Liverpool have revealed their home kit for next season. It's the second shirt to be made by American kit supplier Warrior. Given its nods to the kit of the 1983/84 European Cup-winning shirts in the shape of the collar and white trim, we're guessing this will probably be a hit with Reds supporters. And even [.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is happy with his fitness after returning to training following an
injury sustained in the Europa League clash with Gomel.
Cole picked up a hamstring problem in the first leg of the qualifying round tie earlier this month
and had to be withdrawn midway through the first half as a precaution.
During the last meeting with Chivas USA the Seattle Sounders had trouble defending them within
the 18. That problem did not occur Saturday, in fact the defense held the Goats to just six shots
and or passes in the penalty area. That defensive improvement held Chivas to just one goal. What
may have gone unnoticed is that in the previous match with six goals for the Sounders they had 11
Key Passes plus Assists.
In Seattle's thrashing of Chivas USA the Sounders defense gave the Goats opportunities. On shots
from within the 18 (MLS average ~20% conversion rate) Chivas converted only one of their sixteen
attempts. Those attempts are somewhat evenly scattered throughout the match timeline. Things could
have been different.
The Portland Timbers held their last training session before embarking this afternoon on a five
day, two game road trip through Carson and Frisco. Today's per-game preparations necessitated a
closed but short practice before the team heads off to the airport this afternoon.
The Timbers' line up was unchanged from yesterday with Eric Brunner, Chris Taylor, and Rodney
Wallace all missing practice due to injury, while Jake Gleeson is still abroad with the New Zealand
Olympic team.
I went into Wednesday's game with a slight ray of optimism and hope that f the Portland Timbers
were able to focus and win on the road -- for the first time this season -- that they would then be
in a decent position and shape to make a daring late-season play off run. As slight a chance that
might be, it was there prior to the game against the Colorado Rapids.
Thank you for the feed back on the last preview and with that feed back I will do my best to try
to have the same format.
With the win last Friday the Portland Timbers finally climbed out of the cellar and now they
need to get a result on the road to stay out of it. Colorado has not been a place Portland has
looked forward to traveling to with each game they have played at the Dick ending in 3-0
losses.
Wayne Rooney has revealed how he battles against his weight to keep himself in shape for football.
The England and Manchester United striker says he always puts on weight when he's not staying.
Several pundits had suggested that Rooney didn't look fit in the opening matches of this season and
was carrying a few extra [.
Roberto Di Matteo speaking in the Official Magazine and featured on the Official Website, has given
a clear indication of the way he wants his Chelsea team to play football this season and
personally, I can't wait for the season to get started!.
As we all know with the signings we have made, Chelsea's style looks to be changing with the likes
of Hazard, Marin and Oscar signing this summer in addition to our player of the year, Juan Mata to
play in the attacking positions behind the striker.
It may be that the real stumbling block in the Luka Modric deal lies in finding a player
suitable or willing to come the other way as part of the transfer. In recent weeks, at least three
players – Nuri Sahin, Karim Benzema and Ricardo Carvalho have been touted as possible candidates
but nothing has yet materialised.
As the players depart for the international sojourn, we have an early break from the club
matches. Not particularly ideal considering we are only into the third week of competition. Perhaps
the bigger impact of the break is our form as the team seemed to be building up nicely and becoming
more and more as a unit.
The Influences of Steve Bould: by SV At the end of last season, Arsenal waved goodbye to one of its
most dedicated servants in Pat Rice. Pat spent a total of 42 years of the club, which included 14
playing years and 28 years coaching. He was, as you might say, an Arsenal man through [...]
Watching Italy against Croatia on Thursday, I could only admire the silky skills of Pirlo, the
Italian Playmaker. Especially in the first half, Pirlo gave a demonstration of what the Conductor
role is all about. He always makes himself available by cleverly, and constantly, finding space. As
soon as he gets the ball, he already knows what he wants to do next.
With England conceding two goals in quick succession Theo Walcott was finally given a chance to
shine on a Major International Tournament stage.
Having been taken to 2006 World Cup and not played, then to feature heavily in 2010
qualification stages and not play, and then to feature again in these championships and again be
overlooked when Hodgson's pragmatic formation took shape it seemed yet again that Theo was destined
for being unsuitable for the England team.
This article titled "Euro 2012: Denmark put faith in Nicklas Bendtner against Holland" was
written by Paul Wilson in Kharkiv, for The Guardian on Friday 8th June 2012 19.44 UTC
Morten Olsen is clutching at the straw that is Nicklas Bendtner as he takes Denmark into another
tournament opener against Holland.
Those expecting recent FC Dallas signing Matias Jara to have a big impact right away with his
new club figure to be sorely disappointed, especially since according to FCD head coach Schellas
Hyndman, his newest addition arrived in Frisco not in the greatest of shape, which means the
earliest he could make his Dallas debut could be on Sept.
David Ferreira and FC Dallas are putting pressure on the rest of the Western Conference. (Getty
Images)
A few weeks ago the MLS playoff races in both the Eastern and Western Conference looked rather
boring. Both were just a five team race to determine which team was seeded where and no one from
the outside was really threatening to crash the party.
Philadelphia Union head coach John Hackworth took some time out from helping coach the MLS
All-Star Team to address some internet rumors making the rounds that had the Union dealing Freddy
Adu.
Adu's absence from Philadelphia's 2-0 loss to New York, and the Union's subsequent refusal to
provide details as to why he was absent (saying only that it was an internal matter) helped spark
some imaginations and led to the creation of some internet trade rumors, with the most popular
being that the Union was going to trade Adu to FC Dallas for Brek Shea, who is out of favor in
Dallas after a very public blow-up with head coach Schellas Hyndman.
