Only One Football

If Fulham loses at home to in-form Sunderland this weekend, their relegation fate will be sealed. Even that is giving the London side too much credit - they are as good as down right now. Over the past few years, Fulham has become a haven for American players, so the question in the minds of USA soccer fans is, what fate awaits Fulham’s USA stars if the club is dropped to the Coca-Cola Championship for next season.

Kasey Keller
Keller’s up there in years but is still a serviceable goalkeeper. Its conceivable Fulham could retain him in the Championship but Keller may have other options such as Rangers. A return to MLS is a possibility, but the Washington state native may wait for Seattle’s 2009 season entry into MLS for the move home.

Carlos Bocanegra
Bocanegra has seen his stock drop this season and may be likely to stay with Fulham for its attempt to make an immediately return to the top flight next season. The USA defensive stalwart may attract attention from the Championship sides promoted to the Premier League as well.

Clint Dempsey
Dempsey is the one Fulham USA star in the middle of his prime. Clint has at times appeared to be Fulham’s most impressive player this season, and his scrappy style could attract attention from rising Premier League sides like Sunderland and Reading as well as more established Premier League clubs like Everton and Aston Villa.

Eddie Johnson
Johnson’s move from Kansas City to Fulham looks questionable now, with the striker almost certainly consigned to a season in the Championship as he’s a new acquisition. Whether or not the Championship is a step up from MLS is debatable, but Johnson should bang in the goals in England’s second tier league.

Brian McBride
McBride is getting on in years but his leadership ability is an asset along with his on-field performance that will make him an attractive squad player for a number of Premier League sides. Clubs looking to establish themselves in the Premier League like Sunderland, Reading and Birmingham could see McBride as a relatively low-cost proven goal scorer who adds something extra in the locker room.

Major League Soccer kicked off this weekend, and one of the most interesting results was the drubbing the Los Angeles Galaxy received at the hands of the Colorado Rapids. Beckham’s team turned in underwhelming results in its pre-season tour, and it appears again that the Galaxy may be one of MLS’ worst sides, despite the presence of the England international. Whether or not this is a good thing for MLS is a debatable. On the one hand, it shows the world that you can’t just stick a single superstar in a MLS lineup and expect that team to dominate - it shows the quality of the league. On the other hand, if Beckham’s team challenged for the title, more shirts would sell and more media interest would be drawn.

In England, Manchester United nearly found themselves 9 points clear of Arsenal until the Gunners staged at comeback in the Reebok Stadium to overcome Bolton Wanderers 2-3. The result had major implications in both the title and relegation battles. Bolton could have found themselves one point behind Birmingham and five points ahead of Fulham, but instead the Wanderers are now four points from safety. Meanwhile, Sunderland won in amazing style over West Ham at the Stadium of Light, with Andy Reid slicing in a left-footed shot to win the match in the 96th minute. Reid, who has filled the Black Cats’ desperate need for a creative midfielder, has helped Sunderland to the edge of safety, now seven points clear of Bolton and likely only one more win from safety. Fulham, who the in-form Sunderland travel to this coming weekend, helped seal the fate of Derby County with a draw at Pride Park this weekend. Derby became the first team in the history of the EPL to be relegated in March, and risk besting the lowest points in a season record of 15 by Mick McCarthy’s Sunderland two seasons ago. Fulham did themselves no favors with the draw, which puts them six points from safety (seven if you consider goal differential). On Sunday, Newcastle won at White Hart Lane to lift themselves back above Northeast rivals Sunderland in the table, at least for now, while Liverpool fended off fellow Merseysiders Everton to get closer to ensuring that the top four are once again comprised of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

In Ireland, the League Of Ireland season progressed into Series 4 with Dublin side St. Patrick’s Athletic extending their perfect run with a 0-3 slaying of Bray Wanderers in Bray. Derry City surprised defending champions Drogheda United with a 2-0 win in the Brandywell, while Shamrock Rovers went to Terryland Park and rudely put a 0-2 score on Galway United. Bohemians welcomed Donegal side Finn Harps to Dublin with a 3-0 smackdown, while Sligo Rovers played to a bore 0-0 draw with UCD elsewhere in the capitol. Cork City visited St. Colman’s Park for a Munster Derby with Cobh Ramblers, resulting in a fourth straight draw for Cork to continue their slow start. While you can expect better from Drogheda and Cork, the table already seems to be shaping up into two halves, with St. Pat’s, Shamrock Rovers, Derry and Bohemians at the top.

