The WFD Kick About

Barcelona's 19

2010-09-06T16:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Here is FC Barcelona's Roster: Victor Valdes, Daniel Alves, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Xavi, David Villa, Andrés Iniesta, Bojan Krkic, Lionel Messi, Jeffren Suárez, José Manuel Pinto, Javier Mascherano, Seydou Keita, Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodríguez, Gabriel Milito, Maxwell, Adriano, Éric Abidal. Not a long list at all. If you counted, that's just 19 players. Talk about cutting the fat to save some cash. With Champions League, the Copa del Ray, and La Liga, how are they going to manage with just 19 players? Outnumbered, will they take a stand like 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae?

What's more is that of these 19, 10 of them came through Barcelona's vaunted youth system. If anyone gets knackered-up between now and the winter transfer-window, help will have to come from the youth system. For a team playing in a lot of competitions, a lot of youngsters are going to get their chance to show their mettle. My guess is the following Barca B players are going to get some appearances in the not so distant future: Víctor Vázquez (Midfielder), Jonathan dos Santos (Midfielder),

Marc Muniesa (Defender), Jonathan Soriano (Stirker), Andreu Fontàs (Defender), Armando Lozano (Defender). Someone always seems to step-up from Barca B every year, from Pedro last year, Busquets in the 6 trophy-winning side, and Bojan before that scoring 10 goals in his first La Liga season.

What is for sure is that I don't think we are gong to see many players upset with playing time. Pep Guardiola can't fall-out with anyone. When you look at the roster you see 19 players that would start on almost any La Liga side. You can already see that Pep will get all the mileage he can out of players Barcelona has signed. Maxwell, Keita, Abidal and Dani Alves have all played the maximum number of minutes in Barcelona's games thus far this season. Expect the same for Javier Mascherano and Adriano once they get settled and Gabriel Milito as well. David Villa will share time with Bojan to a certain degree as a central striker as well as on the left wing.

Injuries and squad-rotations will also be helped by players that can fill-in at multiple positions. Most of this roster consists of players that can excel in many different roles on the pitch. Nevertheless, a squad of 19 is pressing the limits of flexible players. Right now with Puyol out the next few weeks, Piqué and Gabriel Milito are backed-up with Éric Abidal and Sergio Busquets. Marc Muniesa, Andreu Fontàs, and Armando better be ready.

The thing not easily apparent to supporters about a squad of 19, remains you'd need 22 players for 11-a-side during practice. Granted, this is great for Barca B players to get exposure quickly to the senior-side in practice, but from a pundit's point of view, I don't understand how much this affects training? Maybe it doesn't at all or just a little. I'm sure they be able to spin it as a good thing.

If Barcelona take home any significant silverware this year, it will be doing it the old-fashioned way by using homegrown players, rotating players in the line-up, relying of flexible players with multiple skill-sets, and getting the maximum out of every signing. Expect to see this affect trickle through all of football, particularly the English Premier League due to its new squad rules this year. This may be the beginning of sane frugal football.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@mail.com.

Can A Footballer Be Paid Too Much?

2010-09-05T16:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

There is no La Liga this week so I figured I tackle a topic that seemed to come-up a bit regarding English national team players: are footballers paid too much? The easy thing to do is rant and rave about the millions that superstars make, how spoiled their riches make them, and lessen their desire for national team glory. But before we try to answer this question, we should first determine whether a footballer can be paid too much?

Companies hire employees. For the most part, employees are paid relative to the value that they provide. If you are hourly, the hours you work are the hours you are paid. If you do incentive-based work, you have a base salary and commissions/bonuses on top it. Or you may simply be salaried. Footballers don't really fit any of these three categories.

Clubs sign footballers. Companies sign CEO's and high-ranking executives. Footballers and CEOs for large clubs and companies make millions. Footballers have buyout clauses if they are to be transferred. CEOs have parachute payments if they are fired. These compensation-packages are huge because footballers and CEO are supposed to have the biggest impact on the bottom-line both in terms of revenues and results on the pitch.

Compensation-packages for employees, CEOs, and footballers are dictated to a certain degree by market-forces. If you can afford it, you will employ the best. For most companies and clubs that means either breaking-even, turning a profit, or going into debt to acquire funds to hire top talent. The problem comes when an organization hires someone via debt. This seems to be the prevailing model in football. Clubs pay more than what they earn for players and foot the bill on credit. Does this mean footballers are paid too much if clubs are going into debt or administration/bankruptcy to sign them? No. Footballers aren't paid too much.

The world of football is for the most-part a highly unregulated market. Adam Smith would be proud. If clubs want to run themselves into the ground, that's their prerogative until the FA, UEFA, FIFA, or some other governing body decide to regulate the transfer market and make them somewhat sane. The problem is not the footballers or the clubs, but rather football's guardian regulatory bodies that have sat-by and done little for decades.

Why would Cristiano Ronaldo turn-down 94m from Real Madrid? Why would Kaka turn-down 70M? Do they provide enough value to Real Madrid on the pitch or in terms of revenues to justify their absorbent transfer sums? Probably not. Madrid did not win any Silverware last year. In terms of revenues, I don't know the numbers, but I have a hard time believing Madrid is going to make 164m in new kit sales or additional TV revenue. It would very interesting to see Madrid do an audit by a 3rd party like Barcelona did with Deloitte. But that's another story. Regardless of where the money comes from, Madrid should be smart enough not to offer it, but Ronaldo and Kaka would also be crazy not to accept it.

The complexity of this question comes from moralizing it. Moralizing who merits millions in recompense is a fruitless endeavor. Movie-stars, footballers, and rock-stars will always make more than nurses, teachers, and police-officers. This is unfair, but market-forces are unfair and amoral in nature and unfortunately dictate what people are paid. Morality does not enter the equation except through market regulation.

So if you follow England and don't think the players are giving what they should because they have grown soft from their exclusive lifestyles, don't point your finger at them. The better place to point it is at the FA, UEFA, and FIFA who let transfer markets spiral out of control the last few decades.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@mail.com.

La Liga - Roundup Jornada 1

2010-08-31T16:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Stop! Hold the presses! Madrid drew with Mallorca. Barcelona has won La Liga BBVA! If it was only that simple. At the end of Jornada 1 of La Liga, Atlético Madrid sits atop the La Liga table. Los Colchoneros (The Mattress-makers) can sleep well tonight after trouncing Sporting Gijón 4-0. Diego Forlan has not lost his form since the World Cup. Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have a definite third challenger to the Pichichi. Atlético showed well this opening week. It would be great if they could push for the title, but alas we are in but August.

Another step down the table at #2, we see Sevilla. They took-out on Levante 4-1 what Barcelona took-out on them during the Supecopa and what Braga did sending Sevilla to the Europa League. Not until slot #3 do we see Barcelona and Real Madrid at #12. Print-out this table, frame it, and hang it on a wall. It will not last. Aah, beauty of early tables. But, what did we learn this week about La Liga?

Supporters of Atlético have a lot to be optimistic about. They can build-on the momentum of the Europa League and the European Super Cup wins as well as Forlan's form. That just sounds nice, Forlan's form. Kun Agüero and Forlan's chemistry will only grow with another year together. New signings Godín, Filipe Luis, Mario Suárez, Fran Mérida, and Diego Costa will blend-in as the year progresses. The best thing is Forlan staying-put at Atlético. He seems to have found a home there. He doesn't want to go to England and doesn't figure into a Real Madrid or Barcelona squad. Atlético fits Forlan and Forlan fits Atlético.

David Villa looked natural with Barcelona. A few things to notice from their win included: Messi playing-up the middle, a midfield of Seydou Keita, Sergio Busquets, and Xavi that contained as much steal as creativity, and probably most important for Barcelona, Victor Valdez's fine form. Periodic holes at the back should be a concern. So, Mascherano is in and Zlatan is out. Both seemed moves inevitable if you think about it. As much as Zlatan believed in his Barcelona destiny, his immense skills-set did not complement the Barca style. He'll dominate again in Italy. Mascherano will do well with Barcelona. The big fear is that he is a red-card waiting to happen, but the reality of it is that he has the distribution skills that Barcelona requires. Also, the style of play in the La Liga is more technical than the speedy and physical Barclays Premier League. This will suit him as well.

Don't read much in Real Madrid's tie with Mallorca. Two years ago Barcelona started-off with a tie at Numancia and a loss at Racing Santander and then won the league and 6 trophies. Mourniho's Madrid will go on a run soon enough that worry everyone. Valencia looked like they won't have too much trouble making-up for the goals lost to David Villa and David Silva's departures. Aritz Aduriz's header was superb and Joaquín had a brace. Athletic Bilbao got a 1-nil victory over Hercules. Expect more of these from Bilbao. Hercules signing David Trezeguet is intriguing and Trezeguet finds ending his playing days in Spain to be 'adventurous". Add Trezequet to Nelson Haedo Valdez and Hercules looks like a team that may stay up this year. A much anticipated Villarreal failed to deliver against Real Sociedad, another promoted team that looks to avoid the drop. The only other game of note was Osvaldo's brace for Espanyol. Everyone else went nil-nil. La Liga's first week had it all. Blow-outs, grid-outs, and some surprises. Let's hope some unpredictability creeps into the season as well.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@mail.com.

LA Galaxy 0-2 Kansas City Wizards: Lackluster Galaxy Pay Price for Poor Performance

2010-08-28T17:00:00Z

James Cranford- Assistant Producer of World Football Daily

A Davy Arnaud first half strike and a Jimmy Conrad theatrical goal in the second half, propelled the visiting Kansas City Wizards 2-0 over hosts and league leaders LA Galaxy.

The LA Galaxy played one of their worst games of the season while, according to Head Coach Peter Vermes, Kansas City played a full 90 minute game - most likely their best performance of the season - to capture the three points on hand.

Kansas City stuck with their usual 4-5-1 system with Kei Kamara and Ryan Smith (look for him on the show in the near future) flanking the lone striker, Birahim Diop, and Davy Arnaud playing directly behind him. The Galaxy were without Juninho tonight due to personal reasons, so Chris Klein slotted into the midfield next to Michael Stephens, Chris Birchall, and Landon Donovan, while Mike Magee was given the start partnering with Edson Buddle.

After a real drab first ten minutes, things livened up when Kei Kamara received a long ball, which he received nicely, down the right side and centered a low ball to Arnaud who made one move on Leonardo, found space, and scored the opener. The Galaxy defense was really cut open on that one.

The Galaxy were able to exert some pressure as the half wore on winning six corners, but failing to threaten Jimmy Nielson's goal at all.

A lot of credit must go to Kansas City who were able to stifle the midfield four of the Galaxy and the back line made the leagues leading scorer, Edson Buddle, look redundant the entire half (although he did win a free kick with nice hold up play in the 27th minute that Donovan took poorly) failing to have a shot on target. Buddle ended up with one shot on goal in the game.

Kansas City would have rued the missed chance in the 36th minute on another night when Davy Arnaud blocked a Leonardo pass and found Birahin Diop in loads of space but the striker failed to get a shot away as Donovan Ricketts was able to stop the attacker, coming off his line.

The Galaxy seemed to have a golden chance to score right before the half when Chris Klein found Mike Magee at the far post wide open, but the striker's volley lacked any sort of quality and failed to hit the net.

Neither team made any half time substitutions.

Edson Buddle was able to get his first shot of the match in the 47th minute but his effort from 30 yards was tame.

Kansas City, working the ball well in the midfield, had a dangerous Michael Harrington cross into the box with three Wizards forwards in there, but all failed to get a head to the ball.

The Galaxy finally made some good link up play. Working on the right hand side, Klein passed to Donovan who neatly one timed the pass to Chris Birchall who raced in to the box with space to shoot but Jimmy Nielson was up to the task.

Birchall had another golden opportunity to score, Stephens played a ball in the middle to Dovovan who deftly touched the ball out of the air into space on the volley to send Birchall through on goal but Jimmy Nielson made his best save of the night. The Galaxy had on or two good moments the entire match, but they looked lackluster, especially in the midfield, or as Bruce Arena said, "We were outcompeted tonight."

Kei Kamara received a pass in the 61st minute at the top of the area and was tackled by Gonzales, but the tackle caused the ball to end up straight in to the path of Diop who again put a tame effort on goal. Diop could have scored two on another night.

Bruce Arena clearly needed to make a change as his club was being well outplayed all night, Tristen Bowen came on for Chris Klein to add some pace to the midfield. Bowen made an immediate impact using his pace down the right and won a corner for LA, but it was his only key involvement all game.

Chris Birchall picked up a yellow in the 66th and will miss the Galaxy's next match due to an accumulation of yellow's.

The 70th saw Kansas City pick up the vital second goal. A Free kick for that Arnaud whipped into the mixer and Jimmy Conrad theatrically stuck, while being tightly marked by Buddle, his leg out and the ball somehow found its way off the post and into the net.

The Brazilian Cazumba came on for Mike Magee which pushed Donovan up to play forward alongside Buddle.

Kei Kamara was one of the best players on the field on the night and was subbed off with little time to go and got his just applause from his teammates for his hard work and overall brilliant play; many times coming back to defend and holding the ball up front to keep possession and break up the Galaxy's momentum.

The Galaxy finally sprung to life in stoppage time as Jovan Kirovski shot high and not so handsome over the bar: too little, too late.

Madrid look to rid Diarra and Diarra

2010-08-26T17:00:00Z

Betfair Guest Blogger-

Real Madrid are looking to sell Mahamadou Diarra, with reported interest coming from teams in England and Turkey for the midfielder.

The Mali international will be one of a number of midfielders who Madrid will be looking to get off their books due to the arrival of German pair Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira in the summer.

Diarra has been at Real since 2006 when he signed from Lyon. The 29 year old is about to enter the final year of his contract with Madrid and will be allowed to leave for around the £6million mark.

Blackburn Rovers are reported to be leading the race to bring Diarra to England. Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are also monitoring the situation closely and may decide to swoop for the tough tackling midfielder.

Another Diarra who could be on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu is Frenchman Lassana. The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder is reportedly closing in on a move to his third London club, Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp signed the 25 year old when he was in charge of Portsmouth and is keen to team up with Diarra at his latest club. Diarra started 19 games in La Liga last season as Madrid finished second behind Barcelona in the league. Real will be hoping to beat their old rivals to the title this season but the Spanish La Liga betting odds suggest it will be a close run thing.

In his time in Madrid, Diarra has become a regular fixture in the French national team. He was unlucky to suffer a mysterious abdominal injury before this summer's World Cup, forcing him to withdraw from his country's disastrous campaign in South Africa.

Madrid president Fiorentino Perez is looking to sell the player rather than let him leave in a loan deal after investing heavily in new midfield talent this summer.

Meanwhile, Ozil's former club, Werder Bremen, got off to a disastrous start to the new Bundesliga season with a 4-1 reverse against TSG Hoffenheim. They are now less fancied in the German Bundesliga betting odds as they sit rock bottom of the table after one game.

10 Burning La Liga Questions

2010-08-25T16:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

1. Why did Barcelona not sign Cesc Fàbregas?

The answer is simple. Barcelona didn't offer enough money. Barcelona thought 35m was a fair and equitable price for a player they believed unequivocally wanted to leave. Under the new Sandro Rosell regime of fiscal discipline, Barcelona was not willing to go much above this price. On the contrary, Arsenal thought Cesc was worth much more than 35m and believed they convinced their potentially unsettled star captain that his best option for now was to stay at Arsenal.

2. Is La Liga BBVA better than the Barclays Premier League?

No. They are probably equal and this is a question that has enough material for a dissertation. But, to keep it short and sweet here we go. Barcelona had 7 starters on the Spain's World Cup winning side. Madrid just bought what seems like the entire world. There's a gulf at the top with Madrid and Barcelona and whoever will win the Premiership, either Chelsea or ManU. Are Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Everton, and Liverpool truly any better than Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao? Probably not. Things are equal in this group. Blackpool, West Brom, and Newcastle compared to Real Sociedad, Levante, and Hércules. Newcastle is probably a step above, but the rest are likely relegation fodder. What about the rest of Brady Mid-table Bunch? Your Bolton's, Blackburn's, Birmingham's, Espanyol's, Getafe's, Deportivo's and so forth? I don't see much difference here. In the end, the seasons, Europa League and Champions League will tell. But, for now they look the same from here.

3. What is La Liga's Best XI?

This is kind-of hard to pick. I know this one works against the rest of the world.

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona), Carlos Puyol (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Busquets (FC Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Xavi (FC Barcelona), Pedro (FC Barcelona), David Villa (FC Barcelona)

We could make it a little better by doing this.

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atlético Madrid), Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona), Carlos Puyol (FC Barcelona), Dani Alves (FC Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Kaka (Real Madrid), Xavi (FC Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Diego Forlan (Atlético Madrid)

Maybe La Liga BBVA is better than the Barclays Premier League?

4. Who will win the Pichichi?

Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo will return to the form he had 2 years ago when he won the Golden Boot while at Manchester United. Mourinho's arm on his shoulder and comforting words in his ear will restore Ronaldo to his breath-taking scoring pace. You can also throw-in Sami Khedira, Pedro León, Angel Di María, and Mesut Özil in addition to Xabi Alonso and Kaka to feed Ronaldo the ball on counter-attacks. Yikes!

5. Who will be La Liga's revelation for 2010-11?

Jonathan dos Santos (FC Barcelona). Someone from Barcelona steps-up every year. Last year it was Pedro. Before that it was Busquets. Before that it was Bojan. Others to watch for include: Jon Aurtenexe Borde (Althetic Bilbao), Fran Merida (Atlético Madrid), Sergio Canales (Real Madrid), Ivan Obradović (Real Zaragoza), Alberto Botía (Sporting Gijon), and Mateo Pablo Mussachio (Villarreal).

6. Who will be sacked first?

Míchel from Getafe may have more work cut-out for him than any other manager because he has to replace that attacking-force of Soldado and Pedro León while playing in the Europa League. Expectations will be high from a Top 6 finish last year, but goals may be hard to come-by. Míchel will need to find a way to replace the 24 goals that Soldado and Pedro León combined for last year.

7. Will Real Sociedad, Levante, or Hércules escape the drop?

Real Sociedad stays-up. They are the exact same team that won promotion from last year with the exception of Joseba Llorente Etxarri. He is a proven scorer that should help an already cohesive team hopefully stay in La Liga. Hércules is a maybe. They seem to be doing all they can to improve the squad. A number of signing should help, especially Paraguayan World Cup star, Nelson Haedo Valdez. Manager Esteban Vigo lead Xerez to promotion and then did it again last year with Hércules. The karma will help. Levante's experience in La Liga as a yo-yo club will repeat itself with a relegation.

8. What is Real Madrid's Best XI?

I put some names in a hat and this is what I drew-out of it.

Iker Casillas (G), Arbeloa (LB), Ricardo Carvalho (CD-L), Raúl Albiol (CD-R), Sergio Ramos (RB), Xabi Alonso (LM), Mesut Özil (CM), Sami Khedira (RM), Ángel Di María (LW), Gonzalo Higuaín (CF), Cristiano Ronaldo (RW)

9. Will Jose Mourinho survive the hot-seat that is Real Madrid?

You don't sack The Special One. The Special One sacks you. Right? Wrong. That's Chuck Norris. Chelsea did it. Madrid is likely to do it too if he doesn't produce either a double consisting of La Liga and Champions League or La Liga and a better showing in the Champions League than Barcelona. Whether you consider managing Real Madrid a burning hot-seat, poisoned chalice, or most difficult coaching job in all of sports, the average tenure of a Madrid Manager these days is about 9 months. But, this is The Special One.

10. Will anyone win La Liga BBVA other than FC Barcelona and Real Madrid?

No. Barcelona and Madrid will both get 100+ points in a quest for perfection. It's so close to tell, you would have a better chance flipping a coin than analyzing the two teams to determine which one will win La Liga. Today I flipped a tails so Madrid will win.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

THE TFC EXPERIENCE

2010-08-24T17:00:00Z

Robin Kilgore
World Football Daily Correspondent

We've all heard what it's like to attend a Toronto FC home match. Since that first game in 2007, we were awed by how amazing this city has stood behind the football team. Every game was sold out. The noise bellowing from the supporters was so loud and constant, you wondered if they ever took a moment to relax and catch a breath.

Was this kind of support already happening for a new team? Around the rest of MLS, we were all a little bit jealous. Honestly though, we were also very excited. It was the kind of experience you wanted to be a part of. On a cool Tuesday night in August, I had the opportunity to attend a Toronto FC game and absorb the experience for myself.

The moment you walk into BMO Field, a smile radiates on your face. You can't help but love new stadiums, let alone new football specific stadiums. The color of the stands is a crisp blood red. The white maple leaf and BMO logo fragmented into the stands is a nice touch we haven't seen often in North America.

The panoramic view of Toronto is spectacular. On your left is a sprawling metropolis of tall glass buildings highlighted by the CN Tower (the spaceneedle-esque structure that points upwards from the heart of downtown). On your right you have a beautiful mixture of green and blue that is Lake Ontario and Toronto Island Park.

You revel in all this amazing scenery before a single fan has walked into the stadium. And when they do, they pack into that stadium like bees in a hive. In the south side tier are the Red Patch Boys, Tribal Rhythm Nation and U-Sector, 3 of the 4 official fan supporters groups. An hour before kickoff and the supporters begin marking their territory with all kinds of banners and flags that broadcast their support and fanaticism. The drummers are banging away as soon as they hit their seats. On the opposite side of the field sits the North End Elite, the 4th group that continues the loud boisterous noise to fend off any kind of calmness a visiting team may have when taking the field.

On this particular weekday evening, Toronto is playing its first Champions League game of the group stage. Though not a sellout, the attendance is still over 16,000. That number is high compared with many other MLS teams during a regular league match on the weekend.

Once the whistle blows, the atmosphere is even more electric. Every play and action is commented on by the masses. A foul on Dwayne De Rosorio and the fans voice their anger at the player. A foul by someone in red, and they antagonize the referee. That's football fans for you - always looking out for their own interests.

After three minutes, Toronto scores and the crowd goes ballistic. It's an amazing start to the game. Air cannons fire red and white paper, streamers are flung from fans in the back of the stand and the entire area is shaking. It's a chorus that's repeated when the team scores a second goal near the end of the first half. A massive red tide moves and bounces in sheer ecstasy. It's clear the team is being lifted by this impressive choir.

A brief halftime break and we start the second half. The home fans have had their cool down period and are ready for round two. The visiting team starts off playing better than before and good chances are squandered. The TFC fans aren't angels; they ridicule and heckle as loudly as the best of . The game gets heated between the two teams and eventually, yellow cards are being handed out by the referee. The fans react the way football fans the world over usually react at times like this: with heated debate and a few unkind words.

Near games end, the away team scores a goal and for once you can hear the visiting fans celebrate. So for just a moment, the stadium is a little quieter.

When the final whistle blows, more confetti is blasted upwards and the crowd is elated. A 2-1 Toronto victory. These players are heroes for the night. It was a well played contest and there's talk of it being the best game in the teams short history. The players applaud the fans throughout all corners of the pitch. As you walk out of the stadium, fans are still rejoicing. Yes, tonight was a victorious night.

The TFC Experience is something special. A strong team, devoted followers, and a bit of passion make this place a remarkable home for football.

Stephen's 2010/2011 Spanish La Liga Guide

2010-08-23T16:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

2010-2011 La Liga Guide

If you don't follow La Liga, this is the year to do it and this is the guide to chart your course in Spanish football. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona may have the best teams they have ever assembled. That is saying a lot for two of the world's largest teams and most successful teams. Madrid being the 20th century's best according to FIFA and Barcelona arguably the team of the last decade. For Madrid and Barcelona, this will be a pursuit for perfection. Last year, Barcelona had the most points every in La Liga history with 99 points. Ironically, Madrid had the second most ever with 96. A perfect season would be 114 points. This year we will see two teams surpass the 100 point mark in this pursuit of perfection.

La Liga BBVA may be the world's best league. It's debatable if La Liga is better than the Barclay's English Premier League, but at the top of the footballing world, La Liga is #2 at worst. Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao are teams that would finish at the top or win most of the leagues around the world. Spain just won a World Cup with players primarily from La Liga. La Liga also has a diversity of playing styles from it's teams making match-ups particularly interesting. It terms of footballing skills and technique, La Liga is often sited as the best.

This guide is designed as something easily consumed before a match you may watch. Look-up the two teams playing and you have your match preview. It's something you can go back-to time after time throughout the La Liga Season. The information listed comes from dozens of sources. I've done the work for you. Now, all you need to do is enjoy. This guide will be particularly useful if you don't speak Spanish since the best sources of La Liga information are in Spanish.

So what will happen? Here's a preview of the upcoming La Liga season.

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ALMERIA

Founded: 1989

Nicknames: Rojiblancos (like some others)

Ground: Estadio del Mediterráneo

Capacity: 22,000

Last Year: 13th (42 Pts)

Manager: Juan Manuel Lillo

Players In: Marcelo Silva Fernández (Danubio), D. Valeri (Porto), M. Luque (Barcelona), Ulloa (Castellón), Okoro (Heartland F.C ), Jakobsen (Aalborg), Carlos García (Betis)

Players Out: Chico (Genoa), Cisma (Racing), Gilherme Valladolid), David Rodríguez (Celta), Soriano (Osasuna), Álex Quillo (Recre), Borzani, Solari (Apoel Nicosia), Natalio

Best 11: Diego Alves (G), Michael Jakobsen (LB), Carlos García (CD-L), Marcelo Silva Fernández (CD-R), Míchel (RB), Crusat (LM), Fabián Andrés Vargas (CM-L), Hernán Bernardello (CM-R), Diego Valeri (RM), Pablo Daniel Piatti (F), Kalu Uche (F)

Formation: 4-4-2 (Possession Game)

Summary: AD Almeria played in Spain's 1st Division in 1979-81, left in 1982, and was reborn in 1989. In their somewhat short history, this year will be their fourth (consecutively) season in La Liga. Manager Juan Manuel Lillo took the reins at Almeria in late December 2009, replacing Hugo Sanchez. At the time, Almeria were one step from the relegation zone. Lilllo righted the ship and took Almeria up to 13th in the table. As a team, they retain the ball very well. This should not be a surprise because Lillo often is credited with giving Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola much of his tactical education while Lillo coached Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa. Piatti, Uche, and Crusat all blossomed under Lillo. Crusat brings pace to the attack while Piatti and Uche (if he stays) both bring creativity. Carlos García coming back from Loan to Real Betis should help a porous defense that gave up 55 goals last year and help relieve Chico's departure to Genoa in Serie A. Chico made a number of La Liga's Best XI lists last year. Michael Jakobsen's arrival will also help the backline. Another year under Lillo should see Almeria progress a little up the table.

Player to Watch: Pablo Daniel Piatti

Captain: José Ortiz

Prediction: 12th

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ATHLETIC BILBAO

Founded: 1898

Nicknames: Los Leones (The Lions)

Ground: San Mamés

Capacity: 39,750

Last Year: 8th (54Pts)

Manager: Joaquín Caparrós

Players In: M. San José Domínguez (Liverpool), Igor Martínez (Alavés), Ibai Gómez (Sestao River), Murillo, Balenziaga,

Players Out: Etxeberría (Retired), Armando, Yeste (Al Wasl), Muñoz (Cartagena), Zubiaurre (Albacete), Etxeita, Díaz De Cerio (Córdoba)

Best 11: Iraizoz (G), Andoni Iraola (LB), Jon Aurtenexe Borde (CD-L), Mikel San José Domínguez (CD-R), Amorebieta (RB), Javi Martínez (CM-L), Iturraspe (CM-R), Vélez (LM), Gaizka Toquero (CM), Carlos Gurpegi (RM), Fernando Llorente Torres (F).

Formation: 4-5-1 (Counter-Attacking)

Summary: Bilbao is one of 3 clubs that have never been relegated from La Liga. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid being the other 2. They are known for their cantera policy of developing Basque youth players and signing professional players native to the greater Basque Country. With a winning record and 8th place finish last year, it's amazing to think they conceded 3 more goals than they scored last year. This is a big, strong, physical team that will knock you down and hit you on the counterattack. They can also play through the middle with Markel Susaeta. Javi Martínez and Llorente are world class players, both having won the World Cup with Spain. Javi Martínez is multi-faceted holding midfielder. Llorente is a 6-5 target man that can lead a line, hold-up the ball, and put it in the back of the net as well. His 14 goals in La Liga last year was 9th best. Gaizka Toquero is a hard-working player that netted 8 times last year. The young Aurtenexe may get a chance to step up to the A side this year in the cantera tradition. A chance at the Champions League is not out of question.

Player to Watch: Javi Martínez

Captain: TBD

Potential Revelation: Jon Aurtenexe Borde

Prediction: 7th

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ATLÉTICO MADRID

Founded: 1903

Nicknames: Los Colchoneros (The Mattress-makers), Los Rojiblancos (The Red and Whites)

Ground: Vicente Calderón

Capacity: 54,851

Last Year: 9th (47Pts)

Manager: Quique Sánchez Flores

Players In: Tiago Mendes (Juventus), D. Godín Leal (Villarreal), Filipe Luis (Deportivo), Mario Suárez (Mallorca), Fran Mérida (Arsenal), Diego Costa

Players Out: Cabrera (Recreativo), Roberto (Benfica), Pacheco (Independiente), Pablo (West Bromwich), Pernía

Best 11: De Gea (G), Filipe Luis (LB), Diego Godín Leal (CD-L), Álvaro Domínguez (CD-R), Tomas Ujfalusi (RB), Simão (LM), Tiago Mendes (CM-L), Paulo Assunçao (CM-R), José Antonio Reyes (RM), Kun Agüero (F), Diego Forlán (F)

Formation: 4-4-2

Summary: Atlético has won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey each 9 times. They gained the nickname Los Colchoneros (The Mattress Makers) because their red and white uniforms resembled old mattresses. They are also known as Los Indios (The Indians) because they stadium is "camped" on a river bank and because Los Indios are the traditional enemy of what Atlético's rival Real Madrid call themselves, Los Blancos (the whites). Last year was mixed-bag for a team that had high expectations, finishing only 9th with 47Pts, having lost the Copa Del Rey final to Sevilla, and having won UEFA Europa League final over Fulham. This year should have high expectations as well. Only 3 teams gave-up more goals than Atlético. Signing Godín from Villarreal and Filipe Luis (hopefully healthy) from Deportivo could turn one of La Liga's worst defenses into one of the best. Resigning Tiago will provide help and depth in the midfield. Diego Forlán was perhaps the best player at the World Cup and La Liga's leading scorer two seasons ago. Kun Agüero also is a world class striker. This is a team with talent all over the field that would worry anyone in La Liga and Europe for that matter, if they had qualified for UEFA Champions League or Europa League. Third place in the table is reasonable and realistic with a few breaks.

Player to Watch: Diego Forlán (F)

Captain: Antonio López

Potential Revelation: Fran Merida

Prediction: 3rd (Champions League Qualification)

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BARCELONA

Founded: 1899

Nicknames: Culers, Culés (Arse People), Blaugranes (The Blue & Garnets)

Ground: Camp Nou

Capacity: 98,772

Last Year: 1st (99Pts)

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Players In: Adriano (Sevilla), David Villa (Valencia), Aliaksandr Hleb (VfB Stuttgart), Martin Cáceres (Juventus)

Players Out: Rafa Márquez (NY Red Bulls), Henrique (Racing), T. Henry (NY Red Bulls), Yaya Touré (Manchester City), Chigrinski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Keirrison (Santos), M. Luque (Almeria), Á. Sánchez Benítez (Zaragoza), Botía (Sporting de Gijon)

Best 11: Valdés (G), Maxwell (LB), Gerard Piqué (CD-L), Puyol (CD-R), Daniel Alves (RB), Andrés Iniesta (LM), Busquets (CM), Xavi (RM), David Villa (LW), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (CF), Lionel Messi (RW)

Formation: 4-3-3

Summary: FC Barcelona are known as "Més que un club" (more than a club) for their support of freedom and human rights around the world. In contrast, their supporters are known as Culers/Culés, meaning "Arse People". However, this is a term of endearment being that the name came from the truly dedicated supporters of FC Barcelona that sat at the top row of the old Camp de la Indústria with their butts visible to those walking-by outside the stadium. In Spanish football, Barcelona has won the most total trophies including 20 La Liga titles, a record 25 Spanish Cups, 8 Spanish Super Cups and 2 League Cups. Last year Barcelona finished top of the table in La Liga with the highest point total in La Liga history, 99 points. However, the season fell short of expectations not having won any other trophies and being ambushed by José Mourinho's Intermilan in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona will play an attacking possession game on offense and a pressing game on defense. On paper they are arguably the world's best team having 7 of Spain's World Cup winning starting 11, Lionel Mess (perhaps the best player in the world), and Dani Alves (one the 2-3 best right-backs in the world). A season ago Barcelona won 6 trophies. Expectations are that high again this year. Only this time, José Mourinho is at Real Madrid and has signed all the necessary ingredients to make this the best title race La Liga will ever see. It will be The Race to Perfection. Barcelona and Madrid will each need to be nearly perfect this year to win La Liga. Because of this arms race, Barcelona orchestrated a very public courting of Cesc Farbregas that ultimately failed, at least for this year, and left a foul taste in many a mouth around London. Road dates at Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, and Espanyol are probably the most vital fixtures outside of el Clásico with Real Madrid, the grandest of all rivalries in sport.

Player to Watch: Lionel Messi

Captain: Carles Puyol

Potential Revelation: Jonathan dos Santos

Prediction: 2nd (Champions League Qualification)

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DEPORTIVO LA CORUÑA

Founded: 1906

Nicknames: Los Turcos (the Turks), Blanquiazules (blue-whites), SuperDepor

Ground: Riazor

Capacity: 34,600

Last Year: 10th (47Pts)

Manager: Miguel Ángel Lotina

Players In: Felipe Ramos (Real Madrid), Rubén Pérez (Atlético), Stopira (Santa Clara), Saúl (Elche), Urreta (Benfica), Desmarets (Vitoria de Guimaraes), Míchel (Valencia), Aythami (Xerez), Rubén Castro (Rayo),

Players Out: Filipe Luis (Atlético), Iván Pérez (Ponferradina), Sergio (Levante), Bryan Angulo, Mista (Toronto FC), Bodipo (Vaslui), Álex Bergantiños (Granada), Rubén Castro (Betis)

Best 11: Aranzubia (G), Stopira (LB), Alberto Lopo (CD-L), Diego Daniel Colotto (CD-R), Manuel Pablo (RB), Yves Desmarets (LM), Juan Rodríguez (CM), Saúl (RM), José Andrés Guardado (AM-L), Riki (AM-R), Lassad Niouoi (CF)

Formation: 4-3-2-1 / 4-2-3-1

Summary: Deportivo, a La Liga regular, has been in the Spanish top flight all but 2 seasons since the Spanish Football League Systems was formed in 1928. They have won the Spanish First Division League Title once in 1999-2000. Last year they finished mid-table at #10 with 47 points. This place hides the fact they had a -14 goal differential last year scoring only 35 goals and conceding a respectable 49. To build on last year, more goals will have to come from somewhere. Losing fullback Filipe Luis to Atlético Madrid does not help. While healthy last year, Luis has perhaps La Liga's best left back. His transfer was used to make unfulfilled payments to former players Sergio Gonzalez and Sebastian Taborda and avoid a forced relegation. At their best, Deportivo is a well organized tight defensive unit. They turn things into a scrap and grind out results. Going forward they do have Guardado, a classy winger from Mexico and another quality winger in Riki. Another mid-table finish is expected.

Player to Watch: José Andrés Guardado

Captain: Manuel Pablo

Prediction: 8th

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ESPANYOL

Founded: 1900

Nicknames: Periquitos (Parakeets), Blanquiblaus (White and Blues)

Ground: Estadi Cornellà-El Prat

Capacity: 40,500

Last Year: 11th (44 Pts)

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

Players In: Sergio García (Betis), Mattioni (Mallorca), Dátolo (Nápoles), Osvaldo (Bolonia), Galán (Girona)

Players Out: Román Martínez (Tigre), Pareja (Spartak de Moscú), Lola (Partizan), Ben Sahar (Hapoel) , Marqués (Parma), Tamudo (Real Sociedad), Javi Ruiz, Pillud, Roncaglia , Beranger (Tenerife)

Best 11: Kameni (G), Chica (LB), Juan Daniel Forlín (CD-L), Victor Ruiz (CD-R), Mattioni (RB), Javi Márquez (LM), Moisés (CM), Verdú (RM), Pablo Zabaleta (AM-L), Luis García (AM-R), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (CF)

Formation: 4-3-2-1

Summary: Espanyol, Spain's sixth most winning team and the "other team" in Barcelona, is now a year removed from club captain Daniel Jarque's sudden heart attack and death. Time can heal, but Jarque will never be forgotten. Last season started with the long-awaited unveiling of the 40,500 seat Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. Manager Mauricio Pochettino, who spent his playing days at Espanyol, has a deep love for the club. When Pochettino took over Espanyol in 2008/2009, they sat in the relegations zone with 10 weeks to go. He hiked 12 km to the holy shrine Montserrat and prayed for help. Divine intervention came with 8 victories down the stretch and a 10th place finish. Pochettino's pressuring tactics have been lauded for styming Barcelona last season and were then replicated by Jose Mourniho against Barcelona in the Champions League. These tactics will be needed to help a team that scored a dismal La Liga low 29 goals. Worse, losing Pareja, Ben Sahar, Marqués, and Tamudo will hurt across the board. Some help may come in the form of winger Jesus Datolo on loan from Napoli, striker Sergio García from Betis, and Osvaldo on loan from Bolonia. Another mid-table finish is likely.

Player to Watch: Pablo Daniel Osvaldo

Captain: Iván de la Peña

Prediction: 9th

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GETAFE

Founded: 1946, Re-founded in 1983

Nicknames: Azulones (The Dark Blues), El Geta (Short for Getafe)

Ground: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez

Capacity: 17,700

Last Year: 6th (58 Pts)

Manager: Míchel

Players In: Adrián Colunga (Recreativo), Mosquera (Real Madrid), Arizmendi (Real Zaragoza), Borja (Valladolid), Ivan Marcano Sierra (Villarreal), Ibrahim Kas (Besiktas), Signorino (Cartagena)

Players Out: Belenguer (Betis), Celestini, Cortés (Hércules), Adrián, Roberto Soldado (Valencia), Guerrón (Atlético Paranaense), Pedro León (Real Madrid)

Best 11: Oscar Alfredo Ustari (G), Mané (LB), Cata Díaz (CD-L), Rafa Lopez (CD-R), Miguel Torres Gómez (LB), Jaime Martinez Gavilan (LM), Javier Casquero (CM-L), Derek Boateng (CM-R), Daniel Parejo (RM), Manu Del Moral (F), Adrián Colunga (F)

Formation: 4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1

Summary: Getafe was founded in 1946, re-founded in 1983, and was 1st promoted to the Spanish 1st Division in 2004-05. Getafe is a city in the greater Madrid metropolitan area. They are a small club that has punched above their weight the past few years and earned themselves a space in the Europa League with a 6th place finish last year. In the recent past, Getafe had a sponsorship deal with Burger King where if someone scored they could turn their jersey inside-out over their head and the king's face would cover theirs. All kidding aside, tactically, Getafe are no joke. They will park the bus defensively and absorb what's thrown at them and then offensively play a possession style game. Roberto Soldado and Pedro León did much for Getafe attacking, combining for 24 goals. However, both of them have moved-on. There absence will hurt a team that scored 58 goals and conceded 48. The addition of Perez Adrian Colunga will help lessen the blow. Colunga and Manu Del Moral will have their hands full. Again, Getafe will not be a fun team to play, but the loses of Roberto Soldado and Pedro León will likely pull them down a handful of slots on the table.

Player to Watch: Adrián Colunga

Captain: TBD

Prediction: 10th

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HERCULES

Founded: 1922

Nicknames: Herculanos, Blanquiazules (Whites).

Ground: Estadio José Rico Pérez

Capacity: 30,000

Last Year: Promoted

Manager: Esteban Vigo

Players In: Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Cristian Pulhac (Dinamo de Bucarest), David Cortés (Getafe), Abel Aguilar (Udinese), Fritzler (Lanus), Thomert (Le Mans), Mohamed Sarr (Standard Liege)

Players Out: Dani Bautista, Rodri, Andrija Delibasic, Sergio Díaz (Nástic), Ionel Danciulescu, Jorge Alonso (Valladolid)

Best 11: Calatayud (G), Paco Peña (LB), Rodri (CD-L), Abraham Paz (CD-R), David Cortés (RB), Cristian Hidalgo González (LM), Farinós (CM-L), Tiago Gomes (CM-R), Rufete (RM), Jorge López Marco (Tote) (F), Nelson Haedo Valdez (F)

Formation: 4-4-2

Summary: In their 88 years as a club, Hércules spent 20 of their seasons in La Liga and rank 24th on all-time La Liga Table. Last year, Hércules was promoted back into La Liga after 13 years. The promotion came in dramatic fashion on the last round of the Segunda season. A comeback in their penultimate game put them into the race again going into the final round. Real Betis' last day 4-0 win over Levante and better goal difference over Hercules was cancelled out because Hércules led in the head to head. Hércules were promoted. Hércules nearly scored double the amount of goals of their opponents last year in the Segunda; 61 scored to 34 conceded. This positive attack should be no surprise because Manager Esteban Vigo spent 10 of his playing years at FC Barcelona during the 1977-87 seasons. Two years ago he lead Xerez to promotion and then did it again last year with Hércules. Recently, the Spanish Football Federation dropped their investigations into match fixing against Hercules. A number of signing should help, particularly Paraguayan World Cup star, Nelson Haedo Valdez, but relegation is still likely.

