Mario Balotelli Heading to AC Milan

City's Mario Balotelli is headed to Milan to seal a transfer move (Bleacherreport.com)

So it looks like one of the more controversial, and shall we say "interesting" Premier League tenures is about to come to an end.  The rumor that Man City striker Mario Balotelli would head back home to Italy and sign for AC Milan has been circulating throughout the transfer window, and now it seems to be all but a done deal.

According to AC Milan's Umberto Gandini, Milan have agreed to terms and signed a transfer agreement with City.  All that is left to do is for Balotelli to pass a medical and sign on to personal terms, rumored to be a 4 and a half year deal with the Rossoneri.  Hopefully the move back to his home country will be a good thing for the firebrand striker, possibly reigniting the form he flashed at Euro 2012.

Balotelli's time with City was always highly watchable, if a bit unpredictable.  He made many off the field headlines in England including car accidents, strip club sightings, and outrageous hairdos to name a few.  On the pitch he was involved in several training dustups, including a recent confrontation with City manager Roberto Mancini that was caught on camera.  Memorably, he lifted his jersey after scoring a derby goal against United last year to reveal a shirt underneath that asked "Why Always Me?"  However his form has left much to be desired this year.  After crapping out against United in December, he found himself completely relegated to the bench, only making two substitute appearances in the last two months.

It is worth noting that Balotelli did land a couple of trophies with City, the 2011 FA Cup and the 2012 Premier League title among them.  Personally, I would have loved to have had him back at Inter, but best of luck to him in his return to the San Siro with Milan.  I hope he can straighten out some but still find a way to entertain like few can.

"Experimental" RSL Squad Drops Friendly to Denmark U-20s

Javier Morales in preseason action for RSL. (RealSaltLake.com)

Real Salt Lake kicked off their preseason friendly campaign yesterday in Casa Grande, AZ, fielding a largely untested lineup in dropping a 0-2 decision to the Denmark U-20 squad.  According to RSL's website, Javi Morales was the only starter likely to see time as a regular for the Claret and Cobalt this season.

The Danes seemed to have the better of the first half, and RSL 'keeper Lalo Fernandez had to put a stone stop on an opposing forward in the 9th minute to keep the match scoreless.  However, RSL MF David Viana was hit for a PK in the 37th minute that the Danes promptly slotted home to make it 0-1, which held until halftime. 

RSL grabbed more of a foothold in the second half, inserting a more experienced lineup.  They nearly equalized in the 65th minute when former Earthquake Khari Stephenson rolled a shot just wide of the opposing goal after some trademark RSL buildup action.  In the end, the second goal of the match came off of the Claret and Cobalt's Yordany Alvarez, who accidentally deflected an opposing free kick into his own net and past new RSL 'keeper Jeff Atinella to make 0-2 in the 72nd minute.

The good news is that the staff got a good look at a lot of players in a game situation after the first training camp.  New boys Jeff Atinella, Lovel Palmer, Aaron Maund, Cole Grossman, John Stertzer, and Devon Sandoval all saw minutes, as well as guys like Enzo Martinez, Sebastian Velasquez, David Viana , and Kenny Mansally, all of whom will probably be expected to make bigger contributions this year.

All in all, I wouldn't put too much in stock in the result, after just a week or so of training together.  Also keep in mind that RSL were missing several internationals and  veteran players like Beckerman, Beltran, and Saborio (international duty) and guys like Rimando, Grabavoy, and Findley who did not see the pitch.

Other Notes: Javier Morales came off with a slight knock in the first half, but is not expected to miss any time.  Both Kyle Beckerman and Tony Beltran are in the 23 man squad for the USA's friendly against team Canada tonight.  Alvaro Saborio captained the Costa Rica side as the Ticos won the Copa Centroamericana earlier this week.  Congrats to Sabo and his teammates!

