Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya...tomorrow

The January transfer window is upon us! Who strikes first and how large? Man City with their deep pockets...rumored to be after Defoe (not Willam), Santa Cruz, and  Dynamo Kiev's Diakhate. Liverpool...Glen Johnson? How about Chelsea and Arsenal...names (in no particular order) Arteta, Kleber, and Arshavin. Is Man U poised to make any moves or are they holding tight believing they have the talent in-house?

MLS

How about MLS? Many reports about US players making moves, but all rumors concerning players abroad making moves to MLS must be taken with a grain of salt. Why? It's my feeling that a "possible move" to the MLS is nothing more than a bargaining chip agents to use to fetch a higher price elsewhere. Is this yet another signal that the league has a growing respect around the world? 5 years ago, would threatening a move to the MLS have held any weight? I don't think so!

Permanent Becks?

Will Becks move to Milan become permanent in the not so distant future? Is this a bad thing for MLS? I don't think so. I think the league is past falling over itself for one player. I think we've earned some respect and with higher salary options (DP & raised salary caps)) for each team, we'll continue to attract talent. Yes, we're losing some quality US born talent, but again, this means we're making progress...I don't think we need beg for attention anymore.

Really?

Israel-vs-Palestine-vs-Hammas-vs-Israel-vs-Egypt.......is there an end in sight, probably not. How do you get people who have hated each other for hundreds/thousands of years; people who pass hatred down to their children, to get along? I know, I know there are supposedly good reasons on each side why they "do unto others", but when do the "might makes right" versus "he's picking on me" arguments stop and REAL progress is made for the sake of humanity. How long will a back seat kids "he's touching me, no I'm not he's touching ME" argument go on while children are maimed and killed? I don't care about justification and who started it anymore, I want to to turn the car around and go home.

USMNT Call-ups

Suprised at Bob Bradley's list? So is Chris Wingert, he was selected to the training camp starting Jan.4th in Carson, CA. Chris finally getting his due, or is there a lack of defensive depth? Is he there simply because the Euro based players are staying put...for now? Bob looking for speed at the outside back position? What are his chances? Remember Robbie Findley's brief stint with the U-23 USMNT. Chris is a bit more polished than Robbie, but this still has to be a bit of a Christmas present for Chris....Happy New Year!

Say it ain't so Steven....Nice Work Deuce

Steven Gerard arrested in supposed night club brawl after a 5-1 drubbing of Newcastle. Has Steven gone the way of the American athlete or simply at the wrong place at the wrong time? My gut tells me he was there and got caught up in the mess, but had no serious part to play. Even so, does this distraction end up hurting the Reds title chances? Did Sir Alex throw down the gauntlet before or after Stevens alleged blunder? If it's true, how hard does the law come down on the superstar athlete in the UK? What was the extent of the "incident"? Say it ain't so Steven!

The boy from Nagadoches makes good on two chances on Sunday to level with Chelsea, the 2nd in the 89th minute! Is this the resurgence of Deuce for the Nats? Can Bradley find a deadly pair up top for the US before 2010 and South Africa? Is qualifying a lock, or does Bob need to pull all the big guns out now so he has time to solidify the team. Who's your scoring pair up top for the USMNT? Do we have a solid scoring pair to start up top? Ching - does he have the touch for serious world competition, or is size his only asset? Johnson - has to be a 2nd or 3rd option off the bench. Deuce, Donovan, who else?

EPL, RSL, Xmas

So this is Christmas....and what have you done? Hope you all had a safe and Merry one, now back to what's really important...footy!

EPL:
Well Liverpool remains atop the table with a 3-0 performance at home -vs- Bolton. Keane with a pair in hopes of solidifying his inclusion in the starting 11 when Torres returns. Has Robbie shown us enough to warrant the starts, or do you go with El Nino immediately. Keane's form (hot) as of late tells me he's concerned about his long term stay at Anfield through the transfer and next year. Do Liverpool have enough weapons to hold of Chelsea in the 2nd half of the season? Does Rafa have a few transfers up his sleeve in the next few weeks to solidify his clubs top spot? How much do you spend to bring the EPL title back to Anfield after such a drought? Spend it all to make sure?

