There is one thing you have give to the Philadelphia Union, so far during this and the previous off season they've had needs on the team and pretty much filled them up. After the inaugural season it was painfully obvious to anyone that wasn't Helen Keller that Chris Seitz was not going to be the answer at Goalkeeper.

From the Evansville Courier & Press, December 3, 2011
The Thanksgiving holidays offered some important coaching role models, and in some cases, will probably surprise as well as promote thought of the kind of leaders to emulate.
Flipping the channels around on Thanksgiving and seeing 'The Wizard of Oz' brought me back to a story from Joe Ehrmann's outstanding book 'InSideOut Coaching — How Sports Can Transform Lives.

That little table on the right shows we are still one point behind last seasons cumulative total, one problem with that table (other than the lack of progression in 2010/11 from game 27 onwards) is that it does not take into account the opponents played. On Saturday we made a big step forward, like for like games compared to last season we are now 3 points up.

It seems club programmes in the SPL might be about to endure a rather brutal re-invention.
The league, in its new found spirit of consultation, is canvassing opinion on the future of individual club programmes.
The endgame might see the disappearance of programmes as we know them and the advent of a league-wide SPL matchday magazine.

An odd thing happened to the prediction that Celtic would break the GI Joe kung-fu grip Rangers have had on the Scottish Premier League trophy the past three years. Quite simply, it appears to have been rather hastily determined based on deceptive appearances alone, or perhaps a notable disappearance from Ibrox.

Kidnappers in Nigeria have demanded a ransom of £78,000 for the safe return of Chelsea midfielders John Obi Mikel's Father who has been missing since Friday.

Police became suspicious after Michael's car was found abandoned in an un-disclosed location in Nigeria on Friday and despite his Dad's disappearance Obi Mikel kept strong and togged out for Chelsea against Stoke on Sunday with only manager Andre Villas Boas knowing of his family grievances.

All I would say to the people who have him is please let him go. He is an old man. He has not done any harm to anyone. I am devastated by this situation.
-John Obi Mikel, on his father's disappearance

We are devastated as well.

They are as crooked as they come. But while there is little sympathy for Mohammed Bin Hammam for allegedly bribing CFU officials for presidential votes there is no doubt that only he of all those who stand accused is being put on trial. The consequences if found guilty are severe - he stands to be barred for life from FIFA under corruption clauses.

After a lengthy disappearance because of my job... I'M BACK. A lot has happened since I've been gone and I apologize for my absence. Expect some posts VERY soon.

Follow me on Twitter: @DynamoOffside and @Zach_Taylor

Forever ORANGE

Absences suck.

A shady affair Fiorentina boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has been reunited with a special pair of sunglasses following an emotional appeal for their safe return on the club's website. The Serb's favourite shades were reportedly stolen during a press conference at the club last Thursday, June 23. The disappearance prompted an update on the Fiorentina website.

With the likely disappearance of West Ham from the Premier League, one of the options for dispensing with our fringe players has also gone. Step forward QPR, who have already been linked with Robbie Keane this month and are now strongly rumoured to be looking at a move for Jermaine Jenas.

JJ has been in and out of the side due to both injury and selection, but Harry does seem to favour him at times when other options are available.

"I'm weary now and I want to leave this town, I can't find a job I'm tired of hanging around."
(Jimmie Rodgers, "Whistle Train Blues")

With the season winding down and our safety practically assured, logic suggests that fringe players may get a run out. But, conversely, it seems that Hughes has finally settled on a starting XI that is achieving results.

The big games just keep rolling in and tonight's is no different. Our rearranged fixture at Blackpool could see us propel ourselves into the top 3 and pile the pressure on Manchester City and especially Chelsea who would find themselves 5 points behind us with a game in hand which I believe is against United so it's no gimme.

A More Splendid Life takes pride today in welcoming the excellent Match Fit USA's Jason Davis, here to remind you why the dirt won't wash off after today's Transfer Deadline Day mayhem.
Ian Prior's #guardianfail transgression, claiming an exclusive and then under-delivering with a rumor that even the orthodox Amish consider as common knowledge at this point, crystallizes how dependent the blogging community is on traditional media.