This gameweek is a double for a few teams including Fulham, which makes Brede Hangeland a fine pick for the next couple of weeks given Fulham's forthcoming fixtures (Bolton, Sunderland and Burnley after this week's double GW). Hangeland does well every season as a bargain priced defender, and is a key choice for those looking to hone in on Fulham's potential clean sheets. Click to continue reading...

Having assessed the general strengths and weaknesses of the team in Part I, it's time to move on to the player-by-player assessment portion of our program. We'll begin with the goalkeepers and defenders. Note that I'm including the loanees and... Click to continue reading...

The definitive guide to what should be on your feet if you're a budding Titus Bramble or Wes Brown.

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Related posts:

1. Pottinger tackles... Footy-Boots.com
2. Pottinger tackles... Which boots are for you?
3. Pottinger tackles... They think it's all over

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Jose Bosingwa is injured and out for up to 3 months, making Branislav Ivanovic a great choice. Previously Ivanovic was a rotation risk, but since Bosingwa has been out Ivanovic has played a truckload of minutes. In the last 5 games, he has picked up 4 clean sheets. Further, with Ashley Cole also injured, Ivanovic's spot in the squad is even more likely to be cemented. Click to continue reading...

Carles Puyol, 31, current Barça captain and Spain's full back, is currently considering whether he should end his long and succesful career in Barcelona or not. His contract expires on June, 2010 it's rumored that he could be joining the Premiership the next year, and that would be the only reason why he hasn't [. Click to continue reading...

Rewind back to 2003 and you'll see that Jonathan Woodgate had everything. From critical acclaim to a huge fan following, he had all the essentials required to go down in the Newcastle folklore as one of the very best defenders of all time. However, the only obstacle that could stop him injuries came into play very early into his career at St.

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This summer may have seemed a bit boring as far as transfers go, but things are finally heating up. Manchester City and Real Madrid were the overwhelming big spenders during the blistering hot summer months, but with only a few days remaining the "smaller" clubs are working hard to fill out their squads for the fall and winter.

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The second gameweek in this season's English Premiership Fantasy Football comes in just few days after the first, so be sure you remember to check your team for transfers and a captain change if the need occurs.
As said earlier this gameweek is a little tricky because only 12 teams have fixtures this week of English Premier League.

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Now the first EPL round has been played we get a clearer idea of which lowest priced players are getting game time. From the defenders, Wilkinson earned 6 points in Stoke's clean sheet against Burnley. Their fixtures are something of a mix, facing Liverpool on gameweek 2 before playing a pair of lower teams. Click to continue reading...

Graham Alexander is Burnley's captain, is £4.5m, and best of all is likely to line up in front of his stated position. Alexander is listed in the game as a defender but he's really Burnley's defensive midfielder. While he likely won't be earning clean sheet points every week, every little bit helps. Click to continue reading...

The Charity Shield illustrated several points of concern for EPL FF managers looking to Man Utd defenders, and has started to turn decisions on players into something of a headache. Vidic has been ruled out for up to two weeks with a calf injury, Ben Foster had some shaky moments in goal which may have opened the door for Kuszczak. Click to continue reading...

Centerback

0Â Goals

1 Appearance (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed as a youth product through our Academy... joined in 2007

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Martin Kelly graduated from the Academy in 2007 as a central defender with loads of potential.

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Rightback

0 Goals

2 Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2008 for free

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Philipp Degen was a flying rightback for Basel and Borussia Dortmund before joining the Reds in 2008, but much like his 2008-2009 season, his career has been set back considerably by injuries.

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Centerback

5Â Goals

577Â Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Promoted from the Academy in 1996 for free

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Jamie Carragher was an Everton supporter as a boy, but fate would have it that he would become one of Liverpool's all-time great central defenders.

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Leftback

0 Goals

18 Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed from Boca Juniors in 2007 for only 100,000 pounds! *read here for more info about this fee*

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Emiliano Insua was an up-and-coming talent at Boca Juniors when Rafa snapped him up, so there really isn't all that much to tell.

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Man Utd are likely to be one of the top two best defensive teams in the league, and with their especially easy opening three fixtures, a Man Utd defender - or two - will make a very good choice.
Of their backline, Vidic is the premium choice. Although expensive for a defender, if he can repeat last seasons points haul then he will be worth the price. Click to continue reading...

Rightback (but can also play on the left)

2 Goals

98 Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed from Deportivo La Coruna in 2007 for 2.6 mil

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Alvaro Arbeloa began his career at Real Madrid, but truly only with their B team, which is known as "Castilla.

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Leftback

4 Goals

87 Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed from Valencia in 2006 for free!

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Fabio Aurelio had a good career before coming to Liverpool, first as a star for Sao Paolo and then for Rafa's Valencia.

