Really good interview with Mark McCullers by Columbus Alive's Chris Deville. Are you watching,
Grant Wahl? The whole thing is pretty good, particularly if you're a Crew fan, but the best part
for me was the comment on youth development:
But if [the youth we develop] sign other professional contracts and they haven't signed
a contract with MLS, then yes.
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Another international break and it all went a bit medieval. After being slain in a distant land we
embarked on a spot of regicide. So it's bye, bye George and hello .... ? God save the king, whoever
he might be.We don't know. Walter Smith and Mark McGhee have already said they don't want the job.
Jim Jefferies won't talk about it, Craig Levein is hotly tipped but United are extending a half
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It is one of the biggest rivalries in all of Spanish football.  But this season Atletico
Madrid will receive more punishment for fans involvement in the derby then the 3-2 loss the
reeling club has already suffered. In the second half of the match Real Madrid coach Manuel
Pellegrini was struck in the side of the face by an object flung from the stands.
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There are only a handful of home games left. Currently sitting equal bottom means they are all must
win for Brisbane. Not just for this season but for the future of the club. I am sure it will
continue next year. But in what form is unclear. With much of the squad coming off contract and
Melbourne Heart targeting players like Luke Devere, anything is possible for next year.
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Since I did one for VCU, I thought it was only fitting to have one for DC United. Tom Soehn has
decided to step down as Head Coach after 3 seasons, a total of 7 seasons with the club. The DC
United job is a very unique situation.
The first thing that will make it hard for United to draw in a coach is the stadium
situation.
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From the country that brought you "Maradona, the coach", even greater wisdom has now conceived the
Plan for Argentina to Win the World Cup™: a virtual petition demanding Messi get the perm job
Maradona wore to the '86 Final. I love this; the best people's movement since the petition to bring
back Family Guy when it got canceled.
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Over recent days it has been widely documented that
Man United goalkeeper
Ben Foster
may have to leave Old Trafford in order to play for England in next year's World Cup.
England manager
Fabio Capello has said that in order for players to go to the 2010
World Cup, they must be playing regular football for their club.
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I Know Soccer 16 November @ 10:01 PM EST
Felipao is coming to the rescue!!!Different media outlets are reporting that Real Madrid is
currently negotiating with Luiz Felipe Scolari (Big Phil) to become the teams' new manager. It has
been reported that the former Portuguese national team and Chelsea coach has the blessing from Kaka
and Cristiano Ronaldo as they believe he'll be the right man for the job.
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It did not take Chick Young long. In his obituary of George Burley's reign as national team boss
the great oracle of our game points out that a new manager means a new chance for Kris Boyd, Allan
McGregor and Barry Ferguson.Fair enough. A new broom and new beginnings. No manager taking the job
should have his hands tied.
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We are in the midst of the final International Break (thankfully) so things are pretty quiet at
Anfield.This particular break came at just the right time for Liverpool, who have a catalogue of
injuries, as we all know.With Torres, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Riera, Benayoun and Aurelio all in
the treatment-room, its been a difficult time for the Reds.
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Sorry I haven't been around lately, it's been a bit hectic over here recently. Luckily it was an
international break and nothing much happened in my absence, but I now dutifully bring you what
did.
As you may have read in TheSpoiler (highly recommended by the way), Darius Vassell, ex-Man City
striker, has been experience a few bumps over in Turkey.
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According to Sky Sports News, West Ham United defender Matthew
Upson has no desire to leave the club. He was quoted as saying,
"Losing at West Ham is not affecting my performance ... You take pride in that no matter where
the team is."
"It is not easy and it probably is better to be somewhere where you are winning matches, but
West Ham is where I am at.
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Scotland's 0-3 defeat to Wales at the weekend has all but sealed Burley's fate, however, and
reports from Bonnie Scotland state George will soon be on the dole. But who would replace Burley?
And are Scotland's failures really a management issue? Graeme Souness may have just crossed himself
off a few Christmas card lists as he told the press he wouldn't want the Scotland job primarily
because the country has produced no talent to work with.
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Soccer Pie 16 November @ 08:30 AM EST
Although this is the final stage of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers and there are
no weak teams in the competition, Portugal and Russia were expected to have much easier jobs. They
have minimal advantage before the return leg on Wednesday, but while Russia have a reason feel
aggrieved, Portugal were more than lucky against Bosnia.
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Ben Foster was again chosen to play for England this weekend but is disappointed not to get any
outings for his club of late.
"It's a weird one," said Foster. "I am third choice for United yet I am playing for
my country. It is very disheartening to not even be on the bench at United.
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Liverpool Kop 15 November @ 09:01 AM EST
On the 30th May 2004 (before Benitez was appointed), I wrote a post on ThisIsAnfield.com arguing
that Martin O Neill should get the Manager's job ahead of Benitez and Jose Mourinho. Five years
later and O'Neill is apparently one of the favourites to become the next Liverpool manager. Well,
my opinion has not changed: For me, O'neill is the only man for the job.
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Anfield Talk 14 November @ 11:11 AM EST
Mauricio Pellegrino today acclaimed the leadership qualities of Rafa Benitez during a difficult
start to the 2009-10 campaign.
The first-team coach, who played under Benitez at Valencia and Liverpool, describes him as a man
who stays calm amid the storm.
And Pellegrino is confident his boss is building a team capable of dominating English football
despite a dip in form this term.
