Rapids Send Kandji to Dynamo

MAC KANDJI IN THE 2010 MLS CUP FINAL (AP Photo)

The Houston Dynamo made a move yesterday to bolster their forward corps after the departure of Brian Ching in the last fantasy draft. As first reported at Soccer By Ives, they struck a trade deal with the 2010 MLS Cup Champion Rapids to bring in Mac Kandji in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.

The move will free up about $120,000 in cap space for the Rapids. Kandji, from Senegal, made the play that resulted in the own goal by George John to win the 2010 MLS Cup. However, he also injured his ACL and missed much of the 2011 season. He did come back to play in the latter end of the regular season and the CONCACAF Champions League.

Check out the SBI article here.

Pearce Takes Over as England Caretaker Manager

The FA have announced today that former Capello assistant Stuart Pearce will take over as the manager of the England national team on a caretaker basis. He will manage the side in a friendly against Holland on February 29th. In the meantime, the focus will be on trying to secure a permanent replacement.

Pearce is also the coach for the England U-21 side, and will coach team Great Britain at the Summer Olympics this year in London. FA Chairman David Bernstein had this to say about Pearce, "He has huge experience outside and inside the organisation. He has been working with the under-21 team and has been working with Fabio for some time. I have got great confidence in Stuart. We will be in good hands."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp remains the favorite to ultimately succeed Capello, as the desire to put an Englishman back in charge of the team has been well stated. Redknapp has also seen the public backing of several figures, including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and Sunderland boss Martin O'Neil. Redknapp was cleared on tax evasion charges yesterday in London and has said he hasn't thought about the England job yet.

Puddle's Goal of the Midweek: Gervinho Sends Ivory Coast Through

For my goal of the midweek I take you to the Africa Cup of Nations, which I really wish I could watch. Gervinho made this great individual run and finish to give the Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Mali.

Mexico Match Thoughts: Toluca vs. Pachuca

This was definitely was one of the better matches I've seen out of Mexico this year. Okay, well maybe not the best played, but it really was entertaining. I don't know all of the history of the Primera Division that well, but it's certainly one of the best comebacks I've seen as a footy fan.

So why exactly did Pachuca have to execute such a comeback in the first place? It really was a nightmare start for the visitors. In fact I don't think I could say I've ever seen a worse start to a match. Toluca brought the ball into the area right off the kick off, and tried a cross. The ball deflected off of Pachuca defender Javier Munoz Mustafa and into the net to make it 1-0 after just 14 seconds. Damn.

Life didn't get any better for Pachuca in the early going either. After what was to happen in the 9th minute, Mustafa probably just wished he could just go back to bed. He brought down Toluca's Ivan Alonso in the box to concede a PK. Oops. Alonso then in turn iced the spot kick to make it 2-0 to Toluca on 11 minutes.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Pachuca, it did. In the 16th minute Nestor Calderon ended up with the ball after a short corner. He blasted it into the top corner of the far post to make it 3-0. There was absolutely nothing the 'keeper could do about it. At least that goal wasn't self inflicted though.

It looked like the route was on, and Toluca continued to go through the rest of the first half controlling possession, but Pachuca had no intention of going away. Their weapon of choice to get back into the match was the counter attack. They sprung the first in the 36th minute as Mauro Cejas streaked into the Toluca eighteen and slid the ball past the 'keeper to make it 3-1.

Still, Toluca didn't panic. The thought had to be to get into the half without giving up another goal and regroup. Again, Pachuca had other ideas. They struck on another counter in the 41st minute as Daniel Arguello nailed a GOLAZO from the top of the box into the top of the net to make it 3-2 going into the interval.

The second half had a very different tone, and Pachuca was in charge, despite being down a goal. Toluca just looked like they had completely fallen out of a match they once led by three goals. The equalizer finally came in the 64th minute when Marco Bueno Ontiveros knocked in a cross off of his foot to make it 3-3.

