dark

On the PC a few years back they had Yakubu when we bought him. Yeah the demo's dont really let you change much. But they give you a good feel for what the game is like. What were the two teams then Chelsea and Real Madrid?

Thanks for that Everton Lad. I knew already that you could do your own celebrations. That was also in the Euro 2008 (which I have played) I didn't know about the first touch though. It seems that the game feels better. I want a game that really challenges me, in terms of the heading you mentioned but I want to be able to score the odd goal from outside the box. Can't wait for Friday. Getting ready to buy now! Out of intrest how did the game go? Score, Teams, Conditions?

HURRY HURRY HURRY

That looks quite cool mate. Will it come down your arm so it would be visable if you wore a short-sleeved shirt? And yeah I know what you mean

OMG - That is actually making me hungry! Just about to have a Steak Pie for my dinner along with a sausage roll and a donut. Totally forgot to eat breakfast so I need to have something

Sounds good. I like the new feature of the weather. In the winter time the first-half will be in warm day-light and then second will slowly fade into darkness and the pitch will turn cold meaning you will have to adapt to it. For me I have always been a Pro Evo man. Up till Pro Evo 6 Fifa didn't keep up IMO, it was more fun to play and most of my mates had it. Fifa 08 was the turning point for me, that was a fantastic game and I thought how PES would keep up. PES 2008 was also good but after the added updates in 09 I serously think that FIFA has won this long battle of the games.

I am Yeah its just I dont really want to spend my cash on 09 if I dont see a big improvement from 08. I don't think I will be getting Pro Evoulution this time. It just looks the same as 08, La Liga gone and the only change is that they have the licence for the Champions League. By the year 2012 Pro Evoulution will be gone.

Comes out 4th October in England. You'll have to write me a review about it before I splash the cash - Following on from last month's in-depth previews of the next-gen and Wii versions of FIFA 09, we were recently given hands-on time with the latest next-gen and PC code, the latter of which proved to be the surprise package of the afternoon. As EA has so proudly proclaimed, FIFA 09 is packing 250 new features. Had we brought our abacus, perhaps we could have kept count, but seeing as we didn't, we focused instead on getting a feel for each version and siphoning any extra info we could extract from next-gen FIFA producer David Rutter and FIFA PC associate producer Paul Hossack. So let's kick off with the PS3 and 360 versions, which bar a few cosmetic differences felt pretty much identical. While lacking the same level of innovation as FIFA 08, these next-gen offerings certainly felt like a confident stride forward for the series, displaying enough polish and refinement to potentially push FIFA 09 over that line of excellence that 08 so marginally failed to cross. A tad slower than Euro 2008 and a smidgeon quicker than its predecessor (there's an option to set the speed to match either of these two games if you desire), FIFA 09 retains much of the realism that made its prequel such a triumph. However, while realism has clearly remained high on the agenda, this year's offering feels somewhat more accessible, with a learning curve that's likely to leave you mildly panting rather than rasping like an asthmatic climbing Everest, thanks in no small part to the new responsiveness and physicality systems that make for more free-flowing matches. Unlike last year, we were able to ping passes away instantly after trapping while shielding was a far more robust affair, allowing for increased possession retention and more imaginative build-ups. There was also a greater emphasis on midfield battles, with players lunging into 50/50s and able to pull off full stretch passes and last-ditch tackles more smoothly and effectively than in the more rigid 08. Another tweaked area was dribbling, with players taking fewer touches for added realism and reacting in a far more lifelike manner when tackled, often stumbling and recovering rather than tumbling at the merest contact. Most satisfying of all was how responsive the players felt, especially in and around the penalty area, with strikers far more alert when following in after shots. Keeper AI, however, was still somewhat patchy (apparently this side of the game is still being balanced) and at times produced the type of comical moments usually reserved for You've Been Framed and England internationals. As well as giving our thumbs a thorough workout, we also worked up a cerebral sweat by playing around with the new tactical options. Thankfully, these proved more than just a tacked-on feature and went some way to adding strategic variety. While the collection of tactical slider bars may have been a little more simplistic than we would have liked, the results of our tweaking certainly seemed to pay dividends as we seamlessly switched between custom-made defensive and offensive strategies, with our team responding with satisfying levels of intelligence. Up close, graphical detail wasn't a world away from last year's models, with some players still looking a little odd (especially on the PS3 version), including Dirk Kuyt who looked like the lovechild of Dracula and Cher. On a more positive note, the much-vaunted new physical jostling mechanics proved worthy of its fanfare, adding a real sense of muscularity (or lack of in the case of weedier players), with plenty of bone-splitting shoulder barging that typifies the modern game. Once we'd had our fill of 360 and PS3 goodness, we cornered producer David Rutter to find out more about the game's four season Be a Pro career mode and the highly anticipated 10-versus-10 online multiplayer action.

