“Barcelona progressed to the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey on away goals with a 1-1 draw in Bilbao. In a pulsating cup tie played in front of a packed San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao left it too late but go out of the competition with great credit having held Barcelona to two draws.” Spanishfootball
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 FC Barcelona – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Copa del Rey (King’s Cup)
The 90th Minute
“In any season, some ‘winnable’ games will not be won. You can’t win ‘em all. Sometimes, shit happens. C’est la vie, as Robbie Nevil put it. But having dropped points at home to Blackpool and Sunderland, and away at Everton, Wigan and Stoke, the fixtures against Newcastle, Wolves, Bolton and Blackburn were supposed to be where the balance was redressed. “We’ve played the hard teams” was the (semi-valid) excuse at the start of the season, even though performances were often well below acceptable standard, with timid tactics and aimless hoofing.” Tomkins Times
Blackburn Rovers 3 – 1 Liverpool
“Roy Hodgson has survived many low points in his short spell as Liverpool manager but a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn would seem to be one disaster too far and could hasten his exit from Anfield. Even before Saturday’s injury-time winner against Bolton the suggestion was club owners New England Sports Ventures were actively looking for a replacement.” ESPN
Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Liverpool – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
The 90th Minute
“Below are Match Of The Day (MOTD) video highlights for all the EPL matches on January 4, 2011 & January 5, 2011. The full edition of MOTD can be viewed here.” The 90th Minute
“Everyone knows the impact that Johan Cruyff had footballing philosophy of Barcelona. But what if there had been another totemic figure present at the Camp Nou? What if El Tel had decided to depart a season early? Alex Dimond, ladies and gentlemen.” In Bed With Maradona
“The brand new Unofficial Football World Champions book, released this month, is now in stock at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. It’s starting to pick up some really great reviews. And if you’ve already bought the book, today you can access some exclusive bonus content.” UFWC
“You would own a collection of bruised fingers if you clapped every quality article that appeared on the pages of the delightfully named football blog In Bed With Maradona. Not many days go by with some form of mutual backslapping and high fiving between European Football Weekends (EFW) and In bed with Maradona (IBWM). This is a mutual appreciation society (MAS) that borders on the lunacy (BOTL).” European Football Weekends
“Once Napoleon had roused himself and his remaining army from the ashes of Moscow, only to be pummeled at Maloyaroslavets and then smashed again at Berezina, one wonders whether he took a moment to survey the wreckage and think about what a kick he was getting from it all.” Run of Play
“A short time ago I announced my ambition to start a new feature on the blog, a ‘Decade by Decade’ project which I hope will combine my own writing with contributions from readers in order to create an archive of material relating to each decade in football from the 1930s onwards.” Equaliser Football – It’s 1930s Month on The Equaliser, 1930s Month: Chapman and Arsenal’s ‘Golden Age’, 1930s Month: When Italy weren’t the Azzurri
“One of the supposed benefits of Roy Hodgson’s arrival was his ability to get closer to players and re-invigorate their on the pitch performances. Despite what he has eluded to, or (some of) Fleet Street will spout, we do have a squad of players and certainly a first XI which should be competing for fourth place – as a minimum.” Invincible Bastion
Henry Winter: Kenny Dalglish would want Liverpool manager’s job long-term if successful at Anfield
“The manager, Roy Hodgson, is struggling, retaining the faith of the dressing room but patently not the majority of the Kop nor the owners. The former manager, Kenny Dalglish, would readily accept caretaker duties should Hodgson be sacked, giving the board six months to locate a long-term successor. Liverpool’s most famous name would want to be considered permanently if he revitalised the team. It’s complicated in L4. With the fans so full-throated, Anfield risks becoming Animal Farm.” Telegraph – Henry Winter
Ralf Rangnick: Hoffenheim’s loss could be Liverpool’s gain
“The rumour mill has been fully operational lately as the transfer window opens and management changes become a seemingly hourly occurrence. Terry Duffelen has been interested by one in particular as a coach from the Bundesliga has been increasingly linked with a move to England to manage in the Premier League.” two footed tackle
“This David Beckham character has the world in his palm. After successful stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Beckham decided to pursue a new challenge in America (the North one). As part of Beckham’s unique deal with MLS, he was given the option to purchase an MLS club if he stays with the LA Galaxy for the remainder of his contract. That’s a good deal for Team Beckham. And now, long-time Daily Mail football writer Martin Samuel wants to give Beckham English football.” Nutmeg Radio
“Despite winning their last three matches before Germany’s winter break, including a notable success against reigning champions Bayern Munich, this season has been a mixed bag for Schalke 04. They have struggled in the Bundesliga, making a desperately poor start when they lost their first four games, including a crushing home defeat in the derby against bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund, but have cruised through their Champions League group, finishing ahead of Lyon and Benfica to secure a very winnable last 16 tie against an inconsistent Valencia.” The Swiss Ramble
“In previous editions of ‘Long Player,’ we have soundtracked games in the NBA and the NFL, in an attempt to tap into their essence. In doing the same for soccer, one cannot currently look beyond FC Barcelona, whom many are earnestly bracketing with the greatest teams of all time. So dominant are they at present that one can even talk of there being such a thing as a generic Barcelona game. So who better to turn to than — —, player with [Generic Barcelona Opponents], who has kindly agreed to provide us with this playlist, reflecting his experience against the fearsome Blaugrana machine.” Norman Einsteins
“The first week of 2011 isn’t a over yet and quite a lot happened already. A short update. First, and most important: Frank de Boer has signed a long term deal with Ajax. His contract runs until the summer of 2014. It’s no surprise for anyone De Boer is now officially the manager of Ajax. It was only a matter of time. General manager Rik van den Boog has admit Frank de Boer had the best profile to replace Martin Jol even though he said there was a very short shortlist.” World of Ajax
“The year ended with a reminder of what used to be in eastern Europe, as Robert Prosinecki was appointed manager of Red Star Belgrade. It is 20 years since he was a key figure in the last eastern European side to win the European Cup; this season only one, Shakhtar Donetsk, has reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Following CSKA Moscow’s progress to the knockout stage last year, that perhaps hints at the beginnings of a renewal, but two sides making it through the group stage in seven years is still a world away from the era when crack eastern European outfits were the bane of British clubs.” Guardian – Jonathan Wilson
“Britannia, AD 600. Ferguson is king of Britannia, lord of all he surveys. A firebrand Celt, his armies have marched as far south as Barcino in Hispania and towards the rising sun as far as the banks of the Volga. Old in body and yet nimble of mind, Ferguson seeks the affirmation of his kin, weighing the devotion of his sons in a ceremony at Trafford Castle. Shall a successor be determined?” Run of Play
“The word Thamesmead normally drives fear into the heart of South East Londoners. The town was seen as innovative when it was constructed in the late Sixties on the old Royal Arsenal site by the GLC. Flooding had been an issue in the area so the initial developments were built so that the flats were on the first floor and linked by a series of walkways and bridges. Sounds idyllic right? Well not quite. Mismanagement of the whole project that initially was planned for 100,000 was rife from the start. Promised transport links never materialised (even today with 50,000 residents there is not train station), instead replaces by a dual carriageway that dissects the development, a sewage works and of course Belmarsh high security prison.” The Ball Is Round
“Below are Match Of The Day (MOTD) video highlights for all the EPL matches on January 1, 2011. The full edition of MOTD (which features all matches together) can be viewed here.” The 90th Minute
“Rightly or wrongly, Roy Hodgson’s time at Liverpool seems to be coming to an end. There are those who will argue that he should be given time, and it is of course true that various managerial greats — Herbert Chapman, Don Revie, Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson — struggled in their first seasons at clubs with whom they later achieved significant success. But it is also true that Hodgson, much like Sam Allardyce in his brief stint at Newcastle United, seems to have lost the confidence of just about everybody, with even those fans who urge patience unsettled by the functionality of much of Liverpool’s football, even against mediocre opposition.” SI – Jonathan Wilson
“LeBron James was going to sign with the Clippers. I was sure of it. Living in a city that prided itself on its basketball knowledge, I could not have been happier to defend my foolhardy (and completely non-researched) claim. I filled the microbreweries with my pomp and unbridled opinion, joyfully educating any local who dared to question my theory. Well-versed in the art of bullshit, I welcomed all challengers to my claim, eventually even digging up some token statistics that seemed to weigh in my favor.” Run of Play
“Georgios Samaras scored his first two goals of the season to hand Celtic an important victory. Walter Smith replaced Steven Naismith with Jamie Ness, who came into the centre of midfield, pushing Steve Davis to the right, and Steven Whittaker switched to the left. Elsewhere, it was unchanged from Rangers’ previous game, in the 4-4-1-1 shape Smith has favoured in recent weeks.” Zonal Marking
