Rafa Benitez said he would quit Liverpool if Fernando Torres is sold. The Spanish striker could have been sold last summer to Manchester City if Benitez had accepted their offer – and there will no doubt be more enquiries coming in for Torres until the day he does actually leave.
But what is remarkable about the offer made to Liverpool last summer is the scale of the City bid: £70million for Torres plus and additional £30million for Javier Mascherano. Click to continue reading...

Chris Konopka and Sporting Fingal aim to finish their season on a high as they take on Sligo Rovers in the FAI Ford Cup final on Sunday in Tallaght Stadium. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal fullback Bacary Sagna has rejected interest from Real Madrid and Juventus, it has been revealed.
Both European giants are chasing the France international ahead of the winter market.
But a source close to Sagna told Futbol Mercado: "It is true that Juventus are interested in him, but he does not want to leave Arsenal. Click to continue reading...

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...

Um texto recebido de um leitor deste blog, que me parece muito interessante, sobre a Comunidade Portuguesa no Reino Unido.
"I will analyse the contribution made by voluntary associations of Portuguese emigrants to build a national and/or sub-national identity; my aim is to map the main mechanisms underlying the development of a feeling of Portuguese nationality and the way that identity is influenced by or competes with elements of regional origin. Click to continue reading...

Michael Owen says playing for Manchester United is his priority and he wants to score goals so we win, not so he gets picked for England.

"England is something I don't really think about," said Owen. "It is probably something people talk about a lot more than I think about really.

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Bill Shankly once said: "Aim for the sky and you'll reach the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you'll stay on the floor". Against Fulham on Saturday, Rafa Benitez didn't aim for the sky or the ceiling; he didn't even aim for the floor! With his cautious approach and maddeningly incomprehensible decisions, Benitez went against everything Liverpool FC stands for and committed the ultimate footballing sin: he gave up and conceded defeat. Click to continue reading...

For the second straight weekend, the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team takes aim at...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] Click to continue reading...

- According to EMD, ex-Barca striker Samuel Eto'o as given an interview to Canal+ in which he lashes out at some of the figures from his former club. The interview won't come out till next Thursday, but leaked statements suggest that when asked which members of the club he's dissapointed in, Samu's reply was something like "Yes, I think if I'd pick two, I'd probably aim at Pep and Joan, but there are many more people who let me down, many more. Click to continue reading...

Arsene Wenger has his sights set on Sunderland captain Lorik Cana as he aims to bring some bite to Arsenal's lightweight midfield. Reports from the Sunderland Echo suggest that Arsenal will do their best to sign the Albanian midfielder when the transfer window opens.

Cana is a new signing at the Stadium of Light having joined the Black Cats over the summer.

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Wolves will host Aston Villa this week at the Molineux this Saturday on ESPN2 (for all of you US viewers) in what should prove to be a hard fought match between two local rivals. This big derby match-up will aim to please a near-capacity crowd that will be flooding into the Molineux.

Wolves

Team News:

• Manager Mick McCarthy will be hoping his team shuts down Richard Dunne as he tried to sign him over the summer.

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Wow, we are having a great season. The stats show this is the best season for this team since 1995! We are currently enjoying a 6 game unbeaten run with 4 wins and 2 ties.

I have learned a tremendous amount this season so far and I am sure over the remaining 5 games of the regular season I will learn some more very valuable lessons.

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After last night the call for Rafa's head reached unprecedented levels. True, we are on our worst run for 20 odd years, but sacking him now is unthinkable – for the time being at least. For me the main aim for us now is to secure 4th spot this season and there is plenty of [...]
Visit us at www. Click to continue reading...

Bryan Robson has been here a week already and he is really loving it. The reception by the fans has been magnificent and he says he can feel a real genuine love of football here at all levels of The Game.
His aim is of course to watch as many players as possible and he enjoyed The Game Muanthong v BEC on Sunday and the BEC v Port Thai Cup finals is the next task. Click to continue reading...

Lyon's 2-1 Champions League victory at Anfield on Tuesday night sparked mass hysteria amongst the Liverpool faithful. While almost everyone points the finger at the absence of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in recent weeks, even more people are blaming manager Rafa Benitez. There is no doubt about it: people are calling for Rafa Benitez's head.

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Stoke City centre-back Ryan Shawcross has been attracting interest from an elite of Premier League clubs but has publicly reiterated his interest in continuing to kit out for Tony Pulis' Potters, as he could not be guaranteed regular first-team football at a top-four club.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly an admirer of Shawcross' defensive nous, while Arsenal, Manchester United, Fulham, Everton, and West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the player. Click to continue reading...

A couple of weeks back I took the twelve-year-old neighbor girl (who is herself a goalkeeper) to a match played by my local team. My aim was, of course, to teach her that it's perfectly acceptable for women to be hardcore footy fans. In the process, I may have taught her a few [...] Click to continue reading...

It appears Alex Ferguson has given up hope of Ben Foster becoming United's number one as reports suggest Julio Cesar is a potential transfer target for the club.

The Brazilian international, aged 30, joined Inter in 2005 and is now regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. With Van der Sar turning 40 this month it was hoped either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak would take the reigns but after failing to impress, it looks like Ferguson will look elsewhere in an attempt to replace the veteran Dutchman.

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We may be only eight games into the new Premier League season but after Chelsea's 2-0 win over Liverpool yesterday, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that the title is Chelsea's to lose.
Ancelotti said after the game: "This season depends only on us now, we're top of the table and we prepare for the next games with determination. Click to continue reading...

