Big game today Manchester United vs. Arsenal in a top of the table battle. So far it has only been a war of words between players. Come game time will we see a moment or two of brilliance, will we see a defensive stalemate, or will we see Arsenal knock the ball around ManU? It's definitely worth a long lunch to find out!!


Tottenham vs. Chelsea (EPL) 1-1


Over the weekend the UW lost a great coach, Dean Wurzberger resigned his position as Head Coach of the Men's Soccer team at the University of Washington. He has coached 19 years at the UW and cited family and professional reasons as his departure. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a local boy take the helm next. Wurzberger's resignation coincided with the NCAA Final over the weekend, Zakuani's alma mater won their first Championship.


Wolves vs. Birmingham (EPL) 1-0


Today Manchester United plays Arsenal in a fight for top of the table in England(Top 10 Goals from the ManU Arsenal Derby), lets take a look at some of the weekend games from around Europe.


Assists of the Week


Many Americans played over the weekend in Europe, one received his first start, one scored a gaming winning goal (Video on the link) others lost, and others didn't play.


Bolton vs. Blackburn (EPL) 2-1


We saw this type of behavior with Wayne Rooney and watched the club succumb to his desire and make him a $250,000 a week player. Now on the Blue side of Manchester we are seeing the same thing, Carlos "The Jackal" Tevez handed in a written transfer request for a move away from the club or a raise to $475,000 a week!


Newcastle vs. Liverpool (EPL) 3-1


I don't know if any of you have seen "Goal the Movie" or any of the movies in the series? I watched the first one and was disappointed, but in a form of "Life imitating art" one Mexican player made his dreams happen and it's better than the movie.


Cheat of the Week (Blatant hand ball)


The MLS single entity form of contracts is a hard system to follow or understand, this Wednesday will be the 2nd round of the re-entry draft or as I like to phrase it "you cost to much negotiate or else draft" it really is a way for clubs to devalue players they term excess or past their prime.


Manchester City vs. West Ham (EPL) 3-1


This is a quote from an article worth your time to read "Let me be blunt. In the next 12 years, all manner of defenses will be given for awarding Qatar the World Cup, but the simple fact remains that FIFA’s choice was not unorthodox, or outside the box, or about leaving a legacy. No, selecting Qatar is a completely indefensible decision. In fact, as a host nation, it is so incomprehensibly insufficient that, not only should it not have won, but no honest body should ever have taken it seriously. Before my making my larger point about where to go from here, it is important to understand that Americans have a right to be outraged. This is not sour grapes or being a sore loser; had the United States lost to Australia, for example, that might make sense. But, for several reasons Qatar’s bid simply does not pass muster."


Fulham vs. Sunderland (EPL) 0-0


His show may have been cancelled on the Fox Soccer Channel but at least his girl said yes when he asked the big question!!

This shocker happened in a match between Santacruzense and Atletico Sorocaba in Brazil’s FPF Cup, in 2006. With one minute to go, a Santacruzense player shot wide. A cheeky ball boy then rolled the ball over the goalline. The referee, Silvia Regina de Oliveira (yes, a lady in black), awarded a goal and Santacruzense ended up with a 1-1 draw. Not surprisingly De Oliveira and her linesmen were investigated and suspended over the incident (Who doesn't love a "Ball Boy")


Total Football, the Beautiful Game or just simple attacking football that is built with passes and skill has been on hold a bit in Europe. It has been exchanged for Speed, Power, and brute force as has been seen with the likes of Drogba, Ibrahimovic, and Ronaldo. Yes they do have skill and can use it to deadly effect but do they wear you down like a Barcelona as a unit or team? Frank de Boer has decided to bring "Total Football" back to Ajax by benching his big strong leading goal scorer Mounir El Hamdaoui and installing a lineup that "Dared to play"


Aston Villa vs. West Brom (EPL) 2-1


It is a rare occurrence when a team seeks arbitration to terminate a players contract, but that is what has happened in Sampadoria with Antonio Cassano. A naturally gifted player with a naturally bad attitude that seems to have caught up with him again!


Free Kick of the Week (Yes it's Ronaldo, but it's still nice)


Since I started playing soccer in the 70's nicknames have been a staple, growing up in the states people who played soccer knew "Tatu", "Preki", "Der Kaiser", "Pele", and my all time favorite "Codino d' Oro" now a days we don't see the great nicknames like the past!


Blackpool vs. Stoke (EPL) 1-0