Surely a good defence doesn't turn bad overnight and therefore a move for new additions at the back is a tad of a knee-jerk reaction?

WEST HAM could have a fight on their hands to keep their star players after reports emerged that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is planning a £15million double raid for defenders Matthew Upson and Herita Ilunga.

CaughtOffside contributor considers the ramifications of Fabio Capello considering selecting players born outside the British Isles.

So Fabio Capello's considering selecting some bloke called Aaron Hunt for the England squad. To me, he sounds like a Division One workhorse who's kicking lumps out of people at Colchester.

Redknapp sets sights on high profile wing wizard.

Spurs and Portsmouth both want to sign Marseille's Hatem Ben Arfa who has fallen out with Didier Deschamps and his shiny black leather jacket. Ben Arfa has accused Deschamps of "breaking his balls". Deschamps says he didn't break his balls, they were already broken and actually he was only trying to fix them and he may have slightly chipped one while he was doing it but it's not his fault if his balls are actually quite badly made and frankly quite cheap in the first place.

All of us at COS towers wanted to point you in the direction of a brilliant new website that is a must for all football fans.

Tixdaq.com has had a facelift and is now THE place to get your football tickets whether you support Liverpool or Inter Milan, Manchester United or Juventus.

Tixdaq is a ticket comparison site that has access to thousands of tickets to hundreds of football matches.

Rio Ferdinand will not play for Manchester United again this year.

The England centre-back has been told he needs another six weeks of rest and physio work before his back will be strong enough for Premier League football.

Ferdinand, 31, had been playing with back problems since last season leading to a calf injury this term.

The hard luck of the Irish

It will come as scant consolation to Ireland, their backroom staff, their players and their massive support (which probably now includes the whole known world outside the borders of France), that maybe this latest travesty could be the death knell to all those who believe that 'honest' mistakes are part and parcel of the game.

Alberto Aquilani is in contention to make his long-awaited full Liverpool debut on Saturday as Rafael Benítez looks to the £20m summer signing to reinvigorate the club's season against Manchester City.

The Italy international has played only 21 minutes for Liverpool since arriving from Roma in August, as a substitute against Birmingham City and Arsenal, because of his recovery from ankle surgery plus illness.

Raul Meireles scored to give Portugal a win and earn them a spot at South Africa 2010.

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Slovenia managed a shock victory over Guus Hiddink's Russia to reach the World Cup Finals.

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A Thierry Henry handball cost Ireland a chance of a glorious win in Paris and France sneak into South Africa 2010.

0-1 Keane

1-1 Gallas

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A solitary goal from Dimitris Salpigidis was enough to see Greece through to South Africa 2010.

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A stunning strike from Antar Yahia earned Algeria a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a bad tempered encounter between the two north African nations.

Figthing erupts early on

Said goes close for Egypt

Yahia almost puts Algeria one up

Algeria go close again

Algerian keeper makes a great save

0-1 Yahia

Ghezzal goes close to making it two nil

Egypt almost equalize

Egypt thwarted again

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A stunning strike from Antar Yahia earned Algeria a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a bad tempered encounter between the two north African nations.

Figthing erupts early on

Said goes close for Egypt

Yahia almost puts Algeria one up

Algeria go close again

Algerian keeper makes a great save

0-1 Yahia

Ghezzal goes close to making it two nil

Egypt almost equalize

Egypt thwarted again

Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!

Rafa eyes up Italian wonderkid.

Rafael Benitez is the latest Premier League manager thought to be watching Italian youngster Sebastian Giovinco.

The 22-year-old was recently linked with both Arsenal and West Ham, but now Liverpool are thought to be monitoring his progress and contemplating a possible move.

Carlo Ancelotti closes in on Argentine sharp shooter.

Chelsea will push through a £40m deal for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero it was reported today.

The Argentine international has been a long term target for the Stamford Bridge outfit and it would appear that a deal will finally go through in January.