England vs USA, World Cup Group Stage 2010
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
You can play rough in BPL now
Now, BPL can play karate kicks all over and not get penalised.
The FA today confirmed there will be no disciplinary action against Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa following his high challenge on Yossi Benayoun on Sunday. An FA statement reads: "Bosingwa was involved in an incident with Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun during the Premier League match at Anfield on February 1.
"Referee Mike Riley has informed the FA that, while he did not see the incident himself, it was seen by his assistant Mo Matadar. No action was taken against Bosingwa by the officials.
"Under the FIFA Laws of the Game, the FA is prohibited from taking disciplinary action when incidents are seen at the time by the match officials."
The FA today confirmed there will be no disciplinary action against Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa following his high challenge on Yossi Benayoun on Sunday. An FA statement reads: "Bosingwa was involved in an incident with Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun during the Premier League match at Anfield on February 1.
"Referee Mike Riley has informed the FA that, while he did not see the incident himself, it was seen by his assistant Mo Matadar. No action was taken against Bosingwa by the officials.
"Under the FIFA Laws of the Game, the FA is prohibited from taking disciplinary action when incidents are seen at the time by the match officials."
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Winning Eleven Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (PSP) - League and World Tour
Borrowed a PSP from a colleague just especially to play Winning Eleven Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (PSP), also know as Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.
Finished playing BPL using Arsenal, the team I am supporting, with a grand total of 114 points, meaning 38 wins.
Scored 226 goals and conceded 26 goals for a goal difference of +200.
I thought I will just take a look at the World Tour to see how it looks like but it gave me a pleasant surprise. The stage is mission based with different scenarios against different countries and clubs in a world tour. The standard condition is that you have to win the match but with strings attached. You may have to win in a certain way or at least score goals in a certain manner, handicapped like all players booked, or injured, limited match time etc.
It is pretty fun and quite addictive. It may feels long but as the different scenarios have different time constraints, one stage can only be like 10-30 minutes of match time.
I tried to find all the stages available in World Tour but cannot find anything about it.
So I decided to list it here as I explore it. May even upload it to gamefaqs.
Total of 50 missions for World Tour. After finishing the World Tour, there is a part 2. Looks similar to part one but I am not playing it anymore. Also, besides getting more points to unlock more things in the game, you get to unlock the classic teams also. Seems to be a fixed classic team for each mission instead of a random country.
World Tour Stage
All conditions require you to win, kind of obvious right.
Asia Oceania Round
Mission 1 - Win comfortably
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - By 2 goals or more
Tip - NA
African Round
Mission 2 - Starting Players only
Scenario - From the second half, no substitution
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just score and win.
Mission 3 - Avoid the offside trap
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - N0 offside
Tip - No through balls, no crosses. This should keep you with no offsides.
Mission 4 - Last 15 minutes
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half
Objective - Victory
Tip - Err... Just score and win
North/Central American and Caribbean Round
Mission 5 - Score with a substitute
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal
Tip - Change 3 of your players to 3 subs before loading the game. Before the kick off, make the 3 substitutions and score with them
Mission 6 - All about Defence
Scenario - From the 2nd half, leading by 1
Objective - Clean Sheet
Tip - Just do not concede any goal will do. Attacking is the best defence, in my opinion.
Mission 7 - Add Variation to your Attack
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 2 scorers or more
Tip - After you score with a player, sub the player out and hence you will ensure when you score the second goal, it will be 2 scorers already
South American Round
Mission 8 - Individual Brilliance
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Goal from 30m dribble
Tip - Easy if you have good wingers. From either flanks, dribble the ball down to byline, do a U-turn and when you are 1/4 inside the penalty box, turn perpendicular and run across the penalty box. When you are almost in the middle, try to score a goal. If no defenders blocking, you can score a goal in the far post.
Mission 9 - Penalty Shootouts
Scenario - From penalties
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just score and win.
Mission 10 - Shoot on Sight
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half
Objective - Victory
Tip - Err... Just score and win
Mission 11 - Attack down the Wings
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score at least 2 goals from crosses
Tip - Have strikers with good headers and keep crossing.
Mission 12 - Watch Your Stamina
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half, Leading by 1, Stamina 20%
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 13 - Comeback
Scenario - From the second half, behind by 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game
European Round A
Mission 14 - Good Teamwork
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 60% possession or more
Tip - Once you win the match, play passing game with your back four.
Mission 15 - Manager's Orders
Scenario - From the beginning, COM coach mode
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game except that you cannot make any managerial decision.
Mission 16 - Overcome Player Deficit
Scenario - From the 2nd half, Red cards : 2
Objective - Victory
Tip - Only when the match starts then you will know who are out of the game. You can either retry so the important players are not out or you can make immediate substitutions to change the team.
Mission 17 - Adverse Player Condition
Scenario - From the beginning, all the players in bad condition
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
Mission 18 - Put Away Your Chances
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Less than 4 shots
Tip - Make your shots counts, do not try risky shots.
Mission 19 - Score From a Quick Attack
Scenario - From ET 2nd half 10 min
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
European Round B
Mission 20 - Get a Clean Sheet
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, do not concede goals.
Mission 21 - Shot Accuracy
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Victory, 70% of shots on target, 5 shots or more
Tip - Just play your normal game. Do not take too much risky shots.
Mission 22 - No key players
Scenario - From the beginning, no key players
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Make correct substitutions for unavailable players.
Mission 23 - Take Advantage of Limited Chances
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory, 40% possession or less
Tip - Quickly score a goal and pass possession back to opponent. Simply shoot for goal whenever you get possession as this will ensure your opponent gets the ball and have more possession.
Mission 24 - Score From Open play
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score at least 2 goals with an assist
Tip - Just play your normal game and do not go for solo.
Mission 25 - Injured players
Scenario - From the beginning, all the players slightly injured
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
European Round C
Mission 26 - Watch your Discipline
Scenario - From the 2nd half, behind by 1, Substitutions : 0 player, all players with a booking
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Watch your tackles to prevent a second booking.
Mission 27 - Dribble the GK
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Dribble and score.
Tip - Dribble round the goalkeeper and bring the ball to the net and do not shoot the ball. To achieve this, try scoring a goal, after the restart, rob the ball off a defender when they pass it back as you will have less defenders. Alternatively, you need to pass a through ball so you will be one-on-one with the goalkeeper and it is easier to dribble round and bring the ball in.
Mission 28 - Change the Game with a Substitution
Scenario - From 2nd half 30 min, substitution 1 player
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Either make immediate substitutions or change your first team and substitute in your first team players in.
Mission 29 - Accurate Passing
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 85% or more passing success
Tip - Just stroke the ball around your back 4 and wingers. Score a few goals first then play the passing game.
Mission 30 - Score a Hat-trick
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Keep passing the ball to the player which has already scored to help with hat-trick.
Mission 31 - Take Advantage of Limited Chances 2
Scenario - From the 2nd half, behind by 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game and win the match.
