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Singapore govt says ready to stop any property bubble Reuters - Thursday, July 30 SINGAPORE, July 29 - The Singapore government stands ready to step in to prevent a property bubble after signs of speculation in the real estate market, state media quoted a cabinet minister as saying on Wednesday. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told reporters it was not clear if the buying momentum of new private homes in the past few months could be sustained and the government was keeping a negative growth projection for such demand this year. "I wouldn't say there's excessive speculation at the moment, but there is some element of speculation involved. I think some of the practices that you saw in the last property boom are starting to come back. So I think we'll have to be careful," Mah was quoted as saying by state radio 938LIVE's website. Property and stock prices in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia have jumped in recent months after central banks and governments pumped cash into the ailing global economy, but Asia's monetary authorities may be set to ignore frothy markets [iD:nSP380977]. "I would say that there is more than sufficient supply over the next couple of years and it's a bit too early to say whether there is a speculative bubble or property bubble building up," the Straits Times newspaper's website quoted Mah as saying. Cautioning buyers not to be lured into buying a home beyond their means, Mah said the government would step in should the situation get out of hand. He said the government could bring back its suspended land sales programme if necessary, the Straits Times reported. Private home sales have soared since February as prices fell. Singapore leapt out of recession in the second quarter and the government raised its 2009 forecast for the economy to shrink by 4 to 6 percent, from a previous forecast for a contraction of up to 9 percent. Signs of speculation in private property market Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, July 30 SINGAPORE: The government is seeing some signs of speculation in the Singapore property market, according to National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan. Speaking on the sidelines of the topping out ceremony of the Marina Bay Financial Centre on Wednesday morning, Mr Mah said the government is monitoring the situation. It is uncertain if the buying momentum seen in recent months can be sustained, he added. "The forecast is still for negative growth this year. Although it’s not as negative as it was in the beginning of the year, I think there is still uncertainty... But what is important really is for all of us, all the players in the market, to make sure that the market remains healthy," said Mr Mah. According to latest data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), sales of uncompleted private homes reached a record high of 1,825 units in June as improving sentiment in the market spurred homebuyers to snap up more units. Mr Mah assured that there is adequate supply of units in the market for now and the government is prepared to release more land for sale if necessary. On the Marina Bay Financial Centre, Mr Mah noted that it has already attracted over S$20 billion of private real estate investments from both local and international investors. About 61 per cent of space in the centre has been pre—leased. Mr Mah also reiterated the government’s commitment to the project, saying another S$1 billion in infrastructure works will be invested over the next 10 to 15 years. The figure is on top of the S$7.5 billion already invested in Marina Bay. 938LIVE/so

Temasek hit by S$40 billion loss last year Temasek portfolio shed $27 bln in year: executive AFP - Thursday, July 30 SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Temasek Holdings' portfolio lost more than 40 billion Singapore dollars (27.72 billion US) in value as of end-March from a year before, the state investment firm's chief executive said Wednesday. Ho Ching, the wife of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said the company anticipated the drop in a review last year. "Indeed, it had turned out to be so and more," Ho told a forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies think-tank. Temasek's investments were hammered by the financial and economic crisis that led global markets to plummet in the second half of last year. Singapore said earlier this year that Temasek's overall portfolio value had fallen by 58 billion dollars to 127 billion dollars from end-March to November of 2008. "The Temasek journey will not always be smooth. As we sail in choppy waters, we may need to take shelter if we see dark clouds coming," Ho said. She added that the search for her successor was going ahead after the "unfortunate" scrapping of a plan to appoint US businessman Charles "Chip" Goodyear. The former head of resources giant BHP Billiton would have been the first foreigner to run the once-secretive sovereign wealth fund and his appointment just a few months ago was hailed as part of an effort to transform Temasek into a global enterprise. "It is unfortunate that both the board and Chip recently came to the amicable and mutual conclusion that it was best not to proceed with the CEO transition," Ho told the forum. "This does not mean however that we should stop this discipline of succession review. We will continue to do so regardless of who takes the helm as CEO at Temasek." The investment firm said its decision to rescind Goodyear's appointment was due to differences over strategy. When asked to elaborate on Wednesday, Ho said: "We continue to hold Chip in very high regard for his professionalism and his integrity so all those little funny rumours you hear of his management style, and all that, you can disregard." The firm has said it remains a long-term investor and remains focussed on Asian investments due to the region's strong growth prospects. Ho, 56, said that Temasek will invest 70 percent of its resources in Asia, including Singapore, with 20 percent earmarked for investments in industrialised countries. The rest will be used for markets in Latin America and Africa, she added. "We remain very comfortable with Asia," said Ho, who will stay on as CEO of Temasek, which manages a global portfolio invested in a wide range of sectors from airlines to energy, resources and consumer products. "Growth will not be a straight line trajectory. We can expect bumps along the way, but the longer term potential remains strong. As Asia continues on its development curve, it will also de-risk." Temasek says portfolio falls by S$40 bln end-March '09 Reuters - Wednesday, July 29 SINGAPORE, July 29 - Singapore state investor Temasek said on Wednesday its portfolio had fallen by S$40 billion as of end-March 2009 from a year ago. "In our Temasek Review last year, we reported an annual value-at-risk of almost S$40 billion last March. This meant a 16 percent probability for our portfolio value to drop more than S$40 billion by March this year. Indeed, it has turned out to be so, and more," CEO Ho Ching said in a speech. Temasek had S$185 billion in assets as of end-March 2008, which fell to S$127 billion as of November 2008. Ho did not give the exact portfolio level. This was the first public comment by Ho, also the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, after Temasek said last week that Charles "Chip" Goodyear will not become CEO due to differences over strategy.[iD:SIN435934] Ho said Temasek would continue to look at internal and external candidates for her replacement. (Reporting by Saeed Azhar and Kevin Lim; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

'Scorched' under ATI T5.

