In the absence of any match report or tweets every few seconds from saturday's FA Cup Final between Kelantan and Sime Darby at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, here are the thoughts of Kelantan's coach Bojan Hodak.
'Great atmosphere, 2 hours before game was almost full stadium, in this atmosphere we couldnt lose
Today I read that Kelantan didnt play so well, problem is that everyone expect 3-0 4-0 but Sime Darby played 8-1-1, after they conceded the goal they changed to 8-0-2.

If ever there was a match made in Heaven in the footballing world, it would have to be between Arsenal and Thierry Henry, who have found each other again after a five-year absence, with the magic the same as it ever was.

It was an otherwise drab encounter, with little to get excited about as a makeshift Arsenal team struggled to break down a determined and dogged Leeds side coming with only one intention a lucrative replay.

Under-pressure Liverpool striker Andy Carroll admits that the return of skipper Steven Gerrard has boosted his hopes of performing more consistently for the Reds.

Carroll, who was signed for over £35 million from Newcastle United last January, has scored only four times in 25 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, leading to continuous criticism from both within and outside the club.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon remains a Union player.

A Union official confirmed Sunday that Mondragon is in camp with the Union and said the club has not talked with Deportivo Cali, despite Colombian reports that Mondragon could sign with his hometown club, Deportivo Cali.

Japanese J. League Division 1 club Nagoya Grampus (Japanese: 名古屋グランパ) is back in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after a one-year absence. Last season's second-placed J1 finisher is pooled with...

The Enigma that is Wojech Szczesny by KJ In the December of 2010, Wojech Szczesny earned his debut for Arsenal against none other than Premier league era rivals, Manchester United. He had an amazing game against them in the absence of his Poland international colleague, Lukas Fabianski. From there on he has cemented his position [.

Arsenal's summer signing Andre Santos has revealed that he has been thrilled with the treatment he has received from everyone at the club and has chosen the Gunners faithful for special praise after recently returning from a long injury spell.

Brazil international Santos, signed from Fenerbahce seven months ago, briefly showed glimpses of his talent before being sidelined towards the end of 2011.

Manchester United are setting themselves for a complicated meeting against Blackburn Rovers on the weekend and Sir Alex Ferguson warned his players that it won't be an easy ride for them especially since the last few meetings between haven't been kind for Ferguson's boys.

The veteran tactician noted that playing against the Rovers always had a little bit of Derby feeling into it, resulting in a feisty encounter which usually reflected with a tight scoreline.

With England midfielders dropping like flies, more and more questions have been asked about why Michael Carrick isn't going to the Euros. He has had a brilliant season for Manchester United but, as always, hasn't received much recognition for this.

When Roy Hodgson announced his squad, eyebrows were raised when Carrick not only missed out but also didn't make the standby.

Wayne Rooney was a notable absence from Man United's shock 3-2 loss with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and despite Ferguson stating that he was struggling with an injury, rumours have been circulated that the player was axed following allegations that he, Johnny Evans and Darron Gibson went out following the 5-0 win against Wigan on boxing day.

With just a little over half the season already gone, and 20 league matches played, it's time to assess the individuals that make up the glorious institution that is Arsenal FC. Some you know have had great years; others, not so much. We begin this player review by looking at some of the under-performing players of this season's team so far.

Liverpool feel the full force of Luis Suarez absence how will his eight-game ban shape their season?

The Reds chose not to appeal against their Uruguayan forward's ban and he endured his first match on the sidelines as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2012-01-04 08:58:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

There's obviously no transfer news as yet from White Hart Lane but surprisingly, the rumour mill is also a little quiet after the Christmas break.

As far as any potential incomings are concerned, we looked at the possibility of either Christopher Samba or James Tomkins at the back while our search for a striker could see Harry secure the services of Lille's Moussa Sow.

Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

What was supposed to be a winter during which Omar Gonzalez was going to take the next step in his career has turned into disaster.

