Pseudo Corner Kick

PSV midfielder DaMarcus Beasley is headed to English Premier League side Manchester City. Beasley should join fellow American Claudio Reyna in Manchester on a year-long loan, although some reports say City is looking for a permanent transfer. Either way, it’s a good move for Beasley, who was getting little playing time with PSV.

In other transfer news, Josh Wolff had his attempted move to Derby County blocked. Wolff didn’t receive the required number of national team caps to be eligible for a work permit according to UK’s rules. As the transfer window is closing and Wolff isn’t getting any younger, this was probably his last chance to make a move across the pond. Sad that Wolff didn’t get his chance…

5:08 PM UPDATE [john] :  Looks like it is a done deal! Good luck and hopefully this will help DMB regain the form that made him a fun player to watch in Korea.

It’s that time of year again…tomorrow the English Premier League kicks off its 2006-2007 season! There are no shortage of Americans involved, with as many as 11 in England’s top flight this year:

Blackburn Rovers: GK Brad Friedel

Bolton Wanderers: F Johann Smith

Charlton Athletic: D Cory Gibbs

Everton: GK Tim Howard

Fulham: D Carlos Bocanegra, F Brian McBride

Manchester City: M Claudio Reyna

Reading: GK Tim Hahnemann, M Bobby Convey

Watford: D Jay DeMerit

West Ham United: D Jonathan Spector

My laughable predictions for this year for the top 5 are:

1. Chelsea 2. Liverpool 3. Manchester United 4. Arsenal 5. Tottenham

and 3 relegated teams:

Sheffield United, Watford, and Wigan Athletic.

Interview with Grant Wahl:

SI.com: You care about the U.S. team, don’t you?

Arena: Oh yeah. They’re going to win the next World Cup, from what I’m told. So I wish them the best. Because we did so poorly over the last eight years, I’m sure they’re going to win the next World Cup.

While browsing another forum, I noticed a link to 2006 MLS salaries and took a look. Quite interesting! While the top few players on each team don’t do too bad for themselves, the bottom half of each team is pathetic. Embarassing really that MLS pays some of its players this little. The most well know story I guess is that of DC United starting keeper Troy Perkins having to work as a bank teller to make ends meet. The fact that a starting player in any league has to work another job to make decent money is beyond words. Hell, I make more money than most of these guys, and that’s not saying a lot. Maybe some of them could make more money at Stop ‘N Shop.

Time to open up the checkbook MLS…

Brian McBride

Eddie Pope

Bruce Arena

Claudio Reyna

Defender Eddie Pope announced his retirement from the United States National Team today. Pope ends his 11 year National Team career with 8 goals in 82 caps, having played in three World Cups.

I’m not afraid to admit that Pope is my favorite player of all-time and it is sad to see him go. I appreciated his quiet, stoic demeanor and the thankless work he did as a central defender. (For some reason I’ve become big fans of defenders, partly because they don’t get the accolades that the goal scorers do…my new favorite is Oguchi Onyewu.) Unfortunately, many fans’ most recent memories of Pope are of an older, slower defender on the downside of his career. I’ve always argued that he was playing much better than anyone would give him credit for, but I will admit that this past World Cup was not his best.

It is my hope, however, that everyone will remember Pope for what he really was…perhaps the greatest defender the US has ever produced. He didn’t have the hype or image of Alexi Lalas or Marcelo Balboa, but ‘Steady Eddie’ should be what defenders of the future model themselves after…quietly and consistenly getting the job done without much talk or fanfare. He had great positioning and speed to boot, as well as superior arial ability, which he often used to his advantage at the offensive end.

The future looks bright with Onyewu and Cory Gibbs, but let us not forget the contributions of Pope throughout the years. Sadly, USMNT has lost another class act on and off the field. Good luck in the future Eddie…