Monthly Archives: February 2008

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was arrested in Bangkok on Thursday upon returning to his homeland for the first time in 17 months. The former Thailand prime minister had been living in London under a self-imposed exile. Shinawatra was taken into custody by police at Thailand’s international airport on charges of corruption. Two warrants for […]

Part-Owners to be Unveiled at Dynamo Rally Friday

The deal that would make boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya and his business associate Gabriel Brener part-owners of the Houston Dynamo is “essentially done,” according to the Houston Chronicle. The proposed deal was widely reported earlier this week and will be finalized on Friday. De La Hoya and Brener, a Mexican investor partner in […]

Quakes Add Ronnie O’Brien

The San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday acquired Ronnie O’Brien from Toronto FC in exchange for an undisclosed sum of cash and a first-round draft pick. Before spending last season with the MLS debutant, O’Brien, a former Republic of Ireland international, was twice an MLS All-Star in four seasons with FC Dallas. The right-sided midfielder endured […]

Gerrard Fed Up with Liverpool’s Failings

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard fired a warning to the club’s management that his patience is running out with Liverpool’s repeated domestic failings, admitting that even if the Anfield club delivered the Champions League, 2008 would still be branded as a failure. In an interview with LFC magazine, Gerrard said, “I have been looking at the […]

Galaxy, in Need of Trades, Sends Players Home

The David Beckham Road Show has moved on to South Korea where the Los Angeles Galaxy will play Seoul FC on Friday, but several Galaxy players, including Landon Donovan, did not make the trip — some due to injuries, others to be traded, possibly, says the L.A. Times Grahame L. Jones. The club’s roster has […]

Soccer America Confidential, Story

Shuffling salaries for new strikers

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 28, 2008

For MLS coaches, like the rest of us, much of life is one deadline after another. Next up is the date by which teams must be complaint with the salary cap, precise figure unknown, and the limits for the regular (18 players) and full (28) roster limits.

Berhalter in Munich Marathon

[AMERICANS ABROAD] New Jerseyan Gregg Berhalter was part of the 1860 Munich defense that battled Bayren Munich for 120 minutes but fell on a last-minute penalty kick in the German Cup quarterfinals.

Eduardo leaves hospital

[ENGLAND WATCH] Arsenal forward Eduardo, who suffered multiple leg fractures from a brutal foul by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor last weekend, was released from the hospital and the club said he could make a full recovery in nine months.

Young Argentine joins defending champ

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 28, 2008

[MLS] While several MLS rivals scramble to sign pricey foreign strikers, the defending champion Houston Dynamo – whose needs in that position may be more pressing – are sticking to a low-key approach. Franco Caraccio, 21, has experience with Argentina’s under-20 team but has played only three professional seasons for Arsenal de Sarandi.

A-word costs player 12 grand

by Mike WoitallaFebruary 28, 2008

[OFF THE POST] VfB Stuttgart’s German national team striker Mario Gomez was fined $12,000 for comments he made in a postgame interview about Karlsruhe defender Maik Franz, who hounded him during Stuttgart’s 3-1 win last weekend.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“When you look at some of the bad tackles that have been punished far less it’s completely ludicrous. This is a professional game and we need professional people making professional decisions not these silly little men.”

— Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson on the English FA’s regulatory commission after it reacted to the club’s appeal to reduce Jeremie Aliadiere‘s three-game ban by adding another game because the appeal was “frivolous.” The four-game ban for what has been called a minor altercation with Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano means Aliadiere’s ban is one game more than what Birmingham’s Martin Taylor received for shattering the leg of Arsenal striker Eduardo. (PA)

MLS Offseason Player Moves

The Columbus Crew acquired Argentine forward Nico Hernandez from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Generation adidas defender Tim Ward and the Crew’s third-round selection in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft. For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …

The Cup Season

[EUROPEAN RACES] An own goal in overtime gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 win at Sheffield United and moved it into the quarterfinals of the English FA Cup against Cardiff. Defending Bundesliga champion VfB Stuttgart was knocked out of the German Cup by Second Division Carl Zeiss Jena on penalty kicks. In Spain’s Copa del Rey, Barcelona and Valencia tied, 1-1. For all the results and schedules of the major European cup competitions …

Fortunate looks kindly on Inter again

[ITALY] Inter Milan remained unbeaten when it tied second-place Roma, 1-1, on Wednesday to maintain its nine-point lead in Serie A. After going 17 years without a Serie A title, Inter is on course for its third in a row and 16th overall.

A Change Would Do PPC Good

Luis Bueno of the Press Enterprise doesn’t think the Pan Pacific Championship will live past its inaugural season. Not in Hawaii, anyway. While the four-game tournament provided plenty of action and plenty of goals, attendance was abysmal. Saturday’s doubleheader, which pitted David Beckham the L.A. Galaxy against Sydney FC, and J-League cup holder Gamba Osaka […]

Red Bulls Still Have Holes to Fill

Years of disappointment have left New York Red Bulls fans wondering what’s taking the team so long to fill in the holes left by the off-season departure of so many of its former players. That tension reached a boiling point last week when the Bulls traded defensive midfielder and long time starter Dema Kovalenko to […]

Kinnear Reflects on Osaka Defeat

The Houston Chronicle’s Bernardo Fallas says there are lessons to be learned from the Dynamo’s 6-1 hammering by Gamba Osaka in the Pan-Pacific Championship final. Coach Dominic Kinnear, who’s not used to being beaten so comprehensively, reflected on the blowout loss. “The defeat opened our eyes,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of guys […]

Hicks Denies Liverpool Sale, Again

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks was again prompted to respond to allegations that he planned on selling his 50 percent stake in the club to Arab investment group Dubai International Capital. The Texas billionaire called the media speculation “absolutely and categorically false,” although ESPN implies that the statement, issued by Hicks on Tuesday, is a cover-up […]

Dempsey, Fulham ‘Upbeat’ About Relegation Situation

ESPN’s Ravi Ubha speaks with Clint Dempsey about the worrying relegation situation at 19th place Fulham FC, which has been nicknamed “Team America” for the five Americans on its roster. Dempsey has been one of the better and more consistent performers at Craven Cottage this season, leading the team in scoring six goals. Nevertheless, a […]

Real Salt Lake gets tough(er)

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 27, 2008

[MLS] Make no mistake, no matter how much better RSL 2008 is compared to the 2007 version, it will be tougher. And more experienced. Defender Nat Borchers, midfielder Dema Kovalenko and Colombian defender Jamilson Olave are just a few examples of the players added by Coach Jason Kreis and general manager Garth Lagerwey to upgrade guile as well as tenacity.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results

The Chicago Fire’s youth teams and powerhouse Chicago Magic both went 3-0-1 against the Concorde Fire and AFC Lightning on their trip to Atlanta last weekend. For all the U.S. Soccer Development Academy results and goal scorers …

Soccer Job Openings

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. Besides college coaching opportunities, this week’s listings include an opening for U.S. Soccer Foundation president and three management positions at the United Soccer Leagues.

Adu, Feilhaber head U.S. Olympic qualifying roster

[ROSTER] Ten players who have played for the full national team, including Freddy Adu and Benny Feilhaber, are in the 24-man roster Coach Peter Nowak has named to enter the U-23 national team training camp to prepare for Olympic qualifying play.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“There are players … who aim only to stop opponents with unfair means. I see too much hacking, tripping and pushing in the Bundesliga. There should be a blacklist of players who intentionally don’t go for the ball but for the calf of their opponent. Such attacks are more damaging to the game than the outbursts of rage from those who have been fouled.”

— German national team coach Joachim Loew. (Focus)