Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“Having a former England manager as manager of Portsmouth I’m sure is something that the fans would never have envisaged. Somebody of his caliber would be a tremendous acquisition for us.” Portsmouth goalkeeper David James, who, in case you’re wondering, is talking about barely current Mexican coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

“It didn’t work out for a whole host of reasons. The point is that he thought he had to go and do it. It’s out of his system, and now he’s back here. It’s up to him to show us what he’s got, just like everybody else.” New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol on midfielder […]

“We think it’s best to come to a conclusion. Either David [Beckham] is going to stay or he is going to remain at AC Milan. In order for our team to move forward, for the league to move forward, it’s best that we get a decision made as soon as possible.” Everyone in MLS, including […]

“This is a special night for me. I dedicate this award to my mum, without her, I would have been nothing. My father is no more but wherever he is, he will be proud of me.” Arsenal and Togo national team player Emmanuel Adebayor upon receiving the African Footballer Of The Year title Tuesday.

“It is a shame because he [Luiz Felipe Scolari] had not been with us for a long time. Of course there was some criticism and we did not get the results we all would have wanted, but that is not the manager’s fault but the team’s.” Chelsea’s German midfielder Michael Ballack pinpoints the blame for […]

“In many ways, Giggs is the mirror image of Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager. Different in temperament, separated by 32 years in age, they nevertheless share a philosophy that states that too much is never enough.” Matthew Syed pays tribute to Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs.

“It seems indifference towards the national football team is a rare unifying factor [in Belgium]. All of which is curious given that Belgium is blessed with a gifted generation of young players that means the country should be hailing a potential rise of a new European force (rather than fretting about the fact that tonight […]

Russia coach Guus Hiddink has confirmed that he will take over as Chelsea manager until the end of the season, starting next week. “It’s never enough time to prepare a team in one week but this is an exceptional situation,” he told the news agency. “Chelsea have good players and they should be in top […]

North Korea and Bahrain were the winners in Wednesday’s Asian World Cup qualifiers, while Australia stretched its unbeaten run with a handy 0-0 draw in Japan.   On a low-scoring day, North Korea beat Saudi Arabia, 1-0, in Pyongyang when Mun In-guk took advantage of a clever back-heel from Hong Yong-jo to score on 28 […]

Wednesday’s U.S.-Mexico World Cup qualifier in Columbus doesn’t just pit Americans against Mexicans. For second-generation Latino U.S. citizens, the rivalry can cut across both family and ethnic lines, writes Hector Tobar. He tells the story of how he and Joel Aceves “were born and raised in Los Angeles. Both of us are sons of Latin […]

“Never go back,” 1980s psychedelic-surf band Camper van Beethoven once wisely sang, but were Christian Gomez and D.C. United listening? Pat Walsh analyzes the return of the Argentine playmaker to the scene of his greatest days in Major League Soccer,  and wonders whether the 34-year-old, in tandem with Jaime Moreno, 35, can work the magic […]

Real Madrid will borrow $90 million from Spain’s largest bank Santander to help finance the purchase of Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.   The station, citing no sources, said the loan will still not be enough to cover the whole fee. “Cristiano Ronaldo already has an agreement with […]

Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink has said that he is in talks with Chelsea to take over as manager until the end of the season, while continuing as Russia coach. Hiddink said the club approached him on Monday, the day it sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari.   “I have to admit it’s a complicated situation […]

Luiz Felipe Scolari “was on the way to acquiring the full thousand-yard stare that only the special branch of bedlam known as the Premier League can inflict on managers, however illustrious, however crocodile-skinned on first inspection,” writes Paul Hayward. Despite arriving well briefed and determined to instill unity and calm at Chelsea last summer, “the […]

Reading’s U.S. goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has said that it was probably the right time for compatriot and former teammate Bobby Convey to leave the English second division team. Convey left Reading last week by mutual consent and is in talks with Major League Soccer, with San Jose seen as the team most likely to sign […]

Barcelona is lining up Liverpool’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres as a possible summer replacement for Thierry Henry or Samuel Eto’o, according to various European media reports.   Henry, who has never quite settled in Spain since his move from Arsenal, will be 32 this summer. Barcelona has yet to open contract talks with Eto’o, whose […]

D.C. United’s Brazilian midfielder Fred left the nation’s capital to play on loan for Wellington Phoenix of the Australian A-League over the winter. But his spell in New Zealand was cut short after just three games when he received news that his father, Ilson, had been killed in a car accident.   “My dad taught […]

“In today’s age, it is surprising that we’re talking about things like that. But we don’t want to dwell on it. We’re hoping football does the talking.” England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand talks about the possibility of racial abuse of England’s black players by Spanish fans during Wednesday’s exhibition game in Seville. Ferdinand […]

“I felt the team just really didn’t adapt well to Christian’s style or what they were being asked to produce with him in the team. I think it was a determent to Christian Gomez and the team as well.” Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith on why an Argentine playmaker and former league MVP didn’t fit […]

“[David] Beckham was never a great player. He was a great dead-ball specialist. He needs to be surrounded by great players to be of any value. With the Galaxy, he made no one better and had little impact on games since the players were not talented enough to finish off his trademark crosses.” Scott Wolf […]

Sunderland Chairman Niall Quinn has said that his club’s decision to cut season ticket prices for next season was driven by a sense of “moral responsibility.” The team will lower season ticket prices by at least £30 ($45), while children accompanied by an adult will be able to buy season tickets for £19 ($30), just […]

“[UEFA Secretary General] David Taylor stated that Ukraine had managed to maintain the pace of Euro 2012 preparations despite the global financial crisis. This was an appropriate response to all those pessimists who keep doubting Ukraine will meet all its obligations. UEFA representatives have seen that Ukraine has moved from promises and plans to concrete […]

“I’m back in Denmark and it’s great to be back with the team [AGF Aarhus] finally. I continue to do my rehab every day, as I will continue to do that two or three times a week once I am in full training with the team. We are traveling to Italy today, and it looks […]

Chelsea fired Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari only six months into his first season in the English Premier League. The move follows a string of lackluster results, most recently a 0-0 tie at home against Hull City on Saturday that left the Blues in fourth place, seven points behind leader Manchester United. Scolari, who led […]

Five England players, including Arsenal striker Kelly Smith, have signed for Women’s Professional Soccer. One of the five described the decision as a “no-brainer,” with the English FA’s decision to reward England’s national team players with an annual salary of $24,000 later this year seen as too little, too late.   The Boston Breakers will […]