Newcastle want to sign a full-back and a center back this summer to shore up their defense, which was often the Achilles heel last season. Aly Cissokho 24 year-old Lyon left-back That's even though Newcastle kept 15 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, which was only bettered by the two Manchester clubs.

Photo credit: Baiji

Good afternoon! It's a glorious Saturday here in Red Bulls Land. Alas, our glorious club is in beautiful Montreal, Quebec, to take on MLS expansion side Montreal Impact (7:30pm ET, MSG, match notes here). It will be the second meeting of these two Eastern Conference rivals this season.

The Unsung Championship Team of the Season 2011-2012 is a post from: Just Football

With the climax of the Championship almost upon us, Just Football's James McMath picks his unsung XI – the players who caught the eye but failed to make the cut at the official Football League awards.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, with no two players from the same club:

Goalkeeper: Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace)

The seventh-best defensive record in the division was a major factor as Palace, with limited resources, stayed clear of danger all season.

Although Manchester United tragically blew an eight point lead in the title race and bowed out of the 2011/2012 season as runners up, the Red Devils gained a lot from this drama filled year. If history repeats itself as it normally does, United will come back stronger and deadlier next season with a mean vengeance, just like they did after losing the title to Blackburn on the last day of the 94/95 season.

There would be little value in doing an opinion poll on who has been our best player of the season. No doubt, a vast majority would opt for our captain, top goal scorer, and the PL's Player of the Season, Robin van Persie. But it all becomes a lot more difficult when we have to choose our second best player of the season.

There would be little value in doing an opinion poll on who has been our best player of the season. No doubt, a vast majority would opt for our captain, top goal scorer, and the PL's Player of the Season, Robin van Persie. But it all becomes a lot more difficult when we have to choose our second best player of the season.

There have been many success stories in the Newcastle side this season. Tim Krul great season for Tim Krul And one of them is Dutch International goalkeeper Tim Krul, in this his first season as the new Newcastle number one goalkeeper. And he has kept 15 clean sheets so far this season in the league, and will just miss out on the Golden Glove in the Premier League [.

Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany has been awarded the Player of the season award for the 2011-12 EPL season. The press release (courtesy of Manchester City's official website) is below.

The central defender has been a rock at the back for the title favourites and his leadership has been recognised by a panel of experts in winning this award.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Finally, a glimmer of hope for Philadelphia Union.

Two goals (in the same game!), a win over a German power Schalke 04, and now a visit by a New York Red Bulls team fully infected by the Ewing Theory.

Bet you're looking forward to seeing Rafa Marquez trot out on that field, aren't you?

Camilo Sanvezzo (right) takes on Chance Myers during an April 18th clash between the 'Caps and Sporting K.C. (Photo: John May for Prost Amerika)

(Editor's note: Prior to each Revolution match, New England Soccer Today will invite a reporter who covers the Revolution's upcoming opponent to provide greater insight on what to expect on gameday.

Over the past seven years Arsenal's defensive inadequacies have been there for all to see. The same amount of time the team has failed to win a trophy. It's also no coincidence it's seven years since Patrick Viera left the club too.

Arsenal fans must feel like they are caught in a very long version of Ground Hog Day.

The New York Red Bulls look to make it three wins in a row, but to do so they'll have to get by a Houston Dynamo side finally at the end of its seven-game road trip to open the season (7 p.m., MLS Live/Direct Kick).

The Red Bulls are again without Rafa Marquez, who has completed his three-game suspension but is out with an ankle injury suffered in training, according to the Red Bulls.

Newcastle lost 2-0 on Sunday to Manchester City but they are still in 5th position, one point behind Tottenham and 2 points behind Arsenal with one game to go. Yohan Cabaye challenges Carlos Tevez on Sunday So although Sunday's result was a disappointment, a big disappointment, the display was not and Newcastle showed they can play very solidly when they have to, and the 15 clean sheets this season is [.

