Arsenal 6. Coventry City 1. The Goals in Pictures and Wenger’s Reaction

Arsenal continued their positive momentum on Wednesday evening with a decisive 6-1 win over Coventry City in the Capital One Cup. Despite thrashing an opponent that plays its trade two leagues under the Premier League, the North London side will be happy to have handled business the way they were expected to in front of 58,000 fans at the Emirates. Per typical League Cup fashion, Wenger went with a mix of experience and youth â€" a decision that clearly no one could fault. Though the scoreline was much to celebrate, Arsenal fans everywhere will be elated for a host of other reasons. Below, pictures of the goals as a wonderful night of football unfolded in North London.

Is Santi Cazorla finally the player that can fill the Cesc Fabregas void for Arsenal?

It looks as though Arsenal may have finally found their solution to the departed Cesc Fabregas in his Spanish National team compatriot, Santi Cazorla. The former Villarreal and Malaga attacking midfielder has been sensational since his move to London.

Cazorla was thought to be a great signing for the Gunners, but upon his arrival he has proven to be much more capable than many had imagined. His presence was immediately noticed in the opening matches for the club as despite the team not having the most positive results, his link up play was already like he had been in the side for months.
His breakout performance against Liverpool all but sealed the deal for the fans to realize that for the price of £15 million the club might just have achieved one of the steals of the summer.

Liverpool tracking Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera for January

With the future of the club the top priority for Liverpool, manager Brendan Rodgers is working to bring in targets that not only have the ability to make an early impact but also ones that will fit his system and style in the long run.

Each week in the English Premier League the Reds prove that their new system is working, but they are still yet to see their just rewards. With injuries also starting to mount up on the side, it is certain that they are likely to have a busy January transfer period. According to the Daily Mail, Athletic Bilbao’s young midfielder Ander Herrera has caught the eye of Liverpool.
While valued at £16 million the young player was massively impressive in the UEFA Europa League last season for Athletic and could prove a pricy but wise acquisition if he is allowed to achieve his full potential.

Manchester City sign young starlet John Guigetti to new four year deal

He may be just past his teenage years but there is no doubt Manchester City’s 20-year-old Swedish striker John Guidetti is tipped as a future star by his club. Having just signed a new four-year contract in the last 24 hours, as announced by Goal.com, it is certain that the Eastlands’ side is agreed that he is destined to make a name for himself in sky blue.

Guidetti spent last season on loan with Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord Rotterdam scoring 20 goals in 23 appearances for the Holland Giants. His performance on-loan is for certain one of the biggest reasons why the Eastlands’ club has been so keen to keep him onboard.
Although he is yet to truly have a run with the first team he is expected to begin making cameo appearances in the coming seasons. However, the true issue that could see him forced out in the following years is the existence of both Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli in the first team.

Liverpool targeting Malaga midfielder Isco for January transfer

Liverpool continues to search for the long term talent answers for the club under Brendan Rodgers. It is no secret that Steven Gerrard is getting older, and no matter his talent level and leadership qualities, the club has to start preparing for the future.

That unfortunate future means that Gerrard is going to eventually retire. Hopefully not for at least another four to five years, but that is a long time to go without a backup plan. According to the Daily Mail it appears that the club have zeroed in on Malaga midfielder Isco as a potential solution to the future problem of there being no Steven Gerrard.
With the financial issues that the Spanish La Liga club is facing, it is possible that Isco could be available at a cut rate this January as the side continues to prepare for the implications of financial fair play. After already having lost Santi Cazorla to Arsenal this season, the loss of Isco would be a massive blow to the club.

Everton suffer Embarassing League Cup Loss to Leeds United but Must Prepare for Southampton Test

Tuesday, September 25th at Elland Road, David Moyes’ men suffered only their second defeat of the 2012-13 season. They fell 2-1 away to a compact Leeds United in the Capital One League Cup.

