Babe Of The Month - Sexy Spanish Golfer Beatriz Recari

Beatriz Recari Eransus (born 21st April 1987) is a Spanish professional golfer on the U.S based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Born and raised in Pamplona in northern Spain, Beatriz won the 2004 Spanish Amateur Golf Championship and the 2005 French Amateur Golf Championship. In 2005, she was also a member of 'Team Europe' in the Junior Solheim Cup.

She qualified for the Ladies European Tour in November 2005 and turned professional at age 18, for the 2006 season. She won her first tournament as a pro in her fourth LET season at the 2009 Finnair Masters in Helsinki, Finland.

Beatriz won her first LPGA event in October 2010 at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club in northern California, and made the cut in her final five events to finish as runner-up to compatriot Azahara Muñozthe for the title of 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year.

So far in 2011 Beatriz has played in 17 tournaments, making the cut 13 times, with a best finish of tied 11th at the Shoprite LPGA Classic at the Bay Course, Dolce Seaview Resort, New Jersey.

This month Beatriz is off to Asia where there are LPGA tournaments in South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. There are also LET events being held in Sanya and Shanghai in China.

You can follow Beatriz on Facebook and on Twitter

Fierce Football Rivalry - Crystal Palace versus Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion host Crystal Palace this coming Tuesday night, the 27th September 2011 as one of the fiercest fan rivalries in British football is reignited for the first time since November 2005.

At first glance, it may seem strange that one of English football's fiercest rivalries is between two teams 60 miles apart, one Club which resides on the South Coast, whilst the other is in South London.

Correct, they are not in the same county let alone the same city, there's no deep routed historical reason, no trading rivalries between the areas, no religious differences, it's pure and simple - a genuine footballing rivalry based on the fact that both clubs used to play each other a lot and had managers happy to stoke up the fires of rivalry.

Crystal Palace and Brighton are fierce rivals - See why!

Many football fans assume that Millwall and Charlton are Palace’s main rivals, being so close in location, and that Portsmouth 40 miles along the coast might be Brighton's number one enemy.

To really understand the hatred between Palace and Brighton you need to turn the clock back to the 1970's and the days of Mullery v Venables.

Between January 1963 and August 1974 there were no competitive fixtures at all between Palace and Brighton - as Brighton got relegated into Division Four in 1963 and Palace started their climb into the top flight.

Their rivalry did not develop until Palace's relegation to the Third Division in 1974. The clubs had two of the division's biggest followings, communications between Croydon and Brighton were good and many fans were keen to travel to an away fixture.

So in August 1974 the two teams met in full competition, for the first time since the early 1960's in the old Division Three, and both clubs with new nicknames to boot. "The Dolphins" versus "The Eagles" was the first game of that 74-75 season and Palace suffered a 1-0 reverse in front of the largest crowd to watch Palace at home that season. The following March, revenge was metered out by Palace as they defeated the South Coast side 3-0. The win did little to aid Palace's dying promotion effort, but it almost spelt disaster for Brighton, who only narrowly avoided relegation.

The following season Palace got off to a flying start, were undefeated in their opening seven games and sat proudly at the summit of the division. Then came the visit of Brighton and with it a 1-0 defeat. It wasn't a disaster in footballing terms at the time, as come Christmas Palace were sitting pretty at the top of the league by seven clear points. By the time the away fixture came around, Palace were in the midst of the great FA Cup run of 1976, but their league form had deserted them and Palace went down 2-0. Brighton finished the season in fourth, a place above Palace on goal difference and they had completed the 'double' over their rivals.

It was the following season that the fireworks really began!
Terry Venables, fresh out of coaching school under the late Malcolm Allison was the new manager at Palace, and Alan Mullery was appointed the new boss at Brighton, after Brighton manager Peter Taylor rejoined his old mate the late Brian Clough, up at Forest. Both clubs were the biggest in the old Division Three and doing quite well.

In the 1976-77 season the sides meet five times: twice in the league and three times to decide an First Round FA Cup tie. To say neither manager had much time for the other would be understating the case. Palace remained undefeated against Brighton over the season recording three draws and two victories.

It was an FA Cup second round replay at neutral Stamford Bridge that finally ignited the already smouldering blue touch paper that season. Mullery got out of his pram about a number of dodgy decisions from referee Ron Challis, including a converted Brighton penalty that had to be retaken and a disallowed goal! The retake was saved by Paul Hammond. That referee is still known as "Challis of the Palace" down in Brighton! It culminated in Mullery blowing his top in front of the Palace fans who were giving him abuse for his outraged protests. He flung down about a fiver's worth of change into a puddle and screamed "You're not worth that, Palace" - in the end, the police had to lead him away! At the end of the 1976-77 season both sides were promoted.

Alan Mullery's outspoken-ness continued to fan the flames of a rivalry that often violently spilled over into the alleyways, railway stations and park areas of Brighton and Hove and, on more than one occasion, the side-streets and shops of Croydon. It was rumoured that he was motivated by jealousy having wanted the Palace managerial job himself. He decided to change the Club nick-name once again, this time to "The Seagulls"

The 1978-79 season saw Palace, Brighton, Stoke and Sunderland all slog out a nail-biting promotion race. On the last Saturday of the season, Brighton, Stoke and Sunderland had finished their seasons, Brighton ended up top on goal difference, Stoke and Sunderland provisionally claimed second and third, but Palace still had a game in hand - win it and Palace were Champions, displacing Brighton, lose and Palace would miss out on promotion completely, on goal difference.

