Taking A Mental Break

See You Soon

Some Soccer News for Feb 2, 2018

It's Day 33 of 2018.


MEXICO - LIGA MX

Could this be the debut of Landon Donovan???

Alistándonos para nuestro siguiente objetivo en la @LIGABancomerMX: @Rayados. #CreoEnMiLeón ?? pic.twitter.com/j0slM74DiV

— Club León (@clubleonfc) February 1, 2018

-Sat Feb 3
Monterrey v Leon - 7pm CT on Univision

dN

When recruiting a new players little things can make a huge difference, like saying Hello in Portuguese to a Portuguese recruit. Like Alex Ferguson did. By Sid Lowe for the Guardian.

dN

LOS LOONS - MINNESOTA UNITED

The first preseason game of the year is on Saturday. But there will be no video stream of the game. So just accept the minimal Twitter updates that we will be getting.

Preseason Friendly Schedule:
-Sat Feb 3
MNUFC v Florida International University - 1pm CT at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Wed Feb 7
CHANGED: MNUFC v Eastern Florida State College - Time TBA at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Sat Feb 17
MNUFC v Charleston Battery - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Wed Feb 21
MNUFC v Atlanta United - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Sat Feb 24
MNUFC v Columbus Crew - 4:00pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup

dN

MLS

The Jack Harrison + Mix Diskerud moves by NYCFC and Man City are a big change for MLS. By Jeff Carlisle for ESPNFC.

An interview with Atlanta's latest big money signing Ezequiel Barco. By Luis Migual Echegaray for Sports Illustrated.

Real Salt Lake is not a big money big spending team in MLS - they have chosen to do things differently, and aren't afraid to explain it to anyone. By Jamed Edward for the Deseret News.

Columbus has signed free agent Ricardo Clark from Houston.

dN

AMERICANS ABROAD

Kenny Saief is healthy and playing very well for Anderlecht. He is ready to impact the USMNT. By Brian Sciaretta for American Soccer Now.

Rubio Rubin has signed with Tijuana.

• He had played a few games each for Silkeborg in Denmark and Stabaek in Norway last year.

dN

EUROPE

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

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Fri Feb 2
Koln v Dortmund
Marseille v Metz
-Sat Feb 3
Arsenal v Everton
Mainz v Bayern
Inter v Crotone
Munchengladbach v Leipzig
Burnley v Man City
Man United v Huddersfield
Lille v PSG
Levante v Real Madrid
Schalke v Werder Bremen
-Sun Feb 4
Atletico Madrid v Valencia
Espanyol v Barcelona
Juventus v Sassuolo
Liverpool v Tottenham
Monaco v Lyon
Udinese v Milan
Benevento v Napoli
Hellas Verona v Roma
-Mon Feb 5
Watford v Chelsea
Lazio v Genoa



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Feb 1, 2018

It's Day 32 of 2018.


Rumor has it that Minnesota United director Manny Lagos is in Colombia to negotiate with Deportivo Cali for attacking midfielder Nicolas Benedetti. By Jeff Rueter for ESPNFC.

dN

Near the end of the article there is info on NEW subpoenas being issued by the US Justice Department pertaining to more FIFA inquiries. By Rebecca Ruiz for the New York Times.

• This saga is far from over.

dN

17 minutes of rebuttal by Sunil Gulati answering his critics. Video from the NSCAA convention in Philadelphia, addressing US Youth Soccer.

