Aston Villa are in a great run of defensive form at the moment, having kept 5 clean sheets in the last 6 games. One of the main beneficiaries of this has been Cuellar, who has played practically every minute of every game. He also popped up with a header goal to help Villa draw with Manchester United this week.

It seems like ages ago when Landon Donovan scored in stoppage time to squeak the United States into the Round of 16.
Sure, the U.S. lost yesterday against Ghana - failing to capitalize on their own offensive chances and suffering from one or two defensive positioning lapses that led to Ghana's win - but all in all, this was a solid World Cup for the Yanks.

USA Drop Out Of World Cup, And Frankly, Deserved To.

Weeks ago, when the USMNT secured a point against England, a real special feeling began to build around this group playing their hearts out in South Africa. A come-back draw against Slovenia and a late win against Algeria saw fans jump on the USMNT bandwagon, and grow fanatical about their new-found game and national team.

The fantastic people at KICKETTE have opened up a proverbial can of worms with this one. One can be considered the classier side of the WAG bandwagon, exuding grace and style with every step and the other is believed to be the most attractive woman on the planet right now. Anyway enough of my yakking CLICK HERE to see the women in question.

In January 2010 Mikel Arteta completed five years UK residency, and having been ignored throughout his playing career by the country of his birth (Spain, for the ignoramuses out there) is now eligible to play for England. Just turning 28 Arteta could still enjoy a fruitful England career and though this (2010) World Cup is too soon, he would only be 32 at the next.

So after a few weeks of doing this mock draft it is time for the fifth and final one. Weeks of speculation have come to this as tomorrow the league will hold its annual draft. I've gone back and forth for weeks over how teams will pick tomorrow and there is a chance I may be right about a few of them.

Since everyone seems to be jumping on the Free Agency Timeline bandwagon, I thought I'd hop on too I and look at how the MLS bloggers have sneezed blood over the weekend, all from some coordinated player remarks on free agency made on Friday, and MLS president Mark Abbott's subsequent response.
Friday, February 19th, 2010 (Player Tweets, Facebook, Ives, Snowden, Carlisle)

• Ives: "Key among the issues being fought over are player free agency and team autonomy in player transactions.

With the events over the past few days, its easy to feel like the Bleus have turned their back on the fans

*Post written to the tune of Everybody Hurts by REM...audio at bottom of post (below the jump)*

I've been a fan of the Bleus since 1998, ever since the team's infamous World Cup win in Paris – I became a passionate fan of the Bleus after their infamous first round exit in the 2002 World Cup.

Phew!! Well what can I say? If it hadn't been for the antics of Nani and the reliable consistency of Charlie Adam, last week's effort would have been disastrous. This could end up being a cryptic tips column where doing the exact opposite will prove the most rewarding! I have always been taught to hold your hands up and admit when you are wrong, well my arms are aching having been raised apologetically all week.

"What's the best part of being a Manchester United footballer?" is the question directed at Dimitar Berbatov. With a smile on his face, as if he can't understand how such a question could be asked, he replies, "being a Manchester United footballer."

The eyes of the country are all on Dimitar Berbatov at the moment as he is given the difficult task of replacing Wayne Rooney in Saturday's fixture against title rivals Chelsea.

I know this will surprise many of you who have read my ramblings about DC United, BUT, despite the 2-0 loss, there are some legitimate positives to take from the game, especially after a bit of re-viewing. Here they are:

The defense was better and Pena did help. Yes, the two goals were disappointing, but I am not sure the center of defense had too much to do w/either of them.

As the World Cup bandwagon heads to Brazil who will host the tournament in 2014, the 2010 World Cup will always be remembered for these five things.

Vuvuzelas: The most irritating musical invented in my opinion the constant noise of these instruments throughout the tournament meant I watch most games on mute, even the worlds broadcasting authorities couldn't get rid of the sound I only hope they aren't a going to be in Brazil in 2014.

by Daniel Popko
Clint Dempsey's dribbler squeaked by Robert Green for the first of five (fine...seven) US goals in South Africa. In addition, he had a high work rate and was dangerous enough playing for the Stars and Stripes that, on top of the best season of his career with Fulham, Deuce became an in demand commodity on the European transfer market.

