tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222667092011-11-27T16:11:20.927-08:00International Soccer for the American Fansoccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.comBlogger9811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-30499408334290887322009-06-22T04:08:00.000-07:002009-06-22T04:10:38.358-07:00

Spain continued their record-breaking form in South Africa’s World Cup rehearsal, the Confederations Cup, as they chalked up 15 successive wins on Saturday.The European champions became the first international side to claim 15 straight victories after their 2-0 triumph over South Africa, eclipsing the mark jointly held by Brazil, Australia, and France. The result also saw Spain equal Brazil's

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-3256886313686927652009-06-16T03:35:00.000-07:002009-06-16T03:40:10.972-07:00

England stumbled their way to a 2-1 win in their opening match at the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden on Monday – a victory which owed much to boss Stuart Pearce. Pearce was brave enough to switch his formation at the break with England down to 10 men after the dismissal of Michael Mancienne. England had taken the lead through Lee Cattermole, but after Mancienne was caught out by

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-25770863422259973212009-05-26T04:37:00.000-07:002009-05-26T04:40:09.547-07:00

Ryan Giggs might have won the PFA Player of the Year award this season, but one man who has had his best ever campaign and not been awarded the praise he deserves is Danny Murphy.Giggs controversially edged out Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Steven Gerrard to the top gong but the Fulham man has been on a par with the big names, if not better.Murphy has

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-69894249733673726312009-05-18T08:24:00.000-07:002009-05-18T08:28:00.270-07:00

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has stoked the fires of controversy once again after pointing the finger at German officials. The Stuttgart number one has claimed his side would have wrapped up the Bundesliga title had it not been for some controversial refereeing decisions.The 39-year-old believes league leaders Wolfsburg, who need only a point to be crowned champions for the first time

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-6083045062636122122009-04-20T03:29:00.000-07:002009-04-20T03:32:37.361-07:00

Frank Lampard has revealed he 'hates' talk of the treble after propelling Chelsea into the FA Cup final on Saturday.Lampard was the driving force for Guus Hiddink's blue machine as Chelsea recovered from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over Arsenal and a place in the final against Everton.The England midfielder was man-of-the-match at Wembley, but he was quick to play down talk of a trophy treble

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-371115315230107562009-04-06T03:13:00.000-07:002009-04-06T03:15:53.737-07:00

Not too many people had heard of Federico Macheda before Sunday, but the Manchester United youngster looks like being in the headlines for several years to come.The 17-year-old was introduced as a second-half substitute as the champions chased the game at Old Trafford against Aston Villa and what an introduction to English football the Rome-born youngster made.With the game in stoppage time at 2-

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-4102961344032858742009-03-31T11:13:00.001-07:002009-03-31T11:49:05.205-07:00

Some interesting stats on squad size in the Premier League. [Daily Mail]Henry Kissinger loves the beautiful game. [NY Times]The Gaffer has some stipulations for FSC's airing of the Champions League [EPL Talk]Some truly terrible kits. [Telegraph]Musings over the Champions League. [ESPN]

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-52739108537182364652009-03-30T07:25:00.000-07:002009-03-30T07:42:15.878-07:00

As long as you're not John Toshack or one of the 20,000 or so brave souls who watched Wales' 2-0 defeat to Finland at the weekend then Craig Bellamy's post-match comments on Saturday were refreshingly honest.After the weekend's horror show at the Millennium Stadium skipper Bellamy faced up to the sad reality of constant failure in big tournament qualification and instead of trotting out the

Phil Tomlinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824425347883527896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-91712772426914454582009-03-26T07:03:00.000-07:002009-03-26T07:26:13.039-07:00

Bayern Munich are sick of bailing out 1860 Munich. [Independent]The world's cheapest car and the planet's biggest club. [Reuters India]Another Gunner gets his head turned by the Rossonieri. [Daily Mail]Manchester City don't give up the hope of attracting some of Europe's best. [Times]Posh worries as Italian ladies love the Beckham. [Bild]If your taste in cinema includes movies like Goal II,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-48228121806121867442009-03-23T03:15:00.000-07:002009-03-23T14:36:50.536-07:00

I spent roughly two hours watching Goal II: Living the Dream on Netflix last night and normally I'd be bitching about how I'm never going to get that hour and fifty-six minutes back, when I could have been sleeping.Although I have to say, as shit as the movie may be, I love the game enough to watch every minute, from the ridiculous cut and paste La Liga and Champions League play to the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-19203381552653556952009-03-22T12:04:00.000-07:002009-03-23T03:14:09.536-07:00

AP Photo/Paul ThomasUnlike previous weekends, when Manchester United's grasp on first place was only solidified by disappointing results from the remaining top four, this weekend belonged to Liverpool. Hosting fifth place Aston Villa at Anfield provided the most compelling match of the weekend, discounting a poor result from Chelsea at Spurs and a multi-faceted collapse by Manchester United at

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-273019552376395572009-03-16T13:05:00.000-07:002009-03-16T13:29:10.150-07:00

As interesting as Liverpool presumes it has made the race for first, or perhaps as Manchester United deigns to flatter them, the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot in the Premier League is just as compelling. With Aston Villa off to a great start, and Arsenal stumbling with inconsistency, the Gunners hold a slight edge over the Villans by virtue of seven goals. Yes, seven goals

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-42937797793452504792009-03-14T07:47:00.001-07:002009-03-14T08:14:28.161-07:00

ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty ImagesIt's down to four points now in the Premier League as Liverpool beat 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford 4-1. Given the amount of coverage surrounding Rafa Benitez's comments about Sir Alex Ferguson getting all the advantages in the title race, as well as Ferguson's dismissal of the Spaniard's words, this was another banana peel for Liverpool.Throw in a

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-12900744057925596492009-03-07T02:04:00.000-08:002009-03-07T02:39:44.424-08:00

With the FA Cup quarter finals taking place this weekend, ahead of a crucial European week, it's time to question the relevance of the competition. [Guardian]Chasing the dream in football's academies. [Telegraph]Two of Buenos Aires' finest get knocked out of the Libertadores Cup. [Reuters]While many on the big island may agree with Michel Platini's opinions on the English footy, it may not be

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-67921084478081422152009-03-06T06:05:00.000-08:002009-03-06T06:37:57.821-08:00

Er, yeah . . . how many of these did you make?While SMiA loves anything footie-related, Rebecca Lowe may be the main reason we tune into Football Matters every week. [Guardian]Ian Wright Wright Wright has a kid that likes to fight fight fight. [The Sun]Becks finally sorts out the rest of his Galaxy career. [Daily Mail, Examiner]Mein Gott! The EPL is getting too big. [Reuters]Klinsmann feels

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-56547270694412472552008-12-08T16:04:00.000-08:002009-03-22T15:32:51.011-07:00

Bobby McMahon is the analyst for the Fox Soccer Report, a nightly soccer news show on Fox Soccer Channel. For many of us here in North America (and around the world), McMahon is an authority when it comes to what's going on in the world of footie.With a lifetime of experience playing, organizing and studying the game, he's a valuable voice in the coverage of world soccer. He can be seen on the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-91866192217268838502008-11-15T13:30:00.000-08:002008-11-15T14:19:30.617-08:00

Diego Maradona's arrival at Hampden for his first game in charge provides an opportunity to reflect on the man. [Telegraph]Elano gets fined 40K GBP (about $64K), a week's wages for the Brazilian, for publicly expressing his dismay at riding the pine. It looks like the other Brazilians don't seem to smiling as much as Robinho. [Guardian]An excellent piece by ESPN's Wright Thompson about soccer

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-73101515418624971662008-11-12T16:53:00.001-08:002008-11-12T17:21:07.110-08:00

Many of the big guns have been knocked out of domestic league cups lately, perhaps the most notable, Real Madrid's loss to the Basque 3rd division side Real Union. Another one bit the dust tonight, as Villareal crashed out to Polideportivo Ejido, also a 3rd division side, which they deserved after drawing 1-1 at El Madrigal after losing 5-0 away.Now it's Chelsea and Liverpool's turn. The Blues

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-38658362758071689852008-11-11T21:43:00.001-08:002011-02-20T23:31:56.294-08:00

In what is easily one of the the biggest upsets in Spanish soccer, if not European or world soccer, Real Madrid were beaten today in the 4th round of the Copa del Rey by 3rd division Real Unión. Over two legs, the small Basque club won the tie 6-6 on away goals, the first time los Merengues have lost out to a 3rd division club. Just to put this into perspective, this was the Real Madrid line-up

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-25395346321214788442008-11-11T21:28:00.001-08:002008-11-11T22:32:17.655-08:00

Skin pigment specialist Silvio Berlusconi hosts Brazilian president Lula da Silva, as well as six Brazilians he has on the payroll at AC Milan. From left, Dida, Leonardo (Milan Technical Director), Kaka, Ronaldinho, Lula, Berlusconi, Pato, and Emerson.Ronaldinho almuerza con Lula y Berlusconi (in Spanish) [El País]-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-53212997006234562722008-11-09T13:33:00.000-08:002008-11-09T13:41:33.877-08:00

Declan Hill's book The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime details the Canadian journalist's investigation of match-fixing in some of the world's biggest competitions. An excerpt of his book ran in the Sunday Telegraph and is available here.Hill spoke on the CBC television show The Hour. His interview is here.[Examiner, CBC]-bl

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-23453873757355069492008-11-08T00:50:00.001-08:002008-11-08T01:16:38.656-08:00

Diego Simeone, moments after telling his River Plate squad that he is stepping down as the club's head coach. Just over four months after leading River to their first domestic title in four years, Simeone has had a terrible Apertura tournament, collecting just nine points through 13 games. He will coach his last game for the Argentine giants tomorrow against fellow stugglers Huracán.Se quebró (

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-51110841382852618332008-11-07T23:56:00.001-08:002008-11-08T00:34:14.618-08:00

"If you think that I will use Iniesta as an excuse then think again. He's not here, and that's all there is to it. We will cope without him for two months as we have several alternatives in that position."-Pep Guardiola, making it perfectly clear that he will not tolerate any let off from his Barcelona side against Valladolid tomorrow afternoon. The Catalan giants will likely be without Andrés

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-59976138612322893242008-11-07T18:28:00.000-08:002008-11-07T19:26:59.178-08:00

That's the story coming out of The Scottish FA, "any future glamour games will be based on the fact that fans can afford the ticket levels." With eyes toward Argentina's visit to Hampden Park, there have been murmers about how much Scottish fans are willing to pay to see their side play host some of the world's best teams.Moneyquote:Scottish soccer executives say that future games with Brazil

