ASN had the chance to speak with Chicago Fire technical director Frank Klopas to talk about some of the recent departures from the Fire as well as the realities of the soccer business.
Jeff Tobin reports from the Windy City.

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! Article Start >According to press speculation, Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez, is preparing for a move away from St James' Park (or whatever it might be called by then). As the January transfer window looms, we will inevitably watch with wary eyes, as the likelihood of some departures is high, but the subjects still [. Click to continue reading...

‘Mr. Nice Guy', ‘Pinocchio', ‘a lovely man but a terrible manager' these are all the ways former Middlesbrough boss, Gareth Southgate was described. "The Rookie" on Boro bench got sacked even though he was only one point behind the leading teams. In spite of the 2:0 win over Derby, president Steve Gibson made the decision that must be respected.

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The most glaring difference between this and the last AGM is not the shareholders' attitude. It is Arsene. His demeanor was completely different this time around, and with good reason. Though that reason may not be down to results entirely.

Of course, we still get Arsene's standard lines about "belief," the "real spirit in the team," etc.

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With a plethora of football books about to hit the shops ahead of the Christmas season, Scotty Kingsley reviews the offerings of the man they called 'Houdini'.

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Many years ago Lennie Lawrence threatened to write a book about his time a Charlton. There was certainly enough packed into his nine year spell at the club, including winding up orders, high court visits, numerous Chairmen, promotion, play-offs, relegation and of course ground sharing and the Valley Party to warrant one if not more volumes.

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Reaching a third consecutive Champion's League Final won't be enough for Nemanja Vidic. Winning is everything to the Serbian.

United were aiming to be the first team to win back to back European titles last year but a lacklustre performance saw the title pass hands to a deserving Barcelona.

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My final transfer Top 5 List of this short string arrives tomorrow - only it will be looking ahead to January and will focus on potential MLS departures...#1 - If you weren't really paying much attention to UEFA World Cup qualifying yesterday, here is your group-by-group rundown roundup.#2 - My USMNT v T&T Player Ratings are up. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea: Siege, Intrigue and Champions League

The Chelsea transfer embargo detonated by Fifa this week will have massive and perturbing repercussions. Even with Chelsea delaying proceeding and stagnating the affect of the transfer prohibition by deploying a stalling bureaucracy the outcome appears inevitable.

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There will many disappointed Gooners out there tonight. Disappointed because we haven't made any signings today or since Thomas Vermaelen arrived at the club. I can understand your frustrations. I would have loved Arsene Wenger to make a couple of signings too. But he hasn't. And I'm not that disappointed to honest. Click to continue reading...

Redknapp moves nearer to midfield capture.

Sky Sports Sources understand Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Portsmouth star Niko Kranjcar.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has lined up a move for Kranjcar as a replacement for injured Croatian compatriot Luka Modric.

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The run down to the closure of the transfer window has seen Boro heavily involved in transfer activity, sadly it is with news of imminent departures rather than squad additions.

Sky are reporting that Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli are undergoing medicals ahead of a move to Stoke City for a reported joint fee of around £11M.

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Caretaker boss Chris hughton, who has done a stellar job to get Newcastle 10 points out of the first 12, is still hopeful of keeping Newcastle's squad intact come the close of the transfer window. Chris Hughton still hopeful on squad In fact Chris has stated today that he hopes departures from Newcastle are not imminent, [. Click to continue reading...

Veteran battler set for one last Premier League hurrah?

BURNLEY want to take Newcastle skipper Nicky Butt back to Lancashire to finish his career at Turf Moor.

Boss Owen Coyle is ready to offer the ex-Manchester United midfielder a two-year deal and an immediate return to the Premier League.

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Coca Cola Championship is speeding up and we bring you a brief prediction for each club this season. Many things have changed in the squads, especially on the benches. It seems that it will be tougher than ever and many so-called favourites might just prove otherwise...Here is part three.

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This weekend marks the start of the 2009-2010 Serie A season, and with most of the Serie A transfer news being about high profile departures to La Liga, it appears that this season will once again highlight the existence of a certain parity that is hard to find in most major European leagues. Click to continue reading...

Over the past couple of weeks we have heard Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson predicting his team's success would continue on into this new season. Given Ferguson has often proven his doubters wrong, the departures of key players over the summer and the failure to adequately replace them has left a lot of questions over the quality of this team.

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This is a marathon not a sprint.

After witnessing Rafa Benitez's Liverpool side conducting a rather frightening opening day performance It seems very relevant to bear one thing in mind. There are still another 37 games to go. As the good book say's in big bright friendly letters, the good book being The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Don't Panic!

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WHEN Rafael Benitez said Liverpool were trying to manage expectations about the forthcoming season, this probably wasn't quite what he had in mind.
A season in which many have tipped the Anfield outfit for the championship began in a manner that highlighted the shortcomings they must overcome if they are to end that long wait for the title. Click to continue reading...

United kick off their Premier League defence at home to Birmingham tomorrow with a squad not much different from that of last season. Obviously there were a couple of big name departures but the high profile replacements many expected never materialised and with the possible exception of Antonio Valencia, United will field a team of seasoned Reds when they kick off tomorrow.

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Wenger Believes Arsenal Stronger Despite Departures
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LONDON (Reuters) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the team will be stronger this season even though defender Kolo Toure and striker Emmanuel Adebayor have moved to Premier League rivals Manchester City.

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Everton have retained their backbone as manager David Moyes continues to do a splendid job with the Merseyside outfit. Should the saga of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City come to a conclusion in the next few days, the Blues should have a fair amount of money to spend on reinforcements.

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The Evening Chronicle is reporting that Chris Hughton is now looking at £1.5m-rated Watford central defender Mike Williamson to bolster Newcastle's depleted squad. Mike Williamson Newcastle interested in Watford center-back Newcastle are down to 18 senior players following the departures of Beye, Sebastien Bassong and Obafemi Martins, while out-of-contract players Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, David Edgar [. Click to continue reading...

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, Bundesliga outfit Hertha are keen to sign Liverpool attacker Andriy Voronin on another one-year loan deal.
The Ukrainian forward played on loan for the Berlin outfit last term, and quickly developed into a key player. Voronin was the club's top scorer, netting 11 goals. Click to continue reading...

When you think of a club backed by an American billionaire (or two) you think of Liverpool and Manchester United. It is rare that Randy Lerner's ownership of Aston Villa comes up. But he has financed a lot of buying of players since he bought the club. And still Villa have a threadbare squad that will be troubled by the injuries and departures they've suffered this off-season. Click to continue reading...

The Community Shield has all too often been little more than just another pre-season workout, but yesterday's curtain raiser provided much more than that. From a Manchester United perspective, it was the beginning of life without Ronaldo and Tevez following their high-profile departures, it was the first real test of Ferguson's re-jigged forward-line that consisted of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Click to continue reading...

Luca to Link Up With Zola – According to Toni's agent.

Gianfranco Zola's search for a new striker was boosted today with the comments made by agent of Bayern Munich and Italian forward Luca Toni. Zola has been in market for a new striker since the departures of both David Di Michele, who returned to Torino after his loan spell came to an end and Diego Tristan who left on a free transfer to sign for Cadiz of the Spanish Segunda Division.

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Continuing on the theme of departures from the list, Michael Aspin is already leaving it having returned from Nakhon Pathom of Thailand back to Northwich Victoria, where his comeback has been warmly received. Another departure from the list is that of Simon Wiles. The midfielder was on a short term contract at Dunfermline, with the [. Click to continue reading...

In years gone by, I've attempted to provide a separate preview for all of the A-League clubs prior to the season. This time, with ten teams now taking part and the various pre-seasons being played out a little more obscurely, it's a tough ask, so herewith a quick ramble about the whole lot on the eve of A-League Mark 5. Click to continue reading...

Morning peeps, having a good day?

Short and sweet today and there's no new news on the arrival of Chamakh, Vieira, Huntelaar, Hangeland or Santa Claus, but Chamakh has been having a little hissy fit over the whole thing If that's the attitude he is going to be bringing with him we'd be better without.

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There is just one game left of Manchester United's preparation for the new season, there are many positives to take out as the pre-season has shown, so far, that Michael Owen looks like a good bit of business, the team has the ability to gel and score goals in the absence of Ronaldo and Tevez and exciting signs of improvements by both Nani and Dimitar Berbatov.

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With a new job just around the corner, Zenit St Petersburg boss Dick Advocaat has now got no qualms about letting his feelings be known.
Having just completed the signing of Torino star Alessandro Rosina on Friday, everyone was happy it appears apart from coach Advocaat.
Advocaat was apparently fuming that he actually didn't sanction the move for the Italian and does not believe the Italian is a good addition to the squad. Click to continue reading...

Since the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, a number of United's first team have been forced to defend United's position as a great club with ambitions for Silverware. Indeed, opposing fans and players believe United will struggle this year and even many Reds feel we will struggle to compete for honours this year.

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Well arsenal fans, it seems viera is a strong possibility for arsene wenger. It is not often wenger actually comments on transfer targets but this is what happened today-

Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out a move for former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.

The lack of experience in Wenger's squad has become a talking point in recent times, particularly since the departures of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

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So much for speculation. The sad news has finally reached its epic conclusion. Xabi Alonso has indeed handed in an official transfer request, and a move to Real Madrid looks imminent. Some say 25 mil, others say 28 mil, but knowing my beloved Liverpool in the transfer market, we'll probably send him to Real for 15 mil and get Guti in exchange.

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As the last member of the league-winning Gunners of 2004 left for the greener pastures of Man City yesterday, Goal.com's Alan Dawson looks back at the impact of each of the previous departures had on the club... Click to continue reading...