Soccer: Extra Time

Soccer: Extra Time

Arsenal soccer club manager Arsene Wenger confident star Cesc Fabregas will stay

July 31, 2010 , ι Sky Sports

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was confident Friday star midfielder Cesc Fabregas would stay at the English soccer club, despite growing speculation he will move to Spanish giants Barcelona. The... Read on

The Gunners have rejected one offer for their 23-year-old captain, and have also been forced to contend with several Barcelona players claiming Fabregas wants to join the Primera Liga champions.

Wenger wants to keep Fabregas as a lynchpin of his team and believes the World Cup winner with Spain can play an important part in Arsenal's ambitions this English Premier League season.

"I have always said that Cesc Fabregas will be our captain next year and that we want to keep him," Wenger told Sky Sports.

"And, despite all the speculation from last season and the whole summer, nothing has changed.

"He's just won the World Cup and I believe he will grow in authority again next season. The biggest achievement for him is to help us win the championship."
	 
Read more:
	 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6286786,00.html

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Manchester City's Mancini leaves U.S. tour because of family illness

July 31, 2010 , ι AFP

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has flown back to Europe during his team's U.S. tour because of a family illness. Mancini left Baltimore to fly to Italy on Friday, the English Premier League... Read on

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RBNY's Goldwaite may miss 2010, Nielsen to be evaluated

July 30, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Both centerback Kevin Goldthwaite and rookie winger Austin da Luz returned to Red Bulls practice Wednesday. But coach Hans Backe seemed resigned to the likelihood that the veteran defender may not play a meaningful role this MLS campaign, after having had surgery at the tail end of last season.

"Being away so long, haven’t played in any games. We’ll probably try to play some reserve games against our academy Tuesday, but I still think it's too early for him to be involved in those types of games,'' Backe said. "So the timetable is difficult, being away almost a year…I can't see him being available this season.''

Backe was slightly more upbeat about da Luz, their second first-round pick who has essentially had his rookie campaign wrecked by injury.

"Austin looked good. Austin is definitely ready (physically). I don’t know fitness-wise, but he definitely looks ok in training,'' Backe said. "Austin has been unlucky but I still think he has a future here with us. Young players need that first year to get stronger, technically he's very good, very composed, can score, so you think he's a player for the future.''

At this point, the future may be all that's left for Brian Nielsen. The only question is whether the Red Bulls want the left-winger's future to be with them. They acquired the 23-year-old Dane on a loan, but after discovering he had a perpetually-accelerated heart rate, then he re-aggravated an old knee injury.

The Red Bulls apparently have the option to buy him outright, but they'll wait until they can watch him resume practice this fall to decide if they want to do so.

"(He's out) almost two months so he needs to do the rehab and you never know being away that long and the last year surgery,'' said Backe. "We can keep him also I think if we want, I think. But we have to wait on that decision. It's possible for him to train October, November then we can make a decision.''

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RBNY hopes to hold Mac Kandji, add trialist Marcos Paullos

July 30, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Red Bull forward Macoumba Kandji has drawn interest from about a half-dozen first-flight teams in Europe, but New York GM Erik Soler said none have filed official offers. And even if they did, he said he has no intention of selling the emerging striker, but plans to see the 24-year-old develop in a Red Bull uniform.

"We wouldn’t do anything anyway. We haven’t gotten anything, wouldn’t do anything,'' Soler said. "We believe he's a good kid, believe in the player, we think he will develop in this team and so he's not going anywhere. Simple as that.''

Kandji said he has told his agent he wants to concentrate on the MLS season, and not to tell him about what teams are calling or how often. He also said he was fingerprinted for a green card, and was eagerly anticipating the arrival of his actual document in about a week.

"I went to take the fingerprints a week ago so I'm just waiting for it in the mail. Once you take the fingerprints, you're golden. I think I should get it before our Toronto game away. It should be here in a week or so,'' said Kandji, waiting to learn if his time in the country will count towards a citizenship application.

