Arsenal FC - A Club and Its Trophies

Arsenal football club founded in 1886 is one of the most successful football club in the entire united kingdom. Starting from 1930-31 football season when the club won its first trophy, the team have won all the domestic titles in English football.

FIRST DIVISION LEAGUE
It recorded a total of 10 trophies in the formal English first division league (1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1937-38, 1947-48 1952-53, 1970-71, 1988-89, 1990-91).

Arsenal was also runners-up on 3 football seasons during the period of first division league (1925-26, 1931-32, 1972-73).

PREMIER LEAGUE
Since 1992 when the present money spinning Barclays premier league started as F.A premier league Arsenal has won the competition for 3 seasons (1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04).Which placed them second to Man United who has won the competition on 10 occasion with Chelsea 2 times and Blackburn Rovers once. The club has been runners -up for a record 5 times (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05}

THE F.A CUP.
Arsenal success story also extends to the prestigious F.A CUP where it has won the title on 10 occasions (1929-30, 1935-36, 1949-50, 1970-71, 1978-79, 1992-93, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05). Runners-up 7times (1926-27, 1931-32, 1951-52, 1971-72, 1977-78, 1979-80, 2000-01).

LEAGUE CUP.

The league is now called the Carling cup based on sponsorship is not left out on the silver ware stable of Arsenal were there 2 of the trophy.(1986-87, 1992-93). Runners-up 4 times (1967-68, 1968-69, 1987-88, 2006-07).

COMMUNITY SHIELD.
This is another competition in which Arsenal has made tremendous impact by winning the trophy on 12 occasions (1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004). Runners-up 7 times (1935, 1936, 1979, 1989, 1993,2003, 2005)

In Europe arsenal has not fare so well, appearing once in the Uefa champion league final in 2005-06 and finishing as runners-up to Barcelona f.c of spain who won by 2-1 in Monaco. Arsenal was the winner of Uefa cup winners cup champions (1993-94) and 2 times runner-up (1979-80, 1994-95) football seasons. Uefa cup runners-up in 1999-2000, runners-up Uefa super cup 1994.

Arsenal hold some significant records which includes
The club was the second club to win double in the twentieth century(1970-71) which they have repeated on two different seasons (2003-04, 2005-06).Arsenal is also the first london based club to reach the Uefa champions league final.

How to Use an Office Chair

Most would think it is common sense when talking about the subject of how to sit in an office chair considering most of us sit in one for hours on end everyday. While office chairs certainly are easy to use with a little bit of knowledge, most of us are not familiar with how to properly adjust and sit in our chairs in order to avoid pain and injury. When even starting to consider purchasing an office chair it is important to pick out a chair that will allow you to adjust your body and posture to conform ergonomically to you. An ergonomic chair will come with adjustable seat height, back/lumbar adjustments, armrest adjustments, and a tilt lock. While most are not familiar with chair adjustments it is essential to learn about your chair and become properly educated on how to use it before using it just as you would for say a car or bike. However, an office chair will not take nearly as long to figure out as either of the aforementioned.

When sitting in an office chair the first area of the chair to focus on is the part you sit on all day, the seat. With your back against the backrest, the seat should support most of the length of your thighs without applying pressure to the back of your knees. Waterfall seats (which most chairs now come with) are ideal for allowing you to sit comfortably and properly. Your seat height should be set so that your thighs are approximately parallel to the ground when your heels are firmly planted on the ground. If it is not possible to have your feet flat on the ground because your work station is too high and not adjustable, a footrest is a good addition to keep your feet flat and body in proper posture. Movement throughout the day is encouraged, so do not feel as if you always need your feet to be planted on the ground. There is generally a lever on the right side if not the left that when pulled up allows you to move either up if your taller or down if you are of shorter stature. A tip for adjustment is to start with your seat at its highest and lower it gradually until it is at a comfortable height. as you cannot usually raise your seat while you are sitting in it.

The backrest of a chair is an important feature, especially if you suffer from mild to severe back pain. A chair that comes with adjustable lumbar support is recommended for those that suffer from back pain. If your backrest does come with built-in lumbar support, its height should be such that you feel firm support over the lumbar curve of your lower back. Chairs that are S shaped also provide natural back support that will fit to the natural curvature of your spine. If your chair lacks lumbar support, adding a lumbar cushion or lumbar pillow can help aid your back. Lumbar support products should only be added if your seat has sufficient depth in order to avoid pushing yourself up to far that your upper legs are not properly supported. While sitting in your chair, it is usually easier to lower the backrest than raise it. So begin with the back rest as high as it goes, then sit in your chair and gradually lower the backrest until it fits comfortably.

