Interview with Brentford’s Marcel Eger: record shopping, politics and FC St Pauli

German footballers have little obvious incentive to move to England. With such a strong domestic set up at home, those that leave are generally heading for the financial riches of the Premier League.

It is a rare thing to find a German playing in League One, but Brentford’s new centre back, Marcel Eger, is showing no signs of culture shock following his move to West London.

Eger had spent the past seven seasons with FC St Pauli and had become a popular player with their famous fans.

Given the cult status of St Pauli in European football, I was intrigued to find out how that translated to the players – who are essentially transient representatives of the club – and what tempted Eger to abandon life in his homeland for the third tier in England.

Milan agree loan terms with Carlos Tevez but City want to sell

Manchester City's desire to sever their ties with Carlos Tevez will see Milan make an opening offer to take him on loan for the rest of the season before paying €20m (£17.2m) to sign him next summer.

Milan are aware that City want a permanent transfer in the January window, but the Italian club are hoping to negotiate a compromise for a player who has been on strike since 8 November.

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Previews

Manchester United and Manchester City will learn their UEFA Champions League fates on Wednesday evening. In Group C, United travel to Basel knowing defeat would send them crashing out at this stage for the first time since 2005. However, victory could yet see Sir Alex Ferguson's men finish top of the pile, but that would need Benfica to slip up against pointless Galati. City's task in Group A is even more daunting as they stand on the brink of going into the Europa League. Bayern Munich, who have already won the group, travel to the Etihad Stadium to face City and have already confirmed that a number of key players will not feature. But even if City do manage to beat the German giants, they will also be looking to the group's whipping boys Villarreal to record an unlikely victory or draw with Napoli at El Madrigal to prevent the Italians from beating them to second spot.

Preview

Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich

Preview

Key Battles

Basel vs. Manchester United

Preview

Key Battles

Amy Lawrence: City next big test as André Villas-Boas seeks to stamp mark at Chelsea

Having reached the Champions League knockout phase, the young Chelsea manager now faces critical challenges at home.

Gorgeous Goal From Carlos Vela

Adam Digby: The View From Italy

As a penalty that could have saved a point is blazed over the crossbar, the anthem 'Pazza Inter' ('Crazy Inter') rings out from the raucous Curva Nord as the Giuseppe Meazza's most dedicated fans continue to back their side. But the Italian giants' latest defeat leaves them just three points off the Serie A relegation places, on their second coach of the season after Claudio Ranieri replaced Gian Piero Gasperini and having already used an incredible 29 players so far this term. The words to that club song, which goes on to ask the team not to let them suffer, are once again becoming ever more apt.

Arsenal to unveil statues of Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, and Herbert Chapman for 125th Anniversary

The trio of club icons have been selected as deserving of special commemoration and will be unveiled on Friday, the day before Arsenal play Everton, when the club plan to celebrate their 125th birthday.

UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Round-Up, Reports & Group Results

Chelsea have progressed to the next round of the Champions League as Group E winners after their 3-0 victory over Valencia at Stamford Bridge. Bayer Leverkusen went into the evening's games as group leaders but threw away top spot after they could only draw 1-1 with Genk. Marseille came from two goals down to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in dramatic fashion in Germany. Goals from Jakub Blaszczykowski and Mats Hummels had put the hosts in control, but Loic Remy pulled a goal back just before the break and Andre Ayew levelled on 85 minutes. Two minutes later, Mathieu Valbuena produced a magical goal to send Marseille through in second and condemn Olympiakos to the Europa League. In Group G, Zenit St Petersburg will join Cypriot surprise package Apoel Nicosia in the knockout rounds after they drew 0-0 with FC Porto in Portugal.

