Despite all the bad news coming out of the Emirates recently regarding injuries, and the numbers amount to a whole side, there has been some good news also.
Several players have signed new contracts at the club, the latest being Eduardo. Now forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm sure that I read somewhere that Eduardo was disillusioned at Arsenal because we were hesitating to offer him a new long-term deal. Click to continue reading...

Is to wait and see how this one plays out. To the Columbus fans, welcome to the silly season.
Lest we forget, everything in the transfer window is dramatic with Guille. Remember when he first came to Columbus? It took forever to get the deal signed, McCullers was back and forth, the deal was announced before it was finalized, and yours truly was beside himself:

So McCullers can introduce this guy to the press.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Two of the U.S. Under-17 national team's top prospects are inching closer to European moves, while a third is edging closer to an MLS deal.

Manchester City and Real Madrid have stepped up their bids for U.

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The news that Chris Rolfe was leaving at the end of the season for Denmark came out a couple months ago, but Jack Bell over at the New York Times had a long article that touched on the topic yesterday:

Rolfe said that Aalborg, known as AaB, attempted to buy him from the league last summer, but M.

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It's the offseason in Columbus, and that means rumors about players and contracts and whatnot are as easy to find as a Buckeye hoodie. Robbie Rogers seems to have become the first player to fall victim of fan speculation.

First, to grease the wheels of gossip, Robbie himself tweetered that he was on his way out of Columbus.

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Thunder president Manny Lagos spoke briefly to IMS this morning and confirmed the Thunders role with the TOA but also said they are focusing on internal issues at this time. Lagos said, "We are still trying to continue to grow and develop soccer with the Thunder in Minnesota."

Lagos also said that Dean Johnson, owner of the Thunder had been in contact with Lagos and the two had spoken this morning before the TOA press statement had been released.

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Thunder president Manny Lagos spoke briefly to IMS this morning and confirmed the Thunder's role with the TOA but also said they are focusing on internal issues at this time. Lagos said, "We are still trying to continue to grow and develop soccer with the Thunder in Minnesota."

Lagos also said that Dean Johnson, owner of the Thunder, had been in contact with Lagos and the two had spoken this morning before the TOA press statement had been released.

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We all know the Collective Bargaining Agreement is coming close to it's end and the MLS Players Union and league front offices are set to battle it all out. Well today we got some rough news from the Sports Business Journal (subscription based link, sign up for a free trail if you haven't) that the players union is already talking strike if things don't improve.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer has learned that the Minnesota Thunder have released all players from their contracts last Tuesday, November 3.

According to one player who was contracted with the Thunder, the team were forced to release the players as they could no longer pay their contracts and because they are free agents.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer has learned that the Minnesota Thunder have released all players from their contracts last Tuesday, November 3.

According to one player who was contracted with the Thunder, the team were forced to release the players as they could no longer pay their contracts and because they are free agents.

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Jack McInerney is a young player with a bright future.

As I mentioned a week ago I am hoping to get this into a regular thing for at least the next few weeks as we really start to gear up for the 2010 SuperDraft in just a couple (yes only a couple) months away. The response has been pretty solid so far and I'll be honest a few of you have mentioned some players that I had not heard of yet until now.

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Could the 2010 MLS season be in a little bit of danger next season? It seems like it could be a possibility, as the current collective bargaining agreement is up in January. According to former Wizard, Nick Garcia in the Toronto Sun (yes I know the Sun is a tabloid), players have been told to put money back for this year just in case. Click to continue reading...

Benfica have secured the services of two players with contract extentions. Benfica have extended the contracts of central defender Roderick Miranda and striker Nelson Oliveira both 18 years of age until the 2017 and 2014 seasons respectively. Benfica sees a bright future for both these players with the club and have added buyout clauses of $30 million to each of the contracts. Click to continue reading...

Well, the long winding MLS season has come down to this: needing 6 points from 2 games and needing a host of other things to go our way in MLS play for the chance to advance into the playoffs. Last year around this time, Columbus was eliminating us at Crew Stadium, and I was happy that the elimination might lead to sweeping changes in the team.

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I have said it before and I will say it again. Lionel Messi is flat out the best player in all of the world. End of the discussion.Â

Messi brought home the first ever treble for Spain's La Liga and the forward won the Champions League Player & Forward of the Year awards and also the LLTO Player of the Year to name a few of the most coveted trophies in his case at home.

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Manager John Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer have been sacked by Tranmere. Former England legend Barnes and ex Liverpool star McAteer have been told that they were to have their contracts terminated by the club earlier this morning. Tranmere are currently sat in the League One relegation zone - and after a string of poor results in the league and their recent defeat in the Johnstone's paint Trophy earlier in the week, it seems that the Tranmere board have finally lost patience with Barnes and his regime. Click to continue reading...

PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images

According to Sport.es Barcelona have become increasingly concerned about Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez contracts and have issued an ultimatum to the defensive pair. The two have been exteremely loyal to Barcelona in the past but as January 1st approaches the players can begin to talk to other team about contracts for next season.

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Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has said that he could sign an improved deal with Barcelona within the next two weeks. Barca have been working hard to tie their bunch of treble winners to long-term deals.

