Monthly Archives: August 2007
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“I struggled in the first few days with breakfast. Instead of a croissant and cappuccino, I was faced with eggs. Things are better now, though, and Sven Goran Eriksson is imposing a dietary regime which is very Italian.”

— Italian striker Rolando Bianchi on one of the many changes Manchester City’s new manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, has made for top accommodate his many new signings from abroad. Eriksson replaced the traditional breakfast of eggs, bangers, bacon and beans with a continental breakfast of coffee and croissants at City’s training camp. The moves may have had an effect. City opened with a 2-0 win at West Ham on Saturday. (Sunday People)

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Real Planning Dutch Makeover?

by Soccer America

Contrary to reports in Spain, Real Madrid still has yet to capture Arjen Robben from Chelsea. The Spanish champion is believed to have offered $47 million for the Dutch winger, although Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho earlier Friday characterized his transfer status as “wait and see.” Chelsea had been hoping to use the funds from Robben’s […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

The Case for Points-Per-Game

by Soccer America

The MLS standings don’t accurately reflect the form of the league’s teams, says Bill Urban of USSoccerPlayers, because of the big discrepancy between the number of games each has played. Los Angeles, for instance, may have the second-worst record in the league with 14 points, but it’s only played 14 games, whereas Houston, the league’s […]

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

His debut done, Becks faces staggering task

by Ridge Mahoney

The MLS debut of David Beckham harshly illustrated the incongruities plaguing his new team and what he perhaps can do to resolve its myriad problems. During a runout of about 20 minutes in a 1-0 loss to D.C. United at RFK Thursday, he swerved a threatening free kick that produced a good chance, and flighted another immaculate ball into space that on another night would have yielded a goal or a penalty kick rather than a spectacular defensive play. Sparked by Beckham and a fresh pair of forwards following a straight red-card to Kyle Martino for nailing Fred from behind, Team Beckham actually looked like a soccer team, much more so than it had without him while tying Toronto, 0-0, on Sunday. Play badly and tie, play better and lose, that’s soccer.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

FC Dallas eyes Western Conference lead

by Ridge Mahoney

[MLS WEEKEND PREVIEWS] The David Beckham show moves to New England, where the Galaxy looks to get its first win since the Englishman’s arrival four weeks ago. New York is back in action after a two-week layoff, FC Dallas looks to take over the lead in the Western Conference, and Colorado returns home reeling from a 5-0 loss to the USL’s Seattle and carrying a 10-game winless streak into its game against Houston.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that. I really don’t believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from CONCACAF. I know in FIFA there are those persons who believe the rules should be changed to satisfy Europe but I tell you this today we shall fight it to the very end.”

and …

“If by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I’m quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won’t get it. It’ll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England — who invented the sport — has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant.”

— Trinidadian Jack Warner, president of CONCACAF and a powerful member of FIFA’s executive committee, in a BBC World Service interview to be broadcast on Saturday, dismissing England’s chances if FIFA’s rotation policy brought the World Cup finals to Europe in 2018. If FIFA’s current rotation system was maintained, a CONCACAF nation (USA?) would be selected to host the 2018 World Cup.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Americans in Germany (2007-08)

by Soccer America

[MAKING A LIST] Of the 10 Americans in Germany’s two professional divisions, only two — Steve Cherundolo and Gregg Berhalter — were with teams in these divisions a year ago. Youngsters Kamani Hill, Neven Subotic and Sal Zizzo signed in the last year. Josh Wolff and Heath Pearce signed as free agents. Joe Enochs, Josh Grenier and Ian Joy, all German league veterans, moved to the Second Division when their clubs were promoted. Of the four First Division players, only Cherundolo and Pearce are expected to start when the Bundesliga kicks off this weekend.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Americans in England (2007-08)

by Soccer America

[MAKING A LIST] Derby County’s signing of Benny Feilhaber brings to 10 the number of Americans in the English Premier League, which kicks off the 2007-08 season on Saturday. That number doesn’t include three teenagers in EPL youth academies. Five other Americans — including Gold Cup champions Jay DeMerit and Frank Simek — are in the lower English divisions.

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