MatchFit USA reported in late April that Ben Lederman, a 10-year-old American, recently joined Barecelona's fabled La Masia academy. My reaction to this? CAP. HIM. NOW. Seriously. We've seen it happen repeatedly with players like Giuseppe Rossi and Nevin Subotic choosing European national teams over the red, white, and blue.

Top 10 LFC tattoos

Some Kopites will go to incredible lengths to display their allegiance to Liverpool Football Club including decorating large parts of their body. We've picked out 10 of the most amazing LFC tattoo photos uploaded to The Kop.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-07-22 11:32:00 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Italian golfer Francesco Molinari will show his allegiance to Inter Milan at this week's BMW Italian Open by donning Nike golf apparel complete with the Nerazzurri's branding.

The next 'Chosen One', Javier Hernandez (Chicharito)It's a great feeling to be a Soccer fan. It gives the U.S. sports fan that many more options. I'm able to watch an intriguing, unpredictable NBA Finals and check in on Gold Cup matches during time-outs.
As a recent Soccer convert, I haven't been able to watch too many Gold Cups in my life, so there aren't many memories to build on.

Remember when you read that Joe Corona was all set to play for Mexico and pass on the chance to play for his actual country of birth, the United States?

Well, scratch that one. It seems the LA-born Corona is ready to follow in the footsteps of Jose Torres and Edgar Castillo and bypass Mexico to play for the United States.

Contributing Editor Graham Fox
We have stood. And danced and cheered. And sang and urged our boys on till our voices crackle and it hurts to speak the next day.
We've pledged allegiance to a coach, espoused the greatness of individual players, screamed, moaned, groaned, and cheered, as good and bad plays and fouls appear on the pitch.

Will Gary Johnson's Northampton Town be swelled by an influx of new fans come next season?

How willing would you be to switch your allegiance to another team – one based 15 miles away?

Most fans would be recoiling in horror at this prospect, but for one team's supporters, it could be the future.

Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

When Timmy Chandler was replaced on the U.S. Soccer roster ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Mexico because of fitness issues, it disappointed plenty who wanted to see Chandler have the chance to go up against El Tri's speedy wingers, an asset that the United States did not have during this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

By Chris Wright

The Met have confirmed that six men are being held in police custody today after a 44-year old Wales fan died in hospital after being attacked outside Wembley following England's 1-0 win last night.

The Police have also identified that the six men being held are all Wales supporters and that the victim, a Cardiff fan domestically, was assaulted due to his club loyalties while, presumably, all seven men were sporting the red of the land of their fathers.

And I don't mean former Galaxy striker Edson Buddle, who now plays in Germany, and was called up into the U.S. squad today for its two upcoming friendlies in Europe.

Here's more from the Associated Press:

CHICAGO (AP) -- German-born defender Alfredo Morales and midfielder Fabian Johnson were among 22 players selected
Thursday for the U.

"Maybe one day I'll come back and play here, but I've always said it will only be for Manchester United." Barely three weeks after declaring his allegiance to the Red Devils, David Beckham is on the verge of proving himself to be one of the biggest liars in football.

During the past two MLS offseasons, in order to maintain fitness for the following LA Galaxy campaign, David Beckham has signed a short-term loan deal with AC Milan.

On a recent trip to Australia I found myself trying to explain to a Liverpool-supporting, Icelandic traveller which football team I followed.

"You won't know them, they aren't a Premier League side," I said. It was a well-worn line I had become accustomed to using Down Under. "I support Millwall.

The January transfer window is one that is usually filled with speculation, and on deadline day, disappointment. Beckham back in the Prem? Didn't think so. But this January window was almost as exciting as Sky made it out to be. The big money moves were Darren Bent to Villa for £18m, a week after he pledged his allegiance to Sunderland.

Pepe Reina has refused to pledge his allegiance to Liverpool, hinting that the Reds may not be competitive enough anymore.
The Merseyside outfit began the season poorly and at one stage even found themselves in the relegation zone, but they have since mounted a resurrection of sorts under manager Kenny Dalglish - and are now chasing fifth place, which would guarantee another run in the Europa League, from which they were eliminated in midweek.

Written by dandan

The football world has changed a great deal over the Premiership years, with the top clubs in particular becoming a corporate playground, yet I bet there are still many real fans out there, living as I did in Parallel universes attending games in corporate mode, both as guest and host.

The team has already made the trek, but the broadcasters follow on Friday a.m. via three different flights from three different ports. If all goes well, we should be in our southeastern Mass. digs by 9 p.m. ET, just in time to catch the second half of the Sox opener with the locals.
I'm a New England guy, but my teams are the Red Sox and Bruins.

This is the first FanPost we've had here on The Bent Musket, so I felt it appropriate to promote it to the front page. Help HoneyBunchesofOates choose a SG!

Ok all, listen up...

Im entering my second year of really following the Revs and I think its time for me to choose an allegiance to one of the three supporter groups that has representation in the Fort.

Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli are keeping tabs on Arsenal's star left back Gael Clichy, with the 25 year old considering a shock move to Liverpool, according to the Daily Express.
Liverpool has long had issues with their left back position, and has been linked with many players over the season.

Today, it was learned the Sacramento Kings of the NBA will play on for at least one more season in Sacramento. Sacramento fans and its city organizers convinced ownership for one more chance at getting a new arena built. Ownership has felt a new arena will bring the profits needed to continue operations successfully.

19 year-old Shane Ferguson doesn't like to talk about it, but its odds on he will soon be playing for Ireland. Shane Ferguson challenging Torres on Sunday Shane has one cap for Northern Ireland, and since that was only a friendly against Italy when he was just 17, the rules allow him to switch allegiance, [.

