Liverpool’s woes seem to be getting worse with every game they play. Last night’s Champions league match against Fiorentina only compounded Rafael Benitez’s problems.

Liverpool lost 2-1 at home to a Fiorentina side that has really impressed this season. The Merseyside outfit who were already bundled out of the lucrative tournament, will now play in the Europa league.

Liverpool have not won the Premiership trophy in almost two decades. That to me is a pretty long time! There was some hope that perhaps when Rafa Benitez took over, their long trophy drought would be over. To everyone’s amazement, he delivered even more than was expected of him.

08-01-2010, 01:39 Geschreven door RDH070  

Looking at the money involved with Manchester City and Chelsea to spend during the January transfer window, we could be in for lots of drama. Also very strange rumours going the Real Madrid are going to make a massive bid for Wayne Rooney in the next transfer window and now fresh reports suggest that they might make a $63 Million bid for Milan star Alexandre Pato. Arsenal have also ignored the rumours that they want to sign Marouane Chamakh. While Sir Alex Ferguson still standing firm about his decision not to purchase any players, looking at the recent run of results we can't be quite sure what would happen. An early exit from 3rd round of FA cup after more than 2 decades, we could see some new additions. The Valencia Duo David Villa and David Silva could bring back the attacking style united are famous for. Also possible additions to Manchester United could be Yoann Gourcuff, the former AC Milan. With united looking poor in the play making department, Yoann could be perfect addition.

08-01-2010, 01:33 Geschreven door RDH070  

hammers striker Dean Ashton has been forced to retire professional football because a chronic injry in his ankle.

dean hadn't played a game for the hammers for the past 14 months.He couldn't fully recover from an ankle injury that he got at England training in August 2006.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury paid tribute to Ashton, who scored 19 goals in 54 games for the Hammers.

"This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean. I would like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him the very best," Duxbury said. "I would also like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time."

England boss Fabio Capello rated Ashton highly and tipped him to make a big impact on the international stage, handing him his Three Lions' debut in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago last summer.

This is a very sad incident indeed... wishing him all the best for the future...

08-01-2010, 01:31 Geschreven door RDH070  

Preston have announced the appointment Darren Ferguson as their new manager.
Ferguson left Peterborough by himself in November, with the club bottom of the Championship.
The Scot, son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex, will replace Alan Irvine, who was sacked last week.

Many people were surprised when Peterborough decided to fire Darren Ferguson late last year, because Sir Alex’s son had led the club to successive promotions. Some had believed that the Scot had a nice job available  but that didn’t appear to be the case at the time but now he has found himself in a good post at Preston.

Even though Preston are not one a the higher teams in the Championship that they are still candidates to challenge for a play-off space in a division that sees 4th and 17th places separated by just nine points. The 37 year old appears to have a long successfull career ahead of him and some believed he could be heading for a Premier League job it is perhaps smarter to continue to learn at a lower level and perhaps achieve the top.

08-01-2010, 01:28 Geschreven door RDH070  

Second division soccer in the United States isn't dead after all. One week after the U.S. Soccer Federation don't accepted the applications for both the USL and NASL, a new league has been created for the 2010 season.

The league will be split  into two conferences consisting of six teams each. Both USL and NASL names have worked together over in the form of conferences.

As far as the schedule go, it is expected to run between 28-32 games along a same time frame to an MLS schedule, with a playoff system to name a champion. While the schedule won't be released for another few weeks, a break is not expected during the World Cup.

With the USL/NASL threat to not accept second division soccer, USSF maked a way the both accept between the two sides, and will play an active role in the 2010 season. They will be running an  committee to help to solve any problems that might come during the season. rights may be sold off as well, though for now the new league will be known simply as USSF Division 2.

08-01-2010, 01:21 Geschreven door RDH070  

Many people might think  Manchester City are crazy for getting rid of Mark Hughes. When you look at the situation quickly, it seems like a really weirddecision. City have only lost 2 of their 27 Premier League games this season.