On the 11th May 1979 Palace defeated Burnley 2-0 in front of a record 51,801 people at Selhurst Park, and in doing so Palace snatched the Second Division Championship title away from Brighton.

The news was broken to the Brighton players at 30,000 feet whilst on route to play in a tournament in the US. That wasn't the only bad news they were receive that day, when they landed they found the tournament had been scrapped, due to a fuel crisis!

The next season saw both clubs in the First Division, Brighton for the first time in their history. To cope with the larger crowds that top-flight football brings, Brighton erected the naffest temporary grandstand of all time on one side. Even their own fans nicknamed it 'The Lego stand'. Palace fans quickly coined the phrase and the Goldstone Ground became known as 'Legoland.'
Later that season, fire swept through the South Stand, gutting the seats and wooden structure. An act which many local fans pointing the finger at Palace fans, who lived in the area! On the field, both sides held onto their First division status.

The following season Palace were relegated but Brighton went on escaping relegation for another two seasons, band managed a Cup Final appearance in their last season in the top flight.

In November 1981 Palace played a 'friendly' against Brighton and came away with a credible 1-1 draw adminst another management upheaval at the club as Dario Gradi made way for Steve Kember. Then in a enormously unpopular move, Ron Noades appointed Alan Mullery as manager. Palace fans couldn't not swallow this and deserted the Club in large numbers, whilst some drifted back slowly over the years - plenty never came back at all. One of Mullery's first games in charge was a home 'friendly' against Brighton, which Palace managed to win by a single goal.

Palace renewed acquaintance with Brighton again in the 1983-84 season, the second year of Mullery's two years. The now traditional Christmas and Easter games saw Mullery stick the dagger even further into mortally wounded Palace hearts, yes, he let them get away with all six points again. This were the nadir of recent Palace history and the serious violence that followed the April trip to the Goldstone served only to counterpoint the frustrations.

Mullery slipped away quietly to Q.P.R. after two relegation struggles, giving way to managerial new boy Steve Coppell. His first season saw an early South Coast encounter end in 1-0 defeat, but the home game saw a Trevor Aylott goal ensure a deserved draw. The game was surrounded by controversy with Palace defender Henry Hughton sent off for a late tackle on Brighton winger Gerry Ryan, who sustained a badly broken leg, which ultimately ended his playing career. The Brighton Manager Chris Cattlin claimed in the press it was the worst tackle he'd ever seen, but Ryan himself refused to condemn Hughton.

In the 1985-86 season Palace lost at Brighton on New Year's Day, a game mainly remembered by Palace fans for a scandalous dive by Terry Connor which earned Brighton a penalty. Late in March, Palace managed to chalk up a narrow league victory against their rivals in the reverse fixture.

Later that year in another bizarre twist of fate surrounding the two clubs, Brighton re-appointed the 'Prince of Darkness' Allan Mullery OBE as their new manager.

The following season, Palace fans saw this as their chance for revenge on Mullery in the Boxing Day fixture of 1986. The players duly obliged as Palace beat their rivals and relegation strugglers. By Easter Monday, Barry Lloyd was in charge of a Brighton side that had not won a League game for three months.........enter Palace, chasing a 'play-off' place, but on the day they somehow contrived to lose 2-0 to a woeful Brighton side, that were up for this fixture and ultimately this result helped end Palace's play-off hopes for that season.

The mood of the Palace fans was not pleasant, angry at the scoreline and fed up at being so tightly packed onto a tiny corner terrace, when the Brighton fans had the run of the open East Terrace. With ten minutes left, a sizeable number stormed out of the terrace, to confront Brighton fans in their own end. The ensuing violence spilled out of the ground into Phoenix Park which played host to several running battles before The Sussex Constabulary eventually brought order to the seaside town.

There was some consolation for Palace that the result did nothing to assist Brighton's survival. They ended up getting relegated, thanks in the main to the ministrations of their one-time idol, Alan Mulllery.

Two seasons later and Brighton were back in Division Two. Palace lost at Brighton in another Boxing Day encounter in 1988, but the return fixture on the 27th March 1989 still holds a place in the English League record books thanks to a certain referee named Kelvin Morton. Morton awarded five penalties, Palace were given four of those five and incredibly managed to miss three of them - but Palace still won the game 2-1! Morton also sent off Brighton midfielder Mike Trusson in the first-half.
That season Palace were promoted to Division One via the play-offs, whilst Brighton finished 19th.

However, the two did not play in a league encounter between 1990 and 2001, although there were have been a number of 'pre-season friendlies' staged between the sides, all at Brighton!

The first in August 1992, saw an injury-struck Palace side once more deliver a below par performance, although still managing to win 1-0. This game was originally scheduled for a Saturday afternoon, when it would have attracted a much larger crowd, but was eventually played on Friday night. Possibily the only friendly fixture ever to have been moved on Police advice!
After the game, however, it was Palace fans getting back on the train who were subjected to a CS gas attack at Hove station.

That season ended with Palace's relegation from the Premier League, whilst Brighton having survived a number of High Court actions maintained their Division Two status.

In August 1993, a second 'friendly' took place, the game was to have been a testimonial match for Palace player Gary O'Reilly, but a row about gate receipts scuppered that. Once again, some Palace fans were subjected to another tear gas attack, this time before the game in a pub. Just for a change, Palace really turned on the style on the pitch. A 2,000-strong Palace posse of supporters saw Palace score three times without reply. A performance that underlined the major difference in class that now existed between the sides.

