- Keith Hickey
When the MLS SuperDraft (formerly the College Draft) rolls around every year, there's a predictable pattern. The players seen as having the highest potential or the ability to contribute immediately are snapped up earliest, leaving those players seen as less likely to have significant pro careers to make up the numbers in later rounds. But those castoffs don't always end up on the reject pile of MLS washouts. Sometimes, they end up being solid contributors to their clubs. And once in a while, you find a true gem in the later rounds. Here's our list of the top "sleeper" picks in MLS Draft history.
The combined Great Britain team planned for the London Summer Olympics soccer tournament next year is a matter of some controversy. With traditionally independent soccer nations like Wales, Scotland, and North Ireland concerned that they'll lose their identities in the process, the FAs of those nations have warned any of their players from accepting an invitation by the Great Britain Olympic committee to play for the combined side. There's a bit of question around just how many non-English players would even make the cut, giving the whole thing a much-ado-about-nothing feel, but there is one very special winger almost certain to face a very difficult decision: Gareth Bale.
Today's edition, the shortest to date, and alternatively titled "Don't Follow Too Close."
The RSS feed if you need it, and direct download.
- Jason Davis
Javier Hernandez is a joy to watch.
This fact disturbs me. Both because he's Mexican — meaning my dyed-in-the-wool USMNT supporter soul screams in protest each and every time I give myself over to enjoying his play — and because he has become a worldwide sensation with the eminently unlikeable Manchester United. The soccer-aware portion of my brain, my sense of duty as a USMNT fan, my identity as a member of the no-love-for-United crowd (I don't hate United, because that would imply I care enough about what happens in England to work up such strong emotion, when, in fact, I'm mostly an impartial observer who finds United's shenanigans and constant winning to be incredibly annoying but nothing more): they're all telling me to hate Javier Hernandez. And not just a little bit. There is significant emotional weight behind the effort.
Today's edition, thoughts on USA-Paraguay.
The RSS feed if you need it, and direct download.
- Keith Hickey
In 2011, American domestic soccer is the most secure it has ever been. The league as a whole, and most of its clubs, are in zero danger of collapse. It's hard for us to imagine a time when the very existence of top flight domestic soccer was under threat. But in 1984, that was the case. The halcyon days of Pele and Beckenbauer over, the North American Soccer League was limping into its sixteenth season. Just nine teams remained, down from a high of 24 just four years previous. But as we read in this article from the Sports Illustrated vault, the NASL introduced a revolutionary concept just before its final season:
In 2011, American domestic soccer is the most secure it has ever been. The league as a whole, and most of its clubs, are in zero danger of collapse. It's hard for us to imagine a time when the very existence of top flight domestic soccer was under threat. But in 1984, that was the case. The halcyon days of Pele and Beckenbauer over, the North American Soccer League was limping into its sixteenth season. Just nine teams remained, down from a high of 24 just four years previous. But as we read in this article from the Sports Illustrated vault, the NASL introduced a revolutionary concept just before its final season:
- Keith Hickey
Two weeks of MLS play are in the books. 53 points have been earned, and 48 goals have been scored. Six teams remain unbeaten, three have won all of their matches, and only one has failed to concede. It's a lot to take in, so here's our weekly Power Rankings to help you out.
Two weeks of MLS play are in the books. 53 points have been earned, and 48 goals have been scored. Six teams remain unbeaten, three have won all of their matches, and only one has failed to concede. It's a lot to take in, so here's our weekly Power Rankings to help you out.
- Jason Davis
While most eyes tonight will be on the senior USMNT team as they face Paraguay in Nashville, the US U-20s will be kicking off their CONCACAF championship campaign against Suriname in Guatemala. On the line for Thomas Rongen's team isn't just regional supremacy, but also a berth in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia in July.
While most eyes tonight will be on the senior USMNT team as they face Paraguay in Nashville, the US U-20s will be kicking off their CONCACAF championship campaign against Suriname in Guatemala. On the line for Thomas Rongen's team isn't just regional supremacy, but also a berth in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia in July.
This thing again. Mostly USMNT v. Paraguay and Ochocinco's reserve match exploits.
Here's an RSS feed if you need it, and you can download this thing directly here. Ta.
