Objectivo.com

GOALKEEPERS: Guillermo Ochoa (Club América), Luís Ernesto Michel (CD Guadalajara), Moisés Muñoz (Morelia)

DEFENDERS: Rafael Márquez (FC Barcelona / SPA), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven / HOL), Johnny Magallón (CD Guadalajara), Fausto Pinto (Pachuca), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Oscar Rojas (América)

MIDFIELDERS: Pavel Pardo (VFB Stuttgart / GER), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Francisco Arce (Santos Laguna), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo la Coruna / SPA), Antonio Naelson (Toluca)

FORWARDS: Giovani Dos Santos (FC Barcelona / SPA), Carlos Vela (Osasuna), Juan Carlos Cacho (Pachuca), Adolfo Bautista (Jaguares de Chiapas), Antonio de Nigris (Ankaraspor / TUR)

Bob Bradley has yet to announce his US squad, although I doubt and hope that it will not be the strongest side. He should pick a fairly youthful and non-European based players that should be prepared for the future of the National Team.

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This weekend see’s this years FA Trophy 3rd round fixtures commencing with Ebbsfleet United playing host to Weymouth at Stonebridge Road. For some background information, In 1969 The Football Association introduced The FA Challenge Trophy, a knock-out competition for non-League clubs with the incentive of an appearance at Wembley for the finalists.

After recently being taken over, a new vision is being created at Weymouth, as it has at Ebbsfleet. Yet both teams see themselves at opposite ends of the Blue Square table, which come Saturday will not count for anything as it’s a different competition altogether.

The visitors go into this game, with only 1 win in their last 5 games, and only one win in their previous 6 travels. In their last outing they were unlucky to lose 3-2 away to Rushden, where individual errors from set plays cost them. If the Weymouth squad can solve their set play woes, they might push the Fleet at Stonebridge Road. As well, Weymouth has replaced their gaffer this week and no doubt this will get the Terras all fired up for this game, and we can expect a real battle as Weymouth look to start their new era with a bang.

Michael Malcolm will be the man to watch for the visitors, as he has scored 3 in his previous 2 games, and could become a handful for the Fleet defense.

While the Terras have struggled of late, the Fleet will be up for the challenge. The Fleet go into this game as clear favorites to progress after defeating Burton Albion last weekend, ending their unbeaten away run. Confidence is high at Stonebridge Road and so it should be, unbeaten in 9 games is an achievement in itself, and the team will be comfortable of extending that run.

By: Christopher Chantland

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I love the commentary from the great Alan Parry. "He is truly a gift from Heaven, whatever he touches turns to gold."

Where does this free kick rank in the best free kicks of all time. It might not be a Roberto Carlos effort, but is it close to it?

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And why McClaren was wrong to drop him after the World Cup. Fabio Capello, the new coach of the English national team, has not selected David Beckham for the upcoming friendly against Switzerland. Golden Balls therefore misses the chance to gain his hundredth cap for England, missing out on joining a select band of players to have done so. They said Capello was tough and this decision shows just how strong-minded he is. It is absolutely the right thing to do. Beckham has not played a competitive game since November. He is, no doubt, retaining his extraordinary fitness by working out with Arsenal but he cannot be match fit. Capello has promised Beckham he will continue to fit into his plans once he gets some games under his belt in the MLS season. What a contrast with McClaren, the previous coach. McClaren, in a pattern he would go on to consistently display, dropped Becks after the World Cup because the media needed a scapegoat for England's poor performance. Beckham was actually one of the better England players in that tournament and did not deserve such treatment. It's great to have Capello at the helm even if it's a couple of years too late.
I also really like his appointment of Stuart Pearce as assistant. Pearce will continue to concentrate on the U-21 team but will also be involved in the senior games. That should shut the Little Englanders up for a while. Pearce has the talent and the desire to be a national team coach and his involvement should be warmly welcomed.

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David Beckham has some new tattoos on his other forearm that are apparently inspired by a character on the hit T.V. show “Prisonbreak”.

Becks' New Ink

Michael Scofield, the character in Prison Break has his entire body covered in tattoos that had helped his character and his brother break out of jail. David Beckham liked the Hindi like tattoo so much, that he decided to copy it and place it on his forearm. The only problem with his tattoo in that area is that it was supposed to be reserved for a daughter that he wanted to have allegedly. Maybe he has something else planned, but in any case, that forearm has another purpose, supporting a T.V. show.

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The New USA Jersey

So here is the New National Team Jersey for the year of 2008. There isn’t a collar, which I usually like on a kit, yet I do like the hoops because of the change of pace.

What’s your opinion on the new US kit? Does it look like a proper National Team jersey?

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Andrew Jacobson, the Latest MLS Draftee
to Leave for a Foreign League

Here’s a good question: If there isn't a guarantee that a drafted player will stick around, or at least leave the team that drafts him with a transfer fee or a future draft pick or something, why have a draft at all?

