Ajax hotshot Siem De Jong looked like one of the best strikers in Europe when he bagged two goals at the Etihad Stadium to put one of many nails in the coffin of Manchester City's Champions League campaign. But an entirely different player appeared to turn up for the Dutch side's friendly against Vasco Da [.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will take a gamble on his fringe players on Thursday night as he
names a weakened side for the Europa League clash at Hearts.
The Reds head to Tynecastle for the first leg of their qualifying clash without the likes of
skipper Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson.
Defending Serie A champion Juventus will have to embark on their quest to repeat with a new
coach.
Juventus manager Antonio Conte was banned for 10 months by the Italian soccer federation as part
of a widespread match-fixing scandal that dates back to his time as manager of Siena.
The city of Newcastle is famed for its vibrant nightlife culture, with clubs, pubs and bars open
all hours as thousands flock into the city centre every night. As though Tynesiders were not
blessed enough with the fun to have in their own city, they've been given three more excuses for a
wild time as Newcastle United enter the group stage of the Europa League.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Fox Soccer - 9 p.m. Univision Deportes Network - 9 p.m. La Ranchera
850 - 9 p.m. PREVIEW: The Houston Dynamo continue their 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League campaign with a
trip to Honduras on Thursday to face domestic champion C.D. Olimpia.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht were on the verge of ending their UEFA Champions League
campaign before it ever really got started, but two goals in the final nine minutes of their second
leg against AEL changed that.
Anderlecht punched their ticket to the group stage of the Champions League, earning a 3-2
aggregate victory after defeating the Cyprus club, 2-0, at home in the final play-off round on
Tuesday.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Fox Soccer - 9 p.m. Univision Deportes 2 - 9 p.m. KPRC 950 - 9 p.m.
La Ranchera 850 - 9 p.m. PREVIEW (via HoustonDynamo.com): The Houston Dynamo begin their 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions
League campaign on Wednesday at Estadio Cuscatlán, the national stadium of El Salvador, with their
opening Group Stage game against C.
Douglas McNeill is back with another guest post. Enjoy.
After my July piece on Fulham's finances, I promised a follow-up once the transfer window had
closed. So here goes. I see eight key points.
1. There has been a marked reduction in squad size. Eleven players have gone (Dembele, Dempsey,
Etuhu, Gecov, Gryhgera, Halliche, Johnson, Murphy, Pogrebnyak, Riise BH, and Sa) and only six have
come in (Berbatov, Dejagah, Petric, Richardson, Riether and Rodallega).
Douglas McNeill is back with another guest post. Enjoy.
After my July piece on Fulham's finances, I promised a follow-up once the transfer window had
closed. So here goes. I see eight key points.
1. There has been a marked reduction in squad size. Eleven players have gone (Dembele, Dempsey,
Etuhu, Gecov, Gryhgera, Halliche, Johnson, Murphy, Pogrebnyak, Riise BH, and Sa) and only six have
come in (Berbatov, Dejagah, Petric, Richardson, Riether and Rodallega).
There were not many surprises when Arsenal confirmed their official squads for this season's
Premier League campaign, except for the inclusion of the midfielder Craig Eastmond, who featured in
Arsenal's 3-0 defeat of Everton in the U21 League on Monday. The other surprises for me are
Sebastien Squillaci and Andrei Arshavin, who everyone thought would [.
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is available for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash
returning from suspension to replace Sebastian Coates in defence. Nuri Sahin is expected to make
his Liverpool debut replacing Injured Lucas (thigh) who is ruled out for up to three months.
Since Manchester United's opening game of the Premier League campaign, one player has attracted
large pockets of criticism that to my mind is baffling. While it was clear from his lackluster
display against Everton, Rooney isn't yet 100%, but can...
One of our readers tipped us off to a player walking with Chris Canetti at Saturday's match. We
now have confirmation today that it was Giles Barnes, a 24-year-old attacking midfielder/winger who
was released from his contract with Doncaster in May.
Brown broke on the scene in 2007 with Derby County, winning the club's Young Player of the Year
award.
Chidge is joined by the usual suspects to run the rule over Chelsea's first match of the Premier
League campaign against Wigan.
So here we are again for our first proper match of the season, or should we say ‘Here Wigan-0,
Here Wigan-0, Here Wigan-0!' The boys did all the hard work inside 7 minutes to secure our first 3
points of the season, and away points at that.
Last night Manchester United's Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start
following a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park. Within the opening half hour, Marouane Fellaini
had...
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Last night Manchester United's Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start
following a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park. Within the opening half hour, Marouane Fellaini
had...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Joe Hart believes that Manchester United will once again be the toughest contenders for his
Manchester City side's Premier League crown.
Hart and City won the 2011-12 title dramatically on goal difference but the England goalkeeper
admits that the famous triumph was too nerve-wrecking.
While the 25-year old is ready to fight for a successful title defense, he is aware that City
will be once again be challenged seriously by their bitter cross-town rivals.
Defending champions Manchester City brought back memorable celebrations of May 13 to Etihad
Stadium as they started their new Premier League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind win
against newly promoted Southampton.
City dramatically came from behind to score two late goals in their 3-2 win over QPR on the last
day of the 2011-12 season, sealing a nervy title win at the expense of bitter rivals Manchester
United nearly 13 weeks ago.
