Football fans’ willingness to show their dedication comes in all shapes and sizes. One such way is to splay their dedication over their body in the form of a tattoo. I can understand why somebody might choose to tattoo their footballing allegiance onto their body. Whilst women come and go, a football team is for life. It’s the manly man’s equivalent of getting “I love mom’ yet a tattoo is a big commitment, so it’s important to get it right. As you can imagine, this process isn’t always a success.
Below are the top 10 Liverpool tattoo’s to be found on the net – the good, the bad and the plain ugly – click on image below to unveil gallery:
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Have you got a better Liverpool tattoo? Football FanCast would like to invite the readers to submit their own entry via our Facebook Page. The winning entries will go forward to our grand competition to find the best tattoo in the Premier League.
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Juventus’ Claudio Marchisio said his side are aiming for nine points in the last three Serie A games to ensure they claim a Champions League place.The Bianconeri are seventh in the Italian top flight and four points from fourth-placed Lazio, who have lost their past two league encounters, including a 1-0 defeat to Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on Monday.
Juve midfielder Marchisio said nothing short of perfection in their final 270 minutes on the pitch this season was to be expected if the club wanted to participate in European football’s premier competition – starting with Monday’s clash with 12th-placed Chievo in Turin.
“As regards to our position in the league, if we manage to achieve the same number of points as the teams ahead of us (Lazio, Udinese and Roma), we will finish ahead of them thanks to the head-to-head results,” Marchisio said.
“In any case, the most important thing is that (on Monday) the team put in a good performance until the end of the match and achieved an important win (against Lazio). We worked very hard but managed to gain three important points.”
“We should work in these last three weeks for these last three matches in order to gain nine points and see what will happen to the other teams in the championship.”
Simone Pepe scored an 88th-minute winner at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday to keep alive Juventus’ hopes of Champions League football next term, and Marchisio – who missed the clash – said his replacement handled the pressure well.
“Well I’m happy for him, since he works very hard. We both play in that role and know what it means to defend and counter-attack. It isn’t simple. He has made sacrifices during the match and he was ready for the most important phase of the match,” Marchisio said.
There was once a time when Michael Carrick was a permanent fixture in the Manchester United team.
Not so any more.
The former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder made only his second competitive appearance this season against Valencia and was largely disappointing on his return from an Achilles injury.
Carrick has been hampered by a lack of form which had its beginnings towards the end of last season. Granted, the Valencia game was his first game back from injury but his performance will have done little to shake off the cobwebs of last season.
The problem for Carrick is that he has set himself such high standards and to perform to anything less than that is considered a failure.
Since joining from Tottenham in 2006, Carrick has been an integral part of United’s success. His first season at United was a revelation with Carrick bossing the midfield with his positional intelligence and excellent range of passing. He was inspirational in the Champions League against Roma where he put in a performance of real class, scoring two goals as United romped to a 7-1 victory.
In his first three seasons at the club, Carrick helped United to three successive Premier League crowns as well as a Champions League success in 2007.
Carrick’s strengths have been well-documented. He provides an excellent shield to the back four and does an unfussy job of intercepting and breaking up opposition play while passing the ball with accuracy and efficiency.
Despite all of his talents, he has a tendency to underperform in the big games. He saw the Champions League final against Barcelona pass him by as United’s midfield were overwhelmed by the Catalan’s mesmeric display of passing.
Since that night in Rome, Carrick has looked a shadow of his former self. He had a highly indifferent season last season when compared to his previous campaigns and fell way down the pecking-order at United.
In Carrick’s absence this season, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher have featured regularly for Manchester United in the centre of midfield.
With the injuries that have been plaguing United’s midfield, Sir Alex Ferguson has chosen more often than not to play 4-4-2 this season in the Premier League which is a system that Carrick is not ideally suited to.
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Many teams who play Manchester United like to play 4-5-1 and crowd the midfield which doesn’t allow the United midfielders much time on the ball. This is not too much of a problem with a player like Scholes in the team who is able to pick out a killer pass in an instant.
A player like Carrick however thrives when he has time on the ball. Therefore, he is far better suited to playing in a 4-5-1 system where the extra midfielder will give Carrick more time to pick his pass.
As seen by his first two seasons at the club, Carrick is a player who thrives on confidence. He would benefit from an extended run in the team to rediscover some of the belief that made him such an important player for United.