MJ house was a mess when he died: source AP source: Michael Jackson's inner sanctum chaotic By THOMAS WATKINS,Associated Press Writer AP - Tuesday, July 28 LOS ANGELES - With towering ceilings and an elaborate facade, Michael Jackson's rented Beverly Hills mansion was the epitome of opulence. Inside, on the top floor, the scene was less elegant, according to a law enforcement official. Clothes and other items were strewn about and handwritten notes stuck on the walls. One read: "children are sweet and innocent." And no one working in the house was allowed upstairs to clean up the mess. The description of Jackson's private sanctum provides a glimpse into how the pop star was living in the weeks before he died. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, also told The Associated Press on Monday that Jackson's personal doctor administered a powerful anesthetic to help him sleep, and authorities believe the drug killed the pop singer. Authorities arrived at the singer's house after his death to find a chaotic scene. The temperature upstairs was stiflingly hot, with gas fireplaces and the heating system on high because Jackson always complained of feeling cold, the official said. The singer's bedroom was a mess, with items seemingly thrown about and some 20 handwritten notes stuck on the walls. A porcelain girl doll wearing a dress was found on top of the covers of the bed where he slept, the official said. The official said Jackson regularly received propofol to sleep, relying on the drug like an alarm clock. A doctor would administer it when he went to sleep, then stop the intravenous drip when he wanted to wake up. On June 25, the day Jackson died, Dr. Conrad Murray gave him the drug through an IV sometime after midnight, the official said. Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, has said the doctor "didn't prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Michael Jackson." When asked Monday about the law enforcement official's statements he said: "We will not be commenting on rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources." In a more detailed statement posted online late Monday, Chernoff added that "things tend to shake out when all the facts are made known, and I'm sure that will happen here as well." Toxicology reports are still pending, but investigators are working under the theory that propofol caused Jackson's heart to stop, the official said. Jackson is believed to have been using the drug for about two years and investigators are trying to determine how many other doctors administered it, the official said. Murray, 51, has been identified in court papers as the subject of a manslaughter investigation, and authorities last week raided his office and a storage unit in Houston. Police say Murray is cooperating and have not labeled him a suspect. Using propofol to sleep exceeds the drug's intended purpose. The drug can depress breathing and lower heart rates and blood pressure. Because of the risks, propofol is supposed to be administered only in medical settings by trained personnel. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Lynn Elber in Tustin, Calif., Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee, and Justin Pritchard in Los Angeles.

Doctor gave Jackson drug that killed him: CNN AFP - Tuesday, July 28 LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - Michael Jackson's doctor administered the powerful drug police believed killed the music superstar, CNN quoting a source with knowledge of the investigation reported. Doctor Conrad Murray has become the focus of the probe into Jackson's death amid reports that bottles of the potent anesthetic propofol were found at the star's mansion after his tragic June 25 demise. A report on CNN's website did not give further information and a spokeswoman for Murray's legal team refused to comment. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department also declined to comment. Jackson's cause of death has been deferred pending the outcome of toxicology tests following a June 25 post mortem. Those test results could be released later this week. The report comes just days after federal agents and detectives swooped without warning on Murray's Houston office, revealing for the first time in a search warrant that Jackson's death was being treated as possible manslaughter. Propofol is used in hospitals to induce unconsciousness in patients ahead of major surgery. Experts say it should only be administered by a trained anesthesiologist and there could be no reason for it to be in Jackson's home. Lawyers for Murray said in a statement last week the doctor was keen to assist authorities in their investigation and was preparing for a third meeting with police after two earlier interviews. "The coroner wants to clear up the cause of death, we share that goal," attorney Ed Chernoff said in a statement. Murray is currently in Las Vegas, his legal team said, and Chernoff insisted that "based on Dr Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges. "Dr Murray was the last doctor standing when Michael Jackson died and it seems all the fury is directed toward him," Chernoff said. "Dr Murray is frustrated by negative and often erroneous media reports, he has to walk around 24-7 with a bodyguard. He can't operate his practice." In the immediate aftermath of Jackson's death, friends of the singer's family said the clan had "unanswered questions" regarding Murray. "They (the family) are suspicious of this doctor and they have real reason to be because any other doctor would say 'Here's what happened in the last hour of his life and I was there. I gave him some medicine,'" family friend and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson said. "(Murray) owes it to the family and to the public to say, 'These were the last hours of Michael's life and here's what happened.' That's a reasonable expectation." AP source: Jackson doc gave him drug before death By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jul 27, 10:28 pm ET LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's personal doctor administered a powerful anesthetic to help him sleep, and authorities believe the drug killed the pop singer, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, also provided a glimpse inside Jackson's rented mansion, describing the room Jackson slept in as outfitted with oxygen tanks and an IV drip. Another of his bedrooms was a shambles, with clothes and other items strewn about and handwritten notes stuck on the walls. One read: "children are sweet and innocent." The official said Jackson regularly received propofol to sleep, relying on the drug like an alarm clock. A doctor would administer it when he went to sleep, then stop the intravenous drip when he wanted to wake up. On June 25, the day Jackson died, Dr. Conrad Murray gave him the drug through an IV sometime after midnight, the official said. Though toxicology reports are pending, investigators are working under the theory propofol caused Jackson's heart to stop, the official said. Jackson is believed to have been using the drug for about two years and investigators are trying to determine how many other doctors administered it, the official said. Murray, 51, has been identified in court papers as the subject of a manslaughter investigation and authorities last week raided his office and a storage unit in Houston. Police say Murray is cooperating and have not labeled him a suspect. Using propofol to sleep is a practice far outside the drug's intended purpose. One doctor said administering it in a home to help a person sleep would constitute malpractice. Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, has said the doctor "didn't prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Michael Jackson." When asked Monday about the law enforcement official's statements he said: "We will not be commenting on rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources." In a more detailed statement posted online late Monday, Chernoff added that "things tend to shake out when all the facts are made known, and I'm sure that will happen here as well." Murray became Jackson's personal physician in May and was to accompany him to London for a series of concerts starting in July. He was staying with Jackson in the Los Angeles mansion and, according to Chernoff, "happened to find" an unconscious Jackson in the pop star's bedroom the morning of June 25. Murray tried to revive him by compressing his chest with one hand while supporting Jackson's back with the other. It's unclear how long it took for someone at Jackson's home to summon paramedics, though Murray's own lawyers have said it was up to a half-hour. Paramedics arrived about three minutes after they were called and tried to revive the music superstar for another 42 minutes before sliding him into the ambulance and racing with lights flashing and siren blaring to UCLA Medical Center, where Jackson was pronounced dead. Authorities arrived at the singer's house after the death and found a chaotic scene. The top floor had been all but sealed off, with only Jackson, his children and Murray allowed upstairs, the official said. Jackson's bedroom was a mess, with items seemingly thrown about and some 20 handwritten notes stuck on the walls. A porcelain girl doll wearing a dress was found on top of the covers of the bed where he slept, the official said. The temperature upstairs was stiflingly hot, with gas fireplaces and the heating system on high because Jackson always complained of feeling cold, the official said. Police found propofol and other drugs in the home. An IV line and three tanks of oxygen were in the room where Jackson slept and 15 more oxygen tanks were in a security guard's shack, the official said. Propofol can depress breathing and lower heart rates and blood pressure. Because of the risks, propofol is only supposed to be administered in medical settings by trained personnel. Instructions on the drug's package warn that patients must be continuously monitored, and that equipment to maintain breathing, to provide artificial ventilation, and to administer oxygen if needed "must be immediately available." Dr. Zeev Kain, who heads the anesthesiology department at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, said he has never encountered a situation where propofol was given in a home to help someone sleep. Such a situation would constitute malpractice, he said. Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who gave Jackson nutritional counseling and vitamins earlier this year, said he complained of insomnia and asked her repeatedly for Diprivan, the brand-name version of propofol. Lee said she warned him of the drug's dangers and rejected his requests. Los Angeles police interviewed Murray twice soon after Jackson's death. Last week, detectives flew to Houston and, along with federal drug agents, searched a medical clinic he ran and a storage unit he rented. They seized a long list of items, including the contents of three computer hard drives, two e-mails from his administrative assistant at the Las Vegas practice Murray ran and various other documents. A sealed search warrant approved by a Houston judge and later made public allowed authorities to seek "property or items constituting evidence of the offense of manslaughter that tend to show that Dr. Conrad Murray committed the said criminal offense." Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Lynn Elber in Tustin, Calif., Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee, and Justin Pritchard in Los Angeles.

