Ok so today we are back to business in the Premier League with one or two players missing but its
still, on paper, another win for Chelsea at the Bridge. Lampard, Drogba, Ballack and Deco are
missing through injury but Ashley Cole and John Terry are fit to play which is important. The back
five are key to stability in the side and with the injuries we have this will be more important
than ever.
Click to continue reading...
There's only one game left in the 2009 MLS Schedule and it's the big one; the MLS Cup Final.
This year's final, which will be played at Seattle's Qwest Field, pits Western Conference regular
season champs the L.A. Galaxy against the streaking Real Salt Lake.
The matchup offers some good star power with the obvious L.
Click to continue reading...
There are going to be fixtures at various times that are considered (overwhelmingly by the media it
has to be said) as a chance to 'lay down a marker'.
Tomorrow's visit to Anfield will no doubt be seen as such an opportunity.
Of course, the outcome of tomorrow lunchtime's game is not going to decide anything over the course
of a season barely a quarter of the way in but it is a game whereby the result could have
ramifications over the short-term at least.
Click to continue reading...
SoccerLens 19 November @ 09:40 AM EST
Adrian Clarke and Iain Spragg are in fine form on Episode 29 of the world famous Soccerlens
Podcast.Â
There's a host of juicy topics to get stuck into this week and the duo's heated debate centres
on Thierry Henry's lack of sportsmanship, the miracle powers of horse placenta and the prospects
for manager-less Scotland.
Click to continue reading...
Futbolita 15 November @ 08:14 PM EST
(Thanks to Anna for the graphic)
It's Futbolita's One Year anniversary and 21st birthday today
(exactly a year since we started the site!) so we'd like to take the opportunity to thank every
single one of you for your support, comments, backlinks, retweets
etc.
Click to continue reading...
The Fire couldn't have asked for much more from last Saturday's 2-0 win over New England.
Advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs? Check.
Do it against a bitter rival? Check.
And do it all in style? Oh my, yes. Check.
That's what can happen when the Fire plays some of its most inspired soccer at the best time of
year before a packed house at Toyota Park.
Click to continue reading...
Carlo Ancelotti has decided to name his starting 11 way ahead of the game tonight which is unusual
and he has also taken the step of giving complete rest to John Terry, Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka
whereas Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will be on the bench. He said before
tonight's game: "If I have the possibility to give rest to all the players who also have to play in
their
Click to continue reading...
We travel to the Reebok today looking to get our away form back on track as Chelsea take on Bolton
for the second time in 4 days. Chelsea ran riot at the Bridge on Wednesday in the League Cup but
today is going to be alot different with key players back for both sides so expect a much
different kind of game.
Click to continue reading...
Tonight Chelsea travel to Madrid for the reverse fixture in our Champions League group stage
against Atletico Madrid. In our first game we totally outplayed Madrid and kept Forlan and Aguero
quiet. Expect it to be alot different as they are unbeaten at home this season. It will be
interesting to see if Ancelotti rotates the squad from our last game.
Click to continue reading...
Today Chelsea take on Manchester United in the biggest game of the season so far. Todays game may
be early in the season but today Chelsea have a chance to establish a 5-point lead on the other
contenders in the title race. Its the first time we have played United since the season curtain
raiser at Wembley and is of much much more importance.
Click to continue reading...
Guingamp make the short journey to Nantes tonight to face a team flying high in the league so
far this season.
Guingamp currently sit 2nd from bottom in the L2 season, a win tonight can see them move out of
the relegation zone. FC Nantes currently sit in 4th place in the in the L2 table, a win for them
could see them move up to 2nd.
Click to continue reading...
Today Chelsea take on Manchester United in the biggest game of the season so far. Todays game may
be early in the season but today Chelsea have a chance to establish a 5-point lead on the other
contenders in the title race. Its the first time we have played United since the season curtain
raiser at Wembley and is of much much more importance.
Click to continue reading...
Today Chelsea take on Manchester United in the biggest game of the season so far. Todays game may
be early in the season but today Chelsea have a chance to establish a 5-point lead on the other
contenders in the title race.
Its the first time we have played United since the season curtain raiser at Wembley and is of much
much more importance.
Click to continue reading...
Chelsea has turned the swag on of late (no souljaboytellem), wouldn't you say? Since the defeat
to Aston Villa (five matches): 19 goals scored, 2 conceded. The real test, however, comes today
when the reigning champions three times running visit Stamford Bridge. Manchester United travel to
the Bridge for a 1 v.
Click to continue reading...
The Fire came into last Sunday's Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the
New England Revolution with high hopes that they could leave Boston with a result.
And though the Fire got off to the right start in the series opener - scoring an early goal to
put the pressure on New England - the team was undone by a pair of defensive lapses and ultimately
fell to the Revolution 2-1.
Click to continue reading...
Expectation, expectation, expectation.
With a sense of frustration following four games on the spin, the unanimous feeling around the
blogs and forums this week is that tomorrow's game takes on an extra significance. Back at home
(easy to forget three of the four draws were on the road) and against a side who have badly
struggled on their travels so far suggests three points is a given.
Click to continue reading...
So this is probably the earliest I've ever done a match report (3 whole days in advance) and so
I can't link you to the BBC statistics report. You'll just have to go find it yourself, it'll be on
this page probably by Saturday. Like I said a little earlier, I'm going over to England and won't
have internet until I get back (I'm staying at my grandmother's house and she doesn't allow any
technology made after 1972 in), so don't expect any new posts from me until Tuesday at the earliest
(there there love, don't pine, you can always go through my archives or go read some of my posts on
England World Cup Blog if you miss me too much).
