Many people (the majority of them Manchester United supporters) have quickly come to the assumption that Manchester City's takeover by the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group will lead to the "death" of competition in football.

It won't.

While City have already tabled and been successful in audatious bids for certain players, chief among them Brazilian star Robinho from Real Madrid, it is going to prove difficult for City to attract star players, and even more difficult to make those star players act as a cohesive unit as Real Madrid and Chelsea have found out in the past.

If Mark Hughes is intelligent he'll encourge the new owners to invest in City's recently effective youth scheme, which has produced players such as Micah Richards, Michael Johnson, Kasper Schmeichel, Ched Evans, and Nedum Onuoha. A strong youth system is what has helped Manchester United to dominate the Premier League.

City will certainly become competitive in the league now, which is good for football, not bad for it. In the 90's and early 00's the Premiership was very much a two horse race out with Blackburn's blaze of glory funded by the late Jack Walker's millions. With Chelsea and Liverpool finding recent success it has become more of a competition, adding City to the mix will only make that more interesting.

DC United defeated the Charleston Battery 2-1 in the US Open Cup final on Wednesday night to claim their second Open Cup crown.

The match between two of the more tradional sides in the American game got off to a fast start with DC scoring quickly and Charleston wasting no time in finding an equalizer.

It was the introduction of Fred late in the first half that would change the game. Just after half time the substitute found his way through the Charleston defense to put DC ahead, a lead they would not relenquish despite spirited play from the South Carolina side.

The match was not without controversy however as Charleston had a stoppage time equalizer disallowed for offside, replays disagreed with the decision.

Elsewhere the Puerto Rico Islanders scored twice at the death to get by Costa Rica's Alajuelense. The Costa Ricans went ahead early but the Islanders kept their cool in order to find the two goals they needed to qualify for the group stage. The result gives the USL, two, as many teams in the Champions League as MLS. Marathon of Honduras and Cruz Azul of Mexico also advanced.

The final two preliminary matches take place tonight as Jalapa look to defend their slim lead over San Francisco in Panama, and Pumas take on Harbour View in a one-legged affair followed the cancelation of the first leg due to Hurricane Gustav.

"It's our pre-season" was the excuse uttered by Major League Soccer apologists to explain the league's ineptitude in the old CONCACAF Champions Cup that often ran between February and May. "It'd be a different story if it was in our mid-season" they said.

They were wrong.

Very wrong. MLS heaped shame upon American soccer on Tuesday by failing to beat teams from Panama and Trinidad & Tobago when Tauro eased by Chivas USA and Joe Public laid an impressive beating on the kings of choke, the New England Revolution. But what happened Tuesday night in Foxborough was not a choke-job, it was a full scale massacre. The Revs were humbled 4-0 by Joe Public, 6-1 on aggregate, Gregory Richardson hit a hat-trick for Mike McComie's charges.

Joe Public finished the 2007 TT Pro League season in third place, good enough to qualify for the CFU Club Championship, a regional competiton that determines the Caribbean's three representatives in the CONCACAF feature. This year hasn't gone quite as swimmingly for the Eastern Lions as the Macoya-based side currently find themselves sixth.

Many will point to New England's injuries and claim that as the reason for New England's loss, but what injuries can't account for is a lack of heart, a lack of desire from eleven men who are paid to play a game that billions of us play for free everyday. This type of flat, lifeless performance from professionals is simply inexcusable.

Chivas USA did manage to save a bit of face for the league, while they were beaten by Panama's Tauro, they did fight. Tauro do seem a respectable side, they finished second in Panama's ANAPROF to San Francisco who face an uphill battle to join them in the group stages as they currently trail Guatemala's Jalapa 1-0 on aggregate.

The happiest man in America tonight is United Soccer Leagues President Francisco Marcos. Marcos was sure to be watching as the USL's Montreal Impact managed a 0-0 draw away to Real Esteli in Nicaragua which after their 1-0 win at Stade Saputo assured the USL a presence in the group stage. 