WAH !...can keep SPSes liao.

WOW !...veri swee SPSes. Can get some fraggies boh ???

Same place where U bought ya Rocky Beau.

SuperStars Club !!! Real Madrid coach mulls over final squad AFP - Sunday, July 26 MADRID (AFP) - - Real Madrid still has still not determined what its final squad and its starting 11 will be for the upcoming season, new coach Manuel Pellegrini said Saturday. The Spanish giants spent over 200 million euros on new players in the pre-season, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, and earlier this month Pellegrini said he hoped to have the final squad ironed out by July 27 when all of the club's internationals returned from holidays. "I said that, but I added that it was important not to make mistakes, that we should make the right decisions. We'll wait longer if we must," the Chilean coach told a news conference ahead of Real's friendly at home Sunday against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad. "I wish the squad was tighter by now, but it isn't a big deal. We train normally and there is a good atmosphere in the team. Every player tries to do his best. Our duty is to do the same job with every footballer we have and we'll keep on doing so," he added. Real's spending spree has left it with an overcrowded dressing room as the club has been less successful at offloading players than it has been at recruiting new ones. Pellegrini repeated Real's desire to sell its Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has been linked with a move to Stuttgart and more recently with Tottenham. "I've spoken to every player and Huntelaar knows what I want. We have many strikers on the team and they can't all stay. Everybody knows how good he is. We have an excess of strikers right now and he knows there is no place for him," he said. Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze is also on the "for sale" list, but the size of his wage packet is proving an obstacle. Marseille were interested in the player but cooled off when confronted with a 4.2 million euro price tag. Pellegrini included Ronaldo and Benzema in his 20-man squad for the match on Sunday against Al-Ittihad. If Ronaldo is sent on the pitch it will be the first time that he plays for Real at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium since his record-setting transfer from Manchester United last month. "We haven't started to try out a defined starting 11 yet. Ronaldo will sometimes play down the wing and will sometimes be positioned as a striker. He is comfortable anywhere in attack," said Pellegrini. "These are friendly games in which we aren't looking for a starting lineup," he added. Ronaldo made his debut for Real last week as they eked out a 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in Ireland. Benzema scored the winner. The 24-year-old Portuguese winger was taken off at half-time having failed to sparkle against some muscular defending.

Torres not playing more than 15 mins in Sunday’s match Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, July 25 SINGAPORE: With captain Steven Gerrard absent, all the attention is on Liverpool’s Fernando Torres while they are in Singapore. But the Spanish star confirmed he will not be on the field for more than 15 minutes during Sunday’s match. Fans made a mad rush for the Liverpool stars at a promotional event at Velocity. The targets were Jamie Carragher and everyone’s current favourite, Fernando Torres. Unfortunately for the fans, he will not be on the pitch much when Liverpool play Singapore on Sunday. Torres said: "Normally in the first game of the season, it is important to play step by step. Maybe if I played 10 minutes the last game, I don’t want to play no more than 15 minutes for this one. So the way we have to follow is the main thing now." Pleased with the fan support, Torres plans to return to Singapore with his family for a better look at the city. But the modest striker refused to talk about his private life, including the recent birth of his daughter. But playing a bigger role will be Jamie Carragher, who was with the team in Singapore in 2001. Carragher said Liverpool is not 100 per cent fit now, but the team will be ready for the new season when he expects competition from Manchester City in addition to their traditional big rivals. He said: "We have to be aware of Man City. They have got a fantastic player, so I think they could be knocking around the top four this season or maybe even better chance of trophies." For the fans, Sunday’s match is special as they will get to see the stars in the flesh. Liverpool so far has not registered a win in all the three pre—season friendlies that it has played, so fans will be hoping that the Reds redeem themselves by beating Singapore this Sunday at the National Stadium. Fans saw more players — including Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt — at VivoCity, where they helped raise awareness for the Hope Worldwide charity. CNA/vm Liverpool's Benitez wowed by Singapore fans' adulation Reuters - Sunday, July 26 By Yaw Yan Chong SINGAPORE - Even Liverpool's normally impassive manager Rafa Benitez could not fail to be moved by the adulation and adoration of the club's local fans during a boat ride along the Singapore River on Saturday. Benitez, who started the cruise inside the boat politely acknowledging fans through the window, ended up standing at the bow smiling and waving as enthusiastic fans cheered his name, sang songs and waved banners written in his honour. The Spaniard, whose team are in the city-state for Sunday's friendly against Singapore, stayed outside the boat's sheltered comfort for about 15 minutes despite the crippling heat. He was joined by former Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish, who has recently returned to the Premier League club as an ambassador and director of the youth academy. Other ex-Liverppol players in attendance were Sammy Lee, assistant coach to Benitez, and Steve McMahon, whose company the Profitable Group was responsible for bringing the 18-time English champions to Singapore for the second time in 10 years. In another boat, carrying most of the players, goalkeeper Pepe Reina was the main livewire, engaging in good-natured banter with the hundreds of fans that thronged the riverbank. When one supporter exhorted him to win the league title, which the club has not done since 1990, the Spanish goalkeeper replied: "Jump into the water and we'll do it for you!" However, not all the players were as enthusiastic as Reina. Spain striker Fernando Torres, the obvious crowd favourite, waved politely several times but mostly stayed inside. MORE ELUSIVE Other players were even more elusive, such as pony-tailed Andriy Voronin, recently returned from a season-long loan spell at Hertha Berlin, who kept his headphones over his ears. Liverpool, Premier League runners-up last season, are in Asia for a two-match tour of Thailand and Singapore. They drew 1-1 with Thailand's national side on Wednesday. The boat ride was part of the team's promotional events that have seen the players showing up at the country's many suburban shopping malls, signing autographs and holding clinics. The team was divided into three vessels, decked with banners proclaiming "The Kop Comes to Asia," which sailed down the Singapore River into the heart of the city. They meandered through the Central Business District, past entertainment centres Boat and Clarke Quay and the Esplanade. However, the man most Liverpool fans wanted to see -- captain and inspiration Steven Gerrard -- was absent due to a court case for affray. He was acquitted in Liverpool on Friday. "I'm sorry for the fans that he can't come. We have to protect the player and the best thing for him to do is to rest at home," Benitez had told an earlier news conference. Hundreds of fans lined the riverbank, dressed in the club's famous red shirts and waving banners professing loyalty to the Merseyside team and lauding their achievements. Some supporters ran along the two km stretch of the river screaming at their favourite players. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them in the flesh and to get this close," gushed secretary Stacey Lee, 22. "And they even responded to me when I called out their names."

