US Soccer Players

Everton 2 - Fulham 1

Danny Murphy converted a 14th-minute penalty to put Fulham up at Goodison Park, but it would be Everton advancing to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.  Denis Stracqualursi equalized in the 27th minute from a Landon Donovan cross and Marouane Fellaini headed in the winner off Donovan's second assist in the 73rd.  Donovan and Tim Howard started for Everton, with Clint Dempsey in the lineup for Fulham.  Dempsey picked up an 86th minute yellow card.

In Friday's other game involving National Teamers, Steve Cherundolo got the start in Hsnnover 96's 1-0 win over Nurnberg.  Mohammed Abdellaoue was the difference, scoring in the 18th minute.  Timmy Chandler missed the game with a pulled muscle.  

Upside: Big Cup Game

Their Words

"We just need everybody to be at the same level on and off the pitch on Saturday. If we play like that and get the support we got, we'll give ourselves a better chance of progressing in the FA Cup." Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. 

Other Sources

Tim Howard on life in the Prem - from ESPN.com's Leander Schaerlaeckens: "that's not like a mystery."

Kirovski ready to jump into coaching - from The Carson Daily Breeze's Phil Collin: "I have the soccer smarts to play different positions, so I know where people should be," said Kirovski.

Weekend TV: FA Cup Fourth Round

Saturday

Liverpool - Manchester United
7:30am - Fox Soccer

A highlight encounter in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, even if Liverpool are 7th in the league to United's 2nd. “Liverpool have been struggling for form recently, and if we play like we did at Arsenal then I can’t see why we can’t get a very positive result," former United striker Ashley Cole told the club's official site. http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2012/Jan/andy-cole-backs-manchester-united-to-beat-liverpool.aspx

Also in the FA Cup, Fox Soccer has Derby County - Stoke City at 10am and Brighton - Newcastle at 12pm. On Fox Soccer Plus: QPR - Chelsea at 7am and Leicester - Swindon at 10am.

What American Soccer Fans Should Be Watching

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 27, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The news that Arsenal - Manchester United drew 1.2 million viewers in the United States for a live game early on a Sunday morning has opened a new discussion for the what it means for televised soccer to succeed.  Use whatever cliché you would like, but the impact of that game should have the holders of other foreign soccer rights in the US wondering what they need to do to follow Fox's lead with the Premier League.

Before dismissing that with 'buy the rights to the Premier League,' remember we're talking about broadcasters that already on the rights to competitions featuring the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the giants of Serie A.  With that in mind, what are the most undervalued soccer properties in the USA?

Friday's TV: Everton Play Fulham In The Cup

A spot in the Olympics is on the line for the US Women when they play Costa Rica at 8pm on Universal Sports Network over-air and online.

Everton - Fulham
3pm - Fox Soccer

Fox Soccer reworked its schedule to bring us a battle of National Teamers abroad in the FA Cup. This is a chance to see Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey against each other at club level, with a spot in the final 16 on the line. "We are aware that there is significant interest in this game in America, not least because of some of the personalities involved," Everton's spokesperson said. "We are delighted that Everton fans, and football fans in general, will be able to enjoy what will hopefully be an exciting game in this great competition."

Another American's club in FA Cup action, Brad Friedel's Spurs travel to Watford (2:30pm - Fox Soccer Plus). In the Mexican Primera Division, Azteca and Fox Deportes have Morelia - Monterrey at 9pm. A league down, Correcaminos - Veracruz is on GolTV at 9:30pm. All Times Eastern

Upside: Transfers

Their Words

"I had a number of very flattering offers, and a lot of teams were involved, including, at some level, AC Milan. To be honest, the team that I was closest to going to was Borussia Dortmund. They had just won the European Championship, Júlio César had left, and they were interested in bringing me in. MLS agreed to a deal with them, and they offered me a very good amount of money." US National Team alum Eddie Pope, speaking to MLSsoccer.com.  

Other Sources

Friday feeling can bring back magic for Everton FC – Tim Howard - from The Liverpool Post's Ian Doyle: And Howard believes the unusual date can engender a good atmosphere inside Goodison.

Making the case for eight U.S. players - from ESPN.com's Leander Schaerlaeckens: eight players put in strong applications for a promotion up Jurgen Klinsmann's depth chart.

Questions: Fitness, ASG, Coaches, West Ham, City

Thursday's Questions, and Tony finds proof of the smartest coach in MLS, wonders how Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City are doing, and would like to see MLS have things lined up before they make announcements.

Will Jurgen Klinsmann's focus on fitness during the January camp help the MLS players in camp during the first part of the long season?

“I don't know if everybody expected how much fitness we actually did,” said Benny Feilhaber to ESPN.com. After last night's game, the players are back to their clubs to prepare for the opening of the Major League Soccer season in about six weeks. That's a long time to maintain an extra physical and mental edge, but it will be interesting to see if those players in camp get off to good starts to the season.

Dempsey Talks FA Cup

With their Fourth Round game against Everton on Friday (3pm ET - Fox Soccer) Clint Dempsey described to Fulham's official site what the FA Cup means to him. 

“To be honest with you I didn’t [follow the FA Cup when I was younger] because I didn’t have a lot of channels growing up to watch football over in Europe. It wasn’t until I got a little bit older that we started to get channels like Fox Soccer Channel and stuff like that which showed all the Premier League games, so that’s what we watched, Premier League games, and also on ESPN we got to see the Champions League. But since I’ve been over here, you get to watch it on TV, you see the goals and you see that it’s a chance to win something special. In your career you want to win things and hopefully, maybe one day I can, maybe the FA Cup."

UEFA And The Fairness Of Transfer Fees

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 26, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Once again with UEFA, it's the money.  Specifically, who controls it and how it's spent across Europe.  That's the broad carryover from UEFA's attempt to restructure European football club finances, a point they pressed with the 4th edition of the Club Licensing Benchmarking Report released on Wednesday.

It's an intriguing document for a number of reasons, perhaps most of all because it stresses the importance of the benefactor model UEFA would like to remove from the game.  European clubs have lost €4 billion euros over a five year period, but what UEFA refers to as "owner and benefactor capital injections" put €3.4 back in.  Think of it as rich uncle syndrome, bailing out clubs that would otherwise be floundering economically.

Video: Panama 0 - USA 1

Highlights from the January 25th, 2012 friendly between Panama and the United States from Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.