Friday, October 02, 2009

Lawrence Donegan on Scotland




The national team is a joke, the top two are nowhere and it is only going to get worse.

Old Firm's decline signposts the end of Scotland's glorious heritage.









"20 paces to the shower room..."

Amy Lawrence on AC Milan




The Berlusconis want to sell, the team look old and Leonardo may not be around for long. Things do not look good in Milan.

Milan's humbling defeat to FC Zurich sends them lurching deeper into crisis.









"Screw Milan. Bring my 18-year-old lover to me! Excellent..."

Hull City team in high spirits after saving suicidal woman from bridge


It certainly would have been an unusual sight for the drivers making their way across the world's fifth largest suspension bridge, as manager Phil Brown took the entire first-team "looking for clarity" during a walk over the bridge.

Instead, as Brown revealed in a weekly news conference, the team found the woman who Brown managed to "sweet talk" to safety.


Humber Bridge, Kingston upon Hull, England

Friday MLS Forecast




The Forecast discusses how a traditional English front duo has sparked Colorado towards the playoffs before it unveils its Week 29 selections.

England: Premier League Previews, Predictions & League Table

Liverpool's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea is the big clash of the weekend. Elsewhere, Manchester United host Sunderland, Wolves welcome Pompey, Arsenal host Blackburn, Wigan go to Hull, Birmingham are at Burnley, Spurs are at Bolton, Everton host Stoke and West Ham welcome Fulham. Monday Night Football is Manchester City at Aston Villa...

Preview I
Preview II

Lawro's Predictions
Phil McNulty on Liverpool & Chelsea

Club Played Points
Manchester United718
Chelsea718
Liverpool715
Tottenham Hotspur715
Manchester City615
Arsenal612
Aston Villa612
Sunderland712
Everton69
Wigan Athletic79
Burnley79
Stoke City78
Bolton Wanderers67
Birmingham77
Blackburn Rovers67
Wolverhampton Wanderers77
Fulham66
West Ham United64
Hull City74
Portsmouth70

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview + League Table




Italian league leaders Sampdoria are brimming with confidence heading into this weekend's game against Parma. This follows their 1-0 victory over three-time defending champions Inter Milan last week, a victory that pushed Samp one point clear of Juventus after six matches of the season.






CLUB PWDLGDPts
Sampdoria6501615
Juventus6420714
Internazionale6411813
Fiorentina6411313
Udinese6321311
Genoa6312110
Parma6312-110
Chievo Verona622228
AS Roma622208
Lazio6222-18
AC Milan6222-38
Bari614127
Cagliari6213-17
Napoli6213-37
Palermo6132-16
Bologna6132-16
Siena6114-44
Catania6033-43
Atalanta6024-62
Livorno6024-72

Spain: La Liga Weekend Previews + League Table

Real Madrid's 100% record could come under serious threat this weekend when they travel to face in-form Sevilla.

Guillem Balague's Preview

CLUB PWDLGDPts
Real Madrid55001415
Barcelona55001315
Sevilla FC5401912
Mallorca5311710
Deportivo La Coruña530239
Athletic Bilbao5302-29
Valencia522128
Real Zaragoza521207
Osasuna5212-17
Espanyol5212-27
Almeria513106
Getafe5203-16
Tenerife5203-66
Sporting Gijon5122-35
Racing Santander5122-55
Valladolid5113-54
Málaga5104-23
Atlético Madrid5032-63
Villarreal5023-42
Xerez5014-111

Scottish Old Firm Preview: Rangers vs. Celtic


It is meant to be Scottish football's most eagerly anticipated match. A fixture that, love or loathe it, is impossible to ignore. A derby that even has English fans, brought up on the champagne football of the Premier League, glancing upwards through jealous eyes - fascinated by a rivalry that is always capable of reducing even the most cultured player into a raving lunatic.

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview

Stuttgart host Bremen, Lukas Podolski returns to Munich and Prussians face off in Moenchengladbach in Round 8. Clark Whitney previews all the weekend action...

Friday
Schalke – Eintracht Frankfurt

Saturday
Hannover - Freiburg
Bayern Munich - Koeln
Bayer Leverkusen - Nuernberg
Bochum - Wolfsburg
Mainz - Hoffenheim
Borussia M’gladbach - Borussia Dortmund

Sunday
Stuttgart - Werder Bremen
Hertha Berlin - Hamburg

FIFA Under-20 World Cup: United States vs. South Korea


The Americans' itinerary will depend largely on which group turns up against the South Korean team -- the one that was trounced by Germany in the opening match, or the squad that pummeled Cameroon on Tuesday night.