Heh Heh Heh....waste $$$. Gerrard not playing in Liverpool’s friendly match in Singapore Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, July 26 SINGAPORE: Captain Steven Gerrard will not be joining his Liverpool football team in Singapore. Coach Rafa Benitez confirmed this ahead of the team’s pre—season friendly against Singapore on Sunday. Gerrard has been cleared of his affray charges in Britain. But his coach said in Singapore that Gerrard will not travel to play in the team’s match against the Lions. Benitez said: "The plan is to rest him a little bit and then start next week. So he cannot come. Sorry, but I think it is very, very important for him....(Gerrard’s being cleared of his affray charges) has been very good news for us and all the fans, but we have to take care of him." But Gerrard’s fans in Singapore were disappointed. "I felt that it was a pity that he could not postpone the court case, just to come here and see us," said a Liverpool fan. However Benitez assured that he will field the big names in Sunday’s match. Meanwhile, Singapore’s Lions have had two days of training and are hoping to score against the Reds. Team Singapore coach, Raddy Avramovic, said: "If you go in a game and don’t try to score goal, then something is wrong and that will be the same approach for this game, because I don’t think players will play this fashion, go in penalty box and defend 90 minutes." As for the fans, they were lapping up all the time they could spend with their stars. Hundreds were at Boat Quay and Clarke Quay to pay tribute to their heroes, who took a cruise down the Singapore River. With the huge fan base that Liverpool has in Singapore, it’s no surprise the support its players have gotten since their arrival on Thursday. And, fans can expect no less than a full house at the National Stadium when Liverpool take on the Singapore national team on Sunday night. Organisers say tickets will still be on sale on the day of the match which will kick off at 7pm Singapore time. CNA/ir

Meanwhile, enjoy the first. Resplendent Angel SCIENTIFIC NAME: Centropyge resplendens AV. SIZE IN CAPTIVITY: up to approx 2.5" inches SUGGESTED DIET: variety of foods, angelfish preparations OVERALL TEMPERAMENT: assertive/semi-aggressive REEF COMPATABILITY: medium AVAILABILITY AND PRICE: low, very high HARDINESS AND LONGEVITY: good, medium SPECIAL REQS: plenty of live rock and naturally growing micro-algaes for grazing. Can be aggressive in small tanks and may nip at corals and clam mantles. Collection from the wild is restricted and thus this species is rare in the trade and commands a very high price when available.

Awaiting to oogle ya newly acquired GEM mate !

AH LEE...plenty of swee-swee BLASTOs waiting for ya collection !!!

CF...saw a lovey-dovey pair of Black Ghost Pipefish. Better Hurry.

LCK...got juicy meaty BLASTOs of different niceez colors & shapes ( Hint: look out for the bi-color purplish-based ones), bubbly metallic green cat-eyed BUBBLES , metallic green FROGSPAWNs & true OCTOs , jolly-good bull-eyes MUSHIES-MUSHIES, streaky LOBOs, etc. Dun Stop till U Buy Enuff !

Evra in awe of 'Korea's Beckham' AFP - Friday, July 24 SEOUL (AFP) - - Patrice Evra counts Park Ji-Sung as a close friend but even he has been amazed at the fanatical support the midfielder gets on home turf, calling him "the David Beckham of Korea". The France left-back has accompanied Park on some promotional events on the Korean leg of their pre-season tour of Asia and said he was in awe. "When Ji first arrived in Manchester he never talked and people didn't know much about him. But when we arrive in Seoul you can see he is the King of Korea," he told the club website. "They shake, they cry, they scream when they see him. It's amazing. He's like the David Beckham of Korea. "I'm very happy for him because he's a really good friend and on the pitch he always gives 100 percent for the team. That's why people love him." Park's enthusiasm and ability have endeared him to Sir Alex Ferguson with the club to offer him a new contract. Britain's Daily Express said it would see Park's current 30,000 pounds (49,500 dollars) a week deal doubled to 60,000 pounds. Ferguson, meanwhile, has paid tribute to the welcome the team have received in Asia, saying the support they have in the region never ceases to amaze him. "I'm still amazed sometimes when we arrive at hotels and there are thousands of fans hanging about. Then they're in the corridors and in the lifts," he said. "You have to admire that love of the club. We experienced it here in Seoul two years ago and it's just as good this time. "In fact, it's typical of the whole Far East -- we have a terrific fan base and there's a great fanaticism here." United play FC Seoul later Friday before heading to China to take on Hangzhou Greentown on Sunday. Neville injured and out of Asian tour AFP - Saturday, July 25 SEOUL (AFP) - - Manchester United captain Gary Neville has suffered a groin strain and will take no further part in the current Asian tour, the club said on Friday. The injury-prone 34-year-old defender has already left Seoul for Manchester to undergo treatment on what was described as a minor injury. Neville trained at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday but departed Friday ahead of the match against FC Seoul. He will also miss the game in China on Sunday against Hangzhou Greentown. The England international was an unused substitute in United's first tour game against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur before getting 62 minutes under his belt against the same side earlier this week.

Maradona eyes Portsmouth role - report AFP - Friday, July 24 DUBAI (AFP) - - Diego Maradona is ready to quit his job as Argentina manager and join English Premier League side Portsmouth, a report citing the footballing legend's lawyer claimed here on Thursday. Maradona, according to an article in Arabian Business, has already lined up four international stars to help new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim's Fratton Park revolution. Al Fahim, who is close friends with Maradona's cousin Remigio, is said to want to appoint the 48-year-old as the club's global ambassador. Maradona's lawyer, Angel Oscar Moyano, in a confidential e-mail published in the magazine, claimed: "He (Maradona) has got top players ready and he is even ready to leave the Argentine national team." According to the Dubai publication, an Al Fahim advisor has confirmed that talks between the club and the Argentine manager's cousin have taken place about a possible role. In his e-mail Moyano suggested Maradona had Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o, Valencia duo David Villa and David Silva, and Kun Aguero of Atletico Madrid, lined up for the south coast side. However, Eto'o was on the verge of tying up a move to Inter Milan on Thursday. Al Fahim has said he believes Maradona has the ability to transform Portsmouth's fortunes. "I do not know if Maradona is a good coach," he conceded. "What I think is that he should be president of a club and have the right to buy and choose players. "At Napoli he started from scratch and built a club. He has the power to transform football teams."

