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Casting Pearls night Captain
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 Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:43 pm
Quote: Persistent Dynamo Finally Secure Soccer-Specific Stadium In HoustonApr 14, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy Anschutz Entertainment Group embarked on its quest to build the Houston Dynamo organization a soccer-specific stadium so long ago memories strain to recall the crusade's exact origins. It wasn't quite four score and seven years ago, but it probably feels like it to Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear and the other lingerers from back in the early Aughts. The journey started before the Golden Boy, before the Dynamo, before Houston 1836, before the arrival in Texas in December 2005 and before AEG ever pondered moving the San Jose Earthquakes two time zones east. It offered peaks, valleys and plateaus without offering resolutions. No matter when the end appeared to beckon, the road always continued until the long-awaited conclusion finally arrived yesterday and the horizon brightened for good. A vote by the Harris County Commissioners Court ended the tumultuous trek on Tuesday. Details and negotiations over the creation of development zones and the terms of the lease remain, but those perfunctory hurdles won't stop what the Dynamo has so persistently sought for all of these years and what the machinery of Houston and Harris County has finally embraced. Sometime in 2012, the Houston Dynamo will play in a soccer-specific stadium on the eastern outskirts of downtown. Make no mistake about it: the Dynamo will pay for the privilege of calling a new facility home. In the world of public-private partnerships, this deal veers toward the public good rather than the private gain. While the city of Houston and Harris County will chip in $17.5 million each in infrastructure improvements and land purchases without touching current taxpayer dollars, those significant investments pale in comparison to the Dynamo's $60 million tab to construct its new home without securing ownership of it. The benefits, however, are worth every penny as the Dynamo plots its future growth. Robertson Stadium stands between Houston and a place among the MLS upper crust. While the University of Houston football stadium serves its purpose as a temporary venue, it does not offer the Dynamo much upward mobility. The distant location from downtown, the dodgy surface, the limited ancillary revenues and the scheduling restrictions impact the Dynamo on and off the field. Despite those hindrances, Oliver Luck and his management team have carved out a faithful fan base known for its willingness to turn up in numbers, particularly during the playoffs. A new 20,000-to-22,000 seat facility closer to downtown should consolidate and supplement the existing supporters. The move could also vault the Dynamo into the ideal worlds cultivated in Seattle and Toronto. Finding a ticket for a match at the new Dynamo stadium could prove challenging in a city that loves its football, especially with the new location and the reduced capacity bound to increase demand. The corresponding boost in resources – though certainly mitigated by debt service to some extent – will offer Houston the financial flexibility to challenge the aforementioned duo plus free-spending Los Angeles and New York should it choose to do so. In order to construct its new palace, Houston conceded some of its flexibility in other areas. Texas Southern University joins as a co-tenant, ensuring football lines and wear and tear throughout the fall. AEG's presence likely guarantees a healthy share of concerts and external events that could also ravage the playing surface. Dates could be squeezed and grass could be squelched, but those annoyances detract little from the significance of the Dynamo's accomplishment and the promise of an increasingly successful future in a more appropriate stadium. As Kinnear and his players discussed the meandering path to their new home on Tuesday with myfoxhouston.com, they reflected on how the voyage ultimately yielded exactly what they desired. Brian Ching talked about how he was happy to finally have a stadium to call his own, while Mike Chabala discussed how the move cemented the Dynamo's place in Houston's sports landscape. Kinnear, meanwhile, focused on the sacrifices once made and the foundations once laid before reaching his conclusion about the lengthy ordeal. “And to know this day has come has kind of made the journey all the [more] worthwhile,” Kinnear said.
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:47 pm
Quote: FC Dallas' New Technical Director Tops Notes From Around The League
FC Dallas' surprising move to select a college coach as its new technical director leads a note-filled edition of McCarthy's Musings.Apr 21, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy Several topics demand attention in the midweek as clubs around the league prepare for an intriguing slate of matches this weekend. The continuing saga in Toronto, the new jersey in Seattle and the goalkeeping situation in Philadelphia all warrant mention, but this notebook starts with the announcement of a long-awaited decision in Frisco.