European Round D
Mission 32 - Win as a Team
Scenario - From the 2nd half
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal, at least 1 goal from a starting player.
Tip - Score a goal first then substitute the scoring player. Make all 3 substitutes to increase the chance. You can change your first team and then substitute them in later.
Mission 33 - Watch Your Stamina 2
Scenario - From the 2nd half, stamina 50%, Substitutions : 0 player
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, not much differences.
Mission 34 - Repel Opposition Attacks
Scenario - From 1st half 15 min, leading by 1
Objective - At least 10 opposition shots
Tip - Play defensive and let your opponent shoot. They may score as a result so score a few more goals against them to secure your victory.
Mission 35 - Score From Distance
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score from 25 m.
Tip - Have a good midfielder who can score from a distance like Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrad. Pass the ball to them and let them dribble straight to penalty box in the middle of the field. From outside the penalty box, behind the semi-circle, try a long range shot. This is a difficult mission to clear.
If you are not in the center, the goalkeeper is actually better placed to block your shot.
Mission 36 - Completely Dominate Opposition
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - By 3 goals or more, clean sheet, 3 fouls or less
Tip -Just play your normal game and do not concede any goals. Do not tackle unless necessary.
Mission 37 - Add Variation to your Attack 2
Scenario - From the second half
Objective - 3 scorers or more
Tip -After scoring with one player, substitute the player out.
Selection Round
Mission 38 - Score From Open play 2
Scenario - From 1st half 15 min
Objective - Score at least 3 goals with an assist
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 39 - Major Comeback
Scenario - From the second half, behind by 2
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 40 - Win a Tempestuous Encounter
Scenario - From the second half
Objective - Behind by 1, red cars : you - 3, opp -1
Tip - Note the dismissed players and make your substitution as per needed. Keep your defenders, you can always player a lone striker.
Mission 41 - Fairplay
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 1 foul or less.
Tip - Just play your normal game and do not tackle at all.
Mission 42 - Make a Difference as a Team Player
Scenario - From the beginning, cursor fixed
Objective - Victory
Tip - Keep changing the cursor. You can play as a single player or after passing the ball etc, go to menu and change the cursor to the next player holding the ball.
Classic Round
Mission 43 - Major Victory (Classic Argentina)
Scenario - From the beginning. All the players in great condition.
Objective - By 6 goals or more. 3 scorers or more
Tip - Just score as much as possible, to ensure 3 scorers, once a player score twice, substitute the player out.
Mission 44 - No Radar (Classic Brazil)
Scenario - From the beginning. Do not display the radar
Objective - Victory
Tip - If you reach here, you will probably be very familiar to how your players run around the field. Just play as per usual or you can solo a player all the way to victory.
Mission 45 - Adverse Player Condition 2 (Classic England)
Scenario - From 2nd half, 15 min. All players in bad condition
Objective - By 2 goals or mote
Tip - Did not notice much difference except they are running slower and more inaccurate. Just score and win.
Mission 46 - Overcome Player Deficit 2 (Classic France)
Scenario - From the 2nd half, Behind by 2, Red card : 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Red carded player is random as per before. Make adjustment before the half starts and keep scoring~!
Mission 47 - Score From a Set-piece (Classic Netherlands)
Scenario - From 1st half, 30 min
Objective - At least 2 goals, 1 goal from a CK/FK
Tip - Penalty Kick NOT included. FK is not easy to get so try to get a CK. You can either cross an aerial ball or do a short pass to a player and do a run into the penalty and box to score.
Mission 48 - Dominate in the Air (Classic Germany)
Scenario - From the beginning.
Objective - Score 3 goals with headers
Tip - This will be easy if you are good with crosses and scoring with headers. Try to use a 3 strikers formation if possible to draw the attention of the defenders. Your left and right strikers are preferred to be good with headers. Your CF will be just attracting defenders, depending on you play or crosses.
Mission 49 - Go for Goal as a Team (Classic Italy)
Scenario - From the beginning.
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal, Scores with a striker, Scores with a midfielder, Scores with a defender
Tip - Just try to score with striker and midfielder first. Once done, sub the scoring striker or midfielder. Once done, depending on how you score with your midfielder (esp winger), do the same with your defender (esp the half backs as they can double up as wingers most time.) Alternatively you can switch the role of a midfielder as a defender.
Final Round
Mission 50 - Team Effort
Scenario - From the beginning. All opponents in excellent condition
Objective - 50% shots on target, 50% possession or more, 80% or more passing success and 0 fouls
Tip - Watch your shots carefully as there are less chances to shoot. Do not even try to tackle, just nudge the players will do. Once you win, just play passing with your back line to achieve the passing and possession.
Finished playing BPL using Arsenal, the team I am supporting, with a grand total of 114 points, meaning 38 wins.
Scored 226 goals and conceded 26 goals for a goal difference of +200.
I thought I will just take a look at the World Tour to see how it looks like but it gave me a pleasant surprise. The stage is mission based with different scenarios against different countries and clubs in a world tour. The standard condition is that you have to win the match but with strings attached. You may have to win in a certain way or at least score goals in a certain manner, handicapped like all players booked, or injured, limited match time etc.
It is pretty fun and quite addictive. It may feels long but as the different scenarios have different time constraints, one stage can only be like 10-30 minutes of match time.
I tried to find all the stages available in World Tour but cannot find anything about it.
So I decided to list it here as I explore it. May even upload it to gamefaqs.
Total of 50 missions for World Tour. After finishing the World Tour, there is a part 2. Looks similar to part one but I am not playing it anymore. Also, besides getting more points to unlock more things in the game, you get to unlock the classic teams also. Seems to be a fixed classic team for each mission instead of a random country.
World Tour Stage
All conditions require you to win, kind of obvious right.
Asia Oceania Round
Mission 1 - Win comfortably
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - By 2 goals or more
Tip - NA
African Round
Mission 2 - Starting Players only
Scenario - From the second half, no substitution
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just score and win.
Mission 3 - Avoid the offside trap
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - N0 offside
Tip - No through balls, no crosses. This should keep you with no offsides.
Mission 4 - Last 15 minutes
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half
Objective - Victory
Tip - Err... Just score and win
North/Central American and Caribbean Round
Mission 5 - Score with a substitute
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal
Tip - Change 3 of your players to 3 subs before loading the game. Before the kick off, make the 3 substitutions and score with them
Mission 6 - All about Defence
Scenario - From the 2nd half, leading by 1
Objective - Clean Sheet
Tip - Just do not concede any goal will do. Attacking is the best defence, in my opinion.
Mission 7 - Add Variation to your Attack
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 2 scorers or more
Tip - After you score with a player, sub the player out and hence you will ensure when you score the second goal, it will be 2 scorers already
South American Round
Mission 8 - Individual Brilliance
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Goal from 30m dribble
Tip - Easy if you have good wingers. From either flanks, dribble the ball down to byline, do a U-turn and when you are 1/4 inside the penalty box, turn perpendicular and run across the penalty box. When you are almost in the middle, try to score a goal. If no defenders blocking, you can score a goal in the far post.
