Some Soccer News for Oct 21, 2016

It's Day 295 of 2016.


Once a sleazy salesman, always a sleazy salesman. Aaron Davidson of Traffic pleaded guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy and wire-fraud conspiracy in the FIFA scandal. By Rebecca Ruiz of the New York Times.

• These days he is selling "botanical art installations."

dN

USWNT friendly:
-Sun Oct 23
USA v Switzerland - New Metrodome, Minneapolis - 12:45pm CT on FS1

• See you there.

dN

How in the world did Chris Seitz of Dallas become a top goalkeeper in MLS this season? By Kevin Baxter of the LA Times.

dN

An examination of five big MLS topics of the week as we head into the final week in the regular season. By Steve Davis of FC Dallas.com.

dN

Why do people say Wade Barrett has picked Houston Dynamo back up after Owen Coyle was fired? I don't see it. The numbers are barely any better. Barely. Very barely.

• Season total 33 points from 33 games

• Under Owen Coyle - 11 points from 12 games (0.92 ppg)

• Under Wade Barrett - 22 points from 21 games (1.05 ppg)

Conclusion: The team is fractionally better, approx 2.5 points better for the whole season under Barrett, which in my book is nothing. They need a whole new coaching staff, pronto.

dN

Jermaine Jones is back baby! After a long pause on the shelf due to a secret knee injury he is healthy just in time, and we all know he is a true difference maker. By John Meyer of the Denver Post.

dN

MLS Week 34 Schedule:

• All 10 games kick off at the same time - 3pm CT

• ESPN 2 will have a whip-around broadcast also starting at 3pm CT

-Sun Oct 23
Colorado Rapids v Houston Dynamo - Supporters Shield + seeding
LA Galaxy v Dallas - Supporters Shield + seeding - on FS1
Sporting Kansas City v San Jose Earthquakes - playoff survival + seeding
Vancouver Whitecaps v Portland Timbers - playoff survival
Philadelphia Union v New York Red Bulls - playoff survival + seeding
New England Revolution v Montreal Impact - playoff survival + seeding
Seattle Sounders v Real Salt Lake - playoff survival + seeding - on ESPN
New York City v Columbus Crew - seeding
Toronto v Chicago Fire - seeding
Orlando City v DC United - seeding

MLS Supporters Shield:

• Tie Breakers: Wins, Goal Differential, Goals Scored

59 Dallas (17 W) (+10 GD)
57 Colorado (15 W) (+7 GD)

Race for 6th Place in MLS: [Wins is the first tie breaker]

• Tie Breakers: Wins, Goal Differential, Goals Scored

EAST
46 DC (10 wins)
45 Montreal (11 wins)
42 Philadelphia (11 wins) (-1 GD)
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39 New England (10 wins) (-13 GD)

WEST
46 Salt Lake (12 wins) (-1 GD)
45 Seattle (13 wins) (0 GD)
44 Kansas City (12 wins) (-1 GD)
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44 Portland (12 wins) (-2 GD)

dN

Minnesota United will need a RADICAL change of fortune if they are to get a very important road win at Carolina this Saturday. They have won only 1 time on the road this season, and that was on April 10. In 8 road games since Aug 1 they have 5 draws and 3 losses. They need 3 points BADLY on Saturday.

• Not to mention that if they make the playoffs they will have to play both games on the road to win it all.

dN

NASL Week 27 Schedule:
-Sat Oct 22
Carolina v Minnesota
Ft Lauderdale v OKC
New York v Miami
Tampa Bay v Ottawa
Indy v Puerto Rico
-Sun Oct 23
Edmonton v Jacksonville

NASL Playoff race: (top 4 advance)
$59 New York
*52 Indy
#50 Edmonton
41 Minnesota (+6 GD)
-----
41 OKC (+3 GD)
38 Tampa Bay (0 GD)
38 Fort Lauderdale (-8 GD)
37 Miami (-1 GD)
37 Carolina (-12 GD)
*Won Spring Season, automatically in playoffs
$Won Fall Season, automatically in playoffs
#Clinched a top 4 finish and a playoff spot

dN

CONCACAF Champions League - Big Games on Matchday 6:

• Dallas got a big win and advance. They went down 2-0 on the road and came back to win 2-5. Huge.

• An even bigger a win for Pumas, although no nearly as dramati. They won 8-1 to grab the #4 seed in the knock out stage.

• The 8 to Advance: Arabe Unido, Dallas New York Red Bulls, Pachuca, Pumas UNAM, Saprissa, Tigres UANL, Vancouver Whitecaps

• Big Teams Eliminated: Sporting Kansas City, Monterrey, Portland Timbers

• That ends the group stage.

-Thu Oct 20
Suchitepequez 2-5 Dallas
Pumas UNAM 8-1 W Connection

Pairings for the knockout stage:
#1 Vancouver v #8 Red Bulls
#4 Pumas UNAM v #5 Tigres UANL
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#3 Pachuca v #6 Saprissa
#2 Arabe Unido v #7 Dallas

• Quarterfinal games begin the week of Feb 21-23

dN

USL Final Schedule:
-Sun Oct 23
New York Red Bulls II v Swope Park Rangers - 7pm CT on ESPNU at Red Bull Arena

dN

The Miguel Herrera + Tijuana Tracker:

• Standings - 1st Place, 3 Point Lead

• Up Next - Fri Oct 21 v Chiapas

dN

The Bob Bradley + Swansea City Tracker:

• Standings - 19th Place, 0 Points and -4 Goal Differential into Relegation

• Up Next - Sat Oct 22 v Watford

dN

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend. From the Guardian.

dN

Former LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has recently bought French club Marseille. What's he plannin' to do? From Sports Illustrated.



The Bird Is The Word