Wake Forest teammates Ike Opara, Corben Bone, and Austin Da Luz sign deals with MLS via SBI source

Via Ives Galarcep's Twitter account (@SoccerByIves)

"Generation adidas update: Ike Opara and Corben Bone have signed deals, according to a Wake source. Austin Da Luz also signed senior deal."

Update 2010 MLS Combine, MLS SuperDraft Coverage Center - 12/31/2009

First off a Happy New Year to all.

Second, SBI just released -- SBI MLS Draft Big Board (Version 4.0)

And thus we have updated our:

+ 2010 MLS Combine and SuperDraft Coverage Center

Fulham's US International Eddie Johnson goes Greek

Eddie Johnson, former top US striker, will spend the end of the season with Greek club Aris Salonika FC after the London club loaned the player out.

Via Tribal Football

Seattle Sounders midfielder Stephen King talks with David Falk

The 24-year-old former University of Maryland product really has some outstanding quotes but what really peaked our interest was his quote on the CBA.

"The main points of the negotiations revolve around MLS players deserving the same rights under FIFA that all other players in the world have. FIFA rights include guaranteed contracts, free agency, and the right to negotiate with other MLS teams. We have to sign away our FIFA rights before we are allowed to sign an MLS contract. Outside of FIFA rights, we are fighting for a small rise in player salaries, nothing outlandish. Many players around the league have to find other work in order to pay the bills. From what I hear, there has not been much progress with the negotiations and a lockout on Feb. 1st seems inevitable at this point. Hopefully, progress can be made soon."

Find the interview here -- Stephen King ready for second season as a Sounder

Villarreal midfielder Javier Matilla a target of several EPL clubs including Manchester United? Transfer Rumours

Javier Matilla, a Spanish U-21 member, is being scouted by several European clubs and his current club Villarreal is aware of this. Will Sir Alex make an offer?

Via Sky Sports Transfer Center

New Arsenal transfer rumours - 30/12/09

Check 'em out -- Transfer Rumours: Arsenal wants Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere loan to Burnley blocked.

Manchester United to offer £20M for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in latest transfer rumour

Sir Alex sending £20M for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris sounds off but stranger things have occurred in the transfer season. So anything is possible.

Via Tribal Football

Manchester City analysis after Wolves match now online

Don't miss Blue discipline grinds Wolves into the ground by Mark Wilson of Without a Dream in Our Hearts

Bolton uses brain sacks Gary Megson

Sometimes football is easy. A change was needed and now Megson is gone.

Belgian Football: Cercle Brugge adds to Standard Liege's misery.

Cercle rebounds after a loss to rival Club Brugge with a 2-1 win over Standard Liege.

Standard dropped to eighth place in the Belgian Pro League.

Cercle now are tenth in table.

Blue discipline grinds Wolves into the ground

Sometimes a 3-0 win is more satisfying than a 7-0 drubbing.

A 3-0 win can speak of a controlled and disciplined performance, an efficient despatching of a team that (unlike in a 7-0 scenario) has not completely lost its head but has tried its utmost to defeat you, and yet has still been beaten comprehensively. In brief, this is the story of Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday.

The blunt teeth of McCarthy’s Wolves

The Midlanders had a right to feel at least partially aggrieved because they did try hard and they did have spells of sustained pressure in the first half that should have lead to a goal. In the end, the best they had to offer was a shot from outside the area that did little to trouble Shay Given, who must be quietly enjoying his newfound status as one of the top five goal keepers in the world, at least according to a certain Italian.

It soon became very clear that McCarthy’s men had very little to offer going forward other than the obvious hulking presence of Chris Iwelumo and the more nascent threat posed by Kevin Doyle, the latter of which was thankfully substituted in the second half.

City demonstrate a solid core

Whilst the blunt attack of the home team was partly down to their one dimensional play, it was also down to the grit and fight of our central midfield and defensive partnerships. Bellamy and Tevez will naturally take the plaudits but this was a victory built as much on our two attacking kingpins as it was on the midfield dynamism of De Jong and Barry, who both worked tirelessly to win back possession and distribute it effectively. I felt that Barry in particular showed a welcome return to the kind of form he was turning out during the winning streak at the beginning of the season.

An assured air was once again detected at the heart of City’s defence. As he boards the plane to Angola, Toure will be pleased to have finished his City shift on a higher level than what we have seen from him in recent weeks. It is a shame that he and Kompany will not be allowed to build upon their fledgling defensive understanding by delivering another clean sheet against Middlesbrough at the weekend.

The continuing centrality of Tevez

Once again, it is impossible to ignore the quality of our attacking play. Whilst it’s true that we look much more threatening going forward with Bellamy in the team, the importance of Tevez to our overall offensive play grows with every game. For a small guy he wins a surprising amount of long balls, which makes Adebayor’s tepid contribution in this department all the more frustrating. Tevez succeeds where the Togolese fails because of his guile (knowing to jump at the correct moment) and strength (he can pretty much hold off anyone once the ball is won). The central payoff for the team is that he brings other players into the game in the final third of the pitch. Aside from the Argentinean’s undoubted technical ability, it is these attributes above all that lead me to believe that he was made for this League. He is a joy to watch.

It is so easy to take players like Tevez for granted, but after listening to BBC Wolverhampton radio after game and hearing the glowing praise heaped onto the Argentinean’s shoulders by Wolves supporters, it puts it all into perspective. How privileged are we to have a player like Tevez in our starting 11? How wistful must Wolves supporters feel? Mick McCarthy must yearn for a striker of Tevez’s quality heading up his attack, as must most managers in the game.

Mancini’s touch?

Clearly something seems to be going right since the Italian took over. He is after all working with the same players as Hughes, in fact if anything he is working with a slightly weakened team given injuries to Lescott, Bridge, Santa-Cruz and Adebayor.We must still apportion some of our recent success to the ‘new manager syndrome’ – i.e. a surge in form as everybody tries to impress. But we must also pay attention to what Mancini is doing with the team.

Changes in the realm of tactics could be seen at Molineux with the shifting of Bellamy to partner Tevez up front. This is being widely touted as a big turning point in the game, and whilst there’s leverage in this I felt that we ultimately won the match because of our tenacity and determined mentality that slowly picked apart an industrious Wolves side. Of course, tactical changes play their part, but with the group of intelligent, skilful players that we have, I have always felt that the right mentality will return positive results 95% of the time.

This leads me to the other area where Mancini may be making inroads. Far more difficult to quantify of course but fundamental in my opinion, is the Italian’s man-management and motivational methods. There must have been some positive change in this area. You can have all the tactics in the world, but if they are not applied correctly, they are wasted. Implementing the job in the right way comes down to concentration, which in turn comes down to motivation, and knowing what makes the players tick. Whether it be Mancini, Kidd or whoever else, someone is doing something different in this department. How fascinating to be a fly on the wall of the changing room before the game?