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The main stats for the U.S. Panama quarterfinal were posted yesterday. But during a discussion with a friend, I began wondering about whether either side had an advantage in height or weight. Here is what I found. I know that height and weight statistics are subject to gamesmanship among teams, but for the purposes of this post we will assume that a player's height and weight are accurately reported.

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In part three of our series on roster projections, it's time to turn attention to the defense. And from the outset, I'll admit that the statistics on goals and assists are less valuable here a point I've made in defense of Onyewu in the past. But I still believe that (a) it doesn't hurt to look at even the basic stats for defenders and (b) that it is interesting.

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Rightback

0Â Goals

0Â Appearances (as of the end of 2008-2009)

Signed from Portsmouth in 2009 for 17.5 mil

BACKGROUND BEFORE LFC

Glen Johnson developed a reputation as one of the best young defenders in England during his time at West Ham.

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Coach Djair Garcia in your training to defenders Duration : 0:4:38 Technorati Tags: ball, brazilian, coach, defenders, football, Soccer, Training Click to continue reading...

You know how I keep arguing for Jakovic over Janicki in the center of a back three? Well, here comes Clyde Simms to get my back, making my point admirably in Goffster's story on the Serbo-Canuckian defender... "He never really panics and allows us... Click to continue reading...

This summer should be a restructuring time for Chelsea, when new faces are brought in everywhere. Manager: If Guus Hiddink stays, this would be a great boon for Chelsea as so far, he seems to have instilled belief, or at least provided results, Tottenham game aside. If he does leave, and the wily Dutchman has stated [. Click to continue reading...

Daniel Agger is stalling on signing a new contract with Liverpool FC. The obvious problem: his position is overcrowded with quality. The top Danish centre back must compete with Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel who have enjoyed the bulk of the starts this season and don't forget Sami Hyypia. Jamie Carragher: When Steven Gerrard comes off, [. Click to continue reading...

For many years, the sole purpose of a DEFENDER was to stay back and protect the goal. They were seen but almost never heard. The soccer equivalent of freshmen Senators, offensive linemen, and models. There wasn't much glory, but it was a necessary part of the game. However, the game started [. Click to continue reading...

Not sure if it's you or me or the subject matter, but I have never written a Weekend Quiz where so few of the photos have been guessed by Saturday night, and very few by any one person. I don't think I realized how accurate I was being when I said that defenders are [...] Click to continue reading...

For this week's quiz, let's take a look at the unsung heroes of the pitch, the back four. (Or back whatever, if your manager insists in getting creative.) These are the guys who are often next to invisible when they're doing their jobs well, and most noticed when they screw up. So [...] Click to continue reading...

Considering the warnings the meteorological high priests were spreading, the "big storm" turned out to be a couple inches of snow. Disappointing, like much of this weekend. Why disappointing? Glad you asked . . . Camp Curse Continues! Last week, I talked about the disturbing number of players being injured at the US training camp that's trying to prepare for the annual Scandanavian Scrub Click to continue reading...

Considering the warnings the meteorological high priests were spreading, the "big storm" turned out to be a couple inches of snow. Disappointing, like much of this weekend. Why disappointing? Glad you asked . . . Camp Curse Continues! Last week, I talked about the disturbing number of players being injured at the US training camp that's trying to prepare for the annual Scandanavian Scrub Click to continue reading...

Besides the raft of injuries, DC United's roster last year had three big problems: lack of depth, lack of speed, and a poor defense. Now we're waving bye-bye to Martinez, are trying to negotiate a lower salary for Peralta, and haven't yet inked a new deal with Namoff. True, we have added Janicki, but is a single USL2 defender, no matter how much promise he demonstrated, really the answer? Click to continue reading...

News today is that Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2008 Ballon d'Or, awarded after 96 football journalists voted from a shortlist of 30 players. Except it's not really news is it? Because we all knew he'd won it long before the votes were in. Just like in 2007, when we all knew Kaka would be [...] Click to continue reading...

With the season underway it is already looking like it may be dominated by at least 3 of the Big Four teams. The top teams will concede fewer goals and keep more clean sheets, so their defenders make fine choices. We looked recently at Arsenal defenders; but which team will provide better value in the backs between Liverpool and Chelsea? Click to continue reading...

David Moyes has stated publically that Leighton Baines is considered the best left back at Everton. However competition for starting spots in the Everton backline is fierce, and the things have been shaping up that Baines may not have gained a starting role. His smaller size seems to have counted against him as Lescott and Yobo are more robustly built, and these players seemed to be the favorites of the gaffer. Click to continue reading...

Everyone likes having defenders from the Big Four clubs, but picking the regular starters can be deceptive. Ranking defenders for minutes played last season, of the top 25 only 5 come from Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool or Arsenal. Many of the big fours' defenders get injured or rotated during the season - picking the few players who regularly start can be tough in the preseason. Click to continue reading...