Style maven Djibril Cisse famous for his hair landscaping, goatees, and tattoos returns

QPR created the most buzz this transfer window completing the transfer of Nancy's highly rated midfielder Samba Diakite for a reported £3.36m. They added Nedum Onuoha from City and Taye Taiwo on loan from Milan to bolster the defense.

As you think about David Beckham – Will he? Won't he? Where did his love for us go? – and whether he'll keep the Good Ship Becks docked in Don Garber Harbor, let's talk quickly about shifting values and diminishing returns.

In a way, Beckham and the attached regiments of Brand Beckham are no different than any other goods, like a camera, a coffee maker or those awful and gaudy Christmas sweaters.

When Newcastle were looking to bring in a top left-back to replace Jose Enrique, who was rumored to be going to Liverpool in the summer, they took a good hard look at Taye Ismaila Taïwo, the Nigerian and Marseilles left back. Taye Taiwo - unhappy no at Milan Taiwo's contract was running out at the French club, and of course Newcastle are always [.

There are reports that Newcastle have joined Liverpool in taking an interest in AC Milan defender Taye Taiwo. Taye Taiwo - AC MIlan left back Taiwo was at Marseilles from 2005, after joining them from Nigerian Premier League side, Lobi Stars. He finally played 251 times with 23 goals for the French club, and of course he was in [.

szólj hozzá: Olympiakos Piraeus 3-1 Arsenal

The compendium of horrors first by Lukasz Fabianski and then Vito Mannone, his replacement helped by a healthy dose of god awful defending allowed Olympiakos to romp home 3-1 in their second leg against Arsenal. Unfortunately it was not enough for Greek club as Marseilles came back against Borussia to defeat them 3-2 to secure second spot.

We have qualified top of the group. Well done, lads.

Is this a reason to play a B team tonight? You bet it is.

Olympiakos would like to win this fixture and thus have the chance to progress, Marseilles would like us to win and allow them to go into the knockout rounds.

We have qualified top of the group. Well done, lads.

Is this a reason to play a B team tonight? You bet it is.

Olympiakos would like to win this fixture and thus have the chance to progress, Marseilles would like us to win and allow them to go into the knockout rounds.

Arsenal versus Marseilles has come around, and with it the opportunity to pretty much tie up our Champions League qualification with a victory. Coming top is key in order to increase the likelihood of an easier game in the next round, but many have suggested Wenger may rotate somewhat. The obvious candidate for a breather [.

Still basking in the glory of a wonderful Saturday afternoon? Me too, but time to move on.

3 points tonight and the CL Group stage is almost put to bed, which would allow Mr Wenger to rest some of his players for the remaining fixtures. We all know the damage done when AW has not closed out group qualification, and we must hope he has learned from last season's mistakes.

Still basking in the glory of a wonderful Saturday afternoon? Me too, but time to move on.

3 points tonight and the CL Group stage is almost put to bed, which would allow Mr Wenger to rest some of his players for the remaining fixtures. We all know the damage done when AW has not closed out group qualification, and we must hope he has learned from last season's mistakes.

Our first trip to France since 2002 when we beat Auxerre 1-0. A similar scoreline tonight would see Arsenal in the box seat in the group.

Marseilles are in the same type of form as Arsenal, lying 15th in Ligue 1 and struggling to get back in touch with their last season's form. Their win over Borussia shows just what they can do when playing well – our esteemed manager stating he was "surprised and impressed.

September 1996 marked the arrival of the man who changed English football forever, all the science and technology that surrounds every club these days is 100% down to Wenger's original ideas and methods.

Fergie may have more silverware.... but he has not implemented and introduced methods which the entire league have picked up and copied.

Alex -Oxlade Chamberlain gave the Gunners the perfect start scoring his CL debut goal with a composed finish. The 18 year old brings a speedy presence and a cannonball shot to make an impressive presence up front.

Minutes later, Andre Santos racing down the left flank centers the ball to Marouane Chamakh who was denied by a sliding defender.

A hot sunny Athens morning, greek yoghurt, fresh fruit, and some Greek honey. Lovely.

Olympiacos (we use a K, they use the C) come to town as Greek Champions , further than that I have little to tell you about them. They have over 80,000 members, the 9th highest in European football. They have a superb stadium, noisy, fanatical fans and a good home record.

By Alan Duffy

Self-induced humiliation is apparently a global phenomenon. After looking at the five most memorable English footballer pop disasters last week, we now turn our attention to the rest of the world, where, like at home, the footballing ego knows no bounds.

By Alan Duffy

With his disastrous spell at Liverpool now behind him, tricky schemer Joe Cole is looking to kickstart his career with French champions Lille.

Talking to BBC Sport, the 29-year-old is confident he will rediscover his best form across the Channel.

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It's Champions League group stage time from now until the beginning of December Europe's elite clubs will be going up against each other trying to reach the knockout stages and of course the money that playing in the later stages brings.

Two days after the drama of Italy Arsenal fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Our Champions League group has us in an awkward group with Borrusia Dortmund, the German champions, Olympiakos (Greek Champions) and Marseilles. Qualification will not be straight forward, but it never is for Arsenal even when we win our first three games it goes down to the wire!

