On the eve of this season, Liverpool manager Rafa Bentiez bemoaned his side's lack of financial power. However, an analysis of the spending habits of the ‘Big Four' since his appointment in June 2004 shows that the Spaniard has outspent Sir Alex Ferguson by £80m. Furthermore, when money raised through player sales is taken into account, Benitez' net spending dwarves Ferguson's by £95m and only Chelsea have spent more on player recruitment during the same five-year period. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool have come a long way since Rafa Benitez last took his side to White Hart Lane on the opening day of the Premier League season.
August 14 2004 was the Spaniard's first competitive domestic assignment in the Anfield hot-seat but he headed to the capital with Gerard Houllier's team. Click to continue reading...

Which footballers have suffered severe injuries? You'd be hard pressed to identify one who hasn't! But, some are much worse than others. So, which of these freak accidents rate as the most gruesome? Read on to find out.

The most common minor injuries that footballers sustain include hamstring strains, sprained ankles, tears in the knee cartilage, hernias, or damage to the ACL.

Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to Steve Brown at the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Sunderland are set to begin talks with Tottenham striker Darren Bent early next week.

June 27th, 2009 According to Alan Nixon at the Daily Mirror, Tottenham have placed a price tag of £18million on striker Darren Bent.

Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to Alan Nixon at the Daily Mirror, Tottenham have placed a price tag of £18million on striker Darren Bent.

June 10th, 2009 According to Matt Law the Daily Express, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is preparing a £10million bid for Tottenham striker Darrent Bent.

Click to continue reading...

1. The chances of Franck Ribery joining Manchester United or Chelsea appear to be slim after the Bayern Munich playmaker's agent said the Frenchman wants to play for Real Madrid. (Various)
2. Manchester City are ready to test Everton's resolve to keep Joleon Lescott by lodging a £15m bid for the England defender this week. Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

My goodness it's an arid, barren football landscape at this time of year. Admittedly there is the Confederations Cup (what the devil is that strange buzzing noise at all the South African stadia?), and the Under-21s are doing a sterling job for Queen and country, but once again at White Hart Lane the week has been characterised by the ethereal presence of rumours rather than any concrete developments.

Click to continue reading...

Sunderland loanee finds new job Are Sunderland going to make a permanent move for Djibril Cisse? Ich no think so. It has become necessary to seek alternative employment as a model with Sacha Baron Cohen comedy creation Bruno. It wouldn't surprise me if Cisse had genuinely worn an outfit like that in his time, but one [. Click to continue reading...

Ruud van Nistelrooy - While I've always been keen to hurl down some funky shapes on the boogie floors of London's finer night-spots on a booze-fuelled Saturday night, I've been honest enough to admit that I'm not a natural on the dance-floor. No, really. But by golly if I were, I would have danced an impromptu jig of delight at the news that we're sniffing at Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Click to continue reading...

Ruud van Nistelrooy - While I've always been keen to hurl down some funky shapes on the boogie floors of London's finer night-spots on a booze-fuelled Saturday night, I've been honest enough to admit that I'm not a natural on the dance-floor. No, really. But by golly if I were, I would have danced an impromptu jig of delight at the news that we're sniffing at Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Click to continue reading...

Ruud van Nistelrooy - While I've always been keen to hurl down some funky shapes on the boogie floors of London's finer night-spots on a booze-fuelled Saturday night, I've been honest enough to admit that I'm not a natural on the dance-floor. No, really. But by golly if I were, I would have danced an impromptu jig of delight at the news that we're sniffing at Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to Matt Law the Daily Express, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is preparing a £10million bid for Tottenham striker Darrent Bent.

May 26th, 2009 According to Simon Bird at the Daily Mirror, Sunderland are planning on going after Tottenham striker Darren Bent once they have decided on a new manager.

Click to continue reading...

Cesc Fabregas is following in the footsteps of William Gallas and Djibril Cisse after growing a Mohawk! The Arsenal skipper, currently preparing for Spain's World Cup Quailfying campaign, had an up and down season mainly due to injuries along with dips in form. After his international excursions, Cesc will have a short holiday before returning [. Click to continue reading...

The all new rumour reporting article system is in full effect! The Rumour Marseille striker Djibril Cisse would welcome a move to Tottenham. Sunderland have decided not to take up the option on Cisse, who told Sky Sports: "Yeah, honestly, yeah. "It is a really good team and a really good stadium and . Click to continue reading...

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham are close to a £6 million deal with Marseille for striker Djibril Cisse. Cisse recently returned to Marseille after Sunderland did not sign him permanently.

Fulham and Blackburn are also though to be interested in Cisse.

Click to continue reading...

