3/22/17  US Faces Honduras in Must Win Fri Eve 10:30 pm on FS1, Indy 11Kickoff Season Sat Night at San Fran 10 pm on Twitter,

The US Men face a must win weekend of World Cup qualifiers as they host Honduras Friday night at 10:30 pm on FS1 followed by a Tuesday night battle at Panama on beIN Sport at 10 pm.  The are must win games for new coach Bruce Arena with a bunch of potential starters and difference makers like Fabian Johnson, Bobby Wood missing and the continuing issues at right and left back.  This will be an interesting weekend of games. Also this weekend are WCQ games in Europe and South America – check the TV Listings for Times.

The Indy 11 kick-off their regular season on the road vs the expansion side San Francisco Deltas on Saturday night at 10 pm broadcast live on Twitter.  The return for the home opener at the MIKE on April 1 at 3 pm vs Puerto Rico FC.

Moving to MLS it was nice to see the Raising of the Banner for my favorite Seattle Sounders over the weekend as they put up a 3-1 victory that included goals from both Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris.  Keeping it close –how about the Chicago Fire – first they start the season with a Draw and a Win at home over Real Salt Lake and now they have signed former World Champion Germany Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger from Man United.  Might have to eyeball that home schedule as Seattle comes May 13, FC Dallas May 25,  Orlando City & Kaka June 24, Toronto Aug 19, and NYCFC on Sept 30.  Bout time Chicago!

GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Mar 24

12:45 pm Fox Sport 2 Turkey vs Finland WCQ

3:45 pm Fox Sport2  Italy vs Albania  WCQ

8:30 pm Fox Sport 1  Mexico vs Costa Rica WCQ

10:30 pm fox Sport 1 USA vs Honduras  WCQ

Sat,  Mar 25

12:45 pm FS2                Sweden vs Belarus  WCQ

3:30 pm  FS2                 Portugal vs Hungary WCQ

3:30 pm Fox Soccer  Belgium vs Greece WCQ

10 pm  on Twitter   San Fran Deltas vs Indy 11

Sun,  Mar 26

11:30 am Fox Sport2                        England vs Lithuania WCQ

11:50 am ESPN 2        Azerbajan vs Germany  WCQ

2:30 p.m., Fox Sport2: Montenegro vs. Poland  WCQ

Tues Mar 28 –WCQ

11:50 am Fox Sport2   Russia vs. Belgium
2:35 p.m., beIN Sport Netherlands vs. Italy
2:45 p.m., ESPN3:        Austria vs. Finland
2:55 p.m., ESPN2         France vs. Spain

7 pm beIN sport           Mexico vs T&T

10 pm beIN Sport Panama vs USA WCQ

Fri,  Mar 31

730 pm Fox Sport 1                          Toronto vs Sporting KC

10 pm  fox sport 1     Seattle vs Atlanta United

Sat  Apr 1

7:30 am NBCSN            Liverpool vs Everton – Derby

10 am NBCSN??           Leiscester City vs Stoke City

3 pm ??                   Indy 11 vs Puerto Rico

7:30 pm beIN Sport  NY Cosmos vs Miami

Sun  Apr 2

10:15 am beIN sport                        Real Madrid vs Alves – (hopefully I will be there!)

11 am NBCSN                Arsenal vs Man City

9 pm ESPN2                    Portland vs NE

Sun  Apr 9

7 pm Fox Sport 1        Sporting KC vs Colorado Rapids (Tim Howard)

Full MLS Schedule

Indy 11

Turkish Airline and Honda to Be Indy 11 Kit Sponsors

Indy 11 Sign local pair – David Goldsmith and Tanner Thompson

Indy 11 Season Tickets

Indy 11 Flex Pack – 8 game Flex Package

Indy draws 1-1 with Louisville City FC in Final Preseason Game

Indy 11 First Game to Be Broadcast on Twitter?  – Soctakes.com

Indy 11 on TV locally

Local Broadcast of Indy 11 Games

USA

Is this How Bruce Rolls them out?  Armchair Analyst

Injuries Dictate Dempsey Starting up top?  EPSNFC – Jeff Carlisle

With Woods, Johnson,  Out – Should we now Panic?  – Armchair Analyst Doyle – MLS.com

The Case for Pulisic in Central Mid = Grant Wahl – SI

Mailbag – Injruies Deplete US Team Grant Wahl SI

Bobby Wood, Fabian Johnson both out-  Hurt – Kljestan, Besler Called in – ESPNFC

Cameron Eager for US Team Return after Injuries – NBC

John Brooks Injured but will be at Qualifiers – ESPNFC

Zusi replaces injured Fabian Johnson

Dempsey looks to talk to Arena about his role

Dortmund’s Pulisic has No Limits – Andreas Herzog says

US Ends Residency Program in Florida – ESPNFC

Champions League Quarter Final Predictions – Final 8

Bayern vs Real Madrid SI Planet Futbol (April 12/18)

Juventus vs. Barcelona (April 11/19)

Atletico Madrid vs. Leicester City (April 12/18)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco (April 11/19)

Apply for Champions League Final Tickets – June 3 in Cardiff Wales

MLS

Chicago Fire Sign former German Superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger

US Players have a good week in MLS

What You Need to Do Week 3 results

Week 3 Recap

Seattle Unviels Banner in 3-1 win over RB

Chicago Fire – Home Schedule

MLS Save of the Week

Europe/EPL

El Classico Game day Set 4/23 @ Real Madrid

US Players in Europe

INDY ELEVEN INKS LOCAL PRODUCTS Butler’s DAVID GOLDSMITH AND Hoosier TANNER THOMPSON

Roster Stands at 20 Players Ahead of 2017 NASL Season OpenerMar 21, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, March 21, 2017) – Indy Eleven travels to the San Francisco Deltas for this weekend’s 2017 NASL season opener with its roster shaped out after the additions of forward David Goldsmith and midfielder Tanner Thompson. Per club policy, terms of the contracts will not be disclosed.Goldsmith comes to Indy Eleven after a successful collegiate career at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he earned Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016. Being honored as a unanimous selection to the All-Big East First Team, the native of Bristol, England was the leading scorer for the 2016 Big East champions Butler and earned the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player en route to capturing the league title. Also named the Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Goldsmith finished the 2016 campaign with 12 goals and 28 points, ranking him in the top 20 nationally in scoring, In addition, he was a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy, the sport’s most prestigious collegiate award. Goldsmith is the lone former Bulldog on the 2017 roster and will sport the No.20 shirt for the “Boys in Blue” this year, pending receipt of his P1-A.   “An adjustment to the philosophy of building our 2017 roster led us to see that we had a senior group and needed an injection of young, ambitious players. David showed in his trial that he may be the most technically-gifted player in and around the goal in the squad,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “He’s an intelligent player who doesn’t waste runs. From a tactical standpoint, he checks a lot of the boxes for what we were looking for.”Thompson signs with Indy Eleven after four years at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he helped the Hoosiers to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a Conference Tournament Championship in 2013. As a senior, the native of Loomis, CA was named an NSCAA First-Team All-American and the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year along with First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Increasing his return, Thompson chipped in three goals and nine assists as a junior before adding eight goals and three assists to his resume in 2016.  “Looking at this injection of young talent, Tanner clearly fits that category. We’re fortunate to have him join us. He’s a very good attacking midfielder who can also play as a second forward, With his talent, he can play anywhere in the midfield. We’ll look to utilize him very quickly in our line-up,” said Hankinson.“Tanner came at just the right time. We needed options in goal creation and those who can go get a goal. He has the 1v1 ability to run at a defender and beat him and the quality to find the back of the net. He’s going to have a great season.” Thompson joins Indy Eleven midfielder Brad Ring and goalkeeper Christian Lomeli as a trio of former Hoosiers on Indiana’s Team and will wear the No.14 kit in 2017.Visit IndyEleven.com for more information on the team’s roster, which now includes 20 players, ahead of their fourth season of NASL play in 2017.  Indy Eleven will begin the 2017 NASL season on the road on Saturday, March 25, before opening its 16-game regular season home schedule at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium on Saturday, April 1. Season Ticket packages featuring up to 48% off single-game prices are currently available; for details, visit www.CueTheSmoke.com.

Armchair Analyst: Cameron’s position, Morris’s health & the US XI

March 22, 20174:42PM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior WriterAccording to whispers in and around the US men’s national team, we should all expect Geoff Cameron to suit up at right back in Friday’s qualifier against Honduras at San Jose’s Avaya Stadium. I don’t think this is the choice I’d make, largely because I always think the smartest thing to do is to put the spine of the team first.”The spine,” by my definition, is central defense, defensive midfield and center forward. If you have those areas locked down, then you can tinker around a little bit with the rest of positions, accounting for injuries, suspensions and match-up needs. And with all due respect to Omar Gonzalez (who’s been excellent for Pachuca) and Walker Zimmerman (who’s been excellent for FC Dallas), I still have more faith in the Cameron/John Brooks pairing than any other permutation in central defense.So if Cameron and Brooks are healthy, I’d start them together with Michael Bradley at d-mid in front of them. That’s the spine, and the look the US used during last summer’s Copa America that produced the best extended run of defensive form under former manager Jurgen Klinsmann.Thus is weighed one side of the scale. The other side is that due to the biblical rash of injuries at right back, Cameron is probably the best individual choice at that spot by a clearer margin than he is at center back. In terms of getting more of the team’s best talent out onto the field, Cameron at RB and Gonzalez at CB alongside Brooks makes more sense than the Cameron/Brooks pairing with either Michael Orozco or Graham Zusi at RB.That really is my main concern going into Friday. I think there are other questions as well – will it be DaMarcus Beasley or Jorge Villafaña at left back (Villafaña vs. Honduras, DMB next Tuesday at Panama is my guess), and has Kellyn Acosta done enough to stake a claim on a central midfield role next to/in front of Bradley (I hope so!), and has Darlington Nagbe won a job on one flank or the other (please!) all get their own entries as well.

Those are questions, though. This is a concern:

Jordan Morris gutted out 90 minutes, the last 60 or so on a bum ankle, against RBNY this past Sunday in a 3-1 Sounders win. He scored the game-winner, then was in San Jose 12 hours later.According to reports he hasn’t trained with the team on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Under normal circumstances it wouldn’t be a big deal since Morris is, at this point, Bobby Wood’s back-up as a channel-running, field-stretching No. 9. But Wood’s not here either as he picked up a back injury this weekend for Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Gyasi Zardes, who’s probably fourth on the “true No. 9” depth chart is also hurt, and Juan Agudelo – fifth, right? – has been playing as a No. 10 for New England.And now the US seem perilously thin at center forward. Jozy Altidore – noted CONCACAF killer – will assuredly start at center forward, and he’s been in good enough form for TFC with two goals and an assist in his last two games. But behind him in the current No. 9 corps it’s just Morris and then two veterans, in Clint Dempsey and Chris Wondolowski, who’ve always been better used and more effective as second forwards rather than guys who lead the line. Neither is really a No. 9. Is it a crisis? No, I don’t think so, and whispers out of camp are that Morris is going to be fine for Friday. He probably won’t start, but he wouldn’t have started anyway since Dempsey is fit and functional and scoring goals, and is doing stuff like this:Healthy Clint Dempsey starts. That should’ve been obvious even before Morris picked up a knock, right? Healthy Jozy Altidore starts as well, and then it’s four midfielders and four defenders behind them. Morris will be fine to give 30 minutes as a change-of-pace attacking sub if that’s required.And the thing to remember is that this is Bruce Arena calling the shots. He’s masterful at keeping things un-complicated:

Altidore/Dempsey

Nagbe, Bedoya, Pulisic

Bradley

Villafana /Brooks/Gonzales/Cameron

There will be gripes about the lineup no matter the XI Arena trots out. At the top of this column you can see mine.But this group should be more than good enough to get the job done over the next 180 minutes. So embrace your concerns, but also embrace the fact that even with those concerns, and the injuries, and the awful start to qualifying, the US are favorites to get the job done.

Does Bruce Arena have no choice but to start Clint Dempsey up front?

