If you're only going to have 5 players play well, make sure they include at least three defenders and the goalkeeper. I'm writing in a vacuum I did have the Setanta commentator who rightly pointed out how poor France were, but I have to say that I thought France were shocking.

Good performances: Sagna, Evra, Gallas, Lloris, Anelka
Poor: Henry, A.

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Carlo Garganese looks back over another explosive weekend of Serie A action, paying tribute to an incredible Jose Mourinho record and coining a new nickname for elbow-attacker Patrick Vieira... Click to continue reading...

ESPN ran a story about a recent match between BYU and New Mexico's women's teams which has become infamous for the elbows-to-the-ribs and ponytail-yank antics of New Mexico player Elizabeth Lambert. Fans of the sport are groaning, because this is what it takes to get a non-Olympics/World Cup/WPS Final into headlines - replays of bitchslap. Click to continue reading...

Mauro Camoranesi ran face first into Matteo Contini's elbow in the early going of Napoli's 3-2 upset of Juventus on Saturday, which opened up a cut on his forehead that bled like, well, like something you'd expect to see on Halloween.

Camoranesi had to be substituted in the 31st minute because of his forehead blood spigot, so if this was just an effort to be festive, I'd say it went a little too far.

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Few things in soccer get a crowd into a game better than a bicycle or overhead kick. While they are a sight to see, there is a proper way to perform the move so you do not land on your neck, elbow or back and end up risking injury. Given the risk of injury in landing incorrectly, this is an advanced skill move for older players. Click to continue reading...

Charlie Davies seems to be recovering well after undergoing additional surgeries to repair a broken left elbow and stabilize facial fractures earlier this week. He sat up in bed and took his first steps. His rehabilitation has begun and could take 6 months to a year.

Gooch underwent surgery to repair his patellar tendon this Wednesday.

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STARTERS
As we approach the final round of the regular season in MLS 7 teams are fighting for the remaining 3 playoff spots. Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles, Chivas USA & Seattle are all in, while only New York, San Jose & Kansas City are out. The list of scenarios for the seven teams still battling is endless. Click to continue reading...

From the US Soccer website:

This week Davies who is out of the ICU will undergo surgery to repair a broken left elbow, and may require operations to deal with facial fractures.

Meanwhile you can email your good wishes to him at:
CharlieDavies9@yahoo.com

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In Saturday's match between Aston Villa and Chelsea, while Chelsea were still winning 1-0, Nicolas Anelka was tripped up by the touchline and ended up falling backwards into Martin O'Neill, completely taking out the opposing manager and leaving him with owies on his knee and elbow.

Of course, after that everything went to crap and Villa would go on to win 2-1, so I think the lesson here is to never cause physical pain to Martin O'Neill.

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Charlie Davies has shown steady improvement and on has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.

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Charlie Davies has shown steady improvement and on has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.

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It was a blow to the United States soccer community to learn of the recent accident involving Charlie Davies age 23. He was involved in a deadly vehicle accident that left one passenger dead at the scene.

Charlie Davies. US Men's National Team vs Honduras at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

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The United States' men's national soccer team finishes World Cup qualifying tonight with a home match against Costa Rica (7:30pm ET, ESPN2). As the US clinched a berth in the Finals by winning in Honduras over the weekend, the game didn't figure to be too dramatic, but that all changed yesterday.

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Awful news out of Virginia, USA. US National team striker Charlie Davies, who plays for Sochaux in Ligue 1, has been in a terrible one-car accident that claimed the life of a young female passenger and left him in the hospital with serious injuries.

Charlie played in the recent USA v Honduras World Cup group qualifiers and is now facing a lengthy recovery period and rehabilitation.

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Image copyright dn.se

Awful news out of Virginia, USA. US National team striker Charlie Davies, who plays for Sochaux in Ligue 1, has been in a terrible one-car accident that claimed the life of a young female passenger and left him in the hospital with serious injuries.

Charlie played in the recent USA v Honduras World Cup group qualifiers and is now facing a lengthy recovery period and rehabilitation.

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Late Tuesday, the US Soccer Federation released an update on forward Charlie Davies's condition. Davies was in a car accident early Tuesday. His injuries include a broken right leg with fractures to his tibia and femur, a fracture to his left elbow, facial fractures, and a lacerated bladder. Davies underwent five hours of surgery on Tuesday and is expected to need six months to a year of recovery along with what Federation doctor Dan Kalbac. Click to continue reading...

Before the FA Cup draw for the Fourth (and final) Qualifying Round was announced yesterday I had a sinking feeling that we were going to draw Eastleigh. Bath City had had two fortunate draws in a row: Willand Rovers, who play three leagues below City, and Bishop's Cleeve, who play two below. It seemed unlikely that fate would smile on us for a third time, and with Newport County having been eliminated by the lowly Paulton Rovers (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, oh stop it! Click to continue reading...

Ben Williams gave GC 24 free kicks to Brisbane's 12. Yet it was GC's defenders that seemed to be flying in.
To have 2 50-50 penalties turned down is disappointing. To have 4 is suspect or disappointing. This keeps happening to the Roar and you can see why fans stop coming.
In last years grand final an elbow to the head was a red, here Thwaite only got yellow. Click to continue reading...