Tomorrow should prove to be an interesting day at MLS HQ in New York City, and Thursday could prove even more interesting if the Puerto Rico Islanders can manage to get by Costa Rican giants Alajuelense tomorrow. But the big match will be at RFK Stadium in Washington as DC United face the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup. DC are the darlings of MLS, and Charleston are one of the USL's most respected, and most senior clubs. Yes, tomorrow will be interesting.

On August 26th the long awaited CONCACAF Champions League kicked off for the first time. There have been rumors of a CONCACAF competition modeled on the famed UEFA Champions League for some time now, but now the rumors are finally a reality.

The competition features 24 clubs: 4 Mexican, 4 American, 2 Costa Rican, 2 Salvadorian, 2 Guatemalan, 2 Panamanian, 2 Honduran, 1 Belizean, 1 Canadian, 1 Nicaraguan, and 3 from the Caribbean Football Union (the CFU).

New Boys

While many of the household names are in the tournement, it's interesting to note a few lesser known teams who have found their way in. Among them are the Montreal Impact, a Canadian club playing in the United Soccer Leagues First Division, or the second tier of American soccer. The Impact qualified through the newly formed Canadian Championship, a three team cup featuring Canada's three professional clubs. The other two clubs taking part in the Canadian Championship were Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Championship may be expanded in future years to include more teams. It should be noted that Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CCL via MLS as the four American spots are allocated to the US Soccer Federation and not Major League Soccer.

Montreal are not the only USL team in the competition, they're joined by the Puerto Rico Islanders who took a long and winding road to reach the qualifying round. The Islanders qualified as one of three CFU representives, but didn't find out until very late. In the old CONCACAF Champions Cup the CFU could only qualify it's Champion to be represented in the tournement, therefore Puerto Rico thought they had come up short by only reaching the semi-final. However a third place playoff was played to determine the final spot, which Puerto Rico claimed. Puerto Rico qualifies for the CFU Champions Cup through it's reserve team, Seville FC Bayamon (formerly Islanders B), who play in Puerto Rico's newly formed Puerto Rican Soccer League.

Guatemalan club Deportivo Jalapa are also on their maiden voyage to international waters. The club from Southern Guatemala won the Liga Nacional for the first time in 2007.

This is also a first international trip for Chivas USA. The 2007 MLS regular season runners-up will try to win the cup in the absence of their Mexican counterpart. A point of interest is a potential matchup with Santos Laguna and former Chivas Guadalajara icon goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Old Kings seek the new throne

The first CONCACAF Champions League promises to be an intersting affair. Cruz Azul are the most successful club in North American competition, but have not claimed an international honor since 1997, can la Maquina Celeste reclaim their crown, will Saprissa shake off their recent lowlites, or will a new king come from elsewhere?

Premier League club Aston Villa recently announced a sponsorship deal for the 2008/2009 season. The deal is with local children's hospice Acorns and Villa will carry the charity's logo for free this season.

AVFC has had a relationship with Acorns since 2006 and offered the shirt sponsorship after being informed that Acorns needed to care for 1,000 more children. In making the deal Villa have passed up a rumored £2 million offer from an internet gaming company.

Club owner Randy Lerner and manager Martin O'Neill have been instumental in the club's relationship with Acorns and have expressed their pride over the sponsorship arrangment.

The deal certainly deserves praise at a time when clubs are known to pinch every penny. Villa, like Barcelona's deal with UNICEF, have shown that there are more important things than money and deserve a round of applause for their efforts.

Five clubs have applied to the SFL to replace fallen club Gretna next season.

A spot in the league opened up when Gretna failed to find a buyer after being initially relegated to the Third Division after they were unable to guarantee the ability to fulfill their 2008/09 fixtures.

Four clubs from the East of Scotland Premier League (Annan Athletic, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans), and one from the Highland League (Cove Rangers) have submitted applications.

Two further clubs; Gala Fairydean (of the EoSL First Division) and former senior club Third Lanark who play in Division 3 of the Greater Glasgow Amateur League, also expressed interest only to withdraw in the 11th hour. Thirds still play at their historic home of Cathkin Park which has been reduced to a shell of it's former self while Gala play at Netherdale, an uninspiring if functional ground which has actually hosted Rugby World Cup matches.

