text:
How to Mount and Dismount the Forklift

When we talk about forklift safety, we tend to focus on how you should operate the forklift while it is in motion. This is for good reason, since the forklift is an exceptionally dangerous vehicle while it is traveling, and there are many ways that an operator can seriously injure themselves, the lift truck, or those around them. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the safety risks associated with an act as simple as mounting and dismounting the forklift. There are no shortage of injuries that can occur, including spraining an ankle, getting one’s clothing caught on the lift truck, and slipping on an object that has inadvertently been left on the warehouse floor. After all, it may come as a surprise to learn that one in three forklift-related injuries actually occur when an operator mounts or dismounts the forklift. Given that the best way to reduce the potential for such an injury to occur is to simply follow proper safety protocol, this post discusses how you can safely mount and dismount the lift truck.

Use Three Points of Contact When Mounting Your Forklift

Use Three Points of Contact When Mounting Your Forklift

The three points of contact

Anytime you mount or dismount your lift truck, it’s important to follow what is known as the three points of contact. As the name would suggest, the three points of contact refers to the need for the operator to make sure that their body makes contact with the lift truck using three limbs. This means that the operator should either make contact with one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot. In either case, the three points of contact ensure that the operator is stable enough to avoid falling.

Other considerations

There is a long array of safety considerations to pay attention to in order to prevent an injury from occurring. First of all, you want to always take the safest path in the warehouse, and it is helpful to designate an area of the warehouse for getting on and off the lift truck. In addition, the warehouse floor should always be free of debris and forks should be lowered to the floor whenever the vehicle is parked. When mounting the forklift, always face in the direction of the forklift. It is also necessary to look downward toward the ground before beginning to ascend the lift truck. When getting off the vehicle one should never jump, and wearing shoes with excellent traction can also prevent injury.

In general, it’s best to try and limit the frequency with which you have to get on and off the forklift. When you do need to mount and dismount, be sure to follow the advice given in this article in order to prevent an injury from taking place.

About Mathew V

Leave a Reply


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
As a member of the Sustainable Business Team I help leaders to develop strategic sustainability priorities and then implement them. I also manage our O2 and Unilever partnerships.  I am also a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Since studying Politics and then Philosophy at Edinburgh I’ve always been interested in the role that influential organisations can play in helping people to thrive and secure a future for us all. I was also struck by the scale of this challenge. My understanding of organisations and sectors deepened during my time as an Organisational Consultant at Ashridge Business School where I worked with clients such as Novartis and the NHS on leadership, strategy and change projects.

I then worked as an internal consultant at HBOS at a time of unprecedented change. I worked with Directors and their teams to support their change programmes. I also ran an innovative in-house masters degree, based on live strategic issues.

I was keen to focus on helping leading organizations to become more sustainable, so after a period of travelling and advising a Ugandan NGO, I joined Forum.

I feel lucky to work with such capable and motivated colleagues and partners. I enjoy helping our partners to develop stretching and appropriate ambitions and then making them a reality by engaging the wider organisation in such a way that embeds sustainability into the organisation’s culture and practice.

Outside of work I enjoy the full range of the arts and swim regularly.

Find me on Linkedin

Contact Ben

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-04
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for January 2019
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-145-104-113.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


text:
Selection of forums for :

Snape, Everlasting

A Severus Snape Appreciation Society

#severus, snape, harry, potter, books

Free forum : Hogwarts Age

Free forum : A fan forum and a post-by-post roleplay forum for those whose home has always been Hogwarts.

hogwarts, post-by-post, roleplay, harry, potter, rowling, hermione, granger, weasley, magic, #severus, snape, albus, dumbledore, fandom

Journey to the past

A Maurauders era RP-forum. Journey to the past. Harry Potter marauders Remus Lupin Severus Snape Sirius Black

harry, potter, marauders, remus, lupin, #severus, snape, sirius, black

Severus Snape Daughters

This is where that Severus Snape had two daughters that are identical twins and he couldn't tell them apart. When Nina Snape died after her two twin daughters died, Severus kept his twin daughters secret until it was too late.

#severus, snape, daughters, this, where, that, identical, twins, couldn't, tell, them, apart, when, nina, died, after, twin, kept, daughte

Elite Ace's Retired

The Elite Ace's Official Forum (originally made by sandz/supplier/killowatt)

elite, aces, clan, sandz, street, fighter, (ea), supplier, #severus, aceking, wreckaleck, legendary

Potions Master

Severus Snape Forum

free, potions, master, #severus, snape, forum

Magica Academy

A school of magic where good and evil are often at war, and students choose their side after 7th year. Roleplayers are allowed to become just an adult, a muggle, a student, or even a ghost.

magica, harry, potter, hogwarts, magic, spells, weasley, hermione, granger, #severus, snape, albus, dumbledore, roleplay, game, spel

The Dark Ages

Join Dumbledore in his plight to save the world, both the Muggle world and the Wizarding world from the clutches of Tom Marvolo Riddle and Gellert Grindelwald.

free, forum, dark, ages, harry, potter, dumbledore, riddle, james, sirius, black, #severus, snape, weasley, lily, remus, lupin, peter, pettigrew, bellatrix, lestrange, molly, hermione, granger, arthur

