Richie Williams has been a winner at every level he's competed at as a player - winning national championships as a youth player and collegian; winning MLS Cups with DC United; capped by the full US National team. He's coached at all levels in our country - as a youth coach with the US Under-18 national team; as a collegiate coach at the University of Virginia; as an MLS assistant and interim head coach.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

For U.S. Under-23 winger Joe Gyau, the future is now.

Gyau confirmed on his own Twitter feed that he will be in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's matchday 18 against Hannover 96 this weekend for the first time. Hoffenheim is dealing with a number of injuries, and Gyau, who has been playing well for the club's U-23 team, is going to get his first taste of first-team life in the Bundesliga in what could prove to be a seminal year in the 19-year-old winger's career.

With Victory showing sides of improvement last week, and Harry Kewell turning in another quality performance tonight's game should be a belter.
Big crowd, great stadium and lots of footballers on the park.
If Victory can seal their defence, the team could gain some serious confidence and climb the ladder.

It has been a while since we previewed a Championship game, instead focusing on the no less riveting events further down the ladder. But which to choose? Two of last year's big-hitters, Leeds and Reading, meet at Elland Road this weekend, but neither have done much to grab the attention so far this term.

It has been a while since we previewed a Championship game, instead focusing on the no less riveting events further down the ladder. But which to choose? Two of last year's big-hitters, Leeds and Reading, meet at Elland Road this weekend, but neither have done much to grab the attention so far this term.

[I]t has been a while since we previewed a Championship game, instead focusing on the no less riveting events further down the ladder. But which to choose? Two of last year's big-hitters, Leeds and Reading, meet at Elland Road this weekend, but neither have done much to grab the attention so far this term.

Hi everyone,
I'm starting this blog just purely out of interest. The main subjects concerning this blog will be the main headlines in football and most importantly controversy surround the world of football. I will be giving my impartial view, meaning that I will not be taking sides.
I am a Level 5 football referee, looking to progress further up the ladder only being 17 years of age.

SPANISH FOOTBALL continued this Sunday with Round 14 of the SPANISH LEAGUE - LA LIGA with the following scheduled games. Here is a quick resume of events, final results & all the scorers. Real Sociedad celebrate victory REAL BETIS lost to REAL SOCIEDAD in the very last moment 2 - 3 & in the process sinking Betis further in the ladder.

Dan thinks Colorado made a phenomenally bad decision based mostly on past performance while admitting this:

Steve Sampson and Thomas Rongen have won doubles in MLS.

I rest my case. Jeff Carlisle goes on to paint a picture of the dysfunctional working relationship between Smith and his superiors:

Smith went public with his displeasure in an October interview with The Denver Post but later tried to make peace with Bravo, realizing that he didn't want to leave the team he had spent three years putting together.

Man City fans were encouraged to create some special pumpkins for the holiday, and they weren't left without inspiration given recent happenings at the club.

A couple notch high enough on the cleverness ladder for wider appreciation. And figuring out just what the hell it says before "Oh, that's clever.

David Cannon/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) Arsene Wenger spent big on the last day of the summer window in attempt to stop the bleeding that has seen his club have its worst start in years.
Two losses and a draw now see the Gunners in 17th place in the table, with a host of clubs swarming to try and kick the perennial top four club while they are down the ladder.

Hearts' Thrashing Shows Financial Fair Play Is Misdirected - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

When Tottenham stepped off the pitch at Tynecastle, having subjected a Hearts team who finished in 3rd place in the SPL last season and briefly looked to challenge the Old Firm duopoly the laments for the state of Scottish football were loud and numerous.

Eight years in pharmaceutical and software sales isn't the first thing that jumps out about Martin Rennie's resume.
It's the four straight coach of the year nominations as he's worked his way up the North American soccer ladder, or the USL-2 title in Cleveland, or considerable wins in Carolina (see box).

