Maybe Dortmund just weren't angry enough. Following through with this theory, I can't tell you what made them so angry last season. But they certainly felt pretty good about themselves and their chances in the Champions League coming out of the summer break. After losing to Olympiacos midweek (declaring bankruptcy, Euro crisis, any Greece related pun you like), they had to face up to the bitter reality of possibly spending next year out of the Euro zone (sorry).

RIP Spanish football? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Spanish football is dying.

In 2007 La Liga had one of the most exciting title races in living memory as four teams had the possibility of winning the title, even with four rounds of matches still to play. Valencia fell away towards the end and Sevilla ran out of steam en route to winning the UEFA Cup (in an all-Spanish final against Espanyol) and Copa del Rey that year.

So here we are, two matches into the Premier League campaign with just 1 point to our name, all the way down in 14th place. The past few weeks haven't exactly been easy for Arsenal. Going into the new season after not having the best pre season, winning just two games, drawing three and losing one left many of us gooners quite apprehensive of the season ahead.

With Scotland's capital hosting the world to the delights of the Edinburgh Festival, Tottenham were treating the people of Tynecastle to a festival of football, not seen in these parts for a long, long time.

Before the game, Harry Redknapp had said he expected a hostile atmosphere and a tough game.

Images via fcbarcelona.

It seems that when it comes to Lionel Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo's relationship status, even our overactive imaginations have failed to keep up with actual events.

Deep breaths.

Remember last week when we assumed the couple were back 'on'? This assumption was based, quite reasonably, on photos of the couple draped all over one another on a boat.

Deja vu could well be the most commonly used phrase by Arsenal fans during the summer break (among other slightly more inappropriate ones). It was supposed to be the summer that Arsene Wenger finally opened his famously closed eyes, the summer that he addressed the weaknesses within the Arsenal squad, that appear to be obvious to all but the Frenchman.

It's been a while since we have felt the need to critique Cristiano's sartorial elegance. But we're guessing he's been so busy with his bubba and Irina over the summer break that he simply hasn't had time to offend us with his trouser/shoe combos.

However, training has a now recommenced and a whole season of fashion fails awaits us.

Liverpool's Lucas Leiva remains optimistic about his place in the team to face Sunderland on the opening day of the season, despite the arrival of additional midfielders and his participation in this summer's Copa America.
The Brazilian has been at the centre of speculation regarding Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's lineup for Saturday's match against Sunderland, with many tipping the player to miss out on a first team place.

I must admit I've been a little less engaged with our summer activities this season compared to usual for a number of reasons, so the season starting tomorrow has snuck up on me rather. It's good to think we'll be back to regular jaunts to the City Ground and around the country after that long summer break and all the incessant clamour and nonsense that goes with it in terms of people spreading outlandish rumours and whatnot [.

Summer break Bolton midfielder Lee Chung Yong is facing nine months on the sidelines after breaking his leg in a pre-season friendly against non-league side Newport County. Well, 'breaking his leg' is not entirely accurate. In fact, he had it broken for him thanks to a horrendous challenge from Newport's Tom Miller.

Liverpool's Joe Cole fighting fit and raring to go after longest ever summer break

Joe Cole fit and ready to fight for Liverpool place having benefited from the longest summer break he has ever had.

View the full story here: The Telegraph

A news article on 2011-07-18 12:13:18 from: The Telegraph

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

Joe Cole keen to make Liverpool impression

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole feels fit and ready to fight for his place after returning from the club's mini-tour to the Far East. The 29-year-old believes he has benefited from the longest summer break he has ever had.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-07-18 11:26:12 from: The Mail

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

After signing two of their priority targets, Liverpool will now attempt to sell the unwanted members of their squad.
Former Blackpool captain Charlie Adam finally completed his move to Anfield on Thursday night following six months of negotiations and speculation.
The Scotland international's signing comes after Jordan Henderson was bought from Sunderland at the beginning of the summer break.

Darren Burgess admits he was thrilled with the condition of the Liverpool players who returned to Melwood following the summer break on Monday.
Each member of the Reds' playing staff was issued a specially-prepared fitness programme to follow over their holidays to ensure they came back to the club's training base in good condition - and the players appeared to be in fine shape as they got their preparations for 2011-12 up and running.

post source:spanish football sports When SPANISH FOOTBALL goes into summer slow mode, the whole industry that is dragged by it also suffers. The media see how their newspapers sell less & TV Sports shows even that the time to go on holidays. The real creativity over the summer-break in Sports media departments is to figure out what the hell to publish or talk about the following day to get people

It is quite difficult to write something during the summer break. Last season was quite different. The constant Cesc quest produced infinite number of stories and for people like us it was quite good. This season things are back to normal and the transfer market is quietly evolving. But earlier indications looks like we are once again losing the plot with the endless Cesc saga.

