Blatter Yaps Again

I really need to expand on the things done by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that demonstrate how he's a walking soap opera. There were the moves to push out folks trying to investigate corruption in FIFA itself. There was the flap over him commenting that women's soccer would be more popular if they wore tighter uniforms. Recently Blatter showed his lack of leadership skills in saying that Columbia's bid to host the 2014 World Cup was a publicity stunt. I can understand the leader of an organization hinting that a bid is unlikely to succeed. But to just come out and say something like this isn't the sort of behavior I'd expect of someone leading an organization like such as FIFA.

Champions Cup

Congrats to DC United and Houston for their wins tonight. Houston won 2-0 over Puntarenas FC to advance on 2-1 aggregate. DC United beat Olimpia of Honduras 3-2 at RFK to advance on a 7-3 aggregate. DC United will play Chivas Guadalajara in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals and Houston will face Club de Futbol Pachuca. The only bad news tonight was for DC United with their goalkeeper Troy Perkins, last year's MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, going off injured in the 67th minute.

New York Red Bulls Dodges A Tin Bullet

A few days ago Soccer By Ives reported that Agustin Delgado was indeed a designated player (DP) target for New York Red Bulls (NYRB). NYRB fans be disappointed. Their team's thin in talent and experience when it comes to strikers. But in the case of Agustin "El Tin" Delgado they may have been worse off. During Delgado's stint at Southampton was an odd one. In 2 years he only played for his club 15 times. Yet he seemed to somehow be healthy enough to play for his national team Ecuador. Surely there are at least 1,000 players just as talented and, more importantly, with more of a professional approach to the game than Delgado. I think NYRB dodged a bullet and thanks to FIFA's ban on Delgado playing avoided bringing in a Clint Mathis type player (lots of talent, little production).

MLS Roster Cuts Coming

Technically by today, Thursday March 1 all MLS teams need to be down to 18 senior roster players and 10 developmental players. They will also need to be in compliance with the allowable numbers for international players. The question will be how many if any of the teams manage to make a public announcement today on their rosters.

Davies Heads To St. Mary's

One of the blogs I enjoy following is From College To Pros. It's not just that I know the person that does most of the writing for it. But that it focuses on a very specific subject, following young Americans develop in their youth on their way into the pros. Recently they had an entry on the promising American defender Charlie Davies. Davies recently chose to skip college (for the time being, at least) and join Southampton FC. I think this is an excellent choice on his part. Southampton has shown they've put together a good youth development program. Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale are the best known of their recent products. But they have others that they've done a good job in developing that may soon become names we know such as Trinidad and Tobago's Kenwyne Jones, South African born Andrew Surman, Nathan Dyer and David McGoldrick. Hopefully we'll be seeing Davies and fellow American Andrew Giallombardo in Southampton's first team this year or next.