Goal.com USA's Greg Lalas continues to check in from Ghana, where he is covering the African Nations Cup, dedicating his entire weekly column to breaking down the event now that the knockout round beckons.
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.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The 3-5-2: Elephant Love
Goal.com USA's Greg Lalas continues to check in from Ghana, where he is covering the African Nations Cup, dedicating his entire weekly column to breaking down the event now that the knockout round beckons.
Form or fame for Fabio?
Ex-Gunners stricker Smudger Smith ponders Capello's options as he picks his first England squad
Capello's conundrum
Beckham to miss out on Fabio's first squad
African Cup of Nations Update
The Cameroon striker hit a goal in each half against Sudan to become leading all-time scorer in African Cup of Nations
Eto’o wins place in history books
Egypt ease through after Zambia draw
Angola eye last eight place
Paul Doyle: It's the fans that make the ACN an intoxicating feast
Spotlight on Newcastle
According to George Caulkin of the Times breaking the cycle of bad decisions and good ones badly executed is proving difficult to achieve at St James' Park
Ashley attempts to restore sanity to Newcastle
While Marina Hyde asks: what is it that Newcastle's dazzling raft of appointments are actually meant to do?
All the vice-president's men won't save Newcastle
Fans aim to takeover Pool
Unwanted
Disgruntled supporters are set to unveil plans to prise the club from owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Sounds great, but it's hard to believe that it come to much. Their first donation is said to be becoming from a Señor R. Benitez.
Liverpool fans launch takeover move
Tom Hicks claim casts shadow over Rick Parry
Wednesday's EPL games
Cristiano Ronaldo is in such prolific goalscoring form that it will take a formidable challenge to wrest the title from Old Trafford:
Ronaldo leads way for relentless United
The German captain midfielder kept alive Avram Grant's hopes of catching the Premier League leaders:
Michael Ballack strike keeps Chelsea in hunt
Derby don't lose, honestly:
Derby make a point in front of new owners
The England defender had the desired effect at his new club, though Everton remain in fourth:
Woodgate helps Tottenham to keep clean sheet
Things just keep geting worse for Rafa and Liverpool:
Rafa Benitez shows strain of Liverpool defeat
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Verbeek - Bradley Staying Put For Now
Heerenveen coach Gertjan Verbeek believes midfielder Michael Bradley will not leave the club in the transfer window.
Underdogs hold the key for Libertadores success
It may have passed under the radar of many football fanatics, but the Copa Libertadores (South America's version of the UEFA Champions League) begins this week, albeit with a preliminary round of qualifying.
Coppa Italia Preview: Juventus-Inter
What: Coppa Italia quarter-final 2nd leg
Who: Juventus (3rd Serie A, 40 points) vs Inter (1st Serie A, 50 points)
When: Wednesday 30 January 2008, 21:00 CET
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Preview
‘The Animal’: Ibrahimovic Needs To Be Taught A Lesson
Former Juventus and Torino hardman Pasquale Bruno has launched a simply sensational attack on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero, saying that the former needs to be taught a lesson, while stating that the latter is not a superstar.“Any touch on a striker is enough for them to go down and shout and cry as if somebody has fouled them. “Italian strikers today only think about earrings, tattoos, nightclubs and shopping. I have never been able to stand the fakers as they go out there to get others suspended.”
England: Wednesday's Premier League Previews
The Blues take on The Royals, The Rams face The Citizens, The Toffees play The Lillywhites, The Irons meet The Reds and The Red Devils go up against Pompey.
Wednesday's game see ManU look to regain to spot
Ryan Giggs savours mental test
African Cup of Nations Update
Ivory Coast and Nigeria, just, make it through to the next round, as Eto'o gets serious.
