England striker Wayne Rooney scored 2 penalties and produced an inspiring second half display as Manchester United fought back from a seemingly hopeless position at Stanford Bridge. Trailing by a single goal at half time, even the most die hard of United supporters must have thought all was lost when a disastrous start to the second half saw early goals from Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata (who buried a stunning volley) and a deflected set piece header from centre back David Luiz treble the home side's advantage in a sequence of events that all Chelsea fan's must surely have believed would put the game to bed as a contest.

As hinted at in last night's post it felt like a good night to be a blue from the word go.
City always seem to fall foul of Everton's superior workrate and commitment. Players like Aguero, Villa and Nasri have added real class to go along with the brawn but where is the steel that side will need to win a title?

Leon Best has come out and told the Newcastle supporters not to worry the team spirit is still high in the Newcastle dressing room. Leon Best in action yesterday We think Brighton may have had a couple of half chances in the game yesterday, but after 76 minutes they managed to get the only [...]

Kuyt was the Hero today with a 88th minute winner to put Liverpool into the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup. The game ended 2-1 and the result seemed so bitter sweet for Luis Suarez who watched had to watch on from the sidelines serving his 7th match ban after the racial incident against Evra in their last encounter.

Kuyt was the Hero today with a 88th minute winner to put Liverpool into the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup. The game ended 2-1 and the result seemed so bitter sweet for Luis Suarez who watched had to watch on from the sidelines serving his 7th match ban after the racial incident against Evra in their last encounter.

Karl Robinson and his Milton Keynes Dons side make the short journey down to the Lamex tomorrow night in what could be a pivotal match as both sides look to cement their position in the League 1 play-off positions. MK Dons sit one place above Stevenage going into the game, although the Dons are 5 points clear with the bonus of a game in hand.

Raul, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and their Schalke 04 team-mates spent the day today visiting the Auguste-Victoria coal mine in Marl, Germany to build team spirit and to show the solidarity with their supporters. Image: Reuters.

The most frustrating thing is that, after a disastrous start to the season, we had done the hard bit.

Written off by everyone, we somehow battled back up the table, all the way to the top four.

A team that seemed to have been cobbled together off the back of Steptoe and Son's wagon on the last day of the transfer window was starting to look like it could really do the business.

Two points separate the top four sides in the Championship going into this weekend's action, with leaders Southampton in danger of falling out of the automatic promotion spots for the first time this season.
Nigel Adkins' men wasted no time in acclimatising to life back in the second tier, surprising those who bet on the Championship to quickly build up a healthy lead over the rest.

Frank Lampard has once again reiterated that he needs games to find his best form, the team spirit is OK at the club and also an interesting point, he believes that it's the established core of the Chelsea side that has seen us through in the last seven years and that same core is important to us this season.

• Kop That: A look at all the Boxing Day action in the Premier League and Football League http://t.co/hsY2xClP 23:54:37, 2011-12-26
• Kop That: Joe Cole eyes England recall for Euro 2012 http://t.co/RJ23IGTe 22:53:22, 2011-12-26
• Kop That: What are the odds Chelsea are the next English club Mourinho manages?

Following Manchester United's 5-0 win over Wigan, Patrice Evra, our captain in the absence of Nemanja Vidic, has hailed the spirit of the players at Manchester United.

Due to injuries, Valencia played at right back, Michael Carrick played in the centre of defence, and after Jonny Evans went off at half time, Evra moved to the centre too.

Blackburn Rovers' under-fire manager Steve Kean hails team spirit after draw with Liverpool at Anfield

Blackburn manager believes response of his patched-up team in draw with Liverpool shows he has their support.