The 2000/01 season saw Brighton, under the stewardship of Mickey Adams, promoted out of Division Three as Champions, Palace on the other hand, had a shockingly bad season and coming into the final week of that season they were firmly ensconced in the relegation zone.

On the morning of Sunday 6th May 2001, Brighton paraded their Division Three Championship trophy through the streets of Brighton, and afterwards their supporters settled in pubs everywhere to watch Palace get relegated to Division Two, thereby setting up two mouth-watering encounters. For 87 minutes, the party was in full swing, then Dougie Freedman worked his magic and his epic late winner at Stockport sent the South London fans' delirious and the Brighton fans were left inconsolable!

Crystal Palace beat the drop - 2000/2001 season

The following season, despite losing manager Mickey Adams to Leicester, Brighton appointed former Palace legend Peter Taylor as manager. Taylor helped Brighton get promoted as Champions, thereby setting up two more spicy Brighton versus Palace derby matches for the forthcoming season, before he walked out on them. Another ex-Palace player, Martin Hinshelwood was appointed the new manager.

So 2002 saw the return of Brighton to the second tier but they started the season poorly and Hinshelwood was kicked upstairs, and then the unthinkable happened - they went and appointed Steve Coppell, the former Palace manager as their new boss a couple of weeks before Palace hosted the South Coast side at Selhurst Park!

On 26th October 2002 Palace thrashed them 5–0 in a memorable game, with Palace striker Andy Johnson scoring a hat-trick. That date and scoreline is etched in Palace history forever!

The return fixture, the following March was a dull affair, the game ended 0-0 with Palace full-back Danny Granville getting himself sent off, but endearing himself to the Palace faithful by telling the jeering Brighton fans near the tunnel to "f**k off".

Brighton were relegated that season, making Steve Coppell an even bigger cult hero at Palace, for taking their bitter rivals down a division, while Palace finished the season mid-table.

Brighton bounced straight back through the play-offs into Division One in 2003-04, only to find Palace had already left the Division by the gentleman's exit, promoted into the Premiership via the play-offs.

Palace got themselves relegated from the Premiership straight away, whilst Brighton managed to take it right to the last day of the season before narrowly ensuring their survival in 2004-05.

Brighton gained revenge in 2005 with a 1–0 win at Selhurst Park, however, a month later at the Withdean, Palace twice came from behind, with Dougie Freedman scoring his 100th and 101st goals for Palace and Jobi McAnuff scoring in the very last minute to win the game 3–2.

Last meeting between Brighton and Crystal Palace 20/11/2005

No wonder there is rivalry between the two clubs, with a history like that....................................

However both Clubs and both sets of fans are in a much better place than when they last met almost six years ago. A lot has happened and a lot has changed for the good.

Brighton were promoted as League One champions last season and have former Chelsea, Spurs and Uruguay international Gus Poyet as boss. They have moved from their temporary home at the Withdean Stadium,(which was not predominantly a football ground, having been used for athletics throughout most of its history, and previously as a zoo), to a new 22,000 all-seater stadium, sponsored by AMEX, situated just outside Brighton in Falmer. They have started this season like a train and are currently lie third in The Championship table, at the time of writing.

Meanwhile Crystal Palace have recently survived administration and two successive relegation battles to maintain their place in the Championship, and with new owners in place, and former Palace legend Dougie Freedman at the helm, the club are finally on sound financial footing, and in Freedman they have one of the brightest young managers in the league. They have exceeded expectations on the field so far this season and have a support base, particularly on the road, that is the envy of many fellow Championship clubs.

The Psychology of the 'half-time team talk'

For the fan who has sat through the first 45 minutes of a football match and watched his side play abysmally, it can often be a deeply frustrating and emotional time. He may have witnessed his side concede a goal or more, be playing like strangers who only met for the first time in the car park an hour before kick-off, or whose side are playing so badly that they may as well have stayed in bed!

However one can still draw comfort from the peep of the half-time whistle, for it is now time for the manager to metaphorically speaking, get his hands on the players and really earn his corn!

The half-time period in a game tends to create an emotional experience amongst the players and the coach/manager. At half-time the outcome of the game is yet to be decided. The interval is only around 15 minutes in duration, and is the only direct opportunity the coach will have to speak to all the players and to influence the second-half performance and result.

Above all, as a fan there's the hope that the manager is delivering an 'epic' half-time team talk.

Sir Alex Ferguson ' barks out' instructions

Perhaps a manager might consider using famous motivational quote/speeches in an effort to rally his troops such as one of the following:

"I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." (Andy Rooney, born 1919, American journalist, author and TV correspondent).

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory!" (Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, an American football coach)

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do........" (Mark Twain 1835-1910, American author and commentator).

"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." (Dame Anita Roddick, 1942-2007, British businesswoman)

"Fear cannot be without hope, nor hope without fear." (Benedict Spinoza, also known as Baruch, 1632-77, Jewish born Dutch philosopher and theologian).

"I learned that the only way you are going to get anywhere in life is to work hard at it. Whether you're a musician, a writer, an athlete or a businessman, there is no getting around it. If you do, you'll win-if you don't you won't." (Bruce Jenner, born 1949, is a former U.S. track and field athlete).

"Any fact facing us, however difficult, even seemingly hopeless, is not so important as our attitude towards that fact. How you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. You may permit a fact to overwhelm you mentally before you deal with it actually. On the other hand, a confident and optimistic thought pattern can overcome or modify the fact altogether." (Norman Vincent Peale, 1898-1993, author and protestant minister).

