Freddie Ljungberg and Osvaldo Alonso were huge additions to Seattle and to MLS this year. (Getty Images)

Everyone knew going into the 2009 season that the new kids on the block would make a splash. Just the kind of splash the league needed in some folks eyes. The Seattle Sounders FC came into the year not as a typical expansion club.

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Finally, Chelsea found their "hand" and used it to great effect in their 1-0 win over Manchester United yesterday.� The match was a rough and tumble affair that featured very little in the way of scoring opportunities for either squad but did feature virtual girth of tension and upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

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After a run of draws, we see the first rallying call from our new skipper, Kolo Toure:

"We need to impose ourselves as we have some gifted players in this dressing room," he told the club's website. "We can enjoy our football by passing it and controlling games. That's what we need to achieve now.

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Dynamo, it's time to test your mettle. Your final two regular season opponents have also clinched invitations to the postseason. So, knowing that win or lose you'll still be in the dance, does that alter your mindset? Will you be reserved to rest or do you push for custody of the coveted home-field advantage?

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Liverpool fans should hopefully see Alberto Aquilani in a red shirt for the first time at the end of this month, but where will the Italian fit into the team and will he be used effectively?
With three defeats in 8 premiership games already, the pressure is on for Liverpool to start producing premiership winning performances on a more consistent basis. Click to continue reading...

Ever since the arrival of the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea, the world of football seems to exist in two separate yet parallel universes.

There are clubs who teeter on the brink of bankruptcy despite brief flirts with glory (a la Leeds United and recently at Portsmouth). Then there are other clubs whose history has been blanketed by anonymity and mediocrity but now whose names, with the financial aid of the multi-billionaire, are dared uttered in the same sentence with title aspirations.

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Morning all,

it's Blackburn today and if Blackburn were never my favourite team before - the fact that they're now managed by that Walrus looking cunt Allardyce has definitely secured their status as one of the top 19 Premier League teams that I hate.

We know old Walrus's teams like the physical approach and with their 8'7 centre-half promising more of the same today it could well be a bit of a battle.

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I have to declare an interest here. I wasn't able to see this game. All I have are the postmatch comments of both the team and friends who called me after the game to fill me in.
What I can say is that a point in Kansas is a very valuable one at this stage of the season. I know the Rapids are not picking up three points on anything like a consistent basis but we cannot underestimate the injuries that have befallen them. Click to continue reading...

With the arrival of the weekend, football fans across the world are returning to following their respective teams in another series of cracking fixtures. However, excitement is going to reach a whole different level next weekend, when the much awaited FIFA 10 releases in Australia (October 1) and Europe (October 2).

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Despite being one of the most promising strikers to have been produced in England for some time Wayne Rooney has never really had the starring role at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo was always the focal point in that particular United side but now the Portuguese wizard has moved to Real Madrid the door has opened for Wayne to really prove himself.

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Having taken a few weeks off to study Arsenal‘s play, I am now back to discuss the latest game and clarify the recent fear that is tingling inside you.

Following the last two trips to Manchester, I have noticed that many of you have commented on Arsenal's failure but on the contrary; both games showed that we were very unfortunate.

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Two much improved players rewarded with long term deals.

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson have signed new long-term contracts.

Denmark Bendtner had been in the final year of his contract while Brazilian Denilson has blossomed in recent seasons.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

Is this the beginning of a beautiful partnership that will bring Chelsea the title? The work of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka should have defenses on the look out, as the two have been instrumental in Chelsea's three wins in three start to the 2009/10 season.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

Is this the beginning of a beautiful partnership that will bring Chelsea the title? The work of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka should have defenses on the look out, as the two have been instrumental in Chelsea's three wins in three start to the 2009/10 season.

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Bank holiday *boilk* to you all. I am as hungover as a Water Sheringham celebrating the death of more humans.

Arsenal won some silverware yesterday. The Emirates Cup came home. Hurrah. Hey, it's been four years since we won a trophy, I'm taking what I can get.

In all seriousness though it was another good warm up game, a decent team performance, and one young man stood out.

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One sometimes marvels how a player changes teams and suddenly does much better.

Which of your favorite players & teams does this quote fit?

I would say that whether you are the best or worst player in the world you are a human being.

You are affected by the surroundings, the mood of people, by confidence.

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With Emmanuel Adebayor poised to seal his lucrative move to Eastlands where he'll join the longest list of strikers in one city since the 1984 UK miners' strike - does this mark the end of Arsenal's period of dominance inside the top four? And are Manchester City about to take their place...
Similarly to Manuel Pelligrini at Real Madrid, Mark Hughes has been given a blank cheque to lure the cream of European football to the City of Manchester Stadium. Click to continue reading...

