Alejandro Bedoya may be on the move.

The 23-year-old midfielder, currently playing with Örebro in Sweden, is on trial with Birmingham City, according to multiple reports.

The time seems right.

Bedoya has done well in the Allsvenskan, and he’s probably ready to test himself against better competition.

But is a jump to the Premier League the right decision?

It’s a brutally physical league, and the competition for playing time will be fierce.

Still, if you read MLS Talk’s interview with him recently, you know he wants to play at the highest level.

“I see myself still playing soccer at a high level with a great club in a top league. God willing with hard work and dedication I can get to where I would like to be and where many people dream to play,” he said.

You can argue that his pace and skill is well suited for the EPL, or you could point out his relative inexperience on the game’s biggest stages.

But really, we won’t know unless he tries it.

The former U.S. International and Aston Villa keeper owes about £5 million, according to a English court.

Apparently, an academy he opened in Ohio a few years ago is the source of his financial woes, and he seems hopeful that he can get it sorted out soon.

“This is a technical bankruptcy and it is not anticipated that it will be in place for long as an application for an annulment will be submitted in the next few days,” a spokesman for Friedel said.

“Arrangements are in place to deal with the issues which gave rise to the bankruptcy.”

“I don’t make any money on it,” Friedel told The Birmingham Mail, adding that the academy was a non-profit venture.

There aren’t many more details than that, but here’s hoping that he gets everything worked out soon.

Vancouver will start its MLS journey in a few months, and the Whitecaps may be doing so with some imported talent.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that Derby County’s Robbie Savage is considering making the move to MLS.

U.S. International and AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu is heading to FC Twente for a loan spell.

Can I just say one thing?

WHOOO-HOOO!!!!!!

I was as excited as the next guy when Gooch signed with AC Milan back in 2009. But injuries and circumstances have prevented him from finding a place on the pitch with the Italian giants.

In fact, he failed to dress for a single match this season.

As a fan of the U.S. national team, I need out starting center back playing matches.

And since Twente’s coach, Michel Preud’homme, used to coach him at Standard Liege in Belgium, you’d think Gooch is in line for some playing time.

Join me Saturday for the live blog/live chat of the FA Cup Third Round. The fun begins with the 7:45am ET/12:45pm UK kickoff featuring Arsenal versus Leeds United followed by keeping track of all of the goals going in across England during the 10am ET/3pm UK matches, and concluding with the 12:30pm ET/5:30pm UK match between Stevenage and Newcastle United.

With so many matches taking place, the chances of historic FA Cup upsets are a plenty. The ties featuring Premier League teams on Saturday are:

• Arsenal v Leeds,
• Millwall v Birmingham,
• Fulham v Peterborough,
• Doncaster v Wolves,
• West Ham v Barnsley,
• Reading v West Brom,
• Sheffield United v Aston Villa,
• Bolton v York,
• Blackburn v QPR,
• Southampton v Blackpool,
• Sunderland v Notts County,
• Scunthorpe v Everton,
• Hull City v Wigan,
• Stoke v Cardiff,
• Stevenage v Newcastle United.

If there’s any day to join in the live chat, this is it.

F.A. Cup 3rd Round – Live

In what proved to be a highly entertaining Boxing Day encounter, Manchester City saw off a resilient Newcastle side after a goal from Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez inside the opening five minutes of play. Newcastle will surely feel hard-done by after dominating the remaining eighty-five minutes of play, far outnumbering their ridiculously-paid counterparts in terms of possession and shots, but once again Carlos Tevez proved that without him, his current team would be sitting comfortably in mid-table mediocrity.

A bad clearance by Newcastle shot-stopper, one of his first major gaffs since deputizing in Steve Harper’s absence now for the past three months, allowed Carlos Tevez to play in Gareth Barry deep into the home side’s penalty area where he cool slid the ball past the onrushing Krul.

And If a second minute goal wasn’t enough to slap the Newcastle defence into action, all-the-while quickly quelling any forlorn hopes a comeback, then James Milner’s quick cross from a defensive mix-up was enough after Tevez proceeded to volley home into the top left corner.

But any notion that Alan Pardew was lacking any sufficient tactical know-how was put to bed by the end of the first half which had seen his Newcastle troops battle back and come agonizingly close to an equalizer, Vincent Kompany again proving that his price tag was well-worth as other notable high-earners, in particular Joleon Lescott who seemed to be off pace the entire evening.

Newcastle started the second half a bit slower than the previous ended, but quickly began to build momentum as their defence’s high-line proved to limit Manchester’s game into a handful of quick plays on the break. Routeledge, who had started the game on the right-wing for the home side, contributed well in the first-half but was replaced on the hour mark after a series of great runs down the flank, only for his infamous lob-cross to continually fail to elude Joe Hart.

And once again Ranger’s cameo role proved potentially pivitol as his speed and physical strength was once again too much for any of City’s back four to deal with. Andy Carroll, after seemingly knocking down nearly every header hurled his way, finally was able to make the break-through in the seventy-second after Kevin Nolan had done a good job blocking Joe Hart’s sight, while the Manchester keeper was seemingly hell-bent on a decision in his favor as he stuck to his guns and did his best to get noticed by the officials as the ball hopped over the line.

Newcastle’s dominance was not to come to fruition though as Carlos Tevez’s twice deflected shot was enough to steal the spoils in what was one of the most entertaining, open matches of the year at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle take the long journey down to White Hart Lane on Tuesday for a similar 15:00 GMT kickoff, while Manchester hosts Aston Villa on the same day, also at an old-fashioned 15:00 GMT kickoff time.

What were your thoughts on the match? Do you think Newcastle deserved something out of this game? Let us know…

For weeks now, speculation has been out there about which English club would secure Landon Donovan for a winter loan.

Would it be Fulham? Or Everton? Or some other club in need of a little pace and imagination on the wing or even up front?

Turns out the U.S. International and L.A. Galaxy standout will be spending the summer in southern California, having decided not to accept a loan in 2011.

From the press release…

“While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” Donovan said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the National Team throughout the upcoming year. I look forward to re-joining my Galaxy teammates for the start of preseason training next month and beginning our quest for another MLS Cup championship.”

The Galaxy may have had a hand in this decision as well.

“We think in the best interest of the club and the player that Landon continues his postseason break and begins preparations for what will be a challenging year in 2011 at both the domestic and international levels,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “We expect Landon to join our club for the start of preseason training next month as we begin to prepare for the 2011 MLS season.”

Donovan played more than 50 games in 2010 with the Galaxy, Everton and the U.S. National team, so while I will miss seeing him in EPL games early in the new year, I think some time off will do Donovan a world of good.

Donovan added on his Twitter feed, “I appreciate all the messages. It wasn’t easy because you all were so great to me in January. I hope they’ll want me back in the future.”

One of the major complaints for American soccer fans during last summer’s World Cup was the lack of goal scoring punch from the forward position.

That fact hasn’t stopped Edson Buddle and, now, Robbie Findley from drawing some level of interest from English clubs, however.

The Daily Mail, a much debated source of reliable English football news, is reporting that Wolves’ manager Mick McCarthy is considering a move for Findley, who became a free agent after four years with Real Salt Lake at the end of the MLS season. Technically, Portland owns his MLS rights – but that’s only if he doesn’t leave for Europe.

A couple of obstacles exist right now:

1. He’s apparently injured. That makes him a little tough for McCarthy to evaluate.

2. He’ll need a work permit. He has 11 appearances for the national team, which may be enough to help him reach the 75 percent requirement for the Premier League.

I’m not as down on Findley as some American soccer fans may be, but I’m not convinced he’s ready for a spot in the EPL.

He’s very fast and he works hard, but his first touch and technical ability have yet to come through on the highest level, as he has yet to score a goal in a U.S. shirt.

To me, if he doesn’t want to stay in MLS, a move to Denmark or Holland makes more sense.

He’s 25, so it’s too early to say he’ll never be good enough to play in England.

I’m just not sure he’s ready right now.

The list of Americans trying to cross the pond to play in England continues to grow.

And no, I’m not talking about Landon Donovan.

Teal Bunbury, a 20-year-old U.S. International who has been on trial at Stoke City in recent weeks, is waiting to hear if the Potters will offer him a contract.

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has high praise for the young forward, but isn’t tipping his hand on what will happen next.

“He’s done smashing, mixed in well and got a goal the other day,” he told The Sentinel. “Whether he’s what we want for the next step, we’ll have to see. But he’s a nice kid and, like most American sports people, is very dedicated. His attitude during his time here has been first-class.”

Bunbury was born in Canada to a Canadian father and American mother and traveled to England and Portugal as his father played professional soccer in those two countries.

When he was 10, the Bunburys moved to Minnesota, and he eventually ended up at the University of Akron.

While playing for the Zips, he came off the bench as a freshman before blossoming in 2009 as a sophomore. He led the nation with 17 goals in 25 matches and led the Zips to the College Cup Final.

He then signed a Generation Addias deal and was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards – now known as Sporting Kansas City.

Typically a striker, Bunbury spent a lot of time in his first season in Kansas City playing more of an attacking midfield role behind the forwards. He had five goals and two assists in 26 appearances (13 starts).

It will be interesting to see if Bunbury can adapt to the physical brand of soccer that Pulis favors. Whether he gets offered a deal or not, I think Bunbury will be better for the experience.

While Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan have had their futures in the Premier League discussed in great detail in recent days, another American international is trying to find a home in England.

L.A. Galaxy forward Edson Buddle is currently on trial with Birmingham, and should he do well, he may be offered a deal in next month’s transfer window.

He has only six international caps, which may make a work permit an issue, but I think this is a good move for Buddle.

Buddle, 29, has done enough in MLS. He had 17 goals in 25 matches for the Galaxy last season, and with the recent acquisition of Juan Pablo Angel, there’s a numbers (and salary) crunch at the Home Depot Center.

While he failed to find the net for the United States at the World Cup, Buddle has had a solid run of form in the past year. He’s grown up a bit, and has the strength and pace to play in Europe.

