Liverpool have made the first steps towards appointing Louis van Gaal as sporting director after meeting with him in Portugal last week.
There are, though, complications as to whether the Dutchman's methods match the way the Fenway Sports Group are seeking to restructure the club.
Van Gaal has been spending the summer at his house near Albufeira in the Algarve and it is understood that Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, flew out to meet him last week.

Photo: Glenn Riegel, courtesy of Reading United AC

(Editor's Note: Over the next three months, PSP will give readers an unprecedented look inside one of the nation's top minor league soccer clubs, Reading United AC, which plays in the Premier Development League, the fourth tier of American soccer, and draws its players from colleges around the country.

Antonio Cassano spent the bulk of his AC Milan season "high-fiving" players during training sessions, dancing TO "Ai Seu Te Pego" with Robinho, cracking jokes at everyone's expense all the while recovering from his heart operation. So of course (naturalmente), his call-up to Prandelli's Azzurri squad was highly unexpected and had more to do with his bubbly personality than his goal average.

Well, Nicklas Bendtner has walked back through the Arsenal door after his loan move to Sunderland ended and I'm sure many Gooners would prefer it if he just strolled back out of it again.
His exit could happen too if rumours that Borussia Dortmund are set to put a £2.5m bid in for the Dane are true, although I think that amount of money might just cover the price of his ego.

Robben's a Man on a Mission (Simon Kuper, Mio Stadium)

Robben isn't really a "Dutch" footballer. He was born in Bedum in the windswept north of the Netherlands, 60 kilometres from the German border. No great Dutch footballer had come from the north since the Koeman brothers 25 years early, and none has ever come from Bedum.

It was a crazy, PAZZO, night for Juventus fans last night as they swarmed onto the pitch and celebrated their Scudetto win at the Nereo Rocco stadium. Unfortunately for Milan, the dream was over when they fell to a 2-4 defeat to Inter in the derby, a match that was drama-filled right to the very end.

Kenny Dalglish today reported a clean bill of health for Liverpool ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday, apart from long-term absentees Lucas Leiva and Charlie Adam

The manager told his pre-match press conference at Anfield: "We've given everybody an opportunity to get themselves fit and I don't think we've got any injuries, apart from the long-term ones in Lucas and Charlie Adam.

It's not as easy as it looks, this administration lark. In my time writing on football finance, I have yet to experience any sympathy for an administrator, or believe that maybe senior ones are earning their weekly wage packets-per-hour. But gone is the sense that Dave Clark and Paul Whitehouse would have been better administrators than Paul Clark and David Whitehouse of Duff & Phelps, because whatever their previous faults, most of this week in the legal and political minefield which is 21st-century Rangers has not been their fault.

Mario Balotelli is one of the most enigmatic and reportedly difficult footballers in the Barclay's Premier League and like many sports stars, his name is as synonymous with descriptions of arrogance as it is with words of praise. So is ...
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Nicklas Bendtner in a Danish interview was asked to name his all time favourite eleven, In a 4-3-3 he went with a offensive team. In his younger Arsenal reserve's days N.B-52 on a few occasions played alongside Ashley Cole and rates the Left-Back very highly, also includes ex Premier League wing wizard Cristiano Ronaldo.

Photo by Tracy Allen/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

Dan Gargan's path to the Windy City has been anything but a breeze.

First, there was the torn knee ligament that threw a wrench in his promising career. Then, his abrupt 2008 retirement.

They came,they saw and they kept possession as ever, but this time they couldn't quite conquer. Barcelona arrived in West London this evening with the sound of a Spector-esque wall of praise ringing in their ears. They're a great side. Indeed, if it is possible to draw comparisons across the different eras of the game, then they might just be the greatest of all time.

Sir Alex Ferguson predicted Wigan could beat Arsenal.

They've got to get a goal, of course, but if they do they'll beat Arsenal. They are playing really well. They should easily be in the middle of the table, rather than down at the bottom, but at times they can't get a goal. If we had been playing any other team but Wigan the other night, we would have been all right because it is unusual for a team to keep possession against us the way they did.