Earlier this week on The Two Unfortunates, David Cox presented the case that fans should have their football allegiance determined by where they grow up. You can read his excellent article here.The promotion of his hometown club to the Premier League a few nights ago, however, got William Abbs thinking about a particular kind of sadness felt in adulthood by fans who, as children, opted not to

Keep the faith Gooners..

It's been a long time since I blogged. Lots of travel (both personal and work-related), plus a change in job (which included a hell lot of transition) and most of all, Arsenal's poor form, kept me away from 11G, something I feel very apologetic about. I sometimes doubted my allegiance towards the lads, as the trend suggested I kept away at a time the team wasn't doing well.

Keep the faith Gooners..

It's been a long time since I blogged. Lots of travel (both personal and work-related), plus a change in job (which included a hell lot of transition) and most of all, Arsenal's poor form, kept me away from 11G, something I feel very apologetic about. I sometimes doubted my allegiance towards the lads, as the trend suggested I kept away at a time the team wasn't doing well.

Due to a brief summer break, this week's quick round-up football charities is a little later than usual, but this evening we have another couple of causes related to the game which prove that, for all of the bad news that seems to be out there and it can seem, from time to time, to be perpetual there is still some good that can come from the heart of the game.

This piece below written by US National, World Cup veteran and current Estudiantes Tecos player Herculez Gomez.

The fire to play. More important than the building view...

Editor's Note: An appropriate segue out of the July 4th weekend, Herculez Gomez tries his hand at his first written piece.

There was plenty of speculation about whether Timmy Chandler's decision to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup was evidence of the German-born player's potential desire to play for Germany and give up his recent allegiance to the United States.

Chandler shot that down in a recent interview, telling Yanks Abroad he has every intention of playing for the United States, and no desire to represent Germany, where he was born.

By Chris Wright

Bob Mancini has let slip that Manchester City have shaken hands with Corinthians over a fee for Carlos Tevez (reportedly £40 million plus £5 million in add-ons) with the homesick Argentinian now set to begin discussing personal terms with his former club.

On On April 15 1989 24,000 Liverpool fans travelled to watch an FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday, 766 were injured on the day and 96 of them were never to return.

Over 22 years on, the search for the same thing remains unwaveringly since the day the tragedy happened.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

With the recent news that Keon Daniel has been called up for Trinidad and Tobago, who on the Philadelphia Union might be worthy of being called up for the United States?

Since 2007, Daniel has an impressive 46 appearances and eight goals for his country.

Is it possible there wouldn't be an MLS if the Seattle Sounders hadn't joined? Prior to Seattle's first season in 2009, the league was still struggling and there were some doubts as to whether it would survive.

Forget Arteta, Crouch, Barton or Bellamy. Surely the transfer of all transfers this summer was Brighton's signing of Valencia legend Vicente Rodriguez on a free transfer last week!

Gus Poyet is exactly right to call this signing a "major coup" for the club which already sit top, and needless to say undefeated, after six games in their first season in the Championship since 2006.

Their Words I have been involved in a few reserve games and they have been good for fitness and for getting back into the swing of things but there's nothing like putting on the shirt and playing in a competitive match. Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden. Other Sources Timothy Chandler pledges his allegiance - from ESPN.

THFC1882′s Stuart Watts presents the return of guest writer Gareth Johnson for his very personal preview of Spurs visit to Newcastle:

Sunday 16th October 2011. St James' Park. Kick off 4pm. Sky Sports 1/HD1 and 3D

It's the big one. No, it really is.

With the Philadelphia Union set to host their inaugural playoff match this Sunday, much of Philadelphia is gripped with Doop fever. Another symbol of the team's success at reaching hearts and minds came last week, when the Union announced a deal with sports radio station WIP to broadcast 17 matches, beginning in 2012.

Manager Craig Levein has revealed Scotland missed the opportunity to persuade Sebastian Coates to play for their national side – but are determined not to miss out on Liverpool FC player Jonjo Shelvey.
Levein says Scottish Football Association officials have already been in contact with Jonjo Shelvey about him changing football allegiance from England.

Martin Kelly has all the attributes to play as a centre-back, says Liverpool coach Steve Clarke

The 48-year-old says the defender, who usually plays at right-back, can move across and perform in the centre, and hints that Jonjo Shelvey could switch allegiance to Scotland

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-16 10:06:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Welcoming Laurie Dunsire this hour. A Hearts fan. This blogathon is inclusive to its bones.
Laurie writes for the excellent Scottish Football Forums
And follow him @lauriedunsire
I'll let Laurie explain what this hour has been about:
Aidan Smith, Hibs fan and sports journalist, carried out an unthinkable challenge when he became a Hearts fan for a whole season, something which he documented in his book, Heartfelt: Supping Bovril from the Devil's Cup.

The blogathon continues. Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup still need your help. So if you've enjoyed any of this please give anything you can.
It's a pleasure to say a massive hello to Jay Mansfield, also know as @leftmidfielder, for this hour of polite argument. Jay blogs here
Here's Jay on why Scottish football won't change:
Browsing Alzheimer Scotland's Football Memories site, I began to reminisce about the times I would discuss the latest calamity to befall Scottish football (among other things) with my much-missed grandfather.

Reports in the English media have consistently linked unsettled Juventus forward Amauri with a move to the Barclays Premier League in January.

The player's agent has added fuel to the fire by saying that there is a '70 percent' chance of him moving to England in January, compared to much lower odds of considering further stay in the Serie A.

We stuttered early on in the season but since then we have had some decent results. This is not altogether too far off from the Arsenal's season. I am talking, crucially, about me and the lads trying to find a decent boozer to call home for games at the Ems after we got a free transfer from our previous drinking establishment.