SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-25-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-25-2010

ROSTER UPDATES

CLICK HERE FOR… MANCHESTER UNITED & CELTIC ROSTERS

CLICK HERE FOR… TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR & MANCHESTER CITY ROSTERS

CLICK HERE FOR… REAL MADRID PRELIMINARY ROSTER

TV UPDATES

Fox Soccer Channel has picked up the August 5th FC Dallas v Inter Milan match from Pizza Hut Park, which kicks off at 9pm ET.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL FRIENDLY MATCHESALL TIMES EASTERN

July 21 – Celtic v Sporting CP, Fenway Park, Boston MA, 8pm

July 22 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – New York Red Bulls v Tottenham Hotspur, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 8pm

July 23 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – Manchester City v Sporting Lisbon, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 8pm

July 25 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – Tottenham Hotspur v Sporting Lisbon, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 1pm

July 25 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – New York Red Bull v Manchester City, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 3:30pm

July 25 – Manchester United v Kansas City Wizards, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City MO 6pm

August 5 – FC Dallas v Inter Milan, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco TX 9pm

August 7 – LA Galaxy v Real Madrid – Rose Bowl, Pasadena CA 10:30pm

ESPN2 FRIENDLY MATCHES

July 28 – MLS All-Star’s v Manchester United, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX 8:30pm

COMPLETE SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR

JULY 13 – SHORT CORNERS: INTERNATIONAL SOCCER NEW NOTES AND RUMORS

JULY 13 – SHORT CORNERS: INTERNATIONAL SOCCER NEW NOTES AND RUMORS

UNITED IN FOR BALOTELLI?

The Agent for Italian striker Mario Balotelli has confirmed that red sides of Manchester is interested in the 19-year-old’s services.

Inter Milan still has the player under wraps for three more seasons but for the proposed $50million price tag, the club could be persuaded to let him go, according to the players agent Mino Raiola who is heading to England to begin negotiations.

“The interest of Manchester for Balotelli is concrete and both clubs have confirmed it,” Raiola told Calcio Mercato. “The player is clearly happy to be followed by [Manchester United coach Sir Alex] Ferguson.”

The petulant striker clashed with then Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho, but new manager Rafael Benitez wants to meet and evaluate the player before letting him go.

“I want to speak to him and get to know him better as a person.” Benitez said. “All the quality players are important to me. But I need to see him, get to know him and see how he works.”

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti thinks that Manchester United would be an ideal fit for the Italian sensation.

“They are a team with great tradition, which helps that type of player,” he told Sky Sport24. “Here, the environment is different and I think a player with his character could find it better than in Italy. It’s difficult to find a player so young with his quality, and England has a lack of players at that level.”

Ancelotti mentioned he would be happy to coach a player like Balotelli.

BAYERN WON’T BREAK THE BANK FOR LEFT BACK

Chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says that Bayern Munich will not sign Fabio Coentrao or Michel Bastos this summer, even though the team is in need of a left back.

SUMMER FRIENDLY UPDATE – MANCHESTER UNITED ROSTER, REAL MADRID IN CALI, TV SCHEDULES

SUMMER FRIENDLY UPDATE – MANCHESTER UNITED ROSTER RELEASED

Manchester United have released their travel squad for their tour of North America, which begins this week.  More notable then those on the roster may be those left off as injuries and World Cup duty have limited the star power on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Players given a reprieve from the tour due to World Cup duty are United stalwarts Wayne Rooney, Park Ji-Sung, Anderson, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic.

Newly signed Mexican Super-teen Javier Hernandez will join the Red Devils on July 27th, just before United battle the MLS  All-Star’s in Houston.

