Sometimes I'm not surprised that online piracy is so rampant when it comes to soccer. Trying to find out who has the rights to a game or tournament is very difficult, and even when you find a stream, you're not sure whether it's an official one or not.

Take, for example, the African Nations Cup which kicks off in a few hours from Angola.

Most of you probably watched Landon Donovan's debut appearance for Everton this morning in the game against Arsenal. On sister site EPL Talk, I have an article analyzing Donovan's performance in addition to Kartik Krishnaiyer's review on this site. But what did the English press think of his performance?

According to this article on the BBC, Stuart Holden has signed a contract with Bolton Wanderers and thus becomes the 2nd U.S. international player, along with Ricardo Clark, to leave the Houston Dynamo this offseason.

By Ollie Irish

After Robbie Savage's memorable rant at a BBC Derby hack last week, he might have guessed that the Angry Gods of Journalism would come back to bite him on the arse, or whack him in the face...

Nice that Savage's co-commentator was so concerned about his colleague.

Dempsey reacts after scoring for the US against Ghana in 2006 World Cup/AP Photo As I am sure all fans of football in America are now aware, Clint Dempsey, the most recognizable and successful United States outfield player in Europe has suffered a potentially devestating injury in today's Fulham loss to Blackburn.

Hi all! Happy New Year etc etc.
dN
Just 2 things to report, and they are both interesting items:
Stuart Holden has accepted a deal for a tryout at Burnley in England. Curious that he could not just get a straight out deal even on a free transfer. Fox Houston talks to Dynamo COO Chris Canetti who confirms it.

1. Leeds' victory should be dedicated to all the pompous pundits who got on their soapboxes to claim the FA Cup was dead on Saturday evening. That includes you, Mr Collymore. 2. Sir Alex Ferguson is either a very sore loser or must have thought the BBC still had the FA Cup rights! 3. Portsmouth might have [.

According to the BBC, two players from the Togolese football squad in Angola for the African Nations Cup have been injured following an attack on their team bus this afternoon. We'll keep an eye on the situation.

UPDATE: ESPN Soccernet is reporting three players and the bus driver were injured and quotes Nantes striker Thomas Dossevi as saying that the team no longer wants to take part in the tournament.

During the last year the failing economy has had an effect on all kinds of markets from the stock market to the housing market to the transfer market, yes the transfer market. So far the winter transfer market has been a complete bore. Everyday I wake up and read the BBC's morning headline for soccer and usually during this time of year there are a bunch out there for players on the move, but this year they are lacking big time.

After confirming that everything was a-ok with his life in London once his wife joined him back in August and he figured how to park and use credit cards, it seemed Andrei Arshavin was well on his way to being a slightly normal human being. But, as it turns out, he's still having a difficult go of it.

This is what football looked like in 1872.

There have been talks about an English-Scotland friendly being bopped about for a while now, but yesterday the Scottish Football Association said:

"We are, as always, willing to engage in open dialogue with our English counterparts.

The probability that the Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will play against Wolves is very high. Several sources today says that he will play. He has trained the last three days without any problems and he is usually a tough customer. Manager Benitez says to the BBC: "He was training on Saturday and on Sunday, and Monday was the [.

Europe Ferguson knows rivals are gaining ground -- from The Independent's James Lawton: This side of financial meltdown, it is likely to represent for some time the standard by which all of English football must be judged. Juventus sack coach Ciro Ferrara and appoint Zaccheroni -- from BBC Sport: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has been linked with the Turin club.

Europe PFA chief to meet Portsmouth hierachy over non-payment of players' wages -- from The Guardian's Jamie Jackson: "But I think no one really seems to know what is going on." Leeds collapse shows slide can be unstoppable -- from The Times' Matt Dickinson: Portsmouth are not yet Leeds Mk II. Jose Mourinho rules out instant Premier League return -- from BBC Sport: "The Serie A coach does not want to innovate, he wants to.

Ransford Osei and Jonathan Mensah, members of Ghana's historic Under-20 World Cup title squad, have been added to the roster for the 2010 African Cup of Nations.
Defender Jonathan Mensah plays for Udinese and forward Ransford Osei competes for Dutch side FC Twente.
Via BBC Sport

This week's Video Of The Week is from the BBC's "Frontline Football" series, and follows Ben Anderson as he visits Sarajevo for a 2006 World Cup qualifier between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia & Montenegro. It's the first match between the two teams since the brutal war that followed the collapse of the Yugoslavian state in the early 1990s, and feelings are running predictably high.

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher has praised Stephen Darby's character after his fellow defender played in Saturday's 1-1 FA Cup draw with Reading.
Darby, 21, made an error in his previous start in the Champions League - a 2-1 defeat by Fiorentina.
"I think everyone was pleased for him because of what happened in the last game," former England international Carragher told BBC Radio Merseyside.

The English Football League Cup or Carling Cup begins the semifinal round this week with Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa and the Manchester derby of City v United. The tournament is a chance for Villa, Blackburn, and City to get a trophy while United will be the overall favorites. Here's a list of previews, predictions, and USA/UK television listings for the semifinal matches on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 and Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

You will never look at Jamie Redknapp the same again. Bold statement of the day: Franck Ribery is overrated. (Ligue 1 Talk) The Rocket Man that's Sir Elton talks football. (BBC) The Bolton/Burnley debate is bad for one's health. (The DA) Television is killing the football. (Jonathan Wilson) Steve McClaren: still doing big things in Holland.

