After sensationally being cleared of tax evasion charges and the subsequent dismissal of Fabio Capello as England coach by the FA all in one day, Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp is now being considered as the prime choice to replace the Italian. In fact, Tottenham are said to be bracing themselves for an approach by the FA.

Fabio Capello resigns as England coach- Italian gaffer quits before Euro 2012 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Fabio Capello resigns as England coach- Italian gaffer quits before Euro 2012 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter England manager Fabio Capello has put in his papers months before the team travels to Poland and Ukraine for the 2012 European Championships.

You may or may not have seen this earlier today. I retweeted it via @JoeTweeds a few hours ago.

Either way, it's a very good read and a refreshingly different take on John Terry than the ones we've been force-fed over the past few months. No, he's not a monster. Sorry, media.

Below is an excerpt.

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. – The Colorado Rapids squeaked past Chivas USA, 1-0, in a physical preseason scrimmage between the two sides on Tuesday.

Second-half substitute Quincy Amarikwa put the Rapids ahead in the 85th minute.

Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org

The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association, the first soccer governing body in America.

My first visit to White Hart Lane came in February 2001. It was an FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Stockport County. My uncle had driven up from Southampton on the morning of the game and surprised me with a ticket.

I fell in love with the stadium and the atmosphere. I loved being part of the crowd and watching Spurs easily dispose of the opposition as they won 4-0.

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-Perhaps the most positive item of the day: Chairman Tony Fernandes tweeted today would stay with QPR even If relegated:
- "If it happens I will be here and I'm sure all the other will. Its a project. RT @QPRReport: @tonyfernandes @Amit_Bhatia99 @Ruben_E_G What Fans Would REALLY Like to Hear: That IF #QPR Do Go Down - You'll Still be With Us Next Season - Tony Fernandes February 5 Tweet
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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard.

By Chris Wright

How about that? The very same batch of players who managed to earn Steve Bruce a paltry 11 points from 13 games have since raked in 19 points from nine games under Martin O'Neill (including last night's 3-0 victory over Norwich), a run that would see them topping the Premier League had they begun counting after O'Neill's first game in charge of the Black Cats; a 2-1 win over Blackburn on December 11th.

I'll always remember the first game of football I ever went to: I was aged six; the location was Aggborough in Kidderminster as the Harriers took on Aston Villa in Graham Allner's testimonial. It was a few years before I was ever introduced to top flight football at Villa Park or First Division football at Molineux.

Group B

Sudan went into this tournament having failed to score an ACN goal since 1976. Bet you didn't know that at kick-off against Angola last Thursday. Bet you were sick of hearing it by full-time.

Sudan broke this goalscoring duck (36 years, you know) moments after Eurosport's Matt Jackson declared he didn't know where their next goal is coming from.

Alan Pardew is hoping that Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse will be back in time to be able to take part at Blackburn on Wednesday evening. James Perch in action at Brighton That's the first game after the transfer window closes at 11:00 pm tomorrow night, so let's hope we don't lose any of our [...]

After the race row surrounding Liverpool and Manchester United this season, everyone was hoping that yesterday's game could just pass without any unsavoury incidents. And then this pr*ck turned up. In the first game between the two clubs since the result of the FA verdict that banned Luis Suarez for eight games after making racially [.

Silly season has bitten the Philadelphia Union hard, as the international transfer window is set to close in three days. After apparently shrugging off a Sebastien Le Toux transfer to Bolton Wanderers, the Union are set to lose team captain Faryd Mondragon.

The 40-year-old is on his way back to Colombia, according to Deportivo Cali's Vice President.

Today was Sporting KC's last training session in Kansas City before heading off to Arizona for a few weeks. A fairly light session for the most part, that involved two teams scrimmaging, and a third team working off to the side.
First game:
Orange team - Nielsen, Collin, Olum, Harrington, Warzycha, Thomas, Aiyegbusi, Dwyer, Kamara
Blue team - Kronberg, Myers, Cesar, Besler, Sinovic, Sassano, Joseph, Convey, Saad
Neutral - Zavagnin
Only one goal in this one, a Joseph Peterson and Luke Sassano worked a very nice 1-2 together finishing with Joseph flicking the ball past Nielsen and into the net.