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-84407133040682407132008-11-07T01:33:00.000-08:002008-11-07T04:43:34.409-08:00

A cornucopia of information, soccer blog EPL Talk is the site for fans of the English Premier League. Loaded with straight news, opinion, great podcast interviews, and the skinny on how the world's richest league is broadcast here in the States, EPL Talk cuts no corners in it's coverage of England's top flight. While there's plenty to praise founder Christopher Harris (a.k.a. The Gaffer) for,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-33838462859937959202008-10-14T00:09:00.000-07:002008-10-14T00:10:24.941-07:00

You won’t find Among the Thugs, the brilliant account of Bill Buford’s time with a Manchester United firm in the 80’s, here simply because I’ve spoken of it recently, and he really doesn’t need any more press. You also won’t find Nick Hornby’s excellent Fever Pitch, a must for anyone who’s felt the pain and euphoria of a loving a particular team, nor a footballer’s autobiography, despite the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-26232871707158045842008-08-19T18:52:00.000-07:002008-08-20T10:15:33.282-07:00

We all know Arsene Wenger hates to pay retail, but a possible shock move for out-of-favor leftback Mikael Silvestre from Old Trafford to the Emirates may be one of the deals of the transfer window. The former French international could be pulling on an Arsenal strip for around $1.4M (750,000 GBP), eschewing an opportunity to sit on the bench for the Red Devils.Although returning from a series of

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-26831603355439769882008-08-17T00:52:00.000-07:002008-08-17T01:33:12.708-07:00

Looking rusty and a wholly inferior side without Cesc Fabregas and a seasoned holding midfielder, Arsenal failed to start their Premier League campaign with any improvement over their lackluster victory over FC Twente at midweek.Though three points were won by Arsene Wenger's inexperienced squad over last year's "Arsenal of the Championship" West Bromwich Albion, were it not for Samir Nasri's

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-25866603127086130352008-08-06T13:49:00.000-07:002008-08-06T14:06:39.548-07:00

I can't fault Freddie Ljungberg for being overvalued. The Swedish international was once one of the best wingers in the EPL, if not in the game. Unfortunately he will only be remembered outside of London as the little bald guy that posed in his underwear, or perhaps for his questionable taste in past hairstyles and animal-themed tattoos.Or so I thought. You see, kids, you can practice your

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-65351367529748145492008-07-18T02:28:00.000-07:002008-07-18T03:01:32.654-07:00

In the past, Roy Keane has not been shy about looking disdainfully on the quaint but ineffectual nature of Irish football. It's arguable whether or not Roy Keane will be remembered as the uber-competitive hard man of the Manchester United midfield or the rage and pride-filled egomaniac that abandoned his country leading up to the 2002 World Cup.And Sunderland, long the quaint and ineffectual

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-81194934043937950572008-07-09T12:28:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:02:14.770-07:00

We've all learned to take pretty much anything in the media during the transfer window with a grain of salt. The summer transfer window, where most big signings take place, is three months of rumor, innuendo and outright lies. Who can blame them? Football is a year-round sport, and there are countless pages to fill when there isn't any action.The Euros should've taken up the majority of

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-72432819524261418642008-07-02T15:48:00.001-07:002008-07-02T16:14:55.846-07:00

Winning, obviously, has its benefits. There's the extra cash, the added merchandising sales, and the growing allure for top-level players to join the squad and grab a piece of that success. Unfortunately, especially in Manchester United's case, it also brings many drawbacks, namely that everyone wants a piece of you.It's hard to imagine Sir Alex Ferguson enjoying any moment of his holiday.

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-32158002223614721012008-07-02T10:43:00.001-07:002008-07-02T11:20:23.348-07:00

Yes, it is that special time again. No, I'm not talking about the transfer window or the upcoming start of domestic leagues. I'm talking about another round of Joey Barton-bashing.After receiving a four month suspended sentence (does anyone actually go to jail in the UK?) for his assault on then-teammate Ousmane Dabo during training at Manchester City, Newcastle would seemingly love to off-load

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-25432821455493563042008-07-01T13:49:00.000-07:002008-07-01T14:28:22.503-07:00

Conor O'Callaghan is a poet, but his 2004 memoir, Red Mist: Roy Keane and the Irish World Cup Blues, feels more like an investigative account of a crime. While the drama surrounding the Irish captain's departure from World Cup preparations is well-known among footie fans over here, very few of us understand the impact of Roy Keane's actions.One must understand Ireland, specifically what Roy

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-63408756110087065832008-06-22T01:17:00.000-07:002008-06-22T02:09:19.843-07:00

It's amazing how benevolent Stanley Kroenke looks now, especially since Arsenal's board, namely Peter Hill-Wood, officially dated himself as a relic by claiming the club didn't want "his sort". It was easy to recoil at Silent Stan, because to the Arsenal board, he undeniably represented all that was wrong in the football world, with its foreign owners and their tasteless riches. The last thing

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-24471237960222125102008-06-16T14:16:00.000-07:002008-06-16T15:27:22.229-07:00

At the Euros 2004 in Portugal, the Greek national team finished second in their group and won the last three matches of the tournament with 1-0 victories to clinch the trophy. And so began Europe's love affair with an arguably catenaccio-type philosophy. Jose Mourinho did it best, and his out-sized persona did well to mask an often unexciting preference in tactics. Even the proclaimed purveyor

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-70402401593114167662008-06-05T09:34:00.000-07:002008-06-05T10:25:01.455-07:00