• He makes many strong points and blisters many myths.
• The one thing he does not say is that its time for new leadership, but in my opinion now is that time.
• Its time to take the foundation that has been built very strongly and add new ideas and new energy to the mix.

dN

As part of Black History Month the New York Times gives us 28 films to watch - 1 for each day of the month. This is an inspired list. And even just reading the notes about each film is fantastic. From the New York Times.

dN

LOS LOONS - MINNESOTA UNITED

Looks like the new gray uniform (to be unveiled on Feb 11 at the Mall of America) will have a red button to signify the red eye of the loon:

Red Eye

02.11.18#MNUFC | #ScarvesUpMN pic.twitter.com/p0bkKR3TET

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) February 1, 2018

Preseason Friendly Schedule:
-Sat Feb 3
MNUFC v Florida International University - 1pm CT at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Wed Feb 7
CHANGED: MNUFC v Eastern Florida State College - Time TBA at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Sat Feb 17
MNUFC v Charleston Battery - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Wed Feb 21
MNUFC v Atlanta United - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Sat Feb 24
MNUFC v Columbus Crew - 4:00pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup

dN

MLS

SKC has signed 27 year old Scottish forward Johnny Russell from Derby County in England.

Atlanta United has a vision for its academy program. Director Tony Annan lays out the very big plans. By Brian Sciaretta for American Soccer Now.

LA Galaxy gave up the 2nd most goals in MLS last season. To try and solve this they went out and got a new starting goalkeeper, 1 new starting centerback, a new starting fullback, and a new starting d-mid. Including names known to MLS: David Bingham and Perry Kitchen. That is 4 of the 6 positions in the back. Will this work? Its going to be very hard at first, and then who knows.

dN

USL

Former Galaxy/Crew/Earthquakes/Chivas USA player and New Zealand national teamer Simon Elliott is the new head coach of Sacramento Republic.

dN

US SOCCER

The ability to attract and retain top American Latino talent needs to be a priority. Conversation with a guy who makes this his career. By Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated.

dN

USMNT

No games scheduled for the March international window and few teams want to play a World Cup-less USA. By Steve Goff for the Washington Post.

dN

AMERICANS ABROAD

A chat with the inconsistent Danny Williams. Is he or isn't he good enough for the national team? By Rob Stewart for Four Four Two.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Fri Feb 2
Koln v Dortmund
Marseille v Metz
-Sat Feb 3
Arsenal v Everton
Mainz v Bayern
Inter v Crotone
Munchengladbach v Leipzig
Burnley v Man City
Man United v Huddersfield
Lille v PSG
Levante v Real Madrid
Schalke v Werder Bremen
-Sun Feb 4
Atletico Madrid v Valencia
Espanyol v Barcelona
Juventus v Sassuolo
Liverpool v Tottenham
Monaco v Lyon
Udinese v Milan
Benevento v Napoli
Hellas Verona v Roma
-Mon Feb 5
Watford v Chelsea
Lazio v Genoa



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 31, 2018

It's Day 31 of 2018.


"Beat them with unconditional love."
Someone left a racially charged warning letter on the windshield of the coach of a Idaho youth team (Idaho Juniors Futbol Club). The coach decided to take the issue public instead of staying quiet. Michael Lycklama for the Idaho Statesman.

• They deserve our support all the way.

Now the IJFC has started an Anti-Racism campaign - please donate here if you can.

dN

Geoff Cameron plays for Stoke in England trying to avoid relegation, and has been very quiet since the USMNT was eliminated from the World Cup during qualifying. Not any more, in a very good article. By Marc Stein for the New York Times.

• It was Bruce Arena's fault.
• Klinsmann would have gotten the job done.
• Arena hints that Cameron was one the "bad eggs" he referred too a couple weeks ago.
• Credits Clint Dempsey with breaking through the English Premier League wall as an outfield player. (I would give that credit to Brian McBride.)

dN

Man City did pay NYCFC a fair market price for Jack Harrison - $6M. By Jeff Carlisle for ESPNFC.

• Good business for New York.
• Thanks to Kevin Chan for the heads up.

dN

LOS LOONS - MINNESOTA UNITED

A long interview with fullback Jerome Thiesson. He has some great things to say. By Tyler Hanson for MLS Multiplex.

