It seems generally accepted in the MLS community, if not the US Soccer community, that soccer
specific stadiums are key to the growth of soccer in the USA.
The reasons are many, and include everything from the emotionally-relevant display of faith in
the sport in this country, to the very practical ownership of parking and other associated revenue
streams.
FC Porto have denied that current boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to join Chelsea amidst
mounting speculation that the highly-rated coach is to be unveiled as the new Blues
boss.
According to reports, Chelsea are set to move for the current FC Porto boss with The
Times in particular reporting that Jose Mourinho's former assistant is ready to leave the
Portuguese champions and follow in the ‘Special One's' footsteps and sign for Chelsea.
According to Christopher Lepkowski at the Birmingham Mail, West Bromwich do not
plan on selling top striker Peter Odemwingie unless they receive a monster offer.
Manager Roy Hodgson said,
"He's a good player and we would like to keep him here .
I have been looking around the wonderful world of football betting and I told you all that Arsenal
were the 1/10 favourites to sign Christopher Samba yesterday, but there are some more interesting
bets out there on the web. I didn't even know there was a possibility that Abou Diaby could be
leaving Arsenal, but [.
What are the odds Stewart Downing scores more Premier League goals than Ashley Young?
Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
Aston Villa supposedly cracked in their game of bluff with Liverpool over Stewart Downing when
the bidding hit £20million. There's a word missing in that sentence – it's ‘up' and should
immediately follow ‘cracked.
What are the odds Sven adds the Championship to his list of conquests? Derek McGovern's
Bets of the Day
West Ham fans will get their first glimpse of the style of football Sam Allardyce's team will
play when they kick off their season against Cardiff tomorrow. That's unless there's low cloud
cover over Upton Park.
What are the odds Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores more Prem goals than Romelu Lukaku?
Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
There's only one reaction to the news that Arsenal have paid Southampton mega-money for another
teenage wonderkid: Once bitten, six times trophy-shy.
Join us for live blogging of Arsenal v West Brom in the Premier League. Kick off is 3pm, team
news posted as soon as we have it.
Live blog is 100% free to follow on your computer or mobile device and gives
you real time text commentary from the match.
Arseblog has teamed up with Paddy Power to provide you with great bets and up to a £50 free
bet.
What are the odds Lampard's on the Chelsea bench against City too? Derek McGovern's Bets
of the Day
The writing is on the wall for Frank Lampard and this time it's not the kind he likes to see –
‘Today's Specials'. By relegating him to the bench for Tuesday's Champions League match against
Valencia, Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has already achieved the impossible – he's turned Fat
Frank into a peripheral figure at Stamford Bridge.
Join us for live blogging of Aston Villa v Arsenal in the Premier League. Kick off is 7.45pm,
team news posted as soon as we have it.
Live blog is 100% free to follow on your computer or mobile device and gives
you real time text commentary from the match.
Arseblog has teamed up with Paddy Power to provide you with great bets and up to a £50
free bet: Click here to register with Paddy Power
Click to launch Aston Villa v Arsenal live blog
If you want to take part in live blog chat, you need to register an Arseblog account here and
signing up.
The boys are back after a long three week break encompassing Father Christmas, Flu, Chelsea getting
spanked by Arsenal, throwing it away against Villa, being humiliated at Wolves and then finally
redeeming themselves on Sunday with a 7-0 thumping of Ipswich. Glorious Unpredictability or
what!
As well as discussing the game against Ipswich on Sunday and having a cursory chat about the other
four matches, we also award our Man of the Match; Chant of the Match; Celery and Guinness moments.
Imogen Thomas has returned to work – in a Man United kit promoting Paddy Power's offer on the
Champions League Final. Paddy Power will refund losing bets if United lose the match.
Quite big news this one, coming a few days after Man Utd are in talks with Blackburn defender
Phil Jones, United have now been strongly linked to Ashley Young in a £17 million transfer.