Search for a forum in the directory

Create a free forum

Create your severus forum


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/rss+xml

text: Fernando Torres RSS feed https://www.fourfourtwo.com/fernando-torres en "Oh God... what have we done?!" The 14 worst January transfers We've waded through stacks of mid-season signings from the Premier League to select some of the most disastrous. Look away now, West Ham fans… https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/oh-god-what-have-we-done-14-worst-january-transfers slideshow Thu, 03 Jan 2019 11:58:52 +0000 Greg Lea 801191 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com The 10 worst January transfers EVER The biggestand most costlymistakes made by top-flight sides in the winter window. Watch out! Greg Lea https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/10-worst-january-transfers-ever 10. Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina to Chelsea £23.3m, 2015)Cuadrado looked like an astute addition in 2015, but the Colombia international was never able to replicate his exhilarating Serie A displays in the Premier League.That he found game time hard to come by clearly didn’t aid his efforts to hit the ground running, but the former Fiorentina man still didn’t do enough in his occasional appearances to earn an extended stay at Stamford Bridge. After two years on loan at Juventus, he finally signed permanently for the Old Lady in summer 2017 for €20m. 9. Jean Makoun (Lyon to Aston Villa £6.2m, 2011)“I've left a very good club in Lyon, a side which has played Champions League football, but I’m very excited by this new challenge at Aston Villa,” Makoun said after his move to England.He probably regretted his decision after just a couple of weeks: the midfielder was stunned to learn that a red card in his fourth Premier League appearance against Blackpool brought with it a three-game suspension, and his Villa career came to a premature end after subsequent showings against Wolves, Everton, Newcastle and Hereford. Just the£564,000 per appearance, then– and that's not even including his wages.8. Jean-Alain Boumsong (Rangers to Newcastle £8m, 2005)This was a strange signing on many levels, with Newcastle paying Rangers £8m for Boumsong’s services just a few months after he’d been available on a free.The 27-time France international actually started his career at St James’ Park well, before basic defensive errors began to creep into his game and adversely affect Newcastle’s results. Juventus, having been relegated to Serie B just a few months previously, took Boumsong off the Magpies’ hands in August 2006 – though he never featured in Serie A once the Old Lady made it back. 7. Benni McCarthy (Blackburn to West Ham £2.25m, 2010)Another disappointing winter acquisition for the Hammers. McCarthy arrived in east London in pretty poor form, with 14 top-flight outings for Blackburn in the first half of the season having yielded just one goal.Gianfranco Zola’s side were in desperate need of some additional firepower as they attempted to pull themselves clear of the relegation zone, but the South African wasn’t the man to provide it: after 14 appearances and zero goals in all competitions, McCarthy left the club with a £1.5m pay-off in April 2011.THE BIG INTERVIEWBenni McCarthy – “I was heartbroken to score twice against Man United – and Mourinho hammered me for it”6. Chris Samba (Anzhi Makhachkala to QPR £12.5m, 2013)Harry Redknapp considered Samba the perfect man to shore up Rangers’ leaky backline in 2012/13, talking him up as a “proper centre-half” and “just what we need” after a £12.5m deal (on £100,000-per-week wages, obviously) was sewn up on deadline day. Only weeks earlier, Redknapp had declared that "you shouldn't be paying massive wages when you've got a stadium that holds 18,000 people".Things didn’t work out as planned, though, for manager, club or player: Redknapp resigned days later, QPR were later relegated and Samba –who told fans to "get over" the fact he was paid so much at Loftus Road –was forced to go crawling back to Anzhi in the summer.5. Afonso Alves (Heerenveen to Middlesbrough £12.5m, 2008)Tottenham fans are well aware of the pitfalls associated with signing strikers from the Eredivisie, with Vincent Janssen having joined amuch-maligned listthat includes Jozy Altidore, Siem de Jong and Mateja Kezman rather than Luis Suarez, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.Afonso Alves was another member of the former group: despite finding the net six times in his first 11 Premier League appearances, the Brazilian quickly faded and was sold to Al-Sadd following Boro’s relegation in 2009. Still, he'll always be remembered for his hat-trick in that 8-1 tonking of Manchester City.4. Guido Carrillo (Monaco to Southampton£19.1m, 2018)Having £75m burning a hole in your pocketcan do strange things to a football club. After selling Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, relegation-hauntedSouthampton fancied a statement signing to show fans they were still ambitious– that, and attempting to avoid the drop having averaged only a goal per game under Mauricio Pellegrino by the end of January.It turned out that Carrillo was not the answer. A big-money signing who'd helped Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2016/17, the Argentine striker– known to Pellegrino from their days together at Estudiantes– ultimately started just sevengames (five in the league)and never scored for the Saints as they narrowly survived. Incoming manager Mark Hughes played him just twice from mid-March, and he was farmed out on loan to Leganes that summer.3. Kostas Mitroglou (Olympiakos to Fulham £12.4m, 2014) There’s putting all of your eggs in one basket, and then there’s Fulham signing Mitroglou for a club-record fee in January 2014. Granted, the Cottagers did also bring in Johnny Heitinga and Lewis Holtby on deadline day, but Olympiakos’s prolific marksman was identified as the player who could score the goals to keep Rene Meulensteen’s men in the Premier League.Except he couldn’t. Unfancied by Meulensteen’s successor Felix Magath, Mitroglou started just one game in English football as the Cottagers fell through the top-flight trapdoor.2. Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea £50m, 2011) and Andy Carroll (Newcastle to Liverpool £35m, 2011) There were already signs that Torres was on the wane when he swapped Anfield for Stamford Bridge at the start of 2011, but Chelsea learned the hard way; £50m bought just 20 Premier League goals across three-and-half seasons, and gave Liverpool fans the chance to gloat.Or at least it would have done had the Reds not spent most of the proceeds on Andy Carroll, who managed 11 goals in 58 appearances and looked entirely unsuited to the Reds’ style of play throughout his miserable 18 months on Merseyside. Not that it stopped Brendan Rodgers from signing Mario Balotelli three-and-a-half years later...1. Savio Nsereko (Brescia to West Ham £9m, 2009) Now 29, Savio’s last five clubs have been Atyrau (Kazakhstan), Lietava Jonava (Lithuania), Beroe Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), Pipinsried(Germany) and Vereya (Bulgaria), which probably says more about his true level of ability than 2009’s £9m move to West Ham– easily one of the most bizarre transfers in Premier League history.The Irons handed the former Germany U20 international their No.10 shirt at Upton Park, but he failed to make an impact and enjoyedjust a single Premier League start (he appeared in nine other games from the bench) before being shipped off to Fiorentina seven months later.Karren Brady later investigated the deal upon her arrival at West Ham, but her findings were never made public.READ THIS16 of the weirdest transfers in English football historyNew features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com feature Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:43:38 +0000 Greg Lea 673843 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Ranked! The 30 best strikers in Premier League history With English football in a golden era of goal machines, FourFourTwo rates the greatest strikers of the Premier League era. Goalkeepers beware... https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-30-best-strikers-premier-league-history 30. Emmanuel Adebayor“I can’t wait for the game to finish. I’m hungry. Do you know a good restaurant in London?"Adebayor’s hunger for actual football had diminished towards the end of his top-flight career – hence the mid-game food enquiry, as told by defender Brede Hangeland – but at his very best, he was devastating.The Togo frontman netted 24 league goals for the Gunners in 2007/08, becoming the first player to bag hat-tricks home and away against the same team in the same campaign, versus Derby.Then came the switch to Manchester City and that famous knee-slide in front of the Arsenal fans. Adebayor hit 14 goals in his first season at the Etihad, and 17 in his debut campaign for Spurs, but his form faded before a one-goal spell at Crystal Palace in 2015/16.29. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer“I got to Old Trafford and the tour guide thought I was going for a tour. He was talking away and then he asked me, ‘So what are you doing here?’”Solskjaer informed the tour guide that, actually, he had arrived from Norway to sign for Manchester United. Eleven years later he had earned his rightful place inclub folklore – not just for the winner in the 1999 Champions League Final, but also for playing a key role in six Premier League crowns.The ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’became regarded as a super sub: a third of his league appearances were off the bench, meaning he found the net once every 150 minutes. Four strikes as a sub at Nottingham Forest in 1999 was perhaps his greatest Premier League performance.28. Jermain DefoeA consistent goalscorer, Defoe has hit double figures in eight different Premier League seasons, and is the only player to have netted five goals in one half, in Tottenham’s 9-1 demolition of Wigan in 2009.Back playing on the south coast with Bournemouth this season, having also represented Portsmouth, there remains debate about his overall contribution to team success – he’s suffered relegation at West Ham and Sunderland during his top-flight career.But no one can doubt Defoe’s finishing ability: after making his Premier League bow for the Hammers at Middlesbrough 16 years ago, he’s now in seventh place in the all-time scoring list and holds the record for the most goals as a sub – 23 - including a screamer against Man City in 2013.27. Jurgen KlinsmannTrue, more than 200 players have scored more Premier League goals, though few have made quite the same impact as the ex-Germany international.One of the first major foreign signings of the Premier League era when he left Monaco for the Lilywhites in 1994, Klinsi was disliked in England after Italia 90.But he turned opinion around when asking, “Are there any diving schools in London?” at his unveiling, before marking a debut header in a 4-3 win at Sheffield Wednesday by collapsing on the Owls’ turf in celebration.He netted 21 goals and was crowned Football Writers’ Player of the Year but departed after just the one campaign. Chairman Alan Sugar swiftly declared he wouldn’t wash his car with Klinsmann's shirt, yet the German returned on loan three seasons later, helping Tottenham avoid relegation.26. Les Ferdinand“People don’t think Les Ferdinand, former England international, but Les Ferdinand, bloke who wrecked the Blue Peter garden.”He didn’t – despite rumours that began when he made an ill-judged joke about the 1983 incident – and no one can boast a higher Premier League goal tally without converting a single penalty.Sir Les didn’t need any spot-kicks: he bagged 101 goals in the first five seasons of the Premier League, joining Newcastle from QPRin 1995.Kevin Keegan’s ill-fated title tilt proved the closest that Ferdinand came to winning the league, but he continued to find the net at Spurs, West Ham and Leicester – where he scored 12 times in the season of his 37th birthday – before a stint with Bolton... commuting to Lancashire in his helicopter, naturally.25. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink“On the pitch he always looked annoyed with everyone,” his Chelsea team-mate Gianfranco Zola once said. But that was a rage which drove the Dutchman to goalscoring success.Only three players have topped the Premier League scoring charts with more than one team – Robin van Persie, Alan Shearer and Hasselbaink.Real name Jerrel, the powerful striker scored 18 times with Leeds, sharing the Golden Boot award with Michael Owen and Dwight Yorke in 1998/99.Following a season with Atletico Madrid (where he scored 24 goals in 34 games, finishing as La Liga's second-highestscorer despite Atleti's relegation), he netted 23 times in 35 appearances for Chelsea in 2000/01, including four in a 6–1 rout against Coventry.Withhis rocket of a right foot, Hasselbaink helped a resurgent Blues finish second in 2003/04 before moves to Middlesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff.24. Romelu LukakuSince arriving in the Premier League, it’s felt like Lukaku has had a point to prove. In 2011, the Belgian frontman had a huge reputation, having scored41 goals for Anderlecht agedonly 18.Despite Chelsea paying £17m, he started just the one league game before being loaned out – to West Brom, then Everton – with the suggestion that he must prove himself as a top-flight forward. That he did, scoring 17 goals for the Baggies and 15 in his year at Goodison Park.Yet Chelsea – and Jose Mourinho – weren’t convinced, and sold him to Everton. In an inconsistent team, Lukaku scored 53 goals in three campaigns, improving his finishing and link-up play all the while. Suddenly Chelsea were keen again, but he opted for Manchester United –and, ironically, Mourinho.Lukaku still struggles to shrug off the doubters who have never been far away, but henetted 16 goals in 34 Premier League games in his debut season at Old Trafford and continues to perform at a high level for his country– as he demontsrated during Belgium's run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.23. Carlos TevezThe Argentine frontman’s controversial move to England looked like a disaster. He hadnt't found the net byMarch in his first season, with West Ham nine points shy of safety.But then the real Carlitos turned up: seven goals to save the Hammers, followed by a transfer to Manchester United and back-to-back titles. Things were going well, but it wouldn’t be Tevez without more controversy–so he opted to join Manchester City, where he was greeted at Eastlands by the famous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ poster.Forty-three goals in just two years followed before grumpy Tevez returned, falling out with manager Roberto Mancini and playing only a bit-part in the club’s 2011/12 title triumph. An absurdly talented frontman, but very high maintenance.22. Diego CostaRivalling Tevez in the high-maintenance stakes, it’s Costa: possibly the only player on this list to be dumped by text.The Spain international hit the ground running in the Premier League after his 2014 move from Atletico Madrid, netting seven goals in his first four matches for Chelsea–a new record.World football’s oldest-looking 26-year-old registered 20 goals to spearhead the west Londoners’ run to the title, but an infamous banner labelled the Brazil-born frontman – plus Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard – a ‘rat’ after poor form in his second campaign contributed to Jose Mourinho’s sacking.The controversial goal-getter hit back in 2016/17, though, scoring 20 once more as the Blues regained the title under Antonio Conte, author of: “Hi Diego – you are not in my plan.” Unsurprisingly, he left to rejoin Atleti in summer 2018 with the parting shot:"I was wrong going to Chelsea."21. Nicolas Anelka“People often say my time with Arsenal was my best period. But it wasn’t. I was a much better player for Bolton.”Anelka left the Premier League three times, but he just kept on coming back. A title winner at Highbury when he was 19, the following campaign brought 17 goals and an ill-fated switch to Real Madrid. But Le Sulk moved back to England with Liverpool (on loan) and Manchester City before departing again for Fenerbahce.Sam Allardyce revived Anelka’s career at Bolton, and the French striker became the Premier League’s top scorer with 19 for Chelsea in 2008/09, winning another title a year later. He and Tevez are the only two players on this list to earn a winner’s medal with more than one team.After transferring to China, Anelka’s final Premier League stint came at West Brom, where he was sacked for gross misconduct after using thequenelle gesture celebrating one of his two goals for the Baggies.20. Dimitar Berbatov BIG INTERVIEWDimitar Berbatov – "I left Spurs to follow my dream – Man United was the top of the mountain for me"Despite featuring in the 2002 Champions League Final for Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham fans weren't exactly sure what they'd get when their club recruited the brooding Bulgarian in summer 2006. But it didn’t take Berba long to secure cult status, with his nonchalant-yet-clinical playing style making the Lilywhites one of England’s must-watch outfits (not to mention League Cup winners).Manchester United soon wrestled him away from N17 for £30 million and, after a slow start, Berbatov once again came good–particularly during 2010/11 when he notched a personal best 20 goals in winning the title.He'd lost another yard of pace by the time of his two-season spell with Fulham, but if anything that just made his effortless waltzing around the pitch seem even cooler. In an era where speed and physicality were considered near essential for any top-level striker, Berba’s slick sauntering provided a much-needed variation from routine in the Premier League.19. Fernando Torres A deadline-day switch has rarely drawn so stark a line through a career. Before his move to Chelsea in 2011, Torres was a rapid, clinical, prolific marksman. After it, he was largely a bumbling, stumbling comic punchline of a striker. But in his three-and-a-half years with Liverpool he was a phenomenon.From his Anfield bow – when he glided through Chelsea’s defence to score his first goal for the club – he showed the physicality and technique to net at will. He did that 33 times in his first campaign (24 in the league) and 39 in 70 over the next two despite a succession of injuries to ankle, hamstring and knee.That wear and tear was probably a big factor in his decline, although Blues fans will always cherish his 2012 Champions League semi-final clincher at the Camp Nou en route to Munich glory.18. Gianfranco ZolaSEE ALSOGianfranco Zola’s 11 most magical Chelsea momentsNot every forward is all about the sheer weight of goals – and Chelsea’s Italian icon falls into that category.The pint-sized Sardinian striker helped to transform not only the Blues but also English football, with his dazzling array of flicks and tricks fooling centre-backs and wowing supporters across the land.“At the beginning, the ‘open’ style of English football really helped me,” Zola explained to FFT back in 2007, “as I was coming from tighter marking in Serie A.”Zola was crowned the Football Writers’ Player of the Year in 1997 following his first campaign at Stamford Bridge, and his seven years in London featured two FA Cups, the League Cup and the winner in a Cup Winners’ Cup final.The greatest shame? He exited as Roman Abramovich arrived and missed out on lifting league titles with the Blues.17 and 16. Dwight Yorke Andy ColeSometimes things just click. “When me and Yorkie started playing together, it was like meeting a special woman and falling in love,” Andy Cole told FFT back in 2010. “Everything felt right.”Eyebrows had been raised when Alex Ferguson paid Aston Villa £12.6 million for Trinidad and Tobago forward Yorke – after all, the Scot already had Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham at his disposal.Ferguson rotated his frontmen during the early weeks of the 1998/99 season, but by October he'd stumbled across a blossoming double act. Yorke and Cole started five games together during that month and netted nine goals between them as the Red Devils scored 19. There was now little doubt that they were top dogs as United swept aside all comers, clinching the Treble.The prolific partnership pilfered a total of 98 goals for the club in their first two seasons together, but the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy from PSV in 2001 put an end to their standing as regular starters. In December of that year Cole decided to join Blackburn, and Yorke followedhim to Ewood Park six months later.The pair dovetailed well once again at Rovers and fired them into the UEFA Cup via a sixth-place finish, but they went their separate ways in 2004 after falling out with gaffer Graeme Souness. As you do.15. Robbie FowlerFans love a local lad rattling in the goals, hence why Liverpool’s faithful nicknamed the Toxteth-born Fowler ‘God’. He scored his maiden hat-trick against Southampton on his fifth league appearance, and his second against Arsenal on his 30th (the latter coming in five first-half minutes).In the age of Shearer, Klinsmann and Wright, Fowler was the most clinical of all Premier League strikers.But then a knee ligament injury in 1996/97 stopped the goal-poacher in his tracks, with Michael Owen pinching his place in the Reds’ XI. Fowler eventually made his comeback, but had lost the explosiveness that once made him so feared by Premier League defences.Fowler will always be a case of what might have been. Spells with Leeds and ManchesterCity, and even an emotional return to Anfield in January 2006, failed to rekindle the old magic.14. Michael OwenOwen was just 18 and still in his first full season as a regular with Liverpool when he shared the Golden Boot in 1997/98. Not content with that, he repeated the feat a year laterafter becoming a hero for England at the World Cup thanks to that goal against Argentina.The perfect script for a film? He wouldn’t know – Owen claims that he doesn’t watch them.The speedster would go on to seal the Ballon d’Or in 2001 and posted double figures in each of his seven full seasons in the Liverpool first team – although intriguingly, never struck 20 in a league campaign.Moves to Real Madrid and Newcastle didn’t work out as planned, and injury woes meant he was a bit-part player when he finally won a league title at Manchester United in 2011, before retiring at Stoke.13. Harry KaneThere’s little doubt in Harry Kane’s mind exactly when his rise to elite-level striker kicked in.“That match at Villa Park was definitely a turning point,” he toldFFTin 2015, speaking of a 2-1 win the previous November. “Before that, I’d shown what I could do in Europa League and League Cup matches, but then coming on in the Premier League and scoring the winner in injury time was a real statement that I was ready.”From there, he hasn’t looked back – it was the first of 21 Premier League goals of that season, with 25 more following in 2015/16 and 29 in 2016/17.Kane has improved his Premier League goal tally every season since breaking into Spurs' team, so it came as little surprise when he did it again last termand reached 30 in a league season for the first time. In doing so, he joined an exclusive club of players to achieve the feat over a 38-game season: featuring Mo Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin Phillips, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez.And there's so much more to come.12. Robin van PersieAlex Ferguson’s final season in charge of Manchester United delivered the league crown, largely thanks to Van Persie’s move from rivals Arsenal.The Dutchman hadn’t won the league in eight campaigns in north London – he joined the club a couple of days after the end of the Invincibles season in 2004 – and injuries occasionally prevented him from showing his full potential as he switched from wideman to striker.But the left-footer reached his peak at the age of 28: winning the Golden Boot with 30 goals in his final season at the Emirates, before netting 26 times in his debut term at Old Trafford to help Fergie bid farewell with a 13th league title to his name.11. Teddy Sheringham“Arsenal fans sang, ‘Oh, Teddy Teddy, he went to Man United and he won f**k all,’” Sheringham once told FFT. “We won the Treble and I wondered what they’d now chant. It was, ‘Oh, Teddy Teddy, he went to Man United and he’s still a c***!’”Sheringham hadn’t won a major title prior to 1999, but helped the Red Devils to three league titles in four seasons at Old Trafford, earning him the Footballer of the Year honour at 34.Top scorer in the first Premier League campaign, he’d moved from Nottingham Forest to Spurs in 1992 and adapted into a clever second striker, contributing goals and 76 top-flight assists. Sheringham later played for Portsmouth and West Ham, becoming the oldest scorer in the Premier League at 40.10. Ian Wright“179, just done it,” read the t-shirt as Ian Wright celebrated. The excitement had got the better of him: actually, he’d just bagged his 178th goal for Arsenal, and wasn’t supposed to show off the undershirt unless he netted twice. As it turned out, No.179 followed five minutes later and Cliff Bastin’s club record was broken. Out came the t-shirt again.Wright became a legend at Arsenal in the early Premier League years and his last act as a Gunner was to win the title, aged 34, before moving across London to West Ham. The