Despite nudging Chelsea into the realm of big-time footy, albeit with an infusion of funds of speculative origin, Roman Abramovich has seemingly completed the task of turning Stamford Bridge into a new Siberia. And I don't mean it's Siberia because visiting teams never get more than a point there, but because the Russian billionaire has effectively frightened off any manager with any notions of

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-66690083864038476042008-05-07T12:35:00.000-07:002008-05-07T13:27:01.536-07:00

Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly stand as one of the most influential managers in the history of English soccer. Three top division titles, four FA Cups, and one European Cup final certainly places him among the greats that have managed an English side. Over his ten years in North London, Wenger has managed to stick with his own brand of soccer, praised for its fluency and eye-pleasing pace, but

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-12666179621980569962008-04-08T09:47:00.000-07:002008-04-08T10:17:07.485-07:00

Goldenballs overtakes Ronaldinho in the Rich List again, but that may change soon if everyone's favorite toothy Brazilian makes a move to the luxuriousness of Manchester City, which will happen when AC and I top the next Rich List. Interestingly, at least six of the top ten aren't playing their best footie in quite some time, including the the aforementioned little Ronnie (too busy partying),

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-20637940230603096502008-03-27T11:24:00.000-07:002008-03-27T11:53:36.362-07:00

Don't get the idea that we make any sort of generalizations at all (e.g., Italian soccer is corrupt, there are no technically competent English players, Brazilians take their tradition of samba to the pitch, etc.) and we're certainly not racist, but here's a little footy-related post from one of my favorite blogs. [Stuff White People Like]The moment we've all been waiting for is now upon us. The

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-1129459012047404052008-03-26T12:23:00.001-07:002008-03-26T13:02:49.795-07:00

Wolfsburg striker, Marcelinho, certainly has a way with the ladies. Remember Joey Barton's technique with the lasses that catch his eye? Well, Brazilian definitely scores points for tenderness, stroking her face and all. Too bad about the beer bottle to her friend's face.Marcelinho accused of attack [Setanta Sports]With a target of winning the World Cup by 2050, Japanese Soccer is setting its

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-36677732621324071942008-03-25T15:58:00.001-07:002008-03-25T16:01:25.456-07:00

Spanish daily El País has an interesting article about Real Madrid's youth system. On the eve of Spain's friendly against Italy, the report says that there are 59 Real canteranos playing for other clubs in top flight leagues around the world. The most famous ones at the moment are Liverpool's Álvaro Arbeloa and Getafe's Rubén De la Red, both earning their first call-ups to Luis Aragonés'

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-34583656396920692008-03-25T12:42:00.001-07:002008-03-25T15:01:59.282-07:00

When there's no (for various reasons) Lio Messi, Carlos Tévez, Román Riquelme, Hernán Crespo, Pablo Aimar, or Esteban Cambiasso to pick from, this is what you get for tomorrow's match against Eygpt:Roberto Abbondanzieri in goal; Javier Zanetti, Martín Demichelis, Nicolás Burdisso, and Gabriel Heinze along the back; Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, and Maxi Rodríguez in the middle; Luis González

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-59992434604392467862008-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:002008-03-25T12:25:10.444-07:00

In an act of petulance, Real Betis has ignored the Spanish FA's competition comittee and scheduled this weekend's match against Barcelona at their home stadium, the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. As you may recall, this goes against a FA ruling that Betis be penalized with a two match stadium ban after the bottle throwing incident against Athletic Bilbao on March 15th. While on the surface it seems

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-58134782429559796342008-03-24T23:08:00.000-07:002008-03-24T23:52:12.144-07:00

Nice work from the team over at Sniffing the Touchline, with a little rundown of some truly classic (and by classic, I mean embarrassing) attempts at a second career by some footballers with delusions of grandeur. Call it a gross generalization, but I never thought athletes and music were a likely match, unless you're 7 feet tall with a lazy eye. [STT, Amazon]Is keeping Michael Owen (as opposed

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-19749938872470642272008-03-24T16:28:00.000-07:002008-03-24T16:47:29.610-07:00

"What's the difference between Derby and Paul Jewell? They go down and they don't come [sic] from behind."James Richardson, on Paul Jewell's directorial debut during today's Football Weekly podcast. The comment is about a minute in.Football Weekly Podcast [Guardian Football]Prem boss in sex video shame [News of the World]-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-80163888411365206642008-03-23T20:10:00.000-07:002008-03-23T21:06:17.700-07:00

The sieve of the Premier League's tail end of the season has finally taken the long-awaited bump we've all anticipated, sifting the top four into the most likely of orders, if experience is to be the measuring stick.Manchester United's cream rises to the top, and the discussion is no longer whether the Red Devils can overtake Arsenal (that became clear weeks ago when the North London side seemed

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-85139337887335337182008-03-20T01:19:00.000-07:002008-03-20T01:34:11.013-07:00

With just 81 days left until the country faces off against Italy at this summer's Euros, the largest online ticket agency in the Netherlands is charging $2,148 per ticket to Holland's match against the World Champions. The same goes for the game against France, played eight days later. Seems as good a time as any to refinance the house.No word on how much it'll cost to watch the Dutch play

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-6943285759593348502008-03-18T21:21:00.000-07:002008-03-18T21:50:14.204-07:00

