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1

Football / Using GPS Sports Vests to improve Soccer Performance...

« on: July 10, 2010, 11:53:54 AM »

Gents, I just stumbled on this article. It shows how scientific the game has become and why we in Trinindad and Tobago must improve in all aspects or be left behind...

Wenger to track players from SPACE in bid to stop Arsenal
( May 24 21:51 )

Arsene Wenger will track his players from SPACE next season to prevent injuries from yet again wrecking the club’s title bid.

The Arsenal boss has been without up to a dozen players at any one time this season, including defender William Gallas and Robin van Persie. Now Wenger intends to use satellites to monitor his stars’ susceptibility to injury in a bid to rectify the problem.

Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis explained: “If there are things we can do we will do them. For example, we’ve introduced a GPS system this year for the first time.

“This is tracking literally from satellites in space, the training movements on the training field of every player.

“It gives you a lot of information. It tells you not just how far the players are running and how fast they are running and what levels of intense activity they have in training.

“It also measures ­something called ‘the load’ – and this is literally the amount of time a player’s foot is on the ground while he is running.

“You can see if you have a player coming up to a risk of injury in a subsequent game because you can see two things in general: one is that their work-rate comes down in training and secondly their ‘load’ increases. In other words, their foot stays on the ground for longer when they run.

“When you are feeling good and feeling active you are more on your toes. When you’re not, you’re more on your heels. That can help you to predict when players are in a dangerous situation.

“Unfortunately, it takes a while to build that record to get the full benefit of that system.

“So we are unlikely to see the benefits really coming through until the second half of next year,” he said. Arsenal and GPSports>

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STAR WARS
( Apr 19 17:01 )

 "Manchester United star striker Wayne Rooney using GPSports technology during training. GPSports assists EPL & RFU.

Tech wizards, GPSports, who have developed the SPI Pro, an innovative GPS based athlete performance tracking system, powers the training of Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Leinster, The RFU, the All Blacks and the Wallabies.

The detailed information gained from this technology has helped to reduce injuries, develop game and position-specific training plans, and boost squad fitness.

"Our key clients how have the lowest injury rates in the league". Says GPSports Managing Director, Adrian Faccioni. "This is due to the ability to accurately monitor the loading for every player." If a player's position requires them to do a lot of lateral movement or sprints in a game, coaches can train them accordingly. Our next product, the SPI Pro X, records data a 15 times a second, so we'll soon know every blade of grass covered."

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How data is changing the way we play sports
( Mar 15 15:21 )

 "Who to pick for the team this week?" has always been the toughest question in sports management. Now, sports performance indicator (SPI) monitors are taking the guesswork out of coaching and training. "They tell you what to do -- and what not to do," says Gareth Gilbert, 37, who works for the Canberra-based technology firm GP Sports Systems. A SPI monitor can now be as small as a deck of cards.

Worn across the shoulders, it packs in GPS, heartrate monitor, digital compass, gyroscope and accelerometer. Whether in training or in play, it can transmit real-time data on speed, direction, jumps, impact loads, distance and heart rate to anywhere in world, five times a second. In the Premiership League, Chelsea and Fulham are using the technology, and Man United is believed to be interested too. However, it's taking off fastest in elite rugby.

"We have to be as clever as possible," says Allan Ryan, 30, head of strength and conditioning at London Irish, who regards the new SPIs as an "insurance policy" that will help youngsters such as 22-year-old centre Adam Thompstone (above) have a longer career.

By revealing "body load" -- total stress -- SPI monitors can prevent overtraining. "In the past, players aimed to finish a session last, to prove their fitness," says Ryan. "Now they're finishing first -- showing they've reached their targets."And a big surprise, says Ryan, is that one-to-one sessions (traditionally regarded as "light") can take a heavy toll.

Coaches in Australian Rugby League are also using the monitors to time substitutions or select players for specific functions such as man-marking. British teams are limited to using the devices in training. But with nine Aussie coaches currently in the UK Super League alone, pressure for change is building.

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Bradford Bulls' trial of GPS could help England close the gap on Australia
( Jan 13 15:43 )

 Michael Fisher - Telegraph Going strong: Matt Diskin's (left) testimonial against Leeds will see the GPS system in use

The club have received permission from the Rugby Football League to try GPSports' GPS system for the first time in Sunday's Matt Diskin testimonial match against Leeds at Headingley, with a view to using it in their Engage Super League opener at Huddersfield on Feb 5.

The device, which is placed in a harness incorporated into a vest, is used to monitor heart-rates and track a player's movement around the field.

"It's a huge advancement in terms of sports science that we're starting to grasp," said McNamara. "It will advance our game massively. If every club and every player had it, it would be great from an international perspective.

"We used them with England in the Four Nations and we gained some fantastic information."

McNamara, who was assistant to former England coach Tony Smith, admits the system could be used to help decide when to substitute a player during a match.

"It's in its early stages but it's amazing what you can do," he said. "It's a live system as well so you're getting a constant feed. Every physical aspect is tracked. You know exactly how far you've run in 80 minutes of rugby league, what speeds you get to and how many impacts you get and what that takes out of the body."

Bradford's new head of physical performance Geoff Evans said: "We will endeavour to use this information to improve all aspects of our preparation and performance for the coming season."

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Football / The German Plan: (Where's Ours?) Development is the key to success

« on: January 03, 2009, 10:21:08 PM »

Hi forumites: This is a brief summary of an article by Jeff Tipping after a recent conference in Germany (see it in full in the NSCAA Soccer Journal Jan-Feb 2009.

Upset about recent "failures" the Germans have devised a "Grand Plan" which features a comprehensive selection, education, and training programs beginning with today's three year olds- the group that would represent Germany in 2030/2031.  In summarising the German plan, Jeff imagined what that approach would look like if it was Americanised. Here is that approach:

1. Develop a nationwide playing system of 1-4-3-3 for U18's and 1-4-4-2 for those above.

2. Train all American coaches of U18's how to attack and defend in the 1-4-3-3 system

3. Train all Over 18's coaches how to attack and defend in 1-4-4-2

4. Develop 390 fully staffed, government funded, regional training centers around the nation where skilled players are identified and receive INTENSIVE technical, tactical, physical and psychological training. Emphasis will be placed on developing technique under pressure.

5. Develop a small army of professional youth coaches and coaching education instructors who are solely responsible  for the identification and development of young talented players.

6. Introduce special soccer grammar schools for players with talent.

7. Devise a system for making sure that children in kindergarten and primary schools receive more play and recess time for soccer and other movement activities that emphasize balance, coordination, agility and body mastery.

8. Institute procedures for identifying and cultivating players with leadership attributes and reinstitute standards of behavior, ethics and responsibility among the youth.

The French through their center at Clairefontaine and its many satellites used this approach to great success culminating in their World Cup, Euro and Youth Cup wins and recently, the Spanish FA did the same and their championships at youth and senior team level bears testament to the wisdom of their approach.

Isn't it about time that TnT adopt something similar and ideally suited to the needs of our culture and society?

Bless

3

Football / Five Lessons from the Euro 2008 Finals (From a US perspective)

« on: July 07, 2008, 10:06:00 PM »

This was copied from a blog by Matt Johnson: a US soccer coach.

Five Lessons of the Euros for Bob Bradley

With the conclusion of Euro 2008, the second biggest soccer tournament in the World, I think there are some lessons to be learned from the tournament that U.S. Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley needs to consider in preparation for the World Cup Qualifying and Olympic tournaments later this summer.

I have tried to limit this to five lessons, but some may cross over and get mixed in with other concepts. It is hard to be discreet in the lessons, but I tried.

1. The midfield is the key to success. This really is not a new lesson. Managers for decades have known that for a team to be successful, they have to control the midfield. But today's midfield is not just about stopping the other side's play development, it must include strong possession, quick thinking, creativity and the ability to exploit those tiny imperfections in a defense that always occur and good teams can correct quickly. For me the most successful teams at controlling the midfield were of course Spain, but also the Netherlands and Germany at most times. What do these teams have in common, for the most part they play a five man middle with a lone striker. Spain was a bit of an anomaly this tournament by playing Villa and Torres up top, but if you watch carefully, the Spanish response was to play a sort of diamond midfield, with Marco Senna withdrawn as a holding midfielder and the remainder of the line providing lots of lateral movement as well as feeding balls to the top line. Xavi, in particularly, was active.

The lesson for Bradley here is to think about implementing more of a five man middle explicitly. Implicitly he has looked for a player like Landon Donovan or Freddy Adu to play a "withdrawn" forward so that the U.S. formation looks kind of like a 4-4-1-1 formation, but that confuses the role of the withdrawn striker, is he a target man or a creator? Adu is much better as a creator and Donovan more like a target man. You can't really interchange them very well and you have to make the role more explicit.

2. You need a single, strong, holding midfielder. For me the player of the tournament was Spain's Xavi, but coming a close second was Marco Senna. The Spanish holding midfielder smoothered opposing striking forces with an ease that was surprising, particularly in the knockout stages. Senna shut down Russia's premier player, Andrei Arshavin with hardly any sweat. In the final, Michael Ballack was something of a non-factor again thanks to Senna. So what do we take from that lesson? Looking at the most successful holding midfielder, Senna and Claude Makelele of Chelsea and France, Javier Mascherano, Shalrie Joseph, and the growing influence of Michael Essien, you have a combination of experience, fitness, ability to read the game, an ability to start an attack and an understanding of where to be to provide the most impact at any given moment in a match. How many times did Germany make a really good pass that would have been a great lead into a solid opportunity only to have Marco Senna appears as if from nowhere to shut it down? That is the type of game reading that a holding midfielder needs to have.

A holding midfielder has to understand how to defend against any attack and how to start any attack. Who does the U.S. have for this role? The list is short, but for my money, right now Pablo Mastroeni is the most likely candidate who is match fit and capable of driving the U.S. squad through 2010. Bob Bradley has tried two holding midfielders, usually a combination of Mastroeni, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, and Ricardo Clark. The problem for all of these other players is not that none of them have the ability to really read a top flight team as they develop in the midfield. Of these three, Mo Edu is probably the closest to that point. I don't think Michael Bradley is ready for that role, particularly given his penchant for late tackles and poor give aways. Perhaps running Mo Edu as the sole holding midfielder in the Olympics will give him more international experience to expand into a real alternate for Mastroeni.

3. Fitness matters in tournament football. Let's face it, when it comes to tournament football, i.e. the Euros, the World Cup and even more so the Olympics, the fitness of your players matters almost as much as, if not more than, their individuals skills. During tournaments teams are playing matches every three or four days (in the Olympics, there are just two rest days betweeen quarterfinals and semi-finals and only one full rest day between semi-finals and finals). Keep in mind that outside of the goalkeeper, most field players will run between 7,000 and 12,000 meters, or more--that comes to 4.3 to 7.5 miles-- per game. That is in addition to kicking, dribbling, fighting off defenders and other physical activity involved in the game. When you are doing over the course of six or seven matches, that can run the average player from 24 to 50 miles per tournament, which is often just 30 days or so!! Fitness matters even more in the modern game based on movement.

The lesson for Bob Bradley--make sure your team is fit, even it if means sacrificing some technical skill. The World Cup will be taking place in June 2010, which for the American team means the height of the MLS season, at a time when the MLS players are at top form. On the other hand, European based players will be at the end of their season, tired and at the lowest level of form, assuming they don't have nagging injuries that allowed them to play for 60 minutes or so at their club but don't have the fitness to go for 90 hard minutes. Thus, it would make sense to have a larger share of MLS players, beyond the one or two that are routinely called up, i.e. Landon Donovan, Mo Edu, Rico Clarke.

What this also means is that Bradley needs to have a starting 14 or 15 and have quality impact subs. In tournament football, it will be the rare team indeed that has the same starting 11 for all matches. Assuming no injuries, you are likely to get yellow card suspension (see Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, et al), heaven forbid a red card suspension, and simple exhaustion. Thus having a top starting XI is not going to be possible, that means you need at least a starting 14, that is 14 or 15 players who can get on the field and produce high quality football. Couple that with 4 or 5 high impact subs that can come on, give a burst of engergetic play that can make a difference, offensively and defensively in a game, but can also be capable of playing a full 90 minutes of high impact football. In their semi-final game against Germany, Turkey's starting line-up did not contain half the players that played in their first match. Between injuries, yellow and red card suspensions, they were missing seven regular players, but still managed to make a really solid go of the game.

