By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (June 12, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In Tuesday's column, Tony looks at an underrated factor in Vancouver's recent success, follows the return of one of San Jose's most effective attackers, and finds an unlikely coach-of-the-year candidate.
While Gershon Koffie of Vancouver is rightfully being praised for his performance Sunday night against Houston, which Whitecap actually had the most “successful passes” in their victory over Houston?
Left back Alain Rochat, with 61 successful passes, one more than Koffie. Rochat has started Vancouver's last five games, coinciding with the Whitecaps move up the standings. In their last five games, Vancouver has 8 points, which is second in the Western Conference over that span to Salt Lake's 13 points.
When is a loss a win in the Reserve League?
Chivas USA's reserves may have defeated San Jose's reserves 3-1 last Friday, but it's a win for San Jose when winger Shea Salinas goes 90 minutes and scores in his first action since having his clavicle broken by the Red Bull's Rafa Marquez in April.
While it's true that Reserve teams the world over are used to bring first-team players back to fitness, the random schedule of the MLS Reserve League, and the travel needed, work against the idea. Ideally, the League would place Reserve teams in an appropriate USL geographical division, along with competing against other MLS reserve sides.
How many head coaches have Toronto FC had in six seasons?
Lucky number seven. Paul Mariner was appointed head coach on Thursday. Under former Coach Aron Winter, Toronto FC was 7-22-15, with one road victory. Overall, Toronto is 41-76-47 in MLS play.
Who is one MLS coach who probably doesn't have to look over his shoulder?
Columbus' Robert Warzycha. In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch's Adam Jarby, team president Mark McCullers praised the way his coach is handling a team riddled with injuries so far this season.
“I think he’s done a fabulous job,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any way that people can truly understand how difficult it is to have to manage the scenario that he’s managing right now. To get the results that he has gotten and to have some young players step up and perform like they’ve performed? Really, to me, it’s coach-of-the-year stuff.”
Columbus is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference.
When is the next league game the Earthquakes will play at Buck Shaw Stadium?
July 14th against Salt Lake, which is almost two months since their last League home game, May 19th against Columbus. San Jose has a 'home' game at Stanford Stadium on June 30th against the Galaxy, which may draw more than 40,000. This is being marketed as a chance to show what the Quakes can do attendance-wise without the help of a doubleheader but with the help of a halftime show from the same people that did the Vancouver Olympics.
“There are so many intriguing storylines with this match,” Earthquakes president Dave Kaval said. “You have one of the best rivalries in the league in the California Clasico, the fireworks extravaganza, an amazing halftime show and we’re honoring the United State Armed Forces. This game is the sporting event of the summer in the Bay Area.”
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