Flash back to the 31st of January 2010 – shot shy Carlisle United are desperate for an experienced front man to come in to help out the earnest pairing of Scott Dobie and Joe Anyinsah, the then still errant, gangling giraffe Gary Madine and the bunged-up blunderbuss Richard Offiong. By mid-morning the signing of a striker had been announced, in the form of 18 year old Stoke City man Ben Marshall, a youngster who'd had earlier spells with a pair of League Two Towns – Northampton and Cheltenham.

[T]his hasn't been a plum week in the history of MK Dons. Their dumping out of the cup at the hands of Premier League QPR on Tuesday night followed a weekend of sincere apology from all involved at the club after the farcical cancellation of their League One match with Carlisle. The game was the only weather casualty in the entirety of the professional game across England and Scotland – a mind blowing situation that owed much to bad planning and which was unbecoming for a stadium which was one the England 2018 bid's chosen host venues.

[T]his hasn't been a plum week in the history of MK Dons. Their dumping out of the cup at the hands of Premier League QPR on Tuesday night followed a weekend of sincere apology from all involved at the club after the farcical cancellation of their League One match with Carlisle. The game was the only weather casualty in the entirety of the professional game across England and Scotland – a mind blowing situation that owed much to bad planning and which was unbecoming for a stadium which was one the England 2018 bid's chosen host venues.

Amobi Okugo has had a busy offseason, shuttling around the world playing for various US youth National team squads and MLS special tournament teams, but it appears to have all worked out for the midfielder. The 20-year-old is ranked eighth on ESPN on a list of under-21 US soccer players, and is one of three of those players on the list that are on the sports site's front page.

The top 10 U.S. players under 21 - Federal Way's Kelyn Rowe No. 9

Jeffrey Carlisle, ESPN's non-insane person who writes about MLS, ranks Federal Way's Kelyn Rowe as the ninth best American prospect younger than 21. It's a list heavy on players currently plying their trade in Europe.

Their Words "It's true, I am not totally familiar with the way things are over here in CONCACAF, but I will be. This is one of the main reasons that we will go play a friendly in Panama later this month." US National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Other Sources Solving the U.S. back line puzzle - from ESPN.

[F]or our first proper post following the big redesign, we are very pleased to welcome back John McGee. Bring Me the Head of Keith Mincher is John's blog devoted to Carlisle United and he likes nothing better than to rail against anyone who disagrees with him on Twitter under the nom de plume of @epouvantail - he's a little smug at the moment given the club's continued robust play-off push.

After two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

After two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

After two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

After two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

[A]fter two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

[A]fter two calendar years of last-minute cramming and form-checking, this ditty on the Boxing Day derby between Preston and Carlisle will be our last Thursday Preview. With a new platform less than two weeks away, we've decided to refocus our efforts, leaving the Monday Profile as the sole weekly column on TTU.

Liverpool should take heed of the past and accept Luis Suárez verdict | Richard Williams

The Anfield club are not flattered by angry words which appear to contradict so much of the good work they have done in the fight against racism It is more than 30 years since Howard Gayle became Liverpool's first black player.

Cultural differences no excuse for Suarez comments Carlisle

Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle says cultural or language differences are no excuse for the comments for which Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned.

View the full story here: BBC

A news article on 2011-12-21 14:55:43 from: BBC

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

Newcastle's talented defender James Tavernier has so far played 36 games on loan this year. James Tavernier -- one of Newcastle's top youngsters James is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, and he has played 18 times at Gateshead and 17 times at Carlisle and made one appearance so for for Wednesday so far this year.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

File him under journeyman if you will; Paul Thirlwell's career hasn't exactly hit stellar heights anywhere. Decent spells at his hometown club Sunderland, Sheffield United and Derby were flecked by seemingly the only consistency of his career – injury. Ask any fan of his current club Carlisle to define Thirlwell in a single word and the wags will chorus on cue – ‘injured'.

Their Words Other Sources What Happened to Landon Donovan's Uniform from the 2011 MLS Cup? - from Upper Deck's Chris Carlin: "As an added bonus, we even threw in his socks." Hollywood Ending - from Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl: But there was more to the Galaxy's title than writing checks. Don't airbrush Beckham's legacy - from ESPN.

Their Words It would be better for US Soccer, and specifically also for the National Team. And the popularity inside the country. FIFA president Sepp Blatter telling Fox Soccer's Eric Wynalda that he believes MLS should adopt the traditional season schedule. Other Sources Dynamo soar into offseason with optimism - from The Houston Chronicle's Jose De Jesus Ortiz: "On the field, it's very bright.

Their Words A forward like that, you give him one opportunity, he puts it away. You shut him down all game and all of a sudden he gets an opportunity and puts the ball in the back of the net. Houston defender Geoff Cameron on MLS Cup MVP Landon Donovan. Other Sources LA Galaxy shines in win over Houston - from ESPN.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Boys, eh? Give them a football, they kick it. A water bottle, they spray it. An air-rifle... well, let's not go there.