4. The club league of your players doesn't matter. Example--Turkey and Russia. If I am correct, all of the Russian players play their club football with Russian clubs(at least they did before the start of the Euros) and all but one Turkish player plays for Turkish clubs. By all accounts these two leagues are not the top class of European football, and in many cases might be little better than MLS clubs. What mattered is that the players played will with each other, understood their roles and were all around football players. The best teams did not necessarily have specialists in any one position (outside of goalkeepers), but capable of playing in many places, particularly the Turks, who by just about every account were deserving of a victory over Germany in the semis but last second bad luck cost them a finals berth. In fact, when you consider that Greece won in 2004 and the run of the Russians and the Turks this year, perhaps having players from the domestic league is a good thing as those players not even playing on the same club team, see each other on the pitch much more frequently and thus understand their games more than a group of national team players who play for different clubs in different domestic leagues and see each other for 30-40 days a year prior to friendlies and tournaments.

The lesson for Bob Bradley is simple, don't discount a player just because they play in MLS and call U.S. Soccer and the MLS onto the carpet about their policy regarding international call-ups of American players. There is no rational reason for players like Donovan, Guzan, Klejstan, Edu or anyone else that might get called in to camp to have to fly back during camp to play a regular season MLS match on the weekend. The fact that the MLS doesn't and can't make that demand of other international players like Shalrie Joseph, Amado Guevara, Carolos Ruiz and others indicates that the MLS is of two minds about this and the fact that Bradley and U.S. Soccer allow the double standard to occur is rediculous. I would like to see Bradley stand up to U.S. Soccer and MLS on this score much more than he does. I would also like to see the MLS players association (the union) and the U.S. Soccer players association (the national team "union") get more invovled in this issue. A world class competitive player needs to play on the world stage.

5. Attack and never say die until the final whistle. If nothing else, this year's Euros should have sounded the death knell of defend and counterattack style of football, that for which Bob Bradley is best known. Greece, France and Italy played that kind of football and look where it landed them. Teams like the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and Germany picked apart the defenses of defend/counter style teams. When a team plays defensively, it is only a matter of time before the opposing side finds a weakness and exploits it. When a team is defensive minded, they are not in a position to really chase a game in a one or two goal deficit. If they get one goal down, every counter attack takes on greater and greater importance and the weight of it is smoothering as the game grinds on. But if the team proceeds from the point of mind that says, "hey we can score two or three goals a game, it doesn't matter if we concede one" then chasing a game does become as fearful. Witness the mindset of the Turks and even the Germans--who by most accounts had a not so strong back line. But most importantly, the Turkish side never quit (see Turkey v. Croatia) that means that they were always in the game, even when they were down a goal. A defensive minded team plays to hear the final whistle, an attacking team plays until they hear the final whistle--there is a marked difference between the two mindsets.

In the World Cup, the United States will be facing quality teams that are used to possession, fast, short movement and passing and the ability to strike quickly when a flaw is spotted. Unless the United States improve their game in that regard, the best the U.S. can hope for is a round of 16 appearance before being dismissed.

Attacking football is atractive football. Do you want Americans to get behind the U.S. side, then show them what football is really all about, about movement, about scoring, about creating real chances. It cannot be about 8 or 9 guys behind the ball on defense and a prayer for a counter attack by one or two guys. Many sides in the Euros played attractive, engaging football and it was fun to watch. Even the 1-0 final was a treat because chances were created and you saw some good goalkeeping, quality defense and quality attack. The games were complete. Why are L.A. and DC United playing so much fun to watch--because they play an attractive game and the game is attractive because it is attacking, going forward and playing to win, not playing to no lose.

Bob Bradly needs to consider these lessons of the Euros as they look toward World Cup qualifying. This is what can be learned and needs to be learned for the U.S. to make a real run at the World Cup.

4

Football / The latest in Italian Football Scientific Training

« on: May 25, 2008, 12:56:59 PM »

http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/gallerie/calcio/ragazze-bikini/1.html   

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Football / Mourinho and Rooney on Setanta

« on: April 11, 2008, 11:42:17 AM »

 Funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ofNjViTVuc

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Football / My Coaching Internship at West Ham United UPDATED WITH PHOTOS!!!

« on: March 21, 2008, 08:55:16 PM »

Bless up WN:

I just recently completed a coaching internship at West Ham United and it was a wonderful learning experience. I spent a little over two weeks working with all of the teams from the youth Academy level to the ladies, Reserve and first team. Everyone was extremely supportive and though i had my own philosophy before going there, I learned a great deal from the likes of Prof Tony Carr, the coaching legend who developed Rio and Anton Ferdinand, Carrick, lampard (fat Frank), Joe Cole, and the Guvnor, paul Ince.. amongst others.

In the mornings, i travelled a short distance to Little Heath training ground where the U16's through U18's train. Most of the sessions were focused on speed of movement, awareness, technique and attacking play. the quality that stood out the most was PACE!!! Technically the players are EXCELLENT and young Freddie Sears who just scored the clincher against Blackburn stood out with his composure and finishing ability. There is another youth man, a defender by the name of Bondz N'gala...WOW!!! Pace, Power, Superb Tackler and reader of the game...WOW!!!  and the youth HUGE for a 17 year old...HUGE!!! He and Freddie are the main reason why the U18 team is currently leading the division and may in all likelihood win out (and Arsenal youths in that group too eh).

The cream of the crop at WH though is the U14 team. The entire team is class.  Bear in mind that Tony said that generally speaking, only one or two youths are expected to make it through the ranks at WH but they are betting money that as many as 4 or 5 players emerge from this U14 squad. And trust me they are SPECIAL!!! There is a kid who looks and plays exactly like Carrick. He has wonderful passing range, immaculate first touch and more vision than Cyclops. There are two young African wingers, direct from Nigeria (they have been at WH since they were about WOW!!! and the cream is a young black forward, Robert.

Robert is by far the best player I saw at WH at any level. I have seen a great number of players in my time but this kid takes the cake. He is certified gold. His movement on and off the ball is perfect, his PACE is crazy, his work ethic and attitude is top class and his finishing and dribling is absolutely phenomenal. In 62 games for WH, he has scored 142 goals...more than a 2 goal game average. And the youth ain't playing a puff schedule. he dominates just as easily as the U16 level.

Everyone at WH is singing his praises and Arsenal and chelski have already offered major dollars to his parents for him to switch allegiance because Rob cannpt sign pro forms until he is 16. he already has an agent and the consensus is that he is destined to play for England.

Moving on, all of the training at the younger age groups are all technically based, and there is a core philosophy that runs through the entire organisation. the average day for a trainee looks like this: training at 10am... that is after class/school, lunch at 12 for everyone, 1:30pm gym for strength conditioning,plyos, followed by Pro Zone game analysis, massage theraphy and then media training.

Little Heath (in Chadwell Heath, East London) is where the Academy trains, while the first team, Reserves and everyone else trains at the main ground in Chadwell Heath. In truth, there are no secret drills, no breaking of the mould at WH. They try as much as possible to allow the kids to play without overcoaching or giving too much direction/instructions. Unlike most english setups, they FOCUS on technique and this is very evident when you see the youth teams play. The most impressive thing to me was the high technical level and how FAST the kids play. From the U10's through U18"s the speed of play is EXCEPTIONAL with very few mistakes, turnovers etc...

While there I saw WH versus Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs. i also went to Old Trafford ( I had a Boss seat-right behind the subs bench) and I saw Man Utd vs Lyon. This match was very tactical because lyon did not allow Utd the freedom to play as they usually do but it was still a treat. Everybody here knows that Utd is meh team but Ben Arfa and benzema reaaaaaaaaaaaal stink boy... Ben Arfa mash up Wes Brown with a stink beat on the line and benzema's class is very evident.

All in all, i learned a great deal, particularly from the sports science perspective and I will be returning there later on to complete assessments for my uefa badges. I also have invites to a few other top clubs in portugal and france but I am not at liberty to talk about those yet. i will let you all know when it goes down and though there are a few opportunities that i have been offered, i am chilling and for the moment and developing my knowledge base.

Bless up and big up to meh breds Touches for all de support. i love him plenty even though he misguided and kinda chupid for being an Assnal fan.
Big up to the Soca professor for the invite to lime with him and a ton of beauties in the West End but I had to decline bredda.

Seeker

7

Football / Inside Carrington ( Scientific Training)

« on: December 01, 2007, 11:50:16 AM »

Fellas: long time I ent post but I read this article in the London Guardian and I was quite impressed about what goes on behind the scenes at a Big club.  The quality of training and the attention to detail is remarkable and it is necessary for TnT if we are to progress as a footballing nation. Enjoy...its a long but insightful read.

Integration, microcycle and banter create the harmony of champions


The players and coaches of Manchester United reveal the training-ground details of their match preparation

Saturday December 1, 2007
The Guardian


Players work out in the gym with strength and conditioning coach Mike Clegg. Photograph: John Peters/Manchester United/Getty Images
 


By 7.30am on most weekday mornings the hood of Sir Alex Ferguson's car is already stone cold. It's nothing to do with the invariably inclement Manchester weather, of course, but all to do with the fact that the manager has been perched at his desk for half an hour already. And he's not alone.
After more than two decades in the job Ferguson leaves the planning and execution of United's training sessions to his assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, and first-team coach, Mike Phelan. They, together with the goalkeeping coach Tony Coton, fitness coach Tony Strudwick and skills coach Rene Meulensteen, put the players through their paces on a daily basis while Ferguson monitors developments.


Article continues

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"The training session is based on what we call the integration concept," says Queiroz. "All things are related to the preparation of the players. The technical, tactical and fitness aspects, everything together is in an integrated system. The most important thing is that before training we understand the needs of each player in each position and we know the needs of the team, so we can make the right decisions. We create and combine the right harmony between the preparation of the individual and that of the team."
The players arrive at around 9.30am, half an hour before training starts, but the coaching staff meet well in advance of every session to organise each day's bespoke training programme. The club's medical staff are also consulted to highlight players' knocks and injuries.

"Everything the player does on the pitch has different impacts in the performance of the team," says Queiroz. "If you run and shoot, then there's the technical impact, the fitness impact, an emotional and mental impact. Human beings aren't split into different areas; we work through a complex system. My job is just to create the right harmony and make the right decisions in terms of preparation - which drills to do when, how many hours of training to do on each day of the week, etc."

Strudwick arrived at Old Trafford in August 2007 from Blackburn Rovers and he keeps the players' fitness ticking over.

"The training programme for the week, otherwise known as the microcycle, is determined by the amount of games we have in a week," says Strudwick. "The day after a game, often Sunday, will usually be a rest day for everyone or a recovery day for those who have played. The first three days of the following week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - involve a lot of hard work on the players' part. In terms of fitness training, the squad will spend some time in the gym working on building up their strength on the Monday. The following day they will focus on aerobic work to help increase their endurance and on the third day they will spend time on speed work.

"We then start to reduce the physical pressure and intensity on the players in order to help them start preparing themselves for the game on the Saturday. We will also look at some injury prevention methods. The day before a match the players will take part in a standard training session, which lasts no longer than an hour. We try to make everything short and sharp and to help improve the neuromuscular activity so the players are ready."

The mastermind behind the technical aspect of United's training sessions is Queiroz. The Portuguese is well aware of the importance of practice.

"Everybody knows the limits to where they can go, and knowing that creates more freedom and more initiative for the others because, whenever anybody does something, he knows there's a team behind him. That's why things seem more simple and easy when in fact they are doing difficult things. In football, high quality movement seems to be simple but it is exactly the complexity of those movements that is the most difficult thing in the game.

