Pim Verbeek’s Australia have made it through to their toughest qualifying campaign since joining the Asian confederation – and with a match to spare at that. But a flattering points total wasn’t enough to paper over the cracks of some suspect selections by the new national coach.
It’s perhaps not so much Verbeek’s first Qq Poker Online choice side which is suspect. When the canny Dutchman has Australia’s full armoury at his disposal you would tip the Socceroos to be among the World Cup qualifying places at the end of a marathon AFC campaign.
It’s more the ongoing and lingering doubts over the identity of the country’s best backup XI.
Mind you, Verbeek’s defensive tactics have taken a bit of a bashing too in Australia (he tended to use a pair of holding midfielders in the away games against Iraq and Qatar with just a lone striker upfront), a ploy which stifled any creativity fostered from Harry Kewell’s busy performances.
But considering the Socceroos booked their passage into the final 10 with a 3-1 win in Doha – albeit from a Brett Emerton brace from right wing-back – few are bothering to overly quibble.…
Pim Verbeek’s Australia have made it through to their toughest qualifying campaign since joining the Asian confederation – and with a match to spare at that. But a flattering points total wasn’t enough to paper over the cracks of some suspect selections by the new national coach.
It’s perhaps not so much Verbeek’s first Qq Poker Online choice side which is suspect. When the canny Dutchman has Australia’s full armoury at his disposal you would tip the Socceroos to be among the World Cup qualifying places at the end of a marathon AFC campaign.
It’s more the ongoing and lingering doubts over the identity of the country’s best backup XI.
Mind you, Verbeek’s defensive tactics have taken a bit of a bashing too in Australia (he tended to use a pair of holding midfielders in the away games against Iraq and Qatar with just a lone striker upfront), a ploy which stifled any creativity fostered from Harry Kewell’s busy performances.
But considering the Socceroos booked their passage into the final 10 with a 3-1 win in Doha – albeit from a Brett Emerton brace from right wing-back – few are bothering to overly quibble.…
A new season kicks off this weekend and see’s the return of Walker’s Word. Another 10 months of non-stop top flight football action begins on Saturday with both the opening and closing matches ripe for picking a couple of shock results at great odds writes David Walker.
Saturday 19 August
Sheffield United vs Liverpool
Sheffield United make their Premiership return after a 12 year absence at lunch time, to kick off another 10 months of top flight action. The bookmakers are predicting a cakewalk for visiting Liverpool, but Blades boss Neil Warnock will have other ideas. During the 2002/03 Carling Cup, United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Bramall Lane, drew 0-0 at home in 1993/94 and beat the Reds 1-0 the previous year in the Premiership’s debut season. Liverpool may have one eye on their Champions League tie against Maccabi Haifa Bandarqq three days later which still hangs in the balance at 2-1 in the Reds favour.
Walker’s Word: A “shock” draw to go against the bookmakers @ 12/5 (Coral)
…
The J. League gears up for a five week recess following this weekend’s round of action, with plenty at stake for clubs at both ends of the table.
Consadole Sapporo kick off the weekend against Nagoya Grampus, and the two sides could hardly be experiencing more contrasting fortunes. Sapporo remain second-from-bottom despite their most recent 2-1 win away at Omiya Ardija. Second placed Nagoya were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Vissel Kobe in their most recent clash, with both of those matches taking place in atrocious conditions as wet weather continues to plague the league.
There’s a high profile clash at Saitama Qq Online Stadium as Urawa Reds host Gamba Osaka, and the Reds can thank an errant linesman’s flag for their 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale at a packed Todoroki Stadium last weekend. Edmilson had opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Urawa, however Kawasaki looked to have equalised through Hiroyuki Taniguchi – only for his effort to be chalked off due to an offside flag, despite the fact that Urawa midfielder Nobuhisa Yamada appeared to be playing Taniguchi onside.
Kyoto Sanga FC have dropped into the relegation zone following …
Champions of EuropeTitle: Champions of Europe
Subtitle: The Road to Moscow
ISBN: 978-1-84547-213-9
Price: £12.99
Publisher: At Heart Ltd
Publication date: July 2008
Author: Stuart Mathieson (MUFC correspondent for the Manchester Evening News)
Foreword: Sir Bobby Charlton
Specifications:
PB, 144 (TBC) pages
Size: 246 x 189 mm
Full colour throughout.
