ASN had the chance to speak with Chicago Fire technical director Frank Klopas to talk about some of
the recent departures from the Fire as well as the realities of the soccer business.
Jeff Tobin reports from the Windy City.
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Oh man, I twisted the holy hell out of my ankle last night. Came down from a jump halfway on
someone else's foot in the last minute of the game. Suddenly, my four flights of stairs up aren't
so charming...#1 - Landon Donovan is your MLS MVP. He also won Goal of the Year. Somehow, he was
beaten out for Save of the Year by Pat Onstad.
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Soccerblog 20 November @ 09:37 AM EST
17 arrests for a match fixing scandal which affects 200 matches in nine European countries.
The matches include the Bundesliga second division, and the leagues in Belgium, Switzerland,
Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Austria. 12 Europa matches and 3 CL matches are said
to be manipulated this year, and it is unclear as to whether it is the group stage or qualifying
rounds.
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Soccerblog 18 November @ 11:36 PM EST
L' Equipe on France's entry into the World Cup makes no excuses.
"Henry controlled the ball with his hand."
The article lambastes the team. When you call Kevin Doyle, the Leo Messi of the match then you
know something is terribly wrong. If it was not for Hugo Lloris, France would not have
qualified.
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As you might expect, we have plenty of things going on today. Two or three plenties worth,
actually...#1 - Let's begin with my double interview with Real Salt Lake strikers Robbie Findley
and Yura Movsisyan.Other RSL tidbits:- Rogue Cavaliers Brigade blog Denz's Sopabox has interview
videos- Have a ticket but no flight yet?
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Soccerblog 18 November @ 09:49 AM EST
Naguib Sawiris feels that the match should be postponed
Want an Orascom cell phone?
Egypt's giant telecom company, Orascom had its Algiers compund burned and ransacked by thousands
of Algerian fans. Property worth $5m was either destroyed or stolen according to Orascom's CEO
Naguib Sawiris.
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Soccerblog 15 November @ 07:27 PM EST
RVP's convalescence time has been reduced to 4-6 weeks, less than the two months feared. He has
a partial tear of the ankle ligament. A Dutch official said it was not a fracture but there was
still significant ankle damage.
"It's impossible to put an exact time frame on it because some players heal more quickly than
others.
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Soccerblog 15 November @ 03:23 PM EST
RIP: Robert Enke: 24 August 1977- 10 November 2009
A sight never seen in Germany as tens of thousands turn AWD Arena into a church to pay their
last respects to Robert Enke and to support his wife, Teresa a brave figure in black, who knew best
her husband's terrible depression and in the end could do little.
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Soccerblog 14 November @ 09:33 AM EST
From the NYT's "The Lede"
Coca Cola invokes the infamous 1989 match between Algeria and Egypt as part of their present ad
campaign. Its all about marketing emotions and Coca Cola brings it up without any reference to the
violent underbelly of that encounter.
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Soccerblog 12 November @ 12:03 AM EST
The carpet bagger wants to leave but an angel waits in the wings.
Something about Brazilian music not being good enough for the neighbours.
Mark Hughes seems to be doing a good job of getting rid of all the Brazilians in the team.
Elano, Jo, and now Robinho. We can also look forward to the African clique, Adebayor and Kolo
Toure, being broken up.
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I know we had one yesterday, but so much has been going on that we have another. And I meant to
have it up sooner, so a few of these may be old news to some...#1 - The National Soccer Hall of
Fame has unveiled this year's list of nominees, which includes the two gentleman pictured at
left.#2 - Yesterday, MLS tabbed Seattle forward Fredy Montero as Newcomer of the Year and Chivas
USA keeper Zach
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I am so pumped because on November 11th Emily and I will be on flying to our long awaited
honeymoon vacation in St. Lucia!! We got married August 8th of this year and with moving, private
training, and running the Online Soccer Academy there was no time for a honeymoon until now!
We are staying at one of those Sandals resorts!
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Soccerblog 10 November @ 09:08 AM EST
The oldest professional football club believe it or not faces the possibility of court
proceedings for non-payment of taxes.
