Monthly Archives: April 2014

Δημοσκόπηση εν όψει της επίσκεψης του βασιλικού ζεύγους στην Αυστραλία «βαλτώνει» την προοπτική της χώρας να απαλλαχθεί από τη μοναρχία.

Ο δούκας Γουίλιαμ και η δούκισσα Κέιτ μαζί με τον πρωτότοκο γιό τους πρίγκιπα Γεώργιο πάτησαν το πόδι τους στην Αυστραλία την Τετάρτη και σίγουρα το «δώρο» που τους επεφύλασσαν οι Αυστραλοί άμα τη άφιξή τους, ήταν ενδεικτικό της θέσης που το βασιλικό ζεύγος έχει στην αυστραλιανή κοινωνία.
Ενώ το βασιλικό ζεύγος, μετά του διαδόχου άρχιζαν την 10ημερη επίσκεψή τους στην χώρα, δημοσκόπηση που διεξήγαγε η Fairfax σε συνεργασία με την Nielsen, αποκάλυπτε ότι το 51% των Αυστραλών, ποσοστό ρεκόρ για τα τελευταία 30 χρόνια, προτιμά την παραμονή της βασίλισσας Ελισάβετ ως αρχηγού του κράτους και δεν θέλει την αλλαγή του πολιτεύματος σε Προεδρευόμενη Δημοκρατία. Μόνο το 42% των πολιτών που ερωτήθηκαν ανέφερε ότι ήθελε την αλλαγή του πολιτεύματος, ενώ ένα 8% δήλωσε ότι δεν είχε άποψη επί του θέματος.

Σε ανάλογη δημοσκόπηση που είχε γίνει το 1999, σε δείγμα παρόμοιο με αυτό της σημερινής το ποσοστό αυτών που στήριζαν την αλλαγή του πολιτεύματος κυμάνθηκε στο 57%.

Και δεν είναι μόνο το γεγονός ότι σήμερα και μόλις 15 χρόνια μετά το δημοψήφισμα για την αλλαγή του πολιτεύματος, η Βασιλευόμενη Δημοκρατία έχει… σουξέ στην Αυστραλία αλλά και το ότι εκείνη η ηλικιακή ομάδα που την επικροτεί είναι κυρίως αυτή των νέων 18- 24 ετών, των οποίων το 60% τάχθηκε υπέρ ενώ κατά τάχθηκε μόλις ένα 28%.

Τα παραπάνω στατιστικά στοιχεία δεν αποκαλύπτουν μόνο το πόσο διάσημη είναι η βασιλική οικογένεια, κυρίως τα νεαρά μέλη της, στην αυστραλιανή κοινωνία αλλά και το γεγονός ότι το κίνημα για την αλλαγή του πολιτεύματος του οποίου κάποτε πρωτοστάτης ήταν ο σημερινός υπουργός Τηλεπικοινωνιών Malcolm Turnbull, έχει χάσει πολύ έδαφος. Και αυτό όπως αναφέρουν πολλοί κοινωνιολόγοι γιατί το θέμα του πολιτεύματος και της διοίκησης της χώρας έρχεται πλέον σε δεύτερη μοίρα ιδιαίτερα για τους νεαρούς Αυστραλούς που αντιμετωπίζουν την βασιλική οικογένεια ως οικογένεια διασημοτήτων κυρίως και όχι γι’ αυτό που πραγματικά αντιπροσωπεύουν.

Και ενώ το 51% αυτών που ρωτήθηκαν ψηφίζει με πάθος υπέρ των διασήμων αρχηγών του κράτους, ένα 50% θεωρεί την αναβίωση των τίτλων του Ιππότη και της Ντάμας από τον πρωθυπουργό Τόνι Άμποτ ως ανεπιθύμητη. Το ποσοστό των πολιτών που απάντησαν ότι είναι υπέρ της επαναφοράς των συγκεκριμένων τίτλων κυμάνθηκε στο 35%.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Από την τελετή της Ανάστασης στον ιερό ναό της Αγίας Τριάδας στο Richmond της Μελβούρνης

Η παροικία γιόρτασε μαζικά και φέτος τη μεγάλη γιορτή της Χριστιανοσύνης.

