Week 5 premeir League Matches!

Saturday, 01 September 2007

Bolton v Everton
Everton's record signing Yakubu is expected to make his debut, though he may not start the match.

Fulham v Tottenham
This is the second London derby of the 2007-08 Premier League season. Fulham lost the first, 2-1 at Arsenal. Fulham and Tottenham have identical league records so far this season of played four, won one, lost three and scored five, although the Cottagers have conceded two more goals.

Liverpool v Derby
Unbeaten Liverpool are yet to concede a goal from open play this season, and are the only club to have scored first in all their Premier League matches.

Man Utd v Sunderland
Roy Keane returns to Old Trafford for the first time as an opposing manager, as Manchester United against Sunderland, pits the oldest and youngest managers in the Premier League against each other.This will be Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,159th match in charge of the Red Devils, and Keane's 48th at the help of the Black Cats.Defeat for Manchester United would make it their worst ever start to this stage of a Premier League season.

Middlesbrough v Birmingham
The 100th competitive meeting of Middlesbrough and Birmingham; two clubs averaging a point a game so far in this Premier League campaign. The Teessiders are aiming to register the 1,500 league win in their history, three days before the 37th birthday of manager Gareth Southgate.

Newcastle v Wigan
Newcastle are still unbeaten in the Premier League, but the only club without a home goal.The Magpies have not netted in six league games at St James' Park. The home fans last saw their side net in the Premier League on 10 February.

Reading v West Ham
The Hammers have never won on Reading soil, and are yet to score a Premier League goal against the Royals.The Royals have not suffered back-to-back losses in 10 Premier League outings.
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Sunday, 02 September 2007


Arsenal v Portsmouth
These two clubs ended last season with a no score stalemate at Fratton Park, but there has never been a goalless draw between any clubs in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium. Pompey are not only chasing a first ever Premier League victory over Arsenal, but also a first win on Gunners' turf in over half a century. Their last win at the north London club was a 1-3 top flight triumph on 17 September 1955

Aston Villa v Chelsea
Villa are aiming to extend their undefeated home Premiership sequence against Chelsea to nine games. They've not lost a home League game to the Londoners since March 1999 (two wins, six draws).

Blackburn v Man City
A victory would make it Rovers' best start to a Premier League campaign in a decade, while three points for Manchester City would make it their best ever start in this league.Rovers did the double over Stuart Pearce's City with an aggregate of 7-2 last season - Morten Gamst Pedersen scored three of those seven goals.

Arsenal sign Diarra from Chelsea!

Arsenal completed a late move to sign midfielder Lassana Diarra from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Diarra, who has played for France in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, can also play at right-back.The Gunners say the 22-year-old Frenchman, who can play at right-back, has signed a long-term deal.

The former Le Harve player said: "I have great respect for the manager Arsene Wenger and am attracted by the style of football that the team plays."Of course I am excited by what the future holds and keen to play my part in helping Arsenal fight for trophies." Diarra will wear the number eight shirt.

Wenger added: "Lassana is a multi-functional player, making him a great addition to our squad. Not only is he hard working, he has a creative edge and is comfortable playing in the middle of the pitch or at right-back

Aston Villa finally got their man yesterday when Curtis Davies, the much sought-after West Bromwich Albion defender, moved across the second city. Davies has joined initially on loan, with a view to a permanent £9 million move next summer.

Davies said: "I think the fee has been agreed and we'll see how things go this season, and then it should become apparent whether I'm signing or not. I'm sure Villa have got first dibs and I'm sure something will be done at the beginning of next season."

Deadline day saw much activity, though there were few high-profile moves. Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were the busiest clubs, with midfielder Gary O'Neil leaving Fratton Park for the Riverside in a £5m move.

Portsmouth also sold defender Dejan Stefanovic, to Fulham for £1m, and were in talks last night with a view to signing the London club's Papa Bouba Diop.

Fulham defender Leroy Rosenior was also in talks with Reading in a deal that was aimed at taking Seol Ki-Hyeon in the opposite direction. The Cottagers were also hoping to sign Spurs' Danny Murphy.

Middlesbrough added a second Egyptian to their ranks. Having bought Mido from Spurs recently they signed Mohammed Shawky, from Al-Ahly, for £650,000.

Two players left Middlesbrough with Jason Euell joining Southampton and David Knight moving to Swansea.

Wigan manager Chris Hutchings made his ninth signing of the summer with striker Marcus Bent moving to the JJB Stadium on a season-long loan from Charlton. They sold Caleb Folan to Hull, the Yorkshire club paying a record £1m.

It is understood Tottenham rejected an enquiry from Manchester United for Jermain Defoe while, across the city, Sven-Goran Eriksson loaned out two players, with Danny Mills joining Charlton and Bernardo Corradi heading for Parma.(BBC,Telegraph)

Ronaldinho will join Chelsea!!

Ronaldinho, the Brazilian superstar, has agreed to join Chelsea — but not until the start of next season. He spent yesterday afternoon with his agent brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, in talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta in a desperate attempt to secure an immediate move to Stamford Bridge. But a lack of time ahead of last night's closure of the transfer window denied Chelsea and the Catalan club the chance to reach an agreement and the 27-year-old double World Player of the Year will now make the switch next July. As Sportsmail revealed on Monday, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich spent last weekend in talks with Moreira in an audacious bid to bring the World Cup and Champions League winner to the Premier League.

But during informal discussions the two clubs were unable to agree a fee, Chelsea valuing the player at around 70million euros (£47.5million), but Barcelona demanding nearer 100m euros (£66m).

