ITS was the first to reveal that Fabio Capello would quit the England post and Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp would become England manager BEFORE Euro 2012. Our closely knit sources here at In The Stands tipped us off about the move back in September 2011 when the Three Lions laboured to an uninspiring 1-0 win [.

CNN suspended political analyst Roland Martin on Wednesday for "offensive" tweets during the Super Bowl that some critics said were anti-gay. Martin twitted about a commercial that showed David Beckham in underwear: "If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Real Salt Lake are looking to the future just as much as they are hoping to win an MLS Cup title in 2012.

Real Salt Lake announced four moves on Thursday, including the re-signings of Fabian Espindola and Ned Grabavoy.

You might have caught wind of reports that the Portland Timbers were getting ready to sign 20 year-old left back Juan David Duque out of Colombia. Stumptown Footy had solid looking reports up on January 25 and February 1. Here we are on February 8 though and still no Juan David Duque inking a deal.

Personnel wise it's been a disastrous couple of days for the New England Revolution. Rajko Lekic is off in Denmark, Monsef Zerka has signed in India, Milton Caraglio is off in Chile, Re-entry Draft pick Danleigh Borman is in South Africa, and now news out of Columbia has told us that one of the Revs "big" offseason signings has changed his mind and will not suit up for Jay Heaps in Foxborough.

The New England Revolution thought that they had secured a prized piece to their attacking puzzle by announcing the signing of Colombian forward Jose "Pepe" Moreno on loan from Once Caldas last week. While that still may wind up being the case, there's something a bit awkward and unusual going on.

Today, Sporting KC released information regarding the sell of single-game tickets. Starting next week, the team will start selling single game tickets to the team's first 8 home games. Games against New England, Dallas, LA, Real Salt Lake, Montreal, San Jose, Toronto and Chicago. Tickets will begin to go on sale starting February 13th for season ticket holders.

It looks like Pepe Moreno may not be playing or practicing in a Revolution uniform anytime soon.

Five days after New England announced that it had reached a loan agreement with Colombian side Once Caldas to bring the 30-year-old striker to Gillette Stadium, a report surfaced on Tuesday surfaced that the deal is off.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON -- Perry Kitchen had just about everything including the kitchen sink thrown his way in 2011.

As a rookie, Kitchen started 30 of a possible 34 games for D.C. United, splitting time across three positions.

John Nyen spurs a more interesting relationship between Donovan and Dempsey than "foil."

....or did they?

10 goals in the Barclay's Premier League and 16 in all competitions: Clint Dempsey

5 assists in 7 games in the Barclay's Premier League: Landon Donovan

No animosity (photo credit: MLSSoccer.

Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org

The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association, the first soccer governing body in America.

The last time the New York Giants faced the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the Giants win was one of the biggest upsets of all-time. In the rematch, the Patriots were again favored and the Giants again ended up becoming Super Bowl champions.

In a game of run, the Giants scored the game's first nine points.

Wes Welker was arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL this season. The New England Patriots star with cat-quick reflexes was a big reason why his team made it to the Super Bowl. However, in the biggest moment of his life, Wes Welker dropped a pass a became a Super Bowl goat.

Check out the Wes Welker dropped pass video below to see the play for yourself.

On Thursday, the New England Revolution contacted New England Soccer Today to deny the claim of the unnamed source contained in the "Zerka Not Returning" article published on Feb. 1.

In the aforementioned article, the source told New England Soccer Today that Revolution head coach Jay Heaps and general manager Michael Burns "never had serious discussions to try to bring [Monsef] Zerka back.

Over the years in the world of sport, there have been stories abound concerning the ways in which players and coaches have found themselves embroiled in controversy surrounding tax payments, with certain individuals keen to pay as little tax as possible, but one strange factor about all of these stories is the reason behind the tax evasion; for people who earn so much money, why would they risk getting into serious trouble with the tax authorities?

After losing 2-1 to the New England Revolution in a preseason scrimmage in Casa Grande, AZ last weekend, FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz had a funny remark that made its way into the end of the PDL side's press release. "New England looked a bit surprised but they eventually realized we were better than they expected," he quipped.

Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

While the Vancouver Whitecaps are busy stockpiling forwards, the New England Revolution's quest to find any reliable strikers continues.

That quest became a bit more difficult after definitive word that Rajko Lekic has returned to his native Denmark to join Lyngby after spending the 2011 season with the Revs.

The New England Patriots and their fans continue to hold their breath in regards to the playing status of Rob Gronkowski. Arguably the most dominating player on the entire team, Gronkowski has been dealing with a high ankle sprain that may keep him out of the Super Bowl.

However, there is some good news to report.

Since there hasn't been much trash talking between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants leading up to the Super Bowl, the media has to stretch any controversial quote that arises. Here's yet another example. Antrel Rolle, a safety for the Giants, expressed what he thought when he hopped on the jet to fly to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl.

Outside of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski has been the best player this year on the New England Patriots. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Gronkowski is unlikely to be 100% during the Super Bowl due to a high ankle sprain. In fact, it's uncertain at this point whether he'll even play.

Over the weekend, Gronkowski was seen wearing a walking boot.

