Youth Football Coaching - Organize and Plan Your Team

In youth football or soccer coaching, having a good program means that you should organize your team and plan your plays. This is something that most coaches have to focus on especially if it is a championship game. Getting your team organize is one factor that should be given the importance for most coaches.

In this article, I will show you how you could manage your football coaching drills with out the hassle. I know how crucial it is to assemble your team especially in a championship game. Below are some effective ways to organize your youth football team.

In your first week, we go right from the beginning of your youth football training program. But you'll have to ensure that your players are dedicated to learn on every step. Among the kids that you have in your team, we determine who the starters are and the best player who can change the pace of the game. Of course as a coach, we let the kids decide on what position they take on the field and go anywhere they want. We let any kid do what they want based on how skillful they are in that position. Then it is up for coaches to evaluate them if they really fit for that position they have chose.

In the second day, they must now learn the basic fundamental drills for starting, and positioning themselves in the field. Of course for safety, we give our kids their football shoes, knee support pads, and uniform. In this day of our youth football coaching program, we execute drills that we designed to le them be aggressive and accurate in kicking the ball to the goal end. Every kid participates in these drills and taught the core practices of football, so that coaches can determine who is capable of doing the positions provided on the second week.

Then lastly on the third week, we pretty much know where are our kids are going. By this time your youth football training program has come to an end. And we could definitely seek the direction of your team for about 3 weeks, as we have already completed the whole week, because in this week, we are expecting to see our young athletes at position in all times. We also give the kids the freedom to choose their position. And in addition, you must understand the team that you are playing and be ready to go on the field with complete football techniques and skills.

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Who Will Be Relegated From the FA Premier League in 2011?

I predict the following teams will finish in this order in the league. What do you think?

18 - West Brom

Under Roberto Di Matteo West Brom have bounced back to the premier league in style, missing out from winning the championship by Newcastle. Despite bolstering their squad with the Spanish Centre back Pablo Ibanez from Athletico Madrid and the Romania defender Gabriel Tamas from Auxerre, expect West Brom to struggle this season. They will have some notable scalps this season but consistency will be an issue.

Transfer rumours: Callum Davenport, Phil Bardsley, Jimmy Bullard

19 - Wolves

Despite managing to stay up last season Wolves will find life hard in the league this term. It's a measure of a newly promoted team if they can maintain their status, and Wolves did just that, though they have to sign Chelsea loanee Michael Mancienne if they are to stand a chance. They have brought in Hull's talisman from last season, Hunt, and a premier league goal-scorer in Burnley's Steve Fletcher, but even with these players their strength in depth will still be lacking for the top flight. Wolves can ill afford losing two of their stars, Ebanks-blake and Kevin Doyle, who are both rumoured for either Villa or Blackpool.

Transfer rumours: Robbie Keane, Tommy Smith, Andre Bikey

20 - Blackpool

So far Ian Holloway has not made any signings, though that will surely change. Despite this lack of activity Blackpool, who made it through the play-offs last season will be the Premier League whipping boys. Holloway will give them a never say die attitude and for some teams they will be hard to beat, but expect them to be propping up the table come the end of the season.

Transfer rumours: Frederic Piquionne, Aruna Dindane, Robert Lewandowski

Other teams who will need to be looking down the league closely will be Sunderland, Newcastle and Wigan.c Without Roy Hodgson Fulham will have to be careful they don't drop down also.

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Indian Premier League - Reasons For Its Popularity

With the ability to fill cricket stadiums, attract between 7 million and 24 million television viewers for a single match, the Indian Premier League's (IPL's) popularity is beyond question. IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, would have been pleasantly surprised at the resounding success of a tournament that only aimed to out-perform the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). The success of the IPL is not down to chance but a combination of factors and circumstances.

== IPL's appeal to the Indian market ==

With a population exceeding one billion and a cricket-mad society, India is the most lucrative market for cricket in the world. The Indian Premier League is essential an Indian tournament that was meant to be played with India. The IPL's popularity owes a great deal of its lustre by being attractive to a large percentage of cricket fans in India. In the 2008 edition of the IPL, the stands were packed to capacity as the locals turned out in droves to support their local franchises. Even when the 2009 IPL was held in South Africa, viewership was still worthy enough because it still got traction with Indian viewers.

== The T20 product ==

Since its introduction in England, the T20 product took off-even before the Indian Premier League was formed. Domestic T20 competitions were the rage in England, South Africa and the West Indians already, demonstrating that there was a vibrant, untapped market for the shorter form of the game. The shortest form of cricket is exciting and action-packed. Viewers and spectators do not have to spend an entire day watching a game and it makes use of the prime time slot nicely, so folks can enjoy a match after work and still have time left over. The T20 game eliminates the meandering middle overs of the 50-over game and accentuates the pressure. With only 120 legal deliveries in an innings, the pressure is one from the start. Cricket fans already loved the T20 format-the IPL merely took advantage of the tide.

== Use of star players ==

Even before the IPL, fans loved the idea of seeing the best players from around the world. Recall the Super Series that pitted the mighty Australians against an ICC World team comprised of superstars from other cricket playing countries. The IPL brought together international stars on the Indian circuit. Fans got to witness Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar opening the batting in a team that included Dwayne Bravo and Shaun Pollock.

Other stars like Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Jacques Kallis populated IPL teams, in addition to the star Indian players like Harbhajan Singh, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag-the list can go on and on. Even when the international players in the IPL were not stars, the IPL franchises were able to recruit the best T20 players from other leagues who made a name for themselves in the IPL. The use of star players from around the world increased the global appeal of the tournament.

== Other innovations ==

The IPL included some novel innovations that kept followers interested. The concept of an auction for players was something new to cricket. The prices the players fetched in the auction added to the spectacle and excitement of the tournament. IPL organisers involved Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty in the franchise initiative with great success and integrated dancers, music, and ensured that each franchise was geographically linked to an area. As such, the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians were based in Chennai and Mumbai respectively, facilitating parochial support. Such innovations were carefully done in order to maximize the appeal of the IPL to the Indian market and the global audience as well.

== Conclusion ==

The list of reasons for the IPL's success can go much further, but the main reasons are its star attraction (in the ownership and players), market, the product offered and well-considered innovations. Arguably, the major draw of the IPL is its international appeal and global following that was demonstrated in the success of the second edition, which South Africa hosted.

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The Top 10 Football Teams in London

There is much to see for those who are interested in football in London. Just to clarify for any readers of this article from outside the UK, football means the 'beautiful game', what is commonly referred to as Soccer around the world.

London has a proud tradition of famous football teams with much competition between them to be the top club. There are generally four or five London teams in the Premier League and there are many commentators who believe that this is one of the biggest obstacles to any one of them winning the league. A 'local derby' between two London football teams could produce an electric atmosphere and turn current form on its head they are so well contested.

Premier League tickets are sometimes difficult to obtain, but a bit of persistence often gets results. There are a number of ticket agencies that can get them for a price.

In the last decade, both Arsenal and Chelsea have each won the illustrious Premier League title twice and reached the final of the European Cup.

Here are some details about the top 10 football clubs in London and to avoid any accusations of being partisan, they are listed in alphabetical order:-

Arsenal

The Gunners, Arsenal have played in the top division of English football in consecutive seasons since the 1919-20 season. They have been champions on 13 occasions and achieved a unique record for modern times in 2003-04 season when they went the whole season without being beaten.

Arsenal have won the much coveted 'double' (league and cup winners in the same season) three times, in 1971, 1998 and 2002

In recent years they have moved to a new venue, The Emirates Stadium, with a 60,000 capacity. The Arsenal Museum is well worth a visit and is open every day.

Brentford

The Bees, Brentford Football Club are currently playing in Football League I. They were founded in 1889 and play their home games at Griffin Park their home stadium since 1904. Brentford's most successful spell came during the 1930s, when they achieved consecutive top six finishes in the First Division.