On Thursday night, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said they would not be signing Ronaldinho in what remained of the transfer window and made the point that it would be of no use to them to bring him over in January either. That was because, by then, he would be cup-tied for the Champions League, but Kenyon admitted that Ronaldinho was the kind of player Chelsea would like and said 'never say never'.

Now, it is understood, all parties accept it would be more prudent to delay for 11 months, although Ronaldinho is said to be frustrated because he was given a strong indication that Barcelona would be prepared to let him leave at the right price.

Yesterday he expressed that disappointment to friends but said he was now confident he would be a Chelsea player for the start of next season when a deal would be more attractive to the English club as he will only have two years left on his contract by then.

Meanwhile, Joe Cole, Andriy Shevchenko and any other wannabe Chelsea first teamers have been told to get in line and take their chance when it comes, just as Sean Wright-Phillips did.

Cole's unhappiness at not starting games surfaced this week. But Steve Clarke, manager Jose Mourinho's assistant, said Wright-Phillips was an example to follow adding: 'Sean had been used to being top guy at Manchester City and not having the same scrutiny of his performances. He came here and suddenly had to perform in just 20 minutes from the bench.

'He came on, didn't do very well and found himself out again. That was disappointing him gradually he picked it up and realised that in those 20-25 minutes, he has to impress. He has to impress every day in training.

'He's been doing that since January. Now he's one of our most consistent performers.'

Both Shevchenko and Cole are fit for the trip to Aston Villa tomorrow but may have to be satisfied with place on the bench. (Daily mail)

Champions League Draws!

Champions League Draws!
Group A
Liverpool
Porto
Marseille
Besiktas

Group B
CHELSEA
Valencia
Schalke 04
Rosenborg

Group C
REAL MADRID
Werder Bremen
Lazio
Olympiakos

Group D
AC MILAN
Benefica
Celtic
Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E
BARCELONA
Lyon
Stuttgart
Rangers

Group F
MANCHESTER UNITED
Roma
Sporting Lisbon
Dinamo Kiev

Group G
Intermillan
PSV Eindhoven
CSKA Moskow
Fenebache

Group H
ARSENAL
Sivilla/AEK Athense
Steau Bucharest
Slavia Prague

Bekele’s Mombasa nightmare is dispelled!

With the awful memories of his Mombasa debacle no doubt lingering somewhere in the back of his mind Kenenisa Bekele withstood the repeated surges of the man who supplanted him as World Cross Country Champion five months ago to win his third consecutive World 10,000m title.

By no means was this an easy victory however. Many athletes wilted under the oppressive heat and humidity and Zerseney Tadesse of Eritrea, the 2007 World Cross Country and Road Running champion, himself was shut out of the medals after gamely piling on the pressure from the start. Bekele was both relieved and satisfied with his performance spending more time in the mixed zone talking to media in both English and Amharic, than the 27:05.90 it took him to cover the 25 laps of the Nagai stadium.

“It was very tough, very hard, especially with 3 laps left when I was very tired,” Bekele revealed, his shoulders wrapped in the Ethiopian flag someone had tossed onto the track at the finish. “I told Sileshi to follow the Kenyan athlete because I am very tired I am tired to change the pace with this guy. After one lap left I picked it up again. It’s not easy to run in this weather, it’s very tough.” (Read More...)

The Life and Soul of Manchester utd Retired!

With an outstretched right boot, Ole Solskjaer wrote his name into Manchester United legend. Using the poacher’s instinct that has served him so well, he latched on to Teddy Sheringham’s nod down and diverted the ball into the roof of the Bayern Munich net. “And Solskjaer has won it”. The recording of Clive Tyldesley’s commentary from that night at the Nou Camp still sends a shudder down every United fan’s spine. Some even wake up to it as the recorded message on Manchester United alarm clocks. Sheringham had equalised just moments before in injury time as United completed the most remarkable comeback in European Cup history to lift the trophy in 1999.

Few could have been more deserving than Solskjaer of that 2-1 win in Barcelona. But that is not the only reason he was adored by United fans. In an age of football celebrities, Solskjaer has always been a man who exudes humility. Married with two children, you will rarely see him pictured in Manchester’s nightspots or in glossy magazines. He is simply a footballer and family man. Once dubbed The Baby-faced Assassin, it seems almost inconceivable that at 34 his career is at an end.(Read More...)

Kenenisa Bekele wins his third consecutive World 10,000m title!

Kenenisa bekele won his third consecutive 10000m in Osaka, Japan today with his best time of the year,27:05:90. His fellow country man, sileshi sehin finished second with 27:09:03 and Kenyan mathathi was third three second behind.

Kenenisa Bekele dropped off the pace a couple of times during the last two laps of the 10,000 metres, and it looked as if perennial minor medallist Silesi Sihine might emulate his fiancée, Tirunesh Dibaba, and win the world title. But it wasn’t to be. Bekele was only kidding. He made up the gap which had been forged before the bell by the little known Kenyan, Martin Irunqu Mathathi, then tracked Sihine past the 200 metres line before launching a killer sprint to another distant victory.

With two gold and one silver, Ethiopia lies second in medal standing behind the leader USA who has 7 medals, 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.

Manchester United recorded the First win of the Season!

Manchester Utd 1-0 Tottenham
(goal, 1st & 2nd half-short highlights)
Nani’s first Premier League goal gave Manchester United their first victory of the season in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

Middlesbrough 2-2 Newcastle
(1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th goal)
Mark Viduka came within minutes of handing Newcastle a precious derby victory on his return to Middlesbrough as the sides fought out a 2-2 draw. The Australian claimed his first goal in a black and white shirt and his 150th in British football 13 minutes from time as the Magpies twice took the lead at the Riverside Stadium.

Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool
(1st, 2nd goal)
Andriy Voronin struck to end Roy Keane's hopes of another dramatic Sunderland escape and finally gave Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez something to cheer about as the Ukrainian forward secured a 2-0 away victory.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester city
(goal)
Kasper Schmeichel's heroics were not enough to preserve Manchester City's 100% record in the Premier League this season as Cesc Fabregas struck late to earn Arsenal a 1-0 victory.Fabregas found the top corner to become the first goalscorer against Sven-Goran Eriksson's City, who had won their first three games.

Astonvilla 2-1 Fulham
(1st, 2nd & 3rd goal)
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was banished from the dug-out after a verbal blast at referee Steve Bennett and then saw substitute Shaun Maloney snatch an injury-time winner for a 2-1 success against 10-man Fulham at Villa Park.

Bolton 3-0 Reading
(1st, 2n & 3rd goal)
Sammy Lee celebrated his first victory as Bolton manager, after succeeding Sam Allardyce at the end of last season, with a 3-0 home win over Reading.Five games in to his tenure, the former Liverpool coach saw his team secure a crucial three points thanks to goals from Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and substitute Daniel Braaten.

Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
(Goal)
Frank Lampard's first-half goal moved Chelsea to the top of the Barclays Premier League and cast doubt on the ability of Portsmouth goalkeeper David James to reclaim the England number one jersey

Derby 1-2 Birmingham
(1st,2nd & 3rdgoal)
Cameron Jerome repaid manager Steve Bruce's faith in him by scoring both goals - one after just 30 seconds - as Birmingham recorded their first Barclays Premier League victory of the season by a 2-1 margin at Derby.

West Ham 1-1 Wigan
(1st & 2ndgoal)
Lee Bowyer rescued a 1-1 draw for West Ham with a rare goal in a late show started by Austrian Paul Scharner's acrobatic overhead strike 12 minutes from time, after battling Wigan had been given a pounding

Everton 1-1 Blackburn
(1st & 2nd goal)
Everton stole a point from a Blackburn side still stung by being labelled 'violent' by Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger last week. This full-blooded contest was never that, but Rovers received a slap in the face themselves when they conceded an equaliser with just 12 minutes left

Premier League schedule- Week 4!

Saturday, 25 August 2007

Arsenal v Man City
Leaders Manchester City are looking to kick off a league campaign with four straight victories for the first time since 1961. City are the only club yet to concede a goal in this Premier League season.

Aston Villa v Fulham
Fulham last experienced a top flight victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park in 1966 when they won the 5 to 2.

Bolton v Reading
Bolton, the only club without a Premier League point, are in danger of losing the first four games of a league season for the first time in 26 years, and the first four of a top-flight campaign for the first time in 44 years.

Chelsea v Portsmouth
Chelsea are aiming to stretch their unbeaten Premier League sequence to 18 games, and their record run without defeat at home to 65 league games. Chelsea have a 100% Premier League record against Portsmouth, of eight wins out of eight. It's 50 years since Portsmouth last beat Chelsea in a league match.

Derby v Birmingham
It's the first time Derby and Birmingham have met in the Premier League. Defeat for Derby would equal their worst ever start to a Premier League season, while failure to win by Birmingham would make this their worst start to a Premier League campaign.

Everton v Blackburn
These clubs are evenly matched in Premier League terms (11 wins a piece with four draws) and each have won six of the 13 clashes at Goodison Park with only one draw.

Sunderland v Liverpool
Roy Keane approaches the end of a highly successful first year in football management, with a Sunderland side that have made the best start of the promoted clubs. Unbeaten Liverpool need to score once to total 7,000 league goals in their history.

West Ham v Wigan
West Ham are chasing their first home point of the season; Wigan their first on the road.The Hammers are in pursuit of a second league goal.Whenever these clubs have met for Premier League action, the side playing away from home has prevailed

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Sunday, 26 August 2007

Man Utd v Tottenham
Middlesbrough v Newcastle

Too early for Manchester United to hit the panic button!

Setanta Sports pundit Emmanuel Petit claims it is too early for Manchester United to hit the panic button.

I have not been disappointed by Manchester United’s start, but surprised. It is very difficult to confirm your status when you have won the league. Chelsea did it in the recent past when they won two Premier League titles consecutively.

You have to be mentally strong to do it. United are struggling despite having an impressive squad. It really surprises me because they did look good in The Community Shield.

Manchester City are experiencing a rebirth. They kept some key players and added new ones, brought in a new coach and this mix brings freshness and a new mentality to the club.

I do not think sacking Martin Jol would be a good decision for Tottenham, it would be an error. Jol is working hard and is improving the team. He created a team based on a winning mentality. They now need to pass a stage, from outsiders to league contenders.

They spent millions to have a new status and I was one of those who said they would take Arsenal’s Champions League spot.

I think they need time, not too much, and a reference match to be conscious of their possibilities. The players have to be aware of their qualities.

Steven Gerrard is the player who has impressed me the most in the first few weeks of the season. He has made a very good start of the season, but his injury against Toulouse is a blow.

His first match against Aston Villa which was live on Setanta was just brilliant.

To my mind, using him in the centre of midfield is the best thing for him and the team. I am very happy to see him play in his best position.

It is also good news for England. People say him and Frank Lampard cannot play together, but I think they can. And I am just happy to see Gerrard at the top of the tree.

Clichy keen to add to his experience!

