SoccerBlogs

Because we just haven't got time to do everyone. With added, pointless star ratings.Â

David de Gea

United fans' staunch defence of the maligned Spaniard mid-season was admirable (well most of them did, anyway), as they felt they had to; partly, because they'd seen flashes of a £20million player and partly because they didn't want another Roy Carroll, another Raimond van der Gouw.

Match report Video By the numbers

It was the 92nd minute of the game when Arsene Wenger, as fraught with nerves as I've ever seen him, clung to Pat Rice as a Robin van Persie chance went begging.

I think we all knew how he felt. I'd have tried to cuddle Pat too if I were there.

Two days ago "A reliable source" source @YouAreMyArsenal reported that Arsenal were close to securing the signature of Yann M'vila and that the deal was to be confirmed possibly after the final game of the season.

Yann had Expressed his desire to work with a French manager, So this lead to people claiming he wanted to join Arsenal.

Today an acquaintance asked after Arsenal's weekend opponents. After I explained the significance of this afternoon's match he said "why worry, it is only a football game." Firstly, this shows a total misunderstanding of the Raddy psyche, but more to the point, it indicates a lack of understanding of the nature of importance.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Critics have complained that Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't perform in the big games. That when his team really needs him, that he shrinks from the pressure.

Well tonight's Real Madrid's season was about to collapse and Ronaldo took the team on his back and led them to a huge in the Madrid derby against Atletico.

Manchester United's success in leapfrogging Manchester City have given lots of pressure for the Eastlands as according to United's winger, Ashley Young his side is pretty much playing without any fear at all.

Young believes that at the moment City players are feeling the fear of completely losing track of the league title, especially as Roberto Mancini's team kept on struggling while Sir Alex Ferguson's side can't seem to stop winning.

Since my first game in Montréal versus the Chicago Fire on March 17th 2012 I have been struck and moved by the powerful support we get from our fans. It was my second game as a professional, so you might have thought I would have gotten over the nerves of playing in front of a large crowd. Only a week earlier, I had my debut as a second half sub versus the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Deserved dejection?

The dust finally settled for Group B with Germany and Portugal progressing to the next phase of European Championship 2012. Favourites, Germany went through by virtue of winning all 3 of their group matches while their victim in that very first match, Portugal joined them after picking up 2 consecutive wins.

Deserved dejection?

The dust finally settled for Group B with Germany and Portugal progressing to the next phase of European Championship 2012. Favourites, Germany went through by virtue of winning all 3 of their group matches while their victim in that very first match, Portugal joined them after picking up 2 consecutive wins.

England's biggest problem at the Euros and beyond - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

England are placed 6th in the pre-Euro 2012 FIFA rankings, and despite the criticisms of the system it is a openly accessible, results-based formula. It doesn't meant that England are the 6th best side in the world it just means that in terms of matches played in last four years, in terms of percentages, England have the 6th best record.

The most disappointing aspect of Russia's, difficult to comprehend, elimination from the tournament is that we won't see any more of Alan Dzagoev. Dzagoev's three goals in the opening two fixtures seemed to have set Russia on a comfortable course for the knockout stages and placed him as a contender for top goalscorer, but a limp performance in the final game saw them miss out.

The most disappointing aspect of Russia's, difficult to comprehend, elimination from the tournament is that we won't see any more of Alan Dzagoev. Dzagoev's three goals in the opening two fixtures seemed to have set Russia on a comfortable course for the knockout stages and placed him as a contender for top goalscorer, but a limp performance in the final game saw them miss out.

With five games to go, 3rd place was in Arsenal's hands. It wasn't the season we'd hoped for, but considering how badly we started, we looked like saving some dignity. Four games later, we are looking at another typical end-of-season collapse.

Of course, it's nothing like last season, where the prize we'd lost was far greater.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Critics have complained that Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't perform in the big games. That when his team really needs him, that he shrinks from the pressure.

Well tonight's Real Madrid's season was about to collapse and Ronaldo took the team on his back and led them to a huge in the Madrid derby against Atletico.

Its been a wonderful couple weeks, Orange fans. Helmets removed at will, Bears a-dancing, and wins to go along with it all. I'm even getting caught up in the excitement. Sometimes I find myself ripping off my bike helmet on the way to school just to do the "Dancing Bear" across the BCM campus. Needless to say, morale is high.

Welcome to our Good Friday edition of the Friday Crackovia Club! This week, Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Jose Mourinho suffer a "communication breakdown" at a press conference. And who better to resolve the problem than a special appearance by horn-blasting Sergio Ramos?

Ashley Young has reiterated the point about the importance of experience, claiming that the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes command respect in the dressing room.

"The younger players have taken over this season, with their music and general loudness," he said. "But if someone like Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes starts talking we all sit down and listen.