So I love this time of Year – Champions League and Europa down to the Sweet 16 – 2^nd legs, MLS Season Opening, and the League Races in Europe heating up – especially in the EPL. So lets start with US Major League soccer- MLS got off to a great start this past weekend with Portland outlasting Columbus 2-1 after raising the MLS Champions Banner – check out this National Anthem done the right way.  Seattle and Sporting KC was also a great game a 1-0 KC win as close to 45K looked on in Seattle.  This weekend has NYCFC as Lampard, Pirlo, Diskarud and David Villa host Toronto FC and Bradley, Altidore and Giovincho at Yankee Stadium on ESPN2 at 5pm.  San Jose shows off the Superbowl Stadium as they host the defending Champs Portland.  All 4 teams opened with victories.

Champions League was equally intriguing this mid week as Portugal’s Benefica advances to the Elite 8 for the first time ever, while Real Madrid advance and PSG and Ibra outlasted Chelsea at home 2-0 to advance 4-2 on aggregate.  This week has Arsenal down 2-0 trying to stave off elimination at Barcelona on Wed, while Bayern Munich and Juventus battle in Germany tied at 2-2.  Both games on Fox Sports Wednesday at 2:45 pm.  Tues 2:45 on Fox Sports – Man City will look to move to their first ever Quarterfinals up 3-1 over Kiev, while Athletico Madrid host Dutch power PSV Eindhoven tied at 0-0.  Remember if you miss the games – they are usually played over on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Soccer all night with 30 minute highlight show on Fox Sports 1 between 12:30 and 2 am so set those DVRs.  Europa League Action saw Liverpool beat Man U at home, while Dortmund blasted Tottenham in Germany, return legs are next Thursday on Fox Sports and ESPN3.

Congrats to the USWNT – with big wins over 3 of the top 4 teams in the World in the She Believe’s Cup – a Nice warm-up for the Olympics this summer. The US Men return to World Cup Qualifying next Friday on the road at Guatamala 10 pm on beIn Sports and NBC Universal, while the U-23 Men start their 2 game playoff with Columbia at 4:30 pm Fri on Fox Sports 1.

Champions League

Europa League Wrap-up – Liverpool beat Man U and Dortmund Crushes Tottehnam

Who has edge Bayern vs Juve tied at 2 going to Bayern.

Barca’s Iniesta pinpoints Arsenal’s Danger Man

Champions League Goalkeeper Watch Wed as Barcelona’s Ter Stegan faces Arsenal’s Petre Cech, and Juve’s Buffon vs Bayern’s Manual Nuer on Fox Sports 2:45 pm.

Look at Ter Stegan’s Saves Last Week Barcelona vs Arsenal

Europa League Wrap-up – Liverpool beat Man U and Dortmund Crushes Tottehnam

The Hazard Shirt Swap with Di Maria at Half Time?

Zlatan Provides Answers as PSG outlast Chelsea at home

Renaldo easier to guard than Messi – says Chiellini

Barca looking for Treble back to back

Ibra – Champions League is Special

Ibra Goal King of UCL-

Real lacks consistency Admits Ronaldo

Could Premier League lose a Champ League spot to Italy?

MLS –

Giovincho

MLS off to Great Start

MLS Ambition Rankings – Grant Wahl SI

Power Rankings Wk1 EPSN FC

Power Rankings After Week 1

Podcast with US Forward Herculez Gomez on how far MLS has come

Columbus Higuain Spectacular Bicycle Kick in 2-1 loss at Portland 

MLs Goal of week voting – in a Week with lots of Goals!

Orlando’s 60K fans is 5^th largest in the World this weekend scores 2 in ET to tie 

Has MLS Exodus of players hurt the league?  Carlisle ESPN FC

GOAL’s MLS Preview

Soccer Superstar Andrea Pirlo loves wondering NY City without the Fanfare NY Times

 GAMES THIS WEEK

Sat, March 12: 

7:45 am NBCSN         Norwich vs Man City  

10 am NBCSN           Stoke vs Southampton

10 am USA                Bournemouth vs Swansea

12:30 pm Fox Sprts 2  Everton vs Chelsea – FA Cup Quarters

Sun, March 13: 

9:30 am FS1              Arsenal vs Watford – FA Cup Quarters

9:30 am FS2              Man U vs West Ham – FA Cup Quarters

10 am NBCSN           Liverpool vs Chelsea

12 noon NBCSN         Aston Villa vs Tottenham

12:30 pm Fox Sp2      Dortmund vs Mainz

5 p.m. (ESPN2,)         New York City FC vs. Toronto FC, 

7 pm Fox Sports 1      San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers,

Mon, March 14: 

4 pm NBCSN             Leicester City vs New Castle (Tim Howard +Arlo White)

Tues, Mar 15  –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Man City vs Dynamo Kiev  3-1

2:45 pm Fox Sports 2  Athletico vs PSV Eindhoven 0-0

Wed, Mar 16  –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Barcelona vs Arsenal  2-0

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Bayern Munich vs Juventus 2-2 

Thurs, Mar 17 – UEFA Europa League (Rd of 16 2nd legs)

1:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Villarreal
1:30 p.m., Fox Sports 2: Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao

4 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
4 p.m., Fox Sports 2: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Borussia Dortmund
4 p.m., ESPN 3 Lazio vs. Sparta Prague, Anderlecht vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla vs. Basel, Braga vs. Fenerbahçe

Fri, March 25: 

4:30 pm TBD          US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff

time TBD (beIN Sports,)  Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier,

Tuesday, March 29:

7 pm (ESPN2)        United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier-Columbus, OH

Wednesday, March 30

9:30 pm ESPN2     US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff Texas

Copa America –Chicago Full Venue Passes

Sun, June 5 – C3 vs. C4
Tues Eve, June 7 – United States vs. A3
Fri Eve, June 10 – Argentina vs. D3
Wed Eve, June 22 – Semifinal (read Argentina vs Brazil) Maybe

Copa Schedule

MLS TV Schedule ‘

US

US Ladies beat France – 5 things we learned

US Ladies Beat Germany win She Believes Cup

US Perry Kitchen moves from DC United to Scottish Club Hearts

How US Players Did

EPL

Is the EPL Title Race Over?

Title Race has Twists and Turns Coming – ESPNFC

EPL Run Down the End

Trending in the EPL

Man City Still hopes for title Run

Juve’s GK Buffon sets record for Shutout 836 minutes – 100 minutes to go to break Serie A record.

Indy 11

Interview with former Indy 11 Keeper Kristian Nicht (das Boot) now at Minn. United.

Desert Diary –

11 falls to OC Blues in Arizona Preseason game

Single Game Seats on Sale – as low as $11

Stay Tuned as Carmel FC – plans to have a Group Night at a game this summer –more details to come.

Portland stays on top, Dallas makes early move, D.C. tumbles

While there was no change at the top, several teams moved places in the rankings after a wild opening day of the season.

1. Portland Timbers(no change)

The champs began 2016 the way they closed out 2015 — with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew SC. Fanendo Adi’s excellent form has carried over to the new campaign, which is a very good sign for the Timbers.

2. FC Dallas(+2)

The 2-0 win over Philadelphia was soured by Fabian Castillo being stretchered off in the closing moments, but the Texan side showed every bit of the quality that has made them MLS Cup favorites this year.

3. Columbus Crew SC(-1)

Columbus put up a fight on the road in Portland and got an incredible overhead effort from Federico Higuain for the goal in a losing cause. They’ll feel down about the loss, but Crew SC will again be a power to be reckoned with this year.

4. New York Red Bulls(-1)

A 2-0 loss to Toronto at home was not the way Jesse Marsch wanted to start the defense of the Supporters Shield, but it’s not like the Red Bulls didn’t create chances. This was a hiccup and nothing more.

5. LA Galaxy(+1)

The star of the Galaxy’s emphatic 4-1 win over D.C. United was Mike Magee. Back in LA after signing as a free agent, he made a massive difference with two goals and a penalty drawn in a second half that finally showed what this Galaxy team can do — minus Giovani Dos Santos.

6. Montreal Impact(+2)

No, Didier Drogba didn’t play and, no, it didn’t wreck everything for the Impact on the road in Vancouver. Ignacio Piatti capably picked up the slack, scoring twice as Montreal began with a win. In 2015, they didn’t win until their sixth game.

7. Vancouver Whitecaps(-2)

No team in MLS has more confounding home form than the Whitecaps. Their 2015 struggles have carried over, at least to start. Carl Robinson needs to find a fix if Vancouver is going to meet its goals this season.

8. Toronto FC(+4)

A Sebastian Giovinco penalty and a well-finished counter-attacking goal was all TFC needed to get an important Week 1 win away at Red Bull Arena. The Reds defense also held up well, despite having much less of the ball than New York.

9. Sporting Kansas City(no change)

All the breaks went Sporting’s way in Seattle. That was a good thing, since Peter Vermes’ side was without its most important player, Benny Feilhaber. No matter the soft goal, that’s a confidence-building win to start the year.

10. New England Revolution(no change)

Don’t forget that Diego Fagundez only just turned 21 in February. His goal — and what a goal it was — and two assists in Houston led the way for the Revs in an end-to-end 3-3 draw.

11. Orlando City(+2)

As comebacks go, scoring twice in two injury-time minutes was pretty stunning in front of 60,000+ at the Citrus Bowl. Enthusiasm remains high in Central Florida and it should — players like Cyle Larin are worth the price of admission.

12. Seattle Sounders(-5)

It couldn’t really have gone worse for the Sounders on opening day. A red card put them down a man for a full half, Stefan Frei was beaten for a soft goal and Brad Evans might be out with a shoulder injury for the foreseeable future.

13. New York City FC(+3)

It might take Patrick Vieira a little time to figure out this MLS thing, but as long as NYCFC’s new boss is playing the kids and letting them attack, his team will be fun to watch.

14. San Jose Earthquakes(no change)

For what seems like the 73rd year in a row, the Quakes will be led by Chris Wondolowski’s goal-scoring exploits. Wondo has 109 career goals and, with a good 2016, would enter next year with a chance at Landon Donovan’s league record.

15. Houston Dynamo(no change)

Houston’s new attacking talent, including former Philadelphia men Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger, are already making a difference for the Dynamo. Now to fix the defending, which was exposed by New England.

16. Real Salt Lake(+1)

RSL had a victory snatched away from them on the road in Orlando. On one hand, they were in position, in added time, to win. On the other, the failure of concentration from 2-0 up doesn’t augur well for the season.

17. D.C. United(-6)

Lamar Neagle needed only five minutes to get settled into the United attack with a goal, but Ben Olsen’s team was taken apart by the Galaxy in the second half. Looking down the bench, there might not be much to help if things go south.

18. Philadelphia Union(no change)

It’s a good thing the Union have finally settled on a goalkeeper of the present and future in Andre Blake, because it appears they’ll need his services quite a bit over the course of 2016.

19. Chicago Fire(no change)

Without the discipline and understanding to make it work, a pressing game is nothing more than an invitation for opponents to pick you apart. The Fire provided the latter on Sunday, giving Veljko Paunovic plenty to think about.

20. Colorado Rapids(no change)

The Rapids picked up right where they left off in 2016, on the losing end of match. But there were signs of life from Colorado’s new group, so perhaps a change in direction is in the offing.Jason Davis 

Record-setting Buffon keeps Juve on title track

Terry Daley,AFP 16 hours ago

Rome (AFP) – Juventus stayed on course for a fifth straight Serie A title by maintaining their three-point lead with a 2-0 win at Atalanta on Sunday that saw Gianluigi Buffon reach 836 minutes without conceding a goal, a record in the three-points-for-a-win era. Juve responded to Napoli drawing level at the top on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Chievo by taking their league unbeaten run to 17 wins in 18 and moving up to 64 points in Bergamo.Andrea Barzagli’s 24th minute tap in and a superb solo effort from youngster Mario Lemina were enough to beat a tough but blunt home side.”There’s still a long way to go because second and third are in touching distance. Last year we had a 14-point advantage but this year it’s only three,” said an unsatisfied coach Massimiliano Allegri to Mediaset.Captain Buffon had to deal with very little at Atalanta and now is third in the all-time clean sheet list.Against Sassuolo on Friday he can overtake Dino Zoff, who went 903 minutes without conceding for Juventus in 1972/73.Buffon is also now within touching distance of the all-time record of 929 minutes established by AC Milan keeper Sebastiano Rossi in 1993/94.”We’re not even thinking about his record. What matters is making sure that we finish a point ahead of everyone else,” insisted Allegri.Inter Milan kept pace with the pack in the race for Champions League qualification after easily seeing off flatlining Palermo 3-1 to win for just the fourth time in 2016.Adem Ljajic’s low 11th minute strike, Mauro Icardi’s deft 12th of the season 12 minutes later and a diving header from Ivan Perisic nine minutes after the break see Inter stay fifth on 51 points.They are two behind Fiorentina and five behind third-placed Roma, who walloped Paulo Sousa’s Viola 4-1 on Friday.Palermo reacted well to going two down so early and pulled a goal back through a sliding Franco Vazquez finish on the stroke of half-time.But Giuseppe Iachini’s side haven’t won in seven and are now just a point above the relegation zone following Sunday’s defeat and third-from-bottom Frosinone’s 2-0 win over Udinese earlier in the day.”We deserved to be three up at half-time, but made a silly mistake to let them back into the game. We have to improve on that,” said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.The win for Inter also sees them extend their lead on AC Milan to four points after their local rivals’ own Champions League chances took a huge hit at Sassuolo.Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side fell 2-0 thanks to Alfred Duncan’s first half piledriver and Nicola Sansone’s well-worked fifth of the season 18 minutes before the end.”We dominated the first half-hour, but as often happens we failed to turn that pressure into a goal,” said Mihajlovic, who was sent off for dissent when referee Piero Giacomelli didn’t stop the play when Andrea Bertolacci went down in the built up to Sansone’s winner.”We cannot keep creating four or five scoring opportunities only to concede the first shot on goal.”Genoa move level on 31 points with city rivals Sampdoria, who eased their own relegation fears with a 3-0 hammering of rock-bottom Verona on Saturday, while Carpi are six points from safety after their own goalless draw at Bologna.Ciro Immobile missed a first half penalty as mid-table Torino drew 1-1 with Lazio in Sunday’s early game.Andrea Belotti had already opened the scoring for the home side with a 12th minute tap-in when Italy hopeful Immobile blasted over nine minutes later, and Lucas Biglia punished that miss with a spot-kick of his own in the 78th minute.

5 Things we Learned in US Win over France Sunday

Here are five things we learned from the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 1-0 win over France at Nissan Stadium on Sunday:

Pugh is the real deal. Forward Mallory Pugh, 17, looks like a star in the making for the U.S. women. The 5-foot-4 forward, who will attend UCLA in the fall, last month became the youngest player in U.S. women’s team history to play in an Olympic qualifying game.On Sunday, Pugh showcased her speed and her skills, assisting on the only goal of the game. She started her fifth straight national game, meaning her chances of making this summer’s U.S. Olympic squad are looking better and better.“I’m really pleased with where she’s come in the tournament,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “I think it’s not just the mental piece, but also the physical dimension of these games. It’s brand new to her at this level and she’s handled it masterfully.”

he soccer support was superb. The crowd of 25,363 that watched the U.S. beat France was not only the biggest crowd to watch women’s soccer in Tennessee, but was also the biggest crowd the U.S. women had played in front of in their last eight contests.In the opening night of this SheBelieves Cup last week in Tampa, Fla., the crowd was 13,027. Remember, too, that the U.S. men’s soccer team drew 44,835 here for a game against Guatemala last year, smashing the record for a men’s game in Tennessee“You come in and it’s electric,” Ellis said of the environment. “These fans are phenomenal and this team thrives on that environment.”

Solo stands out. In many games, the U.S. women’s team is so dominant that goalie Hope Solo hardly touches the ball. But in Sunday’s closely contested game, Solo offered another good example of why she’s considered the world’s best netminder.When the Americans were on their heels in the first half, Solo came up with some crucial saves — tipping one shot over the crossbar, stopping another point-blank attempt and then smothering a dangerous corner kick right near the goal line.“Such is goalkeeping,” Solo said. “You never know what is going to happen in any game.”

It’s a team in transition. The Americans did earn the victory, but didn’t look like their familiar well-oiled machine in the first half. One of the significant reasons for that was the opponent, an excellent French team. But the U.S. team is also doing some adjusting to new personnel and a new style after a handful of departures from last year’s World Cup-winning squad.One area of change is in the midfield, where Megan Rapinoe (injury) and Lauren Holiday (retirement) are missing and players including Morgan Brian and Lindsey Horan are getting more responsibility.“We just have to ride the wave a little bit,” U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd said. “We just have to go through those growing pains and be patient, really.”

This tournament is critical. The Americans blew through their regional Olympic qualifying last month, winning five games by a combined score of 23-0. But the U.S. wasn’t facing the kind of quality teams it will see in Brazil at this summer’s Olympics.That’s one reason why this SheBelieves Cup is so critical, as it gives the Americans some very competitive games against three of the top five teams in the world. The U.S. has won its first two games by 1-0 scores.“France is a fantastic team and they really push you to the limit,” Ellis said. “But this is exactly why I wanted these games before the Olympics, so we can test ourselves.”Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.

The Premier League title run-in is sure to have twists and turns

Given the week-by-week reaction to the big moments that have defined this most unpredictable of Premier League seasons, it’s worth remembering that we’re not yet near the end of the title race.Last weekend, after Riyad Mahrez scored against Watford to put Leicester City five points clear of Tottenham and eight ahead of Arsenal, Foxes striker Jamie Vardy naturally described the 1-0 win as “massive.”It certainly felt like a huge step but, in fact, things are just getting started. March is around the stage of the season that Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous “squeaky-bum time” phrase is revived and, repetitive as it may have become, there’s a reason for it.No one in the history of English football knew better what it took to win a title, and the 13-time champion understood that things can change at this time of year. Every game has a psychological significance beyond any that has come before associated with it; every step feels longer than the last.Deeper qualities start to tell, from experience to freshness, and it’s a dynamic that is seen every season, regardless of the details of the race in question. This campaign, for example, has been commonly painted as unique because of Leicester’s incredible rise but how does it compare to the past 20 years?What is the leaders’ pace?Since 1994-95, based on the records of the leaders and eventual champions after 29 games, Leicester’s 60 points ranks them joint 17th out of 25 and ahead of just five teams.That is quite low, but the identity of some of the teams they are ahead of is interesting, in that at least three are among the most admired in Premier League history, thus suggesting Leicester’s record far from poor.Man United in 1995-96 (58 points) and 1996-97 (57), Arsenal in 1997-98 (57) and Man United in 1997-98 (59) and 2002-03 (58 points) all had fewer points at this stage, while Leicester also have the same record as Man United’s Treble-winning side of 1998-99 (both P29, W17, D9, L3.)How tight is the race itself?Out of 21 title races since 1995-96, Leicester have the 10th-best lead over second place, at five points. They also have the 10th-best lead over third, at eight, but just the joint 12th-highest over fourth: 10. Given that, it is reasonable to surmise that Manchester City are probably just about still in the race — especially as they have a game in hand — although history suggests it is unlikely.How often has a lead been overturned with just nine games to go?

In the past 21 seasons, a leader after 29 games has been overtaken on just four occasions:

1995-96: Newcastle were three clear of Man United and had a game in hand. Man United won the league by four points.

1997-98: Man United were 11 clear of Arsenal, who had three games in hand and eventually won the league by one point.

2002-03: Arsenal were five clear of Man United, who eventually won the league by five points.

2011-12: Man United were one point clear of Man City — and would extend that to an eight-point gap with five games to go — but City won the title on goal difference. That should give all the chasers some hope, but is of course dependent on Leicester City dropping points.

How often have first-time challengers won the league?One theory is that, in order to finally lift a trophy, you have to go close at least once in order to “learn” how to win it. Is that true?Of 23 Premier League title winners since 1992-93, 19 were either champions or finished runners-up the previous season. The remaining four had all finished third and only Manchester City in 2011-12 had no recent experience of a race’s intensity. Every other outside challenger, such as Norwich in 1992-93, Newcastle in 1995-96 and Ipswich in 2000-01, has fallen away.You actually have to go back to 1980-81, when Aston Villa went from seventh place to win the title, for anything even close to what Leicester are currently doing. The same applies to Tottenham; both would have to break the mould were they to finish the season on top.What is a champions’ run-in?Historically, what has been the required points return of a champion in the run-in?The nine-game average during the past 20 years has been 20 points, which requires at least six wins. By contrast, some teams have won just four of their past nine but each — Man United in 2000-01, Arsenal in 2003-04 and Man United in 2012-13 — already had a big lead over their closest challengers.Two sides — Man United in 1999-2000 and Arsenal in 2001-02 — have won all of their remaining games. If the Gunners, or Man City, are to prevail this season they will probably have to go on a similar run, especially if Leicester maintain their current form.Miguel Delaney is 

On New York’s Bustling Streets, a Soccer Megastar Roams Freely

By JEFF OLOIZIAFEB. 29, 2016

He can’t make a move in Italy without attracting fans, but in New York, Andrea Pirlo is just a regular guy.

To many people around the world, Andrea Pirlo is a god. As a soccer player for some of the planet’s biggest clubs, he has two Champions League trophies and six league titles. In 2006, he won the World Cup with Italy, where he has three times been player of the year, and where his nicknames include ‘‘Mozart’’ and ‘‘The Professor.’’ His 2013 autobiography, ‘‘I Think Therefore I Play,’’ was a best seller in Italy. There are social media accounts devoted entirely to his beard. A quick Google search of his name returns results like ‘‘37 Reasons Why Andrea Pirlo Is the World’s Greatest Living Human Man.’’ He has met two popes.

But none of that matters in New York City, where Pirlo is standing on a street corner just a block from Herald Square in Manhattan. Last summer, he surprised fans the world over by signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with New York City FC, a first-year team in Major League Soccer. At 36, the Brescia native covers Vanity Fair and GQ in Italy, but today is his first solo magazine shoot in the U.S. Despite a steady drizzle that has interrupted nearly two weeks of mid-November sunshine, Pirlo shows up from training perfectly coiffed in a Massimo Piombo houndstooth blazer and a bright orange cardigan. A team of photographer’s assistants and stylists huddles around a laptop screen while their subject stands statuelike in the rain. Back home, such a happening would most likely devolve into a mob scene, but here most onlookers just file by — until a trio on holiday from Milan spots him. ‘‘Ciao, Andrea!’’ one of them shrieks. A few tourists also take notice, snapping photos on their phones. Pirlo gives a modest smile before returning to his pose.Pirlo’s American life couldn’t be more different than that of M.L.S.’s other most famous import, David Beckham. Whereas Beckham drove through Los Angeles in a customized Escalade with his jersey number emblazoned on the grille, Pirlo prefers getting around Manhattan by foot. In the evenings, he strolls along the High Line or goes golfing in the Bronx. In October, he took his girlfriend to an Alberto Burri exhibition at the Guggenheim, where they were free to explore, undisturbed. Occasionally, he’ll stop by Felidia, the homey Italian restaurant owned by a friend’s mother, for a glass of wine. ‘‘Just being able to go out to dinner at the trendiest restaurants — in Italy, I can’t do that,’’ says Pirlo. Anonymity is a delightful novelty for him, after years of contending with fanatical supporters and near-constant police escorts in Europe. ‘‘There were times we were kept in our dressing room until late at night because it wasn’t safe to go home,’’ he says. ‘‘Our bus would get attacked, the tires slit.’’ When his contract with Juventus, the Turin-based club owned by the Fiat scion Andrea Agnelli, expired last June, Pirlo began considering a move to America, where he’d be just another player. Never mind that he’d be giving up the chartered planes and five-star amenities of top-flight European football. Months later, he can hardly believe his luck. ‘‘I always wanted to come here to play,’’ he says, ‘‘but I never thought it would be so soon.’’Soccer fans in New York may be saying the same thing. In a city rich with superstar athletes — Alex Rodriguez, Eli Manning and Carmelo Anthony among them — Pirlo is arguably the most decorated (if under the radar). Despite arriving halfway through last season, he still finished third on his team in assists, and his ability to build play from his midfield position helped stabilize a roster long on raw talent. ‘‘He’s someone you watch growing up,’’ says Khiry Shelton, one of N.Y.C.F.C.’s most promising young players and, at 22, 14 years Pirlo’s junior. ‘‘To be able to play with him now is unreal.’’M.L.S., too, seems eager to capitalize on its good fortune. Don Garber, the league’s commissioner and a former N.F.L. executive, calls the impact of Pirlo’s arrival second only to Beckham’s. ‘‘I can’t tell you how many people peripherally connected to soccer emailed me and said, ‘Oh my God, I need to go to a New York City game,’ ’’ he says. That the Italian midfielder’s jersey is already the league’s fourth best seller is a hopeful sign that N.Y.C.F.C.’s hefty investment will pay off: At $2.3 million, Pirlo’s annual salary is nearly 46 times that of the league’s lowest-paid players, several of whom hold second jobs.For his part, Pirlo seems more concerned with the typical expat’s challenges and discoveries. Eight months in, he still orders his clothes from Italy. He’s been reading up on the rules of American football, which he has begun to watch regularly. As his English improves, he has set his sights on another kind of goal: seeing a Broadway show. In less than two years, his contract with N.Y.C.F.C. will be up. And then? ‘‘I don’t rule out the idea of staying here,’’ he says, smiling. ‘‘That could be something interesting.’’

RECAP – INDY ELEVEN 0 : 1 OC BLUES FC

Eleven ends Arizona stay with hard fought loss in physical affairMar 7, 2016

Indy Eleven Ends Arizona Stay with 0-1 Defeat to OC Blues FC

Physical Game Sees USL Side Score Lone Tally in First Half
CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA (Monday, March 7, 2016) – Indy Eleven pressed to recreate the second half scoring punch it enjoyed on Friday, but couldn’t find an equalizer against Orange County Blues FC in a 0-1 defeat at the Grande Sports World complex. The result ended an eight-day stay in Arizona for the “Boys in Blue,” who will head back to Indianapolis tomorrow to continue their preseason preparations.

A physical 90 minutes began with OC Blues having the better of the chances, although no shots would test Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch until he made a fine one-handed save at his right post in the 19^th minute.

The USL side looked to employ long balls over the Indy backline on the windy evening, and the tactic worked in the 36^th minute when a Blues FC attacker got goal side on an Eleven defender while chasing down a 60-yard ball from the back. With Busch forced to come off his line, the attacker chipped the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper and into the upper right corner to move the scoreboard for Orange County.

Indy Eleven’s best chance of the first half came four minutes later. Midfielder Don Smart whipped in a low cross from the right flank, but the pass skipped through the six-yard box and just past the runs of both midfielder Duke Lacroix and forward Wojciech Wojcik, the latter who got the start after his hat trick Friday versus Arizona United FC.

While the second half was controlled largely by the “Boys in Blue,” halftime substitute goalkeeper Keith Cardona would be pressed into action early in the 48^th minute, first punching a drilled effort from the right side of the area into the ground before holding on to a hard shot from 20 yards out that followed.

Wojcik’s teammates would start to find him soon after, with guest midfielder Mike Klain supplying a pair of fine crosses from the right in the 52^nd and 53^rd minutes to create chances, the first missing just wide and the second forcing the Blues backstop into a save. In the 64^th minute it was midfielder Dragan Stojkov providing a cutback cross from the left endline, but “Woj” would be robbed from the corner of the six by a leaping, one-handed stop.

The chances would dry up for both sides in the last 20 minutes, but Indy still managed to ask some questions of the Blues defense down the stretch. Upfield for a set piece, defender Greg Janicki nearly nodded home midfielder Dylan Mares’ free kick in the 72^nd minute, while Lacroix’s near angle shot off Smart’s far post cross in the 84^th minute would force one last save.

After returning home Tuesday, Indy Eleven will stay inside the Hoosier State for the remainder of its build up to its 2016 NASL season opener on Saturday, April 2, at the Tampa Bay Rowdies.  The squad will resume exhibition action this Saturday, March 12, in the Indianapolis area with a closed-door scrimmage against new USL side FC Cincinnati at 11:00 a.m. ET. The game will be closed to the public but open to members of the media, who are asked to email John@IndyEleven.com for more information.

Visit www.IndyEleven.com/preseason for the full details on Indy Eleven’s preseason itinerary leading up to the team’s third season of NASL play.
Scoring Summary:
OCB – goal 36’
Indy Eleven 1^st Half XI (4-2-3-1, L -> R): Jon Busch; Marco Franco, Nemanja Vuković, Colin Falvey (Greg Janicki 35’), Lovel Palmer; Gorka Larrea, Brad Ring; Duke Lacroix, Siniša Ubiparipović (Eamon Zayed 30’), Don Smart; Wojciech Wojcik
Indy Eleven 2^nd Half XI (4-2-3-1): Keith Cardona; Marco Franco, Greg Janicki, Cory Miller, Lovel Palmer (Don Smart 67’); Nemanja Vuković (Duke Lacroix 67’), Dylan Mares; Dragan Stojkov, Eamon Zayed, Mike Klain; Wojciech Wojcik

A Full House in Seattle for the Opener

So MLS – US Major League Soccer – Kicks off this Weekend for its __ Season.  I have to say after taking in the exciting Portland victory over Columbus in last season’s Final at Crew Stadium I am as excited about this upcoming MLS season as any in a long time. I know its not Europe or Champions League – but there are again some exciting new signees, tons of US national team players and quite honestly some players I wouldn’t mind seeing – (NYCFC – Pirlo, Lampard, Villa; Orlando with Kaka, LA with with Gerard, dos Santos, Robbie Keane; Toronto FC with Altidore, Giovincho, and Bradley, Portland – the defending Champs with Nat Borchers and Nagbe and of course still my favorite team – Seattle with Dempsey & Chad Morris.  Still not sure how I will see all the games I want but certainly when these teams are playing I will be watching.   Sunday is Soccer Night in America as ESPN and Fox Sports 1 will feature National Games of the Week – this week its defending champs Portland and their amazing home crowd hosting runner’s up Columbus Crew at 4:30 pm on ESPN, with Seattle and the Best Home Crowd in America facing Sporting KC at USMNT star Matt Beasler at 7 pm on Fox Sports 1.

So lovely EPL games this past midweek as Leicester City managed to hang on to their 1 game lead over Tottenham and 2 over Arsenal despite their tie with West Brom.  Only Man United, West Ham and Liverpool took advantage to slide up a very tight table as the battle for top 4 (CL) and top 6 (Europa) intensifies with just 10 games left in the EPL Season.  Arsenal gets a chance to stop their slide and catch up to the #2 team Sat 7:45 am at Tottenham on NBCSN.

Finally both Champions League and Europa League Sweet 16 action return next week as Real Madrid return home Tuesday on FS1 2:45 to face Roma with a 2-1 lead and Chelsea takes a 1-2 deficit into its home match with PSG on Wed 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1.  Europa has 2 solid games on Thurs as Liverpool host Man U at 3 pm FS1, and Tottenham travels to face German power Borrusia Dortmand at 1 pm FS2.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Tues, March 8 –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1                Real Madrid vs Roma                                               

2:45 pm Fox Soccer    Wolfsburg vs Gent

Wed, March 9 –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1                Chelsea 1 vs PSG 2

2:45 pm Fox Sport2    Zenit vs Benfica

7:30 pm ESPN?         US Women vs Germany (Boca, FL)

 Thur, Mar 9 -Europa League

1 pm Fox Sports 2        Borusia Dortmund vs Tottenham

3 pm Fox Sport1,ESPN3  Liverpool vs Man United     

US Ladies beat France – 5 things we learned

Champions League

What to Watch 4 Video UCL Return Legs

Real 2 v Roma 0 Preview  Tues 2:45 Fox Sports 1

Wolfsburg 3 – 2 Gent   Tues 2:45 Fox Sports Local

Down 2-0 Roma looks to score first at Real Madrid

Chelsa 1 – PSG 2 Preview Wed 2:45 Fox Sports 1

Zenit 0 – Benefica 1 Preview  Wed 2:45 FS 2

PSG man Confident they handle Chelsea

Gent believes in Belgium miracle

Congrats to Indiana Soccer Manager of the Year, Carmel FC’s Nari Chapman!

Former Carmel FC Director Andy Fray was one of the 4 Finalist for Volunteer of the Year.  Congrats to you and thanks for all you have done for Carmel FC.

MLS

Season Starts Video

ESPN MLS Predictions

MLS Preseason Power Rankings  Jason Davis

MLS Power Rankings SI – Luvi Bird

Can Portland Repeat ?

What to Watch for Opening Day

Biggest Questions Facing All 20 Teams as MLS Season Kicks Off

Can Promotion/Relegation Ever Work in the US?

Nat Borchers thirst for knowledge will help “the Beard and the Timbers” in title defense

LA Galaxy Crash out of CCL in 4-0 loss to Mexican Santos Laguna

Armchair Analyst Rimando the Wall for RSL

Examining David Villa’s role for NYCFC

Can Larin replicate his rookie year heroics?

• A new spot and new concerns for Giovinco
• New start begins at the back for Chicago
• Sporting can create, but who’ll finish?
• Young-at-the-back Union flipping the script
• JaviMosquares off against Father Time
• Drogba’s magic, but Impact need a Plan B
• Revs need to find Fagundez at the back post
• Fundamental things still apply for No. 9s
• Report: Toronto FC part ways with veteran forward Herculez Gomez
• US
• Copa America Centario Times Announced

US 17 YO Christian Pulisic making Progress at Dortmund

US Fabian Johnson Scores 6^th goal for Monchengladbach

Armchair Analyst Dempsey’s New Role for Club and Country – MLS.com

US gets the FIFA President It Wanted – Grahn Wahl SI

Jozy Altidore on Copa, Howard and Toronto FC

Copa Schedule –Philly.com

WORLD

Buffon up to 746 minutes without conceding a goal in Serie A

Ranking the Top Teams in the World

Juve Bonucci Key in Win over Inter Milan

Athletico win 3^rd time in row at Real Madrid and complete La Liga Wrap-up

Real’s Benzema Out for Month with Knee

Germany Wrap-Up

Europe Superleague – ESPN FC -Marcotti

Europe Happenings –ESPN FC Marcotti

EPL

Title contenders All Stumble mid Week

What’s Trending World Wide ESPN FC

Man City’s Peligrino’s Gamble Pays off in Cup Win over Liverpool 

Backup Man City Keeper Caballero Saves 3 PKs in League Cup Shootout win over Liverpool

Liverpool’s Cup Final Defeat shows how far Klopp needs to Go

Klopps record in Cup Finals Needs Work

Reds Must Bounce Back

Europa League Round of 16 Draw

Tottenham show title credentials in Comeback over Swansea

Man U 18 yo Marcus Rashford Scores 2 again in defeat of Arsenal

Man U Youngsters Dominate Arsenal

Van Gaal’s Flop Was Trending

Van Gaal and United Impress

Cost of Players Man U vs Arsenal

Leicester Manager Claudio Ranieri proves he will take risks to chase the Title

Leicester must Avoid Complacency in Title Run – up 2 with 12 weeks left.

EPL Table

GAMES THIS WEEK

Sat, March 5: 

7:30 am NBCSN           Tottenham vs Arsenal

9:30 a.m., Fox Sport 1 Augsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen
9:30 a.m., Fox Sport 2 VfL Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (US Johnson)
9:30 a.m., Fox Soccer + Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Ingolstadt

10 am NBCSN                Man City vs Aston Villa

10 am NBC Live Extra Chelsea vs Stoke City (US Cameron), Southhampton vs Sunderland (US Yedlin), Everton vs West Ham

10 am beIn Sport       Real Madrid vs Celta de Vigo
12:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Plus: Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich (also free on Fox Sports Go, Tape Delay Sat 7 pm on FS2)

Sun, March 6: MLS Opening Weekend

8:30 am NBCSN         Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1: Mainz vs. Darmstadt
11 am NBCSN           West Brom vs Man U

11:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1: Hamburg SV vs. Hertha Berlin (US John Brooks)

3 pm ESPN3              US Women vs France (Nashville, TN)

4:30 pm ESPN           Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew

7 pm Fox Sports 1    Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City

Tues, March 8 –Champions League

2 pm Fox Sport2         Hull City vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1                Real Madrid vs Roma

2:45 pm Fox sportsnet Wolfsburg vs Gent

Wed, March 9 –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1                Chelsea 1 vs PSG 2

2:45 pm Fox Sport2    Zenit vs Benfica

7:30 pm ESPN?         US Women vs Germany (Boca, FL)

Thurs, Mar 10

UEFA Europa League (Round of 16 first legs)

1 pm Fox Sports 2 Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur 
1 pm ESPN3: Basel vs. Sevilla, Fenerbahçe vs. Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Anderlecht

3 pm Fox Sports 2 ESPN3: Liverpool vs. Manchester United
3 pm ESPN Deportes: Villarreal vs. Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm ESPN3: Athletic Bilbao vs. Valencia

Sun, March 13: 

10 am NBCSN           Liverpool vs Chelsea

12 noon                     Aston Villa vs Tottenham

5 p.m. (ESPN2,)         New York City FC vs. Toronto FC, 

7 pm Fox Sports 1      San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers,

Tues, Mar 16  –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Man City vs Dynamo Kiev  3-1

2:45 pm Fox Sports 2  Athletico vs PSV Eindhoven 0-0

Wed, Mar 17  –Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Barcelona vs Arsenal  2-0

2:45 pm Fox Sport1    Bayern Munich vs Juventus 2-2

Fri, March 25: 

4:30 pm TBD          US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff

time TBD (beIN Sports,)  Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier,

Tuesday, March 28:

7 pm (ESPN2)        United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier-Columbus, OH Tickets 

Wednesday, March 29

9:30 pm ESPN2     US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff Texas

Copa Schedule

MLS TV Schedule ‘

 Official start times announced for all Copa America Centenario matches

February 29, 20162:01 PM ESTSam Stejskal  MLSsoccer.com

The Copa America Centenario organizing committee on Monday announced the start times to all of the tournament’s matches, with the US men’s national team set to kick off the tournament against Colombia at 9:30 pm ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Friday, June 3.The US will play their second group stage match at 8 pm ET on Tuesday, June 7 at Chicago’s Soldier Field, and will wrap Group A on Saturday, June 11 at 7 pm ET against Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.The tournament final will be held at 8 pm ET on Sunday, June 26 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Other notable group stage matches include a rematch of the 2015 Copa America final between Argentina and Chile in Group D on June 6 at 10 pm ET at Levi’s Stadium and a 2015 Gold Cup final rematch between Jamaica and Mexico in Group C on June 9 at 10 pm ET at the Rose Bowl.This summer’s tournament is being played in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Copa America. Expected to be the biggest men’s soccer tournament held on US soil since the 1994 World Cup, the June event will mark the first time the Copa America will ever be held outside of South America.The tournament, which will be broadcast in the US on Fox and Univision, will take place in 10 cities across the US, including in three MLS stadiums.

2016 MLS predictions: Who will win MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, MVP?

With the MLS season kicking off on Sunday, we turned to our league writers to predict who will be this season’s most successful sides. Jeff Carlisle, Doug McIntyre, Jason Davis, Graham Parker and Noah Davis tell us who they think will win MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, MVP and more.

Jeff Carlisle: FC Dallas — FCD has been steadily building up its roster with an impressive mix of youth and experience. The key will be if Max Urruti can provide the kind of consistent forward play the team lacked last season.

Doug McIntyre: LA Galaxy — Boasting what is arguably the most stacked roster in league history this season, look for Bruce Arena’s team — the MLS Cup champs in 2011, ’12 and ’14 — to return to the promised land in 2016.

Jason Davis: Columbus Crew SC — In 2015, Columbus Crew SC played some of the best soccer in the league and wound up hosting a final. Barring a disastrous series of injuries, there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again, this time finishing the job with a championship.

Graham Parker: Vancouver Whitecaps — I think this is the season that the Whitecaps roster has been building toward, and now is the time for them to come good, if they are going to come good at all. Like Portland, they might not dominate throughout the year, but I expect them to be solidly in the mix with a balanced squad at the end.

Noah Davis: Toronto FC — In 2015, TFC scored in bunches but would have struggled to defend a good U-20 side. The arrival of midfielder Will Johnson and defenders Steven Beitashour and Drew Moor should give them more bang at the back. And new arrival Clint Irwin will be in goal to clean up any mistakes.

Supporters’ Shield

Carlisle: Columbus Crew SC — The continuing imbalance in conference strength means an Eastern Conference club is likely to walk away with the Shield, and Columbus will be the biggest beneficiary.

McIntyre: LA Galaxy — With 31-year-old Dutch destroyer Nigel de Jong joining an absurdly deep squad that includes Giovani Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard — who’ll both be better this year after a full preseason in L.A. — Ashley Cole, Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes, no team will be better than the Galaxy in 2016.

J. Davis: Vancouver Whitecaps — The remarkable thing about the Caps’ second-place finish in the West last year was that they managed it with a mediocre home record. If Vancouver performs as well on the road as they did in 2015 and gets a few more wins at home, they’ll win the Shield.

Parker: FC Dallas — The West is always competitive, yet Dallas managed to take the Shield race to goal difference on the last day. The only caveat is that there will be no Blas Perez this year, having moved to Vancouver, to provide the brute-force goal threat when more subtle strategies fail. But they look to have compensated for his loss and should have enough to keep the Shield in sight.

N. Davis: FC Dallas — Mad genius Oscar Pareja nearly led his gaggle of young players to last season’s top spot but lost out on goal differential to the New York Red Bulls. If Fabian Castillo stays and Mauro Diaz remains healthy — big ifs, yes — Pareja will have them there again despite playing in the West; players like Kellyn Acosta and Jesse Gonzalez will have another year under their belts.

Western Conference champion

Carlisle: FC Dallas — While questions surround the likes of the LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, Dallas retrenched through offseason acquisitions such as Urruti, Carlos Gruezo and Mauro Rosales, making them the favorites.

McIntyre: LA Galaxy — FC Dallas probably overachieved as the West’s best in 2015, and Seattle could struggle early after losing Martins to China on the eve of the new season.

J. Davis: FC Dallas — One gets the feeling that Pareja is not only on the verge of putting together a championship season with an exciting young team, but that there could be a dynasty in the making in north Texas. An extra year of experience and a few key additions make FC Dallas the pick in the West.

Parker: FC Dallas — This is set up to be the year for Dallas. The dividends of investing in youth under Pareja should be apparent this season, with the exponential improvement of those players augmented with some smart, strategic guile. Speed, talent, depth and, increasingly, experience will form this team.

N. Davis: Seattle Sounders — Any one of half a dozen teams could emerge from the brutal West, but I’ll ride with the perpetual coaching genius of Sigi Schmid and the perennial heroics of Clint Dempsey. Jordan Morris will relieve pressure with his speed, while Cristian Roldan seems set for a DeAndre Yedlin-esque breakout season.

Eastern Conference champion

Carlisle: Columbus Crew SC — A lack of defensive solidity held the Crew back last year, but the defense improved down the stretch, and Gregg Berhalter looks to have made some astute pickups in the offseason.

McIntyre: New York Red Bulls — Last year’s best regular-season squad will be hard pressed to repeat as Supporters’ Shield winners, but they’re still the East’s most complete team despite selling blue-chip center-back Miazga to Chelsea in January.

J. Davis: Columbus Crew SC — As much attention as Kei Kamara, Federico Higuain and Columbus’ wings get, it’s Crew SC’s central midfield that holds the key to their title aspirations. Wil Trapp is good and growing, while Tony Tchani can use the disappointment of the MLS Cup to become a more dependable destroyer.

Parker: Columbus Crew SC — I don’t think that the Red Bulls’ drop off will be drastic, but I also think that teams will be better prepared for them this year, and Columbus are a team who are collectively still in the ascendancy. The Crew just match up well with everyone.

N. Davis: Toronto FC — Having already discussed Toronto’s fortified defense, let’s talk about the attack. You already know about Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and 2015 MVP Sebastian Giovinco, but pay attention to silky smooth 20-year-old Marky Delgado, a developing creative force whom the TFC coaching staff loves.

Most Valuable Player

Carlisle: Mauro Diaz — The Argentine proved his fitness last year, and the rest of the league was the worse for it. Now Diaz is poised to take his game even higher.

McIntyre: Didier Drogba — He turns 38 this month, but Drogba proved to be the most physically dominant forward in MLS history after arriving last summer. If he stays healthy and comes anywhere close to his 2015 strike rate (11 goals in 11 regular-season games), the league’s two-decade-old single-year goals mark of 27 could fall.

J. Davis: Sebastian Giovinco — The saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Giovinco ain’t broke, and while the Italian forward might miss some time away on national team duty this year, he remains the most irresistible attacker in the league, hence there’s no need to “fix it” by picking anyone else for MVP.

Parker: Sebastian Giovinco — Giovinco’s an obvious choice, but he’s theobvious choice. Add in the fact that Toronto have put in the right pieces of MLS experience to strengthen their team and Giovinco’s sheer brilliance even when he’s singled out for marking, and he’s the man to beat again.

N. Davis: Michael Bradley — TFC should have MLS’s best attack and Bradley will be the facilitator. He might not produce the highlight-reel goals of Giovinco, but assuming the Italian stud’s numbers drop a bit from 2015 — due to a more productive Altidore than anything — it’s easy to see Bradley’s strong two-way play getting credit from the voters.

Timbers, Columbus top the MLS Power Rankings ahead of 2016 season

The first edition of the 2016 Major League Soccer Power Rankings looks a lot like the final standings from the 2015 season, and for good reason.

If you don’t include No. 1 — Portland, who earned it with a championship — the rest of the list turns mostly on how things shook out last year. But this being MLS, we’ll find out quickly which teams can maintain a foundation laid in 2015, which teams will fall and which of the also-rans can climb up the ladder.

1. Portland Timbers

Top spot goes to the defending champs, as is only just and right. As the season opens, the biggest question around the Timbers is whether they’ll start 2016 half as hot as they finished 2015.

2. Columbus Crew SC

Gregg Berhalter’s team will surely enter the new year hungry for redemption after their flat performance in last year’s final. All of the weapons are in place for another chance at glory.

3. New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls lost young star Matt Miazga, but with a team-focused mentality and the leadership they possess across the squad, expect New York to be around the top of the standings all year long.

4. FC Dallas

The FC Dallas squad is still young, but that label can no longer be code for “unready.” Last year proved that Oscar Pareja’s side is on the verge of something special if it can keep the talented core intact.

5. Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver enters the year with significant expectations built on a 2015 campaign that probably didn’t show all of their potential. The Caps need consistent goal scoring from Octavio Rivero and a breakout year from Kekuta Manneh to meet the bar.

6. LA Galaxy

A handful of big, somewhat aging, names have joined Steven Gerrard as part of Bruce Arena’s rebuild of the Galaxy, and no one quite knows what that means yet. Can the Over the Hill Gang, MLS-style, get it done?

7. Seattle Sounders

With Obafemi Martins flipped for a profit to the Chinese Super League, more of the responsibility for the Sounders’ fortunes this year now shift to Nelson Valdez and Jordan Morris. Morris, in particular, is going to face the spotlight.

8. Montreal Impact

No one team in the Power Rankings faces possible swings as dramatic as the Impact. If Didier Drogba is healthy, committed and managed well, Montreal is a contender. If not, it’s anyone’s guess where they finish.

9. Sporting Kansas City

Sporting suffered quite a bit due to bad luck and some underwhelming performances in what proved to be a disappointing season in 2015. This campaign hinges on finding goals from the forwards, the continued excellence of Benny Feilhaber and that old Sporting swagger appearing again.

10. New England Revolution

Everyone tapped the Revs for another run to MLS Cup last year. Alas, this is MLS, and Jay Heaps’ team fell at the first hurdle to D.C. United. Now the task is adjusting to life without Jermaine Jones, no easy task.

11. D.C. United

United’s offseason probably to be more net loss than net gain. That’s how important midfielder Perry Kitchen was to Ben Olsen’s grind-it-out style. Can United succeed with the same approach swapping Marcelo Sarvas for Kitchen?

12. Toronto FC

Toronto’s Achilles’ heel in 2015 was their sieve-like defense, so the club went out and actively addressed the problem in the offseason. With a set of MLS vets in the mix, and their high-profile DPs in the attack, Toronto is raring to go.

13. Orlando City

A very strange offseason in Orlando remains the biggest talking point around a team with the talent to make the playoffs in 2016. Two-times turnover in the front office and what appears to be a question over direction make City a fascinating club to watch.

14. San Jose Earthquakes

Is improvement in the cards for the Quakes? Simon Dawkins, one of the keys to the club’s Supporters’ Shield season in 2012, is back, and Dom Kinnear has had more time to mold the club in his image.

15. Houston Dynamo

Missing out on the playoffs in the first year under Owen Coyle wasn’t all that surprising for the Dynamo. But if the club is right and Coyle is an exception to the foreign-coach-fails-in-MLS rule, 2016 will be telling.

16. New York City FC

Like Houston, New York’s biggest story is the adaptation of a foreign manager to the strangeness of MLS. Patrick Vieira doesn’t need to be a magician to fix what ails NYCFC, just really, really good in his first year in a new league.

17. Real Salt Lake

The days of RSL being an automatic selection for Western Conference contender might be over. Jeff Cassar does still have the ageless Javier Morales and Yura Movsisyan, however, so there’s at least hope for a bounce-back season.

18. Philadelphia Union

Earnie Stewart is remaking the Union in his image, a positive step out of the doom and gloom of the Nick Sakiewicz era. Still, can Philadelphia make the huge strides it will take to get themselves to the playoffs?

19. Chicago Fire

By all accounts, new Fire boss Veljko Paunovic plans to play a go-go pressing style that will, at the very least, make Chicago much more fun to watch this season. Until that style delivers points, however, they remain near the foot of the power rankings.

20. Colorado Rapids

How much difference can a high-priced goalkeeper make in MLS? Colorado did sign a striker during the winter — Shkelzen Gashi out of the Swiss league — but the biggest arrival will be USMNT man Tim Howard this summer.Jason Davis is a writer from Virginia covering American soccer.

MLS Preseason Power Rankings: Keys to success for each team

What are MLS coaches, executives most proud of about the league?

Plenty of talk surrounding MLS involves its needs and improvement areas, but what do top-ranking officials and coaches think has been a success?

Posted: Wed Mar. 2, 2016

In Major League Soccer more than perhaps any other league in the world, the previous season means little. Every year, the parity of the league ensures that even the teams that finished outside the playoffs just a few months prior could be the ones in the hunt for the trophy in December.It doesn’t happen magically or by accident, though. Teams have plenty of chances to overhaul their squad if necessary, or hire a new coach, between seasons, but stagnation is still possible.Here’s where each team stands heading into the 2016 season and its key to success in the new year (previous ranking based on playoff exit or regular-season finish):

MLS PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS

• 1 PORTLAND TIMBERS

LAST SEASON: 1

RECORD: 2015: 15-11-8

Repeating as champion will be tough, and the Timbers will have to handle the pressure of having a target on their back from the start of the season–while working in a slew of new faces–if they hope to do so in 2016.

• 2COLUMBUS CREW SC

LAST SEASON: 2

RECORD: 2015: 15-11-8

Columbus should have a chip on its shoulder after the way 2015 ended, and this season will be about making good on the promise that the team, with its lineup kept largely intact, showed a year ago. A happy Kei Kamara will also go a long way, and reports that he’s nearing a lucrative new contract should handle that.

• 3FC DALLAS

LAST SEASON: 3

RECORD: 2015: 18-10-6

Dallas should again put its faith in youth, but those younger players are now a year more experienced and have a deep playoff run to their name, making their play this season even more important.

• 4NEW YORK RED BULLS

LAST SEASON: 4

RECORD: 2015: 18-10-6

After the way last season ended and losing Matt Miazga to Chelsea, the Red Bulls’ biggest question leading into 2016 is whether the back line can keep up with the rest of the squad and Jesse Marsch’s high-pressure system.

• 5LA GALAXY

LAST SEASON: 9

RECORD: 2015: 14-11-9

Bruce Arena’s team is geared up to win now, with the acquisition of more veteran players over the offseason, making physical resilience and longevity the biggest question surrounding the team again.

• 6VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

LAST SEASON: 6

RECORD: 2015: 16-13-5

The Whitecaps were dangerous on the counterattack all of 2015 but struggled when opponents allowed them the majority of possession, so Vancouver must be be better with the ball this year.

• 7TORONTO FC

LAST SEASON: 12

RECORD: 2015: 15-15-4

TFC bolstered its defense by signing Clint Irwin, Will Johnson, Drew Moor and Steven Beitashour, perhaps finally giving the Reds the balance they need behind a high-priced attack to not just make the playoffs, but also win the league. Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC enter MLS season with sky-high expectationsToronto FC striker Jozy Altidore looks at how far his team can go this season.

• 8MOTREAL IMPACT

LAST SEASON: 7

RECORD: 2015: 15-13-6

Didier Drogba is back, and the Impact will need consistent scoring from their star man again to have a chance of seeing the same kind of attacking production as they did at the end of 2015.

• 9SEATTLE SOUNDERS

LAST SEASON: 5

RECORD: 2015: 15-13-6

Seattle’s system change to fit Jordan Morris into the lineup means the attack–which lost Obafemi Martins to China–will be under constant scrutiny this season, as will an aging defensive core anchored by multiple players in their 30s.

• 10D.C. UNITED

LAST SEASON: 8   ..

RECORD: 2015: 15-13-6

Traditionally a hard-nosed defensive team, D.C. showed in its loss to Querétaro in Champions League play how reliant it may be on the back again have to be if the attack can’t finish its chances. Can the club survive an early spell as goalkeeping ace Bill Hamid recovers from a knee injury?

• 11SPORTING KANSAS CITY

LAST SEASON: 10

RECORD: 2015: 14-11-9

SKC acquired a couple of experienced wingers in Justin Mapp and Brad Davis this offseason, but after losing Krisztian Németh to Qatar, the biggest question will be who, aside from Dom Dwyer, finishes the chances they—and Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber—create.

• 12ORLANDO CITY SC

LAST SEASON: 14

RECORD: 2015: 12-14-8

Consistency, not quality, was the issue for Orlando in its inaugural year, making it a burning question for the team as it kicks off its second season in MLS as well.

• 13NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

LAST SEASON: 11

RECORD: 2015: 14-12-8

The Jermaine Jones saga overshadowed much of the Revs’ offseason, but whether Gershon Koffie and Xavier Kouassi (the Designated Player with a torn ACL) are viable replacements remains to be seen.

• 14NEW YORK CITY FC

LAST SEASON: 17

RECORD: 2015: 10-17-7

Patrick Vieira’s transition into MLS will be an interesting story to follow, as the foreign manager looks to shirk the supposed curse that follows newcomer coaches into the league. Will a full year of David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo playing together make the difference?

So on this day of the Vote for a New FIFA President we have a new guy in charge – Gianni Infantino, a former EUFA League VP wins it. Now the hard work begins. Check out ESPN and Fox as both will have coverage throughout the day on this monumental vote without Sepp Blatter involved.

So Champions League play was again spectacular on Super Tues – as the world’s best player – Messi again worked his magic at Arsenal and Barcelona again left with a 2-0 lead. Italy’s defending finalist Juventus got down 2-0 to Bayern at home only to come rallying back in the final minutes to pull out a spectacular tie 2-2 vs the German champions. On Wednesday the Man City looks assured of a trip to the quarterfinals for the 1^st time after after Ya Ya Tourey, Aguero and company made waste of Dynamo Kiev 3-1.  Champions League play is back with the return legs in the 2 game playoffs on March 8/9 + 15/16.  While the best in Europe took the headlines – MLS was facing some of the best in Mexico in Concacaff Champions League action.  Seattle, the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake all have chances to advance while the other MLS teams didn’t fare to well – those return legs are next Tues/Wed. on Fox Sports.

This weekend we have the Madrid Classico with Real hosting Athletico Sat 10 am on beIn Sport, while Man U and Arsenal battle at Old Trafford at 9 am Sunday on NBCSN before the Capital One Cup Final between Liverpool and Man City at 11:30 am on beIn Sport.

Games of the Week

Sat, Feb 27

10 am beIn Sport –     Madrid Classico – Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid – Battle for Madrid as both teams still in top 4 in Spain

Sunday, Feb 28

9 am NBCSN –          Man U vs Arsenal  – Always a big game despite Man U’s struggles – Gunners need win to stay in EPL contention for title

11:30 am                   Capital 1 Cup Finals – Liverpool vs Man City – Can Klopp help Liverpool win a trophy? 

2:45 pm  bein Sport     Juventus vs Inter – top 4 battle in the Italian League

Wed, March 2

2:30 pm Gol TV         Inter vs Juve – Coppa Italia  

3 pm NBCSN             Liverpool vs Man City

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m Fox Sports:                 Club América vs. Seattle Sounders

Champions League

Champions League Tues Wrap up Barco 2-0, Bayern-Juve 2-2 SI

Arsenal have no answer for Messi and Barca-ESPN FC

Barca vs Arsenal Player Ratings Messi a 9 ESPN FC

Arsenal Striker Giroud rues Header vs Barca saved by Ter Stegan

Juve’s Pogba unleashes the Batsignal in 2-2 draw with Bayern

How Juve came back to tie Bayern

Man City 3-1 at Dynamo Kyve looks to have them thru for 1^st time Ever

PSV and Athletico Tie at 0-0

Both PSV and Athletico ok with Tie

Last week’s first legs
Gent 2-3 Wolfsburg — RECAP
AS Roma 0-2 Real Madrid — RECAP
Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Chelsea — RECAP
Benfica 1-0 Zenit St. Petersburg — RECAP

Europa Cup – Man U, Liverpool, Spurs all Advance

 MLS

Dempsey with a Beautiful Free kick in 2-2 tie with Club America in CCL Tues Night

Top 10 MLS Storyline Fans should be following in 2016

MLS- Champions League Results are Not Kind

Galaxy Tie while Real Salt Lake lose UCCL

NYCFC Mix Diskarud to Rapids for Tim Howard makes Sense

MLS Defending Champ Portland Timbers Season Preview

LA Galaxy Season Preview

EPL + World

Messi Gives real Jersey to Plastic Bag Kid in Afganastan

EPL Weekend Predictions

EPL Top 5 Stories

Football Daily news

With 12 Games left where does EPL Stand

Tim Howard US GK -loses Starting spot at Everton

Report has Antonio Conte – Italy’s National Team Coach taking Chelsea Job after Euros

Goalie Scores Tying Goal on drop kick in Injury Time

USA

US Women Have Sights on World Cup/Olympic Double

US Women beat Canada to win Concacaff

Which Demoted Keeper Should Klinsmann play?

US 17 year old US Midfielder starts for Bundesliga Giant Borrussia Dortmund

US to vote for Prince Ali for FIFA President Friday

Copa Draw Grant Wahl SI

Indy 11

Bloody Shambles NASL Volume 2 – Aaron Gunyon Includes interview with Coach Hankinson 2/21

Bloody Shambles Preview show with Caleb Ramp

Indy 11 Preseason Notebook this week

New Roster

Minnesota United Major League Stadium

2016 SEASON TICKETS: Support your “Boys in Blue” for as little as $10 a game!

UPCOMING GAMES

 Sat, February 27

7:45 am  NBCSN        West Ham vs Sunderland

9;30 am Fox Sports 2 Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich

10 am beIn Sport –     Madrid Classico – Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid

10 am NBCSN           Leicester City vs Norwich

12:30 pm NBC           West Brom vs Crystal Palace

 Sunday, February 28

9 am NBCSN –          Man U vs Arsenal

11:30 am beIn sports  Capital 1 Cup Finals – Liverpool vs Man City

2:45 pm  bein Sport     Juventus vs Inter

 Tuesday, March 1

2:45 pm NBCSN         Leicester City vs West Brom

2:45 pm ET                Norwich vs Chelsea, Villa vs Everton, Sunderland vs CP

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., FS 1 or 2   D.C. United vs. Querétaro
10:00 p.m., FS1 or 2:                 Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

 Wednesday, March 2, 2016

2:30 pm Gol TV         Inter vs Juve – Coppa Italia

3 pm NBCSN             Liverpool vs Man City

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., TV TBD:    Club América vs. Seattle Sounders
10:00 p.m., TV TBD:  Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL

Thursday, March3

7:30 pm Fox Sport  1 US Women vs England

Sun, March 6: MLS Opening Weekend

8:30 am NBCSN         Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

11 am NBCSN           West Brom vs Man U

4:30 pm ESPN           Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew

7 pm Fox Sports 1      Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City

 Wednesday, March 9

7:30 pm ESPN?         US Women vs Germany (Boca, FL)

 Sunday, March 13: 

5:00 p.m. (ESPN2,)   New York City FC vs. Toronto FC, 

7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers,

Friday, March 25: 

4:30 pm TBD          US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff

time TBD (beIN Sports,)  Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier,

Tuesday, March 28:

7 pm (ESPN2)        United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier-Columbus, OH

 Wednesday, March 29

9:30 pm ESPN2     US U23 Men @ Columbia Olympic Qualify Playoff Texas

Copa America –Chicago Full Venue Passes

Sun, June 5 – C3 vs. C4
Tues Eve, June 7 – United States vs. A3
Fri Eve, June 10 – Argentina vs. D3
Wed Eve, June 22 – Semifinal (read Argentina vs Brazil) Maybe

Copa Schedule

MLS TV Schedule

How Juventus came off the ropes to match Bayern

Published: Wednesday 24 February 2016, 8.59CETy Paolo Menicuccifrom Juventus Stadium

 Who would have believed Juventus could make it back from 2-0 down to earn a draw with Bayern? UEFA.com’s Paolo Menicucci on how the Bianconeri can never be written off.Seemingly all at sea after going 2-0 down at home to Bayern early in the second half, who would have thought there was any way back for Juventus? Unbeaten in 16 European home games since a 2-0 loss to Bayern in 2013, the Bianconeri once more demonstrated their stubborn refusal to be go down, salvaging a 2-2 draw.Forced by injury to field full-back David Alaba and midfielder Joshua Kimmich in the heart of the defence, Josep Guardiola’s side came out fighting. Bayern dominated possession, with Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa rampant on the flanks. So how exactly did Juventus manage to lever them out of a winning position?

