by Greg Seltzer - Most popular for 2008
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Rallying from the wanton destruction of my last Top 5 List, I bring you a peek at some young
Brazilian wizards sure to make the leap to Europe before long. You may not have heard their names
and/or seen them in action, but that is temporary. For the purpose of this ranking, I have excluded
big talents who have a fair share of European experience, such as Internacional striker Nilmar.
If you ever wanted to ask Freddy Adu a question, here's your chance. - Greg Seltzer
I'm sleepy, so let's not dillydally... #1 - The weekend Americans Abroad goal roundup won't take
long this time around, but at least somebody broke the drought. For the second straight Danish Cup
match, Randers FC attacker Lee Nguyen lit the lamp. Check out his opportunistic marker here. A pair
of homies in Norway's second fight picked up assists: Nybergsund's Joe Lapira and Haugesund's
Cameron
You know it works, I may add as the day goes... #1 - English outlets are now talking up young
Charles Renken-to-Arsenal academy. It should be quite fun to watch this young man's career unfold.
Infamous (trust me... he'll like that modifier) BigSoccer blogger Bill Archer talks about the fuss
and argues that he should forgo Euro-training to remain in the USSF Bradenton Residency program.
Yep, it's just about time for Gooch to get his glare on. The schedule for the final round of
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying has been drawn, with the Red, White & Blue slated to host arch rivals
Mexico on Matchday One, which is February 11th. The full USMNT dance card: Wednesday 11 February -
USA v Mexico Saturday 28 March - El Salvador v USA Wednesday 1 April - USA v Trinidad & Tobago
Do you want the 411 on LD? Then ya gotta go to AC. With Bayern Munich supposedly interested in
expanding their market to the U.S. and apparently insisting only the best 'Nat will do, Landon
Donovan finally admits he would be open to a move back to Germany after all. NSC pal Andrea Canales
gets the story from every angle over at Soccernet.
It should hardly come as a surprise, but LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan has officially declared
himself ready to return to Europe, with specific designs on a move to either England or Spain. Of
course, not long ago, he also said he'd have a hard time turning down an interested Bayern Munich.
Looking at potential landing spots in the Prem and La Liga, I find myself zoning in on teams
currently in
U.S. boss Bob Bradley has summoned some fresh blood for the USMNT's upcoming World Cup qualifiers
against Cuba (in D.C.) and at Trinidad & Tobago. In addition to sating the common cry for Monaco
playmaker Freddy Adu and Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore, the coach has called up Hammarby hit man
Charlie Davies, and a pair of uncapped players in Vålerenga keeper Troy Perkins and Pachuca
midfielder
A largely green USMNT topped Guatemala 2-0 on Wednesday night. They got fine second half goals from
Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu, who bagged his first senior tally with a sneaky free kick. My U.S.
Player Ratings will go up later today at Soccer365. I did catch it live, but having not taken my
customary 'Nats stateside evening start time matchday nap, I was just too knackered to do a LIVE -
in
[Photo by the always fantastic Robert Absolonne - click for full size] Mr. Onyewu scored the middle
goal in Standard's 3-0 UEFA Cup rout of Samdoria on Wednesday night. The Belgian champs are perfect
through three group matches and assured of a place in the knockouts. Their European form could play
a part in whether "Guchi" (as he is called around Sclessin) accepts the team's contract
renewal
Ladies and gentleman, Clint Dempsey has opened his Fulham account for the season, and it was a late
equalizer. Enjoy... Portsmouth 1 - 1 Fulham - Greg Seltzer
A report is making the rounds suggesting that Napoli have clinched a deal to acquire Borussia
Dortmund center back Neven Subotić in January, so I asked his agent about it. Said Steve
Kelly: "100% rubbish." That is all. - Greg Seltzer
[Photo: Hannover 96] I will add quite a bit as the day goes, but wanted to get these early notes up
fast, so... #1 - Hansa Rostock have made an offer to Hannover 96 for Sal Zizzo, and the Reds are
willing to talk deal. I do not yet know whether this is a loan offer or a transfer offer, but I am
busy trying to chase down a vacationing German to find out.
