Happy New Year Vagabonds!

Happy New Year to all of our readers wherever you are; from Dubai to New Jersey and from Korea to Texas - thanks for stopping by this year.

2009 should be an exciting year and here is just a bit of what we can look forward to:

- The USA taking on Sweden on January 24th
- Gooch perhaps finally making the jump to a new club
- Players like Marvell Wynne and Sacha Kljestan possibly moving across the pond
- Vincenzo Bernardo and Jozy Altidore possibly being loaned out
- Young Giuseppe Nazzani getting a chance with Bologna's first team
- The Confederations Cup and U-20 World Championships
- Seeing if Clint Dempsey can keep his hot touch into the spring
- Waiting for Freddy Adu to establish himself as a first team player at Monaco
- Michael Bradley finding his stride and tearing his way through the Bundesliga
- Carlos Bocanegra continuing his strong play at Rennes and earning a CL spot
- Danny Szetela continuing his solid left midfield play at Brescia - with few at home noticing
- Seeing if Landon Donovan can prove that he can hang with the big boys every week
- Whether DaMarcus Beasley heads home to play in MLS or finds a new European club
- Watching Maurice Edu assert himself as a key player in Rangers' title run
- Watching Bruce Arena turn the LA Galaxy into a winner
- Watching juggernaut Barcelona dominate La Liga all the way to the title
- Seeing if TSG Hoffenheim can keep the dream alive and win the Bundesliga championship
- Seeing if anyone can challenge Olympique Lyon's dominance of Ligue 1
- Whether Cristiano Ronaldo can avoid the burnout syndrome that comes with being the world's hottest player
- Wondering when Brad Friedel is finally recognized as one of the best keepers in Europe
- Whether Steven Gerard goes to jail for some recent brawling (doubtful)
- Whether Juventus can catch Inter from running away with another Scuddetto
- Whether Real Madrid qualifies for a UEFA Cup spot, much less a CL one
- Whether Fiorentina sells all of its talent (again) or makes a run for the top three
- Seeing how far Edy Reja can take his bargain-basement priced Napoli team...all the way to the Champion's League?
- Seeing how far AS Roma will continue to slide, especially now that Francesco Totti is injured
- Watching and enjoying how well Seattle (a great soccer town) supports the return of the Sounders
- Wondering when the scary young talent on the Argentina side starts to gel into a world-beater


Here are some fun highlights from 2008 which we hope you'll enjoy:

Best Goals:


Best Keepers:


Best Skills:


Flops and Follies (Multisport):

Finally! Dempsey's Long Awaited Breakout Performance

Your loyal vagabond is off skiing in the Alps so we'll turn this weekend's recap over to LFV friend Ives Galarcep, who has a nice piece on Clint Dempsey's breakout performance for Fulham.

Also, our Amsterdam connection Greg Seltzer goes one better and provides videos. Check them out here.

It was also a banner day for American skiers today with five Americans finishing in the top ten in the downhill at Val Gardena. Bode Miller finally got off the schneide and onto the podium this year finishing second to Austria's Michael Walchhofer.

Canadian Ace Signs For 'Gladbach

Michael Bradley's Borussia Moenchengladbach side is making some shrewd deals this winter to keep themselves afloat in the Bundesliga during the second half of the season. Canadian vet Paul Stalteri, who last played in the Bundesliga for Werder Bremen, has been signed from Tottenam Hotspur. The versatile 31 year-old can play in defense or midfield and his playing style is uniquely suited to the forceful play of the Bundesliga. He has been out on loan to Fulham this season and his deal with Gladbach will keep him at the club until 2011.

Gladbach had also expressed interest in Standard Liege's American defender Oguchi Onyewu but now it appears that they've settled for his central defense partner Dante (from Brazil). This move could make it even more difficult for the club to now sell Onyewu, unless the price is right.

Gladbach also signed Belgian keeper Logan Bailey and Czech midfielder Tomas Galasek. American fans may remember the veteran Galasek as the hard-tackling holding midfielder for the Czech Republic during their 3-0 win over the Stars and Stripes during the 2006 World Cup.

