Rio Ferdinand was booed throughout United's 3-3 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Whilst Rio has never been a popular player with Chelsea fans, given his West Ham and Leeds history, as well as the issues over the England captaincy, it was clear that Rio was singled out for special abuse yesterday thanks to John Terry's charge for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

So that's the title challenge put to bed for another year- I must say it was terrific fun while it lasted. Barely had I got the blue and white bunting down from the loft after our win against Everton, was I then tossing it into the fire with all my tax returns again on Saturday evening. Easy come, easy go.

Liverpool fans are overjoyed to see club captain Steven Gerrard back playing for the club regularly, and his inspirational impact on the team is being praised across the board. Former Arsenal stalwart Martin Keown joined the chorus of approval during the BBC's 'Football Focus' program' on Saturday.

The death of long time North Korean leader Kim Jung Il was greeted with shed loads of tears by North Koreans living within the secretive Communist state. Kim Jung Il's death has also triggered memories of Jong Sae-Te's heart-wrenching tears before North Korea's match with Brazil at World Cup 2010. It was eye-opening stuff and [.

Football Focus pundit Garth Crooks has praised the performances of Martin Skrtel in light of the towering centre-half's superb individual effort at the weekend.
The Slovakian international scored Liverpool's second goal during the 2-0 win against Aston Villa and the 27-year-old has been one of Kenny Dalglish's most consistent performers.

Former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson is often criticised by fans for his outspoken views on the club, and when asked about Liverpool's top 4 chances a earlier today, the European Cup winning defender was in typically honest form.Speaking on Football Focus, Lawrenson argued:"To make the top 4: City, obviously; United, Tottenham, and I'm going with Chelsea.

Football Focus pundit Garth Crooks has praised the performances of Liverpool centre-half Daniel Agger this season.
The Danish international has been keeping Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher out of the side, with Kenny Dalglish persisting instead with a centre-back partnership of Martin Skrtel and Agger.

The Big Interview Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam

In an in-depth interview with Football Focus, Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam discusses his "dream" summer move to Anfield, his relationship with Reds manager Kenny Dalglish and the club's form this season.

View the full story here: BBC

A news article on 2011-12-10 12:35:57 from: BBC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Carroll needs time to settle at Liverpool Adam

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam tells Football Focus that young players, such as team-mate Andy Carroll, need time to settle in after signing for a new club.

View the full story here: BBC

A news article on 2011-12-09 17:06:37 from: BBC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

What a year 2011 was for Football! We have had fireworks, management fallouts, enthralling top-of-the-table encounters, relegation scraps and transfer embargos to drive any football fan round the twist. So without wetting your appetite any further, here is In The Stands' top ten football moments of 2011.

Former Brazil captain and World Cup 1982 legend Socrates has died it was announced on Sunday morning after a long struggle with intestinal problems as In The Stands salutes a true genius of the game. Socrates is said to have suffered a septic shock in the early hours of Sunday morning and the 57-year-old died [.

Brazilian footballing artist and legend Socrates has died it was announced on Sunday morning after a long struggle with intestinal problems as In The Stands salutes a true genius of the game. Socrates is said to have suffered a septic shock in the early hours of Sunday morning and the 57-year-old died at 04:30AM Brazilian [.

"All we've done is cried. None of this makes sense. I don't know if we'll ever know." Jonathan Ford, Chief Executive, Football Association of Wales.
For once Sepp Blatter said the right thing in calling Gary Speed, who died unexpectedly on Sunday, "a model professional and a fantastic ambassador for the game".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OIg_rIj_vM Gary Speed appeared on Football Focus, the BBC football show, earlier on Saturday alongside former Leeds United teammate Gary McAllister for a discussion regarding several topics. Eerily, it would be his last TV...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.

Mark Lawrenson blog: It's the man Gary Speed was that makes this so hard to accept

Gary Speed was in typical mood laughing, joking, full of enthusiasm about life, his career and family. That was on Saturday afternoon at the BBC studios. Myself and Alan Shearer sat watching the lunchtime kick-off, preparing for Match of the Day.

Gary Speed's last ever television appearance was as a guest on BBC 1s popular Football Focus programme on Saturday 26, November, 2011 with host Dan Walker. The late Wales boss was found dead at his house on Sunday morning with police deeming the cause of death as suicide. Shocked friends, relatives, players and anybody who [.

Shocking news today that Wales manager David Speed is dead. Speed was found dead at his home near Chester in an apparent suicide.

A spokesman for the Cheshire Police said:

"At 7.08am today, Cheshire Police was informed of a sudden death at an address in Huntington, Chester.