FC Dallas' lengthy technical director search ends...with another college coach. FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman talked at length last week with 3rddegree.net about the ongoing search for a technical director and mentioned how he felt prior coaching experience would distinguish a candidate. Apparently, the four-person search committee – Hyndman, FCD investor/operator and Hunt Sports Group chairman Clark Hunt, HSG president John Wagner and HSG vice president Dan Hunt – reached a similar conclusion as FCD named former Penn State coach Barry Gorman as the club's first technical director on Tuesday. It's easy to see why FCD plucked Gorman out of the candidate pool. The former Irish League player spent the past 22 years with the Nittany Lions and racked up 13 NCAA appearances en route to a school-record 266 wins. In addition to the exploits at the collegiate level, Gorman traveled to countries around the world to teach the game and created international connections in the process. He also boasts close ties to Hyndman, a friend for several decades, according to MLSsoccer.com, and FCD rookie midfielder Jason Yeisley, a former Nittany Lion. Despite all of the sensible reasons to appoint Gorman, this hire still represents something of a headscratcher. As an experienced college coach with presumably scant knowledge of the arcane details of the MLS player acquisition system, Gorman essentially duplicates Hyndman's experience in a role where intricate knowledge of MLS helps significantly. While this move no doubt adds another seasoned and experienced coach to facilitate the growth of the FCD Juniors program, it remains to be seen whether Gorman can use the international contacts FCD trumpeted to strengthen a club that too often relies on familiar connections to build its squad. If he can't, it simply begs the question of why FCD didn't move in a direction to provide Hyndman with another seasoned MLS fixture to spearhead the personnel process. Another day, another slice of drama in Toronto. Former Toronto FC forward Ali Gerba broke his silence earlier this week and discussed the circumstances behind his release with The Score and the Toronto Star. Gerba aired a host of familiar complaints about the Mo Johnston/Preki regime – disgust at his treatment and the lack of explanation surrounding his dismissal from training camp, distrust among his former teammates about Preki's methods and disdain for the revolving door policy employed by Johnston – in a particularly public forum. Most of the revelations fell in line with the persistent whispers, with one specific quote drawing a line under the tension created within the squad. “It’s difficult to perform when you always have to look over your shoulder,” Gerba told the Star. “It’s like they feel, if I have a bad game, I’m gone.” The usual caveats in these types of spats apply here. No one at TFC issued a public comment in response, leaving Gerba's claims to stand alone without repudiation. The former MK Dons striker certainly has an axe to grind over his unceremonious dumping, so the words deserve a healthy dose of skepticism. Unfortunately for TFC, there are too many similar stories out there to suggest Gerba just concocted these claims out of thin air. Perhaps the best response Johnston and Preki can issue is to find a way to do what Gerba suggests: cultivate a core of players and stick by them through thick and thin. Three clubs await news on critical players ahead of important Saturday fixtures. Kansas City would love to have Jimmy Conrad on the field to tussle with Edson Buddle when Los Angeles visits on Saturday, but the former U.S. national team defender is questionable for the match with a left calf strain suffered in the first half of Saturday's 1-0 loss at Seattle. Conrad's presence will be crucial to the Wizards' chances against the Galaxy, even though the youthful backline – particularly the impressive Pablo Escobar – fared well at Qwest Field once he departed. Two other players worth watching as the week progresses: New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph (questionable with a right hip flexor strain) and Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales (questionable with a right adductor strain). Both influential midfielders are crucial to their side's chances to cope with difficult tests at home to Colorado and away to Columbus, respectively. Quick Hits- Philadelphia manager Peter Nowak backed under-fire goalkeeper Chris Seitz on Tuesday. It's the right move for the moment because Nowak must show faith in his embattled number one ahead of Saturday's visit to New York, but don't expect public criticism of Seitz's performances to precede a shift to Brad Knighton in the future. If Nowak wants to make a move, he will likely just change the situation on the teamsheet. - D.C. United needs a weekend off more than any other team in the league to try and get some healthy bodies back in the fold. Two more starters hit the injury list this week: Dejan Jakovic (right clavicle) will miss the next six weeks, while Chris Pontius (right hamstring) is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks, according to The Washington Post. Those absences place pressure on regulars Juan Manuel Pena (right hamstring) and Clyde Simms (left hamstring) to recover in time for United's U.S. Open Cup play-in match with FC Dallas next Wednesday or, more importantly, New York's visit in league play on May 1. - An exemplary course in gamesmanship, courtesy of the Columbus Dispatch: Real Salt Lake requested to train at Crew Stadium on Friday ahead of Saturday's match against Columbus. The Crew denied the plea because a home team must only allow a visiting team to train on its stadium field if it also does so on the day before a game. Columbus typically trains at Crew Stadium two days before a home game, so RSL will practice at the Crew's Obetz training facility on Friday instead. - Seattle introduced its new electric green third kit on Tuesday. Sounders FC plans to use the jarringly bright jersey in U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League matches and could employ the shirt in league play occasionally. - Former San Jose midfielder Simon Elliott started training with Los Angeles last week, according to ESPN Los Angeles.