Despite a poor showing by referee Lee Mason, who could have awarded two penalties in Everton’s favor near the end of the 90 minutes, the Merseysiders deserved their loss. A fearless Leeds, led by former Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf and bloodied captain Jason Pearce, were the more deserving side on the day.
The Toffees fell behind in the 4th minute after Aiden White capitalized on a miscommunication between Steven Naismith and Francisco Junior. He blasted an unstoppable shot past a shell-shocked Jan Mucha. Everton never recovered and were further demoralized when Everton’s sloppy defending gifted Leeds a second goal via Rodolph Austin in the second-half.
Sylvain Distin put the Liverpool club back into the match in the 81st minute with a looping header past the diving Jamie Ashdown. Leeds kept calm and managed to contain their desperate opponents as they held on for a narrow victory.
Overall, regardless of the confidence and precision shown by the Championship club, Everton will be disappointed after a successful beginning to their Premier League campaign.

David Beckham: LA Galaxy Superstar and Soccer Dad Extraordinaire

When David Beckham isn’t playing for the LA Galaxy or off doing photo shoots for underwear, magazines and jeans where does he spend his time? On the side lines watching his sons play, well, soccer of course.

Becks may be one of the most popular and famed football stars today, but dually he is most likely the most famous ‘soccer dad’ too. And as an added bonus the usual soccer moms get some eye candy while watching their little tikes play, watching David Beckham on the side line of the pitch cheering on his three sons: Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.
As fashion is more of Victoria’s thing, it’s hard to picture her as a soccer mom; sports tend to be David’s forte. Harper, the Beckham’s daughter and youngest child, is usually clothing coordinated alongside her mom and fashion designer Victoria Beckham. However, Harper was pitch side with her dad, watching on as her brothers played. She was dressed in sportier wear for the game trading in her designer shoes and couture dresses for converse trainers, white shirt and jeans.

Racing’s 1-0 Victory over River Plate Shows Shift in Argentine Football

Recent years have been harsh River Plate, affectionately known by their supporters as “los millonarios”, and Racing de Avellaneda.
Two of Argentina’s most successful and popular clubs, both teams have flirted with relegation in the past five seasonsâ€"River Plate was relegated last season but immediately returned to the top flight as Second Division championsâ€"and must now cling to previous successes as new clubs rise to prominence.
But this week, Racing has managed to overcome its Buenos Aires neighbors after a close 1-0 victory at the Estadio Monumental.
River Plate, stuttering in 13th place in the 20-team first division, started the match brightly, but could not capitalize on their efforts and fell behind in the 69th minute to a powerful header by former Boca Juniors centre-back Matías Cahais.

Cahais in action for the Argentine U-20 squad. He headed in the winner for Racing against River Plate. Philip MacCallum / Getty Images.

Racing defended staunchly, successfully stifling River’s star-studded forward line of David Trezeguet and youngster Rogelio Funes Mori. Despite desperately bringing players forward, River Plate could not find its way through and only managed 4 shots on target.
The victory temporarily puts Racing in 5th position, trailing leader Newell’s Old Boys by four points, and leaves fans with hope after two consecutive losses in the league.

English Premier League: Table Starting to Take Shape With Wins for Chelsea and Man Utd

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Five games into the English Premier League season and we are starting to see a rudimentary table taking shape. Chelsea lead the pack with Manchester United close behind, and newly-promoted Reading prop up the pile with 17^th place side just one place above. However the rest of the table makes for somewhat unfamiliar reading. Liverpool surprisingly find themselves languishing in 18^th place, while high-flyers Everton and West Brom make up the rest of the top four. Of course, there is plenty of time for such teams to rise or fall in the standings, but it is testament to some unexpected early-season results.
It was the Toffees who kicked the weekend off as they comprehensively defeated Swansea City 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea have started the season well under new boss Michael Laudrup, but were ultimately outclassed by the visitors in a particularly exciting game. The task was made easier by Nathan Dyer’s second-half dismissal, but by that time his team were already 2-0 down after earlier goals from Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas. Marouane Fellaini rounded off the win with a deserved goal, and based on this showing, Everton could well make a serious push for European football this season.