Shocking news today that Wales manager David Speed is dead. Speed was found dead at his home near Chester in an apparent suicide.

A spokesman for the Cheshire Police said:

"At 7.08am today, Cheshire Police was informed of a sudden death at an address in Huntington, Chester.

The news of Gary Speed's death today is as surprising as it is sad, with a true gentleman and Premier League great suddenly gone without a hint of a warning.

It is perhaps a bit of a cliche to say he was one of the last you would expect this of, but it really fits right now; never in his distinguished career has Speed been known for anything other than being a model professional, and it is alarming that there has, presumably, always been something lurking under the surface that he never felt comfortable sharing with anyone.

By Chris Wright

This really is terrible. The Football Association of Wales have confirmed reports that Wales manager Gary Speed has been found dead at his Cheshire home after apparently committing suicide this morning. 'No suspicious circumstances' is the official Police line.

Jones keeping up with the Berezoutskis szólj hozzá: M0-1S Manchester United youngster Phil Jones has blamed defensive colleague Rio Ferdinand for his midweek Champions League own goal against Roma. The wonderkid revealed he had been laughing at CSKA Moscow defender Vassili Berezoutski following his comedy own goal in the early kick-off on Tuesday evening.

I'm sure we all come across Lawro's predictions each and every week: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/15861497.stm So if it's good enough for Lawro (that formerly 'tached demigod), then it's good enough for me... it's time for my weekend predictions that will inevitably fall completely flat.

As most of you will know by now, Steve McClaren appeared on Football Focus the other day. As my friend [...] Read the original post on eighteensixtyfive

Today's interview with Steve McClaren on BBC One's Football Focus, I'll let you draw your own conclusions... Dan Walker: "A third victory in four for Forest. You've had a few weeks to reflect on what went wrong, so what did go wrong in your eyes?" Steve McClaren: "A lot longer than the minute we've got [.

100% Bent We brought you footage of Premier League parody Jason Bent as far back as 2009. Alas he's since taken a backseat to comedian Simon Brodkin's nauseating other creation Lee Nelson. But Bent still makes the occasional appearance. This week he's been interviewed for Football Focus by Robbie Savage.

Yesterday in Plymouth, shortly before noon, the BBC 'understood' that, Peter Ridsdale "is to step down from involvement with Plymouth Argyle." I smiled. The statement seemed to explain an odd occurrence earlier that morning. A Plymouth article on the BBC website at half-past-nine referenced a Ridsdale interview for today's BBC 'Football Focus' programme in which he said the takeover would be complete by October 10th.

Watch David De Gea concede a wonder own goal and Mike Ashley's manboobs nightmare

Presenting quality football videos from the interweb, daily at 3pm. Here's today's collection: 1) Some people not, er, us, of course have been casting aspersions over David De Gea's goalkeeping ability.

Word has it that on Football Focus this weekend Ipswich Town were tipped to be this season's 'dark horse'. I wonder if they're thinking a little differently now?
As The Football League Show's Steve Claridge said on Saturday night following a disappointingly short review of our match:
'Dark horse?

Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes the way Jose Mourinho prepares the players for the match is second to none. Speaking to BBC Sport's Football Focus, the Togo International explained that he prepares the squad as ...

Ahoy there, land lubbers. I trust those of you joining us from the Small Isles enjoyed their bumber-sized weekends? Four days baked in unwavering sunshine and the distinctly sweet whiff of summer gushing up the nostrils like a mug of hot Ovaltine. Heavenly. Well, not quite, as it goes.

The BBC show Football Focus recently interviewed Eric Cantona, in which they discussed the new New York Cosmos and Eric Cantona.
Bonus video:

The BBC show Football Focus recently interviewed Eric Cantona, in which they discussed the new New York Cosmos and Eric Cantona.
Bonus video:

"I think last year we were talking about £70m," Rafael Benitez.

He was speaking about Fernando Torres in an interview with BBC's Football Focus (where the discussion would invariably have turned to all things Liverpool).

"People were talking about maybe you receive an offer from another club.

Old crossbar challenge for everyone today. Enjoy!

Here's the links:

• What NFL team compares to your favorite EPL club [Bleacher Report]
• Young Sunderland player makes FIFA list [FIFA]
• Ex Villa player swept to sea [BBC]
• Who's going to be relegated [Behind The Goal Post]
• Nani the best so far?

For those of you tuning in on Internet Explorer vision today, welcome back. For the rest of you, well, I can only send my condolences that you weren't around to see this website on its arse for two days. Flapping around like a half-dead sea bass on the deck of a boat. We've fixed it now. And when I say we, I of course mean someone else.