Now, can he make the team and then find playing time at Birmingham?

That, I’m not so sure of. But the fact that he has his foot in the door – and his price will probably be right – certainly bodes well for his chances.

As a Fulham supporter, this season has been a painful one.

The Cottagers are hovering just above the relegation zone, sorely lacking the sort of player that can turn a draw into an all-important three points.

It seems I’m not the only one that thinks Mark Hughes’ Fulham side is in need of some inspiration during the January transfer window.

The Daily Mail is reporting that the Londoners are planning to compete with Everton for the loan services of Landon Donovan.

You have to read between the lines, but both managers seem keen on adding someone next month.

“‘We are missing a Bobby Zamora type and he will not be back until the end of January or start of February if everything goes to plan,” Hughes said. “So if there’s someone we can bring in to help us, we will look at it. But more often than not strikers cost a lot of money at Premier League level, so we will have to see.”

Everton manager David Moyes, who praised Donovan during his loan spell last season, is singing a similar tune.

“We know we need a striker,” Moyes said. “But the sort of money it will cost… it is probably a reality that we will have to look at bringing in a loan player, that it will be the loan market we will need to look at to provide some sort of solution.”

Either way, Donovan will have the chance to play with fellow national team members – Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson at Fulham or Tim Howard with Everton.

Donovan, of course, is more familiar with the team and setup on Merseyside and that may factor into his decision.

At the end of the day, it may be something else entirely that enters into Donovan’s thinking.

The need for some good old fashioned rest.

The 28-year-old Donovan has been playing non-stop since the Confederations Cup in 2009, including two MLS seasons, a loan spell last winter and the World Cup this past summer.

He may decide to spend this winter soaking up the southern California sun, and honestly, who could blame him?

I have to admit it, though.

He’d look pretty darn good in a Fulham kit…

If there would be any consolation to the unrest in which Tyneside is currently embroiled in, than a fine home win against a strong Liverpool side would surely go a long way in the eyes of Newcastle supporters.

And, having to watch the events of the past week unfold, helpless but nonetheless staunchly faithful, some could argue Newcastle’s 3-1 triumph over a reinvigorated Liverpool side is one step towards justice being served.

A strong opening half saw both sides exchanging possession and both sides attempting to assert themselves with quick play on their respective breaks. Liverpool grew as the half waned and would surely have felt hard-done by Newcastle’s first, courtesy of captain Kevin Nolan who, after Joey Barton’s fine set piece from forty yards out found the head of Andy Carroll who rose highest against Martin Skrtl to head down for the oncoming, and slightly offside, Kevin Nolan to sweep confidently past Reina. The flag stayed down with home fans in rapture.

The second half saw Liverpool come into their own, effortlessly sweeping the ball around Newcastle’s hapless midfield, and their efforts reaped due rewards as the increasingly worrying Sol Campbell turned his back to the ball to allow Dirk Kuyt to put the away side back on level terms with a beautifully executed shot that may or may not have been aided by an oncoming Steven Taylor.

A change had been begging for fifteen minutes with Newcastle seemingly unable to keep hold of the ball, and at sixty-three minutes, nineteen year-old Nile Ranger, who has recently signed a new contract keeping him on Tyneside until 2016, replaced the ineffective Shola Ameobi. For the rest of the game it was all Newcastle as Ranger’s pace and ability to pressure the makeshift Liverpool backline elevated the Newcastle’s play.

After nearly twenty minutes of dominating play, a defensive scramble and good play from Andy Carroll and Nile Ranger found a determined Joey Barton rushing to pounce on a loose ball that he proceeded to toe in off the post to give Newcastle the lead and send the home fans into complete jubilation.

Newcastle’s defence had questions asked of themselves in the closing stages, but coped well before an Andy Carroll left-footed rocket from some twenty-seven yards out was executed exquisitely as the helpless Reina could only pick the ball out of his own net, lamenting another frustrating result for the away side.

Newcastle move up to 8th in the league standings on 22 points, leapfrogging Liverpool who move down to 9th.

What were your thoughts on the match and Alan Pardew’s first match in charge?

One of the most anticipated managerial appointments of the past twelve months has finally been done and dusted, much to the bereavement of Newcastle supporters the world-over. Alan Pardew was announced as Newcastle United’s next manager early this afternoon, signed on a massive five and a half year contract and charged with the task of carrying the team further up the table than the board believed his predecessor, the now departed Chris Hughton, could do.

If ever an appointment could be as underwhelming by the Newcastle board’s decision to appoint Alan Pardew as the “man to take the club forward”, than it can only matched by how surprisingly predictable Chris Hughton’s dismissal was in the first place. A board who has time and time again shown the negligence that the Newcastle board has, and one that is incapable of seeing that their belief in their own know-how of the inner-workings of professional football is little more than elementary, will never be able to turn around the fortunes of the club.

The board, it should be noted, has been the same two men who have been in place since Dennis Wise’s departure in April of 2009- owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias (of London’s Fifty Club fame, where coincidentally friendships blossomed with both Pardew and Ashley, its fruition presumably now coming full-circle). And with two men, supposed good ol’ mates, completely, utterly, 100% in charge of Newcastle United Football Club, is it any wonder that their first choice would be none other than their other good mate, who just happens to be a run-of-the-mill English football manager?

Quite possibly there has been too much put to offer in regards to the three’s friendship, but, as what’s left of the logical thinking Geordies who still turn up for games, forking out inane amounts of their wages for a few hours watching a couple of boys who can clear what they make annually in a month, in some cases a week, is it wrong for them to have been content with the track the club was on? Festering in mid-table mediocrity I now think anyone would have been pleased with, as the notion of becoming a yo-yo team that seemingly annually, or at best every few years, is hop-scotching from one league to another is becoming more of a reality with every decision that Mike Ashley makes.

The one thing that Newcastle fans do know full well is that a team with the inability to solidify their positions in a certain league after some time will not have the luxury of residual players on 80k a week, who were unable to find clubs in the close season, virtually guarantee themselves entry back into England‘s top flight. Quite possibly how many more seasons one could envision Fabricio Coloccini, Andy Carroll or Jose Enrique willing to step down from their obvious standards for a club as unstable as Newcastle remains up for debate. But with Enrique, who behind Tiote has quite possibly been the player of the season for the club thus far (see quite possibly his best performance in a toon shirt in the recent draw with Chelsea) calling forward “big names” in order to keep this club from once again becoming a “joke”, one has to wonder how far his patience will wear for a place he admittedly loves. And with the realization now that in fact there never were any “big names” in the running and that a certain Martin Jol’s departure from Ajax just turned out to be happenstance, one must wonder of his feelings now, and the team’s for that matter, do not coincide with those of his inept employers.

Newcastle take on Liverpool this coming Saturday at 17:30 GMT from St. James’ Park, televised live on ESPN. Fox Soccer Channel will also be broadcasting the game live in the United States, kick of at local 12:30 EST.

*Coincidentally, Newcastle’s last meeting with Liverpool at SJP in the top flight took place in their relegation campaign season two years ago, 2nd of January, 2009, in which they were thrashed 5-1 in front of a full stadium. After the match, Shay Given lamented the performance “embarrassing” and a month later the Newcastle captain was plying his trade in Manchester. Newcastle fans can only hope the forthcoming match this weekend does not signify the same turn in fortunes.

What do you think? Are you optimistic by the hiring of Pardew? And since he’s coming on board with so little excitement, is the only way he can go is up since people have such low expectations for him?

Even before the announcement yesterday, the rumour mills had already been churning with nearly every available, out of work manager being touted as a possible replacement, and none all too eye-catching at that. Let’s take a look at some of the players:

The Outsiders:

Frank Rijkaard has been recently dismissed from his own post after a poor run of form had seen his Galatasaray side slip prematurely out of the Europa League with their league form no better, picking up only 12 points from a possible 24 in the opening round of fixtures. His attack-minded coaching could do well with the Newcastle side currently on a slump of form and seemingly lost as to which style of football they play best. Still, a long shot with presumably high salary demands and most detrimental to the chance of him joining would be how much Ashley would be willing to put into the upcoming transfer window. Anything Ashley could scrounge together would surely not be enough for Rijkaard’s liking.

Another name that’s been doing the rounds in some circles, and one this writer would not be all too displeased with would be Lee Clark, currently managing First Division side Huddersfield Town. Having just missed out on the play-offs last term, Geordie Clark has his young troops in contention again early-on this campaign. Many supporters believe Clark will one day manage his hometown club, though probably side with the owner in saying he may still be too inexperienced just yet.

At a Stretch:

Alan Curbishly and Steve McClaren have both been mentioned as possible replacements, but with McClaren currently in his first year managing VfL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, surely Newcastle would have to be a step down for the manager, whose former side FC Twente only last season won the Dutch Eredivisie. It’s not been an easy start to life in Germany with his side currently sitting thirteenth out of eighteen teams, but surely it isn’t a challenge he’s ready to give up on just yet.

And with Curbishly on the back of a recent court settlement in his favour for reasons strikingly similar to that of which involved a certain Kevin Keegan and one Mike Ashley, could you really say it would be the wisest move to bring in a manager who will inevitably get played with by Ashley, and then this all turns sour only for Ashley to pay out a settlement again? I’d like to think even he couldn’t be that stupid. Not too mention, his appointment wouldn’t exactly rekindle any hopes in the fans or players of getting something out of a seemingly woebegone season. Alan Shearer has also been mentioned but surely his inexperience rules him out as a serious candidate.

The Front-Runners:

Alan Pardew, recently let go from League One side Southampton and claim to a managerial track record almost as uninspiring as Joe Kinnear’s, would seem Mr. Ashley’s obvious choice were it his to make alone, and, unfortunately for Newcastle supporters and to the bemusement of rival fans across the globe, it is. Bookies closed betting early on Pardew, only for it to be opened some hours later, so Newcastle fans can only hope that change signifies the reality of the situation.

