The Best…..

Slovenia’s amazing performance in reaching their second World Cup Finals was unfortunately overshadowed by angst and ringing of hands.  When you consider that Slovenia finished a very poor fourth in Group 5 of World Cup 2006 qualifying and sixth (only Luxemburg finished lower) in Group G of Euro 2008 qualifying it only reinforces a magnificent achievement.

Algeria bounced back from a heart breaking late goal from Egypt on Saturday to qualify in the play off. Antar Yahia the Bochum striker scored the only goal and it was a cracker.

Sunderland gave a clinic on how to shut down Arsenal. Resolute in the tackle, diligent in their marking and closing down Sunderland implemented Steve Bruce’s game plan to a t.

Spurs’ performance in putting nine goals

Crisis is such a relative term – particularly in soccer. How else can you explain Burnley, with 12 points sitting in 9th position and a goal difference of –10, being regarded as a success while Liverpool are two positions and three points better off and enjoy a goal difference of 9 but are currently the crisis club of the Premier League?

Much of it comes down to the old adage about under promising and over delivering. Burnley supporters have seen their side return to the top flight after a trek through the Football League wilderness that lasted just short of a record set back in biblical times. For Burnley this season, survival equates to success.

However, for Liverpool supporters and many media pundits this was going to be the year that Liverpool won the Premier League for

The Best…..

Francesco Totti was the architect of Roma’s much needed win over Fiorentina.  He scored from the spot to give Roma the lead and then added to the lead after the ball broke to him after a corner kick. He then help to set up De Rossi with a header from the edge of the penalty box and Claudio Ranieri’s side went in with a 3-0 half time lead and from there on a Roam win was never in doubt.

In two seasons at Portsmouth David Nugent managed just three goals. For a striker who had edged his way into the English squad it was a meager return. Just as the transfer window was closing earlier this month Burnley was able to secure his services from Pompey on a six month loan.

Nugent spent little time repaying Owen Coyle’s faith when he scored a double on his

The Best…..

Forty-two minutes of the Wigan – Manchester United game with Dimitar Berbatov breaking into the penalty box…and an absolutely brilliant tackle by Titus Bramble. It was worthy of Bobby Moore or Franco Baresi.

(The second half, however, did not turn out so well for Bramble and his Wigan mates as United tore through Wigan apart and scored five with no reply.)

Ronaldinho sets them up and Pato scores them.  That was the case on Saturday as Milan beat Siena 2-1. The second set up was particularly noteworthy. Ronaldinho sliced a perfectly weighted and angled pass inside the Siena full back for Flamini to run onto. The former Arsenal man then played the ball across the penalty box and all Pato had to do was to redirect it into an empty net. 

Lyon went