Nigeria scrape through as Mali bow out
Eto'o out to make history against Sudan
Grant backs naughty Cole to emerge stronger
Avram Grant maintained yesterday that Ashley Cole is in the right frame
of mind to return to the Chelsea squad after being the subject of salacious headlines
Cashley back in Grant's thoughts
Ashley Cole cheats on wife Cheryl
Tuesday's EPL games see Arsenal go top
Kevin Keegan looked increasingly uncomfortable as Newcastle's goal drought continued:
Flamini fires Arsenal rout of sorry Newcastle
Two unheralded heroes allowed Roy Keane's side to clamber out of the relegation zone:
Prica the pride of Sunderland
The former Arsenal striker's second goal for his new club earned them three vital points:
Aliadiere gives Boro some breathing space
The visitors left the happier as this relegation dog-fight turned into a stroll at the Reebok Stadium:
Bolton miss Anelka firepower as Fulham shut up shop
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
THE SSN ALL-NAME TEAM INDUCTEE NUMBER EIGHT: BRIAN PINAS
Brian Pinas is a 5’ 8” midfielder who was born in 1978 in There is no doubt that Brian Pinas deserves a spot on
The Rest of The Squad to Date (there will be 25 total):
Marco Buggers - Reserve Striker
Nicky Butt - Starting Holding Midfielder
Dean Windass - Starting Striker
Rod Fanni - Starting Right Back
Berndt Haas - Starting Center Back
Danny Shittu - Starting Center Back
David Seaman - Reserve Goalkeeper
Alan Hansen on the revitalized FA Cup
"I don't think the FA Cup will ever quite get back to the status it had during the 1970s and 1980s, because the rise of the Champions League has altered the football landscape for good. But this season's stories have breathed further life into an already-revitalised competition - and it looks like there's a lot more yet to come."
England: Premier League Mid-Week Previews + Lawro's Predictions
Plenty of important fixtures today and tomorrow as Fulham travel to Bolton, Everton host Tottenham at Goodison Park, Newcastle return to the Emirates for the second time in three days and Manchester United welcome 'Arry and Portsmouth to Old Trafford.Previews
Lawro's Predictions
The Top Ten Manchester United Players During Alex Ferguson's Reign
Sir Alex Ferguson reckons Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are the best players to play for Manchester United since his arrival as manager on November 6th, 1986. Gil Gillespie begs to differ.
Phil Ball in Spain
Was Liverpool vs. Havant & Waterlooville a lot like Osasuna vs. Sevilla? Señor Ball reports...A tale of two games
Gallardo moves to DC
Christian Gomez's time in a D.C. United shirt might be up, as the four-time MLS Cup champs made a bold move on Monday by signing Argentine National Team midfielder Marcelo Gallardo.
D.C. United Sign Gallardo
21 go camping with Bob
In the second camp of the year, many of the same faces reconvene in preparations of another clash with their arch-rivals.
Bradley Names 21 Players To Pre-Mexico Camp
Two Villians hoping to impress Fabio
According to the Times, the Aston Villa and England Under-21striker has the best of both worlds in mentors Martin O’Neill and Stuart Pearce, while Capello must have concluded that only by throwing Scott Carson back into the fray will he discover who is "England’s No 1".
Gabriel Agbonlahor looking at the wider picture
Scott Carson seeks chance again as nightmare starts to fade
Wenger Vs Fergie, Round One
Arsene Wenger starts the silly mind games early with a jibe at ManU's recent trip to Saudi
Saudi trip will rebound on United, says Wenger
United's big FA Cup showdowns with Arsenal
"Protest marches are not high on our list of priorities"
The new American owners of Derby County have vowed to ensure that they do not alienate supporters or drag the club into debt.
Americans banking on Derby
Derby owners in pledge to fans
Spurs nab Woody as Richards faces decision day
You can see why Arsene Wenger would want to sign Jonathan Woodgate. It'd have been the perfect signing. With his injury record Woodgate would have hardly been avaliable for selection, enabling Wenger to contiue picking his regular players while finally having a retort to all the accusations of being anti-english.
Tottenham win over Jonathan Woodgate
Deal, or no deal? for Micah Richards
African Cup of Nations: Update
Essien comes good to take home nation into the next round, Senegal's coach does a runner, Mali get close and Aghahowa needs to pull his finger out.
Michael Essien propels Ghana into last eight
Kasperczak quits as Senegal coach
Solid Mali within point of last eight
Time for Aghahowa to stop blowing hot and cold
Keegan gets Wise?
Strange one, this. Dennis Wise comes in as technical director as part of a new continental-style management structure to support Kevin Keegan. Strange that Wise would want to leave Leeds, considering their position, strange that Keegan would want to spend time with Wise.
Dennis Wise quits Leeds to sign up for Newcastle revolution
Rafa battles for 4th
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The arrival of Randy Lerner and Thaksin Shinawatra has made sure the top four doesn't become a closed shop, says Kevin McCarra.
Benítez in firing line as chase for fourth gets ever hotter
"Spain's Zidane, only better"
Juan Carlos Valerón Santana returned to inspire Deportivo to victory last night, but he has a job to do to keep them up, reports Señor Lowe.
