I've had at least 3 conversations this week about how there were no Americans playing in the UEFA Champions League. So while debating the positives of Villarreal leaving Young Jozy off of their CL roster (and I really think there are some) I totally spaced on the fact that in addition to Gooch and Timmy Howard, Carlos Bocanegra is playing in the UEFA Cup. Click to continue reading...

With the absolutely humiliating display of football Colombia has been exhibiting lately, it was a foregone conclusion that technical director Jose Luis Pinto would have to walk the plank. Well, it happened. And in his place, interim coach Eduardo Lara, is looking to mend fences with those shunned by Pinto.

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If you've been following the conversations in the comments on this blog, you know that last week Sébastien Frey followed in David Trezeguet's footsteps and announced his international retirement.

You also know that Frey is 28. Which is... Well, it may not be infancy for a goalkeeper, but it's not exactly retirement age either.

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I have had many conversations with friends in recent days about who has been the best summer signing by a Premier League team. The obvious ones are Robbie Keane to Liverpool, David Bentley to Tottenham, but what we want to know is, who do you think is has been the summers best signing?



Take into account, was the player value for money, will he improve the side he has moved to and most importantly did the side really need the player? Click to continue reading...

"We are in a poor state - no respect from players - MONEY BUYING POINTS AND PLAYERS - matches that do not attract (or need) spectators to survive".

So says 'Albert' - a Level 5 referee, on an officials-only website for referees.

The senior levels of the English game are becoming equivalent of the Corrupt Bastards Club that dominated Alaskan politics until recently. Click to continue reading...

But not here. Well, not precisely.

What I mean is that my column over at Soccer By Ives is now up. So in a fit of self-pimping, I'm linking to it.

Read and comment, there or here.

Also, consider this an open thread for any and all Galaxy/MLS/futbol conversations.

What's up?

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Before I do anything else on this blog, I'd like to take a minute to say hi and do a quick introduction.

A little while ago Laurie invited me to be a part of this blog, which I can only imagine is a bout of temporary insanity, but before she gets wise and boots me off the blog, I'm going to take the liberty to post up thoughts and analysis on the Galaxy.

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"The speculation surrounding Chelsea in any transfer window is enormous."

"We have confirmed we are interested in Robinho and have had some conversations with the club. That is ongoing and as the coach has said, he is a player we have identified as a talent.

"If we could get him it would add to what we have got, but if it doesn't happen, the objectives of Chelsea are not going to change. Click to continue reading...

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray has disclosed that he is yet to hear from Scott Carson having held talks over a possible transfer for the Liverpool goalkeeper.

The 22-year-old England international, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, is expected to leave Anfield this summer as he has already had a chat to Baggies' rivals Stoke City as well, while fellow Premiership outfit Middlesbrough are also linked. Click to continue reading...

Just a quick comment this morning on Wenger's 'quotes' about Arsenal effectively being a selling club, and needing to balance the books year on year to pay for the stadium.

If you look at the more reputable papers this morning, while it is true they have picked the story up, they have done so rather hesitantly and have added caveats like "was reported as saying" and "was quoted as saying" to his so-called words.

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It's so quiet. Is everyone enjoying their offseason? Mine was kind of short - optional practices are starting up in a week or so. It's going to be HOT. But what are you all up to? As the next season approaches, I wanted to reach out to you all and see what you'd like to see [...] Click to continue reading...

Building a soccer stadium hasn't been easy in most MLS cities, and the situation has dragged on for a quite a while in Washington despite the presence of a successful team embraced by the community.

But D.C. United president Kevin Payne says no one should be alarmed by a recent Washington Business Journal report suggesting stadium talks could be hindered by layoffs at team owner Victor MacFarlane's company.

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There's something of a debate going on at the moment about sexism in sports blogging. One of my fellow lady football bloggers was interviewed about the subject but was then cross when cuts were made which she objected to.

Those of you who've been reading this blog for a while will know that one of my many objections to the game before I started learning about it was a perception that men used it to exclude women from conversations. Click to continue reading...

One of those days in which the print edition has room for one or two quotes per person, but obviously, the conversations went on a bit longer than that. Here's a bit more from Bob Bradley's postgame press conference Sunday and a conversation with Landon Donovan on Thursday.

Donovan confirmed Bradley's take on Pablo Mastroeni's puzzling red card against Argentina, which is that the ref accused him of time-wasting because he tossed the ball to teammate Danny Califf before an Argentine free kick.

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The city of Seattle is inching ever so close to an expansion team according to the Seattle Times. "There's pretty high-level conversations going on right now about MLS," (Sounders managing partner Adrian) Hanauer said earlier Tuesday on KJR radio about MLS expansion to Seattle. "There's a lot of progress being made and lot of conversations happening. Click to continue reading...