Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup Recap

This past summer, the Homeless World Cup took place in Milan, Italy from the 6th to the 13th of September. It was a huge success with 48 nations and 500 players taking part. One of the benefits to holding an event like this is the fact that it gives homeless players the opportunity to focus on something outside of drugs and alcohol...and it is an opportunity to represent your nation! It just shows how powerful soccer is, and how far it can reach and make changes. The video is full of passion and the presenter is hilarious, well worth watching!
Ukraine played Portugal in the final, with Ukraine winning 5-4!

Stephen Gerrard talks Adidas Predator X

Absolutely love this one, just for the fact that you see how much a pair of cleats mean to a player. To quote Stevie G, he states that "What happens is you get used to one boot and you really fall in love with it and then some way they find better ways to improve the boot". Lets be honest, every time we wear a new pair of cleats they feel like the bee's knees, only for a better pair to be released soon after! I can name several pairs that I have truely fallen in love with, only to change my opinion after testing a different pair. I am a big fan of Stevie Gerrard, and when he state that he is pretty old school, preferring a black pair of cleats rather than the white version, it makes me want a pair of the black ones! Check out the vid!

Creative Director of Fifa and EA Sports Interview

The first line of this article reads "You might not know Gary Paterson by name, yet. But you absolutely know him by the work he and his team at EA Sports do." I have to admit, I had no idea who Gary Paterson was before I read this article, but now I do know and I absolutely know that he is a key component in the world on soccer gaming and international soccer. Head on over to the Original Winger and check out this great article!

Adidas Predator X Images!

Found this earlier today, even though the Predator X and images are not supposed to be officially released until this coming Monday (10-26-09), we found a site that was listing the images, as well as the option to pre-buy them! Check them out below.




Images via: Shoebuy

Save 20% With World Soccer Shop Coupon

I just received this coupon from WorldSoccerShop that is good until 10-25-09...or until this Sunday! If you spend $75 or more, you can get 20% off by using the coupon WSS1025. If you are on the market for some new gear this might be the deal you have been waiting for!

FIFA and World Cup Playoff Seedings

So, this is one that has definitely touched a nerve with me! Fifa, the world governing organization for soccer, decided 2 weeks before the final round of European qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup, that the teams that qualified for the playoffs would be seeded! This meant that out of the 8 teams that qualified, 4 would be seeded as higher rankings and not have to play each other (ie France would not have to play Portugal). In my opinion, this is what it is all about! Since there was a chance that the above teams, Portugal and France, would be drawn against one another, Fifa decided to 'alter' the rules in order for them to avoid being paired up. By having them play together, there would be one less power nation involved in the World Cup. Why not just draw from the 8 team like was the initial plan?
I am Irish and this is one reason why I am upset with the decision. In the draw, Ireland got France. Probably the toughest pairing in the playoffs. But I am not complaining about that. Even if all 8 teams were drawn from one hat we could have got France anyway. It is just the way in which Fifa announced it. The Irish team and coaching staff was also fuming about the decision. In particular goalkeeper Shay Given was unhappy. Given even went as far as to suggest that the decision, which was announced last week, was driven by the voices of the biggest nations at the top of the Fifa hierarchy. "There are people high up in delegations," said Given, "and maybe their countries are needing a hand to qualify."
Check out this English poll, that asked 'Is Fifa's seeding system fair'? The result was pretty conclusive with over 87% of respondents saying the system was flawed. Need I say more?

Adidas Predator X About to be Unleashed

Adidas Predator X - It is the talk of the town right now and is about to be released onto the US market. There are a lot of positive things being said about the cleat, and after getting to test a pair I would agree. Actually, in my opinion they will probably be one of the more sought after cleats come the Christmas rush. And that will be no easy feat as Nike have raised their game with recent releases. The Predator X has many new technological developments, including 'Optifit', a system that allows for a more durable and long lasting cleat. Basically, Adidas have worked to shore up some of the problem areas where you often see other cleats (including previous versions of the Predator) tearing. Another cool aspect is the Predator Zone. This time around, adidas have used a silicon plastic mix that is designed to help with control, accuracy and power.
Right now, if you are brave enough, the cleats are available to pre-order for $220!

USA CONCACAF Champions in Dramatic Style!

It has been a qualifying campaign full of twists and turns, and the final round of games was no different! It took a goal from Jonathan Bornstein in the 94th minute to claim a 2-2 draw for the US mens soccer team against Costa Rica. Because the US tied, Mexico would have they beaten T&T. There game finished in a 2-2 draw also. If the US had lost the game, Mexico would have been crowned CONCACAF Champions, but Bornstein ended up scoring the much needed goal. Robbie Rodgers came on for the last 20 minutes, and in my opinion put in a man of the match performance, and was involved in both goals. In fact, less than 60 seconds after coming into the game, Rodgers whiped a fantastic cross into the box that Conor Casey probably should have scored. One negative was that Oguchi Onyewu went off with what looked to be a serious injury in the second half. He seemed to twist his left knee or ankle as he challenged for a ball on the back post. At first, I actually thought he had broken his leg, as he was in serious agony. After seeing some replays, it looked like his left ankle or knee buckled as he fell. Watch out for more on his injury.

Finally, I think Charlie Davies will be proud of the team after their brave performance. It was a difficult game for the team to have to play, especially with all the media attention surrounding the team in the past 36 hours, but they battled and got the result they needed. A tribute was given to Davies after the game as the team met in the center circle with a banner. As an update, Davies was making some improvement today, and according to sources, he was responsive to doctors. A positive beginning to what will be a difficult and testing recovery. We wish Charlie a fast and full recovery, and we would like to offer our condolances for the life lost in the crash.

