Mid-week news wrap
By Jay Hipps · August 27, 2008
First off, a big welcome back to Jeff Carlisle, who has returned to CLS after jet-setting around China with Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme, and the rest of the Argentina soccer team. Just one question from us: Did the gold medals set off the metal detectors at airport security?
Now that Jeff is back, he is immediately back on the hard news beat, so if you haven’t checked out the latest from him on Ramiro Corrales’ MCL sprain (out 4-8 weeks, ouch) and the latest on the move of St. Vincent & Grenadines forward Marlon Alex James, feel free to do so.
As Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop told CLS yesterday, James is headed for Vancouver along with his teammate at Malaysia’s Kedah FC, Cornelius Bernard Huggins (who, by the way, has a name that makes us think that his true calling may be in jazz — “and now, on vibes, Cornelius Bernard Huggins”). The Whitecaps announced the signings today, and we note that their contracts only run through the end of the season. Since the last day for MLS discovery player signings is September 15, and Vancouver’s regular season ends on September 20, it appears possible that one or both of the pair may be able to make their way to San Jose.
The move to Canada comes just days after Kedah’s 3-2 victory over Selangor in the Malaysia Cup, the crown jewel of competitions in that country. It marks the second year running that the Canaries (yes, Norwich City fans, Kedah share your colors and nickname) have achieved victories in all three domestic competions: the Malaysian Super League, the Malaysia FA Cup, and the Malaysia Cup. James scored his side’s first goal in the match, which you can see here:
According to Goal.com, James also won the league’s Most Popular Import Player award over the weekend, so he’s leaving quite a legacy behind.
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There’s not much else to report on the Earthquakes front. Our own Embele Awipi, writing for the Salinas Californian, writes about what was by all reports an epic road trip sponsored by San Jose supporters’ group the 1906 Ultras.
Meanwhile, over at Soccer by Ives, the fine Mr. Galarcep has bumbed the Quakes up to number 11 “with a bullet” on this week’s MLS Power Rankings.
Finally, Palo Alto Online notes that this weekend’s match will be a homecoming for Wizards defender Matt Marquess.
jay - so did we sign the spanish forward ? did i miss something ? i haven’t heard or read anything else on the guy, since mlsnet announced it last month. just wondering ? thanx!
Frank, yes, the Quakes signed Mikel Arce to a developmental deal. I’ve seen him in practice a bit and he has some skills, but it may be difficult in the short term to crack the starting lineup or even get in as a sub as long as everyone is healthy.
cool thanx.