Των Ελλήνων οι κοινότητες φτιάχνουν άλλους γαλαξίες… Ρεκόρ προσέλευσης πιστών παρατηρήθηκε στο βράδυ της Ανάστασης στις δεκάδες των ελληνορθόδοξων ναών της Αυστραλίας με επίκεντρο τη Μελβούρνη  που είναι και η πρωτεύουσα του απόδημου Ελληνισμού.

Με ευλάβεια, κατάνυξη αλλά και μαζικότητα οι ομογενείς έδωσαν ένα ξέχωρο χρώμα τα μεσάνυχτα του Μεγάλου Σαββάτου στις αυστραλιανές μεγαλουπόλεις αλλά και σε κάθε γωνιά της ηπείρου όπου υπάρχουν ελληνορθόδοξοι ναοί.

Λαοθάλασσες πιστών πλημμύρισαν τους χώρους και τους δρόμους  έξω από τους ναούς και προκαλούσαν  το ενδιαφέρον των άλλων αλλοεθνών συμπολιτών τους καθώς  μετέφεραν το άγιο φως στα σπίτια τους.

Στη φετινή μαζική προσέλευση κόσμου φαίνεται πως συνέβαλε  και το γεγονός πως φέτος ο εορτασμός του Πάσχα  των Ορθοδόξων συνέπεσε με  των Καθολικών αλλά και οι σχολικές διακοπές.

Και την Κυριακή του Πάσχα, ως είθισται, οι «ελληνοκρατούμενες» γειτονιές  της Μελβούρνης, του Σίδνεϊ, της Αδελαϊδας αλλά και των άλλων πόλεων «πλημμύρισαν» από Ελλάδα. Ελληνικές μυρουδιές,  ήχοι και χρώματα.

Σε όλα τα σπίτια στήθηκε ένα μεγάλο πασχαλινό τραπέζι, κυρίως με οβελία που ακολούθησε ένα παραδοσιακό ελληνικό γλέντι.
Στην επιτυχία συνέβαλε και η αργία της Δευτέρας μιας και φέτος το Πάσχα εορτάζεται μαζί με τους Καθολικούς με πολλούς  ομογενείς να ζητούν να εορτάζουμε την ίδια μέρα, κάθε χρόνο, το Πάσχα με τους Καθολικούς.

Πηγή: Νέος  Κόσμος

Αυξήθηκαν 9.6% και είναι οι πιο χουβαρντάδες από όλους τους τουρίστες!

Η υπουργός Τουρισμού της Ελλάδας, Όλγα Κεφαλογιάννη, αναμένεται να επισκεφθεί τον ερχόμενο μήνα την Αυστραλία με στόχο την προώθηση του ελληνικού  τουρισμού.
Παράλληλα, θα υπογράψει και την πολυαναμενόμενη συμφωνία Ελλάδας-Αυστραλίας για τη χορήγηση τουριστικής βίζας σε νέους 18 έως 30 ετών με δικαίωμα εργασίας για ένα χρόνο.

Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, που δεν έχουν επιβεβαιωθεί επισήμως, η κ. Κεφαλογιάνη θα επισκεφθεί τη Μελβούρνη στις 12 και 13 Μαΐου, την Καμπέρα στις 14 και το Σίδνεϊ στις 15 και 16 Μαΐου.

Το πρόγραμμά της περιλαμβάνει επαφές με τουριστικούς παράγοντες, συνεντεύξεις στα αυστραλιανά ΜΜΕ, αλλά και με φορείς της ομογένειας, όπως η Ελληνική Κοινότητα Μελβούρνης, το Ελληνο-Αυστραλιανό Εμπορικό και Βιομηχανικό Επιμελητήριο (HACCI) κ.ά.

