Soccer By Ives

Chivas USA Notebook: Bornstein looks to rebound and Kljestan seeks leadership role

2010-03-10T19:00:00-05:00

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif.-- Jonathan Bornstein understands that the last few months have seen him go from hero to villain, but the Chivas defender knows that the road won't be getting any easier as he tries to earn a spot on Bob Bradley's U.S. team for South Africa while also trying to lift Chivas USA to prominence.

The left back was widely criticized after his performance last week with the United States national team against the Netherlands which saw him give up a costly penalty that allowed the Dutch to take a lead that they never relinquished. Despite the criticism, the defender is not looking back as he prepares for the start of the season.

"Immediately afterward, I thought about (the game) and it affects me a little bit, but the more I think about it, the more I just realized that its just one game," said Bornstein. "If you play well one game or if you play bad, you've still got to move on and you can't linger on it too long."

A vital part of the team under former head coach Preki, the versatile defender looks set to see time at a number of defensive positions under Martin Vasquez while also being asked to contribute to the attack for the Rojiblancos. Having just recently returned to duty with Chivas USA after his lengthy spell with the national team, Bornstein is excited about the prospects for his development as the season approaches.

"I definitely feel like I have to improve. If you ever have a bad game, you always want to bounce back and have a better performance, even when you play well you want to be consistent. I really feel like I have something to prove in terms of getting back on track and playing well and just being sharp again as we go into the season," said Bornstein.

"If I want to be involved in those games leading up to the World Cup, then I need to perform for my club team."

KLJESTAN SEEKS CAPTAINCY

As Bornstein prepares to face the pressures of a new season with Chivas, his U.S. teammate Sacha Kljestan is also ready to accept an added responsibility for the team. Kljestan who recently returned to training with the club after his own time with the national team expressed wishes to make an immediate impact with Chivas.

"I've spoken to Martin and I think that Johnny Bornstein and I should be the captains of the team. We've been here for four years each and its our fifth year with Chivas, said Kljestan. "He's spoken to us as well and said that we both represent what Chivas is and I think that we'll be the leaders of this team."

Kljestan who recently wore the captain's armband in the club's recent friendly against PDL side Fresno Fuego appears likely to be the captain while Bornstein will mostly likely be his vice captain at the start of the season. Speaking to Chivas USA Head Coach Martin Vasquez, he reiterated that the two United States Internationals look set for an extended leadership role with the club.

"It's not finalized but its not a secret that I feel that these two guys have put themselves in a good position to be our leaders," said Vasquez. "We have high expectations from them and the rest of their teammates respond to them and look up to them. These are the qualities that any coach wants in his captain and co-captain."

Kljestan experienced a dip in form in 2009, which was the source of a great deal of criticism from his former coach Preki is looking to achieve the success that he had in 2008 when he was the club's golden boot winner with six goals. Although Kljestan experienced an erratic 2009 for the Los Angeles club playing primarily on the wing in Preki's offense, Kljestan will likely be the main play maker in the middle for Chivas USA under Vasquez's revamped attack.

"You don't want to just be some other guy on the team, I really want to be an important player on this team and I'm really excited to take on the role," said Kljestan. I'm hoping to be a number 10 player but also a guy that can track back on defense and run the engine of the offense."

VICTORINE RETIRES

Veteran midfielder Sacha Victorine announced his retirement after 10 seasons in MLS, the team announced on Wednesday.

A former UCLA standout, Victorine spent time with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Kansas City Wizards before joining Chivas USA in 2008. He finished his career with 32 goals and 41 assists in 242 career matches.

CHIVAS USA DEFEATS UCLA 5-0

On Wednesday, Chivas USA defeated UCLA 5-0 in one of club's last matches before the start of the season on March 26th. Chivas opened the scoring against the Bruins in the 23rd on a goal by second year midfielder Michael Lahoud. Chivas USA doubled the lead right before halftime with a goal by trialist Mario Padilla in the 45th.. However, the story of the second half was the play of forward Maykel Galindo and new addition, Osael Romero.

Maykel Galindo scored his first goal, a rainbow shot over the head of the UCLA keeper from an impressive through ball from Romero to put Chivas up 3-0 in the 54th. The Salvadoran International Romero assisted on Galindo's second strike in the 69th with pass that split the midfield and allowed Galindo to by pass the keeper for the score. The Chivas USA striker who has stated that he is feeling as healthy as he has in years, was able to put in a third in the 87th. Despite not scoring, the star of the match was Romero who looked threatening in midfield in only his second match for Chivas.

