About (One of) the Author(s)

As noted earlier, I thought I’d throw out an introductory post to kind of set the tone for what I hope to do in the future for this space. I’ll begin with a little about me:
- I have no real credentials of which to speak. The highest official playing level I ever “achieved” was [...]

Lyon starts confidently, Marseille with a whimper

New coach Alain Perrin has got to be happy with the 2-0 shutout win over Auxerre, a top half contender. The victory bodes well for the club as it seemed they had lost more quality than they had brought in, but new signings: Fabio Grosso (nice to see a high-profile Italian over in France), Kader [...]

Why Beckham’s Future May Be In Jeopardy

I’m a bit upset that my first post on CHI is about Goldenballs himself, but I was just pondering something while I was working out at the gym this morning, and figuered I would share it with everyone.
During my second soccer game as a Frosh in High School, I stepped in a ‘gopher hole’ near [...]

Loss of Baines a Crushing Blow to the Latics’ Survival Chances?

 Leighton Baines – the longtime cornerstone of Wigan’s back four – has moved onto to the greener pastures of . The close call of last year’s relegation battle seemed to have spark the young fullback’s ambition to stay in the Premiership. The money helped too, as Wigan will receive $10 million for his services and Baines’ [...]

LAG v. TFC: Quality Advertising…

Here’s the $64 dollar question from Week 18: why was Toronto FC v. LA Galaxy televised on ESPN2?
(And, no, that’s not a typo: this is MLS; we don’t do $64,000.)
On one level, I can almost hear the calculations that ESPN’s honchos applied to this: well, David Beckham might play and, even if he doesn’t, the [...]

A Tantalizing Taste of Single-Table

I’m not a believer that Major League Soccer (MLS) will ever go single-table, never mind adopt the promotion/relegation model – and that’s even as I count myself a fan of both.
That said, I just loved the tantalizing glimpse of what could be when ESPN showed the standings single-table style during the Toronto FC v. Los [...]

MLS: The Week (18) That Was

Ah, my first post in the new digs…
I’ll explain myself in a post later today, but want to start with the goods – specifically, a grand, vague post on the just-completed Week 18 in Major League Soccer (MLS), one that encompasses and attempts to make sense of all the action. Those familiar with my [...]

Gooch Strikes in First Game of the Belgian Season

Standard Liege firmly handed last-season’s surprise team Zulte Waregem a “back to the drawing board” kind of game as Standard’s offense picked apart their defense for 4 goals.

Oguchi ‘Gooch’ Onyewu scored the game winner in the 4-1 victory as Zulte was the first to strike, but then Standard replied with 4 unanswered strikes. A nice [...]

Ongoing English Premiership 2007-08 Preview

Teams 1 through 10 will come this week, please argue, discuss, criticize…and welcome to Center Holds It!
11. West Ham United (15)

With the Carlos Tevez transfer saga now firmly behind them, the Hammers need to turn their sights inwards to make sure they keep the locker-room cancer that is Craig Bellamy from spreading his disease. [...]