A few things...

[Photo: Digitalsport]

I want another day off - my first official whine of 2009.

#1 - Joining the likes of Bobby Boswell and Freddy Adu, Vålerenga keeper Troy Perkins now has a blog up at the club's official website. In this edition, he talks about spending the holidays in Norway.

Of course, that pic above is a bit ironic considering Perkins will report to the Home Depot Center in California on Sunday for international duty. If you ask me, he should start the Sweden match, if not play the full 90.

#2 - I just realized this post makes back-to-back A few things... 's.

I'd apologize, but actually maybe we should just make it an annual January 2nd tradition.

Anyway, I still hope to have some real goodies over at Soccer365 next week (such as that Jimmy Conrad chat I mentioned), but I will definitely have my All-American team for 2008 up on Monday morning. Yep, every USMNT-eligible player is in the running by position, regardless of league. I've yet to decide the formation, but this should be fun.

#3 - NSC pal and guitar guru Chris Courtney lists some things to watch for in 2009, and then takes one last video look back to the year that was, over at Letters From Vagabondia.

#4 - Another NSC favorite, Luis Bueno, makes five predictions for 2009 - including a U.S. v Mexico whopper - over at Sports Illustrated.

#5 - The Herald talks to Dynamo playmaker Stuart Holden about his USMNT loyalties and whether he'd like to play in the UK again. The Scottish-born youngster says he's true Red, White & Blue.

#6 - It looks as though Trinidad & Tobago midfielder Chris Birchall is set to sign with MLS. San Jose has been rumoured to be his landing spot. That would be a very nice pick-up for Frank Yallop and the Quakes. This guys works very hard in the middle of the park.

Speaking of CONCACAF stars on the move, CD Guadalajara are trying to snag fast Spurs outcast Giovanni Dos Santos. Somebody needs to give this kid playing time. Isn't it funny? The longstanding "next big hope" for both the USMNT and Mexico can't get regular action.

#7 - For what it's worth: Standard winger Axel Witsel - a hot transfer topic himself - says Oguchi Onyewu will stay at Sclessin for the rest of the season and leave on a free transfer next summer.

Well... everyone at Standard seems sure he will finish the campaign in red. Then again, they don't make the decision. We shall see, Axel.

By the way, I love how Anderlecht are calling transfer target Ondřej Mazuch of Fiorentina 'the new Onyewu'. It doesn't matter how much you kiss his butt, guys - Standard won't sell to a title rival and you would be out-glamour-ed in summer.

Back with more in a bit...

- Greg Seltzer