NBC continues their amazing support of Major League Soccer. Yet another promo video is out and the production values, the attitude and the goosebumps it brings should serve as a reminder to ESPN and FOX: MLS got away.
The league continues to rise. Enjoy the latest promo video from NBC Sports

It's funny how the English media mock the quality of Major League Soccer, but guess where Premier League teams turned to this month to help their sides? Yep, MLS.

First we had the Galaxy's Landon Donovan going back to Everton on loan and then the NYRB's Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal, where he promptly scored the winner in their FA Cup tie against Leeds.

In the US, people point to "culture" as our fundamental impediment to excellence.

And the arguments come in many flavors. But what they say essentially boils down to one theme:

Numbers

We don't have the numbers, they say.

• Numbers in terms of audience
• Numbers in terms of consumers
• Numbers in terms of money
• Numbers in terms of "best athletes" (whatever that means)
• Numbers in terms of how many years MLS (or any infrastructure) has been around

They argue that if we did have the numbers (always sold out stadiums, NFL level TV audiences, MLB level player salaries, a 70 year old league instead of 19, etc .

BBC Sport Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger unhappy after loss to Fulham.

Over the past year or so, football experts have taken a shot at trying to troubleshoot Arsenal's predisposition to losing games which they had already had won. Many comments focused on the squad's lack of defensive strength but I have a different take on the problem

It's not the defenders that cause Arsenal's fragility, it's the attitude of the manager who almost never holds his players accountable for their mistakes, blames everyone else around him when they lose, and so consequently, his players have no fear.

Robin van Persie, wife Bouchra and their two kids paid a visit to Diego Maradona and club Al Wasl in Dubai over the holidays. Image via Twitter.

Unlike some of our other more classic side eye examples of disgust and disregard, Robin van Persie's son is going for a more intense "bubba on the edge" vibe.

Love him or hate him, Balotelli is not about to change anytime soon. However coming to think about it, why should he. The Italian striker has no doubt made the English game more entertaining and exciting since joining in the summer of 2010

In fact, his once irritating attitude is actually starting to get people looking forward to his antics every week.

Liverpool's 3-1 defeat over Bolton Wanderers, apparently gave more than just disappointment for the club's manager, Kenny Dalglish, as he was also infuriated with his player's poor performance and threatened to get rid of those who can't improve their performance.

Dalglish was so furious that he doesn't really want to give much credit for his opponent as he really felt that it was the Reds' poor performance which cause that defeat.

Post Match Quotes from USSoccer.com


U.S. Men's National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN:
On Jermaine Jones and what went in to decision to make captain:
"It was certainly a difficult situation for Jermaine with the suspension in Germany.

After Saturday's capitulation to lowly Bolton at the Reebok 3-1, Kenny Dalglish openly criticised his players for their attitude and performance in the defeat, even claiming that heads will roll after that display.
Well Kenny, it was an abject display by the team, a team you largely assembled yourself.

Much has been made in recent weeks of the Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey debate. The debate began as a casual conversation while trying to design the perfect US National Team lineup. It seemed at the time, there would be no way to pin down which player was truly better. Donovan plies his trade in Major League Soccer whereas Dempsey produces his magic in the English Premier League.

Keep calm and carry on isn't just a greetings card company, it's a quintessential English saying that Oxlade-Chamberlain adheres too.... In an interview with Sky Sports, The former Southampton Academy graduate stated that, "I have to keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard." An attitude most 18 year olds may push aside [.

Belen F.C. accused the Philadelphia Union of unsportsmanlike conduct in today's friendly in Costa Rica, which finished 2-0 in favor of the hosts.

Local officials ended the game after the scuffle due to the "embarrassing" nature of a scuffle that broke out after Union midfielder Michael Farfan had a poor tackle from behind on a Belen player.

Let's tack some overtime quotes onto yesterday's Postcard From Europe...On how confident the USMNT is becoming:"It's difficult to say that off the top that we were going to go in and beat Italy in Italy. The attitude amongst the boys is that we're a hard-working team... that's how we get results. I don't think we'll always be able to beat teams like that, especially in their own country, but

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that Phil Jones will be Manchester United's captain one day.

"He's definitely a future captain," said Ferguson. "There's no doubt about that. I said that from the minute he came to us that I thought there was something about the boy. He was doing great until he started getting all these injuries and a bit of illness with 'flu.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union

Check out PSP's match report, which also contains a number of illuminating quotes from the coaches and players.

John Hackworth said after the game, "It was really tough loss to lose a game like that in injury time after fighting so hard to come back and equalizing.

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

LANDOVER, Md. -- In the middle of his post-game comments following Wednesday night's 4-1 loss to Brazil, Jurgen Klinsmann let slip what has been speculated for some time: That the U.

For much of this season Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has argued that his options up front come down to a straight choice between Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe. Almost without exception, the manager comes down on the side of the Dutchman but is it time to give JD a run in the side, even if it's at the expense of Adebayor up front?

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.

After Platini, Messi is the only other player to win the Ballon d'Or 3 times in a row. This is fully deserved because:

• Messi is both a fuoriclasse dribbler and plays for his teammates.
• Messi is decisive in the games that count.
• A unique style made of robustness, speed, technique.

Morning all.

The dust has settled somewhat after Thierry's permasmile-inducing return against Leeds the other night, and such was the joy at the goal it's only now that I'm taking in the fact it's knocked Leeds out of the cup too. I do enjoy knocking Leeds out of the cup.

Now, however, we have to turn our attention back to the Premier League.