Ryan Gigg's Benifits From Half-Time Snacks

Whatever happened to half-time oranges? Fig rolls are the half-time snack fit for champions, it has been claimed. The secret behind everlasting life for Manchester United veterans such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes is apparently a hit of the fruity biscuit. Gone are the days of the humble citrus fruit and even the next generation Jaffa Cake - an orange on a cake - is passe in the Old Trafford dressing room. "The players have to watch everything they eat and drink," a club 'source' told The Sun. "A lot of the players used to have Jaffa Cakes for their half-time energy fix, but that's all changed now. Many have switched to fig rolls. Our team of nutritionists and dieticians have identified them as the perfect interval snack for footballers.
'They are high in carbohydrates, low in fat and the lads love the taste of them. They're perfect for football.'

Story comes via the Daily Mail.

Brian Clough - "The Damned United"

For those of you who have no idea who Brian Clough is, you are going to want to make sure and see this movie about the legend that was. The movie was released in the UK back in March, but it has only now made its way across the pond and opens in New York and Los Angeles on Oct 9th. Clough was a very confident and larger than life figure, optimized by his own quote "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one". I love that quote! I can't say I remember too much of Clough's career, but I do remember his final few seasons, and watching him finish his career at Nottingham Forest. I also took the opportunity to read his autobiography, which in my opinion is one of the read reads available, especially if you want to know more about what soccer in England was about from the 60s to the 90s. This includes a playing career at Middlesbrough and then management, which turned out to be his real calling! The highlights included a sparkling career at Derby, a short but memorable 7 game stint at Leeds before his move to Nottingham Forest. At Forest, Clough achieved the unimaginable by winning back to back European titles in 1979 and 1980.
I could keep taking about the legend, but I will let the book and movie give you the full details! The movie is called 'The Damned United" and will be released in the US October 9th, while the book is called "Clough: The Autobiography" available at Amazon, and believe me when I say this book is one of the best soccer reads out there!!

Russian Pitch Invader Scores Penalty!

This could be one of the best Penalties I have seen taken, the keeper doesn't even move!! This happened last weekend in Russia, when a fan ran onto the field of the Saturn vs Spartak Moscow game and buried the ball in the corner of the net! It is a great penalty, but lets be honest, where is security? These two clowns just run free on the field! Gotta love it though!

Get a Retro English Soccer Jerseys!

So, you are thinking of getting yourself a new soccer jersey but dont know which to get (maybe you are a Portsmouth fan and need to change it up a bit!!), well what about getting yourself an old school retro jersey? I just found this page over on the 'English Mirror' tabloid, where they have a bunch classic jerseys for sale. There are a bunch of great jerseys up for grabs for all of the top teams. I recommend the Manchester United 1985 FA Cup final jersey. Get Kevin Moran on the back, wearit in a game, get a red card and make the Jersey even more legitimate!! (Kevin Moran was the first player to get a red card in an FA Cup Final, and that was in the 85 final!)

Check it all out over at the Mirror Football Shop!

Owen Seals Manchester Derby

Quite ironic if you ask me...Man City spend over $100 million on new strikers yet Michael Owen, who was signed on a free transfer by United was the one to score the winning goal in the Manchester Derby! The game finished 4-3, with Owen scoring the winning goal in the 95th minute. This Derby will go down as one of the greatest Derby games of all time, and it will come as no surprise that this game was full of controversy! One of the talking points was the fact that Owen's goal came in the 95th minute, when the 4th official had signalled there would only be 4 minutes added! After the game City coach Mark Hughes was fuming! Alex Ferguson on the other hand, played off the win by saying it was not about beating Man City but rather finishing top at the end of the season!

Speaking of Michael Owen, I have been impressed with how Sir Alex Ferguson has been handling the ex-Liverpool man. One of Owen's big downfalls has been the fact that he seems to consistently pick up injuries. But right now, Owen looks like a man on fire, and finally injuries are on the back foot. Ferguson has not used Owen in all games this season. In fact, Owen has only started one Premier League game! With that, Owen has been influential when brought of the bench, and so was the outcome of Sundays Manchester Derby! England Coach Fabio Capello has continued to leave Owen out of his squads because of Owen's injuries, but if he continues to play how he is right now, I think Capello will have to call him into some squads. And that would suit Owen as we head towards a World Cup year!

When will Portsmouth get their first win?

Portsmouth have endured a pretty bad start to the 2009/10 season. Actually, it has been the worst start ever in the Premier League, with 6 losses on the trot. Paul Hart has been assured of his position as manager, and with the takeover there are sure to be big signings come the January transfer market. For now, the boys at Pompey need to battle for a win, or even a draw, to break the losing streak. Below is a list of their fixtures until December. They have to break it at some stage, but the question is when? They have some difficult fixtures coming up in the next few weeks. My opinion: the will get a draw at Wolves! Leave thoughts, comments, or predictions below.

Man City to Appeal Adebayor Charge!

