Braying Like A Jackass News

ESPN has dropped MLS Thursday! Not surprising seeing that no real soccer fan was excited about Thursday nights, but this is sad. They will carry a "Game of the Week" though. It will be played on different nights depending on the game and time of year. Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal with the details.
-Now here is the real disaster in this story: "ESPN plans to program matches after college football, NIT basketball, the College World Series, motorsports and U.S. Open tennis." What this means is more lead in sports running over time and pushing MLS games back, but we all know that means we will miss the beginnings of games. This is horrible news.

~and~

Greg Seltzer of No Short Corners has a video clip of Landon Donovan scoring a fantastic goal today in a 2-0 friendly win at Kasierslautern.


MLS Team News

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Sporting Life in England with a story on LA draft pick Kyle Patterson.
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NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Brian Quarstad of Inside Minnesota Soccer has an interview (audio included) with Revs draft pick Andrei Gotsmanov from Woodbury, MN.
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REAL SALT LAKE

Greg Seltzer of Soccer 365 reports that contrary to news last week, fullback Ian Joy is NOT signing with Fortuna Dusseldorf, but is returning to play for RSL this season.
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Forward Kenny Deuchar has left the team and been signed by Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League.
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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Midfielder Arturo Alvarez is seeking an El Salvadoran passport so he can play for their national team. The Trinidad & Tobago Express has the story.
-But Soccer By Ives reports: Upon closer inspection, Alvarez will be denied the opportunity to join Los Cuscatlecos. Alvarez represented the United States at the U-20 level in the qualification tournament for the 2005 FIFA Youth World Championship. With Alvarez currently being 23 years old, he can no longer apply for the one-time National Team switch. Per FIFA guidelines, a player can only make the change before his 21st birthday, which means that the Houston native can only play for the U.S. national team."
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TORONTO FC

Nigel Reed of the CBC reports that TFC are "very close to signing a South American striker."
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Jason de Vos also of the CBC wonders why we didn't see "Trader Mo" on draft day.
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Midfielder Johann Smith is in Croatia on a try out with a club called HNK Rijeka. HNK stands for Croatian Football Club.
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GENERAL

Greg Lalas at Sports Illustrated ponders the future of the SuperDraft. I think it will have less impact every year.
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Investment News with an article on former MLS Rookie of the Year Kyle Martino who since retirement has joined the world of finance.
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Kyle McCarthy of Goal.com grades how the teams did at the draft.
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MLS Expansion News

Jeff Rusnack of the South Florida Sun Sentinel with the latest on Barcelona's bid.
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Team USA

The team's official blog.
-Rico Clark - out with an injured toe, supposedly not too serious
-An audio interview with goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Download or listen here. Really good stuff.
-Video of goalkeeper training.
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Luis Bueno of the Touchline was watching Futbol Picante from Mexico and tells us about a conversation between host & guests comparing the USA and Mexico. Great stuff.
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Goal.com has Part 2 of a Q & A with USA assistant coach John Hackworth.
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Andrea Canales of Goal.com with an article on 2 players trying to make an impact for the USA - John Thorrington and Ugo Ihemelu.
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The Rennes website has a Q & A with Carlos Bocanegra - but its in French, so I will have to ask a coworker to translate for me. I suggest you do the same. Thanks to PRC for sending it my way.
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USA U18 News

The USA U18's have won the Gold Medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
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Matches & Scores:
-Thu Jan 15
USA 1-1 Chile - USA goal by Amobi Okugo. Chil goal by Jose Silva.
Match report from US Soccer.
Australia 7-1 China
-Fri Jan 16
USA 14-0 China - scoring details unknown at this time
Australia 2-2 Chile
-Sun Jan 18
USA 5-0 Australia - USA goals by Will Bates(2), Miles Byass, Jose Altamirano & Hasani Sinclair(PK).
Match report from the tournament website.
Match report from US Soccer.
Chile 11-0 China
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Final Point Standings:
7 USA (Goals Scored 20 - Goals Allowed 1)
5 Chile (Goals Scored 14 - Goals Allowed 3)
4 Australia (Goals Scored 9 - Goals Allowed 8)
0 China (Goals Scored 1 - Goals Allowed 32)
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USA U17 News

Justin Rodriguez at ESPN Soccernet reports that talented by troubled midfielder Carlos Martinez is back with the US Soccer Residency program. It's good to get a second chance.
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Soccer In America

The Jamaican Observer with an article on Gillie Heron who broke the professional soccer color barrier in the USA and at Celtic.
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Americans In Europe