The element of chants
“We could have come away with more today,” Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admitted after the game, giving the Juventus crowd full credit. “All the chaos in the stadium caused us to lose our composure a bit.”When Robben scored Bayern’s second, the only noise was coming from the visiting fans, but their celebrations did not last long. Paulo Dybala quickly halved the deficit and the Juventus fans’ sensed there was more to come. The chants came out: “Chi non salta, non ci crede” (whoever doesn’t jump, doesn’t believe) and “Noi vogliamo undici leoni” (we want eleven lions). The eleven lions went close soon after through Juan Cuadrado and finally equalised via Stefano Sturaro.

Reserves of strength
Massimiliano Allegri’s substitutions in the second half helped turn the tide after a disappointing opening period. Making only his sixth appearance in all competitions since the end of October, Hernanes deputised ably in midfield after replacing the injured Claudio Marchisio at the break, while fellow incomers Álvaro Morata and Sturaro combined for the equaliser. “This is the highest point in my short career,” the 22-year-old midfielder said. “I hope I will have a few more nights like this. Bayern are strong but we did great to come back.”

Dybala’s perfect timing
Already a Juventus favourite, the 22-year-old Dybala picked a great time to end his search for his first UEFA Champions League goal, his strike completely revitalising his side. “We put our hearts into it,” the Argentinian forward said. “We knew that Bayern were really strong but in the second half we managed to put more pressure on them. We are now going to a stadium where not many teams win, but I think we can if we play as we did in the second half.”

An indomitable spirit
Juve’s never-say-die attitude is nothing new. Remember how they wiped out Real Madrid’s away-goal advantage at the Santiago Bernabéu in last season’s semi-final? Or how they recovered from a terrible start in the final before eventually succumbing to Barcelona? Not to mention how they just reclaimed top spot in Serie A with a 15th straight league win following their worst-ever start to a season. ‘Fino alla fine’ (until the end) is one of their club mottos for a reason.

Can they do it again?
Bayern’s overall performance was impressive, and the German champions can be devastating at home, but they will know not to take anything for granted against this Juve side. “I expect them to be even more aggressive in Munich,” Guardiola said after the game, mindful no doubt that his next UEFA Champions League game with Bayern could be his last.

Lionel Messi gets 9/10 as Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-0 in UCL last-16 first leg

An average performance on the whole from Barcelona, but Messi’s magic lifted his teammates.

Lionel Messi double stuns Arsenal

A cold-hearted Lionel Messi double secured Barca’s 2-0 victory against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. The Catalans didn’t dominate the game in their typical manner but did enjoy 68 percent of possession, created 15 goal-scoring chances and attempted eight shots, four of them on target and one to the post.Spurred by their relentless home crowd, Arsenal piled on the pressure from the kick-off. With the Blaugranas unable to impose their usually fluid rhythm, the Gunners grew in confidence as the game developed and deservedly created the better chances in the first half.Fortunately, Barça took a step forward after the break and piled up continuous pressure in the hosts’ defensive third. Despite Arsenal’s determined defending, a moment of brilliance from their world-class attacking front-line unbalanced a game that had been far too close to call until that point. With the hosts chasing a much-needed equaliser, a clumsy challenge in the hosts’ penalty area enabled Messi to score a crucial second goal that leaves Arsene Wenger’s side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.Barça didn’t deliver a vintage performance by any means but the effectiveness of their world-class attacking trident was enough to extend their unbeaten run to a record 33 matches. It also meant that they are the clear favorites to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

• Lineups and Stats

Player Ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):

 GK Marc Andre Ter Stegen, 8 — Despite being far more involved than usual, the German secured the crucial clean sheet after making a mere three saves. The Gunners clearly lacked the necessary composure in front of goal to put away their chances but it’s also true that the German goalkeeper responded remarkably when challenged.

DF Dani Alves, 7 — Constantly galloping forward and admirably disciplined when tracking back, the 32-year-old Brazilian delivered one of his most complete performances in recent memory.

DF Javier Mascherano, 8 — Incredibly focused throughout, the Argentine international looked unbeatable defensively and faultless on the ball. As usual, the astute No.14 read the game impeccably and always managed to find himself in the right place at the right time.

DF Gerard Pique, 8 — His awareness enabled him to pick up the pieces whenever his defensive teammates were beaten. Earned a late booking, which means he will miss the return leg at the Camp Nou.

DF Jordi Alba, 7 — Forced to focus on his defensive duties far more often than usual, Alba had his work cut out throughout the whole game. Battled ferociously for every loose ball and did not hesitate to use his enviable speed to overcome the many challenges he faced.

Lionel Messi’s two late goals have put Barcelona on track for a spot in the UCL quarterfinals.

MF Sergio Busquets, 7 — Recovered nine balls in the centre of the park, which enabled the visitors to dominate possession for the bulk of the game. Connected well with the many creative teammates around him to ensure the ball kept moving quickly enough and the Gunners kept chasing shadows.

MF Andres Iniesta, 7 — In his 578th game for Barça, the captain was the crucial link who ensured his front three was constantly provided with quality passes and found in advantageous positions. His dribbling, decision-making skills and admirable perseverance were key to unlocking Wenger’s robust back-line.

MF Ivan Rakitic, 7 — The Catalans’ workaholic was instrumental at both ends of the pitch. While the Croatian international didn’t contribute many moments for the highlight reel, his work rate and selfless attitude were major factors in Tuesday’s vital victory.

FW Neymar, 7 — Provided Messi with a superb assist for the visitors’ opener after a lightning-fast counter-attacking run. However, the Brazilian star was far quieter than usual until that point and largely unable to beat former La Masia prospect Hector Bellerin down the left flank. Rarely getting behind the Arsenal back-line, and wasteful infront of goal whenever he did, it would be fair to say Neymar wasn’t as consistent as Cules are used to.

FW Luis Suarez, 7 — Should have scored the opener in the last minute of the first half but his clear header went inexplicably wide. Disappointingly, Suarez also failed to find the net after the break, hitting the woodwork with what was his best chance of game. Despite his lack of fortune in front of goal, the Uruguayan’s physicality and ambitious nature were vital to create space for others to exploit.

FW Lionel Messi, 9 — Burst into life in the later stages of the first half and didn’t look back until the final whistle. The best footballer on the planet scored the priceless away goal with a cold-hearted finish that changed the game. Used his enviable pace to get ahead of Mathieu Flamini to earn the penalty which he then converted. Until Tuesday, Messi had failed to score a single goal against Petr Cech despite having faced him six times — another day, another stat broken for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

What’s Going On In The NASL vol. 2

By: Aaron Gunyon

We are now just 38 days away from opening day in the NASL. The off-season continues as we thought it might as teams are preparing for training camps and begin preseason training. It’s time to check in and see how everyone is doing up to this point. The silly season breeds silly articles and this will be no different.

Note: Roster counts will be taken from team websites. While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, some players haven’t been re-signed and some will still have options declined.  

NASL

The league is already minus two teams in an expansion year.  Not a solid start.  Rayo OKC and Miami FC will bump that number back up to a total of 11 once the Spring Season kicks off in April and Puerto Rico FC will make 12 competing clubs in the Fall Season. The departing teams were the weakest ownership groups which is why this grade isn’t lower.

Grade: C-

San Antonio Scorpions

You are gone but not forgotten. Kindof. The NASL web admin has done their best to scrub you from our memories, but you will live on. Kindof. Your players and coaches will all be on other teams, but we will never let go. Have fun in the USL.

Grade: Withdrawal

Miami – Roster Count: 21

Miami has every intention of packing the house for opening day, but season tickets start at $242. Ouch! Pablo Campos didn’t fit with the new look in Minnesota, but a lot of older people head to Florida this time of year. I’ll call them snowbirds for now, but they will be tough out of the gate.

Grade: B+

Minnesota United – Roster Count: 20

Defense much? Minnesota United FC has been so busy trying to protect their name that they have seemingly forgotten to protect the defensive third. There is certainly something in the works, but the Loons only have 4 true defenders on the roster. It looks like they are planning on outscoring everyone and using the checkers defense…never moving their back row.

Grade: B-

Rayo OKC – Roster Count: 10 (rayookc.com) 16 (nasl.com/transactions)

It’s definitely still early buy Rayo leads the league in the “Pull yourself together” category. The NASL.com is not really known for the best and most up-to-date statistics and the team from OKC is worse. Interesting naming your 9 trialists in camp.  I don’t hate it, but other teams keep that info private when they think that the players are any good. Its been 10 days since the last player announcement for an expansion team.

Grade: D

Ottawa Fury – Roster Count: 20

There were 9 championship defectors the last time I counted.  9 players that took the field for last season’s Soccer Bowl are no longer with the team. Three such players have joined the Indy Eleven. I have no idea what’s going on in Ottawa, but Marc Dos Santos’ departure really destabilized a rock solid fall team. Defense wins championships and so does money. Pay up, Fury.

Grade: F (current winner of The Bloody Shambles Award of Shambolitry)

New York Cosmos – Roster Count: 23

The Cosmos are getting ready lead the league again, but without mega-star signings on their roster.  What’s up with that? Cosmos fans still believe they are the only team worth watching, but that doesn’t explain their middling and declining attendance numbers. Cosmos are also probably the only team that isn’t excited about a potential TV deal with CBS. “We really like our relationship with One World Sports.”

Grade: A

Jacksonville Armada – Roster Count: 25!

Finding game time for this swollen roster might be a tough task for first time head coach Tony Meola. Team owner Mark Frisch just ousted Team President Steve Livingstone and absorbed his responsibilities.  Perhaps he was trying to find money for more players yet to be announced. Frisch’s family business is frozen fish manufacturing and distribution so day-to-day operations is really just a plug and play scenario here.

Grade: A

Carolina Railhawaks – Roster Count: 19

Well, Dumbnames. Your preseason started yesterday so the boys definitely have work to do before they play host to Toluca FC in a little over a month. *All games and field location at WakeMed Soccer Park are subject to change so be careful when ordering the “Toluca Two Pack”

Grade: C+

Atlanta Silverbacks – Roster Count: NA

Atlanta is the feel bad/feel good story of the offseason. They are also not playing in the NASL, but they deserve a ton of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for fighting to keep the dream alive. ATL will be in NPSL. Take care, TCB

Grade: Sock it to me, Sock it to me, Sock it to me, Sock it to me.

Indy Eleven – Roster Count: 23

The Eleven have signed their fourth Jamaican for the upcoming season so there is going to be some serious bobsledding going on in 2016. It’s not that weird because the head coach just came back from Montego Bay with a deeper appreciation for Rasta culture. Seven different Reggae Boyz have suited up for Indy since the inaugural season.

Grade: Redemption Song

Tampa Bay Rowdies – Roster Count: Freddy Adu

I have 3 obsessions in the NASL. I have already covered Indy Eleven and the Travishmamockery that is Ottawa.  It’s all you need to know. I only mention Freddy because more people will read this if I tag him in this post.

Grade: B
Ft Lauderdale Strikers – Roster Count: 24

Have fun taking your Brazilian team to China. The real competition will be just a few miles south.  2016 opens with south Florida Derby on April 2 and the Strikers are serious about being serious about soccer. Let’s hope they aren’t trying too hard and they don’t burn themselves out by the time the fall season comes around. Strikers will start off hot.

Grade: A-

FC Edmonton – Roster Count: 23

I would be pleased if I were an Edmonton fan.  Few have the pleasure of cheering for an Eddie named Eddie Edward. And to be real, I think it’s fantastic that the organization has kept so much of last season’s roster in tact. Eddie’s Eddies will have many challenges this year though as many teams took this offseason to upgrade. Edmonton didn’t. Wouldn’t want to. What would you change?

Grade: A+

As always you can follow us on Twitter @Bloody_Shambles, Aaron Gunyon is @agunyon and James Cormack can be found at @BShambles_JC.

The 10 MLS storylines U.S. national team fans should be following in 2016

Although it seems only recently that the Portland Timbers went into Columbus’ MAPFRE Stadium and scored two goals in the first seven minutes to win the 2015 MLS Cup, the domestic league begins anew in just two weeks.Soccer never stops, does it?

The 2016 season brings new faces on new teams — now with free agency! — as well as old stalwarts holding down familiar spots. It also brings a host of questions related to the United States national team, so here are 10 MLS storylines national team fans should be following as MLS First Kick draws closer.

Can the ice between MLS and Jurgen Klinsmann thaw?

Before we focus on specific players, let’s take a moment to pull back a bit. The best thing for the future fortunes of the U.S. national team is a vibrant, productive MLS. But right now, MLS remains in a growth mode, and it might stay that way for many years to come, which means what’s best for the league and what’s best for the red, white, and blue don’t always mesh.This, in turn, leads to some predictable and understandable tension between the respective leaders. But the sniping needs to stop. Both Don Garber and Jurgen Klinsmann have made their points — repeatedly. An occasional disagreement is fine, but the public PR battle is tiresome and counterproductive.

Will Jermaine Jones play again?

When we most recently saw the U.S. central midfielder on an MLS field, he was pushing referee Mark Geiger during a first-round playoff loss to D.C. United. The incident earned Jones a six-game suspension that begins when he signs with a club. The New England Revolution offered Jones a contract he called a “joke,” and the 34-year-old remains in limbo.

Moving to another MLS team would require a trade, which seems unlikely. A move abroad would still be subject to the six-game ban. The Revs are stronger with Jones on the field, but the suspension and his numerous injuries make handing Jones the millions of dollars he wants a significant risk in frugal MLS. Jones will see the field in 2016 — he’s too important to Klinsmann’s squad, despite arguments to the contrary — but when he does is anyone’s guess.

How will Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley fare in Year 2 at Toronto FC?

Although TFC reached the playoffs for the first time in club history in 2015, the season was far from a success for the squad with the highest payroll in the league. Still, the attack led by the two U.S. veterans along with league MVP Sebastian Giovinco produced 58 goals, and that’s good enough to tie for second in MLS.

Newcomer Altidore posted 13 in 25 regular-season appearances, a respectable — though not spectacular — figure, while Bradley added five goals and six assists. The duo, who’ve been playing together for their country since 2003, started only 17 games together the past season. More reps in 2016 will reap benefits in MLS and for the U.S.

How much will Jordan Morris play in Seattle?

A lot more now that Obafemi Martins left for riches in China, that’s for sure. In January, Morris spurned the Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen for his hometown team, a move that was nothing less than a coup for MLS. The 21-year-old forward should feature frequently on a front line that includes American teammate Clint Dempsey and Paraguayan Designated Player Nelson Valdez.

The better question might be how quickly can Morris develop new skills? In his nine caps with the American team, he has shown world-class speed and a goal scorer’s knack for being in the right place at the right time. The next step, however, is to figure out what to do when defenses stop his go-to move. Having Dempsey as a mentor will help with his creativity.

Will any goalie step up?

While neither Tim Howard nor Brad Guzan are impressing on their clubs, Klinsmann should be concerned about the lack of a third option at goalkeeper. Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid, who will miss four to six months with another knee injury, haven’t developed consistency. Nick Rimando is on the wrong side of 35, and Luis Robles, 31, isn’t getting any younger, either. The San Jose Earthquakes’ David Bingham played well while posting a shutout against Canada in early February. Others such as Steve Clark and Clint Irwin could force their way into the conversation with strong MLS seasons. Even so, right now, you’d have to say the third-string shirt is up for grabs.

Can Mix Diskerud bring out his elbows?

The central midfielder with the flowing locks joined New York City FC with a great deal of fanfare but struggled to find his way in 2015, as he scored just three goals in 27 appearances. He spent time on the right side of the formation, pushed wide by Frank Lampard and a hair superior Andrea Pirlo, and the emergence of Kwadwo Poku means playing time will be harder to find in new coach Patrick Viera’s starting XI.

Klinsmann continues to call Diskerud into camps, but he wants to see him use his elbows, which is code for getting physical and playing with the edge he too often lacks. Although the 26-year-old brings a certain skill set to the field, he floats in and out of games. With Darlington Nagbe and Lee Nguyen making strong impressions in the January camp, Diskerud needs to step up or risk disappearing.

Is this the year Juan Agudelo reaches his potential?

First, a goal. That’s not the type of shot you attempt, much less score on, without a rather large amount of Kanye West-like belief in your own abilities. Agudelo lacks neither imagination nor skill, but he has been inconsistent. He is now 23 and settled with a team and a new family. He should be playing his best soccer. We’ll see if he gets there.

In April, he scored against Mexico in a tally that required a smart run, a brilliant first touch and a good deal of patience before he unleashed a shot. It was a mature goal. Being audacious can only carry a player for so long.

What is Kellyn Acosta’s ceiling?

Pretty quietly, the 20-year-old has become one of MLS’s best homegrown player success stories with FC Dallas. A key cog on recent American U17 and U20 squads, Acosta earned his first full national team cap in the 3-2 win over Iceland in January. He played left-back and impressed after a rocky first few minutes.Klinsmann believes Acosta can also play right-back, and Acosta worked his way into the FCD starting lineup as a defensive midfielder. That’s some impressive versatility. With the Americans weak at fullback, those positions will be his easiest route to more minutes, but we’ll see if playing a different position for club and country slows his progress.

Who is the next Matt Miazga?

In 2015, the New York Red Bulls Academy product surprised MLS by being one of the best center-backs in the league, which he parlayed into a multi-million dollar offseason transfer to Chelsea.  One young player potentially poised to mimic Miazga’s rapid rise is Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad. The 18-year-old defender started five games the past season and looks set for more time in 2016. Two other players to watch are the LA Galaxy’s Jose Villarreal and the Revolution’s Kelyn Rowe. Both are speed attackers with a flair for finishing who could break out in big ways.

 Will Benny Feilhaber finally get a call to return to the U.S.?

No.   Noah Davis is a Brooklyn-based correspondent for ESPN FC 

You Guys, What if Tim Howard is just a Ruse?

By Bulldog Ben  @thelosthooligan on Feb 25, 2016, 8:00a 17 

The world of Major League Soccer player transaction is nothing if not a complicated web of backroom transactions and intrigue. When you take out the chaos of the transfer market, where money is king, you create a kind of shadow economy, where different resources are worth different things.It occurred to me, “What is the Number One Allocation Spot worth?”What would it be worth to a team like NYCFC?It’s no secret Major League Soccer handles the bulk of contract negotiations with players coming back to the league. So when Pablo Mastroeni or Paul Bravo says that he doesn’t know anything about a Tim Howard deal, it may be because it’s Major League Soccer who is at the table doing the negotiating.We’ve exhausted the topic of the Howard move making no sense for Colorado Rapids. We have goalkeepers and the goalkeeper spot wasn’t one of need. What Colorado needed, and has needed, is to bulk up their attack–to make it more versatile and to have players who can keep possession and move the ball from back to front, as opposed to players who boot the ball forward for a lone guy to make something happen while everyone else plays defense (see, 2015).No matter how excited people get over the prospect of Tim Howard, the move makes absolutely zero sense from an on-field perspective. Sure there are intangibles, but look at it objectively: on the field, it makes no sense. Off the field? Sure. Ton of sense.But then I thought to myself: what if Colorado really isn’t that stupid at all?What if this is all just a ruse, and they already have a deal in mind to bring Tim Howard to Major League Soccer, though not to Colorado? What if Colorado is going to make a deal with another team for Tim Howard?And then it made sense.The Rapids ::must:: be making a move for Mix Diskerud.Hear me out on this one, because I thought it sounded crazy at first too.And for the love of God please leave out my relentless fanboying over Mix Diskerud. This is for real.”But Ben, NYCFC already HAVE three DPs!””Ah, my friend. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that MLS is nothing if not entirely flexible on its rules when it comes to teams that want to make big moves for big stars!”More than likely, there will be some rule in there where Tim Howard doesn’t quite count as a DP because he had to go through the Allocation Order and instead counts as a returning American player. I’m imagining something like that will be used as the justification for how this deal is even possible. It’s not a great or air tight explanation, but it’s how Major League Soccer does business. They act first and justify later. See also,Clint Dempsey.I believe Diskerud is a good player. Technically skilled. Intelligent passer of the ball. That’s Powers’ skill set as well, but Diskerud goes even further forward than Powers would in his most comfortable position. Rather than competing with Dillon Powers for midfield playing time, I can see a world in which Diskerud and Powers can play off of one another as a midfield fulcrum. Sort of like the midfield with Powers and Sturgis, though with a significant upgrade through Diskerud.If you think back to the Pareja days, the 3 in his midfield core were a gritty defensive mid (Hendry Thomas) a skilled attacking mid (Powers) and a utility box-to-box mid who kind of free floated to do intelligent off the ball movement and passing. Powers and Diskerud equally could fit into either role as box-to-box or attacking mid as part of a midfield “core” or “spine” regardless of whether you play a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. If MLS teaches us nothing else, with the right midfield core combination you can tear up the league. You can surprise people.If New York want to use Mix as trade bait, the fans are have called  for him to be sold. They’ve called him “perfectly mediocre.”Ladies and Gentlemen, what do we want here at Colorado if not the perfectly mediocre.Nathan Sturgis was a perfectly mediocre player who turned into a very effective midfielder for Oscar Pareja. The entire 2010 Rapids team was full of perfectly mediocre players. And let’s not forget, Diskerud played a complicated role for a team that was absolutely terrible last season. And if he’s on the outs… the Rapids should be there to pick him up.He’s a National Team player, and a frequent call up by Jurgen Klinsmann. He was just in camp in February. No matter how maligned he may be, Klinsmann keeps giving him chances to prove himself. Not bad for mediocre.Coaching problems aside (and of course the Rapids will be terrible this year if something doesn’t improve in coaching and from watching pre-season line ups and play I have seen nothing to convince me that the Mastronaccio still isn’t king in Colorado), this would be a good move to make, and would be a sign that the Rapids are turning themselves in a more attacking direction.Everybody wins here. Rapids get an attacking player. NYCFC upgrade their goalkeeping. Howard goes to a marquee team close to home. And MLS gets to have another star added to its roster.Why not?

So the US got a difficult draw for Copa Centario this summer but its not all bad.  It will be challenging for Klinsmann and the US but for the good of Soccer in the US they really need to advance and get the country behind them this summer. The most difficult game of course is Columbia and Real Madrid superstar James in Santa Clara.  The game in Chicago, Tues eve, June 7 (read tickets still available) vs Costa Rica becomes a must win.

So Champions League is back with huge games on Tues 2:45 Fox Sports channels with Arsenal hosting Barcelona and Messi, and last season’s runner-up Juventus and their world class keeper Buffon hosting German powerhouse Bayern Munich.  (some of us headed to Stacked Pickle on 96^th if you want to join us).

COPA AMERICA 100 

Group A:

June 3: United States vs. Colombia, Santa Clara, Calif.
 June 4: Costa Rica vs. Paraguay, Orlando

June 7: United States vs. Costa Rica, Chicago

June 7: Colombia vs. Paraguay, Pasadena, Calif.

June 11: United States vs. Paraguay, Philadelphia

June 11: Colombia vs. Costa Rica, Houston

US Has Copa Group of Death

US gets Toughest Draw – ESPN FC Mcintyre

Armchair Analyst MLS No Group of Death in Copa 100

US Klinsmann responds to Group of Death

No Group of Death US will be fine – NBCSports

How US has fared vs Copa Opponents MLS

Copa America Teams and Games are Set US vs Costa Rica in Chicago

Predicting the Copa Groups – ESPN FC Tim Vickery

Mexico has chance to win Group C

Who’s Playing Best for US –ESPN FC

Christian Pulisic makes first Bundesliga start for Dortmund

Champions League 

Super Tuesday – Champ League Breakdown

Does Arsenal stand a chance vs Barcelona? 

Bayern Pep not worried about UCL no championship

Games of the Week 

Tues, Feb 23

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona – The gunners draw the top team in the world again – must win at home.

2:45 pm FS 2          Juventus vs Bayern Munich – last year’s Final 4 battle it out at Juve.

10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Seattle Sounders vs. Club América –huge game for MLS and US Soccer at home –great atmosphere in Seattle

Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City- Can City get a point on the road? They have never advanced past this rd.

2:45 pm  FS 2         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid –Dutch power looks to win at home.

Sat, Feb 27

10 am beIn Sport –     Madrid Classico – Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid – Ah the Madrid Classic – Real needs to win this game at home to stay in La Liga contention.

 Sunday, Feb 28

9 am NBCSN –          Man U vs Arsenal  - Always a big game despite Man U’s struggles – Gunners need win to stay in EPL contention for title

11:30 am                   Capital 1 Cup Finals – Liverpool vs Man City – Can Klopp help Liverpool win a trophy against a depleted Man City?   

2:45 pm  bein Sport     Juventus vs Inter – Another huge game with top 4 implications in Italy.

UPCOMING GAMES

Tues, Feb 23 - Champions League

2:45 pm FS 1          Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2          Juventus vs Bayern Munich

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal first legs)

8:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Querétaro vs. DC United
 10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Seattle Sounders vs. Club América

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal first legs)

8:00 p.m., Fox Sports 2: Tigres UANL vs. Real Salt Lake
 10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Santos Laguna

Thursday, Feb. 25

UEFA Europa League (Round of 32 second leg)

1:00 p.m., TV TBD: Athletic Bilbao vs. Marseille, Kuban Krasnodar vs. Sparta Prague, Lazio vs. Galatasaray, Liverpool vs. Augsburg, Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Fenerbahçe, Rapid Vienna vs. Valencia, Schalke 04 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

3:00 p.m., ESPN3: Manchester United vs. Midtjylland, Porto vs. Borussia Dortmund
 3:00 p.m., ESPN Deportes: Napoli vs. Villarreal
 3:00 p.m., TV TBD: Basel vs. Saint-Étienne, Molde vs. Sevilla, Olympiakos vs. Anderlecht, Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fiorentina

 Sat, February 27

7:45 am  NBCSN        West Ham vs Sunderland

9;30 am Fox Sports 2 Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich

10 am beIn Sport –     Madrid Classico – Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid

10 am NBCSN           Leicester City vs Norwich

 Sunday, February 28

9 am NBCSN –          Man U vs Arsenal

11:30 am Capital 1 Cup Finals – Liverpool vs Man City 

2:45 pm  bein Sport     Juventus vs Inter

 Tuesday, March 1

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., TV TBD: D.C. United vs. Querétaro
 10:00 p.m., TV TBD: Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

 Wednesday, March 2, 2016

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., TV TBD: Club América vs. Seattle Sounders
 10:00 p.m., TV TBD: Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL

Sun, March 6: MLS Opening Weekend

4:30 pm ESPN           Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew

7 pm Fox Sports 1      Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City
  Friday, arch 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time 8 pm (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

COPA AMERICA 100 SCHEDULE THIS SUMMER 

Group A:

June 3: United States vs. Colombia, Santa Clara, Calif.
 June 4: Costa Rica vs. Paraguay, Orlando

June 7: United States vs. Costa Rica, Chicago

June 7: Colombia vs. Paraguay, Pasadena, Calif.

June 11: United States vs. Paraguay, Philadelphia

June 11: Colombia vs. Costa Rica, Houston

Group B:

June 4: Haiti vs. Peru, Seattle

June 4: Brazil vs. Ecuador, Pasadena, Calif.

June 8: Brazil vs. Haiti, Orlando

June 8: Ecuador vs. Peru, Glendale, Ariz.

June 12: Ecuador vs. Haiti, East Rutherford, N.J.

June 12: Brazil vs. Peru, Foxborough, Mass.

Group C:

June 5: Jamaica vs. Venezuela, Chicago  (Sunday)

June 5: Mexico vs. Uruguay, Glendale, Ariz.

June 9: Mexico vs. Jamaica, Pasadena, Calif.

June 9: Uruguay vs. Venezuela, Philadelphia

June 13: Mexico vs. Venezuela, Houston

June 13: Uruguay vs. Jamaica, Santa Clara, Calif.

Group D:

June 6: Panama vs. Bolivia, Orlando

June 6: Argentina vs. Chile, Santa Clara, Calif.

June 10: Chile vs. Bolivia, East Rutherford, N.J.

June 10: Argentina vs. Panama, Chicago

June 14: Chile vs. Panama, Philadelphia

June 14: Argentina vs. Bolivia, Seattle

Why USA's group is clearly Copa America's Group of Death

February 21, 201610:04 PM ESTBenjamin BaerMLSsoccer.com

After Sunday night's draw for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, the US national team will be facing another tall task in the group stages of an official competition after watching Group A turn into what is unquestionably the tournament's "Group of Death." Don't take our word for it. ESPN's Soccer Power Index says that Group A is the toughest of the four groups drawn.There are two other rankings to look at when attempting to determine the Group of Death, or even the Group of Life (Mexico's): the FIFA rankings and the ELO Rating System. The latter is held in higher regard by most soccer pundits since it takes into account the type of match, home field advantage and goal differential.

GROUP A

Team

FIFA Ranking

ELO Rating

USA

32

26

Colombia

8

6

Costa Rica

31

23

Paraguay

42

35

Average

28.3

22.5

The Group of Death will not be kind. Although the USA may be the "seeded" team as hosts, Colombia are clear favorites to get out of the group with the other three nations fighting for the second spot in the quarterfinals. Although things could change come June, Costa Rica and Paraguay are currently the more in-form teams of the three.

GROUP B

Team

FIFA Ranking

ELO Rating

Brazil

6

2

Ecuador

13

12

Haiti

65

86

Peru

43

22

Average

31.8

30.5

It's pretty obvious that Brazil and Ecuador are the top two teams here, but they will have to see off a Peruvian side that made it all the way to the semifinals of last year's Copa America. Haiti also showed some fight in the 2015 Gold Cup, when they advanced out of their group alongside the US.

GROUP C

Team

FIFA Ranking

ELO Rating

Mexico

22

13

Uruguay

11

9

Jamaica

51

61

Venezuela

81

56

Average

41.3

34.8

While everyone will be paying attention to Mexico and Uruguay, let's not forget that Jamaica defeated the US in the semifinals of the 2015 Gold Cup before falling to El Tri in the final. It would be a surprise to see Venezuela get more than three points in this group.

GROUP D

Team

FIFA Ranking

ELO Rating

Argentina

2

3

Chile

5

5

Panama

60

41

Bolivia

72

53

Average

34.8

25.5

Forecasting the two sides to emerge from Group D will not be tough for most, as Argentina and Chile are two of the top teams in the world. Panama will be the toughest opposition of the remaining two teams: They defeated the US in the third-place match of the 2015 Gold Cup, but they have not enjoyed the best of form since then. Bolivia have lost 5-0 to both Argentina and Chile in the past year.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Armchair Analyst: No Group of Death, just the Struggle Bus for USA & friends in Copa America

February 21, 201610:53 PM ESTMatthew DoyleMLSsoccer.com

Step away from the ledge and have some dignity, folks. The US have been facing South American clubs on equal footing in world competitions since 1994, and this summer's Copa America Centenario is no different. The hand-wringing on display on Twitter during and after the draw makes no sense.

Here's Group A:

• USA

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Paraguay

On paper Colombia are the best team in the group, but forgive me if I'm not entirely overawed at the prospect of watching the US face them at home – especially given their current run of form.Los Cafeteros have scored four goals in their last eight competitive games, including last summer's Copa America. You'll note that this downward trajectory has lined up nicely with the downward trajectory of their forward corps as a whole; Radamel Falcao's never going to be Radamel Falcao again, and none of the other options have proved to be real goal-getters.

• Copa America Centenario 101

James Rodriguez can sometimes obviate that weakness by winning a game all by himself, but that's not a reliably repeatable strategy. He also can't control the game unless he has a proper midfield structure around him – and quick, tell me what that is for Colombia right now. I'll wait.(No I won't).

You don't actually have an answer, because Colombia head coach Jose Pekerman has had no answers for about the last 12 months. In the last three games in particular, he's taken some wild swings, varying his personnel, tactical bent and formation by the half. Colombia have gone 0-2-1 with one goal scored in that span.That's Colombia in the books. Here's what I have to say about the other two opponents, Costa Rica and Paraguay: In spite of several years of struggles under Jurgen Klinsmann, the US should be favored against either of those teams. If we're not – if our fans settle for a "plucky underdogs!" mantle and our approach is a reprise of the "bunker and pray" tactic that Klinsmann instilled at both last year's Gold Cup and 2014's World Cup, then we'll have taken a step backwards as a soccer community.I get the impression that lots of US fans have been so preoccupied with our own struggles at the Gold Cup that they failed to notice Costa Rica were just as bad. And anyway, if we hadn't drawn Costa Rica we'd have either ended up with a team that actually beat us at the Gold Cup (Panama, Jamaica), or should have (Haiti).That leaves a Paraguay team that didn't qualify for the 2014 World Cup, finishing dead last in CONMEBOL, and they went 3-5-6 in all competitions last year. Paraguay entered World Cup qualifying somewhere outside the top 60 in the FIFA Rankings. They've recently climbed up to No. 42 thanks to a come-from-behind 2-1 home win over mighty Bolivia, which is nice, but that is sort of canceled out by this fact: Paraguay haven't beaten a team ranked in the FIFA top 40 in over FOUR years.This is not an "oh they're just in a slump, but they have talent and if the coach pulls the right levers he should be able to figure it out" situation – which is, I'd argue, the correct assessment of the US. No, Paraguay have been a consistently bad team for 48 months as their most significant players have aged out of the program with no adequate replacements to be found.So relax a bit. There really is no such thing as a "Group of Death" in this tournament, and no one should be pretending otherwise.

2016 Copa America draw: There is no group of death, USMNT will be fine

2 Comments

By Andy EdwardsFeb 22, 2016, 8:24 AM EST

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Let’s begin this week with the most flaming-hot of takes: the U.S. national team, as with nearly everything in life, is fine.

[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s USMNT coverage ]

It is unspectacular in just about every way imaginable — it is truly unspectacular and joyless of late — yet still reliable enough to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and once again send a nation of nearly 320 million into soccer delirium in 27 months’ time, just as it has done every four years for nearly three decades now.In much the same fashion, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side remains just functional enough to not totally embarrass itself at the 2016 Copa America Centenario.The draw for this summer’s tournament was conducted Sunday night — alongside the Yanks in Group A are Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica — and the Yanks were handed a totally manageable field for a CONCACAF giant like themselves. In fact, I’d go so far as to say they should be expected to advance from that group. Doing so only requires they be better than Paraguay and Costa Rica. [ MORE ]

Let’s break it down bit by bit: Colombia are really, really good — decidedly better than the USMNT — but must only be played once during the group stage; that Colombia are far and away the best side in Group A and not, say, Brazil or Argentina, is a massive assist for the hosting Americans. Paraguay are, like the USMNT, spectacularly unspectacular and on their very best day, South America’s seventh-best side. Costa Rica have won just four of their 13 competitive meetings with the USMNT this century, drawn three and lost six. It could have been so much worse — Chile are the current Copa America holders and Uruguay possess some fellow named Luis Suarez; Jamaica are at present probably CONCACAF’s third- or — gasp — second-best side; and Peru are miles better than Paraguay, whom they brushed aside with ease in the third-place game at last year’s Copa. [ MORE: The very latest on the Tim Howard-to-MLS rumors ]

If, as a soccer nation, the United States is suddenly terrified of Paraguay and Costa Rica, then Jurgen Klinsmann truly has broken our spirit, our hopes and our dreams, and replaced them with the kind of resignation to defeat that’s typically only suitable for fans of the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire.This is not a “group of death,” as so many in the States were quick to dub it Sunday night. Truth is, the USMNT at present isn’t generally good enough to be anything more than the third- or fourth-best team in a real group of death (CONCACAF doesn’t have four teams capable of this, let alone six to fill out a four-group tournament with two seeded sides). See, the group of death implies an equally daunting test for all four teams in the group, not that it’s simply a tougher test than USMNT fans would have liked, or even that it’s “the toughest group” of the four.It’s a challenge and an ideal litmus test halfway to the next World Cup, to be sure, but if we’re wetting ourselves over the prospect of needing to win four points from games against Paraguay and Costa Rica, on home soil, you’re really not going to enjoy the next World Cup.

U.S. handed toughest draw for 2016 Copa America Centenario

NEW YORK -- The U.S. national team was dealt the toughest of the four groups in Sunday's gala Copa America Centenario draw at the Hammerstein Ballroom in midtown Manhattan.The Americans, one of four seeded teams as host of the June competition that marks the 100th anniversary of South America's championship -- the world's oldest international soccer tournament -- will open the event with their first Group A match against Colombia on June 3 in Santa Clara, California. (Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are the other seeds.)Jurgen Klinsmann's squad then travels to Chicago to face CONCACAF rival Costa Rica on June 7, before concluding its first-round slate June 11 against Paraguay in Philadelphia. Overall, it's close to a worst-case scenario for the U.S."I take full responsibility," joked former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, one of four former pros who participated in the presentation. "I apologize to the nation."The only way it could have been tougher for Klinsmann & Co. would be if they had been grouped with Uruguay -- boasting all-world strikers Luis Suarez (Barcelona) and Edinson Cavani -- rather than the Colombians, who are languishing in seventh place out of 10 teams in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.But there's no real pushover among the Americans' four foes, as the three nations roundly considered the weakest in the 16-team tournament, Bolivia, Haiti and Venezuela, ended up elsewhere."Obviously, it's a difficult group, no doubt about it. But it's doable," Klinsmann said following the event. He pointed out that the U.S. advanced from a foursome that included Germany, Ghana, and Portugal at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.Indeed, the Copa slate is manageable for the hosts -- if they play well. The U.S. has not lost a non-friendly match on home soil to Costa Rica since 1997. They're 1-1-2 against Paraguay in four meetings over the past two decades, and though the U.S. lost a friendly against Colombia in late 2014 in London, playing stateside should help. It did when the U.S. upset the Cafeteros in the 1994 World Cup.Still, history will matter little when the games are underway. Like Colombia, led by James Rodriguez, Paraguay is the sort of fast, physical foe that creates matchup problems for the U.S. They also boast one of the top young players in the competition in 21-year-old attacker Derlis Gonzalez.As always, winning the first game -- or at the least, not losing it -- will be crucial for the hosts."We'll do everything to prepare very, very early for Colombia," Klinsmann said. "It's good to know the teams. Now we can put a scouting plan together."Klinsmann says he wants and expects Colombia and Paraguay to bring full-strength squads, even though the former could be involved in the Olympics in August, and Paraguayan coach Ramon Diaz has suggested he could bring a young roster to the United States."They all have to come with their best teams," he said. "Would you like an easier group? Maybe on paper. But no group is easy. We'll take it the way it is."Asked his objective this summer, Klinsmann said it was to advance to the quarterfinals as the Group A winner or runner-up. Should the U.S. finish second, an elimination game against Group B favorite Brazil could await."The objective is clearly getting out of the group, even if it's not easy," he said. "First or second with that group is both tremendously fine. We'll just take it the way it is."Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The 

Jurgen Klinsmann reacts to USA's Copa America Centenario Group A draw

February 21, 201611:41 PM ESTBen CouchSenior Editor

NEW YORK — At the Hammerstein Ballroom, the Sunday-night spectacle lasted a televised hour, but it only took a single segment to dash any hopes US national team fans may have had of landing one of the easier groups at the Copa América Centenario draw.But despite drawing Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay – the toughest group in the summer tournament by average opponent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings – USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann found himself buoyed by a sense of familiarity, even as he acknowledged the necessity of advancing to the quarterfinals."That's the objective," Klinsmann said. "It's clearly getting out of the group, even if that's not easy. And then we're going to go, and that's what we said after the experience in Brazil [at the 2014 World Cup]: We have to learn how to win knockout games. No better way to start than in a Copa América."The US will play the tournament's opening match against Colombia on June 3 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California; Klinsmann is excited for the matchup, making reference to the teams' November 2014 friendly at Craven Cottage in London, which Colombia won on an 87th-minute winner.Klinsmann felt the US played Colombia even, an encouraging thought now that he knows they're the first opponent. The thorough preparation can begin."For the players, I think it will click in the next couple weeks," Klinsmann said. "We talked about it always, but now it's a reality."It will help us also in terms of World Cup qualifying, because the two Guatemala games are big, big games to make a statement to your group about Copa América."Colombia's Group A assignment drew some gasps from the assembled crowd as the challenge facing the US became evident."Is it the Group of Death? Yes. Please, please. Spread it all around," said FOX Sports soccer analyst and former US national team defender Alexi Lalas, on hand as a draw assistant, with his tongue planted firmly in cheek. "As we know, the US team plays great when people doubt them; the US team plays great as an underdog."It's difficult," he conceded. "But if you want to win the World Cup and you want to be one of the best teams in the world, you have to go through the likes of Colombia."But Colombia, and star James Rodriguez, are only the first obstacle in the US national team's path forward. If the Americans win their group, they take on the second-place team from Group B (Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti and Peru); a second-place finish and they could be in line to take on FIFA No. 6 Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 17. Of course, they will likely need results against Costa Rica (June 7, Soldier Field, Chicago) and Paraguay (June 11, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia) before they can even consider the knockout stage.There will be no gimmes at this Copa America – an obvious statement when you consider the tournament field, featuring six of the world's top 15 teams, and the quality of players that will be making the trip stateside."I think we all want to see the best players from South America come and represent their country," Klinsmann said. "We can't wait to see James Rodriguez here, [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, all these wonderful players showcasing themselves in the United States, they all have to come with their best teams. And they will. There's no doubt about it."

How has the US national team fared against their Copa America opponents?

February 21, 20169:23 PM ESTBenjamin BaerMLSsoccer.com

Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay. That's what will be awaiting the USA in Group A of the 2016 Copa America Centenario after Sunday night's draw.It starts June 3 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California against Colombia. Then it's Costa Rica at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 7 and Group A closes against Paraguay on June 11 in Philadelphia (check out the full tournament schedule).The US have a rich history with two of the three nations: They have faced Colombia twice in Copa America and at the 1994 World Cup, while Costa Rica is the USA's longtime foe in the CONCACAF region with the two teams facing off most recently in an October 2015 friendly.Here's the complete US national team history against their Copa America Centenario foes:

COLOMBIA

The USA have not fared well against Colombia over the years, winning just three of 17 all-time matches. As mentioned above, one of those wins did come at the 1994 World Cup when they defeated Los Cafeteros 2-1 at the Rose Bowl. The two teams most recently squared off in October 2014 in London, England when Colombia defeated the US 2-1.Colombia have had a rough go of it since their run to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup. They finished third in their group at the 2015 Copa America and were defeated by Argentina in the quarterfinals. More recently, they've started poorly in World Cup qualifying, collecting just four points in their first four games.

COSTA RICA

The USA and Costa Rica have a long history, having faced each other a total of 33 times. Costa Rica hold a slight edge, 14-13-6, after defeating the US in a friendly last October at Red Bull Arena. They split their 2014 World Cup qualifying games, somewhat controversially, with each team winning their home match.Costa Rica followed up their magical 2014 World Cup quarterfinal run with another heated 2015 Gold Cup quarterfinal elimination at the hands of Mexico when Andres Guardado scored a 124th-minute winner following a controversial penalty. The Ticos have gotten off to a solid start in 2018 World Cup qualifying, winning both of their games so far.

PARAGUAY

USA have less of a history with Paraguay, with the two nations facing off just six times. They have split the six matches, each team winning two. The most recent match came in March 2011 when Paraguay defeated the US 1-0 in a friendly in Nashville, Tennessee.But watch out for Paraguay: They made an outstanding run to the 2015 Copa America semifinals, defeating Brazil in the quarterfinals after a penalty kick shootout. They've gotten off to a decent start in 2018 World Cup qualifying, earning two wins in their first four matches. However, those two wins came against the continents' minnows in Venezuela and Bolivia.

Copa America predictions: U.S. group wide open, Brazil and Mexico to cruise

With the groups set for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, Tim Vickery predicts the eight teams that will advance to the knockout stages.

 Group A: U.S., Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay

The Copa could hardly have a more dramatic start than a match between hosts U.S. and Colombia, one of the South American countries where this competition is likely to generate the most interest. In recent times Colombia have been followed by an impressively noisy set of fans and with so many Colombians based in the U.S., that is surely set to continue in June.These two sides are the favourites to qualify although this might be the best balanced of the four groups.Paraguay are notoriously resilient, and Costa Rica bring their 2014 World Cup pedigree to the dance. The question mark against the chances of the two CONMEBOL teams is whether they will be close to full strength. Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz has indicted that he will be experimenting with some youngsters, and the fact that Colombia have recently staged training sessions with a group of youthful, domestic players could be an indication that coach Jose Pekerman is thinking along similar lines.If that happens, the balance shifts toward the two CONCACAF nations.

 Group B: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru

Brazil and Ecuador promise a fine start to a group where the matches are evenly split between the West and East coasts. The five-time world champions open their campaign against the sensation of South America's current World Cup qualifiers. A black mark against Ecuador is their recent record in tournaments: they were the only South American side in the last two World Cups not to make it out of the group stage, and their performances in recent Copas have been poor. Coach Gustavo Quinteros will be looking for something better from his men.In Brazil, meanwhile, there is confusion about the availability of captain and attacking inspiration Neymar, with the Copa being overshadowed in the local mind by this summer's Olympic football tournament. Even so, Brazil are clear favourites to go through along with Ecuador. Haiti are seen as one of the weaker CONCACAF nations, and Peru may well bring an experimental squad.

>Group C: Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Jamaica

Mexico have been handed a low-key group that will immediately test the attacking intentions of coach Juan Carlos Osorio. His team may not be against the most attack-minded opponents. Jamaica played in last year's Copa in Chile, where they were never disgraced but looked very short of inspiration.Venezuela, meanwhile, are in a state of turmoil. The country's top 15 players recently signed a letter protesting the directors of the local FA and making it clear that relations with coach Noel Sanvicente are strained. The coach has since travelled to Europe to meet the players and attempt some form ofdetente. But it is not yet known whether they will be available -- or be selected -- for next month's World Cup qualifiers. Venezuela, then, are something of an unknown quantity.

Uruguay, though, should be interesting not least because their Under-20 side is proving such an excellent production line for the national team. They are favourites to go through with Mexico, but with coach Oscar Washington Tabarez liking to fight from inside a trench, it will be fascinating to see if El Tri can break them down in the opening group fixture.

Group D: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Panama

Argentina and Chile will meet in competitive action for the third time in a year. Their June 6 clash in Santa Clara is the least important of the three behind last year's Copa final and next month's World Cup qualifiers. Nevertheless it is full of interest, with Argentina eager to end their long wait without a senior title, and new Chile coach (and Argentine) Juan Antonio Pizzi needing some time to get to know his players and impose his methods. Argentina are clear group favourites.Chile are in a state of transition, and Bolivia, one of South America's weakest teams, may well bring a squad of youngsters. The stage could be set, then, for Panama to make a breakthrough and announce themselves as CONCACAF's surprise side.

 U.S. Hot List: John Brooks dominating at Hertha, Brad Guzan on the outs

United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann outlines his player selection process ahead of his side’s WC qualifiers in March.

While MLS standouts like Jozy Altidore, Kellyn Acosta, Steve Birnbaum and Lee Nguyen used the national team’s January/February camp to make their cases for major minutes at this summer’s Copa America Centenario, the way the domestic league’s calendar falls makes it likely that foreign-based Americans will be mostly used when World Cup qualifying resumes against Guatemala next month.”The end of March comes early for MLS players,” Klinsmann told ussoccer.com last week. “Is the roster you’ll see at the end of March the same one as Copa America? Probably not.”

Keeping those words in mind, this latest Hot List includes 11 lineup candidates playing their club ball abroad. With the home-and-home series now less than six weeks away — not to mention the U.S. U-23’s two-leg Olympic qualifying playoff set for the same FIFA window — here’s who is helping (or hurting) their chances of being in the mix.

Warming up

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Nantes (France)

Why he’s here: The 28-year-old notched an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Lorient, giving him four goals and a pair of assists in his last six games.

What this means: Based on current form, Bedoya is the best American player in the world, having eclipsed Borussia Monchengladbach’s Fabian Johnson, who’s own searing run has inevitably cooled. Simply put, no Yank anywhere is better right now than Bedoya.

John Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin (Germany)

Why he’s here: Brooks, who turned 23 last month, has started 12 consecutive games for Hertha since regaining his lineup spot in October. He’s been a beast, too, dominating defensively and finding chances when he ventures forward. Brooks also seems to have resolved the consistency issues that plagued him during his first two seasons in the Bundesliga.

What this means: If he’s healthy, bank on Brooks starting at left center back for the U.S. over Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler — who’ll be just three games into the new MLS season — in the first leg in Guatemala City on Mar. 25.

John Brooks has been a steady presence in Hertha Berlin’s starting XI since early November.

Omar Gonzalez, D, Pachuca (Mexico)

Why he’s here: The former Los Angeles Galaxy star has been nearly flawless in central defense for the Tuzos, starting all six games since his late-2015 arrival.

What this means: Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron, who was Klinsmann’s first-choice right center back at the end of 2015, remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Combined with Gonzalez’s strong start in Liga MX, that could open the door for the 27-year-old to partner with Brooks next month.

Desevio Payne, D, Groningen (Netherlands)

Why he’s here: Now recovered from the ankle injury that limited him in late 2015, the former U.S. U-20 has appeared at right back in five of Groningen’s six Eredivisie games in 2016. He’s started the last four, including Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Ajax.

What this means: Payne, who doesn’t turn 21 until late November, probably won’t be a serious senior team candidate until later this cycle. But if his Dutch club releases him to the U.S. U-23s — who missed him during last October’s unsuccessful CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament — it would be a huge coup for Andi Herzog, who could then deploy Acosta in his natural defensive midfield role.

Christian Pulisic, M, Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Why he’s here: Pulisic was less effective in Saturday’s match against Hannover than in his two previous appearances off the Dortmund bench, but he’s still getting real minutes for a top club in an elite league — something unprecedented for a 17-year-old U.S. national team prospect.

What this means: If BVB coach Thomas Tuchel allows Pulisic to travel to Colombia with the U.S. U-23s for the first leg of next month’s do-or-die home-and-and home, don’t be surprised if he starts both games as part of the agreement. Of course, if Dortmund drags its heels, Klinsmann could just summon Pulisic to the senior squad instead.

DeAndre Yedlin, D/M Sunderland (England)

Why he’s here: Sure, he was caught sleeping on Manchester United’s goal, but Sunderland’s 2-1 upset of the Red Devils was also Yedlin’s best game yet for the Black Cats, with the 22-year-old dangerous and energetic throughout at right back.

What this means: The win should help Yedlin keep his spot in Sam Allardyce’s lineup. A starting assignment for the U.S. could follow if he holds the job into next month, although the feeling is Klinsmann still prefers him in midfield.

Cooling down

Ventura Alvarado, D, Club America (Mexico)

Why he’s here: Alvarado started Las Aguilas’ first three games of 2016 but had a shocker against Pachua on Jan. 17 and hasn’t dressed for coach Nacho Ambriz in the three matches since.

What this means: The Arizonan was also dropped by Ambriz last season; the chance to redeem himself came only after Mexican international defender Paul Aguilar got injured. So it’s hard to see Alvarado, who has been playing with America’s U-20 squad of late, getting another opportunity or playing with the U.S. until his situation changes.

Joe Corona, M, Dorados de Sinaloa (Mexico)

Why he’s here: Since moving to Sinaloa, his second loan from Tijuana in as many seasons, Corona has found playing time scarce. He’s been an unused substitute in three of the club’s six games this year, including Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Pumas.

What this means: Klinsmann has challenged Corona to get out of his comfort zone — he lived with his parents in San Diego while with the Xolos — but the 25-year-old hasn’t been a consistent performer south of the border despite over 150 Liga MX appearances. Could an MLS move be in his future?

Brad Guzan, G, Aston Villa (England)

Why he’s here: Guzan continues to languish on the bench for Villa, having sat out the last six games for the Premier League strugglers since losing his starting job to Mark Bunn.

What this means: The Illinois native still seems unlikely to be reinstated even after Bunn conceded six Liverpool goals in Sunday’s embarrassing 6-0 home defeat. Still, Tim Howard’s uncertain future at Everton could keep the 31-year-old Guzan in contention for the Americans open No. 1 role ahead of June’s Copa America.

Brad Guzan’s previous Premier League start for Aston Villa came back on Jan. 2 in a 3-1 loss to Sunderland.

Timmy Chandler, D/M, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Why he’s here: The German-American hasn’t made Eintracht’s bench in three weeks and last played in a league game more than two months ago.

What this means: Chandler fell out of favor with Klinsmann even before losing his day job and will remain off the radar until he’s playing regularly again at club level. But with more than 120 Bundesliga appearances on his resume, don’t write off the 25-year-old permanently yet.

Jermaine Jones, M, Unattached

Why he’s here: The 34-year-old is still unemployed and will begin a six-game suspension the moment he finds a new club — effectively ruling him out for next month’s matches.

What this means: Despite his age, Jones can still contribute at the international level and will remain in Klinsmann’s plans through at least this summer. Still, the coach made it clear that he won’t play an unfit Jones, who will have gone seven weeks without a match if he’s still unsigned, even if he’s available against Guatemala.

ESPNFC’s Tom Marshall contri

Champions League preview: Do Arsenal stand a chance vs. Barcelona?

1 CommentBy Andy EdwardsFeb 22, 2016, 10:03 AM EST

Arsenal haven’t been to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League since 2010. In five straight knockout stage appearances they’ve been bounced from the competition in the round of 16, having been little more than an afterthought in conversations of real contenders for the title.[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s UCL coverage ] They’ve also endured a tortured recent history against this season’s round of 16 foe, Barcelona, who happen to be in the midst of one of the longest, most dominant unbeaten runs we’ve seen in quite some time.So why, of all years, should we believe this to be any different for the Gunners? To find that answer, we’re going to have to look really, really deep into this round of 16 tie, which kicks off Tuesday (1:45 p.m. ET, with live and post-game coverage on PST). Even then we might not find what we’re looking for.

Arsenal’s all-time CL meetings with Barcelona: 1-1 and 2-4 (group stage – 1999); 1-2 (2006 final); 3-6 (aggregate – 2010); 3-4 (aggregate – 2011). In short, history is not only not on Arsenal’s side, but it couldn’t be much more against them (one single-leg victory in seven meetings all-time – 2011 first leg).

Barcelona’s current unbeaten run: 32 games. The last time Barca lost, the date was Oct. 3, 2015. Simple math tells us that’s nearly five months without a loss in any competition.

Messi, Suarez and Neymar goals scored combined: 91 through 46 games (1.97 per game – all competitions) this season. Last season they combined to score 122 goals in 61 total games (2.0 per game – Suarez was suspended the first three months of the season). A better attacking trio has arguably never existed.

Do Arsenal even want to bother with progressing in the CL? They’ve not had a chance this good to win the Premier League since they last won it a decade ago. They’re two points back of Leicester City and level with Tottenham Hotspur. They’ve already got an fifth-round replay against Hull City in their bid for a third straight FA Cup. They’re finally close to having a fully fit squad, but is it deep enough to compete on three fronts when one of them involves European travel mid-week with important domestic games on the weekends either side? Of course they do, but it’ll only make life tougher in the meantime.

Will it even matter what they want? As is the case with most top sides, Arsenal struggle most noticeably against teams that are organized defensively, sit deep inside their own half and hit back on the counter-attack. Barcelona are the most proactive, possession- and attack-minded side in the world, and they’ll look to dominate possession and attack non-stop from the opening to final whistles. There will be room to hit back on the counter themselves, putting to good use the pace of Theo Walcott, the directness and nose for goal of Alexis Sanchez, and the brilliant vision and the splitting through balls of Mesut Ozil. The real problem lies in the fact that for every chance Arsenal have on the counter, Barca will have three or four or five during prolonged periods of possession while camped inside Arsenal’s half of the field.Best of luck, Arsenal. You’re going to need it.

Four powers, two games, one Champions League Super Tuesday

Y BEN LYTTLETONTwitter EmailPosted: Mon Feb. 22, 2016

If UEFA established a Super Tuesday in the Champions League, this would be it: four of Europe’s biggest and best teams face each other in the pick of the round-of-16 ties this week. Barcelona’s quest to become the first team in the Champions League era to retain its title takes it to London, while last year’s runner-up, Juventus, takes on Bayern Munich.On Wednesday, two dark horses are in action; Manchester City hopes to reach the last eight for the first time–playing in an empty stadium vs. Dynamo Kyiv–while 2014 finalist Atletico Madrid is a favorite to get past PSV Eindhoven.Here is what to look out for this week (all games start 2:45 p.m. ET):

Arsenal vs. Barcelona (Tuesday)

History is not on Arsenal’s side in this tie; it lost to Barcelona in Champions League in 2010 and 2011 (Messi scored four goals in that first game) while the English side also lost the first leg at home in each of their last three round-of-16 ties; against Bayern Munich (2013 and 2014) and Monaco (2015). Barcelona’s recent record in England is as good as it can be: after the Arsenal wins, it also beat Manchester City at this stage of the competition in the last two seasons.On current form, Barcelona is the best team in Europe: Celta Vigo was blitzed 5-1 in an astonishing 15-minute period of play late on, while last Saturday’s display at Las Palmas may have been scrappy in comparison, but Barça still won 2-1. The Messi-Suarez-Neymar strike partnership seems unstoppable; and while Messi and Neymar have continued to star this season, right now it is Luis Suarez who is in the zone, with 15 goals in his last nine appearances.There is reason for some optimism for Arsenal. Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who has been outstanding this season, has never been beaten by Messi in six meetings. Will that run continue? Gabriel Paulista believes so: he told the Brazilian press that he has the secret formula for keeping MSN quiet. Let’s see that before we believe it.

Juventus vs. Bayern Munich (Tuesday)

When the draw was made, Bayern was the clear favorite for this tie. Since then, everything has gone right for Juventus, and not quite so right for the German leader. Juventus ended its run of 15 straight Serie A wins Friday night with a goalless draw at Bologna, but there is no doubt that Massimiliano Allegri has found the right formula, with Gigi Buffon and Paulo Dybala in superb form.​Bayern’s status is not quite so secure; Holger Badstuber has joined Medhi Benatia, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez on the injured center backs list, while January signing Serdar Tasci only made his debut at the weekend. Midfielder Arturo Vidal, up against his former club, has come in for criticism on and off the field. It’s better news further upfield, where Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski have scored 13 of the team’s last 14 goals.Even though Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa have not been as dangerous as earlier in the season, Arjen Robben is back from injury and so is Franck Ribery, who made his first home appearance for nearly 12 months Saturday (he will likely start on the bench Tuesday).No European game featuring Bayern is complete without the usual Guardiola debate; since he has announced his departure, and his destination, the narrative continues that Bayern’s Champions League campaign is all-or-nothing. This is unfair on Guardiola, who has already fulfilled his brief as Bayern boss by taking its football to new levels; the Juventus game has taken on an undue importance with the sense that a defeat will tarnish his legacy. It’s certainly not as clear-cut as it appeared three months ago.

Is Pep Guardiola’s time with Bayern Munich a failure if he doesn’t win Champions League?

On SI Now, former Germany national football team goalie Jens Lehmann discusses whether or not Pep Guardiola’s tenure as Bayern Munich’s manager will be a disappointment if the team doesn’t win the Champions League.

Dynamo Kyiv vs. Manchester City (Wednesday)

City has lost its last thee games and its slump could not have come at a worse time. Coach Manuel Pellegrini fielded a second-string team for Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at Chelsea because he is clearly prioritizing this chance to reach the last eight for the first time in the club’s history, and Sunday’s League Cup final against Liverpool.While City is strong favorite to progress past a team that has not played since early-December, there are always caveats to the side which remains reliant on Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero and, when fit, Kevin de Bruyne. Which Yaya Toure will turn up? Will the defense stay solid? Does Raheem Sterling’s form deserve more scrutiny? And of course, ever since the club announced that Pep Guardiola will take charge next season, which players will still be in the side then?It’s surprising to note that from when Dynamo beat City 2-1 on aggregate in the 2011 Europa League, City still has six players who could start this week. After five years and millions spent on new players, that’s hardly an overhaul.Before the draw was made, Dynamo coach Sergei Rebrov was slated to spend a week at City watching training sessions; but the team had so many matches (therefore not as much training) that his trip was canceled. Rebrov was part of the Dynamo side that reached the 1999 Champions League semifinal and claims he knows how to prepare a team after a three-month hiatus. If he’s right, then Pellegrini might have another headache. The added twist of the game being played in front of no supporters, as a result of UEFA sanctioning for fan racism, is a variable that both teams will need to take into account.

PSV Eindhoven vs. Atletico Madrid (Wednesday)

Poor old Nicolas Isimat-Mirin. The PSV defender was interviewed at the club canteen, and declared that he would "eat Atletico like this soup" that he had just been given. Only problem: the soup was boiling hot and it burned his tongue.PSV beat Manchester United to reach this stage and has maintained its position at the top of the Dutch table. Coach Philipp Cocu is not afraid to deviate from the usual 4-3-3 system, playing a 4-4-2 to boost the midfield against Wolfsburg. Mexican midfielder Andres Guardado is back from injury for the game.Even though Atletico dropped points at home to Villarreal Sunday, for once Diego Simeone takes his team in Europe as a strong favorite. It is unsurprising that his defense is the club's backbone, one that has conceded 11 goals in 25 La Liga games this season, the best in Europe’s top five leagues. At the other end, Antoine Griezmann has only scored once in his last seven games, while Luciano Vietto and Angel Correa have bags of potential; this is their chance to show it on the big stage.

A solid first week of Champions League Round of 16 play as the top team’s basically held serve with PSG and Real Madrid securing 1^st leg victories. Huge games on Tues 2:45 Fox Sports channels with Arsenal hosting Barcelona and Messi, and last season’s runner-up Juventus and their world class keeper Buffon hosting German powerhouse Bayern Munich.        The US Women face T+T tonite 8:30 pm on NBCSN and probably Canada Sunday in their bid to qualify for the Olympics next summer, while the US Men wait on Sunday Night’s Copa America Centenario Draw live from NY City, Sunday night at 7:30 on Fox Sports2 to see who they will face and who comes to Chicago.                                                                   FA Cup Action returns in England this weekend as both Manchester teams are struggling – its Chelsea hosting Man City at 11 am Fox Sports 2 with another chance that new America signee defender Matt Miazga could play while John Terry continues to recover.      