Dallas' game with San Jose on Wednesday could help decide the Rapids' playoff hopes. If the streaking Hoops conjure up another win against the also improving San Jose Earthquakes, they will still be in the playoff hunt. If they lose, they will be eliminated from the postseason, presumably making Colorado's trip to Texas October 17 a little easier for the Burgundy and Blue. Click to continue reading...

It's funny to read in the press and from United fans on the blog that Sunderland were robbed of three points yesterday not because I don't think United were dreadful, because we were, but because Sunderland didn't really do anything. I think Steve Bruce set up his team brilliantly and was very impressed that they didn't park the bus, but despite us passing to them every other pass, they only saw 37% of the ball and only had three attempts on goal all match, one of which that should have been struck off for a foul on the keeper.

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Roberto DiMatteo is wrong for defending Thomas in much the same way Mark Hughes was wrong. This kind of blind defending of the players on the part of managers does neither the players and managers nor the game itself any good. Following the match, DiMatteo spoke with the BBC and said:

[.

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Well, thanks to the fact that Sky Sports are a bunch of wankers and wanted to be able to show the goals from all the Carling Cup matches first, Arsenal fans globally were denied the chance to see the next generation dispatch West Brom (with a little help from a moment of madness from ex-Gunner Jerome Thomas - who elbowed Jack as well as slapping him - more on that later).

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Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano could face an FA charge of violent conduct, after appearing to catch Leeds United's Jermaine Beckford on the back of the head with his elbow at Elland Road last night.
The Reds made hard work of beating the League One outfit 1-0 in the League Cup third round tie, thanks to a David Ngog strike, but Mascherano could be in trouble after Beckford appeared to pull him back at a throw in. Click to continue reading...

Last night we saw the Arsenal past and Arsenal future, with a good stark warning for all of our youth players who think that they are bigger than the club...

Jerome Thomas of West Bromich Albion began his Arsenal career having joined the Arsenal from his schoolboy appointment at Luton Town Football Club in 2001.

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So last night saw the kids, with a sprinkling of experience, safely negotiate the challenge of West Brom.

After the last few years there was a bit of expectation on them and if they went down at the first hurdle it would have been a major disappointment. I couldn't see the game and all I have see of it is a few highlights hastily assembled online, the most controversial moment of the game seemed to be Jerome Thomas hitting out at Jack Wilshere and getting himself sent off.

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Arsenal have done it again in the League Cup.
It wasn't the 6-0 that they had at this point last season, but a couple great late goals, both involving Ramsey and substitute Carlos Vela, have Arsenal through to the next round. The 56,000 supporters in attendance and the rest of us watching on Arsenal TV Online (ATVO) enjoyed it tremendously. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA's Carey Talley was sent off in the 70th minute for apparently throwing an elbow at the Revs' Edgaras Jankauskas (although it was hard to tell from the TV replay)

It's the most excitement we've had here in the last hour or so.

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Is it just me or are the ManUre becoming increasingly brutal in their efforts not to allow their crown to slip?
It seems that the reduction in their 'pretty' skills since the loss of Ronaldo has resulted in an increase in the use of the likes of Scholes, Fletcher and Vidic to elbow, push and kick their way through the opposition. Click to continue reading...

Major League Soccer has fined Colorado Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni $1,250 and suspended him two games for endangering the safety of Houston Dynamo defender Andrew Hainault on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the 63rd minute of the Rapids' 1-0 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Watch it here.

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First Freddie bloodied his opponent with a flying elbow. Then he comes in studs-up on a helpless guy.
Certainly worth a red card, I would think. Click to continue reading...

Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute must have been in a foul mood on Sunday because he didn't seem to care much for his opponents' well being. First, he delivered an elbow to the head of Valencia left back Bruno, opening a wellspring of blood and earning a yellow card. Then, just before halftime, he came in with a high challenge, which got him sent off.

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Sometimes getting sent off by a referee can be a contentious issue. Perhaps a player is wrongly adjudged to have committed a professional foul, or a keeper did in fact touch the ball before the man and therefore should not have been shown a red. This on the other hand is the most blatant red card offence you will ever see.

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Sunday's Bolivian league match between Oriente Petrolero and Blooming turned intensely violent just before halftime when Sergio Jauregui of Blooming retaliated for an elbow he caught from Oriente's Leonardo Medina during the run of play an act which earned Medina a red card by executing a sickening kung fu kick that would even make Jean-Claude Van Damme jealous on Medina as he headed for the tunnel, leaving him unconscious.

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Against Wigan on Saturday, just before half time, Hugo Rodallega fouled Nemanja Vidic, which lead to Sir Alex Ferguson angrily talking to the fourth official. Howard Webb gave the player a talking to but that was that.

At 3-0, Ben Foster came to collect a ball and Rodallega slid in on our keeper's legs.

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Forked Tongue Talking Heads Speak The Manipulators Language
Those in the pay of bookmakers and other internal sections of the Premier League turn up with alarming regularity in the world of television punditry.
The inversion of the disinformation is hardly rocket science.
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Some of these individuals keep sloshing up again and again and again - for example, as far as we are aware, #########################################################
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But, generally, this is harmless media fraud. Click to continue reading...