So how are you all after the international break? Miss watching our team lose and play horribly? Yeah me too. Luckily however this weekend we're playing some neighbors who are in much the same habit, managed by dear old Big Sam (maybe that was too many adjectives for one guy?). Blackburn are on a run of ten straight losses in away games, however they haven't lost at the Reebok

since 2001 (though really statistics like that don't mean that much).

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1. Ain't No Mountain High Enough

This article marks something of an epoch for The H List, being published as it is from the southern hemisphere.

In a frankly ridiculous bid for increased market share, Headhammer Shark and I have taken the bewilderingly radical approach of posting one author to Australia and it was I who took one for the team, typing as I am in shorts, t-shirt and 30-degree heat.

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Persebaya v Persipura
Fascinating match up this one seeing former Persebaya legend Jacksen F Tiago bring his Champions Persipura to Surabaya. Tiago of course has won the title with both Persebaya and Persipura.
Persebaya have been giving their fans and coaching staff kittens this season as they have been scoring and conceding with gay abandon. Click to continue reading...

The team continues to undergo it's offseason makeover. Leo Krupnik, formerly of Maccabi Haifa, has just signed on with Maccabi Netanya for an undisclosed sum. He appeared in only three games, starting in two.

If you are keeping score at home, that is now 9 players that started 2009 with the Bulls, who now find themselves elsewhere.

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The United States Men's National Team will close out an impressive 2009 schedule when they face fellow 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Denmark on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Aarhus, Denmark. Kickoff at NRGi Park is set for 8:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. CT), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN Classic at 1:25 p.

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Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is likely to miss his rematch with Manchester City centre-forward Emmanuel Adebayor.
Van Persie's injury threatens to stop him lining up against former team-mate Adebayor in next month's Carling Cup quarter-final at Manchester City.
Van Persie was keen to play after a stormy Barclays Premier League clash in September in which Adebayor stamped on his face and provoked travelling fans after scoring in a 4-2 win for his side. Click to continue reading...

1 - Persela 5 4 1 0 5-1 13
2 - Persijap 5 3 2 0 6-1 11
3 - Persiba 7 3 2 2 11-7 11
4 - Arema 4 3 1 0 4-1 10
5 - Persebaya 5 3 1 1 15-13 10
Top Scorers
6 - Herman Dzumafo (PSPS)
5 - Andi Odang (Persebaya)
4 - Leonardo Zada Martins (Persela), Julio Lopez (Persiba), Kornius Fingkrew (Persebaya), Erick Weeks, Boakay Eddie Foday (Persiwa)
All a bit tits around arse in Indonesia at themoment. Click to continue reading...

More points for Fluminense but has their run come to late?

Wins for São Paulo and Flamengo left them in 1st and 2nd place respectively with just three games to go in the Campeonato Brasiliero.

53,000 turned up at the estádio Morumbi as São Paulo took on Vitória in on Saturday.

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The Fire couldn't have asked for much more from last Saturday's 2-0 win over New England.

Advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs? Check.

Do it against a bitter rival? Check.

And do it all in style? Oh my, yes. Check.

That's what can happen when the Fire plays some of its most inspired soccer at the best time of year before a packed house at Toyota Park.

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Hard to keep him out of the headlines at the moment:

They had hoped to dissuade Robinho from reporting for international duty but relented after agreeing to send their own doctor with him so the injury could be assessed by Brazil's medical staff.

City had hoped Robinho would then fly back with them but have had to relent further, agreeing to him staying with Brazil – although they did not expect him to fly on to Oman for next Tuesday's match.

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The friendly between the US Men's National Team and Slovakia, being played in Bratislava, Slovakia will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision beginning at 9:00 am.

After earning a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men's National Team sets its sights on raising the bar for the World Cup in South Africa, which is now a mere seven months away.

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Just when I'm trolling around in search of something to care about, along comes Toronto FC COO and all around fan favourite Paul Beirne tweeting about how he intends to require TFC Academy entrants to commit to playing for Canada.
Even Duane Rollins points out the Academy couldn't force a player to play for the national outfit if it came down to that, so ultimately this is just more fan populism, and it seems they're loving it. Click to continue reading...

It is starting to look as if West Ham striker Dean Ashton could be forced to retire from the game at just 25-years-old.

The former Norwich forward broke his left ankle while training with the England squad in 2006 and has been unable to recover from the injury.

Hammer boss Gianfranco Zola had this to say on his situation: "When something like this happens, it is very much personal.

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John Tarkpor will possibly line up for his new club, Persebaya, against his old club, Persitara, after a long winded, drawn out pre season transfer that had both sides fighting over his registration.
Persebaya won and on his debut, alongside fellow new signings Claude Ngon A Djam and Takotoshi Uchida they got thumped 4-1 by fellow newly promoted side PSPS Pekanbaru. Click to continue reading...

So Australia move through to the semis of the AFC under-16 women's championships as the only team not to drop a game after beating Japan 3-1 in Thailand tonight. The two Korean teams, DPR Korea and Korea Republic drew in their round game, so they both finished on seven points in Group A while Australia topped Group B with a perfect nine points, three wins from three games. Click to continue reading...

Was Wes Brown fouled by Drogba?

Manchester United should feel hard done by. A fine display and they are right to feel aggravated. Jonny Evans and Wes Brown were terrific while Darren Fletcher was United's best player, but it wasn't to be their day, as John Terry's header deep in the second half was enough to send Chelsea five points clear.

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As you know, EPL Talk focuses on the Premier League and not the lower leagues of England, but my day didn't start so well when Setanta-i had technical problems which prevented me and all other Setanta-i customers from viewing the Welsh derby featuring the club I've supported all my life, Swansea City, against Cardiff City.

