Stevenage have ended their interest in Michael Brough, for now. Graham Westley told the Comet that the two clubs have failed to agree a new loan deal and that any deal is a long way off. Westley stated that he wanted to keep the multi-functional player, but with the clubs not being able to agree a deal, the Boro boss may have to look elsewhere for enforcements to his squad.

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Before David Beckham popularised this art, goals from the halfway line were spectacular but rare. Since then, there have been more and more outrageous goals scored by really talented footballers.
Just recently, a college university freshman from SMU scored a 95-yard goal which bounced over the opposition goalkeeper and into net. Click to continue reading...

With Gerrard and Torres out of today's game against Sunderland, Liverpool fans are waiting with bated-breath to see what team will be sent out by Rafa Benitez. As a comparison, Liverpool have been without their two star players five times in the past. How did the teams line-up in those games?
TOULOUSE: August 2007 (4-0 win)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Agger -- Hyypia -- Riise
Benayoun -- Sissoko -- Masch -- Leto
----------- Crouch -- Kuyt
CHELSEA: December 2007 (2-0 defeat)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Carra -- Hobbs -- Aurelio
--------- Alonso -- Sissoko
Voronin ------ Lucas ------- Babel
------------- Crouch
LUTON: Jan 2008 (1-1)
-------------- Reina
Finnan -- Carra -- Hyypia -- Riise
---------- Alonso --- Lucas
Kuyt ------ Benayoun ------ Babel
------------ Crouch
FULHAM: April 2008 (2-0 win)
-------------- Reina
Finnan -- Skrtel -- Hyypia -- Riise
Benayoun -- Masch -- Lucas -- Pennant
---------- Crouch -- Voronin
MANCHESTER UNITED: September 2008 (2-1 win)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Carra -- Skrtel -- Aurelio
---------- Alonso -- Masch
Kuyt ---------- Benayoun ------- Riera
---------------- Keane
The Chelsea defeat aside, Benitez hasn't gone particularly defensive when Gerrard and Torres have both been missing. Click to continue reading...

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- TWO QPR Reports! This QPR Report site. And, the second combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. If you're interested in constantly-updated news re anything QPR-related and also QPR nostalgia, this site has both - along with assorted eclectic non-QPR football material. Click to continue reading...

With a plethora of football books about to hit the shops ahead of the Christmas season, Scotty Kingsley reviews the offerings of the man they called 'Houdini'.

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Many years ago Lennie Lawrence threatened to write a book about his time a Charlton. There was certainly enough packed into his nine year spell at the club, including winding up orders, high court visits, numerous Chairmen, promotion, play-offs, relegation and of course ground sharing and the Valley Party to warrant one if not more volumes.

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- Visit the up-to-the-minuteQPR Report Messageboard: If you want, even post! The combination quasi-blog and messageboard has up-to-the-minute news about QPR, combined with QPR nostalgia and occasional news of general football interest!
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER! Click to continue reading...

I haven't got an internet connection until the weekend, but thought I better put something up tonight after a superb result and performance away at Luton Town. I arrived about 45 mins before kick off after finding somewhere to park in the ghetto! The atmosphere was electric in the ground. The Boro fans can be very proud of themselves tonight.

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With Luton, Cambridge and Oxford all dropping points, Stevenage missed a big oppoortunity to close the gap on the leaders of the Blue Square Premier after being held at home by lowly Grays. The Essex side came into the game after a run of 3 straight defeats, but frustrated Westley's side all evening.

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This year's Blue Square South title race is shaping up to be as tight as last year. With eleven matches now played, only five points separate the top five clubs, and two of them meet this afternoon as Woking played Newport County at Kingfield. For Woking, the BSS may feel like a little bit of a culture shock after seventeen seasons in the Blue Square Premier.

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So, five games into the league, which players have begun as if their lives depended on it? Who are the early contenders for player of the year, or golden boot winner? Who has surprised you the most? Here are a few names to consider, based on what we've seen so far.

Thomas Vermaelen
Hands up who knew about this chap before Arsenal signed him?

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Blue Square Premier League 2009-10 Predictions
1. Luton Town
2. Oxford
3. Wrexham
4. Stevenage
5. Mansfield
6. Cambridge
7. Rushden & Diamonds
8. Kidderminster
9. York City
10. AFC Wimbledon
11. Kettering
12. Crawley
13.

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As the great Bill Shankly remarked: "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.". It many cases we would be inclined to believe him. There are times when football captivates us so much that we forget that at the end of the day, [...] Click to continue reading...

News today that makes you realise there's more to life than just football. Former Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic striker John Hartson will undergo chemotherapy after being diagnosed with brain cancer, according to reports in today's papers.

