The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

I'll miss Chivas. I feel bad for all of their fans. (Said no one ever)

I hope they use that franchise and move it to another market that wants a team. Solve your MLS southeastern gap by letting Orlando City have that franchise slot.

 

So, is Brendan Rodgers going to reveal who was in the 3 envelopes after the season?

 

The Media, the FA, and the Universe

 

It is done.

@NYTSports
José Mourinho and Real Madrid Parting Ways http://nyti.ms/13CmINt

 

It's a sunny Monday, the birds are out, summer is on the doorstep and Spurs are just on the outside of the Champions League. God bless predictability. Thanks for the going-away three points, Gareth, hope you have lots of fun in Madrid.

 

I’m not saying that Shea is better than Donovan. I do think a healthy Holden is a better player for the USA than Donovan.

In terms of the “making the team better” argument… Donovan can’t do that right now. He’s not match fit. He’s not mentally match fit. He’s just not the player he was and the USA can’t afford to have such a flake on the field.

If you saw the RBNY v. LA game from yesterday, you’d see how out of shape Donovan is and you’d have seen how mentally fragile he is. I am certain that Klinsmann saw that game as well and felt justified in holding Donovan out.

There is definitely the aspect of Klinsmann being the alpha dog in this, but I don’t blame him. When the team was going through some of its roughest qualifiers, where was Donovan? That could possibly be the last time he had a chance to play in the Azteca for his career; a game that he could have made a statement. Where was he?

I’m sorry, but removing yourself from the player does mean that you have to re-earn the spot. Nothing Donovan has done since his return says that he deserves a spot.

Well, there’s the rub. He’s been injured for two years. However, when he is in form, he’s a fast, skilled player that has a bite to his game. He’s not afraid to get stuck in. He was a great player running the wings for Houston.

 

Report in the Guardian that Bale is set to sign a new contract with Spurs for 150,000 pounds a week, but both sides have an out after one year if transfer offers go over the 50 million pound mark.

 

Next year may be a make or break year as far as getting into the Champions League.

 

That's my sense of it, too. They gotta get a striker in the window. They're hot for David Villa but without the Champions League money, their transfer kitty may not sustain it.

 

I think that there are really only five teams for four spots, unless Liverpool drastically improves. Given that United could be unsettled under Moyes and Wenger never buys anyone, I think that Spurs have at least a 50 percent shot at the top four.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/sports/soccer/manchester-city-and-yankees-to-own-mls-franchise-in-new-york.html?_r=0

 

Most-hated club in the world?