-Matt Acconciamessa | US Soccer Daily
Another week of MLS in the books; here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly:
Everything that RSL did: You know it was a good day at the office when your coach is saying things like “the best soccer I’ve seen in front of this stadium”. RSL, led by another stellar outing by Javier Morales, absolutely handled a Donovan-less Galaxy side. With the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal coming next Tuesday, MLS fans should be happy that the league’s representative is playing some fantastic soccer right now.
Tally Hall: The Sounders peppered Houston’s goal on Friday night, searching for their first goal and win of the new season. The Dynamo managed to walk of Qwest with a point despite being heavily outshot, though, thanks in large part to Tally Hall’s performance between the posts.
Another week of MLS in the books; here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly:
The Good
Everything that RSL did: You know it was a good day at the office when your coach is saying things like “the best soccer I’ve seen in front of this stadium”. RSL, led by another stellar outing by Javier Morales, absolutely handled a Donovan-less Galaxy side. With the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal coming next Tuesday, MLS fans should be happy that the league’s representative is playing some fantastic soccer right now.
Tally Hall: The Sounders peppered Houston’s goal on Friday night, searching for their first goal and win of the new season. The Dynamo managed to walk of Qwest with a point despite being heavily outshot, though, thanks in large part to Tally Hall’s performance between the posts.
- Jason Davis
Don't you wish your stadium was hot like this?
- Keith Hickey
UPS Guy: Could you sign here, Mr. Arena?
Bruce Arena: What's this?
UPS Guy: Overnight delivery from Sandy, Utah. Contents: Your ass. On a plate.
It was the most highly anticipated MLS game of the season so far, and it turned into the most comprehensive beatdown of the season so far. Real Salt Lake curbstomped the Galaxy for three in the first half, and Morales was the man pulling the strings from behind, scoring twice (including an absolute screamer in the 41st) and helping to create another in the eventual 4-1 win.
- Jason Davis
Naturally, the USMNT draw with Argentina on Saturday night is the lead story on this episode of the American Soccer Show. Jared and I cover the game, from tale of two halves to the budding stardom of Agudelo and Chandler, while mixing in a range of other topics.
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UT
Although up against the draw of the USA/Argentina match 3,000 miles away, Real Salt Lake hosting the LA Galaxy at Riot Tinto Stadium represented an early season match with massive implications for the Western Conference. Both LA and RSL were coming off decent first week results. LA defeated the Seattle Sounders away, then took a point in a tough draw with New England at home. Goals in both games came from budding Brazilian midfielder Juninho. RSL had a rough go in San Jose last week, but were able to steal three points in terrible conditions from an Earthquakes side coming off a conference finals appearance in 2010.
SANDY, UT
Although up against the draw of the USA/Argentina match 3,000 miles away, Real Salt Lake hosting the LA Galaxy at Riot Tinto Stadium represented an early season match with massive implications for the Western Conference. Both LA and RSL were coming off decent first week results. LA defeated the Seattle Sounders away, then took a point in a tough draw with New England at home. Goals in both games came from budding Brazilian midfielder Juninho. RSL had a rough go in San Jose last week, but were able to steal three points in terrible conditions from an Earthquakes side coming off a conference finals appearance in 2010.
Editor's Note: MFUSA is happy to welcome Ben McCormick, a high school senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the fold. A supporter of Newcastle United and the USMNT, Ben will matriculate to Marquette University in the fall where he plans to major in journalism. Follow Ben on Twitter.
- Ben McCormick
When Thomas Rongen released his 20-man roster for the CONCACAF U-20 Championships, he wasn’t a happy man. Despite being what some consider the deepest squad in the history of American U-20s, the omissions were glaring. Missing from the squad were Juan Agudelo, Josh Gatt and Alex Zahavi, all considered key cogs of Rongen’s team. Agudelo’s omission is understandable, with the full US national team’s striker pool extremely thin. Gatt and Zahavi, on the other hand, are victims of what is becoming an annoying (and potentially costly) re-occurrence for the United States: clubs refusing to release their players.
- Robert Jonas | Center Line Soccer
While the city of San Jose recently was awarded the title of “Soccer City USA” by none other than Portland’s daily newspaper The Oregonian, the Bay Area as a whole feels more like Ciudad de México this morning. I’m not referring to new U.S. Census data that shows the State of California taking on diversity of citizenry not seen anywhere else in the country. Rather, I’m talking about the arrival of the Mexican National Team circus at the Oakland Coliseum to take on Paraguay in an international friendly.
