Big Sixteen Year Old News

A week ago I said that I was did not want to see a Houston v New England rematch for the MLS Cup. But I have changed my tune. I think hunger is burning hard enough in these two teams to produce a classic heavyweight style title bout. If both teams come out ready to destroy, this could be one for the ages. I don't mean wide open end to end burners. I mean head to head, nose to nose, toe to toe, all out struggle from both teams. Let us all hope.

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In a slightly surprise move, Dc United forward Luciano Emilio has been named the MLS Most Valuable Player. Many thought that Juan Pablo Angel was the favorite.

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Glenn Davis in the Houston Chronicle: I'll let you in on a secret marketing tool that brings soccer fans to the stadium: It's the team, its players and the style of play.

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From the Seattle Times: The MLS competition committee is going to allow the new Seattle team to protect some of the players currently on the Sounders roster, "which will hopefully help us move into MLS with a few of those really key players," part owner Adrian Hanauer said.

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In their first day of operations Seattle took order for 3000 season tickets. Off to a great start!

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There have been some great guests on the podcasts/radioshows this week leading up the final. You really need to listen to In The Net, From The Pitch & the Dynamo Power Hour this week. All three are linked over there in the sidebar. Also I am one of the guests on Major League Soccer Talk this week, so of course you have to listen to that. Download or listen to me now.


MLS Cup Finals
Sunday November 18 at High Noon eastern time from Washington DC's RFK Stadium & live on ABC/ABC-HD
New England v Houston
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The New England Revolution are lining up FREE buses to the MLS Cup final. They are not saying how many they will provide, but they do say its limited. Contact them asap: 1-877-GET-REVS or customerservice@revolutionsoccer.net.
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Sunday's game will be #371 for the Rev's Steve Ralston, which will be a record for top division games by one player in America.
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Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe with a story on New England defender Avery John.
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Steven Goff of the Washington Post with a story on New England's Steve Ralston. (Ralston made the du Nord best 11 this season!)
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle with a story on Dynamo defender Craig Waibel. Waibel is a guy that I have poked fun at in person and on this site, but I will admit that this season I have really come to respect him and enjoy what he brings to the field. Seriously.
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Fallas also has some Dynamo news and updates.
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Glenn Davis of the Chronicle with a story on the Houston fans and energy they give their team.
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Steven Goff of the Washington Post with a story on Houston's Nate Jaqua, who has a Washington DC connection - his father played football for the Redskins.
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FIFA.com has Q & A's with Dwayne De Rosario of Houston, and Michael Parkhurst of New England.
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The staff of American Soccer Daily make their predictions for the MLS Cup final.
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Allen Hopkins at Soccernet gives his scouting report on the Cup final.
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Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune has an article today talking about the imminent retirement of Fire forward Paulo Wanchope. I think its a good idea. The man has no legs left.
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Ivan Orozco writing for the San Bernardino County Sun ponders which Chivas USA players are going & staying for next season.
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Buzz Carrick of 3rd Degree with this weeks notes from his FC Dallas practice session visit. Including some great insight on assistant coach Oscar Pareja & a juicy rumor on Arturo Alvarez in the comments section.
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Jack Bell of the New York Times Goal blog breaks down the qualities of the MLS MVP nominees.
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MSNBC with an article on the added attention Lindsey Buckingham has brought to MLS, but what will have to happen for this buzz to continue and then grow. Good questions.
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The folks in St Louis feel it is a contest between them and Philadelphia for 1 MLS expansion spot. The Granite City Press Record has the story.
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Tom Timmerman of the St Louis Dispatch with a look at potential MLS owner Jeff Cooper, and their chances of landing that team they want so bad. It appears as though the big draw back in St Louis is finalizing their ownership group & finances.
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The Vancouver Sun with an article on the continuing battle to build a soccer stadium in their city.
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North American Club Friendlies
-Sat Nov 17
Guadalajara Chivas v Chivas USA - Benefit match for the victims of the Tabasco flood.
-Fri Nov 30
TT Pro League Foreign All-Stars v FC Dallas - the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
-Sun Dec 2
TT Pro League Local All-Stars v FC Dallas - the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
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South Africa v USA - The Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup
-Saturday November 17 at 8am central time.
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Official Team USA blog.
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More audio from US Soccer on the retirement of Chris Armas. Interviews with Bob Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley & Carlos Bocanegra. All three either coached or played with Armas in Chicago. Download and listen to em all.
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Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet looks ahead and previews South Africa v USA.
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Greg Seltzer of American Soccer Daily on the debut for Danny Szetela at Racing Santander in a league cup match.
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Yanks Abroad with an article on former USA youth international Sammy Ochoa who plays for UAdG Tecos in Mexico, but is looking to sign with a MLS team for next season.
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Mexican Premiera Playoffs
Matches & Scores:
First Round first leg
-Wed Nov 14
Pachuca 0-2 Cruz Azul - goals both by Julio Cesar Dominguez.
-Thu Nov 15
Morelia v America
First Round Second leg:
-Sat Nov 17
Cruz Azul v Pachuca
-Sun Nov 18
America v Morelia
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Copa Sudamericana - Semifinals
Second Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Nov 13
America 2-0 Millonarios - Club America are in the final winning 5-2 on aggregate. Goals both by Hernan Rodrigo Lopez.
-Wed Nov 14
River Plate 0-0 Arsenal - after 180 scoreless minutes Arsenal advance 4-2 on PK's.
-The 2 legged final, America v Arsenal, will take place the first two weeks of December. Exact dates TBD.
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The other day I mentioned the site MyFootballClub.com and how they bought English lower level team Ebbsfleet United. Well, you should listen to this interview from Chris/The Gaffer of EPL Talk with Tim Glynne-Jones of MyFootballClub. Good stuff. Download or listen now.


I don't have as many goodies as I would like in todays round up, but its the best you are going to get for now.