Manchester United V Fulham

Manchester United V Fulham

by Jonathan Walker

Manchester United welcome Fulham to Old Trafford on Monday December 3rd in their next Premier League fixture.

Man United will have observed how the other teams at the summit of the Premiership table perform over the weekend and could find themselves six points behind Arsenal before kick off, with the Gunners also having a game in hand to play. Chelsea could also overtake the Red Devils if they collect three points against West Ham on Saturday.

Following United's shock 1-0 defeat at Bolton, the pressure will be on Ales Ferguson's side to gain three vital points. They will be well rested after having the unusual luxury of having six days between fixtures following their match with Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

There should be a recall into the squad for Ronaldo, who was left out of the 16 man squad that faced Bolton Wanderers last Saturday. With the side loosing away from home, the fans were shocked to see one of their most dangerous players sitting in the stands, unavailable for action.

Carlos Tevez, who missed that glorious chance against Bolton should retain his place in the side, however strike partner Louis Saha may be moved back to the substitute's bench. His replacement in the line up could be none other than Wayne Rooney, who has been pushing himself hard to return to the side following his injury.

There should also be a place for Nemanja Vidic who missed the last match due to international commitments. Vidic and Ferdinand have a superb pairing at the heart of the defence and could be joined by Gary Neville, who has been kicking his heels waiting to get back into the side following a lengthy lay off.

Fulham under Lawrie Sanchez have proved to be a much different proposition compared to last season. At home they have been unlucky not to collect more points than they have done, but are still yet to improve their points tally away from Craven Cottage.

They enter this game having drawn four out of their last five games, the other match in that sequence was a 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

Sanchez is building a competitive side, that is dangerous on the counter attack. Upfront they boast David Healy, who recently broke the European Championship qualifying goal scoring record whilst on duty for Northern Ireland and Clinton Dempsey is beginning to work well.

Fulham are likely to employ a 4-5-1 system with Healy supported by Mohammed Karama and American international Clinon Dempsey. If required they can bring on veteran target man Shefki Kuqi, who is on loan from Crystal Palace or the quick Hameur Bouazza should he not be given a starting place in the side.

This was the opening fixture for the two teams last season with Manchester United thrashing the team that was then led by Chris Coleman 5-1. United were quick out of the blocks that game and established a 4-0 lead with only 20 minutes gone with goals from Saha, Rooney, Ronaldo and an own goal by Ian Pearce.

About the Author

This article is written by Jonathan Walker, watch Manchester United V Fulham Live Online

ross Training Ideas For Tennis Training Success

ross Training Ideas For Tennis Training Success

by Paul Gold

There are many components that contribute to an effective tennis-training programme but whilst most people will readily mention strength, endurance, flexibility, speed etc one of the most important yet understated components is variety.

Your body is fantastically adaptive in as much as if you repeat the same thing over and over you will adapt and it will become the norm (an important factor in learning), however if you perform the same workout routine (no matter how good it is) it will eventually prove counter productive as all initial gains you make plateau and there will be no overload and any gains will be reversed.

Think of it another way, if you play your favourite song over and over again for too long it will eventually lose its early appeal.

This is where using other sports and methods of training (or cross-training as it is known), is important.

For the pro players that I work with, participating in other sports keeps them physically and mentally fresh (they obviously play so much tennis) whilst still promoting a training stimulus.

For my junior players (minis included) as well as my recreational adults (some very serious and not too recreational by the way), it is a way of training many of the fitness components critical for tennis away from the tennis environment whilst still retaining a competitive games - based edge. This is especially true of the "mini" juniors for whom early "specialisation" in a single sport has been shown to be counterproductive.

Here are some ideas to either spice up or enhance a program you are currently doing, or to get you started on a new one.

1. Participate in sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball or volleyball.

All these sports have the stop-start repeated sprint tempo that tennis requires with soccer providing a multidirectional agility-training stimulus that is vital for effective court coverage. Although basketball and volleyball include many directional changes as well, they have a large leg power component to them through the repeated jumping that takes place.

Baseball has many useful tennis related aspects to it such as pitching and getting the ball from base to base (which are throwing actions like the tennis serve) and sliding to make base can be very useful when you come to play on clay where sliding is a vital component for success.

