Soccer By Ives

Transfer Ticker: AC Milan bids on strikers, Puyol rejects City and more

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Fans really do have a say in what happens with a club. Well, at least in Italy they do.

One day after AC Milan had around 300 supporters protesting outside of its first preseason training for lack of major off-season signings, the club has made bids for forwards Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid) and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla).

AC Milan, which received a hefty bid of €67 million ($93.1 million) from Real Madrid for Kaka earlier this summer, are looking to fill the void created by the Brazilian's departure. 

The bids for the pair of strikers comes on the same day that AC Milan signed U.S. national team centerback Oguchi Onyewu to a three-year deal.

Here is some more transfer talk to help you get through the day:

Liverpool at Manchester United: Running Commentary

 

Manchester United takes on Liverpool this morning in a key English Premier League battle as Liverpool tries to keep alive its faint league title hopes. Manchester United will be trying to increase its lead over Liverpool to 10 points with a win at Old Trafford today.

SBI will be providing a running commentary of today's match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, please feel free to shre your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match (Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary will be up later this morning):

Crew 2, FC Dallas 1: A Supporter's View

The first-place Columbus Crew. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sure, it only lasted until Wednesday, when New England beat D.C. to move back on top of the East, but for four days the Crew enjoyed the rarified air of first place in the brutal Eastern Conference.

The fact that Columbus beat red-hot FC Dallas to move into first made the accomplishment even more impressive. The Hoops were rolling behind Kenny Cooper's impressive scoring run, but the Crew was able to step up and halt the Hoops.

SBI correspondents Brant Guillory and Casey Corcoran took in the action and shared their thoughts on the match with us:

Earthquakes 4, Revolution 0: A Supporter's View

You wouldn't know that New England has spent most of the season as the class of the league and San Jose has spent most of the year as the worst team in the league based on their meeting on Saturday. The revamped Earthquakes thrashed a short-handed Revs side 4-0 to serve notice that their drive for a playoff spot isn't an exercise in futility.

Ronnie O'Brien awoke from a season-long slumber to notch two goals (one more than he had all season beforehand) as the Earthquakes overwhelmed a Revs side missing Shalrie Joseph (suspension) and Michael Parkhurst (returning from Olympics). The win pulls San Jose within four points of the pack chasing the final MLS playoff spots.

SBI correspondents Kevin Matthiessen and Andrew Karl took in the blowout and shared their views on the match with us:

Chivas USA 2, Galaxy 2: A Supporter's View

As Bruce Arena sat in Home Depot Center last Thursday, he watched a Los Angeles Galaxy team show some skill, promise and even a little bit of heart in fighting back to tie Chivas USA late. Perhaps that display was enough to convince Arena that the LA job was one worth taking and the Galaxy a team capable of being salvaged.

Similar questions are surfacing about Chivas USA, which has found life difficult in the post-Guzan era. Not that it has been the goalkeeping that has led to the Goats' struggles, but not having Sacha Kljestan around and having injured forwards have left the Goats looking like a team that will be missing the playoffs this year.

SBI correspondents Nathan Henderson-James and John Sandate took in the action at Home Depot Center and gave us their tames on the match:

D.C. United 1, Fire 0: A Supporter's View

It was supposed to be a night to remember for Chicago Fire fan, the night a home-town hero donned his hometown team's uniform for the first time. Brian McBride did just that at Toyota Park on Saturday, Aug. 16, but he wouldn't taste victory in his debut.

D.C. saw to that not happening, as its beleaguered defense held firm in a 1-0 victory. Goalkeeper Louis Crayton made his debut for D.C. United a memorable one, making two saves to post a shutout.

SBI correspondents Stephen Wattles and Joel Sanderson took in the action and gave is their takes on the match.

Red Bulls 4, D.C. United 1: A Supporter's View

Blowouts are nothing new in the Red Bulls-D.C. United rivalry. In fact, they are practically a tradition. What isn't part of that tradition is the team from New Jersey being the one doing the smacking around.

The roles were reversed on Sunday, with the Red Bulls responding to a D.C. goal with four unanswered goals on their way to a 4-1 drubbing of D.C. at Giants Stadium. It was a victory as completely dominant as it was utterly surprising.

While D.C. can point to player absences ahead of a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against New England (which D.C. won), there was still no denying that the new-look Red Bulls played a great game and showed more in that 90 minutes than they had all season.

SBI correspondents Andrew Keh and Joel Sanderson took in the action and gave us their takes on the match.

Fire 2, Revolution 1: A Supporter's View

New England has been cruising for most of the season, but one team has had the Revs number all year. The Chicago Fire routed the Revolution the first two times these teams met so Saturday offered New England one more chance in the regular season to prove it could beat the Fire.

No such luck. The Revs saw its one-goal lead disappear as the Fire capitalized on a Shalrie Joseph red card to score two late goals on their way to a 2-1 win at Gillette Stadium. The victory pushed the Fire to within a point of New England in the East standings.

SBI correspondents Stephen Wattles and Andrew Keh took in the thrilling match and provided their takes on the Eastern Conference clash:

Toronto FC at Colorado Rapids: Your running commentary

Good evening folks. Toronto FC is in Colorado tonight, hoping to end a terrible run of form against a Rapids squad that isn't fairing much better these days.

The game is in the second half but if you are watching, and want to discuss the match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play (like describing Chad Barrett's goal) in the comments section below.

Enjoy the (rest of the) match.

FC Dallas 2, Toronto FC 0: A Supporter's View

There may not be two teams going in more different directions than FC Dallas and Toronto FC. More than a month ago Toronto was playing well while FC Dallas was in turmoil after the firing of former head coach Steve Morrow.

