Timbers Tid Bits: Another Juninho Edition

Here are Wednesday's links, featuring FIFA Rankings, the 1924 USOC final, and some articles you may have missed in the FanShots.

Red Bulls Sign Brazilian Star Midfielder Juninho
Juninho comes to New York from Brazilian First Division side, Vasco da Gama.

Sporting KC signs Claudio Bieler as Designated Player
Bieler joins SKC from LDU Quito and was the second leading scorer in Ecuador this year with 20 goals in 34 games during the regular season.

MLS Working With USL-PRO On Reserve League Integration
MLS is reworking the reserve league.

McCourt latest Irish star to weigh up MLS switch
A crazy rumor from the FanShots yesterday.

Tim Howard: Quick Dip in Form or Something More?
Should Americans be worried about our #1 keeper?

Central Winger: These guys take "team first" to a new level
Devin Pleuler uses secondary pass-completion rate to gauge passing effectiveness.

Spain No. 1 in FIFA rankings; Brazil No. 18; USA No. 28
The U.S. falls one spot, Brazil falls five and some other observations from the FIFA rankings.

This Might Be The Oldest Surviving American Soccer Footage
The footage from the 1924 U.S. Open Cup Final, however brief, is very cool. I also love this factoid at the end: "Soccer lore holds that Arsenal and Chelsea were the first teams to wear numbers on their kits, starting in the 1928 season, but Vesper Buick were apparently doing it at least four years earlier."

Your USMNT Jersey Holiday Shopping Guide
Asking for a U.S. jersey this Christmas? The Shin Guardian can help you figure out whose name should go on the back.