Toluca gained a little life after that, but never really threatened to take the 3 points back. Their best chance came in the 69th minute as Esquivel forced a save out of the 'keeper, but that was about all Toluca could manage.

The match went into stoppage time and looked to be headed for a certain draw, but Pachuca took the chance to seize the three points late. In the 1st minute of added time, Ontiveros broke free and got one on one with Toluca keeper Alfredo Talavera. Talavera made a diving stab for the ball near the top of the area, but brought down Ontiveros in the process, conceding a PK. It was the right call, and Talavera really didn't put up much of a fight. In the end, Cejas stepped up and converted the penalty to give Pachuca a 3-4 win. All in all a thrilling conclusion to an entertaining if sloppy match.

March Is Coming: Real Salt Lake Vid

Great, GREAT video made by Youtube user IOookie for the MLS Reserves "Promote Your Team" contest. Very well done. I can't WAIT to be back at the RioT. This just gave me the chills.

Capello Leaves England: My Take.

Fabio Capello made an announcement today that saddened more than surprised a lot of England fans. He officially resigned as manager of the England national team in the wake of the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captain's arm band. Terry was stripped of the captaincy for a second time in the midst of allegations that he racially abused Anton Ferdinand (Rio Ferdinand's brother) during a match between QPR and Chelsea last year. The case has yet to be tried in Britain's courts.

First off, on John Terry. He is the captain of my favorite team, Chelsea, and I support him. Yet it's easy to see that he's been a rather large douche a few times. As I mentioned, this is the second time he has lost the armband. The first was prior to the 2010 World Cup after he had an affair with Wayne Bridge's wife. The racism charges are yet another big black eye. I don't think John Terry is a racist. Granted, I don't know him. However, people say things when they get mad that they don't always mean. That doesn't make it right, at all. Self control is something we all need to learn, and it can be seen as an even more important trait for a public figure to have. It's different here in the USA. We don't face the same kind of official charges for saying such things, but I'd like to think we don't tolerate it anymore either. The Chelsea and former England captain needs to have his head examined.

The thing about Capello was that he wanted it his way. He was reluctant to strip Terry of the arm band the first time around, initially claiming it was something to be handled between Bridge and Terry. However, he eventually bowed to the FA in the lead up to South Africa. He was not about to do it again.

To say the FA cucked this up is an understatement. Yes, Capello told Italian TV he didn't agree with it. However, for the FA then to come out and throw all of this breach of contract garbage out there didn't help. At best, this issue with Terry's big mouth should have been handled LAST YEAR. At worst, it should have been left until Terry's court date. Now they're down a captain and a manager, with Euro 2012 right around the corner. It's also worth nothing that percentage wise, Capello was the winingest manager in England history.

This is something I care about a lot. Even as an American, I'm an ardent England supporter. Everyone else here celebrates their heritage, and England is mine. The only time I don't pull for them is when they play the USA. Now you have players revolting via twitter and many more issues than you would have had if it would have been handled earlier.

Many suspect Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will be Capello's replacement, particularly now that he has been cleared of Tax evasion charges. I agree with this move. Get him in, and get on with it. Sorry, Spurs fans.

I'm sorry to see Capello go. I wish him good luck. Hopefully the FA can get this straightened out and John Terry can learn to control himself.

Ibrahimovic Gets 3 Game Ban

Bad news came down the pipe yesterday for AC Milan as they head into a difficult stretch in their schedule. Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been banned for three Serie A matches following an incident in the Milan match against Napoli last weekend.

In the 69th minute of the match, Ibra slapped Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica's face. He was sent off. Milan manager Massimilliano Allegri was also ejected in the 89th minute. He was not banned, but given a warning and a fine.

The suspension could cost Milan dearly. He will miss matches at Udinese (3rd place), at Cesena, and vs Juventus, the Serie A leaders. Milan is set to appeal the ban.

Ibra was banned twice by the Italian league last year, including once for punching a defender in the stomach.