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." (Bill Shankly, 1913-1981, one of Britain's most successful and respected football managers).

Bill Shankley (right) gets his point accross!

"It's nice to imagine there are Churchillian speeches going on, week in, week out," says sports presenter Gabby Logan. "You imagine the unlikeliest characters standing in front of a dressing room and delivering powerful oratory. I really hope that happens. It probably doesn't."

Football, in particular, is a game with many psychological demands, such as confidence, motivation and concentration, and these demands can be influenced by the situation in the game at half-time.

The main goal of the coach during the half-time interval is to influence positively the second-half performance as much as possible.

Castigation can be risky. Hull City manager Phil Brown is still remembered for an ill-judged decision to deliver his team talk on the City of Manchester pitch (below) when the Tigers were losing 4-0 against Manchester City in December 2008. Embarrassed and showing empathy for the travelling Hull fans, manager Brown reacted by leading his Tigers towards their own support at the break, ordering his troops to sit down in front of their own fans, while the boss began his public finger-wagging and shouting exercise. His players, visibly mortified, went on to lose the game 5-1, and won just one more game that season!


Brown explained his actions after the game: "I thought it was nice and cold and I thought I would keep the boys alive because they looked as if they were dead. Let’s not read too much into it but I think 3,500-4,000 travelling fans deserved some kind of explanation for the first-half performance and it was difficult for me to do that from the confines of a changing room."

A key element of a successful half-time talk is communication. This is a two-way process that consists of giving and receiving information. Coaches can learn a lot about the development of the game at half-time by listening and asking the members of the team questions to prompt a two-way discussion. However, while coaches are typically good at talking, being in charge and giving instructions, they are often poor listeners.

It is also important to note that communication is not only verbal. As early as the late 1960s, research in communication had indicated that non-verbal behaviour (ie body language) plays an important role in communication. Researchers have determined that just 7% of what we communicate is the result of the words that we use or the content of our communication; 38% of our communication to others is a result of our verbal behaviour, which includes tone of voice, timbre, tempo and volume; and 55% of our communication to others is a result of our non-verbal communication, our body posture, breathing, skin colour and our movement.

The leadership style also has a major influence on the effectiveness of a half-time team talk. There are several types of leadership styles, including ‘authoritarian’, ‘democratic’ and ‘laissez-faire.’ It is possible for coaches to use different methods in different situations, and it’s important to note that personality types, cultural behaviour and other factors also contribute to coaching styles.

Looking back to half-time in the 2005 European Champions League final, with Liverpool 3-0 down to AC Milan, according to his Liverpool colleagues, captain Steven Gerrard was in a state of disbelief and was ready to concede defeat. Afterwards, all he could remember of half-time was the manager Rafa Benítez getting his pen out, writing down the changes he wanted on the board and telling the team to try and get an early goal, as that could make the opposition nervous. But Gerrard said that, to be honest, he just couldn’t concentrate. There were all sorts of things going through his head. He just sat there with his head in his hands. He really thought it was over.

Saying the right things: that's the difficulty. "We live on a volcano," said Arsène Wenger in December 2009, describing how a group of players are equally likely to respond negatively as positively to a telling-off.

Alex Ferguson is famous for his half-time scolds – admonishment immortally named by Mark Hughes "the hairdryer treatment"

Logic suggests that if you get a bollocking you want to do better because you don't want another one. But often that isn't the case. A telling-off can lower a player's confidence, and it is hard to be motivated when confidence is low. There is evidence that suggests feeling appreciated – feeling that those around you have pride and faith in you – is the most important thing.

For real fireworks, look no further than Ron Atkinson. He had a half-time punch-up with Dalian Atkinson, one of his own players, when boss of Aston Villa. Ron Atkinson also once summoned a speech with the wrong score in mind; he implored his team to score an equaliser even though they already had. The goalscorer eventually put up a hand to correct the boss's oversight.

Roy Keane, a man never far from controversy kung-fu kicked a chalkboard in the middle of a half-time tantrum, when manager at Sunderland.

In 2001, Burnley boss Stan Ternent launched himself foot-first through a fire exit, convinced that the opposition were spying outside.

Footage of Neil Warnock berating his Huddersfield Town side in 1995 has recorded a huge number of hits on YouTube (particularly good is the moment the apoplectic Yorkshireman screams at one defender "You're in fucking Latvia!" – whatever that means).

Ex-Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke believes a dressing-room is no place for cameras. "It's a tough business, a survival business. If players are not doing their job then there will be some harsh words said in there. There are unpleasant times in the dressing room, but that's all part of football. It's a fascinating place to be at half time, but the world outside shouldn't know what's going on."

So the team talk remains an enigma, and that rare thing: a commodity without a price in a sport that has been happy to cash in on just about every­thing else. "Maybe it's better that it all stays a mystery," says Logan. "It's similar to the idea of not meeting your heroes. If we don't see what actually goes on we can't be disappointed."


References:
1. J Counselling Psych 1967; 31:248-52
2. European J Social Psych 1970; 1:385-402
3. RL Birdwhistle (1970) Kinesics and Context, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania
4. J Curriculum Studies 1985; 18:197-209
5. The Guardian Newspaper: February 2010

Babe Of The Month - Sexy British Heptathlete Jessica Ennis

Read more at the: Jessica Ennis Official Website and follow Jessica on Twitter

Transfer Deadline Day - No Rumours just Done Deals!

