December 2009
163 posts
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AFR's Top 10 Quotes from the Past 10 Years.
2000: ”He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that he’s all right.” - George Best on Beckham
2001: ”How are England going to win in Germany? It hasn’t happened for 100 years. I have no doubts whatsoever that Germany will quite clearly thrash England. They will easily qualify for...
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Thoughtful Thursday: What do Liverpool need to...
While I am not going to deny that Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa was spectacular, I still believe that Rafa Benitez must add to his squad during the January transfer window. Jamie Carragher has said that the victory over Villa has given Liverpool a “fighting chance” to finish in the top four, but if Benitez wants to live up to his “guarantee” of a top four...
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Linking Up: Joe Hart, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fat...
By Zeus, Greek football is too intense for me.
Is Joe Hart good enough to make England’s World Cup squad? [In The Stands] What About Bobby Zamora? [ITS]
Cristiano Ronaldo sure can jump. [Dirty Tackle] Brazilian Ronaldo is getting fitter as well. [DT]
Real want to break the bank even further by adding Vidic, and Wenger thinks about signing Bellamy momentarily. [The Spoiler]
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Match Centre: Portsmouth 1 - 4 Arsenal
Full-time: Portsmouth 1 - 4 Arsenal
Eduardo put them ahead with a fortunate free-kick, but then Arsenal’s class took over with great goals from Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, and Alex Song. Nadir Belhadj pulled one back for Portsmouth in the 74th minute, but it wasn’t nearly enough to match Arsenal on the day. Arsene Wenger will be pleased to get another three points, especially without...
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Thierry Henrique strikes again!
Henrique’s handball and the resulting red card. Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Victory
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Wednesday's Words of the Messiah
Oh. Ciao! I didn’t see you. It has been a slightly average week for your boy. After Thierry delayed the FIFA Player of the Year awards by trying to rig the voting for himself, I emerged victorious. I tried to act surprised, but I’m only the best player in the world, I’m no Penelope Cruz. Jajajajaja!
Anyway, your boy wants to share the wealth with you. From now on, I’m...
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Match Centre: Aston Villa v Liverpool
Full-time: Aston Villa 0 - 1 Liverpool
The whistle goes and Liverpool finish 2009 with a result that will bring encouragement to Rafa Benitez’s side and the Liverpool faithful. Martin O’Neill looks on the brink of tears, as do the lot of Villa fans. Liverpool did not deserve three points tonight, but good sides manage to find a way to win when seemingly impossible. Aston Villa had...
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In the spirit of Winter, here are some footy...
Estonia v Canada (2008, in Talinn, Estonia))
Dynamo Kyiv v Shakhtar Donetsk (2007, in Kiev, Ukraine)
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Monday Premier League Highlights
Results:
Wolves 0 - 3 Manchester City
Stoke 0 - 1 Birmingham City
Everton 2 -0 Burnley
Chelsea 2 - 1 Fulham
Blackburn 2 - 2 Sunderland
Tottenham 2 - 0 West Ham
~~ Highlights embedded below ~~
Chelsea v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Stoke City v...
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You'd think an Israeli squad would take a bit more...
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Monday Match Centre: Wolves v. Manchester City
Full Time: Two wins out of two for Mancini. 5 goals, none conceded. Mancini must be thinking that this Premier League gig is an easy one. Truth be told, 3-0 is incredibly flattering for City, as Wolves were up for the challenge until they went 2-0 down. Mick McCarthy won’t be happy to leave his fans empty-handed, but Wolves did all they could on the night. Tevez had the brace, and his...
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Tottenham 2 - 0 West Ham
Luka Modric scored just eleven minutes into his first match after being out injured with a broken shin. The Croatian latched onto Aaron Lennon’s deflected cross and slotted the ball past Robert Green.
Defoe nearly scored minutes later with a free-kick that only just curled the wrong side of the post. Tom Huddlestone followed up moments later with a thunderous shot that struck the bar.
...
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Chelsea move five points clear with 2-1 victory...
The visitors stunned Chelsea by taking the lead after four minutes when Zoltan Gera corverted from 12 yards.
Fulham then defended comfortably as Chelsea struggled to make an impact but Didier Drogba finally got the equaliser when he headed in from Branislav Ivanovic’s cross at the far post.
And an unfortunate own goal by Chris Smalling handed Chelsea a victory that had looked...