striker’s spell with the Hammers was arguably most notable for the time he damaged the dressing room of referee Rob Harris after being sent off against Leeds, earning him a three-match ban.Wrighty always had a temper, but there were few better finishers.9. Ruud van NistelrooyFew players enjoy their best years after a cruciate knee ligament injury, but Van Nistelrooy was one of them. “The injury gave me a mental strength that I didn’t have before,” he told FFT. The injury delayed the Dutch forward’s arrival at Manchester United from PSV.Yet he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year after his first campaign at Old Trafford and bagged the Premier League Golden Boot a year later, hitting 25 goals in the league as part of a whopping 44 in all competitions.His goals-per-game ratio was mightily impressive but, surprisingly, the striker won only one league title in five seasons with the Red Devils.A breakdown in relations with manager Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo led to his departure in 2006.8. Didier Drogba“When you're criticised by your fans, not everyone would have been able to handle that. Some players would have gone under.”A £24m signing from Marseille in 2004, Drogba’s first few months in the Premier League were far from perfect – he was struggling for goals and being lambasted for his diving.But the Ivory Coast international managed to turn things around and become a legend. The powerhouse in Jose Mourinho’s back-to-back title victories of 2004/05 and 2005/06, he won the Golden Boot a year later before repeating the feat with 29 goals in 2009/10 – finished off with a hat-trick against Wigan on the final day as the Blues won the league once more.After spells in China and Turkey, he returned to Chelsea to claim a fourth title in 2015, and is the only African to hit 100 Premier League goals.Drogba could make this list at No.8 for his Premier League exploits alone, but it's thatmatch-winning display in the 2012 Champions League Final for which he'll always be worshipped in west London.7. Luis SuarezLuis Suarez £22.8m, Andy Carroll £35m. Those were the amounts Liverpool paid on January 31, 2011 – and the comparison seems absurd now.But the Uruguayan arrived with baggage. Not only was he an international villain after his handball denied Ghana a goal at the 2010 World Cup, he’d also served a ban for biting an opponent during his time with Ajax.Suarez didn’t hit the goal trail straight away – in 2011/12, he found the net just 11 times, though he struck the woodwork on eight more occasions.There was more controversy too: he was banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra (and later for another bite, on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic). Then came the bizarre £40,000,001 bid from Arsenal after the goal-getter had netted a rather more impressive 23 in 2012/13.But there was no chance of Suarez leaving for north London andhe reached top form a year later, scoring 31 times in 33 league matches as Liverpool nearly clinched the league crown under Brendan Rodgers.The PFA Player of the Year award and European Golden Shoe were his, as was a move to Barcelona in 2014.6. Dennis Bergkamp“It’s like solving a puzzle – I always had a picture in my head of how everything would look two or three seconds later.”Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp was one step ahead of the rest. Recruited by Bruce Rioch, he combined intelligence with elegance to produce 87 goals and 94 assists, linking up with Ian Wright to seal the league title for Arsenal in 1998, then Thierry Henry to win it in 2002 and in the Invincibles year of 2004.The Dutchman was PFA Players’ Player of the Year when he struck 16 goals in 28 games in 1997/98. His incredible treble at Leicester was hailed by Martin O’Neill as “the best hat-trick I have ever seen”, and a bedazzling turn and finish against Newcastle in 2002 was named the best ever goal in the Premier League.Bergkamp’s success in England definitely left Stuart Pearce red-faced. The former Nottingham Forest full-back had called the £7.5 million signing from Inter Milan “a massive gamble” during an interview with The Sun.“I’d have taken Stan Collymore ahead of Bergkamp,” explained Psycho. “Even for £1 million more – Liverpool have got a much better deal than Arsenal.”He was wrong. Very wrong.5. Wayne Rooney“Remember the name, Wayne Rooney,” commentator Clive Tyldesley bellowed. It’s a little-known fact that he did this with every young player back then, with Clive turning up at youth internationals shouting, “Remember the name, Stacy Long!” and, “You’ll be hearing a lot more about this kid, Sean Doherty!”He was spot on about Rooney, though. That stunner for Everton against Arsenal in October 2002, aged 16, was the first of what would prove to be 208 Premier League goals, on the way to five titles with Manchester United and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year prize in 2010.He weighed in with a whopping 103 assists as well, his tally only bettered by Ryan Giggs andCesc Fabregas. Decent.4. Sergio Aguero“Defenders look at me, see a short little kid, try to tackle me and then I’m off – see you later.”If trying to tackle the Argentine is hard enough, stopping him from finding the net is near-impossible. Nobodycan rival the Manchester City striker’s goals-per-minutes ratio, which currently stands at a ludicrous 108.Dennis Bergkamp may have scored the best goal of the Premier League era, as voted by supporters, but Aguero netted the most memorable. His late, late strike against QPR that sealed City the title in 2012 was one of English football’s most dramatic moments– and yet, incredibly, it took until 2017/18 for Aguero to makea PFA Team of the Year.His goal came at the climax of the first of seven full campaigns to date at City, with the 29-year-old hitting at least 20 goals in five of those.3. Eric Cantona“I didn’t punch the fan strong enough – I should have punched him harder.” By that point, Cantona had already kicked Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons in the face in any case, so he'd probably got the message.If Cantona will be partly remembered for going all kung fu at Selhurst Park in 1995, no one at Manchester United will ever forget the way the French forward transformed a club that hadn’t secured a league title for 26 years into the force of the Premier League era.Collar up, chest out, Cantona commanded a pitch and bagged almost a goal every other game – superb stats for someone who was often deployed as a withdrawn striker. He also scored the first Premier League hat-trick, for Leeds in a 5-0 rout of Tottenham, in 1992.2. Alan ShearerDecember 29, 1993. Ewood Park. 8.09pm. Tim Sherwood crosses in from the right, Alan Shearer finds a yard of space in the box and sweeps the ball beyond Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall.It was a trademark Shearer goal – the sort he scored so regularly for Blackburn Rovers, and later Newcastle United. But this one was significant, even if he didn’t know it at the time. It put him out on his own as the all-time leading scorer in the Premier League. He has held the record ever since. In 25years, no one has come even close to it.The newly formed Premier League was 16 months old back then. Astonishingly, despite Shearer already leading the goal charts, he had actually spent several of those months on the sidelines because of a cruciate ligament injury. He didn't start a single league game from Boxing Day 1992 to September 1993.He'd smashed 16 goals in 21 games before his setback – Teddy Sheringham top-scored that term with only 22 across the entire campaign. On Shearer’s return to fitness, his first 19 starts for Blackburn delivered another 24 goals.He scored 31 times in just 40 games in 1993/94, 34 in 42 matches in 1994/95, then 31 over 35 outings in 1995/96, taking home the Football Writers’ Player of the Year gong in ’94 and PFA Players’ Player of the Year honour in ’95 en route to the Premier League title.No wonder Rovers owner Jack Walker wanted Shearer to stay at Blackburn so much that he was offered a player-manager position in 1996 aged only 25.Shearer politely declined, signing for Newcastle in a world-record £15 million deal and immediately becoming Premier League top scorer for a third consecutive year.By his retirement in 2006, Shearer had netted 148 league goals for the Magpies, taking his tally to 260. Along the way he also set Premier League records for the most hat-tricks (11), the most trebles in a single campaign (five, in 1995/96) and the most goals in a game (five, against Sheffield Wednesday in 1999).The Premier League has never witnessed a goalscoring machine quite like him – although that celebration could still do with a bit of work...1. Thierry Henry“I need to score crappy goals,” Thierry Henry told FourFourTwo in 2001. “I don’t want to look pretentious, but I usually don’t do crappy goals. I like to do some beautiful thing on the pitch. I like to play to the crowd.”A few months earlier, Henry had scored arguably his greatest goal in the Premier League, flicking the ball up and lashing it beyond Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez at Highbury. It was both graceful and brilliant.Henry may not have scored as many Premier League goals as Shearer, but he didn’t play in as many matches – 258 to Shearer’s 441. And the ex-Arsenal man’s goals-per-game ratio is actually greater.The France international achieved this with a panache that made him both an Arsenal and Premier League icon. ‘Va va voom’ was not just about searing pace, it was about delivering the beautiful and the seemingly impossible. Take the solo goal he scored against Liverpool back in April 2004, slaloming past pretty much the entire Reds defence.Henry never did stop scoring beautiful goals for the Gunners, but adding in the (very) occasional crappy one upped his strike rate. He found the net 24 times in 2001/02 to help the north Londoners win the title, following it with 24, 30, 25 and 27 in each of the next four seasons. No other player has ever hit more than 20 goals in five consecutive campaigns. On four of those occasions he was Premier League top scorer, collecting the PFA’s Player of the Year prize in 2003 and 2004, and the Football Writers’ award in 2003, 2004 and 2006.Thierry made a brief return to London in January 2012 on loan from New York Red Bulls, with the sole league strike of his second spell – a last-minute winner away at Sunderland – ultimately crucial in Arsenal’s quest to secure qualification for the Champions League. Even at 34, he was making a difference.While Shearer lifted the title just once, Henry was seldom away from the sharp end. His second crown, when he was the star of the Invincibles team of 2003/04 with 30 goals in 37 appearances, earned him Premier League immortality.Now read...Ranked! The 50 worst players in Premier League history The 10 best Premier League teams EVERThe 16 greatest Premier League players of the 1990sNew features you'd love on FourFourTwo feature Fri, 30 Nov 2018 14:56:24 +0000 Ceylan Hussein 807294 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Ranked! The 11 worst misses in football Matt Ritchie dropped a clanger in Newcastles win over Burnley on Monday night, but can he compare to these all-time howlers? Greg Lea watches on aghast Greg Lea https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/11-worst-misses-football 11. Fernando Torres, Chelsea vs Man UnitedTorres has his fair share of happy memories from Old Trafford, not least a stonking performance in Liverpool’s 4-1 triumph in March 2009. Yet this agonising moment two-and-a-half years later epitomised his Chelsea struggles more than any other, as the forlorn Spaniard contrived to slice a shot into Row D with the goal gaping.Torres had done the hard part, rounding David de Gea with a neat stepover and shimmy, but his composure deserted him when he needed it most. At least the Stretford End were sympathetic.10. Diego Forlan, Man United vs JuventusPre-season friendlies may be primarily about building fitness and integrating new signings, but there’s still a certain level of expectation involved. You wouldn’t expect a professional footballer to miss an open goal from six yards just because there aren’t points on the line, for example. Yet that’s exactly what Forlan did in this non-competitive clash with Juventus in summer 2003, picking up from where he left off after a debut half-season at Manchester United which yielded a grand total of zero goals in 18 appearances for the Uruguayan.9. Peter van Vossen, Rangers vs CelticThe worst thing about this passage of play should be Celtic’s appalling attempt to play offside, but Van Vossen spared the Bhoys’ blushes by fluffing his own line(s) in extraordinary fashion.Jorg Albertz did brilliantly to draw out Celtic