Friday, February 17, 2012

Some Soccer News for Fri Feb 17, 2012

STARTERS

Rumors from England say AEG is making a serious bid for Tottenam.
-But Tim Leiweke of AEG denies the story.

dN

Montreal selected Eddie Johnson in an allocation draft today. Will they keep him? We know how much Colorado wants him.

dN

Portsmouth joins the ranks of British teams that have filed for protection from creditors, or as the English say, gone into administration. This is the second time in just a few years for Portsmouth. A total disaster of an organization.
-Tariq Panja of Bloomberg shows how bad the financial crisis is for teams across Europe. Its bad and its all of their own doing.
-UEFA reported that 665 clubs were in the red to the tune of 1.6 billion euros!

dN

New York today released their one time academy prodigy Matt Kassel.
-The cut Sacir Hot too, also from their academy.

STORY OF THE DAY

Jay DeMerit of the Vancouver Whitecaps and the USA gives us his debut journal entry at Goal.com, joining Clint Dempsey. Some great stuff here about Carlos Bocanegra and Jurgen Klinsmann.

STORY OF THE DAY 2

An amazing blog in Glasgow is in a big way party responsible for blowing the doors off the Rangers financial melt down - Rangerstaxcase.com.
-Here is the very first post from last March that explains their endeavor as a blog.

LANDON DONOVAN AT EVERTON

St Landon plays his last game of the season for Everton this weekend as they host Blackpool on Saturday in the FA Cup Round of 16.

There is talk that he has the flu and might not be able to play.

David Maddock of the Mirror talks to Donovan about coach David Moyes and his time at Everton.

Andy Hunter of the Guardian with more praise for Lando.

FIFASCANDALIZATIONINGS

The lawyers of T&T are all about to get rich! Its apparently "Sue Somebody Day" in Trinidad & Tobago!

Lasana Liburd of Wired868 reports that the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation has told a judge that they intend to file a law suit against Jack Warner to try and recover money.

Keino Swamber of the Trinidad Express reports that former T & T player and head coach Russell Latapy has filed suit against the Federation for money he is still owed by them.

The Express also reports that Warner says he will file a defamation law suit against Liburd.
-$100 says he never files that suit. Huff n Puff Slappy!

BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Feb 18
Getafe v Espanyol - a smaller Madrid v Barcelona derby
-Sun Feb 19
Barcelona v Valencia - #2 is actually closer to #3 then they are to the top team.
PSG v Montpellier - #1 v #2 and only 1 point between them.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

Brian Quarstad of IMSoccer News with a long look at the MLS reserve league and how it can be utilized with the other minor leagues to better develop players. This is Part 2 of 2.

THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM

Some people are beyond stupid!

Stephen Wade of the AP reports that even though they are unbeaten in 32 games and the reigning Argentine champs Boca Juniors are about to fire their head coach.

WELL WELL WELL

Alan Cowell of the New York Times sees England's recent troubles with racism etc on the soccer field as a mirror for every day life.

FACT OF THE DAY

Inter Milan stinks. They lost 0-3 at home to Bologna today.

THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT

Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun talks to Julian de Guzman about his rough three years making big bucks and delivering next to nothing for Toronto FC.
-de Guzman says he has been rotten all these games because of Preki! Julian takes no responsibility.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Oswaldo Alonso - the Honey Badger

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The latest fantastic billboard from the Portland Timbers! They continue to nail it time after time.

(Can you name the people pictured, from left to right? Portland fans can't answer!)















MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

General News

Steven Goff of the Washington Post talks to MLS VP Nelson Rodriguez about the league's plan to crack down on reckless tackles etc.

dN

Kyle McCarthy of Goal.coml with his 5 topics for Friday - Johnson, Robles, Vancouver, Colorado, Zusi.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

Jose Ortiz of the Chronicle writes that the Dynamo get more than just Brian Ching in the deal that sees him return to Houston.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY SC

The team has signed midfielder Graham Zusi to a 4 year contract extension.