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Slowly but surely, Columbus has pulled themselves up the Eastern Conference ladder. Even as their top two strikers suffered injuries and the rest of their lineup rotated in and out of favor, the Crew scraped points together.

And when Philadelphia faltered, nobody was left to deny the Crew their place atop the East.

Sometimes interviewing professional players is tough. Ego's, timing and personalities can make things difficult. However recently I had the opportunity to speak with Nick Rimando of RealSaltLake. It was an absolute pleasure. We discussed the team's ups and downs as well as his thoughts on the future and even the fan base in Utah.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

As most NASL teams enter their final 10 games of the season, here's a taste of how dominant Carolina has been since the beginning of April.

The Railhawks have racked up an incredible +25 goal differential over their opening 18 games. That's followed by the NSC Minnesota Stars.

There's no slowing Olivier Occean down.

The Canadian international striker was a force for his old club, Kickers Offenbach, in the German 3.Liga last season, scoring 16 times in 30 league appearances. His attacking prowess was rewarded with a move up the ladder to the 2.

Mike Banner is healthy; Gabriel Ferrari is not

The MLS Injury Report updated today and Mike Banner has moved from OUT to off the report. Gabriel Ferrari is not only back on but listed as OUT with a right ankle sprain. Steven Kinney and Marko Maric remain on the DL.

Overall this doesn't impact the team too much as Ferrari's three appearances came as substitutions in a string of three games in a row between June 18th to June 26th and he hasn't made the bench since.

Liverpool, it seems, is living up to some of its great expectations lately. News has just got out that their pain-staking long, six months of pursuing Blackpool's Charlie Adam is finally over now that a deal worth £7-8m is confirmed.

By the looks of it, Liverpool seems to be climbing up the ladder much faster than it can actually acknowledge how steps it is taking.

Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp is moving up the coaching ladder. The Iceman has been appointed Assistant Manager of Ajax, the club he played for in his youth, and the club where he had until now ...

The world rankings are out. England is fourth behind Spain, Netherlands, and Germany. If only Rob Green had allowed in more goals they would have been in top spot.

Mexico is the top rated CONCACAF country surging nineteen spots to ninth position while the USA falls to 24th. The African countries make the most strides and next month the Copa America provides an opportunity for the Latin American countries to pick up points.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has admitted he's dreaming of a coaching return to Anfield in the future.
The former England international, who recently returned to the country as a forward coach with Milton Keynes Dons and Bury, is currently taking his UEFA badges in an effort to extend his career within the game.

By Gordon Fleetwood

The date was September 30, 1962, and the place was a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires. There, two heavyweights were getting ready to end their momentous fight. The victor would walk away as king of South American club football. On one side stood the incumbent, Peñarol, led by their star forward, the great Alberto Spencer.

By Chris Wright

Robin Van Persie (who, if memory serves, has never whined at an official before himself) has lambasted both Chelsea and Barcelona for 'always bitching' to referees in order to co-erce decisions out of them during games, rather than just knuckling down and winning trophies the Arsenal way.

High Ladder To Climb is a feature for the Brotherly Game. Current Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) defender Tyler Ruthven gives readers insight into the life of a player in America's lower tier leagues. His updates will be about his continued quest to make it to MLS. Follow him as he details his day-to-day trials and tribulations based on the life he is able to live through the constraints of his job - and paycheck.

SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE action tonight with all 10 games of Round 37 played simultaneously as Clubs at the bottom end of the ladder are playing their future attempting to avoid the "last ticket" to the 2º Division, & others are attempting to grab the Euro train in the top end of the classification table.

"It is not fair to say it's a bad Manchester United team or a bad league. It is a tighter league, a harder league to win. Any campaign has got blips for anyone. You have got to look at the league in general." - Sir Alex.

"We're champions and we're in the Champions League final, it's a rubbish team," said Ryan Giggs, with a banana-shaped grin etched across his face.

SPANISH FOOTBALL & its LEAGUE was super emotional as Clubs put in the extra effort to either avoid relegation into the 2nd Division & fight it out for the limited European places at the Top of LA LIGA ladder. Seven games played tonight in Round 35 with nerves, frustrations, controversy & for some, complete joy.

High Ladder To Climb is a new feature for the Brotherly Game. Current Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) defender Tyler Ruthven gives readers insight into the life of a player in America's lower tier leagues. His updates will be about his continued quest to make it to MLS. Follow him as he details his day-to-day trials and tribulations based on the life he is able to live through the constraints of his job - and paycheck.

The loss of Blaise Nkufo has a minor benefit. It allows us to dream of greater things, to partake in the fantasy of "rosterbation." Considering the current window closing on 15 April, and that most leagues are in season dreaming of a Free is pointless. Difference makers aren't Free at this time. Difference makers are under contract, but hopefully a short one so the fee would be lower.

In a shocking twist of irony, Gli Azzurri are starting their meteoric climb up the FIFA rankings ladder. From 13th not even a month ago to 11th this month. Obviously the 1-1 draw against Germany at Dortmund played a significant factor in this decision. Heck, we have yet to win a match in Champions League thus far in 2011.

Ricki Herbert has reached the top of the soccer coaching ladder after a 20-year climb.

Herbert this week learned he had been appointed to the panel of instructors and lecturers for the sport's world governing body's Courses.

The Fifa appointment, which took effect on January 1 this year, means Herbert joins 29 other soccer coaches on the panel.

Maybe it's my being exposed to different types of officiating, but I'm getting kind of cynical with regards to some of the practices that we're seeing as acceptable at certain levels of the game. You may have already read my rants about the most recent World Cup, but it's going further and further down the ladder: the game at higher levels is being less about us keeping the game safe and fair and more about keeping it interesting.

Kyle Martino is a top broadcast analyst for Fox Soccer, a former MLS Rookie of the Year and has been capped multiple times for the US of A.

Juan Agudelo for the United States............ (Photo: Credit: Matt Mathai)

Coming off the Chile-USA friendly, with national teams trialing fresh-faced youngsters for upcoming tournaments, it seems that now is a good time to talk about the crucial metamorphosis of a young talent becoming a professional success.

By Chris Wright

A batch of quotes have surfaced from a Real Madrid press conference, in which coach Jose Mourinho who refused to commit to the cause past the coming summer a couple of days ago appears to openly pine for a return to the good old, down-home Premier League.

This piece authored by frequent TSG writer Jay Bell

MLS fans have grown accustomed to losing their favorite players to Europe.

Buddle: All about the bundle....of cash?

A lot of them who are also US Soccer fans actually want the best American players to leave MLS for the benefit of the US Men's National Team by gaining game reps at the world's highest level leagues.

SPANISH FOOTBALL action tonight with the last match - Monday Night Soccer - corresponding to Round 20 of the Spanish League - La Liga. Here is the result & the scorers. Javi Martinez scores for At Bilbao ATHLETIC DE BILBAO defeated HERCULES 3 - 0 in a hard fought out game that saw 7 yellow cards.

SPANISH FOOTBALL celebrated the last match of the Spanish League - La Liga Round 19 with its now habitual Monday Night Soccer clash. ATLETICO DE MADRID managed a confidence booster winning 3 - 0 REAL MALLORCA to gain important points & maintain themselves in Euro ladder positions. Atletico was morally wounded last week when they were defeated 3 - 1 by Real Madrid in the 1º st leg of the Spanish

PLAYED 20 REVIEW We eventually got to the Played-20 stage for all teams after the Xmas period. The ladder format is as follows: 44 Man Utd 43 42 41 40 39 Arsenal 38 Man City 37 36 Tottenham 35 Chelsea 34 33 32 31 30 29 Bolton 28 Blackpool 27 Sunderland, Stoke 26 25 [...]

While Anthony Wallace is making his first appearance with the full team, he is no stranger to the U.S. National Teams set-up. A former member of the U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, he has represented the U.S. at the U-18 level and played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.