US Development Academy Winter Showcase Pics

Here are some more pics from the US Development Academy Winter Showcase. These are of the Galaxy U18's v South Carolina Utd and the Fire U18's v FC Delco.

Galaxy Pics

Fire Pics

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MLS Tactics, La Liga TV Money, Player Stories, MLS Draft Info

MLS

• San Jose: How the Quakes Beat RBNY
• Rapids: How the Rapids Exploit Weakness
• Dallas: FCD Uses Harris to Befuddle Galaxy 
• Locker room leadership; how it counts in MLS playoffs  
• MLS Drafts Explained for a British Audience
• Timeline for Drafts(excluding SuperDraft)
• Jason Davis: On Ending Restrictions on Academy Signings   
• Steve Davis: Cup Final Preview
• Jeff Carlisle: Cup Final Preview

Interesting Reads

• Kyle Martino: "Can you Play", Don't Ask the Athlete
• Gale Agbossoumonde: Regrets signing with Traffic
• The Run of Play: On talent and using it 
• Jacob Steinberg: A terrific read about Jose Antonio Reyes 
  

Around the World

• Brasileirao: 3 way race for Campeonato with 3 left to play

The Business of Soccer

• La Liga: TV Rights Deal Threatens Split

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Playoff Brouhaha

Oh the whines and cries of so many folks as the West dominates the MLS standings heading into the playoffs.
It's not a bad argument to want the playoffs to be seeded as in a single table format. We in the US are accustomed to that and it makes logical sense as the best chance to end up with the two best teams, at least based on seeding, in the final.
Now here is the reality of the potential matchups.

First, with the current standings, the matchups would be ...

LA v Seattle - LA won both league matches
RSL v Dallas - The teams split their two matches

RBNY v San Jose - The teams split their two matches
Columbus v Colorado -  The teams split their two matches

If higher seeds win ...

LA v RSL - The teams split their two matches

RBNY v Columbus - Columbus won both matches

LA v RBNY - The teams split their two matches

NOTE -
#2 RSL won and drew v #5 RBNY, RSL and #6 Columbus split their matches
#3 Dallas lost and drews v #5 RBNY, Dallas #6 Columbus drew their matches
#4 Seattle and #5 RBNY split their two matches, Seattle won and drew v #6 Columbus

Where is the dominance of the higher seeds? They won 4, lost 3 and drew 5 vs lower seeds from the east.
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Now if the playoffs were based on seeding 1-8 ...

LA v San Jose - San Jose won 1 and 1 draw
Seattle v RBNY - The teams split their two matches

RSL v Colorado - They drew once and play this weekend
Dallas v Columbus - Two draws

If higher seeds win ...

LA v Seattle - LA won both league matches
RSL v Dallas -  The teams split their two matches

LA v RSL -  The teams split their two matches

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A Friday Post

MLS

• The 'big' game is just an hour away. Of course, it's not really a big game. LA has clinched a playoff spot and the Red Bulls would have to collapse not to finish 2nd in the East. Of course, LA does want to stay ahead of RSL and win the Supporters' Shield, but otherwise, I'd say the KC/Dallas game is the 'big' game, featuring the two hottest teams in the league and KC making a late run to overcome Seattle for the 8th playoff position.
  

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Municipal, Olimpia win in group phase 4th round. Columbus and RSL lead their respective groups after 4 rounds.
• Asian Champions League
• Copa Sudamerica  

Interesting Reads

• Bundesliga: What makes it so attractive

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News and Views from Thur Aug 5

MLS

• Crew down Philly on Lenhart brace
• Union: Philly acquires Colombian defenseman
• Crew: Columbus sends Zayner to DC United
• Galaxy: LA send Gordon to Chivas USA 
• Wizards: KC loans Hohlbein to Miami FC of D2 
• Expansion: Detoit thinking way outside the box - Gotta love it 
• Timbers: Building a MLS roster - Part 1 - Part 2  
• MLS: Have a little perspective  
• MLS: Why The MLS On Versus Needs To Happen 

