Soccer: Extra Time

Soccer: Extra Time

Red Bull forward Macoumba Kandji's budding partnership with Thierry Henry started in the Barclays New York Challenge and has continued to grow in practice this week. And even though he's drawn looks from EPL clubs, his agent Richard Trafford said Kandji is focused on a title, not a transfer.
	 
"There's been a lot of interest in Mac. He's had a great weekend. He's a top player,'' Trafford said via phone from the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. "(But) he's fully focused on the New York Red Bulls, and he's fully focused on winning a championship and going to the cup with them.''
	 
Henry said "Mac has been great. He two games against Tottenham and Manchester City were amazing.''
	 
*** Keeper Bouna Coundoul has been called up to the Senegalese National Team. The Martin Luther King High School graduate is leading MLS in saves with 67, is third in the league in save percentage (77.9%) and fourth in wins and shutouts.
	 
The 28-year-old keeper got his first cap in a 3-2 victory over Mali on Nov. 17 2007, and played the entire 90 minutes vs. South Africa in the 2008 African Cup of Nations. He was among the 18 for a friendly vs. South Korea last October, and his strong season has gotten him back into the fold.
	 
*** The Red Bulls are presently renegotiating their TV contract with MSG. It has not paid any rights fees, and while the club said they plan to negotiate in good faith both GM Erik Soler and managing director Erik Stover both acknowledged the possibility of producing their own broadcast if a suitable deal can't be reached.
	 
"We have negotiations we have to get through and try to make it work and if not see if there's another platform that works well,'' Stover said. "The world feed approach is a possibility. Chivas USA has probably been the most successful example. They do their own and they're profitable off it. We're looking at that model as well.''
	 
*** Young Red Bull products Juan Agudelo and Sacir Hot both were part of the United States Under-20 National Team that advanced to the Milk Cup finals by beating Denmark 3-2 today. Agudelo, who has already been signed from their academy, played the full 90. Hot is a Fair Lawn native who captained the RBNY U16 and U18 teams, and is considered a gem of their academy program.

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Rafa Marquez's official website confirms Barca exit, tabs NYRB move

July 28, 2010 , ι By BRIAN LEWIS

Rafa Marquez's official website says he is to leave Barcelona after seven years with the Catalan giants. The website also says the 31-year-old Mexican National Team captain is expected to join the... Read on

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Red Bulls' Kandji draws EPL interest

July 28, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Red Bull forward Macoumba Kandji has reportedly drawn interest from at least four teams in England, including the two he faced in the recent Barclays New York Challenge. ESPN quotes his agent as... Read on

Red Bull forward Macoumba Kandji has reportedly drawn interest from at least four teams in England, including the two he faced in the recent Barclays New York Challenge.

ESPN quotes his agent as saying that both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest, while
	 the Sunreports that both Blackpool and Bolton are keeping tabs on Senegalese striker.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder had a goal and an assist in New York's win over Manchester City on Sunday. After that game Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure all sought Kandji out for praise.

"They were just telling me great job, you are a very good player. Keep it up and one day you'll end up in England or something like that,'' said Kandji. When asked if playing in Europe was something that he aspired to, the 24-year-old responded that it was.

"Definitely, of course. Every time I play and the other team gives me compliments I take it and use it to pump me up. That was pretty good hearing something like that from those type of players.''

Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp complimented him to the media after their tilt on Thursday, saying "The boy up front, the No. 10, was a very skilful player. He has got good ability."

He's finally starting to show that prodigious potential, but the question is will he still be in MLS when he fully realizes it, or in the Premiership?

"There have been Premier League clubs interested," agent
	 Richard Trafford told ESPN."Harry Redknapp said he liked him, the Spurs backroom staff spoke to him after the game and enquired what his situation was. Adebayor and Toure came up to him after the City game and said 'you are doing really well over here but you are the kind of player that could play in the UK'.

"Since then there have been some discussions and, obviously, Manchester City have very big targets, but they said he is one to keep an eye on. One of Crystal Palace's club agents called us and said they were very interested. Everyone wants to know what his visa situation is as well, including Blackpool.
	 
