[Photo by the always fantastic Robert Absolonne - click for full size] Mr. Onyewu scored the middle goal in Standard's 3-0 UEFA Cup rout of Samdoria on Wednesday night. The Belgian champs are perfect through three group matches and assured of a place in the knockouts. Their European form could play a part in whether "Guchi" (as he is called around Sclessin) accepts the team's contract renewal Click to continue reading...

Shuck and jive and all that jazz... #1 - Don't expect Michael Parkhurst to be unveiled at FC Nordsjælland until next week, but fear not. The deal is completely done, just shhhh don't tell anybody yet. The Wild Tigers head into the winter break after Monday's visit from Aarhus GF, and then we will see the erstwhile New England Rev presented by his new employers. Click to continue reading...

When we need to talk Danes, we go to the great Dane. I'm not exactly sure why, but... so sayeth, The Worm: About two years ago, I wrote a piece on a website which shall remain unnamed in which I argued for relegation and promotion from and to MLS. Quite a few of the responses I received then and one of the first counter-arguments I still meet today when I raise the issue with American soccer Click to continue reading...

Let's do this damned thang... Let's start in the Eredivisie, where Stefan Nijland put a daft capper on a well-crafted PSV attack. Sulley Muntari caps a fine Inter Milan move. Apparently, some kid named Ronaldinho at AC Milan can hit free kicks pretty well. Also in UEFA Cup play from Thursday, Racing Santander's Gonzalo Colsa rings up PSG. Click to continue reading...

And no, I'm not referring to that infernal early Christmas Muzak at the mall. I don't have a mall, so why would it be that? I am referring to the silly season. Ho ho ho. Soon, girls and boys, clubs will unwrap their fancy new transfer presents - several of which are bound to be American-made. Since it's a busy day and I have someone distracting me like a distracting distracter from Click to continue reading...

Somebody accused me of telling fibs about the improvised scratch mega-pumpkin pie. Erm... check yo'self, good sir (click pic for larger version). I'll have that Top 5 I hinted at some time tomorrow, and I should have a Greg Folk update around the same vague time. It seems I'd forgotten how sleep-inducing a Thanksgiving dinner can be. Click to continue reading...

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone back in the States. For the first time abroad, I will actually have a real Thanksgiving feast, thanks to some industrious/curious Dutch pals. I am bringing my Hall of Fame cornbread stuffing, some sweet taters and the first scratch pumpkin pie I ever tried. It's almost done. Click to continue reading...

Sometimes it takes a bike crash or two to remind us how good it feels to just... lay there. Nevertheless, the Colin Burns double update is up at Soccer365, and the World Cup '10 column will appear there in a couple of hours. For now, soothe yourself with a double dose of Lejo. Ahhhh, the Dutch... - Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

I'm taking today off. Not only do I need a rare breather, but I also just "enjoyed" a hearty bike accident. Nothing broken, no concussion, just some scrapes, dizzies and bruises. I must fall well - because I only feel half-jacked up. Anyhoooo... I will have a story on Ljungskile keeper Colin Burns and a World Cup 2010 USMNT as-of-now depth chart column over at Soccer365 tomorrow. Click to continue reading...

Case of the Mondays? We have the cure. Let's start with Brøndby man Peter Madsen, who possesses some happy feet. PSV's Mexico defender Francisco Rodríguez rings the bell against Heracles. AC Milan's Ronaldinho with a nasty free kick against Torino (pity it didn't stand as the winner). Real Betis defender Luciano Monzón with a heavy boot from distance. Click to continue reading...

The Columbus Crew have been duly crowned champions of MLS! If their Supporter's Shield margin wasn't enough evidence for the case, they went ahead and knocked out the formality of symbolically running away from their Sunday competition, the tamed New York Red Bulls. Apparently, "Olé!" also means "3-1". Click to continue reading...

We are about 90 minutes away from MLS Cup kicks off, so I may as well re-prove my foolishness by making a prediction. Before I go there, however, let's take a quick look a last look at some match-up notes. 2008 Head-to-Head: New York 2-1 All-Time Head-to-Head: New York 21-20-5 Leading scorers: Ángel 14 (NYRB), Moreno 9 (CLB) The Crew have surrendered the first goal 18 times this year, but Click to continue reading...

Watford skipper Jay DeMerit is a guest on this week's Football League podcast. Give it a spin here. FYI: it was recorded before they beat QPR yesterday. - Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

I love Kirk Herbstreit. But dude... Columbus are the favorites. At least Lee Corso didn't chug a Red Bull. Nobody needs that. - Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

MLS has announced the 2008 Best XI, naturally headed by league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto of Columbus and Golden Boot winner Landon Donovan of Los Angeles. Get the full lowdown here. 2008 MLS Best XI GK: Jon Busch (Chicago Fire) D: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew) MF: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Guillermo Barros Click to continue reading...