Soccer By Ives

Altidore in uniform for Villarreal vs. Osasuna

Jozy Altidore is in uniform today in Villarreal's season opener against Osasuna. He is on the bench to start the match but could make his La Liga debut today.

If you are watching the match today, or are interested in seeing how Altidore does, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

Michael Bradley to Moenchengladbach

                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

Michael Bradley has agreed to terms with Borussia Moenchengladbach after the German club agreed to a transfer with Dutch club Heerenveen on Saturday, New York-based agent Ron Waxman confirmed with SBI this morning. Bradley and Moenchengladbach agreed to terms on Sunday morning. The amount of the transfer has not been disclosed.

Bradley had been linked to a variety of European clubs, including Hamburg, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and AS Monaco, but Monchengladbach swooped in with a late move for the 21-year-old central midfielder.

Bradley leaves Heerenveen after two seasons following a $100,000 transfer from the New York Red Bulls following the 2005 MLS season. According to sources with knowledge of that transfer, MLS is due to receive twenty percent of the fee Heerenveen received from Moenchengladbah. That also means the Red Bulls are due to receive a portion of that transfer fee.

Columbus Crew at FC Dallas: Your Running Commentary

The red-hot Columbus Crew take on FC Dallas tonight at Pizza Hut Park in a key inter-conference clash.

Can FC Dallas return the favor after losing at Crew Stadium two weeks ago? Can the Crew stay in first place with a win?

If you're watching the match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

Los Angeles Galaxy at New England Revolution: Your Running Commentary

Good evening folks. Bruce Arena's traveling circus known as the LA Galaxy is at Gillette Stadium tonight to take on the New England Revolution.

If you are watching the match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

New York Red Bulls at D.C. United: Match Night

The New York Red Bulls and D.C. United are set to kickoff the latest installment of their heated rivalry tonight at RFK Stadium. The clubs come in tied on points in the standings, with the winner of tonight's match creating some breathing room in the Eastern Conference Standings.

Venezuelan midfielder Jorge Rojas is in uniform for tonight's match but will not start after visa issues kept him in Venezuela during the week. The Red Bulls will field the same starting lineup they used last week to beat defending MLS Cup champion Houston, 3-0.

I will be providing live commentary on the match throughout the night. Whether you are watching the match, or following along online, please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match. Now let's get started:

New York Red Bulls at D.C. United: Matchday Preview

Greetings from I-95. I'm driving down to RFK Stadium as we speak (well, a friend is driving while I type this). After making so many of these drives to and from Washington D.C. I can tell you that this isn't a ride that elicits many positive memories for Red Bulls players and fans, who have undoubtedly endured dozens of disappointing retun trips.

The feeling is a bit different this time coming down. A 4-1 win at Giants Stadium against D.C. has the Red Bulls feeling more confident about this trip down. This match isn't about revenge or all the past defeats at RFK Stadium (and there have been plenty). Tonight's match is about the Eastern Conference standings and trying to put more breathing room between them and cellar dwellars Toronto FC and Kansas City.

D.C. United have to feel confident coming into the match. A 3-0 win against Colorado last week has the club believing it can piece together a late-season run, but the Red Bulls are the ones riding serious momentum, coming in unbeaten in five matches.

Here is a closer look at tonight's match:

Soccer Saturday: European edition (Your Running Commentary)

Good morning folks. There is plenty of soccer on the schedule today, with Spain, Italy and the Netherlands joining England and Germany in full swing. Get your popcorn (or your coffee) ready.