"That’s what we want to take to the courts to see, if they're going to let me count from when I'm here it should be no problem. I should hopefully get my citizenship in less than a month. But if they're going to want to start over again, I don’t know how long that takes. If they say we'll count it from when you're here, it's going to be very good for me.''

Kandji could find himself deployed at wide midfield more often with Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry both in the strike force. But tomorrow in Houston, coach Hans Backe plans to start Seth Stammler at left wing.

*** Soler confirmed the club would unveil a third Designated Player at some point next week. The team reportedly is trying to land Mexican National Team captain Rafa Marquez, who is expected to be allowed to leave Barcelona.

Soler and Backe both said in addition to the Designated Player, who is a holding midfielder, they hold out hope of adding a somewhat cheaper creative midfielder who would not fall into the Designated Player category. That player could be added this transfer window or possibly in the winter window.

*** Young Brazilian Marcos Paullos flew back to Brazil yesterday, but that doesn’t mean his trial was a failure; anything but. The 20-year-old midfielder left a favorable impression on the club, and Backe said they'd likely look into signing him…if the price is right.

"He went back yesterday to Brazil. I liked what I saw from this guy. He's only 20,'' Backe said. "It's still very difficult to say yes or no. I'd think we'll try to talk to his agent, see what the conditions are. I think he has a future. He looks very composed on the ball, honest player hard working, could play wide left or perhaps in the future as a second striker and a 10. So we'll see what is happening.''

When asked if they were waiting to see if he was better than what they already have on the roster, or waiting to see if he's worth what the agent would ask, Backe said it was the latter, that Paullos had already done enough to warrant an offer.

"Yes,'' Backe said. "I think we can develop a player like him. I think we HAVE to find players like that, around 19, 20 years old and build them up, develop (them).''

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RBNY waives Wolyniec

July 30, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Red Bull fan favorite John Wolyniec is gone, waived as expected by the club today after his FOURTH tour of duty in New York. He has been offered a coaching position by head coach Hans Backe, but it is unclear if he has determined to accept it or not.
	 
“John is a true professional and a hard working player. We spoke to John about staying on with the club in another capacity but he expressed an interest in continuing on with his playing career. We wish him the best of luck in the future,” said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler.

This season, Wolyniec played in four regular season matches, starting in two. The Staten Island, NY native also recorded four goals in four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games. Wolyniec, who is second all-time in regular season games played with 142, was re-acquired by New York on Aug. 17, 2006 from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a 2007 fourth round SuperDraft pick and a 2008 second round SuperDraft pick to begin his third stint with the club.

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Red Bulls resume MLS, head to Houston

July 30, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Despite all the focus on the arrival of Thierry Henry and talk of the potential addition of his former Barcelona teammate Rafa Marquez, the Red Bulls actually return to MLS action tomorrow in Houston (8:30 p.m., MSG). Will they play as well as they did Sunday in beating EPL side Manchester City, or as look as lousy as they did in their last league tilt, getting drilled in Columbus?

"I'm sure we'll do a better performance; I'm absolutely sure,'' said coach Hans Backe. "But saying that, I don’t think Henry will make a different (tonight) because of all the extra work he's done, with the heavy legs he has now, probably maximum playing 45 minutes with all the things around him _ commercials, looking for apartments. I know it takes time to settle.''

Henry is liable to make his first MLS start _ presumably alongside captain Juan Pablo Angel, who played in Wednesday's all-star game and just stayed in Houston _ but is unlikely to go more than a half. He hasn’t played an MLS game yet, but he's fully aware of his team's long-standing struggles on the road.

"I'm nowhere near fit yet. It is weird coming into the season in the middle of the season. I don't know when the form is going to come. Normally in preseason it takes a month; hopefully it comes quicker than that,'' said Henry, whose team hasn’t had a road victory in over a month, winless in their last five away games.

"We played two great games against Tottenham and Man City. Hopefully we can get something out of the game in Houston…Unfortunately for us we lost in Columbus, but we (have to) go out there re and try to win the game. It's not easy to win on the road in this league. We know in this league the important thing is to win away from home; hopefully we can do this.''

