Saturday, February 14, 2009

Older, wiser and milder – but still so Savage




On the eve of Derby's FA Cup clash with Manchester United, Robbie Savage says he still loves being hated.

Leeds: What became of the likely lads


In the New Year scramble for the successful, the decorated who have demonstrated their prowess on the major stages often command considerable attention and sizeable prices. There was, however, one experienced international, a former Champions League semi-finalist who, though notionally near his prime, was available on a free transfer and almost joined St Mirren.

How the mighty have fallen.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Day Two for Henry

The picture Bob posted yesterday of The Editor's new signing didn't show up in Euroland. So, for those of you wanting to get a butcher's of Thierry La Man, here's a snap of his second day at training...

Milan Derby

According to Soccernet AC Milan playmaker Kaka is bidding to defy medical science to make the squad for a city derby his side almost certainly need to win to keep their dwindling Serie A title hopes alive. The Brazilian, who turned down a world record move to Manchester City last month, injured his foot in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Reggina and was ruled out for 15 days
Kaka to defy doctors
Key match-ups

Yanks to head Rams revival?

owners have an unusual masterplan for success which has seen their sponsorship revenues double
Derby generals are unlikely success story

LAX or MPX?

Los Angeles residents, gathered around radios and televisions, waiting with baited breath and fingers crossed, expect to discover today whether their idol, David Beckham, will return to the Galaxy next month or remain with mean Milan
LA Galaxy set deadline for Beckham's Milan move

Missing Magic

Scolari: there was no magic at Chelsea
Bullish Hiddink insists Chelsea can still win Premier League
In his final interview before he was sacked this week, Luiz Felipe Scolari was frank about Chelsea's shortcomings, admiting his team were too predictable. Hiddink, however, still thinks they can win the EPL.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Henry Laman Caldwell



Here's a photo of the next Editor-in-Chief of the SSN. The stork dropped him off yesterday, and rumor has it Arsene Wenger stopped by 15 minutes after that for a bit of scouting.

USA vs. Mexico: A Nice Little Tribute

Adrian Mutu Rules



Since his departure from Chelsea in shame he's done a lot to rehabilitate his image and his game. Now he's the fulcrum of a Fiorentina side that has been one of the best in Italy over the last several years.

Adrian Mutu: I’m Fiorentina For Life

International Friendly Roundup


Friendly Roundup
Brazil Spank Italy
Calcio Debate: Same Old Lippi Won't Win The World Cup Like This
England Lose in Seville
Drunk English Fans Are Douchebags
Capello says lessons will be learned from tough Spanish inquisition
Henry Unhappy With Fans

WC Qualifier Roundup


Keane To The Rescue As Edgy Ireland See Off Georgia
San Marino 0 - 3 Northern Ireland
WCQ: Park Ji-Sung Earns Korea A Point In Iran
Stubborn Australia Force Japan To Goalless Draw
Asian World Cup Comment: Not Many Goals But Lots Of Drama

WC Qualifiers: USA Spanks Mexico in Columbus

Last night the United States Men's Team continued its dominance over Mexico on home soil with an authoritative 2-0 win, putting it in the pole position in CONCACAF qualifying. Mexico played like a Sven-Goren Eriksson team- mostly well organized, cautious on the break, wasteful in midfield and poor in front of goal. Rafa Marquez, supposedly Mexico's best player, came up small again with another untimely red card for a cheap foul and longtime Mexico keeper Oswaldo Sanchez looked past it, leaking a goal under his armpit in second half stoppage time that any second rate keeper would have smothered.
Mexico's misery in Columbus continues
Bradley comes of age against Mexico
Time running out for Sven as Mexico crash

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

USA vs. Mexico


Who: United States vs. Mexico
What: Match one, CONCACAF World Cup 2010 “Hexagonal” qualifier
When: 7 pm ET, Tonight
Where: Columbus, Ohio
TV: ESPN2, ESPN2HD and Univision
Preview

Positional Breakdown


Donovan stands front and center for U.S.

Kevin Palmer at the Emirates Stadium



London bears witness as Brazil outshine Italy

Brazil 2 - 0 Italy

San Jose Confirm Bobby Convey Deal


San Jose have added midfielder Bobby Convey to their squad for the upcoming MLS season. He joins on a free after being released from his contract by Reading.

Power of youth can pull Belgium together




A new generation offers hope that Belgium can recapture former glories.

Jon Carter in Argentina




River stuck in unfamiliar territory.

THE FALL OF RIVER PLATE

Chelsea confirm Hiddink's temporary appointment



Chelsea have confirmed that Guus Hiddink will take control of the club on a temporary basis until the end of the season.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Martin Rogers: U.S. Soccer pays price for home-field edge



The United States wants its showdown with Mexico on Wednesday to be the start of a journey that ends at the 2010 World Cup, but the opening clash of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying could more accurately be billed as the Million Dollar Game.

Americans in the UK: Blue Fever



Tim Howard recorded another two clean sheets last week, totaling 210 minutes of pure stopping power. The keeper held Liverpool goalless during an FA Cup tie and stunted the Bolton attack in League action.

The Rest

Sid Lowe in Spain



They say you should never go back but Ricardo Oliveira proved everybody wrong with a winning return at the Seville derby.