"There is no perfection in football. There are always points, not always from the individual point of view, sometimes from the collective one, that have room to improve. We can do that with smart work and if everybody's ready to accept their mistakes, the things that they're not doing right and the areas we should improve."

Having eased the players into the session with "boxes", their light-hearted drill of choice, Queiroz and Phelan then prefer to focus on more serious matters.

"After boxes we do a little bit of function work, focusing on possession and team shape for the build-up to the next game," says Darren Fletcher. "Training does vary - there are different shooting and tactical exercises we do and on certain days of the week there will be specific training drills geared towards positions. The midfielders will work on threading passes through the defence. It'll be four against four. The attacking quartet will aim to get the ball through the gaps, while the other team will work on staying together as a unit."

The goalkeepers, meanwhile, are whisked away by Coton to perform their own warm-up. Plenty of handling practice plus two-touch footwork prepares the custodians for joining up with their team-mates for the end of the session.

"We have certain things that seem to be laid down in stone," says Phelan. "In the first part of training we like to let the players enjoy themselves, just getting the balls out, knocking them about and playing little possession games. Then we move on to the main hub of the session, whatever we want to get in them for the next game or something that didn't happen in the last game. We build up the session that way."

The coaching staff factor in preparatory drills to combat upcoming opponents - although typically only a small amount.

"It depends on the game or the situation we find ourselves in," says Phelan. "We'll probably do one session on preparation for the opponents because games come so thick and fast it's difficult to do team training on the next game."

The final drill in training is usually a match of between seven and 10 a side, depending on how bare or crowded the treatment room is looking. "Some of us will swap positions during five-a-side games - the defenders might play up front and vice versa," says Fletcher. "Rio fancies himself in the free role behind the striker, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton surprised us on one occasion when he played outfield as he went and scored a hat-trick."

"Sometimes I play up front when we're having a joke around during a mini-match," chips in Nemanja Vidic. "I actually started out as a right-winger, then I went to right-back before I finally became a central defender. I remember playing on the left wing during one training session - Cristiano took my place in central defence. I felt good on the left wing. I didn't score but I made one great run and put in a great cross but no one was there! I wasn't quite as good as Ronaldo but I wasn't bad either."

With fitness such a key element, each player has a bespoke training programme drawn up by Strudwick. Gone are the days of extra laps around The Cliff, running until legs or lungs gave out. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sampled the evolution of training regimes first-hand since 1996.

"I think I just caught the latter end of old-school English football when I arrived," he says. "Foreign coaches, new training methods, loads of foreign players I think changed the demands of being a top player in the Premier League. You couldn't live as a top footballer now and be going out to the pub and doing what you do. I've noticed a massive difference. Everything now is down to detail. Before, in training, you ran your socks off but now everything is more scientific. You don't have to run that hard to get fitter.

"It's energy-saving and on a match day you do feel fitter. But you have to be because the modern-day footballer is so fit, athletic, technical, quick . . . I think that's the way it goes with life in general - everyone's just trying to be more effective and trying to find better ways to do things. I've benefited from the training methods here, I don't think I could cope with all the long slogs now at my age."

The players are prone to moments of mischief. "You have to have your wits about you when Scholesy and Wazza [Wayne Rooney] are around," says Fletcher. "All the balls that are dotted around the edge of the pitch will suddenly start flying past you. You can never relax during that period."

Rooney remains committed to the pursuit of hyper-fitness, however, staying true to the old "no pain, no gain" maxim.

"You've got to do the work to get the best out of yourself in the games," he says. "You've got to be fit and I think now with the games getting quicker you've got to be able to run for 90 minutes. Whether it's high intensity or endurance you've got to do it and the only way you can do that for 90 minutes is by doing it in training through the week."

Whereas a player might have possession for a few minutes during a match, they have the most intense contact with the ball during training sessions. This is the time when those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Carrington will be privy to the players' repertoire of tricks.

"The older players in the latter stages of their careers have the skills, and the good thing is that you don't have to tell them when and where to use them," says Meulensteen. "They have the experience to know that, it's just whether they're comfortable with certain moves. With the young kids we give them all the optional moves and let them practise until they get to a point where they are naturally more comfortable with one or two. With the first-team players you can look at them, let them do them and then quickly rule most of them out, get them to concentrate on specific ones they are comfortable with.

"You can be very specific then. That's the core and what it will do is add something to the game where players look to have so much time on the ball, simply because they've found the right balance between popping the ball about nice and quickly and suddenly using a disguised piece of skill. Disguise is nothing else than making your opponent think you're going one way then, as soon as you've committed him, going the other.

"When you have that, that's when you get teams who look like they can't be caught. It's not just skill, though; personality and attitude carries the skill. That's part of the development too and that's a bit harder with the older players. They're more calculated, that's why sometimes they get caught in two minds and you can see it when they're playing. It's not a problem, you just encourage them not to get caught up in their mind. That's because they missed the chance to develop these things earlier on in their careers."

The affinity between players and coaches is matched by the rapport among all the coaching staff. "Everybody's got to have massive amounts of character to play here at United," says Coton. "That's where some players have failed, young and old, because they've not had that character. If you take the mickey, you've got to be able to take it back, and within that area the first-team staff give it each other.

"The gaffer's the world's worst for that kind of thing. What the public sees is not what happens. The only problem with the manager is that he can't keep a straight face, he laughs too early and I tell him that. He gives it away. We have some great fun. We work hard through the week and a Friday night before a Saturday away game is usually the only time we're all sat down together. We have a meal with the manager. He'll be chatting and telling us the same story, except this time he's added something to it from two weeks ago, so you just act surprised and he doesn't realise." Copyright © Manchester United Football Club Limited 2007. Edited extract from Behind The Scenes At Manchester United by Gemma Thompson and Steve Bartram, published by Orion Books at £18.99

Language barrier: How Queiroz gets his message across

Given the eclectic composition of United's playing squad - with origins ranging from Serbia to Seoul - it is of little surprise that language disparities can provide a sizeable hurdle. Fortunately for all, Carlos Queiroz is well versed in several tongues while several players speak more than one language. Having had jobs in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, America, Japan and Spain, Queiroz speaks five languages and has a wealth of cross-cultural expertise.

"Basically we try to keep all conversations in English," he says. "But sometimes there are sensitive matters that require the mother tongue to be used. When English is not your mother language, no matter how much you try to learn the language, sometimes when you try to express feelings it's better to use your mother language because you can be more accurate.

"For instance, if a player is injured, fatigued or emotionally down, then it's better to check his feelings and thoughts in his mother language. That's why in those moments it's good I can communicate in, say, Spanish with Carlos Tevez, French with the French boys or Portuguese with Cristiano, Nani and Anderson. But for the routine daily conversation we always try to keep English as our official language at the club. Speaking the players' mother languages helps me a lot because I can have the close approach with them.

"The training at United demands an understanding of the roots and backgrounds of the players. You have diverse technical cultures such as Latin concepts, a continental concept of preparation and tactics. The way they approach the game is different from the English style and the roots of the English players; then you have South American players and those from African backgrounds.

"The most difficult job I found was to create the right balance because, if you come here and use the traditional concept of training in England, then you lose half the team. I couldn't use the methods and concepts I usually use only with Latin players because I could lose the concentration and motivation of the English players. At the beginning it was very important, through my experience and knowledge, to know and understand where they're coming from and create training sessions where I can keep all of them at a high level of motivation and concentration, exciting the players through the backgrounds and roots that each one brought to the training session.

"I must tell you that it wasn't easy and isn't an easy task for a coach to have so many different languages and roots and keep 90 minutes of attraction to the training sessions. That's especially true when you have to be persistent and repetitive with your ideas. I thought, and I still think, that if I didn't have the experience of working with South Americans, Asian, African and European players, then it would have been problematic to prepare the players in the right way."

Ticking the right boxes: Ferdinand's favourite

The first 15 minutes of training are spent on spinning bikes. The players get the blood pumping through their legs inside the wooden-sprung training hall before filtering out on to the first-team training pitch. Once outside, the first drill is usually one of the players' favourites: "boxes".

The squad is split into a junior and senior group and then two members of each group are enclosed by the rest, rather predictably in a box shape. The duo's aim is to win the ball, while the remainder must keep it from them with one-touch passing.

"I love going out and doing boxes - it's the best part about training," says Rio Ferdinand. "I think 90% of the lads would agree. If Carlos changes the training session around and tells us we're not doing boxes, I go bananas. I need to do a box to start the day off on a good vibe.

"Scholesy is probably the best at boxes. His awareness and touch is always spot-on. I was shocking in my first season at the club. I felt more pressure in that box than I did walking out at Old Trafford. After the first year I got used to it and I'd say I'm all right at it now."

"Scholesy and Giggsy are probably the best at boxes," adds Darren Fletcher. "They've been at the club for such a long time, so they've got the experience of doing it every day for years - they know the ins and outs of it. When you go into their box, which is the older box, it really is a step up and the play is a lot quicker. It's a good exercise, there is a lot of mickey-taking mainly because all the lads will try and nutmeg each other. We get some great little passing routines going and we've got up to around 30 passes in the past."

8

Football / Truthseeker writing a book and need Forumites help.

« on: January 25, 2007, 03:52:32 PM »

Dear Forumites:

My name is Lumumba Shabazz aka truthseeker.

I am currently writing a book called Make The Ball Happy and would like if you would all sumbit inspirational soccer stories for possible publication. This book will be geared towards the high school/college bound soccer player and it will featured inspirational and motivational stories about people's experiences, about how they overcame adversity, obstacles and challenges. It could be stories about your most memorable experiences... your first ball, cleats etc...  Btw, the first bal i ever got was a gift from my mom oin the US and it was an orange and black ball that I used to clean after every practice and put in the bed next to me. lol

It could be about your most embarrassing moment on the field and how you became stronger because of it.. The story must give hope; it must inspire and it generally should be the kind that others may get goose bumps from after reading it.

An example of such may be my own career. I started off as a U16 southern midfielder in T&T before being picked for national selection along with Ivan Sampson and young Nevinson (GK) in South. At trials, i am certain that I was the poorest youth there, lunch in a brown paper bag (bake and cheese and lime juice) and I had to endure a 2 hour wait to borrow a pair of boots from a rich partner who left me waiting outside while he thought about lending me the shoes.

At the trials, all of the Naps, benedicts boys were all in matching tracksuits talking about the camps they attended in Europe weeks before, and i sat there thinking that my camp was small goal on de hill in Claxton Bay. My uniform was bad case of color coordination.. blue and red socks, green shirt and yellow pants (a true kalediscope). I must have been a sight to behold.

The trials were slated to begin at 9am in Skinner Park but started at 1pm, and before the players even took the field, the selectors had their team chosen already. i lacked both name and pedigree.
And did not play on the kind of school team that would have given me any sort of leverage.

In fact, 10 minutes before the sweat ended, I was still there lingering on the sidelines. it was not until a coach pointed out that I didn't play yet that I was given a run on the field. Most expected that i couldn't play so when i started to win tackles like crazy across the midfield and started linking well with sampson that i was  duly recognised.......... (and on and on)

Forunites, my story takes many different twists and curves and obstacles at this point, all of which I overcame, and the end result is the person i am today. This is the type of story i am looking for. stories of encouragement, hope, faith, love of the game, heartbreak moments etc... But please be original and authentic. And remember this is geared towards the 14 to 18 age group.

If you are interested in writing a story, please drop me an email at Shabazzsoccer@gmail.com. The book will be self published with possible pickup by a major house depending on initial sales. And if your story is chosen, i will ask for your permission to publish it.

I know many people in here have stories to tell of themselves or maybe those that they may have heard. send me an email and I will send you the info and instructions.