I do love a good list, but this may as well be the top ten cars you'd buy if you were still 16. It is interesting how the Audi A3 made the list, considering just how plebeian it must seem to most players.Top ten cars of Premier League stars [Telegraph]And since we're on the topic of lists, here's another 5.94M reasons to hate Darren Bent, if you even think of him at all.Football’s 50 highest

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-57621351702565841692008-03-18T12:57:00.000-07:002008-03-20T01:38:50.538-07:00

The Spanish FA has decided the bottle throwing episode during the Real Betis v. Athletic Bilbao was not a isolated incident and has imposed a two match stadium ban as well as awarding the three points to Athletic. Betis' president had been calling for leniency after the incident, hoping to play out the game's last 20 minutes at a future date. This was rejected for a number of reasons, one

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-10931952578298152392008-03-17T23:44:00.000-07:002008-03-18T20:50:51.851-07:00

"I am really, really happy that [Javier] Mascherano must go to Egypt to play a friendly. Things like that you just cannot understand. There is nothing you can do. The rules are the rules and the players must go. You can't speak to the coach [Alfio Basile]. You can say 'Be careful' but they are thinking about themselves. They need to check the players to see if they can manage with the team, so it

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-49142175448676055352008-03-17T14:56:00.000-07:002008-03-18T00:28:33.524-07:00

Well, in this case, it for sure as hell isn't the player. While we've highlighted the business of African player-trafficking in Europe (see here and here), little did I know it exists in Pakistan as well.Plight of Nigerian footballer highlights player-trafficking in Pakistan [Play The Game]-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-42677731582657289032008-03-17T14:30:00.001-07:002008-03-18T00:49:41.313-07:00

Things are fine now between Ottmar Hitzfeld and Martin Demichelis. After refusing to play in a defensive midfield role away to Cottbus this past weekend, the boss suspended the Argentine indefinitely. Bayern Munich went on to lose (and go goalless) against the Bundesliga bottom dwellers, evidently missing their defensive stalwart. Demichelis apologized to the coach and the club this morning,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-13883016995661897392008-03-17T13:30:00.000-07:002008-03-18T20:50:21.025-07:00

Argentine international Javier Saviola is being let go by Real Madrid. Having played in just six matches (2 goals) for the Spanish league leaders, Saviola has failed to impress first year coach Bernd Schuster. According to Spanish daily Marca, the 40-capped Saviola doesn't have one Real Madrid entity in his corner, having failed to even make his mark with anyone in president Ramón Calderón's

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-37821679593927801452008-03-16T00:17:00.001-07:002008-03-18T00:50:46.119-07:00

Without the benefit of live pictures on either Sky Sports News or The Fox Soccer Report, I was left with a piqued interest in last night's bottle throwing incident in Seville. While Sky (7pm ET edition) didn't even bother showing the goals from the Real Betis v. Athletic Bilbao match, Fox showed the goals, but failed to show or even mention that Athletic keeper Armando Ribeiro was hit in the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-77915133234679066482008-02-29T20:46:00.001-08:002008-03-01T00:34:53.024-08:00

"I'm sure we'll have players with Chinese and Moroccan parents before long, the world is changing. It doesn't matter what color they are to us. What's important is that they are good soccer players."-Xabier Fernandez, a spokesman for Athletic Bilbao, commenting on one of the club's two firsts from Wednesday's debut of Jonas Ramalho. Ramalho, whose Angolan father hooked up with a local, became

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-33019649203550394132008-02-26T16:21:00.000-08:002008-02-26T16:52:03.856-08:00

Most of you know I'm a Gooner, but I usually try to keep my bias off the screen, unless I'm busy haranguing Arsenal for playing pretty with no substance.Like many footie fans out there, I was horrified by Eduardo's injury during the Gunners' match with Birmingham City on Saturday. And like many, I passed through several stages of outrage, shock and even an apologist point of view in regard to

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-34788541638512225932008-02-25T12:02:00.000-08:002008-02-25T12:05:15.080-08:00

Essex? You've won your first piece of silver in 9 years and you hang out there?Tottenham celebrate Carling Cup victory with drunken brawl at Essex nightclub [Daily Mail]-bl

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-10039379615623338302008-02-24T11:24:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:13:48.676-08:00

While it looks like the British Asian Sports Awards are a legit organization, they don't do themselves any favors by handing out a Lifetime Achievement award to our favorite malcontent/filmmaker, Vikash Dhorasoo. That's no typo my friends, it really says lifetime achievement next to Vik's name.I love how the write up for the awards event included this little nugget: "The Ex French mid-fielder,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-52085994359697647352008-02-22T18:52:00.001-08:002008-03-01T00:32:04.848-08:00

"El-Salvador is the name of a country. It means the saviour. I could be the El-Salvador of Nigerian football. With the right atmosphere, I will do it again. I did it before. When I walk the streets of Nigeria today, people tell me great things I did and I feel proud. I want to do them again."-Clemens Westerhof, fishing for a job with the Nigerian national squad. His selection would make this a

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-48629325076049835632008-02-21T01:29:00.000-08:002008-02-22T18:32:53.742-08:00

While we're all accustomed to seeing siblings line up against each other at the club level, I was quite surprised to read that the phenomenon does indeed extend to the international level. Mark Gleeson over at the Reuters Soccer Blog has a great piece up about brothers lining up for different countries.I don't think I've ever heard of such a thing, but with players and federations playing fast

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-64928947737676155532008-02-21T01:03:00.001-08:002008-02-22T18:33:41.770-08:00

In the rough and tumble world of Russian economics, news of 40 new Russian billionaires doesn't seem so strange (I just saw Eastern Promises, I know how it works). The real news will be about who'll be willing to splash the cash for one of the dozens (and dozens) of middling English soccer clubs out there.Come on, which one of you guys wants to battle it out with Chelski?Battle of the oligarchs.