Last week, Manchester City accepted the charge handed down by the English FA to Emmanuel Adebayor after his rash challenge on Arsenal's Robin Van Persie in their Premier League encounter. Adebayor and City did not hand in an appeal against the three match ban that the English FA handed out. All well and good as, from my point of view, Adebayor did rake his cleat along Van Persie's face. In light of the game, match official Mark Clattenberg admitted that if he had seen the incident he would have sent Adebayor off. Charge one accepted.
A second improper conduct charge is to be handed out to Adebayor in the coming weeks. Man City today stated that they will be appealing this charge as they believe they have a case against it. After scoring against his old club, Adebayor after he ran the whole length of the field to celebrate scoring in front of the Arsenal fans. The incident caused a huge riot in the stands, and could so easily have got even further out of hand. In fact, one of the stewards had to be rushed to hospital after getting stamped on. I'm not sure why Man City would even think about appealing this one! What Adebayor did was senseless. To score and celebrate in front of the opposing fans on the same end where the goal is scored is somewhat ok. But to sprint (and I mean sprint, no one could catch Adebayor) the length of the field, to the other goal, and slide on your knees in front of the fans to celebrate in kind of brainless! There was a lot of emotion at the game, and Adebayor did have to put up with a lot of slack from the Arsenal fans. On top of that, add the fact that some of his former teammates would not shake his hand before kick off and it raises the level even more. One thing to note on this is that I have played at the top level of soccer, and been at stadiums where fans booed me up and down the field. Yet I never even thought about celebrating like this. The right response is to score the goal and celebrate with your fans and teammates. I think it would have been more effective for Adebayor to celebrate with his new teammates in front of his new fans, and maybe even kiss the City crest to show his loyalty to his new club. Instead he choose to shun them and be an 'individual'!
Lets hope Adebayor enjoys his few weeks of rest, and comes back with a better attitude!

Chelsea Banned From Transfer Market!

Don’t expect any big transfers at Stamford Bridge for the next 12 months; FIFA, the world governing body have banned Chelsea from registering any new players for the next two transfer windows. The club was found guilty of inducing a French teenager to breach his contract with another club. The player in question is Gael Kakuta, 18, who joined Chelsea from Lens two years ago. It was the French club who lodged a complaint with the sport's world governing body seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club.
An official FIFA statement went like this:
"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such breach.
"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of 780,000 euros (£680,995), for which the club, Chelsea, is jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches is imposed on the player Gael Kakuta while the club Chelsea is banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision. "Furthermore, Chelsea, has to pay RC Lens training compensation in the amount of 130,000 euros (£113,498)."

The ruling means that Chelsea would not be eligible to sign players in the Christmas transfer window, or next summer’s transfer window. The next time they would be able to buy would be December of 2010! What a hit that would be to the club. Include that next summer the World Cup will take place, and it is an even bigger blow. Usually World Cup’s are where the new upcoming stars shine and every team will be looking for new signings. Chelsea are not the first club to have been punished in such a way. Italian side Roma were also given a ban for two transfer windows in 2004 following defender Philippe Mexes' transfer from Auxerre. Roma appealed to the CAS and had the ban cut to one transfer window.

Seattle Win the Lamar Hunt Open Cup

Seattle Sounders defeated D.C United in the final of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup on Wednesday night, and sealed the first trophy for the first year franchise. No doubt, people were expecting an entertaining game and a close result..and that is exactly what they got. I would say that it was one of the more entertaining finals in recent times and shows why the tournament is still important to teams. In 2007, I was part of the New England Revolution team that took the title, and I know that winning that trophy was very important to what we did that season! To have any US Professional soccer medal is an honor.

What capped the game for me was the fact that a player who moved with the Seattle Sounder Franchise from USL to MLS was the one to score the winning goal - Roger Levesque. What a fairy tale story for the 28 year old striker, who is in his 5th season as a Seattle player. A lot of credit has to go to Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux, who tussled for the ball at the edge of the area before squaring a neat ball to Levesque at the back post. A well deserved goal!

My final point is on the red card given to D.C goalkeeper Chris Wicks after Seattle's first goal. What was the big man thinking? He gets up and jumps on a player (Freddie Montero) who is lying on the ground after a legitimate goal...a moment of madness that should see the keeper fined and suspended for more than the normal 2 games for a red card. He could have seriously injured Montero as he appeared to stamp on the strikers chest.

Great win for Seattle.....and congrats to one of the best set of supporters in MLS! Feel free to leave your thoughts about the game below. What did you think of Seattles performance? What about Josh Wicks red card?

Landon Donovan: Narrow World of Sports

Here is some humor to start your week off! Landon Donavan being interviewed by the very 'unique' Peter Mehlman, the humor is a little out of sorts and some how the conversation turns to getting caught with prostitutes! Landon does pretty well to stay cool headed and keep the answers flowing, could have got awkward! But enjoy....

The Amateur Footballer spends....

The guys over at footy-boots.com put together a great post, listing the items they have in their soccer bag for a Sunday morning soccer league game. I personally have a few pairs of cleats, my slip in shin guards, Chelsea Leather food and my wash bag! Pretty simple really. Luckily for me, I get my cleats for free so my number is probably not as high as the normal player. But when it comes down to it, no matter the amount you have to pay, when you cross that white line onto the field it is all worth it! I spent last year traveling 2 hours to and from practice (LA to Ventura) and I never once complained about the fact that I had to do it, or the fact that I had to pay for gas. In the end, I was blessed to be able to play at a great level, in front of large crowds and in the end win a PDL National Championship.

Check out the amateur footballers kitbag here.

The Great Football Giveaway

I absolutely love this! Why? Because it is what soccer is all about...reaching around the world, to the farthest corner with the ability to bring joy to others! And soccer can do that because of its universal power. For me, soccer is a way of life, and giving these young potential superstars the opportunity to kick a ball around is priceless. When the school teachers admits that school attendances will increase because the kids have know they will play soccer after school sums it up perfectly! If you have an extra $15 lying around go to their website and give to a cause that really makes a difference http://www.thegreatfootballgiveaway.org.uk/

Cristiano Ronaldo - Before moving to Real Madrid....

