Some Soccer News for Jan 18, 2018

It's Day 18 of 2018.


Despite the fact that the USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup 2026 bid has competition from only 1 other country, Morocco, and that country has no presented bid plan, there is still fear that it will be a hard sell to FIFA voters due to the Jackass In The White House. By Jeff Carlisle for ESPNFC.

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The English women's national soccer team is a giant mess. Now they want to hire a guy to be the head coach who has never managed any team at any level and didn't even apply for the job: Phil Neville. By Marina Hyde for the Guardian.

• The previous coach was fired for being a woman hater and a racist.
• Marina Hyde is one of the very best writers at the Guardian. Everything she writes is worth checking out.

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The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) that MLS uses to referee their games has announced that Howard Webb will replace Peter Walton as General Manager. Walton will remain a consultant to PRO.

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USMNT JANUARY CAMP

Christian Ramirez is training with USMNT for the first time and the road that got him here was not a normal route. By Luis Miguel Echegaray for Sports Illustrated.

Roster:

• G: Alex Bono - Toronto, Bill Hamid - Midtjylland, Cody Cropper - New England Revolution, Zack Steffen - Columbus Crew
• D: Danny Acosta - Real Salt Lake, Justen Glad - Real Salt Lake, Nick Lima - San Jose Earthquakes, Justin Morrow - Toronto, Ike Opara - Sporting Kansas City, Tim Parker - Vancouver Whitecaps, Matt Polster - Chicago Fire, Brandon Vincent - Chicago Fire, Walker Zimmerman - Los Angeles
• M: Tyler Adams - New York Red Bulls, Paul Arriola - DC United, Russell Canouse - DC United, Marky Delgado - Toronto, Marlon Hairston - Colorado Rapids, Ian Harkes - DC United, Brooks Lennon - Real Salt Lake, Cristian Roldan - Seattle Sounders, Kelyn Rowe - New England Revolution, Wil Trapp - Columbus Crew, Gyasi Zardes - LA Galaxy
• F: Juan Agudelo - New England Revolution, Dom Dwyer - Orlando City, Jordan Morris - Seattle Sounders, Christian Ramirez - Minnesota United, Rubio Rubin - no club, CJ Sapong - Philadelphia Union

Friendly Schedule:
-Sun Jan 28
USA v Bosnia + Herzegovina - 8:30pm CT on FS1
Stub Hub Center - Carson CA

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LOS LOONS

5 days until preseason begins

Fri Jan 19 is the MLS Superdraft in Philadelphia beginning at 10am CT. Watch it on mlssoccer.com.

• Minnesota holds the 5th, 28th + 41st picks in the first two rounds.
• Rounds 3 + 4 will take place on Sun Jan 21 via conference call.

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MLS

Q + A with LAFC general manager John Thorrington on building a team from the ground up and prep for year 1. By Ridge Mahoney for Soccer America.

Chicago has signed Sebastian Schweinsteiger to a new 1 year contract.

Philly has given goalkeeper Andre Blake a new 3 year contract. Great move.

DaMarcus Beasley signs a new deal with Houston, presumably for 1 year again.

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Diagram: du Nord Music Mix 151 (download + extract)

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A great interview with American author Phillip Roth. By Charles McGrath for the New York Times.

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US SOCCER

The federation has set up a new beginners coaching course called Grassroots Coaching Module, that is free, open to everyone and done online. Every true fan should at least take this class.

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BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Fri Jan 19
Hertha v Dortmund
Caen v Marseille
-Sat Jan 20
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Atletico Madrid v Girona
Brighton & Hove v Chelsea
Freiburg v Leipzig
Man City v Newcastle
Burnley v Man United
Las Palmas v Valencia
-Sun Jan 21
Real Betis v Barcelona
Bayern v Werder Bremen
Inter v Roma
Lyon v PSG
Cagliari v Milan
Monaco v Metz
Atalanta v Napoli
Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna
Schalke v Hannover
Southampton v Tottenham
-Mon Jan 22
Juventus v Genoa
Swansea v Liverpool



The Bird Is The Word