Some News for Fri Apr 30, 2010

BIG EURO LEAGUES TITLE RACE WEEKEND MATCHES

Top Eredivisie Team Standings (33 of 34 games played)
83 Twente Enschede - Final: Sun May 2 at NAC Breda - (GD +38)
82 Ajax Amsterdam - Final: Sun May 2 at NEC Nijmegen - (GD +83)

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Top Premier League Team Standings (36 of 38 games played)
80 Chelsea - Next: Sun May 2 at Liverpool - (GD +61) - Final: Sun May 9 v Wigan
79 Manchester United - Next: Sun May 2 at Sunderland - (GD +53) - Final: Sun May 9 v Stoke

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Top Bundesliga Team Standings (32 of 34 games played)
64 Bayern Munich - Next: Sat May 1 v Bochum - (GD +37) - Final: Sat May 8 at Hertha Berlin
64 Schalke - Next: Sat May 1 v Werder Bremen - (GD +24) - Final: Sat May 8 at Mainz

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Top Liga Team Standings (28 of 30 games played)
73 Benfica - Next: Sat May 2 at Porto - (GD +59) - Final: Sun May 9 v Rio Ave
67 Braga - Next: Sat May 2 v Pacos de Ferreira - (GD +27) - Final: Sun May 9 at Nacional de Madeira

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Top Serie A Team Standings (35 of 38 games played)
73 Inter - Next: Sun May 2 at Lazio
71 Roma - Next: Sat May 1 at Parma
64 Milan - Next: Sat May 1 v Fiorentina

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Top Ligue 1 Team Standings (34 of 38 games played)
71 Marseille - Next: Fri Apr 30 at Auxerre
66 Auxerre - Next: Fri Apr 30 v Marseille
61 Lille - Next: Sun May 2 v Nancy
60 Montpellier - Next: Sun May 2 v Lyon
59 Lyon - 33 played - Next: Sun May 2 at Montpellier
57 Bordeaux - 33 played - Next: Wed Apr 28 at Valenciennes

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Top Primera Division Team Standings (34 of 38 games played)
87 Barcelona - Next: Sat may 1 at Villarreal
86 Real Madrid - Next: Sun May 2 v Osasuna

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Top Serie A Team Standings (35 of 38 games played)
73 Inter - Next: Sun May 2 at Lazio
71 Roma - Next: Sat May 1 at Parma
64 Milan - Next: Sat May 1 v Fiorentina

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The Independent raves about Jose Mourinho, who in turn raves about the Inter team and fans.

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And James Lawton also of the Independent looks at who is being blamed for Barcelona's fall.

STORY OF THE DAY

Sky Sports with words from Hull City manager Ian Dowie who says that Jozy Altidore has to work harder in training if he wants to be somebody special, and other things. Good stuff.

THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT

Mark E. Smith, notorious lead singer of The Fall, has recorded a World Cup theme song for his national team called "England's Heartbeat." If you know his work, then you know it will be awkward and challenging, with little regard for the trappings of hit song melody. Doesn't mean he dislikes hit song melody, its just not really his way to conform. Many of you will probably find it hideous. Myself and a few other readers might enjoy it. Comes out Tue May 4. (thanks to JJ for the heads up)

MLS WEEK 6

All 16 teams in action on Saturday.

Matches & Scores:
-Sat May 1
DC United v New York Red Bulls - 3:00PM Central on TeleFutura
Venue: RFK Stadium - Washington DC
New England Revolution v FC Dallas - 6:30PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium - Foxborough MA
Houston Dynamo v Kansas City Wizards - 7:30PM Central on FSC/FSE
Venue: Robertson Stadium - Houston TX
Chicago Fire v Chivas USA - 7:30PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Toyota Park - Bridgeview IL
Real Salt Lake v Toronto FC - 8:00PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy UT
San Jose Earthquakes v Colorado Rapids - 9:00PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium - Santa Clara CA
Los Angeles Galaxy v Philadelphia Union - 9:30PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Home Depot Center - Carson CA
Seattle Sounders FC v Columbus Crew - 9:30PM Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Qwest Field - Seattle WA

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe on how New England is going to cope without Shalrie Joseph.
-Centerback Cory Gibbs has been named team captain for now.

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That leaves the Revs without 4 big veteran personalites from last season - Jospeh, Steve Ralston (St Louis), Matt Reis (injury), Jay Heaps (retirement) and Taylor Twellman (injury). That is tough to deal with.