Balancing Bellamy with Robinho

The media has clearly looked to make much of the supposed rift between Mancini and Bellamy. Far from ‘dropping’ Bellamy against Stoke or Robinho against Wolves, Mancini has looked to rotate. Robinho is a much more potent weapon at home when the onus is on us to attack (although admittedly he failed against Stoke). Bellamy is a much more potent weapon away when we need to do a bit more leg work whilst retaining an attacking threat. Taking current form into account, I’d be inclined to play Bellamy everytime, but we must also remember the effect of two full games in the space of three days on the Welshman’s troublesome knee.

When Robinho did emerge from the bench we saw a more switched on performance than the one we got against Stoke. He showed some nice touches, sent a shot fizzing tantalisingly just over the upright, and of course set up Tevez for the third goal.

Garrido strikes back

Finally, a word of congratulations to the forgotten Spaniard, who not only made his second substitute appearance in as many games, but managed to score with a superb curling free kick that made the Wolves keeper look rather amateurish. I would’ve forgiven Garrido for thinking that he had been discarded forever in the wreckage of the Hughes era, but he certainly hasn’t been forgotten by certain members of the City blogging community, as fellow City blog 'We’ve Got Robinho' will attest. It’s a funny old game.

For more analysis on Manchester City's season, visit my blog: Without a Dream in Our Hearts.

Angola and Estonia face off as The Black Antelopes tune up for the 2010 African Cup of Nations

Angola and Estonia face off today in world friendly action. Will Manucho score?

It is Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus this Friday in the Emperor Cup Final. Predictions?

Gamba scored two goals in both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches.  Why not?

Prediction: Gamba 2-1 Nagoya

2010 MLS Combine - 2010 MLS SuperDraft Interviews Upcoming

Stay tuned to Soccer City FC as we bring you exclusive interviews from some of the America's top collegiate players.

And don't forget to check the 2010 MLS Combine and SuperDraft Coverage Center

2010 MLS Combine - 2010 MLS SuperDraft Coverage Center

Below you will be able to find hundreds of items sending you throughout the Internet and Blogosphere to all the latest news and updates for the 2010 MLS Combine and 2010 MLS Super Draft.

The Interview List

+ Soccer City FC Interview List

2010 MLS Combine News/2010 MLS SuperDraft News -- Updates (Send Links)

+ 2010 MLS Draft Coverage Center [Updated - Go Here for Draft Coverage]

+ 2010 MLS Combine Day Three Recap
+ 2010 MLS Combine Day Two Recap
+ Day 2 Game Two Goal Highlight MLS Insider Blog
+ Day 2 Game One Goal Highlights MLS Insider Blog
+ More news items before second day of games
+ 2010 MLS Combine Day One Recap
+ 2010 MLS Combine: Game one goal highlights via MLS Insider Blog
+ First goal scored via MLS Insider Blog (video)
+ MLS Insider Blog with buckets of coverage
+ Top 5 SuperDraft Steals No Short Corners
+ SBI Mock Draft Version 3.0
+ Revolutionsoccer.net's Coverage
+ RSL GM Garth Lagerwey speaks about combine MLSnet.com
+ Goal.com Combine Preview
+ Buzz Carrick speaks to Footie Business
+ SBI MLS Draft Big Board (Version 5.0) now online
+ D.C. United sending bus to 2010 MLS SuperDraft via Screaming Eagles
+ Final Combine Rosters Listed MLSnet.com
+ Combine and SuperDraft news and notes on January 3rd
+ SBI MLS Draft Big Board (Version 4.0)
+ Mwanga and Tchani among five more Generation adidas signings via SBI
+ GA update: Mwanga, Opara, Bone and Tchani close in on deals via SBI
+ SBI 2010 MLS Mock Draft (Version 1.0) - UPDATED via SBI
+ SBI MLS Draft Big Board (Version 3.0)
+ MLS announces First Generation adidas signings via SBI

The Best Coverage -- 3rd Degree

Buzz Carrick is the definitive source for all things MLS Combine and MLS SuperDraft. He works tirelessly at providing the most in-depth coverage for these two events. Go here daily from now until after the MLS SuperDraft. And then check back often as he routinely has solid MLS news coverage on his site. Finally, I would mention his complete coverage of FC Dallas, but everyone knows this already.

Some items of note at 3rd Degree:

+ 2010 Forward Rankings
+ 2010 Midfielder Rankings
+ 2010 Keeper Prospects
+ 2010 Defender Prospects
+ '10 Ga Tracking
+ Draft Pool Rankings

The next best thing -- Pro Player Pipeline

+ Joe Mauceri is another solid talent evaluator who practically sees every collegiate soccer player of note in the country.

Some items at Pro Player Pipeline:

+ 2010 MLS Draft: Overall Rankings
+ 2010 MLS Draft: Forward Rankings
+ 2010 MLS Draft: Defender Rankings
+ 2010 MLS Draft: Midfielder Rankings
+ 2010 MLS Draft: Goalkeeper Rankings
+ 2010 Draft Player List

Other MLS SuperDraft sites include:

+ MLS Insider Blog buckets of combine coverage
+ MLS SuperDraft Blog by Goal.com's College Soccer Professor
+ MLSDraft.net, and 2010 MLS Mock Draft, plus the all encompassing soccer-news site Soccer By Ives

Keep checking in as we move towards the MLS Combine and MLS SuperDraft. Bookmark this link for easy reference... Thanks, the SCFC Team.

And if you have tips, news, or links... Please do post a comment with the details.

Two years in the books as Soccer City FC moves forward

It all started with an interview of Wake Forest midfielder/defender Patrick Phelan.

Now two years later, the site has advanced beyond our imagination. Thank you to all who contributed, commented, viewed, or assisted in our journey.

Thanks.
SCFC Team

Wigan takes on goalkeeper. Serbian Vladimir Stojkovic with the club for the rest of the season.

Wigan's backup Richard Kingson is off the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament as Ghana's first-choice goalkeeper, thus, Stojkovic was brought in for coverage.

West Brom join Victor Moses race? Will Crystal Palace move him?

West Brom will offer £1.5m for Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses

Via Daily Mirror

Blackburn Transfer Rumours -- Sam Allardyce looks to France for transfer targets

Be it Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa

Via Full story: Daily Mirror

OR

Saint-Etienne's Algerian midfielder Amine Linganzi Koumba

Via The Sun

Liverpool after Arda Turan? Rafa Benitez will unload Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, and Andrea Dossena to snag the Galatasaray player

Who here remembers Arda's massive contributions made to Turkey's national team at Euro 2008? What a run the Crescent Stars!

Via The Sun

+++ And for more Liverpool transfer news check out:

+++ January 2010 Transfer News and Rumours

Nemanja Vidic is Real Madrid's top target as the Manchester United to La Liga pipeline heats up? Transfer Rumours

Real Madrid, according to Marca.com, have again focsued on a Manchester United player as their top transfer target. This time it is defender Nemanja Vidic.

Via Marca.com (in Spanish)

Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Inter Milan to launch massive bid for Steven Gerrard when the club fails to qualify for the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League?

This is rather large speculation, but according to FOOTBALLpress.net, Inter Milan and boss Jose Mourinho could pounce on superstar midfielder Steven Gerrard if and when Liverpool does not finish in the Premiership top 4.

Do you even think this has a shred of legitimacy?

