The Dutch opened the score before the break and doubled their lead in the second half. The guests pegged one back in the dying minutes of the game, but were unable to restore parity.
Leander Schaerlaeckens: U.S. hangs tough with Dutch
Martin Rogers: Winners and Losers
Player Ratings
Winners & Losers Click to continue reading...

Liverpool FC came from behind to beat FC Unirea Urziceni 3-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate to book a place in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Though Rafael Benítez's charges did ultimately ensure the natural order, they did so the hard way. The first-leg advantage handed to them by David Ngog's late strike at Anfield was quickly wiped out by Bruno Fernandes, but Javier Mascherano's first goal of the season restored parity in Romania. Click to continue reading...

Using Archer's clock, we're under 1-1/2 days until the final CBA deadline arrives and I've pretty much given up hope of an agreement coming before the deadline. They've stopped talking and when they have talked recently, it's ended in a "nasty" manner. Without actually knowing what the latest offers are from each side, I don't feel like there's much of a point speculating over the content of the offers. Click to continue reading...

I was posed a question last night about the Premier League by a casual American observer. "Why don't they have a salary cap?" While on the face of it I know that in some ways the comparisons aren't entirely fair, it certainly is a fair question. My knowledge of the economics of the Premier League isn't as intricate as that of the NFL; however, I have a reasonable grasp.

Click to continue reading...

After the Porto game Le Boss launched an uncharacteristically scathing attack on the referee. Normally I wouldn't associate the word scathing with anything Arsene says. By now you must have heard/read the interview in which the boss thinks Hansson is either incompetent or dishonest. If not you can read it here.

Click to continue reading...

Yesterday I quickly brainstormed a few open questions I have about single-entity; granted, they came to me on the spot and weren't the product of a long and arduous research project. In any case, I want to thank Kenn Tomasch for taking the time yesterday to answer my questions in the comment section. Click to continue reading...

With J Hutcherson -- Let's talk about the Major League Soccer teams entering the 2010 with expectations of the substantial kind. The ones where the only success is lifting the MLS Cup wherever the final ends up being played. In a League stressing parity, it's a tough road to actually be a favorite. Look at what happened to the bright lights of the Eastern Conference in 2009. Click to continue reading...

Tournament favourites Ivory Coast were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations last night after losing 3-2 to Algeria in the quarter finals. The Elephants were given a rude shock when Algeria twice came from behind to steal a draw and ensure the match went into extra time.

This coupled with the news of Milan's defeat to arch rivals Inter turned my otherwise great weekend into just an okay one.

Click to continue reading...

I recently got Steven Cohen to answer a few questions for the blog. His work with Kenny Hassan on their daily radio show has to be admired, even if you don't agree with them. Their discussions span across the world and they have built a large base of highly respected and entertaining correspondents. Below are the answers to a couple questions. Click to continue reading...

Yes, I am suggesting exactly that. My complaints are different than most though. It isn't that I don't like the idea of 1, 2 or 3 great players residing on a given MLS side. It isn't because I think they are a huge risk, and too often don't contribute to the marketing of the team.
I want the rule abandoned because I don't think it is fairly applied (Galaxy and Donovan), and because it isn't being used to build the sport in America, and Canada.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are closing in on a deal that will see them sell a significant share in the club to a new investor for around £124 million, Telegraph Sport can disclose.
Gillett was in London last week to hold talks with potential investors, and Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow is understood to have held talks with a number of candidates interested in taking an equity stake in the club. Click to continue reading...

When we last saw Duane Rollins, he was shaming the Columbus Crew as cheap and unloved for not paying Schelotto designated player wages. Presumably in an effort to avoid the same fate as Clark Hunt, BA has launched a "blogging marathon" in which he's seeking to fleece readers for up to $24 a piece to keep doing what he's doing. Click to continue reading...

Neither Chelsea nor Manchester United nor Liverpool won this weekend. The three giants from the 2008-2009 season managed just one point, though all three had home matches. Just one point from nine at home. Last weekend, we saw a ton of penalty misses. This past weekend, we saw the vulnerability of the Top 4 (and contenders). Click to continue reading...

