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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MLS Tidbits and More

MLS

• Single Table v Playoffs, a Brit's view:  Single Table v Playoffs
• The playoffs are all but set. Only Kansas City has a mathematical chance to crash the party, and they need to win their three remaining games(@CHI, @NE, SJ), while the Rapids lose their last two(@LA, RSL).
• Is it time for Dallas to move or be sold? Barely 10,000 showed up to see them set the single season unbeaten record.
• MLS attendance before and after the World Cup is almost exactly the same, just as it was in 2002 and 2006. 

	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	105	16,386	-1.45%	222	16,513

Points per game since the All-Star Game
	GP	PPG
Seattle	10	2.300
Dallas	12	2.000
Salt Lake	11	1.909
NY Red Bull	12	1.833
San Jose	12	1.667
Los Angeles	10	1.600
Colorado	12	1.583
Kansas City	11	1.545
Chivas USA	11	1.182
Chicago	13	1.154
New England	13	1.154
Columbus	11	1.091
Philadelphia	14	1.000
DC United	11	0.818
Houston	11	0.727
Toronto	12	0.667

Soccer in the US

• USSF D2:  D2 Playoffs
• Jason Davis:  The "Problem" of American Talent Heading South
• US Open Cup:  Here's Hoping U.S. Open Cup Finally Steps Out Of Shadows 

Interesting

• CONCACAF:  CONCACAF Request Entry Into The Copa America
• The Mexican Primera had all three Sunday matches end in 0-0 draws.

Late Tuesday Post

MLS

• Philadelphia Union:  What's needed next season - Because I'm a Union fan

Soccer in the US

• L.H. US Open Cup:  Seattle defends title, defeat Columbus for Open Cup
• L.H. US Open Cup:  Making over the USOC

Around the World

• This week I posted a link on FIFA's suspension of Nigeria:  Fifa should ban corruption, not Nigeria
• La Liga: Sid Lowe in Spain
• BundesLiga: Rafael Honigstein in Germany
• Tim Vickery in South America 
• Taking Beckham to the US and Other Sports Business 
• David Conn: The Liverpool Mess  

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News and Views from Wed Sep 1

MLS

• Rapids Stuck In An Eddy, Part 3
• Kevin McCauley - Whoa, We’re Developing Players 

Club Tournaments

• N.A. SuperLiga - Morelia over New England for title
• US Open Cup semifinals - Crew over DC United in extra time - Seattle to host final with win over Chivas USA - At least one MLS team will make it's 2nd consecutive CONCACAF Champions League appearance in 2011-12 tourney.

Around the World

• League tables just a click away
• EPL Rosters - I'll have more on this in a few days
• USSF D2 - Puerto Rico moving from USL to NASL? - More on this also in a few days

Interesting Reads

• Man City: City pay for expensive taste and waste

Player Moves

• Goal.com's Transfer page

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News and Views from Wed Jul 21

MLS

• WV Hooligan: Team by team DP's. 
• Paul Gardner: It's not quite done yet, but Rafa Marquez a huge coup for MLS. 
• MLS Injury Report. 
• Sal Zizzo to ChivasUSA. 
• Ives: The arms race begins in MLS. 

Club Tourneys

• N.A. SuperLiga: Houston 1, Puebla 0.
• N.A. SuperLiga: Chicago 1, Pumas 0.
• N.A. SuperLiga semifinals: Houston v Morelia, New England v Puebla

N.A. SuperLiga
Group A
	W	D	L	Pts	GD
Houston	2	1	0	7	2
Puebla	2	0	1	6	2
Chivas USA	1	1	1	4	0
Pachuca	0	0	3	0	-5
Group B
	W	D	L	Pts	GD
New England	3	0	0	9	3
Monarchas Morelia	1	1	1	4	3
Chicago	1	0	2	3	-4
UNAM Pumas	0	1	2	1	-2

• L.H. US Open Cup: DC United 2, Harrisburg 0.
• L.H. US Open Cup SemiFinals: Seattle v ChivasUSA Sep 1, DC United v Columbus Sep 1

Around the World and other Stuff

• Haitians Use Soccer in Minn to Move on From Quake. 
• Andrea Canales: How The USA Became Like Spain - And Vice Versa. 
• Jonathan Wilson: Is the World Cup too big? 
• Chris Wright: Tired? How About Cutting Out The 22,000 Mile Pre-Season Tours? 
• EPL: Why Sir Alex Ferguson Is Wrong About Wanting a Winter Break. 
• World Cup effect prompts primary school to ban playground football. 
• Fiorentina decide that a message is more powerful than a sponsor. 
• Jason Davis: The Lessons of Anton Peterlin. Man, I surely do admire Jason Davis(and others). I had the same information, followed the Peterlin story from Ventura to Everton to Plymouth. I saw 1, 2, and 3. Jason saw the same and came up with 6 and wrote his post.

