Good morning all. As the shopping days until Christmas wind down and we move closer to the New Year, this time of year is usually when news in the soccer world slows down. That wasn't the case on Tuesday.
Yes, you remember that slow Tuesday I talked about (and jinxed). We saw DaMarcus Beasley continuing his comeback, the LA Galaxy announcing that they would have a major announcement to make on Wednesday and a hot-shot college coach turned down a chance to coach the most successful club in MLS history.
Not bad for a slow day.
What awaits us on Wednesday? FC Barcelona kicks off its participation in the Club World Cup, an event that has lacked the buzz of previous years. Mexican side Atlante will look to pull the upset (11am, FSC). We have the Galaxy announcement, which is expected to include more than just Landon Donovan's loan to Everton. Just what might that be? In an ideal world the Galaxy would be announcing that Oguchi Onyewu was joining LA on loan from AC Milan to conduct his rehab and potentially play some matches for LA this spring before the World Cup, but that's just a pipe dream.
Wednesday has already offered its share of news items that should be of interest to American soccer fans. Here are a few:
Watford is facing bankruptcy, which just might facilitate a Jay DeMerit transfer sooner than expected. DeMerit raised his stock with last summer's Confederations Cup performance, but only recently returned from eye surgery so interest may not be as high as it was in August.
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Red Bulls coaching candidate Tony Adams looks to be heading elsewhere. Reports out of Europe are linking Adams to the recently-vacated St. Etienne job. If Adams is, in fact, heading to France, it would make him the second leading foreign Red Bulls coaching candidate to take a job in Europe. Remember the days when it was only European players, and not coaches, who parlayed interest from New York and MLS into new deals?
Sources tell me that new Red Bulls GM Erik Soler has some other Scandanavian coaches in mind as potential candidates, though the handful of MLS candidates remain in the running.
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David Beckham has come out and said he'd like to face Manchester Unitedin the Champions League when the Round of 16 draw is held on Friday. Beckham is set to join AC Milan on loan in January and Milan could be drawn against Manchester United. That potential match-up would not only draw serious TV ratings, it would be one of the better possible match-ups given Milan's recent renaissance.
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With Caleb Porter signed to a new five-year deal with Akron, folks in Indiana might be wondering who will be the next to coach the storied Indiana University soccer program. Sources tell me that University of Wisconsin head coach Todd Yeagley will be named Indiana's head coachat some point in the coming weeks. Yeagley is the son of legendary Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley.
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All you hardcore EPL fans out there should appreciate this contribution from standout English journalist Henry Winter, who gives us his EPL Team of the Decade.
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It came to my attention on Tuesday that some SBI readers may still be unaware of the existence of SBI's Twitter page. We never really promoted it much, but since I have stepped up the Tweeting in recent weeks, you should definitely add SBI to the Tweets you follow. As always, you can see a live feed of all our Tweets on the right side of the SBI homepage.
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That's all for now. What do you think of the above stories? Would you like to see DeMerit make a January move? Running out of hope that New York will make a wise coaching hire? Hoping Beckham and Milan draw Manchester United?
Share your thoughts below.
I could see Dos walking those balls into goal. What is it with Pep and Bojan?
And Bojan disappointed again today-at some point he either has to start taking his chances or he has to be moved along. He had 2 guilt-aged chances in the 6 yard box to put in Barca’s 4th. Aside from that, what an absolutely brilliant match from Barca on the offensive end-definetly some question marks on the defensive end, but the passing in the midfield (the 2 absolute geniuses called Xavi and Iniesta), budding SUPERSTAR Pedro-first player to ever score a goal in 6 competitions! and little balon d’or and the gangster-ballerina. CAN ANYONE STOP BARCA? Not on this form, what a joy that second half was to watch.
Fischy, I have to say my friend-you don’t strike me as the sharpest tool in the shed, Henry scored 167 goals in the EPL, and was the leader of one of the most dominant sides in EPL history-does any of this ring a bell?
And Gary Neville is like 55 now, have some perspective please.
And why would a new contract w/ LA damage Ives’ standing? He’s still going on loan to Everton-do you understand the concept of a loan?
Come on bro.
Regarding Watford….Elton John tour coming to a city near you in the future.
Once again you are making assumptions based only on speculation. I am not saying the league NEEDS Landon…but having a player of his quality doesn’t hurt.