Perhaps the two name’s being mentioned most though, and one of either preferred to most Newcastle fans would be Martin O’Neill and Martin Jol. Naturally it would seem Martin O’Neill’s reasoning behind walking away from Aston Villa would be the same issues that would keep him from joining Newcastle, but with managerial vacancies few and far between, he might just take his chance. Even still, with communication basically non-existant from the Newcastle board, it’s still a crapshoot as to whether the new manager will be given significant trust to lead the team, thus, funds to invest and freedom to appoint.

Martin Jol would be the obvious candidate to lead Newcastle forward, if we must choose one, after Hughton’s sacking having, perhaps inadvertently or otherwise, thrown his name into the ring after announcing his resignation from Ajax yesterday evening. His track record across Europe should speak for itself, and you’d be hard pressed to find any Aston Villa fans who say they were overly pleased with the football played by their team during O’Neill’s reign. Since his time at Tottenham Hotspur, his managerial exploits with Hamburg SV and Ajax boast a win percentage of just under sixty-three percent, while O’Neill’s, if you disregard his years with Celtic, is significantly less, including his tenures in England’s lower divisions. O’Neill’s purchases in the transfer market, bar Ashley Young and John Carew in his first year in charge, have been questionable and with Randy Lerner obviously not shy when it comes to backing his manager, you wonder what it would have taken to please Martin O’Neill. Surely he would not find similar backing at Newcastle?

Coincidentally, his undoing was down partly to the very same player with whom Kevin Keegan had taken a grievance to losing before his resignation as well- James Milner.

In a best case scenario, the club would come forward to shine light on the circumstances surrounding Chris Hughton’s sacking and what their intentions for Newcastle United Football Club are and how they plan to move forward from this. Conspiracy theories have been rife with rumours of the club being put up for sale again, and true, they could be just rumours, but are fans really ready to wait another two months to hear anything from the club and come the end of January, receive their annual explanation of the club’s failures in the transfer market? It looks as though the situation is becoming more and more dire and seems to be heading in that direction. And unfortunately as Newcastle fans know all too well, the only thing to do now is to wait.

Who would you like to see installed as Newcastle’s next manager?

With MLS clubs signing up more designated players than ever before, fans should start getting used to European players being linked with moves to America.

A pair of Tottenham players, William Gallas and Robbie Keane, have been linked recently with potential moves to the U.S.

Gallas, who moved to White Hart Lane on a free transfer, has been awarded the captain’s armband in recent matches and has drawn praise from his manager, Harry Redknapp, for his solid play.

He’s making £55,000 a week, and reports suggest that he could do better in MLS.

While I think that this would be a good idea for, say, New York, I find it hard to believe that Redknapp would allow Gallas to leave – considering Spurs’ injury issues at the position.

Robbie Keane to, say, Vancouver is also a good idea and, to me, far more likely.

With a glut of strikers, Spurs will probably let him go in the January window. And while he’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods, he’s a passionate player that might just thrive with the challenge of leading the line for an expansion team in MLS.

It makes sense to me, assuming you don’t have to break the bank to sign him.

What do you think? Excited about the possibility of more European imports as DPs in MLS? Or do you think the league should be investing more in young, home-grown players?

There are certain happenings, namely with regards to managerial shuffling and cup wins, that live in infamy among and around a club’s supporters and grounds. The 6th of December, 2010 is another one of those dates Newcastle United can attach to an already incalculable list of calamities. It’s the date when Newcastle United’s owner sacked manager Chris Hughton.

Chris Hughton might well have been knighted in the eyes of most Geordies and Newcastle supporters the world over for his thankless heroics last year, saving this club from the beckoning depths of the Football League and in turn, putting them back on a reasonable, realistic pace at which to start challenging for top honours again.

“Deluded” had, in the recent past, been an adjective brandied about trying to most reverently describe the hopes and ambitions of Newcastle United supporters, though it would be hard nowadays to find any particular supporter who would not have been in jubilation had, after the last round of fixtures this year, Newcastle managed to be nestled comfortably at seventeenth or higher.

Handed the reigns last October amid a solid run of results in the Coca-Cola Championship that eventually saw his Newcastle United side top the Championship with a points total of 102, managing to go unbeaten in every match at St. James’ Park, coach cum caretaker cum manager Chris Hughton was nicely en route in regards to the club’s Premier League survival, putting in some stellar performances along the way, though apparently it has not been up to par with Mr. Ashley, the Newcastle owner’s unfounded expectations.

And if there was ever one to defend the inane workings going on behind the scenes at St. James’, their rebuttals would fall short of proving the board’s sanity upon review of the club’s confirmation of the sack, posted to their official website:

“Newcastle United Football Club have today parted company with manager Chris Hughton. Goalkeeping coach Paul Barron also leaves the club today.

The board would like to place on record their thanks to Chris for his considerable efforts during the club’s transition from Championship to Premier League football.

Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed manager in October 2009. The club wishes him well for the future.

Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward.

The task of appointing a new manager now begins. An announcement will be made shortly regarding transitional arrangements pending the appointment of a successor.”

And as Chris presumably packs up his belongings from Newcastle’s Benton training headquarters, a certain Joe Kinnear, whose name for some reason or another has failed to go away, waits in the balance for the chance at a second coming to lead Newcastle United…….somewhere.

Fifteen games into the new year and Newcastle’s ambition to become an ever-present in England’s top flight has inadvertently called upon the soap opera that is Newcastle United to continue once again. A star striker still up against potential jail-time, a crumbling confidence and team moral, Steven Taylor’s contractual dispute and now, they’re manager-less. Move over, Manchester City, ’cause Newcastle just got a whole lot more exciting- and just in time for the January transfer window.

There’s only one question now: “What will Mike Ashley do next?”

Jonathan Spector made the most of a starting appearance for West Ham in its Carling Cup tie against Manchester United.

He scored two goals in the first half to help West Ham knock off the Carling Cup holders, 4-0.

The U.S. International headed home a cross from Victor Obinna in the 22nd minute before pouncing on a loose ball in the box for his second goal in the 37th minute.

Carlton Cole has added a brace since halftime to produce the final score.

It was a big afternoon for the Hammers, who are currently residing near the bottom of the Premier League table.

Spector needed a big day as well, as rumors have surfaced lately regarding his future in East London.

He may still be on his way out, but performances like this one can only help him – whether it’s staying or landing on his feet elsewhere.

I’ve steered cleared of the so-called ”big four” clubs partly by choice, but partly because few would warrant a place in the team of the season so far. Certain players from the ”smaller” teams have outshone the Premier League’s big stars on numerous occassions this season. Many of the big earners have gone missing at times, and although it is early days in a long campaign, a new crop of stars are beginning to emerge. Reputation has gone out the window in this team’s selection, it is form and consistency that’s required to merit a place.

Joe Hart – Goalkeeper

Manchester City

Joe Hart would still be considered a youngster by goalkeeping standards. He is still learning, but has established himself as a first team regular for his club, and is looking to cement his place as first choice for his country. Questions were asked about Roberto Mancini’s decision to replace the vastly experienced Shay Given in the City line-up as first choice goalkeeper, but Hart has certainly stepped up to the plate with some match winning performances this season.

Everton

The Irishman has certainly caught the eye of his manager and pundits alike this season. Although predominantly considered a full back, Moyes has deployed Coleman on the right side of midfield for the majority of the season so far. His pace and work rate have drawn comparisons to Spurs wide man Gareth Bale, and Coleman’s recent form has also caught the eye of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni. Having tied down a place in a very talented Everton midfield, and with an international debut looming, the future looks bright for the Donegal youngster.

Everton

Much like his Toffees teammate Seamus Coleman, Baines is a full back whose talents lie predomenantly in attacking areas. Everton have had a poor start to the season by their standards, but have recently picked up their form as they try to climb out of the bottom half of the table. Despite their problems, Baines has been a consistent performer this season, and his pace, crossing ability and set-pieces have caused problems to opposition defences.

Newcastle United

Newcastle have re-adjusted to life in Premiership quite comfortably, and few more so than Mike Williamson. Having made no appearances for a cash strapped Portsmouth side, he signed for then Championship side Newcastle in the January transfer window earlier this year. He quickly established himself as a first team regular, picking up the man of the match award on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park. He played a big part in The Magpies successful title challenge and having achieved promotion to the Premier League, has continued his commanding form in his team’s  return to the top flight.

Bolton Wanderers

The much coveted Bolton defender has been a consistent performer since joining the club from Aston Villa in 2008. Cahill is regularly linked with a big money move away from the club, but rumours about his future have died down in recent times, and the Sheffielder has been able to concentrate on his club form this season. His ever solid performances have led to him being consistently on the fringes of the national team, but he had to wait until earlier this season to force himself into a talented England back line in a 4-0 win over Bulgaria at Wembley. Bolton’s unsung hero has helped  The Trotters in an early push for a European place after an impressive start to the season.

Aston Villa

Villa have brought some very talented youngsters into their first team this season, but none have seized the opportunity quite like Marc Albrighton. Martin O’Neill revealed that the winger was subject to many loan offers during pre-season, but he insisted Albrighton was good enough for the first team. He has played a big part for The Villans this season, chipping in with goals and assists. It was a close call to make between Marc Albrighton and Adam Johnson for the right wing position in the team of the season so far. There is no doubt that Johnson is superior ability-wise, but on recent form, Albrighton just about edges in front.

Tottenham Hotspur

What is there left to say about Gareth Bale that hasn’t already been said? Is there a player as consistent, and in as top form as Bale is right now, in world football? The Welshman has been converted from a full back to a winger in the last year or two, and he and his team have reaped the rewards. He seems to play the game with ease, and shows very few flaws. He has pace, trickery, a fantastic left foot, in both open play and from set-pieces, a fantastic work rate and a clear eye for goal. He has become a key man in the Spurs team both in Europe and in the Premier League this season and will surely go from strength to strength.