When Clint Dempsey was named to the U.S. national team roster last week for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama, attention immediately centered on his best role.Given that he only recently returned to action after missing the last four months of 2016 due to an irregular heartbeat, the most likely scenario had him being used off the bench. But the fact that he started the first three games of the 2017 MLS season for Seattle Sounders FC — scoring two goals in the process — meant that a starting role couldn’t be ruled out.Now, manager Bruce Arena might not have any choice. Bobby Wood, perhaps the most in-form striker in the U.S. pool, has been ruled out of both matches due to a back injury, while Dempsey’s club teammate, Jordan Morris, sustained an ankle injury in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls and was a notable absentee from Monday’s training session in San Jose. Arena tried to downplay that, stating that Morris was doing a regeneration session back at the team hotel, and also noted how Dempsey and the Red Bulls’ Sacha Kljestan didn’t exert themselves too much either.But the announcement on Monday evening that San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski had been added to the roster speaks to the extent that the corps of American forwards has been depleted. As such, it may be that Arena’s best option is to have Dempsey in the starting XI. But assuming for the moment that Morris is healthy enough to start, the question of Dempsey’s best role still stands, even with Wood out of the picture. At first glance, a substitute position seems perfect. Even though he’s played all but one minute of Seattle’s three matches, the sense is that his long layoff — his appearance in the opener against Houston was his first outing since last August — would still preclude him from playing the full match.His experience also seems suited to a late appearance off the bench if the U.S. is in need of a goal, while Morris’ speed would stretch the Honduran defense and his presence would allow Arena’s side to be more effective with its defensive pressing.However, there is also a belief that Dempsey would be less than thrilled at being left on the bench.”Clint’s not the type of guy who wants to be a sub,” said ESPN FC TV analyst Steve Nicol, who managed Dempsey at the New England Revolution “Clint wants to play, and Clint will be making sure that he’s showing Bruce, No. 1 that he wants to play, and No. 2 that he’s fit enough. When I say he won’t be happy I’m not saying he’ll be a pain; he’ll just be disappointed he’s not playing because that’s the way he is.”However, ESPN TV analyst Taylor Twellman thinks that his former teammate’s health issues may have changed his perspective. “If his heart issue had never happened, I’m not sure Clint would have found it easy to accept a substitute role,” said Twellman. “Now in saying that, I think just hearing him talk, and catching up with him at MLS Cup, he’s always had a passion and a love for the game, and I think going through all of that has made him realize how much he wants to go out on the right note. If Clint is willing to play a substitute role, then he could play himself onto that World Cup roster in Russia.”Dempsey, for his part, seems to understand his current limitations, telling the Associated Press last week that he wasn’t quite at the level needed to play an entire World Cup qualifier and that he would adopt whatever role was asked of him.”I’m not at 100 percent I would say but I’m getting close,” said Dempsey. “Every 90 minutes I get under my belt here I’m feeling more comfortable.”There are also practical reasons for having Dempsey on from the start. For all the talk of Morris’ ability to stretch defenses, it seems likely that Honduras will adopt a defend-and-counter strategy, the better to utilize the athleticism of attackers like Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis.That means there will be less space for the U.S. to exploit, thus requiring a bit more guile for the home side to find a breakthrough. And that is precisely the skill set Dempsey has: If he can only last 60-70 minutes, at least his time on the field will be maximized.A reduced role for Morris would also give his ankle more time to heal, leaving Arena free to unleash him four days later against a Panama side less inclined to bunker in.There is also the longstanding relationship Dempsey has with Jozy Altidore. The two were the U.S. team’s go-to strike partnership during the last World Cup cycle and it seems likely that time hasn’t dulled the pair’s understanding.”If I’m the coach, and Wood isn’t fit, then I’m playing Clint,” said Nicol. “He’s clearly fit, you’re talking experience, someone who has been there, done that, seen it. If you give him an opportunity, he’s going to score. I can’t really see how if you’re going to play with two up front, how you don’t play Clint alongside Altidore.”Altidore could be deployed as a lone striker, especially with the glut of midfielders at Arena’s disposal. But that is a formation in which the U.S. has historically struggled to create chances; a two-forward alignment maximizes the Americans’ attacking heft.With the U.S. desperate for World Cup qualifying points, who better than Dempsey, whose record of scoring in big games is arguably unparalleled in national team history, to be given the chance to add another vital goal to his resume?Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.

The case for USMNT playing Christian Pulisic as a central playmaker

GRANT WAHLThursday March 23rd, 2017

This story appears in the March 27 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. To subscribe, click here.

This week, the best U.S. men’s soccer player of 2017, 18-year-old Christian Pulisic, parachutes into North America for two pressure-packed U.S. games: against Honduras on Friday in San Jose, and at Panama next Tuesday. Qualifying for an eighth straight World Cup is in jeopardy after losses to Mexico and Costa Rica in November, defeats that caused a change in coaches from Jurgen Klinsmann to Bruce Arena. After two games the U.S. is in last place in CONCACAF’s six-team, 10-match final-round tournament, from which the top three (and perhaps four) teams will advance to Russia 2018. A win at home on Friday is paramount, and much of the U.S.’s attacking verve is expected to come from Pulisic. In light of this urgency, Arena should play Pulisic in a central attacking role from the start.Over the last 18 months Pulisic has undergone a breathtaking rise. He broke into the first team of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in early 2016 and scored his first U.S. goal last May (the night after hiring a private plane to take him back home to his prom in Hershey, Pa.). He has only kept climbing since. Pulisic has five goals and eight assists in 31 matches this season for Dortmund, and on March 8 he produced the decisive goal that sent his team to the Champions League quarterfinals—arguably the biggest goal ever scored by an American on the Continent..S. fans are reflexively skeptical about emerging soccer talents in the men’s game—Freddy Adu did TV ads with Pelé at age 14 but never went on to play in a World Cup, much less become the nation’s first male soccer superstar. So far, at least, Pulisic shows every sign of being the real thing, a dynamic attacker with speed and vision who has the finishing instinct of an assassin. Merely becoming a regular for one of the world’s top 10 clubs and providing a game-changing Champions League assist against Real Madrid already puts Pulisic in a group of one among American players all-time.The looming question for the U.S., though, is where Pulisic will play. He has started wide for much of the season with Dortmund, but in recent weeks he has moved to a more central role that diminishes his defensive assignments. Pulisic himself prefers to play in a central No. 10 role—he wears 10 for the U.S., his Twitter handle is @cpulisic_10—and most observers think that eventually he’ll be a fixture in that part of the American formation.Pulisic centrally against Mexico in November, but the Mexicans sliced through the U.S.’s three-man back line so frequently that Klinsmann scrapped the idea in the first half. That wasn’t Pulisic’s fault—the blame goes to the poorly organized and executed defense—which is why Arena should unleash the 18-year-old centrally now, preferably playing ahead of Michael Bradley in a 4-1-3-2 formation.Reached in his L.A. office last week, Arena was asked if Pulisic was better out wide or in the middle. “I actually think it’s both,” Arena said. “We’re going to see his comfort level when he gets into camp and talk to him a little bit. … He’s demonstrated at a young age that he’s capable of getting the job done in a lot of positions. With our team, at the moment I’m on a computer doing that with the options of him playing at both spots and organizing our team accordingly.”The image of the 65-year-old Arena tinkering with lineups on his computer just like the rest of us soccer geeks is a fun one. But when the whistle blows on Friday night in San Jose, there will be little margin for error.

Mail BaG _ GRANT WAHLWednesday March 22nd, 2017

EN ROUTE TO SAN JOSE — It’s funny: Even though there haven’t been any soccer games on TV from Monday to Wednesday—and how often can you say that these days?—it seems like there are a million things still going on in American soccer this week.A bunch of top European soccer figures were in New York City for the announcement of this summer’s International Champions Cup and the Leaders in Sport event. And then there are all the World Cup qualifiers that will be on the tube starting Thursday, including the U.S.’s pressure-packed game against Honduras in San Jose on Friday (FS1, pregame at 9:30 p.m. ET, kickoff at 10:50 pm ET).

Plus, the Chicago Fire signed Bastian Schweinsteiger. Which brings us to the new Mailbag. Let’s dive in!

When will Bruce Arena call up Dom Dwyer? @MariaMentado

Is there really, really, really no better option than Wondo? Really??!! @CarmenBPhillips

With so much young U.S. talent, why is the USMNT starting to look like an old folks home? @sepler

Maybe it’s the angst of being in last place in the Hex, but lots of sass in the ‘Bag from national team fans this week. You should have seen the responses to my tweet announcing that Chris Wondolowski had been added to the U.S. roster earlier this week. The only real cure for the angst is a win on Friday. But let me answer your questions. I thought new U.S. citizen Dwyer or Juan Agudelo might get added instead of Wondo as a potential late-game sub for an injury-depleted front line (Bobby Wood is out, and Jordan Morris is battling an ankle knock). But Wondo is familiar to the group in a way that Dwyer isn’t yet, and Wondo is … local in San Jose? Is that a reason? I honestly don’t know.

Armchair Analyst: Bobby Wood rled out of qualifiers – is it time to panic?

March 19, 20173:24PM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer

No.Losing Bobby Wood, who was the breakout player for the USMNT in 2016, and has scored big goals for club and country, and has been very good in the Bundesliga and is drawing interest from EPL teams and is the most relentless field-stretching forward in the pool, is not good. He was a sure-thing starter for the upcoming games against Honduras on Friday (a must-win) and Panama a few days after that (a must-result). Coupled with a biblical rash of injuries at right back, it feels like a legitimate crisis. DeAndre Yedlin, the first choice? He’s out until at least April. Eric Lichaj is, I think, the second choice, and he’s out too. Is Timmy Chandler the third choice? I think so, but he’s suspended for the Honduras game, has recently lost his starting job – he’s shifted from wingback to central defense to right midfield, playing RB just once in the last six league games as Eintracht Frankfurt have gone 0-5-1 – after a disastrous run of form and never plays well in heat (which means he’d be a liability in Panama), so Bruce Arena didn’t call him. Justifiably. I think Fabian Johnson would’ve been the starter at right back. He got hurt this weekend. That means we’re down to our fifth choice at that spot, which is not optimal. But our fifth choice is Michael Orozco, who has been a starter in Liga MX for the better part of a decade, and over the past several years has done so for/with a very good Tijuana side. They’re currently fourth in the Clausura, and they finished top of the Apertura, and Orozco was a part of that. Granted, he’s playing in either a back three or a back five, but he’s played RB in a back four plenty of times in his career. He is not a stranger to the spot, nor is Geoff Cameron, and nor is Graham Zusi (who’s played every minute for an MLS defense that’s conceded once in three games this season). This is unprecedented depth for the US. Let’s take a step back and draw some deep breaths, ok?  Back up top, Wood is out but Jozy Altidore is 100% fit, and has two goals and an assist in his last two games. He’s doing it against CONCACAF defenders:  That’s Costa Rica’s Kendall Waston – who manhandled the US in November – that Jozy spun like a top. Clint Dempsey is back and healthy and playing 90 for Seattle. Altidore is the all-time leading scorer for the US in qualifiers, with 16 goals. Dempsey is third all-time with 13. This is fine. This also makes Jordan Morris the third forward, and while he’s not as polished or proven as Wood, this is also fine. He stretches the field, has a developing chemistry with Dempsey, and does not play scared in big moments. Maybe he starts and Dempsey comes off the bench. Clint Dempsey, super-sub!  The US, for the first time in the history of the program, has the depth to weather this kind of roster crisis.  I wish we still had Wood. But even without him, and without Johnson, Yedlin and Lichaj, and with Chandler and Jermaine Jones suspended against Honduras, and Brad Guzan awaiting the birth of his second child, this US team should still absolutely be expected to take at least four points from the next two games. There can be no excuses. Just look at this XI and calm yourself:

GK: Tim Howard
RB: Michael Orozco
CB: Geoff Cameron
CB: John Brooks
LB: Jorge Villafaña
RM: Christian Pulisic
CM: Alejandro Bedoya
DM: Michael Bradley
LM: Darlington Nagbe
ST: Clint Dempsey
FW: Jozy Altidore

Move Cameron to right back and bring Omar Gonzalez – who marshals the best defense in Liga MX – into the XI if you want. Sit Nagbe, shift Bedoya to the right and bring in Dax McCarty for more defensive bite in central midfield if you’re feeling conservative. Or Sacha Kljestan if you’re feeling aggressive. Or Kellyn Acosta if your metric is “form matters above all else!”  Go to a 4-2-3-1 with Kljestan as the No. 10 underneath Altidore, or a 4-3-3 with Pulisic on the right and Morris on the left. Go to a 5-3-2 with Zusi as one wingback and Villafaña as the other (actually please don’t do that), and it’s an absolutely plausible and balanced lineup to throw out there. Stick with the 4-4-2. Make it a 4-1-3-2, or a 4-3-1-2 with Pulisic sitting behind two forwards. It all works if there’s clarity of roles, because the talent in this group is undeniable. The US has the depth to weather this, to come out on the other side with the required results to get back onto the path toward World Cup qualification. It would’ve been easier with Wood and Johnson and Yedlin, but those are the breaks and that’s the reality of qualifying. You don’t get to the World Cup with 11 guys, or 18 or 23, You really need about 30, and despite the injuries and absences the US have the numbers and quality to get it done over the next 180 minutes.  If they don’t? That’s when you can go ahead and panic. I’ll be right there with you.

