An Assortment from the Soccer Buffet

Starter Fun

• Special 1 TV: Act of God 

MLS

• Dave Clark: Terrific Look at Sounders' Roster Battle
• Buzz Carrick: Looks at FCD's Roster
• Shin Guardian: All Is Not Peachy in the Southeast… 
• Expansion: Detroit and the Silverdome - I posted about this months ago when I first saw the plan to rip the roof off of the Silverdome. It was such an 'out of the box' idea that I was fascinated, even though I have no clue if it could be done.
• J.R. Eskilson: MLS Academies Distance Themselves From The Pack

Video

• The Straight Red Card: Play Like FC Barcelona? with Tony Sanneh
• The Straight Red Card: Why US Soccer Shouldn't Bother Trying to Become FC Barcelona
• Peter Wilt Interview - Part 1

The Business of Soccer

• Guardian: Football League Clubs Heading for Precipice, says Chairman Greg Clarke
• ESPNSoccernet: Euro Woe Affects Celtic's Finances 
• Rob Hughes: Money Buys a Lot, but Not Everything, in Soccer 
• Unprofessional Foul: The FIFA/UEFA Money Train Hits A Crack In The Track 
• J Hutcherson: Big Games Cost 

Interesting Reads

• David Hills: Said and Done
• Fake Sigi: NASL's Sort of Sanctioning 
• Bill Archer: NASL's Provisional Sanctioning 
• Run of Play: Television and the Form of the Soccer Match 
• Jason Davis: Portland Challenges The Sounders' Way 
• Soccer By The Numbers: The Goal Value of Corners: Zero   

Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League
• Copa Libertadores: Cerro smash five past Colo Colo
• UEFA: Champions League
• UEFA: Europa League
• US Open Cup Structure and Schedule

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Thursday Post

MLS

• Roster Rules: Official 2011 Roster Rules

The Business of Soccer

• EPL: Liverpool's moves through Moneyball eyes
• David Conn: Financial restraint goes out of the window when the big clubs struggle
• David Conn: Football Can't Kick its Spending Habit
  

In Case You Haven't Been Following ...

• NASL: NASL Releases Press Statement Concerning US Soccer’s Decision to Decline Sanctioning
• NASL: US Soccer Says “Financial Requirements” Main Reason for Denial of Sanctioning of NASL
• Jason Davis on NASL: NASL Takes Sanctioning Blow
• Robert Hay on NASL: NASL Loses Club and Sanction
• Fake Sigi on NASL: The USSF Sanction Reaper 
• Meanwhile: USL-PRO Releases Playoff Format, Zings NASL
• Don Loney: North America's Superfluous League  

Tournaments

• Copa Libertadores: Estudiantes Advance to Group Phase
• Copa Libertadores: Corinthians suffer shock exit to Tolima

UEFA Top Leagues

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Manchester Utd	24	15	9	0	32	54
Arsenal	24	15	4	5	27	49
Manchester City	25	13	7	5	17	46
Chelsea	24	13	5	6	25	44
Tottenham	24	11	8	5	6	41
Sunderland	25	9	10	6	2	37
Bundesliga
Dortmund	20	16	2	2	34	50
Bayer Leverkusen	20	11	6	3	12	39
Bayern Munich	20	10	6	4	17	36
Mainz	20	12	0	8	10	36
Hannover 96	20	11	1	8	-2	34
SC Freiburg	20	10	3	7	1	33
Ligue 1
Lille	21	11	8	2	18	41
PSG	21	10	7	4	11	37
Lyon	21	9	7	5	7	34
Rennes	21	9	7	5	6	34
Marseille	21	8	9	4	11	33
Montpellier	21	9	6	6	-2	33
Serie A
AC Milan	23	14	6	3	21	48
Napoli	22	13	4	5	16	43
Lazio	23	12	5	6	8	41
AS Roma	22	11	6	5	7	39
Inter	21	11	5	5	12	38
Palermo	23	11	4	8	9	37
La Liga
Barcelona	21	19	1	1	56	58
Real Madrid	21	16	3	2	30	51
Villareal	21	14	3	4	20	45
Valencia	21	12	5	4	10	41
Espanyol	21	12	1	8	1	37
Athletic Bilbao	21	11	2	8	3	35

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Not Your Newbies Links

Starter Fun

• Special1 TV: King Kenny(Dalglish) Exclusive
• The latest episode of Special1 TV: Free Robbie Edition

MLS

• Steve Davis: Making the Case for Goalkeeper DP's
• Shin Guardian: 'Building' Players in the USA - Follow Garber or Wenger