When I were a lad summer was a very different beast.
Inspired by Seve we'd take to the fairways, dedicated to mastering the Royal and Ancient game well enough to give Nick Faldo the beating he so richly deserved.
We'd take to the tennis court to out boom-boom Boris Becker.
Football would take a back seat, save for the odd snippet of transfer gossip and the release of the official squad photograph, never fully complete without a sprinkling of mullets and a selection of ill advised moustaches.

Two of Spurs current centre halves are in the news today as they face an uncertain future during the summer break.
Sebastien Bassong's move away from the club may have moved a step closer with reports that Wolves may come in for the player after being priced out of the market for Birmingham's Roger Johnson.

The SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM defeated comfortably VENEZUELA 0 - 3 in their International Friendly. Spain wrapped things up in the first 45 min with goals from Villa, Pedro & Xabi Alonso. Spanish Football Coach Del Bosque gave his squad member a run rotation in the second half. The Spanish Football players go on their summer break in perfect winning fashion.

There have been assorted Arsenal rumours that Andrei Arshavin was going to be sold this summer, but both the player and the manager have scuppered the idea of him leaving, but he thinks that Cesc Fabregas will not be returning to the Emirates after the summer break. Arshavin told the Russian magazine Sport: "My opinion [.

A step further in importance : that's how this last game compares to the emotional rollercoaster that last year's ultimate game was. Because not only will it condition our final ranking, but it will also be the end of a cycle, and possibly several.

First cycle ending : the 2010-2011 season
There's no need to comment on this overall disappointing season, bar a respectable run of 13 unbeaten games following the derby lost in St Etienne in September.

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was giving a six month ban for failing a drug test in February, which means that he will be back playing in September.

Toure failed the drug test after the Manchester derby in February and we has suspended in early March. Toure claimed that he failed the test because of a banned substance contained in a diet pill he was given by his wife.

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was giving a six month ban for failing a drug test in February, which means that he will be back playing in September.

Toure failed the drug test after the Manchester derby in February and we has suspended in early March. Toure claimed that he failed the test because of a banned substance contained in a diet pill he was given by his wife.

"Super Me-La-Chenko!"Quite a boring game in which both teams seemed content to pass the ball round to no effect. It
was more interesting watching the scores come up on the screen and then trying to work out who was going down. Points, goal diffrence, goals scored, it was hardcore maths at one point.

"Super Me-La-Chenko!"Quite a boring game in which both teams seemed content to pass the ball round to no effect. It
was more interesting watching the scores come up on the screen and then trying to work out who was going down. Points, goal diffrence, goals scored, it was hardcore maths at one point.

Not a massive pre-match write up today because like the players and coaching staff, with the exception of possibly Modric and Gallas, I've switched into summer break mode already. Whether you rate this season as a disappointment or one of the best in "God knows how long", there's no doubt it's starting to wind down and it's ending in a forgettable way.

Season over and we failed to get promotion. Reflections on the past season on this week's show. Plus, lots of players departing our club and a fair few getting new contracts! As always, listener email comments this week and some great manager and player interviews! No summer break for GGL see you all next week!

Possible design for FC Barcelona 2011/2012 Home Kit

Still no word from FC Barcelona or Nike as to what the new 2011/2012 home kit is going to look like with the new sponser, Qatar Foundation replacing UNICEF.

But recently this image has been making its way across the internet with heavy speculation that this is in fact what the kit will look like.

Before the introduction into European football of ‘registration periods,' more commonly known as ‘transfer windows,' you may remember that players could pretty much come and go as they please, right up until the closing weeks of the season. However, times have changed and now, in England specifically, the summer window runs from the last day of the season right up until the 1st September.

Liverpool Fernando Torres is a world class player and considering Bayern Munich's stature in Europe, it is far from ridiculous to imagine the Spaniard considering a move to the German champions.
The striker himself had confirmed the possibility in 2009, "Bayern Munich is a very attractive club.

With little going on during the summer break, HEGS has been quiet as I've been earning some spending money whilst on my visit to England, and seeing friends. Off the pitch though, some transfer dealing has been happening, and some ... Continue reading →