Επίσης, θα παραστεί στην τελετή έναρξης της συνεργασίας του Ελληνικού Μουσείου Μελβούρνης με το Μουσείο Μπενάκη που θα γίνει στις 13 Μαΐου.
Στο μεταξύ, σύμφωνα με επίσημα στοιχεία, πέρυσι η Ελλάδα δέχθηκε 142.642 τουρίστες από την Ωκεανία, από τους οποίους οι 129.112 προέρχονταν από την Αυστραλία.
Δηλαδή,η τουριστική κίνηση από Αυστραλία προς Ελλάδα το 2013 παρουσίασε αύξηση 9.6% και σύμφωνα με εκτιμήσεις τουριστικών παραγόντων φέτος η αύξηση θα είναι ακόμα μεγαλύτερη. (Βέβαια, στην πλειοψηφία πρόκειται για ομογενείς που ταξιδεύουν με αυστραλιανά διαβατήρια).

Μάλιστα, οι Αυστραλοί αποδεικνύονται και οι πιο γενναιόδωροι, οι οποίοι περνούν στην Ελλάδα 12 περισσότερες μέρες από κάθε άλλο επισκέπτη δαπανώντας συνολικά 1420 ευρώ, με τους Καναδούς (1207 ευρώ), τους Αμερικάνους (1098 ευρώ) και τους Ρώσους (1005 ευρώ) να ακολουθούν.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

School student Michael Manoussakis places a poppy at the grave of Private Peter Rados in Gallipoli. Rados was killed at Anzac Cove on 19 May 1915 and is one of at least twelve Australian soldiers of Hellenic heritage who served at Gallipoli. Photo: Premier’s Spirit of Anzacs Prize 2014.

Top brass visit Lemnos in preparation for Anzac Centenary

Anzac Day was commemorated early in Lemnos this year, with Australia’s Deputy Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Michael van Balen, participating in the official commemorative event organised by the Lemnos regional government on April 7.

Australia’s ambassador to Greece Jenny Bloomfield confirmed that the visit by the RAN chief is a precursor to the navy’s major presence at Lemnos in a year’s time to mark the Anzac Centenary.

Rear Admiral van Balen was joined by his Greek counterparts Chief of the Hellenic Navy – Evangelos Apostolakis and Vice Chief of the Hellenic Defence Force – Vice Admiral Alexandros Theodosiou.

Present alongside Ambassador Bloomfield was Regional Councillor for Lemnos, Mr Savvas Vareltzis, Mayor of Lemnos – Mr Antonis Chatzidiamantis, as well as other local dignitaries.

NZ ambassador to Greece Mr Trevor Matheson – who is based in Rome, and the Canadian ambassador Mr Robert Peck also participated. Canadian nurses served in Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign, alongside British, New Zealand and Australian medical staff.

Joining the officials were secondary school students from Victoria who had been awarded the Victorian Premier’s Spirit of the Anzacs Prize. Representing the state government was Bill Sykes MP – the Nationals member for Benalla. The students also visited Gallipoli as part of their study tour.

In her speech at the Lemnos wreath-laying ceremony, Ambassador Bloomfield said: “From Lemnos and Gallipoli in 1915, to the Battle of Crete in May 1941, and around the world, Australians and Greeks have fought to uphold our shared values with courage, with self-sacrifice, with mateship and with compassion.
“Today, to the people of Lemnos, we express our nation’s deep appreciation. And to all those – Australians, New Zealanders, Greeks and all our friends – who sacrificed their lives so that we may preserve our way of life – their courage, their selflessness, their compassion, their sense of service and duty, inspire us to live by those ideals.”