Another feature that is crucial for a good chair to have is adjustable armrests. Most chairs that have adjustable armrests can easily be lowered or raised by pushing a button in and manually pulling the armrests up or pushing them down. Armrests have to be at the right height for your body, if they are too high it will force you to position your arms awkwardly. If armrests are too long you might find yourself to be slouching or sitting in an awkward position which might start to cause a back ache. While typing, your arms should be able to swing freely. Armrests should be positioned about half an inch below your elbows, with your elbows hanging comfortably at your side. If your arms are resting on the armrest while you are typing, you will be inhibiting the normal arm movement which will cause extra strain on your fingers and their supporting structures.

The backrest angle should be set so that you feel the backrest while you are in your preferred sitting position. You should not have to lean back to feel it, nor should it force you farther forward when you are sitting. Your back rest angle should allow, however, to move forward and backward with added pressure while still providing you with lumbar/back support. Usually, underneath your chair there is a knob that allows you to adjust the backrest to the amount of pressure you want. After finding that perfect spot make sure to lock your backrest angle to ensure it stays in place. Usually by pulling the lever up you can unlock the back angle and pushing down locks it into place.

It is important to remember that not all chairs are built the same, meaning that some levers and knobs may be in different places or may be used differently depending on the chair. Also, some chairs may not come with all the features mentioned above and may only possess one or two. What is the key takeaway is take some time to get to know your chair and how to use it when purchasing a chair or even if you already have an office chair you like. In the long run, it can save you from hours, days, or years of suffering from common work related injuries that occur from not sitting properly. If you are not happy with your current chair and its features, look into a chair that has all the adjustments mentioned in order to ensure that it is ergonomically correct.

Premiership Greatest XI

This is a very difficult thing to do and it is all about opinions after all. Some of the choices will be universally approved while some would be mocked or even condemned.

Candidates for Goal keepers

1 Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)

2 David Seaman (Arsenal)

3 Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)

4 Brad Friedel (Blackburn)

5 Nigel Martyn (Leeds United and Everton)

6 David James (Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth)

7 Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers)

8 Shay Given (Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United)

9 Casey Keller (Tottenham Hotspurs)

10 Edwin Van Der Saar (Fulham and Manchester United)

11 Tim Flowers (Southampton and Blackburn Rovers)

My choice would be Peter Schmeichel over David Seaman.

I have gone for a 3-man defense for my first team because I could not leave out some players in the more advanced positions and had also because I do not think that there has been an outstanding right back who really stands out from the rest to warrant being in my first team.

Candidates for Defenders

1. Gary Pallister ( Manchester United)

2. Steve Bruce (Manchester United)

3. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

4. Jaap Stam (Manchester United)

5. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

6. Sami Hyppia (Liverpool)

7. John Terry (Chelsea)

8. Marcel Desailly (Chelsea)

9. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

10. William Gallas (Chelsea)

11. Martin Keown ( Arsenal)

12. Tony Adams (Arsenal)

13. Steve Bould (Arsenal)

14. Sol Campbell (Arsenal)

15. Kolo Toure (Arsenal)

16. Jonathan Woodgate ( Leeds United)

17. Dave Watson (Everton)

18. Philip Albert (Newcastle)

19. Colin Hendry (Blackburn)

The 3 defenders I have chosen for my first team are Tony Adams who has been Arsenal's best defender and captain in the last 30 years.

He did not have the natural ability, athleticism or speed of many of the defenders on the list but he had leadership and organizational abilities which are just as crucial for a defense.

Marcel Desailly of Chelsea who had everything you want in a defender; strength, speed and leadership.

The final defender I have picked is Jaap Stam of Manchester United who like the other 2, had all the qualities you want in a defender.

Midfielders

I am not going to make a list here because I have cheated and put some players that are essentially forwards but I chosen to class them as defenders as there was no way I was going to leave any of them out for the other.

I have picked 2 genuine central midfielders who would have to be the ball winners because the other 3 are not likely to defend at all.

They are perhaps the best 2 in their respective positions and would be in most people's list as the very best player to have played in the premiership and they are Roy Keane of Manchester United and Patrick Vieira of Arsenal.

They were not just very competitive and combative but they were also very good players on the ball as well. They were totally inspirational to their teams and led their teams to many victories.

The 3 other "midfielders" are the best players to have played for their respective clubs, in terms of technical ability and they are Eric Cantona of Manchester United who was the inspiration for their winning the premiership for the first time in 25 years when they won it in 1992/93 season.

