http://www.onlyonefootball.com Views on soccer with a focus on the USA, Ireland and England Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:04:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Thierry Henry does not have many fans in the Republic of Ireland tonight.  The best footballer in the world, according to the Castrol Rankings, used his hand to put France through to the World Cup Finals next Summer. While the Boys in Green are red with fury and probably wouldn't ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=45 On the pitch and among the fans, Celtic and Rangers may be the fiercest of football rivals.  When it comes to the business end of things, namely the mission to maximize their financial potential by fleeing the Scottish Premier League, the Old Firm pair are partners in crime.  Like any ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=44 There were two big New York soccer rumors reported in the media this past week.  The first was that Pele may be recruited by newly minted New York Cosmos owner Paul Kemsley to serve as President of the organization, which he intends to build into a lifestyle brand as well ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=43 There will never be promotion and relegation in Major League Soccer. At least not in the traditional, European sense.  The franchise fees are too high to risk what would be perceived by American audiences as a demotion to a minor league.  No, there will never be promotion and relegation in ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=42 In 2002, stubborn pride destroyed the Republic of Ireland's greatest ever hope of the ultimate World Cup glory.  The Irish squad comported themselves well in Japan & Korea, making the quarterfinals before losing a penalty shoot-out to Spain.  But every fan of Irish soccer looks back at 2002 and asks ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=41 FC Barcelona's bid to put a MLS club in Miami is dead, according to the great Ives Galarcep, and Vancouver now stands out as the front runner.  With New York City, Montreal and now Miami-backed-by-Barca fallen by the wayside and the Dow Jones at less than 50% of what it ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=40 Nearly a fortnight has passed since the United States beat Mexico in the opening hexagonal CONCACAF qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, and the one thing that stands out above all else from that intense match is that Michael Bradley is on his way to becoming America's Roy Keane.  While Freddy Adu ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=39 A few days ago the New York Times reported that FC Barcelona is having second thoughts on attaching their brand to the new Miami MLS franchise they have to this point backed.  Bolivian tech billionaire Marcelo Claure is the chief financier of the Miami bid.  FC Barcelona was thought to ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=38 It was reported this week that the Philadelphia MLS expansion franchise has narrowed down its potential names to a shortlist of four.  Since there's no existing Philly club and fan base coming over from the USL, as Seattle Sounders FC had, the field is wide open.  The choices are AC ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=37 Major League Soccer is expanding at a rate of about one team per year, and despite the uncertain economic situation in the world, is showing no signs of slowing down.  When a major sports league in the USA adds new franchises, one of the laments of the anti-expansion die-hards is ... http://www.onlyonefootball.com/?p=36