Babe Of The Month - Feeling Horny!

Sophie Horn is a 25 year-old English born rose who can boast an impressive Curriculum Vitae that includes all of the following: GOLFER - MODEL - TV PRESENTER - MAGAZINE COLUMNIST and PERSONAL TRAINER.

She was brought up in the Midlands, and has been playing golf since she can remember, having grown up on a golf course (her parents run the Eagles Golf Centre at Tilney All Saints). She was crowned Norfolk County Champion three years running. She won the Under-21 title when she was just 15 years old. She also won the Midlands Championship, and significantly became Champion of Champions in 2001.

In 2005 she became 'The Golf Nurse' for Golf Punk Magazine, contributing articles, advice, golfing tips as well as modeling clothing. She was involved with all aspects of promotional work for the brand.

Sophie moved in front of camera in 2008 to co-present 'Show Me The Golf' for Setanta, where her cocktail of style, bubbly personality and attractiveness, allied to her undoubted golfing ability made her an instant hit with viewers. She also presented 'The Golf Show Pilot' for Sky Sports Online.

Sophie is a qualified Personal Trainer (Premier Training Level 3) and was a finalist in the ‘Maximuscle Body of 2009′ competition. She has been featured in 'Sport Magazine' twice (August 2009 and April 2011) and then most notably was featured in Sports Illustrated (August 2010). After Sophies feature in SI she became the most searched name on Google for two days.

Last year, Sophie Horn really did reach the top of the world when both MTV.com and Sports Illustrated voted her The World's Sexiest Golfer.


Sophie was recently been appointed a 'De Vere Club Ambassador,' along with Freddie Flintoff and Harry Redknapp. Since becoming a De Vere Club Ambassador she’s been featured in a number of major golf magazines and on radio.

Shortly Sophie will be contributing a 'Fit for Golf' section on the 'Golfing World' television show – which is currently shown in 35 countries (including Sky Sports in UK), 14 airlines and has a worldwide household audience of 350 million.

You can follow Sophie on Facebook and Twitter

Fantasy Football 2011/12 - The npower Championship. Update!

With just two months of the 2011/12 season remaining, I thought I would take this opportunity to update you all on my progress in this seasons Texaco sponsored Championship Fantasy Football league.

In August I selected eleven players from the second tier of English football that I felt would excel for their respective clubs this season, as I pitted my wits against friends and football fans around the country, in a 'foolish' attempt to convince myself that my knowledge of Championship football was equal to or maybe even superior to that of other football fans.

As the months have gone on, my last update was back in October, I have delved in and out of the transfer market as players have lost form, moved clubs, suffered injury or been suspended.

A lot was expected of some players this season, some have delivered whilst others have failed. There are a lot of 'experienced' players in the Championship such as West Ham's Kevin Nolan, David James of Bristol City, Leeds United's Luciano Becchio, Blackpool's Kevin Phillips and Kenny Miller of Cardiff. This season has also seen a lot of exciting young talent emerge. The likes of Birmingham's Nathan Redmond and Crystal Palace's Wilf Zaha to name just two.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Southampton and West Ham sit at the top of the league. The Saints, although a League One side last season are looking for back to back promotions, and are the Championship's top scorers. The Hammers spent heavily in the summer and are looking good for an immediate return to the Premier League.

The other relegated sides from the 2010/11 season, Birmingham and Blackpool sit 3rd and 7th respectively, and will both have a keen eye on promotion. Birmingham who started the season slowly have been in cracking form since Christmas. In fact they last lost a league game at Selhurst Park on the 19th December!
Reading like Brum started slowly but now sit 4th. Also in the play-off places are Middlesbrough, who have been up their all season and Cardiff, who take on Liverpool in this Sunday's Carling Cup Final at Wembley.

Hull, Brighton and Leeds occupy those places just outside the top six, and will be looking to take advantage of any slip ups by the teams above them as they press for a an end of season place in the play-offs.

So how has this reflected on the Championship fantasy football team since I last updated you back in October?

In October my team was as follows:


Goalkeeper: Kelvin Davies (Southampton).

Defenders: Ian Evatt (Blackpool), Jason Shackell (Derby), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff), Jonathan Parr (Palace).

Midfield: Matt Taylor (West Ham), Ben Davies (Derby), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds and right), Adam Lallana (Southampton).

Strikers: Rickie Lambert (Southampton and Captain), Rob Earnshaw (Cardiff).


I have made twelve transfers since October and seventeen out of a possible thirty since the campaign kicked-off in August. Only the free scoring Southampton striker Rickie Lambert and Leeds United's midfield maestro Robert Snodgrass have been ever present in my side since the start of the season.

Finding a strike partner for Lambert has been a problem! I selected Cardiff's Rob Earnshaw at the start of the season, and stupidly stuck with him until around Christmas time, when I replaced him with Glenn Murray, the Palace striker. Earnshaw scored just three times and fell out of favour at his club. Murray started the season well but lost his form and starting place at Palace and scored just twice for me before I replaced him a month ago with Billy Sharp. Sharp a proven goalscorer, moved to Southamton in January but he too is struggling to hold down a starting place alongside Lambert. I had to sacrifice Kelvin Davies and bring in Birmingham's Boaz Myhill to accommodate Sharp. I think on reflection 16 goal Ross McCormack would have been the answer. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

I brought in Derby duo Jason Shackell and Ben Davies at a time when Derby where flying and looking like a good bet to be play-off candidates come the end of the season. However their season has badly fallen away, and the club now lie 15th in the league. As a result both players had to go.

