AP Photo/Christian Thompson.
A tanker full of eggnog has just broken down outside our HQ.
It's just provocative really.
GOOD WEEK
Toure Treasure: Yaya Toure has been named 'African Footballer of the Year' for
his performances for Manchester City in the EPL this season.
- DaMarcus Beasley and other American exports miss out on the Mexican league playoffs.
With the number of Americans south of the border, it's surprising only three will see time in
the playoffs. (Americans in the Mexican league will receive deeper analysis and description at a
later date, once the off-season transfer dust settles.
Ahmad Bradshaw has a broken foot. You'd think he'd be out for the season, right? Not so fast.
The New York Giants think he'll play again in 2011. In fact, the Giants haven't counted him out for
Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.
Bradshaw got hurt last week against the Miami Dolphins.
Team news, match facts and quotes ahead of the Champions League Group F fixture between Arsenal
and Valencia at Emirates Stadium.
TEAM NEWS
Thomas Vermaelen and Carl Jenkinson are both fit to start. Marouane Chamakh has suffered a
knee injury and is not fit, but Yossi Benayoun is available again after sitting out Saturday's
win over Chelsea due to the terms of his loan deal.
photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Sporting KC took a big first step in the playoffs on Sunday night in Colorado as they took out the
Rapids 2-0 in the first leg of their home and home series. With the second leg at home at
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, KC is firmly in the driver's seat in the series.
Liverpool Chase Kagawa
Liverpool are set to battle it out with clubs around Europe for the signature of Borussia
Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa, according to talkSPORT. The Japanese youngster has earned a reputation
as one of the most exciting playmakers in Europe this has resulted in many top clubs declaring
their interest in the Japanese star.
Jurgen Klinsmann's appointment as the head coach of the US Mens National Team was met with
excitement for many reasons. The stagnating program looked at Klinsmann as a proven winner who
could help reestablish the USA as the dominant nation in CONCACAF while helping to build a system
to make the Nats more dangerous in international competitions and against European opponents.
The U.S. men's national team's roster for October's friendlies is expected to be released this
afternoon, and while we will find out soon enough just who Jurgen Klinsmann plans on taking a look
at in the upcoming matches vs. Honduras and Ecuador.
There have been several players who have stepped up in the week's following the last U.
If there is one voice in American soccer concerning concussions, it is Taylor Twellman. It is a
voice that he understands grates on players and fans at times, but one that he will not stop using.
He is currently moving from his personal Twitter and media crusade to raise awareness to the
creation of a clearinghouse website for concussion related information, data and resources at
ThinkTaylor.
Squad sheets: Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers
Doing the double over Bolton was one of the few highlights of Roy Hodgson's brief, tortuous time
at Anfield, although successive Liverpool managers have rarely been troubled by the Trotters.
Bolton have lost their last nine matches to Liverpool and you would have to go back to 1954 to find
their last league victory at Anfield.
Aston Villa have slapped a price tag of £19m on winger Stewart Downing, Press Association Sport
understands.
Villa have rejected a second bid - of around £15m - for the England international from
Liverpool.
New Villa manager Alex McLeish would like to keep hold of Downing after losing the services of
Ashley Young to Manchester United.
By AVI CREDITOR
Japan will be severely short-handed in Saturday's Asian Cup final against Australia after
offensive catalyst Shinji Kagawa was ruled out of the match with a broken foot.
Kagawa, a star for Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund, was injured in the Samurai Blue's
dramatic Asian Cup victory over South Korea.