Newcastle United kick-off their Premier League campaign at St. James's Park against Tottenham
Hotspurs. The official line-up for the first game of the season is as follows: Tim Krul Danny
Simpson James Perch Steven Taylor Davide Santon Cheick Tiote Yohan ... Continued
The post NUFC Lineup vs Spurs appeared first on Newcastle United Blog.
The coming nine season will be the fifth since Stoke City ascended back to the Premier League,
and in surviving comfortably in this division they continue to frustrate the game's self-appointed
purists. Stoke remain the nearest thing that the division has to an antithesis of the self-image of
twenty-first century football.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has rubbished suggestions that his side starts the Premier
League campaign this weekend in a weaker position than major rivals such as Manchester City,
Manchester United, and Chelsea.
The Gunners looked far from title contenders last season but hammered European champions Blues
5-3 at Stamford Bridge and Arteta scored a sublime goal when they defeated Premier League winners
City 1-0 at the Emirates.
Brendan Rodgers claims to be closing in on a couple of new additions to his Liverpool squad, with
movement expected in the next 48 hours.
The Reds have already completed deals for Fabio Borini and Joe Allen this summer, but further
strengthening is required if the club is to challenge for a top-four finish.
Only one week ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign, Arsenal new-boys Lukas
Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud all made their first appearance for the Gunners away at
Köln on Sunday.
All three impressed, although Frenchman Giroud did miss a few decent chances.
Out-of-favour striker Andy Carroll capped a comfortable 3-1 victory for Liverpool over Bayer
Leverkusen in their final pre-season friendly before they kick off their Barclays' Premier League
campaign.
It took just three minutes for the home side to break the deadlock at Anfield through youngster
Raheem Sterling.
Today we take the pitch against Cologne in our last pre season friendly. Arsene's pre season
routine has been upset by the tour of the Far East and the games played there excluded a number of
first teamers and most importantly our new signings were left at home to settle in to London life,
and find their way around London Colney.
Today we take the pitch against Cologne in our last pre season friendly. Arsene's pre season
routine has been upset by the tour of the Far East and the games played there excluded a number of
first teamers and most importantly our new signings were left at home to settle in to London life,
and find their way around London Colney.
Chelsea secured a memorable FA Cup and Champions League double last season after interim manager
Roberto Di Matteo led Roman Abramovich's side to a strong finish amid a disturbed league
campaign.
The Russian billionaire responded by spending almost £60 million on players this season, which
should increase further following the expected arrival of Wigan's Victor Moses.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that there was "genuine interest" from other clubs
in forward Luis Suarez this summer.
Suarez had been linked with a move out of Anfield earlier this summer, and Rodgers is delighted to
have the striker's future sorted.
"There was genuine interest from other clubs," he said.
New Arsenal signing Santi Cazorla feels that the forthcoming campaign will provide both him and
the Gunners with an opportunity to take the long-awaited next step in their respective
developments.
Cazorla, 27, has long been renowned in his native Spain but spent most of his career at
Villarreal before moving to Malaga last summer.
Whether or not it's a result of the new format, there's been goals galore so far in the 2012-13
edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. Last week's action saw an average of 3.25 goals per game.
Most importantly, all three MLS teams in action recorded victories that put them in command of
their groups.
In Thursday's edition, Tony highlights a contender for quote of the year as Salt Lake gets their
Champions League campaign back in order, handicaps the race for the last playoff spot in the
Western Conference, and hangs a corner for Jaime Moreno to drive home. If you have to be missing
three center backs, is playing a non-Mexican team at home in the Champions League a good way to
regain some confidence?
"Even if Liverpool gets better production from the supporting cast – and honestly, there's
seemingly nowhere to go but up in that category – as [Suarez and Gerrard] go, so goes
Liverpool."
I hate being right.
And yesterday, in the first match of the league campaign, Suarez misfired and Gerrard had little
influence on proceedings, and Liverpool failed to take advantage when in control then succumbed to
a wonder goal followed by multiple defensive errors and a sending-off.
Cristiano Ronaldo (#7) of Real Madrid (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
A title-decider in early October?
It seems improbable, but that is what the Spanish football-related media would have you believe about the first La Liga Clasico of the season, when Real Madrid visit the Camp Nou to play Barcelona on Sunday.
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,
not because they are easy, but because they are hard" -JFK
The Houston Dynamo are in for a real test tonight. Traveling to Central America is hard enough,
but a trip to Estadio Tiburcio CarÃas Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is extra tough.
Despite quiet confidence in advance of this season's opening salvos, a tough sequence of fixtures
added to the absence through injury of midfield playmaker Peter Leven will have left Oxford United
fans cautious before the Capital One Cup visit to Bournemouth on August 14th. But their divisional
betters from Dorset were seen off on penalties and the League campaign has started no less
auspiciously – two of the favourites, Bristol Rovers and Southend have been vanquished and the
performance in the latter game in particular was notable for its ease.
The new season sees the Football League welcome another previously unfamiliar side to its ranks.
Following Crawley's ascension last year, their brethren in red – Fleetwood Town – will compete
in the 72 for the very first time this coming season. Fleetwood have been in the news before, their
breakneck rise through the non-league pyramid capturing attention, not least when they came up
against Blackpool in the FA Cup last season.
Rapid Vienna waited until the waning minutes of the second leg to salvage their Europa League
campaign, thanks to an extra time penalty from Dani Alar and an insurance tally from Terrence Boyd.
