Back to Regular Programming

I hope you enjoyed the pictures from the US Development Academy Winter Showcase. I'll probably do one more post with the best of the pics(IMO).
For now, though, back to regular programming, linking to stories that are not quite mainstream, at least in the US, along with a few of my own opinions about events in the world of soccer.

Starter Fun

• The latest episodes of Special1 TV: This one, and this one.

MLS

• Steve Davis on MLS Cup Winning Tactics: Beauty of British game 
• For all the uproar over season ticket prices in Toronto, 2011 season tickets have sold out.
• Robert Jonas: Fortune and Fame in a Salary Cap World 

Tournaments

• FIFA Club World Cup: CONCACAF bows out early again
• Digicell Cup: Jamaica Takes Title

On Development in the US

• Not sure what I make of this, but I'll offer it anyway: Winning vs Development: Really? That’s the problem?
• How The Development Academy Changed College Soccer

Around the World

• With a nod to our(US) recently completed youth Academy Showcase: The Barcelona Way
• David Hills with his always great read: Said and Done

The Business of Soccer

• On the Barça decision to accept Qatar based sponsorship money, and a lot of it: Barcelona Football is a Business

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Club Tourneys etc.

MLS

• Playoff seeding, does it matter
• Steve Davis' 5 Things

Soccer in the US

• USSF-D2:  Carolina v Puerto Rico in D2 final 

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - TFC wins, finish 3rd in GroupA. RSL top Group A with win over Cruz Azul. Columbus thru via Santos win.
• Asian Champions League
• Copa Sudamerica 
• CAF: Orange CAF Champions League(Africa) - T.P. Mazembe vs E.S.T. in final
• UEFA: Champions League 

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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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MLS: After the World Cup

I had already started to put this table together when I heard the question come up on Richard Farley's MLS Talk Podcast as to how MLS was doing after the World Cup.

	pre cup		during cup		pre/during	thru cup		after cup		thru/after	overall
	GP	Avg	GP	Avg	+/-	GP	Avg	GP	Avg	+/-	GP	Avg
1998	82	14,894	23	15,827	6.27%	105	15,098	87	13,363	-11.49%	192	14,312
2002	45	16,483	25	13,011	-21.06%	70	15,243	70	16,398	7.58%	140	15,821
2006	60	16,057	40	13,198	-17.81%	100	14,914	92	16,142	8.24%	192	15,502
2010	93	16,472	24	17,227	4.58%	117	16,627	87	16,369	-1.55%	204	16,517

The '98, '02 and '06 overall numbers are for the full season.

MLS

• Toronto FC: The Honeymoon is over 

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - RSL and TFC draw, RSL thru, TFC, Seattle eliminated in group phase 5th round.
• UEFA: Champions League
• Copa Sudamerica  

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On MLS Roster Expansion

With the recent announcement of the MLS schedule expanding to 34 matches next year, something I speculated about when the 17th and 18th teams were awarded, there has been a bit of chatter about enlarging the rosters. Jason Davis, over at Match Fit USA, has a recent post on the subject. We won't even touch on what happens when the league expands to 20 teams.

Back during the CBA negotiations, I put forward the idea of unlimited home grown players on the roster with no salary cap hit. I also like the new English Premier roster rule that permits unlimited players age 21 or younger.

Other MLS Stuff

One Toronto fan's rant about next year's ticket prices.

How the DP's performed last week.
Are DP's good or bad for MLS.


Other Stuff

Miriti Murungi of Nutmeg Radio on why International Friendlies do matter.
Serie A: No strike, for now.

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News and Views from Thur Aug 26

MLS

• RSL: Real Salt Lake’s Mexico City Collapse, and Why It Matters
• TFC: Toronto FC Signs Doneil Henry As First Home Grown Player

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Saprissa, Toluca win in group phase 2nd round
• Jason Davis: On Speaking Out on CONCACAF Shenanigans
• UEFA: Champions League Groups
• UEFA: Michel Platini will expel debt-laden clubs from the Champions League 
• UEFA: Europa League Results
• Copa Sudamerica

Interesting Reads

• USMNT U20: U20 roster set for Peru tourney
• Video: The first date from Nutmeg Radio
• EPL: Premier League may ban player loans to stop clubs stockpiling 
• Time Warner Cable, Disney Talks Focus on ESPN3 Website Fees 
• UEFA: Inter sweep UEFA Club Football Awards 

