Morning all, some interesting quotes from Arsene Wenger appeared in a Belgian newspaper yesterday. For those that wish to cream yourselves on the bits about Eden Hazard, he had this to say:

I like him a lot, and for several reasons. His creativity, his ability to unbalance the opposition, his vision and his consummate art of giving the final ball make him a player coveted by many.

Nike Football's new Brasil uniform for 2012-2013 celebrates Jeitinho Brasileiro ("The Brasilian Way") – the spirit that encompasses the resilience, creativity and relentlessly positive and innovative approach that has helped make the Brasil National Team the most successful in the history of football.

Sigh.

First of all, the Arsenal Offside would like to place its thoughts to the victims from today's awful turn of events in Egypt. A truly disheartening experience. Some things are bigger than football, and this was definitely one of them.

Typical Arsenal. A few days after a great comeback victory, a victory that had the potential to help turn our season around and put us on the right track (granted, it was a poor Villa side), we draw against an insipid Bolton side that is currently languishing around the relegation zone.

No goals. No clean sheet. No points. No drive. No passion. No desire. No shape. No tactics. No ideas. No creativity. No threat. No positivity. No hope? [...] Read the original post on Through the seasons before us

I watched the game and come away from it thinking "Good performance" and "Good result, we're through!" and being honest I cannot believe the negativity that has come from "Chelsea fans" on here and Twitter to me after the game.
Some of you lot need a kick up the arse and to get a sense of realism right now.

Milan - Lazio 2:30pm - ESPN3.com We normally don't promote online-only options with limited distribution, but if you have access to ESPN3 this is a good alternative on a slow day for live soccer. Milan host Lazio in the quarterfinal stage of the Coppa Italia. Credit soccer tournament creativity, the round of 16 and semifinal stages of the Coppa are single elimination, switching to two-legs for the semifinals, and then back to a single game.

Liverpool are eyeing Valencia winger Pablo Hernandez according to Madrid-based daily Marca.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has kept his powder dry in the current transfer window, despite admitting that he has money to spend if he so chooses.
But his side's recent poor performances are thought to have given the Scot pause for thought.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish rued his side's lack of creativity as they dropped more points at home after being held by Stoke.
The Reds have drawn seven of their 11 games at Anfield this season to seriously damage their chances of a top-four finish.
The home side had the majority of possession but struggled to get to grips with their unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 formation and failed to create too many goalscoring opportunities against a resolute Stoke defence.

In a way this was a fairy tale return for Thierry Henry. Wenger acknowledged as much in his post-match press conference when he said,

It was like a dream when he scored, it was the story you would tell a kid. It is not often like that in our game.

But one could as well say there was an air of predictability about the football and the result.

Inter Milan play maker Wesley Sneijder has admitted that this could be his last season with the Italian giants. Sneidjer has been with the Nerrazzuri since 2009 and despite signing a 5 year contract extension last summer tying him to the club until 2015, the Dutch star has lately looked very unsettled with the team.

In a rather poetic and cruel twist, Chelsea closed 2011 similar to how they started it, with a shit sandwich of a performance. Against the same club no less.

Should old acquaintance be forgot? Hell yes.

Midfield creativity

Let me first begin this final blog of 2011 (perhaps) with a few words from the heart, if I may.

It is being reported that the chief Arsenal scout Steve Rowley has advised Arsene Wenger to have another look at Shakhtar Donetsk's creative midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan ahead of a potential move in January. After the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona in the summer, Arsenal have seriously lacked the creativity in midfield that he provided [.

Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil is remaining tight-lipped on reports linking him with a move to Liverpool, insisting that he is happy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 23-year-old has adapted well to life in La Liga since arriving from Werder Bremen in August 2010 but, despite being a first-team regular, he rarely plays 90 minutes under coach Jose Mourinho.

Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez were very different managers in many ways but one thing they shared was a preference for hard-work and stamina over unpredictable flair and creativity. Players like Dirk Kuyt and Emile Heskey symbolised the footballing philosophy of both managers, and Liverpool legend John Barnes believes that Liverpool are still suffering as a result of prioritising hard-work

It's still early but the draft boards are heating up. (Getty Images)

For the last few months I've been working on a list of players that could be available for next month's 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Naturally a lot can and will happen between today's post and the draft. Players could stay in school, go elsewhere in the soccer world or just decide to hang their boots up for good.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Does anyone ever really pay much attention draft picks after the first round? Maybe in the NFL where there is real depth from a wealth of college talent and combine hype. But in the MLS SuperDraft? Does anyone after the first dozen or so selections really matter?

Arsene Wenger rotated his team as expected for the game against Man City last night, and although he thinks his youthful Arsenal squad played with "heart, quality and desire", he feels that they were a bit naive when it came to Sergio Aguero's winning goal just seven minutes from the end of the game.

Hatem Ben Arfa has started the last couple of games in Manchester, and played as a withdrawn striker, in place of the injured Leon Best. Ben Arfa in action Saturday That has left Demba Ba up front to plough a lone furrow, but Ben Arfa has added some creativity to the side, and as he keeps getting closer to his best [.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta revealed that the Gunners wanted to sign him because of his experience and creativity as well because they needed someone who already featured in the English Premier League. Speaking to The Independent, ...

Over a week ago now, but I've just stumbled across the Bambi Awards now. Whats a Bambi award you say? It's essentially the German BAFTAs. They recognize excellence in international media and television "with vision and creativity who affected and inspired the German public that year", both domestic and foreign.

