by Matt Besler
Hello to everyone and welcome back to another version of "Across the Midwest Pitch." Although, this week it should probably be changed to the "Southwest Pitch" because myself and the rest of the Kansas City Wizards just arrived in Phoenix, Arizona.
We are staying in Scottsdale and training at a nearby complex called Reach 11.

As part of the Development Academy experience, all Academy players have the opportunity to participate in the full battery of NIKE SPARQ tests to measure their soccer-specific athleticism. There are five tests conducted in order to receive a soccer-specific SPARQ rating: Body mass, vertical jump, 20-meter sprint, arrowhead agility and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery.

Joe Hart's triple save Monday night for Manchester City against Liverpool as well as his heroic saves for City against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the season have been the difference for City thus far this season. City would definitely have lost against Spurs if it wasn't for Hart.

The theme of 2011 planning continues, building off the idea of Agility that I mentioned in the last post.

And no, I'm not suggesting that team sign up for advanced calisthenics, Bikram Yoga classes or take ballet. (Though, after last season's struggles, I'm necessarily against any of the above either.

We love our readers, and let us tell you why:

Quite frankly, the Kickette army of soldier-girls are the best-dressed, cleverest, and cutest experts on football around.

That they can also yield a pair of hair straighteners with the speed and agility of a ninja with nun-chucks whilst simultaneously watching three different games of football (often from three different leagues) is further proof of their ferosh.

Unfortunately, knee injuries are all to commonplace in the sport of soccer. In particular girls suffer anterior cruciate injuries at a rate that is 4-8 times higher than their male counterparts. The reasons for this increased risk are somewhat debatable but most researchers suggest that deficiencies in strength, balance, agility and technique play key roles.

That headline sounds like the title of a Robert Ludlum book, doesn't it! Arsene has done his bit to add to the mystery. This is what he said about Campbell in his pre-match press conference,

I will pick him for the next game because for me the next game is an important one.

Just after the West Ham game Le Boss had a different view,

Sol Campbell was outstanding but to repeat the games could become a problem for him so I think I have to give him a big holiday next week to recover.

San Siro man set for more World Cup success?

Find, Compare and Buy 2010 World Cup Tickets at

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

Andrea Pirlo is one of those players who appears to have been around for an age and whilst the AC Milan man is nearing his 31st birthday he is still more than able of making his mark at the World Cup this summer.

And so we have our two finalists, Spain and the Netherlands, both have never one the World Cup and have a great generation of players that both deserve to win it. On one side you have Wesley Sneijder's brilliance, and on the other you have Xavi's calculating mastermind. On one side you have Robben's deadly speed, and on the other you have David Villa's precise finishing.

Search is on for skillful street strikers!

Auditions for new series of Coke Zero street striker presented by Wayne Rooney coming soon to Manchester and Birmingham

7th June 2010: Coke Zero Street Striker Presented by Wayne Rooney is back again for another year and this time the search for the nation's most skilful street footballer is bigger and better than ever!

It's time for the MLS combine, when college seniors and Generation Adidas players showcase their wares for MLS coaches and general managers. While the players receive most of the attention, we thought we would take a look at the business side of the combine. Buzz Carrick, of the highly regarded 3rd Degree website, and a veteran of covering MLS combines, was kind enough of to answer a few questions for us about the business of the combine.

We love our readers, and let us tell you why:

Quite frankly, the Kickette army of soldier-girls are the best-dressed, cleverest, and cutest experts on football around.

That they can also yield a pair of hair straighteners with the speed and agility of a ninja with nun-chucks whilst simultaneously watching three different games of football (often from three different leagues) is further proof of their ferosh.

Since the D.C. United Team Store launched in June, 2009, the club has received order requests from across the globe. Domestically the Black-and-Red has shipped merchandise to nearly every state in the country. Recently orders to New Hampshire and Hawaii were filled, leaving Missouri as the only state without representation.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Charlie Davies looks set to take the next step in his remarkable comeback by resuming regular training with French club Sochaux in the next week or two.