A trio of U.S. internationals are on the telly Tuesday as the seasons race to a conclusion. Sneak away from work and head to an Official U.S. Soccer Bar for an afternoon of good matchups and a chance for the U.S. players to shine.
Michael Bradley: Chievo Verona vs. Roma (11:55 a.m. ET, FOX Soccer)
With an appearance today, Michael Bradley would set a career mark for games played in a league season as he would take the field for the 34th time in Serie A play in his first year with Chievo Verona.

Kuyt in action last year against Norwich...Liverpool face the Canaries on Saturday as they look to end April on a high. Norwich have lost their last two league games but they have been a breath of fresh air since they were promoted from the Championship last year.
Injuries for Liverpool mean they are without Charlie Adam but captain Steven Gerrard was back in training and is expected to be available for Saturday's game.

The EPL is wrapping up though not before a last gasp effort for Manchester City to wrestle the title away from their neighborly foes United.

Our picks for Best XI:

Krul, not kind to opponents....

G: Tim Krul (Newcastle)

The skinny: Tough pick here.

After winning the matchup of the top two teams in the league, Sporting Kansas City has deservedly seized control of the early pole position in the MLS Eastern Conference and in the race for the Supporters' Shield.

Applying their trademark high pressure and getting a timely goal off a set piece, Sporting KC stifled Real Salt Lake's attack and improved to 6-0-0 on the season with a 1-0 victory Saturday, earning SBI's MLS Team of the Week honors.

Manchester City trio David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart are among the six nominees for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Scott Parker of Tottenham, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie of Arsenal fill the shortlist.

Aguero is competing with Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Daniel Sturridge, Kyle Walker and Danny Welbeck for the Young Players' prize.

(With apologies for the now customary tardiness – who knew saving the world and getting the girl would leave so little time for the finer things in life?)

The implosion continues apace, which I suppose if nothing else provides a degree of comforting familiarity for us long-term lilywhite sufferers.

Transfer focus has been on younger players in the last 24 hours and after it was reported that Spurs had turned down an approach from QPR for Alex Pritchard, it's been suggested that the club is considering an approach for 23 year old Scunthorpe keeper Sam Slocombe.
Slocombe has been with the iron since 2008 but this is something of a breakthrough season for him with an impressive haul of clean sheets in Scunthorpe's season.

There have been 217 Merseyside derbies in total. I limited this remembrance to the previous 122, those played in the last 50 years. Which is actually a handy dividing line, as Liverpool and Everton only met once between 1951 and 1962, in the '54-55 FA Cup (which Liverpool won), because of Everton then Liverpool's relegation to the Second Division.

Injuries aren't an excuse for Real Salt Lake. The club just keeps finding new players to step up to maintain its high level of play instead.

Despite injuries to two key midfield starters, Real Salt Lake showcased its depth and came up with two wins (and two clean sheets) in four days to take home SBI's MLS Team of the Week honors.

In the Silverbacks home opener they played to a scoreless draw against the expansion San Antonio Scorpions. The game was a sell out (5,000 tickets sold) and fans came out to the first home game despite it being Easter weekend and many counties being on spring break. The fans that showed up got to see the new look Silverbacks that included 5 starters that weren't on the team last year.

Let's take a look at the other five games this weekend including a massive and potentially pivotal day on Sunday:

15:00 – Norwich City v Everton

This is the only game really with nothing major riding on it for either side. Neither will go down, neither will achieve a European place but with little pressure on, the goals could flow and the match could produce real quality.

Let's take a look at the other five games this weekend including a massive and potentially pivotal day on Sunday:

15:00 – Norwich City v Everton

This is the only game really with nothing major riding on it for either side. Neither will go down, neither will achieve a European place but with little pressure on, the goals could flow and the match could produce real quality.

Jose Enrique, who moved to Anfield from Newcastle last summer, rates the 27-year-old Slovakian defender ahead of Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.

Skrtel has made 37 appearances for the Reds this season, netting four times – and Enrique insists he would not swap the defender for any other player in the Premier League

Skrtel has helped Liverpool to keep 11 clean sheets in the league a stat beaten only by Swansea City and the two Manchester clubs.

One of the problems 'identified' during the season, when things were going badly, was the fact that we relied on a core of players for most games, with the manager seemingly reluctant to use the squad players. This led to jaded performances and poor results.