Mission 9 - Penalty Shootouts
Scenario - From penalties
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just score and win.
Mission 10 - Shoot on Sight
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half
Objective - Victory
Tip - Err... Just score and win
Mission 11 - Attack down the Wings
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score at least 2 goals from crosses
Tip - Have strikers with good headers and keep crossing.
Mission 12 - Watch Your Stamina
Scenario - From extra time 2nd half, Leading by 1, Stamina 20%
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 13 - Comeback
Scenario - From the second half, behind by 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game
European Round A
Mission 14 - Good Teamwork
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 60% possession or more
Tip - Once you win the match, play passing game with your back four.
Mission 15 - Manager's Orders
Scenario - From the beginning, COM coach mode
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game except that you cannot make any managerial decision.
Mission 16 - Overcome Player Deficit
Scenario - From the 2nd half, Red cards : 2
Objective - Victory
Tip - Only when the match starts then you will know who are out of the game. You can either retry so the important players are not out or you can make immediate substitutions to change the team.
Mission 17 - Adverse Player Condition
Scenario - From the beginning, all the players in bad condition
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
Mission 18 - Put Away Your Chances
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Less than 4 shots
Tip - Make your shots counts, do not try risky shots.
Mission 19 - Score From a Quick Attack
Scenario - From ET 2nd half 10 min
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
European Round B
Mission 20 - Get a Clean Sheet
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, do not concede goals.
Mission 21 - Shot Accuracy
Scenario - From extra time 1st half
Objective - Victory, 70% of shots on target, 5 shots or more
Tip - Just play your normal game. Do not take too much risky shots.
Mission 22 - No key players
Scenario - From the beginning, no key players
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Make correct substitutions for unavailable players.
Mission 23 - Take Advantage of Limited Chances
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory, 40% possession or less
Tip - Quickly score a goal and pass possession back to opponent. Simply shoot for goal whenever you get possession as this will ensure your opponent gets the ball and have more possession.
Mission 24 - Score From Open play
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score at least 2 goals with an assist
Tip - Just play your normal game and do not go for solo.
Mission 25 - Injured players
Scenario - From the beginning, all the players slightly injured
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, no differences.
European Round C
Mission 26 - Watch your Discipline
Scenario - From the 2nd half, behind by 1, Substitutions : 0 player, all players with a booking
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Watch your tackles to prevent a second booking.
Mission 27 - Dribble the GK
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Dribble and score.
Tip - Dribble round the goalkeeper and bring the ball to the net and do not shoot the ball. To achieve this, try scoring a goal, after the restart, rob the ball off a defender when they pass it back as you will have less defenders. Alternatively, you need to pass a through ball so you will be one-on-one with the goalkeeper and it is easier to dribble round and bring the ball in.
Mission 28 - Change the Game with a Substitution
Scenario - From 2nd half 30 min, substitution 1 player
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Either make immediate substitutions or change your first team and substitute in your first team players in.
Mission 29 - Accurate Passing
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 85% or more passing success
Tip - Just stroke the ball around your back 4 and wingers. Score a few goals first then play the passing game.
Mission 30 - Score a Hat-trick
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game. Keep passing the ball to the player which has already scored to help with hat-trick.
Mission 31 - Take Advantage of Limited Chances 2
Scenario - From the 2nd half, behind by 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game and win the match.
European Round D
Mission 32 - Win as a Team
Scenario - From the 2nd half
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal, at least 1 goal from a starting player.
Tip - Score a goal first then substitute the scoring player. Make all 3 substitutes to increase the chance. You can change your first team and then substitute them in later.
Mission 33 - Watch Your Stamina 2
Scenario - From the 2nd half, stamina 50%, Substitutions : 0 player
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game, not much differences.
Mission 34 - Repel Opposition Attacks
Scenario - From 1st half 15 min, leading by 1
Objective - At least 10 opposition shots
Tip - Play defensive and let your opponent shoot. They may score as a result so score a few more goals against them to secure your victory.
Mission 35 - Score From Distance
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - Score from 25 m.
Tip - Have a good midfielder who can score from a distance like Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrad. Pass the ball to them and let them dribble straight to penalty box in the middle of the field. From outside the penalty box, behind the semi-circle, try a long range shot. This is a difficult mission to clear.
If you are not in the center, the goalkeeper is actually better placed to block your shot.
Mission 36 - Completely Dominate Opposition
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - By 3 goals or more, clean sheet, 3 fouls or less
Tip -Just play your normal game and do not concede any goals. Do not tackle unless necessary.
Mission 37 - Add Variation to your Attack 2
Scenario - From the second half
Objective - 3 scorers or more
Tip -After scoring with one player, substitute the player out.
Selection Round
Mission 38 - Score From Open play 2
Scenario - From 1st half 15 min
Objective - Score at least 3 goals with an assist
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 39 - Major Comeback
Scenario - From the second half, behind by 2
Objective - Victory
Tip - Just play your normal game.
Mission 40 - Win a Tempestuous Encounter
Scenario - From the second half
Objective - Behind by 1, red cars : you - 3, opp -1
Tip - Note the dismissed players and make your substitution as per needed. Keep your defenders, you can always player a lone striker.
Mission 41 - Fairplay
Scenario - From the beginning
Objective - 1 foul or less.
Tip - Just play your normal game and do not tackle at all.
Mission 42 - Make a Difference as a Team Player
Scenario - From the beginning, cursor fixed
Objective - Victory
Tip - Keep changing the cursor. You can play as a single player or after passing the ball etc, go to menu and change the cursor to the next player holding the ball.
Classic Round
Mission 43 - Major Victory (Classic Argentina)
Scenario - From the beginning. All the players in great condition.
Objective - By 6 goals or more. 3 scorers or more
Tip - Just score as much as possible, to ensure 3 scorers, once a player score twice, substitute the player out.
Mission 44 - No Radar (Classic Brazil)
Scenario - From the beginning. Do not display the radar
Objective - Victory
Tip - If you reach here, you will probably be very familiar to how your players run around the field. Just play as per usual or you can solo a player all the way to victory.
Mission 45 - Adverse Player Condition 2 (Classic England)
Scenario - From 2nd half, 15 min. All players in bad condition
Objective - By 2 goals or mote
Tip - Did not notice much difference except they are running slower and more inaccurate. Just score and win.
Mission 46 - Overcome Player Deficit 2 (Classic France)
Scenario - From the 2nd half, Behind by 2, Red card : 1
Objective - Victory
Tip - Red carded player is random as per before. Make adjustment before the half starts and keep scoring~!
Mission 47 - Score From a Set-piece (Classic Netherlands)
Scenario - From 1st half, 30 min
Objective - At least 2 goals, 1 goal from a CK/FK
Tip - Penalty Kick NOT included. FK is not easy to get so try to get a CK. You can either cross an aerial ball or do a short pass to a player and do a run into the penalty and box to score.