Preseason Friendly Schedule:
-Sat Feb 3
MNUFC v Florida International University - 1pm CT at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Wed Feb 7
CHANGED: MNUFC v Eastern Florida State College - Time TBA at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Sat Feb 17
MNUFC v Charleston Battery - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Wed Feb 21
MNUFC v Atlanta United - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Sat Feb 24
MNUFC v Columbus Crew - 4:00pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup

dN

MLS

LAFC will not have a local TV deal, instead they will use YouTube:

Breaking: @LAFC has signed an extensive partnership with @YouTubeTV that will see the company not only be its jersey front sponsor but also its local broadcaster.

— Ian Thomas (@byIanThomas) January 31, 2018

LAFC's Egyptian signing Omar Gaber is ready to get rolling with his new team. By Chris Young for Arab News.

Dilemma: Would you rather be fired for going all in and failing, or going ultra-conservative and not succeeding? Jason Kreis and Orlando City are making lots of moves this offseason that clearly says they are "going for it" right now. By Sam Stejskal for MLS.

Orlando continued their signing spree with the addition of defensive midfielder Uri Rosell from Sporting de Portugal. He formerly played for Sporting Kansas City.

One of my favorite people in MLS is Toronto president Bill Manning. He has helped build a real winner up north and has lots more ideas. By Ridge Mahoney for Soccer America.

dN

USL

Jay Heaps has been named Pres and GM of Birmingham Legion which will begin play in 2019.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Today's games:

• Chelsea got smoked at home!
• And Man United were beat on the road by another top team.

Schedule/Results:
-Wed Jan 31
Chelsea 0-3 Bournemouth
Man City 3-0 West Brom
Tottenham 2-0 Man United

-Fri Feb 2
Koln v Dortmund
Marseille v Metz
-Sat Feb 3
Arsenal v Everton
Mainz v Bayern
Inter v Crotone
Munchengladbach v Leipzig
Burnley v Man City
Man United v Huddersfield
Lille v PSG
Levante v Real Madrid
Schalke v Werder Bremen
-Sun Feb 4
Atletico Madrid v Valencia
Espanyol v Barcelona
Juventus v Sassuolo
Liverpool v Tottenham
Monaco v Lyon
Udinese v Milan
Benevento v Napoli
Hellas Verona v Roma
-Mon Feb 5
Watford v Chelsea
Lazio v Genoa



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 30, 2018

It's Day 30 of 2018.


AMERICANS ABROAD

Steve Cherundolo has been hired as an assistant coach at Stuttgart by new head coach Tayfun Korkut. They are currently in 14th place and 3 points above relegation in the Bundesliga.

dN

LOS LOONS

The players have to be happy about being in Florida and training on actual grass.

Optimism about 2018 season is being preached here. By Alex Schieferdecker for Fifty Five One.

• Alex is a good person. I wish I was that good of a person.

The team is just waiting on the arrival of Frantz Pangop now. I am sure he has to get the work visa and all that figured out.

Preseason Friendly Schedule:
-Sat Feb 3
MNUFC v Florida International University - 1pm CT atEFSC Melbourne Campus
-Wed Feb 7
MNUFC v Jacksonville Armada - 1pm CT at EFSC Melbourne Campus
-Sat Feb 17
MNUFC v Charleston Battery - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Wed Feb 21
MNUFC v Atlanta United - 6:30pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup
-Sat Feb 24
MNUFC v Columbus Crew - 4:00pm CT at Carolina Challenge Cup

dN

MLS

NYCFC has let promising youngster Jack Harrison walk away and sign with Manchester City. MC has already loaned him out to Middlesborough.

• This is the flipside of the deal for Mix Diskerud. This time NYC loses a talent and gets nothing in return. Or was taking Diskerud off the books the quid pro quo?

Orlando has sold forward Cyle Larin to Besiktas in Turkey.

