A week ago it was reported that Cristiano Ronaldo was about to begin running on that repaired ankle that the star player injured over nine games back and earlier this week Ronaldo began doing individual workouts with the team's trainer. As of Tuesday Ronaldo began doing ball dribbling and skill workouts still without the squad and by the end of the week Ronaldo was expected to begin training with Real Madrid once again.

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The thought of writing this post after the opening day game against DC United never entered my head. That was a slightly improved version of the meltdown season of 2008 defensive breakdowns, not much stability in the middle and an attack that put two in the back of the net, but looked frustrating doing it.

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I understand it is normal at the end of AFC games for both teams to line up at the end of the game in the centre circle and shake hands with their opponents and match officials. Last night Kuwait didn't, preferring to slink off down the tunnel.
All in all I don't think the Kuwaitis will look back on their Jakarta trip with a great deal of fondness. Click to continue reading...

Well, I just finished gnashing my teeth, rending my clothes, and dropping down to my knees, head thrust upward, yelling "Why, God? Why?!" I think now I can almost think rationally about this.

The big news is that the injury is not quite as bad as it had been first thought. Originally, everyone was reporting 2-3 months, some of the more sensationalist English papers were saying out for the season.

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Former Galaxy player and goal hero Ned Grabavoy, left, and Real Salt Lake, which beat the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks to become Eastern Conference champions (let's get rid of these silly conferences based on irrelevant geography, MLS) will face the Galaxy Sunday in Seattle.

Grabavoy scored the winning goal just before the picture was taken above, although former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley almost scored in the dying moments of regulation time only to be denied by Palos Verdes Peninsula product John Thorrington.

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It's back to league action this weekend as Gateshead make the long journey south to play Stevenage in a fixture which was last played in 1998 with the 'Tynesiders' winning the game 2-1 at the International Stadium. Boro though won the reverse fixture earlier that season 6-1, so I doubt the Gateshead fans have that fond of memories of Hertfordshire.

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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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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has received a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley's fitness.

The Football Association handed the 67-year-old a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season. Ferguson has also been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has received a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley's fitness.

The Football Association handed the 67-year-old a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season. Ferguson has also been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.

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It seems hard to believe that LA Galaxy lie just two games away from another Major League Soccer Championship after the season they've endured.

Rewind four months and a return to the increasingly bitter feud between Landon Donovan and David Beckham, a talented axis by which much of LA's attacking play is based, which was threatening to derail the Galaxy's season.

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The Conference Championships are now upon us, and I must say: "Could we have asked for anything more?" After all, these two games have more storylines than a Tarantino film (and they could end up being as violent). But, before I further tease this week's monumental matchups, I want to first take a look back at last week's amazing results.

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So, a nice, relatively comfortable win on Monday brought us up from ninth to joint fifth.

We got the three points we so desperately needed, as well as a little bit of reassurance for the players and fans. Beating a team like Larissa with a score of 3-1 is always a nice thing. Sure, Larissa might not be at their best, but they are rarely an easy team to win against (I feel like I've said that many times already this season).

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I have to say maybe I was slightly harsh on the boys after the Atletico game the other night as we are sitting pretty at the top of our group with two games to play. Let's face it there are a number of big european sides that are all but comfortable at the moment and will be giving their all to make sure of qualification for the last 16. Click to continue reading...

A full list of those players affected by the Interlull was posted yesterday on the official site. While we have to accept that the French players and Arshavin have two games due to their play-off duties, it's a bit disappointing to see that Cesc could potentially play for Spain and Robin van Persie twice for Holland in meaningless friendlies.

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Conrad after the Costa Rica match. Photo courtesy of Andy Mead/Yellow Card Journalism.
Jimmy Conrad has been named to the US National Team for the third time this season, after first joining the team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup then re-joining for the final two World Cup qualifiers of the hexagonal. Click to continue reading...

In my opinion, the two best teams in MLS already faced eachother during these playoffs. Forget the finals, the best matchup is/was Houston vs. Seattle.

What more can you say about Seattle and their fans? They are the pinnacle example of what every team strives for. Sure, there might be some exceptions, like a few over-zealous Sounders fans that chose to sing through the moment of silence for the Fort Hood tragedy.

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SO Wellington Phoenix haven't lost at home in 13 games, they have won their last two games there with nine goals scored - so after Perth Glory came away with a draw yesterday, is that a good result?
Of course it is.
It was the sort of match where a couple of moments of brilliance were need to notch a goal on the board. Click to continue reading...

When Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot after he was adjudged to have handled in the box, Joleon Lescott's face said plenty. Lescott wore the expression of a player both low on confidence and struggling for form.
After small steps forward in the goalless draw at Birmingham, it was very much a case of a step backward in yesterdays 3-3 draw against Burnley, a frustrating fifth draw in succession. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Aurelio is winning his battle to be fit to return to action on Monday – and to take his place in the Brazil squad for the first time.
Aurelio, who is in the last year of his current contract, has missed Liverpool's last two games against Fulham and Lyon with a calf problem.
His form before that, though, had been good enough to catch the eye of Brazil coach Dunga, who will take Aurelio and Reds midfielder Lucas to Qatar for next Saturday's friendly with England. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is taking heart from the Reds' positive performance against Olympique Lyonnais this week, despite the disappointing result – a 1-1 draw placed the Merseysiders' hopes of progress in the Champions League in severe doubt.
"You get what you deserve in football and you have to look at closing the game down otherwise you get punished in the way we did in Lyon," he told the club's official website.

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51 responses to Jeff Plush's letter to fans on the Rapids' blog as of 10am November 5. It shows there are some passionate fans out there. Not that I ever had any doubt about that. What I do have doubts over are the very future of this club and here's why.
I have never really understood why sports trophies are given to the owners of clubs when they win championships. Click to continue reading...

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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Last night was pretty depressing but loved this quote from Eusebio

Eusebio on Goodison Park: "Sorry, I don't speak good English. But today for me, for my family, it's a good day, for Benfica to play here. This stadium for me is the best stadium in my playing life.

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I'm not quite sure where this week has gone. It's absolutely motored past. However, I suspect I drifted along, basking a bit too much in derby delight, and before I could whistle, the Champions League game had been and gone, and Stan Kroenke had hoovered up yet more shares.

We continued our fine form, albeit against what turned out to be the limited AZ.

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Andy Williams Seals the Deal for Real in Win

Andy Williams seals the deal for RSL with a late goal in Real's 4-2 aggregate win to advance in the 2009 MLS Playoffs and move on to the Eastern Conference Final. Last week after Real Salt Lake beat Columbus at home in Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Jason Kreis said something interesting after the game. Click to continue reading...

Conspiracy theories don't usually do it for me, but tonight's farce is enough to make me pause for thought. If Jack Warner can retain a high ranking position in FIFA than nothing in football is impossible; could it be that UEFA, frightened by Roma's poor start to the campaign and desperate to show off their new Europa League, have issued a far reaching anti-non-famous club mandate?

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Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has branded Liverpool's Champions League performances this season 'disgraceful'.
The Spain international was left fuming after conceding a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Lyon on Wednesday night which has left the Reds' qualification from the group stages in the hands of rival teams. Click to continue reading...

Lyon coach Claude Puel has assured Liverpool they will be doing their all to beat Fiorentina, despite already securing qualifcation.
Liverpool's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League is out of their hands after Lisandro Lopez's dramatic late goal denied the English side all three points in France on Wednesday night. Click to continue reading...

I have to say maybe I was slightly harsh on the boys after the Atletico game the other night as we are sitting pretty at the top of our group with two games to play. Let's face it there are a number of big european sides that are all but comfortable at the moment and will be giving their all to make sure of qualification for the last 16. Click to continue reading...

I have to say maybe I was slightly harsh on the boys after the Atletico game the other night as we are sitting pretty at the top of our group with two games to play.
Let's face it there are a number of big european sides that are all but comfortable at the moment and will be giving their all to make sure of qualification for the last 16. Click to continue reading...

Will we see more of Conor Casey with the US National Team? (Getty Images)

Good evening folks, I hope everyone is having a good day. Now that we are in the evening it is time once again for some links and thoughts. I only have two items tonight and really only one link.

My first thought of the night centers around the US Men's National team and their upcoming friendlies this month in Europe.

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Liverpool's chances of advancing to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage are on life support after the team's 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon earlier today. With the point from the draw, Lyon become the first team in the group to advance. Likely to join them are Fiorentina, who sit second on nine points. Click to continue reading...

Russian champions Rubin Kazan ensured that they remain unbeaten against UEFA Champions League holders FC Barcelona over the two games played on opposite ends of the continent.

A goalless draw in overcast conditions in Central Stadium Kazan ensured that Rubin remain tied on points with the Catalans.

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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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A lone goal in the 84th minute was enough to give Porto a well earned victory away from home, and propel them into the knockout stage of the Champions League. The game started well, with Helton being forced to make a picture perfect save that kept his side in the match, and Falcao collected a good [. Click to continue reading...