Cameron eager for USMNT return in World Cup qualifiers

Leave a commentBy Joe Prince-WrightMar 21, 2017, 12:59 PM EDT

MANCHESTER, England — Geoff Cameron was missing for the U.S. national team in their opening 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica back in November.  he USMNT lost both after shaky defensive displays and a lot has changed since the last time he suited up for the Stars and Stripes. [ MORE: Cameron talks injury, Stoke ] 

Jurgen Klinsmann was fired and Bruce Arena has come in and now all the focus for the U.S. is on the next two World Cup qualifiers against Honduras this Friday in San Jose, Calif. and then next Tuesday against Panama in Panama City.Speaking exclusively to Pro Soccer Talk from his home in Manchester, England before he flew out to link up with the national team — in-between Cameron was named as Stoke’s man of the match in their narrow 2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday — Cameron knows all of the pressure is on the USMNT in the next seven days with the U.S. sitting bottom of the Hex.

“I think the pressure is on us. It is a must win situation,” Cameron said. “Going down to Panama, it’s a tough place to play. The environment, everything is against us when we go down there. They are good players. They are savvy and they have technical ability, good on and off the ball. They are creative, quick on the ball and fast and they are slick in certain ways. They have an understanding on how to take advantage of certain situations.

“We need to be more aware of that and have an understanding of that going into these games because we know it’s going to be difficult at home with Honduras coming in and they’re going to try and make it difficult for us to play the game how we want to play. Also going down to Panama, we know it’s going to be tough to play down there. We might have to sit back and defend a little bit, weather the storm and then hit them on the counter. We have to be strategically aware of all these situations teams are going to be throwing at us.”

Cameron, 31, missed four months through injury this season after injuring his MCL in an innocuous challenge at the end of Stoke’s victory at Hull City back in October, 2016.After playing the full 90 minutes in central midfield in each of Stoke’s last three Premier League games, the versatile defender/midfielder is now back fit and ready to lead the U.S. defense after watching on helplessly as the team succumbed to defeats to Mexico and Costa Rica back.  The nature of those defeats ultimately cost Klinsmann his job.“It was so frustrating to watch because as a team we didn’t play well and as individuals and as a team we weren’t up to par,” Cameron said, grimacing. “Sitting down and watching the game, it was so frustrating because I knew I was a player who could help and being that player that I thought they needed whether it be a physical attribute or the mental attitude or that toughness and bite we seemed to be missing in those two games. It was difficult. Obviously you have those ups and downs in your career and that was kind of the down point. I’m excited to get back and happy I’m fit now.“We have two massive qualifiers we need to take care of business. We are in a bit of a tough spot right now. In the qualifying we always seem to have these ups and downs and that’s part of it. We know these two games here are key with Honduras at home and Panama away, we know we need to get six points, minimum four. That’s our goal.”That will be a tough goal to achieve, especially with Bobby Wood, Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin all out of the squad through injury as Arena will have to shuffle his defense for two crucial games.Cameron could well line up at right back with Yedlin and Johnson out. Wherever he plays, he’s confident he can help the USMNT achieve their goal of getting their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.“This is like the number one question I’m asked,” Cameron laughs as we discuss his best position. “I will continue to say I feel like my best position is either center half or defensive central midfield. Those are the positions I’ve thrived in when I’ve played there in the Premier League for Stoke. I can play right back, no problem, and I’ve got a bunch of games under my belt and I’ve proved to myself that I can play in a number of positions. I don’t think that a lot of players who can play these positions at a high level and do it as consistently or well as I can, especially going from one position to another and being able to change and understand the roles.“I still say my best strengths are either for defensive center mid or center half. I love playing center half and partnering up with Brooksy [John Brooks] in Copa America, our back four were solid and we just had a really good partnership and understanding. Also, this season and throughout my career I’ve found myself playing in defensive midfield and sitting in the hole to protect the back four. I know I can do that and I’ve shown that I can do that with Stoke City, especially playing against some of the best players in the world. I’m confident in my ability and I can play in those positions but like I said all along, it is whatever position the coach needs me in and I am willing to play and help out the team. It’s not about me. It’s about the team and putting the team first and doing whatever I can to help the team be successful.”There are now plenty of players back in the fold who have tasted success in qualifying and at tournaments with the U.S. over the last decade.With Cameron back fit, plus Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard also returning to full fitness, Arena will have plenty of experience to call on for these key qualifiers.

“My first experience when I was first coming through, when we were in a tough spot, we would look to guys like Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra,” Cameron explained. “Those were guys you looked up to, captains and experienced guys who had been through the ups and downs of qualifiers. Going through all this before, I have that experience of ‘these are the moments where everybody needs to step up.’

“In the beginning of qualifying this time around, when we needed to beat Guatemala at home and it was a must-win game, everybody showed up together and we got the result and made it to the next round. It is one of those moments where everybody needs to be on the same page and working for one another. I think the veterans, the guys who are experienced, myself, [Alejandro] Bedoya, Tim [Howard], Jermaine [Jones] and all of these guys who have experience of going through the qualifiers, knowing what to expect and what we need to do.”

Cameron was around the USMNT’s January camp for a few days as he received treatment on his MCL injury and said he felt a “positive vibe” from the players on the training ground, with Arena and his staff giving fresh chances to players to impress and competition for places high.That said, whoever is the manager of the U.S. Cameron knows the buck still stops with the players.“Overall, it just comes down to us. We, as players, need to perform better than we did in the last couple of qualifiers,” Cameron said. “We need to bring that team chemistry and get that team atmosphere back. It seems that the fighting mentality was what we missed in the last few games because I didn’t see it when we were playing. We need to get that back.”If Cameron plays against either Honduras or Panama in the next seven days, he will hit 50 caps for the U.S. national team.48 of his caps have come in the past five years, showcasing his importance to the team over the Klinsmann era.What will it mean for him to reach 50 caps in these upcoming qualifiers?

“It has always been a dream of mine, to play and represent my country. It’s a special thing. I don’t think people really understand it until they are actually put into the position where they are able to represent their country,” Cameron said, smiling. “You are representing your country, your national team, people that have fought for you and died for you to give you a chance to represent the United States, playing soccer. It is pretty special. Not everyone gets this opportunity and that’s why you never know when it’s going to be your last.

“Thinking back to when we played Cuba [in a friendly last October in Havana], it’s like ‘am I going to be out for another year with injury?’ I was so happy and excited that it would possibly be an opportunity to get my 50th cap against Mexico in the World Cup qualifier and I could’ve already been on 50 caps had it not been for certain games missed through injury or suspensions, then we wouldn’t be talking about it. It is definitely special. It honestly is a proud moment but every game is as special because you never know when it will be your last. That’s why you always try to take in the moment and when you put your hand on your heart and you are representing and putting on that national team jersey, you are representing everybody in your country. We are all American. We come together and we play for our country. That’s special in itself.”

 

Bobby Wood out of U.S. squad with back injury as Kljestan, Besler called in

U.S. Soccer has removed injured striker Bobby Wood from its squad for a key set of World Cup qualifiers and added midfielder Sacha Kljestan and defender Matt Besler.Wood played into second-half stoppage time of Hamburg’s draw on Saturday, after which the German club wished him well on his travels, but U.S. Soccer said he has a back injury.The U.S. opens camp in San Jose, California, on Monday. The team plays its first qualifier since rehiring Bruce Arena as coach against Honduras in San Jose on Friday, then travels to Panama for another game four days later.Wood, 24, was likely in line to start for the U.S. alongside Jozy Altidore as the U.S. looks to overcome November’s two opening defeats in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.The addition of the New York Red Bulls’ Kljestan — who became the second player in MLS history to record 20 assists in a season last year — rather than another striker suggests the injury to Wood may have altered Arena’s formation plans.Sporting Kansas City’s Besler will bolster a back line that is already without the injured DeAndre Yedlin and Eric Lichaj.Last week, midfielder Fabian Johnson had to pull out of the squad and was replaced by Graham Zusi, while goalkeeper David Bingham is in for Brad Guzan.

 

Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic has no limits – Andreas Herzog

United States international Christian Pulisic’s career has no limits, according to Andreas Herzog.In his first full pro season, the 18-year-old has already become one of the key players in Borussia Dortmund’s squad. He has played in 21 of BVB’s 25 league games, and featured in every Champions League match, starting six of them including the most recent 4-0 win against Benfica.”He’s already reached a significant level at 18,” Former U.S. assistant coach and current U.S. Under-23 coach Herzog told kicker. “He now needs to raise that level year after year, which is not easy.”Pulisic has scored five goals and set up a further nine, drawing widespread praise, first in the United States and in recent weeks also in Germany, where he has been compared to both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the young Mario Gotze during Gotze’s breakthrough years at the Westfalenstadion.Although Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel last week played down the hype and urged Pulisic to keep his head down, Herzog has now told kicker that there are “no limits” for the winger.”He’s got an exemplary character, and in this sense good qualifications,” Herzog said. “I dare him to do it, I don’t see any limits.”Herzog said that it’s now up to Pulisic’s coaches to continue his development.”Dortmund can consider themselves lucky to have two attacking grenades like him and [Ousmane] Dembele.”Herzog, who has closely followed Pulisic’s progress over the last few years, added: “The development he’s taken is no coincidence. The lad’s got an unbelievable talent and potential. Jurgen Klinsmann and I realised that soon enough.”Also speaking to kicker, former Pulisic youth coach Hannes Wolf, who moved on from BVB’s academy to second-tier club VfB Stuttgart during the season, said that the winger is at the right club right now.”The responsibility is not pressed on his shoulders at BVB,” Wolf said about Pulisic, who is under contract at Dortmund until 2020, and had been linked with a move to Liverpool prior to putting pen to paper on his new deal earlier this year.

 

Clint Dempsey on fitness: I’m not at 100 percent but I’m getting close

SEATTLE — Clint Dempsey said Friday he’s open to whatever role Bruce Arena sees fit for him as he rejoins the U.S. national team for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.Dempsey said ahead of the Seattle Sounders’ home opener that he’s probably not back to the level of fitness needed to play a full 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifying match. But he expects to have conversations with Arena when he joins the national team camp in Northern California next week about how he may best be used.”Do I think I’m able to go out there and do 90 minutes in World Cup qualifiers? I don’t know if I’m there yet. I’m not at 100 percent I would say but I’m getting close,” Dempsey said after training at CenturyLink Field, where the Sounders will face the New York Red Bulls on Sunday. “Every 90 minutes I get under my belt here I’m feeling more comfortable.”Dempsey missed the final four months of the 2016 MLS season after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Dempsey returned to training when the Sounders opened camped in January and has played 90 minutes in each of Seattle’s first two regular-season games.Arena had indicated during the January national team camp that he didn’t believe Dempsey would be ready for this month’s critical qualifiers at home against Honduras and at Panama. But Dempsey’s recovery has appeared to be ahead of schedule all along.”He’s been in contact with me ever since last November and then he gave me a call last week and we had a good talk and feel comfortable about moving forward and being involved in the games,” Dempsey said.Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said the Sounders have been sharing data with the U.S. national team on where Dempsey is in his return.”He’s in a pretty good place,” Schmetzer said. “He’s in a good spot. He knows he needs to do a little bit more to get back where he was.”Dempsey has appeared in 130 matches all time for the U.S. and scored 52 goals. His last appearance came in the Copa America last June when the U.S. reached the semifinals before being eliminated by Argentina. Dempsey rejoined the Sounders after the tournament but was sidelined in late August for the remainder of the season by his heart condition.”I feel like I can make a difference and it’s kind of do or die in the World Cup qualifying situation that we’re in,” Dempsey said.

