Andrea Canales at Soccer365 with a feature on Clint Dempsey - Guts And Glory
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And in other Clint Dempsey news, the Deuce is engaged!
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The word sneaking up from Brazil via Globe Sporte is that DC United is going to sign a guy named Ruy Bueno Neto from Botafogo. The team website says he plays the Lateris position, but I am not sure what that means. It seems to me like it might mean outside back. But I really don't know. From the pictures I have seen, his most distinguished feature is his large head. It reminds me of the aliens in Mars Attacks.
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In other DC news, they have announced that John Maessner will take over as their Director of Youth Development. He replaces John Harkes who went to NYRB as Bruce Arena's assistant.
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And for those of you that don't know about this yet - Dan Stienberg at the Washington Post always has great insider DC United stuff on his D.C. Sports Bog. Totally worth reading, even just for the funny shit he writes!
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Colorado is installing the seats in the new stadium - snazzy!
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Buzz Carrick who does the great FC Dallas site 3rd Degree has been hired by ESPN's Soccernet to be their Mel Kiper for the MLS Superdraft. He breaks down the top prospects for goalkeepers and defenders, so far. More to come.
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Glenn Davis of the Houston Chronicle looks at the grooming of assistant coaches in MLS to become club leaders.
-Also wanted to tip you off to the fact that the website Glenn Davis uses to promote his radio show "The Soccer Hour" has become a blog too. Check it out now.
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Robert Wagman at Soccer Times looks at the USA U20 team and how he thinks it will shape up.
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I have recently been hipped to a great blog called EPL Talk. Tons of great insights, interviews and features on the top English league. In mid November they had a podcast of an interview with young American forward Johann Smith of Bolton. Great stuff. Thanks Gaffer!
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Jonah Freedman with his final World Soccer Power Rankings of 2006, from Sports Illustrated. And there is a new #1!
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Gabriele Marcotti, also of SI, talks to one of du Nord's favorite players - Hernan Crespo!! They talk about Inter (of course), Milan, Chelsea, Lazio and Argentina.
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The draw for next summers Copa America will be held on February 6.
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Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune with a 2006 year end wrap up.
7 comments:
happy new Year 2007, thx for your support
Another du nord favorite, Joey Franchino, has re-signed with New England. Rumors of his imminent move to watford were apparently unfounded.
Noonen too with Ningland.
My preferred source for obscure player info--Football Manager--lists Ruy as a 28-year old right midfielder, who can also play right back. They rank him as a very solid, but unspectacular in anything but his work rate. He is apparently out of contract on Dec 31st, so that would obviously fit well with a possible transfer.
If DC United signs a right wingback and with Nowak gone I wonder if they are going to change formations away from the 3-5-2 that Nowak adores. Actually, a 4-4-2 with Josh Gros playing left wingback and this dude Ruy playing right wingback and Boswell/Erpen anchoring the center could be pretty formidable.
Or they could stick with the 3 - 5 - 2
I will attach the link to the article below, but the article says that Ruy is a right-back who is one of the idols of the supporters of Botafogo. It also says that Ruy chose DC United over Panathinaikos, Fluminense, and Atletico Minas-Gerais, which, if true, is pretty impressive. What gives most credence to the article in my opinion is the inclusion of a statement from Ruy's agent stating that DC has very high expectations for Ruy as it had just gotten rid of two players so that Ruy could fit under the salary cap. If this is a false report, that is a lot of information about MLS player rules for a Brazilian to be familiar with, so it smells of truth to me. In any event, here is the link...
http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/0,,AA1400311-4399,00.html
Way to go, Clint.
Hubba. Hubba. Hubba.
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