Howard speaks his mind

2010-03-10T16:22:57-05:00

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Tim Howard has never been afraid to call things how he sees them, so when I spent some time with him on his 31st birthday on Saturday he didn't hold back when discussing everything from the national team to his own potential return to MLS.

Here is my piece for FoxSoccer.com on Howard. Thethoughts should certainly spark some conversation among U.S. soccer fans.

Give the story a read and feel free to share your thoughts on it in the comments section below.

UEFA Champions League: Matchday Commentary

2010-03-10T14:45:29-05:00

Manchester United takes on AC Milan today (2:45pm, Fox Soccer Channel) in the marquee match-up of this round of the UEFA Champions League.

David Beckham returns to Old Trafford with AC Milan, which needs to overcome a 3-2 first-leg loss by beating Manchester United at home. Beckham is on the bench to start today's match.

Man Utd-Milan is one of two Champions League matches today. Real Madrid is at home vs. Lyon in a match it must win.

I will be providing some live commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow the match here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions (and some play-by-play of Real Madrid-Lyon) in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action:

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HALFTIME- Okay folks, I'm going to have to wrap up this live commentary to deal with some other responsibilities. Please continue to use this post to share thoughts and play-by-play on today's Champions League matches. Thanks for following along.

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HALFTIME- Manchester United 1, AC Milan 0, and United leads the series 4-2 on aggregate. Will David Beckham come on at halftime? Not sure what Leonardo has to lose. His team looked awful.

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45th minute- Fletcher sends a long shot wide left. Nice run down the middle and decent look. He's such an underrated player.

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43rd minute- It's Real Madrid 1, Lyon 0 at the Bernabeu. The series is now tied 1-1 after Lyon's first-leg 1-0 victory in France.

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41st minute- Milan finally earns a corner thanks to a great Pirlo pas, but the corner is cleared from danger.

United's team defending, from the wingers tracking back to the central midfielders moving non-stop, is making it VERY tough for Milan to create much.

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37th minute- Milan's offense just looks flat lost today. Three goals? Just don't see it happening today.

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34th minute- Flamini and Vidic clash heads and Vidic gets the worse of it. Flamini is a fiesty Frenchman, not sure there are many tougher French guys than him.

Vidic really could be a villain in any Bond movie, couldn't he?

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32nd minute- Neville absolutely shanks a cross, that's more like it Gary.

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31st minute- This game has gone flat. Anybody else interested in following Real Madrid-Lyon instead?

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28th minute- Could David Beckham do tonight what he did for Manchester United vs. Real Madrid in his last match at Old Trafford and come off the bench and score some goals? Probably not. Would make for a great storyline, but don't see it.

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25th minute- Can Ronaldinho make something happen. He's looking like the only Milan player capable of finding a goal now that Pato is out injured.

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24th minute- Can Milan find one goal, let alone three? Ronaldinho must be dreading that early chance he missed.

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21st minute- Milan still trying to find a rhythm after that Rooney goal.

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17th minute- Alex Ferguson's decision to start Gary Neville drew some criticism before the match. It's looking like a stroke of genius right now.

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16th minute- United now leads 4-2, so the plan hasn't quite changed for Milan, which can still go through with a 4-3 win. Milan doesn't look like a team that can get that result, but one goal would change things considerably.

(Yes, Milan needs a 4-3 win to advance or 3-1 win to advance, not a 2-1 win as I wrote earlier.)

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13th minute- GOAL MANCHESTER UNITED!! And it's Wayne Rooney heading home a Gary Neville cross. Great header. United 1, Milan 0. United leads 4-2 on aggreggate.

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12th minute- AC Milan is finding some room to attack, but United's lineup can burn them on the counter if they're not careful.

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8th minute- Ronaldinho JUST wide with a header.

Here is Manchester United's lineup:

---------------------Rooney--------------------

Nani---------------Scholes-------------Valencia

-------------Fletcher-----Park-------------------

Evra-------Vidic--------Ferdinand-------Neville

------------------Van Der Sar---------------------

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5th minute- United has started fast and has Milan on the back-foot early.

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3rd minute- United knocking on the door as Rooney misses just wide from the top of the box.

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1st Minute- We're underway.