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:49 pm
Quote: Midfield Absences Create Fallout For Three MLS Clubs
Recent developments ruled David Beckham and Geoff Cameron out for remainder of the season and placed Shalrie Joseph on the shelf for an undetermined amount of time. Kyle McCarthy assesses the ramifications in McCarthy's Musings.Apr 28, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy Proponents of midfield play bowed their heads on Monday after hearing the news that three influential midfielders faced spells on the sidelines. The trio – Houston's Geoff Cameron, Los Angeles' David Beckham and New England's Shalrie Joseph – fill vital roles for their clubs and featured prominently in their side's aspirations prior to the start of the season. Beckham and Cameron, however, won't play again in 2010, while Joseph will take a seat for an undetermined period of time. As the three involved teams assess the impact of losing a key midfielder, the fallout requires further examination: Shalrie Joseph: Although Joseph's leave from the Revolution will almost certainly end well before Beckham or Cameron return to the field, his absence presents the most pressing problem. Joseph drives New England in the center of the park by imposing his will on the game, keeping possession reliably and winning the ball consistently. One look at the stark contrast between the impressive performance in Joseph's lone appearance of the season – a 4-1 drubbing of Toronto FC complete with an influential second-half contribution from the Grenada international – and the stuttering submissions in the other four matches without him reveals how important Joseph remains to the side. His contributions are simply irreplaceable, so the Revs will likely keep the faith with Joseph Niouky and Pat Phelan rather than making an external move at the present time. The indeterminate nature of Joseph's departure – a leave precipitated by a personal matter and not any injury- or soccer-related issues, according to Joseph's agent, Ron Waxman – leaves the Revs in a bind. While Joseph will likely return at some point in the medium term, it's impossible to predict exactly when he can step back into the lineup and difficult to guess how the Revs will react to his recent departure. One thing is certain: Joseph needs to reappear sooner rather than later because New England will play seven league matches between May 1 and June 5. If Joseph misses all seven matches, the Revolution could lose considerable ground in the fight for a playoff berth. While Joseph's spell away from the Revolution will likely cost his team points, the time off could also benefit him and the club by giving his perpetually aching body a chance to rest. Joseph battled a series of injuries in 2009 and started 2010 by picking up a right hip flexor strain as training camp wound to a close. As Joseph attempted to recover from the initial injury, the veteran midfielder said he strained and tweaked other muscles while compensating for the right hip flexor strain. A break away from the game could eliminate those injury concerns – Joseph had targeted this weekend's visit by FC Dallas as his likely return – and hand him the opportunity to dominate games even more completely than he already does. Geoff Cameron: Cameron's right PCL tear will rule him out for the remainder of the campaign and force Dominic Kinnear to replace his second attacking midfielder inside of six months. Stuart Holden isn't coming back to Texas any time soon, so the Dynamo will have to resume its search for a central midfielder who can provide effective two-way play in the role once mastered by Dwayne De Rosario and Holden. Cameron isn't operating at that level yet, but he did show promising signs of growing into the role as he continued his transition from central defense to central midfield. Houston left one roster spot vacant in order to have the latitude to make a move in the summer transfer window and this bit of tidy roster management will come in handy earlier than anticipated as Kinnear scours the free agent market in search of Cameron's replacement. Until the Dynamo can secure Cameron's replacement, Kinnear will have to mix and match to keep his preferred midfield alignment humming. The most likely scenario includes Brad Davis sliding inside to reprise a central midfield role he has filled on occasion with Corey Ashe taking up Davis' usual role on the left wing. In order to make those adjustments work, Houston will need to find a healthy pair of forwards to allow Brian Mullan to return to his usual role on the right wing and will have to find a way to ensure Davis' stint as a central midfielder is more successful than his previous spells in the center of the park. Kinnear could also deploy Richard Mulrooney alongside Lovel Palmer once he returns from a right knee injury and ask the Jamaican to push up a bit more than usual, but the dual holding midfielder approach contradicts Kinnear's usual tactical deportment. David Beckham: While Los Angeles knew Beckham would miss most of the season after sustaining a right Achilles injury during his loan stint at AC Milan, the Galaxy will certainly feel the impact of Beckham pushing his anticipated return from September to November. The shift – if it does not include further alterations to the timeline as Beckham continues his rehabilitation – would almost certainly preclude the England international's involvement this season. Losing Beckham deprives the Galaxy of a cultured, experienced option in midfield to bolster the playoff push. Beckham's sweeping diagonal passes over distance and his free kick acumen would have added two significant dimensions to a Galaxy side that still leans more toward counterattacking than swashbuckling. Replacing Beckham simply isn't an option, so Bruce Arena will have to hope younger players like Juninho and Michael Stephens can add a dash of creativity when it counts and the other experienced campaigners in the seasoned side can supply the veteran nous as Los Angeles seeks to lift MLS Cup.