Since the War, they have spent most of their time in the third and fourth tiers of English football. Brentford have been FA Cup quarter-finalists on four occasions, and have twice been Football League Trophy runners-up.

Charlton Athletic

The Addicks, Charlton Athletic have seen better days. There halcyon days were in the 1930s and 40s. In recent years they have struggled after being relegated from the Premier League in 2005 and then from the Championship in 2008.

They play at The Valley just south of the River Thames in Greenwich. The club was founded in 1905.

Historically, Charlton's most successful period was the 1930s, when the club's highest league finishes were recorded, including runners-up of the league in 1937, and after World War II, when the club reached the FA Cup final twice, winning in 1947.

Chelsea

The Pensioners or the Blues, Chelsea Football Club was founded in 1905, and play in the Premier League. Chelsea have been champions three times (1955, 2005, 2006), and have won the FA Cup five times, the League Cup four times and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup twice. They reached the UEFA Champions League Final in 2008

Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge in West London and their ground capacity is 42,000.The Chelsea Museum is open most days and is well worth a visit for those interested in museums and football history.

Crystal Palace

The Eagles, Crystal Palace Football Club was formed in 1905. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where it has been based since 1924. The club is currently competing in the second tier, The Championship.

Crystal Palace's most recent successful period began in 1988-89, when the club finished third in the Second Division and were promoted to the First Division. Reaching the 1990 FA Cup Final only to lose the replay against Manchester United and finishing 3rd in the First Division in 1990-91.

Since then Palace have been relegated from and promoted to the FA Premier League on a number of occasions, their most recent relegation from the top flight was in the 2004-05 season. This is all despite the club being almost bankrupt in July 2000.

Fulham

The Cottagers, Fulham Football Club was founded in 1879, they celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2004, and are in the top tier of English football, the Premier League. Fulham are the oldest professional football team in London.

In 2009, Fulham had their highest-ever finish in the Premier League, coming 7th to qualify for Europe.

The club has produced many great British footballers including Johnny Haynes, George Cohen, Bobby Robson, Rodney Marsh and Alan Mullery and Jim Langley. They play at the historic Craven Cottage, their home since 1896, a riverside ground on the banks of the River Thames in Fulham.

Queens Park Rangers

The Hoops or just QPR, Queens Park Rangers Football Club based in Shepherd's Bush, West London. They currently play in the Football League Championship, and their honours include winning the League Cup in 1967, and being runners-up in the old First Division in 1975-76 and FA Cup in 1982.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club was founded in 1882, and its traditional colours are blue and white. Owing to its proximity to other West London clubs, QPR maintains long-standing rivalries with several other clubs in the area, the most notable of these being Chelsea, Brentford and Fulham with whom they contest what are known as West London derbies.

In 2007 QPR was taken over by Italian tycoon Flavio Briatore and rank among the top 10 richest sporting clubs in the world. Other major shareholders include Lakshmi Mittal & F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. So watch this space!

Tottenham Hotspurs

The famous 'Spurs' side of 1961, is still reckoned by many football enthusiasts, to be one of the best football teams in English football history. They achieved the 'double' which had not been achieved at that time since Aston Villa won it in 1897.

This has given recent Spurs' teams a lot to live up to. But Spurs have a long tradition of playing good football so there are many exciting matches at White Hart Lane especially with their close North London rivals, Arsenal.

In 1963, Spurs became the first British club to win a major European trophy - the European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1970s, they won the Football League Cup on two occasions and were the inaugural winners of the UEFA Cup in 1972. In the 1980s, Spurs won several trophies: the FA Cup twice, FA Community Shield and the UEFA Cup 1983-84. In the 1990s, they won the FA Cup and the Football League Cup and in 2008, they beat Chelsea in the final of the Football League Cup. This victory means that Tottenham have won a trophy in each of the last six decades - an achievement only matched by Manchester United.

Spurs have planned a new stadium to be completed by 2012 and it is expected to be one of the best stadiums in the UK.

Watford

The Hornets, Watford Football Club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the Championship. The club was founded in 1881, and played at several grounds before moving to a permanent location at Vicarage Road in 1922, where they remain to this day. Since 1997, they have shared the stadium with Saracens Rugby Club. Watford have a long-standing rivalry with Luton Town.

The club is best known for two spells under the management of former England manager Graham Taylor. The first lasted from 1977 to 1987, when the club rose to the old First Division from the Fourth Division. Once in the highest division of English football, Watford finished second in the league in 1983, reached the FA Cup final in 1984 and competed in the UEFA Cup in the 1984-85 season.

The second period spanned from 1997 to 2001, when Taylor took the club from the renamed Second Division to the Premier League in successive seasons. Taylor is currently a non-executive director of the club, and honorary life president alongside Sir Elton John who owned the club during both of these eras and has continued a long association with the club.

West Ham United

The Hammers, West Ham United Football Club have play at Upton Park (Boleyn Ground), in East London since 1904 having been formed in 1895.

They featured in the first FA Cup Final to be held at Wembley in 1923 against Bolton Wanderers. The club have won the FA Cup three times: in 1964, 1975 and 1980. They have also been runners-up twice, in 1923 and 2006.

In 1965, they won the European Cup Winners Cup, and in 1999 they won the InterToto Cup.

Their players are considered an important factor behind England's triumph in the 1966 World Cup, as England's captain at the time was West Ham's Bobby Moore, and both goalscorers Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters were West Ham players.

West Ham currently compete in the Premier League, their highest finish in the Premier League was 5th in 1998-99.

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Spice Mobile Phones Launch the New & Hottest S-7000 Touch Screen Series

Spice Mobile Phones have recently entered the market, but its interesting to note that these cell phones have come up in the main competition where top brands like Nokia, Samsung and Sony are in the queue. The best feature of these handsets is that they keep themselves updated with latest mobile trends. Still they keep their price affordable. S-7000 Touch Screen Mobile is one such latest handset under Spice models.

This is a pure touch screen phone with a colorful 240 * 400 pixel resolution. This phone also has a slot card reader with 2GB storage. S-7000 has five desktops, each of them has been allotted with a separate widget. The volume of music system in this mobile phone is such that it can vibrate a spacious room with musical nodes. It has multiple sound modes like brass, 3D surround and Reverb effect.

Spice Mobile Phones under S-7000 series have 3.2 MP camera to shoot color rich photos. The camera also records lively video clips under video recording mode. These phones have been uploaded with widgets of most popular social networking sites like You Tube, IBIBO, Face Book, Nimbuzz and Opera Mini. These handsets have FM radio facility and internal memory of 19 MB, USB Cable and SMS memory of storing 1000 messages.

The video player Spice-7000 is wonderful. It can operate videos in modes of AVI, FLV, MP4 and WMV. Blue tooth connectivity and fast internet browsing adds great value to these phones. The exterior body of these phones is of milky white color and display a charming look.

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Practice Soccer Goals - What Are the Options?

With the 2010 Soccer World Cup less than a year away, many people will be thinking about getting their own football out and having a "kick-around" with their friends. If you plan on doing this in your backyard and just for fun, then it is still fine to put a couple of jackets on the ground in place of goalposts! However, if you are putting an amateur team together, or playing in any kind of competitive way, you will certainly need to consider getting a pair of proper soccer goals. Luckily there is a whole variety from which to choose, from small-sized practice soccer goals to full-sized professional ones. Here are some ideas to help you decide what you may need.

Practice Soccer Goals

There are three things to consider before buying some goals: firstly, what are they going to be used for? In other words, will they be used for competitions or are they just for fun? The second thing to consider is who will be using them. Will these be for younger children or for children older than twelve? The third consideration, having addressed the other two, is of course the budget. How much do you want to spend? This will determine the type of materials your goals are constructed from.

Portable practice soccer goals are readily available, and are normally made out of plastic so they are not too heavy. Many of the practice goals are smaller than those used for competition matchplay, but are excellent for shooting practice. They usually have a tight, springy rebound net which bounces the ball back out to you after scoring a goal.