Borussia Dortmunds’s Surprise Pain is Music to Bayern Munichs’s Ears

In the penultimate game week of September, Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt continued their marches at the head of the Bundesliga bunch. The pair capitalised on the capitulation of their fellow foes near the head of the German top flight, clearing daylight between them and their contenders.

Armin Veh’s underdogs began the weekend with a Friday fixture at Nuremburg, who had already managed to prevent title holders, Borussia Dortmund, from taking all three points at the Stadion Nürnberg. However, Eintracht proved their inspirational start to the season may be more than a simple blip with a 2-1 win. Goals from Erwin Hoffer and Takashi Inui led the second placed side to their fourth consecutive victory while Sebastian Polter grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.
Der FCB by no means had an easy fixture of their own either, but managed to take make the most of Saturday’s trip to the Veltins-Arena. Schalke 04 managed to restrain Jupp Heynckes’ men for the first half, but their resolve was broken in the second half when Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller netted in the 55^th and 58^th minutes, respectively. Bayern remain at the top of the table, but only hold a goal difference advantage over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Arsenal Leave it Late to Snatch Point from Champs

On a super-hyped, super Sunday, Arsenal were away at Manchester City for a match that could potentially shape the tone of the rest of the campaign for either side.

Arsenal were entirely dominant for the first 40 minutes of the first half, looking technically brilliant as they pinged the ball around the pitch, made overlapping runs and constantly manipulated and stretched the Manchester City defense. Manchester City were not to be entirely outplayed however, as they continued to press on the counterattack and made their way deep into the Arsenal half on several occasions.
Gervinho seemed to be the main point of Arsenal’s attack going forward, but the speedy Ivorian didn’t seem to be able to produce when called upon, as he had quite a few shots go streaking over and well wide of the mark. He did an excellent job of stretching the

Liverpool vs Manchester United: Emotional North West Derby undone by decisions not lack of Heart

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) On a day that saw England’s two most successful clubs clash in the most important rivalry in all of English football, it was one of overwhelming emotions both before the match and throughout the game. Liverpool and Manchester United have been long standing rivals and that bitter bite between the two has only been spurned on in the past two decades. United have risen to be kings of the English Premier League while Liverpool have watched their record of 18 English titles surpassed during a title drought that never would have been thought possible 20 years ago. The rivalry renewed for the first time in the new 2012-13 EPL campaign, but did so with a host of story lines that surrounded an important match with even more important events of the past week.

Soccer-Cagliari match called off after club defies authorities

Soccer-Cagliari match called off after club defies authorities MILAN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Cagliari's Serie A match at home to AS Roma was called off in bizarre circumstances on Sunday after the club defied orders from local authorities to stage the fixture behind closed doors. Serie A confirmed on its website that the Cagliari municipal government had ordered the game to be postponed after a late-night meeting. Cagliari have moved to the Is Arenas on the outskirts of the Sardinian capital but the local authorities ruled earlier this week that the stadium was not ready to host Serie A games despite recent improvements. ...

Talking Tactics Column: Where Liverpool vs. Manchester United Could be Won and Lost

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) One of the Premier League’s biggest games of any season takes place this weekend as Manchester United visit Liverpool at Anfield; a headline game with many sub-plots of its own. The pre-game and build-up is no doubt certain to revolve around the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra handshake—if the Frenchman, desperately out of form, even gets picked to play—as well as the hope that both sets of supporters show at least a level of respect to each other in avoiding possible confrontational chanting, especially regarding Hillsborough. Nemanja Vidic and Steven Gerrard are set to release 96 balloons before kick off in honour of those who died in the stadium disaster, and the hope must be that this sends the signal to supporters to act in a proper way for the duration of the game and beyond. On-pitch, the tussle should be as fierce and titanic as ever; Liverpool as the home side will be expected to try and dominate the match as they seek to gain their first Premier League win under Brendan Rodgers—but there are few teams more effective at the counter-attack in Europe than Manchester United. Liverpool will, with Joe Allen again as the base of their operations, look to control possession of the game as much as possible. United’s midfield and front line will be hard working but, for the first part of the game at least, may not press too highly up the field, instead preferring to stop the home team playing in the United half of the pitch. A big part of Liverpool’s ability to break teams down by continually recycling the ball the width of the field comes from the full-backs’ ability to push high up the field; with Jose Enrique enduring his worst spell of form since signing for the club over a year ago it is likely that Glen Johnson (left) and Martin Kelly (right) will continue in the starting XI for Brendan Rodgers’ team. Those two players will have a big responsibility to open up play, thrust forward at pace with and without the ball, and look to link up quickly with the wide forwards, creating short crossing opportunities from the channels on either side of the pitch.