U.S. vs. South Korea
Mubarak Stadium; Suez, Egypt
October 2, 12:30 p.m. EDT
ESPN2, ESPN360.com

Premier League Heroes: Ginola: Because He's Worth It



In an era in which boy bands dominated popular culture, David Ginola, a man who looked like a Musketeer crossed with a male model, was football's answer to Take That. Dancing down the wing for Newcastle and Tottenham, and making opposition defenders play to his tune, the flamboyant Frenchman was every inch a modern superstar and a true Premier League hero.

Drug or Soccer Team?



Take the Quiz!






Cheers to Smith for this one...

Thierry Henry Interview




Barcelona Star Thanks Arsene Wenger And Arsenal Fans, Tips Gunners For Champions League Push.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Norman Hubbard: Evergreen Giggs Continues to Shine


Speed was his original forte. If it is now skill, it is a sign of an ability to reinvent himself. Once a fixture on the left flank, he has been a second striker, a deep-lying central midfielder, a right winger, though this season has brought him full circle with a return to his old territory.

Quotes & Chants of the Week

"He is married and a perfect husband, so sorry for the women, but they will not have any chance."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez breaks the hearts of Fernando Torres' female admirers.

"Giving a penalty to someone else because you feel sorry for him, because he has not scored, is the sort of thing you do in the school playground, not the Premier League."
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce gets steamed up after regular penalty-taker Darren Bent grants a gentleman's-excuse-me to Kenwyne Jones in the 5-2 win over Wolves.

"If I'd been sitting in with the crowd I'd have joined in the booing!"
Coventry boss Chris Coleman after his side trailed Middlesbrough at half-time.

"We looked like a woman who's got a big fur coat on and underneath she's got no knickers."
Micky Adams slates his Port Vale team after losing 3-1 to Notts County.

The Rest

Arsene Wenger Becomes Arsenal's Longest Serving Manager


Skysports.com's James Dall reflects on Arsene Wenger's impact on football since arriving at Arsenal 13 years ago.

Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in pictures

Arsene Wenger's Top 10 Signings

Arsene Wenger's Top 10 Moments

Andy Gray: Wenger still a winner

Wednesday's Champions League Reports & Analysis


General Review
General Review II

AC Milan 0 - 1 FC Zurich: San Siro shocker
Leonardo defiant despite defeat
Player Ratings

Apoel 0 - 1 Chelsea: Struggle in Cyprus
Harris: Lampard stuck in a rut

Bayern Munich 0 - 0 Juventus:
Old Lady looks better

Bordeaux 1 - 0 Maccabi Haifa:
Ciani winner

CSKA Moscow 2 - 1 Besiktas: Krasic winner

Porto 2 - 0 Atletico Madrid: Atletico woe

Manchester United 2 - 1 Wolfsburg: Owen hurt again
Jolly: Berbatov takes his chance

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Marseille:
Ronaldo double
Player Ratings

Best of the Week in the Champions League

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Tevez: I respect West Ham but just watch me celebrate if I score against Manchester United




Carlos Tevez has explained his decision not to celebrate his two goals against West Ham on Monday night - and vowed never to extend the same courtesy to his other former club, Manchester United.

Wednesday's Champions League Previews

The European credentials of Manchester United and Chelsea will be given a thorough going over on Wednesday night.

Bayern Munich vs. Juventus: Preview

Bordeaux vs. Maccabi Haifa: Preview

CSKA Moscow vs. Besiktas: Preview

AC Milan vs. Zurich: Preview

Real Madrid vs. Marseille:
Preview

Porto vs. Atletico Madrid: Preview

APOEL vs. Chelsea:
Preview
Dominic Fiefield: Chelsea aim to bounce back in Cyprus

Manchester United vs. Wolfsburg: Preview
Jonathan Wilson: United must beware Bosnia's dynamic duo

Christian Vieri: Ronaldo And I Were Party Animals At Inter, Lawsuit Still Ongoing


“When I was at Inter, Ronaldo was the player who trained less than anyone else, because he was the best footballer in the world and it is indeed true that we went back home at 5-6 AM,” he confessed.