RSL:
Will we get a new years gift or will the FO remain silent, quietly working back room deals in hopes of signing another Suda America diamond in the rough. I'm very anxious for some news! Searching all on-line postings for a hint of who's coming to Rio Tinto in '09. My money is that we're looking for a forward and an outside mid, unless we're successful on offloading Dema, then a d-mid may be in the cards!

4 Days to Christmas

Only 4 days left until your kids unwrap, play with, and forget about that $200 toy you hunted down. What are the big items on your lists this year? FIFA '09? Foosball Table, RSL DP?

Mine:
-Liverpool EPL Title
-RSL MLS Cup
-Olave flattening Borgetti to make up for all the bitching he's done in WCQ's against USMNT
-Wilco to come to SLC for a concert

Borgetti - Part II

Not so fast Dallas....

http://www.mls-rumors.net/2008/12/incoming-update-jared-borgetti-to.html

Either way, looks like we'll see plenty of the "thin man" next year!

EPL: Liverpool -vs- Arsenal

Liverpool is still top of the table, but Chelsea has a game in hand, and Man U has two. Aston Villa continues to rise as well. Do the reds have enough to remain on top? Rafa is close to a new deal, are they simply playing the waiting game until the January transfer window to bolster their attack and make the final push? They certainly didn;t look like world beaters against the Gunners this morning, squeaking out a draw courtesy of Keane's brilliant/lucky blast . Are Chelsea and Man U poised to make the 2nd half run and spoil the dream start for Anfield faithful? As a Liverpool fan, I'm getting a bit nervous!

Borgetti to FC Dallas?

MLSR reports here...

http://www.mls-rumors.net/2008/12/incoming-jared-borgetti-to-fc-dallas.html

Were'nt we supposed to get Mr. Borgetti? How did Dallas swoop in and grab him, or is he too expensive for RSL while we bargain hunt for younger talent in South America?

Offseason

Rumors abound for teams seeking help from around the world. Among those always in the headlines looking for talent: Galaxy, Toronto, DC, but where are the intrepid RSL staffers seeking the next diamond in the rough? South America? Is it a good thing that we don't hear anything from the FO? Considering our last few signings and the tremendous positive impact on the team, I'm ok with not knowing if it keeps other teams from swooping in and stealing our finds. Makes it hard to be a fan in the offseason sometimes. What do you think?

X-Mas? Really?

Why don't we get it? Financial crisis of historic proportions, and holiday shopping has merely slowed...what's it gonna take to make us learn. A local news story offered tips on talking to your kids about why they may be getting less this year. Seriously...our biggest fear of the holiday season is whether or not my 8 year old is gonna be pissed he didn't get a Wii AND a Playstation 3? In the words of a 21st Century Hawaiian philosopher -" We went beyond where we should've gone". Leave it to my eight year old to put it all in perspective:

"I hate Christmas...(why we asked)...because I get so many presents and there are kids that don't get any"

Exactly...

2009 RSL Home Opener

RSL's first home match of 2009...Columbus Crew...not only the game we should have seen for 2009 MLS Cup, but a chance to smack the Crew Fans in the mouth for their spoiled display regarding the US -vs- Mexico qualifier? What if the we lose or tie against Mexico February 11th?

Plenty of time between now and then to make stadium signs!

USA -vs- Mexico WCQ

After days of speculation and swirling rumors, SLC is NOT getting the qualifier on February 11th, 2009. It's should be said that there were no "official" announcements from either camp, but the leaks to the press concerning the location had to come from somewhere, and the back and forth manner in which the location selection process played out on the web and in print has left many with a sour taste in our mouth for the USSF site selection process. In my opinion, if the game was staying in Columbus all along, we should have been told they were the front runner, but there a a few locations that may factor into the decision making process. Ultimately we are owed no explanation, but it certainly could have been handled better.

All that being said, which game will those of us in SLC get at Rio Tinto? In my opinion, we deserve one.