Player to Watch: Nelson Haedo Valdez.

Captain: Jorge López Marco (Tote)

Prediction: 19th (Relegation)

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LEVANTE

Founded: 1909

Nicknames: Granotes

Ground: Estadi Ciutat de València

Capacity: 25,534

Last Year: Promoted

Manager: Luis García Plaza

Players In: Valdo (Espanyol), Munúa (Málaga), Christian Stuani (Reggina), Xavi Torres (Málaga), Miquel Pallardó (Getafe), Sergio (Deportivo)).

Players Out: Dani Carril (Las Palmas), Javi Guerra (Mallorca), Pau Cendrós (Mallorca), Manu, Serra, Ángel, Jorge Pina (Albacete), Samuel, Del Moral, Ángel Sánchez (Alcorcón), Juan Luis Mora (retired)

Best 11: Manolo Reina (G), Nano (LB), Ballesteros (CD-L), Miquel Robusté (CD-R), David Cerrajería (RB), Juan Luis Gómez López (Juanlu) (LM), Pallardó (CM), Vicente Iborra (RM), Xisco Muñoz (LW),Rubén Suárez Estrada (F), Christian Stuani (F)

Formation: 4-3-3

Summary: Levante's experience with La Liga has been that of a yo-yo club. They ranked 41st all-time on the La Liga table, has spent 6 seasons in the Primera División, and won a Copa del Rey in 1937. Johan Cruyff did a brief 10 match stink at Levante in the 1980's. Most recently in 2008 when club players went on strike in the prospect of not being paid 18 million in unpaid wages. The situation was remedied with a friendly best-of-the-best La Liga selection with all the earnings going to Levante players. Despite that, they gained promotion last year. Surviving a year in La Liga is not likely. The sales to Mallorca of Javi Guerra (12 goals last year) and Pau Cendrós will hurt.

Player to Watch: Rubén Suárez Estrada

Captain: TBD

Prediction: 20th (Relegation)

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MALLORCA

Founded: 1916

Nicknames: Los Bermellones (The Vermilions - The orange red color of their shirts)

Ground: ONO Estadi

Capacity: 23,142

Last Year: 5th (62Pts)

Manager: Michael Laudrup

Players In: De Guzmán (Feyenoord)

Players Out: Aritz Aduriz (Valencia), Mattioni (Espanyol), Mario Suárez (Atlético Madrid), Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano), Borja Valero (West Bromich), Gregorio Manzano (Entrenador)

Best 11: Dudu Aouate (G), Ayoze Díaz Díaz (LB), Iván Ramis Barrios (CD-L), José Carlos Araújo (Nunes) (CD-R), Enrique Corrales (RM), Gonzalo Castro (Chori) (LM), Josep Lluis Martí (CM-L), Jonathan De Guzmán (CM-R), Tomás Pina Isla, (RM), Emilio Nsue (F), Pierre Achile Webó (F)

Formation: 4-4-2

Summary: Mallorca is an island team from the Balearic Islands. Historically they have exceeded expectations, having spent 20 seasons in the Spanish Top Flight, finishing 3rd twice in La Liga (1998-99 & 2000-01), and having won the Copa del Rey in 2002-03. Staying in the top four of the table most of last year, Mallorca's current nightmare started after they beat Espanyol in their final match putting them ahead of Sevilla briefly on the table. Mallorica watched the final minutes of the Sevilla game on the jumbotron while they sat on the field. Sevilla sank Almeria 3-2 on a last-minute strike. From there it's only been a mess. In May, Mallorca applied for voluntary administration (bankruptcy) amid estimated debts of 70million. Then in July, UEFA denied Los Bermellones entry into the 2010/11 Europe League deeming the administration and debts as foul of financial regulations. The team was dismantled, selling Aritz Aduriz, Borja Valero, and Mario Suárez to pay debts. Between them they played 92 games, scored 22 goals, and dished-out 13 assists. Fortunately Mallorca had a well balanced attack with 37 goals coming from the rest of the team. Nevertheless, their big guns are gone. Depth will be a problem as well. There is some quality with Nunes, Gonzalo Castro, Josep Lluis Martí, Ayoze Díaz Díaz and Iván Ramis Barrios. A fall is likely, but not relegation. That should be a good thing with what surrounds the club. Michael Laudrup has his work cut-out for him.

Player to Watch: Gonzalo Castro (Chori)

Captain: José Carlos Araújo (Nunes)

Prediction: 13th

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MÁLAGA

Founded: 1948

Nicknames: Boquerones (Anchovies)

Ground: La Rosaleda

Capacity: 28,963

Last Year: 17th (37 Pts)

Manager: Jesualdo Ferreira

Players In: Galatto (Atletico Paranaense), Fernández (Banfield), Malagueño (Indios), José Salomón Rondón (Las Palmas), Sandro Silva (Botafogo), Eliseu Pereira dos Santos (Eliseu) (Lazio)

Players Out: Miguel Ángel, Pere Martí, Muñiz (Entrenador), Fernando, Stepanov, Santamaría (Las Palmas), Munúa, Stepanov (Oporto),Valdo (Espanyol),Orozco, Caicedo (Man. City), Obbina (Inter de Milán), Forestieri (Genoa), Xavi Torres (Levante)

Best 11: Francesc Arnau (G), Patrick Mtiliga (LM), Weligton Robson Pena de Oliveira (Weligton) (CD-L), Juan Rosario Hélder (CD-R), Jesús Gámez Duarte (RB), Sérgio Paulo Barbosa Valente (Duda) (LM), Fernando Miguel Fernández Escribano (Fernando) (CM-L), Antonio Galdeano Benítez (Apoño) (CM-R), Eliseu Pereira dos Santos (Eliseu) (RM), José Salomón Rondón (F), Sebastián Fernández Miglierina (F)

Formation: 4-4-2

Summary: Málaga CF is generally considered the heir of CD Málaga. Together, they have spend 29 seasons in La Liga. On the all-time La Liga table, combined they would rank 19th. Málaga has a sizeable British following, as result of the amount of British expats residing on the Costa del Sol. Málaga is the southernmost large city in Europe. Last year they finished a disappointing 17th. Having scored 42 goals and allowing 48, their goal differential suggests a mid-table team, but stats don't always reflect in numbers. To blame was former manager Muñiz's inept management. A last round win by Valencia over Tenerife and a Málaga draw with Real Madrid sent Tenerife to the Segunda and secured survival for Málaga. This win was critical because President Fernando Sanz had been negotiating a sale of the club to a Qatari Sheikh, Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani. The deal totaled 36m, but most importantly it included all debts. Al-Thani's plan is to build and invest slowly over the next 3-4 years. New manager, Jesualdo Ferreira comes having success at FC Porto, winning 3 titles in Portugal. Prior to winnng these titles, Jose Mourniho had a swipe a Ferreira in his weekly column for Portuguese sports magazine Record comparing Ferreira to a donkey who worked for 30 years and never became a horse. Mark Málaga vs. Real Madrid as two must see games this year. There already is talent in the midfield with Duda and Apoño and the signing of José Salomón Rondón and Eliseu Pereira dos Santos (Eliseu) will help the attack. Málaga will make some progress this year up the table.

Player to Watch: Duda

Captain: Francesc Arnau

Prediction: 11th

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OSASUNA

Founded: 1920

Nicknames: Los Rojillos, "Gorritxoak" (The little red ones)

Ground: Estadio Reyno de Navarra

Capacity: 19,800

Last Year: 12th (43 Pts)

Manager: José Antonio Camacho

Players In: Dejan Lekic (Estrella Roja), Damiá (Betis), Soriano (Almería), Asier Riesgo (Real Sociedad), Medina, Kike Sola

Players Out: Azpilicueta (Olympique Marsella), Dady (Bucapsor), Galán (Huesca), Andrés Fernández (Huesca), Esparza (Huesca), Delporte

Best 11: Ricardo (G), Nacho Monreal (LB), Miguel Flaño (CD-L), Sergio Fernández (CD-R), Damià Abella Pérez (RB), Javier Camuñas (LM), Javad Nekounam (CM), Juanfran (RM), Dejan Lekic (AM-L), Masoud Shojaei (AM-R), Pandiani (CF)

Formation: 4-3-2-1 / 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1

Summary: Osasuna has spent 33 seasons in La Liga over its 90 year existence with it's highest-ever position being 4th on 2 occasions (1990-91 & 2005-06). Zaragoza's derby match of every season encounters Osasuna with Real Zaragoza. Last year they finished in the middle of the pack at 12th, but were 3 points within 7 teams on table. 2 years ago they had to beat Real Madrid on the last day of the season to avoid relegation. Osasuna's biggest asset may be manager José Antonio Camacho, one of the most experienced Spanish managers in today's game. A Camacho trademark is tactical fluidity. He will use formations to fit the situation, hence the 4 formations listed above. Leading the attack last year was "El Rifle", Walter Pandani with 11 goals. Although strong and great in the air, he is getting-on in years and would probably be more productive as an MLS Designated player than leading the line of a La Liga side. Masoud Shojaei, when healthy a productive attacking midfielder and Juanfran is good winger. However, Osasuna scored a dismal 37 goals last season. The arrival of 6-4 Serbian Striker Dejan Lekic will help. However, this is an aging team that will need to rely on a respectable defense, tactically acumen of Camacho, and veteran savvy. Otherwise, they could be flirting with relegation again like in 2008-09.

Player to Watch: Dejan Lekic

Captain: Francisco Puñal

Prediction: 15th

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RACING SANTANDER

Founded: 1913

Nicknames: Los Racinguistas (of Racing), Los Verdiblancos (The Green and Whites), Los Montañeses (The Highlanders / Mountains)

Ground: El Sardinero

Capacity: 22,271

Last Year: 16th (39 Pts)

Manager: Miguel Ángel Portugal

Players In: Ariel Nahuelpan (Barcelona), Henrique Adriano Buss (Barcelona), Bakircioglu (Ajax), Cisma (Almería), Francis (Xerez), Mario Ortiz, Ismodes

Players Out: Canales (Real Madrid), Luis García, Moratón, Oriol (Aris), Xisco (Newcastle), Morris (Panathinaikos), Crespo (Sevilla), Juanjo Expósito (Wattford), Jorge Gonçalves (Olhanense), Sarmiento (Salamanca), Luis García

Best 11: Toño (G), Domingo Cisma (LB), Henrique Adriano Buss (CD-L), Oriol Lozano (CD-R), Pablo Pinillos (RB), Óscar Serrano (LM), Gonzalo Colsa (CM-L), Papa Kouli Diop (CM-R), Manuel Arana Rodríguez (Arana) (RM), Kennedy Bakircioglu (F), Mohammed Tchité (Memé) (F)

Formation: 4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1

Summary: Racing has spent 43 seasons in the Spanish Top Tier, most notably 2nd in 1930-31, and qualified for the UEFA Cup in 2006-07. Last year they fought possible relegation until the bitter end, finishing 16th 39 points. Manager Miguel Ángel Portugal has deep roots with Real Madrid as a player having won 2 La Liga titles, as a Technical Director at Madrid, and as coach of the Madrid B & C teams. Much of last year he employed a conservative and counterattacking 4-2-3-1 with a lone striker. At age 35, Pedro Alvarez Munitis doesn't have much gas left in the tank. Mohammed Tchité (Memé) is a service-able striker. Despite these tactics they still conceded 59 goals. Matching last season's 42 goals may be enough to survive another season in La Liga, but it's hard to see where the goals are going to come from. After all the signings that Real Madrid made this summer, Sergio Canales should have stayed at Racing. It would really have helped and he would have played. Another relegation fight is probable again.

Player to Watch: Mohammed Tchité (Memé)

Captain: Pablo Pinillos

Prediction: 18th

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REAL MADRID

Founded: 1902

Nicknames: Los Blancos (The Whites), Los Merengues (The Merengues)

Ground: Santiago Bernabéu

Capacity: 80,354

Last Year: 2nd (96 Pts)

Manager: José Mourinho

Players In: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea ), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Pedro León (Getafe), Angel Di María (Benfica), Sergio Canales (Racing Santander), Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen)

Players Out: Marcos Alonso (Bolton), Raúl (Schalke 04), Guti (Besiktas), Metzelder (Schalke 04), Rodrigo (Benfica)

Best 11: Iker Casillas (G), Arbeloa (LB), Ricardo Carvalho (CD-L), Raúl Albiol (CD-R), Sergio Ramos (RB), Xabi Alonso (LM), Mesut Özil (CM), Sami Khedira (RM), Ángel Di María (LW), Gonzalo Higuaín (CF), Cristiano Ronaldo (RW)

Formation: 4-3-3 / 4-3-1-2

Summary: Real Madrid is the most successful club in La Liga history with 31 La Liga Titles. Add on to that 17 Spanish Cups, 8 Spanish Supercups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte, 9 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Supercup, and 3 Intercontinental Cups and you see why FIFA voted Real Madrid as the most successful club of the 20th century. If that wasn't enough, Madrid is the highest valued and most followed professional sports club on the planet. Last year, Madrid had the 2nd highest point tally in La Liga history at 96 points, but it was unfortunately not enough to surpass FC Barcelona's 99 points. The two highest point totals in La Liga history in the same year. But Madridistas do not need to fear. With the arrival Manager José Mourinho, Madrid has the mastermind that engineered Intermilan's game-plan that sent Barcelona home in last year's Champion's League. Plus a host of world-class signings, including Ricardo Carvalho, Sami Khedira, Angel Di María, and Mesut Özil, will likely work their way into Mourinho's starting 11. The distribution that will come from Xabi Alonso, Mesut Özil, and Sami Khedira will be a thing of beauty to watch. Ángel Di María, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Cristiano Ronaldo will lead what may be the greatest counter-attack anyone will ever see. The frightening thing for opposing teams, is we haven't even mentioned Kaka yet, who will miss a bit of the season with injuries. Expectations are always the highest in Madrid. This year, the expectation will be perfection. There are 114 possible points. This year Madrid and Barcelona may both surpass the 100 mark. The most difficult dates on the calendar for Madrid will be road dates at Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao and of course el Clásico. However, the most critical thing maybe to simply keep focus the whole way. This superhuman season-long concentration will determine the outcome of perhaps La Liga's greatest title race ever.

Player to Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo

Captain: Iker Casillas

Potential Revelation: Sergio Canales

Prediction: 1st

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REAL SOCIEDAD

Founded: 1909

Nicknames: Txuri-urdin (white-blue), Erreala

Ground: Estadio Anoeta

Capacity: 32,076

Last Year: Promoted

Manager: Martín Lasarte

Players In: Raúl Tamudo (Espanyol), Paco Sutil (Eibar), Joseba Llorente Etxarri (Villarreal), Toño

Players Out: Franck Songo'o (Zaragoza), Emilio Nsue (Mallorca), Carlos Bueno (Peñarol), Jonathan Estrada (Millonarios Bogotá), Sergio Rodríguez y Asier Riesgo (Osasuna)

Best 11: Claudio Bravo Muñoz (G), Alberto de la Bella (LM), Ion Ansotegui (CD-L), Mikel González (CD-R), Carlos Martínez (RM), Diego Rivas Gutiérrez (CM-L), Mikel Aramburu (CM-R), Francisco Sutil Tirado (LM), Xabi Prieto (CM), David Zurutuza (RM), Joseba Llorente Etxarri (CF)

Formation: 4-5-1

Summary: Make no mistake, Real Sociedad is not a small team that won the Segunda Division and was promoted. Sociedad ranks 8th on La Liga's all-time table, has spent 64 seasons in La Liga, has won La Liga twice in 1980-81 and 1981-82, and has won the Copa del Rey twice in 1908-09 and 1986-87. Add to that a 32,076 stadium and you have a rather large club. Last year they finished 1st in the Segunda Division with 74 points, scored 53 goals, and conceded 37. Real Sociedad attempt to keep a core of Basque players, but also employ non-Basque Spanish players and foreigners. For the most part you will see the exact same team that won promotion from last year with the exception of Joseba Llorente Etxarri, who signed from Villarreal. He'll face his former team in the 1st Round of La Liga. Etxarri is a proven scorer that should help an already cohesive team hopefully stay in La Liga.

Player to Watch: Joseba Llorente Etxarri

Captain: Mikel Aranburu

Prediction: 16th

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REAL ZARAGOZA

Founded: 1932

Nicknames: Blanquillos (little-whites), Maños (magnus / great)

Ground: La Romareda

Capacity: 34,596

Last Year: 14th (41 Pts)

Manager: José Aurelio Gay

Players In: Álex Sánchez (Barcelona), Nicolás Bertolo (Palermo), Marco Pérez (Gimnasia y Esgrima), Leo Franco (Galatasaray), Matteo Contini (Napoles), Toni Doblas (Huesca), Songo'o, De Barros, Braulio

Players Out: Carrizo, Humberto Suazo (Monterrey), Eliseu (Lazio), Luccin, Pulido, Roberto (Atlético), Arizmendi (Getafe), Edmilson, Pablo Amo, Abel Aguilar (Hércules), Adrián Colunga (Recreativo)

Best 11: Leo Franco (G), Ivan Obradović (LB), Matteo Contini (CD-L), Jiri Jarosik (CD-R), Carlos Diogo (RB), Ander Herrera (LM), José Gomes Moraes (Edmílson) (CM), Gabriel Fernández Arenas (Gabi) (RM), Ángel Lafita Castillo (Lafita) (AM-L), Jorge López (AM-R), Ikechukwu Uche (CF)

Formation: 4-3-2-1 / 4-2-3-1

Summary: Real Zaragoza ranks 9th in Spain's all-time league table. In cup wins they are ranked 6th with 6 victories in the Copa del Rey among other trophies. Last year they were able to scrape their way up to 14th, having gained promotion the year prior. To stay in La Liga they'll need to improve all over the field having scored only 46 goals and allowing 64. Last year, Manager José Aurelio Gay employed a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation with a midfield that fed Chilean striker Humberto Suazo while he was on loan. His 8 goals in 17 games was the closest thing Zaragoza had to a capable scorer. Suazo does not return and striker Ikechukwu Uche is set to miss the first month of the season, Zaragoza will again have to find goals collectively. Signing Matteo Contini and a breakthrough season by Ivan Obradović could help a porous defense. Anticipate Real Zaragoza to be in the middle of a relegation battle again.

Player to Watch: Matteo Contini

Captain: Gabriel Fernández Arenas (Gabi)

Potential Revelation: Ivan Obradović

Prediction: 17th

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SEVILLA FC

Founded: 1905

Nicknames: Sevillistas, Rojiblancos (Red-Whites), Los nervionenses

Ground: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán

Capacity: 48,649

Last Year: 4th (63 Pts)

Manager: Antonio Álvarez

Players In: Luca Cigarini (Nápoles), Tiberio Guarente (Atalanta), Dabo (Saint Etienne), Alfaro (Tenerife), Koné, David Prieto, Chevantón, Armenteros

Players Out: De Mul (Standard de Lieja) , José Ángel Crespo (Padova) Adriano (Barcelona), Marc Valiente (Valladolid), Stankevicius (Sampdoria), David Prieto (Tenerife)

Best 11: Andrés Palop (G), Fernando Navarro (LB), Sébastien Squillaci (CD-L), Julien Escudé (CD-R), Abdoulay Konko (RB), Diego Perotti (LM), Didier Zokora (CM-L), Renato (CM-R), Jesús Navas (RM), Luis Fabiano (F), Frederic Kanouté (F)

Formation: 4-4-2

Summary: Founded in 1905, Sevilla is 100+ years old and has 1 La Liga title to it's name and 5 "Copa del Rey" Spanish Cups. Last year they won the Copa del Rey. Their nickname Los nervionenses refers to the River Nervion that passes through the city of Sevilla. Last year, Sevilla earned the fourth and final Champions League spot. Sevilla is known for a deadly attack. Antonio Álvarez uses a standard 4-4-2 with two outright strikers either Luis Fabiano, Frederic Kanouté, or Álvaro Negredo who are supported by wingers Jesús Navas, Diego Perotti, or Diego Capel. Fabiano is world-class when at his best. Kanouté can also serve as a target man, thus making partnerships with Fabiano and Negredo devastating. Navas was a major contributor on Spain's World Cup winning side this past summer. Didier Zokora is an effective holding/defensive mid-fielder, but is known to get unnecessary cards. Another top 3-4 finish will be expected. They are about a year away from probably blowing-up the team and selling Fabiano and Squillaci. As of this writing they have not been sold, but rumors about their transfers abound.

Player to Watch: Jesús Navas

Captain: Andrés Palop

Prediction: 4th (Champions League Qualification)

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SPORTING GIJON

Founded: 1905

Nicknames: Sportinguistas (those from Sporting) / Gijonudos (ballsy Gijon) / Rojiblancos (red & whites)

Ground: El Molinón

Capacity: 25,885

Last Year: 15th (40 Pts)

Manager: Manuel Preciado

Players In: Sebastián Eguren (Villareal), Alberto Botía (Barcelona), Nacho Novo (Glasgow Rangers), Ayoze García Pérez (Ayoze) (Tenerife), Gastón Sangoy (Apollon Limassol ), Jorge García (Gimnàstic de Tarragona)

Players Out: Maldonado (Cartagena), Gerard Autet, Milan Smiljanic (Lola) (Espanyol), Diego Camacho, Pedro Santa Cecilia (Pedro), Enrique Mateo Montoya (Elche CF)

Best 11: Pichu Cuéllar (G), Roberto Canella Suárez (LB), Grégory Arnolin (CD-L), Iván Hernández Soto (CD-R), Rafael Sastre Reus (Sastre) (RB), Diego Castro Gimenez (LM), Sebastián Eguren (CM), Miguel de las Cuevas (RM), Nacho Novo (AM-L), Alberto Lora Ramos (AM-R), Mate Bilic (CF)

Formation: 4-3-2-1

Summary: Sporting Gijón is the 6th oldest team in La Liga and sits 15th on the all-time table. Last year they took a step back one spot on the table to 15th from 14th the previous year. However, Sporting was probably a slightly better team last year. 2 years ago after promotion to La Liga, Sporting did not take the typical play-it-safe approach, but rather used an attacking and free-flowing game that resulted in 47 goals and a staggering 79 conceded. This attacking style reflected their ballsy nickname Gijonudos. Last year Sporting sealed-up the defense somewhat letting in 51 goals. Defensively, the back door is half-way closed, but offensively Sporting will need to find more goals than the 36 of last year. There is some quality with Diego Castro as an attacking midfielder, Miguel de las Cuevas a versatile player capable of playing on the wings, behind a striker or in the midfield, and Roberto Canella Suárez, one of the most talented left-backs in La Liga. With continued incremental improvement, Sporting could see themselves mid-table or if they regress defensively, find themselves in a relegation battle.

Player to Watch: Roberto Canella.

Captain: Rafael Sastre Reus (Sastre)

Potential Revelation: Alberto Botía

Prediction: 14th

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VALENCIA

Founded: 1919

Nicknames: Los Che (Surprise / Exclamation), Murciélagos (Bats), Valencianistas

Ground: Mestalla

Capacity: 55,000

Last Year: 3rd (71 Pts)

Manager: Unai Emery

Players In: Artiz Aduriz (Mallorca), Alberto Tino Costa (Montpellier), Roberto Soldado (Getafe), Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Feghouli (Grenoble), Sunny, Del Horno, Guaita, Hugo Viana, Nacho González

Players Out: Aarón Ñíguez (Recreativo) , Marchena (Villarreal), Lombán (Xerez) , David Silva (Manchester City), Baraja, David Villa (Barcelona), Zigic (Birmingham), Míchel (Deportivo), Renan (Sport Club Internacional)

Best 11: César (G), Bruno (LB), Alexis (CD-L), Ángel Dealbert (CD-R), Miguel (RB), Juan Mata (LM), Alberto Tino Costa (CM-L), Ever Banega (CM-R), Pablo Hernández (RM), Aritz Aduriz (F), Soldado (F)

Formation: 4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1

Summary: Valencia is one the most success teams in La Liga history having won the league 6 times. In La Liga's all-time table, Valencia is 3rd behind just Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. They also are the last team to win La Liga outside of Madrid or Barcelona, back in 2003-04. Going a step further with the bronze-metal-theme, Valencia are the 3rd most supported team in Spain as well. Last year, Valencia finished (you guessed it) 3rd in the table with 71 points. Tactically, Valencia like to soak-up pressure and strike on the counterattack. They also have a lot of movement up front in attack. This summer, Valencia finally cashed-in and sold David Villa and David Silva. Roberto Soldado and Artiz Aduriz could prove to be cheaper replacements having combined for 28 goals last year, compared to Villa and Silva's 29. Other signings that will make an already strong team a bit deeper include Alberto Tino Costa, Mehmet Topal, and Ricardo Costa. Ever Banega and Pablo Hernández are budding stars in the mold of Villa and Silva a few years back. Ángel Dealbert will have to step-up to fill the large shoes vacated by Marchena in the heart of the defense. Finishing 3rd this year will be a bit tougher than last year with Atlético Madrid having improved. Nevertheless, Valencia will be fighting for a Champions League spot again.

Player to Watch: Juan Mata

Captain: TBD

Prediction: 5th (Europa League Qualification)

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VILLARREAL

Founded: 1923

Nicknames: El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine)

Ground: El Madrigal

Capacity: 25,000

Last Year: 7th (56 Pts)

Manager: Juan Carlos Garrido

Players In: Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Dervite (Tottenham), Borja Valero (West Bromwich Albion), Altidore, Somoza

Players Out: Escudero (Boca), Joseba Llorente (R. Sociedad), Pires, Ibagaza (Olympiacos), Eguren (Sporting), Javi Venta, Marcano (Getafe), Sigali (Godoy Cruz), Godín (Atlético de Madrid)

Best 11: Diego López (G), Joan Capdevila (LM), Gonzalo Rodríguez (CD-L), Carlos Marchena (CD-R), Ángel López (RB), Borja Valero Iglesias (LM), Marcos Senna (CM-L), Bruno Soriano Llido (CM-R), Santiago Cazorla González (RM), Giuseppe Rossi (F), Nilmar (F)

Formation: 4-4-2 / 4-3-3

Summary: Villarreal was founded in 1923, but did not make it to the Spanish 1st Division until 65 years later in 1998 and have stayed since 2000. Villarreal, based in the small town of Vila-real, are known as The Yellow Submarine for their yellow-on-yellow uniforms. Last year was a bit of a disappointment not finishing in a Champions League or a Europa League spot. 7th should be a great finish for a club from such a small town, but success over the past number of years has increased expectations for European football. Villarreal play an aggressive pressing style defensively and a quick passing game offensively. Depending on the situation they can become more defensive if necessary and manager Juan Carlos Garrido has been known to deploy numerous formations. In attack, they have a lot of weapons with the young Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar and recently signed Borja Valero. On the backline, Joan Capdevila and the recently acquired Carlos Marchena both won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and should be productive for a least another year. An improvement on 7th place or even a Champions League spot is possible, but not likely unless some other teams slip.

Player to Watch: Nilmar

Captain: Marcos Senna

Potential Revelation: Mateo Pablo Mussachio

Prediction: 6th (Europa League Qualification)

Adebayor Focused on City

2010-08-22T17:00:00Z

By Tom Mallows -

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor could be on his way out of Eastlands. The Togo striker was left on the bench for much of his side's opening league game against Tottenham, coming on with just eight minutes to go. His position has become more fragile with the signing of Italian front man Mario Balotelli. Real Madrid are keen to take Adebayor to the Bernabeu and are weighing up a move for the 26-year-old who scored 14 Premier League goals.

Real were one of the teams who took an interest in Adebayor last summer before City stepped in with £25 million bid to secure their man from Arsenal. Adebayor was given a full match in the week in the 1-0 Europa League victory over Romanian team Timisoara though which will give him some confidence.

He won't settle for a bit part place in this team but it looks as though Mancini is still confident in the striker. His record in the Premier League is pretty prolific, in his three years at Arsenal, Adebayor scored 46 goals for the Gunners. His carried that form with him to City and his 14 goals came in only 29 matches, including a goal against his former club which resulted in him running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Gunners fans.

Adebayor has made it clear he isn't seeking a move and is happy at Eastlands. If he spends more of this season on the bench he may be forced to reassess his options. With rival strikers Jo, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz on the verge of leaving the club, Adebayor will be crucial to Mancini. Despite Balotelli scoring on his debut against Timisoara, he has no experience of the Premier League and could take a while to adapt to the league. Many people have made Manchester City betting tips Manchester City betting tips for the title, but they need a proven goalscorer if they are to live up to this.

Adebayor knows what it takes to succeed in this league, his partnership with Carlos Tevez last year was a fruitful one and should be given a chance this season. Another bonus for City is the fact that Adebayor will be able to fully focus on his club side after taking the decision to retire from international football, meaning he won't be forced to travel to represent his country.

Meanwhile, most people now make Wolves betting tips Wolves betting tips to stay up this season after the side took four points from their first two games.

The side face Newcastle United in their next game.

TORONTO FC vs. CRUZ AZUL MATCH REPORT

2010-08-19T17:00:00Z

Robin Kilgore
World Football Daily Correspondent

On Tuesday night, Toronto FC opened up their CONCACAF Champions League group stage games against Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul. It was a beautiful night for North American football. The sunset was majestic as colors of blue, purple and orange filled the sky. A strong wind was blowing and conditions on the field were a little crisp but comfortable.

It was obvious that TFC had a height advantage. Defenders Adrian Cann and Maksim Usmanov towered over the Mexican front line. But with starters Chad Barret and Maicon out due to injury, Coach Preki was confident his team had more than just height to their advantage. O'Brian White and Mista started up front with Captain Dwayne DeRosario running the midfield.

From the opening whistle, Toronto controlled the game. After only three minutes, Martin Saric headed in the opening goal, his first for the club, thoroughly shocking the Mexican side which was unprepared for the ball that was bouncing along in the six yard box. It was an excellent start to the game that set the tone for the rest of the first half.

Immediately, Toronto kept pressing the ball up field. One minute after the goal, O'Brian White found some open space a took a shot, but it went wide of the goal.

As the first half went on, it was clear Toronto were the stronger side. Whether Cruz Azul underestimated their opponents from the north was uncertain, but they were clearly frustrated with the few scoring opportunities they had in the first half . Toronto FC defender Maksim Usmanov was tremendous in the back making strong tackles and hindering the forwards from pressing the ball into the box. In the 40th minute, Toronto goal keeper Jon Conway saved a shot from Alejandro Vela that was aimed at the bottom right of the net. It wasn't the strongest of strikes but Conway reacted quickly to parry the ball and deny them an opportunity to tie the game.

Minutes later, Toronto pressed the ball downfield. As Raivis Hscanovics controlled the ball down the left side, he passed to a wide open Mista on the edge of the box who settled the ball with his right foot and quickly fired with his left. The keeper was able to get a hand , but it wasn't enough as the ball rolled its way to the back of the net. This was Mista's first goal for the club and at the end of the first half it was Toronto ahead 2-nil.

Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza made two substitutions at the half, including Mexican National Gerardo Torrado and Christian Gimenez. In the 55th, they had their best opportunity as Gimenez fired a long range strike from about 8 yards outside the box. Goalkeeper Conway launched himself to his right and was able to safely and effectively deflect the ball for a corner.

The Toronto defense was unrelenting in the second half as the Cruz Azul forwards worked to get on the scoreboard. Fouls started flying from both teams as the game wore on. Two yellow cards for the visitors in the last 15 minutes and one for TFC substitute Jacob Peterson were given.

It wasn't until the 89th minute when the Mexicans finally broke through and hit the net. A free kick by Christian Gimenez was struck outside the box and bounced off the post to give them their first goal. Jon Conway covered the left side of the goal, and had his four teammates set up a wall to cover the right side. Unfortunately, the wall didn't jump and the ball sailed just over Adrian Cann's head.

Dwayne De Rosorio was yellow carded deep into stoppage time but the Reds were able to hold on and secure their first Champions League win in front of over 16,000 fans.

This win takes TFC's home field unbeaten record to 14 straight games in all competitions. Next they welcome Theirry Henry and the New York Red Bulls to BMO Field for a league match on Saturday afternoon. The Reds look to avenge their recent loss to NY which ended 1-0.

The current Toronto squad is a strong team, built on a beautiful foundation located at BMO Field nestled west of downtown and against the harbour front of Lake Ontario. A rainbow colored sunset filled the sky over the red and white stands while the fans filed in. TFC fans are extremely passionate and are dedicated to the success of the club that rival all the major European clubs. A yell leader guided the scarf adorned supporters groups through a myriad of cheers and songs through out the match that could be heard for kilometers outside the stadium. This match was a pleasure for this Los Angeleno to attend.

Gunners offer fans a share of the club

2010-08-18T17:00:00Z

By Tom Mallows -

Arsenal have often attempted to use innovative ideas to help support the club in its bid for success, with the decision during the Herbert Chapman era to publicise the club by persuading Islington council to name the nearest Underground station after the club one of many examples of the club's creative moves.

Now, with the introduction of the Arsenal Fanshare scheme, pioneered by Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST), a body recognised for their active involvement in the running of the club, Arsenal have yet again led the way in English football.

The new model seeks to establish something that the club's fans, and owners, hold dear - the continuation of a plurality of ownership. In an age that has seen clubs such as Manchester United faced with crippling debts after being taken over by an individual, and the continuing debacle at Liverpool, Arsenal have responded to the wishes of their fans by handing them the opportunity to have a direct say in how the club is run. This should give the fans another boost after the Betfair Football rumour mill Betfair Football rumor mill linked them with the purchase of a top keeper in the shape of Mark Schwarzer.

Although an individual wishing to purchase a share in the club would be required to part with a minimum of £9,500, the Fanshare offer allows members to club together with the AST to own anything ranging from a 1/100 of a share, to investing the full amount for any length of time. This may seem like a tiny fraction of the club, but the AST are confident that 25 per cent of Arsenal could be owned by fans, a share size significant enough to provide a blocking stake in the club.

With the model based on fan-led ownership that is required by law in Germany, many pundits and fans are hoping that Arsenal's Fanshare innovation is successful enough to be exported to other Premier League clubs in the near future.

Meanwhile, Arsenal face Blackpool and Blackburn in their next two games and both the Blackpool and the Blackburn betting Blackburn beting suggest the Gunners should take six points.

The Smart Season: Squad Rules Bolster EPL?

2010-08-14T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

The Premier League's decision to implement rules limiting squads to 25 players, 8 of which must be 'home-grown' was done for the sake of developing English national team players. However, it is possible England may not get any benefit from the changes because 'home-grown' doesn't mean English, rather a player must have spent 3 years between the ages of 16-21 registered at the club. There is no limit on players under age 21. But above age 21, a team can name no more than 17 in their squad until the next transfer window. It will take a few years to see if the squad rules will have their intended effect or not. In the mean time, what will be the consequences of the squad limitations on the EPL?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had strong words about the rules saying they have paralyzed the transfer market and will ruin the EPL. The transfer market may have dried up because no one has much money to spend and transfer figures have been inflated by Manchester City and Real Madrid the past two years. Like the financial crisis, there seems to be a market-correction this summer in the transfer window. However, in the long-run, Wenger may be correct. If a club develops 8 players capable of being in the squad, clubs will want to hang-on to them because these players will fit their system, save the club money on transfer fees, and help fill the 'home-grown' requirements. Retaining 'home-grown' players is good for the long-run economic sustainability of the EPL and its clubs. Also, more 'home-grown' players will probably mean more one-club players. This would be great for improving public relations, but would the quality of players improve as well?

I say yes. EPL clubs will just have to get better at spotting talent earlier-on. The players don't have to be English. They just need to have spent 3 years between the ages of 16-21 registered at the club. The EPL will just get the prospects before they have been developed into stars. Scouting is a global game and the EPL has more resources to get this done better than any other league in the world. Discovering and developing players is proactive, economical, and sustainable. Buying players is reactive, pricey, and limiting. Moreover, we still need to remember that although the 'home-grown' requirements may actually improve player quality, the clubs still have 17 roster spots to spend money on.

There are many examples of clubs that develop talent to indicate it as a better model than buying players; that being as long as you can hold-on to the players you develop. The obvious case in point being FC Barcelona producing Víctor Valdés, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkić, Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodríguez, and Jeffrén Suárez, many of which were local boys. 7 of Spain's starters in the World Cup Final came through the Barca Academy. Barcelona also won 6 Trophies a year ago starting 6-7 academy products. Clearly, developing players can be as or more effective than buying players.

The key to developing talent is to also retain it. Ajax would be a lot better if they were able to keep Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Babel, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Eljero Elia, John Heitinga and Nigel de Jong. The same goes for West Ham United's 'Academy of Football', if they still had Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Glen Johnson to add to Mark Noble and Jack Collison.

Perhaps the best example is Athletic Bilbao. Along with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao has never been relegated in the history of La Liga. Last year, they placed 8th in La Liga. Chances are Bilbao would finish in a similar position if they played in the EPL, at worst, mid-table. The thing is, everyone on their squad hailed from Spain. Bilbao is known for it's 'cantera' policy of bringing young Basque players through the ranks. They essentially primarily discover and develop regional talent. Further, when they do buy players, they buy Basque players.

Yet, there is another way the EPL will gain from squad limitations. Squad limits will prevent richer teams from hoarding players that don't make it on to the field. When roster limitations were put in place for the NFL, parity increased. The same thing happened in NCAA sports with athletic scholarships here limited. The big dogs need to offload some players. At least in the short-run, this may create a market-correction where player values drop thus making players available and affordable to teams further down the table and in the Championship. Steve Ireland or Craig Bellamy playing for the Fulham's or Bolton's of the world will level the playing field. If any player-hoarding is done, it will be with youth players. However, this doesn't hurt the EPL. It hurts other leagues. The biggest benefit may come to teams on the bottom half of the table. This will make traveling to Bolton on a Monday night that much more difficult for the title-contenders.

In sum, to counter Wenger's belief that 'Ridiculous' squad rules will ruin the EPL, I say 'Sensible' squad rules will bolster the EPL by forcing it's clubs to do what they should have been doing all along: discovering, developing, and retaining talent. Wenger should be upset. These rules will compel other clubs to run a smarter policy regarding talent more akin to Arsenal. That means less transfers, smarter transfers, and youth development. This summer will be known as when the silly season became the smart season.

Explaining European Club Football To An American

2010-08-13T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

I have often found myself the past few years explaining to friends and family how European Club Football works. On the surface it seems naturally foreign, but if you look closer there are some American sporting analogies that can help. Consider this column a first step guide in converting an American Sports Fan to soccer by explaining the European Club season.

To start, take any professional club team in Europe. In our example, we'll use Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) that play in the Barclays English Premier League. What Spurs try to achieve in a given season is very similar to what a NCAA Division I Men's College Basketball Team tries to accomplish in a season. A Men's College Basketball Team has three primary goals: (1) to win their conference's regular season, win their conference tournament, and win the larger 64 team NCAA Tournament. Hence, the University of North Carolina Tarheels (UNC) set-out every year to have the best record in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), win the ACC Tournament, and win the NCAA Tournament.

Spurs have three goals as well. They set-out to win the Barclays Premiership, the FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. Spurs winning the Barclays Premiership would be akin to UNC having the best record in the ACC, Spurs winning the FA Cup parallels with UNC winning the ACC Tournament, and Spurs winning the UEFA Champions League would be the equivalent to UNC winning the NCAA Tournament. Every country in Europe has a top flight league that would relate to each NCAA Division I Basketball Conference. All the NCAA conferences get 1 or more teams into the NCAA Tournament the same way every country in Europe gets 1 or more club into the UEFA Champions League.

This simple 3-Step analogy is your best bet. Giving deep details will be too much. Diving into the points system in the Barclays Premiership, the set-up of the FA Cup having all Tiers of English football participating via draws, or the intricacies of Champions League qualification would be to much information all at once. However, if asked, the point system in soccer is like hockey's old one, promotion and relegations is like having minor league baseball teams being promoted and relegated between the MLB, Triple A , Double A, and Single A, and Champions League qualification would like having multiple play-in games for the NCAA Tournament. Add in that the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League run during the same time as the season; and you can see that this will start to get confusing. Just parallel Spurs and UNC's three simple goals.

