Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger denied that Samir Nasri will fill the gap to be left by Alex Song when the Cameroon International will be involved in the African Cup of Nations. Speaking on Tuesday, the Frenchman ... Click to continue reading...

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger denied that Samir Nasri will fill the gap to be left by Alex Song when the Cameroon International will be involved in the African Cup of Nations. Speaking on Tuesday, the Frenchman ...

Click to continue reading...

I have not been able to cover the Champions League as much as I did last year because of other demands on my time, and my own desires to have a life. But fortunately CONCACAF has been able to fill the gap with a very good Champions League website. Today was the draw for the knockout stage (the Championship Round, as CONCACAF calls it) of the Champions League. Click to continue reading...

On the pitch and among the fans, Celtic and Rangers may be the fiercest of football rivals.� When it comes to the business end of things, namely the mission to maximize their financial potential by fleeing the Scottish Premier League, the Old Firm pair are partners in crime.� Like any good rivalry, Celtic and Rangers need each other.

Click to continue reading...

If there is one thing about supporting an "Other-16" club in the English Premier League that really makes life painful, it's when your club develops a truly great young player and the "Big 4" vultures start circling trying to take him away. In the case of Everton it's a familiar feeling and one in which all the financial windfalls don't ease the frustration. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stoked up the mounting pressure on himself by incredibly insisting: "I don't have to win a trophy."
The Reds' title dreams have been hit by FIVE League defeats already this season; they crashed out of the Carling Cup at Arsenal in midweek and their Champions League dreams will be in tatters if they lose Wednesday's crucial Group E clash in Lyon. Click to continue reading...

Plenty of people have mourned the departure of Xabi Alonso.
He was a great player but hopefully Alberto Aquilani having made his home debut now will start to fill that gap.
But the two players I think we should have kept are Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa.
Ok, it's possibly with hindsight but we're missing a dominant centre half – as evidenced by Birmingham's equaliser – and Sami is I'm told playing his socks off for Bayer Leverkusen, who are top of the Bundesliga. Click to continue reading...

Big Story
The headline story in this piece on the Premier League's consideration of Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's proposals for restructuring the league focuses on the nix put on the idea of Rangers and Celtic joining the Premier League, with that immediately ruled out now and forever.

Click to continue reading...

Whenever it seems like Liverpool are on the verge of making a giant step forward, something always seems to go wrong and the opposite ends up happening. Why is that? ALEX MILLER looks at how history seems to be repeating itself once again.
So here we are then: Mid-November and we are already out of the title race; on the verge of being eliminated from the Champions League and already out of the Carling Cup. Click to continue reading...

Just for the sake of it, see below a pic of the most famous phone booth in Scotland, used in the best movie ever made by a Scottish director that is in fact the best movie of all time!

The plans, drawn up by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, are intended to bridge the financial gap between the Premier League elite and the rest of the game, but they are thought to have little chance of being accepted by a majority of club chairmen.

Click to continue reading...

Rafa keen on talented Dutch bench warmer.

Portsmouth Vs Liverpool Tickets Still Available!

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Rafael van der Vaart has confirmed he will be leaving Spanish Giants Real Madrid in January and wants to move to another top European club, after rejecting a return to his old club Ajax.

Click to continue reading...

Alex Ferguson has the experience to close the gap on Carlo's Ancelotti's table-toppers... Click to continue reading...

I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT. Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

There are many factors that have contributed to Argentina's poor form throughout World Cup qualification. Some may look to the exclusion of the old guard such as Javier Zanetti and Estaban Cambiasso or to the continued faith in Carlos Tevez; dismissed twice and only scoring one goal throughout qualification.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool failed to close the gap on Chelsea tonight as they could only manage a two all draw against Birmingham at Anfield.
David Ngog opened the scoring for the Reds with a thunderous volley into the roof of the net on 12mins.
However Birmingham were soon level when Christian Benitez Headed a goal from a free kick on 28mins. Click to continue reading...

The boys discuss beating the Mancs in an attritional 1-0 win, Drogba's goal scoring return in the 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid, and the controversial Stamford Bridge naming rights issue, plus "We're out to show the world the way to sing!", "Dear Mart" and "You're on CFFC".
‘Stamford Bridge' resembled a war zone on Sunday, as the Chels battled a particularly petulant Man Utd for a 1-0 win. Click to continue reading...

Finally, Chelsea found their "hand" and used it to great effect in their 1-0 win over Manchester United yesterday.� The match was a rough and tumble affair that featured very little in the way of scoring opportunities for either squad but did feature virtual girth of tension and upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

Click to continue reading...

I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT. Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT.
Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

This was one of those Premier League matches that had a draw written all over it that was crying out for just one decent attempt to puncture the dull game. And it finally came three-quarters into the match where John Terry headed the ball into the corner of the net.

