USL
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- MLSSoccer.com: Dell Loy Hansen acquires full ownership of Real Salt Lake
- The False Nine: The growth of MLS: a myth or a legacy?
- J Hutcherson: Major League Soccer’s January Economy
- L.E. Eisenmenger: MLS draft order defies MLS player development
- Brian Straus: MLS, USL partnership integral to rise of pro game
Interesting Reads
- Soccer Newsday: New Directions for NASL, USL PRO & NPSL
- Jeff Carlisle: Pathways to the pros
- BBC News: Is satellite TV killing African football?
The Dark Side
- Washington Post: At least 30 killed in Egyptian clashes after soccer verdict
- Gavin Day: CSA severs ties with 3rd division over match-fixing
- SoccerLens: La Liga: The spectre of match fixing looms
The Business of Soccer
- BBC Business: Premier League sells Middle East and Africa TV rights – Note that MP & Silva currently holds international rights to MLS
- ESPN FC: New ‘financial fair play’ rules for Spain
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- The next Take Me Out to the Ballgame post will include MLS matches from Sep 3-10.
Interesting Reads
- Independent: Euro Clubs demand fewer international dates
- David Hills: Said and Done
- Greg Seltzer: American Exports: Top five transfer-deadline questions
- Stats: Passing Analysis (And Introducing Radial Graphs)
Around the World
- Spain: Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Dominance: A Financial Look Into La Liga
- Italy: Temporary contract ends Serie A strike
- Jakarta Casual: Cambodian Champions
- North America: Orlando City Takes Inaugural USL PRO Championship
- Europe: Trying to Make Sense of Financial Fair Play
Tourneys
- WC14-Asia: Iraq and North Korea win in WC qualifying
- WC14-CONCACAF: T&T and Guatemala win in WC qualifying
- EURO ’12: Spain and Italy qualify
- Copa Sudamericana: Argentina’s Arsenal progress
MLS Converts and More Footie Stories
MLS
- Jason Davis: What MLS Needs From TV
- Kyle McCarthy: Innovative Approach Creates Foundation For LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
- Steve Davis: Total Football in MLS? Not just yet
- MLSUK: Diary of an MLS Convert – Kudos to Glenn for this terrific idea.
- Quarter Volley: MLS Statistical Analysis 3.0a – 2010 Offense
Tournaments
- Copa Libertadores: Libertad to Top of Group One
- UEFA Champions League: Barca, Shaktar Donestk, Spurs and Schalke go Through
Interesting Reads
- The Remarkable Decline of Boca Juniors
- Unprofessional Foul: An Un-American Dream: Part 1
Staying out of the Mainstream – Links
Starter Fun
- The latest episode of Special1 TV: Mid Table Madness
Not in the Mainstream
- Jonathan Wilson on Energy Cost of Playing on Artificial Turf
- Intercontinental Club Football Calendar for 2011 – with link to 2011 National Team International Tournament calendar
- A working life: The football groundsman
- Rob Hughes: In Soccer, Making It Look Easy Was Never So Hard
- Brian Quarsted: San Antonio: One Team, Two Teams, or No Teams? NASL or USL?
- Steve Davis: The high school soccer debate, and where we get it wrong
News and Views from Thurs May 20
MLS
- LA and Columbus remain undefeated despite missing top players.
- Ngwenya finally rejoins Houston.
- Rev U16 players honored by US Soccer.
- Union loan Zimmerman to Harrisburg.
- Red Bull Arena, will it matter?
The Business of Soccer
- Seattle Sounders named as 2010 pro sports team of the year.
- Richard Farley is reporting that NASL’s AC St. Louis and WPS’s St. Louis Athletica are on the brink of going out of business.
- Inside Minnesota Soccer with more on USL and NASL.
Interesting Reads
- Sir Alex Ferguson on American soccer and MLS.
- Steve Davis: Big media should cover soccer correctly or not at all.
- The worst job in soccer.
- Beau Dure: Why college still produces pro talent.
World Cup
- Goal.com debate: Who should start at the back for the US?
- A study in National team training techniques.
- The WC created this soccer fan.
Around the World
- Brasil’s Internacional and Universidad de Chile join Sao Paulo and Chivas de Guadalajara in Copa Libertadores semifinals.
- Mexican Liguilla final – Toluca/Santos draw in first leg.
- Nepal league postponed indefinitely.
After the Weekend Apr 10-11
Feeling pretty good. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this is the first year I’ve decided to root for a specific MLS team. It’s the Union, since Philly was the last place I lived that has an MLS club. Am just over the moon with the way Philly fans turned out for the home opener. The win was just a bonus. Now I just hope the enthusiasm will remain as the team is likely to experience some difficulties with 7 of its next 8 games on the road as they wait for the completion of their new home, PPL Park. I’ll also be watching closely once PPL Park opens to see if folks will make the short trek to Chester. Philly fans have grown accustomed to ‘one-stop shopping’ for their major teams, all located at the Sports Complex in South Philly. Meanwhile, Go Union!
MLS
- My weekly attendance report.
- A fan reacts to DC United’s horrendous start.
