Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 33

News and Views

The MLS Goal of the Decade nominees are down to five. My personal favorites are McBride's goal in '96, and Ruiz's goal in '05. What on earth is Rosario's goal doing in there? Sure, he made it from outside of the box, which, believe me, takes both skill and luck. And while it may be good enough to make it into, say, the top 25, I don't think it deserves to be in the top 5. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think that it exhibits particularly good teamwork, skill, a spetacular shot, determination, or luck. In short, it has none of what I consider to be the defining characteristics of a good goal.
Five finalists remain on top goal ballot
McBride Up for Goal of the Decade

FC Dallas Announces European Leg of Preseason Schedule

Edited for clarification.

News and Views

The Goal of the Decade nominees have been narrowed down to 10. Go vote.

Totti's injury may boost U.S. at Cup Rusnak believes that Totti's recent injury may very well boost the US's chances in getting out of group play this summer. Whether or not that is true (in my opinion, probably not), I disagree with the statement on the grounds that it is cruel to delight in someone else's injury. Rusnak also references a recent episode of The O'Reilly Factor, in which Drew Carey showed support for the USMNT.

1836 tumble to Real Salt Lake Am I the only one who thinks that the Clash's/Earthquakes'/1836's recent move is going to hurt them for at least the beginning of the season this year?

Canero chooses America

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 34

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 35

We are precisely 7 weeks away from the beginning of the 2006 season, and the drama has already begun. This off season may have started off slow, but it wasn't slow for long. Anyone else remember back when nothing ever happened during the off season? Either more is happening now, or the media is simply doing a better job of reporting on it.

News and Views

Time to embrace this thing they call soccer I saw this linked to on Mike's site. People have been making these kinds of claims for years. Would I love for soccer to become #1 in the US? Yes. Do I think it will happen anytime soon? I hope so, but only time will tell.

You may have noticed that I have yet to weigh in on the racist allegations against Nowak. That is because I do not know enough about the situation and am waiting for what I hope are the results of an insightful, objective investigation on the part of MLS. Besides, D has already written some good stuff on the situation.

Robertson a cozy home for 1836 Um, what happened to the name change?
Houston 1836 fans to pick their seats See previous comment.

Arena selections for Poland game gives hints of World Cup roster

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 36

News and Views

Beckenbauer pays visit to MLS office Beckenbauer met with Commissioner Don Garber and conducted exclusive interviews with ABC that will be used during World Cup broadcasts this summer. Here's to hoping that there will actually be decent network coverage of the World Cup in the US this year. Granted, it has gotten better over the years, but I am still disappointed in the lack of major network coverage of World Cup, MLS, and soccer in general.

Anticipation surrounds FC Dallas

FCD's Ruiz grants wish for teenager

Four Trialists To Join Crew In Cyprus

Galaxy, Saprissa battle to 0-0 draw

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 37

Young players and the MNT

Teen phenoms need plenty of guidance Major League Soccer, in contrast to other U.S. pro sports leagues, has no age minimum. That's because it fears losing American players to leagues overseas. "Unlike the NBA and the NFL, we aren't the dominant player in the world market," said Ivan Gazidis, MLS' deputy commissioner. "We're a relatively small player. Around the world players are signed young. Most don't go to college. For us to set regulations would simply mean young kids dead set on being pro would sign with overseas clubs." It all comes down to economics - if they can't sign here, they'll sign elsewhere. This reminds me of what happened back when MLS iniated Project-40. Their rationale was to build up a strong base of young players. I found it interesting that MLS had to rationalize their choice in the media, by saying much of the same things: players overseas sign young, and few of them go to college, much less play there. Things certainly have not changed!

MLS players called in vs. Poland

News and Views

Expansion Sweepstakes - Round 3 This article provides a rundown of 6 cities (Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and San Diego) with hopes of obtaining an MLS team. I'm not sure if Cleveland has the fan base necessary to sustain an MLS team. Football yes, basketball yes, baseball yes. But soccer? Maybe yes, but maybe no; like the author says, if they do show up at Browns Stadium for a US World Cup warmup match, then they'll have every chance to give Columbus a derby partner. However, if Cleveland does get a team, they better also get a good soccer-specific stadium. Browns stadium may be relatively new, but it is still an American football stadium. However, if they do get a team, it would provide an intense intra-state rivalry, with Columbus being an easy 4-hour or so drive away. As for St. Louis, I think they probably have a fan base sufficient to sustain an MLS team. Between Cleveland and St. Louis, St. Louis probably has better chances of getting an MLS team. Again, this would open the door for yet another intra-state rivalry. Rivalries make matches more exciting, and I don't think that anyone would disagree that MLS needs all the excitement and intensity that it can get.

Chivas USA yet to settle on captain Here's to hoping that Bradley can get the team in shape to do well this year.

Pope quite a star, but quietly

No triangle in Bermuda: Revolution forced to realign defense

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 42

Countdown '06

Days until the kickoff of the '06 season: 46

News and Views

MLS won't slow down during the World Cup It's more likely most armchair fans will opt to watch as many as three World Cup games a day on free TV and forget MLS for the duration. MLS is already virtually the only "major" soccer league in the world that insists upon relentlessly plunging on for the duration of the World Cup. Hmm, that's what I have been saying for years. I think I've finally accepted that MLS will continue as it always has during Germany, but that doesn't mean that I'm actually going to watch anything but the World Cup. Come on. Watch the best players in the best countries in the world duke it out on the world stage, or watch MLS. That's a pretty easy choice for me.

As for the whole Freddy wanting to go to Chelsea thing (interesting how, in the context of soccer, we can merely say "Freddy" and still know precisely who we mean), is he kidding himself? He is hardly a regular starter for DC and is not looking like a very likely candidate for Germany, and he thinks that he can make it in Chelsea? Perhaps he will in a few years, after he has had more playing time and a chance to develop his skills, but now? I don't think so.

Manchester United Won't Sign Adu "We are not interested in Freddy Adu," Ferguson told Manchester United TV on Monday. "We have watched him as a youngster, but there is no interest in him at the moment." Ah, there certainly is nothing quite like stating the obvious.

Real Salt Lake falls 1-0 to the Crew Maybe this is a foreshadowing of things to come? We can only hope so.

Have you voted for the Goal of the Decade yet? Next week the finalists will be narrowed down to 10.

The Clean Sheet: Long time, no chat This is Palace's first article in some months; he kind of recaps his opinions of the last several months.

Florida notes: United keeping busy

Chivas USA plan goals within reason

Guevara's repentance most likely a mirage

Wizards’ deal a blockbuster

Denial

I think I'm in denial about Sunday, hence my decision to write this post. I need a little "soccer fix" to get me through Super Bowl weekend.

Schmid has high hopes for Crew trio First sentence of the article: Since the Columbus Crew ended their disappointing 2005 campaign, much of the talk has focused on change. There's nothing quite like stating the obvious. Here's to hoping that the changes will be effective in, well, changing the Crew's performance this coming season. In my opinion, Shmid will be good for the Crew this year (take that for what it's worth - I am certainly not perfect when it comes to predictions!).

Crew GM McCullers ready for season

Adu, Ralston released from U.S. camp I'll admit that Adu isn't a bad player. In fact, he's pretty good. However, he isn't the best player in the US soccer right now, and I frankly sometimes get a bit tired of all the publicity surrounding him.

Notes: Cup hopefuls build cases for making U.S. team

Veteran advice for Rapids hopefuls

Dempsey's play opens U.S. eyes