Thunderball

News Bits (6/5)
1. The race for vacant Liverpool manager's job is hotting up
  as Sven-Goran Eriksson threw his hat into the ring and
  former winger John Barnes gave his backing to Kenny Dalgish.

2. Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo has emerged as a doubt
   for the World Cup after sustaining a calf injury.

3. Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba could miss the World Cup
  after fracturing his right elbow.

4. Rio Ferdinand is out of the World Cup.  He suffers a knee ligament
  injury after a collision with Emile Heskey in training.
  Dawson has been called up to replace Ferdinand.

5. Spurs are lining up a move for Trinidad and Tobago midfielder
  Khaleem Hyland.  Harry Redknapp has been an admirer for
  the highly-rated 20-year-old since his time in charge of
  Portsmouth.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review Spanish Segunda Division (D2).
1. Weekend Fixtures
6/5 (Sat)
Albacete vs Rec Huelva
Castellon vs Salamanca
Betis vs Numancia
Villarreal-B vs Huesca
Cadiz vs Sociedad
Celta Vigo vs Gimnastic
Elche vs Real Murcia
Las Palmas vs Girona
6/6 (Sun)
Cartagena vs Hercules
Rayo Vallecano vs Cordoba
Real Union vs Levante

2. Standings -- All played 39 games.  Three rounds to go.
                                     Pts
1. Levante                  68
2. Sociedad                68
3. Betis                        64
   --- Promotion line ---
4. Hercules                 64
5. Cartagena              64
6. Eleche                      60
7. Villarreal-B              60
8. Numancia                56

15. Rayo Vallecano     47
16. Cadiz                        47
17. Albacete                  46
18. Huesca                     45
   --- Relegation line ---
19. Salamanca               45
20. Real Murcia             43
21. Real Union               43
22. Castellon                  33  --> Relegated

3. Comment
3.1 Cartagena host Hercules this promotion derby. Both teams
   are on 64pts and chasing for promotion. They both need to win
   to get a shot for Promotion. A draw will only help their rivals.
3.2 Both Levante and Sociedad need to beat their hosts
  to confirm promotion. A draw will risk their promotion hopes.
3.3 Betis must beat Numancia to give themselves a shot at
  promotion shot when both of their promotion rivals meet in
  a derby (See item 3.1).
3.4 Elche must beat lowly Murcia to give themselves hope
  for a shot for promotion fight.

3.5 Relegation battles
3.5.1 Real Union chances of beating Levante are not very good.
  Their survival chances look bleak.
3.5.2 Cadiz host Sociedad but they have a chance to take a point.
  Sociedad have been out of form lately.
3.5.3 Relegation derby between Castellon and Salamanca.
   Castellon are already relegated.  Salamanca must take all 3pts
   to left themselves to safety.
3.4.4 Albacete can take a point off Rec Huelva, who have nothing
  to play for.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of gasmes played yesterday (6/5)
1. International Friendlies
Holland 6-1 Hungary  (Note)
S.Africa 1-0 Denmark
Australia 1-3 USA
Ghana 1-0 Latvia
Slovakia 3-0 Costa Rica
Algeria 1-0 UAE
Romania 3-0 Honduras
Serbia 4-3 Cameroon
Switzerland 1-1 Italy
  Note -- Arjen Robben was forced off with a left hamstring
  injury.  Robben is due to have a scan on Sunday (6/6).

2. Spanish D2
Albacete 1-3 Rec Huelva
Castellon 1-2 Slalmanca
Betis 2-0 Numancia
Villarreal-B 1-1 Huesca
Cadiz 1-3 Sociedad
Celta Vigo 3-1 Gimnastic
Elche 1-2 Real Murcia
Las Palmas 0-1 Girona
Comment -- The standings look like this
First 3 -- Sociedad (71pts), Levante (68), Betis (67)
4th-6th -- Hercules and Cartagena (64), Villarreal-B (61)
18th-16th -- Cadiz, Murcia, and Rayo Vallecano (all 47)
Last--19th -- Castellon (33), Rela Union (43), Albacete
    and Huesca (46).

3. Italian Serie-B Relegation Play-Off Leg1 (played on 6/4)
Padova 0-0 Triestina
   -- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/6 Part 1)
1. Jerome Baoteng has completed a GBP11M move
  from Hamburg to Man C.

2. West Ham have signed former Aston Villa midfielder
   Thomas Hitzlsperger from Lazio on a free transfer.

3. Rumours -- Liverpool are planning a shock move for
  Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

4. John Obi Mickel admitted he did not want to risk
  his knee injury after being ruled out of Nigeria
  World Cup campaign.

