Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“Our philosophy is different from other clubs of Europe who go into Asia for making money. Our slogan is to create friends and have long-lasting commitments.” Bayern Munich President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in West Bengal Wednesday, announcing the club’s first soccer academy outside Germany.

“It has never been more difficult to find buyers. It’s no longer a question of price negotiation — it’s, ‘Should we?’ People are wondering if now is the time to spend.” Everton owner Keith Harris admits he’s having a hard time finding a buyer for the club.

“Football is characterized by its room for human error. Many would argue it’s a trait that is integral to the game itself but the [Respect] campaign has so far only appeared to increase tensions between referees and managers.” Dan Bryant on the English FA’s increasingly derided campaign for players and managers to respect referees.

The United States dropped three places to No. 27 on the latest FIFA world rankings. Those are the ratings everyone says are meaningless until their country climbs 20 places or reaches the top 10.

“Neither AEG nor anyone affiliated with the organization are in negotiations or are contemplating the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club,” read a statement from Anschutz Entertainment Group.

Although there’s no way of knowing for sure, Real Salt Lake would likely not have made the MLS postseason without its trio of midseason additions in the shape of Robbie Russell, Clint Mathis and Will Johnson, writes James Edward. It’s a view that garners credence from RSL coach Jason Kreis. “I really didn’t think we’d […]

“We are in first place in the group, but just by a hair and that’s not comfortable. We did not think it would be so much of a struggle in the qualification rounds. We are concerned because our expectations were to be already qualified. But we see light at the end of the tunnel. We […]

“Corruption lurks as a background concern for UEFA, but it is infrastructure that presents the more pressing problem for teams, fans and journalists. Donetsk is getting there, just about, but one venue is not enough.” Eastern Europe soccer expert Jonathan Wilson assesses the state of Poland and Ukraine’s soccer, transport and leisure infrastructure as both […]

“[Gary] Smith improved the team, plain and simple. He took a team that was foundering at 6-10-3 and collected 17 points in 11 games to finish the season.” The FC Rocky Soccer Blog makes the case both for and against (though largely for) the permanent appointment of Gary Smith as coach at the Colorado Rapids.

Former England, Newcastle and Manchester United striker Andy Cole has retired from the game after his contract with Championship club Nottingham Forest was terminated by mutual agreement. Cole’s 19-year career included a total of 187 goals in the Premier League, and with United he won the European Cup, five EPL titles, and two FA Cups.

Cathal Kelly outlines why David Beckham could stay in or leave Los Angeles. “Reasons To Stay: Pleasant weather; large, local supply of floppy wool hats; leaving would crush Tom Cruise. Reasons To Go: Playing on the worst team in a struggling league that’s not getting any better; would have faded entirely from the public mind […]

If America’s image abroad has been improved overnight by the election of Barack Obama to the office of President, who’s to say that hasn’t bettered the country’s chances of hosting the World Cup in 2018 or 2022? U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati acknowledges that U.S. chances have been done no harm by the Democrat’s […]

It was easy to forget in the light of its shock playoff defeat to New York that the Houston Dynamo’s season is not yet over. The team still has to play its outstanding Concacaf Champions League group game at home to Salvadoran club Luis Angel Firpo on November 26, a game it must win to […]

The Chicago Fire’s visit to the Columbus Crew for Thursday’s Eastern Conference final will mark the return to Ohio of two key players from the Crew’s past. One is Fire forward Brian McBride, who from 1996 to 2003 scored 71 goals in 183 appearances for the Crew. The other is Jon Busch, the MLS Goalkeeper […]

Toronto FC owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has given the team the go-ahead to sign a designated player. But, as Morgan Campbell reports, “that doesn’t mean they’re going to do it.” The team’s entire 2009 business plan was approved by the MLSE board of directors at an all-day meeting Monday. But TFC Chief Operating […]

The U.S. soccer world continues to digest RB New York’s 3-0 playoff win in Houston that caught out pundits from Anchorage to Miami, but it seems less surprising when you read how New York striker Juan Pablo Angel summarized the game. “We were physical,” said Angel. “We scored on the chances we created. We defended […]

“The home-field edge, regular-season stats and vast playoff experience were rendered meaningless,” for the Houston Dynamo Sunday, writes Bernardo Fallas. All that was left for them to do was rue their bad luck. “I feel sick to my stomach,” said Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear. “I think it’s the most lopsided 3-0 loss I’ve ever seen […]

The Kansas City Wizards were gracious in defeat after falling 2-0 to the Columbus Crew Saturday and 3-1 overall in the Eastern Conference semifinal. “They’re a good team,” admitted Wizards’ goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. “There’s no bones about it. Maybe if we were able to come in with the goal advantage that we coughed up at […]

Real Salt Lake playmaker Javier Morales has done everything for his team this year, writes Michael Lewis: “Spearheaded the attack. Led the team in assists. Set up some of the biggest goals in franchise history.” On Saturday at Chivas USA it was logical that he would deliver the goal that sealed the team’s berth in […]

The businessman behind the bold bid to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami in collaboration with Spanish giant Barcelona “has an uncanny knack for pouncing on opportunities at just the right time and the ingenuity to carry out his ideas,” writes Michelle Kaufman, citing “those who know him best.” Bolivian native and South […]

“Every weekend… brings a frustrating, sometimes maddening level of sub par refereeing. The increasingly swell and swank grounds of MLS are fraught with lenient refereeing. When parlayed with routinely ineffective game management, it all serves to drag down the overall quality of the product.” Steve Davis calls for MLS to seriously address the standard of […]

“It’s pretty painful. We felt like we were always going uphill this year. You get the goal you need tonight [Saturday] and you just give it right back and you’re pushing that boulder up the hill again. It is a microcosm of our year.” Chivas USA striker Ante Razov reflects upon the his team’s season […]

“I think he set the tone for the game when I saw how he approached our player before the game, their player before the game. I thought it was embarrassing. He’s having an argument with Kei [Kamara] before the game, then goes and practically hugs Juan Pablo Angel, almost sprints across the field to shake […]

“I’d like to see us fill this place on Thursday night. I’d really like to see it packed. As far as I know, there are not a lot of pro sports in Columbus. It has been a long time since there has been a [Columbus] professional sports team on the verge of winning a title. […]

“We are calm and under control and we on the board have the highest regard for Mark. I am personally committed to him as I am committed to the partnership between executive chairman Garry Cook, Mark and myself. This is a winning team that is going through a learning curve right now.” Manchester City Chairman […]