By Ollie Irish

Today Umbro unveiled the new home kit for the reformed New York Cosmos. This from the press release:

“As part of the club’s rebirth, Umbro has applied its celebrated football-tailoring ethos to a new on-field performance and off-field lifestyle line for The New York Cosmos club. The white home shirt, with the unique green and yellow collar, will be available in December (£49/$75). It’s inspired by the one worn by its star players in 1977, including Pelé, but with the performance benefits of a modern football shirt.

“The wider range, including the green walkout jacket worn by Pelé on the cover of FourFourTwo [the Oct 2010 issue], will be available in February 2011 (£70/$100) with further apparel and equipment pieces in the pipeline, all inspired by the legacy and promise of The New York Cosmos.”

Here’s the home kit:

That is rather lovely. And let’s remember the original it’s closely based on, as modeled by a player you might recognise:

Classic.

You like the updated version? The original is cooler, of course, but the new jersey is also very stylish.

And the new ‘Anthem’ track jacket (which Pele sports above) ain’t too shabby either:

                          

By Ollie Irish

As a taunt to rivals Seattle Sounders – who are sponsored up the ass by Microsoft’s Xbox – Chicago Fire’s hardcore fans, aka Section 8, unveiled this huge Super Mario banner before their recent MLS clash. Not that it helped, as the Fire crashed and burned in a 1-0 loss that effectively ends their season. They’ve won a limp six games out of 24 so far, which is relegation form… except of course there is no such thing in America. Phew.

Good work, soccerball fans. Nintendo > Microsoft every time.

                          

By Ollie Irish

Va Va Fail…

So Thierry Henry is actually the devil. Who knew!? This was a mean-spirited ‘challenge’ by the Frenchman, not to mention totally unnecessary. Somehow Henry avoided further punishment for the incident (apart from a measly $2,000 fine – what’s that, an hour’s work for TH?), which has left Hartman sidelined for several weeks.

This angered Harman’s agent, the brilliantly named Ron Waxman, who frothed: “The members of the disciplinary committee should be embarrassed and ashamed. It’s either no punishment or there must be a suspension. I’m sorry to discover that they’ve established a double standard for the treatment of their marquee players as opposed to the treatment of their rank and file.

“I hope the committee members can look themselves in the mirror at halftime of that game while Kevin Hartman, who was having a much better year than Henry, sits at home recovering from an injury at the hands of a reckless action, which is going virtually unpunished.”

Ron Waxman, there is awesomeness in you. Ron concluded: “Trying to weasel out of suspending Henry by stating that Kevin ‘stepped into the path of the ball’ is shameful. He didn’t step into the ball, and Henry took a long run-up to the ball well after the goal was scored.”

I guess Henry is frustrated that MLS is a tougher nut to crack than he thought it would be. You don’t get paid to take a holiday, Thierry.

                          

By Ollie Irish

Highlights of Dave’s ahead-of-schedule comeback after his potentially career-ending Achilles injury (he’s a resilient sod, is Becks). Beckham played the final 20 minutes of LA Galaxy’s 3-1 victory against Columbus Crew, in which time he was booked for a clumsy challenge and scored exactly no goals.

Still, it’s great to see him back in action, running around like a kid; I really admire his guts and enthusiasm. But would I bring him back into the England fold? No way, that ship has sailed. In the light of England’s strong start to its Euro 2012 qualifying group. Fabio Capello must stick with youth and potential – there can be no looking back and no sentimental recalls. Sorry Dave, you’ve had your time at international level.

                          

By Ollie Irish

David Beckham was told by doctors that he’d have to wait until October 2010 to make his comeback from the Achilles injury he suffered earlier this year. But Becks being the stubborn sod that he is, it looks like he’ll be back in action for LA Galaxy sooner than expected. I only hope he doesn’t kid himself that he’s fully fit.

This just in from the Galaxy’s official site:

“The England international presses on with his grueling rehabilitation from a torn left Achilles tendon suffered March 14 while playing for AC Milan, and the 35-year-old is optimistic he can be playing again sometime in the next few weeks. Doctors originally set a date of Oct. 1 for Beckham’s return, but true to form, Beckham has his eyes set on a return to action this month.

‘The doctors’ original date was Oct. 1, but I always kind of said I want to be ready before then. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully will play in part of the game here against Columbus. I’ll be on the bench, and hopefully I’ll get on the field for 15-20 minutes. That’s what I’m looking at.’

Beckham participated in his first full training session with the club on Aug. 11 and has gradually increased his work load, joining in with the rest of the squad in more and more of the training exercises. He said he is feeling better and better, although he admitted his fitness level ‘is like being in preseason.’

‘At the moment, you have good days and you have bad days,’ he said.

