Chicago Fire
MLS Stuff
MLS
- Central Winger: Draft remains an undervalued tool in MLS
- J Hutcherson: What Major League Soccer Needs in 2013
- WV Hooligan: MLS and USL-PRO Talking Partnership – I love this move. It’s something I’ve commented on in the past. Make so much sense, which makes it almost surprising that MLS is going for it, given their penchant for questionable past developmental decision.
- Philly Soccer Page: MLS-USL deal is huge for American pro soccer
- SoccerLens: How MLS can help North America’s lack of passion for football – An interesting read with a good comment thread.
- J Hutcherson: MLS and the Ideal of an American Soccer Club
- US Soccer Players: Five Items Every MLS Club Needs
MLS Stadium Blues in Bridgeview
- Footiebusiness: Money Troubles in Chicago
- Chicago Tribune: Soccer stadium deal kicks Bridgeview taxpayers in the teeth
- Heartland: Small Town Gets Big-League Debt with Stadium Deal
- Chicago Tribune: Bridgeview slides further into debt to support stadium
Soccer Potpourri
Guests in town, so don’t expect any posts for the next 9 days.
MLS
- The Guardian: Tim Ream and the MLS to EPL journey
- Hot Time in Old Town: How the Fire’s New Sponsor Deal Compares to Other MLS Clubs
- Brian Lewis: Red Bulls explore residence academy
Interesting Reads
- David Conn: Uefa’s fair play rules will help clubs rein in spending
- J Hutcherson: UEFA And The Fairness Of Transfer Fees
- US Soccer Players: What American Soccer Fans Should Be Watching
- SI.com: Relegation is part of K-League overhaul
Tournaments
- African Cup of Nations
- FA Cup: FA Cup Update
- Olympics: US Women qualify for Olympics
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- Impressive: 11 Fire Premier Players taken in MLS Draft
- MLS Soccer: And then there was the supplemental draft
- US Soccer Players: Coming Back
- Tweed Thornton: Wilman Conde’s Rights? What about the Chicago Fire’s? – A very good read.
Interesting Reads
- US Soccer Players: Tony Edwards offers his own potpourri of stories – A good catch-up read if you’ve missed the news
- Martin Samuel: How do you cope with vile abuse from crowds, lousy refs, racism, the risk of match fixing …and still sell Premier League rights?
- Dave Clark: CONCACAF Champions League Changes Similar To MLS Structual Changes
- David Hills: Said and Done
- ESPNSoccernet: Indian football set to get its own IPL
- J Hutcherson: The Premier League’s Self-Assessment
- David Conn: Sepp Blatter and Fifa facing a moment of truth – or another whitewash
The Business of Soccer
- Fox Soccer: Government seizes Puebla’s stadium
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- Shilling for MLS: Links to 2012 MLS season tickets for all teams – An unapologetic plug for MLS
- Grant Wahl: MLS’ regular season and playoff schedule structure needs fixing
– This post has been out a few days, but just in case you missed it, it’s worth a read - Chicago Fire: Chicago Fire partner with Atletico Madrid, Club América and Sport Club Internacional in Strategic Alliance
- Jason Davis: Expansion and the MLS Meta
Interesting Reads
- Tactics: Fullbacks Vs. Wingbacks: What They Mean For The Attack
- Alex Labidou: Arsene Wenger and Billy Beane – Why the two similar idealists are on the hot seat
- David Hills: Said and Done
- Guardian: André Villas-Boas calls for revolution in English youth football – Note that many folks think this is the way MLS should go.
- Independent: Ian Holloway: Unforgivable how system continues to fail clubs that produce future stars
- Guardian: Waiting for kick-off – plight of African footballers left on sidelines in Turkey
- Guardian: Women and Children only attend Fenerbahce opener as men are banned
Tourneys
- Copasudamérica: Olimpia through to final 16 – Universidad de Chile also through to final 16 – Fan violence ends both matches early
- CONCACAF Champions League: One MLS win in 5 matchday four games
The Business of Soccer
Tuesday Soccer Sampling
MLS
- Steve Davis: Talking Tactics: After a star’s injury, how a club adjusts
- Jeremy Oshan: MLS Player Salaries: Looking Inside The Data
- Kevin McCauley: The Constantly Changing Chicago Fire
- Sporting KC: Tactical Thinking: Searching for the right pair
- J Hutcherson: What MLS Allows
Interesting Reads
- FIFA: Triesman accuses four FIFA members of impropriety during World Cup site selection
- Tom Dunmore: FIFA’s Half-Hearted Tackle On Match-Fixing In Soccer – Pleased to see Tom posting again.