Updated regularly all-day today..............The August transfer window is now officially closed. Here are a list of the 'done deals.'


Paris St Germain have completed the signing of Uruguay captain Diego Lugano from Fenerbahce on a three-year contract.
Juventus have signed Dutch player Eljero Elia from Hamburg SV on a four-year deal, for a fee of €9 million.
Plymouth Argyle have snapped up 28 year-old defender Simon King on a month's loan from Gillingham.
Siena have signed Argentine striker Pablo Andres Gonzalez and Serbian defender Milan Milanovic from Palermo, both on loan.
Hannover have snapped up Austria international Daniel Royer from SV Ried for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham have signed Guy Demel from Hamburg. The full-back has signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Birmingham have signed former Wrexham defender Jack Deaman on a one-year professional contract.
Peterborough Utd sign striker Emile Sinclair from Macclesfield on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Udinese have signed Uruguay right-back Maximiliano Pereyra on a permanent transfer from River Plate, and goalkeeper Daniele Padelli on a season-long deal from Sampdoria.
AS Roma have completed the signing of centre-back Simon Kjaer on a season-long loan deal from Wolfsburg.
Lille, the French champions have signed Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole on loan for the rest of the season.
Chievo Verona have signed USA midfielder Michael Bradley from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Caglairi have signed 24 year-old Portuguese midfielder Rui Sampaio from Beira Mar.
Newcastle Utd have signed Davide Santon from Internazionale on a 5 year contract, for an undisclosed fee. Last season the the 20 year-old full-back was sent out on loan to Cesena.
Vitesse Arnham have signed Chelsea's 20 year-old midfielder Ulises Dávila for the rest of the season. Dávila only joined The Blues 4 days ago from Mexican side Guadalajara, on a five-year deal.
St Etienne have confirmed the signing of winger Max Gradel from Leeds United on a four-year contract, for a fee of around £2.5 million.
Crystal Palace have extended their loan deal with QPR defender Peter Ramage until January.
Wolfsburg have confirmed that Alexander Hleb has joined the Bundesliga side on loan from Barcelona.
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of long-term target Scott Parker from West Ham United for a fee of £5 million.
QPR has joined goalkeeper Tommaso Trani on a two-year deal following his release by AC Milan
Évian TG, the French Ligue 1 club have confirmed the signing of Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen from Liverpool.
Inter Milan have completed the transfer of Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid for an undisclosed fee. Inter have also agreed a loan deal to take Mauro Zarate from Lazio.
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has confirmed that he has lined up a deal for Shamrock Rovers defender Enda Stevens. The 21-year-old is set to join Villa on a three-year deal in January.
Arsenal have signed Brazil defender Andre Santos on a long-term contract from Fenerbahce. The 28-year-old left-back moves to the Emirates for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £6 million.
Swindon have signed West Ham's Saudi Arabian-born striker Ahmed Abdullah, on a six-month loan deal.
Genoa have signed Andrea Caracciolo from Brescia on loan with the view to a permanent deal for €1.6 million.
PSV Eindhoven have signed Slovenian international striker Tim Matavz from Groningen on a 5 years deal.
Scunthorpe have had an undisclosed six-figure bid accepted by Bury for midfielder Damien Mozika.
Watford have completed the signing of Joe Garner from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Hamburg have announced the signing of Croatian international midfielder Ivo Ilicevic from Kaiserslautern on a four-year deal, for a fee in the region €4 million.
Parma have signed Lazio striker Sergio Floccari on loan with a view to a permanent move.
Liverpool have completed the signing of United States Under-18 striker Villyan Bijev from California Odyssey after the youngster impressed on trial.
Fulham have wrapped up the signing of Juventus' Czech Republic defender Zdenek Grygera on an initial one-year contract.
West Ham have confirmed that Tottenham winger David Bentley has joined the club on a season-long loan.
Millwall have captured the permanent signing of Dany N'Guessan from Leicester.
Rotherham have confirmed that Leyton Orient striker Alex Revell has joined The Millers on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Port Vale have completed the loan signing of Rangers youngster Andrew Little on loan until January.
AS Roma have signed Bosnian playmaker Miralem Pjanic from Olympique Lyon for €11 million.
Arsenal have agreed terms with Werder Bremen to sign German international defender Per Mertesacker on a four-year deal for a reporteted £9 million.
Scunthorpe have made their second signing of the day, bringing in Everton defender Shane Duffy on loan for a month.
Blackpool have signed 19-year-old West Brom defender James Hurst on a season-long loan deal.
Brentford have captured Mike Grella on a permanent deal, and he will see out the season at Griffin Park after becoming a free agent.
Rennes have re-signed Morocco international Youssouf Hadji from fellow Ligue 1 outfit Nancy for €1.7million.
Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of defender Ben Turner from Coventry City for a fee of £750,000.
Charlton have confirmed that 19-year-old striker Michael Smith has joined them from Darlington on a three-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham confirm the signing of Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury on an initial season-long loan.