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:50 pm
Quote: College Teammates Reprise Midfield Partnership With Chivas USA
In search of a central midfield tandem to replace departed veterans Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura, Chivas USA coach Martin Vasquez has turned to former Akron stars Blair Gavin and Ben Zemanski. Kyle McCarthy chats with the trio and previews the four midweek matches on tap tonight.May 5, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – In the raft of departures accompanying the end of Preki's three-season reign at Chivas USA this winter, the loss of two players stood out because of their importance to the club's recent success. Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura established the intense mentality symbolic of how the Red-and-White played under the former American international. The experienced central midfielders crunched when they needed to crunch and possessed when they needed to possess. While the circumstances and the tactics often dictated a pragmatic approach, Marsch and Nagamura usually ran the show with success regardless of whether the opposition wanted a football match or a grisly battle. The inevitable changing of the guard – hastened by Marsch's retirement and Nagamura's departure to Tigres – occurred during the offseason and left new coach Martin Vasquez to figure out how to replace the effective engine of the previous regime with a different model more attuned to his aesthetically-pleasing brand of possession-oriented soccer. For the past two-and-a-half matches, Vasquez has found his answer by deploying former Akron teammates and current Chivas USA rookies Blair Gavin and Ben Zemanski in deep-lying central roles as part of a five-man midfield. “It's tough to replace those guys,” Zemanski said after the Red-and-White completed its final training session before tonight's match at New England. “They're very good players and they were great for many years. You can't really replace someone like that, but we're trying to build our legacy here and make our mark with this club and this team.” The path toward cultivating a new tradition starts with the philosophy ingrained in the duo while they starred in college. Akron coach Caleb Porter employs a possession-oriented, attack-minded approach similar to the one Vasquez has implemented since he took charge. “We play quick and when we lose it, we want to get it back so we can attack some more,” Zemanski said. “We were bred in that system and that's how Martin wants us to play. It makes the transition a lot easier when that's the way we feel how the game should be played and we're playing that way.” Gavin and Zemanski intrigued Vasquez, at least in part, because of their proficiency in the type of system he wished to institute this season. The chemistry and familiarity fostered by playing together for three years in a professional incubator that has also produced Teal Bunbury and Steve Zakuani didn't hurt either. “We feel that was their strength in how they run things in the middle,” Vasquez said. “They're well balanced – they attack, they defend and they keep it simple. When we have the ball, they provide rhythm and flow and allow us to spread the ball. When we lose the ball, they're smart and intelligent in how they react to transition. That's a big part of their game.” Providing consistency in the center of the park represents the next big leap for the duo as they seek to keep the Red-and-White's two-match unbeaten streak alive at Gillette Stadium. The comfort of playing next to a familiar face (and a roommate) helps the adjustment process, according to both players, and it shows on the field. Gavin (five starts) has made strides to improve his consistency from match-to-match in his role as the cerebral distributor, while Zemanski (two starts) approaches training sessions and match days with an intensity befitting his more defensive deportment, Vasquez said. In the system Vasquez has preferred in recent weeks, Gavin and Zemanski play a critical role by maintaining possession, moving the ball quickly and providing a solid foundation in central midfield so Sacha Kljestan can roam around in the attacking third to facilitate the attack. The role creates a heavy burden for Gavin and Zemanski to bear, but Vasquez said he has entrusted all of his players, regardless of experience, with an equal amount of responsibility in the club's success or failure. If the recent weeks are any indication, Gavin and Zemanski could play a significant part in how a club once embodied by the gritty exploits of Marsch and Nagamura develops under Vasquez. In order to play a similarly integral role in the future and establish themselves as fixtures in the side, Gavin said he and Zemanski will need to lean on one quality – industry – that should link the past with the future. “Obviously, we've been making mistakes and we're learning as we go,” Gavin said. “The veteran guys like Sacha [Kljestan], Mariano [Trujillo] and others have been helping us out and teaching us things. What it comes down to is our hard work. You going to make mistakes, but if you keep working hard, put your head down and keep fighting for the ball, everything will work out.” Quick Hits- Gavin and Zemanski aren't the only teammates to find a new home with Chivas USA this season. The Red-and-White added a second player from Costa Rican side Puntarenas FC last week when it acquired midfielder Jose Macotelo on loan. Macotelo joins former and current teammate Dario Delgado in the Chivas USA squad. Vasquez said the link between his side and a fairly obscure club occurred because he benefited from the opportunity to see the duo play in person against Los Angeles during the preseason. “The advantage was that we saw a couple of games on video where both