We aren't sure where or when these images are from, but judging by Lukas Podolski's bulge, it's new (and news) to us.

What we do need to determine is what we did to deserve this kind of Friday, and then repeat the process.

-Jason Davis
Or so it would seem. Baby Bradley has been chugging away at Borrussia Monchengladbach in Germany for long enough now that those of us who aren't keen observers of the Bundesliga take it for granted that he'll start every week. When we check the Yanks Abroad roundups on Monday, we have every expectation of seeing his name with a number somewhere near 90 next to it.

We are the champions!

Recently we've shared that various soccer luminaries such as Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson has advocated a spring-to-fall schedule change in advance of the 2022 World Cup. Now we find out that UEFA itself is advancing well past the thinking stage.

The British press is reporting that the English Premier League and Bundesliga are gearing up to fight a UEFA (specifically, Michel Plantini) plan to implement a spring-to-fall schedule permanently for UEFA member leagues and alter the qualification calendar for international events.

Amid reports that Sunderland, Galatasaray and Palermo are courting Borussia Moenchengladbach's Michael Bradley, Mike Woitalla of Soccer America reports why Gladbach coach Michael Frontzeck benched the American after 17 straight starts.

- Jason Davis
Word out of Germany this morning is that Borussia Moenchengladbach has accepted a bid for Michael Bradley (link in German).
It's not yet known where the midfielder is headed; the club simply indicated that Bradley will leave in a press conference ahead of their weekend match with Eintracht Frankfurt, and that his new club will announce the signing.

Maurice Edu returned from injury to score the final goal as Rangers hammered Hamilton Academic yesterday. Edu had been down since November, but he has featured regularly for the Scottish side this season and should be the American every team scrambles to pick up.

The MLS Supplemental Draft will help teams fill out their reserve team rosters.

Alemannia Aachen vs Bayern Munich DFB Pokal- January 26, 2011 Final score:- Alemannia Aachen 0-4 Bayern Munich On a night that saw both Kaiserslautern and TSG Hoffenheim dumped out, Bayern Munich thrashed Alemannia Aachen 4-0 in the DFB Pokal. Alemannia Aachen vs Bayern Munich 0-1 ( M.Gomez) Alemannia Aachen vs Bayern Munich 0-2 ( T.

Every week EA SPORTS is simulating big matches from the football world using the FIFA 11 engine. This week they are featuring the January 29th, 2011 matchup between the Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen.

Enjoy.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Freddy Adu is closing in on another career stop, and it doesn't appear to be in Major League Soccer.

According to Yanks Abroad, Adu is on trial with FC Ingolstadt 04, the same 2. Bundesliga club that employs American Amaechi Igwe.

The club's Web site confirms that Adu is scheduled to be with the team, which is taking part in its winter training camp in Turkey, through Sunday.

Seeing the ever-sexy Mario Gomez in this position reminds us that we were supposed to start our new, improved, and intensified gym routine this week. But here's the thing: working out sucks. Best we leave it to the professionals. Image: PXD.pl via ONTD

The Asian Cup kicks off tomorrow with hosts Qatar enjoying a run about with Uzbekistan in that lovely stadium just above.

Since most of us (guilty)will be going in a little bit blind, with a little bit of research and a good bit of guessing, we've compiled some games, teams and players to watch from each of the groups.

Ever get the impression that Freddy Adu just doesn't like Major League Soccer? The former "next-big-thing" in American soccer is now on trial with 2.Bundesliga basement dwellers Ingolstadt.
Adu has been thrown overboard by his Greek club Aris and has already been to Denmark and Switzerland in search of employment during the January transfer window.

-Jason Davis
Across the country, in small enclaves of Internet-tethered American soccer fans who forgo bread and water for the sustenance provided by transfer scuttlebutt, brows are being furrowed at an alarming rate. Edson Buddle has signed with a 2.Bundesliga club, FC Ingolstadt 04.
"Why?

The new home of US National Team forward Edson Buddle, Ingolstadt are currently trying to find a winning combination in the 2.Bundesliga. Why Are We Here? Edson Buddle's exit strategy from the Los Angeles Galaxy and Major League Soccer has taken LA's MVP to the German second division. Ingolstadt is new to their league, winning promotion at the end of last season from Germany's 3rd Liga.

