The last 12 months provided another blockbusting chapter in the Premier League success story and of course, goals, goals, goals.
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.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Martin Tyler's Top 10 Goals
The last 12 months provided another blockbusting chapter in the Premier League success story and of course, goals, goals, goals.
Spain: Copa del Rey: Messi Hat-Trick Sees Barcelona Past Atletico
FC Barcelona are within touching distance of the last eight of the Copa del Rey after taking a 3-1 away lead against Atletico Madrid, courtesy of a Lionel Messi hat-trick...
Messi Masterclass:
Messi Masterclass:
Football Players: The Rich List
I guess this is comprised of English players and players who play in England. And one English couple. Very odd...
The List
Carling Cup: Spurs Stun Burnley With Second Half Mauling
On the day they re-signed Jermain Defoe, holders Tottenham Hotspur produced a bloodthirsty second half display, sparked by Jamie O'Hara, to place one boot in another Carling Cup final.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Juventus caretaker caught red-handed over 2,000 stolen training tops
Police set up a hidden camera in the stock cupboard at the Vinovo centre and caught Juve's chief caretaker, Adrian Roberto Oliva, red-handed.
Cheers to Pedro for this...
England: FA to fund anti-homophobia video
The Football Association has agreed to fund a video featuring high-profile Premier League stars speaking out against homophobia in the game. Peter Tatchell, of the gay rights group OutRage!, suggested the DVD as a way of challenging the abuse hurled by fans at some players.
Oliver Kay: Should United wave goodbye to Carlos Tevez?
FROM the moment it emerged that it would take the best part of £32 million to sign him permanently, there was a good argument for suggesting that Manchester United should wave goodbye to Carlos Tevez at the end of the season. Now that he has started to bleat about the situation, expressing unhappiness with Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the Argentina forward should start packing his bags now.
Sid Lowe in Spain
Valencia's David Silva may be short in stature but he made up for it with a big performance at the weekend.
Sparkling Silva, Valencia's gem, leaves Atlético in the shade.
Richard Williams Column
Plight of even the richest owners proves the Premier League is about to lose much of its bargaining power.
City's spree will be last before English game takes a pounding.
Big Phil's Big Chelsea Chill
Actually, Big Phil Scolari is turning into the big story. Chelsea were brilliant at the start of the season, but one bobbly deflection from Xabi Alonso (straight out of the Lampard collection 2005-6) and the wheels are looking distinctly wobbly.
Eduardo Alvarez in Spain
New Year, new writer for your weekly fix of Spanish football! After my summer spell as Spain's correspondent for Euro 2008, I'll now try to share my perspective of Spanish club football, while also describing the cultural traits that often influence my country's favourite sport. In his "Hasta la Vista" column, Phil explained the difficulty of understanding the rivalries and feuds between teams in Spain without taking into account the country's historical background. I totally agree and will do my best to illustrate that context in my columns.
Carling Cup Semifinal Preview: Tottenham vs. Burnley
Carling Cup semi-final first leg
Venue: White Hart Lane
Date: Tuesday, 6 January
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Preview
Spurs agree £15m fee to buy back Defoe
The 26-year-old striker joined Portsmouth from Spurs less than a year ago in a £7.5m fee. Portsmouth are said to still owe the bulk of that fee to the White Hart Lane club as well as some cash for Younes Kaboul, who headed to Fratton Park in the summer.
Does that mean this comes back as well...?
Monday, January 05, 2009
Oliver Kay Column: Sorry Paul Gascoigne is in need of salvation
Interviewer: You haven’t eaten again today.
Paul Gascoigne: I know. I should eat more.
Interviewer: So why don’t you, then?
Gascoigne (reaching for stomach): Because I feel fat.
Interviewer: You’re not fat.
Gascoigne (pointing at his lean chest): That’s fat. I feel fat. [Pause] I’ve got food disorder. I’ve got bi-polar. I’ve got mood swings. I’ve got anxiety. [Pause] Bored with life.
Interviewer: What do you normally do?
Gascoigne: [Pause] Sit here and get pissed.
The Rest
Donovan Talks Bayern Loan
Officially a member of Bayern Munich, Landon Donovan talks about his loan, his new manager and life in Germany.
Americans in the UK: Cup Weekend Victories
Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit helped his squad progress in the FA Cup as Watford defeated Scunthorpe United 1-0 on Saturday. Grzegorz Rasiak scored the lone goal for the home side in a game that was definitively uninspiring. Although the match left much to be desired, the victory could help steer Watford in the right direction. Before Saturday’s win, they’d only won twice since mid-November.
The Rest
Martin Rogers Column: Soccer's 10 People to Watch in 2009
The new year promises to be one of uncertainty in soccer. There are no major international tournaments to look forward to in 2009 – just concern and confusion at how the global economic crisis could affect the world game.
Jonathan Wilson in Eastern Europe
The talented and temperamental Andrei Arshavin's perceived 'betrayal of Mother Russia' may soon reach its conclusion.
Arsenal a likely beneficiary as Arshavin confirms his western wanderlust.