Yet again, Sir Alex Ferguson put out a defensive minded team that played very cautiously with Wayne Rooney often up front on his own.

Click to continue reading...

Chris Hughton claims that the team's focus was the key to Newcastle United's win over Peterborough yesterday. Cardiff lost away to derby rivals Swansea and West Brom managed to beat promotion hopefuls Leicester, which means a bit of a gap has opened up between the top 2 and the chasing back. After the game, Hughton said: "We have [. Click to continue reading...

Because with live in a world of litigation and because people get all bent out of shape over the smallest things (that could easily be explained) and because litigation takes forever and lawyers are expensive (otherwise they wouldn't bother to take forever) and because you can get any kind of suspension lifted while you're waiting for an appeal it appears that Chelsea can do business as usual since the Court of Arbitration for Sport won't be able to set a date for a hearing until February.

Click to continue reading...

Stevenage embark on another FA Cup journey this weekend as they travel up to Stoke to face League 2 side Port Vale. This time last year we were preparing for another trip up the M1, that time it was to Leicester, who comfortably beat us 3-0 at the Walkers Stadium. Now though, Boro are a much improved and experienced team.

Click to continue reading...

As I mentioned on Monday with the release of our latest podcast, we are making some exciting changes at MLS Talk. One of these changes will be our new "Legends of MLS" series on both our podcast and website. Often times, MLS History is unknown or hardly written for the new fan. We seek to bridge a gap in understanding and recognition of certain players, coaches and clubs.

Click to continue reading...

Dieter, Dietmar . . . close enough.

Dietmar Beiersdorfer, the new sporting director for worldwide Red Bull soccer operations, has descended upon New York and has brought with him a cloud of speculation. Is he here to hire a new GM? Perhaps weigh in on the coaching situation?

Click to continue reading...

Every league experiences them, sometimes more than once. That's a weekend where the championship contenders all contrive to lose the initiative.
We'll begin with a shock defeat to Hamburg who were at home to 'Gladbach. A fixture, rare in the Bundesliga as one in which you should have been able to put the house on a home win. Click to continue reading...

The top of the league collectively dropped points, allowing Hoffenheim to close the gap but not much more. The bottom of the league collectively dropped points, allowing Hertha to keep dreaming about Bundesliga survival but not much more.

Rookie Coach of the Year. Also known as the Markus Babbel Trophy.

Click to continue reading...

Frank Lampard has already added fuel to the fire ahead of Manchester United's much anticipated trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Lampard is certain that his Chelsea side is ready for the defending Premier League champions, but has warned his teammates that either team can win on the day.

"I don't think anyone will need to work hard to get up for the United game, we all know it's coming.

Click to continue reading...

Full review of the weekend's La Liga action which saw Real Madrid close the gap on league leaders, Barcelona.

Barcelona appeared destined to take maximum points from their trip to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, but were ultimately forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Click to continue reading...

The transfer window is slowly approaching.� It is still months away from when it officially opens for business, but do not� be confused...� � transfers are� already being worked out.� How do I know this?� Because it is the nature of modern day sport.

Every day of the year is considered a chance to improve your squad in the� modern day transfer market.

Click to continue reading...

"I don't have to win a trophy."

Maybe a bit sensationalist to leave that excerpt as the lead-in, but the overall thrust of an article from the Times(among other sources) is that Rafa Benitez feels that progress alone is an acceptable indicator of success. Since there's plenty of ammo here, I figured it's best digested quote-by-quote:

"I don't agree with people when they say you have to win trophies.

Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has claimed success at Liverpool should not be measured in trophies.
The Merseysiders pride themselves as being the most successful club in England, with 18 titles and five European Cups.
But Benitez, who takes Liverpool into a week that could decide their Champions League fate after Saturday's shock 3-1 defeat at Fulham, said: "I don't agree when people say that you have to win trophies. Click to continue reading...

What did Spurs manager Harry Redknapp mean when he say, "There is no gap between the clubs in my opinion. I think two mistakes turned the game upside down."Whatever was going through his mind, he seemed to have lost track of the fact that his Spurs side had just lost 3-0 to their North London rivals and also their poor League record against Arsenal. Click to continue reading...

Cheltenham Town 0 – 4 Crewe Alexandra
League 2 - Saturday 31st October 2009
Cheltenham were given a lesson in basic football skills by a well prepared Crewe Alexandra. Dario Gradi is one of - if not the - longest serving managers in any of the leagues. He sent out a solid and disciplined side who kept their shape, passed well, defended in strength when needed and made the most of their opportunities. Click to continue reading...

Rio to Spurs
With Rio Ferdinand suffering from poor form and repeated injuries, the papers have pencilled Harry Redknapp in for trying to sign our defender in the summer. Rio seems to be gravitating towards the London lifestyle again and next summer United might be looking to get back some of the £30m they paid out for him eight years previously.

Click to continue reading...