But sometimes, just sometimes, player behaviour belies a braininess that startles. There was Clark Carlisle and his awesome 'Countdown' run.

Sports Minister calls for Blatter to resign after racism remarks

PFA chief Gordon Taylor, Mark Bright and Clarke Carlisle also stick the boot in

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-17 10:30:06 from: The Mirror

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

Grades. Is there anything more cruel? An entire semester of work, and a little symbol reflects your homework, your exams, your term papers, and maybe your participation. Naturally, I can understand why some people in the soccersphere have objected to the application of "grades" to soccer player performances.

Saturday Fox Soccer has the England - Spain friendly at 12pm. FA Cup on Fox Soccer Plus: Newport County - Shrewsbury Town at 7:30am, Swindon - Huddersfield at 10am, and East Thurrock - Maclesfield Town at 9pm. On Fox Soccer: Alreton - Carlisle at 10am and Fleetwood - Wycombe at 2:30pm. All Times Eastern Sunday FA Cup on Fox Soccer Plus: Halifax - Charlton Athletic at 8:30am.

Dan thinks Colorado made a phenomenally bad decision based mostly on past performance while admitting this:

Steve Sampson and Thomas Rongen have won doubles in MLS.

I rest my case. Jeff Carlisle goes on to paint a picture of the dysfunctional working relationship between Smith and his superiors:

Smith went public with his displeasure in an October interview with The Denver Post but later tried to make peace with Bravo, realizing that he didn't want to leave the team he had spent three years putting together.

Well the first 24 hours after the Smith announcement has brought some interesting fall out.

• Nick Thomas tweeted that Paul Bravo is not a candidate for the job.
• The Rapids asked for, and were denied, permission from the Portland Timbers to speak to John Spencer about the job.
• ESPN's Jeff Carlisle dug into the story a bit to find out what the real issues were.

Gems of the Lower Leagues: Charlie Austin is a post from: Just Football

by Ally Poole

Charlie Austin has made a meteoric leap from being a bricklayer playing for part-time Poole Town as late as September 2009 to free-scoring striker for Burnley in the Championship.

Game Time!

It's come down to this for the New York Red Bulls. No cushy, concrete confines of Red Bull Arena.

On the road, in Frisco, in the rain.

Hans Backe's team is typically winners there in their last 4 (3 wins), but Dallas was missing some hands on deck.

Dallas will try to shake the slump and as we learned in today's column by Jeff Carlisle "momentum" going into the playoffs means little.

Y'all remember when Young Jozy signed my pumpkin? That was a fun night replete with Bruce Arena's smirks and tequila shots with Joey Vide. Jozy was just a baby then, hadn't even suited up for the Nats yet if I recall correctly. My how s*** done changed for him (and his former club but that's another topic entirely).

As a fan of a Non-League side it's very rare that I have anyone to talk to about the team I support. I completely understand why some people will have little or nothing to say about the Non-League but what really gets on my nerves is when I hear people writing it off as being a poor level of football.

Their Words I have been involved in a few reserve games and they have been good for fitness and for getting back into the swing of things but there's nothing like putting on the shirt and playing in a competitive match. Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden. Other Sources Timothy Chandler pledges his allegiance - from ESPN.

We didn't think much at all of Alan Pardew when he became the Newcastle manager last December, in fact we were really disappointed he got the job. James Tavernier playing for Carlisle But Alan has surprised us with a number of things, and he seems not only to be a very good coach, he's also excellent with [.

We didn't think much at all of Alan Pardew when he became the Newcastle manager last December, in fact we were really disappointed he got the job. James Tavernier playing for Carlisle But Alan has surprised us with a number of things, and he seems not only to be a very good coach, he's also excellent with [.

US manager Jurgen Klinsmann describes his relationship with assistant Martin Vasquez with Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.com-
One area where Klinsmann has moved quickly is in naming Martin Vasquez as his No. 1 assistant coach. The U.S. manager had previously indicated that he would audition guest assistants whenever the team got together as a means of filling out the spots on his staff.

By Alan Duffy

One of a whole gaggle of new players to join Arsenal on transfer deadline day, Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun has taken little time in celebrating his loan move from west to north London.

On hearing that he will have the No. 30 jersey at the Emirates, rather than the No.

Their Words The whole game was quite a unique experience with the stoppage of the game yesterday when we were winning 1-0, sitting around in the locker room for another two hours last night and then getting up early this morning for kickoff. It took a lot out of both teams, but again, our boys came through.

Darryl Duffy's career trajectory may perhaps have left the striker wondering if he has perpetually arrived too early for the party. Most notably, journeyman though he may appear to be, he has enjoyed spells at two clubs which, not long after his departure, have attained Premier League status. First, he joined Hull City in a fanfare of publicity five years ago, his 37 goals in just 68 games for