2011 Major League Soccer Player Combine Profile: JMU Forward CJ Sapong

CJ Sapong is focused on his potential professional career after a successful collegiate season. "I am trying to get to the next level," Sapong said.

The forward leaves James Madison as one of the program's all-time players. Sapong ranks fifth in points (95), seventh in goals (37) and fourth in game-winning goals (12). He also earned four All-CAA First Team selections from 2007-10 culminating in being named the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year.

This past fall, the senior scored 12 goals, four of which were game winners, and added nine assists. He was also named as a captain for the Dukes. "I tried to bring cohesiveness to our team," Sapong said.

Now, the former JMU player will join 53 other Division I college seniors from January 7-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the 2011 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine.

Sapong is excited for the opportunity and currently training for the event. He has spoken to several former combine invitees including 2010 MLS draftee Adam Welch. The two competed at Reading United AC in the PDL this past summer.

"I am confident in my abilities," Sapong said. "It's important to settle down and play well at the combine."

Find more interviews and news at -- 2011 MLS Combine and SuperDraft Coverage Center

McCarthy wants to get fans smiling

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy knows his side's fans need a boost in the midst of a relegation battle, and he has his hopes pinned on a derby day victory to put smiles on their faces.

The Molineux outfit are second bottom of the Premier League and on a run of ten defeats in their last 13 matches. It seems highly likely that Wolves fans are preparing for a long relegation battle given the fact their side have been struggling to both keep clean sheets and score goals - it is 22 games since Wolves kept the opposition out. Anyone looking to bet on Premier League weekend games should remember this.

McCarthy, who saw his side go down 3-0 to Blackburn Rovers last time out, is preparing his team for the visit of second city rivals Birmingham City on Sunday and he wants this game to be the one his side show they are still willing to fight for their survival.

The fans could worry as their boss has never managed a win over Birmingham in six attempts, but McCarthy knows taking all three points this weekend could be the catalyst to inspire an improved run of form that could pull Wolves out of the Premier League relegation dogfight.

"It's a bit more than three points now isn't it?" he said.

"I'd settle for three points out of any game at the moment, but because of local pride and bragging rights, we need to get the points at home."

The weekend Premier League betting suggests Wolves are in for a tough time, and they will have to find something from somewhere if they are to grab a much needed win.

The manager has added that he would be happy if his team started to "win ugly" in their coming games. Whether wins come in a pretty manner or otherwise should be irrelevant at the moment to Wolves fans, no matter how the points arrive they are desperately needed if the club are to avoid relegation this campaign.

MLS Combine 2011 - MLS SuperDraft 2011 Coverage Center: Player Interviews, News and Notes on the Major League Soccer Draft

Updates:

+ 2011 MLS Draft Profile -- Cole Grossman

+ 2011 MLS Draft Profile -- Daniel Keat

+ 2011 MLS Draft Profile -- Jeb Brovsky

+ 2011 MLS Draft Profile -- Greg King

Soccer City FC provides some of the best Major League Soccer Combine and SuperDraft coverage on the Internet. Keep this link bookmarked and check back often to see interviews, news and notes on the annual MLS event.



Major League Soccer's Combine takes place January 7-11 in Ft.Lauderdale, Florida and the MLS SuperDraft follows after in Baltimore, Maryland.

Update: Jan. 8th Day One 2011 MLS Combine

Update: Jan. 6th News and Notes

Combine Interviews/Profiles

+ Indiana University defender Rich Balchan

+ UAB defender Curtis Ushedo

+ Notre Dame forward Steven Perry

+ JMU forward CJ Sapong

College Soccer Interviews/Profiles (Players Not Attending Combine)

+ UW defender Taylor Mueller

+ Slippery Rock goalkeeper Greg Blum

MLS SuperDraft News

+ Soccer By Ives - MLS Draft Big Board (V2.0)

+ A closer look at the 2011 SuperDraft Charles Gooch/The Kansas City Star

+ Article on how academy programs influence MLS SuperDraft Kyle McCarthy/Goal.com

+ MLS SuperDraft just one month away Jeff Lemieux/NE Revolution Blog

MLS Combine News

+ MLS announces initial list of adidas MLS Player Combine invitees via MLSsoccer.com

+ MLS Combine Schedule

+ Shuffling the Cards from College to Pro Jason Davis/Match Fit USA

Player Profiles and News via Online Media

+ Four Irish Players invited to MLS Combine via Notre Dame Athletics

+ MLS Player Combine invitee back to college for fifth season via Soccer City FC

+ Five Area Seniors Invited to MLS Combine via Chicagolandsoccernews.com

+ Balchan to attend MLS Combine via Indiana Athletics

+ Sapong invited to MLS Player Combine via James Madison Athletics

+ Curtis Ushedo invited to MLS Combine via UAB Athletics

+ Cal Poly's Junior Burgos invited to MLS Combine via KSBY.com

+ Louisville, Indiana soccer players invited to MLS combine via Courier-Journal.com