 

U.S. Soccer to end youth residency program in Florida

The U.S. Soccer Federation will end its residency program in Bradenton, Florida, for players under 17 years old this spring after 18 years.Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley were among 33 players at the program who went on to play for the senior national team.The program was designed to expose 20 top prospects each semester to high-level training at the IMG Academy.”One of our main hopes when establishing the U.S. Soccer Residency Program was that at some point advancements in youth player development would make its existence no longer necessary — we believe that point has been reached,” USSF president Sunil Gulati said in a statement on Friday.”Not only did the program develop a number of key players for our national teams, it served as a model for academies across the country to follow. With the U.S. Development Academy having achieved high standards in preparing our young athletes, we are now able to impact future American professionals on a much larger scale.”The U.S. Soccer Development Academy, now in its 10th season, has increased from 63 clubs across the nation to 150, with more than 10,000 registered players. In addition, since 2007 every Major League Soccer team has been required to have a youth academy.U.S. youth technical director Tab Ramos said both programs serve the same purpose for which the residency program was designed.”When the residency program started, there was no development academy, there were no MLS teams investing in youth development and there was no particular training direction,” he told U.S. Soccer’s website.”Most youth players at all levels were training twice per week and playing anywhere from one to five games on the weekends. Now we live in a completely different landscape.”The DA has now been around for 10 years and players are taught to play, hold the ball and be creative. There is a clear ‘training over games’ mentality of learning the game properly, and more importantly clubs all over the country are investing millions in youth development led by teams in MLS.”Ramos also said the under-17 team will now be managed more like the under-20 team that he coaches, with “five or six camps per year.””It’s a bittersweet moment because the program has been invaluable for almost two decades as a critical piece of the development process for U.S. Soccer,” under-17 coach John Hackworth said. “The end of the residency program signals the next step in the evolution of player development in this country.”

 

Chicago Fire Soccer Club Acquires World Champion Bastian Schweinsteiger as Designated Player

March 21, 20177:50AM CDTChicago Fire Communications

CHICAGO (March 21, 2017) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club today announced the acquisition of German midfielder and international soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger from Manchester United. Schweinsteiger has won more championships than any player to have ever signed to play in Major League Soccer, and is a reigning World Cup champion as a member of Germany in 2014.“Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of our sport’s greatest champions,” said Fire owner and chairman Andrew Hauptman. “We are excited for soccer fans everywhere to have the opportunity to watch the most decorated player in the league during the Fire’s 20th season.”Throughout my career, I’ve always sought opportunities where I hoped to make a positive impact and to help make something great. My move to Chicago Fire is no different,” Schweinsteiger said. “Through my conversations with Nelson and Pauno, I’m convinced by the club’s vision and philosophy and I want to help them with this project.”chweinsteiger, 32, signed a one-year deal and will occupy a Designated Player spot on the club’s roster. Schweinsteiger will officially be added to the roster and available for selection upon passing a team physical, and pending receipt of his ITC and P1 Visa.

READ: 10 Things to Know About Bastian Schweinsteiger 

“This is a historic moment for our club,” Fire general manager Nelson Rodríguez said. “We have added one of the greatest champions in all of sports. Bastian’s talents, attitude, and character will be a perfect complement to our squad as we continue building a championship program.”Schweinsteiger’s German debut came on June 6, 2004 against Hungary, launching a national team career that would lead to appearances in three World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and four UEFA European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). He holds the German record for most UEFA European Championship appearances with 18, a mark he achieved last summer as captain of Die Mannschaft. His career also includes a World Cup title in 2014. He has retired from international competition, and played his final match for Germany on Sept. 1, 2016. Internationally, he boasts 24 goals in 121 appearances for Germany.As a club player, Schweinsteiger helped Bayern Munich to the UEFA Champions League crown in 2012-13, a year in which he also earned Bundesliga Player of the Year honors. Schweinsteiger won eight Bundesliga titles during his time with Bayern Munich, and also has seven DFB-Pokal (German Cup) championships. In all, the German international has been a part of 23 major domestic and international cups during his playing career, more than any previous player entering their first season in MLS.“Having the strongest possible midfield is essential for how we want to play,” said Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic. “We see Bastian helping our organization of the attack, and impacting the final third build-up with his vision and creativity to produce the final pass, as well as his capacity to score goals. His versatility on the field, and his immense experience at the highest levels of this sport will be a great benefit to our team.”During his 15-year club career, Schweinsteiger has amassed 70 goals and 103 assists in 535 first team games. He signed his first professional contract in December of 2002, joining Bayern Munich after four years in their youth system. Schweinsteiger remained with the Bavarian side for 13 years before his move to Manchester United in July of 2015.Season, single-game and group tickets for the 2017 Chicago Fire season are on sale now at Chicago-Fire.com/tickets. Fans can guarantee their seat at Bastian Schweinsteiger’s home debut by securing a 2017 Chicago Fire Season Ticket and enjoy all the benefits of joining the club, including: complimentary parking, 20 percent off of concessions and merchandise, 10 percent off at Heineken Pub97, pre-sale access to the 2017 Target MLS All-Star Game at Soldier Field, and exclusive access to Meet The Team events and Season Ticket Holder tailgates.For more information on becoming a Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder, please call or text 888-MLS-FIRE or visit Chicago-Fire.com/STH.

Transaction: Chicago Fire acquires MF Bastian Schweinsteiger as Designated Player from Manchester United. Schweinsteiger will officially be added to the Fire’s roster and available for selection upon passing a team physical, and pending receipt of his ITC and P1 Visa.

Full Name: Bastian Schweinsteiger
Jersey Number: 31
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs.
Born: Aug. 1, 1984 in Kolbermoor, Germany
Hometown:  Rosenheim, Germany
Last Club: Manchester United (EPL)

Career Highlights:
• 2014 World Cup winner with Germany
• UEFA Champions League crown in 2012-13
• UEFA Super Cup winner in 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup winner in 2013
• FIFA World Cup “Dream Team” Selection in 2010
• Eight-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich
• Seven-time DFB-Pokal (German Cup) winner with Bayern Munich
• Bundesliga Player of the Year honors in 2013
• 23 domestic and international cups during his career, more than any previous player entering their first season in MLS.

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

Check out The Ole Ballcoach online www.theoleballcoach.com –

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

 

3/17/17 Champ League Elite 8, USA Men Next Fri, Indy 11 start next Weekend,

Wow – so why do we love Champions League – seriously – France’s little club Monaco rolls a 3-1 win on mighty Manchester City and all everything manager Pep – to win on away goals (6-6 aggregate) after Man City took a 5-3 lead to France.   Incredible last 10 minute goal after Man City had scored to take the lead in the 2^nd half – and now only little Leicester City carries the EPL hopes into the Final 8 of Champions League.  And what about Leicester City – huge goal and the 1-0 win on the road sends last season’s Cinderalla story into the Quarter Finals of the biggest soccer tournament in the World.  Wow.  My daughter Courtney got a chance to see her 1^st Champions League game at Atletico Madrid and she saw a goalkeeper battle royal as Atletico’s Oblak GK was spectacular (see these saves).

So after a fabulous Champions League game where Pulisic scored the go ahead goal and had an assist – the Dortmund coach decided he should rest the 18 year old US sensation and didn’t bring him on until the 76^th minute.  Seriously – it helped lead to a 2-1 loss to US defender John Brooks and Hertha Berlin – clueless Dortmund coach Tuchel sometimes.

Not a ton of good games this weekend internationally Man City does host Liverpool on Sunday at 8:30 am on NBCSN and Saturday Stoke City and US Defender Geoff Cameron host league leaders Chelsea at 11 am on NBCSN.

Only 1 good game in MLS on TV this week Sunday Seattle hosts the NY Redbulls 7 pm on Fox Sport 1.  Of course next Friday the US hosts Honduras at 10:30 pm on Fox Sport 1 in a must win game, right after Mexico hosts Costa Rica at 8:30 on FS1 as the International Break extends from Thurs thru Wed.  New US Coach Bruce Arena announced an interesting roster with a ton of experience.  Our Indy 11 kick off the season on the road next weekend before returning for the home opener vs Puerto Rico on Sat night, April 1 at 3 pm.

GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Mar 17

3:30 pm fox Sport 2                         Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Ingolstadt

Sat,  Mar 18

8:30 am NBCSN            West Brom vs Arsenal

11 am NBCSN                 Stoke City (US Cameron) vs Chelsea

10:30 am Fox Sport 1 Hoffenhiem vs Bayer Leverkusen

10:30 am Fox Soccer Werder Bremen (US Woods) vs Redbull Leipzig

10 am NBCSN                Everton vs West Brom

Sun,  Mar 19

8:30 am NBCSN            Mddlesborough vs Man United

10:30 am NBCSB         Tottenham vs Southhampton

12:30 pm                         NBCSN?      Man City vs Liverpool 

7 pm  fox sport 1        Seattle vs NY Redbulls

Fri, Mar 24

3:45 pm Fox Sport2  Italy vs Albania

8:30 pm Fox Sport 1                         Mexico vs Costa Rica

10:30 pm fox Sport 1 USA vs Hondoras

Sun,  Mar 25

8:30 am NBCSN            England vs Lithuania

Tues Mar 28 –WCQ

5 pm FoxSport1         Panama vs USA

USA

US Roster – Questions Still Arise?

What to Cheer and Boo on the US Roster – Stars and Stripes

3 on the Back Line?

Where does 18 YO Christian Pulisic fit best for the US? – Planet Futball Grant Wahl – SI

Brad Guzan to miss Qualifiers to Have 2^nd Child

Fabian Johnson leaves Gladbach game with leg injury

Yedlin Out Injured till April

Christian Pulisic Embodies Dortmunds New Spirit

American Forward Bobby Wood scores winner for Hamburg in Relagation Battle

Hamburg wants to keep Bobby Wood amid EPL Interest

Christian Pulisic scores in German Cup

ICC announces El Classico in Miami Tix on sale this weekend

Champions League

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (first leg April 12 in Munich; second leg April 18 in Madrid)

Juventus vs. Barcelona (first leg April 11 in Turin; second leg April 19 in Barcelona)

Atletico Madrid vs. Leicester City (first leg April 12 in Madrid; second leg April 18 in Leicester)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco (first leg April 11 in Dortmund; second leg April 19 in Monaco)

Quarter Final – Elite 8 Match-ups – Who’s going Thru?  ESPNFC

Elite 8 #s

Oblaks Saves keep in Atletico alive

Oblak on his Saves

Pep to Face Critisism on Man City Exit

Here Leicester Goes Again! – SI Jonathan Wilson

Leicester Keeps the upsets coming

Simieone keeps Atletico on top

Juve Defense is the Key

Europa Results – Man U advances

Europa Draw Announced Man U vs Anderlecht

EUROPA – Ties to be played April 6 and 13:

Anderlecht	vs.	Manchester United
Celta Vigo	vs.	Genk
Ajax	vs.	Schalke
Lyon	vs.	Besiktas

Indy 11 and MLS

What to Watch for This Weekend

ESPN raises game on MLS Coverage this Year

Europe

Liverpool vs Man City Top 4 on the Line

Armchair Analyst: Dempsey & Howard return, but questions still for US

March 15, 20173:31PM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior WriterFor the last five years the USMNT was largely defined by their inability to string together coherent attacking sequences, and thus an inability to consistently create danger from the central midfield. It was frustrating because 1) who wants to watch soccer like that?, and 2) in Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber and Lee Nguyen, the US player pool included three “in-their-prime” playmaker types who were all doing the job to one extent or another.When Bruce Arena took over for Jurgen Klinsmann in late autumn, one of the first things he said was that the US needs more passing in midfield. I took that – I think most of the fanbase took that – as evidence that at least one of those guys would get their shot, and to Bruce’s credit he called in both Kljestan and Feilhaber for this winter’s two friendlies, with each getting a start. Feilhaber was instrumental in the only goal the US scored in those two games when he set up Jordan Morris against Jamaica.Neither guy is on the US roster for the upcoming qualifiers against Honduras at home and then on the road at Panama, the first of which I’d call a “must-win” and the second a “must-result.” I am frustrated by this, though I will admit there are a few things about how this roster is constructed that suggest a true No. 10 wasn’t going to see the field much regardless.

