Barcelona have been the scourge of Manchester United in Europe over recent campaigns but now the Spanish giants will not have the chance to scupper the Red Devils' chances of bring home silverware from the continent.
United fans will be disappointed their side failed to make the knockout stages of the Champions League but based on their performances in the group stage, the Premier League title holders did not really deserve to get through.

Former Arsenal manager George Graham (1986-1995) said the Gunners starting 11 are good enough to beat anybody when they're healthy, but once the club has to dip into its squad it struggles. Graham told James Olley of the London Evening Standard that If the team happens to finish in the top four this season and makes it to the Champion League it'll be one of Arsene Wenger's greatest accomplishments.

Ahead of the Big Game at the Weekend..... A "What if ".......

Charybdis. If you value your health ..... don't read this.

Some of our younger bloggers may not know that Sir Alex Ferguson almost became Arsenal manager before Mr Graham. The Don Howe era had come to a sticky end with Steve Burtenshaw acting as caretaker manager, therefore Ferguson who was the hot young manager following his superb job at Aberdeen was approached by Arsenal and according to him, turned them down after lengthy negotiations.

Ahead of the Big Game at the Weekend..... A "What if ".......

Charybdis. If you value your health ..... don't read this.

Some of our younger bloggers may not know that Sir Alex Ferguson almost became Arsenal manager before Mr Graham. The Don Howe era had come to a sticky end with Steve Burtenshaw acting as caretaker manager, therefore Ferguson who was the hot young manager following his superb job at Aberdeen was approached by Arsenal and according to him, turned them down after lengthy negotiations.

Who was your sporting hero growing up?

My hero was Denis Law; as a player I loved Denis Law even though he is only a couple of years older than me. He epitomised to me everything about a Scotsman. He could start a row in an empty house, fight his own shadow, unbelievable courage, electric pace, exciting and dynamic to watch – I always loved Denis as a player.

With the news that Eric Cantona wants to become the next French president, OTP turned its thoughts to the UK and potential candidates to become the next Prime Minister. 1. Steve Kean He has proven practical experience of tackling youth unemployment by offering jobs in Blackburn's defence. Plus, the British public have already demonstrated that [.

Manchester City are weighing up a sensational £60 million move for unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in a deal which will shock British football. Rooney is at the centre of a bitter row with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scotsman axed him from the team to face Blackburn Rovers at the end [.

Goal: Kenny Dalglish keen for Liverpool to bounce back from torrid week against Oldham Athletic in FA Cup

The League One side travel to Anfield on Saturday, and the Scotsman is looking for his players to get past the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, as well as Luis Suarez' ban

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2012-01-05 18:29:00 from: Goal

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

No this is not the rundown of a 1989 comedy crime caper featuring Chevy Chase, but a 2011/12 one man rescue mission starring a Scotsman on International exile to earn his side a third consecutive draw. As the final moments ...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.epltalk.com to read the entire article

There is no doubting manager Kenny Dalglish has made a big impact since his return to his beloved Liverpool and the Scotsman would love nothing better than to secure some silverware in his first full season back in charge at Anfield.
The Merseyside outfit have splashed the cash under Dalglish which in turn has created some strength in depth at Anfield; something that was lacking for a number of years previous under the likes of Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson.

By Alan Duffy

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Premier League 19th December 2011

One wonders just how loud the roars of disapproval and nasty abuse will have to get at Ewood Park before the Venky's finally decide to re-think their consistent support of manager Steve Kean.

No5. Charlie Adam (Blackpool to Liverpool – £7 million) The midfielder who was so good that Sir Alex Ferguson said his corners alone cost £10 million. A stellar year at relegated Blackpool earned the Scotsman a move to the Merseyside ...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.epltalk.

Suarez fires home his header...Luis Suarez grabbed the winner for Liverpool on Saturday in a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. The Reds had bags of chances whilst QPR barely troubled goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The away side however showed great courage in ensuring Liverpool didn't get anything else past Radek Cerny.

Suarez Header Secures 3 Points

Suarez fires home his header... Luis Suarez grabbed the winner for Liverpool on Saturday in a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. The Reds had bags of chances whilst QPR barely troubled goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The away side however showed great courage in ensuring Liverpool didn't get anything else past Radek Cerny.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish wary of QPR threat ahead of Anfield clash

The Scotsman believes the recently promoted side have settled into the Premier League well under boss Neil Warnock, and has warned his men not to take them lightly

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-08 15:35:00 from: Goal

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

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has backed his experienced centre-back Rio Ferdinand to keep playing an important role at the club head of their Carling Cup clash on Tuesday.
The Premier League title holders take on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford following a tough week for the club, which saw them held to two draws at the Theatre of Dreams.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has called on his side to be more ruthless in front of goal this weekend when they take on a confident Norwich City.

Those looking at bookmaker free bets note how Villa have had an up and down campaign so far. They have only lost twice, but they find themselves down in 9th position having drawn six of their ten games so far.

The little brother slays...

Neil Blackmon on the how little brother became all growns up.

Manchester City should glide past an injury-riddled Villarreal Wednesday in the Champion's League. The success will pale in comparison to what was achieved across Manchester ten days ago.

(Photo: Nicolae Stoian)

Our break down of the Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo playoff matchup continues. PSP's roving correspondent Adam Cann lays out the big questions and Eli Pearlman-Storch answers them. Today's topic, the Dynamo midfield versus the Union midfield.

Quick.

For Leicester City, might British be best? is a post from: Just Football

By David Cockcroft

An October managerial casualty seems to be the norm in today's game, yet the news of Sven Goran Eriksson heading out of the Leicester City exit door came as no little surprise to the football world.

By Alan Duffy

Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Sunderland Premier League 22 October 2011

Goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner gave Sunderland their first way win of the season and consigned Owen Coyle's sorry Bolton side to yet another defeat.

