Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

The Case for Points-Per-Game

by Soccer America

The MLS standings don’t accurately reflect the form of the league’s teams, says Bill Urban of USSoccerPlayers, because of the big discrepancy between the number of games each has played. Los Angeles, for instance, may have the second-worst record in the league with 14 points, but it’s only played 14 games, whereas Houston, the league’s […]

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

His debut done, Becks faces staggering task

by Ridge Mahoney

The MLS debut of David Beckham harshly illustrated the incongruities plaguing his new team and what he perhaps can do to resolve its myriad problems. During a runout of about 20 minutes in a 1-0 loss to D.C. United at RFK Thursday, he swerved a threatening free kick that produced a good chance, and flighted another immaculate ball into space that on another night would have yielded a goal or a penalty kick rather than a spectacular defensive play. Sparked by Beckham and a fresh pair of forwards following a straight red-card to Kyle Martino for nailing Fred from behind, Team Beckham actually looked like a soccer team, much more so than it had without him while tying Toronto, 0-0, on Sunday. Play badly and tie, play better and lose, that’s soccer.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

FC Dallas eyes Western Conference lead

by Ridge Mahoney

[MLS WEEKEND PREVIEWS] The David Beckham show moves to New England, where the Galaxy looks to get its first win since the Englishman’s arrival four weeks ago. New York is back in action after a two-week layoff, FC Dallas looks to take over the lead in the Western Conference, and Colorado returns home reeling from a 5-0 loss to the USL’s Seattle and carrying a 10-game winless streak into its game against Houston.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that. I really don’t believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from CONCACAF. I know in FIFA there are those persons who believe the rules should be changed to satisfy Europe but I tell you this today we shall fight it to the very end.”

and …

“If by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I’m quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won’t get it. It’ll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England — who invented the sport — has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant.”

— Trinidadian Jack Warner, president of CONCACAF and a powerful member of FIFA’s executive committee, in a BBC World Service interview to be broadcast on Saturday, dismissing England’s chances if FIFA’s rotation policy brought the World Cup finals to Europe in 2018. If FIFA’s current rotation system was maintained, a CONCACAF nation (USA?) would be selected to host the 2018 World Cup.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Americans in Germany (2007-08)

by Soccer America

[MAKING A LIST] Of the 10 Americans in Germany’s two professional divisions, only two — Steve Cherundolo and Gregg Berhalter — were with teams in these divisions a year ago. Youngsters Kamani Hill, Neven Subotic and Sal Zizzo signed in the last year. Josh Wolff and Heath Pearce signed as free agents. Joe Enochs, Josh Grenier and Ian Joy, all German league veterans, moved to the Second Division when their clubs were promoted. Of the four First Division players, only Cherundolo and Pearce are expected to start when the Bundesliga kicks off this weekend.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Americans in England (2007-08)

by Soccer America

[MAKING A LIST] Derby County’s signing of Benny Feilhaber brings to 10 the number of Americans in the English Premier League, which kicks off the 2007-08 season on Saturday. That number doesn’t include three teenagers in EPL youth academies. Five other Americans — including Gold Cup champions Jay DeMerit and Frank Simek — are in the lower English divisions.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Nowak’s Olympic Hopefuls

by Soccer America

Peter Nowak will have a deep squad of players to pick for the U.S. under-23 national team that will attempt to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games. Players must be born on or after Jan. 1, 1985. Ten U-23 candidates have been capped at the senior level. Many U-23 possibles are from the U.S. U-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada. Here’s a list of some of the leading candidates.

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Pressure’s On at Anfield

by Soccer America

Outside Anfield, the excitement is mounting ahead of the 2007-08 EPL season. Inside, however, it’s the pressure that’s rising. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was given the money he needed to strengthen the squad he described as inadequate following the Reds’ Champions League final loss to AC Milan some three months ago. Eight players and an […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

A Big Night, With or Without Becks

by Soccer America

With or without David Beckham, the sellout between the L.A. Galaxy and D.C. United (ESPN2, 7 pm EST) is a fitting Thursday night headliner, says Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers. History says goals when these two clubs meet at RFK, which has been a particularly happy hunting ground for L.A.’s Landon Donovan. Last year, Donovan’s two […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Becks Blasts Turf, Injury Critics

by Soccer America

L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham completed a full practice at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on Thursday before the Galaxy’s clash with D.C. United, but remained vague about his chances of playing. “It’s looking up,” Beckham said of the ankle injury that’s kept him sidelined for the last three weeks (with the exception of a […]

Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider

Sun and shadows on high school soccer

by Soccer America

There is much to do as a high school soccer coach. New uniforms have been ordered and sent to the silk-screener. Balls have been stored in the garage waiting for the night when I will pump up each one. Assistants have been lined up and forms distributed. The fall schedule has been carefully worked out with dates and times. An accident to one of our goals required a piece be sent to a local welder to be repaired.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“I told her I had a match that day, but she wasn’t having any of that. She said it was only a friendly and that I had to help her.”

— Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on having been ruled out of attending Manchester United’s two pre-season friendlies on Wednesday — one against Glentoran in Belfast and another against Dunfermline in his native Scotland — by his wife Cathy. Ferguson is needed at home to organize their house move. He added that on the bright side she saved him from making a difficult choice. His father played for Glentoran, but he has close ties with Dunfermline.

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