Soccer Goals for Competition Practice

For any type of soccer practice which involves more than just shooting at goal, or a little kick-around just for fun, it is advisable to think about using the more professional styles of goal.

Metal or plastic professional soccer goals are available in a variety of sizes. For children older than twelve, the full-sized goals need to be used. These are 8 feet high and 24 feet wide. Naturally the size of the pitch must reflect the size of the goals used, and so a good, full-sized soccer pitch would be 50 yards wide by 90 yards long. This also allows the players to get a full fitness workout as well as practising their soccer skills.

For younger children needing to practise for the junior leagues, smaller practice goals can be used - they can also play on smaller pitch areas. The smaller soccer goal sizes are variable to cater to all needs, but the following guidelines, or something close to them, should be the aim: for 8 to 11 year olds, the goals should be approximately 7 feet high by 21 feet wide. The pitch should be shorter, for example 70 yards. For 6 to 7 year olds aim to get practice goals that are roughly 6.5 feet high and 18 feet wide, and use a pitch area of approximately 30 yards wide by 50 yards long.

Plastic or Aluminum Goals?

The material of construction of the soccer goals depends on how serious you are about soccer. If you are a school or college team, you would probably be best advised to mark out permanent pitches and invest in aluminum goals, which are sturdy and long lasting, and reasonably weatherproof. However, if soccer is an occasional sport for you, or if you do not have room to mark out a permanent soccer pitch because the area is also used for other sports, then the cheaper portable plastic goals offer an ideal solution. You would simply need to set them up before practice, and then take them down and store them away afterwards.

Soccer Goal Safety Considerations

In any sport, safety is paramount, both to protect the players and also any spectators that come along to watch the game. When setting up soccer goals, either for practice or matchplay, always ensure that they are securely anchored. The heavier aluminum goals are usually sunk into the ground and held there firmly. However, the portable lightweight plastic goals can be blown over by strong gusts of wind, or knocked over by a strike from the ball or a player. So make certain especially with these plastic practice goals, that they are anchored or staked securely to prevent any mishaps or accidents.

Finally remember that practice makes perfect, and that all the hard work you put in now might see you become one of the soccer stars of the future, and maybe you will even get to play at a World Cup yourself one day!

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Avram Grant - Everyone's Favourite Israeli

I think a few people still don't quite get the man that is Avram Grant. A mate of mine was talking yesterday about how amazed he was at Avram's rise to fame and fortune over the last 4 or 5 years, and if you look at how he's been transformed into one of the top bosses in the Premier League considering his relative anonymity just 5 years ago, it really is quite astonishing.

Hats off to Roman Abramovich, who first had the wisdom to put his trust in a man largely unknown outside of Israel. And to put his trust in someone who was going to follow in the footsteps of The Special One AND manage his ever expanding roster of amazing and very expensive football talent (Lampard, Drogba, Ballack, Cole...). If I was ever that loaded with cash, I'm not sure I would have had the same trust, so...either Avram has a very charming smile, or he is just very well connected...

After a season which was just a John Terry slip from landing the Champions League trophy, it did appear that Avram might have had his moment in the sun...but no, there he was again, a year later in the arms of Portsmouth on the sunny south coast. Who he then led to the FA Cup Final and almost brought about an amazing victory over his ex-Chelsea players (again, a penalty was perhaps the turning point...). But to the Portsmouth fans he'd become a hero, and instilled a fighting spirit that was never going to save them from relegation from the Premier League, but was going to restore some lost pride. "Legend" I heard some Portsmouth fans describe him on TV...

So now Avram Grant is off to West Ham. In much the same setup as he had at Portsmouth, he will need to instill some pride and passion while on a very tight budget. Will he be able to do it? I think he might just surprise some people again this season. OK, West Ham won't be gunning for the title, but they could certainly challenge the Top Ten...and after the season the Hammers have just had, some of their fans will be very happy to have their own "Legend" come next summer.

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Is Money Everything?

In today world, money is, sadly, everything. Especially in recent years, when the recession struck, and the whole world found itself one day with the lack of resources and money that they had just the day before. Sports are no exception, I mean, that is probably the main reason why it is played. Of course, many would say that it is for entertainment, and I say to those people: "That is a great positive thought, but come on, get real". Seeing all the players, the people involved in sports, and all the money the handle, makes me wonder where does it stop? When is the limit, because, in this recession time there have been much more immoral transactions then before. Just look at Cristiano Ronaldos move from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Of course, I don not deny or diminish that he is a great player, but 94 million euro is I think too much for any man, or woman, to pay. In today world especially, where there are many better ways to spend money, are there are many people who need it more. But that is the corporate world, the rich get richer, and the poorer get poorer.

So lets look at the biggest spender in the last 2 years out there, Manchester City. Why and how are they the biggest spenders? They are owned by a private company from the United Arabian Emirates, which has obviously a lot of many and desire to invest it. So they bought, forgive me all fans of City, but then just an average club, and are now trying to turn it into the greatest one. For season 2009/2010 they spend over 100 million pounds buying all sorts of star players from different clubs. Names like Gareth Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez came to the club to boost it onto a whole new level. But there is some thought that by just putting the greatest players on Earth in the same team would not make an unbeatable team, but a chaotic one in which all of them could not get along. Of course, nobody has ever tried this, but City are doing everything they can, I believe, to achieve this. It may take a few years, everyone knows that they were often turned down by some star players because they believed it was just an average club. Some accepted, to try to lift the level of this club or to prove the skeptics wrong. I believe, and maybe this is just my opinion, that last year the problem was not in the players, although there were some that many people would not characterize as high class. No, I believe the problem was in the coach. Mark Hughes, all respect to him as a player, he was brilliant, but as a coach I think he lacked the experience of running high classed teams that compete for the title. I mean, it is a whole different conception if you are fighting for the title or if you just say: "Oh, lets just try to do our best and finish as high as we can." City had some high class players, some of them mentioned already, but Hughes could not consolidate them. This is an example of how money, buying high class players, does not mean you will instantly go top of the world. Of course the folks at Manchester City knew this, so they just set a goal of reaching the Champions League spot, which was also not achieved.

I waste? Perhaps, but the surely learned something from that. This year, at the start of season 2010/2011, they already spent over 100 million pounds on new players (they have a new coach from last season, Roberto Mancini, which signed and coached them the last few games last season), with the likes of Balotelli, David Silva, Boateng and so on joining them on their quest to glory. Will it finally be achieved, after all these years being in the shadow of their biggest rival (United), will they finally fulfill their goal. We will see. At the start of the season it does not look good, they lost a friendly match against Borussia Dortmund, beat Valencia which is in big financial problems and lots of its key players, and drew with Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the Premier League. More importantly in that last game, they did not play well at all, Tottenham was a much better team, and if they want to go for the title, these are the games that they should start winning. Will money be everything, is yet to be seen. The rest of the world seems to think so.

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Maximizing the Value of Purchasing a Vacation Home in Big Sky Montana

The fear of prolonged recession has slowly started to come to an end, and with it, the real estate market is picking itself back up allowing many families to take advantage of dramatically lower prices by purchasing vacation homes. Mountain property is particularly appealing for homeowners who are looking to escape the lifestyle of a city or suburban area.

Luxury Properties in Montana Maintain their Value

Montana is among some of the most popular locations for second home buyers to purchase a mountain residence, with the Big Sky and Bozeman areas leading the charge. According to the statistics of real estate websites like Zillow, since roughly 2008, the New York East Hamptons average home price saw a -.7% Y-o-Y (year over year) drop in value (Zillow, 2010), the Poconos saw between a -4% and a -20% Y-o-Y drop (Zillow, 2010) and the Stateline of Lake Tahoe dropped a whopping 30% Y-o-Y (Zillow, June)!