Despite being only 22, Gaël Clichy, is alongside Kolo Toure and Gilberto Silva as one of the most experienced performers at Arsenal - the club he joined in 2002 from French side Cannes. As perhaps the best left back in the Premier League, Clichy has not only got his eyes on winning the English title but also on playing for 'Les Bleus'. ESPNSoccernet met him in London.

Question: In your 2-1 win against Fulham and in the 2-0 win against Sparta, Arsenal seemed to display a new mental stability towards the end of the matches.

Clichy: 'It just goes to show that we will never ever give in. Things have changed in comparison to the last few seasons. In the past two years we failed to have a true winning attitude at the start of the season and that cost us dearly. Last year we lost seven points in the first three matches of the season. We gave up more easily towards the end of the matches simply because we weren't focused enough. We especially had problems against the lesser sides. After a win in Manchester you simply cannot allow yourself to go and lose points against Wigan. But this has been a big learning experience for us and today we finish the game with the same focus as we start it.'

Question: Thanks to your 2-0 win in Prague you took a huge step towards qualifying for the UEFA Champions League again.(Read More...)

Manchester City on Top of premeir League!

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester Utd

Sir Alex Ferguson's early season problems deepened after Geovanni's first half goal settled the Manchester derby in favour of Sven Goran Eriksson and left Ferguson's United without a win in their opening three league games.

Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal(1st, 2nd goal,)

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann continued his nightmare start to the season with a second-half error to gift Blackburn's David Dunn an equaliser in a stormy 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (1st, 2nd goal)

Fernando Torres marked his first appearance at Anfield with an impressive debut goal for Liverpool but it was not enough to earn his club all three points as referee Rob Styles handed Chelsea a controversial second-half penalty in Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Mestawet Tufa-Another Hope for Ethiopian Athletics Team!

Of the few things that irritated Ethiopian runner Mestawet Tufa in the two years prior to 2007, the mention of the words 10,000m definitely topped the list.“I hated the mention of the event,” Tufa says. “Five years ago when I competed for the first time in the event in Addis Ababa, I was lapped by five or six runners and finished seventh.” Instead of working hard and getting better at the event, Tufa chose to stay away from the event until this year when she ‘gambled’ on a decision to return at the 36th Ethiopian Athletics Championships in Addis Ababa. (Read More...)

Premeir League Results-Week Three

utaka celebrating his first goal of the season

Results and videos will be posted as soon as the games are over.
Portsmouth 3-1 Bolton (1st,2nd,3rd and 4th goals)
Birmingham 0-1 West Ham
Fulham 1-2 Middlesbrough (1st,2nd,3rd goal)
Reading 1-0 Everton
Tottenham 4-0 Derby
Wigan 4-0 Sunderland
Newcastle 0-0 Aston Villa

Expected highlights in Osaka

In Long distance contests, several of the sport’s biggest names will be chasing more superlatives to add to their growing collections at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug to 2 Sep).

MEN

While Kenenisa Bekele may have succeeded his mentor Haile Gebrselassie as a multi World record holder, the 25-year-old Ethiopian still has catching up to do in the ‘titles won’ category. Thus far this season, there’s been no evidence submitted to suggest that Bekele is not an overwhelming favourite to capture his third consecutive 10,000m title. While Bekele looms larger-than-life, his fiercest competition looks to come from compatriots Sileshi Sihine, Gebregziabher Gebremariam, and Tadesse Tola, although Eritrea’s Olympic bronze medallist Zersenay Tadesse, who just missed a sub-27:00 clocking with his solo run at the All African Games, can’t be discounted.

In the 5000m, considerable attention will be directed to Australian Craig Mottram, the reigning bronze medallist, as he seeks to end an African stranglehold on the event that began with the second edition of the Championships in 1987. Although Bekele, the world leader won’t be in the race, Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine, the defending silver medallist, and Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (2003 champion) and Isaac Songok, will be.

WOMEN
Two years ago in Helsinki, Tirunesh Dibaba made history when she became the first woman to capture both the 5000 and 10,000m titles in the same championships. In Osaka, she'll be shooting for a record third title in the 5000, and an unprecedented second title in the 10,000m. She’s race only once outdoors this season – winner of the 5000m in Paris – but it’s hard to imagine that she would choose to double is she wasn’t prepared. In the longer race, she’ll be joined by compatriot Mestawet Tufa, the world leader, who looks to be the primary challenger.

In the 5000, she’ll face perennial rival and compatriot Meseret Defar, the Olympic champion who earlier this season lowered her own World record in the event to 14:16.63 at the IAAF Golden League kick-off in Oslo. This head-to-head is certainly one of the most anticipated of the championships. Finishing second in Oslo was Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot (14:22.51) who also dipped under the previous World record. Morocco’s Mariem Alaoui Selsouli emerged as a solid medal threat after her largely solo 14:36.52 victory in Rome.(IAAF)

Week 3 Fixtures of Premier League!

Man C vs Man u derby!

Liverpool tackle Chelsea as a resurgent City play stuttering champions United in the Manchester derby on a crunch weekend of fixtures in the English Premier League. In the first "big four" clash of the new season, Rafael Benitez's Reds host Jose mourinho's Blues in an early test of each side's title-winning potential.

And Manchester United head to Eastlands without last season's top two scorers: the injured Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo, suspended for head-butting. Manchester City, revitalized under former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, have the chance to prove their impressive start to the season makes them serious contenders this season. The Manchester derby, Liverpool's clash with Chelsea and Arsenal's trip to Blackburn take place Sunday. In Saturday's matches, league leaders Everton look to keep up their perfect start at Reading. Big-spending Tottenham, desperate for a first win, host newly-promoted Derby County and West Ham travel to Birmingham with new signing Kieron Dyer set to make his Hammers debut.