“We went clubbing. Then, I used to sleep for a couple of hours and went on to the pitch to train, while he laid down on the cot and ate brioches and cappuccino.

FIFA says Honduras is safe to host US in Cup qualifier



The issue became a concern after Mexican side Toluca announced Monday it would not travel to Honduras for a CONCACAF Champions League match, citing safety concerns in the wake of riots and military crackdowns.

Martin Rogers Column


Carlo Ancelotti must have been tempted to thumb his nose at the English Premier League rulebook last weekend and send out a Chelsea minion to buy him a couple of packs of cigarettes.

Ancelotti has been unable to indulge his smoking habit since taking over as Chelsea head coach due to EPL regulations, but never can he have felt in greater need of nicotine reinforcement than last Saturday.

FIFA Under-20 World Cup: Rongen's changes bear fruit as U.S. routs Cameroon



It was like day and night.

The Americans' second match at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup kicked off after nightfall in Suez, and the Americans shined under the lights in Egypt, thrashing Cameroon 4-1 to erase the unpleasant memories of their opening loss Saturday afternoon against Germany, and put themselves in the thick of things in their group.


U.S. U-20 men's schedule

Friday:
U.S. vs. South Korea
Mubarak Stadium; Suez, Egypt
12:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

Maradona calls on God to save Argentina



Argentina coach Diego Maradona has called on God's hand to shield the South American country from World Cup elimination.

Tuesday's Champions League Reports & Analysis


General Review

General Review II

Fiorentina 2 - 0 Liverpool
Liverpool pay heavy price for bad start
Harris: Viola expose Liverpool deficencies
Player Ratings

FK Rubin Kazan 1 - 1 Inter Milan
Nerrazzuri held by Russian champions
Player Ratings


Barcelona 2 - 0 Dynamo Kiev

Messi unlocks stubbord Ukranians

Rangers 1 - 4 Sevilla

Seville bring Rangers to earth

Unirea Urziceni 1 - 1 Stuttgart
Romanians make point with inspired display

Arsenal 2 - 0 Olympiakos
Late relief for fluent Arsenal
Player Ratings
Collins: Fabregas on fire, but Gunners still can't finish

Debrecen 0 - 4 Lyon
French giants trample gentle hosts

AZ Alkmaar 1 - 1 Standard Liege

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I've Bendt My Car



Bendtner, 21, careered off the road and ploughed through a fence before smashing into a tree and coming to a stop in a field. A motorist who saw Sunday morning's crash on the A1(M) near South Mimms, Herts, said: "The car wasn't going especially fast but careered off the road. The driver must have lost his concentration for a moment.

Americans In The UK: Howard Records Fourth Straight Clean Sheet




The Everton keeper kept two more squads scoreless last week as the Toffees won both games handedly.

Americans On The Continent: Rough Week




It was a week to forget for many Americans, as a large percentage of the players plying their trade in continental Europe experienced the bitter drink that is defeat.

Tuesday's Champions League Action

Today's Matches:

Fiorentina vs. Liverpool
Kuyt aims to be second-leading scorer in Europe

Barcelona vs. Dynamo Kiev

Debrecen vs. Lyon

Rubin Kazan vs. Inter Milan

Rangers vs. Sevilla
Fabiano plots Rangers downfall

Unirea Urziceni vs. Stuttgart

AZ Alkmaar vs. Standard Liege

Arsenal vs. Olympiacos
Wenger aims to celebrate anniversary early

Arsène Wenger says he will not spend despite Arsenal's record turnover



Arsène Wenger said yesterday he will not sign any more players to boost his young squad, even as Arsenal announced record earnings which showed their manager could have almost £80m to spend if he wanted to.

Sid Lowe in Spain




While Pep Guardiola's side lord it in La Liga, president Joan Laporta is leading the way when it comes to 'security audits'.

Why Barcelona are keeping tabs on top spot – and their directors.

Paolo Bandini in Italy




Cesare Prandelli dedicated his 100th win as Fiorentina manager to the team's departing president.

Question of faith at Fiorentina as Della Valles fall out with their fans.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany




Jefferson Farfan scored the winner in a Ruhr derby most notable for being the most heavily policed home game in Borussia Dortmund's history.

Schalke bring home the bacon as Dortmund 'frying fat' fails to sizzle.