Months after a Qadbak Investments, a Middle East company, whose owners remain largely
unidentified bought over Notts County, they are faced with a huge tax bill which had accrued under
Blenheim 1862, the former parent company.
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Soccerblog 08 November @ 01:19 PM EST
Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0 at Stamford Bridge.
Not exactly classy football but Man Utd was the team with better ideas and creativity. It also
unfortunately had more loose cannons, specifically, Jonny Evans.
In fact, Evans provided a menace that the Chelsea attack had a hard time mustering.
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Soccerblog 08 November @ 09:19 AM EST
Patrick Nyarko was elusive and hard to pin down by the Revs
How did Pat Phelan not bury that pinpoint Kenny Mansally cross into the back of the net? It was
the clearest look at the goal all night and Phelan heads the ball out. He could have been a hero
forcing extra time. As it turned out, the Fire did not have to go through that route.
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Soccerblog 07 November @ 06:54 PM EST
The Fire meet the Revs today at Toyota Park, 8:30 PM
New England are up 2-1 in the first leg and are in great position to cause the second upset of
the playoffs. This match is of great interest for Fire fans because it could also be Blanco's last
MLS game as he is out of contract and is returning to second division Mexican club Veracruz.
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Most of the sweet weekend games haven't started yet, so why not kill time with some tube?We begin
with another promo clip from Wayne Rooney's Street Striker challenge show. In this clip, you get to
see a bit of how the show works and meet a few of the kids. I despise and avoid most "reality
challenge" programs, but I love this show!
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I've lifted the F-bomb ban on Cut of the Day because it's Friday and I wanna...#1 - In the
aftermath of last night's Real Salt Lake upset of the champs, James Edward pops the surprise cork
and Shawn Mitchell does the Crew autopsy.#2 - After another loss to Benfica at home last night,
Everton keeper Tim Howard knows his side is in a real scrap for the Europa League knockouts.
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Soccerblog 06 November @ 08:11 AM EST
A temporary reprieve for Chelsea and they will be allowed to sign new players. CAS has yet to
render its final verdict. Gael Kakuta four month suspension has also been lifted.
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Soccerblog 05 November @ 11:46 PM EST
I weep for the Newcastle fans who have to put up with this execrable name. How about
MikeAshleydumbass@StJames'Park while we are at it?
I remember living in Miami when they renamed Joe Robbie stadium, home of Miami Dolphins as Pro
Player Stadium which I thought was soulless but inoffensive.
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Soccerblog 04 November @ 10:39 PM EST
" Mmmmmmm. Where is my Rolodex? "
With Franck Ribery out, Bayern has been struggling without his creativity. They lost to
Bordeaux, 0-2 in the CL and are almost out of contention to make the round of sixteen.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern are in sixth place with 19 points after five wins, four draws, and two
losses.
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Soccerblog 04 November @ 10:34 PM EST
The Zapatero government is proposing a tax rate hike from 24% to 43% for overseas players who
earn more than 600,000 euros ($884,600) a year. Spain is reeling from the recession with 20%
unemployment.
This will effectively end the "Beckham Law", named when the tax rates were amended in 2002 for
the English midfielder to make it attractive for him and and other highly sought talent to come to
the Liga.
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I think headaches should be outlawed on Wednesdays. I mean, you are as far removed from the most
recent weekend as you are from getting to the next one. That's enough misery. A headache on
Wednesday is overkill. I vote "no" on Wednesday headaches. What say you?#1 - Chivas USA netminding
monster Zach Thornton was tabbed as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for a second time today.
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Soccerblog 03 November @ 09:10 AM EST
Stan Koenke just bought up 427 more shares. His holding increases to 29.6%, less than a
percentage point from the automatic trigger for a full offer for the club.
No knowing if the Denver Nuggets owner is planning a bid. But he still owes £50m for the shares
that he bought from Danny Fiszman and the Carr family.
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Soccerblog 03 November @ 03:06 AM EST
The bad news just keeps getting worse for Liverpool with Torres to join Steven Gerrard as a
possible candidate for surgery. He has a hernia which could be cured with a long layoff of a month
but if symptoms persist then surgery will be the other alternative.
