The Footie

Montreal Regains Hope for MLS Franchise

Jyle Dupuis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:03:04 +0000

The Montreal Impact felt like they were duped when they withdrew their bid for a MLS franchise after finding out that the MLS is charging a $40 million expansion fee. The Impact could have been playing in the MLS by 2011 had they followed through with the deal. However, not all is lost for the Canadian soccer team.

Montreal Impact's cause to celebrate!

Their hopes of being added to the MLS have been renewed after MLS commissioner Don Garber extended his desire to have Montreal added as the 18th team to the league. The hopes are that they will be able to expand to a well rounded 20 team. The $40 million Montreal refused to pay has since been reduced to a more reasonable $35 million. There are also rumors that David Beckham has expressed interest in being a part owner of the Montreal Impact. His contract with the MLS includes a clause that allows him to collect investments.

Image: TSN.ca

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Real Salt Lake Prepares For Finals

Jyle Dupuis — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:02:32 +0000

Real Salt Lake has been in this position before. Last year they won the MLS Eastern Conference but lost the final game. This year Real Salt Lake faces the Los Angeles Galaxy for the coveted MLS Cup. David Beckham has pledged to continue helping the Galaxy towards a victory despite Team England needing him for the World Cup Qualifiers.

Real Salt Lake - MLS Finals

The two teams have an impressive resume this year so it will be interesting to see how everything unfolds. The LA Galaxy have won the MLS Cup twice in their franchise history first time was in 2002 and then again in 2005. They were the runner up last year after losing to Real Salt Lake.

Image: TSN.ca

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Livorno Midfielder Attracts Interest

Guest Blogger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:10:09 +0000

By Guest Blogger Mark Ferguson

Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva made his debut for Italy at the weekend in a 0-0 friendly with the Netherlands with the versatile midfielder attracting a lot of interest from the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus .

Image: Zuma Press

Candreva’s club form has not gone unnoticed with teams said to be circling for the players signature. the 22 year old has so far refused to sign a new contract with his parent clubs, both Udinese and Livorno have a share in the player, which could pave the way for one of the big teams to make a move of the player.

Both Juventus and Inter Milan are in need of a creative injection in their midfield with Inter Milan in particular needing some young players to pull on the Inter Milan shirt with their squad becoming increasingly ageing.

Juventus have also not quite found the right balance in the centre of midfield with new signing Felipe Melo being too similar to Momo Sissoko with very little creativity betwee nthe two of them.

If either of these teams, or indeed any other interested parties, are to make a move for the player it is most likely to happen in the summer when they will be able to get the player for cheaper than if they make their move in January. However with both teams at times lacking some creativity they could be forced to move early for the player.

Mark Ferguson, a sports writer who blogs about cheap football jerseys.

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England To Play Without Beckham

Jyle Dupuis — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:27:05 +0000

David Beckham promised himself that he would play for every England national soccer game. With over a hundred games played Beckham now holds the record for most games played with England. However his commitments with England will have to be on hold now that the LA Galaxy have made it to the Western Finals in the MLS.

David Beckham not happy about missing England game

The LA Galaxy kept the MLS Cup dreams alive by beating Chivas USA. They will now face Houston in the finals. In Beckham’s contract he give priority to all England games except in the event of a MLS playoff. Not sure why missing this game with England is such a big deal. England’s game is just a friendly against Brazil. The two teams will face each other in Qatar.

Image: TSN.ca

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Epic Women’s Soccer Fight

Jyle Dupuis — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:43:13 +0000

It’s rare to see players fighting out on the field during a soccer match. In hockey it’s almost expected, but in soccer it’s almost unheard of. That’s why this new video showing a Brigham Young University player elbowing, punching and pulling hair is making it’s way around the internet like wildfire.

The match was between BYU and New Mexico’s university women’s soccer teams. In the scene you can see that the violent recipient in pleading at the refs to call some of the violent acts. When it became clear that no one was going to call the infractions the violence got worst until finally she was pulled to the ground by a quick snatch of her pony tail.

Not to be all sanctimonious but BYU tries really hard to maintain their “image”. They need to deal with this player by having her kicked off of the team. If they let this slide without any diciplinary action I’d be surprised.