"In Europe, Olympiakos, Marseille, Paris Saint Germain, St Etienne and Lens have all called us. [There have been] two calls from Portuguese clubs and one from Atalanta in Italy, FC Copenhagen. There is a lot of interest."
	 
His visa situation is that he told the Post earlier this month that he expected to have his green card within a month and would then look into citizenship and determine whether to represent the United States or Senegal. He expressed a desire to play for the U.S.
	 
"It's easy to play with him. He's tall, he can hold the ball well, he's a great guy,'' said new teammate Thierry Henry, who has noticeably taken Kandji under his wing for mentorship since he arrived at the club on July 15.

"I saw him play before and obviously having Juan Pablo (Angel) in the club helped him, seeing the guy in training and playing with him. Mac can be very good for us. We are fortunate to have him and Juan Pablo, he showed today he's a good player and had a great game for us, an amazing game.''

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Report: Red Bulls to unveil Mexico captain Rafa Marquez on Friday

July 27, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Rafa Marquez' move to the Red Bulls is complete and he will be presented to the media on Friday, according to ESPN Deportes. Fernando Palomo reported that Marquez will have a three-year contract,... Read on

Rafa Marquez' move to the Red Bulls is complete and he will be presented to the media on Friday, according to ESPN Deportes.

Fernando Palomo reported that Marquez will have a three-year contract, with the Red Bulls holding a club option for a fourth season. You can watch video of the ESPN Deportes report
	 here.

Salary is not specified, but sources have told the Post that the salary should be in the $2.8-3 million range.

The 31-year-old Marquez has been a standout central defender for both Barcelona and Mexico, serving as captain for the latter. He has also played defensive midfielder at times for both, excelling in that role for El Tri in the recent World Cup in South Africa.

Fans can get an idea of the defensive stalwart's game in the video below.
	 
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He has been knocked down the pecking order in Barcelona, and _ with the Catalan giants both having a good pre-existing relationship with MLS and the Red Bulls, and also $576 million in debt _ it's easy to see why they would let Thierry Henry and Marquez go on free transfers. Barcelona VP of economic affairs revealed that the club spent over $622 million last year, and lost
	 over $100 million.
	 
It's also to see the genesis of their good relationship with MLS. They got got $6 million up front for their three-game tour four years ago, and after TV and sponship money they made four times as much on that money-grab, er
	 2006 tour as they had in 2003.
	 
At that time, president Joan Laporta told the Post they were looking into buying an MLS club, with acting club president Javier Sala Martins _ a Columbia economics professor _ saying "(Buying an MLS team) is a very strong possibility. We are very seriously looking at it. We have to take to the league and the owners, when and where. If we do this, we are doing this very seriously."

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Vuvuzela rage makes Italian man open fire then ram car into bar

July 27, 2010 , ι NewsCore

The vuvuzelas made him do it.An Italian man infuriated by the incessant blowing of vuvuzelas at a local bar fired a rifle then repeatedly rammed his car into the drinking den, the ANSA news agency... Read on

The vuvuzelas made him do it.
	 
An Italian man infuriated by the incessant blowing of vuvuzelas at a local bar fired a rifle then repeatedly rammed his car into the drinking den, the ANSA news agency reported yesterday. The man was being treated in a psychiatric ward after Sunday night's drama in a northern Italian village near Vicenza.
	 

	 
Exasperated by the noise from the Coco Bamboo bar, the man first fired into the air with his rifle -- but the gunshots failed to silence the crowd utilizing the plastic noisemakers, which became notorious at the recent World Cup in South Africa. The man then resorted to ramming his car into the bar several times before fleeing the scene.
	 

	 
He later turned himself in at a local hospital and was receiving treatment in the psychiatric ward. No injuries were reported among the gathered drinkers, who managed to flee the path of the crazed driver; but the building was reportedly destroyed.
	 

	 
The piercing sound of the vuvuzela is said to be reminiscent of a herd of trumpeting elephants -- and it caused much irritation as well as amusement among World Cup spectators.