Click to continue reading...
The first Eastern Conference finalist will be determined tonight, when the first seeded Columbus
Crew play host Real Salt Lake in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series (7 p.m. CDT on
ESPN2).
The Crew fell to Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the series opener last Saturday and they'll need a win to
have hope of continuing their 2008 title defense.
Click to continue reading...
SoccerLens 05 November @ 08:37 AM EST
Join former Arsenal player Adrian Clarke and celebrated sports journalist Iain Spragg for
Episode 27 of the world famous Soccerlens Podcast.Â
This week's bouncy banter focuses on Barcelona and Inter Milan's Champions League concerns, big
money transfers that defy logic, and Stan Kroenke's bid to take control of Arsenal.
Click to continue reading...
Tonight Chelsea travel to Madrid for the reverse fixture in our Champions League group stage
against Atletico Madrid. In our first game we totally outplayed Madrid and kept Forlan and Aguero
quiet. Expect it to be alot different as they are unbeaten at home this season. It will be
interesting to see if Ancelotti rotates the squad from our last game.
Click to continue reading...
Tonight Chelsea travel to Madrid for the reverse fixture in our Champions League group stage
against Atletico Madrid. In our first game we totally outplayed Madrid and kept Forlan and Aguero
quiet. Expect it to be alot different as they are unbeaten at home this season.
It will be interesting to see if Ancelotti rotates the squad from our last game.
Click to continue reading...
New Atletico manager Quique Flores remembers the Blue machine well, Michael Essien all too
well. Furthermore, a win will take us through to the group stages. Oh, and Didier Drogba is back to
terrorize Europe.
I'll have that.
This man may be the fulcrum in 09-10.
Click to continue reading...
We travel to the Reebok today looking to get our away form back on track as Chelsea take on Bolton
for the second time in 4 days. Chelsea ran riot at the Bridge on Wednesday in the League Cup but
today is going to be alot different with key players back for both sides so expect a much
different kind of game.
Click to continue reading...
We travel to the Reebok today looking to get our away form back on track as Chelsea take on Bolton
for the second time in 4 days. Chelsea ran riot at the Bridge on Wednesday in the League Cup but
today is going to be alot different with key players back for both sides so expect a much different
kind of game.
Click to continue reading...
So it's Bolton at the Reebok on Saturday.
I think we can safely say we're not going to see a repeat of the midweek thrashing we threw at
Wanderers in the Carling Cup. Wednesday's match was the third consecutive demolition at Stamford
Bridge 13 goals scored, none conceded. The Blues are in a rich vein, eh?
Click to continue reading...
After three consecutive years suffering playoff heartbreak against the Revolution, the Fire will
try to extend their playoff winning streak against the Revs to two series this Sunday, when the two
sides meet at Gillette Stadium for Game 1 (1 p.m. on FSC) of their two game Eastern Conference
Semifinal matchup.
Click to continue reading...
SoccerLens 30 October @ 07:00 AM EST
Check out Episode 26 of the world famous Soccerlens Podcast with co-hosts Adrian Clarke and Iain
Spragg.
Football's swine flu epidemic (including the dangers of spitting), the latest twist in Newcastle
United's tale and an escalating problem with hooliganism all crop up in conversation during this
week's spookily good show – as do all the usual match previews and predictions, focusing on
Arsenal v Tottenham, Everton v Aston Villa as well as Lyon v Liverpool.
Click to continue reading...
Guingamp travel to Laval on Friday night in an attempt to revive their season and pull
themselves clear of relegation.
EAG and now just one place and one point above the drop zone and a defeat tomorrow night could
see them drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season.
Laval have only managed one win in their last five games, that was a 2-0 win away at Havre
AC.
Click to continue reading...
Arsenal face Liverpool tonight in the Carling Cup, a competition that Wenger has religiously
used to give reserves, youth players and first team squad players a run-out. Â We have had some
success over the years, reaching one final and three semi-finals, so the policy has its merits. Â I
would like Wenger to take the competition a little more seriously and start to use more experienced
players the closer got to the final.
Click to continue reading...
Carlo Ancelotti has decided to name his starting 11 way ahead of the game tonight which is unusual
and he has also taken the step of giving complete rest to John Terry, Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka
whereas Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will be on the bench. He said before
tonight's game: If I have the possibility to give rest to all the players who also have to play in
Click to continue reading...
Carlo Ancelotti has decided to name his starting 11 way ahead of the game tonight which is unusual
and he has also taken the step of giving complete rest to John Terry, Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka
whereas Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will be on the bench. He said before
tonight's game: If I have the possibility to give rest to all the players who also have to play in
Click to continue reading...
I've already taken a brief look at the Fire-Revolution first round series, but haven't spent any
time on the three other Conference Semifinals going on around the country in the next couple of
weeks. That's about to change though. Click after the jump for a quick rundown of the 'other' first
round series.
Click to continue reading...
Guingamp face a tricky home encounter against high flying Harve AC tonight at the Roudourou.
Despite Guingamp's poor form this season they are still unbeaten at home, with 1 win and 4
draws. However, Harve AC are strong away from home and have only lost once on their travels this
season taking 9 points from a possible 18.
Click to continue reading...
I've posted previously about a changing mentality in this City side, whereby if we are to make a
genuine attempt at a top six (or higher) position there needs to be an expectation of achieving
victory heading into games - in that the three points become a formality rather than something
hoped for.
A home game versus Fulham has to be such a game.
Click to continue reading...