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-69240681193116301942008-02-21T00:11:00.000-08:002008-02-21T08:18:55.435-08:00

That's the question: do soccer clubs spin the media or do the media trade in rumors to sell papers? This was recently tackled at a sports seminar concerning sports reporting in the digital age.While clubs will always rail against the tabloids (and shadowy agents), the media is adamant that the clubs have dug in and restricted information more than every before. Does one really have to cancel

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-9409007295197649712008-02-19T21:04:00.000-08:002008-02-19T21:28:04.207-08:00

Well it's all shits and giggles over at Anfield now, with the media seemingly feeling apologetic for doubting Rafa Benitez, the new Bob Paisley. The Liverpool manager, steadily building his reputation as the king of two-legged European competition, slid himself out from under the heavy blanket of media criticism after the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley, with a 2-0 defeat of

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-34744597681639082292008-02-17T13:11:00.000-08:002008-02-17T13:57:06.300-08:00

It certainly seems like this weekend's matches will be bandied about as a turning point, as the papers have already done, but we witness the return of the Champions League in the next few days and it's hard to argue against how significant every game is from here on out.The Champions League match-ups leave us salivating, perhaps too much given the opportunity for some dull games in European play,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-80758976629920824952008-02-14T12:21:00.000-08:002008-02-14T12:30:02.913-08:00

Apparently TJ Simers has a problem with David Beckham's performance, or lack thereof, since arriving on our shores. Interestingly, if you look at DB's goal-scoring record (admittedly not the only metric to appraise a player, especially one of his position and limited ability) it doesn't differ that much from his time at Real Madrid, where he averaged a goal in nearly every 8 games.Bitter and

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-2751843614375697362008-02-13T16:40:00.000-08:002008-02-13T16:53:00.197-08:00

I rarely kick the ball around because 1) I have no children to kick around with and 2) I have a suspicion that my wife commands better ball control and technique than I ever would, even if I had played since I could walk (I am, indeed, the least-blessed in terms of any type of coordination; seriously, not walking into inanimate objects is a minor victory for me).Occasionally AC and I will kick it

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-11445094544483778712008-02-13T11:24:00.000-08:002008-02-13T11:30:06.590-08:00

Si, we hold hands behind your back . . . The excellent Marcela Mora y Araujo returns to the Guardian with this little piece on Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa.The return of the Argentinian trailblazers [Guardian Sport Blog]-bl

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-23320446749104042452008-02-11T07:57:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:26:42.290-08:00

While Alan Hansen is inarguably one of Liverpool's greats in the history of the sport, he often typifies the punditry we are blessed with on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. As much as I love a former player give his opinion on current performances, hopefully masterfully interwoven with richly detailed anecdotes, the former player talking head has little to offer by way of insight.How many times

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-31281746753182689462008-02-08T12:06:00.000-08:002008-02-08T12:33:28.380-08:00

If there's one thing that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hates, besides getting whomped in nether regions [Daily Mail], it's not being kept informed of what's going on in the boardroom. In this case, it's the Premier League's new decision to tap into the rich vein of foreign money that's there to be made. Money quote:"They should have been enquiring and having discussions with

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-48804331263589940082008-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:002008-02-05T12:03:25.994-08:00

Ronnie scoring when it counts We caught a glimpse last season of just how good Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is, and this year he's been able to take all of his qualities and translate them directly into goals. Not just goals, but game-deciding, team-defining goals. Just as Arsenal receive plaudits for their one and two-touch, quick-passing game, Manchester United is all about movement,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-28154627623800965492008-01-29T10:41:00.000-08:002008-01-29T11:08:56.285-08:00

Hey Becks!!! We gotta new coach!!!! Ever heard of Chris Coleman????It's a beautiful day for soccer fans here in North America, or at least those fans who enjoy watching lower league reserves play the Australian third division. Because that's what they'll get, with CONCACAF's decision to roll out their own 24-team competition echoing UEFA's Champions League, doubtlessly influenced by the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-5728669017442111532008-01-24T16:03:00.000-08:002008-01-25T17:10:33.188-08:00

We all know Goldenballs will travel to the ends of the earth to play for his country, his club, and most likely, to get as far away from Posh as possible. Even though there are a handful remaining in England that still think he has something to offer, apparently Becks' jetsetting isn't so great for our planet.While DB's flying back and forth, in the hope that he's still needed on both sides of

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-7020654466592035012008-01-08T10:10:00.000-08:002008-01-08T10:26:09.202-08:00

It looks like our favorite anti-social, Joey Barton, won't be turning out for the barcodes anytime soon. Apparently, the Newcastle midfielder needs a bit more work at Sporting Chance, the rehab facility that Tony Adams started. Sporting Chance director Peter Kay confirmed that JB has a lot of work to do at the clinic and patronized Fat Sam's training techniques in the same breath:"We do not play

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-68722778023708605272007-12-31T08:44:00.000-08:002007-12-31T09:09:38.974-08:00

