Some Soccer News for Dec 6, 2016

It's Day 341 of 2016.


LATE ADDITION
Minnesota United Stadium Groundbreaking
Mon Dec 12 at 2:00pm CT
415 Pascal St N, St Paul, MN 55104
In attendance:
MN United Owner Dr. Bill McGuire
MLS Commissioner Don Garber
St Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
And me
And you

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David Villa was named MLS 2016 Most Valuable Player.

• The other two finalists were Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

• Villa was great this season.

• I voted for Mauro Dias of Dallas.

David Villa is the third straight European to win MLS MVP, after no Europeans won in the first 18 @MLS seasons.

— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) December 6, 2016

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MLS Cup - Final:
-Sat Dec 10
Toronto FC v Seattle Sounders FC - 7:00pm CT on FOX

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The city of Toronto, like Cleveland before them, is desperate for a winner. By Arch Bell of ESPNFC.

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Sounders inspired by championship won by bitter rival Portland last year. By Graham Parker of ESPNFC.

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Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei got his pro start with Toronto FC. By Matt Pentz of the Seattle Times.

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What is the Minnesota United on-field brain trust up to right now? Scouting for players. By Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press.

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Atlanta United seems to be going for it from the start. By Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated.

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Former long time Minnesota Thunder player Freddy Juarez has been promoted by Real Salt Lake from head coach of their USL Monarchs team to an assistants position on the senior team.

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I placed my vote today:
2016 Futbol De Primera Player Of The Year

• 1st Place: Jozy Altidore

• 2nd Place: Bobby Wood

• 3rd Place: Christian Pulisic

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And there are the nominees for US Soccer's Player Of The Year:
MALE
Jozy Altidore
Michael Bradley
Geoff Cameron
Clint Dempsey
Bobby Wood
FEMALE
Crystal Dunn
Tobin Heath
Carli Lloyd
Alex Morgan
Becky Sauerbrunn
YOUNG MALE
Andrew Carleton
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Jordan Morris
Christian Pulisic
Josh Sargent
YOUNG FEMALE
Emily Ogle
Kaleigh Riehl
Karina Rodriguez
Ashley Sanchez
Andi Sullivan

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Carolina RailHawks have officially changed their name to North Carolina FC.

• Future plans include starting a NWSL team and pushing for MLS.

• They also have a plan for a new stadium.

• Rumor has the team playing in in the USL for the 2017 season.

• Here is the story from a local perspective. By Ian Pierno of the Charlotte News Observer.

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NASL 2016 Teams:
Carolina RailHawks
Edmonton
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Indy Eleven
Jacksonville Armada
Miami
Minnesota United
New York Cosmos
Ottawa Fury
Puerto Rico
Rayo Oklahoma City
Tampa Bay Rowdies

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UEFA Champions League - Group Stage - Big Teams - Matchday 6:

• Advanced to the knock out rounds: Arsenal (A), Atletico Madrid (D), Barcelona (C), Bayern Munich (D), Dortmund (F), Juventus (H), Leicester (G), Monaco (E), PSG (A) and Real Madrid (F).

-Tue Dec 6
Bayern v Atletico
Man City v Celtic
Barca v Gladbach
Basel v Arsenal
PSG v Ludogorets
-Wed Dec 7
Juve v Dinamo Zagreb
Real Madrid v Dortmund

Americans in the UCL:

• Fabian Johnson - Monchengladbach - Tue Dec 6 at Barcelona

• Christian Pulisic - Dortmund - Wed Dec 7 at Real Madrid

The Bird Is The Word