1. Clint Dempsey‘s back,and won’t be playing as a lone target forward

Deuce isn’t a No. 10, but he’s the most creative forward and best finisher in the pool, and now suddenly the US are deep at forward. Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood are all proven quantities in CONCACAF, and Jordan Morris is getting there.That means the US will be playing something with two forwards – we all know it’s going to be a 4-4-2, right? You can fudge it and say “oh it’s a 4-4-1-1” or “it’s a 4-2-3-1” with Dempsey in the middle of the “3” line, but at this point in his career he’s a second forward. He does second forward things like dropping into midfield to help in possession, but when he does so he doesn’t do playmaker things like cracking open the defense with a through-ball or a long-ball to the back-post winger, etc etc etc. He helps you combine, gets himself into the box to score. He’s a forward.And it’s hard to play a 4-4-2 with a true, central playmaker in the modern game. Doing so risks stranding the one defensive midfielder, or asking the wide midfielders to pinch in tight and cede the wings.That’s not a smart play against Honduras especially. And while Panama’s not quite at that level, they will still exploit isolation opportunities for all they’re worth.

2. TheNo. 8s on this particular rosterare creative

Kellyn Acosta already has three goals for FC Dallas this year, and Sebastian Lletget was a two-way central midfield force for the Galaxy last year (please move him back to that spot full-time, guys). Alejandro Bedoya has never produced a ton of box-score stats, but he played a good chunk of his career as a No. 10 in France and here in MLS, and has a knack for being part of long build-ups.One of those three guys is likely to start alongside Michael Bradley, who will almost certainly be deployed as a true d-mid for these games. This will provide some extra defensive steel in the most crucial part of the field without giving up the ghost in the way of creativity.Rather, it just shifts the creative burden to Dempsey (who will try $&!% in combination with his forward partner, likely Wood) and to the wingers. Which is where this roster gets interesting…

3. Is Christian Pulisic made forthe empty bucket?

Pulisic has been devastating over the last six weeks for Borussia Dortmund, particularly when he cuts inside from the wing in transition. I think it’s his best spot, and his ability to eviscerate defenders 1v1 opens up the field for the rest of the attack. Putting him on one side offers the type of individual flair and penetration, both on-the-ball and off-the-ball, the US has largely lacked in recent years.

He’s also no stranger to playing as a No. 10, and has been doing it a lot lately:

I will say this: Pulisic is not a two-way No. 10. If he’s going to be used as a central playmaker it means the US will be playing a 4-2-3-1, and I don’t think Pulisic’s finishing is yet good enough to justify such a big switch. The 4-4-2 with him on one wing makes more sense because it keeps two of Dempsey, Wood and Altidore on the field in their best spots.Either way, though, it feels like the keys are being handed to Pulisic at least a little bit. There’s not much of a Plan B in terms of offering creative verticality.

4. Wing and right back are riddles

The other wing is more of a mystery. If Arena had his full complement of players I think the job would go to Fabian Johnson. But “DeAndre Yedlin and Eric Lichaj are both injured – otherwise they were slated to be on the roster” throws a wrench into the works. And neither Graham Zusi nor Timmy Chandler (who’s suspended for the Honduras game anyway) were called in, and now suddenly we’re looking at a squad where there’s really only three guys we can be comfortable with at right back

• Geoff Cameron, who was an integral part of the US’s central defense at last summer’s Copa América
• Michael Orozco, who is doing a nice job on the right side in a 3-man look for Xolos but has had his, um, ups and downs for the US
• Johnson, who played right back at the most recent World Cup

I’m more comfortable with Johnson at that spot for the obvious reason, but also because I don’t want to break up the Cameron/John Brooks pairing in central defense.The other reason I’m more comfortable with Johnson is Darlington Nagbe, who is apparently a full-time left midfielder/winger for club and country. The great weakness of the 4-4-2 is that you’re playing numbers down by default in central midfield, and that means one of the wide players has to pinch in to help in possession and at times defensively.agbe does that naturally. It’s always his inclination to come inside and try to combine, and with Pulisic playing direct-to-goal on the other wing, it would offer the US structure a good balance.

5. DaMarcus BeasleyForever

There are three guys on this roster who can play left back, and it wouldn’t shock me if Jorge Villafaña got the first crack at it. Down in Panama, though? Beas.

So in general I’m not in love with this roster but at least I get it. There is some pattern to divine, and the only really new additions (Lletget, Villfaña, Walker Zimmerman, and Dax McCarty, who is clearly the backup d-mid) fill obvious needs. Each pick makes sense in a vacuum and in the overall structure of the thing.Let’s hope that “the overall structure of the thing” makes as much sense when the US take the field against the Catrachos in nine days. At this point, there’s no room for do-overs.

There’s plenty to cheer and boo in Bruce Arena’s first Hexagonal roster

Quite a few popular faces were selected by Arena, as well as a couple that seemed to be off the radar completely.y Adam Whittaker Snavely@Snaves  Mar 16, 2017, 7:00am PDT

Speculation over who Bruce Arena did or did not trust was calmed a bit on Wednesday as his 24-player roster for games against Honduras and Panama were released. The familiar faces are all here, and some popular dark horses made it into the roster as well. Unfortunately for many, there are still a few head-scratchers that made the roster, and a few that were left out. Here are some quick thoughts on the roster in general.

The Good

• Our Defensive Third Is (Mostly) Healthy: With the potential to miss out on three probable starters for the U.S. in the back, it’s a relief that, barring last-second injury, both Tim Howard and Geoff Cameron will be healthy and ready to play in the Hex. Cameron’s partnership with John Anthony Brooks coalesced into the strongest center back pairing the U.S. has had in years, at least since Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu manned the center of the defense. His return will bring stability and utility to the back line. Meanwhile, the U.S. almost always has an embarrassment of riches in goal, but Tim Howard came out of the gates strong against New York in his first action since November’s Mexico game, and he figures to start as well. DeAndre Yedlin will miss out, unfortunately, but 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, all things considered.

• Dallas Represents:Walker Zimmerman impressed in his time in January Camp and Kellyn Acosta has played outside of his skull to start the MLS and CONCACAF Champions League campaigns. I didn’t know if Arena would call them in, considering there are many other options with more experience, but he pulled the trigger on both. Even more excitingly, Arena made it clear in a Facebook Q&A that he sees Acosta primarily as a midfielder, and not an outside back. Thank god.

• The Forwards Are Hungry: This forward pool is deep. Like, Olympic diving pool deep. Jozy Altidore remains the only real hold-up target forward in the pool, and when he’s on, he is on (when he’s off, he’s off, but there’s enough depth here to compensate for that as well). Bobby Wood is playing well and getting goals for one of the worst teams in Germany, and is showing he knows how to play through adversity. Meanwhile, Jordan Morris still possesses game-breaking speed, and the second all-time leading scorer for the U.S. is back on the field and in the goals for the Seattle Sounders. I saw a few people questioning Clint’s inclusion in this team, but here’s the long and short of it: Clint missed half of the U.S. games last year, mostly due to injury, and still ended up tied for second-most goals. Even if you’re just bringing him off the bench, he’s someone you still want in your deck.
• Christian Pulisic: He’s here. Bruce is planning around him. Enough said.

The Bad

• Left Back Still Looks Shaky: Jorge Villafaña was a big winner from January Camp, but he hasn’t been getting game time with Santos Laguna. Damarcus Beasley is still getting called in, and Tim Ream also can provide cover at the left back spot. I assume Villafaña is the most likely starter in this bunch, but with Fabian Johnson presumably pushed up to the midfield, can whoever is covering the U.S. left flank stand up to Hex play?
• 10 Is the Loneliest Number: Neither Sacha Kljestan nor Benny Feilhaber were included in this roster, which was a little bit of a shock to me. I thought at least one and possibly both would be here. That could be Arena telegraphing his moves a little bit: he hinted at a 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2 set-up in his Facebook Q&A, which would call for a center midfielder that could take on more evenly-spaced duties between offense and defense. When asked if Pulisic could play in the middle, Arena agreed that he could, but also name-checked Sebastian Lletget, Darlington Nagbe, and Alejandro Bedoya as people who could play a #10. None of these guys really play #10 as an attacking midfielder though, and play more box-to-box roles in their teams than Kljestan and Feilhaber. Arena could be planning on unleashing Pulisic as a #10, but if he runs a two-striker set, Kljestan and Feilhaber might be tactically superfluous anyway, explaining their absence.

The Ugly

• Michael Orozco Is the Ultimate Undead Zombie: The guy just won’t go away. I’m not sure how he manages to cling to every U.S. coach that comes along, but even if he’s defensive depth I would have rather seen…well, anyone, frankly. Maybe this roster looks different if guys like Yedlin or Eric Lichaj were fully fit and available for these matches, but here we are.

Not great, Bob.All in all, I’m optimistic about this roster and its chances of grabbing points against Honduras and Panama next week. There’ll be plenty to plan, discuss, and dissect when thinking about how Arena might line these guys up, but for now we’re left with our options wide open to us. I’m still confident this group can get the job done.

Arena says three-defender formation a possibility for USA vs. Honduras

March 16, 20176:51PM EDTAlicia RodriguezContributorThe target has not changed for US national team head coach Bruce Arena in the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama.During a Facebook Live Q&A after revealing his roster for the qualifiers on Wednesday, Arena said the target for the two matches was six points, but short of that, a home win against Honduras at Avaya Stadium on Mar. 24 (10:30 pm ET | FS1) was absolutely essential, alongside a point on the road against Panama on Mar. 28 (10 pm ET | beIN Sports).The US currently sit in last place in the Hexagonal round of qualifying, two games into the phase. In order to maintain the USMNT’s World Cup qualification streak intact (they have qualified for the last seven tournaments), they will need to pick up points, and quickly, in the final eight games of the round.One of the questions Arena was asked concerned the formation for the upcoming games. The coach indicated a two-striker formation was quite possible, and also spoke about options in defense, with a three-man backline recently becoming a fashionable formation around the world.”Certainly there’s a variety of ways of playing,” he said. “I said with this roster we can play anywhere with three, four, five in the back. Clearly, I favor four in the back, but three is an option.”Among the MLS players who have gotten a chance in the second Arena era are midfielders Sebastian Lletget and Dax McCarty.Arena, who knows Lletget well from his tenure with the LA Galaxy, praised the player as one of a number of younger players providing speed and new energy to the group.McCarty, who received his first US cap in 2009 but was not selected by former coach Jurgen Klinsmann, provides the Americans with experience, skill – and a vocal presence.”I’ve known Dax for a number of years, I think he’s a very good player. I saw him up close in our camp in January. He played well, he’s experienced, he communicates well, he fits in well with the group. And watching him play his first two games with Chicago convinced me that he can be an important part of our squad.”Given the stakes of the upcoming qualifiers, Arena discussed the strategies he’ll use to balance the pressure of the moment with making sure the team stay relaxed for the task at hand.”I think the week of training [ahead of the game] is important. We’ve done a lot of legwork before we even entered this camp, and have talked with the players. I think they’re going to be confident, they’re going to be aggressive, and they’re going to be as relaxed as you can be in games like this which are crucial.”This is a very important game for the US team, we need to win the game,” he continued. “There’s certainly going to be some tension and pressure, but that’s all part of it. We have elite athletes and they’re acc

ustomed to playing in games like this, so I’m confident they’ll show up and be in the right frame of mind to be ready to play and perform well.”

 

Atletico, Monaco, Bayern Munich, Juventus expected to advance in UCL

With the draw for the Champions League quarterfinals made, here’s a look at how the matches could go. Apologies, Leicester fans, but the dream may end here.

 

Atletico Madrid vs. Leicester City

Of all the clubs Leicester could have met in the quarterfinals, they were drawn against the only one they had faced before. Admittedly, much has changed since Martin O’Neill’s Foxes lost 4-1 on aggregate to Atletico in a UEFA Cup first-round tie in 1997, with Ian Marshall earning a place in the history books by scoring at Vicente Calderon. Atletico also beat Leicester 3-1 over two legs in the 1961-62 Cup Winners’ Cup and, up until this season, had been their opponents in half of the European fixtures they had ever played.In the here and now, Leicester can have mixed feelings about this draw — that is, if they were minded to feel at all choosy. On the one hand, Atletico do not quite have the individual stardust many of the other contenders possess, and they have not been consistently at their uncompromising best this season. On the other, Diego Simeone’s team know better than anybody how to win a game at this level through sheer guts and, like Leicester, are happy to cede possession in order to do so.It may be that Craig Shakespeare’s side have met their match — an opponent that can do the dirty, unfussy work that brought them success against Sevilla but have that extra bit of quality where it matters. Atletico have done this all before; they can win a tie in many different ways and Leicester will have their work cut out. Only a fool would rule the Foxes out now, though.