+ Givens invited to MLS Combine via Michigan State Athletics

+ Record 5 Bears Invited to MLS Combine via Cal Athletics

+ Brown's Jon Okafor invited to MLS Player Combine via Brown Athletics

+ Michigan's Justin Meram invited to MLS PreDraft Combine via AnnArbor.com

+ USC, Clemson stars earn combine invite via GoUpstate.com

+ Boxall invited to MLS Combine via Presidio Sports

+ USF's Attinella invited to MLS Combine via WCTV.tv

+ UCI striker, Cal duo invited to combine via Scott French ESPN Los Angeles

+ More accolades for UA soccer via Ohio.com (Beacon Journal sports)

+ 3 Area Men at MLS Combine via Big Apple Soccer

Other News re: MLS Combine/SuperDraft

+ White on playing for D.C. United Alex Caulfield/D.C. United

+ D.C. United sings homegrown defender D.C. United Press Release

+ D.C. United signs Maryland's White via Soccer By Ives

+ United adds Ethan White via United Mania

Ramires singing the Blues at Stamford Bridge

There have been many reasons for Chelsea's recent struggles both on English soil and, after last night's French humiliation at the hands of Marseille, on foreign soil too, with the Blues now slipping from their position as favourites on most odds comparison sites to win the league. However, perhaps one of the most unexpected problems the Blues have had to deal with has been the complete failure of Ramires to settle in at the club and adjust to life in English football.

One decent performance against Arsenal earlier this campaign aside, Ramires has flattered to deceive and, on the whole, failed to show to pundits, fans, or bookies even the slightest hint that he's capable of justifying the hefty £18 million price-tag attached to his name when Chelsea completed his move from Benfica.

Earlier this season, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Ramires, although not the tallest of competitors in midfield, has the strength it takes to succeed against even the best opposition. Whilst conceding that the player is finding it tough to adapt to the Premier League, Ancelotti seemed confident that, in time, the Blues would see the best of Ramires, but so far that has clearly failed to materialise.

Last night against Marseille, the player looked lost in a midfield dominated by the French side, whilst a lack of creativity from him with the ball hampered Chelsea's play in the final third. Although Ramires is apparently finding it trickier to adjust to life at Chelsea since he's having to plug the gaping hole left by the injured Frank Lampard, with the anchor role in midfield thought to be more to his preference, a player worth the amount of money he apparently is should possess enough versatility to do at least a half-decent job in several other positions on the pitch.

Ancelotti has revealed his belief that Chelsea are playing with an unacceptable level of fear at the moment and no player seems to embody this physically as much as Ramires, who tends to look like a lost puppy on the numerous occasions he finds himself out muscled in the middle of the park and fails miserably to hide his lack of self-belief when a shot towards goal flies high and wide into the stands.

If Chelsea do want to get their campaign back on track this weekend against Tottenham, they'll just have to hope that Lampard's recovery continues well over the next couple of days.

Pardew faces tough task to impress

Usually when a new manager joins a football club a fresh feeling of new found optimism sweeps through the air.

The players are extra motivated, keen to impress, the fans have an extra spring in their step and the ’honeymoon period’ often yields a few early results.

Somehow I don’t expect that to happen up at Newcastle and neither do those following the latest scores at St James’ Park.

The supporters were incensed at the news of Chris Hughton’s sacking earlier this week. The former Tottenham assistant was a popular figure with the Geordie faithful after re-building the shattered squad following relegation in 2009, leading them to the Championship title and guiding them to a comfortable mid-table position in the Premier League.

They have a reputation for being the division’s resident crisis club and in the past their passionate fans have often contributed to the feeling of hysteria that surrounds St James’ Park.

But on this occasion this was all of owner Ashley’s own making. The fans appreciated Hughton for what he did and saw him as the safe pair of hands the club needed.

Those assessing the Live football scores regularly believe that Ashley’s bizarre desire for someone with more experience has created needless disruption within a club keen to have a nice, calm, uneventful season – for once.

The appointment of Alan Pardew – hardly the big name the sacking of Hughton justified – has further riled the supporters.

They will, as ever, get behind their team but it can’t be denied that Pardew will have a fight on his hands if he is to appease the supporters who feel betrayed once more by their club’s chairman - He
received only 14 votes in a poll run by a local newspaper, less than 2% of the vote.

Pardew faces a tough baptism against Liverpool on Saturday, though I expect he will have more than just the opposition to overcome in the coming weeks.