Player Moves

• Inter sign defender Andrea Ranocchia from Genoa. 
• Fenerbahce signs deal with French striker Issiar Dia.  
• Westermann leaves Schalke to join Hamburg.  
• Eduardo joins Shakhtar Donetsk from Arsenal. 
• Albert Riera signs with Olympiakos.

My Two Cents

• Arizona Sahuaros: The Sahuaros head out to compete for the USASA U-23 National Cup.

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News and Views from Thur Jul 8

MLS

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

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

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

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

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

US News and Views

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

 Player Moves and other News

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

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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 Mon Jul 5

Starter

• Special 1 TV – Episode 5.

MLS

• Nkufo to Join Sounders FC on July 13.
• Form and All Star Voting.
• Last Chance for All Star Voting.
• Nowak’s tactics: Genius or madness?   
• Vancouver Whitecaps embrace MLS transition. 

World Cup On Field News and Updates

• FIFA
• ESPNSoccernet
• Goal.com
• The Guardian
• SI
• Uruguay vs Holland Preview. 
• Uruguay fired by 'shameful' criticism of Luis Suárez handball. 
• Referees and the quarterfinals.
• The Stars Who Had Great Club Seasons But Disastrous World Cups.

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• After Suárez's World Cup handball, is it time to make the penalty fit the crime?
• Uruguay and the ‘Real Hand of God’.
• What does it take to win the World Cup? 
• Huge Tourist-Driven Event Sparks Increase in Tourism.
• World Cup in South Africa draws attention to Santos, a soccer team dedicated to inclusion.
• Global Workplace Productivity Not a World Cup Goal.

US News and Views

• US Soccer Fans, It's Time to Declare Your Independence. 
• Previews: US Open Cup Quarterfinals. 
• Defender Frank Simek signs with English League One club Carlisle United.

Not World Cup News

• Jersey deal a measure of success for Canadian soccer.
• James Perch has signed with Newcastle United. 
• Sidney Govou Signs With Panathinaikos. 
• Middlesbrough signs striker Kris Boyd on a free. 
• Clemente Lisi: US Soccer and South Africa.
• FIFA And France Football Combine Player Awards. 
• Tom Dunmore: The End of Independence For The Ballon d’Or: A Missed Opportunity For Global Awards.
• The World Throws Up: On how not to read soccer as symptom . 
• English Clubs agree to release players for European U19 Championship. 
• Florent Malouda: Off field champion.
• Maker of Goal-Line Technology System Renews Effort to Persuade Soccer Board.
• Nigeria Reverses Ban, Team to Disband.  

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News and Views from Fri Jul 2

MLS

• Martin Rogers: Henry to MLS would be bad move.
• Vote for the All-Star team.
• WV Hooligan's weekend preview.
• RSL rolls over Revs.

World Cup On Field News and Updates

• FIFA
• ESPNSoccernet
• Goal.com
• The Guardian
• SI
• The best pictures of Ghana v Uruguay.  

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• Fifa order Nigerian government to back down on national-team ban.  
• Highest World Cup TV Ratings In the USA.
• Is this the World Cup of Mercenaries?
• Ratings continue to make history 
• China and World Cup soccer.
• Official World Cup sponsors earning more recognition. 
• Soccer's Quest Into USA Pop Culture.
• E-mail spammers latch onto football's World Cup.

US Men's National Team News and Views

• Jamie Trecker: The Next Coach of Team USA. 
• Ridge Mahoney: Sunil Gulati, Bob Bradley and Team USA.  
• Pondering the Future of the American Back-Line.
• Steve Davis: Klinsmann's thoughts on U.S. Soccer's present and future.    

Not World Cup News

• Wolfsburg have confirmed the signing of Germany defender Arne Friedrich from Hertha Berlin. 
• Manchester City sign Yaya Touré from Barcelona.  
• Benayoun joins Chelsea from Liverpool.  

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

6 of the 8 MLS clubs, including defending cup holders Seattle are through to the 4th round. The winner will compete in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.