The striker, was scored 89 goals for Celtic and was named Scottish Player's Player and Football Writers Player of the year in 2005, was diagnosed at the weekend after undergoing tests.

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Phil Wallace has come back from the USA to meet with the board regarding a 20 point plan. It's the plan he hopes will be sufficient enough to get the club through this season after the loss of apparently £100,000 due to the Irish Broadcaster's collapse. £100k is a lot of money for a club of our size, in the division we're in and whereas Premier League clubs would see that sort of money as change or a weeks wages for one of its players, it's a totally different ball game in the lower leagues.

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With pre-season officially just days away the excitement is building in preparation for the new season. The Blue Square Premier fixtures will be released at the back end of next week and by then Graham Westley's squad will have already been through a couple of tough days of fitness training.

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Any regular followers of this blog will know that updates have been few and far between since May. As the football season has reached its dramatic climax and the transfer window has reopened, the world of work has come under an enormous and ever increasing amount of pressure from the recession.

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Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby believes that the expected £80 million transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo from Premier League champions Manchester United to La Primera giants Real Madrid would not be enough to land Steven Gerrard who, he believes, would never be up for sale.

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Gary Mills has left Stevenage Borough this afternoon, joining Blue Square Premier rivals Mansfield Town on a two year contract. It's a move that I'm surprised has happened, but at the same time am not disappointed. The defensive midfielder was one of Graham Westley's first signings last summer when he rejected a new contract at Kettering to move to Broadhall Way.

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Arsenal's youth team face Liverpool tonight in the 1st leg of the FA Youth Cup at the Emirates. Arsenal won their Academy division and then went on to win the Academy title beating Manchester City in the semi-final and arch-rivals Tottenham in the final at White Hart Lane 1-0, thanks to a goal from Rhys Murphy.

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Calculators and collection buckets look to be the order of the day this summer as at least three football league clubs - Southampton, Stockport and Darlington - fight for their very existence. If rumours are to be believed, these aren't the only clubs from Championship downwards who are sailing close to administration.

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So here we are, FA Cup semi-final day, and the butterflies can officially start fluttering like the dickens.

I'll be off to Wembley later for my first visit to the new old ground, and I can't wait. My own band of gooners will be converging on Wembley from London, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, four merry old souls with years of experience under our belts.

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Where were you on April 15th 1989? I was at Clarence Park in St Albans, for a Vauxhall-Opel League Premier Division match between St Albans City and Barking. It was a beautiful spring day, but there was little excitement in the air. City were just safe from relegation, whilst Barking were mid-table.

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- For a slew of "cutting-edge" articles and links to articles re QPR and football-in-general...For a site where differing opinions are encouraged - as long as the subject is football - but without the ad-hominems: Visit the completely-independent QPR Report Messageboard. Post if you want. Click to continue reading...

Dedicated to Sean Ingle.
It's hard to decide which was the more smorgulescent moment; the drefted booing of League Chairman Lord Mawhinney, or the snarduptacious extra time strike of thriker Claude Gnapke. All can agree the stappy-shappy Johnstone Paints Trophy decider was reminiscent of the stambrary finals of old, when all it took was one gracky hero to borf a game into the tubels of history. Click to continue reading...

Luton Andy is a happy man this afternoon.
After all the trials and tribulations his team has endured this season, the Hatters fans have got something to celebrate at last.
I managed to track Luton Andy down shortly after their victory in the Johnstone Paint Trophy final today. Click to continue reading...

Just as we have guessed and assumed, transfer rumors about James Beattie leaving Sheffield United for Stoke City, came true. Excellent striker has reinforced the Potters for the estimated sum of £3.5 million. After a year with the Blades and 34 goals, ex-Southampton and Everton player traded his red Sheffield United shirt for the [. Click to continue reading...

Superhero thrown out of stadium! Fans at Saturday's match between Darlington and Luton were treated to a surprise celebrity appearance from Spiderman. The comic book hero took his place with the Luton faithful for most of the match, but eventually the Hatters' dismal display got too much for their famous fan. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal are center of most of today's transfer rumors as The Guardian is reporting that Arsenal are in hot pursuit of West Ham's Matthew Upson. The move will follow Kolo Toure's departure to Manchester City. Wenger is a known admirer of Upson, having previously purchased him in May of 1997 from Luton Town. Click to continue reading...

Stevenage Reserves are up against Luton Reserves tonight at Broadhall Way. Updates from the game will be live here. LIVE SCORE: Boro 2-0 Luton BORO: Bayes, Wilson, Anaclet, McDevitt, Albrighton, Vincenti, Drury, Mills, Black, Willock, Thomas SUBS: Anderson, Balderson, Burke, Brinkman, Martin LUTON: Brill, Deeney, Wood, Barker, Roper, Biggi, Farthing, McVeigh, Andrews, Charles, Owusu SUBS: Hogarth, Fletcher, Watkins, Da Silva 1 min: [. Click to continue reading...