He has shown that he can be a useful player. He just needs to believe it.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that his Manchester United team are aware of the physical challenge posed by Stoke, and are ready to combat Tony Pulis’ men on Tuesday at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils suffered a setback at the weekend by being eliminated from the FA Cup by Liverpool, and are currently three points behind Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.
Although the Scottish coach knows his team are in for a tough game against The Potters, he is looking forward to it.
“You know what Tony Pulis’ team will be like, they are the same all the time,” Ferguson told The Guardian.
“They will be 100% committed and they always get stuck in. You have to cope with that. To be honest, I always enjoy it to.
“It was like when we used to play Wimbledon. No one used to look forward to playing against them but my team started to because it was a physical challenge and in terms of taking the ball and playing football.
“Stoke are a different team altogether but they still have the same qualities of never giving in, so it is always a good challenge for us,” he stated.
United have a critical month, in which they take on Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, and Ferguson knows that his team must be at their best to retain their Premier League crown.
“It is a big programme. From the middle of January until we go to Tottenham, it looked quite a daunting programme.
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“But when you go back years ago in our title campaigns, we have always had periods of must win-games in a row and that is what we have here. It is important to keep on City’s coat-tails and hopefully come the important part of the season, we still are,” he concluded.
It’s a tense time of the season as teams battle for promotion, European qualification, trophies and leagues and, of course, against relegation. Some teams might be losing their cool at this most crucial stage, Arsenal notwithstanding, and others might maintain the resolve required to succeed, an attitude most recently expressed at Old Trafford and the Nou Camp.
But while managers and fans gnaw their fingernails down to the skin, I thought it a good idea to put these pressures in to perspective. A growing number of footballers have shown remarkable social responsibility over the past few years by giving back to the society which developed their young talents. Most African stars, who came from humble and difficult beginnings, seek to reward their hometown communities, and often countries, from the vast earnings they have received playing in Europe and here is a list of the top ten African footballing philanthropists…
Didier Drogba:
The Ivorian striker has perhaps given more back to his country than any other footballer and is the personification of peace in his west African country. Drogba donates almost all of his earnings from endorsement to charity and recently gave away over £4 million he received from Pepsi. The money will be used to build a hospital and an orphanage in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan and has used his influence to stop five years of continuous conflict in the Ivory Coast
Michael Essien:
The midfielder is renowned for his uncompromising style on the pitch but he has a soft spot for the less fortunate than him. He set up the Michael Essien Foundation to raise funds to give the underprivileged of his home town in Ghana access to basic amenities like healthcare equipment, libraries, public toilets and clean drinking water and is also involved in the work of several other charities.
John Utaka:
The Super Eagles and former Portsmouth forward launched the John Utaka Foundation to develop Nigerian youths at grassroots level. He provides scholarships with the help of the Central Bank of Nigeria and stated at the opening of his foundation: “I believe that giving back to the society is very essential because I was in the system before I travelled abroad where I started playing my professional football.”
Nwankwo Kanu:
As one of the most decorated African footballers, the Nigerian icon is arguably almost as famous for his philanthropic work in his home continent as he is for his goal-scoring in Europe. The Kanu Heart Foundation was established following the former Arsenal striker’s near-death experience due to a heart defect. He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and has arranged for over one thousand children to travel abroad for life-saving surgery.
Aaron Mokoena:
The South African captain is known for his humanitarian qualities above his football skills, and has done a great deal for various charities and foundations, as well as setting up his own foundation in his home country, South Africa. He is also one of the major personalities involved with the ‘1Goal’ initiative, and is often seen giving his time to those less fortunate.
Continued on Page TWO
Samuel Eto’o:
The Cameroonian is involved with a number of causes. The Inter striker set up several scholarship programs, donated ambulances and has been involved with the building of hospitals and setting up football academies. Eto’o is regularly involved in charity games to aid the poor in Africa.
Mohamed Aboutrika:
The Egyptian striker has participated in several charities and humanitarian work. He joined UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors plus 40 international football stars in 2005 for a ‘Match Against Poverty’ in Germany to raise funds. He volunteered to appear in a public service announcement for the World Food Program in which he drew attention to the tragic fact that 25,000 people die from hunger every day, 18,000 of them children and is also a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger.
John Paintsil:
The Fulham full-back recently set up the Paintsil Peace Kids Project with the intention of encouraging children to better themselves. The Foundation promotes respectful values and guides young children towards the path of success. It holds regular football clinics to teach underprivileged children these principles and the defender recently donated £20,000 to his hometown, Berekum.