While the city of San Jose recently was awarded the title of “Soccer City USA” by none other than Portland’s daily newspaper The Oregonian, the Bay Area as a whole feels more like Ciudad de México this morning. I’m not referring to new U.S. Census data that shows the State of California taking on diversity of citizenry not seen anywhere else in the country. Rather, I’m talking about the arrival of the Mexican National Team circus at the Oakland Coliseum to take on Paraguay in an international friendly.
- Chris Ballard
When Edson Buddle left L.A. Galaxy in January, and signed with a team from the second division in the German league, many an eyebrow was raised in surprise. The striker, from New Rochelle, NY had top-scored for the Galaxy in 2010 and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player. Prior to the US Men's national team match with Argentina on Saturday, we caught up with Buddle and got his take on his experiences in Germany to date, the differences between training styles, and his opinion on the new striker in the national team, Juan Agudelo.
When Edson Buddle left L.A. Galaxy in January, and signed with a team from the second division in the German league, many an eyebrow was raised in surprise. The striker, from New Rochelle, NY had top-scored for the Galaxy in 2010 and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player. Prior to the US Men's national team match with Argentina on Saturday, we caught up with Buddle and got his take on his experiences in Germany to date, the differences between training styles, and his opinion on the new striker in the national team, Juan Agudelo.
Another week past, another round of MLS matches to take in this weekend. Here's Match Fit USA's handy guide to what you should expect from the upcoming weekend's games.
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| We would call them the "Charlie Browns" |
The Tribeca Film Festival was launched in 2002 - by Robert De Niro among others - as a way to invigorate the lower Manhattan neighborhood after the attacks of 9/11. In addition to the obvious screenings of varied films, the festival includes events centered around music and culture.
In 2011, the festival adds soccer to the list:
Me in my car, talking FSC on Friday nights, USMNT, MLS v. NHL, and Davies in New England.
RSS feed here.
Today's show for direct download.
I'm still taking name ideas. "Mobipod" and "Carcast" leave a lot to be desired.
--
- Keith Hickey
Major League Soccer may be a relatively young league, but it has seen its share of great players. Here is Match Fit USA's list of the ten best strikers in MLS history. Players were judged on their stats, trophies, and overall level of play.
Major League Soccer may be a relatively young league, but it has seen its share of great players. Here is Match Fit USA's list of the ten best strikers in MLS history. Players were judged on their stats, trophies, and overall level of play.
- Jason Davis
...is now available for download, and will appear on the iTunes feed in due course.
In Jared's full live show debut, we start out talking about my new podcast project and the potential for disaster. This is Jared's fault, and a bad way to start his live show career.
From there we move on to Ochocinco Day in Kansas City, the reaction from the sports world, and the chances that Chad has to be an actual pro footballer. I'm sure you know they're not very good. Maybe the value of the Ochocinco stunt is showing fans just how hard soccer really is.
Jared an I will be taking to the American Soccer Show UStream channel tonight at 9 EDT/6 PDT to preview this weekend's USMNT tilt with Argentina.
Follow the "Live Podcasts" link or head over to the American Soccer Show UStream page.
Feel free to use the comments on this post to get in your questions and opinions or just email them to show@americansoccershow.com.
--
- Keith Hickey
I kind of feel bad for the New York Red Bulls. They’re the only professional soccer team in their metropolitan area, and yet they still aren’t the most famous. That title belongs, as it has for decades, to the New York Cosmos.
Or rather, since the demise of the North American Soccer League, the idea of the Cosmos.
I kind of feel bad for the New York Red Bulls. They’re the only professional soccer team in their metropolitan area, and yet they still aren’t the most famous. That title belongs, as it has for decades, to the New York Cosmos.
Or rather, since the demise of the North American Soccer League, the idea of the Cosmos.
Happy Ochocinco Day everyone. In this edition of the podcast without a name, I babble about Chad in Kansas City and soccer's place on sportstalk radio.
I've created a dedicated rss feed for the "show", which you can get here.
Today's show for download.
I definitely need a new logo. Also, please keep sending name ideas to @MFUSA on Twitter.
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- Jason Davis
Chad Ochocinco is on the ground in Kansas City ahead of the tomorrow's start of his four day trial with the MLS club. Ochocinco is already tweeting plaudits for the city and blowing smoke in the direction of the players. As much as we can gather through 140 character bursts of text transmitted across the impersonal Internet to our computer screens, the wide receiver-cum-soccer star seems genuinely excited. For the next four days, he'll be a footballer, not a football player.