Via FOOTBALLpress.net

Fulham is my team of the year

After a busy set of festive fixtures thoughts will naturally drift towards New Year’s Eve and a look back at what 2009 did for us.

When picking a ‘team of the year’ I naturally look at the winners for highlights. In England we saw Manchester United win the Carling Cup (thanks to Ben Foster’s Ipod!) and claim their 18th League title, drawing them level with bitter rivals Liverpool in the process. Champions League glory was only denied by a magnificent Barcelona side in the final.

On a swelteringly hot day in May Chelsea and Everton contested the FA Cup Final. History was made as Louis Saha scored the fastest goal ever in a Cup final but Chelsea’s extra quality told and they fully deserved their 2-1 win.

But when looking at 2009 as a whole I can’t pick any of those teams as my team of the year. United look a poorer side without Ronaldo while Chelsea have also slipped in recent weeks. Everton meanwhile are languishing at the wrong end of the league after a poor start to the season.

No, my team of the year goes to a side that didn’t win silverware or even appear in a final, but their improvement over 2009 deserves recognition. That team is Fulham. 

Flashback to the winter of 2008 and the Cottagers were staring relegation in the face and, following the sacking of Lawrie Sanchez, many people thought new boss Roy Hodgson should prepare for life in the Championship rather than plot a survival bid.

But keep them up he did and he has simply transformed the side's fortunes; the 2008/09 season saw them finish in an impressive seventh place, earning the club a run in the Europa League – something many sides around them didn’t want.

Why is that? Well, that European spot, it was predicted, would hamper Fulham’s league progress as their small squad buckled under the weight of those extra games (Middlesbrough syndrome circa 2006 springs to mind). But here we are in December and the Cottagers are safely through to the knockout stages yet also sit pretty in the league. Summer signing Damien Duff is beginning to show the form that made him one of the country’s most sought after wingers when he was at Blackburn and even Bobby Zamora is scoring.

That rapid progress and continued stability, without the need for a sugar daddy to financially dope the squad, means in my opinion Fulham deserve to be Premier League team of the year. 

Manchester City to send Jo back to CSKA Moscow? Transfer Rumours

Jo, City's striker sans playmaking or finishing abilities, could be back in Russia come 2010 as former club CSKA Moscow looks to launch a loan bid for the player.

Via Mail Online

Carlos Tevez leads a spirited City squad over Wolves

A brace by the Argentine, industry from Craig Bellamy, and life from Robinho. The Blue side of Manchester celebrates tonight...

Some links to recap the day:

+ Bellamy committed to Blues

+ Wolves 0 City 3: Player ratings

[Source: Manchester Evening News]

Spurs to consider Spartak offer? EPL Transfer Rumours heat up around Roman Pavlyuchenko

Spartak Moscow has made goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa available in a final effort to realize the return of Roman Pavlyuchenko to Russia.

Via Daily Mail

Also check out -- January 2010 EPL Transfer Center

With Pepe out, who will Real Madrid replace him with? Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic among the list -- Transfer Rumours

Spanish media has tabbed several players including: Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic with Sergio Canales of Racing Santander, Cleiton Xavier of Brazilian side Palmeiras and Benfica's Brazilian player David Luiz also speculated as replacements.

Manchester City Transfer Rumours -- Roberto Mancini wants Robinho to remain at club

Will Robinho be gone by the end of January? According to Mancini, "Robinho can earn a place in the history of the club."

Chelsea Transfer Rumours -- Blues will make a £45m move for French international and Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery

Read on -- Chelsea £45m for Frank Ribery

Real Madrid now lead in race to capture Belgian impact player Eden Hazard while Arsenal and Manchester United sit on sidelines - Transfer Rumours

We enjoy the sublime Eden Hazard also known as the Belgian Sensation* as we prefer to call him.

Looks like Real Madrid will edge out both United and Arsenal.

Via Goal.com Transfer Zone

*(Ok. We made up that nickname, but it is cool)

Arsenal prospect Jack Wilshere advocates for a loan to West Ham

A wonderful profile on Wilshere via Times Online and inside the profile, Wilshere notes his desire to play for West Ham this spring. We shall see...

Sit down Arsenal and Tottenham because Craig Bellamy just stood up for City -- Transfer Rumors no more?

Mr. Craig Bellamy, tired of al the speculation out there, released a statement regarding his intentions at Manchester City.

"I want to stay and I am going to stay … I am committed to that. I am committed to Man City. I have bought into the idea of where Man City is going to go and I am a huge part of where it is at this stage."

"I have no problem with Mancini. None at all. It’s not his problem he’s here. What happened to Mark Hughes has got nothing to do with him … He put it very well at his press conference when he said he won all those trophies at Inter and still got sacked. That is the game. It’s what the game is."

"There is no resentment towards him from me. Every player at the club is exactly the same. If you want to be part of this club, you have got to start playing … I hope Mancini will stay for a long time because I think stability is the key to success. I hope he gets a number of years to do it and, as long as I last, I will give my all for him."

"I will take legal action over the stories this week that said I had a row with Mancini. I understand it is easy to write that kind of thing because people out there think I will actually do this kind of stuff, so it’s easy to stick my name in there. But it was absolutely not true."

Via Mirror Football

Say it ain't say Jo! Everton looks to return Samba Jo back to Manchester City; Everton wants to end the loan early

Well let's see...if we count Moyes. Jo now has failed to realize his potential under a total of three EPL managers (Sven, Mark Hughes, Moyes). Can he salvage his career under Roberto Mancini or will Jo be plying his trade in some far off port next fall?

Let's go Jo!

Via Mail Online

RCD Espanyol's Javi Marquez scores first La Liga goal

The 23-year-old Espanyol midfielder is a product of the club's famed youth system. Below is his first goal from last week's match against Almeria.

Via YouTube

Defender Alan Hutton a target of Stoke City and Fulham?

The current Tottenham Hotspur player looks to be out at White Hart Lane. Boss Harry Redknapp recently told the 25-year-old defender that he may leave.

Via News fo the World

Stoke City target Liverpool's Ryan Babel - EPL Transfer Rumours

Tony Pulis, confident his club will remain in England's top flight, is looking to bolster his attacking options. One such option is Liverpool bust Ryan Babel.

Via News of the World

Birmingham City's Sebastian Larsson happy with club - Transfer Rumours

Will the 24-year-old Larsson stay at Birmingham past January? There has been speculation, but recently his agent not to Expressen that the Swede was content with his current situation.

Via Sky Sports

Inter Milan's Ivan Cordoba would 'think about' a move to Manchester City -- Transfer Rumours

Will we now see a Inter to City pipeline? If so, Ivan Cordoba could be the first recruit trading in days at the San Siro for a chance Premiership silverware.

Will the 33-year-old be at Eastlands this January?

Via Sky Sports

A.S. Roma Transfer Rumours: Luca Toni back to Serie A now likely

It appears now that Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni will move back to Serie A in an effort to earn a roster spot on Italy's 2010 World Cup roster.

A.S. Roma looks like the landing destination this January.

