Mini match report: Unexpectedly terrific performance by Spurs, with Aaron Lennon and especially Niko Kranjcar who scored twice, either side of a Jermain Defoe strike in devastating form on the flanks.

City never turned up (Robinho, take a bow), but then Tottenham didn't allow them to.

Well, honestly, that was about what we expected. Not that it's not still disappointing, especially with us managing to get to halftime all tied up. But as I said in the preview, our first team has lost the last two years at Eastlands, and City definitely fielded their first-choice XI, so it would have been asking a lot of our youngsters and back-ups to go up there and win.

Liverpool have undoubtedly suffered as a result of the dual loss of Sami Hyypia and Xabi Alonso over the summer, but which player does the club miss the most?
Sami Hyypia was my favourite Liverpool player for years; a superb footballer and a real gentleman, he embodied everything that was great about the club.

I must say I was surprised by the team sheet and quite excited. It wasn't traditional but looked lively. The injury to Eduardo is unfortunate and hopefully it won't be a major one. On the positive side, it has given us our first glimpse of Arshavin in the central role. The Russian always looks dangerous when he comes inside and the central role offered him more opportunities to express his talents.

This match proved one thing: This is the worst AEK we have ever seen.

The match started terribly, with plenty of chances for Panionios to score until the 21st, when they did manage to get their first goal. Riera and Estoyianoff absolute tore AEK up this evening. Estoyianoff was able to get past our defence with ease while Riera missed some dangerously close chances.

Fabregas must have read my recent article on Arsenal.
He told the Guardian,

"Throughout the game [at Manchester City in the 3-0 Carling Cup defeat last Wednesday], we had a lot of possession but didn't really have anyone to go in behind the defenders, apart from Carlos Vela," Fábregas said.

Jeff Cooper finally has his men's soccer club, and the outdoor professional game has returned to St. Louis after a long absence. Sure, we don't even know if the league AC St. Louis intends to play...

The Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has come back into the Arsenal squad just in time to face Liverpool this weekend, but he is backing Andrei Arshavin to take the attacking role again in the absence of Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner. Walcott was asked if he thought that Arsene Wenger would give him an attacking [.

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins seemed content with the pay off from his tactical plan in the 1-1 draw with Reading at the weekend, although why one might choose merely to counter attack against a side with one home win since January is a whole other question. Still, given the unbalanced nature of the play, the Iron are right to be content with a point, especially given the absence of Martyn

Arsenal-Aston Villa

Both teams level at 35 points this match could end up deciding who will be in the top four slots by season's end. Arsenal has the league's best offense heading into the match and Aston Villa owns the league's best defense. Villa is red hot as of late and likely have the momentum in this battle considering the Gunners will be without many of their offensive stars (van Persie, Fabregas, Bendtner).

A Southend parent has begun a 28 day prison sentence for failing to ensure their childattended secondary school.
The parent, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty and was jailed bySouthend Magistrates on Monday 30th November after a third appearance in court for the sameoffence in the past 20 months.

Diego Maradona has been suspended by FIFA for two months so he won't be able to attend the World Cup draw.

In his absence, the man who should have been the Albiceleste's coach, Carlos Bilardo will be representing Argentina.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is very pleased with the way in which David Ngog has stepped forward and led the Reds' line during the recent injury absence of Fernando Torres.
The 20-year-old has started Liverpool's last four games, scoring twice. He has now notched five goals in all game this season, and Benitez is pleased that the striker seems to have answered some of his critics.

Fernando Torres has been ruled out of Liverpool's Premier League trip to Blackburn on Saturday after failing to recover sufficiently quickly from the groin injury which has forced him to miss Rafael Benitez' side's last four fixtures.
The Spanish international striker returned to full training with his team-mates yesterday and took part today, but Benitez has confirmed he is not yet fit enough to be considered available, though the Liverpool manager is hoping Torres will be able to play some part against Fiorentina in the dead rubber Champions League game on Wednesday.

Bad luck for Wayne Bridge:

Wayne Bridge could be on the sidelines for two weeks after picking up a knee injury in Saturday's win over Chelsea.

The left back was stretchered off in the second half after colliding with Belletti, but manager Mark Hughes has reported that after initially looking to have been seriously hurt, the player may only be out in the short-term.