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson backs Bob Bradley

July 27, 2010 , ι Sky Sports

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes United States national team coach Bob Bradley would be a success in Europe, Sky Sports reported yesterday. Bradley has been linked with the vacant... Read on

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes United States national team coach Bob Bradley would be a success in Europe, Sky Sports reported yesterday.

Bradley has been linked with the vacant managerial post at Fulham, with the Cottagers still searching for a replacement for Roy Hodgson.

Bradley has a proven track record, having cut his teeth on the American university scene and furthered himself in Major League Soccer, and a switch to England is no longer a pipe dream.

He helped to enhance his reputation still further by guiding America to the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup, with his side drawing widespread acclaim for the manner in which it went about its business.

United chief Ferguson added his voice to the growing support for Bradley Monday, saying he thought he would do well if he was offered a job in the English Premier League.

"I like Bob," Ferguson said. "I like his approach, I think he has a steely determination about him and he goes into a lot of detail in his coaching."

Ferguson has also expressed his surprise at learning that American officials have yet to offer Bradley an extension to his current deal, which is set to expire in December.

"I think he did a fantastic job and I am surprised the USA have not sprinted to his house and given him a new contract, I must say that," added Ferguson.
	 
Read more:
	 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6280773,00.html

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Report: Rafa Marquez can leave Barca for free, but only for Red Bulls

July 26, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Multiple reports in Spain and France claim Rafa Marquez will be granted a release for a free transfer out of Barcelona _ but only if he signs with the Red Bulls. The reports say the Catalan giants would demand a transfer fee should the Mexican National Team captain go anywhere else but New York.

"Within a week to ten days, we should (announce a signing),'' Red Bull coach Hans Backe said over the weekend, although never mentioning Marquez by name. "We would get a new player to play at the bottom of a diamond (midfield).''

Both Madrid-barcelona.com and insidefutbol.com are reporting Marquez' move to rejoin ex-Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry in New York is a fait accompli. Meanwhile,
	 France Footballis reporting that Barcelona would only allow the 31-year-old defender/holding midfielder to leave on a free to the Red Bulls.

Otherwise, the club would demand a transfer fee of 5 million euros, the exact same sum the club bought him for. That's noteworthy, since Seria A clubs Genoa and Juventus have shown interest in acquiring Marquez, but would then have to stump up the cash to buy him, unlike the Red Bulls.

"The one midfielder we are getting you know about,'' GM Erik Soler told the Post.

Red Bull managing director Erik Stover has literally spent years working on the Henry transfer, and the club has had a working relationship with Barcelona dating all the way back to 2006. The la Liga giants looked into buying into MLS and liked New York, but the Red Bulls had no interest in selling and Barcelona had no interest in building a stadium; but their relationship has endured.

And now it seems to be paying huge dividends for New York. Above and beyond the on-field impact that having three Designated Players would have, Marquez is El Tri's captain stirs passions on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, a hero to the south and a villain to the north. But every league needs villains.

He's a popular figure with the rabid Mexican fan base that fills the Meadowlands every time El Tri plays here and actually provides MLS a disproportionate amount of its TV viewership on Telefutura. And Marquez is decidedly unpopular among U.S. fans that recall his red-card incidents against their team, first headbutting Cobi Jones in 2002 and kicking Tim Howard last year.

Marquez' presence _ plus being the only team in MLS with three Designated Players, plus a general anti-New York sentiment _ could well make the Red Bulls the big-market team that other clubs' fans love to hate. Which of course is a good thing for the league; hatred always trumps apathy.

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Mac Kandji mauls Manchester City

July 25, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

When referee Michael Kennedy blew the final whistle on the Red Bulls' 2-1 win over Manchester City, the players from both teams mingled around. And both on the pitch and in the tunnel afterward,... Read on

When referee Michael Kennedy blew the final whistle on the Red Bulls' 2-1 win over Manchester City, the players from both teams mingled around. And both on the pitch and in the tunnel afterward, player after player came up to Macoumba Kandji with words of praise for the rising Red Bull forward.
	 

