Cipriani/MLS?...Glanville/Racism...Capello/Kvetch

[Macmoish]

According to BBC Gossip from The Times
England fly-half Danny Cipriani has thrown his rugby union future into doubt after travelling to the United States for a trial with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.
Full story: the Times
newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/8965192.stm


UPDATE:

ESPN - England rugby ace Cipriani training with Colorado Rapids


England rugby player Danny Cipriani is turning heads in the football world after taking part in training with Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids.

Cipriani, 22, is due to head to Australia shortly to play for the Melbourne Rebels rugby team, but he has pitched up in Denver and the club are of the opinion that his stay is more than just a holiday.

The fly-half was a talented footballer as a teenage, playing junior football for Queens Park Rangers before he was offered youth terms by Reading - which he rejected in favour of pursuing a rugby career.

And having trained with the Colorado squad, he appears to have made a positive impression on the club's coaching staff.

"He is keen to explore opportunities in soccer in general and with the Rapids in particular," The Rapids' communication manager Jason Gilham told The Times.

"I think he is looking at that possibility," Gilham added when asked if Cipriani was looking to secure a contract with the franchise. "It is something that is being looked at from both sides."

The Rebels still expect to see Cipriani make his move to Australia on October 1. "He is absolutely on board," Rebels coach Rod Macqueen said. "We have seen no evidence to say that he is not coming. We are expecting him in about three weeks."

soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=820154&sec=global&cc=5901




Note This Was Warnock's Weekly Column...August 20
Independent

Neil Warnock: Cipriani is training with us – he has a great left foot, but I hope he doesn't tackle my lads too hard

What I Learnt This Week

You may have heard that Danny Cipriani has been training with us.

He's looking to keep fit for his new job in Australia, and I think he also fancies seeing just how good his football skills are these days – apparently he was on our books for a while as a teenager. He's a nice lad with a good attitude. You can see why he has done well in rugby, he has great enthusiasm and a winning temperament.

He's fitted in quickly with the lads. They have even sorted him out with his own hairdryer. I know he's quite high-profile but footballers are usually pretty relaxed about that sort of thing – though it might have been different if it was David Beckham coming in.

He's got a good left peg and he will play a couple of reserve games before he goes off to Melbourne – Mick Jones said he can play all of them if he brings down one of his celebrity girlfriends to watch.

He doesn't hold back. Some of his tackles are like watching Clint Hill but he does come from a very physical sport. Contrary to what people have said, when he shoots it does not always go over the bar.

[Macmoish]

Brian Glanville

BRIAN GLANVILLE
writes for worldsoccer.com each week.

ALL SHADOW AND NO SUBSTANCE
31/08/10

“Or perhaps,” wrote some mindless anonymity in the Wembley match programme for England v Hungary, “You were inspired by Howard Webb's role in the World Cup Final this summer and want to get involved in refereeing.” Cue a great John McEnroe cry of, “You cannot be serious!” Howard Webb made a dog's dinner of the World Cup Final by his pusillanimous failure to send off Nigel De Jong for that horrific foul on Spain's Alonso. Now so belatedly he admits that he should have done so. Better late than never? Very late indeed and irrelevant.

FIFA's campaign to “Kick out Racism” is all shadow and no substance. Now we have the depressing phenomenon of Juventus drawn in their European Cup group against Manchester City, promising that they will restrain their bigoted fans from abusing City's new costly star, Mario Balotelli.



You may remember that last season, even in a match in which Balotelli wasn't playing they would chorus, “If you jump up and down Balotelli will die!” One of the most shocking aspects of hooligan football racism is that it is to be found not only in the backwaters of the Balkans but in supposedly highly civilised countries such as Italy and Spain. Indeed in Madrid during a comparatively recent international the black member of the England team were jeered throughout.



But the sheer meaningless emptiness of the Kick Out Racism Campaign was never so starkly shown as in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Shortly before it took place, Oleg Blokhin. Once a Ukrainian star turn but by then their manager, emitted a vitriolic attack on black footballers, asserting there should be no place for them in Ukrainian football. Yet there he was seemingly quite unperturbed before the kick off in a Ukraine match standing alongside his team while one head all the usual empty nonsense about combating racism. FIFA did nothing.


In English football at least things have greatly improved from the days when bananas were thrown at John Barnes and life at Chelsea was made hell for the hapless left winger, Paul Canoville. Across the border it took several years' barracking and terrace abuse before things improved. A particular victim was Paul Elliott that doomed but accomplished centre back who joined Celtic after playing for Pisa in Italy. On the occasion of a home match against Hearts, he was so vilely abused by visiting fans that the Hearts skipper John Robertson nobly went over to ask the culprits to desist. The influx of black players into the Premier League has doubtless been a factor in the welcome improvement.

