Rio eats grass After the handshake controversy, Manchester United captain Patrice Evra made it his ambition to plant one on Luis Suarez within the first minute of this afternoon's match. But he missed and it was team-mate Rio Ferdinand who felt the brunt of his challenge instead, leading to this spectacular faceplant.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted that as his side prepares to kick-off at Goodison Park this afternoon, damage control is the only ambition for the Blues in a Premier League campaign where they have not been 'very honorable'.

With Tottenham seven points ahead in third and Newcastle, Arsenal, and Liverpool all within striking distance of Chelsea's current fourth position in the table, Villas-Boas acknowledges that it has been a shaky ride for a side that was assembled to chase glory.

Readers should know already that the WPS suspended the league for this upcoming season. (Some reports on the decision: Sports Illustrated/Associated Press; All White Kit; The Guardian.)
To say that the league has struggled would be an understatement. It's been plagued by the usual headaches of a nascent sports league - mismanagement, outsized ambition, financial troubles, finicky owners, fickle fans, crap media.

Please take a moment to doff your metaphorical cap to Celia Hodkin, Kickettes. Celia has been a Manchester City fan since 1933, and achieved a life's ambition last weekend when she was invited to be the mascot at her club's game vs. Fulham.

As is only right for a woman of such commitment and stature, Celia was afforded VIP treatment on game day, taking in the sights and sounds of the tunnel, the changing room (!

Well, what a difference a day makes.

Emotionally we've gone from disappointed and disillusioned to euphoric over the result of one game. Beating Blackburn 7-1 was the sort of result we needed to awaken our supporters.

Arsenal played the sort of football that we all love to watch and for once the end result substantiated the level of our overall performance.

"It just got off from a shaky footing when there are many in reality is trying so hard to look good..."

Clementi Stadium in rainJust less than a week from the kickoff of the 2012 S.League season, the league authority dropped another shocker that totally caught everyone in the fraternity off guard when it was announced defending champions Tampines Rovers will be relocated to Clementi Stadium, while its previous tenants Tanjong Pagar United will be "heading home" to Queenstown Stadium.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has dismissed suggestions that the club will part ways with either Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres in the near future, insisting that both will have roles to play at Stamford Bridge.

Torres has struggled for goals since his £50 million move from Liverpool a year ago and his goal return has not been improving while Drogba has been on international duty with Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

The Fire have had a tremendous offseason so far. We have fortified our midfield, improved our defense in the SuperDraft, and even added some forwards to the mix. The Fire midfield is certainly the most populated on the team, and one I would definitely consider it a strength. It's credit to the front office for taking what was considered a big weakness last year and turning it into one of our strong points.

One thing I have noticed in recent weeks is the lack of real chances we are creating for ourselves. The thing is, because of this happening, the likes of Danny Sturridge (as he demonstrated yesterday) have taken a selfish approach to his game and is shooting whenever he gets the ball in or around the box rather then lift his head up and look for a killer pass or to create a chance for someone else.

Goals:
Agger 21'
Park 40'
Kuyt 88'
For the second match in a row: *shakes head* Football, man. Football.
A first half set play goal, followed by increased United pressure and the inevitable equalizer following a defensive mistake. In a 4-1-4-1 formation with Carragher holding in midfield, Liverpool were unable to settle on the ball, in a typically frenetic no-holds-barred cup game.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas made headlines yesterday when he came across as extremely non-committal in discussing prospective signings such as Genk's Kevin De Bruyne and Shakhtar's Willian.

The Portuguese manager has followed up by explaining that his stance stems from the unappealing nature of the January transfer window.

Isn't it funny that although we were dire on Saturday and dropped two points away to Norwich, We gained a point on Spurs as they lost at Manchester City. Forget the league title, that's gone and has been for a while now, but it's important that Chelsea finish 3rd as a minimum this season. I think we'd all take that now with a decent run in the FA Cup and Champions League.

First the good.
In acquiring Danny Cruz, United looks to have settled the flank depth question, initially addressed by the drafting of Nick DeLeon as Pontius' backup. A regular starter for the MLS Cup finalists from Houston, Cruz provides excellent cover for Najar, who will likely be away for Olympic and possibly World Cup duty with Honduras and may even attract interest from abroad this summer.

Earlier in the week Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said that while he'd obviously like Arsenal to finish in the top four, it wouldn't be a 'disaster' if that didn't happen.

Obviously he was talking about it from a financial point of view. The implications of playing Europa League instead of Champions League are obvious.

Newcastle are now zoning in on a center-back to bring to Tyneside, following the successful and exciting capture of top striker Papiss Cisse from SC Frieburg on Tuesday. James Tomkins West Ham player still a target That signing has not only energized Newcastle fans, but according to Danny Simpson this morning it has also energized the Newcastle squad, because it shows Newcastle's ambition.

Newcastle are now zoning in on a center-back to bring to Tyneside, following the successful and exciting capture of top striker Papiss Cisse from SC Frieburg on Tuesday. James Tomkins West Ham player still a target That signing has not only energized Newcastle fans, but according to Danny Simpson this morning it has also energized the Newcastle squad, because it shows Newcastle's ambition.

I am finding it very hard to come to terms with the fact that one of the top men on the board of Arsenal football Club is not bothered whether Arsenal qualify for the Champions League or not, and I am shocked by the implications of Peter Hill-Wood's words. Most Arsenal fans are aware that [...]

Good signing from Newcastle today, who completed the signing of Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse for around £10 million. Cisse has signed at five-and-a-half-year deal with Newcastle.

Newcastle will partner Cisse up-front with his international team-mate Demba Ba, whichh should end rumors that Demba Ba is leaving Newcastle anytime soon.

