Soccer FanHouse

Brush Up Your Spanish: SuperLiga Kicks Off This Saturday

David J. Warner — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, MLS

The second edition of the North American SuperLiga, which pits four top MLS clubs against four top Mexican clubs, kicks off on Saturday, and we are reminded once again that this made-for-TV event is made for Spanish-language TV only. Telefutura is once again the only American TV network carrying SuperLiga matches nationally. This is in spite of the fact that three MLS clubs made it through to the knockout stage last season, even though Pachuca won the million-dollar prize.

You would think Fox Soccer Channel might want to jump in on SuperLiga to get people psyched up for the CONCACAF Champions League, which the fledgling network will air starting in August, but it seems they would rather show more Barca TV this summer. We might get English announcers on MLSLive.tv, but possibly not until the knockout stages, as was the case last year.

You can find a full preview of SuperLiga here.

Brush Up Your Spanish: SuperLiga Kicks Off This Saturday originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Not to Block a David Beckham Cross

David J. Warner — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Soccer, MLS

In this video from D.C.'s 4-1 home thrashing of the L.A. Galaxy., D.C. United defender Gonzalo Martinez jumps up to block a David Beckham cross, only to have it strike him right in the groin.

Ouch. I feel Martinez's pain, man. When I was 13, I ran up to block a corner kick and took a shot right to the crotch, which left me incapacitated for the next half-hour or so. But did anyone think to squirt water down my shorts? No. We didn't have any magic spray back then, either. Horrible.

Y'know, if there had been some Australians in the announcer's booth, they would have had more fun with this.

(H/T: Awful Announcing)

How Not to Block a David Beckham Cross originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Landycakes Might Sit Out England v. USA

David J. Warner — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS, European Soccer, US Soccer

Landon Donovan is reportedly suffering from tightness in his groin ahead of tomorrow's England v. USA match at Wembley Stadium.

Honestly, is there anything quite as symbolic of this man's career as the fact that he's having trouble in his groin area prior to a big match in Europe? Would we be hearing about this injury if Wednesday's match were being played in California instead of England? It's as if you just say the word "Europe" around ol' Landycakes, and he tightens right up.

Yes, England v. USA might be just a friendly, but it's the first in a three-game set that will measure just how good this U.S. men's national team is prior to the start of World Cup Qualifying. Plus, the English squad is still struggling with its inability to qualify for EURO 2008, so they might be ripe for the picking here.

What chance does this U.S. side have, though, if its all-time leading scorer and supposed best player suddenly feels a twinge in his crotch the day before the game?

Perhaps Bob Bradley should blood the youngsters a bit more in these upcoming friendlies. They're more likely to carry this team into the next two World Cups than Landycakes is.

Landycakes Might Sit Out England v. USA originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Beckham: Still Bendin' It

David J. Warner — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:37:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

Admist all the hype and bluster and jersey lawsuits, we tend to forget sometimes why David Beckham actually came to America -- to play soccer. He reminded everyone on Saturday that he's still got game with a pair of brilliant bending goals that salvaged a 2-2 draw for the L.A. Galaxy against Real Salt Lake.

By the way, that turf they're using in Utah looks like it was purchased on a Blue Light Special at K-Mart. Real Salt Lake Stadium can't open soon enough.

(H/T: With Leather)

David Beckham: Still Bendin' It originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 05 May 2008 14:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Wilbon Blasts Alexi Lalas Over Beckham Jersey Lawsuit

David J. Warner — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

We've known for a while that Alexi Lalas is the Matt Millen of Major League Soccer. Various pundits in the soccer media have been blasting him for building a team with three millionaire stars and a bunch of guys making less than the dude who shines Lalas' shoes at the airport. Now it's the mainstream sports media's turn to rip into Lalas.

The center of the latest controversy is a lawsuit over a David Beckham jersey. The L.A. Galaxy star gave the jersey to two kids in Honolulu who were holding up a "Go Beckham" sign during the Pan-Pacific Championship last February. Neither family can agree on which kid actually took the handoff from Becks, and now they're going to court over it.

