A disturbing article appeared in my Email today about how promising young players from around the world are being exploited because of their dream to play professional soccer.  In some cases they are paying their last pennies to get to some far off country in the hope of trying out and getting a pro contact.

Online video has got a lot to answer for as these young hopefuls post their highlight video on You Tube and other platforms.  Unscrupulous scouts and agents are leading these players down a dangerous path.

Recently one 19 year old committed suicide as his chances and money ran out.

Steve Darby sent me the article and we will reprint it in next week's World of Soccer Spring Newsletter. 3/9/2012

Lots of international action on Wednesday all over the world.

World Cup Qualifying in Asia saw 10 teams go through – including Iraq and Australia – to the fourth round of five for the World Cup Finals 2014 (in Brazil).

A famous victory for the United States in Italy (1 – 0) was probably the most sensational.  

England lost a home to the Netherland having tied the game in the 90th minute only to be beaten in the dying seconds of the game from a goal by Arien Robben.  So all the upheaval of the last few weeks with the resignation of Capello and the loss of the captaincy by John Terry resolves nothing in the England plans for Euro 2012.

Glasgow Rangers, who with Glasgow Celtic represent the very best in Scottish soccer, went into administration this week.

Portsmouth FC are said to be doing the same for the second time in two years.

What does this all mean?  Quite simply that the game in the UK is financially out of whack.  Going back to the old NASL days when the Cosmos set the standards for other teams, including our own Whitecaps, we fell into the same trap - trying to match a team with major - what seemed to be limitless  - funds to support it (Warner Bros).

You look at British soccer, with massive financial backing coming for a significant number of clubs from outside the country, it is almost certain to have a knock-on effect.

Let's hope not.  The next couple of years should tell the story.

How far can technology take us? 

I was assisting at the recent USL combine at Bradenton, Florida (January 26th – 29th).  102 prospects were in attendance. 

The players were split into 6 teams.  I was responsible for one of them as they played 3 games over 3 days. 

ProZone video taped each game and every player.  Each player will receive their own personal electronic file showing every move they made. 

On the Friday evening, Stewart Mairs, the US Operations Manager for ProZone, gave a 20-minutes presentation on how to use the program.

I was amazed to see how much progress they had made.  Last year I was allowed access to one of the Prozone NCAA games that had been videoed.  It was good, but it is now much more user-friendly and simple to use.  So much so that it made my mind race ahead to how effective it could be in team and individual player development. 

It poses the question:  Is ProZone and similar programs going to revolutionize the world-wide development of players at all levels? 

Join the conversation on LinkedIn or Facebook 

There is a crisis in the NHL, but you wouldn't know it if you only listened to the NHL top brass.

Concussions in any contact sport are serious injuries and must be treated responsibly.

However the game of hockey is in denial.

"It's a Canadian game!" you will hear many will say North of the Border.   The inference being that "ringing someone's bell" is all part of the sport.

Recent comments in the Vancouver Province show that those who watch the sport might consider not doing so if the hitting is taken out of the game.  One reason for the apparent apathy of Gary Bettman and his advisors.

It's not just the high profile players Sidney Crosby, Marc Staal and Chris Pronger who are currently under the microscope for the effects of concussions.  There is a long list of NHL players waiting to be cleared.

As a former goalkeeper in the English (soccer) league, I've suffered multiple concussions only to find myself back in the cauldron of top-class soccer 3 or 4 days after the injury.  Ignorance does not excuse irresponsibility.

I keep my fingers crossed that I won't have to pay for it as the years go by.

But for the NHL it is wake up time!  You might think it is the NHL top brass management team that is concussed - not the players.

Soccer - football to most people in the world - ebbs and flows and that is part of the enjoyment and the fascination many of us have with the game.

Last week it seemed certain that David Beckham was going to join PSG in France.  Today, that all changed with the announcement Beckham would not be going to Paris Saint-Germain and would likely stay in LA.  As he is now out of contract, negotiations with the Galaxy will start all over again.

We reported last Thursday that Landon Donovan would return on loan (for two months) to Everton.  He did more than that.  He started in today's game against Bolton Wanderers where American goalkeeper, Tim Howard, scored the opening goal.  Sat here in front of a computer there is no way of telling at this juncture just how that happened.  The Game Cast on ESPN's Soccernet shows he scored from his own penalty area.

We'll give you an update on just what happened as soon as we get it.

Time Howard's goal - Breaking News.

It was a fly kick from his own box on a back pass that was wind-assisted, took one big bounce went and over the embarrassed Bolton keeper.  See if this link stays up so you can see it.

Click here to watch the video.

However, all did not end well for the two Everton Americans, Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, as Bolton came back after the freak goal to win 2 - 1.

We will find out in the next few days at the player trades unfurl trading unfurls.

In Europe, the January trading window is fast approaching and excitement is in the air.

Arsenal will lose players to the African Nations Cup in January and February and for that reason Thierry Henry's name has been thrown about with conjecture about a short-term loan from the New York Red Bulls.

Landon Donovan seems Everton-bound once again for another short term loan.

But it is across the English Channel to Paris where we are seeing the greatest activity.  PSG (Paris St-Germain) is buzzing with rumors and intrigue.  It is not just David Beckham, but Coach Ancelotti, Chelsea's Malouda and several more names are being associated with PSG a club that is being driven right now by billionaire Qatari ownership. 

PSG might even outspend Manchester City...which brings us to Carlos Tevez.  

Where will he be by January?

Who knows?  And for many, who cares? 

Except that he is an exceptional soccer player and great to watch.

We will find out in the next few days at the player trades unfurl trading unfurls.

We have just published our World of Soccer Christmas newsletter and we have roasted a few old chestnuts by going back in time to some of the stories of Christmases Past.

You may have seen them before in the Boot Room, but you will still get a good chuckle out of them (Click link below).

Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2012,

The December 2011 World of Soccer Newsletter is now on-line.