Everton and Liverpool team of the year: MERSEY BLOG

This is not an easy task and, inevitably, plenty of readers will disagree but here is the Mersey Beat team for 2011, with explanations why the selections have been made. Some choices were obvious, others perhaps less so.

After Frank Lampard came on and scored the winner against Manchester City in the week, he was asked after the game about being on the bench the last couple of games. His response made headlines in the media and was spoken about on here. Lampard's response was of surprise as he said straight after the game:

"I want to play, simple as that, I'm as fit as I've ever been.

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In a week when FIFA president Sepp Blatter was embroiled in yet another scandal: this time about race, we report on four of the many controversies that FIFA's leader has been involved in.

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In this week's review section, we congratulate The Czech Republic, The Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Croatia on Euro 2012 qualification, while Guus leaves Turkey and Suarez makes the back pages for the wrong reason.

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On this week's report we focus on the four play-off ties that will decide the last four spots in next summer's European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine.

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Why are football formations important? What is the difference between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3? This week, languagecaster.com takes a look at how teams line up and how formations affect a game.

As you know if you've followed these rankings for a while, it's difficult for anybody to take over the top spot from the first place team in the English Premier League table until that club has been eliminated from the Champions League. It has happened before, but it doesn't happen often.

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On this week's report we take a look at one of the fiercest rivalries in English football: Liverpool versus Manchester United. Which team is older?

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In this week's review section, we look back at stories from the African Natios Cup qualifying groups as well as at England striker Wane Rooney. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below, or highlighted in blue.

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Did you know that the 2014 World Cup qualifying rounds have already started? With 'only' just under a thousand days until the big kick-off in Brazil, we take a look at one of the most hotly-contested qualifying groups: South America.

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In this week's review section, we look back at stories from the North London and Merseyside derbies, as well as news from bottom of the table side Bolton.

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On this week's main report, Hans, our German correspondent spotlights Bayern Munich, a team that has had a fantastic start to the season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Yes, starting my personal USMNT depth chart reveal in goal is not flashy - but it's Friday, I'm sure you'll all persevere somehow. Naturally, the explanations will expand once we hit the field positions, as will your opportunities to question my sanity.Looking forward in the proper uniform number/4-3-3 role order, I will drop my right back list tomorrow and then hold off with the right center

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This week's main report takes a look at this season's Spanish League: La Liga 2011-12. This report has a transcript below and explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

It will be a couple of weeks before some of my more detailed 4-3-3 explanations begin with the purpose of knocking down misconceptions and basically getting all Dutch abstract on ya.For now, I am going to start out as standard as possible. I'll go through each position on the formation to offer up my current top five.

There aren't a lot of changes in the rankings this week but there were some. Most notably, Lyon enters the Top Ten after its win against Marseille pushed it to the top of the Ligue Un table.
Let's just call this the calm before the storm, though, okay? If you've been paying attention, you noticed (because we told you) that last week, the German Bundesliga and French Ligue Un numbers from last season were purged from the calculus.

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Who is the greatest player to have played for your favourite team? What was your greatest moment as a fan? These and other similar questions are often asked by football supporters all over the world and so on this week's main report we ask what has been the best ever side in your favourite club's history with Damian focusing on the Spurs team from 1961-63.

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In this week's review section, success in Europe for the big teams as they march towards the European finals in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012, while Wales let England off the hook.

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With less than a year to go until the European Championships kick off in Poland and the Ukraine the qualifying rounds in Europe are starting to hot up.

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This week we feature stories from Spain and the Premier League. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.

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The 2011 Copa América is taking place in Argentina and so in this main report we take a look back at the history of this competition. You can listen to the report on the Copa America by clicking on the file below while there is also a transcript and explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

"Savor this moment, you will remember it the rest of your life"

There has been, and will be, more significant wins, in a global sense, in this team's history. We have seen 2 U.S. Open Cups lifted, and we will see Supporters Shields and MLS Cups lifted in the future. The Sounders winning a competitive match in Mexico in CCL play would very well have more bigger-picture significance than yesterday's 3-2 win in a mid-season League match.

With most of the Premiership clubs already settled on their new kits for the upcoming season, lets play Joan Rivers and take a look at what to expect from these walking billboards. Explanations and grades included.

Arsenal

Talk about more pressure to win next season.

We were hoping that somebody from the club, such as Alan Pardew, would explain to fans the logic of selling captain Kevin Nolan. Kevin Nolan disappointed at Newcastle deal But the Newcastle Journal this morning have some explanations of why Kevin Nolan left the club, and it seems he was not too happy with [.

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In our last main report of the 2010-11 season, Damon and Damian review the footballing year for their clubs Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC a season of two halves for one and a roller coaster ride for the other.

The summer friendly season is officially gonna be a good one, surprising explanations as to why we don't score much, and much, much more. Actually not that much more. It's CyberShotz!

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In Europe the football seasons are coming to a close, but in the Bundesliga in Germany the last games are more controversial than normal. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

With a race row brewing in France we thought we would look back at a podcast from October 2008 when we featured a campaign by the organisation Kick It Out which set up an anti-racism campaign in England. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

Hyperpartisanship infecting the sports fan's mind

This post covers ground comparing modern partisan sports fans to political adherents who can not, and will not, accept that the opposition could at all be credited with doing anything right and proper.

My favorite line?
... a realm where fans' access to preconceived explanations that suit their emotional allegiances is drowning reality out of the discourse.

You have to read this piece by Brian Phillips on The Run of Play. I don't know who Mr. Phillips is, but he nails it.

Key passage:

"...soccer has devolved into a realm a little like politics, a realm where fans' access to preconceived explanations that suit their emotional allegiances is drowning reality out of the discourse.

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Leo Messi lights up a nasty Champions League semi-final, one that had been darkened by Jose Mourinho, while Darren Gibson decides that twitter is not for him.

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The Copa del Rey takes place this week in Valencia between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The languagecaster team takes a look at the second of four clásicos and predicts a winner.

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This week languagecaster takes a look at the Clásico and suggests five things you need to know about Real Madrid and Barcelona. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

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On this week's football review we feature Champions League hero Raul, a goalkeeping gaffe and a spot of petulance from Neymar. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.

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This week's main report looks at the qualifying groups of the 2012 European Championships that will take place in Ukraine and Poland next summer.

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On this week's main report we take a look at the beginning of the season and see how our predictions at that time have panned out.

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On this week's main report we take a look at the beginning of the season and see how our predictions at that time have panned out.

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This week's main report asks a couple of fans about their first ever football match experience. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post.

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This week's main report asks a couple of fans about their first ever football match experience. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post.

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Our football review of the week looks back at Birmingham's shock win over Arsenal (he he), wonders if it's possible for Ashley Cole to become even more ridiculous and reviews the ugly Glasgow derby.