- And a Philly fan reacts to the Union home opener.
- And Philly has a new fan.
- Jason Davis: For him, MLS trumps La Liga’s El Clásico.
- Mike Jacobs: College soccer continues to feed MLS.
- Video: Q & A with The Don.
- MLS teams begin US Open Cup play-ins this week.
USSF D2 Play Begins
Interesting Reads
- Keith Hickey: Has the US outgrown CONCACAF? Agree or disagree, it’s a topic that pops up every now and again.
Around the World
- ESPNSoccernet: Guadalajara were knocked off the top of Mexico’s Torneo Bicentario table
- Hexagonal Blog: Haitian football starts its revival.
- Panathinaikos are Greek League Champs.
- Jamaican Premier League update.
| GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
| EPL | ||||||
| Chelsea | 33 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 54 | 74 |
| Manchester Utd | 34 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 50 | 73 |
| Arsenal | 33 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 71 |
| Manchester City | 33 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 28 | 62 |
| Tottenham | 32 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 58 |
| Liverpool | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 21 | 56 |
| Bundesliga | ||||||
| Bayern Munich | 30 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 30 | 60 |
| Schalke 04 | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 58 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 25 | 54 |
| Dortmund | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 52 |
| Werder Bremen | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 51 |
| Hamburg SV | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 48 |
| Ligue 1 | ||||||
| Marseille | 31 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 62 |
| Auxerre | 32 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 60 |
| Lyon | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 19 | 58 |
| Montpellier | 32 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 58 |
| Bordeaux | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 56 |
| Lille | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 55 |
| Serie A | ||||||
| AS Roma | 33 | 2 0 |
8 | 5 | 23 | 68 |
| Internazionale | 33 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 33 | 67 |
| AC Milan | 33 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 64 |
| Palermo | 33 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 54 |
| Sampdoria | 33 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 54 |
| Juventus | 33 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 51 |
| La Liga | ||||||
| Barcelona | 31 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 80 |
| Real Madrid | 31 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 55 | 77 |
| Valencia | 31 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 56 |
| Sevilla FC | 31 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 51 |
| Mallorca | 31 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 51 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 31 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 48 |
News and Views from Fri Apr 9
MLS
- Jeff Carlisle: Union fans prepping for home opener.
- Kyle McCarthy: The Revs defense.
- The folks at Down the Byline found this story about the Fire playing teams from ‘sister cities’.
Player Moves
- Philadelphia signs former USL MVP Arrieta
- RailHawks sign former Crew member Elenio.
- Miami FC adds two players.
- Ibrahim signs with Red Bulls.
USSF D2
Interesting Reads
- The Offside: Slavia Sofia President Saves Player’s Life
- Jakarta Casual: Swelling the coffers of the AFC
News and Views from Thursday Mar 4
A relatively slow day, especially since I’m not linking to the plethora of post international friendly stories.
MLS Preseason
- San Jose update.
- Wizards/Crew draw in Phoenix.
MLS
- LA Galaxy open tryouts this weekend.
Player Moves
- The Seattle Sounders have signed Swiss International forward Blaise Nkufo.He will join the club after the World Cup.
Interesting Reads
- Orlando will have a professional soccer team in 2011. The new team has aligned itself with the USL.
The Business of Soccer
- A peek at Liverpool’s revenue streams. Making the quarterfinals of the ’08-09 UEFA Champions League earned the club 23.2 million Euros. More in the article.
Soccer Bits, Player Moves, Tracking Your Team
Lower Division in the USA
- Wanna keep track of your favorite USSF D2 team? atlanticTFCfan has posted the Twitter and Facebook url’s.
- OurSportsCentral’s franchise report lays out the USL-2 and PDL landscape for 2011.
Young Yanks
The new USMNT U-17 residency class for the Bradenton Academy has been been selected.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Johnathan Starling at Set Piece Analysts reports that mun2, an NBC Universal property, will broadcast Mexican First Division matches in English.
MLS Biz
Fake Sigi on the limitations of MLS’s single entity structure.
More Post MLS SuperDraft Analysis
This time it comes from Ives.
And this one about the NE Revs defense.
MLS Pre-Season
RBNY will head to La Manga, Spain for two weeks from Wednesday, Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. After returning, the club will go to Florida to complete its pre-season.
Rumored Moves
Lee Nguyen is assessing the possibility of playing in MLS. Nguyen currently plays for Vietnamese team Hoàng Anh Gia La.
Reports from France has USMNT Defender Carlos Bocanegra moving from Renne to St. Etienne.
After Bolton passed, Ives is reporting that Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden may be headed to Portugal to sign with 1st place Sporting Braga.
Confirmed Moves
DC United signs Aussie forward Danny Allsopp.
Good Reads
After a couple of good showings for Everton, Andrea Canales of Goal.com offers up her opinion on the likelihood that Landon Donovan’s loan will be extended, or more.
Grant Wahl on his journey to cover the African Cup of Nations.
More Help for Haiti from the Soccer Community
Kaka, Zidane to Play in Game for Haiti Relief.
RBNY, SCF to benefit Haiti through RBA tours.