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Chivas USA has acquired 24 year old and 5'6" Costa Rican midfielder/forward Jose Macotelo on loan from Puntarenas.
-He is from the same club that Chivas got centerback Dario Delgado on loan from.

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Seattle has officially added 18 year old Colombian forward Miguel Montano to the senior roster.

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Don Ruiz of the Olympian talks to Seattle back up keeper Terry Boss who is the start while Kasey Keller deals with a concussion.

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John Meyer of The Denver Post on Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni, who is on a goal scoring hot streak, at least by his standards.

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The Kansas City Kansan on the Wizards trip this weekend south to face the unusually struggling Houston Dynamo.

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Kerith Gabriel of the Philadelphia Daily News looks at the continuing list of mistakes from the Union, and what the consequences are.

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Steven Sandor of the Toronto Sun previews TFC's opponent this weekend Salt Lake who are struggling early again, but always play well at home.

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Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune on his blog has a few words from RSL coach Jason Kreis on the first start last week for rookie outside midfielder Collen Warner.

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Jack McCarthy of the Chicago Tribune and Orrin Schwarz of Chicago's Daily Herald both on Fire forward Brian McBride who will play his 200th MLS game this weekend.

MLS INJURY REPORT

Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune reports on radical treatment being done to RSL players to get them back on the field quicker - platelet-rich plasma therapy. Ned Grabavoy was expected to be out up to 8 weeks and is almost ready at 2 1/2 weeks. Astonishing.

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Philadelphia will be without Sebastian Le Toux due to a knee injury.

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Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star gives us an update on Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad and his injured calf.

MY THOUGHTS

Steve Davis of Daily Soccer Fix brought up another player that had a great April in MLS, and was not in my top 3 list, and that is Joel Lndpere of New York. I over looked him, and thought he deserved a mention.

MLS STADIUM BUILDING

San Jose Earthquakes officially opened their brand new training facility in San Jose on Friday.

MLS EXHIBITIONS

Great news for DC & Chicago fans, AC Milan is bringing Clarence Seedorf, Ronaldinho and Pato with them for the friendlies in late May. But that would mean that Ronaldinho and Pato would not be on the Brazil World Cup team, and we all know they both want to be on that team.

USSF DIVISION 2

Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 29
Portland Timbers 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
-Sat May 8
Montreal Impact v Puerto Rico Islanders
Rochester Rhinos v Carolina RailHawks
NSC Minnesota Stars v Austin Aztex
AC St. Louis v Crystal Palace Baltimore
Miami FC Blues v Tampa Bay Rowdies

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Standings (As of Thu Apr 25):
NASL Conference>
7 Vancouver - 4 played (+2 GD)
3 Carolina - 2 played (+1 GD)
2 Miami - 2 played (0 GD)
1 Montreal - 2 played (-2 GD)
0 Baltimore - 2 played (-3 GD)
0 St Louis - 4 played (-7 GD)
USL Conference>
10 Portland - 4 played (+5 GD)
7 Rochester - 4 played (+3 GD)
6 Puerto Rico - 2 played (+4 GD)
6 Austin - 3 played (+2 GD)
6 Minnesota - 5 played (-5 GD)
3 Tampa Bay - 2 played (0 GD)

NSC MINNESOTA STARS

The Stars need a big game on Saturday night to get that horrible taste out of their mouth from Wednesday night. Give em hell boys!

And whatever you do, don't dive like Jaime Watson!!!!!!

USA WORLD CUP 2010 SOUTH AFRICA

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated gives his take on the Bob Bradley interview from Thursday.

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports on the great season of Clint Dempsey.

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Fanhouse on the amazing run by Dempsey and Fulham.

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The official Bolton website has an update on Stuart Holden, who just might make the roster this weekend. Wow.

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Noah Davis of Goal.com talks to Marcus Hahnemann, who I think its safe to say loves his life.

MEXICO

Clausura 2010 playoffs.

Matches & Scores - Quarterfinals:
1st Leg
-Sat May 1
Pachuca v Monterrey
Morelia v Guadalajara
-Sun May 2
Santos Laguna v UNAM
America v Toluca
2nd Leg
-Sat May 8
Monterrey v Pachuca
Guadalajara v Morelia
-Sun May 9
Toluca v America
UNAM v Santos Laguna

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Laguilla Bracket:
Monterrey v Pachuca
UNAM v Santos Laguna
- - - - -
Guadalajara v Morelia
Toluca v America

ENGLAND

Matt Hughes of The Times with an article on 3 distinctly different managers - all successful.