Mission 48 - Dominate in the Air (Classic Germany)
Scenario - From the beginning.
Objective - Score 3 goals with headers
Tip - This will be easy if you are good with crosses and scoring with headers. Try to use a 3 strikers formation if possible to draw the attention of the defenders. Your left and right strikers are preferred to be good with headers. Your CF will be just attracting defenders, depending on you play or crosses.
Mission 49 - Go for Goal as a Team (Classic Italy)
Scenario - From the beginning.
Objective - One sub scores at least 1 goal, Scores with a striker, Scores with a midfielder, Scores with a defender
Tip - Just try to score with striker and midfielder first. Once done, sub the scoring striker or midfielder. Once done, depending on how you score with your midfielder (esp winger), do the same with your defender (esp the half backs as they can double up as wingers most time.) Alternatively you can switch the role of a midfielder as a defender.
Final Round
Mission 50 - Team Effort
Scenario - From the beginning. All opponents in excellent condition
Objective - 50% shots on target, 50% possession or more, 80% or more passing success and 0 fouls
Tip - Watch your shots carefully as there are less chances to shoot. Do not even try to tackle, just nudge the players will do. Once you win, just play passing with your back line to achieve the passing and possession.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Thru to the quarterfinals!
Was quite surprised that Arsenal managed to beat AC Milan at San Siro in the second leg of the round of 16.
Way to go~! Now for all the way to the finals and be the Champs~!
Way to go~! Now for all the way to the finals and be the Champs~!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Eduardo's broken leg
For those who like to leave a get well message for eduardo.
http://getwellsooneduardo.wordpress.com/messages-for-eduardo/
http://getwellsooneduardo.wordpress.com/messages-for-eduardo/
Heartfelt wishes to Eduardo
Nothing much to say and no gory pictures here. Eduardo broke his left leg after being kick in the shin by Martins Taylor in an EPL match, Birmingham vs Arsenal.
If you wish to leave a message for him, you can comment here or over at Arsenal.com
If you wish to leave a message for him, you can comment here or over at Arsenal.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
China soccer or wrestling?
What a joke.
This is a match during the East Asia Football Federation Cup.
The match is between Japan and China. Referee is from North Korea.
China in Red while Japan is in Blue.
A quick count shows that China team should have gotten a few red cards as the China players are not playing soccer or rather wrestling~!
A match between China woman soccer team and South Korea woman soccer team.
This is a match during the East Asia Football Federation Cup.
The match is between Japan and China. Referee is from North Korea.
China in Red while Japan is in Blue.
A quick count shows that China team should have gotten a few red cards as the China players are not playing soccer or rather wrestling~!
A match between China woman soccer team and South Korea woman soccer team.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Football Manager 2008 Facepack and Competition name fix
Complete Pack for Football Manager 2008 Graphics (59.35MB)
What included in this pack?
**Club Logo
**Competition Logo
**Club Kits
**Facepack
Download:
Complete Pack for Football Manager 2008 Graphic
Competition Name fixed for Football Manager 2008 (Thanks to sortitoutsi.net)
Fixed:
Fixed competition name for English competition, Spanish competition, UEFA, Inter-Toto, International competition (World Cup, Euro, etc), Award Name, and several national team name.
How to Apply:
Same step as in Football Manager 2007.
Place this in Program Files-Sport Interactive-Football Manager 2008-data-db-800-Inc-all.
**Make backup of your fake.Inc file first before rewrite it.
Download: Competition Name fixed v1.0
Credits to this forum topic
What included in this pack?
**Club Logo
**Competition Logo
**Club Kits
**Facepack
Download:
Complete Pack for Football Manager 2008 Graphic
Competition Name fixed for Football Manager 2008 (Thanks to sortitoutsi.net)
Fixed:
Fixed competition name for English competition, Spanish competition, UEFA, Inter-Toto, International competition (World Cup, Euro, etc), Award Name, and several national team name.
How to Apply:
Same step as in Football Manager 2007.
Place this in Program Files-Sport Interactive-Football Manager 2008-data-db-800-Inc-all.
**Make backup of your fake.Inc file first before rewrite it.
Download: Competition Name fixed v1.0
Credits to this forum topic
Monday, December 10, 2007
FM some recommended players!
Found this while trying to scout more players.
Quite a gem as I faced some of these players and they are really good~!
Quite a gem as I faced some of these players and they are really good~!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
So is Arsenal an english team or not?
The current premier league features a dominance of a "Top 4" teams. Even though the league is played in England and belongs to the English but how English are the teams are.
Out of the 4 clubs, less than half of their first XI are Englishman.
Manchester United and Liverpool are owned by US owners while Chelsea is owned by a Russian. Only Arsenal is still in the hands of Englishmen and their fans.
When Arsenal won beautifully in Europe, the British media proudly claims an English team made it good. When England loses, the media will claim that its failure is due to international team like Arsenal causing it to fail.
So who is actually an English team when the owners are not even an Englishman and half the squad is not an Englishman also?
Out of the 4 clubs, less than half of their first XI are Englishman.
Manchester United and Liverpool are owned by US owners while Chelsea is owned by a Russian. Only Arsenal is still in the hands of Englishmen and their fans.
When Arsenal won beautifully in Europe, the British media proudly claims an English team made it good. When England loses, the media will claim that its failure is due to international team like Arsenal causing it to fail.
So who is actually an English team when the owners are not even an Englishman and half the squad is not an Englishman also?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Captain Tsubasa
Used to follow the manga of Captain Tsubasa when I was young and also played the NES and SNES version of the game
BQ told me there is a PS2 version and we got our hands on it.
Pretty okay game with total of 11 matches. Pretty small game. It is in Japanese but we can get by the simple menu and interfaces to play the game.
Quite nostalgia to relive some of the manga and the matches. Replay ability is quite low and very limited game play. I probably spent around 10 hours to finish the game and that is including replay of some matches to unlock the skills, though it is enough to get by without unlocking.
Some FAQs if you need help and you really need the help
BQ told me there is a PS2 version and we got our hands on it.
Pretty okay game with total of 11 matches. Pretty small game. It is in Japanese but we can get by the simple menu and interfaces to play the game.
Quite nostalgia to relive some of the manga and the matches. Replay ability is quite low and very limited game play. I probably spent around 10 hours to finish the game and that is including replay of some matches to unlock the skills, though it is enough to get by without unlocking.
Some FAQs if you need help and you really need the help
Monday, June 25, 2007
Henry left Arsenal...
On June 25, 2007 Henry was transferred to FC Barcelona for a fee of £16.1 million.
Guess Henry finally left. I thought Henry will leave after 1 more season but guess it was not to be. Though most fans will lament for his departure but deep down, we also know it is sooner or later. Guess it is sooner.
Well, all the best and best of luck in Barca, Henry.
Guess Henry finally left. I thought Henry will leave after 1 more season but guess it was not to be. Though most fans will lament for his departure but deep down, we also know it is sooner or later. Guess it is sooner.