The same goes for preseason cups or shields. The Community Shield is the equivalent to early season tournaments in college basketball like the Maui Classic. Further, if UNC doesn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament, they'd next want to win the NIT Tournament for teams that didn't make it into the NCAA Tournament. European club football's equivalent would be the Europa League. These lesser goals are really not important to bring-up unless asked because they can just confuse things by adding too many analogies.

After you give you simple 3-Step analogy of Spurs and UNC, a question about international football will inevitably come-up like: "Is this the same as the Brazilian Team or the World Cup?" You can head-off this at the pass by saying club football is professional football and national teams are like the Olympics. The World Cup is played every four years. Players play for and get paid by their club teams, but also play for their country. Leave it at this.

So keep it easy, straightforward, and minimal. Spurs are like UNC, the Premiership is the ACC regular season, FA Cup is the ACC Tournament, and the UEFA Champions League is the NCAA Tournament. Your national team is like your Olympic team. There you go. Now, go convert some people.

The Fatal Flaw

2010-08-11T16:00:00Z

by RYAN ROZELLE, written on AUGUST 10, 2010

Since England crashed out of the World Cup (at least they made it this time, yes?) the English public and press have been picking over the bones with vulture-like glee. It doesn't take a psychologist or sociologist listening to the famous BBC 606 phone in for more than a few minutes to discover the fatal flaw in the English team, English press, and English fans... they're English.

With the Sunday papers full of Fabio Capello's "no matter how much you pay me, no matter how much tax money I owe in Italy, I'd still rather be fired than deal with you people" forced mea culpa, the English still didn't get it. They think that even though Fabio Capello has been a proven winner everywhere he has ever gone, he clearly became a bad manager somewhere between qualification and the World Cup.

BBC pundit and journeyman footballer Steve Claridge even went a few steps further. Fabio Capello, Steve McLaren, and Sven Goran Erickson were all to blame for England's failures, not the players. According to Claridge, England has enough talent to win every tournament; the managers just keep setting the team up wrong. He claims the players know it is wrong, so they lack belief, and that is why they always fall flat.

Claridge also informed us that the next England manager to be named after the 2012 EUROs (lame duck managers do so well at tournaments, maybe Fabio can win the EUROs!) needs to find a way to cure the players of their boredom while away for tournaments.

Callers to the 606 opined such brilliant gems as the "fact" that John Terry is the best center back in the entire world. That Steven Gerrard is a world class player. That Wayne Rooney is world class, but wasn't fit, even though he wanted to be. Or that if Lampard's goal against Germany had been given, they would have only lost 3-2 instead of 4-1, and that would have changed everything. And one of my favorites, Rio Ferdinand, has pace and plays on the right, so his covering for John Terry (isn't he world class?) would have changed everything, too.

For more than a month the English have been beating this old drum every chance they get. The manager is useless, the players are world class, and even if the sky is falling, they have youth to really take the world by storm, like Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, and Keiran Gibbs. (Ignoring the fact that these fantastic youth can barely get a game with their own clubs.) When anyone questions the party line they are shouted down, cut off, or told that they have never played at an international or club level.

If ignorance is bliss, why are the English so damn miserable?

As a public service, I have decided to inform the English what the rest of the world already knows...

1. Football is not your birth right, and even if it was, winning isn't. You didn't invent the game. The Chinese and Aztecs were having a kick-about with skulls long before you decided to separate soccer and rugby and write down rules. Once you accept you didn't invent anything, and that other people may know the game as well if not better than you, the rest will be easy.

2. English players are not "world class". Ashley Cole is your only player even in the conversation. Steven Gerrard peaked in Istanbul, and that wasn't exactly last week. Frank Lampard is consistent, but not world class. Wayne Rooney may be one of the most complete footballers on the planet, maybe not, but he hasn't put it all together yet when it matters most, meaning he isn't world class. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand may be the best center backs you have, but that doesn't make them world class, it just makes the rest of your center backs garbage cans. No one else in the England squad is even in the picture for 10th team World XI. Your players aren't world class. Get over yourselves. Drop the ego, play as a team, and accept your role in the new world footballing order.

3. Fabio Capello isn't a bad manager. With clubs, he could replace players not up to the highest standard by buying a replacement. With England, he can't do that. He has what he has. He got no more or less out of them than the talent available was capable of. They are a top 16 side, and if the sun shines on them, a top 8 side. Anything more would be a minor miracle. Just as putting silicone and a wig on a pig doesn't make it Dolly Parton, putting on the three lions doesn't make James Milner Sir Bobby Charlton.

4. If in the modern age any footballer is bored during the biggest sporting competition on the planet, their regular lives are probably hazardous to their health. Between television, computers, phones, gaming systems, books, and training, if you can't get by, you don't belong at the World Cup. And despite what Steve Claridge thinks, your manager is not a tour guide. Though for the record, Capello did try. While every other international side within hours of Robben Island took a day trip there to break up that awful World Cup boredom, to a man the English footballers didn't fancy the idea at all. Being a cultural and intellectual homebody, pining for a small damp island, meat pies, and the season finale of "Being Human" isn't a virtue. It's a national character defect. If an Italian can leave his mother for a few weeks, you can DVR the final "Jonathan Ross". The empire is gone, the Earth isn't flat, and the sun doesn't revolve around England. Adjust or continue getting passed by.

5. Despite what the pundits keep saying, a world class player can do more than one thing. Thierry Henry can be a lone forward. Thierry Henry can play as part of a strike pairing. Thierry Henry can play wide left. Thierry Henry has lifted the World Cup. Cesc Fabregas can come on for Xabi Alonso or Sergio Busquets. He doesn't need to play in his favorite position. He doesn't need to be a similar player to either of the men he can replace. All he needs to do is play football and cover a piece of space. Many see him as a replacement to Xavi Hernandez, though he doesn't play for Arsenal in the same space Xavi occupies with Barcelona. Why could he do it? Because he plays football. Cesc Fabregas has lifted the World Cup. The English mentality of "this is my space and the only bit of space I can play in" is farcical. It's beneath you to even suggest it. You have to be scraping pretty far down in the excuse barrel to even come up with it. If Steven Gerrard can only play as an attacking mid behind a lone striker, he needs to tell his manager that he is unable to play in any other formation due to lack of a footballing IQ and lack of footballing skill. To not do this would be selfish, and a detriment to the team. If Wayne Rooney can only play as a lone striker, he needs to recuse himself for the same reasons. (Though those who claim Rooney can only play as a lone striker also told us a few months back that Rooney only wanted to play with Emile Heskey.) If you can only play one way, or in one bit of space, you aren't a footballer, you are a poorly trained monkey, and surely not world class. Either you develop footballers, or you accept you are a second class footballing nation.

6. You aren't going to win the World Cup or the EUROs. That train left the station with the Charlton brothers, let alone the Nevilles. The Roman's thought they had a birthright to glory as well, and we all know how that ended. Or maybe you don't, being boring history and all. The Romans, from Italy, once conquered all the way to your tiny island. They lost it all before your empire even began or your royals realized it was a bad idea to marry your own cousin. (That means you too, Liverpool. I know you are the Arkansas of England, but the idea is to spread the genes out.) With realistic expectations, the heavens will no longer weep when you fail to win. When you accept that glory is your prologue and not the current chapter, things non-British may finally appear for you, and you will stop saying things like "I don't fancy Barcelona. They couldn't get a result at Hull on a wet Tuesday night." You won a World Cup on home soil back when air travel was risky, the Russians were a super power, and there was hope Prince Charles could still grow into his ears. At the World Cup stoplight, you are nothing more than the vagrant trying to wash the window of the eventual champion.

Accept these 6 simple points, and perhaps the losses will be less painful. You may even be able to build a new national identity based on reality, and change what needs to truly be changed. Don't heed my warning, and you can't get offended when I'm laughing hysterically when you start this all over again after falling on your face at the EUROs. If you even make it there.

The biggest problem for the English is the English themselves.

Until next time, enjoy the glorious football.

Find this article and more from Ryan, here:
http://www.gloriousfootball.com/premiership/the-fatal-flaw/

World Cup 2014: The Future of U.S. Soccer, Part IV-The Big Picture

2010-08-08T22:00:00Z

By Cody Worsham

This is the finale in a four-part series looking at the future of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. Click to read Part I-Defense, Part II-Midfield, or Part III-Forwards. You can also read more of the author's work at World Football Daily, Man Cave Sports, or Hammy End.

It's done, then.

All positions, all the big names-and a few no-so-big ones-covered fully and exhaustively. Sure, there may be some omissions (apologies, Steven Lenhart), but for the most part, the future of U.S. Soccer lies somewhere in the text of the first three parts of this series.

So why a fourth?

Two reasons: First, as we all know, there is a whole lot more to a team than the fielded player. Second, such a lengthy and prolix breakdown requires a bit of summarizing at the end.

Let's get on with it then, shall we?

Coach

Before the World Cup, many would have said that winning Group C and advancing to the knockout rounds would have been more than enough for the United States Soccer Federation to extend Bob Bradley's contract an additional four years.

But the style in which Bradley's boys exited the Cup coupled oddly with the fact that Bradley's name is popping up in European club circles may be enough to keep the USSF from re-signing their coach for another cycle.

It's funny that the same performance at this World Cup both disappointed USSF president Sunil Gulati and impressed European clubs. The disappointment can be seen in the fact that the U.S., in winning their group, put themselves in a prime position to advance to the semifinals, only to lose to a Ghana side that seemed beatable. Many have blamed Bradley's tactical decisions, namely starting Ricardo Clark and Robbie Findley, for the loss.

The impressive part of Bradley's performance was his ability to make in-game decisions that were necessary to salvaging results. When Clark was clearly struggling against Ghana, he was subbed off at just 30 minutes for Maurice Edu, who had looked impressive in previous appearances. His halftime substitution of Benny Feilhaber for Herculez Gomez pushed the U.S. into a 4-3-3, a formation which dominated an aggressive Ghanaian defense.

Many U.S. fans, the author of this article included, would wonder why Bradley didn't make these decisions before the U.S. fell into a one-goal deficit-a phenomena that seemed to happen in the first few minutes of every game, save Algeria (thank you, crossbar).

Still, despite some disappointing decisions, which Bradley correctly bit the bullet on, it's hard to argue against his results from the entirety of his run at the top of the USMNT.

First in CONCACAF qualifying, a Gold Cup title in 2007, a second-place finish at the 2009 Confederations Cup, and a gutsy showing in South Africa could be enough to renew his contract.

But I believe, firmly, that the USSF should look elsewhere for the next four years. I'm not the standard Bradley Basher, who hates his tactics and personnel decisions, but I do disagree with many of his decisions. That aside, coaches rarely do well on their second go-round-just ask Bruce Arena. A fresh injection of tactical ingenuity and perspective would do the entire national side a great deal of good.

Before I move on to the candidates, I have to express appreciation for Bradley's work as head coach of the

USMNT. The players clearly loved him, and while many didn't see eye to eye with his decisions all the time, he seemed to get the best out of players just when it was needed most.

Now on to the candidates. There are only two men in my mind for the job:

Jurgen Klinsmann and Peter Nowak.

Klinsmann was the candidate of choice last time the job was open, but contract negotiations fell through. Four years later, we're back where we started. Can we lure such a big name coach to our second-tier footballing nation?

I think we can.

Klinsmann has always expressed interest in U.S. Soccer and the backward philosophy that has driven it for so long. He knows the system well, having lived in America for several years now, and he knows the players, both young and old.

Klinsmann is the type of manager who could step in and change the way the USSF runs things-for the better.

The two downfalls to Klinsmann are his demands and his tactics. The same reason we failed to land him in 2006 may come to fruition again- control.

Klinsmann wants the power to change the pyramid of the USSF, and Gulati isn't keen on handing the keys over. In addition, Klinsmann is not a tactical genius by any means. He's much more of a player manager, and the USMNT might need someone more tactically astute moving forward.

In that case, though Klinsmann remains my first choice, it might be best to go after Nowak.

Nowak has worked in the USSF system for years, having assisted Bradley during his first years as head coach. Now with the Philadelphia Union, Nowak could be lured away for the right price, and his inclination to the 4-3-3 and its off-shoots could be the right tactical move for the U.S.

Still, is Nowak that much of an improvement on Bradley? I'm not sure yet, but remember in the context of this debate that no foreign manager has ever won a World Cup.

I'd still lean toward Klinsmann. There's a first time for everything, right?

Gold Cup Starters

I don't think we'll see many changes for next summer's Gold Cup.

This is the same lineup that featured in the second half against Ghana. It's a 4-3-3 in base, but the Donovan and Dempsey will have free roam to drop into the midfield, operating on a string. Bradley and Feilhaber will be more forward thinking, while Edu is more defensive-minded.

Stuart Holden should see time in the midfield in place of Feilhaber, as should Jose Francisco Torres. Jermaine Jones could be a factor in the midfield as well, perhaps even replacing Maurice Edu for a short term.

Charlie Davies could see time up top if healthy, and with Jay DeMerit's club future in question, Chad Marshall or Clarence Goodson could start in his place at the back.

Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra should enjoy strong seasons at their clubs and retain their starting fullback spots.

Tim Howard is a lock in goal.

Predicted finish: Champions

Confederations Cup Starters

Should the U.S. win the 2011 Gold Cup, their birth in the 2013 Confederations Cup could see several changes in personnel.

Much of this depends on health and form during qualification, but based on current observations, this is the strongest side the U.S. could put forth in three years.

The shape begins to look more like a 4-2-3-1, the hot formation in international football. It's easily compacted for defensive unity or spread out for offensive continuity. It can be tentative or aggressive, and for the U.S., it puts players in their strongest areas.

The back sees a lot of change. Marshall is my current pick to be the next center back beside Gooch, but Tim Ream, Omar Gonzales, and Gale Agbossoumonde could all be factors, as could Spector. Jonathan Bornstein may be favored over Edgar Castillo, but I like Castillo's skill going forward.

Spector, if not in the center, starts on the right.

Bradley and Edu are back in their holding roles, with Edu likeliest to hold the deepest position. Donovan moves to a more central role but still has free roam-he, Dempsey, and Holden are virtually interchangeable.

Altidore remains a lone forward, with a hopefully-nationalized Danny Mwanga and healthy Davies pushing for minutes as well.

Did I mention Howard in net?

Predicted finish: Third place

World Cup Starters

Assuming World Cup 2014 qualification for the article's sake, I don't see much change from the 2013 side.

The biggest change is the inclusion of Agbossoumonde in the starting 11. He'll only be 22, but he's already showing the ability to be a world class center back with his performances in the U-20 side.

The midfield sees no change, but Torres will still be fighting for time, as could Sebastian Lletget. Another product of the U-20s, he's impressing scouts at West Ham as one of their best youth academy prospects since Joe Cole. Just 17 years old now, he may not have matured enough physically to crack the first XI by 2014, but all bets are off when it comes to the kind of talent he's got.

Altidore holds on to his forward position, but any combination of Mwanga, Davies, or, dare I say-Freddy Adu-could challenge for time as well.

Howard will be better than ever.

Predicted finish: Third place

MLS's Biggest Obstacle

2010-08-08T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

When asked about what could make MLS better, the usual first and obvious answer is continued growth in talent on the field. But, the league's growth at least in terms of attendances face an obstacle often little talked about: that of having something for the teams at the bottom of the table to play for. It's great for MLS to have Seattle Sounders FC bring in an average of 36,159 a game, but the New England Revolution's 11,796 hurts.

Like the carrot and stick, there are 2 ways to motivate the bottom dwellers, either (1) have enough spots in MLS cup that most teams have chance to qualify for late into the season or (2) a promotion / relegation system.

The case study of this problem is DC United the past 4 years. RFK Stadium, once the bastion of MLS supporters has slowly dwindled in attendance. In 2007, DC United was ranked 1st overall in the table for MLS. That year they brought in an average of 20,967 at the gates. Their slip down the overall table in 2008 and 2009 to 10th brought down attendances to 19,835 and 16,088 respectively. This year dead-last at 16th overall, DC United is getting 14,949 a game. That's over 6,000 less people.

Like any sport, people come to games if you are winning. This is not rocket science. But, people also come if you have something to play for. In America, we have sports leagues where there is a surplus of playoff spots available, thus giving mediocre middle of the road teams an opportunity to get in. The NBA and NHL each have 30 teams and 16 playoff spots. More than half the teams get a rebirth in the postseason. The NFL has 32 teams and 12 playoff spots. MLB has 30 teams and 8 playoff spots. MLS has 16 teams and 8 spots.

MLS looks to expand to 20 teams in the next few years, but expanding MLS Cup beyond 8 spots will diminish its value. Last year's MLS Cup winners Real Salt Lake had a sub-50 record. This draws league format legitimacy into play. Granted the Columbus Crew won the Supporter's Shield, but in America we remember who won the big one. And the winner of the big one was not one of the better teams for the duration of the season.

For the long term credibility of the league, after the expansion to 20 teams, MLS's chief concern should be finding a way to implement a simple promotion / relegation system. MLS doesn't need this system because the rest of the world uses some form of it, but rather to give teams at the bottom of the table something to play for: survival.

The Top 3 teams at the top of MLS attendance are Seattle Sounders FC 36,159, Philadelphia Union 21,320, and Toronto FC 20,494. The league can't expect these attendance numbers to stick if any of these franchises has a fall like DC United because there's nothing to play for at the bottom. Seattle's attendance dropping to 14,949 would be catastrophic for the league.

In a perfectly symmetrical world, an MLS with 2 tiers of 16 teams each with promotion / relegation of 3 teams would be beautiful. In this world, you could have a survival playoff for the 4 teams at the bottom of the top tier, an MLS cup for the top 8 teams in the top Tier, and some form of playoffs between the top 8 teams in the second tier for the 3 promotion. That's 20 teams in a postseason playing for either: glory, survival, or promotion. Attendances would go through the roof.

In the long run, convincing its owners to implement a promotion / relegation system will be MLS's biggest obstacle.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

The Future of U.S. Soccer, Part III-Forwards

2010-08-07T17:00:00Z

By Cody Worsham

This is the third in a four-part series looking at the future of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.

Let's look at the numbers, shall we?

Four games over 15 days, 390 minutes (plus stoppage time) on the pitch, 23,400 seconds (+ s.t.), four strikers with 50 caps and 13 international goals between them-none of which were scored at the World Cup.

Of the players who made the trip to South Africa, the most disappointing group for the USMNT, collectively, were the strikers. Sure, there were positive moments from Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez, and Edson Buddle, but teams who can't get goals from their strikers can't win.

No, this wasn't the most talented group of forwards in South Africa, and no, expectations were not high for them. But when called upon to do their jobs, with chances at World Cup glory sitting in front of them waiting to be pounced upon, the four forwards selected by Bob Bradley to complete the 23-man roster failed to answer.

Looking to the future, the U.S. striker pool appears to have some bright spots, but there is much to build on after a goalless 2010 World Cup. As some return to health and others mature and develop, talent will undoubtedly emerge.

But talent isn't enough. There is a hunger and poise required of all great strikers, and someone will have to develop that in the next four years. Otherwise, it's same story, different chapter come Brazil 2014.

Let's take a look at the players available, broken down role by role-combo forwards, target forwards, and strikers/second strikers.

We'll start with the familiar names and work our way to the newer, fresher prospects to find out who can be expected to fill the need for goals.

Combo Forwards

Clint Dempsey

In my last piece, I talked a lot about Clint Dempsey's future in the USMNT.

In 2014, Dempsey will be 31 years old. That's fairly old for an international footballer and probably just past his prime, but I see Dempsey making the move up top by 2014 as a forward or outright winger.

This move works for Dempsey for a couple of reasons. First, his game is built around creativity, not speed. Rarely does he blow by people even now. His creativity should go nowhere, though, even if he loses a step or two. Second, I expect the U.S. to move to a 4-2-3-1, which would allow Dempsey to move to a wide winger position in the mold of Dirk Kuyt.

Dempsey will probably be our best option out left if we go to the 4-2-3-1. He cuts in beautifully, and this is his natural spot for Fulham-opposite a similar player in Damien Duff, also 31 years old and still playing at a high level. He can also interchange with Jozy at the top of the formation, as the 4-2-3-1 can shift and look like a 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3.

The versatility that Clint provides as an attacker cannot be overlooked. With a great deal of depth emerging in the midfield and a lot of question marks up top, expect Dempsey to begin seeing more and more time at striker in the coming years. He may have to stay in the midfield while the rest of the U.S. midfielders develop, but once they arrive, look for Clint to slide into a forward position permanently.

Herculez Gomez

If this article were written a year ago and was instead a preview of who might make it to the World Cup, Herculez Gomez's name would certainly not have appeared.

Like time, money, and love, however, football can be a fickle thing.

Gomez rose from the pits of the MLS outcast pool to become the leading scorer in the Mexican Clausura for Puebla. His achievement put him right in the middle of the World Cup discussion, and a good pre-Cup training camp put him in the final roster ahead of surefire veterans Brian Ching, Connor Casey, and Eddie Johnson.

His time in South Africa was too brief, however. In the time that he did play, he played well. With Robbie Findley suspended against Algeria, Gomez started and had a good 45 minutes, putting a few shots in and assisting on an unfairly overturned Dempsey goal.

But for some reason or another, Gomez was not given much more time to shine. Known for his ability to score in a substitute's role, Gomez was only called on once more, in extra time against Ghana, and he failed to deliver there.

It was probably his last chance. Gomez is 28 years old, and while his rise from Kansas City Wizards reject to World Cup starter has been nothing short of incredible, there are younger-and better-alternatives. He even has admitted so himself in recent days.
He should feature in some qualifiers and friendlies for the next couple of years, but once he hits 30 years old, I imagine Herculez will have capped for the final time.

Danny Mwanga

The question with Mwanga is not if he's going to be good enough to play for the USMNT-he already is.

The question will be whether or not he chooses his country of birth (D.R. Congo) or the country that housed him from civil war (United States).

Mwanga has taken the MLS by storm this season, emerging as a favorite for Rookie of the Year honors. The 19 year old has scored big goal after big goal for the expansion Philadelphia Union in their initial MLS campaign, and many are calling for Bob Bradley to cap him as quickly as possible.

Though he is not yet a citizen, he has a U.S. green card and a refugee travel document, both of which make it easier for him to get capped as a U.S. international.

He's also spoken highly of potentially playing for the Americans.

Mwanga offers a rare combination of size, speed, and skill, much like Altidore, and he seems to possess great intelligence. He perhaps bests Jozy in terms of his killer instinct, as seen in his ability to score clutch goals for Philly.

Let's hope Mwanga goes the U.S. route. He can develop into a target or a slashing forward, and he could even push Altidore as the top forward in the country if given a chance.

Marcus Tracy

Tracy is one of those guys who gets a lot of hype on the Internet but hasn't seen the field for the U.S. That could change this year. With Charlie Davies' health still a concern and a lack of obvious depth in the pool, the former Wake Forest and current Aalborg striker may get a look soon. While he's not huge, at 6'1" he has enough height, and his leaping ability is unparalleled among his countrymen. Who else in the pool could do this ?

Honorable mentions : Macoumba Kandji, Justin Braun, Juan Agudelo, Stefan Jerome

Target Forwards

Jozy Altidore

The future of the United States front line begins and ends with Altidore. There are others who will play important roles, but the broad shoulders of young Jozy must bear the burden of goal scoring going forward.

Don't get me wrong, Altidore wasn't bad by any means in South Africa. He gave defenses fits for most of his 360 minutes with an improved work rate and his creativity on the ball. His knock-down header to Michael Bradley for the equalizer against Slovenia was one of the biggest plays of his career.

But his scoring record speaks for itself. Jozy failed to put the ball in the back of the net despite several clear chances that he should have finished. It's the same problem he suffered from with Hull this year: Solid play but no production.

The good news is that Jozy has shown the ability over the last few years to improve his glaring weaknesses. The knock on him two years ago was his laziness and his inability to hold the ball up. He showed an incredible work rate at the Cup (he covered more ground per game than David Villa, among others), and he held the ball up with great affect, drawing more fouls than any other U.S. player and constantly hassling defenders with his strength.

The beauty of Jozy as a target is his versatility. He's clever on the ball and cuts inside effectively. He can make diagonal runs as well as anyone, and his best games for Hull were when he played beside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, a big target-man himself. In this way, he acts as almost a slashing center forward, versatile and capable of playing beside any other striker in the country.

If Jozy can find a place in Europe-perhaps Besiktas or Fulham-to get consistent minutes and work on his finishing, he can fulfill the vast potential he's sitting on. Villareal may not give him the time he needs, but a loan-to-buy suitor like Fulham, Besiktas, or Napoli would give him the chance to develop as he needs to. He could realistically become the best forward the country has ever seen, but he'll need time to find a killer instinct in front of net.

The sitters he missed in South Africa are going to have to be put away. Hopefully, they'll find the net in Brazil.

Edson Buddle

Buddle's story is a lot like Gomez's. Few, if any, expected him to make the World Cup roster until his 2010 scoring explosion in MLS. Sadly, he saw very little of the field in South Africa, despite a pre-Cup brace against Australia and a top run of form throughout the year.

At 29 years old, Buddle's window is shrinking. He may get some time in the next year, but he faces the same aging problem as Gomez.

Of all the forwards available, Buddle plays the best with his back to the goal, and he is the strongest in the air. His connection with Landon Donovan is remarkable, so bringing him to camp and possibly to the Gold Cup might not be a bad idea

Kenny Cooper

Cooper is as talented a target forward as we've got. The problem is, he doesn't know it.

Not that he's not talented-his ego has gotten him into trouble enough, certainly this year with Plymouth Argyle.

No, Cooper has yet to realize that he is a target forward. He fancies himself a combo forward, but he lacks the speed and shiftiness required to get around top-level defenders.

At 6'4" and 210 pounds, Cooper has all the size required of a solid target. He's clever on the ball, has good passing range, and he scores goals in bunches.

But he's still poor with his back to the goal. If Cooper can find minutes for 1860 Munich or another side on loan, maybe he can learn what he needs to as center forward. First, however, he'll have to wake up and smell the potential he's oozing with, all while brushing off an oversized ego.

Omar Salgado

The former Chivas Guadalajara man was forced out after declaring his intentions to play for the U.S. Just 16-years-old, he will enter the MLS draft next year after signing on with Generation Adidas. Don't be shocked if the Whitecaps take the 6'4" speedster first overall after a solid run in leading the U-20 U.S. side to the Milk Cup championship. Could he be the next Altidore?

Honorable mentions : Yura Movsisyan, Brek Shea, Adrian Ruelas

Strikers

Landon Donovan

Like Dempsey, Donovan may benefit from a move to a forward position.

In South Africa, Donovan was the finally the superstar we've long expected him to be, scoring three goals and playing true top-level football. The Algeria goal will go down in history as one of the biggest in U.S. Soccer history.

The only question now is where Landon will spend the next four years. European suitors are calling, but the MLS wants to hold on to him. Either way, I don't see Landon moving out of the national team in the next four years. He's just too valuable and will still be one of our best players in four years' time.

However, he will be 32 years old by the time Brazil 2014 rolls around. That's old enough to say he'll be past his prime and probably a step or two off his top pace. Perhaps playing up top would be best for his aging legs, and like Dempsey, the depth in the midfield could see a U.S. tactical change moving Donovan to a striker or trequartista role.

It's something to think about, but whether Donovan is flanked wide or in support up top, don't expect Landycakes to depart from the USMNT anytime soon.

Charlie Davies

It was sad to see Davies not called into the pre-Cup camp in May, and his club deserve much of the blame for that.

However, even though Davies felt he was fit, he is an asset of the club, and they were protecting what is rightfully theirs. Current reports would seem to support that decision, as nearly three months later, Davies is still struggling to get to full fitness.

There's no doubt in my mind that a fully fit Davies would have had a great World Cup. His form in the Confederations Cup a year ago was superb, and it didn't drop off at any point prior to his injury.

But can Davies get back to that point? I'm not sure. Mentally, he's got it together, it would seem, and he's been working his tail off to get back the pace and stamina that made him invaluable beside Jozy. Physically, however, he still has an uphill battle to fight.

The best-case scenario for the U.S. would be Davies battling Altidore for first-team duty, with the loser being a super sub in a 4-3-3 or close variation. The worst-case scenario-well, let's deal with that if it ever rears its head.

It'll be important for Bob Bradley to monitor Davies' progression in the coming months. Minutes at Sochaux are up for grabs, so the opportunity will be there.

Hopefully for Charlie, he'll grab his second chance and never let go.

Freddy Adu

The Freddy Adu saga has been beat to death. I won't add on to the train of Adu-based debates that can be found on forums all over the Internet.

Instead, I'll say this. Freddy is only 20 years old, and he's still as talented as any other American in the sport. No one can quite peg his problem, whether it's mental, physical, psychological, or some combination, but if it ever clicks for Freddy, watch out.

The wing is his natural place, so a 4-3-3 would fit nicely. Don't get your hopes up, but certainly don't take your eye off of Adu, wherever he ends up this season.

Andy Najar

As is the case with Mwanga, Najar is having an explosive season in the MLS, lighting up the radars of scouts all over the world, including Arsenal.

Also like Mwanga, however, Najar is not a U.S. citizen, and while he has expressed interest in playing for the U.S., his native Honduras are favorites to land the services of the D.C. United phenom.

Never say never, however. Najar could go the route of Adu and Benny Feilhaber and join the ranks of foreign-born players who have suited up for the U.S.

Honorable Mentions : Eddie Johnson, Jack McInerney, Chris Pontius, Robbie Findley, Joseph Gyau

Starters

2011 Gold Cup starters: Altidore, Davies, Dempsey (winger/wide forward hybrid)

2013 Confederations Cup starters: Altidore, Davies, Dempsey, Donovan

2014 World Cup starters: Altidore, Dempsey, Donovan, Davies

***Note: For all articles, starters have been chosen based on who will get starts, not who will be in the set starting XI. Football has too many injuries and tactical adjustments to pick just eleven starters for a four-year period. Thus, the three starting forwards I have selected in this piece are those who I expect to start at least one game in the tournament they are fielded in.

Landon Donovan to FC Barcelona?

2010-08-05T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Well it's the silly season so I figured I'd start some silliness. As of this writing, it looks like Cesc-gate will not end with Cesc Fàbregas in Barcelona until next summer at the earliest, so why not Landon Donovan to FC Barcelona? On the surface, this sounds kind of crazy, but would it be?

A key to Barcelona's depth the past few years was having players that can fill-in at a number of positions. Andrés Iniesta gets hurt more and more often. Although Xavi doesn't need a replacement for a year or two or three, some depth is needed. This short-term need for a little depth coupled with a long-term eventual replacement for Xavi is why Barcelona has become ob-Cesc'd.

The past few years, Barcelona had several youth players step-up and add some depth to the first team, i.e. Pedro and Sergio Busquets. Right now, I don't see one popping-up this year better than Donovan. Sorry Jeffrén Suárez and Jonathan Dos santos. There is a need for another player of this type in the near-term at Barcelona. Signing a flexible mid-fielder that can slot in at a number of different positions would come in handy this year.

Landon Donovan can fill this role. 14m-ish is workable for MLS and Barcelona.

I am I missing something here? Is Donovan not good enough to make it at Barcelona? Would Donovan be ok with being a squad player for the likely favorites for the UEFA Champion's League? Or would he rather be part of the starting 11 of a Premiership, Europa League or lesser Champions League side? Maybe, 14m would not be viable for the new penny-pinching Sandro Rosell-led Barcelona?

The thing is this is a short-term need, Donovan can fill it, and he probably could be signed at a price both teams could agree upon. In terms of the business that would have to take place, MLS and Barcelona are in a good place with the recent moves of Thierry Henry and Rafael Márquez to the MLS. There's a lot more conversation going on here than between Arsenal and Barcelona. The lines of communication are open and the there's plenty left in the 50M Kitty. This kind of move would also benefit the MLS publicity-wise in moving one of its players to a perennial UEFA Champion's League semi-finalist and winner. Plus, Donovan could be back in MLS in 2-3 years.

Donovan would fit well into the Barca rhythm of "Offer, Receive, Pass" and do it again, and again, and again. He's tidy, quick, and smart. His first touch would be up to the task. He can play on either side or up front. He even speaks Spanish. He's America's best and this may be his last chance for a big move since he is 28. The question is: Am I the only person thinking this?

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

The Future of U.S. Soccer, Part II-Midfield

2010-08-03T17:00:00Z

By Cody Worsham

This is the second in a four-part series looking at the future of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. Read Part I in the WFD Kick About

Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Michael Bradley was coasting on the outskirts of international footballing prestige.

Funny how things change.

Bradley's performance in South Africa has rocketed him to the top of just about any list of top, young midfielders in the world. Just four years ago, he wasn't even in the conversation of top American midfielders, yet now he is one of the most coveted box-to-box players on the planet.

Of the changes certain to be made from this year's squad to the future 2014 squad, the midfield should see the easiest transition, built around the 22-year-old Bradley as well as a mixture of both young guns and experienced veterans.

The difficulty with discussing midfielders comes when you consider just how many formations there are and just how many roles a midfielder can be asked to play.

To simplify, I've divided the players into two categories. First are your traditional "box-to-box" guys-classic central midfielders like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark Van Bommel who are comfortable both holding and getting forward, but would never feature as true trequartistas.

The second division is for "attacking" mids, offensive-minded, advanced players who could play just behind the forwards-think Mesut Ozil and Wesley Sneijder-or on the wings, ala Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller.

Let's start with the central midfielders.

"Box-To-Box" Central Midfielders

Just 22 years old, Bradley turned in a magnificent quarter of performances for the U.S., grading out among the top players in the Cup in terms of Castrol Index-a measure of player performance analyzed by FIFA, which Bradley earned an 8.94 out of a possible 10.

More impressive, perhaps, is the distance Bradley covered in just four games: 51.69 km, which by itself is 11th-best in the Cup (mind you, the only players he trails have played at least one game more than him), while his 12.99 km per game bests any other player in the tournament.

That motor will be crucial in driving the U.S. midfield for the future, and Bradley is sure to be a fixture there.

What will be interesting to see, however, is where Bradley slots in for the U.S. in the future. Will his 26-year-old legs produce as much mileage as his 22-year-old legs? If so, he could maintain that box-to-box presence in the mold of a Schweinsteiger, but he is capable of playing a holding midfield role, as well.

I imagine he'll continue in the role which he so thrived in this summer, and Bradley is most effective in this role when he has a complementary holding midfielder. Ricardo Clark has been the main player in this role for the last two years, but his struggles in South Africa may have sealed his fate behind other players, and he will be 31 by the time the next Cup rolls around.

Maurice Edu, however, stepped in admirably for the struggling Clark. Edu has a calmness and strength on the ball that Clark lacks, and his play week in and out for Rangers indicates that he's the perfect companion for the roaming Bradley.

Edu is comfortable as the deep-lying midfielder sitting just in front of the defense, a position which allows Bradley to venture forward without having to worry about overrunning the play.

Clark's struggles, namely ball control and spatial awareness, are in fact Edu's strengths, and he's just as adept at breaking up play and winning aerial battles.

Perhaps the best thing about Edu-his age. Just 24 years old, he has a good five or six seasons left in his prime, so he and Bradley have plenty of time to acquaint in the coming years and gel into a real tandem.

Another name that has floated around the U.S. Soccer rumor mill is Jermaine Jones. Jones is one of the best defensive mids in the Bundesliga for Schalke, but he has yet to feature for the U.S. due to injuries. A dual German-American citizen, he has featured for the German national team in non-FIFA friendlies, but retains his eligibility for the U.S. thanks to FIFA regulations.

But, like Clark, age will be a problem, and at 28, his window to feature is shrinking daily. I wouldn't mind seeing Jones start at the Gold Cup in 2011, however, and he could be an answer at center back, as well.

Now, before we move on to the attacking midfielders, let's remember something crucial we learned from this Cup. From a tactical perspective, the U.S. showed something special against Slovenia, Algeria, and Ghana-the ability to play effective possession football with three central midfielders.

The most successful formation in international football today, 4-2-3-1 (implemented by Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany), utilizes three center mids, and going forward, the U.S. should look to this formation, or other variations like 4-3-3 or 4-1-3-2, as a possibility.

With that said, there could be a third slot for a starting central midfielder. This time around, it was Benny Feilhaber who came on and played a very narrow left wing-essentially a third CM. Feilhaber was good, but while he was an upgrade from the empty bucket 4-4-2, he wasn't great.

Feilhaber is only 25, so he's still in that frame of age to be a possible starter in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. He can play any position in the midfield which the 4-2-3-1 calls for, but for a player who is supposed to excel at passing, he's not exceptional, completing only 63 percent of his attempted passes at the Cup.

If Bradley, a runner/roamer, and Edu, a holder/defender, are going to be tripled up with a third central midfielder, it needs to be a sharp passer, a breaker-down of defenses, a threader with patience and possessing skill.

In that case, Jose Francisco Torres is the man. While many felt he struggled in his start against Slovenia, Torres actually completed 83 percent of his passes-on a bad night. At his best, Torres is a passer of pinpoint accuracy, and he understands where to put the ball as well. He doesn't offer a whole lot in front of net, but if Edu is covering and Bradley is charging, he won't be asked to do anything but slide in through-balls.

Torres showed just how green he is against Slovenia, though. He'll need a few more seasons to fully develop, but I think he's a real bright spot for the future.

But, as always, the starters will probably change from game to game. Very few countries, if any, have the same eleven starters throughout qualification or even throughout a single tournament. It's about depth, and fortunately, the U.S. have that in all midfield positions, the central midfield not excluded.

For the sake of this article, then, I'll select three central midfielders (and three attacking mids later) so as to take into account different formations or strategic selections.

2011 Gold Cup starters: Bradley, Edu, Feilhaber

2013 Confederations Cup starters: Bradley, Edu, Torres

2014 World Cup starters: Bradley, Edu, Torres

Attacking Midfielders

For the last four years, the two attacking midfield positions (the outside midfielders of the U.S. 4-4-2) have been virtually set in stone. Unless called up top, Clint Dempsey lined up on the left wing with Landon Donovan his opposite.

No one can argue with the selections. The two are the most prominent players on the national team, with Donovan as its all-time leading scorer and Dempsey as its best performer at the club level. Both have excelled at the international level as well, with Dempsey netting the Bronze Ball Award in the 2009 Confederations Cup and Donovan scoring three times and displaying one of the best World Cup performances of any American player ever.

But there's one problem: Donovan is 28 years old, and Dempsey is 27. They will certainly feature in the Gold Cup next summer, and while they very well could find their way into the 2014 World Cup squad, they will have four more years of tread on their tires.

Just look at this year's squad for a reference point. The oldest outfield players on the squad, Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra, were each 31, and the only players older than them, Tim Howard (32) and Marcus Hahnemann (38 on June 15), are keepers.

Thus, age will be an issue for both. If they can stay relatively healthy, perhaps they will still have enough gas in the tank to feature prominently. Dempsey is more likely than Donovan thanks to a) his age and b) his style of play.

Donovan is a speed player, notching a top speed of 30.31 kmh (one of the best rates at the Cup), but that number is likely to drop as he ages. Dempsey, on the other hand, relies more on strength and dribbling ability, skills that, if anything, improve with age.

But Donovan, as we know, has a motor and a heart that can overcome even Father Time. I expect he'll remain the right-sided midfielder for the U.S. through Brazil 2014, and the only ways he doesn't stay there are injury or position change. I could see him moving to a more central role or even up top if the U.S. changes their tactics.

Same goes for Dempsey. It depends on the strategy and manager of the future, but he'll be starting somewhere in this cycle.

As potent of a duo as they are, Donovan and Dempsey won't start every game on the wings. For one, both could thrive in central roles or as forwards.

Donovan is probably the better option centrally and does play like a true No. 10, but I can't see the U.S. deploying a lone forward yet, so his skill is better off on the outside. As for Dempsey, he often plays his best ball as a forward, and he may age better up top than out wide.

If either moves positions in the 4-4-2, or if the U.S. jump aboard the 4-2-3-1 bandwagon, there are a variety of names that could feature in advanced attacking roles with Dempsey and Donovan.

Of names mentioned already, Feilhaber's versatility could allow him to play in an advanced role, more likely in a central place. However, as I alluded to earlier, Feilhaber's versatility is as much vice as virtue. While he does a lot of things well, he doesn't do any one thing excellently, as I'm not sure how much he'll feature in this cycle.

Torres could also play an advanced attacking role, but he doesn't have much experience there. For club side Pachuca, he played a deep-lying playmaking role. Advancing him too far might take away his strengths with little gain. DaMarcus Beasley already seems too old, so that's all the mention I'll give him.

The brightest talent ready to step into a more prominent role for the U.S.M.N.T. might be Stuart Holden. Like Feilhaber, Holden is versatile enough to play on either wing or in the center of midfield. He's young enough (24) to be a factor in the next World Cup, and he offers better service and speed than Feilhaber does.

