A few things...

A tummy ache has befallen The Distracter. Seventeen countries have their flags at half-mast. I must do this quickly, so I can make it to the magic unicorn shop before they close...

#1 - Don't look now, but Eddie Johnson has suddenly followed up a Man of the match show with his first Cardiff City goal... and my goodness, the club website is overjoyed about it!

Obviously, should I find a video, it will get its own post. Fingers crossed, I hear it was a fine swat.

#2 - Meanwhile, Landon Donovan pulled his last Bayern Munich duty, working the final 12 minutes of a 5-1 smashing of Hannover 96.

The Galaxy star came close to finally nabbing a competitive goal for the Bavarians, only to have his late volley cracker blocked by a defender near the line.

#3 - The MLS salary list (pdf link) is out already. NSC pal TJ has the top 25 here.

I have not had a chance to look this over, but I will and I smell a couple of Top 5 Lists from it.

#4 - New York trialist Alberto Celades has left camp, but it's to be with his expecting wife. He shall return.

#5 - From what I understand, Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams' wife Marcia hasn't been feeling so great lately, but the good news is the drive to find a bone marrow donor for her comes to Washington D.C. next Sunday. Ben Olsen and Eddie Pope will be at RFK to encourage people to turn out, so let's see if United fans can come to the rescue.

#6 - The U.S. Under-20 National Team opened their World Cup Qualifying Tournament with a 3-0 cruise past Jamaica at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad & Tobago.

#7 - A couple of MLS expansion news bits from opposite ends of the hope spectrum: Vancouver good & Portland bad.

#8 - In case you missed any of them, here are my S365 talks with Ljungskile's Colin Burns, St. Pats' Ryan Guy and HAGL's Lee Nguyen. More to come...

#9 - Ladies of Seattle, set your histrionics on "OMGOMGOMGOMG" because Freddie Ljungberg has arrived in town. Just kidding, Sounders fans.





- Greg Seltzer

That's Natasha... Miss Kai if you're nasty.

The Lady 'Nats booked their place in the Algarve Cup final with a 1-0 squeaker over Iceland that was decided when Natasha Kai corralled an inch perfect Christie Rampone long ball and... well, just watch. It's extra nasty coming in a scoreless game near time.





- Greg Seltzer

Oh yes... I shall have it.

I really have nothing to say in this post, apart from: I gotta have this Jeff Carlisle book! Yup. Gonna buy it.

Why do I like lists so much?

Side note: Jeff reports on Center Line that Bohemians keeper Chris Konopka is on trial with the Earthquakes and that Seattle's Qwest Field will host MLS Cup, as has been rumoured. If I recall correctly, the young netminder officially runs out of contract with the Irish champs next week.

UPDATE: Or perhaps Konopka chose not to re-sign?

I'd say Jeff is having a damn fine week.

- Greg Seltzer

Donovan in, Beckham out-ish

As Landon Donovan gets set for his final Bayern Munich match, reports from England (take that as you like) claim AC Milan has finally struck this odd David Beckham "timeshare" agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy (read: MLS).

Side note: With Tim Borowski, Franck Ribéry, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luca Toni all in doubt, and Mark van Bommel suspended, I would actually not be at all stunned to see Landon get the start against Hannover 96 tomorrow. Even if he only gets 15 minutes, I hope he scores twice. I really do.

Oh, I'm sure happy money will change hands and the players will try their best on March 10th, but don't we all feel rather bummed after watching serial #1 and downright dirty after watching serial #2? Are we entirely sure that all free MLS pub is good MLS pub?

The players are unsettled. The Galaxy are unsettled. The fans are annoyed. Ticket agendas/prices/sales have been delayed, and now must in some cases be redone. The league is surely already scrambling to come up with a save face plan.

I can't help but wonder if Bayern would have signed off on a loan through the end of the season, so Donovan wasn't squeezed into making an immediate splash to earn an offer. And I wonder why, if Carlo Ancelotti didn't intend to play Beckham pre-arrival, did MLS allow him to appear in matches, unlike last year's offseason training stint with Arsenal?

For a league with such a strict transfer system and history of fee hard lines at the negotiating table, you'd think they wouldn't be so flimsy with this duel-ordeal. You'd think they'd have thought of all the awful contingencies ahead of time. Instead, it seemed they had no plan, it seemed they just made it up as they went.

So yes, I am now fully against the two-month loans out of MLS. They really aren't fair to anyone, truth be told. With the exception of Donovan, who I think was treated most shabbily, every party should have had more class.

