MLS - Playing with Numbers

MLS

Wondo really was a sniper this year. Over half his shots were on goal and half of his shots on goal went in.

PLAYER	TEAM	GP	SHOTS	SOG	SOG %	GOALS	G/SHOTS	G/SOG
Chris Wondolowski	SJ	28	68	36	52.94%	18	26.47%	50.00%
Conor Casey	COL	27	69	28	40.58%	13	18.84%	46.43%
Dwayne De Rosario	TOR	27	72	36	50.00%	15	20.83%	41.67%
Edson Buddle	LA	25	96	43	44.79%	17	17.71%	39.53%
Omar Cummings	COL	29	76	37	48.68%	14	18.42%	37.84%
Juan Pablo Angel	NY	30	98	40	40.82%	13	13.27%	32.50%
Kei Kamara	KC	29	91	33	36.26%	10	10.99%	30.30%
Fredy Montero	SEA	29	91	34	37.36%	10	10.99%	29.41%
Sebastien Le Toux	PHI	28	90	48	53.33%	14	15.56%	29.17%
G/SHOTS=Goals % on Shots Taken --- G/SOG=Goals % of Shots on Goal

DC United, FC Dallas, Houston, New England, Philadelphia, Seattle and Toronto are the teams that lost more than once when scoring the first goal.

Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake are the only teams not to have won when surrendering the first goal.

DC United and Houston lost more than once when leading at the half. Los Angeles led at the half 15 times. Chivas USA led at the half just 4 times.

Houston, Philadelphia and Toronto won more than once when trailing at the half. Philadelphia trailed at the half 12 times. FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake trailed at the half just 4 times.

There was no 'World Cup' boost in attendance as these numbers demonstrate.

	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	123	16,721	0.56%	240	16,675

MLS 2010 Statistics

Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results
• UEFA: Champions League
• UEFA: Europa League
• Digicel Caribbean Cup
• Copa Sudamerica
• USWNT: US Women continue World Cup qualifying run

---

Monday Post

MLS

• Reams(or megabytes) are being written about the MLS playoff system. Simple solution ... rename the conferences so the nit pickers can get over RSL winning the Cup out of the East, and seed the playoffs based on points, regardless of conference. This isn't brain surgery.
• Climbing the Ladder: Team Ages
• WV Hooligan: Playoff Preview
  

It's Just Business

• Guardian: Making a killing out of football: African reporters investigate 
• Guardian: Match-fixing in 'fake international' friendly turns up heat on Fifa 
• ESPNSoccernet: Chelsea chairman Buck backing salary cap idea  A good read
• Rob Hughes: 3 Modern Soccer Gods and One Bad Apple
• Will Frears: US influence on English Football

Soccer in the US

• USSF-D2:  Puerto Rico take lead over Carolina in D2 final 
• USL-Pro:  Rochester Joins USL-Pro  
• USL-Pro:  Austin Moves to Orlando and Joins USL-Pro   

Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Knockout draw on Nov 30.
• Asian Champions League Finals Set
• Copa Sudamerica
• CAF: Orange CAF Champions League(Africa) - T.P. Mazembe vs E.S.T. in final
• UEFA: Champions League
• UEFA: Europa League
• Digicel Caribbean Cup

---

Friday Oct 22

MLS

• CJ Brown retiring
• Jaime Moreno's career in DC comes to a close
• Steve Davis' 5 Things
• Attendance v NBA/NHL in shared cities

Just for argument's sake, a 2011 conference proposal

Columbus	Chicago	Chivas USA
DC United	Colorado	Los Angeles
New England	Dallas	Portland
NJ Red Bull	Houston	San Jose
Philadelphia	Kansas City	Seattle
Toronto	Salt Lake	Vancouver

Conference winners and next best 5 teams in playoffs, seeded 1-8 based on points.

Schedule Plan A: Balanced, home and home vs all teams.
Schedule Plan B: 4 games vs Conference opponents, 1 each vs all others(alternating home games in alternate years). And yes, I do know that league has announced a 34 game schedule for 2011.

