After being crowned Champions of England, United Reserves became double winners after beating City's "Elite Development Squad" 2-0 in the Manchester Senior Cup final tonight at the Etihad.

Will Keane and Luke Giverin scored the goals, with the latter grabbing his in the 93rd minute, just a few minutes after coming on.

The Fire PDL defeated the Croatian Eagles from Milwaukee 1-0 last night in a tense US Open Cup first round match. The PDL team, who only trained four times before playing this match, looked comfortable for long stretches of the game and should have finished the tie by halftime. The only goal of the game came in the 5th minute when Mark Blades was set free on the left, broke into the box and squared for an unmarked Isaac Kannah to finish.

United were named Premier Reserves League North champions a few weeks before the end of the season after coming back from 3-0 down to win 6-3 away to Newcastle last month.

Tonight, they were named Premier Reserve League National champions after beating Aston Villa in the play-off final.

Did I imagine it? Did I, as a naive 15-year-old, dream it? Has the truth mysteriously melded with fiction and legend in the intervening years since that horrible night in Brussels?

You see, I am convinced I saw Dainton swipe the silverware from Argentinian star Mario Kempes as he tried to board the Valencia team bus after we lost to the Spaniards on penalties in the 1980 Cup Winner's Cup final at the now infamous Heysel Stadium.

Morning all, welcome to a new a new week.

We'll start this morning with the not-so-news that Robin van Persie was named PFA Player of the Year last night. It was, after everything he's done this season, fairly obvious he was going to win it and the captain was quick to praise those around him for helping him scoop the award won in the past by Liam Brady, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

It may seem odd after Saturday's trouncing of Aston Villa to focus on an unused substitute from that game.

But Arteta's wonder strike, Theo's returning confidence, Songinho's transformation into the new Liam Brady and even Johan Djourou's unexpected solidity have all been well covered.

I want to focus on our on-loan Israeli international because I caught a glimpse of him during the game as the camera tracked along our bench.

It may seem odd after Saturday's trouncing of Aston Villa to focus on an unused substitute from that game.

But Arteta's wonder strike, Theo's returning confidence, Songinho's transformation into the new Liam Brady and even Johan Djourou's unexpected solidity have all been well covered.

I want to focus on our on-loan Israeli international because I caught a glimpse of him during the game as the camera tracked along our bench.

Good morning,

and a happy St Pat Rice day to you all. Today is the day when we celebrate the fact that Pat Rice got rid of all the snakes in Ireland and invested whiskey. Did you know the Irish for whiskey is 'Uisce beatha', which literally, and actually literally and not Jamie literally, means 'water of life'?

Got walls? Need things to hang on them? Tired of the picture of the dogs playing poker?

Well, the Arseblog Shop has just launched a new series of Legends Prints featuring Charlie George, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright, Liam Brady and Highbury (with more coming soon).

They're A3 digital prints on glossy 300gsm paper, retailing at a mere €8 each and you can also buy them in bundles for extra value.

Manchester United and Ireland U21 international winger Robbie Brady will stay at Hull City until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old Dublin born player has scored one goal from 22 appearances since joining Hull on loan at the start of the season.
Tigers caretaker boss Nick Barmby said: "We've got a great platform for him to really kick on now.

Norfolk's Matthew Delicate Scores Hat Trick in 19-8 loss

Norfolk, Virginia The Norfolk SharX played almost flawless soccer in the first quarter of Sunday night's match with the storied Baltimore Blast. Matthew Delicate scored at 0:22 of the match to take the SharX up 2-0 and the lead held throughout the first quarter of play.

Missouri's Largest Outburst of Season Includes Three 3-Pointers
By Ed Bishop
Byron Alvarez high fives Comets fans after scoring. The Missouri Comets snapped their brief two game losing streak on Saturday night as they blew out the expansion Norfolk Sharx 19 – 9 at the Independence Events Center.

Missouri's Largest Outburst of Season Includes Three 3-Pointers
By Ed Bishop
Byron Alvarez high fives Comets fans after scoring. The Missouri Comets snapped their brief two game losing streak on Saturday night as they blew out the expansion Norfolk Sharx 19 – 9 at the Independence Events Center.

