I had a nice surprise this week.

Do you remember recently I had an email from a correspondent from Nike who promised to send me a book?

Well you know how it is with these things. I only half expected to receive something.

Imagine my joy then when I got home on Thursday evening to find a card from the postman to say there was a parcel for Georgina Best waiting for collection. Click to continue reading...

Lots of stuff still bubbling over from the Carling Cup game the other night.

Carlos Vela, hat-trick hero, shows he's got a good head on his shoulders by acknowledging that young players, despite being given their chance by Arsene Wenger, have to work hard if they want to make it at Arsenal.

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The hot Valencia topic of the day concerns our victory against an over matched Maritimo side in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. 1-0 and from all accounts, not our most impressive performance.

With the game clearly in the bag, coach Unai Emery decided to send the rested David Villa into the game to seal the deal.

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His English needs some serious work. He's put what I believe to be a decent statement out to the press tonight but because his English isn't that great, his point isn't put across as well as it could be.

"We need to improve, little by little. It could be 10, 12 or 15 games. No limit.

"Yes, I am worried because we need points. Click to continue reading...

7:45am Eastern Time, live in the US on Setanta

Last 4 head-to-head:
3-0 United (a) 3.23.08
1-0 United (h) 12.16.07
1-0 United (h) 03.03.07
2-0 United (a) 10.22.06

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Villa (a); 1-0 Liege (h); 2-1 Boro (h)
United: 1-2 Zenit (neutral); 1-0 Pompey (a); 1-1 Newcastle (h)

Referee: Howard Webb

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Alonso Mascherano
Kuyt Benayoun Riera
Keane

I hate this fixture. Click to continue reading...

Theodorus Walcottus Awesomus

Arsenal meets Blackburn this weekend, another team that believes in Josip Simunic style of tackling. Here is hoping that Walcott gets the start after his barnstorming performance against Croatia which should have boosted his confidence to stratospheric levels.

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When a player emerges as a Premier League top talent when just 16-years-old, there is going to be the weight of expectation upon their shoulders. If that player then goes on to sign for Manchester United for a fee with the potential of rising to £30 million when their 18-years-old, the pressure of fulfilling the [. Click to continue reading...

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he was less hopeful of securing a striker before the transfer window closes, however Dimitar Berbatov's omission from Tottenham Hotspur's squad today suggests maybe we have something to look forward to. Wayne Rooney, who has for the most part, taken the burden on his own shoulders of us not having an out-and-out [. Click to continue reading...

According to this source, Arsene Wenger is still very much interested in this Liverpool midfielder, but the move may hinge on the valuation placed on his shoulders. Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager! Arsenal remain keen on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. The Times says Reds boss Rafa Benitez is eager to . Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is refusing to be drawn on the continuing transfer speculation surrounding the Anfield club as he prepares for tonight's Champions League qualifying match against Standard Liege.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's first leg game, Benitez would not be drawn on the proposed Gareth Barry deal which hit the headlines again this weekend, after Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry declared Villa's price tag to be too high. Click to continue reading...

Since dumping inflatable fun-bucket Nereida Gallardo, Cristiano Ronaldo has been having a whale of a time. In between busy stints tanning himself blacker than night, the Portuguese winger has been rubbing shoulders with Paris Hilton, David Beckham and Justin Timberlake, and dating a foxy Italian model called Letizia Filippi. Click to continue reading...

Because help is at hand for all you aspiring pseudo-footballers out there that don't give a shit about your career and only want to drive a diamond-encrusted Hummer to China White and back four times a week. You see rather than follow his brother Bradley's example and head into a life of petty crime, Shaun Wright-Phillips has decided to supplement his astronomical income by setting up his own football academy. Click to continue reading...

Isnt it just Red Bulls luck that the day Leo Messi is given the green light to rejoin his club team, it would be on the day that he is 1000000 miles from New York City? Of course . . .

Regardless, here we are, mere hours from the showdown.

In the meanwhile, I got a chance to meet and speak to the players of Barcelona, along with Fernando Fiore of Republica Deportiva fame, Chris Sullivan and Max Bretos (funny guys) and Barce President Laporta.

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After a couple of days dominated by the departure of England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and the appointment of Kevin Pietersen it got me to thinking how important is the captain of a football side? In cricket the captain is vital to the success of the team, he picks the 11 players that go out to play and decides the tactics that side will use.

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Football players are supposed to be astronomically wealthy, but David Beckham – the richest player in the world – is only the 616th richest person in the UK. Thanks to television money and our love affair with the beautiful game you can make a fortune from running around and kicking a ball, but don't expect to be rubbing shoulders with Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. Click to continue reading...

I'm still recovering from my week in Lourdes so I can't see this being a particularly interesting post. My fatigue wasn't helped by having a 18 hour stag do oddysey to deal with the day after travelling up from the south of France by train and plane.

Still, nice to know I can still pull my tripe out when required. Click to continue reading...

The only soccer action to speak of today after a busy Sunday of MLS soccer is tonight's Monday night match up between a recently struggling Toronto FC (6-6-4) and Real Salt Lake (sporting an evil record of 6-6-6).

Toronto FC is missing their top scorer, Danny Dichio, and are likely to look to 16 year old Abdus Ibrahim for help in finding the net against a defensively strong Real Salt Lake. Click to continue reading...

