Mad Brit Diary

Reyna sought brighter future by choosing Manchester City.

The Mad Brit feels a little sorry for Fulham coach Chris Coleman. The friendly Welshman thought he had Claudio (Captain America) Reyna on his team.

Not so.

The New Jersey lad did a U-turn and signed up with Manchester City. Reyna would have been dumb not to move to Manchester City. The Blues, who arrived back in English Premier League in 2002, look like they will become a permanent fixture in top flight English soccer under the leadership of Kevin Keegan. Just take a look at City's spanking new stadium that seats 48,000 and you can understand why Reyna wanted to move to Manchester instead of London.

The stadium is a beauty. It was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. As soon as the games were over, the bulldozers came in and ripped up the track, built a new stand and roof, and it became home to City. The club now rents it from the public.

Fulham, meantime, is homeless and plays at London neighbor Queens Park Rangers, awaiting a decision on the fate of the refurbishing plans for Craven Cottage, the team's home ground. Instead of playing before 19,148 at QPR's Loftus Road, Reyna will be performing before twice as many fans in Manchester.

Maybe Reyna, 30, can help City rise from the shadows of crosstown Manchester United. The Blues, founded way back in 1887, have never had the success of the Red Devils, who not only dominate the city of Manchester, but the world. At City, Reyna will get a chance to study under Keegan who was a brilliant player in his day and was named European "Player of the Year" twice when he played for Hamburg in Germany.

The American will also get to team up with new signing Steve McManaman, 31, who recently joined the Blues from Real Madrid. It will be interesting to see how McManaman, a former Liverpool ace, and Reyna play together in the City midfield. Both are not actually spring chickens, but they both have style and great passing ability. Maybe just maybe, the Blues will surprise us this year.

Reyna should do a quick study of Colin Bell, arguably City's greatest player who helped the team win its second title, the first coming in 1937. Bell helped Manchester win the championship (1968), the FA Cup (1968), the League Cup (1970) and the European Cup Winners Cup (1970) in the space of three years. Bell played 48 times for England and is the most capped player in City's history.

The Mad Brit saw Bell and the Blues down West Bromwich Albion at Wembley Stadium after extra-time in a fine game in 1970. Another player Reyna might want to read up on is German goalie Bert Trautmann who helped City beat Birmingham at Wembley Stadium to win the 1956 FA Cup. Trautmann left the field with a sore neck. It was later discovered that he had actually broken his neck.

Trautmann's story is amazing. As a German soldier in World War II, he escaped from a Russian and French prison camp before being picked up by the Brits who greeted him with "Hello Fritz, fancy a cup of tea." After life as a POW, he became a great goalkeeper.

OK, that's enough nostalgia. While checking out his new team this week, Reyna actually set off a security alert when he decided to wander around City's training complex by himself. The rest of the team was out of town at Cardiff for an UEFA Cup game. The security guards didn't know who the American was. Let's hope they get to hear a lot more about Reyna in the coming weeks. Take a break Eddie

American winger Eddie Lewis has been told by his coach to take a week off from training to prevent burn-out in his key left-flank player. Lewis was named Preston North End's "Man of the Match" last week when his club downed Stoke 1-0. Preston's game today was postponed because several players are away on international duty.

"I've told Eddie to have the week off because he played all summer for America and really hasn't had a break," said coach Craig Brown. "But he is the sort of bloke who doesn't want to rest and will want to keep on training, but we'll have to overrule this time." Fabien stays

French World Cup keeper Fabien Barthez says he will stay at the Manchester United despite being relegated to third-choice goalkeeper after the arrival of American Tim Howard. After pulling off a number of fine saves, Howard was to blame for letting a Graeme Le Saux corner sail over his head and give James Beattie a simple goal in United's 1-0 loss at Southampton last week.

Still, coach Alex Ferguson stood by his goalkeeper. "I thought Tim Howard had an excellent game," Ferguson said. "He felt he had a push in the back, but I saw nothing. He is young and he will get over this.."

