A week away from the blog.
I'd like to explain my absence with exciting tales of derring do. But I can't. The most excitement I got was watching Hibs beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup, nailbiting to the end.
No, I've been away largely because I couldn't be arsed for the last week.

A week away from the blog.
I'd like to explain my absence with exciting tales of derring do. But I can't. The most excitement I got was watching Hibs beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup, nailbiting to the end.
No, I've been away largely because I couldn't be arsed for the last week.

By Chris Wright

'Twas a bit of a slow one yesterday as anyone who spent 11-and-a-bit hours 'glued' to the live feed will tell you, with the total spending across the English leagues failing to surpass the £50 million that Chelsea spaffed on Fernando Torres this time last year let alone the ludicrous £225 million that was spent in total in January of 2011.

On Monday, the Portland Timbers announced the signing of Scottish striker Kris Boyd, the all-time leading scorer of the Scottish Premier League, with 164 goals in 296 matches.

The deal was completed pending the completion of a team physical and receipt of his visa.

The 28-year old forward appeared for Kilmarnock FC from 2000-05 before joining Rangers FC midway through the 2005-06 season.

Everton has leapfrogged West Ham, Queens Park Rangers, and cross-town rivals Liverpool in being the front-runners to sign Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic.

The Toffees, who have scored only 22 goals this season a total that is only higher than bottom-club Wigan are in search for a finisher with a proven pedigree and Jelavic offers an affordable option to cover their needs.

Milos Lacny Dundee United- Slovakian striker joins on 12 month loan is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Milos Lacny Dundee United- Slovakian striker joins on 12 month loan is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Slovakian striker Milos Lacny has joined Dundee United on loan.

Saturday 15th October 2011.
Celtic, fresh from a defeat at Tynecastle, are 3-0 down at half time to Kilmarnock.
Winning the title looks a long way off, Neil Lennon's managerial coat seems to hang on an ever shooglier peg.
They came back to draw 3-3, three goals in a 10 minute burst from Anthony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew salvaging a point.

"Sheer stupidity."
Maybe Leigh Griffiths had been fed that line in the bizarre public apology issued by Hibs today.
But it's pretty much bang on the money as a description of his behaviour in the past few weeks.
Gesturing Griffiths, the daftest laddie in the whole of Leith.

Dipping into the SPL for transfer targets is always a gamble and while a player's record may look good north of the border, moving into the premiership will always represent a tougher challenge. If you need any evidence of that, you could always contrast Gordon Durie's scoring ratio after he'd moved from White Hart Lane to Ibrox.

Nikica Jelavic's father has claimed that the Rangers striker has grander ambitions than to play for West Ham or Queens Park Rangers and is 'most likely' to sign for Liverpool.
The Croatian has been heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox this winter following a series of impressive performances in the SPL over the past 18 months.

Fare ye weel, Davie Weir.
The Scottish Football Blog has often been facetious about the Methuselah of Scottish football.
Unfair that. Davie Weir was playing at the highest level in Scotland in his 40s and I'm often too lazy to play dominoes in my 30s.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Weir and Rangers will part company this week.

"We paid our wages on time," say Hearts.
"Naw. You didnae," say the SPL.
A prize to whoever identifies the voice of reason and truth in the parcel of rogues contributing to the latest farrago over Hearts and the saga of the paid/unpaid wages.
As it stands Hearts are to be charged "under SPL Rule A3.

"We paid our wages on time," say Hearts.
"Naw. You didnae," say the SPL.
A prize to whoever identifies the voice of reason and truth in the parcel of rogues contributing to the latest farrago over Hearts and the saga of the paid/unpaid wages.
As it stands Hearts are to be charged "under SPL Rule A3.

Winter of discontent Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter has got a few questions to answer this morning after a strange sectarian article appeared on his official website. Winter has been blogging his travels around Australia and New Zealand over the festive period. But one of the blog posts takes a very peculiar take on [.

So Hibs decide to say farewell to Victor Palsson, the young Icelandic player they signed from Liverpool this time last year.
Contract terminated with immediate effect.
Or contract bought out in a mutually agreeable way to free up some wages for what is, at this stage in the transfer window, a rather slow-burning rebuilding job at Easter Road.

New SPL TV deal Good or bad for Scottish football? is a post from: Just Football

by William Heaney

Not surprisingly, the news that Sky and ESPN have extended their deal to provide coverage of the SPL has been well received within the Scottish football community.

The two companies have been the league's main broadcasting partners since 2009, when they came to the rescue after Setanta's collapse.

Merseyside club Liverpool are seriously considering a move for young Welshman and Celtic right-back Adam Matthews and sources suggest the club are contemplating a bid for the 19 year old.
However Matthews has only just joined Celtic from Cardiff City and his performances have shown he is a player that could make him one of the Celtic legends if he were to remain.

Dunfermline vs Celtic Highlights 0-3 Goals Video 2012 Stokes Wanyama Mulgrew is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Dunfermline vs Celtic Highlights 0-3 Goals Video 2012 Stokes Wanyama Mulgrew is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Dunfermline v Celtic 2012 ( Dunfermline Celtic video below) Final score and result:- Dunfermline v Celtic 0-3 ( Stokes, Wanyama, Mulgrew) 2nd January, 2012- Scottish Premier League Celtic retain their two point lead [.

Celtic v Rangers 28th December 2011 Highlights 1-0 Video Goal Joe Ledley is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Celtic v Rangers 28th December 2011 Highlights 1-0 Video Goal Joe Ledley is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Celtic v Rangers 2011 ( Celtic Rangers video below) Final score and result:- Celtic vs Rangers 1-0 ( Ledley) Celtic Park, Glasgow- 28th December, 2011- Wednesday- 19.

szólj hozzá: Celtic Glasgow Rangers 1:0

Joe Ledley gives Celtic the lead with a bullet header in their Old Firm clash with Rangers, a Celtic win could see them replace their opponents at the top of the SPL by two points.