Earlier this year, six of the top clubs in the Republic Of Ireland and a few of the top clubs in Northern Ireland began seriously looking into the prospect of an All-Ireland Premier League.  While many spectators thought there would be no way that FIFA and UEFA would allow such a thing, UEFA president Michel Platini called Ireland a “special case” and indicated that an exception could be made for one league spanning the island of Ireland.

The scuttlebutt earlier this year indicated that representatives from LoI clubs including Drogheda United, Cork City, Galway United, Derry City and Dublin clubs St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians met with officials from top Northern Ireland clubs to discuss the possibility of a 10 or 12 team All-Ireland Premier League.  Northern Irish participants would almost certainly include Belfast big two Linfield and Glentoran.  Glentoran showed more interest than Linfield, with the latter very concerned about whether teams in the All-Ireland League would be competing for one nation’s worth of places in European competiton.

With a UEFA sign-off, the obstacle surrounding Champions League and UEFA Cup places could be resolved by rewarding the top teams from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland places based on how the clubs finish compared to clubs from their own nation rather than the division as a whole.  Meaning, if Linfield came in fourth in an All-Ireland league, but it was first among Northern Irish teams, it would get the Northern Irish Champions League spot.

As a side effect of the acceptance of Toronto FC into Major League Soccer,  a path has been paved for UEFA to follow with an All-Ireland League.  The CONCACAF Champions League gets underway later this year, Canada will have an entry in the competition regardless of how Toronto FC fares in MLS.  This precedent would allow for the  aforementioned  method of distributing  European places among Republic of Ireland and Northern Irish teams.

While many were convinced that FIFA and UEFA would not allow a single soccer league on the divided island, in reality, the soccer governing bodies really have no choice but to allow it.  An All-Ireland Soccer League would signal massive progress in relations on the island of Ireland.  FIFA and UEFA can be a part of that, or stand in the way.  Politically, these organizations are too savvy to say no.

David Beckham 60 Minutes Interview - March 23, 2008

Sunderland AFC may be the greenest team in the English Premier League, but that has not helped them any when it comes to fortune on the football pitch.  For the fourth time this season, Sunderland was robbed of points due to questionable officiating.  Let’s take a look at the points Sunderland have dropped due to calls that went against them:

December 15, 2007 - Sunderland v Aston Villa - Danny Collins Winner Disallowed
Sunderland had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light when Danny Collins attempt to continue the club’s knack for scoring last minute goals was ruled out by officials.  In a controversial decision, the ref Steve Bennett waved off the stoppage time winner claiming that Collins pushed goalie Scott Carson in his effort to head the ball home.  2 points dropped.

December 27, 2007 - Reading v Sunderland - Reading Granted Late Winner
They say luck evens out over the course of a season, but in the case of Sunderland their misfortunes with referee decisions continued soon after the Collins header was disallowed.  Two weeks later at the Madejski Stadium versus relegation rivals Reading, a late goal was granted, but the result was against Sunderland’s favor.  Stephen Hunt, a Black Cats transfer target who was to snub Keane and company in the coming month, fired the ball toward goal only to be seemingly denied by an amazing save from Craig Gordon.  However, assistant ref Steve Rubery felt that Gordon did not stop the ball before it crossed the goal line.  Replays showed that Gordon in fact made an incredible save but it was for all for nothing as Reading escaped with the three points. 1 point dropped.

March 1, 2008 - Derby County v Sunderland - Chopra goal called offside
Just last week, Sunderland’s Michael Chopra scored a first half goal that was waved off by the officials for offsides, but replays have since shown that the struggling striker was in fact on-sides and the goal should have stood.  Black Cats boss Roy Keane refused to criticize the refs this time around, as his players should have found another way to defeat Derby County in this important match.  2 points dropped.