Cristiano Ronaldo made his dream move to Real Madrid this summer, but he will forever be a legend for what he did at Manchester United. This is one of my favorite commercials for the Portugese winger, and oppitimizes his status at Manchester United. The commercial was released just after Christmas this year, after he had won the World Player of the year award. My favorite part is the kid's reenactment of Ronaldo...as I feel I used to do the very same in recreating Eric Cantona's goals! Let me know what you think.

Champions League: Celtic vs Arsenal

I just wanted to send out a reminder about tomorrows Champions League clash between Celtic and Arsenal, I have a feeling it will be a classic clash! Not often do you get the opportunity to see two huge teams from different leagues play this early in the Champions League, especially in the qualifiers! Both teams had good wins over the weekend, but Arsenal's was without a doubt the most impressive, a 6-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park. Lets be honest, it has to be one of the best ever Premier League wins, and I think Arsenal will need to be wary as they head north to Parkhead. Celtic had a morale boosting 2-0 win away to Dinamo Moscow in the last round, there first away from home in the Europe for over 6 years. With that being said, I actually fancy a tie in this game, with a few goals thrown in. I reckon a 2-2, since both teams are in goal scoring mood. Make sure you check it out if you have some free time around midday tomorrow!

Steve Nash Showdown in New York

On June 25th 2009, a cast of pro athlethes took to Nike Field in Sara D. Roosevelt Park in New York to take place in the Steve Nash Celebrity soccer game. This was the 2nd year for the event to take place. It is super cool as it brings together soccer players, basketball players, movie stars and a host of celebrities in a soccer game that is free for the public to watch. Among those that participated this year were Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Joakim Noah, Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jozy Altidore, Juan Pablo Angel, and Gregg Berhalter. What a great line up! And here is a sweet video that puts together the day, well worth watching!

Chelsea win the Charity Shield

Chelsea got a piece of revenge over Manchester United for their penalty loss in the Champions League two seasons ago. In what is the showcase for the Premier League season Chelsea and UNited put on a very entertaining game, finishing in normal time 2-2. Nani opened the scoring for United, before Carvahlo and Lampard fired Chelsea into the lead. With the game seeming finished, Wayne Rooney latched onto a Ryan Giggs through ball and send the game to Penalties. Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra fired in extremely weak PK's, leaving Chelsea with the opportunity to take the title for 2009, which they duely accepted.

I was impressed by the showing in this game. The tempo was high, and both teams had some great chances. In terms of the line-ups the only thinkg that surprised me was the fact that Antonio Valencia did not start for United, but I am sure Fergusin wants to ween him in slowly. Ballack came off the bench for Chelsea, he broke a toe during preseason, so I expect to see him in the starting line up in the coming weeks. If this game is anything to go by, then this season should be another exciting one!

English Premier League Fantasy Soccer

It is fast approaching that time of the year again, the English Premier League kicks of on August 15th. And with the kick off comes one of the most fun and challenging online games - Fantasy soccer! This season, we will be posting a weekly update on the previous week action with hints and tips on the following weeks selections. I play using www.premierleague.com, and it is by far and away the most advanced Fantasy soccer available. This season, they have even added the option of having your own mini league with friends where you can play 1 vs 1 each week just like in regular league play! Or you can just stick with the normal points mode. Either way, it is well worth getting a team in and giving it a go in a league against your peers. All you need to do to get started is head over to www.premierleague.com and select a team comprising of 2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders and 3 strikers for $100 million. The key to picking your team is getting the best value for money. Since you only play 11 players at one time, it is key to pick up cheap substitutes that will play regularly, so that if one of your regular players misses a game the sub can fill in and gain you some points! Usually, it is best to pick up some players from newly promoted teams who have a good track record. This is something that will be featured in the next post 'picking your team'.

The Loss of a Legend: Sir Bobby Robson

In a deserved mark of respect, thousands of fans and friends of Sir Bobby Robson flocked to St. James park to pay respects to one of the true legends of the game of soccer. On Friday, Sir Bobby lost his battle with Cancer, a battle that he had overcome 4 times before. At the age of 76, Sir Bobby passed away at his home in Durham with his family surrounding him.

This morning, Newcastle stars gather round the St James' Park centre circle and held a minute's silence as they paid tribute to the late, great Sir Bobby Robson. More than 5,000 fans also turned up at the ground to pay their respects to the former Magpies and England boss and the first few rows of the Sir John Hall Stand have been turned into a shrine of flowers, notes and jerseys.

I spoke to Graham Smith, who was a close English friend of Sir Bobby's from his time playing in the old First division. He was saddened by the death of an icon to English soccer, but said that he will have nothing but good memories. I personally remember Sir Bobby on the pitch hugging Paul Gascoigne after England's defeat to Germany in the 1990 World Cup Semi final. He was a compassionate manager who always brought out the best in his players.

Sir Bobby Robson, R.I.P.

Ronaldo Makes Real Madrid Debut

Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Real Madrid on Monday night in Ireland, in a pre-season friendly with Shamrock Rovers. The game, played in the newly built Tallaght stadium in Dublin, finished 1-0 to Madrid, but Ronaldo was rather inefficient in his 45 minutes of action. He did have 2 opportunities to score from free kicks, but his first went over the bar while his second hit the wall. It was pretty obvious that the Irish defenders were marking Ronaldo very closely, and what was deemed a 'friendly' quicly turned into a game of hard tackles. Ronaldo wore the new Black/Voltage Yellow Nike Superfly cleats.

