TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Danny Vukovic puts history behind him It's taken more than three years - with the ignominy of an Olympic ban along the way - but Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has finally made the Socceroos' ranks. foxsports.com.au |
Aston Villa v Liverpool: Champions League remains target for Rafael Benítez Liverpool manager wants victory over Aston Villa tonight to help propel team towards Champions League qualification. telegraph.co.uk |
Interactive Chalkboards: this week's Premier League action Manchester United show that when it comes to passing it is quality rather than quantity; Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo drift wide as Arsenal miss Robin van PersieUnited's quantity rather than qualityDespite having plenty of possession, and making almost twice as many passes as Birmingham, United struggled to break down the home side. Deploying five in midfield contrasts with the formation Sir Alex Ferguson used on his last trip to St Andrews in 2007, when Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo roamed in attack. United attempted 100 fewer passes that day, but were more incisive going forward  and they won.Arsenal's central problemEverton were comfortable against the much-vaunted Arsenal attack for large parts of the game, as Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo da Silva's tendency to drift wide failed to trouble the visitors' defence. Here you can see how Arsenal miss Robin van Persie's presence in the middle; Eduardo and Arshavin created only a small handful of opportunities inside the box.ChalkboardsPremier LeagueManchester UnitedBirmingham CityArsenalEvertonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
A City v United League Cup appetiser This week's round-up also features an NFL post-season classic, the world's best juggler and an ice hockey scrap for the ages1) You want ice hockey fights? We've got ice hockey fights! This one is a slow burner: a wee scrap that evolves into the eventual breakdown of society. Almost. 2) What's more exciting than an ice hockey scrap? How about whip-wielding jockeys going at it while riding their horses at full gallop?3) It was Wild Card weekend in the NFL last Saturday and Sunday, and the pick of the games was Arizona Cardinals' 51-45 victory over the Green Bay Packers, the highest scoring post-season game in history. You can check out the highlights here and the best plays of the entire season here. 4) Man City and Man United meet in the Carling Cup semi-final next week. Here's an appetiser from when the two teams met in the same stage of the competition way back in 1969.5) It's tough to decide which Baldwin brother you'd rather be: Stephen preaching the Bible to Jordan's fella in the Celebrity Big Brother house, or Daniel getting up close and personal with Shaquille O'Neal.Our favourites from last week's blog1) Stelling, Merson and Le Tissier have nothing on this Italian studio show. And while we're at it Martin Tyler should take notes from this Irish commentator.2) It's not the height that's the scary part of climbing, it's the falling down.3) It takes a brave (or foolish) man to score a headed goal in ice hockey.4) We can probably close nominations for the world's best juggler.5) Two German girls, some bikes, a sports hall and some very impressive tricks. Spotters' badges: AzamatBagatov, dotser, ElHenry, JimmyKR, AussiePaddy, Stereogwaiguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Barcelona's Busquets returns to practice Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has returned to practice following a kidney injury. cbc.ca |