With MLS up to a baker's dozen in seasons, it seemed like as good a time as any to see how much and
how well the domestic league has manufactured players. With more and more league products heading
to foreign soil, there's been a lot of talk the last few years over whether players are better or
worse off developmentally for going abroad - much of which ends up being too broad and filled with
Apparently, says his agent, AC Milan star man Kaká might be willing to become one of Man
City's prize catches next summer if they can earn a Champions League entry with a top-four finish
this term. Sure, Cesc Fabregas laughed off the thought of succumbing to new Citeh owner Sulaiman
Al-Fahim's vast riches, but a successful move for Kaká could bring legitimacy to dreams of a
star-stocked Blue
Michael Kammerman killed the radio star... in the alley... with cue cards. - Greg Seltzer
Okay... I have a few transfer bits, but I need to sort it all out and write up a couple items. I
will slowly build this post up as I go. Here is the Cliff Notes version: Davies is, in fact, in
deep talks with a Ligue 1 team, believed to be Sochaux (but not confirmed)... Onyewu has two tabled
offers and wider interest from several teams.
Out-of contract Houston defender Bobby Boswell is in currently in negotiaions with Turkish Super
League strugglers Antalyaspor. The 2006 MLS Defender of the Year is currently in Antalya, and
manager Mehmet Özdilek is hoping they can strike a deal quickly to get the American in uniform
for their winter break friendlies.
I have yet to unearth a video of eight-year old Fenerbahçe signing Atakan Cidam (yes, they
actually went through with it), but I did find a picture of the cute little rich bugger. Guys,
don't show this to your girlfriends and/or wives... they'll just want one. - Greg Seltzer
Having had a few days to do some studying and weigh all need factors specific to the clubs, I will
now present my list of best summer shoppers of 2008... #5 - Paris St. Germain Despite not spending
nearly as much as many clubs, rebuilding PSG added a strong veteran, winning influence with the
arrivals of Ludovic Giuly, Mateja Kezman and Claude Makalele.
U.S. international Maurice Edu made his Rangers bow in a 2-1 home win over Kilmarnock that sent the
Ibrox crew clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League table. The midfielder was called on late
after Kevin Thompson pulled up lame and worked a solid hour - even could have had an assist had
club and conutry mate DaMarcus Beasley not squandered a fine through ball.
Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, a great man once said... #1 - The MLS expansion bid
deadline has passed, with seven cities filing in time. Being a St. Louis boy, obviously I will be
rooting for their inclusion in the league, which many observers will agree is overdue. MLS Talk
scribe Kartik Krishnaiyer makes his plea (dig that sweet stadium rendering!
Holy flippin' gobsmack, Batman! New York - who looked dead in the water only a few weeks back -
just drilled the repeat champs in their own house to advance to the final four. And just like that,
only one club with an MLS Cup on the mantle remains. I will be back later with some comments and
the other two highlight reels.
Kapfenberg striker Preston Zimmerman has bagged his first Austrian T-Mobile Bundesliga goal. The
young American raced from midfield on a breakaway to round the keeper, capping a stunning 5-2
triumph at tabletop Red Bull Salzburg. With the upset win, the team rise to eighth, but remain just
two points above the trap door.
Shortly after watching skipper Andy Griffin flop around like a fish as West Ham's Carlton Cole
screwed home the equalizer, Stoke City forward Ricardo Fuller sauntered away from the ensuing
kickoff at the center spot, taking just a brief moment to slap his teammate in the face. Yes, I
said he slapped his own teammate in the face on the field of play during a match.
Still working on some things here, but I'll get you started with what I know so far... The wishful
thinking talk that DaMarcus Beasley could leave Rangers for MLS is just that. According to his
agent, Lyle Yorks, coming home is not an option for him at this time - nor should it be, says I.The
rumours linking Standard Liège backline cop Oguchi Onyewu with Fulham (again) are just that
(again).
Gather round, be all ears! As promised, here are my choices of the finest pieces of efficient
business done during the summer transfer window. I included free signings and pre-deals for
judging, but loans deals are not eligible. I have factored in fee, need, age, skill, potential,
field impact and financial boost capabilities.