Good point Danny. And to your point David, if they are leaking goals that badly, then maybe Zola needs to be rethinking what he is looking for – at least from one player who can shore up the back line.
NM
I love Barcelona but can’t forgive them favoring Bojan over Dos. I’ve never seen a good game from Bojan, never.
DeMerit had some issues in the EPL when Watford was promoted. I think he could get a starting spot with one of the top of the championship or bottom of the EPL. Mid-table and above in the EPL he will struggle for playing time. If West Ham has to unload Upson this January, I think he could do very well there. Most important thing is he gets consistent playing time up to the WC.
Fischy, I would agree. If he is in form, the manager likes him (and his post-game quotes yesterday were laudatory) then what benefit would it be for Beas to leave the Rangers and have to start over again. Where else is he going to go and get to play Champions League?
The benefit of a transfer, the right one of course, is getting out of the SPL which is a very rough place and where DMB could easily get injured again and miss WC 2010 regardless of his form.
First of all, Henry is one of the best strikers ever in the EPL, and he certainly was great in this decade with Arsenal. While Drogba is incredibly talented and a wonderful player now, he was certainly not a great player when he first arrived at Chelsea, and that wasn’t until the second half of the decade. Aside from his amazing season in 2007 I believe, and this season, he is certainly not one of the best two strikers of the decade in the EPL. And as for Neville, say what you will, but he was a great player for England and United for many, many years. His present form is a different story…
the league doesn’t need landon donovan. it needs a higher minimum salary, it needs a reserves league, it needs better academies at every club, it needs a higher (but still reaonable) salary cap, it needs more franchises as well run as Seattle … I could go on … but what it does NOT need is any ONE player … be that Beckham or Landon Donovan
Donovan is wussing out, whatever the explanation or excuses, he doesn’t have the guts to test and prove himself at the highest level on a day in and day out basis … I am sure he will still be the best outfield player for the USMNT but to be one of the greatest players in the world you have to do more on the club level than be the best player in the 25th best league in the world.
If you all are referring to DeMerit going to United, that would be very unwise. The second any of their players become fit again, he’d be at best the fifth choice center back and wouldn’t even make the bench. I hope no one is delusional enough to think he’s better than Evans and Brown. Same thing applies for Gooch too, although he is better than DeMerit…
Maybe he is doing it for the good of the league? Who are you to make judgments of his intentions?
if landon signs a new deal with la he offically and eternally becomes landycakes … a wuss who is too scared to be anything other than a big fish in a small (very small) pond.
the hope is the mls will be a great place for late blooming american talents to grow and hopefully prepare for the jump to big time soccer in europe and also of course be an entertaining domestic product … but mls will NEVER be a place for the best ameican talent to compete with the best in the world.
as i have said before the ultimate goal for the USMNT should be to have a pool of 30+ players who are all regular starters/stars at top 75 European clubs. when a player like dempsey is no longer the exception but the rule the USMNT will be something more than an also ran but until then if our best players like Donovan are too scared to try and compete with the best on a daily basis then there is little hope for the USMNT to cement its place as a top 10 world team.
How has Watford become bankrupt? Has Elton John gone and lost all of his money? I know its not a huge club, but I thought had some decent fan support.
Landon needs to turn that deal down. MLS will take him back without a second thought if he fails in Europe… but putting the rest of your career in the hands of the MLS? which blocked your much wanted transfer into Europe last year… not a good idea.
just don’t go all Kevin Smith on us and tweet every time you’re picking what to eat for lunch. That man must live on Twitter.
I agree. West Ham is the best location in the Prem for him. They are leaking goals and Zola can’t pick a settled 4. The only problem I see is can Demerit play the kind of football Zola want the team to play.
If Landon signs a new deal with LA, he can still go on loan to Everton. Ives wouldn’t report a loan deal if it wasn’t going to happen.
Ives’ Twitter says that. He’s also going to Everton on loan though. I just wish he wouldn’t sign a new long term contract before he sees how he does abroad. If he does well he’s kinda stuck with the MLS.
Atlante scores four minutes in
1-0
EJ is not on the Europa roster.
Huh! Well, if that happened, it would sure be a blow to Ives’ standing, as he has been reporting the loan as a done deal for almost a week. On the other hand, Goff was claiming DCU was in process of finalizing a deal with Porter. Stranger things have happened.