LA GALAXY

Nick Green of the Daily Breeze talks to midfielder Kyle Nakazawa who joined the team from Philadelphia during the off season.
-Another guy who says he is glad to no longer be with Philadelphia.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Kyle McCarthy of the Herald with the latest news and notes from Revs preseason camp.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Brian Lewis of the Post with the latest in Red Bulls team notes.

Lewis also looks at the teams puzzling goalkeeper situation.

MLS PRESEASON SCOREBOARD

Matches & Scores:

-Sat Feb 18
Houston Dynamo v SMU(NCAA)
Venue: Houston TX
Chicago Fire v San Jose Earthquakes
Venue: Ventura CA
Philadelphia Union v Orlando City(USL Pro)
Venue: Citrus Bowl - Orlando FL

-Sun Feb 19
Seattle Sounders v Florida Gulf Coast U(NCAA)
Venue: Bradenton FL

-Wed Feb 22
Seattle Spounders v Atlante(Mexico)
Venue: Cancun MX
New York Red Bulls v Real Salt Lake - Desert Diamond Cup
Venue: Tucson AZ
LA Galaxy v New England Revolution - Desert Diamond Cup
Venue: Tucson AZ
Chivas USA v Tijuana(Mexico)
Venue: San Diego CA
FC Dallas v USA U23
Venue: FC Dallas Stadium training center - Frisco TX

-Thu Feb 23
New York Red Bulls v UNAM Pumas(Mexico) - 9pm CT on MSG (for those with Direct TV like me!)
Venue: Chase Field - Phoenix AZ
Colorado Rapids v Yokohama(Japan) - Hawaiian Islands Invitational
Venue: Honolulu HI

MLS/USA RELATED RUMORS

Silly name of the day: The Michael Ballack talk just keeps getting louder.

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Brian Sciaretta at the New York Times with a long article on Robbie Rogers and life in the wild world of English football at Leeds where he has already lost 1 head coach, the guy who brought him there.

Matt Taylor got a goal today. First in a long time. Great for him!

dN

Game Action:

GERMANY - Bundesliga
Fabian Johnson - Hoffenheim - started and went 72 min as they tied 1-1 v Mainz.
Daniel Williams - Hoffenheim - played the full 90 as they tied 1-1 v Mainz.

GERMANY - 2 Bundesliga
Matt Taylor - Paderborn - came on as a sub in the 81st min and scored a goal as they tied 2-2 v Dresden.

NETHERLANDS - Eerste Divisie
Charles Kazlauskas - Helmond Sport - played the full game as they won 3-2 v Telstar.

dN

Coming Up:

FA Cup - Round of 16
Landon Donovan - Everton - Sat Feb 18 v Blackpool
Brad Friedel - Tottenham - Sun Feb 19 at Stevenage
Marcus Hahnemann - Everton - Sat Feb 18 v Blackpool
Tim Howard - Everton - Sat Feb 18 v Blackpool
Tim Ream - Bolton - Sat Feb 18 at Millwall
Jonathan Spector - Birmingham - Sat Feb 18 at Chelsea
Zak Whitbread - Norwich - Sat Feb 18 v Leicester

MEXICO

Tom Marshall of Soccer 365 on proposed changes to the Premier League.

ENGLAND

Manchester United will be without one of their best players this season Antonio Valencia due to a hamstring injury and could miss a month.

FA Cup - Round of 16
Matches & Mcores:
-Sat Feb 18
Chelsea v Birmingham
Everton v Blackpool
Norwich v Leicester
Millwall v Bolton
Sunderland v Arsenal
-Sun Feb 19
Crawley v Stoke
Stevenage v Tottenham
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove

GERMANY

Hertha Berlin has hired Otto Rehhagel as their latest head coach.
-He was coach of the Greek national team from 2001 to 2010, including leading them to the European Championship in 2004.