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PRE-GAME- No David Beckham in the starting lineup tonight.

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SBI Live Q&A

2010-03-10T13:15:23-05:00

Good afternoon folks. As we count down the time before today's big Champions League matches between Manchester United and AC Milan (2:30pm, FSC), and Real Madrid and Lyon (2:30pm, FSE), I thought it was a good time for a live Q&A.

We haven't done a live Q&A on SBI before, and this isn't taking the place of the regular monthly Q&A, but I do want to start doing the occasional live Q&A so we can discuss some timely subjects more quickly. In the future, I'll give readers more advance notice, but there will be times when I decided to do an impromptu Q&A just to see what's going on out there and to hear what readers are thinking and wondering.

Now, let's get started with our first live Q&A:

SBI Live Q&ampA

Wednesday Ticker: Crew ties Toluca, Jones targeting World Cup, and more

2010-03-10T10:39:21-05:00

The Columbus Crew looked primed for a blowout loss after falling behind 2-0 to Toluca in CONCACAF Champions League action, but the MLS power climbed off the mat and sent yet another Mexican team away from Crew Stadium without a win.

Missing several key players due to injury and suspension, the Crew didn't look to have the weapons to recover from the early two-goal deficit, but Steven Lenhart stepped up and scored two goals to help Columbus salvage a 2-2 tie in the first-leg of their quarterfinal series.

The Crew will now head to Mexico for next Wednesday's second leg in Toluca needing a win or a draw of 3-3 or more to advance to the Champions League semifinals. Columbus will be attempting to become the first MLS team to win a competitive match in Mexico.

Here are some other stories to get your Wednesday going:

JONES TARGETS WORLD CUP AS PAIN LINGERS

Jermaine Jones is still feeling pain in his surgically-repaired leg, but he revealed that playing in the World Cup in the United States is still a dream he is holding on to.

Jones is currently in Munich, where he is undergoing laser therapy to try and combat the pain he is still feeling in his legs. While Jones admitted uncertainty about whether he would play for Schalke this season, Jones told the Frankfurter Rundschau that is still hoping to play a part in the U.S. national team's World Cup plans.

"The World Cup is my goal. I want to jump on this train," Jones said.

Jones spent time with the U.S. national team last week during its visit to Amsterdam for last Wednesday's 2-1 exhibition loss to the Netherlands. He is still considered a long shot to make the team, having been out of action since undergoing surgery for a hairline fracture in his leg last summer.

ESTUDIANTES HELD IN LIBERTADORES

Defending Copa Libertadores champions Estudiantes failed to find the net in settling for a 0-0 draw against Bolivian side Bolivar in Libertadores group action on Tuesday.

Ecuadorian club Deportivo Cuenca downed Mexican side Morelia, 2-0, while Chilean rivals Universidad Catolica and Universidad de Chile played to a 2-2 tie. Racing club of Uruguay defeated Cerro Porteno, 2-1, in other Libertadores action on Tuesday.

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What did you think of the Crew's performance? Think Columbus can get a result in Mexico? Still holding out hope that Jermaine Jones will get healthy in time to be considered for a World Cup place?

Share your thoughts below.

Robben's beautiful blast propels Bayern

2010-03-10T09:24:09-05:00

Samir Nasri scored the headlines on Tuesday for his amazing dribble and finish in Arsenal's 5-0 win vs. FC Porto, but he wasn't the only player to score a dream goal.

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben scored a crucial dream goal inBayern Munich's 3-2 loss to Fiorentina. The goal, apart from being a thing of beauty, also proved to be the difference in the Champions League series as it gave Bayern the away goals edge and series victory.

If you haven't seen it yet, or even if you just want to see it again, here is Robben's goal:

If you missed the thrilling action from the Fiorentina-Bayern Munich match, here are the highlights:

What do you think of Robben's finish? Even more impressed now that Robben didn't score vs. the United States? See Bayern making some noise in the Champions League quarterfinals?

Share your thoughts below.

Nasri's Wonder Goal (and Arsenal's romp)

2010-03-09T22:32:53-05:00

Arsenal thoroughly demolished FC Porto in Champions League action on Wednesday, posting a 5-0 victory on the strength of a Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick, but the moment of the match came when Samir Nasri danced through Porto's defense before blasting home a goal-of-the-year candidate.