Good to see that some of our leading tribunes of the people have at last cottoned on to the fact that Joe Cole has been ignored by Capello - still there thanks to the invertebrate stance of the largely anonymous but oddly over promoted Sir Dave Richards - what did he ever achieve as top banana at Sheffield Wednesday - surely the stuff of scandal. Thrown into glaring review when so many players dropped out of the squad to face Bulgaria and the Swiss. Since moving to Liverpool Cole as we know has won eulogies from those two battle hardened scousers Jamie Carragher and Steve Gerrard. Blessedly liberated by Frank Lampard's hernia to flourish unencumbered in central midfield as he so splendidly did in the second half against Hungary.


When Capello's squad contains so many players of limited ability and not a single potential playmaker, his exclusion of Joe Cole must seem the result of a subjective bias rather than of any objective judgement. The whisper that Cole upset Capello with his criticism of Fabio's World Cup tactics could be apposite.


Spurs and Inter are drawn together in their European Cup qualifying group and who knows what might happen? True the so-called European Super Cup Game is hardly the real thing yet it was astonishing to see the Inter defence fall apart in the second half in Monaco. Three times it culpably presented point blank chances to Atletico Madrid. On the first occasion Brazil keeper Julio Cesar brought off a dazzling save but he could do nothing with the next two shots. A missed penalty compounded Inter's miseries. No doubt the special one was licking his lips in Madrid. Under him the Inter defence didn't wilt like that.


As for Spurs, who can make sense of them? They outplayed Manchester City at White Hart Lane though they couldn't score. Their defence away to Young Boys in Berne had a first half fiasco though they comfortably won the return. And last Saturday I watched them lose sensationally at home to Wigan whom last season they blasted with nine goals and who'd let in ten at home in their first two Premiership fixtures this season.


Harry Redknapp admitted they missed creative skills of Luka Modric. So much for the praise of Tom Huddlestone as a midfield playmaker in the win over Young Boys. Capello has been criticised for not picking him. For once, not by me.

www.worldsoccer.com/glanville/index.php

[Macmoish]

Telegraph

England v Bulgaria: Fabio Capello blasts media which has turned him from god to a 'monster'
One day he is lauded as a "God'', shrugged Fabio Capello, the next he is vilified as a "monster''.

By Henry Winter
Published: 7:20AM BST 03 Sep 2010

Brimming with disdain, England's manager dismissed all criticism of him and said he expected his team to take a giant stride along the road to Euro 2012 against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday.

Whether Superman or Bogeyman, Capello is very much his own man, rounding on his critics at The Grove on Friday, claiming again that England's World Cup nemesis was a Uruguayan referee called Jorge Larrionda, not class German acts such as Thomas Müller or Mesut Özil. Regrets, he'd had none.

You say you want a revolution? Well, you know we all want to change the World Cup team. Not Capello. If John Terry and Frank Lampard had been fit, England would be starting with the same outfield 10 as slumped to Müller and Özil in Bloemfontein. Matthew Upson is in defence, Gareth Barry in midfield while Wayne Rooney partners Jermain Defoe in attack.

Sceptics got short shrift. Capello was in wonderfully spiky mood towards those who chronicle England's fortunes, arguing that he had received only praise going in to the World Cup and that there has since been the biggest tune-changing since the Marx brothers entered the orchestra pit.

In truth, there had been oft-expressed concerns about 4-4-2 before South Africa, about his positional emasculating of Rooney and Steven Gerrard, his failure to start with Joe Hart and his lack of understanding of how bored England players get during tournaments.

Overall, though, Capello is correct. He enjoyed wide support on arriving on the High Veld but this turned to misgivings when it appeared he had changed.

Capello rejected the idea that his enthusiasm had drained, that his appetite had lessened when Rooney was injured against Bayern Munich.

"We lost one game in the World Cup, against Germany, after one big mistake for the referee,'' countered Capello before adding icily: "You don't remember this.

"But after this, your opinion about me changed completely. You wrote a lot of things different. But I live with this situation. It's my job. You create the God, and you create the monster, no? It's no problem for me.''

He was focused on Bulgaria. "I know this is a big game – for England, not for me.'' Ouch. Was he distancing himself from the job? No, he insisted. His hunger for the role remained.

