US Soccer Players

Friday's TV

No games today.

American Soccer's 10 Greatest Moments Of The 00's

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Dec 31st, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- With only a few hours left before we bid adieu to the first decade of the 21st century, there’s no better time to detail the top 10 moments involving the US National Team and American soccer as a whole over the last ten years. 

This decade has been littered with US triumphs (mostly against Mexico), the heralded arrival (and subsequent dissatisfaction) of David Beckham and the overall team expansion and popularity growth of Major League Soccer.  

Here are the 10 moments that helped define the decade (in order in which they occurred): 

Dilly Duka: "You Have To Have A Name"

By Stefan Bondy - NEW YORK, NY (Dec 31st, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Dilly Duka admits he was a nobody, a mere blade of grass on a global soccer field. There was no prodigious upraising for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, no golden ticket from Bradenton or overseas. Only followers of Rutgers or New Jersey high school soccer would have heard of Duka until last year, when he ascended from obscurity to become one of America's top prospects.

Duka earned his status the hard way, the unlikely way -- through public schools, local club teams and opportune brilliance on the field. His skill was on display at the U-20 World Cup in September, when Duka completed his transformation from also-ran to blue-chip.

"You get your chance and you have to take advantage of it," Duka says. "That's what I did." 

Johnson Joins Aris On Loan

Fulham forward Eddie Johnson will be spending the rest of the season with Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League.  Fulham announced the move on Thursday.  Johnson, who spent last season on loan with Cardiff City in the English Championship, has been struggling for playing time in the Premier League.  He has three appearances for Fulham this season with one start. 

American Abroad: Not Involved For Rangers

In our lone American Abroad game on Wednesday, DaMarcus Beasley wasn't in the squad and Maurice Edu was on the bench for Rangers 7-1 demolition of Dundee United.  Kris Boyd already had a hat-trick when Damian Casalinuovo scored United's only goal just after halftime.  Kenny Miller was sent off in the 51st-minute, reducing Rangers to ten men.  That didn't matter, with Steven Whittaker scoring in the 68th-minute and Boyd adding two more in the 75th and 80th.  Madjid Bougherra finished off the onslaught of goals in the 85th-minute. 

Thursday's TV

No games today.

Expectations In Toronto

With J Hutcherson -- Per yesterday's Daily, Toronto is also on the list for the quick turnaround. To call Toronto ambitious in the run-up to their fourth season is fair. They have the biggest day-to-day media presence of any team in Major League Soccer, a true national soccer stadium now that sharing with the Canadian Football League is off the table, and a strong fan base with growing expectations. They've also got yet another head coach.

This time it's Preki, who recently departed Chivas USA. Of all the disappointments over the course of the '09 season, Chivas USA was the biggest. Before you offer up alternatives for that title, consider that they were the team that went ten straight games across multiple competitions without a win.

Two Games In England - Adu Loan Ends

Brad Friedel was in goal as Aston Villa lost at home 1- to Liverpool.  Fernando Torres had the game's only goal in 93rd-minute.  Brad Guzan was on the bench for Villa, sixth in the Premier League with 35 points from 20 games played.  "We will fight back," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said.  "Make no mistake.  It is a blow to us but in terms of confidence shaking - absolutely not. Steadfast, we will go again. We will start again on Saturday."

In Bolton, Jozy Altidore got the start in the 2-2 draw, exiting in the 55th minute with Hull trailing 2-0.  Stephen Hunt was Hull's hero, scoring in the 71st and 78th-minutes to split the points.  Hull remain in the relegation zone in 20th-place on 18 points.  Bolton are one place ahead and level on points, but with 18 games played to Hull's 20.  Hull's -22 goal differential is the worst in the Premier League. 

Wednesday's TV

EPL on Fox Soccer Channel: Portsmouth - Arsenal at 2:30pm. On Setanta: Manchester United - Wigan at 3pm.  All Times Eastern

MLS And Foreign Coaches

By Michael Lewis - NEW YORK, NY (Dec 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The Major League Soccer landscape is littered with foreign coaches who have yet to deliver on a consistent basis. So, why does new New York Red Bulls sporting director and general manager Erik Soler reportedly want to hire someone from Europe?

With the Red Bulls set to open up their jewel of a soccer stadium, Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, NJ in 2010, they want to make as big a splash as possible. And why not with a big name coach?

Before going any further, we should define a foreign coach, as it pertains to MLS. A foreign coach is someone who has little or no MLS experience or a coaching background in the United States.  That exempts the likes of Steve Nicol, who was an assistant coach with the New England Revolution and with the A-League Boston Bulldogs before he took on the head coaching role, and Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak, who was a standout player with the Chicago Fire.

In the cases of Nicol and Nowak were already around the League long enough to understand the psyche of American players and the complicated rules and regulations of MLS, which are unlike any other league in the World.  Nicol's teams have been to three MLS Cup finals and he is the longest tenured coach with one club (since 2002) in the league’s 14-year history. Nowak's DC United side won the league crown in 2004 before he left to join the US National Team staff. 

Someday there will be a major breakthrough for a foreign coach without that background. Someone from Europe or South America will break the .500 barrier, will go deep in the playoffs on a consistent basis, bring home the Philip F. Anschutz trophy as well.  Even if the League's history suggests otherwise.

The failures are across many nationalities: English, Dutch, Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian, Serbian, and Northern Irish.  Their total record? It's a rather sorry 136-204-41, a .411 winning percentage, never finishing above .500 in a full season, never getting out of the first round of the playoffs (in three tries) and no MLS Cup titles.