2. Use outdoor activities.

Cardio training can be achieved by running, hiking (also good for leg strength), skating (balance and agility), skipping (co-ordination), cycling and swimming, to mention just a few. If you are in a park you could use equipment such as benches, balance beams, monkey bars, rope climbs etc. to do body weight driven exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, balancing, step-ups, squat jumps, tricep dips, calf raises, etc.

As always start slowly and at your own pace and progress slowly increasing the length and/or intensity as you improve.

So, with a little thought and creativity you can combine all the fitness components necessary for improving tennis performance into workouts that take place away from your normal tennis environment, thereby allowing you to be physically and sometimes more importantly mentally fresh every time you step back on the court to play a match or have a lesson.

Who knows you may even find yourself having fun whist getting fitter and improving your tennis!

Before starting any exercise program, always be sure to first consult your physician.

About the Author

Paul Gold has a Masters degree in Sports Sciences and is a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Speed Agility Quickness trainer. For information about products and services contact via http://www.tennis-training-central.com He has just released a special report on tennis footwork, go to http://www.footwork4tennis.com for more details. Copyright © 2000-2007 Tennis Training Central

How to Wax a Snowboard

How to Wax a Snowboard

by Andrew Cho

Waxing is the easiest tuning job for snowboards and offers immediate results. Since wax makes it easier for snowboards to glide over snow, a waxed board will slide faster and turn easier. Waxing also protects the base form the harmful effects of moisture, UV rays, snow contaminants, and dirt.

If you’re a recreational snowboard, waxing your board every two or three times you go should do the trick. If you’re looking to have the smoothest rides, you can always wax more often. Some spray or wipe-on waxes can be used between wax applications and even when you’re on the slopes.

To wax your board, you will need wax, an iron (or waxing machine), a plastic scraper, and a brush.

1) Before waxing your board, make sure that the base is clean.

2) Using an iron, hold a bar of wax against the base of the iron and let the wax drip onto the base. Run a bead of wax along the base without ever letting the iron touch the base. The iron should be hot enough to melt the wax, but not so hot that the wax smokes. (250 degrees Fahrenheit is normal)

3) Once the wax has been applied along the entire length of the base, smooth it out with the iron, being careful not to let the iron stall or touch the plastic base. Spread a thin layer of wax evenly over the entire base.

4) Once the wax has completely cooled, scrape off the excess wax by pushing or pulling the scraper from the tip to the tail. Next, use a soft nylon brush to buff the remaining wax. Brush with small, quick strokes until there are no more little white balls of wax.

5) Finally, polish the base lightly with an abrasive pad that can make riding smoother and more enjoyable. Whatever you do, make sure to scrape excess wax from the steel edges so they can cut into the snow.

About the Author

FindingSnowboards.com was created with one goal in mind: help snowboarders find the perfect gear. Whether you’re looking for snowboards, goggles, or jackets, we’ll introduce you to hundreds of products to choose from.

NASCAR Collectables Last Lap For 2007

NASCAR Collectables Last Lap For 2007

by Brian Connors

Now that Jimmie Johnson has wrapped-up the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship what is left of the racing season to be concerned about? The answer is shopping for the NASCAR collectables needed for friends, family and yourself before the Christmas holiday is upon us all.

Yes, it’s that time of year race fans. This is equally true for those who may not be fans of the sport but have loved ones to shop for that are. You’ve got to prepare yourselves for searching for the items that are on the wish-lists of stock car racing aficionados. There’s time to spare but the clock is ticking. Avoid the panic button being pressed allowing anxiety to begin a crescendo that could end in shopping disaster. What’s the solution?

Buy your NASCAR collectables early and have them gift-wrapped with time to spare! Take the lead today and get ahead of others who might just claim the last piece of merchandise that you may desperately need before the race is over. It’s a cruel fact that manufacturers make a limited amount of products that may run out before Christmas Day. Don’t let your competition get the inside lane on the gift that will make someone you know beam with racing excitement.