At the Madejski Stadium, two of the toughest teams to break down in the Premier League go head to head.Early pace-setters Everton have got the better of Tottenham and Wigan so far, but they travel to Reading, whose man-marking tactics squeezed a goalless draw out of Manchester United and gave Chelsea a fright before the Blues ground out a win. "We'll be playing three from the top six inside a week, and it's as if it's the hardest possible hurdle we could have been set," said Royals boss Steve Coppell. Everton's new midfielder Phil Jagielka reckons the Toffees are playing so well he faces an extended spell on the bench. "I can't see the gaffer changing it for Reading," the England B international said. "Nine or even seven points (from the first three games) would be a fantastic start."

Tottenham were tipped to be among the top sides this season but they have lost both matches so far. "Now there is more pressure to get a result," said Spurs boss Martin Jol's assistant Chris Hughton. "I'm sure Derby will try to make it difficult for us but it has to be about us and about bouncing back from two defeats. It has been a disappointing start for all of us here and we're determined to get back to winning ways."

Birmingham have been frustrated in their matches so far, losing 3-2 at Chelsea and succumbing to a disputed last-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland. They host West Ham - who were embarrassed as visitors Manchester City tore them apart in a 2-0 opening day win. England midfielder Dyer said he was ready to be thrown in to the Hammers team. "It is probably one of my strengths - my ability to hit the ground running, so even though I have had a bit of a stop start pre-season if the manager asks me to play at Birmingham on Saturday I would be totally up for the challenge," he said. Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce takes charge of his first league match at St James's Park as the Magpies host Aston Villa. England striker Michael Owen could make a welcome return for Newcastle, who have not scored at home since February. However, Villa boss Martin O'Neill wants his defenders to close down the likes of Owen more. "If we could just tighten up a little bit, especially when we haven't got the ball, then I honestly believe we will start to do better," the Northern Irishman said. "Once we get going, we'll be fine."

Mido should make his debut for Middlesbrough at Fulham. Boro lost both their opening games and boss Gareth Southgate cannot wait for the tall Egyptian striker to get started."You want a centre-forward to hold the ball up, to be a physical presence and to score goals. Mido brings all of those attributes," he said. "Mido is a player I believe possibly has a point to prove. He is a player of great ability, a strong player and a big character." Roy Keane's Championship winners Sunderland travel to Wigan looking to capitalise on their four points from six games so far, with new striker Michael Chopra scoring in both games. "Hopefully I can make it three in three at Wigan," he said. "I've got self-belief and I always thought I should be playing in the Premier League." Portsmouth host Bolton, who have lost both their opening games. "It's right that we've got no points out of the two games but I want the players to have the belief in what they are doing," Bolton boss Sammy Lee said.(soccerway)

Another Disappointing game for Manchester United!

Portsmouth 1-1 Manchester utd
United took the lead when new signing Carlos Tevez set up Paul Scholes who fired in from 25 yards.Portsmouth equalised when Benjani sent a superb header past Edwin van der Sar.Sulley Muntari earned a second yellow for a late tackle on Michael Carrick, while Cristiano Ronaldo saw red for his part in a fracas with Richard Hughes.

Reading 1- Chelsea 2
Chelsea scored twice in three minutes to maintain their 100% record as goalkeeper Petr Cech endured an uncomfortable return to Reading.Cech, who fractured his skull last season in the game at Reading, made an awful hash of a punch allowing Andre Bikey to put the home side ahead.But Frank Lampard's run and shot early in the second half and Didier Drogba's curling effort put Chelsea 2-1 up.Reading went down to 10 men when debutant Kalifa Cisse was red-carded.

Manchester City 1 - 0 Derby
Manchester City broke a 780-minute Premier League scoring drought at Eastlands as Sven-Goran Eriksson's honeymoon period continued with a 1-0 win over Derby.Andy Griffin battles Vedran CorlukaMichael Johnson's well-taken winner was City's first league goal on home soil since New Year's Day.

Birmingham 2-2 Sunderland
Stern John stunned his old club with a last minute leveller as Roy Keane's Sunderland once again showed never-say-die spirit in spades in a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

Fulham 2-1 Bolton
Fulham came from behind to beat Bolton 2-1 and leave Sammy Lee's men still searching for their first Premier League points of the season.

Wigan 1-0 Middlesbrough
Antoine Sibierski scored on his home debut to secure a deserved victory for Wigan against Middlesbrough. The striker reacted well on 54 minutes to slide home after Mark Schwarzer could only parry a low drive.

Huge win for Arsenal in Champions League!

Arsenal 2- 0 Sparta Prague
Arsenal moved a step closer to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 away victory over Sparta Prague tonight.And it was a hard-fought victory -courtesy of goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb, in stoppage time - on a humid night, overcoming tough opponents and a partisan crowd at the AXA Stadium.

Toulouse 0 - 1 Liverpool A super-strike from Liverpool's Ukrainian midfielder Andriy Voronin secured a crucial 1-0 win over Champions League debutants Toulouse in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie here on Wednesday.

Spartak Moscow 1 - 1 Celtic
Scottish champions Celtic overcame their fears of a synthetic pitch to hold Spartak Moscow to a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions' League here Wednesday.Russian international striker Roman Pavlyuchenko saved the day for Spartak after Paul Hartley had put Celtic ahead at the 83,000-seater Luzhniki stadium, which will host the competition final on May 21.

Ajax 0 - 1 Slavia Prague
Fenerbache 1 - 0 Anderlecht
BATE Borisov 2 - 2 Steaua Bucuresti

Everton won at Tottenham!

