The Fire's season might already be over, but there is still business left to take care of in MLS. The L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will finish that 'business' tonight, when they meet in the MLS Cup Final (7:30 p.m. on ESPN) for the 2009 league title.

I'll be sharing my thoughts about the game at Qwest Field throughout the day/evening so stay tuned for that and feel free to post any observations of your own in the comments section below.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy faces Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup Final tonight (8:30pm, ESPN/Galavision) in a match-up of teams that each seemed like MLS Cup long-shots at certain points in the season.

The Galaxy looked far from a title team through the season's first two months, but Bruce Arena's club came together during the summer and kicked into a new gear when David Beckham finally arrived during the summer.

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Qwest Field Awaits(AP Photo).

First off, there's still time to enter the contest to predict the score of the game and win an MLS Cup DVD. Info here.

While we await the start of the 5:30 p.m. game live on ESPN and Galavision, get caught up with:

* A game preview by Phil Collin.

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Image via LA Galaxy

Normally I like to post something ahead of time for my podcast guests but since I just got back from my honeymoon and MLS Cup is Sunday I didn't have any time to post this one ahead of time.� Having said that this week's guest on the Jared Montz Soccer Podcast is Sean Franklin.

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UPDATE: According to Carl Long at The Sun, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admitted that he will not sell striker Roman Pavlyuchenko cheap. He said,

"If he's not happy and somebody wants to pay the right money for him then something might happen.

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MLS Cup on ESPN: Real Salt Lake - Los Angeles at 8:30pm. EPL on Setanta: Bolton - Blackburn at 8:30am. On Fox Soccer Channel: Stoke - Portsmouth at 11am and Spurs - Wigan at 5pm. Bundesliga on ESPN Deportes: Bayern Munich - Bayer Leverkusen at 9:30am. On GolTV: Hamburg - VfL Bochum at 11:30am. La Liga on ESPN Deportes: Malaga - Zaragoza at 1pm. Click to continue reading...

Thank god the Premier League is back. Nothing against international football, but there's something very comforting with getting back into the ritual of watching Premier League football and being familiar with the surroundings, the pace of the game and the excitement it creates.

So the Liverpool against Manchester City game on early Saturday was the perfect re-introduction to the Premier League.

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I think this was posted a day or so ago but still worth putting up here to hype tomorrow's big game. ESPN's Adrian Healy, Janusz Michallik and Robbie Mustoe give us a preview of this year's MLS Cup Final.

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You're looking live for one last time at Neal's townhouse basement - the next time we come to you it will be from temporary quarters in a condo while we wait to buy our next house (which probably won't happen until the off-season). As Jeremy stated, it's been a crazy week for both injuries and injury news (BBC and Sky + ESPN seemed to disagree wildly about the status of some key players like Click to continue reading...

I've decided that today's Cut of the Day will actually be a medley. Today, you will hear nothing but songs from South Park episodes. And why? Because I'm easily amused like that. The first one is dedicated to the L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake...Let's flip the channel to ESPN for both a preview of Sunday's final and a stroll down MLS Cup memory lane. Click to continue reading...

The MLS Cup Final is tomorrow at 8:30 on ESPN (nice coverage for Soccer here in the US) and we still don't know if Becks is hurt or not.� With Landon Donovan also being named the MVP of the league and RSL chomping at the bit to get this thing on I will still ask the same question.� Do you trust L.

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Who are ya rooting for this weekend? We have the big-name LA Galaxy taking on small-market and workmanlike Real Salt Lake for the MLS Cup championship. The match takes place Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. CT from Qwest Field live on ESPN and ESPNHD. Make sure to tune in.
Former Wizards Chris Klein (Galaxy) and Yura Movsisyan (RSL) could play in the match. Click to continue reading...

I like the Galaxy to beat Real Salt Lake.

I asked my friend Dan Loney, who is a huge Galaxy fan but hates David Beckham like people who really hate things hate things, "Would you be conflicted if Becks scored the game-winner Sunday night?"

Dan said, "HE OWES US.

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Colorado Caribous 1978 jersey. Can't wait to see this brought back!

"Party Like It's 1979″, says the usually stone cold sober Kenn Tomasch. "The future of American soccer appears to be the past of American soccer."

