Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

Match Fit USA has gotten its hands on a copy of the GQ UK issue that features the Sons of Ben. Apparently, it isn’t very complimentary: “Americans, he tells GQ UK’s football savvy readers over the course of a few pages, are poseurs.” MFUSA uses the GQ UK piece to do a fine job of both analyzing and defending the emerging and still developing supporters group culture in the US. As for the Sons of Ben, I suspect they can take it.

KYW Newsradio talks to John Hackworth, who describes the leadership Faryd Mondragon has already demonstrated in the locker room and on the field. Hackworth also describes the emphasis on improving the club’s away form. The audio of the interview is here.

The Jewish Exponent profiles Zach Pfeffer and “the somewhat unusual path he’s taking for a Jewish American teen.”

From the Union website, fan favorite Sheanon Williams talks about the road traveled to the Union and the road ahead. Meanwhile, in this piece about new signings Brian Carroll, Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Valdes, Sebastien Le Toux and Danny Califf emphasize the benefits the new defensive signings will bring to the team.

“He can run, he is physically fit and he is fast, very fast. He’s a good dribbler and he crosses the ball very well, all qualities we’ve been looking for in a wide player.” So says Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson about, sigh, Shea Salinas.

MLS

Once again hitting a home run out of the marketing ballpark, the Portland Timbers and team sponsor Alaska Airways have announced a Paint the Plane contest. A Boeing 737-700 adorned in the winning design will be unveiled in the spring.

Goal.com talks to Sporting Kansas City’s Omar Bravo. For more on Sporting KC’s soon to open soccer specific stadium, you can read this terribly written piece.

Expansion teams lead the growth in overall league attendance thanks to a combination of already dedicated fanbases, motivated management organizations and appropriate facilities.

WPS

With eight players who were with 2010 league champion, and now defunct, FC Gold Pride last season including Marta, expansion team WNY Flash are already being tipped as the early favorites to take the WPS title in 2011.

NASL

More on what’s going on with the efforts of the NASL to secure Division 2 sanctioning from US Soccer. The league must be optimistic: they released their 2011 schedule and playoff format on Thursday.

Elsewhere

Goal.com previews Saturday’s Asian Cup Final between Australia and Japan. (Check your pay-per-view listings if you are interested in seeing the final.)

Fernando Torres wants a move to Chelsea.

After news emerges that Tottenham’s Gareth Bale is a £40m summer target for Inter, word comes out that Jose Mourinho wants him at Real Madrid.

SI has an overview of the recent scandal involving the now ex-Sky Sports commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray. While the FA says it has received a surge of inquiries from women interested in becoming match officials, once again Sian Massey’s next refereeing assignment is postponed due to intense media scrutiny. Meanwhile, an anti-discrimination group has produced this awesome video in answer to the assertion of Keys and Gray that women don’t know the offside rule.

Footy on the Telly™

Saturday, January 29
Everton v Chelsea, 7:30am FSC
Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich, 9:30am GolTV
Birmingham City v Coventry City, 10am FSC
Stevenage v Reading, 10am FSP
Southampton v Manchester United, 12pm FSC
Real Sociedad v Almeria, 12pm GolTV
Lazio v Fiorentina, 12pm FSP
Torquay United v Crawley Town, 2pm FSP
Kaiserslautern v Mainz, 2pm GolTV
Catania v AC Milan, 2:30pm FSC
Ponte Preta v Sao Caetano, 4:30pm GolTV

Sunday, Janaury 30
Melbourne v Gold Coast, 1am FSC
Brescia v Chievo, 6:30am FSP
Arsenal v Huddersfield Town, 7am FSC
Notts County v Manchester City, 9am FSP
Inter Milan v Palermo, 9am FSC
Atletico Madrid v Bilbao, 11am GolTV
Fulham v Tottenham, 11:30am FSC
Osasuna v Real Madrid, 1 pm GolTV
Juventus v Udinese, 2:30pm FSC
Monaco v Marseille, 3pm FSP
Santos v Sao Paulo, 3pm GolTV