Last month it was reported that the new coaching regime at Belenenses was cutting loose young American footballer Freddy Adu. Adu was on loan at Belenenses from Benfica, which owns Adu's rights.
Adu made the move from MLS to Europe in 2007, but has only mad 11 appearances since signing with Benfica, which had loaned Adu to Monaco last season, scoring only 2 goals in that time.

Well on the bright side they all looked like they wanted to play The Tottenham Way. Sugar and spice and all things nice, with pretty passing and a minimum of three dainty touches in possession. Delightful stuff. Unfortunately this was an occasion which demanded urgency, a determination to win at all costs, a bloody-minded refusal to accept defeat and generally all those other clichéd attributes which Spurs perennially lack, but which are prerequisites for top-four qualification.

It is one thing for Craig Moore to throw his weight and reputation around. Telling the club that has been representing the fans that have been paying his wages that it is 'him (Ange) or me'.
It is quite another for the Roar to tell the world that this has been said to them 'At least twice.'
Did they think how this would sound to fans and potential fans?

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

According to Richard Torgerson at Sky Sports News, Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants to hold onto striker Johan Elmander. Coyle told Aftonbladet,

"Yes, Elmander is a player I want to keep, his attitude is brilliant .

Last month it was reported that the new coaching regime at Belenenses was cutting loose young American footballer Freddy Adu. Adu was on loan at Belenenses from Benfica, which owns Adu's rights.
Adu made the move from MLS to Europe in 2007, but has only mad 11 appearances since signing with Benfica, which had loaned Adu to Monaco last season, scoring only 2 goals in that time.

Morning, all the festive fun is well and truly over now and if you're back into the thick of things with work and early starts again then you have my deepest sympathies.

There's not much I can say about yesterday's game because I didn't see it, bar very brief highlights. Note to self: when recording something on Sky+ remember to record it on a channel you're actually subscribed to.

The player interviews after games on ATVO are generally quite uninteresting. Most of the times you can predict what the players will say as the questions are quite leading. Every once in a while though, an interview gives me something insightful or thought provoking.

Sagna's post match talk after the West Ham game falls in this category.

In a step which will take him closer to a move away from the Elland Road club, Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has formally requested a transfer away from his current club.

A statement from the Leeds United website is as follows:

Leeds United can confirm that Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request.

As promised, albeit stupidly late, a Q&A with the guys over at Joys and Sorrows, the Birmingham City blog, written ahead of our pre-Christmas clash at Goodison. The game, if you didn't already know finished 1-1 with Seb Larsson canceling out Billy's early goal. It was a match Everton perhaps should have won, but McCleish' men have a new steel about them this season and effectively repelled Everton's increasingly agricultural attacks.

thumbs up?

Over the past couple of days the name Miguel Veloso has come up. This isn't a name that we're unaware of, as every single transfer window it would seem that he's unable to escape speculation on his future. Being a club that is perennially linked to around half of the players on the market at any given time its safe to say that he's known as one of the better players that could be available to us.

Some odd links.
Kickette picked up that CR7's old WAG Nereida is engaged? How does he feel about this, I wonder...
I always somewhat dismissed the EPL bashing of the money/attitude situation, but this is somewhat unsettling for the inevitable crash that is coming.

Arsenal 2 - 2 Everton
Dominic Fifield:
Arsenal in Premier League race after Everton draw
Alyson Rudd: Everton superior in many respects
Kevin Palmer: Donovan shines in Everton debut
Birmingham 1 - 1 Manchester United
Kevin McCarra:
Sir Alex Ferguson frustrated as Birmingham hold Manchester United
Peter Lansley: Ferguson feels the heat
Berbatov may need surgery
Jon Carter: Safety first attitude a real bore
Chris Kamara's sub-zero heroes

My apologies for the late one today, though I'm not as late as I thought I'd be. I know it was very inconsiderate due to events last night, however, if you read the comments on yesterdays blog you'll know why, and if not, I was sacked under the guide of 'redundancy' and thought I'd have a lie in seeing as I didn't have to get up at 5am to go into a shit-hole.

photo credit: Kieran Lynam

Sol Campbell has returned to Arsenal in a bid to get back to playing for the English National Team and to get back to "premier" Soccer. It is true that many times a player (in any sport) will return to their former team and not fair so well, but this time with Campbell might be different.

Before you all shout and scream, declare undying love and appreciation for Arsene Wenger, I am not referring to him – Got it?

No, this is about getting rid of a few who we think will never come up to scratch, those who have been playing on borrowed time at a club that deserves the best.

By far the most decorated and long-serving of his contemporaries, an Old Trafford great has garnered ever more accolades for his longevity, his quality and his dignity. His ability to excel at an age when others have retired has been rightly praised, his attitude described as an example to others.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

safe hands?

Today it has come to light that we have had a bid rejected for Manchester United shotstopper Ben Foster. Whilst this is certainly one of the more prudent moves that has been mooted this window, completion of the move would cast into speculation the respective futures of our current keepers.

Let's rewind to Thursday's draft for a minute. The Fire picked up a couple of defenders, two midfielders and even a keeper with their selections, but neglected to draft a forward -- seemingly a position of need -- with any one of their five picks.

On the surface (assuming the Fire took need into consideration when making their picks) not drafting a forward makes little sense.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Reds are showing the right attitude in their bid for a Champions League place after the win over Spurs.
The Reds rose one place to sixth with Wednesday's 2-0 win and are now one point behind fourth place.
Carragher told BBC Radio Merseyside: "We realised we had to come together and show everyone what we're about.

This was definitely a game of two halves. However, it wasn't so much the level of performance, or amount of effort that changed, it was more the mentality and attitude of the Thai team that improved significantly in the second half.
I'm sure Bryan Robson & Steve Darby will say the formation they selected in the first half was fluid, allowing it to be 4-5-1 when Thailand were defending, and 4-3-3 when attacking.

Like Danny Welbeck did last season, Mame Biram Diouf scored on his home debut for Manchester United, in last week's 3-0 win over Burnley.

Sir Alex Ferguson has now decided to keep him in the squad, whilst Welbeck, whose last performance was his fairly dreadful outing against Leeds, which lead to him being subbed before an hour played, has been shipped off to Preston on loan.

Rafa Benitez today heaped praise on Dirk Kuyt for his role in getting Liverpool back to winning ways - and revealed how the Dutchman offered to play at right-back amid the club's injury crisis.
Kuyt was the two-goal hero as Liverpool beat top-four rivals Tottenham last week and was the subject of several questions as the gaffer gave his pre-Wolves press conference on Monday.

David Bentley? That pampered, self-centred Arsenal and Spurs reject? According to the UK tabloids, West Ham is rumoured to be trying to bring David Bentley to West Ham on a loan deal. Spurs and Harry Redknapp are currently reported also to be enticing Eidur Gudjohnsen over to White Hart Lane in a hijack move.

It's been a while since I last spoke with Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas so we had a few things to catch up on when we talked today. First on the list was the Fire's newest player, defender Krzysztof Krol. The 22-year-old Krol, who the Fire officially acquired on loan from Polish team Jagiellonia Bialystok, will likely fill the void left by Gonzalo Segares at left back.

Most athletes and coaches are driven to success by the idea of winning a championship, while others are led by the fear of failure. The idea of agonizing defeat haunts some competitors into driving forward.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans talks about how the fear of failure drives Manchester United towards continued success.