If the MLS wants to prioritize developing American talent (either to increase the level of domestic talent in MLS or to send more US players aboard and build our international reputation) they need to invest in these players. That means raising the minimum salaries and successfully developing or exposing young talent and sending them abroad at the right time. Yet, the MLS is very restrictive in the instances in which they allow certain players to leave. Thus, signing a contract quickly after or before the draft doesn’t ensure the player of having the best situation to succeed in football.

Maybe I'm way off on this, or just don't get the draft, but it all seems like a lot of work and expense for nothing. No other league in the world host’s a draft for players coming out of their University or for kids reaching the age of eighteen. The MLS should coordinate with the NCAA for a time period after a player decides he is leaving college, when he can sign with MLS teams, or another professional team. This will ensure that a player will be playing in the MLS or if he decides he wants to play abroad, he can make inquires into that.

That might not be the best solution, and it might not be the solution at all, but something new and different needs to be installed before this happens on a more massive scale? What are your thoughts on the matter?

By: Christopher Chantland

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Good Luck Eddie!

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Liam Daish has handed 22-year-old left back Nathan Simpson a trial. A former Crystal Palace youth member, Simpson has also featured for Dulwich Hamlet, Bromley, Tooting & Mitcham, Worthing, Harrow Borough and has played Conference football at St Albans City. He has also played 10 games for Dorchester Town this season.

Simpson may be handed an opportunity to impress at Stonbridge Road on Tuesday night in the Kent Senior Cup game against Dartford.

Ebbsfleet Utd. 2-1 Burton (Weekend Result)

Our club celebrated its official takeover of the club with a victory over Burton on the weekend. Goals by Neil Barret and John Akinde sealed the three points for the “Fleet”.

Barrett opened the scoring after 13 minutes and then we doubled our lead in the 68th minute when John Akinde steered past Kevin Poole.

Daryl Clare's late effort proved little consolation for Burton.

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Jozy Altidore Put in Another
Strong Performance

Yes, I watch all USMNT matches: 65.85%
No, it was two b-sides playing: 19.51%
Had other things going on: 14.63%

The match between Sweden and the United States wasn’t ever going to be a great match, with both sides fielding many second team players. It was an interesting match, not because Landon Donovan broke the goal scoring mark, but because some of our future US International’s were playing in the match. When I discussed the match on Marcelo Balboa’s radio show last week, he agreed that the young players experience is what is important in these sorts of matches. Another good result on a poll, check out the new one on the headlines page.

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A funny incident occurred in this weekend's match between Sheffield Utd. and Manchester City. Some balloons got on the pitch, which is a somewhat normal occurrence, but they usually don’t contribute to the other team scoring a goal. Have a laugh watching this, unless you’re a Manchester City fan.

By: Christopher Chantland

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Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 6-8PM (MST)

Tuesday’s Nights Guests include:

-Colin Clark: Midfielder for the Colorado Rapids
-Mac Howell: Manager of Community Relations for the Colorado Predators

What’s on Tap for Discussion?

-African Nations Cup
-MLS Team Transfer Market/New Signings
- Jaime Moreno Signs Two Year Deal with D.C. United
-International Updates

Objectivo & FTP Polls:

-Objectivo Poll Result: Did the US match against Sweeden capture your interest?
-New Poll: After all of the moves Fulham made, will they stay in the Premiership?

American Soccer Question of the Week:

Who was the first American to score a hat-trick in the World Cup?
(First listener to email support@objectivo.com, wins a free football inspired t-shirt from Objectivo Apparel).

Be part of the Radio Colorado Network, call the show at these numbers:

Call: 1-800-531-3815 or 1-303-485-2152

Listen on: AM-1060 in Denver
AM-1580 in Colorado Springs
AM-610 in Vail
AM-1450 in Buena Vista
www.radiocoloradonetwork.com

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Brad Pit of Soccer?

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Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley has been having a wonderful year in the Eredivisie. He took some time to talk about his past year playing in the Dutch league and on the US Men's national side. You can here it here at usscoccer.com.

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We here at Objectivo.com would like to thank Chris Tucker and his wife for bringing us this story. As well, we’d like to thank all the men and women in uniform, who everyday put their life on the line for our way of life, and the greater good of our nation. This story is just another example that the only thing that binds the world together isn't language, religion, or ethnicity, but this beautiful game we love!

Excited Iraqi Children Ready to Play With their New Equipment

Nearly a hundred eager Iraqi children scrambled towards me as four other Marines and I struggled to quickly hand out soccer balls, t-shirts and cleats to the squirming crowd. Each child that received one beamed, as if they had been given the best gift in the world. They were so grateful that they immediately took pictures with us, shook our hands, and gave us more tea and bread than we could possibly eat.

I am a combat medic with the Marine Corps and I have been deployed here in Camp Fallujah since last August. My time here has consisted mostly of going out into the cities on missions with a group of engineers. That means that I have gotten to spend a lot of my time with the Iraqi people. The kids over there spend their time going to segregated schools and shepherding to protect their family’s sheep. They all love playing soccer, but all they have to use as equipment, they find on the side of their roads. Whether it would be a rock, some trash, or a piece of wood, they use what they have.