In their places I transferred in Hull duo Liam Rosenior and Robert Koren. Both signings have been outstanding, with Rosenior keeping eight clean sheets in ten appearances, and Koren scoring three times and claiming three assists in his ten games. Matt Taylor has had an injury ravaged season, making just 17 appearances for West Ham and scoring just once. I replaced Taylor with the ever reliable Peter Whittingham, and the Cardiff midfielder has scored six times and claimed nine assists in his 19 games for me. Happy days!

Recently I replaced Adam Lallana the Southampton midfielder player with his team-mate, the exciting French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin to freshen things up a bit. Lallana has had a cracking season, but lately he seems to have lost his spark.

I also brought in Birmingham's Curtis Davies to replace Cardiff's Anthony Gerrard, who is seemingly unable to hold down a regular first-team place with the Bluebirds. In his thirteen appearances Gerrard kept four clean sheets. In just five starts Curtis Davies has already kept three clean sheets. Finally I replaced Blackpool's Ian Evatt who did an 'average' job keeping six clean sheets in twenty games, and I replaced him with the underrated Alex Pearce and the Reading man has already delivered, with five clean sheets and a goal in eight games. Enough said!

As it stands today my current team is as follows:

Goalkeeper: Boaz Myhill (Birmingham).

Defenders: Alex Pearce (Reading), Liam Rosenior (Hull), Curtis Davies (Birmingham and captain), Jonathan Parr (Palace).

Midfield: Robert Koren (Hull), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff and right), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton).

Strikers: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Billy Sharp (Southampton).


I am 393rd overall in the whole competition, 2nd of 28 players in the 'Holmesdale Radio' private league, 9th of 752 in the 'Official Crystal Palace FC' private league and 3rd of 99 in the 'Where Eagles Dare' private league.

Between now and the end of the season............good luck!

Sexy London Bars! - Part Deux

This time last month I started my quest to dispel any myth that London was dull and lacked imagination when it came to hip and trendy watering holes. It was more a case of finding out where these illicit, hidden venues were located. I started off by introducing you to Mark's Bar at Hix in Soho. A very cool and stylish cocktail bar laced with a New York feel to it.

Today I am going to possibly surprise you by bringing to your attention a bar/restaurant in South London - and yes before you ask, South London does boast a selection of modish establishments.

Serving Number Two:

The Lost Angel
Address: 339 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 4LS.
Telephone: 0207 622 2112.
How to get there: Queenstown Road and Battersea Park rail stations.
Opening hours: Tues and Wed: 5pm - 11pm, Thurs: 5pm - 1am, Fri: 4pm - 2am, Sat: 12pm - 2am, Sun: 12pm - 11pm. Closed Monday.
Happy Hours: Tues and Wed 5pm - 8pm, Thurs all night and Friday 5pm - 9pm.
Music: On Fri and Sat DJ's play from 9pm and on Sunday's they have acoustic live music.
Door Policy/House Rules: Over 23's at the weekends.


The Lost Angel venue has a history. Back in the 1980's this Battersea Park Road milieu was a pub with it's very own on site micro-brewery. Now however it is split into three parts: the bar, the restaurant and the garden, courtesy of award winning designer Lee Broom who created the concept for The Lost Angel, sister bar to Lost Society. Broom said: "We wanted to pay homage to the old pubs of London whilst creating a design that was a nod to everything eccentric and British." So think trumpets as light fixtures, stuffed pheasants, a white telephone box, a piano, a forest indoors, a fireplace outdoors and all looked on by a ten foot portrait of Her Majesty The Queen.

Although this place is predominantly a bar, The Lost Angel serves some awesome food. A year ago Head Chef Jindra Vrbka created a surprisingly diverse menu, with an assortment of food for all occasions. They serve traditional pub food, snacks, canaps, a buffet, an a la carte menu, along with cracking roast dinners on a Sunday.

I popped in to LA on Wednesday and it was steak night. As I was only staying an hour or so I kicked things off with a bottle of Singh, a Thai lager, whilst my work colleague ordered a pint of real ale. We chose to share some bar snacks and the breaded squid with aioli and the baked camembert in a box with toasted Tortana bread were superb. Cocktails were up next and the LA cocktail menu was brash and loud and did not disappoint!

They have a selection of classic, contemporary and the bartenders own choice of cocktails. My colleague opted for a classic, a 'Raspberry Cosmopolitan' with Belvedere Black Raspberry Vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime and a touch of cranberry, flamed orange. I went for something completely different, a house special called 'The 69th Rockstar.' Tequila reposado infused with chili and thyme, parsley, and fresh passion fruit muddled with agave and passion fruit syrups, Velvet Falernum, and pineapple juice. Long and sexy spiciness!
At £7.50 each they were both good value and they really hit the spot!

Just to prove what a diverse operation they have at The Lost Angel, they also run cocktail classes, so you too can learn how to make great cocktails in a fun and informal environment.

The wine list, although not extensive is interesting, and conservatively priced. The wine is from £14.90 a bottle, with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at £27.00 and an Australian Black Shiraz at £19.90. Champagne and dessert wines are also available.