30 Dead In Egypt After Soccer Riot Verdict Sparks Violence

Football Fans in Cairo cheer the verdicts in the Port Said Riot case. (BBC)

A fresh round of violence spread through Egypt today, leaving at least 30 people dead in the aftermath of the verdicts against the defendants in the Port Said Soccer riot case.  Last February riots broke out in Port Said after a league clash between local club al-Masry and Cairo based club al Ahly.  74 people died in the violence at the soccer pitch, and the violence in turn caused more riots back in Cairo resulting in the death of 16 more people.

On Saturday the Egyptian court handed down verdicts and sentences in the case.  Twenty-one individuals were sentenced to death.  Seventy-Five people were charged with premeditated murder, while 9 police officers and 3 al-Masry officials were charged with assisting the murders.  Some of the alleged behavior included purposefully not confiscating weapons and turning off the lights above the visiting stands to facilitate the violence.  The police were also charged with knowing about the planned violence beforehand.

Saturday in Port Said, much of the violence occurred when crowds, including relatives of the condemned, attempted to storm the prison to free their kin.  This was according to Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Osama Ismail.

The experience in Cairo was quite different, as pictured above.  Supporters of al Ahly gathered outside their local ground to celebrate the verdicts and remember the loss of their loved ones and friends.  CNN quotes a woman from Cairo as saying:

"I finally felt that I am in a civilized country.  My son (did) nothing wrong. But my son's legacy will live on, because of the true justice served here."

Violence has consumed Egypt more and more in recent days as Egyptians have taken to the streets on the 2nd anniversary of their popular uprising with saw former President Mubarak removed from power.  In recent weeks the public has seemed to grow increasingly dissatisfied in their new government, largely run by the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Puddle offers sincere condolences to those who have lost friends and family in the violence surrounding the Port Said case.  It's yet another case of a major black mark on the beautiful game, inflicted by so called "supporters" who are most likely just looking for a reason to start a brawl.

Check out the complete CNN story here.

MLS Notes: NYRB Coach, Rapids New Boy, and 'Caps Cutting Losses

The Red Bulls have finally settled on a new head coach (MLS)

It's time for a quick hit around the league this Friday, going into a the first real weekend of training for most of the MLS clubs.  First up, the New York Red Bulls have finally concluded their international search for a head coach.  Turns out they went all the way to......their own backyard to find a new man.  Former Red Bulls player Mike Petke has had the interim tag removed, and will now take up full time duties as the Red Bulls head man.  Petke takes the reigns after two international coaches reportedly turned down the job: Aston Villa assistant Gary McAllister and former Portuguese international Paulo Sousa.    Petke has been on the staff since 2011 and has been interim coach since Hans Backe was canned after last season.

Next we stop at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, where the Rapids have added a new player to their growing squad.   Colorado today won a weighted lottery for 18 year old Cameroon International attacker Charles Eloundou, beating out Real Salt Lake and DC United.  Eloundou had signed a contract with MLS prior to the draft, but did not obtain his visa in time for the combine, thus the lottery process.  Rapids technical director Paul Bravo describes him as a winger who might also be able to play underneath a lone striker.  Eloundou is in MLS for a one year loan from Cameroon side AS Fortuna de Mfou, with the Rapids/MLS having an option to buy at the end of the season.  After winning this lottery, the Rapids will be ineligible to participate in further lotteries for 2013 season.

Meanwhile, the axe is falling on more heads in Vancouver after their disappointing end to the 2012 campaign.  Ives Galarcep is reporting that the Whitecaps have waived center-back Martin Bonjour, who they have been quite keen to part ways with.  Earlier this week the 'Caps had dumped disappointing DP Barry Robson.  The former Celtic and Dundee United man lasted less than a full season in MLS and will seek a return to a club in his native Scotland.  There have also been rumors that Kenny Miller's time in Vancouver maybe coming to an end, but on Jan. 21 the former Rangers man said that he was looking forward to a full preseason in Vancouver that might help him contribute more during the regular season campaign.