Charlie Davies' injuries suffered in a car crash this past fall left US National Team fans to wonder whether one of their chief attacking threats would be able to play again, let alone this summer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
After reading Soccer America's Paul Kennedy's report on Davies' status, it sounds like he might be back up and playing by April.

Charlie Davies is back to training with Sochaux, and it appears that it is a matter of time that he will be able to get back in form to join his US teammates in the 2010 World Cup this summer in South Africa.
Davies sat down with Arch Bell from Yanks Abroad to update his training and health status.

Jim Rogash - Getty Images

You won't see all of these guys in South Africa; final cuts are today. You will see No. 5, Oguchi Onyewu ... but can he be ready? We still don't know.

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Oguchi Onyewu needed to begin allaying concerns last night against the Czech Republic – and I'm just not sure he made any progress.

In recent World Cups the Aussies have done well, but on Sunday night they were battered 4-0 by Germany in their opening game. In a shocking performance Tim Cahill was sent off for a tackle only worth a yellow, they defended badly, they couldn't score, and were not quick enough. Their problems were obvious and big mistakes have been made by coach Pim Verbeek mistakes that could cost them big time.

There had been rumblings of discontent in the English tabloids, with doubts beginning to creep in as to whether England manager Fabio Capello really knew what he was doing. But of course he did.

Today Capello made two unforced changes to his England team for the must win game against Slovenia, bringing in James Milner on the right wing to replace Aaron Lennon, and Jermain Defoe up front to replace Emile Heskey.

Mike Chabala (20 May 1984) plays left back for the Houston Dynamo. The 26 year-old defender already has one MLS Cup title under his belt, which he notched in 2007 with the Dynamo. We at Soccer Jones had the chance to chat with Chabala.

Before making your way to the MLS in 2006, you attended the University of Washington where you graduated with a degree in economics in just 3 1/2 years.

Nani: I realise where I am now

"VIDEO: Nani Getting Agility Back" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Sanchez Watt is actually Herschel Oulio Sanchez Watt in full. He plays for Premier League side Arsenal, but on loan to Leeds United for the past two seasons, and Southend United prior to that.

He was discovered by the Arsenal scouts while playing for Senrab FC, a Sunday football club.

He's back? The LA Galaxy have activated David Beckham and we could see him in action against the Colombus Crew on Saturday. Beckham has seemingly almost fully recovered from a devastating Achilles injury that destroyed his World Cup dreams.

Once he began rehabilitating the injury, doctors told Beckham a return to MLS could be possible by Oct.

There was some soccer tennis today at the end of training, but the bulk of the practice session was taking up by testing for speed, strength, agility and of course, endurance with the famed beep test. The players powered through the testing in 95-degree heat (one of the hottest WNT beep tests on record) in classic WNT fashion and were rewarded with cold Gatorade and recovery shakes, and eventually the air conditioning of the hotel.

England's most-capped player embarrasses himself Ex-England keeper Peter Shilton has taken the reality TV shilling and is currently appearing on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing. It appears all that goalkeeping agility doesn't necessarily transfer to the dancefloor. Shilton attempted to take on the salsa with partner Erin Boag and.

Despite Pepe Reina's denial of reports that he's looking to leave Liverpool, the Reds have already lined up a replacement for the Spaniard should he depart, according to German reports.
The 4-4-2 Web site claims Liverpool are looking at VfL Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
Bayern Munchen are also said to be interested in the 27-year-old Swiss stopper, who is contracted to Wolfsburg until the end of the 2012/2013 season and is valued €10M-15M.

I've almost come to peace with the fact that this blog sits idle for long periods of time (especially in the offseason), but am always happy when a thought creeps in that feels worth sharing.

Like many others, I face a pesky day job that must come first and can take a fairly significant amount of time from my whole soccer alter-ego.

Agility trumped strength today as Javier Hernandez nimbly saved Manchester United from drawing with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
If any side deserved to win, it was the visitors. But neither team could produce spells of flowing football. Most of the match was spent retrieving balls gone out of bounds.