There is no better way to start off the new direction of blog than by interviewing a potential future MLS Philadelphia player. Ryan Finley is a name that one might not know well now, but certainly will in the future. He is a United States Under-18 striker getting ready to make his mark in college and on a higher level. Click to continue reading...

  Arsenal forward Carlos Vela was giving a statement to the popular Mexican Television channel (TV Azteca) after the clash with Belize at Houston, Texas. Vela won the game with his native Mexico finally with 2:0, where he scored the opener after 67 minutes.  As well he was looking forward on Saturday, when Mexico again take on Belize in Monterrey, Mexico. Click to continue reading...

Recently I had the opportunity to ask Mikey Collins, IGLFA Secretary, some questions about his position with IGLFA and his experiences as a member of the gay soccer community. Click to continue reading...

Do coaches lead more than just our players? We often speak of our players as leaders, or our ability as coaches to lead our team -- but what about or ability as coaches to lead one another? How important is leadership within a coaching staff, and what does the leadership that your staff exhibits ultimately mean for the players on your team? Click to continue reading...

Steve Menary's book Outcasts!: The Lands That FIFA Forgot is a fascinating read. In the book, Menary reports on the far flung "countries" that FIFA doesn't recognize. Steve Menary sat down to speak with me recently about writing Outcasts and the issues his book raises. Menary told me that he got his start writing for [. Click to continue reading...

Before I start, I want to say that I personally like Dave Kasper. He is a smart man, and has always been open with me. I also know he has the best interests of DC United at heart. So I hope these posts, despite their length, come across as measured and analytical, rather than unfair, gratuitous and personal.

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Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has revealed he is willing to accept the rigours of the Premier League to become a better overall player. Vela linked up with his new team mates on Monday, and admitted before hand that he was nervous, but excited about his return to London. "Yes (I'm Nervous) because i will meet new people, [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has given his first official interview after rejoining the Gunners for pre-season training, speaking on a whole manner of subjects to Arsenal.com You can read in full what the 19 year old had to say below. On finally linking up with Arsenal: "I am very proud to finally be here and I am truly [. Click to continue reading...

Photo: Fox SportsBobby McMahon is the analyst for the Fox Soccer Report, a nightly soccer news show on Fox Soccer Channel. For many of us here in North America (and around the world), McMahon is an authority when it comes to what's going on in ... Click to continue reading...

For various reasons, it's been a few weeks since I've been able to do a Q&A over at USSoccerPlayers. Well, things are back to normal (hopefully). Yesterday, I spoke with Eric Wynalda about this Saturday's US-Sweden game, and it's up now.�

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Earlier this week, Just-Football was invited to attend a seminar hosted by Birkbeck Sports Business Centre, at which the guest lecturer was none other than AC Milan legend and current Italian national coach Roberto Donadoni. The lecture was held as part of an event to launch the alumni group of the Birkbeck Department of Management's MSc Sports Management and the Business of Football programme. Click to continue reading...

Ray Burse, Jr. has had one hell of a past year - on and off the field. As primarily a reserve last year, Burse waited patiently for his chance at the first team. Then Shaka Hislop retired,� Dario Sala was injured and Burse found himself in net for FC Dallas' SuperLiga opener vs. Chivas Guadalajara. [. Click to continue reading...

During the second field inspection, I asked a strapping young member of United's communications department if he had an explanation as to why they're insistent upon continuing the game, considering it was already a longer delay than we had on June 4. He said he didn't have an "official" response, but that the league policy is to see as many games as possible played to completion.

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At the beginning of the season, we were told that D.C. United's squad was improved to compete in international competition. One of the biggest changes was the trade of Bobby Boswell to the Dynamo.

Tonight, Houston beat Pachuca, 2-0, to advance to the SuperLiga finals. Guess who scored the game-winning goal.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he was left impressed by Carlos Vela's 28 minutes cameo against Newcastle United on Saturday, and enthused that the forward has a big future with the club. Wenger told the Gunners official website on Tuesday: "Yes, he looks like another one for the future," Vela is just 19-years-old, but is attracting the attention [. Click to continue reading...

  Arsenal Forward Carlos Vela was speaking after the clash with Jamaica last evening at the Estadio Azteca to the native press, to give views on his impressions as well as on his own performance. Vela played 73 minutes, as his native Mexico forged a 3:0 win over Jamaica and was involved in two of the three goals. Click to continue reading...

Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner has admitted in a post match interview after the Sheffield clash, that his partnership up front with teammate Carlos Vela is really fantastic. The young Dane praised also the qualities of the young Mexican, as well as Vela's attitude. Bendtner told Arsenal TV online: "Everybody played really really well, we could have had [. Click to continue reading...