Adebayor Signs for Man City

It is official; Emmanuel Adebayor has made the move from Arsenal to Man City, as manager Mark Hughes continues his huge spending spree before the start of the new season. What a signing! Arsenal were happy to let the Togo striker leave after he made it known that he did not want to stay at the club. And with Russian striker Arshavin showing so much promise at the end of last season, I am sure Arsene Wenger will be happy to have a large transfer fund to use on a few extra players.

My question is this; How spoilt does Man City manager Mark Hughes want to be? And how is he going to select a forward line? With Craig Bellamy and Robinho already in the squad, Hughes has acquired Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz and now Adebayor....are you kidding me! No other team in the league has ever had a strike force like this. Hughes must be drooling at the prospect of having 5 absolutely world class strikers to choose from. But how is he going to manage having so many big name strikers? Robinho and Adebayor would be starting strikers in any Premier League team, while Santa Cruz and Tevez have shown why they are regarded as some of the best strikers in the Premier League. An, Bellamy to me is one of the hardest working strikers in England when he is fit! Oh my! Now that he has such a strong front line, and a pretty decent midfield, I think Hughes will focus his attention on a new center back. Lets be honest, that's all he needs to have a team to challenge the top 4. I imagine that this will be the week when City place a $25+ million offer for Lescott, or a huge offer for John Terry or Man Utd's Vidic. Once this is sealed, City will be a feared team in the Premier League!

Soccer AM Humor with Jason McAteer and Razor Ruddock

This is a great clip of Jason McAteer and Neil Ruddock. 'Razor' Ruddock explains what McAteers nickname, Dave, represents the fact he is thick! This is great humor.

Cristiano Ronaldo Presented to the Real Madrid Faithful!

It is official; Cristiano Ronlado is a Real Madrid player. At a packed Santiago Bernebeu, Ronaldo was presented to the Madrid faithful, holding the title as the most expensive player in football. Ronlado strutted out in his new Real Madrid kit, and as we can exclusively revel, he was sporting the number '9' jersey. The Madrid supporters went wild for their new Portugese playmaker, and even more so after Ronaldo started a chant for Real Madrid. Another point to note was the fact Ronaldo was wearing the new Black /Voltage Yellow Nike Marcurial Vapor Superfly, giving an idea of how he will look on the first day of the season. The Superfly was pulled from the market back in late March, but after some added development, Nike are again about to unleash the long awaited cleat and they are currently available to order.

You can also now Purchase Ronaldo's No. 9 jersey.

Here are some pictures from the presentation:

Micheal Owen First Interview as a Manchester United Player

Check out Micheal Owen's first interview as a Manchester United player. Owen's move to United could be an absolutely ingenious move by Alex Ferguson, pending Owen staying away from injury. In my opinion, it is a very smart signing. Owen comes to United on a free transfer, and will be paid an a pay you play contract. How can you go wrong? In a time when Real Madrid are splurging on players, over $200 million so far this summer, a recognized striker who has a reputation for being a goalscorer is pretty good value for money (or should be!) I can see Owen doing great things at United, I will even go out on a limb to say that I think he will hit the 20 goal mark next season in all competitions....you can hold me to it!

Eric Frimpong: A Story of Injustice

As a very close friend of Eric Frimpong for 2 years, and having spent a lot of time with him during his trial and after the verdict, I maintain that his story is an example of a weakness in the US judicial system. All the evidence screams that Eric is innocent, and I mean all the evidence including the testimony of the victims boyfriend at the time of the incident. Eric is black and is from Ghana. He was tried by an all white jury with a judge who was a DA for 15 years. During the case there were several valid claims for a mistrial, but were all denied. I have to stop myself from going into the details of the case, but I encourage you to check out an article currently featured in ESPN, written by Sam Alipour who had no affiliation with any party in the trial. When I do try to tell people about the trial, they tend to think I am making things up, well read the article and tell me what you think.

Read the full story at ESPN.

Stephen Colbert Talks Soccer

This is a great video clip! So, after the US performance at the Confederations Cup, some shows have decided to jump on the bandwagon and discuss the topic. We already know that Jon Stewart is a huge soccer fan, but now Stephen Colbert has got into soccer mode, ala this fun segment featured on the Colbert Report earlier in the week entitled 'Is it time to care about soccer?'. By the end of the piece, and this is a quote from Colbert, "Soccer is the new American Sport!"

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Is it Time to Care About Soccer?
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

USA vs Brazil Confederation Cup Final Highlights

Highlights and goals from the Confederations Cup Final between the US and Brazil. And what a game it was, with the US really showing that they are becoming a world power in soccer.

Thierry Henry to New York Red Bulls?

Thierry Henry has admitted that he would one day like to play in MLS, with New York Red Bulls to be exact. Speaking to the Spanish media, Henry stated that he has a desire to follow David Beckham and help advance the game in the US. Henry is 31 years old, and with 2-years left on his contract at Barcelona, the Frenchman could very well choose to move across at the age of 33.

Henry said: "Could I play for New York at some point? It could be possible in 2011.
"You never know but the truth is it is an option that could be likely.
"I want to stay with Barcelona for two more seasons and then I will leave."

