A Small Break

I'm taking a few days off to run to California and celebrate my pal Phil's last days as a bachelor. We'll be off the grid in Death Valley so no updates on SSN for a few days. Look for normal service to resume next Wednesday. Until then, enjoy the footie. -Sanford

Amy Lawrence: City must learn to live with Robinho's need to party

Manchester City must accept that partying is a way of life for Brazilians.







Maybe partying will help...

Quotes & Chants of the Week

"My missus could have scored that."
Harry Redknapp puts a friendly arm around striker Darren Bent after his glaring miss against Portsmouth.

"It's not always about money. It's about playing for the best team, playing with the best players in the world and winning trophies and being successful."
David Beckham, oblivious to the irony of his advice to his new team-mate.

"Boro have lost games they should have won and that's down to inexperience and not having enough experience."
The inimitable Paul Merson.

"Stand up, if you beat Man U."
Southend fans against Chelsea.

"Does your butler know you're here?"
Southend fans to Chelsea supporters.

"Viva John Terry! Viva John Terry! We only won the Cup, 'cos he mucked it up, Viva John Terry!"
Manchester United fans show their appreciation for the Chelsea captain at Old Trafford!

The Rest

The Question: what has happened to all the goalpoachers?

With more of an all-round game required of strikers in modern football, Michael Owen is one of the last of a dying breed.

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Thursday's Rumours

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England: FA Cup Weekend Preview

Tottenham and Manchester United limp into their tie, Arsenal travel to Cardiff, Everton go back to Anfield, holders Portsmouth continue their defense with a home tie against Swansea City and Derby County and Nottingham Forest slug it out in a heated local rivalry...

Preview

Pompey fans await Swansea's arrival...

Saturday:
Chelsea v Ipswich 15:00

Hartlepool v West Ham 12:40

Hull City v Millwall 15:00

Kettering v Fulham 15:00

Man Utd v Tottenham 17:15

Portsmouth v Swansea 15:00

Sheff Utd v Charlton 15:00

Sunderland v Blackburn 15:00

Torquay v Coventry 15:00

Watford v Crystal Palace 15:00

West Brom v Burnley 15:00

Wolverhampton v Middlesbrough 15:00

Sunday:

Cardiff v Arsenal 13:30

Liverpool v Everton 16:00

Goal.Commentary: United States Starting XI vs. Sweden

The United States Men’s National Team is three-quarters of the way through its annual 20-day January camp and the friendly against Sweden is only four days away. While a number of players—especially defenders—have been unable to attend or pulled out early due to injury, Bob Bradley has a vibrant young group with plenty of attacking power and many options for the starting XI on January 24. Goal.com took a look at one potential lineup the American manager could use.

The Short List: Players Coming Home

The long list of Americans in Europe grows with each passing transfer window, but Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey thinks a few of America’s stars could use a trip home.

U.S. fringe players aim to impress against Sweden

Yet even as the U.S. prepares for Saturday's game at the Home Depot Center, there's another reason why things are a bit different this year, and it has to do with the leviathan encounter looming on the horizon. I'm talking, of course, about the Americans' match on Feb. 11 against arch-rival Mexico that will open the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Friendly:
U.S. vs. Sweden
Jan. 24
Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.
8:30 p.m. ET

2010 World Cup Qualifying:
U.S. vs. Mexico
Feb. 11
Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
7 p.m. ET, ESPN2 HD

Italy and Spain: Cups

Coppa Italia: Inter edge Roma

Copa del Rey: Valencia edge Sevilla
Copa del Rey: Espanol hold Barcelona

Splashy Sounders kick off major soccer in Seattle

The splashy new Seattle Sounders are still two months from their first game. Yet they already have sold far more season tickets than Major League Soccer averaged in attendance last season.

England: Carling Cup Report

Brave Burnley so close to pulling off famous Carling Cup shock
Burnley 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2
(aet; 3-0 after 90min; Tottenham win 6-4 on agg)


Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the Carling Cup final only after surviving what Harry Redknapp admitted was almost “the most embarrassing night of my footballing life”.

Why Inter Milan needs a reality check

Inter Milan shockingly lost 3-1 against Atalanta on Sunday, and not only did Cristiano Doni and co. bring Inter down from their high chairs, they also completely humiliated the reigning champions.

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Wednesday's Rumours

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On Second Thoughts: Serginho

Blamed for Brazil's failure to capture the 1982 World Cup, Serginho unfairly carried the can for the team's defensive failings.

Donovan Determined To Make Bayern Grade

American ace Landon Donovan is hell-bent on proving himself while on trial at Bayern Munich and has refused to rule out a more permanent stay.

Edu, Beasley Connect To Obama Inauguration

Together, Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley watched the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States.

The forgotten story of ... Derby's second league title

Chalked up, erroneously, by many as a Brian Clough triumph, Derby's 1974-75 success was actually down to another man, Dave Mackay.

McCarthy's Musings: MLS Primetime Move

The dedicated Thursday night time slot is no more after MLS and its biggest TV partner chose a new direction. Goal.com's Kyle McCarthy thinks the shift will help on the field.









Primetime!!

Richard Jolly at Old Trafford

United on their way to Wembley
Manchester United 4 - 2 Derby County



No go for Savage and Clough...