Week Two Schedule and Results from English Premeir League.
Tottenham 1- 3 Everton 3rd Goal

Birmingham v Sunderland
Fulham v Bolton
Man City v Derby
Portsmouth v Man Utd
Reading v Chelsea
Wigan v Middlesbrough

Arsenal scored in dying seconds to win season opener!

Gunners Celebrating hlebs goal !

Sunday's Premier League Videos and Results!

Arsenal 2 - 1 Fulham

Chelsea 3- 2 Birmingham

Man. Utd 0-0 Reading

( It is just to remind you that due to copyright and other broadcasting laws, some of the premier league match videos might not be allowed to be posted on the internet and hence they might not work after some times. The links provided above were working at the time of posting on this blog and if they are not working now, scroll down to the end or check on the left side (below the title of the blog) and check the other links. Good luck)

Reading's coach Steve coppell and Alex Furguson's Post-match interview

Chelsea player shawn write Phillips and coach Jose Mourinho Post Match interview

English Premier League Results and Videos of Week one!

Steven Jerard after scoring a beautiful goal!!

Sunderland 1 - 0 Tothenham

West ham 0 - 2 Manchester City

Derby County 2 - 2 Portsmouth

Bolton Wonderers 1- 3 Newcastle utd.

Middlesbrough 1 - 2 Blackburn

Everton 2- 1 Wigan

Astonvilla 1-2 Liverpool

Ethiopia names squad of 33 for Osaka 2007!

Double World 5000m and one-time World 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba will defend both her titles as the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) announced its strong squad of 33 athletes for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. The squad includes star names like Kenenisa Bekele, Meseret Defar, and Meselech Melkamu and ten athletes who will make their World Championships debut in the Japanese coastal city.

The pick of the selection will bring stars Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar as they race each other for first time since September 2006. Tirunesh Dibaba qualifies as the defending champion and will come up against her compatriot Meseret Defar in a repeat of the epic Golden League showdowns of 2006. While Dibaba has focused mainly on training and limited competition, Defar has enjoyed a phenomenal season where she sliced nearly eight seconds off the World 5000m record in Oslo and took victory in the All-African Games 5000m final. Her closest opponent on that occasion, Meselech Melkamu, will continue to knock the door on the top two with Gelete Burka also lying in the wings. Read More...

Arsenal defender William Gallas!

Despite rumours of an imminent departure, William Gallas is now ready to take on another season for the Gunners. Gallas's responsibilty has increased with the departure of good friend Thierry Henry. The former Blues defender elaborates on the potential of the new vibrant Arsenal side as well as his feelings about Thierry Henry's decision to bring down the curtain on his Arsenal spell.

Question: Since the end of last season, Arsenal has found themselves in troubled waters with the departure of David Dein and Thierry Henry, rumours of a foreign take-over and criticism of a squad far too young to lift the ambitions of such a young club. How has this affected the preparations for the up-coming season?

Gallas: 'You know, our job is basically to give everything we have on the pitch and not worry too much about what is going on outside the stadium. This is not the easiest thing to do for everyone but this is a measure of showing your true value to the club. 'As for Thierry Henry it was his choice. It was his decision and all I can do is to wish him good luck. It is always a blow when a great player decided to leave and especially when it is somebody that you enjoy a good relationship with but we have to turn a new leaf. And do it quickly!!'

Question: But is Arsenal not much more vulnerable without Henry?

Gallas: 'I can only give you the answer by the end of this season. For the moment we are all trying to get an impression of our strength but I am not worried about the potential of Arsenal.
On the contrary I am very excited to see how the youngsters will develop. I especially think of Nicklas Bendtner. I had never heard about him when he joined the squad but he has impressed me immensely. He is very powerful, good in the air, skilful in front of goal and very difficult to dispossess. He has no doubt a very big future ahead of him.'

Question: Arsenal finished 21 points behind Manchester United and 15 points behind Chelsea in the past season. Is there any reason to believe that Arsenal can still challenge for the title knowing that these sides have spent the summer strengthening their squads while Arsenal hasn't?

Gallas: 'In my eyes, yes, we still have our eyes on the title. The youngsters in the squad have learnt a lesson from last year. There is a new spirit in the Arsenal squad, a will to improve from last season and sacrifice himself for your fellow squad member. The team stands above all. The will to win is certainly there. In our preseason we have looked very solid defensively and very organised in midfield. I don't think we will fall through like last season.

Question: 'You are one of three players (Gilberto Silva and Kolo Toure) who could take the captain's armband at Arsenal.

Gallas: 'Yes, you are right and if it was offered to me I would accept it. I am now 30 years old and I want to have more responsibility in the team. To be a leader for the youngsters and steer the team in the right direction.'

Question: Marco Materazzi has stated that he is ready to give the French 'a warm welcome' in your crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy in one month's time. How do you anticipate that encounter?

Gallas: 'We should not let the past get in our way for our preparations for that match. It is a huge occasion for both sides. Whoever gets the best of that encounter is likely to qualify for the finals. A draw would be a good result for us but our ambition is to win all matches.' (ESPN)

Kenenisa Bekele won in 3000m!

A wonderful summer night in Stockholm brought out three unique exploits. All the spectators in the fully packed Olympic Arena will remember Blanka Vlasic’s 2.07 leap in high gump, Jeremy Wariner’s 43.50 lap in 400m and Kenenisa Bekele’s 7:25.80 in the 3000m with a splendid second half of 3:38. These were but three historical results that highlighted the 41st DN Galan.

