OSG Prem: Spurs Under FA Charge For Lack Of Crowd Control

((HT: DeanCoombesAnfield))

Crowd invasions are a part of the whole European football experience- the HQ gets that.

But the Tottenham-Partizan Belgrade match got completely out of hand with interruptions that, it turns out, were part of a Youtube prank.

Here's one of the invaders doing his thing


The game had 41-minutes of delays because of people running onto the pitch.

Players had to leave the pitch, go back into the tunnel, and come back out onto the pitch to complete the 1-0 Spurs win.

OSG Prem: Sergio Aguero's Busy Day

((HT: BPL on NBCSN))

Spurs seem to give up goals in bunches when it comes to playing Manchester City.

Saturday morning was no different as Sergio Aguero scored all four goals in a PK-laden 4-1 win at the Etihad.

Evidence below...


Aguero joins Edin Dzeko as Man City players who have scored four against Tottenham. He is also now their leading goal scorer with 61- and counting.

The Citizens close Chelsea's league lead to two pending the Blues match at Crystal Palace.

OSG Prem: Fan Runs Onto Pitch, Takes Free Kick

((HT: Tristan's Vine))

As if the Spurs-West Ham match needed any more excitement, somebody on a different level of courage than the other fans in attendance felt compelled to do this...


Looks like security caught up with him eventually, but the first goal of the match came super late as Spurs got their first win under new manager Mauricio Pochettino...

Seattle Sounders To The Front Of The Cool Line...

((HT:ESPN/MLS))

Xander Bailey had his moment...

Through the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Sounders, the 18-year-old from West Virginia got his chance to not only practice with Seattle, but start against Tottenham Hotspurs in their friendly Saturday.


The Sounders even got to catch up with Bailey post-match and it's a moment he will never forget...
((HT: Seattle Sounders FC))


Sounders and Spurs drew at 3 in the visitor's first stop on their American tour

OSG Prem: The Title Is Man City's

For the second time in the last three seasons, the Premier League title is in the hands of Manchester City...

In a day with few surprises late moving through the motions early, the ladder stays the same...

Man City takes care of West Ham with few issues, 2-0
Here's their celebration


Elsewhere, it took a while but Liverpool came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Newcastle 2-1- who were down to nine men before the game was over. Manager Alan Pardue will, surely, have to answer to his team's lack of discipline


The rest of the table:

Chelsea had to fight back from being 1 down at Cardiff City, thanks to an own goal by Azpilicueta, but finish third with a 2-1 win.
Crystal Palace and Fulham tied at 2
Everton shut out Hull City 2-0
Swansea showed some offense for a change- beating Sunderland 3-1
Arsenal relegates Norwich 2-0
Stoke scored the last goal in their game to beat West Brom 2-1

And the Europa League spots to go Everton and Spurs...

Tim Sherwood's managerial swan song was a good one (which is a shame in itself) as Spurs went out hot early and beat Aston Villa 3-0 while Manchester United tied Southampton at ones and will miss European football contest for the first time in a quarter-century.

And now the Silly Season starts...

OSG Prem: The Bottom Get Closer, The Middle Get Closer

((HT: BPL on NBC/BBC Sport))

Just when you thought things couldn't get any tighter...

Wins from the bottom by Fulham and Cardiff make the relegation battle even more interesting...

Let's review... and, let's face it, Norwich has zero offense, van Wolfswinkle has zero confidence in his game, and the Canaries are in deep doo-doo especially after their last reasonable chance at a three points losing to Fulham at Craven Cottage 1-0.

Caretaker manager Neil Adams thought his team played well, though...


Cardiff took advantage of a Jay Rodriguez-less Southampton and won 1-0 as well...
Mauricio Pochettino was not pleased in defeat...
((HT: Southampton their own selves))


Combine that with Everton's 1-0 defeat of Sunderland and the bottom of the table looks like this...
18 Fulham 30
19 Cardiff City 29
20 Sunderland 25

Sunderland still has two games in hand, however...

West Brom had a chance to get out of the danger zone just north of relegation, but they squandered a 3-0 versus Spurs and only left with a point in a 3-3 draw. Five points only separate 11th from 17th at the end of today and here is the game-tying goal...