During the Lemnos commemorations Ambassador Bloomfield announced a project with Greek Australian composer Tassos Ioannidis to mark the Centenary of Anzac involving a collaboration between Australian, Greek and Turkish artists.
In Athens, the Australian embassy’s Anzac Day commemoration will be held at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Alimos (Phaleron) on April 25 at 11.00 am. The commemoration is open to all.

Joining dignitaries will be Greece’s Minister of National Defence, Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Young Australians acknowledging the duty and sacrifice of their forbears will also feature at the Athens event. Attending will be a group of school students from the Hunter Valley who will lay a wreath on behalf of WWII Battle of Greece veteran Alfred Carpenter.

They met 97-year-old Mr Carpenter – who lives in Newcastle – through the ‘Adopt a Digger’ schools program.

Mr Carpenter went to Greece with the 2/4 Australian Infantry Battalion in April 1941. The Greek campaign in WWII was the only time – other than WWI – that an Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) was officially formed.

source: Neos Kosmos

Η Λίβερπουλ επιβλήθηκε της Νόριτς με 3-2, έφτασε τις 11 σερί νίκες και ξέφυγε στο +5 από τη δεύτερη Τσέλσι. Μεγάλος πρωταγωνιστής ο Στέρλινγκ, έφτασε τα 30 γκολ ο Σουάρες.

‘Eνα βήμα πιο κοντά στην κατάκτηση του πρωταθλήματος βρίσκεται η Λίβερπουλ, η οποία έκαμψε την αντίσταση της Νόριτς. Οι “κόκκινοι”, οι οποίοι και μαθηματικά διασφάλισαν τη συμμετοχή τους στο Champions League της επόμενης περιόδου, δυσκολεύτηκαν πάρα πολύ, δέχτηκαν μεγάλη πίεση, αλλά απέδρασαν από το άνδρο της Νόριτς.

NORWICH, ENGLAND – APRIL 20: Raheem Sterling of Liverpool celebrates scoring the opening goal with Lucas Leiva of Liverpool during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Liverpool at Carrow Road on April 20, 2014 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool laid to rest any fears the Premier League title race pressure would get too much with a breathless start against Norwich on Sunday.

The Reds took the lead after just four minutes at Carrow Road, with fluid build-up play between Joe Allen, Jon Flanagan and Philippe Coutinho teeing up Raheem Sterling 35 yards from goal.

The youngster let fly with a sensational shot that took a slight touch of Michael Turner’s back and flew past John Ruddy, giving the Norwich goalkeeper no chance of making a save whatsoever.

The travelling fans were already singing “Now you’re gonna believe us, we’re going to win the league” when Steven Gerrard sent Sterling galloping down the left to carve out a good cross that Suarez finishes from close range – his 30th Premier League goal of the season.

The hosts showed plenty of signs that they were not out of the game yet, but with their players becoming increasingly frustrated Robert Snodgrass made a nasty challenge on Joe Allen and became the first player to be booked.

Despite the increasing pressure from the home side, Brendan Rodgers’ side stood firm.

Redmond threatened to change that when breaking into the box on the right hand side but his shot was wild when teammates were better placed in the centre, and then Gary Hooper was denied an opportunity when Simon Mignolet rushed out to claim a ball that was bobbling around the six-yard box.

Norwich came back quickly in the second half, Gary Hooper taking advantage of an unconvincing clearance from Mignolet to tap the ball home from just yards into an open goal, halving the deficit.

But the celebrations didn’t last long as Raheem Sterling proved his worth once again. Intercepting a sloppy pass from Bradley Johnson and running the entire length of the Norwich half, he got past a couple of defenders to shoot on target. His attempt deflected off Johnson’s legs and over a helpless John Ruddy.

Neil Adams’ side were fighting for their lives, trying again and again to get another goal in the net.

And t was Robert Snodgrass who got the hosts back in the game, directing a fine header into the top right-hand corner of Mignolet’s net to make it 2-3.

