SOCCER TV THIS WEEK

Thursday, September 18
3:00pm Tottenham vs Wisla Krakow, FSC, FSE, UEFA Cup
7:00pm New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew, ESPN 360, ESPND, MLS
8:00pm James Madison vs Penn State, FSC, Women’s College Soccer

Friday, September 19
2:30pm Leverkusen vs Hannover 96, P2P, Setanta Sports 1, Germany
8:00pm Charleston vs Carolina FSC, USA United Soccer League
8:00pm Puerto Rico vs Atlanta, USLLive.com, USA United Soccer League
11:00pm Stanford vs Creighton, FSC, Men’s College Soccer

Saturday, September 20
7:00am Sunderland vs Middlesbrough, Setanta Sports, England Premier
7:30am Aberdeen vs Dundee Utd, Setanta Sports, Scotland Premier League
10:00am West Ham United vs Newcastle United, FSC, England Premier League
10:00am Liverpool vs Stoke City Setanta Sports, England Premier League
11:00am Dinamo Moscow vs Yfk Shinnik Yaroslav, ESPN 360, Russia Premier
2:15pm Sunderland vs Middlesbrough, Setanta Sports, Delayed, England
2:30pm Roma vs Reggina FSC, Italy Serie A
3:00pm Blackburn vs Fulham, Setanta Sports, Delayed, England Premier
4:30pm Catania vs Atlanta, FSC, FSWC, Delayed, Italy Serie A
5:45pm Liverpool vs Stoke City, Setanta Sports USA, Delayed, England
6:00pm Monterrey vs Morelia, Galavision, Mexico Primera Division
8:00pm Toronto Fc vs Kansas City Wizards, Hdnet, USA Major League Soccer
8:05pm Montreal vs Minnesota, USLLive.com, USA United Soccer League
10:00pm Necaxa vs Toluca, Telefutura, Mexico Primera Division
10:00pm Seattle vs Vancouver, USLLive.com, USA United Soccer League
11:00pm La Galaxy vs Dc United, FSC, FSE, USA Major League Soccer

Sunday, September 21
7:00am West Brom vs Aston Villa, Setanta Sports, England Premier League
8:30am Chelsea vs Manchester United, FSC, England Premier League
10:00am Manchester City vs Portsmouth, Setanta Sports, England Premier
11:00am Kilmarnock vs Celtic, Setanta Sports, Scotland Premier League
11:00am Torino vs Inter Milan, ESPN 360, FSC, Italy Serie A
1:00pm Marseille vs Monaco, P2P, Setanta Sports, France
1:00pm Boca Juniors vs Tigre, ESPND, Argentina Primera Division
1:00pm Unam vs San Luis, Univision, Mexico Primera Division
1:00pm Puebla vs Tigres, ESPND, FSE, Mexico Primera Division
2:30pm Ac Milan vs Lazio, ESPN 360, FSC, Live, Italy Serie A
3:00pm Fc Dallas vs Chicago Fire, Telefutura, USA Major League Soccer
4:30pm Tottenham vs Wigan, FSC, Delayed, England Premier League
5:00pm Hull City vs Everton, Setanta Sports USA, Delayed, England Premier

Monday, September 22


Tuesday, September 23
2:30pm Swansea vs Cardiff, Setanta Sports, England Carling Cup
2:45pm Swansea City vs Cardiff City, P2P, England Carling Cup
8:00pm San Francisco (pan) vs. Houston (usa), FSC, CONCACAF Champions
11:00pm Pr Islanders (pur) vs. Santos (mex), FSZC, CONCACAF Champions


Wednesday, September 23
8:00pm Joe Public (tri) vs. Cd Olimpia (hon), FSC, CONCACAF Champions
10:00pm Marathon (hon) vs. Dc United (usa), FSC, CONCACAF Champions

Chelsea Essien Done

Chelsea look set to be without Michael Essien for the rest of the year after it was confirmed the midfielder would need surgery on a knee injury

The 25-year-old suffered the problem while on international duty with Ghana.

A club statement read: "Michael has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to happen in a week's time.

"In the meantime, Michael has started rehab in the aqua therapy centre at Cobham which will improve the condition of the knee prior to surgery. A return to full fitness is not expected for several months."

USA Moves Up in Rankings

United States climbed three spots to No. 28.

European champion Spain held onto the top spot in the FIFA world rankings as it prepares to begin World Cup qualifying, while the World champion Italy moved up one place to second, swapping positions with Euro 2008 runner-up Germany in rankings dominated by Europe. The Netherlands and Croatia rounded out the top 5, followed by the top two teams from South America, Brazil and Argentina.

The Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey rounded out the top 10.

Mexico made the biggest move among the leading nations, rising eight places to No. 24 and topping CONCACAF countries. The United States moved ahead of Colombia, Poland and Sweden.

David Beckham on Sesame Street

You know you are large when you reach Sesame Street. Thats big time in my eyes.

Sean Paul is a Futbolr!

We caught up with Grammy award winning Reggae artist Sean Paul buying Futbolr wear in NYC!

Berbatov joins United for £30.75million

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed they have FINALLY agreed to sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for £30.75million with Frazier Campbell moving the other way on a season's loan. This is good pick up for Manchester United but hate to see the Young Frazier Campbell leave. He was exciting to watch in week 1.

Robinho Signs with Man. City

Man City beat Chelsea to Robinho
Robinho stated on Sunday he wanted to leave Real Madrid
Manchester City have beaten Chelsea to the signing of Brazilian forward Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record transfer fee of about £32.5m.

Chelsea had been chasing the 24-year-old but City have captured him on a four-year deal with a late bid.
After missing out on Robinho Chelsea issued a statement saying they were unable to agree a deal with Real as they were not prepared to pay the Spanish club's asking price.

City made the audacious attempt to sign Robinho on transfer deadline day after earlier agreeing to a takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Hughes added: "I have said that in order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this calibre, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.

"I am really looking forward to introducing him to the rest of the squad, and to the City fans at the earliest opportunity."

He appears to have been unhappy with Real and their willingness to sell him to fund a failed move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

"We have sold Robinho for reasons of a human nature and for sporting reasons," Calderon told Spanish television station Veo.

"The fact that he has accepted an offer from Manchester City says that he is not going for sporting reasons.

"It's an important sum of money. It's not the objective of Real Madrid to sell players, neither do we need the money, but for reasons of human and sporting nature, it has been decided this is for the best.

"It's a decision agreed by all the coaching staff, who understand it is best for the player and for the club.

He's a great kid, but badly advised

Real president Ramon Calderon on Robinho
"(Coach Bernd) Schuster thought until yesterday that he could recover the player, but that has not been the case.

"Every time I have spoken with him he was very sad, crying and asking to leave Spain. Real Madrid are more important than any one player.

"He's a great kid, but badly advised."

Chelsea had been favourites to sign Robinho but Real apparently refused to sanction a switch for him to join them as they were upset at the Stamford Bridge club's conduct in the matter.

Robinho could now make his debut for City in their next league game, which is ironically against Chelsea on 13 September.

He joins up with fellow Brazilian Jo at City after he moved to the club from CSKA Moscow.

Robinho is a regular in the Brazil side and helped Santos win their first league title as an 18-year-old in 2002.

He drew comparisons with Brazilian legend Pele and joined Real from Santos in August 2005 after pressing for a move.

Robinho struggled in his first season but won the Spanish title under coach Fabio Capello in 2007.

A player with pace and trickery, he came into his own last season when he scored 11 goals in 32 outings to help Real to a second successive La Liga crown.

He was also top scorer with six goals when Brazil won the 2007 Copa America.