goalkeeper Stewart Kerr and square the ball for his Dutch team-mate, but Van Vossen never looked comfortable and proceeded to commit the cardinal sin of leaning back. We’re not buying that desperate search for a divot, either.8. Freddie Ljungberg, Arsenal vs BoltonWhat a goal this would have been. Ljungberg was involved right from the start, shifting the ball wide right to Jose Antonio Reyes, who was fortunate to ricochet it back to the Swede. Patrick Vieira eventually received possession in the centre and dug out a lovely pass to Dennis Bergkamp, who fed Robert Pires on the overlap.The Frenchman did everything right, beating his marker with ease and picking out the unmarked Ljungberg four yards out. All he had to do was roll it into the empty net, but the winger remarkably skied it over the bar instead.7. Jakub Blaszczykowski, Borussia Dortmund vs FreiburgCompared to many of the entries on this list, Blaszczykowski was a fair distance from goal when he pulled the trigger against Freiburg in 2010. In hindsight, his mistake was taking on the shot too early, but that still doesn’t explain how the Pole failed to find the net – or even hit the frame of the goal.At least Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp saw the funny side. “Instead of running with the ball into goal he sends it over,” the German chuckled afterwards. “This can happen, no problem. But I think we will see this [missed] chance a few more times.”6. Ronny Rosenthal, Liverpool vs Aston VillaRosenthal got his Liverpool career off to the perfect start with seven goals in his first eight games – including a debut hat-trick against Charlton – but he was never able to maintain such a scoring rate once his loan move was made permanent.This miss in 1992 is one of the most memorable in Premier League history. After racing on to a long kick from David James, Rosenthal rounded Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink, took a touch to steady himself and hit a left-footed shot… against the bar.5. Nwankwo Kanu, West Brom vs MiddlesbroughHad Kanu tried to put the ball where it ended up, he probably wouldn’t have been able to. This was a miss that defied the laws of physics as well as logic.The Nigeria international, formerly of Ajax, Inter and Arsenal, had the ball put on a plate for him by ex-bricklayer Geoff Horsfield. But all Kanu could do was scoop it onto the roof of the net from a yard out. Horsfield couldn’t believe his eyes.4. Fahad Khalfan, Qatar vs UzbekistanA well-executed dummy can be both artistic and effective, but attempting one when you’re the goalkeeper and there’s an opponent bearing down on you isn’t usually the wisest idea. Uzbekistan custodian Timur Juraev collapsed – presumably in embarrassment – after letting the ball through his legs in this Asian Games quarter-final in 2010, leaving Fahad Khalfan with a golden chance to break the deadlock after just 45 seconds of extra time.The Qatari took a touch to bring the ball into the centre of the goal, before somehow toe-poking it against the post. Although he should have gone with his right foot, it was still much harder to miss than score with his left.3. Chris Iwelumo, Scotland vs NorwayWhen Iwelumo was called up to the Scotland squad to face Norway in 2008, he probably dreamed of scoring the winner on his international debut. Instead, the striker was forced to live out his worst nightmare, inexplicably directing Gary Naysmith’s low cross wide of the post from three yards out."My missus made me delete it from the Sky Plus after four or five days so, yes, I watched it,” Iwelumo admitted afterwards. “It was hard to do but I had to do it." The World Cup qualifier finished 0-0.2. Arnaldo Vera, Libertad vs EmelecThe humble shin guard is a valuable piece of equipment in the often-violent surroundings of South American club football, but the protective pad did Vera no favours in this 2003 Copa Libertadores tie.This was by no means a disappointing evening for the centre-back’s Paraguayan employers Libertad, who ran out 5-1 winners against Ecuadorian outfit Emelec, but Vera was responsible for perhaps the worst miss in the history of the competition when he shinned a shot against the bar from a yard. The Emelec defenders were so stunned at Vera’s failure to convert that they took an age to eventually hook the loose ball clear.1. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nigeria vs South KoreaYakubu scored 21 goals for his country, a record that’s not to be sniffed at – least of all by the hitherto uncapped FFT. Yet it really should have been 22.When the ball landed at his feet in this group stage clash at the 2010 World Cup, the then-Portsmouth striker was in the centre of the six-yard box with just three yards between him and the goal-line.The South Korean defenders, meanwhile, were busy appealing for offside rather than attempting to apply pressure to their opponent. It didn’t matter, though, with Yakubu’s astonishing miscue ultimately proving costly as Nigeria finished bottom of Group B.New features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com feature Tue, 27 Nov 2018 13:31:28 +0000 Alex Reid 100000304 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com The 16 best players never to win a league title These men have been hailed individually over their careers, but weresomehow never there when it all came together for their teams. But how?Huw Davies on the unlucky aces... Huw Davies https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/16-best-players-never-win-a-league-title Gary LinekerThe inspiration for this article, Lineker won more of football’s top individual awards than he did silverware. Players’ Player of the Year, Footballer of the Year (twice), runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, a Golden Boot winner three times in England and once at a World Cup – make no mistake, he was one of the all-time great strikers. And yet Lineker’s only major trophies were the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Cup Winners’ Cup, while he ended up with as many league titles in his career as he did red and yellow cards: none.OK, he did win the Second Division with Leicester as a teenager. But somehow a top-flight title eluded him, despite making a career of being in the right places at the right times. Everton finished 1st, 2nd and 1st from 1984 to 1987 – guess which season Lineker was there, scoring three hat-tricks among his 30 league goals?When the Toffees reclaimed the title he was in Barcelona, finishing 2nd. Then 6th. Then 2nd again, followed by a third-place finish with Spurs just before Barça began a run of four Liga titles. He didn’t even come close in Japan.Still, he’s done all right for himself, we suppose.Fernando TorresSagan Tosu are currently fighting relegation to Japan’s second division, so their 34-year-old Spanish striker won’t be winning his first league title this season. Good things come to those who wait, right?It seems so unlikely that a player whose neck is weighed down by winner’s medals for the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup and European Championship (two) would have no such trinket for finishing top of a domestic league, especially when he played for three big clubs in times of relative success and once came third in the Ballon d’Or voting behind only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – but that’s Torres.Between two spells with Atletico Madrid, he joined Chelsea from Liverpool six months after the Blues’ Double triumph, and departed on loan the season they won the league in Jose Mourinho’s second spell. Some would say that isn’t a total coincidence.SocratesThe politically-active chain-smoking doctor and midfielder was never a title-winning politically-active chain-smoking doctor and midfielder. In fact, playing for a great team that famously won nothing – Brazil 1982 – means Socrates’ trophy cabinet was emptier than it should have been.At club level, Socrates’ only appearances outside Brazil came for Fiorentina and, uh, Garforth Town – but even at home, his silverware consisted only of state-wide competitions, not national ones. However, the man himself said in concluding his book, Football Philosophy: “Beauty comes first. Victory is secondary. What matters is joy.”Steven Gerrard and Jamie CarragherThe Kop buddies are elephants in the room here. Include them in our list of great players who never won the league and it could look as if we’re winding up Liverpool fans by reminding them of the fact; ignore them, and it could look as if we’re winding up Liverpool fans by suggesting they weren’t great players.So, let’s just namecheck them both, mention Istanbul in passing and move on. Next?Stanley MatthewsIt’s easy to romanticise English footballers when placing them in a global context, but Matthews did win the inaugural Ballon d’Or when he was 41. It wasn’t an all-English affair, either; votes came in from 16 countries and runner-up Alfredo Di Stefano probably played for half of them.Nonetheless, the long-serving winger’s trophy haul was limited to the one earned through a certain FA Cup Final performance – you may have heard of it – and a couple of Second Division titles, won 30 years apart. Yes, 30.Matthews died in 2000 at the age of 85, and was substituted shortly afterwards.Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkWhile he wasn’t at Ballon d’Or level, the Dutchman was a two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner and surely deserved to take home more than one paltry pot in his career – the 1996/97 Taça de Portugal with Boavista – if only for the fact that he kept coming so close.Hasselbaink had already been a runner-up in the Copa del Rey (with Atletico Madrid), Premier League, FA Cup (both with Chelsea) and UEFA Cup (Middlesbrough) when he started for Cardiff in the 2008 FA Cup showpiece. It was his fourth final. He was 36, about to retire, and the Bluebirds were facing superior but eminently beatable opposition in Portsmouth. This, surely, was his moment.Was it balls.Antoine GriezmannGriezmann is another runner-up with Atletico, his side having finished second in La Liga last season. In 2015/16 they amassed 88 points, conceded only 18 goals and still finished third, which is brutal.Memories of winning the World Cup mean he’s probably OK with it, but the Frenchman is yet to claim a top-flight title, having joined Atleti from Real Sociedad immediately after the Rojiblancos’ remarkable topping of the division in 2013/14. He was also on the losing side in a Champions League final and had a turn as one of the third-place guest stars in The Ballon d’Or Show With Messi Ronaldo.Gordon BanksThe 1966 World Cup winner and all-time goalkeeping great won only two trophies at club level: one League Cup apiece with Leicester and Stoke. But if you think Banks’s career can be boiled down to one World Cup and a famous save from Pele four years later, remember that the highly respected IFFHS (International Federation of Football History Statistics) rated him as the second-greatest keeper of all time, behind Lev Yashin.But Banks wasn’t the only hero of ’66 never to be a league champion...Bobby MooreOne-club men such as Gerrard and Carragher are easy targets in a list such as this, and while Moore did also represent Fulham before turning out for teams in the USA and Denmark, he was as West Ham as they come. He played for the Irons across a decade-and-a-half, either side of requesting a transfer in the spring of 1966 and winning the World Cup a few months later. In that time, they never finished higher than sixth.Of course, immortality at a club isn’t necessarily predicated on silverware, which is why we’ve omitted several club legends who never won a league title, simply because that fact isn’t surprising: Matt Le Tissier at Southampton, for example, or Antonio Di Natale at Udinese. Our next entrant, however, could hardly have come closer.Daniele De RossiFrancesco Totti’s patient approach to retirement meant his heir at Roma was 34 years old by the time he finally assumed Il Gladiatore’s mantle. De Rossi captained Roma as they reached the Champions League semi-finals in their first post-Totti season, having played alongside him as they won the Coppa Italia twice (not to mention the 2006 World Cup with Italy) – but Totti lifted one trophy De Rossi never has.The 2000/01 season brought Roma only the third Scudetto in their history, with 24-year-old Totti a key figure. Their success came slightly too soon for a 17-year-old De Rossi, who made his Giallorossi debut just a few months after they were crowned champions.Since then, another 17 years have passed and De Rossi has helped Roma to eight – eight – second-place finishes in Serie A, but no title. It seems it’s just not meant to be.Jay-Jay Okocha“What, the Bolton guy?” you may be thinking. Well, shame on you, John Strawman, because