Sunday, May 10, 2009
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VIDEO: Alvaro Negredo – a decent back-up for Fernando Torres?
Liverpool are allegedly interested in Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo, with the player himself publicly expressing an interest in coming to Anfield. Could he be the back-up striker the club needs?
Negredo confirmed his and Liverpool’s purported interest in a recent interview:
"To play next to Fernando Torres at Anfield is a dream and any player would accept that, but I prefer to talk about reality and I have not spoken with Rafa Benitez, but I do know that some contact exists between the clubs."
Have a look at this clip showcasing Negredo’s talents:
Pros
1. Good touch, athleticism and decent pace.
2. A goal ration of 1 in 2 over the last two seasons with Almeria
3. Young and comparatively unheard of, so an exorbitant transfer fee will (probably) not be involved
4. Would not expect to walk straight into the team so possibly would not mind being a back-up
Cons
1. Real Madrid have a £4.4.m buyback clause
2. Relatively inexperienced. Would he cut it in the premiership?
The club should not be buying more expensive superstar strikers because it just would not work, for reasons I’ve outlined in this article: Why Liverpool Should Not Sign Samuel Eto'o
As such, I would not be too unhappy if this type of player was signed, though I wouldn’t pay any more than £10m.
What do you think?
Negredo confirmed his and Liverpool’s purported interest in a recent interview:
"To play next to Fernando Torres at Anfield is a dream and any player would accept that, but I prefer to talk about reality and I have not spoken with Rafa Benitez, but I do know that some contact exists between the clubs."
Have a look at this clip showcasing Negredo’s talents:
Pros
1. Good touch, athleticism and decent pace.
2. A goal ration of 1 in 2 over the last two seasons with Almeria
3. Young and comparatively unheard of, so an exorbitant transfer fee will (probably) not be involved
4. Would not expect to walk straight into the team so possibly would not mind being a back-up
Cons
1. Real Madrid have a £4.4.m buyback clause
2. Relatively inexperienced. Would he cut it in the premiership?
The club should not be buying more expensive superstar strikers because it just would not work, for reasons I’ve outlined in this article: Why Liverpool Should Not Sign Samuel Eto'o
As such, I would not be too unhappy if this type of player was signed, though I wouldn’t pay any more than £10m.
What do you think?
6 natural tips for deep sleep
Would you like to sleep like a baby without taking drugs? Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars a year on sleep medications, but to avoid the side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can try first. Read on to learn some of the ways to get a good quality night's sleep.
1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to sooth your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epson salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below
2. When Food Disturbs SleepWhen you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.
3. A Peaceful Place for SleepYour sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements will keep with your body from fully relaxing into deep R. E. M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.
4. Exercise Enables SleepPeople with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.
5. Herbs to Sleep Tight A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit
You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.
6. A Sleep-Friendly MeditationI had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.
Try this Stress Release meditation, which works for the majority of my patients who have sleeping problems:
Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. Focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, from the top of your head to your toes. Starting with the top of your head, inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through all body parts, front, back, and sides, in succession: your face, throat, chest, arms, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, until finally you reach your feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke. Practice this for at least 15 minutes before bedtime.