Today's post is an entirely selfish exercise. Admittedly, I just haven't been into the Champions League this year, and I'm blaming it on ESPN. Not that I miss Derek Rae or Tommy Onion Bags, but Fox Soccer just ain't doing it for me. Talk about a lifeless broadcast; there's no urgency to the games and the best matches are never shown live. Click to continue reading...

Harsh words indeed. But after his actions this weekend, his previous comments and previous actions, there is no other conclusion to be made. Read on to find out why...

Gerrard pulled off an outrageous (ly bad) dive against Blackburn on Saturday, in a desperate attempt to haul his flailing Liverpool side away from the mediocre parity they were sharing at Ewood Park.

Click to continue reading...

The morning after Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League has seen the club reiterate that Rafa Benitez's position is safe. Not qualifying for the Champions League knock out stage is a big blow for a club that strives for parity at Europe's top table. Throughout this season, Liverpool have struggled in the League and in Europe.

Click to continue reading...

Well, Real Sigi's out of the hospital, and we couldn't get enough waivers for the guest posters to come in, so we're back at it. Sort of.
So, I guess I'm supposed to have a reaction to the MLS Cup Final. If you'll notice, I conveniently didn't have a WPS final followup, either. Rest assured, I won't outclass that omission too much with this post. Click to continue reading...

It would be foolish to have too strong an opinion either way on the hiring of the new TFC coach. What he has done in the past may be a foundation, but right now Preki puts a face on the 2010 season and the countdown has begun.
Positives
-TFC moved quickly and hired a coach before the dust had settled on the season. Click to continue reading...

In case anyone else didn't notice, we've got the most expensive team in MLS going up against the least expensive team in MLS in the Cup final this weekend. From one of my posts earlier in the year on team wage bills:

1. LA $9.4 million
15. RSL $1.86 million

Of course that's with designated player salaries. Click to continue reading...

With J Hutcherson -- What was the takeaway from Major League Soccer's Conference finals? Short of expecting no goals in regulation or propping up parity, it's that it takes more than ninety minutes for two teams to figure each other out. It's hard to avoid questioning the decision to make the finals one game when the opening round plays out over two legs. Click to continue reading...

All you who criticized Bruce Arena, said the game had passed him by, said he relied too much on old veterans...all you who said Dema Kovalenko was a one-dimensional hack...all you who said there was no way Ricketts or Berhalter would make it through the whole season...all you who said that Beckham and Donovan couldn't work together. Click to continue reading...

So I promised my wife I wouldn't swear as much these days, for fear that our child will one day greet her preschool teacher as a Saracen pig-dog. Fine, I thought, the Chivas series is over, I can take the pledge.
Then I read something in the new book, "We're Ripping Off Freakonomics," by Simon and Stefan, that really frosted my cupcakes. Click to continue reading...

With only 3 weeks left in the Mexican Apertura regular season, we can be certain of one thing: we still have no idea who is going to make the liguilla. Some call it parity, others call it mediocrity. I call it chaos.
Only one team is assured of a post season birth: Toluca. Mexican futbol's cooky, crazy group system, though, offers no guarantees to the other teams that are in the top 8 slots of the table. Click to continue reading...

This is slightly late in the game, as it's a preview for the Norwegian 2009 Tippeligaen. The same Tippeligaen season which ended on Sunday. (Rosenborg are celebrating their 15th title in 17 years while Norway of off celebrating parity.) But this little season preview has popped up and it bears a striking resemblance to the [. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Oct 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Like it or not, MLS has become parity central. Unless you entered the League courtesy of expansion and you're not named 'Fire' or 'Sounders,' you have a legit shot at winning MLS Cup. No matter how bad you were the previous year or how much winning tradition you have, everyone can go into the start of the season thinking they have a chance at. Click to continue reading...

World Series? Hey, you pre-empt "Glee," you're dead to me.
AND NOW...THE MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER 2009 REGULAR SEASON - A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Well, that happened.
THIS HAS BEEN THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE 2009 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER REGULAR SEASON
AND NOW, THE COMPREHENSIVE 2009 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFFS PREVIEW
Dunno. Click to continue reading...

I won't put it on the main page because it's such a long post, so check it out here:
All Time Best & Worst MLS Teams (single season & multiple)
How do this year's teams stack up?

• Columbus lost three of their last four, which means that they ended up tied for the worst Supporters Shield winners ever with the 2004 Crew.