Roy has allready stated that league is his priority so my guess clint will see partial time. Maybe ej will get a look
DId you watch those highlights? On his goal, he dribbled right past the defender, did a stutter-step to set up his shot and still had a wide-open path for his shot. Also, got behind the defense and corralled the long pass for his assist. Looked pretty fast to me.
Landon to sign new contract with Galaxy. I wish he would try his luck in Europe again, but this is good for the MLS.
(SBI-You saw this on our Twitter right?)
Gary Neville. Pff. I can’t stand even reading his name….
That would actually make a lot of sense, but just seems like it would be too good for the USMNT for it to ever happen.
West Ham sure could use DeMerit…
I think Holden has more overall ability. He’s a better shooter, though Beasley surprised and impressed me with his goal yesterday Holden is also a more physical player. Still, Beas’ speed and especially his experience do count. Don’t want to oversell that, though. When Holden makes a mistake, we call it inexperience. When Beas coughs it up off a corner kick and surrenders a goal, I guess we can’t blame it on inexperience….
What time is the Landon presser?
Good point Aaron. I think either one of those is not beyond the realm of possibility. And would be very cool for JDM and for the USMNT.
NM
Given that Kamara and AJ are injured and Nevland is suspended I bet Dempsey gets the start up top next to Zamora. At least I hope that is what happens. If not that means Roy is not going for it in Europa.
I know. I don’t think it is beyond reason that this could happen. And how cool would that be?
He has become one of the KEY pieces of a backline that just blanked Spain in the Confed Cup, and looks to be a lock on the USA squad if he’s healthy. How can he NOT attract the attention of Premier League teams?
I’m not rooting against Beaz, but I understand where you’re coming from. Unless he magically regains his speed, he’ll likely push one of our faster players off the squad or farther down the bench.
With his loss of speed, he probably can’t be considered an outright winger anymore. Which we seem to have few of.
Go big: Man U, they are really, literally hurting at the back.
Obviously a joke, but a Prem league side with a chance to start would be great. Especially with Gooch, getting JDM some quality games would be great.
About that EPL Team of the Decade — Tough call at striker. Henry over Drogba? Sure, the Ivorian is a late-comer, but Henry has been gone for a couple of years himself. On their impact in the EPL, I think I’d take Drogba, but it’s close. As for the goalie: Shay Given? Really? He is capable of eye-popping saves, but I feel there are more consistent goalies — ones I’d rather have on my team. Brad Friedel, for one.
Yea you are, b/c even if holden is a footballer… beasely has scored goals in the champions, and played his ass off in a world cup… This means that on on form beasely is >>> than a houton dynamo tested holden (insert cynism… if holden goes to a big euro league and scores goals, then we can talk… if not beasely would be our best option on the right… no more of this 06 mess about how he doesn’t like playing on the right… but him on the right, move dempsey up, let donavan play left in more of a diamond role with dempsey and altidore)
You’re not alone brother. but you’re all dum dums
Ives Tweets are the best Tweets!
Am I the only one who hopes that Beasley DOSEN’T get on form and consequently pulled in the WC squad? I have always felt that he was not the total player that we need out on the wing.
Unless Rangers are just showcasing him for a transfer, all of a sudden it appears Beasley is in the right place. If he’s getting time because the coach wants him in the lineup, why would he benefit from a transfer?
DeMerit has had a great run at Watford, but he definitely is capable of stepping up — either to a Championship side looking at promotion or a current EPL side. He could also succeed on the continent, if he’s so inclined. He’s a skilled defender. If he gets to play in a league that is less brutal than the Championship, he’ll be better prepared for the World Cup.
Good Choice, they are hurting at the back.
I wonder if we are all going to be shocked today on a Mandon permenant move to Everton? Also I hope Chelsea can turn around this bad vein of form and beat Pompey today. If they cannot then we have huge problems. Clint Dempsey has to start today with Fulhams Europa League life on the line. Last though: God please let Beasley turn his game around and get a good transfer. An on form Beasley ala 2002 would give us a great chance nest year.
Believe it or not, the 5th-6th place match at the Club World Cup between Auckland City and the club from DR Congo was an absolute blast! The Kiwis won on a well executed break away goal in the last seconds of stoppage time.
DeMerit to Everton!!!!!
Wonder if clint will get time today or rested for united game on sat. Both games are important