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Stephen Appiah:
The Ghana midfielder set up StepApp, a clothing range designed by Appiah, a few years ago. All proceeds are channeled into his StepApp Foundation, a charity that works towards providing health insurance and medical facilities in deprived areas of Ghana. He is also active with the UN children’s fund to promote education in Africa.
Joseph Yobo:
The Everton defender has, through his Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation, granted more than 300 educational scholarships to the poor, ranging from primary school right up to university. He also assisted the establishment of a football academy in the country’s Ogoni region.
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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!
The Internet has helped to make a whole host of activities much simpler to complete. You don’t even have to leave your own house to do the weekly shop or buy yourself the latest England shirt and you don’t have to brave the miserable British weather to have a little flutter either. Thanks to online casinos you can enjoy having a flutter from the comfort of your own home and experience the joys of a real casino on your computer.
This is ideal for the Wayne Rooney’s and Didier Drogba’s of this world who don’t have much time to spare due to their intensive training regimes, and it means that you won’t have to miss the big match in order to enjoy what casinos have to offer.
Online casinos really are as close as you can get to the real thing. On the Sky Vegas website you’ll find all the games you’d expect to come across at your local casino including all of your favourites. This makes it the perfect place to boost your morale after your team has just suffered a disappointing defeat in the league, or if you’re on a high because your team has just stormed to victory then a visit to an online casino will help to keep you in good spirits.
On the Internet you can decide to play table games or slot games and provide entertainment for yourself long into the evening. If you’ve just got half an hour to spare before heading out to watch a game of footy, then you can keep yourself entertained and if luck is on your side you can take some confidence into the big match; something all die-hard football fans need. The problem you might find is that you cannot just limit yourself to just a couple of games, but make sure you don’t miss the big match; maybe you could watch it on TV instead?
The thrills of a casino are one of the few things that can come close to the excitement offered by football matches and seeing your club’s hero score the winning goal. Nothing can beat that winning feeling, and as fans of football teams that regularly find their club fighting off relegation, winning feels even better when you’ve been on a losing streak. So what casino games will you choose for your fix of excitement at the online casino?
One of the most popular online games is roulette. This French casino game has had a big influence on these shores, just like French football has had on the Premier League, which has much to do with long-term Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. French for ‘little wheel’, roulette is a very simple game and it’s this simplicity that helps to make it so popular.
Simply choose red or black, odd or even, or a specific number, and watch in anticipation as the wheel is spun and the ball travels around the wheel until it comes to rest in a numbered pocket. Where the ball will land up is as unpredictable as a Peter Crouch shot and this ensures that your eyes will be glued to the wheel until the winning number is called.
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There are plenty of card games you can play online as well, with blackjack being one of the easiest to pick up. All you have to do is beat the dealer, which is harder than it sounds, and hope that you hit 21 with your cards. If you’re not feeling overly confident you can even play low stakes blackjack so that if you’re not lucky you won’t be rueing that for too long.
Online casinos have helped to make it much more convenient to play your favourite games and you can now have a flutter from your own home with just a couple of clicks of your mouse. On the Sky Vegas website there is a wide selection of casino games to choose from and once you’ve registered online you’re ready to try your luck and have a flutter just like you would at your local casino.
West Brom have completed the signing of Dundee United midfielder Scott Allan, with the youngster moving to the Premier League side for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old passed a medical and will now join The Baggies’ first team squad with immediate effect, and be eligible for his debut against Norwich on Saturday.
Allan’s contract at Tannadice was expiring, and with the starlet set to become a free agent in the summer, the Scottish side decided to cash in on their young talent.
Old Firm duo Rangers and Celtic were also thought to be interested in signing Allan, but the news of his departure to Roy Hodgson’s outfit was confirmed by United manager Peter Houston.
“I’d like to wish Scott all the best for his future career, it is a fantastic opportunity for him to go down to the English Premier League,” the coach told the side’s official website.
“The completion of the deal at this time was beneficial for both the player and the club.”
By Gareth McKnight
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Juan Carlos Cubeiro, author of the book ‘Mourinho versus Guardiola’, believes Wednesday’s ‘El Clasico’ Copa del Rey final is a dead heat.Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid meet for the second time in four days to contest the final of the cup, following their 1-1 stalemate in La Liga on Saturday.
