Really good interview with Mark McCullers by Columbus Alive's Chris Deville. Are you watching, Grant Wahl? The whole thing is pretty good, particularly if you're a Crew fan, but the best part for me was the comment on youth development:

But if [the youth we develop] sign other professional contracts and they haven't signed a contract with MLS, then yes.

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Another international break and it all went a bit medieval. After being slain in a distant land we embarked on a spot of regicide. So it's bye, bye George and hello .... ? God save the king, whoever he might be.We don't know. Walter Smith and Mark McGhee have already said they don't want the job. Jim Jefferies won't talk about it, Craig Levein is hotly tipped but United are extending a half Click to continue reading...

It is one of the biggest rivalries in all of Spanish football.  But this season Atletico Madrid will receive more punishment for fans involvement in the derby then the 3-2 loss the reeling club has already suffered. In the second half of the match Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini was struck in the side of the face by an object flung from the stands.

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There are only a handful of home games left. Currently sitting equal bottom means they are all must win for Brisbane. Not just for this season but for the future of the club. I am sure it will continue next year. But in what form is unclear. With much of the squad coming off contract and Melbourne Heart targeting players like Luke Devere, anything is possible for next year. Click to continue reading...

Since I did one for VCU, I thought it was only fitting to have one for DC United. Tom Soehn has decided to step down as Head Coach after 3 seasons, a total of 7 seasons with the club. The DC United job is a very unique situation.

The first thing that will make it hard for United to draw in a coach is the stadium situation.

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From the country that brought you "Maradona, the coach", even greater wisdom has now conceived the Plan for Argentina to Win the World Cupâ„¢: a virtual petition demanding Messi get the perm job Maradona wore to the '86 Final. I love this; the best people's movement since the petition to bring back Family Guy when it got canceled. Click to continue reading...

Over recent days it has been widely documented that Man United goalkeeper Ben Foster may have to leave Old Trafford in order to play for England in next year's World Cup.
England manager Fabio Capello has said that in order for players to go to the 2010 World Cup, they must be playing regular football for their club. Click to continue reading...

Felipao is coming to the rescue!!!Different media outlets are reporting that Real Madrid is currently negotiating with Luiz Felipe Scolari (Big Phil) to become the teams' new manager. It has been reported that the former Portuguese national team and Chelsea coach has the blessing from Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo as they believe he'll be the right man for the job. Click to continue reading...

It did not take Chick Young long. In his obituary of George Burley's reign as national team boss the great oracle of our game points out that a new manager means a new chance for Kris Boyd, Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson.Fair enough. A new broom and new beginnings. No manager taking the job should have his hands tied. Click to continue reading...

We are in the midst of the final International Break (thankfully) so things are pretty quiet at Anfield.This particular break came at just the right time for Liverpool, who have a catalogue of injuries, as we all know.With Torres, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Riera, Benayoun and Aurelio all in the treatment-room, its been a difficult time for the Reds. Click to continue reading...

Sorry I haven't been around lately, it's been a bit hectic over here recently. Luckily it was an international break and nothing much happened in my absence, but I now dutifully bring you what did.

As you may have read in TheSpoiler (highly recommended by the way), Darius Vassell, ex-Man City striker, has been experience a few bumps over in Turkey.

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According to Sky Sports News, West Ham United defender Matthew Upson has no desire to leave the club. He was quoted as saying,

"Losing at West Ham is not affecting my performance ... You take pride in that no matter where the team is."

"It is not easy and it probably is better to be somewhere where you are winning matches, but West Ham is where I am at.

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Scotland's 0-3 defeat to Wales at the weekend has all but sealed Burley's fate, however, and reports from Bonnie Scotland state George will soon be on the dole. But who would replace Burley? And are Scotland's failures really a management issue? Graeme Souness may have just crossed himself off a few Christmas card lists as he told the press he wouldn't want the Scotland job primarily because the country has produced no talent to work with. Click to continue reading...

Although this is the final stage of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers and there are no weak teams in the competition, Portugal and Russia were expected to have much easier jobs. They have minimal advantage before the return leg on Wednesday, but while Russia have a reason feel aggrieved, Portugal were more than lucky against Bosnia.

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Ben Foster was again chosen to play for England this weekend but is disappointed not to get any outings for his club of late.

"It's a weird one," said Foster. "I am third choice for United yet I am playing for my country. It is very disheartening to not even be on the bench at United.

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On the 30th May 2004 (before Benitez was appointed), I wrote a post on ThisIsAnfield.com arguing that Martin O Neill should get the Manager's job ahead of Benitez and Jose Mourinho. Five years later and O'Neill is apparently one of the favourites to become the next Liverpool manager. Well, my opinion has not changed: For me, O'neill is the only man for the job. Click to continue reading...

Mauricio Pellegrino today acclaimed the leadership qualities of Rafa Benitez during a difficult start to the 2009-10 campaign.
The first-team coach, who played under Benitez at Valencia and Liverpool, describes him as a man who stays calm amid the storm.
And Pellegrino is confident his boss is building a team capable of dominating English football despite a dip in form this term. Click to continue reading...