Personally, I would love to see the French star over here. He is one of the biggest and well known names in soccer. Think of the series of Gillette shaving creme advertisements; Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry. Henry is amazingly talented, he has speed and he can definitely score goals, all of which would make him an instant hit in MLS. Angel is probably one of the best strikers in MLS right now, if not the best, and he is below the level that Henry plays. What a combination that would be! With Beckham likely to leave in the coming year, we really need to see more big stars joining teams over here in order to keep the desire and passion alive within the league. It is the big name players that draw crowds and get people interested. Let's hope that Henry does make a decision to play over here, and obviously it would be nice if we didn't have to wait two seasons!

Man Utd Jersey Available to Buy!

Following up on yesterdays post about the Man Utd new home Jersey, Soccer.com have it available right now for $69.99, or a little more if you include getting your name on the back. Here are some the pics released of Wayne Rooney sporting the jersey!

Man United New Jersey Set to be Revealed

Manchester United are set to release there newest home Jersey on July 1st. The Premier League Champions will still have AIG across the front of the 2009/2010 Jersey as they approach the last year of their sponsorship deal. Sources say the new Jersey pays homage to the history of Man United and represents the success the team has had since its beginning. The red kit celebrates 100 years of Old Trafford and part of the design will reflect that which was worn by the Reds a century ago. Here is a sneak peak at the Jersey that will be on sale in less than 2 weeks. The players will wear the kit for the first time during their pre-season tour of Asia next month.

I remember several years ago when there was controversy that Man United were releasing a new jersey two seasons in a row! Now it seems to be a regular occurrence and an accepted practice for all the top teams. In similar fashion, Chelsea have already released their new jerseys for next season. Personally, I enjoy seeing a fresh new jersey every season, just as I do when playing for my own team. But the problem for supporters is that each new jersey costs around $80 when released. And this can be costly if you are buying for more than one person. I would like to see teams keeping a jersey for two seasons or else reducing the price! Neither of which will happen by the way, as Jersey sales are a huge source of revenue for all clubs big and small!

USA goal vs Spain

Here is Jose Altidore's goal that put the US up 1-0 versus Spain in the confederations Cup semi-final! As it turns out, this goal will go down as one of the most historic goals in US soccer History. It turned out to be the winner, as the US defeated Spain 2-0, Spain's first loss in 35 international games.

£10 Million Bonus for Newcastle Players!

When it comes to a top Premier League team you would expect big team bonuses at the end of the season. But what is the deal with relegated Newcastle United players receiving a £10 million bonus? This is the case as senior players such as Michael Owen and Mark Viduka are due annual loyalty payments believed to be in the region of £400,000, the overall bill will be around £10m. And to make matters even worse it appears that some Newcastle players will be heading into the Coca-Cola Championship on an increased salary in what appears to be a glaring oversight by club executives. What a disaster of a season it was for Newcastle. Kevin Keegan had the team moving in the right direction before Mike Ashley intervened causing unnecessary issues to arise on Tyneside. Smaller teams make accommodations for Relegation, but unfortunately that was not in the plan for Newcastle. They are a team with one of the best of supporters anywhere to be found, and a team that includes top international players like Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Geremi, yet they never got it together last season. And lets be honest, even though there was a lot of issues behind the scenes, it is no excuse for such a good team to get relegated; in my opinion the onus is on the players.

"Bring back Bobby" should be the chant at Newcastle if you ask me(Sir Bobby Robson). When the team was struggling back in 1999, Robson came in and saved them from relegation. His first game in charge was an 8-0 mauling of Sheffield United. Robson was sacked in 2004 for not helping the team qualify for the Champions League, thats a top 4 finish in the Premier League. Long gone are those days! The team has never recovered since, with many pot holes hampering the team. What needs to be done at Newcastle is a clean out! Ashley is the first that needs to go, from fan to team owner....what a way to destroy your team. It would probably be a good idea to know how to run a second division team before taking over a Premier League team! Alan Shearer, one of the most passionate of Newcastle fans, needs to take charge and mark his stamp on the squad. Shearer did not have much success in the Premier League, but he is the ideal candidate to get the team back on track. And then players like Owen and Viduka will be leaving on free transfers (while taking such large sums with them). Brazilian flop Cacapa is also on his way out of Tyneside with a sizable pay-off, while Joey Barton will receive a sizable bonus for being imprisoned and getting red cards for fun! Unneccesary junk if you ask me. Building the team around the likes of Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi is the way to go, players with heart that want to be part of a successful Newcastle team. I am not a Newcastle fan, but I have 100% respect for their fans. For this reason I want to see them succeed. Next season, I will be cheering for them as they endure the unenviable task of trying to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The Story of Adidas

Check out this really cool animated video....if tou have no idea who Adi Dassler is you will after watching! I think it is really cool.

World Cup Trophy Tour Details Released

With the 2010 World Cup drawing ever closer, FIFA have released details on the route which the famous trophy will travel. In all, it will span 86 countries during a 225-day tour, and an 134,017 kilometers(83,274 miles)trip, allowing thousands of fans from around the globe see the real solid-gold trophy in person. The Trophy Tour will begin its journey from the FIFA Headquarters on September 21, 2009, and will arrive in the host country of South Africa on May 4, 2010.

During the Trophy Tour, fans will be given the chance to enjoy a rare close-up view of the authentic FIFA World Cup Trophy. Free tickets to the 2009/10 Trophy Tour will be made available to consumers via Coca-Cola promotions in countries on the route. At events in each city, fans will have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken of themselves with the trophy, view a special 3-D movie showcasing memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup, participate in interactive displays and enjoy other entertainment. Countries and dates of the route are subject to change.