Sunderland

When you are 20-years-old, playing week in week out in the top tier of Englsih football, and have already made your England debut, you are doing something right. Henderson is widely considered as a natural winger, but has been integrated into the heart of the Sunderland midfield for the majority of the season so far. The Black Cats youngster has received heaps of praise from his manager, along with a number of other managers in the league. The Sunderland born starlet is rumoured to be the subject of an impending £20 million bid from interested buyers, including Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, but Steve Bruce will be doing all he can to dissuade him from leaving his hometown.

Blackpool

The Tangerines playmaker has been one of the success stories of the Premier League season so far. Blackpool themselves have made a respectful start to the season, although are still the favourites of many to end the season in the drop zone. Adam has been the pinacle of Blackpool’s form. His creativity in midfield has been the subject of much praise and The Seasiders will no doubt have a challenge on their hands if they wish to hang on to the Scotland international come January.

Tottenham Hotspur

Similarly to his Spurs teammate Gareth Bale, Van Der Vaart is a pleasure to watch. The Dutchman was a deadline day bargain when he signed for Tottenham in August. His playmaking expertise and continental style of skill and flair is something that I feel has been lacking in the Premier League in recent years. Van Der Vaart has struggled to establish himself and reach his true potential since leaving Ajax for Hamburg in 2008, but the midfielder has taken to life in London extremely well and despite some concerns has settled into the style of the Premier League with ease.

Newcastle United

Carroll, similarly to the likes of Mike Williamson and Charlie Adam, has had no problems making the leap from Championship football to England’s top flight. The frontman has been in sensational form this season, and his goals and performances have led to a recent England call-up. The big number 9 scored 19 times last season to help his side win promotion and has taken that form into this campaign. His strength and height make him a dangerous presence in the opposition penalty area and the towering Toon talisman will surely be a leading Premier League star for the foreseeable future.

Hart

Coleman – Williamson – Cahill – Baines

Henderson – Adam

Albrighton – Van Der Vaart – Bale

Carroll

So there you have it, the team of the season so far. As I said before, everyone will have their own opinions, and it is early days in a long Premier League campaign, but some players are already staking a claim as one of the stars of this season.

Leave a comment and have your say.

Back in June, I wrote an article for MLS Talk about the possibility of Ronaldinho taking his talents to Los Angeles to play for the Galaxy.

Apparently, the rumor is alive and well.

The latest incarnation is the speculation that the Galaxy are prepared to offer €7 million a year to get the Brazilian to play his home games at the Home Depot Center.

That’s about $10 million, if you’re wondering.

Ronaldinho is in the final year of his contract, so there wouldn’t be the issue of a transfer fee.

Of course, if you type his name in Google and hit news, you see several stories saying he’s talking with the Galaxy, and a few more that say he’s staying put – at least until season’s end.

The questions, I suppose, are these:

Does he want to play in MLS, and is it a good idea?

He has no goals and three assists in seven Serie A matches this season, so unless his form starts to rise, he’s probably going to be looking for a new club this summer.

So, would he want to try to play in Spain? Germany? Brazil? Or, would he take the pay day and play with the Galaxy?

It’s hard to say.

As for the second question, it’s hard to imagine the move as anything but positive.

He won’t be billed as the savior of American soccer (see Beckham, David), so assuming he has anything at all left in the tank (he probably does) and assuming he doesn’t eat his way off the pitch, he can be a draw for the Galaxy in particular and the league in general.

So, is this just another rumor? Or is it more likely now than it was a few months back? And would it be a good fit?

Chime in below.

Life is all about compromise.

It’s rare that you get everything you want, exactly the way you want it. The ability to accept that fact lends itself to happier living.

“FIFA 11” is a good example.

Last year’s version raised the bar in terms of presentation, graphics and game play – making it difficult for this year’s edition to measure up.

If you’re expecting a similar quantum leap in “FIFA 11” you’re going to be disappointed. It’s very much like last year’s game, with a few tweaks added in.

But since last year’s game was excellent, I feel this one is as well.

What’s new?

• Personality Plus – Superstar players in the game mimic their real-life counterparts. The digital version of Cristiano Ronaldo standing over a free kick looks very much like the real thing. These are nice little touches from the designers to bring some of the bigger name players to life.
• Be a Goalie – A new twist to the familiar “Be a Pro” feature allows players to stand between the pipes, and as such, allows for online 11 v. 11 matches. I haven’t tried that one. I seriously doubt my Internet connection could handle it.
• Physicality – Remember the days when you could collect the ball in midfield, sprint between the two center halves and get a shot on goal? This year, it’s far more likely that you’ll get knocked off the ball, leaving your striker sitting on the turf waiting for a whistle that isn’t coming.
• Game play improvements – Aside from the one I just mentioned, celebrations are now more interactive. Run at a teammate after a goal, and he celebrates with you. The 360-degree dribbling, introduced last year, has been refined to allow gamers to have even more control. The passing system has been changed to allow players to better control the distance, pace and accuracy of their passes. That’s the idea, anyway. I’m still trying to get the hang of it. The addition of the Russian League was a nice surprise, too.
• Creation Center – Gamers can create their own players, teams and kits and share them online. Very much like the feature EA has for the NCAA Football series.

What’s different?

• Career mode – If you’re looking forward to building up your stadium and training ground, you need to look elsewhere. That part of the old manager mode has been stripped away. Player scouting and team sponsorships are also missing in action. You can still transfer players, but your success or failure as a manager will be determined on how your team performs between the lines.

The verdict

I’m a huge fan of this series, and while the subtractions from the manager mode are a bit of a downer, this game is still tons of fun.

Tactics matter in this game – you have to pass the ball with precision and build an attack to score goals. And there’s enough to do within the Be a Pro and Career Modes to keep this game fresh for a while.

Bebé in action for United

The decision made by Sir Alex Ferguson to bring the previously unknown Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, commonly known by his nickname Bebé, to Manchester United has come under a lot of scrutiny by the press, but has Fergie unearthed another gem?

The Bebé transfer was an interesting and peculiar one right from the start. He began his career with amateur side Loures before signing for Portuguese second division side Estrela da Amadora in the summer of 2009. Estrela struggled to pay his wages and looked to unload him to dutch giants PSV in May 2010, however Bebé’s former agent Goncalo Reis revealed that PSV had turned down the offer as ”they did not know him”. He was then snapped up by Vitória de Guimarães in the summer of 2010 on a free transfer. He signed a five-year contract with Vitória witha £7.4 million release clause, but didn’t play a single competitive match for the Portuguese side before United pounced.

After recommendations from former assistant at Old Trafford, Carlos Queiroz, and after an impressive pre-season with Vitória, where he scored five goals in six games, Sir Alex Ferguson began to show interest in the 20-year-old, and on the 11th of August 2010 Manchester United signed Bebé for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £7.4 million. When the press got word of this deal a media circus ensued. Surely Fergie wouldn’t pay over the odds for a player he has never seen play before, a player recommended to him just one day before the deal went through by a former member of staff, a player who spent most of his childhood in a homeless shelter and whose only previous notable footballing experience before 2009 was appearing for amateur club Loures on occasion and the CAIS team in the European Street Football Festival in the Bosnian town of Foca. Or did the United boss know something we didn’t? The rumour mill went into overdrive and stories began to leak. A former coach at Bebé’s old club Estrela, Jorge Paxaio, revealed that in January this year Bebé was in the shop window for as little as £125,000 in attempt to save the club from going into liquidation.  He explained:

”Last season we had no money at all. We were trying to transfer Bebé to other clubs. We had to raise money desperately. We told everyone in England and in Europe: “For 150,000 Euros you can have him”. We couldn’t get anybody interested. Nobody trusted him. None of the clubs were interested because he had never played at a high level. I was surprised with the sudden way it happened with United. I was hoping he would move to a bigger club in Portugal or to a medium-sized club in Europe. I didn’t expect Manchester United.”

Bebé’s former agent Goncalo Reis was, like most in the footballing world, equally shocked at how the deal progressed. He went on to say:

”A scout from United could have contacted me or the club last season. There was no secret. But I understand that the United scout just saw certain games in Portugal and only realised Bebé was a great player when he saw some pre-season games involving Guimaraes.”

Bebé in his Guimaraes Vitória days

It looked to everyone that United had paid over the odds for the attacker. Everyone was asking themselves why Ferguson had dished out such a large sum of money for such an unknown, inexperienced youngster. Although the majority in the media allowed themselves to be drawn to the idea that another overpriced flop was on his way to Old Trafford, some were less scrutinous. It is now widely believed that although Ferguson would have preferred Bebé to stay at Vitória and gain a little more experience, as well as giving him a chance to scout the player more extensively, the United boss was pressured into triggering the £7.4 million release clause in his contract amid speculation that some of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid and Benfica, were courting the Portuguese prospect. If the youngster possesses the skills required to interest some of Europe’s top clubs, along with a number of world class coaches, you begin to think that £7.4 million isn’t a whole lot of money for an apparently promising talent, by the standards set in today’s footballing market.

The Bebé transfer came under even more scrutiny recently when Manchester United revealed that Jorge Mendes, and not Goncalo Reis, was the agent involved in the deal that took him to Old Trafford. Mendes, who is the agent of former United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz and was also involved in the deal that took Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford, was involved in accusations made by Reis that he had ”poached” the players contract. Reis insisted that at the time of the transfer he had a written contract, between himself and Bebé, to act as his agent. It is reported that Bebé had written to Reis to terminate their relationship, although Reis has claimed that he didn’t receive the letter until The 13th of August, two days after the player had signed for the Red Devils. FIFA regulations forbid an angent from contacting a player while he has ”an exclusive representation contract” with another agent, and Reis may present his case for further investigation.

Bebé gets a run out for the reserves

Amid all the stories and controversy involved in the deal, it would be understandable for Bebé to feel apprehensive and overwhelmed by his new surroundings, but he seems to have taken to life at Old Trafford quite comfortably. The Portugal under-21 international made his debut for the United first team against Scunthorpe on Wednesday the 22nd of September and has already began to impress the backroom staff and his new teammates. United assistant Mike Phelan believes Bebé showed plenty of promise on his debut in the League Cup clash.