Prediction: Atletico will go toe-to-toe with Leicester in the physical battle and have too much in the opposition box. Simeone’s side reach the semis.

 

Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco

In some ways, this clash of the great entertainers looks like the tie of the round. Both of them swashbuckled their way into the last eight, and there is little chance of their letting up now. Dortmund’s style is a little sleeker than Monaco’s high-octane, lightning-fast approach, but the emphasis on attack is similar; neither Thomas Tuchel nor Leonardo Jardim will be naïve enough to neglect their defences with so much at stake, but this should still be a shoot-out between Europe’s two brightest young teams.You would certainly pay to watch a race between Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom have been elevated to “potential matchwinner” status on a higher level than they might have expected at this stage of their careers. Monaco will be hit by the absence of suspended midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko — who scored the winner against Manchester City shortly after picking up the booking that ruled him out — for the first leg, but their biggest threat comes down the flanks. And if attacking full-backs Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy are given space in the first leg, they may score a healthy number of away goals.  Dortmund will need to force them back and hope that Marco Reus, due back in early April after a hamstring injury, is fit to return by then. If not, there is always the thrilling promise of U.S. starlet Christian Pulisic, who deputised for him in the round-of-16 second leg against Benfica and duly scored. In a tie set up for the next generation to make their marks on the present, you wouldn’t bet against him repeating the feat.

Prediction: Monaco are on a roll and will sneak a predictably see-sawing battle.

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid

It was a tie that seemed written in the stars. Three years ago, with a realistic chance of reaching the final after losing 1-0 at the Bernabeu in their semifinal first leg, Bayern Munich were destroyed 4-0 on their home turf by a Carlo Ancelotti-managed Real in a one-sided encounter that few saw coming. Ancelotti went on to lead his team to La Decima; now he finds himself on the other side, and the 23rd and 24th meetings between these teams will surely be closer. Confidence will certainly not be lacking after they scored 16 goals between them in the round of 16.Both teams lead their domestic leagues, Bayern by a familiar-looking 10-point margin after RB Leipzig’s early challenge faded. They have won 16 of their last 18 games in all competitions, drawing the other two, and have regained some of the fluency that was lacking in the early stages of Ancelotti’s time in Bavaria. Real’s form has not been much worse, and perhaps this tie will be decided by clever management of resources. Both teams will enter the first leg on the back of big domestic games against Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, respectively. Whoever is fresher at the Allianz Arena a few days later may be able to wrest an advantage that they don’t give up.Prediction: Ancelotti’s knowledge of the Real squad to give him the edge; Bayern win.

 

Juventus vs. Barcelona

Juventus came through the round of 16 virtually unnoticed, profiting from early Porto red cards in both legs to progress with a minimum of drama. For Barcelona, it was the opposite and, in this rerun of the 2015 final, the first leg, in Turin, will be instructive in discovering just how much they have learned from the tie against Paris Saint-Germain.In Paris, and to a lesser extent in the group stage defeat at Manchester City, they were blown away and looked every inch a team in terminal decline. The comeback three weeks later was all the more shocking for that but, remarkable though it was, owed more to a concentrated burst of unusual events than sustained excellence from Luis Enrique’s side. Massimiliano Allegri will have taken note, and if they can produce a high-octane performance at Juventus Stadium, the Serie A leaders may fancy their chances.The flip side is that Juve are yet to face a top-quality test in Europe this season. Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb, Sevilla and Porto have not been the most inspiring opposition, while Manchester City and PSG have been genuine tests for Barcelona that have threatened to throw them off course. If Neymar, Lionel Messi and company felt that, after all that, nothing could stop them, then it would be difficult to argue. Prediction: Unlike PSG, Juventus have the experience and backbone to expose Barcelona’s frailties definitively. The Italians to go through.Nick Ames is a football journalist who writes for ESPN FC on a range of topics. Twitter:

 

 

Spain dominance, Leicester fairytale: UCL quarterfinalists in numbers

A number of familiar clubs, plus one notable English newcomer, will take part in the quarterfinal round of the UEFA Champions League beginning with first-leg matches on April 10.Bayern Munich have made the most quarterfinal appearances in Champions League history, followed closely by Barcelona and Real Madrid, and all three have advanced to that stage of the competition again this season. Those three clubs have combined for 46 quarterfinal appearances, while the other five have combined for 26:

UCL Quarterfinal Appearances
Bayern Munich	16
Barcelona	15
Real Madrid	15
Juventus	10
Borussia Dortmund	6
Atletico Madrid	5
Monaco	4
Leicester City	1
>> Includes this season

With Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid qualifying, Spain has three teams in the UCL quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season — the longest such run in the competition’s history. Spanish clubs have won the last three Champions League titles:

UCL Quarterfinalists By Country
Spain	3
Germany	2
England	1
France	1
Italy	1

Barcelona advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals for the 10th consecutive year, which is the longest such run in the competition’s history:

Most Consecutive UCL Quarterfinals
Barcelona	10	2008-Present
Real Madrid	7	1998-2004
Manchester United	7	1997-2003
Real Madrid	7	2011-Present

Barcelona advanced following a four-goal comeback against PSG, winning 6-1 in the second leg. Barcelona became the first team to overcome a four-goal first-leg deficit to advance in Champions League history:

Largest First-Leg Deficits Overcome
4 goals	1 team
3 goals	1 team
2 goals	8 teams
1 goals	28 teams

Bayern Munich advanced to the quarterfinals for the 16th time with a 10-2 aggregate win over Arsenal.With an eight-goal difference, it is the second-largest aggregate goal difference in Champions League history:

Largest Margin of Victory in Knockout-Round Matchup
Stage	Winner	Loser	Diff.
2008-09 Round of 16	Bayern Munich	Sporting	11
2016-17 Round of 16	Bayern Munich	Arsenal	8
2004-05 Round of 16	Lyon	Werder Bremen	8
2011-12 Round of 16	Barcelona	Bayer Leverkusen	8

With Monaco and Manchester City combining for 12 goals — including a record eight goals in the first leg — as well as Bayern Munich and Arsenal combining for 12 goals and Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain combining for 11, more goals were scored in the round of 16 than in any such previous stage in Champions League history:

Most Goals in UCL Round of 16
2016-17	62
2011-12	56
2013-14	51

Leicester City qualified for their first Champions League campaign and have advanced to the quarterfinals. However, Leicester is England’s only representative in the quarterfinals, which has been the trend lately:

UCL Quarterfinalists By Country, Last Five Seasons
Spain	15
Germany	9
France	6
England	4
Italy	3
Portugal	2
Turkey	1
>> Spain has won last 3 titles

The draw for the quarterfinals will take place on Friday. Unlike the round of 16, there are no restrictions on which teams can meet. In the round of 16, teams from the same group or same country would not be allowed to play against each other.

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Wow Champions League !!  So Barcelona does it – down 4-0 after a 1^st leg slacking at PSG – Barca did the unthinkable and broke the record for biggest comeback ever!!  They scored 3 goals in the last 7 minutes to dramatically down PSG – 6-1 – (6-5 on aggregate)  The final goal on a free kick tap in with less than 30 seconds to play – yes Terstagen the Barca Goalie was in the box and almost headed it as well.  Drama!!

Meanwhile American teen-age sensation #22 Christian Pulisic was the best player on the field in the 1st half as Dortmund scored a 4-1 victory at home to advance to the Elite 8 round.  I complained just 2 weeks ago in this space that if Dortmund had given Pulisic more than 10 minutes of sub time where he almost scored a screecher of a shot from the top of the box and almost had an assist that if he had more time he would have had an impact.  Well the American did not disappoint –  starting for the injured Marco Rues – Pulisic followed his 1 goal/1 assist performance as a sub in Sunday’s league match vs Leverkusen with a 1 goal (the go ahead goal) and 1 assist (the tying goal) on a beautiful header to a teammate on the back post off a corner.  Seriously he was darn near the player of the game at just 18 years old and became the youngest ever player to score in Champions League for Dortmund and certainly the youngest American to ever score in Champs League.  Amazing.

Now back to Tues – First off Arsenal were well Arsenal.  Arsenal Manger Arsene Wenger continues to get pounded in the press and I wonder now if he will make it thru the season.  Losing to Bayern Munich who very much look poised to make a run to the Semi-Finals if not further is not the embarrassment – but 10-2 on aggregate?  5-1 loss at home after a 5-1 on the road.  Too bad as Arsenal were actually dominating the game in the 1^st half and should have had a 2 or 3 goal lead until Koscielny was sent off in the 54^th minute for a questionable red card push in the box – they really took the game to the german side.  However once again as soon as their French Center back was missing – the Gunners just folded.  Much like the first loss to the Bavarians when he left the match injured – I really think it was the loss of Koscielny more than going down to 10 men that opened up the flood gates.  The questions continue to surround Wenger – who I am not sure will make it thru the season at this point.  Too bad 15 years in the top 4 in the EPL should get him enough respect to at least let him finish out the year in my mind.  Real Madrid looked like the Defending Champs – or the Holders as they refer to them in European Soccer speak – while Renaldo was just ok, perhaps the best Center Back in the world right now – Sergio Ramos saved the day again with 2 header goals to help secure advancement in the 3-1 victory at Napoli (6-2 on Aggregate).  So the first 4 of the ELITE 8 are set with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Dortmund – next week Tues/Wed brings some interesting matchups as Leicester City host Sevilla down just (1-2) on aggregate on Fox Sports 1 Tues 2:45 pm while Juve play home to Porto us 2-0.  Wednesday Man City carries a 5-3 lead to Monaco on 2:45 pm FS1, while Atletico hosts Bayern Leverkusen up 4-2 on FS2 (with my daughter Courtney in Attendance!!)  This weekend the German Bundesliga will feature Americans facing off as Sat has 18 year old Champions League scoring Christian Pulisic #22 and Dortmund hosting Hertha Berlin and US Defender John Brooks at 9:30 am on Fox Sport 2, while Sunday Hamburger (US Forward Bobby Woods) host Bourussia MGladbach (Jermain Johnson) at 12:30 on Fox sport2.  MLS has the LA Galaxy hosting Portland Sun at 7 pm on Fox Sport1.

Carmel FC and Carmel Dad’s Club Readers – Don’t forget This Sat/Sun March 11-12 is CDC Sports Day at Dick’s Sporting Goods at Clay Terrace – 20% savings on everything – check your email from CDC for the coupon. 

GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Mar 10

2:45 pm beIN sport   Juventus vs Milan

Sat,  Mar 11

7:15 am Foxsport 1   Middlesborough vs Man City – FA

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Hertha BSC (US John Brooks)

9:30 am Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Frankfurt

10 am NBCSN                Everton vs West Brom

Sun, Mar 5

10 am Fox Sport 1      Tottenham vs Millwall

12 NBCSN                     Liverpool vs Burnley

12:30 Fox Sport2        Hamburger (US Woods) vs Bourussia Mgladbach (US Johnson)

5 pm ESPN                       Minn United vs Atlanta United

7 pm Fox Sport1          LA Galaxy vs Portland 

Mon, Mar 13

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Chelsea vs Man United FA Cup

Tues Mar 14 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1    Leicester City vs Sevilla (1-2)

2:45 pm FoxSport2    Juventus vs Porto (2-0)   

Weds Mar 15 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1     Atletico vs Bayern Leverkusen (4-2) My kiddo Courtney will be there!

2:45 pm FoxSport2     Monaco vs Man City (3-5)

Thurs Mar 16 –Europa League 

4 pm Fox Sport 1        Man United vs Rostov

4 pm Fox Sport 2        Borussia MGladbach (US Johnson) vs Schlake 04

 Fri, Mar 17

3:30 pm fox Sport 2                         Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Ingolstadt

Sat,  Mar 18

8:30 am NBCSN            West Brom vs Arsenal

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Hertha BSC (US John Brooks)

11 am NBCSN                 Stoke City (US Cameron) vs Chelsea

10:30 am Fox Sport 1 Hoffenhiem vs Bayer Leverkusen

10 am NBCSN                Everton vs West Brom

Sun,  Mar 19

8:30 am NBCSN            Mddlesborough vs Man United

12:30 pm                         NBCSN?      Man City vs Liverpool

7 pm  fox sport 1        Seattle vs NY Redbulls

Fri, Mar 24

3:45 pm Fox Sport2  Italy vs Albania

8:30 pm Fox Sport 1  Mexico vs Costa Rica

10:30 pm fox Sport 1 USA vs Hondoras

Sun,  Mar 25

8:30 am NBCSN            England vs Lithuania

 Tues Mar 28 –WCQ

5 pm FoxSport1         Panama vs USA

 Champions League

Pulisic becomes youngest ever American Goal Scorer in UCL

American Pulisic helps Send Dortmund Thru to the Elite 8 SI

Barcelona’s Win will Never be Forgotten ESPNFC

Barca Captilise on PSG Panic

Reactions Around the World

Raul Loves Pulisic’s Game

3 things We learned – on Real Madrid comeback 3-1 win over Napoli

3 Things We Learned in Bayern’s 5-1 Slamming of Arsenal

Arsenal should be Better than this

Italy Defender Fabio Cannavaro –from Ball Boy to BallonOr

MLS

Atlanta Home Debut in front of 55K proves Atlanta a Soccer City

Expansion in NASL, MLS and USL Midfield Press

MLS Players Confidential Player Poll

USA

US Ladies Lose 3-0 to France with 3 back System-finish 4^th in Home Tourney

Former US Captain Christine Rampone Retires from US National Team

US Ladies battle cold and England to a 1-0 loss at home

US National Team players Pulisic and Johnson score 3 goals in German Bundesliga games

US U20s win the CONCACAF Championship advance to World Cup in late May

US Soccer Bans Anthem Protests

US soccer Banning Protests wrong – SBNation

Doyle Predicting the US Mens Roster for Qualifyers

Europe

Juve vs Milan Preview

Power Rankings Top Clubs in World

American Christian Pulisic becomes Dortmund’s youngest UCL goalscorer

Christian Pulisic became Borussia Dortmund’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League with his strike in his side’s 4-0 round-of-16 defeat of Benfica on Wednesday.Pulisic — at 18 years, 5 months, 18 days old — scored Dortmund’s second against the the Portuguese side with a fine chip over goalkeeper Ederson in the 59th minute.The United States international has set a number of records while with the Bundesliga club, including being the youngest ever non-German to score a Bundesliga goal as well as becoming the youngest player in league history to score two league goals.Pulisic, who recently extended his contract at Borussia Dortmund until 2020, joined the club in early 2015 and made his first-team debut a year later.He has scored four goals and provided a further nine assists in all competitions this season.

Barcelona make impossible possible with historic UCL comeback over PSG

BARCELONA, Spain — Here are three thoughts from Barcelona’s 6-1 victory over Paris-Saint Germain at the Camp Nou, which sees the La Liga giants advance to the quarterfinals 6-5 on aggregate in the biggest Champions League comeback ever.

1. Barcelona pull off greatest Champions League comeback ever

Barcelona made the impossible possible, as they recorded the greatest comeback in Champions League history by hammering Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 at Camp Nou on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals. A Sergi Roberto winner deep into stoppage time completed what not only looked unlikely before the match but also looked off the cards when Edinson Cavani’s second-half strike gave PSG a precious away goal.Goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi and a Layvin Kurzawa own goal had manoeuvred Barca into a three-goal lead. Cavani’s effort, though, looked to burst their balloon. There were no signs of life with three minutes left, either, with three goals still needed. Then Neymar came to life. First, he scored a stunning free kick, then he added his second of the night from the penalty spot before sending in the cross that Roberto flicked home. Incredible.Ten minutes after the final whistle, Camp Nou was still full, with the fans not quite sure if they had really witnessed what had taken place on the pitch below them. The club’s anthem rang out on the speakers as the players, joined by the coaching staff, celebrated on the pitch. The dream had become a reality.Barca become the first team in the combined history of the Champions League and the European Cup to overturn a four-goal deficit. What makes it all the more remarkable is that Luis Enrique said in the buildup to the game that he was “convinced” that his team would get back in the tie. He didn’t stop there, either. “If a team can score four against us, we can score six,” he said in his pregame news conference. He wasn’t wrong.And so they avoid exiting the Champions League before the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. PSG, meanwhile, see their run of four consecutive last-eight appearances come to an end. How will they bounce back from this?Suarez had called for patience Tuesday, requesting that neither Barca’s players nor supporters go crazy in the opening exchanges of the window. That request, though, went out the window when he headed in the opening goal of the game with less than 180 seconds on the clock. No visiting defenders took charge of a bouncing ball in the area, and the Uruguay international flicked a header over Kevin Trapp.Rarely has Camp Nou been so loud. The belief from everyone and anyone associated with the club that a comeback was possible had reached a frenzied state by Wednesday morning in the Catalan capital, with banners draped around the city. Suarez’s goal was celebrated as evidence that the comeback was maybe meant to be. Not since the semifinal win over Bayern Munich in 2015 had there been so much excitement filling Barca’s old stadium.There was an intensity about the game as it then developed, played largely in PSG’s half. Messi, Neymar and Iniesta all came close — but from distance. With temperatures running high, there were also five bookings in the first half. There would be eight by full-time.The belief that was so present before the game then increased, with two goals either side of half-time. Kurzawa, in a panic, turned an Andres Iniesta back-heeled cross into his own net before Thomas Meunier brought Neymar down in the area. After discussing the decision with his assistant, the referee gave the penalty. Messi dispatched it.Cavani then struck the post, and you began to wonder if history were being written. But before you had a chance to answer the question, the Uruguay striker was rifling into the roof of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s net. The thousands of travelling fans erupted as their heroes bundled on top of each other in an eerily quiet corner of the Camp Nou pitch.Barca continued to look for more goals, but you sensed the zip was gone. Three goals in 30 minutes were too much to ask for. Even for this side. Or so it seemed.Then came the finale. A finale that defied words. Neymar led the charge with two of the three goals that fell in the final two minutes plus stoppage time, but this was a team effort. As the final whistle went, this time it was Barca’s turn for bundles on the pitch. Luis Enrique was in the mix of it. He announced last week that he will leave in the summer. After this result — if there was any doubt — he has ensured that he will never be forgotten.

2. Bold Barca make the impossible possible

As Cavani scored, Luis Enrique might have been regretting the delay in his decision to switch to a 3-4-3. Barca were still en route to four straight wins since the change, though 3-1 was not enough to take them through to the quarterfinals. The Barca coach must have been wondering what would have happened if the change had been made before the trip to Parc des Princes instead of after it.He doesn’t have to wonder any more. Barcelona’s late show provided a moment that will never be forgotten in the club’s history. Routine wins against PSG would have been nice, but this was really special.Barca took risks from the beginning here. Their execution wasn’t always perfect, but there was no doubting their commitment or belief in turning things around. Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic were brilliant in that regard. With Messi, Neymar and Suarez up front, it’s little wonder they were daring to dream.Dreaming comes with risks, though, and the Catalans’ three-man defence and high line meant they were often exposed. They were more brave than brilliant, if anything, with Neymar’s quality in the closing stages perhaps his best moment in a Blaugrana shirt to date.”You’ll be pissed off if you miss the comeback,” Pique had warned the club’s supporters before the match.They’d taken his advice on board. Coupled with Suarez and Luis Enrique’s rallying calls Tuesday, there was complete belief around the club that the comeback was on. The fans believed too. They were loud from the first minute to the last and will no doubt continue making noise into the early hours of Thursday.

3. PSG buckle under Camp Nou pressure

PSG were completely unrecognisable from the side that tore through Luis Enrique’s team in Paris like no other have done in the coach’s Camp Nou era. Instead, they looked like scared rabbits in the headlights, waiting for the inevitable goals to tumble. And tumble they did.What will no doubt annoy Unai Emery is the helping hand his players gave the Blaugrana. No one took charge in the area when Suarez headed in the opener. Kurzawa’s own goal, while perhaps unfortunate, was avoidable. They gave away a free kick and two penalties before leaving Roberto unmarked for what proved to be the winning goal.Lucas Moura, in for the half-fit Angel Di Maria, who dominated the first leg, was poor. But it would be harsh to focus on one man. This whole PSG side will have to take responsibility for what will be remembered in the French capital for all the wrong reasons. They simply froze.Emery, who has won the past three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was brought in for his success in Europe. The 4-0 win looked to have verified his appointment. This defeat, instead, means his future is likely to come under the spotlight once again. The Champions League, evidently, is a different beast than the Europa League.Trailing Monaco at the top of the league, the title is now non-negotiable.Samuel Marsden covers Barcelona for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @SamuelMarsden.

Champs League next Week –

14 March 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Juventus v Porto (2-0)
Times: 339
Home side in second leg through: 330 (97.3%)
Away side in second leg through: 9 (2.7%)

Leicester City v Sevilla (1-2)
Times: 587
Home side in second leg through: 287 (48.9%)
Away side in second leg through: 300 (51.1%)

15 March 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Atlético Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen (4-2)
Times: 29
Home side in second leg through: 28 (96.6%)
Away side in second leg through: 1 (3.4%)

• The only side to fail to successfully defend a 4-2 lead at home were Barcelona, after a 4-1 loss against Metz in the 1984/85 European Cup Winners’ Cup first round.

Monaco 3-5 Manchester City
Times: 10
Home side in second leg through: 4 (40%)
Away side in second leg through: 6 (60%)

Bonus UEFA Champions League round of 16 stat …

How many seeds (home in second leg) have gone through
8: 2013/14
7: 2005/06, 2010/11
6: 2006/07, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16
5: 2003/04, 2004/05, 2008/09
4: 2009/10
3: 2007/08

France defeats USA Ladies 3-0 in a major failure of three back system

The US went down early and never found their feet against an overwhelming French side

by Jessica Fletcher  Mar 7, 2017, 6:28pm PST

Starting XI: Alyssa Naeher, Becky Sauerbrunn, Casey Short, Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, Morgan Brian, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Lynn Williams, Christen Press

In the final match of the SheBelieves Cup, the United States looked to rebound from a late 1-0 loss to England with a win against France. A win in this match would secure a second straight SheBelieves Cup for the United States, a draw or a loss would give the title to France. Fox billed the SheBelieves Cup as a tournament that transcended rivalry and results. The United States took the latter to heart as they eventually fell to France 3-0.France put the United States on the back foot from the opening whistle, pressing high into the offensive third and causing an early scramble in the box. While the ball was eventually cleared, this set the tone for the rest of the match. In the 7’, Camille Abily split the United States three back with a slipped ball to Eugenie Le Sommer. Le Sommer’s run off of Allie Long’s shoulder forced Alyssa Naeher hard off of her line and lead Naeher to give up a penalty kick on a foul in the box. Abily converted the penalty for the first French goal of the match.The United States looked stunned and disorganized by this turn of events, their first real test of the tournament. Though they’d lost 1-0 to England, that was on a late goal and this was the first chance to see what the United States could do when they trailed in a match. The answer? Concede another goal within three minutes of the first concession. However, this was not the first time that the United States had fallen down two goals quickly to France. The last time was notably in the opening group match of the 2012 London Olympics. In that game, the United States caught fire after a slow start to eventually win the match 4-2. But, alas, that wasn’t a part of this particular process.If a process exists in a manager’s mind but no spectator can see it, does the process really exist at all? To let no player off of the hook, this was not a good performance all around. Though more so than that, this loss was the first major failing of Ellis’ experimental three back system.To put it simply, French manager Olivier Echouafai drew up a simple but deadly gameplan to decimate this nascent United States system. By using width and speed, the French were able to expose the relative lack of pace of the Long, Sauerbrunn, and Short three back. On paper it looked as though France only had one forward, Le Sommer, up top. But one of the keys to playing a good three back system is the ability to recreate the width that is lost without fullbacks. Neither Lavelle nor Heath did a particularly good job of this and a rotating complement of Sandi Toletti, Elodie Thomis, Amel Majri, and Camille Abily overloaded the United States flanks.This isn’t to say that the United States looked like they had given up at any point in this match. In the first half, there were a couple of set piece opportunities that didn’t come off exactly the way they’d been drawn up on the training ground. From the 33’ to the end of the first half, there was a distinct feeling like maybe the United States would be able to pull one goal back and make this a game.A similar feeling occurred at the beginning of the second half with the substitutions of Crystal Dunn and Mallory Pugh for Rose Lavelle and Christen Press. Up until Abily scored the third French goal in the 63’, the brightness of Pugh and Dunn made it seem more likely that the United States would score the next goal. After the third French goal, it seemed like the United States saw the writing on the wall and that’s when the frustration that had been building throughout the tournament really seemed to set in.In the 70’, Ellis made a line change: Alex Morgan for Lynn Williams, Julie Johnston for Morgan Brian, and Lindsay Horan for Samantha Mewis. She shifted Long into the midfield and put Johnston into the back three. It wasn’t verbal confirmation that Ellis was starting to question her process but those actions spoke louder than words. By taking Long out of the back three, Ellis waved a tiny white flag – at least for the duration of the match.The United States forced Gerard to make a few difficult saves but Naeher was, by far, the busier goalkeeper on the night. In the end, you’d have to say that France walk away the largely deserved winners of the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, while the United States will finish fourth out of four teams.It would be easy to scapegoat particular players, just as it would be easy to scapegoat the system and scrap it for good. This was not the finest hour of the three back system, nor was it the finest hour in the history of the United States program as they lost their first back-to-back matches on home soil since August 1992. The interesting thing will be how much this team, and Jill Ellis, has actually learned from this experience. Only then will it be possible to judge this tournament result in context. If this SheBelieves Cup was all about the process, the next few friendly matches need to be about the progress.