Arsenal's inability to hold on to Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri last summer will be repeated this year with Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott and Alex Song all joining the exodus. This is a simple by-product of Arsenal's failure to show ambition to win trophies by investing in top class players.

David Trezeguet (front) in training for new club River Plate

Argentinian giants River Plate, who are currently playing in their country's second division following last season's shock relegation, have showed their ambition to get back into the top flight by signing former France international David Trezeguet.

By Chris Wright

QPR have officially unveiled Mark Sparkington Hughes as their new manager (we've already said our piece here if you're interested) and we've got the bloody photos to prove it...

Hughes: Seen here positively reeking of ambition

Scarf Ace

Home.

Kenny Dalglish knows Liverpool still have work to do to reach the Carling Cup final despite their 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Steven Gerrard's 13th minute penalty set the Reds on their way, with the visitors dominating the first period before lacklustre City improved after the break.

FC Porto striker Hulk is fast becoming a major target for a number of clubs this winter transfer season with the likes of PSG, Anzhi and Chelsea reported to have joined the race to acquire his signature.

Having scored 36 times in all competitions last year with a further 21 assists to his name, Hulk is currently one of the top strikers in the game at the moment.

Well that did take long. About 48 hours after firing Neil Warnock, QPR have hired Mark Hughes as their new manager.

Hughes told QPR.co.uk:

"It's a great feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR. I'm fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners.

Well that did take long. About 48 hours after firing Neil Warnock, QPR have hired Mark Hughes as their new manager.

Hughes told QPR.co.uk:

"It's a great feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR. I'm fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners.

By Chris Wright

Not sure it was the job he had his sights set on landing when he walked out on Fulham six months ago citing the club's abject failure to match/fund his ambitions, but it has just been announced that Mark Hughes has been sworn in as QPR's new manager on a two-and-a-half year deal following Neil Warnock's acrimonious sacking earlier in the week.

The thing with Mark Hughes is that we don't really know why he left Fulham. There were various comments after the event mentioning a lack of ambition, which loosely translated seemed to mean "Fulham wouldn't pony up £15m for Pablo Osvaldo". Hughes had a 'get out' day in his contract and (out of nowhere, it seemed) used that clause to escape SW6.

The thing with Mark Hughes is that we don't really know why he left Fulham. There were various comments after the event mentioning a lack of ambition, which loosely translated seemed to mean "Fulham wouldn't pony up £15m for Pablo Osvaldo". Hughes had a 'get out' day in his contract and (out of nowhere, it seemed) used that clause to escape SW6.

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Just to confirm what EVERY QPR Supporter already knows!

"It would be an amazing opportunity to be able to stay here at Rayo."

Freddy Adu has been in Spain for what seems like five minutes, but already he views it as his future if chances open to him. Therein lies the problem with Adu: his ambition to play in Europe will once again be detrimental to both his current team and to his soccer career.

Well Florent Malouda is doing his best to keep in favour with the manager isn't he!. After reports of AVB's cull at the club of the older players coming to the end of their contracts, Florent Malouda has spoken of the situation here and that fact that we should be winning things year in, year out.

Mark Hughes made his return to management this week, albeit not with the sort of club many expected would tempt the former Wales manager – a struggling QPR. The 48-year old had been unemployed since leaving Fulham last year, claiming at the time that he needed to be at a club that was challenging for trophies – something that has made this decision a bit strange.

While watching Liverpool take on Oldham last night, I couldn't help but notice a much bigger deal (footballwise) going on in the media world a leaked copy of tomorrow's front page of the Independent, claiming that Wayne Rooney might be on his way out of Manchester United that had somehow found itself causing a big stir on Twitter.

When I was in Germany back in December, I watched an interview with Bayern Munich's Sporting Director Christian Nerlinger. Part of the discussion revolved around Bayern's interest in the newest young German football star, Marco Reus, who Bayern executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge termed "a person of interest.

Have we been Good? We've been bloody brilliant! The JimmyG2 Column Just another routine game at White Hart Lane. 'Beatable' opponents with no more ambition than not to get beaten themselves failed in their mission and we duly scooped the 3 points. We kept a clean sheet and dominated possession, shots and corners.

The record-breaking Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie is refusing to talk about any contract extension at the Emirates until next summer, and up until now Wenger has merely commented that he is sure the Dutch international will re-sign in the end. But now he has revealed that Van Persie won't sign unless Arsenal show ambition, [.

Tonight's game with Chelsea has unfortunately raised the issue of Luka Modric's future once again but manager Harry Redknapp has been quick to claim that the influential Croatian is going nowhere.

Luka appears to have put an unsettled August behind him and while he hasn't appeared at his best in the club's last two league games, he is generally at the heart of our most creative football.

Fulham Football Club today announced a record profit of £5.4m and a record net profit of £4.8m for the year ended 30 June 2011. The Cottagers have also revealed a record revenue of £77.1m for the last season.

Fulham recorded a profit of £5.4m, before interest and taxation, and enjoyed a 4.

The Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny says that the only ambition he has for this season is to make sure that the Gunners finish above their great rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Since Arsenal's terrible start to the season Tottenham have taken a lead and are currently five points ahead after yesterday's results, and also have a game [.

14. D.C. UNITED
The most successful franchise in the early years of MLS has struggled mightily to find a better stadium situation than it currently has at RFK, and the ongoing frustrations in the nation's capital have caused United to consider perhaps moving to Baltimore. Out-of-town owner Will Chang may or may not be committed for the long haul, and the club is trying to start over from scratch on the field under coach Ben Olsen.