Thanks to Mark Bodmer and the soccer ball drive that he set up, we were able to hand out real soccer balls to these kids. It means the world to them to receive things like that from people that they don’t even know. We may not be able to take away all of the hardships that they have and still do endure in their lives, but we can add some joy to their daily routines. It may seem like just a soccer ball to us, but to them it means so much more.

Seeing the joy on their faces and getting to play with these Iraqi children has changed me forever. These kids live in darkness and something as simple as a soccer ball brightens their life. Their hearts are full of gratitude, joy, and hope, something we should all aspire to possess. So, thank you, Mark, and all of you that contributed for making a difference in these kids lives and mine as well.

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Well it was a busy week at Ebbsfleet United, and the club has accomplished some new functionality. We are now entering phasethree of the MyFootballClub site build, the club-operating website.

Team Selector/Match Reports
We have made a modified team selector so that the members all can vote on who should be starting, where on the field, and what formation the squad will be playing. We will see the match reports from the last six games thus integrating new stats and a grading system by the manager so that everyone will be able to judge the player before putting him on the pitch.

Forum/Chatroom
We also updated our forum section on the website. Each area of the football club has its own forum, and this will enable members to concentrate on topics which interest them. It will also make the forums easier to navigate and more focused, making it easier for members to share and develop ideas. If the forums are not immediate enough, there is a separate chatroom for a more conversational network.

Shop
The shop is now supplying Ebbsfleet United T-shirts, polos, hoodies, fleeces and spray jackets. As before, fifteen dollars from every purchase goes into the MyFootballClub Trust fund.

By: Christopher Chantland

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Havant & Waterlooville is the last non-league team left in the FA Cup. They completed their fairytale win against Swansea, whom is some sixty places above Havant & Waterlooville, in the third round replay on their home ground. Havant & Waterlooville drew Liverpool away at Anfield, ensuring a big pay day and a dream for the non-league players. While this is an amazing situation, an even more extraordinary and personal story is surrounding the club.

Justin Gregory

Justin Gregory, a defender on Havant & Waterlooville, picked up his fifth yellow card in the competition, thus suspending him from his dream match against Liverpool. Gregory, a lifetime Liverpool fan, was tremendously disappointed when he was told of the news that he would have to miss out on a once in a lifetime chance. The club had a brilliant idea to move a fixture up in the league, having Justin sit out that match, thus serving his suspension, and allowing Justin to play on Saturday. Yet the Football Association reared its ugly head and told the club they couldn’t substitute an FA Cup match, with League match. But that wasn’t the end of this story.

While listening to the radio station Talksport in England, there was uproar of people, including Liverpool fans, which called and petitioned the Football Association about Justin’s situation. The Football Association responded by allowing for an appeal to possibly happen after the league match, which took place last night. Before the match, the radio station interviewed Justin and his manager, both of whom were in great spirits after the outpouring of support from the people in England.

The match started and everything was proceeding to plan, until one of the four large floodlights decided to turn off. The referee suspended the match for ten minutes in the hope that the match could continue. As well, both managers agreed that they would continue to play with only three lights, but the referee wouldn’t allow it. Thus, the final whistle was blown for the match and on Justin Gregory’s shot of walking out onto the pitch at Anfield.

You can here the post match interview with the very disappointed Justin Gregory here.

By: Christopher Chantland

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Eddie Johnson is the new addition to Fulhamerica over in the English Premier League.

Eddie Johnson on the Move

Johnson now makes the fifth American on Fulham’s books, and looks to be another American about to be playing in the Championship. Fulham are sitting nineteenth out of twenty places and have only taken fifteen points out of twenty three matches, and hasn’t won an away match for over a calendar year. Yet, it isn’t an entirely bad situation for Eddie Johnson, nor was it a bad move for Eddie to make the jump now.

If Fulham is relegated into the Championship, Soccer by Ives has released information that the club will not be shy in spending money next year and push for the club to be promoted the year following. Johnson also is great friends with Clint Dempsey and if they can form a good strike partnership, it will benefit not only Fulham but the US National Team as well.

So what’s your opinion on the Johnson transfer ?

By: Christopher Chantland

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Taylor Twellman: Frustrated with
his Situation

Yes: 66.67%
No: 28.07%
Only for more money: 5.26%

Taylor Twellman should be allowed to do as he pleases, although I am not sure that moving to the Championship would be the answer. If Twellman was moving to a top side in the Championship, it might make more sense to move, yet at Preston North End, they are in the relegation zone. As well, Stevie Nicol and Paul Mariner are quality managers, and playing for them for one more season, could only benefit him. If Twellman keeps playing the way he has the last few seasons, he can make his move next year, and to a better side.

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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 6-8PM (MST)

Tuesday’s Nights Guests include: