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Afternoon Ticker: Quieroz named Portugal coach, FC Porto signs Guarin and N’Zgobia dreams of Arsenal

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Good afternoon all. It has been a relatively slow day in the soccer world, but there is always news so here are some nuggets from today:

Queiroz to coach Portugal

Former MetroStars head coach and long-time Manchester United assistant Carlos Quieroz has been named head coach of the Portuguese national team. He replaces Luiz Felipe Scolari, who left Portugal to take over at Chelsea.

Add this news to the mounting evidence pointing to Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely departure from Manchester United. Ronaldo and Quieroz are very tight and the prospect of staying at ManU without Quieroz around probably makes it that much less likely that Ronaldo stays (or you could argue that Ronaldo’s departure made it easier for Quieroz to leave).

Quieroz now takes over a Portugal squad with the talent to be a serious contender at World Cup 2010 (assuming they qualify and assuming they learn how to defend free kicks).

His departure also raises questions about what is going on with Alex Ferguson. Will he ever retire, or is he pulling a Hyman Roth and thinks he will live forever? With prime replacement candidates Mark Hughes and Paul Ince taking new jobs this year I can’t help but wonder who exactly Man U will turn to when Ferguson finally does hang it up.

Porto signs Colombian midfielder

Porto didn’t waste much time finding a replacement for Paulo Assuncao, who recently left for Atletico Madrid. The Portuguese powerhouse signed Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarin from St. Etienne. No word yet on the fee, but Guarin had been rumored to be making a $5 million move.

N’zogbia dreams of Arsenal move

Newcastle winger Charles N’Zogbia didn’t have the best season for the Magpies, but he still figured to play a role in the coming season. At least that was before the Frenchman has revealed that he still dreams of a move to Arsenal. Here’s a serious question. Does Arsenal want him? After signing Samir Nasri I have a feeling N’Zogbia may be aiming a little high.

What do you think of these stories? Will Ferguson ever retire? Does Quieroz’s Man U departure mean Ronaldo is definitely gone? Is Freddy Guarin ready to be the next great Colombian in Europe? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Ives, I totally agree that Hughes is in the mix. Going to manage the bitters is a million times less reprehensible than, say, going to play for United’s eternal rivals after you’ve worn the Red shirt. I realize it’s been a long time since the Guv’ner did that, but there’s a reason he has been booed mercilessly by United fans every chance we’ve had in the last 15 years. I totally disagree about him being a serious candidate at United at this point. There’s no reason to think he would possibly be embraced by MUFC, and what exactly has he done as a manager so far at the top level? Nothing.

    Per Hughes, he’s a smart man and he understands that the Bitters are throwing huge amounts of money around right now. Personally, I think City is the perfect stepping stone to see whether he can continue to progress as a manager. If he does, he’s putting himself in line for an even greater job. If not, well then, we won’t have to waste time at United finding out.

    In my humble opinion, I’d say Hughes, Keano and David Moyes all have a shout at this point. Quieroz is pretty much taking himself out of the running by not waiting around any longer (fair play to him for doing so), and things could get interesting if Cantona seriously wants to manage United down the road.

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  2. Okay, regarding the Man U angle, Ince is definitely a long-range candidate, someone who could manage Man U down the road. As for Dilly, don’t you think Mark Hughes going from managing Man City to managing Manchester United might be a bit tough for people to accept?

    I know Roy Keane is still the leadng canddate to eventually replace Ferguson, but Hughes is in the mix and Ince could be one day.

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  3. Absolutely outstanding catch by Porto, classy young player. DAMMIT!!! I had hoped Ajax would nab Freddy!!

    Grrrrrrrr…

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  4. Paul Ince a prime replacement for Fergie? I think United can do a little better than someone who has never coached above League Two.

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  5. Hahaha, sometimes you crack me up, Ives.

    Pretty damn sure that Sparky and Ince would be available to leave their new positions if Manchester United Football Club come calling.

    Dunno which I assertion I laughed the most at, though: the one that says those two wouldn’t be available to replace SAF because they’ve just taken jobs at Man City and Blackburn, or the one that says that the Guv’ner is a “prime” candidate to manage the biggest club in the world.

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  6. LOL. Hyman Roth??

    I can see the interview now.

    Reporter: “Sir Alex, could you comment on the startling and unsolved disappearance of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was planning on leaving your club?”

    SAF: “I’m a retired investor living on a pension.”

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  7. Its a good thing he wasnt good enough to coach the US which has higher standards apparrently.

    We wanted a winner…albeight a coach who last won 10 years ago.

    …and failed every where else….

    and a cronie of our last coaching failure Bruce “I know everything about soccer from my lacrosse days but cant get a job outside the US ” Arena

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  8. they are going to turn to Roy Keane, so he can get a team together that breaks the most opponents legs in the history of the game

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