	 
Emmanuel Adebayor, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure all sought Kandji out after today's game, and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had praised him after Thursday's tilt. It was hardly surprising, after Kandji had a goal and an assist in a breakout performance against one of the richest teams in the world.
	 

	 
"They were just telling me great job, you are a very good player. Keep it up and one day you'll end up in England or something like that,'' said Kandji. "Definitely (that's nice to hear), of course. Every time I play and the other team gives me compliments I take it and use it to pump me up. That was pretty good hearing something like that from those type of players.''
	 

	 
He heard it from a player who has a pedigree as good as any, new teammate Thierry Henry, with whom he paired for the first half.
	 

	 
"It's easy to play with him. He's tall, he can hold the ball well, he's a great guy,'' said Henry. "I saw him play before and obviously having Juan Pablo (Angel) in the club helped him, seeing the guy in training and playing with him. Mac can be very good for us. We are fortunate to have him and Juan Pablo, he showed today he's a good player and had a great game for us, an amazing game.
	 

	 
"And Tony (Tchani) too in the middle of the park; he looked very composed and easy on the ball. As I said, this team is not only one or two players. That team can play football and do a lot of great things. Now we're going back to MLS and try to come back with a win in Houston.''
	 

	 
Kandji had proved more than a handful on Thursday against Tottenham, and today the 24-year-old Senegalese striker scored the Red Bulls' first goal in the seventh minute, set up the game-winner in the 70th, and pretty much terrorized the Manchester City defense at all points in-between.
	 

	 
First he slid onto a Dane Richards cross and buried it for a 1-0 lead, saying "Dane made a great run and I saw him running. I just took off and waited for the defender to turn around, went in his blind spot and Dane out in a perfect ball.''
	 

	 
Then he returned the favor, holding off two City defenders and _ showing a patience he might not have had last year _ playing the ball back to Richards. The Jamaican midfielder struck a 25-yard blast off the crossbar and in for the game-winner.
	 

	 
"I had an inch of space. I could have turned and tried to take the defender on but listening to coach learning every day I think the better thing to do is hold the ball and wait for support. I think we had a better chance with Dane there…Just to hold the ball and wait for support,'' Kandji said. "Dane was in a good position so I decided to lay it to him. He took a shot and finished. It was a great strike.
	 

	 
Kandji played 71 minutes today, pairing with Henry for the first half and with Conor Chinn for much of the second. Angel was to play the second half, but his ankle was still sore when he started warming up for intermission, so he was rested to be fit for Saturday's MLS game in Houston.
	 

	 
It remains to be seen what will become of Kandji then. Coach Hans Backe has kept open the possibility of playing the 6-foot-4, 175-pounder on the wing, which has been an incessant problem spot since the club dealt Dave van den Bergh away following the 2008 season.
	 

	 
*** Forward John Wolyniec has been offered a coaching position with the team.
	 

	 
*** Brazilian trialist Marcos Paullo Peixoto, 20, logged nine minutes today.
	 

	 
*** The Red Bulls expect the Barclays New York Challenge to become an annual event.
	 

	 
*** Both GM Erik Soler and managing director Erik Stover told the Post that they're in negotiations with MSG over their TV contract, which doesn’t pay rights fees, but if they can’t work out a deal they would consider producing their own content. Chivas USA has not only done so, but been profitable.
	 
*** Among the celebrities on hand today were Kelly Ripa, Patrick Elias and Miss USA Rima Fakih.

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Red Bulls beat Man City 2-1

July 25, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Dane Richards' long-range golazo gave the Red Bulls' a 2-1 win over Manchester City before 23,228, comprehensively outplaying the EPL big-spenders. And despite finishing third in their first Barclays New York Challenge, they gave a taste of what this team can be with Thierry Henry on the field and in their future.

In both games of the challenge, they led 1-0 at halftime when Henry left, only to cough that lead up in the second half. But unlike Thursday's 2-1 loss to Tottenham, today they shook off Jo's equalizer and seized back control after Richards struck a 25-yard blast off the crossbar for a 70th-minute winner.

