Supporters of Stu Holden, the USMNT player and former Houston Dynamo star, have been singing the midfielder's praise all season for his breakout role with Bolton. Now Holden, in his first English Premier League season, is also getting recognized by the fans there as well.
Readers of "The Guardian," using their average player ratings for each EPL match, have chosen the American international as their "best player so far this term".

*Steven Goff of the Soccer Insider blog hit the Ronaldinho-Galaxy rumor mill again. It has been several weeks without one so it was about time for an agent somewhere to drop a hint and keep the pot simmering.

All I've got to say - shit or get off the pot, Ronaldinho. Frankly, I'd rather pick up Juan Pablo Angel in the Re-Entry Draft anyway.

Being Arsene's number one apologist there is a question that has been floating around out there that has been bothering me for a while: why did Wenger play a weakened side against Shakhtar and Braga away? His critics accuse him of arrogance and obstinacy; the fall out of these decisions being that we came runners up and now, unnecessarily, have to face Barcelona.

Several stories making the rounds today:

Supposedly Arsenal's 2011-2012 kit has been leaked, and you can find the pictures of it here. I don't like it as good as this year's, but this year's home shirt set the bar pretty high. If that's really it (and I stress that this has not been confirmed) .

by Walter Broeckx, the blind ref's reviewer Howard Webb was the ref at Old Trafford. If I had to make a choice before the game between Dean and Webb it would be like choosing between the plague and cholera. Webb also has his own facebook group under the name: Howard Webb, United best player (or [..

First of all I hate the American term MVP. But Best Player sounds like something from the school playground while Player of the Tournament sounds like some comic super hero. And second I'm sure no -one cares what I think anyway.
Well, tough titty...here are my candidates
Safiq Rahim (Selangor & Malaysia)Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kelantan & Malaysia)Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Kelantan & Malaysia)Safee Sali (Selangor & Malaysia)Firman Utina (Sriwijaya & Indonesia)Ahmad Bustomi (Arema & Indonesia)
There should also be at least one Malaysian defender in there somewhere but it has been difficult for me to select one as they have done so well as a unit.

Eric Lichaj did well against Bale, but stunk up the joint against City.

We tuned into the Man City v Aston Villa match for one reason today, to watch Villa's American right back Eric Lichaj. The 22 yr old was impressive in shutting down Gareth Bale in their loss to Spurs two days ago, and we though maybe he could replicate the performance today.

When discussing the best players in the world, the conversation tends to drift toward Barcelona's star-studded squad. When selecting the best player in the world for 2010, the decision will also come down to one of the Spanish champion's many maestros.

Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta are the three finalists for the Ballon d'Or, the newly-revamped award which is a combination of the long-standing Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Chris Hughton getting the sack? Despite the murmurings in the press in recent weeks that never made any sense, it should still come as a surprise that he got the boot to any rational being, let alone football follower. Hughton's magnificent job had brought everything the Magpies wanted, the novelty of stability to St.

For all of Arsene Wenger's talk of his promising kids, about all their talent and gifts that has been marinating on the stove that is the Emirates, the trophy-less sequence which now clouds the Frenchmen's apparent fool-proof belief is raising questions about the Gunner's direction.

The initial two double wins in 98′ and 02′ were sufficient foundation for Wenger's ethos, his new ideals were transforming Arsenal and shaping the football club seen before us today, a true world power, who have been in top four every season he's been there and moved into a world-class stadium.

More photos » Andy Marlin - Getty Images

HARRISON, NJ - APRIL 24: Juan Pablo Angel #9 of the New York Red Bulls tells goalkeeper Chris Seitz #1 of the Philadelphia Union that he'll see him at the Re-Entry Draft.

That is the question that is being asked on our Barcelona fan site as there have been various reports this week that Manchester City are poised to make a monster bid for Andres Iniesta next month.

Iniesta is expected to be recognized as the best player in the world when the FIFA Ballon d'Or is handed out in Zurich on January 10 and the question is will he be a Barca player or a Man City player?

That is the question that is being asked on our Barcelona fan site as there have been various reports this week that Manchester City are poised to make a monster bid for Andres Iniesta next month.

