Barthez was proposed to PSG but we refused... Might we have made a tiny mistake?I think he will be quite good at Marseille.
Football in Finland Europe and the World
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So Silvestre is quite popular? I rate him as a great defender. Bellion is an unknown quantity at United still also as he's so young and new to the club.tgabawm wrote:Silvestre is now appreciated since he plays in the national team, but Bellion is quite unknown... And that happens more and more since teams from abroad buy our players very young and then they never play in the French league.
Oops, I saw Silvestre didn't play that good this time...Quite weird defeat against Fulham... But ok, Man U is gonna win the championship this year for sure... Just one more word to say that Florent Sinama-Pongolle, 19 years old, scored his first goal with Liverpool today... Sure there will be lot more coming... Go Frenchies!!!
If the drop would say "I am unnecesary", there would be no ocean.
(M. Quoist)
(M. Quoist)
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Hmmm I'm not convinced I think Chelsea and Arsenal will be tough competitors this year. I just feel the opportunity we had to dominate England and win a couple of European cups is slipping away a bit nowtgabawm wrote:Oops, I saw Silvestre didn't play that good this time...Quite weird defeat against Fulham... But ok, Man U is gonna win the championship this year for sure...
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Footballers face home drug tests
Soccer bosses' radical plan sparked by Ferdinand fiasco
Denis Campbell, sports news correspondent
Sunday October 26, 2003
The Observer
Footballers could have to undergo random drug tests at their homes under proposals being considered by the Football Association.
The game's chiefs want to eradicate the glaring inadequacies in the present system highlighted by England defender Rio Ferdinand's failure to take a routine drug test last month.
Their plan will be highly controversial because sampling officers from UK Sport, the Government agency which conducts all drugs tests in British sport, can currently take samples only after matches or at clubs' training grounds.
Players' leaders are certain to oppose the idea as an unacceptable infringement of footballers' privacy, even though such visits are already commonplace in athletics, swim ming and Scottish rugby. An FA working party will look at bringing in immediate suspensions for any player who fails to attend a test, along with punishments for their clubs.
The game's governing body has decided that players selected to give a sample must in future be 'chaperoned' by a member of their club's medical staff to avoid a repeat of the situation where Ferdinand left Manchester United's training ground after 'forgetting' about the test. 'There is a real determination to strengthen our drug testing system, not least because a large number of leading figures in the game, such as the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Everton boss David Moyes, have been urging us to do much more,' said a senior FA source.
Wenger said last week that the FA's procedures needed to be reviewed urgently to make them more rigorous. Arsenal were visited by drug testers just once a year, and some of his players had not had to give a sample for seven years, he revealed.
A big increase in the number of tests carried out is guaranteed. Currently only 1,250 tests are conducted each year in the English game. In contrast, in Italy two players from each team are tested after each league game.
The FA's moves come as it has emerged that two footballers in England have tested positive for cocaine and ecstasy. Neither has been identified but it is understood that one is with a Premiership club.
Meanwhile, there is a growing belief that Ferdinand will be suspended from playing for either United or England - the first player to be punished in this way - for failing to attend his test.
Soccer bosses' radical plan sparked by Ferdinand fiasco
Denis Campbell, sports news correspondent
Sunday October 26, 2003
The Observer
Footballers could have to undergo random drug tests at their homes under proposals being considered by the Football Association.
The game's chiefs want to eradicate the glaring inadequacies in the present system highlighted by England defender Rio Ferdinand's failure to take a routine drug test last month.
Their plan will be highly controversial because sampling officers from UK Sport, the Government agency which conducts all drugs tests in British sport, can currently take samples only after matches or at clubs' training grounds.
Players' leaders are certain to oppose the idea as an unacceptable infringement of footballers' privacy, even though such visits are already commonplace in athletics, swim ming and Scottish rugby. An FA working party will look at bringing in immediate suspensions for any player who fails to attend a test, along with punishments for their clubs.
The game's governing body has decided that players selected to give a sample must in future be 'chaperoned' by a member of their club's medical staff to avoid a repeat of the situation where Ferdinand left Manchester United's training ground after 'forgetting' about the test. 'There is a real determination to strengthen our drug testing system, not least because a large number of leading figures in the game, such as the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Everton boss David Moyes, have been urging us to do much more,' said a senior FA source.
Wenger said last week that the FA's procedures needed to be reviewed urgently to make them more rigorous. Arsenal were visited by drug testers just once a year, and some of his players had not had to give a sample for seven years, he revealed.
A big increase in the number of tests carried out is guaranteed. Currently only 1,250 tests are conducted each year in the English game. In contrast, in Italy two players from each team are tested after each league game.
The FA's moves come as it has emerged that two footballers in England have tested positive for cocaine and ecstasy. Neither has been identified but it is understood that one is with a Premiership club.