Spartans or Edinburgh City would become the third Edinburgh-based league side, along with SPL giants Hearts and Hibs. Spartans have plans to vacate their current City Park home for a new stadium whether or not they gain entry into the league. City currently play at the 16,500-seat Meadowbank Stadium which hosted the 1970 Commonwealth Games as well as Meadowbank Thistle (now Livingston FC).

Cove Rangers, who would be Aberdeen's second club, currently play at Allen Park which may be frowned upon by SFL chiefs. However, Cove are banking on a new community owned stadium to keep their dream of senior football alive. Rangers won the Highland League this season.

East Lothian club Preston Athletic are considered one of the longshots but are confident that their grassroots approach, in stark contrast to Gretna's shooting star style, will appeal to the SFL.

The fifth club, Annan Athletic, come from the borders region. The club are currently racing to have floodlights installed in their 4,200 capacity (500 seat) stadium.

While the lights have gone out at Gretna's Raydale Park for the final time, the club will have to be remembered for it's fighting spirit. Having beat the odds time and time again the Anvils could no longer outrun reality. 

This post is inspired in large part by Bradd's post on National pride. Like Bradd I'm an American Arsenal fan.

On May 22, 2002 I was supposed to attend a highly anticipated school formal. Most everyone I knew was excited for the event with the exception of myself because on April 14th I realized I would be unable to attend. Arsenal had just beaten Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Old Trafford and the moment the final whistle blew my plans for the 22nd were set in stone, there was no way I was going to miss the final.

Fast forward to the 22nd and everyone I know all dressed up in rented tuxedos and gowns, all looking dashing and happy. Meanwhile there would be no limousine for me, and as I was only 17, there would be no pub either. But I didn't care as I sat down wearing my red Freddie Ljungberg top I could almost sense I was in for a special day of my own. Superb goals from the Romford Pele and Freddie would see that prophecy come true.

I knew then on a day where everyone was to be with the one they loved that I was with the one I loved as well.

Sorry if this bored you :)

Legendary Portuguese midfielder Rui Costa has brought an end to his illustrious career at the age of 36.

The Lisbon-born Rui Costa impressed Benfica legend Eusebio at the age of ten to win a place in the capital club's youth setup. In 1991 Costa won the youth world cup with Portugal before winning the Cup of Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese Liga in the 93/94 season with Benfica.

But it was in Italy where the cultured midfielder would become famous. In 1994 Rui Costa joined Italian giants Fiorentina where he would win two Coppa Italia championships and beat out the great Zidane to be named played of the year at his position on multiple occasions. In 2001 Rui Costa made the move north to Milan, Costa would win a plethora of honors with the Rossoneri including the UEFA Champions League.

In 2006 Costa took a sizable pay cut and returned home to Lisbon to end his career at Benfica. Made captain for his final game Rui Costa ended his career by handing his red number 10 shirt to his father.

Rui Costa -

1990-1991: AD Fafe (6 league goals)

1991-1994 & 2006-2008: SL Benfica (23 league goals, Portuguese Liga 1994, Portuguese Cup 1993)

1994-2001: Fiorentina (40 league goals, Coppa Italia 1996, 2001, SuperCoppa de Italia 1996)

2001-2006: AC Milan (7 league goals, Serie A 2004, Coppa Italia 2003, Champions League 2003, European Super Cup 2003)

1993-2004: Portugal (94 caps, 26 goals)

Boavista have been relegated as punishment for their involvement in an alleged bribery scandal, in addition FC Porto have been docked six points due to the alleged involvement.

As Panteras, champions of Portugal in 2001, were relegated following a "unanimous" decision, announced Ricardo Costa, head of the disciplinary commission. In addition to the punishment regarding league stadinings the Presidents of either club at the time of the scandal, João Loureiro for Boavista and Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa for Porto suspended for four and two years respectively.

Porto are alleged to have bribed officials during two matches, and Boavista three.