Oldham have signed Norwich City midfielder Tom Adeyemi on loan until 3rd January.
Bury have signed Northampton Town striker Shaun Harrad for an undisclosed fee.
AS Roma have confirmed the loan signing of Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago from Real Madrid.
Aldershot Town have signed 19-year-old left-back Jordan Brown on a one-month loan from West Ham.
Wigan have confirmed the signing of Shaun Maloney from Celtic, for a fee of £1 million.
Ajax have signed Russia striker Dmitri Bulykin from Belgian side Anderlecht on a free transfer.
Atalanta, the Serie A newcomers have bolstered their midfield for the coming campaign with a double loan capture, signing Luca Cigarini and Matteo Brighi.
Preston have signed winger Keammar Daley from Jamaican club Tivoli Gardens on a two-year deal.
AC Milan have signed midfielder Antonio Nocerino from Palermo on a five-year deal.
Wigan have signed Chelsea's 21-year-old Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan deal.
Manchester City have confirmed they have signed free-agent Owen Hargreaves on a one-year contract.
Blackpool have signed Sheffield United forward Daniel Bogdanovic on a one-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Rochdale have signed Manchester City midfielder Ahmed Benali on a season-long loan deal.
Celtic have signed Moroccan left-back Badr El Kaddouri on a six-month loan from Dynamo Kiev.
Bolton have completed the signing of Liverpool's French striker David Ngog, for a fee of £4 million.
Bradford have signed former Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke on a two-year deal.
MK Dons have signed Sheffield Wednesday defender Mark Beevers in a loan deal until 31st December.
Bolton have confirmed that they have signed Gael Kakuta from Chelsea on loan until 1st January.
Burnley have signed West Ham striker Junior Stanislas for an undisclosed fee. They have also agreed an undisclosed fee with the Hammers for frontman Zavon Hines, who moved to the Clarets 13 days ago.
Bury have made another signing today, with Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Giles Coke joining on a two-month loan deal.
Hearts have signed midfielder Callum Tapping from Tottenham for a nominal fee. The 18-year-old, has signed a two-year contract with an option of a further 12 months.
Rochdale have signed Peterborough frontman David Ball on a three-month loan deal.
Trabzonspor of Turkey have confirmed the signing of Marek Cech from West Brom for an undisclosed fee.
Leicester City have completed the signing of Everton striker Jermaine Beckford, for a fee which could rise to £4 million.
West Ham have signed Ivory Coast utility man Guy Demel from Hamburg.
Millwall have signed Bournemouth winger Liam Feeney for an undisclosed fee.
Oxford United have completed the signing of Middlesbrough forward Jonathan Franks on loan until 1st January.
Stoke City have announced the capture of midfielder Wilson Palacios from Tottenham, on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £8 million.
Lincoln have signed sign 22-year-old defender Mitchell Nelson on loan from Bournemouth until October.
Oldham have signed former Newcastle striker Shefki Kuqi until the end of the season.
Southend United have signed Swindon midfielder Michael Timlin on loan until January.
QPR complete the signing of Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City.
Blackburn sign defender Scott Dann from Birmingham on a four-year deal, for a fee approaching £8 million.
Liverpool announce that Craig Bellamy has left Manchester City and re-signed for The Reds.
Arsenal sign Yossi Benayoun on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
MK Dons have signed Norwich City midfielder Anthony McNamee on a free transfer.
Birmingham complete the signing of midfielder Wayne Elliott from Burnley for a fee of £500,,000.
Southampton have taken Celtic centre-half Jos Hooiveld on loan.
Chelsea have signed Raul Meireles on a four-year deal, for a fee believed to be in the region of £12 million.
Arsenal have signed Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, for a fee in the region of £10 million.
Sunderland have signed Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner on a season-long loan.
Blackburn sign Sheffield United striker Jordan Slew. The 18-year-old frontman will cost Rovers an initial £1m.
Millwall have signed Hull City striker Jay Simpson on loan until January.
Birmingham have signed West Brom defender Pablo Ibanez for a fee of £1.5 million.
Aston Villa have captured Spurs full-back Alan Hutton, on a permanent deal until 2015, for a fee in the region £4 million. His North London team-mate Jermaine Jenas has also joined Villa on a season-long loan.
Atletico Madrid have agreed to take Brazil playmaker Diego on loan from Wolfsburg.
Stoke have confirmed the signing of Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome on a four-year deal, for a fee of £4 million.
Everton have confirmed the signing of striker Denis Stracqualursi on a season-long loan from Argentinian side Tigre.
Fulham have completed the free signing of former Porto striker Orlando Sa on a three-year deal.
Hull City have signed Leicester striker Martyn Waghorn on loan until January.
Swansea have re-signed their former left-back Federico Bessone from Leeds on a two-year deal deal.
Blackburn have confirmed the signing of Everton striker Yakubu on a three-year deal, for a fee in the region of £2 million.
Everton have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe on a season-long loan.
West Ham have captured Spurs midfielder David Bentley on a season long loan.
QPR have completed the signing of Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand, for a fee in the region of £4.5 million.
Fulham have signed FC Twente striker Bryan Ruiz for a fee of £10.5 million
Stoke have completed the £10 million signing of England and Spurs striker Peter Crouch.