Holden's play in the last year since a great 2009 Gold Cup has been good enough for Premiership side Bolton Wanderers to sign him for the 2010-11 EPL campaign, and if he can find a place in the first team consistently, he might find a way into the starting 11 for the national team as well.

To keep this article from reaching David Foster Wallace levels of prolixity, I'll just list the last few names by location of play.

There are MLS guys: Sam Cronin, Eddie Gaven, Robbie Rogers, and Luis Gil (pay close attention to this 16-year-old at Real Salt Lake).

There are players who could play for multiple countries: Andy Najar, Michael Hoyos, and Mikkel Diskerud.

There is the next generation of young stars currently training for non-domestic clubs: Lester Dewee, Charles Renken, Jared Jeffrey, Joseph Gyua, Will Packwood, Erik Benjaminsen, and Sebastian Lletget. Of these, Lletget is my nod as a future star for the national side.

Finally, there are players on the brink of this year's squad who are plying their trade outside of the country: Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kleijstan, and the ever-controversial Freddy Adu.

One of the most interesting stories in this next international cycle will be Freddy Adu. Will he ever get it together? Can he still be an asset for the U.S.M.N.T.? Maybe there's a place for him in the midfield or as a second striker, but Freddy has as long a road to the top as any of these other names-maybe even longer. More on him later.

2011 Gold Cup starters: Donovan, Dempsey, Holden

2013 Confederations Cup starters: Donovan, Holden, Lletget

2014 World Cup starters: Donovan, Holden, Lletget

Before you explode with venomous outrage, chalk up Dempsey's absence to positional change-but you'll have to check out Part III for more on that.

Elvis Explains the Transfer Market

2010-08-01T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

This silly season we have observed much talk and little movement. As Elvis would have put it, "a little less conversation, a little more action please"! Elvis would not be too happy about Cesc-gate. Why does the circulation in this transfer market seem so slow? When skySPORTs runs a "Top 10 Transfers of the Summer so far" article and it lists Thierry Henry at age 32 going to the New York Red Bulls, something is up. Shouldn't the transfer market after a World Cup be going bonkers?

This summer's transfer market will be known as the Mexican standoff. To figure out why, it may be better to look at the market on a micro-scale before looking at it on the macro. In negotiations, when two parties meet to discuss the selling and buying of a good, product, asset, etc. they come to the table will at least two things worked-out ahead of time: (1) their ideal price and (2) their walk-away worst-case scenario price. It you don't have a goal, you'll never hit your ideal and if the don't have a walk-away, you'll accept something beyond your means. These two prices create different ranges in which the buyer and seller will operate. Usually, deals are struck where these ranges intersect. The key thing to point out here is that these ranges don't necessarily have to intersect.

In this transfer market, at least for the good, great, and world-class players, sellers' minimal walk-away prices are higher than what most buyers can afford. How did it get to his?

There are a number of outlier signings the past few years that have warped people's perceptions of what players are truly worth. A few to mention would be Cristiano Ronaldo (94m), Kaka (70M), Zlatan Ibrahimović (66M), Carlos Tevez (£47m?), Robinho (42.5), Emmanuel Adebayor (£25). That group didn't win much silverware. What most clubs fail to realize is that if Cristiano Ronaldo is worth 94m to Real Madrid, it doesn't mean that James Milner is worth 20M+ to the other 99.99% of clubs. For less than the price of one Ronaldo, you can revamp much of a team and win the Champions League like Inter Milan did with Samuel Eto'o (30m), Wesley Sneijder (15m), Lúcio (7m), Diego Milito (25), and Thiago Motta (14).

Even though selling prices of players are inflated from a few outliers, clubs would probably still buy players at inflated prices if they could. This is not a good thing. Clubs are kind of like shop-aholics who can't stop spending if they have a credit card. The thing is right now, many clubs credit is overstretched. They are strapped for cash. Barcelona are probably not the only club with cash-flow or liquidity problems; rather they are the only club audited by Deloitte so a new President could reveal that his predecessor was running things in the red. If Barcelona who starts 6-7 players that came through their academy ran a 77.1m deficit last year, what do the books look like at Manchester United and Real Madrid?

Clubs having little to spend would explain why Mesut Ozil has not yet been signed. With Ozil you have a player that had a great World Cup, is 20 years old, a playmaker (which has gone back in vogue), and has 1 year left on his contract. If he is not sold this summer, Werder Bremen could miss-out on a lot of money next summer when he could move on a free-transfer. Ozil is a prime target and hasn't moved yet.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel to see a flurry of transfers in August. The new squad rules in Premier League that sides must have a first-team squad of no more than 25, of which eight must be 'home-grown', will force some teams to unload players hopefully creating some movement in the transfer market. There might be some discounts too because of this, particularly from Manchester City.

A quiet transfer market can be dull, but it really is a mixed bag. Less movement of players means that they'll stay with the same teams longer ideally creating more squad chemistry. On the other hand, if a team has a definite need at right-back, they may not be able to sign one. If teams hold-on to players longer, the Ajax's of the world, who are masters at developing players, could again become dominant once again, thus leveling the playing field in Europe. Conversely, the teams that will lose out are the Boca Juniors and River Plates of the world who develop players to be sold to Europe and find a dry market. Either way, I'd like my Silly Season to be silly. A little less conversation, a little more action please!

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Magic Number 26 for the MLS

2010-07-30T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

There are a few things we need to look at when we look at the MLS's progress as a League. Attendances, expansion of teams, TV deals and ratings are important. They help us quantify the growth of the league. But, we need to take a look at the quality of what is presented on the field; aka a qualitative measure to MLS as a league. Ultimately what determines the quality of the product on the field is the quality of the players themselves. You hear it time and time again: bring the world's best to MLS and the American public will come-out in droves to the games. I don't totally buy into this argument, but it has some credence. Talent matters. More importantly, peak talent matters.

As Athletes evolve through their careers, they grow in sports-intelligence and skill and decline in raw athleticism as they age. In their mid-to-late twenties, between ages 24-28 years, athletes hit a peak balance of sports-intelligence, skill, and physical capabilities. This peak-zone can be seen if you look at the last 10 FIFA World Players of the Year. Their ages were the following: Lionel Messi (22), Cristiano Ronaldo (23), Kaká (25), Fabio Cannavaro (33), Ronaldinho (25) & (24), Zinedine Zidane (31), Ronaldo (26), Luís Figo (29), and Zinedine Zidane (28). The average age of this list was 26.6, close to the middle of 24-28 years.

The MLS has a way to go in terms of getting great players in the peak years. If we look at the MLS All-Star team we have the following Donovan Ricketts (33), Jamison Olave (29), Heath Pearce (25), Kevin Alston (22), Chad Marshall (25), Shalrie Joseph (32), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (37), Javier Morales (30), Marco Pappa (22), Sébastien Le Toux (26), Juan Pablo Angel (34), with an average of 28.6 years. Only three of these players are in their peak years. Further, Heath Pearce, Chad Marshall, and Sébastien Le Toux are hardly world-class. At this point, they'd make good squad players or start on mid-table teams in Europe's big leagues. Also, many in this group are a bit old or quite young.

The key to MLS's product on the field the next 10-20 years is to have more good, great, and eventually world-class players at their peak. There are a few ways this can happen. As the US develops players, the MLS needs to hold on to them longer in the beginning of their careers. Jozy Altidore leaving before he could have a legal drink in America was not a good thing for the talent level of MLS. Second, when the world-superstars of the world decide to do their farewell tour, i.e. Thierry Henry and David Beckham, the MLS needs to get them a year or two earlier. Although, Thierry Henry has a lot to contribute to the MLS, at age 32, he is about 4 years out of his prime. Finally, as the MLS continues to grow financially, the league eventually will be able to bring in good and great players at their peak.

The key to raising the level of play in MLS is a gradual approach to gaining and retaining talent. The league so far has progressed year by year in this capacity. A rising tide is not as sexy as a tidal wave, but incremental improvements are sustainable.

Landon Donovan has probably been the MLS's best player in its history. At age 28 now, if he take a move overseas he'll be a great player moving in reverse form the US to Europe at the end of his peak. In the short term, there likely will not be more Landon Donovans that stay in MLS because of financial reasons, but the league can hold onto the Kevin Alstons and Marco Pappas of the world a bit longer than they held onto Jozy Altidore.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

The Future of U.S. Soccer, Part I-Defense

2010-07-29T17:00:00Z

By Cody Worsham

With the U.S. 2010 World Cup run done and dusted after the first knockout round, most fans are taking a look back at the last four years-particularly the Cup's four weeks-to determine where U.S. Soccer currently stands in relation to the past.

That's all well and good, and certainly a function of the past is to teach us where to go in the future. But the doomsday prophecies I've been reading since the loss to a very good Ghana side are a bit melodramatic.
Don't be decieved-this World Cup was a positive one for the U.S. The objective all along was to get out of the group stages, which we did. But few expected the Americans to win Group C, which we did.

The tie against England intrigued the U.S. public, Maurice Edu's negated match-winner against Slovenia invigorated it, and Landon Donovan's winner against Algeria inspired it.

Certainly, Ghana was a winnable game, and the semifinals were there for the taking. In the grand scheme of things, however, the U.S. Soccer Federation should look at this Cup as a positive. U.S. soccer, thanks to massive ESPN coverage, got more positive media attention than it did even in 2002, when the U.S. was in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

This series of articles, however, is more concerned with the future of U.S. Soccer, a one which, despite the outcry of the bandwagon media and public after the Ghana loss, looks quite bright.
Let's take a look at each area of the squad and determine what changes-if any-need to be made in advance of the big international tournaments before and including Brazil 2014.

All of these articles assume (for argument's sake, only) qualification for the Confederations Cup in 2013, as well as the World Cup in 2014, neither of which is a guarantee, of course.

Today's focus: defense

The Old Regime

Of all the positions on the field, the U.S. Men's National Team will likely see the most turnover in the next few years defensively.

Just take a look at the starters' ages from the first two group games: Carlos Bocanegra (31), Steve Cherundolo (31), Jay DeMerit (30), and Oguchi Onyewu (28)-not exactly spring chickens here, folks.

Other than Gooch, I don't expect any of these to feature for the USMNT beyond the very near future. The 2011 Gold Cup is only a summer away, so a lot will depend on how these guys perform for their clubs next year.

Bocanegra is getting a fresh start at St. Ettiene, while Cherundolo, on the back of a wonderful World Cup, is set to sign a two-year extension with Hannover, with an option for a third. He also will become the club's captain. DeMerit, on the other hand, is out of contract, as Watford have yet to resign their former captain, but a good performance against England marking Wayne Rooney has piqued interest from Leeds, among others. Rumors are also circulating that DeMerit could return to the MLS as a DP, possibly to D.C. United or the Chicago Fire.

The only other defender to make a start in the Cup, Jonathan Bornstein, is only 25 and could be an option down the road. While he did well in his two Cup starts, he currently lacks the strength and skill of an international-caliber left back.

With so much up for grabs as the starts of the old regime enter the twilights of their respective careers, let's break down the possible replacements position by position, starting on the right.

Right Back

The right back of the future for the U.S. is Jonathan Spector. A former Manchester United player, Spector is a regular starter for West Ham United in the English Premier League, and he was stellar in the Confederations Cup just a summer ago. Poor form down the stretch for West Ham and a surge from Cherundolo saw Spector go minuteless in the World Cup. Bob Bradley has seemed reluctant to play him at left back, though that's his regular position at West Ham.

Spector would seem to be the guy to build the defense around in the future. He has yet to hit his prime and offers creativity, service, and strong defense at right back, although his versatility could put him anywhere on the U.S. back line.

Daniel Williams could provide another young option at right back should he capitalize on his American eligibility (born in Germany to an American father), as could Eric Lichaj, only 21 and an Aston Villa defender who had a nice spell on loan for Leyton Orient this season. Frank Simek is only 25 and might be a player more familiar to U.S. fans, but he has done little recently for Sheffield and has been released by the club.

Other names that could emerge with enough success on the right side are Kevin Alston (22 years old, New England Revolution), Marvell Wynne (24 years old, Toronto FC), and Rodney Wallace (22 years old, D.C. United, but is not yet eligible since he was born in Costa Rica). Zarek Valentin is experienced in the U.S. system with 28 caps at the U-20 level, and the 18-year-old Akron star is an amateur player to watch for.

Cherundolo should hold on to his spot for another year or two, but it's Spector's job to lose beyond 2012.

2011 Gold Cup starter: Cherundolo
2013 Confederations Cup starter: Spector
2014 World Cup starter: Spector

Center Back

In the center, Onyewu could possibly be a starter for 2014 (he would be 32, older than any player on the U.S. roster this go round), but he's definitely the go-to guy for the Gold Cup upcoming. While this World Cup run was forgettable for Gooch, who was benched the final two games, he will bounce back quickly. With rest for his injured knee, he should be our best defender henceforth.

If Gooch can get some time at A.C. Milan, who are known for keeping older players fit well into their thirties, he could definitely be a starter for the next four years. He still has some development to do, but there's no better place for him to learn than Milan beside Nesta and Thiago Silva. Playing time could be a concern, however, but he still seems the best option in the center for now.

The big question, then, is who plays beside Onyewu in the years to come? Eliminating Bocanegra and DeMerit, who may or may not play in next year's Gold Cup but most probably will not be starters longterm, there are several options, starting with Clarence Goodson.

Goodson has emerged on the USMNT scene in last 12 months as an athletic, lengthy player who offers great aerial ability and good agility. He's 6'4" and has looked good when featuring for the U.S., but he's 28. While he might be a starter short-term as DeMerit and Bocanegra age, two 32-year-old center backs will get us nowhere in 2014.
That leaves us with some younger players who are so far unproven but will have to step up. Among these are Chad Marshall, Gale Agbossoumonde, Omar Gonazles, Ike Opara, and Michael Orozco. Marshall has the most USMNT experience of the bunch and might have made the 2010 World Cup squad if not for nagging injuries. Agbossoumonde has been dubbed the next Onyewu, while Gonzales, Opara, and Orozco are among the best young central defenders in the MLS.

Then, of course, there are complete wildcards that could emerge from nowhere ala DeMerit, like Jamil Fearrington, Hunter Freeman, and Brandon McDonald, among others. Again, you'll notice a pattern here, but Spector is a likely candidate to play in the center should a right-sided player emerge.

One last note at center back: With the young depth of the U.S. central midfield (more on that in Part II)-namely Michael Bradley, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, maybe Landon Donovan in an attacking role, and Sebastian Lletget-Maurice Edu could be a future center back for the U.S.

Edu was great in this Cup in the midfield, but he has played central defender for the U.S. before. If the Rangers give him some playing time in defense, it's a possibility worth considering until a younger option like Opara or Agbossoumonde is ready.

2011 Gold Cup starters: Onyewu, DeMerit
2013 Confederations Cup starters: Onyewu, Marshall/Edu
2014 World Cup starters: Onyewu, Agbossoumonde

Left Back

Bocanegra has served the U.S. admirably, and his time on the national team is not quite done.
However, past next summer's Gold Cup and a couple of qualifiers and friendlies, Bocanegra has probably seen his last days as the U.S. left back.

Granted, if Bob Bradley sticks around, it's likely Bocanegra will remain captain and start either in the center or on the left. But the U.S. need to find a replacement going forward if we are to build on our international success.
Left back has always been a problem position for U.S. Soccer. More often than not, a former midfielder like Eddie Lewis or DaMarcus Beasley or a right-sided defender ala Frankie Hejduk has slotted in at the left, but it's been a long while since a natural left back was in the American defense. There was David Regis, but even he was a) French and b) a natural central defender.

Spector is again a possibility if Lichaj or Simek emerges as a starter at right back, but let's keep him out of the left back picture and look elsewhere.

The first and most obvious choice is Bornstein, a familiar face in the USMNT under Bob Bradley. The Chivas USA man has experience at all levels of international play and might move abroad after a solid couple of starts in the World Cup, but he has never been the most consistent player and was lucky to make the World Cup squad.
Unless Bornstein puts on some muscle and picks up some tactical awareness, I would stray away from him as a long-term starter at left back. Yes, he played well in the Cup, but he really didn't face an attacking winger. The last time he did-against the Dutch in March-he was embarrassed. I see him as a back-up or situational player and nothing more.

Heath Pearce is only 25 but seems to be on the downward slope of his career for FC Dallas, and this was probably his last chance to get in a World Cup squad. Beasley is old and has never done well at left back, and it's tough to come up with another name who has seen significant time on the left of the U.S. defense. Maybe Feilhaber could find a place at left back, but other than actually having a left foot, his skills aren't really suited there.
The best decision, then, might be to go outside of the familiar names to find the left back we are looking for, and the best selection would be Edgar Castillo.

Just 23 years old, Castillo is a dual United States-Mexico citizen and grew up playing in the Mexican youth ranks. However, passed over by Sven Goran Erikkson during 2010 qualifying, Castillo switched his allegiances to the U.S. and was capped in November 2009 against Denmark.

Castillo provides speed and skill from the back as a real attacking threat. Like Bornstein, he need to add some weight to deal with the superior strength of international wingers like Ronaldo, Robben, or Ribery. He's a real burner, however, and he gets forward like he's being chased. Currently on loan to San Luis from Club America, keep an eye out for him in the Apertura 2010 campaign.

A young name to watch for is Greg Garza, who plays for Sporting Lisbon and has featured for the U-20s. He can play on the wing or at the back and is a promising talent, but he's even greener than Castillo and doesn't provide much size at 5'8".

Outside of Castillo, Bornstein, and possibly Garza, there's not much talent for the U.S. left back pool. It will be crucial for one of them to develop into a quality left back, or else Spector may need to get comfortable on the left side and pray that a right-sided candidate emerges.

2011 Gold Cup starter: Bocanegra
2013 Confederations Cup starter: Castillo
2014 World Cup starter: Castillo

Keeper

Two words: Tim Howard.

He's the present and the future of U.S. keepers. Brad Guzan will provide solid backup and will step into the starter's role one day, but it's Howard's for now and the future. This is one spot Americans will never have to worry about.
Yes, Howard is 31, but keepers enter their prime in their 30s, so it's looking good for Timmy.

2011 Gold Cup starter: Howard
2013 Confederations Cup starter: Howard
2014 World Cup starter: Howard

Stay tuned for Parts II and III of this series looking at the future of the USMNT in the coming weeks. Part IV will appear just before the Brazil friendly in August.

O'Neill backs Young

2010-07-28T17:00:00Z

By Tom Mallows -

With Jamie Milner's future looking increasingly likely to be away from Villa Park, those who bet on Premier League transfers are now stating that Martin O'Neill now faces a battle to keep Ashley Young at the club.

Over the past year, some of the Premiership's big boys have been sniffing around the winger. With Milner leaving the club, O'Neill won't entertain the idea of Young departing. Many didn't think Young enjoyed the best of campaigns last season. It was always going to be difficult to fulfil expectations after he was awarded 2008/09 PFA Young Player of the Year. That season cemented Young's reputation as one of England's best young prospects.

O'Neill has stated he believes Young was one of his players of last season. The winger was unlucky not to go to the World Cup. England didn't have many options on the left side of midfield, in South Africa this summer. Young would have given them something different. He is a different kind of winger to Milner, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips. His crossing is one of his strong points, England seriously lacked quality delivery at the World Cup. The omission may work in Villa's favour; Young will be out to prove Fabio Capello wrong this season.

The ex Watford player has stated his desire to remain at Villa Park. It's unlikely any of his suitors would be able to match Villa's valuation of the player. With Villa expected to receive close to £25million for Milner, O'Neill will be under no pressure to sell.

Those who bet on Championship football will even tell you that Milner should be the only big name to leave Villa as O'Neill looks to bring Champions League football to the Midlands.

Summer Friendly's, Thierry Henry, & MLS Attendances

2010-07-25T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

It's that time of the year on the soccer calendar when MLS, European Club tours to the US, and the Europe's silly season get the headlines. Now is the time to take stock on where soccer in America is going, primarily the MLS. The Men's National Team will always be centerpiece of soccer in America, but its lifeblood comes from the MLS.

In 2010, the MLS has averaged 16,517 per game. The big question for the summer and fall is whether MLS will get a sustainable attendance bump from this year's World Cup. The tempting thing to do is to say it will get a bump when you consider the ratings ESPN got for its World Cup coverage outside of the US Team. However, when you consider we are in the beginning of slow economic recovery after a major recession, a growth in MLS popularity may be better reflected in a leveling-off for a year or two in attendance.

The near targets for the MLS to pass are the NHL at 17,070 per game and the NBA at 17,149 per game. A bump of only 1,000 would do this. However, the MLS passing the NHL and NBA in average attendance would be more of a headline than a reflection of MLS being bigger than the NHL and NBA because in total attendances (NHL's 21,236,255 and NBA's 21,389,899) the MLS lags far behind at 3,608,359 as discussed a few weeks ago. The number the MLS really should be hoping for is not 17,000 or 18,000, but 20,000+ in 5-10 years. At that point, say in 2020, an MLS of 20 teams and an average attendance over 20,000+, the MLS would be a legitimate 3rd rival to baseball and the gridiron, poised for rapid growth after the 2022 World Cup hopefully hosted in the US.

What should we make of the tours that the top European Clubs use in the summer to fine-tune before the start of the club seasons? We can gather two things. First, when the world's top clubs can sell-out gridiron stadiums in the 60,000-100,000 capacity range, it means the market for soccer in America can be as large as anywhere if the MLS gets its talent to that level or at least to be perceived at that level. The 20,000+ mark is attainable. The second thing we can gather is the relative talent level of the MLS. When you see Manchester United play the MLS All-stars, you'll get to see a top 4 or 5 European Club play the MLS's Best 11 in a preseason warm-up for Man U. We can't take it for anything more than that, but we can get a relative idea of the talent level of the players on the field. The same will go when UEFA Champions League Winners, Intermilan, play FC Dallas and LA Galaxy later this summer. The talent level of the MLS seems to be incrementally increasing every year.

Thierry Henry's move to New York Red Bulls would be a great symbol of this gradual increase of MLS's talent. Henry has more gas in the tank than David Beckham had a few years ago when he came to MLS. Although, he no longer is at his peak, Henry still has something to give a top flight European team. Instead, he is coming here. With Henry you have someone that has won a World Cup, European Championship, an Undefeated Title in England, and a Six-tuple at FC Barcelona. The way it looks is the last thing for him to do is conquer America the way a rock-band would. The best part may be that he wants to not just play for the New York Red Bulls, but represent them as a New Yorker.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Cesc & Barca, A Love Story of Tapping-Up

2010-07-22T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Thursday July 22nd was the first day in awhile I didn't see anything related to FC Barcelona's courtship, tapping-up, tampering or whatever you have it of Cesc Fàbregas. My skySPORTS Ticker on my laptop empty of Cesc/Barca gossip? This is when I realized I was more interested in Cesc's courtship than Barcelona actually signing him. This silly season hasn't been one of outlandish signing rather one of a silly seduction of an entire team to one player. You couldn't make this stuff up.

Before we get to this love story, lets go to the all-knowing decider of definitions, Wikipedia to define tapping-up. It states, "tapping-up is an attempt to persuade a player contracted to one team to transfer to another team, without the knowledge or permission of the player's current team." From this definition it's really tricky say whether Barcelona is tapping-up or not. They certainly are attempting to persuade Cesc to transfer to Barcelona. There are very few Barcelona players who haven't done this publicly the past few weeks. Arsenal undoubtedly is aware of their public affection for Cesc. But, is Barcelona's courting of Cesc with Arsenal's permission? This question may be more gray than it seems at first. Arsene Wenger has made it clear he doesn't want to sell, but why then has Rosell said Barcelona won't pay 50. This sounds like there was a price discussed.

It may be better not to get caught up in the concept of tapping-up at all. In the end, there has to be a buyer, a seller, and some communication. Anything outside of a formal transfer request and a formal bid by a buying team could be deemed tapping-up. Such a black and white definition would prohibit normal human communication. In the real work world, it's called giving a two week notice to move on to something better. However, sports isn't the normal world.

As of this writing, Cesc has not put in a formal transfer request. Why? He has loyalties to both teams. He wants to move-on according to his cryptic public statements, but probably wants to keep Arsenal in a good place with the transfer fee. He's stuck in the middle of a Mexican standoff where each side really does not want to budge on what they deem is a fit and proper price; hence the crazed courting of Cesc as leverage.

Some of the things Barcelona have done in this courting are truly audacious: Puyol and Pigue putting a Barcelona jersey on Cesc during a world cup celebration of all places in Madrid, Xavi saying that if Cesc doesn't transfer this summer he'd really be on loan at Arsenal, this, the day after Barcelona sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartolomeu says they need to repair relations with Arsenal, and long-line of Barcelona players that have made a public statement about their affection for Cesc over the last two months. Arsenal supporters have right to be upset simply from the shear number of these public displays of affection for CESC. We'll call them PDAC's.

Tomorrow's Friday. What will be on my skySPORTS Ticker? It's a safe bet to see another episode of Barca, The Cesc-less.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

No Wonder You're Tired

2010-07-19T17:00:00Z

Hi Steven,

Your coverage of the World Cup was fantastic, I loved every minute of it. But I was wondering, how fantastic was it? So I did some anoraking to compare WFD's coverage of the World Cup with some of the other podcasts out there. Here's approximately how they stack up based on available episodes on iTunes:

Totally Football and The Game each came in at around 5 ½ hours of coverage. Chapper's Premier League Podcast posted about 7 ½ hours of coverage. ESPN's Off the Ball put out about 20 hours of World Cup coverage, but they get special mention for what I thought was fantastic TV coverage of the games.

Taking a big jump is World Cup Buzz with 34 ½ hours of coverage, BUT...topping the list...with a mind-blowing 64 ½ hours of quality World Cup coverage is the football journalism juggernaut known as World Football Daily. To put it in golf terms for Kenny, that's like Tiger Woods winning the British Open by 15 strokes, and then shagging 47 women in the clubhouse afterwards. If anyone tells you that you don't deserve some time off, tell them to get stuffed.

Keep up the good work and enjoy the rest of your summer. Cheers!

Greg in Minneapolis

Barcelona, The Silly Season, & Rosell

2010-07-18T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

So far this summer for Barcelona and world soccer, this has been the not so silly season. But, we still have well over a month for Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester City to make something of it.

At this point, the Cesc Fàbregas transfer saga has come to a close for at least this summer. Barcelona will not move from 35 million they offered and Wenger now seems adamant not to sell. The 50 million kitty that Sandro Rosell says that Barcelona has to spend also does not suggest an urgent need for Cesc and a sticking price of 35 million for Cesc even if Barcelona sells more players. Barcelona doesn't need Cesc to replace Xavi just yet, but its coming quick.

Sandro Rosell's first few weeks running Barcelona have set a tone of financial responsibility and transparency. On the surface this looks like a good thing, but it does come with an underbelly. Revealing what you have to spend is like showing your cards to potential buyers and sellers. In negotiations, much like poker, you need to keep as much information to yourself as possible. However, letting others know your kitty and sticking to it over time can lower prices you buy at. The potential pitfall being that your selling prices could diminish as well. In the case of Barcelona, lowering selling and buying prices of players in the whole market works to their advantage because everyone wants to go there.

Rosell has done well in establishing himself as the anti-Perez president in that he is preaching and exercising financial discipline instead of mortgaging the home for former world player of the years. If he can do this as well as win trophies for Barcelona, he'll be greatly revered not only by Barcelona, but by the world of soccer.

How will Madrid react to Barcelona not signing Cesc and capping its spending at 50 million? Will this stem a spending spree like last summer by Madrid? Madrid has already signed Angel Di Maria and Pedro Leon. Di Maria will make an already devastating counter-attack even more so. 25 million was not terribly too much. Leon from Getafe for 10 million gives Madrid another attacking winger. This is a much different summer than last with Madrid sold Arjen Robben at 25 million and Wesley Sneijder at 15 million.

Who else? Carlo Ancelotti says Ashely Cole will not move, Intermilan wants 60 million for Maicon, and Stuttgart insists that Sami Khedira will not move. Who is Mourinho going to bring to the Bernabéu this fall? Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ramires, or Mesut Ozil? In this not-so silly summer, it's hard to tell.

And, what will happen with Barcelona's 50 million kitty? Rosell said that the sales of Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Yaya Toure offset the purchase of David Villa. After the signing of Adriano from Sevilla at 13.5 million, there's about 36 million left. Adriano at left-back gives Barcelona a player in his prime that should fit in with the Barcelona system. Look for Barcelona to sign another Sevilla or Valencia player. They like to sign pairs of guys from the same team. Maybe Juan Mata will follow Villa to Barcelona and a defender from Sevilla? It's strange that David Villa's signing already feels like it happened last summer. Oh, that's right. Spain won the World Cup, not Barcelona.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Maybe America Already Was A Footballing Nation?

2010-07-15T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

I am sick and tired of all the "is America ready to embrace soccer" or "will America finally become a Footballing Nation" nonsense that comes with a World Cup and following spike in soccer's popularity in America. America already had embraced soccer and was a Footballing Nation prior to 5 weeks ago.

Let's go back in time 4 years ago. In the 2006 FIFA Big Count of people playing soccer in the world it was estimated that 265 million or 4% of the world played soccer. The USA clocked in at #2 with 24 million people according to FIFA, double the average in the world. So at least in terms of participation the USA was and is a Footballing Nation. However, participation does not mean popularity or the following of sport. The cliché is Americans play soccer and watch the Gridiron. How accurate is this cliché? We can look at two things: attendances and TV ratings.

If you travel further back in time to 1994, we have the most attended World Cup in history. Where? The USA. We shouldn't forget this. When the rest of the world questions the USA's place in the world of soccer, I'd like to remind them of 1994. To host the World Cup, the US had to create is own league. MLS was founded in 1993 and hosted its first season in 1996. Here at soccer's 3rd birth in the USA (ASL and NASL are another story) we can see two measuring sticks for soccer's popularity in the USA: the International Team and the MLS.

How big has the MLS become? By 2009, it had the 24nd highest average attendance for all sporting leagues in the world at 16,037 per game and 3,608,359 total. However in soccer the MLS checks-in at #12. Right behind the US is the Scottish Premier League 14,915 per game and 3,400,567 total. Let's think about that. We hosted the most attended World Cup, have the 12th most attended league, and play soccer at double the rate of the rest of the world. This should put us on the map in the world, but does it put us on the map in the American Sporting Landscape?

How does the MLS stack up against the NBA and NHL? In average attendance the MLS's 16,037 per game compares well with the NBA's 17,390 per game and the NHL's 17,265 per game. The MLS falls well short in total attendance at 3,608,359 compared to the NBA's 21,389,899 and NHL's 21,236,255. MLS has a way to go to catch the NBA and NHL in total attendance, but bridging this gap in a generation or two may be possible if MLS continues to slowly grow.

The attendances in the 60, 80, and 100,000 ranges for international and club friends in the summer months would indicate a thirst for soccer on a large scale in America. Also, the large number of channels that broadcast soccer-related content can be a bit staggering. You have Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus, Gol TV, Telemundo, Telefutura, Galavisión, ESPN Deportes, Fox Sports en Español, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, and Comcast. At least these are the ones I know of. Soccer is available like never before in America. To quantify the amount of coverage overseas leagues get in America would be too much for this article. Regardless, the USA has a market for soccer consumption that ESPN finally started to realize was there.

What about TV ratings? The previous highest rated soccer games were 1999 Women's World Cup final at 18 million viewers, the 1994 World Cup final at 14.5 million, the 1994 World Cup Second-round match between the USA and Brazil at 13.7 million, and the 2006 World Cup Final at 12 million. How do these games stack-up to the NBA? What about a Game 7 of the Lakers vs. Celtics in 2010 NBA Finals? This Game 7 a few weeks ago got 28.2 million viewers.

This World Cup, the USA-England got 12,956,000 viewers, USA-Ghana got 14.863 million, and the Spain-Netherlands final got 24.3 million on ABC and Univision. Ratings-wise, the US Soccer does very comparable to the NBA a least in the big games. What would the rating be if the USA ever got to the Semi's or Final of a World Cup?

Does the USA measure up against England in viewership? Interestingly enough the USA does. The combined coverage of ABC and Univision Spain-Netherlands final of 24.3 million was about 6 million more than the combined coverage of BBC and ITV at 18.4 million. Yet, we still have to take these numbers with a grain of salt being that the USA's population is about 6 times that of Britain at 309 million to 62 million. Nevertheless, more people watched the World Cup final in America than in Soccer's birthplace.

These World Cup numbers would quantitatively confirm the USA as a definite Footballing Nation. And just as important, the ESPY award for "Best Moment" going to Landon Donovan in the World Cup vs. Algeria culturally validates American-Soccer's place in America's and the World's Sporting Landscape. We've been a Footballing National a little while now. Just a little while. The question now is, when does American become a soccer-obsessed nation?

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Spain's WC Tactics, Anti-Football, & Beauty

2010-07-11T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Spain just won the World Cup scoring only 8 goals and conceding only 2. How did they do this? The answer to this question lies in the never-ending debate about beautiful soccer vs. effective soccer, or in more evocative terms positive football versus anti-football.

Spain and the Netherlands both played 4-2-3-1 formations, but very different styles of play. Spain used a possession style offense and pressing defense. Essentially, they took part of FC Barcelona's style of play (I assume because they started 7 FC Barcelona players), namely possession and pressing in numbers, and implemented it in 4-2-3-1 instead of a more attack-minded 4-3-3. The Netherlands played a more cagey pressing counter-attacking style from the same 4-2-3-1.

Let's define what possession means in soccer. As an FC Barcelona supporter, I've felt over the years that when I heard people say we played the right way, i.e. beautiful football, that they didn't really understand what was going-on. Yes, Barcelona plays an attack-minded 4-3-3, but possession lied at the heart of the philosophy. Simply having the ball and passing it around whether it be directly forward, laterally, or back had many advantages. On one hand it tires your opponent physically, mentally, and emotionally. And on the other hand, it builds up your confidence, precision, rhythm and momentum. This possession game has the same effect on opposition as the short-yardage running game in the gridiron, working the body in boxing, playing small-ball in baseball, and making more than the extra pass in basketball. Possession more so sets up the attack than actually being on the attack. Iniesta's goal in the 115th minutes was the total accumulation of this style of play. The dam finally broke.

As much as I love the possession game and would use and teach it if I coached, it is not necessarily the de-facto best style of play. Holding back and counter-attacking can be just as effective. This style guarantees acres of space to run into once you eventually win the ball back. Twice, Arjen Robben had two golden opportunities on the break that were squandered. It just depends on your personal, execution, and it Robben's case a little luck. Possession means moving a lot of people forward slowly so you can out-pass your opponent because of superior numbers in an area of pitch. This requires extraordinary technical skills. Holding back and counter-attacking requires better overall defensive skills and speed. A completely direct approach like Arsenal can be effective as well.

Possession does not mean beauty. They are not synonymous. Is connecting 30 passes in a row beautiful if half of them are backwards or lateral? I'd guess that half of people would say yes and the other half would say no. As much as I loved seeing Spain connect a zillion passes, it probably was because I was rooting for them. To the person who is rooting against Spain, the short-passing possession game may have seemed like a cheap game of keep-away. So what is beautiful soccer?

Beautiful soccer is really how successful you attack. In the end it's about goals. The goal can come at the end of 30 passes through a possession game or a counter-attack after repeated absorbed blows. The goal can also come through a direct attack as well. Any system that attacks effectively will be viewed as beautiful. I had to stomach it, but Intermilan's defeat of FC Barcelona was beautiful. Ouch, it hurts to write that!

It may be easy to define a team's style of play as either positively or negatively charged like an atom or some subatomic particle. The positively-charged teams make more direct forward passes and deploy more players up the pitch when out of possession. The negatively-charges teams make more backwards passes and keep more players defending at home in their side of the pitch. This really seems like a silly way to define teams as negatively or positively charged, but it seems to be how people do it. In these terms, Spain is probably neutrally charged because of all the lateral and back-passes.

However, to define a team as negative or positive misses the point. It also seems kind of bi-polar as well. We don't live in a black and white world and like a reflection of life; soccer has a lot of gray areas. Football can be viewed in many hues including beautiful as defined above, effective (i.e. winning), or as anti-football. What is anti-football?

First, let's define what anti-football is not. Anti-football is not throwing 10 men behind the ball and hoping for a fluke counter-attack. That might be a team's only legitimate chance against a superior opponent. Anti-football is not defensive football. Anti-football also is not negative football as discussed above.

Anti-football is a strategy of stopping your opponent or gaining an advantage over your opponent through deliberate breaches of the rules of the game.

This could include diving, play-attacking, jersey grabbing, and a host of other infringements that could get you a yellow or red card. What it means most is fouling as a strategy. Fouling as a strategy to stop your opponent means you are out-classed tactically and personnel-wise. A lot of people around the globe say that if you gain your team an advantage from fouling diving, etc., you are doing the right thing for your team. That it's really street-smart; especially if you don't get caught. Even if you do get caught and get a yellow or red card, as long as you won its ok. This is absolute rubbish! This same logic would be like saying it's not breaking the law when you commit a misdemeanor, but its only breaking the law when you are convicted of felony.

Anti-football is not clever. It's cheating.

Unfortunately, anti-football can not eradicated by changing the rules or even a referee individually in a game. How can you manage 29 fouls? Howard Webb's job was impossible. Video technology won't help either with 14 yellow cards being issued. Would you want to see 14 minutes of stoppage time added? Although, video and goal-line technology would help with other things. Soccer is a simple game with simple rules; a game that reflects the human-condition and not a fairness utopia like the American Gridiron. The truly great teams will still win through bouts with anti-football. However, Anti-football can be slowed down by pressure from soccer's culture, namely the coaches, fans, and press. Anti-football starts with the coach using it as a strategy. It can also end there.

The Netherland's problem was the fouling. They committed 28 fouls, 8 yellow cards, and 1 red card. When you are solely concerned about stopping a team, how are you going to go forward? Spain wasn't too much better with 19 fouls and 5 yellow cards. Fouling spoils the game and turns it ugly.

This World Cup final came as a mixed-bag. Spain won their first title, the seven winning countries became eight, and we saw a lot of drama. Unfortunately, we also witnessed a lot of anti-football in the final and have a World Cup winner that for the first time lost a game in the group phase and only scored 8 goals in 7 games. Spain may not have been beautiful, but they were effective. For me, as an FC Barcelona supporter, this World Cup Final will be remembered for when Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol became soccer's ultimate winners having won this World Cup, the Euro's two years ago, and FC Barcelona's six titles a year ago. In the end, winning is always beautiful.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Puyol's Samson-esque Hair & 10 Things Spain

2010-07-08T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

With Spain's win over Germany we have our second finalist for the World Cup. Here are 10 things Spain, starting with Carles Puyol's gorgeous noggin.

uno

Like the Biblical narrative of Samson, Carles Puyol's power comes from his hair. This could not be more apparent than on his header sending Barcelona, I mean Spain in the World Cup final. Nothing in the world of soccer compares to Puyol banging his head late-eighties heavy metal-style into the ball while soaring through the air. You have to feel bad for the ball and the keeper. No one would stand a chance. It's pretty amazing how much force Puyol gets behind his head-thrust. The one earlier in the first half that was off target foreshadowed his smash in the 73rd minute. Puyol deserves his time in the spotlight since he often is overlooked when the best center-backs in the World are discussed. As long as his curly head-banging locks are flowing on Sunday, Spain's chances are good.

dos

Like an idiot during the Germany vs. Spain match I thought something seemed familiar. I wrote it off in my mind as a passing thought of how a Germany vs. Netherlands final would be a great repeat of World Cup history from the 1970's. What didn't come to fruition in my mind's eye until after the game was that Spain vs. Germany was a repeat of the Euro's 2 years ago. How come more wasn't made of this before the game? History repeats itself. It just did. I almost missed it.

tres

Did anyone find it a bit remiss for ESPN to cut-to jubilant scenes of celebration in Madrid after the match when you consider that La Furia Roja started 7 players from FC Barcelona? Granted that Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, and Sergio Ramos are madridistas, ESPN may have wanted to show scenes from a few cities in Spain since Spain in a way is a country of countries and many languages. This was probably lost on a lot of Americans that just follow the MLS or Premier League. Either way, seeing madridistas celebrating a header by FC Barcelona's captain confirms soccer's brilliant ambivalent culture and nature.

cuatro

Alexi Lalas, soccer broadcasting's equivalent of Bill Walton, correctly predicted that the Netherlands and Spain would meet in the World Cup final. While watching the ESPN preview, I remember thinking to myself "What is Lalas thinking, the Netherlands? They always self-destruct and choke. There's no need to be that contrarian." Well, he was right and I don't remember seeing that final in many people's picks. Kudos to Alexi!

cinco

Spain is not FC Barcelona, but it's really hard not to see it and identify with that way. They started 7 Barcelona players and although they haven't been playing a 4-3-3, the offensive possession style and quick ball-recover defensive pressure Spain is using has Barcelona written all over it. If you replaced Xabi Alonso with Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos with Dani Alves, Joan Capdevila with Maxwell, and Iker Casillas with Víctor Valdés you'd have a little better team. Keep pinching yourself, they'll still look like and play like Barcelona.

seis

Speaking of Barcelona, Spain winning the World Cup can save the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards for Lionel Messi. A win for the Netherlands coupled with Intermilan's UEFA Champion's League win would push Wesley Sneijder over the top. Messi's Barcelona buddies can do him quite a favor with a win.

siete

If the Netherlands are going to beat Spain, they can't throw everyone behind the ball in their half and expect to be able to counter-attack in the open space. Spain's slow-build possession game functions more like a long-term military siege where you surround and starve-off your enemy. Connecting 20, 30, 40 passes in a row and then winning the ball right back doesn't just tire you physically through the chasing, but also mentally and emotionally. The Netherlands can't let Spain slowly build from the back. Those early passes on the backline either squarely or shortly-direct gradually build-up the momentum and confidence to connect the surgeon's-touch short incisions close to and in the penalty box. People may call this the beautiful game because of the number of passes connected, but make no mistake, it's really a long-term siege prior to storming the games. All this being said, the Netherlands will still have to get the ball off them at some point.

ocho

The Netherlands won't stay in their half and be happy to defend. They'll initiate with Spain a little further up the pitch and be happy to foul a lot more often than Germany did. Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong will push the limit with the official with how much they can get away with. They'll either maintain this steely balance or be frustrated by Spain's possession and get booked more than once. This balance on the pitch, strategic fouling, and eventual counter-attacking by the Netherlands will be where the game is won or lost. Wesley Sneijder and Intermilan beat Barcelona (Spain as well for all intents and purposes) with this proper balance. Spain will execute their game-plan. The question is whether the Netherlands will too. If they do, we'll have quite a chess-match to watch.

nueve

Xavi's passes are about as reliable as the force of gravity. When he has an errant pass I get scared that things are going to start floating around or something. Heck, if he is off by an inch on a pass it feels like a "great disturbance in the force" as Obi Wan Kenobi put it. Xavi had an errant pass around the 39th minute against Germany. Don't count on one against the Netherlands.

diez

We are at the end. The Netherland vs. Spain. The group of seven World Cup winning nations will become eight on Sunday. Going back to number dos, history can't and won't repeat itself with the winner on the Sunday's final, but if Germany wins 3rd place on Saturday, something again will seem awfully familiar?

