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Mid-Day Ticker: Cold weather threatens European slate, Bornstein plays & more

ItalySnow (Getty Images)

Frigid temperatures and snowstorms across Europe are starting to take their toll on the soccer schedule.

Saturday's anticipated match between Roma and Inter Milan has already been postponed because of snow blanketing Rome. The Cesena-Catania match has also been called off, and that is in addition to four midweek Serie A games having to be rescheduled because of the snow.

One game that was not cancelled this week in Italy, the Inter Milan-Palermo bout on Wednesday, finished in a wild 4-4 draw.

Temperatures have dipped into the negative (celsius) across Europe, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that even more matches throughout the continent fall victim to Mother Nature.

Here are a few more stories to keep your day rolling:

BORNSTEIN PLAYS 90 IN LIBERTADORES

For the second straight week, Jonathan Bornstein got another run out for Tigres UANL in the Copa Libertadores.

Playing in a midfield role on a team comprised mostly of reserves, Bornstein went the distance in Tigres UANL's 2-2 draw with Chilean side Union Espanola in Thursday night's preliminary round match. Unfortunately for Bornstein and Tigres, the home draw was not enough to overturn a 1-0 loss in the first leg of their preliminary round tie, and his side was eliminated from the competition.

After not appearing once during the Mexican Apertura season, Bornstein has two appearances to his name during the current season, and he has been a regular on the matchday roster for league play during Tigres' Clausura campaign.

REAM'S BOLTON DEBUT PUSHED BACK

Bolton takes on Norwich City this weekend in a match that could have featured two U.S.-eligible centerbacks in Tim Ream and Zak Whitbread. The only problem is that Ream won't be part of Bolton's squad for the match.

The former New York Red Bulls defender is due to arrive in England Friday night, according to Bolton's official website, meaning that his debut for the club will be pushed back by at least another game.

"We all accepted that Gary (Cahill) would move on and we looked to maximize the situation and reinvest the money," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said on the club's site. "We have bought youth and players who will continue to get better and whose value will appreciate. As for Saturday, Tim will fly back later today so he will miss out."

The next match that Ream will be eligible for is a week from Saturday, when Bolton hosts Wigan Athletic at Reebok Stadium.

SUAREZ' SUSPENSION COMES TO AN END

Liverpool will receive a massive boost to their front line with the return of Luis Suarez to the lineup.

The Uruguayan striker has completed serving his eight-game suspension, and he'll be available for selection for Liverpool's crucial game against Tottenham on Monday.

Suarez was handed the ban from the FA after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra during an incident in October. His last match was on Dec. 26, when he started Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Blackburn. The Reds did pretty well without him, going 5-2-2 in all competitions (2-2-1 in league play) in the matches he missed.

The club remains in contention for a spot in Europe, sitting a point behind Newcastle for fifth place and a spot in the Europa League and four points behind Chelsea for fourth place and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

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With all of the postponements and cold weather in Europe, do you still with MLS changed its schedule to the European format? What do you make of Bornstein getting more playing time with Tigres? Disappointed Ream won't be playing this weekend? How big of an impact do you think Suarez' return can have on Liverpool?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The only reason Montreal can play in MLS is thye have the covered stadium next to their own for March and April games.
    Otherwise the very idea of a winter league in north america makes no sense.

    Which brings me to ask a question about domed stadiums?
    WHY the hell are there not more covered stadium in Europe?
    Wales has one and one also in Copenhagen. THATS IT!!
    Covered stadium have been around for 50 years and retractable roofs one for a good 2-3 decades.

    I get that a covered stadium would be turf but retractable roofs are a common thing and you could just close the roof when you really need it and still use real grass.

    My inlaws like in Phoenix and they had last year a stretch with over a month with temperatures close to 100F. Games went on, no one died.

    How long is the russian break now that they have a winter league? 2 months? More? Thats just like a new season, not a continuation.

    Reply
  2. No freedom of speech in the UK. It’s like that in a lot of places in Europe. In Germany and I belive in France too (and possibly other countries) if you make pro-Nazi or Holocaust denial statements.

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  3. Glad JB is playing in midfield, he was always a player who was not a natural defender. That he actually had some good games for the US as a back is more surprising than that he had a few bone-headed plays. He really is talented and now that they are playing further forward, he will do well. Of course he probably will not make it into an already overcrowded US midfield, but professionally he will do better.

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  4. In England you can be charged with a criminal offense for a racist insult? Just words? Whoa.

    I mean, that makes you a jerk but I’m not sure it should make you a criminal.

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  5. It’s comical that a soccer player “plays” is actually something that makes a headline.

    Look guys, they finally let little Jonny play

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  6. Wides, i think the distinction is that Suarez admitted what he said. JT denies it and i’m not sure what kind of penatlies he’d face is he’s convicted.

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  7. I prefer the summer schedule for MLS. Weather in certain parts of the country and in the Canadian markets would likely be unsuitable for soccer during much of the winter based on the stadia currently in place.

    I do think the summer heat adversely impacts the game which is a drawback and a concern, but you’re also not going toe-to-toe with the NFL, College Football, the NBA and NHL in large stretches, which gives provides an emerging sport like soccer and opportunity to continue to grow and gain coverage in the national sports dialogue.

    Reply
  8. How exactly does Suarez get an 8 game ban and John Terry who is actually getting criminally charged with racism not have a suspension already ?

    Does the FA have to wait for that verdict ?

    Reply

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