"A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set. Sheikh Mansour and the Board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change."

The above quote, from the club's statement in the aftermath of the sacking, sheds a little bit more light on the decision. Yep, I guess you could agree that after spending £200 million, the City board expected to be challenging right at the top.

Right or wrong, Mark Hughes hasn't been at City long.

Rafa Benitez has been at Liverpool for 5 years. Yesterday's defeat at Portsmouth was our 7th Premier League defeat, leaves us on 27 points from 18 matches, and means that we are 13 points behind leaders Chelsea
Oh, and we are out of the Champions League.

It's clear that there needs to be a shake-up of some kind and whatever happens now, I only pray that Liverpool act as swiftly and with as much determination in getting rid of Rafa and appointing a top-class replacement.

If Manchester City can do it, why can't we?

08-01-2010, 01:16 Geschreven door RDH070  

So Manchester City have sacked their manager Mark Hughes and have replaced him with Roberto Mancini.
Hughes spent over £200m, and his list of players include Jo for £18m, Tal Ben Haim for £5m, Wayne Bridge for £10m, Gareth Barry for £12m, Kolo Toure for £16m, Robinho for £32m, and probably the best, Joleon Lescott for £24m.


Spending such amounts of cash,  the time to achieve was now, and being 11 points behind is simply not good enough. The way these things go, you need a short time to achieve, you need results, and 7  draws is not good enough, even with 2 defeats, win half those draws and you are close to Chelsea.


This is the reality of football, and when someone spend that much, one word is true, 'Win or go home', and if I was a Man City fan, this was a right decision. Can Mancini do better? Sergio Aguero could a be a target. Mancini will also have tools to do something with these players.

08-01-2010, 01:10 Geschreven door RDH070  

Portugues forward Nani is having a bad time to become a l starter at Manchester United squad but though there are rumours that and some trading rumours, Ferguson said that he is not for sale.

"I know that some big teams are interested, but there has not been any official offer, and we are not looking forward to sell him anyway. He is only 23. If someone came in for Nani in January we would tell him that he is going absolutely nowhere. Nani is a young boy and he wants to play - and he might get a chance against Spurs in the Carling Cup this week.

Alex Ferguson understands the pressure of having excellent strikers competing for the position: "He has suffered because Antonio Valencia's performances have been excellent and because Obertan has emerged as an interesting forward. He has enough talent and all he has to do is work harder and take his chance when it comes along."

08-01-2010, 01:02 Geschreven door RDH070  

Fernando Llorente

This would be the best bet. I’m not sure if Athletic Bilbao would be will to sell their best player, but before the World Cup, where he will shine, a club could get an awesome player without the high price that will come in the summer. This is the target man that Arsenal need. And unlike so others can finish too. England fans will remember his goal for Spain against them but he’s capable of more. He is young and will time to grow at a club that is  patience

08-01-2010, 00:58 Geschreven door RDH070  

André-Pierre Gignac

He’s the star of Toulouse and as a French international, will be just to Arsene Wenger’s liking. He is picked befor of Benzema for France and is as rough as Rooney, but taller (he’s over six-foot). He will ask a big fee, and he will have a big mouth after being linked with Europe’s biggest clubs and as his strange departure from Lorient. He can play in the Champions League.

The only thing that Wenger may not want to sign him is on  the fact that he has already named his club in which he would like to move to (Manchester United, after watching Cantona play). It doesn’t really matter normally, but you see it with players, when determined to go to a certain club, they usually get their way.

Bryan Ruiz

Costa Rican player currently playing  at FC Twente in Holland. Tall, technical and a great attacker. He could be up to move to Arsenal with the promise of playing against some great teams in the Champions League and in a  hunt for trophies. However, he is playing with a highly talented team that look like they will win the Eredivise so may want to see the season out first before moving. Probably the least amount of money will be needed on this player.

08-01-2010, 00:34 Geschreven door RDH070