Football: English Premier League guide AFP - Friday, July 24 LONDON, July 24, 2009 (AFP) - Team by team guide to the new English Premier League season which kicks-off on August 15. All transfer fees are listed in pounds: MANCHESTER UNITED Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson Last season: Premier League champions, Champions League runners-up, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup winners, FIFA Club World Cup winners In: Antonio Valencia (Wigan) 16m, Gabriel Obertan (Bordeaux) 3m, Michael Owen (Newcastle) free Out: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 80m, Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland) 3.5m, Richard Eckersley (Burnley) undisclosed, Lee Martin (Ipswich) undisclosed, Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) loan expired, Rodrigo Possebon (Sporting Braga) season-loan Outlook: Losing one world-class player would have been enough to raise doubts about United's ability to win a record fourth consecutive Premier League title, but when Carlos Tevez followed Cristiano Ronaldo through the Old Trafford exit door the alarm bells really started ringing. Ronaldo's long-anticipated move to Real Madrid at least brought the consolation of a world record transfer fee. It was the defection of cult hero Tevez to despised neighbours Manchester City which especially pained the United faithful. The Stretford End angst was enhanced by the knowledge that Ronaldo and Tevez scored more than 100 goals between them over the last two seasons. Yet United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who made a surprise swoop for Michael Owen to replace Tevez, has coped with the departures of stars like Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the past and the motivation of passing Liverpool's record of 18 league titles will drive him on. LIVERPOOL Manager: Rafael Benitez Last season: Premier League runners-up, Champions League quarter-finals, FA Cup 4th rnd, League Cup 4th rnd In: Glen Johnson (Portsmouth) 17.5m, Aaron King (Rushden and Diamonds) undisclosed, Chris Mavinga (Paris Saint Germain), undisclosed Out: Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest) 250,000, Jack Hobbs (Leicester) undisclosed, Sebastian Leto (Panathinaikos) undisclosed, Jermaine Pennant (Real Zaragoza) free, Sami Hyypia (Bayer Leverkusen) free, Astrit Ajdarevic (Leicester) free Outlook: A powerful sense of unfinished business has infused every utterance from Liverpool during a frustrating close season for Rafa Benitez's team. Allowing bitter rivals Manchester United to snatch the Premier League title from their grasp has left Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and company more desperate than ever to end the club's 19-year wait to be crowned kings of English football. The Reds have nothing to fear from United after beating the champions twice last season, including a stunning 4-1 rout at Old Trafford, and, with United weakened by key departures, Benitez knows they have to seize the moment. He invested a large slice of his transfer budget on Portsmouth's Glen Johnson and the England right-back should add pace and poise to a team often hamstrung by Benitez's defensive mindset. CHELSEA Manager: Carlo Ancelotti Last season: 3rd in Premier League, Champions League semi-finals, FA Cup winners, League Cup 4th rnd In: Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow) 18m, Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City) undisclosed, Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough) free Out: Ben Sahar (Espanyol) undisclosed, Lee Sawyer (Southend) six month-loan, Jimmy Smith (Leyton Orient) free Outlook: Manchester City's determined pursuit of Chelsea captain John Terry has cast a shadow over Carlo Ancelotti's reign before the Italian has even taken charge of his first competitive match. City have made two massive offers for Terry and surprisingly the England defender has yet to completely rule out the possibility of a shock switch to Eastlands. It seems likely Chelsea will raise his salary to persuade Terry to stay but his reticence is hardly a ringing endorsement for Ancelotti, who replaced popular interim manager Guus Hiddink in July. Ancelotti arrives from AC Milan boasting a CV that includes two Champions League triumphs, but he has a major task on his hands to win over a squad and supporters who grew to love Hiddink's down to earth demeanour. ARSENAL Manager: Arsene Wenger Last season: 4th in Premier League, Champions League semi-finals, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup quarter-finals In: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax) undisclosed Out: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City) 25m, Amaury Bischoff (released), Rui Fonte (released) Outlook: Rarely has a star player left Arsenal to such little dissent as Emmanuel Adebayor, but the Togo striker's move to Manchester City has left a substantial hole in the Gunners' armoury. Whereas Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole, Alexander Hleb and others departed north London to a soundtrack of grumbling from frustrated fans, Adebayor won't be missed by many at the Emirates Stadium after a series of lacklustre displays last season. Yet Adebayor was a formidable force at his best and his most likely replacements in the starting line-up - Croatia forward Eduardo and England's Theo Walcott - are both are worryingly fragile and prone to lengthy spells on the sidelines. It is imperative that Wenger finds the answer quickly. After four years without a trophy, the Frenchman came under fire from fans for the first time last season and the criticism will only get stronger if Arsenal make another spluttering start. EVERTON Manager: David Moyes Last season: 5th in Premier League, FA Cup runners-up, League Cup 3rd rnd, UEFA Cup 1st rnd In: Luke Garbutt (Leeds) undisclosed), Shkodran Mustafi (Hamburg) undisclosed), Anton Peterlin (free agent), Jo (Manchester City) season-loan Out: Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn) free, Nuno Valente (released), Andy van der Meyde (released) Outlook: David Moyes believes last season's FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea was a valuable experience on the journey towards the Premier League's top four. Whether Everton have absorbed the lessons of Chelsea's ruthless Wembley victory remains to be seen because the Toffees are in danger of standing still while other leapfrog them in the race for those precious Champions League places. With Arsenal seemingly on a downward spiral, Everton could be one or two big signings away from making the breakthrough, but Moyes has been frustrated by the club's parsimonious ways. He must be growing tired of shopping in the bargain basement for a series of untried prospects and, to add insult to injury, Manchester City have made up ground on the top four with a lavish spending spree, with Everton defender Joleon Lescott next in their sights. ASTON VILLA Manager: Martin O'Neill Last season: 6th in Premier League, FA Cup 5th rnd, League Cup 3rd rnd, UEFA Cup last 32 In: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) 12m Out: Gareth Barry (Manchester City) 12m, Stuart Taylor (Manchester City) undisclosed, Martin Laursen (retired) Outlook: After a season that promised so much but ultimately delivered so little, Villa boss Martin O'Neill will have to work wonders to keep his team on an upwards curve. With the home stretch in sight, Villa were firmly established in the top four and could have gone eight points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal with a win over Stoke. Instead O'Neill's team conceded two late goals to draw. They never recovered and eventually slumped so badly that they finished sixth. The close-season has reflected the atmosphere of despondency that hung heavily over Villa Park in May. Gareth Barry quickly bolted for Manchester City, although the signing of England winger Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough showed O'Neill's intent to go for the top four again. FULHAM Manager: Roy Hodgson Last season: 7th in Premier League, FA Cup quarter-finals, League Cup 3rd rnd