He leaned back in his chair, checked his watch, did everything but yawn. Capello actually dealt well with an inquisition that would have sent a politician scrambling to release lengthy explanatory statements.

"The pressure is normal for the manager,'' replied Capello. "I remember at Roma, Milan, Madrid, here, it's the same. It's too easy to be the best when you win, but when you lose you lose everything. You have to fight. I'm a fighter."

Pressure brought the best out of him. "I hope so. Usually, up to this.''

In a long, hitherto distinguished career, Capello has encountered such a mad circus and walked the high wire before. "It has been the same at Milan, at Madrid and now.''

During his second spell at AC Milan, in 1997-98, he started slowly and was sacked at the end of the season. At Real Madrid in 2006-07, the team struggled badly, and Capello was eviscerated in the press, but he restored David Beckham and scrambled to La Liga title.

He has dealt with ambushes. From all corners. Now Fifa's technical experts have concluded that teams such as England lacked flexibility at the World Cup. So seized with contempt, Capello almost fell off his seat.

"Teams play 9-1,'' he declared. "Is there a difference between 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or 9-1? That's the modern style. See Barcelona. All the players defend, all the players go forward. We played this style, always with players defending and Rooney coming into midfield.''

So England play 4-4-2 with Rooney dropping off when the opponents have possession. The system will be on parade before 75,000 at Wembley tonight.

"Rooney will play with Defoe,'' announced Capello, surprisingly showing his hand.

He believes Rooney is regaining sharpness after his World Cup travails. "I saw the game he played against West Ham. He started so-so, afterwards he played well.

He scored a goal, a penalty, and after that he played with the Rooney style. He's been scoring goals in training and has done well.''

Capello starts with Hart in goal shielded by Glen Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Upson and Ashley Cole. Jagielka's ankle has eased and he managed to train on Wembley's pristine surface on Friday and felt, according to Capello, "just a bit of pain but nothing else''.

Gerrard, Barry and James Milner start in midfield with Theo Walcott likely to be unleashed down the right. "I think Gerrard will play in central midfield,'' said Capello but added cryptically: "Barry and Milner will play in front of the two centre-backs.''

Capello insisted there was nothing untoward about the withdrawals of Lampard, who has undergone a groin operation, and Terry, who has been struggling with a hamstring but still performing for Chelsea.

"About Terry, we remember in the game against Hungary, he told me at half-time that he couldn't play because the pain was getting worse,'' said Capello.

"He played the last two or three games and, every time, with injections for the pain. Carlo [Ancelotti] said he played because they didn't have a substitute because all the defenders were injured. He needs to relax to be fit for the next club game and I hope he will be fit for the game in Montenegro.''

Capello's tough demeanour broke only once yesterday. Before getting up to leave, the Italian appealed for more patience from the supporters.

"I was concerned a little bit against Hungary in the last game. I remember the fans after 10 minutes, they stopped booing and supported us.

"I hope everyone supports us against Bulgaria because we need their support. We owe them. The supporters of England are the best in the world. We have to win.''



www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/7978483/England-v-Bulgaria-Fabio-Capello-blasts-media-which-has-turned-him-from-god-to-a-monster.html

[Macmoish]

Cipriani's agent claims he's still going to be playing Rugby. We'll see

DAILY MAIL

Agent rubbishes claims rugby star Danny Cipriani is set to join David Beckham in the MLS

By Chris Foy Last updated at 11:00 PM on 3rd September 2010

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Danny Cipriani is still officially bound for Melbourne next month and his new employers expect him to report for duty as agreed. But the round-about route he is taking to that final destination is prompting intense speculation about his plans.

The 22-year-old former Wasps fly half has become something of a sporting nomad this summer in the period between his departure from English rugby and his expected arrival at the Melbourne Rebels.

His latest port of call is Commerce City, Colorado, USA - home of the very low-profile Rapids, a Major League Soccer team.
Flirtation: Danny Cipriani has spent time training with MLS side Colorado Rapids

Flirtation: Danny Cipriani has spent time training with MLS side Colorado Rapids

In recent months, Cipriani has clocked up plenty of trans-Atlantic air miles; first spending time training in Los Angeles before two-week stints at two London football clubs, Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers.

In theory, he was invited along by friends and was just using the time to get into shape, but he took part in reserve-team games at both clubs and drew considerable praise as a left-footed player of real potential, perhaps even Premier League potential.

Now he is back in the USA, this time up in the Colorado mountains. The Rapids’ official website trumpeted his presence in training on Thursday under a provocative headline: ‘Rugby to Soccer?’