Overall a terrific venue, offering a sublime selection of food and drinks at reasonable prices. Although Battersea is probably not a place you would normally expect to find a 'sexy bar,' they certainly have one! Battersea itself may be a little bleak and out of the way, but in The Lost Angel you have a truly exquisite, almost wacky venue, and it is without a doubt well worth a visit. The atmosphere is laid back with a fun edge and the staff are polite, friendly and very knowledgeable.

You can follow 'The Lost Angel' on twitter or facebook

I will introduce you to more 'sexy drinking establishments' over the coming months........so stay aboard to see if I can locate you, your very own guilty pleasure!

English Football's Shortest Managerial Reigns.......EVER!

We are now in February, the recent transfer window is now firmly closed (aside from loan deals), yet many clubs up and down the country are having disappointing seasons for various reasons. If a club is underachieving what can the club owners do to revive its fortunes between now and May in an effort to save their season?

Have the football club owners lost faith in their manager, has the manager lost the respect of the players and are the fans venting their frustration? Are the club beset with injuries? Did the club lose some of their better players to other clubs and fail to replace them, or did the club not have the funds to strengthen an already depleted and small squad? Whatever the reason for a teams abject performances on the pitch, there is no place to hide as their failings are normally reflected in their results.

The most high profile sackings of recent months have been Steve Bruce at Sunderland, Neil Warnock at Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United's Simon Grayson. Managers under pressure at the moment in the top two tiers of English football include Steve Kean at Blackburn Rovers, Mick McCarthy at Wolves and Nottingham Forest's Steve Cotterill.

Yes, the buck 'usually' stops with the football club manager, however it can be said it is sometimes not exclusively down to poor results, and that one man and one man alone is not always the reason for an unsuccessful managerial tenure at a club!

To show you this I have put together a list of some of the shortest football managerial reigns in the history of the English game, that were not solely dictated by results ON the pitch:

1. LEROY ROSENIOR - Torquay United 2007 - Ten minutes.

Ex-player Leroy was appointed boss of struggling Torquay United replacing Keith Curle on 17th May 2007 - then was sacked after ten minutes or 600 seconds! The former West Ham and Fulham striker broke the record for English football's shortest managerial reign after being introduced with a fanfare by Torquay United.

Sports journalists were summoned to a press conference which finished at 3.30pm. Then at 3.40pm Leroy was told by the chairman of the Devon club, who were at the time in talks with a business consortium, that it had just been sold, and the new consortium wanted their own man at the helm of the club. As a result the new consortium immediately sacked Rosenior and installed Colin Lee as Chief Executive, and Lee then appointed former Gulls player and Exeter City assistant manager Paul Buckle as manager.

Leroy said at the time: "For it to happen ten minutes after I finished the press conference was a bit of a shock. But we had a good laugh about it afterwards." He joked, "Obviously they thought I had done a fantastic job after ten minutes and let me go."

Torquay United though did agree to pay him compensation.

2. BILL LAMBTON – Scunthorpe United 1959 - 3 days.

Former Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper Bill Lambton managed just three official league appearances as a player before retiring. He moved into coaching and had spells with KB Copenhagen, Scunthorpe and Grimsby Town before Lambton was appointed Leeds United manager in December 1958. He stayed there for just four months, a lengthy tenure compared to his next job at Glanford Park in April 1959. Lambton took over as Scunthorpe United manager and saw his reign brought to a very swift end, three days after it had begun, following a 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield in his first game.

3. DAVE BASSETT – Crystal Palace 1984 - 4 days.

In June 1984 Bassett 'accepted' an offer to become manager of Second Division club Crystal Palace, but remarkably changed his mind, refused to sign the contract at Selhurst Park and walked four days later. He returned to Wimbledon, stating that "I gave it some serious thought, but in the end it just did not feel right. We have unfinished business, and I didn't really want to leave here." Luckily for him, the Plough Lane club had not yet lined up a replacement so he was welcomed back. It must be pointed out however that Bassett's initial appointment at Palace was a verbal agreement, and at no time did he put pen to paper and sign a legally binding contract.

However Bassett did officially take a managerial role at Crystal Palace twelve years later, on the 8th February 1996, but he left a year later to join Nottingham Forest.

4 & 5. KEVIN CULLIS / MICKY ADAMS - Both Swansea City - 1996/1997 - 7 days/13 days.

A period of six managers in 18 months for Swansea City saw two brief cameos.
Hardly a household name, but Kevin Cullis who had a growing reputation as one of the country’s up and coming PE teachers was appointed manager of Swansea City on the 7th February 1996, by new chairman Michael Thompson, as the club languished in Division Three. He had never played professional football and his only previous managerial experience came as the youth coach of non-league Cradley Town in the West Midlands. In his second match against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, Cullis’ half-time team talk was apparently ignored as the players took control. Cullis’s shortcomings were soon realised by the players and he left the Vetch Field after seven days and two defeats.

In April 2003, Cullis was jailed for nine months for fraud and deception at after falsely claiming to be a highly-paid marketing consultant. He was jailed again, for a further nine months, in September 2004 for handling a stolen insurance certificate and using it with intent to deceive.

Shortly after his dismissal from Fulham in 1997, Adams made a quick return to management with Swansea City in Division Three, but left after thirteen days and three matches in charge. Adams claimed that the money he had been promised to strengthen the team had not been forthcoming.

