We were in our places a few minutes earlier than usual, standing not sitting, hopping around not so much to stave off the bitter cold, more in excited anticipation. Even the veterans haven't seen anything like this.

The players had a prematch kickabout, the mascot's nervous pride shone through as they found a hero to play with, but all eyes were on the tunnel.

Anticipation is building after January served up a nice set of appetizers for the season to come, both for MLS and the US National Team. We begin with Klinsmann's first go-round at Camp Cupcake, the annual January gathering of the "best of the rest" in the USMNT pool...

One-Nil to the USMNT

Results were slow to arrive early in Klinsmann's tenure as USA boss, but a pair of 1-0 wins (home to Venuzuela and on the road in Panama) sees him start 2012 with an unblemished record.

My friends and I often indulge in extended debate on the club vs. country issue and how so far, it's ‘OK' to support England. We eschew the jingoism, the hooliganism, the sheer repugnance of many of those called on to sport the jersey, the overreaction to defeat and over-anticipation of victory, the arrogance and the aggression, but still wish for a team we can support.

Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn Rovers

It may sound a tad melodramatic, but I've not enjoyed watching Arsenal as much this season as I should have done. All the peripheral stuff has been as fun as ever the Saturday morning anticipation, hopping on the tube, having a pint before the game and chinwagging with the usual motley crew.

Join the guys as they discuss the last couple of weeks in DC United history. They talk about the team's recent moves and the potential changes to the Black-and-Red's line-up. They also go over the rest of the changes across MLS in anticipation of the 2012 MLS Season.

Though a lot of anticipation culminated in the final days of January, most European clubs stayed put with their rosters for the remainder of the season, with little to no... Read more »

The buzz surrounding the Spanish Burgos province these days has been remarkable. They are of course, home to Mirandes, the Spanish third-division team that have made it to the semi-finals of the Copa del Ray! Mirandes will meet Athletic Bilbao tonight at their modest 6,000-seater stadium, which was expanded yesterday to accommodate another 1,700 visiting fans.

TFC training camp opens this week and it would be great to feel that anticipation for a new season rising in one's heart. New season, new faces would be a great motto for TFC to adopt. Toronto certainly seems to have roster spots available.
In the month of January we have spent more time waving goodbye than waving hello.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell, Julian Cardillo and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 victory over Venezuela.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has urged the media to stop focusing the spotlight heavily on John Terry as the Blues skipper returns to QPR next Saturday for the first time since being accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in October.

The Rangers won the ill-tempered clash 1-0 as Villas-Boas saw two of his players dismissed, leaving the visitors to fight with nine men for most of the afternoon.

You'll like this. The difference between success and failure in football can be minute you need every edge you can get. And when you think about it, so much of football is in the mind. We talk about teams playing with confidence: that's a mental state. We talk about players looking nervous, or not knowing what they're supposed to be doing, or playing tentatively, or showing complacency.

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Just to confirm what EVERY QPR Supporter already knows!

In what was probably the absolute worst turn of events for 23 year old LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, the MLS Defender of the Year tore his left ACL in his very first training on loan at German outfit FC Nürnberg. After much waiting and anticipation by United States National Team supporters, Gonzalez finally received [.

By Clemente Lisi – MONTREAL, CA (Jan 4, 2012) US Soccer Players – There is nothing like the start of a new year to fill one with hope and anticipation. For USA soccer fans, there's a lot to look forward to from the National Teams and Major League Soccer. The senior side starts their road to Brazil with World Cup Qualifying.

Alan Hansen believes Liverpool's transfer policy in the past year has helped them enjoy a much more fruitful 2011 and will see them kick on again next year.
Like everyone else with Reds connections Hansen has been delighted with the progress the club has made since Kenny Dalglish returned to manage the club in January.

Everybody I talked to said the same thing – we were up for it like no other game in recent memory. Not just a derby, this one has become more sour over the last few years. There's a bitter edge to it, compared with the intense but long-standing rivalry with the Arsen*l, heightened by the welcome but unusual sensation of being third and favourites.

Their Words As the person at FIFA responsible for the delivery of the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup it is essential that I also get a personal view on the status of preparations during my planned host city visits to take place every two months next year. Because we have no time to rest, the clock is ticking ever faster and the anticipation is rising for all of us.

So here's a hot topic for you guys: as I was preparing for today's TTB (which is going to be daily again from now on) I saw this little tweet from Merritt Paulson:

Finalized 2013 kits today-tough as I like current so much. Pleased still. Hopefully no leaks; if so,at least decent image unlike past leaks

So we now know that we will get a refreshed primary and secondary kit in 2013, but more than that we know that it's different enough that owner Merritt Paulson put special emphasis on his love of the current ones in his tweet meaning that there's a reasonable assumption we could see some fairly big changes.

"[Rio Ferdinand's] performance was nothing short of magnificent," announced Alan Hansen on Match of the Day 2 yesterday, before wheeling out selected clips for his analysis on what appeared to be Ferdinand's return to form (at one point, he put down a random pass to Wayne Rooney as good "anticipation" ).

"[Rio Ferdinand's] performance was nothing short of magnificent," announced Alan Hansen on Match of the Day 2 yesterday, before wheeling out selected clips for his analysis on what appeared to be Ferdinand's return to form (at one point, he put down a random pass to Wayne Rooney as good "anticipation" ).

Is this the worst hat ever? It might just be. This Wigan fans donned a festive hat, probably in anticipation of a stuffing at the hands of Chelsea. But it wasn't to be as Jordi Gomez bagged a late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw for the Latics. Great news for Roberto Martinez, but not [...]