March 9, 2008 - Sunderland v Everton - Andy Johnson’s Hand Of God
Sunderland were unable to exact revenge today for the 7-1 hammering they received at Goodison Park, but they managed to spare themselves humiliation by holding Everton to only one goal.  This goal, however, should not have stood as replays showed the ball went in off of Andy Johnson’s arm making it a handball.  The refs missed it, the goal stood and it was another bit of bad luck for the Black Cats.  1 point dropped.

In a relegation battle every point counts and these 6 denied to Sunderland by the refs will may make the difference between whether the Stadium of Light hosts the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal again next year or whether Blackpool, Wolverhampton and Cardiff City will be visiting Wearside.

Elsewhere in the EPL
Tottenham Hotspur hammered fellow Londoners West Ham at White Heart Lane, powered by a Dimitar Berbatov brace.  Meanwhile, Wigan played stingy host to Arsenal, picking up an unexpected point in their survival fight while managing to deny Arsene Wenger’s club from gaining any breathing room over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Reading shocked Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at home, adding even more intrigue to the relegation battle. Newcastle United are officially in the relegation mix with a 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Newcastle have been in a free fall since Kevin Keegan took over as manager and rest only 3 points above the relegation zone. Fulham drew with Blackburn Rovers to inch a bit closer to safety. With a six point difference between Fulham and 17th place, the odds look poor. Reading’s win puts the pressure on Sunderland, Bolton, Wigan and Birmingham. Sunderland host Everton tomorrow seeking revenge for a 7-1 thumping at Goodison Park earlier in the season. Wigan host Arsenal and Tottenham host West Ham tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the League Of Ireland, champions Drogheda United started the season the wrong way by suffering a shocking home loss to Shamrock Rovers, 0-1.

Joseph Lapira, the once-capped Republic Of Ireland international and former Notre Dame star, was one of the most exciting prospects to come out of the MLS draft. Lapira fell to the third round since it was well known that he would put a pursuit of a career in Europe as his top priority. Still, Toronto FC took a gamble on the striker.

With his Irish eligibility, Lapira can ply his trade in Europe without the need for a work permit. He went on trial with Aberdeen of the Scottish Premier League in January but did not catch on with the club after a short stint. Scotland would have been a great fit, but it didn’t work out at Aberdeen and no other sides were linked with interest in the media. There was message board buzz that Coca-Cola League One side Nottingham Forest might have an interest in Lapira but nothing appears to have come of that. The question emerging now is should Lapira keep pursuing his European dream or should he work something out with Toronto FC and play in MLS?

Since Major League Soccer keeps much greater control over their players than the European leagues, all things being equal, Lapira like any player is better off plying his trade in Europe because he’d have more control over his destiny. However, unless Lapira can catch on with a club in a league playing at least the standard of the SPL, the Coca-Cola Championship or an equivalently rated continental league, he should seriously consider returning to North America. There are a few exceptions to this — if a big club currently stuck in League One like Forest or Leeds United (which has Steve Staunton, the Ireland manager who capped Lapira, on-staff) then they would be good options. Otherwise MLS will provide a superior standard of play.

Plenty of players have made their name in MLS and moved on to Europe, Eddie Johnson being the latest to do so in high profile fashion. Should Toronto’s gamble pay off, Lapira would have the opportunity to prove himself there and then take advantage of his Irish passport later on in his career. Either way, I’ll be rooting for Joe Lapira to succeed as it was a thrill for me to see an Irish-American put on the green shirt and represent Ireland last May against Ecuador in Giants Stadium. Even if he was only on the pitch for five minutes.

The eircom League Of Ireland kicked its 2008 season off Friday. The Premier Division saw all but one opening match played. As expected, Bohemians topped Galway United at Terryland Park, 0-1. Sligo Rovers made it 0 for 2 for Connacht sides against Dublin teams this opening night with a 3-1 loss to St. Patrick’s Athletic. Defender Jamie McKenzie scored for Sligo in the first half before the Rovers fell apart in the 60th-67th minute in which St. Pat’s scored all three of their goals. Elsewhere in Dublin, Derry City topped University College Dublin 2-3. County Donegal’s Finn Harps bested fellow newly promoted side Cobh Ramblers 2-1. The only surprise result of the day was that Cork City could not defeat Bray Wanderers at home in Turner’s Cross, settling for a 0-0 bore draw. 2007 champs Drogheda United host Shamrock Rovers on Saturday to round out the first week of matches.