Chad Ochocinco is on the ground in Kansas City ahead of the tomorrow's start of his four day trial with the MLS club. Ochocinco is already tweeting plaudits for the city and blowing smoke in the direction of the players. As much as we can gather through 140 character bursts of text transmitted across the impersonal Internet to our computer screens, the wide receiver-cum-soccer star seems genuinely excited. For the next four days, he'll be a footballer, not a football player.
- Jason Davis
In what seems like a mildly desperate bid for attention from Ohio's elected officials - admittedly a group of people who could help them get a new stadium in the state capital - the Crew will play an exhibition match on the lawn of the Statehouse tomorrow in Columbus. Part of "Paint the Town Black and Gold Week", the match will feature a selection of players and conclude with a meet-and-greet where fans can chat with their favorite Crew stars. Or more likely, the reservist who drew short straw.
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| MLSsoccer.com |
The danger of waiting too long to react is that everything may have already been said by the time you get around to it yourself. I feel as though that's where I sit this morning.
Nevertheless, what took place at RFK Stadium on Saturday was a once-in-a-lifetime happening. Movie stuff. Emotional, soul-filling, love-of-the-game-justifying, holy-shit-there's-no-way-that-happened sports drama the likes of which just doesn't happen in the real world. Really. Think about it for a second - the coming together of those particular factors just doesn't happen anywhere but the land of make believe, and even then it comes off schmaltzy and saccharine.
We get plenty of redemption stories. Players return from injury all the time. In a few enthralling cases, their comebacks have an immediate impact on the fortunes of their teams. Every time it happens we waste words trying to capture the feelings it evokes in us, or we labor imbue said athlete with a heroic nature he doesn't actually possess. Healing is a natural process, and while rehabilitation requires effort and commitment, injured players are just people trying to back to work.
- Keith Hickey
After the first week of play, we've got a slightly better idea of the strength of some teams. While some results were fully expected (Colorado beating Portland at home) some were surprising (New England coming away from the Home Depot Center with a point against the Galaxy). Here's this week's power rankings.
After the first week of play, we've got a slightly better idea of the strength of some teams. While some results were fully expected (Colorado beating Portland at home) some were surprising (New England coming away from the Home Depot Center with a point against the Galaxy). Here's this week's power rankings.
If you follow me on Twitter, you might have caught the first edition of a new, experimental podcast I'm recording daily. After considering how best to distribute the new podcast, which for the time being has no name (it had a name, but I hated it), it occurs to me that the simplest way is to just post it here and let the MFUSA readership have at it.
This particular podcast is quick and dirty, recorded on my Android phone while I commute to work every weekday morning. I don't plan to layout the pod in advance, so it will generally just be me babbling about whatever is top of mind for about 20 minutes.
If you want to hear yesterday's debut episode, you can download it here.
Here's today's. I mostly talk Stu Holden and Charlie Davies.
All feedback is welcome.
Oh, I suppose I should note that there might be cursing from time to time. If you're offended by four-letter words, don't listen to the last minute or so.
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- Keith Hickey
Another MLS opening weekend has passed. And what a very good weekend for marquee signings. Hassli, Bravo, Davies, all scored two goals. I really hope David Beckham was watching.
Josh Wolff scoring and DC United winning? Hey, 2004 called. It's looking forward to seeing how Eddie Johnson's career turns out. And while we're on the subject of unrealistic expectations, my Fantasy team is proving that "Scrubs" isn't just a fantastic TV show currently in re-runs on Comedy Central.
- Keith Hickey
There were a number of standout performers in this opening week of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, but no player's contributions will have been greeted with as much excitement from as many disparate sources as Charlie Davies's double against Columbus.
-Matt Acconciamessa, US Soccer Daily
We had to wait a couple of months for it, but the first week of MLS play certainly delivered. Here's a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from week 1:
The crowds: In years past, we've seen some pretty anemic opening day crowds, but this time around the numbers were great across the board, including strong crowds for both 2010 MLS Cup participants. The solid attendance also made for better TV viewing for those who, like me, wasted away on their sofas this weekend while taking advantage of the free Direct Kick preview.
