Soccer News and Opinion

Mick bows out of Wolves

DJ — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:43:37 +0000

The Black Country Derby thrashing proved to be the final straw that broke the camel's back at Molineux and Wolves decided on Monday that the time was right to change the manager of the club. The change is not down to one game and I think after leaving McCarthy in charge before the transfer deadline I am sure it ...

Interview With An Away Fan: Coventry City

Thomas Hill — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:42:50 +0000

After Saturday's defeat to Brighton Neil Redfearn will be looking for an improved performance against bottom of the league Coventry City. To find out what is going on at Coventry I spoke to Neil Allison editor of Coventry blog Sky Blues Blog. Let’s get the hardest question out of the way first. Bottom of the league and looking pretty doomed, can ...

Standard Chartered Keep Suarezgate Alive, and Other Monday Notes

Noel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:25:20 +0000

Evra's hand moved back and to the left. Back. And to the left. There's no way that happens naturally. No way that happens if you're only dealing with Suarez in front of him. Which can only mean one thing: There was a second man behind the grassy knoll. And the FA don't want you to know about it… * "We were ...

Napoli vs. Chievo: A Win Would Be Nice

Neil — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:17 +0000

Napoli hasn't played a Champions League game since December 7, yet their Serie A form has started to tail off. The last Serie A win came more than a month ago, a 3-1 decision over Palermo in the first game back from the winter break. In the last 5 league games Napoli is 0-4-1 for 4 points. ...

Short Bundesliga and Pokalupdate: Dortmund still on top

Clarissa — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:22:48 +0000

Dortmund won on the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen by 1-0. The goal was scored by Shinji Kagawa, who has stepped up excellently now that Mario Götze is out. It really is very encouraging to see our little Japanese magician back to his best form. Dortmund generally dominated the play, but perhaps did not put away the chances like they should, ...

Udinese 1 Milan 2

Gianfranco — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:24:43 +0000

A few days ago when Milan lost to Juventus I noticed something. I noticed something in Juventus that Milan had all last season, it is subtle, and the casual fan doesn't see it. The casual fan is to caught up in pretty passing and attacking movements, and that is all well and good until your kicked, battered, and ...

You Might Be an Idiot

Noel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:04:10 +0000

Let's be clear of one thing from the start: No matter the specifics of all that came before it, Luis Suarez was an idiot for not shaking Patrice Evra's hand. But then, so too was Patrice Evra for later trying to start a fight in the tunnel at the half and then for taunting the Liverpool striker after the match. The FA, ...

The Ivorians Doth Return

Devin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:42:06 +0000

Didier and Sala are coming home. Thank the lord almighty. More, after the jump: Coming up empty Well it's been a shit sandwich around these parts for the last month- crystallized by that pathetic/shambolic performance we were witness to on Saturday. So forgive me for latching on to the tiniest bit of hope, but I need this. Guys, I really need this. So, ...

The Unexpected

chris — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:57:18 +0000

Siena v Roma Firstly... Novara Calcio: Making Roma's results against Inter look relatively insignificant since Sept. 2011. So, you know...thanks. Enjoy Serie B for the next 55 years as payback. Osvaldo's back. I know there is a consistent undertone of "Please don't get pee tested." surrounding him anyway, but having bounced back this quickly, those fears are increased dramatically. Maybe threat level Hazy ...

Poll: Will Villas-Boas survive beyond March?

Jack — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:25:44 +0000

We are playing like shit. Every one of us is waiting for the shit to stop. Some are suggesting that the shit stops with Andre Villas-Boas. I, as you know, am not of this opinion. However, seeing as there are many that would like to see the suave Portuguese vacate the premises, I thought I'd gauge just how many are ...

Forward, the Light Brigade!

phil — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:48:19 +0000

As we briefly discussed yesterday - with the Pokal draw having taken place, FC Bayern’s schedule is set for the near future. And the schedule for the men in red is not an easy one. Beginning this weekend (Feb. 18), Bayern will play 9 matches in the span of 36 days - 5 of them on the road, and almost ...

Wolves just not good enough

DJ — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:28:40 +0000

Wolves suffered an embarrassing hammering in the Black Country Derby and sunk into the bottom three as a result with manager Mick McCarthy now right on the brink of losing the post he has held for the last 5 and a half years. Wolves were completely outplayed for almost all of this game and as it came in the ...

Hamburg Celebrate in Köln

ryan_s — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:43:04 +0000

Chip off Geromel's Old Surprised Block Hamburg earned a nervy, somewhat lucky but still nonetheless deserved victory in Cologne today with a 1-0 scoreline. The only goal was a sneaky little chip by Paolo Guerrero on Billygoat's keeper Michael Rensing, which surprised defender Geromel so much that he actually moved his face away from the ball, allowing it to plop into ...

Luis Suarez and LFC Issue Apologies

Ed — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:27:15 +0000

From the official website: "I have spoken with the manager since the game at Old Trafford and I realise I got things wrong. I've not only let him down, but also the Club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened. I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and ...

Inter 0 – Novara 1

MAD — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:15:31 +0000

In the first meeting with Novara this season we looked the worse team on the field. Win lose or draw today, we definitely looked the better. Progress is slow in the ultra safe, ultra conservative world of Italian football but it’s a very small consolation when it happens and you lose – even if it’s aggravating that it hasn’t happened ...

Betis 2 Athletic 1: More late heartbreak AGAIN

Jack — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:47:43 +0000

After conceding a late equaliser last week, this time Athletic lose the game late on. It was a frantic finish with both sides going for the win, despite Athletic being a man down after Javi Martínez's red card. Betis took the lead early on through Ruben Castro after a pass fell to him via a deflection and he took the goal well ...

Die Pokal Halbfinalen! Bayern Drawn with 'Gladbach in Final Four

phil — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:26:32 +0000

On the heels of a big day in the Bundesliga, the draw for the semi-finals of the 2011-2012 DFB Pokal took place. The two matches will play out like this: - Borussia Monchengladbach vs. FC Bayern Munich - SPVGG Fuerth vs. Borussia Dortmund It would have been nice to avoid either of the other two 1. Bundesliga sides, but ... what can you ...

Leeds United 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Defensive Mistakes Cost United Once Again

Thomas Hill — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:29:33 +0000

For the past few months my headlines might as well have written themselves. In fact I might as well set an auto-headline if that is even possible. If you're confused as to what I'm on about well I'll sum it up for you...Leeds are making the same petty little mistakes every week. Even when we keep clean sheets we've probably ...

La Liga Review: Osasuna 3, FC Barcelona 2, Or... Well, Damn.

Ade C. — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:06:49 +0000

Fiddlesticks. This is hugely disappointing. A loss in a competition were we couldn't afford to lose any more points than we already had. Barça are now 7 points behind Real Madrid, who have a game in hand at the Bernabéu against Levante. You might as well say it's a 10-point gap and call it a day. [caption id="attachment_7584" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="When ...

Sunderland 1 - 2 Arsenal: Super Subs to the Rescue

Darren_v — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:22:07 +0000

Arsenal traveled north to face a Sunderland club that has seen a resurgence since installing Martin O’Neil as their manager and it took a two late goal by impact substitutes to come away with the three points. Keep reading for all the glorious heart-stopping action. Arsene Wenger chose to start the same squad that demolished Blackburn last week with the exception ...