Last summer's drama involving the possible transfer of Gareth Barry was a very painful period for Liverpool supporters. None of us- and I mean NONE of us- wanted us to see Xabi Alonso leave the club, and this was the inevitable conclusion had Barry been brought in. It was a summer that undoubtedly unsettled Xabi, and clearly it must be weighing on his mind again.

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The Tottenham faithful often wonder why their team cannot break into the top four in the Premier League. Before the Martin Jol era, they were told that they needed a great coach. After the arrival of Jol, it was believed that the squad needed bolstering. Once that was done, things got going - until blunders became the norm again at White Hart Lane.

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South Africa put up a world-class performance, but went down to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Confederations Cup semifinal defeat at the Coca Cola Park Stadium on Thursday night.

There are 67 FIFA rankings between the two sides, but you wouldn't have thought it as the home side put up a performance which tested the star-studded South American champions to the fullest and bodes really well for the future.

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Part II of this odyssey takes you to the realms of middle-earth, also known in modern times as the middle-field, or simply, midfield. The concept of the midfield here has been tweaked ever so slightly to consider only the positions in the centre of the park. The wings were covered in chapter one of this epic trilogy, so kindly proceed here to read it in case you haven't.

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09 June 2009: Kaká has signed a six-year contract and will earn €9,120,000 a year at the Santiago Bernabeu. As expected, he'll wear the famous number "5″ shirt previously worn by legends Fabio Cannavaro and Zinedine Zidane.

"Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, Kaka, is a Real Madrid player after an agreement was reached with AC Milan.

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Tuesday is easily the roughest day of the week, on a fairly consistent basis, for yours truly. The bill paying job (as opposed to the much more rewarding but completely...

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Defending champions Columbus Crew have not had the best start to their 2009 season. With only one win from nine games head coach Robert Warzycha is still not looking to press the panic button. "It would be a different story if we didn't play well and tied the games or lose a game," Warzycha said. "Everybody sees we are playing good soccer and at some point we are going to have to score more goals or we'll have to bring in somebody who can score goals.

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Well this didn't suprise me though as a United fan (been one since the mid 90's) I just think its a disgrace. The idea of Darren Fletcher not being able to participate is a sad. He has been crucial this season and I for one am worried with him out who is going to keep the Barca mid field in check? I like Carrick but he can't do it alone. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool's title challenge could have been different if himself and Fernando Torres had avoided injury.
The pair have both missed a chunk of games after picking up a series of knocks throughout the season.
Gerrard and Torres started only their 12th game Premier League together in Saturday's 3-0 win over West Ham and the pair combined to devastating effect with the opening goal in the opening minutes at Upton Park. Click to continue reading...

Coming off a bye week, the Aztex have a big home game this Friday night against Puerto Rico. This will be Austin's premiere national TV appearance on Fox Soccer Channel (FSC). More on that later this week; for now, here are some quick hits.

• Last Thursday's Timbers Match on USLLive
  I've been watching a good number of other teams' matches on USLLive.

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Refs can't get away from those red cards can they? I don't know if it's their fault though, with the two players on the receiving end Jamison Olave and Fredy Montero deserving to be sent off. It's discouraging to see on such a consistent basis, though refs are standing up for themselves. Most calls have been warranted.

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They say the mark of true Champions is how they overcome adversity. Well if that is the case then we might as well hand Manchester United the Barclays Premier League trophy for the third successive year after a truly stunning second half comeback against an impressive Tottenham side, who had stunned Old Trafford by racing into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to strikes from Darren Bent and Luka Modric.

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Breaking into the first team on a consistent basis was always going to be difficult for Jack Hobbs considering the quality of competition for places. But he did get to make several appearances for LFCs first team, and also played a part in the famed Youth Cup success in 2006.
He has just had a pretty decent season on loan with Leicester City, helping them get promoted to the Championship. Click to continue reading...

It would be hard to find a Englishman who does not sing the praises of the significantly large contingent of foreign players that ply their trade on the world's biggest stage, the Barclays Premier League.

Machester United's Portugese winger Cristiano Ronaldo had a stunning 07/08 season.

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With their dreams of Champions League spots all but shattered, but UEFA Cup spots already solidified, Aston Villa and Everton will still not be coasting through the last seven matches of the season. On Sunday they will meet at Villa Park in a match that promises to be a battle.

Aston Villa stumble into this match with only 1 point in their last 6 matches.

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