4th round schedule (All Times ET)

• July 6 7:30pm Charleston Battery (USL-2) at Columbus Crew (MLS) Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
  
• July 6 8:30pm Chivas USA (MLS) at Houston Dynamo (MLS) Robertson Stadium; Houston, Texas
  
• July 7 10:00pm Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
  
• July 21 7:30pm Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at D.C. United (MLS) Maryland SoccerPlex - Boyds, MD
  

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News and Views from Wed Jun 30

MLS

• Wizards acquire defender Thomas from Philadelphia.
• Fire release midfielder Martinez.
• Fair play and success in MLS.
• ChivasUSA release Macotelo and Santos.

World Cup On Field News and Updates

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

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• Assessing referees. 
• Mexico-Argentina match sets viewing records. 
• Viewership expected to drop with 'big' clubs out. 
• Nigerian President suspends soccer team.
• Cool graphic of where WC players play their club football.  
• FIFA Investigates Australian 2022 World Cup Bid Team Over ‘Gift’ Allegations. 
• On Total Football, Joga Bonito and the Ultimate Goal. 
• Victory, Defeat and Fate In One Cruel Moment. 
• World Cup Brings Economic Growth. 
• Political Fallout From World Cup Shame. 
• Fury at the Sounds of South Africa’s World Cup. 
• The Goal of the Tournament So Far. 

US World Cup News and Stories

• Jurgen Klinsmann believes U.S.A. has it all wrong.  

Not World Cup News

• David Silva joins Man City from Valencia. 
• Luca Toni signs with Genoa. 
• Spain considers its own Premier League. 
• For some Africans, the road to pro soccer runs through Cambodia .
• Barcelona revenue jumps 10 percent. 
• Jason Davis: Romance, American Soccer Style.
• UEFA Champions League gets underway.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Six of the 8 MLS teams are through to the 4th round.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Houston	1
Miami FC	0
Houston hosts Chivas USA
Chivas USA	1
Austin	0
Chivas USA plays at Houston
Columbus	2
Rochester	1
Columbus hosts Charleston
Chicago	0(0)
Charleston	0(3)
Charleston plays at Columbus
Harrisburg	1(AET)
RBNY	0
Harrisburg plays at DC United
Los Angeles	2
AC St Louis	0
Los Angeles plays at Seattle
Richmond	0
DC United	2
DC United hosts Harrisburg
Portland	1(3)
Seattle	1(4)
Seattle hosts Los Angeles

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News and Views from Tues Jun 15

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

• Arizona Sahuaros the only USASA team to advance to 2nd round.

World Cup News and Updates

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

Non Game Specific Football World Cup Stories

• Fans in the US are watching!
• The worst World Cup??
• FIFA and rights protection, over the top. And the other side of the story.
• Empty seats.
• Scapegoats, take your pick.
• Europe and the Cup.
• Ticking off the early complaints about the 2010 World Cup.
• National sides reflect national cultures.
• Soccer fanatics pale in comparison to the real lunatics.

Not World Cup News

• Serbian winger Tosic transfers to CSKA Moscow.
• Big Soccer and the economic value of blogging.
• Spiegel Online: FIFA's ambitious president.
• Football: Opium of the People.

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After the Weekend June 5-6

MLS

• Weekly Attendance Report.
• LA remains unbeaten.
• Game recaps at MLSSoccer.com.
• US Open play in mini tourney complete. RBNY and DCU go thru to tourney proper.
• MLS youth programs, with a focus on DCU's Andy Najar's progression.

Interesting Reads

• Is the Champions League good for English football?
• World Cup attacked for 'unhealthy sponsors'.
• How a soccer star is made. 
• Update on Salvador Cabanas, Paraguayan player that was shot in Mexico.
• Fouls, theatrics, play-acting and cheats.
• Europe's thirst for young African footballers, the new slave trade?
• A look at FIFA from a 'down under' perspective.

Player Moves

• Ibáñez signs with West Bromwich Albion.
• Cannavaro signs with Al Ahli in UAE.

World Cup

• The Guardian's World Cup Fans' Network.
• Final pre Cup friendlies: Serbia 4 Cameroon 3 - Switzerland 1 Italy 1 - Ghana 1 Latvia 0 - Romania 3 Honduras 0 - Algeria 1 UAE 0 - Slovakia 3 Costa Rica 0 - South Africa 1 Denmark 0 - Ivory Coast 2 Japan 0 - USA 3 Australia 1 
• A look at AFC's 6 clubs in the tourney.
• Injuries keep coming.
• More on the injured.
• Track CONCACAF players by the numbers.
• The world is watching the World Cup.
• Europe's 'big five' leagues fuel World Cup rosters.
• World Cup sponsor competition.
• World Cup insurance.

