Hey everyone, have a little Saturday morning update for you courtesy of scaryice -- who tipped me off to these stories via email. Here we go...

Nyarko Graduating Generation Adidas?

According to this post on Climbing the Ladder, Patrick Nyarko could be graduating from the Generation Adidas program.

Click to continue reading...

Yesterday, the World Cup field was finalized. There were 6 play-off games that were all pretty exciting. My favorite was Algeria sending Egypt home. I'm also glad that Ireland were eliminated on such a controversial goal. I've never liked them.

Here are the 32 teams that will compete.

Click to continue reading...

Way back in March, I wrote a post with links to the preseason predictions of some of the most widely read soccer pundits. Among the prognosticators that went so far as to designate playoff teams were Ives, a consolidation of ESPNSoccernet writers, Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports and seven others.

Click to continue reading...

Zico takes Japan in vintage early 90's style. Roman spends enough on lunch to feed someone for life. (Bild) Reason #8 billion social networking was a bad idea. (The Spoiler) The American foul roundup. (Climbing The Ladder) Don't set your sheep suit on fire. (The Beautiful Game) Bulgarian football is the new awesome. Click to continue reading...

In fiddling with the syncing abilities of NetNewsWire, I started looking at Google Reader's recommendations and noted that it provided a bit of data on how many people follow certain blogs.
So, being the pedantic nerd I am, I decided to check out the numbers for some of my "favorite" blogs. Click to continue reading...

To see what the Red Bulls must do to avoid ignominious MLS history, we check the historical standings or just go to Climbing the Ladder, where scaryice has already done the math.
Only two teams (Chivas USA 2005, Tampa Bay 2001) have won just four games in a season, though the Red Bulls' forebear, the MetroStars, won only four in regulation when the shootout still decided tie games back in 1999. Click to continue reading...

First, Small SAMPLE SIZE Second here's just the Exapansion teams from the great improve/decline post over at Climbing the Ladder 1998 Chicago -0.438 PPM 1998 Miami +0.668 PPM 2005 Chivas +0.375 PPM 2005 Salt Lake -0.375 PPM 2007 Toronto -0.733 PPM 2008 San Jose +0.600 2009 Seattle ? Click to continue reading...

I've been working overtime trying to come up with another piece on "T-Shirt Steve" Cohen to post today since watching some of you - most likely the same ones who dial in to his show just for the chance to call him "mate" - come unglued has been more fun than the law should allow but alas, I've come up dry. Click to continue reading...

Climbing the Ladder has done it again. If you're not familiar with the blog, get familiar. Scaryice rules that roost and is the best at tracking and analyzing MLS and US Soccer stats. Seriously, I don't know any other blogger/writer doing what he's doing over there.
This time he's putting together college teams who have graduated and gone onto MLS. Click to continue reading...

Week 5 (04/15)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...

1. Chicago (2): Sure, their point total is lower than #2 and #3 below, but they have been so darn consistent.
2. Chivas USA (3): Chivas stayed unbeaten and moves up, but it isn't good when you can't score on the Gals.

Click to continue reading...

Ives Galarcep is reporting that with the new roster changes, MLS will scrap the leagues second draft, the supplemental draft. This seemed to be an expected move with rosters being reduced to 24, it doesn't make sense to have another 4 rounds to draft after you already have 4. The players that would have been taken in this draft will now become free agents if they're not taken, able to negoiate with any MLS team. Click to continue reading...

One of my favorite blogs out there is almost always interesting Climbing the Ladder. Click to continue reading...