Iniesta is expected to be recognized as the best player in the world when the FIFA Ballon d'Or is handed out in Zurich on January 10 and the question is will he be a Barca player or a Man City player?

Its a given isn't it - surely Messi, the bookies favourite, is going to take home the Ballon d'Or for the second year running?

• As this video shows, he scored three hat tricks in a week (10 in total)
• Last season he scored 47 goals in 53 games
• This season he has already scored 27 goals in 23 games (17 in 14 just in the League)
• He has scored 55 goals in the 2010 alone
• He broke his own record this season by scoring in 10 consecutive games
• The record ended when Barca bear Real Madrid 5-0.

By Chris Wright

Far be it from me to brand Manchester City upstart Mario Balotelli as being utterly myopic, self-centred, self-interested, alienating, egotistical, petulant, ridiculously immature, head-strong, off-puttingly pugnacious, cripplingly arrogant, impudent, unloyal?

First-half Player of the Season:

1. Samir Nasri (Average Rating: 7.24, Man of the Match 5 times):

You could tell in preseason that Nasri was rested, motivated from his World Cup snub, and generally ready to kick some ass this season.

On this week's podcast we feature the best player in the world in 2010 as well as all the regular favourites on the show. Remember on this week's podcast you can also:

Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary Check out a new football expression in English for Football Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with: A page with all our Football vocabulary posts Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases) Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

Earl Cochrane says the above picture doesn't exist
In perhaps the most shocking display that ML$E's brand new "braintrust" is as broken as the Mo Johnston era's, Toronto FC star (and best player all-time) Dwayne De Rosario has officially joined Glasgow giants Celtic on trial this morning.

As the US U-20 national team recently completed their participation in the Torneo de las Americas, they enjoyed a very strong performance by Amobi Okugo who was perhaps the team's best player during the week.

Pitch Pass is a work in progress. How could it not be after just a handful of episodes. I'm still trying to get my feet under me as a sports interviewer. But it's also an adjustment for the players. This episode is a prime example of that.

I know what I want this show to be: casual, fun conversations with the people in MLS who matter.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush feels the club's first football academy outside Merseyside can prevent the cream of Northern Ireland talent slipping through the Anfield net — like George Best managed to do in the 1960s.
The Liverpool FC Football Academy was launched yesterday in Belfast by Rush and will kick-off early next year.

Not even a wildcat strike by Spanish air traffic controllers could slow Lionel Messi and Barcelona this weekend.

Barcelona traveled by train and bus to Pamplona, and despite arriving just before kickoff, they still managed to beat Osasuna 3-0. The late arrival seemed to upset the La Liga leaders who took longer than usual to settle.

Milan Jovanovic's agent, Cvijan Milosevic, admits his client could exit Liverpool in the January transfer window.
The 29-year-old joined Anfield in the summer on a free transfer from Standard Liege but has struggled to make an impact, with Roy Hodgson limiting his appearances to European games.
Milosevic has reiterated the midfielder is willing to stay at the club but his playing time must become more frequent.

Don't let the title of this article fool you: of course I think Cristiano Ronaldo is still Portugal's best player. It's just that sometimes recently, he's had to do it on his own. And when he hasn't shown up to work, the results have been downright embarrassing.

In the past decade, football fans have witnessed Portugal wax to almost Euro 2004 winners and routine vanquishers of Brazil (in friendlies mostly, but still), and then wane to something less than.

Samir Nasri has been Arsenal's best player so far this season and quite rightly is the name on all Gooners lips.
I'd even go as far as saying that had he been born on these shores then the English media would be wanking furiously over him just like they are over Gareth Bale.
Unfortunately a French man will never get the plaudits like a British man over here!

By Ollie Irish

Super...

Video via 101GreatGoals

So the best goal in the Prem this weekend was scored by the best player in the Prem this weekend. Fitting. Superb feet in the build-up, even better composure to put the ball in the net. And an honourable mention to Robin van Persie for a delightful assist.

