's best defender against the best striker in the world, if you take Steven Gerrard's assessment. The tie could depend on this showdown - Terry's power and positional excellence against Torres' pace, guile and strength. The Spaniard has shown he can handle the physical side of the game in England, and Terry will certainly test him in that aspect.

FRANK LAMPARD v STEVEN GERRARD

Just who is England's best midfielder? At least Fabio Capello has discovered the key to the pair both playing in England's midfield and they will be hell-bent on proving who is top dog in this tie. Gerrard's recent form, leadership, drive and goalscoring gives him the edge but Lampard links better with midfield colleagues and can be equally destructive in the box.

NICOLAS ANELKA v MARTIN SKRTEL

Anelka admitted recently that he played his best football in a short loan spell at Anfield, and there are many there who would still value him in the Liverpool squad. He has pace and a clever attacking brain, which will test the no-nonsense Skrtel to the limits. The young Slovakian has done supremely well in the Premier League but occasionally is found out by genuine class - and Anelka has that.

Telegraph

Gerrard: There's no place like Rome

2009-04-08T21:19:00.003+08:00

Steven Gerrard is determined to become the third Liverpool captain to lift the European Cup in Rome. Liverpool play the first leg of their quarter-final against Chelsea at Anfield and Gerrard has his heart set on making history in the Italian capital, where the final will be played next month. The Stadio Olimpico has become a lucky venue for Liverpool, having won the European Cup there in 1977 and 1984.

He said: 'Rome has a lot of history with this club and the aim is to add to that history. We want to be the ones to go back to Rome and do it again. We remember the magical nights when Liverpool won there before.

'I want to win another Champions League. Everyone saw when I lifted the trophy in 2005 how much the competition meant to me.

'That was the best night of my football life.'

Dailymail.co.uk

David Pleat: Chelsea must stop Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard

2009-04-08T21:10:00.003+08:00

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are outstanding individuals who play with a telepathic understanding, unselfishly working in tandem and each seizing on the other's considerable qualities. Against Torres, who will often receive the ball with his back to goal, you need a strong marker. Whoever is designated to combat the Spaniard must ensure he does not get too tight or allow the forward to come off, turn and face up in possession of the ball.

In this role Torres rarely takes the centre-back to the touchlines but he will attempt to draw his marker towards midfield if he is not receiving a decent supply-line up front. John Terry has played against him many times and will not get sucked deep or too wide. But what you must watch out for is Torres's brilliant movement in the box – start, stop, start – as he turns half chances into goal attempts.

READ THE REST HERE..

Liverpool v Chlesea: The history

2009-04-08T15:23:00.002+08:00

Liverpool against Chelsea has become something of a regular fixture in the Champions League's latter stages in recent seasons. With the first league of this season's quarter-final to be played tomorrow, we look at some of their memorable past meetings.

03/05/05, semi-final, second leg: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Having played out a dull goalless draw in London a fortnight earlier, Liverpool took an early lead in controversial fashion in the fourth minute. Luis Garcia's faint touch seemed to have gone over the line before being cleared and was given but subsequent replays showed it may not have done. Liverpool shut up shop to progress to the final, where they dramatically beat AC Milan on penalties, leaving Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho fuming and claiming "the best team lost".

25/04/07, semi-final, first leg: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0

Joe Cole's 29th-minute goal gave the Blues a slender lead as Chelsea kept an important clean sheet at home.

May 1 2007, semi-final, second leg: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0 (Liverpool won 4-1 on penalties)

Daniel Agger scored with a crisp finish to bring Liverpool back on level terms, which was how it stayed until the end of extra-time. Arjen Robben and Geremi both missed penalties for Chelsea, leaving Dirk Kuyt to clinch a place in the final against AC Milan, although this time the Italians came out on top.

April 22 2008, semi-final, first leg: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Kuyt scored just before half-time to edge the Reds in front but John Arne Riise inexplicably headed into his own net in injury-time to hand Chelsea a vital away goal.

April 30 2008, semi-final, second leg: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2

With the tie finely poised at 1-1, Chelsea ran out 4-3 aggregate winners after extra-time thanks to two goals from Didier Drogba and a penalty from Frank Lampard, who had been in doubt to play following the death of his mother earlier in the week. Efforts from Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, three minutes before the end of extra-time, proved insufficient. Chelsea lost their first Champions League final to Manchester United on penalties.

Grant: Mourinho too arrogant to lead Chelsea to Liverpool victory

2009-04-08T14:58:00.005+08:00

Avram Grant took another swipe at Jose Mourinho as he recalled how he led Chelsea to a Champions League victory over Liverpool last season.

"Tactically, Rafa Benitez is very good and that was something Mourinho did not quite appreciate," said Grant, who still hopes to return to the Barclays Premier League.

"He simply thought he was better than Benitez, and because he thought he was better he lost.

"One of Liverpool's great strengths is the way Benitez organises them as a team. They work for each other. But we applied some very simple ideas.

"You have to dominate them. That's the first thing. But we also focused on key areas and, more important, key individuals.

READ THE REST HERE..

The Most expensive car in the World

2009-04-08T11:55:00.003+08:00

Bugatti has officially presented the model that has been declared the most expensive mass produced car in the world. The price of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport 2009 is $ 2, 2.

What they are looking at?

2009-04-08T11:43:00.003+08:00

Barcelona to make £32m bid for Arsenal midfielder

2009-04-08T11:09:00.003+08:00

In 2003, Professor Wenger stole 16-year-old diamond-in-the-rough Cesc Fabregas away from Barcelona, but according to reports in Spain, the midfielder could soon return to the Catalan giants.