Not in the Mainstream

• After the Draft, College Programs to Watch Next Year
• Stats: European players getting taller, faster and older  
• Stuart Holden 
• NASL: USSF Concerned with NASL Sanctioning of D2 Pro Soccer for 2011 Season  
• NASL: MatchFit USA's take on NASL Sanctioning of D2 Pro Soccer for 2011 Season   

Soccer Business

• David Conn: Soccer Transfers ... Who gets what
• Europe's Financial Fair Play: Chelsea cautious as financial fair play looms

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Staying out of the Mainstream - Links

Starter Fun

• The latest episode of Special1 TV: Mid Table Madness

Not in the Mainstream

• Jonathan Wilson on Energy Cost of Playing on Artificial Turf 
• Intercontinental Club Football Calendar for 2011 - with link to 2011 National Team International Tournament calendar
• A working life: The football groundsman 
• Rob Hughes: In Soccer, Making It Look Easy Was Never So Hard
• Brian Quarsted: San Antonio: One Team, Two Teams, or No Teams? NASL or USL?
• Steve Davis: The high school soccer debate, and where we get it wrong

Monday late post

MLS

• Steve Davis:  Steve's MLS 5 things - A good weekly read

Soccer in the US

• D2:  San Antonio to join NASL in 2012

Around the World

• Hexagonal Blog:  A look at Central America
• FIFA:  Nigeria suspended for government interference

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News and Views from Thurs May 20

MLS

• LA and Columbus remain undefeated despite missing top players.
• Ngwenya finally rejoins Houston.
• Rev U16 players honored by US Soccer.
• Union loan Zimmerman to Harrisburg.
• Red Bull Arena, will it matter?

The Business of Soccer

• Seattle Sounders named as 2010 pro sports team of the year.
• Richard Farley is reporting that NASL's AC St. Louis and WPS's St. Louis Athletica are on the brink of going out of business.
• Inside Minnesota Soccer with more on USL and NASL.

Interesting Reads

• Sir Alex Ferguson on American soccer and MLS.
• Steve Davis: Big media should cover soccer correctly or not at all.
• The worst job in soccer.
• Beau Dure: Why college still produces pro talent.

World Cup

• Goal.com debate: Who should start at the back for the US?
• A study in National team training techniques.
• The WC created this soccer fan.

Around the World

• Brasil's Internacional and Universidad de Chile join Sao Paulo and Chivas de Guadalajara in Copa Libertadores semifinals.
• Mexican Liguilla final - Toluca/Santos draw in first leg.
• Nepal league postponed indefinitely.

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News and Views from Fri Apr 23

MLS

• A decent thought provoking piece with the usual assortment of good and moronic comments.
• Richard Farley: Pires a good fit for Philadelphia.
• The Chicago Fire and Section 8 Chicago jointly announced today that they have instituted the first-ever Chicago Fire Soccer Club Supporters’ Charter. The document marks the first such organized effort in U.S. professional sports
• Michael Lewis: Nowak and Hackworth, not an odd couple.
• Revs injury report.
• MLS injury report.
• Chivas USA steps up to help LA scholastic athletics.

Interesting Reads

• Can the Old Firm make an impact(rake in $$$) in the US?
• SBI: USSF D2 week 3 preview.
• NASL website now offering match previews. Look under 'Schedule' on right side of page.
• As if anyone needed reminding that soccer will not displace American football in the US sports foodchain, the NFL draft(???) drew higher TV ratings than the NBA playoffs. WTF!
• A read for Seattle fans.

World Cup

• Security concerns may effect hotel choices.
• Slovenia profile.
• Serbia national team defender Ivica Dragutinovic ruptured his Achilles yesterday and will miss the World Cup.
• USMNT plans fitness regimen.
• SoccerLens: Best XI not at the World Cup.
• Ridge Mahoney: Sharp form of unproven players complicates U.S. World Cup prep.

Club Tournaments

• Thai Port have asked to move next week's AFC Cup Group H match against Tai Po for financial reasons.

• CAF Champions League(Africa)
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia)
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) -
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America)
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Corinthians thru to knock-out - Here is the Rd of 16 draw.
  
• Europa League(Europe) -
  

Enjoy the Weekend!!

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After the Weekend Apr 17-18

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• In praise of a good presentation... Arlo White.
• The Portland Timbers announced the hiring of Mike Golub as the Chief Operating Officer.
• LA remains undefeated behind Buddle's 7 goals in 4 games.

Interesting Reads

• Andrea Canales: Knowledgeable fans are overlooked in coverage dedicated to newbies.
• Jamie Clary: The US Open vs MLS, not a new thing.

