In amongst the media frenzy that led up to the closing of the transfer window on Friday, news of
the Europa League and Capital One Cup draws was almost lost amongst the gossip and rumour.
As we all know, the club has been drawn away to Carlisle in the Cup while Lazio, Panathinaikos
and Maribor await in the Europa League.
Every passing tournament brings a new kind of coverage.
I don't know about you, but for me last night was not pretty. Striving for more football to
sustain my Euro 2012 fix, I resorted to Beach Football, followed by futsal. Obviously, it just
wasn't the same. Actually, it got ugly.
Most of the main points from yesterday's game have already been covered, so here are five quick
thoughts to chew on:
* The defence remains brilliant, and it's a team effort. Mertesacker made several impeccable
interceptions, and continued to disprove the notion that you need huge amounts of pace to be a top
defender in the Premier League.
Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby is reluctant to speculate on proposed contract talks or reports
linking him with a move to the Premier League.
The Germany international has confessed in the past to being an admirer of the English top-flight,
sparking speculation that he could soon be on the move.
In one of the most exciting transfer deadline day moves, US National Team player Clint Dempsey
reportedly turned down a deal with Aston Villa while Liverpool reportedly made multiple attempts to
workout a transfer. Instead, according to multiple outlets Dempsey is now a member of Tottenham
Hotspur. Dempsey signed a three-year deal.
Reports out of England have Geoff Cameron successfully getting a work permit. Stoke City presented
what they called "a strong case" for Cameron who lacked the requisite National Team appearances to
qualify for a work permit without an appeal. According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, Stoke
presented letters from US National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and US National Team player Clint
Dempsey.
The city where former Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash spent his early years is now the new home of US
National Team player Geoff Cameron. Stoke City is a Premier League club coming off a 14th-place
finish in 2011-12. Just like Slash, Stoke are also currently on tour in North America. Why Are We
Here? Geoff Cameron has been linked with a Premier League move for a long time, and assuming
Stoke's appeal for a.
Michael Bradley is now a member of Roma and with the move comes added pressure for the most
American of Serie A clubs. As Clemente Lisi explained in an article earlier this year, Roma is
owned by American Thomas DiBenedetto. An American owner, a US National Team player, and a fight for
respectability in 2012-13.
Former Ipswich Town FC reserve team player Cody Cropper has signed with Premiership club
Southampton. Cropper broke the news on Twitter this morning saying, "Officially put pen to paper at
a premiership club!! #privileged #buzzing" Terms of the deal have not yet been made public but it's
believed to be a 2-year contract.
After three goals in four games this season already (including the Community Shield), Fernando
Torres has begun to receive plaudits from the press compared to the "battering" they have given him
ever since he signed for Chelsea.
I have been saying ever since he signed for Chelsea, all he needs is the right service and we will
literally see him fly in a Chelsea shirt.
By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Aug 14, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In Thursday's column, Tony sees
a US National Team player go down with a concussion and asks again how long it will take before MLS
and FIFA put player health first. How many concussions is it going to take before MLS and FIFA
change their substitution rules?
By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (July 31, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Tony looks at the importance of
goal difference in trying to figure out a conference where all teams haven't played the same number
of games. Also why are some teams successful on the road? Montreal played well in Saturday's 3-1
victory over the Red Bulls, and now that former US National Team player Jesse Marsch has his full
team together, there's.
By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (July 19, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In Thursday's column, Tony puts
Landon Donovan's most recent career achievement into perspective before asking about a Player of
the Week winner and Pablo Mastroeni's injury situation. How many players in MLS history have
recorded 100 goals and 100 assists during their time in the League?
It has been less than two days since the death of Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso at the age
of 22 and the American soccer community is still coming to grips with the passing of a young player
who garnered so much respect and admiration in a relatively short amount of time.
The recurring themes that emerge from people discussing Urso was his friendly and happy
personality off the field and his determination and work ethic on the field.
CHESTER, Pa. -- The plan was never for Jay DeMerit to go the distance against Chelsea. No, the
plan MLS All-Stars head coach Ben Olsen originally had drawn up included replacing DeMerit at
halftime so as to limit his minutes ahead of he and the Vancouver Whitecaps' visit to Real Salt
Lake on Friday.
The don't call it "the Beautiful Game" for nothing. Soccer is art. A great Lionel Messi goal or
a stunnig David Beckham free kick is a thing of beauty.