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Anfield Talk 14 November @ 11:02 AM EST
The vast majority of Liverpool fans are still right behind Rafa Benitez and rightly so.
There is enough instability at the club with the owners and the debts, and the last thing we need
is to be looking for a new manager.
One win in nine games isn't great but you don't turn into a bad manager overnight.
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When Sol Campbell signed for The Magpies, there were many who thought he just got his
directions wrong when he ended up at Notts County. An ex England international with a distinguished
career, playing for a League Two club, but for how long? The accusations levelled against Campbell
were that he walked out during a training session.
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Anfield Talk 12 November @ 04:06 PM EST
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is spending the international break considering his options for
reinforcements in the January transfer window.
And while it is unlikely he will have funds available to make a permanent signing, the Anfield boss
will look for a loan striker to act as cover.
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You may have recently read that Bruce Arena received the award for Coach of the Year for rescuing
the LA Galaxy from the depths of the last few seasons all the way to the Western Conference final.
The most high-profile part of his salvage job was the healing of the San Andreas Fault-sized rift
between Lando & Becks.
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In case you didn't know, or hadn't read, the L.A. Galaxy have been a bit of a mess in the last
couple years.
No longer.
Ex-USMNT coach Bruce Arena took over the job in August last year and given one full season he's
turned them from a laughing stock to a title contender. For that reason, he's MLS coach of the
year.
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There is very little sympathy in general for the 'plight' (if you could call it that) for the
modern professional footballer. Incredibly well paid. Material possessions beyond our wildest
dreams. Greatest job in the world. Stunning woman on arm. Does it get much better? Well, not if you
are the playboy type.
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Los Angeles Galaxy's Bruce Arena was named the 2008 Major League Soccer coach of the year
Wednesday, after guiding the club to its first playoff berth since 2005.
That line does not do justice to the job that Arena did for the Galaxy this year. Last season
the Galaxy finished bottom of the Western Conference after conceding a league-high 62 goals.
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...and I would really appreciate it if I had an Arsenal win to enjoy, sadly that does not seem
to be the case due to another round of utterly pointless internationals.
There is only one bit of news and I wouldn't really call it news.
Jack Wilshere is looking forward to playing Citeh at Middle Eastlands in the Carling Cup and
believes we can go all the way to Wembley, Jack the Hobbit said:
"It will be good to play against Manchester City and I hope they play a full team.
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Sodium 10 November @ 01:00 PM EST
I was watching MNF last night and they were interviewing a coach from one of the games Sunday.
The coach said a couple things I thought were important and thus will share them.
He said that each of his players expects excellence from themselves. The individual players work
their butts off so they can better themselves as players and contribute to the best of their
abilities to the team.
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WVHooligan 10 November @ 09:12 AM EST
Peter Vermes is now the head coach of the Kansas City Wizards. (Getty Images)
I guess Peter Vermes liked coaching enough after all. Today the Kansas City Wizards are set to
remove the interim tag from Vermes title and name him their full time head coach.
The Wizards will formally announce Vermes as the club's head coach at a press conference later
today at the Wizards Swope Park Training Complex.
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Soccer Pie 10 November @ 05:37 AM EST
Yes, I am aware Daniel Agger is not even a left-back but it just shows how
badly Insua has been playing. The Reds had their share of problems this season but one of the
biggest reasons behind the disappointing results is the fact defence is leaking too many goals.
Johnson, Carragher and Skrtel are doing really well when they are fully fit, thus
I am positive the back line would be much more stable with Agger replacing completely unconvincing
Insua.
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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says being named captain last season hasn't changed his
relationship with teammates.
Fabregas paid tribute to the way the rest of the players helped him develop his leadership
style.
"The captaincy hasn't changed me at all," he said.
"My team-mates have done a great job for me as well.
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The issue regarding former Arsenal club captain William Gallas has completely gone now according to
his replacement Cesc Fabregas.Last season, the French defender questioned the character of his
teammates among other things and was stripped of his captaincy privileges by Gunners boss Arsene
Wenger.
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Jonathan Greening was on our radar for some time over the summer, and when he eventually
arrived, on a poorly disguised loan agreement (he's ours after the season), some were concerned
that we had paid too much for an ageing player with no re-sale value.
For one thing, re-sale value is nice, but how often do we actually find players we can sell on
for big money these days?
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Anfield Talk 09 November @ 03:38 PM EST
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has not given up hope of qualifying for the later stages of the
Champions League this season.
Escaping the group stages is looking like an uphill struggle for the Reds after losses to both Lyon
and Fiorentina, who currently occupy the top two places in the group.
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According to the Mirror, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is available to manage other clubs
with immediate effect. Shearer was of course pointedly ignored for the Toon job despite his 8-week
temporary appointment being called "the best decision I ever made" by Ashley. Even then though,
Shearer was still in with a chance as it was [.
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See The Cup 06 November @ 01:53 PM EST
Now that Argentina has finally secured a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, they can
present the new uniform to be used next year. The new kit is very loyal to past Argentinian shirts
and does a great job of keeping the pajama feel
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Anfield Talk 06 November @ 12:45 PM EST
Aside from the Manchester United scalp, Liverpool are winless since
late September - a feat Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish hopes won't be remedied when his side
take on Rafael Benitez's Reds on Monday evening.
McLeish, however, empathises with Benitez over the situation that has engulfed Anfield.
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