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Reuters with an article on much heralded Fulham manager Roy Hodgson.

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The Premier League Relegation Battle sees 2 out and 2 fighting for the last dropspot (35 points will save you right now) - 3 go down - with 2 games left:
34 West Ham
- - - - -
28 Hull City
OUT-27 Burnley
OUT-16 Portsmouth

SPAIN

Teams #9-20 are all possible for La Liga relegation with 4 rounds left to play (45 points is the line right now) - 3 go down:
44 Deportivo La Coruna
43 Atletico Madrid
41 Espanyol
38 Osasuna - 5 left to play
38 Almeria
37 Sporting Gijon
36 Racing Santander
34 Real Zaragoza
34 Malaga
- - - - -
32 Tenerife
32 Valladolid
27 Xerez

FRANCE

The bottom 3 teams from Ligue 1 will be relegated (41 is the magic numbers) - 4 games left to play:
40 Lens
40 Nice
38 Sochaux
36 St Etienne
- - - - -
29 Le Mans - 35 played
27 Boulogne
OUT-20 Grenoble - 35 played

GERMANY

The struggle against relelgation will see 3 teams fail (bottom 2 go down automatically, and 3rd from bottom plays 3rd from top in B2 in a 2 legged playoff) (34 is the safety number) - with 2 games left to play:
31 Freiburg
28 Nurnberg
- - - - -
28 Bochum
- - - - -
27 Hannover
23 Hertha Berlin

ITALY

Relegation from Serie A happens to the bottom 3 teams (44 is the lucky number) - there are 3 games left to be played:
43 Bari
42 Cagliari
42 Udinese
40 Catania
40 Lazio
39 Bologna
- - - - -
34 Atalanta
30 Siena
OUT-29 Livorno

ARGENTINA

Top Primera Division Team Standings (16 of 19 games played)
33 Estudiantes la Plata - Next: Sun May 2 at Chacarita Juniors
32 Argentinos Juniors - Next: Sun May 2 at San Lorenzo
31 Godoy Cruz - Next: Fri Aor 30 at Rosario Central
31 Independiente - Next: Sun May 2 v Boca Juniors
27 Newell's Old Boys - Next: off this weekend
27 Lanus - Next: Fri Apr 30 at Gimnasia
26 Racing Club - Next: Fri Apr 30 at Tigre

COPA LIBERTADORES

Matches & Scores - Round of 16:
1st Leg
-Tue Apr 27
Guadalajara 3-0 Velez Sarsfield - Gua goals by Omar Bravo(2) & Hector Reynoso(PK).
San Luis 0-1 Estudiantes de la Plata - Est goal by Leandro Gonzalez.
-Wed Apr 28
Flamengo 1-0 Corinthians - Fla goal by Adriano(PK).
Universitario Deportes 0-0 Sao Paulo
Banfield 3-1 Internacional - Ban goals by James Rodriguez, Roberto Battion & Sebastian Fernandez. Int goal by Kleber.
-Thu Apr 29
Alianza Lima 1-0 Universidad de Chile - AL goal by Diego Rivarola.
Once Caldas 0-0 Libertad
Cruzeiro 3-1 Nacional - Cru goals all by Thiago. Nac goal by Mario Regueiro.

2nd Leg
-Tue May 4
Velez Sarsfield v Guadalajara (0-3)
Sao Paulo v Universitario Deportes (0-0)
-Wed May 5
Estudiantes de la Plata v San Luis (1-0)
Corinthians v Flamengo (0-1)
Nacional v Cruzeiro (1-3)
-Thu May 6
Internacional v Banfield (1-3)
Universidad de Chile v 9 Alianza Lima (0-1)
Libertad v 12 Once Caldas (0-0)

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Here is the full Knockout Stage Bracket:
1 Corinthians v 16 Flamengo
8 Universidad de Chile v 9 Alianza Lima
- - - - -
5 Libertad v 12 Once Caldas
4 Velez Sarsfield v 13 Guadalajara
- - - - -
3 Estudiantes de la Plata v 14 San Luis
6 Internacional v 11 Banfield
- - - - -
7 Nacional (Uruguay) v 10 Cruzeiro
2 Sao Paulo v 15 Universitario Deportes

JACK WARNER/SEPP BLATTER/FIFA ODDITIES

Jere Longman of the New York Times tells us about a new book that looks at some strange looking business surrounding the World Cup. No surprise there.

ENDERS

New Sony TV ad tweaks the English! (link sent by Bart who says "You gotta love the Scots!")