For all of us geography nerds out there... here is the 107ist membership in the Portland area broken down by zip code.

Very, very cool.

[via Timbers Army]

Poor Steve Bruce is a victim of geography

Football management is a bit like ancient Rome. Once the mob turn against you, then it's only a matter of time before some little Caesar in the boardroom gives you the down turned thumb. Steve Bruce didn't stand a chance when he took over at Sunderland because he's a Geordie.

It's raining defeats in Lancashire

Linked by geography, separated by success: so read a Manchester United banner mocking their City neighbours early last season. It may have been folded up but the message applies elsewhere on United's doorstep.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-04 00:15:52 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Sunderland Q&A: Transfers, Fans and Footballing Identity - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Earlier this month Roker Report (Sunderland blog) editor Simon Walsh asked us if we'd like to do a Q&A on Sunderland and here it is. We talk about Sunderland's transfer policy, footballing identity (or lack thereof) as well as whether Sunderland will be in a relegation battle this season.

Don Garber and the MLS front office have a huge task in front of them for 2012. (Getty Images)

One thing is certain, 2012 will be different. How different for Major League Soccer is the question.

MLS will have 19 clubs next season with Montreal entering the mix. This all means the schedule gets a little trickier.

The original reason we started the blog seven years ago was to keep a group of friends, increasingly separated by geography and the responsibilities of life, together around the Yahoo! fantasy game. Over the years we've been doing this, one of the best parts of this experience for me was the opportunity get to know Jeremy as well as I have.

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. From the Women's World Cup in Germany, to a full slate of MLS matches, to a Nutralite Championship, there is plenty of soccer to be had. In the interim, here is an inteview we did in May of 2010 with Harrison and Steven Stark. Steven Stark and Harrison Stark are the authors of World Cup 2010: The Indispensable Guide to Soccer and Geopolitics recently published by Blue River Press.

Player rumors, this one from Chile

Google Translation:
"One is defender Boris Gonzalez , who runs a football offer from the United States .
"It's Portland Timbers, a club that is close to New York. That's all I use, since they came into contact with Augustus (González, president of Cobreloa).

Cool as sc Heerenveen sc Heerenveen 1-2 Ajax (01:05:11) Paul Whitaker on everything you always wanted to know about sc Heerenveen* - * But were afraid to ask.... This would be my first visit to Heerenveen or indeed the province of Friesland and to be honest my knowledge of this part of North East Holland, was limited to three things I had learnt at school.

By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (May 24, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Rivalry "happens" for a variety of reasons. Occasionally, it's a matter of timing. Two teams, each predominant during the same period, fighting it out for supremacy. Generally, it's about geography. Derbies, typically the most intense of rivalries, are defined as matches between neighboring clubs.

If I told you I'd spent last night with Mary, a number of Geese and a very tasty knob I fear you might get the wrong impression. It is true however. Mary was tomato and vodka based, the Geese came from Chicago, while if you're looking for something to sip on late at night you can't really look beyond the Knob (cheers, BG!

It's time for us to have an adult conversation about Major League Soccer and where the winds of expansion will blow next.

This one is going to be difficult for some people; the truth will sting a little. But it's a conversation that needs to happen, so let's sit down and get this over with.

Liverpool co-owner John Henry has praised caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish in his efforts since taking over from Roy Hodgson for "exceeding expectations", whilst the American also believes that the team's future remains at Anfield.
There is much discussion on whether the club legend will permanently take the reigns at Anfield, but Henry's comments cannot harm his chances of being in the Red's hot-seat come next season.

"Football isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that," is a quote often attributed to Bill Shankly, the legendary manager of Liverpool FC. As exaggerations go, this one gets pretty close to the truth. Millions of fans identify intensely with the highs and lows of their favourite sports team, perhaps a modern substitute for the tribal loyalties of bygone days.