Jozy Altidore, on how the US National team plays -
"We are a blue-collar team and we always try to make things hard on our opponents," Altidore told FIFA.com about the philosophy of the American side, whose semi-final win over Spain, who were top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking at the time, at South Africa 2009 ranks as one of the biggest in international history. Click to continue reading...

You can never accuse Chris Hughton of getting carried away with things, after either a win or a defeat as Newcastle manager. Chris Hughton - promotion is still the aim And after an overwhelming 3-0 victory at St. James' Park over Scunthorpe United, Chris stated only the obvious that the aim this season at Newcastle [. Click to continue reading...

Scott McDonald scored his first goal in a Middlesbrough shirt on Saturday and after coming through the match unscathed will be hoping to add to his tally in tonight's game at Derby.

The Australian international was a live-wire against Newcastle in the Tees-Tyne derby and threatened throughout with his pace and use of the ball.

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As the World Cup build-up gathers pace and the media take aim at their final squad selections, it seems to me that regardless of our consistent existence outside of 'the big four', it is in fact Spurs players who could play the biggest role as England look to finally conquer their second World Cup.

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The entrance page of the portal (reproduced with the permission from the owners)
For thousands of social footballers out there, what are the major concerns when you want to arrange a simple kick-about?

• Like your side are eager to seek newer challenge, after facing same opponents week in week out.

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Glory, mascot of the women's soccer team Washington Glory, commits a foul following a mistimed tackle. Michelle Obama succeeds with the initial tackle, but the kid just picks up the rebound and breezes past her. In her defense, her aim wasn't to stop the kids in the first place, but to get them moving. Click to continue reading...

It's a busy weekend in Milwaukee both indoors and out.

The Marquette men's team plays host to Illinois-Chicago at Valley Fields beginning at 10 a.m. in a spring match. Later on at the same location, FC Milwaukee's Under-16 and Under-18 boys teams face Real Colorado at 2 and 4:30 p.m. in a pair of U.

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Not that kind of shot, however. During a post-practice interview, Kei Kamara took aim and connected with a long-range shot to the backside of Teal Bunbury. Not quite as impressive as the ball that got Aaron Hohlbein last year, but it's close:
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Brad Friedel and Aston Villa head to Wembley to take on Manchester United in the Carling Cup final while Landon Donovan and Tim Howard aim to help Everton rebound from Europa League disappointment versus Tottenham. Click to continue reading...

Welcome to our second episode of Vela Interactive, produced by Carlos Vela News. The aim of the chat is to catch up with fellow bloggers and fans to discuss the latest news and views on all things Carlos Vela related.

Today we catched up with Mr. Martin Cafferty, the owner of TheGoonblog.

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With only two days remaining in Bradenton the Black-and-Red are maximizing their time in Florida by working hard on the training field. The two photos below depict some of the great individual battles that have occurred over the past two days. The first shot was taken in a one-on-one session between forward Adam Cristman and defender Dejan Jakovic. Click to continue reading...

'Cycle Southend' will this week outline its plans to make the borough a hotbed of pedal power.
Invited guests will be briefed on the progress of efforts to persuade more individuals, businesses and schools in the town to make bikes their number one mode of transport.
Southend is one of 18 urban areas in England to benefit from three years of Government funding after being designated ‘Cycling Towns'. Click to continue reading...

Ambitious Manchester City aim to beat Liverpool in the race for fourth-place in the Premier League, and then raid the Anfield outfit for their two greatest assets - captain Steven Gerrard and Spain international Fernando Torres - according to a report in News of the World.
The two sides face each other at City of Manchester Stadium today, Sunday, yet the Reds could leapfrog City should they leave Eastlands with maximum points. Click to continue reading...

President & CEO Kevin Payne said in a press release - "Our first priority was to find someone who shares the club's long-standing philosophy of attacking soccer – and Curt absolutely does."
Curt Onalfo told the Washington Post - "D.C. set the standard in this league and the goal has got to be to return to that level. Click to continue reading...

Wayne Rooney returns to Goodison Park as Manchester United meet Everton (7:45am EST on ESPN2) while the battle for a top-four finish intensifies when Manchester City lock horns with Liverpool. Elsewhere, Sunderland aim for a second win over Arsenal this season and their first since November, league leaders Chelsea make the trip to Molineux, bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth entertain Stoke City while Wigan Athletic hope to avoid a repeat of their 9-1 loss to Spurs earlier this campaign. Click to continue reading...

The Black and Golds roll into the Greek capital on Sunday riding the momentum from their past two wins and aim to make a return to the fourth spot in the Super League standings, with Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson both expected to feature. Click to continue reading...

Porto vs. Arsenal
Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal
2:45pm EST
U.S. TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Preview
Injury plagued Arsenal head to Portugal
David Pleat's Key Clashes
Porto aim to confound the pundits
Bayern Munich vs. Fiorentina
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
2:45 EST
U. Click to continue reading...

Two years ago, the Premier League proposed one of the most ludicrous ideas I've ever heard the expansion of the Premiership to thirty nine games, with the extra game being played at random locations around the world. The aim was to promote the Premiership brand far and wide, woefully ignoring the harm it would do the league.

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Rafa Benitez today promised Liverpool will make the best of a difficult situation when they return to European action later this week.
In normal circumstances, the Reds' boss would have been preparing his side for a Champions League clash this week but events before Christmas means they have had to lower their sights. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benítez has conceded disappointment with Liverpool's lack of "fight" in the Premier League title race and Champions League but says his side will be taking the Europa League seriously as they prepare for their first match in the competition, on Thursday.
In seasons gone by Liverpool would be preparing for a last-16 Champions League tie now, but instead they will face Unirea Urziceni of Romania at Anfield prior to a league encounter with Manchester City on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

Jay Demerit and Watford aim to put an end to their road woes while Stuart Holden hopes to make his Bolton debut against Wigan. Click to continue reading...

