Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Striker Andriy Shevchenko, who cost Chelsea $55 million from AC Milan this summer, has expressed doubt over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge. He has scored just five goals in close to 20 matches for the Sky Blues, a rate of return that’s lead to many in the British press calling for his head. Shevchenko […]

A classy display from Barcelona that included inspirational performances from Ronaldinho and Eidur Gudjohnsen helped the Catalans top Werder Bremen and move easily into the second round of the UEFA Champions League. It was a decidedly poor performance from the German leader in a game where a draw or a win would have seen it […]

While there were no upsets in terms of Champions League qualification yesterday, plenty of dangerous teams finished second in their groups, so there will be very few easy-outs for Europe’s top competition resumes in February. Barcelona, Inter Milan, Roma and Real Madrid have all finished second in their respective groups. And if results go their […]

It certainly hasn’t been the easiest first season for young U.S. international Jonathan Spector at West Ham United. The club has been through a tumultuous year both on and off the field, including an unending series of speculations regarding the club’s acquisition by a foreign outift-a matter that has now been resolved-and the ill-advised, mysterious […]

All Andrea Canales of Soccer 365, and perhaps many others in the American soccer press, wants for Christmas is a new U.S. head coach. The hiring (or not) of Juergen Klinsmann has proved to be a great deal more complicated and frustrating than previous reports would have us believe. For one thing, U.S. Soccer President […]

The Times Online says that while Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to follow up his interest in D.C. United winger Freddy Adu, the two-week trial offered to the youngster signifies “a special relationship” between the pair. At 17, Adu is still an unfinished product, but he still represents one of America’s best hopes of growing […]

In October, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said that the U.S. would have a national team coach by the end of November. Here we are in the first week of December-with the first U.S. international since the World Cup little more than a month away-, and still no coach. A Fox Soccer report today claimed […]

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has long been known for his bizarre proposals for the betterment of the sport; women wearing tighter shorts and goals being enlarged to encourage more goal-scoring both come to mind. The London Times examines his proposal yesterday to end the long-standing debate over club-versus-country by making soccer a summer sport. Players’ […]

LA Soccer News recounts the bizarre series of events that saw L.A. Galaxy forward Hercules Gomez and Ugo Ihemelu traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Ihemelu and Gomez, who are roommates, were told at different times. Apparently, L.A. general manager Alexi Lalas told Ihemelu ahead of time, a move Gomez […]

It’s looking less and less likely that David Beckham will be making his way to Major League Soccer next season-not when Inter Milan comes out and says it’s prepared to offer him $200,000 per week and complete control over his image rights, worth around $35 million last year. An MLS club would not only have […]

Standard Liege, the Belgian club where U.S. international Oguchi Onyewu plays his club soccer, has revealed that Spanish giant Real Madrid attempted to sign the player before the transfer deadline in August-and may yet try to land him again before the season is over. “A transfer is now open to discussion,” Belgian legend Michel Preud’homme, […]

An editorial appearing in the Salt Lake Tribune remonstrates Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts’ attempt at hiding the club’s financials from investors over the club’s plans to build a new stadium. And by investors, the unnamed author means the people of Salt Lake County. It seems that Checketts thought that sharing RSL’s financial info […]

An MLS move in January is off the cards, according to the latest statement from Real Madrid playmaker David Beckham. “The world’s press are always talking, but I am happy at Real Madrid and I am not thinking about me going to the United States.” However, the world’s press has also learned to take everything […]

Liverpool now looks likely to join the list of English clubs being sold to foreign investors, as Rick Parry, the club’s chief executive, has now entered into exclusive negotiations with Dubai International Capital (DIC) about a possible investment in the club. “This is the latest step on the road of finding the long-term investment that […]

Now, months after the dust settled over Calciopoli, the scandal that may have changed the face of Serie A forever, former refereeing designator Paolo Bergamo has come out saying many more clubs should have punished-including league leader Inter Milan and second-place Roma. The scandal erupted in May when a press leak unveiled several phone conversations […]

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has submitted a proposal to European soccer officials to have domestic leagues play through the summer months, while restricting the number of foreign players on European club teams. Blatter thinks the domestic soccer season should more closely mirror the calendar year, running from late February until the end of November, which […]

Critics are lauding the canny loan move secured by Sir Alex Ferguson that will bring former Celtic and Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson to Old Trafford on a three-month loan. Larsson, currently under contract with Helsingborg, will fly to England on Jan. 1 to join the Red Devils until March 12. It’s a savvy move because […]

When the Real Madrid circus came to town in Salt Lake City in August, David Beckham and other players from the world’s most famous soccer club dug golden shovels into the ground to mark the first day of construction on the future soccer stadium of MLS club Real Salt Lake. However, those first few scoops […]

Real Madrid looks to have secured the signature of talented Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago. Far from being “the next Maradona,” a monikor that’s too often attached to Argentina’s countless midfield exports, pundits are equating this signing with another former Real Madrid Argentine: Fernando Redondo. Gago resembles Redondo in both his physical features and his […]

No young U.S. player has received more time under the microscope in the last few weeks than D.C. United’s Freddy Adu. The 17-year old arrived in Manchester two weeks ago for a two-week training session at Manchester United’s world-famous Carrington training ground. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson was duly impressed with the youngster’s trial, though he […]

In another good move, MLS is sending its top young players with Columbus coach Sigi Schmid to England to train alongside some of England’s top clubs. The members of Major League Soccer’s Generation Adidas program, which includes the likes of Chivas USA’s Brad Guzan and Sacha Kljestan, Chicago’s Chad Barrett and the Revolution’s Michael Parkhurst, […]

Amado Guevara says he isn’t at all displeased with the trade that sends him from the New York Red Bulls to Long Beach’s Chivas USA. “In New York, I was fine. I had many individual accomplishments but for me those are not enough. I want to win a title and in four years I was […]

January transfer season is nearly upon us, which means the next two months will be filled with a mixture of truth and rumors. While Shaun Wright-Phillips and Clint Dempsey will almost certainly make a January move in the EPL, it’s anybody’s guess what will happen to Argentine pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Now that […]

Throughout the years, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has proven himself to be a master of subtle mind games, through which he has been able to unsettle the likes of Kevin Keegan, when he was manager of Newcastle, and Kenny Dalglish, the former Liverpool boss. Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho is equally good with mind games […]

Prior to Manchester United’s Premiership clash Wednesday with Everton at Old Trafford, which the Red Devils won easily, 3-0, Sir Alex Ferguson discussed the form of 27-year old American goalkeeper, whom Manchester United sent out on-loan to Everton at the beginning of the season. “Tim has been doing really well at Everton, which is what […]