Saturday, April 19, 2008

German Cup Final



It's the German Cup Final today. Bayern Munich, who are going for the double, compete against Dortmund for the world's ugliest cup. It looks like something Siegfried would fight over for the love of Brünnhilde.
German Cup Final Preview: Borussia Dortmund – Bayern Munich

Theo Walcott Interview


Jennifer Walcott, not Theo's sister

Arsenal's teenage flier Theo Walcott is desperate for an extended first team run
Theo Walcott just wants his chance at Arsenal

England: EPL News



Mathieu Flamini must decide on his new contract with Arsenal by the end of the month according to Arsène Wenger. Moreover, he will review Gallas captaincy and Senderos is backed to get over his Anfield trauma
Wenger sets Flamini contract deadline and calls for pride

The Spanish manager insists he is happy, but is less than forthcoming about his long-term future at the Anfield club
Benitez vows to stay at Liverpool - for now

The English midfield player wants to see high-quality arrivals before signing with the manager desperate to hold on to him
Barry demands assurances from Aston Villa

The pressures of the final stretch might be getting to Avram Grant but Sir Alex Ferguson, who will be within a whisker of the title if Manchester United prevail at Blackburn this evening, could reflect yesterday on the benefits of an experience the Israeli does not possess in times like this
I'm too experienced to lose it at this stage, claims Ferguson

Friday, April 18, 2008

England: Premier League Previews


Leaders United are at Ewood Park to face Blackburn, Fulham host Liverpool as things get to the "must-win" stage, Citeh host Pompey and Arsenal host Reading.

Previews

Lawro's Predictions

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview

Saturday 19 April 2008 (all times local)
20:00 At. Madrid - Betis
20:00 Zaragoza - Recreativo
20:00 Barcelona - Espanyol
22:00 Sevilla - Almería

Sunday 20 April
17:00 Villarreal - Valladolid
17:00 Levante - Getafe
17:00 Osasuna - Deportivo
17:00 Murcia - Mallorca
19:00 Racing - R. Madrid
21:00 Athletic - Valencia

Previews


The Barcelona Derby is the key match of the weekend. Sorry -- no games in Ibiza...

England: Derby Day Passions Stirred In The Toon & Brum


Two classic derby encounters take centre stage ahead of Sunday's local spats between Newcastle United and Sunderlkand and St James' Park., and Aston Villa and Birmingham City at Villa Park. Graham Lister puts both fixtures under the spotlight...

England: EPL News




Premier Shorts: Today in the EPL

The Barcelona striker is understood to have raked in a record amount of cash from his last year in England
Henry 'paid up to £10m' in last Arsenal season

England defender will commit his future to Manchester United after deadlock over his contract negotiations was broken
United rewarded as Brown commits

Manchester City's owner is to meet Sven-Goran Eriksson in talks which could decide the manager's future
Eriksson and Thaksin scheduled for clear-the-air talks

Juande Ramos is poised to hand the club's captaincy to Jonathon Woodgate due to doubts about the number of games Ledley King is likely to play next season, or even if he will be at the club at all
Ramos leaves King fearing for Spurs future

More Anfield Bollocks



George Gillett refused to sell a single share to Tom Hicks, and accused him of destabilising Liverpool FC
I'll never sell shares, says Gillett

Liverpool must repay £31.5m or risk having to sell striker as Tom Hicks calls Rick Parry's time at Anfield "a disaster"
Torres future under threat as banks keep watchful eye on Liverpool

Undeterred by the latest public outburst by Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks, the Arab consortium Dubai International Capital is ready to buy out his partner George Gillett
Arabs set to enter the battle of Anfield

Grant entertains, his team doesn't



No great shock here: an uninspired Everton versus a prosaic Chelsea resulted in a boring 1-0 for the Blues. It's games like this that makes you grateful for the existence of cricket and baseball.

Michael Essien goal keeps Chelsea's title hopes alive in this gritty win against lacklustre opponents
Essien pounces to keep Chelsea clinging on
Chelsea coach delivers bewildering press conference rebuffing questions with one word answers after 1-0 win at Everton
Grant loses the plot

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Robinho's Rear Window



Robinho's return to the Real Madrid line-up against Real Murcia should have been a chance for him to cement his place, but in fact the Brazilian missed his chance...
panish Debate: Robinho's Window Of Opportunity

Ballack Interview



The ex-Arsenal player Alan Smith talks to the German captain who says Chelsea's critics must give the club's new manager more time. Or they could just sack him Michael and get someone interesting in, someone who likes to see his team go forward and score goals...
Michael Ballack stands by Avram Grant