Here is Nasri's wonder goal:

If you didn't see Arsenal's romp, you can see all five Arsenal goals, as well as a sharper look at the Nasri goal, after the jump:

What did you think of Nasri's goal? Best goal you've seen in a long time? Think Arsenal can challenge for the Champions League title?

Share your thoughts below.

MLS Ticker: Crew tackle Toluca task, Navas signs with Houston and more

2010-03-09T16:21:04-05:00

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The Columbus Crew will step on the pitch Tuesday night to play a meaningful game for the first time in months.

That's hardly the squad's biggest obstacle to overcome, though, when the Major League Soccer side hosts Toluca in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal matchup (8 p.m. EST, Fox Soccer Channel/Galavision).

The Crew will be without four key players and meets a Mexican squad that finished first in Group C and is in the middle of its regular season.

Re-signed playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto and veteran defender Frankie Hejduk will be serving one-game suspensions for accumulations of yellow cards during the group stage, and defenders Chad Marshall (hamstring) and Jed Zayner (knee) will miss the match because of lingering injuries.

Those that are healthy are hardly 90-minutes fit, giving manager Robert Warzycha a tall task if he is to keep MLS' last remaining team in the competition.

Wingers Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven, fresh off their appearances with the U.S. men's national team against El Salvador, will be looked upon to lead the attack for the Crew, who finished in second behind Cruz Azul in Group B.

Danny O'Rourke, Eric Brunner, Gino Padula and Andy Iro are expected to line up in front of keeper William Hesmer.

Toluca will be without defender Edgar Duenas, who will be serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. Striker Raul Nava led the team in scoring during the group stage with three goals.

DYNAMO INK ACADEMY PRODUCT

The Houston Dynamo have signed 18-year-old academy product Francisco Navas, making him the second academy player to sign with the team. Goalkeeper Tyler Deric is the other.

Navas, a dynamic midfielder, is of Colombian descent, although he was born in Houston. He was raised in Colombia and played in the Deportivo Cali youth system before joining the Dynamo academy in 2007. His successful trial with the team this winter resulted in a professional contract.

RAPIDS SIGN JOYCE

Ian Joyce, an American goalkeeper who has been in England's lower divisions since 2007, has returned to the United States after signing with MLS to play with the Colorado Rapids.

Joyce, a 24-year-old New Jersey native, will back up established starter Matt Pickens. Most recently with Southend United, the 6-foot-3 Joyce played college soccer at Seton Hall.

CHIRGADZE UNDERGOES SURGERY

New York Red Bulls academy product Giorgi Chirgadze will be out for the foreseeable future after undergoing hip surgery to repair a torn labrum.

Chirgadze, 19, is expected to miss the next four or five months while recovering.

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What do you think of the Crew's chances? Like the Navas and Joyce signings?

Share your thoughts below.

UEFA Champions League: Your Running Commentary

2010-03-09T14:59:08-05:00

The first two spots in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals will be earned today in a pair of hotly-contested second legs.

Arsenal is at home against FC Porto (2:45pm, FSE/FSN) needing to overturn a 2-1 loss in Portugal in the first leg, while Bayern Munich takes on Fiorentina in Italy (2:45pm, FSC) after having won the first leg, 2-1, in Munich.

If you will be watching today's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Your February Questions Answered: Part Two

2010-03-09T14:13:44-05:00

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Good afternoon folks. I'm back from Europe and ready to get back into the swing of things, and that will begin with the latest installment of Your Questions Answered.

Among the topics in the latest batch of questions are queries about the World Cup, Landon Donovan, Charlie Davies, Luis Gil and LeBron James (yes, LeBron).

Let's get started:

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PARKER- Which match of the group stage of the world cup do you think will be the Best to watch?

IVES- England vs. USA is going to be special. I know some people (namely most outside of the USA) think it won’t be close, but I think the whole scene will be memorable and the match will be more competitive that many expected.

In terms of two strong teams battling, I’d say Brazil-Portugal will be must-see TV.

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EA- Ives, props on the great site, and the Fox Soccer gig.

Two questions:

A. Will you be adding (and auditioning) more writers to the site?

B. Who are 2-3 players that you believe will be added to MLS in the summer?

IVES- Thanks EA. A. Yes, I will. I’d like to add a handful of writers to the staff in the coming weeks. Ideally I’d have writers in as many markets as possible. As it stands I’ve got New York, D.C. and LA covered. Looking for someone in Chicago, Seattle and pretty much all the other MLS markets.