Around the World

• NASL update.
• Survival in the A-League.
• Benfica closing in on Portuguese title.
• FC Twente, one point up with one to play in the Eredivie.
• Urawa Reds go top in J-League.
• Turkish League update.
• Iceland volcano and the Europa League semi-finals.
• UEFA Champions League semi-finals a go despite volcanic fallout.
• Puerto Rico in CFU Club Championship semi-final.
• All about Santos.

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Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	35	24	5	6	54	77
Manchester Utd	35	24	4	7	51	76
Arsenal	35	22	5	8	39	71
Tottenham	34	19	7	8	28	64
Manchester City	34	17	11	6	27	62
Aston Villa	34	15	3	6	13	58
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	31	18	9	4	37	63
Schalke 04	31	18	7	6	23	61
Werder Bremen	31	15	9	7	28	54
Bayer Leverkusen	31	14	12	5	24	54
Dortmund	31	15	8	8	13	53
Stuttgart	31	14	8	9	8	50
Ligue 1
Marseille	33	20	8	5	29	68
Auxerre	33	18	9	6	10	63
Lyon	33	16	11	6	19	59
Montpellier	33	17	8	8	7	59
Lille	33	17	7	9	27	58
Bordeaux	32	17	6	9	19	57
Serie A
AS Roma	34	21	8	5	24	71
Internazionale	34	20	10	4	35	70
AC Milan	34	18	10	6	20	64
Sampdoria	34	16	9	9	4	57
Palermo	34	15	10	9	8	55
Napoli	34	13	13	8	5	52
La Liga
Barcelona	33	26	6	1	61	84
Real Madrid	33	27	2	4	58	83
Valencia	33	17	8	8	15	59
Sevilla FC	33	16	6	11	11	54
Mallorca	32	15	7	10	13	52
Villareal	33	14	7	12	3	49

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After the Weekend Apr 10-11

Feeling pretty good. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this is the first year I've decided to root for a specific MLS team. It's the Union, since Philly was the last place I lived that has an MLS club. Am just over the moon with the way Philly fans turned out for the home opener. The win was just a bonus. Now I just hope the enthusiasm will remain as the team is likely to experience some difficulties with 7 of its next 8 games on the road as they wait for the completion of their new home, PPL Park. I'll also be watching closely once PPL Park opens to see if folks will make the short trek to Chester. Philly fans have grown accustomed to 'one-stop shopping' for their major teams, all located at the Sports Complex in South Philly. Meanwhile, Go Union!

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• A fan reacts to DC United's horrendous start.
• And a Philly fan reacts to the Union home opener.
• And Philly has a new fan.
• Jason Davis: For him, MLS trumps La Liga's El Clásico.
• Mike Jacobs: College soccer continues to feed MLS.
• Video: Q & A with The Don.
• MLS teams begin US Open Cup play-ins this week.

USSF D2 Play Begins

• NASL
• USL
• The Schedule at USSoccer.

Interesting Reads

• Keith Hickey: Has the US outgrown CONCACAF? Agree or disagree, it's a topic that pops up every now and again.

Around the World

• ESPNSoccernet: Guadalajara were knocked off the top of Mexico's Torneo Bicentario table
• Hexagonal Blog: Haitian football starts its revival.
• Panathinaikos are Greek League Champs.
• Jamaican Premier League update.

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Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	33	23	5	5	54	74
Manchester Utd	34	23	4	7	50	73
Arsenal	33	22	5	6	41	71
Manchester City	33	17	11	5	28	62
Tottenham	32	17	7	8	26	58
Liverpool	34	16	8	10	21	56
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	30	17	9	4	30	60
Schalke 04	30	17	7	6	21	58
Bayer Leverkusen	30	14	12	4	25	54
Dortmund	30	15	7	8	13	52
Werder Bremen	30	14	9	7	26	51
Hamburg SV	30	12	12	6	16	48
Ligue 1
Marseille	31	18	8	5	27	62
Auxerre	32	17	9	6	7	60
Lyon	32	16	10	6	19	58
Montpellier	32	17	7	8	7	58
Bordeaux	30	17	5	8	20	56
Lille	32	16	7	9	23	55
Serie A
AS Roma	33	20	8	5	23	68
Internazionale	33	19	10	4	33	67
AC Milan	33	18	10	5	21	64
Palermo	33	15	9	9	8	54
Sampdoria	33	15	9	9	3	54
Juventus	33	15	6	12	2	51
La Liga
Barcelona	31	25	5	1	58	80
Real Madrid	31	25	2	4	55	77
Valencia	31	16	8	7	15	56
Sevilla FC	31	15	6	10	9	51
Mallorca	31	15	6	10	13	51
Athletic Bilbao	31	14	6	11	3	48

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News and Views from Fri Apr 9

MLS

• Jeff Carlisle: Union fans prepping for home opener.
• Kyle McCarthy: The Revs defense.
• The folks at Down the Byline found this story about the Fire playing teams from 'sister cities'.