Via Sky Sports

City's Roberto Mancini still focused on top four EPL finish

Will there ever be a City presser where new boss Roberto Mancini does not mention his goal of a top four finish this campaign?

Yesterday, it was Brugge against Brugge; and the Club won

We have a soft spot for the Brugge clubs here at Soccer City FC. It's a fantastic derby that deserves greater exposure.

In fact, Cercle Brugge and Club Brugge share a stadium (Jan Breydel).

Yesterday, it was Club that prevailed over Cercle 2-1.

Manchester United to send Frederico Macheda to La Liga on loan? Transfer Rumours

Looks as if Sir Alex will send the Italian stiker to Real Zaragoza so that the 18-year-old can continue his development with crucial first-team minutes.

Via News of the World

Odd News: Newcastle United says off with the escalator

According to News of the World, the club, in an effort to save cash, is switching off the escalator inside the new Milburn Stand during the weekdays. And did you hear about the poor Christmas party?

Click on the link below to read about the Toon loons and their cost-cutting Xmas party.

Via News of the World

Could a Welsh club make the EPL in 2010-11? Swansea City and Cardiff City are at the gates of the Premiership.

Cardiff (5th) and Swansea (6th), both Welsh clubs playing in the English League Championship, sit within the Premiership Playoff zone of the table at essentially the half way point of the campaign.

Could one of these clubs be in the EPL facing off against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool?

Stay tuned.

Oh, in case you missed it, Newcastle United will be back in the EPL for 2010-11.

Burnley Transfer Targets - Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Tottenham's Gareth Bale?

Burnley, keen to remain in the Prem, could look to bring Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Tottenham's Gareth Bale into the ranks this January. A loan versus outright sale looks more appropriate at this point, if either player are to go.

Via Mail Online

Red Bull Salzburg's Marc Janko an EPL transfer target?

Red Bull Salzburg has seen a great deal of success this year including a fantastic run in Europe.

Central to the club's fortunes -- Marc Janko.

The Austrian international is tall [1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)] and strong, both of which will come in handy in the EPL. He is also considered one of the league's top talents, but he recently inked with the club thru 2013.

Reports out of England have him potentially moving to Birmingham or Stoke.

Via Mail Online

From £30m to £170m in seven years, the January Transfer Window is here to stay.

In 2003, EPL clubs spent £30m. Fast forward to 2009. Bolstered by cash happy City, the EPL clubs spent £170m.

Predictions for 2010? £190m, £200m, £220m?

See also -- Soccer City FC's 2010 January Transfer News and Rumours Coverage Center

Liverpool also after striker Erik Huseklepp?

SK Brann striker Erik Huseklepp also appears to be a target of Liverpool this January.

Via Sky Sports News

Manchester City and Roberto Mancini keen to bring centre back Simon Kjaer to Eastlands. Transfer Rumours

Reports out of Manchester, have boss Roberto Mancini desperate to bolster the defense and his primary target looks to be Danish defender Simon Kjaer. The 20-year-old has played internationally for Denmark.

Via Manchester Evening News

Luca Toni to Chelsea? Transfer Rumours

32-year-old striker Luca Toni could be off to Chelsea, with the Blues forced to compete without Didier Drogba [African Cup of Nations].

Via The Sun

Serbia's Zoran Tosic out at Manchester United?

Reports out of England have Zoran Tosic, yet to start a game at United, already on the outs. The 22-year-old Serbian, who signed for £7m last January, has failed to impress.

Via Daily Mirror

Liverpool out to grab either Roque Santa Cruz or Kenwyne Jones in the January transfer window?

Reports out of the U.K. stating that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez needs a target man and Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones or Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz top the list.

Via Daily Mirror

Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United all after Argentine Sergio Aguero?

The three clubs are keen to bring the player to the premiership via Atletico Madrid. Where will the 21-year-old land in the EPL or will he stay in La Liga?

Via Daily Mirror

January 2010 EPL Transfer Rumours Coverage Center -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, and all other EPL Transfer Rumours

Soccer City FC will post on newsworthy items regarding the January 2010 Transfer season, including those much adored transfer rumours.

Please post tips, links, and leads in our comments section so that we can add your findings to our listing.

Aresenal Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Arsenal's Philippe Senderos off to Celtic?
+ Jack Wilshere to Newcastle United via loan
+ Gunners target Lyon's Maxime Gonalons
+ Scouts sent to watch Mario Mandzukic
+ Samuel Galindo joins [confirmed]
+ Sol Campbell back to Gunners?
+ Fran Merida status
+ Wellington Silva now with Arsenal
+ More on Raheem Sterling
+ QPR's Raheem Sterling an option?
+ Club out of Eden Hazard race?
+ Jack Wilshere off to West Ham?
+ Melo mellow at Juventus. Could Arsenal be back in the picture?

Birmingham City Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Does addition of Edu mean Kuranyi to Birmingham is possible?
+ Schalke want more money from Birmingham
+ Larsson happy with Blues
+ Red Bull Salzburg's Marc Janko a transfer target?

Blackburn Rovers Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Rovers look to France for transfer targets

Burnley Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Tottenham's Gareth Bale targets?

Chelsea Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Chelsea and Manchester City after Liverpool's Fernando Torres
+ Real Madrid target Chelsea defender
+ Chelsea £45m for Frank Ribery
+ Luca Toni to Chelsea? Transfer Rumours
+ Argentine Sergio Aguero to EPL in 2010?
+ Yuri Zhirkov off to Roma?

Liverpool Transfer Rumours/Conformations

+ Liverpool bids on Bordeaux star
+ More Victor Moses transfer talk
+ Andriy Voronin off to Moscow?
+ Rafa 'working hard' on targets
+ Arda Turan a real target?
+ Steven Gerrard to Inter Milan?
+ Liverpool also after striker Erik Huseklepp?
+ Liverpool eye Roque Santa Cruz or Kenwyne Jones for target man

Manchester City FC Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Cassano coming to City?
+ Napoli midfielder heading to Manchester?
+ More Victor Moses transfer talk
+ Kaboul to City?
+ Chelsea and Manchester City after Liverpool's Fernando Torres
+ City scout Samba youth player
+ Jo to CSKA Moscow?
+ Robinho out by January?
+ Inter Milan's Ivan Cordoba to City?
+ Roberto Mancini keen to bring centre back Simon Kjaer to Eastlands
+ Liverpool eye Roque Santa Cruz or Kenwyne Jones for target man
+ Argentine Sergio Aguero to EPL in 2010?
+ Manchester City FC's Craig Bellamy going to White Hart Lane?

Manchester United Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Napoli midfielder heading to Manchester?
+ Javier Matilla scouted by United
+ Lyon goalkeeper a target?
+ Nemanja Vidic to Real Madrid?
+ Club out of Eden Hazard race?
+ Frederico Macheda off to La Liga?
+ Serbia's Zoran Tosic out at Manchester United?
+ Argentine Sergio Aguero to EPL in 2010?