The Observer with an article on Clint Dempsey. (Posted before this weekends games.)
-Fulham ended up losing for the first time in 15 games, 3-1 at West Ham.
-Word on the street also has it that Clint's wife has given birth to their first child - no other details available. Massive congrats to them!
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Greg Seltzer of Soccer 365 talks to Marcus Tracy about signing with Aalborg in Denmark rather than playing in MLS.
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Here is what is on the docket for Landon Donovan and Bayern Munich over the next 2 weeks:
-Friendlies:
Bayern Munich 3-0 Bamberg -Sat Jan 17 - the game was played on a snow covered pitch with an orange ball. LD came on at half time already up 2-0 and did not figure in the last goal.
Bayern Munich 2-0 Kaiserslautern - Mon Jan 19 - LD came on as a sub in the 62nd minute and scored on a great glancing header to seal the win.
Match report from the Bayern website.
Bayern Munich v Mainz - Thu Jan 22
-DFB Pokal Round of 16:
Stuttgart v Bayern Munich - Tue Jan 27
-Bundesliga:
Hamburger v Bayern Munich - Fri Jan 30
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MOST RECENT MATCHES
(only players who saw the field are listed)

English Premiership
-Clint Dempsey - Fulham - played the entire match but was beaten 3-1 at West Ham.
-Brad Friedel - Aston Villa - went the full 90 and beat Sunderland 1-2 on the road.
-Tim Howard - Everton - went the distance and drew 1-1 at Liverpool in the derby.
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English Championship
-Jay DeMerit - Watford - played the full 90 minutes but they lost 0-2 at home against Sheffield United.
-Eddie Johnson - Cardiff City - came on as a sub in the 82nd minute, as they drew 1-1 at Birmingham.
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English League One
-Jemal Johnson - Milton Keynes - went the distance as they lost at Carlisle United 3-2.
-Zak Whitbread - Millwall - played all 90 minutes, was Yellow Carded and won 1-0 at home over Tranmere.
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French Ligue 1
-Carlos Bocanegra - Rennes - went the full 90 but lost 1-0 on an own goal at Lille.
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Belgian Jupiler League
-Oguchi Onyewu - Standard Liege - played the full match, unluckily scored an own goal, but they none the less won 3-2 at home over Dender.
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Dutch Erste Divisie
-Charles Kazlauskas - TOP/Oss - played the full match but they lost 2-0 at Dordrecht.
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CONCACAF News

International Friendly Match & Score:
-Sun Jan 19
Honduras 2-0 Chile - Hond goals by Carlos Pavon & Amado Guevara.
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CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying News

Luis Bueno of The Touchline reports on Mexican players that will or could be out of action against the USA next month.
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Mexico & FMF News

Clausura Round 1 Matches & Scores:
-Fri Jan 16
UAdG 1-2 Indios Juarez
-Sat Jan 17
Chiapas 2-1 Atlas
Monterrey 4-0 Puebla
Guadalajara 3-3 Cruz Azul
Morelia 0-0 San Luis
Necaxa 1-2 UNAM
-Sun Jan 18
Toluca 3-3 Atlante
Pachuca 4-1 UANL
Santos Laguna 1-2 America
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Standings
3 Monterrey +4
3 Pachuca +3
3 Indios +1
3 Jaguares +1
3 Pumas +1
3 America +1
1 Guadalajara 0
1 Cruz Azul 0
1 Morelia 0
1 San Luis 0
1 Toluca 0
1 Atlante 0
0 Tecos -1
0 Atlas -1
0 Santos Laguna -1
0 Necaxa -1
0 Tigres -3
0 Puebla -4
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England News

Manchester City has signed Craig Bellamy from West Ham, and Nigel de Jong from Hamburg.
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Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in 10 straight league matches now. Stunning statistic.
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Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has suffered torn ligaments in his knee and will miss the rest of this season. For a player I used to despise I was really starting to grow fond of him. That is really too bad. Get well soon.
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John Molinaro of the CBC feels that Kaka should not go anywhere near Manchester City. Here Here!
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Barry Glendenning of the Guardian tries to figure out just what is OK and not OK for fans to yell at players. Racism, sexism & homophobia are clearly out, but what is the next line?
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John Ashdown of the Guardian reviews the weekend from the Football League's.
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A long time writer from the Observer is glad to be done covering the game as a journalist, and tries to find a way to love it again in civilian life.
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FIFA.com has a Q & A with Manchester United & Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
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LEAGUE CUP
Semifinal 2nd leg Matches & scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Jan 20
Manchester United v Derby (0-1)
-Wed Jan 21
Burnley v Tottenham (1-4)
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European News

GERMANY

Lukas Podolski of Bayern Munich has been asking to leave team, but it will not happen until summer when he goes back to his original team Cologne or Koln as its really spelled.
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Werder Bremen midfield star Diego was arrested Sunday night on charges of drunk driving.
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Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has retired due to recurring injuries.
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ITALY

