Some non mainstream story links

Starter Fun

• The latest episode of Special1 TV: The Santa Show

Not in the Mainstream

• Jonathan Wilson on 2010 Tactics  
• A Clásico in  Egypt
• Robert Jonas: Blatterpocalypse Now 
• Video: 2010 World Cup Skills on Display
• EPL: Money still rules but Premier League in danger of becoming democratic
• Italian Security: An Oxymoron
• Youth Development in England: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
• Winning vs Soccer Development: Part 1 - Part 2 
• Brian Quarsted presents Lisa Eisenmenger's interview with player agent Mike Wheeler where he explains 3rd party contracts in MLS, NASL and USL: Brian's intro and links to the interviews 
• MLS and Television: Part 1 - The beginning of a four part series on the state of MLS and television. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. It's apparent to me that the further growth of the MLS, in terms of quality on the pitch, depends on the increase in television revenue. Game day receipts can only bring in so much money, and it's more money that will lead to increases in salaries. That will enable the league to both keep more good American players from going overseas and attract good young foreign talent.

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Thursday Post

MLS

• TFC:  Uproar in Toronto
• Lots of tweets on Juan Pablo Angel's statement that he doesn't expect to be back with RBNY next year. Not one mention that the team will have the full $335,000 salary hit on both Henry and Marquez next year. Due to their late signing this season, the cap was hit for $335,000 total for both in 2010.
• Steve Goff:  Expansion Draft Rules

Soccer in the US

• Steve Davis Before and After:  USA v Colombia Preview - USA v Colombia Review
• USMNT: Two views on the midfield -  Kyle McCarthy - Brent Latham
• USSF D2:  D2 Playoffs 

Interesting

• CONCACAF:  On CONCACAF's Request for Permanent Entry Into The Copa America 
• A Blogger's Tale - I've been sitting on this link for a while.
• The Guardian:  On the Sale of Liverpool
• More on the Sale of Liverpool - It's a fluid story, so I'll stop now

 Competitions

• Copa Sudamerica:  Final 16 update 

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News and Views from Fri Aug 13

MLS

• WV Hooligan: Weekend preview 
• Wizards: Kansas City Sign Omar Bravo, Then Loan Him Out 
• Dallas: FC Dallas signs Brasilian Jackson on loan
• Why Mexican stars are coming to MLS
• RSL: RSL loans US youth starlet Luis Gil to AC St Louis
• DC United: D.C. United signs local player Conor Shanosky
• Rapids: Colin Clark to miss the rest of season with torn left ACL. This is the 2nd year in a row that Clark's season has ended prematurely

US Pyramid

• USSF D2 Professional League Standards by Brian Quarstad. Probably spells the end for D2 in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.
• USSF D2: D2 preview   

Around the World

• EPL: The Guardian's EPL preview
• Tottenham: Tottenham Sign Honduran Starlet Anthony Lozano
• Beckham: Beckham Finally Finding A Balance
• Spartak Moscow: McGeady joins Spartak Moscow from Celtic 
• Rangers: James Beattie joins Rangers 
• Lyon: Monthly salaries 
• Italy: Crisis, Problems & Solutions – Part I --- Crisis, Problems & Solutions – Part II
• Man City: Balotelli signs for Manchester City
• Blackpool: Blackpool signs midfielder Chris Basham from Bolton 
• Chelsea: Chelsea sign Brasil midfielder Ramires from Benfica 
• EPL: Wenger: 'Ridiculous' squad rules will ruin EPL

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After the Weekend Aug 7-8

MLS

• Week 19 Attendance Report
• Steve Davis: A new era begins at FC Dallas

I thoroughly enjoyed the 'DP Showdown' between Chicago and RBNY. How about you? And in case you missed it, RBNY's visit to Houston drew 24,750 and Chicago filled Toyota Park to the rafters. Good stuff.

US Pyramid

• PDL: The Portand Timbers U23's completed a perfect 20-0-0 season by winning the PDL champship with a win over 2008 champion Thunder Bay - USL Championship Weekend

Around the World

If nothing else, Man U's Community Shield win over Chelsea provided a confidence boost going into the season.
It's common in sports to downplay early season losses with the phrase 'it's a long season'. There's another sports saying that's also appropriate, 'every point counts'. The top Ligue 1 teams that lost on opening day will just have to wait to find out about that.

• Deco leaves England for Brasil
• Insua leaves Liverpool for Genoa
• Strategy: Defensive tactics on the rise in the EPL?
• EPL: The Guardian previews all 20 EPL teams
• Portugal: Porto over Benfica in the Super Cup
• Germany: Bayern Munich beats Schalke in the Super Cup
• Turkey: Trabzonspor beats Bursapor for TFF Super Cup
  

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News and Views from Fri Jul 30

MLS

• Sounders deal Ljungberg to Chicago 
• Chhetri Leaves For National Team Duty 
• Revolution signs two forwards  
• Revolution waives Michael Videira 
• Red Bulls Waive Veteran Forward Wolyniec 
• Union sign JT Noone, waive Brian Perk 
• FC Dallas Sign Three From Development Academy; Deal Anthony Wallace To Colorado 
• DC United U17's win 2nd consecutive SUM Cup  
• Galaxy U-20's Move One Step Closer to USL Super-20 Finals  
• Steve Davis: MLS considers moving to 34 games. I've been asking this question for several months. Steve is the first to address the issue as far as I can tell.
• Expansion: MLS' 20th team at All Things Footy. Thanks to Kartik for this link.

