Football Manager 2011 – It’s Really Good

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“Earlier this year, I cracked like a soft-boiled egg. Fed up with losing three hours of my life to the navigation of a pretend pre-season, I wrote THIS. Now, in blogging terms, criticising Football Manager is sacrilegious, the equivalent of taking a red pen and scribbling, “3/10 could do better” on the inside of a bible. You just don’t do it. But the strange thing was that people agreed with me. From around the world, new players and old sent little messages thanking me for vocalising their growing concerns. Of course, a great many more called me some very mean names while Miles Jacobson, head honcho of the series, got in touch to pointedly direct me to the iphone version if I ‘just wanted a game.’ I don’t blame him. If I’d devoted my life to creating the most realistic football simulator in the history of gaming, I’d doubt I’d have appreciated having a snotty journalist tell me that it was too realistic. Thank God then that Football Manager 2011 is a such an emphatic return to form.” (Iain Macintosh)

Lazio 0-2 Roma: two penalties settle tight game

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“Two similar systems and little creativity in open play. Top of the table Lazio set up with a 4-3-1-2 formation, a shape they’ve used in roughly half of games so far, the other option being a 4-2-3-1. Tomasso Rocchi started his first game since mid-September upfront alongside Sergio Floccari, whilst Guglielmo Stendardo started in place of the suspended Giuseppe Biava at the back.” (Zonal Marking)

Sevilla 2-0 Valencia: Emery doesn’t change despite red card, both Manzano subs score
“Sevilla eventually broke through after Valencia’s Mehmet Topal was sent off in the first half. For the home side, only Martin Cacares remained from the back four that conceded five goals at the Nou Camp last week. Further forward, it was the same midfield and attack, with Frederic Kanoute pushed up closer to Luis Fabiano.” (Zonal Marking)

Video of the Week: Match of the Eighties, 1985/86

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Jock Stein
“This week’s Video Of The Week sees us return to the BBC’s Match Of The Eighties collection for the final episode in the series, for the 1985/86 season. The season before had been the one in which English football had finally been found out with the twin tragedies of Valley Parade and Heysel exposing the extent of the rottenness at the core of the game. English clubs were banned from European competition indefinitely and, as if to mark the fall from grace of the game, a dispute over television rights meant that no live matches in the First Division were shown until Christmas.” (twohundredpercent)

Champions League Chalkboards

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“Beginning with this installment, the Goal blog is inaugurating a new feature that offers a statistical (courtesy of OPTA) and graphic representations of select matches from the European Champions League. At the end of each week when matches are played, the editor of zonalmarking.net, will provide analysis powered by the Total Football iPhone/iPad app, which is available at totalfootballapps.com and the iTunes App Store. Similar Chalkboards can be dissected at the Web site of the Guardian of Britain and at the zonalmarking Web site.” (NYT)

First quarter report card

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“So here we are after 11 games, all the SPL teams have now played each other, and it’s time to reflect on the early season title race, ahead of Wednesday’s big match on ESPN – Hearts v Celtic. It should be a cracker. Right, let’s start at the top – Rangers. Things could hardly have gone any better for Walter Smith’s side and Sunday’s victory at St Mirren Park on ESPN put the Gers back on top of the table. Only one slip up to date (a home draw with Inverness) has Rangers ahead of Celtic by one point. The question remains though – do Rangers have the stamina to stay there?” (ESPN)

Ref or end ‘em: Scottish football shrouded in refereeing controversy
“Nani’s recent goal for Manchester United against Tottenham caused a frisson of controversy in England. But you think Mark Clattenburg has it bad? Try refereeing Celtic or Rangers in Scotland. Making his debut for Just Football we welcome William Heaney who has more…” (Just Football)

Argentines Abroad: 6th & 7th November 2010

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“This weekend Argentines were in fine form in Spain, Portugal and Mexico, whilst in the USA a Boca Juniors legend might have played his last game, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s Columbus Crew exited the MLS playoffs. The selección’s first-choice centre back pairing both had poor weekends, though. Martín Demichelis’ Bayern München dropped points, whilst Walter Samuel injured his cruciate ligaments and will miss the match against Brazil later in the month, as well as quite some time thereafter. All this and more, right here…” (Hasta El Gol Siempre)

The IBWM Ligue 1 Roundup

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“No huge changes to the Ligue 1 table after Round Twelve of the French season as all the leaders failed to win. Brest began the weekend top of the standings but were blown away by a resurgent Lille who went ahead late in the first half through Moussa Sow. Lille had the better chances in the first half but had to wait until Emerson was sent down the left and his cross was half blocked by Johan Martial, diverting it onto Sow’s forehead a mere two feet from goal. He couldn’t, and didn’t, miss. Six minutes after the break, an intricate passing move ended with Gervinho free in the penalty area to tuck away the second, the Brest defence looking at each other bewildered as Lille’s one-touch passing guided the ball through them at speed.” (In Bed With Maradona)