The roles have been reversed. Now, TFC is the struggle squad, looking as bad as it did in its 2007 expansion season. As for FC Dallas? The Hoops are winning goals, with Kenny Cooper leading the way and a crop of new players ready to help push FC Dallas toward the playoffs. This was clear for all to see last weekend, as Cooper's brace led the Hoops to a 2-0 victory in Canada.

SBI correspondent Duane Rolins saw the ugly display last weekend at BMO Field and gives us his report on the latest disappointing display by Toronto FC.

D.C. United 2, Wizards 0: A Supporter's View

When a slumping D.C. United faced a streaking Kansas City Wizards last weekend, it seemed inevitable that the Wizards would keep D.C.'s mini-slide going. D.C. United had other plans.

Instead of looking like the flat side that tumbled out of SuperLiga, D.C. looked more like the team that crushed competition in June. D.C. United coach Tom Soehn had been promising changes and his team certainly changed its effectiveness in attack as well as in defense, where the club posted its first shutout of the season.

The Wizards' offensive struggles continued as another shutout leaves KC's attack looking inadequate, even with the addition of Josh Wolff (who missed the D.C. match with an injury). You can't help but wonder if the Wizards will ever generate enough offense to make a serious push in the playoff race.

SBI correspondents Joel Sanderson and Thad Bell took in the action last weekend and share their takes on the match with us:

Fire 1, Chivas USA 0: A Supporter's View

Brian McBride is on his way and Chad Barrett has gone to Toronto. In the interim, rookie striker Patrick Nyarko has emerged as a serious candidate to help fill the goal-scoring void the Chicago Fire has had since May.

Nyarko showed the skill and finishing touch that had him regarded as the concensus No. 1 overall pick in the MLS Draft (at least until he slid in the draft all the way to the Fire). He could have easily scored two goals in the Fire's win against Chivas USA if not for one very close offside call. No matter, the youngster finished off a chance and gave Chicago a sorely-needed home victory.

The result spoiled Zach Thornton's first start of the 2008 season and debut for Chivas USA. The veteran netminder looks ready to step in for the departed Brad Guzan but before Thornton can taste victory, his team's attack is going to have to wake up.

SBI correspondent Stephen Wattles was in at Toyota Park for the action and gave us this report (Chivas USA correspondent John Sandate was unavailable to file a report his week.)

Dynamo 2, Crew 0: A Supporter's View

The Houston Dynamo lost to the New England Revolution in the SuperLiga final on Tuesday night, but that setback didn't overshadow the fact that the defending MLS Cup champions are rounding into form at just the right time in MLS play.

Houston's 2-0 win over a quality Columbus squad showed just how well the Dynamo is playing as it moves toward its rightful place atop the West standings. Combining depth, talent and experience, Houston is looking like a good bet for a third straight trip to the league final.

The Crew was looking like a title contender before the weekend, although it should be noted that Columbus was missing players, including all-star winger Robbie Rogers and fellow Olympian Emmanuel Ekpo. The loss to Houston doesn't chance the Crew's position as one of the league's best, if anything, Columbus played well despite several absences due to the Olympics, suspensions and injuries.

SBI correspondents Alex Swaim and Brant Guillory took in the action on Sunday and shared their thoughts with us:

Earthquakes 3, Galaxy 2: A Supporter's View

It was easiest the biggest win in the history of the NEW San Jose Earthquakes.

When Ryan Cochrane scored the last-minute winner to give San Jose a 3-2 triumph against hated rivals Los Angeles Galaxy, the team celebrated like it was releasing weeks and months of frustration, which is what it did. Yes, it is still a steep climb to the playoffs, but the revamped Earthquakes generated some hope on Sunday.

It was a far different look on the Galaxy sidelines. Going two months without a win will crush any team's spirits, but through in the sideshow associated with rumors about president Alexi Lalas and head coach Ruud Gullit being in jeopardy of losing their jobs and you have a club on the verge of a meltdown.

SBI correspondents Kevin Matthiessen and Nathan Henderson-James took in the action and gave us their takes on

FC Dallas 4, Los Angeles Galaxy 0: A Supporter's View

Many thought it would be Kenny Cooper's farewell match for FC Dallas, but it wasn't. The news that Cooper wasn't leaving MLS just yet was welcome news in Dallas (and Frisco) and it did nothing to take away from a special Sunday at Pizza Hut Park.

It was a little more than two months ago when David Beckham's Galaxy rode into Frisco and handed the Hoops a 5-1 thrashing. it was a thoroughly embarrassing day, so embarrassing that then FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow was fired days later. All that made Sunday's blowout win all the sweeter. Not only did it deliver some revenge, it also handed new head coach Schellas Hyndman his first MLS victory.

SBI correspondents Casey Corcoran and Nathan Henderson-James took in the action and shared their thoughts with us:

Real Salt Lake 2, Toronto FC 1: A Supporter's View

In a year when the Eastern Conference has owned its Western Conference counterparts in intra-conference player, Real Salt Lake has done its part to try and stem the imbalance.

After wins against New England and Columbus, RSL has added Toronto FC to its list of Eastern Conference conquests with its 2-1 victory on Monday. The victory increased Real Salt Lake's hold on first place in the West to four points (though Houston has two games in hand) and kept RSL unbeaten at Rice-Eccles Stadium this year (6-0-5).

Toronto's offensive struggles continued as TFC failed once again to receive production from the forward position. With Chad Barrett on the way, and an international forward expected to be signed soon, Toronto is counting the seconds until some new strikers can take the field and awaken a badly slumping offense.

SBI correspondents Scott McCallister and Duane Rollins watched Monday night's match and gave us their views on the action.