BBC columnist Tim Vickery, for one, isn’t surprised at Sunday’s bright start made by AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, in which the he scored one and was involved in several others during Milan’s 5-2 rout of Napoli. Vickery, the BBC’s South American correspondent, recalls the Brazilian’s professional debut for Internacional against Palmeiras two years ago. […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real Breaks Record Despite Poor Form
Seven points adrift of second-place Barcelona and sporting the highest points tally (47) after 19 games in La Liga’s history of the modern points system, Real Madrid should be earning accolades across Europe for charging through La Liga this season. Wrong. As respected writer Santiago Segurola told La Marca on Monday, “The results are excellent […]
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Terry: Becks Should Captain England Against Switzerland
L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham on Monday received a boost from England captain John Terry, who said he would gladly cede the captain’s armband to Becks if it helps the national team recover its form under new coach Fabio Capello. The Italian’s first job comes at Wembley next month against Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland. Prior […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Might be for Sale Again
Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. could be fixing to sell the club after taking it over less than one year ago, according to Guardian report. The Americans have apparently run into trouble trying to refinance $700 million worth of debt. They want to transfer the debt onto the club itself, which insiders […]
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Soccer on TV
Midweek action includes cup play in England, Spain and Italy. The 2008 MLS SuperDraft airs on Friday on ESPN2.
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MLS teams scout collegians and South American trio
Ridge Mahoney on the 2008 Combine
MLS coaches were treated to increased scoring at the adidas MLS Combine. With the draft just five days away, Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports on the latest performances at this year’s Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
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Michael Bradley scores 7th of the season
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley scored a 27th minute goal to give his Dutch Eredivisie team a 2-0 lead over Utrecht, which bounced back to earn a 2-2 tie. It was 20-year-old’s seventh goal of the season for the seventh-place Heerenveen, which is nine points behind leader PSV. In England, Fulham’s battle against relegation took another blow while Everton continued its fight to break into the top four.
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Club America wins InterLiga
[MEXICO] Club America beat Cruz Azul on penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000 to win the second final of the InterLiga tournament and earn a spot in the Libertadores Cup. In the first final, Atlas downed San Luis, 3-0. Atlas will play off against Bolivia’s La Paz FC for a Libertadores Cup berth.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“When I ask MLS, they say the Revs rejected it. When I ask the Revs, they said it was MLS. Look, you’re not going to get more than that for a guy like me, who is not always with the national team. It’s a good offer. Anytime a team wants you that bad, of course you want to go. … I’m everywhere from confused to mad because I don’t know where we are on this.”
— New England’s Taylor Twellman, who told the Washington Post ‘s Steven Goff that MLS and/or New England rejected a $2.5 million offer from England’s Preston North End for the 27-year-old forward.
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MLS Offseason Player Moves
Clarence Goodson, picked up by San Jose from FC Dallas in the expansion draft, joined the growing list of MLS players headed to Norway when he signed with second-division Start. For all the team-by-team MLS offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘Incredible’ Cristiano Ronaldo leads Man. United back on top
[ENGLAND/VIDEO] Nothing in the first half indicated such brilliance, but star Cristiano Ronaldo put on a show in the second half to lead Manchester United to a 6-0 victory over manager-less Newcastle United on Saturday that took it back on top — on goal difference — in the English Premier League following Arsenal’s 1-1 tie with Birmingham City at home.