Sir Alex Ferguson predicted Wigan could beat Arsenal.

They've got to get a goal, of course, but if they do they'll beat Arsenal. They are playing really well. They should easily be in the middle of the table, rather than down at the bottom, but at times they can't get a goal. If we had been playing any other team but Wigan the other night, we would have been all right because it is unusual for a team to keep possession against us the way they did.

It's been two years since Premier League referee Mark Halsey overcame a tumor in his throat, made it through a serious infection, beat the cancer, passed his fitness test and worked his way back up to the Premier level. And one of the men who had a small part in helping him through his difficult time was a football manager with a reputation for being relentless and harsh on referees.

With the N17 looters having dropped two points on Wearside yesterday the Good Guys find themselves needing defeat avoidance at the very least to return to third place.

One would hope that the Spuds have over achieved this season on the back of a few decent performances from their squad semi-evolved simian.

With the N17 looters having dropped two points on Wearside yesterday the good guys find themselves needing defeat avoidance at the very least to return to third place.

One would hope that the Spuds have over achieved this season on the back of a few decent performances from their squad semi-evolved simian.

Pay close attention to the date on the shirt. That's evidence of Manchester United fans feeling exceptionally puffy-chested regarding their unassailable 3 point lead in the standings with only 8 games to go.

They also ask politely that you leave your mathematics at the door.

Yesterday, Toronto FC advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals beating heavily favoured LA Galaxy. The first leg was tied, 2-2 after Toronto FC squandered a two goal lead.

This time around Ryan Johnson made sure he and Toronto had the last laugh after scoring a brace.

The blogosphere is having a field day with Charlie Brooks column in the Telegraph today ahead of the Cheltenham Festival "The happiest moment of my year is about three hours before the first race at Cheltenham on Tuesday" says Charlie...unlucky Sir. He was arrested along with Rebekah Brooks as part of the corruption enquiry lead by Lord Leveson
The BBC have put together this useful chart of all the players in this sordid mess.

This website has been accused of many things (irreverence, irrelevance, arrogance, uncouthness, unfunniness, squirrel molestation, etc...). Some or all of these charges may be true. PUT is also one other thing-responsive. You asked for it, you got it. By "you" of course, we mean the three people who commented on a recent post about the team's scuffle in Costa Rica.

This season's premier league title doesn't seem going far between two Manchester sides despite the potential problem that Tottenham Hotspurs may inflicted but there's strong believes that it will go down for either Man City or Man United.

According to City's Football Development Excecutive, Patrick Vieira, his team obviously had the edged over Sir Alex Ferguson's side, although the ex-midfielder acknowledged the experience advantage that United possessed.

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.

szólj hozzá: Arsenal v Man United 1:2 MOTD

It was the 74th minute when Arsene Wenger went from mere arrogance to sheer incompetence. Replacing Alex Oxlade Chamberlain with Andrey Arshavin. The Ox had been Arsenal's best player on the pitch providing the side with desperately needed speed, ambition, and some quality skills.

The real issue with Mario Balotelli isn't his 'swag', abrasive nature or arrogance for that matter. The real issue with Mario these days is that he's turning into the Lady Gaga of football. Of course, the issue of kicking Scott Parker in the head yesterday (in City's 3-2 defeat of Spurs) isn't something that should surprise you at all.

By Chris Wright

Let me list the reasons I hate Arjen Robben with the burning fire of one thousand imploding suns...

1) He doesn't run, he gingerly minces.
2) He, and you may have noticed this yourselves, feigns career-ending injuries quite regularly only to get up when it suits and keep on gingerly mincing.

*hyperboilk*

Right, big game today and all that. Man City. I remember when they used to be just fields. The other team in Manchester who everyone kind of had a soft spot (sort of) for because they were United's poor relation. Not just the poor relation though. They were the keen, eager yet drooling relation with a club foot and a cleft palate who really wanted to join the kickabout and nobody had the heart to refuse.