In: Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom) undisclosed, Stephen Kelly (Birmingham) free Out: Collins John (released), Moritz Volz (released) Outlook: After exceeding all expectations by leading Fulham into the Europa League, Cottagers manager Roy Hodgson has to find a way to emulate his club's most successful Premier League campaign. Hodgson will never earn the headlines that his colleagues at more glamourous English teams garner on a regular basis, but in his methodical way the former Inter Milan coach has fashioned one of the best value for money squads in the top flight. For just a minimal outlay in the transfer market, Hodgson built a team capable of beating Manchester United and Arsenal and drawing with Liverpool and Chelsea. It will hard to do the same again as Fulham are now less of an unknown quantity but bids for the likes of England striker Peter Crouch in the close-season emphasises Hodgson's determination to build on that success. TOTTENHAM Manager: Harry Redknapp Last season: 8th in Premier League, FA Cup 4th rnd, League Cup runners-up, UEFA Cup last 32 In: Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker (Sheffield United) joint 10m fee Out: Didier Zokora (Sevilla) undisclosed, Danny Hutchins (Yeovil) undisclosed, David Hutton (released), Ricardo Rocha (released), Simon Dawkins (released) Outlook: Harry Redknapp can finally take aim at the Premier League's big guns after making a perfect start to his dream job. Redknapp, who has always been desperate to manage one of the game's traditional powers, found a club in crisis when he took charge at White Hart Lane early last season, but quickly guided Spurs away from the relegation zone and only narrowly missed out on a European place. Signing the likes of Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Wilson Palacios in the January transfer window greatly improved Redknapp's squad, but one of the game's shrewdest transfer operators is always on the look-out for another deal and continues to be linked with a host of new faces including England stars Peter Crouch and Ashley Young. Avoiding Manchester United in the Cups would also greatly improve Tottenham's chances of success. United defeated Redknapp's team in the FA Cup fourth round and then rubbed salt into the wounds by beating them in the League Cup final. WEST HAM Manager: Gianfranco Zola Last season: 9th in Premier League, FA Cup 5th rnd, League Cup 3rd rnd In: Luis Jimenez (Inter Milan) season-loan, Peter Kurucz (Ujpest) undisclosed, Jack Lampe (Harlow Town) undisclosed, Frank Nouble (Chelsea) undisclosed Out: Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) free, Freddie Sears (Crystal Palace) season-loan, Walter Lopez (released), Lucas Neill (released), Kyel Reid released), Tony Stokes (released), Diego Tristan (released), Jimmy Walker (released) Outlook: Gianfranco Zola performed a miracle to keep West Ham in mid-table safety despite battling against a backdrop of financial uncertainty last season and the Italian plans to work more magic this term. Zola's first managerial role looked to have turned into a poisoned chalice when the Hammers' Icelandic owners were badly affected by the global credit crunch. Yet the former Chelsea star proved quite the alchemist as he produced an eye-catching and winning team from the slenderest materials. Zola's hopes of enduring success in east London lie with the club's latest crop of thrusting youngsters, with Jack Collison and James Tomkins to the fore, and a self-styled 'magician' from Chile - Luis Jimenez, who has joined on loan from Inter Milan. MANCHESTER CITY Manager: Mark Hughes Last season: 10th in Premier League, FA Cup 3rd rnd, League Cup 2nd rnd, UEFA Cup quarter-finals In: Carlos Tevez (Manchester United) 25m, Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 25m, Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 17m, Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 12m), Nils Zander (Schalke) undisclosed, Stuart Taylor (Aston Villa) undisclosed Out: Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) undisclosed, Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne) undisclosed, Jo (Everton) season-loan, Joe Hart (Birmingham) season-loan, Michael Ball (released), Glauber Berti (released), Dietmar Hamann (released), Danny Mills (released), Darius Vassell (released) Outlook: For the first time in over 30 years, Manchester City head into a new season as the talk of the town thanks to a spending spree which threatens to catapult them into the Premier League's elite. After decades in the shadow of Manchester United, it is City's turn in the limelight. The club's Abu Dhabi-based backers have handed manager Mark Hughes a seemingly bottomless transfer fund, which has already helped snatch Carlos Tevez from United's clutches. Add big-money swoops for Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry and an audacious bid for Chelsea captain John Terry into the mix and it becomes clear that City's owners are desperate to make their mark sooner rather than later. Whether such a frenzy of transfer activity will produce a cohesive unit come the opening day of the season remains to be seen and doubts persist over Hughes's hording of so many strikers when the defence has been a bigger problem. Whatever happens, City's time in the shadows is well and truly over. WIGAN Manager: Roberto Martinez Last season: 11th in Premier League, FA Cup 3rd rnd, League Cup 4th rnd In: Jason Scotland (Swansea) 2m, Jordi Gomez (Espanyol) undisclosed, Hendry Thomas (Deportivo Olimpia) undisclosed, James McCarthy (Hamilton) undisclosed Out: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) 16m Outlook: Roberto Martinez arrives at Wigan with impressive credentials after leading Swansea from the depths of League One to the brink of the Premier League in just two seasons. The Spaniard's reign at the Championship club persuaded Wigan chairman Dave Whelan to turn to the former Latics player when Steve Bruce quit to take over at Sunderland. But Martinez won't find it easy to replicate Bruce's success. Bruce only left because of Wigan's failure to hold onto their best players and Antonio Valencia's July move to Manchester United continued the trend. Martinez has so far focused on signing players he worked with at Swansea, with powerful striker Jason Scotland and Spanish playmaker Jordi Gomez following their old boss to the DW Stadium. STOKE Manager: Tony Pulis Last season: 12th in Premier League, FA Cup 3rd rnd, League Cup quarter-finals In: Matthew Lund (Crewe) free, Ben Marshall (Crewe) free Out: Vincent Pericard (released) Outlook: Just 12 months after being written off as relegation certainties, Stoke are looking forward to their second season in the Premier League. Tony Pulis's side defied the odds to finish well clear of the bottom three and it was no more than they deserved. Superbly organised by Pulis, Stoke's unfashionable collection of journeymen were able to turn the Britannia Stadium into a fortress, which Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa, amongst others, were unable to breach. Now they have to avoid falling victim to the second season syndrome that has often found teams happy to rest on their laurels after peforming above expectations. BOLTON Manager: Gary Megson Last season: 13th in Premier League, FA Cup 3rd rnd, League Cup 2nd rnd In: Sean Davis (Portsmouth) free, Paul Robinson (West Brom) season-loan Out: Blerim Dzemaili (Torino) undisclosed Outlook: Gary Megson may never emulate the hero status enjoyed by Sam Allardyce, but the Bolton boss is beginning to make an equally impressive impact at the Reebok Stadium. Megson's dour personality and safety-first tactics have earned criticism from Bolton fans, yet he has put pride to one side and responded by leading Wanderers to safety two years in a row. Now he needs to lift Bolton to the top ten finishes enjoyed during Allardyce's reign to continue the comparison. Solid signings like Sean Davis and Paul Robinson should guarantee Megson remains a Premier League boss, but he needs more quality up front to make the next step forward. PORTSMOUTH Manager: Paul Hart Last season: 