Well, all the best and best of luck in Barca, Henry.
Monday, September 18, 2006
First epl win for arsenal
It took a long time in coming but when it came, it was good. Imagine beating manchester united at old trafford. Good game nonetheless though there are some mistakes.
- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Rejected!!! Hahahaha!
PREMIER LEAGUE LETTER TO TOTTENHAM
The Premier League has issued the following letter in response to Tottenham Hotspur's open letter, stating the reasons for the course of action taken on Sunday and why a replay of the Barclays Premiership match at West Ham United cannot be sanctioned.
10 May 2006
Mr Daniel Levy
Chairman Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Co Ltd.
Bill Nicholson Way
748 High Road
London N17 0AP
Dear Daniel
Re: Protest and request for the match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur FC on 7/5/06 to be replayed
The Board of the Premier League has today convened to consider your letter to Dave Richards regarding the above and would respond as follows:
Firstly, the Board and a majority of Premier League Clubs are sympathetic to your situation. To have Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s (“THFC”) “momentous day” marred by such unprecedented events is clearly an unsatisfying way for the season to end. However the Board has to take a dispassionate view, independent of Clubs’ opinion, in order to protect the overall integrity of the League competition.
The fact that so much may have been riding on one game is not as a consequence of just last Sunday’s results, but is the product of 380 games played throughout an entire nine-month season. Speculation about what may have happened in different circumstances even within our league is inappropriate and, in other competitions, irrelevant.
As always, the Board can only deal with the facts on an individual basis and deal with any situation as and when presented. All those directly involved on the day acted in the utmost good faith and with due care in what were unusual circumstances.
The Board of the Premier League, as you might expect, were spread around all parts of the country on the last day of the season. The time frame during which the defining conversations took place was between 11.00am and 1.15pm. The initial contact between yourself and the Chief Executive took place around 11.45am. As always, the Premier League acknowledged your position and promised it would make a proper assessment but in order to do so, the General Secretary, Mike Foster, would need to be contacted. This area of the Premier League’s role is Mike’s responsibility and his experience in these matters since the League’s inception in 1992 is well known to all Clubs. The Board look to his wisdom and counsel on all such matters. Jane Purdon, the Premier League Company Secretary, volunteered to go to the team hotel. This was deemed sensible as it meant we could assess the facts on a first hand basis and have an established line of communication with your people at the hotel. Similarly the decision to send a doctor was deemed sensible to assist in any way we could and for gathering evidence in the event that further facts needed to be established independently for whatever purpose.
Over the course of the following hour, the Board gathered its facts and gave the matter due consideration. It concluded the following:
1) It was satisfied that the following significant facts pertained:
· 6 players had been confirmed as having suffered from either sickness and/or diarrhoea (S & D) that morning
· 2 other players had felt unwell but had not suffered from S & D
(These facts were established by Jane Purdon in consultation with the THFC Doctor)
· 17 players had been at the team hotel overnight
· 3 other registered players had been contacted by THFC and were able to make themselves available
· The match was due to take place at West Ham United (“WHU”) – geographically close enough to Tottenham and its vicinity so as not to prevent other players being called upon.
· An informed estimate that THFC had a minimum of 30 registered players.
2) Following a full discussion between all members of the Premier League Board and Mike Foster, we decided that the game should not be postponed. To do so would be inappropriate given past application of Premier League Rules and would lead to future problems for the Premier League if Clubs deemed these circumstances or similar to be worthy of postponement.
3) The appropriate course of action, having given due consideration to the facts, was to not postpone the game and to inform THFC that it would be their decision as to whether or not they fulfilled the fixture.
As you say, this decision was relayed to you by me whilst travelling towards London. You asked what the consequences would be if THFC failed to fulfil the fixture. I said that I could not pre-judge or advise. An independent commission would be convened to consider the facts and clearly THFC could plead mitigating circumstances. However this was one of the most serious of offences and John Alexander could advise on what has happened in the past, though, of course, all cases were different and based on their own facts.
On the basis of this, THFC obviously undertook your own assessment of the facts and reached your own decision.
THFC then asked the Premier League what our attitude would be to a delayed kick off. The Premier League Board reacted with empathy but needed to consider all the facts. WHU were contacted and made every effort to accommodate. However, understandably, the risk to public order of over 35,000 fans potentially converging on Upton Park for a four to five hour wait was deemed by the Police to be too great. A two-hour delay to kick off was considered to be of no material benefit to your players by your own medical people and therefore was rejected by THFC and the game proceeded at 3pm as scheduled. The Premier League response to your request in this matter bears no relevance to your request for a replay.
Clearly the Premier League Board, as THFC have done, reflected on Monday and re-assessed certain facts:
The Premier League appointed doctor we sent to the hotel arrived after the team bus left for Upton Park. However Jane Purdon, our representative at the hotel, had already relayed to the Board in detail the medical opinion of the THFC Doctor, Charlotte Cowie. The Board accepted her professional opinion and had no reason to dispute it. The Premier League-appointed Doctor’s opinion therefore was not needed.
We had made an informed estimate as to how many registered players THFC had. On checking records it turns out to be as follows:
- Registered players (full contracts) 48
- Out on loan (-6)
- In on loan +1
- Scholars +9
- Total eligible to play 52
- 33 players used in the first team this season
Of the six players confirmed with S & D, only two were in the starting eleven for your last three Premier League matches.
With respect to other matters that you do not fully understand, I set off to travel to Highbury for a pre-arranged end-of-season interview with Sky Sports. I arrived at 2.00pm having travelled 111 miles from the West Country. The earliest I could have arrived at your team hotel was 2.00pm, even if I had travelled directly there on approaching west London. I had already confirmed with John Alexander that the team bus was leaving at 1.15pm and so it would have been pointless to go there.
The Premier League made two official statements via its press office to PA concerning the situation. I only referred to the contents of those statements as part of a pre-planned review of the season on Sky Sports. This was not the chosen method of conveying the decision. For your information, the Sky Sports interview took place 40 minutes after your own Press Office had confirmed you were playing the game as scheduled at 3.00pm.
In summary, the Board having considered the contents of your letter carefully, finds no grounds for acceding to your request for a replay. Indeed, this power only exists under certain circumstances as specified in Rule E. 16 and E. 39, neither of which apply in this case. THFC did have the option of not fulfilling the fixture and will have made its own assessment of the risks associated with that decision. It would have been for an independent commission to have decided the merits of your case; rule on any sanction and/or the appropriateness of a replay.
The Board does not wish to jeopardise the respect and excellent relationship that exists between us and THFC. We remain very sympathetic to the unenviable position you found yourselves in and hope that neither THFC or any other Club will suffer the same fate again. However we believe we expedited our responsibilities effectively and with due care and consideration based on the facts available to us. We of course realise that for THFC a feeling of unfairness at the ill fated events of last Sunday will linger but trust that you will put this behind you and concentrate on domestic and UEFA Cup success next season.
Yours sincerely,
RICHARD SCUDAMORE
The Premier League has issued the following letter in response to Tottenham Hotspur's open letter, stating the reasons for the course of action taken on Sunday and why a replay of the Barclays Premiership match at West Ham United cannot be sanctioned.
10 May 2006
Mr Daniel Levy
Chairman Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Co Ltd.
Bill Nicholson Way
748 High Road
London N17 0AP
Dear Daniel
Re: Protest and request for the match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur FC on 7/5/06 to be replayed
The Board of the Premier League has today convened to consider your letter to Dave Richards regarding the above and would respond as follows:
Firstly, the Board and a majority of Premier League Clubs are sympathetic to your situation. To have Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s (“THFC”) “momentous day” marred by such unprecedented events is clearly an unsatisfying way for the season to end. However the Board has to take a dispassionate view, independent of Clubs’ opinion, in order to protect the overall integrity of the League competition.
The fact that so much may have been riding on one game is not as a consequence of just last Sunday’s results, but is the product of 380 games played throughout an entire nine-month season. Speculation about what may have happened in different circumstances even within our league is inappropriate and, in other competitions, irrelevant.
As always, the Board can only deal with the facts on an individual basis and deal with any situation as and when presented. All those directly involved on the day acted in the utmost good faith and with due care in what were unusual circumstances.
The Board of the Premier League, as you might expect, were spread around all parts of the country on the last day of the season. The time frame during which the defining conversations took place was between 11.00am and 1.15pm. The initial contact between yourself and the Chief Executive took place around 11.45am. As always, the Premier League acknowledged your position and promised it would make a proper assessment but in order to do so, the General Secretary, Mike Foster, would need to be contacted. This area of the Premier League’s role is Mike’s responsibility and his experience in these matters since the League’s inception in 1992 is well known to all Clubs. The Board look to his wisdom and counsel on all such matters. Jane Purdon, the Premier League Company Secretary, volunteered to go to the team hotel. This was deemed sensible as it meant we could assess the facts on a first hand basis and have an established line of communication with your people at the hotel. Similarly the decision to send a doctor was deemed sensible to assist in any way we could and for gathering evidence in the event that further facts needed to be established independently for whatever purpose.
Over the course of the following hour, the Board gathered its facts and gave the matter due consideration. It concluded the following:
1) It was satisfied that the following significant facts pertained:
· 6 players had been confirmed as having suffered from either sickness and/or diarrhoea (S & D) that morning
· 2 other players had felt unwell but had not suffered from S & D
(These facts were established by Jane Purdon in consultation with the THFC Doctor)
· 17 players had been at the team hotel overnight
· 3 other registered players had been contacted by THFC and were able to make themselves available
· The match was due to take place at West Ham United (“WHU”) – geographically close enough to Tottenham and its vicinity so as not to prevent other players being called upon.
· An informed estimate that THFC had a minimum of 30 registered players.
2) Following a full discussion between all members of the Premier League Board and Mike Foster, we decided that the game should not be postponed. To do so would be inappropriate given past application of Premier League Rules and would lead to future problems for the Premier League if Clubs deemed these circumstances or similar to be worthy of postponement.
3) The appropriate course of action, having given due consideration to the facts, was to not postpone the game and to inform THFC that it would be their decision as to whether or not they fulfilled the fixture.
As you say, this decision was relayed to you by me whilst travelling towards London. You asked what the consequences would be if THFC failed to fulfil the fixture. I said that I could not pre-judge or advise. An independent commission would be convened to consider the facts and clearly THFC could plead mitigating circumstances. However this was one of the most serious of offences and John Alexander could advise on what has happened in the past, though, of course, all cases were different and based on their own facts.
On the basis of this, THFC obviously undertook your own assessment of the facts and reached your own decision.
THFC then asked the Premier League what our attitude would be to a delayed kick off. The Premier League Board reacted with empathy but needed to consider all the facts. WHU were contacted and made every effort to accommodate. However, understandably, the risk to public order of over 35,000 fans potentially converging on Upton Park for a four to five hour wait was deemed by the Police to be too great. A two-hour delay to kick off was considered to be of no material benefit to your players by your own medical people and therefore was rejected by THFC and the game proceeded at 3pm as scheduled. The Premier League response to your request in this matter bears no relevance to your request for a replay.
Clearly the Premier League Board, as THFC have done, reflected on Monday and re-assessed certain facts:
The Premier League appointed doctor we sent to the hotel arrived after the team bus left for Upton Park. However Jane Purdon, our representative at the hotel, had already relayed to the Board in detail the medical opinion of the THFC Doctor, Charlotte Cowie. The Board accepted her professional opinion and had no reason to dispute it. The Premier League-appointed Doctor’s opinion therefore was not needed.
We had made an informed estimate as to how many registered players THFC had. On checking records it turns out to be as follows:
- Registered players (full contracts) 48
- Out on loan (-6)
- In on loan +1
- Scholars +9
- Total eligible to play 52
- 33 players used in the first team this season
Of the six players confirmed with S & D, only two were in the starting eleven for your last three Premier League matches.
With respect to other matters that you do not fully understand, I set off to travel to Highbury for a pre-arranged end-of-season interview with Sky Sports. I arrived at 2.00pm having travelled 111 miles from the West Country. The earliest I could have arrived at your team hotel was 2.00pm, even if I had travelled directly there on approaching west London. I had already confirmed with John Alexander that the team bus was leaving at 1.15pm and so it would have been pointless to go there.
The Premier League made two official statements via its press office to PA concerning the situation. I only referred to the contents of those statements as part of a pre-planned review of the season on Sky Sports. This was not the chosen method of conveying the decision. For your information, the Sky Sports interview took place 40 minutes after your own Press Office had confirmed you were playing the game as scheduled at 3.00pm.
In summary, the Board having considered the contents of your letter carefully, finds no grounds for acceding to your request for a replay. Indeed, this power only exists under certain circumstances as specified in Rule E. 16 and E. 39, neither of which apply in this case. THFC did have the option of not fulfilling the fixture and will have made its own assessment of the risks associated with that decision. It would have been for an independent commission to have decided the merits of your case; rule on any sanction and/or the appropriateness of a replay.
The Board does not wish to jeopardise the respect and excellent relationship that exists between us and THFC. We remain very sympathetic to the unenviable position you found yourselves in and hope that neither THFC or any other Club will suffer the same fate again. However we believe we expedited our responsibilities effectively and with due care and consideration based on the facts available to us. We of course realise that for THFC a feeling of unfairness at the ill fated events of last Sunday will linger but trust that you will put this behind you and concentrate on domestic and UEFA Cup success next season.
Yours sincerely,
RICHARD SCUDAMORE
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Crap Letter
Mr Dave Richards
Chairman
The FA Premier League,
30 Gloucester Place
London
W1U 8PL
9 May 2006
Dear Dave
Re: Protest and request for the match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur FC on 7/5/06 to be replayed
As you are aware, Sunday could have been a momentous day for our Club and our fans. It was the first time since the inception of the UEFA Champions League that we were in a position to qualify for European club football’s most prestigious competition. After such a successful League campaign, the excitement and expectation of our fans was simply enormous. Our match at West Ham was effectively a Cup Final.
However, we believe that our chances of success were significantly reduced by the exceptional circumstances brought about by the sudden illness of the majority of players in our First Team squad in the early hours of Sunday morning. In being given no viable option to postpone the match other than a 2-hour delay to kick-off, our players were denied the possible opportunity of competing in the Champions League, while our fans have been left with a sense of suspicion and injustice at the way subsequent events unfolded.
We contacted the FAPL early on Sunday morning and, after a series of conversations, the FAPL called for the England Team Doctor and the FAPL Company Secretary to attend our Team Hotel to assess the situation. We believed that the FAPL were examining the situation in good faith and were seeking to obtain all relevant information before coming to a decision. Indeed, in those early conversations the FAPL’s Chief Executive had given us every reason to believe the match could be postponed to allow our players some extra time to recover from a lack of sleep, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.
At this time, myself, Board members and other key decision makers joined the players at their hotel. Whilst waiting for the opinion of the England Team Doctor, who was yet to arrive at our Team Hotel, I was contacted from a distance by the FAPL and told that we had to play the game that day or suffer the consequences. This, by implication, may have meant a significant loss of points and the denial of participation in any European competition – a situation I could not sanction. This threat was made by the FAPL despite the fact that West Ham United, acting honourably and fairly as would be expected from that club, had consented to the postponement of the match provided that any re-match did not interfere with their FA Cup Final preparations.
The FAPL’s Chief Executive then said he would consider the match being delayed to later on Sunday evening, but unfortunately the Police would not sanction a kick off time beyond 5pm. Our medical staff advised that a delay of at least 3 hours would be necessary to have any impact on the players and therefore it was Martin Jol’s view that, in the absence of a postponement or a much later kick-off, we had no choice whatsoever but to proceed to play at 3pm. What puzzles us is why the FAPL were prepared to sanction a 4 hour delay but not a 24 hour delay. If the integrity of all matches kicking off at the same time was your primary concern, why sanction a delay of any kind?
Our next issue was team selection. Martin Jol and his staff, having originally selected their squad of 17 players for the match, were then left in the invidious position of choosing between starting the match with their original 17 players, 10 of whom were feeling very unwell, or drafting in Reserve Team players, the majority of whom have not played for the First Team this season or are untried and untested at First Team level. In any case, having ended their season, our Reserve Team players were scattered across various parts of London and the South East, would not have been prepared to play in a Premier League (or any other) match at such short notice and would rarely, if ever, have played together.
This was an impossible position for our coaching staff to find themselves in on the morning of what was our most important match for many years. Playing a make-shift, inexperienced and ill-prepared team in such a high profile game could have turned the match into a farce, resulting in an embarrassment for the players, the coaches, the Club, our fans and the Premier League competition as a whole. To add insult to injury, the FAPL’s announcement that our game would not be postponed was made live on Sky TV from the pitch side at Highbury. In light of the obvious sensitivities and the competition for 4th place between Arsenal and Spurs this was, to say the least, an unfortunate choice.
We simply do not understand why the FAPL failed to appraise itself of all of the facts before turning down our request that the fixture be postponed under rule E 13.4. We were surprised that the FAPL’s Chief Executive did not make the short journey from Highbury to the Team Hotel at Canary Wharf to assess such a serious issue first hand. We also fail to understand why the England Team Doctor, having been sent to the Team Hotel, was not even consulted before an announcement was made (in fact, he did not even arrive at our hotel before the decision was made or even before our players had to leave the Team Hotel to travel to Upton Park for the match). As a result we played the game with players who were unwell but who were desperate not to let their fans and colleagues down. Clearly, our governing body put us in an impossible situation and gave a significant advantage to Arsenal in competing for that 4th position.
With this in mind we contacted those Premier League Chairmen and Chief Executives we were able to locate to establish what fellow members feel is an appropriate way forward given the unorthodox decision made by the FAPL prior to receiving objective information on the situation. We now have confirmation from a majority of Premier League clubs that they would support a replay and in similar circumstances would expect the game to have been postponed. This is a gesture made by fellow clubs which supports the Charter’s aims of running a professional league in a manner in which all of its member Clubs are treated equally and in a professional, fair and objective way. Additionally, from comments made by Sepp Blatter in the media in the past 24 hours, even FIFA would support the idea of a postponement provided the match was played on or before 15 May 2006.
We therefore formally request that you order that the game be replayed.
It is regrettable that we have been put in this position, but we feel let down by the FAPL’s abdication of its responsibility to consider the request for a postponement fairly and after due consideration of all relevant factors. Where such significant commercial and competitive interests are jeopardised it is only reasonable that our governing body ensures we play on a level playing field and supports us by making decisions based on the facts of the situation which has to include all relevant information. We feel sure that the FAPL, along with most reasonable minded people, would not have wanted such a controversial outcome to the final day of the Premier League season. Furthermore, the FAPL was inconsistent in its approach in being prepared to consider the kick-off to be delayed but not allowing the match to be played on a different day.
Finally, whilst our primary concern here is for our own Club, the situation we find ourselves in highlights what could have been an even bigger issue for a Club facing relegation from the FAPL. Similarly, it is hard to believe that, faced with an identical issue on the morning of a Champions League Final, a club would not seek a postponement (with the opposing team consenting) and that, given the importance of such an occasion, such a request would not be granted by UEFA in the interests of fairness and good sporting practice. In our view, and regardless of the outcome of our case, the FAPL’s decision making process and lines of communication in such a situation need thorough and urgent review in order to ensure that no other club is similarly disadvantaged in the future.
Yours sincerely
DANIEL LEVY
Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur
Chairman
The FA Premier League,
30 Gloucester Place
London
W1U 8PL
9 May 2006
Dear Dave
Re: Protest and request for the match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur FC on 7/5/06 to be replayed
As you are aware, Sunday could have been a momentous day for our Club and our fans. It was the first time since the inception of the UEFA Champions League that we were in a position to qualify for European club football’s most prestigious competition. After such a successful League campaign, the excitement and expectation of our fans was simply enormous. Our match at West Ham was effectively a Cup Final.
However, we believe that our chances of success were significantly reduced by the exceptional circumstances brought about by the sudden illness of the majority of players in our First Team squad in the early hours of Sunday morning. In being given no viable option to postpone the match other than a 2-hour delay to kick-off, our players were denied the possible opportunity of competing in the Champions League, while our fans have been left with a sense of suspicion and injustice at the way subsequent events unfolded.
We contacted the FAPL early on Sunday morning and, after a series of conversations, the FAPL called for the England Team Doctor and the FAPL Company Secretary to attend our Team Hotel to assess the situation. We believed that the FAPL were examining the situation in good faith and were seeking to obtain all relevant information before coming to a decision. Indeed, in those early conversations the FAPL’s Chief Executive had given us every reason to believe the match could be postponed to allow our players some extra time to recover from a lack of sleep, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.