The Art of Dating - Things you should never do or say on a first date !

1/ Don’t be late for a date - it’s just plain rude. There is nothing worse than sitting waiting for a first date to show up, not knowing whether they’ve stood you up or are merely running a bit behind. So save everyone the extra stress – since first dates are stressful enough – and make a point of being there on time.

2/ Don't take your kids with you, seems obvious but it happens!

3/ Don’t leave your date to go talk to friends. It’s indecorous. Instead if you run into buddies, introduce them to your date and then politely have them move on.

4/ Don't say you want to meet their parents or start talking about marriage and babies.

5/ Ladies, don’t re-apply make-up at the dinner table. It’s not cute, in fact it’s rather uncouth. Excuse yourself, and go to the washroom.

6/ Keep your super fan status in check. If you love your sports and enjoy watching a game with your mates, fine. If sport is a religion and you have your favourite team or player tattooed on your back, you may have a problem! If you are serious about dating, rattling off football stats, ranting on about unfair refereeing decisions and constantly checking the score while out on a date is a no no. To the uninitiated, sport is boring, and many women interpret the obsession as a total lack of thought, creativity or inspiration. Millions of girls love sports too, and rooting for the same team is great, but making your passion into a one-sided affair is a dangerous game.

7/ Ladies, don't wear those six-inch heels you bought on eBay, thinking they were Louboutins, but actually turned out to be regulation stripper footwear.

8/ Don't check out other people when you're on a date. This is just tacky. You may think you are subtle, but while you're scoping the cutie in the corner, your date will be heading for the door.

9/Don't mention illnesses, defects or injuries. Girls like healthy, strong guys, so if you have some type of illness, defect or injury, don’t go speaking about it. Don’t lie nor hide anything – just don’t bring the conversation that way.

10/ Don't talk about your ex. Discussing your dating past will make your date horribly uncomfortable until he or she knows you better. Girls, you know what, I don't care about your last boyfriend. I'd rather hear about your gynecologist's cold hands!

11/ Girls, even guys know that the friend who calls you exactly 30 minutes into our date isn't really in the hospital with Toxic Shock Syndrome. It means you're not interested. But if you're actually into a guy you're on a date with, put away your damn phone.

12/ When it comes to a date, try to squeeze in some questions about the other person in between excessive uses of 'me' and ' I ' - Not allowing your date to talk about themselves will make them feel like your therapist!

13/Don’t take medication in front of your date.

14/ Avoid Belching, farting, pick your nose, spiting, eating with your mouth open, and chewing gum. It's not clever and it's not funny!

15/ Why let facts get in the way of a good story:
It is tempting to lie about yourself because you want to look understanding, funny, easy going, compassionate, cool and the rest of the more favorable traits. However anything you hide will slowly be unraveled in time. So if you think killing animals and burying them in your garden is a fun activity, you’d best convey that information up front. After all, even a potential serial killer can find love.


What NOT to say on a first date?

"I think my biological clock is ticking."

"Do you mind paying? I'm in between jobs."

"I never said you NEED a nose job. I just said it wouldn't hurt to consider it."

"I've got a gimp suit in the car boot, and it will fit you like a glove"

"No wine for me tonight. My urologist says it's not good to mix alcohol and penicillin."

"I just got out of rehab."

"I really feel that I’ve grown as a person in the past few years. Used to be, I wouldn’t have given someone like you a second look."

"I’ll miss you, until I go out and buy some porn."

"I really like your dress, I have one at home just like it."

.........and for those lads out there who wish to explore the topic in more detail, and find out the truth about what skills and strategies are needed on a first date, then this is a must read! coffee-date-secrets

The Wierd and Wacky World of Football

In 1990, the Football League banned Scarborough from wearing shirts advertising 'Black Death' vodka on the grounds of bad taste.

A Manchester City fan was banned in 1995 from bringing dead chickens into City’s Maine Road ground. He used to celebrate City goals by swinging the birds around his head.

In 1998, the Macclesfield mascot, Roary the Lion (right), was sent-off for making obscene gestures during a players’ brawl in the match with Lincoln City.

A Tanzanian soccer match was postponed in 1978 after the referee was arrested on the pitch and accused of smoking marijuana just before the kick-off.

Barcelona’s Hristo Stoichkov was banned for six months in 1990 for stamping on the referee’s foot after being sent off in a Cup tie against Real Madrid.

Cash-strapped Portsmouth cancelled their weekly order of new jockstraps in 1999, a move which would save £112. Administrator Tom Burton ordered the club to wash them instead of buying new ones.

In 2003, Manchester City's Shaun Goater (right) celebrated Nicolas Anelka's goal at Birmingham by kicking an advertising hoarding, but he injured his knee in the process and had to be substituted.

Up until 2005 Young Boys of Switzerland played their home games at the Wankdorrf Stadium, Bern in Switzerland.

West Ham defender Alvin Martin scored a hat-trick against three different goalkeepers in the 8-1 win over Newcastle in 1986. The injured Martin Thomas was replaced in the Newcastle goal first by Chris Hedworth, then by Peter Beardsley.

Bury players refused to do any more promotional work for the club in 1997 as a protest at the lack of nappy-changing facilities at Gigg Lane for their wives.

In 2004, James Hayter (below) came on as an 84th minute substitute for Bournemouth against Wrexham and scored the fastest Football League hat-trick ever. It took less than 140 seconds.

The Scottish Cup tie between Falkirk and Inverness Thistle in 1979 was postponed no fewer than 29 times because of bad weather.

Fans at Gillingham were subjected to celery searches in 1996. a craze had started for waving sticks of celery while chanting an obscene song. So anyone caught in possession of the vegetable was threatened with a life ban.

Sheffield Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman has the somewhat dubious distinction of holding the record for the fastest ever red card in English football. He was sent off after just 13 seconds on the opening day of the 2000/01 season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cameroonian, Roger Milla (right), is the oldest player to play in the World Cup. He was all of 42 years and 39 days when he played against Russia in 1994!
During that game, he also scored, making him the oldest goal scorer in the World Cup!

West Bromwich Albion's 'Hawthorns' stadium is English football's highest ground above sea-level.

In 1950 India withdrew form the World Cup because FIFA refused to let their team play barefoot.

