Some News for Thu Dec 23, 2010

STARTERS

It's always official when its on the team's own website - Inter Milan and head coach Rafael Benitez are now divorced.

dN

Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake has signed with Nottingham Forest in the English second division. He still needs to acquire a work permit, which can be tricky.
-An announcement from the team's web site.
-Comments from the head coach.

dN

The rumor is rampant that Chivas USA will name Juan Carlos Osorio as their new head coach! Wow. Just wow!
-Scott French at ESPN with a report on that rumor.
-Does this mean that Toronto will turn to Fernando Clavijo to run their team? It's the same kind of logic.

ENGLAND

The Premier League is one of the very few around the world to play through Christmas and New Years etc, with as astonishing 4 rounds played in just 11 days. Here are some of the marquee games from the Top Four Clubs to see.

dN

Standings:
34 Man United
32 Arsenal
32 Man City
31 Chelsea
- - - - - -
27 Tottenham
27 Sunderland
26 Bolton

dN

Matches & Scores:
-Sun Dec 26
Man United v Sunderland
Newcastle v Man City
-Mon Dec 27
Arsenal v Chelsea
-Tue Dec 28
Man City v Aston Villa
Birmingham v Man United
-Wed Dec 29
Chelsea v Bolton
Wigan v Arsenal
-Sat Jan 1
West Brom v Man United
Man City v Blackpool
Birmingham v Arsenal
-Sun Jan 2
Chelsea v Aston Villa
-Tue Jan 4
Man United v Stoke
-Wed Jan 5
Arsenal v Man City
Wolverhampton v Chelsea

dN

And here is what our America players are up against during this stretch:
ENGLAND - Premier League
Clint Dempsey - Fulham - Sun Dec 26 v West Ham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Stoke
Brad Friedel - Aston Villa - Sun Dec 26 v Tottenham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Man City
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa - Sun Dec 26 v Tottenham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Man City
Marcus Hahnemann - Wolverhampton - Sun Dec 26 v Wigan - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Liverpool
Stuart Holden - Bolton - Sun Dec 26 V West Brom - and then - Wed Dec 29 at Chelsea
Tim Howard - Everton - Sun Dec 26 v Birmingham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at West Ham
Eddie Johnson - Fulham - Sun Dec 26 v West Ham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Stoke
Eric Lichaj - Aston Villa - Sun Dec 26 v Tottenham - and then - Tue Dec 28 at Man City
Jonathan Spector - West Ham - Sun Dec 26 at Fulham - and then - Tue Dec 28 v Everton

FACT OF THE DAY

Barcelona has announced plans to play preseason matches in the USA again next summer, but will not battle any MLS teams.
-Sat Jul 30
Barcelona v Manchester United - in Washington DC
-Wed Aug 3
Barcelona v Milan - in Miami
-Sat Aug 6
Barcelona v America - in Dallas

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

Jimmy Conrad has signed a contract with Chivas USA.

dN

New England has signed centerback Ryan Cochrane

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Sky Sports reports that Aston Villa are leaving future plans up to Brad Friedel on whether or not he stays with the team.
-It also says that if he decides to leave that they will have to go looking for a new #1 keeper - What about Guzan? He has sat there for 3 years.....