Mexico to bid to stage third World Cup finals in 2026

Mexico to bid to stage third World Cup finals in 2026 MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will bid to host the 2026 World Cup, the country's soccer chief Justino Compean said on Thursday. Mexico hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cups and a successful bid for the 2026 finals would make the country the first to host the global showpiece event three times. "Mexico was a great host in '70 and '86, so we are indeed going to fight (for the right), we want to have a World Cup (again), there will be a strong competition with the United States," Mexican Football Federation president Compean told reporters. .

Borussia Dortmund Hoping to Worsen Hamburg’s Anniversary Woes

Jürgen Klopp will seek to uphold a three-year unbeaten streak at the Imtech Arena this weekend when his Borussians travel to Hamburg for the second time in the space of two months. Borussia Dortmund emerged as the victorious party during their last trip to the Volksparkstadion in early August during a Liga-total-Cup meeting. While the current Bundesliga champions may have lost the mini-tournament to Werder Bremen, they still hold some bragging rights after beating the ground's home inhabitants. Last season, these two parties couldn't have finished further apart whilst both surviving in the German top flight, and have resumed their statuses of power in the current campaign. Hamburg currently sit in 17th spot and are yet to earn a point while the Yellow and Blacks continue their challenge for title defence and are just two points off top spot. Robert Lewandowski played the familiar role of hero during Borussia Dortmund's midweek Champions League fixture, after wrestling a late winner from Ajax. The German representatives ran out an altogether tighter affair than they would have preferred, and will be looking for a much more dominant display when they resume domestic action. Despite the good omens that a centenary such as a club having its fiftieth season in the Bundesliga should yield, Thorsten Fink's side have failed to perform so far this season. Although the club brought several significant signings to the club over the summer—including Rafael van der Vaart—their first round DFB Pokal exit has only been beaten in terms of disappointment by their three-game losing streak. In their last six league home games, the Red Shorts have scored just three goals and while this may be the club's 125th anniversary since it's inception, there's little joy to be had amongst the HSV fraternity these days.

Soccer-Bundesliga roundup-Huntelaar doubtful against Bayern

Soccer-Bundesliga roundup-Huntelaar doubtful against Bayern BERLIN, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Brief news ahead of this weekend's Bundesliga soccer matches: * Schalke 04's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jermaine Jones could miss their Bundesliga match at home to leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday with the former suffering from a cold and the U.S. international still nursing an ankle injury. Huntelaar, last season's top Bundesliga scorer who also grabbed the winner in their 2-1 Champions League victory at Olympiakos on Tuesday, missed training along with Jones on Thursday. "It will be tight getting them ready to Saturday," coach Huub Stevens told reporters. ...

Arsenal’s Podolski and Gervinho Score: Twitter Explodes

Arsenal’s Podolski and Gervinho Score: Twitter Explodes The Champions League is back and what an opening two days to kick start the campaign. Both Tuesday and Wednesday provided entertainment that will sure to be played back over and over again. Though Real Madrid and Manchester City highlighted Tuesday’s games in terms of sheer star-power, Arsenal’s match against Montepllier in France proved to be an exciting battle as well. Below we document the North London team’s Champions League experience from start to finish: from the time the Gunners boarded their plane in England, to the exhale nearly every Arsenal fan let out when they heard that final whistle.