: Don Valley Stadium Date: Saturday 20th September 2008, 3.00 pm Competition: League Two Match:   Rotherham 1    Luton 0 HT: 0-0 Att: 4,095                 Rhodes 61   Additional: Entrance: £20.00 Upper Tier £18.00 Lower Programme: £2.50 Hot drinks: Coffee £1.20 Ground PHOTOS of Don Valley Stadium This match was a meet up of members of Shaun Smith's 100 Football Ground club members. Click to continue reading...

Joe Kinnear, the former Wimbledon, Luton and Nottingham Forest manager took the Newcastle interim manager job today, but will be there for just 6 games. Kevin Keegan - returning to club in early October? Newcastle appointed the 61-year-old after former England boss Terry Venables turned down the job yesterday, following Kevin Keegan's departure on September 5th. Click to continue reading...

League Two -- Individual Points
Player Team Goals Assists G+A Shots Thorne Brad 8 1 9 19 Saunders D&R 5 4 9 19 Ellison Chest 5 2 7 26 Lowe Chest 2 5 7 17 Benson D&R 4 2 6 17 Clarke Darl 5 0 5 11 Colbeck
Brad
1
4
5
11
Strevens D&R 3 1 4 14 Elder Brentf 3
1
4
16
Parkin Luton 3
1
4
19
Richards PVale 3
1
4
14
Reid Roth 3
1
4
14
Williamson
Wycombe
3
1
4
5
Davies
Shrews
2
2
4
15
Boulding
Brad
3
0
3
14
MacDonald Brentf 3 0 3 9 Morrell
Bury
3
0
3
8
Ward
C'field
3
0
3
31
Gill
Exeter
3
0
3
9
Jackson
Gillingham
3
0
3
27
Morgan Alder 2 1 3 5 Soares
Aldershot
2
1
3
15
Sodje
Bury
2
1
3
3
Martin
Luton
2
1
3
15
Burgmeier
Darl
1
2
3
5
Curtis Morecambe
1
2
3
10
Rodgers P Vale
1
2
3
14
Spence
Wycombe
1
2
3
3
Hamshaw
Notts Co
0
3
3
6
League Two -- Shots

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Peter Thorne
Division Two -- Individual Points
Player Team Goals Assists G+A Shots Thorne Brad 6 1 7 15 Saunders D&R 4 3 7 12 Lowe Chest 2 4 6 12 Clarke Darl 4 0 4 8 Strevens D&R 3 1 4 9 Benson D&R 3 1 4 11 Richards PVale 3 1 4 11 Ellison Chest 2 2 4 20 MacDonald Brentf 3 0 3 9 Parkin Luton 3 0 3 15 Morgan Alder 2 1 3 5 Poole Brentf 2 1 3 6 Elder Brentf 2 1 3 13 Reid Roth 2 1 3 12 Holt Shrews 2 1 3 11 Click to continue reading...

Sam Saunders...Key cog in efficient Daggers attack

League Two -- Individual Points
Player Team Goals Assists G+A Shots Thorne Brad 8 1 9 19 Saunders D&R 5 4 9 19 Ellison Chest 5 2 7 26 Lowe Chest 2 5 7 17 Benson D&R 4 2 6 17 Clarke Darl 5 0 5 11 Colbeck
Brad
1
4
5
11
Strevens D&R 3 1 4 14 Elder Brentf 3
1
4
16
Parkin Luton 3
1
4
19
Richards PVale 3
1
4
14
Reid Roth 3
1
4
14
Williamson
Wycombe
3
1
4
5
Davies
Shrews
2
2
4
15
Boulding
Brad
3
0
3
14
MacDonald Brentf 3 0 3 9 Morrell
Bury
3
0
3
8
Ward
C'field
3
0
3
31
Gill
Exeter
3
0
3
9
Jackson
Gillingham
3
0
3
27
Morgan Aldershot 2 1 3 5 Soares
Aldershot
2
1
3
15
Sodje
Bury
2
1
3
3
Martin
Luton
2
1
3
15
Burgmeier
Darl
1
2
3
5
Curtis Morecambe
1
2
3
10
Rodgers P Vale
1
2
3
14
Spence
Wycombe
1
2
3
3
Hamshaw
Notts Co
0
3
3
6
League Two -- Shots

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Doesn't the picture at the bottom of League 2 look bizarre.
The bottom 3 teams, Rotherham, Bournmouth and Luton have all started the season with large points deductions - 17, 17 and 30 points respectively. You'd be laughing if you were one of the other teams wouldn't you.
By the same token though if I was a fan in one of those other clubs I think I would feel as if there was a missing dimension to the season. Click to continue reading...