According to Simon Bird at the Daily Mirror, Sunderland are planning on going after Tottenham striker Darren Bent once they have decided on a new manager.

Sunderland recently decided not to sign striker Djibril Cisse permanently from Marseille.

Click to continue reading...

Reviewing the season the geeky way - here is 2008/9 in numbers. Interested in who was caught offside the most (Djibril Cisse) or which team conceded the highest proportion of goals from outside the box (Arsenal)? Then read on...

942 – The final goal tally was the second lowest in Premier League history.

Click to continue reading...

This season's worst footballing hairstyles Have we missed any personal favourites?

Click to continue reading...

It's a new week, and we've got a fresh batch of transfer news and rumors from around Europe. We've got tidbits from England, Italy, and Germany in today's roundup, with names big, medium, and small all being linked with moves from here to there.

England

Tottenham Enter Race for Tevez

Tottenham have joined the queue of teams looking to sign Carlos Tevez, as Spurs are being linked with a 25m offer for the Argentine hit-man.

Click to continue reading...

English Premiership transfer gossip and rumours for May 11, 2009 Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse says that he is heading for White Hart Lane in the summer after being benched by Ricky Sbragia in the Black Cats' weekend game against Bolton Wanderers. Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Elano has threatened to quit Eastlands if the club don't offer him [. Click to continue reading...

As we near the end of what has been and still is an exciting season in the EPL, the various gongs and awards are being given out. As usual, they create plenty of controversy, particularly in the case of Ryan Giggs, who was named Footballer of the Year despite only starting 12 league games this season.

Click to continue reading...

"I can dream, can't I?" [Man City fan, spotted over @ Dirty Tackle]
*******************
Who Ate All the Pies, a Premier League blog I edited for a couple of years in UK, is back in business, I'm delighted to say. So please check it out, bookmark it etc. - it's more puerile than the stuff I do for BigSoccer. Click to continue reading...

Djibril Cisse and his wife Jude, outside club Circo, where he held a birthday party for her. What sort of discussions do you think these two have during the 'getting dressed' phase of the evening? Click to continue reading...

Djibril Cisse and his wife Jude, outside club Circo, where he held a birthday party for her. What sort of discussions do you think these two have during the 'getting dressed' phase of the evening? Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are set for a busy summer in the transfer market as Rafa Benitez stamps his authority on the Anfield club.
Aston Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry is the main target during the close season and there is interest in Carlos Tevez as Manchester United are reluctant to fork out for the Argentinian's services. Click to continue reading...

It was the summer of 2006 when Calum Woods decided his career needed a new direction. For a boy who had grown up in the shadow of Anfield, leaving Liverpool the city was almost as hard as leaving Liverpool FC.
At one point, the Melwood training ground rivalled John Lennon Airport for departures. Click to continue reading...

The stadiums have emptied and the clean up has begun, but one or two managers may still be in their seats trying to work out what the next steps are for their clubs. Gareth Southgate, Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown are now all taking an even closer look at the league standings after failing to claim the three points in their respective matches yesterday.

Click to continue reading...

Panathinaikos are rumored to be interested in Marseille striker Djibril Cisse, who is currently on loan at Sunderland.

Sunderland would like to make the deal permanently however the French club is asking for £9 million. Panathinaikos supposedly will match this price and offer Cisse a bigger deal.

Click to continue reading...

Mid-priced fantasy footie bargain striker Djibril Cisse was arrested early this morning after attacking a woman outside of a strip club. The striker was arrested for assault, questioned, and bailed pending further inquiries.
The on loan striker - who already has claim to fame as possessing one of the weakest tibias in human anatomy history - was uncertain about his future with Sunderland despite hitting for 9 Premier League goals this term. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland rose to the Premier League two seasons ago with Roy Keane's magnetism, and it was the same presence that kept them afloat last season.  The reform movement lost steam when Keane left, and Sunderland have been rudderless since Ricky Sbragia transcended the interim label.  The club is in fourteenth place, but just three points [. Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for Middlesbrough), but not many tested either Craig Gordon or Ross Turnbull. Click to continue reading...

This team would win neither titles nor plaudits.  But, they certainly would entertain.  They may even possibly scare small children.  Without further delay, here is the most follically challenged/enlightened team in the English Premier League. Manager: Joe Kinnear (Newcastle) Joe Kinnear is old school and tempestuous, his hair coincides. Click to continue reading...

Guess who's back! Djibril Cisse - the man who almost single-handedly keeps our 'Do Are Ya? column alive. You can always rely upon the zany Sunderland man to keep coming up with bizarre barnets for our entertainment. Every week and different colour, and for victory over Hull he chose to contrast his red and white stripes [. Click to continue reading...