IF Liverpool's Champions League opponents are to be taken at face value, then the fates are suggesting a sixth European crown is on its way to Anfield.

After Standard Liege coach László Bölöni had berated his side's supposed ill luck in their qualifying tie last month, on Tuesday night it was the turn of Marseille striker Mamadou Niang. Click to continue reading...

OK, this is admittedly a bit of sour grapes over some poor Euro 2008 decisions by Löw - where poor, for example, could equal David Odonkor. I mean, everything had been in place. I had written a Marin player profile, dug up a highlight video on YouTube to win over Click to continue reading...

During the 2004 season, D.C. United played a game late in the season in Columbus which they lost 1-0. At the end of the game Jaime Moreno had a chance to save a point for D.C. with a diving header. Jon Busch made a great reflex save to preserve the points for the Crew. At the hotel after the game I saw Jaime and I told him what a great effort the header was and I couldn't believe that Busch saved it.

Click to continue reading...

Not only have the Hammers just signed a talented defender ahead of next season, they also appear a bit peeved that people think they have run out of money. Upon leaving the club, Bobby Zamora (possibly with the taste of sour grapes in his mouth) claimed that there will be ... Click to continue reading...

Sidwell to Villa-

This looks like a good move for Martin O'Neill who sees Steven Sidwell as a good replacement to Gareth Barry if he moves to Liverpool. Also Villa will look to make a tidy profit if Sidwell moves for the reported £5 million and Barry goes for £15 million.

Sidwell always didn't look like he would make it into the Chelsea 1st team and will be chomping a the bit to get some 1st team action at Villa. Click to continue reading...

First off, happy 4th of July to everyone in America. Let us not forget what this day is truly all about.

It's amazing in this 24 hour news world how fast stories change and develop. I went over one story in full on this week's installment of The Third Half, I talked in full about Emmanuel Adebayor and how that story had changed.

Click to continue reading...

This has to be sour grapes at their sourest.Lehmann saying that he thinks the match was fixed.

Click to continue reading...

This is not my opinion. This is the view of "top French football boss" Michel Moulin. The former Paris St-Germain director of sport believes that Wenger is over hyped and and is a failure.

This dumbass has criticised Le Boss for not winning the Champions League in his time at Arsenal and that many other coaches would have won far more trophies armed with Le Bosse's transfer budget. Click to continue reading...

Hat-trick hero, favourites upset, hosts 'go home' and Polish sour grapes all feature in today's good, the bad and the ugly. Click on the links to discover more about each story. Good David Villa's hat trick for Spain against Russia was the stand out performance after the first set of matches leading many to tip Spain for [. Click to continue reading...

Too bad that the first incoming transfer news of the season for Manchester United has to be disappointing news. We seemed confident last week of signing rising star Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City, but today, reports say that he has reached an agreement with the Gunners. Ramsey apparently was impressed with Arsene Wenger's courtship - including a flight to Switzerland over the weekend, and lunch with Le Professeur - while at Old Trafford, he had to content himself with a guided tour led by Gary Neville and a chat on the phone with Sir Alex.

Click to continue reading...

Here are some words and phrases you can hear on languagecaster's Full Podcast's Good, Bad and Ugly section - a review of the footballing news. For more English practice check out our online quizzes and crosswords, worksheets and English for football phrases as well as the Learners' Podcast. crucial - vital, important Ryan Giggs scored the crucial [. Click to continue reading...