Some News for Tue Aug 23, 2011

STARTERS

Blackburn is paying just under US$2 million for Dallas centerback George John.

dN

INSANITY: Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o is now the highest paid player in the world. Unreal.
-Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala has bought Eto'o from Inter Milan for US$36 Million. The team will also pay him US$30 Million per season AFTER taxes.
-As great as Eto'o is Inter has to be laughing all the way to the bank to make that much selling a 39 30 year old. (Wow! I need to proof read on occasion. Getting something that wrong is very poor indeed. But pretty funny too. Thanks to Brett for the heads up.)

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

AFP reports that Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm in his new book rips Jurgen Klinsmann as a poor coach while he was in charge of Bayern Munich.

STORY OF THE DAY

World Anti-Doping Agency is going after Mexico, FIFA and CONCACAF for dropping the case against 5 Mexican players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs at the Gold Cup. Stay tuned.

2011-12 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

It looks like Seattle and Colorado will rest several regulars in the games at Monterrey and Espana respectively tonight.

dN

Group Stage - Round robin, home & away - matches played Aug 16 to Oct 20

4 games all live on Fox Soccer this week featuring the 5 MLS teams.

Matchday 2
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Aug 23
Monterrey v Seattle Sounders - 7pm CT Live on Fox Soccer
Real Espana v Colorado Rapids - 9pm CT Live on Fox Soccer
Comunicaciones v Herediano - 9pm CT
-Wed Aug 24
Toronto v Dallas - 7pm CT Live on Fox Soccer
Metapan v Santos Laguna - 9pm CT
-Thu Aug 25
Tauro v Pumas - 7
LA Galaxy v Alajuelense - 9pm CT Live on Fox Soccer
Morelia v Motagua - 9pm CT

dN

Standings:

GROUP A
3 LA Galaxy (USA) (+2)
3 Alajuelense (Costa Rica) (+1)
0 Monarchas Morelia (Mexico) (-1)
0 Motagua (Honduras) (-2)
GROUP B
3 Santos Laguna (Mexico) (+1)
3 Colorado Rapids (USA) (+1)
0 Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) (-1)
0 Real Espana (Honduras) (-1)
GROUP C
3 Dallas (USA) (+1)
- Tauro (Panama)
- Toronto (Canada)
0 UNAM Pumas (Mexico) (-1)
GROUP D
3 Monterrey (Mexico) (+5)
3 Seattle Sounders (USA) (+3)
0 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) (-3)
0 Herediano (Costa Rica) (-5)

OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED

After last weeks hilariously diatribe against Robbie Keane, MLS and the LA Galaxy in the Irish Independent, their Vincent Hogan sees all the right things in Keane's move.

So you're trying to figure what swung the deal?

-The outcry over his decision to forego loveable Sven and his Leicester City revolution for a reserved table with the Beckhams on Hollywood Boulevard has borne an air of epic sanctimony.
-What's not to like about a sleety Tuesday night at Doncaster?
-Instead of the half-lit graft of an English winter, he's had his head turned by gaping blue skies and palm trees.
-Poolside barbecues against drizzly months of endless dusk.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

The BBC reports that Carlos Bocanegra has received his work permit now and can play for Rangers in the Scotish Premier League. (thanks to Bart for this one)

BUT, Ewan Murray for the Guardian writes that Rangers Europa League opponents Maribor is asking UEFA how Bocanegra can play in that game, but not have a work permit for Scotland 3 days later.
-UEFA checking to see if Bocanegra was eligible or not. If he was not that could be quite costly to Rangers.

FACT OF THE DAY

Portland will bump up the capacity at JELD WEN Field for 2 of their remaining home games this season from 18,267 to 20,323.
-This will not be a permanent move until they know they can handle the increased capacity safely.

THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN

Nick Green of the Daily Breeze on the unfortunate early retirement of Jimmy Conrad.

MLS MATCHES, SCORES & STANDINGS

WEEK 24

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 24
Portland Timbers v CD Chivas USA - 10:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: JELD-WEN Field

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

General News

Russell Berrisford if the Vancouver Sun looks at the differences between the 2 expansion teams Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps.
-"Portland is easily a better and more disciplined MLS expansion team than Vancouver, where lack of team chemistry should raise concerns."

FC DALLAS

Robert Casner of MLSsoccer.com reports that coach Schellas Hyndman has not been hearing anything from George John who is hoping to transfer to Blackburn, and that John has not wanted to be in Dallas for some time now.
-Sky Sports with more quotes on the possible transfer.

Tim Colishaw of the Dallas Morning News on the growing quality and popularity of Brek Shea. Via The Bellinghan Herald.

DC UNITED

Centerback Brandon McDonald has signed a new contract extension with the team. No details have been released.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chronicle sees the Dynamo peaking at the right time, with the playoffs creeping closer.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY SC

SKC has announced a friendly against Chivas of Guadalajara on Wed Oct 12 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe says that despite Boston's very strong Irish heritage the Revs were never in a spot to chase Robbie Keane. Why not?
-New England is anticipating that new signing Monsef Zerka will get his work visa any moment now. He is a 29 year old French attacking midfielder.

Dell'Apa looks at the strike partnership between Milton Caraglio & Rajko Lekic.
-Caraglio scored both of the Revs goals on Saturday.

PHILADELPHIA UNION

Pennlive.com with an article on Union fullback Sheanon Williams.
-More via a Q & A with Williams.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

Marc Weber of the Province reports that Eric Hassli stormed off the field and went straight to the locker room when he was subbed out of last weekends loss in Portland. Today Hassli explains himself. This better be good.

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj both started for Aston Villa today in the League Cup, and Lichaj scored the game winning goal. Alright!

dN

Game Action:

ENGLAND - League Cup 2nd Round
-Tue Aug 23
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa - went the distance as they won 2-0 v Hereford United.
Eric Lichaj - Aston Villa - played the full 90 scoring a goal and getting a yellow card as they won 2-0 v Hereford United.
Zak Whitbread - Norwich City - started and went 71 min but lost 0-4 v Milton Keynes Dons.
Robbie Findley - Nottingham Forest - started and went 70 min scoring a goal as they won 1-4 at Wycombe Wanderers.

dN

Coming Up:

ENGLAND - League Cup 2nd Round
Tim Howard - Everton - Wed Aug 24 v Sheffield United

ISRAEL - Ligat Al
Ryan Adeleye - Hapoel Be'er Sheva - Wed Aug 24 v Beitar Jerusalem

ENGLAND

Arsenal has sold their 2nd highly talented midfielder in a week as Samir Nasri is off to Manchester City for big money. Now they have to fill his shoes and those of their departed captain Cesc Fabregas.

League Cup 2nd round will be played on Aug 23, 24 & 25. Here are the matches & scores.

SPAIN

Real Madrid's Marcelo and Mesut Ozil, and Barcelona's David Villa have all been given 1 game La Liga suspensions for their red cards in the Super Cup game last weekend.

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho is also under investigation for his part in a sideline altercation in that same game. It is supposedly a serious investigation and early talk is the Mourinho will suffer a heavy penalty.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The 2nd leg games of the final stage of qualify will take place on Aug 23/24 - Play-Off Round matches & scores.

APOEL, Bayern Munich, Dinamo Zagreb, Genk & Villarreal advance.

-The other 5 winners will advance to the group stage tomorrow.

Matches & Scores
2nd Leg
-Tue Aug 23
APOEL 3-1 Wisla Krakow - APO advances 3-2 on aggregate.
Genk 2-1 Maccabi Haifa - series ended tied 3-3 & 1-1 on away goals - Gen wins 4-1 in Penalty Kick Shootout.
Malmo 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb - DK advances 4-3 on aggregate.
Villarreal 3-0 OB - Vil advances 3-1 on aggregate.
Zurich 0-1 Bayern - BM advances 3-0 on aggregate.
-Wed Aug 24
Plzen v Kobenhavn (3-1)
Sturm v BATE (1-1)
Benfica v Twente (2-2)
Udinese v Arsenal (0-1)
Rubin v Lyon (1-3)

The draw for the group stage will take place on Thu Aug 25.

ASIA

Brazilian Zico has been hired as the national team coach for Iraq.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 24
Guyana v India
Thailand v Singapore
-Thu Aug 25
United Arab Emirates v Qatar

ENDERS

Take a look at an aerial map of Bab al-Azizia - Momar Ghaddafi's now former home.