The not so Special One

Jose Mourinho is feeling a wee bit omnipotent nowadays and it really makes no difference if he coaches in the Liga or not - he seems to think he owns the Serie, the Premiership, and the England national team.

Arsene Wenger was a favourite peeve of his in the Premiership because Mourinho's pret a porter policy allowed no development of young talent.

Fulham sensationally beat German Champions Wolfsburg on their own turf to reach the last 4 of the Europa League. It was a great night for English football tonight as Liverpool also reached the semi's beating Benfica at Anfield.

Fulham's away record has been subject to scrutiny this season, but they shrugged off any allying fears with a resounding win with Bobby Zamora again showing Fabio Capello what he can do at the highest level.

As usual we've got a mixed bag this week, in Europe's top competition both Man United and Arsenal fell at the third to last fence, however, Fulham's fairy tale season continues by overcoming the odds to beat German champion's Wolfsburg. Liverpool also progressed by emphatically dispatching Everton's conquerors; Benfica.

It seems as if everyone is jumping on the World Cup 2010 predictions bandwagon. The latest offering comes from UBS Wealth Management Research, which says Brazil will triumph this year in South Africa.
"Our forecast is based on in-depth quantitative analysis that places great emphasis on a country's previous performance at World Cup tournaments," which is UBS speak for "we looked at past results and decided to plump for the most successful team in World Cup history.

Eugene MahalingamON June 11, 2010, South Africa made history when it became the first African nation to host the FIFA World CupSimilarly, in 2002, Japan and South Korea also made it into the history books when they co-hosted the tournament.

Prior to 2002, the World Cup was only hosted in either Europe or South America.

A few days more, and the loss continues to sting. Time heals all wounds, but these wounds will remain open as long as the World Cup continues without the United States as part of it. I certainly can't turn away from the tournament now, not with the greatest drama yet to unfold.
The hangover is debilitating, though.

Michael Williams

Ok, that's it, enough is enough. Sepp Blatter, and his FIFA henchmen, need to get off their penny-farthings and enter the twenty first century.

Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany on Sunday was the perfect opportunity for Blatter and co.

The New England Revolution may not yet have a shirt sponsor, but their WPS counterparts, the Boston Breakers, now do. The franchise has announced a jersey sponsorship with Connecticut based Foxwoods Resort and Casino. In addition to prominent placement on the Breakers's jerseys, Foxwoods will also have permanent signage at Harvard Stadium and a spot on the Breakers' website.

Ask the Octopus

Get your Paul the Octopus iPhone App (unofficial) and you will have predictions in the palm of your hand so to speak.

It was just a matter of time before someone jumped on the very popular bandwagon of Paul the Psychic Octopus who made a string of winning predictions in the recent 2010 World Cup.

Yup, you're a footballing God. Unless you're playing Algeria
Editor's Note: This is a lengthy but important article if you are a fantasy football manager. It's the age-old "strikers" quandary - let's take a deeper look:
If you're a fantasy football veteran, then you remember the days when it made absolutely no sense to buy expensive strikers.

Rooney, absent for United's pre-season tour of North America, might even have capped his return with a goal, blazing over after Gary Rogers, the St Patrick's Athletic goalkeeper, had saved Darron Gibson's shot His performance, though, offered more than enough evidence for Sir Alex Ferguson to consider his totemic forward ready for a rather more competitive run-out against Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield.

There is a full programme of fixtures in the Blue Square Bet Premier League on Tuesday night (17 August). Ten sides are hoping to maintain their 100 per cent record with another ten hoping to get points on the board. York City and Crawley are two sides with lofty ambitions this season who are looking to bounce back from opening day defeats.

Well this is embarrassing. After all the hubbub last week about the Champions League and Inter Milan the decent thing would have been to have given Wigan a good thrashing, destroy their crops and set fire to their small children. Instead, I return from a weekend away at a wedding to find my Spurs-supporting chums refusing to make eye-contact, shuffling their feet and muttering about uncanny happenings in the cricket.