It might seem a little strange to say so, especially since Wolves are one of the worst sides in the Premier League, but this afternoon's match at Old Trafford should be looked at with anticipation. No, not the kind of anticipation that's felt ahead of a crunch clash in May, but the kind of anticipation [.

Xabi Alonso has revealed that Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo has still not returned to training ahead of Saturday's crucial La Liga clash with Sporting Gijon.

Ronaldo picked up an ankle injury following a strong challenge by Luis Perea during last weekend's ill-tempered derby win over city rivals Atletico Madrid.

El Clasico showdown, Old Firm derby and lots of Man City action in December - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

There's only one more month left in 2011, and it looks like the year will go out with a real bang from a football standpoint.

December features several must-see matches, with a few that will have title implications on top of deciding bragging rights between fierce rivals.

Why Le Classique is shaping up to the best since the Marseille kids upset PSG in 2006

MirrorFootball is teaming up with some of the blogosphere's best new writers to bring you even more great football reads every single day. Thursday is Ligue 1 day, and here's French Football Weekly's Andrew Gibney with his take on events across the Channel.

Remember Alex, protect the left side

13th of September 2011 seemed like such a long ago now. Both Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund were really struggling at that time. A little over 2 months since both teams played out a 1-1 draw at Signal Iduna Park and pretty much everything happened in between these 2 games.

"(David Luiz plays football as if he is) controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd on a Playstation."
-Sky Sports pundit and all-around good guy Gary Neville

Bob's response?

How can you not love this kid?

Speaking of Bob, Andre Villas-Boas jumped into the fray today amid the plethora of criticism the young Brazilian defender has been receiving of late.

Major League Soccer will stage the 2012 Expansion Draft on November 23, and all current clubs must submit their 11 man protected lists by November 21 in anticipation of the draft. I wanted to take a look at the possibilities and produce two similar lists depending on available player exemptions, although there's a strong possibility any potential selection from the Timbers by the Montreal Impact has already been made.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes that off-field issues such as owner Mike Ashley's decision to rename the legendary St. James' Park will not affect his players' focus on maintaining their incredible form.

Along with runaway league leaders Manchester City, the Magpies are the only other unbeaten team in the league.

Filling some reader requests, once again back is the incredible...#1 - Quite wisely, Klinsi has let Landon Donovan out of the USMNT travel party.#2 - Let me just get this out of the way, so it doesn't wait until item five to annoy you with anticipation. I have some deluxe goodies of all varieties coming soon at MLSS.

By Shane Badger
The troops marched home with heads held high after a thrilling but agonizing single goal deficit.With Syracuse Lancers Striking just seconds into the game and racking up an six point lead in the first quarter it looked as if the visiting Rocheseter Lancers may succumb to the hoard of thirty six hundred on lookers, though it was not to be so.

The troops marched home with heads held high after athrilling but agonizing single goal deficit.With Syracuse Lancers Striking justseconds into the game and racking up an six point lead in the first quarter itlooked as if the visiting Rocheseter Lancers may succumb to the hoard of thirty six hundredon lookers, though it was not to be so.

How many emotions can one football team make you feel just three months into the season?
Elation: Check (Bristol Away)
Anger: Check (Peterborough Away)
Pride: Check (Coventry at Home)
Hope: Check (West Ham Away)
A little bit Lucky: Check (Portsmouth at Home)
Pure Frustration: Check (Millwall Away)


August's trip to Peterborough was devastating because it highlighted what a mess the side were in at the time.

Back to Southern California: David Beckham and the Galaxy and Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls play the second leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Thursday in Carson (AP Photo).

Landon Donovan has never been afraid to criticize anyone, even David Beckham (who incidentally is listed as questionable for Thursday's game in Carson with back spasms).

Know the Dynamo: Playoff Opposition Report - Q&A With a Dynamo Blogger

The Union will play their first ever playoff game on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. against the Houston Dynamo. In anticipation of the game I reached out to Zach Woosley, Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory, for some insight into the Union's playoff opponent.

It's 26 days until MLS Cup kicks off at Carson's Home Depot Center.

While Galaxy fans ponder the news that a French club is reportedly printing up thousands of David Beckham T-shirts in anticipation of his arrival and monitor the progress of the injured Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, the MLS playoffs start tonight.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits that the lack of Champions League football at Anfield in recent times have left an empty feeling within everyone at the club and has vowed to give his all to bring those nights back to Merseyside.

Gerrard returned to the Reds starting line-up with a bang as his well-struck free-kick punished Ryan Giggs' poor positioning in the Manchester United wall during the two rivals' 1-1 draw nine days ago.

Over the course of the season, there will be a lot of important matches, and in looking at the big picture, there are quite a few that might mean more in terms of Manchester United's ambitions for the season. But in terms of anticipation, excitement, emotion, and the desire to stick to one of your [.

Now that Germany has qualified for the Euro 2012 tournament with ease, with an unbeaten record, anticipation is building for the tournament next summer.

But what kits will Germany be wearing for their "home" and "away" matches in Poland and Ukraine.

Here are the leaked photographs at Germany's shirts they'll be wearing in Europe next summer, where they must be considered one of the favorites (other than Spain) to win the championship.

The anticipation is building for tonight's 2011 US Open Cup final between Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders. Will Seattle be able to win three back-to-back titles, or will Chicago win a record fifth title? Watch the following video to add ...
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