The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have made the first public statement about their interest in former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves. Speaking with the Globe and Mail’s David Ebner, Whitecap co-owner Jeff Mallett said that Hargreaves “knows our interest”, adding that “We’ll make sure, when he makes the decision, that we’re on the option list.
Full details here.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
MLS Announces All-Star Squad
Gameday Roster for AT&T MLS All-Star Game Unveiled
Beckham, Donovan and Henry Highlight Roster of 22 Players from 12 different teams
NEW YORK (Monday, July 18, 2011) – LA Galaxy stars David Beckham and Landon Donovan join New York Red Bulls standout Thierry Henry among the 22 MLS All-Stars confirmed on the gameday roster that will compete against Manchester United in the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena (8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Galavision, and TSN).
All-Star Head Coach Hans Backe of the Red Bulls selected the roster. Because of the competitive format -- MLS vs. the World -- of the All-Star Game, MLS asked Backe to select from among all available players, and he constructed a dynamic, balanced roster loaded with the League’s top talent. Backe also has seen success against Manchester United, including two wins during the 2007-08 English Premier League season when he was assistant coach at Manchester City under then head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Backe selected all eight of the original fan-voted All-Stars – including AT&T Text Voting winner Matt Besler of Sporting Kansas City – who are available to play on July 27. Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) and Brek Shea (FC Dallas) are unavailable due to CONCACAF Champions League matches during the week of the All-Star Game. Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) and Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls) are unavailable due to injuries.
In addition to 11-time All-Star Donovan, ex-Manchester United midfielder Beckham and World Cup Champion Henry, the roster also features prominent All-Star veterans such as Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) and Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake).
Other selections have loads of international experience but are MLS All-Stars for the first time: Mexican icon Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City), Colombian national team veteran Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union), U.S. national team left back Heath Pearce (Chivas USA) and speedy Jamaican striker Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids).
The roster is below, followed by bios of each player, listed in alphabetical order by last name. Players are listed by the position they are most likely to play in the All-Star Game, which is not necessarily the position they play for their respective clubs.
2011 MLS All-Star Gameday Roster
Goalkeeper: Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union)
Defenders: Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Nick LaBrocca (Chivas USA)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Inactive All-Stars (Note that another six inactive All-Stars will be chosen via player voting):
Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Full-Time Note from Tyler Green: No Whitecaps announced to the roster, which is not much of a surprise with the record the Whitecaps have this season, but more disturbing is the fact that no Canadians were announced to the roster either.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Manchester City confirm agreement with Corinthians for Carlos Tevez
City turned down a £40 million bid from the Brazilian club last week, and were believed to be holding out for £50 million for a player who finished as joint top scorer in the Premier League last season with 20 goals.
However, speaking on the club's pre-season tour of the USA/Canada, Mancini told the media at the press conference in Vancouver: "We have an agreement with Corinthians but Carlos now is still a City player."
Asked whether Tevez would now be discussing personal terms, Mancini replied: "I don't know this. I repeat, at the moment, Carlos is still a City player.
"I want to wait. At the moment we are here, we are working with the other guys. We should think about this.''
Listen to Full-Time to hear reaction from some of the Manchester City players. You can download to the podcast here.
West Brom set for Hargreaves Meeting
West Brom plan to hold talks with Owen Hargreaves next week about a possible move to the Hawthorns.
Albion have already been in contact with Owen Hargreaves, who has been released by Manchester United after playing only 27 games in the past four years due to chronic knee problems.
"We have been in talks with Owen," Ashworth told the club's official website.
"He's based over in the United States at the moment so we might try to get to meet him in the next week or so and see if he would consider coming to us. If Owen is fit to play Premier League football, it is a no-brainer."
Monday, July 11, 2011
Manchester City releases travel roster for North American tour
"Manchester City is currently preparing for a very important upcoming season, which will include the UEFA Champions League, and have brought an amazing collection of top internationals," said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. "Great seats are still available for what I anticipate will be a highly entertaining match in Vancouver next Monday."
The newly-crowned FA Cup winners field an impressive squad bolstered by English internationals Gareth Barry, Joe Hart, James Milner, and Shaun Wright-Phillips, as well as Bosnian striker Edin Džeko, Italian striker Mario Balotelli, Spanish midfielder David Silva, Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong, and German defender Jérôme Boateng.
