US Soccer Players

Wednesday's TV

Fox Soccer has an FA Cup Fourth Round replay: Middlesbrough - Sunderland at 3pm.  This is a Northeast derby, so there's that angle.  The original game ended 1-1 at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.  Copa del Rey on GolTV: Barcelona - Valencia at 3pm in the second-leg of their semifinal series.  They drew 1-1 in the opener.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Galaxy

Their Words

“Juninho is not going to be utilized at São Paulo per the coach’s decision and the club is accepting the loan deal for Juninho’s return to Los Angeles to play for the Galaxy,” Sao Paulo spokesperson Felipe Espindola. 

Other Sources

Is salary space an issue for Galaxy? Who knows? - from Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney: The great unknown is, of course, allocation money....

Sounders under the gun to keep pace in the MLS West - from The News Tribune's Don Ruiz: That’s a lot of firepower clustered within the Western Conference of Major League Soccer.

Questions: Convey, Timbers, Beckham, AZ, Quakes

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Peter Vermes' shocking plan to get the most out of Bobby Convey, David Beckham confronts a referee over a red card, and the struggles of Jozy Altidore's AZ Alkmaar.

What is Peter Vermes' (early) plan to get the best out of Bobby Convey?

Putting him closer to the goal. Vermes is playing a 4-3-3, with the newly-acquired Convey on the left side of the forward line. Now, the idea of playing Bobby Convey, a skilled and creative left-footed player, in a position where he can influence the attack might sound odd to Earthquakes fans, but apparently Vermes is willing to consider the idea.

R.I.P. Harry Keough

United States National Team alum, Olympian, National Soccer Hall of Famer, and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Famer Harry Keough passed away on Tuesday morning.  Keough was 84, a member of the 1950 USA World Cup team that beat England.  He was also the architect of the St. Louis University soccer dynasty, leading them to five NCAA championships starting in 1967.  Keough had 17 caps with the National Team.  At a time when the USA rarely played, Keough appeared in every game from his debut in 1949 until his last appearance in a National Team shirt in 1957.   Keough's fellow members of the United States National Team Players Association join the American soccer community in their sadness at hearing of Keough's passing, along with offering their sympathy to his family. 

What Is With New York?

By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The MetroStars/Red Bulls are the most futile Major League Soccer club since the League's inception in 1996.  There is little argument to the contrary.  Nevertheless, the franchise has had a staggering track record when it comes to producing talented players who have gone on to succeed at other clubs and the US National Team.  Some of those players include goalkeeper Tim Howard, defender Tim Ream, midfielder Michael Bradley, and strikers Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo.

When Ream recently secured a transfer to English club Bolton, it was the latest big move by a New York player.  It isn’t that the franchise has a special elixir when it comes to nurturing such talent.  However, the question of why so many Americans who come up through the system in New York and later excelling with other teams is a curious one. 

Here are four theories for why the MetroStars/Red Bulls have been so important to the growth of the American game since 1996:

Tuesday's TV

Fox Soccer Plus has Sheffield Wednesday - Blackpool in an FA Cup Fourth Round replay.  Copa Libertadores on Fox Deportes: Defensor Sporting - Velez Sarsfield at 5pm and Fluminense - Arsenal at 7pm.  For those of you who don't regularly follow the Libertadores, we're starting the Second Stage.  That means eight groups of four teams each with 16 advancing to the knockout stage.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Soccer Shirts

Their Words

"I think our fans will be thrilled with the home kit. We have obviously held meetings with fans about what they wanted - and they have most-certainly got what they asked for, in my opinion. With the away kit, it will be exciting for the club and supporters. There's an ever-changing market and we have to be mindful of our fans but also of trends and fashions." Aston Villa merchandising manager John Greenfield.

Other Sources

The emergence of C.J. Sapong - from ESPN.com's Leander Schaerlaeckens: His size and strength helped him score goals, but it was his skill and soft touch that set him apart.

D.C. United close to lease agreement to continue playing at RFK Stadium - from The Washington Post's Steven Goff: "We obviously awkwardly have not made a formal announcement yet...."

Corner: Advertising Channels

With Fox committed to the Premier League and no longer involved nationally in the business of Major League Soccer, how does an MLS team get involved in what Fox is doing with their live Premier League broadcasts?  After all, it's not as if the show itself is likely to address MLS news. 

Simple, they buy advertising.  That's exactly what DC United did locally during Sunday's Chelsea - Manchester United game, running their new season ticket commercial.  It's also the pragmatic response to getting left out of the Premier League's party. 

Fox Tries Again

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 6, 2012) US Soccer Players -- As halftime came to an end during Sunday's Chelsea - Manchester United broadcast on Fox, studio host Rob Stone fell back on what has become a cliché of getting professional soccer over to a broader audience.  Each and every game is of unquestioned importance.  Stone said that should Chelsea's lead hold, they'd theoretically pull within four points of third-place Spurs (Tottenham plays on Monday).  The response of his co-hosts told the story.  Neither of them said much of anything. 

In fairness to Stone, Fox seems firmly committed to the 'very important people doing very important things' model for their national soccer broadcasts. This is at odds with their attempts at comedy routines for their National Football League coverage, and much closer to how they treat Major League Baseball's postseason.  It's much tougher to do that with a Premier League game in early February. 

National Teamers Abroad: Weather Patterns

Clint Dempsey and Fulham had no luck against Manchester City at a snowy Emirates Stadium, falling 3-0.  City were up from the penalty spot within ten minutes, making it 2-0 from an own-goal.  It was 3-0 in the 72nd, with Joe Hart picking up the shutout. 

"In the second half I think we had more possession," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "That is exactly what you have to do.  Even in the last eight minutes we had two chances. If you keep the ball you can create something but you have to do that from the first minute.'