of them did very well,” Vasquez said. “When we saw their team play against LA Galaxy, they both played. Having seen them play against an MLS opponent, we saw the qualities they had and saw that they could adjust to the level and the intensity. It helped us to go after them.” - Vasquez said he plans to make a straight swap to replace suspended midfielder Michael Lahoud in tonight's match against New England (7:30p.m., Direct Kick). The MLS Disciplinary Committee handed Lahoud a two-match suspension for a rash challenge on Justin Mapp that went unpunished during Saturday night's 1-1 draw at Chicago. “With one player, we should be able to make the adjustment,” Vasquez said. “In a situation like the last two games and what you've seen from the group, you hope to keep it consistent and play the same group. We'll have to look at who is the best option. Instead of trying to make two or three changes with positions, man-for-man will be our smartest decision and we can adjust to that with only one guy. We're leaning toward doing that.” - New England coach Steve Nicol must make two changes to his side from Saturday's 1-1 draw against FC Dallas after Kheli Dube and Joseph Niouky picked up red cards in that match. Khano Smith and Chris Tierney represent the most likely options to come into the side, though neither player would represent a straight swap for Niouky. Nicol said yesterday he'd have to think creatively in order to fill his central midfield vacancy with Shalrie Joseph (leave of absence) and potential makeshift option Emmanuel Osei (right leg infection) ruled out. - D.C. United faces a must-win date with Kansas City at RFK Stadium (7:00p.m., ESPN2) in the first of the four matches slated for tonight. Something will likely have to give on the attacking end for both sides: United hasn't scored at home this season, while the Wizards' three-pronged attack hasn't breached the opposition in 312 minutes. Expect at least a change or two from United in the attacking third to spur some sort of movement on that front. - The MLS Disciplinary Committee fined United coach Curt Onalfo $1,000 and tacked on an additional one-match U.S. Open Cup ban onto the one-game penalty incurred after he was ejected in United's 4-2 win over FC Dallas in a play-in match last Wednesday. If you're wondering why MLS issued the disciplinary measures instead of U.S. Soccer, it is because MLS controls and schedules the play-in matches. U.S. Soccer takes over once MLS teams enter the tournament proper in the round of 16. - FC Dallas visits Houston in search of its first win of the season (9:00p.m., Direct Kick). The two sides tied 1-1 at Pizza Hut Park back on March 27, but the Dynamo enters this match on the heels of a 3-0 victory over Kansas City and with the knowledge that FCD has never defeated them at Robertson Stadium in any competition (7-0-2). - Houston forward Brian Ching could feature as he continues his recovery from a left hamstring strain, but Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said his captain wasn't likely to see the field against FCD, according to the Houston Chronicle. - Western Conference powers Los Angeles and Colorado will battle at d**k's Sporting Goods Park (9:30p.m., Direct Kick). This match represents a tricky test for the Galaxy because of the altitude and the Rapids' ability to dominate the game in the center of the park with Jeff Larentowicz and Pablo Mastroeni. Galaxy central midfielder Chris Birchall will have to continue his fine form in order to bolster his side's chances. - The MLS Players Union ratified the proposed collective bargaining agreement yesterday with 84 percent of the players voting in favor of the new pact. With that piece of news, the topic of collective bargaining should go on the shelf for the next three-and-a-half years. - New York defender Kevin Goldthwaite could miss the remainder of the season after aggravating a left groin injury, according to the New York Post.
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:52 pm
Quote: World Cup Preliminary Squads Impact MLS Clubs
Ten MLS players made the United States' preliminary squad for the World Cup, while a few other players will feature for other nations. Kyle McCarthy takes a team-by-team look at the fallout in McCarthy's Musings.May 12, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy When United States head coach Bob Bradley revealed his 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup on Tuesday, he piqued the interest of several MLS coaches. Ten MLS players – including a couple of surprising inclusions and one or two interesting exclusions – made the cut to join the American training camp in Princeton, N.J. next week as Bradley ponders how to pare his squad down to the required 23-man selection prior to the June 1 deadline. Most of the domestic contingent will end up disappointed when Bradley names his final travel party, but a few players could join the likes of Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Brian Ching (Houston) and Landon Donovan (Los Angeles) in South Africa with positive performances in camp. As the ten hopefuls – and a few of the snubbed players – contemplate their World Cup dreams and Andrew Boyens (New York/New Zealand) and Roger Espinoza (Kansas City/Honduras) celebrate their roster spots with other nations, here is a look at the team-by-team impact of yesterday's roster revelations: Chicago – Brian McBride didn't earn the shock recall some had touted him to receive, so the Fire's sole recent connection to this summer's extravaganza is the presence of former (and future?) schemer Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the Mexico squad. Chivas USA – Jonathan Bornstein grabbed his anticipated spot in the preliminary squad, while Sacha Kljestan earned a somewhat surprising berth alongside his Red-and-White teammate based upon his recent uptick in form. Kljestan faces a tough battle to show he can translate his effectiveness in a free role with Chivas USA to a wide position in Bradley's considerably more defined system, but Bornstein should end up inside the cut line for the final 23. Both players will miss Real Salt Lake's visit on May 22, but Kljestan may return in time for the May 29 visit to D.C. United. Bornstein will miss that match and the subsequent trip to New York on June 5 while away on World Cup duty. Colorado – Conor Casey expressed his bemusement with his omission from the U.S. squad and it's hard to blame him. The emergence of Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez plus Brian Ching's return to fitness made it a numbers game and the hulking forward lost out to players in superior form. Will the snub spur Casey to improve his domestic performances or send him into a funk? Columbus – Tuesday marked the worst case scenario for Robert Warzycha: Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers found a home in the American squad despite their apparently distant hopes for a spot in the final 23, while all-around good guy and little-used substitute Duncan Oughton failed to make New Zealand's delegation. Marshall and Rogers will miss a crucial top-of-the-table clash at New York on May 20 and likely won't return in time for a difficult trip to Kansas City three days later. Columbus would definitely like to have both Marshall and Rogers back for the trip to Los Angeles on May 29 if they are deemed surplus to requirements. Frankie Hejduk missed out on a call-up, however, and will remain with the Crew. D.C. United – Pim Verbeek likes to pick Australians who play outside of their native land, but Danny Allsopp never really entered the reckoning. FC Dallas – Heath Pearce still faces a fight to make the final 23 after earning a spot on the preliminary roster, but FCD will be able to cope either way with Jair Benitez able to deputize at left back and Zach Loyd a capable option on the right side. Pearce will miss a home date with Los Angeles (May 20) and a trip to Chicago (May 27) as he attempts to book a place on the plane. Jeff Cunningham played his way out of contention with his wastefulness in front of goal this season. Houston – Brian Ching will look at the forward group called into camp and believe he has a spot assured in the final 23 if he can prove his fitness after a hamstring injury. Houston has played well enough without Ching to suggest his absence for four matches – including home dates with strugglers D.C. United (May 22) and Philadelphia (May 29) and difficult trips to New York (June 2) and Los Angeles (June 5) – wouldn't cause any undue harm. Dominic Kinnear will count himself lucky that Brad Davis didn't earn the shock recall his recent form may have substantiated. Kansas City – Roger Espinoza just about earned his spot on the Honduran roster with his form at left back this season. The Wizards will likely to look to Michael Harrington to fill the void when Espinoza misses home matches against Columbus (May 23) and Philadelphia (June 10) and away dates with Real Salt Lake (May 29) and Toronto FC (June 5). Jimmy Conrad's World Cup chances seemingly evaporated at the moment he drew a first-half red card as captain in a friendly against Honduras earlier this year, though one has to wonder how a player goes from captain to afterthought so briskly. Los Angeles – Bruce Arena has worked his magic this season, but he'll need to conjure up something special if Edson Buddle joins Landon Donovan in South Africa. The pair will skip at least the trips to FC Dallas (May 20) and Columbus (May 29) while in camp, but Donovan will miss at least two more games – a home date with Houston (June 5) and a trip to Real Salt Lake (June 9) – while the U.S. is in South Africa. Losing Buddle – in addition to Donovan – for that amount of time could present some problems for the in-form Galaxy. New England – Steve Nicol can't find enough players to name a full 18-man squad for matches right now, but at least he won't have to worry about any further issues caused by the World Cup. New York – While Andrew Boyens is surely happy to earn a spot on New Zealand's World Cup roster, his absence won't really impact the starting XI unless Mike Petke or Tim Ream picks up a knock. Philadelphia – Not even Fred's more famous namesake earned a sniff for a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad. Real Salt Lake – After an injury-plagued and indifferent start to the season, Robbie Findley may use his inclusion in the U.S. preliminary squad to provide a boost to his domestic form even if he doesn't earn an unlikely spot in the final 23. With Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio in the fold, RSL won't miss Findley too much for the trip to Chivas USA (May 22) and the visit by Kansas City (May 29), though he could return to the Claret-and-Cobalt in time for the latter fixture. San Jose – Bobby Convey probably didn't need another affront to keep him motivated after the motivational boost provided by a halftime withdrawal in the season-opening defeat to Real Salt Lake, but his comments in the wake of his anticipated omission from the U.S. preliminary roster suggest he could use this snub as fuel to maintain his fine recent form. Seattle – Blaise Nkufo will play for Switzerland in South Africa before linking up with Sounders FC in the summer. Given his side's problems in front of goal, Seatte coach Sigi Schmid will hope the veteran striker comes through the event without picking up an injury. Toronto FC – Former playmaker Amado Guevara will make his World Cup bow with Honduras, but Canada's persistent struggles in CONCACAF qualifying ensured no TFC player will make the trip.
