My co-worker Doug has become Football-Curious. Between me talking about Liverpool every week (lately: moaning about Liverpool most every week) and an article he read about Clive Owen talking about being a Liverpool supporter, he has taken an interest in the Reds. He asks me tons of questions whenever we work together, everything from "What's a Scouser?

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British football magazine FourFourTwo, just published (in the November issue) the list of the "100 Best Players in the World." The choices are based on the input of the magazine's journalists. Of course it will lead to all kinds of debate as "lists" are always subjective and don't mean anything beyond getting fans talking.

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A feeling I'm sure my old mother was subjected to when watching me pick up a fifty-meter swimming badge back in primary school- looking on fondly as one of her own dropped, sans grace, into a vat of partially diluted chlorine, swallowing an unhealthy dose of it, before emerging, half-drowned at the other end like a dog being rescued from a river- I was awash with a certain amount pride this week after discovering that esteemed members of our own stock, Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios, had earned themselves a place on FourFourTwo's, frankly excellent, ‘100 Best Players in the World' list 2009.

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Hey, remember when the US MNT finished second at the Confederations Cup? Me too. And so does Charlie Davies, who is still holding onto that moment as reason to believe in this team once the big dance (screw the NCAA tournament, this is bigger) rolls around in the summer:

"I think we showed we have the potential to really make an impact at the World Cup.

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Not sure why you'd want to imitate Maradona these days.
Might be shot by accident.
Pretty funny though.
To the links:

• One crazy road trip. [Off the Post]
  
• Brian McBride Q&A. [Goal! NY Times]
  
• Where are all the EPL draws? [Unprofessional Foul]
  
• The week's best quotes and chants.

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Aidan Ormond
On-loan Perth Glory striker Matt Mayora is set to sign with Indonesian side Persipura Jayapura, a club which has qualified for the 2010 Asian Champions League.
Mayora, 23, jets out to Jakarta on Wednesday for a medical with the club and has a one-year contract on the table. Click to continue reading...

Walking into my room on a chilly Sunday morning, I sighed heavily, yet I was happy. I had correctly tipped Burnley to beat United. Who knew. I didn't get it all right; I had a few problems especially my A-League tipping. Mariners and Jets drew, so I only had 2 points from this round. Forgetting about that, I walked over to my desk, before clomping down on to my seat.

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Meta: I'll be away until Monday, which is really quite handy given the transfer window's just closed and it's an international break. I will miss the three-year anniversary of this blog tomorrow, but that's no great shakes. Here's a book review to hold you over. Don't break anything.
Why England Lose and Other Curious Phenomena Explained
Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski
HarperSport
The title's obviously intriguing, it got a rare five-star review in FourFourTwo, and the blurbs have compared it to Moneyball. Click to continue reading...

Dig deep into those pockets Mr Gillett and Hicks!

Rafael van der Vaart is resigned to leaving Real Madrid, but he will only consider offers from England or Germany.

Manuel Pellegrini's decision to leave the Dutch midfielder out of the squad for the Bernabeu Trophy appears to be the final nail in his coffin, and he is preparing for an exit.

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All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Davey Becks is going mad. [Daily Mail]

A long distance goal that about eight people were there to see. [101gg]

Dani Alves had a little cosmetic surgery. [The Spoiler]

Jose Mourinho is pissed at Marcello Lippi.

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Official Press Release
New York, Wednesday 29th July 2009 – In a stunning rebuke and continuation of his isolation from the football world, Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) today announced that Steven Cohen would not be returning to host the FSC show Fox Football Fone In (FFF) which he has co-hosted for 4 years. Click to continue reading...

Word is some unpublished and unseen documents regarding the Hillsborough tragedy of 1989 are going to be released.
Not sure what will come of it.
Could be interesting.
To the links:

• Villa coach thinks City can win EPL. [FourFourTwo]
  
• Vuvuzelas: no mas.

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"We have distanced ourselves and will continue to distance ourselves from any comments that disrespect the memory of Hillsborough.
"We can see no benefit of giving him legitimacy by the club singling him out. Giving Mr. Cohen oxygen is the worst thing we could do.
"He is not a representative, nor ever has been a representative of the club. Click to continue reading...

Over the last couple of years I've had many emails from followers of the W-League and football played by women and girls in general, and I think this reflects the growing numbers who play and watch football played by women.
And of course their lack of ability to get stuff about the game they play, watch and love. Click to continue reading...

Official Press Release
Chelsea FC rejects Steven Cohen, condemn his lies about Hillsborough.
New York, Wednesday 22nd July 2009 - Over 50 percent of Steven Cohen's original sponsors, including such companies as Heineken and FourFourTwo have left his show, World Soccer Daily. These sponsors have left because they cannot afford to be associated with Steven Cohen's lies and hate. Click to continue reading...

Mascherano tired of Premier League life - FourFourTwo: "'Barcelona is the easiest deal to set up as Javier wants to go to Spain. He is tired of life in England."
'His wife has not been given a permanent visa. She has to go through an odyssey each time she wants to go.
'Liverpool refuse to sell, this can be overcome with an extraordinary offer. Click to continue reading...

