Well, half the games are heading into the final half-hour, but when has gross tardiness ever stopped us?
Fixtures — with some scores — after the jump, for those of you who like that sort of thing.
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Quick! Throw Avram to Pompey
Anyway, play in the comments below.
The Reds visit the JJB today in the hopes of staying in the hunt for the fourth and final Champions League spot. The return of Fernando Torres last week helped spur Liverpool to a victory with his goal and Steven Gerrard finally re-appeared in that match as both men scored. Every match for Liverpool from now until the end of the season is a must win as Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester Citeh are all vying for fourth.
The Amazing Americans take on the Dirty Dutch (sorry Joep, love your country and the team except if they are playing the US) today in a World Cup tune-up match. The US should have one of the stronger squads it has had in a while, with most European based players called up for this match, except the injured Clint Dempsey, Oguchi Onyewu and Charlie Davies.
Sam’s Army has also called up our beloved Precious Roy and Spectator to support the Red, White and Blue on the Continent. The Men of Action tour is in full effect and PR has pledged to taunt the Dutch over the speedskater that was disqualified in the Olympics last week. I fully expect him to be bludgeoned with wooden shoes. Hopefully, MOA can provide us with some in game photographs, but we won’t hold our breath and they did see the first picture at the bottom of this post before the fixtures. READ MORE
Plenty of international friendlies on tap for today, including the US v. Netherlands friendly where the Men of Action are taking in the game live (more on that at another time) which we will have an open thread later. Consider this your open thread for the morning and early afternoon footie action.
Fixtures after the jump.
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Ireland may not have made the World Cup thanks to Thierry Henry and his magical hand (I know, I know…it was tied but it’s more fun this way), but at least they will be able to pretend the country is fighting for a place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup by taking on one of the favorites, Brazil, in today’s match.
Did you know that Brazil has played exactly one friendly within the borders of Brazil since August 16, 2006? After today, Brazil will have played double that amount in Ireland during the same time period. (They have played six in London in that same time.)
Because it wouldn’t be a Liverpool matchday without collective whinging about how they suck (1-0 down already 30 minutes in) here’s your UEFA Cup Europa League open thread. Schedule below, as per usual.
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No, that's not Shere Khan flanked by two mushrooms from Super Mario
I know, I know, it’s kinda sad when you almost forget your team has a game until Gol TV reminds you that hey, just because you were unceremoniously dumped from one European club competition doesn’t mean you should shun the lesser of the two tournaments.
And so, we are blessed with a Europa League slate.
I’m sure Liverpool will perform tremendously well.
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Ouch. Check em Glenn!
Lets talk today’s footy!
Arsenal v Porto and Bayern v Fiorentina in the CL, Newcastle take on Coventry in the Colaship and in the EPL? Wigan and Bolton go head-to-head in a relegation 6 pointer, that one sounds like it will be an absolute thriller! Zzzzzzzz. All the fixture’s and team news after the Jump.
Kevin Smith Wants You to Speak Up
Okay, the Kevin Smith pic is a quasi-inside joke for us at UF. I say “quasi” because it’s pretty easy for you to get too: Just look at this fashion disaster! No wonder he was booted off that Southwest flight.
Anyhoo, today marks the start of the Champions League Round of 16. Man U versus Meeelan will be streamed for free from UEFA.com, so for once no need to go scrambling for an, uh, alternative feed.
Lineups and your comments after the hop.
*Boo Hoo*
Cheer up, John! A win today over Feckless Hull City and you’ll be four points clear in first place. And you even have Drogba back in action from the ACoN. Trying to stop Chelsea will be Jozy Altidore, who gets another start after a nice showing over the weekend, along with the rest of Phil Brown’s band of merry men.
Lineups for Hull-Chelsea after the hop, along with a smattering of FA Cup replay fixtures, oh and of course your comments.
The good old days.
How exciting, its leg two of the Carling Cup semi-final between Manchester Arabia and Manchester United from Old Trafford. It’s been 30 years since Arabia made a final and Aston Villa await the winner of this one.
Arabia head across town to OT carrying a 2-1 lead but as we all know, that means nada and this game is going to be awesome!
Will Tevez score another ‘f**k you brace?’ Will Fergie and Mancini share a pizza? Will Bellamy be drunk on red wine? Will Rooney score an over-head volley from 18 yards? Will Gary Neville lick Fergies boots? I can’t wait.
It’s on ESPN 360 and on Setanta but if you can’t see the game then stick around here with us. Video of any goals will find its way to these parts and there will be plenty of banter.
Team News:
Ferdinand has denied violent conduct against Hull City’s Craig Fagan during an incident that took place on Saturday and he will play, appealing the charge. Kolo Toure is back from the African Nations Cup and should start. Adebayor is set for a place on the bench after returning from compassionate leave and that horrific shooting on the Angola border that killed and wounded his compatriots.
Want-away forward (and lazy exhibitionist), Robinho IS available and is likely to be on the bench. Patrick Vieira is still old and crocked and Jolean Lescott is still just crocked. Line-ups after the jump.
Come on in!
After a weekend of FA Cup action there are 4 Premier League fixtures this afternoon, including Liverpool at Wolverhampton, Spurs vs Fulham and Burnley visiting their old boss, Owen Coyle, at the Reebok.
In the Colaship I’ll be hoping West Brom can stuff Ipshit, there’s also the te return of Darren Ferguson to Peterborough as Preston head to London Road.
In League One I’ll be praying for a Norwich win and a Leeds defeat and up there, in Scotland, there is one SPL game, Killmarnock V Hamilton, and also the Scottish Cup replay between Stenhousemuir and Dunfermline. The first game finished 7-1 to Dunfermline but they were expelled after fielding an ineligible player (Calum Woods). Then they were re-instated and now the tie will be replayed. Like that result is gonna change (I just jinxed you Dunfermline, suck it).
Full fixtures after the jump so join us to jibber-jabber on the days doings.
The gift of dough. Awesome.
Pizza and wine. That’s what awaits Sir Alex Ferguson if the new man in Manchester sees his team through to the Carling Cup final at Wembley. What a consolation prize; most managers have to settle for a sweaty palm and some nice words.
The first leg is from Manchester Arabia’s home in Eastlands and kick-off is at 3pm EST. Can Roberto Mancini fire Manchester Arabia into their first cup final in over 30 years? Will Carlos Tevez haunt Fergie with a ‘f**k you’ brace? Will Berbatov be of any use today and what are the chances of Fergie being sent to the stands? Whatever happens, Mr Manchester himself has finally admitted there’s a new team in town.
“You have to recognise they are a competitor now.” – Sir Alex Ferguson.
Let’s check out the teams:
Arabia: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Garrido, Kompany, De Jong, Barry, Wright Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy.
United: Van der Sar, Evra, Brown, Evans, Rafael, Anderson, Giggs, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney.
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