Football Fantasy

Blackburn 3 - Liverpool 1 LIVERPOOL boss Roy Hodgsons job was left hanging by a thread last light after this bashing at Blackburn. Blackburn heaped the pressure on former manager Hodgson as they raced into a deserved 2-0 half-time lead. Speculation has been rife about the 63-year-olds future for weeks and goals from Martin Olsson and a double from Benjani did little to help. Steven Gerrard scored what proved to be just a late consolation with nine minutes to go when he fired in from the edge of the box. But the Liverpool skipper blazed a penalty over the bar fi ve minutes from time after he had been clipped in the area by Michel Salgado. Liverpool midfi elder Joe Cole made his ...

The manager has risen from club secretary to official face of the club since the creation of football teams worldwide. He has moved from the man that kept the record books to man that is larger than the football team he manages. Commentators and pundits refer to Fergusons United or Wengers beautiful, passing football. He even has books written about him. The Manager by Barney Ronay, an excellent book that discusses the rise of the manager into the modern game, unearths some of the origins of the managers image and attempts todiscuss what kind of person the manager really is. While the book wasnt ever intended to be an academic study of the merits of various tactical thoughts of managers, it does address some of the often listed character traits ofsuccessfulmanagers. When all these traits are put together, to many the manager appears to be a father figure, a scary headmaster, a politician youd like to have a beer with, or somecombination. Yet despite all this popularity, he is little mo...

Video: PL Highlights: Blackburn/Liverpool Watching Steven Gerrard walk up to the spot to take the penalty late in the game against Blackburn Rovers, I was confident he would score for Liverpool. When faced with adversity, Gerrard often rises to the occasion. Earlier in the season, Gerrard cooly slotted home a penalty against fiercest rivals Manchester United even though the vast majority at Old Trafford was begging him to miss. Except Gerrards penalty against Blackburn didnt go according to script. After Gerrard pulled one back for Liverpool and then won a penalty, the Reds had a chance with five minutes left to find an equalizer. That is, if Gerrard could first slot the penalty away. But he didnt and the ball sailed over the bar. Usually I dont question a players character, but in this particular instance with a chance to put Liverpool in the ascendency, Gerrard flubbed his shot. Now whether he did this on purpose or not, well probably never know. I respect the man as a footballer, ...

At least from Uniteds perspective anyway. After a less than convincing win against Stoke yesterday, our position at the top was further solidified by the results from todays games. Arsenal and City battled it out to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates while Chelsea and Spurs were defeated away from home. After this round of games, the table stands as below: (plus we still have our game in hand) Watch Free Live Soccer Football Matches Online Here

Winning the 1987 FA Cup is one of the most illustrious achievements in Coventry City's history, however just eighteen months later they were the victim's of one of the greatest upsets in the competitions history. At the time Coventry were an entrenched top flight side and despite an away draw the Midlands side would have expected a relatively passage into the next round when they drew Conference side Sutton in the FA Cup 3rd Round. The game itself was played at Gander Green Lane in Sutton, Surrey and was full to capacity for the clubs game against top flight opposition. As is now customary rather than give a blow by blow account of the game I will allow some vintage footage that shows the twist, turns and emotion of one of the most memorable results in FA Cup history. ChampionshipTalk would love to hear the experiences of any Coventry or Sutton fans who were at the game that day, so if you remember the game please comment or let me know on Twitter . Related posts: FA Cup Upsets...

