Hull City officials had their worst fears confirmed Wednesday, as marquee mid-season transfer pickup Jimmy Bullard was found to need ACL reconstruction and will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 Premier League season. The 30-year-old midfielder just signed a 4½ -year, $7.5 million deal after coming over from Fulham, but only appeared in 37 minutes […]
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
6-year-old ‘Junior Zidane’ Already Drawing Interest?
According to The Sun’s Derek Brown, officials from world powers Real Madrid and Chelsea are already keeping tabs on the skills of 6-year-old, Algerian-born Madin Mohammed, who is drawing comparisons with countryman Zinedine Zidane after a highlight video has circulated on French TV.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Long Live King George
“Weah was a real surprise. For me it was like a child discovering a chocolate bunny in his garden at Easter. I have never seen any player explode on to the scene like he did.” Arsene Wenger on bringing the Liberian living legend to French club Monaco when he was just 21.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South African Stadium Delayed Due to Strike
While tickets might be ready to fly off the shelves, completion of South African stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is still a concern, with the AP reporting Thursday that construction on Mbomela Stadium “will miss its completion deadline after hundreds of workers were fired for going on an illegal strike.”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
2010 World Cup Ticketing Starts Friday
Sixteen months from the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, FIFA begins the ticketing process on Friday with its first sales phase kicking off via FIFA.com starting at 1:00 pm in South Africa (or 6 am ET/3 am PT). “The fervor is already palpable within South Africa and all around the world; […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Eriksson Endorsed By FMF Jefe
At least for now, it appears Sven Goran Eriksson is still the best man for the job in Mexico, receiving a strong endorsement Thursday in comments made by Mexican Futbol Federation (FMF) President Justin Compean, who reminded restless fans and media alike that they “hired Sven so we could go to the World Cup together.” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
More Support For Scolari; Chelsea Chastised
Joining a growing choir of EPL peers in support of recently sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bolton Wanderers coach Gary Megson took his turn Wednesday to state “it didn’t need changing at Chelsea.” Quick to point out that Scolari’s time with the team was reduced to “two or three results that didn’t go their way,” he […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Internet Fan-Run Club Needs Boost
The future of the phenomenon of online-owned soccer teams is in jeopardy, as the owners of the world’s first Internet-run team, Ebbsfleet United, need at least 3,000 investors to pay up on Thursday in order to retain rights to the English Conference team, writes ESPN Soccernet. Ebbsfleet was originally purchased on Feb. 19, 2008 by […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Driving the school or sports carpool always affords the opportunity to eavesdrop on what’s really happening in kids’ lives. While kids may not tell their parents about an embarrassing or unsettling experience with a teacher, a coach, or another authority figure, they’ll almost certainly tell each other, especially if they’re in the backseat of a car and they don’t think the parent is listening.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beasley victim of frightening foul
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Glasgow Rangers’ DaMarcus Beasley came close to scoring twice before being victimized by a vicious foul in Scottish Cup play. In England, Clint Dempsey‘s 90-minute effort couldn’t help Fulham improve on its dismal road record when it faced Manchester United. And two Americans saw UEFA Cup action.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Europe on verge of soccer meltdown?
[EUROPE] UEFA president Michel Platini issued a dire warning that European soccer was on the verge of a financial meltdown if measures to curb spending on salaries and transfers aren’t implemented. Speaking to the European Parliament, the former French star pointed out that American sports leagues were better positioned to handle the worldwide financial crisis and European clubs needed to learn from their example.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham meeting on or off?