“The scoreline gave us the opportunity to give Bebé a little look at what Manchester United is all about. I thought he responded very well. There were fleeting moments of pace and power, and he got a little bit excited now and again. But it’s important that players like him get these opportunities.”

Teammate Chris Smalling was also impressed by Bebé’s bit-part display.

”Since he’s come in, he’s become sharper every day. He’s really improving and working on his fitness. Tonight he really caused their full-back problems, coming in from the wing. Hopefully we’ll see him produce that kind of form in many games to come.”

Bebé was surprised to make United’s 25-man Champions League squad, but is keen to impress.

”I’m surprised by my inclusion in the Champions League squad, it’s a dream for me. I never thought I would have made it, but now I am a very happy man. I only hope that my confidence returns when I start playing some games and scoring goals, like I know how. At the moment I am working very hard each day in training. I intend to make the most of my chance and hopefully profit from the opportunity given to me.” He told reporters in Portugal:

”I am working hard, everyone has helped me a lot, I have adapted well, given the short time I have been there. The older ones help me a lot.”

Following a slightly more personal question from one particular journalist, Bebé smiled and added:  ”Did Ferguson make me cut my hair? More or less…”

Before even kicking a ball for Manchester United, he was criticised, scrutinised and deemed unworthy by many. Will he join the list of expensive flops that have come and gone at Old Trafford, or will he prove his worth and repay the faith shown in him? With the media spotlight shining directly on Bebé’s rise from the streets to stardom, will he shine back?

Leave a comment and have your say.

I’m working, so thanks to the magic of ESPN3, it suits me fine. Still, it will be interesting to see the rating for tonight’s match on the deuce.

Even without Thierry Henry, this match should feature four designated players. With Landon Donovan and, perhaps, David Beckham suiting up for the Galaxy and Rafa Márquez and Juan Pablo Angel representing the Red Bulls, star power will be in abundant supply.

The Galaxy will be looking to solidify their hold on the league’s best record while New York will try to get back on the winning track after last week’s 2-2 draw with FC Dallas.

The Red Bulls will have to do without Henry, but the Galaxy will have a second-choice pair of starting center backs.

So things could be interesting at the Home Depot Center.

Here are this weekend’s games:

Tonight

L.A. Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls, ESPN2, 11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 25

Philadelphia Union vs. Chivas USA, TeleFutura, 4 p.m.
Toronto FC vs. San Jose, 4 p.m.
DC United vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
New England vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8 p.m.
Kansas City vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado, FSC, 10 p.m.

Remember when we were all trying to figure out what Sunil Gulati was doing in the aftermath of the 2010 World Cup in regards to Bob Bradley and the somewhat-up-in-the-air coaching situation for the U.S. Men’s National team?

Apparently, Gulati was making another run at former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Juergen Klinsmann.

Another unsuccessful one, as it turns out.

And much like the talks in 2006, things broke down when it came to control.

Klinsmann detailed the negotiations in this interview with Kansas City TV reporter Sasha Victorine.

“We had conversations maybe about three or four weeks period of time, and very positive conversations, but we didn’t get it to a positive ending because we couldn’t put into writing what we agreed to verbally,” he said in the interview. “It’s obviously always about authority. When you have conversations with a club team or a national team it’s who has the last word in what issues, and that’s why we couldn’t get into the written terms.

“Verbally we agreed on that the technical side is my side, and I should have a hundred percent control of it. In written terms, they couldn’t commit to it, and at that point I said well, I can’t get the job done because I have to have the last say as a head coach for my entire staff, for all the players issues, for everything that happens with the team.

“Unfortunately they couldn’t commit to that and that was basically the end of our talks, and then they agreed then to continue with Bob as the head coach and that’s totally fine.”

There are two sides to the coin here.

If you believe that the United States Soccer Federation, under Gulati’s leadership, is in need of an overhaul – this news isn’t particularly good.

It sort of reads that Gulati is intent on running the whole show – something the newly extended Bradley doesn’t seem to worry about.

But if you happen to think that Klinsmann’s hot and cold managerial history doesn’t present the sort of resume that would warrant handing over the keys to the national team, let alone the entire national structure, then you’re probably happy.

Me?

I’m somewhere in between.

I think Bradley has accomplished a lot of good things in his time in charge of the national team. (Man, we need a nickname.)

But I’m also a believer in the two-cycles-is-too-many theory for World Cup coaches – see Arena, Bruce.

So, if it’s a choice between Bradley and Klinsmann, I guess I’d take Bradley.

Still, I can’t help but wonder if we’re going to be wishing there was a door No. 3 a few years from now.

McBride, former Fulham captain and U.S. international, announced that this season would be his last for the Fire on Friday.

It’s the end of a long and successful career for the target man, who was a faithful servant to every shirt he pulled on.

American soccer fans owe him a debt of gratitude, and I, for one, will miss him.

And now, on with the preview…

Here’s a look at this weekend’s games:

Saturday, Sept. 4
Philadelphia Union vs. Kansas City, 3:30 p.m.
Chicago vs. Los Angeles, Tele­Fu­tura, 4 p.m.
DC United vs. Columbus, FSC, 7:30 p.m.
New England vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Chivas USA, 9 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 5
Houston vs. San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

Major League Soccer and adidas have extended their partnership agreement through 2018, according to a press release Monday.

The two have been partners since the first season of MLS back in 1996.

“The United States is a breeding ground for athletic talent and we need to ensure our homegrown athletes have viable opportunities to play soccer at the highest level,” said Patrik Nilsson, president of adidas America, in the release.  “We need to accelerate the model for soccer development in North America to attract and keep elite talent engaged and excited about professional opportunities in the sport.  We share a long-term vision with MLS to develop the game and are excited to foster the next generation of American soccer stars.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber also weighed in, adding “One of the major reasons Major League Soccer has become one of the top soccer leagues in the world is due to the support and commitment of adidas. They have a clear vision for the sport in North America, and they see MLS as a cornerstone of that vision.  Our extension with adidas is a major statement by an internationally respected brand that MLS is increasing in value and that our commitments to stadium construction, strategic expansion, player development and improvement in the overall quality of play are playing dividends.”

I find it difficult to see this as anything other than fantastic news for MLS.

Why?

Consider for a moment that the NFL, NHL and NBA are staring down the barrel of potential labor strife as their respective CBAs expire in the next two years.

With this deal, reportedly worth around $200 million, and the new collective bargaining agreement already in place, MLS arguably finds itself in a more stable position in terms of long term growth and labor peace than every other major sport in America.

What do you think? Excited about the continuation of the Generation Adidas program? Wondering why MLS extended a deal that had four years left on it? Chime in below.

“It’s going to be weird,” he told the Fire’s official Web site. “I have a lot of friends there, so it’s going to be weird in that way. But I’ve played against friends before – you just have to put your friendship away for 90 minutes and get on with it.”

Whether the Sounders faithful, sure to be in a foul mood anyway after the team’s 2-0 loss to Monterrey FC in CONCACAF Champions League play in mid-week, greet him warmly is another matter all together.

Here is this weekend’s slate:

Saturday, August 28
Columbus vs. FC Dallas, TeleFutura, 4 p.m.
Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m.
New England vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Houston, FSC, 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. Kansas City, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 29
Chivas USA vs. DC United, ESPN2, 10 p.m.

News and notes

Sports Illustrated’s Steve Davis is pleased with the playoff-level intensity that league matches are featuring these days. … The Washington Post’s Steven Goff has several interesting tidbits on his blog, including DaMarcus Beasley’s next club destination. … Fanhouse has a feature up on Danny Mwanga that’s worth a read.

The Red Bulls and Toronto are both chasing Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings, and with the Crew hosting Colorado later on Saturday, picking up some points in this match is important for both sides.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s games:

Saturday, Aug. 21
Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 1 p.m.
San Jose vs. Los Angeles, TeleFutura, 4 p.m.
Columbus vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Chivas USA, FSC, 8:30 p.m.
Houston vs. Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Kansas City vs. New England, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 22
DC United vs. Philadelphia Union, 2 p.m.

And here are a few news items:

Seattle on the road tonight

The Sounders will visit Marathon in CONCACAF Champions League play tonight. This game is on TV tonight at 10 on Fox Soccer Channel.

Seattle shares a group with Monterrey, Saprissa and Marathon.

Fire knock off Revolution

Calen Carr scored in the 85th minute to push the Chicago Fire past New England, 2-1, at Toyota Park Wednesday.

Hernandez suspension doubled

San Jose’s Jason Hernandez got in a bit of extra trouble after MLS reviewed his actions against Kansas City, adding to his fine and extending his ban to two games.

New York is coming off a 1-0 win over Toronto on Wednesday, while the Galaxy is in the news for a decent showing in a 3-2 loss in a friendly to Real Madrid last weekend and the return to training for David Beckham.

It’s a game that has no shortage of star power, with Theirry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Juan Pablo Angel and Landon Donovan sharing the pitch in a sold-out stadium.

Should be fun.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

Saturday, August 14

Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado, TeleFutura, 4 p.m.
New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles, FSC, 6 p.m.
D.C. United vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m.
New England vs. Houston, 8 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Columbus, 9 p.m.
San Jose vs. Kansas City, 10 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 11 p.m.

Of all the top leagues around the world, I have always been partial to the English Premier League. I am not sure quite sure how it started, but once I go into it, it was love at first sight and I’ve never looked back. It could be because the Premier League is the easiest accessible league for me to watch here in the United States, but when I first got into club football it was the Champions League that caught my eye, so that can’t entirely be the reason. Although Premier League teams usually go pretty far in the Champions League, hardly any of them have won, so the love didn’t come from there.