Alexi Lalas, of course, took it all in stride.

"This is a great opportunity to teach and learn a lesson about sharing. My suggestion is that the judge get a pair of scissors, cut the thing in half and give half to each. It's certainly not anything that we would ever want to have happen and certainly not anything that David or any of our players who hand out jerseys would have intended.

"This was a huge thing in any child's life and it's a pity that it has gotten to this point."

Today on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, Michael Wilbon was having none of that.

"What are (Beckham's) PR people thinking? Why haven't they given a David Beckham jersey, which they gave to two reporters, to this kid? What are the L.A. Galaxy PR people -- what are they doing? Because this is moronic. Sweep everyone out if anyone is too dumb to give this kid a signed jersey. ...

"This is a guy who's clearly aware of his own PR. He was in a movie titled 'Bend it Like Beckham.' All they want in the MLS is good publicity intended with David Beckham's name. And these people -- the league, the club and his people -- are too stupid to give these kids jerseys? Morons! Fire somebody!"

Wilbon and PTI co-host Tony Kornheiser both received free Beckham jerseys after requesting them from the Galaxy. You would think that Lalas would be smart enough to recognize that giving away one more jersey here -- and I'm sure they have plenty of jerseys to spare these days -- would have ended this rift before it became a news story.

The problem, of course, is that Alexi Lalas doesn't really care about the fans, and neither to David Beckham's PR people. They only care about taking your money. All that talk about building this football code in America was a lie. MLS, 19 Management and the L.A. Galaxy will milk Beckham's name for all it's worth, and the only thing they want you to do is open your wallet, close your mouth and just be grateful that they're gracing you with their presence.

Two kids in Hawaii are finding this out the hard way. The rest of America would probably figure it out, too, if it weren't so obsessed with celebrity.

If I were Will Leitch, I might beg the Galaxy never to fire Lalas, but I don't think this GM is quite as capable as Isiah Thomas of turning utter incompetence into an art form. Give him credit for trying, though.

Michael Wilbon Blasts Alexi Lalas Over Beckham Jersey Lawsuit originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh! My Meniscus!

Irishoutsider — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Los Angeles, MLS, Soccer

The popular injury in the opening minutes of this 2008 MLS season appears to be franchise players getting shut down for meniscus tears. Both New England's Taylor Twellman and LA's Carlos Ruiz are out for 4 to 6 weeks according to Soccer by Ives' resident footy doctor, himself.

The injury didn't seem to bother the Revolution in their 3-0 rout of the defending champion Dynamo on Saturday, but they also lost midfielder Steve Ralston for some time, another big hit to the roster. Next thing we need is Matt Reis to go down with some kind of skull fracture and New England can dig themselves a pretty impressive hole in the standings.

Over in Los Angeles, the loss of Ruiz in the face of their 4-0 drubbing at Colorado leaves them, for back of a better term, completely [expletive deleted]. A good 20% of the payroll is now on the shelf, and a team that is basically built around its high profile offense just lost a third of its three-headed DP monster. The pressure to pick up the slack falls back on megastar Becks and his sidekick Landon, Boy Wonder. GM Alexi Lalas can't be sleeping well these days as his risky gamble has already taken a turn for the worse.

Oh! My Meniscus! originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beckham: From MLS Player to MLS Owner?

David J. Warner — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS, Soccer Posts

While all of England and half the soccer fans in America are all a-twitter over whether David Beckham will earn his 100th cap with the England national team -- and I think I speak for much of that crowd when I say just get it over with because we're sick of hearing about it -- a new report has surfaced suggesting that Beckham could have his heart set on a new goal: becoming an MLS owner.

Beckham reportedly has the option to buy an MLS franchise after his playing contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy is up in 2011. This juicy tidbit is expected to be part of a 60 Minutes profile of Ol' Goldenballs by Anderson Cooper that will air this Sunday.