These small moments in soccer can create life-long fans of the sport (with the help of a beer or
two, perhaps?) and the memories of such sporting excellence can hang in our memories like fine art
in a gallery.
FC Dallas' academy has produced yet another first-team player.
FCD signed U.S. Under-18 midfielder Kellyn Acosta as its seventh Homegrown Player, matching
Toronto FC for the most in the league since the inception of the rule.Â
A few years ago Hade and I visited the Czech Republic. It was in some ways a big trip, not least
because it was while there that I decided to start writing this blog. But we had a terrific time in
so many other ways.
One of the best nights was an evening spent watching Slavia Prague play, a cracking game played
in a thunder storm in a small stadium that nevertheless contained an athletics track (it can be
done).
A few years ago Hade and I visited the Czech Republic. It was in some ways a big trip, not least
because it was while there that I decided to start writing this blog. But we had a terrific time in
so many other ways.
One of the best nights was an evening spent watching Slavia Prague play, a cracking game played
in a thunder storm in a small stadium that nevertheless contained an athletics track (it can be
done).
A few years ago Hade and I visited the Czech Republic. It was in some ways a big trip, not least
because it was while there that I decided to start writing this blog. But we had a terrific time in
so many other ways.
One of the best nights was an evening spent watching Slavia Prague play, a cracking game played
in a thunder storm in a small stadium that nevertheless contained an athletics track (it can be
done).
Schellas Hyndman isn't a hard man to read. And it's also not terribly hard to determine his true feelings about a player if one can just read between the lines. But sometimes Hyndman will just come right out and say how he feels about one of his players. That is definitely the case when it comes to FC Dallas midfielder Ricardo Villar, who has recently returned to the pitch after missing much of the season with a foot injury.
We've been a little frustrated with Danny Simpson over the last year or so, Â because he has
refused to sign his new contract that will keep him on Tyneside, but on the other hand, whenever
he's interviewed,  he comes across as a smashing lad and a real team player. Danny Simpson - in
action against Braga That's one [.
Hearing the full-time whistle Samuel Eto'o knew where to head. Anzhi just beaten AZ 5-0 in
Alkmaar, but there was no mood to celebrate, instead he had to see him up close and offer a few
words to a talent without limitations that left a huge impression.
The biggest story in Spain this past weekend was the statement that Cristiano Ronaldo is sad. He
didn't celebrate either goals scored against Granada on September 2, 2012 and says his feelings are
not about demanding a bigger contract. It's been a bit of mystery for most as Ronaldo is in his
prime, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and on pace to be considered one of the
all-time greats.
So is it Helsingborg or Helsingborgs? Only on Tuesday, sometimes on Thursday, and never on Friday.
Or, to put it another way, it's interchangeable when referring to the soccer team and always
Helsingborg when referring to the city. Why Are We Here? In the aftermath of Rangers getting
dropped from the Scottish Premier League to the Third Division, players started looking for new
clubs.
Javi Martinez has been rumored with a move from Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich for weeks. But
suddenly, the deal seems much less likely to be completed.
On Wednesday, Bayern president Uli Hoeness downplayed the potential move for the centerback,
calling the Athletic Bilbao front office "very, very stubborn" and claiming that Bilbao is doing
everything they can to stop the move.
Looks like Hope Solo has written an epilogue that published this week with her new book, "Solo: A
Memoir of Hope," (Christ on a crutch, this title....) explaining the fallout, or lack of fallout,
from her Twitter attack ('Twittack"?) on ex-U.S. women's national team player turned NBC
commentator, Brandi Chastain.
Goalkeeper Luis Robles signed with Major League Soccer earlier this week and on Wednesday learned
that he will be a member of the New York Red Bulls. Robles had already trained with the club and
there was obvious interest. Major League Soccer's rules required that Robles enter the allocation
draft as a returning National Team player.
Things seem to be getting crazier by the day at Fratton Park, lets hope the club can sort
themselves out and avoid folding completely, but the latest news is that they are down to four
players with the departure of Norwegian winger Erik Huseklepp.
Huseklepp originally arrived from Italian side Bari in 2011 and became an important first team
player, but he has now returned to Norway where he began his career at Brann.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL.- Defending MLS Cup champs LA Galaxy used a brace from Robbie
Keane to shut out the Chicago Fire, 2-0, in front of a sold out crowd at Toyota Park on Sunday
afternoon.
The much-needed win helped LA avoid a three-game losing skid, after dropping consecutive matches
to San Jose and Philadelphia earlier in the week.