The Red Bulls had gone to Columbus just two points behind the Crew with a chance to overtake them atop the Eastern Conference. But a loss there _ coupled with the Columbus' win and the Red Bulls spending last weekend hosting the Barclays New York Challenge _ dropped them eight points off the pace.

"We've been getting ready for this game for two weeks. All the guys are ready,'' said striker Mac Kandji, who could relieve Henry whenever the 32-year-old tires in the Texas heat. "We're just going to go out there and try to get a win because a win would definitely really help coming from the loss we had in Columbus.''

Kandji _ who has been approved for a green card _ has drawn interest from a handful of European teams after solid performances in the Barclays New York Challenge, with a goal and assist in the win over City. But GM Erik Soler claims he has no intention of selling the 24-year-old striker, who is just now emerging.

"We wouldn’t do anything anyway. We haven’t gotten anything, wouldn’t do anything. We believe he's a good kid, believe in the player, we think he will develop in this team and so he's not going anywhere. Simple as that,'' said Soler, who confirmed the club will announce a third Designated Player next week (Rafa Marquez?) and may add another creative midfielder.

*** The Red Bulls waived veteran forward John Wolyniec as expected…The club will speak to the agent for trialist Marcos Paullo and see what the young Brazilian would cost….CB Kevin Goldthwaite may not play again this year…Juan Agudelo scored a goal and led the U.S. U20 team to a 3-0 rout of Northern Ireland in the Milk Cup final.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson defends the Glazers

July 29, 2010 , ι Sky Sports

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to the Glazer family and insisted criticism of the Manchester United owners is unfair, Sky Sports reported Thursday. While United is the No. 1 soccer club in the world... Read on

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to the Glazer family and insisted criticism of the Manchester United owners is unfair, Sky Sports reported Thursday.

While United is the No. 1 soccer club in the world on the Forbes Rich List, with an estimated value of $1.85 billion (£1.18 billion), its debt is over $1.09 billion (£700 million).

The Glazers _ who also own the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers _ are unpopular with a large section of United supporters and came under fire from the Green and Gold protest movement.

However, Ferguson launched a stout defense of the family, who took full control at Old Trafford in 2005 -- saying they have looked after the club as well as could be realistically expected and always backed him in the transfer market.

"The debt has come through by the club being bought out by an owner. You know full well that when a business is bought, it's usually bought with debt. Because it's a football club, it seems to attract a more negative reporting from the media and from the fans," he said. "But Manchester United football club, when it went [onto the stock market to allow public ownership of shares in it, thus becoming a] PLC, it was always going to be bought. It was inevitable. So when a particular family like the Glazers have bought it, it's unfair they come in for criticism because anybody could have bought it."

He added: "I have to say they've done their job well. They support myself, the manager. They've supported the players. I've never been refused when I've asked for money for a player. So what can I do other than carry on the way we're doing it, and the way I'm allowed to carry on, I've no complaints."

Ferguson also declared in an interview with CNN that he intends to carry on at the helm for as long as he remains healthy. At 68, he is heading into his 24th season at Old Trafford, where he has won 11 Premier League titles and two European Cups.

The short-term aim is to wrest the crown back from Chelsea after losing in the Premier League championship last year.

"Every day, every year, there's the challenge of being at the top, and that helps me," Ferguson said.
	 
Read more:
	 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_6284259,00.html

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David Beckham rules out West Ham move

July 29, 2010 , ι Sky Sports

David Beckham is happy at the L.A. Galaxy and has had no contact with English Premier League team West Ham, a spokesman for the former England captain announced Thursday. Beckham was linked with a... Read on

David Beckham is happy at the L.A. Galaxy and has had no contact with English Premier League team West Ham, a spokesman for the former England captain announced Thursday.

Beckham was linked with a move to Upton Park in east London, with West Ham co-owner David Gold suggesting he wants to sign the 35-year-old midfielder and that talks have taken place with the player's agent.