Stoke continued their mid-table play with a 1-0 win over Newcastle and Tony Pulis continued his run as manager of the year as Crystal Palace beat Villa 1-0 as well...

OSG Prem: Reds At The Top Of The Table, Fulham Still Bottom

((HT: Sportsnet))

The lead at the top of the table is now Liverpool's to keep... even as Manchester City has two games in hand on the bunch...

The Reds have now gone their last 13 without a defeat- including 8 wins and a dismantling of Spurs at Anfield this afternoon. Makes the HQ wonder just how much patience the front office will have with caretaker manager Tim Sherwood after another throttling by a top five club...

Here's the wrap...
Elsewhere, the matinee on Sunday was Everton trying to put another nail in Fulham's relegation quest with a win at Craven Cottage. Believe it or not, the reserves were the ones coming through over and over again as Roberto Martinez's squad solidified their top-5 place... ((HT: ProSoccerTalk))

OSG Prem: Tim Sherwood Still Doesn't Like Jorge Jesus

((HT: Press Association))

Spurs caretaker manager Tim Sherwood still has no respect for Benfica manager Jorge Jesus and his histrionics in the Benfica 3-1 opening round match at White Hart Lane...

For those who don't remember...


Round 2 is a few days out and Sherwood was still on fire about it:

"I know exactly where he was coming from and I know what I saw.

"I have got no respect for the man. I've got respect for the football club and I've got respect for his players.

"The club is a huge club and we've had a lot of emails from Benfica fans apologising for their manager's behaviour. At the end of the day, I will shake his hand, because they are a giant of a club."

Tottenham has plenty of injuiries and worries for Sherwood, but Jesus thinks everything in the first leg is done and done...

Here's Jesus...

((How's that for a toss...???))

OSG Prem: ManU In Freefall, Arsenal Tightens It Up

((HT: BPL))

Steven Gerrard almost made history being the first player who could have scored three PK goals in a game, but his hook on the third attempt went and hit the post.

Didn't really matter...

Gerrard's two from the spot and one from Suarez gave a dominating performance for the Reds who blew out Manchester United 3-0


The HQ thinks that the club will spend a lot in the off-season, but we don't think David Moyes will be the manager to see it all happen...

And in the afternoon's other game, a Tomas Rosicky thunderbolt in the second minute was enough for Arsenal to hold on and beat Spurs at White Hart Lane 1-0...

Here's the up to date table...and you see how much trouble both Spurs and Manchester United are in after Sunday...
Everton chasing Spurs for the Europa League spot...and Chelsea is having to hold on with everything they have...

1 Chelsea 30 66
2 Liverpool 29 62
3 Arsenal 29 62
4 Man City 27 60
5 Spurs 30 53
6 Everton 28 51
7 Man Utd 29 48

OSG Prem: Tim Sherwood Is Pee-Yissed...

((HT: BPL/Vine via David Guti))

Tomas Rosicky scored in the second minute in the North London Derby between Arsenal and Spurs this afternoon...

A defensive meltdown almost led to a second goal, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain decided to pass (poorly, the HQ may add) to Lucas Podolski that led to a turnover...

Spurs caretaker manager Tim Sherwood went understandably ape over the gaps in defense...


Maybe he should keep being fiery...
Makes for good storylines...

Spurs Boss Not A Fan Of Benfica Boss

((HT: SkySports))

Benfica was better than Spurs in the first leg of their Europa League Round-of-16 match-up at White Hart Lane...

Not in dispute...

But what is up in conversation are the antics of Benfica manager Jorge Jesus during the match itself...
Like this exchange after the third Benfica goal...


Current Spurs caretaker manager Tim Sherwood was not happy post-match as he told Sky:

"I thought his team were very good and showed a lot of class - it's just a shame he didn't," Sherwood said.

"In the first two minutes, he was coming over to the fourth official saying I was stepping in his box.

"He doesn't mind himself, does he, to be fair? Waving goodbye like that [with three fingers]? It lacks class. Why would anyone do that?

"He's got a good side, of course he has, but, nah, not for me thank you. I have no intention of speaking to him."

Jesus, when asked said he was referring to his goal scorer Luisao- even if his player wears the number 4...