B. Which foreign players? Good question. I would have put my money on Thierry Henry but am not sure where that stands. I have yet to hear any other strong rumors on higher-profile foreign players.

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JAY- Just to put Donovan in context a bit. You're a decision maker at a 2nd tier EPL team like Man City or Everton or Villa. What do you offer as a transfer fee for Landon Donovan? What about a Claudio Reyna in his prime?

IVES- Why only a second tier team? Do you mean everyone below the “Big Four”? I’d argue that Liverpool and Chelsea could both use Donovan, and we know now that there are rumors circulating about Chelsea’s interest.

What would I be willing to pay? As a mid-table club, based on his performance on loan and the pretty clear proof that he can step in and make an impact in the EPL (and be a marketing darling)? I’d probably go $12-15 million. Now, if it’s a Chelsea, I can see them going $15-18 million. That might seem high, but people don’t realize the value Donovan gained by going to the EPL and showing he can be an impact player capable of playing in multiple positions.

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JC- Any plans on upgrading the comments feature on your blog? It's difficult to navigate when the number of comments exceed 50 or so.

Also, are there any plans on adding a forum feature to your blog? Thanks.

IVES- We only recently changed the look of the comments section so having it change again seems unlikely. That said, if I ever get a proper re-design off the ground, that would be something we would look to try and perfect (I’d love some suggestions of other sites that handle large numbers of comments better).

A forum is on the way, at least a forum of sorts. It will be a community section where people can discuss topics of the day. I’m still working on that but hopefully in the next week or two we can get that going.

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STEVE- How much of a bump, if any, will MLS see this year/next year. We got almost every team with a SSS, 18 teams with some good rivalries in place, solid fans in about 25% of markets and coming off the World Cup.

IVES- 2010 is a big year for MLS, barring a strike. We’ve got Philadelphia entering the league and bringing with it a vibrant fan base and market. You’ve also got Red Bull Arena opening, as well as Seattle preparing to build on an amazing first year. That, coupled with the boost a World Cup can provide, could really help MLS gain some traction and draw in plenty of new fans.

Now, if there’s a strike, all bets are off.

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MEXICANBLUEFISH- IVES, this site is the best, your hard work is greatly appreciated, THANKS. My questions:

Do you think it is possible that Landon's success at Everton could actually elevate his nats' teammates' confidence in him, even though they have always known that he is a world class player??

Do you think our huge Mexican population could have an influence in how the American style continues to develop its own identity?

IVES- Thanks for the kind words Mex.

I do think Donovan’s success at Everton can and will have a positive effect on the national team. Not only because it will instill more confidence in him by his teammates, but it has given Donovan a new level of confidence that could result in him being a better and more consistent player on the national team. You can definitely tell this loan has had a profound impact on Donovan’s psyche. Just think about it. Imagine being Donovan, and having three failed stints in Germany be the overbearing smears on an otherwise stellar career. He can now look at his play at Everton as vindication of his abilities. He’ll always tell you that he always had confidence in his ability, but even he admitted that it helped him realize he can play against anybody and play well.

I think the large Mexican population here has already had an influence in producing some good prospects, more than we have seen come through the youth ranks in the past. I do think American youth soccer is getting better at identifying and embracing Latino talent, but it's still far from the system we'll need to maximize a resource that has gone under-utilized for far too long. I have confidence in the things U.S. Soccer's Developmen Academy is doing to help improve this, and I think as MLS teams get more involved in player development they should hopefully help tap into those reservoirs of talent that have been overlooked in the past.

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EVAN- Great site! I was wondering what you thought about US U-20 Juan Agudelo and if you have heard the latest on where he will be playing this coming year?

Thanks!

IVES- Six months ago I would have told you Agudelo was a young but green prospect who was several years away from being able to make an impact on the pro level. Now? I see a player who has had a growth spurt and maturation of his physique that has only given him more confidence in the skills he already possessed. I’d say it should be a foregone conclusion that the Red Bulls sign Agudelo.

The question I think now is whether MLS has any Generation adidas money to offer him the type of lucrative deal other top Generation adidas players have gotten. There are some homegrown Generation adidas deals that are much smaller than the sort of deals players such as Danny Mwanga, Ike Opara and Dilly Duka received (let’s call them Gen adidas Lite contracts). The Red Bulls and MLS probably thought it would be able to sign Agudelo to one of those deals, but given his improvement, and his successful trial in Colombia, things have changed. Hopefully MLS and the Red Bulls realize they’d be foolish to let him get away.