Blessings and thanks

truthseeker
PS: even Assnal and Chelski men can apply
Shabazzsoccer@gmail.com/Shabazzsoccer.com

9

Football / Assnal Cutass book. and Liverfool will do de business

« on: January 19, 2007, 03:38:10 PM »

I tired hearing about in form Assnal and de rest ah de shit. Assnal were lucky to win at OT earlier this year and thats with playing the 4-5-1 formation that Wenger hates so much when other play it against his squad. What ah stinking hypocrite!!! I expect Assnal to play de same damn formation and try to stifle de midfield but no matter what de do, they have plenty licks to get. Tired hearing about Assnal youths like Man U have ah old man team. Evra, Vidic, Rio, Ronaldo, Rooney, Carrick, Saha and soon to be Hargreaves are all in their 20's so de fire burning bright.

We just need Liverfool to not shit down de place as usual and tings will continue to look sweet.

Touches, Palos whey alyuh? Ah find alyuh real quiet these days boy.

Seeker

10

Football / How Man taking beat stink stink so

« on: May 03, 2006, 08:25:03 PM »

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/117044/amazing_indoor_soccer_skills/

Some great small goal skills.. watch and learn nah man. Only men from South wicked so

11

Football / Wicked 10year old Turkish player

« on: April 03, 2006, 04:59:51 PM »

http://s50.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0J480A82AZFL91JJETRGFAB41I

An amazing 10 year old Turkish prodigy

12

Football / Yorke in training with United

« on: March 17, 2006, 06:44:05 PM »

Seeker

13

Football / The next hot player outta Trinidad and Tobago (she ent playin 4 Italy)

« on: February 17, 2006, 02:03:43 PM »

The newest Soca Warrior and Manchester United fan was born today...

My beautiful little baby girl. Her name is Sanaa Asakhi Olivacce-Shabazz. It means " the brilliant, beautiful one who cannot be destroyed".

She was a lovely 9 pounds... so she locking down ah central midfield spot, possessing the bite of Roy Keane and the skills of Ronaldinho, so ah waiting for Touches, Trinibug, Lightning and Palos to have their own and lewwe see what kinda midfield we wukking with...

Say a lil pray for we in these early days yet...

PS: ah know it have real shittalkers on here, so before dey start: Yes ah sure is mine...

Seeker

14

Football / Football Jokes

« on: February 12, 2006, 12:24:54 PM »

Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Wayne Rooney are standing before God at the throne of Heaven. God looks at them and says; "before granting you a place at my side, I must first ask you what you believe in."

Addressing Ronaldo first he asks, "what do you believe?"

Ronaldo looks God in the eye and states passionately, "I believe Football to be the food of life. Nothing else brings such unbridled joy to so many people from the slums of Rio to the bright lights of Madrid. I have devoted my life to bring such joy to people who stood on the terraces supporting their club."

God looks up and offers Ronaldo the seat to his left.

He then turns to Luis Figo , "and you, Luis , what do you believe?"

Figo stands tall and proud, "I believe courage, honour and passion are the fundamentals to life and I've spent my whole playing career providing a living embodiment of these traits."

God, moved by the passion of the speech offers Figo the seat to his
right.

Finally, he turns to Wayne Rooney , "and you, Wayne , what do you
believe?"

"I believe" says Rooney "you're sitting in my seat."
     
Two blokes were walking through a cemetery when they happened upon a tombstone that read:
"Here lies John Sweeney, a good man and a Chelsea fan."
So, one of them asked the other: "When the hell did they start putting two people in one grave

Q. "What does a 3 pin plug and Arsenal Football Club have in common?"
A. "They're both useless in Europe"
..................................................
You're trapped in a room with a tiger, a rattlesnake, and an Arsenal Fan. You have a gun with two bullets. What should you do?
Shoot the Arsenal Fan. Twice.

Arsene Wenger walks into the Arsenal changing room for their next game, looks at his players and says, "I'm not supposed to play some of you since our chairman said you were stupid against Man U.

"So what I have to do is ask you a question, and if you get it right, you can play."

They all agree and ask Wenger to start with their star players first. First up: Henry. Wenger looks into his eyes intently and asks, "Okay, now concentrate... what is two plus two?" Henry thinks for a moment and then he answers, "Four?"

"Four!" Wenger shouts loudly, excited that his top player got it right.

In response the other Arsenal players plead, "Come on boss, give him another chance!"
...........
Last one...

A primary teacher starts a new job at a school on Merseyside and, trying to make a good impression on her first day, explains to her class that she is a Liverpool fan.
She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Liverpool fans. Everyone in the class raises their hand except one little girl.

The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says: "Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?"

"Because I'm not a Liverpool fan," she replied.

The teacher, still shocked, asks: "Well, if you're not a Liverpool fan, then who are you a fan of?"

"I'm a Manchester United fan, and proud of it," Mary replied.

The teacher could not believe her ears. "Mary, why are you a United fan?"

"Because my mum and dad are from Manchester, and my mum is a United fan and my dad is a United fan, so I'm a United fan too!"

"Well," said the teacher, in an annoyed tone, "that's no reason for you to be a United fan. You don't have to be just like your parents all of the time.

What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict and car thief, what would you be then?"

"Then," Mary smiled, "I'd be a Liverpool fan."

.....

The seven dwarves are down in the mines when there is a cave-in.
Snow White runs to the entrance and yells down to them.
In the distance a voice shouts out "Arsenal are good enough to win the European Cup."
Snow White says "Well at least Dopey's alive!"

A couple in the middle of a messy divorce case find themselves in court battling over custody of little Johnny, their only child.

In order to make a fair decision over the boys future, the Judge takes Johnny into his private chambers so that he can find out which of the parents the boy would prefer to live with.

"Well, Johnny" says the Judge, "Would you like to live with your Mother?"

"No" replied Johnny, "she hits me all the time"

"Well then," the Judge continues, "Would you like to live your Father?"

"No" replied Johnny again, "He hits me all the time too!"

The Judge looks exasperated and says to the boy "Well Johnny, who would you like to live with?"

"I'd like to live with the Sunderland Football Club" the boy replied quickly.

"Why on earth would you want to live with the Sunderland Football Club?" replied the now extremely puzzled Judge.

"Well" replied Johnny, "They never beat anyone"
     
3. Q: What is the difference between Bill Clinton and Crouch?

A: Clinton can score.

Three old football fans are in a church, praying for their teams.The first one asks, "Oh Lord when will England next win the World Cup?"

God Replies, "In the next 10 years."

"But I'll be dead by then," says the man.

The second one asks, "Oh Lord, when will Man United next win the European Cup?"

The Good Lord - answers, "In the next 5 years."

"But I'll be dead by then," says the man.

The third one asks, "Oh Lord when will Liverpool win the Premier League?".

God answers, "I'll be dead by then!"

Before bed one night, Arsene Wenger is desperately trying to think of ways to get his blundering Arsenal teams’ season back on track. As a last effort Wenger decides to get on his knees and pray to God for guidance.

God hears the Frenchman’s whining and decides to take pity on the poor man, so later that night Wenger suddenly awakes to see The Lord himself standing at the bottom of his bed. God beckons Wenger out of bed saying, “Come forth my son…� to which Wenger replies, “Fourth? We’ll be lucky if we finish bloody sixth!�
     
Might have heard it before but what the hell...

Wenger was impressed with Sir Alex's managerial tactics. Therefore, he went to Old Trafford to ask Sir Alex how he was kept the lads in check at all times. Sir Alex replied "It's easy really. I ask them questions to keep them mentally alert.

Wenger was not quite sure he understood so Sir Alex demonstrated "Giggs, here. Your parents have a child, it's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"Simple" Giggs replied. "The child is me."

Wenger was impressed and upon arrival at Highbury called Henry. He asked him the same question and Henry, baffled, asked to be given a day to figure it out. Wenger agreed.
When Henry went home, he called Kolo Toure and asked him the question. "It's me" answered Kolo.

Henry then went to Wenger and told him he was ready. Wenger asked again "Your parents have a child. It's not your brother or sister. Who is it?"

"It is Kolo Toure" said Henry proudly.

"No, you fool" Said Wenger angrily. "It's Ryan Giggs"
     

15

Football / MTV Cribs: Louis Saha

« on: February 06, 2006, 09:18:16 PM »

http://d.turboupload.com/d/40701/Saha_Cribs.avi.html

16

Football / African Nations football for de ball hoes... Movies and Music too

« on: January 23, 2006, 06:01:04 PM »

Fellas ah know it have plenty ball peongs on here and nuff ah alyuh missing de African Nations Cup. If you want to see the matches online:

Register with FBTZ.com and you will be able to download most, if not all the matches.

BoxtoBox.co.uk is also another wicked site where you can see the the PPLive sites where you can see the matches live.

For music and Movies (new releases as well, showing in perfect condition) you can all go to TorrentReactor.net and become a registered user and you will be able to enjoy some good shite.

Recently saw Narnia, Cinderella Man, Rize, Arsenal season Review, Wayne Roonet first year at United, Hustle and Flow (a bad bad movie) Constant Gardener, Transporter 2, Memoirs of a Geisha, return ah de 5 deadly venoms... Thereis so much available and all free of charge so enjoy...

Fire bun Liverfool
Fire bun Assnal
Fire bun Chelski
Long Live United!!!

Tseeker

17

Football / Cantona, Theo Walcott and Rooney Clips

« on: January 19, 2006, 09:18:47 PM »

http://www.soccerfanatics.net/dlvideo/1915515l.wmv   Wicked compilation of Cantona

http://www.footballclips.net/theo_walcott_new_english_talent

Assnal's new boy.. still ent good like Rooney

http://www.soccerfanatics.net/dlvideo/8794762l.wmv

Wayne from Claxton Bay Rooney... Enjoy

18

Football / Some of the nastiest tackles and fights in football

« on: December 17, 2005, 04:29:43 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=wYzu_Gx3Et8... follow de link

19

Football / The Demise of Wright Phillips at Chelski

« on: December 17, 2005, 01:01:25 PM »

De Youth used to be one ah de best, now all he getting is bench...

Chelsea: Not much Wright about Shaun’s decision
 Paul Meadows


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Meadows is a football journalist with experience of covering a number of English clubs from the Premiership and Football League...
[full biography]
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17/12/2005 10:00:00.
read: 608 times.


"When the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur provide the opposition, he has to make do with a place on the bench as Mourinho fielded his strongest team – a team Wright-Phillips has yet to convince his manager should include him"

related
Chelsea
POLL: Chelsea Player of the Year
Chelsea: Not much Wright about Shaun’s decision
Chelsea vs Liverpool: Nailed on draw?
Chelsea: The chart topper who put Chelsea at number one
Chelsea: Champions League - best and worst case scenarios
Chelsea: When does a 2 defeat blip become a full blow crisis?
Chelsea: Did everyone want them to lose?
Where would Chelsea be without Frank Lampard?
Chelsea: Jose’s first mini crisis
Betting News: Chelsea defeat delights bookies
Why Chelsea will beat Manchester United on Sunday

 

It looked for a while as though he was going to buck the trend of bright young talents heading to Chelsea. Scott Parker couldn’t resist the move when the Stamford Bridge club came calling, Arjen Robben soon dismissed all notion of a move to Manchester United when he saw what was on offer in London, whilst John Obi Mikel still claims a move to the Blues is his ultimate ambition.

Yet for a while, it looked as though Shaun Wright-Phillips wouldn’t succumb to the idea of joining the rest of the superstars being assembled by Jose Mourinho. The Premiership Champions made no secret of their desire to sign the young England international, yet they were told the winger wasn’t for sale; and as the player himself had insisted he was perfectly happy in Manchester, the case appeared closed.

But then the temptation finally bit during the build-up to a pre-season friendly in the summer. Wright-Phillips had performed a u-turn and declared an interest in signing for Chelsea, and within hours he was withdrawn from the City squad and heading to London for contract discussions. The only thing to be resolved was the transfer fee, which was eventually settled on £21million.

The argument was this: a very good footballer for a good Manchester City side was now set to be transformed into a world-class talent for an excellent Chelsea side, who were set to rule England and Europe for many years to come. Anyone could see the potential the 24-year-old possessed, and with the benefit of playing alongside Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba et al this potential would be realised.