Okocha fell into Sam Allardyce’s sweaty embrace only after he’d already played for some big clubs elsewhere.Unfortunately for him, they kept falling short. A young Okocha’s Eintracht Frankfurt finished as high as 3rd and 5th in the Bundesliga, but no higher; at Fenerbahce he scored a goal every other game from midfield and/or free-kicks but ended up 2nd and 3rd in the Turkish Super Lig; and then he joined PSG – costing £14m, no small fee in 1998 – a little too late for their mid-’90s heyday, and had to settle for 2nd and 4th in Ligue 1.Big Sam must have promised Okocha that at Bolton he could forget about actually winning the league and just enjoy what turned out to be a very fun ride.Marco ReusMuch like Griezmann at Atletico, Reus strolled into Dortmund’s party at the precise moment it was beginning to wind down.BVB had just won back-to-back league titles when Reus arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012, but a combination of Bayern Munich reasserting their dominance and Jurgen Klopp struggling in cup finals meant Dortmund were runners-up seven times in Reus’s first four seasons – once in the Champions League, three times in the Bundesliga and three years running in the German Cup. Reus also missed Germany’s World Cup triumph through injury in that time.Thankfully, with Klopp having taken his hoodoo to Liverpool, the wideman was finally able to lift a trophy for the first time when Thomas Tuchel led Dortmund to their 2016/17 German Cup win.Juan MataMata’s place among the pantheon of 21st-century footballing greats has taken a battering during his five years at Manchester United, and it’s easily forgotten now that when he was at Chelsea, he was considered David Silva’s equal. He’s also a lovely chap, so few fans would take pleasure from his unfortunate sense of timing.Jettisoned in his teens by Real Madrid, Mata became one of Valencia’s best of the rest alongside Silva. But while the latter turned supernova at Manchester City, Mata joined Chelsea during a lean spell for them in the Premier League, then swapped the Blues for the Red Devils just as Mourinho’s Chelsea Mk.II were warming up and Alex Ferguson’s juggernaut was morphing into David Moyes’s three-wheeled car.Mata did win the Champions League in his first season in England, mind, so it’s not all bad.Giuseppe SignoriWhen you win the Capocannoniere three times in five years and score 107 goals in 152 games against famously stingy 1990s Serie A defences, only to see your team finish 5th, 4th, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that time, you’re entitled to ask what exactly is going on at the other end.Welcome to Signori’s life at Lazio. The club scored 24 more goals than any other side in Italy during his half-decade there, but every year they were denied the Scudetto by ruthless rivals and their own leaky defence. Signori must have been quite the conversationalist at Lazio’s end-of-season parties.Klaas-Jan HuntelaarFive seasons with serial winners Ajax. One season apiece with serial winners Milan and Real Madrid. Zero league titles.Work that one out.New features you’d love on FourFourTwo.com feature Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:18:27 +0000 Joe Brewin 100092108 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com The quickest to 50 Premier League goals as Silva reaches milestone Manchester City's David Silva is one of 100 players to have scored 50 Premier League goals, but who got there the quickest? https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/quickest-50-premier-league-goals-silva-reaches-milestone David Silva became the 100th player to score 50 Premier League goals when he converted from close range during Manchester City's 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday. The midfielder celebrated the half-century in his 253rd appearance in the competition, understandably some way short of the pace set by the 10 players to reach the milestone the quickest. Harry Kane (90 matches), Michael Owen (98 matches) and Wayne Rooney (146 matches) are among the notable absentees from that list, which we have compiled using Opta data. 50 - David Silva has scored his 50th Premier League goal, becoming the fifth player to do so for @ManCity (Aguero, Toure, Tevez and Dzeko). Indomitable. #MCIFUL — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2018 Fewest matches to score 50 Premier League goals 10. Ian Wright (87) 9. Luis Suarez (86) 8. Diego Costa (85) =7. Kevin Phillips (83) =7. Thierry Henry (83) 5. Sergio Aguero (81) 4. Fernando Torres (72) 3. Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) 2. Alan Shearer (66) 1. Andrew Cole (65) news_article Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:11:41 +0000 Anonymous 100072506 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Euro 2008 success changed Spain's story - Fernando Torres Fernando Torres has recalled his game-winning goal in Euro 2008, a decade on from Spain's final victory over Germany. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/euro-2008-success-changed-spains-story-fernando-torres Spain's Euro 2008 triumph changed the story for the nation, according to Fernando Torres. Torres was a key member of Luis Aragones' side that prevailed in Austria and Switzerland a decade ago, the striker scoring the only goal of the final against Germany in Vienna. La Roja built on their success to become a dominant force, winning the 2010 World Cup on South African soil before going on to defend their European crown two years later. However, they had to patiently wait for success, with their only other major title in international football coming at the 1964 European Championship. "Luis and that group of players changed the story. I was lucky to be part of it and I am very proud," Torres told Marca on the 10th anniversary of Spain's victory. Torres, who is expected to move to Japan after leaving boyhood club Atletico Madrid at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, scored two goals in Spain's Euro 2008 campaign, netting against Sweden in the group stages before seizing the opportunity to become a national hero against Germany when the trophy was on the line. "I saw that Xavi received the ball between the lines and that he was very lonely. At that moment, I open myself slightly to my right to create space and be able to make a diagonal run towards the goal," he recalled, dissecting his first-half strike. Hoy hace 10 años un grupo demostramos al mundo que la historia se puede cambiar \ 10 years ago our group showed to the world that the course of history can be changed #Euro2008 pic.twitter.com/HCSNyhil4G — Fernando Torres (@Torres) June 29, 2018 "Xavi's pass, I could not reach or control it clearly because [Philipp] Lahm is able to close and win the position. In that instant I see that I can continue my run on the outside because Lahm stops me with his body. "[Jens] Lehmann does not come out fast and for a moment I think I can overtake the defender and get there before the goalkeeper. I accelerate and the rest is history." Now 34, Torres admitted he misses Aragones, who passed away in 2014, with the coach giving him a motivational speech prior to the match against Germany. "He caught me alone in a hallway before going out into the field. There he put me against the wall and grabbed my chest," Torres added.  "He told me: 'It's our time, Nino, you're going to go out there, you're going to score two goals and we're going to be European champions.' Then he made the sign of the cross on my forehead and let me go." news_article Fri, 29 Jun 2018 17:11:40 +0000 Anonymous 100047750 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Torres to decide future in next fortnight, says father Fernando Torres is close to making a decision over his future, with the forward set to leave Europe. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/torres-decide-future-next-fortnight-says-father Atletico Madrid great Fernando Torres will announce his future in the next fortnight, according to his father. Torres, 34, bid farewell to boyhood club Atletico at the end of the season, having helped the LaLiga outfit win the Europa League. The 110-time Spain international is expected to join J.League outfit Sagan Tosu, but his move is yet to be confirmed. His father, Jose Torres, said Fernando was close to making a decision, confirming the forward's next move would not be to a European club. "I am sure it won't be in Europe, it will be a long way away," Jose Torres said, via Sport. "He still doesn't know, but he will say soon, in the next two weeks for sure." Torres scored 10 goals in each of his final two seasons at Atletico, the club he made his senior debut with in 2001. news_article Tue, 05 Jun 2018 05:48:50 +0000 Anonymous 100038261 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Casillas: I wish my Madrid farewell compared to Iniesta, Torres Iker Casillas would have liked a Real Madrid farewell similar to the ones received by Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres earlier this month. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-i-wish-my-madrid-farewell-compared-iniesta-torres Real Madrid great Iker Casillas would be open to a return to the club despite admitting he wished his farewell compared to Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres'. Casillas ended a 25-year stay at Madrid in 2015, departing his boyhood club for Porto after winning five LaLiga titles and three Champions League crowns. While Madrid have denied forcing Casillas out, his farewell paled in comparison to Iniesta's at Barcelona and Torres' at Atletico Madrid earlier this month. Casillas, 37, said he would have no issues returning to Madrid in the future, but accepted his farewell was mishandled by the European champions. "If Real Madrid call me, I couldn't say no to return to the club in the future," he said on Wednesday. "I saw the Iniesta and Torres farewells and, well, my situation was another different then in Real Madrid. "In the future there will be reconciliations and there won't be any problem. Everybody would love a farewell like those ones, but I'm not all the day focused on that." Casillas played 16 seasons at Madrid, while the 167-time Spain international helped his nation win the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012. news_article Thu, 31 May 2018 01:19:51 +0000 Anonymous 100036494 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com J. League apologises for bogus Torres transfer story Fernando Torres appeared to have signed for Sagan Tosu but the J.League has confirmed the transfer announcement was made in error. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/j-league-apologises-bogus-torres-transfer-story Andres Iniesta might be set to grace the J.League but former Spain team-mate Fernando Torres will not be joining him – just yet. Following Barcelona great Iniesta completing his surprise switch to Vissel Kobe last week, Torres has been linked with a move to Sagan Tosu in Japan's top flight. On Wednesday, the J. League published a story on its official website announcing the 34-year-old striker had signed for struggling Sagan – the club lie second bottom in the table after 15 matches this season – only to swiftly take the article down and publish an apology. "Today on the official website of the J.League, a page containing incorrect information regarding a player joining Sagan Tosu was made viewable," a statement read. Today on the official website of the J.League, a page containing incorrect information regarding a player joining Sagan Tosu was made viewable. We sincerely apologize to the club, everybody involved with the club, fans and supporters for any inconvenience this may have caused. — Ｊリーグ (@J_League) May 30, 2018 "Our sincere apologies go to the Sagan Tosu club, everybody involved with the club, fans and supporters for any inconvenience this may have caused. "We are currently investigating what caused this error and we will do our very best to prevent this from happening again." Torres bade an emotional farewell to Atletico Madrid on the final day of LaLiga this season, scoring his 128th and 129th goals for his boyhood club in a 2-2 draw against Eibar. news_article Wed, 30 May 2018 17:27:48 +0000 Anonymous 100036404 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Two trophies in a week! Torres leaves Atletico Madrid in style Atletico Madrid rounded off their season with a 3-2 win against Nigeria B on Tuesday, giving Fernando Torres even more silverware. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/two-trophies-a-week-torres-leaves-atletico-madrid-style Fernando Torres scored as Atletico Madrid ran out 3-2 winners in a friendly against Nigeria B, earning the striker his second trophy in seven days. Club icon Torres won the first major honour of his Atletico career with the 3-0 Europa League final defeat of Marseille in Lyon last Wednesday, before saying farewell to the fans by scoring a double in in his last competitive outing four days later - a 2-2 draw versus Eibar. And in his final match for Atleti, Torres lifted the GOtv Max Cup at the packed Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The former Spain international gave the LaLiga runners-up the lead after Kelechi Nwakali's brilliant opener was cancelled out by Angel Correa. Usman Mohammed's superb solo strike brought the Super Eagles level but Atleti wrapped up victory thanks to another fine goal from Borja Garces. Having signed off with more silverware, Torres is expected to complete a switch to MLS or the Chinese Super League. Some members of our World Cup bound squad are here to support their colleagues who are battling the Europa League winners. 1-2 Torres fires @atletienglish into the lead. pic.twitter.com/WEPDR6CuB5 —  Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) May 22, 2018 news_article Tue, 22 May 2018 21:28:11 +0000 Anonymous 100033585 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Year Zero: the making of Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, 2002/03) The 34-year-old ended a second spell at his boyhood club with two goals against Eibar on Sunday. Once, though, he was an unknown kid suffering relegation then became the hottest young striker in Europe. This is how the 2002/03 season changed the life of this young Spaniard forever Thore Haugstad https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/year-zero-making-fernando-torres-atletico-madrid-200203-0 At Christmas in 2001, Fernando Torres was asked to do a photoshoot in Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, two of the busiest squares in Madrid. He was 17 and had played for Atletico Madrid’s first team for about six months, which he felt was enough to merit the kind of fame that gets you surrounded by people in public.“Are you mad?” Torres asked when the press officer explained the request.“It’ll be fine,” came the reply. “No one knows who you are.”The press officer was right. Torres went to the popular squares, posing for photos near Christmas stalls and landmarks heaving with tourists. Nobody bothered him.But that would soon change. About a year later, Torres could barely leave his own house. By then, Atletico had returned to La Liga, and the innocent-looking, freckled striker was toying with some of the meanest teams in the division. People thought he was good, but not this good. Almost overnight, El Niño became one of the hottest talents in Europe. “In four matches,” he later wrote, “I went from a virtual unknown to a player people were talking about.”Descent into hellIt is worth recalling the extraordinary circumstances in which Torres emerged. In 1996, Atleti pulled off a sensational Spanish double, only to suffer a shock relegation four years later. A strong side were already floundering under Claudio Ranieri when owner Jesus Gil got arrested and suspended over tax evasion and misuse of club funds.The club entered administration, Ranieri resigned and the team slipped into the second tier for the first time in 65 years.The descent must have distressed Torres, who'd joined the Atleti academy at 13 and been a fan ever since his grandfather took him to the Vicente Calderon. But in May 2001, that “year in hell” as Gil called it, gave Torres the chance to make his first-team debut against Leganes. “If Atletico Madrid hadn’t been in the second division,” Torres said, “I am sure it would have taken longer for me to get a chance.”As it was, Atleti narrowly missed out on promotion that year. The next season Torres became a regular, though with six goals in 36 league games it was little wonder he was left in peace in public. Still, Atleti got promoted under Luis Aragones in 2002.Rude awakeningThat summer, Torres was followed by several clubs. In July, he had fired Spain to victory at the U19 Euros in Norway, becoming top scorer, player of the tournament and match winner in the 1-0 final win against Germany.Yet La Liga was a tougher test and many wondered how he and Atleti would fare. They had a strong squad, featuring goalkeeper German Burgos (now Diego Simeone’s assistant at Atleti), future Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini and Liverpool favourite-to-be Luis Garcia. A 2-2 draw at Barcelona on the opening day suggested they would do more than just battle relegation.In the second round of fixtures, Torres struck his first Liga goal in a 1-1 draw with Sevilla. He then marred the occasion by getting two late yellow cards for simulation. To his relief, the federation rescinded one of them, letting him off the hook to score twice against Mallorca. Winners at home to Betis and Valladolid followed and, by mid-December, his goals had lifted Atleti to seventh.The kid clearly knew how to play. Yet he had still not delivered the kind of landmark performance that would hoist him to superstardom. Not yet, anyway.The new Van BastenOn January 12, Deportivo La Coruna faced Atleti at the Calderon. The Galicians may not be title contenders these days, but at that time they were formidable opponents, having won La Liga in 2000 and finished runners-up twice since. On this occasion, the score stood at 1-1 on 76 minutes when Torres received a long ball down the right.What followed was a pierce of art. Controlling the ball, Torres hooked it into the box around defensive stalwart Noureddine Naybet, picked up possession on the other side and fired an angled shot towards the far top corner. Golazo.Naybet had hardly caught his breath when Torres popped up again to terrorise him with another blistering run that set up Fernando Correa for 3-1. They were two pieces of individual skill that showed what Torres was all about: directness, raw pace and audacious dribbling.About one minute inThe reaction was immediate. El Pais hailed Torres as the future of Spanish football and called him the most exciting newcomer since Raul. Diario AS compared him to Marco van Basten.And Torres hadn’t finished. Next up, Atleti faced Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Barcelona.Popular kidThe media storm was gathering force. Ahead of the Madrid derby, the Atleti press department received more than 40 interview requests for Torres alone. As it was, he did little against Madrid and Real Sociedad – but then Barça rolled into town.Cue another dazzling display. Just before half-time, Torres got the ball near the box, left Frank de Boer for dead and finished coolly. It was a sublime solo goal that set the tone for a 3-0 win, and now the plaudits were raining down. As Diario AS wrote, it was no longer possible to doubt that Torres was the real deal; only an 18-year-old of extraordinary ability could terrorise Depor, then repeat the trick against Barcelona in the space of four league games.For his part, Torres now felt the fans really believed in him. They were not alone. Magazines and newspapers wanted him on their covers. In public, his fame turned trips to cafes and cinemas into taxing missions. “I seemed to be taking off,” Torres recalled.Teenage captainTorres would score only three more league goals that season. An injury struck him down in April, so he finished with 13 goals in 29 league games as Atleti slipped to 12th. Yet nobody doubted his quality.Barcelona and Milan were rumoured to be interested in him, while in May, reports emerged of a Juventus offer that involved €15 million plus Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta. In July, new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich reportedly launched a £28m bid.All advances were rejected. Torres stayed, became club captain early next season, aged 19, and soon made his senior international debut. Come Christmas, there was no longer talk of photoshoots in Plaza Mayor. Those two goals against Depor and Barça had changed his life for good.Next week, Year Zero: Eric Cantona, Leeds/Manchester United (1992/93).Now read...Year Zero: How Zinedine Zidane went from Euro 96 flop to European colossusMore features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com feature Mon, 21 May 2018 10:17:43 +0000 Alex Reid 720528 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Atletico Madrid pay fitting tribute to tearful Torres Fernando Torres was in tears as he officially said goodbye to Atletico Madrid following the culmination of the La Liga season. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/atletico-madrid-pay-fitting-tribute-tearful-torres Atletico Madrid paid tribute to club legend Fernando Torres after the striker brought down the curtain on his Rojiblancos career with a double against Eibar.Torres came through the ranks at Atleti in 2001, leaving the club for Liverpool in 2007 before returning to Vicente Calderon in 2015.And, having captained the side and netting his 128th and 129th goals respectively on his final appearance in the 2-2 draw, Torres received a guard of honour from his team-mates and coaching staff at the culmination of Sunday's clash at Wanda Metropolitano.An official farewell followed, with a highlight video of Torres' best moments for Atleti preceding speeches from numerous club dignitaries, and the presentation of a commemorative shirt and shield celebrating the Spaniard's 404 appearances for the club.The red and white family paying tribute to Fernando @Torres#DeNiñoALeyenda pic.twitter.com/aoeDRycvhA— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018 news_article Sun, 20 May 2018 19:44:32 +0000 Anonymous 100032785 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Atletico Madrid 2 Eibar 2: Torres bows out with a double Fernando Torres brought the curtain down on his Atletico Madrid career with a double in the 2-2 draw with La Liga minnows Eibar. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/atletico-madrid-2-eibar-2-torres-bows-out-a-double Fernando Torres's double on his final Atletico Madrid appearance was not enough to secure victory for Diego Simeone's 10-man side as Ruben Pena's stunner earned Eibar a 2-2 draw.Captaining a second-string Atleti side – playing four days on from their Europa League triumph against Marseille in Lyon – at a celebratory Wanda Metropolitano, Torres netted either side of the interval in Sunday's clash.Having cancelled out Kike Garcia's opener just before the break, Torres edged Atleti ahead on the hour, rolling back the years with a fantastic run and delicate finish.Any hopes Torres had of making way to a standing ovation were ended a few moments after he netted his second, though, as Jose Gimenez entered the fray for Atleti's third change after Lucas Hernandez had seen red.And Eibar were quick to make their numerical advantage count, Pena hammering in a thunderous long-range strike to haul the visitors level with 20 minutes remaining.Antoine Griezmann could well be leaving Atleti during the off-season, and he looked set to mark his would-be final appearance with an assist late on when he teed up Torres, but his hat-trick goal was denied by the offside flag as Simeone's men settled for a share of the spoils in their final La Liga game of the campaign.Legend. #AúpaAtleti #AtletiEibar pic.twitter.com/jWXFYpfb6F— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018 news_article Sun, 20 May 2018 18:25:40 +0000 Anonymous 100032752 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com Torres captains Atletico Madrid on farewell Atletico Madrid bring their season to an end against Eibar on Sunday, with outgoing striker Fernando Torres named captain. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/torres-captains-atletico-madrid-farewell Fernando Torres will captain Atletico Madrid on his final appearance for the club. Atleti wrap up their LaLiga campaign at home to Eibar on Sunday, with Diego Simeone's men not yet sure of second spot, ahead of rivals Real Madrid. Torres has yet to confirm his next move but has been linked with a switch to the Chinese Super League or MLS for the latter years of his career, while a reunion with former boss Rafael Benitez at Newcastle United has also been mooted. The 34-year-old came off the bench as Atleti beat Marseille 3-0 in Lyon in Wednesday's Europa League final to win his first major trophy across two spells at the club. With Torres starting in attack alongside fellow former Chelsea forward Diego Costa, Europa League hero Antoine Griezmann has a place on the bench. Atletico will wear shirts featuring a special patch to mark Torres' last game for the club. | STARTING LINEUP Here’s our starting XI for this afternoon’s historic match! Atleeeeeeeeeeeeeti!#AúpaAtleti #AtletiEibar pic.twitter.com/ygF8cqHJxA — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 20, 2018 news_article Sun, 20 May 2018 15:54:54 +0000 Anonymous 100032715 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com


