Plan For Pantsless Partying News

Heads Up: I will be on Denver radio Thursday morning with Marcelo Balboa and Brian Forbes and their show From the Pitch. 10am-Noon Mountain Time. I was on once before with just Brian and we had a great conversation. I hope to repeat that performance. Tune in online at Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510. I'm excited.

~and~

The Central American Championship kicks off on Thursday. See the UNCAF section for details.


MLS Team News

CHICAGO FIRE

Here is the teams tentative pre-season schedule:
-Jan 24 & 25: arrival and preseason physicals at Toyota Park
-Jan 26 - Feb 11: training at IMG Academy in Bradenton FL
-Feb 1: match v University of Central Florida
-Feb 4: match v Kansas City Wizards
-Feb 7: match v Puerto Rico Islanders
-Feb 10: match v Toronto FC
More TBA
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COLORADO RAPIDS

I linked to this the other day in the Team USA section, but I realized that Colorado fans may have missed it - US Soccer has an audio interview with new goalkeeper Matt Pickens. It's quite an interesting conversation.
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COLUMBUS CREW

Shawn Mitchell on his blog Covering the Crew gives us an update on Chad Marshall's knee injury.
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FC DALLAS

The team blog has a little insight into the teams first training session of the new year, this morning.
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KANSAS CITY WIZARDS

The team has signed contract extentions with midfielders Davy Arnaud & Jack Jewsbury.
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The KC Star with an article on the team as they open preseason training.
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Here is their general preseason schedule:
-Jan 20 - Jan 27: training in KC at Swope Park Training Center or KC Sports Lodge
-Jan 29 – Feb 11: training Camp in Bradenton FL
-Feb 13 – Feb 17: training in Kansas City
-Feb 19 – Mar 4: training Camp in Guadalajara Mexico
More TBA
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LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Last years Rookie Of The Year, defender Sean Franklin, has gone to Germany to have surgery for bilateral sports hernia. He will be ready for action in about a month.
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Neither Joe Franchino or Alvaro Pires were on the teams training camp roster. But Tony Sanneh was. Yes, that Tony Sanneh.
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RED BULL NEW YORK

NYRB announced that centerback Mike Petke has signed a new contract.
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The official team blog has word on how the first day of training went, and asks a couple of questions from a new rookie Nick Zimmerman.
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Metrofanatic has a Q & A with draft pick Jack Traynor.
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Midfielder Dane Richards will be a part of the Jamaican national team that takes on Nigeria next month.
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REAL SALT LAKE

Michael C Lewis of the Tribune and James Edward of the Deseret News both with articles on the teams 1st round draft pick Jean Alexandre of Haiti via Florida.
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SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Jose Romero of the Seattle Times has the SSFC training camp roster.
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TORONTO FC

Greg Seltzer of No Short Corners tells us that Johann Smith actually TURNED DOWN an offer for a try out with HNK Rijeka in Croatia.
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GENERAL

Jeff Bradley at MLSnet gives us his First XI. Things to look forward to in 09.
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The first episode of 2009 for MLS's online show Extra Time, starring my pal's Shep Messing and Greg Lalas, is ready for viewing. (By the way, people all over the web are raving about the "great" speech that they run on this show from a guy who gets drafted near the very end of the rounds. Everyone is gettin' a big kick out of it. Except me I guess. I thought it was lame and rambling. Who cares dude. Say something clever or get off the mic. The most profound thing he says is "Uhhh".)
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The Press & Journal from Aberdeen Scotland has an article on the state and future of MLS and they declare it "bright." (thanks to Bart for this one)
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Kyle McCarthy at Goal.com comments on the decision by ESPN to eliminate their Thursday night games this season, and go to a schedule that can change depending on which games land on which nights.
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MLS Rumor City - Don't Tease Me Bro!

Hey Houston - I'm telling you, Fred is your answer. Go get him. The real Fred, not Fred2 from DC. The striker from Lyon. He is in talks to return to Brazil to play for Palmeiras or Fluminense. You can pay him as much as they can. Come on. Pick up the phone!
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MLS Stadium Talk

Hey Hey! They began demolition on the area where the Wizards new stadium will be built. Progress.
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US Soccer News

I heard from Glenn Davis down in Houston that San Jose midfielder Arturo Alvarez is appealing to FIFA to have his alliance to US Soccer wiped out, so he can join El Salvador. The rule is that if you play for a country on a senior team you cannot change. And if you play on a junior team you must apply to change before you turn 21. Alvarez is 23, and played for the USA U20 team. He has not played for the full team. We shall see. Either way, his offensive skills are good enough that he should get his chance with someone.
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THE MINNESOTA CONNECTION

St Paul's Tony Sanneh is in training camp with the LA Galaxy.
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Team USA

Official team blog
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Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports writes about coach Bob Bradley's straight ahead no-nonsense approach to the game. Boring or successful?
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Here was your USA line up a year ago when they played Sweden at HDC and beat them 2-0:
G:
Brad Guzan
D:
Drew Moor
Eddie Robinson (Michael Parkhurst, 46)
Jimmy Conrad (Clarence Goodson, 46)
Ramiro Corrales
M:
Landon Donovan (Jeremiah White, 81)
Ricardo Clark
Maurice Edu
Brad Davis (Sacha Kljestan, 72)
F:
Taylor Twellman (Josmer Altidore, 46)
Pat Noonan (Chris Rolfe, 63)
Sub not used: G-Steve Cronin
Goals:
Eddie Robinson, 15'
Landon Donovan(PK) - 48' (Jozy Altidore drew the Penalty being taken down in the box)
Note: Donovan's goal set the new high water mark for all time USA goal scorers with 35.
-You can see video of the game highlights from last year right here.
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Here is the current US roster after injuries, departures and additions:
G:
Jon Busch
William Hesmer
Troy Perkins
Matt Pickens
D:
Jonathan Bornstein
Danny Califf
Ugo Ihemelu
Michael Parkhurst
Chris Wingert
Marvell Wynne
M:
Brian Carroll
Ricardo Clark
Eddie Gaven
Stuart Holden
Jack Jewsbury
Sacha Kljestan - at Celtic right now, but expected back for the game
Robbie Rogers
John Thorrington
F:
Brian Ching
Kenny Cooper
Charlie Davies
Chris Rolfe
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Noah Davis at Goal.com tells us who he would like to see in the starting 11.
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Americans In Europe