But a spokesman for Beckham denied the rumors, insisting the veteran will remain in MLS.

"Whilst it's flattering to hear of interest there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham," said the spokesman. "David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9."

Beckham is still on the mend from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled him out of the World Cup, but is hoping to be back in action before the end of Galaxy's MLS season.

He is targeting a comeback as early as September, allowing him to make a possible return to European football in January after playing for Italian giant AC Milan for the second half of the season the last two years.
	 
Read more:
	 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_6285228,00.html

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Red Bull notes

July 28, 2010 , ι By BRIAN LEWIS

Red Bull forward Macoumba Kandji's budding partnership with Thierry Henry started in the Barclays New York Challenge and has continued to grow in practice this week. And even though he's drawn looks from EPL clubs, his agent Richard Trafford said Kandji is focused on a title, not a transfer.
	 
"There's been a lot of interest in Mac. He's had a great weekend. He's a top player,'' Trafford said via phone from the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. "(But) he's fully focused on the New York Red Bulls, and he's fully focused on winning a championship and going to the cup with them.''
	 
Henry said "Mac has been great. He two games against Tottenham and Manchester City were amazing.''
	 
*** Keeper Bouna Coundoul has been called up to the Senegalese National Team. The Martin Luther King High School graduate is leading MLS in saves with 67, is third in the league in save percentage (77.9%) and fourth in wins and shutouts.
	 
The 28-year-old keeper got his first cap in a 3-2 victory over Mali on Nov. 17 2007, and played the entire 90 minutes vs. South Africa in the 2008 African Cup of Nations. He was among the 18 for a friendly vs. South Korea last October, and his strong season has gotten him back into the fold.
	 
*** The Red Bulls are presently renegotiating their TV contract with MSG. It has not paid any rights fees, and while the club said they plan to negotiate in good faith both GM Erik Soler and managing director Erik Stover both acknowledged the possibility of producing their own broadcast if a suitable deal can't be reached.
	 
"We have negotiations we have to get through and try to make it work and if not see if there's another platform that works well,'' Stover said. "The world feed approach is a possibility. Chivas USA has probably been the most successful example. They do their own and they're profitable off it. We're looking at that model as well.''
	 
*** Young Red Bull products Juan Agudelo and Sacir Hot both were part of the United States Under-20 National Team that advanced to the Milk Cup finals by beating Denmark 3-2 today. Agudelo, who has already been signed from their academy, played the full 90. Hot is a Fair Lawn native who captained the RBNY U16 and U18 teams, and is considered a gem of their academy program.

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Rafa Marquez's official website confirms Barca exit, tabs NYRB move

July 28, 2010 , ι By BRIAN LEWIS

Rafa Marquez's official website says he is to leave Barcelona after seven years with the Catalan giants. The website also says the 31-year-old Mexican National Team captain is expected to join the... Read on

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BRIAN LEWIS With the Post since 1998, Brian Lewis has covered the World Series, NBA Finals, Final Four, NFL playoffs, NYC Marathon, U.S. Open, World Cup, bowl games, and more than a thousand baseball games, including two perfect games at Yankee Stadium. He’s a Rutgers grad, class of 1990.

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CLEMENTE LISI Clemente Lisi is a native New Yorker and Post news reporter who spends most of his spare time playing and watching soccer. He is a regular contributor to the blog, where he writes about Italy's Serie A and the Champions League.

DYLAN BUTLER Dylan is an award-winning reporter/columnist who has covered New York City high school sports for more than a decade. After graduating from St. John’s University (he prefers Redmen to Red Storm), the Queens native worked for the TimesLedger Newspapers, serving as Sports Editor for the chain of 13 weekly newspapers in the Community News Group. An avid soccer fan, Dylan has covered the sport on all levels, from high school to international soccer. Dylan co-founded FiveBoroSports.com, a popular web site dedicated to daily coverage of New York City high school and college athletics. He also covered the Yankees, Jets and Devils for SNY.tv.

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