Marseille Still Eying Onyewu

Olympique Marseille coach Eric Gerets is still keen to possibly sign Stantard Liege central defender Oguchi Onyewu. According to France Football, Gerets was at Standard's recent UEFA Cup match against Sampdoria to observe Onyewu, who scored in his team's 3-0 win.

Gerets is looking for help to strengthen his team's central defense which has been a disappointment, despite the club's current fifth place standing in Ligue 1. Their defensive softness was most vividly displayed last weekend in a 3-0 loss to Nancy. During that dismal performance, the central midfield and defense did not communicate well and L'OM was overall weak in one-on-one challenges. Observers have noted that this year's edition of L'OM is strong on paper but mentally weak. The addition of Onyewu, a player Gerets referred to as "intense and strong" could be just what the team needs to challenge for one of the league's top places this season.

Any move for Onyewu would likely be tied to the fate of central defender Ronald Zubar, a player once linked to Arsenal and Olympique Lyon but who has had a disappointing season. The trick for Gerets is whether he decides he can bring the once-promising French U-21 player back into form or sell him off and go after Onyewu.

But L'OM is also interested in Onyewu's teammate Milan Jovanovich to strenghen their attack. So, talks between the two teams won't necessarily mean that Gooch is in play although a package deal is remotely possible. With a price tage estimated at 12 million euros, Jovanovich may be too pricey for Marseille so they may settle for bringing in veteran striker Henrik Larsson from Helsingborg (for an estimated 5 million euros).

Its Official: Subotic To Play For Serbia

Well, its official now that Neven Subotic has decided to play for Serbia and has informed both the US Soccer Federation and the European press. Its a shame that this rising defensive star won't suit up for the Stars and Stripes but I'm not really that bothered by it given the wave of talent we have coming forward. Our central defense is still very healthy with Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra playing some of the best soccer of their careers right now.

When I look at the quality of the US U-23 and U-20 players coming up these days, it is obvious that enough talent will be available to make up for the loss of players such as Subotic. Our Olympic team had enough quality last summer to have won the gold medal - something we couldn't always say in the past. Instead of European clubs hiring our proven vets, they are scooping up our young talent - can anyone say Altidore, Adu, Bradley, Zizzo, Szetela, Bernardo, and soon Kljestan, Wynne, and others?

I know some of you will want to blame Thomas Rongen, who reportedly rubbed Subotic the wrong way - please don't. Rongen is a respected coach because he knows the game well, trains his players hard, and calls them like he sees them. Besides, he is Dutch - a people known for their blunt honesty and disdain for doublespeak (yet another reason to love them). Does anyone really think if Rongen had given Subotic the "Barney" treatment he would be suiting up for the USA? Please!

So my fellow US soccer fans, let's wish Neven the best of luck playing for his father's homeland and not get too whiny over this development. There are still lots of hungry young players busting their tail every day for a chance to one day pull on that US jersey (and bring home some silver for a change). Let's focus on supporting them.

Kljestan in Milan - And Playing In The San Siro!

Sorry folks but it does not look like Sacha Kljestan is in Milan for talks with either of the city's two powerhouse clubs, AC and Inter. Instead, he is in Milan to play for the Ambassadors of Peace team in a charity match against the Iraqi national team. Kljestan didn't show any jet lag and was quite active in midfield during the second half, causing problems for the Iraqi defense.

The event was organized by the group Un Goal Per La Pace (A Goal For Peace) and the proceeds will go to aid the children of Iraq. AC Milan coach Carlo Anceloti's Ambassadors of Peace team ended up beating the young Iraqi side 2-1.

Now, it remains to be seen if Kljestan takes a detour out to Bergamo for a chat with Atalanta (a side which has been interested in him), or jumps on a plane and heads home for Christmas. Of course, that trip home could always make a stop elsewhere in Europe on the way back...

Beasley's Car Vandalized in Glasgow

Now this is just plain cold. It looks like he is the fourth Rangers player to have his car vandalized this way. Too bad they picked a guy who has only made a handful of appearances this year.

No wonder Da Beas' may be be interested in a move to someplace warm like Osasuna, Espanyol, or Wolfsburg (where he can see more playing time and keep his BMW in one piece).