1-0 at half time...9-1 after 90 minutes, with three of Jermain Defoe's goals
coming in seven minutes before the hour mark. I know it's a while before Mr Capello announces the
squad, but that's exactly the kind of performance I'd want from one of my strikers.
The last FIFA rankings before the draw were published on Friday.
5 goals in the second half for Jermain Defoe today in a 9-1 Tottenham win. 9-1. Roberto Martinez, Wigan manager, welcome to the hot seat. Jermain Defoe, even if you don't score another goal all season, it looks like you just punched your
ticket to South Africa with the England National Team. Click to continue reading...
Recently promoted Kavala's impressive form in the Superleague has continued after they managed
to get a late win against AEK. This win means that Kavala has managed to take points from each of
the big three (a draw against Olympiakos in Karaiskaki and a home draw against PAO).
Though Kavala's first goal came off of a penalty which was a clear dive and a few calls weren't
made in our favour, Kavala were clearly the better team.
With the international breaks at an end for a fair few months now, Tottenham have an opportunity to
lock their collective mind on continuing their impressive progress in the Premier League. Wigan
visit the Lane tomorrow afternoon and as enigmatic as the visitors appear to be at times, Spurs'
slick passing should be more than a match for them and provided the strikers can locate their
specially made shooting boots, there could be goals in the offing. Click to continue reading...
Rumours are rife as we all know about Chelsea at the moment and there seems to be no stopping the
press at the moment. Ashley Cole has said this week: ""Of course every club wants to see new players and at a club like Chelsea you know whoever comes
in will be world-class, you would love to see new players but it's not my money they're spending
and it's not down to me. Click to continue reading...
Reports suggest that one of our crocked strikers, Dexter Blackstock, could make a return in
tomorrow's match at Middlesbrough, but also that Nathan Tyson will remain on the sidelines for a
few weeks yet. Chris Gunter missed Wales' match last week but should be fit to resume tomorrow. For
all you stats fans, Forest are now [. Click to continue reading...
The United States played two tough European opponents and were defeated in both matches. But we
certainly learned something from both games, and thus this European Adventure has been useful for
Bob Bradley.
The US has its style: tactically Bob Bradley is modeling his team after what Carlo Ancelotti
did at AC Milan.
On an unrelated note, I was browsing uefa.com in hopes of finding some love "Greek-loving"
publications when my an video on the side panel caught my eye... "How to deal with pace" Lars
Lagerback on stopping the threat of quick strikers like Thierry Henry. Suggestion: Cut his hands
off. Click to continue reading...
We're doing well. We're fourth in the league with a few weeks before the winter transfer window
and Christmas. But it's hard not to feel that there's a anxiousness about all of it, and that with
our current lack of creativity and consequential goals mean that as fans we always feel that we're
surfing the crest of a wave comprised of excrement.
One thing about not blogging for a week is you can sit back and watch the hysterical reactions
going on in the world of football without feeling like you have to dive in and add your voice. It
has been one of those weeks.
First we had the curse of the international break rear its ugly head again, in the form of
injuries to Van Persie and Gibbs.
Before Adebayor, Robinho and the other eight strikers at City, there used to be Georgios
Samaras. Although highly touted by Stuart Pearce, he failed to make an impact in the two years
while at the club.
When Sven Goran Ericksson was made manager Samaras was confined mostly to the bench.
As clear as night follows day, summer follows spring, and Phil Brown is a self promoting moron,
Arsenal will get themselves in an almighty pickle with injuries long before the Christmas
break.
The tradition has been continuing for many a long year, and with the news now of another injury
to a reserve left back, Arsene Wenger is going to have to shuffle the pack again to get a team out
at Sunderland capable of getting a result.
It is not just that Real Salt Lake's captain, Kyle Beckerman, has been working on his
dreadlocks longer than the LA Galaxy's David Beckham has been coifed with an under-cut resembling a
mullet with a racing-strip, that leads me to predict RSL as the 2009 MLS Cup winner.
Rather, it is that RSL is peaking at the right time and relishes the underdog role.
Dave Kitson of Stoke City has become the second striker to join Middlesbrough on loan since the
appointment of Gordon Strachan. It is hoped that Kitson will provide additional competition for
places up front, following the recent arrival of Marcus Bent on loan, and will be reunited at the
Riverside with his former Reading strike partner Leroy Lita.
Before the playoffs began, the consensus was that the teams in the Western Conference were more
prepared to the lift the MLS Cup in Seattle on November 22nd. Little did we know then how prophetic
that sentiment was, as we now have both entries in the Final representing the West. The Los Angeles
Galaxy — the top seed out of the West entering the post-season — and Real Salt Lake —
vanquishers of the best the East had to offer — face off at Qwest Field with the Philip F.
As you might expect, we have plenty of things going on today. Two or three plenties worth,
actually...#1 - Let's begin with my double interview with Real Salt Lake strikers Robbie Findley
and Yura Movsisyan.Other RSL tidbits:- Rogue Cavaliers Brigade blog Denz's Sopabox has interview
videos- Have a ticket but no flight yet? Click to continue reading...