Following up on my interview with Andrea Canales a few weeks ago, my interview with her fellow LA reporter Luis Bueno is up now on This is American Soccer (TIAS). Luis writes for Sports Illustrated, MLSNet.com, the Press-Enterprise, in addition to running his Sideline Views blog along with Andrea. Most of my conversation with Luis [. Click to continue reading...

Chad Severs is a NJ-born striker currently playing for the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. A lethal finishing touch and high work rate highlights his arsenal of attributes that have taken to him from Ocean City HS - where he came one goal shy (with 159) of tying Tab Ramos' NJ state record [. Click to continue reading...

It is an understatement to say that the path from Uganda to South Carolina is not well trodden. But in the past few years an increasing number of young men from Uganda have been making the unlikely journey to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina to study and play for school's soccer team. Click to continue reading...

Soccer Coach Emma Hayes is as unique as the environment she grew up in. A thrill-seeker from Camden Town, her gritty ambition surpasses that of even the most upper-crust kid in Regents Park. In 2000, after much denial about her inability to play soccer due to a chronic ankle injury (and six years pursuing an unsuccessful career in the secret service), Emma accepted her true calling to become a coach. Click to continue reading...

Louise Waxler founded the KICKS Against Breast Cancer charity soccer tournament in 1996 in honor of her friend Claudia Mayer, who died of breast cancer at the age of 47. The photo above is the Penn State Women's Soccer team and the Washington Freedom W-League team at this year's Final Game. From the [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has admitted in a interview after the Stuttgart clash, that he is very happy with Carlos Vela's development in the pre season so far and thinks that he does not need another striker in his side. "We are not as short of strikers as people thought," "We have Vela, who has integrated well into [. Click to continue reading...

DC United's starting left back answered a few of my questions about his role with the team, his preferred positions, and what he has planned for the coming year. Jon- You've played for 3 MLS teams in 3 seasons, but it looks like you've found a home in DC. Any insight into your [...] Click to continue reading...

Carlos Vela was selected to take part in a press conference in Osasuna's press room, Tajonar Carlos has admitted in the press conference he has good feelings, that he can play without any problems on Sunday against Getafe. He also spoke again about his dream to join Arsene Wenger's side for the next campaign as well [. Click to continue reading...

Okay. Okay. So I missed all Red Bull coverage this weekend. Take a look at Jeff's account of the game - I will post on it later. I wasn't able to make the game due to some family stuff and it turns out I missed a fun one. Won't happen again, I promise. I was able [...] Click to continue reading...

This photo is of myself, Emma Hayes and Lisa Cole at the NSCAA convention in Baltimore, MD, January 2008. I recently caught up with Lisa Cole, who was just named assistant coach of the new WPS Boston Breakers, scheduled to begin play in 2009. I'm lucky to know Lisa through both Region 1 [...] Click to continue reading...

After previously getting Tim Burgess of The Charlatans to give a few minutes to talk about United, proper red Terry Christian has spoken to Republik of Mancunia about several United related topics. Christian, Old Trafford born and bred, got his first gig at local BBC Radio stations, with his 'Barbed Wireless' programme winning Sony Awards in [. Click to continue reading...

The 99s are the MUTV 'Band of the Year' winning by a public vote by reds earlier in the year. These lads from Saddleworth (you know, Oldham way) are lifelong United fans whose name is obviously inspired by our wonderful Treble winning season. Tim Burgess, who had a chat with RoM not so long ago, has also [. Click to continue reading...

This week, I'll be interviewing Marc Burch and Greg Janecki. Anybody have something they want to ask either of these fine gentlemen? Leave it in the comments. Click to continue reading...

Just got off the phone with Santino, and I will have it transcribed by tonight, so come back around 10pm tonight and read about Santino's contract status, his destiny with the USMNT, and his plans of revenge against Marc Burch. Click to continue reading...

I am an interview machine over here. Come back tomorrow to see what Marc has to say about free kicks, his contract, and Santino's wrath. While you're here, read and comment on the previous interviews of Greg Janecki, Santino Quaranta, Ben Olsen, and Guy Roland Kpene Click to continue reading...

Even with the transfer window open, not much has happened so far except for the transfer of Ever Banega to Valencia. No one wants to hear anything about Danny Mills being sent to cellar-dwellars� Derby County on loan or Goldenballs training with Arsenal. Instead, here is an interview with Jonathan Bornstein from about 6 months - [. Click to continue reading...

As I mentioned in a previous post I recieved an invitation from Jesus Alvaredo, who is a god amongst Sevilla fans, to be interviewed on his radio show 'Sevillistas por el mundo' on Sevilla FC radio. I'm going to talk about why I became a Sevilla fan, why I write both on here and on The [...] Click to continue reading...

I haven't been posting too much lately for a bunch of reasons. One of them is that I feel I have already said everything about DC United's problems earlier this season, and I have seen nothing from them to suggest otherwise.  And since I don't believe in piling on with the same criticism week after week after week, I have chosen to let others do so.

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