Interesting

• Liverpool:  John Henry's day, when he bought Liverpool  A good read

Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Knockout draw on Nov 30.
• Asian Champions League Finals Set
• Copa Sudamerica
• CAF: Orange CAF Champions League(Africa) - T.P. Mazembe vs E.S.T. in final
• UEFA: Champions League
• UEFA: Europa League
• Digicel Caribbean Cup 

---

Club Tourneys redux

MLS

• Klein, Lewis, McBride, Petke retiring
  
• Steve Davis' 5 Things 
• Wondo hat trick secures Quakes win over Chivas USA
• Andrea Canales on MLS and the CCL 

Interesting

• In Case You've Never Visited:  Zonal Marking 
• Best Headline: Liverpool traded to Red Sox 

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Toluca, Olimpia secure final spots in Quarters.
• Asian Champions League Finals Set
• Copa Sudamerica
• CAF: Orange CAF Champions League(Africa) - T.P. Mazembe vs E.S.T. in final
• UEFA: Champions League

---

News and Views - Mon-Tues Aug 30-31

MLS

• Week 22 Attendance Report
• Footiebusiness: The updated Adidas deal
• Kansas City: Wizards sign home grown keeper
• Philadelphia: Union sign D-M Williams

Club Tournaments

• CAF: Orange CAF Champions League(Africa) - JS Kabylie in Final 4

Interesting Reads

• CONCACAF: CONCACAF To Change World Cup Qualifying - How the Change hurts the Azteca
• Luis Bueno: New CONCACAF Qualifying Proposal Levels Playing Field
• USSF D2: Week 21 Review

Player Moves

• A flurry of moves as the summer transfer window closed. Some 'big name' movers... Camoranesi, Gudjohnson, Van der Vaart, Robinho, Pennant, 
• Goal.com's Transfer page

The Business of Soccer

• Transfer fees in the UK
• Michel Platini Set To Level The European Playing Field With New Spending Rules

---

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

---

News and Views Wed Aug 25

MLS

• Chivas USA: Goats add Home Grown player
• RBNY: Rookies making a difference
• Rapids: Kroenke now a majority NFL owner
• Rapids: Rapids stuck in an eddy Part 1  -  Part 2

Club Tournaments

• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - RSL, Seattle lose in group phase 2nd round
• CCL: Don Garber's Silence is Sending the Wrong Message
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
• Copa Sudamerica

Interesting Reads

• FIFA: FIFA VP and CONCACAF Prez in another ticket scandal
• Man U: Glazers fail to pay mortgage on four shopping malls
• US Players: The Issues With Scandinavia 
• Man City: Sheikh Mansour's £500m Manchester City cash injection
• Argentina: Argentina's romantic view of the beautiful game may be holding them back  

Player Moves

• Goal.com's Transfer page

---

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

---

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 

---

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  

---

News and Views from Wed Aug 4

MLS

• Rapids: Akpan returns from Tampa loan
• When Vancouver and Portland were named as the 17th and 18th teams, I started to ask(via Twitter) about a potential 34 game schedule. I mean it makes sense, right? Play every other team twice, home and home, for a total of 34 games. Nothing was written about it until recently. I guess that teaches me that no one really cares about this stuff until it becomes closer to reality. In any case, a couple of my favorite writers have chimed in on the subject. I give you Jeff Carlisle and Jason Davis.

Club Tournaments

• N.A. SuperLiga: Revs over Puebla gain final berth
• CONCACAF: Champions League Results - Santos, Puerto Rico, Marathon thru to group phase
• CONMEBOL: Copa Sudamericana 2010 Preview
• CONMEBOL: Copa Libertadores Chivas advances to final, Sao Paulo v Internacional on Thurs
  
• UEFA: Champions League Results
  
• UEFA: Europa League Results
  

The Business of Soccer

• These clubs know how to do business. 
• Premier League increases payments to lower clubs. 

---

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

---

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.  

---

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.

---

News and Views from Fri 5/28

Starters
The regular 'After the Weekend' post will most likely be an abbreviated version as OLR will be on a brief holiday. As such, there will be no OLR posts until next weekend.
Now I know that because most of what I post are links to what I think are informative or interesting bits about soccer, it doesn't lend itself to readers offering comments. But I would like to request from my readers their opinion of OLR to assess if you are getting value from the site. Thank you.

MLS

• Injury Report for 5/28.
• WV Hooligans previews of this weekend's games.
• Terrific stats from MLS and EPL by Nordecke Luchador.
• DC United's Barklage lost for season.

Interesting Reads

• Tom Dunmore collates info on the St. Louis situation. I recommend reading the links in Tom's post.
• The Good Old Days were not so good.
• Scientific formula of a perfect penalty kick.
• Jamie Trecker asks ... Why play friendlies?
• This piece should get a chuckle out of MLS fans. 'Is the Premier League Turning into a Proving Ground for Potential Superstars?'.
• Charlie Davies' accident still shrouded in mystery.
• Violent tackling will be focus of referees in World Cup and beyond.
• AC Milan Lab's secret of youth.
• St. Louis Athletica debacle and soccer fan soul searching.
• Team USA and the state of the soccer nation.