Manchester City 2011 North American Tour Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Joe Hart (ENG), Stuart Taylor (ENG), Eirik Johansen (NOR), Loris Karius (GER)
DEFENDERS: Micah Richards (ENG), Jérôme Boateng (GER), Vincent Kompany (BEL), Joleon Lescott (ENG), Dedryck Boyata (BEL), Gaël Clichy (FRA), Aleksandar Kolarov (SRB), Stefan Savić (MNE), Frederic Veseli (SUI)
MIDFIELDERS: Shaun Wright-Phillips (ENG), Vladimir Weiss (SVK), James Milner (ENG), Gareth Barry (ENG), Yaya Touré (CIV), Nigel De Jong (NED), David Silva (ESP), Adam Johnson (ENG)
FORWARDS: Mario Balotelli (ITA), Edin Džeko (BIH), Andrea Mancini (ITA), Denis Suarez (SPA), Ryan McGivern (NIR), John Guidetti (SWE)
Full Time Podcast - July 10, 2011
You can subscribe to the show on iTunes. Click here!
Tyler Green & Irfaan Gaffar of Van City Sports Blog (in place of an absent Mike Martignago) recap the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 weekend loss away to MLS Champs Colorado Rapids. Also a look at the rest of the MLS table as well!
Also, hear audio from new Whitecaps Defender & former Philadelphia Union player Jordan Harvey!
Marc Rizzardo of Metrotown Physio gives his usual injury update and diagnosis. Discussion about Davide Chiumiento's injury as well as Owen Hargreaves fitness situation!
Also, a full rundown of all the action across the pond with the Umbro European scoreboard including news and scores from the FIFA Women's World Cup & Copa America!
The boys dip in to some Spot Kicks to touch on some up-in-the-air issues from the world of soccer!
Also, a week's farewall to Producer Corey Basso in a Windy City themed show as Corey leaves for Chicago in mid-week. Lots of Producer Corey opinions in this episode!
You can follow Full Time on Twitter ( @fulltimesoccer, @cdbasso,@mikemartignago, @tylergreen1040 ) & Facebook.
Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday night. 9p-11p Only onTEAM 1040 Sports Radio.
Catch up with everything Whitecaps during the week with Whitecaps FC Dailyat 3pm down the dial on TEAM 1410!
The Vancouver Whitecaps welcome Real Salt Lake to Empire Field next Saturday! Kick off goes at 1 pm! Catch the call on TEAM 1040!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Whitecaps FC acquire Defender Jordan Harvey
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the acquisition of defender Jordan Harvey from Philadelphia Union in exchange for *allocation money. As per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the trade were not disclosed. The 27-year-old is expected to be eligible for selection for this Saturday's match versus his former club Colorado Rapids.
"Jordan Harvey is an MLS experienced with strong tackling ability, quickness, and a capacity to push forward into the attack," said Whitecaps FC head coach Tom Soehn. "We look forward to having him join our backline."
A five-year veteran of MLS, Harvey started 16 Union matches for 1,241 minutes of action this season. Originally acquired from Colorado in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, the native of Mission Viejo, California, started 45 of his 46 appearances for Philadelphia for a total of 3,861 minutes of action. This included one goal and two assists during his spell with the Pennsylvania-based outfit. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound left fullback was Philadelphia's leader in minutes played in 2010 with 2,613.
In his four seasons with Colorado - who drafted him in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft - Harvey helped the Rapids claim the MLS Reserve League championship title that year. After making his MLS debut in 2008, Harvey started 42 of his 45 appearances for Colorado for 3,793 minutes of action, registering four assists in the process.
A former member of the United States U-20 national team, Harvey has also played for his country at the U-14, U-16, and U-17 international levels. A college standout at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Harvey was a member of the 2002 NCAA College Cup championship squad and part of the first class in Bruins history to win four Pac-10 Conference titles.
On Saturday evening, Whitecaps FC return to action when they visit Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT and is live on Rogers Sportsnet One and Bell mobile devices. 'Caps fans can also listen to Saturday's contest live on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca, starting with the pre-game show at 4 p.m. PT. TEAM 1410 will also have a two-hour post-game show, which will begin following the match at around 8 p.m. PT.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Owen Hargreaves - Fitness Videos
Lots of rumours about Owen Hargreaves coming back to Canada to play in Major League Soccer can be found. We even posted some stories last week. And with Toronto FC signing two more designated players, and having three, it all but rules out TFC being a potential landing spot. So perhaps Vancouver could be the final destination. A lot of people have questioned whether or not he will be able to play in MLS and whether he is even fit enough. Well, he's answered those questions with the brand new Owen Hargreaves fitness videos. If he's not trying to get in shape for another season of soccer, prhaps he has a career in the fitness video industry. Below are some fine examples of his work.
If you can't get enough of the training sessions... you can find more by clicking here. It's his own personal YouTube page.
If you can't get enough of the training sessions... you can find more by clicking here. It's his own personal YouTube page.
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