Fabregas must have read my recent article on Arsenal.
He told the Guardian,

"Throughout the game [at Manchester City in the 3-0 Carling Cup defeat last Wednesday], we had a lot of possession but didn't really have anyone to go in behind the defenders, apart from Carlos Vela," Fábregas said.

Ex-Villa boss follows in footsteps of Son of God John Gregory has been appointed as the new manager of Maccabi Ahl Nazareth. The Israeli outfit gave the former Derby County and Aston Villa boss the chance to return to coaching after a prolonged absence. No word yet on whether he has planned an away trip to Bethlehem [.

"Alan Hansen said a few things and Mark Hughes said a few things back, but I don't like to think about it too much.

"It's going to hurt or bother anyone, but I didn't need to watch Match of the Day to realise I had played badly and been out of position.

"He (Hansen) said a few things, but I'm not going to cry about it.

Ahead of Liverpool's final game of their Champions League campaign this season, against Fiorentina, Rafael Benitez has spoken about the upcoming challenge in the Premier League against Arsenal.
The Spaniard insists that while some players may be rested for the Gunners game, he will still likely field his star players against the Serie A side.

Previous posts: Formation | Keeper | Right Back | Centerback | Left Back | Central Midfield
Well, the last vote was the closest. Hamann took second over Mascherano by five votes. I haven't been closing the polls, so things might change, but I doubt it.
The team so far is:
Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Riise
Alonso Hamann
The next three votes – RM, LM, and second striker – are going to see some repeat names.

After a one-year absence, top-level women's amateur soccer will return to Madison next summer...
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Sepp Blatter introduces the award with Mrs Erzsébet Puskás.

This is the inaugural year for a brand new FIFA award. The FIFA Puskás Award will be presented to the scorer of the best goal of each year. Ten goals have been nominated by FIFA and now it will be voted on by users of FIFA.com.

A concern going into today's game was our recent record of firing blanks at The Reebok (no goals in our four previous visits), but - in what has been a theme of the season so far - it was problems in defence rather than attack that was to be our undoing.
Team wise Hughes went as I expected - Sylvinho in for Bridge and Bellamy picked ahead of Robinho, but the recently impressive de Jong was replaced by Vincent Kompany.

Some big news that rules him out of tonight's game:

CITY defender Joleon Lescott will be out of action for several weeks after having a knee operation today. The £22m summer signing from Everton had surgery on a floating bone in his knee.
It's the latest injury blow to the City back line after Wayne Bridge was ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

For U.S. Soccer fans, few nights have ever been as emotional as the night of Oct. 14, when the Americans tied Costa Rica in their final World Cup qualifier. The importance of the result wasn't just tied to finishing first in the CONCACAF qualifying group, but also to the ability to score a result and honor a fallen teammate who's absence left everyone with a heavy heart.

As we prepare for Craven Cottage – the scene of one of most disastrous and so nearly detrimental performances last season – I feel it appropriate to reflect on the season so far and discuss how the side has changed from the side Fulham beat in March who consequently recovered brilliantly to win the third title in a row.

Mexico striker Carlos Vela made a small appearance for Arsenal this afternoon as the Gunners eased past Hull City by three goals to nil.

Coming in the 81st minute to replace Andrey Arshavin, Carlos produced a number of good runs making himself available for his team mates up front and also produced a cheeky backheel to set-up Mikael Silvestre in a move ended with Aaron Ramsey failing to hit the target.

Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is shown a red card by the referee Lee Mason at Portsmouth, an offence that has landed the Argentina captain a four-match ban.
Liverpool have confirmed that Javier Mascherano will serve a four-match ban after his sending-off at Fratton Park. The Argentina captain was shown a straight red card by the referee Lee Mason and now faces a second suspension of the season.

Carlos Vela put to bed all transfer rumours on his future after signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal Football Club.

Speaking of his contract extension, Carlos said:

I'm very happy to sign a new contract and I'm very excited to be spending more years with Arsenal Football Club.

I hope you all had a restful and merry Christmas. I apologize for my absence for the last week but I am back now for the next year to bring you the latest and greatest from the Champions League.

JBM has been open for one year now and we have gone through a number of redesigns and changed blog software numerous times and we thank you for sticking with us.

It is hard to pick just one person that was exceptionally good this year, but if I had to choose any one person it would have to be who other than Didier Drogba of Chelsea. Drogba not only has proven once again to be second to no one in the Premier League as an offensive force and the Ivory Coast star has both his squads (Chelsea and the Ivory Coast) in great position going into the New Year.