SEATTLE -- The teams arrived in Seattle last night, all staying near the teeming town center, presumably to be close Pike Place Market in case they get the urge to throw some fish.

From a competition standpoint, I find it interesting that the teams didn't arrive a little earlier. On the one hand, I do get it: they want proper training during the week, and that's more manageable in nicer conditions.

Click to continue reading...

As the title reads, former Portuguese international and ex-Mourinho pupil Costinha plays for Atalanta and is probably the biggest waste of money in all of Italian football today. Back in the summer of 2007, Costinha's contract expired at Atletico Madrid. Atalanta thought they were making a real steal signing him, as be brought a wealth of international experience to their midfield.

Click to continue reading...

Easily the greatest penalty shootout celebration in history. (0.20) Fabio Capello is not such a hit in Spain. (La Liga Loca) The dam is breaking in Manchester. (EPL Talk) Raymond Domenech: not so smart. (The Spoiler) Amaral writes a nice, though curious, parting letter. (SoccerLens) Robin van Persie to get mystery placenta juice treatments. Click to continue reading...

WTF is going with the Space Needle? It's a mystery...but I know the answer. I can't say right now because I would be fired --and that would so not be a good look when I am on the cusp of a trip to MLS Cup on the company dime-- but here's a peek. All will be revealed in due time though kids so keep it locked. Click to continue reading...

Financial troubles continue at Liverpool and Newcastle while mystery continues to surround the ownership of both Notts County and Leeds United. Wyn Grant takes us through the latest financial issues in his monthly roundup. The on-again off-again sale of Newcastle United is now in the off position while Liverpool's poor start to the season is mirrored by a deepening financial crisis.

Click to continue reading...

Reports have come out that 4 players at the club have contracted the dreaded swine. However Megson refuses to reveal who the players in question are. Now of course I'm not worried about them dropping dead or anything, but the swine flu is still the flu, and can be quite debilitating if you want to, say, chase up and down after a ball for 90 minutes.

Click to continue reading...

Martin Allen to spend more time on his own plotIts not dull supporting a lower league team. Whilst dramas are reported daily from the dizzy heights of premier league they still seem remote. Down in the basement its personal and up close. Someone knows someone who's on the staff or makes the tea or drives the bus. Click to continue reading...

For those on the inside looking out, nary a worse manager reigns in the international realm; for those on the outside looking in...

Viva la Domenech.

What he lacks in coaching abilities, he makes up for in deliciously idiotic words. He's kind of like Maradona without the playing career.

Click to continue reading...

This year's annual Supporters Direct conference found the organisation at something of a crossroads. The high profile failure of Supporters Trusts at Notts County and Stockport County have caused a deal of unwanted attention to be cast upon SD (even though they are obviously not for responsible for the goings on at specific trusts) and, with continuing concerns about the credentials of some of the owners coming into the game, this year's conference was always going to carry an underlying theme about two subjects: foreign ownership and the question of whether supporter ownership of clubs is always a good thing.

Click to continue reading...

In keeping with current affairs the length and breadth of the country, this week's cracking "Shit Shot Mungo" sees the wheels fall off Heart of Clackmannanshire wagon when chairman and magnet magnate Sir Roddy Bulbs' money suddenly and unexpectedly runs out, leaving the club having to find ingenious ways of making ends meet before a mystery new buyer steps in to save their bacon.

Click to continue reading...

Today's guest on the JMS Podcast is Matt Luzunaris. Matt is a Florida native currently being a yank abroad playing for SK Rapid Wien in Austria. I don't know much about the Austrian league and it's even more of a mystery of how a small town guy from Margate, Florida got there. This is what we will find out today!

Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo is an American, born and raised in New Mexico, but there were few American fans rooting for him two years ago when he made the decision to play for the Mexican national team.

A lot has changed for Castillo in the two years since. He has switched professional clubs, joining Mexican giant Club America before joining current club (and SuperLiga champions)Tigres UANL on loan.

Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo is an American, born and raised in New Mexico, but there were few American fans rooting for him two years ago when he made the decision to play for the Mexican national team.

A lot has changed for Castillo in the two years since. He has switched professional clubs, joining Mexican giant Club America before joining current club (and SuperLiga champions)Tigres UANL on loan.

Click to continue reading...

Mario Karlovic. I didn't even know we had a spot open (he is quoted in the Courier Mail saying he hopes he gets it after his 6 weeks injury cover).
Makes the whole Robbie Kruse thing a mystery. Why did Frank keep playing him and playing him and not giving Robbie a permanent spot? Kruse's game against Gold Coast - he came on fairly early - was his best ever. Click to continue reading...

Where is football's missing link?
Here maybe?
Or here?
No - I know where the missing link is.
Or rather I know what link is missing.
Where it is, is a mystery.
It's so missing you may even have missed it even when it did briefly appear. Click to continue reading...

Eh? What's this?!?
The messages coming out of College Street, via Mike Cockerill's keyboard, are increasingly confusing. Now there is to be a second Sydney franchise, only a week after it appeared the game was up?
The lack of detail concerning the apparently successful bid is disquieting. Click to continue reading...

As many will be aware, some people believe that an independent Trust should be set-up to deal with the uncertainty that surrounds Charlton's finances and long-term ownership. Personally I remain on the fence about the pros and cons. But the idea seems to have got a shot in the arm today, with the announcement that a mystery Charlton shareholder has 'donated' 524,894 shares. Click to continue reading...