Sherwood may still have his locker room, if you believe what Sandro said this week, but he may only have it for another nine Premier League games or so...

OSG Prem: Spurs Lack Character In Loss To Chelsea...

And other stuff...

Fulham lost to Cardiff behind Steven Caulker's efforts in a six-pointer at Craven Cottage
Manchester United took care of a West Brom side that lacks offense
Jay Rodriguez made the one Southampton goal stick in their win over Crystal Palace
Norwich couldn't take advantage of 10-man Stoke and drew 1-1

But the biggest news came from the top of the table...

Chelsea needed Samuel Eto'o to start from the beginning since Fernando Torres injured himself in warm-ups...

And all Eto'o did was this...
((HT: Sky Sports/BPL))


A 4-0 whitewashing that caretaker manager Tim Sherwood was less than pleased with...


It was all part of an interesting Saturday...

OSG Prem: Man City Blows Out Spurs, Sunderland Takes 6-Pointer

((HT: BPL on NBC))

Manchester City goes to the top of the table with a 5-1 wipe out of Spurs at White Hart Lane...
Toure, Dzeko, Jovetic, Aguero, and Kompany are now a point ahead of Arsenal with a +18 goal differential...

The Aguero goal was sublime


Elsewhere...

On the flipside, Chelsea had 36 shots on goal and couldn't put one past West Ham and Jaaskelainen...
The Blues are now 3 behind City...

Sunderland got the 1-0 win against Stoke which solidifies the idea that relegation will be a fight-and-a-half...
Adam Johnson's goal was good enough and now three points separate positions 11 through 17...

Lastly, the wildest game of the day was with...
Wait for it...

Aston Villa and West Brom...
6 goals in the first half all by itself, but it took a Christian Benteke strike to give the Hammers the three points...

"It's not great for the heart, to go down 2-0 in a derby. All credit to the team, the response was fantastic," Villa manager Paul Lambert said post match. "With derby games, it doesn't matter where you are in the table, they're really unpredictable. We've done so much in a short space of time. We have a young side and we are giving it a right good go."

West Ham is still tied with Fulham at 19 points, but are ahead on goal differential and Cardiff are in the basement only a point behind...

OSG Prem: Chelsea, Arsenal Save Spots, Liverpool Climbs

((HT: Sky Sports))

The Winners on the end of the very busy holiday period were Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, and Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

The biggest surprise was from Spurs as they beat Man United at Old Trafford to continue the fan's consternation at David Moyes and the wonder of Tim Sherwood's run as new manager. Moyes was still hot over a non-PK call against Tottenham for their 6th loss of the season.

Chelsea went 3-0 over Southampton- who look tired now. Manager Jose Mourinho also said that Juan Mata and Michael Essien can look for new homes in the January transfer window. Man City outscored Swansea 3-2 countering Wilfried Bony's double. It now appears that Michu is out for six weeks with his ankle injury and surgery.

Arsenal scored two late to beat Cardiff. And it appears Nicklas Bendtner is out for "weeks" after getting an ankle injury. Liverpool needed a late goal from Luis Suarez to distance themselves over a tired Hull City squad by the same margin.

Here's the wrap through the eyes of the guys at Sky Sports...


The surprise on the day has to be the Fulham 2-1 win over West Ham- with Hammers manager Sam Allardyce wondering aloud where his captain, Kevin Nolan's, head has been recently after getting another red card. It forced a squad fighting for relegation to play a man down in a game they couldn't afford to lose.

Everton and Stoke drew as did Palace and Norwich. Also at the bottom, Villa beat Sunderland and West Brom knocked off Newcastle on a Berahino PK...

OSG Prem DEVELOPING: AVB Out At Spurs

5-0 losses to Liverpool will do that for you...

This is what happened over the weekend when the Reds absolutely wiped the floor with Spurs...


Andre Villas-Boas sounded like a guy lobbying for his job after the match- which he should have been...
((HT: BBC Sport))


But, today, the club had had enough of the lack of an offense and a porous defense...

"The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services.

"The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties."

The odds on favorites right now to replace AVB are: former England boss Fabio Capello, now in charge of Russia's National Team, Spurs' current director of football and Capello's assistant at the Football Association, Franco Baldini, former Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle and Swansea manager Michael Laudrup.