Hungry for an equaliser, Norwich sent on two attackers Josh Murphy and Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

The Dutch striker nearly did it, firing a downward header straight at Mignolet and creating an extremely nervous spell for Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers’ men struggled to keep hold of the ball as four minutes of stoppage time went on the board.

And with seconds remaining Norwich won a free-kick just inside the Liverpool half. Even goalkeeper John Ruddy ran to the opposite end of the pitch to join every Canaries player – but Liverpool held firm at the death and go five points clear at the top of the table.

Norwich

Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Johnson, Howson, Fer, Snodgrass, Redmond, Hooper

Subs: Bunn, Van Wolfswinkel, Gutierrez, Garrido, R. Bennett, Tettey, Josh Murphy

Liverpool

Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez

Subs: Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Moses, Alberto, Aspas

Referee

Andre Marriner

source:belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Στους 56 φτάνει ο αριθμός των νεκρών από το ναυάγιο του πλοίου Sewol, στη Νότια Κορέα, οι περισσότεροι από τους οποίους μαθητές. Συνολικά στο πλοίο υπήρχαν 475 επιβάτες, από τους οποίους οι 174 σώθηκαν κι άλλοι 245 περίπου αγνοούνται ακόμα.

Ο απολογισμός των νεκρών αυξήθηκε αφού δύτες ανακάλυψαν κι άλλες σορούς στο βυθισμένο σκάφος. Συγκεκριμένα τρεις νεκροί που φορούσαν σωσίβια ανασύρθηκαν από καμπίνα του πλοίου, με τους δύτες να σπάζουν το φινιστρίνι για να απεγκλωβίσουν τα άψυχα κορμιά τους.

κορεα2.jpg

Όπως σας γράψαμε χθες στο star.gr, o πλοίαρχος έχει συλληφθεί, όντας αντιμέτωπος με πέντε κατηγορίες.

Οι συγγενείς υποδέχονται τις σορούς με κραυγές πόνου και απόγνωσης, σπαράζοντας καρδιές. «Ξύπνα! Ξύπνα, σε παρακαλώ!», φώναζε ένας άνδρας βλέποντας μία από τις σορούς μπροστά του.

Οι έρευνες για την ανάσυρση των ανθρώπων, που το πλοίο Sewol έγινε ο υγρός τάφος τους, συνεχίζονται. Συνολικά μετέχουν 563 δύτες, 34 αεροσκάφη και 204 πλοία.

Πηγή: madata.gr

NEVILLE Wran, who was Labor premier of NSW for a decade and helped lead his party’s recovery after the 1975 federal election loss, died tonight after a long illness, aged 87.

His wife Jill Hickson said in a statement to AAP that Mr Wran had died just before 6pm today.

Ms Hickson was with him and all his family close by.

Mr Wran, known in politics affectionately as “Nifty”, had been suffering from dementia and had been under special care for the past two years.

“This is of course a very sad time for us all, but in fact a blessed release for Neville,” Ms Hickson said.

“Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years,” Ms Hickson said.

“But I hope now, especially this political climate, people will join me in celebrating the life of a great man, a true political hero.”

She paid special tribute the nursing staff of Lulworth House in Sydney who had been caring for the former premier.

“They really are angels,” she said.

Mr Wran led the Labor government in NSW from May 1976 to July 1986.

He was a successful lawyer before entering parliament in the Legislative Council in 1970. He moved to the lower house in 1973 and becoming Labor leader.

In 1976, he led Labor to government in a tight election, forming government after a 10-day wait, with the support of an independent. On July 4, 1986, Mr Wran announced his resignation to a shocked Labor conference.

Only fellow Labor premier Bob Carr was to surpass his record for the longest continuous service as NSW premier.

Mr Wran and his government were involved in damaging scandals. In 1983, he stepped aside while a royal commission examined allegations he’d tried to influence a magistrate over a misappropriation hearing against rugby league boss Kevin Humphreys. He was cleared.

