I Heart Horse$hite News

Yuppers, It is finally real! Jeff Gammage of the Philadelphia Inquirer confirms that there is a 2pm eastern press conference in the suburb of Chester to announce a new MLS team for Philadelphia. MLS HQ has confirmed this as well!

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I was wondering why the USA Olympic team has not played a single game leading up to qualifying? Seems pretty odd doesn't it?

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I have no idea how in the world I missed this, and shame on all you readers for someone not bringing it to my attention - done of du Nord's favorite soccer writers Simon Kuper has been writing a series for Channel 4 on the collision of soccer players and politics. He is in the process of naming his Political Football First XI. The latest addition is the very controversial Paolo Di Canio.


MLS News

The Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily Mail website has a video of a good story and interview with the leader of the drive to bring MLS to Philadelphia - Nick Sakiewicz. (about 1:30 in)
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Another story in the Inquirer says the time is now for soccer in Philadelphia.
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Houston will formally introduce new Argentine forward Franco Caraccio today. He is 21 years old and has been playing for Arsenal de Sarandi.
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Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports says that despite getting whooped 6-1 by Gamba last weekend, everything is cool in Houston.
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle with the latest updates on new Dynamo investor Oscar De La Hoya. Expect the deal to be final on Friday.
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Four regular members of the LA Galaxy did not go to Asia with the rest of the team - Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan, Kelly Gray and Kevin Harmse. Buddle dislocated his collar bone in Hawaii. Donovan has tendonitis in his right knee, and the other two are for reasons unknown.
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Paul Oberjuerge of the LA Daily News feels that Ruud Gullit has what it takes to lead the Galaxy.
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Buzz Carrick of 3rd Degree gives us his weekly notes from FC Dallas training.
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Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune with an article on new RSL signing, Kenny Deuchar. He is a Scottish forward from Gretna. 3 or 4 years ago he was quite the goal scoring machine, but injuries have brought him back down to earth the past 2 seasons. He is also a medical doctor.
-The article notes that the team is "excited about adding an imposing presence to its stable of quick-but-small forwards". Um, Helloooooooo? Yura Movsysian anyone? The team has been raving about him all training camp.
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The Deseret Morning News on Dr Goal.
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The Electric New Paper of Singapore gives us the latest update on their native son Indra Sahdan and his try out with Salt Lake. I like how candid these stories have been.
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The Daily Utah Chronicle looks at the offseason additions to RSL.
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Dave Lifton at the US National Soccer Players Assoc does a Q & A with new Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers.
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Adam Smartschan of the Cape Cod Times talks to New England players and coaches about their recent training in Bermuda.
-Taylor Twellman was back to training at full speed with the team.
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Bob Luder of the Kansas City Star has a story on the newest Wizzer, rookie defender Chance Myers.
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The Topeka (Kansas) Capital-Journal with a good long article on the Kansas City Wizards as they prepare for 2008 and beyond.
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Keith Costigan of Fox Soccer Channel does a Q & A with Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
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Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star with an article on TFC midfielder Maurice Edu.
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FIFA.com with an article on former MetroStars forward Sergio Galvan Rey - The King Of Goals. Remember him and his distinct lack of goals at the Meadowlands?
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MLS Preseason Friendlies

Matches & Scores:
-Tue Feb 26
Dallas 0-0 SMU
-Wed Feb 27
Dorados (Mexico) v Chicago in Sinaloa
-Fri Feb 29
Chivas USA v UC Riverside at HDC
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The LA Galaxy match in Hong Kong on Mar 9 may not happen because there is a stadium booking conflict.
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MLS Rumors - Don't Tease Me Bro