Games of the Week

Friday

8:30 p.m NBCSN 1A. United States Women vs. 2B. Trinidad & Tobago – USA looks to Qualify for the Olympics Final 4

Sun, Feb 21

9:30 am  Fox Soccer Plus Bayer Levekusen vs Dortmund – Battle of Top 4 German powers                 11 am – Fox Sports 2 Chelsea vs Man City – Chelsea host City in FA Cup Round

5:00 p.m., NBC Universo and NBC Sports Live Extra: USA ? vs. TBD (tape-delayed on NBCSN at 11:00 p.m.) USA looks to Qualify for the Olympics –Finals

7:30 pm Fox Sports 2 — 2016 Copa America Centenario Draw – See who the US plays, who plays in Chicago and the entire layout of the Copa

Tues, Feb 23

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona – The gunners draw the top team in the world again – must win at home.

2:45 pm FS 2          Juventus vs Bayern Munich – last year’s Final 4 battle it out at Juve.

10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Seattle Sounders vs. Club América –huge game for MLS and US Soccer at home –great atmosphere in Seattle

Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City- Can City get a point on the road? They have never advanced past this rd.

2:45 pm  FS 2         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid –Dutch power looks to win at home.

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, February 19

2:45 pm beIn Sport  Bologna vs Juventus

 CONCACAF women’s Olympics qualifying (Semifinals at BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas)  5:30 p.m., NBC Universo: 1B. Canada vs. 2A. Costa Rica
8:30 p.m., NBCSN 1A. United States vs. 2B. Trinidad & Tobago

Sat , February 20

8:30 am FA Cup – Fox Sports 1 Arsenal vs Hull City

10 am FA Cup – Fox Sports 2 Reading vs West Brom

12:15 pm FA Cup Fox Sports 2 Bournemouth vs Everton

Sunday, February 21

8:30 am FA Cup – Fox Sports 2  Blackburn vs West Ham United

9:30 am  Fox Soccer Plus Bayer Levekusen vs Dortmund

10 am beIN Sport Malaga vs Real Madrid

10 am FA CUP – Fox Sports Regional Tottenham vs Crystal Palace

11 am FA Cup – Fox Sports 2 Chelsea vs Man City

CONCACAF women’s Olympics qualifying (Championship game at BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas)  

5:00 p.m., NBC Universo and NBC Sports Live Extra: USA ? vs. TBD (tape-delayed on NBCSN at 11:00 p.m.)

7:30 pm Fox Sports 2 — 2016 Copa America Centenario Draw –

 Tues, Feb 23 – Champions League

2:45 pm FS 1          Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2          Juventus vs Bayern Munich

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal first legs)                                                                                8:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Querétaro vs. DC United
10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Seattle Sounders vs. Club América

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal first legs)                                                                               8:00 p.m., Fox Sports 2: Tigres UANL vs. Real Salt Lake
10:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Santos Laguna

Thursday, Feb. 25

UEFA Europa League (Round of 32 second leg)                                                                                             1:00 p.m., TV TBD: Athletic Bilbao vs. Marseille, Kuban Krasnodar vs. Sparta Prague, Lazio vs. Galatasaray, Liverpool vs. Augsburg, Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Fenerbahçe, Rapid Vienna vs. Valencia, Schalke 04 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

3:00 p.m., ESPN3: Manchester United vs. Midtjylland, Porto vs. Borussia Dortmund
3:00 p.m., ESPN Deportes: Napoli vs. Villarreal
3:00 p.m., TV TBD: Basel vs. Saint-Étienne, Molde vs. Sevilla, Olympiakos vs. Anderlecht, Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fiorentina

Sat, February 27

7:45 am  NBCSN        West Ham vs Sunderland

9;30 am Fox Sports 2 Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich

10 am beIn Sport –     Madrid Classico – Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid

10 am NBCSN           Leicester City vs Norwich

 Sunday, February 28

9 am NBCSN –          Man U vs Arsenal

11:30 am Capital 1 Cup Finals – Liverpool vs Man City

2:45 pm  bein Sport     Juventus vs Inter

 Tuesday, March 1

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., TV TBD: D.C. United vs. Querétaro
10:00 p.m., TV TBD: Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

 Wednesday, March 2, 2016

CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal second legs)

8:00 p.m., TV TBD: Club América vs. Seattle Sounders
10:00 p.m., TV TBD: Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL

Sun, March 6: MLS Opening Weekend

4:30 pm ESPN           Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew

7 pm Fox Sports 1      Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City
 

Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

Copa America –Chicago Full Venue Passes                                                                                   Sun, June 5 – C3 vs. C4
Tues Eve, June 7 – United States vs. A3
Fri Eve, June 10 – Argentina vs. D3
Wed Eve, June 22 – Semifinal (read Argentina vs Brazil) Maybe

Copa Schedule

WORLD SOCCER

Van Gaal and United hit all Time Low in Europa lost to Midtylland 2-1

Man U and Man City Both Struggling

Who’s Deep enough to win the EPL – Goodman ESPN FC

Shaka Ranks the Top 10 in world

Messi’s Trick PK

Champions League-Rd of 16 

Tues, Feb 23

2:45 pm Fox Sports 1            Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2                          Juventus vs Bayern Munich

Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1                          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2                         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

This week’s first-leg results:Paris 2-1 Chelsea, Benfica 1-0 Zenit

, Gent 2-3 Wolfsburg, Roma 0-2 Real Madrid
Next week’s first legs: Tuesday – Arsenal v Barcelona, Juventus v Bayern                       Wednesday – PSV v Atlético, Dynamo Kyiv v Man. City

2-1 PSG over Chelsea –Lessons Learned                                                                                             PSG coach Blanc left frustrated

• Cavani earns Paris advantage

Clinical Madrid punish Roma

• Zidane content with Madrid
• Marcelo acclaims Ronaldo
• Jonas: Benfica deserved win
• Rui Vitória satisfied with Benfica
• Jonas gives Benfica win

Late goals give Gent hope

Arsenal seek change of fortune against Barçelona

USA

US Ladies Edge Mexico on late Lloyd Goal

Healthy Alex Morgan Brings Sophisticated Game to USWNT

Prospects for US in Copa Draw Look Ok – NBCSN

Goalkeeper for US Suddenly an Issue?  Washington Post

US Johnson  scores in Germany

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/us-soccer-double-pass-youth-academy-development

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/us-soccer-coaching-licenses-guidelines-nico-romeijn 

US Defender Matt Miazga loving life at Chelsea

 MLS

Arsenal to play MLS Allstars July 29

Seattle’s Obafemi Martins leaves for China opening door for Morris

How to watch and follow the CCL quarterfinals

Everything you need to know about CCL

Is third CCL series victory vs. Liga MX in the cards for MLS?

Should we expect teams in CCL to get results in Mexico?

#MLS4RSL: Reliving historic CCL run ahead of MLS-Liga MX showdown

CCL Preview: United try to overcome last year’s disappointment

CCL Preview: RSL try to re-capture 2011 magic

CCL Preview: Sounders enter quarters looking to upset champs

CCL Preview: Are Tigres favorites entering knockout rounds?

CCL Preview: How Queretaro stack up vs. DC United

CCL Preview: Can Santos top LA, make another run to the final?

CCL Preview: América set to take on a weakened Sounders

CCL Preview: Can reloaded Galaxy find CCL glory?

Kick Off: Should Mario Balotelli consider a move to MLS?

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

 INDY 11

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2016 Copa America: USMNT’s prospects for group draw mostly not horrible

1 CommentBy Andy EdwardsFeb 18, 2016, 6:11 PM EST

The group-stage draw for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which takes place on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET) in New York City, could go a long way toward determining the U.S. national team’s fate at this summer’s tournament to be played in cities across the United States.Just as with the World Cup, a bad draw for the group stage could hand the USMNT three dauntingly difficult fixtures from which they need a minimum of four points to advance to the knockout stage.Fortunately for the USMNT, their worst-case scenario group-stage draw isn’t half as bad — at least on paper — as what we thought they would face at the 2014 World Cup. Having been placed into pot 1, thanks to their host nation status, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will avoid Argentina, Brazil and Mexico until the knockout stage, should they advance that far. Unlike the Chileans, though, who hosted and won the 2015 Copa America, the Yanks’ home-field advantage will be decidedly lessened when facing any nation with a significant population living in the States, which is to say, most nations from the Americas and Caribbean. [ MORE: The very latest on the Tim Howard-to-MLS rumors ] Based largely upon their respective showings at the 2015 Copa America, 2015 Gold Cup and a bit of the eye test, the difficulty (from most difficult to least difficult) of teams making up pots 2-4 looks something like this:

Pot 2: Chile, Colombia Uruguay, Ecuador — Nothing about this pot can spell good news for the USMT. Chile and Colombia are neck and neck at the top of the group, with a slight advantage going to the former as the current Copa holders. Uruguay have the undisputed best player of the four nations, though, in Luis Suarez. Simple math says there’s a 75 percent chance the USMNT gets one of the above South American giants, and a 25 percent shot at Ecuador, a largely disappointing side (failed to advance from the group stage) at last summer’s Copa. [ MORE: Bobby Wood scores in Germany | Fabian Johnson does, too ]

Pot 3: Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti — Competition the USMNT knows very well, and against which they typically perform well. Jamiaca gets the nod ahead of Costa based on, 1) their experience from playing in last year’s Copa, and 2) the massive improvement they showed during the ensuing Gold Cup, where they finished runners-up to Mexico (andbeat the USMNT in the semifinals). Speaking of sides who troubled the USMNT more than a bit last summer, Panama (third-place finishers) and Haiti (outplayed but ultimately fellto the USMNT during the group stage) round out CONCACAF’s representatives.

Pot 4: Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, Bolivia — Peru knocked off Paraguay to finish third at last summer’s Copa, buoyed by the tournament’s joint-top scorer, Paolo Guerrero (4 goals), so the USMNT wants little to do with either of those sides, really. As for Venezuela and Bolivia, the former came within a point of advancing from a group that featured Brazil, Colombia and Peru, while the latter snuck out of a group that included Chile, Ecuador and a B-team Mexico side.With that said, the USMNT’s best- and worst-possible draws, in this writer’s opinion, are as follows, while anything else falls somewhere in between based upon the above rankings. [ MORE: Matt Miazga Q&A — Loving life during early days at Chelsea ]

Best-possible draw: USA, Ecuador, Haiti, Bolivia  Worst-possible draw: USA, Chile, Jamaica, Peru

Barcelona stay top as Tottenham make their move and Leicester drop down

The leaders remain unmoved but Italy’s champions are on the up, as are the Premier League’s form team.

1. Barcelona(no change)

After Wednesday’s win over Sporting Gijon, Barcelona lead La Liga by six points and look likely to win their sixth Spanish title in eight seasons. Luis Enrique’s men are now unbeaten in 31 games and, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in rampant scoring form — seemingly every game — you have to wonder if anyone can prevent them winning another treble.

2. Bayern Munich(no change)

Barca’s former manager might have the best-equipped side to thwart the reigning European Cup holders in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side face Juventus in the Round of 16 first leg next week but, in the meantime, are easing their way to another Bundesliga title. Their latest walk in the park saw them win 3-0 at Augsburg and featured another Robert Lewandowski brace.

3. Juventus(+1)

They left it late by Simone Zaza’s winner beat Napoli to earn Juventus a 15th consecutive Serie A win and, more importantly, lifted The Old Lady into first place in the standings. It really is remarkable to think that this same squad started the season so poorly. As it stands, Juve are another European power with hopes of a treble.

4. Paris Saint-Germain(-1)

Laurent Blanc rested key men for the 0-0 Ligue 1 draw against Lille — you can do that when you lead the table by more than 20 points! — but the big names were back against Chelsea and PSG earned a narrow 2-1 advantage. Thibaut Courtois’ saves meant it wasn’t a bigger win but the French side will be confident of scoring at Stamford Bridge.

Real Madrid are unbeaten in seven games since Zinedine Zidane took over as manager.

5. Real Madrid(no change)

Doesn’t it seem like a long time ago that Rafa Benitez was in charge at the Bernabeu? Madrid might not be quite at the level of Barcelona yet but there is no doubt that, under Zinedine Zidane, they are getting better. The last week saw wins over Athletic Bilbao and in Rome, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring three times across those two games.

6. Tottenham(+3)

If anyone still had doubts about Spurs’ title credentials before they went to Manchester City on Sunday, they surely don’t anymore. Christian Eriksen’s late winner earned a 2-1 win and, after five straight league victories, Tottenham now sit second in the Premier League. On Thursday, they earned an important away draw vs. Fiorentina in the Europa League.

7. Atletico Madrid(+1)

A week after scoring his 100th goal for the club, Fernando Torres was on target again as Atletico won 1-0 at Getafe. Diego Simeone’s side have stuttered a little in recent weeks and will be looking to rediscover top form soon, given their upcoming fixtures include a Champions League trip to PSV Eindhoven and then, three days later, the Madrid derby against Real.

8. Arsenal(new)

The Gunners reignited their Premier League title hopes thanks to their let show against Leicester but must now maintain their momentum if they are to win silverware this season. Their next three games are against Hull in the FA Cup, before they face Barcelona in the Champions League and then travel to Manchester United in league play.

9. Borussia Dortmund(new)

BVB are unbeaten in all competitions since the winter break. Most recently, Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Hannover in the Bundesliga, where they trail leaders Bayern by eight points but have a 13-point advantage over third-placed Leverkusen. Dortmund then beat Porto 2-0 in the Europa League, a competition they are definitely capable of winning.

10. Leicester(-3)

So close, so close! After taking the lead at Arsenal, Leicester then conceded just once having been reduced to 10 men … until the final minute of injury time when Marcin Wasilewski’s clumsy foul led to the free kick from Danny Welbeck scored the Gunners’ winner. Valiant defeats don’t earn any points but there was still plenty to suggest Leicester won’t go away.Dropping out: Napoli, Benfica.

Lessons learned from Paris 2-1 Chelsea

Published: Wednesday 17 February 2016, 8.45CET by Chris Burke

Reporter Chris Burke assesses Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win against Chelsea in football’s new capital rivalry, where goalkeepers starred and both teams took credit.

European football’s new rivalry
Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have made a habit of serving up richly entertaining affairs and Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 offering followed suit, leaving the second leg at Stamford Bridge on 9 March fascinatingly poised with Laurent Blanc’s men 2-1 up. The French club posted a better result than last season against the Blues – when they went through after two draws – but worse than two years ago, when they lost 2-0 in London after a 3-1 home win.

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So it was hard to argue with Guus Hiddink’s take that his Chelsea team’s chances are “50-50”. Nevertheless, both those recent ties were settled on away goals and Jon Obi Mikel’s first-half leveller could yet prove crucial, particularly as the team that scored second progressed in 2014 and 2015.

Goalkeepers catch the eye
It has become a cliche in the French capital to say that Paris finished runners-up in Group A because of Kevin Trapp, the goalkeeper’s mistake at Real Madrid sealing a 1-0 loss. Given that it was the only goal he conceded during the entire group stage, that is a slightly harsh assessment, but the summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt has also made a handful of errors on the domestic scene and remains something of an enigma.

Highlights: Paris 2-1 Chelsea

As an unknown quantity brought in to supplant the popular Salvatore Sirigu, the 25-year-old German was always going to have to work hard to win over supporters, but he turned in a faultless display and his instinctive save onto the crossbar from Diego Costa’s header will endure in the memory. “I’m convinced he’ll play a lot more games of this calibre,” commented Blanc. Trapp’s opposite number Thibaut Courtois was similarly impressive, meanwhile, keeping Chelsea in the tie with fine stops from the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ángel Di María.

Paris forwards prove points
Trapp was not the only player in the Paris ranks under the microscope. Ibrahimović went into this game saddled with a reputation for fading from view when the stakes are high, having managed just seven goals in 36 UEFA Champions League knockout games and three in 18 fixtures against English clubs at this level.

Here, though, he opened the scoring – albeit via a deflection – and played a part in Edinson Cavani’s winner, as the substitute showed what he too can do. Again left out of the starting lineup in favour of the lively Lucas, the Uruguay striker needed just four minutes to coolly slot in the winner after coming off the bench. “I hope this goal will give him confidence,” said Blanc.

Mikel: Chelsea still in it

Injury-hit Chelsea show grit
Chelsea supporters feared the worst when John Terry was ruled out of this match with a muscle injury shortly after fellow centre-back Kurt Zouma was sidelined for the season. They need not have fretted.

True, the visitors lost for the first time in the 13 matches since José Mourinho was dismissed, but Branislav Ivanović and Gary Cahill were formidable in the heart of defence – at one point throwing themselves in the way of a Blaise Matuidi shot – while young left-back Abdul Baba Rahman would have had an assist were it not for Trapp’s thrilling save from Costa. “We’re very disappointed to have lost the game,” said Mikel afterwards. “I think we deserved more.”

Hazard fluffs his lines
Long courted by Paris, Eden Hazard made waves before the game by suggesting it would be “hard to say no to PSG”. Here, then, was his chance to impress the hosts, who are still hunting a superstar solution on the left side of their attack.

Instead, while Willian and Pedro Rodríguez were the brightest sparks for Chelsea, the Belgian international had a low-key performance in keeping with his low-key season and he was promptly hauled off on 71 minutes. So majestic last term, Hazard has just one goal in all competitions in 2015/16 and will need to turn things around in the second leg – for Chelsea’s sake above all.

Ronaldo helps tilt Roma tie in Madrid’s favour

Published: Wednesday 17 February 2016, 22.45CET  Roma 0-2 Real Madrid
Second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Jesé earned Zinédine Zidane’s side a hard-fought victory in Rome.

Real Madrid have one foot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after capping a patient display in Rome with a 2-0 round of 16 first-leg victory.The Stadio Olimpico did not witness a shot on target until the 57th minute but it was worth waiting for as Marcelo released Cristiano Ronaldo for a trademark strike, cutting in from the left. Roma rallied yet could not find an equaliser and substitute Jesé rounded off Zinédine Zidane’s coaching debut in the competition in style.The first half soon established a routine, with Madrid content to build up slowly. The Roma rearguard bided their time before pouncing on anything loose and launching a rapid counter. The jet-heeled Mohamed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy were the chief outlets, but while they provoked panic, Madrid’s covering defence was rarely unduly stretched.Moments of real quality were conspicuous by their absence, and Wojciech Szczęsny’s decision to wear tracksuit bottoms appeared prudent – he was virtually a spectator. There was one big scare before half-time, however, as Ronaldo flicked the ball inside to the lively Marcelo, who pivoted nicely and whipped a volley just wide.The pair combined again for the opening goal as Ronaldo sprang the offside trap to meet Marcelo’s slide-rule pass. He coolly stepped inside Alessandro Florenzi before lashing a deflected effort high into the roof of the net. Suddenly the game opened up, with chances coming thick and fast at both ends.William Vainqueur flashed a shot narrowly wide and substitute Edin Džeko so nearly muscled his way in. Yet after Ronaldo headed off target, it was another replacement who delivered the killer blow. Four minutes after coming on, Jesé made a powerful run from midfield before slotting in

Key player: Marcelo
The Brazil left-back was a doubt before the match with a shoulder problem but there was little sign of any issue in a typically full-blooded performance. While Salah kept him busy in defence, it was going forward that Marcelo came alive, going close to a goal himself before unlocking the Roma back line for Ronaldo.

Ronaldo ruins Roma’s plan
Luciano Spalletti said on the eve of the game that he was not going to assign one player to mark Ronaldo; rather it would be a team effort. For 57 minutes it worked a treat but then Ronaldo cleverly isolated Florenzi – and once he had collected Marcelo’s pass there was only one outcome.

Good time to end hoodoo
Two seasons ago Madrid travelled to Schalke at this stage seeking just their second win in 26 trips to Germany. A 6-1 victory did the job, laying the platform for the Décima. Zidane’s side are now well placed to end another hex: Madrid have lost their last eight two-legged ties against Italian opposition.

Arsenal seek change of fortune against Barça

Published: Wednesday 13 January 2016, 15.45CET

Arsenal will be seeking a positive first-leg result against Barcelona in London as they bid to avoid a third knockout defeat by the UEFA Champions League holders this decade. Arsenal FC hope it will be a case of third time lucky when they host FC Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie.• The Premier League side have lost their two previous two-legged knockout ties against Barcelona, who also won in England at this stage of the competition in 2014 and 2015.

Previous meetings
• Arsenal came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 when the teams last met in London in the 2010/11 round of 16, Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin overturning David Villa’s first-half goal.

• The lineups for the first leg at Arsenal on 16 February 2011 were:
Arsenal: Szczęsny, Eboué, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song (Arshavin 68), Wilshere, Fàbregas, Nasri, Walcott (Bendtner 77), Van Persie.
Barcelona: Valdés, Dani Alves, Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Adriano 89), Pedro, Messi, Villa (Keita 68).

• The previous season Messi had scored all four Barcelona goals in a4-1 second-leg quarter-final triumph over Arsenal. Arsène Wenger’s men had given themselves hope in the first leg by coming from two goals down todraw 2-2 through Theo Walcott and Cesc Fàbregas (penalty).
• Barcelonabeat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2006 finalat Stade de France with Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti scoring late on to overturn Sol Campbell’s strike for an Arsenal side reduced to ten men by the first-half dismissal of Jens Lehmann.
• Luis Enrique scored in both matches when the clubs met in the 1999/2000 first group stage. The Barcelona coach found the net in his side’s 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou and again in a 4-2 win at Wembley.

Match background

Arsenal
• The Gunners are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.

• They reached the knockout stage for the 16th season running thanks to a3-0 win at Olympiacos FCon 9 December. They had lost three of their first four group games but finished as group runners-up thanks to a superior head-to-head record against Olympiacos.
• Arsenal have lost the first leg at home in each of their last three round of 16 ties – against FC Bayern München (2013,2014) and AS Monaco FC (2015).
• Arsenal’s home record against Liga opposition is W8 D3 L2.
• Arsenal have won five of their eight previous two-legged ties against Spanish clubs in UEFA competition. Their last success was a4-1 aggregate quarter-final victoryover Villarreal CF in 2008/09.
• Aside from the 2006 loss to Barcelona, Arsenal have also lost European finals against Real Zaragoza (1995 European Cup Winners’ Cup) and Valencia CF (1980 European Cup Winners’ Cup).

2006 final: Barcelona end 14-year wait

Barcelona
• Winners of Group E, Barcelona were one of only two teams to go through the group stage unbeaten, with an away record of W1 D2.

• The Catalan club are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the ninth consecutive season.
• Barcelona won at Manchester City FC in the round of 16 first leg in each of the previous two campaigns –2-0 in 2014and 2-1 in 2015.
• Barcelona’s overall record away to English clubs is W8 D8 L14.
• In two-legged ties against English opposition in UEFA competition, their record is W13 L10.
• As well as overcoming Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final, Barcelona also beat Manchester United FC in the2009 (2-0)and 2011 (3-1) finals. They lost to United in the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup final (1-2).

Coach and player links
• As coach of AS Monaco FC, Wenger suffered home (0-1) and away (0-2) defeats by Barcelona in the 1993/94 group stage.

• Alexis Sánchez made 141 appearances for Barcelona (2011–14), scoring 47 goals. His honours with the club included the 2012 Copa del Rey and 2013 Spanish title.
• With Chelsea, Petr Čech faced Barcelona in two UEFA Champions League semi-finals,losing in 2008/09– when beaten by a last-minute Andrés Iniesta goal – but winning in 2011/12. He also faced them twice in the round of 16, winning in 2004/05 but losing in 2005/06.
• Čech has not been beaten by Messi in six previous meetings between the pair.
• Mesut Özil faced Barcelona 16 times as a Real Madrid CF player (W4 D6 L6), including a 1-0 victory in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. He scored against them in the first leg (2-2) of the 2011 Spanish Super Cup but was sent off in the second leg (2-3).
• Nacho Monreal was sent off playing for Málaga CF in a Copa del Rey tie at Barcelona in January 2013. He won only one of ten matches against the Azulgrana with CA Osasuna and Málaga , suffering seven defeats.
• Santi Cazorla scored after two minutes of Villarreal’s 3-1 Liga victory over Barcelona in October 2007. His overall record against the Blaugrana with Villarreal and Málaga was W2 D2 L9.
• Cazorla faced Claudio Bravo when his Spain side – also including Jordi Alba, Busquets and Iniesta – had their 2014 FIFA World Cup elimination sealed by a 2-0 reverse to Chile.
• Héctor Bellerín started out in Barcelona’s youth academy before joining Arsenal in 2011. Mikel Arteta is another graduate of La Masia but left in 2001 for a loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain before signing for Rangers FC.
• Luis Suárez scored twice in five visits to Arsenal with Liverpool FC – in a 2-0 win in August 2011 and a 2-2 draw in January 2013.
• Thomas Vermaelen played for Arsenal between 2009 and 2014, making 110 Premier League appearances.
• Players who have played together:
  Santi Cazorla & Jordi Alba, Marc Bartra, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
  Mesut Özil & Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany)
  Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud & Jérémy Mathieu (France)
  Alexis Sánchez & Claudio Bravo (Chile)

Match facts

Arsenal
• Joel Campbell, Giroud and Özil are a booking away from a ban.

• Arsenal have lost only two of their last 17 matches in all competitions, winning 11 of them.*
• Making his first appearance since 26 April after overcoming a knee injury, Danny Welbeck headed the winning goal as title rivals Leicester City FC were beaten 2-1 at home on 14 February.
• On 5 February, Tomáš Rosický was ruled out for up to three months with a thigh problem. He sustained the injury against Burnley FC on 30 January – his first outing for club or country in seven months.
• January signing Mohamed Elneny made his Arsenal debut in the 2-1 FA Cup triumph over Burnley.

UEFA Champions League squad changes
• In: Mohamed Elneny (FC Basel 1893)
• Out: Glen Kamara (Southend United FC, loan), Mathieu Debuchy (FC Girondins de Bordeaux, loan)

Barcelona
• Piqué will incur a suspension with his next booking. Arda Turan serves a one-game ban.

• Barcelona are 31 matches unbeaten in all competitions, since a 2-1 loss to Sevilla FC on 3 October.*
• On 10 February, the Azulgrana made it a club record 29 games without defeat – bettering the mark set by Josep Guardiola’s 2010/11 squad – when a much-changed side drew 1-1 at Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.
• Four goals from Suárez helped the holders to their biggest win of the campaign, 7-0, in the first leg.
• Suárez has scored 14 goals in his last eight appearances in all competitions.*
• Barcelona will face Sevilla in their sixth Copa del Rey final in eight seasons.
• Messi surpassed the 300-goal mark in the Liga with a double in the 3-1 success at Real Sporting de Gijón on 17 February.
• Enrique brought up 100 fixtures in charge of Barça with a 2-0 win, his 80th victory, at Levante UD on 7 February.
• Rafinha (knee), injured on matchday one, was ruled out for six months after undergoing surgery on 22 September.
• Barça rounded off a splendid 2015 by winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, defeating Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC and CA River Plate 3-0.

UEFA Champions League squad changes
• In: Adrian Ortola, Aleix Vidal (Sevilla FC), Arda Turan (Atlético Madrid)
• Out: David Babunski, Juan Cámara, Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica), Gerard Gumbau, José Aurelio Suárez

*Subject to weekend updates

Miazga Q&A, as USMNT defender is loving life at Chelsea

1 CommentBy Joe Prince-WrightFeb 13, 2016, 12:18 PM EST

USMNT youngster Matt Miazga joined Chelsea in January as the former New York Red Bulls star has joined one of the biggest clubs in the world.So far, it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind but Miazga, 20, is settling in well and is already raving about the “more professional” setup in the Premier League and spoke of his dream to always move to Europe in the Q&A below.In an exclusive partnership with Chelsea Football Club, NBCSports.com provides even more access to life at Stamford Bridge.Sign up to the Chelsea Fan Club Plus now to read the full edition of this month’s Chelsea magazine. Members also gain access to Chelsea TV featuring behind-the-scenes action from the Chelsea training ground and exclusive interviews with Guus Hiddink and his players.

Below is a Q&A with Miazga from Chelsea’s magazine.

It must be an exciting time for you, having just moved across the pond to start your Chelsea career.
This is a great opportunity. My goal was always to go to Europe to test myself against the best players in the world and against top-level opposition. This is the best league in the world so I’m looking forward to the higher level, getting better as a player and developing.

How would you describe yourself as a player?
I’m a defender so I like to win headers. I’m aggressive, I’m not scared to play out from the back and I like to use my passing range a lot. I try to communicate with the other defenders and be a leader on the field.

What do you expect from the Premier League?
Watching it since I was a young boy, everyone knows the league is very competitive and any team can beat any team, so the competition is very high and everyone is going all out to win their games. It is a very exciting league and I look forward to it.

Football really seems to be on the rise in the United States now…
It definitely is, especially after the World Cup in 2014 when we made it out of the group of death. Everybody became big fans and it is growing now, you can tell.

Coming from a Polish family must have helped your interest in the game along…
When my dad was younger, growing up in Poland, everyone played football so he gave me his tips and advice. Every year as I got older, I would play with different travel teams and different coaches would take control and help me, but my dad has always been there for me, giving me advice and keeping my mentality strong.

You have a full United States cap now and you also had an impressive tournament at the Under-20s World Cup, didn’t you?
It was a great experience. Playing with some of the best players your age is a great experience. Going past the group stage was another one – playing for your lives, everyone gives it their all, game are full of emotions and there’s a lot of passion. You are representing your country so you want to give it your best and everyone is watching back home. Obviously, it is not the full World Cup and that is definitely a goal of mine, but it is definitely a stepping stone in my career. We did fairly well for an American side, we got to the quarter-finals and lost to the eventual champions, Serbia, on penalties.

Is it fair to describe last year as your breakthrough season, given that you made 30 MLS appearances for New York Red Bulls?
Yes, I would say so. As a young player, to become a full-time starter and get all those significant minutes, that is a definitely a breakthrough season. From the start I wasn’t pencilled in as a starter. I talked to my manager and he wanted to slowly integrate me and establish me as I was 19 at the time, but there was an injury so I was forced into the line-up anyway. Ever since that first game I just played really well and stuck with it.

You played against Frank Lampard in a game against New York City, as well as David Villa and Andrea Pirlo. What was that like?
Yes, we played them in the Red Bull Arena. There were obviously some world-class players and every time you step on the field against them you want to do well. It was a good experience playing against top players like that – meeting them and competing against them. Lampard actually had some chances arriving at the right time in the box. He didn’t put them away and we were lucky he didn’t. He obviously had good quality on the ball.

What are your first impressions of Chelsea, having just arrived here?
It’s definitely more professional. It’s a huge club, so there are staff that take care of you and people within the club who try to make it an easy transition and make you feel comfortable. Your job, then, is only to work on the pitch and give your all. You can tell the magnitude of the club when you walk in, with the facilities here.

Worry for U.S. national team: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan out of favor at their clubs

By Steven Goff February 14 at 7:45 PM  

In November, Jurgen Klinsmann summoned goalkeepers Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Bill Hamid to the U.S. national team ahead of two World Cup qualifiers. Howard and Guzan interrupted their Premier League work, while understudy Hamid arrived after another sterling MLS season.Three months later, the most stable of positions in the U.S. program is showing cracks.Howard is struggling to regain his Everton job, Guzan has dropped to second choice with last-place Aston Villa and Hamid is recovering from a knee operation that will keep him out of D.C. United’s lineup for months.If there was one area American soccer has never had to fret about, it was goalkeeper. Since 1990, when the United States ended a 40-year absence from the World Cup, the job has been in good hands: notably those of Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and, for the past several years, Howard and Guzan, with Nick Rimando as a reliable reserve.But when Klinsmann gathers his squad late next month for a pair of qualifiers against Guatemala, the shot-blocking function might, for the first time in recent memory, come with concerns.[How Americans abroad fared this weekend]

This is not to suggest American soccer’s world-class strength is now a weakness. Even if they remain in reserve in England, Howard and Guzan carry years of international experience and remain among the finer netminders in the CONCACAF region and beyond. Without the fitness demands of outfield players, goalies do not necessarily need to play every week in order to maintain quality form and, in their cases, remain in Klinsmann’s good graces.Clearly, though, Klinsmann would prefer to have one or both of his top keepers in rhythm before camp opens ahead of the March 25 qualifier in Guatemala City and the March 29 rematch in Columbus, Ohio.Regardless, both are almost certain of receiving invitations. The third slot might return to Real Salt Lake’s Rimando, who missed the November qualifiers and winter camp after undergoing surgery to repair meniscus damage.Whether Howard and Guzan regain starting jobs in England will undoubtedly claim some of Klinsmann’s attention. Howard, 36, has not been at his best this season and, after suffering a minor knee injury last month, yielded the job to Spain’s Joel Robles. Although Howard is healthy again, Robles has remained in the lineup.[Lloyd scores game-winner for USWNT against Mexico]  he shift comes amid speculation that, despite two years left on his contract, the 2014 World Cup hero will return to MLS this summer after 13 Premier League seasons. ESPNFC.com reported that the Colorado Rapids are his primary suitors.This week, Everton Manager Roberto Martinez spoke as if Howard was nearing the end of his phenomenal run at the Liverpool-based club.“We will have to take a bit of time to consider his best moments and what he has done for this club,” he told British reporters. “We should appreciate that and give him that warmth between now and the end of the season. I think it’s important that Tim doesn’t feel that all his good work has been forgotten.”Guzan, 31, had started all but six of Aston Villa’s league matches the previous three campaigns and the first 20 this season before falling out of favor last month. He has since backed up Englishman Mark Bunn in league play and started two FA Cup matches.Villa, a 6-0 loser at home against Liverpool on Sunday, is headed for relegation to the second tier next season after 28 years in the top flight.Aside from Guzan’s playing form, his relationship with disgruntled supporters has also deteriorated: Last month he and a teammate were accused of shouting obscenities at fans behind the bench during an FA Cup match.Hamid would have been Klinsmann’s top choice at the winter camp, which featured almost exclusively MLS players. But the Annandale native reinjured his knee before the report date, sidelining him four to six months.Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls) and David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes) started in the friendlies against Iceland and Canada, respectively. They have a combined three international appearances.Steven Goff is The Post’s soccer writer.

Healthy Alex Morgan Brings More Sophisticated Game To USWNT

By Graham Hays | Feb 18, 2016espnW.com

FRISCO, Texas — Alex Morgan recalls most everything about her first appearance for the United States women’s national team. She remembers then-coach Pia Sundhage informing her the night before, a relief after weeks of training with the team. She remembers the bus ride to the stadium and watching from the bench in the first half, thinking, planning how to contribute and play to her strengths. And Morgan, who was born at the height of summer, raised in Southern California and scored the biggest goal of her life to that point under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s in the Southern Hemisphere to win the Under-20 World Cup, remembers the snow that day in Utah.Snow had not been part of her preparation for that moment. The two of them did not get along particularly well that day.There was jest in her words, the memory an easy one to playfully rue six years, 103 caps, 59 goals and Olympic and World Cup gold medals later.And yet history has a way of repeating itself.While she will never forget 2015, a year that brought her the aforementioned and career-defining World Cup medal and a ticker tape parade, too, it might also fit the description of the best year of her life that she wouldn’t choose to relive.It was a year of injuries and personal frustration wrapped around a brief interlude of unadulterated communal joy.”I felt like, in a way, I was held back a little bit, and I didn’t reach my personal expectations or goals, even though it was probably one of the best years of my career,” Morgan said. “So it’s interesting in the fact that I feel like I could have performed better at the World Cup. If I had been healthier throughout the year, consistently, I could have made a bigger impact for my club team and for my country.”But at the same time, I don’t want to complain because it was a great year, and a lot of things went my way and went the team’s way.”The 26-year-old Morgan begins the new year healthy and partnered with Carli Lloyd at the top of a American attack moving on without Abby Wambach for the first time in almost 15 years. Morgan is new to the role of team elder, if not yet in years than as one of only four players who began Olympic qualifying with 100 caps. That seniority brings with it newfound opportunity for activism. And she is the face of the NWSL’s newest franchise in Orlando, Florida, where she begins a new phase of life with husband Servando Carrasco of the city’s MLS team.All of it is why Morgan has never been more interesting than she is at the dawn of 2016. Excellence is entertaining, but complexity is compelling.We saw the first act of her career, were introduced to a protagonist of remarkable talent and unmistakable appeal. We sat through the second act, too, wherein the adversity necessary in any drama slowed her ascent, or at least her goal-scoring rate, and left her a frustrated figure.But the third act is the good stuff. It is where Romeo proclaimed himself fortune’s fool and Hamlet pondered to be or not to be.So the curtain rises on Morgan’s third act in 2016.It helps that she is on stage. Ankle and knee injuries during the past three years limited her availability for both club and country, and 2015 seemed to sum up the state of affairs. While she appeared in 22 of 26 national team games, her year seemed defined by the wait to see if her left knee would be ready for the World Cup and news after the tournament that she would undergo arthroscopic surgery on her right knee. The combination of injuries and international duty limited her to four appearances for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC.Asked if there is any question she would rather never hear again than that about her health, Morgan countered that she would settle for the frequent inquiry merely serving as something other than introduction. “How are you doing,” long ago ceased to be amiable small talk.”If I could never have that question be the very first question I’m asked, that would be great,” Morgan said. “But I do feel great. I feel 100 percent, I feel healthy. I think I made big strides in January camp with fitness and with physically being able to train every day. Now I’m just looking forward to getting a lot more games under my belt.”Her play thus far does not betray the optimism. She scored a goal against Ireland in the first game of the year, her 100th international appearance, before adding two more in the first Olympic qualifier against Costa Rica. She also set up Lloyd for the first two goals the United States scored in that friendly against Ireland. The first assist was intentional, a well-placed cross across the box. The second was serendipitous, Morgan’s header saved into Lloyd’s path. The sequences, albeit not against the caliber of opponent that will stand in the way of Olympic gold, showed what there is to like about the arrangement. The two work well in tandem, but they also pull apart defenses individually in a way that frees the other.”It’s different than the Abby-Alex combo that was there for such a long time,” Lloyd said. “I think what she does great is getting in behind the back line, she’s able to make defenders kind of open that pocket and that space for me.”U.S. coach Jill Ellis, whose history with Morgan goes back more than a decade to college recruiting days, has stressed the idea of different than what came before. Her message to Morgan is that the present isn’t about reclaiming 2012, when the forward scored 28 goals in 31 appearances for the Olympic gold medalists. It is instead about moving ahead with 2016 and using the time that has passed.”I think her movement, her sophistication of runs, I think that has gotten better and better and better,” Ellis said. “I’ve seen it. For her to not just finish her chances, which she’s starting to do and she’s gaining confidence with that, it’s I think she’s just going to terrorize back lines with her movement, her sophistication.”If the new year is about evolution more than restoration on the field, it is only in keeping with the rest of Morgan’s life.Consider the following timeline. The United States won the World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 5. The team rode through a ticker tape parade in New York on July 10. Morgan had the procedure on her knee in Los Angeles on July 17. Then, as she was finally preparing for a few days at home, Carrasco was traded from Houston to Orlando on July 20 and they were on the move again. None of which even takes into account that her other place of employment at the time, in addition to the national team, was in the Pacific Northwest.There are nice perks to being a global sports star, albeit oneSepp Blatter doesn’t recognize, but appearing as the first woman on the cover of a cultural touchstone video game and authoring a New York Times bestseller don’t make a nomadic life or the new realities of long-distance marriage any easier.”It’s hard to not have any sort of consistency,” Morgan said, “In terms of my own life, but then when I bring someone else into my life, with my husband, and creating a life together and having different lifestyles, in the fact that I’m at a hotel 70 percent of the year. We don’t see each other often. I pretty much live out of a suitcase. I think for anyone who is living this lifestyle on this team, it’s difficult in itself to stay mentally strong, to be able to enter into a new environment week in and week out and have your diet be consistent, have your sleep patterns be consistent, be able to mentally and emotionally be stable and positive. It’s not easy.”Her own move to Orlando, which admittedly paid a steep price in talent to acquire her, provides at least a modicum of stability. It is also a professional challenge, as the face of a franchise that hews to a developing sense of self, or at least a confidence in expressing herself.Mia Hamm was already 24 years old when the United States won gold in the 1996 Olympics, 27 when the national team had the stage to itself in the 1999 World Cup. Wambach was 24 when she won her first major title in the 2004 Olympics. Morgan was 22 when she scored her first World Cup goal in 2011 and a full-fledged mainstream star in the social-media world soon thereafter. This isn’t new ground to cover, but it remains true that Morgan dealt with a level of stardom rarely seen in women’s team sports and did so at a younger age than anyone in the discussion.”I remember still my first interview I had, and Abby just told me, ‘Just be honest, just speak from your mind.'” Morgan said. “I feel like I blacked out during the interview, and it was like a basic interview. But then you live and you learn.”The mental image of that conversation is almost comical, one of the most unguarded and extemporaneous public talkers in sports telling a young Morgan, by her own admission deathly afraid of public speaking, to just let it rip. Even now, Morgan talks about forming thoughts she knows will be written down and distributed word for word. If the existential oddity of that arrangement ever occurred to Wambach, it certainly never slowed her. That isn’t Morgan. It won’t ever be Morgan. But where the filter cuts off and the bully pulpit begins is one more part of the evolution.For instance, it was Morgan, along with Christine Sinclair, who a year ago raised the issue of substandard hotels for NWSL teams to a national debate within the soccer community and spilling over into mainstream media. When she spoke, the league had to listen.”I think it’s always about picking your battles and picking when the time is right,” Morgan said, also pointing to her choice to speak out regarding the substandard artificial turf in Hawaii that led to the cancellation of a game this past December. “I just feel like there should be more gender equity and more opportunity globally for women and women should be respected on a higher level. On those fronts, I have grown into what I feel most comfortable speaking about, what I’m most passionate about. So I hope that what I do on the field gives me the most leverage to be able to do something good in this world [in regard to gender equity issues] that I’m passionate about.”Even as Ellis rattled off all the ways in which Morgan helped the team during the World Cup beyond her lone goal, Ellis eventually came back to the inescapable truth that, “Ultimately a goal scorer is always going to measure themselves by goals.” The rest of us are no different. Morgan’s year will ultimately be judged on how healthy she remains and how many goals she scores for club and country. In that there is no nuance. But in every other way, someone who at 22 seemed as two-dimensional as most superheroes, is at 26 a more fully formed and fascinating three-dimensional character.As we watch that unfold, so do her teammates, so many of them now her junior.”I admired her a lot for that last year,” Morgan Brian said of what her teammate experienced in 2015. “Especially as a younger player, I tend to watch a lot and just see and observe my teammates and especially the older ones — the more experienced ones. For me, she did go through a lot of challenges with injuries and getting back and then having another setback. She always kept her head down, she worked hard, she did what she was supposed to do to get herself back on the field and healthy.”She’s used to playing and scoring goals for us. It’s a different role sitting on the sideline because you’re injured. I think she handled it the best way possible, and that’s a testament to her character.”So arrives the third act of Alex Morgan. The one that is always worth watching.

Q&A WITH THE BYB

Supporters group members talk offseason reactions, plans for 2016 & moreFeb 3, 2016

Present at every game at Carroll Stadium, the Brickyard Battalion stands, singing, battered in blue and waving their scarves with pride. You hear them, screaming at the top of their lungs as the opposition wavers, chanting loud and proud for the players on the pitch. The Brickyard Battalion is the best supporters section in the NASL – and the loudest and proudest.With the 2016 season slate beginning in April, the biggest and best supporters group in the NASL is already churning up the excitement for their “Boys in Blue.” IndyEleven.com recently took the opportunity to poll some BYB Board members to get their thoughts on what the team has done in the offseason and what might be in store from the West End Stand (and beyond) this season.

1. Does the BYB have anything special in store for the 2016 schedule?

Andrew Retz: We are going to continue to improve our tailgate experience. Unfortunately due to Indiana’s liquor laws, giving away beer is a challenge. However, the tailgate improvement initiative led by James Cormack created what we like to call “Tent City.” We set up a few canopies, fellow supporters set some up as well and we create sort of a bazaar of different tables lead by Brickyard Battalion, Slaughterhouse-19, and other Indy Eleven supporters. You’ll be able to find anything from food, beer, BYB/SH19 centric merchandise, and good discussions with fellow supporters (and traveling away support). BE WITH THE BYB! Get FREE Gold membership, save on seats with season tickets

ric Knoll: We always go big on the home opener, so expect something good then. At some point we’re hoping on doing some sort of Peter Wilt related tifo too, but not sure when.

2. What offseason signing are you most looking forward to seeing at Carroll Stadium?

James Cormack: Looking forward to seeing all of the players honestly, but I think Eamon Zayed for me will be interesting to watch. He has an incredible scoring record and this will be his first time in the USA, whereas most of the other players we know about or have experience in [American] soccer. If he can blend in quickly and hit the ground running I think we could see a lot of goals from him. He is a physical player who I think will fit well in the NASL and if we can provide the service, he will score, and I think we have players who can do that. Carmel FC Coach – Joshua Mason: For me it’s the chemistry of this entire new roster.  I’m really pleased with all the new additions and very thoughtful as to what they can bring to the pitch.  I am really hoping scoring is something than can be more consistent with Zayed, and that back line is one of the best in the league.

3. A lot of experience has been brought in since the end of last season. Are you excited about where this team is headed?

Knoll: It’s very exciting to see the team bring in much higher quality of players with more notable experience. The only worry you have is injuries playing a part.Retz: Absolutely. Collectively this is certainly the best team we’ve ever had on paper. Instead of signing that one big star, we’ve spread the wealth out among multiple MLS and NASL veterans. After all, this is a team game of 11 players. The more quality you can have at each position should translate on the field and show itself in games where we would have lost or drawn in the past.

4. What kind of road trips are in sight for this year, and where?

Cormack: Looks like we will be heading to OKC in April. Will be interesting to see their setup as they are starting to roll late and are competing with a USL team for support. So, we’ll be looking to bring enough people there to be louder than them. I think there will be some people heading to Tampa for the first game and also to Puerto Rico for our first game [of the Fall Season] in July.Retz: Our first big road trip will be to Rayo OKC for the weekend of April 30^th. We are putting together plans as we speak, including 15-seater vans, hotels, and match day tickets.The Fall season leads to many more opportunities for travel. There is a contingent interested in going to the Indy Eleven game in Puerto Rico to see PRFC’s first league game. We are also looking at returning to Minnesota and Carolina. Ultimately, if the match in October against Rayo OKC has playoff implications, expect us to take a group there as well.Our travel planning in the truest form of “Do It Yourself” …  it may not be pretty, but we’ve lead some pretty successful trips in the past two seasons. If you’re interested in any of our away trips, please email us atbybontour@gmail.com. More information about the trip to Rayo OKC will be released in the coming days.

5. What can we expect out of the most passionate fan base in the NASL?

Cormack:  The most passion! We will be loud and proud even at the lowest and highest of points, we never give up on the guys even if things are not going so well. That is why we are called supporters, we support, and we’ll continue to be the best support out there for our team, coaches and staff. Knoll: Just that we’ll be there every single week. Everything we do, we do it every week – singing, chanting, and jumping, with smoke. It doesn’t matter if we’re winning or losing, we don’t stop and we show up.

Proud Member of the Brick Yard Battalion – http://brickyardbattalion.com, Sam’s Army-http://sams-army.com ,  American Outlaws  https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

The Old Ballcoach  – Coach Shane Best

Ok lets start with Champions League which kicks off the Round of 16 Knockout Stages starting Tues/Wed this week and next with a couple of interesting matchups.  French leaders PSG host Chelsea again this season on Tues FS1 at 2:45, while Roma will host Real Madrid playing without right back Marcelo on Wednesday same time and channel. (see full game reviews below)

Interesting game vs Canada for the US Men last weekend – a game that saw the US dominate possession (as they should against a CONCACAF foe), outshoot them 10-1 and finally win 1-0 on a last second goal by Altidore.  So after the month long US camp what did we learn.  Altidore is back in the best shape of his life maybe and really gave fine effort in both games – scoring goals in both.  I thought his pairing Morris up top was a little stronger than with Zardes but the competition was tougher vs Iceland really.  I thought Lee Nguyen was the real winner of the camp – his play on the wing but really sliding into a #10 role was impressive.  It would be interesting to see him as a true #10 with Bradley serving the #6 role sometime.  While I do like Jones and his tenacity (his 6 game suspension) will keep him from playing vs Guatemala next month so I just don’t understand why he played him so much. (Especially at center back vs Canada – seriously he’s the worse Center back EVER!!) Why not allow Birnbaum to play his natural center slot and show what he can do while the European players are not available?? I really don’t understand the German sometimes.  Anyway – I thought

So the EPL has some big games on Sunday – as the top 4 teams in the table square off on NBCSN.  It starts with Arsenal hosting league leader Leicester City at 7am, followed by Man City hosting 2nd place Tottenham at the Etihad at 11:15 am.  Man I wish the Foxes of Leicester City would just add an American player so I could jump on the bandwagon full scale, either way you have to love one of the smallest payrolls in the EPL holding first place with just 13 EPL games to go.   Saturday also has US speedy defender DeAndre Yedlin and Sunderland hosting Man U at 7:45 am on NBCSN, while US Goalie Tim Howard may or may not be in goal as the Toffees of Everton host West Brom at 10 am.  Chelsea and new US defender Matt Miazga (might be on the traveling squad) will host New Castle United at 12:30 pm on NBCSN.

Around the leagues – Juventus will host Serie A leader Napoli Sat at 2:45 on beIN Sport looking to make up the 2 pts they trail in the table, while 3^rd place Fiorentina host 4^th place Inter Sunday morning at 6:30 on beIN Sport.   In La Liga Real Madrid will try life without left back Marcello as they host Athletic Club Sat at 10 am on beIN sport, while on Fox the Bundesliga will feature a number of good games including Borussia Dortmund vs Hannover 96 on FS2 at 9:30 Sat, and Ausburg hosting Bayern Munich Sun at 11:30 am on Fox Sports 2.  Finally the US Ladies are back in Action for Olympic Qualifying vs Mexico Sat at 4 pm on NBCSN, and again Monday night vs Puerto Rico at 8:30.

Champions League Sweet 16

Champions League Previews

Outside Chance US Matt Miazga could play UCL for John Terry

Paris and Chelsea meet for the third year in a row

PSG well placed to win, but Chelsea a good bet for the away goal too

Hazard  must be Difference maker for Chelsea vs PSG – ESPN FC Phil Lythell

Zidane centre stage as Real Madrid visit Roma full preview

Zenit comes off Winter Break to face Benfica test

Belgiums Gent and struggling in Germany’s Wolfsburg seek first-time success

What to Watch 4 – ESPN FC Video

PSG Issues prior to Chelsea Showdown

PGS Marginal Favorites over Chelsea

Zenit favored over Benefica tues

Real LB Marcelo out for Roma Matchup with Seperated Shoulder

Novelty for Gent vs Wolfsburg

Why Juve can Handle Bayern

Tues, Feb 16

2;45 pm  FS 1         PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2           Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1           Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2           Gent vs Wolfsburg

Tues, Feb 23

2:45 pm FS 1          Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2          Juventus vs Bayern Munich

Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1          Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2         Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

EPL + World

Top 4 Battle Royal – NBC Soccer

Leicester Downplays EPL Title Winning Odds – Adam Murray ESPN FC

Neutrals want Leicester to Win title

The Foxes can knock Arsenal out of the Title Race and More of the Huge Game ESPNFC

Now do you Believe in Leicester- SI Avi Creditor

EPL Predictions for Huge Weekend at the Top EPSN FC

Man City and Spurs in a Title Showdown ESPN FC

Mourinho is the wrong man for Man U – Ryan Bailey Yahoo

Mourino and United a Perfect Match – McCarthy Omnisport

Juve Coming after League Leader Napoli on Saturday says world class keeper Buffon – ESPN FC

Men In Blazers

EPL Standings

Italy Table

Germany Table

Spanish Table

French Table  Nantes just 3 pts off 2^nd.

USA

US ladies Christen Press Goal –holy crap Messi like

3 Takeaways for USWNT win over Costa Rica 5-0

Alex Morgan scores fastest goal in US History

Altidore’s late goal rescues US in Wasteful Friendly vs Canada

US Camp and 2 Wins – what did we learn – SI – Brian Straus

US U23 Jerome Kiesewetter makes Strong Impression SI

US Stuart Holden Announces Retirement

NASL + Indy 11

Indy 11 Squad coming into Focus

Indy 11 add La Liga Mid Gorka Larrea

11 Add defender Stephen Deroux

Bloody Shambles – NASL things

Indy 11’s EamonZayed –bloody Shambles-

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Friday, February 12

2:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1 and GolTV Español: Mainz vs. Schalke 04

Saturday, February 13

7:45 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo: Sunderland vs. Manchester United

9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 2 and Fox Deportes: Borussia Dortmund vs. Hannover 96
9:30 a.m., Fox Soccer Plus : Darmstadt vs. Bayer Leverkusen
10:00 a.m., NBCSN: Everton vs. West Bromwich Albion
10:00 a.m., USA Network: Norwich City vs. West Ham United
10:00 a.m., Extra Time: Crystal Palace vs. Watford, Bournemouth vs. Stoke City, Swansea City vs. Southampton

10 am  beIn Sport –  Real Madrid vs Athletic Club
12:30 p.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo: Chelsea vs. Newcastle United

12:30 p.m., Fox Sports 2: Köln vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

Sunday, February 14

6:30 am beIn Sports: Milan vs Genoa

7:00 a.m., NBCSN and Telemundo: Arsenal vs. Leicester City
9:05 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo: Aston Villa vs. Liverpool

9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1 Hamburg SV vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

11:15 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo: Manchester City vs. Tottenham

11:30 a.m., Fox Sports 2 and GolTV Español: Augsburg vs. Bayern Munich

2:45 pm, beIn Sport  Fiorentina vs Internazionale

 Mon, Feb 15

8:30 pm NBCSN  USA Women vs Puerta Rico

Tues, Feb 16

Champions League

2;45 pm  FS 1               PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2                 Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

 Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1                 Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2                 Gent vs Wolfsburg

 Thurs, Feb 18

Europa League

1 pm Anderlecht vs Olympiachos, Dortman vs Porto, Fioreentina vs Tottehman, Midtiland vs Man U, Villarreal vs Napoli

3 pm Ausburg vs Liverpool, Sporting Portugal vs Bayern Leverkusen, Valencia vs Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray vs Lazio

  Fri,  Feb 19

2:30 pm bEIn Sports Bologna vs Juve

5:30 + 8:30 pm NBCSN – Olympic Qualifying Semi Finals – USA vs?

 Sat,  Feb 20  FA Cup Weekend

7:45 am NBCSN Arsenal vs Hull City

 Sun, Feb 21

9:30 am Fox Soccer Plus?  Bayern Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund

10 am Fox sports 2?   Chelsea vs Man City

11:30 am Fox Soccer Plus – Schalke vs Stuttgart

5:30 pm NBCSN  Olympic Qualifying – Finals – USA vs? 

 Tues, Feb 23  Champ League

2:45 pm FS 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2 Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm  FS1? Queretaro vs DC United

10 pm FS2? Seattle Sounders vs Club America

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1 Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2 Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

8 pm Tigres UNAL vs Real Salt Lake

10 pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna

 Tuesday, March 1:

D.C. United vs. Querétaro, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 10:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

  Wednesday, March 2: 

Club América vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Sunday, March 6: 

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. (UniMás, Univision Deportes)]

 Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

 Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

What to watch out for in the Champions League
Published: Sunday 14 February 2016, 12.00CET
Can Guus Hiddink’s return help Chelsea oust Paris? Will Zenit emerge sparkling from their winter break? Is Edin Džeko headed for the bench at Roma?
Can Hiddink work Chelsea magic again?
When Guus Hiddink was appointed Chelsea’s interim manager back in 2008/09, the Dutchman remained undefeated in the UEFA Champions League, overseeing wins against Juventus (3-2 on aggregate, round of 16) and Liverpool (7-5 on aggregate, quarter-finals) – and only being denied a place in the final by Andrés Iniesta’s last-gasp equaliser in the semi-final second leg. Hiddink, therefore, registered two victories and four draws in his six UEFA Champions League matches and has compiled a similarly unbeaten domestic record since succeeding José Mourinho in December.

However, his charges must now overcome a Paris Saint-Germain side who have not lost in 44 domestic fixtures – putting Chelsea’s untarnished 12-game sequence under Hiddink into perspective. The Dutchman, though, has plenty of UEFA Champions League pedigree, having taken PSV to the 2004/05 semi-finals – again undone by an away goal, this time from AC Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini – and claimed the trophy with the Eindhoven club in 1988.
Paris v Chelsea, Tuesday

©FC Zenit St Petersburg
New Zenit signings Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Kokorin
Will Zenit roar out of hibernation?
Goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, defender Igor Smolnikov and midfielder Viktor Fayzulin definitely miss Zenit’s last-16 opener against Benfica through injury, while another midfielder, Aleksandr Ryazantsev, is doubtful. That and a lack of competitive football during the Russian winter break might be cause for concern.

Training camps in Qatar, Portugal and Spain could help keep Zenit sharp, though, enabling André Villas-Boas to bed in in three signings – former Terek Grozny anchorman Maurício and Russian internationals Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Kokorin, both ex-Dinamo Moskva players. “Benfica look quite strong now,” said Zenit’s Portuguese coach. “They haven’t lost for quite some time. But they have their biggest matches ahead and you can be 100% sure we will take on Benfica with full commitment.”
Benfica v Zenit, Tuesday

©Getty Images
The goals have dried up for Roma’s Edin Džeko
Nine or false nine for Roma?
This is probably Luciano Spalletti’s biggest dilemma for the visit of Real Madrid. Roma had great expectations when they recruited Edin Džeko last summer, but the Bosnia and Herzegovina ace has scored only four times in Serie A. Meanwhile, forwards Stephan El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti have shone since joining Roma in January, with the latter operating as ‘false nine’.

“When you have a bad period at a big club it’s always going to cause a stir,” Spalletti said of Džeko. “But I’m sure we can help him out of this situation.” Ominously for the No9, the coach famously led Roma to 11 straight wins in 2005/06 while using Francesco Totti as a striker; he adopted the same tactic when the Giallorossi eliminated Madrid in 2007/08. Will he try to surprise the Merengues again or does he rely on Džeko coming good?
Roma v Real Madrid, Wednesday

The success of Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s well-drilled Gent side ensured some interest in his players over the winter recess. The fact Gent kept hold of all their biggest names – agreeing contract extensions until 2019 with Belgian Player of the Year Sven Kums, goalkeeper Matz Sels, Nana Asare, Moses Simon and Danijel Milicevic – was a major triumph. “I like it here,” midfielder Kums said. “I always said I could easily see myself staying here.”

Their guests, meanwhile, are not having an easy time. Wolfsburg have won once in eight Bundesliga outings, forward Bas Dost is injured, Nicklas Bendtner is out of sorts, and Basel rebuffed their approach to sign Breel Embolo in the winter. Goalscoring duties will likely fall to Max Kruse, Julian Draxler and André Schürrle.
Gent v Wolfsburg, Wednesday

Premier League leaders Leicester can knock Arsenal out of the title race

1. How will Leicester deal with increased expectations?

Leicester City’s jaw-dropping 3-1 win at Manchester City last weekend ensured we’ve all just about come to terms with the Foxes as title-winning material. Any remaining sceptics will surely be converted should they repeat that feat at Arsenal on Sunday. But Claudio Ranieri must cope with a new issue that goes by the name of “expectancy.” It is a different type of pressure to win when it is demanded of you. Even Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has fed the media the line that Leicester are now favourites for glory. Arsenal stumbled after leading from the front earlier this season and now it’s the Foxes’ turn to be the team everyone wants to defeat, or at least avoid losing against.

In September, Arsenal beat Leicester 5-2 in a game that totalled 43 shots — one of only two losses for Ranieri’s side from 25 fixtures. It was a gloriously nonsensical encounter of attack versus attack that Arsenal prevailed in, yet logic dictates that to upset this Leicester team then the opponents should not play into their hands by pressing high and thus leaving themselves open, like City did last Saturday. No matter the tactics, only a victory will do for Wenger’s third-placed team, for leaders Leicester have it within their power to knock Arsenal out of the title race by making the gap eight points.

2. Can Manchester City cope with Tottenham?

Manchester City were badly exposed against Leicester. Although two of the Foxes’ three goals came from set pieces, the threat of further humiliation remained with Manuel Pellegrini’s side lacking the relentlessness of their opposition. Leicester were quicker to the loose balls and faster to spring forward. Anything resembling a re-run of this performance against Tottenham on Sunday will not be acceptable.

Speaking after last week’s 1-0 win for Spurs, defeated Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores likened the North London team to “animals,” such was their ferocity. Mauricio Pochettino has at his disposal an insatiable crop of players, who thumped City 4-1 in September. Martin Demichelis, who in particular had a poor game against Leicester, will again have his work cut out against the effervescence of Dele Alli & Co. With focus on Leicester, the title dream remains for under-the-radar Spurs.

3. Who is more fragile: Aston Villa or Liverpool?

One of Liverpool and Aston Villa have won two and lost just one of their last five top-flight matches, managing three clean sheets in the process. It’s not Liverpool. Bottom-of-the-table Villa are staging something resembling a revival despite the general consensus that they are doomed no matter what they do — eight points still separate them from safety with 13 games left. Liverpool, meanwhile, are the same number of points (12) from the bottom three as they are from fourth place. All is not going according to plan for Jurgen Klopp, whose side have shown flashes of genius but also a worrying trend to collapse and concede from set pieces.

4. How will Chelsea cope without Kurt Zouma?

The screams of pain from Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma when he fell awkwardly in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United were haunting and did not bode well for the 21-year-old. It was confirmed he will be sidelined for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. During an utterly miserable season for champions Chelsea, Zouma has been one of a few bright lights. The France international has been an ideal foil to the experienced but ageing John Terry in the heart of defence, helping Guus Hiddink to a so-far unbeaten return to Stamford Bridge. Now, re-enter Gary Cahill in his place, a man looking to get his campaign back on track ahead of representing England at Euro 2016. That starts at home to Newcastle on Saturday evening.