5. Man C are prepared to make Fernando Toress the world
  richest footballer in an attempt to land the Liverpool
  striker, but he is ready to turn them down in favour of
  a move to Chelsea (because he wants to play
  Champions League football).
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/6 Part 2) -- continued from Part 1
6. Juve director general Beppe Marotta has played down
  reports linking with Sampdoria pair Angelo Palombo and
  Giampaolo Pazzini.  He is confident of signing Udinese
  winger Simone Pepe.

7. Media reports suggest Inter president Massimo Moratti
   is set to meet Benitez in Sardinia and a deal could be
  sealed in the next 48 hours.

8. Didier Drogba has been tipped to make a speedy recovery
  after undergoing an operation on his fractured arm,
  but his involvement at the World Cup still appears
  to be in the balance.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/7)
1. Veteran golkeeper Andy Marshall is hoping to join
   a Championship club after being relased by Aston Villa.

2. Mark Schwarzer has praised the "remarkable job"
   Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has done at the club and
   admits he would not blame his boss if he decides
   to quit the club to take charge of Liverpool.

3. Chelsea will fight to keep hold of Joe Cole according
   to Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins.
   Joe Cole's contract with Chelsea will expire at the end
   of June.  Reports circulated that he is attracting interest
   from Man Utd, Man C, Spurs and West Ham.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played yesterday (6/6)
1. International Friendlies
Nigeria 3-1 N.Korea
Note -- There are crowd stampede scenes before and during half-time
  in this game.  This game is free of charge.  There are a lot of fans
  who wants to attend the games. The game was disrupted for
  10 minutes in the second half for police to control the crowd.

2. Spanish D2
Cartagena 0-0 Hercules
Rayo Vallecano 3-2 Cordoba
Real Union 2-1 Levante
Comment -- Levante lose the advantage to Sociedad for the
  Championship.
Standings -- Two rounds to go.
Promotion Scenes
Top 3 -- Sociedad (71pts), Levante (68), Betis (67).
4th-6th -- Hercules and Cartagena (65), Villarreal-B (61).

Relegation scenes are more exciting. Those teams on 50 and 51pts
  are not safe yet.
On 51pts -- Girona.
On 50pts -- Rayo Vallecano.
On 49pts -- Cordoba.
On 48pts -- Salamanca, Gimnastic and Las Palmas.
On 47pts -- Real Murcia and Cadiz.
On 46pts -- Real Union, Huesca and Albacete.
Last (33pts) -- Castellon.
There are chances of relegation derbies between these teams
   for the last 2 rounds.

3. Italian Serie-C Promotion Play-Off Leg1
Cremonese 1-0 Varese
Verona 2-2 Pescara
Comment -- Leg2 will be played on 6/13.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/8)
1. Hull C and Phil Brown have agreed to part company,
  according to League Manager Association.

2. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti says the deal
  to bring Rafael Benitez to the San Siro is
  "more or less done".

3. Gareth Barry has confirmed he will not take part in
  England's opener against USA.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/8 Part2)
4. St Mirren (Scotland Premier Lg) have confirmed the appointment
   of Danny Lennon as their new manager.

5. Estudiantes (Argentina) duo Mauro Boselli and Marcos Angeleri
   both look set to complete moves to England this week.
     Wigan  have agreed terms with Estudiantes for forward Boselli;
  while Angerleri is poised to join Sunderland.

6. Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou claims
   Kevin-Prince Boateng has dented his hopes of a move to Germany
   as a results of his controversial tackle on Michael Ballack.
   Boateng becomes public enemy number one in German fans.

7. CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic says he expects to complete
    a move to Juventus in the near future.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News Bits (6/9)
1. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed
  that Rafael Benitez will be appointed as the new
  head coach on Wednesday (6/9).

2. Fulham has completed the signing of former Arsenal
  defender Philippe Senderos on a 3-year contract.
   The Switzerland international moves to Craven Cottage
  on a free transfer after his deal with the Gunners expired
  and he has not offered fresh terms.

3. Man C have decided to allow winger Martin Petrov,
  striker Benjani and full-back Sylvinho to leave the club
  after their contracts expired.

4. Former West Ham striker Ilan is being chased a host
  of clubs from around England and Europe.
  The interest is strong in the Premier League clubs
  Bolton and Newcastle, thought to be amoung those
  monitoring the 29-year-old while Turkish and Bundesliga
  clubs are also keeping tabs on the situation.

5. Algerian ace Nadir Belhadj is being chaes by a host
  of clubs around Europe. He is now on World Cup duty
   in S.Africa.

6. Genoa owner Enrico Preziosi claims a deal to bring
  Luca Toni to the Stadio Luigi Ferraias is all but done
  and the B.Munich striker has been offered a 2-year deal.
   --- End of Update ---