14th in Premier League, FA Cup 4th rnd, League Cup 3rd rnd, UEFA Cup group stage In: Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn) free Out: Glen Johnson (Liverpool) 17.5m, Djimi Traore (Monaco) undisclosed, Sean Davis (Bolton) free, Lauren (released), Glen Little (released), Noe Pamarot (released), Jerome Thomas (released) Outlook: Following a tumultuous close-season at Fratton Park, Portsmouth manager Paul Hart has to make up for lost time as he tries to build on last season's rescue act. By the time Hart was finally handed the job on a permanent basis in mid-July following the takeover by Arab tycoon Sulaiman Al-Fahim, Portsmouth were in danger of losing several key players. Glen Johnson had already left for Liverpool, while Peter Crouch was involved in a transfer tug-of-war between Tottenham and Sunderland. French defender Sylvain Distin was also the target of several clubs, while only South Africa's Aaron Mokoena had arrived. Hart was rightly rewarded for hauling Portsmouth to safety after Tony Adams' disastrous reign but he faces another fight for survival this season. BLACKBURN Manager: Sam Allardyce Last season: 15th in Premier League, FA Cup 5th rnd, League Cup quarter-finals In: Nikos Giannakopoulos (Asteras Tripolis) 52,000, Gael Givet (Marseille) undisclosed), Steven N'Zonzi (Amiens SC) undisclosed, Lars Jacobsen (Everton) free, Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge) free Out: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City) 17m, Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos) undisclosed, Bjorn Bussmann (1860 Munich) undisclosed, Andreas Arestidou (Shrewsbury) free, Tony Kane (Carlisle) free, Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth) free, Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven) free, Tugay (released) Outlook: Blackburn fans should have spent the close-season thanking their lucky stars that Newcastle treated Sam Allardyce with such disdain. Allardyce returned to management in December almost a year after being sacked by Newcastle and he was determined to prove a point to his former employers. He succeeded in some style as Rovers climbed out of the relegation zone and Newcastle eventually crashed into the Championship. Allardyce has lost star striker Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City, but the Paraguayan was missing for much of the relegation run-in and Rovers, bolstered by their manager's passion, will be looking upwards this year. SUNDERLAND Manager: Steve Bruce Last season: 16th in Premier League, FA Cup 4th rnd, League Cup 4th rnd In: Fraizer Campbell (Manchester United) 3.5m, Paulo da Silva (Toluca) undisclosed Out: Michael Chopra (Cardiff) 4m, Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) undisclosed, Peter Hartley (released), Niall McArdle (released), Arnau Riera (released), Darren Ward (retired), Dwight Yorke (released), Nick Colgan (released), David Connolly (released) Outlook: Steve Bruce is finally back in his native north-east England but not with the club he always believed he was destined to manage. While Bruce often hankered after the chance to take charge at Newcastle, his boyhood club's relegation to the Championship last season made that job much less attractive. So instead, with Wigan struggling to hold onto their best players, Bruce opted to leave the DW Stadium and head to Sunderland during the close-season for his biggest challenge yet. The Black Cats' huge fanbase encourages the club to dream of great achievements but the reality is staying in the top-flight will be the limit of their ambitions. HULL Manager: Phil Brown Last season: 17th in Premier League, FA Cup quarter-finals, League Cup 2nd rnd In: Steven Mouyokolo (Boulogne) undisclosed Out: Wayne Brown (Leicester) undisclosed, John Welsh (Tranmere) free, Dean Windass (Darlington) free, Michael Bridges (released), Ryan France (released) Outlook: As Phil Brown rode off into the sunset after Hull's narrow escape from relegation he must have reflected on the gamble that backfired. At the half-way point of last season, Hull were on course for a remarkable debut in the Premier League, but the Tigers lost their bite after Brown's very public dressing-down of his players when they trailed 4-0 at half-time at Manchester City. Suddenly morale dipped and Brown's men just avoided relegation on the last day despite winning only one of their last 19 matches. Brown, who spent some of the close-season riding around France on his motorbike, should take a more low-key approach to team-talks this season as Hull try to recapture the form that saw them rock England's top teams for six months. WOLVERHAMPTON Manager: Mick McCarthy Last season: Championship winners, FA Cup 4th rnd, League Cup 2nd rnd In: Kevin Doyle (Reading) 6.5m, Andrew Surman (Southampton) 1.2m, Greg Halford (Sunderland) undisclosed, Nenad Milijas (Red Star Belgrade) undisclosed, Ronald Zubar (Marseille) undisclosed, Marcus Hahnemann (Reading) free) Out: Stephen Gleeson (Milton Keynes Dons) undisclosed, Darren Potter (Sheffield Wednesday) undisclosed Outlook: "I'll spend money on a load of over-priced players, win two of the first 15 matches and get sacked by Christmas". If Mick McCarthy's verdict on the lot of a Premier League manager seems a little brutal, the Wolves boss can be forgiven for he has tasted the harsh end of life among the elite. During his reign at Sunderland, McCarthy won promotion to the Premier League in 2005, only to be sacked less than a year later because he hadn't been able to build on that achievement immediately. He should be given more time at Molineux and bolstering his talented young team with Ireland striker Kevin Doyle means Wolves at least have a chance of staying up. BIRMINGHAM Manager: Alex McLeish Last season: Championship runners-up, FA Cup 3rd rnd, League Cup 2nd rnd In: Christian Benitez (Santos Laguna) 7.7m, Roger Johnson (Cardiff) 5m, Barry Ferguson (Rangers) 1.25m, Scott Dann (Coventry) undisclosed, Giovanny Espinoza (Barcelona Sporting Club) undisclosed, Lee Bowyer (West Ham) free, Joe Hart (Manchester City) season-loan Out: Stephen Kelly (Fulham) free, Radhi Jaidi (released), Mehdi Nafti (released) Krystian Pearce (Peterborough) season-loan Outlook: Few managers can have greeted promotion to the Premier League with more relief than Alex McLeish. The former Scotland coach spent most of last season under intense pressure from Birmingham's owners and fans after a spluttering Championship campaign, but he finally delivered a top two finish with victory at Reading on the final day. With the demands for Premier League football satisfied, McLeish has started to spend big in an attempt to avoid yet another short stay in the top-flight. His swoops for Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, two defenders who excelled in the Championship, adds youth to his aging defence, while the seven million pound move for Ecuador striker Christian Benitez looks like a boom or bust gamble. BURNLEY Manager: Owen Coyle Last season: 5th in Championship (promoted via play-offs), FA Cup 5th rnd, League Cup semi-finals In: Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) 3m, Brian Easton (Hamilton) 350,000, Richard Eckersley (Manchester United) undisclosed, David Edgar (Newcastle) undisclosed, Tyrone Mears (Derby) undisclosed Out: Alex MacDonald (Falkirk) six month-loan, Steve Jones (released), Gabor Kiraly (released), Alan Mahon (released) Outlook: For the first time in 33 years, unglamourous Turf Moor will host the English game's rich and famous but Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest shouldn't expect a red carpet welcome. Owen Coyle's team were the most romantic story of last season as they ended years in football's backwaters by clinching promotion via the Championship play-offs. The Clarets, champions of England way back in 1960, have no intention of letting the fairytale end with that Wembley victory over Sheffield United however. Wins over Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham in cup competitions last term proved Burnley can compete with the best and Coyle is convinced they can emulate Stoke and Hull's survival.