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

The Yet to be Fulfilled Dutch Promise

2010-07-06T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

We have one of our finalists for the World Cup, the Netherlands, also known as Holland, Oranje, or Clockwork Orange among other things. They have won all of their games in the World Cup, scored 12 goals, conceded only 5, and knocked-out Brazil, the number one team in the world, at least according to FIFA rankings. On paper the Netherlands are legitimate contenders, but they always are. Is this their time? This story is a bit familiar.

In 1974, the Netherlands lost to East Germany in the World Cup finals and in 1978 they lost to Argentina. This was a golden-age for believers in the beautiful game. Those teams played a gorgeous system of soccer known as total football. In this system any player, accept the keeper, could slot in and take over the role of any other player. This elegant ever flowing system of play and its accompanying fluid passing game garnered the Netherlands the nick-name Clockwork Orange. The player that encompassed this dazzling style of play the most was Johan Cruyff, one of a handful of the greatest players ever. Further, in 1988, they won a European Championship with a host of stars including Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, and Frank Frank Rijkaard. The promise of the Dutch has been to win the World Cup beautifully.

Yet, the Netherlands never won the big one at the World Cup. Something always went wrong. To a certain degree they have been plagued with a history of unraveling at large tournaments. The current squad is no exception with quick self-destruct buttons for Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong, Robin van Persie, and Arjen Robben. This psychology of coming-undone could also be called Clock Work Orange. Additionally, this team does not play the brand of soccer we'd usually attribute with the historic beauty of past Netherlands teams. The current squad plays with two defensive mid-fielders, Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, who although provide protection also slow things down. However, it has been affective. Brazil was always known for its flair, but had a solid defense in its last two World Cup wins in 1994 and 2002. There are some similarities here.

If the Netherlands win, they may only fulfill half of their promise because it may not be very pretty. Nevertheless, having the Netherlands as a World Cup winner would be nice to see given their rich soccer history. If Spain were to win they could fulfill this promise. Spain has some strange connections with this Dutch Promise. Spain's current style of play reflects the legacy of Total Football through Johan Cruyff's influence at FC Barcelona. Spain started 6 players (Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and David Villa) from Barcelona and brought another one off the bench (Pedro) and yet another one of the bench that was developed in their youth academy (Cesc Fábregas). These players and the Spain side as a whole are known for a beautiful passing possession game and the players can interchange positions on the fly. Further, Cruyff and Rijkaard both coached Champions League winners at Barcelona.

Either way at the time of this writing, Spain still have yet to beat Germany and it would be foolish to write-off Germany. They always produce. However, the story that this World Cup may be about is seeing either the Netherlands or Spain fulfill the Dutch Promise.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

Ghana's Tears are all of Africa's as well

2010-07-05T16:00:00Z

by Sayed Otaru

Surely, they had no chance? Getting to the final of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations had to have been a fluke - the players are too young, Michael Essien is out injured, as is the penalty hero of the last U-20 World Cup final Agyemang-Badu. Sule Muntari might as well have continued to give Coach Milo the silent treatment and not flown out to South Africa with the squad - no? Riddled with injury and some level of division within the squad (Laryea Kingston's alleged and later denied verbal dressing down of Coach Milo: plus Muntari's continued dispute with Coach Milo, and later on some of his team mates ) - surely Ghana were going to cede "second spot" to Serbia or perhaps even Australia.

On July 2, 2010 this generation of Ghanaian footballers permanently sealed spots in the hearts of Ghanaians and Africans as a whole around the continent. The last of the 6 African teams standing, and only the 3rd African team to make it to the Quarter Finals. On this day, they didn't play for Ghana, they played for Africa!

Of course there are those on/from the African continent who do not bear Ghanaian nationalities and would argue that they did not share the same sentiments and wished Ghana ill luck because they were a jealous neighbor. I am fairly certain that the number of folks who expressed such sentiments was rather paltry. I encountered two such individuals and the best they could ramble on about was: "Well, Argentineans won't support Brazil, so as a Nigerian, why should I support Ghana?".

Fair play, but the dynamics are different. The rivalries do not have the same origins or characteristics. While fiercely competitive (note, never really violent) when up against one another, there has been a historical backing among African teams on the International stage at all levels of competition. Until such a time comes when African teams are dominating the senior setup on the international stage, I expect this trend to continue.

Back to the game - Ghana missing the increasingly impressive Dede Ayew (son of the legendary Abedi Pele), and Jonathan Mensah due to suspension started the game rather nervy. Muntari and KP Boateng weren't exerting the influence many expected them to have early on. As Ghana grew increasingly confident, my palpitations eased back to normal - what's this? I only feel this way (increased heart rate) about Nigerian football and a certain English club team that I support. I like Ghana and want them to win, but something else is going on here, this actually means a lot to me. Muntari's blinder from 35 yards had me in pure ecstasy!

The game as a whole was a rollercoaster and every time danger men Suarez or Forlan had the ball, we held our collective breaths. Forlan's amazing goal did little to help my fragile state. As the game wore on, you could see the Ghanaian players tiring our and my concern grew. When Suarez handled the ball in the very last minute of extra time, I thought "Yes, this is it! The football gods have finally stepped in for us!" As Gyan's penalty went off the cross bar, all hope died. It knocked the stuffing out of some of the players and fans alike. John Mensah's poor penalty and young Dominic Adiyiah's saved penalty later and a whole continent was in mourning. These men gave everything and some more all tournament long. The great manners Dede Ayew displayed in his interview with Super Sport earlier in the tournament paying homage to the "elders of the team" in typical African fashion showed the other side to the team that may perhaps not have been as visible to the public at large. Kwadwo Asamoah was another young stalwart who carried himself well all tournament long and is destined for great things provided he can keep his head down and continue to work hard. Gyan was inconsolable as he clearly identified himself as being at fault for this loss - I disagree with that notion, because the man was a warrior all tournament long and did very well to score the first Ghanaian spot kick during the shootout. There are heroes all over the team from Richard Kingson in goal to Kevin Prince Boateng who had only assumed the right to play for Ghana on May 12, 2010.

South Africa made us say: "Ayoba!", Cameroon had us saying: "Please take Emana off", Algeria had us saying: "You could have used Belloumi, Madjer & Menad!", Ivory Coast: "Why Sven, why would you play Dindane over Gervinho!", Nigeria: "Yaaakkkkuubbbuuu.....noooooooooooo!", and Ghana; Ghana made us cry...

The Black Stars have a bright future ahead of them. If Coach Milo does indeed stay on, I hope he gets the full backing of the Football Federation as well as ex players. He deserves that respect. A few days on from that now infamous day, I have spoken to several non-Ghanaian Africans and the consensus has been the same: "Otaru, that Ghana match pain me oh!" (in pidgin English). We are all (well mostly) proud of our Chales.

The Oldest Cliche in our Sport Rang True!

2010-07-01T17:00:00Z

-Kenny Hassan Email to WFD Colleagues

The oldest cliche in our sport ran true today...'a game of 2 halves'.
The Dutch woeful in the first and Brazil equally as woeful in the second.

After the initial alarm bells went off in the Dutch dressing room with Mathijsen having to opt out at the last second, in comes big veteran PSV defender Ooijer to replace him. Pairing up 'on the fly' with Heitinga is no easy feat, trust me. Johnny has been clueless looking since he left Ajax 3 years ago. Brazil dominate the first half with Robinho threading 5-15 yd one touch passes like he's havin' a laugh. Alves even looks comfortable, Bastos, Silva and Lucio make the game look easy. 1-0 at the interval, could have/should have...been 3.

Kaka, what the fuck has happened to you son?....one good shot and a decent pass in the first half was unacceptable, Jesus would be SO mad.

Arjen 'predictable' Robben was going down quicker than Lindsay Lohan with the promise of an 8ball. Van Bomber is a dirty, diving, disgrace to our game and along with Robben, should be banned for life, or sent to Broadway.

What a 2nd half the Flying Dutchmen had in store for us. De Jong continued his superlative understanding and awareness on a football pitch and if he can control that notion to fly off the handle, he will be a giant for this or any team. He misses the next game for the afore-mentioned problem. Ji Sung Kuyt is as industrious a footballer you will see on this planet, I dont know what he's trying to accomplish, Bert Van Marwijk doesnt know what he's trying to accomplish and Kuyt himself is absolutely bewildered. Magnificent effort throughout the match from him. RVP is brittle and selfish and not that good in BIG games, and oh, thats why he's at Arsenal.

Snejder is amazing, right foot, left foot, wherever it lands, he's as precise with both, as evident when he swung that left foot cross in and Melo, the Dud beat Cesar to it and knocked it in his own net. Wesley, the smallest guy in the box then pops up AND HEADS the winner.

Overall, a fairly entertaining game of football, we wont be talking about it years from now, unless your Dutch.
Thank fuck Brazil are out the way now, Argentina prepare for victory next Sunday.

Ghana anyone?....

Cheers,
Kenny.

Bradley stays and then goes?

2010-06-30T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Does US Soccer Coach Bob Bradley stay or does he go? This will ultimately be answered by US Soccer President Sunil Gulati over the next few weeks and months. Any employer goes through a process when deciding to replace an employee and then who to hire. The following are 6 questions that can serve as a guide to what Sunil Gulati decision-making process may look like.

1. Did Bradley do enough as US Men's Coach to merit another 4 years?

If Sunil Gulati answers yes to this question, the process becomes a quick extension for Bob Bradley. Unfortunately, the answer to this question will be no. Although winning Group C may have been enough in past years to be retained, not avenging the 2006 defeat against Ghana in the Knock-phase makes merit a very tricky question to answer. The US's performance in last summer's Confederations Cup and Bradley's overall record the last 4 years help, but this question is too close to call. What we can reasonable guess is that in the eyes of Sunil Gulati, Bradley probably does not unequivocally deserve another 4 years. Nevertheless, he also hasn't done too little to automatically merit a dismissal. Thus, Gulati will probably consider all options.

2. Will Bradley suffer from staleness if he is retained for 2 World Cup cycles?

Everyone seems to think that if a national team coach is retained for 8 years that "staleness" sets in the following World Cup. Look at Bruce Arena and Marcello Lippi. They held onto the same players for 2 cycles and these players seemed to expire like food past its expiration date. Still something doesn't quite seem right about this theory of staleness. Let's take a look at World Cup Winners the last 20 years. In reverse order this is how much time the winning coaches had prior to the World Cup: Marcello Lippi had 2 years with Italy prior to 2006, Luiz Felipe Scolari had 1 year with Brazil prior to 2002, Aimé Jacquet had 5 years with France prior to 1998, Carlos Alberto Parreira had 3 years with Brazil prior to 1994, and Franz Beckenbauer had 6 years with Germany prior to 1990. That's 3 winners with coaches just for the 1 cycle and 2 for 2 cycles. Staleness may not be as much of a concern as initially thought.

3. How often is Bradley better than his opponent's coach?

If Bradley does not run out of ideas or cling to the same players through 2 cycles, is he still better, more times than not, than the coach standing across the field from him. Lets look at who Bradley faced this World Cup. Ghana had Milovan Rajevac, Algeria had Rabah Saadane, Slovenia had Matjaz Kek, and England had Fabio Capello. Out of this lot, Fabio Capello is probably the only one Sunil Gulati would probably want more, although Milovan Rajevac could really make a name for himself if Ghana defeats Uruguay and makes it to the semi's. Nevertheless, Bradley is not out of his league and if anything is probably better than more of the coaches that he faces.

4. Should the USA have an American or a foreign coach for the next cycle?

Should we stay with one our own or learn from a outsider that may have experience actually winning a World Cup as a coach or player? The reality of the situation is that the US is not going to win the World Cup in 2014. We don't have that caliber of talent in the pipeline right now. 2018 or 2022 would be more realistic chances if we continue to grow as a footballing nation. If we are to learn from a foreigner with some World Cup wisdom, this is the time to do it.

5. Would US Soccer experience a bounce from a new coach?

A better question would be: Would US Soccer experience more of a bounce from a new coach 1-2 years prior to the World Cup than 4 years ahead of time. The answer to question #2 gives some evidence here. Marcello Lippi had 2 years with Italy prior to 2006, Luiz Felipe Scolari had 1 year with Brazil prior to 2002, and Carlos Alberto Parreira had 3 years with Brazil prior to 1994. Taking this into consideration, hanging-on to Bradley for 2-3 more years and then bringing-in a foreign coach makes some sense.

6. What coaches can US Soccer reasonably expect to sign?

So if it makes sense to replace Bradley in 2-3 years, who can Sunil Gulati reasonably expect to be able to sign in that timeframe? A short-list right now could include Jürgen Klinsmann, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Guus Hiddink, and Carlos Alberto Parreira. Everything would seem to point in Klinsmann's direction. He was a close choice before. Maybe Sunil Gulati is willing this time around to give Klinsmann more the total control that he wanted. He speaks American English great and seems to fit right in with ESPN's broadcast of the World Cup. Heck he even has a residence in Los Angeles right convenient to WFD. If Gulati wanted to make a change and stay American, maybe Jason Kreis gets a chance or Bruce Arena is brought back-in rejuvenated. Kreis probably needs some more seasoning though.

Answer:

So what will happen? At this point, it seems that retaining Bradley for at least another 2-3 years will probably happen. And if he does well by going deep in the Copa America, maybe he'll become a permanent interim coach. However, now is the time to go abroad for a coach if we are going to do it and Klinsmann seems to fit the bill. This seems like déjà vu. Perhaps in 2-3 years, it won't be Klinsmann but rather his ESPN Studio-mate Roberto Martínez. That would give Martinez a few more years seasoning to his 3 years coaching in England. Bradley will stay at least for a year or 2, tops 3, but after that its anyone's guess. We've seen this before.

Please send any feedback to skuzner@gmail.com.

An American's View of England

2010-06-27T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Dear England,

I writing out of concern for your national team not only on behalf of America, but also on behalf of the Footballing world as a whole. If things go as planned for you-all, the 2018 World Cup will be "coming home" to your great land. Particularly for us in America, if you win the bid, we'll be given a great opportunity for a somewhat convenient soccer vacation. All this being said, an underachieving English national team, is a blight on England and the global footballing landscape. The world needs you to get things together before a potential embarrassment on your own soil. This is what you need to do.

It is an honor to play for England. Cut any player that doesn't feel this way about your great country. Your players need to be either in or out. Players caught in between will only make your team indecisive, divided, and un-driven. Any player should be honored to play for soccer's founding country. Soccer's exact origins will always be a source of debate, nonetheless it would be fair to say your people created the game. At the very least, you spread soccer across the globe more so than anyone. Soccer would not be a global game without you. Any player that does not understand and revere England's footballing legacy needs to go.

Next, release any player that has or even potentially could divide your team. The collective whole must be greater than its parts. Before the World Cup began, I knew your team would underachieve for no other reason than John Terry was on your roster. How can any team unify around a key player that is, without a shadow of a doubt, a dubious character in relation to his teammates? Any way you cut it, Terry was a polarizing factor in your team this time around. A team can not truly rally around a player they know has truly betrayed a former teammate. Don't believe what your team said about being behind Terry. They don't believe their own words. Think about what England in 2010 would have been if Terry's character was that of Sir Bobby Charlton or that of Bobby Moore? You'd have a legitimate captain the team could be centered around. Steven Gerrard was third string captain, hardly a leader.

Please don't play Gerrard and Lampard together or two similar players in 2018.

While on the Gerrard/Lampard thing, every player needs to be willing to play any position they are called-upon to slot into. Phillip Lahm plays better on the left, but Germany needed him on the right. Please take note because you just saw this one while losing to Germany. If Gerrard won't play on the left and stay on left if called-upon, cut him. Your players must be willing to do whatever is asked of them. No exceptions.

That brings us to the fragile psyche of your players. You're a courageous nation and your players need to reflect this admirable trait. It is absolute rubbish that your players were not "mentally ready" because they didn't know the team-sheet until just hours before the match. The complaints from your national team about this are ridiculous. This is the World Cup where you go home if you lose, not the week-in and week-out daily grind of the club season. Every player should be focused to play every game. Players without this emotional fortitude and attitude of do or die should not be considered for your team. Further, your players whined like a bunch of pampered kids that they were bored! Are you kidding? (No pun intended.) It's the World Cup. Who cares if you are bored? You are England! Your players need to understand that:

PLAYING FOR ENGLAND IS AN HONOR NOT A PRIVILEGE!

Getting back to courage, honor, and strength, these are the characteristics with which the world tends to think of when they think about the English game. This time round, these values were lacking. Your team displayed little grit, determination, and resolve after Lampard's goal was disallowed against Germany. Your veteran star-laden team lost 4-1 to bunch of up-coming German kids. You need players that encompass these values and you need to create a culture within your national team that re-enforces them. The culture of the team can make the sum of its parts greater than the whole. A focus on the core English footballing values must come from the FA down.

These issues deal with both the personnel and the culture of your team. You got 8 years to get them straightened-out before you potentially host the 2018 World Cup. Don't get distracted about tactics or whether to have a foreign or an English coach. Don't let your tabloid press keep you focused on these two areas. They are meaningless without the people and culture to successfully execute a plan. We want you to do well. A repeat of 1966 on English soil would be a great story.

USA Soccer Defined: Bomb & Invade

2010-06-25T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that soccer's moment in America has arrived. The World Cup Talk that so often envelopes every fiber of a nation's consciousness has finally taken grip in the US. Can you remember the last time Congress stopped to catch the end of a US Soccer game? The World Cup conversation has even made its way into Conservation Talk Radio and Cable TV. For at least the moment, soccer has America's attention. However, for years America has failed to define its national-brand of soccer. Brazil has its individual-celebratory beautiful game of "Joga Bonito", Italy has its defensive "Catenaccio", and Holland has its fluid "Total Football". What is American Soccer? Right now, we are seeing it define itself ........ Bomb & Invade.

Let's look at the first part of this brand of soccer: Bomb. To understand the style of US Soccer we must start in the context of American sports. After all, Bob Bradley had the greatest winner ever, Celtics legend, Bill Russell, speak to the team. Against Algeria, the US goal was set up by two bombs. The first was a punt by Tim Howard that went the length of the field to the other penalty box. Howard did the same thing shortly before Robert Green's gaffe against England. The second was Howard's throw that set up the counterattack that led to the goal. This throw reminded me of one thing; the bomb in the American Gridiron. In that throw, a lot of Americans didn't see a goalie chuck a soccer-ball down a pitch, but rather a quarterback throw a pig-skin down the gridiron. Make no mistake, this was a bomb. Bombs shock. Bombs disorient. Bombs win games.

Further, throughout this World Cup campaign the US has been playing long-ball after long-ball down the pitch to Jozy Altidore and company. Soccer purists will call this "Kick and Rush", the old-school English-style. And, this claim would have some merit, but long-balls alone are only part of Bomb and Invade. Also, this aerial attack is more akin to the long passing game of the gridiron but played with the feet and heads, minus the hands. Prior to US goals, Slovenia and Algeria seemed in shock from all this bombing.

This bombing stretches the field creating gaps in the midfield for Donovan, Bradley, and Dempsey to exploit or in other words invade. With a team stretched, a multitude of attacking options open up. The US can do a slow build-up of passes functioning much like a long-term siege, launch a counterattack, out-flank their opponents, push it up gut, or hold-up a long-ball and flick it on to a runner coming from the midfield. Using a wide-range of attacking options reflects the US's diversity of players. We are a melting pot and our national team reflects this diversity.

We must not forget to be careful when creating new sports analogies with the military. We are extremely fortunate for what our troops do. We can not thank them enough. Still, the world watches this US team and equates its resolve with that of the US military. US Soccer can't receive a comment better than this. We have a team that reflects the best values of an America that never gives up. This probably refreshes a world that saw the French national team implode and try to pack-up its bags and leave early.

This brand of soccer is the new sporting American-Exceptionalism. We created our own sports with the Gridiron, Basketball, and Baseball. Our American games connect us to who we are as Americans. Now we have finally opened up to the global game that connects us to collective human experience throughout the world. Nevertheless, in America, we do things our way. And we'll play and win soccer our way.

Brazilian Nazgûl

2010-06-21T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Let's face it. As I believe Kenny Hassan mentioned a few times on WFD, Spain may be a lot of folks' favorite for the World Cup, but Brazil remains in the back of our subconscious as the team to truly fear. It sure would be nice to see Spain or Holland win their first World Cup, maybe England get their second, or the Maradona circus keep-up with its early pace. These would be pleasing headlines. But, Brazil hovers above this World Cup like the Nazgûl Ring Wraiths from Lord of the Rings. They descend-upon and devour whatever is in front of them. This Brazil relentlessly hunts for number six.

It never felt like the Ivory Coast had much of a chance in Sunday's match. Sven-Göran Eriksson said that, "to beat Brazil, you must be almost perfect." Well, the Ivory Coast was not perfect, but the Ivory Coast is a team a lot of folks felt was Africa's best chance in the World Cup. The Ivorians seemed very much outclassed in a game that was touted as a marquee match-up in the group phase. It may be that even if you play perfectly and Brazil play flawed, Brazil will still pretty much beat you senseless.

The partying, overindulgences, and lack of focus from Brazil 2006 have been transformed into an efficient Dunga-designed Brazilan Sparta. As routinely described by the Vickapedia, Brazil's physical preparations are meticulous and best-in-class. Their depth and quality of talent are superior to most, bar Spain and the floundering French. Further, this talent is ideal personnel to play an organized defensive counter-acting style of football. Lúcio, Maicon, and Júlio César played pivotal roles for José Mourinho's defense at Intermilan. Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo provide additional protection in front the defense and bite in the midfield. Kaká and Robinho launch counter-attacks at light-speed. And, Luis Fabiano finishes with ruthless execution. Nevertheless, there surely must be some chink in their armor?

In the Confederations Cup final, the US nearly found a way to beat Brazil but in the end just enraged them, at least if you judge by the second half of the match. Against the Ivory Coast, Brazil's vaunted team discipline slowly eroded away under relentless hacking, dubious tackling, diving, and theatrics from the Ivorians resulting in Kaká being sent-off after two yellow cards, albeit the second from an Oscar worthy performance from Kader Keita. However, this hardly seems like a chink in the armor. Perhaps national pressure boils beneath the surface of a team that is not playing the beautiful football its country craves so much. In its place now resides an effective and at times ugly brand of football. If this pressure is rising, we have yet to see it. Searching for a significant flaw in Brazil's game may be as difficult as trying to catch a fly with chopsticks like Mr. Miyagi.

The closest thing to a flaw may well be that Brazil hasn't figured out yet how to work in Dani Alves to the staring eleven. Macion, the #1 right-back in the world is backed-up by Alves, the #2 right-back in the world. Now there's a real problem? We are grasping at straws here. Instead, let's grasp at some chopsticks. Brazil doesn't have the one person on the planet outside of Mr. Miyagi that can catch a fly with chopsticks. They don't have Lionel Messi.

USA 2 SLOVENIA 2: HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT ELLIS PARK

2010-06-19T19:00:00Z

Dateline Johannesburg, South Africa:

We wuz robbed.

Last night I had the privilege of being in Ellis Park, for the greatest soccer match I've ever attended. Sam's Army was there in full force. Elvis was in the building. So was the Statue of Liberty. America owned that stadium. I've been here since the 11th, and the US is the most popular team here with the natives after Bafana Bafana. We had played England to a draw on the pitch, and more impressively, in the terraces. But this was a home game for us and we were ready to put Slovenia to the sword.

Unfortunately, the Slovenes refused to play their assigned role. We have had trouble with the likes of Poland, the Czechs, the Slovaks. Now these characters. A typical slavic outfit. Tactically astute, technically sound, strong in the air and the tackle, and keen apostles of Mourinhoism, i.e., feigning injury, cheating and time wasting. Utterly shameless. But first was the skill. Many were calling for Ricardo Clark to get the hook, and Jose Torres to be put into central midfield. Well, not so good. Twice, Slovenia clinically exploited the lack of a shield to go up 2-0, the second being a sucker punch before halftime and against the run of play. On the first, there was no understanding between Bradley and Torres, giving the shooter all the time and space in the world. And Howard was too far off his line. On the second, Bradley was out of the play, and Torres challenged meekly, while Onyewu could have saved matters by stepping up to play the runner offside. Instead, Gooch planted, the runner was onside, and Howard failed to make the save -- I think the ribs are bothering him. At the halftime whistle, I wondered how this could be happening. With the greatest crowd we've ever had, with everything poised for a major statement, were we really going to lay down?

No, we weren't. In the 46th minute, Landon Donovan came up big. The goal was right in front of us, as we were in the US section, inside the 10 yard area. Donovan dribbled toward the goal, slowly. I took my eye off him to see who would make the run; surely, he was going to pass. The angle was impossibly acute for him to attempt a shot. It seemed like it was in slow motion, as he got closer and closer.......and then he almost decapitated the goalie with a finish into the roof of the net. I don't know what it was like on TV at home, but we went crazy. The crowd was hysterical. And then the long wait for an equalizer. You felt it had to come, but we were getting discouraged. Bob Bradley had acted decisively at halftime. Dempsey up front, Torres and Findlay off, Feilhaber and Maurice Edu in. Edu was making a major difference, a superior athlete. We were winning balls, Edu was staying home, freeing Bradley to do his box to box routine. Yet the Slovenes were cagey, and shameless with their time wasting, with a Ref unable or unwilling to police their tactics. Finally, it came. The knockdown from Altidore, the distracting run by Gomez to pull the center half out of position, and a great finish from Bradley. Bedlam.

But we wanted the win. A blatant trip on Altidore for a free kick. Should have been a second yellow and a dismissal. Donovan placed it perfectly and Edu crashed it in for the victory, right in front of us. Our crowd was going nuts. But I never stopped watching the box, and saw the Malian was up to no good. Koman Coulibaly is a financial inspector by day. Here, his books were not in good order. We've all seen the replays. It was a rugby match, with at least 3 Slovenes holding US players in bear hugs.

And that went on all game, every free kick or corner. You see it all the time and I resigned myself to the fact that the only way to stop it is to put 2 more linesman on each byline to call the penalties. Surely it's too much to ask of one referee? Actually, no, it's not. Today I had the pleasure of watching Roberto Rosetti of Italy handle the Ghana v Australia match in Rustenburg. An absorbing encounter, and a fabulous crowd, full marks to the Ghanians and the Aussies. But I was in the 3rd row in the corner where Australia attacked the first half. There were several corners and free kicks during the game at my end. Most of the free kicks were in the area where Donovan had to take his last night. You probably don't see it on TV, but let me tell you what Rosetti does. He makes the call; then he marches off the 10 yards. Then he takes his position near the scrum, and gets all their attention by making the safe sign with his arms while he yells "hands off". He blows the whistle, and he doesn't even look at the ball. He concentrates on the area. And guess what? There's no wrestling, no bear hugs, no shirt pulling, no nothing. Just clean runs and defending. Cus they know he's watching and they know he has the cajones to call a penalty. There was no arguing and no time wasting all game. He had complete control and respect and it was a good match as a result. So, it can be done.

As for the tie, you can't always get what you want. But I think we got what we needed. Full credit must go to Bob Bradley. The lineup changes backfired. So what? What matters is, he adjusted, acting decisively to correct the problems. And we have a wonderful spirit in our team. You only have to watch the rabble that was England against Algeria to see players who cannot function together. That never happens with us. We're not the most talented side, but we are a team, a unit. And our support has come of age. That was an awesome performance by our supporters and I was honored to be there amongst them. Believe me, it wasn't easy for me to get here, and I know I'm no exception. But our fans gave everything they had last night, and it made a difference.

I've been to Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Highbury and Parkhead. I toured the Bernabeu on the way here. I know it's a rugby ground, but Ellis Park was the best soccer ground I've ever been to, and that was the most electric atmosphere I've ever been a part of. We sit 2nd in the group. Two 0-0 ties in the remaining matches and we are through. But you should have to win to get through your group. We need to beat Algeria. I'll finally be stateside, but with my brothers and sisters in arms still here from Sam's Army, I'm confident Bradley's Boys will get the result.

What a night. What a game. What a country.

Matt Switalski

Spain Gutted with a Swiss Army Knife

2010-06-19T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

Switzerland's defeat of Spain gave us our first World Cup shocker. The Swiss played not to lose and ended-up winning. del Bosque's comment that the Swiss win was an "excessive prize ... considering the football they displayed" may be unmerited, but may not necessarily be inaccurate because as well as the Swiss executed their plan to perfection, the Spanish were a half step behind in executing their own plan.

So far, we can call this the "2010 José Mourinho World Cup". Success breeds copy-cats. Mourinho's Intermilan was good enough to beat the Barcelona with a well organized defensive counter-attacking style. And like Intermilan, the Swiss beat Barcelona, being that Spain started six Barcelona players (Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Villa, Pique, and Puyol) and brought on a seventh in Pedro, with a well organized defensive counter-attacking style.

Ottmar Hitzfeld wanted two compact lines behind their strikers, to not lose too much energy fighting for the ball, and to focus on their defense and wait for the counter attack. They stuck to this plan and made their own luck. When you score against Gerard Pique and Iker Casillas, arguably the world's best center-back and goalie, via a mad scramble with players tumbling and tossing on the ground, a little luck is involved. To be fair, we'll call it well-earned luck.

The reality of the situation though is that Spain was a half-step or inches away from running away with this one. I stopped taking notes on the near misses at one point. Villa was just short of connecting on a lot of chances. Without Torres most of the game, Villa was out of sync. Iniesta was menacing, but not venomous. Navas brought a lot of energy to the right wing. The 67th through 69th minutes brought a number of chances but no goals. Torres looked not himself and had a few heavy touches.

So even if Spain had chances, despite an unfit Torres, is there still something wrong in the Spanish camp? Xavi flailed his arms in disgust a number of times at his teammates for not making passes. And, things aren't going right if Gerard Pique is coming forward into the box throughout the game and he's producing some of your best opportunities.

Spain moved from a 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 in the second half. Why not use the 4-1-3-2 that won the Euro's? A lone striker may not be the best option when you are playing a possession game versus a team that throws ten behind the ball or uses back five hoping for a counter-attack. Zabi Alonso or Busquets could fill the role vacated by Marcos Senna. Until Torres is fully fit, Pedro could blend up front with Villa.

Still, at the end of the day, the 24th ranked team in the world beat the 2nd ranked team in the world. Perhaps we should not read too much into the Spanish slip-up. 8% of teams that have lost their 1st Game have advanced past the group phase, including 1990's Argentina that lost to Cameroon in their first game and eventually advanced to the final. Spain with all that talent should be fine, right?

Nevertheless, all this makes you wonder. If with a little luck, Switzerland can beat Spain playing an organized defensive counter-attacking brand of football, how can anyone stop Brazil if they do the same thing?

USA vs. England in Amish Country

2010-06-14T17:00:00Z

By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

A few months ago, my wife and I agreed to go on a camping trip with a couple-friend who have a daughter the same age as our daughter. Little did I know, when I agreed, half-listening because I was watching an FC Barcelona match, that the weekend was the first of the World Cup. I didn't put the date on my Outlook Calendar. Months passed by having forgotten this trip. The US gets drawn with England. And Presto-Chango, I am in a predicament that I can't get myself out of.

Now this isn't some ordinary camping trip. We are doing to Lancaster County Pennsylvania, God's Country. Well, Amish Country. I've been waiting 4 years for the World Cup, the US gets drawn with England, I get about a half-dozen viewing party invites, and I'm going camping? What am I going to do? The trip is a done deal. Finding a sports-bar in Amish Country is a tall order. At least, I can listen to it on radio. Heck, maybe this would create an even better story.

I bring a radio and batteries. Early Saturday morning I test the radio and find two sports stations. Surely one of these will have the game. Even better, I find a four-leaf clover while playing with my daughter. Perhaps, the US will win. 2:30 comes and everyone at the camp is napping. Perfect, I can turn on the radio, hold on to my rosary beads from the Vatican, and listen to the game. However, neither station has the game.

Panic time! I run to my car and frantically scan through every AM station. It feels like an eternity. My heart starts to speed. My hands and feet go cold. Oddly, I hear the click-clack of an Amish horse-drawn carriage somewhere beyond a tree-line. My wife walks-up to the car to remind me not to run the engine too long. My plan #2 was to try and go the whole weekend without finding-out who wins and watch the DVR recording. I have a better chance at the lottery than that.

After 3 scans through the channels, the radio finally picks-up a faint ESPN station. Four minutes have passed and England is winning 1-Nil from a Steven Gerrard goal.

The click-clack of the horse-drawn carriage drifts off and the Vuvuzelas from the broadcast slowly surround my car like the buzz of circling bees. I have heard this sound before. The rally sound of the US in the Confederations Cup. We got 86 more minutes, my four-leaf clover, and Vatican beads. WE can do this!

I'm sitting in my car in Amish Country thinking "WE" can do this?

Apparently Donovan only touches the ball on corners. We misfire on header after header. Tommy Smith keeps saying we need to string some passes together. Tim Howard gets hurt. James Milner gets a yellow card and Shawn Wright-Phillips replaces him. Howards punts a long ball that goes over the goal. Tommy Smith points out that Robert Green was a bit far out of goal, unfocused. Foreshadowing? Then, Green has the Howler. He bobbles in a routine shot by Clint Dempsey.

America! F@#$ yeah!

Half time. I take a walk to a public bathroom in the woods and walk back. The second half I try to picture things more. I close my eyes. They say the US is moving left to right. I hear long ball after long ball by the US that just misses its intended recipient. More and more Tommy Smith and JP Dellacamera mention Rooney's name. Frank Lampard delivers free-kicks and corners. My mind sees siege after siege after siege.

Peter Crouch replaces Emile Heskey. I've seen Crouchie play dozens of times. On TV he is 6 foot 5 inches. In my mind he is 6 foot 10 inches. Jan Koller might as well be entering the game. Memories of getting tanked by Czech Republic in 2006 flood my mind. I can't have negative vibes! We can do this. Use that "Creative Visualization" nonsense that David Beckham spoke about. I go to my "happy place" and picture Tim Howard Saves, Landon Donovan-led counter-attacks, and, most of all, Jay Demerit slide-tackles.

Tommy Smith says that both teams are playing to win, not tie. This is stressful to listen to. Stuart Holden subs-in. The 90th minute mark comes. Stoppage time starts. We get half-way through stoppage time. Herculez Gomes is set to ....... The Whistle Blows. Draw!

I turn off the radio and its Vuvuzela backdrop. I get out of the car. Everyone is awake now. My smile tells them that something good happened. The next 20 minutes are spent explaining to our friends why a draw is good and how there even are draws in soccer. My cell phone has a few drunk-dials about the game. Another click-clack of a horse-drawn carriage starts in the distance.

Ze Germans Are Coming!

2010-06-14T16:00:00Z

Philipp Lahm lead Die Mannschaft out in their opening World Cup match against Australia and captained his side to an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Socceroos. Goals from Podolski and Klose in the first half, and then Muller and Cacau in the second half showcased Germany's dominance and superiority over technically inferior opposition.

Australia, on the other hand, will be having a hard time picking themselves up after this result. A crushing defeat in their opening game, and a straight red card shown to their talismanic midfielder Tim Cahill, means the Socceroos must be favourites to finish bottom of the group, especially with Serbia and Ghana still on the horizon.

What does it mean, though, this result for Germany? While they looked very convincing going forward, with an excellent fluidity to their play through the midfield and into the front four, they were almost completely untested at the back. Australia's formation was essentially an awfully defensive 4-6-0, and they made absolutely no impact at all going forward. Manuel Neuer, who would be third choice if Rene Adler was fit and if Robert Enke would be alive, made only one real save today. Going into the next two group games, very little may change. Serbia and Ghana will be pressed back by Germany's front four, and Schweinsteiger and Khedira in the midfield will control possession with their battling mentality and passing ability, so when will Germany be tested?

Many consider this Germany side to have only a small chance of making a Ballack-esque 'big impact' on this tournament. After injuries to number one goalkeeper Rene Adler, Heiko Westermann, Simon Rolfes, Christian Traesch, and obviously ex-captain Michael Ballack, many football fans around the world had written Germany off. But, after today, we have seen fantastically talented younger players like Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Sami Khedira, Holger Badstuber, and Lukas Podolski, and while they may not yet be household names, they will certainly become that as the tournament wears on.

But I digress. Germany should take maximum points from their remaining two group games, and then will most likely play USA in the round of sixteen. The USMNT gave England a run for their money just days ago but I doubt they will give Germany so much trouble. Germany's fluidity of passing and movement throughout midfield and through the front four should be too much for USA to handle.

Now, with Germany looking at an almost assured quarter-final spot, confidence in the German camp will be very high after what should be four exciting wins for the Nationalelf. But where are Germany's weaknesses? When will they be exposed? Are they as good as they looked against Australia?

If you can bet on anything, you can bet on the fact that the Germans will be prepared for anything. Despite them being a very young squad on average, they have all the same characteristics of great German players like Lothar Matthaus and Michael Ballack. They are determined, they are clinical, and they know what is at stake. I don't see this German side being slowed down by any team who performs less than extraordinarily.

Brazilian Yin and Spanish Yang

2010-06-09T17:00:00Z

What can we expect in terms of tactics from this World Cup? In 2006 we saw a lot of 4-5-1's and 4-4-2's. How much scoring will we see? Will we see more defensive-counterattacking yin or more attack-mined yang? Let's take a look at tactics in regards to formations and style of play. Please keep in mind, these groupings are on my best guess what each manager will use. This is what we'll see.

We'll group formations into three categories: "More-Offensive", "More-Defensive", or "More-Balanced". "More-Offensive" formations include three 4-3-3's (including Portugal and both Greece and Denmark who are not exactly attack-minded), one 3-5-2 (Uruguay), and one 3-3-1-2 (Chile). These formations are termed "More-Offensive" because they allow more players to get forward. It doesn't look like many teams are taking chances with more offensive-minded formations. That's just five out of thirty-two.

"More-Defensive" formations include seven 4-2-3-1's (Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Holland), one 5-2-3 (New Zealand), and one 5-3-1-1 (North Korea). These formations are considered defensive in nature because six of the players are in more defensive-oriented roles. Some of these 4-2-3-1's may be more flexible 4-5-1's that allow quicker counterattacks. And, although 4-2-3-1 provides more cover with the option of two defensive/holding midfielders, Mexico, Holland, and Germany will probably have a more offensive-minded or at least balanced style of play. New Zealand and North Korea will play five at the back out of necessity. Nevertheless, nine out of the thirty-two formations expected to be used are "More-Defensive".

