Soccer: February 2007 Archives
The announcement i've been dreading for weeks has finally come. Hugo is gone, signed up with some outfit from Kitsop. Byron is not expected to return, either. Is Gavin determined to have a Latino-free Timbers or something? I know he's not the creative-player type, but surely it wouldn't kill us to have at least one guy with some skill with the ball at his feet?
Everton have enjoyed the benefit of USA goalkeeper Tim Howard all season, leading them to one of the best records for clean sheets and goals allowed in the Premiership this year. By playing week-in-week-out first team soccer, Tim has really benefitted in form and minimized those oocasional painful lapses that got him benched at Man U.
So it's no big surprise that Everton consummated the loan deal into a permanent one: a 5 year contract with an undisclosed fee, that soccernet reports is somewhere in the £3 million range. I think this is great for Tim and Everton alike, and should solidify Tim as the first choice keeper for the national team in this summer's tournaments and the 2010 World Cup cycle. Congrats to both!
Well, that was a big fuss over nothing. Oh wait, that describes most of the internet.
Although, it did look like something was in the works that got blocked at the last minute (arsenal not willing to give up trademark rights, maybe?). But I'm feeling a calm wash of relief that one of the better team names in MLS is staying put for now. As for the partnership, Chelsea had a big announcement last year that they'd partner with the Galaxy, and Real Madrid has a similar partnership with their Salt Lake namesakes. Both of these have amounted to little else than the occasional friendly. It'll take a bit more than an Arsenal Center of Excellence for the Rapids to really reap anything from the Gunners. Although, with the team training in London next month, there's still the chance that the Rapids could have a bit of class rub off on them. We'll see the proof when the new-look Colorado takes the field in April.
There's a press conference scheduled today (in about 20 minutes, to be exact) that should outline the "new identity" and "new partnership" of the Rapids with North London's Arsenal. I won't be able to watch it, but you could do so at the MLS site if you're so inclined. in the meantime, here's what the Arse's official site has to say about it. Some interesting tidbits in there ... coaching knowledge exchange probably being what Colorado needs most right now, but no mention of a name change to go with it.
More this afternoon when all the dust has settled.
BigSoccer is aflame with a previously password-protected website staging ground being released into the wild. The talking point? That yet another MLS team will change its name from a Not Very Bad American Sport Name to a Shameless Cry For Acceptance By The Kool Euro Kidz.
No confirmation of the truth of these rumors, but for the moment, one can see the damage at http://www.coloradoarsenal.com/. The first page has a nice animated logo saying Colorado Rapids, in the new team colors (shown to hardcore fans at a supporter's summit earlier this year), but click further into the site, and the logo changes to the one above. Please let this be a hoax.
UPDATE: well, that was quick. the site's been pulled once again. The news item declaring "Colorado Rapids Unveil New Team Identity" was future dated Feb. 23rd, 2007. Might have to wait until then for the bad news.