The Anglican church in 2002 in England decided that instead of loosing its parishoners they would try a new approach. A number of parishes held services earlier, then put TV screens on altars and the lawns. One put a sign out front that read "make jesus the center forward of your life" and urged fans to come to church in their jerseys.

The Physio Room - Injury Update

With the new Premier League season only four days away, spare a thought for the English Premier League clubs' physios and medical teams and their 'healing hands.'

However following three nights of rioting in London, England's friendly at Wembley tomorrow night against the Netherlands has been postponed on police advice - which in the light of the seriousness of the trouble is in my opinion the correct decision.

The FA chairman David Bernstein said the FA had consulted with the police, Government and Brent Council, and in a statement said: "We were unable to host the fixture under the terms of our safety certificate or guarantee the safety of the fans."

I am sure there is a peculiar, almost selfish sense of relief on the part of any club manager who had players involved in the England set-up, so close to the opening weekend of the English Premier League season, but no satisfaction in the reason for the postponement.

The English Premier League is littered with 'foreign players' from all over the world, and there are still plenty of international fixtures involving them on Wednesday and Thursday. On that note tonight's game between Ghana and Nigeria at Vicarage Road, Watford has also been postponed for safety reasons. As well as full internationals there are a number of UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying games being played tonight and tomorrow.

International teams involved in friendlies with Premier League players on their books include: Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, France, Spain, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Denmark and the USA.

Those managers with players involved will be praying all of them return from international duty injury free.

Meanwhile there is a full programme of English Premier League fixtures this weekend, so here is your chance to catch up on which players are definitely out injured, who is doubtful or struggling, and who will be fit to play for their clubs. Also some players are carrying over suspensions picked up at the tail end of last season, so they will also be unavailable for selection.

There are some Premier League teams who have players that are already out before a ball has been kicked, and other clubs have players that are struggling to be fit for the opening fixtures this weekend.

Some of the more high profile players carrying injuries at the moment include: Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshire, Aston Villa's Darren Bent, Tottenham's Rafael Van Der Vaart (right), Manchester United's Danny Welbeck , Liverpool's Glen Johnson and Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

Click on the 'link' to find out the latest on your Club's injury woes, and how soon it will be before some of your teams players will be back in action.

Those players that are definitely ruled out through suspension include: Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge (right), Manchester City's Kolo Toure, and Everton's Seamus Coleman.

Fantasy Football 2011/12 - The npower Championship

The opening game of 'The Championship' football season kicks-off in just 48 hours, when Hull City host Blackpool, and I have decided to take part in the forthcoming Texaco sponsored Championship Fantasy Football league for the 2011/12 season.

In doing so I shall be pitting my wits against friends and football fans around the country in an attempt to gain some bragging rights, and similarly dent a few egos of those fans who 'believe' they know everything about the second tier of English football.

I shall attempt to keep you updated throughout the season on my progress, good or bad as I suffer like any football manager does by trying to select an initial starting eleven of the best players available, without exceeding my 'fictitious' set budget.

Then as every week passes I will have to cope with injuries, suspensions, players moving clubs, along with 'jettisoning my flops' - those players that promised so much but failed to deliver! Then as the manager of my team I will be responsible for any wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, whilst keeping within my financial means.

Click on this link for the rules on how to pick your team, score points and make transfers.

The 'Team of the Season' for 2010/11 in terms of top points scorers in their respective positions was as follows:

Goalkeeper: Paddy Kenny (QPR).

Defenders - Angel Rangel (Swansea), Ian Harte (Reading, pictured right), Clint Hill (QPR), Ashley Williams (Swansea).

Midfielders - Lewis McGugan (Nottm Forest), Max Gradel (Leeds), Andy King (Leicester), Adel Taarabt (QPR).

Strikers - Danny Graham (Watford), Grant Holt (Norwich).



Here is my team to start the 2011/12 campaign:

Goalkeeper:

Kelvin Davies (Southampton).

Defenders:

Ian Evatt (Blackpool, pictured right), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff), Sean St Ledger (Leicester).

Midfield:

Kevin Nolan (West Ham and Captain), George Boyd (Peterborough), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds), Lee Bowyer (Ipswich).

Strikers:

Rickie Lambert (Southampton, pictured right), Rob Earnshaw (Cardiff).


If you fancy playing and you want to prove you know the most about the beautiful game then go head-to-head with your friends, work colleagues or family by logging onto Texaco Fantasy Football and sign up right away.

It's free to play and there's plenty up for grabs including: npower Championship Play-off Final tickets, VIP 'behind the scenes' experiences at your favourite npower Championship club, Texaco fuel vouchers, signed shirts, mini-footballs, and even the chance to meet your club's manager!

If you miss the opening match deadline (the new season gets underway at 19:45 on Friday 5th August), don't worry just join the league as soon as you can. Remember the competition is not won in the first week of the season, but in May of next year.

Good Luck!

Babe Of The Month - Sexy US Soccer Star Alex Morgan

Alexandra Patricia "Alex" Morgan (born 2nd July, 1989) is an American soccer player from Diamond Bar, California. She is a forward for the Western New York Flash in the (WPS) Women's Professional Soccer league in the United States. Alex is also a member of the US Women's National Team. Alex was the youngest player on the US team that finished runners-up at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Alex has made 24 appearances for the national team scoring nine times, including two goals at the World Cup finals held in Germany last month.

Follow Alex on Twitter or Facebook

Read more about Alex on her official website: Alex Morgan Soccer