Spain's skinny Zidane back at last to lift Deportivo
Monday, January 28, 2008
FA Cup Fifth Round Draw
Manchester United and Arsenal set to square off..
Bristol Rovers v Southampton
Cardiff City v Wolves
Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Barnsley
Manchester United v Arsenal
Preston v Portsmouth
Coventry v West Brom
Chelsea v Huddersfield
Italy: Serie A Reports
Second consecutive draw for Inter, Trezegol leads Juventus over 10-man Livorno
| CLUB | GP | W | L | D | PTS | GD |
| Inter Milan | 20 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 50 | 30 |
| Roma | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 19 |
| Juventus | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 40 | 22 |
| Fiorentina | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 14 |
| Udinese | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 1 |
| Sampdoria | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 2 |
| AC Milan | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 14 |
| Atalanta | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 1 |
| Palermo | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 25 | -7 |
| Genoa | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 25 | -7 |
| Napoli | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 24 | -1 |
Last eight spots up for grabs in Ghana
With only the Ivory Coast certain of a place in the African Cup of Nations knockout stages as the final round of group matches begins, an increasingly captivating tournament continues to offer myriad possibilities and storylines.
In addition to the Elephants, a total of twelve other countries retain hopes of making the last eight, with only Namibia, Benin and Sudan having already packed their bags.
Two Derby Miracles
It's a time of miracles at Pride Park, Derbyshire. Derby manager Paul Jewell has performed his own little wonder with the team. No one who had seen their first 10-15 games under Billy Davies would have ever thought the team could get any worse. But Jewell is no ordinary manager. By buying pure shite, like Robbie Savage and Danny Mills, and selling Matt Oakley, Derby have managed to sink to unimaginable depths.
Now the Rams have jumped on the bandwagon and got themselves some American owners. Hard to believe, but true - someone has actually decided to invest in the club. Truly a miracle. Derby fans will be delighted about it, simply because they can't do any worse than previous regimes. That said, you have to question their thinking - they decided to invest in the club after they had "visited Derby County over the last six months and experienced a match day at Pride Park Stadium". This is surely akin to inspecting some property, seeing it has no roof and saying, yep, I'm putting my money in that.
The team celebrated the news by losing 4-1 to Preston.
Fabio to drop Bex again
The door's that way, son
Alan Hanson writes on Capello's pending England selection as the Italian looks set to drop Bex. Does anyone really care?
Fabio Capello's England clear-out must wait
Capello ready to leave Beckham out of squad
Woodgate and Yank 'keeper Guzan on the move
Villa and Celtic look set to duke it out over Chivas US stopper Guzan, while Woody seems likely to dis keegan and head down south to London. The Tottenham physios are looking forward to the money the overtime will bring in.
Villa emerge as rivals to Celtic in race for US goalkeeper
Jonathon Woodgate to head £17.5m Spurs spree
Arsenal Stun Spurs As Woodgate Bid Is Accepted
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Two Ronnie goals knock out luckless Spurs
Ronaldo notched up another brace as Tottenham were again unlucky to loose at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo brings Spurs back down to earth
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Balloons burst Man City's bubble
Nice to see Sven not blame the balloons for his team's exit. You can easily imagine certain other managers using them explain the failings of their team. British managers would have probably found out that they were produced outside the UK, so blamed the influence of foreigners.
Sheffield United hold on to dump City out of Cup
Balloons not to blame - Eriksson
Bribe scandal hits ACN
The Africa Cup of Nations match-fixing scandal gathered pace as Namibia's players came forward to say they had been offered £15,000 a man to lose in their next match against Guinea. On the pitch Egypt won their second game as Nigeria continue to struggle. Meanwhile ManU seem to have bought themselves a bit more quality in Manucho.
Namibians 'offered money' to throw match
Egypt score three more to sink Sudan
Stalemate leaves Nigeria facing early exit
Double for United's Manucho leaves Senegal at risk of early exit
Villa 1 Blackburn 1
Villa and Blackburn played out an all too predictable draw in the weekend's only EPL game.
Young's point will not be lost on Capello
Sunday's FA Cup games
Liverpool's great season hit a new height yesterday when they fell behind to the mighty Havant and Waterloo. And never to be outdone in the embarrassment stakes, Derby were thrashed by lowly Preston of the Championship. There were more predictable results from Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth.
Havant take the glory but haves earn the prize
Jewell lost for words
Arsenal end Newcastle's FA Cup dream
Anelka finds welcome finesse in the gloom
Portsmouth survive stern test from Plymouth
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