With the current form he is displaying, Bekele needs to find someone who can better manage to assist him with world record pace setting, because the 25-year-Old Ethiopian is definitely in such shape. The rabbits left him alone at the front after a first half clip of 3:47. The multiple world champion stepped up the pace and produced a couple of 58-second laps, reaching the finish in 7:25.79 to become history’s sixth fastest man over the distance.

Tuesday’s IAAF Super Grand Prix DN-Galan celebrates anyone who breaks a Stadium record with the notorious bonus of one-carat-diamonds.(IAAF)

African Champions League!

Etoile Sahel of Tunisia became the first club to qualify for the African Champions League semi-finals as they seek the only continental trophy to elude them. Even stone-throwing supporters of hosts Jeunesse Sportive Kabylie of Algeria, who delayed play for 10 minutes, could not prevent the 'Red Devils' winning 2-0 which assured them of finishing first or second in Group A.

Etoile, from the Mediterranean resort of Sousse, have lifted the African Confederation Cup, African Super Cup, African Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup trophies since emerging as an international force 12 years ago. And the club coached by 54-year-old Frenchman Bertrand Marchand look capable of reaching a third Champions League final within four years after losing to Enyimba of Nigeria in 2004 and Al-Ahly of Egypt one year later. They have won six of eight qualifying and group matches and drawn the others while scoring 14 goals and conceding just one with the sole setback a 0-0 home draw against Group A surprise packets Al-Ittihad of Libya.

Etoile completed a double over twice champions Kabylie thanks to goals from Muri Ogunbiyi in first-half stoppage time and Amine Chermiti in the last minute of a match marred by the mid-second half delay. It was a typical workmanlike Etoile performance as they soaked up all the pressure Kabylie could exert in the north-east town of Tizi Ouzou before striking on the break. Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi fired a late penalty wide, but he should not have been on the pitch having head butted Chermiti after a second-half goalmouth collision.

Assuming Etoile win at home to bottom-of-the-table FAR Rabat of Morocco in mid-August, Ittihad can clinch the other semi-finals slot by avoiding defeat away to Kabylie. A superbly struck free kick by defender Younis al-Shibani that swerved around a four-man wall and past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Tarek al-Jarmouni set up Ittihad for a 2-0 triumph over FAR in Tripoli. Etoile have 10 points, first-time group participants Ittihad seven and Kabylie and FAR three each, meaning anyone can join the Tunisians in the penultimate phase but the Libyans are most likely to do so. Ahly surrendered an unbeaten seven-match run in the competition this year when losing 1-0 away to far hungrier Esperance of Tunisia in Group B with Salama Kasdaoui volleying the late first-half winner. Tradition suggests Ahly will bounce back although they would have preferred the comfort of Cairo Stadium in mid-August rather than a visit to the steamy cauldron of Omdurman to tackle Al-Hilal of Sudan. Ultra-cautious Hilal hardly created a chance when losing 1-0 to 2006 semi-finalists ASEC of Ivory Coast, whose goal was scored by Antoine N'Gossan after 30 minutes in gloomy Abidjan. Ahly have nine points, Hilal six and ASEC and Esperance four each, setting up a tight finish with the Egyptians probable group winners while the runners-up slot could be decided by head-to-head records. A win for Hilal over Ahly and they would have the edge, but any other result might keep ASEC in the race for the one million dollar first prize and an invitation to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan during December.

Haile Gebresilassie is still Undefeated in Half-Marathon!

Haile Gebresilassie comfortably won the New York half-marathon on his debut today in 59.24 minute ahead of Somali born American Abdi Abdirahman and last two Boston marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya who finished second and third, consecutively.

Haile's time 59.24 is the second fastest time in the distance in USA behind the record set by himself in Tempe, Arizona in 2006 which was 58 minute 55 seconds. Read More...

"The Distance-Running King Isn’t Resting on His Laurels"

Haile Gebrselassie walked through Manhattan on a sweltering afternoon, a slight man in a simple khaki outfit, drawing attention only because two burly bodyguards cleared a path for him. Gebrselassie’s trademark smile, unwavering in yesterday’s heat and commotion, erupted in laughter when two passersby wondered aloud if perhaps he was the president of an African country. If Gebrselassie had crossed town unescorted, the man universally regarded as the greatest distance runner would have turned few heads. His star will only shine come tomorrow when he re-enters the world he dominates, running in the NYC Half-Marathon. It will be the first time the 34-year-old Gebrselassie will run in New York. Read More...

Who and What is Behind Carlos Tevez?

One of the most protracted and complicated moves in English football is set to be resolved with Carlos Tevez poised to switch from West Ham to Manchester United. The matter was set to go to the High Court on 22 August but talks between West Ham and the Tevez camp are set to have avoided any such scenario. After months of complex negotiations, the matter seems to be ending - and this is why the deal has became one of football's most drawn-out sagas.

WHY IS THE TEVEZ DEAL SO COMPLICATED?

It's because Media Sports Investment (MSI) and Just Sports Inc, which owns the player's economic rights, and West Ham, which holds the player's registration, fell out over how much compensation the club would need to release him. And the Premier League needed to be satisfied the sum would be enough to prove that it was West Ham, and not a third party, which owned the player's registration. About £2m appears to have satisfied all three parties.

WHY A LOAN MOVE TO MAN UTD AND NOT A PERMANENT DEAL?

A similar deal was struck with Liverpool when his Argentine team-mate, Javier Mascherano, moved from West Ham. It is a complicated formula designed to ensure that the club and MSI do not break the Premier League's rules on third party agreements. But part of the loan deal would be the offer of a permanent transfer, perhaps in 2009.

HOW MUCH DO WE EXPECT MAN UTD TO PAY?