Renewed gossip about Cipriani’s intentions was further inflamed by a club spokesman saying: ‘He is keen to explore opportunities in soccer in general and with the Rapids in particular.’

Within rugby circles, there has been feverish talk about Cipriani’s plans, with sources at Wasps and elsewhere confirming sustained rumours of his desire to try his hand at football.
On his way: Cipriani is due to link up with Melbourne Rebels after leaving Wasps

On his way: Cipriani is due to link up with Melbourne Rebels after leaving Wasps

However, the player’s representatives have categorically denied that any such career change is imminent and reaffirmed their client’s commitment to taking his place in the expanded Super 15 next year.

Cipriani’s publicist, Caroline McAteer, told Sportsmail yesterday: ‘He’s just over there doing some altitude training. Everyone is putting two and two together and making 10.

'He’s in regular contact with the Melbourne Rebels coaches and he’s going out there by early October ready for pre-season training, which starts in November.

‘Danny wants to be super, super fit going out to Melbourne. The pressure will be on him out there now because there has been so much fuss made about this move. He has to arrive ready to go — that is why he is training so hard.
Ball control: Danny Cipriani has become something of a sporting nomad this summer

Ball control: Danny Cipriani has become something of a sporting nomad this summer

‘He spent two weeks with Spurs, two weeks with QPR and an English guy he knows who coaches the team in Colorado invited him to join them for training, so he thought he would go. He’ll be out there for a week or so, then he’s coming back here for a few weeks before going to Australia.’

Responding to the latest speculation, seemingly fuelled by the Rapids themselves, McAteer added: ‘I’m not sure why they would put something up on their website about him moving into football. It probably just gets them publicity.

'Let’s face it, not many in this part of the world have heard of Colorado Rapids. If he was going to sign for an MLS team, I don’t think it would be them.

‘But it is not going to happen. He would have to cancel his contract with the Rebels and that’s not even an option. He has signed the contract, he is going to Melbourne and he is excited about the move.

'All these rumours are part of the reason why he wants to go to Australia. He wants to get away from all this.’
Rebel walks into wilderness

March 3, 2008: Axed from England squad after being snapped outside a nightclub two days before his first scheduled international start.

March 15, 2008: Swore live on the BBC in a post-match interview.

October 2008: Punched by Wasps team-mate Josh Lewsey during training for missing tackles.

Autumn 2008: Dropped by England coach Martin Johnson for lacklustre performances.

February 2010: After more than a year in the international wilderness Cipriani announced that he would leave Wasps for Melbourne Rebels.

The Rebels’ former Wallaby coach, Rod Macqueen, is adamant that the most eye-catching of his recruits to the new Melbourne franchise will be joining his team-mates, no matter which club in which sport he is involved with between now and then.

‘He’s absolutely on board,’ he said. ‘We have seen no evidence to say he’s not coming. We are expecting him in about three weeks.’

Cipriani burst on to the international scene with a superlative performance against Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations. Unfortunately, that proved to be something of a false dawn as an horrific ankle injury forced him out of the subsequent summer tour.

After returning to action earlier than expected at the end of that year, he played three autumn Tests at Twickenham before being replaced by Toby Flood.

Having struggled to rediscover his form of the previous season he was overlooked by Martin Johnson during the 2009 Six Nations and has not played for England since.

In February, it was announced that he had agreed to join the Rebels on a two-year deal.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-1308838/Agent-says-Danny-Cipriani-wont-join-Beckham-MLS.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Macmoish]

And the Colorado Rapids Site (Matt Pickens' Club!)

Commerce City, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids have a guest taking part in training this week. Some fans of England and / or Rugby Union may have heard of him. His name is Danny Cipriani.

“Dan has a friendship with members of our coaching staff and is currently training with the club,” said Rapids head coach Gary Smith. “He wanted to take advantage of training at altitude and to engage in competitive sessions with our club as we prepare for the last part of our season.”

Cipriani, 22, is a rugby player who most recently played fly-half for London Wasps. Earlier this year, he signed with the Melbourne Rebels of Australia Super 15 Rugby. He has been capped seven times with England.

Over the summer, the left-footed Cipriani has kept in shape with training stints at Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspurs.
www.coloradorapids.com/news/2010/09/rugby-star-cipriani-training-rapids

[Macmoish]

Matt Pickens...

www.coloradorapids.com/news/2010/09/pickens-possible-wynne-doubtful-sat