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:53 pm
Quote: Henry's Imminent Arrival Places Angel's New York Future In Doubt
Reports out of Europe have linked Thierry Henry with a summer move to New York. Kyle McCarthy wonders what Henry's arrival means for Juan Pablo Angel in McCarthy's Musings.May 19, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy The talk in New York sports circles these days inevitably turns to possible summer acquisitions. Ninety-five percent of those whispers focus on the Knicks' impending pursuit of LeBron James. Thierry Henry staked his claim to a portion of the remaining sliver earlier this week. Reports wafted out of Europe with increasing frequency as Monday turned into Tuesday. All of them essentially reached the same conclusion: the French wizard will finally consummate his love affair with the Big Apple by signing with the Red Bulls after the World Cup. Henry will join all of the other luminaries shining brightly on America's largest stage. The city that never sleeps also never stops wanting more from its stars. In Henry, New York will finally have its footballing maestro, a magician worthy of assuming the mantle once inhabited by Pele and the Cosmos and updating it in his new palace in suburban Harrison, N.J. The French international's much anticipated arrival places one related tendency in stark relief. The constant yearning for something greater often obscures the perfectly reasonable value of what already exists. While the addition of a new sports icon won't pose problems for Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, Henry's arrival may indeed prove a hindrance to Juan Pablo Angel's long-term future in the metropolitan area. Few players with Angel's resume would face an uncertain future. No player in Red Bulls history has scored more goals in a season (19 in 2007) or for the team during his tenure with the club (49 and counting) than the former Aston Villa striker. His exploits on the field are suitably matched by his professional deportment off of it. As a Designated Player and as a high-profile signing, Angel ranks as one of MLS' greatest successes. Despite all of Angel's contributions during his three-plus years with the Red Bulls, he may leave the club after his contract expires at the end of the campaign. Angel said earlier this season he hopes to sort out his future well before then. New York – particularly with Henry en route and with other stars looming as possible acquisitions either in the summer or in the close season – doesn't appear as anxious to address the situation. Then again, there isn't much reason for New York to act. The recent DP rule revisions give the Red Bulls plenty of leeway to decide whether to keep Angel at a later date or trade him in for a new model with increasing, rather than decreasing, yearly goal production. Money isn't an issue or an object. Oh, and the Red Bulls – recent two-game slide aside – could mount a legitimate challenge for MLS Cup with Angel and Henry leading the line in front of a stingy defensive core. And if the pedigreed front duo doesn't mesh, well, there's an out clause there at the end of the season to bring in a new option more suited to Henry's slashing style. The current inaction does leave Angel in a bit of a predicament, however. Angel spends his time scoring goals on the field (a team-high four in eight matches this season) and batting away rumors off of it. He deals with the inquiries – a particularly bizarre link to Mexican second division side Veracruz surfaced last week, a move that would only make sense should Angel feel a burning desire to persuade Cuauhtemoc Blanco to remain there as well – as coolly as he does the chances presented to him inside the penalty area. Take Angel's answer to a question about the man who may eventually pave his way out of town as a typical example: “He was one of the best players I've ever seen,” Angel told Big Apple Soccer. “He still has the ability to do it at any level and if has chosen to come to the United States especially the Red Bull -- I think it will be a great thing for the league and for our team because not just what he generates off the field but because he is just a phenomenal player.” Angel's contributions to the game and the club probably do not merit such a laudatory assessment, but the gap is not as wide as some might suspect if the spectrum is limited to MLS. The 34-year-old striker has made his mark in the American top flight and, to be fair, has made a considerable amount of money in doing so. Suitors here and abroad will line up to court Angel if he indeed leaves New York at the end of the campaign, so it is not as if his future is New York or bust. Yet as many foreign arrivals would suggest, the allure of playing in New York offers rewards unmatched in other destinations. Constant buzz is one of them. The current chatter will continue to swirl around James and Henry, even though one will likely pass on New York and the other appears signed-and-delivered to play in New Jersey. It may take some time, however, to see whether the focus on the incoming traffic will eventually shift to the possible departure of another, less-heralded player well deserving of his berth among the successful names already in lights.
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Casting Pearls night Captain
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:56 pm
Quote: MLS Plays Complementary Role In U.S. World Cup Effort
U.S. coach Bradley eschews MLS roster options and other MLS-related roster notes.May 27, 2010 By Kyle McCarthy BRISTOL, Conn. – The United States national team coaching staff knows MLS well. It just doesn't trust its current crop of players at the highest level. Few groups can boast this staff's breadth and depth of knowledge of the American top flight. U.S. coach Bob Bradley includes 124 MLS wins and one MLS Cup title on his resume. Assistant coaches Lubos Kubik, Jesse Marsch and Mike Sorber excelled in the league at various points over the past 15 years, with Marsch adding contemporary intelligence after ending his career this winter. Throw in the significant number of matches viewed on tape and in person over the past few seasons and there isn't much the four coaches don't know about the league in its past or in its present. Bradley relied those findings to invite nine MLS players into a 30-man training camp to compete for a spot in the final 23-man roster. Six of those players took the field in Tuesday's 4-2 friendly defeat to the Czech Republic in a last ditch effort to make the World Cup roster. When the U.S. revealed its squad on Wednesday afternoon, only four MLS players made the final cut. The meager allotment isn't particularly surprising given the proliferation of foreign-based options and the systematic exportation of MLS luminaries over the past few years, but the projected roles of the four players reveals a deeper concern. Aside