- Jason Davis
It was never easy with Bob Bradley. He tested our patience constantly, made things complicated, failed to ever give us reason to feel comfortable with this stewardship of our beloved national team. He mumbled, hmm'd, hawed, and fussed his way through each and every press conference he ever gave. How a coach performs for the press has nothing to do with his ability to successfully coach a team. But it doesn't get motors running in the fan base, either.
-Jason Davis
Here's the podcast of last night's live special edition of the American Soccer Show entitled "Bob Got Fired." Things as big as Bob Bradley getting fired don't happen too often, so Jared and I hit UStream by popular demand (meaning like 3 people asked).
Brian Sciaretta (a Twitter must-follow) from Yanks Abroad joined us off the top to give his analysis of the situation. Amazingly, this move didn't surprise Brian.
Most people think it's Klinsmann; we get Brian's thoughts on Jurgen's credentials and what the staff might look like, wonder where Bob might go, and who it might be if it's not Klinsmann.
There's a brief interlude due to some technical difficulties, and when we come back it's Jared and I giving out thoughts, taking calls, reading emails, and attempting to figure out what the hell just happened and what the hell might happen next.
Thanks, as always, for listening. Make sure you like and comment at the Facebook page and hit us up on Twitter via the AmSoc account and the CSRN network account.
You can follow me @mfusa and Jared @jrodius as well.
Rating and comments in iTunes are always greatly, greatly appreciated. It just takes a few minutes and will help us climb the charts or something.
Visit the show website for other links of interest.
Live American Soccer Show tonight at 9 ET/6 PT to cover the departure of Bob Bradly as USMNT head coach.
Go to the American Soccer Show UStream page to listen.
Spread the word.
Go to the American Soccer Show UStream page to listen.
Spread the word.
-Jason Davis
There's another MLS All-Star game in the books, and it's left me feeling a bit detached. Unstuck. Like I'm floating in time, untethered. This must be how Billy Pilgrim felt.
We just did this last year. I remember the conversations, the resulting blog posts, the excuses/justifications/criticisms/rants/re-thinks/polls/screeds/polemics, the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing and disgust over the dire performance put on by what is supposed to a collection of the best players MLS has to offer against a Manchester United team that has yet to play a match that counts. Oh deary me, MLS looks bad.
There's another MLS All-Star game in the books, and it's left me feeling a bit detached. Unstuck. Like I'm floating in time, untethered. This must be how Billy Pilgrim felt.
We just did this last year. I remember the conversations, the resulting blog posts, the excuses/justifications/criticisms/rants/re-thinks/polls/screeds/polemics, the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing and disgust over the dire performance put on by what is supposed to a collection of the best players MLS has to offer against a Manchester United team that has yet to play a match that counts. Oh deary me, MLS looks bad.
-Ben McCormick
For many reasons, there are not many Liverpool fans that will take kindly to being dubbed, "The New Fulham." That, however, is exactly the title they are setting themselves up for by going on something of an American shopping spree.
A few weeks ago, Brent Laham reported US U-17 captain Marc Pelosi had received an offer from Liverpool to join their academy ranks. For those who see that as not all that impressive, the minuscule numbers of players who successfully transition from the academy to the first team being what they are, it should be noted professional international transfers aren't allowed until a player turns 18 under FIFA law. Pelosi's deal looks to be similar to that of Sebastian Lletget of West Ham, who signed a two year academy deal before signing a professional contract on his 18th birthday. Pelosi qualifies for an EU passport through his German heritage.
The most recent development, and perhaps the most surprising, is that of Villyan Bijev, a Bulgarian-American from California who went on trial at LFC a couple weeks ago. In two matches with the Liverpool U-18 squad, Bijev scored five goals and notched two assists. His impressive performances prompted the club to offer him a five year professional contract, with three guaranteed years and two club option years. It was reported in Bijev's native Fresno, CA this deal was done, backed up by Greg Seltzer over at No Short Corners. Bijev was set to play at the University of Washington before signing at Liverpool and, per Seltzer, due to Bulgaria's transitional status as a member of the EU, he will immediately be loaned to Genk of the Belgian Juliper League. On January 1, 2012, Bijev's Bulgarian citizenship will land him a UK work permit through the EU.
For many reasons, there are not many Liverpool fans that will take kindly to being dubbed, "The New Fulham." That, however, is exactly the title they are setting themselves up for by going on something of an American shopping spree.
A few weeks ago, Brent Laham reported US U-17 captain Marc Pelosi had received an offer from Liverpool to join their academy ranks. For those who see that as not all that impressive, the minuscule numbers of players who successfully transition from the academy to the first team being what they are, it should be noted professional international transfers aren't allowed until a player turns 18 under FIFA law. Pelosi's deal looks to be similar to that of Sebastian Lletget of West Ham, who signed a two year academy deal before signing a professional contract on his 18th birthday. Pelosi qualifies for an EU passport through his German heritage.
