Venue: St James'Park, NE1. Date: 5th February 2012 Kick Off: 1.30pm Referee: Mark Halsey. Good afternoon Geordies and welcome to our regular "match banter" feature for this afternoon's early kick-off against Aston Villa at St James' Park. Despite being a fair sized Premiership team, unlike Newcastle United they tend to pass under the radar of [.

Photo: Earl Gardner

UPDATE: The Union have officially announced that Kyle Nakazawa has been traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy along with a 2013 natural second-round pick in exchange for an international slot. The Union are now permitted to have nine internationals on their roster.

German forward Lukas Podolski, who has been linked consistently with Arsenal in recent weeks, has chosen to focus on his future in the Bundesliga rather than talking up a move to the English top flight.

The 26-year old Podolski appeared on Arsenal's radar in this month's transfer window after disagreements with FC Cologne's management late last year.

In all the hoopla surrounding the Seattle Sounders offseason moves, there has been one player that seems to have flown under the radar more than any other: Servando Carrasco. During the midfielder's rookie season, he became better known for the person he was dating than anything he did on the field.

Late last night, once again Robb Heineman brought us news via Twitter. This time pertaining to the potential designated player that KC was looking to sign. And that news doesn't appear to be good news. Heineman says that "unless something dramatic happens in the next two days, we will not be announcing a DP in this window.

Liverpool target Dejan Lovren is not interested in a move to Anfield and has extended his contract at Lyon.
The central defender was on Kenny Dalglish's radar in the summer and the Scot, whose side was trounced by Bolton at the weekend, is keeping his eye on him.
But Croatia international Lovren does not fancy moving to Anfield and is eager to remain at a club playing in the Champions League.

Shunsuke Nakamura's still got it.

Oh yes he does. Though he's fallen off of our radar a bit since moving to the J.League and playing for the Yokohama F. Marinos, Shunsuke Nakamura couldn't help but show us that he still is one of the best freekick takers in the game. Of course, the circumstances were a little strange, but the class is undeniable.

Liverpool are continuing their hunt for firepower – with Spain striker Fernando Llorente a possible target.
Kop boss Kenny Dalglish and director of football Damien Comolli continue to monitor several options. They are also keeping tabs on other hitmen including Newcastle's Demba Ba but 26-year-old Llorente who would cost at least £20m, is also on their radar after some fine displays for Athletico Bilbao and Spain.

Today at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Sporting KC added two new players to their roster ahead of the start of preseason next week. Not needing to draft a specific player that would be required to come in and fill a need, KC was able to look a few different directions with their pick at number 16 and even at pick number 30.

The thing with Mark Hughes is that we don't really know why he left Fulham. There were various comments after the event mentioning a lack of ambition, which loosely translated seemed to mean "Fulham wouldn't pony up £15m for Pablo Osvaldo". Hughes had a 'get out' day in his contract and (out of nowhere, it seemed) used that clause to escape SW6.

The thing with Mark Hughes is that we don't really know why he left Fulham. There were various comments after the event mentioning a lack of ambition, which loosely translated seemed to mean "Fulham wouldn't pony up £15m for Pablo Osvaldo". Hughes had a 'get out' day in his contract and (out of nowhere, it seemed) used that clause to escape SW6.

Nicola McLean (l) and Natasha Giggs entered the Celebrity Big Brother house last night. Reports that Elstree ambient air temperatures plummeted around the same time cannot be confirmed. Images: Getty Images/Daylife.

Our snark radar snapped into high alert last night when it was revealed that Natasha Giggs and Nicola McLean would be appearing in the UK Celebrity Big Brother house.

Russia missed the World Cup, but they did Write the Future

The 2010 World Cup seems like ancient history as we enter 2012, but hidden gems need to be uncovered. Remember that "Write the Future" advertising campaign? Well, Russian graphic artist Aske (aka Sicksystems) created two football-related pieces of art to capture the interest of the Russian market.

Lost in all the hullabaloo surrounding the MLS Re-Entry Draft was the news that not only did midfielder Danny Cruz graduate from Generation adidas, his contract option was not picked up.