Pre-order: 24hr freephone 0808 180 2008, or www.atheart.co.uk/manu
Description:
Celebrate United’s double triumph with this fantastic new book chronicling one of the Reds’ most amazing seasons. Packed with over 150 full-colour photos, some of Judi Poker Uang Asli which are previously unseen, this indispensible guide follows United at every step of their sensational journey. Relive glorious victories over Lyon and Dynamo Kiev. Recall heart-stopping matches against Roma and Barcelona as Fergie’s boys battled for glory. Who could forget the night a nation held its breath as the team finally triumphed at the Luzhniki Stadium!
Each page of Champions of Europe: The Road to Moscow is packed with match reports, pitch-side accounts, interviews and a collection of incredible full-colour team and action shots of United’s best moments in this most memorable of seasons.
Publicity:
-Pre- and post-publication within the Manchester Evening News and regional and national …
When infielder Masahiko Morino popped up a sacrifice fly to edge Chunichi Dragons past Yokohama Baystars and into first place in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League overnight, he ensured Nagoya’s two major sporting teams currently top their respective leagues.
The Dragons last won the Japan Series in 2007, in a year in which their footballing counterparts struggled to make an impact – ultimately limping into a miserable eleventh-placed finish in the J. League.
Much has changed since then, with Nagoya Grampus dropping the “Eight” from their name and appointing legendary former midfielder Dragan Stojkovic as coach in January 2008. His team has been on an upward trajectory ever since, and Nagoya residents are now dreaming of an unlikely double for their baseball and football stars.
The J. League resumes this weekend with Grampus Togel Singapore facing an uncomfortable trip north to the rugged, rural hills of Yamagata, and Stojkovic will be desperate to see his side add to the 14 victories they’ve claimed from 21 league games played so far.
But despite their lofty position in the table, it’s difficult to envisage Nagoya Grampus as the best team in Japan. They may have won …
Statistics are normally my trusted ally, but even close friends can occasionally fall out. Research claims to prove that men are over 50% more likely to be involved in a road accident than women, but that’s probably because they’ve all been run over by dippy bints.
Only last weekend, the wife’s vertiginous Dominoqq nature led to a particularly bad smash. Betty was seriously shaken up, but luckily, a Scientologist was quickly on the scene.
The incident would never have occurred if we lived in Saudi Arabia, as women are forbidden from driving by law. They must really respect their women to go to such lengths to keep them safe.
The Saudi ladies have many other social advantages. When Manchester United played their controversial testimonial in Riyadh, the women were all banned from the stadium; presumably to protect them from the shock of viewing Rooney and Tevez. I can’t take my eyes off the 7/1 for a Tottenham win over a jetlagged United side.
While the Saudi women lead a life of luxury, the men are treated incredibly shabbily. Islamic law allows the males to marry up to four wives: so you can understand why …
Aside from being a Manchester United fan, I am an avid fan of Real Madrid too. I have always wanted to write about Barcelona from my point of view, of a Madridista. The duel between the two has been rather fascinating, especially over the past 4-5 seasons, the clashes have assumed a bigger proportion than ever before.
I was really elated when Real won La Liga twice in a row from 2006-2008. Barcelona was in a state of decline and Real was chugging along ok. I say just ‘ok’ as they failed to make it past the last 16 of the champions league(where they have been chasing la decimal – i.e. the 10th title) even as La Liga was within their grasp.
Lionel Messi hadn’t yet begun to weave his magic at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola was not in the picture and the duo of Deco and Ronaldinho were past their best. Real had the likes of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Raul with them.
The summer of 2008 was to prove critical. Pep came, out went Deco and Ronaldinho. Samuel Eto`o was put up front with Messi and Thierry Henry and the club’s playing …
Animation at the Online Casino
Two new online slots games have been introduced this month at the All Slots Casino.; Atomic 8’s and Great Griffin. Both of these online slots games are colorful and full of excitement and action where they center more on the interaction of the player and offer some very special features together with great animation, color and modes of play. At All Slots Casino players can receive double loyalty points for playing these two online slots for the first couple of days after their launch.
Atomic 8’s Online Slots
Atomic 8’s is a five reel nine payline online slots game that presents a screen filled with colorful traditional symbols. Players will be pleased to see traditional symbols that include bells and cherries and bars, together with red, silver and blue 8 symbols which is the namesake of the game. This online casino game offers a unique Power Spins feature which is optional. If players choose the Power Spins feature they can add three times their initial bet but also benefit from winning combinations that are both left to right and right to left. The Atomic 8 logo is wild and can take …