D.C. United and Manchester United could miss out on winning the services of youth sensation Freddy Adu, 14. The Potomac, Md., resident and United States under-17 men's veteran, tells the British media that he wants to join his idol David Beckham, at Real Madrid.

"My favorite teams in Europe have always been Manchester United and Real Madrid, but since Beckham's move, Madrid would please me the most," Adu said. "They have Ronaldo, Raul, Zinedine Zidane, (Louis) Figo, Roberto Carlos and Beckham. It would be great for me to play for Real Madrid some day."

The road to the 2006 World Cup in Germany begins this weekend for South American teams. Defending champion Brazil opens its qualifying campaign against Colombia at Barranquilla, Colombia, tomorrow.

For the first time ever, the reigning champion has not been awarded an automatic berth at the finals. Brazil, seeking an unprecedented sixth title, will have to play 18 qualifiers in the next two years. In other games today, Peru takes on visiting Paraguay, Ecuador hosts Venezuela, Chile travels to Argentina. Tomorrow, Uruguay host Bolivia.

Two German stars of Women's United Soccer Association have come out of retirement to play in the this month's World Cup. Washington Freedom midfielder Steffi Jones, who has played 74 national-team games and Boston Breakers striker Maren Meinert (85 games) have joined the German World Cup squad.

In the past WUSA season, Jones helped the Freedom win the 2003 title, while Meinert was named the WUSA MVP. Freedom defender Sandra Minnert (95 games) is also on the German 20-woman roster.

English giant Arsenal has signed Roanoke, Va., native Danny Karbassiyoon, 19, to a two-year contract. At the Gunners, Karbassiyoon joins U.S. under-20 men's defender and teammate, Frank Simek, 18, of Millstadt, Ill.

The oldest soccer club in the world, Notts County is suffering major financial problems. The Nottingham-based club that plays in England's Second Division is facing bankruptcy -- and possible extinction -- unless it can find an new owner in the very near future.

William Johnston writes: "Dear Mad Brit, as a regular reader of yours, I'm afraid I have to take issue with some of your comments regarding hooliganism. There may have been an unfortunate increase in arrests, but this is partially explained by the reclassification of offenses and increase in attendances. However, this is not my main point. Rather what upset me about your column was your linking the Heysel and Hillsborough stadium disasters together, and I am no Liverpool fan - the mere mention of their names make me wretch.

"The Heysel disaster was an example of hooliganism at its worst, but a large proportion of the trouble was caused by the opposition -- it takes two to tango. Hillsborough had nothing to do with hooliganism. It was one of the blackest days in the history of sport caused by poor, indeed negligent, incompetent and downright criminal policing. The failure of the Yorkshire Constabulary to do its job properly cost many lives in the initial crush -- caused by them failing to effectively inform and marshal a crowd -- and then by stupidly opening a gate at the wrong time, in the wrong place. Then they killed more by preventing aid from getting to the injured.

"Hillsborough was a poorly designed, but even more poorly stewarded and police stadium, an accident waiting to happen. Do not try and make the 96 that died there into hooligans -- they were not that."

Gabi Mitchell writes: "Dear Mad Brit, advancements by both of Scotland giants (Celtic and Rangers) in the Champions League has helped stabilize Scottish football as a major factor in European competition. Yes, although there are no competitors aside from both Glaswegian clubs, at least the poor folk above Hadrian's Wall have something to cheer about! When you take a look at it, both clubs play tough, physical football. The reason why they haven't joined the English Premier League is because the dominant clubs "south of the border" lack the guts and brawn to battle it out with the rabid Scots..

Mike Bracken asks: I was rereading past columns and noticed the story on the goggles (of Edgar Davids). I have been trying to find out the manufacturer (of his goggles) because I would like to try and order a pair. I wear contacts when I play, but my right eye is at risk without protection because I took five pokes, one a year, for five years in a row. (P.S., can anyone help Mike?)

Heard a rumor, have a gripe or a tip? Feeling lonely? E-mail the Mad Brit at themadbrit3@aol.com.