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HUSH- Any possibility that Francisco Torres moves to a Spanish club next season? I heard rumors that some clubs were interested in him. Any info regarding this matter would be great.

IVES- I can’t say how real those rumors were, the ones linking him as a potential throw-in to Deportivo La Coruna for Omar Bravo. I do think he could do very well there, but I think he still has some maturing to do in Mexico. I can see him being a transfer target in the summer of 2011.

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SCOTT- I'm having a tough time understanding the excitement of American players to Europe when they get buried on the bench or can't even make the cut to 18 on game days. I'm sure once they get there the players have a competitive chip on the shoulder and are working hard as they can, but it pains me to see Stuart Holden lost in Bolton and Kenny Cooper seeing minimal minutes for a Championship side fighting off relegation. Thoughts?

IVES- Scott, I think you (as well as players going to Europe) have to have some patience and realize that the European game is a serious proposition where nothing is given easily. Players have to pay their dues and put in serious work to fight for and win spots. Should players really pack it in after a few weeks or months without playing? The cut-and-run approach, in my opinion, is a defeatist mentality. Look at the players who have excelled in Europe. Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to name a few, have all had their trials and tribulations.

Even your remark about Stuart Holden had me wondering about you because he eventually did work his way into a starting role before the broken leg last week. The fact is that more and more Americans are going to Europe and some of them just aren’t going to make it, BUT I do think more will start to make it and we’re already seeing the benefits of that. Players such as Holden and Edu have begun to establish themselves in Europe.

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CHRIS- Do you plan on playing Fantasy MLS this year? If so, what league are you planning to use? I notice http://fantasy.mlsnet.com/ still has last year's info.

IVES- Yes, I do plan on having fantasy MLS this year and will be doing everything in my power to make sure it stays prominent throughout the year. I will also try to secure some prizes for the league’s top finishers. One thing I need is a fantasy MLS writer to do a weekly column. I think that worked well in the past.

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SMOKED GOUDA- Ives,

Why doesn't the USSF schedule more games against stronger, European teams in the lead up to the Cup? We seem to only play against CONCACAF teams.

IVES- Gouda, you really need to pay attention. When was the last FIFA date the U.S. team didn’t play a quality opponent? The past three were road games in Europe against THREE World Cup participants in Denmark, Slovakia and the Netherlands. That, in just the past four months, is a pretty impressive lineup. Throw in the Turkey and Czech Republic matches in May and I think scheduling is the LEAST of the national team’s concerns.

Seriously, have you seen who the team has played in the past three years? Brazil (three times), Spain (twice), Argentina (twice), Italy and England, as well as the aforementioned nations. I’m pretty sure there aren’t many countries in the world that can boast that collection of opponents over the past three years.

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C|3- A lot of Americans are ending up in Scandinavia, how come more aren't looking to play in France like Bocanegra and Davies?

IVES- I’m sure tons of Americans would love to play in France, but it’s a top European league and you have to be good enough. No player is choosing Scandinavia over Ligue 1 if given the option. Hopefully more Americans start getting interest from French leagues, which I think is happening. You had the rumored Paris St. Germain interest in Landon Donovan as well as former Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare making the move to Boulogne. It does seem as though the MLS and Americans are making some inroads into France.

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DCD- Can the US' college-based culture of sports development ever match the "academy system"? Does it have some potential advantages?

IVES- DCD, it isn’t as if the college development model is in place by choice or preference. It just happens to be what has been available for all this time. I don’t think anybody argues that the academy model wouldn’t be better, but you need professional clubs with the resources and willingness to start investing in such programs in order for that to become a viable option. Far too many people want to criticize college soccer for what it isn’t rather than realizing that without it American soccer wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is now.

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CFIG- I was willing to give Landin a chance to get into shape for the Dynamo but it looks like he's shown up this season about the same as last. Does he have a chance to make an impact, and if not who does Houston go to for their scoring threat? Ching is probably good for 10-15 goals but he could miss time for the World Cup. After that you have...Oduro?

IVES- The Luis Landin signing has become a bit of an embarrassment for Houston. Here’s a promising young talent who was expected to come in and be the start that could carry Houston in the wake of the departures of Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark. Now, he’s looking like he could be a flop. The Dynamo need another goal scorer because regardless of how he’s looking in pre-season I’m not at all convinced that Dom Oduro can be a productive forward once the MLS season begins.