Of course there are many other rumors flying around various MLS clubs right now as well.  The player movement and on pitch action will ramp up in the next couple of weeks as training camps get underway in earnest.

West Ham Struggles Continue Versus Gunners

Olivier Giroud & Lukas Podolski celebrate an Arsenal goal.

Arsenal supporters were very happy at the end of this rearranged Boxing Day match.  The West Ham supporters weren't quite so amused, despite being in rapture earlier in the match when their club took the early lead in this London derby.  However, at the end of the day the Gunners' somewhat maligned strike force showed exactly what they were capable of, using a scintillating second half performance to down the Hammers 5-1 at the Emirates.

One would not have guessed that the full time result would include so many goals judging from the opening minutes of the match, when both sides looked a little lethargic and out of sync.  Chances were non-existent in the first ten minutes, and when the first one finally came, it was hardly noteworthy.  On the tenth minute Ricardo Vaz Te put his head to a cross from Guy Demel, but pushed it well wide of the target.

West Ham did look the slightly more dangerous side though, as they tried to press the Arsenal goal.  Carlton Cole missed the target in the 15th minute, but the Hammers finally took the lead in minute 18.  Arsenal failed to totally clear a corner kick, and the ball fell to Jack Collison sitting outside the penalty area.  Collison unleashed a wicked drive that soared past Wojciech Szczesny and tore into the back of the Arsenal net to make it 0-1.

The strike seemed to finally jolt the Gunners awake though, and they responded almost immediately.  In the 22nd minute Jack Wilshere dropped the ball off to Lukas Podolski who was lurking outside the Hammers' box.  The German smacked a shot of his own into the net with a huge drive that probably exceeded the greatness of Collison's effort four minutes earlier.  The Gunners were back in the match at 1-1.

Arsenal finally started to hit their stride with their passing game and started to mount more attacks on the West Ham goal.  They came close to taking the lead right before halftime, when Jussi Jaaskelainen just managed to parry Santi Cazorla's effort away from the top corner, keeping the sides even going into the break.

There was nothing even about the second half though, as Arsenal opened an all out assault on the Hammers from the opening whistle.  In the 47th minute Olivier Giroud volleyed a home a Theo Walcott corner to give the Gunners their first lead of the evening at 2-1.  They were hardly done though.

In the 53rd minute Cazorla got on the board as he took a pass from Podolski and knocked home a goal from close range to make it 3-1 to the Gunners.  Podolski would play provider again just a minute later, hitting Walcott in the center of the box with a spot-on through ball.  The England international promptly slotted it home to make it 4-1 and the blowout was in full effect.  They would tack one more goal on in the 57th minute when Giroud tapped in from up close to complete his brace and make it 5-1.

The venom went all out of the match in the 72nd minute though, when West Ham's Daniel Potts dropped to the floor after a clash of heads with Arsenal's Bacary Sagna.  He was treated on the pitch for some 18 minutes with an emergency blanket, gas, and a neck brace.  He was eventually stretchered off and West Ham continued with 10 men as they had already used all three substitutions.

The match faded out through the 90 and 12 minutes of stoppage time, with 5-1 being the score at the full time whistle.  The three points were huge for Arsenal after back to back losses to City and Chelsea.  Potts spent Wednesday night in a London hospital and tests showed that he had indeed sustained a concussion.  He returned home on Thursday, thanking well wishers on West Ham's website.  He will be evaluated further before he is allowed any future training.

Ownership Change at Real Salt Lake

Today marked the end of an era for Real Salt Lake and the club's supporters.  Founder Dave Checketts, who originally brought the franchise to Salt Lake City as Major League Soccer's 12th club, sold his share of the team to Dell Loy Hansen, who now becomes the sole owner of the franchise.  The deal had been previously agreed to by the Major League Soccer Board of Governors.

