Villarreal have sacked another coach after the Yellow Submarine sank closer still to La Liga's relegation zone.
Villarreal's plight: an emergency board meeting in a dugout says it all.
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.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sid Lowe in Spain
Villarreal have sacked another coach after the Yellow Submarine sank closer still to La Liga's relegation zone.
Villarreal's plight: an emergency board meeting in a dugout says it all.
Tim Vickery in South America
Before Ian Fleming made his name writing the James Bond books, he was eclipsed by older brother Peter, a derring-do adventurer of the type Michael Palin might have been born to satirise. Peter Fleming was part of an eccentric expedition into the Brazilian jungle in the early 1930s, which he wrote about in a book best remembered for its stand out line. "Sao Paulo," he mused, "is like Reading, only much further away" - an observation which does, of course, depend on one's starting point, but which contains an excellent piece of insight. Fleming was kicking against the perception some had in England at the time of Sao Paulo being some Wild West outpost, "the sort of town where tanned and wary men, riding in from great distances, scatter the poultry in the rutted streets and leave their ponies outside the saloon".
Berbatov to move on because he's too slow, admits agent
Dimitar Berbatov's agent has said that the Manchester United striker is embarrassed to be receiving a high salary while barely playing for the club and will accept his departure this summer with good grace, rather than enter into a battle with his employers like Carlos Tevez has done at City.
Americans Abroad
It was tough going for the Americans in Europe, with nary a win among them this weekend. Highlights include Fabian Johnson winning a PK and Hannover and Schalke's heavy wins.
Major League Soccer Week Two Power Rankings: The West rules; Galaxy bounces back in style
The Galaxy steady the ship, and two Eastern Conference contenders are on shaky standing. That and more from Week 2 in Major League Soccer.
Paolo Bandini in Italy
The owner's dismay at his club's decline from treble winners in 2010 is made worse by the return of Silvio Berlusconi at Milan.
Serie A may be no country for Inter's Massimo Moratti any more.
Raphael Honigstein in Germany
After 20 goals in only eight days, there is renewed hope this will not be a trophyless season for the Bavarians after all.
A very un-Bayern-like Bayern roll on after Hertha horror show.
Jonathan Wilson in Russia
A return home has inspired Russia's captain; perhaps his problem in London was a lack of action and homesickness?
Arshavin looking 'better and better' as Zenit close in on Russian title.
Are Man City about to relive the Newcastle collapse of 1996?
Just under a year ago, 1,000 football fans voted Kevin Keegan's famous "I will love it if we beat them" rant as the most popular public managerial loss of temper in Premier League history. No such colourful behaviour yet from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, but the Italian will be feeling the same stresses Keegan endured during his Newcastle side's loss of form towards the end of the 1995-96 season.
City are second in the Premier League behind leaders Manchester United, despite at one time leading by seven points.
United's ability to put together title-sealing runs of form seems to have been replicated again this season. Sir Alex Ferguson's men have collected 25 league points out of a possible 27 since mid-January, the only draw being the thrilling 3-3 comeback when 3-0 down against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In contrast, recent form makes somewhat grim reading for City. Since a 0-0 draw away to West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day, they have suffered defeats to Sunderland, Manchester United, Everton and Swansea.
On Wednesday, City host a somewhat resurgent Chelsea side since knocking Napoli out of the Champions League.
Mancini's men start the evening a full four points behind United, although they do have a game in hand.
So what can City learn from history?
Fabrice Muamba has 'comfortable' night in intensive care, say Bolton
Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at The London Chest Hospital. He is continuing to show signs of improvement this evening. He is currently able to breathe independently without the aid of a ventilator. He has also been able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. These are all positive signs of progress. However, his condition remains serious and the medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him. His family and club would like to thank the media for continuing to respect their privacy at this time.
Paul Marshall in France
It is merely a sign of the times, the little man rising up against those who have oppressed him for years. The minnows of Ligue 1 have been in keeping with the zeitgeist in recent weeks, and though they have not quite set up camp in the upper reaches of the table like some sort of footballing 'Occupy' movement, they have certainly made it clear they will have a say in deciding the finishing positions of the established order come the season's end.
Phil Ball in Spain
Uuuuf ... as the Spanish say. Where do we start this week? Well perhaps with a rather unusual theme, at least as far as La Liga goes. It seems to have been a recurring topic throughout the week, set off by Jose Mourinho complaining once again that the Bernabeu is too 'cold' and that the stadium needs to get behind its players to a greater extent. 'Never mind about me' he said, adding that he wanted the supporters to mostrar mas carino (show more affection) to the players, and support them through thick and thin.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Roma reach agreement with ESPN
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| Coming to Florida... |
England: Premier League and FA Cup Weekend Reviews, Reports, etc.
FA Cup: Liverpool will tackle either Everton or Sunderland in the FA Cup semi-finals while Chelsea will face Bolton or Tottenham at Wembley.
Everton 1 - 1 Sunderland
Paul Wilson at Goodison Park
Chelsea 5 - 2 Leicester City
Kevin Palmer at Stamford Bridge
David Hytner at Stamford Bridge
Liverpool 2 - 1 Stoke
Richard Jolly at Anfield
Kevin McCarra at Anfield
Premier League:
Fulham 0 - 3 Swansea City
Jamie Jackson at Craven Cottage
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - 5 Manchester United
Daniel Taylor at Molineux
Newcastle 1 - 0 Norwich City
Louise Taylor at St. James' Park
Five Things We Learned
Team of the Week
European Weekend Review
Review
MLS: Five Things We Learned in Week Two
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| Football in Montreal... |
Five Things
Monday MLS Breakdown: Sporting Kansas City continues to cultivate its championship mentality
Painful lessons from last season should help a youthful Sporting side in its MLS Cup pursuit this year, plus a look at the action from the second weekend of the MLS season.
Breakdown
Bolton midfielder collapses: Muamba still in "critical condition"
Fabrice Muamba's heart stopped beating for two hours after collapse
Amy Lawrence at White Hart Lane
Daniel Taylor: Fabrice Muamba the refugee who has made football his home
Speedy Medics Lauded
The Fifth Official
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| He scores when he wants... |
Off the Ball
Off the Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories.
This week, Premier League chairman Dave Richards falls into Doha hotel fountain pool after claiming "FIFA stole football", crackpot Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali vows to oust all foreigners, Joey Barton threatens to unleash a horde of deadly animals on a bunch of squatters, Didier Drogba shames himself with a Sergio Busquets impression and all of Lionel Messi's 50 goals this season in a three-minute clip.
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