Meanwhile, the average home values for Big Sky Montana have fallen by almost 50% since the peak creating incredible value for those seeking a great deal in a pristine location. Unlike most ski towns, Big Sky is spread over many square miles offering genuine solitude in a stunning mountain setting. Lift lines are almost non-existent and summer activities abound, setting Big Sky in a league of its own. While there can be no certainty that prices will appreciate in the near term, an increase in sales activity indicates that prices may be firming.

Through this shift in the market, we're also seeing a trend in second home owners purchasing more vacation properties than investment properties. The investor as a buyer has all but disappeared from the second home market. Through the tax incentives, it is possible to make a profit on a vacation home. According to Realtor.org the amount of homes overall purchased for vacation purposes has doubled since 2007 (Realtors.org, 2010).

Montana's Accessibility is Better than You Might Think

Montana is known for being spacious and free and it's hard to understand the term Big Sky until you have actually been there to see it. The homes in Montana's mountains are the perfect blend of exclusivity, luxury and accessibility. The towns and cities of Montana are small and quaint, so getting out into the wilderness doesn't require more than a few miles of driving in any direction. Visiting Montana is also a simple process thanks to its 123 different airports scattered across the state. You can come and go from your vacation home as often as you please.

Specific Considerations when Purchasing Mountain Property

There are issues aside from finances and home value to consider when purchasing your vacation home. These issues include altitude, the home inspection processes, and local weather. Oftentimes, mountain homes are serviced by well and septic systems, a new experience for urban buyers. In addition, mountain regions tend to be less stable geologically so through engineering should be performed before purchasing that future dream building site. In most mountain locations, air conditioning is not necessary and the dry Montana air is conducive to evaporated cooling for those rare hot days. Efficient heating on the other hand is a necessity and radiant heat is preferred in most luxury homes.

Before heading directly up to the mountains of ANY area, families should concern themselves with the potential hazards of high altitude, cold weather and possible remediation to the issues. Traveling from sea level to a mountain location can take the body over a week to adjust, but the effects can be mitigated by ample hydration and rest.

If you're at the decision point for purchasing a second home, consider the Big Sky Area Montana to maximize your investment. Montana is affordable, close-knit, easily accessible thanks to local airports, and attractive all year round for their unbelievable summer outdoor activities like hunting and fishing as well as winter world class skiing at some of the nation's best skiing resorts. The home and land prices in Montana resorts have fallen dramatically since the peak creating some of the best value for money available in the West.

We invite you to see for yourself why Montana is quickly becoming a premier destination for vacation properties and 2nd homes.

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Manchester City is Now the Richest Football Club in the World

In the '80s and '90s, Manchester City Football Club was not one of the Premier League's top teams. Their 1976 League Cup victory stands as one of the most recent expressions of their competitive potential. However, business transactions behind-the-scenes often dictate much of what transpires on the field. Manchester City was not blessed with the necessary capital to spend on the best players in the past.

In September 2008, these fortunes have significantly changed; Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the team in a late Sunday evening deal. Now owned by this private equity firm from United Arab Emirates, Manchester City has emerged as the richest football club in the world. With this new financial backing, the team sought great players, with impressive bids submitted to secure top talent. Expensive transfers brought players like Gareth Barry, Robinho, and Carlos Tevez to the club.

The excitement of a winning sports club will no doubt prove very fiscally rewarding for Manchester in coming years. Manchester hotels will burst with tourists and sports fans who want to see this team in action. Pubs and restaurants near the City of Manchester Stadium will boom. The value of property in the area will also rise due to the the additional potential for commerce. Healthy tourism is great for the long term viability of a city.

While Manchester already has a known reputation as a great city to start a business, this new-found tourist attraction will encourage accelerated growth. Tourism revenue often represents the flow of new money into a city. This steady flow of money will fill the coffers of the pubs and hotels Manchester City fans frequent.

For those who are interested in experiencing the wealthiest football club in the world, now is the best time to plan a trip to Manchester. While this trend is still new, it will remain affordable to stay in Manchester hotels near the stadium. More tourism will mean fewer vacancies. As time passes, it will become more difficult to book the hotels Manchester hosts.

Manchester residents will all benefit from the football excitement. Nothing better promotes economic growth in a city than a winning football club. Wealthy owners will be able to bring in the quality players that this team needs in order to remain a winning dynasty. Manchester City's new position as the richest football club in the world will be great for the city's future.

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Success of T20 Cricket

Since last three-four years, Twenty 20 or T20 Cricket has been gaining immense popularity among the masses. Slowly the action is shifting from Test matches and One day international matches to T20 cricket. Though traditionalists say that it's not Cricket but you have to accept the fact that this medium has left tests and ODI's in the shadow. The success of the Indian Premier League or the IPL stands witness to this fact.

These days, brands are increasingly shifting their advertising budget from tests and ODIs to T20 matches. They are spending more on T20 because more people watch these matches. Earlier women and young girls used to avoid watching Cricket. But T20 has added glamor to the game. It's short - just three hours for a game. There are cheerleaders prancing around. And plenty of fours and sixes being hit due to the field restrictions and shorter boundaries. The stadiums have a lively atmosphere due to the music and songs being played between overs. There are entertainment shows played in the break between the two innings. The IPL was ranked one of the richest sporting leagues in the world with a value of more than $1 billion dollars. Such success in just two years is unprecedented.

The T20 world cup is held every two years. This cup has been a bigger success than the recent ODI world cup. Cricketers are increasingly adapting to the T20 style of cricket. There are some specialist players who have retired from other forms of the game just to play T20. This is because they earn much more money in less than half the time. Previously each country used to play 8-10 test matches every year. These days, future schedules have just 2-5 test matches for some teams. There are talks of dividing the ODI into two innings to give it a T20 feel.

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South Africa - Venue For the Indian Premier League Cricket (IPL) Tournament

First played at county level in England during 2003, Twenty20 is the latest version of the ancient English game of cricket. An innings consists of 20 overs and bowlers can only bowl a maximum of four overs each. The action packed game lasts three hours and is shorter than a baseball game.

Fears for the safety of players in India has presented cricket fans in South Africa with a golden opportunity. The second series of the Indian Premier League Cricket tournament will be played in SA from 18 April - 23 May 2009 and the economy could be improved by a much needed R 100 million, according to economists. An estimated 400 players and Indian officials visiting SA for five weeks will inject about R 12 million into hotel turnover, and that's not counting the numerous fans who will travel from India to support their teams. Around 30 000 hotel rooms will be occupied during the 59 matches while domestic flight between the host cities will probably be overbooked. South Africa will be one of the few countries where tourism is not in the doldrums in 2009.

Together with the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup which kicks off in SA in mid-June this year, the IPL Cricket constitutes a fantastic dress rehearsal for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. It gives South Africans an opportunity to test the accommodation arrangements, airports, public transport as well as the often criticized safety and security aspects of hosting such large sports events. But IPL's Lalit Modi said that the Indians had complete confidence in the security situation in SA. England was considered as a possible venue but its unpredictable weather made South Africa the obvious choice. The SA public loves cricket and SA hosted the first Pro20 World Cup successfully, which counted in South Africa's favor.

The matches in SA will be spread over six venues countrywide with the opening match scheduled for Newlands in Cape Town. Ticket prices will be extremely affordable with the most expensive tickets costing around R 220.

All said this tournament promises to be a cricket bonanza for local and international fans alike.

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Boundary Lines on the Soccer Field - An Overview

Boundary lines are critical to any sport, since defining the pitch or field of play is critical to the game. Association football is no exception and Law 1 of the Laws of the Game defines the Field of Play, which includes lines and markings on the field.

One of the fundamental stipulations of Law 1 is that the field of play must be rectangular and marked with lines. Since the field must be rectangular, there must be two longer and two shorter lines. The soccer field has four major boundary lines - two goal lines and two touchlines; the touchlines are the two longer touchlines. However, other lines are critical to the field of play. These include the halfway line and boundary lines for the penalty area. No soccer game can be played properly without these.