Stoke City Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Liverpool's Ryan Babel a target

Sunderland Transfer Rumours/Confirmation

+ Kaboul to Sunderland?
+ Liverpool eye Roque Santa Cruz or Kenwyne Jones for target man

Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ More Victor Moses transfer talk
+ More Miguel Veloso transfer news
+ Spurs after Veloso?
+ Spartak Moscow makes Spurs an offer for Roman Pavlyuchenko
+ Transfer Rumours: Crystal Palace to move Victor Moses?
+ Robbie Keane still a target of Tony Mowbray and Celtic?
+ Harry Redknapp Targets Liverpool winger and West Ham United defender
+ Robbie Keane looks done at White Hart Lane?

West Ham Transfer Rumours/Confirmations

+ Luis Jimenez heading heading back to Italy?
+ Jack Wilshere off to West Ham?
+ Jermaine Pennant returning to EPL for 2010, West Ham in the mix?

Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur on 26/12/09 Prediction

And here it is... Fulham vs. Tottenham prediction...

Arsenal News, Arsene Wenger News -- 2 items for the Holiday season

Happy Holidays.

Two items for Gunners worldwide:

1) Arsene Wenger admits: 'The League is a worldwide product'

2) Arsene Wenger believes his last four years 'the best'

Soccerlens Contest: Win tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup with your best football image

Soccerlens, our good friends and really, the definitive soccer site on the Internet, has an amazing contest going right now -- Win tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup with your best football image -- you would be foolish to not enter.

We are talking about free tickets to the 2010 World Cup! Click through now...

African Cup of Nations 2010: Is Djalma Campos going to be a factor for Angola's Black Antelopes

The 22-year-old forward has enjoyed limited success with the national team. Now earning top minutes at Portuguese side Maritimo, will Djalma factor at the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament?

L.A. Galaxy: Three from Brazil join the squad for 2010

Dare I say a samba summer in L.A.?

Sao Paulo's Alex, a left-flank player, Juninho, a central midfielder and Leonardo, a central defender are on loan this year with the L.A. Galaxy, the 2009 MLS runner-up.

Transfer Rumours Holiday Edition -- EPL Transfer Rumours, Arsenal Transfer Rumours, Chelsea Transfer Rumours, Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Rumours

First up, Manchester City FC's Craig Bellamy going to White Hart Lane?

Next, Melo mellow at Juventus. Could Arsenal be back in the picture?

And lastly, Yuri Zhirkov off to Roma?

Happy Holidays!

More Elm brothers coverage; sadly Kalmar FF gets little blog time

We have written extensively about the Elm trio.

David, along with brothers Victor and Rasmus once led Swedish side Kalmar FF to new heights. The brothers were together for the 2008 Allsvenskan league campaign as they guided the side to the Swedish league title for the first time in the club’s history.

Shortly after, the brothers Victor and Rasmus were off to the Netherlands.

Rasmus at AZ and Victor at Heerenveen.

In Sept. 2009, it was David's turn to leave his birth country as he landed in the Premiership with Fulham. Having only seen minutes against Manchester City FC in the Carling Cup, the question remains: Will the 26-year-old forward see first-team minutes?

Or

Is he just the final story from a tale of three brothers made good?

Is Bordeaux going to repeat in France's Ligue 1? At the holiday break, it looks like a real possibility.

Lyon? No. Marseille? Bordeaux? Yes!

Bordeaux is nine points clear of second-place Lille in France's Ligue 1 table.

25-year-old Marouane Chamakh and 23-year-old Yoann Gourcuff lead les Girondins attack.

Chamakh has made over 50 appearances for his native Morocco and he was a key contributor on last year's Bordeaux club that captured the 2008-09 league title.

Yoann Gourcuff, Ligue 1's Player of the Year (2008-09), deserves your attention ... check out the YouTube video from his time with AC Milan.

The battles that await the man of 'good fortune'

And so Manchester City have a new manager. Roberto Mancini, Italian, 45 years old, is said by his countrymen to be ‘kissed by good fortune' because he has won something at every club he has previously managed. Well, there’s a record right there that City might well threaten to break.

It may have been ugly, but there is little point now in dwelling on the departure of Mark Hughes. The board have cleverly left City fans with little option other than to get behind Roberto Mancini and the players. The new man at the helm will need all the support he can get given the nature of the problem on his desk this morning.

Winning back the dressing room

It’s impossible to say how this one will go. It’s one of those things that could just as easily be a storm in a tea cup as it could end up damaging squad morale to the point that it takes a toll on our league placing. This latter scenario would indeed represent a particularly ironic twist of fate for the powers that be at the club.

But we are not there yet. In fact, it is difficult to say exactly where we are at this point. Although Garry Cook has denied any rumour of a player revolt, it is clear that something went on after the game on Saturday. At best, there seems to be a fair bit of disgruntlement throughout the playing staff. At worst, things might be teetering on the borders of chaos if we are to believe everything we read in the media.Upon learning of Hughes’ demise, a group of players are believed to have left the dressing room to confront members of the board in an attempt to keep Hughes in the job. The players that are said to have confronted one or all of Khaldoon / Cook / Marwood after the game (Given, Bellamy and a handful of others) are more likely than not our leaders on the pitch. It is thus vital that Mancini finds a way to channel the angst that now flows from these players. I might be wrong, but I think Bellamy might need a bit of work. Today’s press conference tells us this, with Mancini pointing to the fact that the Welshman has lost a manager he loved.

Delivering results that indicate a top four finish

This is such a vague target that I can only say “good luck with meeting this one Roberto.” At what point does a team look like a top four team? This season, I truly believe we will only know for sure when everyone has played 38 games.According to Garry Cook's statement, after the initial target of 6th place, the board agreed a new target of 70 points with Hughes and his team. Last season, 70 points would have put us in 5th place. This season, it will most likely be 4th. So, the bottom line appears to be Champions League football next season or bust for Roberto Mancini.

This will be difficult because in a sense we are starting afresh. A lot depends on how much we change our style and formation of play and, just as if Mark Hughes would have been at the helm, an awful lot depends upon how the squad processes their instructions and applies the change. Mancini will need to have his communication hat on this week, and plus will need to improve his English to get specific messages across.

Winning over the fans

I certainly don’t expect a negative response from the crowd at the next home game against Stoke. But the fans need to see certain things from Mancini and his team before buying into his regime and the owners’ decision to change things around in the manner they did.Winning the League Cup, and therein bringing home major honours to the club for the first time in 33 years will go a long way in this regard. Although the foundations of this cup run have been put into place by Hughes, it is of course still there to be won. Mancini’s task will be harder in this respect, but if the Italian is successful, not only will he have returned a major trophy to City’s dust laden cabinet, he will have also put one over on our Red neighbours.

Defensive improvements represent the other area where Mancini can really win fans over. If he can foster a system that gives the back four more protection whilst retaining our attacking potency, he will be onto a winner. But that of course is the Holy Grail as far as this side is concerned, and is easier said than done. A great deal of confidence building needs to take place at the back and the defence badly needs some breathing space in upcoming matches.

Which conveniently leads me onto our next opponents. Breathing space? Funny I should say that. Some might say this is a pessimistic view, but our next opponents, Stoke City, could not have come at a worse time. We all know what’s coming, and it certainly isn’t a game where we will have time when we have the ball. Balls are going to be pumped into the box at every opportunity in a bid to keep on asking questions of our backline. Its going to be a test, as is every game between now and the end of the season because of our newfound prominence in the game.