PREVIEW-Soccer-Montpellier in positive mood despite slow start

PREVIEW-Soccer-Montpellier in positive mood despite slow start PARIS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - French champions Montpellier already have an 11-point deficit to make up on leaders Olympique Marseille yet following their Champions League debut coach Rene Girard believes his team is ready to start winning again. Montpellier lost 2-1 at home against Arsenal on Tuesday and have only picked up four points from five league games, but they were upbeat after pushing their illustrious opponents close. "You can't be happy when you lose but we shook one of the best teams in Europe. ...

Talking Tactics Column: Formations for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool until January Transfer Window

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers spoke openly about a wide range of subjects to a group of fan websites last week and one of the most interesting concepts that cropped up was the idea that, with a lack of final third options open to him, Rodgers may have to come up with a tactical alternative for the "interim" until he can strengthen again in the January transfer market. Since Rodgers came into the club it has been made abundantly clear that the first team would be following the 4-3-3 tactical blueprint that he had used at previous club Swansea City and which the Reds have already seen in action in the seven competitive games the new boss has taken charge of. The manager also admitted that some of the younger players might get a chance earlier than anticipated to cover for those positions which don't yet have the depth that Liverpool require to compete on four fronts. There are two important factors to consider when discussing Rodgers' alternatives if he is to break with the 4-3-3 system for now; first is that, regardless of changing the base formation of the team he might start with, he will not wish to deviate from the match approach that he has been trying to instil in the players, nor look to play the game in a different style. Ball retention, trying to up the tempo of the passing, pressing high up the pitch and patiently building attacking moves through the phases on the pitch will all still be the manner in which Liverpool try to win games. Secondly, he will not wish to switch too many players' roles around as they try and get to grips with the expectancies of them in the new system, lest he set back the team as a whole by perhaps a couple of months in attaining the ability to play in Rodgers' own image and to his own style. Switching Systems Finding a suitable interim tactic could, though, offer Liverpool a short- to mid-term benefit; if they find one which is successful then: a) they already will have players suited to playing in those particular new roles, and b) it will give Rodgers and the Liverpool players an alternative in future matches, should the 4-3-3 not be working. Which, then, might be suitable tactics for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers to look at from now until January? Before finding what they could switch to, it is important to understand the principles behind the system used at present. The basic layout then: two full-backs, two center backs, three central midfielders and three forwards. Watch a game on your television and you will likely see, pre-game, the Reds line up in the following way when the team sheets are announced: But the problem is that this graphic bares very little resemblance to the reality of the formation. Rarely if ever will you see the three midfielders in a straight line, or equal distances between the back four and the midfield, and the midfield and attack.

Soccer-Austerity bites at sorry Milan

MILAN, Sept 19 (Reuters) - AC Milan gave supporters a cruel reminder of what they were missing when the San Siro's giant screen showed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva scoring for Paris St Germain during Tuesday's Champions League soccer ties. Offloaded to help Milan try to balance the books, the pair helped their new club to cruise to a 4-1 win over Dynamo Kiev while their former team mates were labouring to a dismal goalless draw at home to Anderlecht.

Chelsea vs. Juventus: Petr Cech and Gianluigi Buffon the keys to success

Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) The opening match between Chelsea and Juventus in Group E of the Champions League is not only a game between the reigning champions and a team that hasn't heard the league's anthem from the pitch in almost three years, it is a matchup between two of the world's best and most respected goalkeepers. Gianluigi Buffon has kept the Old Lady's goal since 2002 and is the only man left standing on the team from before the match fixing scandal six years ago when Juventus had two of their titles taken away and were relegated to Serie B. As Independent reports, Wednesday's match will be Buffon's 400th appearance for the Bianconeri. Chelsea's Petr Cech moved to London in 2004 and has been an immense part of the team's following success ever since. The Blues won their first Premier League title in 50 years and set a then-record for clean sheets keeping out the opposition for nine successive games, according to ESPN.com. Cech did not allow a goal for 871 minutes during their streak. Buffon has a scoreless record of his own. He massively contributed to Italy's World Cup championship in 2006 while booking a 453-minute scoreless streak and conceding just two goals, one of which was an own goal. Both Buffon and Cech are authoritative when the play is in the box and dictate the action in their area. Buffon is not as quick as he was a few years back because age the age of 34 years old, but as he showed during the European Cup tournament this summer, age is irrelevant and there is no substitute for experience. Cech is unfortunately not in the best of form at the moment. He is suffering from an elbow injury but surgery won't be necessary until the end of the season, as reported by the Guardian. As a result, Cech cannot stretch his arm entirely and it hurts him when he tries to do so. This could potentially cause a problem as his reach is one of his biggest strengths as a goalkeeper.