Club Tournaments

• N.A. SuperLiga: Revs v Morelia in final
• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Joe Public, FAS thru to group phase
• CONMEBOL: Copa Libertadores Chivas advances to final, will play Internacional
  
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
  

Interesting Reads

• Soccer Strategy: Is 4-2-1-3 the future?
• Soccer Strategy: Why are two holding midfielders so crucial in the modern game? 
• USMNT: U20's offer hope for the future 
• USMNT: How A High Level National Team Coach Could Influence US Soccer  

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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 from Jul 26-27

MLS

• Week 17 Attendance Report. 
• N.A. SuperLiga: Semifinals dates set. 
• Chicago trades midfielder Mapp to Union. 
• Omar Salgado chooses MLS and the US. 
• SUM Cup U17: New England over Toronto 5-2.
• SUM Cup U17: D.C. United advances to U-17 final. 
• SUM Cup U17: RSL edges Dynamo on PKs in Sum Cup semi. 
  
• Expansion Draft or SuperDraft? Coin flip will decide who chooses.
• D.C. United Waives Boyzzz Khumalo.

Around the World and other Stuff

• What Is The American Style Of Play?
• USL-PDL Playoffs Set. 
• Milk Cup: USA 1 - China 0, Salgado scores winner. 
• Russian Premier League: Zenit reach pivotal stage in title march.  
• New Premier League rules give Fergie a 'problem'. 
• Singapore Cup Quarter Final Draw. 
• Perennial mid-table Premiership teams try to avoid stagnation.

Club Tourneys

• CONCACAF Champions League: Can anyone defeat the Mexicans?
• CONCACAF Champions League: Toronto(MLS) over Motagua(HON) 1-0 in 1st leg. 
• CONCACAF Champions League: Puerto Rico(USSF-D2) embarrasses LA(MLS) at home 4-1 in 1st leg. 
• CONCACAF Champions League: Santos(MEX) over San Juan Jabloteh(TRI) 1-0 in Trinidad in 1st leg.
• CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul(MEX) over San Francisco(PAN) 3-2 in 1st leg.
• Copa Libertadores: Semifinal preview.  
• UEFA Champions League: Dynamo Kiev cruise, Unirea hold Zenit, Kljestan scores

Player Moves

• Gary Hooper signs with Celtic. 
• FC Seoul complete double swoop. 
• Ajax signs El Hamdaoui and Mido. 
• Bolton complete deal for defender Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid. 
• Liverpool agree fee of £2.5m for Aston Villa's Luke Young.  
• Bologna secure deal for Krhin. 

The Business of Soccer

• Wizards sell 700 season tickets after beating Man U. 
• Leiweke to leave Vulcan Sports & Entertainment for Tampa Bay NHL team. 
• Selling Manchester City In America.  
• Barcelona loss at £64m for last season.

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News and Views from Wed Jun 9

MLS

• RSL downs Galaxy on iffy no call offside goal.
• Rapids steal point on road with Casey extra time header vs Fire.
• Wizards academy update.
• Houston President Oliver Luck leaving to become WVU AD.

Interesting Reads

• Social turmoil surrounds World Cup in Cape Town.
• Soccer that almost was in the USA.
• Goal.com: England's influence on US Soccer.

Player Moves

• Everton signs Portuguese striker.

World Cup

• Journalists robbed, one held at gunpoint.
• Individual achievements.
• Pre cup friendlies: Chile 2 New Zealand 0 -
• Golden Boot winners.
• African players receive WC amnesty.
• Terrific WC pictorial.
• England v USA: The beauty of anticipation.

Around the World

• Triobet Baltic League update.

The Business of Soccer

• Corporate set staying away from South Africa.
• The collapse of football: how the toxic weed of Strategic Default took over our game.
• AT&T will carry ESPN's 3D World Cup broadcasts.
• Timbers gain first founding partner sponsor.
• USA's World Cup bonus pot, largest in history(potentially).
• MLS pre cup business bits from Footiebusiness.

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After the Weekend May 22-23

MLS

• Weekly Attendance report.
• Game recaps at MLSSoccer.com.
• RBNY beats Juventus 3-1.
• Chicago fail at Sister Cities International.
• Galaxy down Boca Jrs.