This is the second tour to be undertaken by the trophy. Coca-Cola have sponsored both events, with the first being in 2006. This was a huge success with the trophy visiting 31 cities in 29 countries, covering 102,570 kilometers(63,734 miles). There is much pride being taken in the fact that the tour is able to grow.

Some Stats on the World Cup Trophy:

• Height: 36.8 centimetres (14.5 inches)
• Weight: 6,175 grams (13.61 pounds)
• Made of solid, 18-carat gold
• The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite
• The bottom side of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.

Man United Sign Soccer Squirrel

Well maybe not....but this squirrel knows how to play! Great advertisement from Carlsberg to along with their sports drink range, whop would have thought the best larger in the world would also have the best advertisements!

Cristiano Ronaldo Getting More Expensive Daily!

The economy is benefiting Manchester United in the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid! Who would have thought that accepting an offer for Ronaldo would actually become more beneficial by the day? The day the pound hit its highest level against the euro for six months, Manchester United finally said "Yes" to Real's offer. Amazingly, until the paperwork is signed and sealed every rise will cost the Spanish club more money.

Let's look at the numbers: 1 pound reached 1.17 euros on Thursday, in January it was 1.07. Experts have calculated that for every cent the euro falls, Real Madrid will owe an extra one million euros. Are you kidding me!? For every small change on the stock market, Madrid will owe an extra one million. The teams have currently agreed on £80million, this number would have equaled €83 million in January. This was when the pound was much weaker, but at today’s exchange rate, the same sterling amount will cost Real Madrid €93 million.

Mark O’Sullivan, who works as director of dealing at Currencies Direct in the UK, stated, “While the Ronaldo deal is good news for Real Madrid supporters, the accountants at the Bernabeu stadium will be sweating until the paperwork is all signed and sealed. Ronaldo’s price in January 09 was 83 million euros, today it is 93 million euros and rising and this will have a tremendous impact on Real Madrid’s plans to amortise this investment."

It is amazing how we don't think of these things when we hear about transfers. “This deal highlights the fact that the final price of a player like Ronaldo is very much decided by the currency markets and not always in the board rooms of football clubs - though who would put it past a canny Scot like Sir Alex Ferguson to take all this into consideration too!” Mr. O’Sullivan added. Add to this the fact that a lot of teams pay in installments with interest and the fee increases even more! There is no doubt that Manchester United fans will be sad to see Ronaldo leave and will hope that he somehow stays at the club. Technically, they should be hoping the transfer drags on another few weeks so that the transfer fee increases even more!

How Adidas Got Its Name!

I found this pretty cool article, you may not know this but:

"Many people believe that "Adidas" is an acronym for "All Day I Dream About Soccer," but the real origins of the name are decidedly less sporty. "Adidas" is a portmanteau of the name of Adi Dassler, the German businessman who started the company in 1949. Before starting Adidas, Dassler had been in the shoe business with his brother Rudi, and together the brothers made the shoes Jesse Owens wore for his triumph at the 1936 Olympics. In 1948, though, Adi and Rudi split to go take on their own projects. Adi's Adidas obviously flourished, but Rudi didn't do too badly for himself by starting a little shoe company he called Puma."

For more check out this article compliments of the Wall Street Journal.

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid

It is official and is sure to happen really soon! Manchester United have accepted an £80 million offer from Real Madrid for World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid are on a spending spree right now after just spending £60 million on Brazilian star Kaka, showing their intent to be the top team in Europe next season. Ronaldo will now have contract discussions with Madrid before the signing is finalized. But in this situation it is pretty much a done deal, as Ronaldo has reiterated his desire to move to the Bernabeu. Expect to see the deal signed in the next 24 hours.

So, what does this mean for Manchester United? Sir Alex Ferguson has a very solid squad at his disposal. A move for Franck Ribery is not out of the question, but I do not expect Ferguson to have a summer spending spree. What has brought so much success to United in the past few years is the consistency in the team. Unlike Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, United have limited their big signings to 1 or 2 players per year. Ronaldo was not happy at United, and keeping him could only lead to bad things. A negative influence on the locker room is something Ferguson strives to avoid. Look at the sales of Beckham and Jaap Stam as evidence, both players were causing dissension to Ferguson. United will need to look for a decent rid midfielder to try fill Ronaldo's boots. Nani has never looked the part, and young Serbian star Zoran Tosic does not yet have enough experience. Darren Fletcher might be the only suitable right midfielder in the squad right now, but Ferguson has been deploying him in a more central role with much success. Ribery would be the ideal signing, being an established and pretty polished winger who has proven himself in the recent past. Watch this space for more information.

Real Madrid Sign Kaka

In what is sure to be an epic summer of signings for Real Madrid, returning Real president Florentino Perez has captured the signing of Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan. The fee for the 27 year old is reported to be in the region of $75 million, eclipsing the previous record Real paid for Zenedine Zidane in 2001.
An AC Milan statement read:
"It will be very difficult to fill the void that will be left by Kaka, [He is] a shining example of professionalism and commitment."
"AC Milan thanked the man and the great champion Kaka for his decisive contribution to the many victories achieved in the six years of his commitment."

