The Seattle MLS franchise is more than a year away from its first game but has already signed one of Washington state’s most famous players. No, not Kasey Keller, at least just yet.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Olympic Quest: Player selection down to wire
[ROSTER] Coach Peter Nowak has called in 23 players for the second training camp of the U-23 men’s national team that will aim to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, when the team can add three wild-card (over-23) players. The training camp takes Jan. 26 – Feb. 2 in at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
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USA preps for Mexico clash
[ROSTER] U.S. coach Bob Bradley has called in a 21-man squad to train for the USA’s Feb. 6 friendly against Mexico in Houston. More than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for the game at Reliant Stadium (capacity 71,000). The only foreign-based players on the initial roster are five who play or have recently signed with Scandinavian leagues, which are on winter break. Other European-based players are expected to arrive after their league play on the weekend before the Mexico game.
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Ex-player Agogo leads Ghana past Namibia
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Almost six years after he was waived out MLS, Junior Agogo emerged on the international stage, scoring the only goal in host Ghana’s unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia Thursday at the African Nations Cup in Accra
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MLS Offseason Player Moves
For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“In Italy the referee whistles as soon as a defender brushes against you. In the Premier League you don’t get a free kick even if the defender runs you over with a tank.”
— Italian forward Rolando Bianchi, who is leaving Manchester City for Serie A club Lazio after a six-month stint. (Reuters)
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International Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the fourth round. The top matchup features Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday. In Spain, leader Real Madrid hosts third-place Villarreal with Italian-American Giuseppe Rossi on Sunday. For all the weekend international action …
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Players galore picked in Supplemental Draft
[MLS WATCH] Most of the players expected to be picked in the SuperDraft who weren’t selected did get snagged in the Supplemental Draft held Thursday by conference call, and they weren’t alone. The 14 teams picked 51 players, with only Toronto FC showing restraint.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Most Important MLS Off-Season Moves
MLSNet writer Jeff Bradley recounts the 11 most important trades of the MLS offseason so far. They are, from least to most important according to Bradley: Jim Curtin, Chicago to Chivas USA, Jason Hernandez, Chivas USA to San Jose, Bobby Boswell, D.C. United to Houston, Jose Burciaga Jr., Kansas City to Colorado, Ivan Guerrero, Chicago […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Osorio Sets Red Bull Agenda
USSoccerPlayers’ Clemente Lisi sat down with New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who talked about the MLS SuperDraft, his successful season with Chicago last year, and his expectations for the coming year. First of all, Osorio said he was very pleased with the acquisition of 22-year-old defender Eric Brunner, whom he described as […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Misleading ‘SuperDraft’
Is there anything “super” about the MLS SuperDraft? Well, if an MLS club comes away with the next Landon Donovan or Eddie Johnson for less than $30,000, sure, it is for them, but this seldom happens, says the New York Times’ Jack Bell. Not only does the draft yield few players of any real quality […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Armas Rejoins Chicago Teammates
Chicago Fire coach Denis Hamlett’s coaching staff is coming into focus. Former assistant Mike Jeffries has rejoined the Fire as an assistant, while former player Frank Klopas was named technical director. Last week, Fire legend Chris Armas accepted an offer for another assistant’s position. Following the appointment, Armas spoke with Chicago Tribune writer Luis Arroyave. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Houston Looking Thin Up Top
The Houston Dynamo looks “alarming thin” up top with only week to go before training camp begins, says Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle. The two-time defending MLS champ lost starting forward Joseph Ngwenya to SK Austria Kaernten in midweek, while fellow forward Paul Dalglish was released late last year. Nate Jaqua, meanwhile, has been […]
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Michael Bradley, the scoring machine
[AMERICANS ABROAD] U.S. international Michael Bradley scored in Heerenveen’s 5-1 win over VVV on Wednesday, making it the third straight game in which that he has scored since the resumption of play in the Dutch Eredivisie. Bradley, whose stock has risen sharply on the European transfer market, set a season record for goals by an American-bred and -born player in a European first division.
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Tim Howard’s Wembley bid ends
[ENGLAND] American Tim Howard‘s bid to play at Wembley Stadium for the first time ended Wednesday when Everton fell to short-handed Chelsea, 1-0, in the second leg of their English League Cup semifinal series.
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New Austin pro team affiliated with Stoke City
[USL-1] Stoke City became the latest British club to seek entry in the U.S. market when its minority owner, Phil Rawlins, announced plans to launch a USL-1 team next year in Austin, Texas, and affiliate it with the English League Championship club.
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South Africa manages tie in opener
[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP] Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, whose future with World Cup 2010 host South Africa appears dependent on his team’s performance at the African Nations Cup, was pleased after the Bafana Bafana managed to salvage a 1-1 tie with Angola in their opening game on Wednesday.
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National High School Winter Rankings
Miami’s Varela High School now holds the top spot outright in the NSCAA/adidas High School Winter Rankings for boys, while Florida’s American Heritage (27-0-0) remained No. 1 in the girls rankings. For the boys and girls rankings ..
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Brad is the money. He would have no problem playing in the SPL right now. There’s no doubt Brad can be the next big American goalkeeper to play in Europe. I’ve nothing against Brad Friedel or Tim Howard, but this guy is a great size and is a fantastic athlete, as well. He throws himself about, he’s really brave and he already has some good international experience. He played really well in a game against Sweden last weekend and that clean sheet raised his profile further. No disrespect, but if you are performing well on the international stage, then I’m pretty sure you can handle playing in Scotland.”
— Scotsman John Spencer, the Houston Dynamo assistant coach, on Chivas USA keeper Brad Guzan, who is on trial at Scottish champion Celtic and whom Spencer believes can become the best of the American keepers playing in Britain. (Daily Mail)
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MLS Offseason Player Moves
D.C. United’s signing spree continued when it signed Colombian defender Gonzalo Martinez from Millonarios. American-born Ian Joy left German third division club St. Pauli and signed with Real Salt Lake. For all the team-by-team MLS offseason player moves …
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Eddie Johnson out, Gallardo in?
Two players of which more has been expected in their careers are crossing paths in and out of MLS.
Striker Eddie Johnson‘s move to English Premier League club Fulham reached fruition Wednesday just as news reports out of South America quoted Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo saying he’s joining D.C. United.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tottenham’s Ramos in Another Final
Juande Ramos won two UEFA Cups, the Copa Del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup with Sevilla, so great expectations were heaped on the shoulders of the Spanish manager when he arrived at Tottenham. But Ramos “is proving well worth the trouble Tottenham took to hire him,” says the AP. Three […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Soccer to Decide Soon About ’18 Bid
In a podcast published over the weekend, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati laid out the organization’s agenda for 2008. He started with this year’s exhibition matches, confirming only a March 26 friendly against Poland in Krakow, although he mentioned that two more exhibitions would be added in late May or early June. One of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Time to Move the African Nations Cup
The African Cup of Nations, currently underway in Ghana, has always had a hard time getting respect abroad, says Paul Gardner, writing for the New York Sun. He says the problem has grown as more African players find work in Europe. Why? Because FIFA mandates that clubs release national team players when they are wanted […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Albright Reacts to NE Trade
Goal.com’s Kyle McCarthy interviews defender Chris Albright about his recent trade from the L.A. Galaxy to the New England Revolution, an announcement which came during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday. Albright, a member of the Galaxy for seven years, was ambivalent about the trade. “I didn’t understand it when I first […]