More unorthodox tactics Defending a free-kick which is likely to be crossed: pick up your man, stay goal-side, punch him in the stomach at the moment of delivery. Simple as that really - danger averted. Just ask POAK's Pablo Garcia who quells the threat posed by Olympiakos' Diogo with one blow. Spotted on 101GreatGoals Click to continue reading...

This video clearly shows Hadjuk Split defender Jurica Buljat landing a good 'un on a Varteks Varazdin player. It shows it in spotlight, in slo-mo and even in backwards time. He swings, connects and floors the guy. But for some reason, he only gets a yellow. Seems the ref was looking the other way when knuckle [. Click to continue reading...

We're a third of the way through the semifinal round, and the path to the Hexagonal is already becoming clear.Group A USA are just about through and have an excellent chance of completing the round with a perfect record. It will almost be enough to cover up their lack of scoring punch. Almost. Despite Trinidad & Tobago having four points to Guatemala's one, I would have to put Guatemala in as the favorites for second place. Click to continue reading...

While everyone was on Keegan Watch over at Newcastle, it appears another manager beat him to the punch.

Alan Curbishley is out at West Ham based on an apparent "breach of trust and confidence".

Many believe Curbishley was upset over the management's handling of transfers. And the bookies had him as the odds-on fav as the first out, so it can't be too much of a surprise. Click to continue reading...

I'll tell you who wants it. Former Sounder icon Harry Redknapp.

Of course, he was also quick to criticize Capello's national side. And Portsmouth is about to go 0-2 after a merciless Chelsea-United one-two punch to start the Premiership season.

"I'm absolutely flattered that my name is being mentioned about managing the Great Britain team," gushed Redknapp before adding, "I've had some great managerial jobs during my career but there is no doubt this would be the icing on the cake.

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Tomorrow night we get a rematch of last years first round playoff game between the Wizards and Chivas USA. Like last year, Chivas will be without a few of their first team players. Both Ante Razov and Claudio Suarez are questionable for the game with injuries. Sacha Kljestan will also miss the game for the Goats, as he's in China for the Olympics. Click to continue reading...

CHELSEA The good: If anybody has the credentials (and the charisma) to fill the void left by Mourinho, it's Big Phil Scolari. It should also mean Abramovich finally gets his wish for Chelsea to play attractive, entertaining football. And if all else fails, you know he can throw a punch or two. Ferguson would do [. Click to continue reading...

Darren Huckerby from MLSNET.com Today's last minute victory over the hated Galaxy in Oakland could be just the push the Earthquakes needed to make a playoff run late in the MLS season. The Quakes who have played solidly much of the season but lacked a scoring punch have now made the type of moves in the [. Click to continue reading...

Looks like Vancouver beat Montreal to the punch. Here is what we know:

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Steve Nash, in a press conference to take place later today, will announce that they have formally applied to join MLS.

Most likely the MLS Board of Governors have already given tacit approval to their plan to play at BC Place until a soccer specific stadium is built. Click to continue reading...

Dude, thats a shiny suit.

• Wait. Might CR7 and gal not broken up? [TiET]
  
  
• Diego Maradona Jr.??? [The Original Winger]
  
  
• Help us find Gooch! [The Offside Rules]
  
  
• Rooney's little 17-year-old bro signed. [Daily Mail]
  
  
• A deeper look into the Guzan work-permit saga.

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As Liverpool's interest in this star performer appears to have reached a stalemate, Arsene enters the race in an attempt to beat Rafa to the punch. Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has confirmed that Arsenal have hinted they may enter the race to sign midfielder Gareth Barry. Over the weekend, The . Click to continue reading...

It's me Cuauhtemoc! I think I spelled that right...

PUNCH!

(Watch 0:30 in, courtesy of The Offside)
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez had set his mind to securing this England international but it appears that Arsene Wenger is planning a late attempt to beat him to the punch! Arsenal have been linked with a late bid to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry. It had been thought the England international . Click to continue reading...

According to Soccer By Ives:

And those of you who were up in arms about MLS yanking the video of Blanco's punch thrown at Clyde Simms had a gripe. According to an MLS source, a league employee mistakenly requested that the videos be taken down from YouTube.

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As many of you have heard by now, Chicgo Fire midfielder and DP Blanco got a bit headed last night in the Fire's 2-1 overtime loss to DC United in the US Open Cup. Blanco took his frustrations out on DC's Clyde Simms and Marc Burch. The video highlights below (no audio) show the punch [...] Click to continue reading...

Part Three of A More Splendid Life's Month-Long series on the History of Soccer in Toronto. In typical Canadian fashion, the Globe and Mail referred to the preposterous on-field punch-ups and numerous pitch-invasions over the course of the troubling 1951 season as 'rhubarbs.' In fact, Toronto's top flight, the National Soccer League Western Division, in addition to its more local and ethnically Click to continue reading...

Nike has beaten Manchester United to the punch and unveiled the new Man United third shirt for the 2008/2009 season. The club badge is on the left of the shirt and there is writing around it saying, "May 29th 1968″ and "40th Anniversary" which commemorates the 1968 european cup win over Benfica. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. Well wasnt the other day exciting. I nearly joined in with an arbitury post to add to the plentiful doses of "Nasri Signed" from just about every blog and news site out there but i thought i can add nothing new to the news so i'l leave it. It was good i did as well because its seems its not all tied up yet and has become one of the most annoying transfers in recent memory. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. Well wasnt the other day exciting. I nearly joined in with an arbitury post to add to the plentiful doses of "Nasri Signed" from just about every blog and news site out there but i thought i can add nothing new to the news so i'l leave it. It was good i did as well because its seems its not all tied up yet and has become one of the most annoying transfers in recent memory. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. Well wasnt yesterday exciting. I nearly joined in with an arbitury post to add to the plentiful doses of "Nasri Signed" from just about every blog and news site out there but i thought i can add nothing new to the news so i'l leave it. It was good i did as well because its seems its not all tied up yet and has become one of the most annoying transfers in recent memory. Click to continue reading...

I love it when I track something for a while like this and then someone else beats me to the punch. But that is good and done because even with tracking trades and allocations and what nots around the MLS, you always seem to miss out at least one or two deals that slipped under [...] Click to continue reading...