Meanwhile, there is a growing belief that Ferdinand will be suspended from playing for either United or England - the first player to be punished in this way - for failing to attend his test.
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England charged as stars escape after Turkey spat
Daniel Taylor
Tuesday October 28, 2003
The Guardian
England's footballers have been spared disciplinary action after Uefa decided against punishing individuals for the clashes between rival players at half-time of the Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey. David Beckham, Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey, in particular, were among the England stars who might have found themselves in the dock, only for Uefa to announce last night that the video evidence was inconclusive.
Instead Uefa has charged both the English and Turkish football authorities with the improper conduct of their players after concluding, to widespread surprise, there was "no evidence" to indict Heskey or any of his team-mates or, for that matter, Alpay Ozalan and Hasan Sas, the most provocative Turkey players.
It is the first time the Football Association has faced such a charge but there was an unmistakeable feeling that England's players have got off lightly. A fine is expected when Uefa's disciplinary committee meets in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday, but it is not likely to be big enough to have any serious impact on an organisation that has enough financial worries already.
Heskey, perhaps more than anybody, has cause to be grateful to Uefa's apparent leniency. Television pictures show the Liverpool forward reacting with uncharacteristic temper after Sas apparently spat at Cole. Heskey can be seen lunging at the Turkish substitute through a mêlée of players, security guards and other officials in the bowels of Fenerbahce's stadium. But the FA does not intend to take any action itself, whatever the punishment on Thursday.
Uefa's disciplinary officials say they cannot be certain that Heskey threw a punch but, to put it into context, there seemed to be more aggression by him than by many of the Manchester United and Arsenal players charged with a multitude of offences, under the FA's umbrella, after the Old Trafford match last month.
Turkish TV also showed John Terry, Sol Campbell and David James were involved in the mêlée and, off camera, Beckham and Wayne Rooney were reputedly involved in an altercation with opponents, notably Alpay, in the tunnel.
Alpay can consider himself extremely fortunate not to face any offence, having apparently instigated the trouble by jabbing his finger into Beckham's cheek as they left the pitch at half-time. Beckham chased him into the tunnel and that is where the fighting began.
Alternatively there is a case that the Turkish centre-half, whose contract at Aston Villa was terminated last week, has been punished enough already, having effectively been driven out of England in the fall-out of the match.
Uefa explained last night that, to bring charges against individuals, it was imperative to have a watertight case and the TV pictures and witness statements did not provide one. The referee Pierluigi Collina, who could have shown red cards to several players regardless of the trouble off the pitch, submitted a detailed account but did not cite anyone for violent behaviour.
"There was no evidence against any single player that would enable a charge of violent conduct to be brought," said Mike Lee, Uefa's director of communications.
The FA said it would not make any detailed comment until after Thursday's hearing.
Uefa confirmed that the FA, if found guilty, should expect "some sort of a fine," though Turkey's federation will probably have to pay a heavier sum.
The Turks also face an offence of failing to control their fans, specifically because of flares being lit and missiles thrown on to the pitch. Beckham is understood to have handed Collina a small stone when he went to take a corner.
It is the seventh time in five years that Turkey have been in trouble with the authorities, more than any other nation under Uefa's remit.
Daniel Taylor
Tuesday October 28, 2003
The Guardian
England's footballers have been spared disciplinary action after Uefa decided against punishing individuals for the clashes between rival players at half-time of the Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey. David Beckham, Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey, in particular, were among the England stars who might have found themselves in the dock, only for Uefa to announce last night that the video evidence was inconclusive.
Instead Uefa has charged both the English and Turkish football authorities with the improper conduct of their players after concluding, to widespread surprise, there was "no evidence" to indict Heskey or any of his team-mates or, for that matter, Alpay Ozalan and Hasan Sas, the most provocative Turkey players.
It is the first time the Football Association has faced such a charge but there was an unmistakeable feeling that England's players have got off lightly. A fine is expected when Uefa's disciplinary committee meets in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday, but it is not likely to be big enough to have any serious impact on an organisation that has enough financial worries already.
Heskey, perhaps more than anybody, has cause to be grateful to Uefa's apparent leniency. Television pictures show the Liverpool forward reacting with uncharacteristic temper after Sas apparently spat at Cole. Heskey can be seen lunging at the Turkish substitute through a mêlée of players, security guards and other officials in the bowels of Fenerbahce's stadium. But the FA does not intend to take any action itself, whatever the punishment on Thursday.
Uefa's disciplinary officials say they cannot be certain that Heskey threw a punch but, to put it into context, there seemed to be more aggression by him than by many of the Manchester United and Arsenal players charged with a multitude of offences, under the FA's umbrella, after the Old Trafford match last month.