Fans of Chelsea and Liverpool would have been scowering through the 2009/2010 fixtures list in mid-July, with the aim of pinpointing arguably their biggest games of the season. This contest certainly falls into that category. In years gone by, matches between Chelsea and Liverpool have been displays of technical class, wonderful ability, and plenty of goals. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona may be the treble winners last season. In addition, they may also be the side with arguably the most potent attack in Europe, comprising of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Bojan Krkic, and FIFA World Player of the Year hopeful Lionel Messi. On top of that, they also possess one of the most powerful midfield combinations in the continent in the form of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

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The title to this article might suggest that I am providing some late coverage on Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner's recent car accident while driving to practice in his Aston Martin. In reality, though, this article is written in vehement defense of the player, who has certainly had more than his fair share of critics, to put it bluntly.

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One thing is really starting to infuriate me as a watching fan; our persistence with Cesc and Van Persie as our only set piece takers. Do not get me wrong, some things are working fine, confirmed by the goals from Gallas and Vermaelen. However we can still improve.

Sometimes I think the knowledge that he will get go after go means that Robin uses many to get his aim in.

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Some comments from Michael Johnson following his return to action both in the victory over West Ham, and for the reserves against Liverpool:

"I never felt like I wouldn't come back but the whole absence has toughened me up mentally and that will serve me in good stead because as much as this game is about fitness and skill you need to be mentally attuned too.

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The European credentials of Manchester United and Chelsea will be given a thorough going over on Wednesday night.
Bayern Munich vs. Juventus: Preview
Bordeaux vs. Maccabi Haifa: Preview
CSKA Moscow vs. Besiktas: Preview
AC Milan vs. Zurich: Preview
Real Madrid vs. Click to continue reading...

So we didn't get the 12th licence purely it seems because we weren't called Western Sydney.
And the FFA has certainly angered many Canberrans with their process of selection. If indeed there was ever a process.
But when the dust settles many will agree, the Canberra Bid Committee although failing in their aim to get the 12th licence has moved Canberra back into the world of professional football. Click to continue reading...

With yet another exciting Premier League weekend in the books it's time to review this weekend's winners and losers.

Winners Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane emerges from this weekend as the biggest winner. The Tottenham striker has had a relatively quiet start to the season, oftentimes playing second fiddle to the red hot Jermain Defoe.

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Bolton were interested in resigning Kevin Nolan when Newcastle were relegated, but it seems that Kevin Nolan was never too interested in that idea. Kevin with the two Taylors at Durham Cathedral� last Monday Certainly when a transfer was brought up regarding Kevin in the summer, his agent continually said his client's aim was to help [. Click to continue reading...

Welcome to a brand new feature on Carlos Vela News, a monthly podcast called 'Vela Interactive'. 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.

This week we catch up with Jamie Sanderson, owner of Arseshirts and talk-show co-host.

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With the arrival of the weekend, football fans across the world are returning to following their respective teams in another series of cracking fixtures. However, excitement is going to reach a whole different level next weekend, when the much awaited FIFA 10 releases in Australia (October 1) and Europe (October 2).

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Swagger jacked from the Guardian ...

Venue: DW Stadium

Last season: Wigan 0, Chelsea 1

Referee: Phil Dowd
...this season's matches: Four officiated; Yellow-13, Red-0

Read It:
Ancelotti earthed in reality as Chelsea aim to extend electric start
Ancelotti wants to see out career at Chelsea
CHELSEA

Subs from: Turnbull, Hilario, Bosingwa, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Mikel, Bruma, Borini, Kalou, Matic, Belletti, Deco

Doubtful: Drogba (calf), Ballack (calf), Zhirkov (match fitness), Deco (calf)

Injured: Alex (groin, Oct), Sturridge (calf, Oct), Hutchinson (virus, Oct), J Cole (virus, Oct)

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWWW

Disciplinary record: Yellow-6 Red-0

Leading scorer: Drogba 5

WIGAN

Subs from: Pollitt, Koumas, Edman, Cho, Scotland, De Ridder, Kingson, McCarthy, King, McManaman, Kapo

Doubtful: Kapo (knee)

Injured: None

Ineligible: Sinclair (terms of loan from Chelsea)

Suspended: None

Form guide: LWLLL

Disciplinary record: Yellow-13 Red-0

Leading scorer: Rodallega 2

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Every match this season needs to be treated by Leo as a final if Milan are to retain any hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. For seriously, this season is fast appearing lost already and qualifying for the Champions League next season should be the aim. Even Galliani knows this. Click to continue reading...

After scoring a brilliant goal in his debut during our 5-0 battering of Stoke last season, Sir Alex Ferguson tipped Danny Welbeck for a big International future, as well as with United.

Welbeck scored our only goal in a 1-0 win over Wolves this week, where we played with ten men for an hour of the match, and says he's more concerned with his United career than with England.

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Rewind back to 2003 and you'll see that Jonathan Woodgate had everything. From critical acclaim to a huge fan following, he had all the essentials required to go down in the Newcastle folklore as one of the very best defenders of all time. However, the only obstacle that could stop him injuries came into play very early into his career at St.

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Given his recent aversion to giving decisions Tottenham's way, incidents at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge being in the forefront of our minds, we felt that this potential collectors item dartboard may be of use to Spurs fans. All you need to do is blow up the image to the size of your dartboard, then simply cut and paste on to it.

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