Off to Red Bulls Practice (and a mini-Morning ticker)

Good morning folks. I'm heading off to Red Bulls practice and will look to report from there so stay tuned for some updates on that front. Also, I will be heading to Washington D.C. tomorrow to take in the D.C. United-Chicago Fire match at RFK Stadium. D.C. fans might consider this a good omen since I can't recall the last time I went there and saw D.C. lose at RFK (okay, I think it was late 2005).

Not much in the news this morning, but here's a mini-morning ticker. You have Peter Crouch wanting out of Liverpool (there's a shocker), the transvestites who blew up Ronaldo's world now saying they lied (didn't see that one coming) and Manchester City pursing Luiz Felipe Scolari to replace Sven (Good luck with that one Thaksin).

Check back in throughout the day. I will definitely post my Week 6 MLS Best XI, the SBI MLS Fantasy corner, the three remaining Supporter's View sets and whatever other news arises so stay tuned.

Comments

[kpugs]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/07052008/1/toffees-check-bradley.html

Ouch, Everton were scouting Michael Bradley during his recent 38-minute performance before being sent off. That's the type of club--if he went to England--where he might actually play, too.

[kpugs]

Sinawatra doesn't know what he's doing. Sven isn't a great coach, but he's not bad. And the fact that a guy of his fame is coaching Manchester City is already a stretch. But this guy really bought into the "take these mediocre players and qualify for Europe in one season or your fired" stance.

[Dominghosa]

I'm not too confident Everton signs Bradley. Moyes will again have to sign players on the cheap this summer.
He won't get a war chest for transfers even though the Toffees are ohsoclose to battling for a top four spot in the EPL.
He will again have to deal with finding most of Everton's new players via loan as he has done the past few years.
Everton hardly/never starts off the transfer window fast off the gate. Its front office waits and it prods and signs players as the window goes along.
I'd expect one big signing, one medium signing, and three players on loan with an option to buy.
That has been the trend for Everton. If Bradley is that medium signing, it won't happen right away.

[Rocco]

Looks like Bradley would prefer to go to the Bundesliga:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3533302,00.html

[Braden]

Really makes you wonder why the Thai military decided to oust this guy. I mean, Sven's made City look classy for the first time since Keegan. City just need some stability and I'm sure they'd improve.

Here's hoping the British grant an unexpected extradition request.

[beckster]

Why would Everton want Bradly when they can get a strong and proven EPL midfielder in Sidwell for less. Also, did you see the BBC transfer gossip this morning about McBride? Fulham offering one year contract but he may opt to go back to the Crew?

[kpugs]

Ives, if you have a moment later can you expand on this:

"While more cordial relations with his former side (Manchester United) could see them fork out a full £8m for Honduran winger Wilson Palacios."

Traditional unfounded English rumor or is there some truth in there?

[kpugs]

Beckster, that's a fair point on Sidwell. He's also under contract though, so who knows what Chelsea will ask for? Not only that, but his wages would be WAY higher than Bradley's, even if it turns out the transfer fee would be lower.

I think what also figures is Bradley's ceiling. Sidwell has already peaked. I'm not saying Bradley is going to morph into Ronaldinho, but Everton are probably assuming he's going to be improving over the next few years. The logic there would be that Bradley will eventually be a better player than Sidwell.

I think if it were up to me I'd take Bradley, but you are dead on that if you want a reliable player right now, you almost have to try to sign Sidwell.

[KingSnake]

If you read the article, you will find that though the prostitutes lied about the sex and drugs, Ronaldo was still cruising, with only the danglies preventing an exchange of goods & services ...

[Mig]

I think Everton is looking for cheap upside, as kpugs mentioned. The Toffees are right on the edge of CL football and would have taken 4th this year if not for an unexpected drop in form late (Cahill was more important than I thought). Because of their being right on the cusp, I don't think they need just 'a proven EPL midfielder', but instead are looking for an impact player that could blossom into a Lampard-like scoring middie.

Thoughts?

[Pat the Red Bulls Fan]

A 20 year old midfielder that scores 20 goals and can play a bullish defensive mid, has gotta be in demand.

[Dominghosa]

Toffees's big signing needs to be a reliable scorer up top to pair with Yak.
In the midfield, they need a preferably tall player that can help control possession and create something during the run of play.
The current midfield is incredibly short and the only set piece threat from midfield is Timmy Cahill, who relies more on his awareness than anything else. It also hurts a lot more when defending set pieces.
Manny Fernandez won't be retained and will go back to Valencia but that doesn't mean he'll stay there. The Toffees could still secure another loan deal, this time a year-long loan.

[Dominghosa]

Oh, and with Schweinsteiger and Lahm on their way out of Munchen, I'd expect Bradley to make headlines and head to Bayern. Muchen, that is.

[beckster]

Kplugs, Sidwell is like only 26 and the BBC post said 3M bid for him and 4M for Bradley. Agree that Bradley has more upside but if he goes to top 5 EPL team, what are the chances he is going to play and get better? Sidwell on the other hand can walk in, do well and get better with playing time. Think Newcastle is interested as well. He may not be able to be a top 4 starter but can contribute anywhere else.

[Garrett]

'Sven isn't a great coach' What the hell kind of information are you citing to make that reference?

He has won titles with clubs in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy all with 2nd tier teams at the time. He's an excellent club coach with a FANTASTIC record. City have played well under him but have desperately needed more depth in MF and DF with some injuries and having no decent RM all season.

Even all the England critics out there can piss off, look how terrible McLaren did after Svennie left. It just goes to show how idiots or the media can spin anything. I'll bet the Thai press has been speculating that Sven has been caught with trannys, and singlehandly cost Manchester City the EPL title!

He deserves better, and will have many opportunties to shine elsewhere, but all City fans thank him for the job he's done.