They have already improved the contracts of Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Xavi while talks are ongoing with Carlos Puyol, Rafael Marquez and coach Pep Guardiola.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer has finally received a copy of the letter that United Soccer League president Tim Holt emailed last Friday to all players under contract with USL-1 teams from the Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC Blues and Minnesota Thunder.

As is now widely reported, those three teams constitute the heart of the Team Owners Association and none of those USL-1 teams have yet to renew their franchise agreement for the 2010 season.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer has finally received a copy of the letter that United Soccer League president Tim Holt emailed last Friday to all players under contract with USL-1 teams from the Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC Blues and Minnesota Thunder.

As is now widely reported, those three teams constitute the heart of the Team Owners Association and none of those USL-1 teams have yet to renew their franchise agreement for the 2010 season.

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Ritchie de Laet has been handed a new contract by Alex Ferguson as the 20 year old defender nears his first team break through.

De Laet only signed for United in January and has so far made two first team appearances; a Premiership win over Hull last season and a substitute appearance in the Carling Cup this season when he was brought on after just 30 minutes following Fabio's red card against Wolves.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact will battle for the 2009 USL-1 Championship but the big story around USL is the removal of the Minnesota Thunder, Miami FC Blues and Carolina RailHawks team sites from USLSoccer.com
Brian Quarstad of Inside Minnesota Soccer reported on Friday that USL President Tim Holt had sent emails addressing the players at Minnesota, Miami and Carolina that they had been released from their contracts. Click to continue reading...

Our tiny little corner of the World Wide Web is all a titter because the USL office has emailed players under contract to Miami FC, Carolina, and Minnesota that their contracts have been voided. This information was broken by Brian Quarstad at Inside Minnesota Soccer.
It seems that these three ring leaders of the TOA group have not paid their fees for the 2010 season by the September 1st deadline. Click to continue reading...

Inside Minnesota Soccer had learned that United Soccer League President Tim Holt has released the players from USL-1 teams, Minnesota, Carolina and Miami FC from their contracts. In an email on Friday and addressed to all players from the 3-teams they were told that they were being released from their contracts.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer had learned that United Soccer League President Tim Holt has released the players from USL-1 teams Minnesota, Carolina and Miami FC from their contracts. In an email on Friday and addressed to all players from the 3 teams they were told that they were being released from their contracts.

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Paul Pogba's agent and mother, as well as FIFA, have spoken out about the recent claims made by Le Havre about our supposed tapping up.

FIFA
"So far, no contractual claim against the player Paul Pogba and/or the club Manchester United has been lodged by the French club, Le Havre, at Fifa.

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The Premier League have introduced a home-grown player rule which will come into effect from next season, alongside a limit on squad sizes.
From the 2010/11 campaign, the 20 Premier League clubs have voted to introduce measures which will see all teams required to have eight home-grown players out of a squad of 25. Click to continue reading...

Ji-sung Park has signed a contract extension with Manchester United keeping the tireless midfielder at Old Trafford until 2012, according to his agent.

Park joined United from PSV Eindhoven in 2005 and has made 126 appearances for the club and has scored 12 goals.

Despite his lack of goals, his energy and work rate have seen him become an integral member of the squad, often being played in big games although generally not considered a first teamer.

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With English Premier League club Chelsea recently receiving a transfer window ban from FIFA, several other clubs are being investigated. The issue is clubs inducing players to break their contracts and transfer, which FIFA views a serious violation and why they handed Chelsea such a stiff ban (two transfer windows).

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I won't go into a great deal of prologue on the Gael Kakuta / Chelsea transfer ban situation - see here and here for related stories.

Am I alone in thinking the solution proposed by Football (with a big F) stinks? They're talking about banning the movement of players under the age of 18.

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English clubs offer a professional contract a year ahead of French and Spanish clubs which they use to their full advantage with young players who have not yet signed with their parent clubs. It gives them a headstart in their scouting which Chelsea did with Gael Kakuta at Lens and Manchester United with Paul Pogba at Le Havre.

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FIFA have banned Chelsea from signing new players for the next two transfer periods (that is, the January 2010 and Summer 2010 transfer windows). This comes as part of a decision by FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on a contractual dispute regarding Gael Kakuta between Lens and Chelsea.

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By CARL ELDRIDGE We may not have signed anyone as the hours and minutes ticked away in the transfer window deadline, but Arsene Wenger has shown faith in what he has got by offering and having new contracts signed by Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">

Bendtner, 21, netted 15 goals in 50 appearances last season and AW says the Dane offers more than just goals in his role.

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Well, we mightn't have done much business in the transfer market, but people often forget the importance of tying current players to new contracts.

Today, Denilson and Nik penned new 'long-term' deals (why do Arsenal never tell us how long they're for?) and that's good news as Wenger clearly see the two of them as pivital to the club's future.

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This move could very well be the start of a long winter for the Chicago Fire. Goal.com is reporting that striker Chris Rolfe has agreed to sign with Danish side Aalborg and will come on a free-transfer this winter to the club.

"I'm very excited, as I think Aalborg is as well," Rolfe told Goal.

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