The good news is that there are racing gifts in pretty much any price range. There are the higher priced NASCAR memorabilia that have actual pieces of the driver’s car and autograph on it as well. There are pricey leather jackets and furniture and upscale die-cast models for those that can afford them. These may go quickly so it may be best to make a determination early on and make the move in time to have these type of products shipped to you pronto.

There are NASCAR collectables that may be more in your price zone such as clocks, blankets, pillows, throws, rugs, mats or bean bags all having a favorite driver on them. There are tons of ideas for apparel including the basic t-shirt to the sporty uniform jackets that boldly advertise the stock car competitor that has won the gift recipient’s favor. There is a buffet of racing merchandise out there now that may not be around for long that could make somebody’s holiday season a most memorable one for years to come.

Take the advice of StockCarUSA.com and start your engines early in the rush to finish the race a winner. Let your 2007 racing season end with a checkered flag for yourself and the ones that you aim to please.

About the Author

Brian is the owner of Stock Car USA Collectibles and wants to remind you that time is of the essence regarding NASCAR collectables shopping. He invites you to visit http://www.StockCarUSA.com for racing gift ideas today.

Junior Golf Clubs-Tips To Help You Find The Best Clubs For Your Kids

Junior Golf Clubs-Tips To Help You Find The Best Clubs For Your Kids

by Marcell Mason

Finding the right junior golf clubs is critical to having your junior player playing well as early as possible. Quite simply, junior golf clubs are extremely important to helping your child play well, because having the right equipment is essential.

If you get clubs that are either too short or too long for the player, they will not be able to swing the club effectively. Here are some important tips when looking for golf clubs for sale to help you choose the best golf clubs for your junior player as quickly as possible, and best yet, without spending a fortune in the process.

Keep in mind, today most junior golf clubs are meant manufactured by the top brand names in the world, such as Cobra golf equipment, Titleist, Nike, etc, and are thus usually just as expensive as getting regular golf clubs. Of course, you might be able to save a little bit of money, but generally speaking you'll end up paying just about the same price. Of course, you can get them cheaper, and therefore not in as good a shape, but if your junior player to be serious about playing golf, you will absolutely want to pay a good price for your golf clubs.

One of the most important things to remember when shopping for you for your junior golf clubs is the height of the clubs. Quite simply, you want to make sure that the club matches your child's height, and will also be tall enough so with the when they grow, they can still use it.

For instance, you certainly don't want to buy a new set of golf clubs every single year, as these are more expensive than shoes are closer other things they used to change annually. When you are purchasing clubs for a junior player, you have to remember that there they will still be growing, and therefore keep this in mind.

Therefore, you should probably purchase them a little taller at first; this way, if they are too tall for your child, they can simply choke up on them until they are the perfect height. Obviously, you can purchase the exact height for your junior player, but just keep in mind that you will have to purchase a new set either every year or every couple eyras, and whether or not this is worth it simply depends on how avid a player your junior is.

Of course, the weight and the shaft of the golf club are extremely sport important as well. How far are naturally they hit the ball is very reliant how much the club ways. Since junior golfers will generally have lower swing speeds than adult players, you will want a purchase lighter clubs for them, to help them hit the ball farther.

The best tips to help you find the best junior golf clubs is to search for them on the Internet, on either discount websites or eBay. You can often times find used golf clubs much cheaper than new golf clubs, and with just as good a quality. You can find many of these used golf clubs the Internet today, and can therefore save a lot of money. You can even purchase top of the line models such as the Titleist 907 D2, a driver you typically would have to pay several hundred dollars for if you were to buy it new.

Of course, if you plan on purchasing clubs other than brand-name such as Titleist or Nike, make sure you read reviews about them on the Internet by both current and past customers, and find out what they had to say about that company. This is essential if you plan on purchasing anything other than the mainstream clubs, because the small brands will be less known and therefore could be less reliable and effective than the top of the line clubs.

However, when you do your research, you can find some great clubs without paying top dollar, as you would have to by purchasing the most popular models. Hopefully these tips will to find the best junior golf clubs for your younger player, and help them enjoy a lifetime of playing golf.

About the Author

For great golf tips, such as how to find a cheap used golf cart, visit onlinegolfinformation.com. Also learn about electric golf carts, golf swing tips, and anything else golf related.