Senderos boost for Fulham

Fulham could be handed an early Christmas present this year, with the news Phillipe Senderos is edging closer to making his long awaited debut for the club. The defender joined Fulham on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer, only to rupture his achilles heel in training days before the start of the season.

The defender and the club haven't gone as far as to set a date for his return to action but Senderos confirmed he was making a good recovery.

"The cast is off now and I'm walking without crutches again which feels great. The rehabilitation is going well and I'm on schedule, which is pleasing," he said. Fulham have been unfortunate on many occasions this season and find themselves fourth from bottom down to their fair share of bad luck.

A hefty injury list, coupled with a number of narrow losses in the league, have left Mark Hughes' side just a point clear of the relegation zone with a third of the season gone, although the Fulham betting suggests they should improve soon.

In all fairness, Senderos' absence hasn’t had a major impact on the club's fortunes this season. The Fulham defence has been pretty solid all season, conceding only 18 league goals. It has been in attack where they have come up short so far this campaign.

The long term injury to Bobby Zamora hit the club hard and summer signing Moussa Dembele has had his own injury issues, disrupting his start at the club. The return to action of Andy Johnson has come at the perfect time for Hughes, who is looking for one of his strikers to step up and provide the goals that Zamora would have done.

The former Everton striker has missed much of the last two years and may not be the answer to Hughes' problems. It is going to take Johnson a fair while to reach 100 per cent fitness and transfer rumours suggest the club may be forced to dip into the market come the new year.

Despite their disappointing start to the season, Fulham won’t be overly worried about a relegation battle this season. There is plenty of quality in this Fulham squad and Mark Hughes is still one of the league's best managers.

Arsenal’s wounded no longer wanted?

Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are players who would normally be considered as world class and simply vital to any future success enjoyed by Arsenal Football Club both on home soil and European competition. However, as they continue to look like permanently injured players, and with Arsenal putting together a good run of form without them that has sparked great interest in the side on odds comparison sites, they are increasingly looking like expensive luxuries that the club should be cashing in on.

With young Jack Wilshere having shown that he can step up to the plate in Fabregas’s absence, and Arsenal having shown that they have a decent number of options up front in Van Persie’s absence, the club have begun to reap the rewards of investing astutely in their squad.

Should Barcelona still wish to spend big money on Fabregas, and if clubs want to spend the levels of cash that would encourage Van Persie to leave the comforts of north London, then Wenger could use the money raised to fund a splurge on the likes of Gary Cahill or a world class goalkeeper.

With improving both of these positions currently appearing far more vital to Arsenal's title chances in the bookmaker odds than keeping hold of players who are almost not worth considering part of Arsenal's first choice eleven, perhaps a marquee signing could even lift the spirits of the club’s fans as well, with Gooners increasingly beginning to feel that the club is heading in the wrong direction.

However, with Wenger lacking in experienced players, he is likely to be reluctant to release two individuals who have been at the club during its more successful years because of their importance to the club off the pitch.

Whether or not Wenger chooses to cash in on his star players in the near future, the time has surely finally come to accept that he needs to invest in his side's back line or risk continuing to embrace failure as the norm at the Emirates.

Lack of firepower holding Fulham back

Fulham fans may have seen their beloved former manager Roy Hodgson struggle badly to adjust to life at one of the league’s big boys, with Liverpool fans not exactly welcoming him into their lives on Merseyside, but it is struggles closer to home that will currently be occupying the minds of the Fulham faithful.

After the highs of last season, Fulham wouldn't have been expecting to be sitting in 17th place in the league after 15 games. However, that's the reality facing the club right now, with the main problem leading to that league position clear for all to see. The problem seems to lie in the goals column, with their goal difference currently -3. This stat is a massive improvement on the figure for the likes of West Ham and Wigan, who have goal differences of -12 and -15 respectively, but you can't deny that in front of goal, Fulham have difficulties. Indeed, the Premier League best odds suggest they could be in real trouble.

In fact, Wigan and West Ham are the only teams to have scored less goals so far this campaign than Mark Hughes's men. A lack of cutting edge in front of goal, with the loss of Bobby Zamora proving to be extremely costly after all, has been evident in many of Fulham's games and is responsible for preventing the side from pushing on in their games to turn lacklustre draws into crucial wins. Over-reliance upon Clint Dempsey, who has stepped up fairly well in Zamora's absence, is a further problem in this respect, with the player grabbing five of the team's 14 goals. They certainly don't look like Premier League best bets for a top half finish.

With the pressure mounting on Hughes at the club and the players handing him the dreaded public vote of confidence this week, the Fulham manager will have to hope that the team's creative players step up to the plate over the next few weeks and score the goals that can improve the club's precarious league position.