I didn't make it out to the Independence Events Center for the game last night, but watched the majority of the game on the league's website. The Comets let the Norfolk Sharx stick around for a half, in fact the Sharx grabbed only their second lead of the season when they went up 5-2 in the first quarter.

We've long admired the busts of Herbet Chapman and Arsene Wenger at the club but now our hierachy have decided that they will erect three statues of Arsenal icons at the Emirates.

A missive has arrived at Arsenalinsider HQ, thus:

The Chairman and Directors of Arsenal Football Club have the pleasure of inviting you to the unveiling of statues to commemorate three legends in the history of Arsenal Football Club.

By Chris Wright

Back in November of 1995, with 3,500 fans crammed into a tiny ground two metres below sea-level in the Thames estuary, non-league Canvey Island (a team of 'postmen, brickies and bouncers' playing in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history) held Division Three side Brighton & Hove Albion at Park Lane thanks to an 84th-minute equaliser from Alan Brett with Brighton 'keeper Nicky Rust pulling of a desperate, clawing save in the dying moments to keep the Essex part-timers from nicking a dramatic victory.

Someone give him back his snood

You know what comes after November? December. What after December? January. Brilliant. You know what comes in January? In so many different walks of life, January usually means a new year and a new beginning. In football, it means the transfer window reopens once again.

By Jimmy LaRoue

Norfolk–The Norfolk SharX demonstrated Murphy's Law for first-year franchises Friday night.

The logistics of fielding a team and building a fan base got in the way of each other with the 23-7 loss to the Syracuse SilverKnights before an announced crowd of 2,347 at Norfolk Scope Arena.

By Jimmy LaRoue

Norfolk–The Norfolk SharX demonstrated Murphy's Law for first-year franchises Friday night.

The logistics of fielding a team and building a fan base got in the way of each other with the 23-7 loss to the Syracuse SilverKnights before an announced crowd of 2,347 at Norfolk Scope Arena.

For six long years it has irked me. Long days and longer nights pondering just what had happened that fateful day and would the mystery every be solved. I am not afraid to admit it left me discombobulated at every turn. No longer, though. The news is out. The children can smile again.

For we are told that our former hero Lauren (Ralph) has been reunited with his £6,000 Rolex watch stolen in a burglary during his time at Highbury.

Showing signs of becoming the next Liam Brady for the Gunners, 21 year-old Jack Wilshere's absence after injuring his ankle in late July was considered by many as to being the end of Arsenal's season before it had even begun. The fact that the club had been struggling for consistency with him in the team [.

Championship giants West Ham United have confirmed they are still very much interested in a move to the London Olympic Stadium following the completion of next year's Olympic Games. The Hammers had originally won the bid to take over the ground as part of the legacy of the games, but with legal challenges from London rivals Spurs and Leyton Orient looming it was instead decided that the stadium would remain in public ownership as a valued asset and be leased out instead - with some circles of the British press reportedly claiming the rental of the ground would cost a fee in the region of £2 million per year.

Car trouble for Rio, Ashley, Hammers and Bent

With the commercially-minded Karren Brady aboard, West Ham have a wider range of merchandise than most Championship clubs. But could this be the first sign that things might just have gone a little too far? ** Ashley Cole is taking no chances over the police crackdown on overtinted car windows.

Ireland U21 international Robbie Brady could have scored a hat-trick, but ended up without a goal to his name on Saturday, as Hull beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the KC Stadium.
The Manchester United on-loan winger was thwarted three times by Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown, whose heroics were enough to limit the Tigers to just one goal, scored by the equally impressive Robert Koren early in the first-half.

The transfer window is over and Cesc Fabregas has finally gone. As the dust settles and the pain dulls and subsides, I feel it fitting to both celebrate and lament the end of his Arsenal career. Hopefully now we can move on as we close the book on another chapter in Arsenal's history. This is my final farewell to our former captain.

The transfer window is over and Cesc Fabregas has finally gone. As the dust settles and the pain dulls and subsides, I feel it fitting to both celebrate and lament the end of his Arsenal career. Hopefully now we can move on as we close the book on another chapter in Arsenal's history. This is my final farewell to our former captain.