Ya SPSes certainly look GOOD & DAZZLING mate !

WOW !...rare opportunity...Dun Miss It for the World folks !

Man Utd eye commerical opportunities in Asia AFP - Friday, July 24 SEOUL (AFP) - - Manchester United chief executive David Gill said Thursday that his team's ongoing Asian tour was crucial to reinforce their brand in an increasingly important commercial region. The club, one of the richest in the world, are in South Korea on the second lag of their pre-season tour following two friendlies in Kuala Lumpur. They also visit China. For United, the trip is as much about business as preparing the players for another assault on the Premier League title and chief executive David Gill acknowledged there was a lot of commercial work involved. "A lot of work has gone into this tour ... We've got a lot of commercial activity around games as well charity activity," he said. "They are all very important markets to us," he added, referring to the massive enthusiasm for football in South Korea and other Asian countries. As well as United, Liverpool are also in Asia to tap the region's business opportunities, with their commercial director Ian Ayre denying earlier this week that the team simply wanted to cash in. United boss Alex Ferguson said the team wanted to entertain their hordes of South Korean fans in their match against FC Seoul on Friday, with iconic home-grown hero Park Ji-Sung expected to play at least some of the match. "The game against Seoul on Friday will be ideal because the last time (in Korea in 2007) we played a very, very interesting, hard, tough game," Ferguson said. United goalkeeper Edwin Van De Saar added that he expected a high quality affair on Friday. "We are ready to play and make a great result, and enjoy the game," said the Dutch star. United routed FC Seoul, currently top of the K-League, 4-0 when they last met in 2007.

Rafa facing difficult period at Liverpool AFP - Thursday, July 23 SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Rafael Benitez is facing a mini crisis at Liverpool with no wins in three pre-season games, a captain on trial for affray and his top midfield duo looking to leave the club. It is not ideal preparation for a team that senses its best chance to win the League title in 20 years. They arrived in Singapore Thursday after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Thailand on Wednesday evening following a 0-0 draw with St Gallen of Switzerland and a 1-0 loss to Rapid Vienna. In the Thailand match a second-half strike by Sutee Suksomkit cancelled out an early opener from Ryan Babel but there was little goalmouth action to excite the crowd, with Liverpool looking decidedly rusty. They are clearly missing the talismanic Steven Gerrard, who is in court back home on charges of affray stemming from a nightclub incident last December. It didn't get any better for manager Benitez, with defender Martin Skrtel (hamstring) and young Moroccan forward Nabil El Zhar (knee) injured in the Thailand match, with medical staff assessing how badly they have been hurt. "They were not the best conditions in Bangkok and the worst thing was to lose Skrtel and El Zhar," said Benitez. "The idea of the game was to improve match fitness. So to lose two players is bad news." The unsettled Xabi Alonso sat out the game with an ankle injury. The Spanish international has not failed to hide his desire to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka at Real Madrid while Chelsea have also expressed an interest in signing him. Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano's agent has been quoted by South American media as saying the player was fed up with life in England and wanted to move to Barcelona. Benitez has made clear he wants both to stay but it is unsettling for the team. Vice-captain Jamie Carragher is hoping for a swift end to the Alonso saga at least. "The feeling within the squad is that he is a top player and you do not want to lose your top players, and hopefully it can be sorted out as soon as possible," said Carragher. "If the club thinks it is in their best interests (for him to move) sometimes you have to do what they think is best. "We all go through these situations -- well, hopefully not me -- and as I said, I just hope it gets sorted out." A consolation for Benitez is that striker Fernando Torres is settled. He came on for the last 10 minutes against Thailand and almost scored, having been rested after his exploits for Spain at the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa. Torres enjoyed the experience in Bangkok. "It was fantastic to hear them singing and chanting for me when I came on," he told the club website. "Liverpool are a massive club all over the world and it has been proved again this week in Thailand. "It is a wonderful experience to come away to places like Asia with Liverpool and see the fans so pleased to see us." Liverpool have a series of promotional events in Singapore over the next few days before playing the national team in their bid to finally get a victory under their belts.

Considering ya current state of equipts & tanky space constraints, moi suggestions are: 1.) Will U be investing in a chiller soon ? If not, stop buying hard corals including blastos, lobos, etc. They won't thrive in ya current setup as ya tank temp is too volatile. Adding ICE PACKS/CUBES will not help either. 2.) Go for Softies like Mushies & ZOAs. They can at least make ya tanky look presentable & nice. 3.) Ya BT is 'suffering' from ICH. Likely due to tank constraints like temp, water quality, space, etc. Dun stock up any more fishes or inverts. U may want to consider giving up ya BT altogether. 4.) Last Resort...sorry to say this...DECOM & start a proper well-planned marine tank (4 ft ?). All the best dude !

CHOTTO MATTE KUDASAI...mai 'kan-cheong'...looks like U are all ready for 'sEXCITING RAMPAGE' !!!