The Morning Cup 10/23

[BuffloSoldier]

Scholes out for today's match between United and Dynamo Kyiv. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7054215.stm) And tomorrow, Liverpool will be without Fernando Torres again. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7054218.stm)

Madrid will be without a few names as well in the Champions League. (http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7017843,00.html) Barca, too.

Like some on these boards, Juan Pablo Angel is confused about the MLS playoffs. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/sports/soccer/23soccer.html?_r=2&ex=1350878400&en=31f6cd6303a5aabb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin)

Nike swallows Umbro whole. (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/nike-agrees-buy-umbro-583/story.aspx?guid=%7BDB543756-8396-4EC8-8DE1-628D2277EA91%7D)

One more (major) hurdle for Philadelphia at the MLS track meet. (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20071023_Delco_lining_up_on_soccer_plan.html)

Antonio Puerta's son was born today. Best wishes to him and his mom. (http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7017508,00.html)

[ButlerBob]

Here's a couple of more articles on the Nike bid for Umbro. So any speculation about what they will do with them. I'm guessing that they will keep them as a sub brand under the Nike umbrella. Isn't that what they did with some of the other brands that they bought. It will be interesting if they transition any of their other soccer products to under the Umbro name. After all that they have spent, I doubt if they will.

From Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/markets/2007/10/23/umbro-nike-soccer-markets-equity-cx_vr_1023markets07.html

Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eef184f4-8137-11dc-bf46-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

ESPN
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=474980&cc=5901