Kyle Beckerman and friend are either:von Trapp family.
C) Really rich.
D) Celebrating a goal a little awkwardly.Now for the links:

• Danish players hit by lightning. [SI]
  
• Michael Parkhurst recalled to Gold Cup roster. [Goal.com]
  
• Dallas has soccer fans?

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First, my quick opinion.
To the individual who sent this email, and to all the other people who have sent similar e-mails to Steven Cohen. STOP! You're not helping, you are morons.
UPDATE: Some have asked in the comments how the suspended corporation status might effect any legal action by LFC or former sponsors over Cohen's comments. Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to FourFourTwo.com, Everton and Liverpool are both interested in Atletico Madrid striker Jose Antonio Reyes.

June 29th, 2009 According to the Daily Mirror, Everton are interested in Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes.

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Conor Brennan, VP of the LFCNY, has done an interview with The Empire of the Kop website. If you've been following the campaign and my stories concerning Cohen and World Soccer Daily, I suggest you head over and check it out.

Conor, the Anti-Cohen campaign seems to be quiet right now?

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Great stuff over at a weekend junk pile over at The Offside.
A riot police officer in Argentina -- one of the many jobs I never want to have.
On to the links:

• Rooney hospitalized? [Daily Mail]
• Talking with the W.C. bid committee dude. [Seattle Times]
• An anti-racism award to Balotelli.

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It's with great sadness to report that Steven Wells, one of the most remarkable and creative writers in the football business, died yesterday of cancer.

Wells, nicknamed Swells, was best known for his work in The Guardian where he wrote countless classic articles on sensitive football-related topics that most writers wouldn't touch.

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When you're paying out that much money and get relegated, you have to suffer these jokes.
Sorry to the Toon fans out there.
Now for some links:

• A Confederations Cup announcing schedule. [SSR]
  
• The end of Hargreaves? [The Original Winger]
  
• 5 refs in Europa League matches.

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I was completely seduced by last year's FA Cup.

Barnsley and Cardiff City charged toward the final in a gripping giant-killing warpath. They toppled Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough in their wake. (Boro were still a mid-table Premier League side, so their undoing was still a feat.

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Will Australia's Number One Football magazine change it's name to reflect the new FFA model..433? Click to continue reading...

Man, keeping Mexicans from soccer games is like keeping Californian girls from lip gloss and silicone.
At your own risk.
Here, take some links:

• UEFA stands by Fletcher red card. [BBC]
  
• Lazio game moved for UCL final. [FourFourTwo]
  
• Van Basten steps down at Ajax.

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Getting the right to young soccer prodigies is a science for top clubs. Apparently some don't like the way Arsene Wenger goes about the business.
Some have gone so far as to compare it to "child trafficking" and "kidnapping."
A bit extreme I think. Just a little.
Now the links:

• What is up with Sacha K.

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http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news.aspx?CIaNID=+102001#comments Looks like the young fella will be on... Click to continue reading...

I'm out chasing balloons, Fergie style, for the day.
Here's the stuff I woulda touched on or linked to. Have a great weekend!

• An entertaining Kasey Keller story. [The Seattle Times]
  
• Short list of U.S. World Cup stadiums. [Yahoo!]
  
• Fastest red card in MLS history downs N.

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Home at last!
London is OK in its own way - it's the home of the Gunners after all.
But being more a country girl it's nice to come back to snowbound Gloucestershire.
And I come back with three more friends made through football.
It started when during one of the breaks, whilst waiting for the trainer to return, I was reading my March copy of FourFourTwo. Click to continue reading...

When does humorous chanting in football stands become offensive?
It's a tricky one. And one that inevitably causes continuing debate.
Not least because society's understanding of the issues is changing all the time.
Take for example the continuing row about the 'Famine Song' popular with a number of Rangers supporters. Click to continue reading...

Ekim sayısını alıp da MutlakGol'ün tanıtımını FourFourTwo'da görmek şaşırtıcı oldu. Elbette şaşırtıcı olduğu kadar da sevindirici. İnsan senelerce İngilizce edisyonunu bulabildiği ölçüde takip edip, Türkçe çıktığında heyecanlandığı bir dergide yaptığı bir işi görünce hem seviniyor hem şaşırıyor doğal olarak. Click to continue reading...

Nationally we have W-League Jets Coach and Under 17 Australian Women's Coach Gary Phillips, 442Editor Paul Hansford on why they want to talk to Graham Arnold.
Download
Locally we go in-depth with Woden Valley and ACT Rockets star Marcin Zygmunt. Click to continue reading...

Where's Arnie? Our Olyroos supremo? Anyone heard him speak? He did an interview with Channel 7, like they'd know what to ask but nothing with our football media not even with his "very silent" media mates who have strong links to the man. Robbie Slater and the amazingly supportive SMH journo Mike Cockerill. Click to continue reading...

FourFourTwo said

Slavich was adamant that if all those who had expressed an interest were to put their hands in their pockets then finance would no longer be an issue.

So sign-up and convince them. Full article below
EXCLUSIVE: Canberra's A-League bid team will use the W-League's capital side as leverage when they meet the FFA next week. Click to continue reading...