A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Monday September 6, 2010

• Houston Dynamo V San Jose Earthquakes – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Dynamo’s playoff hopes slim after loss to Earthquakes
  Houston Chronicle
• Geovanni leads San Jose Earthquakes past Houston Dynamo
  San Jose Mercury News
• Buzz is building surrounding the Wizards
  Kansas City Star
• Once again, TFC struggling to make playoffs
  Toronto Sun
• Win may sound offensive surge
  Boston Globe
• MLS Designated Player Dissection: Absences Highlight Flaws In MLS Schedule
  Goal.com
• MLS Week 23: Labor Day Weekend Edition
  U.S. National Soccer Players.com
• Atlanta continues pursuit of World Cup matches
  Atlanta Journal Constitution

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Sunday September 5, 2010

• Dynamo’s Kinnear calls Quakes’ Yallop most influential
  Houston Chronicle
• San Jose Earthquakes hope Brazilian forwards can lift offense
  San Jose Mercury News
• Philadelphia Union V Kansas City Wizards – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Tie with Kansas City puts Union goalkeeper’s future in doubt
  Philly.com
• Arnaud’s goal sends Wizards home with a 1-1 draw against Philadelphia
  Kansas City Star
• Chicago Fire V Los Angeles Galaxy – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Galaxy salvages draw with Fire off Gonzalez header
  Daily Herald
• Galaxy gets late goal to salvage 1-1 tie with Chicago
  Los Angeles Times
• D.C. United V Columbus Crew – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Mistake by young goalie leads to 1-0 victory by Columbus Crew over D.C. United
  Washington Post
• Crew 1, United 0
  Columbus Dispatch
• New England Revolution V Seattle Sounders F.C.- Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Revs rally snaps skid
  Boston Herald
• Sounders FC 1, New England Revs 3, team recap & box
  The Seattle Times
• Colorado Rapids V Chivas USA – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Cummings brace leads way in 3-0 win
  Colorado Soccer Now.Com
• Chivas USA can’t stop Colorado attack, lose to Rapids
  Los Angeles Daily News
• F.C. Dallas V Toronto F.C – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• FC Dallas extends club-record winning streak to 13 games
  Dallas Morning News
• TFC fall in uninspiring fashion
  Toronto Sun
• Real Salt Lake V Red Bull New York – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Rimando gets help in shutout
  The Salt Lake Tribune
• Red Bulls come up short at champion RSL
  New York Post

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Saturday September 4, 2010

• For Union, no questioning value of veteran leadership
  Philly.com
• Shavar Thomas could get last laugh over Philadelphia Union
  The Kansas City Star
• Nyarko must play leading role for Fire vs. Galaxy
  Chicago Sun-Times
• Last kicks for McBride
  Chicago Sun-Times
• Up next for Galaxy: Saturday at Chicago
  Los Angeles Times
• D.C. vs. Columbus
  CBS Sports.com
• D.C. United – Columbus Crew: Head To Head Preview
  Goal.com
• Revolution being cut to quick
  Boston Globe
• Weary Sounders ready for next test
  The Seattle Times
• FC Dallas’ faces Toronto with Brek Shea in fine form
  Dallas Morning News
• TFC confident heading into Dallas
  Toronto Sun
• Real Salt Lake chasing MLS history against Red Bulls
  Desert News.com
• Red Bulls face test vs. Salt Lake
  New York Post
• Rapids not taking Chivas for granted
  The Sports Network.com
• Colorado Rapids – Chivas USA: Head To Head Preview
  Goal.com
• Images of Brian McBride
  Daily Herald
• Brian McBride tribute videos
  Soccer Insider – Washington Post

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Friday September 3, 2010

• David Beckham hopes to return Sept. 11 for Galaxy
  Los Angeles Times
• Beckham hoping to return to MLS action next week
  Reuters Canada
• Galaxy holds on to Donovan
  Soccer America.com
• Freddie’s on Fire
  NBC Chicago
• Young: Hart hoping for a solid start
  Toronto Star
• Style a factor in Revolution’s SuperLiga loss
  Boston Globe
• Real Salt Lake: Star Thierry Henry sings praises of champions RSL
  Deseret News
• GoUSAbid.com reaches 1,000,000 signatures on petition
  The Seattle Times
• Petke: “It was obviously time”
  New York Post
• Red Bulls shorthanded Saturday because of FIFA date
  New York Post
• Timbers reveal MLS jersey sponsor: Alaska Airlines
  SI.com
• D.C. United v Columbus Crew – USOC – Match Highlights
  D.C. United.com

(Note: if the window below does not play within 10 seconds, please click here to listen to the show)

Tonight – We will discuss U.S. Soccer’s decision to retain Bob Bradley, and tell you who the pressure is REALLY on. The US Open Cup Finals are set, we’ll get you caught up on that action, as well as try to come up with things for DC, Chivas and New England to do now that their seasons are over. We’ll also tell you why the biggest news in MLS this week is NOT Thierry Henry scoring his first MLS goal.

Americans abroad have been active, we’ll tell you who’s hot and who’s not. And finally, we’ll try to answer the question: How many points do you need to safely make the playoffs?