Click to continue reading...

This is why I don't subscribe to 24th Minute. Every time I go over there I see something that makes me want to stab my eyes out. Most of the Canadian blogs, actually. Which is kind of sad. I mean, most of them can write. It's just what's going on up their heads that's the problem.
Anyway, BA Duane with a rumination on the follies of the New York franchise, with commentary by yours truly:

Just as Canadians hate that everything here is Toronto focused (and, say, that USL-1 championship final is overshadowed by TFC's attempt to sneak into the playoffs), Americans don't much like to have it pointed out that it's important to have a presence in the New York market.

Click to continue reading...

The world game is rife with leagues dominated by a handful of clubs. The Prem takes turns passing the baton between the Big 4. La Liga often boils down to a two-horse race. The Bundesliga title race is only interesting when Bayern are faltering.... Click to continue reading...

The Carleton men's soccer team coached by Bob Carlson who is in his 13 year with the Knights are 8-1 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 12-3 overall. They are now on a 10-game winning streak and have moved up to number 2 in the NSCAA ranking for the North region in Division III.

Click to continue reading...

The Carleton men's soccer team, coached by Bob Carlson who is in his 13th year with the Knights, are 8-1 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 12-3 overall. They are now on a 10-game winning streak and have moved up to number 2 in the NSCAA ranking for the North region in Division III.

Click to continue reading...

Just because you can do something, doesn't necessarily make it the best option. As Toronto FC head into their last gasp attempt at making this year's playoffs, that conundrum does indeed rise. The enigma that is this season's Reds are quite frankly lucky to even have the chance to qualify for the post-season but that is the reality of MLS parity. Click to continue reading...

What a glorious tangle we've got, eh MLS HQ gargoyles? At this point, would you put it past any of the teams still in playoff contention (oh hell, let's throw in everybody but the Red Bulls) to beat any of the others? The Parity Police are slapping... Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA 2 Earthquakes 2

A Justin Braun header in the 66th minute from an Ante Jazic cross has restored parity. It looked suspiciously close to being offside, too.

Click to continue reading...

Many Canadian soccer blogs are ruminating on the mathematical jiggery that must take place for Toronto FC to inch their way to a playoff spot, but little has been written about what it would actually mean for Toronto to make it into the post-season. Is stretching the season out a little bit a victory in and of itself? Click to continue reading...

The Rapids just sent out a press release with the header, "A Special Message From Conor Casey." Swear to God, I thought it was going to be him rapping, "Tell me, how my ass taste?"
Also sent out today - a press release reminding the world that nine teams are still vying for the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

With this being Toronto FC's first realistic challenge at the bottom of the MLS playoff picture, Toronto fans are experiencing the frustrating yet forgiving parity that comes with this league. Championship playoffs and football are chalk and cheese as far as we are concerned but that's a complaint for another day - we will play with the hand dealt in MLS. Click to continue reading...

I haven't checked the numbers myself, but some other pedantic nerds over at BigSoccer used the maths and the latest list of player salaries to figure out how much teams were spending. I give you the list in order of ascending wage bill by team:
Salt Lake $1,861,029
Kansas City $1,907,213
New York $1,981,937
San Jose $2,035,803
Dallas $2,192,327
Colorado $2,208,967
Seattle $2,289,712
Chicago $2,308,326
New England $2,317,903
Chivas $2,369,294
Columbus $2,435,820
Houston $2,455,840
DC $2,770,707
Los Angeles $2,837,439
Toronto $3,241,416
So the guys in Toronto are complaining about having their hands tied why? Click to continue reading...

Spain
It took a couple game, but Cristiano Ronaldo is now in top form. He scored inside a minute and added a second in a 5-0 win against Xerez. And Real Madrid is scoring goals in bunches (who needs defense when you're scoring five goals a game, right?).
Italy
Big injury news in Serie A, Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro (remember when he was on top of the world? Click to continue reading...

Yesterday Ben Knight tried to move the soft cap debate forward (we'll call it a salary cap debate at this point) and for some reason looks in my direction to provide rational discourse. And Dan Loney. Yeah. Did you read the part in his last column where Loney talked about using nerve gas on the promotion/relegation supporters? Click to continue reading...