Current Olympian and former Chivas USA goalie Brad Guzan has been granted his UK Work Permit the second go around after initially being turned down during the winter transfer window.

While many have been riding Guzan hard this year after a couple of rough performances, this is still a 23 year old kid who’s got a very bright future ahead of him. And with Brad Friedel as Martin O’Neill’s number 1, Guzan will have the opportunity through trainings, Reserve team action and Cup competitions to solidify his game and growth.

image via Imgs

 UPDATE -  Looks like Blackburn and Villa have agreed to a 2 Million Pound move rather than a 4 Million Pound move for Brad Friedel.

How well has this worked out for Blackburn?  After signing for Graeme Souness on a free transfer (leaving Liverpool after 3 seasons) just after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Friedel went on to a long 8 years of service that saw Blackburn not only gain promotion to the Premiership and make their way to the upper half of the table, but also gain their way into UEFA Cup competition with Friedel in the nets.

That’s a pretty damn good return if you ask me!  And PS - His first Premiership appearance was against Aston Villa.

With Paul Robinson’s White Hart Lane nightmare almost finished with his proposed 3.5 Million Pound move to Blackburn, Brad Friedel might very well be on his way to Aston Villa in a 4 Million Pound move.

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It’s summertime and soccer news is a bit slow right now (aside from the killer SuperClassico last night) before the Olympics, EPL, and the second half of the MLS season crank up….

But, how can you not like the heck out of Frankie Hey Dude? The guy’s attitude is outstanding, he plays several years younger than his age, and there is no one nicer to fans. Becks misses his English pubs, but loves his cars, and picks up new lingo in LA. Is this a new kind of Reebok backpack, a male sports-bra, or Bolton’s new home kit? And if you are solidly in the Bob Bradley/USSF corner these days, you might not want to read this review of the “Bradley Era”. If Ronaldo is a slave, what are the rest of us? And is there really any doubt where Russian assassin Arshavin is going? It could only be one place imo…Chelski, despite what this article says. ManCity looking at Bay Village, OH legend, Brad Friedel.

Speaking of pick-ups, while we wait for Season Two of The Pick-Up Artist, Mystery-inspired “PUA’s” cruise a Skokie, IL shopping mall looking for digits with limited results. Who didn’t cruise the malls back in the day and go home frustrated and play videogames…? Remember that Elliot Spitzer controversy several months ago? Here’s an update on Ashley Dupre. Have you ever seen a girl with such obvious WAG dna? Come on, there’s got to be an MLSer ready to create some drama and start mixing with this one.

Last but not least, I like Pete Doherty but imagine if he started hanging around your work and was sniffing around your attractive and innocent 17 year old daughter….that would be mildly upsetting. I wouldn’t mess the King of Pain though.

FC Uptown

Image via Flickr

TRIPLE UPDATE -  Looks like ol’ Sparky really likes himself some Brad Friedel.

If this does go down I’m just wondering what’s going to happen to the development of Joe Hart?  Hart’s one of the best English keepers as it is and would be a huge blow to the young keepers future.

And is Friedel worth 3 Million?  As of right now Friedel is the longest serving member at Ewood Park, signing with Blackburn at the end of the 2000 Olympics in Australia after leaving Premiership side Liverpool.

DOUBLE UPDATE - While Sven has gotten his compensation package from City, Blackburn has officially allowed Hughes and City to open negotiations.

It’s going to cost City 5 Million Euros for Sparky.
UPDATE - Seems as though Thaksin Shinawatra really wants a new coach after handing out a Million Euro payoff to Sven.

Must be nice. Must be nice.

It’s being reported in both the major newspapers in England that Mark Hughes is heading towards Manchester City after Blackburn has allowed contact with the manager.

If this is true, then you’d have to think that Svenny is going to get the big job in Mexico right? Maybe not!

So who’d get Blackburn if Hughes leaves? Sam Allardyce?

Does Ryan Nelsen and Brad Friedel follow?

image via DailyMail

If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Brad Friedel, then you know what kind of guy he is. The Premier Soccer Academy that he’s built in Ohio is similar to the idea that’s happening in Bradenton, Florida yet different in that his academy is for club players. The future of having the opportunity to train everyday at a high level, similar to the model in England is another HUGE step in the right direction for American soccer, especially when American soccer/football players are putting money where their mouth is and back in the game for the kids.

Today Blackburn announced the one year extension that Brad Friedel was signed to, keeping him at Ewood Park (with former MLS’er Ryan Nelsen) until June of 2010. Friedel has smashed the record for Premiership appearances for Rovers at 300 games this past weekend against Timmy Howard and Everton. I still remember sitting at lunch in Sydney, Australia back in 2000 and Brad getting a call from Graeme Souness (his former manager at Galatasary) about the possible transfer from Liverpool, back when Blackburn was in the Championship (Division One).