“One of the many wonderful things about covering South American football is the opportunity to watch young talent bloom. Yet too often that process is interrupted prematurely, the player sold off to Europe at a dangerously early stage in his career. That is what has happened to Marcos Rojo, who made such an impact in the second half of 2010 as Estudiantes won the Argentine championship. Could this be the attacking left-back that his country have been looking for?” BBC – Tim Vickery
“Is the buck-toothed Brazilian really heading to Blackburn? Plus: a Premier League and Championship review; Roy Hodgson lives to fight another day; and solidarity for the Deepdale Duck” Guardian – James Richardson
“Observant visitors will note that there has been a lack of new posts on Football Further over the past fortnight. Due partly to the traditional indulgences occasioned by the festive season, it is mainly down to the Ligue 1 winter break and the blog will thus remain dormat until the French top flight resumes in mid-January. In the meantime, I’ll post regular pieces of French football news (read: transfer tittle-tattle) on Twitter – as well as updates and insights from the Asian Cup in Qatar, where I’ll be reporting for AFP from January 8 onwards.” Football Further
“What better way to kick off 2011 than a six hour journey, north by northwest, from our traditional Spanish festive season HQ in Salinas del Manzano to Valladolid for a slice of Segunda Division action. This is European Football Weekends, it’s what we do, and – after the briefest of mid-season winter breaks – we’re not just back, but back with a bang, an explosion, a thermo-nuclear explosion at that.” European Football Weekends
“Barcelona have shuffled their pack in 2010, starting to prefer to Messi to play centrally rather than in the inside right role. Not formed in the archetypal central forward role, his pee-wee frame would perhaps lead some central defenders preferring to battle against the Lilliputian Argentinian.” Talking About Football
Good Day, Bad Day: Perfect Pedro and Awful Atlético
“The league has got to such a barmy bipolar state that panic breaks out across the Spanish sporting media unless Barcelona thrash another side a billion nil. In the English Premier League, sides such as Manchester United have off days – ones where they eke out points rather than rubbing their tackle in their opposition’s faces for 90 minutes – without everyone flapping their arms about in panic. But in Spain, this simply isn’t tolerated. Barça weren’t great against a disciplined Levante, but Pedro was with two goals that gave his team the three points, which is all that matters really.” FourFourTwo
“Recent comments made by Michel Platini have forced Tomasz Mortimer to look at the state of the game in Hungary. Troubling times lie ahead…” In Bed With Maradona
“If not a truly ‘formative’ episode in my football timeline, the 1986 World Cup is still a regular feature in my mind’s private cinema. Maybe not the most regular feature, ahem, but still a vivid series of memories. The drama during my country’s qualification, the loss of Big Jock at Ninian Park, the palaver over whether Kenny and Jocky were gonna play, Strachan’s ‘refusal’ at the ad hording hurdle… ” Level3Football
“Every once in a while, an individual comes along that just excels in their chosen profession. This isn’t an introduction to Leo Messi though, here’s Eric Beard to tell you more.” In Bed With Maradona
“Barely had the dust settled from another round of SPL fixtures when news came in that Celtic had completed the signing of a new midfielder. Freddie Ljungberg the ex-Arsenal and Seattle Sounders player had signed on a free transfer. The timing of the move meant the possibility of a debut in Sunday’s Old Firm game.” gib football show
“Exclusive: Liverpool’s owners are so determined to end Roy Hodgson’s reign as manager that they are now prepared to delay the search for his long-term successor until the summer and install a caretaker until June, raising the prospect of an emotional return to the club for Kenny Dalglish.” Telegraph
Grumbling on towards an inevitable conclusion
“Football supporters turning on their club’s manager is not new but for a manager to turn on his club’s supporters is more unusual. Roy Hodgson’s dismal and utterly predictable time as Liverpool manager effectively came to an end last Wednesday night. Hodgson is just a patsy, one of the last remaining figures from the old regime. The hopes of the Fenway Sports Group that the club could stagger on until the summer vanished with that defeat to Wolves.” Independent
Liverpool 2 – 1 Bolton Wanderers
“Liverpool earned manager Roy Hodgson some breathing space, but nothing more, with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bolton at Anfield. With reports suggesting owners New England Sports Ventures are now actively seeking a replacement, the 63-year-old knows he is living on borrowed time after a woeful six months in charge.” ESPN
Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
The 90th Minute
“A week ago, there was an irate reader’s letter in the Monday edition of Kicker magazine that scolded the publication for naming Franck Ribéry its Man of the Year. The logical choice, said the letter, would have been Ralf Rangnick. Well, I concur with that.” ESPN
Scissors Kick 