La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga have tremendous amounts of talent, and the Premier League’s best did not perform well at the World Cup compared to the other leagues. An England squad comprised entirely of Premier League players underachieved. After this summer’s World Cup, I promised to pay more attention to other leagues, as the tournament’s best players came from outside the Premier League. Post-World Cup, I watched every replay of Bundesliga and La Liga on GOL TV that I could. I was excited. The play was great, I was more familiar with the players because of the World Cup, and I was sure that I would be just as big of a fan of other leagues this year as the Premier League.

Then, the preseason tours from the Premier League started, and I had never been so excited. Yes, preseason games..without most of the star players..against MLS sides. How could this be? How could a game with no meaning, without the stars of the world, excite me so much? I’m not entirely sure, but the Premier League has a hold on me. I was familiar with all the players, knowing they weren’t international stars, and that was a positive for me. The World Cup didn’t spoil me, in fact, I think the World Cup made me appreciate the Premier League more. There was no diving, no defensive play. These preseason games reminded me of everything I love about the Premier League. Somehow just seeing a Giggs, a Scholes, a Gareth Bale, even a Berbatov, got me super excited for the season. I love seeing the new kits, the new boots, the new ball, and all the young players.

I can’t explain it %100, but for me, the play mixed with the atmosphere and personalities of the players, coaches, and clubs as a whole is unmatched in the world of football. I also think the thrill of the Premier League lies in the importance of every game. On any given day, any club could grab the points. Every game means something, even more so than in other leagues. The constant battles to avoid relegation, to qualify for Europe, or to win the league make the stakes high for everyone. This article isn’t my argument for the best league in the world, but as far as my enjoyment in watching matches, the Premier League takes the cake.

While I will be watching more of other leagues this year, I am now more confident than ever that no league will be stealing my heart now or anytime in the future. Why do you like the Premier League the most? Which leagues besides the Premier League have you fallen in love with?

He hasn’t gotten a call from Fulham yet, and the USSF hasn’t renewed his contract with the men’s national team, but Bob Bradley has at least one high-profile supporter.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said as much in the Daily Mail, saying that, “‘I think he did a fantastic job and I am surprised the USA have not sprinted to his house and given him a new contract.”

Ferguson also thinks Bradley is ready for a managerial post in Europe, even at Fulham.

“He may want the challenge himself, I think that what he has achieved with the USA has been very good, he is a young man and I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking a challenge in Europe or England for that matter,” Ferguson said.

“I know he has been linked with Fulham and I don’t think it is beyond his boundaries at all, I think he is very capable of taking on a challenge like that.”

Fulham may well be heading in another direction, but having someone like Sir Alex Ferguson talking up your abilities has to be good for Bob Bradley in the long run.

How accurate are the FIFA rankings? With the recent update of the rankings and England, to the surprise of many, moving up to seventh and Uruguay slotting in ten places up to sixth, are they an accurate measure?

When first introduced in 1992, the rankings were not taken seriously. However, with updates and revisions, the rankings are slowly gaining some credibility. FIFA now state point calculation on the following basis:

• Points for a win, draw or defeat (3, 1, 0)
• Status of match (multiplication factor of 1 to 4)
• Strength of opponent (multiplication factor of between 0.50 and 2.00)
• Strength of confederation in question (multiplication factor of between 0.85 and 1.00)

Cross checking the ELO ratings and FIFA rankings demonstrates close enough results. England are ranked seventh according to FIFA and sixth in the ELO rankings. If you’re interested, the Wikipedia page of both (click here and here) rankings provide the formula of calculation. However, like all statistics calculations, there is always some detachment from the nuances of grounded reality. For example, Uruguay’s ten position leap was mainly based on reaching the World Cup semi-final. However had Asamoah Gyan scored his penalty things would have been very different. Penalties are a lottery. Last World Cup Uruguay and Paraguay won a shoot-out, enabling both to progress but how useful is tournament progression when ranking a team? Friendlies carry weight but in what manner was a friendly played and what teams were fielded? Was the manager testing formations and fringe players?

More weight could be added to the ranking if friendlies were made more important. To increase the competitiveness of friendlies, FIFA could ensure there are more consequences on their results – for example, more importance in future seedings in either qualifiers and World Cup Finals or entrance into a mini-tournament – maybe replacing the Confederations Cup.

As a football purist, I would rather the best team won on merit and there is no league competition in international football – so ranking international teams is very limited. Socrates, Brazilian player from the 1982 World Cup, opines that “There are no assurances in football. And this is even more evident in a tournament like the World Cup. The World Cup is actually a football fair; not a proper championship. In a championship, you would expect to win the title with that side. But in the World Cup, where more than half of the matches are knock-out ties, anything is possible. Merit doesn’t count.”

In a championship the proactive teams are rightly rewarded and reactive/destructive tactics show their limitations over 38 matches, but not necessarily over a one off cup game.

How good are Germany?
Very good but not that good as France (1998-2000), Brazil (2000-2006) and currently Spain. This German team, despite talk of breakthrough players, are limited and I can’t see how they could measure to any of the previously listed teams, in the near future. Last World Cup, apart from two freakish results against England and Argentina, they predictably melted against a superior Spanish team. Of course, the manner of defeat was not as emphatic as in 2008 but it was emphatic enough. I don’t see this team measuring against the German teams of 1974 and 1990 but they are an improved team, considering 2006 and even 2008. In fact, they remind me of Holland – four to five exceptional players but overall limited.

As for tactics, well a similar comparison can be made with the 2008 version of Holland. Netherlands adopted a similar counter attacking game and demolished both Italy (3-0) and France (4-1), in what were similarly freakish results. Setting up with two deep holding midfielders and playing a disciplined reactive game can yield these type of results, if performed to near perfection and game dynamics go your way, as happened with Germany, but this is a percentage game, with a low margin of error. The true test is when conceding a goal and chasing a game – what then? Once Spain took the lead against Germany, in their semi-final match-up, there was only going to be one result. Where to rank this current German team? Fifth, just below Holland.

Quarter-final England
I don’t agree with the idea that England are perennial underachievers. In fact they have shown a consistency that belies this claim. England are a quarter-final team and the recent poor showing at 2010 World Cup doesn’t reverse this trend – as noted comparing teams in international football can be difficult, so at most we can record trends from either games played or tournament performances over longer periods. FIFA rankings have consistently placed England as a quarter-final team. They are a good team, usually within the top ten, but nothing more. The better question to ask is not if England have under-achieved but why have they hardly improved?

With the resources available and one of the more affluent football associations, England, at all levels, have under-achieved. That’s the question that perplexes me and can be asked about other case points. For example, why have the west Asian Gulf countries stagnated, while their south eastern Asian counterparts (South Korea and Japan) improved? After all, the resources are there but it does not translate into better footballing standards. Obviously each case must be studied and we should be careful with any generalisation but can we speak of certain recurring trends, leading to either stagnation or improvement – what makes a locality more successful, in footballing terms? Many football books have been written on this subject but some are travesties, utilising pre-suppositions in the form of folk sociological categories. In future posts, I will look at the case study of Belgium, an interesting case.

In conclusion, I would produce the following top 10 rankings, a prediction on how each team would finish in a league table, after a whole season of football:

1. Spain
2. Brazil
3. Argentina
4. Holland
5. Germany
6. France
7. England
8. Portugal
9. Italy
10. Croatia or possibly Uruguay

Quick pointers
Some might question the ranking of Argentina above Germany but aberrations aside – their quarter-final match-up, which was a tactical victory for the Germans, Argentina still have more attacking power. As noted, in a league system, better teams find themselves at the end of a thrashing – the dynamic of a one off game: naive tactics, defensive errors and poor discipline etc. e.g. Liverpool heavily defeating Manchester United, only for United to win the league in 2009. Over a league system, Argentina with a more mature management team could finish just above Germany but we will never know.

France? Mutinies aside, they have the players and now the manager to potentially push them into third in the rankings. The U19 team are doing very well and with young talent coming through, Les Bleus have potential. They are sixth, due to their bad run, but can break into the top five – the same cannot be said about the current set-up of English football.

A final note, the rankings are not only on current form – also considered would be potential (young players and potential breakthrough talent) and current players available. In mind is a league system and considering which squad have how each team would finish, with consideration given to a long and tiring 38 match season.

Freddie Ljungberg hasn’t played for Seattle since July 4 because of an ankle injury, and if the rumors floating around him are true, he may not be playing for them again anytime soon.

The Sun and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer are both reporting that the former Arsenal winger is considering leaving the Sounders for a possible return to Europe.

“Ljungberg is still with the ankle but also, at this point, he is exploring options,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid told reporters. “So we’ll see how things proceed in the next three, four, five days.”

Sounders’ general manager Adrian Hanauer also sounds like a man preparing to retool his roster a bit.

“I don’t anticipate the roster staying completely as it is,” he said. “The transfer window opened two days ago and we’ve been working hard and will continue to work hard to make the team better. That certainly is likely to include … There are internal things we can do then there are roster moves and certainly roster moves are something that we’re working on.”

The former Swedish international has made 37 league starts for the Sounders since his arrival in 2009, netting two goals and 12 assists in that span.

Think Ljungberg is heading back to Europe? Will Seattle, which has been playing fairly well in his absense, need to make a move to replace him?

I guess we’ll just have to see how things proceed…

It’s been quite the journey for Sal Zizzo.

From the 2007 U-20 World Cup, where he showed enough promise to earn a contract with Hannover 96 to an injury-marred stay in Germany that saw him earn eight first-team appearances in three seasons.

And now, he’s coming to MLS.

He’s going to be put into a weighted lottery, with D.C. United and Kansas City having the best chance to get him.

He’s coming off an ACL injury, but at only 23 years old, he still has a chance to reach his potential.

What do you think? Excited to see Zizzo play in MLS? Hoping the magic lottery puts him in your town?

Chime in below.

If failing to win a group lauded by a national media as “EASY” and crashing out to their hated German rivals in the round of 16 weren’t bad enough for England’s 2010 World Cup team, today brought another piece of bad news for the Three Lions.

FIFA ranked England 13th at this year’s final – its worst-ever finish.