This would then be transformed onto the international scene in which Wright-Phillips had only just burst onto, which would result in another world-beater for Sven Goran Eriksson to pick from when the World Cup Finals begin in Germany. So, in a perfect world, for all concerned this was the ideal transfer – one of the best home-grown talents playing for the best team in the country with some of the best players in Europe.

So everyone’s a winner – Chelsea have another top player to add to their squad, England have a player comfortable in the presence of true stars and one used to life in the UEFA Champions League, Wright-Phillips has the chance to win the honours he was highly unlikely to achieve at City, and his former club have £21million for a player they signed for nothing.

Apart from, well, it hasn’t quite worked out like that has it?

Take the Premiership, for starters. Ever since City regained their top-flight status in 2002, Wright-Phillips had been a regular starter. In fact, few players had played more minutes in The Premiership than the winger during those three years he spent in Manchester - whether it be Kevin Keegan or Stuart Pearce picking the team, regardless of the competition, he was pretty must sure of playing a key part for City.

During this period, the Nottingham-born player – rejected by Forest for being too small – became one of the most entertaining performers in England. To use an old cliché, he was worth the entrance money alone. Although he made countless assists for his team-mates, it was once levelled at him that he didn’t score enough goals in his first season – he responded by netting almost twenty in the following two.

And when Eriksson satisfied a nation by calling him up for the full England squad, in typical Roy of the Rovers fashion Wright-Phillips didn’t disappoint. He scored on his debut against the Ukraine in early 2004 within 16 minutes of being introduced as a second-half substitute. It wasn’t just an average goal, either – picking the ball up in his own half, he went on a jinking run before firing low into the far corner of the net.

Such was his impact both for club and country, he was catapulted into a player rated at £20million+ whilst there was serious debate up and down the land that he should even get the nod for England over skipper and right-sided midfielder David Beckham. That the Real Madrid ace should be excluded from the team would have been unthinkable not long ago, yet with Wright-Phillips now on the scene, it became a distinct possibility.

It wasn’t long before a move to a so-called ‘bigger’ club was mooted. Arsenal – for whom his step-father Ian Wright starred – were installed as instant favourites, whilst Liverpool were also believed to be contenders. And there was also interest from both Madrid clubs – ironic considering he was the subject of racist abuse when he appeared for England in Spain in a friendly in November of last year.

But when Chelsea made their interest public, other interested parties resigned themselves to being priced out of the race. After all, as good a talent as Wright-Phillips is, who else could meet City’s asking price of £20million+? So off to Stamford Bridge it was, and although he has only been there six months, things are already looking decidedly different compared to his days at Eastlands.

At the time of writing, Wright-Phillips has started just five of the sixteen Premiership games the Blues have played this season: at home to West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, and an away trip to Everton. When the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur provide the opposition, he has to make do with a place on the bench as Mourinho fielded his strongest team – a team Wright-Phillips has yet to convince his manager should include him.

Considering we are now approaching Christmas and it took him less than a month to play the same amount of games for City last season, this is something he can hardly be used to. But at Chelsea, he has to get used to being a substitute, as early evidence suggests this is how he is going to see much of his action in London.

In the UEFA Champions League, he has started just once, in the 4-0 win over Real Betis back in October. Although likewise with his domestic appearances, he has figured a substitute, usually replacing Arjen Robben with little more than twenty minutes remaining. He also started in the League Cup defeat against Charlton Athletic, although again he didn’t last ninety minutes.

In fact, whilst it is true to state Wright-Phillips has yet to open his account for Chelsea, more worrying is the fact he has yet to complete ninety minutes – this from a player who was very rarely substituted during the time he spent with his former club. Although this is unlikely to cost him his place in the World Cup Finals, Eriksson must surely be concerned about a player who was last season being billed as a possible match-winner on the big occasion.

Only time will tell if Wright-Phillips made the right move to join Chelsea. His only apparent alternative at the time would have been to stay at City – yet would this have been such a bad option? He would have been playing regular football week-in week-out for a progressing team who are likely to be pushing for place in Europe for next season; a team who helped him achieve the international recognition he now has.

England are experimenting at the moment with regards to the holding midfield role – Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Ledley King being the chosen three at the moment. It could have been Scott Parker who is enjoying an excellent season with Newcastle United, yet he lost his way in the thoughts of Eriksson when he moved to Chelsea and failed to hold down a place in the team.

For the sake of one of the games’ brightest prospects, lets’ hope the same doesn’t happen to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
 

20

Football / United are on de Rise...

« on: December 17, 2005, 12:59:36 PM »

Hopefully shitty Assnal do deh wuk tomorrow...

Fergie Proud Of Resurgent Reds

 
 
Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with the way United have bounced back from their nightmare recent spell which saw them drop out of the Champions League and draw with Everton.

A win against Wigan on Wednesday was followed up by Saturday's impressive victory at Aston Villa which moved Ferguson's side to within six points of Chelsea.

Sir Alex told Sky: "That's the only thing you can do at our club, respond. You can wither and die or you can get up off your backsides, go out on the pitch and do something about it. In fairness to the lads, they've worked their socks off in the last few weeks.

"Confidence is a factor without question. On Wednesday [against Wigan] the second goal was important to us because in our home games we've not been taking that second chance and we've let teams off the hook time and time again.

"The second goal on Wednesday was like walking into a new room with them. Their game took on a different expansion, there was a confidence in their play and I think that carried on today."

Sir Alex remained relatively non-committal regarding United's title hopes, but admits that if his side can maintain their improved form and continue winning, then anything could happen - particularly as Jose Mourinho's side face Arsenal on Sunday.

"We're nine points behind Chelsea if they win their game tomorrow," he said. "It's a long way but what we can do is make sure we win our games and if we do then, if Chelsea do slip up, then hopefully we'll be the team nearest to them.

"It's a hard game to call. Arsenal do have a good record against Chelsea and their home record's been good this year. We've done our job today and we hope to keep doing that."

Sir Alex also reserved special praise for goalscorers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney, whose partnership looks increasingly fearsome by the week.

"It's promising, that's for sure," he admitted. "They're doing fantastic. They're both great players and great players eventually find a combination between each other, which I think they're doing now - to our benefit."

Report by Steve Bartram.

21

Football / Let's Not Get Carried Away!!!

« on: December 09, 2005, 09:11:21 PM »

As a long time soca warrior I a happy about the draw we received. It could have been worse, but that said, I have been reading all of the posts so far and I think that nuff men are getting carried away. All three teams that we will have to play have World Cup experience. They have been thru the circus of it before, the media and world exposure, while we are virtual newcomers. In case we forget, your off field obligations can often seriously derail a team's progress and means of preparation. And in this regard, we are far behind the others, who know what too expect and in essence, have been preparing for it since they qualified.

On the field is another matter. While we no doubt have the skill, the pressure of being on the world stage can prove to be daunting. The team suffered a slight case of stage fright during the home leg vs Bahrain and that episode can in no way compare t what we will face during the Cup. stage fright hjave a way of inhibiting a player's skills, they can become afraid to make a mistake, they could be starstruck or overwhelmed. It is not easy and any of you who have ever played any kind of sport in a highly competitive arena know that mental fortitude is crucial to one's success.

Paraguay may seem easy on paper but i am sure the Paraguayans are counting us as an easy 3 points. The Swedes may not possess an abundance of silky skills but their players are very professional in their approach, they are precise, possess a tremendous workrate and they will punish any team with their dead ball/set pieces skills.

England is arguably the class of the group and with the players at their disposal, I am sure that they expect to win the group.

I am not saying that we go in capitulating to anyone, but I think that we shouldn't get carried away either. The Cup will be a difficult journey for us but hopefully we can finally employ a top mental coach to work with the squad. Hopefully, the upcoming warm up games will help to prepare us to deal with playing away to hostile crowds...

Be happy but remember we are babies in this tournament!!! The World's grandest...

22

Football / Football can do for youths in Tnt what it did for Hasselbank

« on: December 01, 2005, 09:09:54 AM »

'I was lucky. Football gave me a way out'
By Donald McRae (The Guardian)

"Football saved me," Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink sighs with amazement as, tugging at the diamond in his ear, he begins to describe the desperate and reckless life that almost ruined him. "You should have seen me at 16. One of those bad boys, running with a gang, trying to look cool and act hard. I thought I was a tough guy, stealing or scaring people with my friends. Crazy huh?"
I had expected Hasselbaink to be a reluctant interviewee, a surly Premiership peacock who would light up only if dutiful homage was paid to those garish studs glinting in each lobe or to his goal-scoring record at clubs as different as Atlético Madrid and Leeds United, Chelsea and Middlesbrough. But five minutes after meeting him it is already plain: interviewing Hasselbaink is a breeze. He talks with such gritty colour it feels like we're back in Zaandam, not far from Amsterdam.

"Like most towns," he explains, "it has a rich area and a poor area. We were in the poor area with a lot of people from Surinam, Turkey and Morocco. We lived in this 14-storey block. Sometimes I'd be playing football at the back with my mates and we'd see a body falling. We saw people kill themselves two or three times and we weren't surprised. There were a lot of broken people, a lot of bad things. I carried a knife myself but I never used it because, really, it was just to look cool."
I ask Hasselbaink if, like most bad boys, he was secretly scared. "Yes - in the sense I was easily influenced and wanted to fit in. I was actually quite a smart learner but it was more important to look cool. That was stupid. And it was tough for my mum. She had to provide for six children who came with her from Surinam. My dad, who was no good, stayed in Surinam and that's why I took the wrong direction."

Wild young Jimmy was about to fall. "One night we went to Amsterdam to see Public Enemy. We had no tickets so we just took them off people. But those guys whose tickets we stole went to the police. The police searched my home and found watches and car radios. I was dealing in stolen goods."

Hasselbaink looks suddenly sheepish, as if all the bravado has drained out of him. "I went to court and stood in front of the judge. She sent me to this detention centre, Het Poortje, for three months. I pretended it was a big joke but it was like jail. It hit me when I walked into this scary room I had to share with three other guys - and one was crazy. He didn't get violent but you had to watch him carefully. He was Moroccan and you never knew what he was shouting because he couldn't speak Dutch. Maybe it was the big shock I needed. When I got out it took me a long time to get disciplined but football was the one thing, with my mum, that promised me I could do something better in life."

From the small Dutch clubs of Telstar Velsen and AZ Alkmaar, Hasselbaink became a footballing nomad as he moved across Portugal, England and Spain before, in 2000, he finally signed for Chelsea. If Zaandam is the bleak source of this story then Chelsea is its zenith, the glittering opposite of all Hasselbaink endured as a boy. Chelsea's seductive appeal is even more striking this week for, on Saturday, Hasselbaink returns to Stamford Bridge as a Middlesbrough player.

"It is the second time I go back because we played Chelsea in January. I was given a medal before the game and made to feel very special." Hasselbaink almost swoons with a devotion that will make Boro supporters mildly queasy - particularly when they remember the ensuing 2-0 defeat for his new team. The Dutch striker, however, is smitten. "Chelsea is the club closest to my heart. They have always made me feel one of them."

"Jimmy," I say, "you're still in love with them."

He nods dreamily. "I'd go back tomorrow." Then he bursts out laughing. "No! Don't write that - I'm joking! But Chelsea is a lovely, lovely club and I think it will be the Premiership giant for the coming decade. I hope they keep winning magnificently - but obviously not on Saturday."

Part of the allure, for Hasselbaink, was the rush of gambling in London. He is remarkably candid about his adventures on the roulette wheel with his Chelsea team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen. "We couldn't look more different - a black Dutch guy from Surinam and a blond boy from Iceland - but we are quite similar. We like a good time and we started gambling because we were having trouble with our girlfriends. We didn't want to go home so we went to the casino."

Hasselbaink is reported to have lost more than a million pounds on gambling, Gudjohnsen £400,000. "It wasn't as much as that," Hasselbaink says with an airy wave. Yet he concedes, "I was losing a lot. But you don't care. You know the value of money, and that it is wrong, but you are in a cycle. I play roulette and the first time I won a few grand it was great - same when you win £10,000 on a number coming up. Then one night I won £80,000 and it was so exciting. But big wins are worse because you think it's normal. You go back expecting the same - and you get trapped."