Another stipulation of Law 1 is that the boundary lines belong to the area of which they are boundaries. Therefore, the touchlines and goal lines are part of the field of play. A ball must wholly cross the touchline or goal line to be out of play. This also means that the boundary lines for the penalty area are part of the penalty area - including the part of the goal line that bounds the area. If a player commits an offence against an opponent, that punishable by a direct free kick, in his own penalty area, the referee should award a penalty kick.

For a standard soccer field, the touchlines must be between 90 and 120 metres long, while the goal lines must be between 45 and 90 metres long. Law 1 specifies that boundary lines must be visible and all lines must be the same width (not to exceed five inches). Apart from the boundary lines being the same width, they should also be the same width of the goalposts and crossbar by extension. This is to facilitate proper judgement of whether a goal is scored or not.

Symmetry is important on the soccer field, so each half must have identical measurements. Other parts of the field demarcated by boundary lines include the centre circle and corner arcs and penalty arcs. The Laws of the Game also prohibits unauthorised markings and advertising (even virtual projections) on the field of play. Law 1 also specifies that advertising and advertising boards should remain at least one yard or metre from the boundaries once teams enter the field of play.

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Champions League - Second Round Preview

The 21-22 February will see the 16 remaining teams in the Champions League battle it out for a place in the coveted final held on 17 May in Paris. The second round fixtures have been decided so here is a run down of who is left in the competition and their chances of progressing to the quarter finals:

Inter Milan vs Ajax

Inter qualified comfortably from Group H as winners and have a favourable match against Ajax. The Dutch side qualified as runners up of Group A without too much trouble. Inter are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter finals and striker Adriano, with four goals so far in this competition, poses the main threat. Manchester City.
Verdict: Inter to qualify at 2/5.

AC Milan vs Bayern Munich

Milan stuttered through the first round, with just three wins in six matches, before eventually topping the group ahead of PSV Eindoven. Andriy Shevchenko is the tournament's most dangerous striker with six goals. However, Bayern Munich should not be underestimated. They dumped out Arsenal at this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against Chelsea in the quarter finals.
Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.

Liverpool vs Benfica

The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the Cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadn't conceded a goal in 11 league and Cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the World Club Championship on 18 December. Benfica's 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koeman's side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition.
Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.

Barcelona vs Chelsea

This was the most "anticipated" draw in terms of a replay of last season's second phase encounter. Barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the Premiership since August, losing just one match, against Manchester United, all season. Barcelona have also been unstoppable in Europe, winning five out of the six group. Despite the unquestionable talent at his disposal, Jose Mourinho may find his Chelsea team outgunned this time around.
Verdict: Barcelona to qualify at 5/6.

Lyon vs PSV Eindoven

Lyon are a team not to be underestimated in this season's Champions League and won their group ahead of the glamorous Real Madrid. John Carew is Lyon's top goalscorer with four goals while Juninho has laid on three assists. PSV will have their backers but Lyon remained undefeated in the group stage and should edge this encounter.
Verdict: Lyon to qualify at 1/2.

Villarreal vs Rangers

An upset could be on the cards in this encounter with Rangers a large price to qualify ahead of Spaniards Villarreal. Under-fire Rangers boss Alex McLeish may be ridiculously off-the-pace in the Scottish Premier, but he has got it right in Europe and Rangers have become the first side north of the border to venture this far in the competition. Villarreal scored just three times in six group stage matches.
Verdict: Rangers to qualify at 5/2.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal

This is the first time the two have clashed in Champions League and the bookmakers are having difficulty separating them. The Gunners won their five opening matches in the group stage before an experimental line-up drew 0-0 with Ajax in the final round of fixtures. Real Madrid have plenty of attacking power in their line up but are suspect at the back which could be to Arsenal's advantage.
Verdict: Arsenal to qualify at 10/11.

Juventus vs Werder Bremen

Juventus stormed through the group stage, winning five out of six matches, with David Trezeguet scoring four goals. The "Old Lady" have already beaten and lost to German opposition in the competition this season, with two 2-1 results against giants Bayern Munich in the group stage. Werder Bremen are at their best at home, demonstrated in the 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos and 4-3 victory over Udinese.

Verdict: Juventus to qualify at 4/11.

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Manchester United Under Malcolm Glazer

Manchester United is a term which is known to football fans all over the world. It is a football club, an English football club to be precise. It is based on Old Tafford, United Kingdom. They are also known as the "Red Devils" of England. It is one of the most famous and popular football club with more than 300 million supporters all over the world. 300 million can be roughly estimated as 5% of the total population! They are the most successful and influential club and ever since the 1990s they are rumored to be the richest clubs in existence. The club had a humble beginning during the initial stages and was even closed down on number of occasions due to mounting debts.

Being initially called the Newton Health Y&R, it was said to be sponsored by a health club. Five European trophies have been credited to them ever since the club came into existence. This included one international cup, one European super cup, two European champion's cup, one cup winner cup. They were bestowed with 12 domestic cups and 16 premier league cups too. They were also relevant in finding and establishing Europe's G-14 football club. Malcolm Glazer who was an American businessman had invested on Manchester United in 2005. He had paid a staggering $1.47 billion just for a 28.7% share on the team. It was after a year long battle in the courts that he could ultimately get his hands on the team.

He had faced difficulties in claiming the club, due to the facts the takeover had made the club poorer by $850 million. Also he being a businessman, fans did not like the idea of a business man holding the reins of one of the most successful football clubs of the world. They had hoped for someone who had adequate knowledge about the sport to invest on the club. Escalating prices of the tickets also angered the fans as the club often received hefty sums from advertisements and sponsorship dealings. A vast majority of the fans even went to the extent of not renewing their season tickets for the forth coming matches of the Manchester United. Songs disrespecting Glazer and his sons can still be heard on many matches played by Manchester United.

Fans worldwide have been largely discontent by the takeover of the club by Malcolm Glazer. He had played significantly no role in the upcoming of the football club. His children were the ones who enjoyed director posts of the club for sometime. Despite these shortcomings, the club has surged forward under his guidance. He had spent quite large sums of money on the club and even more in roping the world's best football players into the club. The club had won two major cups in 2008 itself, the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League. It is to be noted that the Glazer group does not interfere with the daily business dealings of Manchester united and have left such activities to David Gill, the chief executive of Manchester united. Steep increase in the prices of the tickets had prompted many faithful followers to stay away from the club matches.

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IPL 2 - Rules to Game

The Indian Premier League(IPL) in Season 2 is ruling the roost in South Africa, but some of the rules applicable to the T20 cricket games being played are not quite game.

Just what is achieved by having the 'strategic time out' breaks in every innings of every game? What is so strategic about this? Maybe this is needed for generating more commercial revenue and more hype. Because this is not needed for any cricketing reasons. The strategic time out is taken after every ten overs in an innings of twenty overs. The players cannot be tired in just ten overs. Normal drinks breaks are taken after every one hour in Tests and after every 15-17 overs in one-day internationals (ODI). But those breaks are only for 2-3 minutes. There have been complaints from players and others against this rule and the IPL authorities had agreed to look into this after the season. But then, why it was introduced in the first place?

Duckworth and Lewis rule is applied in rain interrupted ODIs that uses very complicated calculations to set revised targets in reduced overs to arrive at a result. Earlier, for applying D/L method a minimum 25 overs had to be compulsorily bowled. Due to emergence of T20 cricket the minimum was reduced to 20. In IPL 2 the Delhi Daredevils won a match in less than 5 overs using D/L method. There seems to be no rule regarding minimum overs to be bowled for such games. So, it is a possibility that a team can win a match achieving a target set for just one ball when the weather gods permitted time enough for only a solitary ball to be bowled. Though D/L method talks of minimum 5 overs in T20 the IPL rule book says nothing. Even a five over minimum is a mockery of cricket.

And, what about the sartorial cover code for the cheerleaders? There seems to be no rules either for determining this. Sometimes these gyrating damsels are clad quite decently while at times the dress gets reduced to the barest minimum!

A boisterous goodbye to cricketing rules?

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WoW Rogue Leveling Guide - How To Power Level A Rogue

This rogue leveling guide will focus on things you can do to level your toon as fast as possible in WoW.

This class is a pure DPS class that only wears leather making agility a primary need to increase dodge as well as critical attacks that will help survivability and make killing faster for increased leveling speed.

The stunning attacks of rogues also help to decrease damage and ensure you can continue fighting as well as minimize down time. First Aid is something anyone playing this class should take up as well.

The rogue class has three talent trees that are all nice depending on the style of play one chooses to play.

The Combat tree is the best starting point for any rogue making sure to take Dual Wield Specialization and Precision to be able to attack effectively with both hands. Deflection will increase Parry against the many melee opponents you will face while questing.

Endurance is important as it reduces the cool downs of Evasion and Sprint which are awesome solo leveling talents. Finally Blade Fury will increase your damage which is a must particularly at low levels when trying to power level solo.

You will also want to make sure to take all 5 points in Malice of the Assassination tree.

Ruthlessness, Puncturing Wounds and Vigor are all awesome talents for leveling a rogue as quickly as possible.

Lethality will improve your critical strike abilities and damage followed by Vile Poisons as well as Improved Poisons for obvious reasons.

Fleet Footed will improve movement speed which is a must have for those wanting to level as quickly as possible.

These are just a few of the best talent points for this class and any great in game leveling addon will have them all built into their auto talent point features.

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Premier League Tickets - The Big Battle

Want to watch the 20 teams of the Premier League (PL) competing with the defending champions, Manchester United? Plan a sports vacation with your friends to England and enjoy this game event live. The tickets can be easily availed from online sources.

The overwhelming demand for tickets is not surprising, keeping in mind that this is the country's main football competition. Founded in February 20, 1992, this English professional league comprises the association football clubs. The PL is a corporation in which the teams or member clubs operate as shareholders. The season begins in August and continues till May, with each team playing 38 games.

Premier League Tickets: Game Facts

The event is sponsored by the Barclays Bank. Therefore, the Game is officially referred to as the Barclays Premier League. Most of the sports events take place on Saturdays and Sundays, with very few games happening during the weekdays.

Before securing tickets, it is a good idea to know a little about the game. The League came into being after a marked downfall of English football in the late 1980s. English football clubs were banned from European matches for five years starting from 1985. The Football League Division I, which had been the leading English football league since 1888, fell behind Serie A (Italy) and La Liga (Spain) in terms of attendance and revenues and many top players moved abroad.

A change came about in the FIFA World Cup of 1990 when the league reached the semi-finals. The year 1991 saw Manchester United winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Incidentally, the Taylor Report on safety standards in the stadium was published in the month of January in the very same year. The signs of a breakaway league became visible in 1988 when 10 clubs threatened to form a separate 'super league'. As stadia improved, match attendance and revenues increased, the top teams expressed their desire to leave the Football League to capitalize on the rising money influx in sports.

The agreement for establishing FA Premier League was signed on July 17, 1991. This new division had commercial independence from the Football League and the Association. The FA Premiere League comprised 22 inaugural members. The league altered its name and started calling itself simply Premier League from 2007.

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Direct TV Provides Coverage Of A Variety Of Topics

Direct TV can provide you with a lot of benefits when you subscribe to it, and the massive number of channels that it can deliver to your home is just one of those benefits. The freedom to choose how many of those channels you need is another major advantage to satellite TV service with Direct TV.

Another advantage to subscribing to Direct TV is the ability to get special programming. For example, you can get a variety of seasonal sports subscriptions. First there's the Sports Pack service which will give you over twenty five regional sports network channels and specialty sports channels all for a low monthly fee. If you love football NFL's Sunday Ticket may be just the ticket for you. You'll be able to take your pick of NFL games throughout the regular football season. NBA League Pass is a great choice if you love basketball. NBA League Pass will deliver up to forty NBA games a week for every week of the regular season. Hockey fans will love NHL Center Ice which also provides up to forty games every week of the normal hockey season. ESPN Full Court delivers up to thirty games of basketball for the college sports enthusiast every week for the regular college season. If you love soccer, MLS Direct Kick will provide all of the best regular season matches and even some of the playoff games after the regular season is over. Direct TV also offers Mega March Madness to complement CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Men's Division One tournaments. MLB Extra Innings is the source for all of the games that you can't catch any other way during the regular baseball season. MLB Extra Innings delivers up to sixty games every week! If you love soccer, you might want to sign up for Barclays English Premier League or Sentanta Sports. Both provide plenty of great soccer action and Sentata Sports provides coverage of other European sports besides soccer. ESPN Game Plan rounds out Direct TV's offering of sports with coverage of up to fifteen college football games every Saturday over the course of the regular season.

Direct TV also provides plenty of other types of programming besides just sports. For example, a variety of foreign language programming is a great way to stay connected to your home country or to deepen your understanding of a foreign language that you're trying to learn. You can also get a variety of adult programming from Direct TV . Directv programming and service are superior to Dish Network, Cox Communications, Time Warner, Charter Communications, CableVision all the other cable television providers.

If you have a high definition television set and really want to get the ultimate television experience, you should seriously consider adding high definition television channels to your subscription. High definition television provides a much sharper more detailed picture than Directv's already sharp all digital programming. You'll also enjoy the full movie screen like picture on high definition programming that your HDTV set is capable of. High definition television programming from Direct TV provides coverage of a variety of topics including the sports and movies that lend themselves to high definition so well, but also a variety of more nationwide network programming, news, special events and much more.

Direct TV Pay Per View is also a great way to get more variety. You'll have access to Pay Per View selections in standard definition as well as high definition programming. You'll even have access to pay per view options when it comes to adult programming.

There are a great number of benefits to subscribing to Direct TV and you owe it to yourself and your family to take advantage of them now. Switch to the best satellite television provider with the best service. Start now.

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A Short Biography of Soccer Player - Louis Saha

His complete name is Louis Laurent Saha. He was born on 8 August 1978 in Paris, France. Saha is a soccer player of French who has a playing position in the field as a forward. In the Premier League currently he plays for Everton club and in his countryside he is a member of the national squad of France.

His first appearance with France is in 2004 when his team won 2-0 against Belgium. Louis Saha stood for France team at the 2004 European Football Championships as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup which his team got to the final.

His career in club level is with Metz, Fulham, Manchester United, and then Everton. In 1996 Louis Saha began his soccer career with Metz youth academy. In two years Saha starts on the senior lineup of Metz and getting into 47 appearances in favor of the club. In 2000 Saha was moved to Fulham for a fee of £2.1million and as long as his stay at the club in amount of 120 appearances he made 63 goals. In 2004 He was moved to Manchester United club with transfer value of £12.8 million. And in his first season he scored 15 goals for them. He was transferred to Everton for an unrevealed cost, making a sign of a two year agreement with this club.

Saha won same honors as long as his career as professional soccer player and some of them are with Fulham (Football League First Division (1): 2000-2001), and with Manchester United (Premier League (2): 2006-2007, 2007- 2008; Football League Cup (1): 2005- 2006; UEFA Champions League (1): 2007- 2008).

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Confederations Cup

The Confederations Cup organized by the official football federation after the four years. There are eight teams that participate in confederations cup from all around the world. All the teams divided into two groups. The teams selected from the winners of six confederation championships (confederation of African football, south American football confederation, union of European football associations, Asian football confederation, Oceania football confederation, confederation of north, central American and Caribbean association football) along with the football World Cup winner and the host country, to bring the number of teams up to eight.

Football World Cup winner directly qualify for this tournament, and host the tournament also in group. The group teams play each other in league matches. The top two teams in both group meets in the semifinal. The two teams whose win the semifinal meets in grand final. The winner of the final match will be also played next time in that event after four years. The cup matches playing on the most beautiful football stadium of the host country. Perfect chance for the football fans to watch football matches. The confederations cup tournament held each after four years.