Liverpool vs Chelsea – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

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The Battle of San Romano, Paolo Uccello
“Liverpool got their best result under Roy Hodgson by beating Chelsea 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday. The performance was far from vintage, but with Chelsea being unusually poor, the Reds rarely looked troubled. Let’s take a look at the tale that the chalkboards tell us.” (Tomkins Times)

16 Conclusions On Liverpool v Chelsea
” After Liverpool’s past couple of wins, the opinion has been voiced by a number of their fans that they had mixed feelings about the victories – happy with the points, but frustrated that the successes would buy Roy Hodgson some extra time in charge. So will this win be enough to convince those who still doubt? And if not, how many wins will it take before they cast aside their stubborn stance and accept Hodgson as their own?” (Football 365)

Winning, the Liverpool Way
“After the draw at St. Andrews I contended that Liverpool needed to change the way they played to get results. They were too narrow, with no pace and their full-backs went nowhere. It led to a dour game of football and a nil all draw that kept Liverpool in the lower regions of the table. The problem then was a lack of invention, a resistance to change and a team still getting to know each other, yesterday that all changed.” (EPL Talk)

Good Day, Bad Day: Incredible Carvalho and Devastating Depor

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“Shows absolutely no signs of slowing down, maybe because much of the forward’s game is played in the 30-metre ‘zone of terror’ where little Leo has scored in five consecutive matches for Pep’s Dream Boys.” (FourFourTwo)

Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid: early goals and a routine victory for Real“Ricardo Carvalho and Mesut Oezil’s first half goals gave Real a commanding lead.
Jose Mourinho kept the same side as in the 2-2 draw in Milan in midweek. No change in formation either – 4-2-3-1. Qique Sanchez Flores went for the usual 4-4-2 with inverted wingers, Simao Sabrosa on the left and Jose Antonio Reyes on the right. Luis Perea was out, so Tomas Ujfalusi moved over to the centre-back position he made his name in, whilst Juan Valera started at right-back. Mario Suarez made his second start for Atletico in the centre.” (Zonal Marking)

Bielsa’s early exit such a waste for Chile

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“A successful and promising relationship has come to a premature end with the news that Marcelo Bielsa will not continue as coach of Chile. There is little point in appointing a foreign coach unless he brings something fresh – which the eccentric, but highly respected Argentine certainly has in the course of his three years in charge.” (BBC – Tim Vickery)

Ten steps: how Newcastle coped with Arsenal in the centre of midfield (whilst playing a 4-4-2)

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“Not many sides keep a clean sheet against Arsenal. Newcastle’s 1-0 win at the Emirates was only the second time Arsene Wenger’s side have failed to score this season. In most wins in football there is an element of the victorious side being good, and the losing side being bad. Arsenal’s poor performance cannot be overlooked – the whole team were sluggish with their passing and not creative enough. Cesc Fabregas gave the ball away far too often and didn’t look fit, and on the rare occasions he plays badly, Arsenal struggle.” (Zonal Marking)

Frans for the memories

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“It must have been a good day yesterday at the Spakenburg as I woke up with my feet in the mini bar and a Ijsselmeervogels temporary tattoo on my arm. How did I get here? It is all a bit of a blur but I do remember a man with a goat at some point and a taxi driver called Willem who claimed he was once an extra in Coronation Street, buying a bag of bomboms from Mavis Riley no less. I remember a school disco, a bloke dressed as a pope, Stoffers walking around with 25 beer glasses on his head and finally Smullers spicy crockets. Danny Last helps me remember some of the events in his report here but I still cannot fill in the blanks. I remembered I was in Utrecht, Holland’s 4th largest city and home to the Museum of Automatically Playing Musical Instruments. And why were we here? – for another game of course.” (The Ball Is Round)

Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea: Torres strikes and positional discipline see Liverpool through

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“Two excellent first-half goals from Fernando Torres secured Liverpool’s best result under Roy Hodgson. Dirk Kuyt came back into the side after a long period out injured, with Martin Kelly the other surprise name on the team sheet. Maxi Rodriguez continued in midfield. Didier Drogba was only considered fit enough for the bench, so Carlo Ancelotti used Saloman Kalou on the right and Nicolas Anelka as the main forward. Frank Lampard was injured, as was Michael Essien, so the midfield trio was the same as in the win over Spartak in midweek.” (Zonal Marking)