Given the value of his contract (5 years, $25 million) and endorsements, Beckham could certainly afford it. The Paul Allen-led Seattle group paid a $30 million fee for the expansion franchise. An existing MLS franchise probably won't be worth more than $45 million by 2011. Becks should have that much stashed in his wife's underwear drawer.

In other news, I suddenly feel dirty for letting CBS manipulate me into giving 60 Minutes a free plug.

(H/T: Soccer By Ives)

Beckham: From MLS Player to MLS Owner? originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beckham's MLS Goal: "Win Something"

Irishoutsider — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

With expectations continuing to place pressure on the LA Galaxy, it is no wonder that David Beckham wants to get off to a good start this season. Playing for their postseason lives for most of the second-half of 2007, you can understand why the former English captain wants to come out winning this spring.

"We can't afford to be in the position we were in, where we ended up chasing it," Beckham said. "That's not good for the players or for a team. We've got to get it right from the first game and carry on right through the season."

Of course, the obligatory "MLS loves LA" comment should come in here. While last year's "Beckham Circus" scheduling placed LA on the road for most of stretch run, they were rewarded with international exposure at SuperLiga and this year's Pan Pacific Championship. As long as "the people" want to see the stars, the Galaxy will have plenty of chances to win some kind of hardware. The added games will surely add to their veterans' wear and tear issues.

(HT: Rocky Mountain News)

Beckham's MLS Goal: "Win Something" originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The LA Galaxy, Salary Caps and YOU

Irishoutsider — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, International Soccer, FanHouse TV, MLS

The joys of the public domain and Windows Movie Maker know no bounds here at Das FanHaus. In the first of what we hope will be a number entertaining and informative looks at this year's MLS season, we began our series of previews with the easiest target we could find. Fish meet barrel, here's YOUR LA Galaxy.

Just a heads up to some overly sensitive types that may be viewing the following clip. First of all, the Alexi Lalas impersonator 20 seconds in is telling us who's number 1. Secondly, and most importantly, if you are unfamiliar with the internet's Godwin's Law, you would be best served by clicking that link beforehand. Disclaimers aside, enjoy.

Video Link

The LA Galaxy, Salary Caps and YOU originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USA 2-0 Sweden: Donovan Breaks Record

David J. Warner — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer

We give Landon Donovan a hard time around these parts. He has more than enough talent to play in Europe, but he'd rather hobnob with the celeb set in Los Angeles, and for all his skills, he tends to score a lot more from the penalty spot than from open play. Plus, that pre-penalty routine of his is just flat-out annoying.

Tonight, however, was Donovan's night. Sure, his goal against Sweden was a penalty that Pat Noonan and Jozy Altidore earned in open play, but it still made him the U.S. men's national team's all-time leading scorer with 35 goals. Plus, his world-class pace and passing skills helped the USA to a 2-0 victory over a physical Swedish team that got hit with five yellow cards.

It wasn't just Donovan that performed well tonight, though. U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan had to impress the European scouts looking in on him tonight. He turned back the Swedish attack with one impressive save after another, and once again, he made sure his defenders were well-organized. Guzan won't be at Chivas USA for too much longer.

Houston Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson also scored his first goal for the national team in his very first cap. He wasn't too bad in defense, either.

Several youngsters performed well for Bob Bradley's side in this one. Maurice Edu anchored a solid American midfield, while Altidore, who replaced Taylor Twellman in the second half, proved difficult for the Swedes to handle. Attempts to dispossess him usually resulted in free kicks for the U.S.

All in all, it was a fairly impressive win for a U.S. team playing mostly second-team players. It's also a scoreline that will have everyone across the pond questioning whether Sweden is ready for EURO 2008 -- even though they didn't play too many of their top stars, either. Still, three wins in a row for Bob Bradley is a good sign for the future of the national team.