Everything is new again in Portland preseason under head coach Giovanni Savarese. By Jamie Goldberg for the Oregonian.

dN

NASL

Miami FC will play in NPSL in 2018.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

A poor team crushed Arsenal today. Arsenal needs a full turnover from top to bottom if they ever want to win their league again.

Schedule/Results:
-Tue Jan 30
Swansea 3-1 Arsenal
Huddersfield 0-3 Liverpool
-Wed Jan 31
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Man City v West Brom
Tottenham v Man United



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 29, 2018

It's Day 29 of 2018.


In the history of "Pulling A Fast One" in MLS this is high quality:
NYCFC has Mix Diskerud on their books and no one out there will take his contract off their hands (he is on loan in Norway), so he is eating a chunk of their salary cap. Up steps big brother Manchester City and signs Mix. But they have no intention of keeping him. They will simply loan him out. His salary is minuscule for them and no one will notice it even happened.

• Brilliant. If you can pull that move off you should.

dN

MLS officially announced that they are going to have a team in Miami.

• They admitted that as recently as 60 days ago this plan was all but dead. And that wasn't the first time it almost fell apart.
• Almost no other details were provided. No name, no logo, no colors. After 4 years of waiting you would think they could have done a little work on some of this shit.

And in a moving gesture Houston has retweed their own welcome message from 4 years ago!

Welcome back, Becks. https://t.co/leArFueDF8

— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) January 29, 2018

dN

USMNT JANUARY CAMP

Minnesota's Christian Ramirez did not dressed for the game. A handful of other players did not dress either. A real disappointment for MNUFC fans who wanted to see Ramirez on the field. And believe me, there were time his skills were exactly what the team needed.

MY NOTES:

• Great to be back at the Town Hall Brewery in Minneapolis watching with my friends in football. Excellent tournament for a Sunday night in January.
• A dull affair, much like the coach Dave Sarachan prefers. Oof. I didn't expect more than that though.
• Bosnia + Herzegovina was definitely the better team, and would have won had there been judges scorecards.
• The USMNT had very few chances. They whiffed on most of them, and never forced the BH keepers into uncomfortable positions or make a tough save.
• Both USMNT keepers Bill Hamid in the first half and Zack Stefan in the second made key saves to keep the game scoreless.
• Jordan Morris was the most active American player on the field and created some chances.
• Walker Zimmerman had the worst game of all the USMNTers. He couldn't seem to slow anyone down without fouling them. Even giving away a penalty in the 2nd half that luckily hit a post when it was taken.
• Who else is worth mentioning? Ike Opara for key defense and Paul Arriola for some nifty passing.
• Again, let me say this, Christian Ramirez would have made a difference had he been chosen to play.

Friendly Result:
-Sun Jan 28
USA 0-0 Bosnia + Herzegovina
Stub Hub Center - Carson CA

Match reports:

• Brian Strauss for Sports Illustrated.
• Brian Sciaretta for American Soccer Now.
• Ridge Mahoney for Soccer America.

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

Ramirez may be disappointed but he isn't letting any of us know that. Playing it cool:

Thankful to have been apart of the last couple weeks! Learned a lot and met some great people. Hope for many more. 🇺🇸🇺🇸Motivated and excited to get back to work w/ @MNUFC pic.twitter.com/iTHo9Gwn17

— Christian Ramirez (@Chris_Ramirez17) January 29, 2018

dN

LOS LOONS

The team is in Florida to train. It is raining.

No word from the team but pics from Florida. (Psst. They are not in Orlando like they said they were going to be. About 70 miles east in one of those horrific coastal Florida towns. Give me the willies thinking about it.)

Off Season Signings:

• Harrison Heath
• Tyrone Mears
• Frantz Pangop
• Mason Toye
• Matt Lampson

Unsigned Draft Picks:

• Wyatt Omsberg
• Carter Manley
• Xavier Gomez

Trying Out: (via Jeff Rueter)

• Jiro Barriga Toyama
• Kyle Ihn

dN

MLS

Orlando City has paid a whole bunch of GarberBucks to Columbus to acquire Justin Meram. Good move Orlando. Good windfall Columbus. Good Good = Win Win.

dN

AMERICANS ABROAD

Danny Williams of Hudersfield got injured in the FA Cup. Don't know what or how bad yet.l But thats yet another American on the injury pile in Europe.

