An article posted on the website, Scientific Blogging, describes a talk given by speaker and author Dan Pink. A common belief is that extrinsic motivation in the form of rewards can improve performance. However, scientific research shows that incentivising a problem-solving task may stifle creativity and actually hinder the outcome.

Fernando Torres has pledged to never join Manchester United out of respect for Liverpool fans.
Although the Premier League's top scorer is only 25, the Spanish striker admits he is already contemplating ending his career at Anfield, having firmly settled in on Merseyside since his £20million arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2007.

With their typical class, Chelsea players and staff asserted their belief, following their 1-1 agg defeat to Barcelona, that UEFA conspired against them to prevent an all-English final in the Champions League.

Players, such as Didier Drogba, displayed their sentiment by all but physically assaulting the referee as he left the pitch.

A Honduran club's 6-0 rout of Costa Rican opponents last week is giving Honduras added belief for their World Cup qualifier at home to their neighbours in San Pedro Sula on Wednesday.

The Costa Rica team arrived amid tight security following the coup in June that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya but coach Rodrigo Kenton said they found the atmosphere calm and felt at home in "a brother country".

This time last year, I think during another dull international break, I had a look at the reserves and which players will make an impact, albeit in the Carling, on the First Team this season. I thought I would do that again as the only news out of the club at the moment is the scheduled injury to an important back up centre back (Johan Djourou for those who are unaware)

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It always feels good to see Spurs lose, especially if we're the one that beat them

If Arsenal were to win anything this season, Robin Van Persie's contribution to it would be very very vital. If Fabregas is the fulcrum of the side and the player others look for the ammunition, then RVP will the one looking to be at the end of those supplies.

Football manager Arsène Wenger has given his backing to the Council of Europe's 47-country campaign against racism and discrimination. Wenger said: "I support the Council of Europe in its campaign against discrimination. I believe everybody who loves football should just enjoy how great the players are and nothing else.

Good morning all, here we are then, the first home game of the season. Teams of busy little Arsenal volunteers have been Arsenalising the stadium, scarves are being left on seats, the stadium has been Gunnerfied and we're ready to go.

The manager's press conference took place yesterday and as always some interesting stuff emerged.

I haven't had a chance to see the play and knowing Honduras, a foul in the penalty area isn't beyond belief but Courtney Campbell has for the third time in three matches involving Mexico awarded Mexico a penalty kick. In each match, the game was tied 0-0 at the time of the call. This time it was a 73d minute penalty kick in Mexico's World Cup Qualifier with Honduras.

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- The cutting-edge QPR Report Messageboard: Visit - even post on - the combination quasi-blog and messageboard for additional up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasionally, general football items. Links to items on other QPR boards, always welcome!....

Before posting footage from the LA Galaxy alumni game, here is yet another teaser with ex-national team and LA Galaxy player, Paul Caligiuri. He was kind enough to talk to me about his nice shot in the alumni game (keep in mind, he was man of the match) and the development of players. His belief is the next step is Futsal for 10 year olds and younger to get the foot skill before heading to 11 v 11.

Every A-League player agent must be working overtime to secure their players a more lucrative contract in Asia, Europe, America, Antartica or wherever before the August deadline.
God bless the Agents as they work hard for Australian football.... mainly to send overseas.
Brendan Santalab another who returned from Europe with high hopes of taking it to the A-League, he didn't did he, has fled the Fury before a ball was kicked.

I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I think mostly because I have been drinking light beer, when I realized that the dreary summer is over. Life without football has come to an end. Sure we have a few injuries and we're kicking off the start of the league with a tough club, but it beats the hell out of the position we were in last season.

Arsene Wenger has added a new phrase to the English Language: "Old Traffordish". Roughly translated it refers to poor penalty decisions that go to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"The penalty decision was 'Old Traffordish'. There were a lot of things that happened which were beyond belief.

Albert Riera has become the latest victim of Rafa Benitez's regrettable habit of dropping players after they score goals. How long is this damaging trend going to continue?
After being stuck on the bench for most of the season, Riera started the 6-1 thrashing of Hull and had a fantastic game.

Nicky Butt has talked to day about the need to appoint Chris Hughton as the permanent manager, and has opened the lid on how loud the dressing room is for the Newcastle players. Nicky Butt - talks about manager and music Butt told the Evening Chronicle today: "The team is showing there is belief here, and [.

Xabi Alonso will never regret joining Liverpool in 2004, despite having the option to join his current club Real Madrid.
The Spanish international was coveted by the La Liga giants prior to leaving Real Sociedad, but chose to join the Premier League side instead.
The midfielder has great memories of his time at Anfield, and admits the fans will always hold a special place in his heart.

Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to his side's fitness and revealed that this has been key to their recent good form.
The Reds have roared back to the top of the Premier League table on the back of five consecutive wins, including a stoppage time winner that saw them overcome Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger denied his side will defend on Wednesday, away at Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

The Frenchman said:

The first target was to win the game, and that is the best preparation. If you go to Old Trafford without belief, you make it very difficult at the start for you.

Another game and another inadequate performance from the Newcastle players, and today seems like déj vu - all over again. Alan Shearer - wonder if he really wants this job? Yes we heard all the players last week say how it was a must win game, and that Shearer had instilled belief in the team and the [.

Ever feel like you're in a time warp? That the same things keep happening over and over again?

"I just hope Rafa can build on the good work that he has achieved this season," said Kenny Dalglish today. "Obviously we would love to be in Manchester United's position, everybody would.