6. PAUL HART - Queens Park Rangers 2009 - 28 days.

Jim Magilton left QPR after a falling out with the player Akos Buzsaky, and Queens Park Rangers moved to appoint Paul Hart as their new boss ion 17th December 2009. Hart had a nine month tenure on the South Coast as Portsmouth manager prior to this role, but even that could not have prepared him for what proved to be a brief stay in West London, as he became exasperated by interference from flamboyant owner Flavio Briatore.

Indeed, questions were raised over whether Hart was actually Briatore's choice to replace Jim Magilton in the first place. It is also understood Hart and Briatore disagreed over which players to target during the transfer window. In addition, it appears Briatore had already decided not to extend Hart's six-month contract just two games into his brief stay, such was the speed of the breakdown in relations.

On the pitch things did not go well under Hart as QPR won one of his five Championship matches in charge and the manager was heavily criticised for poor tactics and player selections by Briatore.

Hart then had a bust up with one of the playing staff, Adel Taarabt, who was said to have voiced his displeasure at having only started twice in Hart's five games as manager, before Hart left the 'Hoops' on the 14th January 2010, less than a month after his appointment.
However, it seems his bust-ups with Briatore were the real reason why the former Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest manager felt he had no choice but to turn his back on Loftus Road after such a brief spell at the helm.

7. STEVE COPPELL - Manchester City 1996 - 33 days.

Steve Coppell twice walked out early on clubs during his managerial career. In October 1996, sandwiched between his second and third spells as Crystal Palace boss, he lasted just six games and 33 days in the job, before he left Manchester City, citing stress as the reason for his sudden departure. Unsurprisingly, his tenure is the shortest of any City manager to date.


Fourteen years later, Coppell, who was appointed Crystal Palace manager on four separate occasions, announced his resignation at Bristol City – only three months after taking charge. Coppell explained that he no longer had the requisite passion for the job and announced he would retire from management altogether.

8. GARY MEGSON - Leicester City 2007 - 41 days

During Milan Mandaric’s spell as owner of Leicester City, it seemed the club changed manager every week. The reality was of course nowhere near that bad, but it wasn’t great either as seven managers occupied the dugout at the Walkers Stadium in a four year period. The fourth of those was Gary Megson, who arrived on September 13th 2007.

He guided the Foxes to their first league win in early October, beating Sheffield Wednesday away 2-0 but was soon attracting interest from Premier League Bolton Wanderers. Mandaric rejected a first approach from Bolton but the Trotters publicly stated Megson as their number one choice as a second approach was rebuffed by the Foxes.

After Bolton made another move Megson was given permission to speak to the Trotters and on the 24th October 2007 he left Leicester City to take over at the Reebok – 41 days and nine league games after joining the club.

9. LES REED - Charlton Athletic 2006 - 41 days.

After working as a consultant, Les Reed returned to Charlton to become Iain Dowie's assistant manager in the summer of 2006. After Dowie's sacking on 14 November 2006, Reed was promoted to the manager's post. During his six-week spell in charge, Reed managed just one victory and his Charlton side were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Football League Two side Wycombe Wanderers.

Reed's spell at Charlton became infamous as the media attacked him on a regular basis, nicknaming him "Les Misérables" and "Santa Clueless," and he was later voted in an unofficial online poll "the worst manager of all time." Reed was replaced by Alan Pardew as manager on 24 December 2006, leaving Charlton Athletic by mutual consent.

10. BRIAN CLOUGH - Leeds United 1974 - 44 days.

On 30th July 1974, Brian Clough left Brighton & Hove Albion to become manager of Leeds United, following Don Revie's departure to become manager of England. Clough famously endured 44 dismal days as Leeds manager, an episode now recorded on the page and screen. Clough was a surprise appointment at Elland Road; he was already an unpopular figure, given his previous outspoken criticism of both Revie, for whom Clough made no secret of his deep disdain, and the successful Leeds team's playing style, which Clough lambasted as being "dirty" for their overly aggressive style but also effectively illegal, in his opinion.

Clough failed to win over the dressing room after alienating many of Leeds's star players, notably Johnny Giles, Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner, all of whom were fiercely loyal to Revie and Clough was sacked by the Leeds directors on the 12th September 1974, after only one win in six games.
His pay-off was estimated at £98,000, a huge amount at the time.

Other notable short managerial stints include:

Attilio Lombardo - Crystal Palace (47 days, 1998)
Dave Penny - Bristol Rovers (57 days, 2011)
Martin Allen - Leicester City (66 days, 2007)
Colin Todd – Derby County (98 days, 2001/02).

Babe Of The Month - Jenn-u-ine-ly Stunning!

You can follow Jenn Sterger on Twitter or Facebook

All the latest Transfer Gossip across Europe

With the January transfer window closing next Tuesday, there has plenty of talk of possible 'big name' transfers, but little in the way of action so far this month!
The only big money transfer of note was the predicted move of Bolton's Gary Cahill to Chelsea for £7million. Meanwhile there are also lot of loan deals in the pipeline, but can the players, their agents and the clubs agree terms before the transfer window shuts!

As the clock ticks down here is the most recent transfer gossip to be doing the rounds!

Is your club involved?

Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lille, PSG, Arsenal, Hanover 96, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Manchester City, Liverpool, Lazio, Arsenal, Real Sociedad, QPR, Tottenham, São Paulo, Bolton, Crystal Palace, Stoke, Everton, Ajax, Inter Milan, Newcastle, Burnley, Watford, Swansea, Blackpool, AZ Alkmaar, Kalmar FF, West Brom, Zenit St Petersburg, Juventus, Cagliari, Sunderland, Blackburn, MK Dons, Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Southend and Shrewsbury are all caught up in transfer gossip as we speak.