MLS Soccer Thursday Preview



Argentine demi-gods Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Marcello Gallardo lead their teams in this appealing Thursday evening clash of two of the most perennially disappointing teams in MLS. Ok, only one of them fits that bill though DC's early season form has been baffling to say the least. Gallardo and Schelotto faced off many times on the field in Argentina's classico, with Gallardo representing River and Schelotto already elected to the pantheon of club greats in the hearts of Boca Juniors fans. While both shoulder playmaking responsibilities, they lead from different parts of the field and, of course are compensated accordingly (Gallardo represent's DC's salary cap exemption). Both teams are capable of scoring and conceding goals by the score so this should be an entertaining one for the viewers.

(edior's note: David Beckham is not involved in this match but any mention of MLS carries with it a contractual obligation to mention GoldenBalls, at least in passing)

Liverpool Ownership Slap Fight Continues



Liverpool CEO Rick Parry has hit back against Tom Hicks' request for his resignation, saying it's up for the Liverpool board to decide his fate. Parry is co-owner George Gillet's man and is clearly being used as a proxy for Hicks to attack Gillet. Hicks is also using a contract offer to Rafa Bentitez as a play to turn Liverpool fans against Gillet. What can we learn from all of this? That Tom Hicks is an idiot. The fans aren't going to choose sides when they can just wish that both owners would drop dead.

Cruyff spills beans



Dutch star reveals kidnap attempt on his family that changed his outlook on life
30 years on, truth behind Cruyff's World Cup absence

Ziel getroffen!



The acquisition of Luca Toni has finally brought an end to Uli Hoeness's long search for the perfect target man
Hoeness's patience rewarded as Luca show continues

England: Tonight's Game



You'd think being able to watch a match-up between one team pushing for the title and another pushing for a CL place would be an interesting prospect for a Thursday night. Unfortunately it's Everton Vs Chelsea. You never know, maybe the goals will flood in, but on paper it looks like a cure for insomnia:


Chelsea manager Avram Grant has defended his record and is looking forward to next season with the club
Defiant Grant says his future lies at Chelsea

David Moyes has claimed that Chelsea have been unfairly treated after being forced to play two decisive league games in the space of four days in order to satisfy television demands
David Moyes offers support to Avram Grant over congestion

Thursday's Rumors



The Mill has Chelski spending £100 mil, (presumably half funded by their sale of Andrei Schevchenko back to Milan), Sunderland £40mil, ManYoo £37mil, and Wigan £5 mil. That's certainly a foolproof plan to keep touch with leaders of the pack.

Fabio Capello is hoping to lure Paul Scholes out of international retirement. Stevie Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Micheal Carrick and Joe Cole are all undoubtedly ecstatic at this bit of news.

Ever-grateful Dimitar Berbatov wants a move to a Champions League club. Arsenal's dressing room has been short on moody divas since Henry moved to Barca; I think this would be a great match.

Silvio Berlusconi thinks he can fix Italy's stagnant economy by buying Schevchenko on the cheap, getting him thirty goals and then selling him back to Chelski for £35mil.

Man City may be in the market for a new manager as Thaskin Shinawatra refuses to back Sven. Perhaps Thaskin just needs to find a new way to motivate his manager; I suggest he fly in a few of the interrogation specialists he employed at his last job light a fire under the Swede, either literally or figuratively.

Aston Villa are contemplating a raid on Fiorentina's toy box.I say fuck off you Brum bastards, La Viola's prime talent isn't going to trade a spot in the Champions League for the chance to snort herion with Zat Knight.

Ca$hley Cole wants to end his career at Chelski. Sure thing buddy, the next time somebody offers you a penny more than you're making now you'll feel that you've been disrespected by your current employers.

Newcastle are set to offer Michael Owen a new contract. I wonder what Sven would tell a journalist posing as a Saudi tycoon about this?

Celtic Win Heats Up the Title Race



Celtic won a contentious 2-1 match at home to keep in touch with Rangers at the top of the SPL table. Per usual there was a small post-match scuffle and Rangers team doctor was hit by a coin from the stands.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Too many words and not enough digging on the road to 2012


A match-fixing scandal and a complacent attitude towards construction may undermine Poland's ability to co-host Euro 2012.

Quotes & Chants of the Week


"I can't say we are the best in England but I don't think there is a team stronger than us."
Chelsea manager Avram Grant with another classic line.

"You're just a fat Paris Hilton."
Sung to striker Andriy Voronin at Arsenal v Liverpool in the Champions League first leg.

All The Fun