First off, I need to do something that I try to avoid doing on this blog.  I have to be a homer.  As an RSL supporter and Season Ticker Holder, I would like to personally thank Dave Checketts not only for bringing the club to Utah, but for keeping it here despite some rough times in the early going.  Many folks, myself included, were skeptical about whether Major League Soccer could succeed in Salt Lake.  Some folks were sure that the small market would be forever dominated by the Utah Jazz of the NBA and the local college sports scene.  All credit goes to Checketts and the staff at RSL for not only staying the course, but for bringing the franchise out of the dark days of Rice-Eccles Stadium to the glory and wonderful atmosphere of Rio Tinto Stadium, making RSL into one of the league's top clubs.  Not only has MLS hung around in Utah, but it has flourished, largely thanks to Checketts and his staff.

The big question now is: what's next?  Dell Loy Hansen bought into RSL in 2009 and has been very active in the operation of the club, so it should be a smooth transition.  He's a Native Utah businessman and real estate entrepreneur who has also overseen the development around Rio Tinto Stadium.  One of his passions has been to build first class sports facilities for Utah's youth, much of it in the Cache Valley.  He also served on the State Board of the Department of Business and Economic Development for nine years.  For more on Mr. Hansen's background, see the write-up on RSL's site.

So what does this mean for the RSL supporters and the club?  For the moment. probably not much.  Both Jason Kreis and Garth Lagerway will continue in their respective roles, which largely determine the on-pitch product.  It has been speculated that Hansen has deeper pockets than Checketts does these days, and he said this afternoon that he wants to provide Jason and Garth the resources they need, which is a big relief to RSL fans.  Personally, I don't follow the business side of things in Utah, so I can't say much beyond that speculation.  The deal has apparently been in the works for awhile, so surely Mr. Hansen has had a say in the dealings of the club in the off-season, and the Claret and Cobalt should continue on the same trajectory.

There's always some nerves and trepidation when a football club changes ownership, but from what I've seen on social networks and RSL blogs today, the feelings are pretty positive.  Hopefully under Mr. Hansen's watch, RSL will be able to set the bar even higher in the future.

2013 Gold Cup: Sites Announced, Field Coming Together

CONCACAF has announced the host sites for the 2013 Gold Cup

CONCACAF today announced the 13 US Cities that will play host to the 2013 Gold Cup, the Confederation's international football championship.  Among those 13 cities are 5 MLS venues, 3 of which will play host for the first time.

The Five MLS venues are:

Rio Tinto Stadium: Sandy, Utah.  (RSL)

Jeld-Wen Field: Portland, Oregon. (Portland Timbers)

BBVA Compass Stadium: Houston, Texas. (Houston Dynamo)

CenturyLink Field: Seattle, Washington (Seattle Sounders FC)

Red Bull Arena: Harrison, New Jersey. (New York Red Bulls)

The other eight sites are as follows:

Cowboys Stadium: Dallas, Texas.

Georgia Dome: Atlanta, Georgia.

M&T Bank Stadium: Baltimore, Maryland

Soldier Field: Chicago, Illinois.

Sports Authority Field at Mile High: Denver, Colorado.

Rentschler Field: Hartford, Connecticut.  

Rose Bowl: Pasadena, California.

Sun Life Stadium: Miami Gardens, Florida.

The host city for the final has yet to be announced.

The field for this year's tournament is filling out as well.  The USA, Mexico, and Canada all qualify automatically from North America.  Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Martinique will join from the Caribbean.  Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize will be in from Central America.  This will be the debut for Belize in this competition.  Guatemala and Panama will play for the final Central American spot on Friday.

This year's tournament will be affected by the ongoing qualification process for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, 2014.  The USA is expected to field a squad largely made up of the U-23 team that failed to reach the London Olympics.  In addition, Mexico will playing in the Confederation's Cup this summer, so perhaps will field an Olympic type squad as well.  It will be interesting to see if this opens the door for another country to sneak in and grab the trophy.  The tournament will take place from July 7th-28th.