The most recent development, and perhaps the most surprising, is that of Villyan Bijev, a Bulgarian-American from California who went on trial at LFC a couple weeks ago. In two matches with the Liverpool U-18 squad, Bijev scored five goals and notched two assists. His impressive performances prompted the club to offer him a five year professional contract, with three guaranteed years and two club option years. It was reported in Bijev's native Fresno, CA this deal was done, backed up by Greg Seltzer over at No Short Corners. Bijev was set to play at the University of Washington before signing at Liverpool and, per Seltzer, due to Bulgaria's transitional status as a member of the EU, he will immediately be loaned to Genk of the Belgian Juliper League. On January 1, 2012, Bijev's Bulgarian citizenship will land him a UK work permit through the EU.
It's that time again, time for Jared and I to talk about random pop culture questions like "What's more 90's"...I mean cover the week that was in American soccer. We start out this week hitting on Jared's day at the World Football Challenge (ahem - meaningless friendly - ahem) and the carry over effect on WPS from the USWNT run and thoughts about soccer owning summer. Things move to a few USMNT possibles, including the guy with the cool name in Tijuana, before some thought is given to considering the movement (or lack thereof) of some of the established guys.
Then Travis Clark of MLSSoccer.com and USA10Kit.com joins us to talk about the kid that went to Liverpool (Villyan Bijev) and the upcoming Milk Cup. Things close on Alvaro Saborio and diving. Check that precedent.
Thanks for listening. Make sure you like and comment at the Facebook page (we've just hit 400...woo!) and hit us up on Twitter via the AmSoc account and the CSRN network account.
Rating and comments in iTunes are always greatly, greatly appreciated. It just takes a few minutes and will help us climb the charts or something.
Visit the show website for other links of interest.
*Fixed a link. Oops.
Jasper Wilson gives us an introduction to a US national team you might not know about - the US Paralympic Team. In the first of a series of entries on the team and their qualification for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Jasper lays out the facts of the sport also known as CP Soccer. Jasper himself is pool player for the US team.
- Jasper Wilson
The US Paralympic Soccer team recently returned from the CPISRA World Championships in Holland where they finished 8th out of 16 teams. Their performance qualified the team for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
- Keith Hickey
Like many of you, I watched the Final of the Women's World Cup yesterday. It was a pretty damn heartbreaking loss. To go up like that twice, it just seemed like destiny. These were our girls, out there representing our country. They were supposed to come home to magazine covers and Letterman appearances and Wheaties boxes. And then it all went horribly wrong.
Like many of you, I watched the Final of the Women's World Cup yesterday. It was a pretty damn heartbreaking loss. To go up like that twice, it just seemed like destiny. These were our girls, out there representing our country. They were supposed to come home to magazine covers and Letterman appearances and Wheaties boxes. And then it all went horribly wrong.
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| That's not Jared, but it could be. |
-Jason Davis
Jason. Jared. So You Think You Can Dance? tapings and Jared stepping out on AmSoc. Drama. Well, not really.
Jared and I, having done the show before the USWNT's loss in the World Cup final, talk about other things. First, it's Jared's super awesome week, reality dancing competitions and guest spots on other soccer shows included. Then it's on the SUMMER OF SOCCER! FRIENDLY SEASON! Questions related to visiting foreign clubs abound, including but not limited why MLS is okay playing league matches on crap artificial surfaces but throws down the real stuff for the Euro clubs.
Then we move on to Michael Bradley's run in with Eric Wynalda, Wilmer Cabrera's comments about the U-17s, and some emails on topics like POSERS and the mythical "MLS snob."
We close things out with thoughts on Jozy's move to Holland and the Commish's All-Star picks (RABBLE RABBLE).
Thanks for listening. Make sure you like and comment at the Facebook page (we've just hit 400...woo!) and hit us up on Twitter via the AmSoc account and the CSRN network account.
Rating and comments in iTunes are always greatly, greatly appreciated. It just takes a few minutes and will help us climb the charts or something.
Visit the show website for other links of interest.
A year ago, the United States won the 2010 Milk Cup in convincing fashion with a 3-0 victory over hosts Northern Ireland. On July 25, the Americans will begin their title defense when the U-18 national team takes on Israel before playing Mexico on July 27. The knockout rounds will start on July 29.
-Chris Ballard
If you’re a season ticket holder at pretty much any MLS club, the chances are that you’re looking forward to this summer’s run of friendlies against European club teams. Or maybe; you’re not looking forward to it - it’s possible you’d rather see your team concentrate on actual competition.
If you’re a season ticket holder at pretty much any MLS club, the chances are that you’re looking forward to this summer’s run of friendlies against European club teams. Or maybe; you’re not looking forward to it - it’s possible you’d rather see your team concentrate on actual competition.
To most of us, goalkeeping looks fairly simple; stop the ball, by whatever means necessary. There's more to it than that, of course, but since keepers are mostly judged on their ability to perform that one task, shot stopping is paramount.