Liverpool 2 – 0 Chelsea
“Fernando Torres produced a striker’s masterclass to score twice as Liverpool inflicted only a second defeat of the season on Premier League leaders Chelsea. Torres has a liking for playing the Londoners at Anfield, as his six goals in five matches against them at home shows. Chelsea were heavily linked with a summer bid for Torres but it never materialised and manager Carlo Ancelotti said he did not need to buy the striker as he was satisfied with his own forwards.” (ESPN)

The real Fernando Torres stands up
“His body language has been overanalysed, his future debated and his commitment criticised, but one statistic seemed to suffice to sum up his start to the season. Fernando Torres had scored as many goals as Sotirios Kyrgiakos. After a brace to pull ahead of the Greek in a Mediterranean mini-league at Anfield, to scythe Chelsea stylishly apart and to give Roy Hodgson much the best result of his nascent reign, one thing is clear. He’s back.” (ESPN)

We’re All Wrong, We’re All Right
“At long last, Liverpool look like a proper team again. Not a great team, admittedly, but at least a team. My criticisms from the summer relating to the appointment of Roy Hodgson remain, although my reactions a few weeks ago after a run of eight dire league games (and performances, which makes it even worse) obviously look increasingly premature.” (Tomkins Times)

Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
(The 90th Minute)

English Premier League Match Of The Day (MOTD) Video Highlights

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“Below are MOTD video highlights for all the EPL matches on November 6, 2010. You can watch the full episode of MOTD here (contains all matches).” (The 90th Minute)

Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle United – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
(The 90th Minute)

Ajax 0 – 1 ADO: Analyzing Jol’s tactical failings

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“This week might well prove a turning point for Ajax’ season. Losing away at Auxerre saw the club effectively eliminated from the Champions League and losing a second Eredivisie home match this early in the season has put the club three and four points behind PSV and Twente, respectively, in the race for the title. ADO, meanwhile, will definitely take this. They’ve managed to defeat Ajax with their open, direct 4-3-3 game. Even without top scorer Bulykin, ADO showed that they belong among the clubs competing for the play-off places should they be able to keep this strong run of form going.” (11 tegen 11)

Boca lose on Riquelme’s return

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“Juan Román Riquelme – and, lest it be forgotten, Claudio Borghi – took on their old club, Argentinos Juniors, and lost 2-0 thanks to two late goals in quick succession after a late nightmare by Boca Juniors goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti. Riquelme had a few moments, but by and large lacked precision – as you’d expect, him having been out for six months. Elsewhere today, Racing and Arsenal de Sarandí drew 2-2 in an entertaining match, Gimnasia beat Quilmes 1-0 in a very dull one, and Godoy Cruz and Newell’s drew 0-0 with visiting goalkeeper Sebastián Peratta putting in a phenomenal performance. All the highlights are right here.” (Hasta El Gol Siempre)

Groningen 2 – 1 NAC: Three goals by Groningen captain Granqvist, yet still a narrow score line

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“Groningen managed to beat NAC Breda, two teams separated by only three points in last year’s final standings, but having quite different season starts this year. Young manager Pieter Huistra continues to impress with a 4-2-3-1 that suits the Groningen players very well. Against NAC they dominated the match, although the score line suggested otherwise, but creating 11 shots on target while allowing only one sums up the story here.” (11 tegen 11)

On Loyalty

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“Read, if you haven’t, my new Slate piece on Wayne Rooney, which is less ROONEY CONTRACT PANIC than a look at how the notion that he’s some kind of half-formed man-child, or an eternal adolescent, has clustered around his career. The gist is that for all the (sometimes justified) criticism he’s received for being immature or childish, what’s really infuriated his fans this year is that he’s acted too much like an adult, particularly in taking a view of his career that didn’t simply give everything up to the greatness of Manchester United.” (Run of Play)

Man U’s Man-Child
“The biggest star on the world’s biggest soccer team has the eyes of a mercenary and the face of a little boy. Athletes who become famous at an early age always seem younger than they are, and Wayne Rooney—who burst onto the world stage at 16, signed with Manchester United at 18, and now, at 25, is comfortably the second-most-recognizable English soccer player on earth—has to all appearances become lodged in semi-adolescence, as if time tried to swallow him and couldn’t get him all the way down.” (Slate)

The battle of Wayne
“One day in 2004, Wayne Rooney was doing what he usually does when he isn’t playing football: watching TV. At the time he was breaking with Everton, the club his clan had always supported. Sky TV was reading out text messages from viewers who called him a rat, a greedy traitor, and so on. Watching at home, Rooney grew fed up. He texted the programme himself: ‘I left because the club was doing my head in – Wayne Rooney.’” (FI – Simon Kuper)

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard is among best in the world

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“‘Diego Maradona,’ came the bold claim from Roy Hodgson, Gerrard’s manager at Liverpool. ‘Giancarlo Antonioni, Rainer Bonhof and Wolfgang Overath,’ came Friday’s verdict of Carlo Ancelotti, whose Chelsea visit Gerrard’s lair on Sunday. Praise indeed. All four have won World Cups.” (Telegraph – Henry Winter)

Messina – a true yo-yo club

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“Messina is the third largest city in Sicily and thirteenth in Italy; founded in the 8th century BC throughout its history it has endured countless catastrophes. Seized by Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Spaniards for its tactical position; it has also been the site of plagues (rumoured to be the port where the Black Death entered mainland Europe), earthquakes and even a tsunami. The most recent earthquake in 1908 brought the city to its knees killing 60,000 people and destroying most of the ancient architecture. A further catastrophe is on the verge of occurring for the fans of the city’s football team.” (The Football Express)

Football managers pace 25 miles a season, study finds

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“I try to imagine them, the sad, gray men in their laboratories, staring into grainy screens, lifting heavy pens to tick a piece of paper every time Big Sam takes a step. Was it a ‘big’ step? That’s two ticks. 6.7 miles he’s travelled so far, and only 3 more games to go before you move on to Harry Redknapp. You won’t sleep tonight, boy. Oh! He lumbered forward slightly! That’s half a tick!” (Yahoo! – Brian Phillips), (Football Manager)

The future of the football programme

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“For over a hundred years football programmes have been the vital accompaniment to any match. Even the smallest, most insignificant game is normally commemorated by the issue of a matchday programme. I know some people who will not count that they have been to see a game unless they can get a programme or at least a team sheet.” (The Ball Is Round)

Villarreal’s transposable system – the return of the Brazilian 4-2-2-2

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“The re-birth of Villarreal has come with the fruition of several events. Firstly, the partnership that Brazilian Nilmar and the Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi has cultivated week-on-week and will continue to be one of the most dangerous in La Liga. The two have scored eleven of Villarreal’s nineteen goals and Rossi has shown ruthless finishing that was once missing; Nilmar, as well as scoring five goals, is joint third in the assist rankings up to this point.” (Talking About Football)

Liverpool 3 – 1 Napoli

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“Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard came to his side’s aid once again as his late hat-trick inspired the side to a 3-1 Europa League victory against Napoli which highlighted the gulf in class within the squad. The Reds were deservedly behind to Ezequiel Lavezzi’s goal after a dire first-half performance but the England midfielder’s introduction at the interval changed the dynamic.” (ESPN)

Liverpool 3-1 Napoli – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Europa League
(The 90th Minute)

La semaine en France: Week 11

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“Torrential downpours in southern France prompted the postponement of two matches over the weekend, and when the skies finally cleared the unlikely team sitting on top of the table was Brest. Marseille’s game at home to previous leaders Rennes appeared to represent OM’s chance to recapture top spot for the first time since the end of last season, but incessant rain saw the match at Stade Vélodrome pushed back from Saturday until Sunday and then postponed definitively when the poor weather continued.” (Football Further)

FIFA, the FA and the British Press: No-One Really Wins the Moral Debate

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“‘Please accept my resignation. I wouldn’t belong to a club that would accept me as a member’, said the telegram that Groucho Marx in his famous telegram to the Friar’s Club of Beverly Hills, and the Football Association must be inwardly feeling the same as Marx with their admission that recent press revelations into the behaviour of various senior FIFA delegates has had an extremely damaging effect on their bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The FA had apparently at first thought that they had managed to escape the ire of those at the top of the world’s governing body over the revelations made by The Sunday Times, but with an edition of the BBCs Panorama on the subject also due to be shown before the vote next month it is now widely anticipated that the award will go to Russia.” (twohundredpercent)

Kuban and Volga go up, Russia’s regions go down

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“I read a statistic the other day which gave me pause for thought: Russia, the world’s largest country by area, takes up approximately 11.5% of the Earth’s entire land mass. Actually as a journalist covering Russia I’ve have to learn by rote a good number of shorthand statistics to express the country’s size. 7,500 kilometres from East to West; a ten hour flight from its Baltic to Pacific coasts; nine time zones (thought it used to be eleven until earlier this year).” (The Football Ramble)

Bye-Bye Bielsa: The Governance of Soccer and Chile’s Forking Path

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“Recent news reports from South America indicate that the coach of Chile’s national team, Marcelo Bielsa, will be leaving his post with immediacy. To the casual observer, this comes as a shock. Bielsa has been credited with restoring discipline and professionalism to a national soccer association known more in recent years for scandal than for footballing feat.” (Soccer Politics)

Football Manager 2011 Review

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“Football Manager 2011 (FM) is released this Friday in Europe and tentatively dated the 16 of November in the US. A Football Management ‘simulator’ you are put in charge of basically any club of your choice in a ridiculously realistic setting. Playing Football Manager can often be like taking a degree in football, you learn the rules of each league, the transfer rules regarding ‘Bosman’s’ and the compensation clauses in signing youth players and also you will learn to love, hate and covet players you may never have heard of.” (EPL Talk)

Milan 2-2 Real Madrid: Real lead, mistakes put them behind, Leon grabs a late equaliser

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“A pulsating game that finished all square, with both sides disappointed to have given up the victory. Milan recalled Ronaldinho in place of Robinho, and moved back to a 4-3-3 rather than the 4-3-1-2 they used in the first half against Juventus. Only Alessandro Nesta remained from that back four, with Gianluca Zambrotta, Ignazio Abate and Thiago Silva coming into the side.” (Zonal Marking)

AC Milan 2-2 Real Madrid – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League
(The 90th Minute)

Chelsea 4-1 Spartak Moscow: a stuttering start, but Chelsea eventually power past the Russians

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“Chelsea took longer than usual to get into their stride, but recorded a familiar comfortable victory.
Chelsea rested John Terry and Michael Essien, so Branislav Ivanovic moved to the centre of the defence, and Ramires came in on the right side of midfield. Saloman Kalou replaced Florent Malouda. Spartak moved Yevgeni Makeev to right-back and brought in Andrei Ivanov on the left. Alex returned, so Ari dropped to the bench.” (Zonal Marking)

Blues forced to play out second billing
“It has been many a long year since Chelsea supporters looked upon those who swear allegiance to Tottenham Hotspur with an envious eye, but that might just have been the case this week. Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues may be riding high at the top of the Premier League table and assured of a placed in the last 16 of the Champions League after this comfortable romp against an outclassed opponent, yet such serene progress becomes a little mundane when it is the norm.” (ESPN)

Chelsea 4-1 Spartak Moscow – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League
(The 90th Minute)

The Pide Piper Pippo: A Bale Comparison

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“Yesterday everybody screamed the praises of one Gareth Bale, one week after a certain disreputable website sang his praises by comparison to the Garbage Pale kids. That disreputable website was this one. And I admit my mistake. Gareth Bale is a shining example of athleticism, a white knight, the hero at the end of the fairy tale who smooches the princess, slays the dragon, and lives happily every after. But Pippo Inzaghi is not. Which is why I love him.” (futfanatico)

Auxerre 2 – 1 Ajax: Finding the right formation took Ajax too long…

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“Ajax adapted their formation to finally find the right solution to the problems that Auxerre’s 4-4-1-1 caused them. Unfortunately it was too little too late for Ajax, as Auxerre managed to win through a deflected shot and a debatable offside situation in a quickly taken free-kick.” (11 tegen 11)

Tottenham 3-1 Inter: Inter fail to deal with Bale

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Calumny of Apelles, Botticelli.
“Gareth Bale dominated the game to a staggering extent as Tottenham recorded a famous victory. Spurs went with their expected XI. Carlo Cudicini came in for the suspended Heurelho Gomes. Elsewhere, Tom Huddlestone and Peter Crouch returned, with the rest of the side the same as the one which faced Manchester United at the weekend.” (Zonal Marking)

Tactics: What is Gareth Bale’s best position?
“Claims that Gareth Bale’s two scintillating performances against Internazionale have turned him into the best player in the world may be a little far-fetched, but it is no exaggeration to say that in Tuesday night’s match at White Hart Lane, almost everything he did with the ball at his feet was magnificent. Speculation is already rife about which European giant he will elect to join if and when the time comes to leave Spurs, but an important decision also needs to be made about where on the pitch he should play.” (Football Further)

The inevitable rise of Gareth Bale
“It’s amazing what two games of football can do to a player’s reputation. Following a pair of sublime performances against Rafael Benitez’s Internazionale, Gareth Bale has come to be spoken of in the most glowing of terms. From Tottenham’s unlucky charm to arguably their most influential player, the speed of Bale’s development seems to have turned hyperactive of late, the Welshman now being considered by some as one of the best left-sided players in European football.” (Equaliser Football)

Match of the Midweek: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Internazionale
“Maicon is not a bad player, by any stretch of the imagination. He didn’t win the Italian national lottery to win a place in the Inter side, and he isn’t related to Massimo Moratti. He broke through the youth system in the fiercely competitive world of Brazilian football and into the Cruzeiro team. From there he was transferred to Monaco, where he again managed to hold onto his place in the first team and attract the interest of the Italian giants, Internazionale. He has played well over one hundred games for Inter, and has won four Serie A champions and, earlier this year, the UEFA Champions League. He has also played over sixty games for Brazil.” (twohundredpercent)

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Inter Milan – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League
(The 90th Minute)

FC Copenhagen 1 – 1 Barcelona

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“Barcelona will have to wait to book their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League after being held by FC Copenhagen at the Parken Stadion this evening. Barca knew a victory in Denmark would guarantee themselves a place in the knock-out stages and the two-time reigning Spanish champions looked on course to achieve that after taking a 31st-minute lead through Lionel Messi.” (ESPN)

Mou given warm homecoming as Pep’s boys struggle away again
“The Barcelona players are single-handedly destroying the notion that footballers are more than comfortable playing away from home, as it has been almost a year since Pep’s Dream Boys managed to get their metaphorical legs over by winning on their travels in the Champions League.” (FourFourTwo)

FC Copenhagen 1-1 FC Barcelona – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League
(The 90th Minute)

Valencia 3-0 Rangers – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League

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“Two goals from Roberto Saldado were the difference as Valencia cruised past Rangers in Champions League. Soldado’s goals came in the 33rd minute and 71st minute while Alberto Costa added the final goal in the 90th minute. It’s a tough loss for Rangers who need to finish strong to move into the knockout stage.” (The 90th Minute)

Bursaspor 0-3 Manchester United – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – Champions League
(The 90th Marking)

Benfica 4-3 Lyon: four assists for Carlos Martins

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“A scoreline that makes the game seem closer than it was – Benfica were 4-0 up and cruising before switching off in the final minutes. Benfica played a cross between their 4-4-2 diamond shape and a classic 4-4-2, influenced by the late withdrawal of Pablo Aimar through injury, with Salvio coming in. Oscar Cardozo was still out so Alan Kardec started upfront. Javi Garcia played in the holding role, and sometimes dropped into the backline when Benfica had the ball, with Martins moving deeper.” (Zonal Marking)

Arsenal 1-0 West Ham: Analysis of Arsene’s new-look midfield

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“For the 2nd Premier League game running, Arsene Wenger chose to field a Denilson-Song-Fabregas midfield three but unlike the City game last weekend, Arsenal had to make do with playing against the 11 men of West Ham in a fixture that has been quite tight and low-scoring in recent years. As such, this was the first true test of this new midfield’s ability to break down a deep-lying defensive team. A similar system was in place against Partizan with Denilson the deepest midfielder and Song more box-to-box, but on that occasion Jack Wilshere played as the attacking midfielder in place of the injured Cesc Fabregas. Wilshere was of course suspended for this fixture and the one at Eastlands, had he been available it’s likely we may not have seen this novel midfield system in place.” (The Backwards Gooner)

Arsenal yearn for the drive of Alex Song
“For eighty minutes of the game, it looked like one of the most effective man-marking jobs in football. Given West Ham’s desperate position at the bottom of the Premier League, Scott Parker’s shackling of Cesc Fabregas was ever more selfless as Parker kept Arsenal’s captain as quiet as he’s ever been. It was like Berti Vogts on Johan Cruyff in West Germany’s 2-1 win over Netherlands or Michael Essien’s shadowing of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in 2009. Except it seems Fabregas was playing with a handicap – a tight hamstring meant he was unable to, in his own words, turn or sprint without suffering great pain as he took part in his ‘worst’ first-half ever.” (Arsenal Column)

Milan 1-2 Juventus: Allegri’s side dominate early on, but weakness in wide areas costs them again

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“Milan had more chances, but Juventus were more clinical and took three points away from the San Siro. Milan kept the same team that beat Napoli 2-1 in the previous Serie A round, in a fairly traditional 4-3-1-2 shape. Robinho started as a trequartista but drifted to the left. Luca Antonini was back at left-back, and got forward well early on.” (Zonal Marking)

Blackpool 2-1 West Brom: nine-man West Brom almost snatch unlikely draw

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“Two men sent off in the first half hour put West Brom on the back foot, but Blackpool couldn’t kill off the game. Blackpool continued to use the 4-1-2-3 system that has won both points and plaudits so far this campaign. One change was made – Marlon Harewood did not start, instead Gary Taylor-Fletcher moved upfront and Elliot Grandin came into the midfield.” (Zonal Marking)

Match of the Midweek: Blackpool 2-1 West Bromwich Albion“The early season is over now. The clocks have gone back, which means that there will be precious few matches that finish in daylight between now and next spring, and in commemoration of this fact the Premier League rolled out the luminous yellow ball last weekend. There is something deeply aesthetically unsatisfying about the yellow ball. Marketing fools still doubtlessly proffer the argument that it is somehow more ‘visible’ than a white ball, as if we are incapable of seeing through their guff, but still they press ahead with it. The ball isn’t the only affront to the eyes at Bloomfield Road this evening, either. Both Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion have their shirts adorned with sponsors’ logos which defy all logic by making the companies – a payday loan company and an emergency insurance company respectively – that they are flogging even less unattractive than they may already be.” (twohundredpercent)