Eleven 10s is a brand new football website, brought to you by Pelé Sports: Eleven 10s is a website which celebrates the beautiful, quirky and entertaining aspects of football in Australia. We believe the way forward for football in Australia is through creativity, imagination and style, both on the pitch and off it.

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has mocked England by suggesting that the only way the Three Lions could score against his Spain side was from a set piece and that the visitors dominated throughout the 90 minutes at Wembley on Saturday evening.

World champions Spain lost 1-0 after Frank Lampard got at the end of a free-kick sequence to nod home the only goal of the match.

City make enquiry for Spain's Martinez report

Midfielder is renowned for creativity and tough tackling

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-11 10:04:48 from: The Mirror

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

Liverpool is set to be alerted to the news that Inter Milan could offload Philippe Coutinho in January.
According to calciomercato.com, Inter are ready to sell the 19-year-old with the Brazilian struggling for fitness and form following a promising opening to the 2010/11 season under former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.

We can look at this international break in a couple of ways. The typical way is to curse and swear and moan that all our world class players Robin van Persie is away with their national squads to play football and get injured, while Arsenal pay the wages and have to endure weeks without the player due to injury and/or fatigue.

I'm a big fan of Charlie Adam; the Scot is a modern day Jan Molby, and he shares many of the Great Dane's footballing characteristics, such as exquisite passing ability; great close control; a venomous shot, and of course, a distinct lack of pace (!). As we've seen this season, Adam seems to tire early in games, which allows the opposition to exploit the gaps he leaves in midfield.

The Azzurri qualified to Euro 2012 without being tested as coach Cesare Prandelli attempted to build the national team around younger and talented players such as Mario Balotelli and Giuseppe Rossi. Various niggling injuries and a plethora of ridiculous antics performed by Balotelli meant that Prandelli was not able to rely heavily on the controversial Manchester City attacker.

Spurs: Cudicini; Fredericks; Gallas (Parrett); Bassong; Townsend; Falque; Livermore; Carroll; Pienaar; Pavlyuchenko (Kane); Defoe

Tonights game at Central Stadium was always going to be tough for Spurs, no matter which team had been picked. Rubin Kazan have some experienced heads from Russian League and European football and they showed it with a commanding performance against a Spurs team that had a mix of youth and experience.

Mourinho has plenty of reasons to be happy given how his Ramos-Pepe Central Defensive Partnership has fared. So we're back to Binary Code scorelines once again. After goalfests in the Champions League and against our La Liga rivals, we're back to clawing our way to victory again. Not that I mind – as I am a believer that there is a need for the team to suffer on their way to victory every now and then.

Any midfield that has Terry Antonis, Nicky Carle, Brett Emerton and Karol Kisel in it's line-up is going to entertain.
Terry Antonis is all energy and all skill. And can only get better. His performances this season have been outstanding and Sydney FC obviously realise this kids abilities.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The scoreline in the NASL Championship Series doesn't favor the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, but you wouldn't know that judging from the team's demeanor.

Down 3-1 as it heads into the second leg against NSC Minnesota Stars, Ft.

Suarez & Downing | Statistically compared to rivals | Liverpool FC

AnfieldIndex Liverpool FC Stats | Liverpool FC Blog | Liverpool FC Forum A lot has been said about the misgivings of Liverpool FC in-front of goal so far this season. A lot of people are laying blame on lack of creativity (Downing & co) and.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2011) – el Jimador, 100 percent blue agave tequila, announces the launch of its soccer-themed consumer contest, which will award 10 winners an opportunity to attend the MLS Cup in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2011, along with a guest.
To participate, consumers are invited to submit a rule aimed at improving the sport of soccer.

Freddy Adu's name came up this week on our SI.com podcast as we tossed around opinion on those recent, flagging U.S. national team performances. Of course, Adu hasn't been part of the proceedings so far under Jurgen Klinsmann. So why was the young attacker suddenly topical?

Simple. Two goals in five matches says it all.

David Moyes has clinched the signing of James McFadden on a free transfer, boosting Everton's creativity. The Scot is no stranger to Goodison Park, having made 109 appearances for the Toffees.

Since his release from the relegated Birmingham City, McFadden has been training with clubs throughout England, including Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers side.

A scrappy first half in which both teams seemed content to pass to the opposition for 45 minutes was interrupted when Livermore pressured and poked away at the dithering Cabaye, which sent Adebayor chasing then tumbling. Which left VDV to despatch the penalty. 0-1.
Modric easily skinned, the limping Walker unable to cut out the cross, defenders marking all the wrong people, Ba unchallenged.

Marvin Martin has ruled out the prospect of signing for Arsenal in January, insisting that he will not leave Sochaux in the middle of the season.

Martin led the French Ligue with 17 assists last year and immediately appeared on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's radar as a potential replacement for either Samir Nasri or former skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Werder Bremen star Marko Marin has suggested that he could be on his way out of the club but only to a team abroad, putting the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal on alert.
The 22-year-old midfielder has attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs with the Gunners and Liverpool both reportedly sending scouts to watch him this season.

Germany was lucky to survive Belgium's early pressure. Something which was also true for the Turkey game. Germany's back-line didn't look particularly composed, organized and fit to soak up the pressure. Germany benefitted from the lack of precision and punch of the Turkish and Belgian attacks, which made them easier to defend.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 loss to Ecuador.