The star-studded injured ranks include Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves, Gary Neville, Antonio Valencia and, of course, England captain Rio Ferdinand who was so sensationally injured just days before England’s World Cup opener against the United States.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Ben Amos (ENG), Tomasz Kuszczak (POL), Edwin Van der Sar (NED)

DEFENDERS (8): Wes Brown (ENG), Fabio Da Silva (BRA), Rafael Da Silva (BRA), Ritchie De Laet (BEL), Corry Evans (NIR), Jonny Evans (NIR), John O’Shea (IRL), Chris Smalling (ENG)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Tom Cleverley (ENG), Darren Fletcher (SCO), Darron Gibson (IRL), Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Paul Scholes (ENG)

FORWARDS (5): Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernandez (MEX), Federico Macheda (ITA), Danny Welbeck (ENG)

CLICK HERE FOR CELTIC 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ROSTER

MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE

July 16   7:00pm  Manchester United vs. Celtic FC  Rogers Centre, Toronto ON (ESPN2)

July 21     7:30pm  Manchester United vs. Philadelphia Union,  Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA

July 25    6:00pm  Manchester United vs. Kansas City Wizards  Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Fox Soccer Channel)

July 28    8:30pm  2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game vs. Manchester United  Reliant Stadium, Houston TX (ESPN2)

July 30   9:00pm  Guadalajara vs. Manchester United  Estadio Chivas, Guadalajara Mexico

OVER THERE… UPDATES ON NORTH AMERICAN PLAYERS IN EUROPE

OVER THERE… UPDATES ON NORTH AMERICAN PLAYERS IN EUROPE

BOB BRADLEY LINKED WITH VACANT FULHAM POST

US national Team Manager Bob Bradley is on a short list of candidates to take over the Fulham manager position vacated by recently named Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson.

Bradley, who is in discussions with US Soccer regarding his future, is in contention with Swede Sven Goran Eriksson and Croatian Slaven Bilic.

Glenn Hoddle, Mark Hughes, Tony Mowbray, Alan Curbishley and Gianfranco Zola, according to reports out of England, have all been eliminated from contention.

For his part Bradley is focused on his post-World Cup discussions with US Soccer.

“I think we’re in the midst of all of that,” Bradley told the Washington Post about the discussions. “Whenever there has been a four-year effort on both sides there is a little time that’s needed to look at things, to talk to some different people, to assess options and I’ve had some different conversations, one with Sunil Gulati and one with [U.S. soccer secretary general] Dan Flynn, so I think we’re moving through that period and we’ll see where it gets everybody.”

GOOCH WON’T BE MOVED FROM MILAN

US International Oguchi Onyewu is staying at AC Milan, no matter what.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-5-2010

CLICK HERE FOR THE UP TO THE MINUTE SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR

PDL SIDE VENTURA COUNTY FUSION TO TAKE ON CRUZ AZUL & PORTSMOUTH

Premier Development League side Ventura County Fusion have scheduled two high-profile International Friendlies for July. The amateur side, based between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara California has locked in Mexican giants Cruz Azul and English League Championship club Portsmouth.

Ventura County currently sit in third place with 16 points in the PDL’s Southwest Division and were recently eliminated from their first ever US Open Cup.

Cruz Azul, who will also be in the Los Angeles area to take on Mexico City rival Club America at the Rose Bowl ten days later, will be entertained by the Fusion on July 1st at Ventura College. Tickets are $8.

Recently relegated from the Premier League, Portsmouth FC will battle the Fusion at Oxnard College on July 17. Tickets are $15.

Portsmouth also has pre-season matches scheduled against Club America in San Diego and Canadian side FC Edmonton before moving to the East Coast to take on DC United.

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY JUVENTUS & CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

Mexican super club Club America continues to schedule pre-season fixtures in North America, recently adding Juventus and Cruz Azul to their busy calendar.

Juventus will play America in the 90,000 seat Dallas Cowboys Stadium on July 18. The legendary Serie A side was in North America last month to wind down their 2009-10 campaign and will return to this side of the Atlantic to prepare for their 2010-11 season,

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, will take place there on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans and air on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol.