Biscuits, liquidators & drugs cartels

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“Oscar Ewolo is a trained pastor. But most of his sermons come in the dressing room. The 32-year-old’s congregation is Brest, which incidentally is the team he captains, his church the Stade Francis-Le Blé – the unlikely setting of a football miracle on Saturday night. It was third versus fourth in Ligue 1, Brest against Saint-Étienne, a top of the table clash by default after Marseille’s eagerly anticipated match against Rennes was postponed following a rainstorm of truly biblical proportions flooded the pitch at the Stade Vélodrome.” (FourFourTwo)

Hughton’s future still undetermined

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“There are times when football makes no sense. Two weeks ago, the initial reports that Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton was under pressure sounded absurd. Even more so when they were accompanied by rumors that owner Mike Ashley might be considering turning back to Joe Kinnear, an abrasive and unpopular relic of the 1990s who had been forced to leave the job in February 2009 after heart problems.” (SI – Jonathan Wilson)

Football Weekly: Mancini on the ropes as City fall to Wolves

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“We start with the Premier League, and, with talk of a player revolt, we ask: is it all over for Roberto Mancini after Manchester City slumped to another defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers? Just what was going on with the officials for Manchester United’s controversial second goal against Tottenham Hotspur? And how come Kevin Nolan can’t stop scoring now that Newcastle United team-mate Andy Carroll has come to stay? Next, Paolo Bandini joins us to marvel at Lazio, who are setting the pace in Serie A, and we look forward to Internazionale’s visit to White Hart Lane in the Champions League. Finally, Sid Lowe tells us that it’s now officially a two-horse-race between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga (and it might even come down to a shoot-out between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo), and we wonder whether Cardiff City and Swansea will grace England’s top division next season.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

Tactical view: How Spartak might halt the Chelsea steamroller

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“Three wins from three so far for Chelsea, and a fourth would effectively seal progression to the second round of the Champions League. They start as odds-on favourites to win this game against a Spartak side who would unquestionably be content with a draw. How can the Russians contain Chelsea? Here’s five key tactical points.” (itv)

Barcelona 5-0 Sevilla: Sevilla unable to cope with high pressing, movement, or Daniel Alves

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“The showcase game of this La Liga round was effectively over before half-time. Barcelona played what many consider to be their strongest line-up. Xavi Hernandez was back in the side, Andres Iniesta was alongside him, with Pedro in the front three. Eric Abidal was at left-back.” (Zonal Marking)

Good Day, Bad Day: Brilliant Barça and Awful Arizmendi
“The Barcelona-barmy sports papers have more sensitive skin than that of the ludicrously pale La Liga Loca, so any slur and slurry thrown in the direction of the cash-strapped Camp Nou club tends to bring them to a bawling, lip-quiver before Sandro Rosell can say ‘cancel that UNICEF contract and sign the Halliburton deal!’” (FourFourTwo)

Normal Spanish Service Is Resumed
“As far as wake-up calls go, it was like being roused from the stickiest, most sensational of dreams by your ear drums being hooked up to church bells. This weekend’s football in la Primera stomped on any last, desperate and ultimately naive hope that this season’s title race might be anything other than a repeat of a Michael Bay-directed, deafening slugfest between Barcelona and Real Madrid.” (Football 365)

Bolton Wanderers 0 – 1 Liverpool

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Roy Hodgson
“Maxi Rodriguez struck a late winner at Bolton as relieved Liverpool finally climbed out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone. The Argentinian latched onto a brilliant Fernando Torres backheel to settle a competitive encounter at the Reebok Stadium four minutes from time. Both sides created numerous chances in an evenly-matched contest but Liverpool left satisfied knowing their near month-long stay in the bottom three was over.” (ESPN)

Bolton 0-1 Liverpool: An unconvincing performance but the Reds snatch 3 vital points
“Neither side dominated an even first half which saw both teams threaten without capitalising on their opportunities. Liverpool’s main offenders were Torres and Gerrard who both should have done better with decent chances. Bolton were happy to sit deep for long periods and let Liverpool keep the ball. (Presumably they saw how well this worked for Everton.) When they had an opportunity Bolton broke quickly and committed large numbers to their attacks. They were impressively drilled – Coyle is forging a tidy team at the Reebok.” (Micro LFC)