San Jose manager Frank Yallop believes Chris Wondolowski should be in the discussion for league MVP, and many others will likely join the bandwagon after the player's hat trick performance against Toronto FC on Saturday.

Wondolowski's three goals, the first by an Earthquakes player since 2003, earned him Player of the Week honors for Week 26 as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters.

So yes, I fell off the MLS bandwagon. It's been ages since I last posted witty banter about that North American upstart of a league. In fact, rather than talking about the league, I last reflected upon the potential strike that never materialized. This time, I shall similarly spew my truth on topics outside the field.

There is a lot of pressure being placed on Manchester City to replace their manager Roberto Mancini, following two mind-numbingly dull no score draws at home last week.Sacking a manager should always be the last resort for any football club, whatever situation they happen to be in. Replacing the man in charge with someone new to the club in the middle of a season doesn't often have a positive influence on the team.

Hopefully (saying that with everything crossed mind you) John Terry will make his return to the Chelsea team on Saturday and for me it couldn't come soon enough. Don't get me wrong, I believe we are solid enough with Ivanovic and Alex (apart from the mistake last Sunday) but Terry being in that back line, organising and being the voice is what has been missing for me.

Inter Milan Boss Jose Morinho is trying to pull off a shocker by enticing Steven Gerrard to Serie A with a £40million bid. The ex-Chelsea manager is looking to pull this off if Gerrard's current side, Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. Liverpool have fallen off the Champions League bandwagon this season [.

OK, so on a technical count they're not in our division but, as Lanterne Rouge has surmised in a recent post, Birmingham City belong to the Greater Championship. Prior to the beginning of the season, the Blues' football had been awfully attritional for some time and we jumped on the bandwagon to wave their sorry Brummie behinds goodbye, so it only seems fitting that we should congratulate manager

It is all too easy to jump on the bandwagon and criticise the side based on this season; in recent weeks we have seen many former players calling for Rafa's head; yet today Peter Beardsley has come out and spoken some sense by saying Liverpool should stand by their man in charge; Rafael Benitez. Beardsley will [.

The age old theory that 1000 monkeys on 1000 typewriters could recreate the works of William Shakespeare has today been put to bed, as the mob jumped on the bandwagon to try and force Rafa out by printing page after page of drivel ruled this theory out. The Infinite Monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting [.

It seems that the new decade has brought along a new wave of stupidity, as SKY look to jump on the 3D bandwagon and broadcast the blockbuster match in 9 pubs across the UK in 3D...

(In 3D that boot would be coming for your face and you need to change your undies.

Eeee, I couldn't believe my eyes, forsooth.
Usually a Singapore newspaper's idea of football coverage is tired old rehash from the English media with the odd headline about the local game if there is something nice and negative they can talk about or when it involves the Malaysia Cup days.

After last season's success now everybody it seems want to jump on the Thai Premier League bandwagon. BEC Tero have of course long been involved with a Bangkok TV channel and a media group's acquisition of Muang Thong United has seen the team from the sleepy Muang Thong area of Bangkok on their way to becoming South East Asia's most glamourous football club.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have a sneaky feeling that I still feel pretty much the same as you all do. Bit like a wounded animal who desperately needs a vet, but can't get to one.

I hurt from that defeat, or rather embarrassment against Chelsea and I just can't seem to shake it off.

With J Hutcherson -- Hey, if the Champions League Round of 16 match-ups want to throw out the first-leg form book and play up the entertainment value, far be it from me to complain. That's the polite way of responding to yesterday's games stomping all over my theory from yesterday's Daily. Yes, the English media has jumped on the 'one and done' bandwagon after Manchester United won 3-2 at the San Siro.

Do you use Twitter?

I have to admit I was slow to get on that bandwagon, but I'm glad I did. I get to read all sorts of gems from U.S. soccer players (MLS and USMNT). Take this lovely Valentine's Day advice from Taylor Twellman:

Valentine's Day.