(But mostly, we’ll probably be talking Bob Bradley.)

Line up early to weigh in – 877-242-8212 or nationalsoccerradio@gmail.com, tonight at 9pm ET only on Chataboutit.com

You can listen to the show as it happens here – Chat About It. Outside of the US – you can catch the show here – Ustream.tv/chataboutit.

We will discuss U.S. Soccer’s decision to retain Bob Bradley, and tell you who the pressure is REALLY on. The US Open Cup Finals are set, we’ll get you caught up on that action, as well as try to come up with things for DC, Chivas and New England to do now that their seasons are over. We’ll also tell you why the biggest news in MLS this week is NOT Thierry Henry scoring his first MLS goal.

Americans abroad have been active, we’ll tell you who’s hot and who’s not. And finally, we’ll try to answer the question: How many points do you need to safely make the playoffs?

(But mostly, we’ll probably be talking Bob Bradley.)

Line up early to weigh in – 877-242-8212 or nationalsoccerradio@gmail.com, tonight at 9pm ET only on Chataboutit.com

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Thursday September 2, 2010

• New England Revolution V Club Atlético Morelia – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Revolution short of Super
  Boston Herald
• D.C. United falls to Columbus Crew, 2-1, in overtime in U.S. Open Cup semifinals
  Soccer Insider – Washington Post
• Open Cup semifinal: Crew 2, United 1
  Columbus Dispatch
• Seattle Sounders F.C v Chivas USA – Game Wrap Video
  Seattle Sounders FC.com
• Sounders FC in U.S. Open Cup finals
  The Seattle Times
• Chivas USA crashes out of U.S. Open Cup
  100 Percent Soccer
• Philadelphia Union V Chivas de Guadalajara – Match Highlights
  MLS Soccer.com
• Union Blank Chivas in International Friendly
  CSN Philly.com
• FC Dallas Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman Voted MLS Player of the Month for August
  The Seattle Times
• Red Bull stalwart Mike Petke retires
  New York Post
• Soccer: Let’s hear it for Lamar
  Columbus Alive.com
• TFC trio needed for national duty
  The Globe and Mail
• GALAXY NOTEBOOK: L.A. happy to get out of town
  Pasadena Star-News

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Wednesday September 1, 2010

• Bob Bradley’s Return Is Right Move for U.S. Soccer
  New York Times
• US should have a new look for the 2014 World Cup
  Los Angeles Times
• Bob Bradley’s contract, Americans in transition, DC United news, Insider chat
  Soccer Insider – Washington Post
• Bradley set up for more criticism – World Soccer
  Yahoo Sports
• Bob Bradley’s Mistakes, Ghana Loss Don’t Overshadow Four Years Of Success
  FanHouse.com
• Transcript of US Soccer conference call w/ Bob Bradley and Sunil Gulati
  New York Post
• Revs Face Morelia for SuperLiga Title
  Soccer365.com
• Revs represent MLS in final
  Boston Herald
• USOC: East rivals DC, Crew face off in cup semis
  MLS Soccer.com
• Its MLS season in tatters, DC United focuses on winning US Open Cup
  Washington Post
• USOC: Sounders face Goats in all-Western duel
  MLS Soccer.com
• Sounders FC wants to play for U.S. Open Cup title on home field
  The Seattle Times
• Chivas USA travel to Seattle in Open Cup semi
  LA Soccer News.com
• Union to Take on Chivas in Friendly Wednesday
  CSN Philly.com
• Giase: Was Red Bulls’ domination of Earthquakes a sign of things to come?
  The Star-Ledger
• Back home, RSL prepares for Henry, Red Bulls
  The Salt Lake Tribune
• Santos hoping to rejoin TFC
  Toronto Sun
• MLS teams need to play up designated players
  Toronto Sun
• Professional Referees Needed Now
  FOXSports.com
• MLS turns to training clubs’ ticket sales staff
  Reuters

Bradley is glad to be back, but what about U.S. Soccer fans?

As I pulled myself away from the twitter and BigSoccer explosion that greeted the news that Bob Bradley had been retained as the U.S. Men’s National Team coach on Monday, I realized that I felt more uncertain about the future of U.S. Soccer than I did before the announcent. Granted, part of that is probably due to the hyperbolous nature of the websites I just mentioned; yet, even reasonable soccer minds seem to agree that this decision by U.S. Soccer was perplexing at best. And even once we all are still pulling ourselves out of the initial shock of the decision by Sunil Gulati and company, there are some questions that arise from the hiring.

The obvious first question: why did U.S. Soccer wait over two months before re-hiring the same guy? The timing of yesterday’s announcement is brain-boggling – if Bradley was the clear number one choice all along, then why wait until now? Clearly, that question would seem to be merely academic, as reports suggest that U.S. Soccer boss Sunil Gulati met with Jurgen Klinsmann as late as last week.