I will say that the Dynamo have just signed a promising young academy player in Francisco Navas who looks like he could be a star in the making.

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BRYAN- Baja Fresh or Chipotle?

Does Dempsey move to a (historically) "bigger" team or continue with Fulham? Would you like to see him leave? If so, where to?

Love the site!

IVES- Chipotle, not that I have either that often.

I think Dempsey stays at least one more year at Fulham. Then again, a strong World Cup could produce some transfer bids Fulham might have to consider. I like him at Fulham. He’s playing for a solid team with a great manager. Staying another year couldn’t hurt him.

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DJBONUSBEATS- Where do you see Backe playing Jeremy Hall? I'd like to see him get more time at his natural position. Do you think Stammler can maintain his place this season with the new roster, or would Tchani push him out?

IVES- I think Hall has shown he’s a better fit in midfield, but with Jaager off to Norway, and Luke Sassano the only other current option, Hall may wind up at right back again.

As for central midfield, and whether Stammler can keep his place, I think Carl Robinson’s potential signing would be bad news for Stammler holding onto his job long term. I think Tony Tchani is being brought along slowly, but I can’t imagine him not eventually being a lock starter.

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JOE- What do you think the chances of Charlie Davies scoring in League play for Sochaux are? High, low?

Besides @SoccerByIves, who would you recommend following on Twitter for top-notch soccer coverage?

IVES- I’d say the chances of Davies scoring in France being closer to high than to low.

As far as Twitter feeds to follow, I’d say Grant Wahl, Oliver Kay and Henry Winter are three good ones I can think of. There are plenty more. I'll add to this list later.

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BIG CHIL- Hey, Ives, any plans for you & your staff to meet with your fans at the World Cup this summer?

IVES- I’ll definitely look into trying to do something like that around one of the United States matches.

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REDSTATEJIM- Ives, Is SBI profitable?

Do you care about the personal lives of athletes ie Tiger, Terry, Cole, Harkes or do you only care about what they do in the arena?

IVES- Yes, SBI is profitable.

As for reporting on the personal lives of players, I’ve got no interest in it. If tabloids or TMZ ever decide they want to devote resources to that sort of stuff, they’re more than welcome. I have a hard enough time finding time to report on all the actual soccer-related news so I won’t be moonlighting as paparazzi any time soon.

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PC- Ives,
Love the site, got a non-soccer related question...
Where do you think Lebron James winds up next year?

IVES- I see LeBron going to the Knicks, but that just might be my East Coast bias talking.

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BRIAN- Who is the next American you see transferring to a elite European team?

IVES- Landon Donovan should make a major move this summer. I also think Michael Bradley will eventually make a major move, if not this summer, then in summer of 2011.

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BRIAN B- Did Luis Gil make the wrong decision by signing with MLS over Arsenal given Arsenal's track record developing young talent?

IVES- I’ve been told by some pretty reliable sources that new FIFA guidelines would have made a move to Arsenal very tough, if not impossible, for Gil.

Even if that weren’t the case, I’m not sure why people should assume staying in MLS is a bad move. Was it a bad move for Jozy Altidore or Michael Bradley? Both were teenagers who eventually earned playing time that helped them develop into quality U.S. national team contributors.

Developing in Arsenal’s academy would surely have its benefits, but it shouldn’t be assumed that Gil can’t benefit from staying in MLS.

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BCC- Ever thought of writing a book on soccer? What would it focus on (MLS, New York or New Jersey soccer, etc.)?

IVES- I’ve thought of writing a book before. It would probably focus on a specific player. I’m not sure a general book on MLS or a specific team would sell all that well. A compelling player story would be of interest to me as a book subject.

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WILL-YO- Fox is really diving into soccer. EPL, Champs Lg, a second station, and now you. Are they making money or is it bet that built a house of cards that will come crumbling down?

IVES- Will, I wouldn’t bet against Fox when it comes to building an American soccer empire. My move was several months in the making and I made the move in part because of the plans they have in the works.

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DING DONG- How many soccer games do you watch in the average week?

IVES- Anywhere from six to eight on the low end, to 12 to 15 on the high end, depending on the time of year. I try to watch parts of matches and highlights as well. TIVO helps get through a bunch of matches.

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