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Lower League Live: Newcastle v. Derby
Full-time: And Derby will be delighted with this result. A truly hard-working performance by Nigel Clough’s troops. Newcastle were the classier team, but Derby are only the fourth team to take points away from St. James Park. Newcastle still sit atop of the Championship table, but they would’ve liked to extend their lead over West Brom.
93º Last seconds of the game as Gutierrez...
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Malicious Monday!
It has never been THIS hard for you to get out of bed Monday morning. Enjoy these agonizing challenges!
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Rooney's carelessness gives Hull a chance, then...
Manchester United hold off battling Tigers [BBC Sport]
United close gap on Blues with win [Soccernet]
IT’S the season of giving and receiving gifts and Wayne Rooney was in a festive mood. [The Sun]
Wayne Rooney drew first blood for United on the stroke of half-time, but later made a calamitous back-pass which paved the way for a Hull penalty.
The England striker then stepped up a gear...
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Captain Cesc sends Arsenal into holiday jubilation...
Despite a scoreless first half at the Emirates, Arsenal’s supersub Cesc Fabregas was brought on in the 57th minute, and the hamstring-injury-stricken midfielder scored two spectacular goals even though he could only play for 27 minutes.
After being tackled by Richard Dunne, Fabregas curled a wonderful 25-yard free-kick past a diving Brad Friedel to give the Gooners the lead in the 65th...
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Boxing Day Premiership Highlights
Birmingham 0-0 Chelsea
Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
West Ham 2-0 Portsmouth
Burnley 1-1 Bolton
Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City
Sunderland 1-1 Everton
Wigan 1-1 Blackburn
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
—Full match highlights embedded below—
Birmingham City v Chelsea
Manchester City v Stoke City
Liverpool v Wolves
Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers
...
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Boxing Day Match Centre: Liverpool vs Wolves
Full Time: Liverpool’s last home game of 2009 finishes on a high note. The dismissal of Ward in the second half really was the difference, as Mick McCarthy’s men could not hold on with 10 men. While Gerrard showed sparks of brilliance, Torres barely showed up. Benayoun and Aquilani had good games as well, but in my opinion Hahnemann had a nearly perfect game for Wolves, as there was...
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Live Boxing Day Match Centre: Fulham v. Tottenham
Full-time at Craven Cottage: Both keepers were the men of the match on the day, as the chances were there, but were either not taken or denied wonderfully. A draw was a fair result, and now Fulham have had three consecutive clean sheets. No one likes a 0-0 draw, but that’s also what was the result of the Birmingham City - Chelsea game. West Ham comprehensively beat Portsmouth 2-0 at Upton...
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Soccer AM Christmas Edition of Showboat!...
Absolutely absurd skills on show by these freestylers, and doesn’t everyone win on Christmas? The viewers sure do.
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Friday Flashback: Goals of the 70's
This week’s Friday Flashback goes back some thirty years. Here are a few of the classiest strikes of English football in the seventies.
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What will the Prem's biggest Boxing Day upset be?
As teams reach the half-way point of the Premier League season, Boxing Day is a crucial test for teams to make a statement as to where they will end up in May. The fixtures this year are some of the most intruging so far. Fulham hosting Tottenham and Aston Villa traveling to the Emirates to face Wenger’s lads seem to be the two biggest matches on the surface, but every match has its own...
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"Hughes sacking is unacceptable" - Sir Alex...
Mark Hughes’ City axe leaves Sir Alex Ferguson fuming. [BBC Sport]
Hughes was sacked moments after Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Sunderland, with Italian Roberto Mancini immediately named as his replacement.
And the Manchester United boss criticised City chief executive Garry Cook’s handling of the affair.
“It was unacceptable behaviour. For some reason...
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Glen Johnson Pulls a Gerrard (or a Joey Barton)
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is set to be interviewed by police after a man claimed he was attacked outside a London nightclub following Liverpool’s the defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday. The alleged victim, Rashed Al Muhtadi, claims that he sustained “significant injuries,” in the 4 am punch-up. Detectives at Charing Cross are trying to find CCTV of the incident and will...
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Wenger's player of the decade is not Thierry or...
“To be 18 years at the top level, that is massive.” - Arsene Wenger [Arsenal.com]
Arsène Wenger has chosen Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs as his Premier League Player of the Decade. During Tuesday’s exclusive webchat with Arsenal.com the manager opted for the Welsh midfielder after being asked who he would select as the best player to have graced England’s top flight over the last 10...
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Walcott breaks Henry's sprint record.
Theo Walcott is not only Arsenal’s fastest current player but he has also broken Thierry Henry’s sprint record at the Club.