[MLS] Changing by the hour if not the minute, the David Beckham saga rolls, or lurches, on. A proposed meeting between AC Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini and Galaxy officials, set for Thursday and then pushed back to next week, may be back on.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New-look Galaxy opens with shutout win
[PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP] The Los Angeles Galaxy got goals on either side of halftime from Edson Buddle and Jovan Kirovski and beat Japanese club Oita Trinita, 2-0, Wednesday night before a slim crowd of 5,624 at the Home Depot Center to advance to Saturday’s championship against South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Last-minute goal gives Spain victory
[U.S. UNDER-17 NATIONAL TEAM] The USA fell to Spain, 2-1, on a goal in the 90th minute of Wednesday’s clash of U-17 powers at the Spanish soccer federation’s Ciudad del Futbol.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
College coach fired over ‘Survivor’ appearance
[OFF THE POST] If remains to be seen how far Ben Wade gets on “Survivor: Tocantins,” but his college soccer coaching appears to be over. Wade says he plans on dedicating himself to acting after he was fired as head women’s soccer coach at Southwest Baptist University less than a week after he debuted on the 2009 CBS “Survivor” show. Wade was fired for leaving the team with two weeks left in the season and failing to tell the school where he was going. He said he would be gone a week; he only returned from the Brazilian Highlands eight weeks later.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup Results
AC Milan had to settle for a 1-1 tie at Werder Bremen in the first leg of their UEFA Cup round-of-32 series. David Beckham came on in the last minute for Ronaldinho. For all of Wednesday’s results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Second Colombian joins Sounders
[MLS] Another piece in the building of Seattle’s back line had been laid into place. Colombian center back Jhon Kennedy Hurtado has been signed and will join the team during its preseason trip to Argentina, which begins next week. For more on Hurtado’s signings and the other MLS moves …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Scolari Prevented From Pick of Premiership
Although Chelsea released Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was paid out the $12-million for his two-year deal, Chelsea officials claim that his contract with the club prevents him from taking another coaching job with another English Premier League club until the 2009-10 season. Scolari’s name has been on the tip of tongues at Manchester […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
First Female Coach to Take Reins
While will be taking place in one of England’s amateur divisions and will last but one day, 27-year-old turnstile operator Donna Powell is set to become one of the first – if not the first – female coach of a men’s soccer team when Conference South club Fischer Athletic hosts Eastleigh on Wednesday. “I am […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Confidence From BeNeLux World Cup Bid
Although faced with perhaps the worst worldwide economic environment since World War II, BeNeLux World Cup Bid Director Alain Courtois stated on Tuesday that he’s confident there will be enough private funds to build the 12 new stadiums necessary to host either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup. The so-called BeNeLux bid, which would […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Meeting Postponed, But Milan Wants Beckham
The meeting between AC Milan director Umberto Gandini and AEG boss Tim Lieweke looks to be postponed until next week, according to Italian outlet Sportmediaset. Originally scheduled to be arriving in L.A. on Thursday, Gandini and club representatives now won’t be landing in the USA until next week, delaying a possible decision on Beckham’s future […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sounders to Host Chelsea in July 18 Friendly
It may seem a bit ambitious for a team that has yet to play a single MLS game to arrange a mid-season matchup with a world power, but that’s indeed what will happen on July 18, as league newcomer Seattle Sounders host EPL giant Chelsea at Qwest Field in a game to be televised live […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Platini Warns Europe’s Wealthiest of Overspending Pitfalls
Taking the floor of European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, UEFA President Michael Platini warned the continent’s wealthiest clubs against overspending, excessive player salaries and U-18 transfers, among other things. “One thing is certain: European clubs are currently telling us that our system is in danger of financially imploding in the medium term,” said Platini, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arsenal’s Eduardo Awaits Injury Apology
While Arsenal’s Eduardo has overcome a broken leg and dislocated ankle from a year ago and made a triumphant return with a pair of goals in a 4-0 FA Cup over Cardiff City, it’s clear that the Brazilian forward (who plays for Croatia) has yet to get closure from the collateral damage caused by Birmingham […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Timing Right for Convey’s Return to MLS
After spending four up-and-down years with Reading in England, 25-year-old U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey has returned to MLS, where at 16 he was once the youngest player the league had ever signed. Released from his Reading contract after injuries plagued his last two seasons with the second division club, Convey inked a two-year deal with […]