Kaka underwent a medical yesterday in Recife, ahead of the national teams game with Paraguay. The official unveiling in Madrid is unlikely to take place until the end of the month, as Kaka will be playing for Brazil in the upcoming Confederations Cup in South Africa.
Kaka has long been a target for Real Madrid since former president Ramon Calderon promised to sign him in his election campaign in 2006 but failed to deliver. Perez, who led the Spanish club from 2000 to 2006 during the famous Galacticos era, has promised a return to the top of Europe's elite, and this is sure to back his claims. Whats more, he has promised more to come in the summer and has also been linked to Cristiano Ronaldo.

I think this is an excellent signing for Real Madrid. Real struggled last season because of injuries. With the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Arjen Roben coming back into the team, Real are sure to be a presence anyway. Next on the list, in my opinion has to be a strong center midfielder, someone like Claude Makelele who Real never replaced after leaving for Chelsea. And with Perez ready to show he is the man to bring the team back to the top of the European hierarchy it could be an exciting summer of signings. On the other hand, lets hope he gets it right as this could be a big financial gamble in a very downward spiraling economy!

Kaka Transfer Decided by Carlo Ancelotti?

It looks like the battle is on between two of the worlds richest teams to sign AC Milan's Kaka. It is no secret that Chelsea and Real Madrid have money to sign. Chelsea have a Russian billionaire who is not afraid to splash the cash, while Madrid are reknowned for buying big. On Tuesday morning it was revealed that Kaka was on the verge of signing for Real Madrid. AC Milan have tried to break speculation since then, but the media continues to talk. But this is a battle new Real president Perez dare not lose. For he has NEVER failed to deliver on his pledges. He single-handedly created the era of the Galacticos, when the planet's biggest stars - £47million world- record capture Zinedine Zidane, £37m Luis Figo, £30m Ronaldo and £24m David Beckham - completed amazing moves to the Bernabeu. Now he has promised Kaka to the people of Madrid - and failure is not an option. Last night it was revealed that Chelsea were making a bid to sign the Brazilian for a reported $75million, with new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti personally phoning Kaka in a bid to stall his move to Madrid and buy some time.

This is a battle that is sure to rage for the next few weeks. It is going to be a battle of money, power, status and ego!

Brazil Soccer Bus Overturns!

Celebrations were taken to the next level in Sertaozinho, Brazil last weekend, after a bus of celebrating players overturned! One of the main reasons behind newly promoted Sertaozinho bus overturning was the fact that they had many fans joining the players aboard the top of the bus. When the rickety vehicle hit a dip in the road, it began to sway. Unable to regain its balance, the bus fell on its side sending bodies sprawling to the ground. Many fought to hold onto the side of the bus, but were not successful. There were some serious injuries from the incident, including a broken colar bone and a player who severly bruised his spleen. Another player suffered multiple fractures to his arm. At least the team has a few months to recover before the new season!

In January, a more serious incident occured in Brazil when the bus of third division team Brasil de Pelotas crashed, killing two players and a coach. The bus driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle approaching a turn and it fell into a 40-meter (130-foot) roadside ravine, the federal highway police said.

Manchester United to Expand Old Trafford

It has been announced that Manchester United are to expand Old Trafford by an additional 20,000 seats raising the max attendance to 95,000. This number is bigger than Wembley maximum attendance! Currently a full house at a United home game brings in an estimated $3.7 million revenue, with the increase adding an extra $800,000. According to reports, it was Alex Ferguson who pushed the idea on the Glazer's stating a desire to add cheaper, more affordable seating for fans.

With the current Premier League Averages, only Arsenal and Newcastle would have over half the attendance of United, with Arsenal averaging 60,000 and Newcastle at 48,750. Yes thats right, the only teams to have half of Uniteds! What this essentially means is that United would be pulling in over double the revenue of 85% of the Premier League every home game. This relates into over $25 million dollars more per season in generated revenue, essentially a big money signing! One of the key issues to this is whether it will encourage other teams to follow suit. Liverpool in particular are set to move from their Anfield home in a quest to catch up on United. Chelsea are another team that might need to soon make a transition.

2009 Premier League Average Attendance Numbers:

	Team	Pld	Total	Highest	Average	Capacity		Pct
1	Manchester United (1)	19	1430776	75569	75304	76212		98.8%
2	Arsenal (4)	19	1140754	60109	60040	60432		99.3%
3	Newcastle United (18)	19	926244	52114	48750	52387		93.0%
4	Liverpool (2)	19	828610	44424	43611	45362		96.1%
5	Manchester City (10)	19	820075	47331	43162	48000		89.9%
6	Chelsea (3)	19	790172	43417	41588	42055		98.8%
7	Sunderland (16)	19	763098	47936	40163	49000		81.9%
8	Aston Villa (6)	19	756422	42585	39812	42551		93.5%
9	Tottenham Hotspur (8)	19	682645	36183	35929	36310		98.9%
10	Everton (5)	19	677679	39574	35667	40394		88.2%
11	West Ham United (9)	19	650307	40842	34227	35647		96.0%
12	Middlesbrough (19)	19	540144	33767	28429	35100		80.9%
13	Stoke City (12)	19	512242	27500	26960	28384		94.9%
14	West Bromwich Albion (20)	19	490726	26344	25828	28003		92.2%
15	Hull City (17)	19	471507	24945	24816	25404		97.6%
16	Fulham (7)	19	462462	25661	24340	26600		91.5%
17	Blackburn Rovers (15)	19	446146	28389	23481	31367		74.8%
18	Bolton Wanderers (13)	19	427228	26021	22486	28723		78.2%
19	Portsmouth (14)	19	376762	20540	19830	20688		95.8%
20	Wigan Athletic (11)	19	348656	22954	18350	25138		72.9%