Hasselbaink thinks hard when asked about his heaviest loss. "One night I lost £40,000. I knew then I had to sort out my personal life to walk away from the casino. Maybe my bank account also told me something because it was getting less and less!"

The flood of cash swamping Chelsea did not encourage restraint. Hasselbaink remembers that after Chelsea had shocked Arsenal by winning the Champions League quarter-final at Highbury in April 2004, "Roman Abramovich came into the dressing room, smiling very much. We'd been promised £50,000 each if we made it to the semi-finals and [Adrian] Mutu jokes, 'C'mon, man, double the bonus for fun!' We were quite excited and Abramovich, who observes quietly most of the time, just said, 'OK, why not?'" In his new book Hasselbaink suggests, "At the end of the month, instead of the promised £50,000 there was £100,000 in our bank accounts. I went on holiday with that bonus."

The Premier League confirmed this past weekend that it will investigate these possibly illegal payments. "I don't get pissed off this is a big story," Hasselbaink insists, as he backtracks and tries to clarify his assertion. "I only said we got double the bonus. It's important to know that we got 50% straightaway and 50% the next season. The newspapers assumed Abramovich paid us black money but that was not the case. So I'm not worried."

Hasselbaink looks more contrite when asked about his gambling habit. "I still go to the casinos but I only play with a couple of hundred quid - a thousand maximum." He says that, this Saturday night, he will be suitably measured. If he visits a casino in Chelsea, "it will probably be just to have some drinks and a meal with old friends. Eidur's knocked gambling on the head. I think, like me, he's got it under control. His girlfriend is pregnant with their third child - and he's got a lot to aim for at Chelsea."

While Hasselbaink stresses how impressed he has been by Steve McClaren and how much he enjoys playing for Middlesbrough, his persistent yearning for Chelsea remains. "I could have done a good job for them - especially last season when [Didier] Drogba struggled. I think I would have scored more goals than him. This year I feel the same."

But Jose Mourinho had mentally discarded Hasselbaink even before he arrived as manager. "His mind was made up. I saw him once at the training ground and he didn't talk to me. I would've loved to have spoken to him, to have told him what I could do for him."

Hasselbaink looks briefly downcast when I suggest that, at 33, he is regarded more as one of football's "difficult characters" than as a great player. "I don't see myself as being difficult, not at all. All my managers will say, 'Jimmy speaks his mind but he's not much trouble.' Look at me and George Graham. He is very strict but I love George! That's why Mourinho appealed. If he gives you the chance, he is very tough but fair. He's also one of the few managers who can make you 5% better as a player. Under Mourinho I could have been a Premiership champion last year - and who knows how many trophies Chelsea might win this season? I've not won many medals so I think about what might have been."

Yet his formative memories are too vivid for Hasselbaink not to realise his more lasting good fortune. "When I go back to Zaandam I sometimes I run into those old friends. Some of them are drug dealers. Some are junkies. They are stuck in the same life. I go over and say hello to them. I might buy them a drink or give them a few hundred quid if they ask. But I don't want to be around them long. Our lives are now too different and there is no big bond. We were just thrown together all those years ago in a very tough life. I might still be down there with them, but I was lucky. Football gave me a way out."

23

Football / Henry in new Spike Lee movie

« on: November 25, 2005, 06:05:05 PM »

Thierry Henry is appearing in the latest Spike Lee movie with Denzil Washington and Jodie Foster, The Inside Man. Seems like Spike is a huge Assnal fan, as he has been spotted at several matches at Highbury. Both he and Henry has struck up a friendship, and Spke plans to put Henry in several more of his films.

Henry apparently also loves the Miami area because he is a regular visitor to my brother's restaurant in the Coconut Grove area. Of course my bro is a Huge Man Utd man but in several conversations that he has had with Henry, he admits that the West Indian chap is quite a likeable man. In fact, they spoke less about football and more about music and racism in sport. But anyway look out for more of Henry with Spike.

Fire bun Assnal and Chelski

24

Football / Birchall bound for the game's biggest stage

« on: November 25, 2005, 05:12:21 PM »

Birchall bound for the game's biggest stage
By Henry Winter (The Telegraph)

Six months ago, Chris Birchall was hanging out with friends in Stone, Staffordshire, trying to become a regular at League One Port Vale, and now he's eating chicken feet with Dwight Yorke and heading to the World Cup finals with Trinidad & Tobago.

"It's mad!" laughed the Englishman who has become a Caribbean darling after helping the Soca Warriors defeat Bahrain in a play-off for Germany. "People in Hollywood would probably think it was too far-fetched to make into a film! The last World Cup I watched in my local in Stone, supporting England. Now I am going to the World Cup playing for Trini! I was watching Barcelona against Real Madrid the other night, thinking, 'Jesus, we could get drawn against some of these players'." Next summer, the eyes of the world will be on Ronaldinho, Beckham and Birchall.

"If we get drawn against England or Brazil, it would be a dream," continued the engaging Birchall. "The biggest player I have played against was Chris Powell for Charlton Athletic in the League Cup. Some of the best players in the world, like Ryan Giggs, have never played in the World Cup, and I am privileged to be there at 21.

"When loan players come to Vale and hear I play internationally, they can't believe it and say, 'Who do you play for?' 'Trinidad & Tobago.' They start laughing. 'No really, who do you play for?' There's a bit of banter, jokingly calling me the white boy playing in a black team. It's all in good humour." Vale's players are planning to commandeer the team bus and follow Birchall around Germany.

The midfielder himself is getting used to travelling. "My passport's full of stamps now: Costa Rica, Panama, unbelievable experiences. Costa Rica away was the most hostile fans, worse than Bahrain. It's an amazing story. My grandparents emigrated to Trinidad from England to work and my mum was born there. She came back at 18, met my dad in Liverpool, and they moved to Stafford, which is how I got into Vale's School of Excellence. I used to mess around with my mates, saying, 'I could play for Trini', and they'd say: 'Yeah'! "

Scepticism slowly turned into reality. Prompted by his agent, word went around football that Birchall was eligible for the Soca Warriors. On April 26 this year, a game took place at Vale Park that opened up the World Cup for Birchall. "We were playing Wrexham and one of their defenders, Dennis Lawrence, who plays for Trini, came up to me during the game. He's 6ft 7in and I thought he was going to mouth off at me. But he asked: 'Have you got any Trini blood in you?' 'My mum was born there,' I said. He said: 'I need to speak to you after the game'."

Lawrence passed Birchall's number on to the Trini footballing authorities, the Fifa vice-president Jack Warner helped cut the red tape and Birchall was invited to a training camp for the two World Cup games against Panama and Mexico. "A few fans and Vale players were coming up and saying, 'Why are you going over, you are not going to qualify for the World Cup'. No one thought we had a chance. We were bottom of the group. But I wanted the experience of playing with Dwight, Shaka Hislop and Stern John."

His father, Phil, voiced brief concerns that an English-born player representing Trini "will get some stick somewhere down the line", but these were swamped under waves of joy from mother Jenny. "Mum was the proudest person alive that I was representing her country. She thought the Trinidad chapter in her life had been shut. It's emotional for her."

Particularly when Jenny sat in the Port-of-Spain crowd as her son screamed one into the top corner in the home leg of the Bahrain play-off. "My mum loved going back," Birchall said, "she didn't really want to come home again.

"She told me how friendly the people would be and they are. A lad at our club, George Abbey, who plays for Nigeria, said, 'Maybe you wouldn't have been accepted so easily if it was a country like Nigeria who are a bit more hostile'.

"But in Trinidad, there are loads of different cultures, whites, Chinese. For them, it is not a big deal, because there are a lot of white people over there, but the whites don't get involved with the football. I am the first white to play for Trini in 60 years. I was getting a bit of stick for not singing the national anthem for the first few games. So I got someone to write it down, and learnt it. It is about the island. It's nice."

Yorke has taken Birchall under his wing. "I have been to the local nightclubs and met a lot of the local people. I have been around a bit of the island; everyone is wearing Liverpool or Man United tops but I've not seen any Port Vale ones!" He has even been sampled local delicacies, such as chicken-feet soup. "You do eat the feet, but spit out the bones. I have had it once. I don't think I would have it again." For a man who admitted his musical tastes six months ago were Phil Collins, Birchall is now into Destra's It's Carnival. He smiled: "They are always playing Soca, which is their local music - steel drums, upbeat music. We have it in the dressing-room and it gets everyone up for the game.

"In the dressing-room in Bahrain, Russell Latapy and Dwight were crying with delight. Dwight and Russell are so old, they knew it was their last chance. Dwight has achieved everything now, apart from winning the World Cup, which I don't think he is going to do, but...

"Dwight is really friendly with me. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had been all big-time when I arrived. But he's a good captain. Him and [Brian] Lara are the two legends on the island, worldwide too." As a Liverpool fan, Birchall has wound up the former United striker. "I do! I was in the Kop when he scored a header off Beckham's cross. Dwight just laughs about it.

"He's playing up front in Sydney now, but for Trinidad, the coach, Leo Beenhakker, wants him in central midfield, because his pace has gone a bit but he still has the skill to get out of trouble and pick passes out. Dwight has played at the highest level, won the Champions League, so for me to be playing alongside him is unbelievable.

"Without this experience, I wouldn't get the notice that might get me a move to the Premiership. I'm 21, having a good season with Port Vale and going to the World Cup. There are about four or five teams who have never been there before, like Angola, Ivory Coast, Trinidad and Togo. I wouldn't be surprised if one of us did well. We'll struggle to get there again because the best players are retiring after this World Cup. So I'm going to seize the moment."

25

Football / England V Argentina was a Classic!!!

« on: November 12, 2005, 12:46:21 PM »

I just finsh watching de England match and it was an excellent one. Both teams had their moments in a game full of quality attacking football. The players showed real skill (Riquelme real wicked) and Rooney and Owen showed why they are so important to England. If it come on again, make sure alyuh fellas check it out. You will not be disappointed!!! SCORE ON THE BOTTOM: DON"T LOOK IF YOU PLAN ON WATCHING DE MATCH LATER.

Now for Aus v Urg on Gol Tv at 2:30pm and then I will be dressing in meh red shirt, saying ah prayers and cheering for TnT...

Bless up de Warriors!!!

SCORE: England 3 Arg 2 ( England scored twice in the last 5 minutes to win)

26

Football / CSKA LONDON (Chelski) get beat by Charlton.. Utd 4 Barnet 1

« on: October 26, 2005, 03:33:50 PM »

The London Rusian crew were defeated on penalties by Charlton who matched their effort all ovr the pitch. A Man utd youth team beat Barnet 4-1... The fun begins... Carling Cup

27

Football / This is my lil cousin in France with real Ball Skills... Seeker

« on: October 25, 2005, 05:13:11 PM »

And watch meh he eligible to play for Tnt, France or Algeria but France looks the more likely option.

Here's the link:

http://eul0000562.eu.verio.net/boreme/funny-2005/foot-tricks.php?gobackto=funny-collectionsqqsuper-skills-p1

HERE'S ANOTHER OF A KOREAN SKILLS MAN: MR WOO (NOT JOHN)

http://eul0000562.eu.verio.net/boreme/funny-2004/woo-p1.php

De man is a real boss... Vibzing it up...

28

Football / How Toxic is your Bathroom

« on: October 24, 2005, 10:17:29 PM »

This has nothing to do with Ball but live and eat healthy meh brothers...

How toxic is your bathroom?
Be warned: your daily beauty regime could be taking years off your life. Pat Thomas reports on the chemical timebomb in your cosmetics cabinet
Published: 24 October 2005
Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did something amazing. It issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry that it was time to inform consumers that most personal care products have not been safety tested.

Where the US goes, the UK inevitably follows. If the FDA starts the ball rolling by flexing its muscles, it is possible that in the not too distant future 99 per cent of personal care products could be required to carry a caution on the label: "Warning: The safety of this product has not been determined."