In some cases the manager's hand was forced.

Chelsea's coach, Roberto Di Matteo, remain confident about his side's quality but he doesn't set too ambitious target on their Champions League tie against home team Benfica on Tuesday, stating that picking up an away goal is the main goal.

Aside from performing well. Despite not necessarily targeting a win , the Italian coach does remind his player that they must not be hasty at the back and avoid conceding goals just like against Napoli as lighting doesn't always struck twice.

By Chris Wright

This is it people, the end is in sight. May is crowning on the horizon and the Premier League season is so very nearly finito. Granted, there's still a lot of hoo-doo and wiff-waff to sort out, but we thought we'd give a timely doff of the cap to those who have defied the soccer odds this season, those playing beyond their means, the over-achievers, the surprise packages in short, the kind of people that Phil Collins was singing about when he first laid down a demo for 'Against All Odds'.

Arsenal eventually shows some defensive resilience and battle their way to consistent results. by Adam Kemp The Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must be delighted with his defence after the Gunners battled their way to two consecutive clean sheets. Seven league wins on the bounce is remarkable consistency given the fixtures that they have had to [.

Here are all the quotes notes and links for yesterday's ugly loss.

Quotes:

Portland Timbers Quotes

Head Coach John Spencer
General thoughts on the game:

"I'm just very disappointed. I think this is one of those performances that keep the media talking about why we can't play away from home.

With three games squeezed into seven days and Jamie Carragher having started on Sunday, it was surprising to see Sebastian Coates begin the game on the bench against QPR. After coming on late in the first half as a substitute and subsequently being the only Liverpool defender blameless in Rangers' three late goals, and with not even the most hopeful fan entertaining dreams of a push for the top four any longer, it would be rather more than surprising were he to find himself once again starting on the bench against Wigan on the weekend.

For all the abuse that Steve Kean has had hurled at him by Rovers fans this season, the Blackburn manager has his side 6 points above the drop zone, albeit with a game more played than their rivals.

Tuesday nights 2-0 win at home against Sunderland was the first time Blackburn have clinched back-to-back victories for the first time since November 2010 and it was also Rovers' first successive clean sheets since August that year.

BY JONATHAN VERA

CARSON, Calif. – Last year the Vancouver Whitecaps finished dead last in the league without mustering an away victory all season. However, in this year's campaign the Caps are off to a great 2-0-0 start and recorded their first away win in MLS play, beating Chivas USA, 1-0, at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night.

Wembley awaits...I feel sorry for all those Mother's of Liverpool fans on Sunday because i predict a delivery of card and perhaps garage court flowers before a dash to a television or Anfield for most of your sons and daughters. The Reds face Stoke in the FA Cup and with the prospect of another trip to Wembley looming, everybody is excited for this one.

Why Vermaelen is central to Arsenal's chances of overtaking Tottenham - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

After spending most of the season as the second-best side in North London, Arsenal are suddenly finding form and purpose at the business end of the season, with three big wins in three matches (including that moral-boosting 3-0 win against Milan).

The Dynamo left it late, VERY late, but after Macoumba Kandji forced a corner in the second minute of stoppage time, Andre Hainault took advantage of after Dan Kennedy went to ground blocking Adam Moffat's shot and buried the ball in the open net to give Houston their first season opening victory since 2006.

Its very hard to predict a Liverpool team these days under Kenny Dalglish as he does have a number of options open to him from the squad (apart from a quality Striker).
But thats my stab at it, I chose Spearing instead of Henderson as Sunderland have become a very dogged team under Martin O'Neill.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton, Saturday 10th March 2012, 5.30pm kick off, Goodison Park, ESPN & ESPN HD

THFC1882 is pleased once again to introduce the almost regular now Kenny Palmer with his preview on the upcoming important game this Saturday against Everton.

Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan has spoken of his pride at becoming Stoke City's most-capped international player.
Dublin born Whelan won his 37th cap against the Czech Republic on 29 February and that surpassed the 36 appearances made by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks during his five-year spell with the Potters.