USA 2-0 Sweden: Donovan Breaks Record originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quakes Trade Top Pick as Draft Thins Out

Irishoutsider — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Oakland, Soccer, Kansas City, MLS

LA Galaxy manager Ruud Gullitt's early departure from this year's MLS Combine should have been seen as a bad omen. The club has the most draft picks of any team, yet he elected to cut short his talent evaluations. In what had been hailed as a deep draft, especially with defenders on LA's shopping list, the move was a surprise. No sooner did reports surface of his departure, the first real measurement of the 2008 draft was taken by Kansas City by way of San Jose. The Earthquakes traded their first pick overall for veteran defender Nick Garcia (at right). Garcia, drafted 2nd overall in 2000, is a veteran defensive leader, but the move tips a the apparently low market price of the #1.

From San Jose's side, their gameplan appears to be defense first. A smart move considering the abundance of MLS-caliber defensive midfielders and their current roster. While Clarence Goodson's departure to Norway's IK Start was a setback, the 'Quakes are putting the pieces in place to ensure newly acquired keeper Joe Cannon is well protected. Garcia, 29, joins an experienced back line that is should include Ryan Cochrane (from Houston) and Ivan Guerrero (from Chicago). Coach Frank Yallop looks to have a good, if aged, defensive corps in place before the draft begins, but most predictions had the team looking to trade veterans or allocations for additional draft picks. With this move the 'Quakes get a little bit older, but probably more consistent.

As for the Wizards, their eyes appear to be on top striking prospect Patrick Nyarko out of Viriginia Tech. Nyarko has been the consensus #1 for some time and is expected to have an immediate impact. He would be the likely successor to Eddie Johnson, en route to Fulham for an rumored $6 million transfer. The offense may not miss a but, but this places their defense on the back of Jimmy Conrad and a handful of youngsters.

If the prices of draft picks are falling as prospect hype fades into reality, look for the MLS trade market to heat up even more as we head into Friday.

(HT: Soccer Insider and Yahoo! Sports)

Quakes Trade Top Pick as Draft Thins Out originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Galaxy Acquire Ruiz, Reserves Continue to Get Paid in HerbalLife

Irishoutsider — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

Another major deal of the 2008 MLS off season has finally gone from rumor to breaking news. Soccer By Ives reports that FC Dallas has traded top striker Carlos Ruiz to the LA Galaxy for salary cap allocation and a 2009 2nd round pick. Ruiz joins Landon Donovan and David Beckham in what is now officially the most top heavy team in Major League Soccer.

While MLS roster and salary rules are complicated, the situation breaks down like this: Donovan, Ruiz, and Beckham all count as 1.2M against the 2.3M cap (400k per player). Although Beckham is the Deisngated Player, the first 400k of his contract counts against the cap. Donovan and Ruiz are grandfathered by the league, LA to book them as max salary players. The deal leaves the team with 1.1M dollars to spend on 15 players, roughly 73k per remaining player without going into the complications of developmental salaries etc. Quite the disparity considering cap limitations and the rising cost of quality talent. Combine this with the always present speculation that LA would like a second DP, with another 400k against the cap, and your "average" player would take home even less.

LA is taking a serious gamble on its marketing abilities as well as the future of the league. Credit is deserved for working within the current system to get around the current salary cap, but it is still a large wager on the talent (and health) of their top players. Winning remains the best promotion, and LA must be able to produce on the field to keep their momentum. The Ruiz trade is another push to get the most talent around Beckham as possible, a lucrative, but fragile, strategy. The Galaxy still have a number of draft picks and may look to trade them for allocation (heads up, San Jose), or they may try to get some talented youngsters on the cheap. Beckham and the backups has a nice ring to it.

LA Galaxy Acquire Ruiz, Reserves Continue to Get Paid in HerbalLife originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3 MLS Teams Join Exclusive Club

Irishoutsider — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, Soccer, MLS

Chivas USA, New York Red Bull, and DC United have all qualified to sign their own home grown talent now that their youth development programs are two years old. Having set up their respective academies in advance of a league-wide youth initiative, the three clubs are now eligible to sign up to two players a year directly from their youth systems, circumventing the MLS SuperDraft held each January. Of course, since MLS transactions are never cut and dry, the three clubs will be allowed to poach talent from each other IF any team has already made their two signings. For example, New York has 3 talented prospects eligible to be called up, Matt Kassel, Walter Hines, and Johnny Exantus. Should they sign two of these players, the third could be snagged by Chivas or DC (and only these qualified clubs) if they have available signings.

