This post will not contain a full play-by-play, but will cover the three Americans I'm presuming will all start (today's Postcard From Europe, a follow-up historical stats report dedicated exclusively to the goalies, has been delayed for this result). It should also retain the full usual measure of snark.

One week into the transfer window, I wish there were more concrete transfer new items to share. But instead, it's just the same rumors we've been reading for the last few weeks, for the most part. I'll start with players making exits, or rumored to be making exits.

Vito Mannone is now on loan with Hull, and he played today against Ipswich in an FA Cup win.

Honestly, despite my reputation as the Negative Nancy blogger, I thought we'd snatch a winner all the way up to the final whistle. Not only did we control possession, chances, corner kicks, free kicks, etc, but we also played the final 20-ish minutes (including added time) with a man advantage.

I watched FC Barcelona in the wee smalls on Sunday, mesmerized as always by the side's peerless ability to hold possession and work nimbly out of pressure, as Pep Guardiola's men operated in Asia. It took me back a couple of weeks to my trip into that stylish and splendid Catalan city.

Just after sunset, my girlfriend and I sat in a coffee shop not far from the Barcelona's main port.

Soccer is an easy sport to understand once you learn the basic rules. Here are a few of the most important ones to know:

Soccer matches last 45 minutes. The clock doesn't stop for injuries, substitituions, or if the ball goes out of play. Overtime periods last 15 minutes. If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, players take turns with penalty kicks to determine the winner.

By its 17th year this really should have happened already. (If you didn't pick up on it... that was our "ball-dropping joke).
Major League Soccer released their new match ball for the 2012 season and despite it kinda looking like it's wearing a thong, we think it's pretty cool.
Sporting the league's colors and minimalist design the MLS ball is a close cousin to the new Tango 12 ball for this summer's European Championship.

The newest professional soccer team in Virginia, SharX struggling for first win
Park City, Kansas – The Norfolk SharX went up 4-0 on the Wichita Wings early in the game Saturday night, on back to back goals from Cecil Lewis assisted by Gersen Dos Santos and Matt Clare's unassisted strike, and had a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

(Photo: Nicolae Stoian)

What: Philadelphia Union v Houston Dynamo

When: 5pm EST

Where: PPL Park, Chester, PA, USA

Why: Playoffs!

TV: ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN-Deportes

Radio: Soon

Referee: Jair Marrufo (if you are close to the field, throw him a shirt)

For additional info, see PSP's Lineup Breakdowns: The goalies Union D vs Dynamo O Midfield vs Midfield Union O vs Dynamo D

In March, two teams with modest expectations met in Houston to work out the offseason kinks.

(Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz)

All this week, PSP will be breaking down the Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo playoff matchup. PSP's roving correspondent Adam Cann lays out the big questions and Eli Pearlman-Storch answers them. First up, we compare the goalkeeping of the second and third best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Caroline Brockmeier -- Democrat photoBy Jim Henry
Democrat writer
Caroline Brockmeier has developed into one of the country's top youth soccer players. The sophomore goalie at Chiles High was invited to a national select camp two years ago and actually plays club soccer in Chicago. Established collegiate programs have started to express interest.

El cancerbero mexicano, Guillermo ¨Memo¨ Ochoa, atajó un penal a los 20 minutos del partido entre Marsella y su equipo Ajaccio, en los primeros minutos del juego de la liga francesa de futbol.

Después de que el portero mexicano sacara el esférico con un manotazo, el delantero Ayew, remato de cabeza casi de palomita para que nuevamente Ochoa reaccionara de manera espectacular con reflejos felinos, salvó a su equipo de que abrieran el marcador.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

What: Union at Red Bulls

Where: New Jersey

When: 8pm EST

Why: Because they have it coming

TV: ESPN2

Radio: is not an option, apparently

The New York Red Bulls need to win on Thursday. They need it really bad.

Their best player is suspended, their season is on the brink, they traded away the presumptive MLS MVP, their young stud striker can't break the starting lineup, their designated player keeps stabbing Tim Ream in the back instead instead of playing in the back, their "goalies" keep showing up for practice and asking what their hands are for again, Mehdi Ballouchy, Dax McCarty and Teemu Taino won't take the Michael Farfan posters off their walls, people won't come watch them play, MLS is going to make them irrelevant when the league's 20th franchise is announced, their trophy case is empty, Dame Richards wants to be a striker when he's just a travel-sized Damarcus Beasley, Hans Backe is going to continue making no adjustments of any sort under any circumstances for at least one more year, they can't buy another Thierry Henry this winter, despite being the second highest scoring team in MLS they have a league-high 16 ties, the Chicago Fire might finish above them in the standings, they don't have the Yankees to blame for being ignored this year, Harrison is in New Jersey, they are named after an energy drink that you drink while "doing sports," and now the team they expected to push around for a few years is coming to town with their playoff ticket already stamped and one win away from an Eastern Conference crown.

Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

HARRISON, N.J. -- Jurgen Klinsmann's coaching staff is slowly starting to take form.

After Martin Vasquez became entrenched as Klinsmann's second-in-command, the U.S. national team manager announced the addition of Chris Woods as the goalkeeper coach.

Sabella, the new coach of Argentina's National team has selected his 27 players for the start of the 2014 World Cup qualification. The first two games will be against Chile & Venezuela
Argentina Vs Chile: October 7th 2011 (Friday)
Argentina Vs Venezuela: Oct 11th 2011 (Tuesday)
Strikers/Forwards:
Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid)
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa)
Eduardo Salvio (Atlético de Madrid)
Germán Denis (Atalanta)
Midfielders:
Ever Banega (Valencia)
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Fabián Rinaudo (Sporting)
Rodrigo Braña (Estudiantes)
Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle)
Ricardo Alvarez (Inter)
José Sosa (Metallist)
Javier Pastore (Paris Saint Germain)
Angel Di María (Real Madrid)
Defenders:
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
Nicolás Burdisso (Roma)
Federico Fernández (Napoli)
Martín Demichelis (Málaga)
Nicolás Otamendi (Porto)
Nicolas Pareja (Spartak Moscú)
Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscú)
Emiliano Insúa (Sporting)
Goalies:
Sergio Romero (Sampdoria)
Mariano Andújar (Catania)
Agustín Orion (Boca Juniors)

By Chris Wright

We're all fans of male nudity here on Pies right? Right? Right.

On Friday, Sandefjord's junior keepers Stian Antonsen Marius Bentzen challenged the Norwegian side's veteran goalies to a game of 'football tennis', duly lost and, as a forfeit, were forced to hand in their dignity at the changing room door.

I recently got asked in a comment to tell you my team for this seasons Barclays fantasy football. So here it comes, this is my team for Fantasy Premier League.
My goalkeepers are Given for Aston Villa and Al-Habsi from Wigan. I've never really believed in using too much money in goalkeepers in fantasy football, and that hasn't changed this season.

Porto and Guimaraes have announced their rosters for tomorrows Super Cup. The season kick off game will have both clubs looking to start their campaign on a positive note. Rosters: FC Porto Goalies- Helton, Bracali Defense- Maicon, Fucile, Otamendi, Rolando, Sereno, Sapunaru Midfield- Guarin, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Micael, Souza, Belluschi Forwards- Hulk, Varela, Falcao, Kleber, Djalma

Remember when the MLS All-Stars were undefeated against foreign opposition? Manchester United made sure those days were nothing but a distant memory as they defeated the MLS All-Stars 4-0 in the 2011 MLS All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on Wednesday night.

Revs captain Shalrie Joseph got to test himself against Manchester United for the second time in two weeks on Wednesday.

What was solid rumor yesterday is official team news today as the Chicago Fire released Bratislav Ristic to open an international spot for new signing Pavel Pardo. Ristic was signed on September 14, 2010 after a long trial period with the team. He went on to make 8 starts in 2010 playing at RB, LB, RM, and even a little bit at CDM and LM.

In-depth analysis is probably not warranted after a pair of European friendlies that saw the visitors in lame form. Everton mailed it in like a cereal box UPC for a free beanie and if you looked at Real Madrid's second half formation from a blimp, it spells out "aburrido."

But let the follies of others take nothing away from a stouthearted, spirited and plucky (oh hey thesaurus!

Inside Left takes a look through the transfer list and has a go at putting together a team made up of players released from their clubs at the end (or during the course) of last season. GK Mark Howard (Aberdeen, now: unattached) Pretty obvious choice this one, given the lack of experienced goalies in [.

BBC Sport Aston Villa sign Shay Given from Manchester City on five-year deal.

In probably the most cost effective transfer in the close season to date, Aston Villa today signed Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Shay Given to a 5 year deal.

Given is widely regarded as one of the top goalies in the Premier League despite having spent most of last season on the bench as backup to Manchester City's England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The Union raised a lot of eyebrows by taking Maryland goalie Zac MacMath fifth overall, passing on big-time defensive prospects like AJ Soares and Kofi Sarkodie, and turning a blind eye to strikers CJ Sapong and Will Bruin.

The Union see MacMath as their future: A future US international number one who can take over games and save shots that even very-good-goalies can only dream of stopping.