How well equipped is Roberto Mancini for the job at hand?

The man has good experience in Serie A and more importantly has won things on a consistent basis in Serie A. In this sense I certainly don’t think he is a flash in the pan. Another good point for City’s current squad is that he has dealt with some big name players at Inter – likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Figo, Patrick Vieira, Javier Zanetti etc. Not small fish by any stretch of the imagination.

My central concern is how quickly he will get to grips with the English game. It was like water off a duck’s back for Jose Mourinho, and to a similar extent Guus Hiddink, but with Mancini we simply do not know. This is the alarming thing about the whole affair – how the club seem to have gambled on this appointment. Whatever the reality, and however much deliberating they really did, I can’t help thinking that it still looks like a knee-jerk decision, a throw of the dice.

The one positive light that shines on the board is the speed at which they despatched with Hughes and installed a replacement. At least once the decision was made, we weren’t dithering around with botched moves for replacements. That the board were efficient gives Mancini quite a few days to work with the players before Stoke, and importantly it also gives the Italian a transfer window in which to operate.

At any rate it’s done deal now, so good luck to Roberto Mancini. I wonder whether he ever thought those four appearances for Leicester City in 2001 would come in handy?

The Mark Hughes/Roberto Mancini Manchester City FC Saga

The papers continue to churn out Roberto Mancini articles with regularity.

In case you missed it, a look at the Italian manager in England (both club and country) via Daily Mail.

Moving on Mancini wants the EPL Title in 2010-11 via Daily Mail.

Let's end with the best as it appears Sven called to congratulate his former player, now the boss of his former kingdom at Eastlands via Manchester Evening News

Brazil's Marta Wins FIFA World Player of the Year

Brazilian international, Los Angeles Sol superstar, four time FIFA World Player of the Year. Marta. Simply the best.

Via WPS Press Release...

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 21, 2009) – One year ago, Marta made history at the FIFA World Player Gala by publicly announcing her signing with the Los Angeles Sol of the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league which kicked off in March 2009. One year later, the Brazilian arrived at the very same gala with her first season of WPS behind her and made history once again: this time by becoming the first player ever – male or female – to win the award for a record fourth-time as she was announced as the 2009 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year at a gala in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday evening.

"I want to thank God for everything that is happening to me in my life," Marta said after winning the award. "I also want to thank my football colleagues in Los Angeles Sol, Santos and Brazil. This is an individual award, but without my colleagues, I could not win anything. I am very happy to be the first woman to have won the award for a fourth time and I hope it helps women's football to grow."

Marta made an immediate impact on WPS during its inaugural season. She notched 10 goals and 3 assists during the year, winning the PUMA Golden Boot Award as the league’s top scorer. In the process, she lead the Los Angeles Sol to the WPS Regular Season title and a spot in the WPS Championship presented by MedImmune. For her season-long performance, she was selected by players, coaches, media and fans as the 2009 Michelle Akers Player of the Year, the official league MVP award. She was also a first-team WPS All-Star selection and scored a goal for the WPS All-Stars in their 4-2 victory over Swedish power Umeå IK in the 2009 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard.

Women’s Professional Soccer, the premier soccer league for women in the world, featured three of the five finalists for this year’s FIFA World Player Award, including Marta, her countrywoman Cristiane, who played for the Chicago Red Stars last season and England’s Kelly Smith, who plays for the Boston Breakers. The 2010 WPS Season kicks off April 10, 2010.

Lionel Messi respects Juan Sebastian Veron

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) has great respect for his Club World Cup final foe. Speaking to media prior to the final about Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes) and their relationship during the 2007 Copa America, Messi said.

"I was new and inexperienced and he was a gentleman, very welcoming and helpful. I will never forget that."

Burnley and Wolves set to battle; is anyone watching?

Burnley actually has enjoyed measured success through the first half of the Premiership season, yet has failed to capture the imagination like last year's neophytes Hull and Stoke City.

Burnley drew midweek 1-1 with visitors Arsenal but the club is yet to win away. Will tomorrow be the match?

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Wolves -- Now the Clarets will boast two away points (the other coming away to big $$$ spenders Manchester City FC).

Football News: Ludovic Magnin returns home

Swiss international Ludovic Magnin has returned home to play for FC Zurich in an effort to improve his chances of playing at the 2010 World Cup.

International squad members Alex Frei, Johan Vonlanthen and Hakan Yakin also returned in recent months to play for Swiss clubs.

This is mainly due to national team boss Ottmar Hitzfeld's desire to see his players game valuable playing time on the club circuit as the World Cup approaches.

2009-10 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Draw

Hamburg/PSV v Athletic Bilbao/Anderlecht
Rubin Kazan/Hapoel Tel Aviv v Villarreal/Wolfsburg
Atletico Madrid/Galatasaray v Everton/Sporting
Hertha Berlin/Benfica v FC Copenhagen/Marseille
Panathinaikos/Roma v Standard Liege/Salzburg
Lille/Fenerbahce v Liverpool/Unirea
Ajax/Juventus v Fulham/Shakhtar Donetsk
Club Brugge/Valencia v FC Twente/Werder Bremen

Ties to be played 11/18 March 11th and 18th

2009-10 UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Draw

Rubin Kazan v Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Athletic Bilbao v Anderlecht
FC Copenhagen v Marseille
Panathinaikos v Roma
Atletico Madrid v Galatasaray
Ajax v Juventus
Club Brugge v Valencia
Fulham v Shakhtar Donetsk
Liverpool v Unirea Urziceni
Hamburg v PSV
Villarreal v VfL Wolfsburg
Standard Liege v SV Red Bull Salzburg
FC Twente v Werder Bremen
Lille v Fenerbahce
Everton v Sporting
Hertha Berlin v Benfica

Ties to be played February 18th/25th

*Bold signifies our predicted winners over the two-legged match ups.

2009-10 UEFA Champions League Final 16 Draw

Stuttgart v Barcelona
Olympiakos v Bordeaux
Inter Milan v Chelsea
Bayern Munich v Fiorentina
CSKA Moscow v Seville
Lyon v Real Madrid
FC Porto v Arsenal
AC Milan v Man U

First legs to be played Feb 16th/17th or 23rd/24th, second legs March 9th/10th or 16th/17th

*Bold signifies our predicted winners over the two-legged match ups.

Arsenal and Chelsea now know match ups in 2009-10 UEFA Champions League's first knockout round

Find out at at Football London

2010 WPS Home Openers Set

Via League Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 17, 2009) – Women’s Professional Soccer today announced the bulk of its home openers for the 2010 WPS Season, which features two new teams entering the league with the Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence as 2010 expansion franchises. League play will begin with a full slate of games on the weekend of April 10-11, two weeks later than the start of the inaugural season in 2009 in order to accommodate warmer weather and avoid playing on the Easter holiday weekend. It will be the first time ever that four WPS games take place over one weekend.