The Business of Soccer

• Crystal Palace saved from liquidation.
• World Cup is big business.
• MLS in talks with Versus.
• AC St. Louis working on cutting expenses.
• The Glazers' business beyond Manchester United.

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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 Wed Apr 28

MLS

• Seattle will play Boca Jrs and Celtic at Qwest Field. 
• SuperLiga 2010 begins July 14 for Houston, New England, ChivasUSA and Chicago.

Player Moves

• USMNT U17 and U20 international Bryan Arguez will join Miami FC this week.
• DC United reacquired Luciano Emilio on loan.

Interesting Reads

• Mourinho's defining moment?
• Aaron Stollar: How to find some redeeming value for MLS clubs playing in the US Open Cup.
• An interview with Dan Flynn, CEO/Sec'y General of USSF.
• CONCACAF coefficients.

The Business of Soccer

• Yahoo wins EPL online highlights rights.
• Average EPL salary nearly equal to MLS team cap.

Around the World

• Martin Rogers: Title decider in Ligue 1.
• EPL clarifies 'weakened team' rules.
• Greek playoffs. Eddie Johnson scores a brace for Aris.
• Indonesia Cup - 2nd round.
• A seven-point plan for Scottish football.

World Cup

• WC first XI - Attacking midfielders. 
• A difficult proposition for African fans.
• Questions about business arrangements.

Club Tournaments

• DC United defeat FC Dallas in US Open Cup play-in match.
• CAF Champions League(Africa)
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - Round of 16.
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - Ribéry will miss final, Bayern appeals. - It's Inter v Bayern in final
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - Pachuca wins title on stoppage time goal.
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Bravo scores 2 as Chivas downs Velez Sarsfield
  
• Europa League(Europe)
• Nutralite Canadian Championship - TFC over Montreal in opener.
  

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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 Wed Apr 14

MLS

• Randy Davis: A good piece on RSL as it prepares for a season that includes its first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League.
• Video: MLS Insider's 'Inside the SuperDraft' - Part 1 - Part 2
• Fake Sigi revisits MLSSoccer.com's giant fail. 

Player Moves

• Quakes sign midfielder Omar Jasseh, the youngest player ever to sign with the club.

Interesting Reads

• Some England players headed to the World Cup will prepare for the altitude by sleeping in high altitude tents.
• J Hutcherson: MLSSoccer.com, what's it all about?
• The always interesting Peter Wilt on the off season, not a vacation in pro sports.
• Two former MLS'ers net game winners.
• Via Soccer Politics - Lebanon's political soccer.
• Rob Hughes: World Cup, undercurrents of violence.

The Business of Soccer

• FIFA extends World Cup ticket sales to supermarkets in South Africa.
• EPL teams to tour North America this summer.
• Real Madrid has sold over 1 million Cristiano Ronaldo shirts.
• Football in Germany generates over 5 billion euros per year.
• The Guardian: How Stan Kroenke hides his debts.

MLS US Open Qualifying Schedule

• Game D: Colorado Rapids 2 Kansas City Wizards 1
• Game C: Real Salt Lake 3 San Jose Earthquakes 3 - RSL 5-3 on PK's
• Game A: Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls - Apr 27 8pm ET
• Game E: FC Dallas at D.C. United - Apr 28
• Game B: New England Revolution at Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls - May 12
• Game E: FC Dallas at D.C. United - Apr 28
• Game F: Game B winner vs. Game D winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
• Game G: Game C winner vs. Game E winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
• Games A-E: Games to be completed by the end of April
• Games F-G: Games to be completed by the end of May
• Toronto ineligible-Top 6 point getters from 2009 automatically qualify.
• And here is the USASA Region 1 Open schedule.

Club Tournaments

• Lamar Hunt US Open Cup - RSL over SJ in on PK's
• CAF Champions League(Africa) -
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) -
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) -
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) -
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Deportivo Quito tops Group 5.
  
• Europa League(Europe) -
  

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News and Views from Wed Apr 7

MLS

• Kyle McCarthy on Designated Player options.
• Video: via WVHooligan - Inside the SuperDraft.
• Houston stadium gets City Council approval.
• Ya gotta love Robb Heineman, head honcho of the Wizards.