Juninho: In just two games, the LA Galaxy midfielder has already equaled his goal total for all of last season. And he's done it in impressive fashion, too, with long-distance bombs beating Kasey Keller and Matt Reis.
Union Defense: After undergoing some change after a lackluster 2010, the Union defense was surprisingly cohesive and effective against Houston on Saturday. Carlos Valdes and Danny Califf partnered well in the center, while Faryd Mondragon added a calming veteran presence between the posts. In just one match, the Union have already earned half of the clean sheets and road wins that they had in 2010. To be fair, though, they probably should have conceded once; we'll get to that in a bit...
We had to wait a couple of months for it, but the first week of MLS play certainly delivered. Here's a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from week 1:
The Good
The crowds: In years past, we've seen some pretty anemic opening day crowds, but this time around the numbers were great across the board, including strong crowds for both 2010 MLS Cup participants. The solid attendance also made for better TV viewing for those who, like me, wasted away on their sofas this weekend while taking advantage of the free Direct Kick preview.
Juninho: In just two games, the LA Galaxy midfielder has already equaled his goal total for all of last season. And he's done it in impressive fashion, too, with long-distance bombs beating Kasey Keller and Matt Reis.
Union Defense: After undergoing some change after a lackluster 2010, the Union defense was surprisingly cohesive and effective against Houston on Saturday. Carlos Valdes and Danny Califf partnered well in the center, while Faryd Mondragon added a calming veteran presence between the posts. In just one match, the Union have already earned half of the clean sheets and road wins that they had in 2010. To be fair, though, they probably should have conceded once; we'll get to that in a bit...
We dropped the new show on Saturday night, but I'm sharing it with you this morning. That means a few lines of discussion have already gone stale, but it's a good show nonetheless. What other soccer podcast includes reference to Gus Johnson, Reading Rainbow and Archer?
No word yet on Holden's injury. He was stretchered off.
While First Kick feat. MC DaveyBecks™ was on Tuesday, most MLS teams don't begin play until tomorrow. Here's our quick rundown of what you need to watch out for.
- Keith Hickey
It's once again that most wonderful time on the soccer calendar: FIFA Presidential Elections! Ambitions of a certain attention-seeking Sports Illustrated writer aside, there's only one challenger who has the oil-backed stones to take on incumbent scumbag Sepp Blatter, the Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam.
It's once again that most wonderful time on the soccer calendar: FIFA Presidential Elections! Ambitions of a certain attention-seeking Sports Illustrated writer aside, there's only one challenger who has the oil-backed stones to take on incumbent scumbag Sepp Blatter, the Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam.
- Jason Davis
After months of speculation, Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam has announced his candidacy for FIFA's top job. Running on a platform that includes nominal promises to increase transparency, Bin Hammam claims public opinion helped shape his manifesto.
After months of speculation, Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam has announced his candidacy for FIFA's top job. Running on a platform that includes nominal promises to increase transparency, Bin Hammam claims public opinion helped shape his manifesto.
"The view that FIFA is not transparent... it hurts, you know? (To rectify that) change the administration, give more votes for the confederations, to listen to other stakeholders, debate and listen."
The weeks of steady build-up to the new MLS season finally came to an end when the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC faced off in the 2011 MLS First Kick match last Tuesday. But that 1-0 win by the defending Supporters Shield winners was just an appetizer for what’s on tap this weekend. All 18 of the league’s teams are in action — with LA and Seattle each getting game #2 on their schedule — in a blockbuster opening for the sixteenth season of Major League Soccer.
- Keith Hickey
This is the first edition of a new recurring feature, the Thursday Top Ten. We hope you enjoy it!
The United States Men’s National team has played many games. Some were losses. Some were draws. Some were wins. And a select few of those wins have attained a mythological status amongst soccer fans. Here are the ten best USMNT wins.
This is the first edition of a new recurring feature, the Thursday Top Ten. We hope you enjoy it!
The United States Men’s National team has played many games. Some were losses. Some were draws. Some were wins. And a select few of those wins have attained a mythological status amongst soccer fans. Here are the ten best USMNT wins.
- Jason Davis
Per the wire services, CONCACAF submitted their planned 2014 qualifying structure to FIFA this week. The plan includes the final round hexagonal - the format used since 1998 - in place of the two group format proposed last year. FIFA's decision to leave CONCACAF's World Cup spot allocation unchanged at 3.5 places forced the confederation's hand. Without an increase in spots to four, guaranteeing that the top two finishers in each group would qualify for Brazil 2014, the new structure was unwieldy.
