Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has admitted there is a severe shortage of confidence running through the team that is affecting their results on the pitch. Spurs slipped to their fourth league defeat in just six games after their 2-0 loss at Portsmouth yesterday, leaving them rooted to the foot of the table with just two points [. Click to continue reading...

Colorado Rapids midfielder Conor Casey has been named MLS Player of the Week for Week 27 after bagging a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, including the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time. In winning the honor, Casey's offensive outburst overshadowed other sensational individual performances by the likes of Yura Movsisyan and Darren Huckerby, who scored two goals each over the weekend. Click to continue reading...

Or should I say... R80? Either way ladies & gentlemen, Ronaldinho could not have picked a better day to score the first Serie A goal of his AC Milan career. With the first edition of 2008-09's "Derby della Madonnina", the Rossoneri have struck a big blow to Inter and José Mourinho's big "confidence plan". Click to continue reading...

After the sacking of Martin Jol early last season, Juande Ramos must be looking over his shoulder. He has overseen Tottenham's worst start to a season in fifty-three years. With just two points from six games, Tottenham are in a desperate situation and their fans are beginning to express some dissatisfaction with the manager. Click to continue reading...

It feels good again to be a Derby supporter. Over the last two weeks wins against Sheffield United and QPR (away) and draws against Cardiff and Swansea (away) make a pleasant change of fortunes for the (once) mighty rams. Suddenly there is an air of confidence sweeping through the club. This is something we haven't [. Click to continue reading...

Under 20's Aussie Coach Jan Versliejen recently hailed Jason Hoffman as one of the best players in his squad. Although I think it's fair to say he hasn't translated any of this form or confidence to his Jets performances yet.

Versleijen's next squad is due to be announced Monday for the upcoming ASEAN tournament. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool gaffer Rafa Benitez has heaped praised on his dynamic attacking duo of Torres and Keane following their impressive 0-2 win at Everton.

Both Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane went into the game at Goodison Park under heavy pressure and criticism for their lack of goals in recent outings. Click to continue reading...

Speaking after his two goals sunk ten-man Everton Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres claimed it is a relief to have broken his duct by seeing off the Blue threat with a well-taken brace.

Liverpool head coach Rafa Benitez fielded £45million worth of talent in his two available striking positions and thus far this season neither had scored in the Premier League. Click to continue reading...

Defending champions Standard de Liege won their crucial top of the table clash against RSC Anderlecht 2-1 at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne. The result sees Liege go three points ahead of Ariel Jacobs' side and boosts their confidence ahead of their UEFA Cup tie against Everton next week. Substitute Alexsandr Yakovenko gave Anderlecht the lead in [. Click to continue reading...

Fate has no meaning in Rafael Benítez's managerial lexicon but he is prepared to make an exception in the case of Steven Gerrard's 100th goal for Liverpool. Only an errant decision denied the Liverpool captain his milestone against Stoke City at Anfield last weekend. That the opportunity now arises at Goodison Park, a ground where Gerrard has been baited mercilessly in recent years, has caused even Liverpool's arch-pragmatist to believe the outcome may be scripted. Click to continue reading...

So Mexico did lose on Wednesday after all as I mentioned briefly in my previous post.

Now, before people start to call for Sven Goran Eriksson's head, let me remind them of one minor detail: it's a meaningless friendly he lost.

Meaningless in terms of result and impact of the loss. Click to continue reading...

Clint Dempsey to ESPN. When asked if he thought he'd get an opportunity soon, Dempsey replied, "No." "What keeps me sane is the national team to go to and play," he said. "Right now I'm playing well for them, and I find confidence in that. Having two different teams to play for and being able to feel [. Click to continue reading...

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that he wants to offer Daniel Agger a new contract at Anfield. The Danish central defender hasn't featured in the first team since a disappointing performance in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier against Standard Liège and there had been reports that the 23-year-old was unhappy at being frozen out. Click to continue reading...

James.. 18 hour COD4 session before Man City game?

The quality shot metric is a useful tool for analysing goalkeeper performance. It rewards keepers who face a greater percentage of close range shots and penalises those who face a succession of hopeful long range efforts.

Scott Carson is one notable beneficiary of more accurately assessing the type of shots keepers face. Click to continue reading...

Newcastle United captain Michael Owen has told his team-mates to "snap out of the doom and gloom" that he thinks is adversely affecting the team. Newcastle have lost their last three games and sit only one from the bottom of the Premier League. The club is manager less and for sale. There is no doubt that the players must be affected by it, but Owen says it is time to move on. Click to continue reading...

There were many dissenting voices to my article about the academy and whether players coming through it are being ostracized both in the comments on this blog as well as on the forums that picked it up.

The main arguments were that, if good enough, players will come through and, even though I've got my reservations about that (would Jamie Carragher have made it at Liverpool if he'd come through now? Click to continue reading...

Remember Serie A tifosi this is a short week in Italy, Match Day 4 games are being played on Wednesday, September 24th.   Tricky match for Roma away to Genoa this match day and although they've found their footing and confidence after beating Reggina 3 - 0 match day three I think this one is going to be [. Click to continue reading...

Tottenham new boy Vedran Corluka knows the only remedy for the team's ailing season is a run of wins to restore some confidence back in the squad. Spurs' goalless draw at home to Wigan marked the club's worst start to a Premier League season as they find themselves at the bottom of the table with just [. Click to continue reading...

Swiss International Johan Djourou has extended his contract with Arsenal although the length of it is unknown. Djourou joined Arsenal in 2003 and has played 53 times for the London side (plus an extra 13 when he was loaned to Birmingham in 2007). Wenger seems to have confidence in the Click to continue reading...

Johan Djourou has signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal and I believe that this is fantastic news for us.

I really rate Djourou and believe that he can go on and establish himself as an Arsenal regular in the future.

I can see him and Toure forming a formidable partnership in the heart of Arsenal's defence. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he is not concerned by the lack of goals from strikers Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane.

Torres has netted only one goal in seven appearances this season, while Keane has yet to open his account since joining from Tottenham in July - and both struggled as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Stoke at Anfield on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

This could be a double edged sword for Keane, if he scores, it should give him the confidence to relax and perform in subsequent games. On the other hand if he doesn't score against a team of Crewes calibre, that's bound to shatter his confidence even more than it already is.

This isn't the first and no doubt the last time that he has experienced goal scoring droughts. Click to continue reading...

Feyenoord had victory on it's mind at three levels: three points, confidence and the fans goodwill. Instead of three points, Feyenoord had to make do with one, but it did score on the two other objectives. Gertjan Verbeek: "We didn't play great football, but we fought for every meter and showed Click to continue reading...

For the second week in a row Arsenal travelled to the North-West to face opponents who have in the pastr caused us problems.  For the secodn week Arsenal have come through a tough challenge and taken all three points. Arsenal started well, knocking the ball around with confidence.  Bolton looked to be hanging on, whne on [. Click to continue reading...

QUICK RECAP:

Columbus pwned. Straight up. Especially in the second half. There was no fight.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

+ Play Rojas centrally.
+ Put Parke back in the middle of the defensive back 4 with Cichero.

Click to continue reading...

So it looks like David Villa is ready and able to play against Osasuna tomorrow after all.

I'm happy about that. And while I will let this issue slide, I am still of the opinion that bringing Villa into the game against Maritimo on Thursday was the wrong decision. He shoots and scores and we're all really happy about it.

Click to continue reading...

MANAGER Rafael Benitez now knows victory in their next group D match, at home to PSV Eindhoven on October 1, will send Liverpool to Atletico Madrid three weeks later with their destiny in their own hands.

The Reds got off to a winning start in Marseille on Tuesday, with Steven Gerrard scoring both their goals in a 2-1 win. Click to continue reading...

The line between confidence and arrogance can be a fine one. Cristiano Ronaldo can seem it cross it as often as he centres a football from the flanks, but his sense of self-importance can be justified. 'When I play the fans will love me again,' he had said. He was right.

Respect For Ronaldo On United Return Click to continue reading...

Jamie Oliver would not have been happy with Arsenal tonight in Kiev as we resembled his least favourite food.

It was far from vintage Arsenal tonight and you have to say based on the performance a point from the game was a good one.

Arsenal could have had the game wrapped up though in the first half and missed some clear cut chances that really cost us. Click to continue reading...

Who doesn't love a giant-killer game? Despite being at home, the Rapids were the dogs on Sunday and they knew it. They had to shut down Blanco and McBride, and they did it. That's going to (or at least should boost the confidence). It should also help that this was our first back-to-back win all year.

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Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is in a positive state of mind after his side came from behind to claim three points in Marseille last night.

Liverpool were trailing to Lorik Cana's opener before Steven Gerrard rescued the tie with a brace at the other end. The Reds captain netted a twice taken penalty kick to put alongside his fantastic leveller from 25 yards. Click to continue reading...

Ahead of this weekend's clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, Frank Lampard has spoken of his confidence of getting a result against us, with or without Ronaldo. The last time the clubs played each other was in the European Cup final, which of course United won. This came just days after we pipped them to the [. Click to continue reading...

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Back on the pitch, it's Norwich tonigh...Although would be nice if other clubs and newspapers stopped referring to QPR's great wealth - because it's certainly not apparent how the money of QPR's wealthy owners makes QPR rich.


Norwich Official Site ROEDER READY FOR RANGERS
AS the Canaries prepare to play QPR at Carrow Road tonight (7. Click to continue reading...

Check out the Portuguese winger's acceptance speech, of sorts:

"With this Golden Boot I have changed football a little. Usually strikers won it and I'm a winger," the Portugal international told La Gazzetta dello Sport after receiving the trophy at a ceremony in his native Madeira on Saturday.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool believe they have exorcised their Manchester United demons and proved that they can be genuine title candidates.

One win does not turn under-achievers into world-beaters overnight. But when that win is a 2-1 success over the champions of Europe and England, Liverpool can be forgiven for feeling on top of the world as they head into their Champions League group opener in Marseille on Tuesday. Click to continue reading...