The opening game for Fox Soccer Channel’s WPS Sunday on FSC national telecast package, which will return with the same appointment-television format in 2010, will feature 2009 WPS Champion Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) playing host to the Chicago Red Stars on April 11 at 6pm ET. Sky Blue FC played their final home game of the 2009 season in front of a sell-out crowd at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ, before its 3-game run through the WPS Playoffs, and will be looking for a successful start to their title defense. The Fox Soccer Channel national game in Week 2 will then feature the first television appearance for a WPS expansion team with the Philadelphia Independence traveling to play the Boston Breakers at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, MA on April 18, also at 6pm ET. The game will be a return to the Boston area for former No. 1 overall draft choice Amy Rodriguez and star defender Heather Mitts – both of whom played with the Breakers last year before signing with the Independence during the off-season.

Other home openers on the weekend of April 10-11 include Philadelphia hosting the Atlanta Beat in a match-up of expansion teams, Saint Louis Athletica taking on FC Gold Pride in St. Louis, MO, and the Washington Freedom hosting East Coast rival Boston at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD. On April 17, FC Gold Pride will host its 2010 home opener against Sky Blue FC at Castro Valley H.S. Athletic Stadium, a temporary venue, while the Chicago Red Stars will face regional rival Saint Louis with its first home game at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.

Home openers for the Los Angeles Sol and Atlanta will be announced soon with Atlanta expecting to play its first home game in May at its brand new stadium built specifically for Women’s Professional Soccer at Kennesaw State University.

Red Bull Salzburg advances to the 2009-10 UEFA Europa League's Round of 32

Austrian club FC Red Bull Salzburg recently advanced to the UEFA Europa League's Round of 32. How do you like the club's chances against the likes of Roma, Wolfsburg, Benfica, and Juventus?

A Review of Manchester City FC After Wins Over Arsenal and Chelsea

Mark Wilson, a contributor at Soccer City FC, penned a tremendous review of Manchester City after the recent victories over Arsenal and Chelsea at his blog.

Check out the read -- Building Rome

"Carlos Tevez is looking more and more like our attacking fulcrum. Aside from scoring the winning goal, his linkup play, especially in the last quarter of the match when we were under the cosh, was excellent."

Barcelona Transfer Rumours - The Blaugrana Target Bordeaux Midfielder Abdou Traore

Goal.com with the report that boss Pep Guradiola will make a move for the 21-year-old midfielder in January.

2010 World Cup: Group H - Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Spain is obviously the class of the group. Chile looks most likely to take the second spot in the knockout rounds. Although, Honduras and Switzerland are certainly in the hunt.

Advance - Spain and Switzerland

2010 World Cup: Group G - Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Brazil and Portugal in the same group with the Ivory Coast. Now this is a group that is going to produce a fair amount of goal scoring. Question. If Brazil fielded a squad of players from throughout the Asian leagues could this team defeat North Korea? I have a feeling the North Koreans will be a tad overmatched.

Advance - Brazil and Ivory Coast

2010 World Cup: Group F - Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Title defenders Italy rewarded with perhaps the worst football side in the tournament (New Zealand). Slovakia and Paraguay will be looking for global respect and it should go down to the final game.

Advance - Italy and Paraguay

2010 World Cup: Group E - Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

The Dutch and Danes should move on to the knockout rounds. But don't count out Cameroon especially on African soil.

Advance - Netherlands and Cameroon

2010 World Cup: Group D - Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Upset special! Australia and Ghana are two teams that I have keenly followed through the qualification process. Serbia, not so much. And Germany is well Germany. Guess what?

Advance - Ghana and Australia

2010 World Cup: Group C - England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

The mainstream and the blogosphere are currently all engrossed with the England/USA match. Welcome to the tournament Algeria and Slovenia; too bad you all won't advance to the knockout rounds.

Advance - England and USA

2010 World Cup: Group B - Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

The Argentines have too much skill and belief-in-self. The South American power will advance to the knockout rounds. Nigeria and Greece, well also South Korea? 2nd place will be an interesting fight.

Advance - Argentina and Nigeria

2010 World Cup: Group A - South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group A - South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

France with yet another lucky bounce as they look like the clearest favorite to advance to the knockout rounds. Mexico and Uruguay should battle it out for second place.

Advance - France and Mexico

French seeding snub FIFA’s only punishment left

While there was to be no replay and no 33rd team, FIFA’s announcement of top seeds in the World Cup draw suggests France will receive some punishment for Thierry Henry’s indiscretion against Ireland.

Despite both sitting in the world’s top ten, neither France nor Portugal will be seeded for the draw, instead going into the European based pot four, with England the chief beneficiaries in pot one. FIFA says this is because they are going both on previous World Cup performances and World rankings in October (prior to two England defeats to Ukraine and Brazil), not November. This, FIFA says, is because teams involved in the play-offs will have an advantage as more games means more opportunities to climb the rankings. An understandable approach.

But a small part of me feels this was an ideal opportunity to try and inflict some punishment on France for their controversial entry into the 2010 World Cup, an allegation FIFA strongly deny of course, and point to their frantic meetings and discussion post-Henry gate as evidence of their compassion for Ireland’s plight.

But even if this was FIFA’s way of getting back at the French, it is all too little too late in my opinion. FIFA’s public face talks about the inclusion of smaller nations in the festival of football yet the fear of the countries with the largest advertising rev...sorry the more established nations, missing out conquers all at the end of the day. The subsequent seeding of the play-off draw at the last minute showed just this.

They made a rod for their own back and now, with the Irish still fuming at their exit, their opponents France, 2006 World Cup finalists, will also have a bone to pick with football’s governing body.

It seems a safe football bet that all this frustration and anger is not what FIFA needed ahead of the much anticipated draw, the results of which will have us all peering into our 2010 diaries and chalking off the days until the big kick-off. With the potential of a group of death involving the likes of England, France, Australia, the Ivory Coast or Portugal a distinct possibility, it will also create some positive headlines after a damaging few weeks – a welcome relief for all concerned, except if you’re Irish. 

Man City Final Four of 2009-10 Carling Cup

Read on via BBC Sports -- Man City 3 - 0 Arsenal

Next up, Man U in the semifinals.

Celtic Transfer Rumours/Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Jack Wilshere a Target of Mowbray

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray is keen to bring in Arsenal star-in-waiting Jack Wilshere. The 17-year-old, if you remember, dazzled in 2008-09 League Cup run for Arsenal. He even made his Premiership debut in the '08-09 campaign.

Mowbray who was in charge at West Bromwich Albion last season has worked on loan deals in the past with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and hopes Wegner will allow Wilshere to go north for a six-month spell.

Mowbray believes that Wilshere will assist Celtic in the club's run at the 2009-10 SPL title.

What is your take? Smart to give Wilshere more minutes in the SPL? Will the loan happen?

Story via Daily Express -- Celtic Eye Jack Wilshere

2009-10 FA Cup Third Round Predictions

Soccer City FC and Football London highlighted several matches from the Third Round of the 2009-10 FA Cup. Follow the links to our predictions and feel free to offer up your own as well.

• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Fulham v Swindon Town
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: West Ham United v Arsenal
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Chelsea v Watford
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Sheffield United v QPR
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
• 2009-10 FA Cup Third Round: Tottenham Hotspur v Peterborough United

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur: 2009-10 Premiership Top 4 Finishers?

Could this be the season that London stakes claim to three of the top four Premiership spots? Chelsea, tops with 36 points, Tottenham, and Arsenal along with Manchester United comprise the current Premiership top four.

Chelsea at this point seems a given for the top four, while Tottenham and Arsenal face determined fights from the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool as the clubs race to the finish line. What is waiting there is a chance at Champions League glory and the revenue streams that accompany said UEFA Champions League berth.

Will the 2009-10 Premiership campaign end with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham in the top four? Have your say…

Originally found here -- London Trio Making Play for Top 4 at Football London

More Arsenal and Chelsea Transfer Rumours - 25/11/09

• Via Football London -- Arsenal: Loic Remy Soon to be a Gunner? and Chelsea: AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso Really? A Target?

Arsenal: Alexandre Song Now with Gunners to 2014

• Arsenal: Gunners Alexandre Song to 2014

Arsenal and Chelsea Transfer Rumours - 23/11/2009

• Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Carlos Vela To Remain
• Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Giampaolo Pazzini a Target
• Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Connor Wickham a Target

Football In London News

Our partner site with some new updates, including Roman Pavlyuchenko Wants Out, Marseille's Hatem Ben Arfa a Transfer Target?, London Sides Send Youth Players Out on Loan, Has Luka Modrić Been Worth the Cash?, Tottenham Hotspur: Global Partnerships, and Dagenham & Redbridge: League Two Leaders!

Catch all the action at -- Football London

Net closes in on Phil Brown

He was given a stay of execution by his new chairman but I still fear Phil Brown’s days are numbered.

Adam Pearson returned to the club two years after his departure, replacing Paul Duffen, who saw the club join the Premier League under his tenure but also accrue alarming levels of debt at the same time.

Pearson immediately backed Brown ahead of a crucial clash with Stoke next Sunday but refused to confirm whether he would stay on further, saying:

"Phil will be manager on Sunday but there's no point me saying he's got a job for life, that's not the case. We need results, quickly, and that puts pressure on everyone at the club."

Damning praise indeed.

What makes Hull's position near the bottom of the Premier League all the more worrying is the comments from Deloitte last week regarding the club's finances.

The club, which has the seventh highest wage bill in the top flight, apparently needs to raise £23million just to cover their costs before the season is out. The Premier League TV money is vital to that and if it is taken away, it’s hard to see where the money is going to come from. The club's most bankable asset, Michael Turner, has already been sold while other high earners, such as Giovanni and Jimmy Bullard, have little re-sale value.

Sadly, Brown or no Brown I see Premier League relegation ahead for the Tigers. Their fantastic start to last season raised expectations to unrealistic levels and their plummet down the table and subsequent struggles this season is more realistic for a club which spent much of the last decade in the bottom two divisions.

Sadly, during their brief stay at the top table they have maxed out the credit card and with little or no assets to pay it back, the administrators may soon be knocking at the door. Once that chain of events has been started the decline will prove very hard to arrest...just ask Charlton and Leeds fans.

If they upset the Premier League football betting odds and win on Sunday, this may give Brown a stay of execution. But while they can win that battle I can’t see them winning the war and I fear a swift return to the Championship, and all the financial woes that entails, is beckoning.

Rolling back the years?

Yesterday's 2-2 draw against Fulham felt more like a capitulation than a draw. Walking away from Eastlands on a cold, wet Sunday evening, the first questions that came to mind were as follows. Was this an aberration? Or have we just taken a massive step back into last season?

I try not to be a pessimist, nor the fan who has a short memory. Our start to the season has been excellent. But the manner of this draw brought back some unwanted memories. The bloke on my left summed it up. At 2-2, with Fulham looking decent value for the winner, he turned to his mate, sighed, and uttered the words: “I’ll settle for a point.”The reality is that we should not be settling for a point. We really should not be going to 2-0 up at home and then drawing games, not with this squad of players.

The Defence

Clearly still not right, and by today’s standards there appears to be some way to go before we are talking top four. The warning signs were there in the first half when Bobby Zamora ballooned an effort over the bar from yards out and with Given sprawling. The concentration of Micah Richards worries me. He was in no mans land in terms of stopping the cross that led to the first Fulham goal. Clint Dempsey’s equaliser was down to the central defensive pairing, and if I was pushed to name names I’d point the finger at Joleon Lescott.

And let’s also not forget that Fulham had the chances to win the match.

The really worrisome point is that our current defensive frailties are beginning to stand out. I don’t have much tactical nous, but if I were the next opposition manager to visit Eastlands, I’d certainly tell my centre forwards to get in amongst Toure and Lescott and pressurise them at all costs.

The Midfield

We know what Fulham are about. They are about patient, disciplined football, two banks of four. Mistakes are kept to a minimum. The left hand knows what the right is doing. For this reason I think a midfield combination of Barry and Ireland would’ve been more potent. De Jong has been playing very well, and away from home when we are certain to be under the cosh we need him. But I think we need to be more ambitious at home against non-top four teams. Hughes talked about the need to shift around Fulham’s formation, manoeuvre it out of shape to create space to play into. With two defensive minded, tidy midfield players in Barry and De Jong, I think we gave ourselves less of a chance to accomplish this. Petrov was the positive in this department – his switches of play were good, but we didn’t take advantage of them.

The other side to the defensive-offensive midfield debate is that we already had four very potent attackers on the field in the form of Tevez, Adebayor, Petrov and Bellamy. So to place another offensive minded player – like Ireland – on the pitch would be a big risk against a Fulham team looking to hit us on the counter. It is swings and roundabouts. We all know Hughes has a conundrum on his hands tweaking the team against every new opponent. Perhaps sometimes there can be too many options on the table for a manager that has, in the past, been forced to work with very limited resources.

The Attack

Tevez was the better striker in the first half. He created a few chances for others and had two very good scoring opportunities himself. I certainly admire the Argentinean for all his toil, but the £25.5m man should be putting away these opportunities.

Adebayor was off form. He wasn’t on the ball enough, we didn’t see enough of his power and pace, nor his ability to run at defenders. And whilst I’m harping on about Adebayor, I’ll also say that for a big man he doesn’t win enough headers for my liking. Still, his talent is so huge that he should’ve made a bigger impact on this game.

Implications

This result was all the more disappointing because of the results around us. A win would’ve seen us jump to third place, making ground on United due to their Anfield defeat, and overtaking Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. Fulham are a good team, but we should be putting them away at home if we want to think about nicking fourth and / or beyond.

I don’t want to sound overly negative. It is still early days and we have hardly lost touch with the top four. Arsenal drew – albeit away from home - in a very similar fashion yesterday and of course Spurs were defeated at White Hart Lane against Stoke – which must have been a real gutter for them. Perhaps all of this is evidence that the league is changing in the sense that it will be a tighter affair this time around. I hope that is the case, rather than the other more depressing scenario that despite so much investment, the Blues are still in the business of throwing away games like the City teams of yesteryear.