If Bradley was not the clear number one choice, it would seem logical to ask why U.S. Soccer could not land their first choice candidate. In the grand scheme of things, there are very few teams in world soccer that get their first choice candidate (otherwise they’d all be coached by Jose Mourinho). But if the first choice was in fact Klinsmann, as it was 4 years ago, the abilities of Gulati as the U.S.’s top soccer executive have to be called into question. Unless Klinsmann was being purely unreasonable (which is hard to believe, seeing as how US Soccer reportedly went looking to Klinsmann despite their reported differences the last go ’round), Gulati has to be held accountable for not getting his man.

Gulati has questions to answer

Another question Gulati must answer: What type of search was conducted? Were the only two viable candidates again Bradley and Klinsmann? Rumor has it that the reason US Soccer signs it’s coaches through the end of a calendar year – and not through the end of a World Cup – is because the federation wants to have time to make a decision without leaving the program in limbo. While I appreciate the desire to prevent knee-jerk reactions in the aftermath of a World Cup, this built in safety net has allowed the U.S. to be complacent in it’s hiring practices. Instead of looking for candidates immediately after the World Cup, the decision would seem to be pushed off to a later date. Meanwhile, top managers were swapped and traded in preperation for various club seasons and Euro 2012 qualifying runs. If the U.S. could truly only manage a talent pool that consisted of the same two candidates as last time, it is again a fault of Gulati, who will come under increased scrutiny for his handling of this situation.

Then of course comes the question of how Bob Bradley himself feels about the situation? Sure he’s glad to have a job in this economy – who isn’t? But I have to imagine the conference call today at noon EST will feel more like a couple reconciling than a couple announcing their engagement.  (*Update – yeah pretty much…)

Another important factor to consider – What message does this send to the two camps in the player pool? From my completely non-locker room view, there are two divisions in the U.S. Men’s National Team – the established veterans, some of which are at an age that they will see diminished or non-existent playing roles in 2014. Guys like Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, DeMarcus Beasley, Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu, and Ricardo Clark: all will be probably not be as big of a part of the proceedings in 4 years time. You could even throw Landon Donovan into that camp, though most would argue that if anyone of that group would be likely to maintain their 2010-level duties, it would be Donovan.

Still, this group of aging veterans will likely be losing playing time to the next young core of U.S. Soccer stars. While Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu seem to be the established leaders of this group, the crop of midfielders is bolstered by Americans abroad such as Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, and Alejanro Bedoya, who will be working to be starters on that 2014 team. Young bucks like Omar Gonzalez and Gale Agbossoumonde are licking their chops at a chance to push into the starters roles in central defense, while a group of forwards including MLS prospects Tristan Bowen, Jack McInerney, Juan Agudelo, and Omar Salgado will have to be on the radar, if not in the first team, in 2014.

Even the most novice U.S. Soccer fan could probably rattle off the weaknesses of the current U.S. side – slow central defense that seem to be prone to catastrophic mental lapses early in games, and zero goals from the forwards in two World Cups and counting. Naturally, the forward prospects’ playing time will be largely influenced by how well Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore progress between now and then; that question is one that Bob Bradley must be quick to answer. And as for central defense? As was the case with Bradley’s best forward option (Davies), a near-career ending injury to arguably the U.S.’s best central defender did not help Bradley. But the fact that the backup plan largely seemed to be “cross our fingers and hope that both of them recover” isn’t instilling many fans with confidence.

The gleaming bright spot for the U.S. at the 2010 World Cup was the solid play from the midfield, which was the most pressing need coming out of the 2006 World Cup. One reason for that quality is that Bradley was largely able to wield a scalpel on a player pool that had become a little old and soft in midfield. Will he be able to do the same with the forward and fullback spots, given that he has now gone through a World Cup cycle with these players? Or will Bradley go back to his established, comfortable picks deep into this cycle, as Bruce Arena did in 2006?

Sadly, however Bradley approaches it, the initial reaction from the “old guard players” is probably that of relief. One has to think that hiring a new coach would bring with it an increased sense of pressure for young and old players alike, and an optimism that everyone’s slate would start fresh. Does the Bradley hiring send that message to the players? I have to think it decidedly does not.

Most U.S. Soccer fans would have to admit that it is nice to finally get the coaching question put to rest, whether or not they are happy with the decision. But while Bradley’s contract renewal answers one question, it raises quite a few more.

A quick one stop shop for news stories on Major League Soccer and the World’s Game in America:

Tuesday August 31, 2010

• Bob Bradley’s contract as U.S. soccer coach extended through 2014
  Soccer Insider – Washington Post
• U.S. Soccer extends Bradley to 2014
  New York Post
• Bradley Receives Four Year Extension
  Yanks Abroad.com
• U.S. Soccer Gives Bradley Four-Year Extension
  New York Times
• Bob Bradley to remain U.S. men’s soccer coach
  Los Angeles Times
• Six reasons Bob Bradley is right choice
  ESPN Soccernet
• Fredy Montero named Player of the Week
  Soccer By Ives.net
• Hannover signs US midfielder DaMarcus Beasley
  Boston Herald
• Sounders Sanna Nyassi called home to Gambia
  HeraldNet.com
• NSR: Wizards coach arrested for DUI
  Kansas City Star