Since Putin said today that he would not be going to Zurich for the decision many people are speculating that Russia has failed in its attempt to get the WC in 2018. They are saying he hates to be involved with anything that fails and if they were going to win he would most definitely be there.

Whether there is any truth to all this is yet to be known. All will be revealed tomorrow.

Edit - England are now Favourites with most bookies.

If it's in England, I will be there 100%

Yeah, I'll swim over.

You not venture down to Brazil for 2014?

Who the hell was that bulldog AMF poaching goals and wtf did he do with Jonathan Spector?

I want to, but I'll probably be in too busy because of med school.

2018 is a realistic goal to save up enough $$ for.

Few English guys I know who have been to every WC since 1998 start saving for the next WC as soon as the one they are at finishes.

Their plan:

Put £25 (it was £20 now upped it to £25) away each week for 4 years and you wind up with £5200. Little extra on the top and bobs your uncle you are on your way. They make it sound so easy when they talk about it, but I guess it works well for them.

'bobs your uncle'?

Lol, its just a saying basically meaning everything is good to go.

Eric Lichaj got the start (I believe his first in the EPL) and went the full 90 today for Aston Villa in a 2-1 win over West Brom.

Played well too. I like him a lot.

Davies update

Edson Buddle training with EPL club Birmingham City, no commitment to signing him yet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ty/9294775.stm

According to Ives, Buddle is merely training with them to keep fitness and stuff, it's not a loan or anything. Especially because Buddle would never get a work permit.

Interested to see Davies come back, and how he looks.

Davies is on the game roster for tomorrow morning's game! And even better, due to the EPL cancellations, Fox Soccer has decided to air the Sochaux game live at 11 am est. Can't wait.

Thanks for the headsup, wazzu

January camp... all players that are either young or unknown. Pick your 11:

http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/US-Men...uary-Camp.aspx

To win right now:

--------Braun------Bunbury---------
---Wondo----Bedoya----Diskerud---
-----------Larentowicz-------------
-Wallace--Ream--Gonzalez--Franklin-
--------------Rimando--------------

Going Forward

--------Agudelo----Bunbury---------
--Bedoya----Alexander----Diskerud--
---------------Cronin---------------
--Shea----Ream--Gonzalez--Franklin-
--------------Johnson--------------

Also, Stuart Holden, best player in the EPL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/b...-season-so-far

Larentowicz getting a call up is a nice surprise. He's always been somewhat impressive in the MLS. Hard working, no nonsense MF'er. Don't really think he's good enough for real international play, but at least he is getting a chance. Bradley has really been doing a good job looking at new players after the WC, which is awesome, especially for someone who has thus far been stubbornly loyal.

A lot of those other players I am not really familiar with sans the backline listed in the future (also not counting those who have played previously). Who (and when) is our next opponent?

Also it is really damn cool that we can bring in such a talented, but young, squad and only have four be from Europe. Really helps illustrate how much our "program" has grown since even the 2006 WC.

chile 1/22 is the next game

Roster for Chile Game via CNNSI:

Goalkeepers: Dominic Cervi (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Sean Johnson (Chicago), Matt Pickens (Colorado), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)

Defenders: A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Ugo Ihemelu (Dallas), Zach Loyd (Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads, Sweden), Tim Ream (New York), Anthony Wallace (Colorado), Marvell Wynne (Colorado)

Midfielders: Eric Alexander (Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Sam Cronin (San Jose), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek, Norway), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado), Dax McCarty (D.C.), Brek Shea (Dallas)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York), Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Teal Bunbury (Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz18mqzgzbc

Cervi on loan to Dundee in Scottish 1st division, maybe he will get some playing time.

Robbie Findley signed by Nottingham Forest.

At least they get some SEC Speed out of the deal, cause God knows he's not gonna score.

USA - Algeria on ESPN Classic right now, bout the 60th minute

More importantly, America Boy is blowing up Chelsea's midfield on FSC.