Interesting Reads

• A link to pass along to your 'new to soccer' friends. Rules of the game.
• Lord Triesman, former chairman of the Football Association and entrapment.
• How football can keep the lid on strife.
• UCL on Fox, the emergence of the US football fan.
• US player profile: Sacha Kljestan.
• Soccer's foothold in the US. 
• For England fans: The Guardian's football coverage.

Around the World

• SoccerLens: Swiss Football Rocked By Europe-Wide Match Fixing Scandal.
• Toluca wins Mexican Clausura.
• Campeonato Brasileiro update.

World Cup

• Foreign fans staying home, revised estimates reveal. Huge financial shortfall predicted.
• The real World Cup prize, broadcast rights.

Club Tourneys

• Inter Milan wins UEFA Champions League with 2-0 win over Bayern Munich. Serie A keeps 4th UCL spot.
• Between the two UCL finalists, 21 players are World Cup bound.
• UCL final: Passing statistics.

The Business of Soccer

• Brian Quarstad: AC St. Louis update for 5/22.
• Bill Archer: On St. Louis and the future of soccer.

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News and Views from Thur May 6

MLS

• Footiebusiness: A Wednesday night in Foxboro.
• Los Angeles has not allowed a goal on the road.
• Houston lost 2 regular season home games in two years, they've lost 2 in 5 this year.
• MatchFit USA: Speed merchants of MLS.
• Tough loss for Kansas City. I'm posting this because I have a soft spot for the Wiz. They spent a lot of preseason in Phoenix, so I got to see them quite a bit.
• Sueño finalists in LA.
• Keith Hickey: Woes in New England.

Interesting Reads

• You probably know this stuff by now, but an interesting read on Euro doings nonetheless.
• The influence of Haiti on US football.
• Dan Loney: Reflections on Mexico and the US in the Loney style.

The Business of Soccer

• BBC: More football clubs face collapse according to leaked FA paper.
• Manchester United in North America this July.
• Billy Witz: Most popular team in the US - Mexico?

World Cup

• Chris Rodrigues: South Africa's World Cup is a Disgrace.
• Team profile: Brasil.
• Via Hexagonal Blog: CONCACAF revisiting World Cup qualifiying.

Around the World

• Marseille win Ligue 1 title.
• Arrests made in Hong Kong match fixing probe.
• Ajax defeat Feyenoord to win Dutch Cup.

Club Tournaments

• US Open Cup - Tourney structure finalized.
  
• CAF Champions League(Africa) - Play resumes May 8
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - Play resumes May 11
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - Bayern Munich v Inter Milan
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - Pachuca defeats Cruz Azul for title
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Quarterfinals: Flamengo vs. Alianza, Libertad vs. Chivas, Estudiantes vs. Internacional and Cruzeiro vs. Sao Paulo
• Europa League(Europe) - final: Atletico Madrid v Fulham
  
• Nutralite Canadian Championship - Whitecaps and Impact draw, leaving TFC in good position.
  

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News and Views from May 5

MLS

• Midweek action: DCU and FCD get first wins. Goats munch on Revs. Gals keep winning. After losing just 2 regular season home games in two years, Houston has lost 2 of 5 at home this year. The Galaxy have yet to yield a goal on the road.
• Steve Davis ranks the 2010 rookie class.
• Goal.com: Is Aggressiveness Hurting The Philadelphia Union?

Interesting Reads

• Fascinating to see the make-up of the USMNT U-20 team as they head to the Netherlands.
• A tale for soccer fanatics.
• The Best Eleven: League leading point totals for 38 game leagues, 2000-2010.
• Pitch Invasion: Peter Wilt's vision of American soccer in 2020.
• US getting closer to winning at England's game.
• Sid Lowe: Atletico Madrid and it's quest for 1st trophy in 14 years.

Around the World

• Triobet Baltic League: Semi-Final Quartet Decided.
• Inter over Roma in Coppa Italia final.
• Chester football is back.
• After failing to reach the Champions League, Daniel Taylor of the Guardian thinks Manchester City will struggle to get A-list players.

