What a strange season. Newcastle is winning... a lot, they have international teammates Cisse and Ba playing together up top and scoring with regularity (well, Cisse scored in his debut yesterday), and Aston Villa has to rely on ex-Spur Robbie "I'm too old for this sh.." Keane to put one on the board.

He's baaack!

I like to think my post yesterday made the difference. That it was the final piece that brought Buddle back. Okay, maybe not. But I can still think that.

I was excited when Buddle first joined the Galaxy. He was not so highly rated, but I had seen him play and thought he had a lot of potential.

On the left is Sylvie van der Vaart; on the right is a Barbie in her likeness. Or maybe that's the other way around. Images via @rafvdvaart

It was only a matter of time before the living Barbie became a real Barbie, wasn't it?

Proud husband Rafael tweeted some pics of the Sylvie Barbie that was unveiled at a toy fair in Germany today.

If you carefully select portions of this game you can make a video highlighting many of Arsenal's major problems. With another selection you could also show the reasons that make the Gunners such a great team to watch and support. It was a classic Cup tie and one that will remain in fans' memories for years to come if it can spark a run of form.

Cometh the hour, cometh the comeback- for once.

Finally, a win for Arsenal! The matter by which it came was joyful, and may just have put us out of our recent funk. In a match where Arsenal dominated in terms of possession and chances created, Aston Villa, with a first-team lineup, crawled to a 2-0 lead at half time.

There really isn't much that needs to be said here. Manchester United v. Liverpool, the FA Cup, Anfield. Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Scholes, Carrick, Giggs; Valencia, Welbeck, Park. Subs: Lindegaard, Fabio, Ferdinand, M Keane, Pogba, Berbatov, Hernandez Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Carragher, Maxi, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing; Carroll Subs: Doni, [.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Carragher, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Maxi, Carroll.
Subs: Johnson, Coates, Kuyt, Adam, Doni, Shelvey, Bellamy.

Man United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Valencia, Welbeck.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Carragher, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Maxi, Carroll.
Subs: Johnson, Coates, Kuyt, Adam, Doni, Shelvey, Bellamy.

Man United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Valencia, Welbeck.

De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Welbeck.

Bench: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Berbatov, Hernandez, Fabio, M.Keane, Pogba.

LFC: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Maxi, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Carroll.

"CONFIRMED LINE-UP: Liverpool vs UNITED" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

szólj hozzá: Wolves v Aston villa 2:3 MOTD

Scorers:
Bent (Ast) 11′ pen
Kightly (Wol) 21′
Edwards (Wol) 31′
Keane (Ast) 51, 85′

It's interesting how certain Premier League fixtures come and go as being a ‘must see' or a top of the table clash, but one that has always whet the appetite is whenever Arsenal come up against Manchester United. However this Sunday will mark the first time I've missed the visit of United in nearly 12 years.

Ahead of a proposed loan move, former Liverpool player Robbie Keane has been training with Aston Villa over the last few days, and according to Villa boss Alex McLeish, the Republic of Ireland striker is in 'tip-top' shape.Keane only lasted six months at Anfield before being unceremoniously dumped by former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, but McLeish believes the 31 year old can do a good job for

2011 was a pretty incredible years in a lot of ways. Here are a few of my impressions:
dN
My beloved Minnesota Stars won the re-inaugural NASL championship! I know most of you don't follow the 2nd division of soccer in North America, but it was a great year for many of the teams. The play on the field was arguably the best ever, and when your team goes on one hell of run and eventually wins it all, there is nothing better!

• Kop That: The magic of the FA Cup http://t.co/1a3W9Til 23:40:28, 2012-01-05
• Kop That: Liverpool plea to Manchester United for truce on Luis Suarez http://t.co/T4QqhrP8 23:23:57, 2012-01-05
• Kop That: Podcast: Could Rooney quit United? Could Suarez quit England? http://t.co/vlGFPQBv 23:23:46, 2012-01-05
• Kop That: Liverpool and Manchester United to join forces to try to limit fallout from Luis Suarez case http://t.

Mirror: Villa close in on Keane and Bent stays

McLeish optimistic over striker loan and says it won't be one in one out

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-05 22:30:50 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

The Major League Soccer season's crescendo was a flat one, but there was barely a pause to reflect upon it before the "draft season" got under way and speculation on Beckham's future overshadowed his club's glorious present. All that, plus the US's first multi-goal performance under Klinsmann in this month's State of the States.

Amos, Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Fabio, Valencia, Gibson, Park, Diouf, Berbatov, Macheda.

Bench: Lingard, Cole, Pogba, Morrison, M Keane, Fryers and Lindegaard

Jonny Evans, making his 100th United appearance, will wear the captain's armband.

"CONFIRMED LINE-UP: United vs Crystal Palace No Pogba or Morrison" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

In this week's review section, we congratulate the new MLS champions LA Galaxy, while we also feature the poor results of the two Manchester clubs in Europe.

Does it make me a guy that after the game was over all I wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep? Okay, I stayed for a little bit of cuddling and pillow talk, but when it was over I was done.

In the last few posts I've talked about manifest destiny and how this was our time. But all along the way I have been bracing myself for the possibility it might not happen.

The second try turned out to be the charm for Bruce Arena and his Los Angeles Galaxy. Landon Donovan's outside right-foot finish past Tally Hall in the 72nd minute put the Galaxy on top for good. Keane picked up the ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Goalkeepers and Defenders So, another review is here, the good people at PR Genie have decided that more time and devotion shall be...
Continue to the full story

Molde won their first ever title in their 100 year history this year in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first year of management with the club.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing and Solskjaer has today admitted to stealing a line Sir Alex Ferguson used on Manchester United players in 1996.

