Moroccan Goalkeeping Clanger, Pt. 2

Cheer up, Arsenal fans. Here's Khalid Askri, the Moroccan keeper who only a couple of weeks ago allowed a penalty to roll back into his net while he was macking his "save." After this latest howler, Askri has clearly had enough and runs off down the tunnel. Enjoy!

Champions League - Matchday 2

Champions League - Matchday 2: can you feel the passion!? Perhaps not. Chelski and Arsenal are up today. Both clubs cruised their first Matchday but are trying to bounce back from weekend defeats. We've also got a full slate of Championship matches on today. Join me if you're skiving off work.

Ed Helms on the Guest DJ Project

Attention: fans of "The Office!" Ed Helms, who plays Andy "Nard-dog" Bernard on the show, dropped by the studios of KCRW in Santa Monica, CA to appear on its "Guest DJ Project" podcast. On the podcast, Ed picks out five songs that have influenced his life. I guarantee that you will pee your pants laughing while listening to his story about racing BMX bikes while listening to Europe's "The Final Countdown." Download for free from iTunes.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 6

It was a weekend of shock results and yet the table didn't change all that much. The big news was in the Carling Cup last week, during which Chelski, Citeh, Everton, and Fulham - all LOB picks - were knocked out. Only Thomas and West Ham Rising, both of whom plumped for United, are left in the race for those 6 Carling points. Dimitar Berbatov remains top of the scoring heap, so no Golden Boot points again this week. Here is the current table:

1. AZ Kicker – 22 points
2. Gooner71 – 22 points
3. Simon Burke – 22 points
4. Blue Devil – 19 points
5. West Ham Rising – 14 points
6. United We Stand – 11 points
7. Man Utd Rules – 9 points
8. Thomas – 9 points
9. Blubber Boy – 6 points
10. Matthew – 6 points
11. Someone Said – 5 points

Early Morning Footer

United NEED to take advantage of yesterday's results.
Come on UNITED!!!

Join me

UWS

Mancini Raises the White Flag

Well, this isn't quite what we wanted to hear from Mancini ahead Citeh's home match with Chelski tomorrow morning. Accroding to the tabs, Roberto has indicated that he thinks Chelski will "easily win" the Premiership and may have already won. Hope his side has a bit more about them tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'll be doing some fundraising for my Belize group and won't be able to join you. Enjoy it!

All Songs Considered - Fall Preview

Bob Boilen and his hipster friends have uncorked a vintage Fall Preview featuring a number of intriguing new albums including (gasp!) the first new music from Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark in fourteen years - crikey! Download for free from iTunes.

Carling Cup Third Round Live!

The big boys enter the Carling Cup today, which means that the kids will get a run out for a change. There's no question about the big match of the afternoon - Arsenal's trip to their arch-rivals Spurs at White Hart Lane. Unfortunately, my Leeds boys were dumped out by Leicester in Round 2, so I'll be a neutral today just living vicariously through the other sides in the tournament. Join me if you're around.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 5

We're through Week 5 of the Premiership season and some patterns are starting to emerge. First, the top four clubs - Chelski, Arse, ManYoo and Citeh - have emerged. And second, Gooners will be dominant in this competition. Here are the current standings:

1. Gooner71 – 23 points
2. Simon Burke – 23 points
3. AZ Kicker – 20 points
4. Blue Devil – 19 points
5. Man Utd Rules – 11 points
6. Thomas – 10 points
7. United We Stand – 10 points
8. West Ham Rising – 9 points
9 Blubber Boy – 7 points
10. Matthew – 5 points
11. Someone Said – 4 points

What a save! Errr, hang on....

Manchester United vs. Liverpool Live!

It's quite simply the biggest game of the new season so far. Manchester United vs. Liverpool at Old Trafford. Neither side has reached its best form yet; however, the old enemies usually bring out the best in each other. Join me for all the action from 8:30 am onward.

Hooray...it's Saturday!

After a long, hard slog through the week, we've got another terrific Premiership weekend ahead of us. We get started in a few minutes with West Ham trying to get their season started against Stoke. After the regularly scheduled fixtures at 10 am, we round off the day with an intriguing Arsenal visit to Sunderland. Join me for all the usual LOB fun.

Doncaster vs. Leeds Live!

It's been a bloody busy week for both me and my beloved Leeds boys, with three matches in the space of six days. That culminates with an away fixture in the Championship today at Doncaster Rovers. I wouldn't imagine that this is the kind of match that will stop your clocks, so I may be flying solo today, but if you're around and feel like keeping me company, please do.

