Louis

This is confirmation.. Tim Howard is not eligible to play against Manchester United.

scifi+1 it starts at 11.. you're sorted Zed.

10pm tonight.

Paul Gregg was going to comission feasilbity studies on other peices of land but then he had the argument with Kenwright... maybe long term Gregg would have been better for Everton. food for thought

Did you go the match Pat and do you reckon they have a chance of winning the ACL next year or is it too big an ask? I know nothing about the standard of Asian football.

I'd like to take the opportunity to place a bet that her next single will be a cover of 'nothing compares to you'.

It's apparently less than Richard Wright earns.... RW is *apparently* on 40k a week whilst TH has signed a 30k per week deal.

It's a new series starting on Monday on sci fi channel.. it's meant to be brilliant.. a combination of xmen and lost.. http://www.scifiuk.com/heroes/ You can watch the first episode on there.

Doubt it! Yobo was wanted by Juve and they even made a bid but he chose us.

'FA can't be trusted to run World Cup bid' Denis Campbell and Jamie Jackson Sunday February 18, 2007 The Observer The Football Association will not be allowed to run England's likely bid to host the 2018 World Cup because of the inept way they handled the ill-fated attempt to secure last year's tournament. The government is not prepared to let Soho Square organise and control any campaign for 2018 because senior figures do not believe the FA's top brass can handle a task of such scale and complexity. 'The FA can't be trusted to run any bid on their own, that's absolutely right,' said a well placed Whitehall insider who has been involved in securing Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown's high-profile backing for a bid. 'It's too big a job for the FA. It involves security, tourism, transport, Britain's reputation on the world stage and other things that aren't their job usually, so other people will be involved.' David Davies, the FA's recently departed executive director, told Observer Sport last night that the FA and government should follow the example of London's successful pitch to land the 2012 Olympics. In that race the British Olympic Association were the organisation that formally bid for the event, but the campaign was orchestrated by an independent team headed by Lord Coe. 'What are the lessons to be learned from the failed 2006 World Cup bid and the successful London 2012 campaign? That the latter was run by a stand-alone organisation which was highly-successful,' said Davies. 'Although of course football must be properly represented.' Ministers' reluctance to entrust the FA with a bid could lead to fresh tension, following government unhappiness that the FA have taken so long to implement the extensive reforms proposed in the independent Burns Report. The London 2012 model is widely admired in government and an organisation along those lines is likely to be set up once the FA decide formally to bid. Brown will seek support for England's campaign when he meets Fifa president Sepp Blatter in London on 28 February. Meanwhile, with London staging the Olympics and so many other big sporting events coming or possibly coming to Britain in the decade from 2009, the government may appoint a Minister for Major Events to oversee progress. Cricket's Twenty20 World Cup is coming in 2009, with the full World Cup in 2019. The Rugby World Cup is likely to be held in Britain in 2015 and Glasgow is in the running to stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bill.. if you don't have cable yet... go for virgin media www.virginmedia.com

Virgin recently started virgin media service - the biggest threat to sky so far.. on sky one they are showing the following advert as virgin media has plans to scrap sky one from their schedules. The advert is sky begging viewers to ask virgin to keep some sky channels gOmlGnOwniw