"It is important for MLS and the Red Bulls. It is important to win these type of games and show that the team can compete against any team,'' said Henry, limited to the first half in each Challenge tilt and working his way into shape for Saturday's MLS debut in Houston.

"It was great the way we passed the ball around; we wanted to play football. It was a good victory. Manchester City had two good chances...(But) I was happy with the way we played, because we came to play football, kept it on the ground and trying to be calm. It’s a good win for us and a good week for MLS.''

GK Bouna Coundoul stoned a Jo breakaway in the opening moments, then Emmanuel Adebayor. And in the 7th-minute Richards blew by Wayne Bridge and sent in a low cross that Mac Kandji slid onto for a 1-0 lead. Jo beat Tim Ream and equalized off Greg Cunningham's 55th-minute cross, but Richards untied it.

This time Kandji held off two defenders to lay the ball back to Richards, who blasted a shot from the top of the area and across the goalmouth for a score.

"As Kandji drew the defenders toward him, I just asked for the ball. I just remembered the (March 20) Santos game, so I just struck it,'' said Richards, who joined Kandji in terrorizing City's defense. The Red Bulls outshot City 13-6, including 7-2 in the first half.

"I had an inch of space. I could’ve turned and tried to take the defender but listening to the coach and learning every day, the better thing to do is hold the ball and wait for support,'' said Kandji. "It was a great strike.''

The Red Bulls (six points) finished third, with Sporting Lisbon (8 pts) edging Tottenham on a tiebreaker after drawing the EPL side 2-2. But they proved they could compete with _ and beat _ top clubs and that they’re not Henry's one-man gang. The respect Kandji got from Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira _ and Thursday from Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp _ showed that.

"For the first time we did this, we're very happy with it,'' said managing director Erik Stover, who helps tourneys like this and Henry's presence drive TV ratings and help their renegotiations with MSG. "It immediately changes the game for us. It's one of the things that go into bringing in a player like Thierry.''

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West Ham eyes Beckham role

July 25, 2010 , ι Sky Sports

A co-owner of east London's West Ham United, David Gold, said L.A. Galaxy and England National Team star David Beckham could play a key role in the club's bid to move into the nearby Olympic Stadium,... Read on

A co-owner of east London's West Ham United, David Gold, said L.A. Galaxy and England National Team star David Beckham could play a key role in the club's bid to move into the nearby Olympic Stadium, Sky Sports reported today.

The club hopes to move into the arena in Stratford, east London, after the London 2012 Games -- although it must win the right to do so first.

Gold said he believes Beckham, who was born in east London, could influence the final decision toward West Ham winning the bid.

"David Beckham could play a massive part, because of his roots, in helping West Ham win the Olympic Stadium," he told the Sunday Express.

Gold would also love to see the 35-year-old midfielder end his playing days with the team.

"Maybe he can still play for us in the autumn of his career. For him to join a club like us and help us bring another dream to fruition would be perfect for everyone. We want him aboard," he added.
	 
Read more:
	 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_6278446,00.html

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About the Authors

BRIAN LEWIS With the Post since 1998, Brian Lewis has covered the World Series, NBA Finals, Final Four, NFL playoffs, NYC Marathon, U.S. Open, World Cup, bowl games, and more than a thousand baseball games, including two perfect games at Yankee Stadium. He’s a Rutgers grad, class of 1990.

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CLEMENTE LISI Clemente Lisi is a native New Yorker and Post news reporter who spends most of his spare time playing and watching soccer. He is a regular contributor to the blog, where he writes about Italy's Serie A and the Champions League.

DYLAN BUTLER Dylan is an award-winning reporter/columnist who has covered New York City high school sports for more than a decade. After graduating from St. John’s University (he prefers Redmen to Red Storm), the Queens native worked for the TimesLedger Newspapers, serving as Sports Editor for the chain of 13 weekly newspapers in the Community News Group. An avid soccer fan, Dylan has covered the sport on all levels, from high school to international soccer. Dylan co-founded FiveBoroSports.com, a popular web site dedicated to daily coverage of New York City high school and college athletics. He also covered the Yankees, Jets and Devils for SNY.tv.

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