Beckham To Los Angeles (yet again)

The David Beckham to MLS / New York Red Bull / Los Angeles Galaxy rumor has surfaced again. This time it's one of LA's coach Frank Yallop's old teammates saying it's in the works. Toronto MLS FC Blog includes an audio link to the radio interview with Craig Forrest where the claim is made.

Gareth Bale, Wales Answer To Roberto Carlos

Gareth Bale is a 17 year old left back for Southampton FC. He's generated a good amount of buzz going into the current Championship season. He already has 3 caps for Wales (for what that's worth). Various Southampton officials, including his manager George Burley, have sworn up and down that they won't be selling him. For Southampton's sake I hope that's the case. He would do well to note how little playing time Theo Walcott got when he left and stick around for a couple years. Especially considering how young he is and how much work his defending still needs. But if he keeps playing like he did today against Norwich, the Saints may be getting some big offers in a way weeks for the kid. He seemed to single handedly dismantle Norwich at times. They didn't seem to be able to stop him even after adjusting tactics and player personal to try to deal with his constant runs down the left side. And he scored a nice goal off a free kick, his 5th of the season in 20 games.

Step-Stool For Landon

With all of the attention Freddy Adu has received this week, you may have overlooked the news that Landon Donovan is marrying his girlfriend Bianca Kajlich. I had a great laugh this morning when I saw that Throughball is raising money to buy him a step-stool for his wedding gift. I encourage everyone to throw in a buck to let Lannycakes know you really care.

Rest In Peace Lamar Hunt

Lamar Hunt has passed away. He founded the Dallas Tornadoes in the old NASL. He also was an original investor in the AFL, starting the Dallas Texans and eventually moving them to Kansas City where they became the Chiefs. More recently he was a founding investor for Major League Soccer (MLS) with teams in Columbus, Kansas City and Dallas. He recently sold the Kansas City Wizards to a group of KC investors. Columbus was the first MLS team with a soccer specific stadium. May the perpetual light shine upon him.

McLaren and England

McClaren demands time to revive England

This headline caught my attention this morning. McClaren's pleading for more time to revive England? It's times like these that I wish I had more access to everything that he said. He very well may have not used those words. But it's clear is asking for more time in saying "Rome was not built in a day...It is where you end up, not where you are after the initial period." I agree that coaches at times are given unreasonable expectations. For example, anything short of winning every game when coaching England. Excuse my French but shit happens. That said, this is the English national team. They're not in an overly difficult group. The team should be able to better Croatia and Russia. The team may need some time to be shaped into one capable of winning the World Cup. But the World Cup isn't until 2010. They have time just by the nature of the competition. They shouldn't need time to do well in qualifying. Is McClaren trying to take some pressure off of his players? Or is he trying to come up with excuses for himself?