After 10 hours of scoreless road soccer here is what everyone had to say.
Quotes
Portland Timbers Quotes
Timbers general manager/interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson
Thoughts on the game:
"I think in the first half we lacked a little bit of energy, we lacked imagination, we lacked
creativity - our ball speed was a little bit poor and individual areas cost us the goal.
I may be speaking out of turn here and I apologise to be people if I am, but to me the game
yesterday wasn't great was it. Don't get me wrong it was a good start to the campaign with three
points but apart from a couple of glimpses of magic, Chelsea could have been better overall.
Wigan are a hard working side and caused us plenty of problems.
As the Seattle Sounders prepare for this weekend's match with the Whitecaps, it feels as if
we've transitioned into a new phase of the season. For one thing, the team is coming back from the
first full week break since after the Chelsea friendly in mid-July. The relatively long rest has
given the team and the fans time to mentally prepare for the stretch run.
Barcelona star Andres Iniesta says Manchester United will bring out the very best in his side when
the two teams meet in Gothenburg tonight. But the midfield maestro is only interested in how United
can help Barca get back to their very high standards ahead of their return to competitive action.
He said: "This club [.
Too many narratives from which to choose this evening, none of these are forced. Quite simple
the play on the field was strong for the majority of the match. The Seattle Sounders managed to
carry their strong play to a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Goals from Eddie Johnson and Alvaro
Fernandez were overshadowed by the appearance of Steve Zakuani.
Messi? Who? I only want to be better than Bendtner. I can do the underpants thing too.
It's been decided. The winner of the last 2 World Cups will contest the final on Sunday. Italy
played the perfect game to see off the challenge of Germany to set up a rematch of their group game
against Spain.
Ahead by two goals in the second half, playing at home against an opponent with 10 men and a
field player in goal, things looked pretty good for Madison United on Sunday afternoon.
But Milwaukee Sport Club battled back to earn an impressive point, as B.J. Gottschlich
(Germantown/UW-Platteville) scored twice in an 18-minute span in a 3-3 draw on a hot day at Warner
Park.
The United States defeated Antigua & Barbuda 3-1 in World Cup Qualifying on June 8, 2012 but it
hardly a convincing victory. Below are my thoughts on the match.
Important Thing Is The 3 Points
Some may complain about the USA not converting many chances or conceding a goal but they did win
the match.
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2012) US Soccer Players -- With the United States opening
World Cup Qualifying tonight at Raymond James Stadium (7pm ET - ESPN) here's the return of my five
things I'm looking for from tonight's game. We'll start with an obvious issue for any overmatched
situation.
Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season and become a director at the club. A club statement confirmed rumours that Fergie was planning to announce his decision to bow out ahead of Sunday's match against Swansea. Sir Alex said: "The decision to retire is one I [.
Now through 9/14, Adidas.com is offering 20% off all full priced running shoes for men
and women. Whether you're getting a new pair of shoes to get in shape for the holidays or
starting your shopping early for your friends and family, be sure to take advantage of this
fantastic sale!
With the 2012-13 Development Academy season on the horizon, the program has a fresh look as the
Academy has designed a new logo heading into its sixth campaign.
The two stars represent the two Academy mixed-age groups at the U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels. The
four stripes – two white and two red – represent the four pillars of the Development Academy:
Excellence, Pride, Tradition and Education.
" Then I remember - I drank a few bevvies while I was away. I'm stocky. I'm not like Ryan
Giggs, all bone and lean muscle."
So writes Wayne Rooney in his new book, My Decade in the Premier League. He now has problems
walking for at least a half hour the morning after a game.
Earlier this week it was reported that Spurs were in the market for Roma's Bosnian midfielder
Miralem Pjanic. The 22 year old had seemed a viable replacement for Luka Modric but as soon as the
stories broke, the player's agent was denying that a deal would take place.
"Tottenham made a move for him, but both Roma and Pjanic thanked them for their interest and
politely declined the offer," said Michele Gerbino.
The newly-married Andres Iniesta is back at Barcelona's Ciutat Esportiva for some fun preseason
medical tests (just like a newly-signed player) before the squad whip themselves into shape for the
new season and a host of friendlies preceding that!. Well, a Ballon d'Or shoo-in has a lot to do
his job!
Geoff hit on it this morning - it's only been ten days since the last time the Timbers played
Chivas, and all we had to say about them then was that they were the most boring team in MLS.
Ten days haven't changed that.
In fact, the only thing that has changed for either team in the ten days since is they've both
lost another game.
The U.S. WNT trained for just three days in Utah before facing Canada on Saturday, June 30 at Rio
Tinto Stadium. Kick-off is at Noon MT live on NBC with a 30-minute pre-game show starting at 11:3o
a.m. MT.
Two of those trainings were at the Real Salt Lake training field and thanks to those folks from the
club for the use of the pitch, which was in fantastic shape.
One topic that was thoroughly debated over drinks by the Kickette Seriousness Institute on Tuesday:
players' ears. To summarise, do you notice and/or do you care? While we all want our 'ballers to
be perfect, is obsessing over their aural organs the silliest case of superficiality you've ever
heard?
Brain sent me a response to the article the article he inspired concerning mental toughness
which I posted just last week. Half-Ref asked if I could get a response from Brian Baxter, the
Sports Psychologist I was able to sit down with early in the year. Brain sent me an email after
that and this is his response: (The Brian who responded was not Brian Baxter)
Here's my take on the article:
I like the answers that some of the other posters have given
In short, mental toughness can be taught, as long as the athlete(s) want to learn it.
