Manager Thomas Tuchel heads into Mainz's second consecutive season in the Bundesliga knowing that it will be a struggle to keep the side in the top-flight for another term. Tuchel, who was appointed head coach in August 2009 after Jurgen Klopp led the side to promotion in the 2008-2009 season, is very inexperienced at the […]

Most Premier League clubs often travel to Asia for their preseason tours, except this summer where North America was graced by the presence of four Premiership teams: Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers. But when you evaluate each of the team's tours to this side of the Atlantic, would you consider them […]

Sunday may be recalled as the day that the Chicago Fire’s 2010 season really started. The team roster had been reworked with the addition of Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg, and Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos started a line-up that featured Collins John as a sole forward and rookie keeper Sean Johnson in his […]

On Friday evening came the shocking news from Bridgeview, Illinois that Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg has been traded from the Seattle Sounders to the Chicago Fire for a conditional draft selection. The former Arsenal star and Swedish international, a veteran of multiple World Cups, brings his talents in the midfield to a Chicago Fire team […]

While this was a mere friendly and many of the starters from both teams were not on hand, the manner with which Inter overcame Manchester City serves as a warning for those aiming to dethrone the Serie A champions and Champions League winners. The Nerazzurri were missing the likes of Diego Milito, Lucio and Wesley […]

The Week 18 numbers look like this... 5 year comparison Week 18 137 GP YTD Avg +/- GP Avg +/- Avg +/- GP 2006 11,399 7 15,564 14,549 120 2007 15,894 39.43% 6 15,966 2.58% 15,024 3.26% 117 2008 13,013 -18.13% 6 16,524 3.50% 17,272 14.97% 122 2009 16,634 […]

Inter dismissed Manchester City 3-0 to win the Pirelli Cup on Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland. While the scoreline fairly reflects the way the Nerazzurri dominated the match, particularly after Patrick Vieira was sent-off, the biggest surprise came after full-time when a massive sized trophy was presented to the winning team. Having attended the match and […]

The last three permanent managers of Liverpool have all overseen a familiar pattern of events. Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez all enjoyed moderately successful starts – Evans had a decent first full league season, Houllier a distant third place and a (very fortunate) cup treble, Benitez's Champions League triumph rightly overshadowed a fairly […]

Schalke's new signing, the legendary Spaniard Raul, made his first huge impact for his club and immediately endeared himself in the hearts of Koenigsblauen supporters. In a friendly match against German champions and last year's Champions League losers Bayern Munich, Raul smashed in a wonderful brace and Schalke walked away with a 3-1 victory. Schalke's […]

English manager Steve McClaren has spent the summer constructing a squad that will compete for a Champions League berth this season, and so far things are looking rosy for the ex-Twente manager. Die Wolfe's transfer market activity could destabilise the squad, but with McClaren at the helm, Wolfsburg fans can be confident that their new […]

During the 2010 World Cup, there were quite a few controversial incidents that happened on or near the goal line. Just a couple of examples including Frank Lampard's goal for England against Germany which was disallowed because the referee and assistant referee ruled that the ball didn't cross the line. And then we had Luis […]

Premier League transfer target moves to La Liga Germany's World Cup star Sami Khedira has moved from Stuttgart to Spanish Giants Real Madrid on a five year deal. Madrid sealed an undisclosed fee with Stuttgart for the 23 year old on Friday. Khedira is the third summer signing for new boss Jose Mourinho, following the […]

What a fantastic match this was down at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The action was hot and heavy along with the terrible weather this time of the season and of course the first league match for Thierry Henry with the New York Red Bulls facing the Dynamo. The action got started in the first […]

After a disappointing pre-season loss today to Bundesliga rivals Schalke, Armin Veh and Hamburg have their work cut out for them. After finishing in a rather unemphatic 7th place last season, Veh will be looking to take the club to Europa League qualification at minimum this season. By many fans, the appointment of Veh as […]

He may turn 40 tomorrow, but that hasn't stopped Bristol City from snapping up England goalkeeper David James on a free transfer, after the player was unable to agree a deal with former employers Portsmouth. James had bigger offers from the Premiership and Celtic in Scotland, but Neil Lennon told reporters that James had no […]