Football fans anxiously wait for this mega events and prepare themselves for this fantastic tournament. Fans can book the football tickets online or get from the official offices. Football tickets are on high demand during this event. The football lovers hold on tickets and support their favorite teams. Who will win that cup, this question is raised in every mind among the football fans. So the level of support is high when the matches come close. Football game is very popular around the world that why there fans increasing day by day.

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IPL Revelry and Cricketing Tragedy!

If big money has been a big element of Indian Cricket the Indian Premier League (IPL) made it plain and complicated in its third avatar. And a cricketing tragedy was repeated in a more powerful way.

It is plain because of the transparent purchase deals with the cricketers. All the stars and players of Team India, all retired icons and ex players got sums that put test and one day cricket money to mockery. It is plain because of the transparency of the purchase deals of the eight franchises.

It is complicated when it comes to recovering the money spent or invested by the franchisees. The revenues in terms of gate money, television rights sales, ads in the stadiums, branding or co-branding and all are supposed to be split between them and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and there are no written rules about such deals. It got more complicated in 2010 when two more franchises or teams, Pune and Kochi, were purchased with astronomical sums which almost doubled the sum that seemed 'practical'. Even the former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi found it 'unexpected'. The buyers termed them as 'prestige' deals. Of course, they all want a ride of glamour, attention, hype and sleaze, but they will never prefer losing their hard earned money. So, the hidden agenda.

The hidden agenda remained hidden till the third version of the IPL. Involvement of a minister of the Indian Government who was forced to resign later blew the lid this time. A barrage of invectives between Modi and the minister followed, the BCCI promptly separated itself from Modi, crucial papers and files got missing, former cricketers were implicated and things got so murky that the moment the final of IPL-3 ended, Lalit Modi was sacked by the BCCI.

The side deals, payoffs, kick backs, betting and all came to the fore. Very naturally so, in a business that involved billions.

It is complicated due to the high pressure and politics. The players have to perform to justify sums spent on them and yield returns to owners, the owners have to motivate the players to perform, team selections matters need to be handled, batting order and bowling order must be adjusted depending on performance, fitness problems sorted out and the cricket revelers must be hooked continuously to the 'shows'.

And big money comes to rule absolutely. Big money corrupts and spoils as we have already seen. Matters of genuine cricket and cricket lovers get relegated to the back burner. Since the dawn of the IPL in 2008 a cricketing tragedy loomed on the horizon and now it is extremely large. More of it later.

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Indian Premier League 2010 Auction

The IPL 2010 auction was not expected to be as exciting as the previous two auctions. After all, all the major players like Kevin Pietersen, Jaques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar were already on the books of the franchises. However, there was some anticipation, since 12 Pakistan players, including the likes of Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, were part of the 2010 auction. The IPL 2010 auction also included returning players from the Indian Cricket League-providing some big name prospects like Shane Bond and Mohammad Kaif.

Although the auction for the third IPL edition was less anticipated than the previous two, its repercussions were far greater. It was defined by surprise selections (or non-selections) and adequate controversy. The big story from the auction was that not a single IPL franchise bid for a Pakistan player. However, the non-selection of prominent players like Brad Haddin, Graeme Swann, Doug Bollinger and Shakib Al Hasan were also a feature of auction 2010.

== Auction results ==

When the dust settled, the player movements were as followed:

Kieron Pollard ($750,000 + undisclosed sum in silent bid): Mumbai Indians

Shane Bond ($750,000 + undisclosed sum in silent bid): Kolkata Knight Riders

Kemar Roach ($720,000): Deccan Chargers

Wayne Parnell ($610,000): Delhi Daredevils

Mohammad Kaif ($250,000): Kings XI Punjab

Eoin Morgan ($220,000): Royal Challengers Bangalore

Damien Martyn ($100,000): Rajasthan Royals

Justin Kemp ($100,000): Chennai Super Kings

Adam Voges ($50,000): Rajasthan Royals

Thisara Perera ($50,000): Chennai Super Kings

Yusuf Abdulla ($50,000): Kings XI Punjab

Ashok Meenaria (Rs 800,000): Royal Challengers Bangalore

Harshal Patel (Rs 800,000): Mumbai Indians

Harmeet Singh (Rs 800,000): Deccan Chargers

Kings XI Punjab began bidding with $700,000 because they bought West Indian, Adrian Barath, for $50,000.

== Highlights ==

The highlights of the draw were the non-selection of Pakistan players, good international players and the prices fetched by Kieron Pollard, Shane Bond, Kemar Roach and Wayne Parnell. Four franchises-Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore-had silent bids for Pollard. Mumbai made the highest bid and acquired the services of the big hitting batting all rounder for 2010. Pollard's final price was a well-kept secret. Deccan and Kolkata submitted silent bids for Shane Bond, with Kolkata being successful on that occasion. Three franchises bid for fast bowler, Kemar Roach while only two bid for Wayne Parnell. The 2010 auction would likely be remembered for the periods or marked silence when the auctioneer announced certain names.

== Notable ommissions ==

With only 11 slots available and 66 players in the auction, it was inevitable that many players would be disappointed. Indeed, the IPL 2010 auction was more about who was not picked than who was actually auctioned. In addition, the IPL franchises had a limited number of slots and a restricted purse as well. The owners claimed to base their selections on availability and the needs of the team, hence the omission of the following key players:

Shahid Afridi, Brad Haddin and Graeme Swann were in Pool A-the pool with the highest base prices. Their non-selection was a shock. Shakib Al Hasan, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Doug Bollinger, Sohail Tanvir, Phillip Hughes, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul and Rana Naved were other notable omissions-a commonplace occurrence in that auction.

== Conclusion ==

Although the IPL 2010 auction ran according to form with the bidding on Pollard, Bond, Roach and Parnell, it was overshadowed by the omitted players and the controversy, dubbed the "conspiracy of silence", surrounding Pakistan players.

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The Premier League Sack Race - Who Will Be the First to Go?

So here we are again, the kick off of another Premier League season is fast approaching and the twenty clubs have begun their transfer dealings and have their players back in training. The countdown to a new season is a time for enthusiasm, expectation, optimism and excitement for everybody involved with a club from fans, to players to managers. However, it is the managers who must woke the fine line between success and failure for each and every club and it is the men in the hot seat who will be honing their strategies, selecting their squads, rehearsing their team talks and readying themselves for a pulsating roller-coaster of a ride over the next nine months. The question is however, who will last the course? With Premier League chairman not known for their loyalty and least of all patience, managers are under pressure to win from the first kick of the first game and the forthcoming 2008/2009 season will be no different, as the cut throat nature of football management intensifies.

This article considers which of the existing Premier League managers will have their heads on the chopping board from early August and which chairman will be the quickest to bring down the knife.

Gareth Southgate - Middlesbrough

Former player and England International, Southgate is an intelligent man, who knows football, but his team have flirted with the relegation for two seasons now and unless a rapid improvement is made and quickly, he could be under pressure early on in the season. However, Boro chairman, Steve Gibson is known to be patient with his managers and therefore Southgate may have a stay of execution until further in to the season.

Roy Hodgson - Fulham
Hailed a hero last season when he took the plaudits for keeping Fulham in the Premier League, but he knows it was by the skin of their teeth and needed a great deal of luck. It is impossible to se how Fulham can do better than last year with their meagre resources and mediocre squad. Hodgson through no fault of his own will get the blame as have predeceases Chris Coleman and Lawrie Sanchez but he may surprise a few critics.

Gary Megson - Bolton

Bolton was one of the first club's last year to shed their Manager, when they ruthlessly freed Sammy Lee of his duties at the Club, after a poor start. Megson was the surprise replacement and although Bolton stayed up, they were never very convincing and a bad start this year could see Megson go the same way.