Round-Up

Chelsea 3 - 0 Valencia

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

John Brewin at Stamford Bridge

Jamie Jackson at Stamford Bridge

Olympiakos 3 - 1 Arsenal

David Hytner at the Karaiskakis Stadium

How It Stands:

Group E

Winners: Chelsea
Runners-up: Leverkusen
To Europa League: Valencia

Group F

Winners: Arsenal
Runners-up: Marseille
To Europa League: Olympiacos

Group G
Winners: APOEL Nicosia
Runners-up: Zenit St. Petersburg
To Europa League: Porto

Group H
Winners: Barcelona
Runners-up: AC Milan
To Europa League: Plzeň

Uli Hesse in Germany

Two personnel decisions made headlines in Germany even before a single ball had been kicked on matchday fifteen. Last Wednesday, Bayer Leverkusen announced they had agreed terms with VfB Stuttgart and would sign Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper they had loaned four months earlier, for a transfer sum that could reportedly come to €8 million, depending on various factors. The announcement capped off one of the most amazing success stories of recent months, perhaps of the season so far. In fact, it's a Cinderella tale involving almost a handful of main characters that could be a textbook example for how quickly things change in football these days.

An Accidental Gay Romance In FIFA 12

Striker Andy Carroll makes his way down the pitch, tries to score a goal and ends up (accidentally?) scoring with Arsenal's keeper.

Looks like Fabianski...

Sid Lowe in Spain

Racing are a club adrift, who do not know who owns them, with no president and an owner who is absent.

Racing Santander: a club in debt, in administration and in big trouble.

Americans Abroad: Jozy Altidore and goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan make noise overseas

The AZ striker had an impressive goal but his team suffered a big loss, while Friedel and Guzan keep clean sheets.

The Details

UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Previews & Analyses

Chelsea will be desperate to join Arsenal in qualifying for the last 16 on the biggest night of Andre Villas-Boas' short reign at Stamford Bridge. They are level on points with Valencia going into the match, knowing that a victory would be enough to go through. Arsenal, who had to negotiate a two-legged play-off against Udinese just to make the group phase, have already been confirmed as Group F winners ahead of their meeting with Olympiakos. In Group G, Porto and Zenit St Petersburg will battle it out for the final qualification spot. Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia have been the surprise package and are already certain to have Champions League football in the New Year, although they would love to clinch top spot by beating a Shakhtar Donetsk team that has fared surprisingly poorly. There is nothing left to be resolved in Group H in terms of qualification for the next phase, with reigning champions Barcelona already assured of finishing first ahead of their home fixture against BATE Borisov. AC Milan are also through already in second place, but Viktoria Plzen will still be determined to see off the Italians and protect their two-point lead over BATE to clinch a Europa League spot.

Preview

Chelsea vs. Valencia

Preview

Key Battles

Who Can Qualify For The Knockout Rounds

Jeremy Wilson: How Emmanuel Frimpong became Arsenal's cult hero

It takes a special set of circumstances for a player to be approaching cult status at their football club by the age of 19. That is especially so when the teenager in question was sent off on the first of only two Premier League starts. Yet through a combination of his obvious on-field commitment, flamboyant personality and the sheer power of Twitter, Emmanuel Frimpong’s popularity and standing among fans is snowballing. Take this tweet during a summer at Arsenal that became dominated by the departures of key first-team players, including Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. “Arsenal FC is pumping through my veins,” wrote Frimpong. “I will never leave Arsenal even if I get released. I will beg on both knees to stay. They’re going to have to escort me [out].”

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Arjen Robben may be the most egocentric player in Germany, but the Dutch winger is back to his best and driving the league leaders' challenge at home and in Europe.

Bayern Munich march on but Werder Bremen are consistently inconsistent.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Troubled Roma manager stays true to his vision despite discord on the pitch, in the dressing room and in the stands.

Luis Enrique feels heat as Roma descend into hell at Fiorentina.

Martin Rogers: Blue-collar Dempsey works way into record books

Clint Dempsey has more money than he knows what to do with, a wife who has modeled swimwear and now a place in the record books.

