US Soccer Players

Johnson Joins Seattle

United States National Team forward Eddie Johnson spent a short time as a member of the Montreal Impact on Friday afternoon, before becoming a member of the Seattle Sounders. Johnson went through the returning National Team player allocation process, with Montreal selecting him with their first pick.  The Impact then traded him for Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito. 

“It’s always difficult to part ways with two quality individuals who have contributed greatly to the success of our first three years,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said in a press statement. “We saw this as a unique opportunity to bring a player in with World Cup experience who can help us in our quest to win the MLS Cup.”

U-20's In Camp

The United States Under-20 National Team will be in camp from February 20th through March 3rd in Florida, the US Soccer Federation announced on Friday.  Head coach Tab Ramos has called in 26 players, with ten playing professionally.  

Upside: Rapids Tune Up

Their Words

“We have been spending a lot of time on our defensive shape and with the middle of the field, trying to get the ideas with them. Offensively, that’s going to be something we’ll be working on the next coming days.” Colorado Rapids coach Oscar Pareja.

Other Sources

Rehabbing Gonzalez is patient - from ESPN LA's Scott French: David Beckham agrees with the approach.

'If they need me I don't think I could say no' - Thierry Henry admits he would return for third Arsenal spell - from Goal.com's Jay Jaffa: "To me it was a win-win situation."

Short-Term Loans

By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Feb 17, 2011) US Soccer Players -- If you're an American soccer fan, we can add the debate about the Major League Soccer schedule to a list of absolutes that includes items like single-entity and the quality of officiating.  Fans and pundits alike want to offer critiques, alternatives, and defenses.  It's the MLS version of a hot stove league, filling the offseason months with something to talk about.  As 2011 moved into 2012, it was the schedule taking priority in MLS.

Some believe a move to the traditional European calendar would lend legitimacy to the League and give a boost to player fitness.  Others don't understand why any North American sports league thinks it needs to schedule for so many months out of the year.  MLS triggered even more debate and conversation by announcing they would start in March and end in December, leaving only January and February without an MLS game that counts.  It's still not the August-to-May standard of Europe, but it's a lot of soccer spread out over the longest schedule in North American professional team sports. 

Weekend TV: Fifth Round

Saturday

Everton - Blackpool
9:30am - Fox Soccer

Landon Donovan's last game for Everton, with their schedule empty for the rest of the month after their Premier League game against Liverpool was postponed. Relegated from the Premier League last season, Blackpool are currently 4th in the Championship. They beat Sheffield Wednesday in a Fourth Round replay. As American soccer fans are well aware, Everton advanced past Clint Dempsey's Fulham. Donovan is listed as doubtful with flu-like symptoms.

Also in the FA Cup, Fox Soccer has Sunderland - Arsenal at 12pm. On Fox Soccer Plus: Chelsea - Birmingham at 7:30am, Millwall - Bolton at 10am, and Norwich - Leicester at noon.

Donovan Credits Moyes

US National Team midfielder Landon Donovan has nothing but good things to say about Everton manager David Moyes as Donovan's loan comes to an end.  In an interview with evertonTV, Donovan said Moyes's strength is his directness.

“The best thing about him is that he doesn’t beat around the bush. If we have played well, he tells us, and if we have played badly he will tell us. If I’ve played well he will tell me, while if I haven’t and I need to do things differently, he will tell me. There has never been a time when I have taken things personally. He just has that way about him where you respect him and it has been an absolute pleasure to play for him.”

Current Events

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 17, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The Friday before a federal holiday, I thought I'd update some recent stories and include some reader responses.

FIFA's Rules

Picking up on a February 1st article on the proposed change to the substitution rules so teams could use a fourth substitute in over time, it's always worth considering the schedule when discussing changes to the laws of the game.  The International Football Association Board doesn't meet until March 3rd, and like a lot of things caught in the flow of world soccer news this story only received limited attention following FIFA's press release. 

Europa: AZ And Hannover Win

In a meeting of National Teamers at the AFAS Stadion, Jozy Altidore's AZ got the better of Sacha Kljestan's Anderlecht with a 1-0 win in the opening leg of their Round of 32 series.  Adam Maher scored the game's only goal in the 35th minute.  Kljestan started, with Altidore subbing on in the 76th minute.

Steve Cherundolo started and played 76 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-1 win over Club Brugge.  It was Brugge taking the lead on the road in the 51st minute, but Hannover got an equalizer from Artur Sobiech in the 73rd five minutes after he subbed into the game.  Sobiech would also setup the winner, drawing a penalty that was converted by Jan Schlaudraff in the 81st minute.  Cherundolo was yellow carded in the 71st minute, one of nine players to end up in the referee's book. 

Johnson Signs With MLS

United States National Team player Eddie Johnson has signed with Major League Soccer, the League announced on Thursday.  Johnson will be allocated to a club on Friday, with Montreal holding the top allocation slot. 

Friday's TV

Several games on the schedule today, starting with Inter Milan - Bologna on Fox Soccer at 2:30pm.  Fox Soccer Plus has Reading - Burnley in England's Championship at 3pm.  Primera Division on Galavision: U.A.G. - Atlante at 9pm.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Arsenal

Their Words

“We have another game and the only thing we can do is show our pride and give 100 per cent. That is what we have to do." Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen.