The most expensive team in the world

Soccernet has constructed the most expensive team in world football, based on transfer fees, along with a synopsis of what success, if any, those big money signings brought to their clubs.

England: Carling Cup Semi-final Second Leg Preview

Manchester United vs. Derby County
Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Tuesday, 20 January
Kick-off: 2000 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged to field a youthful line-up as Manchester United seek to overcome a 1-0 deficit in the Carling Cup semi-final against Derby.

Preview

Fuck Arsene Wenger, Says Noel Gallagher

The lead guitarist of Manchester rock band Oasis has launched a stunning attack on the Arsenal manager, and has given his backing to the Kaka transfer.











Wanker...

Americans On the Continent: Back In Action

Oguchi Onyewu, Standard Liege (Belgium)
vs. Dender, 3-2, 90 minutes, own goal

Oguchi Onyewu managed to cancel out Milan Jovanovic’s third minute goal just two minutes later as he struck against his own side with an unfortunate own goal. However, Dieumerci Mbokani put his side back in the lead on 29 minutes for his 12^th goal of the season. The relegation strugglers fought back again just one minute later as Daan De Pever notched the equalizer for Dender. Young captain Steven Defour was on hand to grab the winner in the 58^th minute and take the side one point away from the top of the league.

The Rest

Darren Bent and Amr Zaki feature in list of all-time worst misses

Darren Bent and Amr Zaki this weekend committed two of the worst misses in recent memory, but they still only make it into fifth and sixth place in this list of football's worst blunders in front of goal.

Number One:

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Tuesday's Rumours



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Richard Williams Column

Rafael Benítez's decision making on and off the field appears to be hurting his side.

Benítez sideshow holding Liverpool's title bid back.

Italy & Spain: Teams of the Week

Serie A







La Liga

Sid Lowe in Spain

Ramón Calderón's resignation has been welcomed by even his supporters, but Real Madrid have a long way to go before they escape his influence.

The egregious epitaph of Ramón Calderón.

Kaká Decides to Stay in Milan

Manchester City stunned after Kaka move collapses

Manchester City accuse Milan of 'bottling it' over Kaka transfer

Kaká:
Man money couldn’t buy wears heart on his sleeve

Robinho walks out on Man City training camp

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Inter's defeat at Atalanta has narrowed the gap at the top of Serie A, but Kaka's mooted departure may mean Milan are unable to take advantage.

Mourinho lashes out at 'horrible' Inter as Kaka prepares his goodbyes.

Jonathan Wilson in Eastern Europe

Zoran Tosic's potential debut for Manchester United against Derby will be watched with great interest in his home country.

Tosic the new hope for golden Serbian generation.

England: Premier League Report + Table

Tim Cahill steals the show from Steven Gerrard to deny Liverpool top billing

Liverpool 1 Everton 1

Nº	Team	GP	W	D	L	Pts
1.	Manchester Utd	21	14	5	2	47
2.	Liverpool	22	13	8	1	47
3.	Chelsea	22	13	6	3	45
4.	Aston Villa	22	13	5	4	44
5.	Arsenal	22	12	5	5	41
6.	Everton	22	10	6	6	36
7.	Wigan	22	9	4	9	31
8.	West Ham	22	8	5	9	29
9.	Hull City	22	7	6	9	27
10.	Fulham	20	6	8	6	26
11.	Manchester City	21	7	4	10	25
12.	Portsmouth	21	6	6	9	24
13.	Bolton	22	7	2	13	23
14.	Newcastle	22	5	8	9	23
15.	Sunderland	22	6	5	11	23
16.	Tottenham	22	5	6	11	21
17.	Blackburn	21	5	6	10	21
18.	Middlesbrough	22	5	6	11	21
19.	Stoke City	22	5	6	11	21
20.	WBA	22	6	3	13	21

Eduardo Alvarez in Spain

Last Friday, January 16, Ramón Calderón resigned from his position as Real Madrid President over allegations of vote rigging in the last General Assembly, held in December. His bizarre, emotional press conference put a fitting end to two-and-a-half years of growing disappointment for Real Madrid supporters, who had already lost all trust in their president.

Merseyside Derby: Liverpool vs. Everton

What: Barclays Premier League, Matchday 22
Who: Liverpool (1st, 46 pts) vs Everton (6th, 35 pts)
When: Monday, 19 January 2009, 20:00 GMT
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Preview


Benitez walks alone at Liverpool

Oliver Kay:
Liverpool and Everton Merseyside derby as spiteful as any game in England

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Monday's Rumours

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Spain: La Liga Weekend Action

Real Madrid fans reported for ‘fascist’ gestures, chants.

Sunday Wrap

Saturday Wrap








David Villa and his Valencia mates fell to Bilbao...

Italy: Serie A Weekend Action

Awesome Atalanta thrash dreadful Inter

San Siro pleads for Kaka to stay

Reports

Team of the Week

England: Premier League Weekend Wrap

Late wins for ManU, Chelsea and Villa dominate the headlines...

Wrap




A Manchester United supporter shows his, erm, class...

Richard Jolly at Ewood Park

Big Sam Gets His Revenge
Blackburn Rovers 3 - 0 Newcastle United