That's the message delivered by Mark Verstegen, founder of Athletes' Performance, to the team as they depart Phoenix after nine days of training, fitness and strength exercises, and nutritional education.
The charismatic speaker spent nearly an hour counseling the players on a holistic approach to achieving success in their professional careers, summed up in the mantra 'Every Day is Game Day'.

Michael Carrick has sung the praises of team mate Paul Scholes who played his first game in front of our home grown since returning from retirement.

Scholes scored a big goal for United, putting us 1-0 up just before half-time, although Carrick believes our legendary midfielder has as much to offer away from the pitch as well as on it.

Having already knocked out Villarreal and Real Racing Club in this years Copa del Rey, Mirandés, are bow looking to knockoff another of La Liga's big names, Espanyol, in the quarter-finals.

The Spanish third division side are currently enjoying the experience of a lifetime – playing and beating the elite.

szólj hozzá: Figueora kezezése

Roberto Mancini is dead nuts on getting the oppositions players sent-off!
Two weeks ago Mancini was looking for Martin Skrtel to be dismissed after a clumsy tackle on Yaya Toure in City's 3-0 win over Liverpool in the League, he then wanted Glenn Johnson red carded for his two-footed tackle on Johnson in Liverpool's 1-0 win in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at the Etihad and last night he wanted Wigan's Maynor Figueroa for a hand-ball on thew half way line and although they may all have warranted a red card, Mancini's attitude towards red card offences seem's hypocrytical to say the least.

Mark Hughes has demanded an improvement from his Queens Park Rangers side after the 1-0 victory over MK Dons in the FA Cup third round replay last night.

Most soccer betting pundits will agree that the League One side were more than a match for Hughes' men for the majority and even though the home side eventually progressed to the fourth round, Hughes knows his team have to be better in all departments.

Happy Wednesday to you. Several things on the docket today. The first thing that caught my eye was this week was Vancouver's acquiring of Etienne Barbara's rights. Barbara was a fantastic player for much of the 2011 NASL season. His 20 goals and many assists earned him Golden Boot honors for North America's second tier.

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.

Sir Alex Ferguson on 21-year old phenom Danny Welbeck, and how his attitude, effort and enthusiasm has led to his key role in one of the best teams in the world -
"He has a good attitude but then he should - he's a young player with an opportunity at Manchester United.

"He has a good attitude, although he should have, he's a young player with an opportunity at Manchester United," said Ferguson. "That's one of the reasons you pick these players, because they show their temperament as they come through the youth programmes and the reserves. I am always confident about their temperament, their attitude to the game and their enthusiasm to play.

One of my favorite videos and books is 212° The Extra Degree, by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson.
212 degrees is the extra degree of effort that often separates the good from the great. 212° The Extra Degree captures a simple, yet powerful concept.

If reports doing the rounds are to be believed, Chelsea coach Andres Villas-Boas could further alienate himself from his players as he adamantly claimed yesterday that he did not need their support to remain as coach.

After a string of poor performances in the league and rising tensions between himself and some of his senior players, it is surprising that Villas-Boas still has a job.

There is a temptation to level what might seem a fair criticism at Manchester United and their generally underwhelming performances this season but, in truth, the isolated idea that the side is too complacent in winning positions or in situations where they are expected to coast is a touch unfair and, simply put, a bit lazy.

Dear Mr Parker,
Congratulations on being named England captain. Undoubtedly the best man for the job.
Off the field you're articulate, modest and you don't whore yourself to the media. On the field you're dedicated, strong and lead by example. Your attitude, personality and effort resonates through the team and improves everyone's performance.

When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you think of Hines Ward. He's the player who most epitomized the toughness and the attitude that the Steelers bring the the game each week. But that time has come to an end. Hines Ward has been released by the Steelers.

"Hines has been an integral part of our success since we drafted him in 1998," said Art Rooney II, the president of the Steelers, "and we will forever be grateful for what he has helped us achieve.

The Union's scrimmage with Belen on Thursday ended in the first half after a scuffle broke out with the Union already down 2–0.

A report on the Belen website (crappy translation here; did the first goal come from a PK?)) accuses the Union of engaging in "anti-football." The report continues, "What most annoyed the Belemitas was the attitude of the coaching staff who, from the beginning, did not stop shouting insults not only to the players but also the Belen referee and his assistants.

The most elegant man in football his royal highness Carlos Tevez marked his return to near top-level football last night with a goal for Man City reserves squad in their 3-0 win over Bolton. He looks like he's still lacking match fitness with a bit of a tummy, but as Roberto Mancini says, he just needs some game time and less access to the empanadas his wife makes.

Newcastle United are going through (what is so far) a short spell without a win, so what can be done to pull us out of that? We're in the midst of a slightly disappointing run. Since our 5-0 thrashing from Spurs we've only managed two draws. We seemed to lack resilience and second-half 'attitude' against [.

Mike Williamson has taken a bit of stick lately for his performances at the heart of the Newcastle defense. Mike Williamson - hoping for European Qualification And it was a mistake by Mike after 23 minutes of the Sunderland game that gave them a penalty last Sunday, that Nicklas Bendtner easily converted.

Mike Williamson has taken a bit of stick lately for his performances at the heart of the Newcastle defense. Mike Williamson - hoping for European Qualification And it was a mistake by Mike after 23 minutes of the Sunderland game that gave them a penalty last Sunday, that Nicklas Bendtner easily converted.

We posted this not only because it's another "Dos a cero" against Mexico (hey, even at the youth level we'll take it), but for the complete performance that the Baby Nats put in against our CONCACAF rivals.
There's a mentality that is spreading in this U.S. program.