Let's all take a deep breath, shall we? I know I need one (or several).

D.C. United are champions again.

Tonight, United fought a very scrappy and resilient Charleston Battery side to capture the second U.S. Open Cup in club history. The win marks the tenth domestic trophy - and twelfth major title overall - since the team's inception in 1996.

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What a contrast to last Saturday's efforts or lack of them, a performance full of drive and motivation saw us overcome Newcastle comfortably 3-0. It could have been eight or nine, had our finishing been slightly more clinical; the most comforting thing was the increase in tempo and the way in which everyone worked hard off the ball, pressing and harrying the opposition at every opportunity. Click to continue reading...

Tonight I'm going to talk about love.

The role of love in football.

It's a tricky subject in some ways. We all have our definition of love and it takes many different forms.

The kind of love I want to talk about is the love we have for the people we work with and for. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland Football: Keano's proving a slippery Black Cat as Tottenham are stunned

So Sunderland football and the FA Premier League do mix! Roy Keano is beginning to show signs of not only being a fierce man motivator, but a real canny mover in the transfer market as well.

His Sunderland football side has been beefed up with proven Premiership players this year, and boy does it show, and with Anton Ferdinand another likely arrival you really can't see Sunderland and Keano boys struggling in the Premiership this year. Click to continue reading...

So here we are, just a day away from the new season.

Despite worries over the midfield I'm excited, I have to say. No matter what my head says about the fact we need that player my heart, as always, is full of promise and hope for the campaign ahead. We're starting with a crucial game against FC Twente in the Champions League.

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We still require a few more people for our "Wisdom Of Crowds" Project.
We are particularly keen to attract 'amateur' punters as we are currently top-heavy with professionals - the perils of a skewed readership.
For details of this Project, please check:
http://footballisfixed.blogspot. Click to continue reading...

The unseemly scuffle between Barcellona (along with Werder Bremen and Schalke 04) and the International Olympic Committee about whether to release or not their players for the Olympic tournament has finally reached a conclusion, even if a bizarre one.

Finally told that Leo Messi, Diego and Rafinha could return to their clubs, the same players still played in their country's opening game and appear set to stay till the very end. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez's complete mismanagement of Xabi Alonso is the main reason the talented Spaniard is on his way out of Anfield.

****I originally posted this article on the 5th February 2008 in response to what I believed were obvious signs that Xabi Alonso was being mismanaged by Rafa. In light of the current uncertainty surrounding Alonso's future, I feel compelled to re-post the article. Click to continue reading...

And that is why we are 0-3-3 in the last six games.

That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

In teaching theory, "Stephen Krashen offers three ‘affective variables' that have been identified as being related to language-acquisition : these are ‘motivation', ‘self-confidence' and ‘anxiety'.

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There have been requests for a fantasy football league to be setup in the comments, so I thought I'd do it. I just wasn't sure if it would keep up the attention span of people for an entire season, but hey, if there are prizes to be won, then I guess that is enough motivation. Anyway, [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...

As the fall season approaches, I've been talking with my assistant coaches about what events we should think about taking our team to this year. They say the best learning environment is playing in matches, so we try to provide additional playing opportunities for our team while also providing them with a fun weekend where [. Click to continue reading...

Cristiano Ronaldo sits down for an interview and gets testy.

How do you view all the fuss about you possibly leaving Manchester United?
The way I look at it is this - the greatest players are always associated with the greatest clubs. Not only me, but all players who are good, good clubs want them. Click to continue reading...

KC Wizards vs Columbus Crew is the national broadcast tonight, the game begins at 7:00 pm on ESPN. I'll be at Coester's enjoying the game tonight - Jack Jewsbury and team in HD on the big screen with some food and beverage specials. Almost heaven if you ask me. And it's always more fun with a group.

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A long time since my last post, and not much has actually occurred.

Let's summarise events:

* Adebayor hasn't moved anywhere, despite skulking round the Nou Camp/ San Siro for the last month wearing a 'please, please, please buy me, i'm easy' shirt on. He definitely wants to leave, let's get that clear. Click to continue reading...

I just wanted to include a link to the story on the Sideline Views blog, which had a very good story about the disbursement of the million dollar prize for this tournament amongst the players on the MLS teams. Lets just say that the motivation for the MLS teams might be a little lacking in comparison to the Mexican teams. Click to continue reading...

Ronaldinho seen here in his protest outfit- which is either a very long pair of short pants or a very short pair of long pants.He says he's going to go the Olympics whether his club permits it or not.
Exact words ..."I feel very positive and I am not thinking about anything that is not good.

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I've been thinking about the USWNT as they get ready to take on the world in the Olympics. Partly because of the debate touched off here - and also Grant's excellent article that sparked off the discussion.

In some ways, I blame Anson Dorrance.
This is not to say that the man isn't an excellent coach. Click to continue reading...

The Adebayor situation took yet another twist when his agent, Stephane Courbis, insisted that that Adebayor is not greedy and that Arsenal need to make more of an effort to hang on to him.

The cheeky bastard!

"It is vital that Arsenal show their motivation to keep him,"

"There has been a love story between Adebayor and Arsenal and his relationship with Arsene Wenger is based on trust and respect. Click to continue reading...

Good day to you all.

We'll begin with Adebayor whose agent has been talking. Obviously he hasn't been listening to the player because what he says is rather at odds with what Adebayor has been saying. Stephane Courbis says:

If this was a money problem, then he would have asked to leave.

Click to continue reading...

In the manner of football agents everywhere, Stephane Courbis has been showing a remarkable selective memory in his latest quotes regarding Adebayor's future, indicating that Arsenal need to show that they want to keep him, and it isn't all about money: "It is vital that Arsenal show their motivation to keep him. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. Sorry I haven't been updating as recently as I'd like, I've just been really busy lately.

So Samir Nasri hasn't been officially signed yet, which makes my prediction from two days ago wrong. I'm positive he will sign though, but I am going to stop predicting when. I would assume it will be this week but every other time anyone has guessed it's turned out to be wrong so I'll just wait until it's officially announced. Click to continue reading...

Image courtesy of NeverOffside whether he knows it or not.

I wanted to take a minute to talk a little bit about Rafa Benitez. Such a great manager and inspiration he has been for this club. He's delivered the Champions League, the FA Cup, but now faces another challenge, the league. For many clubs, his performance would be iconic, but not for a club like Liverpool.

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It looks like Luis Aragones was once again using his own unique brand of motivation to propel Spain past Russia and into the final. Click to continue reading...

It looks like Luis Aragones was once again using his own unique brand of motivation to propel Spain past Russia and into the final. Click to continue reading...

Sorry guys, I am a bit busy today, but I have got to do this. So, "kort door de bocht" this time. Holland has as plusses: oozes confidence, top form, Robben/Robin fit, tight outfit and extra motivation for Boulah and Sabia, best players of the world Holland minusses: the ball is round, Click to continue reading...