Let me quickly review where I think my three favorite English sides will find themselves come season’s end.
Everton: I’m predicting a seventh place finish. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea all finish above the Toffees. Of course, I’m hoping to be wrong and the Blues climb a bit further up the board.
Nottingham Forest: Like a year ago, NFFC should be battling for promotion. Here’s hoping they can finish the job in 2011.
Reading: A top ten finish with a playoff berth not out of the question.
I just saw the photos of the USA’s World Cup jerseys. Here’s the road model. Here’s the home version. A quick glance yields two questions:
1) What’s up with the sash?
2) Which one is more ugly? (er, ugliest?)
There is little danger of me buying either.
The Pontiac Silverdome was sold to a Canadian group that wants to use the facility to host a Major League Soccer entity. Color me surprised. On the heels of the rumored USL-1 expansion club, this news just seems way to good to be true.
Exactly how far has soccer come if the US versus Honduras World Cup Qualifier can’t get on television?
I got to see the second half of Everton and Blackburn late Sunday. It was nice to watch a match where the side I support actually looked good. That midweek Europa Cup win didn’t hurt, either. Let’s keep it going, Blues.
Did you know that Getafe’s shirt sponsor is Burger King? Yes, the American fast-food giant has their corporate logo on a La Liga uniform. This raises questions aplenty for me.
Are our Spanish friends really endeared to American fast-food? If not, will sponsoring Getafe help? And, why Getafe? And why La Liga and not someone else? Perhaps most importantly, why no love for MLS?
While I have no clue about my first two questions, you don’t need to be a marketing major to presume answers for the remainder of my inquiries.
BK probably wants to expand it’s visibility both in Spain and throughout the world. As La Liga has the reigning world champs (Barcelona) and the club that made the most visible transfer additions (do I really need to review Real Madrid’s summer?) the world will now hunger for a bit more TV time from Spain’s top flight. Of course, that ESPN contract probably doesn’t hurt, either.
The king of burgers wondered how they could get some international airtime without breaking the bank. Grabbing the shirt sponsorship of a lower level La Liga side is the answer. Let’s face it, bumping Barca’s or Real’s shirt sponsor would require more revenue than the dollar menu can generate. Getafe’s price probably fit more nicely into the Burger King budget. Just as money is no doubt the driving force behind the BK move to Getafe, it’s probably the same for the company’s lack of an identical move in MLS.
La Liga > MLS. I get that. Nonetheless, I suspect the cost of a shirt sponsorship in MLS is lower than Getafe, as well. I’m not saying drop Getafe, it’s a solid decision, but why not support the game back home? Your rivals don’t seem to be too active, either, so there’s an opportunity. Come on, BK. How about a little home cookin’?
Rest assured, Burger King execs. If Detroit ever lands an MLS franchise I’ll be looking at you to be a potential shirt sponsor.
Germany has unveiled their 2010 World Cup kit. Okay, so they haven’t exactly officially released it. Some photos were leaked out. Isn’t that part of the fun?
Regardless, Adidas has done a very solid job of putting together what I feel is a classic look for the three-time champions.
HT: World Cup Buzz.
It’s been said a million and one times before, but why does MLS have games scheduled during international play? I know FIFA isn’t happy about the spring to autumn MLS docket, but that’s far less offensive than playing league matches when World Cup qualifiying is going on.
Is the transfer window actually shut yet? Most of the news seemed to come after the deadline had passed yesterday. In fact, Reading is still announcing moves today. More on the Royals in a moment, let me review the transactions of my three English sides as the window slowly came to a close.
At Nottingham Forest, the Reds just parted with midfielder Aaron Davies. Forest was quite active early in the transfer window, so I’m neither surprised or disappointed with their lack of movement.
John Heitinga did join Everton just before the window closed. Every story on the Dutch international includes the word “versatile”. As such, one suspects David Moyes will use him in a number of roles.
The Blues did make a few signings earlier and I’m generally pleased with their attempts to improve. I’m not sure they’ve secured a top four spot, but the Toffees should be able to battle in both the EPL and Europa League. More European football next season is all I can ask of Moyes’ side at this point.
A pair of defenders, Darren O’Dea (on loan from Celtic until January) and Shaun Cummings (who is the mystery right back mentioned in the FD Twitter feed yesterday) join Reading FC. Today’s mystery is why Brian Howard has yet to be officially announced as a member of the Royals.
Did someone in the home office not realize it was transfer deadline yesterday? Everyone just left at five o’clock and headed home? The delay is only leading the faithful (and the less faithful) to believe that something has gone wrong. They did just sit through the Tommy Smith transfer debacle, so I can’t blame those who are getting frustrated.
Conversely, Liam Rosenior and James Harper left the Royals. I wish them well in their new locales.
We can rant and rave all we would like about these moves, that’s sort of what fans do, but all that matters is results. Now, let’s see how these moves play out on the pitch.
An enterprising DC United fan visits Seattle just prior to this week’s US Open Cup final. Some good natured (I presume) hijinks follow. My favorite photo may be the one in the Flickr account in front of the Starbucks.
