• I was disappointed to see how many empty seats there were at Hull City's KC Stadium. I know this was only a friendly, but come on. These players are the future of England's national team, and the already small stadium wasn't even half-full to watch them.

• I liked the 4-3-3 employed by Pearce. Click to continue reading...

Soccerword's Premiership Team of the Week - 01

Goalkeeper: Shay Given, Newcastle

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Vedran Corlucka (Man City), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough)

Midfielders: Mikel Arteta (Everton), Deco (Chelsea), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham)

Honorable Mention: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Dunn (Blackburn), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Julian Faubert (West Ham), Darren Fletcher (Man United), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

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The opening weekend of the English Premier League saw many surprise results as well as many disappointments. Here's a rundown of which players, teams, managers, and fans won or lost:

Winners
- Middlesbrough. Gareth Southgate and his men were faced with the tough task of going up against a rejuvenated Spurs side to open the season. Click to continue reading...

England have been missing a rampaging forward ever since Alan Shearer retired from national duty in 2000.  Gabriel Agbonlahor has the physique, the skill and the attitude to finally replace Shearer at the center of England's attack. A potted history of England's strikers since 2000: Michael Owen has continued to shine whenever he's pulled on the England [. Click to continue reading...

The first weekend of the Premier League is over, and what an entertaining weekend it was. Thirty two goals and an average of 3.2 goals per match, and a few surprise results. Who said the Premier League was boring?! Here are some of the highs and lows from this past weekend, as well as my two [...] Click to continue reading...

The first weekend of the Premier League is over, and what an entertaining weekend it was. Thirty two goals and an average of 3.2 goals per match, and a few surprise results. Who said the Premier League was boring?! Here are some of the highs and lows from this past weekend, as well as my two [...] Click to continue reading...

Something funny to start our post. For this, we'll go to Nicolai V. Gogol and his story, Ivan Fyodorovich and His Aunt. The setting: how will a newcomer recognize Stepan Ivanovich? "You will recognize him at once for he is the only one to wear printed cotton trousers and a yellow cotton coat. And here is another sign by which you may recognize him: when he walks he always waves his arms about. Click to continue reading...

Premier League football is back, and the goals were flying into the net this opening weekend. Where to start?

Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth
How about with Scolari's Blues as Chelsea thrashed Portsmouth 4-0. Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, and Deco all scored as Chelsea soared to the top of the table on goal difference.

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Portsmouth have signed Jerome Thomas From Charlton on a season long loan deal, and will probably sign him on a permanent deal if he impresses at the club. Thomas was sold by Arsenal to Charlton for £100,000 a few seasons ago, but has impressed in the Championship. I'm not convinced how well he will do [. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists Gareth Barry "knew the consequences" of his decision to play in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.

Barry scored the opening goal as Villa cruised to a 4-1 victory over FH Hafnarfjordur in Iceland in the second qualifying round match, a result which home boss Heimir Gudjonsson admitted has killed the tie off at the halfway stage. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal's no 14. Theo Walcott has been selected in a England Under 21 squad set to take on Slovenia Under 21's next Tuesday. Stuart Pearce has selected a side full of England first teamers with the likes of Micah Richards, Tom Huddlestone and Gabriel Agbonlahor looking to get a run-out. Pearce said: "It is a very strong [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal's no 14. Theo Walcott has been selected in a England Under 21 squad set to take on Slovenia Under 21's next Tuesday. Stuart Pearce has selected a side full of England first teamers with the likes of Micah Richards, Tom Huddlestone and Gabriel Agbonlahor looking to get a run-out. Pearce said: "It is a very strong [. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa

2007-08 RECORD League 6th FA Cup3rd round Carling Cup3rd round

Manager Martin O'Neill. Had a difficult summer, paying £5m for a Chelsea reserve and £2m for a 37-year-old and handling the Gareth Barry situation with less than his customary aplomb. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa's brigade of young English players looks set to expand with the transfer of Nicky Shorey and Luke Young into the club. Martin O'Neill seems to keen to build success on a group of English talent with players such as Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashely Young, Curtis Davies and Zat Knight to name but a few. Click to continue reading...

In one of my recent poll questions, which you can find on the left-hand side of the homepage underneath the blog archive, I asked which story you believed to be the biggest so far this summer. One of the choices was Gareth Barry and his desire to leave Aston Villa for Liverpool, and although I can't remember the exact number, it got its fair share of votes. Click to continue reading...

One of the most interesting headlines to come out of today's newspapers was the story that head of the London 2012 committee Sebastian Coe has offered the job Team Great Britain's football coach to Sir Alex Ferguson. Now the idea of having a Great British football team has long been suggested but the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Football Associations feel the idea would threaten their independence within Fifa.

Click to continue reading...

After yesterday's posts, I'm sure you all know how much I hate the "silly season" and how I can't stand to hear the constant gossip and rumor mill concerning player transfers during the summer. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I don't hear or read any of it; it's everywhere and practically impossible to avoid. Click to continue reading...

Steven Taylor has talked about the upcoming season with the Evening Chronicle today. Steven Taylor - holding off Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor Click to continue reading...

England Provisional Squad vs. France (30) Goalkeepers (3): David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan). Defenders (10): Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Jonathan Woodgate (Spurs). Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa youngster Gabriel Agbonlahor is one of the most promising and rising strikers that England national team coach Fabio Capello has at his disposal at the moment and the Villa striker knows that already. The youngster is playing superbly in the English Premier League this season and after missing this month's friendly international against [. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa are flying high in the English Premier League at the moment and are in a great position to qualify for the UEFA Cup next season by finishing in the top six at the end of this season. Manager Martin O'Neill is quietly confident that his efficient side will make it but he does [...] Click to continue reading...

On Friday we asked who you reckoned would win whoisthefastest.com's speed test between Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor, and today we've got the video to settle the score. Gabby just about comes out on top without the ball, but Aaron (Azzasy to his mates) dominates the dribbling portion and wins overall. Click to continue reading...

On Friday we asked who you reckoned would win whoisthefastest.com's speed test between Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor, and today we've got the video to settle the score. Gabby just about comes out on top without the ball, but Aaron (Azzasy to his mates) dominates the dribbling portion and wins overall. Click to continue reading...

We want to know you think is faster, Aaron Lennon or Gabby Agbonlahor? Lennon was last seen outpacing Gael Clichy and putting Patrice Evra on his arse, while Gabby Aggy was spotted, err, pulling up with a hamstring injury - but he only picked that up because of the whole sprinting thing. Nike are putting the players [. Click to continue reading...

We want to know you think is faster, Aaron Lennon or Gabby Agbonlahor? Lennon was last seen outpacing Gael Clichy and putting Patrice Evra on his arse, while Gabby Aggy was spotted, err, pulling up with a hamstring injury - but he only picked that up because of the whole sprinting thing. Nike are putting the players [. Click to continue reading...