French fan dies after Serb attack


A French football fan attacked in Belgrade this month, apparently by Serb hooligans, has died in hospital.

Brice Taton, 28, was attacked in a Belgrade bar ahead of the Europa League match between Partizan Belgrade and Toulouse on 17 September.

Give & Go: USA And Hull City Striker Jozy Altidore



The U.S. national team and Hull City striker shares a few thoughts with Goal.com’s Matthew Braine. He discusses his new home in the Premiership and why he wants to win everything, including a World Cup.









The toughest Jozy's faced...

U.S. looks to strike on the counter against Cameroon



With a forgettable opening game performance in the FIFA U-20 World Cup behind his team, U.S. coach Thomas Rongen had some advice for his players as they prepare for their second game against Cameroon on Tuesday. Throw away the tape.






Tuesday

U.S. vs. Cameroon
Mubarak Stadium; Suez, Egypt
12:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

Friday
U.S. vs. South Korea
Mubarak Stadium; Suez, Egypt
12:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

Richard Jolly at the City of Manchester Stadium




Manchester City 3 - 1 West Ham United

Petrov makes his point

Phil Ball in Spain



I'm beginning to think - and I'm not the only one - that the two-horse race hardly matters if every week we can see Ronaldo doing this and then Messi doing the other over at Barcelona. And then there's Kaká, for heaven's sake.

Monday, September 28, 2009

English Premier League Preview: Manchester City vs. West Ham United


Kick-off:
Monday, 21:00 GMT

Where:

City of Manchester Stadium

U.S. TV:
ESPN2

Preview

Teams of the Week: Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga





Premier League

Serie A

Bundesliga

Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner ruled out of Olympiakos tie after car crash



The Danish international is understood to have crashed his Aston Martin while travelling northbound on the A1 towards South Mimms. Police confirmed that no other cars were involved in the accident which took place yesterday morning.

50 People Who Fouled Up Football




After a lifetime in love with football, Michael Henderson is appalled by the excesses of the modern game. In the second extract of his highly provocative new book, exclusively serialised in The Times, he names and shames the guilty parties.

Part I

The Curious Case of Freddy Adu




Just like Brad Pitt’s life in the 2008 movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, Freddy Adu’s career seems to be moving backwards.

Calcio Debate: The Problems Of Juventus, Inter & Milan Revealed




The ‘Big Three’ all slipped up at the weekend in matches that highlighted their weaknesses. Carlo Garganese explores the problems that Juve, Inter & Milan need to fix…

Monday MLS Breakdown: Joseph Presents Compelling MVP Case



While Landon Donovan remains the odds-on favorite to life his first MLS MVP award, New England's Shalrie Joseph has quietly compiled a similarly successful campaign. Kyle McCarthy argues Joseph may have the best MVP case of all before reviewing all of the action from Week 28.

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Roundups



Mladen Petric scored 17 minutes from time as Hamburg saw off Bayern Munich to keep their place at the top of the Bundesliga.
Saturday


A Vedad Ibisevic hat-trick inspired Hoffenheim to a 5-1 win over Hertha Berlin which took the side up to third in the table.
Sunday

Spain: La Liga Weekend Roundups




Barcelona and Real Madrid maintained their 100 per cent starts to the season as Sevilla ran riot at Athletic Bilbao.
Saturday

Deportivo heaped more misery on Villarreal by inflicting the visitor's third defeat of the campaign at the Municipal de Riazor.
Sunday

Italy: Serie A Weekend Roundups



Sampdoria have returned to the top of the Serie A table after shocking Inter Milan while Fiorentina overcame Livorno.
Saturday

Juventus moved to second in the Serie A table on Sunday after being held on home soil.
Sunday

England: Premier League Weekend Review


Premier League champions Manchester United climbed to the top of the table for the first time this season at a stunned Chelsea's expense as Carlos Ancelotti suffered his first defeat in charge of the Blues.

Elsewhere, England's top flight went goalscoring bananas, with 33 strikes on show from nine fixtures as the defending coaching manual was flung out of the window and into the autumn sky, allowing forwards to up the ante in their early fight for the Golden Boot.





England: Premier League Special Reports




Richard Jolly at Anfield
Liverpool 6 - 1 Hull City


Kevin Palmer at Craven Cottage

Fulham 0 - 1 Arsenal