Guillem's La Liga Guide

La Liga expert Guillem Balague runs the rule over all 20 clubs, where he thinks they will do well, where he thinks they might struggle and just who he expects to light up another season of Spanish football...[pt. 1]

THE SSN ALL-NAME TEAM INDUCTEE NUMBER THREE: BERNT HAAS

Bernt Haas is a 6’1” defender born April 8, 1978 in Vienna, Austria. Haas began his career at Grasshoppers in Zurich before moving to Sunderland, Basle, West Brom, Cologne, Bastia, and finally St. Gallen where he currently enjoys his football. He has spent time on the Swiss national team, including Euro 2004 when he was sent off against England, but is no longer representing his country. Speaking of, I don’t know why he played for Switzerland instead of Austria. And honestly, I don’t really care. I only care that his name is Bernt Haas, and that when he played at West Brom the fans would chant, “Vindaloo, Vindaloo!” in his honor. Brilliant. Mr. Haas also once worked as a model, with Armani as his boss. I’ve been unable to find out what sort of model he was, but I’ve been told by those in the know that he’s got a smoking butt. Anyway, there is no doubt that Bernt Haas deserves a starting spot on Sanford Soccer Net’s All-Name Team, and he’ll be one of our center-backs.

Next Week - who will be our keeper? It might not be who you expect...

Everton fans vote to leave Liverpool

Soon there will be only one team in Liverpool: Everton fans have voted to back their club's proposal to move from Goodison Park to a new 55,000-seater stadium in Kirkby which, though only a few miles away, lies outside the city limits.
25,761 cast votes in club ballot

And Ian Griffiths says, "Everton's famous old ground will be a genuine loss to the national game, but, it seems, money talks"


If you're planning that trip to Anfield before it's gone you might as well add Goodison Park to the itinerary...

Lawro's Premiership Predictions

Our favorite pundit delivers his thoughts on this weekend in the EPL

Derby v Birmingham

This is a match between two teams in the bottom six, who, frankly, will be two teams who will finish the season in the bottom six.

Derby were mauled by Tottenham last week and they will have to be better on Saturday.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has signed quite a few players in the transfer window but I am finding it hard to work out where the goals are coming from.

A long hard season for both these teams.

Match preview

Prediction: 2-1

The Mill ++ +++

Friday's Rumours

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La Liga: Big-spending Real face Atletico pressure

Almeria, Real Murcia and Real Valladolid are the new boys in the top Spanish Division. And it all kicks off tomorrow.

Sid Lowe's Season Preview

Primera Liga Weekend Fixtures:

Playing on Saturday
Real Madrid  v Atletico Madrid     Click Here For A Madrid Derby Preview
Real Murcia  v Real Zaragoza
Sevilla v Getafe       

Playing on Sunday
Athletic Bilbao  v Osasuna      
Deportivo Coruna  v Almeria      
Racing Santander  v Barcelona    
Real Mallorca   v Levante      
Recreativo Huelva v Real Betis   
Valencia  v Villarreal   
Espanyol  v Real Valladolid 

Serie A: Football returns but old demons remain

Napoli, Genoa and Juventus are the new faces in Italy's top flight. And it all kicks off tomorrow.

Serie A Weekend Fixtures:

Playing on Saturday
Lazio  v Torino           
Juventus  v Livorno         

Playing on Sunday
Fiorentina  v  Empoli           
Genoa v AC Milan         
Inter Milan v Udinese          
Napoli  v Cagliari        
Parma v Catania         
Reggina  v Atalanta Bergamo 
Siena v Sampdoria        
Palermo v AS Roma          
 

English Premier League Weekend Preview: Matchday 4

There are already a few vital clashes geared up to take place this weekend in the Premiership. Both Manchester United and Spurs have started the season poorly and will be looking to get their season up and fully running. For the Red Devils, a win would be their first of the season, and for Spurs, three points would ease all speculation regarding Martin Jol’s future. Arsenal welcome top of the table Manchester City, who will be looking to cause an upset at the Emirates and continue their winning streak, whereas Middlesbrough face Newcastle in a local derby, where pride amongst points will be at stake. Mushtaq Quraishi previews the weekend’s fixtures…

Oh, and Fast Eddie's Betting Guide!

Sat 25th August 2007
Sunderland	v	Liverpool	12:45
Aston Villa	v	Fulham	15:00
Bolton	v	Reading	15:00
West Ham	v	Wigan Athletic	15:00
Derby County	v	Birmingham	15:00
Arsenal	v	Man City	15:00
Chelsea	v	Portsmouth	15:00
Everton	v	Blackburn	17:15
Sun 26th August 2007
Middlesbrough	v	Newcastle	13:30
Man Utd	v	Tottenham	16:00

Source: Brazilian Denilson headed to FC Dallas

Sources told ESPN.com that FC Dallas has finally agreed to a deal with the 29 year-old midfielder. The club is very hopeful Denilson will be available for his MLS debut Sept. 1 vs. D.C. United and for FC Dallas' U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Sept. 4 at the Seattle Sounders.

