Category: Section 2 Around the Net

How bad have things become for one-time wunderkind Freddy Adu?  Bad. Why bad?  Well, according to goal.com, he was recently told by Benfica coach Jorge Jesus that he’s “no longer needed at the club.”  The curt dismissal is yet another sobering blow to the once white-hot future of the 20-year-old American forward, who was flush […]

In what was “supposed to be an article about how (Zak) Ibsen, a 37-year-old guy, represented the United States as it attempted to qualify for this autumn’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai,” the New York Times’ Jack Bell ends up chronicling the journeyman’s surprising story about “how crystal meth helped end his M.L.S […]

“I hate to get embarrassed, and we got embarrassed today.  Over the course of 30 games, sometimes you’re going to have a shocker like we had today.  We just need to make sure that doesn’t become the norm.” That was Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid, speaking about Saturday’s surprising 4-0 loss to San Jose […]

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes attributes jealousy as the cause for comments from the likes of Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez that have suggested his historically small club’s off-season spending spree has “distorted the transfer market.” “I have never had to court publicity myself because I played for […]

FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who has wanted to return to Europe for several seasons, has gotten his wish, moving to German second division club TSV 1860 Munich on a transfer pending a medical examination. Cooper joined FC Dallas from Manchester United in 2006 and scored 40 goals in 93 appearances for Dallas. “Kenny has […]

Landon Donovan‘s strong game against Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup not only helped give the USA an historic 2-0 win, it earned the Los Angeles Galaxy star rare respect for an American player among the elite of European soccer. The three FC Barcelona members attending a the press conference in Beverly […]

David Beckham hoped be able to play in Saturday’s Los Angeles Galaxy exhibition with Spanish giant Barcelona despite back problems that forced him to miss practice Thursday at the Home Depot Center. The English star said the pain flared up a few days ago but it did not prevent him from working out in the […]

Bobby Robson, one of the most respected English coaches in modern history, died Friday at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. Robson played for England 20 times during his playing career with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion and later made a name for himself as a manager at Ipswich Town. He […]

U.S. under-17 national team striker Jack McInerney, who overshadowed several other more highly touted teammates by scoring five goals in three games at 2009 Concacaf U-17 qualifying in Tijuana, is off Saturday on a 12-day tryout at Dutch club Vitesse. “I’m real excited, a little nervous,” he said. “It’s my first trial, so this should […]

After Ian Sawyers and Kelly Lindsay, U.S. national team captain Christie Rampone is Sky Blue FC’s third coach of the season. She will finish the 2009 WPS season as the club’s player-coach following Lindsay’s shock resignation. “She left without saying anything to me,” Sky Blue president and CEO Thomas Hofstetter said about Lindsey. “She gave […]

The MLS All-Stars outshot Everton, 21-6, but could beat Everton's American keeper, Tim Howard, just once. Howard, the top goalkeeper for the U.S. national team, made six saves for the match – several of the spectacular variety – and three more in the shootout. He was a nearly unanimous choice for MLS All-Star Game MVP. […]

Kendall Jagdeosingh scored the lone goal in the second half to give the Puerto Rico Islanders a 1-0 win over MLS club Toronto FC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions' League preliminary round Wednesday. Jagdeosingh rounded Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the 68th minute to finish easily for the Islanders, semifinalists in last […]

Scottish club Hearts has some bills to pay, or it will be forced into bankruptcy. The club confirmed today that HM Revenue and Customs has launched a petition at the Court of Session because of the club's unpaid debts. The club issued a statement on its website to assuage fears of over its debts. It […]

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has reportedly handed in a transfer request while speculation continues over a possible move to Real Madrid. Liverpool has so far refused to lower its price tag on the Spain midfielder, in the region of $49.5 million. But Alonso's stated intentions could affect his transfer price. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has […]

Freddy Adu had his first training session of preseason with Benfica today. As the U.S. international doesn’t know if he will be part of the plans of Coach Jorge Jesus, he wants to impress his new boss. Adu has kept followers abreast of his status on his Twitter page. He writes: “I am not 100 […]

Bomb disposal experts removed a live hand grenade from the garden wall outside the home of former Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish. Simon Lewis Ignacio, 28, of Lee Park Avenue, Belle Vale, and Carl Higgins, 29, of Helston Green, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. They are due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court […]

In theory, All-Star games are supposed to be exhibitions of flair, talent and goals. But that's not the way Wednesday night's game played out between the MLS All-Stars and Everton FC. "This was a real game," the Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. "You could tell by the way they were playing. There were a […]

Toronto FC might have another shot at its rival, the Columbus Crew, which came from behind to deal Toronto a devastating 3-2 loss on Saturday in MLS play. On Wednesday (Fox Soccer Channel, 8 pm ET), Toronto begins a two-legged series with the USL's Puerto Rico Islanders in the Concacaf Champions League to advance to […]

Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear has the enviable position of forming a lineup from 18 of the best players in the MLS. "It's a little bit difficult (to mesh all of the players together), but good players play good all of the time, no matter who they are around," Kinnear said, who leads the MLS […]

On Tuesday, The Colorado Rapids released Terry Cooke, one of their most popular and long-serving players, to make room for Scottish striker Jamie Smith. The 32-year-old midfielder had played in just 10 of the Rapids first 18 games, making five starts, well behind the pace that saw him log his 100th match with the Rapids […]

After passing his medical on Wednesday, Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa is set to sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid and complete his move from Liverpool. "The results of every test are very satisfactory," Dr. Carlos Diez said. "He is delighted about playing for Real Madrid. It's always been his dream. He can't wait to […]

Kolo Touré will undergo medical tests today ahead of completing a $23 million move to Manchester City. Touré's move from Arsenal is the second piece of business the two clubs have done this summer, following Emmanuel Adebayor's arrival earlier this month. The deal marks City's sixth of the offseason following the signings of of Roque […]

The Argentine soccer federation (AFA) has decided to push back the start of the top-flight Apertura tournament because of the financial problems facing a number of clubs. A players union has listed seven clubs that have debts totaling $10 million: San Lorenzo, River Plate, Independiente, Newell’s, Huracan, Racing Club and Rosario Central. “All the AFA […]

According to Freddy Adu's Twitter account, he is in Lisbon to sort his future with Benfica, the Portuguese club Adu joined from Real Salt Lake in 2007. Reports indicate that Adu is not part of Coach Jorge Jesus' plans. Adu has been linked with another loan spell, in the Netherlands, a move that he and […]

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre doesn't appreciate the press calling Mexico's Gold Cup winning squad a "B team." "I remember having read – and I hated it – that this was a 'B' team. And now it might be the base,'' Aguirre fired back at reporters. But the only players from the squad that routed the […]