SOC 101: Fan Studies (You Can Help!)

I have taken little jabs at supporters’ groups from time to time, but I want to clarify this a little. It’s not the groups that irk me, but a familiar mind-set that permeates them: the super-fan, the “true supporter” mentality, the celebration and even promotion of obsessing over the club’s fate as a badge [...]

EPL Daily 2.29: The oft-forgotten impact of McBride

The UK’s Daily Mail actually put out something today not rooted in rumor. A tribute – if you can call it that – to Brian McBride. As Fulham continues to slide, many wonder if it would have been any different had McBride been there the whole time. He’s always been their guy to right the [...]

One-Liner guide to La Liga- Jornada 26

Welcome back to this week’s One-Liner guide to La Liga–Jornada 26.  Unfortunately, that’s going to be it for the guide this week since I currently have the plague thanks to my YMCA kids and ’swimmers ear’ (God I feel like such a kid saying that).
I’ll be back soon, until then, hop on over to Tim [...]

MLS Philly: The Press Conference! Sons of Ben Video!

A good 1-2k showed up for the festivities at Turbine Hall, the whole investors’ group was readily accessible, and a couple things were said that wasn’t covered fully in the MLS Press Release.
Continue below – first though, here is the video of Nick Sackiewicz addressing Sons of Ben at Dark Horse Tavern on Tuesday night. [...]

MLS Is “Abroad” – Marinate on that for a minute

With a hearty hat-tip to du Nord, I read a bit about Indra Sahdan’s trial with Real Salt Lake.  A hint of the exotic draws me to the player – though, of course, I hope he’s still good – but the last line in the latest write-up really caught my eye:
“Finally, Indra reversed his earlier [...]

R O’B to SJ + If I Were Kelly Gray….

A big ol’ Slap o’ Life is coming down the pike and that will keep me away from the site from the end of the day Friday until….well, let’s just say it depends on how many swings Life takes until it thinks I’ve had enough. The upshot of that isn’t major – god knows [...]

Crew TSII: Crew Coming Into Focus; Nifty Friendly (that sounds less nifty when you think about it)

(Just a quick FYI: I think I’ve got a good set-up in mind for the Rapids/Crew updates. Those will come early in the morning, the rest will follow. At least that’s the plan today. And, oh yes, I will miss breaking stories…that is all.)
It takes covering the Colorado Rapids to truly appreciate [...]

MLS HAS CONFIRMED.

READ HERE. To be held tomorrow at 2:00pm, Turbine Hall, The Wharf at Rivertown, Chester, PA, 19103.
Just please don’t call the team Philadelphia Independence.
Please?

Crew TSII: Welcome, Niko (Can We Bundle in Lou Reed?)

In a move that puts my two worlds in dangerously close contact, it appears the Columbus Crew picked up M/F Nicolas “Nico” Hernandez from the Colorado Rapids.  Defender Tim Ward and a third round pick in the ‘09 supplemental draft go the other way.
Weird deal.  This is good and bad for the Crew…or, actually, good [...]

The Offside Podcast-Episode 12

Episode 12 of The Offside Podcast is now out.  Ian, Anne, Daryl and myself talk about the Carling Cup and that bastard Juande Ramos winning some hardware, Gazza’s epic breakdown, my wish for a season long ban on Martin Taylor, and I bring everyone up to speed on the La Liga title race.
Click here to [...]