By Chris Wright

At the risk of causing Manchester United-related overload seizures, here's a little Sky infographic comparing Nani's first 100 games for United against that of Cristiano Ronaldo and, rather surprisingly, the former comes out on top by quite a margin as far as assists are concerned.

Yep, 2 for 2 in the championship already. Who would have thought? Certainly not me (if I read correctly, we had 2 points by this time last season). And really, THESE are the games we must be winning. Take the 07-08 season for example, where easily avoidable home losses to teams like Iraklis and Panionios cost us the championship.

I wrote recently that the MVP chase in Major League Soccer is a slippery, elusive beast. Things tend to shift quickly in this thing, I wrote.

So, I'll try not to bust my arm patting myself on the back for this one, but, uh ... nailed it!

Two weeks ago, Dwayne De Rosario was an "also ran" at best in the MVP sweepstakes.

Fantasy football can be enjoyed in many different forms. Of course one major way to do that is the part where your choosing and tweaking your fantasy football team. That's probably what your doing right now, when you're here on Fantasy Premier League tips blog. Key aspects of that are of course gathering information about football teams, hot football players, their conditions, their injuries, their fixtures.

For whatever reason, Christian Poulsen has been a regular whipping-boy for Liverpool fans over the last year. He has constantly been labelled 'not good enough', and generally treated with disrespect. This is totally unfair because, as I will illustrate, Poulsen had a positive impact for Liverpool overall.

Former Duke All-American forward Mike Grella has joined Brentford of League One (third division).
In 42 league and cup matches matches for Leeds, Grella scored five goals – three of them in the FA Cup – and played another 18 matches (four goals) on loan to Carlisle United and Swindon Town.

By Alan Duffy

As he embarks on yet another loan move, this time to Championship giants West Ham United, Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury put on a superb Man of the Match display for Stuart Pearce's U21 side against Azerbaijan, netting two goals and providing a couple of assists as the young England side coasted to a 6-0 win.

In doing research for a story on Chicago Fire goals this season, I came across a couple of irregularities on the assist credits for some tallies. The initial press release after a game might have done something like given a second assist credit to Marco Pappa on Cory Gibbs' header vs. San Jose when he really didn't do that much to set up Baggio Husidic's ball into the box.

There's been a ton written lately about the Seattle Sounders FC offense lately. A look at goal scoring from forwards, due to the lack of scoring by Fredy Montero lately, and the look at the shift of Montero back to more of a trequartista. Both really look at the lack of the "other" forward scoring, as much as they do Montero, but in different ways.

In January 2001, Gerrard Houllier signed one of Europe's most renowned and exciting creative players. Liverpool fans everywhere rejoiced at the prospect of having such a rare talent in the team, the ideal player to complement Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. Joy quickly turned to frustration though as Houllier criminally underused the player and inexplicably wasted his considerable talent.

Last season, Liverpool's Lucas Leiva (rather improbably) made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League. The Brazilian is already topping the charts again this season too, which is great, but I can't help feeling that the club is actually losing out.
According to OPTA stats, Lucas scythed his way to 172 tackles last season, and he's top of the pile again this season with 22 tackles so far.

The Rangers women's soccer went 2-for-2 on matches during the long holiday weekend.

The women socked the Concordia University at St. Paul, Minn., Golden Bears 5-0 on Labor Day.

Forward Jordan Miller scored two goals for the Rangers, midfielders Marissa Davis, Erin Kettmann and Kikki Arnold each had one goal.

Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com

By JOSE M. ROMERO

There's something sort of peaceful and calm in Jorge Perlaza's voice, the sound of a man who's pretty happy with his life these days.

The 26-year-old forward from Colombia has made himself a home in Portland.

Keon Daniel's 20th minute goal helped Trinidad and Tobago beat Barbados in the second round of 2014 World Cup qualifying. Daniel made his first start for the country in qualifying, after impressing in 54 minutes of Trinidad's 1-0 win over Bermuda last week.

Playing all 90 minutes, Daniel was a thorn in Barbados' side all game, pumping threatening corners into the box and on multiple occasions nearly combining with star striker Kenwyne Jones around the 18.

The signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton this summer was met acrimoniously by many sectors of the Emirates faithful. Over the international break, Chamberlain went some way to justifying the money that Arsene Wenger paid for the talented teen and giving Arsenal fans a taste of what is to come.

The longstanding FC Dallas man for all seasons and play by play announcer passed away on Monday evening. The public face of FCD he was a much beloved figure amongst fans showing an unsurpassed humility and love for the game and club. From all accounts he was the sort of unspoiled figure one dreams off in an age of diminishing loyalties.

When Rafa Benitez signed Glen Johnson in 2009, I argued at the time that it was a mistake to spend such a large amount of money on a player that Liverpool (arguably) didn't need. Given the catastrophic failure of the two seasons he has been at Anfield, I'm struggling to see what specific, measurable impact Johnson has had on the team, and how he fits into the 'new' Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool FC will continue to monitor 18 year old Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha this season and will decide next summer whether or not to consider a bid.
The youngster has been one player in London that numerous clubs have shown interest in but with no serious bids forthcoming thus far.
It is however believed that the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal will monitor Zaha throughout the 2011-2012 season to judge his development and make a choice in June next year.

After giving up four goals in its first four matches of the season, the Edgewood College women's soccer team yielded three in the opening 10 minutes Sunday and lost to St. Norbert 3-1 in a non-conference game in De Pere.

Freshman Katie Vanden Avond (De Pere), who scored seven of the Green Knights' nine goals in their first two games, had two assists in St.

When it comes to accolades, goal scorers are usually the player who walk away with most of the awards and notoriety, but this week one player stood out above the rest despite not scoring a goal himself.