If we've studied our Nash Equilibrium properly, this will likely restrict youth call ups to one player per team per year for the foreseeable future. There is no reason for any team to jeopardize its system by maxing out their young signings. Until the rest of the league becomes full of eligible academies (expansion Seattle and San Jose already setting up shop this year) or the rules are modified, this will be the status quo.

(HT: Soccer By Ives)

3 MLS Teams Join Exclusive Club originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scrap That, MLS. Figo Doesn't Know You.

Irishoutsider — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, International Soccer, MLS

In an altogether unsurprising turn of events, Luis Figo, familiar to Portuguese fans the world around in religious idol form, will not be signing a contract with any MLS team. The midfielder had been linked earlier in the week to a 2-year contract with AEG, owners of LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, but the player has personally debunked those rumors according to today's Setanta Sports. In fact, he has never even HEARD of AEG. While they aren't exactly well known to even most American fans, still, Ouch, Luis, that hurts just a little. Those quotes about "heading to the states for retirement" also sting, but it comes with the territory.

Figo, currently recovering from a broken leg, is restating his commitment to his current team, Inter Milan. Inter is in the pole position to win the Scudetto, leading Serie A 7 points clear of second-place AS Roma. Inter has drawn Liverpool for the Champions League Round of 16 in February, and is linked to adding fellow Portuguese midfielder Maniche from Atletico Madrid. Figo thinks he's in a good place with Inter Milan, and we'd have to agree. However, we will continue to fan the flames of wild speculation every chance we get.

Scrap That, MLS. Figo Doesn't Know You. originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Figo Linked to MLS, Beckham-esque Rule Bending Inevitable

Irishoutsider — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, Soccer, International Soccer, MLS

While most fans of the American game insist that their Major League Soccer is better than a "retirement league" for aging international stars, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) would like to fight that notion with every headline than can buy. The owners of both the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo franchises, AEG has now been reported to be adding Inter Milan midfielder and Portuguese folk hero Luis Figo to one of their rosters. Goal.com links the 35-year-old to a two-year deal with AEG worth roughly 3.5M a year.

If we can call a spade a spade here, if Figo joins the Dynamo we will eat our hat. The odds of Beckham getting his former Real Madrid teammate to join him in LA are ridiculously high, and its pretty fair to speculate that MLS will find some way to let LA keep Figo without arranging for another Designated Player slot. Then again, Houston could always trade their unused roster spot to LA , ie themselves, for a 3rd round pick and a cooler of Gatorade. Dynamo fans would be encouraged to light more than smoke bombs if they get the lemon-lime flavored end of that deal.

Figo Linked to MLS, Beckham-esque Rule Bending Inevitable originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snoop Dogg Is the Worst Goalkeeper Ever

David J. Warner — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:42:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

Some soccer fans like to crack on David Beckham for being more focused on being a celebrity than being a soccer player in Los Angeles. This video of him teaching Snoop Dogg's kids how to play isn't going to help change that perception very much, is it? Of course, it only makes sense that Snoop would come to Beckham, given that most American soccer coaches just don't get the game.

My favorite part of this video? David Beckham having lunch at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. That may be the only time he ever sets foot in that joint. Maybe if Snoop ever heads to Manchester, Cristiano Ronaldo can take him out for steak pies.

(H/T: Who Ate All the Pies)

Snoop Dogg Is the Worst Goalkeeper Ever originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pan-Pacific Championship to Feature Third-Worst Team in MLS

David J. Warner — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

We took a serious look at Major League Soccer's inevitable labor woes earlier today. Now we're just going to mock them.