America has already scheduled a July 14 match against English side Portsmouth in San Diego and a July 28 match against Manchester City in Atlanta.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

SUMMER FRIENDLY UPDATE: VENTURA COUNTY FUSION v CRUZ AZUL, PORTSMOUTH

PDL SIDE VENTURA COUNTY FUSION TO TAKE ON CRUZ AZUL & PORTSMOUTH

Premier Development League side Ventura County Fusion have scheduled two high-profile International Friendlies for July. The amateur side, based between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara California has locked in Mexican giants Cruz Azul and English League Championship club Portsmouth.

Ventura County currently sit in third place with 16 points in the PDL’s Southwest Division and were recently eliminated from their first ever US Open Cup.

Cruz Azul, who will also be in the Los Angeles area to take on Mexico City rival Club America at the Rose Bowl ten days later, will be entertained by the Fusion on July 1st at Ventura College. Tickets are $8.

Recently relegated from the Premier League, Portsmouth FC will battle the Fusion at Oxnard College on July 17. Tickets are $15.

Portsmouth also has pre-season matches scheduled against Club America in San Diego and Canadian side FC Edmonton before moving to the East Coast to take on DC United.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-7-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-7-2010

CELTIC MATCH AT FENWAY PARK CONFIRMED

The long rumored Celtic match at Fenway Park is now official.

The Fenway Football Challenge will see Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic take on Sporting CP of Portugal on July 21 at 8pm ET. The match, which will be the 19th soccer match to be played at the ballpark, will be televised locally by sports network NESN.

Tickets will range from $20-$120 and go on sale at noon on June 22.

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as two Mexico City super clubs will renew their rivalry on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ is the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, but that derby will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans.

America has already scheduled a July 14 match against English side Portsmouth in San Diego and a July 28 match against Manchester City in Atlanta.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-5-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-5-2010

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as two Mexico City super clubs will renew their rivalry on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ is the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, but that derby will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-2-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-2-2010

FC EDMONTON SCHEDULES TWO MORE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

Having already secured English League side Portsmouth for a match at Commonwealth Stadium on July 21, Canada’s newest professional team has added 2010 Chilean League Champion Colo Colo on June 20 at Commonwealth Stadium and Vitoria, Brazil’s oldest sporting club, on June 27 at Foote Field. Click here for more information.

PORTLAND v ATLAS

The Portland Timbers have added Mexican side Club Atlas to a summer friendly lineup that already included Manchester City and Boca Juniors.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-30-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-30-2010

PORTLAND v ATLAS

The Portland Timbers have added Mexican side Club Atlas to a summer friendly lineup that already includes Manchester City and Boca Juniors.

The Mexico City based Atlas, who finished 10th in the 2010 Bicentario, will at take on the Timbers at PGE Park on Sunday, July 11, at 6 p.m local time.

PORTSMOUTH FC

Recently relegated Portsmouth, who will be coming to the Americas for the first time since going to South America in 1951, will be playing against Mexican perennial power Club America on July 14 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, then head north of the border to plat the an Edmonton FC Select XI on July 21 before shifting to the East Coast to meet DC United at RFK Stadium on July 24.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

NASL UPDATE: AC STL SURVIVES, FC EDMONTON TAKES SHAPE, MONTREAL & VANCOUVER RETURN TO ACTION

NASL UPDATE: AC STL SURVIVES, FC EDMONTON TAKES SHAPE, MONTREAL & VANCOUVER RETURN TO ACTION

St. Louis Financial Situation

AC St. Louis has survived financial crisis, for now anyway, possibly at the expense of it’s Women’s Professional Soccer counter part St. Louis Athletica.

Bonds were issued to secure the payroll of the NASL team, but the 2009 WPS runners-up Athletica have folded roughly two weeks after the main London investors of both St. Louis teams stopped the funding, that left the team almost $1 million in debt and unable to cover it’s payroll and operations, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“We looked at a few options as a league together with our Board and U.S. Soccer, but the operational hurdles and finances just didn’t work out,” WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci said in a statement. “In the face of a severe funding gap in St. Louis, the local ownership group is