World Cup

• Howard Hamilton: Catching up with Project 2010.
• Tickets remain unsold.
• Algeria World Cup squad analysis.
• Team profile: Portugal.

The Business of Soccer

• FA loses key sponsorship.

Club Tournaments

• US Open Cup  - Competition structure finalized.
  
• CAF Champions League(Africa) - Play resumes on May 8
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - Play resumes on May 11
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - final May 22, Bayern Munich v Inter Milan
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - 2010 Champs - Pachuca
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Estudiantes, Flamengo and Cruzeiro thru to quarterfinals.
  
• Europa League(Europe) - final: Atletico Madrid v Fulham
  
• Nutralite Canadian Championship - Day 2 - Vancouver 1-1 Montreal
  

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News and Views from Tues Apr 27

MLS

• Boca Jrs to play Galaxy at HDC on May 23.
• FC Dallas defeats Haiti in friendly.
• Via Buzz Carrick: FC Dallas gets a page at FS Southwest.
• Expansion: Finding the supporters.
• Expansion: The dream is alive in San Antonio.
• Climbing the Ladder: MLS Player nationalities.
• Aaron Stoller: Why MLS fan violence matters and why the response to it matters even more.
• Dan Loney: The regular season is for the little people.
• Some Beckham bashing by Precious Roy. Note: I like Becks and think he has been great for MLS.
• DC United v FC Dallas in the US Open Cup will be streamed live.
• To the Seattle fans and their protest against referees.
• Fake Sigi on MLS attendance. This strikes a little close to home as I do a weekly attendance post over at MLS Talk. One day I'll get around to responding to the ever entertaining Sig-Man.
• Ben Berger at Footiebusiness: Greg Lalas on the status of MLSSoccer.com.
• J.R. Eskilson: 2010 Rookie report.

World Cup

• US Opponents Sovenia and Algeria: How they fared this week.
• Algeria team profile.

Player Moves

• Metzelder will return leave Real Madrid and return to Germany.

Around the World

• Top scorers in the 2010 Argentine Clausura.

Interesting Reads

• Reuters: Referees wrestling with a problem they can't solve.
• Limbering up for the philosophers' football rematch.
• Michel Platini lays the blame for Portmouth's plight on the EPL.
• Why playing with one forward fails so often.
• Rob Hughes: Recipe for Soccer Success: Let Young Talent Blossom.
• Does the US Open Cup need an overhaul? 

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Club Tournaments

• Red Bulls defeat Philadelphia in US Open Cup play-in match.
• CAF Champions League(Africa)
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - Thai Port 2 - 0 Tai Po. Thai Port thru to round of 16.
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - Bayern get past Lyon, head to final.
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - Final 2nd leg on Wed.
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - The Knockout Stage preview. Estudiantes over San Luis.
  
• Europa League(Europe)
• News from the Bulgarian Cup, yeah you heard me, the Bulgarain Cup.
• Nutralite Canadian Championship 

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News and Views from Thursday Mar 11

Openers

• You may read how the DC United win at Santos Laguna is the first club victory for a US team in Mexico. When the feat is repeated in a game that means something, I'll make a point of it, but for now, so what.

• Word is out that the MLS players have voted to strike if no labor agreement is reached by March 25, the scheduled opening day. More meetings with the Federal mediator have been set, so again, it's wait and see. If you want to read every smidgeon or rumor, use Google or Bing.

MLS Preseason

• DC United beats Santos Laguna 3-2.
• TFC heads to Carolina Challenge Cup.
• LA defeats Puntarenas FC of Costa Rica.
• Houston/Chicago scrimmage relocated.
• RBNY/Miami FC scrimmage relocated.
• Timbers beat Sounders 1-0.

MLS

• ChivasUSA report.

Player Moves

• RBNY signs former TFC keeper Sutton.
• RBNY makes Carl Robinson move official.
• Eskandarian's career likely over.
• ChivasUSA signs Costa Rican international defender Michael Umana.

Interesting Reads

• Last week I linked to Goal.com's first post in a series called Where Would the USA be Without... when it addressed the Netherlands influence on football in the US. This week, it's Argentina.
• FIFA says costs preclude goal-line technology.