The vast majority of Liverpool fans are still right behind Rafa Benitez and rightly so.
There is enough instability at the club with the owners and the debts, and the last thing we need is to be looking for a new manager.
One win in nine games isn't great but you don't turn into a bad manager overnight. Click to continue reading...

When Sol Campbell signed for The Magpies, there were many who thought he just got his directions wrong when he ended up at Notts County. An ex England international with a distinguished career, playing for a League Two club, but for how long? The accusations levelled against Campbell were that he walked out during a training session.

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is spending the international break considering his options for reinforcements in the January transfer window.
And while it is unlikely he will have funds available to make a permanent signing, the Anfield boss will look for a loan striker to act as cover. Click to continue reading...

You may have recently read that Bruce Arena received the award for Coach of the Year for rescuing the LA Galaxy from the depths of the last few seasons all the way to the Western Conference final. The most high-profile part of his salvage job was the healing of the San Andreas Fault-sized rift between Lando & Becks. Click to continue reading...

In case you didn't know, or hadn't read, the L.A. Galaxy have been a bit of a mess in the last couple years.
No longer.
Ex-USMNT coach Bruce Arena took over the job in August last year and given one full season he's turned them from a laughing stock to a title contender. For that reason, he's MLS coach of the year. Click to continue reading...

There is very little sympathy in general for the 'plight' (if you could call it that) for the modern professional footballer. Incredibly well paid. Material possessions beyond our wildest dreams. Greatest job in the world. Stunning woman on arm. Does it get much better? Well, not if you are the playboy type. Click to continue reading...

Los Angeles Galaxy's Bruce Arena was named the 2008 Major League Soccer coach of the year Wednesday, after guiding the club to its first playoff berth since 2005.

That line does not do justice to the job that Arena did for the Galaxy this year. Last season the Galaxy finished bottom of the Western Conference after conceding a league-high 62 goals.

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...and I would really appreciate it if I had an Arsenal win to enjoy, sadly that does not seem to be the case due to another round of utterly pointless internationals.

There is only one bit of news and I wouldn't really call it news.

Jack Wilshere is looking forward to playing Citeh at Middle Eastlands in the Carling Cup and believes we can go all the way to Wembley, Jack the Hobbit said:

"It will be good to play against Manchester City and I hope they play a full team.

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I was watching MNF last night and they were interviewing a coach from one of the games Sunday.
The coach said a couple things I thought were important and thus will share them.
He said that each of his players expects excellence from themselves. The individual players work their butts off so they can better themselves as players and contribute to the best of their abilities to the team. Click to continue reading...

Peter Vermes is now the head coach of the Kansas City Wizards. (Getty Images)

I guess Peter Vermes liked coaching enough after all. Today the Kansas City Wizards are set to remove the interim tag from Vermes title and name him their full time head coach.

The Wizards will formally announce Vermes as the club's head coach at a press conference later today at the Wizards Swope Park Training Complex.

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Yes, I am aware Daniel Agger is not even a left-back but it just shows how badly Insua has been playing. The Reds had their share of problems this season but one of the biggest reasons behind the disappointing results is the fact defence is leaking too many goals. Johnson, Carragher and Skrtel are doing really well when they are fully fit, thus I am positive the back line would be much more stable with Agger replacing completely unconvincing Insua.

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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says being named captain last season hasn't changed his relationship with teammates.
Fabregas paid tribute to the way the rest of the players helped him develop his leadership style.
"The captaincy hasn't changed me at all," he said.
"My team-mates have done a great job for me as well. Click to continue reading...

The issue regarding former Arsenal club captain William Gallas has completely gone now according to his replacement Cesc Fabregas.Last season, the French defender questioned the character of his teammates among other things and was stripped of his captaincy privileges by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Click to continue reading...

Jonathan Greening was on our radar for some time over the summer, and when he eventually arrived, on a poorly disguised loan agreement (he's ours after the season), some were concerned that we had paid too much for an ageing player with no re-sale value.

For one thing, re-sale value is nice, but how often do we actually find players we can sell on for big money these days?

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has not given up hope of qualifying for the later stages of the Champions League this season.
Escaping the group stages is looking like an uphill struggle for the Reds after losses to both Lyon and Fiorentina, who currently occupy the top two places in the group. Click to continue reading...

According to the Mirror, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is available to manage other clubs with immediate effect. Shearer was of course pointedly ignored for the Toon job despite his 8-week temporary appointment being called "the best decision I ever made" by Ashley. Even then though, Shearer was still in with a chance as it was [. Click to continue reading...

Now that Argentina has finally secured a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, they can present the new uniform to be used next year. The new kit is very loyal to past Argentinian shirts and does a great job of keeping the pajama feel

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Aside from the Manchester United scalp, Liverpool are winless since late September - a feat Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish hopes won't be remedied when his side take on Rafael Benitez's Reds on Monday evening.
McLeish, however, empathises with Benitez over the situation that has engulfed Anfield.

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