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Chelsea Signs $30 Million Anelka
Chelsea finally gotten its man: Frenchman Nicolas Anelka has completed his transfer from Bolton in a deal worth between $27 and $30 million, according to various reports. Bolton had already rejected Chelsea’s first offer on Monday, but agreed to sell the striker on Friday after receiving an improved bid. The Blues were desperate to find […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
BestBuy to be Fire Sponsor
An insider tells Chicago Tribune blogger Luis Arroyave that electronics retailer Best Buy has reached a deal with the Chicago Fire to put its logo on the club’s jerseys starting next season. If so, the Fire would become the eighth MLS team to have a jersey sponsor after Real Salt Lake (XanGo), the Los Angeles […]
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Redknapp Expected to Take Newcastle Helm
The Daily Mail says that Harry Redknapp will be taking the helm at Newcastle United despite reports that Portsmouth, his current employer, had rejected a formal approach. The British daily reports that Redknapp has decided he’s taken Portsmouth as far as he can. The former Southampton manager canceled his usual Friday press conference and left […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hamlett Named Fire Coach
Longtime assistant coach Denis Hamlett will soon be named Chicago Fire head coach, says the Southtown Star’s Nick Firchau. An unnamed source said the club made a formal approach to Hamlett on Thursday and that he would accept the offer as early as Friday. Hamlett, 39, has been with the Fire since the team’s inception […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Manchester United Claims World’s Richest Club
Manchester United says it is once again the richest club in the world after earning gross revenues of $490 million for the year ending in June 2007. The Red Devils’ haul exceeds that of Real Madrid, the former title holder, by just 12 euros if the average conversion rates during the same time period are […]
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Soccer on TV
InterLiga finals at the Home Depot Center will determine two Mexican Libertadores Cup qualifiers. Follow the Spanish La Liga race between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Gol TV.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Klinsmann shocker
[GERMANY] Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup, will take over as coach of Bayern Munich on July 1.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“If Pato continues to do what he does in training, he will get 30 goals by June.”
— AC Milan president (and former Italian prime minister) Silvio Berlusconi — before his team’s latest signing, 18-year-old Brazilian Alexandre Pato (“Alex the Duck”), has even played his first game. Alexandre Pato is eligible to play his first game for Milan on Sunday against Napoli. (He turned 18 two days after Europe’s summer transfer transfer, making him ineligible to officially move from Internacional to Milan until January’s transfer window.) (uefa.com)
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Italy’s Serie A: Players on the Move
[TRANSFER WATCH] Rumors persist that AC Milan will make a deal for Ronaldinho or Didier Drogba, reported to be unhappy at Barcelona and Chelsea, respectively. For all the Serie A players on the move and all the deals “in the works” ..
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MLS teams search for sleeper
Ridge Mahoney on the 2008 Combine
Without extensive scouting networks, MLS coaching staffs rely heavily on the adidas MLS Combine, the annual showcase of college talent, to formulate their SuperDraft strategy. With the draft a week away, Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney examines who might emerge as the sleeper at this year’s Combine, which begins this weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
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MLS Offseason Player Moves
Two long-time MLS stars left the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday when striker Clint Mathis signed with Crete club Ergotelis (last in Greece’s top league) and goalie Joe Cannon was dealt to San Jose. For the team-by-team MLS offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2008 adidas MLS Combine Rosters
Ohio State’s Honduran-born Roger Espinoza was a late addition to the Generation adidas class of ’08 and he took part in action at the adidas MLS Combine. He was teamed with Wake Forest’s Julian Valentin, who needed 30 stitched after being kicked by Espinoza in the 2007 Men’s College Cup final. For all the attendees and schedule …
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2008 MLS SuperDraft Order
The expansion San Jose Earthquakes have the top pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held next Friday at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore (TV: ESPN2, 2 pm ET). Four teams — FC Dallas (No. 2 and 8), Real Salt Lake (No. 3 and 14), Chicago (No. 7 and 12) and Toronto FC (No. 9 and 10) — currently hold two first-round picks.
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International Weekend TV Schedule
After a week off because of play in the FA Cup, the English Premier League resumes with nine games available on U.S. television. Leader Arsenal hosts Birmingham Saturday, while second-place Manchester United plays Newcastle in the Magpies’ first game since the exit of Manager Sam Allardyce. Play also resumes in Italy’s Serie A after its winter break. In Spain, leader Real Madrid travels to last-place Levante on Saturday.