Dempsey’s game-winning goal Monday not only sent Fulham past Liverpool, but also represented a milestone for the midfielder. The goal was Dempsey’s 37th in the English Premier League, which put him ahead of Brian McBride as the highest-scoring American of all-time in the toughest division on the planet. In soccer terms, he may be his nation’s greatest export ever.

Bethany Dempsey...

England: Monday Night Football Reports, Analyses & Premier League Table

Fulham 1 - 0 Liverpool

Report

Kevin McCarra at Craven Cottage

Henry Winter at Craven Cottage

Richard Williams at Craven Cottage

2011-12 Table
Team	GP	W	D	L	Pts	GF	GA	GD
Manchester City	14	12	2	0	38	48	13	35
Manchester United	14	10	3	1	33	31	13	18
Tottenham	13	10	1	2	31	29	16	13
Chelsea	14	9	1	4	28	31	17	14
Arsenal	14	8	2	4	26	30	23	7
Newcastle United	14	7	5	2	26	19	15	4
Liverpool	14	6	5	3	23	17	13	4
Stoke City	14	5	3	6	18	14	23	-9
Aston Villa	14	3	7	4	16	16	18	-2
Everton	13	5	1	7	16	15	17	-2
Norwich City	14	4	4	6	16	20	26	-6
Queens Park Rangers	14	4	4	6	16	15	25	-10
Fulham	14	3	6	5	15	16	16	0
West Brom	14	4	3	7	15	13	21	-8
Swansea	14	3	5	6	14	14	20	-6
Wolverhampton	14	4	2	8	14	15	24	-9
Sunderland	14	2	5	7	11	16	17	-1
Blackburn	14	2	4	8	10	21	32	-11
Bolton	14	3	0	11	9	19	34	-15
Wigan Athletic FC	14	2	3	9	9	12	28	-16

Phil Ball in Spain

I must have been about seven years old. The playground behaviour was very hierarchical, and only the 'big kids' played football at break time. At my age, you didn't dare join in, and neither were you asked. The bigger kids seemed to organise everything, decide who would play, and who were the big shots. The best players seemed to enjoy a certain status, and the games seemed to generate a lot of emotion, given that they were only quick playground matches. You took all this in subliminally. You just weren't a part of it. The whole playground was used as a football pitch, and you just hung out and played marbles on the margins.

Manchester City to meet Manchester United in third round of the FA Cup

While one of the Manchester rivals face elimination, the draw was kind for the Premier League's other leading clubs and, in a lucrative sense, equally so for some of their opponents from outside the top division. Chelsea will host financially troubled Portsmouth while non-league Tamworth will go to Everton and Cheltenham have a trip to Tottenham. Liverpool will play Southend or Oldham and Arsenal also have home advantage against Leeds United.

European Review

Some knockout blows were landed by Europe’s heavyweights this weekend, including Spain’s top two, who both prepared for next week’s top-of-the-table clash by making light work of their respective opponents, and the Premier League’s high-fliers, who chalked up a hatful of goals while securing three valuable points. In Germany, Bayern Munich took advantage of the draw between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach to move back to the top of the league. In France, meanwhile, Montpellier won to maintain their lead in Ligue 1, and Juventus did likewise in Serie A.

Alan Hansen: No matter what happens this week, Premier League's dominance of Champions League is over

The Premier League dominance of the Champions League is over, regardless of the outcome of this week’s European fixtures.

England: Premier League Weekend Review, Reports, Analyses & Teams of the Week

The top of the Premier League table has a familiar look about it following weekend wins for Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. But Tottenham continue to defy the odds with Harry Redknapp's side sitting third with a chance of winning the title for the first time since 1961 after beating Bolton. At the top of the table City and United saw off challenges from Norwich and Aston Villa, respectively, while Chelsea claimed a 3-0 win over Newcastle in controversial circumstances. Blackburn's victory over Swansea saw them climb off the foot of the table, while Wigan are back at the bottom after a home drubbing at the hands of Arsenal. Wolves boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a crucial win over Sunderland, while Sunday's other game saw Stoke secure a rare three-point haul at Everton. The points were shared at Loftus Road as West Brom claimed a 1-1 draw at QPR.

