As the global financial crises mounts, UEFA is suggesting that they will use their considerable clout - in the form of UEFA tournaments - to force responsibility on to clubs in each of the participating organizations. Currently, the only financial requirements for clubs entering UEFA competitions is that they do not owe money to other clubs and that they pay their staff. However, today Michel Platini suggested that a new set of entry criteria be imposed; to include a tightening of the... Read Full Story
What started out as my personal joke - putting the letters "USA" over the "AIG" which adorns Manchester United's shirts - has now turned in to a newly piqued interest in the business of soccer. Fresh on the heals of the AIG collapse last month (among others), financial markets the world over have been losing enormous volumes of value and the impact of the global credit crunch is starting to show itself in the FA. Yesterday, the Football Association's Lord David Triesman warned of the "very... Read Full Story
Under the lights of the beautiful football pitch at Kennesaw State University last night, the Owls played host to Jacksonville University and did not disappoint home town fans with a dominating display of soccer. The Owls downed Jacksonville 4-0 in a night that saw only a handful of real threatening chances from the Dolphins - although down, the girls from Jacksonville showed great heart and pushed until the final whistle. KSU hosted Cobb Futbol Club as a part of the evening's activities... Read Full Story
Sorry to fans of both these clubs, but up until the late penalty kick to tie up, the match reminded me a lot of high school soccer. A lot of flat play, long balls, and very little creativity from either side. That is until Kenny Copper and FC Dallas were given an absolute Christmas present from the referee in the 89th minute. Francisco Lima was in the box with his arms out by his sides, when FC Dallas smashed a ball in to the box, striking Lima's right arm. The ref whistled and pointed to... Read Full Story
Folks, it is Autumn in the USA and it's officially soccer season! If my loyal readers out there were wondering where in the heck I've disappeared to, I'd like to spend a few moments letting you know about a typical week for me this glorious time of year. When I'm in town, I'm at soccer field at least four days each week. My daughter is training with her academy team on Monday and Wednesday with matches on Saturday morning/afternoon and Sunday morning/afternoon while my team is playing... Read Full Story
I keed. I keed. But the dominoes falling on wall street have diverted my attention away from the game I love so much lately. The failings in New York have been so unbelievably epic that it's hard not to pay attention, and I have yet to find how AIG's collapse and subsequent bail out by American taxpayers will impact their sponsorship of the Red Devils. I know the deal struck yesterday between AIG and the US Government has some tight strings attached, so I imagine this will be the last... Read Full Story
Well as I sit here watching both Chelsea and Liverpool beating on their French opponents in the UEFA Champions League, I must point out that over here in North America the group stage of our own Champions League is starting tonight. After both the New England Revolution and Chivas USA were eliminated in qualifying the only MLS teams left are DC United and the Houston Dynamo. Hopefully this will turn out to be a repeat of the CONCACAF Gold cup with both reaching the semi-finals. However... Read Full Story
Being busy here at Tech I haven't had an opportunity to recap on the MLS matches I caught. However, here is what I have seen since the last time i posted. DC United 1-2 San Jose Earthquakes The only match I got to see two weeks ago was DC United travel to the west coast to take on the Quakes of San Jose. I missed most of the first half, but got all of the second half. After being down 1-0 DC was looking for some pivitol road points. However, as is usually the case, the defense let the... Read Full Story
The US men won big over Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying tonight. I plugged in to the TV at the Marriott Renaissance club room and enjoyed a decent crowd of interested business travelers. The match itself was not exactly riveting, as the US made pretty easy work of a young T&T; who were missing Dwight Yorke. It didn't matter much in the end as early goals by Bradley and Dempsey took a lot of the pressure off. Brian Ching nodded home the third and the US basically just went... Read Full Story
The Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League's Division 1 take on MLS' D.C. United tonight in the final of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With its official beginning dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest tournament in any sport in the United States. The Open Cup is America's version of the FA Cup by organization as it gives all US Soccer affiliated sides, both amateur and professional, an opportunity to play for the title. This tournament has been flying under the... Read Full Story