Beckham/MLS shouldn't make promises they can't or don't intend to keep, Milan is... well... an oddly-run Serie A team and I don't even know now what Bayern were doing. I've also wondered if the Galaxy haven't been taken for a ride as well, but in the end, they supposedly have the power to put their foot down. Maybe they were cajoled, but that just makes them cajole-able.

For crying out loud, the infamous Cuauhtémoc Blanco successfully pulled off one of these without hitch or hiccup. Yes, you've all been made to look comparatively silly by Mr. White. Now, Donovan comes back disappointed, while Beckham will be of no use to L.A. until July, when he returns briefly as public enemy #23.

Of course, I say this and let's just watch as the Galaxy win MLS Cup this fall, giving the bumblers "I told you so" privileges.

So I got one wrong (LD not coming back) and one partially wrong (DB coming back). I got a 25, not super. Then again... my first mistake was trying to be rational about it all.

Seriously, what the hell were they all thinking?


- Greg Seltzer

Arnold the Green Red

Hannover 96 right-siders Steve Cherundolo and Sal Zizzo have presented California govern-ator Arnold Schwarzenegger with both an environmental ribbon of some sort and a Reds shirt.

Ain't it grand, boys?


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

I gotta move quickly today, must hit the tram to go to my game in an hour. And when I get back, I will be thoroughly and unapologetically Distracter-ed...

#1 - It appears that San Jose have been medically deprived of signing former Crystal Palace midfield stylist Aki Riihilahti (pop a peanut/peanut butter M&M in your mouth, then say that name fast five times... and then go find the M&M before ants get wise).

After releasing Ned Grabavoy (who is now with RSL... good stuff) to officially make room for the veteran midfielder, San Jose learned that Riihilahti's physical came back with a big red "F".

Oops.

The good news for Quakes fans is good ol' Simon Elliott is still hanging around camp. Pity, though... I was looking forward to seeing Riihilahti in that revamped Quakes attack.

#2 - Former New York defender Jeff Parke was not offered a contract by Belgian leaders Anderlecht, but has moved on to trial at 12th Mons. My Spidey Sense tells me this club will make an offer.

#3 - Speaking of the Red Bulls, they now have Costa Rica defender Carlos Johnson (who last played with American Chris Rodd at Norwegian second flighters Bryne) in camp.

#4 - Bruce Arena... one-liner machine. Good find, Chris Courtney!

UPDATE: This actually came from an L.A. Times bit.

#5 - On the heels of a harsh CONCACAF Champions League ouster to Atlante, Houston have been forced to let defender Eddie Robinson under the knife. No word yet on when he'll be back from the knee surgery.

Meanwhile, USL side Puerto Rico has reached the semifinals (highlight video), and Montreal will try to close out their ticket against Santos Laguna tonight.

#6 - There's been a lot of buzz to the contrary, but St. Louis United bid honcho Jeff Cooper says he thinks they will get one of the next two MLS expansion teams.

I sure hope you're right, Jeff. The league needs a St. Louis presence.

#7 - Brazilian mega-star Ronaldo returned from a year-plus injury layoff last night. He made a substitute appearance, his knee checked out fine... and then he got bipped in the eye with a microphone in the post-match media swarm. What a night!




- Greg Seltzer

Zimmerman heating up

[Photo: KSV Superfund]

Kapfenburg SV striker Preston Zimmerman has scored again, this one in a losing Stiegl-Cup cause on Tuesday night. The American entered at the break and had his side level in only a minute, netting his second in three games.

Zimmerman would nearly put his side ahead moments later, but the Superfund boys eventually fell 2-1 on a late goal by second flight leaders SC Magna.

I will continue to search for a video clip, but let us not hold our breaths on this one.

Though he did not score, a special shout goes to Cardiff loan forward Eddie Johnson, who put in a superb Man of the Match showing in their 3-1 Tuesday win over Barnsley.

- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

I think MLS should go up for the part of the lion in any new revival of The Wiz. They sure can tapdance...

#1 - Finally, someone shouts down the Henny Penny crowd over Freddy Adu's career. Thank you, Greg Lalas.

The Sports Illustrated ace also gets outgoing Monaco chief/Ameri-phile Jérôme De Bontin to admit that, yes, he also tried to land the USMNT midfield trio of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu and Sacha Kljestan last summer.

#2 - The injury that forced Watford skipper Jay DeMerit off this weekend does not appear to be serious, but he may miss tonight's clash at Plymouth.

