World football's original knockout competition, the oldest and most glamorous domestic cup tournament of them all, takes centre-stage again this weekend when the Fourth Round of the FA Cup is played over 16 ties across England.
Aston Villa, Charlton, Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield United and Wigan from the Premiership have already been eliminated. And six of the 13 top-flight clubs remaining have been drawn in all-Premiership ties. The other seven face lower league opposition with the attendant possibility of an upset.
http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=219268
SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Ronaldo Milan deal agreed, awaiting medical
Ronny misses his Milanese pasta, so he's off! -Sanfordhttp://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404615&cc=5901
Coppa Italia Report: Exciting Draw Between AC Milan And Roma
The Rossoneri were held by the Giallorossi to a 2-2 draw at San Siro in front of a beaming Ronaldo, whose transfer to Milan will be announced officially on Monday.
http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=218895
http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=218895
Fàbregas leads way as Arsenal youth take centre stage
Young guns(Keep)
Almunia, Hoyte, Senderos, Traoré, Walcott, Fàbregas, Denilson, Diaby, Aliadiãre, Baptista
First XI(Sell)
Lehmann £3m, Eboué £8m, Gallas £15m, Clichy £6m, Hleb £10m, Gilberto £7m, Rosicky £8m, Henry £25m, Adebayor £12m
Total dividends £94m
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2566623,00.html
Almunia, Hoyte, Senderos, Traoré, Walcott, Fàbregas, Denilson, Diaby, Aliadiãre, Baptista
First XI(Sell)
Lehmann £3m, Eboué £8m, Gallas £15m, Clichy £6m, Hleb £10m, Gilberto £7m, Rosicky £8m, Henry £25m, Adebayor £12m
Total dividends £94m
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2566623,00.html
Serie A In Detail: Dodgy Bans, Bad Tackles And Poor Refereeing
As seen in the recent Roma rumble, violent conduct on the pitch looks less likely to be heavily sanctioned than swearing to a referee. That’s the picture one can get going through punishments handed down by Italian football authorities in Serie A.
http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=218487
http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=218487
Redknapp laughs off fly spies who got under United’s radar
At least Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, can be ruled out as the mastermind behind the mystery spy plane that buzzed Manchester United’s training ground last week and is believed to have filmed extensive footage of the club’s practice sessions.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6751-2566782,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6751-2566782,00.html
Ceiling falls in after Mourinho picks on the wrong guy in power struggle
José Mourinho is like Michelangelo. Roman Abramovich is like Pope Julius II.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8303-2567003,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8303-2567003,00.html
The Kevin Nolan column
Nolan says he's getting tired of playing Arsenal in the FA Cup...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6291405.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6291405.stm
Thursday, January 25, 2007
River Fan Tattoos Penis on Boca Fan
More fun from Argentina. Thanks to The News friend Peter Bogaty for bring this to our attention...
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006225153
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006225153
Phil Ball in Spain
Phil gives us his half-time report on all the teams in La Liga...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=404375&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=404375&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=5901
Ernst Bouwes in Holland
Ernst gets us up to date on what's shaking with Feyenoord...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=404445&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=404445&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=5901
Chelsea eyes American Onyewu to shore up defense
Don't do it, Gooch! Don't go over to the dark side... I do like the tie/no shirt look that your lady friend is sporting, though.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404287&cc=5901
Reyna a U.S. star fans can identify with
I hope I'm wrong but I can't see Claudio making much of an impact back on home soil. The guy is just so injury prone and never seems to be able to put together a substantial run of form. Every time he gets into a rhythm and reaches the top of his game he pulls a hammy or strains a groin. -Sanfordhttp://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=404432&root=mls&cc=5901
Carling Cup: Tottenham 2 Arsenal 2
Having demonstrated their class in the Carling Cup quarter-final win away to Liverpool, Arsenal’s youngsters used a feverish North London derby to showcase their remarkable character last night. Júlio Baptista was again to the fore, scoring twice in the second half to make up for an earlier own goal and complete a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2565117,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2565117,00.html
Barclays Premiership Table
Barclays Premiership Table
| P | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | Man Utd | 24 | 35 | 57 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 24 | 22 | 51 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 24 | 21 | 46 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 24 | 25 | 45 |
| 5 | Bolton | 24 | 2 | 40 |
| 6 | Portsmouth | 24 | 10 | 37 |
| 7 | Everton | 24 | 8 | 35 |
| 8 | Reading | 24 | 2 | 34 |
| 9 | Tottenham | 24 | -3 | 33 |
| 10 | Blackburn | 24 | -5 | 31 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 24 | 0 | 30 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 24 | -4 | 30 |
| 13 | Man City | 24 | -9 | 30 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 24 | -2 | 29 |
| 15 | Fulham | 24 | -10 | 29 |
| 16 | Sheff Utd | 24 | -14 | 24 |
| 17 | Wigan | 23 | -15 | 22 |
| 18 | West Ham | 24 | -21 | 20 |
| 19 | Charlton | 24 | -24 | 19 |
| 20 | Watford | 23 | -18 | 15 |
Cheeky Joey lands in Lampard's bad books
Marina Hyde says that Joey Barton was right to have a pop at England's World Cup losers and their subsequent tomes and I could not agree more. -Sanford