Other Sources

How busy schedules affect lineups - from MLSsoccer.com's Elijah Miller: Before 2011, no season had seen more than four teams hit that mark.

Impact's MLS future is bright - from The Montreal Gazette's Randy Phillips: "But this is a hard business," Garber continued.

Porter Calls In 23 For Camp

United States Under-23 National Team coach Caleb Porter named 23 players to the roster for the 10-day training camp and March 29th friendly against Mexico in Frisco, TX.

“I think Mexico is going to be about as close to a qualifying atmosphere as we can possibly get,” Porter said. “We’re going to have, for the most part, our entire group together for the first time.  The No. 1 priority in this camp is to see our guys in games and to build a little bit of that rhythm by playing multiple games in a short amount of time,” Porter said. “Everything is geared toward the Mexico game, but we want to get a couple of games early in the week to get guys minutes so we can look at everybody to help with those final roster decisions leading into qualifying.”

Questions: Roster, Ring, 442, Chievo, MLS

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Feb 16, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Tony looks at key roster-building and Champions League dates, notes a worthy honor for CJ Brown, questions how San Jose is going to get their attacking talent on the field, and wonders if Michael Bradley's Chievo can score enough to keep themselves up.

When do MLS teams have to be in compliance with roster and salary limits?

March 1st, followed the next day by the Waiver Draft. July 1^st is when “semi-guaranteed” contracts become guaranteed. Essentially what this means is roster adjustments (read cuts) over the next two weeks as teams, particularly Champions League teams, get ready for their first games.

Ching Back With Houston

Brian Ching is once again a member of the Houston Dynamo, with the club completing a trade with Montreal.  In return, the Impact get a conditional draft pick.  Ching was left unprotected in the expansion draft, where he was selected first overall after publicly saying he wouldn't play for Montreal.  He later agreed to join the club and was with them in training camp. 

“I am very happy to have Brian back with the team,” Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said in a press release. “This is a very important year for the Dynamo, and if anyone deserves to be involved with the team, it’s Brian.”

Arsenal And The Long Game

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 16, 2012) US Soccer Players -- England's cult of the manager took another hit yesterday.  Arsenal had no response against Milan, the latest Premier League club to make things very difficult for themselves in the Champions League.  If the story of the 2011-12 season is the major English clubs underperforming, Arsenal is the latest example.   

"You could say that the crisis at the moment in England is a bit like fire. It moves very quickly from one club to another," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told his club's official site earlier this week.  "It's like a fire with strong wind so you have to be a bit cautious because it can quickly come back. The wind can blow it back!"

Thursday's TV: Europa

Europa League on GolTV: Lazio - Atletico Madrid at 1pm, Stoke City - Valencia at 3pm, and Ajax - Manchester United at 5pm.  The last one is probably of most interest to US fans, with both teams usually associated with the Champions League.  Copa Libertadores on Fox Deportes: Nacional - Libertad at 5pm and Godoy Cruz - Penarol at 7:30pm.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Everton's Improvement

Their Words

"There was a point in January where no-one was happy with the way we were playing but that changed and in the last few weeks it's been a lot more fun to be a part of." Everton player of the month Landon Donovan. 

Other Sources

Philly native Albright at home with Union - from The Philadelphia Daily News's Frank Bertucci: "It's been a dream of mine to come home and play," he said.

Time to embrace the enemy - from The Press-Enterprise's Luis Bueno: “Who would have thought?” Vagenas said about the unlikely partnership.

Changing The Game In Philadelphia

By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 15, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Consider all that’s happened.  The departure of the team’s top goalkeeper, the trading of the team’s biggest star, and the (understandable) angry reaction on the part of a new and still-solidifying fan base.  That's the reality for the Philadelphia Union, something no one outside of their front office should've seen coming. 

With that in mind, Philadelphia CEO Nick Sakiewicz was almost obligated to write an open letter to his club’s faithful fans attempting to explain why this off-season has been so tumultuous. Whether his explanation - thick as it was with the code words for “rebuilding” and “we’re not going to spend a lot” -satisfies the fans is still an open question.  The Union need to show their series of controversial and confounding moves worked. That means they have to win.

Video: USA - Scotland History

Highlights from the May 26th, 1996 friendly between the United States and Scotland, courtesy of US Soccer Communications.  The USA will host Scotland on May 26th, 2012.

USA Announces Two Florida Games

The United States will play Scotland on May 26th in Jacksonville and open World Cup Qualifying on June 8th in Tampa, the US Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday.  NBC Sports Network will show the May 26th game at 8pm ET with the June 8th World Cup Qualifier on ESPN at 7pm ET.  Check USSoccer.com for ticket information.

"Our focus since last summer has been to prepare this team for World Cup qualifying, and we are thrilled that we can start the process in Tampa," US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "It's critical that we start qualifying off on the right foot, so to be in a place where the team has had such great support is a huge positive for us. The players always talk about how great the surface is at Raymond James Stadium, so overall we think it is the ideal venue."