Here's the Breaking News...
((HT: SkySportsNews))

OSG Prem: Jol Out At Fulham... Seems Shocked... Plus Others Are Gone...

And, he's not the only one...

After fading at the end of last year, barely staying in the Premier League, and losing five in a row this season Fulham owner Shahid Khan sacked manager Martin Jol...

“Our poor form and results this season are undeniable, and Fulham supporters deserve better,” said Khan in a statement. “With more than half the season still ahead, an immediate change was necessary.”

Rene Meulensteen had been brought in as the number two just recently and now, he has the gig- whether it's temporary or permanent. Odds are, it's the latter unless results change drastically...

Which the HQ doesn't anticipate any time soon...

Here's the interview Meulensteen did with Sky Sports...
((HT: NBCSN))


Not to be outdone, Wigan sacked Owen Coyle after three losses in a nine-day period- all of them at home.

And the next manager on the block could Spurs' Andre Villas-Boas...

A lack of offense and a stagnant squad is causing the vultures to circle...

The players are behind their manager, but they need to improve their results instead of smacking the gums...

OSG Prem: Spurs Surrender Six To City...

((HT: NBCSports/BPL))

So much for having the toughest defense in the League...

13 seconds in, Jesus Navas placed a beautiful shot in the upper corner against Tottenham and it was profoundly downhill after that...

Manchester City gets 3 in each half and wins 6-nil at the Etihad...

The blowout win puts City up to fourth in the league with a league-leading goal differential of +21.

The loss is the worst in the league for Tottenham since a 6-1 loss to Chelsea in 1998. The shutout for Spurs is also the first time they have scoreless in three straight games since January of 2009.

Here's a lot of City offense...

OSG Prem: League Catching Hell For Lloris Treatment

Or a lack thereof...

Over the weekend, this happened in game to Tottenham goalie Hugo Lloris...


Lloris got treatment for the injury and 9 minutes of stoppage time were added to the game, but Lloris continued to play on in this case. Soccer fans thought this was heroic. The rest of the world thought, for the most part, that th Premier League is woefully behind in their addressing of sports injuries- especially head trauma like that...

Here's AVB after the match...
((HT: BPL/BBC))


Spurs head of medical services, Wayne Diesel, said he cleared Lloris: "Once the relevant tests and assessments were carried out, we were totally satisfied that he was fit to continue playing."

But that decision has drawn the ire of the PFA (the player's union), FIFA's equal to Diesel, and FIFPro (the international player's union)...

It seems that the world's premier football league is a decade behind in athlete's treatment...

Ted Lasso's Extended Cut

((HT: NBC Sports))

We all fell out when it was revealed that Tottenham Hotspurs brought in an American to be their new coach manager...

Here's the extended cut with Ted Lasso...

Deuce Rolled Out In Seattle

((HT: MLS/KING-TV))

Now, having elevated his game from Fulham to Spurs, Clint Dempsey is now officially back in Major League Soccer for a reported $9-million transfer fee and a Designated Player status of $32-million over the next four years...

"I am very excited about coming back to the MLS and thrilled to be joining Sounders FC," said Dempsey as part of the press release. "Having recently played in Seattle with the National Team, I experienced the incredible atmosphere and the passion from the supporters first-hand. It's going to be an honor to represent the fans in Seattle." Think Seattle is serious...???

“Major League Soccer is thrilled to have Clint Dempsey, arguably one of the best players the United States has ever produced, return to the league to play for the Sounders,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in the standard press release. “Clint could have played in any league throughout the world, and he chose MLS and the Sounders. Our vision is to become one of the best leagues in the world, and we look forward to Clint being a part of that legacy.”

Dempsey is expected to join the Sounders’ workouts Monday and is supposed to make his debut with the club next Saturday in Toronto.

His first home game is supposed to be the Cascadia match-up on the 25th, when the Sounders host Portland.
No pressure there or anything...

Dempsey was presented to the fans at Century Link Field before the game with FC Dallas- and, to no one's surprise, he's wearing the number 2... gear available for purchase now at mlssoccer.com

Here's part of the welcome... ((HT: MLS/Sounders FC))