Hi all EPL Talk readers, Join me at 2:30 PM ET for a live blog of the seven matches being played this afternoon, highlighted by the Arsenal v Manchester City match on ESPN2. Other matches include: Aston Villa v Sunderland Newcastle v West Ham Wolves v Chelsea Blackburn v Liverpool Bolton v Wigan Everton v Spurs EPL January 5 Live! Related posts: Live Blog: Premier League December 28 Fantasy League Tips: Gameweek 14 Live Blog: Man City v Man Utd and 7 Other Gameweek 12 Matches Watch Free Live Soccer Football Matches Online Here

Alastair Cook is now averaging 127 from his seven innings Down Under. Sir Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe; these names are the elite of English cricketing legends and Alastair Cook (189) is undoubtedly writing himself into Wisdens history books.Unfazed by who was sending down the next delivery, the opener went about his business in sublime fashion, almost as if the ball was magnetised to his bat as he tore in to a bewildered bowling attack. Until he fell after another lengthy stay at the crease, the 26-year-old barely put a foot wrong to give him a total of 766 runs Down Under, a feat that leaves only Wally Hammond (905 in 1928-29) ahead of him for total runs scored by an Englishman in any Test series. The mind boggles at how a his average of 21.76 in six summer Tests could produce such a return that even the bravest of punters wouldnt have had money on. He never allowed a bowler to settle, eventually forcing Michael Clarke to turn to Mike Hussey, a man with only two Test ...

View Poll Todays match between Arsenal and Manchester City could be a turning point in the season for either club. Arsene Wenger is painting it as a battle of a team that goes out and buys players compared to his club, who nurtures players through the youth ranks and buys the occasional player when theres a need. It is definitely two very different practices. But if Manchester City can win today, the Citizens will move five points ahead of Arsenal albeit by playing one extra game than Arsenal. A City win would create a gap between second and third place. Technically it could end up being a two-horse race if City and Uniteds form continues. A win for Arsenal, meanwhile, will move them into second place, leapfrogging Manchester City and would put Arsenal just two points behind Manchester United. So who do you think will win today between Arsenal and Manchester City? Vote in the poll above and share your opinions in the comments section below. Related posts: Poll: Who Will Win, Arsenal o...

The nations 13th largest multiple system operator has just pleased soccer fans in a few major markets inKentucky andOhio. Insight Communications, offering cable, Internet and phone service, has recently added Fox Soccer Channel HD to its already broad selection of high-definition channel offerings. Headquartered in New York City, the $1.26 billion revenue-generating company took some timeto add the highly demanded channel, but footie fans who were watching on Tuesday would have been surprised by their fortune. Specifically serving areas inKentuckynear Lexington, Bowling Green, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, in Ohio nearColumbus and Indiana in Evansville, Tuesdays addition of the beautiful game in HD by one Lexington citizen was simply described as beautiful. As of press time, the only two major markets where FSCHD has been added are Lexington, KY and Columbus, OH (channels 921 and 929 respectively). Should soccer fans reside in any of the other geographical areas listed above who subsc...

Ronaldinho pictured during his time at Barcelona Ronaldinho looks all set to depart European shores once and for all despite the speculation linking him to Blackburn in what would be a sad good-bye to one of the best talents that the world saw in recent years. The life of footballers is often trumped up as an exuberant and extravagant affair full of drinking, money, fame and women but amidst all that clamour at times one does feel truly attached to a certain persona. Ronaldinho has been one of those players who is just so easy to love. He re-introduced the world to Joga Bonito and played a leading role in picking up a dilapidated Barcelona team and helping it back to its feet. While the footballing world remains divided at the moment in deciding who among Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, another legend Ronaldinho seems to have kicked his last ball on this continent. The two-time World Player of the Year looks set to move back to his homeland in search ...

ESPN2s live broadcast of Arsenal against Chelsea on Monday, December 27 was the most watched Premier League game in U.S. history. The match, which was broadcast from 3-5pm ET, garnered a 0.5 rating and was viewed by an estimated viewing audience of 610,000. In comparison, the 2010 MLS Cup Final between Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas earned a 0.4 rating and a viewing audience of 748,000, which was down 44% from the 2009 final. The 2010 final was televised on ESPN on a Sunday night from 8:30-11:45pm ET. The previous record audience for a Premier League game on U.S. television was set earlier in December when 570,000 people watched the game between Manchester United and Arsenal, also on ESPN2. Prior to that, the record was an audience of 540,000 who viewed Manchester United against Chelsea on ESPN2 in April, 2010. As you can see, the popularity of the English Premier League on U.S. television continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and its no wonder that a Premier League team such as Manche...