Introductions are a tough thing to make. Luckily, I have a beautiful woman in body paint to help me break the ice.

Thank You Bethany Dempsey (And here is your plug Sports Illustrated!)!

I'm Dave Martinez, and I will be your blogger extraordinaire on these here USMNT pages leading up to the World Cup!

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Rafa Benitez today claimed a win in the 213th Merseyside derby could be the result that totally transforms his increasingly confident Liverpool team.

Unbeaten in their last six Premier League games, the Reds will jump back into the Champions League positions – for a couple of hours at least – if they beat Everton at Anfield today.

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When I started Jakarta Casual TV a primary aim was to show football in the region as more than just a 90 minute kick around. It is the fans that make the game so special here, a point I never tire of making and one that sustained me through a couple of grim weekend games, and it is the fans, as much as the players who I try to show here. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger thinks that the Reds' difficult season might now be about to turn for the better.
Following a 2-0 win over Tottenham last midweek, Liverpool stumbled again on Tuesday night, drawing 0-0 at Wolves.
However, Danish defender Agger believes Rafa Benitez's side can find the form that is necessary from now until the end of the season so long as they concentrate on one game at a time. Click to continue reading...

We live in challenging times, and these extend to every corner of the game and every aspect of how clubs run themselves. One club that has found the going tough over the last couple of years or so is St Albans City of the Blue Square South. Increasing concern over the way that their club was being run led to the formation of the Saints City Trust, and the Trust has already been fundraising with reasonable success.

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The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that the Switzerland defender Phillipe Senderos will probably leave this month, but he didn't do much to help him find a new club when he said that "his aim is not to play football"! Everyone was under the impression that Wenger had a problem with Senderos because he never [. Click to continue reading...

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has eighteen months left on his contract at the Emirates, and he has admitted for the first time that he is considering his options, but his main aim is to find a suitable replacement for when he leaves. Having recently turned sixty he knows that he can't go on for ever, [. Click to continue reading...

In a step which will take him closer to a move away from the Elland Road club, Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has formally requested a transfer away from his current club.

A statement from the Leeds United website is as follows:

Leeds United can confirm that Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request.

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Ahead of our League Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City, Michael Carrick has ranked it as the lowest priority for United, whose aim he believes is to win the the Premiership and the Champions League.

"Our first aim in 2010 is to win the league again," said Carrick. "It's always been the first thing we've set out to do and to win four in a row would be amazing.

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Okay, this conversation that's popped up on Mike's blog intrigued me. The premise is, if being a Eurosnob is bad - and it is, for reasons that I detail in my upcoming book, Crap, All We Have To Do Is Beat England And There Will Be No More Eurosnobs Forever...Oh Please Beat England, Please Please Please Please - then being an MLS snob at the expense of lower division teams is also bad. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admitted he was satisfied just to still be in the FA Cup following the 1-1 draw with Reading.
The Royals have been struggling in the Championship of late but they upset the form book to earn a replay at Anfield later this month.
Simon Church tapped in to give Reading an early lead but Liverpool drew level courtesy of a Steven Gerrard effort before half-time. Click to continue reading...

Two people I can't stand in football are Robbie Savage and Sam Allardyce. Absolute knobs.
Occasionally Robbie Savage's antics have made me laugh but only because they are so pathetic. It's laughing at him, not laughing with him.
I remember Robbie Savage getting Gilberto Silva sent off at Ewood Park and I wasn't laughing then. Click to continue reading...

Hey there, everyone who's been reading my blog and/or wondering why it hasn't really been updated in a while...
To tell you a bit about me, I'm Messa and I'm eighteen... and of course an ardent Barca fan. I started this blog on a whim, a spur of the moment decision, and I never imagined it would become such a big part of my life or that it would become this known on the web – among Barca fans at least. Click to continue reading...

Turkey international Arda Turan has expressed a long-held desire to play for Liverpool - and not just because they wear red shirts!
The highly-rated Galatasaray winger has been linked with a string of top clubs since shining at the last European Championship but the Istanbul outfit has resisted all attempts to cash in on his talents. Click to continue reading...

The uploader of this video asks if the player deserved the red card he was shown for ramming his boot into his opponent's crotch like he was trying to break down the door of an opium den and I think the answer is pretty simple.

Also, who's throwing snowballs at the manager 30 seconds into the video?

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During this long PFC off-season, while on hiatus from the team and on-field play, there are many steps you can take on your own, even indoors, to better improve your game.
Incorporate these simple, yet effective, ball drills in your overall plan.
Wall Drills: It's as simple as the name in theory, but it can be essential to improving ball skills. Click to continue reading...

DaMarcus Beasley has done it again; the resurgent Rangers winger scored his second goal in as many games on Saturday, knocking home his team's fifth score in a 6-1 rout of Motherwell. He later set up Kyle Lafferty for the club's sixth goal, making it his third-straight game with an assist.
"Obviously, the World Cup is something I think about a lot, I can't lie about that," Beasley said after the match. Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez admitted that he needs Maynor Figueroa and therefore not going to sell him. Martinez said,

"I'm not fearful of losing Maynor, not at all ... There have been a few mentions of three or four players who have been performing really well recently, but I have no fear of losing any of them because we want to achieve our aim.

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The aim this round was to do better than my predictions on the weekend and it's safe to say, like Tottenham against a sloppy Man City, I kicked them out of the park while predicting 5 out of 8 results. Gameweek score: 5 out of 8 Weekend conclusions: Liverpool finally scraped a win but ... Click to continue reading...