No figures have been made public, but Tevez would be expected to earn more than £4m a year.
Any permanent deal could see Manchester United pay around £25m.

WHO IS GETTING THE MONEY FOR THE DEAL?

MSI's representative Kia Joorabchian has negotiated the deal with Manchester United which should be concluded this weekend. The company can expect a one-off payment of more than £5m. West Ham will get around £2m in compensation. MSI would also benefit from any permanent transfer deal.

DOES THE OUTCOME CONTRADICT WEST HAM SAYING THEY HAD TORN UP THE THIRD PARTY AGREEMENT WITH THE TEVEZ CAMP?

In normal circumstances, the selling club would earn the transfer fee but this is no ordinary contract. West Ham insist that the deal proves that it was the club's decision to release Tevez - and part of their compromise deal with MSI is that all legal action is off. The Premier League would only have accepted the deal if their lawyers were sure that it proved beyond doubt that it was West Ham's decision to release Tevez from his contract, and not MSI's. They have got an eye on the threat of legal action by Sheffield United.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHEFFIELD UNITED?

If West Ham had have been docked points rather than fined at the initial hearing into the transfers of Tevez and Javier Mascherano it is almost certain Sheffield United would have stayed up at the expense of the Upton Park side. Hence their interest. The club says it will study the deal closely before deciding upon its next course of action. (Read More about the Tevez saga)(BBC)

Big Favourite Haile Gebrselassie to Run NYC Half-Marathon on Sunday August 5, 2007!

Two big-name favourites with near-matchless credentials - Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya - head the men’s and women’s fields for Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon. But those fields are so strong that either of the favourites could be upset by any of several formidable challengers. New York debut for Gebre Gebrselassie, who will make his New York racing debut on Sunday, has a résumé paralleled in distance-running history perhaps only by the multi-gold medallists Paavo Nurmi and Emil Zátopek.

As if his myriad of World records and two 10,000m Olympic gold medals weren’t enough, Gebreselassie is undefeated in his seven previous half-marathons. “Sunday is going to be really fantastic,” he said upon his arrival in New York. “I have no idea about the course. I hear it’s quite difficult. My top priority is to win the race and get a good time.” But not far behind “Geb” in the big-race-reputation department is Robert K. Cheruiyot, the defending LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon champion and a three-time Boston Marathon winner. A master of rising to the occasion, he excels on hilly terrain - like that of Sunday’s first seven miles, all in rolling Central Park.

Although the soft-spoken Cheruiyot made no predictions, a direct challenge came from Abdi Abdirahman, a two-time U.S. Olympian and the national 10,000m champion, who threw down the gauntlet at a Thursday news conference. “I want to be the first guy to beat Haile in a half-marathon. And I should be the first guy to beat him in America - he’s coming to my home town!” Clearly, the outspoken “Abdi” has adopted New York, much as America has welcomed him from his native Somalia.

And one shouldn’t count out Hendrick Ramaala, the ING New York City Marathon 2004 champion and perhaps the closest runner-up in marathon history at that race in 2005, when he lost by three-tenths of a second to World record holder Paul Tergat in a diving finish. History’s seventh-fastest half-marathoner, Ramaala considers the distance a specialty; another of his specialties is setting a tough early pace that forces lead packs to run hard from the gun.“This weekend, well, we just don’t know yet,” said Ramaala. “I won’t wish him bad on Sunday, but I know that in any race, any runner can win or lose.” Sunday’s lead pack will likely include Kenyans John Korir, who is riding a hot streak of shorter road-race victories, and James Kwambai, a 1:00:22 half-marathoner who was second in this year’s Boston Marathon.

Already a world-class destination race in only its second year, the NYC Half-Marathon expects some 11,000 runners to travel from Uptown through Midtown (and Times Square) to a Downtown finish in sight of the Statue of Liberty. Included are about 600 international athletes and 51 professional runners. (see Course Preview and others)

Gebrselassie, ever diplomatic, remarked, “It’s a strong field. Sunday will be a hard time for me because of such big names in the race. It’s going to be a difficult competition.” As any running fan knows, there are few names bigger than Gebrselassie. (IAAF)

Meet Uli from Dutchland!

This is one of those times when there is no big news to write about but still need to put something on the blog to keep readers. Both men and, recently, women Ethiopian national teams didn't do any favor by loosing decisive games and hence diminishing their hopes (and news to write about) of qualifying for African cup and Olympics, respectively, (Damn them!).

So I checked around on the internet for something that might be interesting to readers. Only out of desperation that I remembered 'my old friend' Uli from Dutch land. I used to enjoy his writing few years ago. His full name is Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger. He is a writer on ESPN; about German football though! Not that I don't like Germans but I feared it might turns off most Ethiopian soccer fans just mentioning the name Germany in football. I hesitated a moment before I decided to post his writing anyway as I got nothing to loose in terms of readership of this ‘popular’ blog. This Uli guy was many peoples favorite as well as mine. You can imagine how a heck of a writer he should be to write about German football and be many readers favorite at the same time!

As I said before, Uli writes about German football and he does it in a way that makes you smile and at times burst out loud in laughter. He is captivating, funny, and sarcastic and has detailed knowledge about football of Germany as well as Europe. He writes about surprising coincidences, football statistics, derby matches and stories behind them, and evolution European football that you most likely don't get anywhere else. He is a kind of writer who goes beyond games in soccer field. I grasp that he quite understand other professional sports like baseball and American football as well and draws analogy between those seemingly different sports and football.

So once in a while I will post his article in its entirety here so you too can enjoy about German football. Trust me it will not be boring!! Long Live Uli! Read Uli's Recent Article!