In the second article of a 7 part series, I take a look at how Rafa Benitez's transfer spending between 2004 and 2009 compares to Arsene Wenger's spending over the same period.
SERIES GOAL
* To accurately report the gross/net spend of the UK's top clubs since 2004.
* To dispel the myth, exaggeration and misinformation surrounding the transfer spending of the UK's top clubs.

Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres team up in the latest Nike Advert for their new Total90 III boot. The Total90 Laser III is the next generation of Nike's Total90 Laser boot, featuring an innovative 'shot shield' that results in more power and accuracy on the ball. Very cool advert! Posted in Videos, World Football Tagged: [.

In the 4th article of a 7 part series, I take a look at how Rafa Benitez's transfer spending between 2004 and 2009 compares to Chelsea's spending over the same period.
SERIES GOAL
* To accurately report the gross/net spend of the UK's top clubs since 2004.
* To dispel the myth, exaggeration and misinformation surrounding the transfer spending of the UK's top clubs.

In a recent post, I calculated the point values of goals conceded for the 2009-10 Premier League season. Keep in mind that a clean sheet guarantees a team at least one point from a match and potentially gives it three (in case the team scores a goal). For the EPL, the data showed that clean sheets were highly valuable to a team in 2009-10, producing about 2.

It's a bit like the boy who cried wolf, the rumour mongers and gossip lovers will often turn out to get it right every now and again, however when one looks at their overall accuracy and hit rate one should appreciate it is a bit like striking oil by drilling at random, the Cesc rumours circulating at the moment are part of this same old story.

Netherlands and Spain are similar because not only that neither have ever been crowned a world champion but also because time and time again have been related to beautiful football and exceptional passing. But as far as the World Cup is concerned, Netherlands have been in the final twice before.

It was quite a bizarre weekend for Premier League football. The first half of the Arsenal against Manchester United match was played at such a scintillating pace that it was a joy to watch as both teams played attractive football and there were chances galore. Contrast that with the methodical and uninspiring match between Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur from Saturday, and you can see how the difference between some teams in the league is like night and day.

Yesterday, I was too distraught to write a match review. Even now I am quite peeved but there were too many positives in the game and I think it deserves a proper mention even though the horrendous tackle cast a gloomy shadowed all the bright moments.

The start of the game reminded me of our previous two visits to this stadium.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hit back at the continued criticism aimed at him mostly by ex-players who are now pundits.
Plenty of former Reds stars have secured work in the media and Benitez has had to listen to them giving their opinion on what has been a disappointing season.

Before taking over the prediction part, I was told to maintain NFN's rather low standards of accuracy, lest I get fired from this gig, and also get a good "high school swirling" going on*. Thankfully, I have proved to be just as incompetent as Lars Sivertsen, so here are your excuses for why I was wrong most of the time:

First off, everyone should probably have seen this coming, but Aalesund really don't have the best defence in the world.

The season is over (save a Champion's League final on Saturday) and the World Cup is not starting until mid-June. If other fans are anything like me, they are looking for a fix through whatever English football scraps they can find. Transfer rumors are these scraps. Every spare moment I would usually spend watching a match, I scour the internet for news of a new signing or the inevitable story that a star player is leaving a club.

Another England match, another goal for Peter Crouch. Sure, the one against Mexico yesterday was hardly artful, in fact, it was illegal on two fronts: handball and offsides.

But to speak of that Mexican injustice misses the point. Peter Crouch somehow, someway finds the back of the net for England at an astonishing, befuddling, flabbergasting, headscratching, have-to-rub-your-eyes-twice-when-you-read-the-numbers-to-make-sure-your-vision-hasn't-failed-you.

As I rolled out of bed (5:30 a.m. is way too early for me) I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I turned on the television. The United States and Australia were playing on a field so narrow it barely met arena soccer regulations. Strange.

But whatever. Even if the U.S. was playing in my backyard it still was an important friendly.

German "octopus oracle", Paul, has proven his accuracy in predicting the German national team's fate once again, taking the clam from Spain's box. Spain defeated the Germans in the same style we saw back in Euro 2008 with a single goal – this time Carles Puyol on the scoresheet. Spain ...

Nike launches the Nike Total 90 Tracer ball, designed for unrivalled consistency, accuracy, touch and visual acuity.

If it can make it here, it can make it anywhere ...
The new Nike Total 90 Tracer ball makes it U.S. National Team debut tonight at the New Meadowlands. Designed for unrivalled consistency, accuracy, touch and visual acuity, the ball delivers superior playing benefits for players at every level.

For those readers expecting to read a juicy story about why Torres and Reina are ready to quit Liverpool in January, I apologize.

You see, The Daily Mirror published a story about it last night. Whether it's true or not, we'll have to wait and see, but I'm sure it gave the Mirror the traffic it wanted despite there being no sources named in the article.

Here's an update on offensive production in the EPL so far this year (using data as of Nov.28). First, take a look at goals and shots (shots taken and shots on target) per match played.
No real surprises on the the number of goals scored per match front. Man U, Arsenal, and Chelsea are right at the top at 2-2.

Here's an update on offensive production in the EPL so far this year (using data as of Nov.28). First, take a look at goals and shots (shots taken and shots on target) per match played.
No real surprises on the the number of goals scored per match front. Man U, Arsenal, and Chelsea are right at the top at 2-2.

At #99 in Brady Jones' Top 100 LFC Goals of the Decade is Fernando Torres with an excellently taken volley at Fulham in an unfortunate 1-3 defeat during the 2009-2010 season. In typical Torres fashion, power was in combination with finesse and accuracy with this goal. With only minutes remaining in the first half, and Liverpool [.