There was a young Scottish boy called Angus who decided to try life in Australia. He found an apartment in a small block and settled in. After a week or two, his mother called from Aberdeen to see how her son was doing in his new life. 'I'm fine, ' Angus said. 'But there are some really strange people living in these apartments. One woman cried all day long, another lies on her floor moaning, and there is a guy next door to me who bangs his head on the wall all the time.' 'Well, ma laddie,' says his mother, 'I suggest you don't associate with people like that.' 'Oh,' says Angus, 'I don't, Mam, I don't. No, I just stay inside my apartment all day and night, playing my bagpipes.'

Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techiniques-visulization, association-it made a huge difference for me." "That's great! What was the name of the clinic?" Fred went blank He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?" "You mean a rose?" "Yes, that's it!" He turned to his wife. . ."Rose, what was the name of that clinic?"

PES fan Mark puts EA’s latest FIFA through its paces... It’s easily one of the questions we get asked the most in emails to the site. FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer; which is better? Well, for many footy nuts its Konami’s game – lacking licenses but oozing realism – that’s held in the highest regard, while arcade-based FIFA has typically been the province of the post-pub casual player In recent years however EA’s fully licensed footy franchise has made great strides, and last year the gap in quality was narrower than ever. With FIFA 09, EA Sports are looking to leapfrog PES – and from our recent hands-on, it might just manage it. EA are keen to stress the number of improvements in FIFA 09 compared to its 08 forebear, and with good reason. There’s 250 of them, with top priority given to player animation, with side-by-side videos of FIFAs 08 and 09 clearly displaying the progress in silky-smooth dribbling, increased momentum and accurate collision detection. But it’s only when you pick up a pad that you begin to appreciate how the technical advancements have helped the gameplay. Players jostle believably, move intelligently, signal for through-balls and fall in different ways depending on their speed at the time of a challenge, and the direction a challenge comes in from; tumbling Drogba-style over head-on slide tackles and sprawling epically when they have their trailing foot taken out at high speed. Flow In possession of the ball, FIFA 09 simply flows; there’s no better word for it. The ball pings about with a pleasing elasticity in FIFA 09, while thankfully avoiding the ping-pong nature of past generation FIFAs. The result is a fast-paced but smooth, organic-feeling game of football, full of crunching tackles, dynamic interplay and an empowering shot system. In addition to this, FIFA 09 allows budding Benitez’s to come to the fore with Custom Team Tactics. You’ll be able to save these to share online, and importantly, map them to the d-pad to change your approach during a game. You’ll still be able to play with the pre-set tactics, but for serious players Custom options should add an extra layer of depth to FIFA 09. So, FIFA 09 is a football game that offers rewarding buildup play, lifelike player interaction and arguably the best visuals in any sporting videogame to date. But it’s scoring that truly feels satisfying. Where PES 2008 often feels like an exercise in manoeuvring towards the sweet spot, FIFA 09 makes you feel like you can score the kind of goals you would in real life; with animation and A.I. that makes scoring the same goal twice a far trickier prospect. It’s ironic given the respective reputations of the two footballing franchises, but FIFA 09 actually feels more of a sim than PES 08’s more arcade-like offering. It’s a bit unfair to compare FIFA 09 to Pro Evo’s year-old effort, of course – but with Konami not giving hands-on playtests with PES2009 yet, we can’t be sure how the two titles will stack up against each other in October. What IS for sure is that Konami will have to go some to replicate FIFA 09’s planned 10v10 online play, in which every player bar the goalkeepers will be player controlled. It’s an unprecedented and enormous selling point that’s fraught with potential hazards, but if EA nail the net code for launch (something Konami have never quite managed) we could be looking at an era-defining online sports title. Our playtest with FIFA 09 demonstrated huge potential, even if current squads weren’t up to date, with Flamini at Milan, for instance, but new Liverpool star signing Robbie Keane still at Spurs. Like Man United supporters then, Konami and hardcore PES fans should be concerned; this year the competition have made massive improvements, and this season’s big footy grudge match looks far too close to call.

When you was 15? I dont really like any of those bulldog things, I would prefer something that I like myself - unique. What kinda' Mauri tattoo you gonna get then Paul?

Wiki Fellaini was born to Moroccan parents and as a child attended numerous football academies. His father played for Raja Casablanca and Hassania Agadir during the 1970s. Marouane Fellaini began playing football at the age of seven for Anderlecht. He was at the club's academy until the age of ten when he joined Mons. Three years later he joined R. Francs Borains. He then left the club and was signed by Sporting Charleroi. At the age of seventeen he signed his first full-time contract with Standard Liège. Between 2006 and 2008 he made 84 appearances for the club, scoring 11 times. Echo Over the past two years he has established himself as one of the best box to box midfielders in Belgium and helped Liege win the Jupiler League title last season. Represented Belgium at the Beijing Olympics, where he was sent off in the opening game for two yellow cards against Brazil. Made 84 appearances for Liege, scoring 11 times. dark He seemed a brilliant player when we first signed him. He's not done too bad at the moment for us. It's definatly Castillo>Fellaini but I think he needs time to settle in. He's been at Liege for about 3 years now and needs time to cope with the expectations of Premier League football. I have no doubt against teams like Arsenal and United in a few weeks he will prove his talents to us.

