Fighting Talker

Let’s keep this one short and simple… DC needs a goalkeeper. Who will it be, Matt Pickens, that random Monagasque guy, or someone we haven’t thought of? Consider this an open thread and discuss amongst yourselves.

According to a British web site, Carlos Bocanegra has been signed by French club Rennes for three years. Last season Rennes finished sixth in League 1 and qualified for the Intertoto Cup. Rennes currently features former Premiership players Sylvain Wiltord and Bruno Cheyrou along with well-regarded Ghanaian defender John Mensah. Former Rennes players include Jocelyn Angloma, Julien Escudé, (the immortal) Stéphane Guivarch, Bernard Lama, and Mickaël Silvestre.

Assuming that he gets regular starts, I like this move for Boca. He’ll be back playing in Europe, and Rennes look fairly safe in getting to the UEFA Cup, only needing to beat Tavriya Simferopol (Ukraine), MIKA (Armenia), or Tiraspol (Moldova) to get there. If he can’t get on the field there, then it presents a big problem. Hopefully he and his management have recieved assurances that he will be playing rather than sitting.

As much as it pains Sir Alex and co., Manchester United is going to have to let Ronaldo go unless they want to risk long term damage to their club and reputation. As EPL Talk says, it’s really obvious he wants to go and when a player of his calibre wants to move, he’ll get his way. It’s the way of the soccer world right now.

Sure United could refuse any offers, but then Ronaldo could pout or get injured thus slashing his value enormously. United could also conceivably hold on to him, but bolt his rear to the bench. That would damage the club’s reputation among players and agents who wouldn’t want their careers slashed and burned by the Scotsman.

You hope that someone at United has the ability to veto Ferguson if he does have this “nuclear” option in mind. Someone has to prevent him from cutting off his own bulbous nose in spite of his very purple face.

Arsenal has signed the young Welsh prospect Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff city for about £5M. Arsenal signed him from under the noses of both Manchester United and Everton? Here’s how they did it. (more…)

I hope I speak for all Arsenal fans when I say:

I am feeling pretty good about Arsenal’s apparent impending signing of French international Samir Nasri from Marseilles. I’ll admit, I dunno much about him. But from all I’ve read, he looks like a real star in the making and one who is a bit more agressive and assertive than our recent wing-side poodles like Hleb and Rosicky. Nasri highlights after the jump. (more…)

Today the LA Times is relaying Argentinian reports that MLS has made a $15M offer for Argentinian #10 Juan Roman Riquelme. The author doesn’t appear to give them too much credence though.

The latest rumor to surface was Tuesday when Telam, Argentina’s official news agency, reported that MLS had made an offer of $15 million to attacking midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme to head north.

Considering that Riquelme is only 29, is still an influential figure on Argentina’s national team, will be going to Beijing to take part in the Olympic Games, and is in fine form with Boca Juniors, the chances of him coming to MLS any time soon would seem to be slight.

This actually seems more reasonable to me. His career has stalled in Europe and he is currently in his second stint at Boca Juniors. Is it possible that MLS is prepared to pay him more than Boca or a European suitor? I think so. I will poke around a bit, but I have a feeling that this might just be more than an agent blowing smoke.

We shall see.

Apparently, Kansas City.

Really…

I’ll believe it when I see it. Since when does KC actually sign someone interesting?

This isn’t the MLS I once knew. No sir.