The end of Colombia came almost anticlimactically in extra time after 90 minutes of spectacular shots which had both goalies jack knifing through the air, a missed penalty by Radamel Falcao, and two reprieves for Peru as the ball blasting Dayro Moreno and Fredy Guarin threatened to end the match.

In conjunction with the launch of the team's 2011/12 outfield player away kit, the England Umbro 2011/12 away kit was released on Friday. Here's a look at the shirt that Joe Hart and the rest of England's goalies will wear on the road over the next year and Umbro's description of it. Both jerseys are now [.

2010/11 German Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich (or Bayern München in German) unveiled their 2011/12 adidas home outfield player kit in April. Now one of Germany's best-supported and most successful teams have launched their 2011/12 adidas goalkeeper kit. Here is a look at the jersey that Bayern's goalies will wear for Budesliga, domestic cup and UEFA [.

Heineken today launches their groundbreaking StarPlayer app which lets you play along live with Champions League games. And readers of The Offside have an exclusive chance to get involved.

Last night Heineken official Champions Legaue sponsors rolled out StarPlayer at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

38 year old FC Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is my hero of the day. He managed to score his 100th goal that helped Sao Paulo win the local derby against Corinthians 2-1 on Sunday. Here's the goal, in case you haven't seen it.
But what makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that it makes you think differently about goalies or the game more generally.

38 year old FC Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is my hero of the day. He managed to score his 100th goal that helped Sao Paulo win the local derby against Corinthians 2-1 on Sunday. Here's the goal, in case you haven't seen it.
But what makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that it makes you think differently about goalies or the game more generally.

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- Thirty Years Ago: QPR Announce Installing Artificial Pitch - The First in English Football
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- Throughout the day, updates, comments and perspectives re QPR and football in general are posted and discussed on the QPR Report Messageboard.

........Or a combination of all three?
I feel very proud and privileged to be a Gooner but at times it can be so frustrating.
I don't know what would be more frustrating, watching that game today, or pulling Kelly Brook on a drunken night out and then being too pissed to get it up.

This past weekend the Chicago Riot faced a critical match-up of playing the Omaha Vipers away on Friday and then here in sweet home Chicago on Sunday. Lose both games and face almost certain playoff elimination. Win both games and take the driver's seat. Split the games and... well that's why you read these kind of things.

Rumors continue to swirl around goalkeeper Thorne Holder and the Union.

Today Sheanon Williams tweeted, "Trying to get one of our goalies some followers." Guess what it isn't @MacMath.

Holder in training

Holder posted a photo of himself in training with the caption, "Game today against Stetson.

Rumors continue to swirl around goalkeeper Thorne Holder and the Union.

Today Sheanon Williams tweeted, "Trying to get one of our goalies some followers." Guess what it isn't @MacMath.

Will he be the Union's number three goalkeeper?

Holder posted a photo of himself in training with the caption, "Game today against Stetson.

Corners are funny events; not funny as in "ha ha" but funny as in "what do they tell us about the game?".
Let's think of them as measures of offensive production for a moment. Teams playing lots of offense should not see too many corners on their own side of the field. Instead, teams that press, have lots of possession, pass forward a lot and take lots of shots on goals should, by implication, see some of the balls diverted by goalies or defenders to produce corners.

Albert Camus, goal keeper of French Algerian descent.

Famous author and philosopher Albert Camus once said, "All that I know most surely, about the morality and the obligations of man, I know from sport." His sport of choice? Football of course, and his chosen position was goal keeper, the place of those odd men who live in a very different psychological universe than the rest of the players on the field.

The guys practice a little keep away. From right to left: Corrales, Lenhart, Convey, Johnson, Leitch (I think), Jasseh, McDonald, Ward, Ampaipitakwong

The Winter transfer period is open and the Quakes are still adding some players to their roster. Recently the Quakes have added a midfielder and a new goalie.

Since the first MLS draft in 1996, 10 goalies have been drafted in the first round. The results are decidedly mixed. And while some first rounders have been productive and others have been duds, no goalie selected in round one has had a long and influential career for the team that picked him. Brad Guzan for Chivas and Matt Jordan for Dallas have come closest to fulfilling their promise as long-term number ones.

Daniel Paladini to sign with the Chicago Fire

The Carolina Railhawks are confirming what we reported in the comments section earlier this past week. 26 year-old Midfielder Daniel Paladini will sign with the Chicago Fire. His goal rate is pretty good for a midfielder and the scouting report is that many of those goals are from free kicks.

Posted by Jared Montz

Pictured above is a friend of mine Colin Gilmartin. Colin is an ODP Staff Coach and great guy. This past weekend at the Louisiana Soccer Association Winter Meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Colin taught a few coaching courses to Louisiana coaches. I know it looks like he is rapping to the class here but he is running a goalkeeper course.