According to MLS Insider, Cruz will be out of contract at the end of the year and is generating interest from a couple European clubs.

Tearing clothes is wrong, Kickettes. There are numerous facilities for the disposal of used clothing that can benefit the less fortunate in our society. We cannot and will not condone the wanton ripping of perfectly good er... (what the hell is that on his head, anyway?) garments for the sake of temporary warmth and/or fashion statement purposes.

No de Cologne You would have thought that when you are an international footballer and you get yourself booked, you might just try and keep under the radar for a while. No bad challenges. No dissent. And no strangling. Not Franck Ribery. After a fairly blatant dive in Bayern Munich's game against Cologne last night, [.

No de Cologne You would have thought that when you are an international footballer and you get yourself booked, you might just try and keep under the radar for a while. No bad challenges. No dissent. And no strangling. Not Franck Ribery. After a fairly blatant dive in Bayern Munich's game against Cologne last night, [.

Reported Liverpool target Lucas Biglia is being pursued by Arsenal, according to the agent of the Anderlecht midfielder.
The 25-year-old Argentine is also on the radar of Fiorentina and AC Milan, with the former making a concerted effort to seal a January deal for his signature.
Liverpool has been frequently linked with Biglia in recent months, and injury to Lucas Leiva has led to renewed speculation that he could move to Anfield.

Liverpool join the chase for Chilean hotshot

Eduardo Vargas is on Kenny Dalglish's radar for a January bid

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-12-03 22:56:34 from: The Mirror

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

Relegation to the Conference really is frightening. Though coverage is limited in the Football League's nethers and supporters of the PL rarely look below 20th place in the pyramid, it just doesn't compare to the vacuum of non-league.Take, for instance, Luton Town. Three seasons ago, they were on my radar.

River Plate's Lucas Ocampos has been on Chelsea's radar since at least October, when the west London club first looked into acquiring the teen.

Though his Argentine club has said he's not for sale, it's thought the club are now looking into making a move to cash-in in January.

A £15m bid from Inter has been rejected in the past, but reports now are suggesting that if Chelsea or Liverpool want the 6-foot-2 striker they may be able to have him for £14m.

FC Cologne forward Lukas Podolski has indicated that he will consider all his transfer options at the end of the current season, insisting that he can "fit into any side in Europe."

Podolski has been on the radar of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for quite a while and widespread reports in the English media suggested that Tottenham Hotspur were also keen on signing the Germany international.

Gossip: Italy star on radar?

Liverpool are being linked with an Italian star and a Barclays Premier League winger in today's media. Check out the latest transfer gossip now.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-11-23 11:07:56 from: Liverpool FC

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

Today is the big press releases full of protected players day. Personally it feels like a healing balm to help with the festering burn wound that was yesterday's Cup final.

Here is your creamy filled list of protected goodness:

Sean Johnson - GK
Cory Gibbs - DEF
Jalil Anibaba - DEF
Gonzalo Segares - DEF
Pavel Pardo - MID
Logan Pause - MID
Marco Pappa - MID
Sebastian Grazzini - MID
Orr Barouch - FWD
Patrick Nyarko - FWD
Dominic Oduro - FWD

Join me for some frothy instant analysis after the break.

Confused a little?
Thanks to The Front Men for tipping this off. Word out of Peru is that Sporting Kansas City is after Sporting Cristal's midfielder, Carlos Lobaton. Lobaton is a Peruvian international with 20 caps for Peru so far. He's played 220 games for Cristal since 2005. Before that he'd for 5 other Peruvian clubs since beginning his professional career in 1998.

This weekend's fixtures look like a pretty sedate set on the face of it. Leeds' terrestrially televised trip across the shires to meet Burnley and what may be the most pathetic grudge in history, Saints versus Seagulls, are worth keeping on the radar perhaps, but otherwise I can't help but be drawn down the leagues to the two derbies west of Bristol.

Joe Cole still on England's radar with Wayne Rooney suspended for Euro 2012

Fabio Capello has been checking up on Joe Cole at French champions Lille as he looks to solve the problem of who will replace Wayne Rooney for England's first three group games at Euro 2012.