He has arguably being the main catalyst for their triumphs thereafter. Dennis Bergkamp was just technically perfect, and as far as I am concerned the best player to have won an Arsenal shirt. Gianfranco Zola was another genius with the football and was rightly voted Chelsea's best ever player.

Strikers

This is always going to be the most position to pick just 2 outstanding candidates out of 50 excellent choices but I have gone managed to pick 2 of the very best.

They are as different as chalk and cheese, but they had scoring goals as their common attribute. The first player I have picked is arguably the most exciting player to have played in the premiership and most would agree that it has been a privileged for the premiership to have had Thierry Henry grace it with absolute brilliance.

He is not just a goal scorer but he created lots and lots of chances for his teammates and scored so many contenders for best goal ever in the premiership. His partner is quite simply the best striker in premiership history as his goals will attest to.

Alan Shearer was just a goal scoring phenomenon who also had more to his game than scoring goals. He is still the leading scorer in the premiership history and it will take a great effort for his record to be broken. He is the only player to have scored a century of goals for 2 different clubs in the Premiership.

Barcelona Defense Will Crack at Chelsea

Most of the Barcelona football club fans were critical that Chelsea parked the defensive bus in front of their goal and cynically keep defending for the ninety minutes. Well for all the Barcelona's football club fans here is an invitation - Please parks the bus at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea will score.

Any body for the taking, well the shoe is now on the other foot and believe you me Barcelona will be found wanting in the second leg. They can't break a five men defense unlike nine men defense at Nou Camp and will concede goals from outside the box from where they even failed to mount a decent shot at Peter Cech goal in full ninethy minutes in the first leg of Champions League Semi final 2009.

The defensive frailties of Barcelona will be all there for display at the Stamford bridge when the attacking full backs of the Barcelona will be confined to their half with Chelsea's wide attacking players and the weakened central defense due to absence of Marquez and Puyol will be shaky against the power and speed of Drogba.

Parking a bus is not easy thing in football that too for a full ninety minutes at a pitch which seems like twice the size of Stamford Bridge and with players touted as the best three in the world at the moment. For Chelsea the hard part of keeping a clean sheet at Nou Camp is already achieved and now it is the quest to score two goals in the first twenty five minutes at Stamford Bridge and defend aggressively using the upper body strength.

Two players who need to be cautious in the coming match is Ballack and Ivanovich, Ballack for the yellow card and Ivanovich for tacking the speed of Henry on left flank as I won't be surprised if Boswinga again neutralize Messi in his own game of coming inside and taking the ball on his left foot.

FC Barcelona - The Rijkaard Years

Frank Rijkaard is a world-renowned football player and coach known for his no-nonsense, aggressive style of play. His tenure as manager of FC Barcelona (familiarly known by its fans simply as Barça) was marked by successes and controversy.

The period in which Rijkaard was brought into FC Barcelona was one of turmoil for the club. The past few years had been very disappointing, accentuated by players and managers coming and going, including the betrayal of vice-captain Luis Figo, who left the team to join their rivals Real Madrid. Newly elected FC Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta desperately wanted to turn things around for the team and began by bringing in Dutchman Rijkaard as manager in 2003. Rijkaard's appointment came as a surprise to FC Barcelona's fans due to his inexperience and tarnished reputation.

Rijkaard had made a name for himself as a player for AC Milan years earlier. Although he had played for other teams before and after, it was during his tenure as a player for AC Milan that he was most known. Rijkaard was known for his aggressive style and hot-headed temperament, which brought him many victories and controversy, respectively.

By the time he sat in Barça's manager's chair, however, he had his temper under control. He had already done two years at the Netherlands national football team, leading them to the Euro 2000 semi-finals, and two years managing Sparta Rotterdam, where he did not fare so well. This so-so performance seemed to light a fire under the young manager, as he came into FC Barcelona with a new purpose. Rijkaard was now known simply as a no-nonsense manager with little flash. He let his and his players' actions speak for themselves on and off the field. They were just out to win the match in the most impressive manner possible.

Though he got off to a slow start (losing to arch rivals Real Madrid in December 2003), Rijkaard soon turned the team around. FC Barcelona finished the 03-04 season as La Liga runners-up before Rijkaard brought in new players to round out the team. The addition of the new roster allowed the club to go to win La Liga for two consecutive years in 04-05 and 05-06.

Rijkaard was the first Barca coach to ever win twice at Santiago Barnebeu, their rival's stomping grounds. He was also nominated for UEFA's Team of the Year in 2005 and honored in 2006 for his contributions to the European Cup. He also managed the team to a victory in the 2005-06 Champions League, which made him only the fifth person ever to win the European Cup both as a manager and a player.