What concerns scientists at the FDA and at environmental health organisations throughout the world is the "cocktail effect" - the daily mixing of many different types of toxins in and on the body - and how this might damage health over the longer term.

On average, we each use nine personal care products a day containing 126 different ingredients. Such "safety" testing as exists looks for reactions, such as skin redness, rashes or stinging, but does not investigate potential long-term problems for either humans or the environment. Yet the chemicals that go into products such as shampoos and hand creams are not trace contaminants. They are the basic ingredients.

Absorbed into the body, they can be stored in fatty tissue or organs such as the liver, kidney, reproductive organs and brain. Cosmetics companies complain of unfounded hysteria, but scientists are finding industrial plasticisers such as phthalates in urine, preservatives known as parabens in breast-tumour tissue, and antibacterials such as Triclosan and fragrance chemicals like the hormone-disrupting musk xylene in human breast milk. Medical research is proving that fragrances can trigger asthma; that the detergents in shampoos can damage eye tissue; and that hair-dye chemicals can cause bladder cancer and lymphoma. An even greater number of substances in personal care products are suspected to present potential risks to human health from this known effect on animals.

If these problems had been linked to pharmaceutical drugs, the products would have been taken off the market. At the very least, money would have been spent on safety studies. But because the cosmetics industry is largely self-governing, and because we all want to believe in the often hollow promises of better skin and whiter teeth, products containing potentially harmful substances remain in use and on sale. Think it can't be that bad? Consider what goes into some of the UK's most popular toiletries.

OLAY REGENERIST

What they claim: Instantly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

But watch out: To work, the product needs to be well absorbed, so Regenerist contains penetration enhancers like disodium EDTA. But these also drive toxins deeper into the skin. Watch out for hormone disrupters such as ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben and potential carcinogens such as polyacrylamide, triethanolamine (which can form cancer-causing nitrosamines), and the artificial colours CI 16035, CI 19140 and PTFE (Teflon). Regenerist contains the sunscreens butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM) and ethylhexyl salicylate; not enough for an SPF rating, but potentially enough to irritate skin.

CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOO DRY/DAMAGED HAIR
What they claim: A totally organic experience.

But watch out: It looks and smells appealing because it is coloured using four potentially cancer-causing dyes (CI 17200, CI 15510, CI 42053, CI 60730) and perfumed with synthetic fragrances that are known neurotoxins and skin irritants. Among its detergents, sodium lauryl sulphate can irritate skin and permanently damage eye tissue, and sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide MEA can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a hormone disrupter associated with breast cancer. Cocamidopropyl betaine, another detergent, is a penetration enhancer, as is the solvent propyelel glycol and the preservative tetrasodium EDTA; all allow other chemicals to pene- trate more deeply into skin and bloodstream.

JOHNSON'S BABY SOFTWASH

What they claim: Best for baby, best for you.

But watch out: Children's skin is thinner and more absorbent than adults', so is a less effective barrier to chemical toxins. The rates of eczema and allergies among children are on the rise and the early introduction of toiletries on to sensitive skin may be a factor. When soap does the job, why expose your child to skin and eye irritants such as sorbitan laurate, cocamidopropyl betaine and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, or PEG-150 distearate, PEG-80, PEG-14M and sodium laureth sulphate that can be contaminated with the carcinogens 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, or hormone disrupters such as parabens? In addition, there's nothing here that naturally moisturises the skin - only synthetic polymers (plastic-like substances) like polyquaternium-7 and polypropylene terephthalate that coat it, merely giving the impression of smoothness.

CALVIN KLEIN'S ETERNITY

What they claim: What the world needs now is love.

But watch out: Perfumes are made from the same neurotoxic solvents found in glues and adhesives and volatile chemicals common in garages and factories, albeit in much smaller concentrations. Eternity contains a staggering 41 ingredients, about 80 per cent of which have never been tested for safety in humans. The rest are known neurotoxins, allergens, irritants and/or hormone disrupters. Still think perfume is sexy?

LYNX DRY
What they claim: Spray more, get more.

But watch out: Lynx Dry contains three types of neurotoxins: solvents such as PPG-14 butyl ether; the propellants butane, isobutane and propane; and synthetic fragrance chemicals. It contains a preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which has been linked with cancer, and PEG-8 distearate, which can be contaminated with the hormone-disrupting carcinogens ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane as well as polycyclic aromatic compounds such as benzene and benz(a)pyrene. Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY and aluminium chlorohydrate work by clogging pores, but long exposure to aluminium-containing deodorants raises the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's.

COLGATE TOTAL

What they claim: 12-hour fresh breath and antibacterial protection.

But watch out: Conventional toothpastes often contain irritating detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate, which can cause sore gums and mouth ulcers, and abrasives like hydrated silica, which can erode tooth enamel. Total contains a glue-like substance, PVM/MA copolymer, that sticks the active ingredients to teeth. Saccharin, a known carcinogen in animals, is also found. The colouring CI 42090 (banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden) causes cancer in animals. Total contains Triclosan, an antibacterial agent that can in certain circumstances combine with chlorine in tap water to produce chloroform gas, which is easily absorbed into the skin or inhaled and can cause depression, liver problems and cancer.

GILLETTE MACH 3 SHAVING GEL

What they claim: The best a man can get.

But watch out: Helped by a global advertising campaign featuring David Beckham, Gillette shaving products have carved their way into the male psyche. If he thought about the ingredients, would the "epitome of the well groomed man" be so keen to promote the product? Mach 3 gel contains skin irritants such as triethanolamine, palmitic acid glyceryl oleate, three potential carcinogens (polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), BHT, CI 42090) and three central nervous system toxins or pollutants (isopentane, parfum and isobutane).

CLAIROL NICE 'N EASY
What they claim: Natural-looking colour with complete grey coverage.

But watch out: All hair dye sold in the EU containing phenylenediamines, resorcinol and/or 1-naphthol must carry a warning: "Can cause an allergic reaction. Do not use to colour eyelashes or eyebrows." Other hair dye ingredients - including coal tar dyes, 4-chloro-m-phenylenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and 4-amino-2-nitrophenol - have proven carcinogenic in at least one animal species. In humans, intensive longer-term use of permanent hair dye is associated with breast, ovarian and bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple meyeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

RADOX BUBBLE BATH

What they claim: Soothes emotions, cleanses the body.

But watch out: Soaking in hot water increases skin permeability and helps vaporise chemicals in products, making them more easily inhaled. Radox Relax contains potential skin irritants (sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl betaine) potential carcinogens such as the preservative combo methylchloro-isothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone and synthetic dyes, and hormone-disrupting ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. It contains perfume ingredients that are capable of irritating (coumarin, benzyl salicylate, limonene) and disrupting the central nervous system (butylphenyl methylpropional, alpha-isomethyl ionone, linalool).

NIVEA BODY
What they claim: Feel the essential care.

But watch out: Along with semi-synthetic fatty acids and waxes, Nivea Body contains denatured alcohol and glycerine, which can dry skin with repeated use. It also contains several estrogenic preservatives (methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben), contact allergens (phenoxy-ethanol, linalool, citronellol, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carcoxaldehyde) and a potential carcinogen (limonene). Film-formers like dimethicone keep undesirable ingredients next to the skin longer. About one-third of the listed ingredients are fragrances that are known irritants and sensitisers of human skin; chemicals that, with repeated exposure, can trigger allergic reactions.

CLEARASIL 3-IN-1 DEEP CLEANING WASH

What they claim: Clinically proven to help fight spots.

But watch out: A mix of strong detergents and surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyl betaine, distearyl-dimonium chloride and steareth-21), chemical exfoliants (salicylic acid) and solvents (glycerin, alcohol, menthol) that are capable of removing the skin's natural oils, and synthetic skin conditioners for repairing some of the damage inflicted by the other ingredients. It contains two potential carcinogens (BHT and disodium EDTA) and fragrance ingredients among the most commonly reported contact allergens in the EU (behenyl alcohol, limonene benzyl salicylate, linalool and hexyl cinnamal). These so consistently lead to skin problems that they must now be listed separately on labels within the EU.

LISTERINE TEETH AND GUM DEFENCE

What they claim: Kills the germs that cause plaque and bad breath.

But watch out: This mouthwash is 21.6 per cent alcohol. Alcohol dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. Listerine also contains a mild detergent, poloxamer 407, that is soluble in liquids at low temperatures but turns to a gel at higher temperatures (ie, body temperature). That makes it a film-former, "glueing" other ingredients on to the surfaces of the mouth for longer. Fluoride in quantity is poisonous if swallowed, and the sweetener saccharin causes bladder cancer in animals. Finally, synthetic colours, aromas and flavours are made from volatile solvents that can alter the basic flora of the mouth and may cause dermatitis.

Pat Thomas is health editor of The Ecologist. Her series 'Behind the Label' appears in the magazine every month (www.theecologist.org)

Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did something amazing. It issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry that it was time to inform consumers that most personal care products have not been safety tested.

Where the US goes, the UK inevitably follows. If the FDA starts the ball rolling by flexing its muscles, it is possible that in the not too distant future 99 per cent of personal care products could be required to carry a caution on the label: "Warning: The safety of this product has not been determined."

What concerns scientists at the FDA and at environmental health organisations throughout the world is the "cocktail effect" - the daily mixing of many different types of toxins in and on the body - and how this might damage health over the longer term.

On average, we each use nine personal care products a day containing 126 different ingredients. Such "safety" testing as exists looks for reactions, such as skin redness, rashes or stinging, but does not investigate potential long-term problems for either humans or the environment. Yet the chemicals that go into products such as shampoos and hand creams are not trace contaminants. They are the basic ingredients.

Absorbed into the body, they can be stored in fatty tissue or organs such as the liver, kidney, reproductive organs and brain. Cosmetics companies complain of unfounded hysteria, but scientists are finding industrial plasticisers such as phthalates in urine, preservatives known as parabens in breast-tumour tissue, and antibacterials such as Triclosan and fragrance chemicals like the hormone-disrupting musk xylene in human breast milk. Medical research is proving that fragrances can trigger asthma; that the detergents in shampoos can damage eye tissue; and that hair-dye chemicals can cause bladder cancer and lymphoma. An even greater number of substances in personal care products are suspected to present potential risks to human health from this known effect on animals.

If these problems had been linked to pharmaceutical drugs, the products would have been taken off the market. At the very least, money would have been spent on safety studies. But because the cosmetics industry is largely self-governing, and because we all want to believe in the often hollow promises of better skin and whiter teeth, products containing potentially harmful substances remain in use and on sale. Think it can't be that bad? Consider what goes into some of the UK's most popular toiletries.

OLAY REGENERISTWhat they claim: Instantly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

But watch out: To work, the product needs to be well absorbed, so Regenerist contains penetration enhancers like disodium EDTA. But these also drive toxins deeper into the skin. Watch out for hormone disrupters such as ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben and potential carcinogens such as polyacrylamide, triethanolamine (which can form cancer-causing nitrosamines), and the artificial colours CI 16035, CI 19140 and PTFE (Teflon). Regenerist contains the sunscreens butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM) and ethylhexyl salicylate; not enough for an SPF rating, but potentially enough to irritate skin.

CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOO DRY/DAMAGED HAIR

What they claim: A totally organic experience.

But watch out: It looks and smells appealing because it is coloured using four potentially cancer-causing dyes (CI 17200, CI 15510, CI 42053, CI 60730) and perfumed with synthetic fragrances that are known neurotoxins and skin irritants. Among its detergents, sodium lauryl sulphate can irritate skin and permanently damage eye tissue, and sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide MEA can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a hormone disrupter associated with breast cancer. Cocamidopropyl betaine, another detergent, is a penetration enhancer, as is the solvent propyelel glycol and the preservative tetrasodium EDTA; all allow other chemicals to pene- trate more deeply into skin and bloodstream.

JOHNSON'S BABY SOFTWASH

What they claim: Best for baby, best for you.