Player Moves

• Goal.com's Transfer page

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News and Views

MLS

• Jason Davis: On the fiasco that was CCL on Tuesday
• J Hutcherson: More on the fiasco that was CCL on Tuesday

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - TFC, Columbus lose in group phase 2nd round
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
• Copa Sudamerica 

Interesting Reads

• Andrew Guest: A Mental Game: Pain

Player Moves

• Goal.com's Transfer page

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News and Views

MLS

• Week 21 attendance report and more
• A review of DP performances
• Seattle Buys a Team in Tanzania 
• A demonstration of class and honor in Toronto 
• Jason Davis: Puts in words what I've been thinking about FC Dallas 
• J Hutcherson: League or Champions League, where to focus
• Vancouver Takes 1st Pick In SuperDraft

Just hanging around this weekend, I created this table breaking MLS into 4 geographical divisions and the intra-divisional team records.

	W	D	L	Pts
I-95
NE Revs	3	1	0	10
RBNY	2	1	1	7
DC United	1	1	4	4
Philadelphia	1	1	2	4
Central
Columbus	3	0	1	9
KC Wizards	2	2	1	8
Toronto	1	1	2	4
Chicago	0	1	2	1
MidWest
Dallas	2	2	0	8
Houston	1	2	2	5
RSL	1	0	2	3
Colorado	0	2	0	2
Pacific
LA Galaxy	3	1	1	10
SJ Quakes	2	1	2	7
Chivas USA	1	1	1	4
Seattle	1	1	3	4

Around the World

• USSF D2: Weekend Review

Interesting Reads

• Sports Writing Blues
• Exploiting Hope: Rags to Rags with the Promise of Riches

Player Moves

• Goal.com's Transfer page

 

News and Views from Tues Aug 18

MLS

• Week 20 attendance report and more
• MLS Hires Consultant Known for Launching Channels
• Chicago: Fire sign first home grown player 
• Chicago: 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 ?
• San Jose: Keeper Cannon breaks ankle 
• Toronto: Toronto over Cruz Azul in CCL group stage opener  

Around the World

• Jonathan Wilson: Strategy in the EPL on opening weekend
• So you want to be a soccer writer
• If you like stats, bookmark this 

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - TFC, Monterrey win, Puerto Rico draws in group phase openers
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
  

Player Moves

• Juventus loan Tiago back to Atletico
• Manchester City agree deal to sign James Milner from Aston Villa
• Craig Bellamy agrees to join Cardiff City on loan from Manchester City 
• Birmingham Sign Matt Derbyshire On Loan
• Real Madrid sign Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen 

 The Business of Soccer

• Arsenal offer 'fanshares' to dampen fears of takeover 

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News and Views from Thu Aug 12

MLS

• Player Development: NCAA rule change opens doors for MLS academy prospects 
• Rapids: Academy player could be turning pro 
• DC United: Moreno to leave MLS at season's end 
• Toronto FC: TFC learning the price of success   

US Pyramid

• USSF D-2 Professional League Standards by Brian Quarstad. Probably spells the end for D2 in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.
• Chatting With Some Development Academy Coaches by J.R. Eskilson.

Around the World

• Liverpool: Christian Poulsen Joins Liverpool From Juventus
• Sunderland: Man U starlet Welbeck on loan to Black Cats
• Portugal: League preview 
  

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News and Views from Wed Aug 11

MLS

• Revs: Revs part ways with midfielder Niouky 
• Business: MLS to Versus is close to a no-brainer  
• Quakes: San Jose signs midfielder Khari Stephenson  
• RBNY wins, RSL and Philly draw  
  

US Pyramid

• Chatting With Some Development Academy Coaches by J.R. Eskilson.
• Brian Quarstad continues his reporting on the 2nd division in the US pyramid.

Well the plot gets thicker. USSF is sticking to the financial guidelines that Brian reported on Monday. They also say that they are adamant about not running D2 next year.
Austin, Carolina, Edmonton, Miami, Montreal, Rochester and Tampa Bay would appear to be OK. Non-profit owned Minnesota and Puerto Rico, owned by the Bureau of Tourism are in a nether world.
FIFA requires leagues to have 8 teams for formal sanctioning, with exceptions. There's so much more, so read Brian's post. It's fair to say that for expansion hopefuls, most have probably resigned themselves to D3, while the D2 picture remains muddy. Stay tuned.