Dundee Utd v Hibs Highlights 3-1 Video Goals Jon Daly 2011 December 24 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Dundee Utd v Hibs Highlights 3-1 Video Goals Jon Daly 2011 December 24 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Dundee Utd v Hibs 2011 ( Dundee United vs Hibernian video below) Final score and result:- Dundee United vs Hibs 3-1 ( Russell, Daly*2/ Griffiths) Tannadice- 24 December, 2011- Saturday Jon [.

Celtic vs Kilmarnock 2-1 Highlights Goals Samaras Racchi December 24 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Celtic vs Kilmarnock 2-1 Highlights Goals Samaras Racchi December 24 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Celtic v Kilmarnock 2011 ( Celtic Kilmarnock video below) Final score and result:- Celtic vs Kilmarnock 2-1 ( Giorgios Samaras*2/ Racchi) Celtic Park, Glasgow- 24 December, 2011 Greek forward Samaras scores a brace [.

St.Mirren v Rangers 2-1 Highlights Video 2011 Goals Wallace Aaron Mooy Red Cards McCulloch Goian is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

St.Mirren v Rangers 2-1 Highlights Video 2011 Goals Wallace Aaron Mooy Red Cards McCulloch Goian is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter St.

Ally McCoist has urged striker Nikica Jelavic to reject the chance of a move away from Rangers, with Liverpool one of the reported suitors.
Speculation over the last fortnight has placed the Reds in the mix for the striker, who moved to Ibrox Stadium for £4 million last August.
His form in the SPL has alerted a number of clubs south of the border, with The Daily Mail claiming today that Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is one the interested parties in the 26-year-old.

Day nine of the SPL Advent. Motherwell, the success story of the season so far.
What were we to expect from Motherwell this SPL season?
Stuart McCall's arrival to replace Craig Brown raised more of a shrug of the shoulders than a cheer last season.
But he impressed in taking the team to the Scottish Cup final, an achievement that raised intriguing possibilities about how he'd fare with a close season behind him.

We tend to be quick to condemn the managerial merry-go-round as propelled by the Largs mafia.
But we're also too often suspicious of incomers who come into the SPL with their odd ways and their funny accents.
We should embrace them. Especially if they're such a delightful puzzle as Kenny Shiels.

It was only a tiny step forward, but those that have been campaigning for the return of terraces in the form of safe standing had a rare reason to be cheerful yesterday with an announcement from north of the border, that the Scottish Premier League is to trial a pilot that may see the return of standing at matches in the near future.

Today's SPL Advent calendar throws up not a nugget of cheap chocolate but a Stewart's bridie - current SPL basement dwellers Dunfermline.
The road to the SPL is not paved with gold.
On their return to the top flight Dunfermline find themselves bottom of the league. They've taken only four points at home in a miserable run that has seen them fail to win at East End Park.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

It seems like ages since I tickled the malnourished belly of the SPL with a wildly inaccurate prediction post.
I think the last time I Nostradamus-ed the weekend action Rangers had won the title and Motherwell were about to take the Champion's League by storm.
What a difference an eight point swing makes.

The uncle and advisor of Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal has revealed that the prospect is currently being tracked by Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who currently has Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard out as long-term injury concerns.
Dalglish is likely to once again spend big money either in the January transfer window, or the following summer, and Kayal is now reported to be one of the players he and his scouting team are currently monitoring.

To Motherwell and part two of the great SPL Friday night football experiment.
Pity poor Motherwell. If you want to try something (sort of) new and attract the punters with cheap tickets it's probably essential that you get ninety minutes played.
Unfortunately this Friday night project was abbreviated.

Pat Fenlon finds himself in the Hibernian trenches for the first time this evening.
Another SPL Friday night experiment as Hibs take a trip to Motherwell.
Perhaps I'm guilty of misreading his intent but my impression was that Henry McLeish had suggested Friday night football as a way of reinvigorating the lower leagues.

80 million quid.
Not be sniffed at. Five years of stability at a time of economic uncertainty.
So well done to the SPL on the signing of their new TV deal?
Not exactly.
£16 million a season (that's the figure being widely reported) for 60 live games. 30 games a season on ESPN and 30 more, Old Firm jamborees included, on Sky.

The Homeless World Cup and Alzheimer Scotland. Two charities doing fantastic work. You know the donation drill.
Penultimate post time.
A suggestion from @theftblproject just minutes ago planted the seed for this post.
His Tweet read:
"In your very first post you wrote "Maybe Mr Romanov knows where this is going" - Five years on, does he?

It's estimated that by 2031 100,000 people living in Scotland will suffer from dementia. Alzheimer Scotland exists to help dementia sufferers and their carers. A bit of help - whatever you can manage - can help them do that massively important work.
Thanks to @sliderulepass and @mightjustget for combining to get this one started.

Outrage reigned last month when the idea of removing promotion and relegation from England's top flight was discussed.
The Guardian reported Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, as saying:
"There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League, If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen.

Agog today for the SPL's biggest game since the last big game.
Motherwell v Celtic.
If you'd said in July that third placed Celtic would need a November win to move ahead of second placed Motherwell on goal difference we probably wouldn't have believed you.
But such seismic events often only need the collision of one or two factors.

Categories: Yanks Home and Abroad

Tags: Featured, US Soccer, USMNT, Yanks Abroad

How 50 USMNT players performed for their club teams this weekend: Goalkeepers (7) Guzan, Brad (Aston Villa/BPL) Dressed however did not play in 3-2 win over Norwich City. Dominic Cervi (Celtic/SPL) Did not dress in 2-1 win over Motherwell.