As the New England Revolution's search for quality and stability at striker continues, a significant horse in this offseason's race has bowed out of the running. Reports in Denmark have surfaced and indicate that Rajko Lekic has agreed to terms with relegation-threatened Superliga side Lyngby BK. Apparently he's being hailed as a "savior" and saddled with the expectation of bringing the club out of the basement.

After the Super Bowl winner is decided, Wes Welker will become a free agent. However, the star wide receiver for the New England Patriots insists he's not thinking about money right now.

Said Welker: "I plan on being back. I am not really too worried about that right now. I am fully concentrated on this game and what we have to do, but I plan on being back.

When the New England Revolution travel back to Boston from Arizona on Tuesday they'll already have over two weeks of preseason training and their first preseason friendly under their belt. Five new players and numerous trialists have gotten their first participation with the team, while the entire squad is experiencing preseason under new head coach Jay Heaps for the first time.

Another major component of the Revolution attack will not be returning this year, as Danish newspaper Jydske Vestkysten is reporting that Rajko Lekic has signed a six-month contract with Lyngby. Terms of the deal will reportedly be published on Monday.

Lekic is the second Revolution striker this month to take his services elsewhere.

Greetings from sunny and cool Arizona, where I will be spending a few days in Phoenix. I'm here to visit some friends but also to check out some of the MLS training camps that are going on in metro Phoenix, Casa Grande, and Tucson. I believe that New England Revolution, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake, and San José Earthquakes will be here, so I hope to catch a few glimpses, assuming that their sessions are open to the public, of course.

While the New England Revolution has added experienced players to both the backline and midfield since Jay Heaps took over as head coach, one area that has gone largely unaddressed is striker. Since the Revs declined options on Argentinean striker Milton Caraglio and Danish forward Rajko Lekic, no proven replacements have signed on.

The New England Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl. Before making the trip to Indianapolis, the Patriots said goodbye to their faithful fans at a pep rally held in Gillette Stadium. About 25,000 fans showed up to cheer on their heroes.

Said Tom Brady: "We have the greatest fans in America.

Representatives for Robert Kraft have been in contact with Revere Mayor Daniel Rizzo about building a stadium for the New England Revolution, according to a report in the Lynn, Mass. Daily Item.

Rizzo is working on plan for the 26-acre Wonderland Greyhound Park which was shut down on August 19, 2010; shortly after the state-wide ban on dog racing went into effect.

Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has made it clear that he would like his long-term future to be at a club with Champions League aspirations, alerting many potential suitors to make a move for the U.S. international.

Dempsey has scored nine goals in 22 matches so far this season, with his most recent accomplishment being a remarkable hat-trick the first for an American in the Premier League against Newcastle United.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell, Julian Cardillo and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 victory over Panama.

It only took eight years for the Revolution to get Jeremiah White into preseason camp.

White, who spurned MLS for Europe shortly after he became New England's third round pick 2004, was long gone by the time the team opened camp that year. And even after his contract with Polish side GKS Belchatow expired in 2010, it appeared that the opportunity to don the paint-brushed stars and stripes had long since passed.

The other day, Corey alerted everyone to a claim over at socawarriors.net stating that former Trinidad and Tobago youth international Jamal Gay would be a New England Revolution player by the end of the month. At the time of posting, no Revolution officials were available for comment. Sources from inside the organization have since made contact with TBM.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell, Julian Cardillo and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 victory over Venezuela.

Nearly four years ago Jamal Gay was a part of a stunning loss for the New England Revolution as his side Joe Public FC (Trinidad & Tobago) crushed the Revs 6-1 on aggregate in a CONCACAF Champion's League qualifier. Gay, who was just 19-years old at the time, scored Joe Public's winning goal in its 2-1 home leg victory.

Socawarriors.net is reporting that 22-year old Trinidad and Tobago striker Jamal Gay is close to a deal with the New England Revolution. The article states:

"Gay's agent Dion Sosa said the deal is expected to be for a year with the option of an extension.
According to Sosa the US club is eager to have the former El Dorado Secondary and National Under-23 forward under their fold as soon as next week when pre-season preparation kicks off.

Amobi Okugo has had a busy offseason, shuttling around the world playing for various US youth National team squads and MLS special tournament teams, but it appears to have all worked out for the midfielder. The 20-year-old is ranked eighth on ESPN on a list of under-21 US soccer players, and is one of three of those players on the list that are on the sports site's front page.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Jan 19, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In today's Questions, Tony wonders if it's possible for a professional soccer player to have a more bizarre few days than DaMarcus Beasley and his Puebla teammates. From there, we look at changes in New England, and wonders about the Fire's signings and DC's attack.

And now, the resolution of The Bent Musket's 2011 season grades for the New England Revolution! Corey, Matty, and I have looked at the four major areas of the team - goalkeeping, defense, midfield, forwards - and assigned our grades on a 4.0 scale.

Unfortunately for the New England Revolution, we don't curve based on the rest of the league.

Chicago Fire Away Jerseys for 2012 - thoughts? Far away it looks like a New England Revolution jersey but closer up it looks like it's own thing. Excited to see a real jersey.