#3 - Ever wish Clint Dempsey would get back to the studio for another cut? You will get your wish if Fulham reach the FA Cup final, vows MC Deuce.

#4 -I'd been hearing birdie chatter for a few weeks that Schalke may try to nab DaMarcus Beasley from Rangers again this summer, and now a German report claims the USMNT star is one of two options for the Miners (who expect to lose Ivan Rakitić to Serie A at season's end).

I still find it amusing how certain types of ardent MLS boosters insist da Bease should come home when he's being chased by big Bundesliga sides and La Liga battlers.

He will return one day, but I can't even imagine a scenario where it happens anytime soon.

#5 - Expect several bits by me over at Soccer365 this week. What can I say? I'm the curious type, I always have questions.

So I'll be talking with (or have already talked with) RSL defender Nat Borchers, Ljungskile keeper Colin Burns, Rangers midfielder Mo Edu and HAGL recruit Lee Nguyen. A new Euro-Top 10 drops late Wednesday or Thursday.

First up? St. Pat's attacker Ryan Guy, who is quite the happy newlywed, on on Wednesday.

#6 - Jeff Carlisle reports that San Jose will apparently release midfielder Ned Grabavoy when the additions of Aki Riihilahti and Chris Leitch become official this week.

Wow... this could be a nice pick-up for several teams.

#7 - N.Y Post all-star Brian Lewis blogs a few tidy things of his own: the Red Bulls are liking trial defender Alberto Celades, Jeff Parke is on trial at Anderlecht (!) and Les Mauves apparently also want to check out NYRB academy midfield stud Dilly Duka.

[Dick Vitale personage]Now, THAT's a blog post, baby!!![/Dick Vitale personage]

As you might imagine, I will be on the phone to Belgium tomorrow.

#8 - Guyana's Stabriek News claims striker Gregory Richardson has struck a deal with Colorado. Well done (reportedly), Rapids. Now, you just have to find ways to keep him warm.

#9 - Soccer Insider Steven Goff says Valencia look the best bet to be the MLS All-Star Game opponent this summer.

#10 - Hilarious/foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay has been telling pork pies about his "football career" - including the whopper that he played for Rangers three times before a crushing injury ended his pro playing days.

Gordo... dude... how did you think you'd get by with that one?

Oh well, I still like that show where you go into failing restaurants and turn it around by sandblasting the owner and staff. Priceless.

#11 - I mention something about the similarities between soccer and ice hockey, and suddenly, it happened...





More things later...

- Greg Seltzer

Beware the Night Fox, David Beckham

Well... it looks like David Beckham will have his AC Milan loan extended until the end of the Serie A season, then will return to Los Angeles Galaxy duty on July 15th, missing "his club's" first 17 MLS games.

Oh, I'm sure some will find this a great compromise to a tense situation. I'd rather call it The Great Cop-Out. He should either come back March 9th and play the 2009 MLS season or the Galaxy should have the chutzpah to send him packing.

Instead, he will wage a futile title chase in the bruising Italian league, and if he does not get injured, come back to close out his Galaxy days as the villain (how smart is that?) before brandishing his get out of MLS free card (a contract clause) to re-join the Rossoneri.

I'm sorry, I don't see the point in this arrangement. It seems like no one in this ordeal has the guts to make a proper decision, so they've all essentially been folding napkin swans in law offices for weeks only to decide on a messy custody share.

As for the title... he's staying in Clooney's Como vila.


- Greg Seltzer

Who likes goals?

Quick question: do any of your co-workers look at you funny after a succession of loud men shout excitably in foreign languages from your computer every Monday morning? Hmmm...

Let's start with Nancy's Julian Féret, who puts an awful lot of je ne sais quoi on a 4-1 consolation goal against PSG.



Vitesse's Dalibor Stevanovič smashes home a terrific takedown helper from Lasse Nilsson.



Saint Etienne's Daisuke Matsui is Dr. Evil's favorite player because he's like a shark with a frickin' laser beam on its head.



Who knew Everton had a fit striker? (alternate caption: We have a Louis Saha sighting! I repeat, we have eyes on Louis Saha!)



There were several fine free kicks this weekend. I have chose Lazio's Mauro Zárate to represent the restarts because the nastiness on his left the keeper with no chance at all.



Of course, we can't ignore the derby dagger of Catania's Giuseppe Mascara.



Finally, I was gonna post Thierry Henry's early curler, then figured why not show all seven goals from Atlético Madrid's rousing rally upset of Barcelona? So here they are...



- Greg Seltzer