What is the best known brand in American soccer? It’s not the Los Angeles Galaxy, despite the presence of David Beckham. It is a club that hasn’t kicked a ball in 24 years, the New York Cosmos.

As Major League Soccer continues its expansion, one of the items on the agenda is adding a second New York team. It is no secret that the Red Bulls/Metrostars franchise never took off the way that MLS would have hoped. Unfortunately, MLS’ only New York area team has not been one of the league’s dominant forces and its following reflects that. The presence of Jozy Altidore and Juan Pablo Angel is making a real difference, but to say the Red Bulls have yet to make a real impact on the New York sports scene is an understatement.

The Red Bulls operate in the shadow of the Cosmos, despite the fact that the latter was defunct a decade before the former started up. The Cosmos are the standard by which all New York soccer teams will be judged. Pele and his aging Galacticos won 4 titles and drew enormous crowds. The only thing the Red Bulls have done approaching this is the 66,000 crowd they drew when Beckham played Giants Stadium this summer.

When Major League Soccer looks to add its second New York franchise, not only should that franchise be the Cosmos, but it should be under the ownership of the Steinbrenner family. Sound far-fetched? Not so. The Steinbrenners nearly bought into Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s. Hank Steinbrenner recently said that he regretted that the family did not pull the trigger on this move because the value of English football clubs has grown exponentially at since time, much as the Steinbrenner’s interest in the New York Yankees has grow incredibly since their purchase of the team in the 1970s. The Steinbrenners have an interest in soccer, and they know the value of owning a sport’s most powerful brand in the country’s biggest market. Not only that, but MLS should note that they know how to operate that type of franchise very, very well.

Acquiring the rights to the New York Cosmos name would be the first thing that MLS would need to accomplish. Involving the Steinbrenners would be a masterstroke because it would not only immediately give the team incredible buzz, but if that was combined with the fact that the team would be called the New York Cosmos, it would send a message to the sports and media world about the intentions of MLS. A New York Cosmos franchise run by the Steinbrenner family would be the type of organization that could draw in elite players from across the globe. It would be a way for the league to match its Beckham hype on the East Coast. It’s a move that is so good and has so much upside that the league simply must make it happen. MLS wins because of the greater exposure it will receive. The Steinbrenners win because the value of MLS franchises is on the rise, representing an opportunity much like the one they missed out on in the 80s. New York area soccer fans would be the biggest winners of all, because the Cosmos would instantly become the biggest club in the league.

Recently transfer-listed Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller may be the next Irishman to ply his trade in Major League Soccer, according to a report on Eleven-A-Side.com. Miller ran afoul of Black Cats boss Roy Keane by showing up late for seven training sessions this season. The former Manchester United prospect has been one of Sunderland’s most reliable midfield performers so far this season, but with the return to health of Keiran Richardson and the recent transfer acquisition of Andy Reid, Miller has become expendable enough to Sunderland that Keane grew intolerant of his tardiness.

Miller is an active Irish international who has been called up to the senior squad for recent matches, thanks in part possibly to attention brought on by Keane accusing the Dublin-based FAI of having an anti-Cork bias when passing up his fellow Corkman Miller for players of lesser quality and form.

Moving to MLS would probably negatively impact Miller’s chances to make future Ireland squads just as David Beckham has seen his move to MLS hurt his England chances. For this reason, it is unlikely that Miller would choose to join Toronto FC. If Miller does join Toronto, however, and the club also signs American-born, Irish-capped striker Joe Lapira, Toronto would boast two full Ireland internationals even after jettisoning uncapped Ronnie O’Brien to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Coca-Cola League One exiles Leeds United and Coca-Cola Championship side Ipswich have been linked with end-of-season loans for Miller as well.