Dave's Note: bumped to frontpage for trialist discussion.

One of the unfamiliar faces at Sounders Training belongs to one of the newest Reggae Boyz. The articles linked below claim that 21-year-old center midfielder Andrew Vanzie of Jamaican top-side Portmore United FC (currently 5 points clear at the top of the table) left last Tuesday for a four-week trial with Seattle Sounders FC.

Ghana youth midfielder Mumuni Abubakar is set for a two-week trial with Liverpool.
The 18-year-old was recently voted the Sport Writers Association's Ghana Premier League Player of the Year for 2011, and is tipped for a bright future.
Abubakar caught the eye of Liverpool scouts playing for Ghana's U20 side in Italy back in November, and Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is keen to take a closer look at the African ace, inviting him to spend some time at Anfield with the club's reserve and Academy sides.

News today that Newcastle are interested in 20 year-old French winger Guigamp's Anthony Knockaert. That's news today in talkSPORT, and the lad currently plays for Guingamp In the french second division. The Frenchman has so far played 9 times for the French U20 side and has scored 4 goals, and he has been scouted by Graham [.

STARTERS
The LA Galaxy has won the 2012 ML Supporters Shield with the most points in the regular season. They still have 2 games left to play but have a 7 point lead that cannot be topped. Huge congrats to head coach Bruce Arena and the Galaxy team.
dN
Bob Bradley's new team Egypt won their first game since he was hired 3-0 over Niger.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York

On a Saturday night in Peru earlier this year, Brazil went to Arequipa's Estadio Monumental de la UNSA needing a win to clinch the South American Youth Championship. Coincidentally, their opponents were Uruguay, the very team that they needed to overthrow.

The U-20 Seleção won the World Cup yesterday beating Portugal 3-2 during the overtime with a stellar performance by Oscar. The players of U-20 teams don't always carry through with the promises that they show at this stage but who knows if some of these will be future World Cup stars.

Just before Spain was busy being dispatched from their path along the impossible dream of winning the u19, u20 and u21 championships in the same summer, France was busy getting a lesson in late-game drama from Nigeria.

And then Gueida Fofana hit back with some drama and technique of his own, sending France on its way to a 3-2 victory in ET.

As we are approaching the QF of the U20 WC, and Nigeria is one of the qualified teams so far, it is good time to remember one of the most incredible things ever happened in the world of the game.
That was in the 1989 U20 WC QF, Nigeria vs. Soviet Union. The game was held in Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and I have attended the game in the stadium myself.

"The Derry Pele."

[101gg]

• Without a doubt. (The DA)
• The future in the past in the present. (The Best Eleven)
• Frightening headline. (The Ball Is Round)
• This is ubiquitous and funny. (KCKRS)
• Mini Arsene in France. (The French Connection)
• Refs get the lifetime axe.

It's a bit weird to be writing about Jurgen Klinsmann getting the head coaching job at US Soccer so long after I thought it should happen.
I thought he should come in after Bruce Arena's tenure, and I thought Arena stayed overlong. When Bradley got the job instead of Klinsmann, well, I thought it was a mistake.

(It was either that or "Deutsch Treat." Did I choose wisely?)

I've written before about Jürgen Klinsmann's reputation outstripping his actual resume, but the time for all that talk is over now that Klinsmann is, officially, the 35th head man in the history of the US National Team.

Gaz: Gervinho is coming Prepare to be entertained! ***Watch Arsenal's Top Ten Goals of Last Season!*** ***Read what ALL the Arsenal blogs are saying at JustArsenalBlogs.com*** ***Do you have something to say about Arsenal? Send us an article!*** ***Read what all the top Chelsea blogs are saying at JustChelseaBlogs.

Abby Wambach will do battle with the North Korean defense

USA vs. Korea DPR
Rudolf-Harbig Stadium, Dresden, Germany

In a few hours, Abby Wambach and company finally get to open their World Cup account after a long hard journey that took them through the playoffs.

If Australia wants to win a World Cup then the style of play and individual performances at the U17 and U20 World Cups are always a good guide to how well or otherwise a national team might perform in coming years and certainly to their style.
Australia has shouted long and loud about how we are going to change, indeed are changing our style of play, but after todays performance the Kaz Patafta inspired U17 team of 2005 under Ange Postecoglou was no worse than this performance.

For the last few weeks Arsenal have been constantly linked with a move for the Shakhtar winger Willian, but according to the agent of his Brazilian team-mate Douglas Costa it is his client who has been the subject of a bid. Costa is a Brazilian U20 international and was hugely impressive for Shakhtar in their [.