Review

Newcastle 0 - 3 Chelsea

Louise Taylor at St. James' Park

Tottenham 3 - 0 Bolton

David Hytner at White Hart Lane

Wigan 0 - 4 Arsenal

Richard Gibson at DW Stadium

Manchester City 5 - 1 Norwich City

David Hytner at the Etihad Stadium

Aston Villa 0 - 1 Manchester United

Paul Doyle at Villa Park

Five Things We Learned

Team of the Week

Garth Crooks's Team of the Week

From the Architect

SSN's Staff Architect Cuban Ken has some interesting offerings...

Pretty handsome stadium our Polish friends have concocted. Modern but still recalls the brutalist architecture so popular in the old Eastern Block. Kinda wonder if that display/audio tower suspended from the ceiling is going to present problems on the field---between it and the cables there are a few shots in the video where it looks like it could interfere with play, though to be fair, in other shots it looks like its well clear of the pitch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15995948

More on the return of Speer: Qatari Emir says "I love my Germans"!

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/the-end-of-affair-403106.html

So the Germans finally secure their oil buddies, 70 years too late, foresooth...

Speaking of (in case anyone cares) here's more on Son of Nazi Architect and the carbon neutral hype for the Qatari stadiums---yep that trope is still alive. Gotta wonder when that sheize will go silent---the writer of this article touches on issues that up until now have been addressed with soothing bromides that (very) superficially address some very real problems. (ie. Problem: Its really, really hot in Qatar. Won't that endanger players and spectators? Solution: We'll cool the stadiums mit solar panels, jah? Sehr gut!)

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662812/qatars-world-cup-engineering-marvel-pr-nightmare-slideshow

God bless, hope they work it out---sounds like something really admirable and if they pull it off they'll have demonstrated some remarkable construction technology and logistics (likely possible but at enormous, enormous cost). But I wouldn't be surprised at all if the "carbon neutral" stuff is quietly deep sixed in the coming years...

Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira is Dead

To most Brazilians he was known fondly as "Doutor" (The Doctor), a reference to his medical degree. Well-read and highly politicised, Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira was unlike many footballers.

BBC Brasil reporters Bruno Garcez and Rodrigo Durao Coelho recall an evening spent in his company.

Tim Vickery: Socrates so much more than a footballer

Socrates looked like a Greek God but he drank like a fish

The Socrates Philosophy

Richard Williams: Sócrates, Brazil's painter on the pitch who was denied world glory

Henry Winter: The King of Cool

The Fifth Official

Few of us like Monday but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.

Euro 2012: The Groups

Group A: Poland, Greece, Czech Republic, Russia

Group B: Holland, Denmark, Portugal, Germany

Group C: Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Italy

Group D: Ukraine, France, Sweden, England

Credibility of Fifa's anti-corruption reforms has been left in pieces

The anti-corruption organisation Transparency International's refusal to saunter down Sepp Blatter's "road map" of reform unless Fifa's murky past is investigated poses a bold challenge to world football's disgraced governing body. Blatter, as he often recalls when gazing benignly down on his football "family", has been in senior positions at Fifa for almost 40 years, and the president for 13. In every halting performance the 75-year-old has given, throughout the year the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were designated for Russia and Qatar and Fifa has been enveloped in proven corruption, he has always seemed deeply uncomfortable and been thoroughly unconvincing.

Euro 2012: Venue guide for European Championship finals

The 2012 Uefa European Championship will be played at eight venues, four in Poland and four in Ukraine. Five stadia have been built specifically for the tournament - and the other three have been extensively renovated.

The tournament kicks off on 8 June at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland and finishes on 1 July at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.

Here is BBC Sport's guide to the grounds that will host next summer's tournament.

