David Beckham's best friend Terry Byrne has confirmed he is behind a takeover bid for Leyton Orient but insists the England midfielder is not involved. Byrne is heading a consortium who are in talks with Orient chairman Barry Hearn. He also ruled out any involvement of business partner Simon Fuller, the founder of 19 Entertainment who manage Leytonstone-born Beckham and tennis player Andy Murray, in the takeover bid. Byrne said in a statement: "I wish to confirm that myself and a consortium of investors are in discussions with Barry Hearn with a view to take over Leyton Orient FC.
"I wish to also confirm that neither David Beckham nor Simon Fuller are part of this consortium. My close personal friendship with David has led to elements of the media incorrectly speculating his involvement. "Although I have previously managed David Beckham and continue to be partners with Simon Fuller, this current opportunity is being pursued by myself and a number of key influential business associates. "In the event that we successfully conclude matters with Barry Hearn, a further announcement will follow."
The Coca-Cola League One side have confirmed that Hearn is in talks with the consortium.
A statement on the club's official website read: "Talks are ongoing and it is hoped an announcement will be made in the near future."
Saturday, January 31, 2009
BECKHAM NOT BIDDING FOR ORIENT
Arsene Wenger insists no deal has yet been agreed to bring Russia international Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal - but remains hopeful of a successful conclusion to the protracted saga before the transfer window closes.
Zenit St Petersburg have made it clear they are willing to sell the wantaway 27-year-old playmaker, at the right price.
However, the Gunners remain resolute in their offer of �12million plus add-ons and, as yet, no further improved bid has been tabled amid reports of Arshavin being ready to slash his wage demands in order to push the move through.
Asked if Arsenal had agreed a fee with Zenit, Wenger declared: "No, and we have not applied for a work permit yet for Arshavin or anybody else.
"Whether we are close or not has little meaning - it does not matter how close you are, what is important is that you agree. At the moment, we have no agreement with anybody for any transfer.
"We are always confident, we try our best and respect our budget. If we can find an agreement, we will do it, if we cannot we will not overspend what we have planned to do."
Wenger, though, indicated there could yet be movement ahead of the midnight deadline on Monday.
The Arsenal manager added: "These kind of stories sometimes develop in the last minute on the final day of the transfer window. It is very difficult to predict.
"I can only give you the way we think on our side. I cannot give you what other people think."
Wenger is not a fan of the transfer window, noting at Friday's press conference ahead of the visit of in-form West Ham how once again the agenda was dominated by off-field matters.
He said: "I do not like it. Every press conference is a bore about players who might come in than about the players who play and do something for the club.
"Others get too much importance at a part of the season where it is more important that you rely on people who fight for you than for those who might come in - that cannot be a great help for the club at the moment."
Despite the continuing distraction of the transfer window, Arsenal have picked up form, extending their unbeaten league run to nine matches following a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Everton.
However, their failure to win in midweek has seen the gap behind fourth-placed Aston Villa grow to five points and Arsenal are eight adrift of leaders Manchester United.
While talk may be the Gunners are vulnerable for a first failure to qualify for the Champions League in a decade, a defiant Wenger maintains there is still plenty of reasons to stay positive heading into the final 15 matches.
"We had a difficult game on Wednesday night, but we are on a good run and I am not concerned," Wenger declared.
"Finishing outside the top four does not worry me at the moment, because we have a very good opportunity to be in there.
"If I ask you what does it mean if your house will burn down, you will tell me 'why should my house burn down?'. That is exactly the same for me.
"This team has overcome a lot of criticism and have a strong character.
"I am very positive and believe very strongly in my squad - why should we consider all of the negative aspects of the season?
"I never worry, I try to give my best and put my players in a condition where they believe in their strengths."
Arsenal have fought off challenges to their place among the so-called "big four" in previous campaigns - most notably 2005/2006 when Tottenham's bid fell apart on the final day of the season following defeat at West Ham.
Wenger maintains this time is no different.
He said: "We have a very young team who are doing well, but why should we always face a catastrophe?
"We have all the positive reasons to believe in our future.
"If at the last day of the season, we are not in there, then I will take all of your questions, and [accept] all of my responsibilities."
Wenger added: "I do not want to prove everybody wrong, I want to prove that I am right to believe in my players and in my squad, that is all." Read More......
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The list of World Open
List of winners
1991: Lothar Matthaeus
1992: Marco van Basten
1993: Roberto Baggio
1994: Romario
1995: George Weah
1996: Ronaldo
1997: Ronaldo
1998: Zinedine Zidane
1999: Rivaldo
2000: Zinedine Zidane
2001: Luis Figo
2002: Ronaldo
2003: Zinedine Zidane
2004: Ronaldinho
2005: Ronaldinho
2006: Fabio Cannavaro
2007: Kaka
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ronaldo Wolrd Best players 2008
Present as trofi to the Manchester United players are pesepakbola legendary Brazilian, Pele. Previous events this first award to give Pesepakbola Women's Open in 2008. As a result, players Timnas Brazil, Marta, out as winners. This is the third time he appears in a sequence as Pesepakbola Women's Open, after earlier reaching a similar degree in 2006 and 2007.
Ronaldo First Options Maradona & Capello
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the official World Open in 2008. But it did not mean he is always away so the first choice of the coach and captain Timnas. Thus have the same name is not entered. The World Open title version of FIFA is determined by the choice of coach and captain the national team. In position-based voting system, they are given three options for players.
Five points will be awarded for the first option, three options for the second and third choice for one. Results of the election and then mendapuk Ronaldo as the World Open in 2008 with 935 total points raihan. Number of leave Lionel Messi (678), Fernando Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155). Ronaldo may have the numbers deviate far from the rival-rivalnya it. But it does not mean he always be the choice Timnas coach and captain. In Spain, for example.
Coach Vicente Del Bosque is to make Ronaldo as the first choice followed by Messi and Steven Gerrard. However, the captain Iker Casillas is not at all enter the name and choose Ronaldo Samuel Eto'o as the number one, followed by Gerrard and Messi. Ronaldo will be the name but the first choice in the citadel of Argentina. Maradona the coach chose Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović new and Emmanuel Adebayor, while captain 'Tango' Javier Mascherano choose Ronaldo, Torres and Gerrard.
England coach Fabio Capello also made the first choice as Ronaldo, Messi and Torres followed. But John Terry is little to choose Xavi first in front of Torres and Ronaldo. Ronaldo back so the first choice for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, Casillas and followed by Ibrahimovic. Options are different from the coach Marcello Lippi who choose the order Messi, Ronaldo and Torres. Meanwhile, in the citadel Timnas Portugal, coach Carlos Queiroz chose Xavi, Kaka and Ibrahimovic sequentially.
Meanwhile, the captain Nuno Gomes selecting Ruud van Nistelrooy, Didier Drogba and Eto'o, whose third name is not at all the entry list of the five major World Open in 2008. Why not have a name that notabene Ronaldo stars in Portugal and Queiroz Gomes choice? Nothing, the coach and captain Timnas, indeed, should not select players from their own country.