Player Moves

• Philadelphia signs former USL MVP Arrieta
• RailHawks sign former Crew member Elenio.
• Miami FC adds two players.
• Ibrahim signs with Red Bulls.

USSF D2

• USL Conference Preview
• NASL Conference Preview
• USSF preview radio show

Interesting Reads

• The Offside: Slavia Sofia President Saves Player’s Life
• Jakarta Casual: Swelling the coffers of the AFC

The Business of Soccer

• Kenn.com: The Business of Indoor Soccer c.1998
• Spain's footballers call strike for Apr 16-19

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News and Views from Thur Apr 8

MLS

• Huge News! Each MLS team may have two Home Grown players in addition to the current 24 man rosters.
• For a good overview of the story, Drew Epperly has done a fine job at WVHooligan.This is additional encouragement of the academy system, in which MLS clubs are mandated to have at least two youth teams, U-18 and U-16.

USSF D2

• The season kicks off this weekend.
• All D2 games will be streamed live free of charge.

Player Moves

• Man U signs Javier Hernandez.
• Chicago signs Salvadoran defender Umanzor.

Interesting Reads

• Goal.com: Mexican influence on US football.
• Islamic fundamentalist faction threatens terror at World Cup.

Around the World

• State funding of Greek Super League suspended.
• Footy Finance comments on the Greek situation.

Club Tournaments

• CAF Champions League(Africa) 
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia)
• CONCACAF Champions League - Pachuca v Cruz Azul - Apr 21 and Apr 28
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Groups taking shape.
  
• Europa League(Europe) - Liverpool, Fulham in semis
  

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News and Views - Wednesday

Once again, Baltimore has slipped into the discussion as a potential home for DC United. The Maryland Stadium Authority has approved a feasibility study for a professional soccer stadium. DCU has encountered innumerable problems attempting to get a new stadium in DC. Even if they don't move, the folks in Maryland are looking at both Crystal Palace, newly self promoting to USSF-D2 from USL-2 as well as having made the first venue cut for a potential World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Former DCU coach Tom Soehn, was named Director of Soccer Operations for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Steve Davis speculates on Houston's future if Stuart Holden follows Ricardo Clark to Europe.

Inside Minnesota Soccer is reporting that Kartik Krishnaiyer will be appointed PR Director of NASL.

Player Moves
Based on his tweets, looks like Lee Nguyen(@Nguyen24) is headed back to Vietnam.

Interesting Reads
Peter Wilt's posts are always entertaining and informative.
I'm a little late with this one, but nevertheless, I present Bill Archer's latest.
Part Two of Richard Farley's series on citizen journalism in US Soccer.

The Business of Soccer
The story of Manchester United's debt just keeps coming.

MLS and Young Players
J.R. Eskilson seems to have tweaked commenters into some strong opinions over the best way to develop young talent in the US.

Soccer Bits, Player Moves, Tracking Your Team

Lower Division in the USA

• Wanna keep track of your favorite USSF D2 team? atlanticTFCfan has posted the Twitter and Facebook url's.
• OurSportsCentral's franchise report lays out the USL-2 and PDL landscape for 2011.

Young Yanks
The new USMNT U-17 residency class for the Bradenton Academy has been been selected.

For Your Viewing Pleasure
Johnathan Starling at Set Piece Analysts reports that mun2, an NBC Universal property, will broadcast Mexican First Division matches in English.

MLS Biz
Fake Sigi on the limitations of MLS's single entity structure.

More Post MLS SuperDraft Analysis
This time it comes from Ives.
And this one about the NE Revs defense.


MLS Pre-Season
RBNY will head to La Manga, Spain for two weeks from Wednesday, Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. After returning, the club will go to Florida to complete its pre-season.

Rumored Moves
Lee Nguyen is assessing the possibility of playing in MLS. Nguyen currently plays for Vietnamese team Hoàng Anh Gia La.
Reports from France has USMNT Defender Carlos Bocanegra moving from Renne to St. Etienne.
After Bolton passed, Ives is reporting that Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden may be headed to Portugal to sign with 1st place Sporting Braga.

Confirmed Moves
DC United signs Aussie forward Danny Allsopp.

Good Reads
After a couple of good showings for Everton, Andrea Canales of Goal.com offers up her opinion on the likelihood that Landon Donovan's loan will be extended, or more.
Grant Wahl on his journey to cover the African Cup of Nations.

More Help for Haiti from the Soccer Community
Kaka, Zidane to Play in Game for Haiti Relief.
RBNY, SCF to benefit Haiti through RBA tours.