0-1 Grosskreutz 49' 0-2 Grosskreutz 53' 0-3 Gotze 55' 1-3 Kiessling 80' Vuoi conoscere le classifiche, i risultati, le statistiche e le quote scommesse da tutto il calcio mondiale? Visita Calciometria.com DISCLAIMER: Calcioplus non hosta alcun video pubblicato su di esso. Tutti i video pubblicati sono caricati da amanti di calcio su siti di video hosting come Youtube e Dailymotion ed ubicati

BERLIN, Germany — Hanover went second in the Bundesliga on Sunday with an impressive 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, but leaders Borussia Dortmund remain 12 points clear at the top. First-half goals by Norwegian striker Mohammed Abdellaoue and defender Christian Schulz put Mirko Slomka's Hanover in control before Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan added [.

BERLIN, Germany — Hanover went second in the Bundesliga on Sunday with an impressive 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, but leaders Borussia Dortmund remain 12 points clear at the top. First-half goals by Norwegian striker Mohammed Abdellaoue and defender Christian Schulz put Mirko Slomka's Hanover in control before Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan added [.

Hands up if you want to appear naked in the Kickette 2011 Calender, please. Ahem. (Getty Images/Zimbio)

For those of us who spent Sunday gathered around the television in anticipation of the ‘Most Exciting Day of Football Since Records Began™', derby day in the EPL proved to be something of a damp squib.

Forward Kenny Cooper is once again a member of Major League Soccer, joining the expansion Portland Timbers. Cooper left MLS after the 2009 season, signing with 2.Bundesliga club 1860 Munich. He spent the second half of the 2009-10 season on loan with Plymouth Argyle. Cooper missed time this Fall recovering from an ankle injury.

Eurosport secures exclusive LIVE rights to Bundesliga in 22 European territories until 2015

He's off to terrorise turntables
from Munich to Berlin.

After the summer entertainment that was Ryan Babel hopping in a helicopter and buzzing off to all four corners of the British Isles in an attempt to find a new home only for nothing to happen, a transfer deal for the enigmatic attacker has finally been done, as he'll be heading off to the Bundesliga to join TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Corner kicks are kind of like free kicks in the opponent's half: both are set pieces. They're also among the few moments in a match when teams have a real and predictable chance to create significant chances. So they're among the few guaranteed opportunities to score. And while I've been thinking about them for some time, I have not reported any systematic analyses of corners.

At £27 million, he is not the most expensive player in the Premier League. However for Manchester City, Edin Dzeko can only be seen as the possible final piece of the Citizen's objective to dominate the Barclays Premier League. And why not, Dzeko is the complete forward that City lacked.

It's one thing to have supporters or analysts tell you who the best players, teams, or leagues are. Depending on who you ask or which metric you use, you can have endless arguments about quality. But why not go directly to the source and ask the professionals themselves? After all, they have to play the game week in and week out and see things on and off the field that spectators often don't or can't.

It's one thing to have supporters or analysts tell you who the best players, teams, or leagues are. Depending on who you ask or which metric you use, you can have endless arguments about quality. But why not go directly to the source and ask the professionals themselves? After all, they have to play the game week in and week out and see things on and off the field that spectators often don't or can't.

Vuoi conoscere le classifiche, i risultati, le statistiche e le quote scommesse da tutto il calcio mondiale? Visita Calciometria.com DISCLAIMER: Calcioplus non hosta alcun video pubblicato su di esso. Tutti i video pubblicati sono caricati da amanti di calcio su siti di video hosting come Youtube e Dailymotion ed ubicati dunque su siti esterni a Calcioplus.

Vuoi conoscere le classifiche, i risultati, le statistiche e le quote scommesse da tutto il calcio mondiale? Visita Calciometria.com DISCLAIMER: Calcioplus non hosta alcun video pubblicato su di esso. Tutti i video pubblicati sono caricati da amanti di calcio su siti di video hosting come Youtube e Dailymotion ed ubicati dunque su siti esterni a Calcioplus.

