Friday: World Cup draw worries ..

England will not be in the top seeds for Sunday's 2010 World Cup draw in Durban, as the BBC reports.

Looks like Steve McClaren still thinks he has something to offer English football, as The Telegraph reports his offer of assistance in taking the game forward. Strange, as many would think it's down to him that we have progressively edged backwards.

Elsewhere, things look to have gone a bit sour at Liverpool with manager Rafa Benitez not impressing his American owners in the way he might have wished.

Maybe he should appease them by turning his attention to that almost-forgotten US wonderkid Freddy Adu?

The quick-footed Yank was grabbing all the headlines a few years ago before fading into relative obscurity, but it looks as if he is beginning to rediscover his razzamatazz - this week he grabbed the clincher for Benfica to send the Portuguese side top of the Super Liga. Check out the goal here.

http://www.soccerblog.com/2007/11/freddyaduishewaking_up.htm

Jewell snuffs the JJB ..

Arsenal reclaimed top spot last night - click here for the goals in the 3-1 win at Reading.

Plenty to get your teeth into elsewhere this morning, including, amongst other things ..

• Jewell saying 'no',
• Al Fayed saying 'yes'
• and Megson saying 'don't you dare'.

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Monday: Weekend reaction

Some great comment across the football world this morning - Isporty hopes you don't have any plans for the next few hours.

Check out some sympathetic Villa comments to the 2-1 win at bitter rivals Birmingham City .. not .. the stable squad currently on offer at Tottenham Hotspur .. not .. and more misery for Arsenal fans .. not.

How very predictable ..

Thursday: United and Arsenal progress ..

All very simple for Arsenal and Manchester United who are through to the Champions League knockout stages.

Check out all the goals from United's 4-0 win against Dynamo Kiev, and while Arsenal failed to stick one in the onion bag, you can at least savour Online Gooner's assessment of what Arsene may be up to in the January transfer window.

Top story - City star in shrink-(w)rap

Best story of the afternoon so far is undoubtedly former England manager Bobby Robson's claim that Manchester City man Stephen Ireland needs "professional help" following his jaw-dropping pant-dropping antics on Monday night. Setanta take up the story.

I'm sure his 14 grandmothers would agree ...

Back on the footy front, Liverpool, Celtic and Chelsea have thrown down the challenge as tonight's Champions League counterparts prepare for battle.

Manchester United host Dynamo Kiev at Old Trafford - check out the excellent BBC preview for more on that one, while Rangers have a somewhat tougher task as they are away to Barcelona.

But eyes also on Arsenal having been upstaged in the goal stakes last night by that lot at Anfield. Again, the BBC do the duties.

Wednesday AM: Israeli legends - Benayoun joins the Rosenthal club ...

Plenty to get excited about in football-land this morning - Liverpool hitting eight - see the goals here; Niall Quinn hitting out at Mike Ashley ahead of this weekend's North-East derby and Arsene Wenger hitting Alex Ferguson. Well .. almost.

Check out all of Isporty's exclusive news digest feeds on the right of this page, for the best in the web's news, blogs, views, and slogs, plus the latest video and photo action including BBC 5Live's exclusive 'Your Football' campaign giving you the chance to showcase your skills and memories to the internet world. (So you'd better make it good!)

Brooking on imports ..

The FA's Director of Development, Trevor Brooking (pictured), has waited for the transfer window to slam shut before tearing into the foreigners who are supposedly hampering England's chances of World Cup success, as Reuters reports. (Surely it has more to do with our failure to be able to score from the 12 yard spot?)

Meanwhile, one of those aforementioned imports, Chelsea's Michael Ballack, will have to suffer picking up his £130,000/week salary without kicking a ball in anger for a while longer, as 4 The Game confirms that his manager Jose Mourinho won't be rushing the German international back from injury. See the story here.