‘You wake up with a lot more pain in your body when you’re in preseason. I have to do it because I need to get as close to match fitness as possible.

‘It’s a bit difficult because when you don’t play in games; that’s where you get the real fitness from. But I’m doing what I can in the gym and what I can on the field, just trying to get strength back in my leg.

‘It kind of kicks you up the backside when you realize you can’t do certain things. Working out was something I’ve done for the last 25 years, and to not being able to do it was tough for me.’”

Although MLS is improving, Beckham can afford to rush back a little sooner than he might if he played for a club in a big European league. Whatever, it will be great to see him back on the pitch.

                          

By Ollie Irish

… And that star is Rafael Marquez. Underwhelmed, much? You shouldn’t be.

After some umm-ing and a bit of err-ing, the Mexico captain has agreed to team up with Thierry Henry and co. in NYC.

It’s a very solid signing for the Red Bulls. Marquez is 31, vastly experienced, cultured and versatile – he can play either at centre-back or as a holding, quarterback-style midfielder. In terms of pedigree, he’ll be one of the very best defenders in MLS, even if he’s in the autumn of his career.

“Coming to New York and playing in Major League Soccer was a chance that I could not refuse. I am committed to doing my very best to help the Red Bulls in their playoff push this year and compete for championships in the years to come,” Rafa said.

Marquez will become the Red Bulls’ third designated player, after Juan Pablo Angel and recent signing Henry.

What do you make of the signing? More evidence that we should take MLS seriously? I think so – MLS is not going away, and it’s only going to get stronger.

                          

By Ollie Irish

Man Utd’s kids – plus a couple of old boys, namely Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar – thumped the MLS All Stars in Houston yesterday. It was the first time the Yanks’ Dream Team had lost to an English club – and boy did they lose. So much for Alexi Lalas’s pre-match prediction that the Premier League side would struggle.

United went 1-0 up after just 24 seconds, when Federico Macheda pounced on a weak backpass. Macheda doubled the lead with a firm header, before three excellent goals by Darron Gibson, Tom Cleverley and new signing Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez made it five. The home team’s consolation goals came from Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario.

Cleverley’s goal in particular was superb – he looks a terrific prospect. And I’ll be very interested to see how much game time Chicharito sees. He’s clearly a sharp shooter – he took his goal very coolly – and may turn out to be a very shrewd signing indeed; especially because United picked him up before the World Cup. United’s popularity in Mexico just went through the roof.

Highlights:

Our pals at Goaly Moly have pics of the match

                          

By Ollie Irish

Today’s links are brought to you by Larissa Riquelme’s massive birthmark:

Yikes! – More off-putting Larissa pics at Busted Coverage

Raul bids emotional farewell to Real Madrid – Goal

Speaking of Raul, he might yet come to the Premier League – COS

When Gazza’s tears changed football forever – Sabotage Times

Photos: Man Utd lose to 10-man Kansas City Wizards – Goaly Moly

Paul the Psychic Octopus is the subject of new film – Guardian

Video: Man City lose to Thierry Henry’s Red Bulls – 101GreatGoals

Stephen Ireland has bust-up with Roberto Mancini in the States? – Mirror

Kaka and Mickey Mouse – Kickette

Can Brazil produce another Marta? – Pitch Invasion

Nice interview with Guardian sport website editor Sean Ingle – EFW

TOP LINK The state of football in Congo – The Equaliser

5 reasons why Ashley Cole should go to Real Madrid – The Spoiler

Chinese fan karate kicks referee – FourFourTwo

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By Ollie Irish

Verdict: This kid will go far.

In Tottenham’s defence:

1) Their makeshift back four was made up of four full-backs. Team details (Via Tottenham’s official site):

Cudicini; Hutton, Walker, Corluka (Taarabt, 46), Naughton (Townsend, 46); Kranjcar (Rose, 70), Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale; Modric (Mason, 76); Keane.

Great to see Carlo Cudicini back in action, btw.

2) Spurs won the match 2-1, with goals by Robbie Keane and Gareth Bale completing the comeback. Suck on that, NY.

Post-match reaction:

                          

By Ollie Irish

The Union put up a good fight in this exhibition match but United had too much class in the end. Parsnip-headed winger Gabriel Obertan scored the only goal in a man-of-the-match display, which had Fergie purring.

United’s gaffer said: “Aye, he’s not bad for a Frenchy with a f*cking parsnip for a heid.”

No, he didn’t. That’s what I wanted him to say.

United’s gaffer actually said: “Goals always help players of course, and when they are forwards in particular. There is a goal in Gabby, there is no question of that.

“The best aspect of his goal was his run, the timing of his run and the timing of the pass and the weight of the pass. It made it a really good goal. He has taken it well.”

Our friends at Goaly Moly have a few pics of the game.