Paolo Bandini of the Guardian on Inter's lashing from Atalanta and coach Jose Mourinho, and reviews the rest of Serie A.
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Football Italia with a review of Round 19 in Serie A.
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Alberto Cerruti of Gazzetta dello Sport rates the Serie A teams performances this round. Atalanta scores a 9!
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Copa Italia
Quarterfinal Matches & Scores:
-Wed Jan 21
Inter Milan v Roma
Udinese v Sampdoria
-Thu Jan 22
Lazio v Torino
Napoli v Juventus
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NETHERLANDS

Leander Schaerlaekens of the Guardian on a players revolt at Feyenoord, and reviews the rest of the Eredivisie.
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KNVB Beker
Round of 16 Matches & Scores:
-Tue Jan 20
ADO Den Haag v Twente
FC Dordrecht v De Graafschap
Feyenoord v SC Heerenveen
-Wed Jan 21
AZ v Achilles 29
NEC v Sparta
Roda JC v FC Lienden
Volendam v SBV Excelsior
NAC v Groningen
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SPAIN

Sid Lowe of the Guardian on the demise of Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon, and reviews the rest of La Liga.
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Eduardo Alvarez of the ESPN Soccernet also writes about the end of Calderon.
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Reuters reports that Real Madrid fans are being investigated for "fascist gestures and chanting fascist slogans."
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Copa del Rey
Quarterfinal 1st leg Matches & Scores:
-Wed Jan 21
Athletic Bilbao v Sporting Gijon
Espanyol v Barcelona
Mallorca v Real Betis
Valencia v Sevilla
Quarterfinal 2nd leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Wed Jan 28
Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona v Espanyol
Real Betis v Mallorca
Sevilla v Valencia
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The Weekends Biggest Club Matches From Around The World

England
-Sun Jan 18
West Ham 3-1 Fulham - a big win for the Hammers in another of the London derbys
-Mon Jan 19
Liverpool 1-1 Everton - the Liverpool derby - the point ties the Liverpeople with Man U at the top, but the Devils have a game in hand.
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Italy
-Sat Jan 17
Milan 1-0 Fiorentina - Milan made a good move near the top of the table, while Fiore continued to flounder
-Sun Jan 18
Lazio 1-1 Juventus - Juve gained one point on the leaders Inter who lost.
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Top Of The European Club Standings & Top Goal Scorers

Spanish Primera Division - after 19 of 38 played
50 Barcelona
38 Real Madrid
38 Sevilla
34 Valencia
33 Villarreal
- - - - -
18 Samuel Eto'o - Barcelona
15 David Villa - Valencia
12 Diego Forlan - Atletico Madrid
12 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
12 Gonzalo Higuain - Real Madrid
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Scottish Premier League - after 22 of 38 played
51 Celtic
49 Rangers
36 Aberdeen
35 Dundee United
35 Heart of Midlothian
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20 Kris Boyd - Rangers
12 Georgios Samaras - Celtic
9 Chris Porter - Motherwell
8 Lee Miller - Aberdeen
8 Steve Lovell - Falkirk
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English Premier League - after 22 of 38 played
47 Manchester United (only played 21)
47 Liverpool
45 Chelsea
44 Aston Villa
41 Arsenal
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14 Nicolas Anelka - Chelsea
11 Robinho - Manchester City
10 Amr Zaki - Wigan
9 Frank Lampard - Chelsea
9 Gabriel Agbonlahor - Aston Villa
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Italian Serie A - after 19 of 38 played
43 Inter Milan
40 Juventus
37 AC Milan
35 Genoa
33 Napoli
- - - - -
14 Marco Di Vaio - Bologna
12 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Inter
12 Alberto Gilardino - Fiorentina
12 Alberto Diego Milito - Genoa
11 Amauri - Juventus
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French Ligue 1 - after 21 of 38 played
42 Lyon
41 Bordeaux
38 Marseille
37 Rennes
37 Toulouse
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13 Andre-Pierre Gignac - Toulouse
12 Fernando Cavenaghi - Bordeaux
12 Guillaume Hoarau - Paris Saint-Germain
10 Karim Benzema - Lyon
9 Michel Fernandes Bastos - Lille
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Dutch Eredivisie - after 18 of 34 played
44 AZ Alkmaar
41 Ajax Amsterdam
37 Twente Enschede
32 Heerenveen
31 PSV Eindhoven
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15 Mounir El Hamdaoui - AZ Alkmaar
13 Frank Demouge - Willem II Tilburg
13 Marcus Berg - FC Groningen
12 Danijel Pranjic - Heerenveen
12 Matthew Amoah - NAC Breda
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World News

Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune writes that the bigger the money gets at clubs the less the fans will feel a real to their team.
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Fans at FIFA.com have voted on the 2008 Team of the Year:
G:
Iker Casillas
D:
Sergio Ramos
John Terry
Carles Puyol
Phillip Lahm
M:
Kaka
Steven Gerrard
Xavi
Franck Ribery
F:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
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FIFA News

Spain & Portugal have announced that they will bid for co-hosting the 2018 World Cup.