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.
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
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
Kaka to defy doctors
Key match-ups
Yanks to head Rams revival?
Gabriele Marcotti writes about a rare piece of good news at Derby County. The American owners have an unusual masterplan for success which has seen their sponsorship revenues double
Derby generals are unlikely success story
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
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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)
Article
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.
England: Weekend Review, Best of the Weekend + Table
Review
Best of the Weekend
Club | GP | PT |
Manchester United | 24 | 56 |
Liverpool | 25 | 54 |
Aston Villa | 25 | 51 |
Chelsea | 25 | 49 |
Arsenal | 25 | 44 |
Everton | 25 | 40 |
Wigan Athletic | 25 | 34 |
West Ham United | 25 | 33 |
Manchester City | 24 | 31 |
Fulham | 23 | 30 |
Sunderland | 25 | 30 |
Hull City | 25 | 29 |
Newcastle United | 25 | 27 |
Bolton Wanderers | 25 | 27 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 25 |
Portsmouth | 24 | 24 |
Stoke City | 25 | 24 |
Blackburn Rovers | 24 | 23 |
Middlesbrough | 25 | 22 |
West Bromwich Albion | 25 | 22 |
Spain: La Liga Weekend Roundup + Table
Roundup
CLUB | GP | W | L | D | PTS | GD |
Barcelona | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 59 | 52 |
Real Madrid | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 47 | 18 |
Sevilla FC | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 8 |
Valencia | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 9 |
Villarreal | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 37 | 5 |
Atlético Madrid | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 14 |
Málaga | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 4 |
Deportivo La Coruña | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 34 | -2 |
Valladolid | 22 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 30 | -1 |
Athletic Bilbao | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 29 | -3 |
Racing Santander | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | -2 |
Sporting Gijon | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 27 | -18 |
Getafe | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 26 | -2 |
Real Betis | 22 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 25 | -1 |
Almeria | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 24 | -9 |
Recreativo Huelva | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 24 | -13 |
Osasuna | 22 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 20 | -7 |
Numancia | 22 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 20 | -19 |
Espanyol | 22 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 18 | -15 |
Mallorca | 22 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 18 | -18 |
Italy: Serie A Weekend Roundup + Table
Roundup
CLUB | GP | W | L | D | PTS | GD |
Internazionale | 23 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 53 | 24 |
Juventus | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 18 |
AC Milan | 23 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 17 |
Fiorentina | 23 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 12 |
Genoa | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 40 | 10 |
AS Roma | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 8 |
Palermo | 23 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 35 | 3 |
Napoli | 23 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 34 | 4 |
Cagliari | 23 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 34 | 4 |
Atalanta | 23 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 33 | 3 |
Lazio | 23 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 31 | -4 |
Udinese | 23 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 30 | -2 |
Siena | 23 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 26 | -6 |
Catania | 23 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 26 | -8 |
Sampdoria | 23 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 25 | -6 |
Bologna | 23 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 22 | -12 |
Lecce | 23 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 22 | -13 |
Torino | 23 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -15 |
Chievo Verona | 23 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -16 |
Reggina | 23 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 16 | -2 |
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.
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