The Joy of Six: Football Unbeaten Runs

From Perugia's stoicism in the late 1970s to England's surprising run under Bobby Robson, teams who just would not be beaten.

England: Premier League Weekend Previews & Predictions

This weekend's Premier League action gets under way on Saturday lunchtime when Chelsea make the trip to fellow high-fliers Newcastle. Elsewhere, Manchester United will hope to bounce back from their deflating Carling Cup exit when they visit Aston Villa, while neighbours Manchester City remain unbeaten in the top spot as they prepare to host promoted Norwich. Tottenham will look to maintain their storming form at home to Bolton while Sunderland start life without sacked manager Steve Bruce with a trip to Wolves. Arsenal travel to relegation candidates Wigan this weekend hoping to build on a six-game unbeaten streak in the league, with five of those encounters ending in wins.

Preview

Newcastle vs. Chelsea: Preview

Aston Villa vs. Manchester United: Preview

Kevin Keegan: Villa must not dwell on poor record

Team News

Premier League Spotlight

Lawro's Predictions

Paul Merson's Predictions

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview + Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

While Real Madrid and Barcelona are already eyeing their upcoming matchup, the Spanish giants first have to get past a pair of awkward opponents this weekend. League leaders Madrid are waiting on the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare to put their 13-game winning run on the line at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, when Barcelona welcome early season revelation Levante to the Camp Nou.

Preview

Quiniela

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

Serie A leaders Juventus will hope for an easier ride against Cesena after they had to come from behind to draw 3-3 at Napoli on Tuesday. Second-placed Milan, unbeaten in eight league games, travel to face Genoa on Friday night. Their cross-city rivals Inter Milan are in action a day later, when they host Udinese at San Siro.

Preview

Mancini: The Magician of Sampdoria

Premier League followers know him as moneyed Manchester City's manager, but Roberto Mancini was one of the best footballers of his generation.

Lucas Leiva ruled out for season as Liverpool confirm ligament damage

Liverpool have said that Lucas Leiva will miss the rest of the season after a scan confirmed he has injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Brazil midfielder was carried off on a stretcher in the second half of the Reds' 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final win at Chelsea on Tuesday, after an innocent coming together with Ryan Bertrand.

Martin O'Neill 'agrees' to become Sunderland boss

Martin O'Neill has agreed to succeed Steve Bruce as Sunderland manager, BBC Sport understands.

However O'Neill, whose last managerial job was with Aston Villa, will not take charge of the team for Sunday's away match against Wolverhampton.

Sunderland have confirmed Bruce's former assistant manager Eric Black will oversee that game.

The Black cats say they will be making a statement in "due course" on their new manager.

UEFA Europa League: Thursday's Review

Raul Gonzalez scored a tiebreaking goal in the 57th minute, leading Schalke over Steaua Bucharest 2-1 Thursday night and clinching a berth in the second round of the Europa League.

Stoke and Lokomotiv Moscow also advanced to the final 32 of Europe's second-tier club tournament.

Fulham squandered an opportunity to qualify from Group K by losing 1-0 at Twente, which got an 89th-minute goal from Marc Janko.

American midfielder Clint Dempsey missed the game because of a slight thigh injury.

Review

Euro 2012: The Draw

The Euro 2012 draw is today (12pm EST)

Pot 1: (Poland, Ukraine), Spain, Netherlands

Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia

Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden

Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Rep. of Ireland

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Aurelio De Laurentiis is rarely short of an opinion. From informing the world that “English women don’t wash their genitalia” to defining Lionel Messi as a “cretin”, the Napoli owner has never been backwards about coming forward when he has something to get off his chest. Which is why, when Ezequiel Lavezzi’s girlfriend Yanina Screpante took to Twitter a few nights ago, defining Naples as a “shit city” and threatening to take her other half elsewhere, you knew it was only a matter of time before he issued a response. Screpante was understandably distraught at the time of her outburst, having just been robbed at gunpoint, but De Laurentiis was utterly without sympathy. “In a climate of recession I think you should not go around with a Rolex on your arm,” he declared of the golden watch – a gift from Lavezzi – that Screpante had stolen. “Dear Yanina, I am sorry, it is reasonable that you should take fright, but maybe you are not yet Neapolitan enough. At times you can think you are untouchable just because you are Lavezzi’s other half.”