The name Papiss Demba Cisse appeared very briefly in the summer in connection with a possible move to Spurs before the rumour went away as quickly as it had appeared.

Cisse plays for Freiburg in the German Bundesliga and unlike Seydou Doumbia for example, he isn't playing Champions League football and as such, he has largely fallen under the rumour mill radar.

Ryad Boudebouz on Liverpool radar

Liverpool are back on the trail of Sochaux midfielder Ryad Boudebouz. The Anfield club were keen on the 21-year-old in May and Boudebouz said: 'I was told Damien Comolli had spoken to our club president'.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-10 22:32:18 from: The Mail

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

Tom Huddlestone on Liverpool radar

Liverpool are weighing up a move for Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone. The 24-year-old has been out of action since August but is expected to be back at the end of the year.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-02 09:43:37 from: The Mail

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

Images via Tumblr.

In a car much cleaner than his defensive Spanish NT defensive partner, Sergio Ramos' shady drop off last Thursday has added fresh fuel to rumours that he and Spanish TV presenter, Lara Alvaraz, are giving their relationship another go.

Lara first popped up on our radar nearly a year ago, but her whirlwind romance with The Ramos™ was unexpectedly short-lived.

Links with new strikers continue and while Seydou Doumbia added a few million to his transfer fee with a double strike for CSKA Moscow in the Champions League this week, Tottenham may need to look elsewhere for cheaper option.

The Daily Mail seems to have broken the story that suggests Harry Redknapp will make a move for Valencia's Roberto Soldado in January as he looks to bolster his strike force.

The Christmas gift for the Arsenal fan with (almost) everything By Tony Attwood I recently stumbled across The Olympic Stadium Fiasco A Spurs Fan's Perspective by Gigwise. It popped up on my radar because it contained the hallowed words "Woolwich Arsenal", with the phrase "This is the original North London side, the only North [.

Another season of Revolution Soccer has come and gone without silverware, and as we're left to ponder where things went wrong, there's a story flying slightly under the radar ahead of the home finale against Columbus on Saturday night: This could be the last time we see Shalrie Joseph in a Revs uniform on the Gillette Stadium field.

By Chris Wright

There was a time, back in the primordial ooze, that Coldplay were an almost passable band, they were on the brink but after album upon album of mawkish rhyming couplets, tedious radar-ping guitar motifs and cookie-cutter MOR AOR, well, deary me doesn't 'Parachutes' seem like such a long time ago now?

Forget your Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds and Cardiff Citys, Nepa are coming to town. They are planning a month in ASEAN ahead of the South Asian Football Federation Champions in December.
11/10 v Philippines15/10 v Malaysia Olympic28/10 v Cambodia Under 2331/10 v Thailand Olympic3/11 v Thailand
Expect players like Santosh Sahukala and Rohit Chand to appear on the radar of major clubs in the region with this tour

Some notes on the game that recently end:

• What a win for the Philadelphia Union. Ignore the fact that the Seattle Sounders were missing three of their best players, including striker Freddy Montero. Seattle needed this win to stay in the Supporters Shield hunt, coming off of a third straight United States Open Cup (USOC) victory.

According to the Superbrands Expert Panel, Manchester United are the sixth most recognizable brand in the world, behind only Google, Apple, the BBC, Dyson [which I find puzzling] and Facebook. They are ahead of Coca-Cola and Microsoft. In the same survey Chelsea are placed 54th, Arsenal 160th and Liverpool 171st.

Inter Milan are reportedly planning a January swoop for Liverpool target Lucas.
According to talkSPORT, Inter a keen to bring the £20 million-rated Sao Paulo midfielder to the San Siro, while the Reds have shown an interest in the 19-year-old.
Inter are alleged to be planning the addition of Lucas alongside the signing of compatriot Casemiro and Borussia Dortmund sensation Mario Gotze.

News in the Evening Chronicle today that Newcastle are looking at young Leicester City striker/winger Jeffrey Schlupp. Jeffrey Schlupp on Newcastle radar The 18 year-old is of Ghanaian descent, and was born in Hamburg Germany in 1992, and joined the Leicester City Youth Academy when he was just 11 years old.