Simon Jordan has advised David Sullivan to "stop moaning about Birmingham fans" and leave St Andrew's if he is unhappy after the club's co-owner criticised the club's "appalling" crowds and lack of atmosphere. Jordan, the Crystal Palace owner and chairman, has been feuding with the Birmingham hierarchy - Sullivan and Ralph and David Gold -since Steve Bruce left for St Andrew's in 2001 and, as the clubs prepare to meet at Selhurst Park this afternoon, the war of words re-erupted. "Sullivan said that Birmingham had cost them £10m," said Jordan. "But, as I understand it, he has somewhere around £500m, so what is the problem? I'm trying to look at this in a caring way for David, so instead of ****ing and moaning about the fans, why doesn't he just leave? "He keeps saying this. I think he just wants to be loved - maybe that's why he sells strap-ons? My theory is that he wasn't breast fed as a child and he needs some love. But who would want the love of Birmingham fans anyway?" Sullivan made much of his estimated £595m from pornography and Jordan previously threatened to "impale myself on one of their *****s" if he again hears the story of how the Golds are East End boys "made good". "I do have a dislike for David Gold but with Sullivan it's fun," said Jordan, who was responding to Sullivan's description of him as a "frustrated actor who wants to be Ray Winstone". "He [Jordan] is an individual - he says a lot of things," Sullivan had said. "I don't know why he wants to say bad things about people all the time. He said he wants to punch me in the face. In his boardroom he hides in one corner and has his little entourage and doesn't speak to anybody. Very strange." Sullivan said that he bumped into Jordan while on holiday in Marbella. "I met him with my little boys." He said: 'What do you expect from people who sell *****s for a living", so my little eight-year-old said, 'What's a dill-doss, dad?' "I said, 'I understand you want to punch me in the face' and he said, 'No.' I get on all right with him. He doesn't worry me at all - I'm a non-violent person." According to Jordan, Sullivan started the conversation in Marbella by getting his son to ask him what a "dill-doss" was. "I don't want to beat David Sullivan up - anyway, I would have to get on my knees if I wanted to land an upper-cut." Jordan recently appeared on the ITV show Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway and Sullivan said: "You don't go on all sort of TV programmes unless you are a frustrated actor. He would like to be a media personality."Jordan responded by saying Sullivan wished he was Danny De Vito. "No one wants to see his [sullivan's] ugly mug on the television," he said. "Why would I want to be an actor? I've always turned down shows like Celebrity Big Brother or Celebrity Love Island. I did the show because it was something new and I think in life you should take the chance to try new things." Sullivan also accused Jordan of wasting Birmingham's money by ordering extra places in the boardroom at St Andrew's and then not showing up. "This is the sort of thing Simon does," he added. Jordan replied: "Why would I ask for extra seats when I don't like being in boardrooms?"

There could be a bit of an academy reshuffle on in time for the opening of the new academy.. I've heard a rumour suggesting the academy director could be out on his ear soon as David Moyes doesn't think he's doing a good enough job. Scouser Paul 'Benno' Bennett has nine years experience of coaching kids at Crewe and it can only be good for the club. It's strange that his new position at EFC hasn't been made public... perhaps he's being groomed to replace Hall. Apparently he has been caretaker manager at Witton and assistant manager at Vics and Winsford United (whilst maintaing his coaching role at Crewe).

I've only seen it on NSNO, I don't think it's anywhere else.

I think that's illegal now because the EU see it as a restriction of employment (not entirely sure), the FA may have to be very precise with the words they use - I suppose they could say 7 home nations players must be in the squad.

His agent Dan Segal has come out and said that Tim Howard is now the highest paid american in the history of 'soccer'.. I'm not say I would appreciate my agent telling people I'm the highest paid american player to keep the pressure off. The sad thing is we are paying him more than Man Utd did. He said: "This move for Tim is absolutely terrific. Everton has been a perfect fit for him from day one. The financial package - the largest ever for an American soccer player - that the club put together to keep him says everything about their commitment to Tim, and the fact that Tim has signed for five years says everything about his commitment in return."