When I posted my expansion draft preview recently, the subject that stirred up the most debate was this one. Anyone who's followed MLS for a number of years knows that it's a bit of a mystery. When exactly do Generation Adidas players graduate, and what are the criteria?
Basically, players are supposed to graduate when they no longer need the roster protection that it provides. Click to continue reading...

I'm sorry that you guys are scratching your head over this clip, but please stay tuned as the "mystery" will be solved in days to come... Thank youget your instant update of this Blog!! Click to continue reading...

Not even the Guardian of Forever can bring me back far enough in the past for this it seems. Man, do the last two weeks feel like an eternity or what? It seems like forever since Dynamo last played a game, instead of the two weeks since the loss to Colorado.
Hopefully, plenty has changed over that time, and if you need a positive sign, there's this from the Boz' Facebook page on Sept. Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo's switch to the US National Team has weaved its way through the mystery-filled halls of FIFA, and the young Mexican-American fullback will now be available to play for the country of...

Click to continue reading...

He may have scored the winning goal in last season's Copa Indonesia for Sriwijaya but with just a month till the new ISL season kicks off Anoure Obiora is still clubless.
Thinking they had attracted Herman Abanda from Persija, Sriwijaya decided not to extend his contract. That attracted Persija's interested in the man nicknamed 'Obigol' and now there is a dicky bird suggesting Arema maybe interested in him. Click to continue reading...

In which a TFC supporter investigates the mysterious mystery of Quest Field's noisy fans; hoax or hardcore? Click to continue reading...

Sky Sports News is reporting today that former Tottenham, Rangers and Chelsea player Graham Roberts has revealed who the mystery consortium is trying to buy the club. We've heard all this before and he says that  they would provide Alan Shearer with £20-25 million to spend at Newcastle per year. Ashley's plan was to put £20M of  his [. Click to continue reading...

So into the Interlull we go. Practically two full weeks with no real football and the potential for our players to be injured, run over by a lawnmower, get lost in the woods and never be seen again, and countless other little issues to worry the manager between now and the time they return.

Having a quick look around the Spanish papers this morning it seems that Cesc will still be called up and they're hopeful he can play in both games.

Click to continue reading...

As an Arsenal fan, I was very pleased with the teams 3-1 victory over Celtic and the Emirates on Wednesday night. I was not however pleased with Eduardo's blatant dive which resulted in a penalty and the first goal of the game.

FIFA have now repsonded to this by declaring that they will punish Mr da Silva with either a fine or a match ban.

Click to continue reading...

Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton has given an update on the condition of first team players, Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez. However there is still some mystery regarding the seriousness of Gutierrez's leg muscle problem. We reported here earlier that the Argentina team doctor, Donato Villani had announced to the Argentinian Football Association: "Jonas Gutierrez suffered [. Click to continue reading...

I've read through a number of articles, blogs and responses to them (both the inane and quite good) about the looming sale of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) and what impact that would have on MLS.  Most sources claimed that MLS has also put a bid in for USL, though one generally agreed to be much lower than what is required.

Click to continue reading...

Full Name: Plymouth Argyle Football Club
City: Plymouth
Founded: 1886
Stadium: Home Park (19,500)
Colors: Green, White
Previous Names: Argyle Football Club (1886-94), Argyle Athletic Club (1897-1903)
Nickname: The Pilgrims, Argyle
Rival: Torquay United, Exeter City

owners of a title I'm quite sure they'd rather do without - the largest city in England never to have had a top-flight club.

Click to continue reading...

Simply unacceptable.

Sometimes I would like to crawl into Rafa's head and find out what he is thinking, and last night that urge magnified itself a million fold as our boss made a stream of tactical errors that really confused me, and seemingly every other Liverpool fan.

Forget the fact we could/should have scored at least five goals and concentrate on the fact that the substitutions that were made were both poorly timed and ineffective.

Click to continue reading...

Derek Llambias on Friday said that Barry Moat was the only game in town with the possibility of buying the Newcastle club. But that hasn't stopped the local Sunday Sun today from saying a mystery consortium believe they can do a deal for the club soon, whatever is said by the club tomorrow. They say the group [. Click to continue reading...

Who doesn't love a good mystery? I don't know. Maybe Sherlock Holmes or Angela Lansbury maybe because they are just so burnt out on it; job fatigue you know? But someone is betting that it's different for the young, single, educated urban professionals and creative types the read Washington D. Click to continue reading...

Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg have agreed a fee for Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins. The Nigerian was left out of Newcastle's friendly tonight against Leeds, sparking a furore over his future.

The fee for Newcastle's remaining biggest star is rumored to be in the region of £9 million.

Click to continue reading...

Episode 35: "Looking for the Cat Under the Table"
Host: Scott
Panel: Zach, Sandra, Special Mystery Guest
Listen on the CSRN Media Player
DOWNLOAD Episode 35
32-Bit (Small File)
96-Bit (Large File)
Available on iTunes, just search Winning Ugly
He's Baaaaaaack. Click to continue reading...

Stephen Ireland

Stephen, Stephen Ireland, he's the white Pele of Man City.
He drives a lovely pink car, but his hair loss is a mystery.

Not sure Stephen will see much playing time next season with Robinho, Tevez, Santa Cruz, and Adebayor all competing for the striker's spot, but surely Ireland has been worth a song.

Click to continue reading...