Fake Clouds Created For 2022 Qatar World Cup

Qatar have developed a new technology creating artificial clouds to provide shade for World Cup 2022. The extreme heat, which reaches highs of 45°C+, has caused real concern amongst the footballing world. Head of FIFA Sepp Blatter has suggested moving the World Cup to winter; disrupting virtually every major competitors usual domestic schedule. The clouds cost $500,000 US to produce and were developed at Qatar University. The lightweight carbon "clouds" which carry a large packet of helium gas can even be moved by a solar-powered remote control.

Incredible.

NEWSFLASH: Lucas might not be sh*t

An insightful table of up-to-date optastats from this Premier League season.

Category	Player/Team	Total
Top Shooter	Nani (Man United)	87
Top Passer	Danny Murphy (Fulham)	1932
Top Tackler	Lucas (Liverpool)	125
Most Dribbles & Runs	Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan)	246
Most Crosses	Matthew Jarvis (Wolves)	290
Most Offsides	Darren Bent (Sunderland/Aston Villa)	49
Most Fouls	Kevin Davies (Bolton)	93

Lucas in the Sky with Diamonds

...and there was me thinking Meireles was the one doing everything. Ignorance is no excuse - I'm sorry Lucas, on behalf of, well, virtually everyone.

On another note, since Kevin Davies joined Bolton in 2003 he has been the Premier League's top fouler 5 out of 7 times, soon to be 6 out of 8. The other two times he came second, to Patrick Vieira and John Carew. Last season he totted up 103 fouls. Second place was Cahill... with 74. Some might say he's a dirty player. I say he just wants to win.

Shakhtar Shake Up? There's about a 2% chance, but it could be enough.

Of course, Barca are overwhelming favourites for Barca v. Shakhtar, and rightly so after the way they've played this season. The question then is: do Shakhtar have any chance at all?

It is all too easy for us in the west of Europe to overlook the quality of a team like Shakhtar. The Ukrainian champions have a good recent history. They won the UEFA Cup in 2009 and are currently dominating the Ukrainian Premyer-Liha. They have a host of starlets at their disposal and experience at the back in their established captain Darijo Srna and full-back Razvan Rat. They have an abundance of Brazilian youth going forward with Douglas Costa, Fernandinho, Willian, Luiz Adriano and Alex Texeira. Their win ratio in this Champions League campaign is 87.5%, beating the likes of Roma, Braga and Arsenal along the way. (Barca's record is 62.5%). 

Arsenal fans will remember Eduardo for a controversial dive and a poor scoring record. Although he didn't do too well for the Gunners, Wenger is a man who knows a talent when he sees one. The Brazilian-born striker seems to have found his feet at Shakhtar, with a series of good displays in the Champions League and on the domestic scene. Eduardo has netted an impressive 19 times in 36 games for Croatia. 

Having said all of this, giant-killing doesn't come often at this stage of the Champions League, and Shakhtar will have to get gritty to get anything out of the tricky first leg at the Nou Camp. 

17 million euro signing Willian told the press: "We have to stay calm. The stadium will be packed, but fear doesn't exist. We are going to acquit ourselves and hit them on the break." Read this quote, then watch the Shakhtar players hilarious reaction to the draw:

The last time they played in 2009, Barca won 1-0 in the Super Cup.

Good News!

New boy to the England set up Kyle Walker scores an absolute screamer in training. More of the same Kyle, please.

How we'll line up vs. the Welsh

4-4-2 for the game against Wales. Sharpe's expected starting line up.

Hart
Johnson
Dawson
Terry
A. Cole
Lennon
Wilshere
Lampard
Milner
Carroll
Rooney

Although I'm still concerned he might pick Barry over Wilshere. Let's hope not.

Ballack in the stands!

This is a video of Michael Ballack, in amongst the Leverkusen faithful, holding a megaphone and leading the chants of 'Scheiss FC Koln!' ('Shit FC Koln!'). It took place during Leverkusen's 2-0 win over Koln at the weekend.

You have to admire his spirit!

The game also included a belter from Swiss international Eren Derdiyok which can be found here

Fellaini to Real Madrid?

Chelsea and Real Madrid want Fellaini. Everton have placed a 25 million price tag on the 23 year-old. Is the Belgian-Moroccan Ebony Shoe Winner 2008 worth it?

"The big clubs can see what a good job Marouane is doing and that is why Chelsea are following him intensively," said Moyes. "In his position he’d get into the starting XI at any big club."

He cost Everton 17 million euros from Standard Liege in the first place. But is the second biggest fouler/second biggest hair cut in the Premier League worth it? 
I think so.

A tribute to the big man.