Player Moves

• Toronto's Brennan retires. 
• Quakes trade Amarikwa to Rapids to clear roster space for Sealy.
• Timbers sign two, including 2010 MLS #10 draft pick.
• Tampa Bay signs former Dynamo defender Ustruck.

Interesting Reads

• Strange doings in Bulgarian football.
• Match fixing in Italy back in the news.
• New soccer radio show in Kansas City.

The Business of Soccer

• Player strike in Spain still in play.

MLS US Open Qualifying Schedule

• Game A: Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls - Apr 27 8pm ET
• Game B: New England Revolution at Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls - May 12
• Game C: Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes - Apr 14 10pm ET
• Game D: Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards - Apr 13 7:30 CT
• Game E: FC Dallas at D.C. United - Apr 28
• Game F: Game B winner vs. Game D winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
• Game G: Game C winner vs. Game E winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
• Games A-E: Games to be completed by the end of April
• Games F-G: Games to be completed by the end of May
• Toronto ineligible-Top 6 point getters from 2009 automatically qualify.
• And here is the USASA Region 1 Open schedule.

Club Tournaments

• CAF Champions League(Africa) 
• AFC Champions League(Asia)
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - Bayern knocks out Man U, Lyon thru to semis.
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - Pachuca v Cruz Azul in final.
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - Nacional draws, will go thru to knockout round.
  
• Europa League(Europe) 

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After the Weekend Apr 3-4

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• Was curious about this myself - Steve Davis wonders why MLS week 2 schedule was so light.
• Teams not playing in Week 2: Crew, Dallas, Wizards, Philly, Quakes, Toronto.
• Beau Dure's MLS weekend wrap-up.

The New Designated Player Rules in MLS

• One TFC fan's view.
• DP Wish Lists.

Interesting Reads

• Companion read about soccer fans in the USA: First, this post from Jason Davis, followed by this from Richard Whittall.
• Sports in the USA - Year-Round Madness.
• Guy Bailey - What is the definition of a fan?
• Maybe it's obvious to some, but Yanks Are Coming on how important MLS is to the National Team.

Club Tournaments

• Tourney action in Brasil.
• Argentine Clausura - Velez, Boca lose.
• Monterrey wins MISL title.
• Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

MLS US Open Qualifying Schedule

Game A: Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls
Game B: New England Revolution at Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls
Game C: Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes - Apr 14 10pm ET
Game D: Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards - Apr 13 7:30 CT
Game E: FC Dallas at D.C. United
Game F: Game B winner vs. Game D winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
Game G: Game C winner vs. Game E winner (winner qualifies), home team TBD
Games A-E: Games to be completed by the end of April
Games F-G: Games to be completed by the end of May
Toronto ineligible-Top 6 point getters from 2009 automatically qualify.

The Business of Soccer

• Blatter has it wrong about Spanish soccer.
• Jamaican Football Federation has assets seized.

 Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	33	23	5	5	54	74
Manchester Utd	33	23	3	7	50	72
Arsenal	33	22	5	6	41	71
Manchester City	32	16	11	5	24	59
Tottenham	32	17	7	8	26	58
Liverpool	33	16	7	10	21	55
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	29	17	8	4	30	59
Schalke 04	29	17	7	5	23	58
Bayer Leverkusen	29	14	11	4	25	53
Dortmund	29	15	7	7	14	52
Werder Bremen	29	13	9	7	22	48
Hamburg SV	29	11	12	6	15	45
Ligue 1
Lyon	31	16	9	6	19	57
Montpellier	31	17	6	8	7	57
Auxerre	31	16	9	6	6	57
Bordeaux	29	17	5	7	22	56
Marseille	29	16	8	5	21	56
Lille	31	16	6	9	23	54
Serie A
Internazionale	32	19	9	4	33	66
AS Roma	32	19	8	5	22	65
AC Milan	32	18	9	5	21	63
Palermo	32	14	9	9	6	51
Sampdoria	32	14	9	9	2	51
Napoli	32	12	13	7	5	49
La Liga
Real Madrid	30	25	2	3	57	77
Barcelona	30	24	5	1	56	77
Valencia	30	16	8	6	16	56
Sevilla FC	30	14	6	10	8	48
Mallorca	30	14	6	10	12	48
Athletic Bilbao	30	13	6	11	0	45

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