Rangers step up plans for stock market return

LONDON (Reuters) - Fans of former Scottish football champions Rangers will be able to register next month to buy shares in the Glasgow club which is preparing to return to the stock market after collapsing under the weight of its debt. The new owners of Rangers have appointed Capita Registrars to handle share registration services, the club said on Tuesday, after hiring Cenkos Securities to advise on raising additional funds earlier this month. .

Premier League Preview and Prediction: Everton v. Newcastle

PREVIEW Newcastle will visit Goodison Park this evening for a showdown with Everton. After taking down Tottenham 2-1 in its league opener, Newcastle has struggled to regain form in a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge and a frustrating 1-1 draw to Aston Villa. The reason for the Magpies’ struggles is easy to diagnose – a rash of injuries. The most painful loss has been that of talismanic midfielder Cheik Tioté, who has not played since the triumph over Spurs. Although he hasn’t yet been formally declared ‘out’, the Ivorian will likely be on the sidelines again today as he hasn’t been through first-team training all week. While Tioté’s status is still unclear, it is certain that Pardew’s squad will be without captain Fabricio Coloccini (hamstring), goalkeeper Tim Krul (elbow), defender Danny Simpson (hamstring) and Merseysider Ryan Taylor (ACL). Although the Toon is hampered defensively, they remain dangerous going forward. The Senegalese strike-partnership of Papiss Demba Cisse and Demba Ba will lead the line, with Yohan Cabaye spraying balls into the channels for Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonás Gutiérrez to latch onto and wreak havoc on the Everton full-backs. This is where the match will be won or lost. Leighton Baines against Ben Arfa is a dream match-up that will require the England international to be at the top of his game to prevent the Frenchman from unleashing screamers like he did against Villa. At right back, David Moyes will choose no-nonense Tony Hibbert or Phil Neville, both of whom will be tested against the clever Gutiérrez. In the center of the park, Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin will be relishing the battle with Cisse and Ba. Everton’s only major injury is Darron Gibson, who will be out with a thigh strain. Expect Moyes to pair Marouane Fellaini with Leon Osmon in the pivot, with Steven Pienaar on the left and Nikica Jelavic up top. Moyes will likely give either Seamus Coleman or Steven Naismith a chance on the right. Everton fans will be excited to see dynamic Belgian Kevin Mirallas in the hole behind Jelavic. Mirallas has an added a creative attacking option for Moyes and Everton. Chris Brunskill / Getty Images. After brilliant wins against Manchester United and Aston Villa, the Toffees fell off the mark in their last league fixture, losing 2-0 to West Brom. A win tonight will vault Everton to 9 points and a tie for second place in the league.

Soccer-QPR's Johnson to miss most of season with knee injury

Soccer-QPR's Johnson to miss most of season with knee injury LONDON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Queens Park Rangers striker Andy Johnson will miss the majority of the Premier League season after damaging a cruciate ligament in his knee against Chelsea, the club said on Monday. The former Everton and Fulham forward sustained the injury in the first half of his side's 0-0 draw against the European champions on Saturday. "Andy Johnson suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Chelsea and is likely to be sidelined for the majority of the season," the club said on their website (www.qpr.co.uk).