View the full story here: The Telegraph

A news article on 2011-12-26 22:00:50 from: The Telegraph

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

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean proud of players for holding Liverpool to 1-1 draw

The coach, who has come under pressure to quit from his own fans, hailed the team spirit after his side held on at Anfield and suggests he is in the market for four new players

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-26 18:48:00 from: Goal

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

Dalglish delight at Reds support

Kenny Dalglish believes the fantastic team spirit Liverpool have both on and off the pitch can serve as a platform for future success.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-12-23 11:49:05 from: Liverpool FC

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

Man City 1 (Silva 53) Arsenal 0
(Premiership)

Rarely do you feel so positive after a defeat. Improved form, a greater sense of team spirit and unity, and perhaps a slight readjustment of fan expectation has mended a lot of the bridges between the club and the supporters since our last trip to Manchester, and despite tasting defeat in the league again there yesterday, none of that will have been sullied thanks to a terrific performance that deserved more than it got.

Manchester City 1 – 0 Arsenal: Match report and player ratings

Since our painful, last visit to Manchester a few months ago, Arsenal have made tremendous progress. In fact, the club achieved such a fantastic transformation since the late arrival of experienced, quality players like Arteta, Mertesacker, and Santos that most of us were confident we could get something out of our game against the other club from Manchester today.

Manchester City 1 – 0 Arsenal: Match report and player ratings

Since our painful, last visit to Manchester a few months ago, Arsenal have made tremendous progress. In fact, the club achieved such a fantastic transformation since the late arrival of experienced, quality players like Arteta, Mertesacker, and Santos that most of us were confident we could get something out of our game against the other club from Manchester today.

By Alan Duffy

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal Premier League 18th December 2011

Shorn of all four full-backs in their squad, it was always going to be a difficult task facing Arsenal as they headed to the Etihad Stadium.

When asked about interest from Manchester City this summer, Ashley Young has admitted they wanted to sign him, although he had no interest in joining them once Manchester United made a move for him.

"That's true, but as soon as I heard about Manchester United there was no other club for me," said Young.

If ever you needed evidence of the newly improved team spirit at New Arsenal, you just have to read some of the recent match reports.

Here on AA yesterday Harry's excellent dissection of the victory over Everton was comprehensive and entertaining.

He plumped for Koscielny as Man of the Match, but clearly did not feel his performance was way out ahead of the rest of the team (Kozzer was one of four players whom Harry gave an 8 out of 10.

If ever you needed evidence of the newly improved team spirit at New Arsenal, you just have to read some of the recent match reports.

Here on AA yesterday Harry's excellent dissection of the victory over Everton was comprehensive and entertaining.

He plumped for Koscielny as Man of the Match, but clearly did not feel his performance was way out ahead of the rest of the team (Kozzer was one of four players whom Harry gave an 8 out of 10.

Liverpool's success this season has been built on a foundation of hard work and a strong team spirit, according to boss Kenny Dalglish.
The Anfield giants can move up to fifth in the Premier League with a convincing victory over Fulham on Monday night, and are unbeaten in five matches against Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea so far this term.

With all of Liverpool's rivals for the top four places picking up three points over the weekend the pressure is on Kenny Dalglish's men to continue the form and keep up with the pack.
Former Reds defender Dominic Matteo feels that it is matches against the likes of Fulham that are the must win games should Liverpool want to get back into the Champions League places.

By Alan Duffy

Trev, James and Lee: A story of fatherly love, riches and intrigue. And burglary.

That's a headline you thought you'd never see, eh! Well, according to a number of newspapers, the 24-year-old James Francis is indeed in big trouble after allegedly breaking in to former Aston Villa schemer Lee Hendrie's £1.

Liverpool revival down to hard work and team spirit, insists manager Kenny Dalglish

The Reds boss says team can still improve despite promising results against big-name rivals, and is looking for the older members of the squad to maintain work ethic

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-05 08:55:00 from: Goal

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

News of a takeover any takeover will be perceived very well by supporters of Everton.

Owner Bill Kenwright is a Blue through and through, but he simply does not have the funds to keep the club competing at the level it has previously under manager David Moyes, which has seen the Merseyside club not only lag behind their city rivals Liverpool in spending on new players, but also the rest of the Premier League.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has been a solid presence in the team's defence since returning from injury, but he's now called for more consistency over the next few months in a bid to dispel the 'up and down' nature of the season so far.
Agger, who has helped Liverpool keep two clean sheets since returning from injury, noted:
"It's been a little bit up and down.