Oliveira the star in a Betis sequel to savour.

Paolo Bandini in Italy




The Serie A title may be out of reach, but the Giallorossi are playing the best football in Italy right now.

De Rossi leads Roma's show of force as Genoa reduced to rubble.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany




Bundesliga results went Bayern Munich's way as numerical controversies dominated the headlines.

League crack down on lewd shirt numbers to concentrate on 50+.

A manager left flailing in a whirlwind

Luiz Felipe Scolari was on the way to acquiring the full thousand-yard stare that only the special branch of bedlam known as the Premier League can inflict on managers, however illustrious, however crocodile-skinned on first inspection. Arriving on our shores to take over from the saturnine Avram Grant, Big Phil might have been mistaken for Brazil's ambassador to London. He had read all his briefing papers about the cliques and the turmoil of the Mourinho-Grant years and was intent on instilling unity and calm.

Eduardo Alvarez in Spain




Week after week, three varieties of news keep making the headlines in Spain: the coldest winter ever, the growing economic crisis, and the highly entertaining football league. Now more than ever, the country needs a way out of its cold weather and gloomy economic future, and football consistently provides us with that.

Germany, Italy, Spain: Teams of the Week



Bundesliga

Serie A

La Liga

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany


I suppose you have never heard of Peter Meyer. This, however, is not a particularly embarrassing knowledge gap, as even most German football fans are not too familiar with the strange and sad story of this player from the 1960s. Although his name has cropped up a few times of late, particularly in connection with the injury to Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic.

Mexico Count On Full Squad





Guillermo Franco and Carlos Salcido are last to join as the two players arrived from Europe on Monday.

Ives: Five key players for the U.S. against Mexico


Here are five U.S. veterans who will play key roles Wednesday, and who have enjoyed their share of success against Mexico in the past.


U.S. vs. Mexico
Feb. 11
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
7 p.m. ET, ESPN2 HD

Chelsea: The Contenders




Following Chelsea's decision to sack coach Luiz Felipe Scolari less than a year into his tenure, we take a look at the possible candidates to take over from the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Chelsea sack Scolari after seven months at Stamford Bridge




Scolari's Brazilian agent, Acaz Fellegger, tonight alleged that the dramatic sacking followed a direct order from Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich. "The decision came from the guy at the top," he told the Guardian.

Donovan and Dempsey Headline US Squad

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Xerez C.D.), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF) Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Bayern Munich)

Article

Sky beaming as Setanta loses Monday night slot



But the news that Setanta has lost one of its two packages to Sky, which strengthened its grip on the rights and will now screen 115 matches a season from 2010, could raise questions about the future of the ambitious Irish pay TV broadcaster.

Portsmouth Sack Tony Adams




'Surprised' Adams blames injuries and financial woe for Pompey sacking.


Tony Adams' career highs and lows

England: Weekend Review, Best of the Weekend + Table




Review

Best of the Weekend











Club GP PT
Manchester United2456
Liverpool2554
Aston Villa2551
Chelsea2549
Arsenal2544
Everton2540
Wigan Athletic2534
West Ham United2533
Manchester City2431
Fulham2330
Sunderland2530
Hull City2529
Newcastle United2527
Bolton Wanderers2527
Tottenham Hotspur2525
Portsmouth2424
Stoke City2524
Blackburn Rovers2423
Middlesbrough2522
West Bromwich Albion2522

Spain: La Liga Weekend Roundup + Table

Roundup

CLUB GP W L D PTS GD
Barcelona2219125952
Real Madrid2215524718
Sevilla FC221165388
Valencia221174379
Villarreal221057375
Atlético Madrid2210753514
Málaga221075354
Deportivo La Coruña22108434-2
Valladolid22910330-1
Athletic Bilbao2289529-3
Racing Santander2278728-2
Sporting Gijon22913027-18
Getafe2268826-2
Real Betis22711425-1
Almeria22610624-9
Recreativo Huelva22610624-13
Osasuna22410820-7
Numancia22614220-19
Espanyol22310918-15
Mallorca22412618-18

Italy: Serie A Weekend Roundup + Table



Roundup










CLUB GP W L D PTS GD
Internazionale2316255324
Juventus2314544618
AC Milan2313464517
Fiorentina2313824112
Genoa2311574010
AS Roma231274408
Palermo2311102353
Napoli231094344
Cagliari231094344
Atalanta2310103333
Lazio23910431-4
Udinese2389630-2
Siena23711526-6
Catania23711526-8
Sampdoria23610725-6
Bologna23511722-12
Lecce23491022-13
Torino23412719-15
Chievo Verona23412719-16
Reggina23313716-2

The North London Derby: Goaless Draw As Eboue Sees Red



Report

David Pleat:
Wenger too clever for flat Spurs

Player Ratings

Wenger seethes at old enemy -- referees

Reading Releases Bobby Convey




The 25-year-old American midfielder joined the club from D.C. United in July 2004 and two years later was among the few U.S. players who impressed at the World Cup.

Richard Jolley at the JJB Stadium




Wigan Athletic 0 - 0 Fulham

Bruce building on solid foundation

The Insider at Stamford Bridge




Chelsea 0 - 0 Hull City

Chelsea's winter of discontent