2011 – A Thank You

It's been a drunken busy Christmas and New Year period and I haven't got round to summarising 2011 on the site. I wanted to take the chance to belatedly amend that now.

2011 was the first full year GhostGoal has been in operation and it's been great that it's developed as it has.

Dan thinks Colorado made a phenomenally bad decision based mostly on past performance while admitting this:

Steve Sampson and Thomas Rongen have won doubles in MLS.

I rest my case. Jeff Carlisle goes on to paint a picture of the dysfunctional working relationship between Smith and his superiors:

Smith went public with his displeasure in an October interview with The Denver Post but later tried to make peace with Bravo, realizing that he didn't want to leave the team he had spent three years putting together.

LONDON, UK (November, 7 2011) – Global sportlifestyle brand PUMA® has revealed an inspiring and contemporary collaboration, launching technical football kits for PUMA's 10 partnered African National football teams. Each kit is designed by a renowned artist from the Creative African Network (CAN) – a PUMA platform connecting and promoting artists from and in Africa.

Gastown FC is kind of like the Canadian version of Chinatown FC: an amateur squad of urban, arty-types with more style and merch than most professional clubs. And God bless them for it because they provide some excellent options for those who what to rep the game without going to obvious; there are some times, some places when a jersey just isn't the best look.

That's the amount of time that the New Goal Line Technology system has to inform the referee if the ball has crossed the line or not.
The first test phase, due to be carried in the next few months, will be conducted by the Swiss technology research institute EMPA.
"EMPA is a government-funded research institute," project leader Martin Camenzind said.

Liverpool FC's history is littered with winning combinations - and now they are hoping to help conquer the academic world with another unique partnership.
The Reds have struck up an affiliation with Laureate Online Education - the online partner of the University of Liverpool - to help promote the institute's web-based degrees.

NEW YORK — Citing general public safety concerns, Major League Soccer has made the following schedule changes because of the potential impact of Hurricane Irene:

Home teams listed first

D.C. United vs. Portland Timbers (at RFK Stadium)
NOW: Saturday, Aug.

Real Madrid have issued a statement on their web site regarding the Spain's federation decision to open an investigation into Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's eye-poking incident in last week's Spanish Super Cup match against Barcelona.

Here is the club's official statement:

Real Madrid CF wishes to say the following regarding the decision of the competition judge of the Spanish Football Federation to open an investigation following the incidents occurred in the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup:

1.

Australian A-League side Wellington Phoenix FC has unveiled its adidas 2011/12 home kit. The club joins fellow A-League clubs Sydney FC and the Melbourne Victory FC an adidas-sponsored team. According to the Phoenix' website: The yellow and black match kit was designed by adidas in collaboration with the club.

Whoever wrote the headline to Beau Dure's latest piece, "Women's soccer seemingly has options for growth," has a sunny disposition I don't share. First, WPS owners have radically different ideas about the way forward and think this arrangement can work in the long run:

"We [owners] don't all agree all the time," Philadelphia owner David Halstead said.

FC Barcelona, la Fundació FC Barcelona and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a three year collaboration deal to help in the worldwide fight against polio.

Liverpool fly off on their Standard Chartered sponsored pre-season tour today with Managing Director Ian Ayre hoping the Reds leave a lifetime of memories for their fanatical Asian fans to savour.
The Reds' squad departs Liverpool John Lennon airport this afternoon for a thirteen hour flight to Guangzhou ahead of the first leg of their Asian tour.

Liverpool fly off on their Standard Chartered sponsored pre-season tour today with Managing Director Ian Ayre hoping the Reds leave a lifetime of memories for their fanatical Asian fans to savour.
The Reds' squad departs Liverpool John Lennon airport this afternoon for a thirteen hour flight to Guangzhou ahead of the first leg of their Asian tour.

In its first meeting for its 2011-2015 term, the Vision Asia Committee of the Asian Football Confederation recommended revisions to the program to the AFC Executive Committee. Following a request from the All India Football Federation, Visian India projects will be started with the cities of Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh in the first phase, rather than in collaboration with State football

On this episode, Amanda, Kirsten, and Megan finally have something positive to talk about with regard to the USMNT. The cover several talking points from their Gold Cup quarterfinal win against Jamaica, including weddings, dives, Jozy's hammy, and more. They interview Tanya who, along with traveling US Soccer Prarie and and Kaela, is putting together a collaboration of stories from female US Soccer fan all across the country.

Today we begin a great new feature on the Free Beer Movement site. In collaboration with the quality soccer site, "The Other 87 Minutes" we present the "Tuesday Ten" (and sometimes the "Tuesday XI") a thoughtful list on a variety of topics in the world of soccer.
What is this new site we're exposing you too?

We should have expected this right?

The patron saint of Y-fronts is going to design a line of men's bodywear. After his successful stint as the body of Armani underwear Becks has decided to have a go himself at making men's underthings a little bit nicer to look at. Said Becks of his new venture,

I have had the idea of doing a bodywear collection for some time now.

David Beckham's summer rental is better than your summer rental. Which you already knew. Unless you can top a $27m Malibu beachfront palace, that is.

Which he can apparently afford based on his upcoming line of mens underwear, which comes with a strategically placed sock.

Following in the stylish footsteps of his fashion designer wife Victoria, David Beckham has been busy working on a men's underwear range and a new scent, Homme by David Beckham.
"I have had the idea of doing a bodywear collection for some time now. The push to do something of my own really came as a result of my collaboration with Armani," Beckham said.

Following in the stylish footsteps of his fashion designer wife Victoria, David Beckham has been busy working on a men's underwear range and a new scent, Homme by David Beckham.
"I have had the idea of doing a bodywear collection for some time now. The push to do something of my own really came as a result of my collaboration with Armani," Beckham said.

property of Gatorade.com MIDLOTHIAN, Va., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 26th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE,...
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New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston's 'Ready or Not' is the official song for the FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Germany June 26-July 17. The track is a follow-up to last year's World Cup anthem "Waka Waka" by Shakira.

'Ready or Not' is a collaboration between Kingston and German house and dance producer duo Michael Mind Project, and it is expected to conquer the German soccer stadiums and international dance floors soon, said a statement.

Well Dynamo fans, nothing official on our end yet, but this was just posted on the official Aris website and it's very interesting:

Termination of collaboration with Sergio Koke

04/13/1911 19:48

ARIS FC announces the termination of cooperation with the footballer Sergio Koke to continue his career in MLS.

Something a little different from Puma, and another collaboration with motor sports Ducati. The Puma Ducati En Route LT will give your casual wardrobe a boost, adding sleek motorsport styling and lightweight construction. The upper is a mix of leather and suede for durability and a good look.

Regular readers of HTIOT probably read Tweed's post earlier that Prozone has announced the Chicago Fire as their newest client. When I first read the news I was a bit upset, but the more I thought about it, the more enraged about the situation I became. Statistics are important to me, and I feel that they should be important to MLS as well.

The Wally with Brolly aka Steve McClaren has been sacked by German side Wolfsburg today following a string of poor results.

Wolfsburg have won just one of their last 11 games in the Bundesliga and are currently sitting 12th in the 18-team Bundesliga, just one point above the relegation zone.

Following the logic of the internet and social media, I spotted this map on Andy Brassel's twitter feed. Turns out the fine fellows at bigthink.com reposted the map from a QPR board. It really is all about collaboration, no?

Anyway, I guess it goes to show just how much of a little club by the Thames we are.