Sir Alex's son finds himself gainfully employed once again.

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Preston have announced the appointment Darren Ferguson as their new manager.
Ferguson left Peterborough by mutual consent in November, with the club bottom of the Championship.

Despite shying away from continuous transfer speculation, it would be a bit folly not to mention this snippet from the BBC website, on a day when Newcastle allegedly raised the bid for Jermaine Beckford. 'Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request, his agent has told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, they have a big telescope to see what happens in other families."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho opened a war of words with Arsene Wenger, claiming the Arsenal boss was obsessed with Chelsea.

On top of his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Ryan Giggs was today given the Freedom of the City of Salford. And quite right too. The Manchester United winger joins previous recipients of the honour such as Nelson Mandela, LS Lowry and David Lloyd George. A few photos of Giggsy getting his medal and big certificate below:

◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 4

Pat 'The Dog' Vieira We know Patrick Vieira might be carrying a few more pounds than in his Arsenal heyday, but the BBC's coverage of his possible move to Manchester City is a bit excessive. Thanks to OTP reader Tom Commins for the spot.

Finally now he has come down off of the ceiling after his teams shock 1-0 win against Manchester United in the FA Cup, Twiggster brings you an orgy of celebration for all Leeds fans with Glory Glory Leeds as he relives what has to be one 0f his teams greatest moments in recent history, this is one not to be missed.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in cyberspace An Indonesian pitch invader goes an a mazy dribble to show his national team how it's done. Love how it seems to be the Oman keeper's highlight of the match, nay his career. [101GG] Portsmouth don't need to sell any players [BBC] Except the whole squad [Daily Star] Landon Donovan follows Becks to Europe.

Tragedy has struck ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations as several media outlets are reporting an attack on the Togo national team bus that was transporting them to Angola.

The BBC is reporting that a group of armed rebels opened fire on the bus as it crossed the border into the oil-rich nation.

It is now widely reported that Patrick Vieira is shortly to undergo a medical at the club (possibly this afternoon) with a deal to be completed by Friday to enable him to make his debut against Blackburn on Monday.
The BBC have reported Vieira as saying:

"I have objectives and I can't achieve them by staying at Inter where I am not part of the coach's choice.

Potters make ambitious move for Real Madrid star.

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Stoke City have enquired about the availability of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, according to the club's chairman Peter Coates.

It looks as if Togo will depart from the Africa Cup of Nations, though games will take place in Cabinda, just days after that region saw that team come under machine gun fire, will three officials dead and one goalkeeper (who had earlier been reported as dead) in intensive care, his life in the balance.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Stoke City chairman Peter Coates admitted he is interested in Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Coates told BBC Radio Stoke,

"It may be a long shot but we've made enquiries and we'll see what comes from them .

UPDATE: According to BBC Sport, Liverpool have completed the deal with Dinamo Moscow to sell striker Andriy Voronin. It is reported that Voronin signed a three-year deal with the club.

January 8th, 2010 According to Liverpool's official website, Liverpool have agreed with Dinamo Moscow to sell striker Andriy Voronin for 2million euros.

If only Hicks Sr would follow suit!

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Liverpool have announced that Tom Hicks Jr, son of co-owner Tom Hicks, has resigned as a director of the club and parent company Kop Holdings.

I'd first heard the "rant" (a mild one, surely) on the BBC website, and upon jumping to YouTube, hoping for a tearful Robbie Savage, but was gleefully surprised: Robbie's back-and-forth on the life and times of Derby County with local journo Colin Bloomfield set to a wonferfully dramatic soundtrack. One problem I've always had, however: just [.

According to David Ornstein at BBC Sport, Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos admitted that he wants to leave the club. Senderos said,

"I want to go, I want and need to be playing ahead of the World Cup ...I don't want to play in the reserves, I just want to go.

Unless you have a ticket to an Angola 2010 game, there are basically three ways to watch the African Cup of Nations 2010. Option One is to watch it on TV. Option Two, you can watch a legal, high quality internet stream. Option Three, you take your chances with a barely legal pirated internet stream.

Since we last reported from Chester City, much has happened and nothing has changed. At the same time, owner Stephen Vaughan was due to have ceded all control in the club by the middle of December having been disqualified as a company director after an investigation by the Insolvency Service's Disqualification Investigation Team over alleged carousel fraud.

Thanks to MrTomNFFC for sending us this clip of Robbie Savage tying himself up in knots on Radio Derby. Savage starts on the offensive over some admittedly slack journalism from his BBC colleague Colin Gibson, but quickly loses the upper ground, unable to explain Derby's recent poor form – except to suggest that the [.

'Arry's copping it from the pigs. It's all coming out. Damn Portsmouth and their shoddy business sense. Damn Redknapp and his shoddy business sense.
Two counts of tax evasion, he's been charged with, and he'll appear at Wesminster Magistrates' Court on February 11th. That'll do nicely for our hopes of having a settled preparation for the next few crucial months.

How to flippin' fail at the audacious, by Mozambique's keeper. [TVGolo] Looking back on the decade in calcio. (Italy Offside) Real Madrid get a boost from the back. (SoccerLens) Whilst giving the boot to Ruben de la Red. (Real Madrid Offside) Don't bring that @#$% into Phil Dowd's house. (Off The Post) Maradona's earring fetches a pretty penny.