Die Manager und Verantwortlichen der Bundesligisten arbeiten weiter an der Zusammensetzung ihrer jeweiligen Teams für die kommende Spielzeit. Beim 1. FC Nürnberg beispielsweise entstand durch die Abgänge von Ekici (Bremen) und Gündogan (Dortmund) ein Defizit im Mittelfeld. Schon länger war bekannt, dass dafür Daniel Didavi vom VfB Stuttgart verpflichtet werden soll.

By WAG Watcher

Move along, nothing to see here. Just fünf of the smoking-est frauen from the German Women's U20 side (Selina Wagner, Julia Simic, Annika Doppler, Kristina Gessat and Ivana Rudelic though we've no idea who is who) posing for Playboy in teeny-tiny 'football kits', move along.

CONCACAF U20: Suriname v United States

The USMNT under-20 team faces Suriname in a CONCACAF game. Philadelphia Union players Amobi Okugo and Zac MacMath are expected to start, with Okugo possibly receiving the captain's armband. Follow along here with the Brotherly Game in the comments section and watch it on ESPN 3 at 8 pm.

A red one to match their unis apparently. It's big and fast... performance you ask? Well... *mumble mumble* He was on the US U20 National team. What's that? What's he done since then? Well, played all over Europe... Series A with Sampdoria and played against Inter in the Coppa Italia. What else?

1. Miron Bleiberg - Youth Development Encouragement Award. Not!
Taking Chris Harald, 18, off after 38 minutes and slagging him of on National TV.
Aside - notice how Taj Minnicon has floundered under Miron and his "when the whistle stops it's who evers in the white chairs first' team picking policy.

By Gordon Fleetwood writing from NYC

South American U20 Championships: Day 15

Lucas, the talented midfielder from São Paulo, had been overshadowed by Neymar in this tournament. Not in terms of performances, but there is little hope of the quiet playmaker standing out beside the mowhawk sporting rockstar-esque striker.

By Gordon Fleetwood writing from NYC

South American U20 Championships: Day 14

The year was 1928, and Uruguay's football team had made it to the Olympic games for the second time in a row. They went to Amsterdam to defend the title they had won so convincingly four years earlier.

By Gordon Fleetwood writing from NYC

South American U20 Championships: Day 13

Juan Manuel Iturbe may not be a household name, but with his talent, you wouldn't bet against it happening in the future. The former Paraguayan youth international left his mark on the most anticipated game of the tournament.

By Chris Wright

Ecuador U20 striker Marlon de Jesus has a heavenly name, but unfortunately that's where the celestial parallels end...

...an absolute howler I'm sure you'll agree, which incidentally came just four days after this utter stinker (0:37 mark) against Argentina's youth side.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

South American U20 Championships: Day 7

It was a revamped Argentina side who took on Chile in Arequipa. The pouring rain dampened the game as a spectacle, but four goals in the second half gave the drenched fans something to enjoy.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

South American U20 Championships: Day 6

Paraguay bossed this Sunday encounter, yet still lost after Ecuador sneaked a goal in mid-way off the second half. The young Ecuadorians held on for dear lie for most of the game, but Edson Montaño's header meant that they left with all three points.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

South American U20 Championships: Day 5

Uruguay came into their own on Saturday, as two goals either side of halftime saw them blow past Chile. It was a dominant performance by the men in sky blue.

South American U20 Championship: Day 4

In what definitely the best game of the tournament so far, Brazil edged past Colombia to retain their perfect record. The young Colombians have nothing to be ashamed of. They fought valiantly until the end. The match was fairly even, but it was a blitz in early in the second half that made the difference for Brazil.

This superhattrick came just in the right time, few days after changing the name of my blog.
Brazil beat Paraguay 4-2 in South American Champion Chip under-20. The top 4 will play in Youth WC U20 that will be held in Columbia. The top 2 will also play in the summer Olympic Games.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

U20 South American Championships: Day 2

Before the tournament started, Neymar was tagged as the main attraction. Today, he showed why he deserves that label. The young star set alight a game which was almost devoid of creativity and attacking flair.

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing in New York City

U20 South American Championships: Day 1

The game was far from a classic, but Argentina won't care, as they beat Uruguay 2-1 in the opening game of the tournament. Juan Iturbe's last gasp ensured the Albiceleste came away with all three points.

Word out of Nigeria is that Sporting KC is interested in former U20 midfielder, Joseph Atang Thompson. Thompson, a 21 year old midfielder currently plays for Kano Pillars FC in Nigeria. Unfortunately it looks like there are some problems in Sporting's attempt to get Thompson to the US. According to the article, the US embassy in Nigeria is refusing to issue a visa for Thompson to come to the United States.