Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Major League Soccer is looking outside of the U.S. to fill in the holes left by the move of American players to Europe. The likes of Kansas City’s Eddie Johnson (England), New England’s Pat Noonan (Norway) and Houston’s Nate Jaqua (Austria) have all sought better opportunities across the Atlantic this month. Meanwhile, Latino-friendly D.C. United […]

The Los Angeles Times has a lengthy article on the misfortune of Iraqi soccer star Nashat Akram, one of his country’s most popular players, who was recently denied a work permit that would have allowed him to sign for Manchester City of the English Premier League. The news spread across Iraq on Saturday, angering the […]

The tug of war over Brad Guzan has gotten more interesting: according to Soccer By Ives. English Premier League club Aston Villa has lodged in a $4 million bid for the Chivas USA goalkeeper, surpassing a $2 million offer from Glasgow Celtic and matching the fee Manchester United paid for former MetroStars keeper Tim Howard […]

Brad Friedel is in fantastic form for Blackburn Rovers again this season, but no, he’s not interested in returning to the U.S. national team. “I had unbelievable times, to say the least, and I loved every minute of international football,” he tells ESPN, “but I also don’t regret for one second the day that I […]

The dust is now settling after Liverpool officials declared a ceasefire on Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the club’s future. American sports moguls Tom Hicks and George Gillett will remain Liverpool’s owners following the approval of a new refinancing package, which allowed them to unveil plans for a new $600 million stadium at Stanley […]

If, as expected, Marcelo Gallardo signs for D.C. United, then Christian Gomez’s days in the nation’s capitol are numbered. Gomez is believed to be entertaining offers from abroad, but blogger Ives Galarcep believes the 33-year-old could resign with MLS and then move on via trade. Where would he end up? Should he decide to stay […]

Inter Milan winger Luis Figo has been linked with a possible move to Major League Soccer, but the 35-year-old on Thursday revealed that he might choose to retire instead. The Portugal legend is currently recovering from a broken leg suffered in early November, and is believed to be close to regaining fitness. “Right now, what […]

A match-fixing scandal surfaced at the African Cup of Nations on Thursday, as Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch revealed that a Malian man had asked him if there was any possibility of manipulating the outcome of Benin’s Group B match against Mali. “I told him, ‘Look, you have two minutes to leave the hotel or I […]

Is there anything “super” about the MLS SuperDraft? Well, if an MLS club comes away with the next Landon Donovan or Eddie Johnson for less than $30,000, sure, it is for them, but this seldom happens, says the New York Times’ Jack Bell. Not only does the draft yield few players of any real quality […]

USSoccerPlayers’ Clemente Lisi sat down with New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who talked about the MLS SuperDraft, his successful season with Chicago last year, and his expectations for the coming year. First of all, Osorio said he was very pleased with the acquisition of 22-year-old defender Eric Brunner, whom he described as […]

MLSNet writer Jeff Bradley recounts the 11 most important trades of the MLS offseason so far. They are, from least to most important according to Bradley: Jim Curtin, Chicago to Chivas USA, Jason Hernandez, Chivas USA to San Jose, Bobby Boswell, D.C. United to Houston, Jose Burciaga Jr., Kansas City to Colorado, Ivan Guerrero, Chicago […]

The Houston Dynamo looks “alarming thin” up top with only week to go before training camp begins, says Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle. The two-time defending MLS champ lost starting forward Joseph Ngwenya to SK Austria Kaernten in midweek, while fellow forward Paul Dalglish was released late last year. Nate Jaqua, meanwhile, has been […]

Chicago Fire coach Denis Hamlett’s coaching staff is coming into focus. Former assistant Mike Jeffries has rejoined the Fire as an assistant, while former player Frank Klopas was named technical director. Last week, Fire legend Chris Armas accepted an offer for another assistant’s position. Following the appointment, Armas spoke with Chicago Tribune writer Luis Arroyave. […]

Can anyone in Spain catch Real Madrid? Well, given that we were asking the same question of Barcelona at this stage last year, it’s certainly possible, but ESPN’s Phil Ball says the possibility looks increasingly remote with each passing week. On Saturday, Real rather comprehensively won the Madrid derby, beating neighbor Atletico, 2-0. As it […]

Goal.com’s Kyle McCarthy interviews defender Chris Albright about his recent trade from the L.A. Galaxy to the New England Revolution, an announcement which came during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday. Albright, a member of the Galaxy for seven years, was ambivalent about the trade. “I didn’t understand it when I first […]

The African Cup of Nations, currently underway in Ghana, has always had a hard time getting respect abroad, says Paul Gardner, writing for the New York Sun. He says the problem has grown as more African players find work in Europe. Why? Because FIFA mandates that clubs release national team players when they are wanted […]

In a podcast published over the weekend, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati laid out the organization’s agenda for 2008. He started with this year’s exhibition matches, confirming only a March 26 friendly against Poland in Krakow, although he mentioned that two more exhibitions would be added in late May or early June. One of […]

Juande Ramos won two UEFA Cups, the Copa Del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup with Sevilla, so great expectations were heaped on the shoulders of the Spanish manager when he arrived at Tottenham. But Ramos “is proving well worth the trouble Tottenham took to hire him,” says the AP. Three […]

The New York Times’ Jack Bell talks with Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who is headed to South America on a scouting trip. “I can tell you that we have already found the players we need, but there are restrictions because of the salary cap,” the Colombian said. “I am looking for a central […]

Former Newcastle defender Celestine Babayaro is on the verge of making a switch to the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to various reports. The 29-year-old former Nigeria international has been without a club for over a month after agreeing to leave the Magpies by mutual consent. Babayaro spent three years at Newcastle but failed to establish […]

U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber will not be leaving Derby County for Major League Soccer, according to separate reports on the Web. In fact, in an ESPN interview, Feilhaber implies that unless Derby manager Paul Jewell tells him to look for work elsewhere, he’ll be staying. “I made the right choice coming to Derby,” Feilhaber said […]

Amid protests and a worsening ownership situation, Liverpool fell further behind in the league standings on Monday, drawing 2-2 at home to Aston Villa. The fifth-place Reds needed a late equalizer from Peter Crouch to salvage a point; Liverpool has now drawn its last four games and sits 14 points behind leaders Manchester United and […]

Steve McClaren thinks David Beckham’s England career will be over after he earns his 100th cap against Switzerland on Feb. 6. The former England manager believes the standard of play in Major League Soccer isn’t good enough for him to continue at international level. Beckham is currently training with Premier League leader Arsenal ahead of […]

Liverpool’s ownership still hangs in the balance as co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have yet to agree to a $700 million refinancing deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Meanwhile, Dubai International Capital continues to hover over the uncertain situation, looking to buy out Hicks, who is reportedly unsettled. But the American denied on […]

In stark contrast to the situation at Liverpool, Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill couldn’t be happier with American owner Randy Lerner. Villa traveled to Anfield Monday to face the Reds, and “while the Kop plots more anti-U.S. protests, O’Neill and the Villa supporters might as well be draped in stars and stripes for the Premier […]