It's time to inaugurate what I hope will become a busily regular theme post here at NSC by saluting
Reading manager Steve Coppell for his comments in the aftermath of the wacky 2-2 draw ably
described by Sean in the previous post (with exclusive remarks from Watford's Jay DeMerit, no
less). Sometimes, we get so caught up criticizing that we forget to honor the good guys.
Right on the heels of a round of Who likes goals?, it seemed a proper time to celebrate some of the
top shot-stoppers in the global game. Rather than go for the obligatory current superstar ranking,
I figured we should take a glimpse at the next generation of stonewall netminders. I did not
include obvious choices with plenty of time left on their sides, such as Real Madrid's Iker
Casillas (27)
Not far off the heels of a treble plus assist by Koblenz forward Matt Taylor (which I actually
missed for a few days as my recent flu bout kicked into gear), St. Pat's attacker Ryan Guy has
connected three times to fuel a 3-1 win at Shamrock Rovers. Once the goal videos turn up, I'll post
it/them here.
Despite only coming on in the 90th minute, Villarreal rookie forward Josmer Altidore was able to
cap a 4-1 win at Athletic Bilbao Saturday night by opening his La Liga account. The U.S.
international smoothly collected a terrific Santi Cazorla pass to lash home without a doubt.
Enjoy... - Greg Seltzer
Go vote! That is all. #1 - All together now... "Charlie Davies can't stop scoring." Yup,
CD made it a dirty dozen for the season, good enough for fifth best in the Swedish top flight, with
a hustle header on Monday night. See it here (media player link). #2 - I still have a Top 5 List
ready to go, and you have my solemn word it will be up later today.
And a one, and a two... Let's begin with a media player link to Hammarby closing day highlights to
view Charlie Davies scoring a double to finish the season tied for fourth in the Swedish top flight
(with Henrik Larsson, no less) on 14 goals. From Thursday's UEFA Cup action, Ronaldinho lifts Milan
with a nasty swat.
I'm still kinda catching up on everything after my bout with a four-day headache (yeah, I know!),
so a couple of these items are a couple days old... #1 - Another casualty of delay was my Luis
Robles feature, but that is now up over at Soccer365. In case you aren't aware, the American keeper
has been suddenly thrust into the starting role at Kaiserslautern, a club that seems on the way
back to
I was going to post this last night, then my interwebs went buhbye and (true to form) I said
"*&%$ it" and went to bed. In any event, away we go... #1 - Cardinals slugger Albert
Pujols is going to bat for the St. Louis MLS expansion team. And if you are wondering how such a
scenario might end, please see photo.
As was the case this year, the U.S. Men's National Team will open their 2009 slate with a Home
Depot Center visit from Sweden on January 24th. Although the visitors will almost certainly arrive
again with a less then full strength roster, coach Bob Bradley will be using this match to prepare
for the start of final round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, which begins February 11th.
As promised, a very special MLS Cup episode of AFT... #1 - Daily News All-Star Michael Lewis lets
us know that Juan Pablo Ángel's training knocks won't keep him out of the game. One can almost
hear Red Bulls supporters collectively wiping their brow. #2 - Even as he leads the Crew to the
final on Sunday, Columbus boss Sigi Schmid still has a 2009 status that reads "TBD".
Watford skipper Jay DeMerit is a guest on this week's Football League podcast. Give it a spin here.
FYI: it was recorded before they beat QPR yesterday. - Greg Seltzer
Let's do this damned thang... Let's start in the Eredivisie, where Stefan Nijland put a daft capper
on a well-crafted PSV attack. Sulley Muntari caps a fine Inter Milan move. Apparently, some kid
named Ronaldinho at AC Milan can hit free kicks pretty well. Also in UEFA Cup play from Thursday,
Racing Santander's Gonzalo Colsa rings up PSG.
Shuck and jive and all that jazz... #1 - Don't expect Michael Parkhurst to be unveiled at FC
Nordsjælland until next week, but fear not. The deal is completely done, just shhhh don't tell
anybody yet. The Wild Tigers head into the winter break after Monday's visit from Aarhus GF, and
then we will see the erstwhile New England Rev presented by his new employers.