Kenn writes this because news broke today that the breakaway second-tier league made-up of nine former USL and new clubs may use the North American Soccer League name for itself, after Miami FC put in two trademark claims.

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Will David Beckham and Landon Donovan be celebrating on Sunday? (Getty Images)

This is a game I've gone back and forth with all week. Two western conference squads meeting in the league final is going to be interesting. Not many had picked both the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake to make it this far back at the start of the season.

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As seems to be common, the week following an international break sort of works as a slow start back into the stream of futbol. The great matches don't start until the Champions League picks up on Tuesday. Most clubs are back in action this weekend, but there aren't any marquee matchups to talk about.

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First things first: the Galaxy's Alecko Eskandarian is on Drew Carey's "The Price is Right at 10 a.m. on CBS (sorry for the late notice).

In other momentous MLS Cup related news:

*Seattle introduces - the Galaxy dog.

*Former Galaxy midfielder Ned Grabavoy is a hero in Salt Lake City after scoring the PK that put them through to the final - but may not play Sunday against his former team.

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There's only one game left in the 2009 MLS Schedule and it's the big one; the MLS Cup Final. This year's final, which will be played at Seattle's Qwest Field, pits Western Conference regular season champs the L.A. Galaxy against the streaking Real Salt Lake.

The matchup offers some good star power with the obvious L.

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Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN SoccernetThe news is slow to come in to SoccerNet today but I'm in off-site planning meetings for 2010 as part of my day job so I'm getting a head start of things.� Arsenal - I'm not going to repeat the entire injury list because I just don't have the time. Click to continue reading...

Saturday 21st November
11:00 Rubin Kazan v Zenith St Petersburg, Russian Premier Liga, ESPN
What better way to return to club football than by watching a potential domestic title decider? Yep, it's starting to get a bit parky in Russia and this is the penultimate round of the season. Click to continue reading...

It is Friday, which means it is time to prepare for non-stop action from Spain with La Liga back in the fray.� After an intense week of World Cup qualifying playoffs, the focus turns back to the domestic responsibilities.

The times listed are Eastern Standard Time (EST) and include the pregame pleasantries, although sometimes the matches on the DIRECTV La Liga specific channels may not go to match coverage until right before kickoff.

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Remember that New Mexico womens soccer player Elizabeth Lambert that displayed some 'roid rage a couple weeks ago against BYU?
Well she got all dolled up for a New York Times story in response to that game.
Pretty interesting stuff.
Now the links:

• Don't fart in the refs face.

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The English Premier League resumes this upcoming weekend (Nov 21 & 22) after a week of due to international fixtures. The title race remains very close amongst Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Liverpool continues to struggle while Manchester City looks for a top four finish. Here's our weekly list of previews, predictions, and USA/UK Television listings for Saturday 21st November 2009 & Sunday 22nd November 2009

Predictions (times listed are GMT aka UK local time)

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Birmingham v Fulham, 15:00 - 1-1 Draw

Burnley v Aston Villa, 15:00 Burnley wins 2-0

Chelsea v Wolverhampton, 15:00 Chelsea wins 4-0

Hull v West Ham, 15:00 Hull wins 1-0

Liverpool v Man City, 12:45 Liverpool wins 3-2

Man Utd v Everton, 17:30 Man United wins 2-1

Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00 Arsenal wins 3-1

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Bolton v Blackburn, 13:30 Bolton wins 1-0

