The list of nominees was long for the second in our eponymous yearly awards. Joe Mason, a regular starter and scorer for Cardiff; Kevin Nolan, hardly cheap, but still value for money; Rhoys Wiggins, who's developed into by far and away the best left-back in League 1 over the course of the season after Charlton had snaffled him for a modest fee; and Crawley's quick and dirty turnover of Tyrone Barnett were all heralded as good pieces of business up and down the leagues.

With the European Championships getting closer by the day, Reading full-back Ian Harte believes his hopes of playing for the Republic of Ireland again are drifting away.
The 34-year-old has been a loyal servant to his country over the years, since his glory days with Leeds United, playing football in the Champions League a decade ago.

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- QPR's Beloved Chairman, Tony Fernandes, Turns 48!

[O]nce upon a time, the PFA Awards were the undisputed measure of a season's most valuable players. Voted for by the Professionals themselves, the response to their announcement was one of awed hush and consent – how could mere onlookers presume to know better than those involved in the rough and tumble of the actual sport?

After Real Salt Lake's run to the CONCACAF Champions League final last season, and the first-ever wins by MLS teams in Mexico this season, there was a lot of misplaced optimism about the chances of Major League Soccer teams to contend for the CCL. That optimism was swiftly dispatched by Mexican clubs in the knockout stages.

James Tavernier is highly thought of at Newcastle. James Tavernier while on loan at Carlisle James has set the example for other Newcastle youngsters, by playing on loan at Gateshead, Carlisle, Sheffield Wednesday and the MK Dons, and he has improved his game considerably over the last 15 months, by playing 50 games on loan.

By Alan Duffy

Once a pretty decent Premier League outfit, Charlton Athletic have struggled in recent years, dropping all the way down to League One. However, with Addicks legend Chris Powell in charge, the south London side have blossomed in the third tier of English football this season and, courtesy of a 1-0 win away at Carlisle on Saturday, can now look forward to Championship football next season.

A quick pointer to some of the other activities which the denizens of The Two Unfortunates have been indulging in lately before we hunker down to the serious business of today's league programme - myself at the Mad Stad and Lloyd at Sixfields. First, if you would relish an hour or so's chat about the Football League, Lloyd made his debut on the most recent Two Footed Tackle podcast and the results can be enjoyed here.

Their Words "I am proud of my team-mates because what we produced today was great football, but it's sad because obviously we are out of the competition. We can go out with our heads held high but we blew it in Milan." Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky. Other Sources Q&A with MLS commish Don Garber - from ESPN.

In Blank Generation, Richard Hell's notorious hymn to disaffected youth, the auteur claims himself a ‘cartoon long forsaken by the public eye' – a totem for a column of society with nothing to say and no voice with which to say it. It gets to the very core of why ‘punk' (the movement and the statements, not the often desperate excuse for music) formed and proved pertinent anthems for a section of that social grouping for whom God Save the Queen was less a call to arms and more the snot nosed outpourings of a confused loon from North London.

The 90th Minute Podcast Episode 17 Jeff Carlisle Talks USA & MLS - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

In Episode 17 of the podcast, ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle talks about the upcoming MLS season and the USA National Team. First, Jeff gives his thoughts on the LA Galaxy's chances heading into the 2012 season.

Fraser Forster, James Tavernier, Alan Smith and Haris Vukcic are currently out on loan at other clubs. James Tavernier while on loan at Carlisle last year James Tavernier played the full game for MK Dons in their 5-0 thumping of Oldham Athletic, and that took MK Dons up to 5th place in League One, a [.

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.