General Soccer Thread

[robbotis]

I'm excited Portland is getting a team, but I have to worry if the MLS failing to learn from one of NASL's mistakes by expanding too quickly. Only one or two teams are making money. If Los Angeles can't even make money, you have to wonder if it's time for aggressive expansion.

I was surprised to read that only four members of the 2010 World Cup squad play in MLS.

Thrill suggested so in the other thread, is there interest in Bob Bradley overseas?

I actually think that 4/18 was one of the highest percentages of domestic players in the Cup, or at least those who made the knockout stage.

All of England and Italy's national teams played in their respective home leagues.

[Centreville]

Thrill, how many Panamanian matches are shown on the networks you listed ? Tauro F.C. is in the CONCACEF Champions League.

[thrill]

Thrill, how many Panamanian matches are shown on the networks you listed ? Tauro F.C. is in the CONCACEF Champions League.

If it's not the CCL like you mentioned, they won't be on any channels. You may be able to find a PPV situation of some sort.

[Centreville]

Thanks, thrill.

[thrill]

If anyone is interested, this is a fantastic soccer podcast: www.worldfootballdaily.com
It's daily, it covers everything and it's entertaining. Vital part of my workday.

[thrill]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/a ... st-dempsey

Fresh from a strong showing at the World Cup, the Texas native was linked with a bid from Napoli in Italian paper Il Mattino on Monday.

His agent says there are no tabled offers at this time, but he admitted that Napoli are among the clubs crowding around Dempsey.

"We don't have an offer from Napoli," Lyle Yorks told MLSsoccer.com. "There is a lot of interest from big clubs in Europe in Clint. And now you've got Roy Hodgson leaving for Liverpool tomorrow, if that's confirmed, so there's a lot of different things going on."

Yorks revealed that Dempsey has at least one admirer in each of the five top leagues—England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain—and that these clubs coming in all have European soccer on the docket this coming season.

"We've got in Italy a major club and in France a major club," he stated. "And in the Bundesliga a club."

http://www.noshortcorners.com/

Since someone will ask eventually, I'll just offer up my guesses at the French and Italian 'big clubs" - but let me make it totally clear that this is pure educated guess. This is not any inside info, so don't go tell everyone I reported it as legit news.

Now... just for fun... I'll go with Marseille and AC Milan. I could also reasonably see a couple of other options making sense. I also can see Liverpool in if/when Fulham boss Roy Hodgson takes the reins. Any which way, this MC Deuce situation should be fun to watch.

[thrill]

Dempsey to Milan?
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world- ... 70410.html

According to multiple sources, Milan officials have monitored Dempsey’s progress for several months and were impressed enough by his efforts in South Africa to be considering a formal transfer bid.
...
“[Dempsey] brings a lot of action and energy but he can be creative too,” said a Milan source who is close to the club’s board. “There are some options on the table but Dempsey is a realistic one. A bid is very possible, and soon.”
...
“[Fulham] are aware that if a club like [Milan] comes in it is hard for a player to say no,” said a source close to Fulham. The source added that while no formal bid had yet been lodged the EPL club was “well aware” of Milan’s interest.

Bob Bradley getting European interest:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... dgson.html

Fulham are planning to appoint a "high-calibre manager" to succeed Roy Hodgson in the next fortnight with frontrunners Sven Goran Eriksson and Mark Hughes joined by surprise outside US World Cup coach Bob Bradley.
...
The outsider, American manager Bradley, is keen to embark on a club career in Europe and his advantage would be being able to bring in several members of the American World Cup team including his son Michael to line up alongside Clint Dempsey who is already at Craven Cottage.
Fulham are not rushing into an appointment with Hodgson having only departed on Thursday.
But they want a man in place before they arrive for a pre-season training camp in Sweden on July 19.

If Landon Donovan Jr. is going to be wearing the Three Lions then it's only fair that Christiano Ronaldo Jr. suits up for us.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/s ... index.html

The paper reported that the baby's mother is an American national and gave birth to Ronaldo's son in early June.

So how young is too young to cap tie? I'm thinking next year's Gold Cup.

Edit - this link has a pic: http://deadspin.com/5579751/

[Fat Strat]

Is it too early to ask about when the next US friendlies and games start? I'm sure that qualifying is years away, but they've got to have some things going on in the mean time. I'm alreadying dying for some US soccer.

[Fat Strat]

Answered my own question... U.S. Men vs. Brazil, August 10th, which is going to be awesome. After that it doesn't look like there's anything on the schedule, which sucks.

[G. Keenan]

Thierry Henry signs with New York Red Bulls.

Link

He's 32. Is this a splash signing to raise the game's profile in the US or will he have an impact on the field?