Here is a quick look at a dozen foreign coaches in MLS:

Tuesday's Daily: Change At The Top

With J Hutcherson -- DC United might genuinely believe that the hiring of Curt Onalfo as head coach changes everything and quickly. Maybe, but the ever-increasing reality is that it's going to take a lot more to return this club to the only thing that counts in Major League Soccer, winning MLS Cup.

That's almost laughable, considering how easy some teams have made that look over the last two seasons. Barely make the playoffs? Time for a title run. Weakest wild card team in the other Conference's bracket? Go ahead and lift that Cup Real Salt Lake.

Tuesday's TV

EPL on Setanta: Aston Villa - Liverpool at 2:40pm. On Fox Soccer Channel: Bolton - Hull City at 3pm.  All Times Eastern

American Abroad: Monday Fixtures

In a quick turnaround for Americans in England, Tim Howard got the shutout as Everton beat Burnley 2-0.  Burnley went down a man when Stephen Jordan was sent off.  Everton capitalized, with James Vaughan getting their opener in the 83rd and Steven Plenaar scoring in the 90th-minute.

"I'm really pleased we got the three points because they were an important three points," Everton manager David Moyes said. "We probably played better here against Birmingham and we probably played better against Sunderland. I did think we were excellent in the first half especially and created plenty of opportunities but at this moment in time the final pass, the final ball, the finish isn't there."

At Stamford Bridge, Clint Dempsey started and went the full-ninety for Fulham in their 2-1 loss to Chelsea.  Zoltan Gera had Fulham up four minutes in, but Didier Drogba equalized in the 73rd-minute and Chris Smalling put the ball in the back of his own net two minutes later. 

Philadelphia Union: Starting With Tradition... And Mummers

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Dec 28, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The newest MLS franchise, the Philadelphia Union, is gearing up for its inaugural 2010 season.  Inevitably, the club will be measured against the unprecedented success of the Seattle Sounders.  It's a contrast that will start with their opener, when the Union visits Qwest Field to see the Seattle experience first hand on March 25th. 

Seattle is a tough act to follow.  They have it all: top National Team veteran Kasey Keller - check. Designated player Freddie Ljungberg – check. Young international discovery Fredy Montero – check. Flamboyant media savvy owner Drew Carey – check. Downtown stadium Qwest Field – check. Full house of passionate fans – check.

DC Hires Onalfo

Former Kansas City Wizards coach Curt Onalfo has been hired to replace Tommy Soehn at DC United.  Soehn left the club at the end of his contract.  Onalfo was fired by Kansas City on August 3rd. 

“This has been a lengthy process but at the end of it we believe Curt Onalfo will be an outstanding leader for DC United,” DC United president Kevin Payne said. “Our first priority was to find someone who shares the club's long-standing philosophy of attacking soccer - and Curt absolutely does. Having played and coached here, Curt understands the culture of DC United. As a former member of our 1998 and 1999 championship-winning teams, he understands what is necessary today to fulfill the DC United legacy and meet the lofty expectations that follow our club.  His fluency in Spanish, familiarity with our community, and understanding of our league are additional factors that make him the ideal choice to lead our team and I am excited to welcome him home. We look forward to getting to work in bringing the MLS Cup back to DC”

“I am very excited to lead DC United into a new era, building on its storied and successful history,” Onalfo said. “Having already played and served as an assistant coach for the most successful club in MLS history, I understand the expectations that come along with this position. It takes more to be the head coach of United and I fully intend to help bring DC its fifth MLS Cup.”

Monday's Daily: Managing Losses

With J Hutcherson -- For those of you that missed Hull City's game against Manchester United on Sunday, it was pretty much as expected. For all the talk of changes at and near the top of the Premier League table, Hull basically gave us the standard account.

We had the near miss (Seyi Olofinjana in the 28th), the questionable call (United's Patrick Evra should've been sent off), and the mistake (Hull's Andy Dawson putting the ball into the back of his own net in the 73rd). Or, to put it Hull manager Phil Brown's way, all of that and an earlier penalty that wasn't called.

"To get one penalty against Manchester United is a blessing, to get two in the same game I think would be a miracle. But yes, it was a penalty in the first-half."

Monday's TV

EPL on Fox Soccer Channel: Spurs - West Ham United at 7:30am and Blackburn - Sunderland at 10am. On Setanta: Chelsea - Fulham at 10am and Everton - Burnley at noon (10am on Xtra). On ESPN2: Wolves - Manchester City at 2:30pm.  All Times Eastern

American Abroad: Bad Boxing Day

The Boxing Day features in England didn't go the way of the Americans, with only Jonathan Spector's West Ham United winning.  Tim Howard was in goal for Everton, who drew 1-1 against Sunderland.  Clint Dempsey went the full-ninety with Fulham drawing 0-0 with Spurs.  Dempsey hit the crossbar from a freekick and had another opportunity that almost broke the deadlock.  Eddie Johnson wasn't in the squad for Fulham.

Rangers: Edu Returns, Beasley Injured

US National Team midfielder Maurice Edu returned to action for Rangers for the first time this season in their 4-1 win over Hibernian on Sunday.  Edu came on in the 74th-minute.

"I'm obviously delighted to be back in the team and it was nice to get a run out today but what's most important is that we got the win and continued the success we've had in the past couple of weeks," he told the club's official site. "It's always a hard thing when the team is doing well to break in but hopefully I just get some time here and there and gradually work my way back in."

Teammate DaMarcus Beasley's recent run of form as a regular starter for Rangers is hopefully only on a short-term hiatus.  Beasley missed the game with a quadriceps injury that will be diagnosed on Monday. 

Friday's TV

No games today.  Happy holidays everybody.