The Gringo in Bahia – Brazilian Players Beauty Contest

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The Gringo in Bahia – Brazilian Players Beauty Contest Bahia's Danny Morais (Red) Battles for the Ball Since Bahia started the second round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, our team has had some very impressive results. After victories over Santos and Sao Paulo, we drew with the then league leaders and team of Ronaldinho, Atletico Mineiro. Next we beat Vasco da Gama by the score of 4-0 and most recently we drew Sport Recife 1-1 in a match away from home. So far Bahia has the best start to the second round campaign with 11 points from our five matches. In the general classification overall however, we are in 15th place, but at this rate we are on the way up. However, even in the middle of the season there is always a way for clubs to attempt to make an extra push for fan involvement and increase their potential for exposure. Danny Morais Nowadays the sports market in Brazil is highly valued and growing quickly as new revenue streams appear. However, outside the high amounts invested in the teams on the pitch and in the stadiums, there still exists much room for improvement in the area of marketing. Many young Brazilians admire not only their football players on the pitch but also their lifestyles off the field. The hair, the clothes, the accessories, the musical tastes and even the way of walking are examples of inspiration that fans draw from the players in football and also try to emulate. It is the view of many young fans that by taking on as much influence from players’ lives into their own they can have possibly more opportunity to succeed in life. Knowing this the media takes advantage of different ways to portray the image of the players and grow not only their own brand but the club brands. I wanted to talk about one such instance that has been introduced and that I have participated in since last year. Danny Morais kits up ahead of Bahia's clash with Vasco de Gama

Mourinho attacks Real players again after Sevilla defeat

Mourinho attacks Real players again after Sevilla defeat MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho again criticised the attitude of a large part of his squad after the champions fell 1-0 at Sevilla, to slip eight points adrift of leaders Barcelona on Saturday. Real conceded after only two minutes at the Sanchez Pizjuan when Piotr Trochowski volleyed in unmarked at a corner, and they were outfought in a bruising encounter that left them with four points from their first four games.

Europa League Love – Previews and Predictions (Groups D, E and F)

Europa League Love – Previews and Predictions (Groups D, E and F) The Group Stage of the Europa League kicks-off on September 20th when 12 groups of 4 teams begin the round-robin phase of the most exciting tournament on planet earth (or at least, that’s how I see it). After last week’s preview and prediction of Groups A, B and C the critics begged me to forecast who will make the Round of 32 out of Groups D, E and F. So let’s get it on. Group D: Newcastle United FC (Eng), FC Girondins de Bordeaux (Fra), Club Brugge KV (Bel), CS Marítimo (Por) The oddsmakers have Newcastle (5/4) and Bordeaux (15/8) as the most likely to make it out of the group with Club Brugges (7/1) and Maritimo (10/1) marked as the dark horses. PREDICTION TO ADVANCE: Newcastle and Club Brugge It’s no wonder Vegas has Newcastle advancing through this group – Alan Pardew’s squad is stacked with fantastic footballers. But the Magpies haven’t been as dominant on the pitch as they look on paper – drawing with Aston Villa in the league and narrowly edging out Greek little guys, Atromitos, 2-1 in the Europa League play-off round. This, combined with Newcastle’s inexperience in Europe, could make advancing a bit difficult. But I still think they get it done. Bordeaux have looked sharp defensively this year, conceeding only one goal in three league matches, but have provided little in terms of firepower. Les Girondins biggest threat is 21 year old Henri Saivet, who’s netted twice in 4 appearances. Unfortunately, they have to compare with that tricky Belgian side, Club Brugge.

Mourinho plays down Ronaldo's "sad" remarks

Mourinho plays down Ronaldo's "sad" remarks MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has sought to play down Cristiano Ronaldo's revelation two weeks ago that he was feeling "sad" at the club. "If he is sad and he plays like he plays then that's perfect for me, he can carry on doing the same," Mourinho told a news conference on Friday when asked about his Portuguese compatriot's comments. "I am a soccer coach and my responsibilities are the results and for that reason when the results are not good you kill me," Mourinho added as Real prepare for Saturday's La Liga match at Sevilla. "That's what I need to focus on. ..

