MLS Footballs Care Home? 26/07/10

MLS Footballs Care Home?



The MLS is beginning to get a reputation for being footballs care home with the likes of Henry (32), Beckham aged (35), Ljunberg (33) and soon Pires (36) moving from big European clubs to MLS, the MLS does have a pulling power despite a very small fan base due to the lifestyle and a huge pool of dollars circulating in American “Soccer”. Perhaps this American so called “Care home” will be good for the game, American interest in the game could be a fantastic economical opportunity for clubs world wide, and the likes of Henry and Beckham playing in the MLS is bound to get more people involved in the sport. Some English clubs have noticed this and are taking advantage of the situation by touring North America as well as setting up club websites for the people of America. So from a football point of view big names moving to America can only be a good thing.

Pavlyuchenko To Fulham? 16/07/10

Pavlyuchenko To Fulham?

The Russian international has hardly featured this season, but I might add he had a fairly positive end to his second season at Spurs. But Pavlyuchenko like most other players seeks first team football and a move to Fulham gets him first team football. Fulham are reportedly willing to offer Bobby Zamora, and £5m for the Russian star. I would compare the Euro 2008 star with Berbatov during his time with Spurs. But at the moment there are too many other quality strikers for Roman to break through in the Spurs squad but at Fulham he could really make a name for himself.

Stoke City Prepare £3m Bid For Mark Noble 16/07/10

Stoke City Prepare £3m Bid For Mark Noble

Mid-Table Stoke City have shown an interest in Hammers player Mark Noble who is reported to be keen about leaving the 17th place club, and it’s also reported that Stoke City are willing to pay up to £3m for the 23 year old who played 20 games for England’s U21 team. Noble has only ever played for West Ham at youth and first team club level, but while West Ham continues its decline and Potters prove their Premiership status by edging their way up the table its becoming more and more likely that Noble will leave the deflated Upton Park.

NFL Season 2010 16/07/10

It is always hard in close season to predict the events in the upcoming season, other than the usual suspects the league seems to turn right on its head due to the draft pick system, which is great for the fans but makes it hard for writers such as myself. But having said that all the teams in and around the Super Bowl last year look really strong and the Cowboys look quite strong this year as well. Rex Ryan made a great move earlier in the close season when he traded a fairly unimportant player for two first round draft picks, and it could well have paid off after the Jets signed Rookie CB Kyle Wilson who has shown real talent at Boise State with 5 interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 15 passes defended last season.

But the question you want to know the answer to isn’t who got the best picks or who has the best training facilities, its who looks sharp, who looks dangerous and most importantly who can go on and win the Super Bowl. Lets start with the Steelers, they are a great team and can throw up a surprise or two but if last seasons anything to go by they’re going to struggle, the other two under achievers (The Giants and the Cowboys) on the other hand could be the power houses of NFC this year, both teams have great strength in depth and have great QuarterBacks, then we’ve got to look at the Packers who have to be up there with the others battling for the NFC title. Now we look at the Redskins, that’s right the Redskins you don’t need to rush out the door and buy a pair of glasses, I really think the Redskins can get to the play-offs and once your in the play-offs anything can happen. Washington have made very positive changes first of all by hiring Mike Shanahan as coach who has won two Super Bowls, two overall championships, two conference championships and four division championships. They have also hired Bruce Allen as GM, the owner of the Redskins Daniel Snyder has said he will allow the coaching staff to do their job by not trying to change everything they do, they have brought Jim Haslett as defensive coordinator and last but not least the Redskins have signed Eagles QuarterBack McNabb. The Jets also look very strong this year with a deadly running game, almost perfect defence, a state of the art stadium and one of the best coaches in the league. I think the Patriots are in a last chance Café situation with Tom Brady getting older and more injury prone and other players growing impatient while waiting for another victory. The Colts will want to bounce back after their Super Bowl loss and have the skill to do so. And finally the raining Super Bowl champions the Saints showed such great talent in the regular season last year one just can’t help feeling that they can reach the Play-Offs once again. This year is bound to be a good one when there are so many teams who could well win the Super Bowl. This has been Thomas Munson reporting for CBS.com

Your Average Joe 17/07/10

Free agent, Joe Cole, received a lot of interest when his contract with Chelsea first ran out, but Cole’s excessive wage demands of £120,000 per week have even put off premier league big spenders and the richest club in the world Manchester City. Arsenal and Spurs both offered the English midfielder a £90,000 per week contract which the ex-Chelsea player declined. Harry Redknap has said that if Joe puts football before money he could get a contract with Spurs, and to be fair he’s only played 22 games last season (Although he was injured at the start of the season) and he only scored two goals in those 22 games, so I have to say that it’s nothing less than embarrassing that Cole’s asking for £120,000 per week. Bridge’s words on Cole leaving Chelsea were “Cole Heartbroken to leave Chelsea? Give me a break.” So it would seem that unless Joe listens to Harry’s advice he might be out of contract for a while.