Generation Adidas Players Change MLS Game
Generation adidas players have drawn most of the focus ahead of next week's SuperDraft. Goal.com's Kyle McCarthy explains how roster and salary protections granted by MLS - and the inability of teams to keep draft picks on the roster long-term - makes GA players a smart choice.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Nick Webster: Who's making the Premiership's midterm grade?
Only a fool would try and predict the FA Cup where shocks are the norm.
So after a stunning holiday period where I went 15 from 20 in the old prediction business, I'll take a break from the crystal ball this week. Instead I'll hand out my midterm grades.The 'Big Four' has become the 'Big Five or is it the Big Six' while the bottom 10 are locked in some sort of mortal death coil. All in all it's been a fantastic 2008 for the Premiership with an epic title race to end things last May.
Here's hoping we get the same kind of finish this time around.
Jeff Carlisle: U.S. national team faces a critical year in 2009
Looking at the key story lines that will pop up in 2009 for the U.S. men's national team, I feel like I'm looking at one of those Babushka dolls -- you know, the ones that are nested inside one another. Certainly in the case of the national team, qualifying for the next World Cup in South Africa is the only thing that matters. But getting there will require several key items to fall into place, and as each of these issues are teased apart, I find there are subplots within subplots, each of which could determine the Americans' degree of success in the coming year.
Spain Roundup: Real near full strength for Villarreal game + Table
Brief news from the Primera Liga ahead of this weekend’s matches
Previews
Previews
La Liga Table Friday 2nd January 2009 | ||||
Played | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Barcelona | 16 | 38 | 41 |
| 2 | Sevilla | 16 | 9 | 31 |
| 3 | Atlético Madrid | 16 | 15 | 30 |
| 4 | Valencia | 16 | 10 | 30 |
| 5 | Real Madrid | 16 | 8 | 29 |
| 6 | Villarreal CF | 16 | 6 | 29 |
| 7 | Deportivo La Coruña | 16 | 2 | 27 |
| 8 | Real Valladolid | 16 | 1 | 23 |
| 9 | Málaga CF | 16 | -2 | 22 |
| 10 | Getafe CF | 16 | -2 | 21 |
| 11 | Sporting Gijón | 16 | -11 | 21 |
| 12 | Athletic Bilbao | 16 | -4 | 19 |
| 13 | Real Betis | 16 | -1 | 18 |
| 14 | Racing Santander | 16 | -4 | 18 |
| 15 | Numancia | 16 | -12 | 17 |
| 16 | UD Almería | 16 | -9 | 16 |
| 17 | RCD Mallorca | 16 | -12 | 14 |
| 18 | RCD Espanyol | 16 | -11 | 13 |
| 19 | Recreativo Huelva | 16 | -15 | 13 |
| 20 | Osasuna | 16 | -6 | 12 |
England: FA Cup Third Round Previews + Lawro's Predictions
Steven Gerrard's top-quality performances have pushed Liverpool within sight of a first English league title since 1990. However, now that his star player faces criminal charges stemming from a brawl at a nightclub, manager Rafa Benitez has to decide whether to take the heat off the Reds captain by leaving him out of Saturday's FA Cup game at Preston.
Lawro's Predictions
Ties to watch and potential shocks
Spanish Debate: Freebies XI - The Best Out-Of-Contract Stars In La Liga
Ewan Macdonald trawls through the list of the 79 players in the Primera who are out of contract this summer in order to pick the best eleven...
Sylvinho (Barcelona): Another evergreen, Sylvinho remains fit as his own career draws to a close. What he brings to the side is dependability: Barcelona still call on him from time to time to fill in for Eric Abidal and he seldom disappoints. If he could carve out an understanding with his countryman Edu (see below) then the left flank could well prove the highlight of this team.
The Rest
Calcio Debate: Who Is The Best Youngster In Italy?
Serie A is blessed with a whole host of explosive youngsters, but who is the best of them all? Carlo Garganese offers 15 nominations...
Norman Hubbard: Worst players of the season... so far
Manchester City:Micah Richards
It could have been Jo, the ever-dismal striker, but there is a sizeable group of below-par performers at the City of Manchester Stadium this season. The surprise is that Richard Dunne and Micah Richards, two men who were bywords for consistency, are among them. They account for an abnormally high total in the goals against column. Richards has been shunted out to the flanks at times and shown himself to be an unconvincing left-back. Two recent examples of slack marking have resulted in the loss of two points in as many weeks; both Tim Cahill and Roman Bednar headed winners when Richards was supposed to be shadowing them.
The Rest
Norman Hubbard: Players of the season...so far
Everton: Phil JagielkaWhen, without looking, Phil Jagielka slid a back pass into the path of Ashley Young for the Aston Villa winger to score, there was considerable surprise. Quietly and unostentatiously, Jagielka had established himself as Everton's definition of consistency. When Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott endured an early-season loss of form, Jagielka maintained his levels of performance. It is hard to question Fabio Capello's decisions, but Jagielka can consider himself unfortunate not to be in the squad that beat Germany.
The Rest
Norman Hubbard: January to prove decisive at the bottom
January has long held a significance in the football calendar. Whereas once it was focused on the third round of the FA Cup and its attendant clichés as butcher, baker and candlestick maker planned for Wembley, now the major talking point is the transfer window. Perhaps it is a product of the times when football and finances appear inseparable, but January is deemed a decisive month.
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