Per the wire services, CONCACAF submitted their planned 2014 qualifying structure to FIFA this week. The plan includes the final round hexagonal - the format used since 1998 - in place of the two group format proposed last year. FIFA's decision to leave CONCACAF's World Cup spot allocation unchanged at 3.5 places forced the confederation's hand. Without an increase in spots to four, guaranteeing that the top two finishers in each group would qualify for Brazil 2014, the new structure was unwieldy.
- Jason Davis
Bob Bradley has named a 24-man roster for two upcoming friendlies against Argentina (March 26 at Meadowlands Stadium) and Paraguay (March 29 at LP Field). The roster includes a mix of the usual suspects and several new faces, including names many USMNT fans might not yet know.
Bob Bradley has named a 24-man roster for two upcoming friendlies against Argentina (March 26 at Meadowlands Stadium) and Paraguay (March 29 at LP Field). The roster includes a mix of the usual suspects and several new faces, including names many USMNT fans might not yet know.
- Jason Davis
Chad Ochocinco, star wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and a man without a team-run training program while the NFL remains mired in labor struggles, will "try out" with Sporting Kansas City. Ochocinco is an avid soccer fan, and claims to have played at a relatively high level into his teens. He has flirted with the "switch to soccer" on several occasions in the past, most notably on Soccer Talk Live last year.
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, Utah
Although most American eyes were on Seattle tonight for MLS First Kick, the eyes of Utah and the rest of the continent will be on Rio Tinto Stadium. Both Saprissa (Costa Rican winners) and Real Salt Lake (MLS’s last entry in the CONCACAF Tournament) have focused a great deal on this match. RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said before the match that “this might be the biggest game we have ever had here”. Indeed RSL has made it a preseason focus to make their CCL run this focus of the 2011 season.
SANDY, Utah
Although most American eyes were on Seattle tonight for MLS First Kick, the eyes of Utah and the rest of the continent will be on Rio Tinto Stadium. Both Saprissa (Costa Rican winners) and Real Salt Lake (MLS’s last entry in the CONCACAF Tournament) have focused a great deal on this match. RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said before the match that “this might be the biggest game we have ever had here”. Indeed RSL has made it a preseason focus to make their CCL run this focus of the 2011 season.
- Chris Ballard
I know I'm a bit late to this particular party, what with both Jason and Keith having already made their predictions known, but I figure that since I'm going to be following an MLS team for the first time this season, I should make an effort to show everybody that I'm really just as clueless as the next person. As if you didn't already know. We'll see if we can throw together a page showing everybody's predictions for 2011 - just to make it easier for you to heap ridicule upon us later on.
I know I'm a bit late to this particular party, what with both Jason and Keith having already made their predictions known, but I figure that since I'm going to be following an MLS team for the first time this season, I should make an effort to show everybody that I'm really just as clueless as the next person. As if you didn't already know. We'll see if we can throw together a page showing everybody's predictions for 2011 - just to make it easier for you to heap ridicule upon us later on.
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| MLSSoccer.com |
In conjunction with Canadian Soccer News, MFUSA presents a live blog of tonight's MLS First Kick and CONCACAF Champions League action. Join Keith, Jason, and others as we try to watch two games at the same time and provide insightful commentary. Things get started around 9:15 ET.
The clock is ticking, the season opener approaches. My opportunity to go on the record with a few predictions for the 2011 MLS season is rapidly shrinking, and while I would love to forgo the chance to look like I don't know what I'm doing, I have a certain responsibility.
Keith laid out a few predictions of his own yesterday. I'll hit the same categories, then add my order of finish and playoff predictions after. If I'm going to put myself out there, I might as well go all the way.
Tonight is the opening game of the Major League Soccer season, also known as “Annual Seattle Gets To Be On ESPN Day.”
Two years ago, the Sounders picked up their first MLS win against New York. Last year, Philadelphia visited and became the only MLS club to have a player red carded before scoring a goal. This year, the league decided to test the Emerald City boys by sending in not a basement-dweller or an expansion club, but the reigning Supporters Shield winners, the LA Galaxy.