5. What is going on at Stoke?

It seems like only yesterday that Stoke City were flavour of the month. They were going to rule the world with Mark Arnautovic, Bojan and Xherdan Shaqiri strutting their stuff in attack. But the wheels have come off somewhat. Three straight losses have been endured, not to mention departures from the FA Cup and League Cup. There is still a 10-point gap between them and the relegation zone, but dreams of European qualification are beginning to fade. Goalkeeper Jack Butland said that “words need to be had” in light of their slide from seven to 11th in the table. A trip to Bournemouth awaits this weekend when a win for the Cherries would see them just two points below Stoke, who badly need captain Ryan Shawcross back from injury.James Dall is an associate editor at ESPN FC.

PREDICTIONS FOR WEEKEND IN EPL

Arsenal may never have a better chance to end their 12-year wait for a Premier League trophy but Leicester stand in their way and remain the story of the season.

The pair clash on Sunday when the top four are all in action against one another. Manchester City, fighting Arsenal and Leicester in the title race, face a Tottenham side who have emerged as surprise contenders as well.

Manchester United, meanwhile, seek to get closer to those above them in the hunt for the top four and the Champions League spots. Louis van Gaal’s men kick the weekend’s action off with a trip to relegation-threatened Sunderland.

Each week, ESPN FC’s club bloggers will preview their match and give a prediction. Do you agree or disagree? Have your say below by voting in the match poll.

ARSENAL: If Arsenal are to shake off the reputation of finding it difficult to get going when the going gets tough, this is a game they have to win. With Alexis Sanchez back, Mesut Ozil pulling the strings and plenty of experience in the side, the Gunners will respond and take three points.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Leicester — Andrew Mangan

LEICESTER: Claudio Ranieri’s men are fully capable of completing an unlikely hat trick of improbable Premier League wins against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. The Gunners thrashed the Foxes 5-2 in the corresponding fixture back in September, but Ranieri’s confident City are defending far better and can take at least a point from the game
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Leicester — Ben Jacobs

MAN CITY: This is an absolute crunch fixture for City against a side that have won their past four league matches. It could not be tougher for Manuel Pellegrini’s embattled, injury-plagued men. As usual when the chips are down, and they are certainly down now, we must expect the unexpected.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-2 Tottemham — Simon Curtis

TOTTENHAM: City are the Premier League’s Jekyll & Hyde. On their day they are world beaters; on an off-day they are also-rans. Spurs haven’t had a great track record at the Etihad in recent years, but it’s a grittier, stronger and more confident side this time. Spurs to edge it.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham — John Crace

SUNDERLAND: The home side must raise their game to overcome even an unconvincing Manchester United at the Stadium of Light. Manager Sam Allardyce’s task is to make his players, from the ever-dangerous Jermain Defoe to new boys Jan Kirchhoff and Wahbi Khazri, believe an upset is possible.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Manchester United — Colin Randall

MAN UNITED: Sunderland last won in the Premier League a month ago, but their past three games — two losses and a draw — have been closer than their relegation place suggests. United, with a revived Wayne Rooney and improved attacking form in their past three, should narrowly prevail.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Manchester United — Musa Okwonga

ASTON VILLA: The visitors have a great recent record in this fixture, having won the past four Premier League encounters here. Villa’s 2-0 victory against Norwich just about keeps slim survival hopes alive but Remi Garde’s team need to follow that with further wins to stand any chance of staying up.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool — Kevin Hughes

LIVERPOOL: The Reds go to Villa Park with more firepower than they’ve had available all season, as Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Philippe Coutinho all came through the midweek loss at West Ham and will help lighten the load on in-form Roberto Firmino, who has five goals in his past five Premier League starts.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool — Dave Usher

CHELSEA: Newcastle would happily settle for a draw which is all Chelsea under Guus Hiddink seem capable of at Stamford Bridge. Supporters harbouring hopes that Hiddink will rest key players for the forthcoming Champions League game with PSG and give the youth a chance to play with purpose will probably end up disappointed.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle — Mark Worrall

NEWCASTLE UNITED: The visitors head to Stamford Bridge on the back of what has become a rare winning feeling. Chelsea have been up-and-down this season but much depends on the performance of Georginio Wijnaldum, who can’t seem to tick away from home.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle — Lee Ryder

EVERTON: Three clean sheet wins in a week has reinvigorated Everton as they prepare for the visit of West Brom on Saturday. But the home side must be wary against a defensive visiting team primed to crash the Goodison party like so many others through this season and last.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 West Brom — Luke O’Farrell

WEST BROM: The Baggies have just one league win in 2016 and their squad has been decimated by injuries to several key players. Ben Foster will need to keep up his good form if Tony Pulis’ side are to get anything from the game at Goodison Park.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 West Brom — Matthew Evans

CRYSTAL PALACE: After stemming the run of five straight defeats with a draw at Swansea last weekend, Palace will be hoping for their first win of 2016, against a stuttering Watford side. Connor Wickham is back and most fans are hoping Alan Pardew will play him with Emmanuel Adebayor up front in a more adventurous 4-4-2.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford — Jim Daly.

WATFORD: The Hornets were understandably defensive against Tottenham last weekend and although they avoided a thrashing, they never looked like getting a positive result. With Palace in woeful form they must try to be a little braver at Selhurst Park, but goals remain a big problem for both teams and it’s unlikely to be a thriller.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Watford — Michael Moruzzi

BOURNEMOUTH: Eddie Howe’s men need more bite up front against Stoke City after struggling to hit the target in their last game, when Arsenal eased home 2-0 on the South Coast. With relegation rivals picking up points, a win is vital. Matt Ritchie and Benik Afobe will want to produce better performances.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Stoke — Steve Menary

STOKE: Fans will be hoping that a trip to the seaside will revive Stoke’s ailing fortunes. A long-awaited return for Ryan Shawcross is on the cards, but should he not make it, the rest of the team will need to dig deep to overcome a side enjoying an impressive debut in the top flight.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Stoke — James Whittaker

NORWICH: The defeat at relegation rivals Aston Villa was the tipping point for many Norwich fans. Alex Neil needs a positive result after six straight losses to check the clamour for managerial change. City must cash in on any signs of FA Cup fatigue from the visitors.
Prediction: Norwich 2-1 West Ham — Paddy Davitt

WEST HAM: Slaven Bilic’s men had an exhilarating but tiring extra time win against Liverpool in the FA Cup and Norwich should view this as a must-win. Expect Neil’s men to heap the pressure on and look to exploit weary legs.
Prediction: Norwich 1-1 West Ham — Peter Thorne

SWANSEA: Francesco Guidolin’s Swans are still a work in progress. The side look far better overall, but still have trouble turning leads into wins. In-form Southampton are not going to make Guidolin’s task any easier this Saturday, but with Swansea playing better defensively of late, another stalemate wouldn’t be a surprise.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 Southampton — Max Hicks

SOUTHAMPTON: After taking 13 points from their past five matches, Southampton are right back in the shake-up for a European place, thanks to a new-found defensive solidity. You have to go back to their FA Cup third-round defeat at home to Crystal Palace for the last time they conceded a goal.
Prediction: Swansea 0-2 Southampton — Alex Crook

Leicester City’s magical run continues with 3-1 win over Manchester City

BY AVI CREDITOREmailPosted: Sat Feb. 6, 2016

NOW do you believe?  Leicester City went into the Etihad on Saturday and extended its lead at the top of the Premier League table, beating Manchester City 3-1 on the strength of defender Robert Huth’s two set-piece goals, which sandwiched Riyad Mahrez’s strike in the 48th minute. The result comes days after a spirit-lifting win against Liverpool sparked by Jamie Vardy’s wonder-strike, and it gives Leicester a six-point edge over Man City through 25 games.At this point last season, Leicester, with just 17 points, appeared certainly headed for relegation. Now? A very real contender to lift the Premier League trophy in one of the most remarkable stories ever.Here are three thoughts on the match:

Leicester is comfortable in its own skin

Leicester makes no secret of what it’s trying to do when it takes the field. While the visitors were aggressive from the opening kick and won the chance necessary to take the early lead, they reverted back into their defensive shell, looking to strike with the opponent committing numbers forward. Leicester doesn’t want the possession battle, nor does it care if it’s even close, as SI’s Liviu Bird wrote in his tactical breakdown of the club’s approach. What the Foxes do is defend cleanly, possess with a purpose, counter as well as anyone in the league and be efficient on set pieces. The biggest question has been whether Leicester could sustain its success given its style of play, which isn’t typically conducive to such an elongated run. Yet the club has answered every question it has had to, no matter if the doubters will still linger. Perhaps it’s time to stop questioning how this is all happening and start marveling at why.WATCH: Mahrez strikes on the counter with lethal finish  Consider this: In 180 minutes against Manchester City, the league’s most prolific attack entering Saturday’s action, Leicester conceded just once, to Sergio Aguero in the 87th minute Saturday with the game’s result long decided.

Huth the unsung hero

For all of the plaudits thrown–deservedly–at Vardy and Mahrez for Leicester’s success, there’s been a vital piece of the puzzle in the back, and that is Saturday’s two-goal scorer, Huth. The 31-year-old German has been steady as they come in marshaling Leicester back four, and he’s come through in the clutch against top competitors with six points against Manchester City and Tottenham coming at the direct result of his goals.Leicester has given up two goal in six games in 2016–the first oddly enough to woeful Aston Villa in a surprising 1-1 draw, the second with Saturday’s result decided–and it’s about time Huth and his back line mates Wes Morgan, Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs (who, to be fair, was on the right end of a controversial call that could have seen Man City awarded a first-half penalty) get their due for their role in Leicester’s success.Huth had not scored multiple goals in a game since doing so almost five years ago to the day for Stoke City against Sunderland, and he’d only scored more than twice in an entire season three times in his 12-year career. Is there a more appropriate symbol for Leicester’s achievement on the day?

Leicester’s very real title chance

Leicester plays at Arsenal next week with all of the pressure solely on the Gunners, regardless of their result Sunday against Bournemouth.PAfter that? It’s a relative cakewalk on Leicester’s fixture list, with seven of its last 12 games coming at home and the degree of difficulty not really being ramped up until the final stretch of games at Manchester United, vs. Everton and at Chelsea.At this point, the question isn’t so much whether Leicester will finish in the top four and reach the Champions League–it is now 13 points clear of fifth-place Manchester United–but if Leicester can do the unthinkable and win it all.The Foxes also have the advantage of not playing in any other competitions this season. Manchester City still has the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Tottenham has the Europa League and FA Cup. Arsenal has the Champions League and FA Cup. While they might have deeper squads on paper than Leicester, they’re going to be stretched thin. At what point do Manuel Pellegrini, Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger put their focus in the league? That’s not a problem for Claudio Ranieri, and as he has for most of the Foxes’ magical season, he can just sit back and smile.

Manchester City and Tottenham in title showdown at the Etihad

The ESPN FC

Sunday’s meeting between Manchester City and Tottenham is a potentially pivotal clash in the title race.

City go into the game on the back of a disastrous 3-1 defeat to leaders Leicester City while Spurs have won their past six in all competitions. The form guide would seem to favour the visitors but will it go that way?

Manchester City correspondent Jonathan Smith and Tottenham correspondent Dan Kilpatrick preview this weekend’s match at the Etihad.

Will the winner of this season’s title come from this match?

Jonathan Smith: I’m setting myself up for an embarrassing fall, I know, but I still see City as the favourites. If they have Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne available for the last two months of the campaign, they can reel the others in. Both times they won the Premier League, in 2012 and 2014, City won their last five games of the season to pile the pressure on their rivals, who ultimately buckled.

Spurs are certainly starting to look really menacing, though. Mauricio Pochettino is such an impressive manager and is getting the best out of his squad. My only doubts would be whether they have the belief that they can win it and the possible extra and unnecessary strain of the Europa League.

Dan Kilpatrick: I reckon the champions are more likely to come from Arsenal vs. Leicester, simply because I see Claudio Ranieri’s men as the favourites.

This season has made mugs of everyone who’s attempted to predict anything but I can see two away wins on Sunday, making it difficult for City to recover the confidence and points to haul it back.

What will this match reveal about where the title is heading?

JS: There’s a lot of doom and gloom around City after the Leicester defeat but a win would put a completely different complexion on the situation. If results go their way they could be third, three points off the top.

It’s become the biggest game of the season. City are under immense pressure to get a result — particularly as they haven’t beaten anyone from the top six all season. Spurs have only been talked about in recent weeks as potential title winners. If they can replicate what Leicester did, it will put them firmly among the favourites and that can bring its own pressure.

DK: A win would be massive for Tottenham. Since mid-November, Spurs have enjoyed a relatively kind run of fixtures, so Sunday has long been regarded as a milestone. Mauricio Pochettino’s mantra is “one game at a time” — Eric Dier even said recently he’s only aware of who their next opponent is, which I didn’t fully buy — but the manager and players will also have been looking at this game as a benchmark. Win, and it’ll be impossible to ignore Spurs’ credentials.

Where will the match be won and lost?

JS: Harry Kane is the danger man that I would be most concerned about and I’m sure the striker will try to isolate himself with Martin Demichelis as much as possible. The veteran Argentine is a wily old defender and often doesn’t get the credit he deserves. But there’s no hiding his lack of pace and, Kane’s speed and sharpness could cause him real problems. It’s a big ask but if Demichelis can keep him quiet, it will go a long way to securing a victory.

DK: While I agree that Kane vs. Demichelis is important, I’m interested in the other end.

Kevin Wimmer is yet to put a foot wrong but hasn’t been seriously tested yet and Sergio Aguero, who loves playing Spurs, will give us a better idea of the Austrian’s quality. If Wimmer and co. can restrict him, Spurs have a great chance of winning.

Who’s the better manager?

JS: I’m mightily impressed with Pochettino. His Spurs side is greater than the sum of its parts with every player knowing their role. And his ability to improve players is remarkable. I’m stunned by the improvement in Eric Dier in the past 12 months while Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier seemed like gambles at the time but now look like they could both go to Euro 2016 with England. His team are quick, fit and aggressive and clearly have a close bond.

It’s the complete opposite of Manuel Pellegrini’s side who can often look like a team of individuals. It may seem harsh to be overly critical of the City boss but you can’t help but feel that this side should be achieving more and it will be fascinating to see how things change under Pep Guardiola.

DK: Agreed. Sir Alex Ferguson apparently thinks Pochettino is the best manager in the league, and I don’t think he’s far wrong. The Argentine inherited a rotten squad devoid of cohesion and desperately short of balance and quality. In 18 months, he’s transformed Spurs into title challengers while making the club a profit.

As Jonathan says, the team is greater than the sum of its parts, rendering it routinely impossible to pick a Spurs man of the match. Alli and Dier started the season as a League One rookie and an out-of-position centre-half, respectively, while Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele were derided as expensive flops.

As for Pellegrini, I look at his squad and this season’s Premier League and think City should be doing far better.

Pick one player from the opposition who’d get you over the line in the title race.

JS: Kane is Tottenham’s standout player but I’d always go with Aguero ahead of him. Clearly City’s defence is their weakness so I would probably pick Toby Alderweireld as the man who would make the biggest difference.

Spurs have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League this season and Alderweireld is the senior figure at the heart of the defence. He was impressive at Southampton and has stepped into the Tottenham back-four without any problem. His leadership and organisation is something City could do with and the fact he hasn’t missed a minute of Premier League football would be a big bonus, particularly as Vincent Kompany has been such a huge miss.

DK: Aguero. Spurs are short on strikers and Aguero would improve any team in the world. Pochettino’s men would be comfortably clear at the top with the Argentine, who would have turned a lot of their draws into narrow victories.

That said, I disagree with Jonathan. If I had to pick one of Kane or Aguero for Spurs, I’d stick with Kane. Fitness has to be taken into account when considering a player’s overall quality and Kane is capable of playing 50 games a season. Aguero isn’t.

Prediction

JS: 1-0 to City, Aguero making the difference.

DK: 2-1 to Spurs, who’ll have too much for a depleted home side.

Three takeaways from the USWNT’s win over Costa Rica

Goal.com Wed, Feb 10 11:15 PM PST

Seven months after the U.S. national team last played a meaningful match, coach Jill Ellis returned to competitive play with a tried and tested lineup.For all of the experimentation and turnover that has defined the Americans in recent months, nine of the 11 players who started the Women’s World Cup final were on the field Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, for the start of Olympic qualifying.While established star Alex Morgan’s two goals — including a stunning 12-second opener — grabbed the headlines, it was the pair of newcomers who left the biggest impression.

Here are three takeaways from the U.S. team’s 5-0 thrashing of Costa Rica:

CRYSTAL DUNN LOOKS READY FOR PRIME TIME

One of just two cuts for the World Cup from the 25-player roster the U.S. carried last spring, Dunn responded to that snub with a remarkable blend of on-the-field dominance and off-the-field poise. Scoring a league-leading 15 goals on her way to NWSL MVP honors, Dunn earned a recall — and promptly carried that fine form to the national team by netting four times in seven caps this past fall.The 23-year-old certainly looked like she belonged Wednesday, drawing a ninth-minute penalty kick that Carli Lloyd coolly converted before getting her own name on the score sheet with a scrappy strike in the 15th minute. Dunn caused plenty of problems with her pace and precision on the dribble from a wide midfield role, and combined well with right back Ali Krieger (her Washington Spirit teammate).While Dunn has been at home as a winger for the U.S., she has extensive experience at fullback for club and country. It’s also worth mentioning she thrived as a lone striker and occasionally played central midfield for Washington last season. If healthy, she’s a lock for Rio — where 18-player rosters place a premium on versatility.

SO DOES LINDSEY HORAN

Although Dunn is a natural replacement for Megan Rapinoe while the winger recovers from a torn ACL, few would have pegged Lindsey Horan as the heir apparent to Lauren Holiday in the middle. But just as the now-retired Holiday transitioned from forward to box-to-box midfielder, Horan appears perfectly comfortable making the same leap.Horan used her first touch to put her stamp on the game Wednesday, pinging a 50-yard ball that Lloyd nodded into the path of Morgan for the Americans’ opener. Putting her strength and 5-foot-9 frame to good use, the 21-year-old roamed into the opposing box with regularity to offer an extra target — winning the header that led to Dunn’s strike.Plenty of players have gotten looks in defensive or box-to-box midfield roles in recent months — including Kristie Mewis, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath and Meghan Klingenberg — but that starting slot next to Morgan Brian is Horan’s to lose.

IS THIS ALEX MORGAN’S YEAR?

The up-and-comers, of course, weren’t the only players to shine Wednesday. With what U.S. Soccer says is “believed” to be the fastest goal in the national team’s history, Morgan landed herself a spot on highlight reels for years to come — and added a headed strike in the 62nd minute for good measure.Limited by injuries in recent years, Morgan hasn’t come close to replicating that prolific 2012, when she racked up 28 goals and 21 assists en route to the FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist. Yet even a hobbled Morgan was enough to lead the line for last summer’s World Cup-winning squad, and her ability to create danger behind the back line was on full display against Costa Rica.With the 26-year-old looking sharp and fully recovered from post-World Cup knee surgery, this could be the year that Morgan consistently returns to “elite” status. For U.S. fans, that might be the most welcome development of all.

USMNT Camp wrap: Winners, looking forward

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter EmailPosted: Tue Feb. 9, 2016

Reasonable people can disagree about whether Jurgen Klinsmann has made sufficient progress in his four-plus years in charge of the U.S. national team, but the recently concluded winter camp illustrated one of the uniquely American factors that are beyond the manager’s control.The MLS season is long. The offseason is as well. Take, for example, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, two of Klinsmann’s most important players. When Toronto FC kicks off its regular season campaign on March 6, the veteran pair will have gone 129 days without playing for their clubs (they did appear in a couple of World Cup qualifiers in mid-November). That’s more than a third of a calendar year, and it makes the national team’s annual January camp as much or more about maintenance as it is about tactical or technical progress.In the past, Klinsmann has been frustrated by the fitness level of MLS players in the middle of a lengthy offseason. This year, instead of fighting it, he adjusted his expectations and the day-to-day intensity of the month-long gathering in Southern California. Rather than a referendum on his MLS-based player pool, he said camp would be about “get[ting] them back on track and try to get them going and step-by-step give them a head start to 2016.”​Friendlies against under-strength Iceland and Canada would give the players something to look forward to after nearly a month of training, but the games wouldn’t reveal much about where the U.S. is headed. Neither opponent presented much of a challenge, and roster changes—there were early departures and late arrivals—impacted Klinsmann’s tactical options even further. In fact, the coach called both games “scrimmages.”Altidore, who scored in the 3-2 win over Iceland and Friday’s 1-0 defeat of Canada, indicated that Klinsmann got the focus and message right.“I thought it was a bit more relaxed, in terms of, he let each player kind of be the driver of their own camp, to kind of do what they thought best to prepare them for the season, which I thought was cool,” the forward told Fox. “I thought it’s a huge plus. I thought I took advantage of it. I think a lot of guys did.”All of which, Klinsmann will hope, will put his players on firmer footing heading into a critical week in late March. The senior team will face Guatemala home and away in the middle two of six World Cup qualifying semifinal round games. Meanwhile, the U-23s, managed by assistant Andi Herzog, will face Colombia in a two-game playoff for the final spot in this summer’s Olympic tournament. “Hopefully the benefit comes at the end of March,” Klinsmann said. “This is really the bigger picture, that we are well prepared for Guatemala, obviously with the Europeans and the Mexican players coming in and same for the Olympic team—that everyone who is eligible for the Olympic team takes this as a head start, got four weeks under his belt. They all worked really well. The whole spirit of the camp was great.”Even if the real dividends aren’t evident for another six weeks, and even if the two friendlies didn’t replicate the grind of a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier or the talent the U.S. will face in this summer’s Copa América, Altidore’s comments and performance indicate that this camp did create storylines and trajectories. Some players benefitted, others may not have and trends and questions emerged.Here’s a closer look at a few:oto: Cal Sport Media/AP

The winners

No camper will hit the 2016 season with more momentum thanAltidore, who not only scored twice last week, but who put together a pair of energetic and engaged performances. Again, the opposition wasn’t the toughest. But for a player dogged by health issues who occasionally has had difficulty finding the game or connecting with teammates, it was a good sign that he was a consistent, 90-minute threat.The agony of recent hamstring injuries prompted a shift in Altidore’s approach.

“The past two years we really rough for me,” he told Fox after netting the 90th-minute winner against Canada. “Two big competitions that I was really looking forward to and the fact that I wasn’t able to play through injury was for me really ridiculous. So I tried sit home and think what I could do better to try to minimize that and one of the things I thought was my diet … We came to the conclusion that if I cut some muscle, cut some weight and make myself a bit leaner, maybe it would help me … I feel better. I feel lighter and I feel more mobile.”Klinsmann took notice.“He’s hungry. He wants to prove himself, that this is 2016, ‘This is my year,’” the coach said. “He knows there’s a huge tournament coming up in June, so he started really on the right foot this year. And he deserved that goal. He deserved it.”Elsewhere, don’t expect to wait another year to see Steve Birnbaum in a U.S. jersey. He was part of the 2015 winter camp and made his debut against Chile, but didn’t get another shot until Klinsmann sent out this year’s invitations. The D.C. United defender was dominant in the air, tallying a goal and assist against Iceland and creating some havoc versus Canada, and showed some versatility by shifting to right back on Friday evening. There’s a ton of competition in back, but also plenty of uncertainty. Add Birnbaum’s name to the depth chart.  ​Mix Diskerud and Lee Nguyendemonstrated welcome flashes of composure and comfort.

The former had a rough debut season in MLS and didn’t make much of an impact for the U.S., but Klinsmann stuck with the New York City FC midfielder and started him alongside Michael Bradley against Canada. Diskerud responded with a smart and effective two-way showing.“We all know that there is such a talent potential, such qualities, but he got into kind of a very difficult situation last season with [NYCFC] because of the incoming players, Pirlo and Lampard, and then they push him wide,” Klinsmann said. “He knows he has to fight through that … ‘You’ve got to bring out your elbows.’ That’s what he needs to learn and that’s what he did also in a couple situations. He got physical. This is what he needs to add to his game … [Against Canada] he did really well.”Nguyen was effective as a playmaker, especially against Iceland, and warrants another look at a position where the U.S. remains somewhat thin. Columbus Crew winger Ethan Finlay, who set up Altidore’s winner, and U-23 forward Jerome Kiesewetter, whose strength and ability to find space behind behind the back four unsettled both opponents, also demonstrated obvious promise, as did U-23 teammate Kellyn Acosta, who was far from overawed at left back and right back despite neither being his preferred position.

Wish we’d seen more from…

• Darlington Nagbe, who was so outstanding as a central playmaker during the Portland Timbers’ run to the MLS championship, missed the start of camp because of the birth of his second child and played only 58 minutes as a reserve. His potential as a future partner for Bradley remains tantalizing, but there probably wasn’t enough time to establish the sort of chemistry and consistency that might make the difference in March.“Fitness wise he’s not there yet,” Klinsmann said. “But we know Darlington, two weeks from now, is up to speed.” PORTER: Nagbe is ‘for sure’ a player USMNT can build around

Gyasi Zardes emerged as a favorite of Klinsmann in last year’s camp and showed flashes of why last week. He works hard and has decent vision. But his touch still betrays him a bit too frequently, and his finishing needs to improve if he’s going to make a stronger case to start when the games matter most.Considering big-picture insignificance of the Iceland and Canada games and the do-or-die nature of the U-23 team’s Olympic playoff, it was a bit surprising that players like Perry Kitchen, Wil Trapp, Matt Polster, Khiry Shelton andTim Parker didn’t get more of a look. Klinsmann learned nothing by deploying Jermaine Jones at center back against Colombia or by fielding Michael Orozco and Brad Evans against Iceland, for example. Bradley didn’t need to play 180 minutes. The wins are nice, but it seems like there were a couple of missed opportunities to get younger players some valuable experience.And we saw too much of Jones, who faces a six-game suspension that likely will force him out of next month’s qualifiers. Keeping Jones fit shouldn’t have come at the expense of testing out a partnership or two that might take the field in March.to: Cal Sport

Three things to watch moving forward

1. Seattle’s strikers

Jordan Morris will be the most scrutinized MLS rookie since 14-year-old Freddy Adu signed with his hometown club in 2004. The new Seattle Sounder came late to camp following a training stint with German suitor Werder Bremen and did reasonably well partnering with Altidore against Canada. He’ll be vital for the U-23s, and his start with the Sounders will indicate whether he’s in frame for the Copa América. CREDITOR: MLS, Sounders get carried away with Morris hype

Meanwhile, club teammate Clint Dempsey was given the month off by Klinsmann. Dempsey, 32, led the U.S. with nine goals last year and very much wants to play in the Copa and chase down Landon Donovan’s scoring record. Was skipping camp the right move for an aging player? Will Dempsey and Morris be competing against each other for minutes with both club and country? The immediate future of both the U-23 and senior sides may depend heavily on the form of the two Sounders strikers.

2. Defensive questions remain

Klinsmann hasn’t the same back four in consecutive games since the 2014 World Cup, and nothing emerged from the recent camp that might clarify things heading into March. Matt Besler played well apart from an early error against Iceland but wasn’t under too much pressure, and Acosta showed well at left back—a very thin position for the U.S.—but several other younger defenders didn’t get much of a look while leading veterans remained with their clubs. John Brooks struggled at last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup but is back in form with Hertha Berlin, Omar Gonzalez is doing well at Pachuca and Geoff Cameron is battling an ankle injury but may be back by the time the U.S. reconvenes.From hybrids such as Fabian Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin and Brek Shea to players closer to the fringe like Tim Ream, Ventura Alvarado, Jonathan Spector, Matt Miazga and Greg Garza, the potential defensive pool is as large as ever as the World Cup cycle approaches its midway point.

3. The Olympic hurdle

Regarding the U-23 team’s quest for an Olympic berth, Klinsmann said last month that, “We have to do everything possible to give them all the help in the world to make it happen …  For the Olympic team and for that generation, it’s extremely important to have an experience like the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This is big for these players.”To get there, they’ll have to defeat Colombia, which qualified for the playoff by winning the silver medal at last year’s South American U-20 championship, finishing above Uruguay and Brazil. Herzog won’t have a ton of time to work his team before the March 25 opener in Barranquilla, nor the ability to call players’ in against their club’s wishes.Defeat would be far from shocking.The question is whether it would be considered a significant black mark against Klinsmann, a coach and technical director who suffered through a difficult 2015 (In addition to the senior team’s defeat at the Gold Cup and ensuing Confederations Cup playoff, the U-23s finished third in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying). At 1-0-1, the U.S. has some cushion in a relatively easy World Cup qualifying group. Points are there for the taking against Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Vincent and The Grenadines.If the U-23s fail, Klinsmann’s long-term plan and his reliance on veterans toward the end of this winter camp likely will fall under the microscope.

USA’s Jerome Kiesewetter makes strong impression to start crucial year

Photo: Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP

BY BRIAN STRAUS

Twitter Email

Posted: Fri Feb. 5, 2016

Jerome Kiesewetter remembers bonding quickly with the boy who was just like him.

“I met him when I was young. I would say 5 years old,” Kiesewetter said. “I started going out and playing soccer with my mom in our neighborhood and he was there, by himself. We kind of introduced each other and then started playing every day together.”

They had more than soccer in common. John Brooks also was the son of a U.S. serviceman and a German mother and both Berlin natives, from an early age, felt their American ties. Brooks spoke English at school and Kiesewetter, who’s about two weeks younger, was impacted by an early trip to New York City he took with his mother and sister.

“I slept over at his house and he slept over at my house. He’s family to me. He’s my brother,” Kiesewetter told SI.com. “We were talking about it when we were younger … We would say to each other, ‘Maybe one day we would play together for the [U.S.] national team. That would be so sick.’”

PLANET FUTBOL

Improved approach makes Lee Nguyen a U.S. January Camp winner

by Brian Straus

Fifteen years ago, the odds of two little boys living five minutes apart in a neighborhood south of downtown Berlin eventually turning pro and representing a country across an ocean were close to incalculable.

But Kiesewetter and Brooks already have played together with the U.S. U-23s and at this rate, it seems almost inevitable that they’ll fulfill their dream and be teammates at the senior level.

Brooks, of course, already has played for coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s side. Kiesewetter was at home in Tempelhof, watching, as his friend scored the stunning, 86th-minute goal that lifted the Americans past Ghana in their 2014 World Cup opener. It was past midnight in Germany, and Kiesewetter’s screams woke his mother up.

Kiesewetter was the first person Brooks called from Natal.

Perhaps Brooks, who just signed a new contract with Hertha Berlin, was similarly excited last Sunday, when Kiesewetter, 22, made his senior international debut against Iceland. Kiesewetter didn’t score, but the powerful, 6’0″ forward made an instant impression. He entered the friendly in the 75th minute and within about six minutes, he’d hit a couple dangerous crosses and helped win three corner kicks. Playing high and to the right in a 4-2-3-1, Kiesewetter was imposing, fearless and a magnet for the ball. In the 89th, he ran onto a feed from Darlington Nagbe, took on Birkir Saevarsson (Iceland’s most experienced defender) and drew a foul. The resulting free kick led to Steve Birnbaum’s game-winning goal.

Kiesewetter told reporters following the game that he had “goosebumps” and that it was “just amazing to represent my country.” His prized souvenir was the substitution card he handed the fourth official when stepping onto the StubHub Center field.: USSoccer.com

​“I think playing wide, he’s very talented, because he has terrific speed. A bit like DeAndre Yedlin, his weapon is speed, and then going at people and not being scared about anything,” Klinsmannsaid of Kiesewetter following the first of a pair of friendlies that will close out this unique January camp. The Americans will finish up with a game against Canada on Friday evening outside Los Angeles (10:45 p.m. ET; Fox Sports 1, UniMas).“In the beginning [he was] a little bit overwhelmed. ‘Oh my gosh, I’m with the senior guys.’ Then one step at time, he kind of settled and became calm on the ball and more relaxed,” Klinsmann said. “[Against Iceland] I think he came in for 20 minutes. This is not enough time to think too much. I think that helped him. Just a simple message: ‘Go in there and give it a go. Go against people one against one’—his huge strength. Obviously he’s very fast, and just try to create simple situations. I think within five minutes he had already three crosses and almost two ended up in goals. So this is a wonderful introduction to the senior level, if you can have that influence … That is a nice start for Jerome and we hope he continues to grow and continues to work hard, which he does.”Kiesewetter has been grinding, but his career hasn’t yet matched his friend’s. The same year Brooks reached Hertha’s senior squad, 2012, Kiesewetter left their hometown club for VfB Stuttgart. He played with the reserves, returned to Hertha on a 2014 loan and then was back in Stuttgart, where he made two brief Bundesliga appearances last spring. But the 2015-16 season has been a struggle. Die Roten are in 15th place, two points beyond the relegation zone. There was a managerial change in November. Meanwhile, Kiesewetter has been playing exclusively with club’s second team.“I think I’ve developed there very much, both as a player on the field and as an individual off the field” he told SI.com. “I’m by myself for the first time—living by myself, cooking for myself … For me, the most important point is just to get my playing time and to show how good I can be, how much I can help the team. That’s why I play soccer. I don’t play soccer to just fool around.”He’s certainly helped the U-23s. Brought to the attention of U.S. Soccer coaches by Brooks, Kiesewetter was part of the squad that secured qualification for the 2013 U-20 World Cup and then returned to the fold under Andi Herzog, Klinsmann’s assistant and coach of the team vying for a berth in this summer’s Olympics. Frequently paired with Jordan Morris, Kiesewetter tallied six goals in 16 games for the U-23s and tied for the golden boot in last year’s CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament with four.This winter, he’s part of a group of around 10 American U-23s who’ve been training with the senior players while preparing for March’s home-and-home qualifier against Colombia. The survivor will move on to Rio de Janeiro. Kiesewetter said that this camp represents his longest stay in the U.S. and a priceless opportunity to learn from veterans like Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Jozy Altidore. It has strengthened his ties to his second home and kindled hope for the future.“I think it’s great how hard they work,” Kiesewetter said of the U.S. veterans. “Maybe they are 30 or 31 years old and you think they rest a little bit more, but it’s the complete opposite. You see them work every day. It’s amazing. This guy is earning so much money and he’s played so many games, but he still works hard and it’s just amazing to see. That inspires me.”Considering Kiesewetter’s climb, it makes sense that it’s the effort, rather than the success, that strikes a chord.“Guys like Michael and Jozy, they had their ups and downs but they work their way out,” he said. “I’d rather have the advice from the guy who was down and picked himself back up than a guy who was always in the right away and everything went right. That’s even more important … I’ve had my ups and downs also. I think a lot of top players have them.” There have been plenty of ups over the past month.In addition to Sunday’s excitement and the opportunity to trai with the national team, Kiesewetter saw both the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Clippers live—“It was great to go to my first NBA game. You can’t compare it to German basketball,” he said—and was able to spend a bit of time at the beach and enjoy some Southern California weather.His father, who moved to Texas many years ago, is planning to attend Friday’s game, according to MLSSoccer.com. There was no contact throughout most of Kiesewetter’s childhood (he took his mother’s last name) but his father reached out several years ago and the pair have become close since then. “Soccer brought us back together and I really appreciate that and our relationship is getting better and better. It’s good to have him back in my life,” Kiesewetter said.Considering Kiesewetter’s performance against Iceland (and that of outside back Kellyn Acosta) and the do-or-die nature of next month’s playoff against Colombia, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him, Morris and several other U-23 players get more significant minutes against Canada. This is the last chance to hone in on the partnerships and patterns of play that might make a difference in an uphill climb to Rio. The magnitude of the opportunity is far from lost on Kiesewetter. Representing the U.S. in the Olympics would be another big step in a dream come true, and would provide a massive stage to show what he can do. He’s eager to find a place to play regularly and very well may be on the move when his contract with Stuttgart expires this summer. There is plenty at stake in 2016.“It’s a very important year,” Kiesewetter said. “But it’s started good. Let’s say that.”

Late Altidore goal rescues wasteful U.S. in friendly win over Canada

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter Email

Posted: Sat Feb. 6, 2016Jozy Altidore ended a frustrating evening and rescued the U.S. national team, along with the smattering of fans in attendance at StubHub Center and those watching at home, from a third consecutive scoreless draw against Canada with an 89th-minute goal, lifting the Americans to a 1–0 win outside Los Angeles.The U.S. is now unbeaten against Canada in 17 consecutive games (9-0-8) dating back to 1985.Next up for the Americans is a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala in late March and a home-and-home playoff between the U.S. Under-23 team and Colombia that will send the survivor to the Olympics. Although there wasn’t much to take away from this four-week camp tactically, and although many who will participate in those games next month weren’t in California, there certainly were members of the senior and U-23 teams who entered 2016 needing a physical or mental boost. And there were good signs over the past week for several men who have some significant responsibilities ahead.

Here are three thoughts from Friday’s win:

Altidore rescues a wasteful U.S.

After scoring three goals in last weekend’s 3–2 win over Iceland, the Americans couldn’t buy one for most of Friday. They were a couple minutes from being shut out by Canada’s Maxime Crépeau, a 21-year-old who spent 2015 with the Montreal Impact’s USL team. Crépeau made six saves and benefited from a miserable night of finishing from the American attackers.Canada started brightly, but the U.S. was the better team for most of the match. It didn’t matter. Jordan Morris (16th minute) and Altidore (17th) came close early, with Altidore hitting the right post twice on the same shot. An active Gyasi Zardes, who was playing on the right wing, was the provider on each occasion. In the 38th, Morris and Altidore linked up (something coach Jurgen Klinsmann said he wanted to see on Friday) but the new Seattle Sounder sent his lofted shot just wide.​Altidore missed on a header in the 54th, hit a shot straight at Crépeau a minute later and nearly chipped the goalkeeper in the 83rd. The Toronto FC veteran was making good runs, but the final product just wasn’t there as the game inched toward what seemed like an inevitable scoreless draw. The hosts had managed 16 shots with no luck.Then, finally, Altidore broke through. Late substitute Ethan Finlay hit a perfect, floating cross from the left. Altidore beat defender Sam Adekugbe to the far post and sent his header back past Crépeau. It was Altidore’s 33rd international goal, leaving him one behind third-place Eric Wynalda on the alltime U.S. leader board.“The [pass from Finlay] scores the goal—the pace of it, the positioning of it—I just had to be there to knock it in,” Altidore told Fox following the game. “As a player, you kind of find this moments where you say, ‘This is the one.’”

The positive individual signs

Klinsmann referred to the games against Iceland and Canada as “scrimmages,” which says all we need to know about how important the results really were. This camp, which combined senior and U-23 players, really was about getting those in the middle of a long MLS off-season prepared for a long, important year ahead.Altidore was the big winner. After missing most of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with injuries, he resolved to change things up this winter. He altered his diet and training, lost 10 pounds and was in rhythm and involved against Iceland and Canada, taking 10 shots and scoring twice across the two matches. “Just the past two years were really rough for me,” he told Fox. “I thought if I cut some muscle, cut some weight and made myself a bit leaner, it would help me … I feel better. I feel lighter and I feel more mobile.”Elsewhere, Morris didn’t look out of place and German-born winger Jerome Kiesewetter, Morris’s U-23 strike partner, made an impression once again as a reserve. Captain Michael Bradley was smart, consistent and at times appeared to be in midseason form. Mix Diskerud started next to Bradley in central midfield on Friday and was sharp at times, perhaps signaling that he’s ready to put last year’s disappointing campaign with New York City FC behind him, while Finlay and Kellyn Acosta were among the new national teamers who whet the appetite for more. Zardes improved over his performance against Iceland. Lastly, Steve Birnbuam’s knack for winning balls in the air leaves him in frame to battle for additional minutes in back.

Klinsmann makes puzzling defensive choices

Jermaine Jones is not a center back, and Klinsmann has tried the veteran midfielder there before without success. Jones also is unlikely to play in next month’s qualifiers. The six-game suspension he incurred for bumping a referee during last fall’s MLS playoffs will kick in as soon as he signs a contract (even if it’s outside MLS), leaving him ineligible to face Guatemala.Yet Jones started in the center of defense on Friday. Birnbuam, a center back with D.C. United who had a goal and an assist in the win over Iceland, was at right back and Acosta, a defensive midfielder for FC Dallas, started for the second straight game on the left. Matt Besler was the only defender in his natural position. And all this was happening was in front of goalkeeper David Bingham, who was making his international debut.​Klinsmann’s back four wasn’t bad, although the adventurous Jones was fortunate not to be whistled for a first-half penalty kick after taking down Canada’s Cyle Larin. But it was pointless. Friday’s result was meaningless. Klinsmann did have limited options with the departures of campers Matt Miazga (to Chelsea), Michael Orozco (to Club Tijuana) and Brad Evans (injury), but the manager easily could have started Birnbaum alongside Besler while taking a longer look at one of his U-23 players on the flank (debutant Brandon Vincent, who relieved Acosta at the start of the second half). That would have told the coaching staff a lot more about each team’s potential (the senior and Olympic squads) than giving the 34-year-old Jones a run at a position he won’t be playing for club or country.The back four that started against Canada will never play together again. Shutting out Canada (again) in a friendly wasn’t worth the lost opportunity to plant the seeds for future chemistry or offer an Olympic hopeful some senior international experience.

U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden announces his retirement

BY SI STAFFPosted: Wed Feb. 3, 2016

A day after announcing he had become a father, U.S. men’s national team midfielder Stuart Holden made another announcement: That he is officially turning the page to the next chapter of his professional life. Holden announced his retirement from playing Wednesday, cutting short a once-promising career that was beset by injuries. Holden suffered multiple significant knee injuries, starting March 2010 in a friendly against the Netherlands and beyond–both with Bolton and with the U.S. national team–and the 30-year-oldpenned a first-person letter on U.S. Soccer’s website to announce his plans.Holden wrote:

It’s time to stop fighting my body. I’ve known for a while, but I’ve struggled to admit it to myself and to others. The countless sleepless nights, the aches and pains, and the constant mental battles were all signs pointing to a new path. But every time I was about to utter the three big words “I am retired”, all the memories of walking into roaring stadiums, scoring last-minute goals, and being part of amazing teams dragged me back! The same never-say-die attitude that drove me to fight like hell my entire career wouldn’t let me say the “R word”. I met every setback – and there were many – with a positive attitude. I responded to every disappointment with an “OK. What’s next?” Now, again, I must answer that question. What is next is being proud of my accomplishments, giving thanks to those who have supported me, and smiling at whatever the future holds, the first of which is a baby girl.

Holden was a standout for the Houston Dynamo before moving to Bolton and earning the club’s Player of the Year honors in 2011. He made a return to the national team in time for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but he suffered a torn ACL in the final against Panama, and he never played a competitive game after that.In the midst of his latest rehabilitation stint, Holden has been a TV analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN FC, something he will continue to do going forward.As he wrote:

The most recent opportunities will keep me in the game as a broadcaster, a coach, and maybe even as an owner one day. Who knows? Not me. What I do know is that I am 100% at peace with my decision to retire from playing, and I am 200% excited for the future. True closure has been hard to come by, but man it feels good.

Champions League

PSG riddled with issues ahead of Champions League tie with Chelsea

A win is a win. Whatever the gam; whatever the way; whatever the circumstances. Some wins are more important than others, some more significant and some luckier. But they all count and all bring something to the team. And the victory for PSG against Marseille on the weekend is no exception, coming just over a week before the reigning French champions’ biggest game of the season against Chelsea in the Champions League last 16.Some victories, however, can also surprise and the 2-1 PSG victory against their arch-rivals in a hotly anticipated Classique at the Stade Velodrome unexpectedly did just that. Of course Paris’s two goalscorers on the night, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria were not a surprise. They are both having a great season and it was expected that they would carry the team in this huge match. They did not disappoint. What was surprising, however, was that PSG were not actually the best team on the pitch. They were second best in terms of attitude, aggression and desire.Now, the Parisians might be 24 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table, unbeaten domestically since the start of the season and if they are not motivated to play Marseille, their biggest rivals, there is an issue. Yet on Sunday, it felt like the players were not that committed, or at least lesser so than their opponents. They were complacent, slow, sloppy in their passing and struggled.You could assume that everything will be different against Chelsea on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. But again, you would have assumed the same before the Marseille clash. And it didn’t happen.They didn’t deserve to win, no one will dispute that. But the most surprising is how overran they were in midfield. For a while now PSG’s three-man midfield has been one of the best in Europe. The trio of Marco Verratti — Thiago Motta — Blaise Matuidi is perfectly harmonious. Verratti has the foot, Motta the brains and Matuidi the legs. They understand each other so well and are the powerhouse behind the success of the team.On Sunday, Verratti was missing and there is every chance that he will be missing the Chelsea clash rather than starting. Replaced by Adrien Rabiot, the PSG midfield lost 39 balls in total against Marseille, more than any game this season. Rabiot, Motta and Matuidi (three left-footed players by the way) were beaten by the Marseille midfield. The Marseillais were more aggressive, more determined and just plain better. The absence of Verratti can explain the bad day the PSG midfield suffered, especially Motta, who was unrecognisable on the night. Motta will be a key player against Chelsea next week. Not only does he need to protect the back four, but he is also the one who starts PSG’s attacks.The form he showed against Marseille was worrying. If Motta can be overrun against Marseille, imagine what will happen against Chelsea in what promises to be a much more pacy and intense game.If Verratti is not fit, it’s likely that Rabiot will replace him again. At 20, Rabiot is one of the most promising young French players. But he can still be hit-and-miss. He gave a world class performance away at Real Madrid in the group stages, but was poor against Barcelona last season in the quarterfinal first leg, losing a ball that led to Neymar’s goal after just 18 minutes.Offensively, too, there is a question mark on who will play up front with Ibrahimovic and Di Maria. Lucas Moura has still not convinced when given the chance, especially in big games like last Sunday’s when he was such a disappointment. Edinson Cavani has been on the bench since the start of the year. He could come back for the Chelsea game, but in what state mentally after being dropped for six weeks?Defensively, Thiago Silva is back to his best but David Luiz is in a different place. He still has a few nagging injuries with a dodgy knee and a fragile hamstring. The Brazilian defender also refused to be substituted out of Sunday’s match, leading to a clear the air session with Blanc on Tuesday.At least, Paris still have their two best defenders, which is not the case for Chelsea after the terrible injury suffered by Kurt Zouma on Sunday against Manchester United. It is a big setback for the Londoners, as the Frenchman became a starter under Guus Hiddink. It’s a disappointment for France as well, as Zouma was the favourite to be the fourth centre-half picked by France coach Didier Deschamps for this summer’s Euro 2016, along with Raphael Varane, Laurent Koscielny and Mamadou Sakho.So not everything is rosy in Paris. A week won’t be enough to resolve some of the issues, but there are enough positives to still make them favourites against Chelsea.Julian Laurens is a London-based 

PSG vs Chelses Preview

The lowdown A lot has changed since the champions of France edged out the soon-to-be-champions of England on away goals this time last season. PSG have become even more dominant domestically while Chelsea have slumped. The Parisiens crossed a psychological rubicon by defeating Chelsea in the last-16 stage, even after having Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off early in the second leg, and are under some pressure from their Qatari owners to build on that and make at least the semi-finals.

How they got here

PSG They finished second in a group headed by Real Madrid, who took four points off the French side though were slightly fortunate to do so. The French club won home and away against Shaktar Donetsk and Malmo in the group, raking up 12 goals in those four matches.

Chelsea Their dreadful start to their defence of the Premier League title coincided with some wobbles in Europe, where they lost to Porto and drew with Dynamo Kiev, but they emerged on top of their group, contributing to Porto’s surprise elimination, before manager Jose Mourinho was dismissed in December.

Key players

David Luiz, PSG PSG made him the world’s most expensive defender when they paid Chelsea close to €70 million (Dh291.4m) for him in 2014. He then scored a decisive goal against his old club to help eliminate the London club from last year’s Uefa Champions League.

John Terry, Chelsea In open conflict with the club he has played for throughout his career about whether he should have his contract extended on terms he favours. Would love to reinforce his case with a high-class showing against PSG’s vaunted front players.

Points to prove

PSG Are France’s finest just flat-track bullies? PSG’s domination of Ligue 1 is almost surreal, so vast is their advantage at the top, so long is it since they lost to compatriot opposition. But like their totem, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their domestic achievements are not matched by a long list of European club honours. They need their lavish spending to show a better dividend in the very late stages of the Champions League.

Chelsea They have registered some improvement since Guus Hiddink, a former winner of the European Cup as a coach, took over as interim coach following the sacking of Mourinho. But they will struggle to finish in the Premier League’s top four, which means their only chance of being in next season’s Champions League is by winning this one.

Verdict PSG to go through, with a slightly more comfortable margin of victory than the away-goals, extra-time drama of the 2015/16 meeting between the two clubs.

ZENIT St. Pete Russia vs Benifica

he lowdown The Russian champions have not been as solid domestically as they were when they won the title in 2014/15. But in Europe they have found their swagger, and they would see Benfica as one of the more preferable possible opponents at the last-16 stage. The Portuguese, who will host Zenit just after their top-of-the-table domestic meeting with Porto, have a strong home record in Europe and two Europa League final appearances in the last four seasons. Zenit can take confidence from having won at the Luz in the group phase of last season’s Uefa Champions League.

Key players

Axel Witsel, Zenit Became one of Zenit’s trophy signings when the club hired him from Benfica during an eye-catching splurge on expensive recruits in 2012. He remains one of the game’s most admired central midfielders.

Jonas, Benfica The wiry Brazilian striker, signed from Valencia in 2014, is a candidate for the Golden Shoe thanks to his glut of domestic goals. His confidence is high coming into the tie.

Points to prove

Andre Villas Boas, Zenit The much travelled, still youthful coach will leave Zenit at the end of the season, hopeful of landing the same calibre of prestigious job he has held in the past – the likes of Porto, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. An extended run in Europe will burnish his reputation. His Porto past guarantees a raucous greeting from “benfiquistas”.

Julio Cesar, Benfica The veteran Brazilian goalkeeper, 36, won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010. Since then he has suffered some downturns, notably when he languished as a reserve choice at English club Queen’s Park Rangers. Hopes to show that, in elite company, he still has his sharp reflexes.

Verdict Zenit to go through, thanks to their result in the Russian leg.

GENT (Belgium – think Leceister City) vs Wolfsburg German

he lowdown There is a temptation to wonder if Gent might be to the Uefa Champions League what Leicester City are to the current Premier League, upstart outsiders who, before we know it, might be five matches from the main prize. The Belgians, who only won their first domestic league last year, are in uncharted European territory. But then so are Wolfsburg, in the knockout phase for the first time in their history, though in poor form over the last three months in the Bundesliga. Whatever happens, either one will give a novel look to the quarter-final line-up.

How they got here

Gent The debutants overcame Valencia, twice Champions League finalists this century and Lyon, semi-finalists in 2010, in the group phase, where they also were the only team to take any points from Zenit St Petersburg, to whom they finished second.

Wolfsburg They claimed an even bigger prize, by going through from what turned out a tight quartet, at the expense of Manchester United, who they beat on Matchday 6, leaving United third behind PSV Eindhoven and last season’s Bundesliga runners-up.

Key players

Sven Kums, Gent The Belgian league’s player of the year as Gent won the title, he has again been influential in central midfield this term. The captain leads by example and scores goals important goals as well as setting them up.

Julian Draxler, Wolfsburg Signed last summer to compensate for the loss of Kevin de Bruyne, the 22-year-old creative midfielder made an impact in the group phase and, with his poise and creative vision, can open up the best defences.

Points to prove

Gent Belgian football is supposed to be enjoying a golden generation, with its strongest national team, on paper, for perhaps 30 years. But the domestic competition remains a lightweight in European terms. The best Belgian players almost all employed abroad. Gent’s Champions League campaign is showing not all the talent is exported.

Andre Schurrle, Wolfsburg The pacey striker has performed only in fits and starts for Wolfsburg, since joining from Chelsea. He needs to remind his national coach, Joachim Loew, he can be as influential as he was for Germany at the 2014 World Cup.

Verdict Wolfsburg to shrug off recent domestic setbacks and sneak through.

Real Madrid – vs Italy’s Roma

The lowdown Both clubs have changed head coach since they made their respective journeys into the knockout phase, Roma reaching back to their past by returning Luciano Spalletti to the post six-and-a-half years after he finished his first, innovative spell there, and Madrid also harking back to former glories with the appointment of Zinedine Zidane, once an epoch-defining Madrid player. Two teams inclined to brisk counter-attack should provide goals.

How they got here

Madrid They produced one of the competition’s more embarassingly one-sided scorelines when they walloped Malmo of Sweden 8-0 in their last group match. They finished top thanks to having edged Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at home. The clubs from the Spanish and French capitals cleaned up easily in their remaining games against Shaktar Donetsk and the mauled Malmo.

Roma will not want to look back too closely on their previous trip to Spain when they go to Madrid for the second leg. They lost 6-1 to Barcelona at Camp Nou in the group phase. But they still did just enough – including drawing 1-1 at home against Barca – to qualify ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

Key players

Karim Benzema, Madrid The France striker, who is close to Zidane, becomes ever more important to Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo’s regularity as a goalscorer dips – CR7 has been accumulating lots of goals but with more blank days than usual between them – and Gareth Bale struggles with injury.

Radja Naingollan, Roma Madrid can be vulnerable against hard pressing in midfield. At his energetic best, the bullish Belgian galvanises Roma and closes down the kind of space Luka Modric and Toni Kroos can thrive in.

Points to prove

Zinedine Zidane He is still a novice as a head coach. At home, he has overseen some emphatic wins in the Primera Liga, and some expressive performances. On the road, his Madrid have looked more inhibited. He will make his managerial debut in international club competition up against a wily and experienced opposite number, in Spalletti.

Stephan El Sharaawy He signed by Roma in the January window, after six months on loan at Monaco and a career with AC Milan that had stuttered, has ambitions to go to Euro 2016 as one of Italy’s strikers. A good show in Europe’s principal club competition would advance those.

Verdict Madrid to progress, in the competition that represents their best chance of a trophy this season.

The Incredible Journey of Indy 11 Éamon Zayed! Welcome to Indy Mr. Hat Trick!

By: James Cormack Bloody Shambles

From playing in front of a few hundred on rainy days at Morton Stadium in Dublin with Sporting Fingal to scoring a hat trick in front of 90,000 fans in Tehran with Persepolis, one would imagine Éamon Zayed has quite a few stories behind him.Zayed arrives in Indianapolis after his most recent stint playing for Sabah United in Malaysia alongside one of Africa’s more notable players, El Hadj Diouf of Senegal.Born in Dublin (Ireland’s capital of course, not Ohio), and if you have listened to any of his interviews it’s not hard to recognize by his accent he is definitely a Dublin boy, but Éamon’s nationality as far as the sport of football goes is Libyan.Zayed played for Ireland’s Under-21 national team scoring 5 goals in 12 games, but as often happens in international football, players with an option to play for more than one nation after that age can and do opt to make switch. Éamon did, and elected to play for Libya. He has appeared for the Libyan national team before, during and after the Civil war of 2011.It would take a big map and a lot of pins to plot out the playing career of this center forward. From scoring against teams as far flung as Kuala Lumpur and Equitorial Guinea and taking on Liverpool in Champions League qualifiers, for an Irish lad he has racked up a lot of air miles and probably ate a lot of very fancy foods too!
From the many exotic places Éamon has played, probably the most memorable and most talked about in his career recently has been the hat trick he scored for Persepolis in a city derby with rivals Esteghlal. Persepolis were 2-0 down in a match played in front of 90,000 supporters. Zayed was introduced to the game with 30 minutes remaining and scored three goals. The first came on the 81st minute and the last in the second minute of stoppage time.ne of the more bizarre stories surrounding that game is that of one young fan in his early 20’s dying of a heart attack through sheer excitement after the third goal went in. Iranians are extremely fanatical and passionate about soccer and apparently this kind of thing is not uncommon. Éamon was asked by the club to make a statement to the newspapers offering his condolences and sympathy to the family of the young man.After this performance Zayed was plastered onto about every newspaper and magazine that could be imagined in Iran, he regularly had people paying for his dinner, coming up to him and just handing him money or kissing him and thanking him for such a memorable game. Éamon also became affectionately know as “Mr Hat Trick” among the Persepolis faithful in Tehran.Life in Iran was not always fun and high times for Éamon however. After Persepolis, Zayed moved on to play for Aluminium Hormozgan ( that’s Al-yoo-mini-yum for all you North American spelling police out there). After a season at Hormozgan his contract was up and Zayed sat down to discuss the money he was owed. The club offered him a third of the money he was due, which obviously to any player, was unacceptable to Éamon. The club threatened to withhold his passport and the situation boiled down to him not being able to leave until he agreed to vastly reduced terms. Achieving 60-70% of your agreed amount is considered a good deal in Iranian football.From here Éamon Zayed’s love affair with Iran ended and he once again returned to Ireland in 2013 to play for his fifth league of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers. This would become six after he was loaned to Sligo Rovers in 2014. Zayed has also played for Bray Wanderers, Sporting Fingal, Drogheda and Derry City. Éamon won the PFIA player of the year award in 2011.His final destination before putting pen to paper with Indy Eleven was 8,983 ,miles away in Sabah, Malaysia. When he arrives in Indianapolis and laces up his cleats, he will do so on his fourth continent. If he can repeat his productivity in Indy as he has everywhere he has gone, you can most definitely expect to see goals in 2016!At at least four of his clubs Zayed has maintained a record of a fraction over 1 goal in every two games played, for a striker anywhere in the world this is an enviable record. At his last club Sabah United he only played 21 games but netted 11 times.From the day he signed for Bray Wanderers back in 2002 until leaving Malaysia, Éamon Zayed has made 339 club appearances and scored 171 goals. It is never easy to predict how a player will adapt to a different league, but for a striker who has played just about everywhere you might be forgiven for assuming he will maintain that average and score around fifteen goals in 2016. One can only hope!If Tim Hankinson can build a team that can provide good service and Zayed can adapt to the NASL quickly, the loyal supporters of Indy Eleven could be looking at a cult hero in the making.
Welcome to Indianapolis Éamon Zayed, please bring your shootin’ boots, we need them!

NASL Veteran Defender Stephen DeRoux Latest Indy Eleven Signing

Jamaican Left Back Brings Roster to 22 Ahead of Monday’s Report Day in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, February 12, 2016) –Indy Eleven took one of the last steps towards finalizing its 2016 roster today with the signing of yet another veteran presence in defender Stephen DeRoux. Per club policy, terms of the contract that brings the 32-year-old left back to the “Boys in Blue” will not be released.  The native of St. Mary, Jamaica, is the 22^nd player signed by Indy Eleven in advance of its third season of NASL play, for which preparations will officially begin Monday when the team reports to the Circle City for physicals. As the holder of a United States Green Card, DeRoux will not count against the team’s allotment of seven international player slots, leaving Indy Eleven with one such spot to fill.“The addition of Stephen DeRoux rounds out what we believe will be the deepest and most experienced defensive corps in the NASL this season,” said Indy Eleven general manager Peter Wilt.DeRoux’s move to Indianapolis reunites him with head coach Tim Hankinson, who coached the Jamaican during the 2013 season with the San Antonio Scorpions. Across the last three years DeRoux set records for the most games (74) and minutes (6,234) played in Scorpions history, overtaking his new Indy Eleven teammate Greg Janicki in both categories.“Stephen has established himself as one of the elite left backs in the North American Soccer League,” said Hankinson. “His ability to bring a warrior mentality to his defending duties and yet attack with great skill and speed makes him a dangerous dual threat.”Last year, DeRoux finished second on San Antonio in games played (28), games started (25) and minutes played (2,244) from his left back position – and finally tacked on his first goal for the squad in October. DeRoux has most recently suited up for the Milwaukee Wave in the Major Arena Soccer League, staying sharp in the offseason by playing in three games since signing in January.“I want to thank everyone at Indy Eleven for the opportunity to contribute and play for a top-class organization that is second-to-none in the NASL. I feel very excited, humbled and blessed for this new chapter in my career to begin and look forward to great things,” said DeRoux. “Every time I came to Indianapolis with San Antonio I got goose bumps and my adrenaline was flowing because of the way the crowd supported their team to the end. As a player I can’t wait to be on these fans’ side rather than be against them.”DeRoux has been in North American soccer circles for over a decade, starting his professional career with three seasons for Major League Soccer’s D.C. United from 2005-07. From there, DeRoux would jump to the USL First Division from 2008-10, suiting up for Minnesota Thunder and Montreal Impact, helping the latter to the 2009 USL Championship. After a year of indoor play with the MISL’s Baltimore Blast in 2011, DeRoux would go back to the Caribbean in 2012 to help the Puerto Rico Islanders during their first season in the NASL and run in the CONCACAF Champions League.Head to www.IndyEleven.com/roster for details on all of the “Boys in Blue” as the club’s roster continues to grow leading into the preseason next week. Fans can also visit the team’s social media channels andwww.IndyEleven.com/preseason  to keep up to date on all things Indy Eleven heading into the team’s third NASL campaign.Indy Eleven begins its 2016 season on the road on Saturday, April 2, at the Tampa Bay Rowdies. “Indiana’s Team” kicks off its home schedule at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Saturday, April 9, against the rival Ottawa Fury, followed a week later by a visit from the defending NASL Champion New York Cosmos. Fans can currently secure their seats at Carroll Stadium via the team’s 2016 Season Ticket package or the new Starting Eleven Flex Pack; for more information, visit the “Tickets” section of www.IndyEleven.com, call 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (9a-5p weekdays) or email tickets@indyeleven.com.