• Three guys playing really well though - Timmy Chandler, Tim Ream and Kenny Saief. Here's a report (skip the bad stuff.) By Brian Sciaretta for American Soccer Now.

dN

AFRICA

Scouting young talent in Africa. By Tariq Panja for the New York Times.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

3 losers among the big teams this weekend:

• Valencia got blown out by Real Madrid and are now firmly irrelevant again.
• Lyon lost dropping them 11 points behind the leaders.
• Roma got beat at home.

Schedule/Results:
-Sat Jan 27
Bayern 5-2 Hoffenheim
Dortmund 2-2 Freiburg
Chievo 0-2 Juventus
Leipzig 1-1 Hamburg
PSG 4-0 Montpellier
Valencia 1-4 Real Madrid
Stuttgart 0-2 Schalke
-Sun Jan 28
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Las Palmas
Barcelona 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
SPAL 1-1 Inter
Bordeaux 3-1 Lyon
Marseille 2-2 Monaco
Milan 2-1 Lazio
Napoli 3-1 Bologna
Roma 0-1 Sampdoria

-Tue Jan 30
Swansea v Arsenal
Huddersfield v Liverpool
-Wed Jan 31
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Man City v West Brom
Tottenham v Man United



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 26, 2018

It's Day 26 of 2018.


Join Me - I am gonna be watching:

• USMNT v Bosnia+ Herzegovina on Sunday night
• Town Hall Brewery
• Minneapolis
• 8:30pm CT

Yeah, I know most of you are really not in to this, but we may get a chance to see Minnesota's Christian Ramirez play.

dN

Local Columbus investors have had talks with Columbus Crew owner/villain Anthony Precourt. By Laura Newpoff for the Columbus Business Journal.

• And proposed stadium property after property is being rejected in Austin.

dN

USMNT JANUARY CAMP

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

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

dN

Split Lip: du Nord Music Mix 152 (download + extract)

dN

LOS LOONS

The small club youth club Olney Rangers in suburban DC where Loons draft choice Carter Manly learned the game was nothing 10 years ago. They now have 7 players in the pros and are a model club. By Steven Goff for the Washington Post.

Off Season Signings:

• Harrison Heath
• Tyrone Mears
• Frantz Pangop
• Mason Toye
• Matt Lampson

Unsigned Draft Picks:

• Wyatt Omsberg
• Carter Manley
• Xavier Gomez

Trying Out:

• Shae Bottum
• Christian Volesky

Former Loon Bernardo Anor has signed with Caracas FC in his native Venezuela. Lets hope he is healthy and can still play. Best of luck to him. Always a Loon.

dN

MLS

For a second time (4 years apart) MLS on Monday will announce a new team in Miami - part owned by David Beckham.

Marky Delgado of TFC is looking to take a big step forward in his career in 2018. By Brian Sciaretta for American Soccer Now.

It really looks like Sporting KC ownership has loosened the purse strings a little. By Sam McDowell for the Kansas City Star.

What's behind the desire to get out of New England? Lee Nguyen wants to get paid and be respected. By Paul Tenorio for ESPNFC.

Atlanta has sold holding midfielder Carlos Carmona to Colo Colo of Chile.

dN

USMNT

Should Gregg Berhalter be the next USMNT head coach? Here is one argument for. By Sam Stejskal for Four Four Two.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Sat Jan 27
Bayern v Hoffenheim
Dortmund v Freiburg
Chievo v Juventus
Leipzig v Hamburg
PSG v Montpellier
Valencia v Real Madrid
Stuttgart v Schalke
-Sun Jan 28
Atletico Madrid v Las Palmas
Barcelona v Deportivo Alaves
SPAL v Inter
Bordeaux v Lyon
Marseille v Monaco
Milan v Lazio
Napoli v Bologna
Roma v Sampdoria



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 25, 2018

It's Day 25 of 2018.


