The bums they are a squeaking.
Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres are on the bench for the defining match of Andre Villas-Boas'
tenure at Chelsea thus far. Bold and correct decisions, will they pay off?
Architects
Team sheets
Chelsea
Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, EBJT (c), Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge.
Feliz Sabado! It's our weekend wrap-up again, and first on the menu is
Cristiano's enthusiasm for playing dress-up... típicas!
Earlier this week, your favourite Portuguese hunk (don't try to deny this, grandmas!)
launched his special CR7 collection, which features a series of his favourite
white sneakers, the Nike5 Street Gato ("cat" in Spanish),
specially-designed T-shirts in red, white and blue, a CR7 matchball and even shin-guards!
Ahead of their Champions League showdown against Bayer Leverkusen today, Valencia's David
Albelda gathers everyone close for a shot. One for the family Christmas album, guys?!! / via
Daylife
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Valencia CF c. 2011-12 have inspired me to jump back on my soap box and preach to the
masses.
And why not? I'm giddy with excitement for the season to start this weekend!
That is, if it starts. The players union may strike. The season may be delayed. We may have to
wait to see Our Beloved Valencia CF trot out to defend the colors of the Valencian Community.
The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has revealed that La Liga players will strike for
the first two weekends of the season.
Players want a wage guarantee fund for when clubs become insolvent, an all-too frequent problem
in Spain, with Levante and Hercules struggling to pay staff members in recent years and Real
Zaragoza applying for administration this summer, which is a common occurrence particularly in the
Segunda Division.
The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has revealed that La Liga players will strike for
the first two weekends of the season.
Players want a wage guarantee fund for when clubs become insolvent, an all-too frequent problem
in Spain, with Levante and Hercules struggling to pay staff members in recent years and Real
Zaragoza applying for administration this summer, which is a common occurrence particularly in the
Segunda Division.
Liverpool concluded their pre-season schedule with a victory and a clean sheet after overcoming
Valencia at Anfield.
Andy Carroll netted his third goal of the summer by capitalizing on a mistake by David Albelda in
the sixth minute, the striker picking up the ball, hitting it against the post off goalkeeper Diego
Alves and finishing at the second attempt.
Liverpool 2: Carroll 7′, Kuyt 89′Valencia 0
Just like that, Liverpool's preseason matches are done, and we can put to rest the conversation
about whether or not the results matter. From here on out, it's all for real, and there's little
time left to get themselves sorted before Sunderland visit in a week's time.
Liverpool 2-0 Valencia| Pre-season friendly
• Liverpool win 2-0 in bad-tempered affair • Anfield's first look at £47m midfield This
will be the season when Liverpool judges Andy Carroll and his £35m investment fee – and, as
Kenny Dalglish had insisted, he appears ready to make his mark.
The final friendly, and, at least on paper, Liverpool's most difficult opponent. It's no doubt been
a challenging preseason for Kenny Dalglish and company, and if earlier results in the preseason are
any indication, Saturday's match poses a hefty challenge of its own. Valencia have won four of
their five friendlies thus far, getting past opponents like PSV Eindhoven, Sporting CP, and Hamburg
SV, dropping only an away match to perennial Austrian powers Rapid Vienna.
Kickoff from Anfield at 5:30PM BST/12:30PM EST
Ways to Watch:
Live in the U.S. on Fox Soccer Channel, in the U.K. on ESPN, and online on LFCtv for e-Season
subscribers.
MyP2P.eu
StopStream.tv
ATDHEnet.tv
FromSport.com
Liverpool:
Team sheet when it's available.
Por si su vida fuera de un campo del fútbol todavía no había dado lo suficiente de qué hablar,
el controvertido centrocampista argentino del
Valencia no va a tener un buen retorno de sus
vacaciones al
Valencia.
Allí, en palabras de su capitán
David Albelda, y según publica 'Superdeporte' periódico
de referencia del valencianismo, hasta el mismo presidente
Manuel Llorente, ya han exigido
una buena explicación a los últimos hechos de su jugador.
Click here to watch Valencia v Schalke Live!
Valencia v Schalke 04
Second Round, UEFA Champions League
Mestalla, Valencia
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Kickoff: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET
Valencia host Schalke in the first leg of their Champions League second round tie.