But watch out: Children's skin is thinner and more absorbent than adults', so is a less effective barrier to chemical toxins. The rates of eczema and allergies among children are on the rise and the early introduction of toiletries on to sensitive skin may be a factor. When soap does the job, why expose your child to skin and eye irritants such as sorbitan laurate, cocamidopropyl betaine and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, or PEG-150 distearate, PEG-80, PEG-14M and sodium laureth sulphate that can be contaminated with the carcinogens 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, or hormone disrupters such as parabens? In addition, there's nothing here that naturally moisturises the skin - only synthetic polymers (plastic-like substances) like polyquaternium-7 and polypropylene terephthalate that coat it, merely giving the impression of smoothness.

CALVIN KLEIN'S ETERNITY

What they claim: What the world needs now is love.

But watch out: Perfumes are made from the same neurotoxic solvents found in glues and adhesives and volatile chemicals common in garages and factories, albeit in much smaller concentrations. Eternity contains a staggering 41 ingredients, about 80 per cent of which have never been tested for safety in humans. The rest are known neurotoxins, allergens, irritants and/or hormone disrupters. Still think perfume is sexy?

LYNX DRY

What they claim: Spray more, get more.

But watch out: Lynx Dry contains three types of neurotoxins: solvents such as PPG-14 butyl ether; the propellants butane, isobutane and propane; and synthetic fragrance chemicals. It contains a preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which has been linked with cancer, and PEG-8 distearate, which can be contaminated with the hormone-disrupting carcinogens ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane as well as polycyclic aromatic compounds such as benzene and benz(a)pyrene. Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY and aluminium chlorohydrate work by clogging pores, but long exposure to aluminium-containing deodorants raises the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's.
COLGATE TOTAL
What they claim: 12-hour fresh breath and antibacterial protection.

But watch out: Conventional toothpastes often contain irritating detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate, which can cause sore gums and mouth ulcers, and abrasives like hydrated silica, which can erode tooth enamel. Total contains a glue-like substance, PVM/MA copolymer, that sticks the active ingredients to teeth. Saccharin, a known carcinogen in animals, is also found. The colouring CI 42090 (banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden) causes cancer in animals. Total contains Triclosan, an antibacterial agent that can in certain circumstances combine with chlorine in tap water to produce chloroform gas, which is easily absorbed into the skin or inhaled and can cause depression, liver problems and cancer.

GILLETTE MACH 3 SHAVING GEL
What they claim: The best a man can get.

But watch out: Helped by a global advertising campaign featuring David Beckham, Gillette shaving products have carved their way into the male psyche. If he thought about the ingredients, would the "epitome of the well groomed man" be so keen to promote the product? Mach 3 gel contains skin irritants such as triethanolamine, palmitic acid glyceryl oleate, three potential carcinogens (polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), BHT, CI 42090) and three central nervous system toxins or pollutants (isopentane, parfum and isobutane).

CLAIROL NICE 'N EASY

What they claim: Natural-looking colour with complete grey coverage.

But watch out: All hair dye sold in the EU containing phenylenediamines, resorcinol and/or 1-naphthol must carry a warning: "Can cause an allergic reaction. Do not use to colour eyelashes or eyebrows." Other hair dye ingredients - including coal tar dyes, 4-chloro-m-phenylenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and 4-amino-2-nitrophenol - have proven carcinogenic in at least one animal species. In humans, intensive longer-term use of permanent hair dye is associated with breast, ovarian and bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple meyeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

RADOX BUBBLE BATH

What they claim: Soothes emotions, cleanses the body.

But watch out: Soaking in hot water increases skin permeability and helps vaporise chemicals in products, making them more easily inhaled. Radox Relax contains potential skin irritants (sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl betaine) potential carcinogens such as the preservative combo methylchloro-isothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone and synthetic dyes, and hormone-disrupting ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. It contains perfume ingredients that are capable of irritating (coumarin, benzyl salicylate, limonene) and disrupting the central nervous system (butylphenyl methylpropional, alpha-isomethyl ionone, linalool).

NIVEA BODY

What they claim: Feel the essential care.

But watch out: Along with semi-synthetic fatty acids and waxes, Nivea Body contains denatured alcohol and glycerine, which can dry skin with repeated use. It also contains several estrogenic preservatives (methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben), contact allergens (phenoxy-ethanol, linalool, citronellol, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carcoxaldehyde) and a potential carcinogen (limonene). Film-formers like dimethicone keep undesirable ingredients next to the skin longer. About one-third of the listed ingredients are fragrances that are known irritants and sensitisers of human skin; chemicals that, with repeated exposure, can trigger allergic reactions.

CLEARASIL 3-IN-1 DEEP CLEANING WASH

What they claim: Clinically proven to help fight spots.

But watch out: A mix of strong detergents and surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyl betaine, distearyl-dimonium chloride and steareth-21), chemical exfoliants (salicylic acid) and solvents (glycerin, alcohol, menthol) that are capable of removing the skin's natural oils, and synthetic skin conditioners for repairing some of the damage inflicted by the other ingredients. It contains two potential carcinogens (BHT and disodium EDTA) and fragrance ingredients among the most commonly reported contact allergens in the EU (behenyl alcohol, limonene benzyl salicylate, linalool and hexyl cinnamal). These so consistently lead to skin problems that they must now be listed separately on labels within the EU.

LISTERINE TEETH AND GUM DEFENCE

What they claim: Kills the germs that cause plaque and bad breath.

But watch out: This mouthwash is 21.6 per cent alcohol. Alcohol dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. Listerine also contains a mild detergent, poloxamer 407, that is soluble in liquids at low temperatures but turns to a gel at higher temperatures (ie, body temperature). That makes it a film-former, "glueing" other ingredients on to the surfaces of the mouth for longer. Fluoride in quantity is poisonous if swallowed, and the sweetener saccharin causes bladder cancer in animals. Finally, synthetic colours, aromas and flavours are made from volatile solvents that can alter the basic flora of the mouth and may cause dermatitis.

Pat Thomas is health editor of The Ecologist. Her series 'Behind the Label' appears in the magazine every month (www.theecologist.org)

29

Football / If I was Beenie... (Ah Post to all de Warriors Forumites)

« on: October 23, 2005, 12:12:39 PM »

I have been watching the board the last couple of days and i truly hope, like one poster said, that no TnT player is reading the board during this period. From the Nakhid to Zamora, and the Jamaica issues. Even I myself have been guilty of adding to the fire. Understandibly, these are all very emotional issues and I think in many respects, the treachery notswithsatnding, many of us are speaking out of an unconscious fear that the mediocrity and lack of professionalism that has characterised our football for so long, could end up jeopardising our trip to Germany. And such feelings are understandable since this is the closest we have been since 1989.

Earlier this week Flex had an article that spoke about the importance of psychology. The article not only addressed the kind of necessary preparation we would have to undertake if we wanted to secure a more direct route to the WC but it also spoke about the importance of mental strength training.

Fellas, we are on the brink of where we have always wanted to be, but in order to get there, a new effort, both physically and mentally, will be required. For the last couple of games under Beenie, we have been progressing well and i think that the best way that we can help the team is to kill whatever negative vibes those who oppose us are sending in our direction. As much as the recent events stinks, there is still much to be revealed. Maybe Jamaica may or may not have the camp; maybe Nakhid will prove to be a judas to us after all, but these are all Machiaveillian attempts to SABOTAGE our campaign.

In such cases it becomes necessary to to do whatever we must do to safeguard these distractions from affecting the mental atmosphere around our team. In many respects, most of the overseas players watch this board to stay updated about the state of things. We owe it to them to keep vibsin it up. There are too many threads about the same depressing shit, and our reaction to most of these issues reflect that most of us really don't have confidence in our team at all.

The only thing that matters is how WE PREPARE.  All things considered equal i truly do expect us to beat Bahrain, home and away.

In order to do so, a few things becomes necessary:

1. The TTFF (Jack) must do everything to safeguard the release of our players earlier than the five days allowed by FIFA. These are extraordinary circumstances for us and extraordinary measures are needed to ensure that we succeed. We may even have to come to an agreement with the clubs where we compensate them for the loss of the player during this period, and this is where the gov't can finally put their money where their mouths are. Also since we are asking players to risk their bread and butter, we have to increase the wages (and Jak has done so already) and have both long and short term injury insurance for the players. Money should not be a hindrance in this final stage.

2. A 10 day live in camp would be ideal at this point. Beenie is a world class coach so i do not need to mention that video analysis of Bhrain, their strengths, weaknesses and tendencies should be fully examined.

3. A mental strength coach should also be employed to help the players to learn how to focus all of their energies on the task at hand, without paying heed to the many distractions that are inevitable on this last leg.

4. I am not certain exactly how this last point would work, but severall pFL players who are not on the team could be sent to Bhrain directly after playing a match so see how they adjust to the jetlag and humid conditions. These results could be factored in with teams who have gone into Bhrain or similar Middle Eastern countries and won under similar conditions.

5. I would bring Glenn and JLloyd Samuel into the camp and see how they fit in with the current plans that I have.

6. I would also have a nightly speaker after practice is done and the players are bedding in for the night. The speaker would be members of the failed 1974 and 1989 campaigns. Their purpose would strictly be a motivational one. I would have them impart to the team the value of making it to the cup, the importance to the nation in terms of pride and unity and for many of the new players, what kind of emotions they can expect and how to effectively deal with any problems they may encounter.

7. My live in camp would also carry tapes/dvd of all of the nation's most glorious sporting moments and the idea of success and self belief would be a recurring theme. For those who don't think it can't be done, see an article by Mourinho (in BBC Sports) where he said he only needed three days to get the players to believe in themselves and the infinite possibilities at their disposal.
I would also have tapes of the matches and the CELEBRATION of all of those perennial African underachievers (like Ghana) and show what their success have meant to their people. I would even go as far, seeing that Jack has the contacts, to get a 5 minute video of Drogba, Essien, Abedi Pele, Appaih, some of the boys from Togo, saying what it felt like to achieve what they have, what it means to them personally and what it means to the nation.

8. The best pyshios, doctors and nutrionists will be on 24 hour call until the campaign is done. And i would also have an army of volunteers who would act on the player's behalf as errand boys. They will take care of everything that would normally requires the player's attention, so their focus would be 100% football.

Lastly I won't give a shit towards what nobody else is saying or doing. I will press my players full steam ahead, expecting to see some Frauleins at the end of our journey.

Auf Wedersen

Seeker: Keepin the Vibz alive... kill dem with de Positive.

30

Football / Puma Kit Deal For Ghana

« on: October 13, 2005, 02:21:58 PM »

Puma kit deal for Ghana 
Michael Oti Adjei
BBC Sport, Accra 


 
GFA's Kwesi Nyantekyi is impressed with Puma's presence in Africa 

Ghana's long search for a sponsor is over. German sportswear giant Puma will kit out the Black Stars at next year's World Cup finals in Germany.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday signed a three-year contract reportedly worth US$12 million.

The contract comes into effect on 1 January 2006, and Puma has the first option for a two-year renewal.

Under the terms of the deal, Puma will provide kit for the Black Stars as well as all the national junior and women's teams.

Puma will also provide technical assistance to the GFA and training facilities for the Black Stars ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals.

Ghana has had numerous problems with sponsors in the past, including a shambolic deal with controversial Italian company, L-Sporto.

The GFA parted company with L-Sporto after disagreements over the obligations of either party in their deal.

Defender Samuel Osei Kufuor was ejected from the 2002 African Nations Cup in Mali after complaining about the quality of jerseys worn by the Black Stars.

GFA vice-president Kwesi Nyantekyie said they chose Puma over their rivals like Nike, Addidas and Pony because "Puma had a strong presence in Africa".

"It's a partnership that is going to advance the frontiers of Ghana football," Nyantekyie said.

He added: "We have put in place mechanisms to ensure that it works and further advance the growth of Ghana football."

For his part, Puma vice-president Horst Widmann said Ghana's qualification for the 2006 World Cup finals was a key factor in their decision to sponsor the Black Stars.

He said: "With Cameroon absent from the World Cup, it's very important for us to have this Ghana deal.

"We will do all that we can to make this deal successful."