The Business of Soccer

• In the 4th post in the series on fan ownership of football clubs: the Bundesliga model.

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF Champions League.
• Asian Champions League.
• UEFA Europa League.
• Copa Libertadores.

Around the World

• Drogba named African Footballer of the Year.

News and Views from Monday Mar 8

MLS Preseason

• Quakes defeat West Ham, no, not the first teamers.
• Fire beat FC Dallas, will play Notre Dame.
• WV Hooligan's look at the Seattle Sounders.
• Galaxy set to face Costa Rican side Puntarenas FC.

MLS

• CBA: What the mediator needs to bring to the table.
• New England academy update.

 Player Moves

• Toronto releases veteran Carl Robinson.
• Kevin Hartman, released by the Wizards, has signed with FC Dallas.

Interesting Reads

• Grant Wahl with an excellent piece on Landon Donovan as his Everton loan ends.
• Tom Dunmore castigates the IFAB and FIFA for their decision to eschew technology.
• Andrew Guest on African Soccerscapes.

The Business of Soccer

• The MLS-bound Portland Timbers have entered into a jersey sponsorship deal with SolarWorld.
• Pitch Invasion begins a series looking at Supporter ownership of football clubs.

News and Views from Thursday Mar 4

 Crew/Wizards action in Phoenix

A relatively slow day, especially since I'm not linking to the plethora of post international friendly stories.

MLS Preseason

• San Jose update.
• Wizards/Crew draw in Phoenix.

MLS

• LA Galaxy open tryouts this weekend.

Player Moves

• The Seattle Sounders have signed Swiss International forward Blaise Nkufo.He will join the club after the World Cup.

Interesting Reads

• Orlando will have a professional soccer team in 2011. The new team has aligned itself with the USL.

The Business of Soccer

• A peek at Liverpool's revenue streams. Making the quarterfinals of the '08-09 UEFA Champions League earned the club 23.2 million Euros. More in the article.

News and Views from Wednesday Feb 24

MLS Preseason

• FC Dallas take new approach to preseason.
• LA Update from Arizona.
• Revs academy update.
• Sounders reserves fall to FC Mitjtylland.
• ChivasUSA/Wizards scrimmage to 1-1 draw in Phoenix.
• Colorado loses to LA in Arizona.

MLS

• An interview with Jeff Parke, now in camp with the Seattle Sounders.
• An article on Damani Ralph, now in camp with RBNY.
• Adrian Hanauer has confirmed that Colombian striker Miguel Montaño will join Seattle after his paperwork is completed.

Club Tournaments

• The Europa League.
• Inter over Chelsea, CSKA Moscow and Sevilla draw in UCL. 
• Brasilian clubs win in Copa Libertadores.

Interesting Reads

• Foreign internationals playing the La Primera in Mexico.Howard Hamilton discusses his CONCACAF club and league coefficients.

The Business of Soccer

• EPL owes 56% of European football debt.
• FIFA sets new rules for the transfer market.
• Thanks to The Offside for providing a link to the UEFA Football Club Finance Report.

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US Women open Algarve Cup with 2-0 victory.

News and Views from Thursday Feb 18

MLS Preseason

• FCD trying Harris at forward.
• New additions looking to impress at RSL.
• Rosenborg 3 Sounders 0 - match report.
• WV Hooligan looks at the New England Revolution.
• The Revs Florida schedule.
• RSL opens camp in Arizona.
  
• Young Galaxy players prepare to contribute in 2010.

MLS

• Garth Lagerway of MLS Cup winner Real Salt Lake on MLS and youth academies.
• Have questions about the structure of MLS? So does Richard Whittall of A More Splendid Life.
• Fake Sigi takes a look at the CBA with the NBA in mind.

Interesting Reads

• A Danish star in the making?
• A Big (welcome) change coming to FIFA?
  

Club Tournaments

• Argentine champion cruise in Copa Libertadores.
• Tom Vickery podcast with an in depth look at the Copa Libertadores.
• Europa League.

The Business of Soccer

• The Portsmouth saga continues.
• Pay cuts at West Ham?