Hi boys . . . oh hi, I was just talking to my breasts . . . Oh why must our footballers be so well-spoken and refined? Does anyone really buy David James' Renaissance man act when he eschews chocolate bars for a bit of salad? Wow, Dave, I bet you read the smart papers instead of the tabloids, like most of the EPL's intelligentsia. Forget about The Economist-reading, fine wine-appreciating,

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-9491269949622092462007-12-27T14:43:00.000-08:002007-12-27T16:14:36.835-08:00

Cheek? I'll show you cheek . . . Newcastle midfielder, pugilist and cigar aficionado Joey Barton is in yet another spot of trouble after he was allegedly:'acting aggressively and bouncing from one group of people toanother, apparently looking for a fight' at around 5.30am. Here are a few various offenses from JB's CV (at least the ones he's remotely criminally negligent of):December 2004 - Uses

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-91743618821622418512007-12-18T08:13:00.000-08:002007-12-18T08:33:08.779-08:00

Oh, you play football? What a coincidence, I love money . . . How do Manchester United celebrate the holidays? Bitches 'n hos, me bro, that's how. Perhaps sick of the WAG-tasticness of having the Red Devils' better halves dancing on tables, splashing Red Bull & Vodkas over their thousand pound handbags, Sir Alex banned them from the club's annual Christmas shindig. Apparently Fergie was giving

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-60098860078894825452007-12-13T10:13:00.000-08:002007-12-13T10:55:09.585-08:00

Oi, it's two fingers over here, Fabio . . . So, it looks done and dusted in terms of Fabio Capello taking over the reins of the Three Lions, and despite what you think of the choice, if an announcement is made later today, one may go so far as to say the English FA didn't make a mess out of this one. Capello's got a lot of history, mostly good, but some of it less than professional. Compared to

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-62573919713338512492007-12-06T08:20:00.000-08:002007-12-06T15:48:45.158-08:00

Newcastle United v. Arsenal on Wednesday night lived up well to the hype preceding it. The league leaders and their fluent one-touch passing were heading up north to meet a struggling Magpie team. Lean, svelte and mobile, Arsene Wenger's decimated squad (no Fabregas, Hleb or Flamini) seemed to represent everything foreign about the game, with the beanpole Wenger and the braided Bacary Sagna. And

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-2129014861367801362007-11-26T14:09:00.001-08:002007-11-26T14:18:21.343-08:00

Do you find yourself lamenting the breaks between the World Cup and Euros? Do you feel like you're being cheated by not seeing all the best of hack away 'n boot long? Do you think all those flashy, stepovering, backheeling Continental scum are overshadowing the pride, passion and integrity of true footballers?Well, you're in luck, because Scotland (yes, that Scotland that nearly made it to the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-34326941121622899832007-11-21T13:57:00.000-08:002008-02-24T19:33:13.918-08:00

"This is a win-win really. If England win or draw, we at least get to see them fumble about in Euro 2008 and more Steve McCLaren jokes can be made. If England lose, then maybe the entire FA get swept out along with Second Choice Steve. Not so bad really."George Templeton, a commentator liking his odds, at the start of the Guardian's minute-by-minute report of England's loss to Croatia

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-75825477866086114042007-11-21T12:02:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:42:58.666-08:00

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave outgoing Vice Chancellor Franz Müntefering the ultimate parting gift today. Münteferingon, a force behind the scenes at the '06 World Cup, retires amid grumblings that his departure is expected to usher in a period of greater friction in German politics. He had been spending the last two years stressing what the two biggest political parties, the Christian

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-68700337551274018232007-11-20T15:13:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:45:02.729-08:00

David Schmader over at the Stranger's blog, SLOG, gets the "Name our new MLS franchise" ball rolling. For the record, Schmader likes Rat Town Rushers, Emerald City Kick Squad, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Goal-Makers. These are the best from the comments section:Muffin TopsSeattle Portable Meth LabsSeattle Passive AgressivesThe Green River KillersPaul Allen AgonistesPhallic Geoduck

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-48523460502803459412007-11-20T14:57:00.000-08:002007-11-20T15:12:47.325-08:00

"I would suggest Oliver Bierhoff show a bit more humility. With players who've been trained at clubs like Cologne, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen, you can put a philosophy into practice. But a philosophy for a player like Oliver Bierhoff has yet to be invented. You can't demand Brazilian style if you yourself have feet from Malta. In the next few days, Oliver Bierhoff

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-44749956639603343122007-11-20T08:27:00.000-08:002007-11-20T08:44:47.116-08:00

Just a few days ago, England was rueing their inability to maintain their destiny in their own hands, but Israel's victory over Russia has placed the onus squarely back onto the Three Lions.Of course, the doom and gloom that typically accompanies insecurity, negativity and an overall lack of confidence must rear its head, ala pretty much every major cup competition England's been involved with

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-36908245825950434172007-11-19T08:15:00.000-08:002007-11-19T08:56:07.037-08:00

Ach . . . mein kopf itchin'Mad Jens Lehmann has lowered the hole he's digging for himself when he apparently resorted to the 'ol "I'll scratch my face/push up my glasses . . . but HA, with my middle finger!!!" in response to German fans' calls to replace him with the reserve keeper during Germany's 4-0 win over Cyprus.Lehmann denies making obscene gesture to Germany fans [Daily Mail]Wannabe

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-85216698623532016232007-11-16T15:30:00.000-08:002007-11-16T15:51:59.623-08:00