Prisons minister Rex Jackson was jailed for selling early releases and chief magistrate Murray Farquhar was jailed for perverting the course of justice. Senior police were caught up in corruption scandals.

Mr Wran himself was fined $25,000 for contempt of court after declaring his belief in the innocence of his old friend, Lionel Murphy, the High Court judge facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

After politics, Mr Wran had success in the business world, including running a merchant bank with Malcolm Turnbull, now Communications Minister in Tony Abbott’s cabinet.

Mr Wran was married twice. First to Marcia Oliver, whose son he adopted before they had two more children, and then to Ms Hickson, with whom he had two children.

source: theaustralian.com.au

Liverpool take their Premier League title challenge to Norfolk on Sunday as they look to enhance their chances of a first title in 24 years – whilst plunging Norwich into a whole heap of further trouble.

The Canaries have just eight wins to their name this season and only 32 points, leaving them very much a part of the relegation mix.

Also, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all forthcoming in their final three matches, if they do lose then their place in next year’s Championship may as well be booked.

But the Reds know that if they slip up then Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea will be right on top of them and Manchester City will also be offered a way back into the championship race.

And ahead of next week’s clash with the Blues, a loss of momentum is the last thing they’ll want.

With all that being said, here’s 10 things that we can expect from the Carrow Road clash:

Goals, goals and more goals…Surely

In their last 10 league matches, Liverpool fixtures have seen a staggering 48 goals. You don’t need to be a mathematical genius to figure out that that’s an average 4.8 goals per game.

In the five league games between Liverpool and Norwich since the latter’s promotion back to the top-flight in 2011, there have been 23 goals – an average of 4.6 goals per game.

So surely goals are a certainty?

Well, unless Norwich have anything to say about it.

The Canaries are goalless in their last three games, have scored just four times in their last six home matches and their matches this term see an average of just 2.32 goals per game – only Hull and Crystal Palace matches see less.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel not to score (again)

Poor Ricky. The Dutchman arrived at Carrow Road with Chris Hughton having spent a club record £8.5million to secure himself a penalty-box fox from Sporting Lisbon. Unfortunately for the now jobless Hughton, van Wolfswinkel’s been more like an undernourished kitten.

A clinically-taken header against Everton on the opening day of the season seemed to mark the former Utrecht poacher as a case of money well spent, as Norwich looked to build on last year’s mid-table finish.

However, the 25-year-old has failed to net in 22 league appearances since – which is something of a problem for a No.9 who doesn’t actually do much else.

Up against the physically imposing Martin Skrtel/Mamadou Sakho combination at the heart of Liverpool’s defence, don’t expect him to notch this weekend.

Struggles: Van Wolfswinkel has endured a miserable debut season in England

Luis Suarez to net a worldie (again)

Some players just love playing against certain teams – think Alan Shearer vs Leeds – and Norwich are certainly the Uruguayan hitman’s favourite opponents.

In just five matches against the Norfolk club, Suarez has 11 goals to his name, including a pair of 40-yard stunners, a belting 25-yard freekick and a jinking individual golazo.

Also, the former Ajax man owns the Premier League record for most hat-tricks against an individual club, thanks to his three trebles against the Canaries.

All in, expect him to net at Carrow Road – and in keeping with previous events, expect it to be pretty darn good.

Raheem Sterling to continue his excellent England push

The quicksilver speed merchant has dazzled in recent weeks, at was nothing less than outstanding at the point of Brendan Rodgers’ midfield diamond last week, as he scored in the 3-2 win over Manchester City.

His pace and trickery has always been a threat, but the former QPR schoolboy has added further layers to his game this season – more intelligent movement, greater pass appreciation – and now appears just as much at home frequenting central areas as roaming down either flank.

With another strong showing at Carrow Road, the bandwagon calling for him to start for the Three Lions will only grow further, and rightfully so.

Norwich to take to the flanks

As youth team coach, Neil Adams earned a reputation for favouring attacking play  as he led the Canaries youngsters to glory in last season’s FA Youth Cup.