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Good morning all, welcome to the blog.
It's gameday, and with the action coming Wellington today, it means we only have to wait a few hours for a 12 o'clock kick-off.
On the other hand, it also means we have to deal with the New Zealand commenators, who would be front-runners for the 'worst football commenators in the world' award - if one were to actually exist. Click to continue reading...

3pm, live in the US on espn2
Sorry this is late, but I wanted to wait given the injuries and the game being on Monday. Posting on Friday morning like usual would have meant even more baseless speculation over who's available.
Last 4 head-to-head:
2-2 (a) 04.26.08
0-0 (h) 09. Click to continue reading...

It's Ask the Oppo time again and this week Carl Eldridge talks to Molineux regular Peter Hayes ahead of the Gunners' trip to Wolves in the Premier League...

CE: Wolves are back on the big stage after such a long and painful period so life in the top flight must be enjoyable?

PH; Yes it certainly has been a journey supporting the Wolves over the years and yes we are loving it, it really is the place to be.

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Pelita Jaya have announced the signing of Yuthajak Konjan. The former national team player will be among familiar faces as he was part of the 2003 Thai SEA Games squad that also featured Kosin Hatairatkul (Persib) and Phaitoon Thiabma (Persijap).
In the 2009 Thai Premier League the midfielder played for PEA and was a part of their AFC Cup run. Click to continue reading...

Soccer can be a tough game and it appears that's especially true in the Mountain West Conference. Footage of the conference semifinal game in Provo, Utah – where BYU beat New Mexico 1-0 – has been making the rounds and not for any of the right reasons.

Why is it that the only time women's sports make the nightly news is when the players cross the line?

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Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. U-20 national team defender Gale Agbossoumonde could be the first member of the U.S. Under-20 World Cup team to score a move to Europe after the tournament.

According to this report out of Portugal, Agbossoumonde, who currently plays for Miami FC in the USL, is expected to join Sporting Braga on loan on Nov.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. U-20 national team defender Gale Agbossoumonde could be the first member of the U.S. Under-20 World Cup team to score a move to Europe after the tournament.

According to this report out of Portugal, Agbossoumonde, who currently plays for Miami FC in the USL, is expected to join Sporting Braga on loan on Nov.

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The 4-1 thumping of Alkmaar in midweek was an immensely satisfying affair, a triumph of footballing philosophy over the defensive nous of coaches such as Ronald Koeman, and yet another demonstration that this Arsenal team is serious about combining footballing beauty with tangible success.

But prior the the match, there was a definite sense of relaxation amongst the fans, as if the game really didn't matter, so assured was our progress regardless of the result.

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Without doubt the highlight this weekend is the climax of the season in Malaysia with Kelantan taking on Negeri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup final at Bukit Jalil. Earlier in the season some 40,000 fans from the north east descended on the nation's capital to see their heroes take on Selangor in the FA Cup Final only to go home broken hearted. Click to continue reading...

They maybe top of the Indonesia Super League but Persijap Jepara are feeling the pinch where it hurts the most. In the wallet. Revealing figures (Source - Top Skor) show how attendances are shockingly down and how the club are losing money by being shown on TV so often.
Pelita Jaya 11,733 224. Click to continue reading...

Bontang v Persiba 0-0
Persiba missed the chance to go to the top of the ISL after they could only draw against Bontang who have already played seven games this season and have yet to win.
Daniel Roekito's men have played three away games this season so far and have picked up two points on their travels. Click to continue reading...

It's about time we shone our Jeu du Jour spotlight on Auxerre as we look back on Week 11. The only team never to be relegated from France's top flight started off this season as though that might all change, but after a defeat in each of their first three games, they now find themselves unbeaten in eight and up to fifth in the table. Click to continue reading...

The first round of MLS playoffs (aka MLS Conference Semi-finals)Â always spurs heated discussion about its playoff format as well as the League's two conference structure.

Let's take an overview of various playoff format options and League structures for Major League Soccer. There should be three objectives to a playoff format and League Structure:

1) Crown a worthy champion

2) Entertain the fans

3) Maximize revenue for the teams and League

No matter what playoff format is used or what tweaks are made to improve it, a percentage of fans will criticize it and offer other imperfect solutions.

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The U.S. Under-17 men's national team will look to extend its winning streak to three games today when it takes on Italy in the second round of the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria (10pm, ESPN360.com).

The Americans defeated Malawi and United Arab Emirates to reach this stage, and now face a strong Italian team that rolled to the second round.

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The U.S. Under-17 men's national team will look to extend its winning streak to three games today when it takes on Italy in the second round of the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria (10pm, ESPN360.com).

The Americans defeated Malawi and United Arab Emirates to reach this stage, and now face a strong Italian team that rolled to the second round.

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Sevilla vs Stuttgart

Group G leaders Sevilla can book their place in the knock out stages with a win over struggling Stuttgart as the Group's prize positions begin to take shape.

Sevilla's rampant form has seen them blitz their way to the top, with 9 points from a possible 9.

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Two weekends ago, Liverpool thought they had reached the turning point of what has been a frustrating campaign on all fronts. A 2-0 win over Manchester United seemed to silence the doubters and catapult them back into Premier League contention.
Now, though, after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Fulham (and the League Cup loss to Arsenal), it's back to panic stations for Rafael Benitez and his men as they look to resurrect their Champions League campaign. Click to continue reading...

Who: Manchester United vs. CSKA Moscow
What: Champions League Group B Match Day 4
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
When: 19:45 BST (2:45 EST)
Why: The Old Trafford faithful need a first hand viewing of CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev before every English tabloid spends the summer linking him with a transfer to the club.

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