Indy Eleven Adds Former Spanish La Liga Midfielder Gorka Larrea to Roster

Former Spanish Youth International Brings “Boys in Blue” to 21 Players with Preseason Approaching
Indy Eleven bolstered its strength in the middle of the field today with the signing of veteran Spanish La Liga midfielder Gorka Larrea. Per club policy, contract terms will not be announced.Larrea becomes the 21^st player to sign with Indy Eleven – and the fifth to occupy one of the club’s seven international player roster slots – ahead of the team’s third season of play in the North American Soccer League starting in April. Preseason preparations will begin when the team gathers for the first time in Indianapolis next Monday, Feb. 15.“Gorka’s experience in Spain’s top two divisions combined with his time spent with Montreal [Impact FC] in Major League Soccer creates a great fit of experience and a working knowledge of the professional game in the United States,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “He is a true defensive midfielder that is most comfortable sitting in front of the defense and can act as a fifth back when that situation is necessary.”The 31-year-old Larrea brings ample playing experience in his native Spain, including time early in his career with the powerhouse country’s youth international teams, with him to the Circle City. The defensive midfielder played 22 games in Spain’s La Liga (first division) with Real Sociedad from 2003 to 2006 and Levante UD in 2010. He also played more than 100 games in the Segunda División (second division) for four clubs between 2006 and 2013, twice helping squads earn promotion to La Liga – UD Almería in 2006/07 and as captain of Levante in 2009/10.Larrea most recently suited up for Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact FC, making nine appearances during the second half of the Quebec club’s 2014 season.“Gorka provides added talent and depth in a key midfield position,” said Indy Eleven general manager Peter Wilt. “He comes highly recommended from Montreal as someone that will not only help on the field, but serve as a great voice in the locker room as well.”On the international scene, Larrea represented Spain on various youth teams, making 15 appearances from the U-16 to U-23 levels alongside future stars of the game like Andrés Iniesta and Fernando Torres. He was part of the squad that won the 2001 UEFA European U-16 Championship and also helped the Spanish U-23 side win the 2005 Mediterranean Games.”I feel extremely happy to be a ‘Boy in Blue,’ and I thank the club greatly for this opportunity. I talked to Coach Hankinson and he expressed to me his enthusiasm for the competitive spirit of the team,” said Larrea. “Soccer should bring fans happiness, so we will have to play very hard and with passion to make them proud of us. I will do my best to help the team achieve our goals, be hard to beat, never give up and dream big along with our supporters.”Visit the IndyEleven.com roster page to more info on Larrea and the rest of the “Boys in Blue” as the squad continues to grow leading into the preseason. Fans can also visit the team’s social media channels and the IndyEleven.com preseason page to keep up to date on all things Indy Eleven heading into the team’s third NASL campaign.Indy Eleven begins its 2016 season on the road on Saturday, April 2, at the Tampa Bay Rowdies. “Indiana’s Team” kicks off its home schedule at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Saturday, April 9, against the rival Ottawa Fury, followed a week later by a visit from the defending NASL Champion New York Cosmos. Fans can currently secure their seats at Carroll Stadium via the team’s 2016 Season Ticket package or the new Starting Eleven Flex Pack; for more information, visit the “Tickets” section of www.IndyEleven.com, call 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (9a-5p weekdays) or email tickets@indyeleven.com.

Juventus taking aim at Napoli lead – Gianluigi Buffon

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says Napoli fully deserve to be at the top of Serie A, although he is hoping to knock them off their perch on Sunday.The Azzurri hold a two-point advantage over the Bianconeri heading into Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash which few people would have been predicting as such after the two teams first met this season back in September.Napoli won that game 2-1 to take them to tenth in the standings, six points adrift of the early-season pacesetters Inter. Juve were a further four points behind, just two clear of the relegation zone.”We were both in an embryonic phase when we first met this season,” Buffon said in interviews with Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset, summarised on theItalianclub’s website. “Everybody was writing us off, which was only normal. Maybe they were underestimating our technical value and our morale, which have led us to do what we have done in these four years, and what we are doing again now.” While Massimiliano Allegri’s men have won their last 14 in a row, Napoli are on their own eight-game winning streak, which is why they are first and second heading into Sunday’s Juventus Stadium clash, and justifiably so, according to Buffon.“After several years in the second row, now they have been up there for a long time and they deserve to be there,” Buffon said of his side’s opponents. “They have everything it takes to confirm their status too.“They want to prove that being top is just a logical consequence of the hard work they have done. I think both sides will play to win and if Napoli succeed, they will gain a decent advantage with 13 games left. For us, [winning] would not change much other than boost our morale because winning would be the cherry on top of this 14-game marathon of wins.”One of the most intriguing battles this weekend will be between the two Argentineans currently at the top of the scoring chart: Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, 28, with 24 goals and Paulo Dybala, 22, with 13.“They both have different characteristics,” Buffon said. “One is more of a finisher; a true goalscorer — Higuain has already shown down the years that he’s a phenomenal striker, in spite of a few moments when he was being criticised.“Paulo’s class is outstanding and he’s got huge margin for improvement. He plays more between the midfield and the attack.”

Proud Member of the Brick Yard Battalion – http://brickyardbattalion.com, Sam’s Army-http://sams-army.com ,  American Outlaws  https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

The Old Ballcoach  – Coach Shane Best

So the US pulled out the win Sunday vs a solid Iceland squad in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 win on a header in the 89th minute.  Nice to see Altidore playing well up front and the new players looked ok out there – still need work on defense we’ll see if they can shore things up Friday night 10:15 pm vs Canada on Fox Sports 1.

Copa America Ticket update for Chicago – While individual US Game Tickets on June 7th soldout in 5 minutes in the American Outlaws sections – 4 game Venue Passes are still available for Chicago.   I found good seats level 2 endzone for $360 per or about $90 per ticket per game. That includes 2 tix to USA game on 6/7, Argentina game on 6/10, another game on 6/5 and the Semi Finals on Wed eve, June 22 (which might feature Argentina vs Brazil) PS Messi is scheduled to join the full Argentina roster.  Listen short of a World Cup – the Copa is one of the Best Tournaments in the world – with Argentina and Brazil, and Colombia, Mexico, Chile, etc all on US Soil – this is sort of a once in a lifetime thing.  That’s why I am planning to make the trip over for at least the 4 games in Chicago.   

Big Games this weekend – first in the EPL – Man City host Leicester City in a battle of teams at the top of the table on Sat at 7:45 am on NBCSN.   Bayern Munich travels to Bayer Leverkusen in a battle of top 4 German squads on Fox TV Saturday at 12:30 as Munich plays the first game since coach Pep announced he’s going to Man City this summer.  Look for Mexican Chicarito to add to his league leading goal tally at home for Leverkusen.   US national team defender John Brooks and Hertha Berlin face Dortmund and US 17 year old Pulisic at 9:30 am Sat on Fox Sports 1.  Sunday its Man U vs Chelsea 11 am on NBCSN.  The Ole Ballcoach – http://www.theoleballcoach.com

Latebreaking News – US American Outlaws Announce tix for USMNT vs Guatemala World Cup Qualifier in Columbus, OH on Tues March 29th at 7 pm will go on sale Monday 2/8. Anyone interested in going let know – shanebestsoccer@gmail.com

US Soccer

What do We Expect from Canada vs the US this Friday Night – 10:15 pm on FS1

US looks to shore up Defense vs Canada – ESPN FC Mcintyre

Does US Have a Goalie Issue with Howard and Guzan on outs in EPL?  EPSN FC Davis

US Scores Late Goal to edge Iceland NY Times

US Steve Birnbaum takes Chance with Game Winner  EPSN FC Jeff Carlisle

US Player Ratings – EPSN FC Doug Mcintyre

Klinnsmann Praises 4 newbies- MLS Soccer

USMNT Ratings: See how the four debutants fared vs. Iceland MLS Soccer

Player Ratings Greg Seltzer MLS.com

Improved Approach helps Nguyen at US Camp  and Game – SI – Brian Straus

US Veteran and Youth are Served in Win SI

US Happy with late Win Fox Soccer

US 17 year Old Christian Pulisic comes off bench in last 20 minutes for Dortmund named to Europa Squad

American’s Abroad

 US Soccer Sues US Womens National Team Union releases players emails and addresses NY TIMES

Fox Sports Snags Mexico National Team Contract from ESPN  

 EPL + World

Pep to Move from Bayern to Man City

Vardy Scores Wondergoals vs Liverpool as Leicester Stays top in League

Mourino Confident of Getting the Man U job EPSN FC

Top 5 saves of EPL last Week

Shakas Power Rankings

Bayern faces Leverkusen 1^st vs 4^th in Germany

BOOO – report says Juve’s Massimiliano agrees to deal to  Coach Chelsea this summer

Brazil expects Neymar plays both Copa and Olympics this summer

GAMES ON TV 

Tuesday, February 2

2:45 p.m., NBCSN Leicester City vs. Liverpool
2:45 p.m., Extra Time: Arsenal vs. Southampton, Norwich vs. Tottenham, Sunderland vs. Man City, West Ham vs. Aston Villa
3:00 p.m., Extra Time: Crystal Palace vs. Bournemouth, Man United vs. Stoke City, West Bromwich  vs. Swansea

Wednesday, February 3

2:45 p.m., NBCSN: Watford vs. Chelsea
2:45 p.m., Extra Time: Everton vs. Newcastle United

Friday, February 5

2:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Borussia Mönchen vs. Werder Bremen

10:15 pm  Fox Sports 1 :  USA Men vs Canada

 Saturday, February 6

7:45 a.m., NBCSN: Manchester City vs. Leicester City

9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1: Hertha Berlin vs. Borussia Dortmund
9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 2: Schalke 04 vs. VfL Wolfsburg

10 am NBCSN  Tottenham vs. Watford,

10:00 a.m., TBD: Aston Villa vs. Norwich City, Liverpool vs. Sunderland, Newcastle vs. West Bromwich, Swansea  vs. Crystal Palace, Stoke City vs. Everton,

12:30 p.m., Fox: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich

Sunday, February 7

6 am beIN Sport Levante vs Barcelona

8:30 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo: Bournemouth vs. Arsenal

9:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes: Hamburg SV vs. Köln
11:00 a.m., NBCSN and Telemundo: Chelsea vs. Manchester United

11:30 a.m., Fox Sports 1: TSG Hoffenheim vs. Darmstadt

2:30 pm beIN Sport  Grenada vs Real Madrid
Monday, February 8

3:00 p.m., NBCSN: Southampton vs. West Ham United

 Tues, Feb 16  —Champions League

2;45 pm  FS 1               PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2                 Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

 Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1                 Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2                 Gent vs Wolfsburg

 Thurs, Feb 18

Europa League

1 pm Anderlecht vs Olympiachos, Dortman vs Porto, Fioreentina vs Tottehman, Midtiland vs Man U, Villarreal vs Napoli

3 pm Ausburg vs Liverpool, Sporting Portugal vs Bayern Leverkusen, Valencia vs Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray vs Lazio

  Tues, Feb 23 – Champ League

2:45 pm FS 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2 Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm  FS1? Queretaro vs DC United

10 pm FS2? Seattle Sounders vs Club America

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1 Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2 Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

8 pm Tigres UNAL vs Real Salt Lake

10 pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna

Tuesday, March 1:

D.C. United vs. Querétaro, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 10:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Wednesday, March 2: 

Club América vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Sunday, March 6: 

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. (UniMás, Univision Deportes)]

 Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

 Tuesday, March 29:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

What can USMNT expect from Canada?

Benito Floro’s side is on the rise ahead of critical WCQs against Mexico.

nada forward Cyle Larin is one of the key figures for Benito Floro’s improving side. Larin and Canada hope to defeat the United States in a friendly on Friday (live, 10:00p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Sports GO).

By Kyle McCarthyFOX SoccerFeb 4, 2016 at 6:00p ET

After a last-gasp victory over Iceland on Sunday, the United States men’s national team concludes its January training camp with a friendly against Canada.The meeting between familiar foes on Friday (live, 10:00p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Sports GO) offers Jurgen Klinsmann and his players with a chance to punctuate their progress with a second victory in as many matches.Canada plans to make it difficult on the Americans, though. Those expectations are reinforced by the recent results between the teams (including 0-0 draws in 2012 and 2013) and underscored by the Canadian resurgence under coach Benito Floro over the past year or so.As this meeting between these two countries approaches, here are three things to monitor as the Canadians attempt to procure a third straight result against the Americans.

Brace for defiance and organization first and foremost

Floro assessed the players at his disposal when he took the job in 2013 and focused most of his energy on player recruitment and tactical tinkering. His sales pitch enticed Fraser Aird, Tesho Akindele and Junior Hoilett to join the squad, while his setup preached control and composure first and foremost.Those adjustments — predicated on application, commitment and organization — made Canada particularly difficult to break down in possession. It shows in the results: Canada conceded once or kept a shutout in each of its final 12 matches in 2015.Floro sacrificed some creativity in the process (Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio is out of the frame at the moment) and struggled to find the right balance going forward in the usual 4-2-3-1 setup, but he made Canada defiant. It is a wise course of action for a side with a limited squad in comparison to the top teams in CONCACAF.The best part for Floro: It is working, more or less. Canada is in position to make the Hexagonal for the first time since 1998. There is a fraught, tricky assignment ahead in Honduras in September, but the Canadians sit second in Group C with a three-point cushion over scuffling El Salvador and a four-point advantage over the out-of-sorts Hondurans.

Look for emerging players to stake their claim

Many of the top Canadian players — including midfield fulcrum Atiba Hutchinson — are otherwise engaged with club commitments. Those vacancies provide plenty of room for emerging talents, rehabilitating players and out-of-favor or unattached campaigners.The motivations here are similar to the underpinnings in U.S. camp: improve the chances of earning a place in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Mexico next month. Recovering West Ham defender Doneil Henry — a potential contributor in defense — warrants close inspection, while veterans like Iain Hume, Issey Nakajima-Farran and Steven Vitoria (in line for his full debut) hope to underscore their qualities before qualifying resumes

Track Cyle Larin carefully

Larin emerged as the best prospect in Canada and one of the top young players in CONCACAF during his rookie season with Orlando City. Former UConn star Larin scored 17 goals for the expansion side and set a new MLS rookie record in the process. His reliability in front of goal and his presence in the penalty area made him a consistent threat against MLS defenses.Those qualities recommend the 20-year-old as a potential linchpin for the next decade. Canada endures goal droughts with some regularity (the side went 14 months without scoring in 2013 and 2014, for example) and regularly flails around in the final third. In order to push forward and slide into position to challenge for a berth at the 2018 World Cup, the Canadians must procure goals more regularly.Larin isn’t the finished product quite yet (particularly in terms of his positioning), but he represents Canada’s best chance for a reliable goalscorer in this post-Dwayne De Rosario landscape. His continued progress bears watching, particularly for American defenders all too familiar with the threat he poses.

United States looks to tighten up defense in Canada friendly

CARSON, Calif. – Just because Sunday’s 3-2 win against Iceland got the U.S. national team off on the right foot in 2016 doesn’t mean the Americans can’t improve in their second match of the year, on Friday night against northern neighbors Canada.

For starters, U.S. boss Jurgen Klinsmann is hoping for a clean sheet.

“As a coach, obviously we want to see a defensive line that is on top of everything, that blocks every shot, that doesn’t give away any opportunity for the opponent to score,” Klinsmann told reporters before his team trained inside StubHub Center on Thursday.

But perfection isn’t possible for any team, and hoping and expecting are two very different things. With the U.S. just one game into its 2016 slate — one game into the preseason, really — Klinsmann and his players were quick to manage expectations at this stage.

“Reality is there’s always an opponent with quality finding ways to create their own chances, and here and there they put it in the back of the net,” the coach said. “Goals only happen when the other side makes mistakes. So we try to reduce them, we try to work on things and hopefully we can avoid it next time. But obviously there’s no guarantee.”The two goals that the U.S. gave up against Iceland were preventable. Errors were made on both, not that the Americans are beating themselves up over them. “You never want to concede but I think it’s important to take a step back and recognize the circumstance,” veteran center back Matt Besler said. “The goals we gave up did look like preseason goals. So yeah, we’ll take a look at those and try to correct our mistakes.”

They’ll have to do it with a re-tooled back line. Two of the defenders who started against Iceland — Brad Evans and Michael Orozco — were released to their clubs earlier in the week, and it’s not entirely clear who will replace them in the lineup.

D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum seems certain to be on Klinsmann’s team sheet after notching an assist and an 90th-minute winner last Sunday. Where exactly he’ll line up if he gets the call is another mystery. Birnbaum is a natural center-back who can also man the outside in a pinch. On Thursday, the 25-year-old said he had trained at both spots this week.”There’s definitely a lot of moving pieces in this camp, so you have to adapt to it,” Birnbaum said. The same goes for Klinsmann. The whittled down roster limits the German’s options; of the seven defenders remaining on the squad, four have never played at senior level. A fifth, 20-year-old Kellyn Acosta, just made his international debut.Given that, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that Jermaine Jones could reprise his role at center-back, where Klinsmann experimented with him early last year. The alternative is starting an uncapped defender against Canada, something Klinsmann didn’t sound eager to do on the eve of the contest.”Definitely the senior group has priority when it gets to the games,” Klinsmann said. “You won’t see that many changes now [involving] the U-23s.”What you might see are goals against. And that’s OK, according to U.S. captain Michael Bradley. “You’re using these games to try to get fitter, to get sharper,” Bradley said. “It’s not the time of year to really be overanalyzing.”

U.S. Camp Notes

– Besler was in and out of the national team last year, but by all accounts he’s off to a great start in 2016. “Matt has been outstanding this entire camp, also in a leadership role as one of the veterans, basically, looking after the under 23s, looking after everybody,” Klinsmann said. One of the players Besler has taken under his wing is Birnbaum. “First of all, he’s a great guy off the field,” Birnbaum said of the Sporting Kansas City captain. “I enjoy playing with him, and I look up to him. He’s a guy that is a big part of our men’s national team. Hopefully I can be like him and become a staple at center back.”

– Bradley said he’s noticed some of the younger players come out of their shells as camp has gone on. “Their personalities start to come out more and more — some of the nerves that you see early on go away,” Bradley said. “I think all the young guys here are excited and motivated and determined to keep pushing themselves forward. It’s a great group.”- A year ago, Canadian forward Tesho Akindele was here training with the U.S. as the dual-national mulled his options at the top level. While he eventually he chose Canada, the FC Dallas man has fond memories of his brief time with the American squad. “I’m super glad I went to that camp last year,” Akindele, the 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year, told ESPN on Thursday. “When I went in I think I was leaning towards Canada, but you just don’t want to have in the back of your mind ‘what if?'”Before accepting Canada’s invite to a pair of World Cup qualifying matches last June, Akindele called Klinsmann to inform him of his decision. “He was super understanding,” said Akindele. “He said I understand your decision, go with your heart and if I need anything, call him. He was very nice about it.”Akindele has made seven appearances for Canada since, scoring once. He said he’s looking forward to swapping shirts after Friday’s match with FCD teammate Acosta, whom he considers the most underrated player in MLS. “He’s a baller, man, I’m telling you,” Akindele said. “He’s going to be a starter for the U.S. for a long time.”

Should Jurgen Klinsmann worry about U.S. goalies Tim Howard, Brad Guzan?

Jurgen Klinsmann praised the U.S. for their win over Iceland, but still sees plenty of improvement to be made.

For the last three decades, the United States men’s national team manager hasn’t needed to concern himself with one aspect of the lineup card: the man in the net. From Tony Meola to Brad Friedel to Kasey Keller, the Stars and Stripes have had a world-class goalkeeper to rely on whenever the 10 outfield players failed. The strength of the U.S. netminders is such an institution that even Tim Howard’s stunning performance against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup wasn’t a complete surprise; making the sublime look routine is an American tradition.But the times, they are a-changin’ — maybe. Both Howard and Brad Guzan are struggling with their English Premier League clubs, on the verge of getting run out of Goodison Park and Villa Park, respectively. While the former hasn’t lost his starting spot yet — and, frankly, has been more solid than the average Evertonian thinks — headlines like “Tim Howad’s position at Everton has become farcical and he must be dropped” and “So, Uh, What the Hell Happened to Tim Howard?” are the norm.Howard has been rightly criticized for poor play in matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Swansea and more. Guzan, meanwhile, tarred by the patently absurd “gum-gate,” sits fourth from the bottom in one ranking of EPL keepers and was recently demoted to serve as Mark Bunn’s backup.In a year full of World Cup qualifiers and the Copa América Centenario, the last thing Jurgen Klinsmann needs is two backstops grasping for form. The big question for the red, white and blue: are momentary dips or more systemic problems?

While the generalities of the two situations are similar, the details are rather different, so let’s examine each man individually.

Howard, who hasn’t looked consistently solid since before the World Cup, turns 37 a few weeks before the March qualifiers against Guatemala. That is not young, and the miles might be hampering his play.”There’s no question in my mind that given how much he’s experienced, Tim Howard can handle the criticism and come back as be as excellent as he’s ever been for the U.S.,” former Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper and current ESPN FC analyst Shaka Hislop says. “But is it more a question of age catching up with him?”The Everton No. 1 took a year off from the American team in an effort to rejuvenate but despite looking better than he did last year, Howard continues to make too many mistakes. Still, he can post impressive performances, as he did during a mid-January 0-0 draw against Manchester City. He has clearly slipped a notch but it’s not a disastrous dip.Klinsmann should be more concerned about Guzan. Six years Howard’s junior, the Aston Villa goalie has long been the U.S. man in waiting. During Howard’s absence from the American squad, he was solid and occasionally spectacular, showing a growing confidence about vocally bossing the young backline. He played well enough that the U.S. coach installed a rotating platoon system once Howard returned.Guzan, however, has been terrible at Villa this season. Granted, Villa have been terrible but the American has been worse, making uncharacteristic gaffes, looking tentative and ultimately losing his starting job. That’s a far cry from his savior role last season in which he almost single-handedly kept his club out of the relegation zone.Perhaps a regression was to be expected as bearing the entire weight of a team can exhaust over time. “It’s not easy playing on a bad team for as long as Brad has,” Hislop says. “You can’t be expected to be that great for that long.”

Two goalkeepers, two lost club seasons. If there’s a bright side for Klinsmann, it’s that a change of scenery might do each man good. “I think you worry about the form that you see,” former U.S. national team player and ESPNFC analyst Keller says. “We’ve seen plenty of players be out of form for their club and be in form for their nation, and vice versa.”Hislop agrees. “A lot of times, coming back and playing international football is a release,” he says, citing a couple of points in his career where getting in the net for Trinidad and Tobago helped him reset emotionally from troubling times with his club. “You feel like a weight is off of your shoulders. You look forward to it and you actually play some of your best football in those circumstances.”Ultimately, it’s a tad too early to be too worried. While there are reasons for concern, Howard and Guzan have shown world-class ability for years and if anything, the major worry for the U.S. manager might be further down the line. There isn’t anyone waiting in the wings. “The question mark has been ‘where is that next crop? Who has been able to get to that next level?'” Keller says.Luis Robles, who started in a 3-2 win against Iceland, had an excellent 2015 but he is Guzan’s age. Sean Johnson (26) and Bill Hamid (25) were supposed to be the wave of the future and while both can be spectacular, they have been inconsistent in Major League Soccer, which doesn’t bode well for the transition to the highest levels.Add the number one woes with those of the next class and you start to see a trend. Jurgen Klinsmann began 2016 with a long to do list. Figuring out the goalkeeper situation isn’t at the top but for the first time in a long time, it deserves a spot. Its mere presence should be something of a concern.Noah Davis is 

Late Goal Gives U.S. Hope That 2016 Will Be a Brighter Year

By JOSEPH D’HIPPOLITOJAN. 31, 2016

CARSON, Calif. — A new year means new hope, revised goals, a chance to reinvigorate the spirit. For the United States national team, it means an opportunity to erase the bad taste from a disappointing 2015.Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad began rectifying the past by rallying for a 3-2 victory against Iceland on Sunday in front of an announced 8,803 at StubHub Center. Defender Steve Birnbaum assisted on a goal midway through the second half, then scored the winner on a header in the 90th minute.Though the United States earned what was only its third victory since July 22, Klinsmann cautioned against putting too much stock in the result, especially since he had fielded mostly reserves and newcomers. Four players made their international debuts Sunday: Defender Kellyn Acosta and midfielder Ethan Finlay started; midfielder Tony Tchani and forward Jerome Kiesewetter appeared as substitutes in the second half.“Obviously, you can see we’re not fine-tuned yet,” Klinsmann said. “The biggest issues are finding your first touch, finding the right moves, getting a better understanding for each other, here and there. These things take time.”Klinsmann began last year being castigated for leaving Landon Donovan off the 2014 World Cup team. In last year’s exhibition against Panama at StubHub Center — where Donovan spent 10 seasons in M.L.S. as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy — homemade banners greeting Klinsmann read, “JK Out” and “Red Card the Coach.” His squad ended 2015 by winning one of its final five matches.The most frustrating defeat came in October, in extra time against Mexico in a one-game playoff for Concacaf’s berth in next year’s Confederations Cup, a precursor to the 2018 World Cup. The playoff became necessary when the United States failed to defend the Gold Cup championship it won in 2013. Instead, it crumbled and lost both its semifinal and the third-place game.In the six months since the Gold Cup and especially after the loss to Mexico, Klinsmann received renewed criticism for his emphasis on rigorous training, his constant tactical shifts and his method of compiling his roster. One former player recently added his voice to the controversy.Midfielder Benny Feilhaber, one of three finalists for M.L.S.’s Most Valuable Player Award last year, sharply criticized Klinsmann last month after he was not chosen for the January camp. Feilhaber, who has played 41 times for the United States but has been marginalized by Klinsmann, complained that the criteria Klinsmann used to select players were flawed and unfair.The comments suggested a grim mood around Klinsmann’s squad as it began an important year with its annual January camp. The United States will attempt to qualify not only for the 2018 World Cup, but also for this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, while preparing for the Copa América Centenario, which will take place in the United States for the first time.

Against Iceland, whose roster included eight players from qualifying for this year’s European championship, the Americans demonstrated their ability to exploit set pieces in rallying from deficits in each half.In the 59th minute, Michael Orozco scored the tying goal on a 1-yard header that resulted from Michael Bradley’s corner kick. Iceland’s Birkir Saevarsson attempted to clear Bradley’s corner, but the ball fell to forward Jozy Altidore, who chipped it across the goal to Birnbaum, who headed it back in front to Orozco.Birnbaum struck in the final minute for his first goal in international competition. Birnbaum, who plays for D.C. United, rose to meet Bradley’s 25-yard free kick from the right wing with a powerful header.But one of the United States’ disturbing tendencies once again made itself known: defensive confusion, which Iceland used to score both of its goals.In the 13th minute, defender Matt Besler headed a pass intended for the veteran forward Eidur Gudjohnsen. But Besler received no help in clearing the ball, which Gudjohnsen retrieved and sent to Kristinn Steindorsson, who fired a 17-yard shot off Orozco that left goalkeeper Luis Robles with no chance.Another mistake enabled Iceland to regain the lead in the 48th minute. With the Americans arguing with the referee Jeffrey Solis about a foul, Aron Sigurdarson exploited a quick restart to drive forward, cut inside and curl a shot around a backpedaling defender.“We’re not concerned,” Klinsmann said of the defensive mistakes. “We told the players, Listen, you’re going to make mistakes. It’s not going to go smooth.”Iceland’s defense defused most of the combinations the United States tried to execute along the wings, and often outpositioned the American forwards. But in the 21st minute, Jermaine Jones began an artistic play that led to the first tying goal.Jones passed from the center circle to Gyasi Zardes, who cut the ball to Bradley, who freed Altidore in the penalty area with a pass that split two defenders and met his darting run.If any one player embodies both promise and frustration, that player is Altidore, 26, who has received constant criticism for not fulfilling his potential. But Klinsmann believes this year can become a turning point for him.“I think Jozy’s at a point in his career where he really becomes an adult,” said Klinsmann, who then spoke enthusiastically. “He’s saying: ‘You know what? I’ve got to get the most out of this. I’m going to play in Copa América this summer. Maybe that’s the only Copa América I’m going to play.’ So he came into this camp in very good shape, in a very positive spirit, and worked. He was here from Day 1 and committed to work. Jozy was determined to get going, to get 2016 started in the right way and build.”If that attitude permeates the rest of Klinsmann’s squad, then 2016 could provide the mouthwash for 2015’s bitter aftertaste.

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann praises the four debutants from Sunday’s win over Iceland

February 1, 20168:16 PM ESTScott FrenchMLSsoccer.com

CARSON, Calif. – Jurgen Klinsmann had praised all four of his players who received their first caps in the US national team’s victory over Iceland, but Ethan Finlay wasn’t about to take it to heart.The Columbus Crew SC winger played the first hour on the right side of midfield in Sunday’s 3-2 triumph at StubHub Center, and he’d recognized good things in his game and other things that need to improve. Klinsmann’s words were nice to hear, but they’re only words.“You don’t just belong because you show well in one game,” Finlay said after his international debut. “What I’ve tried to do over the last three weeks of training [at the national team’s annual ‘January’ camp] – and I hope that’s the reason I was able to get the start  was I laid a good foundation that the coaching staff liked, and I’ll continue to do “I don’t think you want to hang your head on one game, whether it be good or bad, and I’m not going to do that.”

• READ:C.’s Steve Birnbaum plays the hero for US in front of hometown crowd

For Finlay and fellow debutants Kellyn Acosta from FC Dallas, Columbus’ Tony Tchani and VfB Stuttgart’s Jerome Kiesewetter, adding another cap to the first – and another and another – requires much work. Their next chance comes Friday at StubHub against Canada, when six more players hope to receive their initial caps.Acosta, too, started and went 90 minutes at left back. Tchani came on for Jermaine Jones in the holding midfield slot after an hour, and the German-born Kiesewetter played the final 15 minutes on the right flank.Acosta, 20, one of three Under-23 players to see action, needed some time to find his bearings.“After he kind of settled his nerves, after 10-15 minutes, he really played like he belonged in this team,” Klinsmann said. “Really fun to watch.”Acosta has played at right back on occasion for Dallas and left back for the U.S. U-20s, but he’s primarily a No. 6. He found confidence getting up and down the flank as the game proceeded.“The first half was a little rough for me,” he acknowledged. “I was a little timid at first. I was too afraid to make a mistake. I think that was, like, my downfall, but as the second half went on, I was more committed to getting forward, helping my team in every way possible.”USMNT Ratings: See how the four debutants fared vs. Iceland

Klinsmann wants to see if Acosta could potentially develop into a strong left back, a position that’s long been problematic for the Yanks.“We have some issues as an outside-back position, on the international level,” Klinsmann said. “We know Kellyn can play left or right, but also as a 6. He impressed in training, he was very calm, and was very mature for his age. And that was his opportunity then, [and] he was rewarded for these three weeks of really good work.”Tchani, 25, was called in for his Cameroon’s World Cup qualifiers in November but had to pull put with injury. His appearance Sunday doesn’t prevent him from committing to his native country.“I definitely enjoyed this moment,” he said. “I think about those things later.”Klinsmann said earned the opportunity with his 2015 Crew SC campaign.“With Tony, you have a player that played tremendous last season for Columbus and has a presence, is strong in the air, is physically strong, so he has his own way of playing it,” the US coach said. “But you see Jermaine and Michael [Bradley] kind of locked in in center midfield. It’s very difficult for Tony to make a case and to get him also the minutes on the field.”READ: If this is the fitter, happier Jozy, be excited | Armchair Analyst

Kiesewetter, 22, also is preparing for the U-23s’ playoff with Colombia for a berth this summer at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He was active from the moment he came on, in the 75th minute. Klinsmann compared him to US and Sunderland winger DeAndre Yedlin.“Jerome can play up front or can play wide,” Klinsmann said. “I think playing wide, he’s very talented, because he has terrific speed. A bit like DeAndre Yedlin, his weapon is speed, and then going at people and not being scared about anything. And within five minutes on the field, I think he had three crosses already, and two of them almost led to goals. That’s a good statement for a young player like him.”Finlay’s camp performance won him his start.“He was all over the place. He had endless energy,” Klinsmann said. “Sometimes you even has to slow him down, say, ‘Ethan, don’t need to go 200 mph in every moment.’ But it shows his character. He want to really give everything he has and wants to prove a point.“He was a bit nervous, too, in certain moments. Which is normal, since it’s your first camp. It was definitely the right step into this group of guys.”Finlay was focused on what he can do better when he gets his next opportunity.“I think it took me a little bit of time to settle in, but once I was able to do that, it was much better. I was definitely more happy with it,” Finlay said following his international debut. “I think just me being more decisive, some of the decision making – coming into the final third, coming to a conclusion, whether it be a shot or a cross, could have been better from me.“But I’m happy with it. It’s a start, and we’ll take it from there.”

Steve Birnbaum takes his U.S. chance with winning goal vs. Iceland

A 90th minute goal from Steve Birnbaum gave the United States a 3-2 victory in a thrilling match against Iceland.

CARSON, Calif. — Steve Birnbaum made the most of his opportunity in the U.S. national team’s 3-2 victory over Iceland on Sunday. Coming on at halftime, the D.C. United defender earned an assist on Michael Orozco’s 59th-minute equalizer and then bagged the game-winner himself, nodding home Michael Bradley’s free kick in the 90th minute.It wasn’t a bad Sunday for a player who wasn’t even on the January camp roster when it was first announced. Birnbaum had endured an inconsistent and injury-hit second season in MLS. The fact that U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann was using the camp to bring together some core players from the U.S. U23 team meant roster spots were even tougher to come by.Even with all those circumstances, Birnbaum said he was “disappointed” by the initial omission, especially since he had shown well during the 2015 edition of the January camp. But just days before camp was due to start, Birnbaum got a reprieve. Injuries to Marc Pelosi and Fatai Alashe had reduced the roster’s numbers, and Klinsmann opted to call the defender in.”I didn’t really think I was going to get called into camp,” he said. “And then a couple of days before he asked me, ‘Can you be in on Monday?’ And I was like, ‘All right, I’m in.’ I was running the whole offseason, so I was semi-fit coming into camp. The first couple of days it took me a little bit to get my legs in and kind of just [hit] my stride.”Granted, Birnbaum’s primary task is to defend, and while he was decent during his 45-minute spell, he admitted that the U.S. “definitely had some shaky moments” at the back, and he held up his hand for failing to do more on Iceland’s second goal. The U.S. was caught napping on a quick restart. Birnbaum felt he could have done more to close down Iceland winger Aron Sigurdarson, who curled his shot past U.S. keeper Luis Robles.”Probably just position my body a little more inside, have him go wide,” Birnbaum said about the play. “I thought [Jermaine Jones] was coming close, but that’s on me.”Birnbaum more than made up for his miscue with his efforts on the offensive end, validating Klinsmann’s decision to bring him in. Klinsmann, for his part, insisted that he never forgot about Birnbaum in 2015 even as the defender gritted his way through the season. Klinsmann added that there isn’t much separating the pool of center-backs, regardless of what league they happen to be playing in.”Once a player comes here and is with us, we follow them,” he said. “We follow them also through their down periods. Then you can always discuss what is the hierarchy, what is the ranking of every position, of every player, which we always as coaches do. But he’s always there.”Klinsmann later added, “We keep on working with all of them, and they all have their case. We always encourage them that when you get the opportunity to be on the field, make the most out of it and [Birnbaum] did.”Birnbaum’s day was made even more special by the fact that he numerous friends and relatives in attendance, including some from as far away as Missouri. Given that he grew up in nearby Newport, California, his mother, Peggy Schmidt, didn’t have as far to come. “It was cool to be able to do that in my hometown basically,” he said.Birnbaum will likely get another chance when the U.S. takes on Canada this Friday at StubHub Center.

Notes:

— Among the takeaways from the match was the improved midfield balance involving Bradley and Jones. There have been times where the two didn’t always seem in sync in terms of who should hold and who should get forward. On Sunday, Jones took up more of a defensive role and as a consequence, he and Bradley largely controlled matters in midfield. The two also looked more cohesive during last November’s World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago, but Klinsmann noted that managing that relationship is an ongoing process.”Obviously [Jones] has it in his DNA to go here and there,” he said. “Moving out of that position is just in his blood. You can scream as loud as you want to, suddenly he goes. And Michael is similar. It’s an ongoing discussion that you can have for years: When can Michael go, when can Jermaine go? The important part is really that they work off each other.”When [Jones] sees that Michael goes in an advance position because that’s when Michael connects with Jozy, with the players up front, he has to stay. Once he moves out of that position, we have a problem because we leave the space open behind us. That’s where always Kyle Beckerman saved us, because Kyle stayed, and these other two would just up and down, up and down. So we’ll talk often about that.”– Kellyn Acosta admitted he was nervous ahead of his first cap with the full national team. The fact that he had spent the vast majority of the current camp playing right-back, only to be switched to the left a couple of days ago, didn’t make things any easier. But after a shaky opening few minutes, Acosta eventually settled down and turned in a solid performance.”I was a little timid at first,” he said. “I was too afraid to make a mistake. I think that was my downfall. But as the second half went on I think I was more committed to getting forward and helping my team any way possible.”Klinsmann noted Acosta’s progression, saying he was pleased with the defender’s play. “I think after he settled his nerves, 10-15 minutes, he really played like he belonged in this team,” he said. “It was really fun to watch.”Given that suiting up for the full national team was a lifelong dream, Acosta admitted that getting the first cap out of the way was like a weight off his shoulders and he’ll be looking to improve against Canada. “Now I know what to expect,” he said. “Canada is a good team, they’re going to be tough, but I think I’m ready to go. I know what it takes getting my first cap under my belt.”– Klinsmann was careful to couch the performance (both the good and the bad) in modest terms. That included the defensive frailties shown at times.”We’re not concerned about any of it because they’re literally in preseason and trained for three weeks,” he said. “So we told them ‘Listen, you’re going to make mistakes today. It’s not going to go smooth, it’s not going to be perfect.'”There will be mistakes that led, unfortunately, to two goals. But as long as you keep going and get a rhythm and try to create chances and try to score your own goals as well. We’re not concerned about it at all, because the benchmark today is not really a benchmark. It’s three weeks of preseason. That’s all.”Jeff Carlisle 

Jozy Altidore delivers top performance for United States vs. Iceland

CARSON, Calif. — Goals from Jozy Altidore, Michael Orozco and Steve Birnbaum — who scored in the 90th minute — gave the U.S. national team a 3-2 friendly win over Iceland in its first match of 2016.

Here’s how individual American players fared in the match.

(Player ratings (1-10; 5=average, 10=best) Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Luis Robles, 6 — Blameless on both Iceland goals: The first deflected off Michael Orozco, and he didn’t get much help from his defenders on the second. Rarely troubled otherwise outside of one timely second-half stop.

DF Brad Evans, 5 — Made a couple of decent long passes in his 45 minutes of action but had a relatively quiet afternoon before coming off at the half.

DF Michael Orozco, 5.5 — The Club Tijuana man was involved in both Iceland goals and culpable on the second, getting caught out of position after replacing Evans at right back. But he helped make up for it by scoring the Americans’ second.

DF Matt Besler, 5.5 — Had several chances to clear before Iceland’s opener in the 13th minute, but rock-solid otherwise and also contributed to the U.S. cause with good passing out of the back.

DF Kellyn Acosta, 5.5 — In his first senior appearance, the 20-year-old left back showed some early nerves but calmed down later on and made a couple of good passes, including a cross striker Gyasi Zardes sent just wide.

MF Ethan Finlay, 4.5 — Showed some expected nerves at times and could have played quicker in other moments. But overall, a decent international debut for the Columbus Crew winger.

MF Michael Bradley, 8 — It didn’t look like the first game of the year for the U.S. captain. Sharp and involved throughout, he made a great final pass on Altidore’s pretty first-half strike and picked up a second assist on Birnbaum’s late game winner.

MF Jermaine Jones, 6.5 — Provided his usual steel in the center of the field. Also started play that led to the Americans’ opener with a pinpoint long pass out from inside his own half.

MF Lee Nguyen, 7 — Faded slightly late in first international start, but overall the New England Revolution playmaker absolutely helped his case to become a U.S. regular. He was dangerous on the ball and ought to have had a helper on his inch-perfect, 16th-minute cross to Zardes.

FW Gyasi Zardes, 6 — Should’ve converted Nguyen’s pretty first-half service but made good runs and was sharp in the attacking buildup — especially his smart pass to Bradley on the sequence that led to Altidore’s goal.

FW Jozy Altidore, 8 — Showed confidence and composure on his goal by waiting for Iceland keeper Ogmundur Kristinsson to commit before chipping over, and helped set up the Americans’ second-half equalizer with a dangerous cross. Battled hard and his touch improved as the match wore on.

Substitutes:

DF Steve Birnbaum, 7 — Failed to step on Aron Sigurdarson’s strike moments after entering to start the second half, but more than redeemed himself with a smart headed assist on Orozco’s equalizer and then the winning goal in the 90th minute.

MF Darlington Nagbe, 5 — Replaced Finlay with a half-hour to play, picking up a yellow card 10 minutes later and almost knocking home a Jerome Kiesewetter cross.

MF Tony Tchani, NR — Made his international debut when he came on for Jones in the 71st minute.

FW Jerome Kiesewetter, NR — Active in 15 minutes of action in his first cap, sent in a dangerous cross to Nagbe minutes after replacing Zardes, then another moments later.

FW Jordan Morris, NR — The new Seattle Sounder spelled Altidore, coming on alongside fellow forward Kiesewetter.

Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

Player Ratings: Jozy Altidore leads US national team in friendly victory against Iceland

S national team pulled out the win against friendly visitors Iceland on Sunday night at StubHub Center in Carson, California, but that rally did not change the fact that their overall performance left a bit to be desired.The home side fell behind twice against another January “B side” opponent, but the troubling concessions only seemed to spark reasonably quick replies. In the end, their mistakes were covered up by a second half pair of restart tallies.

MLSsoccer.com USMNT Player Ratings

Luis Robles (5)
The Red Bulls’ netminder was the victim of a deflection on Iceland’s first goal, but was caught far too married to the near post on Aron Sigurdarson’s second strike. Robles logged a single save, on a shot hit straight at him.

Brad Evans (5.5)
The Seattle veteran completed a handful of helpful passes into attack, but also was guilty of allowing too much space on his defensive flank on a few notable occasions.

Michael Orozco (5.5)
Orozco had a decent first half in central defense before switching to right back at the break. Then, not long after his timid defending allowed Sigurdarson space to fire Iceland’s second, the Tijuana defender atoned by netting a set-piece equalizer. A couple of passing turnovers in the US end dips his grade below passing.

Matt Besler (5.5)
The Sporting KC man was most guilty on the Iceland opener, with his off-balance attempt to deal with a high ball essentially teeing up the scorer. There were a few other shaky moments from Besler, though he also contributed some positive passes forward and piled up 11 pass picks, including six in or directly in front of the home area.

Kellyn Acosta (5.5)
The FC Dallas debutant was among those caught spectating when Besler’s flub created a problem, but he tidied up his defensive game after that. Acosta also eventually was able to get forward, creating real danger on a pair of occasions.

Jermaine Jones (6)
The veteran midfielder made plenty happen with his incisive passing during the first half, including the attack starter that led to the first US equalizer. He was much less involved after the break and made way with 20 minutes remaining. Still, his willingness to stay back helped to unleash Bradley.

Michael Bradley (6.5)
The Toronto FC star was probably the most culpable of the ball-watchers on Sigurdarson’s opener, but he soon made up for it with a nifty through-ball assist. Bradley eventually set up the winner from one of his dangerous restart serves. For much of the day, he was the lone USMNT creator in attack, but this space doesn’t exactly find that to be a good thing from an overall team standpoint.

Ethan Finlay (5)
The Crew winger had his moments taking on defenders, but underwhelmed during his hour of work. He was a little too eager to sky bad shots and never dropped a dangerous feed into the box.

Lee Nguyen (5.5)
The Revs’ ace should have earned an early assist with a fine diagonal cross to the back post, but it ended up being his best set-up moment of the game. It wasn’t a bad showing, even if more aggressiveness in the final third could have been useful.

Gyasi Zardes (5.5)
Zardes pitched in with a few strong hold-up plays, including one on the first US goal. However, his most noteworthy moment came when he blew the chance provided by the aforementioned Nguyen set-up.

Jozy Altidore (7)
His day was not only defined by the clever finish and a smart secondary assist – Altidore was easily the most troublesome US attacker, with his runs repeatedly unsettling Iceland.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (5)
Despite the comeback victory, there was plenty to be concerned about. The team struggled thorugh much of the first half, with the “empty bucket” formation breeding an almost total lack of organization. Things were clearly better after the break, but the boss still insists on jamming square pegs into round holes too often. What’s more, the defense often looked a mess on the rare occasions it was called to service.

Subs

Steve Birnbaum (6.5) 
Were it not for his set-piece output, this would have been a very different grade. The halftime sub was quite leaky at the back, despite not having so much to do. That being said, he effectively saved the day with a perfect knockback assist and an even better winning header.

Darlington Nagbe (6.5) 
It was another impressive half-hour from Nagbe, even if he didn’t particularly feel like staying in a wide position. The MLS Cup champ once again provided link play after link play.

Tony Tchani (5.5) 
The Columbus midfielder enjoyed a quiet but serviceable debut.

Jerome Kiesewetter (6.5) 
The Stuttgart II winger was certainly not shy. He immediately shipped a pair of dangerous centering feeds, won two corner kicks and constantly opened space by forcing his defender to stay wide.

Jordan Morris (-)
Only a few touches during his late cameo.

mproved approach makes Lee Nguyen a U.S. January Camp winnerPhoto: Harry How/Getty Images

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter EmailPosted: Thu Feb. 4, 2016

The interaction between seasoned internationals and a cohort of younger players preparing for next month’s do-or-die Olympic qualifier against Colombia has been one of the central themes of a unique winter camp. Some variation of the word “mentor” has come up time and again in interviews given by U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his players.“We urge the older guys to look after [the younger players],” Klinsmann said last month. “Pass on your knowledge. Give them a hint. Give them advices. Give them information, because it’s a huge, huge challenge ahead of them because we really want to go to Rio de Janeiro this summer.”But it hasn’t been just the U-23s who’ve been listening. Among the campers honing in on the advice and habits of the “older guys” is a 29-year-old, 10-year pro who’s played professionally on three continents and been an MLS MVP finalist. For Lee Nguyen, who earned his first senior U.S. start in Sunday’s 3-2 friendly win over Iceland, this camp could mark the long-awaited launch, or even the end, of his delayed international career.For years, if you followed U.S. soccer, Nguyen’s name probably was either just past the tip of your tongue or buried somewhere in the back of your mind. He was the Indiana University freshman who left school to join Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven but played just twice in two years before going on loan in Denmark. Remember him?He was the Dallas-area product who spent another couple seasons in Vietnam, earning minutes in a league far removed from the headlines while getting closer to his ancestral roots. Whatever happened to that guy?He eventually returned to North America but failed to catch on with the Vancouver Whitecaps and by the time Nguyen signed with the New England Revolution in March 2012, it had been nearly five years since the skillful midfielder had represented his country. He was far removed from the national team picture. “Everybody that plays, there’s the goal to hopefully be able to get into the national team,” Nguyen told SI.com this week. “For me, I had to try to be a mainstay with a club team and fortunately, I was able to find my footing with New England. From there, it was really proving to yourself and trying to earn your spot, and the rest will take care of itself.”A spectacular 2014 campaign, during which he tallied 20 goals and eight assists and led the Revs to the MLS Cup final, resulted in a call-up from Klinsmann for a pair of year-end friendlies in Europe.Nguyen was back in frame after seven years in the international wilderness. But a nagging groin injury and a long MLS season contributed to a poor showing at the ensuing January camp.He wouldn’t see the field in a U.S. shirt again until last October, when he played 18 minutes in a miserable exhibition loss to Costa Rica.PODCAST: Interview with USA, Borussia Dortmund 17-year-old Christian Pulisic

This January camp and the games against Iceland and Canada (Friday; 10:15 p.m. ET; Fox Sports 1, UniMas) may just represent Nguyen’s best last chance to establish himself on Klinsmann’s depth chart. So Nguyen took no chances. He was going to come in healthy and hungry.“When I was finishing the season [in 2014], I was kind of nursing an injury all through the playoffs so after the season I kind of just took 4-6 weeks rest, letting my groin heal. This year was more just maintaining that fitness I had at the end just in case I got called in to January camp,” Nguyen said. “I had no idea [if I was getting called up]. I knew I was on the preliminary roster. You never know. You just want to be prepared if you are called in so you’re not so far behind. So that was my mentality.”He followed an offseason program sent by U.S. coaches.“The numbers speak for itself. We did tests and my numbers weren’t as good last year as they were this year. I came in a lot fitter. To me, that was a goal: to be more prepared mentally and physically coming into this camp,” Nguyen said.And then once he arrived, he’d maintain his vigilance. Work on establishing chemistry with key veterans. They’re the ones he’d be playing with in the games that matter. Forget the 10 years of life as a pro. Stay humble, listen and learn. Nguyen showed up with the same number of senior caps as Jordan Morris. There still was plenty to prove.“Lee came in a little bit different to last year,” Klinsmann said. “He was really prepared for this camp. From day one on, he set the tone. He says, ‘O.K., I was here last year. I didn’t make the impression that I wanted to make, so I better make it right now.’ He was impressionable in the starting lineup after a week already with us. ‘Oh, look at Lee.’ He really is, after three weeks of training and hard work, definitely one of the winners of this period right now.”Nguyen is a natural playmaker, which the U.S. typically has lacked in recent years. mann’s team has been anchored by captain Michael Bradley and veteran Jermaine Jones, both of whom are box-to-box midfielders, while faster or more direct players have been deployed in the wide positions. Bradley certainly has the ability to create in tight spaces and forward Clint Dempsey often retreats between the lines when he’s on the field, but both are better at other things and neither has the rhythm or subtlety of a bona fide No. 10.To establish the sort of proactive possession Klinsmann has been looking for, a player with Nguyen’s instincts usually is required. And on Sunday against Iceland, the U.S. built a sizable 62%-38% possession advantage. Granted, the visitors were missing most of their big names and were slower and more passive than the elite teams Klinsmann is chasing. But Nguyen’s performance still opened some eyes. He started on the left but frequently pinched in and found gaps between Iceland’s midfield and defense. His passing was perfect in the first half and he came close to recording a couple of assists—Gyasi Zardes certainly should have done better with Nguyen’s precise, 16th-minute cross.Nguyen shifted underneath the forwards in the second half and still was effective. He finally missed on a couple of passes but was part of a U.S. core that dominated the game’s later stages.WATCH: Bedoya stays hot with goal, slick assist for Nantes

“You can start to see they’re more comfortable finding me in those gaps. For me, I can interlink the play between the midfield and forwards. That’s like what they’re looking for,” Nguyen said following his 90-minute effort at StubHub Center. “I’ve played most of my games with the Revs underneath, so obviously I’m comfortable there. But at the same time, it’s easy to play with these guys.”Klinsmann said that when an opponent keeps things tight and compact in back, “You need a player who’s very skillful, easy turns, easy to connect people.” On Sunday, Nguyen fit the bill.Whether he does so going forward is anyone’s guess. Darlington Nagbe is making a push for a similar role, and Klinsmann may decide that games against more robust or skillful opponents may require a U.S. midfield with Bradley, Jones and a traditional No. 6. Nguyen told SI.com that he’s flexible. He’s waited so long to cement his international status that he’d be willing to play anywhere, and do anything, to ensure he stays on Klinsmann’s radar.“I want to be part of the World Cup qualifying squad and everybody wants to be on the World Cup team. That’s a big goal, obviously. I want to be in Copa América. But I think you’ve got to prove your worth. You’ve got to take advantage of your chances and I think I’m trying to do that,” he said. “I think the main thing is, like they always say, you can’t take these opportunities for granted. It’s an honor to be here, obviously, and you can’t waste chances when you get called in.”

Veteran-laden side, rejuvenated Altidore lift USMNT past Iceland

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter Email

Posted: Sun Jan. 31, 2016The U.S. national team, now three weeks into its annual January camp, opened its 2016 slate on Sunday afternoon with a 3–2 victory over an Iceland junior varsity squad that yielded to the Americans for most of the match but still had enough quality to make things interesting. U.S. and D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum, a substitute playing in just his second senior international match, headed home the 90th-minute game-winner off a precise free kick from captain Michael Bradley. The hosts had recovered twice from one-goal deficits but dominated the contest’s final minutes and arguably deserved the win.Iceland was playing without the vast majority of the team that sensationally qualified for this summer’s European Championship, while U.S. coach JurgenKlinsmann opted to field a relatively veteran lineup despite bringing so many Olympic-eligible players to Southern California. It showed for the most part, although a few hairy moments allowed Iceland to push the hosts to the limit.Here are three thoughts on the first international of 2016:

Klinsmann gives the veterans a run

Nine of the 26 players currently in camp are eligible to play for the U-23 team, which faces Colombia in a do-or-die, home-and-home Olympic qualifier in late March. Klinsmann said this week that he and his staff “have to do everything possible to give them all the help in the world to make it happen.”That did not include starting them on Sunday. FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta, a 20-year-old who didn’t play in last year’s Olympic qualifying tournament, was the only U-23 player to take the field at kickoff—and he was deployed at left back. Instead, Klinsmann wanted to gauge the preseason progress of his more experienced players. The World Cup spine of center back Matt Besler, midfielders Jermaine Jones and Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore was intact, and Klinsmann had hinted before the game that he wanted to see how Altidore and Gyasi Zardes meshed. The LA Galaxy man started up front alongside Altidore as the U.S. stepped out in a 4-4-2.Veteran defenders Michael Orozco and Brad Evans, each a late arrival in camp, started ahead of younger options while Lee Nguyen, 29, and U.S. debutant Ethan Finlay, 25, were deployed out wide (although they frequently pinched in). Jones and Bradley held sway in midfield with the out-of-contract Jones usually playing a bit deeper, and the U.S. held a 62%–38% advantage in possession. Iceland’s Aron Sigurdarson created some problems on the American right and the hosts had a couple misadventures in back, but for the most part the U.S. carried the play against a slower, less experienced opponent. If Klinsmann were happy with what he saw, he may opt to give his younger charges more of a run against Canada on Feb. 5.The performance of forward Jerome Kiesewetter, who entered in the 75th minute alongside new Seattle Sounder Jordan Morris, certainly whet the Olympic appetite. The 22-year-old VfB Stuttgart reserve scored six times for the U-23 team last year and had a foot in a few U.S. chances in his abbreviated appearance on Sunday, running hard onto several passes in the right channel and causing problems for the Iceland defense.

Defensive miscues keep Iceland in it

After three weeks of training, the U.S. attack was in better sync than the defense, which seemed to have trouble handling the rhythm of a game in which the Americans held so much more of the ball. When the U.S. switched off, it paid a price.​Klinsmann’s team has yielded the opening goal in eight of its past nine games. On Sunday, it was a poor 13th-minute clearance by Besler and the late arrival of the U.S. midfield that allowed Iceland’s Kristinn Steindórsson to power a deflected shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles. The U.S. drew level through Altidore but fell behind again in the 48th. A quick Iceland free kick left the U.S. stranded and befuddled. Several players were still focused on the referee as Sigurdarson received the ball on the left. Finlay was late on the tackle. Orozco, who shifted to right back at the start of the half, was nowhere to be found and Birnbaum, a halftime substitute, retreated as the Fjölnir forward dribbled into the penalty area and curled a perfect shot past Robles.Iceland nearly took a third lead in the 69th, but a wide-open Birkir Saevarsson pounded his shot straight at Robles. The U.S. remained vulnerable on the counter and it seemed that whenever the visitors carried the ball into the offensive third, they got a look at goal.Klinsmann wants his team to have more of the ball. When it does, the defense has to be sharper and more attentive.

A refreshed, rejuvenated Jozy Altidore

He’s 26 years old and is kicking off his 10th year as a senior international and yet somehow, the height of Altidore’s ceiling remains unclear. Prolific in the Netherlands and stifled in England, Altidore (now with Toronto FC) has been both unstoppable and invisible in a U.S. jersey. He had 18 goals in 37 international appearances from 2013 through ’15, which isn’t bad, but there have been too many signs over the years that he’s capable of more. Missing out on most of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with hamstring injuries added to the frustration.This year, Altidore appears committed to raising that ceiling. He arrived in California for this month’s U.S. camp a week early and has increased his focus on fitness and diet. “The last couple of years have been rough, so I just want to stay healthy, stay fit and try to help my team the best that I can,” Altidore said last week.He certainly helped on Sunday. Granted, the U.S. dominated possession against a slower, more patient foe, but this was an Altidore who was lively, engaged and connected. He alertly ran onto two lofted passes in the first 10 minutes, and although he was offside on the first and mishandled the second, it was a sign that he was mobile and plugged in. Zardes and Nguyen stayed close and were effective in combination, and in the 20th minute, Altidore grabbed the equalizer. Zardes played a quick square pass to Bradley, who slipped the ball through to Altidore for the left-footed, first-time finish.Altidore continued to battle as a target toward the end of the half, drawing a yellow card foul in the 45th, and then in the 59th he helped set up Orozco’s goal. Bradley’s corner kick was cleared toward the edge of the penalty area and Altidore raced to the ball, turned and hit a high pass back toward the right post. Birnbaum was there to head it toward Orozco on the Iceland goal line.Expectations are high for Altidore this year. He should score at a high rate for TFC and be healthy and productive for the U.S. in qualifying and the Copa América.“He wants to put his stamp on the national team program,” Klinsmann said. “So he now wants to make sure that he makes the right decisions. So we see a Jozy now coming in prepared.”Several touches went awry and there’s still a long way to go, but that preparation and determination was evident on Sunday.“I felt good,” Altidore told ESPN following the win. “It’s the first game of the year, trying to get our legs under us still … It’s nice to play against a real opponent and get a few minutes…. Sometimes that final pass wasn’t there, that first touch wasn’t there, but it will come in due time.”

Jamie Vardy magic keeps Leicester top of the league with 2-0 win vs. Liverpool

Jamie Vardy notched a brace in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Liverpool as the team continued its Premier League title push.

LEICESTER, England — Here are three points from King Power Stadium after Leicester defeated Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday night.

1. Spectacular Vardy keeps Leicester’s title quest going

Perhaps nothing changed in January after all. If the remainder of the season is essentially a new, 15-game, mini-season between title contenders with fresh, restocked squads, then it has begun exactly where we left off. Jamie Vardy seems on a one-man crusade to propel Leicester to the most implausible of Premier League titles, and two instinctive second-half goals Tuesday — his first being maybe the very best of his burgeoning collection — kept Leicester top of the Premier League heading into Saturday’s tantalizing trip to Manchester City.The match had fallen into a reliable pattern, when on the hour, Vardy intervened with a stunning bolt from the blue.The hosts had been content to absorb periods of ineffectual Liverpool pressure and counter swiftly when, from a long clearance, Vardy found himself running between Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno down the right-hand channel. Not for the first time, the Liverpool defenders hesitated at the sight of the England striker in full flight, the ball was allowed to bounce, and after a quick glance, Vardy chanced his luck. His 25-yard volley arced, dipped and swerved beyond Simon Mignolet for his 17th goal of the season and sent the King Power Stadium, which has gotten used to stunning individual feats this season, into rapturesEleven minutes later, the result was put beyond doubt. This time, it was a finish that showcased the best of Vardy’s predatory instincts: Shinji Okazaki’s low shot deflected to him at the far post and was met by an emphatic finish. Despite attempting to narrow the angle, Mignolet could do nothing once more.Vardy’s earlier work had largely consisted of working the channels, chasing down the centre-halves and teeing others up while waiting for the kind of glimpse of goal that opened up decisively in this instance. Tireless as ever, he was a deserving match winner Tuesday, and by now, none of us should be remotely surprised.

2. Leicester show they won’t go away

The King Power Stadium knew what was at stake before this one. It felt in many ways like the beginning of the real title race for Leicester, whose astonishing work in the previous six months had earned them a shootout for English football’s biggest prize. Claudio Ranieri had given his players three days off after their previous game, a win over Stoke on Jan. 23, and the task now was to show they would simply not be going away.This team does not look likely to. Leicester came out flying in the first half, feeding off a crowd that responded raucously to every challenge, chase and block. Riyad Mahrez’s long-range shot and Okazaki could have put them 2-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes, and it was the latter’s chance that epitomized their methods. Danny Drinkwater, operating in a whirlwind of a midfield partnership with N’Golo Kante, simply showed more desire than Jordan Henderson to a challenge and drove forward to release Vardy, whose cross was met by a free header that Mignolet turned over. Perhaps Leicester’s doggedness was summed up best by Mahrez. The gifted winger almost scored a goal that would have topped Vardy’s before halftime by whipping in a 30-yard shot that Mignolet tipped over, yet it was one of his scrappier contributions that helped put the game to bed. Mahrez’s persistence in battling for a direct ball and helping it on for Okazaki paved the way for Leicester’s second goal and underscored the impression that something special is happening with this team.

Leicester have a squad with players of many background, nationalities and attributes, but every one of them has bought into the sheer force will required to drag a team over the line in a title race. Whatever happens at the Etihad on Saturday, and even at the Emirates a week later, it is impossible to doubt a team whose application is as consistent as this.

3. Liverpool’s striker woes are laid bare

For the second match in a row, Jurgen Klopp named a forward called Teixeira among the substitutes — but not that one. Their winter-long pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira failed, which means fringe player Joao was called up, and as he sat alongside the firmly out-of-favour Christian Benteke, Liverpool’s paucity of trustworthy attacking options was evident once more.Benteke’s situation was cast firmly into light by the fact that Klopp opted for a rarely-used 4-4-2 here — matching the formation that has served Leicester so well — but chose Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana to spearhead the attack. Firmino’s recent work as a nominal centre-forward has been successful; the bigger surprise was to see Lallana generally operating ahead of him.The plan worked to an extent during a first half in which Liverpool recovered to exert a measure of authority after a torrid start. Lallana was a particular threat when drifting into wide areas and bringing a narrow midfield into the game. The point was made after 33 minutes, when he worked his way into the left side of the penalty area before arrowing in a cross for Jordan Henderson coming in from the right. The midfielder would have scored had Fuchs, intervening bravely, not headed the ball inches over his own bar.Yet a direct threat was lacking, and it was a similar story in the second period. A deflected Henderson shot from an angle, and an Alberto Moreno cross shot, fisted away by Kasper Schmeichel, were the best Klopp’s side could muster. Benteke was introduced after 66 minutes but to no effect, as Liverpool were forced to chase the game.By the end, Liverpool’s supporters were left to amuse themselves by chanting the name of Steven Gerrard. How this team could do with players of his character and quality — as well as his ability to conjure up a decisive goal.Klopp’s theory was clear in selecting this lineup, but the bottom line is that with Daniel Sturridge’s fitness still a thorny question, Liverpool have left themselves well shor

So its official the pricing is out for Copa America and the 4 games in Chicago are on pre-sale now. I see this as a once in a lifetime chance to see some of the best players in the world – with Argentina based in Chicago with a game on June 10 and the US coming on June 7th and of course the SEMI FINALS (read Final 4) on June 22 Argentina vs Brazil maybe – I am excited to make the trek over a few time in Early June.  You have to buy all 4 games but seats are in the $75 to $140 range per game – really good for the SEMIS.  Can buy up to 8 together.  If interested in planning a trip over – reach out to me (shanebestsoccer@gmail.com).