Are Napoli's stars being targeted by criminals?

The Swiss Ramble: Manchester City's Masterplan

After many years in the wilderness, these are good times to be a Manchester City fan. Last season their team recorded its best ever performance in the Premier League by finishing third, thus qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, and won its first major trophy for 35 years when defeating Stoke City in the FA Cup final.

Their momentum has continued this season (at least on the domestic front), as they lead the Premier League by five points after a series of impressive victories, including an astonishing 6-1 triumph against local rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford, and have reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. However, they have found life more difficult in Europe, where they now have to rely on others to avoid elimination at the Champions League group stage.

Nevertheless, the force appears to be with the Citizens, boosted by the £800 million or so that Sheikh Mansour has invested since his Abu Dhabi United Group bought Manchester City three years ago. Quite simply, this is a club transformed.

Fears for Lucas as Liverpool recall Shelvey

Liverpool have recalled Jonjo Shelvey from his loan spell at Blackpool as speculation mounts about the severity of Lucas Leiva's knee injury.

England: Manchester City face Liverpool in Carling Cup semi-finals

Manchester City will face Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. Crystal Palace - conquerors of Manchester United - will play fellow Championship side Cardiff in the other semi-final to ensure a first finalist from outside the top flight since 2001.

Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United: 11 Minutes for Gary Speed

Jonathan Wilson: Poland's Euro 2012 preparations hit by turmoil at the top

The secretary general of Poland's football federation has been dismissed amid a furore over secret tapes and damaging allegations of corruption.

Zdzislaw Krecina is a funny-looking dude...

UEFA Europa League: Wednesday's Review & Reaction

Tottenham were left with a very slim chance of making the second round of the Europa League after they were beaten 2-1 by PAOK Salonika at White Hart Lane. The defeat, coupled with Rubin Kazan's 4-1 stroll against pointless Shamrock Rovers, leaves Harry Redknapp's men needing to beat Rovers in their final game and hope PAOK beat the Russians with a six-goal swing. Atletico Madrid booked their passage from Group I with a 1-0 win over Celtic in Glasgow. Arda Turan scored the winner on the half-hour for the visitors, but Celtic were handed a lifeline with the news Udinese slipped up at Rennes.

Review

Redknapp unrepentant on selection

Sunderland Sack Steve Bruce

Mark Hughes and Martin O'Neill top Sunderland's shortlist as Ellis Short, the club's chairman, strives to appoint Steve Bruce's successor in time for Sunday's game at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bruce became the first Premier League managerial casualty of this season when Short sacked him on Tuesday afternoon, citing disappointing results.

Henry Winter: Sunderland must appoint a stellar name - like Martin O'Neill

Louise Taylor: Bruce a manager who refused to move with the times

England: Wednesday's Carling Cup Quarterfinal Reports & Analyses

Manchester United 1 -2 Crystal Palace

Daniel Taylor at Old Trafford

Richard Jolly at Old Trafford

Stunned Ferguson apologizes to fans

Rene Higuita: El Loco

That goalkeepers are different is well established, but Rene Higuita was something else entirely. He was the livewire at the base of the renowned Colombia sides of the late 1980s and early 1990s, a pioneer whose eccentric style rarely failed to clinch headlines, for good or bad. He was also regularly in the newspapers for his off-field activities, and was to suffer greatly from his inability to distance himself from his homeland's drug problems.

That save against England

Norman Hubbard: Coyle's Race Against Time

As December 2010 began, it was with six Premier League pacesetters: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Bolton. As December 2011 starts, five remain in contention at the division's summit. The other has traded top six for bottom three.