More than half the teams this time around will have what we'll call a "More-Balanced" formation. By this, meaning at least four at the back and where the two central midfielders provide a balance between creative play-making and defensive holding by either having two well-rounded midfielders or dividing-up the creative play-making and defensive holding duties. They include sixteen 4-4-2's (Algeria, Argentina, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, England, France, Honduras, South Korea, Nigeria, Paraguay, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, United States) and two 4-1-3-2's (Ghana & Spain). It makes sense to see a variety of styles of play being deployed by these teams given the flexibility in utilizing a 4-4-2.

What do we see in terms of style of play? We'll group styles of play into three broadly-based categories. Teams that want to initiate offensive either by possession or more attack-minded play we'll call "Offensive-Minded". Teams that like to sit back and absorb what a team throws at them and then hit on the counterattack via the spaced created we'll call "Defensive-Minded". Teams that do a variety of both we'll call "Balanced".

If we break things down this way, we see things similar to the formations, although they don't match-up exactly. We have eighteen "Balanced" styles of play (Algeria, Argentina, Cameroon, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, South Korea, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, United States, & Uruguay), eleven "Defensive-Minded" styles of play (Australia, Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Japan, North Korea, New Zealand, Paraguay, & Switzerland) and three "Offensive-Minded" styles of play (Chile, Mexico, & Spain). Again, we see lots of balance, some defensive-minded teams, and little offensive focus.

So what does all this mean in terms of scoring in the World Cup? Mourinho's Intermilan beat Barcelona 3-1 in their first leg of the Champions League Semi-final using a very defensive counterattacking style and a defensive 4-3-1-2 formation, so being more defensive and counterattack-focused may not necessarily mean less goals.

The majority of teams have balanced formations and styles of play. Like vs. like often means fewer points of weakness and fewer spaces to exploit on the field. So if we are judging by formations and styles of play alone we'll probably see a little less scoring than hoped for. But, that will be alright because a final of Brazil and Spain would create a lot of potential for scoring and drama between Brazil's defensive counterattacking yin and Spain's possession-based attacking yang.

The Dressing Down

2010-06-08T19:00:00Z

Wow! The last kick about before the start of the greatest show on earth -- and I do really mean the greatest show on earth. The FIFA 2010 World Cup is 4 days and some change from kicking of in Soccer City, South Africa next Friday.

Let's start with the USMNT v Australia; I thought the US, in a very professional, workman like, performance, got the required result.

The line up was good with the exception that I am not convinced about Ricardo Clark at this level but I do think that the combination of Altidore, Buddle, and Findley, and a splash of Herculez Gomez, can be very effective and very easily inter-changed.

Kenny had been talking all last week whether or not we are about to see a really defensive World Cup. Judging on what I saw yesterday in the US vs. Australia game, he could well be right with all the goals coming from various forms of counterattacking. With that said, I thought the US defense played well and soaked up a lot of pressure.
Terrific to see Edson Buddle live up to being named after Pele and getting his first two international goals

Bradley has a chance to leave a mark on his team and so this is what I think the line up should be vs. England next Saturday June 12th in Rustenburg:
Howard
Cherundolo Goodson DeMerit Bocanegra
Bradley
Dempsey Torres Donovan
Altidore Buddle

Yeah sure, you can maybe put in Edu, Clark, Findley etc...and I think what it proves, is that Bradley does have options and he might have a little more depth than we think.

My issue with the US is: if it's not going well and you need a game changer, who is that player?

Also, I am hoping that this world cup concludes with us all having a greater understanding of the style the US plays. I am never really sure how to describe the manner in which the US plays. I need the US to develop a personality on the pitch and I am not sure it has thus far.

Anyway, all will be revealed soon enough and I will give my tournament predictions at the end of this Kick About for all to digest.

Is the 2010 FIFA World Cup going to become known as the injury-riddled World Cup before it even starts? Let's look at who will, could, or might be out of this tournament.

Essien and Ballack were out before it even got started and squads were finalized. Since then: Rio Ferdinand gone for the entire month, Drogba could miss the first couple of group games (which only happen to be against Portugal and Brazil) with a fractured right arm which came from a challenge that should have seen the Japanese player (Marcus Tulio Tanaka) suspended for this tournament, Jon Obi Mikel is out of the entire tournament, and Arjen Robben has had a recurrence of his hamstring problems.

The World Cup can live without all those guys but one: Didier Drogba. Didier Drogba has essentially become the poster boy for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. He is plastered all over many of the bigger African capitals, he is a larger than life character, and he was recently named to Time Magazines "100 Most Influential People in the World" for the impact that he has in his own country and across the continent of Africa. This World Cup needs Didier Drogba.

When you turn on your TV on Friday for the first game between South Africa and Mexico, you will take a snapshot in your mind of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Here is how it works. That image will stay with you for the rest of your life. Every World Cup looks and sounds different. I go all the way back to 1970 Mexico, the grainy picture and the electrical humming on the broadcast. Show me any picture of any World Cup since 1970 (actually I have seen enough photos of 1966 you can include 1966) and I can instantly tell you what World Cup it was. They instantly have their own personality.

Such is the enormity of the World Cup that it stays with you forever and we will over the next month be searching for the memories that will define the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Of course, I think a lot of us are more worried about the sound of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Getting a wee glimpse of the vuvuzelas in yesterday's US game, made me realize that as a viewing spectacle this World Cup, and those horns, could really turn off an American audience.

Feel that, I have to mention the disgraceful scenes outside Anfield on Thursday. Liverpool fans burning the American flag as if we were witnessing scenes from Saigon or some tin pot Middle Eastern capital. The depths and depravity that this set of fans will go to, to make their silly points, has become laughable.

I am now wondering if they realize at all just how much damage they doing to Liverpool as a club. If you were a potential investor would you want to go anywhere near this club with this type of fan base. No thanks.

Yeah I know the line...they are a small but loud minority who do not represent all Liverpool fans. But that is the same argument that Muslims use about the Islamic Fundamentalists. Might be what you think, but it is not reality or perception and let's be honest perception is reality. Islamic Fundamentalist when they blow up buildings, fly planes into buildings, and blow people up, they represent the rest of Islam whether Islam likes it or not. The same goes for this ilk of Liverpool fan. They are doing far more harm than good.

Benitez has gone with a £6 million payout and will surely walk straight into the offices recently vacated by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan. Meanwhile at Anfield, they made this move to oust Benitez without having a successor in place. Kenny Dalglish as an interim manager, with Roy Hodgson, Martin O'Neil, Sven Goran Erickson (a Liverpool fan) all in the frame to take over the hot seat.

If I am Martin O'Neil I want nothing to do with Liverpool. Yes they may well be a "big club" but they are a big club in turmoil. Kenny tells me that Torres to Chelsea is nailed on; Gerrard, I believe will choose this time to make his move and most likely abroad to Real Madrid to be with Jose Mourinho and be able to avoid the injunctions and stories about his private life etc.; Javier Mascherano could well go to Real Madrid; Yossi Benayoun could also end up at Chelsea. The likelihood of most of the other Spaniards leaving is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Additionally, Liverpool is no longer any kind of destination for the better players in the world with the state of the club, the tax issues in England, and the level of football that is likely to be played.

But really I want to talk to American Liverpool fans: Is it not time to make the decision club or country when your club and its fans are burning your country's flag in public and laughing about it?

I have had to answer some questions about my loyalties, or lack thereof, for Chelsea (all of which I am very comfortable with so far) and I am seeing more and more cases where people are looking at their clubs, and actions by their clubs or their clubs supporters, and asking themselves if this is really what they stand for. The world and blind faith of the football fan is having a bit of a re-think.

World Football Daily will be broadcasting every single day of the World Cup when there are games. We will only have a day off when the World Cup has a day off.

The show will be airing/streaming live at 2.30PM Pacific/5.30PM Eastern time every day, so that we can take in all the games before coming on the air.

We will be launching two terrific competitions this week:

1. Facebook: we are asking all our World Football Daily Facebook friends for one week to change their Facebook photo/image to the World Football Daily logo that I am hoping will be attached to this Kick About.
2. Then please change your status/what's on your mind to "I am listening everyday to World Football Daily for all my World Cup action, scores and commentary" or something like that.
3. We will be giving away 50-100 World Football Daily World Cup wall charts randomly so we hope everyone will do this for us for the next week.

The second competition is not unlike the one we have done for the Champions league the last few years. Fill out the bracket top to bottom. From the first game to the last! The rules breakdown like this:

1. You have to choose 14/16 countries that get into the Round of 16.
2. You have to choose 7/8 teams that advance from the Round of 16 to the Quarter Finals.
3. You have to be perfect from the Quarter Finals through the Final to win.

The winner, if there is one, will win an iPad or the latest iPod, we have not decided quite yet.

We hope you will get involved with both of these competitions/promotions as every little bit helps in the promotion area.

Lastly, a word and huge props to the LA Galaxy! Without Buddle and Donovan and, yes, and Beckham, they are rolling all over this league.

They have played 12, won 10, and drawn 2. They are unbeaten with over a third of the season gone, and I am pretty sure that everyone thought that once Landon and Buddle departed on World Cup duty there would a lull in their play. Not so much. Last week they win away at, also unbeaten at the time, Columbus, and on Saturday they dismantled the Houston Dynamo.

It is amazing what good management can do without the continual circus of one David Beckham, when a team gets to focus on the job at hand and everyone in the squad is treated equally.

OK here are my World Cup predictions:
Group A: Mexico/Uruguay
Group B: Argentina/South Korea
Group C: England/USA
Group D: Germany/Serbia
Group E: Netherlands/Cameroon
Group F: Italy/Paraguay
Group G: Brazil/Ivory Coast
Group H: Spain/Chile

Round of 16:
Mexico 2 South Korea 0
England 1 Serbia 1 (Serbia win 4-3 on penalties)
Germany 2 USA 1
Argentina 3 Uruguay 1
Netherlands 3 Paraguay 2
Brazil 3 Chile 0
Italy 1 Cameroon 0
Spain 3 Ivory Coast 1

Quarter Finals:
Netherlands 1 Brazil 3
Mexico 1 Serbia 2
Argentina 3 Germany 1
Italy 1 Spain 2

Semi Finals:
Serbia 0 Brazil 2
Argentina 1 Spain 2

3rd Place Game
Serbia 1 Argentina 4

Final
Brazil 1 Spain 2

By the way: US 1 England 1

John Wooden 1910-2010 RIP.
There it is, enjoy the football, and until then.
Cheers,
Steven.

35 Million - The Price is Right?

2010-06-06T19:00:00Z

by Stephen Kuzner

Is 35 million a fair fee for Cesc Fàbregas?

When any key player wants a transfer, he puts his club in an unsettling situation. But it can become downright unnerving if it's your captain. Worse, if you developed him in your system over the last seven years. Worst still, you contracted him to 2015. Arsenal's ideal damage control would be convincing Cesc to stay. But how do you convince someone to stay who wants to play for his boyhood club that is regularly winning Champions Leagues Titles under his childhood hero that gave him a jersey when his parents divorced?

On the other hand, if you do convince him to stay, will he still lose focus because of a move that did not happen. This type of distraction affected the form of Javier Mascherano in Liverpool this past season. Remember, Liverpool got bumped out of the top four. So whether you call it tapping-up, wooing, tampering, dissatisfaction, or whatever you want to call it, Arsenal's best choice is to sell.

What has not been talked about much is that Barcelona doesn't have a great need for Cesc. Barcelona doesn't need much help on left side with Iniesta, Pedro, and Keita. Helb may come back from loan and even Villa can play on the wing for flexibility. Not that I am saying pushing Iniesta up to the left wing (his preferred area) and slotting Cesc behind him on the left wouldn't be an upgrade (it definitely would), but Barcelona doesn't need to break the bank for an "unnecessary" upgrade. Barcelona will buy if "The Price is Right".

That being said, unless Cesc decides he's interested in other clubs outside of Barcelona, the market by definition is Barcelona. Further, Barcelona's price is not that of Real Madrid or Manchester City. So if Barcelona doesn't have to win a bidding war, then 60-70 million is not realistic. If Arsenal doesn't like this "Barcelona market", they don't have to sell, but would be stuck with an unhappy captain. Unless Cesc decides he's interested in clubs other than Barcelona, Arsenal has little leverage in price.

Precedents mean a lot in negotiations. If we are to look at comparables, Kaka and Ronaldo would be outliers in the market especially in relation to Cesc. These are 2 FIFA World Player of Year Winners who have won the Champions League. Further, their absorbent sums aren't justified having won nothing last year. Again, the 60-70 million for Cesc is unrealistic from Barcelona.

Better comparables would be David Villa at 40.0 million, Samuel Eto'o at 30 million, Arjen Robben at 25 million, and Wesley Sneijder 15 million. Villa may be the world's best striker or at least top 3-4. Eto'o and Sneijder just won the treble at Inter. And, Robben on his best day is arguably one of the world's top 5 or at least top 10 players in the world. Sneijder is probably the closest comparable to Cesc being a player-maker in his early twenties.

In this light, 35 million for Cesc may not just be fair in a "Barcelona's Market", but also fair in the market period. If Arsenal does sell to Barcelona, it won't be far of from 35 million. Then again, it is the silly season.

They Make Our Argument For Us

2010-06-03T10:00:00Z

Doesn't it just make you wonder sometimes when you see pictures like this? I mean usually when you see pictures like these the terms terrorists and radicals come to mind. I am not going to label anyone anything here. But I do know that my boss and friend, Steven Cohen served this country and he calls himself an American first always.

I also think that it is important to remember just how ahead of the curve World Football Daily, Steven Cohen and Kenny Hassan, and the entire movement that sweeps across the nation 5 days a week really is. Wait... I forgot, coming this World Cup, you can expect WFD to go 7 days a week. That's right, we will be broadcasting after the matches every day; even on the weekends, yes. So don't forget to call in after the matches and give us your thoughts on all the World Cup fixtures.

To be quite honest, I cannot help but have to say, "thank you". Words really are not needed to point out the "facts" here. No list necessary. They just seem to keep making our argument for us.

Soccer Wrap Up review of WFD

2010-06-03T09:30:00Z

Niccolo from the Soccer Wrap Up blog reviews our show in the following article. Still reluctant to pay the price of a coffee each month for hours upon hours of your daily football fix? Well have a read, sign up, and start enjoying the finest footy show in the United States:

Ever since World Soccer Daily was canceled after some terrible Liverpool hate, quality audio soccer shows were scarce. Thank god World Soccer Daily returned as World Football Daily, and since they aren't on Sirius anymore, they started a payment style. The lads on the show have been so nice to mention SWU on their show, and I feel that I have to let you all know about their fantastic show.

First of all, here's a link to their website where you can find plenty of preview podcasts, information, and much much more, WFD. While the idea of a payment option may put you off (it put me off at first, and I had been a loyal listener), it's very important to note three things about the show:

1. You are paying for at least one hour and thirty minutes (it usually ends up to be a good two hours) of soccer discussion, monday to friday PLUS tons of added interviews, video segments, and so much more which I will talk about more below.

2. You are only paying $4.99 a month! That is a very low price if you think about all the hours of quality footy news and analysis.

3. You are listening to the best of the best, MLS coaches and players, Premiership managers and presidents, USA team players, and journalists of the highest order.

Payment

There are other payment options other than the 4.99 a month, if you want a better deal you can go for 6 months for 19.99 (you're saving 9.95), or you can go for the best deal there is, and that's the yearly deal for 39.99 (you're saving a whopping 19.98). If you're interested, I have gone for the monthly package, but that's only because during the summer I don't have wi-fi when I'm in Italy so I can't receive the podcasts, it's a great system for me because I pay for when I have it.

Guests

Up at point #3 of three important things to know about the show, I mentioned exclusive interviews with the best of the best of the beautiful game, I wasn't kidding. With World Football Daily, you truly get a worldwide spectrum of soccer news, whether it be Andy Brassell filling you in about Europe, Tim Vickery talking about South America, Graham Hunter waxing poetic about Spain, or Grant Wahl explaining MLS in-depth, that's just a few of their amazing selection of journalists who cover the beautiful game. They've also had commentators like Martin Tyler, Andy Gray, and Tim Capel, all giving you high-quality, in-depth views into all matters regarding soccer.

As for coaches, they've had Harry Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex McLeish (Birmingham City), Roberto Martinez (Wigan Athletic) and more. They've also had many professional players like Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching, first Indian born player to play in the MLS Sunhil Chetri, and Manchester City's Micah Richards.

Overall

I have to say that World Football Daily is truly the best soccer show I have ever encountered, and while there are other great podcasts like The Gaurdian, The Football Ramble, and others, World Football Daily provides a truly unique coverage that goes on Monday to Friday. It's easy to call into the show to share your opinions with Steven and Kenny, and if you can't call, you can always drop an e-mail and they always read them. They're all over the internet, you can find them on Facebook and Twitter and you should also be aware of their amazing give-aways. If you're looking for a soccer show to listen to which provides an epic amount of coverage, you can stop looking, because World Football Daily's site is right here.

Greetings from Behind the Glass

2010-06-03T09:00:00Z

In my previous blog, I briefly touched upon the South African national squad and how much this tournament means to not only them, but also their entire country. Despite the predictions of many, this powerful motivation could very well surprise the other three teams in South Africa's group. A quick glance at the four teams' lineups and one would quickly point to South Africa's squad as the weakest of the four. But like so many things in the world of Football, it's not quite that simple.

Before South Africa took the pitch against Iraq in their opening match in the Confederations Cup, there was much speculation about the potential of the Bafana Bafana. After extravagant opening ceremonies, few questions were answered following a 0-0 draw against a defensive-minded Iraq. The second match against New Zealand yielded a better result with a 2-0 win, and an encouraging double from Red Star Belgrade (now FC Twente) forward, Bernard Parker. Following two disappointing, yet well-fought defeats to Spain (2:0) and Brazil (1:0 on an 88th minute free-kick by Dani Alves) South Africa found themselves in the third-place match against Spain.

After 90 minutes South Africa found themselves down 2-1, only to see Katlego Mphela dramatically equalize with a thrashing free kick. Despite their loss in extra time, to yet another set piece from Spain's Xabi Alonso, South Africa had put together a convincing string of results against two of the strongest teams in the world. Surely, Parreira will expect nothing less than performances of this caliber from his team come June 11.

With the World Cup looming, many seem to be reverting back to similar predictions made about South Africa before the Confederations Cup. Not only did the Confederations Cup provide South Africa with a significant boost of confidence, but they are also coming off of an eleven game unbeaten streak, the latest being a 5-0 thrashing of Guatemala. It would be a grave mistake for teams in Group A to underestimate the talent of the South African-based players in the Squad. Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela, who has scored 15 goals in 29 appearances at the international level, will most likely be starting alongside Bernard Parker who netted in their latest match. This is a strike force chosen by Parreira ahead of South Africa's all-time leading scorer, Benni McCarthy. In the midfield, the in-form Steven Pienaar and the talented Orlando Pirates midfielder, Teko Modise, will be streaking down the wings of pitch providing service for Mphela and Parker to finish. To anchor the backline, South Africa's most-capped player and captain, Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), will be paired with the massive Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns). This is a pairing who caused some of the best strikers in the world trouble, and will certainly try their best to do the same to the likes of Forlan, Vela, and Anelka.

It is quite possible, almost likely, that South Africa will indeed stumble against difficult opposition and fail to reach the knockout stages of the tournament. However, our beloved game has never failed to provide us with the unexpected, and the stage is set for South Africa to do just that. Mexico, France, and Uruguay beware, despite a squad mostly made up with South Africa-based players, the bafana bafana could cause many problems. And with tens of thousands of deafening South Africans behind them, do not be surprised to see the rainbow nation make it through to the knockout rounds of the tournament. As their Carlos Parreira put it, "Once the ball moves, anything can happen."

-Chris

Dear Wife...

2010-06-02T16:00:00Z

Dear Wife/Sweetheart/Girlfriend/Partner/Whomever it may concern,

1. Between 11 June and 11 July 2010, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the South African World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention.

2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).

3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don't mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me.

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell on the floor....It won't happen.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on (excluding your body parts), and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.

6. Please, please, please!! If you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say "get over it, it's only a game", or "don't worry, they'll win next time ". If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called "words of encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce.

7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the half time score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying "one" game; hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to "spend time together".

8. The replays of the goals are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again, Many times.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:
a ) I will not go, 
b ) I will not go, and
 c) I will not go.

10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.

11. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying "but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch?" because, the reply will be, "Refer to Rule #2 of this list".

12. And finally, please save your expressions such as "Thank God the World Cup is only every 4 years". I am immune to these words, because before and after this comes the Champions League, Premier League, Italian League, Spanish League, KPL, FA Cup, Euro Cup, etc.

P/S
By the way if you get stuck on the road call the Police or AA.
Thank you for your co-operation.

The Dressing Down

2010-05-31T18:00:00Z

Well it's here, the month of June 2010, the World Cup in South Africa begins. By the time most of you read this (in less than 2wks!) and by the time I get to write another newsletter, we will have already seen the hosts open the tournament against Mexico, a probable loss for Bafana in many peoples minds but I'm not so sure myself. I'll go with a draw -- Pienaar, Modise, Parker and Booth can hold their own in front of the home crowd. Uruguay may not be on the greatest form recently and may also be lucky enough to draw a lackluster French squad, who should have done the right thing and taken Laurent Blanc with them and left Domenech at home to figure out a better way to propose to his girlfriend -- sacre bleu! The second day of action will see my pick (my logical pick, that is) Argentina take on Nigeria, a match that should see some physical play and some wonderful skill by Messi, Milito, and Di Maria, a trio that will be too much for the African team. South Korea will play former European Champions Greece in which will most likely be the first "snoozer" game of the tournament, a draw. Then, we have the big one. England vs USA, in Rustenberg. England are coming off a very lucky friendly against Japan, which they won 2-1 courtesy of the Japanese scoring all 3 goals. Of course, if second half performances were how you judged a team, then none better than Coach Bradley's boys' combined effort against Turkey at the weekend when they fought back from a shambolic first half effort to seal the win with goals by Altidore, that's right I said it, ALTIDORE scored, and of course Fulham talisman Clint Dempsey notched the other. Phew!!!...that was a close one, they were really, really fortunate not to be down by 4 at the interval. Hiddink will not be happy with the Turkish finishing. Algeria will play Slovenia in the other group game that day, which is an interesting one if either team win it, and of course the USA get beat by England -- which they will -- it puts an incredible amount of pressure on the US squad for the Slovenia game. Immense pressure. Germany will beat the Socceroos, and Serbia will push Ghana all the way in a 2-2 draw and, maybe for me, one of the better opening games. I have a feeling like Steven does, Serbia could spring a surprise on us.

So there you have it, a quick preview of many wrong predictions by myself between now and the next time we connect through the WFD newsletter.

The World Cup really does bring back so many vivid football memories when it comes around every 4 years. I always cast my mind back and try to visualize the look of the tournament, the build up on TV, geographically where these countries are even located, how old I was, and how I was trying to gauge who these great men were only days away from battle; which clubs did they play for and in what country? The list was endless trying to piece together the greatest of all greatest sporting jigsaws.

I was born the month prior to England's victory at Wembley in 1966, a 4-2 win over arch rivals West Germany. Of course, if Gottfried Dienst, the Swiss ref, had any clue how to position himself on a football pitch, that result could have been oh so different. It did, mind you, catapult Sir Alf Ramsey to greatness with his belief in the 4-4-2 system.

1970, I was 4 so don't recall much of that one, although apparently Brazil faired rather well. So well that people are still in awe of that astounding Pele-led team. Its all opinion I guess when it boils right down to it, but for me, this is the THE team of all time.

1974 was special. I understood football, hey, I was 8 now, a man in some corners of the globe. I had even picked out my own position on the field (it would change by the next WC) right-half, the old #4, a Billy Bremner type, that's who I was, hard, industrious, and a gifted passer of the ball -- at 8.

The TV in our living room now had something it had never showed me before, ever -- It had colour pictures on it!! And the Dutch were orange, really, really bright orange. Man, it was heaven. Scotland had drawn Yugoslavia, Zaire.....and Brazil, who were really, really yellow. This colour TV was well worth the money, in my 8 year old eyes, that my Dad seemed to be constantly reminding everyone it was a 'fortune' to buy. Unbeaten in the tournament but still went out, such is the story attached to my country and its efforts at big tournaments.
Not the Dutch mind you, the really, really orange team were playing a football style my inexperienced 8 year old eyes had never seen before, and according to the commentators, neither had they. Surely it was their competition to lose, I mean the only thing that could possibly stop them would be a team full of players from a club that were out to avenge what was taking place, in the Premier club get together every year. That would be the European Cup, that would be the greats from Bayern Munchen, and that would be trying to stop the juggernaut that was Ajax. Incredible European Cup football led to incredible World Cup games in the early to mid 70's and of course after the Dutch took a very early lead through Neeskens, Breitner and wee Gerd Muller sealed it for West Germany in front of the great English ref, Jack Taylor.

1978 was my year, hey, I was 12, I had moved on from that old right-half position and was now a left-half! That's right, I was two footed now. That came around because the tournament that year was being held in military-run Argentina, who were somewhat favourites. But to play in the final match, they had to beat Peru by 4 and did by 6 in a game that is still considered the fix of all fixes. Scotland had drawn those really, really orange guys and went on to beat them with an Archie Gemmell wonder goal, an instant hero in Scotland the minute he weaved his way through the Dutch defense to score one of the most remarkable World Cup goals ever.

Mario Kempes had been the top scorer in La Liga for Valencia and my eyes have never been so mesmerized by a left footer since, not Maradona or Messi, but Kempes, he put me in a trance, and at that time my Dad told me, "If you want to be great at this great game, you better play with both feet and that guy Kempes has the best left foot of them all"....so I tried as hard as you can at 12 to copy him. He didn't let me down either, he was the star of the tournament and will always, always be a big part of the players I can't get out of my mind. Superlative skill.

'82 saw Brazil not win it, but they should have because they were sublime. Italy beat West Germany 3-1 at the Bernabeu and really great overall play by Rossi and Tardelli.

'86 was Maradona, Maradona, and even more Maradona. The 'Hand of God' goal will always come up, but he did some truly incredible things with the ball at those games and hence put himself in the same sentence for many, as Pele. What do you know? West Germany in the final again, this time losing 3-2 to goals by Brown, Valdano, and Burruchaga. Epic tournament for Diego Maradona, no question.

'90 was not my thing to be honest, a late Andreas Brehme penalty in Rome saw West Germany see off Argentina in a rematch from 4 years prior.

'94 was interesting because I actually attended. The US did a superb job, as expected, of hosting the games, and in a drab final Brazil took care of Italy in penalties 3-2.

The more recent World Cups are probably etched in your own minds, so I would encourage any of the audience to go ahead and write in and tell your own story, or even better yet, call in and let's have some WC memories start to fill the airwaves as soon as we can.

Anyone wishing to cover their country or any other in a preview is welcome to contact the show and we will be glad to find a spot for you somewhere. Don't forget that WFD is going to be on-air every single day the WC is on, yes!....even weekends! That's commitment from the crew right there. Shows will start a little bit later in the afternoon right after the games have been played which gives you, the listener, maximum coverage as it happens, and of course the real benefit is, you get the chance to call in right away and get on the line and get your take on the match -- live on-air.

Don't forget if you are in the Los Angeles area for the Eng/USA game, I'll be at the Capitol City Sports Bar in Hollywood with a film crew documenting all the action as it happens from a US perspective, and Steven will be close by at XIV doing the exact same thing from an English side of the coin. Should make for great content that Casey will put together for the video side of the broadcast.

Speak soon everyone,
Kenny.

World Football Daily at US v Cech Republic

2010-05-26T18:15:00Z

Hey WFD Crew,

As goofie as these pictures are, WFD did make it to the Hartford, CT game. I wish I could have snapped a picture of Boca, Landon, Clint and the other four having dinner in their press box instead of on the field.
Hope the memberships are going well.
All the best!

Monty

Greetings from Behind the Glass Part 3

2010-05-25T22:33:00Z

So I'm standing in my living room talking to my roommate one afternoon after school when my phone rings. It is a 323 number that I don't recognize and I say to my friend, "Who is this?" He doesn't know and neither do I and I don't usually answer calls from strange numbers but for some reason I had a funny feeling about the call so I took a chance and answered it. "Hello?" I said into the phone and out the other end came a very familiar voice, "Hello Casey?!" I absolutely couldn't believe it, it was Steven Cohen from World Football Daily. He was calling to tell me that I "got the job" and to get my ass down there on Monday of the following week! I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I literally called everyone who was close to me - relatives, girlfriend, friends - to tell them that a literal dream had come true and I was going to be interning at the radio show that I spent EVERY day of my life listening to and obsessing over. The previous day Steven and Kenny had mentioned that their producer Rafael Gonzales was becoming a bit spread thin and that he needed help behind the glass. So, when I got home the FIRST thing I did was jump on the computer and email Steven - now the very next day I am a part of the WFD crew! Hold on, hold on...let me back up a second and tell you how I got into this whole soccer thing to begin with. I moved to California from where my heart still resides (Texas) to attend film school at one of the fine universities they have. Growing up I had had a few friends who were obsessed with soccer and who tried to get me into the whole thing but it just never stuck. Then when I moved to California (with nothing to do) I bought the FIFA 07 video game and to be honest, THAT is what got me into the sport. I know, I know, it is a bit embarrassing but if I'm to be honest, a video game introduced this all American boy to the world's sport. From there I caught a few games on the TV, started attending Galaxy matches and the rest is history.

My induction to soccer began in 2007 and by the beginning of 2008 it had become a full on obsession. With my television constantly tuned to Fox Soccer Channel I invariably stumbled upon Fox Football Fone-in. Now there was what I had been looking for! FFF was a smart show with some personality that delved into football on a deeper level than Sky Sports or FSR. What really kept me watching though was the pundit on the left - Steven Cohen. I would tune in every Monday to hear what he and Webster had to say about the past week's action and was gutted when I found out that they went off the air every summer! With NO WHERE to turn to I begrudgingly checked out the radio show/podcast that Steven was always promoting on FFF called World Soccer Daily. I was DEFINITELY not a podcaster or even a casual radio talk show person at the time and was understandably apprehensive about what I would find. What I found, however, was a show that was infinitely better than what I was getting over on Fox AND it was 5 days a week! WSD was a show where I could hear Steven speak his mind without the censorship of FSC and some random Scotsman named Kenny Hassan replaced Nicky Webster. Soon, World Soccer Daily became an integral part of my daily life and my enjoyment and fandom of listening to the thoughts of Steven Cohen was quickly being rivaled and almost equaled by Kenny Hassan. I could not wait to hear the boys every day in my car and soon I came to know and love the personalities of Steven, Kenny and their producer Rafael.

Then came that dreaded day on August 21st 2009 when - unexpectedly for the listeners - World Soccer Daily announced it was no more. I was completely gutted. My car (not to mention my days) felt totally empty without the show and I could not understand for the life of me why it HAD to go. I sent many futile emails across the net and chatted on many message boards but to no avail. Of course, as we all know World Football Daily was announced just 10 days later and when it went on the air I was one of the first 20 people to subscribe. So, needless to say, when I got hired on as an intern it was unequivocally a dream come true. Sure it was radio and not TV or film but it was still a dream come true. My first days at the show were surreal and it took - no joke - about 3 months for me to get over the "star-struckness" of hanging out with Steven and Kenny. During the first time we all went out for lunch (sort of my get-to-know-you lunch) I remember thinking that just a week prior I had to call in the show, possibly try over and over because of busy lines and wait on hold just to get the boys' opinion on a footballing matter and now all I had to do was turn my head and say, "Hey, what do you think about blah, blah, blah", completely surreal.

Almost immediately after starting work behind the glass and began learning the ropes at WFD I had to leave for a dream vacation in England during which I would be attending 2 Premier League matches and seeing the sights. It suddenly occurred to me that if I brought my camera and microphone and produced some sort of a story - like an NPR or Sky Sports reporter - while I was over there then maybe the guys would put it on the site. This was my big chance to integrate my video skills/interest into my work at WFD! What I brought back home with me was "Casey In England" (which you can still see in the Featured Highlights tab) and my status as official camera/video person of World Football Daily was born. Since those days in mid December, my time at World Football Daily has been unforgettable. My time spent carpooling with Kenny, learning from Rafa, having lunch with Steven and forming a close bond with James while sharing the role as the "new guys" has become a chapter in my life that I will never forget. Over the past six months we have accomplished a lot with the show (supporters groups segments and MLS 2010) and we have SO many projects that are in the works - not to mention that I have enough candid footage from behind the scenes to make a hilarious blooper-reel. I am truly grateful for my time spent so far at World Football Daily and I look forward to whatever lies ahead.

The Dressing Down

2010-05-23T16:30:00Z

Well the club season has finally come to an end after another amazing 10-month journey that we have all had the privilege to be a part of and it is our honor at World Football Daily to guide you on the journey.

It all ended, as we knew it would with either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich winning a treble, and as it turned out it was Jose Mourinho's treble. He led Inter to a Serie A title, a Coppa Italia championship, and closed their season with a 2-0 victory in the Champions League Final in Madrid and did so convincingly.

Lots to mention about what happened and some milestones reached.

Inter won their third European Cup/Champions League having won it previously in 1964 and 1965. They are also the first team in Italy to ever win The Treble.

Jose Mourinho becomes the youngest manager to win the European Cup/Champions League with two different clubs (Porto in 2004 was the other and Omar Hitzfeld with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and Ernst Happel did it with Feyernord and Hamburger SV.) Mourinho is making no bones or secrets that he wants to do it with three different clubs and he has without doubt coached Inter Milan for the last time. He will sign a 4 year deal worth £40 million with Real Madrid this week and it truly boggles the mind what he will be able to do with players like Ronaldo, Kaka, Higuain, Karim Benzema et al. Will he raid Inter Milan and bring back Wesley Sneijder, Maicon has already making noises that eh wants to go with Mourinho to Real Madrid. Or might he go and pick up someone like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, which is also being rumored.

The thing about Jose Mourinho and why he is the best coach in the world is really simple. Yes he is a great tactician and man manager but it is the belief that he instills in his teams. Porto come from nowhere and won everything, he fell just short in Europe with Chelsea but led them to two Premier League titles (their first in 50 years) as well as FA Cups and Carling Cups. And now with Inter he has taken them to the next level. He inspires, he makes players believe and he will quite easily become the greatest manager of all time by the time he is done.

People say that he is only good with a checkbook and that he does not build sides and teams. I would say differently and I think that what he does stays with a team and those players long after he is gone. Frank Lampard is the greatest example of that in my opinion.

One last thing on Mourinho and what he has done in Italy while at Inter Milan. By winning the Champions League he and Inter saved Italy from losing there forth Champions League spot. So while the media apparently will be happy to see the back of him, he really has left his mark and as he put it "his work is done in Italy."

Add to that the signing by Barcelona of David Villa from Valencia this week and proposed signing of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal and I think it is becoming pretty clear that Spain is fast becoming the go to league in world football. Spain is going to be the league to be watching next season, of that there is no question.

Samuel Eto'o has won the treble two years in a row. Obviously last year with Barcelona and this year with Inter Milan...pretty certain that has never been done.

Javier Zanetti played his 700th game for Inter Milan in Madrid on Saturday. Not a bad way to ring up number 700 by picking up the Champions League trophy.

I do not see how the Balon D'Or and World Footballer of the Year go to anyone but Diego Milito. He scored all the big goals. The goal to win Coppa Italia vs. Roma! He scored the goal last weekend at Siena that secured the title, and his brace in Madrid to win the cup with the big ears. Not sure what else he could do. He is a striker and he scores really big goals and it is only amazing to think that Maradona was going to leave him out of the Argentina squad preferring Boca Juniors Martin Palermo. In the end he is taking both and rightfully so.

The broadcast on Fox was pretty good as well. Curt Menefee looked pretty good and even sounded as if he had a passing knowledge for the game. Not sure about Bruce Arena or Eric Wynalda. Not sure what they really brought to the proceedings except to verify that they truly do not care for each other and of course Martin Tyler and Andy Grey were terrific. Nobody gets hurt when they do a game together.

All told it was a good day and especially for the US Soccer fan who got to see a game of such magnitude in HD and on network television...a serious first for America. Well-done Fox!

In the other huge game that was played on Saturday but this time at Wembley in front of 83,000 fans was the right to play off for the chance to land in the Premier League.

After a 39 year absence from the top flight of English football little old Blackpool will be visiting Old Trafford, The Emirates, Anfield and Stamford Bridge and even more wonderful all the Premier League teams will be visiting Bloomfield Road which only holds about 16,000 seats. The Seasiders are coming to the big time.

They beat Cardiff City at Wembley 3-2. All goals came in the first half and some of the goals were terrific although it should be mentioned that some of defending was pretty unbelievable. The second half was not nearly as good but Blackpool although dead tired hung on and won and in addition to a spot in the Premier League they are now guaranteed £90 million over the next 5 years. They have literally hit the lottery.

Great credit to Ian Holloway the Blackpool manager who is a quote machine and will be great value for money in the Premier League. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11689_6167787,00.html

He has bounced around in the lower leagues managing at Bristol Rovers, QPR, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City before landing at Blackpool in May 2009. His only mission from the Chairman was to keep them in the Championship. A full year later he has got them to the Premier League. He is one of the footballs good guys and a real personality.

He is a very high profile campaigner for deaf issues and concerns as 3 or his 4 children are severely deaf. You are going to like Ian Holloway next season and you are going to like Blackpool Football Club and their see of tangerine.

Nice to see David Beckham visiting the British soldiers in Afghanistan. If I did not know better I would have thought that he has retired from football. Surely he should be in LA rehabbing under the watchful eye of the club that own his rights and are paying his salary.

MLS had a more spread out schedule than in previous weeks and some of the stories are becoming quite big and taking on a life of their own. With some teams having played 10 games we are at the one-third mark of the season.
DC United is a disaster having won just once in 9 games and all the others are losses not even a couple of draws. You do wonder for Curt Onalfo as they are already 14 points behind Columbus in the east and 10 points behind Toronto who would be the 3rd playoff team from east if at all ended today. Of course it doesn't all end today and DC United have 21 games to get something going.

The Red Bulls have just lost their second in a row at home to Seattle and Columbus respectively.

LA leads the league by some margin but with Buddle and Donovan gone on World Cup duty will be very interesting to see where their scoring is going to come from.

Seattle lost at home to San Jose, which was a shock any way you look at it as the Sounders have only won 3 times in 10 game. New England is really struggling as well. They won 2 or their first 3 (the loss was to the Galaxy on opening day) but since then have drawn 2 and lost 5.

Now our attention turns to the World Cup. The festivities kick off in 18 days in South Africa. This week will see a bunch of international friendlies as coaches start to look to reduce their squads by June 1st to 23 players.

Of course some managers like Dunga with Brazil did not even bother with a squad of 30. He knows his team, he knows who got him there and could Dunga be about to join that very rare group of men who have won the world cup as a player and a manager. There are only two: Franz Beckenbauer and Mario Zagallo. Of course Beckenbauer was the only one to captain a winning side and manage a winning side. Dunga who was Brazil's captain in 1994 would join The Kaiser in a very elite group.

Congratulations to Toluca in Mexico for wining the Mexican title on penalties against Santos Laguna...or so Kenny tells me.

One new thing that we are now offering at World Football Daily is the six-month special for a mere $19.99. So if you are not sure about the yearlong commitment we just sorted you out. Grab the 6-month subscription and we will get you through the World Cup and well into the start of the new seasons. Just climb on board.

Don't forget to check out of new website and download our very own WFD mobile application.

We will be doing some sort of show every single day of the World Cup when there are matches. So I think for the entire month on the tournament we will do some sort of show on all but 6 days and we might even do those days as well so we can set up some the big knock out stage matches. So we will be upping the ante on our end and now we just need and want you to become loyal members and subscribers to what is still the only daily radio broadcast in English anywhere in the world that is exclusively dedicated to football.

But bear in mind that our shows during the World Cup will be beginning every day at around 2.30pm Pacific/5.30pm Eastern so that we can watch all the watches and then come in and talk about them.

18 days until the festivities in South Africa begin.
Until then...
Steven

THE WORLD CUP, TRANSLATED INTO AMERICAN

2010-05-21T16:30:00Z

If you're American, soccer probably isn't your cuppa tea. But, due to ESPN's admirably relentless promotion (they'll be unleashing their three Big B's: Bob Ley, Bill Simmons and Bono), you're probably at least a little curious about the World Cup, if you're a sports fan anyway. But when it comes to going the extra mile and actually learning about all the teams, perhaps that sounds like something for which you can't be bothered.

I'm here to help.

What follows is a list of every one of the World Cup's 32 teams, alongside the American sports team it most parallels. Some of these analogies are slightly better than tenuous. Some of them are dead-on. All of them are at least a decent starting point to give you a frame of reference.

(This next bit is the part where I explain the process and criteria. It's skippable if you're already too curious.)

First of all, at all times I used the soccer teams themselves as a starting point, so as to assure that I was going off of their qualities and not just what I want them to be. For example, I didn't just ask "Who is the most like the Vancouver Canucks?" This would have been the wrong way to go.