Roy’s 10-Game Rating
“Judge me after ten games, Roy Hodgson said earlier in the season. Well, it’s a damn sight better than it was after eight games, so he had a point. That said, it’s still only three wins in those ten games. That these wins were at home to West Brom and Blackburn, and away at Bolton, each by a single goal, in itself tells a story. Inspiring? No. Not even slightly.” (Tomkins Times)

Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Liverpool – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
(The 90th Minute)

Wayne’s World spins on its axis to an Old Trafford second coming

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“It’s not often you can proclaim a stoic full back like Gary Neville a visionary, a man ahead of his time, but in an interview in March of this year – yes, a full seven months ago – the Manchester United veteran painted a picture. Displaying the prescience of a man who’d made a living from reading tea leaves all his life, he painted a future dilemma Wayne Rooney might face.” (Tribune)

The Rooney Saga A Little Historical Perspective
“Following Rooney Week earlier in October, when the Manchester United forward went from publicly requesting a move away from Old Trafford to signing a new five-year contract at the club within the space of 72 hours, the fallout from those days’ events lingers on. Rooney is likely to be out of first team action for longer than expected with an ankle injury – sustained after a training-ground tackle from Paul Scholes – that was evidently much easier to diagnose than the one his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, alleged the player was already carrying, a verdict that Rooney contested. For as long as the forward is injured he will be unable to break a scoring record that stands at no goals at club level from open play since 30th March.” (twohundredpercent)

Ronaldinho offered chance for final hurrah

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“Ronaldinho has been recalled to the Brazil squad for the forthcoming friendly against Argentina and there are some who might think the call has come six months too late. When it all went wrong in the second half of that World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands, and coach Dunga looked along his substitutes bench in search of a saviour, was he really more pleased to see the likes of Julio Baptista than Ronaldinho?” (BBC – Tim Vickery)

Is the Award of a 3-0 Win a Suitable Punishment?

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“On Friday, UEFA announced the punishments for the abandonment of the Italy-Serbia European Championship Qualifier. As expected, Serbia did not get off lightly. The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) were fined €120,000, ordered to play a home qualifier behind closed doors, with a second game behind closed doors suspended for two years, as well as having their supporters banned from travelling to the rest of their qualifiers. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) were also fined the smaller amount of €100,000, and also ordered to play a game behind closed doors, suspended for two years. While the FSS were punished because their supporters were the cause of the trouble in Genoa on the night of the game, the FIGC were punished for failing to stop the Serbian fans entering the Luigi Ferraris stadium with flares and fireworks, and for the security operation failing to stop the pitch invasion that gave Scottish referee Craig Thomson no option but to initially delay the kick-off, and ultimately abandon the match.” (twohundredpercent)

PSV 0 –1 Twente: An excellent team effort by the reigning Eredivisie champions.

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“This week’s top clash in the Eredivisie was without a doubt the match between the first and second ranked teams. And PSV – Twente did not disappoint at all. Both teams played a very open match and the high amount of midfield pressing in the first half did the game a lot of good. Not for the first time this season Twente converted a 0-0 half-time score into a win.” (11 tegen 11)

Arsenal 1 – 0 West Ham United

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Fanatics of Tangier, Eugene Delacroix
“Alex Song’s late header gave Premier League title chasers Arsenal a narrow victory over West Ham to deny the bottom club a deserved point at Emirates Stadium. Robert Green, in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello, had pulled off a string of fine saves to keep the Gunners at bay.” (ESPN)

Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL(The 90th Minute)

Blackburn Rovers 1 – 2 Chelsea
“Branislav Ivanovic nodded home a late winner for Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea as Blackburn squandered a golden chance to upset the odds at Ewood Park. Rovers controlled the game for long periods and could have gone in front for the second time when Jason Roberts shot wide in the 81st minute with the goal at his mercy.” (ESPN)

Chelsea pull one out of the hat
“The Premier League appears to be embarked upon a perpetual quest for another Roman Abramovich or a second Sheikh Mansour. For most, this particular Holy Grail is unattainable. Instead, there were Ewood Park debuts for Venky’s managing director Balaji Rao and his brother Venkatesh, the men intent on making Blackburn a brand in India.” (ESPN)

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Chelsea – Video Highlights, Recap, and Match Stats – EPL
(The 90th Minute)

Political football

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“Wednesday was quite a day to be in Buenos Aires. Aside from the national census – which was done by closing every business in the country and ordering people to stay at home to be counted rather than simply sending forms out and asking people to return them – the country’s former president Nestor Kirchner died suddenly of a heart attack in the morning. This might not have been such a pressing issue in terms of national affairs, but for the fact that Kirchner was also married to the current president, and was widely expected to succeed her following next year’s elections.” (ESPN)