Just a quick Monday news round up for you all. I know that many of you, like me, are still reeling from the exquisite Nasri goals this weekend. Here's what Super Samir had to say about it:

You can tell by the way he speaks about his performance that he is self-aware and possesses an intelligence that is shining through on the pitch.

ROME, Italy — Christian Maggio scored deep into injury time to give Napoli a 1-0 victory at home to Palermo at the San Paolo in Naples on Monday night. After a largely tame affair, Maggio pounced 30 seconds before the end of injury time to keep Napoli in third but now just six points behind [...]

The finalists were selected Monday for the soccer's most prestigious individual award and they came up Barca, Barca, Barca.

King Wesley almost nailed four crowns on the year....

Argentinian Lionel Messi joined two midfield Spaniards, Xavi and Iniesta on the final ballot for the world's best player trophy, the Ballon d'Or.

I may be in the minority here, but I feel that the shortlist for the new FIFA Ballon d'Or actually got it (almost) right. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta deserve this recognition. My argument is quite simple: since there are already so many awards -- UEFA Club Player of the Year, World Cup Golden Ball, etc.

Dear readers! Today's guest post is brought to you by the inimitable Elliot of Futfanatico fame. Hopefully, Elliot should already be known to you from regularly reading his Slavoj Zizek-obsessed footballing web concern. If not, get on it.
I remember a time when you could only find out about a celebrity by sifting through magazines in a grocery store check-out aisle.

Dear readers! Today's guest post is brought to you by the inimitable Elliot of Futfanatico fame. Hopefully, Elliot should already be known to you from regularly reading his Slavoj Zizek-obsessed footballing web concern. If not, get on it.
I remember a time when you could only find out about a celebrity by sifting through magazines in a grocery store check-out aisle.

By (dead tired) Chi Huynh, from Los Angeles

Several news outlets are rehashing the rumour that Fulham's utility forward & winger, Clint Dempsey, may be preparing for a transfer to Merseyside. The transfer would reunite Dempsey with his former Fulham boss, Roy Hodgson.

This time last year it would have been hard to imagine that Anderson would have been the driving force in the Manchester United midfield.

He was struggling for form, having trouble nailing down a starting spot in the team and looking like the £15 million paid to Porto to secure his signature was a risk that hadn't paid off for Sir Alex Ferguson.

In American college football they call it Rivalry Week. Well, we don't get all of the traditional rivals this weekend, but we sure do get many. My stars are flying out like Christmas gifts. The 4 Birmingham/West Midlands teams square off on Saturday and Sunday, Bolton face neighboring Blackburn, there's an extremely juicy London derby in the final Sunday match as Spurs host Chelsea, and the game-of-the-week has long-time rivals Wenger & Sir Alex meeting for the first of what might be a few times this year, with the winner going top!

There is no end to the sorrows nor to the injury list of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Yesterday when I looked at it we had eight players on the list with two scheduled to a come back this weekend. Today it's a new set-back and our best player this season so far Matt Jarvis is [...]

The 2010 Hermann Trophy finalists were announced on Friday and two of three finalists could be lifting an NCAA title this weekend.

Akron junior Darlington Nagbe and Louisville junior Colin Rolfe were both named as finalists, along with Ohio State junior striker Will Bruin. The award, given each year to the best player in college soccer, will be presented on Jan.

Colin Rolfe is one of three Hermann Trophy finalists. (photo via University of Louisville)

The 2010 Hermann Trophy finalists were announced on Friday. Two of the three are playing in this weekend's College Cup final four.

Akron junior Darlington Nagbe, Louisville junior Colin Rolfe, and Indiana junior striker Will Bruin.

I must add my voice to the choir of critics of the chosen finalists for the 2010 Golden Boot: three Barcelona players, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi are the contenders for this year's title as the world's best player.Barcelona are indeed a powerful team that plays the most entertaining football in the world, and these three players are indeed the spinal chord of the team.

On the day Manchester City joined Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, it has been revealed that, arguably the club's best player, Carlos Tevez wants to leave the club. The Argentine striker is no longer happy at Eastlands and earlier this week, he handed in a written transfer request which is no doubt a major blow to City's title hopes.