Morning Ticker: Arsenal completes Nasri swoop, Fowler to Blackburn and club helps Croatia plunder Aussie talent pool

Good morning all. As I prepare for another full day of posts (and try to figure out how to deal with websites stealing SBI's content and pawning it off as their own) I couldn't help but realize that we are in a bit of a calm before a real storm of activity in the soccer world. It may be tough to believe but the European soccer season is just a month away, as are the Olympic games and U.S. World Cup qualifying. In other words, July is a time to relax a bit before August arrives to overwhelm us with great soccer.

Now, onto some news and notes from this morning and last night:

Arsenal completes Nasri transfer

Emmanuel Adebayor might still be out the door, but Arsenal took a step toward replacing Alexander Hleb on Friday by completing the signing of French starlet Samir Nasri from Olympique Marseille for a reported $24 million.

Nasri should help offset the departure of Hleb, but isn't going to address the need for a replacement for Mathieu Flamini in central midfield. Nasri's lightning fast moves and considerable skill will fit right into Arsenal's speedy possession game, though it will be interesting to see how Nasri adjusts to the physicality of the EPL.

Fowler to Blackburn

Perhaps it was his performance in Chinatown a while back, or maybe it's his track record as one of the most prolific goal-scorers in EPL history. Whatever the reason, Robbie Fowler is on his way back to the English Premier League after signing with Blackburn.

The 33-year-old Liverpool legend spent last season with Cardiff, but will join forces with another '90s icon, new Blackburn manager Paul Ince, to try and keep Blackburn from plummeting out of the EPL after the departure of manager Mark Hughes to Manchester City.

Aussie club helping Croatia plunder Australia's talent?

Now a disturbing story from 'Down Under'. Australian soccer officials have become increasingly concerned with the role Australian club Sydney United is playing in helping funnel Australian talent to Croatia. It is an alarming situation that has already drawn the interest of FIFA officials.

Liverpool lands goalkeeper

Spanish goalkeeper Jose 'Pepe' Reina is one of the world's best and now Liverpool has a talented youngster in place to be his understudy after signing Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri from Palmeiras on Friday. It isn't the signing of Robbie Keane, but a nice addition nonetheless.

Share your thoughts on these stories and any other developing stories in the soccer world in the comments section below.

Comments

[seven]

C'mon Ives, name names. Who is stealing your content? I've noticed a lot of other sites crediting your reporting in the last few days. Are the culprits other blogs or old-school media?

[Pat Pug]

Simple solution for the plagiarism Ives, hand the job down the ranks of the SBI Mafia. We'll take care of it.

[Ives]

Most sites do credit my reporting, but the act of taking someone else's stories and pawning them off as original content with no attribution is happening and it's extremely annoying (nevermind the fact that it's messing with my livelihood). It's not just happening to me either. Its happening to several American soccer journalists and it's pretty sad.

I won't bother naming names. I'll let the public figure it out.

[William the Terror]

As an attorney, I cannot "officially" endorse any solution that involves violence. Unofficially, however, I can recommend a procedure that I use for dealing with deadbeat clients, judgment debtors, etc. Once you identify the culprit, I find that a problem situation is often corrected by showing up at their front door at 3 a.m. with an aluminum baseball bat in hand. But make sure to go during a thunderstorm -- it muffles the screaming.

[Freddy]

Ives,

if it provides any level of comfort, this is the only sight I check EVERY DAY for a soccer fix.

[kpugs]

Send your legions of minions to comment-bomb and e-bomb these sites with complaints.

Freddy brings up a good point. This is a one stop shop, which is why it's so great. I'm not going to say I don't read other sites, but this is the only one I check all day every day. Convenience is a huge factor here, and I doubt any of these thieving sites have that.

[Collin]

DuNord brought this up yesterday but SI has a new Vault feature on their website and just nosing around a bit I discovered this
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/cover/Soccer/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/dd/index.htm

which has the 14 different soccer-related covers that SI has published. Nice little 15 second journey through time.

[A.S.]

"hand the job down the ranks of the SBI Mafia. We'll take care of it."

So THAT'S the reason Ives calls them the SBI *Mafia*. I see!

[Freddy]

Come on Ives,

Spill it, who's ripping off your site?

[mig22]

Yeah, Ives..we will all keep our eyes out and make ourselves heard. Of course, as mentioned, a LOT of your readers use this site as their primary discussion site.

AND, you scooped them all on that story yesterday on San Jose's signing.

m

[Adam]

Ives,
i used to check other websites for soccer info, but after i found SBI, this is my first and only stop. always has the lastest and best news. i guess if ppl feel the need to take ur material, they agree with ur info being the best. Too bad they arent going about it the right way.