The Los Angeles Galaxy centerback tore his left ACL on his first day on loan with FC Nurnberg, and he has returned to Los Angeles to undergo surgery, according to Nurnberg's official website.

Telegraph: Liverpool's return to Wembley after 16-year absence would endorse Kenny Dalglish's return

Kenny Dalglish determined to end Liverpool's 16-year Wembley exile by overcoming City in the Carling Cup.

View the full story here: The Telegraph

A news article on 2012-01-10 23:00:17 from: The Telegraph

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

On my way to work this morning I saw a sticker in the back wondow of a car that said 'My daughter plays rugby' in bold, pink letters.
At first I thought, well that's a bit of an odd think to have advertised in your car.
But when I thought about it more I realised, actually it's not.

Having had a great win at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night, expect to see Kenny re-introduce the likes of Jose Enriqué, Maxi Rodriguez as well as the combination of returning Captain Steven Gerrard to play alongside Charlie Adam in midfield in the absence of young Jay Spearing who did his hamstring on Wednesday.

Only a Game: The Diary of a Professional Footballer By Eamon Dunphy Published by Penguin (second edition) July 1998, £8.99, ISBN: 9780140102901 Left Foot in the Grave By Garry Nelson Published by CollinsWillow August 1998, available from 1p, ISBN: 9780002187749 [E]veryone wants to be a footballer. I still do, and I'm 37.

Saturday morning. South London is grey and gloomy.

It's always exciting to have a game after a bit of a break. Back into your regular seats to see the Whites playing against an intriguing looking Newcastle side.

In a way it's a shame that Tiote and Ba will be absent always nice to see the opposition's best players close up.

The only one with the ball will be the one missing

Ahead of this Sunday's game against Manchester United, the latest injury news update does not help to reassure any nerves. We are already going through a bad run of 2 consecutive league losses at the moment ahead of the imminent arrival of the team that gave us a beating in August.

Granada have hired former Atletico Madrid coach Abel Resino to replace the sacked Fabriciano Gonzalez and try to save the La Liga strugglers from making an immediate return to the second division.

"Granada CF announces the hiring of Abel Resino as the red and whites' new coach until next June 30," the club said in a statement on their website.

It's been such a flat start to the week after Sunday's defeat which was hard to take, followed by current Spurs headlines which are dominated by Harry's court case.

The season goes on however and at the club, Joe Jordan and Jermain Defoe are leading the voices that are ‘taking the positives' out of Sunday's game.

The long substitution

It's finally confirmed, the news that we did not want to hear. That Jack Wilshere has had a setback and would not be available in the date that we initially had hoped he would be back for. AC Milan's games were touted as his return period but that will now have to be extended.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have signed Freddie Veseli from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old central defender joined the club in 2008 but has become frustrated by the lack of first team opportunities. He made his debut for the club in a pre-season friendly in the summer but when the dreadful Stefan Savic got the nod ahead of him during Vincent Kompany's absence, the Veseli clearly realised it was time to leave.

This match saw the welcome return of Captain Coloccini, and also the absence of Yohan Cabaye a victim of trial by television and the London FA earlier in the day. Chris Samba was missing from the Blackburn Rovers line-up following the club's failure to release him during the January transfer window clearly fit [.

Rafael Da Silva has made just three league appearances this season after bad luck with injuries have kept him out of the team. Even when he does get on the pitch, there are plenty of tongue in cheek sweepstakes amongst United fans predicting what time he will be subbed off with an injury.

Rafael has reflected on this bad luck but wonders whether his style of play has an influence on it.

Seven home games without a goal... Here's hoping the end of the transfer window and a few loans might change things. James Bolton reports from the City Ground. The big news as kick off approached was that youngster Jamaal Lascelles would start in the centre of defence in the absence of Luke Chambers through suspension [.

Match Report Video By the numbers

I think we can safely say this morning that's just what the doctor ordered.

Three points, a good performance, and a day which brought no controversy, animosity, angst or worry. For a moment it looked a bit shaky, when Pedersen equalised with Blackburn's first attempt on target, but instead of setting us back it sparked us back into life and withing a couple of minutes we were two goals to the good.

Didier Drogba could not be denied as he made up for a missed penalty by pouring in a brace. Ivory Coast added another through Yaya Toure as they send Equatorial Guinea, the co-hosts, out of the ACN. The Taranga Lions are through to the semi-finals.

Drogba will be missing today's huge showdown with Man Utd, and in his absence, Chelsea is hoping that misfiring Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, take up the goalscoring slack.

What is it with unusual pitch invaders on Merseyside lately? Last week, a protestor cuffed himself to the posts at Goodison Park to register his disgust with a budget airlines, and tonight a cat found its way onto the pitch during Tottenham's bout with Liverpool at Anfield.

Brad Friedel was visibly freaked out by the impromptu appearance of the misplaced moggy — perhaps he thought Harry Redknapp had sent one of his pets in his absence from the match — and Liverpool fans responded with the inventive chant "a cat, a cat, a cat, a cat, cat.

As Guiseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano's respective ailments take their toll on the Azzurri selection process, the more cynical fans among us will be already preparing the finger pointing when Italy lack the firepower needed to overcome the likes of Spain and the Republic of Ireland, citing the duo's absence [read more]

Oguchi Onyewu's comeback season with Sporting Lisbon has encountered a massive setback.

Onyewu suffered a torn ligament and meniscus in his right knee and requires surgery that will keep him out of action for two months, according to Sporting Lisbon's official website.

Onyewu suffered the injury in Sporting's victory over Pacos de Ferreira over the weekend, needing to be substituted off after 27 minutes.

Have to say that I am really surprised to hear that Carlos Tevez has issued a full apology to Roberto Mancini and the City players, clearing the way for him to re-join the first team squad as soon as he is fit.

A Manchester City statement said:

"Carlos Tevez has today apologised to all concerned for his recent conduct.

Have to say that I am really surprised to hear that Carlos Tevez has issued a full apology to Roberto Mancini and the City players, clearing the way for him to re-join the first team squad as soon as he is fit.

A Manchester City statement said:

"Carlos Tevez has today apologised to all concerned for his recent conduct.

For those who've grown accustomed to seeing my pre-match previews, I apologize for my absence last week. However, it was an excused absence, as I was welcome my first child, a rather adorable little girl (yes, I'm biased, of course!), into the world. The last week has been quite hectic, to say the least, but [.

At the beginning of every summer, a list of free agents is circulated amongst British clubs and managers. Here, Dan Mobbs of the excellent Three Match Ban speaks to a player who unwittingly found himself on last year's register. Unemployment and the anxious search for work are simply not things associated with top flight football, as being a free agent from a Premier League club is ostensibly a financially profitable position to be in; attracting a bumper signing-on fee and an increased wage packet in the absence of a financial transfer lump.

The Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner got a boot in the nose from Angel Rangel when Sunderland played Swansea about a month ago, but the Black Cats have been playing brilliantly in his absence (including two games against his parent club) and Martin O'Neill now says that he will have to fight to regain his place [.

Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones won't be available for the United States due to a right calf injury, the US Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday. Jones played in the January friendlies for the USA. Jones's absence reduces the US roster to 20 players available for Wednesday's game against Italy (2:30pm ET - ESPN2).

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid ruled out Eddie Johnson for Wednesday's Community Shield match against Jaguares. Johnson has been nursing a hamstring injury ever since he came out early from his preseason debut on Feb. 22. On Monday, he did not fully participate in practice and trained off to the side.

Sorry for the absence everyone. Trying to balance school and work is tough, so I had to put a few things on the back burner including this blog, but I plan on getting back in the swing of things.
Earlier this week, Paulo Bento announced his first squad of [read more]