William's report is here The game kicked off with a bit of an embarrassing anthem disruption from the North Curve. They kept singing while the Helsinki Police band were giving a decent rendition of Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət Himni, the Azeri national anthem. They're done great stuff recently, and there was a gushing article in yesterday's Ilta-Sanomat, [. Click to continue reading...

I did an interview with Stuart Baxter this week, and it was gratifying to hear him talk so much about stadia and facilities. This guy really understands what he has to do, and is in it for the long term. It was rather amusing that we spoke for 40 minutes and didn't mention any of [...] Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for [. Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.

A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for Middlesbrough), but not many tested either Craig Gordon or Ross Turnbull. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: George McCartney (West Ham), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Click to continue reading...

With a relatively lazy Friday as far as soccer news is concerned, I thought I'd put out a quick primer for the weekend's most interesting matchups. This is something I'll be doing sporadically throughout the year, though more so for domestic and continental cup competitions (when English teams are involved) rather than the Premierhip. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest) Roy Keane isn't done shopping. Click to continue reading...

Captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to lead Liverpool into the new season when Rafael Benitez's team start their Barclays Premier League campaign at Sunderland.

Gerrard was only used for the final 24 minutes of the disappointing Champions League draw against Standard Liege on Wednesday following a thigh injury but will be in the side at the Stadium of Light after training on Thursday and Friday. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Aurelio hopes to give Rafael Benitez a selection headache by declaring himself available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener in Sunderland.

The Brazilian left-back has been on the sidelines for most of pre-season with a shin injury but he is now back in training and determined to be fit for the big kick-off. Click to continue reading...

Backed by the loudest supporters in the Premier League last season, measured at average peak volume at 129.2 decibels, almost as loud as a jet, Sunderland will look to improve on last season's respectable 15th-place finish. The Black Cats were the only newly-promoted team to survive in the Premiership, an accomplishment in itself, but manager Roy Keane has made it clear through his summer signings that he wants more from his club. Click to continue reading...

SUNDERLAND Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Roy Keane is not done chasing. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Juande Ramos ha obiettivi ben precisi: conquistare la Champions League la prossima stagione e onorare al meglio la UEFA quest'anno. Per farlo il vulcanico tecnico iberico vuole portare l'ala David Bentley - di proprietà del Blackburn - e la seconda punta Andrei Arshavin al White Hart Lane. Gli Spurs dovranno offrire 36 milioni di sterline (circa 45 milioni di euro) per arrivare ai cartellini di entrambi i giocatori. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham). Possibilities: Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Anton Ferdinand is not done being chased. Click to continue reading...

As the summer wears on, Roy Keane continues building a new Sunderland squad for the coming season. Having already clinched the signings of El Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, David Meyler, Nick Colgan, and Teemu Tainio, Keane is now turning his efforts towards West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte.

In addition to the possibility of signing Luis Boa Morte, Sunderland has two deals hanging in the balance with Tottenham players Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque. Click to continue reading...

As the summer wears on, Roy Keane continues building a new Sunderland squad for the coming season. Having already clinched the signings of El Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, David Meyler, Nick Colgan, and Teemu Tainio, Keane is now turning his efforts towards West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte.

In addition to the possibility of signing Luis Boa Morte, Sunderland has two deals hanging in the balance with Tottenham players Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham). Pending: Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham). Possibilities: Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) About that earthquake... Click to continue reading...

This news has been greeted with fanfare, street parties and celebratory gunfire in parts of the Finnish football community. Too many Finnish players move abroad and rot in the reserves, and Tainio has been desperate to play some games for a long time now. Roy Keane was very happy, according to the Guardian. Click to continue reading...

Teemu Tainio has completed his move to Sunderland. While he didn't exactly set the world alight while at Tottenham, I always felt he gave 100% and was willing to play out of position for the good of the team.

Of all the players on the fringe of the first team, I think I'd always want him in the side before anyone else. Click to continue reading...