Turkish TV also showed John Terry, Sol Campbell and David James were involved in the mêlée and, off camera, Beckham and Wayne Rooney were reputedly involved in an altercation with opponents, notably Alpay, in the tunnel.
Alpay can consider himself extremely fortunate not to face any offence, having apparently instigated the trouble by jabbing his finger into Beckham's cheek as they left the pitch at half-time. Beckham chased him into the tunnel and that is where the fighting began.
Alternatively there is a case that the Turkish centre-half, whose contract at Aston Villa was terminated last week, has been punished enough already, having effectively been driven out of England in the fall-out of the match.
Uefa explained last night that, to bring charges against individuals, it was imperative to have a watertight case and the TV pictures and witness statements did not provide one. The referee Pierluigi Collina, who could have shown red cards to several players regardless of the trouble off the pitch, submitted a detailed account but did not cite anyone for violent behaviour.
"There was no evidence against any single player that would enable a charge of violent conduct to be brought," said Mike Lee, Uefa's director of communications.
The FA said it would not make any detailed comment until after Thursday's hearing.
Uefa confirmed that the FA, if found guilty, should expect "some sort of a fine," though Turkey's federation will probably have to pay a heavier sum.
The Turks also face an offence of failing to control their fans, specifically because of flares being lit and missiles thrown on to the pitch. Beckham is understood to have handed Collina a small stone when he went to take a corner.
It is the seventh time in five years that Turkey have been in trouble with the authorities, more than any other nation under Uefa's remit.
Premiership top 3 are moving into a cosy little group all their own... it's almost like a stage on the Tour de France, with a breakaway group and the peloton tracking behind it...
I think it's "peloton" anyway, but it always fazes me since it means "fearless" in Finnish.
I think it's "peloton" anyway, but it always fazes me since it means "fearless" in Finnish.
"Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available" (Benford's Law of Controversy)
I thought this one was just as good. More grist to the overpaid, oversexed, pea-brained, riding-for-a-fall mood of the moment about the beautiful game. Nice to see Macca was being a good boy, though. Anyone think that bloke in Teachers is a dead ringer for him?
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_p ... ews2.shtml
I think the Gooners will win it. Was again rather unimpressed by United yesterday. They struggled to dominate the match, and weren't worth a 3-goal margin. Lovely bit of play by Keane, though. If Pool dispose of Fulham today, as I think they might, they could still right their ship.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_p ... ews2.shtml
I think the Gooners will win it. Was again rather unimpressed by United yesterday. They struggled to dominate the match, and weren't worth a 3-goal margin. Lovely bit of play by Keane, though. If Pool dispose of Fulham today, as I think they might, they could still right their ship.
"Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available" (Benford's Law of Controversy)
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Nice one RobbieWLM wrote:I thought this one was just as good. More grist to the overpaid, oversexed, pea-brained, riding-for-a-fall mood of the moment about the beautiful game. Nice to see Macca was being a good boy, though. Anyone think that bloke in Teachers is a dead ringer for him?
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_p ... ews2.shtml
That gay guy you mean? Yeah he's even got the accent too.I've got to back United, but my head tells me that Chelsea or Arsenal are more than capable of winning it. I think its another UEFA spot for Liverpool though. Houllier will be replaced soon I'm sure!WLM wrote:I think the Gooners will win it. Was again rather unimpressed by United yesterday. They struggled to dominate the match, and weren't worth a 3-goal margin. Lovely bit of play by Keane, though. If Pool dispose of Fulham today, as I think they might, they could still right their ship.
Back in the thread....
I didnt get to comment about Good ole Fulham beating the MU what a result, did you notice on the bbc the following week they were saying if there was a crisis there???? F$¤k me one lost game.
Definitly going to be the Arse, Chelski or MU with Liverpool still under achieving and Newcastle there or there abouts, with Charlton going a close 5th. Ill put my neck out here and say we will get uefa football next season.....
More interesting how the other tams will finish, ie Birmingham, Soton, Man City. T%hey have started well but lets see if they can maintain the good run.
I didnt get to comment about Good ole Fulham beating the MU what a result, did you notice on the bbc the following week they were saying if there was a crisis there???? F$¤k me one lost game.
Definitly going to be the Arse, Chelski or MU with Liverpool still under achieving and Newcastle there or there abouts, with Charlton going a close 5th. Ill put my neck out here and say we will get uefa football next season.....
More interesting how the other tams will finish, ie Birmingham, Soton, Man City. T%hey have started well but lets see if they can maintain the good run.
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I know best start to the season in years, and we've got a crisis (like last season I guess around this timesimon wrote:Back in the thread....
I didnt get to comment about Good ole Fulham beating the MU what a result, did you notice on the bbc the following week they were saying if there was a crisis there???? F$¤k me one lost game.
). Chelsea and Arsenal are still more than capable of bottling it when the pressures on: