Eye-Catcher: 11 July 2009
Sports stories and quotes that catch the eye, and other fun stuff off the internet.
Ablett at Liverpool "and stuff"
New Stockport County manager, former Liverpool defender and reserve team coach, Gary Ablett, in excess use of “and stuff” fiasco:
Stockport start the League One campaign at Oldham on 8 August, giving Ablett merely four weeks preparation.
He told BBC Radio Manchester: “I’ll be looking to use contacts and stuff in terms of arranging training games and stuff like that.”
….
“I’m not a fool, I know we’ve got a lot of catching up to do in terms of our work in pre-season; the four games we have in the four weeks we have left before the start of the season to me is not enough through no fault of anyone’s, just with us going into administration and stuff,” he added.
BBC Business News reported yesterday:
Kroenke's nuggets for Arsenal
Arsenal director Stan Kroenke, the largest shareholder at the north London club, has again increased his stake.
Mr Kroenke has bought a further 160 shares at £8,500 per share, taking his holding in Arsenal to 28.58%.
It takes Mr Kroenke closer to the 30% threshold that would force him to make an offer for the remaining shares.
….
Mr Usmanov, a billionaire, owns more than 25% of the club through investment vehicle Red and White Holdings.
The Arsenal board recently rejected the Uzbek-born Russian billionaire’s plan to provide fresh funds for transfers, as well as cutting the club’s debt by issuing new shares.
….
Following the rejection, Mr Usmanov cast doubt on the club’s ability to provide enough money for the team to challenge for honours.
The story sounded much juicier in May.
Zokora: On the plane to Spain
Even lesser players are moving to Spain:
- Jermaine Pennant to Real Zaragoza after being released by Liverpool following his loan spell at Portsmouth last season.
The “Spain drain”?
how’s this for some fancy futsal skills?
Who’ll be the first to try that at one of our sessions?
By the way, the standard futsal ball (smaller sized and harder) for regular FIFA-administered futsal (played on a hard court) tends to stick. The ball is not so suitable for artificial turf, or our skill level.
What we play is not actually futsal, just indoor football. Oh well, doesn’t matter what it’s called.
“Many Premier League stars attribute their skills to playing Futsal as youngsters”.