A canter for Juergen Klopp and his foals

The Champions League group stage is set and Arsenal in Group F find themselves in the company of L'OM, Olympiakos, and Borussia Dortmund. Not an easy group because we play a storied French side that has turned things around, the Greek league champions, and the giant killing Bundesliga champions.

French international Djibril Cissé signed with Lazio today, citing racism as the main reason for his departure from Greece. Cissé is probably best known for his eccentric and creative hair styles, which include not only the hair atop his head but facial hair as well. From the neck up, the man appears to be dressed like a clown.

It seems that Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa is quite a persuasive guy, when it comes to getting his pals to sign on at Newcastle. Sylvain Marveaux - surprise signing by Newcastle Ben Arfa started the season on loan at Newcastle, from Marseilles, last August. but he then suffered that horrific double leg fracture against Manchester [.

Arsenal's inability to beat Aston Villa at the weekend, combined with Man City's win over Stoke last night, means that Arsenal will in all likelihood finish up in the fourth place in the league. This means the Gunners will have to play a Champions League play-off game either side of the second weekend of the Premier League campaign.

Arsenal's inability to beat Aston Villa at the weekend, combined with Man City's win over Stoke last night, means that Arsenal will in all likelihood finish up in the fourth place in the league. This means the Gunners will have to play a Champions League play-off game either side of the second weekend of the Premier League campaign.

There are days like this when as a supporter you wonder what's going to happen to you ahead of a big game. Excitation, tension, explosion.. (and, for OL supporters after a no-match like against Toulouse last week, frustration and desperation).

And today is one heck of a big game.

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It's the business end of the season and the languagecaster team attempt to predict the winners and losers from the Premier League season. Can Chelsea pip Manchester United to the title?

Looking through some of the free agents available this summer, here are three Swedish Internationals who Newcastle could well be even favorites to bring into the club. Nigerian International Taye Taiwo, the left back currently at Marseilles, is also a free agent, but he is already being tracked by Arsenal and other big clubs in [.

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We are well into April now and leagues around Europe are entering the final stretch of the title races. This week, languagecaster takes a look at the five big leagues and which teams look best placed to be crowned champions.

It ain't over 'til it's over, but as of now, European competition for a twelfth-straight season looks unlikely. Last missing out in 1999-2000, Liverpool have racked up a fair amount of frequent flier miles since the turn of the 21st century.
As usual, click to enlarge in a new window.

No more Beatles' 'When I'm Sixty Four', I'm afraid. I officially became an Old Age Pensioner this week, which I celebrated by watching Manchester United on television beating Marseilles in the Champions League. It was a pretty good way to mark the occasion as it kept alive tentative hopes of United winning the Treble and inevitably got me thinking of times past, as these landmark events in life always do.

I have been told by a few people that I have met over the years that I am a very tolerant person, who gives a people the benefit of the doubt, and one who tries to grasp the other person's point of view, which I am actually quite proud of. I have also been told that my patience for continual mistakes and errors by the same party time and time again is somewhat paper thin.

Oh yes they are... the cup game tonight against a brooding Arsenal is the last game of association football they need or want.. 3 days before a potentially banana skinned CL 2nd leg against Marseilles.

With a week till the next game for us, against West Brom in the league, Wenger will surely go for the strongest available eleven.

Lucky Arsenal? This season we have drawn Newcastle and Spurs away in the Carling Cup, Barcelona in the CL, and now Man Utd away in the FA Cup. I can only imagine Mr Wenger has spent the season walking under ladders and crossing the path of black cats. No-one wanted this fixture, neither Arsenal who are coming off the back of an emotional defeat at Camp Nou nor Man Utd, who are facing Marseilles in an important contest on Weds.

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This week, the big Rome derby and a smaller derby, the Kanagawa derby in Japan. We also have three Champions League crunch matches, a game each from Argentina and Germany. You can leave your predictions as a comment below.

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This week, the big Rome derby and a smaller derby, the Kanagawa derby in Japan. We also have three Champions League crunch matches, a game each from Argentina and Germany.

It seems that Nigerian left-back Taye Taiwo has been pleading with his club Marseilles to let him move in the summer, but only to a Premier League club. Taye Taiwo 25 year-old desperate for move to Premier League Taiwo has been linked with a potential move to Newcastle United should Spanish U21 International elect [.

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Every week during the 2010-11 season, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché for learners of English who love the sport. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript below that.

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Every week during the 2010-11 season, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché for learners of English who love the sport. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase and you can also read the transcript below that.

Walter Smith is the phlegmatic type. Over a managerial career now into its third decade with Rangers, Everton and Scotland he has accepted his varied triumphs and disasters in a manner that would earn Kipling's approval.
But there is one impostor that bothers him still, some 18 years after the events of one roller-coaster season.

21 April 1999, Stadio Del Alpi, Turin, Champions League Semi Final, second leg - The man who will be trying to mastermind a Marseilles defeat over Manchester United at the Velodrome on Wednesday...
Continue to the full story

21 April 1999, Stadio Del Alpi, Turin, Champions League Semi Final, second leg - The man who will be trying to mastermind a Marseilles defeat over Manchester United at the Velodrome on Wednesday...
Continue to the full story