USA Soccer Stuff

• USSF D2: A Look Ahead at Week 17.
• USMNT U20: U.S. U-20's Win Milk Cup.

 Around the World and other Stuff

• On the new homegrown rule in England
• Wenger not happy with the new homegrown rule in England

Player Moves

• Lazio sign Javier Garrido from Manchester City. 
• David James joins Bristol City. 
• Sami Khedira to join Real Madrid from Stuttgart. 
• Defender Stam joins Wigan from FC Twente. 
• Ajax signs Morocco striker El Hamdaoui from AZ. 
• Portuguese international Miguel Veloso headed to Genoa. 
• West Brom signs Hull keeper Myhill. 

The Business of Soccer

• All-Star Soccer Business Bits: Wizards Rebranding, All-Star Halftime & More.  

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News and Views Jul 28-29

MLS

• Houston Youth Player Maybe Makes Some Kind of History 
• Eleven things about the Man U/MLS All Stars match 
• Steve Davis: Large crowd was about the only plus for MLS in All-Star game. 
• N.A. SuperLiga: Semifinals dates set. 
• DeMerit, Defenders, and DPs 
• Grant Wahl: On MLS with Don Garber and more.  
• Uruguayan midfielder Fernández headed to Seattle  
• Vancouver wins toss - gets to choose 
• Proposed Baltimore soccer stadium could attract D.C. United  
• Santiago Hirsig out of KC 

USA Soccer Stuff

• College Soccer and American Youth Development
• Bill Archer: Youth Soccer and player development.
• USMNT: U-20 MNT Tops China at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland.
• Aaron Stollar: MLS and the USSF are heading in the right direction in youth development matters.
• Can US Soccer grip our hearts?
• Growing Recognition For American Supporters Groups 
• NPSL (US Amateur) Final Four Begins 
• Pro soccer coming to Arizona? 

Around the World and other Stuff

• On the new homegrown rule in England
• Developing Soccer Technique: The Best Tool
• Potential Quirks And Consequences Of The Homegrown Rule
• Defending the Defensive Midfielder
• More on the new homegrown rule in England
• Manchester in New York City 
• Marseille beat PSG to claim Trophee des Champions 
• Perennial mid-table Premiership teams try to avoid stagnation

Club Tourneys

• CONCACAF Champions League: Seattle 1 - Isidro Metapan 0 in 1st leg.
• Copa Libertadores: Chivas, Universidad draw 1-1 in semifinal.
• Copa Libertadores: Internacional 1 - 0 São Paulo in semifinal.
• UEFA Champions League: Braga beat Celtic 
• UEFA Champions League: Breaking Down CL Coefficients
• Europa League: Europa League Underway 

Player Moves

• Schalke signs Raul from Real Madrid on 2-year deal. 
• Celtic complete signing of midfielder Biram Kayal.  
• Robinho returns to Manchester City.
• Liverpool fail to complete the signing of Aston Villa's Luke Young.

The Business of Soccer

• The Real Benefit Of Pre Season Tours.  
• EPL: Which Teams Spend The Most?
• Berlusconi Beats Murdoch’s Sky on TV Soccer Pricing.  

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News and Views from Thur Jul 8

MLS

• RSL wins ugly in Chicago
• expansion: San Antonio looks to score pro soccer team.
• tactics: Linking up through the midfield.
• signing: Chivas USA Announces Maldonado Signing.

World Cup On Field News and Updates
And then there were two. Netherlands v Spain on Sunday for the trophy.

• FIFA
• ESPNSoccernet
• Goal.com
• The Guardian
• SI
• The Netherlands View: How to win a World Cup, pt. 1…. 

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• FIFA Looks to Compensate Fans Who Missed Semifinal.
• Brazil 2014 World Cup Head Says Plans Now on Track.
• How Important Is Width To Victory in the World Cup? 
• World Cup no panacea for South Africa’s economic woes.
• Referee System to Change For Next Cup, Says FIFA. 
• Dan Loney: Honor Among Thieves. 

US News and Views

• Salgado opts for USMNT over Chivas de Guadalajara.
• Looking South, The Shifting Focus of the U.S. U-20s.
• The Makeup of an "American" National Team.