So what does it take to get two rivals to play nice? How about a pair of new kicks and a boatload of cash? Here are Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres peddling the latest accuracy improving, comfort fitting, speed accelerating, fly me to the moon enabling Nike boots (call me when the damn [...]

Part I of an on-going back and forth between Ed from Liverpool Offside on Rafa Benitez's tenure at Liverpool. Here's yesterday's intro in case you missed it.
I. Record as a Manager
Ed: Seems like sort of a benign way to start this discussion considering everything that's gone on this season, but hopefully it'll be a gentle introduction.

In our attempts to further break down and analyze all things Premier League, EPL Talk proudly announce the addition of a new weekly column entitled Premier League Footballer of the Week. The column will be opinion driven, but we'll strive to take an in-depth look at one single player in the Premier League who impressed during the most recent round of matches.

Chelsea smashed their way to the Premier League summit with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Birmingham.

Before the match started, those strange thoughts ran through ‘Birmingham have been in-form... hmm could they? ...Chelsea slip?'

But just as Apple started dishing out information about their latest devise, (the iPad if you've been on some other planet) Chelsea showcased their own magic with a superbly worked cross from J Cole for Malouda to head it in.

Young footballers wanting to learn from the very best players around can discover the secrets of Liverpool stars in the recently-published book Play Like Liverpool FC.
And for forwards wanting to hone their skills, who better than Liverpool marksman, Fernando Torres?
Liverpool's number nine is regarded by many as the greatest striker in the world.

The landslide winner of the first annual Soccer MVP (most valuable part) Tournament is the inside-of-the-foot. Of the 13 disciplines tested, 'Inside' won or tied for first place in 9 of them, further solidifying its importance.

As a general rule, I prefer to make my predictions after the event - I find it does wonders for their accuracy. But if you're going to put yourself on the line and make a forecast, there's one situation where getting it wrong is a pleasure - when someone turns out to be better than you expected.

In this continuing series of posts about the 2010 Soccer MVP Tournament, the 'Passing' discipline was easily won by the inside-of-the-foot. Besides being more accurate, 'Inside' was the only surface that gave a player multiple passing options.

In this continuing series of posts about the 2010 Soccer MVP Tournament, the 'Shooting' discipline was won by the inside-of-the-foot. Besides being more accurate and capable of several different types of shots, 'Inside' was able to generate almost as much power as the top-of-the-foot.

The Host: Happy birthday Eddie Johnson! We have all gathered here at our local Fuddruckers to (1) sample the "better beef" and (2) celebrate the amazing feats you have committed with your feet over the last 26 years. While you have not always been a favorite of Bob Bradley, you are still well liked by people like myself, who have had the pleasure of playing as your "avatar" on one of the many FIFA video games.

Big Story

Blogs are often criticized for riding on the back of hard working traditional print media journalists charged with covering stories and gathering quotes first-hand. Despite the disintegration of the traditional means of income for newspapers and magazines—exclusive ownership of the print press, the classified ads— for now, print journos still have the money and resources to send reporters to go out and report the news, with bloggers left to provide links and commentary.

Real Madrid closed to within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona with their 2-0 win over Valencia yesterday. The usual suspects were on the scoresheet for the title hopefuls, with Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo both finding the back of the net. Sergio Ramos and Higuain's international teammate Fernando Gago both insist that Madrid are up for the fight.

A couple of things from recent Wenger pressers today:

First, Wenger has come out and said that he was "very disappointed" in Arshavin for his recent comments regarding Barcelona. Remember, Arshavin said that playing just a single season for Barca would be the "pinnacle" of his career. Wenger said:

"Yes, I am very disappointed because he shows a completely different attitude.

With J Hutcherson -- Sorry, but I won't be playing guess Bob Bradley's preliminary roster. So no defenses of bubble picks or why someone simply deserves it. However, I would stress one thing with the fantasy selections aspect in the run-up to today's big announcement (2pm ET - ESPN News). To really try for accuracy, you need to be thinking like Bob Bradley.

One of the big things we dislike about the football media is the general lack of accountability. Rumours and gossip are disseminated with absolutely no regard for accuracy. Not so at Footy Factor, though, where we are determined to hold ourselves accountable for our opinions. Last August we made predictions.

In the third article of a 7 part series, I take a look at how Rafa Benitez's transfer spending between 2004 and 2009 compares to Manchester City's spending over the same period.
SERIES GOAL
* To accurately report the gross/net spend of the UK's top clubs since 2004.
* To dispel the myth, exaggeration and misinformation surrounding the transfer spending of the UK's top clubs.

In the 6th article of a 7 part series, I take a look at how Rafa Benitez's transfer spending between 2004 and 2009 compares to Aston Villa's spending over the same period.
SERIES GOAL
* To accurately report the gross/net spend of the UK's top clubs since 2004.
* To dispel the myth, exaggeration and misinformation surrounding the transfer spending of the UK's top clubs.

Image via Celebrity-Gossip.net/Flynet.

Since we've been rather consumed with debating the accuracy of these Cheryl Cole love-making/piss off, would ya?! faces, we almost missed the opportunity to offer our divorce payout congratulations. She'll reportedly receive a $6.8 million settlement once her marriage to Ashley Cole is dissolved sometime this August.

Image via Celebrity-Gossip.net/Flynet.

Since we've been rather consumed with debating the accuracy of these Cheryl Cole love-making/piss off, would ya?! faces, we almost missed the opportunity to offer our divorce payout congratulations. She'll reportedly receive a $6.8 million settlement once her marriage to Ashley Cole is dissolved sometime this August.

England and the USA played out a pretty even 1-1 draw last night in the opening match in Group C last night, but the scoreline doesn't really reflect the real story of the match. The match stats will suggest that England had more shots, more corners, more possesion and a higher passing accuracy, but that also [.