Turkish Politician Receives "Istanbul Handshake"

Blimey - if you thought that your Gala vs. Fener derby match day got a bit spicy, take a look at this vid. In it, pro-Kurdish politician Akın Birdal is warming up his stump speech about how he's going to cut taxes on the middle class when - wallop - a Turkish nationalist bloke in the audience bumrushes the stage. We definitely need a bit of this kind of "civil discourse," especially when it comes to Tea Party candidates, eh?

Champions League - Matchday 1

We're off and away on the Champions League trail tonight with the opening match of the group stage. Spurs and ManYoo are up tonight against Werder Bremen and Rangers respectively. If you're watching, join me for all the action!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 4

Stoke's last gasp win against Gerard Houllier's Villa today rounded off Week 4 in the Premiership, so it's time to take stock again. Once again, it's the Gooners on top. Here are the standings:

1. Gooner71 – 19 points
2. Simon Burke – 19 points
3, AZ Kicker – 16 points
4. West Ham Rising – 15 points
5. Blue Devil – 14 points
6. United We Stand – 9 points
7. Blubber Boy – 8 points
8. Matthew – 8 points
9. Man Utd Rules – 6 points
10.Someone Said – 5 points
11.Thomas – 5 points

Franzen's "Freedom"

Jonathan Franzen's latest - simply titled "Freedom" - is engendering a tremendous buzz of anticipation among the literati. It's the story of a liberal Minnesota family who experiences culture shock when they decamp to Washington, D.C. and encounter conservative neighbors. Sounds like fun to me - anyone else want to read it?

Birmingham v. Liverpool

In most seasons, Liverpool would be one of the top four clubs and Birmingham City would be staring down the barrel of a long battle against the drop. Instead the Blues have the chance of sliding into fourth spot (currently occupied by Blackpool!) with a win that would send Pool spiraling toward the dropzone. Join me for all the usual LOB banter this morning.

Saturday is Back!

Finally! I don't know about you but the international break seemed endless this time around. But we're back in action today with a full slate of English footer matches in all leagues, starting with Manchester United and former Toffee Wayne Rooney's visit to Goodison Park to meet troubled Everton. Should be fun - why not join me this morning?

Switzerland v. England

Well, it all came good for the Three Lions on Friday evening; however, the Swiss are a different proposition, as World Champions Spain will attest. I'll be biting my fingernails down the quick this afternoon. Care to join me?

Footie Trivia Question of the Week

I came across a list of great footie commentary moments the other day, so I thought I'd quiz you on a few. Here we go:

"Name the commentator who said these words and the occasion described.
(Hint: they are arranged chronologically.)"

1) "Call me mad! Call me crazy!"

2) "They think it's all over...it is now!"

3) "Keegan's second ... and Newcastle were undressed! They were absolutely stripped naked."

4) "Interesting. Very interesting! Look at his face! Just look at his face!"

5) 'Lord Nelson! Lord Beaverbrook! Sir Winston Churchill! Sir Anthony Eden! Clement Attlee! Henry Cooper! Lady Diana! Maggie Thatcher - can you hear me, Maggie Thatcher! Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!'

6) "It's up for grabs now…!"

7) "The future is bright…the future is orange!"

8) "It's getting better and better!"

9) "Mission Impossible Accomplished!! Its wonderful, its magical, its 3-3 in the European Cup"

10) "Like Betamax...they do not make them like him anymore!"

Good luck, chaps!

Rooney "Plays Away from Home" shocker!

I'm not usually one to go trolling through the tabloids on a Sunday morning, but the story of ManYoo and England striker Wayne Rooney stepping out on missus Colleen with a prostitute who joined him in the United camp has real implications for Tuesday's clash in Switzerland. Will Rooney have his head right for the match or should he be dropped? Your thoughts, gents?

Here's the coverage in the Daily Mail:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/943856/Wayne-Rooney-cheats-on-Coleen-again-with-21-year-old-hooker.html

Jim Jarmusch on All Songs Considered!

One of my favorite film directors, Jim Jarmusch, guest DJs NPR's "All Songs Considered" podcast this week, showing off the kind of bewildering eclecticism that his movies hint at. You can download the show free from iTunes. Enjoy!

England v. Bulgaria Live!

EURO 2012 starts here! We'll be looking for the Three Lions to get off to a comfortable start with three points at home against Bulgaria this evening. I'll be skiving off early from work to watch the match from the comforts of Blue Devil HQ. Join me here from 3pm on FSC. Come on, you England!

UEFA Bans the Vuvuzela!

In the best footie news of the week, the UEFA suits have finally got one right - the dreaded vuvuzela has been banned from all UEFA Champions League and Euro 2012 qualifiers and final matches.

Read more here:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/early-lead/2010/09/vuvuzelas_banned_from_european.html