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/25/cheeky_joey_lands_in_lampards.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/25/cheeky_joey_lands_in_lampards.html
Why football can happily live without Warnock's brand of Sheffield steel
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8305-2562748,00.html
And here's a recap of all the shenanigans from last weekend when United met Reading...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JRTLS8NBow
And here's a recap of all the shenanigans from last weekend when United met Reading...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JRTLS8NBow
La Liga: Real Betis 1-1 Barcelona + Table
Struggling Betis hold on...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203910&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203910&cc=5901
| | ||||
| 1 | Barcelona | 19 | 23 | 39 |
| 2 | Seville | 19 | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 19 | 12 | 38 |
| 4 | Valencia | 19 | 13 | 36 |
| 5 | Atl Madrid | 19 | 12 | 35 |
| 6 | Real Zaragoza | 19 | 10 | 31 |
| 7 | Recreativo Huelva | 19 | 3 | 30 |
| 8 | Getafe | 19 | 3 | 29 |
| 9 | Osasuna | 19 | 3 | 26 |
| 10 | Espanyol | 19 | 0 | 26 |
| 11 | Villarreal | 19 | -6 | 26 |
| 12 | R Santander | 19 | -5 | 25 |
| 13 | Deportivo | 19 | -10 | 22 |
| 14 | Celta Vigo | 19 | -5 | 21 |
| 15 | Mallorca | 19 | -11 | 20 |
| 16 | Athl Bilbao | 19 | -7 | 19 |
| 17 | Levante | 19 | -10 | 19 |
| 18 | Real Betis | 19 | -7 | 18 |
| 19 | Real Sociedad | 19 | -13 | 13 |
| 20 | Gimnastic | 19 | -23 | 9 |
Baptista plays his way into the first team
"Julio Baptista has shown again what a player he is," Wenger said. "He is mentally strong. He scored an own-goal and instead of feeling sorry [for himself] he scored two. He will play [more in the coming weeks]. We have lost Van Persie and now Hleb tonight, so of course he is in my mind and he will play more than you think."
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1998139,00.html
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1998139,00.html
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Reyna signs with Red Bull
Make some room in the whirlpool. I'm setting the over/under on games started at 18.
http://www.goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=217951
http://www.goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=217951
Fire miss out on Zidane
In other news Bill Gates won't come to my house to help with my computer problems and Kate Moss won't date me.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404508&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404508&cc=5901
Juve update
How's Serie B treating Europe's favorite referee influencers?
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/24/juve_enjoying_life_among_the_p.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/24/juve_enjoying_life_among_the_p.html
Another tale of a Spurs choke
Pleat recalls losing the league cup to the Gunners in '87, back when football managers treated each other like human beings.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/24/the_result_was_a_stab_in_the_h.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/24/the_result_was_a_stab_in_the_h.html
Rossi in demand
He struggled at Newcastle, so obviously the big Italian clubs must have him. Don't they know he's actually from New Jersey?
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1997334,00.html
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1997334,00.html
Wright-Phillips sytmies Baros Cheslea move
Q: What the hell would Chelsea want with Milan Baros? Euro 2004 was 3 years ago and he's done fuck all since.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404420&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=404420&cc=5901
Chelsea Bury Wycombe
Schevchenko and Lampart score 2 apiece in the route to secure a place in the Carling Cup final.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=212045&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=212045&cc=5901
Monday, January 22, 2007
USA 3 - 1 Denmark
You can call Saturday's friendly between the United States and Denmark a case of mission accomplished, at least as far as the U.S. team and its interim head coach Bob Bradley are concerned. The Americans prevailed 3-1 and gave some young players their international baptism.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=403863&root=us&cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=403863&root=us&cc=5901
Richard Williams Column
Henry rises above prosaic toiling to make decisive contribution.
The Frenchman's late winner gave Manchester United a taste of their own medicine in a match that neither side deserved to win.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/22/henry_rises_above_prosaic_toil.html
The Frenchman's late winner gave Manchester United a taste of their own medicine in a match that neither side deserved to win.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/22/henry_rises_above_prosaic_toil.html
Demotion looms for Rennie over 'appalling' gaffe
Uriah Rennie faces being dropped from the Premiership over the glaring error that enabled Newcastle to fight back for a 2-2 draw with West Ham. His mistake in allowing James Milner's goal to stand when Scott Parker was clearly interfering with play in an offside position is also likely to be used as a demonstration video for referees on how not to apply football's most complicated law.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1995854,00.html
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1995854,00.html
Larsson exposes madness of the Anglo transfer duty
Why does the simple matter of their nationality vastly inflate English players' value in the transfer market?
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/21/larsson_exposes_madness_of_the_1.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/21/larsson_exposes_madness_of_the_1.html
Ice thaws for best of enemies
In the preamble to this match, Arsène Wenger had stated that Thierry Henry resembled a lion, which was news to those who have sometimes felt that, when the going gets tough, he actually resembles a tabby who wants to go home to the fireside. The claws were out yesterday, though, a late winner proving that while this is an Arsenal side in progress, the old guard remains pivotal.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2559745,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2559745,00.html