Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Are Bruce Arena’s best days behind him? That’s what Goal.com’s Pat Walsh thinks in assessing Arena’s first full season in charge of the New York Red Bulls. During Arena’s tenure with the U.S. national team, Walsh says you could seldom see the kind of frustration visible on his face as the Red Bulls battled fruitlessly […]

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has become the hot favorite to succeed Quique Sanchez Flores at Valencia following the latter’s dismissal on Monday, according to reports. Ironically, the move would bring the Portuguese tactician back to Stamford Bridge, as Valencia travels to London to play Chelsea in the Champions League on Dec. 11.   Valencia […]

In what will surely go down as one of the least surprising decisions in World Cup history, FIFA on Tuesday confirmed that five-time world champion Brazil would host the 2014 finals. The result was never in doubt, really, as Brazil was the only country bidding to host a tournament that soccer’s world governing body had […]

Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena criticized star striker Juan Pablo Angel following Saturday’s first-leg playoff clash with the New England Revolution, telling reporters the Colombian “could have done a better job of making himself available” during the 0-0 draw. Despite having the majority of possession, New York had a hard time creating meaningful chances — […]

All eyes will be on the Eternal City Wednesday night for the biannual derby between AS Roma and Lazio (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3:25 pm ET). One of the world’s great rivalries alongside Rangers-Celtic in Glasgow or Boca-River in Buenos Aires, form means absolutely nothing when these two bitter enemies square off. In fact, […]

No one likes to gamble and lose, but professional coaches often have to weigh the risk-reward with their star players. Unfortunately for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, it was he who gambled and lost in a big way on Sunday, losing two of his regular starters to recurring injuries. Never mind that it was a thrilling […]

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, on Monday dropped its World Cup rotation policy and will accept applications from any country outside South America or Africa wishing to bid on the 2018 tournament. The new rule is that countries belonging to confederations that hosted the two previous tournaments may not bid; South Africa will host the […]

The off-season is time for club presidents and general managers to reflect on why their teams didn’t make the playoffs, a fault which often comes down to the coaching staff. So far, none of the five coaches have resigned or been fired, but as Ives Galarcep of the North Jersey Herald points out, it’s a long […]

It’s been another awful start to the domestic season for European champion AC Milan. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to AS Roma capped a second successive league loss at the San Siro; the club has yet to win on home soil in Serie A this season. Now 13th in the league, the Rossoneri sit just three points […]

Phil Ball of ESPN Soccernet offers up his take on the Juande Ramos-Martin Jol saga, which came to its long and drawn out end last Friday after the Spaniard accepted Tottenham’s offer of 6 million euros (approximately $7.5 million) per year for three years. The most unfortunate aspect of the tale is that most Tottenham […]

In the wake of the NFL’s decision to play its first regular-season game in London, English Premier League officials and American businessmen have started talking about bringing EPL games to the U.S. For one, West Ham United chairman Eggert Magnusson thinks it’s a great idea. “I can see that happening sooner rather than later,” he […]

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is once again being linked with the top job at Tottenham Hotspur, which was made vacant on Thursday after the club fired manager Martin Jol and his coaching staff following a 2-1 UEFA Cup defeat by Getafe. In fact, Spanish paper La Marca claims that Ramos was released by Sevilla and […]

How, Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune wonders, do you punish a player like Robinho when he single-handedly spares your team’s blushes on an otherwise off-color night? Robinho, who apparently missed his flight home from Rio after spending the whole night partying, had an extraordinary game for the Merengues, scoring twice, creating another and […]

The L.A. Galaxy board is so far being closed-mouth about the future of Coach Frank Yallop — which could be taken as a sign that the former San Jose coach is headed for the exit once the Galaxy returns from its David Beckham show-pony tour. That said, Billy Witz of the Carson Daily Breeze points […]

After yet another poor performance in the Champions League, Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks came out in defense of Manager Rafael Benitez, insisting that the Spaniard’s job at Anfield was still safe. “We back Rafa,” Hicks said, referring to himself and fellow American George Gillett, the club’s other co-owner. “He’s the right manager” Hicks admitted that […]

Forget tradition, the Chicago Fire should be favored for Wednesday’s first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals for a whole host of reasons, says USSoccerPlayers’ Ian Plenderleith. First, D.C. United is in trouble if it lines up at Toyota Park without one of either Luciano Emilio or Jaime Moreno, which looks likely. That’s because the […]

Philadelphia wants one of the two MLS franchises up for grabs for the 2010 season. The only problem, aside from the cost to taxpayers, is that the proposed new stadium isn’t in the most desirable of neighborhoods. Chester, Pa., a good 30-minute drive from downtown Philadelphia, “is conceivably the poorest, most crime-riddled and poverty-stricken city […]

One day after Rosenborg recorded one of its greatest Champions League victories, a 2-0 win at home over Spanish giant Valencia, the Norwegian team announced the sacking of its coach, Knut Toerum. The decision came after a meeting between the club’s board and Toerum following the victory over Valencia, a two-time Champions League finalist. Rosenborg chairman […]

FIFA.com serves up a flattering profile of U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his son, Michael, who have surprised this year in their respective positions as national team coach and first-choice center midfielder. The report reminds us that less than one year ago, the U.S. Soccer Federation was piping on about getting a “big name” to […]

Following a pair of fine performances in early World Cup qualifying, Argentina overtook Italy at the top of FIFA ‘s World Rankings. The Argentines’ won each of their first two matches in South American qualifying, 2-0. Brazil also moved up one place to second following a 5-0 win at home to Ecuador and a draw […]

Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw with Barcelona at Ibrox was a moral victory for Glasgow Rangers, which defended bravely in the midst of large periods of domination by the Catalans to earn the result, but Barca star Leo Messi was than impressed with the tactics deployed by the Scots, accusing Walter Smith’s men of playing “anti-football.” […]

D.C. United could be without MLS goal king Luciano Emilio and all-time leading scorer Jaime Moreno for Thursday night’s first-round playoff clash against Chicago at Toyota Park. Both players suffered ankle injuries during last weekend’s 3-2 loss to Columbus. Emilio sprained his ankle and came off shortly after halftime, while Moreno aggravated a previous injury […]

On Tuesday, Major League Soccer, which hopes to have as many as 16 teams registered before the 2010 season, issued a statement about its expansion plans, . Of the three new franchises, one, San Jose, has been confirmed as entrant for the 2008 season. The Seattle-Post Intelligencer claims that its city is favored to win one of […]

The unraveling of the L.A. Galaxy’s playoff dream illuminates a few harsh realities about David Beckham’s form, says Paul Gardner in his column for the New York Sun. Millions and millions of dollars have been heaped on the England national team star, but Becks, all told, “turned out to be a flop on the field” […]

Beckham or no Beckham, this year’s MLS playoffs are shaping up to be the most exciting yet, says Boston Globe columnist Frank Dell’Apa. The marquee match-up, unquestionably is the Chicago-D.C. United series, which pits Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Chicago’s thrusting offense against the league’s best midfield and its top scorer — and possible MVP — Luciano […]