Arseblog Launch Newspaper!!

Here's the first version. If you know how the Spanish press works, you know that it's all about speculation and rumors, etc. Rarely is anything true, but the rags battle each other in te never-ending ridiculous headline frenzy. So here's the Arseblogger's take on the absurdity of it all. The link to his site is on the right in the links section. -Sanford

Bradley to field young forwards against China

Building continuity within a national team program is a challenge for any head coach, especially given the short amount of time that international players spend together. For U.S. coach Bob Bradley, that task has become more difficult entering Saturday's friendly against China (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) at San Jose's Spartan Stadium, especially as he prepares for the start of the Gold Cup next week.

USMNT China Friendly Roster

Goalkeepers:
Guzan, Brad CD Chivas (USA)
Howard, Tim Everton (England)
Keller, Kasey Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)

Defenders:
Bocanegra, Carlos Fulham (England)
Bornstein, Jonathan CD Chivas (USA)
DeMerit, Jay Watford (England)
Hejduk, Frankie Columbus Crew (USA)
Onyewu, Oguchi Standard Liege (Belgium)
Simek, Frank Sheffield Wednesday (England)
Spector, Jonathan West Ham United (England)

Midfielders:
Beasley, DaMarcus PSV Eindhoven (Holland)
Bradley, Michael SC Heerenveen (Holland)
Dempsey, Clint Fulham (England)
Feilhaber, Benny Hamburg SV (Germany)
Kljestan, Sacha CD Chivas (USA)
Marsch, Jesse CD Chivas (USA)
Nguyen, Lee PSV Eindhoven (Holland)

Forwards:
Davies, Charlie Hammarby IF (Sweden)
Hill, Kamani VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Razov, Ante CD Chivas (USA)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=435266&root=us25&cc=5901

England Vs Brazil at the new Wembley

One of the tabloid headlines in the UK this morning read "Terry Demands Fortress". I had images of JT banging his fists on the team bus, shouting, "Stick it Bex, I'm captain now, you can jerk off to Mission Impossible and Top Gun on your own time, we're watching my favourite sci-fi flick. It's great and it stars Christophe Lambert, who's also great. FORTRESS!" But no, it's the same old chest thumbing Terry spurts out before every England game.



Terry demands fortress


Where: Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London
When: 20:00 (Local Time), Friday 01/06/07
Who: England (World Champions: 1966) versus
Brazil (World Champions: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Friendly Preview: England-Brazil

Beckham can ride to rescue of England and McClaren

Guillem Balague

How good old Becks showed meanies Fabio and Steve how to eat humble pie


I couldn't find a picture of humble pie. Instead here's one of Lawro [yes, the ex-Liverpool player who makes the dodgy EPL predictions] about to bite into a tasty Liver bird pie.

Hertha Berlin hire Favre as New Coach

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-germanyhertha&prov=reuters&type=lgns

An A-Z Of The British 2006-07 Season

Graham Lister looks back at the British season just ended in a two-part feature...
Part I
Part II

Gabriele Marcotti

Two articles from Gabriele Marcotti on soccer in Euroland. The first is about players on the move, who's going and who ain't. The second is about cash, who's got it and who ain't.

The top European targets

How Europe’s second tier is counting the cost of the wealth gap

The Mill

Friday's Rumours

Football's men of letters generate serious pen and ink

I doubt this fellow performs well in any capacity...-Sanford









The more tattoos a player has, the worse he tends to perform:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/31/footballs_men_of_letters_gener.html

Anelka next on United's list and Pizarro to Chelsea?

Le Sulk to Old Trafford?
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2092929,00.html

Blues sign football's most beautiful man?
http://goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=317663

Euro 2008 ticket holders to get free travel

Woo Hoo! Only one year away!!

Ticket holders at Euro 2008 will enjoy free public transport throughout Austria and Switzerland, the first time that such a step has been taken at a major sports event, the organisers said Thursday.
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fbleur2008autsuitransport&prov=afp&type=lgns

The Mill

Thursday's rumours

More on Beckham's Return to the England Fold

Marina Hyde: David Beckham's return to the England squad is only a good thing if you can't let go of the past.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/31/becks_quenches_national_thirst.html

Gary Lineker: David Beckham's triumphant return to the England squad may be the move that rescues England's Euro 2008 qualifying bid and helps Steve McClaren save his job.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6704207.stm

Sinister Sinisa's moment of truth

After a playing career defined by controversy, the infamous Sinisa Mihajlovic is set to take his first managerial job at Red Star.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/31/on_second_thoughts_sinisa_miha.html

Beckham to Visit Minnesota

When Pele made an appearance in Minnesota three decades ago, many considered it the impetus that allowed the sport’s growth across the Midwest. Thirty years later, the sport’s newest ambassador, David Beckham, will try to do the same thing on October 10 when he plays at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=316150

Nani And Anderson: A Quick Bio

A look at Manchester United's newest signings:
http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=316316

Anderson: the next Ronaldinho?
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/31/anderson_the_next_ronaldinho.html

Euro 2008 Qualifying - France vs. Ukraine: Preview

This is pretty much it in terms of Euro 2008 matches this weekend. Denmark/Sweden, Wales/Czechs and Belgium/Portugal could be OK. But it's a slow weekend all in all. -Sanford
*****
Leading strikers Thierry Henry and Andriy Shevchenko will be missing from France's Euro 2008 qualifier at home to Ukraine on Saturday when both sides will be looking to take command of Group B.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=197347&cc=5901

United Plunder Portugal, Parker Prefers Hammers to Spurs

Hargreaves to join Manchester United in July:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=435274&cc=5901

United also get Nani from Sporting and Anderson from Porto:
http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=316278

Parker gets out of Newcastle and choses West Ham over Spurs:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=435222&cc=5901

Hey Dunga! Why no Mancini?

Perhaps I'm missing something but I find it startling that there is no room in Dunga's Brazilian team for Roma's Alessandro Mancini. He had an excellent run of form this season and practically carried the team on his back when Totti was out injured last year. He's also incredibly versatile. He can play pretty much anywhere on the pitch, including in defence at left or right back. Lately he's been used by the Giallorossi primarily for his offensive ability but you gotta think that a guy like him would be a very valuable asset in terms of late-game substitutions since he can play multiple roles. With guys like Josue (Sao Paulo), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), and Mineiro (Hertha Berlin) in Dunga's midfield it's not like any big egos would have to make way to give Mancini a shot. -Sanford

Marcelo Salas to MLS?

The Fire have been on a brutal 0-4-1 streak and have had serious issues scoring goals. They're hoping that former Chile/Lazio/River great Marcelo Salas could be the answer to their scoring problems. He's nearly 33 and not the player who inspired Chile at WC'98 but if he's got anything left in the tank then his addtion to the team will be greatly appreciated.

Chilean legend Salas to get look from flailing Chicago