Hi all EPL Talk readers, Join me at 2:30 PM ET for a live blog of the seven matches being played this afternoon, highlighted by the Arsenal v Manchester City match on ESPN2. Other matches include: Aston Villa v Sunderland Newcastle v West Ham Wolves v Chelsea Blackburn v Liverpool Bolton v Wigan Everton v Spurs Related posts: Live Blog: Premier League December 28 Fantasy League Tips: Gameweek 14 Fantasy League Tips Game Week 12 International Soccer Clubs & Leagues News | Video | Commentary

Old Trafford hosted the midweek Premier League duel between Manchester United and visiting Stoke City. United have been soaring, tied with crosstown City with two games in hand, and they havent experienced a defeat this season. Stoke had won two of the last three matches and started the day in 8th place, looking to prove themselves against the league leaders. Man United v Stoke Starting Form Manchester United employed a 4-4-2 formation throughout the match, with Wayne Rooney getting the evening off. Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez led the attack, with wing support from Ryan Giggs and Nani. Tony Pulis set Stokes lineup as a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Kenwyne Jones as the front striker. Tuncay played as a sunken striker, holing up behind Jones. If Pulis was hoping that Tuncay would serve as a connection between the midfield and Jones, it took a long time to materialize. The first half saw little offensive push from the Potters. United backup keeper Tomas Kuszczak was untested in the f...

CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti last night admitted he is lucky he hasnt been sacked. Having picked up a paltry 10 points from a possible 30, Chelseas title defence is hanging in the balance. Chelsea have slipped to fifth place, six points behind leaders Manchester United before last night, having played a game more. That run has left Ancelotti under huge pressure. And the Italian admitted: I think I am safe but I am a lucky man. I understand that lot of coaches are sacked with these results. While Ancelotti acknowledges his sides current run has not been good enough, he insists he should be judged at the end of the season. He said: When you go to a restaurant, you pay the bill wh...

Premier League bookings odds Lay five points and under at around 5 to 1 with Betfair Arsenal v Man City The televised game tonight is the tasty clash at the Emirates between Arsenal, who have the Premierships best attack, and Man City, who have the best defence. That makes a bet tricky although I would tend to err on the side of there not being many goals Man City have conceded fewer goals away from home than any other team in the Premiership. And it could be feisty. Only Bolton have committed more fouls than Man City, while they are also second on the yellow card count with 45, while Arsenal are in the top six on both counts as well. You should be able to lay 5 bookings points and under at around 5 to one. There are two points for each yellow card, so we need there to be three bookings in the 90 minutes to have a winner. You can lay over 4.5 goals at 5.6 to one. Advices Chelsea have their big guns back and when they do they almost always score. Lampard, Drogba and Anelka are all like...

When EPL Talk reader Drew Meger realized that he was going to get home late today and would miss the live broadcast of Manchester United against Stoke City on Fox Soccer Channel, he decided to turn to his trusty DVR on Comcast and set the game to record for later viewing. Except that the Fox Soccer Channel had disappeared from his DVR line-up (see above screenshot showing a missing channel 256). Drew included a screenshot of his cable guide above to indicate where the Fox channel should have appeared. Meger contacted his local Comcast office by phone and was greeted with several Uh, that shouldnt happen answers and lots of puzzlement. Way to go Comcast Cable! Thanks to Drew Meger for the news tip and screenshot. If you have news tips youd like to share with EPL Talk, e-mail them to thegaffer[at]epltalk[dot]com. Related posts: Guess When Comcast Will Add Fox Soccer Channel HD Tell Comcast We Want Our Fox Soccer Channel HD and Fox Soccer Plus Fox Soccer Plus May Not Be Available On Time ...