The congestion of international, domestic and cup competitions is beginning to show as the injury lists grow longer. Several top stars will be missing from the Matchday 5 stage. Let's take a look at how this might impact the results and standings.

Eric Abidal D Barcelona
The 30-year-old suffered a thigh injury on international duty with France and will miss games against Athletic Club Bilbao at the weekend, Internazionale on Tuesday, and their massive derby with Real Madrid five days later.

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There's a door next to Lampard's crotch. ... Sounds about right.

Today's lesson: Always tip your taxi driver well. Upon experiencing your awesome generosity and overall wonderfulness as a human being, he just might reveal that he's a season ticket holder and member of the club's gym, where injured players apparently congregate on matchday.

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I'm working around the clock on something that will change everything, alienate half of you, and blow the minds of the other half, so don't think I'm neglecting this place, even if actual blocks of text with my name attached have been in short supply lately. I'm here behind the scenes, listening to Annette Hanshaw records in a posture of revolutionary toil.

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Last weekend and midweek action involved another round of international games. Some matches were important like the playoffs for the right to feature in the 2010 South Africa World Cup Finals but all too many were unimportant games that counted for absolutely nothing. The question that pops to mind was should the top players be excluded from playing in them to avoid injury? Click to continue reading...

- Egypt and Algeria are into the play-off which is slated to be played on Wednesday. It's amazing how important this game is. It took a dramatic 2-0 win by Egypt on the final match day to force this one-game winner-take-all match where the victorious team will enter the 2010 World Cup while the loser will [. Click to continue reading...

This is what an allergy to water would look like, I presume. This is how years of therapy start. (Water Cooler Offside) The mathematics of a statistic. (Uli Hesse) The truthiness behind Lampard's plane injury. (Studs Up) Samuel Eto'o dishes out some expensive watches for his Cameroonian teammates. (The Spoiler) FIFA wages war against Iraq. Click to continue reading...

Can he do it on his own without Torres, Benayoun, and Riera?
Steven Gerrard looks set to start for Liverpool this weekend against Manchester City as his long road to recovery from a groin problem looks almost complete...
Gerrard has used the international break to step up his rehabilitation program - and the news will surely make Liverpool fans happy. Click to continue reading...

It seems there is a new WAG on the scene with Christine Bleakley announcing to her friends that she is dating the England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard. Bleakley is said to be comforting Lampard after his recent thigh injury and had stayed at his £3million London townhouse on Friday night only leaving at [. Click to continue reading...

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

A puddle of mud proves to be Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's best friend. [Extra Footie]

It was inevitable: the Elizabeth Lambert dating video parody. [Tauntr]

Bookmaker stops taking bets on new Scotland manager because their chief executive is on the SFA board.

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Other than the ghost of Banquo Frank Lampard appearing behind her after a late-night boozefest at Whisky Mist, we've not had any formal proof that Frank Lampard is dating presenter Christine Bleakley.

However, over the last few weeks, many "sightings" of the couple have taken place and "sources" have come forward with details of such events.

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Other than the ghost of Banquo Frank Lampard appearing behind her after a late-night boozefest at Whisky Mist, we've not had any formal proof that Frank Lampard is dating presenter Christine Bleakley.

However, over the last few weeks, many "sightings" of the couple have taken place and "sources" have come forward with details of such events.

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This weekend saw another round of international games, some important like the playoffs for the final positions at the World Cup, but all too many were unimportant games that counted for absolutely nothing t should the top players be excluded form playing in them to avoid injury?

I know that this brings up loads of potential problem like who do you classify as a top player etc.

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Durante los entranamientos que Fabio Capello dirigia el juevez pasado en Doha con miras hacia el amistoso entre Brasil-Inglaterra, el centrocampista Frank Lampard se lesiono y todo por la incomodidad que sufrio el jugador cuando partieron de Londres a Qatar. Ante las investigaciones que hizo el Chelsea descubrieron que que el avion que usaron para el viaje de 7 horas es solo diseñado para viajes cortos y pasajeros con la talla de tattoo. Click to continue reading...

Now this is truly hilarious. It's the latest comical creation from Studs Up and it's a corker. It explains just how it came to pass that Frank Lampard was injured whilst away on international duty. CLICK HERE to see the very amusing sketch.

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When we last left Chelsea they had just beaten Manchester United to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points and everything looked great at the Bridge.

Then the injury big hit. First came the news that right-back Jose Bosingwa is out for three months after knee surgery.

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It is hard to see England overcome Brazil even if they were at full strength with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Glen Johnson given how the Brazilians moved with ease around the pitch. Meanwhile, the English attack was barely able to make a dent.

Fabio Capello probably knows by now that Brazil is the team to beat.