Powerful women making a difference:

Thursday's front page of the Detroit Free Press. pic.twitter.com/FN0X3Bo9fd

— Detroit Free Press (@freep) January 25, 2018

dN

JONATHAN GONZALEZ FALLOUT + BOB BRADLEY GETS INTENSE + US SOCCER TURMOIL

3 recent podcasts featured the biggest topics today in American soccer, US Soccer, MLS, SUM etc:

• Extra Time Radio with Bob Bradley talking LAFC, and everything US Soccer.
• Herc + Max Podcast with Bob Bradley talking LAFC and everything US Soccer, and then Hercules Gomez with more fallout from Jonathan Gonzalez affair including damning accusations from Gonzalez father.
• Planet Futbol podcast with MLS commissioner Don Garber talking MLS, SUM, and American soccer.

Here is a transcript of Grant Wahl asking MLS commissioner Don Garber specific questions about the relationship between MLS, SUM and US Soccer. By Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated.

And finally, this is a followup to the allegations made in Hercules Gomez's story on Jonathan Gonzalez and US Soccer. People including Dave Sarachan, Tab Ramos and Richie Williams, both coaches in the US Soccer federation, dispute Gonzalez's fathers claims. By Brian Straus for Sports Illustrated.

dN

LOS LOONS

The head coach talks about being way ahead of last year at this time and what he expected of his players from the start. By Andy Greder for the St Paul Pioneer Press.

Rasmus Schuller returns from a loan to Finland. By Andy Greder for the St Paul Pioneer Press.

Its time to learn what draft pick Mason Toye is all about. BY Andre Kimo Stone Guess for the Undefeated.

Off Season Signings:

• Harrison Heath
• Tyrone Mears
• Frantz Pangop
• Mason Toye
• Matt Lampson

Unsigned Draft Picks:

• Wyatt Omsberg
• Carter Manley
• Xavier Gomez

Trying Out:

• Shae Bottum
• Christian Volesky

Former Loon Kevin Venegas has signed with Indy Eleven in USL.

dN

MLS

Highlights of a conversation with commissioner Don Garber. By Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated.

What are the underlying factors in players like Lee Nguyen wanting OUT of the New England Revolution? By Jeff Carlisle for ESPNFC.

Houston has sold under performing forward Cubo Torres to Pumas in Liga MX.

Montreal has sold 18 year old attacking midfielder Ballou Tabla (from their academy) to Barcelona.

LAFC has signed MLS veteran right Steven Beitashour from Toronto, and 24 year old Honduran goalkeeper Luis Lopez from Real Espana.

dN

USMNT JANUARY CAMP

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

dN

USL

The talk of USL announcing its own subdivision league, a 3rd division status league, continues to build, with USL no longer denying its arrival is coming soon and with a probable 2019 start date.

dN

NASL

with the NASL all but gone and the New York Cosmos nowhere to play this year their players are left in chaos. One player Danny Szetela feels particularly stuck in a bad place. By Michael Lewis for Front Row Soccer.

dN

AMERICANS ABROAD

Schalke exec Bodo Menze talks specifically about the 3 young Americans at the club, Weston McKennie, Nick Taitague and Haji Wright, and the clubs philosophy toward youth. By Mike Woitalla for Soccer America.

dN

EUROPE

Jose Mourinho signed a new 3 year contract extension at Manchester United.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Sat Jan 27
Bayern v Hoffenheim
Dortmund v Freiburg
Chievo v Juventus
Leipzig v Hamburg
PSG v Montpellier
Valencia v Real Madrid
Stuttgart v Schalke
-Sun Jan 28
Atletico Madrid v Las Palmas
Barcelona v Deportivo Alaves
SPAL v Inter
Bordeaux v Lyon
Marseille v Monaco
Milan v Lazio
Napoli v Bologna
Roma v Sampdoria



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 24, 2018

It's Day 24 of 2018.