Aston Villa have apparently given up hope of signing Young on a new contract extension and
United have come in offering to take their prized asset off their hands.
What are the odds Scott Parker leaves Big Sam and joins Big Eck? Derek McGovern's Bets
of the Day
Sam Allardyce claims Margaret Thatcher killed football. He reckons Maggie stopped teachers being
paid extra money for coaching football after school and since then the quality of young British
footballers has gone downhill.
With the start of the Premier League season just around the corner now is the time to get all you
season bets down with the bookmakers. The coming season looks an exciting and competitive one and
one that certainly could through up a few surprises. So with this in mind we'll be looking at all
the betting for the season and try and find that extra bit of betting value to help win that little
bit more from the bookies.
What are the odds Mario Balotelli will be suspended by City this season? Derek
McGovern's Bets of the Day
You have to sympathise with Manchester City bad boy Mario Balotelli because he had a rough
childhood. When he was a kid, his parents moved a lot – but he always found them.
Big Sam strolled to the dug-out for West Ham's pre-season friendly at Dagenham & Redbridge last
week like Dean Martin walking on to a stage in Las Vegas – only with a better suit. He
acknowledged the cheers with a breezy wave, joked with his coaching staff and was happy to pose for
pictures with supporters and sign autographs after a 1-0 win.
What are the odds JT succeeds AVB as Chelsea manager? Derek McGovern's Bets of the
Day
John Terry this week revealed his desire to go into management. The management he had in mind
was Cheri Lunghi. JT is serious about becoming Chelsea boss even though his only experience of
management to date was a 20-minute press conference at the last World Cup when he mistakenly
believed he was in charge of England.
What are the odds David De Gea starts fewer than 30 matches this season after his
Wembley wobble? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
The Community Shield reinforced the belief that Manchester United don't know they are beaten
until the final whistle sounds. Unless they're playing Barcelona, when they know they're beaten
when the first whistle sounds.
What are the odds David De Gea starts fewer than 30 matches this season after his
Wembley wobble? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
The Community Shield reinforced the belief that Manchester United don't know they are beaten
until the final whistle sounds. Unless they're playing Barcelona, when they know they're beaten
when the first whistle sounds.
What are the odds David De Gea starts fewer than 30 matches this season after his
Wembley wobble? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
The Community Shield reinforced the belief that Manchester United don't know they are beaten
until the final whistle sounds. Unless they're playing Barcelona, when they know they're beaten
when the first whistle sounds.
What are the odds Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores more Prem goals than Romelu Lukaku?
Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
There's only one reaction to the news that Arsenal have paid Southampton mega-money for another
teenage wonderkid: Once bitten, six times trophy-shy.
What are the odds Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores more Prem goals than Romelu Lukaku?
Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
There's only one reaction to the news that Arsenal have paid Southampton mega-money for another
teenage wonderkid: Once bitten, six times trophy-shy.
What are the odds Arsenal fail to finish in the top six this season? Derek McGovern's
Bets of the Day
The cheery news is that pundits are predicting more misery for Arsenal. You can make all the
jokes you like about the Gunners' failure to win anything in the last six years – and I do –
but there are clear signs that pessimism is at an all-time peak.
What are the odds Arsene Wenger NEVER wins another trophy with Arsenal? Derek McGovern's
Bets of the Day
Arsene Wenger's got a big dilemma on his hands. Should he put the proceeds from Cesc Fabregas'
£40million sale into an ISA or a high-interest account? I'm not saying the Arsenal boss is cheap,
but he must be saving for a rainy century.
Arsenal take on Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday at 12.45pm on the back of an unconvincing
1-0 victory against Udinese in their Champions League first leg qualifying match, with injuries to
key defenders and mounting pressure on Arsene Wenger.
Despite this, Unibet still make the Gunners favourites to beat the Reds on
Saturday – a game that is LIVE on Sky Sports.
What are the odds Sunderland call the Toon in the North-East derby? Derek McGovern's
Bets of the Day
It's the North-East derby, and as big-time derbies go it's right up there with Terence Trent.