 Player Moves and other News

• Gosling free to find new club.
• How can we justify footballers' wages? 
• Barcelona A Good Example Of Suicidal Financial Management.
• Barcelona’s Debt And Salary Caps in Europe.
• Portuguese keeper Eduardo signs with Genoa.
• Is England’s Premier League the Third Best Domestic League in the World?  
• Spurs announce £20m shirt deal.
• Villarreal agree deal for West Brom's Borja.
• Wolfsburg signs Denmark defender Kjaer.
• Sunderland sell Cana to Galatasaray.
• Liverpool sign Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic.
• Belhadj leaves Portsmouth for Al Sadd. 
• Palermo sign Polish defender Glik. 
• Middlesbrough adopt novel new approach to shirt sponsorhip.
• Tottenham try to double their money by splitting shirt sponsor deal.
• On Boringness: Soccer vs. Baseball.
• President Rosella Sensi Signs Over Roma To Unicredit, But Will Stay On Until New Buyers Are Found.
• When It Comes to Stats, Soccer Seldom Counts.

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After the Weekend Jun 12-13

World Cup News and Updates

• FIFA
• ESPNSoccernet
• Goal.com
• The Guardian
• SI

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• The World Cup, a ritual that works.
• Cup helping to bring whites to the party?
• Child refugees risking all to get to South Africa.
• US TV ratings for USA/England.
• Police fire teargas at WC workers.

Interesting Reads

• A tactic you won't see at the World Cup.
• UEFA's financial fair play rules starting to have an effect?
• The EPL's 'Home Grown' rule explained.
• Soccer in the US: Happy at the margins.
• Every four years: Idiots on soccer.

Not World Cup News

• Arsenal releases Campbell, Gallas and Silvestre.
• Quaresma moves to Besiktas.
• Schalke sign Japan international Uchida.
• Cruzeiro cruise over Revolution, Ralston injured.

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News and Views from Mon May 17

MLS

• Wizards academy update.
• TFC: Prospect Zac Herold ends career due to heart condition. 
• Steve Davis: 5 things from MLS.
• Drew Epperly's weekend recap.

Interesting Reads

• A Philadelphia Union(and Man U) fan awaits a friendly visit.
• England: The power of the Premier League.
• EPL v MLS: A fan's experience.
• Nutmeg Radio: The diving pandemic, it's only just begun.
• Despite the pretentious title, a decent article about the growth of soccer in Philadelphia.
• Andrew Guest: Team USA and the state of the soccer nation.

Around the World

• Dick Advocaat will be appointed Russia's head coach.
• USSF D2 weekend recap.
• The Brasileirão is in full swing.

World Cup

• Top clubs sending players to South Africa.
• For fans in the USA: 8 rules of World Cup Fight Club.
• Ballack will miss World Cup for Germany.
• FIFA investigating bribery claims.
• A link to share with your non-soccer friends. Beginner's Guide to the World Cup.

The Business of Soccer

• Onyewu extends contract with AC Milan, will play final year for free.
• MLS demographics.
• Manchester United sponsorship deals pass 200M pound mark.
• Seattle teams announce new partnership.

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News and Views from Thur Apr 29

MLS

• Tom Dunmore on Chicago Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos.
• It's about friggin' time. MLS sets focus on winning CONCACAF Champions League.
• Howard Hamilton: His thoughts on MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League.
• Revs academy update.
• Ben Berger at Footiebusiness: Part 2 of Greg Lalas on MLSSoccer.com.

World Cup

• ESPNSoccernet covers Group C.
• CONMEBOL to retain qualifying format for 2014?

Interesting Reads

• On Barcelona and catenacio.
• Goal.com: Yugoslavia's influence on US Soccer.
• Jason Davis: Youth development and the time factor.
• Beau Dure and Fake Sigi go back and forth on DC United fans and Women's Pro Soccer.
• New roster rules for EPL. And how it effects Arsenal.

The Business of Soccer

• The gamble on international friendlies in a World Cup year.
• English Championship parachute payments still being discussed.

Club Tournaments

• US Open Cup - USASA Qualifying
• CAF Champions League(Africa)
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - Round of 16.
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - Ribéry will miss final, Bayern appeals. - It's Inter v Bayern in final
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - Pachuca wins title on stoppage time goal.
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Chivas, Estudiantes, Banfield, Flamengo win
  
• Europa League(Europe) -Fulham and Athletico reach final in Hamburg on May 12.
• Nutralite Canadian Championship 
  

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News and Views from Mon Apr 26

MLS

• Shalrie Joseph has been granted an indefinite leave of absence.
• Beau Dure's weekend roundup.
• Goff on DC United's strong attendance, poor performance.
• Sueño MLS 2010 grand finale update.
• Geoff Cameron done for season with torn PCL.
• Beckham will miss MLS season.
• Steve Davis: This and that in MLS. The usual good stuff from Steve.

Interesting Reads

• Andrew Guest: Stories of football and the Congo. A good read.
• James Lawton: What can the EPL take from the NFL?
• Grant Wahl: Freddy Adu still looking to get his footing.
• Jack Bell: Soccer ... Easing conflicts.

Around the World

• Roy Makaay announces retirement.
• Central American roundup.
• Muslim leader closes public TV viewing halls before World Cup.

The Business of Soccer

• Hull City and its flawed business model.
• Tom Dunmore: A salary cap in Europe?

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