D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius has been one of the biggest bright spots for D.

Keon Daniel may not return to the Philadelphia Union this season, according to a source close to the player.

The source told the Brotherly Game that, "Keon [Daniel] isn't coming back this season. I know people thought he would return in a week or two, but no. Not until next season."

When asked about the reasons for why Daniel will not return this season, the source said, "Someone forgot to redo his work permit or visa.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Union

In this week's power rankings roundup, the Philadelphia Union move up one spot to no. 10 at MLSsoccer.com ("They haven't won in a long time, their body language is not particularly good right now, they're inconsistent offensively and the defense is suddenly leaky.

Andre Villas-Boas is trying hard to change the way Chelsea has played over the past six years and mini-Mourinho is getting closer with every game. In all aspect, it was an aging team that AVB inherited at the Bridge.
Ancelotti started the rejuvenation process, bringing in David Luiz and Fernando Torres.

MLS underway this evening with Houston vs. Columbus at Crew Stadium.

What a perfect time to bring up the following:

Shouldn't Davis be wearing the Stars & Stripes at some point in 2011?

• Brad Davis is having an MVP campaign. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?!

If you caught up with TSG on Twitter recently, you've heard our rants on Davis.

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

If Graham Zusi has taken one lesson away from the first three years of his MLS career, it's been understanding the value of patience.

After being selected by the Kansas City Wizards in the second round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, the attacking midfielder made just nine starts and scored one goal in his first two seasons.

Fabregas scored the second goal in an 8-0 rout of Osasuna in which his side enjoyed 82 per cent of possession.Two of Messi's goals came of assists from Fabregas.
And in another galaxy far away a team called Arsenal stagger along with 3 defeats in 5 games.

We couldn't let a game against Chelsea pass us by without having a quick chat with The Chelsea Blog...

Scott the Red: So, are Chelsea "old and slow"?

Chelsea Den: Ask Torres! Obviously, we have two or three in the squad who are a little older and slower than they may once have been, that's not exactly earth shattering news though is it?

We couldn't let a game against Chelsea pass us by without having a quick chat with The Chelsea Blog...

Scott the Red: So, are Chelsea "old and slow"?

Chelsea Den: Ask Torres! Obviously, we have two or three in the squad who are a little older and slower than they may once have been, that's not exactly earth shattering news though is it?

We couldn't let a game against Chelsea pass us by without having a quick chat with The Chelsea Blog...

Scott the Red: So, are Chelsea "old and slow"?

Chelsea Den: Ask Torres! Obviously, we have two or three in the squad who are a little older and slower than they may once have been, that's not exactly earth shattering news though is it?

Alberto Aquilani's impressive form for AC Milan continued last night with an excellent goal against Napoli. Would Aquilani have made a difference against Spurs today?Who knows, but he's already got two assists and a goal in two games for Milan, which is pretty good going. Not that I'm saying Liverpool should've kept Aquilani, but would he have been any worse than Jordan Henderson today?

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team answered the No. 13-ranked Colorado School of Mines Orediggers twice Sunday, but ran out of time in its search for a third reply in a 3-2 defeat at CSM Soccer Field.

The Orediggers took leads at 1-0 and 2-1, but the Mountain Lions tied the match shortly afterward each time.

Five players notched a goal for Colorado College on Sunday as the Tigers drubbed the Arkansas Razorbacks 5-0.

Arkansas, which beat Air Force 2-1 on Friday, put up no such fight against CC.

Brittney Lyman and Madison Whitehead scored in the first half for the Tigers. Kaeli Vandersluis, Lauren DiGregorio and Jesse Ayers added second half tallies.

For the second straight week, the SBI MLS Player of the Week isn't a player with a multi-goal game on the resume, but rather a player responsible for setting up the goals.

This time around it is Seattle Sounders playmaker Mauro Rosales who takes SBI's MLS Player of the Week for his outstanding performance driving Seattle's potent attack during its 3-0 victory against D.

Today, during a live chat with ESPNDesportes.com Mauro Rosales indicated that he and the Seattle Sounders are close to an agreement on an extension. It is important to note that the following quote came via Google Translate and is therefore without the nuance that a live translator may offer.

matias (Newell's)

mauro two questions: you have plans to return to Newell's Old Boys?

Despite being one of the busiest clubs in the summer transfer window it appears as though Liverpool could continue to spend when the January transfer window opens.
The club is being strongly linked with a move for Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas who is considered one of the hottest properties in Brazilian football.

On-loan Chelsea defender Jeffrey Bruma got a start for Hamburger SV today. The young Dutchman took advantage of the opportunity by going out and burying a diving header early in the second half. That's three goals in his last six league appearances.

Well done, lad. And, yeah, more of that please.

Charlie Adam returned from suspension to fire Liverpool into the lead during the first half against Wolves at Anfield, and then Luis Suarez scored a stunning second to cap a fairly dominant first half for Liverpool. After about 14 minutes, Adam picked up the ball about 25 yards out and then smashed a deflected shot into the net.

Arsenal finally put together a convincing display of football for the first time this season, beating Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

Robin van Persie scored the first two goals, and in doing so joined an elite club of players to have scored 100 or more goals for the Gunners.

There has been news recently that Newcastle are interested in French international play-maker Marvin Martin. Marvin Martin Newcastle interested The 23 year-old has been at Sochaux for the last nine years, and so far has made 117 appearances for the French side, with 10 goals and 26 assists. Newcastle's name in France is sky [.

There has been news recently that Newcastle are interested in French international play-maker Marvin Martin. Marvin Martin Newcastle interested The 23 year-old has been at Sochaux for the last nine years, and so far has made 117 appearances for the French side, with 10 goals and 26 assists. Newcastle's name in France is sky [.