Whether they won, drew or lost you could be guaranteed that Arsenal would provide footballing entertainment in whatever match they played in. Gooner Talk have compiled a selection of our favourite Gooner games this season along with highlights; check it out and give your views on the Top 5 Arsenal Matches this campaign!

Arsene Wenger is renowned for his firm belief in youth, and while the newspapers continue to link Arsenal with summer targets, the Frenchman still appears confident in his young squad.

The development of young players like Nicklas Bendtner demonstrated why major surgery on his squad is not required.

The Manchester United vs Barcelona Champions League final has been billed as the final neutrals were looking for. Two great teams who play brilliant attacking football fighting out for the European crown.

Nemanja Vidic has played this idea down though, claiming he is far more interested in winning than he is with playing beautiful football.

FC Barcelona's triumph in Rome did shatter some firm belief held by English media and English clubs. The biggest has to be the "English Clubs" claim to be the most potent attacking force in the world. That belief was shattered rather brilliantly by one of the most attacking team in the history of the game.

With J Hutcherson -- One would assume that whatever the United States throws at Honduras on Saturday will by default look a little different than the 433 experiment from Wednesday night in Costa Rica. The absence of Michael Bradley disrupts every version of the US midfield we've seen from Bob Bradley in meaningful games.

Cristiano Ronaldo was public enemy number one in the summer of 2006 following Wayne Rooney's dismissal in the World Cup. Ronaldo was one of five Portuguese players surrounding the referee but because he winked at the bench after Rooney had been sent off, the country blamed him for England's World Cup exit.

U.S. Captain Landon Donovan has admitted that his team were being kept up to date with the Italy vs Brazil score line throughout their match against Egypt in the Confederations Cup. Speaking after his teams 3-0 victory over Egypt to secure a semi-final spot against Spain Donovan said: "The first thing that was required was belief.

Robbie Fowler is backing Fernando Torres to outscore Michael Owen this season and help Liverpool take Man United's title.
Kop legend Fowler says he was "surprised" when Owen joined bitter-rivals United, after leaving Newcastle on a free transfer.
But Fowler, who scored on his debut for Australian club North Queensland Fury against Wolves last week, is convinced Liverpool's 19-year wait for the league title will end this season.

Good afternoon Arse-lovers. Where to start, where to start, I suppose I could begin with the fact that Barcelona are a pack of thoughtless, shit-stirring wankers, but then that would be telling you something you already know. They know they aren't going to get Cesc, at least not this year, so they are just trying to disrupt another team they might have to face in the Champions League, though I doubt they are that forward thinking and are simply twats.

Sunderland's Grant Leadbitter was in danger and he knew he had to get away fast. After some trouble making Newcastle fans found him on a night out, he jumped in his BMW M6 and sped out of town, but wasn't safe yet. The Guardian takes it from here:

He became convinced the fans were trying to follow him home to County Durham as he drove across the Tyne Bridge and through Gateshead towards the A1.

I wish I could start this post as excited as Andy, but at the moment I'm not looking forward to the Spurs game at all as I am afraid that my last bit of belief will evaporate during the 90 minutes. I don't know if it's a defence mechanism I have, of fearing the worst then [...]
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Arsenal continued their strong start to the 2009/10 season with an accomplished performance against Celtic at Celtic park last night. I cannot give you deep analysis into the match as I did not watch it live, since the match was shown in the very early hours of the morning here in India.

1899 Hoffenheim was the biggest story in European football last fall.The newly promoted side was leading the Bundesliga as Christmas approached. Of course, Hoffenheim fell off but they left their mark on the world of football and the Bundesliga.

Today, Hoffenheim signed two of the best young American prospects ever: attacker Joseph-Claude Gyau and midfielder Charles Renken.

Dear Supporter,

I think what is the most difficult thing to take from Saturday's defeat against Manchester United is that we were the better team and we lost the game. We were in front and had a chance to score the second goal and got punished on two goals. It is beyond belief.

Overall I would like to keep the positives of the game because I believe that we can deal well with the disappointment of losing the game.

by Usman Azad, Football Perth Editor
WELL, FP is back for another day - after spending a few hours yesterday with his cousin trawling through Perth like a couple of wizened tourists.
Though FP was playing the role of the embarrassed tour guide, his cousin was genuinely fascinated by the city.

Tottenham are probably better equipped to beat Manchester United tomorrow than they have been at any point in the last ten years. I have no doubt Spurs are more than capable of beating Utd at White Hart Lane on Saturday and I think they just might.

Personnel aside, the difference between the current Tottenham squad and those of years gone by is belief.

I noted in a recent post that so often, goals from set pieces can be the difference maker in Premier League games.
And at half time last night this looked to be the case. Two very evenly matched sides in terms of personnel and outlookwere seperated by a Richard Dunne (didn't you know it) header from a corner.

Jamie Carragher has vowed Liverpool will stick together as they prepare for a crucial period that could decide their season.
The Reds saw their title hopes suffer a further blow on Saturday after going down 1-0 to Sunderland, thanks to a fortuitous goal from Darren Bent.
It was Liverpool's fourth defeat in the Premier League and their third in a row in all competitions as they prepare to tackle Lyon in the UEFA Champions League before league leaders Manchester United make the trip to Anfield next weekend.

Liverpool's dynamic full back Glen Johnson is relishing Sunday's showdown with Manchester United, and insists the regional rivalry as well as the added pressure for Rafael Benitez's Reds, are just two of the reasons why he was determined to join the Anfield outfit.
"This type of game is everything I have worked for," Johnson explained to the club's official website.