For today's profile, we welcome back Michael Hudson, a long standing friend of the blog and the mastermind behind The Accidental Groundhopper website. Here, Michael, who can be followed on Twitter at @DolphinHotel, turns his attention to a player on the brink of signing for Southampton, drawing as he does on his immense experience following the game in Asia.

Oliver Holt, The Mirror.

What a shame Liverpool chose to couch their decision not to appeal in ­inflammatory language that continued to insist Suarez had done nothing wrong. Suarez has admitted calling Patrice Evra "negro". To persist with the argument, as he and the club are doing, that this was a term of endearment is not just "incredible", as the tribunal found; it is also laughable.

Ah the scrap heap of MLS. Guys who were once counted on by their teams now discarded because next year's salary is to high. So who should the Fire be considering to take off the scrap heap? Join me after the jump where I will talk about phases, players, and make fun of Baggio Husidic. It will be fun!

By Eric Beard

Despite everything Soccernomics preaches, Turkey's path to becoming a footballing superpower has hit yet another bump in the road. The nation failed to qualify for EURO 2012, and via the transitive property this means Guus Hiddink's time is up as manager.

Reluctant hero in 10 short stories

He was the mastermind behind Liverpool's unprecedented treble success of 1984, a priceless cog in the Anfield machinery for 25 years before then and founder of the legendary bootroom.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-11-11 11:43:48 from: Liverpool FC

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

Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt to start for the Reds in the derby

A FRESH autumn morning will make way for some Indian summer sun in Liverpool today as the city makes the most of the unexpected heatwave. Not that heat would have been completely unexpected in L4 today – it's derby day, the 185th time The Reds have met The Blues in the league and a time where friendships and family ties are tested to their limits.

These are worthy a few minutes of your life but not too many more than that. Safe to say that if TBFWHL was forced to choose out of these two who to spend an hour down the pub with, it'd probably choose, erm, Crouchy. Don't go on TV after you've retired, eh lads?
The lowhighlight? "I don't know about Mastermind, what's that?

You know I had a good mind to cancel the End of the Season awards this year. After all the trouble I had trying to mail the various gongs off last time out, it really felt like my efforts were going to waste. Sure, the ‘trophies' weren't made with so called ‘traditional' materials- some odd bits of MDF glued together, dried pasta shapes and enough gold lacquer to take down a light aircraft, if you want the truth- but some of the feedback I got from the recipients was just plain rude.

The Laszlo Kubala Influence, Part One, 1951-58

On June 15, 1950, two Hungarians joined Barcelona to signify the beginning of yet another transformation: Laszlo Kubala and new manager Ferdinand Daucik. They were the masterminds of the success to come.

In 1951, Kubala scored 26 goals in 19 games, breaking the La Liga's record for most scored in a single match with seven against Sporting de Gijon.

Of course, the day belongs to Porto for winning their first Europa League title in eight years (the last one they picked up was with Mourinho when he was making his mini mark as a mastermind in 2002!) But these innovative fans take the cake for using paper plates (or something along those lines) to create their butts/costumes!

Barcelona followed up their 2-0 first leg win with a 1-1 home draw against Real Madrid to progress to the UEFA Champions League final. Pedro capped off an excellent move from Barcelona just ten minutes after halftime, all but ending the tie in favor of the hosts. Ten minutes later Marcelo found the back of the net for the visiting Real Madrid, but it was not enough.

Guardiola awkwardly watches Sergio Busquets and Mourinho
nuzzle noses in a memorable moment of the match
After my makeshift preview of El Clasico, things turned out exactly as I didn't think they would. While I was expecting an exciting battle between two sides wanting to crush each other, it turned out to be a fairly tiring affair to watch, especially the first half.

Guardiola awkwardly watches Sergio Busquets and Mourinho
nuzzle noses in a memorable moment of the match
After my makeshift preview of El Clasico, things turned out exactly as I didn't think they would. While I was expecting an exciting battle between two sides wanting to crush each other, it turned out to be a fairly tiring affair to watch, especially the first half.

It has taken until nearly March, but the first ten point deduction of the season in the Football League is now finally upon us with the news that Plymouth Argyle have lodged a "notice of intention" to enter into administration. The notice of intention the date of which, the 21st of February, is no coincidence considering that another tax bill fell due yesterday is a technicality that allows a company protection on a short-term basis from legal action taken by their creditors, but the deduction has been applied by the Football League regardless of this.

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...
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Saturday's match against Wolves was the ideal way to set the mood for Wednesday's clash with Barcelona. Robin Van Persie was in great form as he finished both goals for us. The rest of the squad was also up to the task, and this is evident in the fact that Wolverhampton had 0 shots on goal, and only 2 shots to begin with.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger today stated his belief that league leaders Manchester United have been lucky at times this season as they have surpassed the halfway mark still unbeaten. Wenger, of course, was the mastermind behind Arsenal's invincibles five years ago, and the Frenchman admitted that it's not out of the realm for United to match that effort.