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Chelsea will most certainly be without Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole for their top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal on November 29th. The Ivory Coast International will in fact be out for three weeks ... Click to continue reading...

Chelsea will most certainly be without Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole for their top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal on November 29th. The Ivory Coast International will in fact be out for three weeks ...

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I wish Arteta was fit so I could replace Lampard with an absolute on the ball genius
This international break has not been meaningless by any means- in fact, it's been quite exciting as Nic Anelka gave France a 1-0 lead over Ireland, and former Fantasy Premier League stars Obafemi Martins (Nigeria) and Amr Zaki (Egypt) got their countries one step closer to South Africa as well. Click to continue reading...

Just a few short weeks ago, Chelsea appeared the strongest team at least squad-wise in the English top flight. How quickly things can change.

Following this weekend's international break, the list of those on the treatment table has grown exponentially and not simply from lining up for their respective countries.

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What the hell is going on with our injuries at the moment. As reported on here before, Jose Bosingwa is out. Ashley Cole is out and we are yet to have confirmation when he will return. Frank Lampard is out for three weeks. Didier Drogba has now been confirmed as out for three weeks with a rib injury suffered when Jonny Evans peformed his Karate Kick on him and got away with it and John Terry had to pull out of the England v Brazil game with an ankle problem but he hopes to be fit to face Wolves next weekend. Click to continue reading...

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

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Didier Drogba has added to Chelsea's injury woes after a broken rib ruled him out for three weeks.
He sustained the injury in last week's win over Manchester United.
Drogba joins Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa and Frank Lampard on the injury list.
And skipper John Terry limped out of England training yesterday with a swollen ankle, making him a doubt for the friendly with Brazil. Click to continue reading...

Bad news. Our list of the fallen is now about as long as Peter Crouch's leg. The BBC so kindly tells us that we're missing Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, David James, Theo Walcott, Emile Heskey, David Beckham, Aaron Lennon, Carlton Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Glen Johnson.

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The meeting of one great footballing mind and Dunga

Brazil take on England in Doho, Qatar, for the first of three international friendlies before the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Dunga's men see the England game as a real test against one of their main contenders in the competition in 2010.

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Lampard injury update from my earlier post/news about Frank. From Chelseafc.com,
"It has been confirmed that Frank Lampard suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh while away with the England national team. The midfielder reported back at Cobham this morning (Friday) having flown back from the Middle East. Click to continue reading...

Caught Offside has the following breaking transfer rumours,
Liverpool Linked with Move for £8m Dazzling Brazilian Playmaker Hernanes
Liverpool to Make Shock £12m January Raid for Cole: Intelligent Bit of Business
Liverpool Could Sign £13m Playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart
I had expressed my wish list previously during the August 31 transfer deadline and Liverpool are reportedly willing to splash the cash to get Brazilian midfield schemer, Hernanes. Click to continue reading...

How many international breaks have there been this season already? It seems like time and again the Premiership season has been disturbed by a string of international fixtures this year, many of which have been friendlies. The latest England jolly to Doha for a friendly with Brazil may have cost Chelsea a high price.

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How many international breaks have there been this season already? It seems like time and again the Premiership season has been disturbed by a string of international fixtures this year, many of which have been friendlies. The latest England jolly to Doha for a friendly with Brazil may have cost Chelsea a high price.

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England's preparations for their friendly clash with Brazil suffered another setback on Thursday when Frank Lampard flew home after suffering a thigh strain in the squad's first training session in Qatar. The loss of the Chelsea midfielder further depletes a squad already missing more than half of the line-up that head . Click to continue reading...

Worrying news for all of us yesterday with the news that Frank Lampard has picked up a thigh injury while training on England duty, ahead of the England game this weekend in Doha against Brazil.
Now the Chelsea website posted a short and sweet statement to say:
"Frank Lampardwill not take part in England's friendly international against Brazil in Qatar this weekend. Click to continue reading...

Long-haul injury for Lamps Frank Lampard has been injured after sitting on cramped conditions on England's private jet, The Sun reports. The Chelsea midfielder's thigh injury is being attributed to spending seven hours on the plane, which is only intended for shorter flights. Several players complained of cramp and muscle pain after the flight touched down in [. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has flown back to England after sustaining a thigh injury on international duty in Qatar. Lampard was preparing for England's friendly against Brazil this weekend.

Sexy.

An FA spokesman: "We can confirm that Frank Lampard picked up an injury to his left thigh whilst training today and will be returning home this evening.

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El diario británico The sun, ha dado a conocer que el mediocampista inglés Frank Lampard se lesiono durante su viaje a Qatar, donde el sábado jugará la selección inglesa un partido amistoso contra la selección de Brasil.

Aparentemente, la culpa sería de la Federación Inglesa de futbol (FA).

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