Above average finishing ability, Average rat-tail, Below average fitness history
The Premier League is back, and while the World Cup is still top of mind (especially for those Irish and French fans), the greatest league in the world is back from a two week hiatus. Let's get to it:
I. Click to continue reading...

It was a triple killing -- three goals in eight minutes that easily saw off the U.S. challenge in Aarhus. Friendlies tend to spawn more overreactions than calm, logical analysis simply because most American soccer fans expect to be better than they really are.

From the distant perspective of a TV screen carrying the international feed, the defensive collapse was a frustrating exercise that you'd rather not see.

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The U.S. men's national team plays its final match of a busy and memorable 2009 today when it takes on Denmark in Aarhus (2:30pm, ESPN Classic/Galavision/ESPN2 after Ukraine-Greece).

Both teams will be missing several key players, with the Americans playing without Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey (as well as injured regulars Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit and Charlie Davies).

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The USA played� the first of its pre-World Cup friendlies against Slovakia on Saturday.� With nothing to play for, Bob Bradley utilized� the opportunity to test his team's depth.� The results?� Despite the 0-1 defeat, there were more positives than negatives.

Most promising of the group were the performances of our center backs and central midfield.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If the starting lineup the U.S. team fielded in Saturday's loss to Slovakia didn't look far enough away from Bob Bradley's first-choice squad, wait until you see the team we are likely to have take the field in Denmark on Wednesday.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If the starting lineup the U.S. team fielded in Saturday's loss to Slovakia didn't look far enough away from Bob Bradley's first-choice squad, wait until you see the team we are likely to have take the field in Denmark on Wednesday.

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Our regular Guest Contributor, Ted Harwood, takes a look at Cesc Fabregas' secret weapon, Alex Song, and his emergence this season as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Song's form is directly related to Cesc's performances this season of 10 assists in 10 league matches, just one less than the total that led the league last season, as well as his 9 goals in all competitions. Click to continue reading...

For the second season in a row the Fire had a chance to make a trip to the MLS Cup Final and once again they came up short. The home fans at Toyota Park showed up in force, but they didn't see the same commitment and coherence from their team that they got in last week's 2-0 home win over Prince and the New England Revolution. Click to continue reading...

The voting for attacking midfielders has gone pretty much as anticipated so far, with heavy support for three fan favorites in Quaranta, Pontius, and Barklage, and an obvious dissatisfaction with Fred and Allen. The only moderate surprise to me has been that Gomez and Szetela are not both closer to the 50/50 mark. Click to continue reading...

Prior to England's friendly against Brazil on Saturday I have been thinking about one possible tactical option available to Fabio Capello as he plans England's World Cup strategy.

There is no doubt that Capello has done a great job of taking an underachieving group of players and turning them into an effective team.

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Many raised an eyebrow or two when last Saturday's line-up was announced with Aaron Ramsey replacing in-form Alex Song in central midfield. But after the game, the Welshman was one of the best for the Gunners ... Click to continue reading...

Many raised an eyebrow or two when last Saturday's line-up was announced with Aaron Ramsey replacing in-form Alex Song in central midfield. But after the game, the Welshman was one of the best for the Gunners ...

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A petition had been sent to the Vatican to begin the process of recognizing all Valencia CF fans as saints.

Its to be expected of course seeing how much suffering we are forced to endure week in and week out.

My blood pressure is high and my finger nails are non-existant.

Valencia will surely be the death of me.

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I've made it clear in recent weeks that Chelsea's November fixtures against Man Utd and Arsenal will give the clearest indication so far of the strength of Chelsea's challenge this season. As it was, Chelsea came through the first of those tests yesterday – but without flying colours.
To have expected flying colours would have been wishful thinking however.

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I've made it clear in recent weeks that Chelsea's November fixtures against Man Utd and Arsenal will give the clearest indication so far of the strength of Chelsea's challenge this season. As it was, Chelsea came through the first of those tests yesterday – but without flying colours.
To have expected flying colours would have been wishful thinking however.

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Carlo Ancelotti claimed yesterday that Liverpool can no longer win the Barclays Premier League title, although such a dismissive attitude will not stop him seeking to follow their example when Chelsea face Manchester United on Sunday.
Chelsea can open a five-point gap at the top of table by beating United at Stamford Bridge and victory would put them 12 points clear of sixth-placed Liverpool, who host Birmingham City on Monday night. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea v Manchester United
English Premier League
Sunday, 08 November, 2009
Stamford Bridge

The last 5 titles in the Premier League have been shared by Manchester United and Chelsea, and as the two best sides in England go head to head on Sunday, it's bound to be a memorable game no matter what the outcome.

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We haven't done this for a while here are our best three picks for this week and the weeks ahead... Although we make no assurances they will be successful.

1. David Dunn

He's fat, he's round, he's only five point seven million pound... David Dunn. By a margin Blackburn's outstanding performer this season, Dunn has already notched four goals, and in only seven appearances.