Rafa has no choice but to play Torres in today's match against Lyon at the Stade de Gerland.
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Soccerblog 02 November @ 11:10 PM EST
One of the great disconnects in the Argentina World Cup qualifiers was the anemic performance of
Leo Messi when compared to his stellar Barca exploits. It was as if there were two different
performers inhabiting the same body.
Maradona might have come to the realization that Messi needs the sort of laissez faire
environment that he enjoys at Barca where his creative genius alongside that of Iniesta and Xavi
create parallel points of attack.
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Soccerblog 02 November @ 10:31 PM EST
With his contribution key to the Galaxy making the playoffs, Beck's Milan departure raises fewer
eyebrows. He will play his first Serie game on January 6th and if all goes as planned, he will join
the Galaxy after the World Cup.
I am of the camp that the criticism which he received on his return was fully deserved.
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Soccerblog 01 November @ 05:35 PM EST
Sunday's edition of FSC's business minute sponsored by British Airways discussed the economic
implications of David Beckham's arrival at Milan. Keith Costigan, Warren Burton, and Chris Miles
all nodding in agreement that Becks arrival would bring back the crowds to the San Siro, boost T
shirt sales, and relieve them from the desperate reality of rapidly emptying coffers.
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Soccerblog 01 November @ 04:52 PM EST
I did not know that the MLS was a giant holding area for players seeking addiction
counseling.
Through the Revs vs Fire match, Sullivan and Bretos in their verbiage sprinkled the word
"intervention". Even in their word salad, that word stuck out. Whereas Bretos usage was confined to
the more physical aspect of the game when a defender cut off a pass or cleared a corner, Sullivan's
was a bit more cognitive when he said that Jeff Larontewicz's "intervention" pushed Shalrie Joseph
to play better.
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Soccerblog 01 November @ 11:24 AM EST
Nice bit of stimulus. 65,000 and 100,000 total new jobs would be created in the various host
cities during the preparation and operation of the tournament in the year of the event. If the USA
does get awarded the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, one of the goal will be to generate immediate tangible
effects.
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Soccerblog 31 October @ 08:12 PM EST
The Seattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamo playoffs got the MLS playoffs to a raucous start with
their edge of the seat performances even it ended in a goalless draw. Seattle also boasts the
highest home attendances in the MLS. It all looks promising.
Except as this article points out, there is enough deadwood in the MLS.
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Soccerblog 30 October @ 01:55 AM EST
Juande Ramos would be forgiven if he suffers panic attacks close to the fourth week of October
every year from now on, as almost a year to the day since his dismissal from Spurs, he was once
again relieved of his CSKA duties.
This article highlights some similarities between his CSKA departure and the way his days at
Spurs came to an end.
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Soccerblog 29 October @ 02:12 AM EST
Manuel Pellegrini's coaching career at Real is in danger. The shocking defeat at the hands of
lowly Alcorcon has sent shock waves through the echelons of the most decorated football club in the
world.
Jorge Valdano and Florentino Perez have given the Chilean the Getafe match this weekend and the
return match against Milan in the Champions League next week to prove himself.
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Soccerblog 29 October @ 12:25 AM EST
Phil Brown, ex manager and current suntan oil salesman?
The Independent says that Adam Pearson's shock arrival from Derby means that current chairman
Andy Duffen and Phil Brown's biggest ally might be on his way out. If that happens then Brown's
tenure at Hull is in danger. The abrasive Hull coach has had a unsettled relationship with some
players and was booed by fans when he took off Stephen Hunt against Portsmouth.
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Soccerblog 28 October @ 10:26 PM EST
In Family Guy:
Chris Griffin: Dad, was there ever a real city of New Orleans?"
Peter Griffin: "No one knows, Chris. No one knows."
It is interesting to see anyone and everyone walk into Pompey, buy up the club, and walk out two
days later. The revolving door has led to Pompey being dead last in the Premiership, player wages
being delayed, and transfer fees that have yet to be paid two years later.
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