Soccer Examiner

Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool fail to find a way; Chelsea and Red Devils roll on

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:00:56 -0700

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Manchester City manager Mark Hughes during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)Losing Robin van Persie to a much-publicized, placen...

International play leaves Arsenal in a mire of injuries

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:40:53 -0700

AP Photo/Sang TanFor a brief moment, it looked as if a true push for first place looked likely for Arsenal. With Chelsea amassing injuries, and the Gunners only five points back with a game in hand, November 29th looked like a right time to sta...

Crusty gaffers may have to talk, RvP obtains his annual injury, and smoking at Stoke

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:03:30 -0700

Fergie: Doesn't like the BBC AP Photo/Mikhail MetzelSir Alex, 'Arry, and Fat Sam may have to talk to the Beeb after all. [Telegraph]Maradona gets a two-month ban, but won't miss any real games. A few things he said at his heari...

Troubles in Turkey, two fallen between the sticks, and Fergie gets off again

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:45:46 -0700

That's a fat one there, he is . . . (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)Former England and Man City striker has found himself evicted from his hotel in Ankara. Now playing for Turkish side Ankaragucu, the 29-year old found himself confused after his...

Fletcher gripes, Liverpool draw with a dive, and could Arsenal contend for the title?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:39:50 -0700

You've been talking to Wenger, haven't you? AP Photo/Tom Hevezi Darren Fletcher's been doing a lot of bleating lately, and not just during the Red Devils loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Now the Scottish international is moaning t...

Chelsea beat Manchester United for some breathing room at the top

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:04:27 -0700

AP Photo/Scott Heppell With Liverpool cast aside through recent poor performances, Chelsea v. Manchester United at the Bridge presented a mouth-watering meeting between the league leaders and the reigning champions. And you were not s...

Hitting chicks, Capello criticizes calcio and a little French mischief

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:41:43 -0700

Juande: Out of work again (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)Wigan and Jamaica striker Marlon King apparently likes to chat up the ladies ala Craig Bellamy. His December fracas was heard in court today. [BBC, Times]That David Beckham.&n...

Liverpool paint themselves into a corner

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:55:15 -0700

Liverpool's Emiliano Insua, center, reacts following their Champions League group E soccer match against Lyon at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Lyon won the game 2-1. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)And with a swift 2-1 defeat ...

Crouchy gets stiff again

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:27:12 -0700

I've got better legs than me girlfriend . . . AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Oh, Petey . . . and Woody you too? At least Jonathan Woodgate isn't punching an Asian, and the robot dance hasn't been played out at all. Dude, tha...

Martin Tyler to call World Cup for ESPN

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:47:43 -0700

AP Photo/Keystone, Patrick B. Kraemer Footy fans rejoice. At least those of you on this side of the pond. It looks like one of the best match commentators in the English-speaking world will be calling the games at the 2010 World Cup....

Capello's ire with texting, something to wear for the match, and the return of Sven?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:46:53 -0700

Emile Heskey is the latest schoolboy to offend the headmaster. [Indy] Charlie Davies gets out of the ICU. [Boston Herald] What to wear when you're watching Liverpool v. Manchester United this weekend. [Soccerprint] ...

Sven's North Korean sojourn and more bad decisions

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:17:41 -0700

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea...

Wenger's anniversary, dour Italian clubs, and some jolly clubbing Inter players

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:24:54 -0700

You lot don't know I'm about to ban candybars from your diet . . .Arsene Wenger celebrates a 13th year with the Gunners, and who doesn't love a good quote from the Professor? Stan Kroenke ups his stake in the club. [Guardian, Telegraph, D...

Arsenal ride a bit of luck against Standard Liege

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:28:53 -0700

AP Photo/Yves LoggheThe irony of Arsenal going down two goals on a penalty kick wasn't lost on anyone watching the Gunners' 3-2 victory at Standard Liege. And Eduardo (who would have been sitting at home in London watching this match on TV if n...

Kaka to Luis Fabiano: classy pass and finish

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:36:45 -0700

Argentina may have looked dismal against Brazil, but there's very little you an do against a perfectly-weighted pass and chip.

England Croatia, Mutu's offer, and the world's greatest clubs

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:36:16 -0700

Here's to you Bilic A little meaningless talk before the England Croatia match. When is Slaven Bilic going to ply his trade in the EPL? We could use a little provocation. [Daily Mail] The minnows look for some payback for losing their ri...

Wenger's mad, Pompey dismantled, and some questions for Steven Cohen

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:49:21 -0700

Eduardo is singled out for diving by UEFA, according to Arsene Wenger. Now, it's pretty difficult to argue that the Croatian didn't take a dive against Celtic, but a retroactive yellow card would've been enough. Unless, of c...

Why Arsenal won't win the league

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:14:26 -0700

I'm usually the cynic. The guy who loves to overlook the positive and dwell on the faults of a performance, miniscule and irrelevant they may be. But after Arsenal's smackdown of Everton at Goodison Park, a lot of folks in foot...

Arsene talks, the EPL on US TV, and a trashed Bentley

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:35:38 -0700

Martin Samuel gets Arsene Wenger to open up, and to explain why he didn't go to Real Madrid. [Daily Mail]EPLTalk has the goods on US coverage of the EPL on it's latest podcast. [EPLTalk]Football fatties. [Indy]This late in the trans...

Bendtner to pay fans, a late start to the Argentine season, and how to meet footballers

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:43:37 -0700

More drama in Argentina. [WSJ]Nicklas Bendtner offers to pay fans for his number switch. [Arsenal]The US still can't bring it in Mexico. [LA Times]Serie A makes some waves in Asia. [Indy]How to meet your favorite footballers.&...