Following the 6-3 defeat to Southampton and 5-0 defeat to Newcastle, Ferguson sat his players down and gave them a talking to.

Their Words If you're a fan and you really want excitement you have to watch a Premier League game. Edgar Davids. Other Sources Keane's return, Davis' absence mark Cup countdown - from Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney: "We're going certainly to give him a couple of easy days and have him ready for Sunday.

• Can the Dynamo win one for De La Hoya? [Yahoo! Sports]
• Power outage during Galaxy match still rankles Dynamo [Houston Chronicle]
• Houston's Kinnear: Davis not available for MLS Cup [MLS Soccer]
• Dynamo hold topping out ceremony at new stadium site [Houston Dynamo]
• Kinnear, Arena vie to become first coach with three MLS titles [Houston Chronicle]
• MLS Cup Head-to-Head Breakdown: Bench [MLS Soccer]
• Ching fights off injuries, leads Dynamo to Cup appearance [MLS Soccer]

In Other News:

• Keane puts Galaxy on hold to relish moment [Irish Times]
• Jay Heaps chosen as next Revolution coach [Boston Globe]

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena confirmed in a conference call today that with Ireland 4-0 up in their Euro 2012 playoff series against Estonia and all but assured of qualification, he had asked Coach Giovanni Trapattoni if he would be willing to let the Galaxy striker miss Tuesday's second leg with MLS Cup looming Sunday.

I can't be the only one who still finds himself humming "This is LA...." every few minutes.

Sunday night was the most thrilling night I have ever spent at the HDC. I don't think I have ever heard the crowd louder. My favorite fans, pictured above, cheered their brains out, as it seems did 20,000 other fans.

Prohibieron a los aficionados del Blackburn entrar al estadio con pancartas contra su técnico, por los polémicos precedentes, para que todos animaran ante el Chelsea. Unos aficionados contrataron una avión y sobrevolaron Ewood Park con una avioneta que pedía 'Steve Kean out'. Hubo aplauso general.

Pearce calls up three replacements for the England U21s squad

Boro defender Joe Bennett, Manchester United's Will Keane and Newcastle forward Sammy Ameobi

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-07 20:15:22 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

In a huge disappointment to fans of dreadlocks everywhere, no white men with dreads are likely to hoist the MLS Cup this year.

Los Angeles will host the Houston Dynamo on November 20, as both teams won their conference finals by a two goal margin. Unfortunately for Houston, the Galaxy remains undefeated at home in 2011.

• Kop That: What are the odds Chelsea outscore Arsenal three days on? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day http://t.co/izXSGHMH 22:45:15, 2011-10-31
• Kop That: D-day dawns over latest Gerrard injury http://t.co/cZwg20bN 22:45:11, 2011-10-31
• Kop That: Tevez 'wants to stay in the Premier League' http://t.

Lampard, Vieira, Gerrard, Parker or Keane: who's our midfield general of the decade?

Click the arrow on the right of the photo to find out who we rate as the Premier League's best midfield general of the last ten years

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-10-31 17:31:26 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Footballers are very much like Marmite, you either love them or hate them. So, for out Top 10 of the week this week we have listed those who emulate the slogan incorporated by our favourite yeast extract... 10. Roy 'Keano' Keane Love: Perhaps the only born leader of his generation. Hate: In my eyes, he [.

Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to rumble? After 34 weeks of ups, down, shots, goals, and more Adrian Healey than most can handle, we have finally arrived at the promised land of American soccer: the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs.

This year will, as I'm sure you know, be different from those past.

After watching England play Montenegro last week, I was struck by a few things. Firstly the appearance of both Barry and Parker in the same team at this level is quite remarkable. Certainly both are good players in their own rights but, their lack of pace caused the English defence significant problems as the game progressed.

Keane fears he'll miss Ireland's Euro crunch

Striker is out four to six weeks and play-offs are 31 days away

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-10-12 21:24:39 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Not only are the Red Bulls still alive, after powering their way to a 2-0 victory against the League leading Los Angeles Galaxy, but if they win their final two games (and depending on other results) a top of the East finish is not beyond the realm of possibility. Even if that doesn't happen, two more wins and RBNY winds up with 49 points, which is just two less than last season.

Jack Robinson was on target as England U19s were held to a 2-2 draw against host nation France in their opening game of the Limoges tournament on Wednesday night.
The young Lions twice went ahead through Will Keane and Robinson, only to be pegged back on each occasion by the home team.
Conor Coady captained Noel Blake's side while Adam Morgan appeared as a 63rd minute substitute.

With just two matches left in the qualifying process for the 2012 European Championships, the Republic of Ireland remain in with a very real chance of getting to their first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup.

Thierry Henry and France's controversial- and undeserved- win meant heartbreak for the Boys in Green in the 2010 World Cup play-offs.

Chicago Fire in shock Ferdinand link is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Chicago Fire in shock Ferdinand link is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter MLS outfit Chicago Fire are said to be interested in securing the services of veteran Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Last week, Sir Alex Ferguson singled out Ryan Tunnicliffe, Paul Pogba and Will Keane as youngsters at United who had the potential to make it in the first team.

Paul Scholes, who has been working with our youngsters in his new coaching role, has supported the manager's assessment, as well as praising Larnell Cole, who made his début against Leeds in the League Cup last week.