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Arsenal 4 AZ Akmaar 1

Ronald Koeman's� freaky run against Arsenal and English teams in general was abruptly brought to an end. It could have been a lot worse had Arsene decided to keep a Fabregas� keen to get his hatrick� as well as the stand in goal� creating machine in Arshavin.

Barely three minutes had gone when a few one touch passes led to Van Persie� firing just wide across goal.

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Right then, the good news is that Harry has spoken openly about us being light in the midfield department.
"I am happy with the squad. The only area we are short of a body is central midfield", said Harry, in preparation for the January sales.
Thank the lord! The only hurdle that I can see us falling on is that teams rarely give away their best players in winter transfer window. Click to continue reading...

After the effective, if not inspiring, performance of the second string in the Carling Cup earlier in the week, normal service resumes this weekend as United face Blackburn in the Premier League.

Rovers enjoyed a relatively safe passage into the quarter finals of that competition that none of the big guns tend to take very seriously the League Cup themselves on Tuesday night although Saturday should prove a much tougher hurdle for Sam Allardyce and his swine flu-hit charges to negotiate.

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Normally the points in this fixture are rather an irrelevance, but this time there is more at stake than just bragging rights. The sides go into the game separated only by goal difference, and the three points up for grabs could prove crucial come May. Ultimately, league position is the gauge, and this season for a change we have a realistic chance of finishing above l'Arse.

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The Seattle Sounders will make their MLS playoff debut tonight against the two-time MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo in the opening match of their Western Conference playoff series (10pm, ESPN2).

The Sounders are new to the playoffs as a club, but have plenty of experience across the board, from two-time MLS Cup-winning coach Sigi Schmid, to European soccer veterans Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg.

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Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Another great win in the Milk Cup for the Arsenal thanks to two crackers from Merida and Bendtner.

Though fatigue set in at the end, it was another feather in the cap for Wenger's second string. It seems to happen every year, yet every year it still surprises me how much potential there is bubbling under the surface at the club.

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Arsenal v Liverpool
Carling Cup Fourth Round
Emirates Stadium
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Kick-off: 1945 GMT

A week ago both Liverpool were dreading this fixture, an unwelcome distraction in a tough schedule with morale at Anfield low and Arsenal's star on the rise.

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If you enjoy those 15 half-time minutes when the subs come trotting out and half-heartedly ping the ball around, you'll love tonight. Pav, Bentley, Hutton and Bale are all in line to start, as ‘Arry rings the changes with half an eye (in a manner of speaking) on Saturday's game.

League or Cups?

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You're only as good as your last game and following eleven without defeat, Sunday proved something of a wake-up call. United certainly need to up the ante and fortunately they won't have to wait very long to attempt to put things right. A little over 50 hours to be precise as a trip to Barnsley in the Carling Cup will hopefully lift spirits, if ever so slightly, following the depressing result at Anfield.

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Lucas Leiva had a great game against Man Utd on Sunday.
I have been his biggest critic since he first joined Liverpool a couple of seasons ago.
But I have to say he was very good yesterday in central midfield alongside Mascherano.
He tackled like a man possessed, winning virtually every challenge he went into. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal surrendered a two goal lead against a spirited West Ham side who did well to deny Arsenal much fluency in central midfield.
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At 2-0, Alan Hansen said Arsenal could only beat� themselves and as it was, the Gunners contrived to concede two late goals.

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Landon Donovan sparked a 2-0 defeat of San Jose completing a turnaround for the LA Galaxy after missing the playoffs three years in a row. In an interesting formation, David Beckham played central midfield and Mike Magee played striker.

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The postal strikes,� the controversial leader of the BNP Nick Griffin and even pesky little Beach Ball's are things that we have heard of a lot this week in the papers (though in this article, we won't mention anymore about the postal strikes or politics). The word 'beach ball' for many football fans, especially Manchester United fans, would never be thought of in the same way ever again.

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Springfield Catholic, Nick Kofron (2012)

Springfield Catholic 4
Nixa Eagles 1
On Senior night, the Irish got the game winner midway through the first half when Nick Kofron, playing in the central midfield, ripped a shot from the left just outside that box that caught everyone in the park flat-footed with it's pace and sudden result. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce faces a battle to keep hold of star skipper Lorik Cana.
The Daily Mail says Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has not given up hope of signing Cana, despite the Albanian midfielder moving to Sunderland this summer.
Cana was tracked by Wenger last season and the Arsenal boss could make a fresh move next year. Click to continue reading...

Yesterday, I posted a list of eleven reasons why I believe Liverpool have struggled this season. Today, it's time to look to forward positively and come up with a way out of the current mess. Yes, things are bleak, but I do not think that the season is over. In fact, I actually think Liverpool can still put in a title challenge, but only if certain changes are made and previous mistakes are not repeated. Click to continue reading...

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TOTTENHAM will make a £6million move for Manchester City midfield ace Michael Johnson in the January window.

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