Arsenal.com, the official website covering all things Gunners, has a long form interview with their former prodigy, Mr. Steve Zakuani. First noted by @joshuamayers on twitter, Zakuani addresses his national team affiliation as well as growing up within the Arsenal Academy. Considering the attention given lately to the idea of playing his as a forward here's his quote regarding where he played;

I was there for five years and loved every minute.

Highlights and reaction

On RTE (Irish TV) last night, Liam Brady was one of the panelists and he spoke about the game, obviously, but welcomed the win, and what it means, because it might put an end to a 'month of unrelenting negativity around the club'.

Now, some of that is of our own making, some of it not, but even for a few days it's nice to get away from the doomier side of life and enjoy a good win which, while still lacking in some quality, showed some real spirit and character.

Highlights and reaction

On RTE (Irish TV) last night, Liam Brady was one of the panelists and he spoke about the game, obviously, but welcomed the win, and what it means, because it might put an end to a 'month of unrelenting negativity around the club'.

Now, some of that is of our own making, some of it not, but even for a few days it's nice to get away from the doomier side of life and enjoy a good win which, while still lacking in some quality, showed some real spirit and character.

Hull City spoiled Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson's Liverpool debuts with an impressive 3-0 win at the KC Stadium.
England duo Downing and Henderson were handed their first outings for Liverpool since their big-money arrivals from Aston Villa and Sunderland respectively, but it was not an occasion to remember.

Kenny Dalglish admitted he was disappointed by Liverpool's surprise 3-0 defeat at Hull City on Saturday.
Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni all made their debuts for Liverpool, but they could not prevent the Reds from slumping to their first defeat of pre-season.
Hull picked up a confidence-boosting win thanks to goals from Robbie Brady, Robert Koren and Jay Simpson and Dalglish admits he expected better from his troops at the KC Stadium.

In a friendly game which saw Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni all made their debuts for Liverpool against Hull City, A Manchester United youngster Robbie Brady was in a superb...
Continue to the full story

Hull City 3: Brady 21′, Koren 33′, Simpson 58′
Liverpool 0

Let's just get the standard "doesn't mean anything unless someone looks good, then we'll get really excited" proclamations out of the way few conclusions can be made from any preseason match, and after the display today we'll have to hope that the Liverpool we see on August 13th has little in common with the one we saw today.

First Half
Doni
Kelly Carragher Ayala Robinson
Poulsen Coady
Cole Aquilani Maxi
Ngog
Second Half
Jones
Flanagan Kyrgiakos Wilson Insua
Spearing Adam
Kuyt Henderson Downing
Carroll
Goals
Brady 21'
Koren 34'
Simpson 58'
Let's get the excuses out of the way now.

Hull City give Kenny Dalglish a headache after beating Liverpool

• Anfield club lose 3-0 • £20m Jordan Henderson fails to impress To suggest that Liverpool supporters are not sure about Kenny Dalglish may seem similar to declaring that David Attenborough is not altogether certain animals are very interesting – but the fact is, Dalglish has plenty to prove this season.

Hull City 3-0 Liverpool: Premier League side humbled by Championship opposition as Brady, Koren and Simpson hit target

The Tigers were two up at half-time before Kenny Dalglish brought on his big guns. They changed the outlook of the game, but hosts extended their lead and held-on well

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-07-23 15:53:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Hull City 3-0 Liverpool: Premier League side humbled by Championship opposition as Brady, Koren and Simpson hit target

The Tigers were two up at half-time before Kenny Dalglish brought on his big guns. They changed the outlook of the game, but hosts extended their lead and held-on well

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-07-23 15:53:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Hull City 3-0 Liverpool: Premier League side humbled by Championship opposition as Brady, Koren and Simpson hit target

The Tigers were two up at half-time before Kenny Dalglish brought on his big guns. They changed the outlook of the game, but hosts extended their lead and held-on well

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-07-23 15:53:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Hull have announced the signing of Irish Under-21 winger Robbie Brady on loan from Manchester United.
The 19-year-old Dublin born player, who can also play as a striker, has joined the Tigers until the end of the calendar year.
The highly-rated player was an influential member of United's 2009 Milk Cup-winning squad, scoring five goals in the prestigious youth tournament.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Liam Brady and striker Theo Walcott both believe new players will join the Club during the summer transfer window. Speaking to talkSport, the Irishman revealed that there will be a lot of business ...