Chelsea are also after Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Willian Borges da Silva, but have been told by the Ukrainians that they will have to fork out £25m for the 23-year-old - The Guardian

Lille striker Eden Hazard (right) has admitted Carlo Ancelotti's presence at Paris Saint-Germain is drawing him towards joining the French club. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked with the 21-year-old - Inside Futbol

Paris St Germain ended their interest in a January deal for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez earlier this week, but coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes the French club may be able to sign the Argentine in the future - skysports.com

Chelsea defender Alex has completed a €5 million [£4.1m] transfer to Paris Saint Germain this weekend The Brazilian has signed an 18-month deal with the French Ligue 1 leaders - goal.com

Hannover 96 are keen to sign Senegalese international striker Mame Biram Diouf, 24 on loan from Manchester United - footballpress.net

Chelsea could make a £3m move for Manchester United defensive midfielder Paul Pogba (right). The 18-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has refused to sign a new deal - The Guardian

Manchester United could make a shock move for German midfielder Michael Ballack after Bayer Leverkusen indicated the 35-year-old could be available - Caught Offside

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela is hopeful of extending his loan stay at Real Sociedad and possibly turning it into a permanent switch. The 22-year-old Mexico international has been at the La Liga side since the start of the season - Caught Offside

Edinson Cavani's agent has played down talk of a stunning late switch to Manchester City. It has been suggested in the Italian media that Napoli are bracing themselves for a late move for their 24-year-old Uruguayan striker (right). Liverpool are also rumoured to be keen on the striker - talkSPORT and Caught Offside

Queens Park Rangers hope to sign former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse from Lazio. The 30-year-old Frenchman would cost £4m, although he may join on loan. Adel Taarabt may head in the opposite direction - The Guardian and skysports.com

Bolton have made a £5m bid for Crystal Palace's England Under-21 international Wilfried Zaha, but face competition from Newcastle and Stoke - Daily Mirror and footballgossip.org.uk

Tottenham are in talks with São Paulo over Brazil Under-20 defender Bruno Uvini - The Guardian

Everton are closing in on Ajax striker Mounir El Hamdaoui (right). The 27-year-old Moroccan could move to Goodison Park on loan before sealing a permanent move for £5m in the summer - talkSPORT

Everton are being linked with Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos, according to reports from Italy. The Toffees are being linked with the a move for the former Feyenoord youngster, either on loan or in a permanent deal - footballgossip.org.uk

Newcastle United want Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez and Watford's Adrian Mariappa. However Swansea City are also keen on the Watford defender - The Guardian and Daily Mail

AZ Alkmaar have completed the signing of 19 year-old right-back Mattias Johansson from Swedish side Kalmar FF - sportinglife.com

Blackpool are lining up a season-long loan move for West Brom's Czech Republic striker Roman Bednar - skysports.com

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson is hopeful of concluding a deal to sign Zenit St Petersburg winger Szabolcs Huszti (right), for the remainder of the season - sportinglife.com and The Press Association

Juventus are tracking Belgian international Radja Nainggolan 23, but the midfielder has a deal tying him to Cagliari until June 2014 - footballpress.net

David Dunn has signed a new contract with Blackburn until the summer of 2013 - sportinglife.com

Newcastle United midfielder Alan Smith is set to leave the club for League One side MK Dons - football gossip.org.uk

Nottingham Forest are considering a third bid from Leicester for centre-back Wes Morgan. The Foxes' previous offer was believed to be in the region of £800,000 - sportinglife.com

Sunderland are considering a bid for unsettled Besiktas targetman Hugo Almeida (right), 27, who is rated at £3m - Sunderland Echo

League Two promotion chasers Southend have bolstered their defensive options with the signing of Pat Baldwin from Colchester on a free transfer until the end of the season - skysports.com

Shrewsbury Town have signed Romaine Sawyers on a month-long loan from West Brom - skysports.com

Classic Quotations made about Referees

Back in April 2008 I started a thread on the subject of badly worded or simply daft comments made by football managers, past and present. Following this I then went on a crusade to poke fun at not only football managers but also players, fans, and chairman alike who have at various times spouted out drivel, in an attempt to get their point across.

Like a phoenix from the flames I have resurrected the topic, but this time the emphasis is on the referees, not so much what they have to say, but what is said about them!

There is enough material on the subject to write a novel, but here is just a taster of some of my favourite comments made about referees over the years.


We've got drug-testers here today. I assume they'll ignore the players and go straight to the officials - MICK McCARTHY, Wolves manager, after a controversial home defeat by Birmingham, 2007.

The ref was a big time homer, more interested in his rub-on suntan - DAVID MOYES, Everton manager talking about referee Jeff Winter, 2003.

Can anyone tell me why they give referees a watch? It's certainly not for keeping the time - ALEX FERGUSON, Manchester United manager, after Graham Poll added 'only three minutes' v Everton, 1996.

I tried to talk to the ref but it's easier to get an audience with the Pope. If I'm in London again and I get mugged, I hope the same amount of people turn up - there were six police officers, four stewards and a UN peace-keeping observer - GORDON STRACHAN, after controversy at Arsenal shortly before resigning as Southampton manager, 2004.