If Costa Rica had any hope of qualifying for the Olympics this summer, it was extinguished in the second half of tonight's match against the USWNT. While Costa Rica played hard all match long, it wasn't enough, as the US scored two late goals to secure their fifth straight Olympic appearance. The US Women's National Team now awaits the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, where they will defend their 2008 gold medal from Beijing.

Though he has yet to make his debut for the United States, George John has already impressed at new club West Ham United. West Ham's official site posted a lengthy article on John's first game with the reserves. John scored 17 minutes into a 1-1 draw with Gillingham. John is with West Ham on a two-month loan from FC Dallas with an option to buy.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

George John has yet to make his debut with West Ham United, but he soon could after putting together a strong showing in his first match since joining the club.

John, on loan from FC Dallas until the beginning of March, starred in his first game for West Ham's developmental squad on Tuesday, putting together a strong defensive outing while scoring a goal in the Hammers' 1-1 draw with Gillingham.

Reserve coach Rodolfo Borrell believes Liverpool might be forced to adopt a more direct style of play as they look to overcome a physical Blackburn side at the Academy on Tuesday.
Rovers have yet to win a reserve game so far in 2011-12, but they did prove a tough nut to crack when the two sides shared the spoils in a goalless draw back in November.

Will Jones sport the armband again? Will he have a better first touch?

When we last met out protagonist the USMNT it was doing battle north of the border, putting out a tiny skirmish, so to speak, that was attempting to be kindled by Venezuela.

The States controlled "the battle" and at the death put the South American foe to the proverbial sword, 1-0 after a dominating display especially in midfield against an overmatched opponent.

TFC training camp opens this week and it would be great to feel that anticipation for a new season rising in one's heart. New season, new faces would be a great motto for TFC to adopt. Toronto certainly seems to have roster spots available.
In the month of January we have spent more time waving goodbye than waving hello.

Understandably, none of our regular authors were inclined to write a match report following yesterday's game, so you will all have to suffer the thoughts of someone who will I'm sure, not be expressing the mainstream opinion on this site.

I couldn't go to the game as I had to work. I followed the live commentary on BBC Sport football, listened to the radio phone in on my way home and watched the lowlights on MotD through the lattice of my fingers clamped to my face.

The U.S. players had a lot to celebrate Saturday night

1. Ricardo Clark's game-winner in the 97th minute marks the latest goal scored in the second half by the United States in team history.
2. Jurgen Klinsmann has collected back-to-back victories for the first time since becoming head coach last summer, following the 3-2 win against Slovenia on Nov.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy alum Bill Hamid earned his first cap with the U.S.
MNT and became the ninth goalkeeper to earn a shutout in his
debut.

The U.S. Men's National Team opened 2012 with a 1-0 victory over Venezuela on Saturday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

In the big two Sunday games in the Premier League, both Manchester City and Manchester United dealt big blows to North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.

In the first game, Man City won a thrilling controversial 3-2 match thanks to Mario Balotelli's injury-time penalty.

The controversy is whether Balotelli should have been on the field to score the penalty as he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head.

In the big two Sunday games in the Premier League, both Manchester City and Manchester United dealt big blows to North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.

In the first game, Man City won a thrilling controversial 3-2 match thanks to Mario Balotelli's injury-time penalty.

The controversy is whether Balotelli should have been on the field to score the penalty as he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head.

The Comets new signing Bato Radoncic made an immediate impact for the Comets in his first game, as he scored two goals as the Comets continued their push towards a playoff spot with a 14-6 win.
Bato got his Comets career started fairly quickly, as he scored just over 4 minutes into the game to give Missouri the early lead.

