Louis

For what it's worth, I don't think it was rigged. It's just a silly format and the website was built by an external company, not the organisers directly.

An American company called Relevent Sports approached teams and invited them to play. Presumably there's a substantial fee involved. I don't think teams would turn up otherwise, most major teams charge a six figure sum for a friendly.

Fifth place playoff Kick-off: Wednesday 7 August at 2am (9pm EDT on 6 August) The opponent will be one of the following: Chelsea A.C. Milan Inter Milan Valencia I'm personally hoping we get one of the Milan teams.

Competition organisers have confirmed that Everton are playing for fifth place.

It looks that way. Everton's two games: 2 points (2 for PK win against Juventus, 0 for loss against Real Madrid - Goals for 2: Goals against 3: Goal difference -1) LA Galaxy's two games 2 points (0 for loss against Real Madrid, 2 for win over Juventus - Goals for: 4, Goals against 4: Goal difference: 0) Fell behind LA Galaxy on goal difference. It looks like we are still playing Chelsea, Milan Inter MIlan or Valencia.. just not the highest seeded team as previously thought.

The official website for the competition has Everton in fifth place playoff. http://www.internationalchampionscup.com The LA Galaxy website says LA Galaxy are playing Chelsea or Milan in the third place playoff: http://www.lagalaxy.com/blog/beat/2013/08/04/la-galaxy-play-third-place-match-against-either-chelsea-or-ac-milan The competition's website says LA Galaxy are in the third place playoff: http://internationalchampionscup.com/news/article/gonzalez-donovan-keane-pace-galaxy-past-juventus-3-1/ The competition's twitter feed says Everton are in the third place playoff, LA Galaxy in fifth. https://twitter.com/IntChampionsCup/status/363880759410434049 https://twitter.com/IntChampionsCup/status/363843011978858496 The website from a few days ago says Everton are in the third place playoff, LA Galaxy in fifth. Screenshot from before the website was updated: http://i.imgur.com/1pThLFo.jpg But then there's a few lines of text below the format referring to points and goal difference, when they wouldn't be needed if it was a straight knockout cup. Original rules: New rules:

I thinki the International Champions Cup website may be wrong. I don't understand how LA Galaxy are playing for 3rd placee and Everton for 5th place. It seems like they've got it the wrong way around. http://internationalchampionscup.com/

Not much of a crowd there, plenty of empty seats bleachers.

Apparently Gary Lineker will be on a bit later, I think he's at the game. I could be wrong though.

Me three. Mike, you've just reminded me that I have a 3metre long HDMI cable. I now have it on on the TV:)

Everton are rumoured to be making a loan move for Oliver Torres. I'll find a link soon.

http://www.thesecretfootballer.com/articles/13015/referees-told-to-respect-premier-league-brand/

I think it's good for him to be moving back to the MLS. He'll be well paid at well supported club (arguably the most supported in the country), Sounder's commercials deals outperform 75% of the Premier League. They're not exactly a small club. We are also at a time when MLS needs all the help they can get, NBC pay the Premier League eight times as much as what they pay MLS to show the league on the tv and MLS are needing to renew the broadcast contract in the near future. Dempsey'll be the American face of the MLS. Come January, I don't think Landon Donovan will be there. A move to a non-Champions League club would have been seen a step down, a return to USA is seen as a homecoming (even if the distance from his hometown is similar to Goodison Park to Istanbul).

It's being streamed by the BBC but I completely forgot about it, 'til now. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23489652

As NBC bought the broadcast rights for the Premier League for a record fee, they are marketing the league like crazy at the moment. There have been advertising hoardings in the city centre and NBC recently announced a marketing relationship with MTA. There is an Everton-themed train doing the rounds as we speak. http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/08/01/liverpool-fc-subway-car-spotted-in-new-york-city-as-part-of-nbc-ad-campaign-photo/

Nice celebration at the end, on the BBC no less.

It's rumoured that a bid has been made. €9m plus 20% sell on fee.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/130731/exclusive-joey-bartons-agent-reveals-everton-talks-have-take

Record it from where?

Everton's third Chinese player

I'm not a Chelsea hater, but it is a bugbear of mine that nobody in the press asks how they were able to sign players under the age of 18 from Africa. Bertrand Traore, who made his debut for Burkina Faso at 15 has been with them since 2010 and played for them in pre-season. They also have an 16 year old Ivorian and signed his 28 year old brother to keep him company, yet no questions are ever asked.

Bill Kenwright's eulogy: http://soundcloud.com/radiocity967/dave-hickson-funeral-bill

UEFA Fair Play won't make any difference to us for the forseeable future. Have finances improved ? The TV money has gone up. A lot of other factors are the same, wages will no doubt increase.

I'm going to recommend this show without seeing it. The Daily Show featuring John Oliver interview Egypt national coach Bob Bradley. http://tv.sky.com/tv-guide#/programme/detail/1813/794