He did so by utilising the pace and trickery of teenage twins Jacob and Josh Murphy down either flank, and Adams’ senior bow against Fulham last week showed that he may well be looking to do likewise with the first XI.

Both Robert Snodgrass and Nathan Redmond were selected in wide positions, and both were offered the platform to express themselves, looking to stay high and wide, isolating themselves against opposing full-backs. And for the most part it worked at Craven Cottage, as Norwich created chances – but failed to take them.

Since arriving at the club, Scotland international Snodgrass has shown that he has plenty of skill and invention in his locker, while England under-21 starlet Redmond is a prodigious young talent. If Norwich are to get a result, expect the pair to see plenty of the ball.

Jordan Henderson’s absence to be noticed

The former Sunderland man may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but few have worked harder to earn their place in Brendan Rodgers side in the past 20 months or so.

His late red card against Manchester City last weekend means he’ll sit out three matches and the hard-running midfielder’s absence is certainly a loss.

Defensively Henderson is crucial to the Reds, pressing and harrying opponents, making tackles and interceptions while giving a solid midfield base alongside Steven Gerrard, particularly when all of their much-vaunted front four start together.

Additionally, his importance has grown in an attacking sense this term, with his off-the-ball running helping Luis Suarez (particularly) and colleagues to thrive in the final third as he drags defenders away, while his use of the ball has also improved under Rodgers’ tutelage.

Leroy Fer to play well – as the game’s live on TV

The Dutch international arrived in the Premier League with a burgeoning reputation after impressing with FC Twente in recent years in the Eredivisie.

A versatile, intelligent midfielder with good technique, an eye for goal and a physicality that makes him ideal for the Premier League, his signing was something of a coup.

And while Fer has by no means flopped this term, he’s been somewhat inconsistent, mixing some excellent performances with some non-existent ones.

Fortunately for Norwich fans however, Fer has tended to save his best performances for televised encounters – the away win at Stoke and the home success against Tottenham immediately springing to mind. Perhaps he has another up his sleeve against the Reds on Sunday.

John Ruddy fails to come out for the second half

With Norwich trailing 3-0 at half-time and Luis Suarez having netted another brace – including a a 50-yard overhead kick – Neil “shoes” Adams walks into the changing room, wondering how to turn things around.

For five minutes he talks, trying to encourage his troops – “one goal and we’re right back in this lads” – before noticing his goalkeeper is missing. Adams walks into the shower area to find John Ruddy sitting in the corner, fully clothed, with ice cold water pouring all over him.

“John, John are you ok?” questions Adams.

A quivering Ruddy responds: “P-P-Please boss…no more. S-S-Suarez…J-J-Just no more.”

‘Where are you’ part 2

It’s been almost a decade, but still the greatest part of Norwich City’s Premier League existence – for anyone but a Canary – is Delia Smith’s half-time rant at her own supporters in 2005.

And now, with her club facing a massive test of character with four devilishly tough fixtures to end the season and their survival hopes very much in the balance, what better time for a repeat performance?

Surely there isn’t any way more fitting for viewers at home to enjoy their Sunday lunches than by witnessing her cook up another storm.

More Liverpool will/won’t win the title articles

This past week, articles written by players turned pundits proclaiming Liverpool as champions have been plentiful. More than that, they’ve been inescapable.

If you’ve opened your eyes and read anything football-related this week, then you’ve probably been invited to read such a piece, as they’ve pretty much been everywhere. And usually written by the same people proclaiming Manchester City as champions back before Christmas, or Chelsea three weeks ago.

So, when the dust settles on proceedings at Carrow Road, expect some more.

If Liverpool lose, expect to be offered analysis words on how Reds boss Brendan Rodgers got things so wrong, and how their squad was never strong enough. However, if they win an 11th straight game….*shudders*

source: mirror.co.uk