As usual, ussoccer.com provides with comprehensive news and notes to get you prepped for today's game. Here's five notes to get you started:

• The USA has a 2-0-1 record against Venezuela all-time. Since the opening draw, the U.S. has won back-to-back 2-0 decisions against Venezuela.
• Five players are in search of their first international cap with the U.

Newcastle's two top Senegal strikers, Demba Ba and Papiss Cissee, will be representing their country tonight in their first game in the African Cup of Nations, when they take on Zambia. Leon Best after scoring against QPR last Sunday We'll be looking for that score-line and hope that Senegal can get off to a winning start.

It started as a soccer game. It ended with a football score.

Former Boston Breakers' striker Amy Rodriguez grabbed a record-tying five goals in the United States' record-setting 14-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic in the first game of Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has urged his team-mates to put thoughts of cup showdowns with the two Manchester clubs to the back of their minds ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton.
The Reds are just 90 minutes away from their first final in six years - and a first visit to Wembley since 1996 - as they hold a 1-0 lead going into Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at home to Manchester City.

The KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) clash between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, which was suspended due to an attack on AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado in the initial encounter, was completed today in the Amsterdam ArenA with the home side going down to a 3-2 defeat.

Siem de Jong gave Ajax the lead as early as the 10th minute only for the visitors to restore parity fourteen minutes later through Maarten Martins.

Inter Milan - Genoa 3pm ET - GolTV The day's lone European game takes us to the San Siro for the Coppa Italia for the last game in the Round of 16. This is Inter's first game in the tournament, with the top eight Serie A clubs entering in this round. Genoa entered in the third round of Section 7, beating Nocerina and Bari to advance.

Mark Hughes' first game as Queens Park Rangers manager ended in defeat as Newcastle United strengthened their European hopes at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday.
Leon Best's well-taken first-half strike was enough to see off the challenge of QPR and lift his side up to sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with Arsenal.

By Chris Wright

First things first: Sincere apologies for that god-awful pun. I tried to rise above it, and failed. Miserably.

Anyway, Newcastle inflicted defeat upon Mark Hughes in his first game in charge of QPR, with a neat solo effort from Demba Ba's deputy Leon Best proving to be the difference between the two sides at the Sports Direct 80% Off Insane Spring Sale Arena.

This weekend saw lots of action in the Serie A: a furious downpour which forced the suspension of a game; a feisty, highly-anticipated derby; and some very decisive wins. The result? The Serie A standings have been, to borrow from the late, great Elvis Presley, "all shook up"!

On Saturday, Roma travelled South to Sicily to take on Catania.

You may member an indoor soccer team called the Phoenix Monsoon (the one that listed me as its play-by-play announcer despite not actually, you know, consummating a deal with me). This was its maiden season in the PASL, and they had big plans for it. Well, the original owner was out before Christmas and the new owners have changed the name of the team to the Arizona Storm.

Alan Pardew has reflected on his very first game in charge of Newcastle, and he still thinks that's his most important win at Newcastle. Alan Pardew waving to the Newcastle fans That was the game at home against Liverpool on Saturday 11th December, which we won 3-1, after Alan had been brought in on the Thursday to replace the fired Chris Hughton.

Yes, you can count on me

Yesterday's round of matches was good wasn't it. Yes, not entirely. Paul Scholes scored in his "comeback" but we all know what happened in the first game of his comeback and how he contributed to City scoring their goal. So no, he doesn't quite do a "Henry". An Emmanuel Frimpong led Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed point at Tottenham and it's dropped points for them (Spers, not Wolves).

Despite a poor start to the season, a defeat and a draw, LionsX11 are still attracting plenty of interest among those who recall the 'good old days' of Malaysia Cup. Over 7,000 filled a newly expanded Jalan Besar Stadium for the opening game with Kelantan while this report suggests ticket sales are going well ahead of the next game against KL.

Atletico Madrid's new coach Diego Simeone talks about his first game at home and about playing against Villarreal this weekend.