Here is today's TV schedule:

• 9:30am- GolTV- Werder Bremen at Borussia Moechengladbach
• 9:45am- Setanta USA- Portsmouth at Everton
• 10am- FSC- Blackburn at West Ham
• 11:30am- GolTV- VfL Bochum at Schalke 04
• 12:30pm- FSC- Newcastle at Arsenal
• 2pm- GolTV- Valladolid at Espanyol
• 2:15pm- Setanta USA- West Bromwich Albion at Bolton
• 2:30pm- FSC- Inter Milan at Sampdoria
• 4pm- GolTV- Mallorca at Valencia
• 4pm- Setanta USA- Stoke City at Middlesbrough
• 4:30pm- FSC- Palermo at Udinese
• 7:30pm- FSC- New York Red Bulls at D.C. United
• 7:30pm- HDNet- Los Angeles Galaxy at New England Revolution
• 3am- FSC- Central Coast Mariners at Queensland Roar

If you are watching any of these games, or any of the games taking place today, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some updates on the action throughout Europe here.

Enjoy the action (For a full schedule of today's games in Europe's top leagues, go to the jump).

Altidore to stay with Villarreal, speaks out on lack of Olympic playing time

                                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

Jozy Altidore will be staying with Villarreal for at least the first half of the upcoming La Liga season.

The U.S. national team striker and former Red Bulls standout revealed that he will not be going to another Spanish club on loan, which had long been expected, and will stay with Villarreal as the club deals with a rash of injuries at th forward position.

Altidore made the revelation on his blog on the New York Times website on Friday.

Perhaps even more stunning than that development is Altidore's revelation that he was not injured during the Olympics and simply didn't see more playing time because coach Peter Nowak decided not to use him more.

Rojas to face D.C. United, Red Bulls sign Gambian

                                                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

Venezuelan playmaker Jorge Rojas has joined the New York Red Bulls in Washington D.C. today and will play against D.C. United in tomorrow night's Eastern Conference clash at RFK Stadium.

Rojas wound up missing last week's 3-0 win against Houston after an issue with his passport forced him to stay in Venezuela in order to secure his work visa. With that sorted out, Rojas is expected to regain his place in the starting lineup.

In other Red Bulls news, the club has signed Gambian striker Sainey Touray to a developmental contract. The Red Bulls moved up midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic to a senior roster spot vacated by traded goalkeeper Zach Thornton, freeing up a developmental roster slot for the 18-year-old striker, who is seen as a speedy project with potential who may not be ready to contribute much this season.

With Rojas in the fold, what lineup do you see Juan Carlos Osorio using against D.C. United? What do you think of the Touray signing? Share your thoughts below.

SBI European Club Top 25

With the European soccer season set to get into full swing this weekend it is time to bring back a staple of the original SBI, The SBI European Top 25.

Manchester United finished as the unquestioned choice for top team in Europe last year, winning the league and Champions League trophies. Things won't be as easy this time around as Man U will not start the season in the top spot. Chelsea's off-season improvements give the Blues the edge to start the season.

There aren't many surprises to start the year. At least I don't think there are. My darkhorse to be a breakout team is Atletico Madrid, which has compiled an even deeper talent pool than usual and Atletico could be this year's Villarreal.

Just take note that this is the start of the season so the rankings will adjust over time so don't get too bent out of shape if your club is lower than you think it should be.

Now, here is the first installment of the 2008 SBI European Top 25:

Afternoon Ticker: Twente eyeing Kljestan, Benfica signs Suazo and Milner to Villa

                                                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

Plenty of moving and shaking going on in the transfer market today, though sadly there are no completed deals to report on the Americans in the mix just yet. If I uncover a deal, or if any media uncover a deal today, I will try to bring it to you as quickly as possible.

We can start with word that Dutch club FC Twente is strongly considering a bid for U.S. national team midfielder Sacha Kljestan. According to sources with knowledge of the discussions, the Chivas USA midfielder could join former England manager Steve McClaren at Twente if the Dutch club can make an offer MLS will consider accepting (in the $3 to $4 million range is what I am being told).

Kljestan surely raised some Dutch eyebrows when he made his memorable run and finish (shown above) in the U.S. Olympic team's 2-2 tie vs. the Netherlands.

Here are some other European transfer tidbits to go over:

This weekend's soccer on TV

The weekend so many of you have been waiting for is finally here.

This is the weekend when Serie A and La Liga kick off, meaning all of Europe's top leagues will be underway, meaning the list of games you can watch will grow that much more.