If the ref had stood still we wouldn't have had to chase him - ROY KEANE, Manchester United captain, on the Andy D'Urso incident, 2000.

When Paolo Di Canio pushed over the referee (Paul Alcock), if the referee had been a player he'd have been booked for diving - BARRY DAVIES, TV commentator, recalling the 1998 match between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, 2004.

I'm 27 years-old and yet the referee tells me I'm not allowed to swear - VINNIE JONES, Wimbledon midfielder, after being dismissed for foul and abusive language, 1992.

I have nothing against the visually handicapped as such, but I am surprised they are allowed to referee at this level - THE SOUP, Kidderminster Harriers fanzine, 1989.

My players wouldn't take a throw-in for that sort of money - GORDON STRACHAN, Coventry manager on learning that referee Gerald Ashby's match fee was £200, 1998.

I can't understand why the ref wasn't more sympathetic. After all, we used to go to the same bookies - STEVE CLARIDGE, Portsmouth player-manager, after his team incurred two red cards v Fulham, 2001.

I don't think we should have shoot-outs. We should have a shoot-the-ref shoot-out. After that penalty, the referee should have been shot - JOHN GREGORY, Aston Villa manager, afer a last-minute penalty was awarded to West Ham against Villa, 1999.

In the tunnel I said to David Ellery: 'You might as well book me now and get it over with.' He takes it pretty well but he still books me - ROY KEANE, Manchester United captain, 2000.

How the mega-rich male model referee slipped out of Molineux in his luxury Mercedes after a day of mayhem - HEADLINE in Wolvehampton's Express & Star, after referee Uriah Rennie's 'diabolical' handling of a game between Wolves and Bolton, 2004.

What makes a sane and rational person subject himself to such humiliation? Why on earth does anyone want to become a Premiership referee - LORD HATTERSLEY, Sheffield Wednesday supporter, 2002.

.......and to finish off here are a couple of comments made by the officials themselves:

At Stoke an elderly lady was waiting by the dressing room after the game. She said: "Mr. Night, I'm 74 and a grandmother, and I'd just like to say you're the worst f*cking referee I've ever seen." Certainly put me in my place - BARRY NIGHT, Football League referee, 2005.

You're out there with 22 multi-millionaires who you have to control with a whistle and two, sometimes three cards - GRAHAM POLL, English referee on quitting the game, 2007. A year earlier Poll had been cut from the World Cup after cautioning Croatia's Jossip Simunic three times, before sending him off against Australia.

Who's the Bastard in the Black? - TITLE of former Premiership referee Jeff Winter's autobiography, 2006.


To see previous posts by Beer Footy and Birds, on 'Classic Quotations' click on the links below:

Ten Classic Football Quotations made by Football Managers

Ten Classic Football Quotations made by Football Chairman

Classic Football Quotations said by Football Fans or made about Football Fans - Part One

Sexy London Bars!

London is hip and trendy and don't you forget it!
It boasts an array of clandestine yet cultured watering holes.......it's just knowing where these sumptuous hideaways are situated.

Allow me to lend you a hand and wet your appetite, as I guide you into a world of edgy, almost borderline illicit such establishments!

Serving Number One:

Mark's Bar at Hix
Address: 66-70 Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 9UP.
Telephone: 0207 292 3518.
Opening hours: Mark's Bar is open from 12 noon everyday.
Last orders at the bar are 1.00am.
Average cocktail price: £9-11 each.


Formerly a below street level sushi bar, Mark's Bar sits in the basement of Hix Restaurant in Soho. Mark's is one of the coolest or hottest bars in London. Before you can get there though you have to find the restaurant itself. So, listen up people – once you get to Brewer Street look out for a huge solid wooden door. The first thing you notice when you walk into the basement is the long zinc bar that runs the length of the room. This 'chic' cocktail bar is decked out with leather chesterfields, smoky mirrors and ambient lighting, giving the place a very New York vibe. With a traditional bar billiards table and a cocktail list, designed by Nick Strangeway, and Charles Vexenat, it features historical British cocktails, all beautifully crafted, an assortment of wines and bubbly along with Hix's own-brand ales from Dorset.

The cocktails are to die for, and they have re-ignited new life into some real classics: From the 'Hanky Panky' (a gin based infusion created for the actor Charles Hawtry who asked a bartender to make him something with a "bit of punch in it."
When he tasted the result of hours of experimentation, he commented, "By Jove! That's the real hanky panky!)."

Then there is the Scoff-Law Cocktail (invented at Harry's Bar in Paris, this rye whisky based creation quickly became popular with expat Americans). Added to that is the delightful 'Punch a la Regent' (This drink is said to have been held in high esteem by the Prince Regent of the time, George IV, who is largely remembered by his extravagant lifestyle and excesses). An elaborate combination of PX Sherry, rum and brandy combined with curacao, pineapple syrup and lemon sherbet. Soured with citrus and lengthened with green tea, before the pièce de résistance - a regal topping of Champagne.

My personal favourite however is 'The Celebration', a 1930's concoction of Havana Club three year-old rum shaken with fresh white grapefruit, finished with a splash of Beefeater gin and a dash of homemade redcurrant syrup. It is simply irresistible!

Oh, and I have to mention the glassware, which is really cool and quirky, from huge metal tankards to teacups mounted on Martini stems and the odd vintage babysham glass or two.