- Serie A: Lazio and the Stadium Debacle
- France: A race scandal, a fight for France’s soul
- FIFA: FIFA puts forward proposals to make changes to offside rule & allow teams to make four substitutions per game
The Business of Soccer
- Independent: Salary cap can bring a level playing field(in England)
- Independent: Premier League teams to receive record TV pay out
Tournaments
Around the World
- World Club Rankings: Top 25 Clubs in the World
- HexagonalBlog: A roundup of Central American action
News and Views
MLS
- With the announcement of the pairings for the MLS play-in matches for the US Open Cup, I took another look at the schedule. I found that the midweek game for the week of the Open’s 3rd round(June 28), in which the 8 qualified MLS teams begin play, is between Vancouver and Toronto. Good job scheduling.
- Kyle McCarthy: Future Must Bring Significant Revisions To Playoff Structure
- Steve Davis: Steve points out another issue with MLS playoffs… the beginning of 2014 World Cup qualification will fall smack dab in the middle of playoff season. Playoff bye week anyone?
- Kevin Koczwara: Defending the REVolution
- Chicago Fire: Change Up Top in Chicago
- Toronto FC: TFC Reaches Out to the Caribbean
The Business of Soccer
US Development Academy Winter Showcase Pics
Here are some more pics from the US Development Academy Winter Showcase. These are of the Galaxy U18′s v South Carolina Utd and the Fire U18′s v FC Delco.
Galaxy Pics
Fire Pics
News and Views from Thur-Fri Sep 2-3
Starters
- Just a heads up that I will be on a two week hiatus, starting on Saturday. I may be able to sneak in a post or two, but no guarantees. The sites on my blog list are regular stops for me, and I recommend them to you for your soccer fix. Enjoy your soccer.
MLS
- MLS Weekend Preview — Sept. 4–5
- Another MLS Weekend Preview — Sept. 4–5
- A third MLS Weekend Preview — Sept. 4–5
- Garber on schedule congestion
- New Adidas Deal Is Huge For The Future Of MLS
- A two part interview with Arlo White, Seattle Sounders broadcaster and a damn good one at that – Part 1 - Part 2
- I had to pick one report, you can find many others – Brian McBride to retire
Club Tournaments
- US Open Cup – Just can’t get no respect
- A Fake Sigi US Open Cup rant
- WV Hooligan calls for the end of N.A. SuperLiga
- Copa Sudamericana Update
Around the World
- League tables just a click away
- EPL Rosters – I’ll have more on this in a few days
- More comments on the 25 man EPL roster rule
- USSF D2 – D2 Playoff Rules Clarified
- USSF D2 – A Look Ahead at Week 22
- Austin Aztex Not Committing and Rochester Rhinos Sorting Out Their Options; A USSF D2 & D3 Update
- CONCACAF – Greg Seltzer chimes in on the new qualification rules
- CONCACAF – Dan Feurstein chimes in on the new qualification rules
- CONCACAF – Howard Hamilton chimes in on the new qualification rules
- In case haven’t figured it out yet, the proposed changes in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying represents a sea change, hence the multiple links on the story.
- La Liga – On the lack of competition in La Liga
Interesting Reads
- By way of Soccer by the Numbers: Reforming Soccer: Proposals From An Economist
- West Ham co-owner Sullivan calls for end to loan ‘madness’
News and Views from Wed 8/18
MLS
- Colorado: Rapids Apparently Stuck In An Eddy, Part 1
- Andrea Canales: Playing time doesn’t come to those who are picky
- Drew Epperly: Whitecaps and Timbers Taking Shape
- Fire douse Revs
Around the World
- USSF D2 Update
- USSF D2 rules and comments from Kenn Tomasch
- What is a playmaker’s role in the modern game?
Club Tournaments
- CONCACAF: Champions League Results – Columbus, RSL, Santos Laguna win in group phase openers
- UEFA: Champions League Results
- UEFA: Europa League Results
- Copa Libertadores Final – Internacional of Brasil wins title
- Copa Sudamerica
Player Moves
The Business of Soccer
- World Cup stars increase Liverpool’s Fifa payout
- Football League chairman orders clubs to end 45% rise in agents’ fees
- So you want to own a soccer team: Part 1 NPSL Part 2 NSSL
News and Views from Tues Aug 18
MLS
- Week 20 attendance report and more
- MLS Hires Consultant Known for Launching Channels
- Chicago: Fire sign first home grown player
- Chicago: 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 ?
- San Jose: Keeper Cannon breaks ankle
- Toronto: Toronto over Cruz Azul in CCL group stage opener
Around the World
- Jonathan Wilson: Strategy in the EPL on opening weekend
- So you want to be a soccer writer
- If you like stats, bookmark this
Club Tournaments
- CONCACAF: Champions League Results – TFC, Monterrey win, Puerto Rico draws in group phase openers
- UEFA: Champions League Results
- UEFA: Europa League Results
Player Moves
- Juventus loan Tiago back to Atletico
- Manchester City agree deal to sign James Milner from Aston Villa
- Craig Bellamy agrees to join Cardiff City on loan from Manchester City
- Birmingham Sign Matt Derbyshire On Loan
- Real Madrid sign Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen
The Business of Soccer