[Freddy]

Also I personally like William the Terror's solution to this problem.

[Bill]

you might have legal options?

http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2006/05/27/featured-articles-stopping-internet-plagiarism/

[Bill]

..also, you might consider making it more difficult to cut/paste and making your posts 'images' or similar.

[g-loff]

If you are going to follow William the Terror's idea, I would suggest a wooden bat...less chance of getting struck by lightening :) Seriously though, if anyone finds out what sites are pilfering stories as their own, post them here. The rest will take care of itself.

[Freddy]

g-loff, the alternative bat idea is a good idea! Good thinking g-loff!

[Robert]

Just to make sure... there's no plagiarism if the site is credited, right? This happens to be one of my faves and I always credit it and link to it from my website. I merely provide comments on soccer news.

[William the Terror]

@ g-loff

I recommended the aluminum bat only because a wooden bat will often break after a couple of whacks against the torso of a larger mammal. However, I see your point with regard to the lightening. Self- preservation is important!

[Ives]

Yes Robert, as long as you link to a story (preferred) or credit the original site by name (acceptable) or both, it isn't plagiarism.

[Robert]

Thanks for the clarification. Love your website and I always credit it.

[Aquaman]

Yes! I'm a big Arsenal fan, but a bigger France fan....though that's disappointing to say at the moment. I got to watch Nasri a little when I was in France last summer in highlights and a National team game...he is very good with excellent touch and vision and helped turn L'OM around this season after they started off horribly.

[Freddy]

Ives,

I respect your professionalism in not divulging the names of those responsible, however, the SBI Mafia will find those who are responsible and they will pay dearly for their actions! Remember your roll call, you know how far and wide we are spreaded!

[Colin McCarthy]

I read the Croatia - Sydney Australia article and missed the part where it said Australian soccer federation money had been used to develop these players that choose to go to Croatia. I did notice that it was at the club where the goalie 'made his mark'. If there is no money from the federation involved, I fail to see the issue.

[Randy]

As a journalist who has been the victim of plagiarism, I admire your restraint on the matter.

I very much wanted to take the already suggested bat approach.

[andy b.]

William the Terror et al.-
As I suspect I'm one of the few SBI Mafia members who actually works in a public defender's office, let me just recommend that we start using the word "hypothetically" more often on this site. Like, a LOT more often. Espeicially when the word "bat" is involved.

[andy b.]

Also, Freddy-- if you ever need a lawyer...

[William the Terror]

@ andy b

I too am a lawyer. How dare you question my collections practices!! Have you never heard of "professional courtesy?"

[Freddy]

Thanks andy b!

[KingSnake]

Hypothetically they could trip, and hypothetically fall in a barrel of wet cement, hypothetically owned by concerned businessmen of Italian descent and hypotheically that barrel could fall, on its own, into a hypothetical river. Kinda of like Jimmy Hoffa hypothetically did ...

[andy b.]

William the Terror--
Far be it from me to question the hypothetical collection practices of certain other posters on this site who may or may not also be lawyers I just recommend, from a criminal defense perspective, that those hypothetical posters enegage in a more-- how to put it?-- abstract manner of prose.
Also, maybe hiring a guy like KingSnake is the better way to go. He's even got the name/image thing going for him. Again, not to question you, just some friendly advice...

[andy b.]

...hypothetically. [for good measure.]

[William the Terror]

@ andy b

re: posters "who may or not also be lawyers."

I can assure you, that I have been a lawyer in Florida (legal motto: the sleazy state)for almost 20 years. However, I also have a Masters in Creative Writing and I like to post to this site using my creative energies, rather than just reciting facts and making arguments (as my legal training teaches). So, I use the "pen name" William the Terror when posting here. All of my suggestions and postings relating to crimes and alleged acts of violence are fictional. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Javier]

MLSRumours strikes again?

[andy b.]

Excellent. And I didn't mean to imply that I didn't think you weren't actually a lawyer. Just a poor wording on my part. On the other hand, I hear the practicing "law" in FL is a little like practicing "kite flying" in a hurricane. But then, I work for the public defender, so I know all about that...

[Joamiq]

Well, as a soon-to-be lawyer coming off of a job in foreign policy, let me just say that in an anarchic framework like the internet or international relations, the best option is often shame. I think we should comment on posts that rip off Ives and call out the site and then provide links to Ives' work - all with some restraint. A few well chosen words are better than an all out attack. If we right the wrongs while taking the high road, it'll only make Ives look better.

And Ives, as a faithful SBI captain, I am ready to do thy bidding and organize the masses.

[andy b.]

okay, with at LEAST two, soon to be three lawyers, there are now officially too many of us. We're a danger to Ives' credibility. Sorry, Ives. I'll stop posting.