In that vein, I also eschewed trying to fill out US rivalries. For example, if I'd equated someone to the Chicago Cubs (I didn't) I wouldn't have then tried to find that team's rival and make them the St. Louis Cardinals. That would have been a most unsavory shoehorning.

One criteria was to look at how good the given team was, both on a World Cup scale, as well as in their respective regions and their given confederation tournaments. More weight was given to having won Europe or South America, slightly less was given to titles in CONCACAF and the rest.

Another question was "are they good?" and also "when were they good?" This would help to give a historical frame of reference for the team and their fan base.

The general personality of the team and their fans over the years was also a consideration; do they have a recognized playing style, for example? Are their fans particularly insufferable?

So overall, I tended to look at the historical totality of a team or a franchise, and not try to make them immediate match-ups for this exact moment in time.

Then, when in doubt, I just went with the color of their unis.

And that's about it. The descriptions of the teams are also intentionally vague, so as to keep them applicable to both teams in the equation.

I welcome your constructive suggestions where I could get this one or that one even more perfect.

And with that, here we go .

1. ALGERIA

They are not good. At all. And they're obsessed with their more-successful neighbors. Not to say that they don't have some degree of history to hang their hat on, but... that was a while ago. And no one, outside of their fans, remembers anymore. This team is easily underestimated. Too easily, I fear.

ALGERIA = THE NEW JERSEY NETS

2. ARGENTINA

They've been good for about as long as the game has been played. They have so much history that your default expectation is for them to always be good, even great. But the reality doesn't support that: they haven't won anything in around twenty years. They haven't been horrible (usually), but they have not at all lived up to the greatness of their traditions. Supposedly, this will be the year when they restore the luster. But we've been hearing that for a loooooooooooong time.

ARGENTINA = THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS

3. AUSTRALIA

This team used to be almost completely insignificant, and were shown a thorough lack of respect. But then they moved*, and since then they have taken on an unshakable legitimacy, evolving into an opponent that must be taken very seriously indeed. Their fans are vocal, though most people in the area prefer (their) football.

AUSTRALIA = THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
(* In 2005 Australia switched allegiances, leaving the ineffectual Oceania region for the more competitive Asian confederation.)

4. BRAZIL

If we were to go strictly in terms of dominance, we would have to go with the Yankees, or even the Canadiens. But Brazil is more than dominance, they are also glamor, style and exuberance. They are known for their amazing offensive displays, but this overshadows a history of champions who have relied on defense to kick-start those attacks. Plus they have yellow shirts. I mean... there's only one choice here, right?

BRAZIL = THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

5. CAMEROON

A powerhouse from a medium conference who are making noise that they are ready to finally step up into the championship picture. No one knows for sure until they do it, of course, but they've been around the block enough that it's no longer a crazy idea. They're fun to watch and easy to root for. (They're also innovative with the external trappings of the game, so to speak.)

CAMEROON = THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS

6. CHILE

A team for whom recent natural disasters overshadow the trivialities of sport. A fan base for whom their team means more now than it ever did before. A team that has never won anything at all from a land with a distinctive physical shape. A high-octane offense. For the rest of us, a sentimental favorite, a team we wouldn't mind seeing rise above. (And one of only two entries that will have a specific time period attached to them).

CHILE = THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
(POST-KATRINA/PRE-SUPER BOWL)

7. DENMARK

A respected team with a tradition of consistently making the big tournaments, where you always have to take them seriously. Occasionally throws a truly great team together, though even then they usually fall short. Finally won (a) big one in the '90s, and that probably wasn't even their best-ever team. Generally associated with one long-serving head coach named Olsen. Or Olson.

DENMARK = ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL

8. ENGLAND

Man oh man do their fans talk a lotta shit. A LOTTA shit. Not so much in praise of themselves as raggin' on other squads. Way too much for a team that's won it all exactly one time, and that was way back in the '60s. Since then, they haven't even finished second. Yet they talk and talk and deify the main man behind that '60s win. As opposed to their local tabloids, who take every chance they can to tear the team apart one day, while predicting impending championships the next. This team will almost always fall before the final hurdle, but... their current coach might just be the perfect man for this team. He has them playing better than they've played in decades, behind a mix of veterans and one gifted youngster whose performance will be the primary determining factor of where they finish. Still, you generally have to assume that they will buckle under the double burdens of incredible media pressure and inescapable history.

ENGLAND = THE NEW YORK JETS

9. FRANCE

Some undeniably great players have been on this blue-clad team, a team that has provided the sport with some of its defining matches and greatest plays. But something about them drives the neutral fan crazy. Almost nobody who's not from there roots for them, which they bring on themselves for being a little snooty, and by so often being the recipient of grossly questionable calls by the refs.

FRANCE = THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS
(I mean, come on. The dude even looks French.)

10. GERMANY

They may not have won the big game the most times, but they're close. And no one's been to that game more than them. They're hard to root for if you're not from there, moreso than France, even. That's partly cultural, sure, but it's mostly because they do so much damn winning (especially in the '70s and '90s). The team is always made up of a combination of straight-laced leaders and absolute looney-tunes. It's dysfunctional but seems to work. One of the all-time great squads, like 'em or not.

GERMANY = THE DALLAS COWBOYS

11. GHANA

Sadly there is no American sports entity that matches the gravitas of Ghana's nickname, The Black Stars. So, as we shall do with another African team, let's just try to define them by their on-field situation.

They have a longer history of being good than people give them credit for and, while they haven't won anything lately, their current team might be the baddest, deepest squad they've ever had, man-for-man. They play fast and physical and on their day they can beat anybody.

GHANA = THE ATLANTA HAWKS

12. GREECE

A team of no importance until they came out of nowhere to win a title, early in the 21st century, that was won almost entirely on defense. Before that, they sucked. Now they suck again. Still dangerous D though.

GREECE = THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

13. HOLLAND

From a land of free spirits comes a team who will never be able to completely let slip of the long-hair hippie image their greatest sides exuded. They're not in the list of never-wons, but they're not quite among the all-time greats either, as they've fallen victim to a) some of the greatest performances ever, b) some gut-wrenching choke jobs and c) some horrible injuries to players who could have been all-time greats. Still, this is a widely admired team, respected for the way they play the game and their amazing fans.

HOLLAND = THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

14. HONDURAS

They were really good in 1981. Haven't really made noise since, until now. They're adorable! Who would root against these irascible underdogs!?!

HONDURAS = THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

15. ITALY

Italy are a tough one. At first I wanted to go New York Giants. Both have won titles sporadically since the '30s. Both wear blue. Both are built on a commitment to defense. Both won the big one in the '80s and in this decade. But in the end I had to go with a team that better fits their current personality and identity.

A team that has had tremendous success this decade, despite constant underestimation from the media, who always seem to think this squad is too old and not talented enough. But the thing is: they don't give a fuck what the media says. When their opponent makes a mistake they pounce, with a surgical accuracy and unspeakable togetherness. They're not afraid of a well-timed flop and not one of their players has ever, EVER committed a foul. They focus on D and do whatever it takes to win. Whatever it takes.

ITALY = THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS

16. IVORY COAST

Y'know, in the '80s, they were okay for a little while. Since then they haven't done much, which is a shame, since they're from a depressed region that could use the pick-me-up. But this current team might be special. I say "might" because, though people love to watch them and talk them up like they've already won something... they haven't. The thing is... they've got this one dude... and this dude is a freak. I mean, he's big and strong, but also fast and nimble. Everything they do runs through him. When he turns it on, you can see it in his eyes; he's unstoppable. You do not want to be a defender looking up to see this dude bearing down on you. That would be truly scary. If it happened to me, I would poop.

IVORY COAST = THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
(NOTE - I am NOT saying Drogba is the Soccer LeBron. But their teams do depend on each of them in a similar way. And they're both bad-ass dudes.)

17. JAPAN

A team that has come to dominate its humble region the last couple decades or so. But they don't make a dent in the big dance, despite amazing hair.

JAPAN = GONZAGA

18. MEXICO

This side is a big player in a small conference. In fact they have basically owned their conference since the damn thing started. But when it comes to matching up with the big boys, they fall wayyyyy short, almost every time. Also, they have a tendency to employ combustible coaches who try to assault the other team. Finally, their logo prominently features a winged bird of displeasure.

MEXICO = TEMPLE BASKETBALL

19. NEW ZEALAND

A bunch of squirrelly, over-matched, mostly white guys with dodgy haircuts, who play with so much heart that they just might cause some trouble for a big team. But overall, these irrepressible scamps are basically just happy to be there.

NEW ZEALAND = NORTHERN IOWA

20. NIGERIA

This team has a degree of success that any reasonable fan base would be happy to have. But this team's fans are tired of disappointment, tired of seeing generation after generation of great players fail the final hurdle. This of course just compounds the problem, putting undue pressure on a very talented group of players who should be appreciated more for what they have accomplished than derided for what they have not.

NIGERIA = THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
(Nigeria's team is also nicknamed the Super Eagles, which helps.)

21. NORTH KOREA

Isolated. Military. Probably not very honest with their fans about their chances. Will not be around the tournament long.

NORTH KOREA = THE CITADEL BASKETBALL

22. PARAGUAY

An unassuming team from an unassuming (and not heavily populated) part of the world. Not a huge threat, but no pushover, either.

PARAGUAY = IOWA HAWKEYES FOOTBALL

23. PORTUGAL

I'm not quite a journalist, I don't have to be that impartial, so let me just confess that Portugal are probably my least favorite team in the world. Not just in soccer- in all of sports. I might hate them as much as I hate the Packers and Vikings combined. They are classless crybabies and divers, and have been so since at least Euro 2000. They prance and preen, but they've never won a damn thing, which is problematic since they are HORRIBLE losers. Their best player comes off as a Hall of Fame douchebag, despite his exemplary skills. Their coach is an outmatched drone. Despite all this, they are in the upper echelon right now, always a legitimate threat. But be sure: no one likes them. This one was easy.

PORTUGAL = THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

24. SERBIA

Fast. Strong. High-scoring. Well-organized. Always dominant on the way to tournament, always likely to fall apart once they get there.

SERBIA = THE SAN JOSE SHARKS

25. SLOVAKIA

SLOVAKIA = THE FLORIDA PANTHERS

Ummmm... Both were founded in 1993. Yes. Yes, that will do.

26. SLOVENIA

There used to be a different team here, a much better one, but they're gone now. They do have tradition, but expectations are low for this expansion team in green and white.

SLOVENIA = THE MINNESOTA WILD
(NOTE -Those different teams were Yugoslavia and the Minnesota North Stars, who don't get mentioned in
the same sentence often, so enjoy it.)

27. SOUTH AFRICA

Obviously, it is pretty impossible to equate South Africa and everything going on there with a mere American sports team. So let's just say that, in strictly sporting terms, they are a team that isn't very strong, from a less than dominant conference, on an ongoing journey of releasing themselves of a tragic history. The sort of team for whom you can't help but cheer, though victory will likely elude them.

SOUTH AFRICA = THE MARSHALL UNIVERSITY THUNDERING HERD

28. SOUTH KOREA

Haven't been around all that long. Amazing fans. Incredibly fast-paced offense. Tireless. Relentless. But on D? Can't stop anybody. Won't stop anybody. Side note: local government is very concerned about border control.

SOUTH KOREA = THE PHOENIX SUNS

(NOTE - At time of writing, the Suns are inconveniently ripping through the NBA playoffs. If they win the title, I will revise this. But not before.)

29. SPAIN

After decades of torturing their fans with mind-boggling losses and historical disappointments, they finally got their shit together last time out and brought home a trophy. All the tortured ghosts are now banished. They still basically have that same side together and had another dominant regular season. What now? Can they keep it going? Will the removal of their back-monkey set them forever free, or was it a blip, with more harrowing failure waiting around the corner? We're gonna find out, starting now. La maldición ha sido invertida!

SPAIN = THE 2005 BOSTON RED SOX

30. SWITZERLAND

Not a great team, but they'll beat you if you're not careful. Fundamentally sound, if lacking great athleticism. Also, they all probably have rich parents.

SWITZERLAND = CORNELL BIG RED BASKETBALL

31. URUGUAY

They were the first great team. They've been winning it all since the earliest days. But now they haven't won anything in years, and despite this fact, they (and their fans) carry with them an almost revolting haughtiness, allowing a nostalgia-distorted self-image to fuel utterly unrealistic expectations. Maybe it's because of all the Catholicism.

URUGUAY = NOTRE DAME

32. USA

A place with more tradition in the sport than people remember. Still, a fairly recent addition to the big scene. Haven't yet gotten over the hump to be a real contender, despite considerable resources. Their fans, being new to this, expect too much. But their enthusiasm is somewhat justified- this team has been slowly stockpiling sneaky-good young talent, with a stable, patient organization running the show. It's quite possible that their ascendancy, when and if it comes, will come before anyone but them expects it. All in all this is a solid but flawed team, one that absolutely can beat the big boys... but probably won't.

USA = THE HOUSTON TEXANS

EPILOGUE

So now that we have that, let's take a look at how this lays out this summer. Perhaps this will give you a better sense of who to expect to do well in each group.

GROUP A

MARSHALL FOOTBALL
TEMPLE B-BALL
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
DUKE B-BALL

GROUP B

WASHINGTON REDSKINS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
PHOENIX SUNS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

GROUP C

NEW YORK JETS
HOUSTON TEXANS
NEW JERSEY NETS
MINNESOTA WILD

GROUP D

DALLAS COWBOYS
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
SAN JOSE SHARKS
ATLANTA HAWKS

GROUP E

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
ARIZONA B-BALL
GONZAGA
BOISE STATE FOOTBALL

GROUP F

SAN ANTONIO SPURS
IOWA FOOTBALL
NORTHERN IOWA B-BALL
FLORIDA PANTHERS

GROUP G

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
THE CITADEL
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

GROUP H

2005 BOSTON RED SOX
CORNELL BASKETBALL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
PRE-SUPER BOWL NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Only two teams advance from each group... but you knew that, right?

I hope this helped. Give the World Cup a chance, y'all. It's good times.

- Brendan Hunt
twitter.com/theunlikelyfan
© Brendan Hunt, 2010

Greetings from Behind the Glass Part 2

2010-05-20T16:30:00Z

My name is Chris McClintick, Assistant Producer, and the latest addition to the World Football Daily family.

Soccer (football) has always been an important part of my life. I began playing the game in my small hometown of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania as part of small youth leagues, thanks to my soccer-savvy father. I continued to play throughout my Elementary, middle, and later high school, but I didn't truly fall in love with the game until High School (where I had plenty of time to study the game from the bench).

During the summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to travel to Austria and Germany as a part of an exchange program with a school in Worms, Germany. It just so happened the World Cup, or Weltmeisterschaft, was about to take place a week or two after our arrival in the Central-European nation. We watched the opening match, Germany vs. Costa Rica,in Salzburg, Austria among a large crowd in the town center (most of the Austrians were rooting for Costa Rica). That gave me a small taste of the passion so many people around the world share for the game, however, the most influential night, was the match between Germany and Poland.

After what was a fairly even match in the first minute of stoppage time, Oliver Neuville slid across the goalmouth to finish a cross, handing Germany the late victory over their neighboring rivals. The moment the ball crossed the line, Germany exploded. After the match, and a few drinks at the Biergarten (at the age of sixteen), we walked through the small city only to witness traffic jams, horns sounding throughout the city, German flags as far as the eye could see, and cars overloaded with people, beer in hand. After being a part of that spectacle, I felt the sheer power and importance of Football, and have loved it ever since.

Upon my return to the states, a close family friend, and now fellow premium subscriber, introduced me to a free podcast called World Soccer Daily. I adopted Everton FC as my club, and like so many other listeners, my knowledge of, and love, for football expanded with every episode, becoming a daily staple to everyday life. It was through the musical taste of Adam, the producer at the time, that I developed a second passion in life, music. I recall hearing the beginning of "Rebellion (lies)" by the Arcade Fire during a show, and thinking to myself, what is this music? I've never heard anything like it, and it's absolutely incredible. I fell into the habit of exploring music played on the show anytime I heard something I remotely enjoyed, until my love for music coupled my affinity for football.

After completing high school at the Mercersburg Academy, I continued my studies at the University of Richmond in hopes of pursuing a career in the world of football by majoring in International Studies: Modern Europe with a minor in Journalism. I began hosting my own music-focused radio program at the University's Independent Radio station, WDCE. I still host every Friday afternoon during the school year (the show can be streamed live through iTunes at www.wdce.org should you wish to listen to some new indie/alternative music). At school I watch football whenever possible (occasionally in class) regardless of what league or country out of pure enjoyment and in an effort to learn as much as possible about the game we all know and love.

While attempting to plan my summer in January, I felt the need for a new challenge and something different in my life, so naturally the first people I got in touch with were the boys at WFD. Five months later, I find myself writing this in an apartment outside of UCLA where I'm living with extremely generous and welcoming fraternity brothers. Although I've only been here for a little over two and a half weeks, my time so far with Steven, Kenny, Rafa, James, and Casey have been life-changing. Perhaps the greatest aspect of being a part of the WFD team is coming to the realization that the guys I've listened to for years now, really are the incredible people you think they are as a listener. Already I've learned so much dealing with the show, football journalism, and their place in a globalizing Unites States. As a journalism student, I've looked at the effect the Internet has had on journalism as we know it. The ever-increasing amount of information, news, and forms of communication the Internet provides, serves as the perfect platform for World Football Daily to thrive in, and it surely will.

I couldn't be more excited about the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. As an Everton fan, I've found some special interest in the role Steven Pienaar who will be playing as a key member of the South African squad. However, this interest includes not only his play-making ability on the pitch, but also the connection he has with his home country and its past. In an interview with The Daily Mail (google Steven Pienaar interview daily mail if you want to read the entire interview, I recommend doing so at some point before the WC), Pienaar talks about growing up in a township with a single mother during Apartheid. This recent dark history and the developments South Africa has made since Apartheid are going to be showcased during this summer's tournament. The global audience being witnesses to this can attest to the power football possesses, and what it will mean to the country and people of South Africa.

Of course I will be supporting Bob Bradley's men in this summer's tournament and I believe we have great potential to do well (yes, I was part of the 2% of voters in our recent poll who said the US will go all the way). I look forward to what the rest of my short time at WFD has in store for not only myself, but the entire WFD community as we approach this historic tournament. (U! S! A! U! S! A!)

Greetings from Behind the Glass

2010-05-19T05:30:00Z

Hello everyone,

My name is James Cranford, and I am one of the Assistant Producer's here at World Football Daily. I am sure many of you are familiar with my name and some of you have been in contact with me at some point during my five months thus far at WFD. I am writing this to introduce myself further, so you may have a better understanding of who I am as a person, and a football supporter.

Firstly, I would like to tell the tale of how I came to work at World Football Daily and my experiences that have subsequently followed during my short tenure.

As all of you are, I am a premium subscriber to the only daily English language football pod cast. One day in December (I can't remember which), Kenny stated that they are looking for interns to help Rafa with work in the studio; as I recall, his statement said,"We need a body." Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to work in the sports business in anyway possible (I will be majoring in Broadcast Journalism when I go back to school in August: more on that later) whether that be playing, managing, or working in the press. The easy route has always been the press. So when I heard Kenny's statement, I thought about e-mailing Rafa. I did so the next day and immediately heard back from Rafa that he was interested in having me come in, and I thought to myself, this is a great opportunity for my future (not to mention I was stoked about meeting the gang at WFD). I must say that the last five months of my life have been difficult, fun, and a great experience -- what more could you want from life?

I remember during my first full week working at WFD, Rafa got me started by calling the guests on the show and getting them ready to talk with Steven and Kenny for their interview. That first week I remember I was suddenly talking to Phil Brown, then manager of Hull City, and thinking to myself, how many kids my age would love to be doing what I am right now? But since then, calling people we see everyday in the football world has become the norm in my life, and all in the blink of an eye.

Now I am privileged to sit in the press box at MLS games, go to the away teams' practice the day before the match, and even talk to professional footballers in person on occasion. I have had many unforgettable experiences all ready while working at WFD and I plan to keep my post at this show for as long as I can. I have always wanted to have a job where I can get up in the morning and not complain about going to work -- I have that at WFD.

I am currently taking this semester off of school, which was always the plan even before i started working at WFD, but will be back as a Junior at California State University of Fullerton, as a Broadcast Journalism major. I plan to use what I will learn pursuing this degree and apply that to my work at WFD to make the show better, and your dollar worth the full price of subscription. Doing both will be difficult, but I have planned and prepared myself for two hard-working years that I know will be well worth the struggle.

Now what about me as a football fan?

Well, I support the great club of Chelsea FC and attended my first game at Stamford Bridge in January (the 7-2 victory over Sunderland). I started becoming interested in this game when I was thirteen during the 2002 World Cup. Of course the help of the US team reaching the quarterfinal peeked my interest. But for two years after that I could never find the game on television and so I was lost on the game during that span. I rediscovered the game thanks to my brother who got me into it during the European Championships in 2004, and I thought to myself, why not give soccer a try? So I did. I fell in love with the game straight away. I became a Chelsea fan for the simple reason that they were playing in Seattle in the summer of 2004 and I heard the announcer say that they were based in London; I picked them straight away because London was the only city I have ever heard of in England (hey, I was 15 and didn't care much for European geography) and I thought football was like American sports where every city only has one team(I was always going to pick an English team because my family heritage originates from there). So Chelsea it was, and I came to find out quickly that they weren't half bad, which has never been anything more than a bonus.

This has been one great year.

As a Chelsea fan, at the start of the year I told myself that winning the Premier League this season has to be the goal, the Champions League seems as though it is cursed for us to win it. What a year it was indeed. Going through all the ups-and-downs during this season with Chelsea has made the double they won all the sweeter. I have had a smile on my face for the last two weeks, and nothing seems to be able to rid myself from that happiness. Although we were once again eliminated in the Champions League, by our former manager and Didier Drogba getting a red card, winning the double gives all of us, as Chelsea fans, the bragging rights that we need. By my calculations we should win the Champions League next year because Carlo wins it every four years, in 2003 and 2007, and next year is 2011, four years after he won his last. Haha I hope I am right but what I do know is, if we get knocked out again, I am sure we will make another headline exit.

As for the rest of the European season, I was thrilled to see all the races go to the last day in four of the five major leagues in Europe, because sport is all about competitive competition. I found myself seized into the excitement of how close the French League was, until Marseille ran away with it. Inter and Barca won again and good to see Bayern Munich back on top in Germany. For the Champions League final, I am going to be rooting for the Bayern in this one, for the simple reason that I hate when my team gets knocked out of a competition by the eventual winner, because that means we most likely would have won it. C'mon Bayern. Oh, and no hard feelings to Jose.

Ah, yes, the World Cup.

I am really looking forward to the World Cup this year. I think that playing the tournament on African soil will create the ultimate neutral affect on the European and South American giants, which will lead us to seeing some remarkable games. I cannot wait! My pick to win has to be Brazil. They are simply the best. But I hope I am wrong and we see a new team win it this year. The USA perhaps? That would make my year. I don't think they have the horses to go all the way but I expect them to get out of the group, because if they don't, that could damage the popularity of the game in this country because I feel it has some momentum towards gaining that popularity (not to mention they are the second best team talent wise in their group).

That was a little bit about me. I hope you feel you may know me better as a football fan and how I started working at WFD. If you have any questions or comments, you can always reach out to me at james@worldfootballdaily.com, and I will try to answer back to you as fast as I can. Thank you all for reading for this.

James Cranford, Assistant Producer, World Football Daily.

Weekly Newsletter from Kenny's Couch

2010-05-16T07:10:00Z

'Magnificent Messi'.....

Ok, let's first of all congratulate Chelsea for winning a historic 'double' under, for my money, the manager of the year in England without question, Carlo Ancelotti. Let's tip our hat to Jose for winning leg-2 of the treble by securing the title in Italy, Louis van Gaal for guiding Bayern Munchen to the 2nd of 3 possible piece's of silverware for the German giants, Pep Guardiola for retaining the La Liga crown with Madrid breathing down his neck till the last 45 minute's of the season, Atletico Madrid for winning the Europa League in a mundane finale, and Dundee Utd for replacing Craig Levein, who took the Scotland job, with Peter Houston who took them to Scottish Cup glory at Hampden Park.
Is any of this most recent glory by such storied football clubs truly leaving any more of an imprint in your football membrain than what Lionel Messi has again displayed this season? To put into perspective what the human hovercraft has showed us, lets look at the numbers. He has scored as many or more goals in league play -- let me repeat that -- LEAGUE PLAY, with 34 goals, than Espanyol, Livorno, FC Cologne, Nurnberg, VFL Bochum, Hertha Berlin, Kilmarnock FC, Falkirk FC, Boulogne, St Etienne, Sochaux, Grenoble, Stoke City, Wolves, Hull City, and Portsmouth. If we want to spend the time embarrassing many more clubs around Europe with his overall tally of 47 in all competiions, we could.

I don't want to. I don't even want to look at how many clubs will be diminished into the darkness and destruction smothered in entertainment that this wee fella provides, week in, week out.

'Magnificent Messi', Abramovich cant afford him, Manchester City and Real Madrid cant afford him, and FC Barcelona cant afford to lose him. Such is the value of the game's greatest example. I, like you, know every single time when I see him get the ball, that a goal will be scored or a goalscoring opportunity will be hatched.

In Glasgow, we call these type of football players, " absolutely fucking beyond ".

Last week's guest line-up was very nice indeed, a great pleasure for us to chat with Hans Backe, coach of NYRB, Danny Allsopp, the first Aussie to score in MLS for DC United, our good friend Declan Hill, author of 'The Fix', who examined with us some areas of concern with the upcoming World Cup and possible match fixers trying to weave their way into players pockets. Steven went to the HDC and had a good talk with USMNT candidate Edson Buddle about his hopes and thoughts regarding plane tickets to South Africa, great interview by Steven AND he waited for some time to conclude it. Michael Cox from Zonalmarking.net joined us for the first time to talk formations, tactical evolutions, and really set the marker for us with having a guest that can break down what takes place right in front of our eyes across the world. Richard Whittle, Serie A commentator, gave us his usual terrific brand of previewing the weekend in Italy, Grant Wahl, on the Bradley squad, and of course we rounded out the week with the incredible thoughts on Spanish football from Graham Hunter, who broke the news that he is sure Joan Laporta, President at Camp Nou, will, by this weds, leave a 'legacy' signing in Catalonia, namely, David Villa. Wow!

This week will see the return of Martin Tyler, Tim Caple, Graham Spiers, Andy Brassell, Neil Ashton, Daniel King, Ray Hudson and many more as we head into the biggest week of the European calendar of football, the Champions League Final from the Santiago Bernabeu this coming Saturday as the current Italian and German Champs face off.

Inter 2-1.

Enjoy the game everyone and please, please continue to spread the good word about the best daily football broadcast on the planet. And look out for our new contest set to be launched this week.

Cheers,
Kenny.

Weekly Newsletter from Cohen's Desk

2010-05-09T07:10:00Z

Another decent week on World Football Daily. It started with the awesome Pat Dolan who as always pulls no punches and just tells it like it is. We ended the week with the superlative Jon Champion and Ian Herbert from the Independent.

We have been focusing a lot last week on the looming trouble at Liverpool. Really, take a closer look at it because as Lineker said in the English media last week you could seriously be seeing the end of Liverpool football club as we have known it for the last 35 plus years. It is not just the squad, it is not just the debt, it is not just the awful owners, it is not just the need for a new stadium to keep pace with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and City...it is all those things combined and it is a recipe and cocktail for disaster. It is a £1.2 billion fix if it is to be done the right way.

I am the first to admit that the club is a British sporting institution and it is pretty amazing to see the demise over pretty much one season. Let us not forget that they were only 4 points from winning the title last season. How the mighty have fallen and the next 90 days will be, as David Bick said on the show on Thursday possibly the most important in the clubs history or at least since pre-Bill Shankly.

Also the day after they famously lost any chance of getting 4th and a spot in next seasons Champions League we had Manchester City's Micah Richards on to reflect on Manchester City's disappointment.

I do feel I need to keep banging the drum about subscriptions. We are seeing an upswing, which is great and thanks and welcome to all the new subscribers but we just need to see a bigger upswing. Listen if you are getting this Kick Around newsletter but have not yet decided to subscribe yet take a chance on World Football Daily because at the $4.99 price point we are asking for 25 cents per day for a 90 minute daily show with outstanding guests that is easily the equal of any other football show anywhere in the world. It is 25 cents a day from right here in the US what are you waiting for.

Seriously, if you are reading this newsletter and are still undecided on whether to subscribe I would still love to hear your concerns and you should feel welcome to e-mail me any and all your concerns at steven@worldfootballdaily.com. I want to hear from you and answer any questions you might have.

The new website was re-launched last week and we hope you are all enjoying it and look out because we will releasing for free the World Football Daily mobile application this coming week.

And look out because we are going to have some interesting and exciting partnerships to announce in the coming weeks.

If you are into buying a bunch of World Cup gear or Bayern, Chelsea, Barcelona or Marseille championship gear please check out the new re-launched World Football Daily Shop at www.worldfootballdailyshop.com and also we are happy to welcome back to our air VIP Communications and you can sign up at www.joinvip.com/worldfootballdaily.

OK to the football...

Lets start in Spain where they played all this weekends games on Saturday at the same time which is how they do it for the last two weeks of the league season. To be sure we are really only looking for that battle at the top of the table between Barcelona and Real Madrid but it has been some battle.

Barcelona however have for now kept their nerve. They had some big games that a lot of people (Kenny) thought they would bottle. Villarreal away last weekend: no worries 4-1, Tenerife at home mid-week: no worries 4-1 but then this weekend they had to travel to Sevilla. OK Sevilla have not been as good as we had hoped this season and we all hoped that maybe they could mount a serious challenge to the big two...it was not to be but coming off of beating Racing Santander 5-1 away in mid week you really saw this as a tricky fixture for Barcelona.

But 3-0 up on 62 minutes they looked to be coasting until a combination of great passing/alert set pieces and some very sloppy defending put Sevilla right back in it. Barcelona showed their courage and their skill and held on for all 3 points and they had come through what was supposed to be a very tricky week. Three games, 9 points win next week at home to Valladolid and they are champions of La Liga.

Meanwhile Real Madrid after going in at half time 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao came out in the second half and ended up putting 5 past them to keep it interesting Certainly nobody would doubt that if their rivals from Catalonia slip up next week you know for sure Ronaldo and the rest of Los Blancos will be there to pounce.

I can't see it and it will be Barcelona as champions. Remember though it was Sevilla who knocked Barcelona out of Copa Del Rey earlier in the season meaning Barcelona could not equal their feats of last season where they had the single greatest season any club has ever had. They are also doing this at the business end of the season without Andres Iniesta.

Relegation in La Liga is pretty interesting. Xerex are relegated and Real Zaragoza are safe on 40 points but that leaves Valladolid (away vs. Barcelona on the last day), Malaga (at home to Real Madrid on the last day), Racing Santander (at home vs. Sporting Gijon on the last day), and Tenerife (away vs. Valencia on the last day) all on 36 points. My money would be on Racing Santander and Tenerife to get something and survive.

Valencia has secured Champions League football next year while Sevilla and Real Mallorca will battle down to the wire. Separated by one point they go into the final weekend with Sevilla at home to Atletico Madrid who could be on a high from Europa League success and might not really care while Real Mallorca are at home to Espanyol. I fancy Sevilla's chances.
In Germany Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga title. It is their 22nd title overall making them the most successful footballing club in German football history.

To be fair it was pretty much done last weekend when they won and Schalke 04 lost and with a 17-goal lead in goal difference this was just a formality. However they did so by confirming Hertha Berlin's relegation, and my what a woeful seasons it has been for the chaps from Berlin. Five wins, 20 loses and a goal difference of -22.

To wrap Germany: Bayern are champions, Schalke 04 qualify automatically for the group stage of the Champions League while Werder Bremen will have to qualify in the third round. At the other end: Nurnberg, Bochum and Hertha Berlin are relegated

It is not all over in Germany though. Bayern will take on Werder Bremen next Saturday in the German Cup Final looking to do the domestic double and the following week will try and complete The Treble when they take on Inter Milan in Madrid on May 22nd.

And that is not it...Hamburg will host the Europa League Final this Thursday between Fulham and Atletico Madrid.
In Italy Inter Milan took the first step towards The Treble by beating Roma in the Coppa Italia Final in Rome on Wednesday. It was an ill-tempered affair with Roma playing straight into Inter's hands and tried to get down and dirty against an Inter team that was just waiting for them. Inter completed a Rome sweep in 4 days having beaten Lazio last weekend and Roma on Wednesday.

Francesco Totti was an utter disgrace when he so deliberately hacked at Mario Balotelli not even trying to disguise an act of severe brutality. To Balotelli's credit he did not retaliate and Totti got his marching orders. It would be good to see the Italian FA suspend and fine Totti severely. The fact the Totti suggested afterwards why he did it makes it even worse and shows that he did it with forethought.

From Inter's point of view they did what they needed to do but I think that some of Jose Mourinho's comments this weekend about Claudio Ranieri being a loser are not only disgusting but they are so unnecessary.

I would really hope that Mourinho would see that in Italy he is about to do all he could do...if he wins The Treble he will be seen as a manager who has won the Champions League with two different teams in two different countries. He will win a second Scudetto and will have done it in an imperious fashion. He is about to be talked about as one of the greatest managers of all time, a real leader of men. I really hope that Jose will look at this and recognize that this is not the time to give "them" anything negative to say, just take your bows Jose. You are the greatest in the game and all this other nonsense only dims your star and really won't making Roman Abromavich cry as you pick up the Champions League trophy be enough.

Like Spain, Serie A plays all is games the last two weeks of the season at the same time. Some drama, not much especially for Inter who went behind early courtesy of a Thiago Motta own goal but then scored four straight with the goals coming from a Mantovani own goal, Cambiasso, Diego Milito and finally from Mario Balotelli. But Chievo did not lie down and two goals from Granoche and Pellisier made it at least interesting although Mourinho's men ran out winner 4-3 winners. Not a score line that Jose would have enjoyed or admired.

Roma beat Cagliari 2-1 with two goals from Totti in a game that he should not even have been playing due to his antics in the Coppa Italia Final on Wednesday and they remain second. Final day fixtures have Inter travelling to already relegated Siena and a win and the title is theirs. Roma travel to Chievo Verona.

The battle for the fourth Champions league spot between Palermo and Sampdoria ended in a 1-1 draw. Two penalties settled the affair in a stalemate. Sampdoria's from Pazzini on 54 minutes and Palermo's Miccoli on 68 minutes.

However that last day sees Palermo travelling to already relegated Atalanta while Sampdoria host Napoli who are already assured of Europa League football next season and a win would secure 4th for Cassano and Pazzini and company.

Relegated from Serie A are Livorno, Siena and Atalanta while Juventus will not participate in European football at all next season.

In France Olympique Marseille have won their first French title since 1992, they won it again in 1993 but it was taken from them due to a match-fixing scandal. Congrats to French world Cup winning captain Didier Decamps.

In Holland, I am sure Kenny dealt with it last week but a huge round of applause to Steve McLaren. He took FC Twente to second last year and did one better this season by winning them the Dutch title. The scenes on TV of the celebration were awe-inspiring. When he asked Sir Booby Robson for one word of advice about going to coach in a foreign country all Sir Bobby said was don't take your own coaches. Think about that...that is saying you have to open yourself up to the country you are going to and their footballing culture rather than expecting them to welcome yours.

He did this by beating out Martin Jol's Ajax who had scored 106 goals, had a goal difference of +86 and won their last 14 games in a row. Not so much the wolly with the brolly anymore.

In England and the final day of the Premiership: Wow what a way to end it and pick up the Premier League trophy. Chelsea 8 vs. Wigan 0. A hat trick from Drogba after a bit of a spat with Lampard early on over the penalty. A brace from Anelka and goals from Ashley Cole, Kalou a penalty from Lampard completed the route.

We have often talked about this being the Premier League championship that nobody wanted to win but look inside the numbers for Chelsea. Most goals scored ever (103), most clean sheets, tied for most wins, fewest loses. Chelsea scored 3 vs. Arsenal, Everton, Sunderland, Burnley, Birmingham and Spurs. They scored 4 vs. Bolton, Wolves, West Ham. They scored 5 vs. Blackburn and Portsmouth, 7 vs. Villa, Sunderland and Stoke and topped it all off with 8 vs. Wigan. They were perfect vs. the big four and remember that they did this since December without Michael Essen and did all that with an Italian manager...who says the Italians are defense minded. They will be partying in West London tonight and rightfully so.

You always have to look at next season and to be sure the assault on the Champions League will be priority number 1. That said you might have seen the last of Joe Cole, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack as Chelsea players. Mean while full credit to Carlo Ancelotti who wins the league in his first year in England fighting off the mighty Manchester United. He could indeed end it next Saturday at Wembley with The Double if Chelsea can beat Portsmouth and former Chelsea manager Avram Grant.

Some interesting info about The Double: The Double is always the League championship and the FA Cup (never the Carling Cup) and it has been done 1o times by 6 teams. Preston North End 1889, Aston Villa 1897, Tottenham 1961, Liverpool 1986, Manchester United 1994, 1996 and 1999 as part of The Treble season and Arsenal in 1971, 1998 and 2002. Chelsea can make it 11 times by 7 teams with victory over Portsmouth next weekend.

How stupid is the rule in the Premier League that you have to have played 10 times to pick up a winners medal. If you are part of the squad and back room fitness and training staff you should get a medal...simple as.

I thought Fox's coverage of the trophy presentation was dreadful. In previous years as I recall they have allowed the audio to be from the stadium where the champions are being crowned. Sadly this year we had to listen as Miles, Barton and Costigan prattle on about stuff they have said for weeks and weeks and weeks. It brought nothing to the proceedings. You watch the Premier League for 10 months and then once it is all over they do that to it. We want the passion from the stadium not from a generic studio in Los Angeles. Pathetic. They continue to damage and harm their own product. The fans of the newly crowned champions deserve not only a bird's eye view but also a words eye view of the trophy presentation from within the stadium.

Elsewhere in England it was a huge week for Harry Redknapp and Tottenham. They went to Manchester City on Wednesday and played them off of the park and laid claim to the 4th spot in the Premier League and Champions League football next season.

Peter Crouch was superb and Spurs had a total of 7 English players take part in this game.

Ten games out we were talking about how Tottenham could not get through a schedule that included Arsenal, Chelsea, United and City but they were not buying it. They took 9 of 12 points in those all important games and will rightly be hearing the Champions League anthem in their ears next season but not from their televisions at home. It meant losing to Burnley 4-2 on the final day meant nothing and with Arsenal's win vs. Fulham it is a Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Tottenham top four and in that order.

This is bad news for Liverpool, Villa and Everton. Spurs are an attractive club to lure some great players. In North London, with a new stadium and training complex to come they will be tough to dislodge. Of course City will use that financial muscle and so we really could be seeing a serious changing of the guard in English football. And London reigns supreme with 3 of the top four hailing from the capital.

Of course Fulham will also compete for the Europa League title this week but loses against Stoke and Arsenal do not have them travelling to Hamburg with much momentum. Thursday should and could be special...come on Fulham!

And finally to Major League Soccer, which we promise we will start to give much more attention as soon as the European seasons are over.

We had a great time out at the HDC on Friday with the Dynamo. Got to finally meet Dominic Kinnear, what a nice man and also Jon Spencer the former Chelsea and Rangers player. We also grabbed Pat Onstad, Brian Ching and Craig Weibel and that should be up on our site for Premium members only by Monday.

In the league the Galaxy continued to cruise with a 4-0 thumping of Seattle who I think might be experiencing a second season syndrome situation. Four goals from the Galaxy and none from Edson Buddle who we are hoping to get a sit down interview with this week. LA got goals from Kirovski, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant and Landon Donovan who amazingly got his first goal in 8 games.

San Jose thrashed the Red Bulls in NY's first real set back of the season. Good to see Frankie Yallop getting it going up at San Jose as they have looked dead in the water at times. Toronto thrashed Chicago 4-1 at BMO while the Champions took care of the Union.

Dallas condemned DC United to another loss and was it not for the 2-1 win over KC in midweek we would be looking at panic stations at RFK. Houston beat Chivas 2-0 in LA and the Crew took care of New England despite Robbie Rogers being sent off.

Off the pitch MLS will welcome the Montreal Impact to the league in 2012. That will make it 19 teams and lets hope they cap it at 20. There is no need and not enough good enough talent at the professional level to warrant anymore than 20 teams. Lets hope that MLS is not as greedy as we think and they do what is best for the league and cap it at 20.

That is it for me...another very long newsletter but with all the seasons coming to an end I thought I would express myself.

We will keep it going on the show so do not miss a second, Hans Bake and many others coming up this week.

33 days until the festivities in South Africa begin.

Until then...