-Keith Hickey
This is the first edition of our new "Tuesday Time Capsule" feature, in which we dig up old articles, videos, and pictures that we really like and share them with you guys. And as it's the inaugural edition of the feature, we felt that the only appropriate item would be the Inaugural MLS match. The San Jose Clash hosted DC United at Spartan Stadium. Eric Wynalda scored the first MLS goal, the only goal of the match, as San Jose grabbed all three points.
WARNING: Gratuitous shots of the denim USMNT Kit.
This is the first edition of our new "Tuesday Time Capsule" feature, in which we dig up old articles, videos, and pictures that we really like and share them with you guys. And as it's the inaugural edition of the feature, we felt that the only appropriate item would be the Inaugural MLS match. The San Jose Clash hosted DC United at Spartan Stadium. Eric Wynalda scored the first MLS goal, the only goal of the match, as San Jose grabbed all three points.
WARNING: Gratuitous shots of the denim USMNT Kit.
Charlie Davies hit the DC area radio airwaves today ahead of the United opener on Saturday at RFK. Davies joined The Sports Junkies of 106.7 The Fan, the most popular sports show in DC, to talk about his accident, recovery, and outlook.
If you haven't noticed by now, we weren't able to get an American Soccer Show out this week. I was otherwise detained on a freelance job covering a youth tournament in Richmond, my first such experience. My apologies on the lack of a podcast, and I do realize that the timing is rather terrible considering the MLS season starts tonight.
- Keith Hickey
As tomorrow is the beginning of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, I figured that it would be prudent to get the obligatory awards predictions down on paper before the season begins. I’ll come back and re-examine them at various points throughout the season, just so you guys and gals can laugh at how terribly wrong I was.
As tomorrow is the beginning of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, I figured that it would be prudent to get the obligatory awards predictions down on paper before the season begins. I’ll come back and re-examine them at various points throughout the season, just so you guys and gals can laugh at how terribly wrong I was.
To our loyal Match Fit USA Readers,
The new Major League Soccer season starts next week. And as it's a time for new beginnings and continued evolution in American soccer, so is it a time for those who cover the game to keep up with progress. Match Fit USA is not immune to this.
Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be expanding our scope of coverage beyond normal "blog" posts. Don't worry, you'll still get your regular posts from Jason on any and all topics in U.S. soccer and various posts from other contributors and myself, but we'll be adding a number of recurring features and for the first time ever, live correspondents filing match reports at MLS games. And there will be a couple of other surprises too, just to keep you guys on your toes.
We hope that this will only increase your enjoyment of the blog, and give you more of that Match Fit goodness that you come here for.
Thanks for reading,
Keith Hickey, Managing Editor
- Robert Jonas Center Line Soccer
I have a confession to make, one that will certainly not endear me to my fellow San Jose Earthquakes supporters. Just days removed from the Quakes heartbreaking loss to the Colorado Rapids in the 2010 Eastern Conference championship last November, I was in Toronto for the MLS Cup Final secretly wearing the jersey of the enemy under the three or so outer layers of clothing required to survive the wicked Lake Ontario winds. Yes, shamefully, I donned the powder blue away shirt, with its fine burgundy details and embroidered crest, of the same Rapids team that eliminated San Jose the weekend prior.
I'm nonplussed. Disappointed, but hardly surprised. With JP Dellacamera on to greener different pastures, ESPN has installed Adrian Healey as the lead voice for their MLS broadcasts. It always seemed unlikely that Ian Darke would pond hop, be able to manage MLS games as well as ESPN's Premier League broadcasts during the portion of the year when the two seasons overlapped. Darke's status as lead voice for the network's soccer programming wouldn't trickle down to ESPN's domestic soccer product. Thus, we get Healey.
- Jason Davis
In the midst of a pre-season news lull, which is fortuitously timed for yours truly thanks to some work-related blogging complications (read: I risk termination if I blog during the day), Sporting Kansas City announced that the naming rights for their shiny new home will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the form of their brand "LIVESTRONG."
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| What's with all the sharp angles? |
CONCACAF held the draw for this summer's Gold Cup today. The United States was drawn into a group with Canada, Panamá, Guadeloupe, and will visit Detroit, Tampa, and Kansas City during the opening round.
Full schedule below.
The new American Soccer Show has landed. Including herein is talk of Beavis and Butthead, Bill and Ted, CONCACAF's World Cup allotment, Americans abroad, an MLS impresario of whom you might not have heard, MLS announcer news, and Jared's weekly feature on Twitter comedy gold.