The starting all-around forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is John Spencer.
How Acquired: Transferred for free from Scottish side Motherwell.
Years In Colorado: 2001 through 2004
How Departed: Retired after the 2004 season.
For the final player pick on the All-Time team I went with possibly the biggest heart the team has ever had (though Kimura gives him a run for his money) the wee Scotsman John Spencer.

"An afternoon when the Old Firm fixture reclaimed some credibility as a footballing occasion to savour."
That's The Scotsman's verdict on yesterday's humdinger of an Old Firm game.
Rangers outdid Celtic. Football outdid the myriad levels of crap that pockmarked this fixture last season.

Everyone knows that it's impossible to keep everyone happy. No one would argue with this. Life teaches us this at every turn. But someone who has far more varied choices with far more reaching consequences may beg to differ. A feisty Scotsman better known as Fergie should be completely oblivious to this.

Everyone knows that it's impossible to keep everyone happy. No one would argue with this. Life teaches us this at every turn. But someone who has far more varied choices with far more reaching consequences may beg to differ. A feisty Scotsman better known as Fergie should be completely oblivious to this.

Aquilani's departure epitomises Daglish's philosophy - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Alberto Aquilani's recent move to AC Milan stands as a visual representation of Kenny Daglish's football ideology. While Liverpool's recent treatment of Aquilani is at best confusing, and at worst troubling, it most likely typifies the philosophy of the pragmatic Scotsman who currently wears the crown at Anfield.

Ever since last January's transfer window, my fantasy team name has been "A Scotsman Named McTavish" after a brilliant quote from Ian Holloway. "If Charlie Adam's worth 4 million then I'm a Scotsman called McTavish" But I've found my inspiration for a change. Feast your eyes - and try to wrap your brain around - this promotional video from Spanish side Getafe.

Liverpool is now favourites to sign Birmingham centre-back Scott Dann.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish allowed experience defender Soto Kyrgiakos to leave for Wolfsburg yesterday, sparking speculation that a deal for Dann was close.
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with a move for the Liverpool-born player, but he has his heart set on a switch to Anfield.

Former Rangers striker Alan Gow has joined East Bengal in the Indian I League. East Bengal play in the city of Kolkata and their rivalry with city neighbours Mohun Bagun may well have the Scotsman recalling the Old Firm derbies he grew up with.
It may also be of interest that East Bengal are sponsored by a brewery!

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will not let striker David Ngog leave the club until he has found a suitable replacement, according to The Daily Mirror.
The report claims that the Reds boss has rejected a £4 million (€4.5m) bid from Bolton Wanderers on the basis that he is refusing to let the Frenchman go without having found a new striker to come in for him.

'They used to talk about a top four, now it is the top six' Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

The Scotsman believes his side will face their biggest challenge yet for the title, as the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool look to dislodge the champions

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-08-12 16:01:00 from: Goal

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

Martin Rennie is leaving the Carolina Railhawks at the end of the 2011 NASL season. Rennie will be moving Major League Soccer to coach the Vancouver Whitecaps. Carolina Railhawk's president Curt Johnson spoke to the media to officially break the news.
Rennie is in the middle of his third season with the Railhawks and will be leading the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS starting in 2012.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are expected to announce Martin Rennie as their new head coach during a Tuesday press conference.
The 36-year-old Scotsman is currently coaching the NASL's Carolina Railhawks, who are currently running away with the league's regular-season title. IndyWeek.com is also reporting that Rennie will complete the season with the Railhawks before joining the Whitecaps.

Charlie Adam is eager to impress at Liverpool and feels he can improve a great deal as a player by learning from his new team-mates.
The former Blackpool talisman completed his move to Merseyside last week after months of speculation over where his future would lie.
The 25-year-old Scotsman believes the step up in class is only going to help him grow as a player.

Manchester United have shown their faith in young England defender Chris Smalling by signing him on a new five-year contract at the club.

The former Fulham defender enjoyed an impressive first season at Old Trafford and Sir Alex Ferguson clearly sees him as the future of the club as well as an adequate replacement for either of first choice duo Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic.

We were promised an announcement confirming Alex McLeish's appointment by now*, but that's about as timely as everything else connected to the search for a manager, so I thought I'd share something I was just looking at instead.

For one reason or another, it doesn't matter why, someone put it to me on Twitter that all MON's Villa side did was hoof it up the pitch; the old long ball.

We were promised an announcement confirming Alex McLeish's appointment by now*, but that's about as timely as everything else connected to the search for a manager, so I thought I'd share something I was just looking at instead.

For one reason or another, it doesn't matter why, someone put it to me on Twitter that all MON's Villa side did was hoof it up the pitch; the old long ball.

By Chris Wright

In which former Chelsea striker, professional gruff Scotsman and current Portland Timbers head coach John Spencer puts in a fairly decent comedy turn as an air hostess in this mildly mirthful 'Employee Exchange' advert for Alaska Air...

Good to see a member of the footballing fraternity actually appear half-way lifelike on camera for once rather than looking like a complete ironing board.

• Dynamo's Ching working hard for spot vs. Chivas USA [MLS Soccer]
• 'Soft' tag irks Dynamo [Houston Chronicle]
• Houston staying positive to ride out storm [MLS Soccer]
• Five burning Dynamo questions [FS Houston]
• Photos: Dynamo players shave heads [KHOU]
• Piña named to U.

I love it when our Stuart talks like a Scotsman. It's like he's bilingual but without all the hassle of having to learn new words for things that you already know what they are. I also love that Zat Knight is f***ing with all of us Fulham fans with a claim that he's coming to America. Too bad he'll be 34 then; retire in Florida cousin, not in MLS.