World Cup

• Cash stolen from Colombia's players rooms in South Africa.
• FIFA finds no evidence of plan to bribe World Cup referees.
• Julio Cesar join Lloris in condemnation of WC ball.
• Jason Kuenle discusses the position battles on the USMNT.
• Swiss striker Streller joins Essien and Ballack on the World Cup sidelines.
• Pre cup friendlies: Ireland 3 Algeria 0

Around the World

• France will host Euro 2016.
• Mexico's non-draft draft.

The Business of Soccer

• How not to run a football club.
• German club Arminia Bielefeld is on the brink of bankruptcy.
• The Supporters Trust movement reaches Serie A.
• Man U must sell players to pay debts, analysts say.
• The American Needle decision and MLS. Highly recommended read for single entity geeks.

---

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.

---

After the Weekend May 15-16

Moron List(I'll leave it to you to look up the tweeter)

• "#mls #sucks and 124 people agree. See more on Mls sucks page"

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• Weekend recaps at MLSSoccer.com
• Michael Lewis: Henry would be nice for RBNY, a playmaker would be better.
• Will young players be able to save Revs' season?
• Wizards waive Igor Kostrov.

Interesting Reads

• The 'right' kind of greatness.
• Richard Whittall: On Pitch Invasion's 'The Sweeper' and soccer journalism.
• Jason Davis: Fandom, bias and logic.

Around the World

• Spring playoffs in Central America.
• USSF D2 standings.
• Will Estelí's stadium pass CONCACAF Champions League inspection?
• Toluca will meet Santos for Mexican Clausura title.
• Argentinos Juniors win Argentine Clausura.
• Bursaspor win Turkish title.
• Governance of Canadian soccer about to change.

Club Tourneys

• Chelsea completes double with FA Cup victory over Portsmouth.
• Bayern Munich achieves double with German Cup win over Werder Bremen.
• Zenit St. Petersburg wins Russian Cup.
• KC Athletics make it into US Open Cup.

World Cup

• Bill Archer on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.
• Preparing for altitude.
• Scandal in the wings.
• What Lord Triesman’s Resignation Means For Other Countries’ World Cup Bids.

---

Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL - Final
Chelsea	38	27	5	6	71	86
Manchester Utd	38	27	4	7	58	85
Arsenal	38	23	6	9	42	75
Tottenham	38	21	7	10	26	70
Manchester City	38	18	13	7	28	67
Aston Villa	38	17	13	8	13	64
Bundesliga - Final
Bayern Munich	34	20	10	4	41	70
Schalke 04	34	19	8	7	22	65
Werder Bremen	34	17	10	7	31	61
Bayer Leverkusen	34	15	14	5	27	59
Dortmund	34	16	9	9	12	57
Stuttgart	34	15	10	9	10	55
Ligue 1 - Final
Marseille	38	23	9	6	33	78
Lyon	38	20	12	6	26	72
Auxerre	38	20	11	7	13	71
Lille	38	21	7	10	32	70
Montpellier	38	20	9	9	10	69
Bordeaux	38	19	7	12	18	64
Serie A - Final
Internazionale	38	24	10	4	41	82
AS Roma	38	24	8	6	27	80
AC Milan	38	20	10	8	21	70
Sampdoria	38	19	10	9	8	67
Palermo	38	18	11	9	12	65
Napoli	38	15	14	9	7	59
La Liga - Final
Barcelona	38	31	6	1	74	99
Real Madrid	38	31	3	4	67	96
Valencia	38	21	8	9	19	71
Sevilla FC	38	19	6	13	16	63
Mallorca	38	18	8	12	15	62
Getafe	38	17	7	14	10	58

---

After the Weekend May 1-2

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• Former MLS'er Joe Vide is battling Hodgkins disease.
• MLSSoccer is now functional enough that I will point you there for game reviews and recaps from the weekend. For more partisan views, see my weekly attendance report(link above).

Interesting Reads

• UEFA race for 3rd in country rankings still up for grabs. Champions League slots at stake.
• The Guardian: Manchester United's boom years based on strength of regeneration X.
• The Guardian: Authorities' anti-hooligan move causes a stir in France.
• Is football only a game?

The Business of Soccer

• More revenue for the EPL.
• A stage to sell what soccer has to offer.

World Cup

• Defining success for the US.

Around the World

• Singapore Cup draw.
• Austin Aztex draw with Haiti in charity match.
• Mexican Liguilla underway.
• FC Twente wins Eredivisie.
• Tim Vickery: Brasileirao maintains its competitive balance.
• Estudiantes remains top in Argentina.
• Portuguese title not clinched yet.