Die Bundesliga Standings (21 games played):
46 Dortmund (+32 gd) - NEXT: Sat Feb 18 at Hertha
44 Bayern (+35 gd) - NEXT: Sat Feb 18 Freiburg
43 Gladbach (+22 gd) - NEXT: Sat Feb 18 at Kaiserslautern
41 Schalke (+18 gd) - NEXT: Sun Feb 19 v Wolfsburg

EUROPE

Guus Hiddink was once a revered head coach, now he is just a guy taking a job from whoever pays him the most. This time is the same Russian team that overpaid for Samuel Eto'o last summer - Anzhi Makhachkala.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

The Round of 32 continues with 1 game on Wednesday the 22nd and the rest on the regular Thursday the 23rd.
-See all the 2nd Leg matches & 1st Leg scores right here.

COPA LIBERTADORES

Libertad got their second win of the tournament already, while Godoy Cruz won to finish off Matchday 1 for all the teams.

dN

Group Stage

Matches & Scores:
-Tue Feb 14
Defensor Sporting 2-0 Deportivo Quito - DS goals by Braian Aleman(PK) & Maximiliano Callorda.
Zamora 0-0 Boca Juniors
Atletico Nacional 2-0 Universidad Chile - AN goals by Juan Valencia & Dorlan Pabon.
-Wed Feb 15
The Strongest 2-1 Santos - TS goals by Ernesto Cristaldo & Rodrigo Ramallo. San goal by Henrique.
Deportivo Tachira 1-1 Corinthians - DT goal by Sergio Herrera. Cor goal by Ralf.
Lanus 1-1 Flamengo - Lan goal by Cesar Carranza. Fla goal by Leo Moura.
-Thu Feb 16
Nacional 1-2 Libertad - Nac goal by Marcos Aguirre. Lib goals by Miguel Samudio & Mauro Caballero.
Godoy Cruz 1-0 Penarol - GC goal by Diego Villar.

dN

Standings

Group 1
3 Internacional (+2)
3 The Strongest (+1)
0 Santos (-1)
0 Juan Aurich (-2)
Group 2
3 Emelec (+1)
1 Lanus (0)
1 Flamengo (0)
0 Olimpia (-1)
Group 3
3 Union Espanola (+2)
1 Bolivar (0)
1 Universidad Catholica (0)
0 Junior (-2)
Group 4
3 Fluminense (+1)
1 Boca Juniors
1 Zamora
0 Arsenal (-1)
Group 5
6 Libertad (+4)
3 Nacional (0)
0 Vasco Da Gama (-1)
0 Alianza Lima (-3)
Group 6
3 Cruz Azul (+1)
1 Corintians (0)
1 Deportivo Tachira (0)
0 Nacional Asuncion (-1)
Group 7
3 Velez Sarsfield (+3)
3 Defensor Sporting (-1)
1 Deportivo Quito (-2)
1 Guadalajara (0)
Group 8
3 Atletico Nacional (+2)
3 Godoy Cruz (+1)
0 Penarol (-1)
0 Universidad Chile (-2)

AFRICA

Bob Bradley is lining up an Egypt team to play a friendly next week against Kenya on Feb 23. Al Ahly players will not be involved.

Eslam Omar of Ahram reports on the team that will be announced, and other Bob Bradley topics.

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul of Ahram reports the latest on a possible resumption of the Egyptian Premier League.

Thanks to US Soccer Daily for pointing us in the direction of Ahram.

2 Comments:

Anonymous joe the curmudgeon said...

"-UEFA reported that 665 clubs were in the red to the tune of 1.6 billion euros!"

So amazing. This shows why MLS must tread carefully and build their brand and teams as organically as possible. Bruce said it before, we need more eyeballs on TV for MLS, but this shows that even rich TV deals can't help teams with no restraint.

6:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

22 days until MLS kick off!!!

Yep, Joe. As much as I hate the salary cap being so low, I definitely understand why it's there and also why this is the most wide open footy league in the world. Just about any team can win because they are all so evenly matched due to the salary cap keeping teams from getting out of control.

Great work as always, Bruce.

Mike in Alaska

8:04 PM  

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