 Around the World

• Copa Libertadores: Internacional takes 1st leg of final over Chivas
• CONMEBOL: Copa Sudamericana update
• Stoke sign Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland 
• West Ham agree loan deal for Miralem Sulejmani of Ajax 
• ESPN Reach Agreement with Fox Over EPL TV Rights in U.S.
• Manchester United sign Portuguese striker Bébé 
• Marlon Harewood one of five Blackpool signings

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News and Views

MLS

• Gee, have you heard, Rafa Marquez has signed for RBNY. You missed this if you have been doing your ostrich imitation for a few weeks.
• Seattle's formation switch is leading to better results
• Philadelphia Builds A Development System

Around the World

• You knew it was ugly while you were watching, now FIFA has fined Cup finalists Holland and Spain
• Trans national club football league in Southeast Asia?
• Radical reform at Prem academies
• Another story on the new roster rules in the EPL
• J.R. Eskilson: The Best Youth Club President In America?

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Toronto, Seattle, Cruz Azul thru to group phase
• 2010 USL PDL Championship Schedule
  
• CONMEBOL: Copa Sudamericana 2010 Preview
• CONMEBOL: Copa Libertadores Chivas advances to final
  
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
  

The Business of Soccer

• There's money in dem dar TV rights. Read it to the end to see if Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rapids of MLS, is poised to cash in on a major coup.
• MP and Silva enter agreement with Arsenal. MP and Silva is the company that bought the international rights to MLS.
• England's Premier League introduces new financial rules

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News and Views from Fri Jul 9

Starter

• Special 1 TV: Episode 6, Final World Cup Episode

MLS

• MLS Weekend Preview: Week 15
• After being released by ChivasUSA, Maicon Santos has signed with Toronto.
• Where soccer beats baseball: Portland.
• Lots of good stories at MLS website.

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
• Georgina Turner: Final Preview. 
• Kevin McCarra: Final Preview. 
• Rob Hughes: Netherlands and Spain Go for World Cup First. 
• Jesse Pennington: The Spanish Game of Keepaway.
• Spain Reap Benefits Of Dutch Legacy At Barca.

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• World Cup 2010 statistics: every match and every player in data. 
• World Cup 2010 Speed and Distance Stats.
• World Cup Statistics: Fastest, Farthest and Foulest.
• What have been the tactical lessons of World Cup 2010
• World Cup handover puts spotlight on Africa-Brazil ties.
• Video: As World Cup Nears Completion, Jobs Remain Elusive in South Africa. 
• Octopus vs Parakeet.
• National Identity In the World Cup.
• Tom Dunmore: Nigeria and Match-Fixing at the World Cup: The Vulnerability Remains. 
• Guardian Podcast: The World Cup, a festival of football ... and capitalism.  
• Opinion: Jemele Hill Misses the Target. 
• South Africa, mega-events and progress.
• South Africa and soccer, a personal story. 
• Video: South Africans speak about the World Cup. 
• Vuvuzela fatwa: United Arab Emirates bans the loud plastic horns.
• Soccer’s World Cup Will Stay Italian, No Matter Who Wins Final. 
• The Human Perspective at the World Cup. 

US News and Views

• The World Cup Bump, and What Is Next?
• Jason Kuenle: A Ricardo Clark What If Story OR What Bob Bradley Brought to the USMNT. 
• Jeff Carlisle: Is the tide turning for U.S. soccer? 
• US U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen discusses US player development.

Player Moves and other News

• A detailed look at Thai Port's income stream.
• Bochum seal deal for North Korea star Jong.
• Hong Kong Police Smash Vast Soccer Gambling Racket. 
• How to help: Football For Good.  
• Is Soccer Innovative?
• Video: Why Indonesia has failed on the world football stage.   

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News and Views from Wed Jul 7

MLS

• BMO Renews Toronto FC Jersey Deal.
• J Hutcherson: Red Bulls Still Building For The Good Of MLS. 
• KC's Espinoza reflects on his World Cup experience.
• Footiebusiness: MLS: The Value of Exposure.

US Open Cup
Columbus, ChivasUSA and Seattle have advanced to the semifinals. DC United plays Harrisburg on July 21 in the last quarterfinal match. In addition to modest cash prizes, $100G to the winner and $50G to the runner-up, the winner earns a berth in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.

• Defending champ Seattle downs Galaxy and advance to semifinals.

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

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• Ode to the Perfect Pass. 
• World Cup Showdown Between Airline Alliances. 
• World Cup attendance to pass 3 million, third best. 
• Surge in domestic abuse cases coincides with England's World Cup exit. 
• Ghana calls for Fifa rule change after World Cup exit.  
• Integration Fairytale Fails to Spread from Football Field to Society.

US News and Views

• Path to progress for U.S. national team not likely to include Bradley.
• What Jurgen might do. 
• via Must Read Soccer: Why We Rooted for the US.  
• 63 percent of U.S. adults tuning out World Cup. 

Player Moves and other News

• Iran Rejects Women's FIFA - Approved Football Strip.
• Serie A and B officially split.
• Chelsea sign Czech defender. 
• Arsenal sign defender Laurent. 
• Joe Ledley moves to Celtic and deepens Cardiff's financial crisis. 
• Nigeria's strangled football industry. 
• via Nutmeg Radio: One Goal: At Telegraph 21 documentary. 
• Dan Gosling's free agent move leaves Everton seething.
• ESPN Refuses to Rule Out Possibility Of Dedicated Soccer TV Network. 
• Sports Economists: Always Wrong About Everything.

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News and Views from Tue Jul 6

MLS

• J Hutcherson: LA, parity and what it means for Seattle.
• J Romero: Sounders FC: What a difference one season makes.
• Toronto FC Signs Spanish Forward Mista.

US Open Cup

The US Open Cup resumed with Columbus and ChivasUSA advancing to the semifinals. In addition to modest cash prizes, $100G to the winner and $50G to the runner-up, the winner earns a berth in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League. Los Angeles plays Seattle on Wednesday and DC United plays Harrisburg on July 21 in the other quarterfinal matches.

• Crew eliminate Charleston in quarterfinal.
• Chivas beat Houston 2-0, in semis for first time.

World Cup On Field News and Updates

• FIFA
• ESPNSoccernet
• Goal.com
• The Guardian
• SI
• Spain vs Germany Preview. 

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• Cup stats, including quarterfinals. 
• Riding the World Cup's political bounce. 
• Did the cream rise to the top?  
• Hawk-Eye inventor expects goal-line technology decision this month.  
• Insane in the Ukraine.  
• Facebook Icon The World Cup and National Narratives.
• How the media landscape is shaping World Cup marketing. 
• J Romero: What Economists Can Teach World Cup Coaches. 
• World Cup Soccer Stadiums May Need Rugby to Survive.

US News and Views

• What Jurgen might do. 
• 7 Ways that World Cup 2010 Will Change America. 

Not World Cup News

• Barcelona Transfers Chygrnskiy Back To Shakhtar With A 10m€ Loss.
• Barca president Rosell admits financial fears.
• Wigan target Sowah joins Hamburg.
• Thai Port reported to be 10,000,000 baht in debt and facing crisis.
• Friday Matches, Fewer Foreigners, Other Serie A Changes. 
• Jersey Swaps, a Ritual With a Story. 

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News and Views from Wed May 26

At the Top

• US World Cup squad named.

The buzz surrounding the selection ...

• Findley over Ching
• 'Only' 4 MLS players, but a majority have played in MLS
• Onyewu's performance against Czechs
• Defense, particularly left back, no surprise there

MLS

• Wizards sign midfielder Jamar Beasley.
• World Cup Player bonuses(from 2004 CBA).
• Do soccer stadiums equate to better attendance?
• Open Cup 'win and you're in' - RBNY 3 Colorado 0 - DC United host RSL on June 2.
• DC United over AC Milan 3-2.
• Seattle beats Boca Jrs. 3-0.

Interesting Reads

• FIFA will crack down on dangerous tackles.

World Cup

• FIFA puts up 150,000 tickets for sale.
• France keeper Lloris: WC ball is disaster.
• Clubs receive compensation for each player at World Cup. 
• Team profile: Switzerland. 
• Team profile: Ghana.

Around the World

• Real Madrid axe Pellegrini, clear way for Mourinho.
• Friendlies: France 2 Costa Rica 1 - Netherlands 2 Mexico 1 - Turkey 2 N Ireland 0
• Toronto wins Nutralite Canadian Championship, gain berth in CONCACAF Champions League.

The Business of Soccer

• Most EPL teams will have to cut wages to comply with UEFA's 'Financial Fair Play'. 
• The business side of the US/Czech friendly.

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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 Wed May 12

MLS

• Impact of US 30 man squad on MLS teams.
• Hispanic Millenials: The future of MLS.
• Pro/Reg: The subject has been beaten to death, but this piece at least has a fresh take. Feel free to disagree.
• DC United getting better, but is it too late.

Interesting Reads

• In the aftermath of Inter Milan's victory over Barcelona, the question arises, How important is possession?
• Sanford's Soccer Net: Just a bunch of good stuff.
• Peter Wilt: Are we there yet? (soccer in the US)
• Soccer journalism in the US. And Fake Sigi did a fine follow up.
• Paul Scholes: Not in South Africa, in Orlando, Florida.

Around the World

• A-League looking to the US for players.
• Two draws in Mexican Liguilla semifinal 1st legs.

The Business of Soccer

• English Premier League proposes new compensation deal for young players.

World Cup

• Team profile: Ivory Coast.
• Team profile: New Zealand.
• The Guardian's World Cup section. Tons of news. A good link to bookmark for WC2010.
• Goal.com: The 23 man reject squad.
• A conversation with David Downs of GoUSABid.

Club Tournaments

• US Open Cup  - Competition structure finalized - RBNY over New England.
  
• CAF Champions League(Africa) - Top clubs move through.
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - 4 teams take their place in quarterfinals.
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - final May 22, Bayern Munich v Inter Milan
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - 2010 Champs - Pachuca
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - U de Chile, Sao Paolo win 1st leg quarterfinal matches.
  
• Europa League(Europe) - Atlético Madrid defeats Fulham to win Europa League title.
  
• Nutralite Canadian Championship - Toronto win eliminates Montreal.
  

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News and Views from Tues May 11

Starters
The big story in the US is the announcement of the 30 man preliminary roster(see WC section below). I'll let you ferret out your own choice of commentary on the group. There certainly is no shortage of opinion out there.
The most chatter is about the omission of Charlie Davies from the squad. Following that, you'll find roughly equal amounts of blurbing about Freddie Adu(not on squad), the lack of forward depth, and a bit about Heath Pearce's chances of going to South Africa.

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MLS

• Part 2 of Footiebusiness on Gambling on MLS.
• Can Montreal have an Impact on MLS?
• Expansion: With the announcement of Montreal as the 19th team, talk naturally began about which city would be best for the 20th club. A few days back, an article appeared at Goal.com on why New York City should not be considered. Frankly, I thought the piece so poor and lacking in substance that I didn't link to it. Drew Epperly of WVHooligan, however, has written on the subject and found that as usual of his work, it is worth the read.

Interesting Reads

• Soccer for Fun in the US.
• Potential and Youth.

Around the World

• Malaysian Super League standings.
• FIFA suspends El Salvador for government interference.

World Cup

• USMNT 30 man preliminary roster.
• Algerians/Slovenians abroad weekend recap.
• Extra cash to South Africa to ensure preparedness.
• Stars that won't be going to South Africa.

Club Tourneys

• The Nutralite Championship matches are live streamed. Next match on Wed May 12.
• US Open Cup: RBNY v New England live stream.
• Europa League final. Wed May 12. Fulham v Atletico Madrid.
• Chivas wins 1st leg in Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.

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News and Views from Thur Apr 15

MLS

• TFC wins home opener vs Philadelphia.

Player Moves(MLS transfer window closed Apr 15, reopens July 15)

Many people expected a flurry of DP signings by April 15th. Unless teams are holding back announcements, it appears that the window after the World Cup will be the busy signing period. And of course, the cap will only take a half hit for the balance of the season for July signings.

• RBNY signs midfielder Nielsen on loan.

Interesting Reads

• The Yanks are Coming: Idiot's guide to the World Cup, Part 1.
• I often see commenters to articles about the Designated Player bemoaning the failures. Let's face it, any sports fan knows that DP's or high priced free agents in many sports fail to live up to expectations. Here's Footy Factor opinion on this season's Euro big transfer fails.

The Business of Soccer

• World Cup over the counter sales not without problems.
• The Guardian: The Premier League will launch a legal challenge to Ofcom's ruling forcing Sky to cut the price it charges rival broadcasters to carry their sports channels.
• FIFA: Nepotism, it's everywhere.
• An article on Toyota Park's economic impact.

Around the World

• Mexican midweek roundup.
• USSF D2 at Wikipedia - Not bad.
• Premier League extends parachute payments.
• CFU Club Championships get under way.

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