With so many options to choose from, you can count on SBI to bring you a weekly schedule of your viewing options, including the best matches to watch and the storylines you will want to follow.

Here are the Top Five matches on TV this week (keep in mind this ranking is based on storylines as much as on potential quality of play):

Morning Ticker: UEFA Cup draw set, Saha to Everton and Riera to Liverpool

Good morning all. Today is shaping up to be a very busy day in the soccer world. It's the last weekday before the close of the transfer window and it is the day before many of the world's top leagues kickoff. Throw in the UEFA Cup draw and the UEFA Super Cup and you've got nice selection of soccer news to discuss.

Let's get the day started:

UEFA Cup Draw Set

As if one trip to Liverpool for a knockout home-and-home series wasn't enough, Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liege is set for a return trip to the home of the Beatles as the Belgian champions were drawn against Tim Howard's Everton in today's UEFA Cup draw.

Liege-Everton joins Benfica-Napoli and Udinese-Borussia Dortmund as arguably the three toughest match-ups in the 80-team draw. AC Milan's UEFA Cup run begins against FC Zurich while Aston Villa draws Litex Lovech (Bulgaria) and Manchester City draws Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus). Here is the full draw.

SBI Fantasy MLS Corner

                                                             Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you are a fantasy sports junkie, this might be a tough time a year for you. With fantasy (American) football and fantasy EPL joining the mix, it could be easy for you slack on your fantasy MLS team.

We won't let that happen.

SBI Fantasy MLS correspondent Casey Cannon is back with his weekly musings on which players to grab, and which players to avoid. Here is his take on this week's Fantasy MLS game.

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Hello and Welcome to the Soccer by Ives Fantasy Corner – now with free falling scores!  Every week I dig through statistics, news, and rumors to provide the reader with the kind of fantasy advice that only someone who clearly is a glutton for punishment can provide.  I write this Monday night before the official injury reports come out, so don't be grumpy if I tell you to pick a hurt player.  For information on MLS Fantasy Football go to http://fantasy.mlsnet.com/.

MLS denies blocking any Red Bulls transfer

In the wake of my report on the Red Bull's quest to sign Mac Kandji and the league's role in preventing the signing from happening, both MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos have come out and denied that the league has prevented the Red Bulls from making any acquisitions.

"MLS works closely with the Red Bulls on player negotiations and, contrary to reports, has not blocked any move for any player involving the Red Bulls," Gazidis told SBI in an e-mail response.

Shortly after Gazidis' denial came a denial from Agoos, who reached out to SBI to offer up his own denial.

"The league has worked closely with us and hasn't blocked us from any transfer," Agoos said in a phone interview.

Neither Gazidis or Agoos would discuss Kandji specificially, citing Kandji's status as a player under contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL.

My response? I stand by the original story and my sources.

Bradley names USA roster for Cuba/T&T qualifiers

U.S. men's national team coach Bob Bradley has named his 20-man roster for the upcoming games against Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago.

Here it is:

• GOALKEEPERS : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 4/3 SO)
• DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 14/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 16/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 12/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 9/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 3/0), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC: 0/0)
• MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 17/4), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen: 3/1), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 1/0), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 2/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 1/0), Eddie Lewis (Los Angeles Galaxy: 20/3)
• FORWARDS: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 8/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 22/8), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 9/2), Eddie Johnson (Cardiff City: 8/8)

              *numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

Michael Orozco and Marvell Wynne are the new faces, earning call-ups after their performances at the Olympics while Ricardo Clark replaces injured central midfielder Pablo Mastroeni. The other 17 players are the same group that made up the squad that beat Guatemala, 1-0, last week. You might be surprised to see Steve Cherundolo on the list but he is just suspended for the Cuba match, meaning he should be in the lineup vs. Trinidad & Tobago.

As for the absences most likely to cause a stir among fans, Kenny Cooper, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore are not on the roster, which is probably causing some U.S. national team supporters to go crazy.

Here's a closer look at the squad: