Is a bidding war starting for American striker Jozy Altidore? The UK's Daily Mail thinks so.
If this pans out, it looks like Jozy's value has already jumped by $2 million since last summer.
Special thanks to LFV reader Marc Sarchet for digging up this nugget. Click to continue reading...

Livorno crushed Danny Szetela's Brescia side 3-0 in the final leg of their promotion playoff and will return to Serie A next season. Livorno's win capped a 5-2 aggregate win in the Serie B playoffs. Lingering injuries kept Danny Szetela out of the side which will remain in Serie B for at least one more season. Click to continue reading...

Ugh!
Great job by Tim Howard and to Carlos Bocanegra - please get well soon! Click to continue reading...

Instead of my own commentary on the results of this week's Champions League matches, I'll let some fine bands do it instead.
Bayern Munich 5 - Sporting Lisbon 0:
Chelsea 1 - Juventus 0
Arsenal 1 - AS Roma 0
Inter Milan 0 - Manchester United 0
Olympique Lyon 1 - Barcelona 1
*Yep Barca, you were Outshined. Click to continue reading...

This is one of the worst challenges I've seen in a professional match for quite some time; Newcastle's Kevin Nolan with a two footed tackle with studs directly on the right shin of Everton's Victor Anichebe.
Almost as bad, was the way Nolan protested to referee Lee Mason for showing him a red card. Click to continue reading...

I haven't been blogging quite enough lately in lately, in part because of the dark mood which seems to have taken hold here in Naples. The home team, Napoli, had a strong start to the season and was hovering around 3rd to 4th place in Serie A when "the streak" started - seven games without a win.
In fact, the town's beloved blue has earned just two points in seven matches and has slid down to mid-table, a place cemented by today's 1-0 loss to Genoa. Click to continue reading...

Last night I kept thinking of the long list of reasons why we're lucky to have Frankie Hejduk, a man in the best form of his life, still earning caps for Team USA. Then, thanks to Greg Seltzer and Steven Goff, I remembered another reason; that he is one classy dude.
In case you haven't heard by now, Mexican assistant coach (and poor sport) Paco Ramirez slapped Hejduk while the teams were heading into the locker room after a 2-0 US win. Click to continue reading...

If you're reading this blog, there is a 99% chance you saw the USA beat Mexico 2-0 last night on two goals by Michael Bradley and some stout goalkeeping by Tim Howard. So instead of giving a recap of a game you already saw, here are some highlights you can show to your Mexican friends who are still in denial that they haven't won on US soil in 10 years. Click to continue reading...

As I sit here watching David Beckham play in the England-Spain match, Bob Wagman has posted a great update on the likely endgame in the current Beckham transfer saga. Click to continue reading...

The movers took away about half of my stuff today so and I'm now sitting here among piles of boxes waiting to be taken away tomorrow.
So, here are a few great articles which break down the impending USA-Mexico showdown pretty well.
The "Dean" Bob Wagman's preview on Soccer Times. Click to continue reading...

The consumate team player, Tim Howard is now promoting two of his Everton teammates, Everton Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott to be called-up for the England squad.

Click to continue reading...

Courtesy of US Soccer:
CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2008) — U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named a roster of 20 players that will train in advance of the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Feb. 11 in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff for the USA's most anticipated match of the final round is set for 7 p. Click to continue reading...

Happy New Year to all of our readers wherever you are; from Dubai to New Jersey and from Korea to Texas - thanks for stopping by this year.
2009 should be an exciting year and here is just a bit of what we can look forward to:
- The USA taking on Sweden on January 9th
- Gooch perhaps finally making the jump to a new club
- Players like Marvell Wynne and Sacha Kljestan possibly moving across the pond
- Vincenzo Bernardo and Jozy Altidore possibly being loaned out
- Young Giuseppe Nazzani getting a chance with Bologna's first team
- The Confederations Cup and U-20 World Championships
- Seeing if Clint Dempsey can keep his hot touch into the spring
- Waiting for Freddy Adu to establish himself as a first team player at Monaco
- Michael Bradley finding his stride and tearing his way through the Bundesliga
- Carlos Bocanegra continuing his strong play at Rennes and earning a CL spot
- Danny Szetela continuing his strong left midfield play at Brescia
- Seeing if Landon Donovan can prove that he can hang with the big boys every week
- Whether DaMarcus Beasley heads home to play in MLS or finds a new European club
- Watching Maurice Edu assert himself as a key player in Rangers' title run
- Watching Bruce Arena turn the LA Galaxy into a winner
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Here are some fun highlights from 2008 which we hope you'll enjoy:
Best Goals:
Best Keepers:
Best Skills:
Flops and Follies (Multisport): Click to continue reading...