The US men's soccer team has had an up and down time over the past few years. There have been highs and lows and the sacking of their coach. Hopefully this time will be a learning curve for the players and staff so that they can go to greater heights in the next four or five years.

The World Cup of 2010 was certainly a positive.

• Kop That: England to wear poppy FIFA back down http://t.co/jeKv0xGa 23:37:05, 2011-11-09
• Kop That: EXCLUSIVE: Rio WILL go to Euro 2012 http://t.co/JKY6WM6i 22:50:00, 2011-11-09
• Kop That: EXCLUSIVE: Capello claims player punch-ups are GOOD for team spirit! http://t.co/G5TrH6rH 22:49:56, 2011-11-09
• Kop That: Sturridge, Welbeck, Walker and Rodwell set for Spain test as Capello searches for England X Factor http://t.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart are astonished to find two of their club teammates nowhere within the sight of England's squad ahead of Spain's highly anticipated visit to Wembley on Saturday evening.

Jones, who has been tipped as the future leader of United's defense, is still coming to terms with the exclusion of current leader Rio Ferdinand while Hart fully expected to see in-form right-back Micah Richards picked for the exhibition against the reigning World and European Champions.

EXCLUSIVE: Capello claims player punch-ups are GOOD for team spirit!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-09 22:30:28 from: The Mirror

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

City talisman Yaya Toure stated in a recent interview that his team can match the Arsenal of 2004 and go unbeaten in this years Premier League.

He said in a launch of Puma's African National Cup kits, "We hope we can continue unbeaten, we are playing fantastic football."

Although the blue side of Manchester have enjoyed an excellent start to their campaign- the obvious highlight beating United 6-1 at Old Trafford, I simply do not believe City have what it takes to match Arsene Wenger's supremely talented side.

Newcastle United kept up their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Everton. That's eleven matches already and tongues are complimentary at the prowess of Alan Pardew in building a solid team spirit in spite of losing Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Joey Barton in the summer. The Magpies remain the only other team yet to be beaten this season.

As every fan will no doubt have seen by now, Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has publicly lambasted his team-mates as a result of the team's poor showing against Swansea. Was such public evisceration warranted?
Agger, who clearly forgot about the Liverpool principle of never washing dirty laundry in public, blasted:
‘Sometimes we looked like headless chickens running around after the ball.

It's hard to believe sometimes but club captain Ledley King has been with Spurs since 1997 and in all his time at White Hart Lane, he has hinted that this current squad is the best he's seen.

"It is showing in the results. It is not just the eleven players on the pitch; if you look at the substitutes' bench, it is scary how strong the squad is," King said.

After taking all of two years to adapt to the physically and mentally demanding nature of the English top flight, Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny feels that he is now in the best form of his life.

Whether it is combating injuries or competing against some of the finest footballers of the world, the man who rapidly rose through the ranks in France is finally beginning to establish himself as a top Barclays Premier League defender.

By Greg Evans

Levante lost 2-0 to Osasuna in La Liga yesterday. Nothing unusual about that you may think, except for the fact that it was pretty unusual as far as this season is concerned.

When the final whistle sounded at the Reyno de Nevarra, the vast majority Spanish football neutrals groaned a collective sigh of disappointment.

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor talks about the excellent team spirit at the club, including good relationships all the way up the hierarchy. I was alarmed to see a headline in The Telegraph that said 'Newcastle have Europe in their sights'. Admittedly the author of the article intimated that European football is more likely in [.

Arsenal head into tomorrow's Champions League fixture against Marseille oozing confidence after an amazing show against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Gunners prepare to host Marseille in the second leg of the fixture at the Emirates after stunning the French power house 2 weeks ago at the Stade Velodrom.