Overall it's a great venue, full of old school charm, with attentive staff serving fantastic cocktails, but the atmosphere sells it! I was surprised to find a place like this in Soho, where bars can often be too loud, crowded and overpriced for my liking, especially on a weekend.

Mark's Bar, Soho - One of London's 'sexiest' drinking establishments!

I will introduce you to more 'sexy drinking establishments' over the coming weeks and months........so stay aboard to see if I can locate you, your very own guilty pleasure!

The Worst Foreign Transfer Deals in Premier League History!

Any fan of Premier League football will have at sometime seen some of the world's best players grace football pitches up and down the country, week in and week out. Their breathless skills, sheer talent and the panache they possess for the game often leave us captivated and at times mesmerised!

It is that time of the year again when some football club owners will be considering whether or not to open up their chequebooks, and give the managers of their businesses carte blanche to invest outrageous sums of money on one or two 'big name' players, that could ultimately define the outcome of the season - be it in success or failure!

However, every now and then you get some transfer deals which quite frankly don't work out. Maybe its the high pressure and tempo of Premier League football, the inability to settle in England, the size of the transfer fee and the resultant high expectations of the fans, or possibly they are just suffering from a dip in form.
There are unquestionably numerous reasons why certain players just don't live up to expectations.

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, there have been dozens of players over the years who fit into this category, but I ask you, which ones can be best described as quite simply 'the worst foreign Premier League signings of all time.'

Here is my own list of players that I consider fall into that category!


Winston Bogarde - (Barcelona to Chelsea, 2000, Free Transfer)

While I’m sure many of you will wonder how Bogarde could possibly be in the top 10 worst signings considering he arrived at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer, the Dutchman’s transfer fee isn't what cost the club, but his high wages were.

Chelsea gave the Holland centre half a four-year contract worth £10m when he moved to London on a free transfer in July 2000.

The Gordon Gecko of Premier League football, Bogarde bled Chelsea dry for £40,000 a week over a four year period, clocking up just a dozen or so appearances. He famously didn’t even own a house in London, flying in for training in order to honour his contract to the letter.

In his own words: "This world is about money, so when you are offered those millions you take them. Few people will ever earn so many. I am one of the few fortunates who do. I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership, but I don’t care, I am the best Chelsea pickpocket in history."

He even picked up a contractual bonus following the Blues 2000 FA Cup win, despite Bogarde not featuring at all for Chelsea that season.

The deal was a complete waste of money on the part of Chelsea. Bogarde seemed to typify a foreign player who came to England for nothing but the money. Often referred to by the term 'mercenary' in the modern era!

As Bogarde succinctly put it: "This world is about money, so when you are offered those millions you take them. Few people will ever earn so many. I am one of the few fortunates who do. I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership, but I don't care."

Massimo Taibi - (Venezia to Manchester United, 1999, £4.5 million)

Massimo Taibi has to be considered not only the worst transfer of all time but also one of, if not the worst keeper to ever grace the Premier League. Taibi was brought to the club in 1999 by Sir Alex Ferguson who splashed out £4.5m on the Venezian journeyman as a potential replacement for United legend Peter Schmeichel, but many soon found out that the Italian shot stopper was going to become a legend at United for all the wrong reasons.

Taibi was competing with the other two Manchester United goalkeepers, Mark Bosnich and Raimond van der Gouw, for the first-team place. Taibi conceded two sloppy goals at Liverpool on his debut and one to Wimbledon the following week. Then the fun began: Southampton scored three at Old Trafford, including a Matthew Le Tissier 'shot' that trickled through Taibi's legs and was so soft, it barely dribbled over the line. This left the former Milan keeper red faced with embarrassment and the United faithful red faced in anger. This led to Taibi being dubbed 'The Blind Venetian' by one newspaper. Eight days later, Chelsea put five past him at Stamford Bridge and this Italian’s job was over, little more than a month after it had began.

Taibi was left to rot in the United reserves after making only four first-team appearances, until Reggina took him first on loan, before he eventually completed a £2.5m transfer to the Italian side in July 2000. His very brief spell at Manchester United will never be forgotten, even if only for the wrong reasons!

Taibi went on to play over 500 top flight matches for eleven different clubs during an eventful career, before he announced his retirement from football in 2009.

Adrian Mutu - (Parma to Chelsea, 2003, £15.8 million)

Adrian Mutu’s move to Chelsea filled many of the Stamford Bridge faithful with optimism as to what he could possibly do in a Blues shirt.

The Romanian's first season started well, but the goals dried up and his relationship with José Mourinho soured soon after Mourinho arrived the following summer. Not long into his second season at Chelsea Mutu failed a drugs test, and his cocaine bust resulted in the 31 year old being immediately sacked from the club.

In early 2005 Chelsea started legal proceedings against Mutu for breach of contract, and they were eventually awarded €17 million in compensation. The case has been appealed from one court to the next, and Chelsea still haven't received their compensation as it stands. I'm sure they regret signing Mutu and all the trouble he brought with him.


Marco Boogers - (Sparta Rotterdam to West Ham, 1995, £1 million)

Possibly one of the worst and funniest transfers of all time. After arriving at the club, Boogers second appearance for the Hammers saw the Dutchman receive a red card against Manchester United for 'a horror tackle' on Gary Neville, which was to be the start to a rather odd story.

