Some Soccer News for Nov 18, 2016

It's Day 323 of 2016.


Robbie Keane has left the LA Galaxy. His contract was up and the two sides decided not to pursue a new deal.

• Good luck finding another player who was as successful as Keane in his 5+ years with the Galaxy. He was a pleasure to watch.

• No idea where he goes next. I can't imagine him signing for very many, if any, MLS teams. But Keane has said he is not done playing.

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Five good choices this weekend for big European club rivalry matches:
-Sat Nov 19
Manchester United v Arsenal - 6:30am CT on NBCSN
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich - 11:30am CT 0n FOX
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid - 1:45pm CT on beIN Sports
-Sun Nov 20
Fenerbahce v Galatasaray - 11:00am CT - no American TV
AC Milan v Inter Milan - 1:45pm CT on beIN Sports

• Who is going to be watching what this weekend, and why? By Rory Smith of the New York Times.

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What does this mess with USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann say about US Soccer president Sunil Gulati who hired him? By Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated.

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Former top notch American player Alecko Eskandarian was forced out of soccer due to repeated concussions. He tells his own sad story. From the Players Tribune.

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Investors in St Louis have rolled out their plan to attract MLS. By Mike Faulk of the St Louis Post-Dispatch.

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Jozy Altidore is having a terrific season for Toronto on and off the field. By Doug McIntyre of ESPNFC.

• TFC's Semifinal match up with Montreal could be a something special. Lets hope.

• The 1st Leg in Montreal is nearing a 61,000 ticket sellout.

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The 5 most important topics around MLS and US Soccer this week are dissected. By Steve Davis at FC Dallas.

• The best one this week: How does Dallas start next season without Mauro Diaz? Answer: Maybe signing Javier Morales who just left Salt Lake. He might be the perfect short term solution. But he probably still wants a multi-year biggish money deal, which is why he is no longer in Salt Lake.

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Word from the Bay Area is that Lew Wolff is still the majority owner of the San Jose Earthquakes. It was only the Oakland A's that he sold his shares in.

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With word out that Keane and Gerrard have left MLS this week a list has been made of the absolute worst big name/big money signings in MLS history. By Scott French of Four Four Two.

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A former English Premier League Player told a horrifying story of being sexually abused by a powerful coach from a young age. This story is so twisted that I am not sure how he survived. By Daniel Taylor of the Guardian.

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The Bob Bradley + Swansea City Tracker:

• Standings - 19th Place, 6 Points into Relegation

• Up Next - Sat Nov 19 at Everton

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The Miguel Herrera + Tijuana Tracker:

• Standings - 1st Place, 3 Point Lead

• Up Next - Fri Nov 18 at Veracruz - Final game of regular reason

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Liga MX

• Already qualified for the playoffs: Tijuana (33), Pachuca (30), Tigres (30), Guadalajara (27) and America (27).

• 3 more playoff spots are still open, and these teams are vying for them:

25 Necaxa - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Guadalajara
24 Pumas UNAM - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 at Puebla
24 Toluca - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 v Santos Laguna
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23 Leon - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Cruz Azul
22 Monterrey - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Morelia

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Copa Libertadores will be greatly enlarged starting with next year. 44 teams will take part, and  from the opening to final games 42 weeks will pass. That is crazy big. Via ESPNFC.

• Due to this decision by CONMEBOL Mexico has decided that they will no longer be able to participate. More on that via ESPNFC.

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