Why? Because MLS has this nasty habit of promoting itself to be something more than it is -- a third-tier domestic soccer league in a country where casual soccer fans would rather watch leagues in England, Italy and Spain. All those blustery press releases about manufactured competitions won't change that -- especially not this press release:

Major League Soccer (USA), the J.League (Japan) and the Hyundai A-League (Australia) today announced an unprecedented and innovative partnership in the creation of a new international soccer tournament to be hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii: the Pan-Pacific Championship (PPC), which will crown the top club from the Asian and North American soccer confederations.

Right. First off, how do you crown the "top club" from these confederations without inviting CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Pachuca or AFC Champions League winner Urawa Reds and their crazy fans? Second, while inviting MLS Cup winners the Houston Dynamo makes sense, inviting the L.A. Galaxy as "SuperLiga finalists" is a joke. The Galaxy were the third-worst team in MLS. They are champions of hype and nothing else.

Let's call this event what it is -- a series of utterly meaningless friendlies that only exists to lure Japanese and Australian soccer fans to Hawaii to ogle David Beckham. I get that MLS has to recoup his huge contract, and Honolulu in February doesn't suck, but "Pan-Pacific Championship?" Who are they kidding?

(H/T: Pitch Invasion)

Pan-Pacific Championship to Feature Third-Worst Team in MLS originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Doesn't Look the Least Bit Desperate

David J. Warner — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS

The Los Angeles Galaxy were in Vancouver last night playing a friendly against the Whitecaps, a USL First Division club. According to reports, not only did the Galaxy stink up the joint, but a streaker joined the festivities, and this woman asked if she could join David Beckham's harem. After all, David Beckham is very (*snicker*) very manly.

Seriously, did they legalize bigamy in Canada without telling us? This woman has to know Becks already has a wife, right? Man, Canadians get to have all the fun. I'd move there tomorrow if the winters weren't so damn cold.

(H/T: Who Ate All the Pies)

This Doesn't Look the Least Bit Desperate originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Premier League Scouts Chasing Chivas USA Goalkeeper Guzan

David J. Warner — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer, MLS, Premier League

If the U.S. has given anything to world soccer in the last few years, it's quality goalkeepers -- and really, it should surprise no one that the best American soccer players are the ones that can use their hands.

Currently, four Americans are starting in goal for Premier League teams: Tim Howard at Everton, Brad Friedel at Blackburn, Marcus Hahnemann at Reading and good ol' Kasey Keller, who signed with Fulham right at the end of the transfer window. The buzz around Los Angeles is that a fifth American keeper could join their ranks. Chivas USA's Brad Guzan, who got his second cap with the U.S. Men's National Team against Switzerland, is drawing some interest from Arsenal, who sent scouts to check out the 23-year-old from South Carolina.

This is probably sign that the Gooners aren't too happy with their own men in goal right now. 37-year-old German Jens Lehmann was a disaster early in the season and was benched for 30-year-old Manuel Almunia, who's been serviceable but not much of a stopper. Meanwhile, Guzan has a league-leading 12 clean sheets in 26 matches and has allowed only 0.96 goals per match.

Then again, Arsenal may only be after Guzan to prevent their northern neighbors from getting him. Paul Robinson's blunders are about to get two managers sacked -- Tottenham Hotspur's Martin Jol and England's Steve McLaren. That's quite an accomplishment, really.

(H/T: The Offside)

Premier League Scouts Chasing Chivas USA Goalkeeper Guzan originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, So Beckham DID Do That

David J. Warner — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Los Angeles, Soccer

Several eagle-eyed commenters were quick to point out yesterday that this headline I wrote may have been inaccuarate, because David Beckham could do that and, in fact, already has. In the interests of fairness and accuracy, I went straight to YouTube looking for evidence of this, and sure enough, I found this clip, which shows a young Man U punk lighting it up from the center line.

That was a pretty awesome shot, yes, but perhaps the headline should have been "David Beckham Wishes He Could Still Do That." Don't bother me again unless he pulls that off against New York or Chicago this week.

Okay, So Beckham DID Do That originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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