When Everton's players report back for pre-season training this summer it will not be to the famous old Bellefield training ground in the West Derby area of Liverpool. Instead, they will be heading to a state-of-the-art new training complex at Finch Farm in Halewood, close to Liverpool airport. The multi-million pound facility is now 20 weeks away from completion. When finished it will house both David Moyes' senior squad and the Everton Academy. With the building work in full flow, Everton legend Graeme Sharp paid a visit to the Finch Farm complex this week and was mightily impressed with what he saw. In an exclusive interview with evertonTV, he predicted the new complex would ensure a greater number of homegrown players will come through the Academy ranks having benefited from the very latest technology that will be on offer at the Finch Farm base. He told evertonTV: "You have to breed your own players and when you bring the parents and the kids here it will be a big selling point. And I am sure in the years to come we will see many more young players coming through and playing in the first team. "I think it looks absolutely fantastic. It will be a great facility when it is finished. It is state of the art and I believe it is the best around in the country at the moment. The players will be looking forward to coming here, as well as the young players. "I have had a look inside and the facilities that will be available to the players and the management are fantastic. The pitches will be in great condition come the summer and the indoor facilities like the hydra-therapy pool and the gymnasium will be hugely beneficial. "We need to catch up with the Arsenal and Chelseas of this world who have fantastic training complexes. It has been a long time waiting to get this. "Bellefield holds special memories but it was important we have a new training facility to move forward."

Joe.. here is the quote from the AGM minutes about Vancouver:

I've heard the following names mentioned: Mike McComb, David McLean and George Downing. McComb made his millions through selling his mobile phone store company to BT Cellnet in 2000. George Downing opened a snooker club in Liverpool at the age of 17. When his partner bought him out, he turned to buying and refurbishing terraced houses. The most notable of his portfolio are the Port of Liverpool Building, one of the waterfront's 'three graces', the Radison SAS scandinavian hotel and he also pioneered the idea of students living in the city centre so built several student homes buildings which have recently been sold to Union. George Downing purchased Leicesters Filbert Street and turned into student homes, does the same fate await Goodison? It would certainly help redevelop the area.. David Mclean - Property developer from Flint. Founder of the David McLean construction group. I don't know if it's true or not though.

I've heard Clarence Dock mentioned.. http://www.liverpool2007.org.uk/docks/northdocks2.gif not far from the city centre.. and a lot bigger than Kings Dock and near a railway line so they could pop a station on the track for use during match days. It'd be ideal as that line goes to both Southport and Kirkby.

I'm doubting he's real

It's affecting the whole of UEFA though Mark so it'll be in proportion. If anything it's a detriment to south american players who want to play in Europe.

See his comments today? Preston North End star David Nugent says being released by Liverpool was the best thing that could have happened to him. Nugent is now the hottest talent outside the Premiership and told the Independent: "It is hard for a young lad to be released by Liverpool at 14. "But I think you've got more of a chance of coming through the lower leagues when you're released at 14 than 16 or 17, and I was determined. I've had other setbacks with injuries and illness but I was determined to keep going. Just after I was released by Liverpool I contracted viral meningitis. It wasn't a nice time by any means but what has happened since has been wonderful. Now I would say the best thing that ever happened to me was being released by Liverpool. It's not nice to be told you're not good enough so it's wonderful to be where I am now and it would be great to go into the Premiership with Preston and see their faces. It would be nice to think they'd have to buy me for £20m in a few years' time when they could have had me for nothing." The spurned Nugent did not have to wait long for his invitation back into the game. When his Sunday league team, Whiston Juniors, entered a five-a-side tournament in Blackpool the following season, his performances caught the eye of a Bury scout who contacted the club's youth-team coach, Andy Feeley. "We lost my first game for the youth team 4-3 but I scored a hat-trick in front of the Bury chairman and he offered me a youth contract there and then." Nugent knows what he wants to do should Preston fail to win promotion this season. "I want to play for Everton, there's no question about that," he states. "Everyone knows I'm an Everton fan. My hero was Duncan Ferguson and, hopefully, I will play for them in my career and I'm confident I will do. I used to wear my Everton top underneath my Liverpool training top, I hated wearing red at the time, but they gave me my chance to play at the School of Excellence and it was great there. "Now I've moved on. I am doing well at the moment with Preston but only when I am in the Premiership would I say I have proved those people wrong."

They're fine with it Joe because a lot the foreign players came through their academy as they were transferred at a young age with their parents.