The King of the Stepover to MLS?



He's the one on the right...

Under-17 World Cup: Defeat to Tunisians leaves Americans on edge

For the U.S. to qualify now, it must beat Belgium in its final Group E match on Sunday and get a perfect storm of other results to go through as one of four third-place finishers.

Fulham striker McBride sidelined until Christmas

He has flown back to his homeland, and is expected to face a four-month lay-off during which he will be put through intense rehabilitation. Manager Lawrie Sanchez said: 'He is having an operation and we expect him to be out until Christmas. 'He is captain, he is a centre forward who wins a lot in the air and is a big presence in the dressing room. 'So he is quite a big loss for us.'

American goalkeeper Keller signs for Fulham

'It's fantastic to be back in the Premier League after a couple of years' absence - and when the opportunity to join Fulham came up it was an exciting proposition that didn't take too much consideration,' he said.

Should we start calling Fulham "Team USA" ???

Los Angeles Galaxy admit to Beckham travel fears

Globetrotter David Beckham's draining trans-Atlantic schedule is beginning to concern his employers Los Angeles Galaxy.

The former England captain drew a blank, along with his team-mates, in Galaxy's 3-0 Major League Soccer derby defeat against Chivas USA on America's west coast last night - less than 30 hours after he had finished playing for his country against Germany around 5,500 miles away at Wembley.

THE SSN ALL-NAME TEAM INDUCTEE NUMBER TWO: ROD FANNI

Rod Fanni is a 6’ 1” right back who currently plies his trade in France for Rennes. Mousier Fanni was born on December 6, 1981, in the tiny seaside hamlet of Martigues, which is northeast of Marseilles. His footballing exploits have taken him from his hometown club to Lens, off to Chateauroux on loan, to Nice, and now to Rennes. Rod is quite versatile, and can position himself anywhere across the back, although his preferred position is on the right where he can use his speed to penetrate the opposition defense. Sadly, he doesn’t score much, with just one goal in French football since 2000. Word on the street was that Newcastle and Celtic fancied Fanni, but he wished to remain in France and chose Rennes over those two clubs. Rod is still being linked with a move abroad, and is eager to don his first cap for France. There is no doubt that Rod Fanni deserves a starting spot on Sanford Soccer Net’s All-Name Team, and he’ll be our right back.

Keller Keeping Options Open

For the first time in nearly twenty years, goalkeeper Kasey Keller doesn’t have a team…. And that’s just fine with him. Arguably the most accomplished American player ever, Keller talks with Soccer365’s Lars Lifrak about what it will take to get him back on the pitch. He also looks back at a career that has spanned four World Cup appearances and success at the club level in three of the biggest leagues in the world.


(And 20 years ago he also had a nice Kentucky Waterfall...Tennessee Tophat...Soccer Rocker...Neck Blanket...Louisiana Purchase...Missouri Compromise...Mississippi Mudflap...Canadian Passport...McGuyver...)

International Round-up: Italy, England, Argentina, Netherlands, United States and Mexico Lose

World champion Italy was upset by Hungary 3-1 Wednesday night, joining England, Argentina, the Netherlands and the United States on the losing side in exhibition games.

U.S. Disappoints Against Sweden

Sweden 1 - 0 USA

Heading into Wednesday's friendly match with Sweden, the stated goals of U.S. head coach Bob Bradley were to match the tempo and physical play of the Swedes, and build on the positive aspects of this summer's Gold Cup. Not only did the U.S. fail on almost all counts during its 1-0 loss on Wednesday, but the negative traits from this summer, namely a shaky defense and poor finishing, were once again staples of the American game.

Jen Chang said: I actually thought the U.S. had a good showing overall and a lot of positive aspects, but it only created two clear-cut chances and you never got the feeling that the U.S. was going to win.

The Insider at Wembley

England 1-2 Germany

As even a couple of drunken England fans on the London Underground questioned why David Beckham was forced to fly half the way around the world for an England friendly, you couldn't help but wonder why Steve McClaren couldn't see their point.

Qualifier Report: Poor Portugal Held By Animated Armenia

A great move from Cristiano Ronaldo saved Portuguese honour in Erevan as the visitors suffered an early goal and only harvested a meagre point from their away fixture. The result is a let-down for Scolari and his men and postpones Portugal's chances of making it through to Switzerland and Austria next year...

Argentina in fear of the Drunks in the Stands

This was meant to be the year Argentinian football cleaned up its act - but gangs of murderous hooligans are ensuring it isn't happening yet.





(Like this guy? - Sanford)