After these victories, however, came a drought. The following two years were not so great for the team, culminating in a loss to Manchester United in the Semi-Final of the '07-'08 UEFA Champions League. There was much speculation after this about Rijkaard leaving the club, due to them not winning a trophy for two years. Finally, on May 8, 2008, it was announced that Frank Rijkaard would be leaving the team at the end of the season.

Rijkaard has now been replaced with Barca B coach Josep Guardiola. Many players have left the team and have been replaced with good prospects. What this means for the future of the team has yet to be seen. With the fickle nature of football club presidents and fans, it remains to be seen how Guardiola will measure up to his predecessors.

Liverpool Football Club

Liverpool team has participated in several leagues right from its inception. It is rightly the owner of leagues because it was formed because of dispute between the Everton Foot ball club leader and the landowner of Anfield. This landowner was also the president of the Everton Football club. They disputed for a long time over the land and later, Houlding, the landowner started Liverpool Football Club. Though it did not avail good support from the football committee, it won the Lancashire Leagues, which was its first victory as well, the most important victory to help it gain reputation in the football committee.

In 1901, it won the first division and the same happened in 1906 too. Victories followed victories leading avalanche effect. However, a sudden stop prevailed from 1923 to 1946 until which there was not a single trophy. In 1946, it again will not the first division and became the first club to win it five times. There were certainly a few losses too at Liverpool Football Club. However, all these losses were effectively converted into gains to the team. When LFC lost the 2to1 non-league FA cup, a new manager called Bill Shankly was appointed. He converted a room at the LFC space into a strategy discussion room. This room was initially used a boot space, but now it is one of the best places to discuss intellectual moves.

The team moved towards another orientation from then on. They started to focus on intellectual moves too rather than just being vigorous in action. A complete reshape happened in the entire team. The club now obtained a good status of First division and it took nearly 17 years for this struggle. With Shankly's management, the team won a league UEFA, FA cup too. Later when Shankly retired, his assistant took over the post and the team again started to get its fame with its new management.

With the new manager, Paisley Liverpool Football Club won the European Cup, UEFA Cup, but they lost FA Cup in the finals. Around 21 trophies were bagged and the members of Liverpool Football Club atrophied not a single opportunity. The determination and strategies gave them immense opportunity in the football club.

History & Progress of FC Barcelona Football Club

You can visit the fantastic city of Barcelona, if you want to have wonderful football vacation in Europe. The fabulous capital of Catalonia certainly is one of the top venues to enjoy football in Europe. Located on the mouths of Llobregat & Besòs Rivers on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona surely is a perfect destination for football.

Football is the first passion for the Catalan People. Probably that was the reason that FIFA chose Barcelona as venue for several matches of the 1982 Football World Cup. The magnificent city is widely known for FC Barcelona or Futbol Club Barcelona, which is one of the major sports clubs of Europe.

The Club is best known for its Football team, but the club also has teams for rugby, wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, athletics, baseball, cycling, field hockey, figure skating, and volleyball. Some of the Club's other known teams include FC Barcelona B (Football), FC Barcelona Women's Football, FCB Rugby, FC Barcelona-Institut Guttman, AXA FC Barcelona (Basketball), FC Barcelona Handball, FC Barcelona Futsal, and FC Barcelona Sorli Discau (Rink Hockey).

Founded by Joan Gamper with the support of a group of Swiss, English, and Catalan men in 1899, the Club is popularly known as Barca. The club has progressed brilliantly to virtually become the major sports institution of Catalonia. The Club's motto is "Més que un club," that literally means 'More than a club'.

In 1928, the Club teamed up with Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao to set up La Liga, and it became the first La Liga champion. The club has shown brilliant progress in Football, and has a great contribution to the Spanish and the European Football. The club has 18 La Liga, 24 Copa del Rey, 7 Supercopa de España, 32 Joan Gamper Trophy, 2 UEFA Champions League, 4 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 3 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and 2 European Super Cup titles under its name to date.

The Club's football squad has one of the world's finest football players. Its football squad in 2007 included Víctor Valdés (vice-captain), Gabriel Milito, Rafael Márquez, Carles Puyol (captain), Xavi Hernández (vice-captain), Eiður Guðjohnsen, Andrés Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho (vice-captain), Gianluca Zambrotta, Thierry Henry, Edmílson, Sylvinho, Giovani dos Santos, Santiago Ezquerro, Lionel Messi, Deco, Lilian Thuram, Éric Abidal, Oleguer Presas, Yaya Touré, Albert Jorquera, Marc Crosas, Bojan Krki