Bacon - Tasty, had it with a barmcake, so that was 5 slices of bacon along with a barm. Lovely. Spaghetti - Slightly bland, but still awesome. We've run out of Aromat so I coulden't really add new flavours. Muffins - Best bit White muffin topped with white icing and a few hundred-thousands. 8

Return of Van der Meyde? ''Andy van der Meyde, originally spelled "van der Meijde", (born 30 September 1979 in Arnhem, Gelderland) is a Dutch footballer, who currently plays for Everton of the English Premier League, as an attacking midfielder or winger (he is right-footed), and can play on either wing, although for the Netherlands national football team and during his time at Ajax, he usually played on the right wing. He is well known for his pace dribbling.'' Is that not what we need, someone to cause havoc and command those wings?

^Agreed. We need to build from the back. When the LB and RB get the ball we need to make simple passes. I hate to say it but like Liverpool. The number of times that they pass the ball back to Carragher and build from it, sometimes even having 30 or more passes before shooting but with hoofing it's never going to work. I mean we should get the ball work our way slowly up the field and then look to find an opening. Hoofing is for when we are 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go.

Yeah that would be good. But 3 at the back dosen't sound good when we can't keep a clean sheet with 4. And where did Phil Neville go? O.

*BUMP* I'm thinking of getting a tatoo when I 'become of age' . I'm getting one on my chest. Like two guns with wings on top. It looks really awesome and I'm getting one similar. I've thought about it for a few years now and have decided 100% I want it. A while a go I wanted a star on my wrist/arm/hand but I kinda' went against it just in-case it turned out wrong I couldent hide it. I'm going to stick to chest and back. Might get something awesome on my back - maybe just the word 'Awesome'

This will sound extremely risky, but it could work. Remember Blackburn. Jose Baxter came on sprinted round the whole field like a greyhound and won most of the balls, set up chances and within five minutes could have scored a hat-trick. Now against Manchester United, we know that were going to lose 3-0 + so why not try and get some young talent in there? I mean if our whole team were Baxter's based on his performance we would been 4-0 by the first half whistle. I mean I know that it's really risky, but could we not benefit from giving the likes of Kissock, Baxter and Agard thier debuts?

He's not played for us yet - ATM he's been good at Preston and mediocre at Wigan. He looked OK in the warm-up against Liverpool but until I see him play I'll continue to plead for Stefan to return.

Liege: A real must win game. I would be ecstatic with a 1-0 win here. Liege are a good team but we've beaten teams like Zenit and AZ so I can't see why we cant pull something off against the Belgians, we need to show the force we were last season. If we crash out of Europe I would be gutted. Newcastle: Another must win game. With Arsenal and Manchester United coming up we need to get some firm points on the board. If we managed to over-turn a topsey turvy Newcastle then that could somehow kick start our season. I think this is the game where Saha earns his keep. Arsenal: Not looking foreward to it. If we beat Newcastle I would be hopeful for a draw. United: Same, but Manchester United will be a lot harder to beat. Arsenal we could manage a draw out of, Manchester is all about keeping the scoring down. Bolton: Win.

<_<

Bold =

Wiki On August 3rd 2008, it emerged that Ambani had become a leading contender to take over English Premier League team, Newcastle United. Talks are thought to have broken down when it transpired that Newcastle chairman, Mike Ashley, had demanded more than Ambani was willing to pay. Current speculation also links the businessman to the 130 year old Merseyside outfit, Everton F.C. Club chairman, Bill Kenwright, has officially stated that his club is for sale. Ambani's son, Jai Anmol, has already been rumoured to have visited Everton's ground, Goodison Park, where he apparently watched a pre-season friendly versus Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. On September 12th 2008 Sky Sports news reported that Anil Ambani was in talks with Everton officials over a deal to takeover the club. The news has been welcomed by many Everton fans who feel that Mr Ambani can help the club to reach its full potential. The following day several national newspapers picked up on the story. Further to that, the Daily Mirror reports on the September 30th 2008, that Ambani has entered talks with Bill Kenwright and although discussions are progressing slowly, Ambani remains interested in moving into English football.

Agree with all of that but I do think we should be doing all we can to lure Ambani to the club, especially before January. If we could try and get into bidding wars with Manchester City (possible Newcastle) then we could start to challenge for the title in 2009-10. Bill has Everton at heart, has had a fantastic few years with the club and him and Moyes seem to work well but I have to say it's time he sold us for the good of the general club.