The Glasgow Herald talks to Maurice Edu about having to wait his turn at Rangers. Patience! They talk about DaMarcus Beasley too. Nothing new, but good stuff. Oh, and a little Obama talk too.
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Forward Mike Grella from Duke is getting a try out at Leeds in England. And the reports have been strong.
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Greg Seltzer of No Shorts Corners gives us a reason why Lee Nguyen signed with a team in Vietnam, rather stay in Europe of come back to the USA: "...the promise of a training stint with partnership giants Arsenal at the end of the season." I see.
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Landon Donovan at Bayern Munich

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.
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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Transfer Rumors

Soccer 365 reports that RSL forward Robbie Findley is in Denmark getting a try out with Brondby.
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Americans In Mexico

Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios was bought by Tottenham from Wigan.
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CONCACAF News

The Trinidad & Tobago Express reports on the training the team has begun in preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
-The biggest problem the coaching staff is facing is the rustiness of Dwight Yorke, and the overall lack of fitness around the team.
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The Tobago News has advice for Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke - be careful how close you get to Slappy Jack.
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UNCAF Championship

The Central American Championship website.
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This 7 team tournament, being hosted by Honduras, will qualify 4 teams for next summers CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Semifinalists are the ones who will advance.
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Group A
Belize
Honduras
Nicaragua
El Salvador
Group B
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Panama
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Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Thu Jan 22
El Salvador v Nicaragua
Honduras v Belize
-Fri Jan 23
Costa Rica v Panama
-Sat Jan 24
Belize v El Salvador
Honduras v Nicaragua
-Sun Jan 25
Guatemala v Costa Rica
-Mon Jan 26
Nicaragua v Belize
Honduras v El Salvador
-Tue Jan 27
Panama v Guatemala
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England News

The Guardian reports on Robinho's walking out on Manchester City. The player got a private jet and flew home to Brazil to take care of "family matters", which in reality was some woman's birthday party! Really! The player says he had the teams permission, while the team says he did not, and will be fined. Is this about Kaka not taking the huge pay day? Initial English bullshit tabloid headlines said he "stormed out of training", when in reality he slunk off like a rat.
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James Lawton of the Independent says that Manchester City have already become delusional because of the vast amount of money they have to spend.
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League Cup

Semifinals 2nd leg Matches & scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Tue Jan 20
Manchester United 4-2 Derby - Man U adv 4-3 on agg.
-Wed Jan 21
Burnley 3-2 Tottenham - Tott adv 6-4 on agg.
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The Final at Wembley Stadium
-Sun Mar 1
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspurs
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European News

ITALY

Gazzetta has a few words with new Milan signing, centerback Thiago Silva, who was bought from Fluminense, but will not join them until the end of the Brazilian spring season.
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Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named 2008 Player of the Year in Italy.
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Copa Italia

Quarterfinal Matches & Scores:
-Wed Jan 21
Inter 2-1 Roma - Inter advances
Sampdoria 1-1 Udinese - Amp adv 4-1 on Penalties after the extra times ended tied.
-Thu Jan 22
Lazio v Torino
Napoli v Juventus
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NETHERLANDS

KNVB Beker
Round of 16 Matches & Scores:
-Tue Jan 20
Dordrecht 0-1 De Graafschap
Feyenoord Rotterdam 0-3 Heerenveen
-Wed Jan 21
AZ Alkmaar 3-0 Achilles 29
NEC Nijmegen 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Roda JC Kerkrade 2-0 Lienden
Volendam 3-0 SBV Excelsior
NAC Breda 2-2 Groningen - NAC win 7-6 on PK's after extra time ended in a draw
-Thu Jan 22
ADO Den Haag v Twente Enschede
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SPAIN

You have got to me kidding me - Reuters reports that the Spanish FA has fined Real Madrid 3000 Euros for their fans chanting racist slurs. What a joke.
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Sid Lowe of the Guardian writes about the mind games going on at Real Madird between the outgoing team president, and the returning new one (the man who created the failed Galacticos).
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Copa Del Rey
Quarterfinal 1st leg Matches & Scores:
-Wed Jan 21
Valencia 3-2 Sevilla
Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona
-Thu Jan 22
Mallorca v Real Betis
Athletic Bilbao v Sporting Gijon
Quarterfinal 2nd leg Matches & Scores (with 1st leg scores included):
-Wed Jan 28
Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona v Espanyol (0-0)
Real Betis v Mallorca
Sevilla v Valencia (2-3)
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Jack Warner/Sepp Blatter/FIFA Idiocy & Scandal News

Andrew Jennings of Transparency in Sport tells us the story of Seppy & Slappy's buddy, the former Nigerian FIFA representative, who has been fired by his own country, and is suing a reporter for libel, yet still remains a voting member of the FIFA World Cup committee. With links to a couple other great articles on this subject.