Clive Mason - Getty Images

Stuart Holden (right) is part of the reason the cupboard looks full with U.S. choices at central midfield choices.

View full size photo »

We won't go so far as to call it an embarrassment of riches, but the United States does suddenly have a little buffet of delicious choices in the center of the park.

Arguably the African-based breakout star of the World Cup in his home country, there was much speculation at the time as to when not if Siphiwe Tshabalala would come to Europe, and which country's commentators would be afforded the chance to say his wonderful name.

And now, eight months later, we know: England.

By Ollie Irish

Just as good as the goal that Wazza Rooney scored aged 17 to announce himself to the world...

As Clive Tyldo might say: Remember the name – Julian Draxler.

Draxler's wonder goal, scored in the dying moments of extra-time, won the German Cup quarter-final tie for Schalke.

Ahead of switching sides from Bayern Munich to AC Milan, Mark Van Bommel attended FC Bavaria's basketball game as the team's guest of honour this past Monday evening. We have no clue who the two giddy guys are in the middle, but far right Thomas Mueller seemed to be paying more attention to his cutie patootie wife, Lisa, than the game even when Mark Van Bommel was called on court for shooting practice.

Steve Cherundolo started and played the full ninety for Hannover 96 in a disappointing Friday encounter at the BayArena. Hannover trailed from the 21st minute and Leverkusen doubled their lead in the 42nd. Hannover finished with three shots on goal. The result keeps them third in the Bundesliga, trailing second-place Leverkusen by five points with both teams on 20 games played.

Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich January 29, 2011- Weser Stadion, Bremen Final score:- Werder Bremen 1-3 Bayern Munich ( Per Mertersacker/ Arjen Robben, Per Mertesacker own goal, Miroslav Klose) Bayern Munich came from a goal down to beat 10 man Werder Bremen 3-1 at the Weserstadion in the Bundesliga. Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich 0-1 [.

STUTTGART, Germany — Johannes Flum's first-half goal earned Freiburg a 1-0 win at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday, ending the home side's unbeaten start to 2011. Flum scored in the 24th minute, when he latched onto a through ball from Maximilian Nicu to shoot with his right foot under Sven Ulreich.

STUTTGART, Germany — Johannes Flum's first-half goal earned Freiburg a 1-0 win at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday, ending the home side's unbeaten start to 2011. Flum scored in the 24th minute, when he latched onto a through ball from Maximilian Nicu to shoot with his right foot under Sven Ulreich.

Arminia Bielefeld have announced the signing of Croatian striker Josip Tadi?. The second division German side have picked up the 23 year old on a free transfer from French side Grenoble Foot and have signed him on a six month contract. Bielefeld have an option of extending Tadic's contract by another year at the end [.

Since I'm completely adept at predictions, here goes a few more...wait a second....anyone else having a hard

What happened to that, "I'll only play for Manchester United" pledge?

time believing or understanding why 'Arry Rednapp would want David Beckham at Tottenham? (I had commented that this had the same chance of happening as the World Cup coming to the US in 2022.

Which teams are the worst (and best) defensive teams in the big leagues of European soccer? Let's take a look at defensive performance so far this year - since it's roughly the halfway mark everywhere, these numbers should be more or less comparable across teams and leagues (assuming that the leagues are similar in important ways, which we know to be sorta true from previous analyses I've posted here .

I've got a splitting headache that's either down to not having a drink since New Year's or Roy Hodgson's continued employment, so it being January and all we might as well dive right into the further headache of rumours rumours rumours...

* Add another name to the pile alongside Klopp and Villas-Boas and Deschamps, as Ralf Rangnick comes out of nowhere to top the betting sites all looking to make you fabulously wealthy by betting on who the next manager of Liverpool Football Club will be.

HOFFENHEIM, Germany Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp has confirmed the sale of Luiz Gustavo was one of the main reasons for Ralf Rangnick's departure from the club. Rangnick and Hoffenheim parted company after four and a half years together by mutual consent after the Brazilian midfielder was sold to Bayern Munich behind the coach's back.