By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Jan 26, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Thursday's Questions, and Tony finds proof of the smartest coach in MLS, wonders how Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City are doing, and would like to see MLS have things lined up before they make announcements.
Will Jurgen Klinsmann's focus on fitness during the January camp help the MLS players in camp during the first part of the long season?
“I don't know if everybody expected how much fitness we actually did,” said Benny Feilhaber to ESPN.com. After last night's game, the players are back to their clubs to prepare for the opening of the Major League Soccer season in about six weeks. That's a long time to maintain an extra physical and mental edge, but it will be interesting to see if those players in camp get off to good starts to the season.
When is an all-star game not an all-star game?
When you don't announce the opponent or format. While it's admirable that the MLS wants to reward teams for having their own stadium, having a press conference and saying “We're hoping to know something soon, within 60 days,” as Commissioner Garber did, is silly, at best. The other issue is, if MLS is interested in landing a Manchester United-type of opponent, a (relatively) small stadium isn't a selling point, although there's always room for negotiation as part of a multi-game series.
Who is the smartest coach in MLS?
Hans Backe, for not being available to wear those ever-so-'90s scarves in that photo at the top of the page. You can't see it in that picture, but in this one you see that Peter Nowak is wearing his team's shirt sponsor on his collars.
With George John signing on loan for West Ham United, how are those negotiations for United to take over the London Olympic Stadium going?
Not so well. To the shock of everyone, the last bidding process was thrown out and a new one process begun. West Ham are said to be “frustrated” by the lack of specifics from the Olympic Park Legacy Committee.
Since they were eliminated from Europe, how have Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City been doing?
Undefeated in their last six, with an incredible goal difference of plus 13 in those games. City sits in the last playoff spot in the Championship, with 43 points. Spector has been a regular, with 22 starts and more than 1800 minutes played.
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