Their Words "Now, I've been in football for nearly 20 years and I have a good understanding of relationships with Managers. I do agree that the Manager is the most important person in a football club or an organisation like this, but there are moments when the Board and the Chairman have to step up to the plate when strong leadership is required.

Given that Sam Allardyce supposedly had the hex over us while he was in charge at Bolton, it was interesting to find out that we've actually won 9 out of our last ten games against Bolton in the league. Until today, our last failure to beat Bolton was the rather galling 2-1 defeat last year, when Nasri choked, and we failed to defend our set-pieces.

Morning all, welcome to an Arsenal free Saturday. We don't play until 4pm tomorrow so there'll be lots going on to cause joy/consternation today.

Arsene's press conference was interesting yesterday. We'll come to team news etc in a little bit, but midway through he launched into quite a broadside about the way television influences the fixtures, and even suggested that cosy relationships between some clubs and the TV companies were being exploited to give those teams an advantage.

Tim Krul has made a good start to his career as the Newcastle number one goalkeeper. Tim Krul playing well at Newcastle But after years behind both Shay Given and Steve Harper he will have been well schooled in not taking anything for granted, and also having good relationships with the other goalkeepers, even though they are competing for his spot in the side.

When I first read Ian Joy's tale I was struck with just how personal Joy allowed himself to be. He told his story of depression with no shame and truly opened himself up to what he went through. His candid approach led me to reach out to him.
Initially, I had absolutely no intentions of interviewing him.

With everyone scrambling to buy just the right gift for the holidays, we thought it worth revisiting we did a few months back on the MLS shopping experience.

We have repeatedly posted about the MLS shopping experience. From a shortage of gear at brick and mortar retailers, to the absence of infant sized Galaxy items to the improved online experience, we have repeatedly written about procuring MLS items.

If someone asked you about Carlo Ancelotti and his managerial style you would think of his time here in his first season winning the double, his time at AC Milan and the relationships he built with "his players".
Renowned for getting the maximum out of ageing players, Ancelotti was always one to stand up for the old guard and defend them to the hilt especially when he was here for two seasons.

Frank Klopas -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
In the coming weeks, the Chicago Fire should be announcing an abundance of player options that they are picking up heading into 2012. The Fire have yet to officially state the return of midfielder Pavel Pardo or comment on other players' contract status, but in all likelihood a large portion of the 2011 squad should be on board next season.

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor talks about the excellent team spirit at the club, including good relationships all the way up the hierarchy. I was alarmed to see a headline in The Telegraph that said 'Newcastle have Europe in their sights'. Admittedly the author of the article intimated that European football is more likely in [.

I am surprised that AVB has said that he believes the arrival of Juan Mata has had nothing to do with the return to form of Fernando Torres. When he was asked about it he said the following:

"[It has] Nothing to do with it, in my opinion. We don't add in terms of nationalities for every player, for people to get involved socially outside of the pitch.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) The summer transfer window is officially over. This year proved to have one of the most exciting "finally days" in a long time as all the teams in the English Premier League were in the midst of chasing the sunset on new additions.
Some teams added major value to their club as they attempt to make up for injuries and horrid form to start the season.

We have repeatedly posted about the MLS shopping experience. From a shortage of gear at brick and mortar retailers, to the absence of infant sized Galaxy items to the improved online experience, we have repeatedly written about procuring MLS items. Today we are pleased to present some thoughts from Stu Crystal, Major League Soccer's Vice President of Consumer Products, about shopping for league merchandise.

After Wigan lost to Manchester City last March, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told the press that City stopped Wigan's momentum with fouls: "City used their experience," the Wigan manager said. "There were a lot of technical fouls every time we got into attack situations. Micah Richards should have seen a straight red for his tackle on Tom Cleverley, but the overall number of fouls shows how the game went.

Two years ago, on July 28th 2009, my brother and I founded A Football Report.

Beyond invites to events and interviews with footballers, this site has allowed me to not only create a unique setting for brilliant young writers from over 30 countries to share their thoughts, but on a more personal level it has helped develop incredible relationships with amazing men and women across the globe.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has said he would love the chance to play for European champions Barcelona.
Suarez only joined Liverpool in a £22 million deal from Ajax in January but revealed he always had a "dream" of playing for the all-conquering Spanish giants.
His agent, Pere Guardiola, is the brother of Barca coach Pep Guardiola, but the Uruguay international says this had no bearing on his goal.

Now if you criticise Capital Football in Canberra you get chastised but sometimes someone needs to voice what many voices are saying.
What are the priorities for Capital Football going forward?
Let's start with the girls/women. The number one focus for Capital Footbal over the last few years - and seemingly into the future.

Morning all,

yesterday's piece got quite a reaction. I'm glad the majority of you took it in the spirit that it was meant. A deadly serious, well thought out strategy for the future of this football club. Those of you who thought I was taking the ever-loving piss? Well, you'll suffer for your lack of foresight and vision in the future, oh yes.

Newcastle have some top professionals at Newcastle, who are at the club because they want to be. Steve Harper consummate professional at Newcastle Steve Harper had a great relationship with Shay Given, his former team-mate, and it seems he has forged great relationships with his two young competitors for the Newcastle jersey Tim [.

The dust is yet to settle after yesterday's big news. There's a lot of speculation, a lot of rumour, but the bottom line is nobody knows anything for certain.

In my interview with the AST yesterday we hear that Kroenke will not saddle the club with the debt of the purchase, the Guardian says he 'could'.

The FA's new head of elite development intends to change how young talent is nurtured and to improve relationships between clubs and England. Apart from a few "geniuses" who came through despite the weaknesses of the English grass-roots and coaching structures – he cites Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne – Southgate says: "We definitely realised we were inferior.

The Interview: Just Football meets Graeme Le Saux is a post from: Just Football

JF: Graeme Le Saux, thanks very much for speaking to Just Football.

Graeme Le Saux: No problem.

JF: If you wouldn't mind beginning by telling us a bit about the Champions League Trophy Tour with Heineken and your role as Ambassador.

Rather than toiling in some kind of purgatory, potentially training separately from the team while trying to find a more suitable place to play, Blaise Nkufo is simply gone. In start contrast to the Freddie Ljungber situation of a year ago, this one was over before most of us even knew it had begun.

Image: Blog.leiweb.it. Thx for the tip, EC!

There are many potholes on the road to love, and Nina Senicar may just be one big speed bump in Marco Borriello's little black book.

It appears that, like all hook up-based relationships, something other than Marco's hair lost its luster.

Recently, Nina was out and about as she flirtatiously frollicked with former Italian 'baller Stefano Bittarini.