The US will wrap up the Winter Camp for MLS players with the Sunday match 3:45 pm on ESPN2 vs an improving Iceland team.  I always like to see what young players will emerge – last year was Zardes.  This year?  Nagbe maybe, Finlay or Morris?  Should be fun to watch during this important year of Copa America and WC Qualifying.  (Don’t forget the US hosts Guatemala on March 28 in Columbus – will let you know when tix go on sale)

This weekend is FA Cup action on the Fox Sports Networks so no EPL. Liverpool vs West Ham on Sat 12:30 looks ok Fox Sports 2. Great to see US defender Matt Miazga headed to Chelsea from NY Red Bulls – would be great to have another US player in the EPL.  The Game of the weekend is La Liga Spanish leaders Athletico Madrid facing Barcelona at 10 am on Sat on beIn Sport.  Enjoy and keep on Kicking – The Ole Ballcoach

US

Tim Howard Headed to MLS – Colorado Rapids in May source says – NBCSports.com

Portland’s Darlington Nagbe, Wil Trapp Drive to catch Klinsmanns eye on Sunday

Nagbe, Finlay, Nguyen looks to make move for US – EPSN FC – Jeff Carlisle

US top 25 Players – ESPN FC Doug McIntyre

Nagbe, Altidore Getting Up to Speed at US Camp – Mcintyre – ESPN FC

3 Players to Keep an Eye On vs Iceland Sunday – Brian Straus – SI

Grant Wahl – SI – Matt Maizga to Chelsea, Tim Howard coming Home and Barcelona vs Athletico

5 Players with Most to Gain in Next 2 US Games

Former US Coach Bob Bradley Climbs the Global Coaching Ladder despite being American–NY times

US Players Overseas Roundup

US Goalies in Camp

Fantasy Girls Camp with US Women’s Team Mar 6 in Nashville, TN just $3,400 per player 

EPL + World

Weekend Roundup Overseas NY Times

Understanding Financial Fair Play in Europe’s Soccer Leagues

City Advances to Finals in League Cup over my Toffees

Everton Blames Missed Call on Last Goal

Liverpool Awaits City in Final

Champions League Returns Feb 16/17 on Fox Sports

Champ League Records Renaldo and Messi Haven’t Broken EUFA

The Legacy of the Finals Venue – Italy’s San Siro

CONCACAF’s Stars in Champions League All Time

Zidane Takes Over as Real Madrid Visit Roma

Bayern have History on Side in showdown with Juventus

Man City Should Advance vs Dynamo of the Ukraine

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Fri, Jan 29

2:55 pm  Fox Sports 1                       Derby County vs Man U.

 Sat, Jan 30

9:30 am fox Sports 2                             Dortmund vs Ingolstadt

10 am beIn Sports                                Barcelona vs Athletico Madrid

10 am, Fox Sports 1                              FA Cup – Arsenal s Burnley

10 am Fox Soccer plus                         FA Cup Nottinghams Forest vs Watford

12:30 pm Fox sports 2                          FA Cup – Liverpool vs West Ham United

 Sun, Jan 31

6:30 am beIn Sport                                Chievo vs Juventus

8:30 am Fox Sports 2                            Everton vs Carlisle United

11 am Fox sports 1                               Milton Keynes Dons vs Chelsea

11:30 am Fox soccer plus?                    Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim                                            2:45 pm beIn Sport                                AC Milan vs Inter

3:45 pm ESPN2                                  US Men vs Iceland

 Tues Feb 2

EPL

Weds Feb 3

2:45 pm  NBCsN                                    Everton vs Newcastle                                                       

Fri, Feb 5

10:15 pm  Fox Sports 1                       US Men vs Canada

 Tues, Feb 16

Champions League

2;45 pm  FS 1               PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2                 Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

 Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1                 Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2                 Gent vs Wolfsburg

 Thurs, Feb 18

Europa League

1 pm Anderlecht vs Olympiachos, Dortman vs Porto, Fioreentina vs Tottehman, Midtiland vs Man U, Villarreal vs Napoli

3 pm Ausburg vs Liverpool, Sporting Portugal vs Bayern Leverkusen, Valencia vs Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray vs Lazio

  Tues, Feb 23

Champ League

2:45 pm FS 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2 Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm  FS1? Queretaro vs DC United

10 pm FS2? Seattle Sounders vs Club America

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1 Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2 Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

8 pm Tigres UNAL vs Real Salt Lake

10 pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna

Tuesday, March 1:

D.C. United vs. Querétaro, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 10:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Wednesday, March 2: 

Club América vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Sunday, March 6: 

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. (UniMás, Univision Deportes)]

 Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

 Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

http://www.1070thefan.com/blogs/soccer-saturday

 USA vs. Iceland: Three players to watch as USMNT kicks off 2016

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter EmailPosted: Thu Jan. 28, 2016

The U.S. national team is nearly three weeks into a January camp that appears to be the most low-key gathering of Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenure. Time, plus four points from a pair of November World Cup qualifiers, have eased a significant portion of the pressure that built up through a frustrating summer and fall.The games that matter are two months away, and Klinsmann’s decision to split the camp between senior players and members of the U-23 team aiming to qualify for this summer’s Olympics removes a bit of tactical intrigue. Some partnerships or chemistry may take root out at StubHub Center, but for the most part, this month is about personal form and development. It’s about helping players through the long MLS offseason (most will go around four months without competitive games) and giving them a jump-start on the year ahead.It’s been relatively quiet so far. Most of the recent news has concerned players who left early (Matt Miazga), arrived late (Jordan Morris) or weren’t invited at all (Benny Feilhaber). Some, like Clint Dempsey, were given the option of skipping camp altogether—an approach that might have created external controversy or internal consternation in years past. And Klinsmann has eased his foot off the gas pedal, giving his players far more freedom than usual.

• WAHL: On Miazga’s move to Chelsea, Howard’s potential MLS return

He told ESPN that locals like Gyasi Zardes and Jermaine Jones have the option to stay at home while out-of-towners can bring in their families or opt for a different hotel.”They already have the schedule for the month, but we just confirm it day by day,” Klinsmann said. “The rest is, ‘You are your own boss. You’re driving it. If you want more treatment here, stay longer here. If you want to run out and do something else, it’s fine. It’s your camp. It’s for you.’ I think that helped a lot. It keeps camp really, really light and positive.”BIRD: How Iceland’s rise is a result of calculated growth, development

Camp will conclude with home friendlies against an Iceland squad playing without many of the stars who helped seal European Championship qualification (Sunday, 3:45 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMas) and Canada (Feb. 5, 10:15 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas). Klinsmann always prefers a positive result, but the nature of his roster, which now features nine U-23 players, means he also may prioritize fielding partnerships or combinations of players he’ll want to use when the games matter in late March.For example, it may make sense to pair U-23 forwards Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter up top. They may be a few years away from starting together for the senior team, but the challenge presented by Colombia in the upcoming home-and-home Olympic qualifying playoff is more pressing than winning a low-profile friendly.Advancing to Rio is important, but Klinsmann ultimately will be judged by the success or failure of the senior squad. A pair of World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala in late March and then the Copa América Centenario in June will indicate whether 2015 was a hiccup or the start of a more troubling trend. And there are several men now training out in Southern California whose 2016 form will play a significant role in determining that course. For them, the pressure and opportunity is a bit greater.

Here’s a look at three such players:

Defender Matt Besler

January camp was a bit more demanding one year ago, and Klinsmann’s public complaints about the offseason fitness of several unnamed players received return fire from Besler and his Sporting Kansas City coach, Peter Vermes. Besler, a World Cup starter, wasn’t in Klinsmann’s first 11 for another eight months.Klinsmann’s reliance on Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks at the Gold Cup proved to be the manager’s biggest misstep of 2015, and Besler’s strong season in MLS paved the way for a return. He started the Confederations Cup playoff loss to Mexico in October and then the ensuing qualifiers. Now, the 28-year-old is back in camp and in position to get a head start on establishing himself as an anchor in a unit that’s seen far too much upheaval in recent months.Geoff Cameron is nursing an ankle injury back with Stoke City, Omar Gonzalez (who hasn’t played for the U.S. in nearly five months) has started well with Pachuca while Brooks, Alvarado, Miazga, Michael Orozco and others knock on the door.Where Besler may have been fatigued or even defiant one year ago, he now seems eager to assume a leadership role“You come in for your first January camp and there’s a lot of focus around yourself,” he told U.S. Soccer. “One you’ve been around for a few years, I think there’s different responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is helping others. This is a great opportunity to be a leader in this camp—me specifically. There’s a ton of young defenders here. [I’m going to] just try to help get everybody on the same page as quickly as possible and help them have an enjoyable experience.”Getting everyone on the same page is what good center backs do, and in this January camp Besler now has the opportunity to make a different sort of lasting impression on Klinsmann.Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP

Midfielder Darlington Nagbe

The national team’s lack of a bona fide midfield playmaker has had a significant domino effect. It’s forced an enormous amount onto Michael Bradley’s plate, isolated Jozy Altidore and left the Americans struggling to hold the ball, dictate terms or play the proactive, attacking soccer Klinsmann advocated.Nagbe’s much-discussed shift inside during the Portland Timbers’ stretch run has thrust him into that conversation.The 25-year-old, who was born in Liberia and moved to Ohio when he was 11, is quick, creative and deft on the dribble. His impact was obvious as the Timbers surged toward their first league championship and resulted in his first two caps in November. If he gets comfortable in a central role for the U.S., it would allow Bradley to focus on organization and tempo or to return to his original position as a defensive midfielder.Either way, Nagbe’s potential emergence would add an element the Americans have been missing while helping to define roles more clearly throughout the rest of the side.It also would require a significant shift in tactics and chemistry in a short period of time. If Klinsmann is going to try it in the qualifiers or Copa América, there needs to be hints that it’s working during the upcoming friendlies.“I think Darlington, especially in the attacking third, can really make a difference because he’s calm on the ball. He has great vision. He sees runs of players, and he knows how to connect all the way around. [He’s] very complete in what he’s doing,” the coach told reporters.

Forward Jozy Altidore

The past two years have been a tough stretch for Altidore, who’s not young anymore. At 26, he’s closing in on 100 caps (89) and now is embarking on his 10th year as a senior international. It’s no longer about potential for the Toronto FC striker. It’s about performance.And Altidore seems to know it. After enduring injury-plagued years that saw him miss most of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Gold Cup and included a brutal stretch at Sunderland and a season of transition at TFC, he was eager to get started this winter. So he arrived in California a week early to commence training. “I just wanted to come in and start moving a little bit early…getting ready for the year thinking about all the competitions coming up, the MLS season and some fine games that you circle on the calendar,” Altidore told U.S. Soccer. “The last couple of years have been rough, so I just want to stay healthy, stay fit and try to help my team the best that I can.”He managed six goals in 13 U.S. appearances last year, including a pair in the November qualifier against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and scored 13 times in 26 MLS appearances for Toronto. He’s looking for more this year. Dempsey hopes to stick around long enough to play in the Copa América and break Landon Donovan’s scoring record (Deuce is nine goals behind), while Morris, Bobby Wood and others remain prospects.The mantle of ‘go-to’ finisher is Altidore’s to seize.“He has big goals,” Klinsmann said. “He’s dreaming about the next World Cup. He’s dreaming about the Copa América. .He’s dreaming about winning the MLS Cup with Toronto. He wants to put his stamp on the national team program. And so over the years in his maturing process. He’s gathered all that information from the other older players, and now he becomes one of those as well. So he now wants to make sure that he makes the right decisions. So we see a Jozy now coming in prepared. He’s eager to take advantage of every training session, not wasting a minute on the field, preparing himself the best way possible for the next day.”

Nagbe, Finlay, Nguyen, Diskerud looking to make move at U.S. camp

CARSON, California — The annual January camp for the U.S. national team has long been a vehicle for catapulting players into bigger roles.The list of performers who have taken advantage includes World Cup veterans Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron. Last year it was Gyasi Zardes, who went on to make a whopping 19 appearances for the U.S. in 2015.In the current incarnation, opportunity is beckoning once again, even as manager Jurgen Klinsmann hints that the concept of the January camp is nearing the end of its shelf life.One question that has plagued the U.S. team in the past year is where the next wave of creative players is going to come from. Landon Donovan has retired. Klinsmann indicated last week that Clint Dempsey is still in his plans, but at age 32, it’s fair to wonder for how long.The CONCACAF Cup defeat to Mexico, as well as the friendly loss to Brazil, stand out as games in which the U.S. struggled to impose itself offensively. For all the talk about forwards like Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris, getting them the ball in good positions remains a significant area of need.So for the likes of Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe, Columbus Crew winger Ethan Finlay, New York City FC midfielder Mix Diskerud and New England Revolution attacker Lee Nguyen, the camp and subsequent games against Iceland this Sunday and Canada five days later amount to an opening that is there to be exploited.The aforementioned players each offer something different. Nguyen is the conventional No. 10, Finlay provides more of a classic wing presence, Nagbe is more of a two-way player — although his strengths lie more on the offensive side of the ball — and Diskerud is a crafty, attacking player.”You always hope for the next player around the block to bring this piece of being a difference-maker,” Klinsmann said in an exclusive interview with ESPN FC. “So if you come in, I think Lee [Nguyen] could be a player that brings a lot of vision on the field. Darlington [Nagbe] has this natural gift to keep things flowing.”Nagbe has moved up the depth chart in the past few months after receiving his U.S. citizenship back in September. He appeared as a substitute in two World Cup qualifiers in November, and looks to have the inside track to take on more responsibility.At club level, a move late in the season to more of a central-attacking role alongside Diego Valeri proved to be a boon for Nagbe, culminating in an MLS Cup triumph with Portland. The move allowed him to get on the ball more and bring both composure and chaos to the game. Under Klinsmann, Nagbe has been placed in a wide midfield role, but with a brief to use his playmaking ability in central positions.”My mentality here is the same as it is with the Timbers: Be patient and wait for the opportunity to show what you can do,” Nagbe said. “Keep it simple, make sure you’re clean with your touches, and then when you do get gaps and opportunities you try to take them.”Nguyen has been on the fringes of the U.S. team for much of the past year. He made three appearances, but all of them were off the bench and amounted to just 78 minutes. Nguyen’s previous appearances in national team camps giv him a good idea of what Klinsmann wants. Now it’s a question of impressing under game conditions.”The coaching staff, they have high demands and they’ve been watching us during the season, so they know what to expect,” Nguyen said. “This camp is to push ourselves not only fitness-wise but to get to that higher level. For me, it’s always an honor to be here, no matter what. Whatever piece I have to play, I’m grateful. But you always want to push for more. That’s what these camps are for, to keep pushing and make a statement.”Diskerud remains something of an enigma. He’s a player who has had his opportunities, including as a member of the 2014 World Cup squad, yet he remains a man in search of a dedicated midfield position. Is he better off starting out wide and then tucking inside when the opportunity allows? Is he a deep-lying playmaker or better off further up field? Diskerud’s strength appears to lie further up field, but he appears to have been passed up by others.As for Finlay, this is his first foray into the international game. By his own admission, his game “is not super elaborate” but he can threaten both with his crossing ability and his penchant for cutting inside and striking at goal.”Off-the-ball movement remains extremely important in my game, and then when I get the ball, be dynamic,” Finlay said. “I think when you get in the final third, whether you’re playing for your national team or you’re playing for your club team, try to make something happen and make an impact on the game. Those are two things I look to hopefully bring to the squad.It is now up to Klinsmann to see to what extent these attacking pieces can be fused into the lineup alongside mainstays like Michael Bradley, and it’s up to the players to take advantage. There always seems to be one who does, and the ensuing months will reveal precisely who will take that next step.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Fabian Johnson and Michael Bradley top the list of the U.S.’s best 25 players

Ranking the 25 best U.S. players is a quick way to get called stupid. As we acknowledged at about this time last year, there’s never going to be consensus on the proper pecking order at a particular moment.That also goes for people who get paid to know: coaches, former pros and other close followers of American players around the world. Once again, we picked their brains. And once again, their opinions on certain players varied greatly. All of their points were valid, though, as was whatever criteria they used to arrive at their conclusions.After all, ranking players is often completely subjective. Don’t believe it? AskBenny Feilhaber, who won 38 caps under former U.S. coach Bob Bradley but couldn’t get a sniff last season from current coach Jurgen Klinsmann in the best period of his career. The hard truth is that Feilhaber doesn’t fit as far as Klinsmann sees things, just as it is fair to wonder if Kyle Beckerman, whom Bradley never seemed completely sold on, would have gone to the 2014 World Cup (where he was among the better American performers) had Klinsmann not been appointed selector-in-chief.And that’s OK. Different people like different players. It’s part of what makes this subject endlessly intriguing. So, after careful consideration and much deliberation, here’s a snapshot of where we think the United States’ talent pool stands.

1. D/M Fabian Johnson, 28, Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)

The quiet German-American has come into his own this season, starring for the Foals in the UEFA Champions League. It’s a far cry from how 2014-15 started for Johnson, who initially rode the bench following his summer transfer from Hoffenheim. The big difference now is he’s settled. “I’m very comfortable at ‘Gladbach,” Johnson told ESPN FC in November. “I like the club, my teammates, everything.”Monchengladbach didn’t qualify for the competition’s knockout stage, but Johnson credits the Champions League experience for helping improve his game. “I think it does,” he said. “Everything goes quicker; the players you play against are stronger. Their touches are better.” Right now, no American is better than Johnson.Fabian Johnson has established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s top midfielders this season.

 2 M Michael Bradley, 28, Toronto FC (Canada)

Because he has served as the national team’s heart and soul for so long, it’s easy to forget that Bradley — who was named U.S. Soccer’s top player in 2015 — has barely entered the prime of his career. He’s in his first full year as U.S. captain and despite more than 100 caps for his country, he insists he has room to improve.

 3 D/M Geoff Cameron, 30, Stoke City (England)

The only American outfield player who is a regular starter in the English Premier League, the versatile Cameron was playing some of the best soccer of his life before suffering an ankle injury against Liverpool on Jan. 5. He was also the national team’s best defender at the end of last year.

4. F Clint Dempsey, 32, Seattle Sounders (United States)

Simply put, Dempsey remains America’s best pure goal scorer. One could even argue that the Texan — with nine goals in 10 international appearances in 2015 — deserves to be in our top three overall. But Dempsey did start to show signs of slowing down a little last season, with nagging injuries limiting his production in MLS play for the Sounders.

5. M Alejandro Bedoya, 28, Nantes (France)

The South Florida native is approaching the height of his powers in Ligue 1. He’s consistent, he’s a leader and he’ll be counted on heavily in qualifying and at the Copa America Centenario, although whether he’ll play on the wing or behind the forward(s) remains unclear.

6. G Tim Howard, 36, Everton (England)

Howard has been criticized for making mistakes at times this season, but he’s still more than capable of stealing games at the highest level. He’s also well positioned to win his starting job back for the U.S. after Brad Guzan lost his place at Aston Villa.

7. D John Brooks, 23, Hertha Berlin (Germany)

The imposing young centre-back is maturing rapidly; this is his third season in the Bundesliga, and it has been his best. A Berlin native, Brooks has his hometown club on pace for a Champions League berth next season.

8. M Jermaine Jones, 34, unattached

Just because Jones remains a free agent doesn’t mean he can’t still play. The German-American was excellent against Trinidad and Tobago in November in the Americans’ most recent World Cup qualifier, and he figures to play a key role at this summer’s Copa America if he’s employed and stays healthy.

9. G Brad Guzan, 31, Aston Villa (England)

It has been a brutal year for everyone at Villa, but especially so for Guzan, who recently lost his starting role to understudy Mark Bunn. But the benching doesn’t undo Guzan’s previous 3½ seasons at the club, where he proved himself a reliable Premier League starter.

10. F Jozy Altidore, 26, Toronto FC (Canada)

Still the top U.S. forward, Altidore managed a respectable 13 goals in 25 games in his first season back in MLS after bouncing around Europe the previous six years. The former teenage phenomenon also has matured off the field after a decade spent in the spotlight.

11. M Darlington Nagbe, 25, Portland Timbers (United States)

The technical, slick-passing playmaker made his international debut in November, less than a month before he helped Portland win the MLS Cup. If he claims a starting U.S. spot in 2016, his stature will continue to grow.

12. D/M DeAndre Yedlin, 22, Sunderland (England)

The Seattle-born speedster has acquired valuable top-end experience this season on loan from Tottenham to Premier League struggler Sunderland, where he has started 10 games (eight in the Prem).DeAndre Yedlin has picked up plenty of Premier League experience on loan at Sunderland this season.

13. M Kyle Beckerman, 33, Real Salt Lake (United States)

The dreadlocked destroyer is in the twilight of his career, and his national team future is uncertain. But even as he celebrates his 34th birthday in April, Beckerman still is perhaps the top dedicated defensive midfielder in the American player pool.

14. D Matt Besler, 28, Sporting Kansas City (United States)

The Kansas native struggled mightily in the year following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he started all four games for the United States. But he won back his starting spot in central defense by the end of 2015.

15. D Omar Gonzalez, 27, Pachuca (Mexico)

Moving to Mexico in December has rejuvenated the longtime Galaxy centre-back, who badly needed a change of scenery after six seasons (and three MLS Cups) in Los Angeles. Gonzalez has been superb in his three games withLos Tuzos.

16. F Aron Johannsson, 25, Werder Bremen (Germany)

Nobody doubts Johannsson’s talent or potential. But in his two-plus years with the national team, the Icelandic-American — whose first Bundesliga season has been beset by injuries — seems no closer to winning a full-time job with the U.S.

17. F Gyasi Zardes, 24, LA Galaxy (United States)

The hard-running Zardes got more comfortable in each of the 19 international games — more than any national team rookie in 21 years — he played in 2015.

18. F Bobby Wood, 23, Union Berlin (Germany)

The Hawaiian striker’s confidence grew during a breakout year for the U.S. After scoring important goals off the bench against Mexico, Germany and the Netherlands in 2015, he’ll now vie for a bigger role.

19. D DaMarcus Beasley, 33, Houston Dynamo (United States)

The four-time World Cup veteran’s experience is unmatched in the U.S. player pool. Whether his national team days are over — he came out of international retirement at Klinsmann’s request in 2015 — Beasley is still playing at a high level in Houston.

20. D Tim Ream, 28, Fulham (England)

After being overlooked during most of the Klinsmann era, Ream started the first two qualifiers of the 2018 cycle as the coach’s first-choice left-back.

21. D Brad Evans, 30, Seattle Sounders

Evans isn’t a world-beater in terms of talent, but he’s proven to be a serviceable international player who rarely makes mistakes — no small thing for a defender at the top level.

22. M Alfredo Morales, 25, Ingolstadt (Germany)

The tri-national (American-German-Peruvian) is leading all Bundesliga-based U.S. players in minutes played in 2015-16.

23. M Eric Lichaj, 27, Nottingham Forest (England)

Lichaj has made just two substitute appearances (both in 2013) in Klinsmann’s four years in charge, but the Illinois-born full-back is quietly having a career season in the English second tier.

24. D Jorge Villafana, 26, Santos Laguna (Mexico)

Villafana was the best left-back in MLS last season, helping Portland hoist the hardware in December before heading to Liga MX.

25. F Jordan Morris, 21, Seattle Sounders (United States)

As an established international player, the former Stanford University standout will be expected to produce immediately in his maiden season as a pro.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

Darlington Nagbe getting up to speed for U.S., Jozy Altidore early for camp

CARSON, Calif. — For many U.S. fans, Darlington Nagbe’s November debut with Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad in a pair of World Cup qualifying games provided a badly needed bright spot at the end of a mostly disappointing 2015 for the national team.The Liberia-born Portland Timbers midfielder had recently become an American citizen. At 25, he was still three or so years from entering his prime. And in his two brief substitute appearances, against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, he showed off the Velcro-like touch on the ball that he has displayed since arriving in MLS in 2011.The expectations on Nagbe only grew when he led the Timbers to the league title in December, to the point where it’s easy to forget he’s currently participating in only the second U.S. camp of his career.”I’m still trying to figure it out,” Nagbe told reporters before the U.S. trained Thursday, three days before Sunday’s friendly here against Iceland (3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN). “But I feel confident being here. It’s a lot of good players and hopefully I can show what I can do.”So far, circumstances haven’t made putting his best foot forward easy. Nagbe joined the group late, following the birth of his second child. The demands are different this month than in shorter get-togethers, with fitness the primary focus. Practices are fast and grueling and it’s still unclear exactly where Nagbe’s best spot on the field with the Americans might be. That question isn’t likely to be resolved before the full contingent of European-based players return for a pair of qualifiers against Guatemala in March.Which is why U.S. captain Michael Bradley, for one, would like to see the hype surrounding Nagbe toned down just a bit”I think everyone needs to be a little bit careful in terms of trying to put too much on his plate too soon,” Bradley said of Nagbe, who has been deployed at the tip of a midfield diamond as well as on the wing this week. “He’s still young — certainly young in terms of the national team. He will start to get his chance now o come into the group and see where it all fits in.”He has natural ability, for sure. But again, I think for any new player who comes into the group, you want to be careful not to expect too much.”U.S. fans would be wise to listen.

U.S. camp notes

– Despite two fast-approaching friendlies (after Iceland, the U.S. plays Canada at StubHub Center on Feb. 5), the American players are still very much in preseason mode. Overall, though, Bradley is pleased with how 2016 has started.”It’s been a good few weeks,” he said. “I think the mix in the group has been good. The younger guys are excited and motivated and certainly see their two [Olympic] qualifiers with Colombia right on the horizon. The older guys are committed to leading and showing them, as much as possible, the right way on a daily basis. Guys have come in every day ready to train and compete.”What they’re not doing, however, is spending a lot of time dwelling on last year. Not that they haven’t talked about it some. “We’re certainly very aware that we let ourselves down in big moments last year. That’s sports,” Klinsmann said. “You play big games, you play in big moments where everything is on the line, and one team has to lose. That’s reality. We’ve looked back at things. We’ve thought about things. The way we played in certain moments weren’t good enough.”[But] It’s the start of a new year, a lot of big things ahead of us: qualifying, Copa America. We’re excited.”- After being plagued by hamstring issues in recent years — injuries that prevented him from completing Gold Cups in 2011 and 2015, as well as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil — Jozy Altidore has made some adjustments to his lifestyle. “I’ve definitely changed my diet, sleep habits, little things like that to try to adjust,” he said Thursday. “I’m trying to keep myself as lean as possible. [The hamstring problems] have been unfortunate for me but it’s something I’m looking at this year to try to take away.”Part of that process included arriving in Carson a week early, on his own dime, to train ahead of his teammates. “I think I needed to just come in a little bit and get myself moving and get going.”I’m feeling good. I’m excited. I’m just trying to get myself fit and excited for what looks to be a long, long year.”- U.S. U-23 coach Andi Herzog doesn’t have all his players available this month, and lost another when defender Matt Miazga left camp Tuesday to complete his reported transfer to Premier League champions Chelsea.”Obviously we’re missing some from Europe, but we have 10 or 11 players here, which is really good for me,” Herzog said. “So at least they’ve started. They’re in OK shape right now. We train real hard, so their [fitness] is getting better and better.”So what does he make of Miazga’s move?”It’s not easy to get the starting job there, but it’s huge for him,” Herzog said, adding that he expected Miazga to be available for his team in March. “It’s good for U.S. Soccer that a young player gets the opportunity and signs with one of the best clubs in Europe. It will be a huge adventure for him, because everything will be new. He trains and plays with the best players in Europe. It’s amazing.”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN 

Here is the updated USMNT camp roster by position (all US Based Players in Camp): Game on Sunday 3:45 pm vs Iceland 

GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls) 

DEFENDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire) 

MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (unattached), Perry Kitchen (unattached), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC) 

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart), Jordan Morris (unattached), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

5 USMNT players with the most to gain in upcoming friendlies

The U.S. national team’s January camp is all about opportunity — opportunity to get your foot in the door; opportunity opportunity to be seen by USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann; opportunity to adapt to the USMNT program; opportunity to establish yourself as a regular on subsequent 23-man rosters; opportunity to audition for a job, for those currently without a club team.This year’s January camp consists of 26 players (25, now that Matt Miazga has departed to reportedly to complete his transfer to Chelsea), all of whom with something to prove in a Copa America and World Cup qualifying year, no matter their previous standing (or lack thereof) with the USMNT.Five players with the most to gain (or lose) from a strong (or weak) showing in this year’s January camp and friendlies against Iceland (Sunday) and Canada (Friday, Feb. 5)…

5. Jozy Altidore, forward (Toronto FC) — Altidore has competition for minutes now, perhaps for the first time in his career; Jordan Morris and Bobby Wood are (in the eyes of Klinsmann) hot on his heels, and that pesky, young prospect Alan Gordon just won’t go away. Seriously, though, Altidore is the epitome of a “confidence player,” and 2016 is a big year for the USMNT, as well as TFC. A striker who’s full of goals has the ability to mask so many other flaws within a squad, so no pressure, Jozy, but you’re 26 now and everyone’s kind of counting on you. [ MORE: Zardes, Parker talk youth-heavy January camp]
6. Ethan Finlay, midfielder (Columbus Crew SC) — Finlay is the type of player the USMNT doesn’t currently have, and has needed for quite some time — he’s not really a midfielder, he’s not really a forward, and he’s definitely not a winger; he’s a guy that plays between the opposition’s midfield and defense, and wreaks havoc with very good movement, vision and delivery of the final ball in a number of different scenarios. The three USMNT players starting behind the center forward on a given night is anyone’s guess these days, so Finlay’s got as much a case as anyone at this point.

[ MORE: Tim Howard “highly likely” to make move back to MLS this year ]

3. Perry Kitchen, midfielder (free agent) — Kitchen is currently without a club job after his contract with D.C. United expired last year and the two sides have reportedly moved on from negotiations to re-sign the 23-year-old. That’s not Kitchen’s only incentive; there’s also a massive void at defensive midfield with Kyle Beckerman about to turn 34 and seemingly on his way out of the picture. Positive buzz from the friendlies -> getting signed by a peripheral European club -> his stock rises in Klinsmann’s eyes -> the USMNT’s no. 6 for a decade. You see how these things go hand in hand?

[ MORE: Critical stretch arrives for Bradley’s Le Havre in promotion bid ]

2. Jermaine Jones, midfielder (free agent) — This camp’s elder statesman (he turned 34 in November) needs work. After letting his contract with the New England Revolution expire in 2015, Jones is free to sign with any club anywhere in the world. Just one problem: they’re scared off by the six-game suspensionhanging over his head. Beyond his uncertain club situation, Jones needs to prove he’s still got something tangible to give to the USMNT (i.e. gas left in the tank). Sidebar: remember this time last year when Jones was being groomed as USMNT center backof the (near) future? Those sure were fun times. [ MORE: Schalke in transfer negotiations for USMNT’s John Brooks ]
3. Darlington Nagbe, midfielder (Portland Timbers) — Nagbe made “the jump” in 2015, from promising prospect to actually delivering two-plus months of the kind of game-changing, dominant performances we’ve been crying out for for years. With that leap forward comes the expectations of reaching yet another level in 2016. There’s a massive opportunity for someone — anyone— with a creative bone in their body to take ownership of the central midfield spot just ahead of Bradley and a more stationary no. 6 sitting in behind. Is 2016 the year of Darlington? It could be, with a strong showing in January camp and a pair of dynamic displays against Iceland and Canada.

Crucial stretch arrives for Bob Bradley, Le Havre in Ligue 1 promotion fight

2 CommentsBy Joe Prince-WrightJan 26, 2016, 7:43 AM EST

Bob Bradley’s French adventure with Le Havre has so far flown under the radar. Now, things are starting to heat up.Le Havre AC — proud to be France’s, and continental Europe’s, oldest team after being founded way back in 1872 — currently sit fifth in Ligue 2 and are embroiled in an all-out battle to gain promotion to France’s top-flight.[ MORE: Bradley new Le Havre coach ]

The top three teams in France’s second-tier are automatically promoted to Ligue 1 and a pivotal stretch has now arrived for Bradley, 57, and his players.Speaking to ProSoccerTalk last week before a disappointing defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Clermont on Monday, Bradley knows a crucial time in the season is coming up as they face rivals Lens, Auxerre, Dijon and Metz in their next five games. Just five points separates Auxerre in ninth and Clermont who occupy third place and that all-important final promotion spot.

“The fight for the top three spots at the moment is very tight,” Bradly said. “We have a very important stretch coming up. This next stretch is very important. As a team, the way I try to do these things is establish some ideas on the structure of the team so that we have got a solid way of moving and staying as a unit but then how do we start to build up the football ideas within the structure, how do we start to find the right ways to move the ball. Can we play forward? How do we create chances? A lot of the football stuff but just as important is creating an identity as a team, that we are going to be a team that works hard, play with passion and energy and that there’s a real enjoyment as a team when we show up here every day. There is going to be a real push to create a football environment that can be successful.”

The former head coach of multiple MLS franchises (Chicago Fire, the MetroStars and Chivas USA), the U.S. national team, Egypt and most recently Stabaek in Norway’s top-flight, Bradley took charge of Le Havre on Nov. 10 and since then has had three wins, three draws and two defeats in league play.So, how has he settled into life in the second-largest port in France?“It’s been so busy, long days, and Lindsay and I are still in the hotel but we found an apartment we will get into next month. The apartment is in Le Havre and as much as there are nice options outside we thought it was important to live in Le Havre and that is always the way we tried to do things,” Bradley explained. “The owner Vincent Volpe [an American businessman from Texas], for him this has always been a socio-economic project. He was running Dresser-Rand operations out of Le Havre for many years and this is where he met his wife.“When the team ran into some difficulties Vince quietly came into the picture and his interest now is that this club Le HAC as they call it, is very important to the city. Obviously Stade Oceane is a fantastic stadium, a couple of years old. For me to come and start to settle into Le Havre, get to know the supporters, the different coaches in the academy and start to share new ideas and get a feel for how everything works. This is all part of the work in addition to the focus of the first team and how we can improve ourselves.”[ VIDEO: USMNT man Bedoya scores again for Nantes ] 

The challenge of getting to know a new league in a new country isn’t something that’s new to Bradley, but coming in midway through a campaign provides plenty of challenges. He’s following the same formula which has led him to success throughout his career and most recently in Norway where he took newly-promoted Stabaek to a second-place finish and Europa League qualification in just two years before leaving for Le Havre.

“When you come in during the middle of the season it makes the challenge even greater,” Bradley said. “Philippe (Bizeul), Francois (Seguin) and Christophe (Revault) had been here from the start this year so hearing their thoughts and discussing things with them, Oswald (Tanchot) had worked with a club he bought from the fifth league to the fourth league to the third league, so he has very good knowledge, along with Philippe, of Ligue 2. I remember, it was the same in Norway, you get there and you try to get a good as feel for every team and different players so that every week you make sure your team is ready. That part, so far has gone well. I’ve done that in enough different places that the way you do that never changes.”

One thing Le Havre has always been know for is its youth program. Its famed academy is one of the best in France and is highly regarded throughout Europe.

Riyad Mahrez, Paul Pogba and Lassana Diarra are just some of the star names to be nurtured in Upper Normandy and with Bradley’s experienced of working closely with young players during his days at Princeton, then in MLS, plus with the U.S. and Egypt and more recently with a youthful squad at Stabaek, he seems like a good fit to make the most out of Le Havre’s historically excellent academy.Has he seen any news stars coming through right now?

“There are some great names that have come through the academy. I think the pure ability in the academy, in terms of the recruiting top talent has been challenged a little bit when the club as a while isn’t quite as strong. Qe are all trying to make sure that we are keeping that part going,” Bradley said. “For me I have gotten to know the director of the academy, Johann Louvel, and he also coaches the second team which is the same setup as we had at Stabaek. A lot of the academy coaches have now started to come out and watch our training so they start to get a feel for things that we believe are important. At first it is everybody getting to know each other and sharing ideas. It would be early for me to say ‘the next Paul Pogba here or the next Mahrez is here’ look, let’s wait and see. But certainly, some great players have come through the academy and hopefully we can make sure that good work continues and plays a big role in the success of the first team.”

Source: Chelsea will not loan Matt Miazga upon transfer from Red Bulls

GRANT WAHLTwitter EmailPosted: Wed Jan. 27, 2016

When ESPN.com reported on Wednesday that New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga was soon to be sold to Chelsea, the first reaction of most in the U.S. soccer community was: Surely Miazga won’t play for Chelsea but rather be sent out immediately on loan like so many other players owned by the Blues.Not so fast, SI.com has learned. A source close to the Miazga deal tells SI.com that if the deal goes through, Chelsea would keep Miazga with its senior team for the remaining four months of this season and then evaluate his performance this summer.At that point, Chelsea would decide either to keep Miazga or loan him out to another team. That would give Miazga at least four months to train (and perhaps play) with Chelsea’s first team and make his case for inclusion moving forward.Miazga, 20, is set to move for around $5 million to Chelsea. He had a promising season with the Red Bulls last year and made his U.S. senior debut in November. Miazga turned down a contract extension from New York at the end of last season and would have been entering the final year of his MLS deal. When that contract refusal happened, the chances increased that New York would sell Miazga to avoid letting him go on a free transfer at the end of the 2016 season.Because Miazga owns a Polish passport, he wouldn’t need a U.K. work permit.

Source: Tim Howard “highly likely” for Colorado Rapids, MLS move in May

2 CommentsBy Joe Prince-WrightJan 26, 2016, 5:40 PM EST  NBCSports.com

A few days ago the rumor mill was suggesting that Everton and USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard could be heading back to Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids.The rumor had died down for a few days but just got very interesting as a source has told ProSoccerTalk that Howard has held “serious talks” with Colorado and after 10 years at Goodison Park he looks highly likely to sign for the Rapids and supposedly wants a return to the U.S.If all goes to plan in negotiations between Everton and MLS then Howard could sign this month but would only move to Colorado in May following the conclusion of the 2015-16 Premier League season.[ MORE: LVG’s time at United up? ]

Veteran U.S. international Howard, 36, has recently put in a string of fine displays for the Toffees but throughout this campaign he has also been criticized by some sections of the Everton support, especially following a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal earlier in the season. An up and down season for Howard has also seen him criticized for giving away a penalty kick in the 2-1 home defeat to Swansea on Sunday, plus his role in Diego Costa‘s goal inEverton’s 3-3 draw at Chelsea last weekend.

Further reinforcing the notion that Howard could be on the brink of a surprising potential move back to MLS — especially to a Rapids franchise who finished rock bottom of the Western Conference in 2015 — last Monday the Rapids announced they had traded starting goalkeeper Clint Irwin to Toronto FC for targeted allocation money, their highest natural third round selection in this year’s MLS SuperDraft and a conditional first round selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Plus Colorado currently holds the number one allocation ranking in MLS after making a trade with the Chicago Fire for that position less than two weeks ago.That means any current U.S. national team player looking to sign with the league will be offered to them first and Colorado’s VP of soccer operations, Paul Bravo, has been quoted as saying that the move up to No. 1 in the allocation order is “the most significant deal we’ve done in this club’s history.” That says it allHoward’s boss at Everton, Roberto Martinez, was asked by the media following Sunday’s defeat to Swansea if the Rapids had been in contact with Everton: “At the moment there is nothing” was his response. Now, it seems like things are moving forward.Losing their long-time starting goalkeeper would not be ideal for the Toffees but given Howard’s commitment to the Merseyside outfit for over a decade, you get the sense that Everton wouldn’t stand in his way and would be unlikely to demand too high of a transfer fee from MLS to complicate negotiations.In a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Jan. 13, Howard pulled off probably his best performance since his World Cups heroics for the U.S. against Belgium in the last 16 of the 2014 tournament, and he still has plenty to offer at the top level. With his young family based Stateside, Howard took a self-imposed sabbatical from the USMNT from Sept. 2014 until Sept. 2015 and even though he has a contract at Everton until the summer of 2018, getting to spend extra time with his kids and returning to the U.S. after 13 years abroad will play a huge factor in his potential move.With Joel Robles pushing him all the way for a starting spot at Goodison Park, is this the right time for Howard to return to MLS and play out the remaining years of his career? We shall see…

Howard, a New Jersey native, made his name in MLS for the MetroStars from 1999-2003 but was transferred to Manchester United where he spent three years before signing for Everton permanently in 2007 after a successful loan spell during the 2006-07 campaign.It seems as though one of the greatest goalkeepers the U.S. has ever produced is closer than ever to returning home.

UPDATE: Jeff Carlisle of ESPN is reporting that there would likely be no transfer fee paid by MLS to Everton for Howard and he would become the highest paid goalkeeper in the league, earning between $2-3 million per season. 

Bob Bradley Climbs the Global Soccer Ladder With an Impediment: He’s American

By JAMES MONTAGUEJAN. 24, 2016

LE HAVRE, France — In the conference room of a smart hotel in the center of this port city, four Frenchmen were talking loudly over one another and gesticulating toward a flip chart in front of a row of empty chairs.Bob Bradley, the recently appointed coach of the city’s second-tier soccer team, Havre A.C. — more commonly known as Le HAC — sat nearby. Bradley was awaiting the arrival of his players for a team meeting before that evening’s league match against Paris F.C., the French capital’s second team.As the voices of his four assistant coaches rose, Bradley drew half a soccer field onto the flip chart — free hand, but with perfectly straight lines — before writing the names and numbers of his players and their possible opponents in different colored pens. He quietly checked the names and spellings with a translator.  At the top of the flip chart, he carefully wrote the words “Corners Defensifs” before sitting down and waiting with restrained impatience as the Gallic-style argument among his coaches continued.  At last, Bradley had heard enough.  “Look,” he said loudly and suddenly, stopping the argument in its tracks. With a few swipes and arrows drawn with his pen, he issued instructions as to how his players should defend corner kicks when the match began in two hours. “It’s football,” he said finally. The coaches nodded in agreement.  Bradley does not speak French. At least not yet. But then, language has not been much of a barrier to his success.  After he was fired as coach of the United States national soccer team in 2011, Bradley guided Egypt’s national team to within a game of the World Cup and led the small Norwegian club Stabaek into the Europa League. Now he has landed at Le Havre, France’s oldest soccer club but one that has been generally absent from the country’s top tier in recent years.It is here on France’s north coast that Bradley has come to teach a new group of players, and to continue the pursuit of the kind of job — the bigjob — that he really wants, the one that some suggest his résumé has earned.“I’ve accepted challenges to prove myself,” Bradley said of his recently meandering coaching path.Referring to a riot in 2012 that killed more than 70 people after a match between two Egyptian clubs, Bradley said, “When I was in Egypt, after Port Said, people asked me: ‘Why are you still here? Why didn’t you leave?’ Then I went to Norway, to this small team, and people would say, ‘Why did you come?’ ”It is a question, Bradley conceded, that he hears regularly.“What it amounts to is, this part of you — on the inside — wants to show people what you can do,” he said. “You want to prove yourself. You want a chance.”A native of New Jersey, Bradley, 57, spent the first three decades of his coaching career in the United States, in college, in M.L.S. and, finally, with the national team. In 2011, after a disheartening loss to Mexico cost him his job, Bradley and his wife, Lindsay, moved to Cairo before the January 25 Revolution and before the riot in Port Said, one the worst soccer stadium disasters in history.His Egypt team lost just once on the long road to the 2014 World Cup, but that was enough to spoil its dreams of qualifying. “It was a disappointment,” Bradley said, that “sticks with you forever.”A few months later, he arrived in Norway to take charge of Stabaek, a small, recently promoted club that was only just emerging from a financial meltdown. Bradley spent two years there, taking the team to a cup semifinal, a third-place finish in the league and, with it, a qualification spot for next season’s Europa League.Yet despite Bradley’s successes, he faced an employment landscape that offered few opportunities for him in top European leagues. “In England, they talk about having Premier League experience,” Bradley said, “and, to be fair, I don’t have it.”His assistant Pierre Barrieu puts it more plainly. “I am 100 percent convinced if he wasn’t American he would have got a big job somewhere,” he said. “There is this U.S. tag on his back.”Lacking a direct path to a job in a top league, Bradley concluded that Le Havre offered just what he needed: the chance to earn one through promotion. Last year, Le Havre had been acquired by the American businessman Vincent Volpe, who was on the lookout for a new coach when Bradley’s agent contacted the club.“My first thought was, I think our search is over,” Volpe said.  Three days later, Bradley arrived to discuss the position. “The only reticence was how would he do with the language,” Volpe said. “But we thought about the fact that he did a great job in Norway, and a great job in Egypt. It clearly wasn’t an issue.”Shortly before leaving for the match against Paris F.C. on Jan. 15, the Havre players filled the empty seats in the hotel conference room as Bradley gave his team talk. He spoke to them through Barrieu, an assistant during Bradley’s United States national team days who has rejoined him in France.“Be proud of the colors and the club,” Bradley told the team. “Show no fear. Play the game. Enjoy it.”fterward, the players filed out quietly, onto a bus that would take them to the match.At Stade Océane, a modern facility wrapped in a translucent blue shell reminiscent of Munich’s Allianz Arena, Havre supporters were still surprised to have a coach who has led a team at a World Cup finals.“We have never known such a good coach in Le Havre,” Yann Simon, 39, said in the supporters’ bar under the stadium. “But we don’t know if he’s a good guy for Le Havre. We will know at the end of the season.”Promotion is the aim. That would be a rare foray into France’s elite for Le Havre, but it would also deliver the coaching job in a top European division that Bradley has coveted. Both goals are within reach: Le Havre beat last-place Paris F.C., 2-1, to temporarily move into third place in the league — and into one of Ligue 2’s three automatic promotion spots.Early the next morning, he would be off to Oslo to sort out the last paperwork he needs to complete qualification for his UEFA pro license, which is now a prerequisite for any top job in Europe. If the season ends as well as it has begun, he will need it.“I am the same with every job: I put my heart and soul into it and show what I am all about,” Bradley said, adding, “If you keep working, someone, somewhere along the line will work it out.”

AMERICANS OVERSEAS = US SOCCER

NEWS Jan 25, 2016 0

While a mostly domestic-based group continues to train ahead of the U.S. MNT’s first friendly of 2016 next week against Iceland, a number of Americans plying their trade abroad were active for their clubs this weekend.

In France, midfielder Alejandro Bedoya capped a fantastic week for himself with FC Nantes. On Wednesday, the veteran attacker had barely gotten on the field before running on to a header and tallying the only goal in extra time of Nantes’ 1-0 victory at Mantois 78 in the Coupe de France (WATCH). With the win, Nantes setup a Round of 16 clash away to Bordeaux. Bedoya and Nantes then got a preview of Les Girondins in Ligue 1 action on Saturday, and the U.S. international bagged his second goal of the week in the 30th minute. Already with a 1-0 lead thanks to Kolbbein Sigþórsson’s first half effort, teammate Ermir Lenjani beat his man on the left before sending a cross to the back post where Bedoya was unmarked and able to head past Bordeaux ‘keeper Cedric Carrasco to take the score to 2-0 (WATCH). Bedoya went 90 minutes in the match, but Bordeaux poured on the pressure late, getting two goals back inside the final six minutes to force a 2-2 draw.

In Mexico, a pair of U.S. MNT center backs faced off as Omar Gonzalez’s Pachuca ran out of Estadio Azteca with a 4-1 win against Ventura Alvarado’s Club America. Both defenders went the full 90 minutes for their sides, with Alvarado conceding an own goal in the 19th minute while Gonzalez was part of a back line that never looked too bothered in the victory. Since transferring to Pachuca from the LA Galaxy just before the new year, Gonzalez has appeared in all three of Los Tuzos matches, helping the side to a 2-0-1 start to the 2016 Liga MX Clausura campaign.

In Guanajuato, goalkeeper William Yarbrough and Club León remained perfect in the Liga MX Clausura as Club Leon downed Cruz Azul 3-2 on Saturday.

In Germany, a number of U.S. internationals returned from the Bundesliga’s winter break on Saturday. Center back John Brooks anchored the back line for third-place Hertha Berlin in their 0-0 home draw with Augsburg, marking the fourth straight match across all competitions that he’s played and helped the side to a clean sheet.

Fabian Johnson played the full 90 minutes for Borussia Moenchengladbach as they began the second half of the season with a tough 3-1 home defeat to second-place Borussia Dortmund. Notably, 17-year-old U.S. youth international Christian Pulisic, who featured in first team matches during Dortmund’s winter break, made the game day 18 for the side, but did not appear in the match.  Alfredo Morales started and went 68 minutes in midfield during Ingolstadt’s 1-0 victory against Mainz.  

In the English Premiership, goalkeeper Tim Howard and Everton were undone by Gilfy Sigurðsson’s 17th minute penalty kick and Andre Ayew’s 34th minute winner as the Toffees felt 2-1 to Swansea City on Saturday.

In the English Championship, Danny Williams went 90 minutes in midfield as Reading drew 1-1 at home with Sheffield Wednesday. Tim Ream started and went the distance while midfielder Emerson Hyndman entered in the 7th minute as Fulham fell 1-0 to Hull City at Craven Cottage.

US MLS Goalies in Camp

The framework of this January camp built by U.S. MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is “identification and development,” and that theme plays through the list of goalkeepers. While the coach has made it clear that the three ‘keepers who represented the team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil – Brad Guzan, Tim Howard and Nick Rimando – remain at the top of the pecking order, he has an opportunity to look towards the future with this group in Carson. Fortunately, the U.S. has a long history of producing international-level goalkeepers. Here’s a snapshot of the guys getting a look this month:

Luis Robles – New York Red Bulls

Robles was named 2015 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and earned 2015 MLS Best XI honors. The Fort Huachuca, Arizona, native last appeared for the MNT in 2009 as the third goalkeeper during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, followed by his lone MNT appearance in a 2-2 draw with Haiti on July 11 in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Sean Johnson – Chicago Fire

The 26-year-old has earned five career caps since his MNT debut on Jan. 22, 2011 against Chile. He most recently stopped five shots on goal in 45 minutes of action, completing a 2-0 shutout against Panama at StubHub Center on Feb. 8, 2015. The Lilburn, Georgia, native is entering his seventh season with the Chicago Fire.

 David Bingham – San Jose Earthquakes 

The 26-year-old, sixth-year pro is making his first appearance at a MNT camp. In 2015, he started all 34 matches and tied the San Jose Earthquakes’ club record with 12 clean sheets.

Chelsea Capitalizes on Red Card and Drops Arsenal to Third

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJAN. 24, 2016

Chelsea remained unbeaten in the Premier League under Guus Hiddink a month into his tenure as interim manager, winning at Arsenal, 1-0, on Sunday.Arsenal, which had been unbeaten at home in league play since opening day, was undone by a five-minute spell in the first half. Per Mertesacker was sent off for tripping Diego Costa, and Costa then scored the game’s only goal in the 23rd minute.“He got Mertesacker sent off,” Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger said of Costa. “A fact is a fact. I do not accuse him of anything; it’s just what happened.”Arsenal dropped from first to third place over the weekend, behind Leicester, the leader, and Manchester City. Chelsea, despite three wins and four draws under Hiddink, is in 13th place, and the fourth Champions League place — occupied by Tottenham, 14 points away — looks unobtainable.Wenger was jeered by Arsenal fans for replacing striker Olivier Giroud with defender Gabriel after losing Mertesacker.“You want to make a poll for every decision to see who does what?” Wenger told reporters. “I made the decision, and for me it was quite normal. We had to go for long distances, and we needed pace to go from one goal to the other. We knew we had to drop deeper and use pace to get forward.”Arsenal has not beaten Chelsea since November 2011.In Sunday’s other Premier League game, Everton lost to visiting Swansea, 2-1, leaving the team a point and a place ahead of Chelsea.Gylfi Sigurdsson put Swansea in front from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. An own goal by Jack Cork tied the game, but Andre Ayew scored before halftime to give Francesco Guidolin a winning start as Swansea’s coach.Swansea is now 4 points above the relegation zone.“I dreamed of working in Premier League, but I didn’t dream of winning the first match,” said Guidolin, formerly the coach at the Italian club Udinese.

DISAPPOINTMENT IN MADRID Real Madrid drew at Real Betis, 1-1, dropping its first points under Coach Zinedine Zidane, and a scoreless tie at home against 10-man Sevilla kept Atlético Madrid from regaining the lead in the Spanish league from Barcelona.Real Madrid mustered only a second-half goal by Karim Benzema, which canceled out a stunner by Álvaro Cejudo.Atlético Madrid and Barcelona each have 48 points, but Barcelona is ahead on goal difference thanks to Saturday’s 2-1 win at Málaga.Zidane had overseen two lopsided Real Madrid wins at home since taking over from the maligned Rafael Benítez. But the team’s setback in Seville showed that it will take more than a change of coach to remedy Real Madrid’s ills on the road, where it has won just four of 10 league games this season.

RACE IN ITALY REMAINS TIGHT Juventus secured an 11th successive Italian league win as it beat visiting Roma, 1-0, to keep the pressure on Napoli, which won at 10-man Sampdoria, 4-2.  Gonzalo Higuaín, the league leader in goals, scored again for first-place Napoli, which leads Juventus by 2 points.Inter Milan trails by 6 points, having drawn, 1-1, at home against 10-man Carpi, which got a last-minute equalizer. Fiorentina moved above Inter on goal difference with a 2-0 home win over Torino.Juventus needs just two more victories to match the club record for consecutive league wins.

MONACO STRENGTHENS GRIP With Paris St.-Germain 21 points ahead in a lopsided race in the French league, Monaco solidified its hold on second place with a 4-0 home win against struggling Toulouse. Monaco, which got off to a stuttering start this season, is 3 points ahead of third-place Nice.

SHOCKING DEFEATS IN GERMANY Eintracht Frankfurt’s captain, Alexander Meier, scored three goals against visiting Wolfsburg in a 3-2 victory, one of two surprising results in the Bundesliga. In the other stunner, Schalke lost, 3-1, at home against relegation-threatened Werder Bremen despite taking a fourth-minute lead. (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

DEFENDER IS SIDELINED Bayern Munich said defender Jérôme Boateng, who injured his groin Friday against Hamburger S.V., needed “a long break.” (AP)

DROGBA SENDS SIGNAL Didier Drogba indicated he would be returning to the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer, effectively ending speculation that he could be joining the coaching staff of Chelsea, his former club. Drogba wrote on Twitter that he was “on way to Qatar to do some preparation work for pre-season”; the M.L.S. season starts in March. (REUTERS)

COACH’S AGENT REJECTS REPORT José Mourinho’s agent dismissed as “absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd” a report in The Independent, a British newspaper, that Mourinho wrote a “love letter” to Manchester United to trumpet his case to be the team’s next manager.(REUTERS)

Champions League

Records Ronaldo and Messi have not broken (yet)

Published: Tuesday 19 January 2016, 10.40CET

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are great but – in some respects – Alfrédo Di Stéfano, Bafétimbi Gomis and Radamel Falcao are greater, as UEFA.com discovers.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s ongoing battle to be the top goalscorer in European football remains perhaps the sport’s greatest drama of our age, but both need to raise their game considerably if they are to scoop the following European Champion Clubs’ Cup and UEFA Champions League records.

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Final goals
Most goals in European Cup finals: 7 – Alfrédo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás (both Real Madrid)
Goals in most European Cup finals: 5 – Alfrédo Di Stefano (Real Madrid, 1956, 1957, 1958. 1959, 1960)
Most goals in a single European Cup final: 4 – Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid, 1960)
Most goals in a single UEFA Champions League final: 2 – Daniele Massaro (AC Milan, 1994), Karl-Heinz Riedle (Borussia Dortmund, 1997), Hernán Crespo (Milan, 2005), Filippo Inzaghi (Milan, 2007), Diego Milito (Internazionale Milano, 2010)

With two finals goals each – and only one in any single final (Messi in 2009 and 2011, Ronaldo in 2008 and 2014) – Ronaldo and Messi both have a way to go to emulate the all-time final star strikers. Two other players have also scored in two UEFA Champions League finals: Raúl González (Real Madrid, 2000, 2002) and Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona, 2006, 2009).

Goals in European Cup/UEFA Champions League stages
Most UEFA Champions League group stage goals: Raúl González (53)
Most European Cup/UEFA Champions League quarter-final goals: Alfrédo Di Stéfano (14)
Most European Cup/UEFA Champions League semi-final goals: Alfrédo Di Stéfano (11)

Raúl’s twin records as the leading UEFA Champions League and UEFA club competition goalscorer have been surpassed by Ronaldo (who now holds both) and Messi, but the ex-Madrid ace retains his status as the all-time top marksman in the UEFA Champions League group stage; Messi on 47 and Ronaldo on 49 may surpass that mark yet.

Di Stéfano remains king in terms of quarter-final and semi-final goals, though his throne appears increasingly vulnerable. Ronaldo has registered 12 in the quarters and eight in the semis; Messi has notched 10 and four respectively at those stages.

Success with different sides
Final wins with the most teams in the UEFA Champions League: 3 – Clarence Seedorf (Ajax 1995, Real Madrid 1998, Milan 2003, 2007)
Highest number of teams scored for in the UEFA Champions League: 6 – Zlatan Ibrahimović (Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain)

Cristiano Ronaldo is unique in having scored in UEFA Champions League finals for two different winning sides – Manchester United in 2008 and Madrid in 2014. The luckless Velibor Vasović is the only other player to net in European Cup finals for two clubs, as a loser with Partizan in 1966 and Ajax in 1969. Ronaldo will require a transfer if he is to match Clarence Seedorf’s unique achievement of winning the competition with three separate teams.

Ibrahimović’s record looks even safer from Messi and Ronaldo, who would have to start moving clubs regularly – while still scoring – to make it to six. All of Messi’s goals to date have come for Barcelona, while Ronaldo has only found the target for United and Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

Oldest goalscorer
UEFA Champions League final: Paolo Maldini (36 years 333 days) Milan v Liverpool (25/05/2005)
UEFA Champions League, group stage to final: Francesco Totti (38 years 59 days)
CSKA Moskva v Roma (25/11/2014)
European Cup: Manfred Burgsmüller (38 years 293 days)
Werder Bremen v Dynamo Berlin (11/10/1988)

Totti’s landmark goal and more

If our dynamic duo are to eclipse Maldini’s record as the oldest final scorer, they will have to be patient. Ronaldo’s first chance will be in the 2021/22 final, while Messi will not be in line until the 2023/24 showpiece – and only then provided it does not take place before 23 May, in which case he would have to wait another year.

To overtake the UEFA Champions League oldest scorer mark, Ronaldo will need to register in the competition, group stage to final, after 1 April 2023, and Messi after 22 August 2025. To become the European Cup’s all-time oldest scorer, Ronaldo will have to hit the target after 22 November 2023, and Messi after 13 April 2026.

Fastest goals
Fastest UEFA Champions League goal: Roy Makaay (10.12 seconds)
Bayern München v Real Madrid (07/03/2007)
Fastest UEFA Champions League final goal: Paolo Maldini (53 seconds) Milan v Liverpool (25/05/2005)

Fastest Champions League goals

Roy Makaay has established a somewhat daunting target with his strike pretty much straight from the kick-off against Madrid. Ronaldo and Messi’s earliest UEFA Champions League efforts both came in the fourth minute – Ronaldo for Madrid against Juventus in October 2013, andMessi

against FC Basel 1893 in October 2008

.

Paolo Maldini’s quickfire final goal versus Liverpool is also a mark neither Ronaldo nor Messi have come close to achieving; both of Messi’s final goals were in the second half, with the earliest of Ronaldo’s two coming 26 minutes into the 2008 decider with Chelsea in Moscow.

Hat-tricks
Fastest UEFA Champions League hat-trick: Bafétimbi Gomis (8 mins)
Dinamo Zagreb v Olympique Lyonnais, 07/12/2011
Hat-tricks in consecutive UEFA Champions League games: Luiz Adriano (2)
FC BATE Borisov v Shakhtar Donetsk (21/10/14) & Shakhtar Donetsk v FC BATE Borisov (05/11/14)

Messi and Ronaldo now share the record for UEFA Champions League hat-tricks – five each – though neither has outstripped Bafétimbi Gomis’s lightning-quick treble against Dinamo. The swiftest of Messi’s hat-tricks – his first – took 22 minutes (v Arsenal FC, 06/04/10), though a mere 16 minutes separated his second and fourth strikes in his five-goal salvo against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 7 March 2012. Ronaldo’s 12-minute treble against Malmö on matchday six is his fastest to date.

Luiz Adriano broke new ground by scoring back-to-back UEFA Champions League trios against BATE last term – five goals in the first group meeting and three in the second.

Long-distance records
Goals in most successive UEFA Champions League seasons: Raúl González (14)
Goals in most UEFA Champions League seasons: Ryan Giggs (16)

Sporting CP did not get through qualifying in Ronaldo’s only attempt with the club, and the forward then failed to net in his first two UEFA Champions League seasons with United. However, he has registered in the last ten campaigns – and ten  in all – meaning he must keep playing and scoring for five more seasons to catch Raúl. To replicate Giggs’s total he may – like the Welshman – need to play on until he is over 40.

There were no false starts for Messi, who has now scored in 11 UEFA Champions League campaigns, but he will be well into his 30s before he can trouble Raúl or Giggs in this respect.