With Rivals Barcelona out in Japan taking part in the FIFA World Club Cup, Real Madrid took the opportunity last night to extend their lead a top the La Liga standings with an emphatic 6-2 win over Sevilla.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 20 goals with Messi 3 goals behind him.

Just this week, in a podcast we never got to post Managing Madrid's Gabe Lezra asked me a question: "Imagine this: Barcelona wins, Real Madrid loses, the lead has been cut to 3. It's the morning of December 11th – how are you feeling?" I no longer remember what answer I gave, but here I am today in exactly the same question.

It wasn't so long ago that pundits and fans alike were questioning whether Mario Balotelli had what it takes to succeed in English football.

His doubters were plentiful and vociferous, with many criticising his perceived lack of maturity. However, one by one Balotelli has silenced his critics as he continues to lay waste to defences across the Premier League.

The tories have outdone themselves this time. Somehow they think they've vetoed a major treaty that's actually gone ahead anyway leaving us basically out in the cold.
Our neighbours have gone ahead and done everything without us so all Cameron has achieved is to drive a wedge between us and Europe for no other reason than to appease his own party's xenophobic Tea-Party element.

I'm going to take a small break from writing about Arsenal today to vent on a subject that has infuriated me since listening to the European Championship draw on Friday evening, and that is the supreme arrogance of English pundits with regard to the national team. We all know that England are forever overhyped before major tournaments, but it is the dismissive contempt for many of the other countries (those not called Spain, Germany or Italy) that winds me up the most.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is still confident that his side can win the English Premier League. Chelsea who were 3-0 winners over Wolves yesterday, registered their first win in their last 4 outings with goals from Terry, Sturridge and Mata easing the pressure on Villas-Boas.

With Man United and Arsenal both drawing, the EPL table looks slightly different after Tottenham's 3-1 win over West Brom that saw them into position 3 on the table.

After beating Milan 3-2 at the San Siro on Wednesday, i certainly was not expecting Defending European and Spanish League champions Barcelona to lose to Getafe.

If anything, i expected them to reduce the points margin on leaders Real Madrid who were themselves facing a tough opponent in Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The back of this blogathon is broken now, right. Has to be? Surely tae goodness.
We're moving through the night with a run of guest debaters. So welcome, please, Ross McCafferty known to the Twitter world as @holyroodpatter
Given the somewhat combative nature of this very good cause, I thought that I would change the rules ever so slightly and disagree with a former post of Tom's (in the knowledge he is mandated to come back and disagree again!

If there was the slightest slither of doubt before, there probably isn't any more. As much as some would like to wish it isn't so, Manchester City glided to another comfortable win this afternoon against Newcastle United at The City of Manchester Stadium. It was a result which confirmed that Manchester United are going to have a hell of a job in keeping up with them the gap this afternoon went from five points to eight, and then back to five again with United's tepid win at Swansea City this evening while Newcastle United's run near the top of the Premier League table started to look more like a temporary position than it has been at any other point of the season so far.

Happy Birthday to one of our 'Neymarlitas' Bekie & Happy Neymar November to you! This month, we'll be giving out some limited-edition Futbolita-Neymar Tees, so stay tuned to how you can get your hands on one.

A funny story has emerged today concerning Real Madrid's failed bid for Neymar.

Andy Dunn's Big Match Verdict: Defence the new approach for Capello

That's it then, Fabio's cracked it. The genius — the coach worth £6million a year — has finally emerged, blinking into the Wembley lights. The world champions ­vanquished, Euro 2012 ­cannot come quickly enough.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Click here to view the embedded video.

We know, guys. Trust me. We know.

We know you played your hearts out Sunday.

We know you left everything on the field in those ridiculously exciting, maddening, painful closing minutes.

We know you had to overcome your manager's bad decisions.

FELIZ LUNES! So these guys were forced to endure a dreary factory visit last week, but at least Atletico Madrid secured a 3-1 win over Zaragoza last night which leaves them in the middle of the La Liga table with 13 points! Of course, you know their rivals Real Madrid are sitting right at the top like a boss, with only one point separating them and Barcelona, following their close 1-0 victory over Sociedad.