Looks like everybody is making the trip to Japan for Milan. Carlo Ancelotti will have a full squad at his disposal for the Club World Cup in December. Ronaldo is off the injured list (and presumably under 200 lbs.) and set to take part in the festivities.Surprise inclusion: Kaka's younger brother, Digao, garnered himself an airline ticket. From what I can tell, he's yet to make an appearance

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-20214420046555246842007-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:002008-02-24T20:21:04.884-08:00

Bloomberg published an interesting article on the economics of shirt sponsorships in Europe's top six soccer leagues. A recently released report by sponsorship consultant Sport+Markt AG says that Manchester United top the list, raking in $30.4M a year from American International Group. Bayern Munich is a close second with Deutsche Telekom AG paying $29.1M for the right to plaster T-Home onto the

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-10228639060159639212007-11-16T14:49:00.000-08:002008-02-24T19:48:46.823-08:00

Jose Mourinho's got to take his frustrations out on somebody, no matter how old they might be. Uefa.com's magazine has the story:Mourinho is now back in his native Portugal, and is free to take his daughter Matilde to school. Unfortunately, that meant he was able to overhear a fellow pupil teasing her, unacceptable in any language, and the former Chelsea FC coach took exception. What happened in

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-47568012956196641312007-11-16T14:30:00.000-08:002008-02-24T20:15:27.358-08:00

Aside from Mrs. AC's grocery list for Thanksgiving, this one on how to avoid being a soccer mom is the best list I've seen this week. My favorite:Rule 4: Use younger siblings as an excuse for avoiding extracurricular events: "No, I can't do Environmental Awareness Day because I'm taking my youngest to the dentist." Stuck with only one child? Adopt. The free time you will gain is worth the extra

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-13382461265548730392007-11-16T14:26:00.000-08:002008-02-24T20:12:40.564-08:00

The look on Terry Venables' face is priceless. How do you think he rates Becks?-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-88429365140449475332007-11-14T17:59:00.000-08:002008-02-24T20:10:01.942-08:00

It looks like Argentina will be wearing new shirts this week. FA chief Julio Grondona unveiled the new look today.Of course, it keeps the customary stripes and pairs them with a simple retro look. No more detail work running down the sides. I think I like it.-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-68544778153252624682007-11-13T23:00:00.000-08:002007-11-14T10:38:52.698-08:00

"My town is a veritable soccer mecca. Each weekend every single man, woman and child can be found at the sports complex where hordes of children seemingly as young as six-months-old try to kick the crap out of the soccer ball as they move up and down the field in one big dust cloud. I don’t know this for sure, but I suspect the town council keeps a list of the soccer faithful and duly notes those

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-85465946832589414262007-11-13T22:32:00.001-08:002008-02-24T20:00:18.217-08:00

If you're ready for a fashion show, the line starts behind me. Not missing an opportunity to piggy-back on the African Cup of Nations in Ghana, Stephen Appiah is set to try his hand in the clothing business. His line, StepApp, debuts next Monday throughout Africa, followed next month by Europe and the U.S.One of my favorite players at Germany '06, Appiah becomes the first African soccer player

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-34484798637472054012007-11-13T15:21:00.000-08:002007-11-17T15:00:30.804-08:00

Mrs. AC would say "only in Florida" at a story like this. But I don't think a treasurer using a company/group as an ATM is particular to the Sunshine State, even though a lot of 'effed up stuff happens there.If this is her mug shot, I'm not really sure what she's smiling about.Soccer Mom Accused Of Stealing League's Cash [WESH.com]-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-16185488107984459612007-11-13T15:05:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:57:46.126-08:00

This is the new all-white Azzurri shirt that will be given its debut in Saturday's Euro qualifier against Scotland. Isn't it a little strange that both the team badge and shirt logo are on the same side? It might be the first time I've ever seen that.-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-53665403261250271952007-11-06T23:35:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:55:12.622-08:00

A Congolese player at FC Brussels who walked out after being racially abused by the Belgian club's president Johan Vermeersch has agreed to return. Zola Matumona quit the club after he and his fellow players were torn a new one by Vermeersch for a string of poor performances, with the club president telling him to think about things other than "trees and bananas". After a lengthy sitdown on

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-11596052550879118422007-11-06T22:47:00.001-08:002008-02-24T19:53:05.875-08:00

“He had some setbacks yesterday and was here today, but a professional needs to live a healthy lifestyle and above all train well. All the time. I don’t think Adriano is living in hardship, reading the interviews he has given. I repeat, he just needs to live the life of an athlete. If I do not consider him to be in good shape to play, then I do not leave him out because of spite. I don’t see him

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-62308551484017281872007-11-01T15:12:00.000-07:002008-02-24T19:51:58.105-08:00

If new pubs have to be built, I'm all for this new style: power derived from the wind and sun as well as the harvesting of rainwater for flushing the toilets.Sure, my first choice for a pint would be a pub with a little history and character. But if a chain pub is the only place where I can watch a certain match, so be it. If it makes such an effort to use renewable energy, the better.Raise a

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22266709.post-39275415873131553252007-11-01T14:57:00.000-07:002008-02-24T19:50:38.499-08:00

But I love it, though the moving concrete is not a good sign. From the comments, it seems to be Eintracht Frankfurt supporters doing the jumping, though it doesn't look like the Commerzbank-Arena.How To Wreck A Stadium [Totallycrap.com](via: Attuworld)-ac

soccermadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092301404187132929noreply@blogger.com0