In an exclusive webchat with Arsenal.com on Tuesday, Arsène Wenger revealed his quickest three players over 40 metres were Walcott, Carlos Vela and Armand Traore, with the Englishman pipping the other two on the line.
In fact the former Southampton striker has even...
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“Gentlemen, if you lose today you will continue to be the best in the world – but...”
– Pep Guardiola telling his players before the Club World Championship final began.
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Zidane reveals that he was happy Buffon got him...
Former France midfielder and eternal footy legend Zinedine Zidane has said he is glad he was sent-off for absolutely destroying Marco Materazzi’s pride with the glorious head-butt in the 2006 World Cup Final. Mostly because he doesn’t have to live with the guilt of escaping punishment. [Telegraph.co.uk]
“It (the sending off) was a very good thing,” the former Real Madrid...
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Lionel Messi wins FIFA Player of the Year Award
Everyone saw it coming. Messi HAS been, hands down, the best player in the world. [The Guardian]
“A magnificent year for me and Barca has ended in the best way,” said Messi. [BBC Sport]
“Messi is a worthy winner this time because he won the Champions League as well as the Spanish title in 2009,” concedes Ronaldo. “When I won everything with Manchester United a...
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Barcelona Rule Out January Robinho Move
Barcelona have ruled out a possible move for Manchester City’s Robinho during the Janurary transfer window after having a bid rejected.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta told Catalan radio station Rac1, ”The conditions that we were prepared to accept for Robinho were not accepted by Manchester City.
“We are very satisfied with the squad that we have,” continued Laporta....
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Messi smacks with superiority
Yes he’s the man who scored in the 110th minute vs Estudiantes to place a sixth trophy on Pep Guardiola’s managerial mantlepiece, but before the final Leo Messi stopped by the third place match between Pohang Steelers and Atlante. Messi sat down next to his mate Pique but was unsettled by the chattering man sitting in front of him, so he slapped him in the face. No remorse.
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Look-a-likes: Raymond Domenech in his prime and...
Jagshemash!
“[Domenech is] the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI…If it was up to me, I’d put Laurent Blanc in charge.” - Eric Cantona
Maybe this explains why all of the French national team has no respect for Domenech. At least partially.
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Would Jack Wilshere guarantee survival for...
Arsene Wenger has revealed that he is open to loaning out his starlet to Owen Coyle’s side, but only if Wilshere is guaranteed a spot in the starting eleven.
In the post below are MOTD highlights from yesterday’s Premier League action.
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WatchBBC’s Match of the Day Highlights from Yesterday’s Premier League action.
Fulham 3 - 0 Manchester United
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Stoke City
Portsmouth 2 - 0 Liverpool
Man City 4 - 3 Sunderland
Blackburn Rovers 0 - 2 Tottenham
Arsenal 3 - 0 Hull City
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Landon is set to gain Premier League experience...
The deal is finally done. Landon Donovan is heading to the Merseyside on a short loan spell. [New York Times]
Tim Howard can’t wait to train with his fellow American. [BBC Sport]
Landon was close to going to Mexico, but then came to consciousness when comparing the Premier League with the Mexican League. [Goal.com]
David Moyes admits his side needs more than Saha upfront, so Donovan...
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Roberto Mancini replaces Mark Hughes as Manchester...
Manchester City have sacked manager Mark Hughes only hours after a 4-3 victory against Sunderland. Former Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini will replace Hughes at Eastlands.
The Welshman had been appointed in June 2008, replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson. During his 18-month spell with City, Hughes spent nearly £200 million bringing new players.
City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and...
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Arsenal capitalize on Liverpool and United defeats...
Denilson opened the scoring with a curling free-kick just before the half
Goals from Denilson, Eduardo and Abou Diaby earned Arsene Wenger’s side all three points at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger: “It was a difficult game because we had two physical games against Liverpool and Burnley. For me the most important thing was the win. We were a bit lucky because Almunia saved a...
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Fulham dominant at home with 3-0 victory against...
Clint Dempsey and the Fulham attack tormented a makeshift United defence throught
Fulham earn three points at Craven Cottage as Sir Alex’s injury worries materialize in defeat.Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff got on the scoresheet.
[Full Match Report]
Roy Hodgson’s post-match interview:
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Late Messi goal seals FIFA Club World Cup as...
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Manchester City see out Sunderland in seven goal...
[Full Match Report]
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Despair for 10-man Reds as Portsmouth takes three...
Liverpool sink further down the table with another defeat. [BBC Sport]
IS BENITEZ SAFE?