At this time, myself, Board members and other key decision makers joined the players at their hotel. Whilst waiting for the opinion of the England Team Doctor, who was yet to arrive at our Team Hotel, I was contacted from a distance by the FAPL and told that we had to play the game that day or suffer the consequences. This, by implication, may have meant a significant loss of points and the denial of participation in any European competition – a situation I could not sanction. This threat was made by the FAPL despite the fact that West Ham United, acting honourably and fairly as would be expected from that club, had consented to the postponement of the match provided that any re-match did not interfere with their FA Cup Final preparations.
The FAPL’s Chief Executive then said he would consider the match being delayed to later on Sunday evening, but unfortunately the Police would not sanction a kick off time beyond 5pm. Our medical staff advised that a delay of at least 3 hours would be necessary to have any impact on the players and therefore it was Martin Jol’s view that, in the absence of a postponement or a much later kick-off, we had no choice whatsoever but to proceed to play at 3pm. What puzzles us is why the FAPL were prepared to sanction a 4 hour delay but not a 24 hour delay. If the integrity of all matches kicking off at the same time was your primary concern, why sanction a delay of any kind?
Our next issue was team selection. Martin Jol and his staff, having originally selected their squad of 17 players for the match, were then left in the invidious position of choosing between starting the match with their original 17 players, 10 of whom were feeling very unwell, or drafting in Reserve Team players, the majority of whom have not played for the First Team this season or are untried and untested at First Team level. In any case, having ended their season, our Reserve Team players were scattered across various parts of London and the South East, would not have been prepared to play in a Premier League (or any other) match at such short notice and would rarely, if ever, have played together.
This was an impossible position for our coaching staff to find themselves in on the morning of what was our most important match for many years. Playing a make-shift, inexperienced and ill-prepared team in such a high profile game could have turned the match into a farce, resulting in an embarrassment for the players, the coaches, the Club, our fans and the Premier League competition as a whole. To add insult to injury, the FAPL’s announcement that our game would not be postponed was made live on Sky TV from the pitch side at Highbury. In light of the obvious sensitivities and the competition for 4th place between Arsenal and Spurs this was, to say the least, an unfortunate choice.
We simply do not understand why the FAPL failed to appraise itself of all of the facts before turning down our request that the fixture be postponed under rule E 13.4. We were surprised that the FAPL’s Chief Executive did not make the short journey from Highbury to the Team Hotel at Canary Wharf to assess such a serious issue first hand. We also fail to understand why the England Team Doctor, having been sent to the Team Hotel, was not even consulted before an announcement was made (in fact, he did not even arrive at our hotel before the decision was made or even before our players had to leave the Team Hotel to travel to Upton Park for the match). As a result we played the game with players who were unwell but who were desperate not to let their fans and colleagues down. Clearly, our governing body put us in an impossible situation and gave a significant advantage to Arsenal in competing for that 4th position.
With this in mind we contacted those Premier League Chairmen and Chief Executives we were able to locate to establish what fellow members feel is an appropriate way forward given the unorthodox decision made by the FAPL prior to receiving objective information on the situation. We now have confirmation from a majority of Premier League clubs that they would support a replay and in similar circumstances would expect the game to have been postponed. This is a gesture made by fellow clubs which supports the Charter’s aims of running a professional league in a manner in which all of its member Clubs are treated equally and in a professional, fair and objective way. Additionally, from comments made by Sepp Blatter in the media in the past 24 hours, even FIFA would support the idea of a postponement provided the match was played on or before 15 May 2006.
We therefore formally request that you order that the game be replayed.
It is regrettable that we have been put in this position, but we feel let down by the FAPL’s abdication of its responsibility to consider the request for a postponement fairly and after due consideration of all relevant factors. Where such significant commercial and competitive interests are jeopardised it is only reasonable that our governing body ensures we play on a level playing field and supports us by making decisions based on the facts of the situation which has to include all relevant information. We feel sure that the FAPL, along with most reasonable minded people, would not have wanted such a controversial outcome to the final day of the Premier League season. Furthermore, the FAPL was inconsistent in its approach in being prepared to consider the kick-off to be delayed but not allowing the match to be played on a different day.
Finally, whilst our primary concern here is for our own Club, the situation we find ourselves in highlights what could have been an even bigger issue for a Club facing relegation from the FAPL. Similarly, it is hard to believe that, faced with an identical issue on the morning of a Champions League Final, a club would not seek a postponement (with the opposing team consenting) and that, given the importance of such an occasion, such a request would not be granted by UEFA in the interests of fairness and good sporting practice. In our view, and regardless of the outcome of our case, the FAPL’s decision making process and lines of communication in such a situation need thorough and urgent review in order to ensure that no other club is similarly disadvantaged in the future.
Yours sincerely
DANIEL LEVY
Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
March to France!
Another soccer update!
Arsenal drew with Villarreal last night to qualify for The Champions League Finals! Arsenal secured an aggregate 1-0 win, courtesy of Kolo Toure in the 1st leg of the 2-legged semi-finals!
What was stressful was Villarreal almost scored an injury time penalty which Jens Lehman did well to make a save and hence will be traveling to State De France in France for the finals!! Anyway, it was not a penalty as Jose Mari simply fell to the ground after a light touch and the referee was tricked to believing so!
Thanks goodness that Lehman did his homework on Juan Pablo Riquelme possible penalty kick and correctly predicted where he will shoot and save it. Due to this marvelous save, he has became an Arsenal Legend!
Now on to the Finals and hoping Arsenal will bring back the trophy back to Highbury!
Arsenal drew with Villarreal last night to qualify for The Champions League Finals! Arsenal secured an aggregate 1-0 win, courtesy of Kolo Toure in the 1st leg of the 2-legged semi-finals!
What was stressful was Villarreal almost scored an injury time penalty which Jens Lehman did well to make a save and hence will be traveling to State De France in France for the finals!! Anyway, it was not a penalty as Jose Mari simply fell to the ground after a light touch and the referee was tricked to believing so!
Thanks goodness that Lehman did his homework on Juan Pablo Riquelme possible penalty kick and correctly predicted where he will shoot and save it. Due to this marvelous save, he has became an Arsenal Legend!
Now on to the Finals and hoping Arsenal will bring back the trophy back to Highbury!
Monday, March 20, 2006
Chelsea lost!
Yeah. Shocked defeat for Chelsea as they were defeated by Fullham 1-0. Although it does not makes much difference that they are mostly likely to be the EPL champions but it delayed their championship by one more match.
Also William Gallas was red-carded which means one less player for Chelsea and things can go badly from then on. Who knows, maybe Manchester United may even overtake Chelsea right up to the last match!
Also William Gallas was red-carded which means one less player for Chelsea and things can go badly from then on. Who knows, maybe Manchester United may even overtake Chelsea right up to the last match!
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