Yeah, it's the second division in Turkey. Still a sweet turn and strike from Freddy. A flash of brilliance like this is why I'm still have a tiny bit of hope that he'll be back on the map in a few years.
-JD
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| Borrowed from WeAreRealLake.com |
- Robert Jonas Center Line Soccer
The enemy of my enemy is my friend — more than a tongue-twister, this proverb spells out clearly why I’m suddenly a big fan of Real Salt Lake. Don’t worry my friends and family in the Bay Area, I haven’t suddenly packed the U-haul and moved to the Beehive state. The reason, quite obviously, comes as a result of RSL’s sometimes dominating destruction of fellow Major League Soccer cohort Columbus Crew in the quarterfinals of the 2010/2011 CONCACAF Champions League, and from my pledge to support any and all MLS teams for as long as they survive in the tournament.
- Jason Davis
File this under "not a coincidence." Maybe the Hex isn't dead after all.
After being rebuffed in their bid for a fourth spot in the World Cup, CONCACAF has reversed course on changes to the qualifying process they just presented to FIFA in November.
File this under "not a coincidence." Maybe the Hex isn't dead after all.
After being rebuffed in their bid for a fourth spot in the World Cup, CONCACAF has reversed course on changes to the qualifying process they just presented to FIFA in November.
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Something I failed to note properly this morning when passing along the news that FIFA will not be granting CONCACAF an additional World Cup spot for Brazil 2014 is the impact of a change in playoff format, and how it potentially benefits the region. While Jack wasn't able to convince his homies in Zurich that North America and the Caribbean deserved another guaranteed spot in the tourney, the day isn't without some kind of small victory for the confederation.
FIFA sources told the Associated Press today that the six member confederations will receive the same number of World Cup spots for 2014 as they did in 2010. That means no guaranteed fourth spot for CONCACAF, a possibility that has been making the rounds in recent days.
- Jason Davis
Love him or hate him, JP Dellacamera has served American soccer admirably during his three decades calling every form of the game imaginable. In recent years, as the lead American voice on ESPN, Dellacamera called the MLS weekly broadcast as well as National Team games for both the US men and women. That run has now come to an end with Dellacamera switching over to FSC.
- Ethan Gomberg
The story started with what was termed the Turf War in the media. Both clubs were throwing out banter about whose turf was superior. When it came down to it, the story was really about scoring and who would make it count. RSL knew going into this match that they couldn’t take their usual mid season approach of grinding out a draw. The Crew on the other hand, knew that with away goals weighted, they could progress with only a draw.
- Jason Davis
Whether the result of shaking off pre-season rusts or due to the greater comforts of being at home, Real Salt Lake proved themselves worthy of their prohibitive favorite status as they dispatched an outmatched Columbus Crew side 4-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Tuesday night. A crowd of 15,045 looked on as RSL playmaker Javier Morales scored twice and collected an assist on Alvaro Saborio's opening tally, leading the charge for the home side.
Whether the result of shaking off pre-season rusts or due to the greater comforts of being at home, Real Salt Lake proved themselves worthy of their prohibitive favorite status as they dispatched an outmatched Columbus Crew side 4-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Tuesday night. A crowd of 15,045 looked on as RSL playmaker Javier Morales scored twice and collected an assist on Alvaro Saborio's opening tally, leading the charge for the home side.
- Jason Davis
- Jason Davis
Paul Kennedy calls for the end of the Bradenton academy over at Soccer America today. As I read his reasons, I found myself mentally nodding along; Bradenton's purpose, to give a select few the opportunity to jump start professional careers outside of the traditional American amateur club->college soccer->professional soccer path, thereby hopefully improving the fortunes of US national teams, is being served by other options these days. In other words, without a pressing need, Bradenton's usefulness (bang for its buck, return on the investment, etc.) has run its course.
Paul Kennedy calls for the end of the Bradenton academy over at Soccer America today. As I read his reasons, I found myself mentally nodding along; Bradenton's purpose, to give a select few the opportunity to jump start professional careers outside of the traditional American amateur club->college soccer->professional soccer path, thereby hopefully improving the fortunes of US national teams, is being served by other options these days. In other words, without a pressing need, Bradenton's usefulness (bang for its buck, return on the investment, etc.) has run its course.