Player Moves

• Steve Goff reports on DC United player moves.
• The Portland Timbers have signed defender Ian Joy.

News and Views from Wednesday Feb 17

MLS Preseason

• DC United draws with TFC 
• WV Hooligan's look at the Galaxy.

MLS

• Former MLS'ers still playing in other leagues.
• An RBNY podcast, Seeing Red.
• One of the better pieces I've read on the labor negotiations.
• Very interesting post by Duane Rollins on potential issues between MLS and Vancouver regarding their very well developed youth system.

Club Tournaments

• Copa Libertadores winners: Libertad and Colo Colo.
• Odd doings at the UEFA Champions League give Porto and Bayern Munich wins.

Interesting Reads

• I'm a fan of Clarence Seedorf.
• This past Sunday, I linked to a piece on the Dark Ages in American Soccer. Today, Peter Wilt lends his perspective as someone who had a front row seat during that period.
• How about a little Bundesliga talk? Here's a story on Schalke, making run for the title. I remember watching them when I first got serious about soccer. Kuranyi, Asamoah, Sand, Ernst and Lincoln made for some exciting viewing.
• Great news about Paraguayan striker Salvador Cabanas' recovery from gunshot wound to head last month.

The Business of Soccer

• Rangers announce surprise profit.

After the Weekend

 

2nd round draft pick Steve Beitashour of San Jose and 2nd year player Matt Besler of Kansas City jockey for position in a preseason scrimmage in Arizona 

Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	26	18	4	4	39	58
Manchester Utd	26	18	3	5	41	57
Arsenal	26	16	4	6	31	52
Liverpool	26	13	5	8	16	44
Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen	21	12	9	0	29	45
Bayern Munich	21	13	6	2	27	45
Schalke 04	21	12	6	3	16	42
Hamburg	21	9	9	3	16	36
Ligue 1
Bordeaux	24	16	3	5	22	51
Montpellier	24	15	3	6	8	48
Lille	24	13	5	6	22	44
Lyon	24	12	7	5	11	43
Serie A
Internazionale	24	16	6	2	29	54
AS Roma	24	14	5	5	15	47
AC Milan	23	13	6	4	15	45
Napoli	24	10	9	5	5	39
La Liga
Barcelona	22	17	4	1	40	55
Real Madrid	22	17	2	3	38	53
Valencia	22	12	7	3	18	43
Sevilla FC	22	12	3	7	9	39

Meanwhile in Brasil Santos remains on top.

MLS

• I finally got a chance to listen to this 3 part podcast series on the CBA. Exciting? No. Interesting, Yes. Part One. Part Two. Part Three.

MLS Preseason

• Houston takes care of SMU.
• Galaxy down UCLA.
• The latest from Toronto FC.
• FC Dallas defeat U of Tulsa. Shea collects 3 assists.
• Union win first exhibition match 5-0.
• Chivas USA wins preseason opener.

Player Moves

• FC Dallas releases Aziz Anseh.
• Rochester Rhinos sign keeper Neal Kitson.

Interesting Reads

• Soccer in America - 1984-1996.
• A very good read about the man behind MLS en Espanol. Somehow I missed it when it came out, but I'm glad I found it now. A cautionary tale for young players.

Club Tournaments

• FA Cup Roundup.

News and Views from Thursday

MLS

• Labor negotiations update.
• Steve Hunt on the options for FC Dallas replacing Dave Van den Bergh on the left wing.
• Larry Morgon reports on 2008 Rookie of the Year Sean Franklin.
• Jeff Crandall with a look at new Fire midfielder Julio Martinez.
• An older post by a great writer on the playoff format in MLS.

MLS Preseason

• Revs announce 10 day/3 match preseason visit to North Carolina.
• Sounders close out Arizona stay with win over Vancouver.
  

 Player Moves

• San Jose signs Joey Gjersten, former USL MVP.
• Rapids sign two international players.

Soccer Miscellaneous

• The latest from the Copa Libertadores.
• FIFA president Blatter reacts to World Cup critics.

I Don't Do Rumors

• And here is a good post about Raul that covers my feelings about most rumors.