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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Developing Players

USA and the Young Ones

• L.E. Eisenmenger: The future of U.S. soccer development in 2011: 20 interviews with top U.S. coaches and executives
• Randy Davis: RSL push the envelope with residency program
• Kyle McCarthy: Academy Programs Increasingly Influence SuperDraft Pool
• Jason Davis: Shuffling the Cards From College to Pro 
• Dallas Cup: Four MLS Academy Teams Will Be Tested at Prestigious Tourney  
• A Year Ago: J.R. Eskilson looks at the flaws of the academy system in the USA   

MLS

• Rob Morse: MLS 101: Allocation and Discovery

England and the Young Ones

• Rules Change Effects: Football League Warns That Up to 40 Clubs Could Scrap Youth Schemes 
  

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Some non mainstream story links

Starter Fun

• The latest episode of Special1 TV: The Santa Show

Not in the Mainstream

• Jonathan Wilson on 2010 Tactics  
• A Clásico in  Egypt
• Robert Jonas: Blatterpocalypse Now 
• Video: 2010 World Cup Skills on Display
• EPL: Money still rules but Premier League in danger of becoming democratic
• Italian Security: An Oxymoron
• Youth Development in England: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
• Winning vs Soccer Development: Part 1 - Part 2 
• Brian Quarsted presents Lisa Eisenmenger's interview with player agent Mike Wheeler where he explains 3rd party contracts in MLS, NASL and USL: Brian's intro and links to the interviews 
• MLS and Television: Part 1 - The beginning of a four part series on the state of MLS and television. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. It's apparent to me that the further growth of the MLS, in terms of quality on the pitch, depends on the increase in television revenue. Game day receipts can only bring in so much money, and it's more money that will lead to increases in salaries. That will enable the league to both keep more good American players from going overseas and attract good young foreign talent.

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US Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase - Best Pics Part 2

And here is the 2nd(and last) post of my best pics from the 2010 Winter Showcase.

Revs



Fire



Galaxy v South Carolina United



Galaxy v South Carolina United



Galaxy v South Carolina United



Galaxy v South Carolina United



Andromeda v Crossfire



Andromeda v Crossfire



Chivas USA v FC Dallas



Chivas USA v FC Dallas



Chivas USA v FC Dallas



RSL

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US Development Academy Winter Showcase Pics

On the last day of the Winter Showcase ChivasUSA and FC Dallas Academy teams played. Here are pics from the U-18 clash.

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MLS Academies at the US Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase

Travis Clark has reported on the MLS Academy teams' overall records at the Academy Winter Showcase in Phoenix.

Against non MLS Academy teams, here is how MLS fared.

U-15/16's - 14 wins 9 draws 10 losses
U-17/18's - 19 wins 5 draws 9 losses

20 non MLS academy teams at the Showcase were ranked in the top 30 by Soccer America.