Eurosport: Aston Villa v Liverpool (22/05/11)

Survival Sunday! And I get perhaps the dullest assignment of the league that day...

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/premier-league/2010-2011/aston-villa-liverpool-381500.html
Live text updates

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22052011/58/premier-league-villa-liverpool.html
Match report

Charlton Live vs CAFC Press - The Crossbar Challenge (16/05/11)

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/9038174.Charlton_s_media_team_put_fans_in_their_place/

Eurosport: One mad week

Hectic isn't the word for the last 7 days as I took on four games for Eurosport. Makes up for the impending lack of work over the summer, I guess.

Firstly, there was the La Liga Monday kick-off between Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/la-liga/2010-2011/rcd-espanyol-athletic-bilbao-393677.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02052011/58/la-liga-espanyol-overcome-athletic-bilbao.html

Then on Wednesday it was upset time as Inverness CT defeated Celtic:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/spl/2010-2011/inverness-caledonian-thistle-celtic-381650.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05052011/58/spl-super-caley-deal-celtic-title-blow.html

Thursday was the day Sporting Braga won an all-Portugese Europa League semi to set up an all-Portugese final, their first ever European final to boot:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/europa-league/2010-2011/sporting-braga-benfica-384054.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05052011/58/europa-league-braga-edge-benfica-final.html

And on Sunday, Celtic made amends for the midweek defeat to keep their title hopes alive at Kilmarnock:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/spl/2010-2011/kilmarnock-celtic-441970.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08052011/58/spl-celtic-stay-title-race-killie-win.html

Walsall 2-0 Charlton, 30/04/2011

Final away trip of the season for the Addicks, and it was defeat to Walsall which at the very least, made it almost impossible for Bristol Rovers and their diving player-manager to survive:

Preview article:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/9001905.Elliot_and_Wagstaff_return_at_Walsall/

Match report:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/9002001.Struggling_Saddlers_see_off_Addicks/

My MEN debut

Charlton v Rochdale on Bank Holiday Monday saw me contribute my first work for Manchester Evening News, who needed a local journo to help out over the Easter weekend.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/rochdale/s/1418935_charlton-3-rochdale-1

Eurosport: Clasico Cup Final (20/04/11)

Match updates: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/copa-del-rey/2010-2011/fc-barcelona-real-madrid-430980.html

Report: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21042011/58/la-liga-ronaldo-fires-real-copa-glory.html

Eurosport: QPR v Derby (18/04/11)

Match updates: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/championship/2010-2011/queens-park-rangers-derby-county-382119.html

Report: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19042011/58/championship-derby-delay-qpr-promotion-party.html

Powell still weighing up Addicks squad

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/8979780.Powell_still_weighing_up_Addicks_squad/

April Catch-Up

A week in Las Vegas, Nevada meant a slight fall behind with archiving links, though a fresh blog or two in the next couple of weeks should make up for that. Expect another MLS musing as well as my thoughts on the fabulous 'Action Heroes' boxing card from Golden Boy Promotions at the MGM Garden Arena, my first live American boxing experience.

Anyway, here's the rest of the Charlton-related links, starting with my trip up for the away game against Rochdale:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/8940223.Reid_dropped_for_Rochdale_clash/

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/8940284.Out_of_sorts_Addicks_lose_again_at__Dale/

Next, the Addicks finally ended their winless run at home to Leyton Orient. I joined Charlton Live colleague Terry Smith in the gantry for official club video commentary for this one, but got the thoughts of unlikely goal scorer Jose Semedo following the 3-1 victory:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/football/charlton/8951616.Semedo__I_want_to_stay_at_Charlton_for_life/

MLS: A Transatlantic View Of 2011

Major League Soccer continued its uphill struggle for acceptance in both the world football scene and as a domestic sport with the beginning of their 2011 league season last week.

The nation's growing contingent of soccer fans and investors will see the new campaign as their opportunity to bounce back from the heartbreak of missing out on hosting the 2022 World Cup.

And with an expansion of teams, the return of the reserve league and more significant restructures to financial caps and contract laws, it's difficult to argue that the loss of the showpiece tournament to Qatar has derailed America's long term plans to build their profile.