A figure of around £32m has been suggested, and Barca president Joan Laporta has made his love for the 21-year-old Spaniard quite clear. He told Punto Radio:

“Although he is with another club, I have always praised Fabregas. He was born in Catalonia and has become better since leaving the club.

“But I feel he has this club at his heart. The technical staff will decide on any movement for him, but there is no doubt he would be a big player for us.”

Google Earth mocks John Terry

2009-04-08T02:55:00.006+08:00

Google Earth’s 3D mapping feature is great, but only really useful for those who wish to check which cars were outside their house on the day the cameras drove past, or those who are planning a robbery. The Google eggheads, however, have finally harnessed their software in a way we can all enjoy.

When Stamford Bridge was originally modelled, the gigantic screen depicted a classic JT and Lampsie post goal hug-out. Now, however, it has been replaced with an image of a tearful man being consoled in the rain after failing to convert a penalty.

Unprofessional Foul

Lucho - Pressure on United

2009-04-08T02:46:00.003+08:00

Lucho Gonzalez believes it is a good time for Porto to be playing Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United's march towards the Premier League title has faltered in recent weeks following a heavy defeat at home to Liverpool and a surprise loss against Fulham.

They returned to winning ways with a dramatic 3-2 success against Aston Villa on Sunday but Lucho believes they could still be vulnerable.

The 28-year-old playmaker believes Porto can take advantage and spring a major surprise in the first leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford on tonight.

READ THE REST HERE..

Michael Ballack abused by German team mate

2009-04-08T02:34:00.005+08:00

Poor old Michael Ballack. Not only was his sovereignty as Germany captain questioned by happy slapper Lukas Podolski, but his personal space has also been invaded by Crouch-alike defender Per Mertesacker.

unprofessionalfoul.com

Real Madrid reserve number 5 shirt for Kaka

2009-04-08T02:21:00.002+08:00

While the British press are preoccupied with the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid transfer saga, our Spanish friends seem to believe Los Blancos have eyes for only one man: Kaka.

According to the front page of Marca, the Brazilian has already been promised the number five shirt by likely Madrid president Florentino Perez. The squad number should be available, as Fabio Cannavaro is likely to depart in the summer.

Before Cannavaro, Madrid’s number five was worn by Zinedine Zidane. Therefore, if Kaka arrives in the summer, he will be the third consecutive Ballon D’or and FIFA World Player of the Year winner to wear the number.

Pictures: Behind the scenes at Chelsea’s training ground

2009-04-08T02:07:00.004+08:00

Samsung Football

John Terry Wants To Use Moscow Pain To Spur Chelsea To Champions League Glory

2009-04-08T01:52:00.002+08:00

Chelsea skipper John Terry has revealed that he still feels the pain of the Blues' shoot-out defeat to Manchester United in last year's Champions League final, and has stated that the only way he can ever ease that Moscow agony is to win the trophy this year.

"Obviously, I'm very determined to go the extra step this year and win the trophy," he explained to reporters at a pre-match press conference yesterday.

"That burning that I suffered last year will live with me forever, there's no doubt about that.

"But the way I can make that pain ease a little bit is to win this trophy. And with the manager and with the team we've got at the moment we've got a great chance to do that."

READ THE REST HERE..

Singapore releases first survey on death attitudes

2009-04-08T01:33:00.003+08:00

A recent survey showed that Singaporeans' top three fears about death are being a burden to one's family, medical cost and pain, local media reported on Friday. According to TV broadcaster Channel Newsasia, the above results were revealed in Singapore's first ever survey on death attitudes, which was commissioned by the Lien Foundation and polled 800 people island wide between the ages of 25 and 59 from October 2008 to January 2009.

The survey also showed that eight in 10 respondents said they knew that hospices provide care for the terminally ill, but only two in 10 are open to the idea of being in a hospice so that they can receive adequate care. Six in 10 respondents said they are comfortable talking about their own death, but they are not comfortable talking about death or dying to someone who is terminally ill, the report added.

In Pictures: The Reds in training to prepare for Chelsea clash

2009-04-08T00:01:00.007+08:00

Pics: Getty

Riera relishing the season's climax

2009-04-07T23:37:00.003+08:00

Liverpool's Spanish winger Albert Riera believes fighting for two major trophies is 'beautiful pressure' to contend with.

The 26-year-old has been a key figure for the Reds this season, having arrived from Espanyol to join a team with massive European experience. And now the Spain international is relishing the simultaneous battle for the Champions League and Barclays Premier League - which continues with a European quarter-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield tomorrow.

READ THE REST HERE..

Reina as good as Casillas - Torres

2009-04-07T23:06:00.003+08:00

Jose Reina is at the same level as Iker Casillas, who is rated the best goalkeeper in the world, according to Fernando Torres. Even if Reina is Casillas’ understudy in the Spain shirt, Torres has hailed the bald keeper as a world-class player. Torres has declared that Premier League fans and experts understand how good The Reds’ shot-stopper is.

When asked if Real Madrid’s only advantage compared to The Reds is their goalkeeper, Torres told Don Ballon: “No because I believe that Pepe Reina is on Iker’s level and he does not have anything to envy.

“Reina is a world-class player despite the fact that he is overshadowed by Iker in the national selection.

“In England they value Reina as he deserves to and he is highly rated there, even if they also understand Iker Casillas is a wonderful goalkeeper.” setanta.com