Mark E Smith
Leader of The Fall
Brilliant/Obnoxious Musical Anti-Hero has died
RIP Marquis Cha Cha

I was at a party in 1984. The stereo was blasting Footloose, U2, Springsteen, Huey Lewis or some such shit. My friend Nick, who was a huge fan of The Fall, marched across the room, stopped the music, pulled a cassette out of his pocket, jammed it into the stereo, hit play and turned it all the way up. It was Repetition by The Fall. Full blast. People were terrified. Before that day I thought The Fall were awful. After that day I knew they were brilliant.

• Repetition

dN

If one more person tries to tell me that Jonathan Gonzalez fell through the cracks I am going to lose it. Yes, some people screwed up and he decided to play for Mexico at the senior level. But he has been playing for the US Youth teams since he was 13. He was identified very young. It just didn't work out.

dN

LOS LOONS

How is it going so far? By Megan Ryan for the Star Tribune.
-Honestly though, there is nothing here.

dN

MLS

A conversation with commissioner Don Garber. And other stuff. [VIDEO] By Grant Wahl and Luis Miguel Echegaray for Sports Illustrated.

Lee Nguyen has said he will not report to training camp with New England. He wants to be traded. The team says no chance. Stalemate.

Salt Lake has resigned goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

dN

AMERICANS ABROAD

Kenny Saief scored a late tying goal for Anderlecht at Waasland-Beveren today. 2-2 was the final. He went the full 90 and had a second goal late in stoppage time waved off.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

Schedule/Results:
-Wed Jan 24
Sampdoria 1-1 Roma



The Bird Is The Word

Some Soccer News for Jan 23, 2018

It's Day 23 of 2018.


Former FIFA World Player Of The Year George Weah was sworn in as president of Liberia yesterday.

dN

Freddy Adu is getting a try out with USL team Las Vegas Lights.

dN

North America bid for 2026 World Cup has every conceivable amenity ready to go. The other bidder Morocco doesn't have Trump. The fact that its a race at all is worrisome. By Rob Harris for the Associated Press.

dN

LOS LOONS

Practice begins for 2018. By Megan Ryan for the Star Tribune.

Currently in camp:

• 21 roster players
• 4 draft picks
• 1 try out

Not there:

• 2 missing
• 1 on loan
• 1 in the ether

Off Season Signings:

• Harrison Heath
• Tyrone Mears
• Frantz Pangop
• Mason Toye
• Matt Lampson

The 1 player getting a tryout so far is 6'2" forward Shae Bottum from local 3rd Division college St Thomas.

Former Minnesota player Ishmaila Jome is getting a try out with the New York Red Bulls. Good luck to him.

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MLS

Michael Bradley looks at Toronto FC 2016, 17 and 18 and thinks they can keep getting better. By Kurt Larson for Toronto Sun.

• There is also some USMNT talk at the end of the article.

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CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The New York Red Bulls see nothing but chaos and confusion surrounding the 1st Leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals series against Olimpia of Tegucigalpa Honduras. Safety and stadium bans makes the location of that first game a mystery at this time. And this article is so damn confusing. By Austin Fido for Once A Metro.

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BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPE'S 5 TOP LEAGUES

One week after knocking Manchester City from the ranks of the unbeaten Liverpool loses to Swansea. And that is why they are so far away from winning the league championship. (Currently 18 points below Man City.)

Schedule/Results:
-Mon Jan 22
Juventus 1-0 Genoa
Swansea 1-0 Liverpool

-Wed Jan 24
Sampdoria v Roma



The Bird Is The Word