Single-season total
Most goals in a single European season: Radamel Falcao (18), Porto 2010/11

Falcao’s glorious exploits in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League set a mark that Messi and Ronaldo have been unable to emulate. The Colombian’s haul included one goal in qualifying and 17 in the competition proper. Messi’s best year came in 2011/12 when he ended the European season with 14 strikes, while Ronaldo set a new European Cup/UEFA Champions League record with 17 in 2013/14.

Goalscoring consistency
Goals in most consecutive appearances:Ruud van Nistelrooy (9), Manchester United, 2002/03
Best goals per game average in European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 0.97 – Gerd Müller (Bayern)
Best goals per game average in UEFA club competition*: 0.90 – Radamel Falcao (Porto, Club Atlético de Madrid)

Ruud van Nistelrooy did not figure in all United’s games in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League but managed to score in nine straight appearances in that campaign – ten if you include his goal in qualifying. Ronaldo has come the closest to bettering that mark, with strikes in eight successive 2013/14 outings.

However, when it comes to goals per match, Ronaldo cannot compete with the all-time record holders. His UEFA Champions League record stands at 0.71 a game – 89 goals in 125 games – and it is 0.71 in all UEFA club competitions – 91 in 128. Messi has registered more consistently (0.78 in the UEFA Champions League – 80 goals in 102 games; 0.78 in all UEFA competitions – 83 in 106). While Falcao’s awesome total may yet come down if he returns to regular European action, Gerd Müller’s European Cup ratio still seems unbeatable.

Champions League final venue: San Siro’s legacy

Published: Wednesday 20 January 2016, 10.30CET

The San Siro will witness Europe’s champions crowned for the fourth time in its history this season. We look back at the previous finals that have graced the iconic stadium..  The San Siro hosts the showpiece of Europe’s premier club competition for the fourth time this season, giving us the opportunity to look back and discover the stadium’s finals legacy.

Inter 1-0 Benfica
27/05/1965, European Cup final
The Nerazzurri became the third side to win successive European titles, seeing off two-time champions Benfica on home soil as they adapted better to the muddy and waterlogged conditions. The Portuguese club – led by Eusébio – had blown away Real Madrid and Hungary’s Vasas in the previous two rounds, but the heavens opened to stymie their passing game. A Catenaccio-drilled Inter took advantage, with Brazilian Jair scoring two minutes before the interval to give ‘La Grande Inter’ a second crown.

Feyenoord 2-1 Celtic (aet)
06/05/1970 European Cup final
The great Ajax team of the early 1970s put Dutch soccer on the map with a trio of consecutive titles from 1971, yet it was their rivals from Rotterdam who beat them to the trophy by a year. Under the guidance of famed Austrian coach Ernst Happel, Rinus Israel equalised two minutes after Tommy Gemmel’s opener for 1967 winners Celtic. Prolific Swede Ole Kindvall struck with three minutes of extra time left to kick the door open for Dutch supremacy.

Highlights: 2001 Milan showdown

Bayern 1-1 Valencia (Bayern win 5-4 on pens)
23/05/2001 UEFA Champions League final
Bayern ended 25 years of waiting for their fourth European title as penalties dominated the day. Gaizka Mendieta and Stefan Effenberg traded regulation-time spot kicks and the game went to a shoot-out, clinched when Oliver Kahn denied Mauricio Pellegrino as the Spaniards lost the final for the second year running. “I remember that Santiago Cañizares, the Valencia goalkeeper, lay down on the goal line and started to cry. I felt for him,” said match winner Kahn, who had endured similar pain in 1999.

There have also been four UEFA Cup final legs played at the San Siro …

Inter 2-0 Roma
08/05/1991 UEFA Cup final first leg
Lothar Matthäus’s penalty and Nicola Berti’s 67th-minute strike established a first-leg lead which Roma could only halve with a 1-0 success in the return match.

Inter 1-0 Salzburg
11/05/1994 UEFA Cup final second leg
After Berti again scored in the first leg to give Inter a 1-0 victory in Austria, Dutch midfielder Wim Jonk sealed the trophy triumph with the only goal of the second leg in Milan.

©Getty Images

Juventus 1-1 Parma
17/05/95 UEFA Cup final second leg
Following a 1-0 defeat in Parma, Juve had to play their home leg in Milan and despite going ahead through Gianluca Vialli were pegged back by Dino Baggio’s second goal of the tie, which earned a draw and the trophy for Parma.

Inter 1-0 Schalke
21/05/97 UEFA Cup final second leg
Iván Zamorano decided the second leg for Inter six minutes from time to herald the lottery of penalties; however, the Chilean forward missed in the shoot-out along with Aron Winter, allowing Schalke to land the prize.

Márquez, Chicarito, Sánchez: CONCACAF’s European stars

Published: Wednesday 20 January 2016, 15.00CET

Six CONCACAF-registered players are still in with a shout of winning this season’s UEFA Champions League; UEFA.com records North and Central America’s high scores.

CONCACAF nationals in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League round of 16 squads
Joel Campbell (CRC – Arsenal)
Julian Green (USA – Bayern München)
Andrés Guardado (MEX – PSV Eindhoven)
Raúl Jiménez (MEX – Benfica)
Héctor Moreno (MEX – PSV Eindhoven)
Keylor Navas (CRC – Real Madrid)

RELATED ITEMS

• South American stars
• Africa’s European giants

Most appearances by a CONCACAF national player in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)
46: Rafael Márquez (MEX – Monaco, Barcelona)
40: Javier Hernandez (MEX – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen)
30: Emilio Izaguirre (HON – Celtic)
27: DaMarcus Beasley (USA – PSV Eindhoven, Rangers)
27: Jermaine Jones (USA – Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke)
27: Hugo Sánchez (MEX – Real Madrid)
25: Carlos Vela (MEX – Arsenal, Real Sociedad)
22: Christián Bolaños (CRC – København)
21: Atiba Hutchinson (CAN – København, Beşiktaş)
21: Carlos Salcido (MEX – PSV Eindhoven)

Top-scoring CONCACAF national players in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)
17: Hugo Sánchez (MEX – Real Madrid)
13: Javier Hernandez (MEX – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen)
11: Dwight Yorke (TRI – Manchester United)
6: DaMarcus Beasley (USA – PSV Eindhoven, Rangers)
6: Nery Castillo (MEX – Olympiacos, Shakhtar Donetsk)
5: Tomasz Radzinski (CAN – Anderlecht)
5: Carlos Vela (MEX – Arsenal, Real Sociedad)
4: Hector Herrera (MEX – Porto)
3: Christián Bolaños (CRC – København)
3: Sacha Kljestan (USA – Anderlecht)

Most appearances by CONCACAF national players in UEFA club competition*
85: Atiba Hutchinson (CAN – København, PSV Eindhoven, Beşiktaş)
56: Rafael Márquez (MEX – Monaco, Barcelona)
51: Dwight Yorke (TRI – Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers)
45: Hugo Sánchez (MEX – Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid)
43: Javier Hernandez (MEX – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen)
41: Emilio Izaguirre (HON – Celtic)
40: Brad Friedel (USA – Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur)
40: Tim Howard (USA – Manchester United, Everton)
39: Christián Bolaños (CRC – Odense, København)
39: Jermaine Jones (USA – Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke)

Top-scoring CONCACAF national players in UEFA club competition*
24: Hugo Sánchez (MEX – Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid)
17: Julio Dely Valdés (PAN – Cagliari, Paris Saint-Germain, Málaga)
16: Tomasz Radzinski (CAN – Germinal Beerschot, Anderlecht)
15: Javier Hernandez (MEX – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen)
13: Dwight Yorke (TRI – Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers)
7: Clint Dempsey (USA – Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur)
7: Giovani dos Santos (MEX – Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Galatasaray, Villarreal)
7: Bryan Ruiz (CRC – Gent, Twente, Sporting CP)
6: Michael Barrantes (CRC – Aalesund)
6: DaMarcus Beasley (USA – PSV Eindhoven, Rangers)
6: Nery Castillo (MEX – Olympiacos, Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Aris Thessaloniki)

First CONCACAF national to win a UEFA club competition
Hugo Sánchez (Real Madrid 5-3agg Köln, 1985/86 UEFA Cup)

Only CONCACAF national to have won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Julio Dely Valdés (Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Rapid Wien, 1995/96)

CONCACAF nationals who have won the European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League
Dwight Yorke (Manchester United 2-1 Bayern München, 1998/99)
Rafael Márquez (Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal, 2005/06)

CONCACAF nationals who have been European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League runners-up
Javier Hernández (Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United, 2010/11)

CONCACAF nationals who have been UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League runners-up
Clint Dempsey (Atlético Madrid 2-1aet Fulham, 2010/11)

Nation-by-nation: Most appearances by CONCACAF nationals in UEFA club competition*
ANGUILLA: none
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: none
ARUBA: none
BARBADOS: 5 – Emmerson Boyce (Wigan)
BAHAMAS: none
BELIZE: none
BERMUDA: none
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: none
CANADA: 85 – Atiba Hutchinson (København, PSV Eindhoven, Beşiktaş)
CAYMAN ISLANDA: none
COSTA RICA: 39 – (Odense, København)
CUBA: 2 – Alain García (Nõmme Kalju)
CURAÇAO: none
DOMINICA: none
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: none
EL SALVADOR: 7 – Didier Ovono (Dinamo Tbilisi)
GRENADA: 12 – Brendon Batson (West Brom)
GUATEMALA: 8 – Carlos Ruiz (Aris Thessaloniki)
GUYANA: none
HAITI: 28 – Kim Jaggy (Grasshopper Club)
HONDURAS: 41 – Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic)
JAMAICA: 12 – Frank Sinclair (Chelsea, Leicester)
MEXICO: 56 – Rafael Márquez (Monaco, Barcelona)
MONTSERRAT: none
NICARAGUA: 2 – Juan Barrera (Altach)
PANAMA: 38 – Julio Dely Valdés (Cagliari, Paris Saint-Germain, Málaga)
PUERTO RICO: none
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS: none
SAINT LUCIA: none
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: none
SURINAM: none
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: 51 – Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers)
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS: none
UNITED STATES: 40 – Brad Friedel (Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur)
US VIRGIN ISLANDS: none

*UEFA club competitions means European Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, European/South American Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup

Financial fair play: all you need to know

Published: Tuesday 30 18.12CET

What is financial fair play? How does it work? What is it trying to achieve and why does UEFA believe it will improve the overall financial health of European club football? Find out here.

Q&A: Financial fair play explained

1) How do you explain financial fair play in one sentence?

Financial fair play is about improving the overall financial health of European club football.

2) When did financial fair play start?

Financial fair play was approved in 2010 and the first assessments kicked off in 2011. Since then clubs that have qualified for UEFA competitions have to prove they do not have overdue payables towards other clubs, their players and social/tax authorities throughout the season. In other words, they have to prove they have paid their bills.

Since 2013, clubs have also been assessed against break-even requirements, which require clubs to balance their spending with their revenues and restricts clubs from accumulating debt. In assessing this, the independent Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) analyses each season three years’ worth of club financial figures, for all clubs in UEFA competitions, The first sanctions and conditions for clubs not fulfilling the break-even requirement were set following this first assessment in May 2014. The conditions relating to non-compliance with break-even requirements were effective for the 2014/15 campaign.

From June 2015, UEFA updated its regulations (as it does from time to time for all regulations) to address some specific circumstances with the aim to encourage more sustainable investment while maintaining control on overspending. Situations addressed include clubs requiring business restructuring, clubs facing sudden economic shocks and clubs operating with severe market structural deficiencies in their operating region. For the first time the work of the CFCB is potentially expanded to include clubs not yet qualified for UEFA competitions but who anticipate and want to participate at some stage in the future.

3) Are clubs no longer allowed to have losses?

To be exact, clubs can spend up to €5million more than they earn per assessment period (three years). However it can exceed this level to a certain limit, if it is entirely covered by a direct contribution/payment from the club owner(s) or a related party. This prevents the build-up of unsustainable debt.

The limits are:
• €45m for assessment periods 2013/14 and 2014/15
• €30m for assessment periods 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

In order to promote investment in stadiums, training facilities, youth development and women’s football (from 2015), all such costs are excluded from the break-even calculation.

4) Are clubs automatically excluded if they are not in line with FFP? 

If a club is not in line with the regulations, it will be UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body that decides on measures and sanctions.

Non-compliance with the regulations does not mean that a club will be excluded automatically, but there will be no exceptions. Depending on various factors (e.g. the trend of the break-even result) different disciplinary measures may be imposed against a club. There is a catalogue of measures:
a) warning
b) reprimand
c) fine
d) deduction of points
e) withholding of revenues from a UEFA competition
f) prohibition on registering new players in UEFA competitions
g) restriction on the number of players that a club may register for participation in UEFA competitions, including a financial limit on the overall aggregate cost of the employee benefits expenses of players registered on the A-list for the purposes of UEFA club competitions
h) disqualification from competitions in progress and/or exclusion from future competitions
i) withdrawal of a title or award

In addition the CFCB have decided in numerous cases that the objectives of FFP can be best achieved by taking a rehabilitative approach rather than a punitive approach. This has led to the conclusion of settlement agreements between a club and the CFCB, combining certain financial contributions with numerous restrictive conditions, which provide a roadmap for clubs to reach break-even in the foreseeable future (see further detail in points 11–16).

5) Are owners allowed to inject money into their club as they like or through sponsorship?

If a club’s owner injects money into the club through a sponsorship deal with a company to which he is related, then UEFA’s competent bodies will investigate and, if necessary, adapt the calculations of the break-even result for the sponsorship revenues to the level which is appropriate (‘fair value’) according to market prices.

Under the updated regulations, any entity that, alone or in aggregate together with other entities which are linked to the same owner or government, represent more than 30% of the club’s total revenues is automatically considered a related party.

6) Who grants a licence to clubs to compete in a UEFA competition?

Every club that has qualified for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League needs a licence, which is granted to a club by the national associations (or sometimes leagues). This is based on the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations. UEFA then verifies documents and figures from all clubs which have been registered for one of the UEFA competitions.

7) Some clubs have enormous debts or do not pay their debts. Can those clubs still comply with financial fair play?

A certain level of debt is part of a normal financing approach for any business. However the build-up of net debt is restricted by the break-even rules, which require owners or investors to recapitalise and cover any losses. In addition, in the future any investors looking to conclude a voluntary agreement with the CFCB will be expected to commit funds in advance, ex ante rather than ex post. Finally certain debts with added importance, such as debts to players or key staff, social/tax authorities and other clubs are monitored on a regular basis by the CFCB.

8) Has it happened that a club has been denied access to UEFA competitions because of FFP?

The UEFA club licensing system was introduced in the 2003/04 season. Since then 53 clubs on 57 separate occasions, which have directly sportingly qualified for either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League were not admitted because they did not fulfil the licensing or financial fair play criteria. Financial fair play has been introduced and added to the licensing criteria in 2011. Since then six clubs have been denied access to the UEFA competitions because they have not paid wages to players or fees to other clubs for transfers and one club has been excluded from UEFA competitions due to a failure to comply with break-even requirements.

9) Is FFP in line with European law?

UEFA has been in permanent dialogue with the European Commission about financial fair play and has received continued support for this initiative. There is also a joint statement from the UEFA President and the EU commissioner for competition, emphasising the consistency between the rules and objectives of financial fair play and the policy aims of the EU commission in the field of state aid.

10) Will financial fair play make it impossible for smaller clubs to overcome bigger clubs in financial terms?

There are large differences between the wealth of different clubs and countries, which predate and are irrespective of financial fair play. The aim of financial fair play is not to make all clubs equal in size and wealth, but to encourage clubs to build for success rather than continually seeking a ‘quick fix’. Football clubs need an improved environment where investing in the future is better rewarded so that more clubs can be credible long-term investment prospects.

By favouring investments in youth and stadium infrastructure and by setting the acceptable deficits in absolute million € terms and not relative percentage terms, the break-even assessment has been structured to be less restrictive to smaller and medium-sized clubs. In time, more smaller and medium-sized clubs will have potential to grow.

11) Why has the UEFA Club Financial Control Body reached settlement agreements with clubs?

The CFCB’s investigatory chamber can offer clubs settlement agreements, a common instrument for financial regulators to help facilitate compliance. Article 15 of the Procedural rules governing the UEFA Club Financial Control Body states that “settlement agreements may set out the obligation(s) to be fulfilled by the defendant, including the possible application of disciplinary measures and, where necessary, a specific timeframe. The CFCB chief investigator monitors the proper and timely implementation of the settlement agreement. If a defendant fails to comply with the terms of a settlement agreement, the CFCB chief investigator shall refer the case to the adjudicatory chamber.”

12) Can you explain the financial measures handed out and how the figures were determined?

Financial measures are linked to each club’s earnings from their participation in European competition during the assessment period.

13) What are the player registration restrictions and how they are determined?

The Club Financial Control Body felt that it was imperative that clubs face sporting restrictions as well as financial measures as a result of non-compliance with the break-even requirement. The restriction on the number of players to be registered on the A list serves the dual purpose of limiting the on-field benefits arising from non-compliance while also assisting in achieving the overall objectives of the break-even requirement. The A list restriction is further supported by the restriction on the number of new registrations that clubs can add to the A list and on limits on their net transfer spend.

14) What is the appeal process for other clubs?

Any decision of the CFCB chief investigator to conclude a settlement agreement or to apply disciplinary measures may be reviewed by the adjudicatory chamber at the request of a directly affected party within ten days from the date of publication of the decision.

15) How are clubs that have contravened financial fair play being incentivised to become break-even compliant?

Settlements require the clubs to become compliant with financial fair play within a short period of time. Failure to meet settlement terms will lead to the club being automatically referred to the adjudicatory chamber.

Conversely if a club fulfils each individual requirement of the settlement, it may be released from the limitation on the number of players for UEFA competitions for the following season. If a club becomes break-even compliant during the course of the settlement, all sanctions shall cease to apply for the following season, with the exception of the non-conditional element of the financial measure.

16) Where does the money from the financial measures go?

UEFA will not keep any of the money. UEFA will distribute money from financial contributions by making solidarity payments to other European clubs according to an agreed formula. The exact details for redistribution of funds will be decided by UEFA and its Executive Committee in due course.

17) How does financial fair play deal with debt?

Manageable debt geared towards the long-term development (stadium, academy, infrastructure etc) of the club is efficient for financial planning and is standard practice in most industries. Debt taken on board, including the monetisation of future income, to fund day-to-day operating activity such as wages and transfer fees or to fund short-term cash flow shortfalls can create problems and must be managed effectively.

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The Old Ballcoach  – Coach Shane Best

So the big news in US Soccer this week is the return of the prodigal son – Young Forward Jordan Morris – everyone’s favorite College Player turning pro this winter.  After training with German side Werder Bremen for 15 days (at the request of that German US Coach Klinsmann) – Morris has turned down their contract offer and elected to return home to Seattle to turn pro with the Sounders.  He claimed he just felt comfortable turning pro and returning to the club where he grew up, where his dad is still the team doctor and where he could become the highest ever paid US Home Grown Prospect in MLS.  I love the plan, I think he needs to make sure he has an out clause in say 2 years where he can escape to a European Club without hefty penalty – but I think this is the right time for him to turn pro after his Junior Year a year where he led Stanford to a NCAA Title.  I think with the age of Dempsey and Martins, he will definitely get playing time up front for the sounders – hopefully without the pressure to be the NEXT Great US Striker and without the uncertainly that playing overseas when you aren’t proven as a Pro quite yet.

So interesting the continued battle “the German” Read Klinsmann is having with MLS over young players going to Europe to cut their teeth.  Listen I understand that in the National Team the coach wants his players playing in the most competitive situation and honestly that is often in the big 5 leagues in Europe.  Now I think MLS should be where younger players (home grown especially) make their debuts before heading over after proving themselves in MLS – (see McBride, Bocenegra, Dempsey, Howard, Freidle, Keller) heck I can’t think of any really good US born players who didn’t get over to Europe that way).  Now the contracts with MLS have to be conducive to them going over say 1 to 2 to 3 years after they start MLS – but I still think that is the way it should work.

So the Indy 11 have been busy making some moves for more Veteran players – on the surface I like the signings – interesting move to bring in an experienced goalkeeper who can also mentor perhaps the younger keepers.  Busch is a longtime MLS veteran Goalie who will also serve as a “player coach” it appears.

Anyway on to this week’s games – the big matchup in the EPL is Arsenal battling Chelsea on Sunday at 11 am on NBCSN right after Timmy Howard and Everton host Swansea at 8:30 am.  Arsenal stands atop the table tied with Leicester City and 1 pt up on Man City, while Chelsea continue their climb up from 14^th overall.  Huge game for both teams to hold serve.  Leicester City battles top 7 Stoke City and US defender Geoff Cameron Sat at 10 am, while Man U faces Southampton at 12:30 on NBC with revenge on their mind after losing at home for the first time in 20 years last season.  Sunday on beIn Sport Italy’s Juventus and Roma meet in a battle of top 5 clubs in the Serie A.  Finally the US Women will face off against Ireland Sunday on Fox Sports 1. Be Like Carli

This is pretty cool

You Never Know Who’s Juggling that Ball

US MensSoccer – MLS Players in Camp Right Now

This year’s edition of the US camp runs until Feb. 6 and features a mix of senior and Under-23 internationals. It will culminate with friendlies at the StubHub Center against Iceland on Jan. 31 on ESPN 2 at 5 pm and Canada on Feb. 5 Fox Sports 1 at 10:15 pm

Here is the updated USMNT camp roster by position (all US Based Players in Camp):

GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

DEFENDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (unattached), Perry Kitchen (unattached), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart), Jordan Morris (unattached), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

USA Soccer

Jordan Morris Chooses MLS and the Seattle Sounders– Wahl SI

Morris Decision – Brian Straus SI

Jordan Morris Comes Home to Seattle – Now What – Armchair Analyst Matthew Doyle MLS.com

Just How Big Could Copa America Be in the US this Summer  I plan to go to Chicago’s games at least  (join me)

MF Benny Feilhaber Speaks Out on National Team Exile

Seattles Brad Evans Added to US Roster for Jan Camp

US U17 star mid Christian Pulisic is now on First Team at Dortmund  Luvi Bird – SI

US Ladies play Ireland on Sunday at 5 pm

MLS and NASL

Klinsmann says MLS Owners Don’t See the World Picture ESPN FC

Colorado Rapids Making Push for Timmy Howards Return to MLS

Former USMNT Star Earnie Stewart has big plans for Philly Union

Dempsey on Morris Joining Seattle

INDY 11

Veteran MLS Goalie Jon Busch Joins the 11

Duo from San Antonio Joins 11

Defender Falvey from Fury FC joins 11

EPL and WORLD

EPL Predictions for the Weekend

Arsenal and Chelsea primed for Battle Sunday  Tom Adams and Phil Lythell ESPN FC

Man U’s Winning Streak comes With Caveats EPSN FC

Man U  Denies meeting with PEP – ESPN FC

http://www.espnfc.us/barclays-premier-league/23/table

GAMES THIS WEEK

 Sat, Jan 23

7:45 am NBCSN                                     Norwich vs Liverpool

9:30 am Fox Sports 1                            Hoffenhiem vs Bayern Leverkusen

10 am NBCSN                                        Leicester City vs Stoke, Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, Man City vs Southampton

10 am, beIn Sport (Spain)                     Malaga vs Barcelona

12:30 NBC                                              West Ham vs Man City

12:30 Fox Sports 2 (germ)                    Borussia M’Gladbach vs Dortmund

5 pm Fox Sports 1                               USWNT vs Ireland

 Sun, Jan 24

8:30 am NBCSN                                     Everton vs Swansea

9:30 am  Fox Sports 1 (Germ)              E. Frankfurt vs Wolfsburg

11 am NCBSN                                        Arsenal vs Chelsea

11:30 am Fox Sports 1 (Germ)             Schalke vs Werder Bremen

2:45 pm, beIn Sports (Italy)                 Juventus vs Roma

 Sat, Jan 30

9:30 am Fox Sports 1                            Bayern Leverkusen vs Hannover 96

10 am beIn Sports                                Barcelona vs Athletico Madrid

10 am,??                                                 FA Cup – Arsenal s Burnley

10 am                                                      FA Cup- Crystal Palace vs Stoke City

Sun, Jan 31

3:45 pm ESPN2                                   US Men vs Iceland

Fri, Feb 5

10:15 pm  Fox Sports 1                       US Men vs Canada

  Tues, Feb 16

Champions League

2;45 pm  FS 1               PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2                 Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

 Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1                 Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2                 Gent vs Wolfsburg

 Thurs, Feb 18

Europa League

1 pm Anderlecht vs Olympiachos, Dortman vs Porto, Fioreentina vs Tottehman, Midtiland vs Man U, Villarreal vs Napoli

3 pm Ausburg vs Liverpool, Sporting Portugal vs Bayern Leverkusen, Valencia vs Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray vs Lazio

  Tues, Feb 23

Champ League

2:45 pm FS 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2 Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm  FS1? Queretaro vs DC United

10 pm FS2? Seattle Sounders vs Club America

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1 Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2 Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

8 pm Tigres UNAL vs Real Salt Lake

10 pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna

 Tuesday, March 1:

D.C. United vs. Querétaro, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 10:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Wednesday, March 2: 

Club América vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Sunday, March 6: 

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. (UniMás, Univision Deportes)]

 Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

 Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

http://www.1070thefan.com/blogs/soccer-saturday

Jurgen Klinsmann: MLS owners have ‘misconception’ about ‘global picture’

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann says MLS club owners’ “misconception” about his goals for the national team has led to the perception that he is at odds with the league.Klinsmann and Major League Soccer have always had a frosty relationship, with tempers coming to a head in October 2014 as the U.S. coach suggested star players needed to prove themselves after returning to MLS.MLS commissioner Don Garber called those remarks “detrimental,” “wrong,” and “personally infuriating,” and said several MLS owners indicated their displeasure with Klinsmann.But Klinsmann told ESPN FC this week that he would welcome the opportunity to sit down and explain his position.”I think it’s great if people have their opinion out there, that they express that opinion,” Klinsmann said in a wide-ranging interview. “But I think before they express their opinion they should give me a call and ask what is really going on. Because a lot of people mention their thoughts without even knowing what is really going on.”For example, there is the feeling out there that MLS owners are not really on board, but it’s because I was never given the opportunity to speak in front of them and explain the technical side of what we’re doing with the national teams.”So there’s maybe a misconception with some people because I was never given the opportunity to explain, this, this, and this. There are very few people that can explain to you different levels of leagues, different levels of environments, different levels of continents.”Klinsmann suggested MLS owners’ limited perspective may be behind their differences.”Our picture is the global picture,” he said. “We need to know what England, Germany, and Spain are doing in Europe, and then Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are doing in South America. But our benchmarks are internationally.”So for a lot of people they define their world domestically, which is totally cool. They should think maybe a little bit more before saying things from the outside about the national team program.”Klinsmann also pointed to his inclusion of MLS players, who made up more than half the U.S. squad at the World Cup, as proof that he has players’ best interests in mind, no matter where they play.”We see a lot more than the result. We see the development of players at a specific point in time in their careers. Our job is to help them to build,” Klinsmann said. “We never give up on players because they have a couple of bad months, a couple of bad games. We help them through those phases. No matter where they are in their club environments.”That’s another point with MLS. I always say, ‘We are here for the players, to play at the highest level possible.’ If that highest level is MLS, we are here to help. Why am I here at this camp? Why did I take 13 players from MLS to Brazil, and keep on helping, helping, helping?”

Jordan Morris’s future in fine shape despite passing on Werder Bremen

BY BRIAN STRAUSTwitter

EmailPosted: Tue Jan. 19, 2016Updated: Thu Jan. 21, 2016

Werder Bremen general manager Thomas Eichin could have said anything (or nothing) in Tuesday’s release regarding Jordan Morris, the Stanford University junior and U.S. national team rising star who has rejected the German club’s contract offer. And Eichin chose to say this:“We’re in a situation now where we need players who fully identify with Werder and the way things are done here, in order for them to focus properly on the task ahead.”Indeed, the 116-year-old club, which has spent only one season in Germany’s second tier, faces a challenge requiring proper focus. Werder (4-10-3) entered the Bundesliga’s winter break on a five-game winless streak that dragged it into the relegation zone. Only one league rival has scored fewer goals this season and only one has yielded more.It’s understandable why Werder, already the home of injured U.S. forward Aron Jóhannsson, would find Morris appealing. He’s a powerful, efficient and confident striker who appeared at ease playing (and scoring) against Mexico before 64,000 fans only a few days after Stanford’s spring scrimmage against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He came recommended by U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and assistant Andreas Herzog, a Werder alumnus, and assisted on the only goal in last week’s 1-0 exhibition win over Azerbaijan’s Inter Baku. And as a free-agent American, Morris wouldn’t be cost prohibitive.

• WAHL: Dempsey on the potential of adding Morris to Seattle’s mix

But the 21-year-old is a free agent in name only. Morris’s heart remains in his hometown of Seattle, where he’s expected to kick off his pro career. The Sounders literally are family—Morris’s father, Michael, is the club’s medical director—and they remained confident they’d get their man even as Klinsmann and Herzog helped open doors in Germany. Morris spent a year in the Sounders’ youth academy, played for the club’s U-23 team and was offered the richest homegrown player contract in MLS history. Werder could offer more, but this decision wasn’t about the money. It was about where Morris wants to play.Morris won’t miss out on a pro environment in Seattle. It may not be the Bundesliga, but it’s a massive step up from Stanford. He’ll have plenty to figure out. The Sounders attract big crowds and have experienced stars from whom Morris can learn. And playing time isn’t guaranteed on a team featuring the likes of Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Nelson Valdez. But careful attention to Morris’s development is. The Sounders have a vested interest in his success—one that goes beyond the dollars. Morris’s progress will be scrutinized and may influence decisions made by prized U.S. prospects down the road. PODCAST: What did college soccer do for Jordan Morris (32:00)?

Those who would argue that Morris is hampering his personal development, and perhaps that of the national team, by choosing Seattle don’t give the player much credit. If his commitment, professionalism and will to improve are high enough, then he’ll adapt, flourish and earn additional opportunities. Perhaps he’ll join DeAndre Yedlin and Fredy Montero as former Sounders now making their way in Europe.MORE: Timbers owner Paulson blasts “anti-MLS” Klinsmann

Armchair Analyst: Jordan Morris comes home, and now what?

January 21, 20169:31 PM ESTMatthew DoyleMLSsoccer.com

Jordan Morris has come home. The US international striker spurned an offer from German Bundesliga Werder Bremen to sign a Homegrown player contract with his hometown team, the Seattle Sounders. And in the Emerald City there was much rejoicing.The reason for celebration is obvious: Morris is an exceptional prospect, and as soon as he put pen to paper became the odds-on favorite to be the 2016 Rookie of the Year (though his former college and current US teammate Brandon Vincent is and shall remain my pick for the award). And as Seattle GM Garth Lagerwey said during the SuperDraft, it was essentially “Morris or bust.” While the Sounders have other talented kids in their academy, none of them are Morris, and none of them would have commanded the same kind of outlay of resources.”From a purely salary cap standpoint, either you get Jordan Morris or you don’t. There isn’t another Homegrown in our pipeline and in our group that we’re gonna give that money to,” Lagerwey explained on the draft webcast. “Either it will go unused, or it will go to Jordan.”So to make it clear: This was a zero-sum game for the Sounders, which is why the whole negotiation felt so urgent and why the signing was greeted with such relief. There was no other way to get this kind of talent into the roster:That’s obviously elite stuff, and I expect it to translate to MLS.The question now turns to how, exactly, Morris fits into a Seattle lineup that already has three DP forwards in Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez. This is where it gets tricky, because “fit” is often as important as — or more important than — raw talent.For those who don’t know, Morris played as a pure forward at Stanford in a pretty old-fashioned and uncomplicated 4-4-2 that often looked like a 4-2-2-2. This allowed him the freedom to move inside and out, check toward the ball or (much more often) play off the shoulder of the defenders to use his speed and absolutely devastating first touch. He’s mostly done the same thing for both the full USMNT and the US U-23s.That kind of game probably won’t be an option in Rave Green. Even if Seattle kept the 4-4-2, Morris isn’t going to unseat either Dempsey or Martins as a starter, and more to the point, it looks like the Sounders are going to move away from their “amoeba” to a 4-3-3 set.There are a number of reasons why I think this will work. First is that Dempsey can very easily play on the left side of that formation, offering everything Krisztian Nemeth brought to the table for Sporting KC last year and probably a little bit more.Second, new left back Joevin Jones offers both an overlapping threat and another support valve in possession. Third, is that Morris can play a simplified, direct version of “winger” in the way that Ethan Finlay does for Columbus. Finlay is really just a second forward whose starting points are wide rather than a winger who comes inside. He doesn’t need to do on-the-ball work in possession, he just needs to stretch the field vertically and horizontallyFinally, though, there is Oba. In order to get the best out of Morris, the Sounders need to be able to use his speed in behind defenses, and in Martins they have the league’s best passing No. 9. He is a through-ball artist:

That’s Oba, having dropped way off his line and away from pressure to pick up a pass and put Dempsey through. Now imagine this same type of play, except to A) a faster player, and B) with the run coming from outside-to-inside. That ball becomes a chance on goal.It’s not all going to be this easy, of course. Every team that plays a variation of the 4-3-3 has at least one guy who drops back off the frontline into midfield to regularly help out on both sides of the ball. Columbus task Justin Meram with that job, while for KC it’s Graham Zusi. Mike Grella and Lloyd Sam take turns for the Red Bulls, and for Portland down the stretch it was usually Fanendo Adi, with useful defensive cameos from Rodney Wallace. It’s a balance, and finding the right one week-to-week won’t happen overnight.Seattle also have to get Ozzie Alonso healthy and then convince him to be a pure No. 6 rather than a “run yourself ragged!” destroyer, and they have to make certain that the Erik Friberg/Andreas Ivanschitz presumptive central midfield balance works on both sides of the ball. They have to make sure Jones remembers to defend. They have to hope that Chad Marshall and Brad Evans both have another high-caliber year left in the tank, and they have to hope that Valdez is willing to accept what looks for the moment like a super-sub role.And they have to make sure that Morris et al don’t crack under pressure. I suggest that you click that link and read it, because it’s good stuff from the inimitable Steve Davis.This is all part of the journey, and it’s the right kind of stuff for Lagerwey, Schmid and the rest of the Seattle coaching staff to worry about now that the shopping is done. By getting Morris to put pen to paper, they aced the big offseason project.Now it’s time to make sure the regular season goes according to plan.

Sporting KC’s Benny Feilhaber speaks out on US national team exile: “I don’t think Klinsmann calls in the best players”

January 20, 201612:21 PM ESTScott FrenchMLSsoccer.com

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.—Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber says he’s accepted that he will never get another opportunity with the US national team as long as Jurgen Klinsmann is running things. But he’s troubled by the German legend’s selections for his rosters, and that has nothing to do with his omissions.Coming off an outstanding 2015 campaign, the MLS Landon Donovan MVP finalist closed Tuesday’s MLS media roundtable in Southern California with an epic, nearly 10-minute dissection of what he believes is the biggest problem facing the national team under Klinsmann: That the best players, those who would make the team stronger and more competitive, aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.“I don’t think Jurgen calls in the best players that are available to him,” said Feilhaber, who has made 41 international appearances and played under Bob Bradley at the 2010 World Cup, told a dozen journalists at the close of the 8 1/2-hour, 21-player session at the Manhattan Beach Marriott. “That, for me, is a problem. There’s players that are better than other players that don’t get an opportunity with the national team. That, for me, is a bigger deal than anything else.“Everybody points fingers at certain things, but, for me, that’s the most important thing.”

• READ:Eddie Johnson discusses retirement, Klinsmann at charity match

Feilhaber’s “long rant,” as he termed it when he finished, began almost as an afterthought. He’d answered questions about Sporting’s 2015 campaign and prospects for the coming season, MLS’s competitiveness, and Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco and LA Galaxy’s Robbie Keane – the past two league MVPs. Then an “Any final questions?” request brought a query about the USMNT, which is stationed nearby for its annual January camp at StubHub Center.“I think I’ve accepted the fact that Jurgen’s not going to call me in,” said Feilhaber, who has made three US appearances under Klinsmann, the last during January camp in 2014. “I mean, if I play the year that I played this last year and I’m not getting a call, you know, I’m not going to get an opportunity under Jurgen. That’s something I just have to accept. I wouldn’t say [I’m] frustrated, just almost sad, kind of.“I feel like I’m playing the best soccer of my career, but I don’t get the opportunity to play for my country. It’s something I’ve kind of accepted. It is what it is. It’s not going to happen with Jurgen as coach.”That brought more questions, and Feilhaber was pointed in his responses, asserting that he believes Klinsmann doesn’t give MLS players a fair shake – and that some overseas players also haven’t been given opportunities when warranted.  He singled out several players who should have the chance, but haven’t, to win prominent roles with the national team.“Based on what I see, I think that Jurgen takes some players in MLS and uses the fact that they’re in MLS to maybe not call them up or whatever,” Feilhaber said. “You look at some of the top players that played this year, and you take a Sacha Kljestan, you take a Dax McCarty, you take aMatt Hedges, and I’m sure you can go on and on, and these guys aren’t getting an opportunity.“So it’s not just me. There’s certain people like that, but there’s people in Europe as well. I can’t name a lot of guys – I don’t know some of the younger guys – but an Eric Lichaj, for example, he’s been playing well in Europe for countless years, and he hasn’t been really given any opportunity either. So there’s guys in MLS, there’s guys in Europe who don’t get opportunities with Jurgen for whatever reason.”Feilhaber said Klinsmann “doesn’t do his job” in this respect.“I believe there’s, obviously, two duties [that a coach has],” Feilhaber said. “That’s 1) Making the best possible team you can possibly make with the players that are available to you, and 2) Try to continuously improve that team so that team doesn’t stall in any way and continues to improve. For me, Jurgen seems to try to do the second one without doing the first one.“He’d rather put young guys on the team who potentially could become someone important on the team, and he leaves out players that could make the team better right now,” Feilhaber added. “The No. 1 job of a coach is not to make the team as good as he could make it in five years, it’s to make it as good as he could make it now and continuously improve it for five years from now.”

U.S. Soccer records show Klinsmann made $3.2M in 2014 fiscal year

BY SI WIREEmailPosted: Wed Jan. 20, 2016

U.S. men’s national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann earned $3,207,110 in reportable compensation and another $25,371 in funds from the USSF and related groups from April 2014 to March 2015, according to records posted by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Wednesday.Klinsmann helped the United States reach the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in 2014. His contract runs through the 2018 World Cup in Russia.In the previous fiscal year, Klinsmann earned more than $2.5 million, the largest haul for a national team coach in USSF history.• The big picture: MLS vs. abroad   Last year, Klinsmann and the USMNT finished fourth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and failed to qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.The USMNT has moved forward with World Cup qualifying as it defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5–1 and pulled a 0–0 draw against Trinidad and Tobago.

U.S. prospect Christian Pulisic a fast-rising talent at Borussia Dortmund

BY LIVIU BIRDTwitter EmailPosted: Thu Jan. 21, 2016

When Borussia Dortmund kicks off the second half of the Bundesliga season on Saturday, it will do so with an American trying to break into the lineup. Christian Pulisic, the United States Under-17 international who impressed with his performance at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, has been with the Dortmund first team since reconvening after winter break and is on the club’s official roster for the rest of the season.“It’s incredible, first of all. Just an honor to play with these players,” Pulisic​, 17, told SI.com via telephone from Germany. “They’re all helping me, and they want me to really be a part of the team. It’s just a great experience for me.”Despite his slight 5’8″ frame, Pulisic has quickly established himself as the most promising player coming through the U.S. youth ranks. His showing was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal U-17 World Cup for the U.S., and after winning a U-17 German championship with BVB, he scored four goals for Dortmund’s U-19s in the first half of this season.He and German U-17 captain Felix Passlack, a teammate at the U-17 and U-19 levels, have been touted as academy players who could make an impact on the first team in the immediate future.“It’s cool that we’re such close friends,” Pulisic said. “It’s always helpful to have a guy who you know, is your age and you can always rely on him and talk to him about stuff.”Both players’ opportunities with the first team have grown since Thomas Tuchel took over as the manager at the start of the year.“[Tuchel] is a great coach from the training perspective,” Pulisic said. “Getting to learn from him every day is really good, and it’s getting me a lot better. I know that for sure. I definitely need a coach like him, and I know he’s going to help me in my development.”After a 45-minute appearance against St. Pauli in a September friendly, Pulisic joined the first team for its midseason training camp in Dubai this month. He appeared in both matches there, scoring in stoppage time of a 4-1 win over South Korean top-flight leader Jeonbuk Motors on Jan. 15.Previous BVB manager Jurgen Klopp, now at Liverpool, also lauded the Hershey, Pennsylvania, native when he trained with the first team in 2015.“In a very intense training session with narrow spaces, he did not stand out in a negative way,” Klopp said at the time. “This is a real sign of quality.”Pulisic said Turkish international Nuri Şahin has been particularly welcoming as he takes his initial steps with the first team. Şahin followed a similar path to Dortmund, making his first-team debut at 16 years and 334 days to set the record for youngest player to play in the Bundesliga. He became the youngest to score in the league three months later.“Almost every training when I first came in, he’s the guy who would put his arm around me, help me out and tell me kind of how things work around here,” Pulisic said, “And he’s just always giving me advice on just simple stuff.”Pulisic has appeared primarily on either wing for BVB, though he​ played as the playmaking No. 10 for the U.S. at the World Cup. He turned heads with his fearless, repeated runs at opposing defenses, showing great technical ability and a cool head in deciphering the proper situation to dribble or pass.“It’s been great to see the success he’s had and how he’s developed,” former U.S. U-17 head coach and current Real Salt Lake assistant Richie Williams told SI.com. “[He’s] a very talented player, and he’s a good person as well. You’re always rooting for those players to continue to develop, to be successful.”Growing up, Pulisic could draw plenty of soccer inspiration from his parents, who both played for George Mason University. His father, Mark, also played for the Harrisburg Heat indoor team from 1991 to 1999.Christian Pulisic spent the majority of his youth playing days at Pennsylvania Classics, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy club, before joining the U.S. U-17 residency program. He also played for Michigan Rush when his father coached the Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 2006-07.PA Classics director Steve Klein said what struck him most besides Pulisic’s talent were his drive and humility.“That’s his best quality, so I think that’s what’s enabling him—plus, obviously, his talent—to keep things in perspective and keep climbing the ladder,” Klein told SI.com. “The thing that we always felt was going to help him through was he seemed to be very grounded and focused about his training and his goals.”Said Williams: “On top of all of those great qualities that he has, he’s a competitor. … He’s a smart kid, and he’s mature. He gets it, and he’s measured in what he says, and he thinks things through. That’s only going to help him continue to grow as a soccer player.” IBefore joining BVB’s academy in July 2014, Pulisic also completed various training stints in England, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Having played alongside some of the world’s best players from such a young age, it’s no surprise Pulisic hardly thinks about the credentials of those with whom he shares the field anymore.“Some of these guys just won a World Cup, and you’re maybe a little star-struck at first,” he said, “and now they’re all my teammates. Of course, I have to give them that respect, but I’m also fighting for the same positions that they all are.”STRAUS: Morris’s decision and the big picture of MLS vs. abroad

The next step will be playing in competitive matches with those players. Tuchel tried Pulisic on both sides of midfield in the midseason training camp, and Jonas Hofmann’s departure to Borussia Monchengladbach on New Year’s Day leaves an opportunity out wide.“It’s definitely hard to say if I’m obviously going to be on the field playing in these Bundesliga matches, but that’s the goal for me,” Pulisic said. “Of course, there are always some injuries, and that could be an opportunity, but right now, I’m just doing everything that I can every day in training and trying to earn my spot on that team.”His former coaches don’t seem to doubt that his moment will come. However, Williams pointed out that Pulisic is still only 17, so his continued success might not be as rapid as his ascent so far.“He has all the tools to be successful, and I think the one thing we need to be is patient,” Williams said. “If you had to put money on it, you’d think he’s one of those players who would do well and would succeed.”

BUSCH BRINGS HIS VAST EXPERIENCE TO ELEVEN

Former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year to lead “Boys in Blue” from the back in 2016

Jan 22, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, January 22, 2016) – Indy Eleven went one step further in its pursuit of veteran talent today with the signing of goalkeeper Jon Busch, who will also serve as the club’s Director of Goalkeeping. Per club policy, contract details will not be announced. Busch’s signing brings Indy Eleven’s 2016 roster to 19 players with the start of preseason training just under a month away.“Indy Eleven gains more than just a player by bringing Jon Busch on board,” said Indy Eleven general manager Peter Wilt. “Besides his proven ability as a top-level goalkeeper, Jon brings unparalleled experience, leadership, grit and character that the rest of the team will feed off of.”Since entering the professional ranks in 1997, Busch has made more than 450 starts in official competitions during a successful 19-year career. After beginning his playing days with five seasons in the A-League (second division) from 1997-2001, Busch spent the last 14 years climbing near the top of Major League Soccer’s charts in numerous categories during stints with the Columbus Crew (2002-06), Chicago Fire SC (2007-09, 2015) and the San Jose Earthquakes (2010-2014).“I brought Jon into training with the Tampa Bay Mutiny back in 1998, so I’ve been familiar with him for quite awhile,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “Throughout his career in Major League Soccer he overcame injuries and those who doubted his size, proving how good he was through his incredible work ethic and determination. He will be a leader, a voice and a player that brings nearly unmatched experience for a goalkeeper in the American game.”The 39-year-old Busch racked up a 113W-92D-101L record in MLS regular season play and ranks fourth in league history in goalkeeper games played (309), shutouts (83) and saves (1,151) and fifth in wins. The native of Queens, N.Y., helped Columbus (2004) and San Jose (2012) to MLS regular season Supporters Shield titles, won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with the Crew and earned the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and earned a spot on the MLS Best XI Team with the Earthquakes in 2008. After making a career-high 34 starts with San Jose in 2014, Busch returned for a second stint with Chicago last year, making 12 appearances with the Fire.“I’m very excited to join the Indy Eleven. It’s a great opportunity for me to play for a great organization and try to win a championship in the NASL,” said Busch, who played with new Eleven teammates Brad Ring and Lovel Palmer while in San Jose and Chicago, respectively. “At the same time this opportunity provides an avenue for me to start learning the goalkeeper coaching side of the game as well.”In addition to his anticipated service on the field, Busch will serve as the club’s Director of Goalkeeping, with duties to include first team coaching and scouting, serving as a guest coach with the Indy Eleven NPSL squad and assisting with the Indy Eleven Summer Soccer Clinic series.Busch will stay busy in the community as well with the continuation of his Saves for SEALs program. The charitable organization he founded in 2011 raises funds for the Navy SEAL Foundation to assist with family support services, educational programs and legacy activities for active and veteran U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) support personnel, and their spouses and children. For more information, visit www.crowdrise.com/SAVESforSEALs.Keep visiting IndyEleven.com and the team’s social media channels to stay up to date on all things Indy Eleven heading into the team’s third NASL campaign.

ELEVEN ADDS EXPERIENCED DUO VIA TRANSFER FROM SACRAMENTO

MLS vets, USL champs Braun & Vukovic boost Indy roster to 18 … and counting

Jan 19, 2016

Indy Eleven Acquires Justin Braun & Nemanja Vuković via Transfer from USL’s Sacramento Republic FC

Forward Braun Served as SRFC Captain during Club’s First Two Seasons;

Vuković Earned 2014 USL Defender of the Year Award While Helping SRFC to USL Title
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, January 19, 2016) – The building of Indy Eleven’s 2016 roster picked up more momentum today with the transfer acquisitions of forward Justin Braun and defender Nemanja Vuković from 2014 USL champion Sacramento Republic FC. Per club policy, details of the transfer agreements and player contracts will not be released.“Bringing players with championship and leadership experience like Justin Braun and Nemanja Vuković on board is further proof Indy Eleven is serious about building a team that will compete for The Championship in 2016,” said Indy Eleven general manager Peter Wilt. “Coming from Sacramento they are also used to playing in front of a sizeable fan base with tremendous passion, so they should feel right at home in Carroll Stadium.”Today’s announcement brings Indy Eleven’s roster up to 18 confirmed players in advance of the 2016 season, which will be augmented with more new veteran additions in the coming days. The addition of Vuković, a native of Montenegro, means four of the club’s seven international roster slots allotted by the NASL have been filled alongside Dragan Stojkov, Eamon Zayed and Colin Falvey. “Justin Braun is a striker that can serve as a target and bring our attacking midfielders forward. He’ll get his goals but is also capable of coming in from a wing position, so his versatility will be very valuable,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “I first saw Nemanja Vuković play for the Columbus Crew in MLS a few years ago, where he alternated from center back to an attacking left back. At 6’3” he brings great size and stature that will help strengthen the back line, and he also possesses great composure on the ball so his technical ability can help the team get forward.”Braun is entering the ninth season of his professional career, which kicked off in 2008 with a six-year run in Major League Soccer with Chivas USA, Montreal Impact, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC. After notching 27 goals and 15 assists across 135 regular season and postseason games in MLS, the Salt Lake City native joined his former Chivas USA coach Preki in 2014 as one of the first signings with Sacramento Republic FC, and was named the budding USL powerhouse’s captain for both of its first two years. The 28-year-old striker scored 14 goals and tallied one assist during 49 appearances in official competitions with SRFC across 2014-15.“I am very excited to join Indy Eleven and play in front of the best fans in the NASL. I have heard so many good things about the club and city, and the supporters seem to be very passionate. As a player those are the type of fans you want to play for,” Braun stated. “From speaking with Peter Wilt I am very excited with the direction the club is going both on and off the field. He and Tim Hankinson are building a very good squad, and I look forward to being part of that and doing all I can to bring success to Indianapolis.”Like Braun, the 31-year-old Vuković was one of Sacramento Republic FC’s earliest signings leading up to their 2014 inaugural season and played in the squad’s USL PRO Championship triumph over Harrisburg City Islanders that fall. Vuković contributed five goals and three assists from the back line during his 65 games across all competitions with Sacramento and was named the 2014 USL PRO Defender of the Year and a 2014 All USL PRO First Team selection. Prior to joining SRFC, Vukovic spent part of the 2012 MLS season with Columbus but logged most of the first decade of his career from 2003-2013 between clubs in the Montenegrin First and Second Leagues (FK Kom, FC Budućnost Podgorica, OFK Grbalj  & Mladost Podgorica) and the Greek Super League (Panetolikos).”I am really excited about coming to Indy Eleven, especially alongside my friend and teammate in Justin. Indy Eleven is a very well organized club with big ambitions and goals, which is why I accepted the invitation to join the team. The club has a good coach and Justin and I hope we can help him and our teammates achieve a championship title and repeat the success we had in Sacramento,” said Vuković. “I also want to say a big thanks to all the people at Sacramento Republic FC and the club’s fans – especially the Tower Bridge Battalion – for their amazing support during a fantastic two years that I will never forget.”Visit the “Roster” page to more info on Braun and Vukovic and to keep track of the full listing of the “Boys in Blue” as the club’s roster continues to grow leading into preseason in February. Fans can also visit the team’s social media channels to keep up to date on all things Indy Eleven heading into the team’s third NASL campaign.

Indy Eleven Adds More Defensive Experience via Transfer Signing of Colin Falvey

Hard-nosed Center Back Becomes Indy Eleven’s Second Offseason Signing from 2015 NASL Finalist Ottawa Fury FC
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, January 15, 2016) – Indy Eleven plucked a second experienced member away from last year’s NASL runner-up Ottawa Fury FC with today’s transfer signing of defender Colin Falvey. Per club policy, contract details will be not announced.Falvey joins his former Ottawa teammate midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic in jumping across the “NASL Class of 2014” lines to Indy Eleven this offseason. The native of Cork City, Ireland, will count as the squad’s third of seven allotted international signings and brings the current roster count to 16 players. “Colin Falvey brings great leadership and physicality to the roster,” said Indy Eleven general manager Peter Wilt. “With the additions of Colin, Lovel Palmer and Neil Shaffer our defensive corps will have much greater experience, and there is more to come in the next week. I am confident we will have the deepest defensive unit in the league this season.”VIDEO: Watch the best of Falvey’s 2015 contributions with Fury FC

The native of Ireland arrives after spending the 2015 season with Fury FC, where he started in all 32 appearances made for the Canadian club across all competitions. The hard-nosed center back recorded one assist from his spot on the backline in over 2,800 minutes en route to helping Ottawa secure the 2015 NASL Fall championship.“One thing every defense needs is a voice and an organizer, and we’ve recruited Colin for those qualities,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “He’ll be the glue that creates a defense that will be hard to break down this season.”Prior to his year north of the border, Falvey served as captain of the USL’s Charleston Battery during the latter portion of his five-season stint from 2010-14, and also suited up for the Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Second Division in 2009. The 30-year-old began his professional career in his native Ireland in 2004 and has also plied his trade in New Zealand and India.“I’m very excited to be joining Indy Eleven and proud I get to call it home this season. Every player in the league always looks forward to the visit to Indianapolis because of the great atmosphere that’s been built,” said Falvey. “Coach Hankinson believes we can be successful, I believe we can be successful, and there is no doubt the fans think so as well as they have turned up in the thousands week after week. I’ll do everything I can to play a massive part in bringing success to the club and the city for those fans.”
#32 Colin Falvey
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: June 20, 1985 (30) in Cork City, Ireland
Hometown: Cork City, Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Last Club: Ottawa Fury FC (NASL)
Pronunciation: FAWL-veh
Twitter: @falvey32
Instagram: @falvey32
Previous Clubs: Ottawa Fury FC (NASL, 2015), Charleston Battery (USL, 2010-2014), Kerala Blasters [Indian Super League, 2014 (loan)], YoungHeart Manawatu (New Zealand ASB Youth League, 2009-2011), Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Second Division, 2009), Otago United (New Zealand ASB Premiership, 2008), Kilkenny City A.F.C. (League of Ireland, 2007-2008), Cobh Ramblers (League of Ireland, 2004-2007)

Earnie Stewart brings Moneyball to Philadelphia as the Union aim to punch above their weight | THE WORD

January 21, 201611:15 AM ESTDave ZeitlinMLSsoccer.com

CHESTER, Pa. – A couple of years ago, Ennis Stewart, the son of former US internationalEarnie Stewart, popped in a DVD and began watching one of the most memorable goals in American soccer history.With the wide-eyed exuberance and curiosity of an 11-year-old, he leaned in close to study the terrific buildup, from Thomas Dooley’s composed touch and turn in the middle of the field … to Eric Wynalda’s slicing run and pinpoint pass out wide … to Tab Ramos’ deft dribbles, defense-splitting vision and chip toward the box.Just then, the boy’s father flashed onto the screen, making a diagonal run between defenders to collect Ramos’ pass and dink the ball past the goalkeeper to score the game-winning goal in the US national team’s historic 2-1 upset of Colombia in the 1994 World Cup – the Americans’ first World Cup victory since 1950.Young Ennis, who was born shortly before Earnie played in his final World Cup in 2002, smiled. And noticing that his father had come into the room, he asked if they could watch together.Perhaps this could have been an opportune father-son moment, a chance for Earnie to sit Ennis on his lap and tell him about the spirit of underdogs, about how those 1994 and 2002 US teams shocked just about everyone to advance to the knockout round, about how anything is possible if you just put your mind to it.   Or …“I just walked by,” the elder Stewart remembers. The former US national team midfielder never misses a chance to bond with his children – Ennis is now 13 and his daughter, Quinty, is 16 – but that goal vs. Colombia, it turns out, is something that he doesn’t like to watch. In fact, he actively avoids it. Same goes for the ’02 World Cup or any of his other USMNT appearances in which he scored 17 times in a decorated international career from 1990 to 2004. Or, for that matter, anything that involved him as a player or an executive, a post he recently assumed on these shores after spending the last 10 years in his birthplace of the Netherlands.“I don’t like looking at myself,” he tells MLSsoccer.com in his office at Talen Energy Stadium (formerly PPL Park), a few days after he was officially introduced as the Philadelphia Union’s sporting director. “Once I see myself on TV, no matter it being an interview [or playing], I just don’t like it because I see all the negative things.

• MEET EARNIE STEWART:Former USMNT star’s path from playing to management

“I don’t want to call myself a perfectionist because it sounds so stupid. But I find it very, very difficult to find the positive things in myself and I always see the negative things. It bugs me.”There’s more to it than that, though. For the ambitious Stewart, it seems there’s no sense looking behind when there’s still so much to do in the future. And while the 46-year-old has often defied expectations, from leading the USMNT to two surprising World Cup runs to assembling strong teams with a limited budget as a savvy front-office executive, he’s never considered his success a surprise worthy of nostalgic remembrance.It’s just something he found a way to do. And there’s still more work to be done.“Having played as a professional or having made it to the national team or having played in the World Cup, you don’t do that if you think, ‘I’m the underdog and might lose this,’” says Mike Sorber, a Union assistant coach and a teammate of Stewart on the ’94 World Cup team. “You make it because you think, ‘It doesn’t matter what the challenge is. I’ll find a solution.’”Now comes the next big challenge: can Earnie Stewart help the Philadelphia Union build a foundation for future success after years of instability?

IF IT WERE UP TO Earnie Stewart Sr., his son would have played a different kind of football.Growing up in Texas, the elder Stewart was a high school football player in the (American) football-crazed state and a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. (“I’m sick to death they’re not winning,” he says.) That never changed, even after he joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18 and was deployed to the Netherlands, where he married a Dutch woman, raised a family and has spent the majority of his time ever since.“To be truthful about everything, I love American football,” he says by phone from the Netherlands. “When Earnie was born, I always dreamed of him being a wide receiver or a quarterback.”It didn’t take long, though, for the elder Stewart to realize that his son had an affinity for Holland’s most popular sport – the other football. And he saw that he had the speed and determination to make it, too.“I remember a few times when the weather was bad, they’d call up and say, ‘Hey, the game’s been rained out. Nobody’s playing today,’” Earnie Stewart Sr. recalls. “But Earnie would get on his bike and ride down in the cold and try to find a pickup game.”According to his father, young Earnie was initially used as a defender in youth leagues. But when one coach moved him up top as an 11-year-old, he scored 10 goals in one game and “that was when he got rolling.”Stewart began his professional career as a teenager with VVV-Venlo, before later playing for Dutch clubs Willem II and NAC Breda, scoring 114 goals in 16 years between the three clubs.And he was only 21 years old when he first joined the US national team in 1990 – the ultimate dream for a kid who adapted to Dutch culture but always felt connected to his American roots as well.“All I wanted to do was play for a national team, not knowing which one that would be,” says Stewart, adding that he was first invited to a Netherlands camp but didn’t make the final cut. “The United States is such a big and powerful country that you felt a couple of feet taller when you played for the national team and got to wear that jersey.”Stewart would go on to be a stalwart for the US and was one of the team’s rocks during 2002 World Cup qualifying, during which he scored eight goals and wore the captain’s armband for several games. But it was that first World Cup in 1994 that was especially meaningful to Stewart’s father, who once imagined his own fate might include college football glory in the Rose Bowl.

• MEET EARNIE STEWART:Hear what former AZ exec has in plan for Philly

Instead, he was in the stands to watch his son score the game-winning goal against Colombia in the historic California stadium.“I had always dreamed of coming out of the tunnel myself,” says the elder Stewart, who spent 21 years in the Air Force and now works as a manager in a Dutch store that sells goods to US serviceman. “But when I saw him coming out of the tunnel at the World Cup, I was so proud of him.”For the younger Stewart, the entire ’94 World Cup remains a blur – one that hasn’t come into any more focus in later years since he doesn’t watch the highlights. But his first World Cup was certainly special, and he does have at least one clear recollection from the goal that helped the Americans knock off heavily favored Colombia and move into the next round of the watershed tournament. “I remember there was a pile and I couldn’t get any air on the bottom of that pile and it was so tremendously hot,” he says. “And the day after I remember doing my laundry. That’s pretty much it.”

THERE’S A SCENE in the 2011 film Moneyball in which a group of scouts, stereotypical baseball old-timers, describe prospects in almost comically qualitative terms – “baseball bodies” and “eye-candy tests.”Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletic general manager for whom the movie and 2003 Michael Lewis book of the same name is based, responds with disgust, “You guys are sitting around talking the same old good-body nonsense like we’re selling jeans, like we’re looking for Fabio. We’ve got to think differently.”In other words, the A’s needed to stop looking at superficial attributes and find underappreciated and undervalued players in order to compete.It was in his last job as the director of football affairs at Dutch top-flight club AZ Alkmaar that Stewart took other members of his front office to see Moneyball, hoping to bring that general philosophy to a team that, like the A’s, didn’t have the same size budget as their domestic competitors.“You learn to be creative,” Stewart said in an ESPN.com feature from Jan. 2012 that first chronicled his affinity for Moneyball. But it took some time to build a new scouting database and get the right people on board to help with the Moneyball plan. Eventually, former Dutch Major Leaguer Robert Eenhoorn joined the club as general director in 2014, and Beane himself became an AZ Alkmaar advisor in March 2015.The hires – two baseball men breaking down barriers in the beautiful game – were unconventional, to say the least.“Soccer is a very conservative sport in Europe but we were known to be a club of innovation,” said Stewart, who played baseball while growing up in Holland before turning to soccer. “In the beginning, people were skeptical. They still are. But once you believe in something, you have to follow that path.”Stewart noted that translating Moneyball, which focuses on qualitative evaluation to minimize bias, from baseball to soccer wasn’t difficult because “numbers are numbers.” The key, like it was for the A’s, was simply focusing on certain statistics to uncover overlooked players and bridge the financial divide.And he, too, didn’t care about how those players looked in a pair of Levi’s.“A lot of times when you look at a player, you already have a clouded vision of him,” Stewart says. “You like him or you don’t like him because, I don’t know, he’s athletic or he’s not athletic. And you have to try to look past that when it comes to the scouting process. What numbers do and what analytics do is they don’t look at who the person is – if he’s athletic, what kind of ethnicity he is. It’s just the numbers. These are the facts.”It’s no secret this philosophy is one of the main reasons why Stewart was hired by the Union. Majority owner Jay Sugarman has spoken openly about exploiting different edges to get a leg up on the competition and when he saw Stewart had worked with Beane, he remembers thinking, “Ah, common soul.”What also set Stewart apart from other candidate in the club’s year-long search to find their first sporting director is his approach to player development, which will be central to his job as he also oversees the Union’s youth academy and USL affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC.And that, Stewart said, “has nothing to do with analytics.” It’s simply about helping players grow by getting to know them, on and off the field.“First and foremost, there’s a mistake we make in soccer a lot of times,” Stewart says. “When we look at players, we look at them as only professionals, like they have no private lives at all. We never discuss that. We never talk about that. “It’s just getting to know players beyond the soccer player. What is his background? What drives him? What kind of ambition does he have? Together you can make a plan on going forward and getting the best out of this player. I truly believe there’s more to a player than having them come into practice and leaving after practice.”Player development has certainly been a challenge for the Union, who have had only one Homegrown signing – Zach Pfeffer, traded to the Colorado Rapids following last week’s SuperDraft – see significant playing time while others such as Jimmy McLaughlin and Cristhian Hernandez failed to crack the first team and were eventually waived. READ: Union laud Stewart as “critical piece of the puzzle”

And as the Union’s youth academy at YSC Sports continues to grow, Stewart understands the foundation has to come from Homegrown talent and that properly developing those players could at least partially cure the franchise’s costly roster turnover year after year.But in the short term, after the Union traded away or declined options on more than a dozen players following a disappointing 2015 campaign, there will be plenty of roster changes as the club has money, flexibility and an ever-improving scouting database to scour the globe for signings that can help the team win in 2016 and beyond.And Stewart knows there are potentially players to be found in every pocket of the world, perhaps ones that are sometimes forgotten, perhaps ones who can help the Union develop a new reputation.