Steve Bruce - Wigan

This may surprise some, but Bruce has never been one to stay at any one club for too long. He has already 'jumped ship' a few times after taking whoever he was managing at the time up the rung a few notches. He did this with Wigan last season, they improved out of all proportion and stayed up with a degree of comfort, but where do they go now. They are at the very best a mid-table team and this may not be good enough for Bruce and whislt he may not get the push by Dave Whelan, he may will be off at the first chance to a bigger club.

Paul Ince - Blackburn

Nothing worse than condemning a man before he has even started, however, Ince is making a massive step up with the Blackburn job and he has come into the position at a time when expectation is at it highest. Mark Hughes did a magnificent job at the Club and has set a standard that Ince must, at the very least, equal. This will be very difficult but the Blackburn squad should be good enough to win the necessary matches and the Blackburn board should be willing to give Ince time.

The Premier League is certainly a ruthless playground for the wealthy Chairman and whilst the 'managerial merry-go-round' may not kick in as soon as last season when the surprise separation of Chelsea and Jose Mourinho sent shock waves through the media and upset the football betting odds early in the season, it is guaranteed that at least one manager will be receiving his P45 sooner than he would like, the question remains who?

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Singapore's Residential Property Regulations For Foreigners

Expats posted to Singapore for work or other reasons may find themselves having to choose the most ideal type of accommodation for the long-term. While a hotel may suffice for short trips, many rent a space to save on costs. There is a third solution - purchasing property.

There are no prevailing laws in Singapore which prevents foreign nationals from purchasing or acquiring residential properties in the country. The Residential Property Act of Singapore primarily assists Singapore nationals in their acquisition of their own home by providing reasonable prices. Also, the Act encourages foreigners who have made a significant contribution to Singapore's economic prosperity to acquire residential properties in the city-state.

Further, an expat may purchase non-restricted residential properties without any permits or approval from Singapore government officials.

A foreign national may desire to buy all units in a property development; however, before he or she can accomplish this, Singapore's Minister of Law must issue an approval. In the same vein, a foreigner without any prior official sanction from Singapore's Minister of Law cannot own residential properties that are classified as restricted.

Property classified as restricted under the Residential Property Act of Singapore means: a vacant residential land - town houses, separate or semi-linked homes, or terraced houses standing on residential lands - lands not authorized for condominium development under the Planning Act.

The expatriate who plans to buy a restricted residential property must fill out a form and then submit this, along with the necessary supporting papers, to the Singapore Land Authority. The bureau is responsible for evaluating the foreigner's eligibility to buy a restricted residential property and for issuing the approval if it finds the expat's qualifications in order.

Residential properties that belong to the non-restricted category: any apartment flat or condo unit included in the Planning Act and leasehold estates zoned under restricted residential properties for terms not exceeding 7 years.

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Europe's Playmaker Princes

Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has blossomed in 2008, equaling the Premier League record of 31 goals in a 38-match season and scoring a total of 42 goals for Manchester United in all competitions.

Ronaldo is currently the biggest name in world football and scored an impressive 8 goals in qualifying. Although he is not your typical playmaker, Ronaldo provides the heartbeat for any team he plays in. His scything runs cutting in from either flank create terror in defenses and he is lethal with both feet and in the air.

Ronaldo's wicked, dipping free kicks are legendary, while his mere presence creates extra space and time for his teammates.

As of June 6, 2008, Ronaldo has scored 20 goals in 52 games for Portugal, and is a leading contender for the golden boot at Euro 2008.

He is one of only two players to be named in the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Premier League Team of the Year for the last 3 seasons, and he is also the first player to win all 3 PFA awards in one season.

Andrea Pirlo - Italy

Pirlo is one of the most gifted passers in world football and with Gennaro Gattuso forms a formidable defensive midfield partnership for AC Milan and Italy. The brains to Gattuso's brawn, Pirlo thrives in a deep-seated playmaking role.

His deadball delivery is lethal - in the 2006 World Cup Final it was his corner that led to Marco Materazzi's equalizing header against France.

Pirlo is a man for the big occasion. He was named Man of the Match in 3 of Italy's 7 World Cup matches in 2006, including the semi-final and final, more than any other player, and was voted the tournament's third best player behind Zinedine Zidane and Fabio Cannavaro.

In 2007, Pirlo was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, and the last of his 6 international goals came last year in qualifying against Georgia.

Pirlo previously captained Italy U-21s to the 2000 European Championship title, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 3 goals.

Fransesc Fabregas - Spain

In 2008, Fabregas was nominated for both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards for the second season in a row, winning the latter award.

Still just 21, Fabregas has long been earmarked for international greatness. At the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland, Fabregas finished as top scorer and was voted player of the tournament as Spain finished runners-up to Brazil.

In 2006, at the age of 19, he became the youngest Spaniard to play at the World Cup and was nominated for Young Player of the Tournament.

Fabregas, who continues to display a maturity that belies his tender age, is a silky playmaker whose incredible passing range is characterized by finesse and creativity, while he is also a dangerous deadball specialist.

Michael Ballack - Germany

Ballack debuted for the German national side in 1999. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup he scored 2 goals in the knockout phases but was suspended for the final as Germany lost to Brazil.

Known for his strength, precision passing, deadly shot and aerial ability, Ballack is a formidable opponent. He has scored 36 goals in 81 international appearances, including a goal every 2 games in competitive internationals (20 in 40 games).

The midfield general was given the national captaincy following Euro 2004 and at the 2006 World Cup he was named Man of the Match against both Ecuador and Argentina and won a place in FIFA's World Cup All-Star Team, as Germany finished 3rd.

Germany was the first team to qualify for Euro 2008 and Ballack's leadership and goals were instrumental in his country's easy passage to the tournament.

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Brutality in the English Game - Why England May Never Win a Major Tournament

Once again, the darkside of English football was exposed over the weekend when one of the brightest prospect of the game, Aaron Ramsay suffered a career threatening injury when Arsenal met Stoke City in a Premier league game. Aaron broke his leg due to a reckless, over-zealous and brutal tackle by Stoke City's defender Ryan Shawcross. The tackle may have been accidental, unintentional or whatever name one may choose to call it, but what I witnessed exposes a wider problem in English football which I believe could prevent them from winning any major international honours.

In 5 years, Arsenal have seen 3 similar injuries happen to team members. I don't believe these are just coincidental. I believe it sterms from a culture that have been encouraged by Managers, the media and pundicts which tries to enforce the belief that the only way to stop Arsenal from playing their fast, free flowing football is to be physical and aggressive in your approach and "get in their faces", which is the term often used to describe this approach.

While this approach may have a place within the context of the modern game of football as a contact sport, I'm convinced that it has, for the greater part, encouraged an overly physical approach which has resulted in these horrific injuries. The overwhelming priorities of most clubs facing Arsenal is not to concentrate on playing football to win the game, but to stop Arsenal from playing their brand of football. If these teams approach every game with the same physical intensity as they do games with Arsenal, I think their league positions will dramatically improve.

The wider implication for the national game is that, young footballers coming through are thought to prioritise the physicality of the game above the development of technique and skill. Is it any wonder why the English national team is plagued by one major weakness; and that is ball retention. At International level, a teams ability to keep possession of the ball for longer periods of a football match is key to winning tournaments. If you are in doubt, just take a look at the Spainish or Brazilian national teams and you will understand why they've won major trophies and are currently ranked the top sides in the world.

The English Premier league prides itself in the fact that, it is the richest and the best league in the world. It may be the best league because of the foreign players who bring technique and skill to the otherwise boring, over-physical and long-ball style that football fans would have been stuck to.

If England want to see a real potential in their sides winning major trophies, then they must say goodbye to the over-emphasis on the physical nature of the game and concentrate on developing footballers with true skill and technique. They must stop excusing horrific tackles like the one we saw over the weekend and start campaigning for a cleaner game that frowns upon the likes of the Ryan Showcross tackle. In my opinion, Until this culture of physicality is eradicated from the English culture, winning the world cup will be a very, very long short.

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