from the talismanic presence of Landon Donovan among the quartet, the MLS players will likely fill peripheral roles off the bench in South Africa. Edson Buddle offers a physical presence up front, Robbie Findley provides the defense-stretching speed lost in Charlie Davies' absence and Jonathan Bornstein supplies the necessary cover at left back. With the niche roles pegged for three of the four players, there is a very real chance that Donovan could stand alone as the sole MLS contributor to the American World Cup efforts. The paucity of MLS stars involved represents a marked change from the previous World Cup squads in the MLS era. All three of those delegations – 1998 (16), 2002 (11) and 2006 (11) – included a double-digit player contribution from the U.S. first division. MLS will undoubtedly point to the 13 former domestic players in the squad to suggest its role in developing top-notch talent played a part in its reduced presence in South Africa. While the contention deserves strong consideration because of the success MLS players have enjoyed in rigorous European leagues, it does not obscure the fact that Bradley and his staff passed over several MLS Best XI-caliber talents to fill out a roster few would indicate is particularly deep for the highest levels of international football. In the face of increased competition for places, the current MLS candidates did not meet the required standard. The talent produced and retained domestically, at least on this evidence, doesn't quite match the offerings in previous World Cup cycles. Given the exodus over the past few years and the offseason departures of former Houston stars Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden, it's hard to expect MLS to produce a corresponding number of players to fill the talent vacuum. That fact, however, does not diminish the disappointment of the modest contribution after years of supplying integral players to the American World Cup efforts. The key for increasing the MLS presence in time for Brazil in 2014 rests with finding a way to wade through the expansion-imposed dilution to increase the level of play and restore the talent pipeline. Until MLS can accomplish those goals, the league may have to remain content with cheering on its alums and offering a smattering of players to the national side. With the more global findings on the MLS influence on this roster dispensed, here are a few more specific notes on a few of the MLS players involved in the roster unveiling:
Ching's dismissal prompted by injury and form: Few observers expected Bradley to leave veteran target man Brian Ching off the roster because of his unique ability to facilitate play and serve as the counterattacking hub with his hold-up play. Bradley confounded the so-called conventional wisdom by omitting Ching and keeping the inexperienced trio of Buddle, Findley and Herculez Gomez as his reserve forwards. Ching's recent recovery from a left hamstring injury and his 28 minutes of MLS action since April 1 seemed to tip the scales against him when compared with the claims of the in-form Buddle, his closest like-for-like competitor for a spot up front. “Plain and simple, Edson and Herculez have had real good stretches and scored a lot of goals,” Bradley said. “Brian has been such an important player, but it’s tough when you have an injury at an inopportune time.” Dropping Ching places pressure on Bradley to find a reliable option to perform in a target role, particularly in the event the U.S. needs to kill off a game. Clint Dempsey probably makes the most sense with his ability to keep the ball and solicit fouls, while Buddle will have to significantly improve his buildup work in order to vie for minutes in a similar role. Buddle leans on confidence and positive attitude to seal World Cup spot: Improvement isn't a foreign concept for Buddle based on recent evidence. After scoring five goals in 23 injury-plagued matches in 2009, the Los Angeles forward vaulted into national team contention by notching nine goals in as many matches to start 2010. “I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career,” Buddle said. “I just tried to stay positive so I could maximize my potential as a soccer player. By doing that, this opportunity came around at the right time. Health is a big part of it.” Buddle helped his case by shaking off those persistent injury concerns and forming a potent attacking partnership with American attacking fulcrum Donovan. The burgeoning relationship between the duo may have helped Buddle earn his first national team look since his lone cap as a substitute in a 2003 friendly, but Donovan said Buddle showed he deserved his World Cup opportunity. “It's possibly helped Edson get into camp,” Donovan said. “Once you're here, you have to do it for yourself and you have to earn it. Believe me, Bob doesn't name people on the roster just to name them. Everybody who is on this team deserves to be.” After scoring goals for the Galaxy and distinguishing himself in other facets of the game during the training camp held in Princeton, N.J. last week, Buddle believes he has earned his place in the American squad. “I'm not intimidated by being here,” Buddle said. “I would say that I feel like I should be here. Not once in the camp did I feel like I was out of place, even though the fitness [work] was pretty hard. On the field, I felt comfortable. I was able to push, stay positive and do some of the little things that he likes.”
Findley survives lineup omission to make roster: While Buddle enjoyed one last chance to impress Bradley on Tuesday night, Findley remained rooted to the bench wondering whether his World Cup chances were finished. “There were only two things: I was either staying or I was going,” Findley said. “I felt like I did what I could do during training and during the camp to give myself an opportunity. It was out of my hands at that time.” It was out of Findley's base of knowledge, too. Bradley didn't tip his hand until the wee hours of Wednesday morning, so the Real Salt Lake striker spent a few agonizing hours contemplating his future as the team returned to its hotel to consume a late-night dinner. Fortunately for the speedy striker, the final decision went his way. “I really didn't know what to think,” Findley said. “I was a little bit discouraged, but then again, it could have been a good thing. There were a whole bunch of thoughts going through my head. It turned out the way I wanted it.” A pair of roster-related MLS stats: Los Angeles is the only team to send a player to all four World Cups in the MLS era after Colorado, D.C. United, Kansas City and New England missed out this time around, according to Climbing the Ladder, a statistically-focused MLS blog. … FC Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Toronto are the only MLS clubs to never send a rostered player to the World Cup.
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