The Lowry Lowdown: The 10 Hardest Players I Ever Played Against

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The Lowry Lowdown: The 10 Hardest Players I Ever Played Against Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:20 AM PDT There are players you look forward to playing and others you hate to match up against. During my career I have been privileged to play against some of the best competition in the world. Here is a list of the 10 toughest guys I played against and the teams they were on.  1. Ajax Amsterdam Midfield   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg8058097622347880549.jpg AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 01: Christian Eriksen (C) of Ajax is congratulated by team mate Theo Janssen and Lorenzo Ebecilio after he scores the third goal of the game during the Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and SC Heracles Almelo at Amsterdam Arena on April 1, 2012 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) la 2. Osvaldo Alonso   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg-1154970319039145632-e1347593329966.jpg SEATTLE, WA - JULY 07: Osvaldo Alonso #6 of the Seattle Sounders dribbles against Brian Mullan #11 of the Colorado Rapids at Century Link Field on July 7, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) la 3. Jeremy Clement   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg8278135124902866771-e1347593532909.jpg MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 03: Mwaruwari Benjani of Manchester City tangles with Jeremy Clement of Paris Saint Germain during the UEFA Cup Group A match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at The City of Manchester Stadium on December 3, 2008 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) la 4. John Thorrington   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg-5786284020994769415.jpg CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: John Thorrington #11 of the Vancouver Whitecaps follows through on his cross in the first half during the MLS match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on September 1, 2012 in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Whitecaps 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) la 5. Logan Pause   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg8339107103336564065-e1347593478205.jpg TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 12: Luis Silva #11 of Toronto FC battles for the ball with Logan Pause #12 of the Chicago Fire during MLS action at the BMO Field September 12, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images) la 6. Club America Midfield   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg451611152932050789-e1347593296373.jpg SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 16: Club America huddles before a friendly match against Manchester City at AT&T Park on July 16, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) la 7. David Beckham   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg2103195200384704337-e1347593382222.jpg CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: David Beckham #23 of the Los Angeles Galaxy crosses during the MLS match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at The Home Depot Center on September 1, 2012 in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Whitecaps 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) la 8. Paulo Mastroeni   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg-2940202547960776081.jpg COMMERCE CITY, CO - OCTOBER 01: Pablo Mastroeni #25 of the Colorado Rapids controls the ball agains FC Dallas at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 1, 2011 in Commerce City, Colorado. The Rapids defeated FC Dallas 1-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) la 9. Brian Carroll   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg2908379210804632207-e1347593769275.jpg Brian Carroll #7 of the Philadelphia Union of the Philadelphia Union kicks the ball during the match against Sporting Kansas City at PPL Park on June 23, 2012 in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Union won 4-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) la 10. Landon Donovan   http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cfimg7329744325073413695-e1347593605325.jpg CARSON, CA - JUNE 23: Landon Donovan #19 of the Los Angeles Galaxy gestures toward a Galaxy cheering section after the game with the Vancouver Whitecaps at The Home Depot Center on June 23, 2012 in Carson, California. The Galaxy won 3-0. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) la 1. Ajax Midfield (The Netherlands) We barely got a sniff of the ball. This group was just coming off a championship year in the Eredivisie. Talk about ball movement and swarming pressure. These guys could move the ball and on the rare occasion one of them gave the ball up, they swarm around you like angry bees. 2. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders) Alonso is the type of player you hate to play against and love playing with. In my opinion, Ozzie is still the most underrated player in MLS. I think the Sounders would be extremely hard pressed to replace him if he were to leave the organization. This guy is the work horse that does all the dirty work and doesn’t get nearly enough credit. 3. Jérémy Clément (Paris Saint-Germain) I made sure to exchange jersey’s with this guy after the game. Technically brilliant during his 90 minutes on the pitch Clement was one of those players that just acted like he didn’t give a shit. Its a scary proposition for someone of his level and talent to act like he is having a nutmeg competition with his teammates and you are the poor schmuck stuck in the middle. 4. John Thorrington (Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps) The best work horse I have ever played against or with. You can’t fault the guy for his work ethic and fiery attitude. Some players are surprised to learn he is a the truest gentleman off the field but an absolute thorn in the backside on it.