---

Title and Champions League Races in Europe

England: One game to go for the title contenders. Two for the contenders for the last champions league spot, including a head to head confrontation.
Germany: Bayern Munich has the title sown up, unless Schalke can find a way to overcome a massive goal differential.
France: Olympique Lyonnais has a game in hand as the UCL semi-finalist seeks passage to next year's tourney.
Italy: Was interesting hearing Lazio fans cheer for Inter against their team. Their disdain for rival Roma being so great as they prefer to lose if it means denying AS Roma the title.
Spain: 3 games to go and the two horse race at the top is still in play.

The UEFA Champions League final will determine if Italy retains the 4th spot in the 2011-12 UCL or if it shifts to Germany.

Does it seem like the same teams are at the top of these leagues? Read the Tim Vickery story above on the Brasileirao.

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	37	26	5	6	63	83
Manchester Utd	37	26	4	7	54	82
Arsenal	36	22	6	8	39	72
Tottenham	36	20	7	9	27	67
Manchester City	36	18	12	6	29	66
Aston Villa	37	17	13	7	14	64
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	33	19	10	4	39	67
Schalke 04	33	19	7	7	22	64
Werder Bremen	33	17	9	7	31	60
Bayer Leverkusen	33	15	13	5	27	58
Dortmund	33	16	9	8	14	57
Stuttgart	33	15	9	9	10	54
Ligue 1
Marseille	35	21	9	5	30	72
Auxerre	35	19	10	6	13	67
Lille	35	19	7	9	30	64
Lyon	34	17	11	6	20	62
Bordeaux	35	18	6	11	17	60
Montpellier	35	17	9	9	6	60
Serie A
Internazionale	36	22	10	4	39	76
AS Roma	36	22	8	6	24	74
AC Milan	36	19	10	7	19	67
Sampdoria	36	18	9	9	7	63
Palermo	36	17	10	9	11	61
Napoli	36	14	14	8	6	56
La Liga
Barcelona	35	28	6	1	66	90
Real Madrid	35	29	2	4	60	89
Valencia	35	19	8	8	18	65
Mallorca	35	17	8	10	17	59
Sevilla FC	35	17	6	12	12	57
Villareal	35	15	7	13	1	52

---

After the Weekend Apr 24-25

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• There are plenty of reviews of the week's matches out there. You don't need me for that.
• Prospective DP's fear MLS salary cap doesn't allow for enough depth. 
• Former MLS'er Hérculez Gómez shares top scoring honors in Mexico.

Interesting Reads

• Thanks to Tom Dunmore(via Kenn Tomasch) for this from Simon Barnes on our need for good and bad.
• Nutmeg Radio: Soccer writing and how we select our World Cup team.
• Richard Whittall: Are academies necessary for success?
• Egan Richardson: Finnish football, foreigners, and youth development.
• Fans stepping up to pay Portmouth debts.
• Arizona SB 1070 and soccer.
• Richard Whittall:  Newspapers and Bloggers Must Overcome “Debt Story Fatigue”.

World Cup

• World Cup Blog: Love and Hate at the WC.
• Danish keeper Sorenson dislocates elbow.

Around the World

• Nutmeg Radio: The power of football in Northern Kenya.
• Panathinaikos wins Greek Cup.
• Benfica closing in on Portuguese title.
• Estudiantes move top in Argentine Clausura.
• Rangers win Scottish title.
• Rooney wins PFA player of the year.
• Updated USSF D2 standings.
• Mexican liguilla lineup set.

Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	36	25	5	6	61	80
Manchester Utd	36	25	4	7	53	79
Arsenal	36	22	6	8	39	72
Tottenham	35	19	7	9	26	64
Aston Villa	36	17	13	6	16	64
Manchester City	35	17	12	6	27	63
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	32	18	10	4	37	64
Schalke 04	32	19	7	6	24	64
Werder Bremen	32	16	9	7	29	57
Bayer Leverkusen	32	15	12	5	27	57
Dortmund	32	16	8	8	14	56
Stuttgart	32	15	8	9	10	53
Ligue 1
Marseille	34	21	8	5	30	71
Auxerre	34	19	9	6	13	66
Lille	34	18	7	9	28	61
Montpellier	34	17	9	8	7	60
Lyon	33	16	11	6	19	59
Bordeaux	33	17	6	10	18	57
Serie A
Internazionale	35	21	10	4	37	73
AS Roma	35	21	8	6	23	71
AC Milan	35	18	10	7	18	64
Sampdoria	35	17	9	9	6	60
Palermo	35	16	10	9	10	58
Juventus	35	16	6	13	3	54
La Liga
Barcelona	34	27	6	1	63	87
Real Madrid	34	28	2	4	59	86
Valencia	34	18	8	8	16	62
Mallorca	34	16	8	10	15	56
Sevilla FC	34	16	6	12	10	54
Villareal	34	15	7	12	4	52

---