It's a noon start, so there's less time to get boozed up before kick-off, although Joey Barton says
he'll do his best.
What are the odds Becks returns to the Premier League? Derek McGovern's Bets of the
Day
How can FIFA possibly dispel lingering allegations of bribery and corruption when England are
ranked fourth-best team in the world? The rankings are worked out scientifically by the same
boffins who tell us coffee is bad for us one year and then good for us the year after.
What are the odds Fergie refuses to be interviewed by Kelly Cates again this season?
Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
Kenny Dalglish's daughter Kelly Cates wasn't the only one desperate to know whether flop
Manchester United keeper David De Gea will play against Chelsea on Sunday.
What are the odds Carlos Tevez never starts another game for Manchester City? Derek
McGovern's Bets of the Day
What a nightmare in Munich for Manchester City – Carlos Tevez went on strike and Gareth Barry
a go-slow. After his Munich mutiny, Tevez was reportedly viciously abused on his return to
Manchester Airport.
Join us for live blogging of Arsenal v Sunderland in the Premier League. Kick off is 1.30pm,
team news posted as soon as we have it.
Live blog is 100% free to follow on your computer or mobile device and gives
you real time text commentary from the match.
We've teamed up with Paddy Power to provide you with great bets and up to a £50 free bet, click
here to register with Paddy Power.
What are the odds Fergie drops at least five of the team thrashed by City? Derek
McGovern's Bets of the Day
Newcastle are 100-1 with Hills to remain unbeaten all season. I wouldn't touch that bet even if
the season in question was autumn. Of their nine Premier League matches so far this term, seven
were against teams who this morning are sitting in the bottom half of the table.
Join us for live blogging of Norwich v Arsenal in the Premier League. Kick off is 12.45pm, team
news posted as soon as we have it.
Live blog is 100% free to follow on your computer or mobile device and gives
you real time text commentary from the match.
Arseblog has teamed up with Paddy Power to provide you with great bets and up to a £50 free
bet.
Ladies, gentlemen, we have now entered the last 24 hours of the 2011 MLS Season. It's been a
good one, perhaps one of the best, and, as we prepare for the final in LA, I'm sure we all have our
bets on which team will take the cup. But first, let's catch up on the results of MLS's annual
awards.
What are the odds Rafael Benitez is the next Sunderland manager? Derek McGovern's Bets
of the Day
Usually by this time of the year, you can bet that all the leaves have fallen along with at
least one Premier League manager. But we are fast approaching December with the 20 managers who
were at the helm on day one in August still in control.
Join us for live blogging of Arsenal v Everton in the Premier League. Kick off is 3pm, team news
posted as soon as we have it.
Live blog is 100% free to follow on your computer or mobile device and gives
you real time text commentary from the match.
Arseblog has teamed up with Paddy Power to provide you with great bets and up to a £50
free bet: Click here to register with Paddy Power
Click to launch Arsenal v Everton live blog
If you want to take part in live blog chat, you need to register an Arseblog account here and
signing up.
What are the odds there are no English clubs in the Champions League's last eight? Derek
McGovern's Bets of the Day
Following the Champions League draw, it looks like two more teams who play in the best league
in the world will be heading out. Arsenal got the draw they were most afraid of – a two-legged
tie in Europe – while Chelsea must face Manchester City's conquerors Napoli.
What are the odds Chelsea are the next English club Mourinho manages? Derek McGovern's
Bets of the Day
I hope the al-Qaeda threat to ruin your Christmas didn't, er, ruin your Christmas. Instead of
using explosives, they threatened to send every one of us a relative to stay.
This has been yet another tumultuous season for Robin Van Persie, at least in the sense that it
has been full of missed games due to injury and fitness. Fortunately the table doesn't provide any
indication that our star striker has been sidelined, primarily due to Chamakh.
Chamakh has been a natural fit.