Upon receiving the red card, Boogers then decided to go AWOL, disappearing from the club with no one knowing of his whereabouts. Some days later it was alleged that the player had been found depressed and hiding out in a mobile home on a Dutch caravan site. The Boogers debacle resulted in a rather bewildered Harry Redknapp at first loaning him out, before allowing the Dutchman to leave on a subsequent free transfer to FC Groningen despite his protestations - "I'm not mental."

Redknapp later berated Boogers in an interview and claimed he never saw Boogers play, and that he contracted him on a whim based on a videotape where he appeared to be a world class player. Boogers himself disputes this and says scouts from West Ham United attended several of his matches with Sparta before signing him.

Bosko Balaban - (Dianamo Zagreb to Aston Villa, 2001, £6.5 million)

Signed by John Gregory for £6.5 million from Zagreb in 2001, the Croatian striker played just nine times (seven as a substitute) and he did not start a single league game for Aston Villa in his two and a half years at the club.

He was loaned back to Dinamo Zagreb for the 2002–03 season, scoring 15 times in 24 appearances.

In December 2003, Aston Villa released Balaban from his contract with a £1m pay-off declaring on his departure that "Villa is all bullshit."
He signed for Club Brugge on a free transfer. In the 2004–05 season, he scored 25 goals in 24 appearances for the club and in the 2005–06 season, he scored 27 goals in 30 games for the Belgian side.

Balaban certainly knows where the back of the net is, as he is seemingly able to score freely for every club he has represented, but for whatever reason he was clearly unable to impress in England. He currently plys his trade in the Greek Super League with Panionios.

Michele Padovano - (Juventus to Crystal Palace, 1997, £1.7 million)

Former Crystal Palace chairman Mark Goldberg, signed Padovano from Juventus reserves in November 1997 for £1.7m in a typically ill-considered move. Handing the Italian an enormous contract in the hope that gratitude alone would spur him to score the goals to beat relegation, Goldberg touted his newest expensive arrival as the answer to Palace's prayers.

In the event, the long-haired, out-of-condition forward scored once, against Leicester City, played just twelve times for the South London club, and came to embody the club's failings. Utterly disinterested, Padovano never played more than two games in a row, and, after his twelfth appearance, settled contentedly into reserve team football, before leaving on a free to join Metz in 1998.

When Crystal Palace were in receivership during the 1999-2000 season, Padovano made a million-pound claim against the club's directors for lost wages.

In May 2006, he was arrested by Italian police in Torino over allegation of his implication in hashish traffic and was later sentenced to 8 years and 8 months in jail.

Alberto Aquilani - (Roma to Liverpool, 2009, £17 million plus add-ons)

Alberto Aquilani is a prime example of a player who just didn’t cut the mustard when arriving in England. The Italian created a large reputation back in his native country with a number of key performances for Roma, resulting in then Anfield boss Rafa Benitez splashing out £17 million initially and handing the 26 year-old a five-year contract in August 2009.

The beginning of his Liverpool career was plagued by injury, but when he did play he did little to wet the appetite of the fans of the Merseyside club. In August 2010, a deal between Liverpool and Juventus was agreed, to allow Aquilani to go on a one season loan deal to Juventus with an option of a permanent move. Aquilani returned to Liverpool after Juventus decided against making his transfer permanent, the club's owners declining to meet the previously agreed £14m transfer fee. In August 2011 it was announced that Aquilani would be would be returning to Serie A, joining AC Milan on loan for the 2011-2012 season with Milan having an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.......we shall have to wait and see what Milan decide, but his days at Anfield are numbered.

Andrea Silenzi - (Torino to Nottingham Forest, 1995, £1.8 million)

Signed from Torino in 1995 by Frank Clark for Nottingham Forest, Silenzi became the first ever Italian to play in the Premier League. The 6'3" centre-forward, known as 'the Big Brush' made just seven starts (20 appearances in total). Silenzi was a picture of disinterest. Earning a then enormous £30,000 a month, his laid-back control, finishing and approach play soon had management and supporters worried.

It took just weeks for the deal to look suspect, a month for it to look plain wrong and another month to collapse. Half way through his first season, he had lost his first team place and was loaned out to Venezia, and when told to return by the then manager Dave Bassett, he refused. Forest tore up his contract - meaning the whole deal, including wages and bonuses, had cost the club £2.75m. He scored twice - one against Oxford in the FA Cup and the other against Bradford in the Coca-Cola Cup. Bassett said of the deal, "The whole business turned into a complete fiasco."

Steve Marlet - (Olympique Lyonnais to Fulham, 2001, £11.5 million)

When Fulham were promoted to the Premiership in 2001, Chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed was focused on spending lots of money in the hope they would win the league.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite turn out as planned and French striker Steve Marlet, signed for £11.5m in 2001 wasn't able to perform anywhere near the level expected. As Fulham's then record signing, it angered Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed so much that the then manager Jean Tigana who signed Marlet was dismissed in April 2003.

Marlet played just one game in the 2003–04 season for Fulham before he was loaned out to Olympique Marseille for 18 months, with his sizeable contract still being paid by the English team, before his contract was finally cancelled in 2005.

Marlet's terrible performances for Fulham led to chairman Mohammed Al Fayed taking his former manager Jean Tigana to the High Court. He claimed Tigana had intentionally overpaid for the striker and wanted compensation, saying "I won't let any crook destroy Fulham". It was suspected that Tigana, who had ties to Olympique Lyonnais, signed Marlet for an exorbitant fee, taking a cut of the fee himself. The charges were quickly dropped.

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