That draw left Barcelona on the verge of winning the Spanish top-flight, but manager Pep Guardiola still has Wednesday’s clash at the Mestalla and Barca’s upcoming Champions League semi-final tie against Jose Mourinho’s Real to contend with.
Anticipation for the El Clasico duels is reaching fever pitch in Spain, and Cubeiro insists the battle between the two charismatic managers is as intriguing as whatever happens on the pitch.
“Both use a very scientific method,” Cubeiro said.
“Starting with Mourinho, he says that he combines university and sport. His mother is a university professor and his father was a famous Portuguese soccer player.”
“So what he creates in his training sessions is what will take place on the pitch during 90 minutes, with the same variations of the match.”
“In the case of Guardiola, he has been trying to dampen the euphoria. It’s more of a state of mind.”
“His players know perfectly how to play together, the famous ‘tiki taka’, the pass and possession of the ball, therefore what he is teaching is to maintain their style and their hunger for victory.”
Mourinho moved to the Bernabeu at the conclusion of last season, having led Italian club Inter Milan to a prestigious treble.
He may not win any silverware this year as his side come up against Barca in the league, the Copa del Rey final and in Europe, but Cubeiro expects Los Blancos to only get better as their continue their tutelage under the Portuguese manager.
“Mourinho will be more successful in his second season. Everyone recognises that,” he said.
“He is building a team and creating a playing style at Real Madrid that they did not have before, very much centred on Cristiano Ronaldo.”
“A Guardiola that may be a bit more tired in 2011/12 and a Mourinho who knows the club better suggests the best is yet to come.”
“This season has already been spectacular but next we will see perhaps the two best teams in history.”
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Sean Davis is facing at least another two months out of action after suffering a major setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
The 30-year-old former Spurs and Fulham schemer joined the Trotters from Portsmouth in the summer of 2009, but has been restricted to just four appearances for the club after undergoing cartilage surgery last September.
He had returned to action with the reserves in recent times, but suffering renewed problems with his knee.
Manager Owen Coyle told the Bolton News:"Sean played for the reserves the other week against Manchester City and he felt a little twinge in his knee.
"We've done a scan and he has been told to rest completely for six to eight weeks.
"It's disappointing for Sean and the football club because he has worked ever so hard to get himself in decent shape, but we have to make sure that we do the right thing.
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The issue of third party ownership is threatening to rear its ugly head again – insert sigh here- with clubs in England and France making increasing noise about the fact they are not allowed to undertake in such shared ownership of players (think back to the Tevez / Mascherano debacle and you can see why) and feel this hampers them in comparison to other European clubs who use such deals when ‘complying’ with the FFP regulations.
The sad thing is, the FA actually have a point, with multiple clubs in Spain and South America to name but a couple using third party deals in order to keep their costs when buying players down, and attempt to come under the £38 million target from 2013-2014.
It seems baffling that the FFPR allows such ownership yet will point blank refuse to entertain the notion of “transparent owner equity investment” ie Abramovich at Chelsea or the Sheik at City, and the Premier League, along with the French FA feel that not only is this contradictory, but places them at a huge disadvantage and are determined to get UEFA to look more closely at this issue.
Uefa are willing to ban clubs who do not comply with the FFPR, and exclude them from their competitions, with Chelsea and City being especially vulnerable here, with third party ownership being outlawed in the EPL due to it compromising the ‘integrity of the competition’ with this placing EPL clubs at a significant disadvantage in comparison to their counterparts in Europe who enjoy this benefit with Hertha Berlin raising €44m from selling the economic rights of players to a third‑party ownership fund since 2009 – something Premier League clubs are simply not allowed to do.
Whether Uefa would actually take action over these concerns remains to be seen, as although they have ‘promised’ to look into it – a Uefa promise is worth about as much as one from Carlos Tevez – and even now they will have you believe that the issue is much less prominent than the Premier League would claim it to be.
The idea of allowing third party ownership rights in the Premier League is not what is being pushed for here, and the main issue of both the French and English is that they feel at a significant disadvantage when compared to Spanish, Portuguese and German clubs who can use the FFP rules and third party ownership to keep losses down and essentially be in a better position in the transfer market.
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If any kind of resolution can be reached the Premier League would be open to this, with even the idea of where revenue is raised from directly selling a stake in a player, this is then exempt from FFP calculations. Whether Uefa would be willing to entertain this notion however remains to be seen.