That’s two spots worse than the previous worst finish of 11th in 1958, and one spot below the United States in this year’s tally.

Now it must be said that, unless you’re Spain, any numbers that appear next to the name of a national team after a World Cup don’t mean a great deal. And FIFA uses a similar formula to come up with this ranking as they do to rank the teams each month.

Still, it’s a nice talking point for American soccer fans.

Major League Soccer’s decision to take only part of the month of June off for the World Cup has come under some scrutiny in recent weeks.

Supporters of the schedule, and likely MLS owners as well, point to the potential for a World Cup TV ratings and interest bounce for the league. The thinking is that fans of the sport, with their appetites duly whetted, will be more likely to tune in for MLS games after checking out the action in South Africa.

Is it happening?

It may be too early to tell for sure, but there is some data available.

Seattle’s visit to Philadelphia for the opening of PPL Park had a 5 p.m. time slot on ESPN2 last Sunday. The Union won the game, 3-1, and drew a 0.2 rating, which equates to roughly 331,000 viewers.

That’s down slightly from a similar date and slightly later time slot last year, according to Sports Media Watch, but up significantly from other MLS broadcasts on ESPN so far this year (about 80 percent).

When the numbers come in for the Houston/Toronto game tonight on ESPN2, we’ll have an even better idea of what effect the 2010 World Cup might be having on MLS TV ratings.

Landon Donovan has been making news lately.

From his solid play at the World Cup to a potential paternity suit, the American International has been finding his way into print in recent days.

Turns out he’s still on the mind of David Moyes as well.

The News of the World is reporting that Everton is hoping to line up a permanent move for Donovan.

Last season, Donovan joined the Toffees for a 10-week loan spell, during which he scored a couple of goals and generally impressed Moyes and the fans at Goodison Park with his work rate and skill level.

Donovan has already expressed interest in a loan return to Merseyside, and it seems if the Toffees can’t secure a permanent move, then another loan spell in January could be possible.

What do you think? Hoping that Donovan makes the move full-time? Or would you rather see him stay in MLS with the Galaxy, and just head out on loan again in 2011?

The “Power of 10” ad showed many of the past greats who have worn the number and have made themselves legends on the World Cup stage, like Pele and Maradona. The ad also showed some of the players who would be wearing the number 10 in this year’s World Cup in South Africa, looking to enshrine their legendary status as well.

Well here we are towards the end of June 2010, with the first round almost complete and some number 10’s already playing huge roles for their nations. I received an email today of a soon to be aired, recently remixed version of the “Power of 10” ad showcasing the already historic moments thus far from the 2010 FIFA World Cup made by number 10’s from various nations. Included in the ad are Landon Donovan, Diego Forlan, Lucas Podolski, Wesley Sneijder, and Lionel Messi.

It’s been a fantastic World Cup so far, and the number 10’s have certainly stepped it up to lead their teams. I could watch this over and over again, as the Donovan goal against Algeria still gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait to see what he will do next as well as the other great number 10’s. “The number 10 is more than just a number.”

Which number 10 has performed best thus far in the tournament? Which number 10 will ultimately have the biggest impact on the 2010 World Cup when it’s all said and done?

Meanwhile, Major League Soccer – aside from a few friendlies – has been silent.

That changes on Friday, when the league springs back into action.

Here is the list of games:

Friday, June 2
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 26
Columbus vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles, FSC, 7:30 p.m.
Houston vs. Colorado, 8:30 p.m.
Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls, 8:30 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 27
Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders, ESPN2, 5 p.m
New England vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.

Around the league

• The Philadelphia Union are scheduled to play their first league match at the new stadium in Chester on Sunday, even as the city remains under curfew for a rash of violent crimes.

• Speaking of new venues, it seems construction on Kansas City’s new home is going well.

• MLS Don Garber hints at future big gamesat Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium.

According toLa Gazzetta dello Sport andTuttomercato, the L.A. Galaxy is looking to bring David Beckham’s AC Milan teammate, Ronaldinho, to Major League Soccer.

You’d have to believe that the Galaxy, facing the prospect of Beckham missing most, if not all, of the season with a ruptured Achilles, would be thrilled to bring in the former FIFA World Player of the Year.

The Brazilian is under contract with the Italian club until 2011 and, despite the fact that Dunga left him off Brazil’s World Cup squad, he was in fine form last season with Milan. He led Serie A with 12 assists in league play, and had 15 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.

AC Milan is a club very much in transition, however. Leonardo’s tenure as manager was a short one, and who knows how well – or if – Ronaldinho fits into the plans of the new regime.

It’s too early to tell if this is just a rumor, or a distinct possibility. But it would certainly be interesting.

The World Cup is edging towards the conclusion of its group stage, so MLS gets ready for a return to action soon.

Before that, the MLS Players Union released the salaries for the 406 players under contract with MLS clubs for the 2010 season.

The Galaxy’s David Beckham, ruptured Achilles and all, is still No. 1 with a salary of $6.5 million. His teammate Landon Donovan ($2,127,778) is second and the Red Bulls’ Juan Pablo Angel ($1,918,000) is third.

Toronto’s Julian de Guzman ($1,717,546) and Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg ($1,314,000) round out the top five.

For the complete list, click here.

Regular season games resume on Friday.

Here’s the schedule and here’s the table.

For me, I think Wayne Rooney’s comments possess a fair amount truth. However, I think regardless of that truth, it would have been best if he just kept his mouth shut. With the English media already foaming at the mouth ready to rip Capello’s squad from limb to limb and create even more distractions off the field, Rooney did not need to add gas to that fire. I understand the frustration he must have been feeling, we all know how competitive a player he is. The whole English team all the way down the bench to David Beckham was frustrated. But, Rooney and England need to get it together because the fact of the matter is, if they win their next game, they’re through to the round of 16. So, let’s look at it from the perspective of both Mr. Wayne Rooney and the England fans.

When you are the 8th ranked team in the world as England is, fans are going to expect a certain level of play. When you’re favored to win your group and after two games you’re in third with 2 draws, fans are going to be upset. England, a team of Premier League stars, is expected to get results. And frankly, after their first 2 games, not only have they only earned 2 points, but they’ve looked awful. Fans expect better. Fans demand better. As a fan of a team with expectations, certainly you could make the argument that the play on the pitch deserved the audible disgust from the English supporters. But, does that make it right?

Now, from Rooney’s perspective, does he have the right to voice his opinion back to the supporters after his team’s ugly performances? I’m sure Wayne is just as frustrated at the poor result as the fans in the stadium and back in England are, and just as disappointed, if not more. Well obviously Rooney, who rarely holds anything back, felt it was his right. And I understand that. He’s battling out on the pitch for his country, still earned a point in a frustrating game, and didn’t receive the support he felt the team deserves. England still has a chance to move on. Their World Cup is not over, I’m sure he feels the fans still need to be behind their country and most definitely feels a little betrayed.

That being said, Rooney as well as the rest of the England squad are professionals. They’re used to the limelight, and have to understand by now how fans are going to respond. That is why, for me personally, I think Rooney has to rise above the level of the fans and block the criticism out of his mind. This isn’t an England-only case, this happens with fans in any sport. While I don’t think it’s acceptable for fans to ever boo their own team in any case, I understand that fans will be fans. But pros have to be pros, Rooney should just be focused on the next game against Slovenia. In any case, I’m sure the England faithful will be behind their team on Wednesday when they take the field in Port Elizabeth. And if they’re to move on to the knockout stage, I’m willing to bet the same.

What do you think? Did the play by the England squad deserve the negative response of the supporters? Or do you think Wayne Rooney has a right to be upset?

ESPN’s proclaimed “footy fanatic”, Josh Elliot has called out all World Cup fans. Sportscenter wants to know who you think is the best player in the 2010 World Cup so far. The ESPN anchor picks Gonzalo Higuain, the convenient choice after today’s hat trick against South Korea. However, I think the EPL Talk readers are more creative and knowledgeable than that. Do you think Diego Forlan has been more impressive? How about players without goals to their name? Robinho, Enyeama, Messi? I think cases can be made for many players who have been extremely influential thus far.

View the challenge page by clicking here, to see the official rules and submission instructions. Here is Mr. Elliot’s argument for Higuain:

The contest is simple, make your video around 1 minute in length. Keep it clean. Be creative, persuasive, accurate, funny, and awesome. Send it to ESPN, and the winning video will be posted on Sportscenter.com on Saturday, June 19th. The deadline for submission is Friday at 12pm ET. So get to work!

Although ESPN will only pick one winning video to appear on Saturday’s Sportscenter, we would still love to see all your videos. So after you make your video and send it to ESPN, feel free to post to our Facebook page, or email your video to me and I’ll add it. We want to see how creative our readers are! Have fun!

When looking at the prospect of a nation of 300 million people battling a nation with just 2 million, it would be easy to slip into the classic David vs. Goliath cliché.

But it really doesn’t fit here.

The United States takes on Slovenia Friday at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, and while a loss wouldn’t mathematically the Americans, it would make progressing to the knockout stages very, very difficult.

So call it a must-win. Or at least a must-not lose.

But don’t call it a mismatch.

The United States is 14th in the latest FIFA rankings, just 11 spots higher than Slovenia. And in order for Slovenia to arrive in South Africa for the World Cup, they had to beat Russia in a two-match playoff. Russia, if you’re wondering, is rated No. 11.

Still thinking of queuing up the biblical references? They’re not thinking that way in the Slovenian camp.

“We will win this game,” midfielder Andrej Komac said. “I have a good feeling.”

Is he right? Let’s look a little closer.

When the U.S. is on attack

It will be interesting to see if the Americans take a bit bolder tack in this match than they did in the 1-1 draw against England.

In an ideal world, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey will see plenty of the ball on either wing, either cutting inside or floating crosses in to Jozy Altidore.

Breaking down Slovenia may be difficult, however. They’re coming off a 1-0 win over Algeria and allowed just 5 goals in 12 qualifying games, including just one to Russia in the last two. Udinese keeper Samir Handanovic is an important last line of defense for the Little Dragons, so it will take a strong technical effort to put goals on the board.