EARNIE STEWART WAS ANGRY. It was Sept. 4, 2004, and D.C. United had just lost 3-1 to the Chicago Fire at Solider Field, dropping their record to 6-9-9 in what was shaping up to be a underachieving season.What was said in the D.C. United locker room that day in 2004 remains a mystery. Perhaps it’s not appropriate for print. Or perhaps the passing of time has dulled the memories of those involved.But this much we know: Stewart and teammate Ryan Nelsen gave a rousing speech. And from that point forward, D.C. United became a dominant force that went on to capture the 2004 MLS Cup.“I remember the tone of it and I remember after that we went on [a great run],” recalls Josh Gros, now the Union’s team coordinator and a rookie on the 2004 D.C. United team. “That was the turning point.”D.C. would go on to win eight of 10 on their way to MLS Cup glory, a regular season loss in Columbus and Eastern Conference Final decided by penalty kicks the only remaining blemishes on their record.By then, Stewart was a hardened veteran with weak knees. He didn’t score much during the 2003 and 2004 seasons with D.C. United – his only two in MLS – but he emerged a leader, counseling young players like Union midfielder Brian Carroll and Gros, who roomed with Stewart on his first West Coast trip.Gros, of course, idolized the three-time World Cup veteran and wasn’t surprised by Stewart’s effective midseason speech because “he was someone that had the respect of the entire team.” And despite his reluctance to revisit the past, Stewart still calls that locker-room talk a “defining moment.”“It was kind of like all of a sudden it was normal we became champions,” he says, “because of the thought that we had of who we were and what our goal was.”In many ways, puffing on victory cigars after D.C.’s 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards in the 2004 MLS Cup proved to be a fitting swan song to Stewart’s professional career and a perfect transition to the next phase of his life.He tried to keep his career going with his first club, VVV-Venlo, but the cartilage in his right knee gave out in 2005. Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise. Stewart was quickly named the club’s technical director instead of running their youth academy as initially planned.“Who knows? Maybe if I would have played on, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” he says. “I don’t know what life would have been like. Maybe I would have. But the opportunity arose right away to be a technical director in Holland so I count my blessings for that.”Stewart had immediate success in the front office, first at VVV and then at NAC Breda, stints that led to a job with AZ Alkmaar in 2010. It was there he really made his mark as the club rose up the Dutch Eredivisie table and became a fixture in the Europa League while simultaneously slashing its payroll.“I’ve never looked at it as I’ve been at clubs with a lesser budget,” says Stewart, who admitted in his first Union press conference that it was always his ambition to return to the United States. “Even if I had been at Ajax, PSV [Eindhoven] or Feyenoord, my budget would have been less than Chelsea. That’s not the drive that I have. To bring out the best in people, that is something I do have. And the budget really doesn’t make a difference in that.”That kind of thinking will certainly be beneficial as Stewart’s now in charge of a Union franchise that will not shell out the same kind of dollars as MLS’s biggest clubs. And Stewart admits that he and his staff – including two Philly natives, head coach Jim Curtin and technical director Chris Albright – are “not going to build Rome in a day” as they look to set a foundation for long-term success.Stewart began to lay the groundwork for that foundation last week in Baltimore, working the phones to end up with three of the top six SuperDraft picks, which Philly used to primarily bolster their leaky defense by nabbing Georgetown defenders Joshua Yaro andKeegan Rosenberry (just a day after they took a flyer on Brazilian second-divisioner Anderson Conceição, who Stewart described as a central defender with a “great left foot”). The Union also selected one of college’s premier goalscorers in Creighton’s Fabian Herbers, who could compete for time on the wing with two other offseason additions: former D.C. United stalwart Chris Pontius and New York Cosmos import Walter Restrepo.  The Union, of course, still have other offensive needs heading into training camp and could probably use a veteran presence on the backline if they move Maurice Edu into the midfield. But no matter the obstacles for the team (which has only made the playoffs once in six years) and for himself (he admittedly still has a lot to learn about MLS), Stewart will not go into the first game of the 2016 season this March feeling like an underdog.  No, he’ll have high expectations from the very beginning. Just like when he was on the US national team and he went toe-to-toe with world powers like Brazil. Just like when he decided one day that the 2004 D.C. United team was better than they had been playing. Just like when he put AZ Alkmaar in a position to beat Dutch powers Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord by being smart and innovative.  Just like always. “I never go in looking at it like we’re the underdog,” Stewart said. “I want to get the best out of players. I want to get the best out of my staff and the team we have and win games. It could be that you have less money. It could be that you have less this or less that.  “But if you keep looking at that and worrying about that, you’re never going to go anywhere.” Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.

ARSENAL vs. CHELSEA

ARSENAL: This is a rare chance for Arsenal to inflict some pain on Chelsea. Their recent record against their London rivals is dismal but the Blues are at a low ebb and, yes, even fighting relegation. Oh, and Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are back.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea — Tom Adams

CHELSEA: Games against Arsenal are normally ones to look forward to, but with the midfield in such chaotic form and Diego Costa suffering from a shin injury, it is hard to be optimistic. Upbeat Arsenal will be desperate to beat their London rivals on Sunday as they dream of a rare title win. Sadly, it’s hard to see beyond a home victory for the Gunners.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea — Phil Lythell

MANCHESTER UNITED vs. SOUTHAMPTON

MAN UNITED: Louis van Gaal’s men have shown a little more resilience in the Premier League in recent weeks with two wins and two draws in their past four, but this could be a frustrating afternoon for the home side, who were beaten by Saints at Old Trafford last season.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Southampton — Musa Okwonga

SOUTHAMPTON: The rivalry between Southampton manager Ronald Koeman and fellow Dutchman Van Gaal adds extra spice to this fixture. Koeman got the better of his old adversary last season as the visitors won a league game at Old Trafford for the first time in more than 20 years.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Southampton — Alex Crook

LEICESTER vs. STOKE

LEICESTER: Having failed to beat Bournemouth (0-0) and Aston Villa (1-1) this is exactly the type of game Leicester must win if they are to remain in the chase for a Champions League spot. Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have yet to score in 2016.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Stoke — Ben Jacobs

STOKE: Stoke’s defence has often struggled against pacy opposition and in that respect, the trip to Leicester will arguably be their biggest test of the season. A deeper back line and the return of Xherdan Shaqiri, though, will give the Potters hope of a positive result.
Prediction: Leicester 2-2 Stoke — James Whittaker

EVERTON vs. SWANSEA

EVERTON: One win and 11 points dropped from winning positions in the past nine matches has Roberto Martinez’s men buried in midtable. Swansea, winless in their 21 league meetings with the Blues, would appear ideal opponents for an Everton side needing to improve on three wins in 13 at Goodison Park.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Swansea — Luke O’Farrell

SWANSEA: A rejuvenated Swansea are playing to impress new head coach Francesco Guidolin and face a free-scoring Everton side that have been struggling to find wins, if not goals, having not won a league match since Boxing Day. Everton have home advantage, but battling Swansea have four clean sheets in six games.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Swansea — Max Hicks

NORWICH vs. LIVERPOOL

NORWICH: The Canaries have lost the past two but there is a buzz around the club after a double deal for Wolfsburg defender Timm Klose and Everton’s Steven Naismith. City are also unbeaten in five at home in the league. Liverpool will have to be at their best.
Prediction: Norwich 1-1 Liverpool — Paddy Davitt

LIVERPOOL: With just one point from the past available nine, Liverpool need to get back on track this Saturday at relegation-threatened Norwich. Goals are proving hard to come by, so a clean sheet would be most welcome for under-pressure goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose new five-year deal was not universally welcomed by supporters.
Prediction: Norwich 0-1 Liverpool — Dave Usher

SUNDERLAND vs. BOURNEMOUTH

SUNDERLAND: Sam Allardyce’s men follow most steps forward with at least one in reverse. The defence is so porous that Bournemouth could exploit any lapse in concentration, despite Callum Wilson’s continued absence. Jermain Defoe remains Sunderland’s best match-winning hope but it may be tight.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Bournemouth— Colin Randall

BOURNEMOUTH: The visitors are hoping to put some space between themselves and the drop zone. Eddie Howe’s team are full of confidence after thrashing Norwich 3-0 in their past game for their biggest Premier League win yet. Benik Afobe will be the main threat up front.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-1 Bournemouth — Steve Menary

Proud Member of the Brick Yard Battalion – http://brickyardbattalion.com, Sam’s Army-http://sams-army.com ,  American Outlaws  https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

The Old Ballcoach  – Coach Shane Best

So A quick shot at The Year in Review.  Let’s Start with the huge news that Carli Loyd became just the 4^th US player to be name Player of the Year, which after her spectacular World Cup Run in leading the US to the Crown, was to be expected.  Of course it came down to Renaldo and Messi again for The Player of the Year on the men’s side and the Barcelona man took home his 5^th after losing out to Renaldo for the last two injury plagued seasons.

So what’s the biggest story in the EPL – is it Leicester City and their miracle run at the top of the Table, or is it the complete meltdown that is Chelsea and the firing of the Special One- Jose Mourino?  Chelsea’s meltdown to the bottom of the table has been amazing and it will be interesting to see if new manager Gus Hiddick can continue to right the ship and move them back into contention.  My biggest story goes to Leicester City, the Foxes continue their impressive run and remain in a tie for 1^st place in the EPL with exciting come from behind victories, goal scoring and just an exciting brand of futbol.  Listen this is like the Tampa Bay Rays battling for the world series, they have among the lowest payrolls in the league and not one player that the average soccer fan would recognize before this season.  Tune in to NBC this Saturday at 12:30 to catch the story of the year as Leicester faces Aston Villa and US keeper Brad Guzan.  Meanwhile US keeper Tim Howard off one of his best games of the year in shutting out Man City on Wed and his Toffees of Everton will host Chelsea at 10 am on USA Network. Sunday it’s two of the biggest clubs on the planet facing off as new Liverpool manager Jeurgan Klopp welcomes Van Gaal and Manchester United at 9 am on NBCSN followed by the resurgent Potters of Stoke City and American defender Geoff Cameron hosting league leaders Arsenal at 11 am on NBCSN.  I’ll have more on the new GM of Indy 11 next week.  Sad to see Peter Wilt go.

 US

Carli Loyd is World Player of the Year SI

American Players Update –Washington Post

US Not Pushing Jordan Morris where he Should Sign –Jeff Carlisle

US Forward Jordan Morris fresh off winning title with Stanford will train with German Club Werder Bremen

MLS rumors– MLS.com Morris where to?  Brad Friedel to coach US Youth Teams

Copa America Schedule is Released – MLS.com– US to play in San Fran, Chicago, Philly

Copa America 101 – all you need to know

US U23 UFs Claire Falknor signs with Bayern Munich

WORLD AND EPL

Messi Wins Ballon d’Or (Player of Year) Again

Zidane faces Real Challenges at Real Madrid ESPN FC

Zidane takes over at Real under massive pressure ESPN FC –

5 Reasons Benetiz was sacked at Real – ESPN FC

Predictions for the EPL this Weekend

Man U vs Liverpool one of the best Rivalries in EPL

Chelsea looks to move up vs Everton this weekend

Pep wants to Coach in Premier League

Chelsea starting to turn around under Guss Hiddink  ESPNFC

Questions Remain over Van Gaal at United – ESPN FC

Mourinho Camp Frustrated Waiting for Man U job to open up  ESPN FC –

Leicester don’t need luck to finish Top 4

Liverpool Klopp Training leading to Hamstring Injuries for multiple players? ESPN FC

Llana –Training not to blame for Liverpool Injuries – just bad luck

Top Saves Week 21

MLS and Indy 11

IMS former Prez named new Indy 11 President while Wilt stays thru Spring

http://www.indyeleven.com/news/2016/01/14/2016-schedule

Where in the World is Asst Coach Tim Regan

MLS Superdraft

MLS considering Instant Replay

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

GAMES THIS WEEK

Saturday, January 16

7:45 a.m., NBCSN:                                     Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sunderland

10:00 a.m., NBCSN and NBC Universo:        Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m., USA Network:                           Chelsea vs. Everton

10:00 a.m., Exra Time:                                                Bournemouth vs. Norwich City, Newcastle  vs. West Ham , Southampton vs. West Brom
11 am , beIn Sports  (France)                       Toulouse vs PSG

12:30 p.m., NBC:                                       Aston Villa vs. Leicester City (Arlo White and Graeme Le Saux)

2:45 pm  beIn Sports   (Italy)                        Napoli vs Sassuolo

 Sunday, January 17

9 am,  beIn Sports (Italy)                             Udinese vs Juventus

9:05 a.m., NBCSN and Telemundo:               Liverpool vs. Manchester United
11:15 a.m., NBCSN                                    Stoke City vs. Arsenal

2:45 pm, beIn Sport                                    Barcelona vs Athletic Club

 Monday, January 18

3:00 p.m., NBCSN:                                 Swansea City vs. Watford

 Wednesday, January 20

3 pm  Fox Sports 1  FA CUP                       Liverpool vs. Exeter City
11:15 a.m., NBCSN                                    Stoke City vs. Arsenal

2:45 pm, beIn Sport                                    Barcelona vs Athletic Club

 Friday, January 22

2:30 pm  Fox Sports 1                                 Hamburger SV vs Bayern Munich

 Sat, Jan 23

7:45 am NBCSN                                     Norwich vs Liverpool

9:30 am Fox Sports 1                            Hoffenhiem vs Bayern Leverkusen

10 am NBCSN                                        Leicester City vs Stoke, Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, Man City vs Southampton

10 am, beIn Sport (Spain)                     Malaga vs Barcelona

12:30 NBC                                              West Ham vs Man City

12:30 Fox Sports 2 (germ)                    Borussia M’Gladbach vs Dortmund

5 pm espn2?                                         USWNT vs Ireland

 Sun, Jan 24

8:30 am NBCSN                                     Everton vs Swansea

9:30 am  Fox Sports 1 (Germ)              E. Frankfurt vs Wolfsburg

11 am NCBSN                                        Arsenal vs Chelsea

11:30 am Fox Sports 1 (Germ)             Schalke vs Werder Bremen

2:45 pm, beIn Sports (Italy)               Juventus vs Roma

 Sat, Jan 30

9:30 am Fox Sports 1                            Bayern Leverkusen vs Hannover 96

10 am beIn Sports                                Barcelona vs Athletico Madrid

10 am,??                                                 FA Cup – Arsenal s Burnley

10 am                                                      FA Cup- Crystal Palace vs Stoke City

Sun, Jan 31

3:45 pm NBCSN                                    US Men vs Iceland

Fri, Feb 5

10:15 pm                                              US Men vs Canada

 Tues, Feb 16

Champions League

2;45 pm  FS 1               PSG vs Chelsea

2:45 pm FS2                 Benefica vs Zenit St. Pete

 Wed, Feb 17

2:45 pm FS1                 Roma vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm FS2                 Gent vs Wolfsburg

 Thurs, Feb 18

Europa League

1 pm Anderlecht vs Olympiachos, Dortman vs Porto, Fioreentina vs Tottehman, Midtiland vs Man U, Villarreal vs Napoli

3 pm Ausburg vs Liverpool, Sporting Portugal vs Bayern Leverkusen, Valencia vs Rapid Vienna, Galatasaray vs Lazio

  Tues, Feb 23

Champ League

2:45 pm FS 1 Arsenal vs Barcelona

2:45 pm FS 2 Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm  FS1? Queretaro vs DC United

10 pm FS2? Seattle Sounders vs Club America

 Wed, Feb 24

2:45 pm  FS1 Dynamo Kiev vs Man City

2:45 pm  FS 2 Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid

8 pm Tigres UNAL vs Real Salt Lake

10 pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna

 Tuesday, March 1:

D.C. United vs. Querétaro, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Santos Laguna vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 10:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Wednesday, March 2: 

Club América vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg, 8:00 p.m. (TV TBD)

 Sunday, March 6: 

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. (UniMás, Univision Deportes)]

 Friday, March 25: 

Guatemala vs. United States men, WC qualifier, time TBD (beIN Sports,)

 Tuesday, March 28:

United States men vs. Guatemala, WC qualifier, time TBD (ESPN2,-Columbus, OH)

MLS TV Schedule for 2016

http://www.1070thefan.com/blogs/soccer-saturday

Carli Lloyd US and FIFA World Player of the Year

Lloyd scored 18 goals for the U.S. women’s national team in 2015, helping her win FIFA World Player of the Year as well as U.S. Soccer’s female player of the year honors. The 33-year-old turned in one of the finest individual performances ever in a World Cup final, men’s or women’s, scoring a hat trick in the first 16 minutes of the U.S. women’s national team’s victory over Japan on July 5. Her third and final goal of the match was a 50-yard strike from around midfield, one of 10 goals nominated for FIFA’s Goal of the Year. Lloyd’s was the only goal scored by a woman to be nominated. Lloyd captured the Women’s World Cup’s Golden Ball and Silver Boot awards after netting six goals in the tournament and becoming the first female player to score in four straight knockout round matches. Along with winning the World Cup, the United States went 20–4–2 in 2015, with its only losses coming in friendly matches.Lloyd also starred for the NWSL’s Houston Dash in 2015, scoring four goals—including three game-winners—in 12 matches.

U.S. Soccer not pushing Jordan Morris to play in Germany, says Don Garber

ALTIMORE — Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said he is convinced that no U.S. Soccer staff member is attempting to convince forward Jordan Morris to sign overseas instead of with MLS.Morris has long been a target of the Seattle Sounders, who have reportedly offered the former Stanford junior the richest homegrown contract in MLS history.”We very much want to sign Jordan,” Garber said. “I know that the Sounders are really focused on it. We’re very hopeful of bringing him into the league, and representing this new generation of great American players.”But Morris is currently on trial at Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, a stint that was arranged by U.S. national team assistant Andi Herzog.Herzog was quoted last week as saying that it was the goal of he and U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann to “get as many players to Europe as possible,” though he later told Fox Sports that he was misquoted.When asked if Herzog and Klinsmann were meddling with the process, Garber indicated he didn’t think this was the case. “It’s not really ‘meddling,'” Garber said. “Our federation has a responsibility to ensure that players that are part of their program understand what their opportunities are.”Garber added that he had spoken to U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gualti and that Gulati had spoken to both Herzog and Klinsmann about the situation, and that Herzog had clarified his remarks.”None of the federation staff is encouraging players to sign overseas and not with MLS,” said Garber. “I think Andi was very clear about that.”In the meantime, all Seattle can do is wait.”Jordan is just going to go through his process,” Seattle GM Garth Lagerwey told ESPN FC earlier this week. “He knows the extent of the opportunity that he has with us, and we hope that in the end he chooses to sign with the Seattle Sounders.”On the MLS SuperDraft broadcast on Thursday, Lagerwey told ESPN’s Taylor Twellman that there were no concerns that Morris would only come off the bench with the team already paying forwards Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez.”If you recall, we had those guys miss I think 50 combined matches last year, in terms of injury, suspension, etc. And they’re obviously all over 30,”Lagerwey said.”So we expect big performances from those guys, hopefully they play every week. If it turns out they don’t, I think Jordan’s a guy who can help us and give us a little bit of cover.”

American soccer players abroad, weekend roundup

By Steven Goff –Washington Post — January 10 at 2:59 PM

A wrap-up of weekend performances by Americans playing in foreign leagues. Of note: Several players competing in lesser leagues or with reserve squads are not listed. Americans with dual nationalities representing other national teams have also been omitted.

ENGLAND

Premier League

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard: in the 18 but did not play in 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge in FA Cup

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan: in the 18 but did not play in 1-1 draw at fourth-tier Wycombe Wanderers in FA Cup

Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron: not in the 18 for 2-1 victory at third-tier Doncaster Rovers

Sunderland defender DeAndre Yedlin, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur: played 90 minutes at right back in 3-1 defeat at Arsenal in FA Cup

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers: U21s vs. Chelsea on Monday

Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch: U21s did not play

Championship

Reading midfielder Danny Williams: played 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town in FA Cup

Fulham defender Tim Ream: entered in the 71^st of 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup

Fulham midfielder Emerson Hyndman: not in the 18 (injured) for 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup

Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector: 90 in 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest defender Eric Lichaj: entered in the 71^st of 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers

Blackburn Rovers defender Adam Henley: FA Cup at Newport County postponed, waterlogged pitch

MK Dons goalkeeper Cody Cropper: played 90 in 2-2 draw at fourth-tier Northampton Town in FA Cup

Reading forward Andrija Novakovich: U21s vs. Manchester United on Monday

Fulham midfielder Luca De La Torre: U21s did not play

SCOTLAND

Championship

Rangers midfielder Gedion Zelalem, on loan from Arsenal: played 62 minutes (assist; video) in 5-1 victory over third-tier Cowdenbeath in Scottish Cup

GERMANY

Bundesliga Winter Break

FRANCE

Ligue 1

Nantes midfielder Alejandro Bedoya: entered in the 64^th minute of 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne

Reims forward Jordan Siebatcheu: entered in the 62^nd of 3-1 defeat to Toulouse

NETHERLANDS

Eredivisie

Utrecht forward Rubio Rubin: winter break, at Groningen on Jan. 17

Groningen defender Desevio Payne: winter break, vs. Utrecht on Jan. 17

DENMARK

Superliga

Hobro defender Babajide Ogunbiyi: winter break, at Brondby on Feb. 28

NORWAY

Eliteserien

Molde goalkeeper Ethan Horvath: season complete, 6^th place (17 matches, 15 starts)

Molde forward Josh Gatt: season complete, 6^th place (1 match, knee injury)

Stabaek midfielder Cole Grossman: season complete, 3^rd place, qualified for Europa League (28 matches, 28 starts, 4 goals)

Bodo/Glimt defender Zarek Valentin: season complete, 9th place (24 matches, 23 starts, 1 goal); signing with MLS

Bodo/Glimt midfielder Danny Cruz, on loan from Philadelphia Union: season complete, 9th place (15 matches, 8 starts, 2 goals)

Viking defender A.J. Soares: season complete, 5th place (20 matches, 19 starts)

Mjondalen defender Rhett Bernstein: season complete, 15^th place, relegated (20 matches, 13 starts, 5 goals); signed with NASL’s Miami FC

Mjondalen forward Erik Hurtado, on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps: season complete, 15^th place, relegated (11 matches, 6 starts, 1 goal); expected to return to Vancouver

Start defender Alex De John: season complete, 14th place, won promotion-relegation playoff (22 matches, 17 starts)

MEXICO

Liga MX

Pachuca defender Omar Gonzalez: played 90 (assist in 43^rd) in 1-1 draw at Tijuana

Here is Omar Gonzalez’s flick which led to Pachuca’s goal ->https://t.co/QMBSS6QpQr

Club America defender Ventura Alvarado: played 90 in 0-0 draw with Puebla

Tijuana forward Paul Arriola: entered in the 66^th in 1-1 draw with Pachuca

Tijuana defender Greg Garza: not in the 18 for 1-1 draw with Pachuca

Tijuana defender Michael Orozco: not in the 18 for 1-1 draw with Pachuca

Tijuana midfielder Alejandro Guido: not in the 18 for 1-1 draw with Pachuca

Tigres midfielder Jose Torres: in the 18 but did not play in 1-0 defeat at Toluca

Tigres forward Luis Silva: not in the 18 for 1-0 defeat at Toluca

Dorados midfielder Joe Corona, on loan from Tijuana: played 67 in 1-0 defeat at Chiapas

Leon goalkeeper William Yarbrough: played 90 in 2-0 victory over Santos Laguna

Leon forward Miguel Ibarra: in the 18 but did not play in 2-0 victory over Santos Laguna

Santos Laguna defender Jorge Villafaña: played 90 in 2-0 defeat at Leon

Queretaro defender Jonathan Bornstein: played 90 in 3-1 defeat to Atlas

Queretaro midfielder Luis Gil: not in the 18 for 3-1 defeat to Atlas

Monterrey defender Edgar Castillo: played 90 in 1-0 victory over Pumas

U.S. forward Jordan Morris set for training with Werder Bremen

Stanford beat Clemson 4-0 in the NCAA College Cup final to become 2015 champions for the first time.United States forward Jordan Morris will join Werder Bremen next week during their winter training camp, the Bundesliga club said on Tuesday.”It’s an opportunity for us to get to know the player better. Nothing more and nothing less,” club CEO Thomas Eichin said in a statement.Morris, who helped Stanford win the NCAA College Cup last month, has yet to announce whether he will turn professional or return for his senior year.The 21-year-old has already earned seven international caps for the U.S. and coach Jurgen

Klinsmann has said Morris “obviously has to” turn professional , while Goal.com reported this week that he was “in advanced negotiations” to join the Seattle Sounders.Morris has spent time with the Sounders’ youth programs and is eligible to join the team on a lucrative homegrown deal, thereby skipping the MLS SuperDraft.But the striker will first explore his options in Europe as he joins Werder Bremen for training on Monday in Belek, Turkey.His U.S. teammate Aron Johannsson is already a member of the Bremen squad but has been out since September with a hip injury.Morris is a key figure on the U.S. under-23 team that faces Colombia in March for a chance to qualify for the Olympics, and he’s also expected to join the senior national team for training camp later this month.Also on Tuesday, United States youth international Christian Pulisic was promoted to first team training at Borussia Dortmund.

Report: US youth international Christian Pulisic promoted to first-team training at Borussia Dortmund

January 5, 20164:25 PM ESTMLSsoccer staff

MLSsoccer.com

Although most eyes are currently on Jordan Morris’ upcoming trip to Germany, another young rising American soccer star is also making waves at a big Bundesliga club.According to reports, Christian Pulisic was promoted to first-team training at Borussia Dortmund on Monday and will travel with the club to their upcoming winter training camp in Dubai.  The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has played very well with Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy, logging four goals and three assists with their U-19 side since joining the club a year ago.The Hershey, Pa., native has been a mainstay on the US U-17 national team and showed promise at last October’s U-17 World Cup despite the Americans’ early exit.

Copa America Centenario 101: All you need to know about next summer’s big tournament

December 17, 20151:11 PM ESTSam StejskalMLSsoccer.com

The brightest stars in world soccer are headed to the US next summer, and they’ll be playing for keeps.The US will host the Copa America Centenario in June 2016, with 10 South American national teams joined by six CONCACAF countries – including the US and Mexico – for a 16-team tournament.Traditionally contested by the 10 CONMEBOL nations and two outside invitees, the 2016 Copa America will be hosted by US Soccer, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF as a one-off tournament in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of South America’s most prestigious international competition. Some of the sport’s biggest names will be in the US for the tournament, with Lionel Messi likely to captain Argentina, Neymar a shoo-in for Brazil’s roster and James Rodriguez presumably set to lead Colombia.  Complete schedule, plus dates and venues for the 2016 Copa América Centenario

MLS should have a significant presence in the competition, with the league’s sizable US national team contingent likely joined by MLS players from Costa Rica, Jamaica and potentially Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, the latter two of which still need to qualify for the tournament.

How is the Centenario different from Copa America?

As mentioned above, the Copa America is South America’s premier international tournament. The longest running international soccer tournament in the world, it’s the continent’s equivalent of the UEFA European Championship or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.The tournament has had many iterations in its 100-year history, with the current format coming into play in 2007. That was the year CONMEBOL shifted to holding the tournament once every four years, with all 10 members of the South American confederation joined by two other countries for a 12-team tournament.The 12 teams are divided into three groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the best two third-place finishers advancing to an eight-team knockout round. Chile hosted the tournament in June 2015, with the hosts winning the title – their first – by beating Argentina in penalties in the final.Uruguay has won the most Copa America titles, taking home the trophy 15 times. Argentina is in second with 14 titles, and Brazil rounds out the top-three with eight championships. Ecuador and Venezuela are the only two CONMEBOL countries that have never won the tournament.The 2016 Centenario, of course, will be a little different. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the tournament, CONMEBOL partnered with US Soccer and CONCACAF to stage a juiced-up version of the event in the States. The tournament, which has never before been hosted outside of South America, should captivate the attention of the entire Western Hemisphere, with big teams and big stars set to face off for the first trophy of its kind.

Which countries are participating?

Sixteen teams will compete in the Copa America Centenario, with all 10 CONMEBOL federations joined by six CONCACAF countries.The US and Mexico automatically qualified for the tournament, and Jamaica and Costa Rica are already in the field as winners of the 2014 Caribbean Cup and 2014 Copa Centroamericana, respectively.By virtue of their finishes at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, four teams – Cuba, Haiti, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago – all qualified for the Copa America Centenario qualifying playoffs. The teams were seeded based on their Gold Cup results, with top-seed Panama set to take on fourth-seeded Cuba and second-seed Trinidad and Tobago scheduled to battle Haiti in one-off matches for spots in the Centenario field. Both qualification matches will be held in Panama City, Panama on Jan. 8.

When, and where, will the tournament be played?

The Copa America Centenario will kick off on June 3 and will conclude with the final on June 26. A total of 10 stadiums were selected from of a group of 24 bidders to host tournament matches, with the minimum stadium capacity for the tournament set at 60,219.Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California will host the US national team in the opener on June 3. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Additionally, the USMNT will play group stage games at Soldier Field (June 7) and Lincoln Financial Field (June 11); Brazil, at the Rose Bowl (June 4), Citrus Bowl (June 8)and Gillette Stadium (June 12); Mexico, at University of Phoenix Stadium (June 5), the Rose Bowl (June 9) and NRG Stadium (June 13); and Argentina, at Levi’s Stadium (June 6), Soldier Field (June 10) and CenturyLink Field (June 14)

List of host stadiums:

CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Wash.

• Citrus Bowl – Orlando, Fla.
• Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass
• Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, Calif.
• Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
• MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, N.J.
• NRG Stadium – Houston, Texas
• Rose Bowl – Pasadena, Calif.
• Soldier Field – Chicago, Ill.
• University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, Ariz.

What’s the format?

The tournament format is relatively straightforward. The 16 teams will be drawn into four groups of four teams each, with each team set to play the other teams in their group once. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout round, with the eight remaining teams then playing a single-elimination, win or go home tournament culminating in the June 26 final.If tied at the end of regulation, group stage matches will end as a draw, while knockout round games will move to two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the teams are still tied after extra time, the game will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.Unlike other regional championships, the Copa America Centenario winner will not earn a berth to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have already determined their representatives for the Confederations Cup, with Mexico beating the US in the CONCACAF Cup in October to earn a spot in Russia and Chile qualifying for the tournament by virtue of their 2015 Copa America title.

Report: Several USMNT mainstays to miss winter camp; Luis Robles gets call-up

January 5, 20165:19 PM ESTMLSsoccer staffMLSsoccer.com

The US national team won’t announce the roster for their upcoming winter camp until later this week, but it appears that several veterans won’t be included.According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Clint Dempsey, Nick Rimando, Graham Zusi, Kyle Beckerman, Brad Evans, Chris Wondolowski and Omar Gonzalez all will not be in camp when it opens Monday due to a variety of factors.But those omissions will open the door for other players to get back into the picture, including Luis Robles, the New York Red Bulls goalkeeper whose only USMNT cap came in 2009. READ: Klinsmann discusses mixing veterans with U-23 players for January camp  Robles, the reigning Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year, will reportedly be joined by other new faces, including 20-year-old FC Dallas ‘keeper Jesse Gonzalez and Columbus Crew SC winger Ethan Finlay.Captain Michael Bradley will be on the 25-man roster, which is expected to include about a dozen U-23 players. The month-long camp culminates with friendlies against Iceland on Jan. 31 and Canada on Feb. 5.

Kick Off: New deal for Dax? | Where will F Jordan Morris sign? | Brad Friedel to coach US Youth Team

January 5, 201611:31 AM ESTJames Keep 

Here are the top 15 stories everyone’s talking about this morning:

12. NEW COACHES, NEW THOUGHTS FOR US YOUTH

Former MLS players Brad Friedel and Omid Namazi have been named as the new head coaches of US youth national team programs, with Friedel set to take charge of the US U-19s and Namazi taking control of the US U-18s. John Hackworth, coach of the U-17 program, offered his thoughts on the current standard of youth development in the US and why the under-threat residency program in Bradenton, Florida remains useful.

1. A NEW DEAL FOR DAX

The New York Red Bulls look to have made a hugely important move, with a report on Monday indicating the club has reached a new, four-year deal with captain Dax McCarty, keeping the midfielder away from free agency next offseason.

2. MORRIS TAKING TO BREMEN?

Though Stanford star and US international Jordan Morris is reportedly  negotiating with his hometown Seattle Sounders, it appears Morris will head to Germany for a training stint with Werder Bremen.

3. CLOSING IN ON COMBINE

The start of the MLS Combine is now only three days away and, with that in mind, here’severything you need to know and some questions we’re hoping to have answered. This is the best chance to impress MLS coaches for several young prospects, one of whom – Stanford co-captain and College Cup-winning left back Brandon Vincent – recently spoke to MLSsoccer.com.

4. GERRARD’S LAST SEASON?

Could 2016 be Steven Gerrard’s final year as a professional soccer player? The LA Galaxy Designated Player has suggested in an interview that this season will probably be his last, with the former Liverpool midfielder already eyeing a career in coaching and a possible return to Anfield.

5. BRUCE’S BITTERSWEET GOODBYES

The ExtraTime Radio crew returned to New York for a special show recapping all the holiday newsaround MLS. LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena joined to give his take on recent transfers and what’s next for LA. Goal.com’s Ives Galarcep checked in to give the lowdown on the 2016 Generation adidas class, Jordan Morris and Dax McCarty.

6. FRIENDS BECOME FOES

Former LA Galaxy stars Omar Gonzalez and Juninho could both be set to make their Liga MX debuts this Friday, with the ex-teammates potentially set to face off as Club Tijuana take on Pachuca in the opening game of the season.

(CR)7. RONALDO RUMOR RESURFACES

Player rumors continue to circle David Beckham’s potential Miami club, with the latest one again linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a move to the proposed MLS expansion side.

8. NYCFC TARGET

Ronald Matarrita might indeed be on his way to New York City FC – Alajuelense club director Marco Vasquez recently said, “Ronald will play outside this country, either in New York or Europe.” One player who won’t be in New York this season is former NYCFC defender Shay Facey, who has joined Rotherham on loan.

9. ATLANTA’S HUGE YEAR

This time next year, Atlanta United will be getting ready for their first season in MLS, which makes 2016 a very important year for the club as they look to establish a solid foundation, with some important hires still to be made.

10. PLAYING FOR A PLACE

There are two Copa América Centenario play-in matches set to take place on Friday: as Trinidad & Tobago take on Haiti and Panama face off against Cuba for a chance to be part of this summer’s big event. Four current MLS players, as well as a handful of former league stars, are all set to play their part.

11. TIMBERS STILL NEGOTIATING

The Portland Timbers are still locked in negotiations with two of their former players as theyattempt to retain the services of Rodney Wallace and Norberto Paparatto for the 2016 season.

13. CREW CALL-UPS

While the full roster for the US national team’s January camp is yet to be revealed, it looks like a trio of Columbus Crew SC players will be on their way to California to take part, with a source confirming that Wil Trapp, Ethan Finlay and Tony Tchani have all been invited to attend.

14. CAMERON FREE TO PLAY

Geoff Cameron could be back in action on Tuesday as Stoke City take on Liverpool in the first leg of England’s League Cup semifinal. The US international looked likely to miss the game after a dubious red card at the weekend, but it has since been overturned.

15. SETBACK FOR HENRY

Although there were more promising signs for Canada with news of two more international commitments, it looks like bad news for one of their players, as Doneil Henry seems set to leave Blackburn Rovers and return to West Ham United, having failed to work his way into the team.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber open to instant replay

BALTIMORE — Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said the United Soccer League is looking to adopt instant replay for the 2016 season, and that if it proves successful, MLS may follow suit.Speaking to reporters at the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Garber said: “I’m a big believer in instant replay. It’s not because I believe our officials need it.”I think the PRO [Professional Referee Organization] program has achieved a lot more than most people give them credit for. … I’ve got a lot of time for Peter Walton. But as you read what’s going on in Europe, I think there’s a bit of a movement for instant replay.”The USL currently constitutes the third tier of the North American Soccer pyramid, and is comprised of 29 teams. It has a close relationship with MLS, in that every MLS team now either fields a reserve team in the USL, or has an affiliate there.Garber feels the USL makes for an ideal proving ground in terms of adding new elements to the game, though he was careful to note that a final decision on replay hadn’t been made.Garber added: “We’re leading the charge [on replay], we’ve put up our hand, and have said to those folks who are looking at it internationally, we’ll be happy to test it here, even in MLS games. It’s not going to happen in 2016, but we are pretty focused on ensuring we will have a test in the USL.”

As Messi wins another Ballon d’Or, his evolution as a superstar continues

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time.

BY BEN LYTTLETON  SI Posted: Mon Jan. 11, 2016

So the experts know their stuff after all. Lionel Messi polled 41% of all votes to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or for a record fifth time Monday in Zurich. In a democratic vote that considers every FIFA country’s national team coach, captain and one accredited journalist–a system that always throws up anomalies–Messi came out on top, as expected.The surprise was that he missed out on a historic player/goal double. He was nominated for the Puskas award for his fantastic strike against Athletic Bilbao, but little-known Brazilian Wendell Lira won it. When 2007 winner Kaká–the last non-Messi/Ronaldo winner–announced Messi’s name, there was no emphatic shout of “Siiiiiiiiiiiii!” as when Ronaldo won it last year; nor was there a sartorially brave suit choice, as Messi has donned in previous years (It was Neymar who took that accolade with his jauntily-angled trilby hat). Messi, playing it safe in a smart black tuxedo, straight-batted the usual press conference and ceremony questions about his own brilliance and thanked his teammates. “It’s an incredibly special moment for me to stand again on this stage, after being in the audience for the last couple of years watching Cristiano [win the trophy],” said Messi. “It’s more than anything I ever dreamed of when I was a kid. Without my teammates none of this would have been possible. Football has made me grow and learn every day. Thank you.”MORE: Messi, Ronaldo omit each other again from Ballon ballots

Also on the day in Zurich, USA standout Carli Lloyd won Women’s Player of the Year, USA’s Jill Ellis won Coach of the Year for Women’s Football and Barcelona’s Luis Enrique won Coach of the Year for Men’s Football. And while the day was about honoring all of world soccer’s best, the bulk of the spotlight belonged to Messi.  Messi now has five Ballon D’Or wins to Ronaldo’s three. This one was no surprise, given that Barcelona won the treble last season, and capped that with the Club World Cup victory in December. While the raw numbers of Messi’s goalscoring (and indeed Ronaldo, who outscored his rival last year) are mind-boggling, this time the judges–made up of national team coaches, captains and one accredited journalist from each FIFA nation–must have considered the aesthetic as well.

PLANET FUTBOLVideoWatch: Here’s why Lionel Messi won his fifth Ballon d’Or

​Messi has the same killer instinct as Ronaldo, but his goals are on a different level; the goal against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final was one thing, but what about the dizzying dribble in the Champions League semifinal that left Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng in a heap, followed by the delicate close-range chip that had Manuel Neuer and Rafinha lying on the goalline and unable to stop? Huge games, huge goals.“Does anyone really believe that the best wa to describe Leo is by talking about his numbers?” asked Martin Mazur in a passionate column in El Grafico. “It is an unfair reduction of the beauty of his game.”

You can have the goals, the vines, even the trophies. What Messi has provided this year are those jaw-droppng moments, those ‘I saw that live’ memories, a level of majesty that can reduce Pep Guardiola to open-mouthed wonder (as when he nut-megged two Manchester City players in a Champions League tie in February).It’s nine years since Messi first appeared on the Ballon D’Or podium, and he has not left it. At that time, we focused on his speed, his dribbling in tight spaces and his humility. As the seasons have gone by, he has responded to every criticism. He didn’t score enough headers, until he did just that in the 2009 Champions League final. He didn’t score enough free kicks, except he now does (19 in all, the same as Ronaldinho, including an in-off-the-crossbar beauty last week against Espanyol). He was not a leader, and too quiet in the dressing-room, which we now know is not true either, even if Javier Mascherano or someone else often does the talking for him.The expectation next year is that Neymar will step up and replace his Barcelona teammate. But don’t be too sure Messi is ready to give up just yet.“He is obsessed about winning a title with the Argentine national team, so I think he will keep this galactic level until the 2018 World Cup,” said Hernan Claus ofDiario Ole. “It’s up to him, but he is looking after his body better than ever.”

• PODCAST: Carli Lloyd on her stellar 2015, meeting Messi

Experts in Brazil are not convinced that Neymar is ready to win it either.“I cannot picture Neymar becoming the next Ballon D’Or,” Silvio Nascimento, sports editor of Veja, told SI.com. “He is not mature enough yet. It will depend on how Messi and even Ronaldo keep playing, but also on himself. If you watch carefully, you will see Neymar still playing this Brazilian style of dribbling when sometimes it is not needed. Even if he did win the Ballon D’Or, I reckon he wouldn’t be able to dominate as Messi has, simply because both Messi and Ronaldo will still be there.”Even Pelé has spotted improvement areas in Neymar’s game.“He doesn’t know how to play backwards, he doesn’t know how to organize the game, he doesn’t know how to build-up. He has lots of deficits in his game,” Pelé said last year. “Neymar is a really good player but he’s not yet a complete one. Messi is definitely the best.”With the Olympics, Copa America Centenario and the European Championships coming up this summer, the field of contenders for next year’s title might not be limited just to this year’s podium players. How unlucky is Luis Suarez to miss out on the top three? Could Gareth Bale fulfill the ambitions of his president Florentino Perez? This could be the year of Paul Pogba or Antoine Griezmann, of Thomas Muller or Mesut Ozil. The favorite, though, has to be Messi again.In 2015, he made us reconsider his own brilliance. Even if he does not make it 10 years unbroken on the podium, we can surely now end the debate about who was the best ever.

 EPL BIG GAMES

anchester United’s trip to Liverpool is always one of the biggest matches of the season. The clash at Anfield is one of the highlights of a weekend that also includes a tricky encounter for Arsenal at Stoke.Each week, ESPN FC’s club bloggers will preview their match and give a prediction. Do you agree or disagree? Have your say below by voting in the match poll.

LIVERPOOL vs. MANCHESTER UNITED

LIVERPOOL: Louis van Gaal has suddenly discovered how to be entertaining after the 3-3 draw with Newcastle. Liverpool have few fit defenders and let Exeter pass them twice — so a goal-feast on Sunday, right? Wrong. Both sides will be so tense and anxious to avoid defeat it’ll be extremely tight and cautious.Prediction: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United — Steven Kelly.

MAN UNITED: Judging from their 3-3 draws earlier this week, we could hope the clash at Anfield will involve lots of goals. Both teams showed encouraging signs going forward in midweek but were appalling in defence. Van Gaal figures to want to tighten things up and the price of not conceding is not scoring too many.Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United — Scott Patterson.

STOKE vs. ARSENAL

STOKE: Stoke face old foes Arsenal, who will be looking to pass the Britannia test to further their title credentials. This could well be another game for the False No. 9 formation, with Bojan Krkic causing the Gunners all manner of problems in their last visit.Prediction: Stoke 2-0 Arsenal — James Whittaer.

ARSENAL: Failure to take all three points at Liverpool on Wednesday night is disappointing and frustrating. Arsene Wenger’s team must turn that into something positive at a ground that is traditionally difficult for them. They simply have to respond to show their title credentials and the return of Alexis Sanchez might help in that regard.
Prediction: Stoke 1-2 Arsenal — Andrew Mangan.

CHELSEA vs. EVERTON

CHELSEA: It’s a case of one step forward and one step back as highlighted by Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with West Brom. That said, Chelsea are certainly capable of raising themselves if needed and they will need to against an impressive Everton side. Former Blue Romelu Lukaku has been rampant in front of goal and will be eager to prove a point. Hopefully, Diego Costa will have a suitable response.Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Everton — Phil Lythell.

EVERTON: Defensive improvements continued in midweek as Everton became the first visiting team in almost a year to keep a clean sheet at Manchester City, but the Blues are winless in 20 league visits to Stamford Bridge and must rediscover their attacking edge. A third successive league draw this month seems more likely.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Everton — Luke O’Farrell.

MAN CITY vs. CRYSTAL PALACE

MAN CITY: Manuel Pellegrini’s side are in decent form, with only one loss in their last six — but only three wins in that time, too. However, the Eagles haven’t scored in the Premier League since mid-December (knowing City, there’s a fair chance that run might end Saturday).Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace — David Mooney.

CRYSTAL PALACE: If ever there was a time to put Manchester City defenders in your fantasy football team this is it. Crystal Palace haven’t scored in their last four Premier League games, look blunt going forward and have injuries to most of their attacking players.Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace — Jim Daly.

Why Liverpool vs. Man United is one of football’s greatest grudge matches

The last thing Louis van Gaal needs is a Sunday afternoon at Anfield. The Manchester United manager’s position is precarious. The Dutchman might not survive a loss to Liverpool. Losing is one thing. Defeat to United’s hated rivals is quite another.Forget the Clasico. This is one of the greatest grudge matches in world football. It is a fixture as intense as any of the game’s big rivalries. Anfield is always at its most ferocious when United come to town — and Old Trafford provides reciprocal animosity when Liverpool visit.It is not about results or league positions. The enmity between the teams and the cities is more deep-seated than that. Its roots are cultural and historical and all the more satisfying for it.United’s badge is an affront to Merseyside. It features a three-masted sailing ship — as Manchester City’s does, too. Manchester is land-locked and 35 miles away from the coast. This inland mill town built a ship canal to circumvent the port of Liverpool. The ghost of economic conflict in the 19th century surfaces every time these teams play.There are fewer similarities than you might expect in two conurbations located so close to each other. The accents could not be more distinct. The humour is very different. There is a theatrical mistrust between the two communities. Gary Neville told a United fanzine a decade ago that he disliked Liverpool. “I can’t stand the people,” he said. “I can’t stand anything to do with them.” Sanctimonious commentators were appalled. Many Scousers recognized Neville’s honesty and appreciated it. They felt the same way about Mancunians.The cities, barely more than a day’s walking distance from each other, feel remarkably different. They judge their achievements — in music, fashion, politics, arts and literature — in comparison with those of their neighbours. Merseyside can take the upper hand in music, courtesy of the Beatles, and can claim to have invented terrace fashion. Manchester has produced better literature, was majoring in groundbreaking politics when Liverpool was still an establishment city and has a more vibrant artistic scene.Football, though, is the main battleground. The two dominant clubs in the north west have come to symbolize the aggressive pride of their respective home towns.Do modern players and managers understand the roots of the rivalry? Almost certainly not. However, the enduring antagonism is infused into the DNA of both clubs. Liverpool’s approach to the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra racism incident almost certainly would have been different if any other team except United had been involved. Kenny Dalglish was fixated on not backing down before Sir Alex Ferguson and Old Trafford. Reactions become irrational when these sides face off, on or off the pitch.United became a global club earlier than Liverpool and can still boast a bigger fanbase. The Munich Air Disaster in 1958, when eight players and three staff members were killed in a plane crash along with 12 others, brought Old Trafford a worldwide wave of sympathy that transcended football. When Matt Busby, a former Liverpool captain, took the club from the ruins of Munich to win the European Cup a decade later, United were well established as the best-supported team in England. It was a remarkable achievement but Busby’s team stagnated quickly after that high point in 1968.The goodwill toward United remained even as the club went into deep decline in the early 1970s. They even spent a year in the second tier after they were relegated from the top flight in 1974.Liverpool’s rise was concurrent with Old Trafford’s fall from grace and resentment festered on both sides. At Anfield, they wondered why United received so much positive publicity when success eluded the Manchester side — they went 26 years without winning the title. United were media darlings even though Liverpool won 11 titles and four European Cups before their rivals won the league again.Everything changed in the 1990s. By then, Liverpool had been destabilized by their own tragedy, at Hillsborough in 1989. United were way ahead of their peers in exploiting financially their huge fan base and they became the dominant side in the newly founded Premier League after 1993.Under Ferguson, they ruled the domestic game. Yet they trumpeted their achievements in relation to their main rivals. “My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool off their perch,” Ferguson said. The unedited quote contains a percussive and explosive obscenity that illustrates how bitterly the Scot felt toward Anfield. The deep, ingrained antagonism flared up anew as Liverpool embarked on their own 25-year title drought — one that is still racking up the years. In that time United have won the Premier League 13 times and added two Champions Leagues.The weight of history hangs over this match. It will be visible on Sunday. The tackling is more intense, the pace more frenzied and the disappointment of defeat more painful. Liverpool’s derby against Everton and United’s versus City are keenly fought but there is an extra edge to this game.Steven Gerrard’s sending off last season, less than a minute after being introduced as a substitute at half-time, typified the mood of the game. The Liverpool captain could have been sent off for a challenge on Juan Mata before he went on to earn his marching orders for a stamp on Anders Herrera in his 38 mad seconds on the pitch. Like Neville, Gerrard is a local boy infused with the history of the fixture. Neither player would give an inch in these games and both tended to go too far for a referee’s satisfaction in the heat of the moment. They were loved on the terraces for that quality.Perhaps the intensity will go out of the matchup as the balance of both clubs’ fanbase edges more toward global than local. It is the same on the pitch. United’s 3-1 win at Old Trafford in September was the first time in Premier League history when neither side had a Mancunian or Scouser in the team.It would be a shame, though, if the vendetta faded away. The rivalry brings out the best — and occasionally the worst — in both sides.On Sunday, there will be plenty at stake. But Van Gaal will merely be a footnote in the long tradition of this fixture. The three points are almost tangential. The pride of two cities is on the line, the mood of a region will depend on the result. The game is about more than football. That’s what makes it so important to both sets of fans.Tony Evans has been a sports journalist for more than 20 years. 

Chelsea sense chance vs. Everton to bounce back from West Brom draw

BY PHIL LYTHELLGiven the general positivity surrounding Everton’s season and the negative air that has enveloped Chelsea, it is surprising that a win for the Londoners in their clash on Saturday would leave them just one point behind the Merseysiders.A blend of youth and effective attacking football has seen Roberto Martinez’s side rightly lauded throughout the campaign and has supplied a glimpse of what is possible if a manager places his faith in his talented youngsters. And yet had Chelsea not yielded a late equaliser in Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw with West Brom, they would have had the opportunity to leapfrog Everton in the Premier League table with a victory.Such a situation suggests that perhaps their respective seasons should be compared more favourably, though a look at their midweek performances would show just why the general perception is the way it is.The West Brom game encapsulated the frustration that has been one of the hallmarks of the Blues’ campaign to date. It was a decent contest in which Chelsea always looked the more likely team to win but one they could never take total control of. The narrow advantage they established contrived to spread nervousness throughout the team in the closing stages, manifesting itself in some haphazard defending and the eventual equaliser.Meanwhile, Everton were impressive in holding Manchester City to a goalless draw at the Etihad. A team not necessarily noted for their defence held firm against the highest scorers in the division that had not drawn a blank at home all season.But while their respective moods might have differed on Wednesday night, Chelsea are still favourites with the bookmakers to emerge victorious when they meet on Saturday with the draw considered to be the second most likely outcome. Part of that is certainly to do with Everton’s poor track record at Stamford Bridge, a place where they haven’t won since 1994 when a Mark Stein brace was not enough to prevent the visitors claiming a 4-2 win. In the intervening period, Everton have won a FA Cup tie in West London in 2011 though that was on penalties after a Leighton Baines’ free kick made it 1-1 a minute from the end of extra time.That match was very much like Chelsea’s game against West Brom and many that have punctuated their season, in that the Blues were unable to put their opponents away and got duly punished for it. The concern is that similar profligacy against Everton will be dealt with even more harshly by a team bursting with goals. Ex-Chelsea starlet Romelu Lukaku has been rampant this term with his 15 league goals firing him to the top of the goalscoring charts alongside Leicester City hotshot Jamie Vardy. John Terry and Kurt Zouma will have their work cut out against a muscular and confident striker that will be keen to prove a point against his former employers.Elsewhere, the visitors can boast two players who share third place in the assists table in England international Ross Barkley and the effervescent Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu. They have seven assists apiece and will demand that Chelsea’s defensive concentration is up to scratch.On the flipside, Chelsea have begun to create more chances under Guus Hiddink with responsibility not solely confined to the usual suspects. The opening goal against West Brom saw Willian and Diego Costa involved in the build-up though it was eventually converted by Cesar Azpilicueta after latching on to an inch-perfect cross from fellow full back Branislav Ivanovic. The second was created by Willian though it was the presence of the direct and dynamic Kenedy that forced Gareth McAuley to deflect the ball into his own goal.Costa will remain the focus of Chelsea’s attack and it has been encouraging to see the striker return to the marauding figure of old. Although he might have been snarling and reactionary on Wednesday, he was also an effective spearhead in attack. He now looks like a goalscorer again and if he can maintain this momentum and drag some others along with him, the three points can be gained on Saturday.Phil is one of ESPN’s Chelsea bloggers and author of Chelsea-centric blogShoutyanSpitty.com. 

 Jose Mourinho camp ‘frustrated’ with Manchester Utd job situation – sources

Jose Mourinho’s camp are getting “frustrated” with the lack of movement regarding the Manchester United job, sources have told ESPN FC, and his representatives are beginning to investigate other options.Mourinho has long wanted the Old Trafford job and it had seemed the time was finally right for him to get it, with the Portuguese parting ways with Chelsea just at the time when it seemed that Louis van Gaal was set to suffer the same fate at United after an awful December.Sources say that Mourinho’s representatives got in touch with the Old Trafford hierarchy within 24 hours of his Chelsea dismissal, and have asked to be kept abreast of the situation ever since. They have now been made aware, however, that the preference of United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is to stick with Van Gaal, and to give him time to turn the situation around.Many around the Old Trafford leadership had expected Van Gaal to be sacked around the 0-0 draw with Chelsea in Dec. 28, but Woodward has stayed resolute.That has meant there is still no opening for Mourinho, although sources say he has also been made aware that a number of figures among the United hierarchy still do not want him at the club.ESPN FC has been told that the former Chelsea manager also turned down an offer to return to Real Madrid, both because he didn’t like the idea of going back there midseason after leaving in 2013, and because he was holding out for United.Now, although he does not want to totally turn his back on the possibility of taking over at Old Trafford — and some at United have asked Mourinho to be kept aware of his movements — the Portuguese’s camp have reluctantly accepted that they may have to investigate other options, especially since he wants to get back to football as quickly as possible.His representatives already reached out to both Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale as far back as October, when Chelsea’s poor season was getting particularly problematic. Sources say that, despite the widespread expectation that Mourinho would only take an elite job, he might yet surprise people by going a little lower.His No. 1 target remains the United job, though, and the situation is said to have frustrated the manager and all those around him.

JEFF BELSKUS NAMED INDY 11 PRESIDENT

Peter Wilt to Continue General Manager Duties as Consultant into Spring Season

Jan 11, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, January 11, 2016) – Indy Eleven Professional Soccer owner Ersal Ozdemir announced today that former Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and CEO Jeff Belskus has assumed the president’s role with the North American Soccer League club effective immediately.Founding Indy Eleven president Peter Wilt will continue his general managerial duties with the club on a consultant basis into the 2016 NASL Spring Season. Wilt will be transitioning into a role with sports consulting firm CLUB 9 SPORTS to pursue the creation of a North American Soccer League team in Chicago.Both Belskus and Wilt will be available to members of the media for one-on-one interviews during this evening’s Brickyard Battalion Post Holiday Party event at Flat 12 Bierwerks (414 Dorman Street on Indianapolis’ near east side) from 6:00-9:00 p.m. ET. “We are constantly looking for ways to strengthen the organization while continuing to make strides towards gaining a new home for Indy Eleven and winning championships,” said Ozdemir. “The addition of someone with Jeff Belskus’ background into our front office is an important part of that continued progress, and I am excited to welcome him on behalf of the Indy Eleven family.”“Peter Wilt has been an integral part of building and growing Indy Eleven from even before day one. His influence and passion will continue to be felt across the organization and the fan base he helped cultivate,” Ozdemir continued. “We look forward to continuing to work with Peter in the coming months.”While Belskus’ expansive executive resume includes experience in the worlds of banking, insurance, real estate, food and broadcasting, most of his time was spent during nearly three decades in motorsports and professional auto racing organizations connected with Hulman & Company. After a successful career, Belskus retired from the Hulman organization in early 2015; click here to read Belskus’ full bio.“I am very excited for the chance to add to the strong foundation Indy Eleven has built. I thank Ersal Ozdemir for this opportunity to help the club reach greater heights, and that includes building a permanent home for Indy Eleven and giving our tremendous fan base the trophies they deserve,” said Belskus. “I am particularly excited to engage with the Brickyard Battalion and find ways to make the NASL’s best support base even better. Peter Wilt will be an important part of that process, and I look forward to working with him during this transition period.”Wilt continues to work with the Indy Eleven coaching staff to finalize the team’s 2016 roster. To date, 14 players are on the roster and at least four more player signings are expected to be announced later this week.“I am grateful to Ersal Ozdemir, the Indy Eleven staff, team and fans for the opportunity to help build professional soccer in Indiana,” Wilt stated. “Everyone here, especially the Brickyard Battalion and the Indiana Soccer Association, has welcomed me and I will continue to embrace my adopted Hoosier status and remain a proud Indy Eleven season ticket holder.”

Tim REGAN ON THE ROAD

Assistant Coach Staying Busy with Three-Combine Trip to Florida Jan 7, 2016

People that know Indy Eleven assistant coach Tim Regan can tell you that he has a great sense of humor and a tremendous soccer brain. And they also know that he can’t stand the sun – which makes him unlike most Hoosier State citizens that escape to Florida to get away from the cold.Also unlike most northerners heading south at this time of year, rather than taking a vacation Regan is hard at work this week in the Sunshine State. Between both Naples and Ft. Lauderdale, he is fulfilling different duties at three player combines to follow up on the ample amount of scouting work the Indy Eleven technical staff has already done.In Naples, Coach Regan is assisting at the Info Sport Combine, a gathering of professional hopefuls now in its 15th year under the direction of Daryl Shore, the current goalkeeper coach for MLS’ Real Salt Lake who was also one of the assistant coaches hired by now Indy Eleven president/general manager Peter Wilt during his Chicago Fire days. With 200-plus hopeful players descending upon the combine, Regan is part of a crew of 16 experienced coaches trying to accomplish what they can in a 72-hour window to guide these hopeful players down the road to a potential professional contract.Regan stated, “Because the numbers are so large, the good players will stick out. In that way, there are some guys that we have tracked that are here – which is good – because you tracked them in college and now you get to see them in a different setting. But, (these guys) have to learn that this is a business. College is competitive, but what we do is a business.”After the three-day run at the Info Sport gathering ends on Thursday, Regan will trek east to Ft. Lauderdale, where he will be on two opposite sides of the scouting spectrum during the overlapping NPSL and MLS Combines. He’ll be joined for this stretch of the trip by new Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson, both of whom will be focused on plucking players for the future.The most difficult part of the gauntlet of scouting in Florida, Regan stressed, is getting to know participants in such a short amount of time in the middle of a packed schedule.“We’re on the field six to eight hours a day, plus meetings and analysis of players in between at Info Sport. But, at the combines in Ft. Lauderdale, the NPSL and MLS overlap. There is a training session on Friday evening with games on Saturday and Sunday, while the MLS plays on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday. This presents different challenges.”Regan’s role will shift this weekend, as he’ll step in for Indy Eleven NPSL head coach John Simmonds as the coach of the Midwest squad at the NPSL Combine while taking the more usual route as an interested observer at the MLS Combine. As his role shifts, the former Chief Scout at Toronto FC has to then whittle down what he is looking for as players compete for slots at a higher level.“The other tough part is having to lock down who has the ‘intangibles’ – the personality, the work rate, etc. – and how to keep in touch with those players moving forward,” Regan added.Though there may not be any direct roster additions from these combines, Regan emphasized the importance of keeping in contact with players who may become available later down their paths to the prosForward Duke Lacroix and midfielder Daniel Keller serve as perfect examples of why the trip is worth the time, as both were part of the MLS Combine at this time last year. Lacroix would go undrafted by MLS teams after stating his intentions to finish his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, while Keller would fight for a roster spot on the defending MLS Champion LA Galaxy, only to miss the cut during preseasonThe work laid by the Indy Eleven staff in Florida last year helped bring those two talented youngsters into the fold, paying immediate dividends in 2015. Now they’re back in the Sunshine State once again in the hopes of finding the next diamond in the rough for the “Boys in Blue” in 2016.

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The Old Ballcoach  – Coach Shane Best