Steven

Weekly Newsletter from Kenny's Couch

2010-05-03T07:10:00Z

"Cometh the hour, cometh the man".

Well, if only it was applicable to one man I could wax poetically about him and be on my way.
However, this week produced many of 'those' men. Olic, Mourinho, Hodgson, Forlan, McClaren, Houghton, Nani, Lampard, Ronaldo, Totti, Deschamps.....the list is endless, and with crucial input from the aforementioned group, we are in for one helluva couple of weeks prior to the World Cup starting in June.
What more could we ask for?

Inter will meet Bayern in Madrid later this month to determine this years winner of Europe's Premier club competition. The Germans have historically done well anytime they march into France and this week from a football perspective, was no exception. Olic, Olic and Olic ended the hopes of the French giants.
Inter Milan, who made life a little bit easier for themselves by building a 3-1 lead at home in the first leg, went to the Nou Camp and put the 'D' in defense. I for one was impressed to watch such an organized, effective and disciplined effort from 10 men against the best club side in the world over the last 2 years. Yes, defending is easier than attacking, but to have been this mentally strong for so long shows great concentration and will. Finally, those who have inexcusably tagged Barca as the greatest football team ever have been proven to be possibly 2-3 years early with such an inaccurate statement. The greatest teams and athletes in any sport are renowned for having the word 'domination' attached to their story, and as of yet, this great team have yet to dominate. Come back next year, win the ECL, defend it the following year....then we can talk. Nice to have Graham Hunter come straight on the show the day after and concur.

Fulham have, after an incredible journey that started in July last year, now made it to the Europa League final where they will play Atletico Madrid who silenced the Kop midweek thanks to Diego Forlan. Back to the Nordbank Arena for the Cottagers and one would think that having beaten many good teams to get to the final hurdle, why not one more time?. Good luck to Roy Hodgson who has accelerated his resume to the top of many chairman's summer priorities.

Congratulations to Steve McClaren and Twente Enschede who held off Ajax right to the last day in the Netherlands. What a fantastic job by the easiest target for the British press over the years. A fine club manager who will now get the chance to represent the Eredivisie.

England and it's debt ridden Premier League goes to the last day in what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a season. Any dropped points to Wigan by Chelsea and a win for Utd against Stoke is the only way the reigning champions can pass Liverpool as England's most decorated club in title's. The race for fourth is actually where the real drama is for myself, the opportunity to have a club break the Big 4 and enter the European platform at the highest level is what we have all been waiting for. 'Come on you Spurs'. The Eastlands on wednesday will be absolutely electric in what might turn out to be 'THE' game of the season. 3-3 would be fine by me. Bye-bye to Burnley, Hull and 'poor' old Pompey.

Ronaldo, love him or hate him, scored an absolutely vital goal late on in Real's quest to take the La Liga title away from arch-rivals Barcelona. Madrid will have to better Messi and Co by 2 points when it's all said and done, due to the Catalan's better head to head. Valencia, Mallorca and Sevilla all still have the ECL firmly in their sights and with Barcelona's second last game away to Sevilla, the Primera Division has plenty of drama yet to unfold.

Italy looks like it may well have a treble winner this year. Inter have the Coppa Italia, Champions League Final and Scudetto all within their grasp. I would not be the least bit surprised if their trophy room add's 3 piece's of silverware in the next month. They look like they are on a mission and with Jose as the conductor, who would bet against them? Week 37 will be a cracker with Palermo hosting Sampdoria in the decider for the fourth spot. My money is on Palombo and Cassano to pull through.

Bayern Munich are all but crowned in Germany and Didier Deschamp's Marseille boy's look set to pick up a long awaited Ligue 1 title in France.

Look out for the redesigned WFD website this week which having had an early peek at it, looks magnificent. The mobile app is on it's way at last and as always the production team in the studio, Rafa, Casey and James, with the help of NOX Solutions continue to bring you the best daily show about football, anywhere.

Anyone who is interested in giving a rundown of their country's chances at the World Cup is welcome to contact me at Kenny@worldfootballdaily.com As we have done in the past, it would be a 5-10 minute preview by you, team formation, group analysis, expectations, etc. Get on it quickly as we always get great response on these requests.

The WFD t-shirt's have been arriving in everyone's mailboxes and the feedback is excellent! We have just placed another order so get on the website and pick your colour now!

Please continue to spread the word about the show and it's great daily content, down the pub, chatting with friends at work or e-mailing any footy friends anywhere on the planet, let them know that for next to nothing, and I mean next to nothing, we are around and always bringing the best line up available.

Cheers,
Kenny.

Weekly Newsletter from Cohen's Desk

2010-04-27T01:00:00Z

Hope you enjoyed last week on World Football Daily. We concluded the week with a great interview from Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton who joined us to talk about the season just gone, now that they are champions of The Championship. They will rightfully take their place in the Premier League starting next season. It was a good week of guests which we started out with Pat Dolan along with Tim Vickery. Phil Ball made his first visit for a while and Oli Kay who was outside the Vincente Calderon stadium in Madrid, just prior to the Europa League game between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. We also caught up with Kris Voakes on Tuesday outside the San Siro before Inter v Barcelona and the very next day we grabbed Ben Gladwell outside the Allianz Arena in Munich prior to Bayern v Lyon...if you can tell me where else you can get that kind of coverage I am all ears, as Ross Perot once said.

I do feel I need to keep banging the drum about subscriptions. We are seeing an upswing, which is great and thanks and welcome to all the new subscribers but we just need to see a bigger upswing. Listen if you are getting this Kick Around newsletter but have not yet decided to subscribe, take a chance on World Football Daily because at the $4.99 price point we are asking, for 25 cents per day for a 90 minute daily show with outstanding guests that is easily the equal of any other football show anywhere in the world. It is 25 cents a day from right here in the US! What are you waiting for?

Seriously, if you are reading this newsletter and are still undecided on whether to subscribe, I would love to hear your concerns and you should feel welcome to e-mail me any and all your concerns at steven@worldfootballdaily.com. I want to hear from you and answer any questions you might have.

We will be launching our new website starting early in May and with it will come a terrific mobile app that will not be limited to just the iPhone but will be available to all manner of mobile devices, so please stay tuned for that.

OK to the football...

So if you are reasonably new to the game then you must be thinking that this is how it is every season. Sadly no but even more reason to enjoy what you are witnessing. Going into the weekend the leads in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga all separated by a single point. Germany and Holland just 2 points and so as we head into the final 2-3-4 weeks of the European seasons, we are looking at quite an ending and if for no other reason than this weekend in the Premier League, City fans will be cheering for United and Spurs fans will be cheering (albeit quietly) for Arsenal to keep Manchester City off Tottenham's back.

Football always throws up surprises, which is why they always say, "that is why they play the games."
The Europa League was dull this week. Liverpool failed to show up again for any game anywhere that is not called Anfield. The real shame is that they will probably overturn the 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid next Thursday and get themselves into the Europa League Final in Hamburg next month. Got to see former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan get the goal.

Fulham played a good tactical game in Hamburg without ever looking likely to score but they were strong in defense had a couple of decent breaks which could have gone somewhere but sadly did not. They will still have it all to do at Craven Cottage next Thursday and if they can keep a clean sheet then they will find themselves in utter dreamland in Hamburg next month.

In the Champions League a decent game in Munich saw Frank Ribery sent off at the half hour mark for a tackle that was atrocious and a clear red card. But the club from Bavaria never really looked that troubled even before Lyon were also reduced to 10 men when Jeremy Toulalan picked up 2 yellow cards in 3 minutes. Arjen Robben was the star and he looked menacing every single time he picked up the ball and his goal was top draw not unlike the goals he has scored vs. Fiorentina and Manchester United in the previous two rounds. But the game that the world would be focused on was in Milan on Tuesday night. Poor defending by Maicon and Cambiaso gifted Pedro and Barcelona an opening goal but that was the end of highlight reel for Barcelona. The kind of preparation that Jose Mourinho puts his teams through is epic and impressive and the way Cambiaso and Zanetti locked up and collapsed on Messi every time he got the ball really was a game changer. Xavi did not have the options he is used to. I thought that Pique and Puyol were playing a really dangerous and risky game tactically playing such a high line against forwards with the speed of Pandev, Eto'o and Milito. Inter Milan answered with three from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito (although clearly offside, he really did deserve a goal) and Barcelona have it all to do next week at the Nou Camp. But they will not have their captain Carlos Puyol who will miss next week's game through suspension, which means that Gabi Milito might get the start for Barcelona. That would mean for the first time that brothers have faced of in a European Cup/Champions League semi-final and more to the point they would be marking each other.
Then of course there is the drama that seems to follow Mario Balotelli around. Giving the Inter fans the finger, throwing his shirt to the ground and getting into it with teammates...physically and verbally. He is not long for Inter and has already submitted a transfer request.

I cannot wait for this coming Wednesday. To see Barcelona have to chase a game will be something to watch. I cannot see Inter ruining a 2 goal lead and so my predictions for the two European Finals is:
Inter over Bayern and Liverpool over Hamburg.

In The Premier League it was the same old result if not the same old performance for Spurs up at Old Trafford. In the lunchtime kick off Spurs fell to two nailed on penalty=is by Ryan Giggs and a sublime goal from Nani which moved United back to the top of the table if only temporarily and this time United got it done without Wayne Rooney who was out with a groin injury.

In watching the United v Tottenham game I found myself for the first time ever really cheering for a team to do Chelsea harm. Early on Saturday morning I had received an e-mail from a friend here in the US (he has been on the show before) who has been contributing some writing to the official Chelsea website. In his latest offering he had referenced me and our show and was talking about the topic that I have mentioned many times before that I think the US is the best country in the world go out and watch football in sports bars and pubs etc... My dear friend submitted it to the club only for it to come back completely edited with every mention of myself, and the show taken out. They even said that there was no way that they wanted to be giving me, or the show any publicity. I don't care if they score 7 or 70 they are as an organization total and utter scum.

I was really upset for about half an hour and then I realized that it simply validates the decision I made a few weeks ago. I will be scouring the house this weekend to get every single everything with any mention of Chelsea out of here and the license plates will be gone by Tuesday.

Around the rest of the league: with West Ham coming back to win and Hull losing 1-0 to Sunderland it is sad to say but Hull are officially relegated being 6 points behind West Ham with 2 games to go and a goal difference of 23 worse than the Hammers. Ok it is not official but it is as good as done.

Burnley however are officially relegated to the Championship. They lost 4-0 at home to Liverpool and that was all it took. They tried to do it the right way by not spending themselves to safety and they will enjoy some pretty decent parachute payments to try and mount a promotion challenge next season. We will miss them as their press people have been amazing at providing us with everyone we have ever asked for.

Aston Villa won the midlands derby vs. Birmingham with a James Milner penalty and are now tied with Tottenham and ahead of City with two games two go which for just happen to be away to City and home to Blackburn. So the race for 4th is really alive and That said lets not forget that on May 5th Manchester City host Spurs at Eastland's in what should be a serious decider for the 4th Champions League spot. Villa though are making it quite a battle.
Stoke joined Sunderland and Aston Villa as teams who have had 7 put past them by Chelsea. What was strange was the lack of fight from Stoke...very unusual for a Tony Polis managed side.

So safe to say that the title comes down to Chelsea's visit next week to Anfield! Didn't you just know that is how it would work. They have to win otherwise it opens the door for United. A draw would only give them a point obviously and with United going to Sunderland much will be revealed next weekend. In case you are wondering Chelsea play Liverpool in the early game next Sunday and United play Sunderland in the late game on Sunday so United will know what they have to do.

Dodgy penalty gives Everton all three points against Fulham who clearly have other things on their mind. And what might I ask was Jozy Altidore thinking? I can only imagine what Bob Bradley must be thinking. That was stupid stupid stupid.

In Europe and starting in Germany: Bayern who lets face it would appear to have bigger fish to fry in the form of Lyon and the Champions League took their eye off of the Bundesliga prize and slipped up with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach while Schalke 04 beat bottom of the table Hertha Berlin 1-0 away. The title will come down to will come down to Bayern or Schalke 04who with two game to play looks like this for Bayern: home to VFL Bochum and away to Hertha Berlin which Schalke 04 home to Werder Bremen and a way to Mainz so you would probably say advantage Bayern. And also lets not forget that Bayern are going for the treble.
In Germany with 2 games to go it is tied at the top between Bayern Munich and Schalke 04.

Talking of trebles Inter Milan got their domestic form back on course with a 3-1 dismantling of Atalanta as they get ready to FLY to Barcelona for their Champions League 2nd leg vs. Barcelona. Having already booked their passage into the Coppa Italia 10 days ago they are very much in for the treble.

What is amazing about all this is that just like when he left Porto after winning the Champions League he is more than likely to leave Inter and does anyone have any doubt that after Inter pick up the CL trophy at the Santiago Bernebeu Jose will head upstairs and sign his deal. I am not convinced, that unless the United job was available, he is coming back to England any time too soon.

Some of the football AS Roma is playing at the moment is quite breathtaking. But at home they looked amazing in the first half taking a 1-0 lead thanks to Mr. Roma himself Francisco Totti but a brace by Pazzini undoes them in a game that I am not sure that they could afford to lose, but lose they did and how lucky is Jose Mourinho...the treble is on and he must be laughing his ass off.

In Italy with 4 games to go it is a two point lead at the top between Inter Milan and AS Roma.

In Spain both Barcelona and Real Madrid won. Real Madrid with the tougher fixture won 2-1 away to Real Zaragoza while Barcelona made reasonably easy work of bottom of the league Xerox winning 3-1 at the Nou Camp.
Four games to go in La Liga, Barcelona lead by a point and their run in looks like this: away v Villarreal, hone to Tenerife, AWAY TO SEVILLA, home to Valladolid.
Real Madrid with four games to go and behind by one point: home to Osasuna, AWAY TO REAL MALLORCA, home to Athletic Bilbao and away to Malaga.

It would seem pretty close in terms of toughness of schedule and obviously there are two game that stand out: Barcelona away to Seville and Real Madrid away to Real Mallorca who have only lost twice at home all season. Stay tuned in Spain with 4 games to go, it is a one point lead at the top between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In Major League Soccer Edson Buddle is still the only scorer for LA Galaxy as Kansas City are the first team to cause LA to drop points with a 0-0 in Kansas.

The Red Bulls march on with a nice 2-1 win over the Union and last years MLS Cup winners went down again this time to Columbus. Colorado had a good win at New England and we will get the chance to ask Gary Smith all about this week on the show.

And good for Chivas who got their second win this time at home to San Jose where you have to believe that things are not going as well as Frankie Yallop would like.

Dare I say it but it looks like Seattle are having some second season jitters.

And finally congrats to Rangers for winning the title in Scotland...their 53rd I believe Kenny was saying on Friday and to nobodies surprise but congrats to Wayne Rooney and James Milner who picked up the PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young player of the Year awards respectively last night in London.

OK so enjoy this coming week on World Football Daily. Loads to talk about especially these great European battles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Until then...

Steven

WFD coming with constant quality!

2010-04-25T16:00:00Z

Another terrific week on World Football Daily where we got you prepped and prepared for a big week of European action. We had the first legs of the semi-finals in both the Champions League and the Europa League this week. We brought you extensive coverage from our top-quality guests who were willing to join us from outside the various stadiums before kick-off.

On Tuesday, we were joined by Italian correspondent, Kris Voakes, who joined us from outside the Giuseppe Meazza to preview the match between Internazionale and FC Barcelona. Inter were able to win the match at home, 3-1, and move ever closer to the final in Madrid in one month?s time. On Wednesday, we were joined by Ben Gladwell, our German correspondent, who previewed the Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais. Bayern were able to win the match 1-0, thanks to an Arjen Robben strike, even though Franck Ribery was sent-off in the first half (of course, Toulalan was sent-off for Lyon in the second half after committing two bookable offenses). We didn?t stop with the Champions League either, as we brought you outside stadium coverage from the Vicente Calderon Stadium, where Oliver Kay from the Times was able to join us to preview the Europa League match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. Atletico won the match 1-0 and will take the aggregate score line advantage back to Anfield next week. Russ Goldman, although this time not from outside a stadium, the Fulham blogger, joined us to talk about his club and their chance at upsetting German side, Hamburg. Tremendous insight from the Fulham man as he may be delighted coming away with a 0-0 draw in Germany.

We were, however, unable to get coverage of the San Jose Earthquakes this time around (no worries though, we plan to get Earthquake coverage later in the season when they take on the LA Galaxy) but always stay tuned to WFD?s coverage of the MLS this season.

Keep it right here on World Football Daily as we are the only daily football pod cast broadcasted in English. World Football Daily is your one-stop shop to all things football.

My Weekend Dressing Down for all of Yous!

2010-04-19T03:00:00Z

Just when you thought a loudspeaker could not get any cheesier at a football match, seconds after Arjen Robben chipped Hanover6 keeper Florian Fromlowitz for his 12th league goal of the season in this year's highest scoring Bundesliga game, 69,000 in attendance at the Allianz Arena were seen knocking their knees together to the awful tune 'Tulips from Amsterdam'.

I hate to quote Sir Alex, but I will, "Typical Germans" indeed. Robben went on to beat Olic and the brilliant young Muller to be the first man to a hat-trick in this Bavarian demolition job.

Well here we go heading to another round of fixtures not yet knowing who will be champions of England, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands whose respective league leaders are separated by one solitary point. One! It is truly remarkable that at the very end of the 'business end' of the season we have so many title's as yet undecided, the afore-mentioned Munchen are only 2 points ahead of Magath and his Schalke group, Marseille are 5 ahead of Auxerre and look out Bursaspor because Fenerbache are a mere 4 behind with a game in hand in the always competitive Turkcell Super Lig.

Chelsea slipped this weekend and it was no surprise to many as Tottenham Hotspur have, as I said on many occasions, kept playing a very attack minded and enjoyable brand of football. Fair play to Redknapp, he's not everyone's cup of tea but he has meshed those lads together, made them fight for their spot and instilled belief in all of his squad. No better example than Gareth Bale who had that horrid stat where when he played, they couldn't buy a win. Fantastic performance from the new Welsh-Wizard and if only Cappello could pick him many problems would be solved for the England manager while he awaits Ashley Cole's recovery. Dawson has been magnificent, Modric looks back to his crafty and creative best and low and behold, having not seen that much action under 'Arry, David Bentley still shows a subtle touch when he gets the chance. Spurs and Man City are surely the contenders now for ECL fixtures next season and that could be decided when they face off on May 5th at Eastlands, look out for some fireworks in that one, a game that almost certainly will see Howard Webb take charge of, I would think. Arsenal tossed it away at Wigan who have been somewhat of the giant killer's this year, pity their form lacked focus in many other spells this year. Utd pulled off a typical late drama 3 pointer in a mundane match with their local and cash rich neighbors. Scholes played particularly well and it was his experience that showed up right when the Red Devils needed it most. Not sure about the kissing on the lips from Captain Neville though.

Italy saw Mr Mourinho these past few days keep his incredible home league record in tact that has been going for what seems like an eternity. Juventus just don't have any cohesion as a unit and on top of some injuries which were not that damaging still fielded a strong team. Maicon showed superb skill at the arc and buried a difficult shot from his viewpoint and then at the death Eto'o finished it in stoppage time. Roma went back on top after a pulsating derby which saw the Serie A frontrunners go behind to a Rocchi goal and then Ranieri made a bold move to replace De Rossi and Totti. Floccari missed a woeful penalty attempt and then Vucinic took the game and maybe the biggest 3 points of the year, on his own shoulders. 2 super goals including a truly memorable rocket free kick, sealed it. Sampdoria took it to Milan in stretches but against 10 men should have done better than wait for Pazzini's unreal header as the clock was ticking away in added time. Cassano won a penalty and also converted after Borriello had given the visitors a glimmer of hope that the title was still possible. Not now.

Barcelona were given a great contest with their old foe's Espanyol. Alves went for an early bath and Messi as hard as he tried just couldn'tt conquer a determineddefensee, Pareja and Didac did well in front of the home crowd. Real sit a point behind the Champions and if only CR9 would pass now and then maybe we see finishing. He did try and get Benzema in on the act but the game was already won by that stage and the Frenchman continues to be a shadow of the player we know. Old Trafford looms in the summer. Fine set up by Marcelo for Ronaldo to score and the opener was a thing of beauty with Gonzalo showing tremendous technique. Valencia still have some work left to do to stake their claim as Spain's 3 rd best team. A massive 24 pts separate them and Madrid in 2nd.

Hey guys, look out and take a moment if you can on May 2nd to see if Steve McLaren can win the Dutch Eredivisie, what an achievement that would be given the talent Martin Jol has in his Ajax squad that are finally coming back to the forefront of football in the Netherlands, 03-04 was their last title and with Twente leading by 1 pt it will be a day to remember in 2 weeks.

Rangers have to wait another week in Scotland, the 11pt cushion is very nice mind you.

Champions League semi's this week and 2 cracking games in store for us. I'll leave my thought's to the show if it's all the same...(Inter !).Both teams traveling by road because of the Volcanic ash from Iceland which has crippled air travel, so it's 'on the buses' for Barcelona to Milan and Lyon to Munich.

Many great guests lined up again this week, Pat Dolan, Graham Spiers, Andy Brassell, Tim Vickery and a few surprises along the way.

Check out the RSL segment the boys did at the Home Depot Center last week and don't forget to buy the WFD shirts before they run out, selling like hot cakes. Thanks everyone!

Cheers,
Kenny.

Welcome Supporters!

2010-04-12T16:00:00Z

Welcome Supporters,

How's it going everyone? Rafa here. Did you buy your WFD tee shirt yet? If not, then just head on down to worldfootballdaily.com and get yours, stat! Incase you are unaware; I am the Producer of World Football Daily. I will be writing the Kick-About this week. After a good deal of begging and pleading, Kenny and Steven who love to get carried away with it, let me write one for a change. I'll try to keep it short and sweet, but as always, so much to talk about.

First and foremost, I want to thank all those supporters out there who have joined the club. Really, that is what World Football Daily has turned itself into. A bunch of the boys have got together to sit and talk about footy everyday of the week. Hell! Sometimes we meet up on the weekends to throw back a couple pints and take in a good days worth of football in the pub. Look out for the new Pub Sponsor page that will be coming with the redesign of the World Football Daily Network. Currently we have the "wfd.com" and the "wfdpremium.com" websites. We will be combining the two so that all traffic and content will be on the "worldfootballdaily.com" website, meaning premium members will be signed into their accounts at this website now.

Like any other club, we have our perks. Not only are your buying a season ticket to our live show and commercial free pod cast, but you are also getting exclusive content that you really can't find anywhere else. Every week we bring you top quality guests with even better quality football discussion. Whether you are a newbie to the game, or a lifetime supporter, you can always enjoy the conversation.

Think about it. Sure you may have heard Harry Redknapp on TV before, but did you ever hear a 20minute interview with the Tottenham Hotspur Manager where Harry opened up like he did with Steven and Kenny? I am sorry, but no. Where else can you find USMNT and Rangers FC midfielder Maurice Edu sit down for a 25 minutes interview? We even have the "best American outfield player" Landon Donovan on the show regularly now. The quality of the content that WFD brings on a consistent basis is unbelievable compared to the price we ask for membership

To quickly recap last week, let's remember it was the second leg of the Champions League Quarter Finals. The top clubs in Europe, and our supporters get a complete experience to compliment the tournament. We started the week with Phil Schoen (Spanish perspective), Ian Herbert (English perspective), and Kris Voakes (Italian perspective) on Monday, all set to preview the massive mid week fixtures. Nick Szczepanik and the Arseblogger joined the boys on Tuesday to give our audience the build up to one of most talk about fixtures of the year between Arsenal and Barcelona. To use the words of Cohen, "it was an honor for Arsenal to be put to the sword by a team like Barcelona."

Wednesday was a great show for the audience. A fantastic game brings fantastic callers who make it so much fun to interact with on air. But our audience was also lucky to get a 45minute chat with Graham Hunter of Sky Sports. Graham always speaks reverently about the Spanish game, and he breaks down Messi's performance as only a true poet could. Later, we even got Jimmy Conrad of the Kansas City Wizards to give us his opinion on the Argentine wonder. Thursday was just as good with Andy Brassell and Ben Gladwell to cover the French tie and Bayern/United clash. We also had on former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher to cover all dodgy calls throughout the Champion League Quarter Finals and even the Manchester United and Chelsea fixture from the weekend.

Friday brought the game back to our home soil... in terms of discussion of course. We started the show off with Jack Bell of the New York Times. Then we closed the show with New York Red Bull player, Mike Petke, who was in town to take on Chivas USA. But we used most of Friday to continue to dialogue on the Quarter Final leg of this year Champions League.

Now to the weekend's football.

The major match up this week was on Saturday: with Barcelona traveling to take on Real Madrid. After much emailing back and forth between all the crew at WFD, we can agree that the game wasn't on the same entertainment level as the Arsenal meeting just a few days earlier. But lets think about that. Just a few days before, Lionel Messi... I mean, Barcelona beat one of England's finest (at least, no mugs), and then they go on the road that weekend to take on the Galacticos in Madrid, and come away with a 2-0 El Classico win to top the table of La Liga. Not bad for one week's worth of work.

The other major game to see on Saturday wasn't the Chelsea v. Aston Villa FA Cup match, but the Serie A match up between Fiorentina and Inter Milan. Inter went to Florence and fumbled with a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, keeping the race for the Scudetto interesting. AS Roma took the top place when they beat Atalanta. As for the FA Cup, you got to say that this weekend had a pretty predictable result on Saturday with Chelsea beating Villa, and a not so predictable result when Portsmouth beat Spurs on Sunday. I must say, that I predicted this on Friday when I took to the mic for The Big Debate.

There were some other big fixtures that help add to the twists and turns that come with the climax of the season ending: United drawing 0-0 at Blackburn, Milan drawing with Catania, and Cassano taking Sampdoria to beat their rivals Genoa. All good games and I am really looking forward to the discussion this week.

As for this week, you can look for WFD to continue to bring you the best correspondents, journalists, players and coaches from around the world. All you need to do is give up the Frappe for one day in the month. Not a bad compromise when you get to talk footy for everyday. Thanks for reading and make sure to tune into WFD all week long for more epic content.

WFD at the "SuperClassico"!

2010-04-02T16:00:00Z

A hard fought and feisty battle between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA saw the home side victorious in the LA derby.

Edson Buddle got off the mark once again early in the game; this time in the 7th minute with a perfectly placed header to the near post. Landon Donovan swung the ball out wide to right back Sean Franklin who put in a superb cross for Buddle to head in the 1-0 lead. Buddle continued to show the great form he is in at the start of the season, bursting around Chivas defender, Michael Umana, and drawing the foul and the first yellow card of the game.

The next LA chance came from a corner that Leonardo headed over.

The only chance for Chivas USA in the first half came from Maykel Galindo who got in behind the Galaxy defense but Leonardo tracked back well to challenge the Cuban and force a shot wide.

The rash challenges started coming in, no more so than Chris Birchall who picked up a yellow for his challenge in the 25th. The handbags came out when Edson Buddle was challenged by Chivas captain, Sacha Kljestan, and received a slight elbow in the jaw. Buddle was none to pleased, and got into the face of the Chivas captain and went too far for the referee's liking and was booked for unsporting behavior.

A first half that saw thrice as many yellows as shots on goal, ended in the Galaxy's favor.

The second half started out very slow with nothing going on in the first fifteen minutes.

Jesus Padilla came on for Osael Romero and made an impact straight away, firing a shot just over the bar five minutes from coming on the pitch. In the 79th minute Chivas should have scored: Padilla got in on goal, from a ball over the top by Kljestan, his shot was saved by Rickets and the ball laid on a platter for the newly introduced, Maicon Santos, who shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Chance wasted.

Seven minutes later a quick Chivas free kick to Mariano Trujillo, who crossed, found a teammate at the far post that was headed back across goal only to be put wide by Santos.

Chivas started to make an impact with the changes they made, changing both starting forwards in the second half, in the game but could not convert the chances to get themselves back into this one.

Chivas would rue their missed chances as Landon Donovan found he and Edson Buddle both behind the defense and the American international found his strike partner who coolly finished for the brace and the win.

The Galaxy took game one in this season's 'Superclasico' and have two wins from two to start the season; Chivas have lost two from two and still in search of their first goal of the season. The Galaxy back-line has yet to concede this season and could prove to be one of the best defenses in the league this season. It would be hard to find a better center pairing than the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, who very well could be on Bob Bradley's radar, and Leonardo.

It wasn't the best 'Superclasico', six shots by both teams, but the rivalry was still visible as the compete level of both teams was very high.

James, Assistant Producer of World Football Daily.

MLS Opening Week

2010-03-30T16:00:00Z

James here, Assistant Producer of World Football Daily, covering MLS opening weekend for
you.

World Football Daily was at the Home Depot Center to cover both the Chivas USA v.
Colorado Rapids and LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution games this weekend. We were also
very privileged to be at the Revolution practice on Friday, the day before their opening
kick-off. We were able to capture countless video of the highest quality with interviews
of many of the stars from all four teams. You can count on this type of coverage
throughout the MLS season here on World Football Daily.

The weekend started with our Friday trip to the training session of the New England
Revolution where we saw the Revs getting ready for their opening season encounter with
the Galaxy. We captured great footage of the training while also getting interviews with:
Manager Steve Nicol, Defender Cory Gibbs, Midfielder Chris Tierney, and Forward Kheli
Dube. The video is up now on wfdpremium.com, check out this great footage. Special thanks
to Lizz Summers for setting this up for us.

We came back later that day for the home opener for Chivas USA as they took on the
Colorado Rapids. Colorado started with a make-shift backline from last season, with
Marvel Wynne and Danny Earls as new comers to the back line; Jeff Larentowicz also made
his Rapids debut slotting into the midfield. Chivas decided to start two new boys:
Midfielder/Forward Osael Romero and Defender Michael Umana.

First half saw Chivas as the more dangerous team with a penalty shout in the 9th minute
that was not given, Saragosa had a shot that made goalkeeper Matt Pickens punch, who did
not look comfortable all game. Marvel Wynne had an excellent first half denying a
Gallindo chance in the 40th with a well-timed challenge. Colin Clark had the only real
scoring opportunity of the half for the Rapids with a long-range effort that went wide.

Chivas made a half-time change with Justin Braun coming on for Jorge Flores, moving
Braun up top with Gallindo and pushing Romero to the midfield. Colin Clark was the
Rapids? top midfielder for me all game and no more proof than in the opening goal of the
game where he drove up the left hand side and was able to get the ball to Omar Cummings
who spun and hit a low drive into the bottom corner for the goal. Good Finish by the
Jamaican. The rest of the game saw Colorado stay very organized and limit chances for
Chivas, only allowing one shot on goal in the second half. Final score: Colorado Rapids
1-0 Chivas USA.

It was the first ever win on the road to start a season for the Rapids and much of the
credit must go to the very organized back line. Man of the Match for me was Marvell
Wynne, looking to be on the plane to South Africa for the USA, limiting the number of
good opportunities that Chivas were able to create. Marshalling the back line, holding
the Goats to three shots, and catching them offside seven times in the match. Omar
Cummings also had a good game for the Rapids, did a lot of running and hard work for his
side up top with strike partner Conor Casey. I was impressed with the Rapids as a whole
and full marks to their Manager Gary Smith, who I thought out-coached Martin Vazquez in
this one. Superb road game by the Rapids.

We were able to grab Marvell Wynne for an interview in the tunnel after the game and
also went into the Chivas locker room and interviewed: Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun, and
Chukwudi Chijindu.

Friday done. On to Saturday.

Saturday saw the defending Western Conference Champion LA Galaxy play the battered and
bruised, New England Revolution. Revs came into the game without Matt Reis, Taylor
Twellman, and Shalrie Joseph, while Emmanuel Osei got the nod over the very good yound
defender Darrius Barnes, who played every minute of every game last season, with Cory
Gibbs in the center of the defense; LA started two of the three Brazilians brought in
during the off-season, Juninho in the midfield and Leonardo at center back along with
impressive youngster, Omar Gonzales.

Galaxy were off to a flier with an Edson Buddle goal five minutes in. Landon Donovan,
back from his loan with Everton, swung in a beautiful free-kick and Buddle out-muscled
his man to head in the opener. Eddie Lewis was subbed off in the 26th minute with a left
foot contusion and was replaced with the newly acquired Brazilian, Alex Cazumba. Galaxy
looked dangerous from set-plays all first half and a Leonardo header in the 27th proved
that. Counter-attacking now, the Galaxy had an opportunity to score but Buddle?s effort
was blocked by Kevin Alston. New England was finding it hard creating chances in the half
with only one shot on a target, which was an easy save for Donovan Ricketts.

Second half saw Kelhi Dube -- who we interviewed the day prior -- miss two chances, one
in the 54th and one in the 58th minutes.

WFD team was tweeting all game long and we received a tweet from listener Norma, who was
at the game, wanting us to come visit her. So I did. It was great to meet a listener of
the show and I enjoyed my fifteen minute visit. Thank you for your support Norma!

Galaxy had numerous chances to put the game away in the second half, no more evident
than a Landon Donovan counter where he was clean in on goal, only to be unselfish and
pass, which was out of the reach of Cazumba.

Man of the Match for me has to be Edson Buddle. He was dangerous throughout with six
shots, two on target, and one goal; looks like Buddle could have a big season. He took an
elbow to the face in the second half, having just had braces removed two weeks ago, and
had to get a splint in behind his front bottom four teeth.

New England played well against one of the better MLS teams considering the injury list
they have upon them: only could dress 6 instead of 7 players on the bench. LA was
wasteful with a few too many chances and should have made the game more comfortable, but
three points is what they needed, and got. The center back pairing of Leonard and
Gonzales looks solid and they also have Greg Berhalter to slot in from time-to-time. They
could very well improve on last seasons defensive record where they gave up 31 goals.

After the game we go interviews with Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzales in the tunnel, and
went to locker room to interview: Landon Donovan, Todd Dunivant, and Edson Buddle.

It was a great weekend to kick-off the MLS season and we at WFD have excellent footage
of both games, and interviews with players and coaches. Look out for premium video?s of
this weekend?s action all next week at www.wfdpremium.com where you can get a taste of
what to expect from WFD?s coverage of the MLS this season.

WFD Review

2010-03-25T16:00:00Z

Hello, James here, Assistant Producer of World Football Daily. I joined the crew four
months ago to get involved with the number one football show in the world and have
enjoyed every minute of it. I am here to give you a review of the week, and a preview of
what we are looking forward to achieve at World Football Daily.

We at World Football Daily will be pleased to bring you full coverage of every MLS team
this season. Since we have two MLS teams in the Los Angeles area each team in the MLS
will have to travel here at least twice a season ? great opportunity to get coverage on
the teams. We are covering MLS opening weekend by attending both Chivas USA?s, Friday,
and LA Galaxay?s, Saturday, home openers. We have had a great week and it is yet to be
over with so much more coverage coming from the World Football Daily network.

Steven Cohen gave us the news that he will no longer support Chelsea FC, the club he has
supported for 40 years. Blasphemous? Maybe, but he his has reasons. Great news to start
the week.

We started this week off with the world-famous Arseblogger, who gave us his thoughts on
his beloved Arsenal and their chances on the title race. Can they win it? On Tuesday, we
completed the trio of Seria A commentator?s with, Max Patrick. Max will be commentating
on the AC Milan v. Lazio match this weekend and he says that he will be talking about his
interview on World Football Daily. Thank you Max! Want more of Max Patrick? Check out his
website, maxpatrick.net. Wednesday was quite the show; we started off with Pat Dolan from
Setanta, who gave us his incredible knowledge of the Premier League. We continued our
preview of the MLS with the Managers of New England, Steve Nicol, and Houston Dynamo,
Dominic Kinnear to give us a preview of their teams for the upcoming season. We also
heard from the great Tim Vickery covering all things South America.

Today?s show, Thursday, we bring in Sean Wheelock to talk about the MLS season CBA
agreement, and preview the MLS season. We also have Kris Voakes to talk all things Serie
A and Inter in the Champions League. On Friday we bring in the lovely Rebecca Lowe to
give us a Premier League preview of the weekend and play, everyone?s favorite game, I
Know the Score, with everyone?s favorite Aussie, Nick Mason. We also bring in Grant Wahl
to recap the MLS kick-off and give us his thoughts on the CBA negotiations and preview
the MLS season. We will also bring back ?El Luchador? to preview his Columbus Crew.

We were at the Home Depot Center yesterday (Wednesday, March 24) with the Chivas USA team
putting together a video segment of their training session and interviewing Sacha
Kljesten, Jonathan Bornstein, and Head Coach Martin Vazquez. This is the first of 16 MLS
team segments ? yes, we will get every team on video when they come to LA this season. On
Friday we will be getting the same coverage of the New England Revolution, who are
playing the LA Galaxy on Saturday. We will be giving you the ultimate coverage of all
things MLS so you can get all the info on your domestic league in the USA. Be on the
lookout for announcements of when we are putting these videos together, and when the
videos will be released.

We will be at the Home Depot Center, both Chivas USA on Friday and LA Galaxy on Saturday,
this weekend to cover MLS opening kick-off weekend. If you are in the LA area, be on the
lookout for the WFD boys at these games ? and tell your friends we will be there as well.
We would love to see you.

Next week is the return of the Champions League with the quarterfinals set to kick-off.
The big match-up being Arsenal v. Barcelona, where we are trying to set something us to
be at the Fox and Hounds pub for the second leg of that match. We would love to see you
there as well.

Keep listening for all the best coverage of the world of football, on World Football
Daily, your season ticket to travel the world of football as your number one source for
the beautiful game.

-James

Eric Frimpong's Appeal Denied

2010-03-17T17:10:00Z

World Football Daily has been following the Eric Frimpong situation for quite sometime now, and today, we are sad to say that the Justice system has failed this country once again. Yesterday, Eric Frimpong's Appeal was denied in a California Court. Here is the email that broke the news. It gives us the links to all the specifics:

-----------
The following transaction has occurred in:
The People v. Frimpong
Case: B206433, 2nd District, Division 6

Disposition date (YYYY-MM-DD): 2010-03-16
Disposition description: Affirmed in full
Disposition status as of 2010-03-16: Final
Notes:
The judgment is affirmed. (23pgs) CGP

For more information on this case, go to:
http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=1201545

For opinions, go to the following web site: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/opinions.cgi?Courts=B
Court of Appeal opinions are generally available on the web site by 5 p.m. on the disposition date.
Unpublished opinions are generally available on the web site by 5 p.m. on the disposition date or
by 5 p.m. on the court workday following the disposition date.
----------

If you want to hear the Steven and Kenny's take on the decision, check out the "Interviews and Highlights" section of the archives here on the Premium site. WFD takes a definite stand on the case and cannot believe how this intelligent young man is still behind bars!

The Joys of Midweek Footie!

2010-03-11T05:25:00Z

So we are only midway through the week, but there is so much going on here behind the scenes. Of course we have two days of Champions League action to cover with the clubs from England flexing their muscle against some fairly weak opponents. Hate to call teams like AC Milan and Porto weak, but the fact of the matter is that after two legs, both teams made a sad exit from the tournament.

You would have to say that so far, the Champions League has produced some entertaining football. Whether they are goal-fests or a simple 1-1 draw, the Champions League ties have had some real exciting stories being weaved into the fabric of this tournament. We here at WFD are happy to simply talk about the tournament. Hopefully we can plan a great Champions League Final Viewing Party somewhere to gather the WFD Community together.

Thursday is a huge day here in studio. The entire crew is gathering at 4:30am PST to await the phone-call of one, Mr. Harry Redknapp, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. For Premium content, subscribers to the show will be lucky enough to hear the exclusive interview that Steven and Kenny get with the manager who is pushing his squad for a top four finish. The battle for fourth is getting interesting and the opportunity of European football is a very likely possibility for some teams who can find some positive consistency in the Premiership. Tottenham's schedule proves to be incredibly difficult ahead with visits to Arsenal and United still slated in the near future.

We also bring you Tim Vickery and Henry Winter in the live show. Two men who know their stuff. You can catch Tim, representing all of South American football on the BBC's World Football Phone-In, which is part of Five Live's Up All Night Program. But Tim also has a Blog he writes for the BBC where he informs his reader on all things South American football, whether it is the national players being farmed out to go abroad, or the domestic leagues across the South American Continent, Tim can speak volumes on any and all subjects. Henry Winter, who recently won a Sports Journalism Award for his work, will be joining Steven and Kenny to break down the Champions League, as well as the Premiership.

All in all, you would be fooling yourself if you didn't join the new World Football Daily Premium. As if all the audio interviews were not enough... Kenny and the Interns head to the HDC for an exclusive interview with the new Chivas USA coach, Martin Vasquez. WFD always has the premium content on a regular basis for our subscribers.

Madrid look to rid Diarra and Diarra

2009-08-26T17:00:00Z

Adebayor Focused on City

2009-08-22T17:00:00Z