When Slovenia is on attack

Valter Birsa figures to attack from the left wing, trying to make trouble for Steve Cherundolo. In addition, captain Robert Koren, who had the goal against Algeria, leads from the midfield while Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne) and Zlatko Dedic (Bochum) also provide punch up front.

Intangibles

The Americans are downplaying the guarantee from Komac, but you have to believe that it’s been pinned to the whiteboard somewhere in the U.S. camp.

The draw against England was a fine result, one that should give the Americans the confidence they need to push forward, nip a goal or two, and win this game.

Slovenia looked a little shaky at the back against Algeria, particularly in the first half, and they might indeed crack under a little more sustained pressure.

Prediction

It’s hard to imagine Bob Bradley’s side taking a step back after the England game. This is an opportunity to make a statement for guys like Dempsey, Donovan, Tim Howard and Michael Bradley.

It won’t be easy, and it isn’t likely to be overly artistic.

But I say they get it done.

But for the 23-man roster, there’s a reason – thousands of them, actually – to dream big.

Turns out that U.S. players are guaranteed the biggest payout for a World Cup victory than any other team in the field.

It would be the highest per-player payout in history, netting each U.S. player $895,000 should they lift the World Cup.

Spain and England’s players would reportedly earn around £500,000 a piece to win the tournament, while Brazil’s players are only slated to earn about half of that total.

From the article…

If the USA don’t gain a single point, each player will still pick up $78,447 (£54,102) in agreed bonus money from the U.S. Soccer Federation. This will come from a pot of $1.5 million set aside by U.S. Soccer for qualifying for the finals, plus an appearance fee of $4,410 per man per game in South Africa, regardless of whether they actually play.

Collectively the squad will receive an extra $180,000 per point won in the group stage, to a maximum of $1.6m for nine points for games against England, Slovenia and Algeria.

Qualifying from the group will trigger an extra squad payment of $2.85m. Reaching the quarterfinals will earn $3.4m more. Reaching the semifinals will be worth another $2.7m.

Winning the semi-final then losing the final will be worth another $6.9m, while winning the semi-final and final will earn the squad pot another $7.8m.

A pot of appearance money set aside by US Soccer is worth a maximum of $710,010, or $4,410 per man for up to seven games. That makes the total potential bonus pot $20.6m, or $895,131 per man.

Think the players have a chance of cashing in on the biggest World Cup winner’s bonus in history?

They’ll punch the clock for the first time in thr 2010 World Cup on Saturday afternoon against England (1:30 p.m., ABC).

It’s already been a year full of off-field news – good and bad – for Major League Soccer.

And it may be about to pick up again.

MLS and Versus are talking about a potential TV partnership after the league’s current deal with Fox Soccer Channel expires at the end of this season.

The story suggests that this may just be a ploy to use a little World Cup bounce to leverage a better deal from FSC in the renewal talks that will be coming somewhere down the road.

There may be something to that, but you’d have to believe that the league will take its wares to the highest bidder – whether the network has the word “soccer” in its title or not.

There are no quotes available, and the story reports that neither MLS Commissioner Don Garber nor Versus chief Jamie Davis were on hand for the meeting.

So when we say early talks, that’s exactly what we mean.

What do you think? Would you like to see a move to Versus, or would you prefer to see MLS games stay on FSC?

The Columbus Crew welcome in the Galaxy for a battle of conference leaders – the first of several matches that Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle will miss because of international duty. Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers, trimmed from the provisional 30-man roster, are expected to be available for the Crew.

Life, and the MLS fixture list, goes on…

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, May 29
Columbus vs. Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.
DC United vs. Chivas USA, 7:30 p.m.
New England vs. New York Red Bulls, Galavisión, 8 p.m.
Houston vs. Philadelphia Union, FSC, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 9 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Kansas City, 9 p.m.
San Jose vs. Toronto FC, 10 p.m.

Just for fun, let’s talk about Frank Lampard winding up his career in MLS.

“I’d like to go and play in America when I’m 36 or 35 but you can’t take away someone’s right to go and play where they want.” Lampard told ESPN.

Wouldn’t that be interesting?

The clock has struck midnight on the World Cup dreams of seven players as coach Bob Bradley unveiled his 23-man roster for next month’s World Cup in South Africa.

Here is your United States men’s National Team:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein

Midfielders: Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, DaMarcus Beasley, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres

Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley

This group will have one more World Cup tune-up before leaving for Africa when it hosts Turkey in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Nats will then face Australia in South Africa on June 5 in preparation for the tournament opener against England on June 12.

Shocked that Brian Ching was left off for Findley? Wondering why Bedoya missed out? Glad to see both Buddle and Gomez?

What do you think?

The United States men’s national team will host the Czech Republic tonight in East Hartford (ESPN, 7 p.m.) in one of its final tune-up before boarding a plane for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa next month.

This game, and Saturday’s clash with Turkey in Philadelphia, will be the last chances for folks on the 30-man roster to impress coach Bob Bradley and earn one of the 23 player seats on that flight.

Judging by some of his quotes this week, Bradley may trim the roster after tonight’s game, narrowing the field of opportunity even more.

“It’s really important now to get to 23,” Bradley told reporters attending training camp. “It’s important for the group that’s going to know they’re going. The nerves that you sense at times — once the decisions are made, a little of that goes away.”

So what will we see tonight?

Forward thinking

Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez and Brian Ching are in the mix at forward for the States, but a big game tonight from one or two of them could swing things in their favor.

Of course, you’d think that a fully healthy Ching, with his national team experience, might already be on the squad.

The defense doesn’t rest

I won’t be surprised if Oguchi Onyewu played a full 90 as he tries to develop his match fitness after a long layoff. In addition, Carlos Bocanegra (sports hernia) and Jay DeMerit (abdominal strain) are also trying to shake off injuries.

A true test?

It will be interesting to see how the Czechs react after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Turkey. Aside from grabbing a late goal, most observers agree that they were disinterested and outplayed.

There are two games tonight in advance of a four-game menu on Saturday, topped off with a lone Sunday fixture.

Here’s the schedule:

Tonight’s games
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus, 8 p.m., ESPN2
FC Dallas vs. Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 22
Toronto FC vs. New England, 1 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose, 3 p.m.
Houston vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m., Galavisión
Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 23
Kansas City vs. Columbus, 4 p.m.

And here are a few news items…

Pires turns down Union offer

Sir Alex Ferguson predicts Henry will be MLS success

Schelotto draws one-game suspension

Benfica turns back Revolution, 4-0

The Premier League season has ended, FA Cup Final is over, Europa League has a champion, the other big leagues of Europe have also finished. With just the Champions League final left, there is an unpleasant empty feeling that comes from a weekend without Premier League games that I haven’t felt for 9 months (minus international breaks).

Luckily, it is a World Cup year and we have something to look forward to starting up in just a few weeks now. This might make it easier for some of us to cope with the off-season, but for me the excitement of the World Cup is making me much more anxious than if it was a non-World Cup year. With so much more to speculate about than just transfers, I can’t get the game out of my head. So here’s some things I’ve been doing to get me through to the World Cup, and hopefully it will help you all as well.

1. Read soccer books. I just finished Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. I thought it was great to read just before the World Cup, it gives a great perspective to many aspects of the game. Also, check out The Gaffer’s Ultimate Guide to the Best Soccer Books for more.

2. Play soccer video games. A great way to spend some time normally used to watching games, also perfect for playing with friends or family. FIFA 10 and PES10 are the two current games to be released for multiple systems that have many of the leagues around the world, but last month EA released its Official 2010 World Cup South Africa game which is specifically for this summer’s tournament. Featuring a complete simulation of the World Cup, but also 199 national teams which you can take through qualifying and to the World Cup Finals.

3. Watch matches on your DVR/Tivo or old season review DVDs. If you’re like me, you have probably saved the best matches of the season on your DVR/Tivo, or maybe even all of your favorite team’s games. Watch them again, watch season reviews of the last 3-4 years. Watch with a different eye than you would have before. Now that you know who has qualified, which groups they’re in, and for the most part which players will make their squad, watch with an eye of how this person will impact their team in the World Cup.

4. Get out and play soccer. My favorite on the list. Get out and play with your friends. Have some fun, wear your kit, have a cookout afterwards, and get some of that great fresh air and exercise!

5. Get your home theater set up for the World Cup. You now have less than 25 days to get your viewing place for a month to your liking. Get the new HD-TV you’ve been saving up for ready, and make sure you have it set up correctly. You don’t want to wait for June 10 and be waiting for the cable or satellite guy to show up!

6. Listen to podcasts, read articles, and stay up to date with World Cup news. EPL Talk and World Cup Buzz have big plans for the summer, stay up to date with all of the news and analysis heading into and through the World Cup.  Daily podcasts and articles will provide you with interviews and analysis of the tournament. Also, follow EPL Talk and World Cup Buzz on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the news, as well as the sister sites for that leagues respective national team coverage. Which other podcasts and blogs from around the Internet do you like?

7. Give your family and friends some time. Use this time to do something that you’ve wanted to do, but didn’t want to leave for a weekend because you didn’t want to miss a game. As reader John Griffin posted to our facebook page, he said he was going to take a beach trip. Perfect opportunity to take a break and return to the World Cup with a fresh mind. However, not to stray too far, John also mentioned watching some other forms of the game such as the “Football League playoffs, Magners League playoffs, Guinness Premiership playoffs, Super 14 playoffs” and of course the Champions League final. Thanks, John. Also, thanks to reader and commenter, Jason has mentioned paying more attention to the MLS. With the other leagues throughout the world coming to a close, the MLS runs through the summer, and has a chance to come center stage for the soccer viewing community until the  big tournament starts.

With less than 25 days remaining til Mexico and South Africa kick-off World Cup 2010, we can get through this just as we do every year, we just need to stick together. What will you all be doing to get your soccer fix until June 11?