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What to Watch This Weekend (Jan 8-9)

January 7, 2011 — by Larry

[Editor's note: Coach Larry takes over this week's edition of our weekend viewing guide, with some color(ful) commentary on this weekend's FA matches in England. As usual, TV listings pulled from WaPo SoccerInsider's useful weekly post, and all times ET.] Saturday, Jan 8 England FA Cup, Sheffield United-Aston Villa 10 a.m. FSC: Aston Villa play at Sheffield United. Can relegation candidates in one league overcome them in another? Can either use it as a springboard to survival or will advancement divide their attention? Will Guzan play? Who will Randy Lerner kiss if Villa do something good? Sunday Jan 9 England FA Cup, Manchester United-Liverpool 8:30 a.m. FSC: The Biggie. Can Liverpool find success at their only chance to find it this season? Are they really lining up bids for Ashley Young, Luis Suarez, and Elia? Certainly they could use the speed on their flanks, but it will make them even

2010 Cult Football XI Selection

January 1, 2011 — by Sean — 1

The year has come to a close, and as is the fashion we're looking over our favorite stories to compile a starting eleven, Cult Football style. The players on our squad aren't always the most talented, but they tend to bring a joy, or promise, or general absurdity to the game. We hope you've enjoyed the time you've spent with us over the last six months, and here's a wish of good fortune to all in the new year! Now without further ado, our Cult Football XI selection for 2010. Strikers We could fill a whole team with these egomaniacs if we employed the 1-9 formation so popular in the nineteenth century. Instead, we're going with the classic two up top (we haven't quite caught up with the 4-2-3-1 formation that's all the rage nowadays). We passed on a lot of great players for these two: Forlan and Suarez from

Matches to Watch This Weekend – New Year’s Edition (Jan 1-2, 2011)

December 31, 2010 — by Sean

As you sit nursing your hangover, why not turn to the headache-soothing action of Premier Leauge play? We know of no better way to pass through the haze of the year's first day into the clarity you'll need to fight the future's impending troubles. You know the sort of things we mean: climate change, declining standards of education, goal line technology, and so forth. Saturday, Jan 1 West Brom-Manchester United, 7:45am ESPN2, ESPND The Baggies are a fun side to watch, and at home they'll be less inclined to sit back and defend against the current table-toppers. Not that they know how. The team likes to attack, and since they'll be missing two starting backs their best bet is to keep the ball in the offensive third. United are heavy favorites, but they may find themselves on the back foot now and again. Liverpool-Bolton, 10am FSP Anfield is not the

Mario Balotelli Gets Lucky

December 28, 2010 — by Sean — 1

Eric Lichaj did well against Bale, but stunk up the joint against City.

We tuned into the Man City v Aston Villa match for one reason today, to watch Villa's American right back Eric Lichaj. The 22 yr old was impressive in shutting down Gareth Bale in their loss to Spurs two days ago, and we though maybe he could replicate the performance today. No such luck. Against Spurs, Lichaj showed pace equal to Bale, made a number of impressive stops, and even had a chance at the end of the game to pull back a tying goal. Lichaj's first contribution today against City was to offer Mario Balotelli the chance to flop and earn a penalty. The cocky Italian felt a hand on his should and went down as if a piano had fallen on him. He then converted the penalty kick to put City

Matches to Watch – Special Holiday Midweek Edition

December 28, 2010 — by Suman

The Premier League certainly doesn't give its players any rest over the holidays. After a full slate of fixtures on Boxing Day (plus yesterday's Arsenal-Chelsea clash), there is another round of fixtures spread over today and tomorrow! For those of you home for the holidays (or trapped at home due to the Snowtorious B.I.G.), here are the matches being televised in the US today; as usual, all times ET: Tuesday, Dec 28 Manchester City-Aston Villa, 10am FSC & Fox Deportes Tottenham-Newcastle, 10am FSP West Brom-Blackburn, 12pm FSP West Ham-Everton, 12:30pm FSP (tape delay) Arsenal-Chelsea, 1pm ESPND (rebroadcast of yesterday's match) Birmingham City-Manchester United, 3pm ESPN2, ESPND & ESPN3.com Stoke City-Fulham, 5pm FSC & Fox Deportes (tape delay) (Note that foxsoccer.tv is streaming the following games live, all 10am ET starts: Tottenham-Newcastle, West Brom-Blackburn, Stoke City-Fulham, and Sunderland-Blackpool.) And a special one-time only foray into the "other" kind of football... Minnesota

Arsenal Defeat Chelsea – Van Persie Still Douchey

December 28, 2010 — by amy — 1

A must-win game for both sides today with the teams jockeying tentatively for the first half hour. Neither side could settle into rhythm, and ten minutes on it looked that Arsenal were bending, a team on the brink of panic, clearing poorly and unable to hold the ball in attack. Chelsea were countering quickly, and though they held less possession it seemed like Drogba might make something happen all on his own. It would have to be on his own too, as the Ivorian was isolated from a lagging Frank Lampard (who was not quite in sync with the team on his first game back from injury), while Malouda and Kalou were ineffectual up the wings. Even Cole, who always wants to remind the Gooners of what they're missing, was held in check by a not-so-baby-faced-anymore Sagna. But the Blues' defense was solid in the first third of the game,

Arsenal v Chelsea Today!

December 27, 2010 — by Suman

The one match of the day is the match of the week--Chelsea goes crosstown to take on Arsenal at the Emirates. Kickoff is at 8pm in London (3pm ET; watch it on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, or ESPN3.com in the US). Here are a handful of links to get you ready for the big match: --We find it's very useful to have the Current Squad lists in front of us, for #s, nationalities, and links to individual player bios: Chelsea & Arsenal. --Prior to the Chelsea-Arsenal match in early October, we posted a look at the players of African origin on each squad. --Here is Goal.com's match preview, which also has links to lineups and match stats (updated once the match is underway). --Here is ESPNSoccerNet's match preview, which predictably lists Samir Nasri and Didier Drogba as the players to watch (Nasri perhaps having replaced the too-oft-injured Fabregas as Arsenal's talisman), and

What To Watch – Boxing Day Edition

December 26, 2010 — by Suman — 2

Watch some Prem League heavyweights slug it out on Boxing Day

We're a bit tardy getting up our weekend viewing guide--but there were no games in Europe yesterday because of Christmas. There is, however, a full slate of Premier League fixtures today--plus a very big match tomorrow, with Chelsea going crosstown to play Arsenal. Not only that, there are more games in England on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here are our picks for how to spend the next few days of your winter holidays (as usual, all times ET): Sunday, Dec 26 Via Guardian Football's Boxing Day clockwatch: "A very happy Boxing Day to everyone. Feeling a little drained? Eaten so much pudding that you can no longer fit into that T-shirt Father Christmas brought you? Remembering why you'll be avoiding your relatives for the next 12 months? Then sneak off to the back room, pour yourself

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Commentary

What to Watch This Weekend (Jan 8-9)

Commentary

2010 Cult Football XI Selection

Commentary Schedule

Matches to Watch This Weekend – New Year’s Edition (Jan 1-2, 2011)

Commentary News

Mario Balotelli Gets Lucky

Schedule

Matches to Watch – Special Holiday Midweek Edition

Chalkboards Commentary News

Arsenal Defeat Chelsea – Van Persie Still Douchey

News Preview

Arsenal v Chelsea Today!

Schedule

What To Watch – Boxing Day Edition