Stoke v Portsmouth, 16:00 Stoke wins 2-1

Tottenham v Wigan, 15:00 Tottenham wins 3-1

Video Previews (click on each match) & USA/UK TV Listings

Saturday, November 21, 2009 Time Home Away TV VENUE Nov 21 07:45 ET Liverpool v Manchester City ESPN2 (USA), Sky Sports 1 (UK) Anfield Nov 21 10:00 ET Birmingham v Fulham St Andrews Stadium Nov 21 10:00 ET Burnley v Aston Villa Turf Moor Nov 21 10:00 ET Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers Setanta Ireland (UK) Stamford Bridge Nov 21 10:00 ET Hull City v West Ham United Kingston Communications Stadium Nov 21 10:00 ET Sunderland v Arsenal Fox Soccer Channel (USA) Stadium of Light Nov 21 12:30 ET Manchester United v Everton Fox Soccer Channel (USA),� ESPN (UK) Old Trafford Sunday, November 22, 2009 Time Home Away TV VENUE Nov 22 08:30 ET Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers Sky Sports 1 (UK) Reebok Stadium Nov 22 10:00 ET Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic White Hart Lane Nov 22 11:00 ET Stoke City v Portsmouth Fox Soccer Channel (USA),� Sky Sports 1 (UK) Britannia Stadium Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, the agent of Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko admitted that Roma are interested in his client. Oliver Wendt told romagiallorossa.com:

"It is true, yesterday Daniele Prade was in London to better understand the situation of Pavlyuchenko but we don't know the real intentions of the Giallorossi .

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Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Sunday, November 22nd at 7:30 CT on ESPN

How many high pressure wins does it take to erase the title of underdog? After entering the tournament as the lowest seed, Real Salt Lake might need one more as they try to complete their Cinderella Story toward Sunday's David vs.

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FYI
I will be off Friday and Monday enjoying all that Seattle has to offer. So our good friend Graham Fox will be filling in. I have no doubt you will like it. His work here in the past has been fantastic. Have fun everyone, and don't miss MLS Cup.
- Bruce
STARTERS
If last Saturday's USA game at Slovakia was disappointing, then yesterday's game at Denmark was down right pathetic. Click to continue reading...

Watch the Thierry Henry handball video from the France versus Ireland game here. In the analysis by Irish TV station RTE, the pundits dissect the controversial moment in the game and analyze whether it should have been offside or not and whether the video of the Thierry Henry handball shows if he cheated on purpose or not.

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After an International break that completed the 32-team field for the World Cup next summer in South Africa, the EPL surges back to action this weekend with an important fixture at Anfield.

That game is on ESPN in glorious high definition. Here's the entire TV schedule.

Now, on to the previews:

Liverpool vs.

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I'm typing this post from the rear seat of a town car on my way to the airport for MLS Cup madness 2009*. So while float over the country and plot my assault on Jet City may I suggest you listen to RSL skipper Jason Kreis talk coach stuff. Then later when my feet are back on the ground we can talk punk rock stuff. Click to continue reading...

Football FocusWednesdays, 7.30pm (Indian time), ESPN StarPresented by John DykesNothing to do with Lawro or Dicko, Football Focus is the moniker adopted by ESPN for their weekly magazine show, a broadcast that is aired throughout the Asian continent. Based in Singapore, the programme chiefly provides a showcase for the channel's exhaustive coverage of the Premier League (which they call the "EPL" Click to continue reading...

En la narración de ESPN buscaban englobar en una frase lo que pasaba en el encuentro entre Francia vs Irlanda, en donde la mano de Henry ponía a los franceses en la siguiente fase.

"La main de Dieu" (según mi traducción) o "La Mano de Dios versión 2009" es como a mi parecer puedo llamar a este acto que intencional o no resulto perjudicial para Irlanda y benéfico para Francia.

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Allow me to introduce, if you don't know it already, the very worthy Free Beer Movement. The goals and tactics of this movement are simple, but profound:

The success of soccer in the United States depends on a larger and more supportive network of fans that attend games, watch them on TV, and spread their love and knowledge of the game to others.

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Actually Japan is leading the charge against vuvuzelas leading into the World Cup.
Won't amount to much I'm sure.
But maybe it would if more join the charge!
To the links:Liverpool Daily Post]
Fergie says City is top four material. [ESPN]FIFA warns Iraq to separate gov't/soccer. Click to continue reading...

Since the players aren't here yet, may as well eat at Dick's

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SEATTLE – Since it's mostly going to be an MLS Cup-centric week (after today's World Cup qualifiers, which Richard Farley told you about in the previous post), we may as well get the Pacific Northwest party started.

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Este miércoles se definen los últimos boletos para el mundial de Sudáfrica 2010. La primera sorpresa es el triunfo como visitante que Grecia consiguió en Ucrania.

Con un solitario gol al minuto 31, el equipo griego vuelve a un mundial desde 1994.

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