Mike Magee started his career with the Metrostars with a ton of promise heaped onto his shoulders. Before entering the 2003 MLS Super Draft, he tried his hand in Europe with many top club teams. When the attention wasn't there, he turned his sights on MLS, and Metro saw an opportunity to snatch a diamond in the rough.

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Oh my ... Valencia has just become the Titanic ... we're the laughing stocks of the football world ...

It's been a madcap day in Valencia as Juan Soler and Juan Villalonga have been locked in negotiations, meetings and press conferences trying to figure out the future of our beloved club.

I've lived through gut-wrenching games, clicking the F5 refresh button over and over again while at work, trying to gauge the events of a match.

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"So I grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him real hard ya know, like a you were mixing drinks for the hot tub. Then I told him "Don't struggle, I need this. Every since I got traded from Beckham's team it hasn't been the same. I just want to feel like I am someboday again...dammit, I want to be a hero to somebody again! Click to continue reading...

"So I grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him real hard ya know, like a you were mixing drinks for the hot tub. Then I told him "Don't struggle, I need this. Every since I got traded from Beckham's team it hasn't been the same. I just want to feel like I am someboday again...dammit, I want to be a hero to somebody again! Click to continue reading...

WHO will ever forget those Eight Mad Minutes in the Fritz Walter? Inside the stadium it was mayhem as thousands of Aussies, this nutter among them, went ballistic, jumping all over anyone in sight. At one point I remember picking up Matthew Johns - aka Reg Regan - who was seated a couple of rows behind, and lofting him above the shoulders. Click to continue reading...

Some of the biggest names in football have joined a campaign to raise funds for charity ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Samuel Eto'o Gennaro Gattuso,Michael Ballack to name a few.India's Baichung Bhutia also rubbed shoulders with all the big stars.

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Bolton has unveiled their new home shirt for the 2008/2009 season. Out of all of the new shirts revealed so far this summer, Bolton's is the most adventurous. Designed by Reebok, the shirt features the new Reebok logo, navy shoulders and a red trim. Wanderers will also revert back to their traditional navy blue shorts for [. Click to continue reading...

Photo courtesy of a loyal MLSR reader.

From Soccer Insider:

The Blanco Situation and Other Tidbits

You all have been asking for more specifics on what exactly happened in last night's game with Blanco. Here's what I can tell you.

In addition to his on-field conduct, which according to D.

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Just like a little bullfighter, moving left, moving right. Elegant, balanced, powerful and fast, he really was magic, wasn't he. Able to restore pride to the south of Italy in his time with Napoli, able to carry a team on his shoulders, able to win World Cups virtually alone - a true genius. Click to continue reading...

I'm timid to post this because I really have no news to report beyond what's on the Rapids website, but the Rapids seem to be adding a third kit to their closet. According to the Rapids' website, the new kit will debut in the friendly against Tigres next Wednesday, the 9th. They have a little teaser picture with just the shoulders of the shirts showing and then the rest shadowed out, and those look to be white with burgundy stripes, but who really knows?

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Goals:
Torres 33'

The first thing I voiced after starting these Spain reviews was the worry that my support for the Spanish squad would jinx their chances. After the conclusion of the tournament, I'm happy to say the opposite turned out to be true.

As I'm sure you've read multiple times by now, this is Spain's first major trophy in 44 years. Click to continue reading...

The look on Cesc Fabregas's face after he scored the winning penalty for Spain against Italy said it all. The passion was there for all to see and it reminded me of when he scored goals against Milan and Liverpool last season.

He celebrated those goals with a similar look and it showed how much it meant to the young Spaniard. Click to continue reading...

What a matchup in this live online and radio commentary World Cup 2010 qualifier between Brazil and Argentina live as the two most bemedalled teams in this region play each other again and there is so much anticipation for a game that never fails to surprise. The Brazilians really want to win this live online streaming match not only to push themselves further up the table but also to show that they are still a good team despite recent reversals against supposedly weaker teams. Click to continue reading...

Germany advance to face Portugal thanks to Ballack's free-kick blast while Poland end their 2008 campaign wondering what if...


Austria 0 - 1 Germany
Report
Ballack delights in victory after Austrian attack
Ballack has the shoulders to bear his country's hopes
The Kick (video)


Croatia 1 - 0 Poland
Report
Below par Poles depart ruing missed chance



Yikes. Click to continue reading...

The defending champions are on the verge of being eliminated from the competition in this live online and radio commentary Euro 2008 group match between Greece and Russia live and they need to quickly change their strategy or risk being one of the fastest eliminated champions in history. They are confused about their tactics for this live online streaming match and if they do not figure it out soon, they could be in for a hiding by the Russians who are itching to get started. Click to continue reading...

For a while now, this Tottenham man has angered many with his attitude on and off the pitch. It comes as no surprise that the valuation (placed above the chip on his shoulders) is much lower than it was a year or so ago. Pascal Chimbonda has been told he can leave Tottenham for £2m with [...] Click to continue reading...

It's hard carrying the world on one's shoulders, not only is the world heavy but having to bear the responsibility that I have chosen to take on is no mean feat . Fortunately I am made of better more hardy genetic stock than your average Gooner, so I have decided to appoint myself as the single unified voice of Gooner reason. Click to continue reading...

People in the City of Brotherly Love have been waiting for a while now on whether or not they would be getting a MLS club in the near future. Everything recently has rested on the shoulders of the state government to help fund the money for the stadium deal. Now it looks like things could be [...] Click to continue reading...