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Ronaldo Out For Another Two Weeks

Jyle Dupuis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:09:56 +0000

Cristiano Ronaldo will be out for at least two more weeks after being off of the field for a month. Doctors confirmed to Real Madrid managers and coaches that Ronaldo should refrain from practices and games until his ankle fully heals. Ronaldo was injured during a Championship League Game last month. It was made worst by the fact that he chose to play for Portugal in the World Cup Qualifiers on October 10th.

Cristiano Ronaldo

If Ronaldo was having troubles with his ankle, why did he play for Portugal? I know that he wants to be patriotic and all and help his team qualify for the World Cup, but they are not the ones who pay the bills. His loyalty should have been with Real Madrid.

Image: TSN.ca

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St Etienne Gets It’s Second Swine Flu Case

Jyle Dupuis — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:09:34 +0000

St. Etienne, of the Ligue 1, has reported that it has been faced with a second case of the H1N1 virus. With Brazilian striker, Ilan hospitalized on the 30th of last month, the club was forced to be quarantined. Now, the team is saying that yet another player has been diagnosed with the virus.

It has not been officially confirmed as to which of the player’s have contracted the illness, but the rumor is that it is Emmanuel Riviere who is out with it.

Image: Zuma Press

The club’s official statement announcing the news read, “A second member of the St Etienne squad has been affected by swine flu. At the minute he is resting at home after [receiving] treatment.”

Hopefully, the situation does not get too out of hand and they are able to limit the spread of the virus.

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Sebastien Bassong To Be Out for Five Weeks

Jyle Dupuis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:42:23 +0000

After playing a match against Arsenal, Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong sustained a hamstring injury. To top it off, arsenal wound up winning the game, 3-0. It is being reported that Bassong will be out for five weeks with the injury, a disappointment considering he has started all 11 of the Hotspur’s games.

Image: Zuma Press

Sebastien shared details with The Daily Mirror of his injury, “It’s not good news. It’s a hamstring. I’ll be out maybe four or five weeks. It just feels like my muscle is gone. It was really not a good day for me or the club or the fans. It was the worst day of the season.”

Surely, the club’s manager Henry Redknapp is freaking out over this unfortunate news. Hopefully the Premier League club is able to move on past this and succeed, despite Sebastien being out for five weeks.

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Hamm Named as 2011 World Cup Ambassador

Jyle Dupuis — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:30:51 +0000

Mia Hamm of the United States has been named as ambassador for the 2011 Women’s World Cup Games in Germany. The prestigious honor means that Hamm will be going around the world to represent the games and help promote women’s soccer. She was named world player of the year back in 2001 and has brought home gold medals for the United States for the last two summer Olympic games.

Mia Hamm named 2011 Women's World Cup ambassador

Mia Hamm was an obvious choice for FIFA as she has single handedly brought more attention to soccer as a professional sport in the United States than David Beckham. Despite what people say about soccer in North America she has shown everyone that they are competitive and are the team to beat in any world competition. With the US Womens national team missing Mia many are wondering if they will be able to bring it. I guess we’ll just have to see in 2011 in Germany.

Image: TSN.ca

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Nike Manchester United Jacket – Black/White

Jyle Dupuis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:22:17 +0000

Nike Manchester United Line Up Jacket - White with Black

I gotta say that Manchester United has a some of the best looking jackets and jerseys in the English Premier League, or any league for that matter. I have a Man. United black sweater that I wear all the time and now I just got the new Nike Manchester United Black/White Jacket.

The two-toned jacket is made of 100% polyester and is very comfortable to wear. I though that I would have trouble with color bleeding in the washing machine but the jacket held its own and looks great. The contrasting white with black is a bold look for a casual wear jacket but how else could you state your pride in your favorite team? The only sign of color is displayed by the Manchester United Crest with its ‘red devil’ placed on the front left chest. Corporate sponsor AIG is strategically placed just below the crest but because it is in black print it doesn’t take over its focal point. Man. United’s clothing manufacturer, Nike shows off it’s swoosh over the right chest and left arm. The only other signage on the jacket is on the upper back with MANCHESTER UNITED printed in bold black print.

In all the jacket would be a great addition to anyone’s soccer gear collection. The Manchester United line up Jacket is currently on sale now at SoccerPro.com’s Soccer Shop so get them now before they run out. Also check out their great selection of other teams soccer jackets.

Image: SoccerPro.com

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