text:
Panasonic 45-150mm f/4.0-5.6

Focusing distance: 90cm / 35.4in
Magnification: 0.17x
Filter size: 52mm
Lens size: ø62mm x 73mm / ø24.4in x 28.7in
Weight: 200g / 7.1oz
Construction: 12 elements in 9 groups
Accessories: Hood

Sample Pictures

Do you have any pictures you have taken with this lens? We would love to see them! Please go to our forums thread and post them!

Unfortunately, this lens does not have any reviews ☹

Help everyone out by writing your review of this lens! What do you say?

Click here to add your review*

*Disclaimer: please note that this activity is highly contagious, and may make you feel really good about yourself, as well as the gear you own. You have been warned!


text:
Don't Just Transfer a Balance, Pay it Down

By Erica SandbergLifestyle and

Dear Opening Credits,

Continue Reading Below

I'm about to graduate from  college. I'm 25, worked through school, and lived with my parents to help save for said school. That being said, I have minimal student loans (about $5,000), but I feel that I have been less than responsible with my one retail-based card.

I fell for the gas discount this card offered for my 30-minute commute to classes over the three years I've had this card, and have accrued about $3,000 on it. It has a credit limit of $4,500 and a harsh interest rate of 23%.

I'd like to know: Is it worth getting a second credit card to move the balance and try for a lower interest rate? What kind of side effects can I expect while I apply for an apartment lease?

- Christopher

More On This...

Dear Christopher,

As many first time cardholders have discovered, you now know that it can be ridiculously easy to overcharge. When your bank account is as empty as your tank, it's plastic to the rescue. Do so, though, and it doesn't take long before you're stuck in neutral. When interest rates are high and you're just paying the minimum, the principal will barely budge.

Transferring expensive balances to a creditor that will charge less in finance fees is an option, and a fine one. The way it works is that one credit card company takes on the debt of another. There is a cost involved, which is typically 3 to 4% of the amount the new company assumes. So transferring your balance of $3,000 would incur a fee of about $100, which would be added to your initial balance.

The most attractive aspect of a balance transfer is that the new creditor will give you a preferable interest rate -- often 0% -- for a fixed number of months. Secure one of these deals and you'll really get ahead -- if you can pay off the entire debt within that time frame.

Take a look at your last bill and see what the fees were for last month. With the balance and rate you have, it's probably around $55. I'm sure you'd prefer to use that money for something else! Now imagine every penny of your payment being applied to what you currently owe. That's exciting! To know how much you could potentially save with a balance transfer, plug the numbers into a balance transfer calculator.

Be aware that you do have to meet a new credit issuer's standards to enjoy such an arrangement. Because you repaid your student loans, your credit report is reflecting that positive information. Presuming you made all payments on time, to the loan as well as your credit card, your credit rating may be good enough to qualify.

The only glitch is the amount of debt you're carrying compared to your credit limit. The lower the ratio of credit used to credit available, the better off you'll be. You are currently carrying a ratio that's likely hurting your credit score. A lender may believe that you're tapped out, so can't afford to borrow more.

To offset this problem, ask your current creditor to increase the credit line to at least $9,000. That would definitely expand the utilization ratio. If they deny your request, you can put the plan on hold and concentrate on reducing the balance as fast as you can by paying far more than the minimum payment. Whittle it down as far as you can. After that you can choose to stay put with your present issuer until it's totally paid off, or apply for a balance transfer for the remainder.

If you do go the balance transfer route, make sure you pay on time. A single late payment can cause that ultra-low rate to escalate sharply. Also, the final rate should be lower than the one you have now, to make it worthwhile. Read the terms of each offer carefully before deciding on the card you want to pursue.

Regarding landlords, most will check your credit reports to determine your financial standing. Moving balances from one creditor to another will probably be irrelevant. They just want to see that you've managed your accounts well, and that your debt won't impede rent payments.

Now you're ready to shift gears and make some progress!

See related: 2014 balance transfer survey: Beware combo deals, two-tier fees, How credit utilization ratio affects your score


text:
House Votes to Renew Ex-Im Bank, Boost Credit Cap

The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to renew the U.S. Export-Import Bank's charter until September 2014 and gradually raise its lending cap to $140 billion, disappointing conservative groups who want the nearly 80-year-old bank to die.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which is under pressure to approve the legislation before the Ex-Im Bank's temporary charter to operate expires on May 31. The White House wanted a four-year renewal, but supports the House bill.

Continue Reading Below

The 330-93 House vote is welcome news for U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing <BA.N>, the bank's biggest beneficiary. Other top customers include General Electric <GE.N>, Caterpillar <CAT.N> and global engineering and construction company KBR Inc <KBR.N>.

The government credit agency provides direct loans and other financing assistance to help U.S. exporters make sales in markets too risky for private lenders.

Bank officials say they are fast approaching their current $100 billion credit cap because of record demand for Ex-Im's services the past several years.

House Republican leader Eric Cantor and House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer struck a deal late last week to renew the bank's charter until September 2014, ending months of uncertainty over the institution's future.

Cantor, in a speech on the House floor, said he was "no fan of government subsidies" embodied in the bank's loans.

But shutting down the bank would amount to "unilateral disarmament" since other government credit agencies in China, Europe and elsewhere would continue to operate, he said.

"For the first time, with this bill, it will be U.S. policy to initiate and pursue negotiations to end government export subsidies," Cantor said, referring to instructions for the Treasury Department contained in the bill.

Hoyer and other lawmakers stressed the job creating benefits of renewing the bank's charter.

"In 2011, finances from the Export-Import Bank helped create nearly 300,000 jobs at 3,600 private companies across the United States," Hoyer said.

The bill would immediately increases the bank's lending cap to $120 billion through this September.

The cap would rise to $140 billion in $10 billion increments over the following two years, as long a loan defaults remain below 2 percent and the bank meets other conditions.

What do you think?

Click the button below to comment on this article.


text:
Jailed Pakistani doctor who helped get bin Laden allowed to see wife and children

The jailed doctor who helped the U.S. pinpoint Usama bin Laden's Pakistan hideout, finally got to see his wife and children on Wednesday in the Peshawar prison where he has been held for more than two years, FoxNews.com has learned.

Shakil Khan Afridi had not seen his family since being whisked away by Pakistan security services three weeks after the Navy Seal Team raid in May 2011 that killed bin Laden. Even his meeting privileges with his lawyers and brother were revoked after he spoke exclusively with FoxNews.com last year in an interview in which he detailed conditions of his imprisonment and pledged his affection for America.

Afridi is serving a 33-year jail sentence after being convicted of colluding with terrorists, though it generally is accepted he is being punished for aiding the CIA. As part of the effort to positively identify the terror mastermind, Afridi set up a Hepatitis B vaccination program to collect DNA samples to try and verify bin Laden and his family were at a compound in Abbottabad, 80 miles from the Pakistani capital Islamabad. He was able to provide crucial information which enabled the U.S. to proceed forward with the daring raid.

Sources told FoxNews.com Afridi's family was escorted Wednesday under tight security to Peshawar Central Jail, a prison well known for holding some of the most notorious and dangerous prisoners in the region.

His wife, Imrana Ghafur, and their three children, whose ages range from 10 to 15, met with Afridi for up to 10 minutes under supervision of intelligence officers. But Afridi's legal team apparently did not know about the meeting.

“We are not aware they met and how did authorities get in touch with them (family) without notifying us?” asked one of Afridi’s lawyers.

Last month, Pakistani authorities lifted a nearly 10-month ban on meetings with Afridi. But when his elder brother Jamil visited the prison, officials didn’t allow him to meet Afridi. Jamil Afridi said he was told only Afridi's wife and children were on a list of those permitted to visit by the government office overseeing Afridi’s case.

Sources told FoxNews.com other privileges have been reinstated for Afridi, including the ability to receive food and clothes from family members.

Jamil Afridi hopes to be permitted to meet his brother soon, but will likely have to sign an agreement barring him from discussing the meetings with media.

“It’s a matter of a few days and the brother will be allowed," said the lawyer, who is preparing for Afridi's next court hearing on July 18. Several previous hearings have been postponed or adjourned, but the lawyers are optimistic the judge will hear the case this time.

“I think things are changing and moving rapidly,” said the lawyer. “I feel that something good will happen soon and freedom (for Afridi) will be achieved.”


text:
par xuanbui

image of username xuanbui Flag of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Me concernant

With my creative & 4 years experience in Graphic Design: print design, logo & stationery, postcard & flyer, brochure & book cover, I believe that I can understand and complete all your requirements with your satisfaction. Almost my time, I work on print design, brochure, flyer, magazine, book cover & stationery. Sometime, I design some websites or iPhone applications for my friends. I use Adobe indesign, photoshop, illustrator & my typography skill to layout my ideas for print design. For website, I use one more software: Adobe Dreamweaver or Flash.

$9 $ US / h