“Aston Villa can confirm that Martin O’Neill has resigned as manager of the football club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.
“Kevin MacDonald, reserve team manager, has assumed the role of caretaker manager and will prepare the team for the opening Premier League game of the season against West Ham on Saturday at Villa Park.” [O'Neill resigns as Aston Villa manager]

Great. We’re definitely effed now. With the loss of our manager so close to the beginning of the season now, Aston Villa have an even MORE insurmountable challenge in front of us.

“Um, wuh, that’s not out yet?”

SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

To be fair, it was the 5th goal her team allowed. Now you know why: they are stupid. [h/t Deadspin]

…the Dutch been here for years. Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have hit a screamer against Uruguay in the World Cup semifinals, but it wasn’t his first. Hell, it wasn’t even his first from THAT EXACT SPOT.

At least I didn’t do it this time, right? Bad officiating, but it’s been an exciting cup so far.

Goodness, poor Preston Burpo. Sure, we played like ass once we were down to 9 players, but DAY-UMN, his leg injury was gnarly. You would think Angel’s diving header would have been enough to inspire us forward, but I guess not?

I won’t post this clip on the front page as it is GRAPHIC, but check it out “after the jump” (more…)

Cute. Clever. Funny.

I still hate him, though.

Getty Images for Red Bull New York

After a string of losses and a sudden inability to create anything substantial offensively, Red Bull New York rebounded yesterday with a 3-1 win over Italian Serie A great, Juventus. Granted, according to David Trezeguet, “these matches count for little,” it was still a great day of soccer from both the Italian side and our own Bulls (who I only call the “Pink Cows” when they can’t seem to effing score or play like arse).

Greg Sutton was solid in goal, making the saves required of him and despite the late Amauri goal, he was pretty good. We’ll obviously be seeing him again on Wednesday in the US Open Cup match against Colorado, so hopefully the team we fielded Sunday will be back in front of him.

While Conor Chinn was Man of the Match, it should be noted that Irvinho (you people can call him Irving Garcia, but this kid is a beast!), played another bonkers game. He’s earned some starts in league play and maybe bringing Dane Richards off the bench as a super sub might be the boost we need right now.

Photo: Getty Images via MLS

It’s tough watching the team struggle like they are. I used to find a way to blame Jon Conway, but right now, we’re very offensively stagnant and/or unlucky. Despite having the majority of possession, we aren’t attacking very well and are allowing the opposing teams to fall back into a defensive shell. It’s ugly footie, frankly. Last night’s 3-1 loss only highlights exactly what is wrong with the team: without creative people feeding Angel the ball (Lindpere and Nielsen were both out) we are pretty much a “bang it long and hope someone flicks it on goal” sort of team.

That or we flick it in. Like Salou or, last night, Tony Tchani.

Can Dane develop a “football mind?” I have no idea. Where’s Jozy when you need him? Thierry Henry might help, but the worst result from last night should have been a draw. That we also BLED three goals defensively (one 5 minutes after “Team Glidden” first scored and the clincher just after we had pulled one back), shows how little composure we have defensively. That’s not a skill issue. Someone needs to step up.