Lets get the rant out of the way. Lescott should have been sent off for intentionally elbowing Kaboul in the head, and Balotelli should have been sent off for intentionally stamping on Parker's head. Turns out that the "loveable rouge" Balotelli who buys petrol for people, signs signatures for kids at an impromptu visit to schools and so on and so on, is actually just a nasty little **** who would stamp on a fellow professionals head.

So this week, while this two-weeks-that-seems-like-two-years eternity marches inexorably on to Dynamo's date with destiny, or at least a third star, on Nov. 20, I started to reflect on exactly why I despise Los Angeles so much.

I mean, it's not like Angelenos are Dallasites (rhymes with parasites), and in truth, I do not put LA LA Land in that category.

Today all Gooners must do their duty. They must recall the greatness of the past and temporarily cast aside the divisions that recently have weakened the Arsenal Faith. If you feel that you can't then let me try to get you to understand why you support this club. What ever your age, I want you to recall the Arsenal Legends for whom a day like this was the day to sweat blood for the cause.

Four words you hate to wake up to in the morning: Narwich 2, Sunderland 1.
Listening to the last 15 minutes of the game last night my heart was in my mouth. Though it was a shame not to hear Connor Wickham net a last minute equaliser against the Budgies - I found it really exciting.

The Carling Cup is a funny competition. It seems to creep up on you at the start of the season – especially if you are in Europe – and there is no grand fan fare ahead of each round like there is with the FA Cup.
Teams generally pick reserve sides, while the fans vote with their feet, leaving matches looking decidedly grim in half empty stadiums, especially if a Premier League side is at home.

Wow, well hopefully you haven't been using the Offside as your sole source for MLS news (as I know many of you do), because I haven't been very diligent in updating you on all things Red Bull New York. With the Bulls facing some adversity (understatement of the year?), the front office has taken action and enlisted the help of German backstop Frank Rost.

Blackball the KemsmosIn what must be the most shameless piece of sport-fashion marketing, the Kemsley-Anomaly-Umbro partnership brings us their latest in the Cosmos collection, a celebration of the ... of the ... yes, it's true, of the '77 blackout. The Son of Sam sweatshirt will surely soon be available at your local soccer ship.

The signing of a third designated player ought to be an occasion that inspires the New York fanbase with confidence and appreciation for the club's management. However, in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 exit from the US Open Cup at Chicago Tuesday night, the mood in Metroland is anything but pleased.

I hate DC. It has nothing to do with politics. My hatred started in 1996, and I can pinpoint it to a precise moment on October 2, 1996. The four regular season games were intense, and a rivalry had begun to emerge. The joy of shootout victory, courtesy of eleventh-shooter Peter Vermes (DC protested he shot out of sequence) will always remain a most cherished memory, when victory there seemed our rightful legacy, carried over from a decade's absence of soccer at the Swamp.

Last night in the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Mexico gave notice and fired a figurative shot across Soccer House's bow when Julio Gomez, head wrapped in gauze, scored the goal that gave Mexico the 3-2 win over Germany with the lovely bicycle kick shown in the video below.
The young German squad, which had knocked out the United States in a 4-0 victory during the Round of 16, took an early 2-1 lead, but then, in the 75th minute, Jorge Espericueta picked up the equalizer on an improbable corner kick (you can watch it in the second video below).

Last night Daniel Levy once more reitirated his stance on Luka Modric leaving Spurs. He's not. He's not going anywhere for any amount of money. Simple. All done and dusted then? No of course it isn't, to believe that is the end of it would be to display an embarassing amount of naievety.

Morning all, a quick Saturday round-up for you.

Let's start with the transfer latest involving as many players as I can find info on.

Cesc Darren Dein has phoned Barcelona to tell them that Arsenal are willing to sell. Barcelona want to offer €30m, Arsenal want more.

In the 2010/11 season, Arsenal scored 72 goals in the Premier League, 21 goals in the Champions League, 12 goals in the FA Cup and 14 goals in the Carling Cup. That is a lot to choose from for a terribly indecisive person as myself. The list I came up with is subjective, but in general I kept in mind quality of the goal and its significance.

When Ernie Walker was in charge of the SFA everything in the world was perfect.
Obviously it wasn't.
But when I were a lad and Ernie ruled the roost Scotland qualified for World Cups. All the time. Five qualifications in a row he presided over.
Ah, to be back in the day for just one shining moment of optimism.

Liverpool have been handed a boost this evening in their quest for Europe, with Tottenham Hotspur losing 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford bridge. A first-half goal by Santos gave Spurs the lead, but a controversial goal was awarded to Chelsea when Gomes spilled a ball onto his own goaline and the goal was given by the Linesman.

AEK has beaten the locals courtesy of goals from Manolas and two from Lagos.Unfortunately,I didn't watch the game,but highlights can be found on this link....

I hope AEKMAN74 won't mind me adding to his post, but I figured I'd just add to his rather than post a new entry. I only managed to find a decent stream in time for the second half so that's all I can comment on, but I still won't say much.

What I'm about to write isn't designed to gain more views or to offend anyone. It's not been written to be controversial as nothing I write is meant in that way. I simply write what I believe and do so from the heart. What I sometimes say is often not what the majority might believe but then the majority spend their time on facebook and think the Spurs customer service is fantastic.

"You have to respect Sir Alex's achievements at United though, don't you?"

Well no, not at all actually. I can't understand why any normal person wouldn't hate the scum. They represent everything that has been wrong with English football since 1990. The evil empire, and not a football club, but a Chinese tourist's idea of what a football club is like.

Some of you may know of Reddit, a social bookmarking site where you can submit your favourite web pages. It's a bit like Newsnow, only with the difference that articles gain prominence by receiving up-votes as well as page views and the fact that you can down-vote any article that you don't like.

I had a chuckle when I saw Ryan Babbel's mischevious post of Howard Webb on Twitter this evening.
Yes he gave Utd a soft penalty as he often does and yes, Stevie G should have escaped with just a yellow for that tackle on Carrick.
I say well done Ryan, you expressed what we all felt today after that gallant defeat to the scum.

Liverpool in the Cup. These are those 'Football Factory' moments, when you get drawn against a hated rival in the FA Cup, which every fan looks forward to it. I won't just be Mancs and scousers watching today's game, but football fans from all over the world, whichever team they support. It's a massive fixture and it means the world to both sets of fans.