MLS Rumors is reporting that the new Philly team will be called Philadelphia Independence FC.
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Soccer By Ives reports this morning that Columbus has acquired forward Nico Hernandez from Colorado, in exchange for young defender Tim Ward. Nico was really good two years ago, but last year not so much. People say Ward has a lot of potential. Let's see if these moves help.
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Dallas appears to be closing in on signing forward Reinaldo Navia from Argentine team Racing. He is Peruvian.
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Bob Luder of the Kansas City Star with the latest update on the Wizards pursuit of Argentine forward Claudio Lopez. Right now he is playing for Racing.
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Ben Knight of the On Soccer blog from the Toronto Globe & Mail updates us on the Ronnie O'Brien trade story.
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Dean McNulty of the Toronto Sun talks to TFC general manager Mo Johnston who says that the team has NOT traded Ronnie O'Brien away. They why did Ronnie go around the lockerroom and say goodbye to everyone. Plus some other smaller TFC news.
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Bernie Miklasz who is a columnist for the St Louis Post Dispatch dropped this nugget about the St Louis MLS bid ownership on to the newspapers message boards: "(Jeff) Cooper has lined up additional investors. He's closing in on a deal, trying to decide between three or four proposals. He also has a GM and coach in his sights." Wow!
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From FC Dallas Updates: Polish defender Mariusz Mowlik joined the team on Monday for a try out.
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Colorado is still quietly working on a deal bring Brazilian forward Reinaldo from Australian club the Queensland Roar.
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Americans In Europe

Ravi Ubha of Soccernet talks to Clint Dempsey about the struggling season for Fulham Football Club.
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Tuesday night game:
-Matt Pickens - Queens Park Rangers - on the bench for a 0-0 road draw at Barnsley.
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CONCACAF News

FIFA.com has an article on Shalrie Joseph, Jason Roberts and their national team of Grenada - the Spice Boyz.
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Dean McNulty writing about the independent organization called the Canadian Soccer Federation that is pushing as hard as they can to get the official soccer organization, Canadian Soccer Association, to improve dramatically. Don't let Jack Warner get wind of what you are doing or he will turn you over to Sepp Blatter and make you play by the bizarro rules.
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FMF

Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune writes about a new club just across the border in Tijuana - they are called Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente. What a great name.
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Copa Libertadores

Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Feb 26
Dep Univ San Martin 0-1 Universidad Catolica - goal by Dario Botinelli.
Estudiantes 0-0 Lanus
Caracas 2-1 Bamin Real Potosi - Car goals by Emilio Renteria & Ronald Vargas. Bam goal by Gonzal Galindo.
-Feb 27
Atletico Nacional v Sao Paulo
River Plate v America
Flamengo v Cienciano
-Feb 28
Cucuta Deportivo v San Jose
Maracaibo v Colo Colo
Cruzeiro v Caracas
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Group Stage Standings
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European News

The Times with an article that says in Europe as a whole, Spanish futbol is preferred to English futbah.
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Matches & Scores:
-Tue Feb 26
Juventus 0-0 Torino - the Turin derby ends goalless.
-Wed Feb 27
Inter v Roma
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Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not play for Inter tonight due to lingering knee problem.
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Euro League Cup Competitions

-French Coupe de la Ligue-
Semifinal Matches & Scores:
-Tue Feb 26
Paris Saint Germain 3-2 Auxerre
-Wed Feb 27
Le Mans v Lens
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-German DFB Pokal-
Quarterfinal Matches & Scores:
-Tue Feb 26
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Hoffenheim
Stuttgart 2-2 Carl Zeiss Jena Jena adv 5-4 on PK's.
-Wed Feb 27
Bayern Munchen v 1860 Munchen
Wolfsburg v Hamburger
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-Copa Del Rey-
Semifinal 1st leg Matches & Scores:
-Wed Feb 27
Barcelona v Valencia
-Thu Feb 28
Getafe v Racing Santander
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World News

The Guardian with an article on Israel and how they play in Europe instead of Asia like all the countries around them. Hell, even Africa makes more sense than Europe.
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The Australian A-League named Joel Griffiths of the Newcastle Jets as their Player Of The Year.
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Ravi Ubha of the Seattle Post Intelligencer with his quality world soccer news recap.
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Grahame Jones of the LA Times with his weekly world soccer news wrapup.