The following list of elite midfield players in the world will exclude the likes of Lionel
Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka since they sometimes play as forwards or as support strikers
depending on the strategy deployed by their team. Kaka has previously played as a second striker
during his spell with Milan while both Messi and Ronaldo have played in various attacking positions
for their club (mostly on the wing though).
Maybe the "weakened" Jamaica was a better opponent for South Africa, because Bafana Bafana
managed to play forward although they were held to a goalless draw at Vodacom Stadium on
Tuesday.
That means the 2010 World Cup hosts have now scored just six goals in their last 12
internationals.
Yesterday, Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne De Rosario was named into this year's MLS Starting XI. It
is the dynamic Scarborough native's fourth time on the year end honours and the third club he has
done it with. Most notably, his appearance is the first for any TFC player. While De Rosario is enough of a fan favourite, mostly from being local, it is fair to say that his
star has yet to rise to high enough levels in Toronto. Click to continue reading...
At the Olympic Stadium, Greece drew 0-0 with Ukraine in the first leg of their World Cup
playoff. Tomorrow night, the 2nd leg with take place at another Olympic Stadium, this time in Kyiv.
It really should be a tough affair with it all to play for and a place in the tournament in South
Africa.
We face Sunderland this Saturday at the Stadium of Light and here I am on Tuesday night
wondering whether we will see something different from Arsenal this weekend. I think I mentioned it
in the aftermath of RVP's injury but today I'm going to give it full attention.
Traditionally, Wenger has preferred the conventional 4-4-2 with the striker popping up at the
flanks just like Henry once did and another idiot who tried to do the same but to no avail but this
season saw something new.
Uruguay have a foot and four toes into South Africa; Costa Rica are hanging by merely a thread. So
go the verdicts from the press in both countries. Uruguay asserted themselves on a substandard
pitch, used their physicality and their defensive discipline to pin the Costa Ricans in their own
area and disconnect the Tico midfield from their strikers, and were opportunistic at the right
time. Click to continue reading...
Ever since I started watching football many years ago now, when it came time for the World Cup,
Spain were always considered a dangerous threat by many pundits that they would win the tournament,
only to let everyone down time and time again. Spain are likely to have one of the best selling
World Cup Jerseys in the tournament, but the best they have finished is 4th place in a World Cup
and that was in 1950.
Recently, it was reported everywhere that Christian Vieri was hanging up his boots. Vieri, at
one time one of the most feared strikers in all of world football, had given all he had and was
going more and more into a decline, so he it looked like he wanted to finally call it quits at age
36.
Ever since I started watching football many years ago now, when it came time for the World Cup,
Spain were always considered a dangerous threat by many pundits that they would win the tournament,
only to let everyone down time and time again. Spain are likely to have one of the best selling
World Cup Jerseys in the tournament, but the best they have finished is 4th place in a World Cup
and that was in 1950.
I read the Sun's article on Huntelaar rejecting a move to Spurs and thought; 'hold on a second, who
said we wanted you?' Fair enough, Harry was interested in the summer, but that all changed when Crouch was signed. Milan
took the punt on him, spending €15 million (£13 million or so). Oh how they wish they hadn't. Click to continue reading...
I wish Arteta was fit so I could replace Lampard with an absolute on the ball
genius This international break has not been meaningless by any means- in fact, it's
been quite exciting as Nic Anelka gave France a 1-0 lead over Ireland, and former Fantasy Premier
League stars Obafemi Martins (Nigeria) and Amr Zaki (Egypt) got their countries one step closer to
South Africa as well. Click to continue reading...
Yes, that is a serious question. Two players who 'offer more than just goals' as strikers. But
how much more? Who would you rather have? Fortunately a member of the Football365 Forum (lol tb x)
has done the analysis for us. Read on to see who comes out on top...
A comparison of their goals and assists since Tevez came here:
This is obviously an area where Tevez should win by a margin having played with some of the best
players in the world.
When it comes to friendlies, it's nearly an impossible task to convince an audience that the
stakes are high. And while that is certainly true the day before the U.S.-Slovakia match in
Bratislavia, there is plenty to learn about the state of the U.S. team both Saturday, and next
Wednesday in Denmark.
Guest Writer This post is written by guest blogger Kampanart Wong from Footy Shirts 4 U. We are always happy to
have guest contributions, if you are passionate about Spurs and have something to talk about, drop
us a line using our contact form.
Spurs have went through a complete rebuilding process of the team, and have spent £150 million
in transfers over the last 16 months meaning that they have out spent the whole of the Premiership,
including the top 4, apart from big spending Manchester City.
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira is optimistic about his team's success against Japan. Bafana
Bafana take on Japan in a friendly international match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port
Elizabeth on Saturday.
And a Port Elizabeth Sangoma, Puseletso "Nkomiyahlaba" Maropane', has predicted that Bafana
Bafana will win by 2 –O.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been handed a four match touchline ban as well as a £20,000 for
questioning the fitness of referee Alan Wiley.
After spending an unusually long time to book Anton Ferdinand in the second half, Ferguson
claimed this was because Wiley needed a chance to get his breath back.
