For much of this season, Spurs number one Brad Friedel has quietly gone about his business and at times, solid performances across the back four have provided him with little to do. When called upon, the American is an uncomplicated keeper who has brought calm between the posts where once there was chaos.

Well, what a day in the old Anglais de Premiero that was. (Pretty sure that's a flawless translation) Barely had we put on a pair of trousers that could be deemed fit for public display was Fernando Torres and his new chums doing a hilarious job of not beating Norwich at Carrow Road.

Losing key players at any stage of the season is far from ideal, so when clubs lose in-form star men during the Africa Cup of Nations it must be particularly frustrating for Premier League managers.
The turn of the year is notoriously difficult for clubs – with injuries, suspensions and fatigue playing a part after a busy festive period.

Manchester City slumped to their second home defeat in four days as Steven Gerrard's early penalty moved Liverpool to within 90 minutes of their first Wembley appearance since 1996.
Lacking key men, including skipper Vincent Kompany who sat forlornly in the stands as he began a four-match ban, and drained by the energy exerted at having to play for 78 minutes with 10 men against Manchester United at the weekend, City were a shadow of their usual selves.

Thomas Broich's importance to Brisbane Roar was always fairly clear but the club's recent losing streak has more than highlighted just how urgently they need the German back fit. Broich's absence from the team has coincided with a run of defeats – as predicted by numerous soccer betting tips that has the potential to undo all the hard work the club did on their way to a record 36-match unbeaten run.

Now I love a good yarn as much as the rest of them but is it me or has Fox Sports FC just reduced itself to talk and more talk.......wake up!
You'd hardly know the show was about football from the visual hour.
Hardly a piece of football action in the show last night, especially in the first 45 mins.

Despite all the talk about the potential effect of the loss of van Persie or other players like Song and Walcott to injury (to Arsenal's ambitions), Arsene Wenger has still ruled out signing players to back up the key men in the January transfer window. "At the moment, I do nothing in January," he said.

Game week is here and I'm a happy man, I met an old lady who predicted stuff with her fancy crystal ball and the inquisitive man in me asked her to predict this game week. So here is what she had to say:

Newcastle V Chelsea:

Alan Pardew's men are on a roll and AVB's men are down in a hole.

Euro 2012: Your guide to England's group rivals

Euro 2012: Your guide to England group rivals France Ukraine Sweden their key men previous meetings and more

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-12-02 21:31:53 from: The Mirror

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

"You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out,
In out, in out,
Fill us all with doubt..."

What's going on with Arsène Wenger?

Is he in? (staying with us until his dotage, when he can emerge from the Emirates elevators like Young Mr Grace and say "you've all done very well" to mystified tea ladies and reserve team kit assistants)?

Arsene Wenger remains coy about his future at Arsenal in an interview with L'Equipe which is published today.

As the Gunners head for a Premier League clash with Norwich City at Carrow Road this lunchtime, it emerges that AW refuses to rule out leaving at the end of the season. Then again, he insists he wants to continue as our manager.

Kenny Dalglish is convinced his Liverpool squad can cope with the absence of key men Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher as they are much better equipped compared to last season.
Gerrard and Carragher, the local heroes who have been the backbone of the Liverpool team for 12 years, have always been indispensable members of the squad with the club's success very much dependent on their availability.

Aaron Ramsey feels Arsenal can make a "fresh start" to their Barclays Premier League campaign with victory over new-boys Swansea at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Gunners have suffered a nightmare opening to the domestic campaign, which followed the sale of key men Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri - with Arsene Wenger's squad left reeling from their 8-2 humiliation by Manchester United at Old Trafford before the international break.

Dalglish: Liverpool won't underestimate under-strength Arsenal

Gunners without a host of key men for Emirates clash but Scot says his side won't take them lightly

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-08-19 12:47:14 from: Talksport

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

It is understood Manchester City are in the final stages of negotiations regarding the proposed signing of Arsenal's Samir Nasri.

City have been chasing Nasri's signature all summer and they are now thought to be close to bringing the France international to the Etihad Stadium.

Talks between both clubs are thought to be at an advanced stage and the North West outfit are hoping to make the talented midfielder their latest summer capture.

It's hard to add much more than the Arseblogger after last night's defeat to Benfica. There is no need for despair but there if nothing is done, then we are certainly in big trouble for the season ahead. A lot hasn't changed and obviously that's where a lot of the frustration comes from, this is very understandable so in my opinion.

Last season, Brighton cantered to the title, with Southampton and Huddersfield fighting neck-and-neck for most of the campaign before the Saints eventually prevailed and were joined in the Championship by play-off winners Peterborough. But who will be up there or thereabouts this year?

Who's Looking Good?

Newcastle (A) – Udinese (H) – Liverpool (H) – Udinese (A) – Manchester United (A)

Five games in 16 days, each with its unique degree of significance. I don't like dramatizing the consequences of each match, especially at the start, but one gets the feeling, before the end of August Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jayega.

Spurs seem likely to make several changes to the starting line up for tonight's game against Orlando Pirates in an attempt to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing defeat.

However, it looks as if the home fans will be denied their wish to see Steven Pienaar in action as he struggles to recover from a knee injury.

Liverpool are ready to continue their shopping spree in 2011 with a bid for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.
The Reds have not been shy about spending money in the transfer market since the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) consortium headed by John W Henry took over the club last autumn. In the nine months since they assumed control at Anfield, they have bankrolled the signings of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Charlie Adam, and Jordan Henderson for a combined total of £85m though £50m of that sum has been offset by the January sale of Fernando Torres to Chelsea.

Stuart Pearce has left Wilshere out of the U-21 squad. Coming soon after the honest interview given by Denilson that filled most of us with hope, this is the second piece of highly encouraging Arsenal news. I hope this trend develops and the summer turns out to be as memorable as the last few weeks have been miserable.

The Joy of good Lavezzi is a post from: Just Football

In this week's Serie A column David Swan assesses the understated importance of one of Napoli's key men:

Edinson Cavani has scored an incredible 20 league goals in 28 games for Napoli this season, just under half of the total scored by the club in Serie A.

Raul Meireles scores once again for Liverpool... A side clearly suffering from fatigue yesterday meant that Liverpool could only muster a draw against Wigan Athletic. With key men Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard unavailable plus several players only just back from international duty, the match took its toll into the second half and by 90minutes, 1-1 was probably a fair result.

Tweet

Absence of key men resulted in shock defeat

Yeah, so we lost to Ipswich. So what? It's not the end of the world. We've got another play against them at the Emirates. And what's with Fabregas saying Ipswich didn't play football, they played Rugby?! Excuse me! You gotta admit it this time Fab, we WERE sloppy!