After clinching World Cup spot, USA U-20 team wins first CONCACAF Championship

A Honduras-born U.S. player scored the winning penalty kick to clinch the title

The U.S. under-20 men’s national team captured its first CONCACAF championship on Sunday. The red, white and blue topped Honduras 5-4 in penalty kicks after a scoreless match in regulation to win the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

It was 19-year-old Danny Acosta’s penalty kick that won it after Honduras sent its final shot sailing into the stands. Acosta plays for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. Check out the winning goal below:

After clinching a spot in this year’s U-20 World Cup earlier in the week, Tab Ramos’ youth squad came out on top in an intense penalty kick shootout, but the winning kick for Acosta against had to be a little bittersweet.

Acosta’s birthplace? San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The United States will play in the U-20 World Cup, which starts at the end of May.

 

Armchair Analyst: Atlanta get an expansion lesson & more in Week 1

March 6, 201712:28AM ESTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer

Early season soccer, no matter the league, is almost always choppy and low-scoring. We saw some of that this past weekend as the 22nd edition of MLS kicked off with a few scoreless draws, a number of bad penalties, and not-a-whole-lot of sustained or sustainable build-up play (though I’m tipping my hat to NYCFC and Columbus for at least tilting in the direction of “possession over all” at least a little bit).   Early season soccer is also usually very, very slow and methodical, but that was clearly less so in 2017. Even a sock could see as much:

This was probably inevitable as we’re now well into the era of full-field pressure and the high press itself as a default tactical/strategic choice. Lots of teams just want to crank it up to 11, and the numbers bear that out – there were 815.2 passes per game in 2016’s opening weekend, and 850.1 per game in 2017. That’s an increase something short of game-breaking but well into the realm of “noticeable.”Compared to three years ago, it’s almost 100 more passes per game. In other words the pace of MLS has picked up over 10 percent in the last 36 months.This is not inherently a good thing (I know an anonymous person who we’ll call “My Boss Greg Lalas” to protect his identity who prefers the long ball to lots of possession), but it is a tactical trend worth noting, and I suspect it’s something that may even be worth disrupting. Tactics in soccer tend to be cyclical, and the one team that figures out how to zig when everybody else is zagging could have a built-in advantage for however long it takes the rest of the league to catch up.

Onto the Week 1 games:

ATLiens

Don’t let this article distract you from the fact that Atlanta United lost 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls by conceding a pair of late goals and utterly failing to adjust to Jesse Marsch’s subs or the tactical shift of the visitors (RBNY played what I’d call a 4-1-4-1 for the last 20 minutes). Atlanta were fast and fun and relentless and very promising, if predictably expansion-y in their debut. “We talked about it at halftime just giving a little bit more, being a little bit clearer tactically, making a couple adjustments but being a little bit sharper physically, putting more into the game and now taking the crowd out play by play,” is what Marsch said afterward, and none of that sounds wrong to me. “I thought for the most part, in the second half the effort was really good, obviously, a great comeback and a lot of spirit within the team.”The fast, fun and relentless part for Atlanta was putting New York in that position in the first place. Their flock of fleet-footed attackers who always threatened to get past RBNY’s defense, and often managed the it outright. Atlanta had an identity from the first whistle: They’re a high-pressure, mid-level pressing team who wanted to coax RBNY into turnovers up the gut and then hit into space behind the back line. This was a modern-looking team embracing the most modern of philosophies, that games are won and/or lost in transition, and for a group that’d never played together before they made real headway in convincing neutrals (including me) that they’d be, at the very least, “adequate” at applying this approach.

This is lovely, and is exactly how you want to punish a team that’s playing too narrow:

The “expansion-y” aspect is what led to the loss, though, and it did so in predictable ways. One was lack of backline depth, as sub Anton Walkes was victimized on the game-winner. The other was the more ambiguous and harder-to-pin-down concept of “fit” – as in, there were at least a few players on that field asking to fill roles they’re maybe not 100 percent meant to.First and foremost on the list, by my reckoning, is Paraguayan DP Miguel Almiron. He had moments when he was electric, including a second-half breakaway that was just missing the final touch. But that lack of a final touch is why I remain dubious as to Almiron’s ability to be a high-level playmaker in MLS. His best years in Argentina were on the wing, and his best moments for Paraguay have come on the wing, and his vision when he’s played centrally just hasn’t looked to be game-breaking.Which will allow me to circle back to my original thought, that Atlanta are, as constructed, a “modern” team built upon forcing transitions. Teams like that tend to live by the axiom that the press is the best playmaker, and in that situation field coverage is arguably more important than raw creativity.What Almiron lacks in the second category he more than makes up for in the first, and there remains a very decent chance that Tata Martino will be able to fully weaponize both his speed and workrate as the days, weeks and months go along. Transitions are already very clearly important to Atlanta, and in the near future they could well become decisive.Not so, however, in Week 1. Atlanta’s debut was promising but predictably painful, and the weeks to come will demand more work and constant reassessment.

Two Dope Boyz

It’s probably fair to say that nobody in the league needs a hot start more than the San Jose Earthquakes. I’m not willing to call a 1-0 home win over the Impact “hot” necessarily, but it was very clearly a step in the right direction and an upgrade over the Quakes of 2016.Anibal Godoy deserves the most praise – he’s not quite my Player of the Week, but it’s close. Defensively he was a noose around Montreal’s midfield and it was his work that led to the game’s only goal (which he finished with a perfect chip after a nice lay-off from Chris Wondolowski). Godoy and Fatai Alashe lack a bit of elegance in the middle of the pitch, but they’ve had a natural partnership since they set foot in central midfield two summers ago and it’s smart of Dom Kinnear to keep them together.

The same should, I think, be said of Homegrowns Tommy Thompson and Nick Lima. Thompson had his finest two-way game in MLS on Saturday:

Here’s the thing: Breaking up that attack would have been a nice job, and of course having skill is a wonderful thing. What Thompson did there, though, was use his primary skill – quick feet, balance, comfort on the ball – to turn a routine track back into a recovery and chance to break in the other direction. It didn’t happen in that moment as the Quakes were playing a bit conservatively by the hour mark, but there’s a real difference between beating the attacker to the corner and booting the ball into touch vs. beating the attacker into the corner and then playing it calmly upfield.

Thompson has made his skill (never in doubt) fully functional (in doubt from Day 1, as it should be for any young player). You could see it in heady plays like that or in perfect crosses that, in a just world, would’ve resulted in goals.As for Lima, he was handed just about the hardest job a rookie can get in his pro debut: Stop Ignacio Piatti.

He managed it. Here’s Piatti’s chalkboard from Saturday:

Green arrows are complete passes, and red are incomplete. Yellow arrows are “key passes” – passes that lead to a shot – but as you can see, Piatti didn’t have any of those. The second- or third-best player in the league last year just maybe doesn’t have his sea legs under him yet, but even so, Quakes fans were justifiably singing Lima’s praises loudly and proudly.That certainly does make this feel like a new era for San Jose, doesn’t it? The 4-4-2 was still there, but this team put a pair of Homegrowns out there for 160 minutes, and they pretty thoroughly outplayed their opposite numbers in Piatti and Cameroon international Ambroise Oyongo.  It’s not perfect, and things can go very wrong after Week 1. But the strength of this San Jose team is suddenly in its 21-through-27-year-old cohort, and inertia has been replaced with momentum. It’s a good start.

A few more things to ponder…

9. I’d argue that nobody had a better result in Week 1than the Chicago Fire, who went to Columbus and got pounded for a half, then regrouped, reorganized, andrebounded for a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon. A point on the road under any circumstance is wonderful, but when it comes from behind against a conference foe? That’s golden.

As for Columbus, it was a replay of 2016’s nightmare as shoddy finishing and a late concession made for two dropped points right out of the gate. Newcomer Mohammed Abu was particularly culpable thanks to his wayward passing.

8. I wrote aboutMinnesota’s 5-1 loss to Portlandon Friday, and focused on the Loons. Like Atlanta they have lots of work and reassessment in front of them.

Portland have a lot of goals in front of them, and I thought Fanendo Adi was the Player of the Week. I also thought Adrian Heath gave us the Face of the Week at poor Diego Valeri’s expense:

7. If Kellyn Acostais really as good as he’s lookedthrough Dallas’s first three games he’ll be starting for the USMNT soon enough. His goal was the highlight of FC Dallas’s 2-1 win at the LA Galaxy.

I’ll wait at least a week before I decide how much doom that portends for LA, but I’m already thoroughly convinced Dallas are going to have a monster season even without Mauro Diaz.

6. Cyle Larin‘s towering header was the differencein Orlando City’s 1-0 win over visiting NYCFC on Sunday afternoon to open brand new Orlando City Stadium. Bad news out of central Florida, though, as it sounds like Kaká‘s injury (he came up lame early in the first half) is serious.
7. I keep doubting the Rapids and they keepmaking me look foolish. That’s what happened in Saturday’s 1-0 win over visiting New England, as Colorado simply found a way to get another one-goal result. It’s uncanny, and it feels unsustainable, but who am I to argue with what works?
8. A scoreless draw was what we got from Vancouverlate on Sunday night, as both the Union and ‘Caps failed to find their way to paydirt. I’d still like to seeMarco Bustos get a shot at the No. 10 job for the ‘Caps, and I’d definitely like to see Kekuta Manneh back out on the wing:
9. A hearty “welcome back” toClint Dempsey,who scored in his return to action but saw his Sounders fall 2-1 to a quick, organized and opportunistic Houston team.
10. D.C. will have a new penalty taker, I assume,after Saturday’s scoreless draw against Sporting KC. Marcelo Sarvasis now 1-for-3 in his career, and it’s time he hands those duties off to someone else.

In general, though, this game was played with something approaching a playoff pace. Both Sporting and D.C. were going in for the full 90.

1. And finally,Kyle Beckermanstill has his moments. This one came in RSL’s scoreless home draw against Toronto FC, and it’s our Pass of the Week:

Eras and tactics and styles and formations may change, but that kind of vision will never stop being beautiful.

Barcelona climb the charts; Juventus, Bayern and Madrid still lead the way

The top three remain the same in Shaka Hislop’s Power Rankings but look who is making a move just behind them…

1. Juventus(no change)

The leaders maintain their No. 1 position but theirs was not a straightforward week, given they had to come from behind to draw at Udinese. Despite that, though, Juve extended their lead in Serie A to eight points, courtesy of Roma’s defeat to Napoli.

2. Bayern Munich(no change)

After cruising to a 3-0 win at Cologne, the Bundesliga leaders then brought the pain vs. Arsenal for a second time. Bayern fell behind but, after the Gunners were reduced to 10 men, scored five unanswered goals to claim a 10-2 aggregate win.

3. Real Madrid(no change)

A pair of tricky-looking away games were negotiated successfully by the European champions. First, Madrid won 4-1 at Eibar, despite being without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, before Sergio Ramos inspired a comeback victory at Napoli.

4. Barcelona(+4)

Maybe Luis Enrique should have announced he was leaving earlier! Barca thrashed Celta Vigo 5-0 before pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks of all-time to beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 and claim a Champions League quarterfinal place.

5. Chelsea(-1)

Antonio Conte’s men took another step toward the Premier League title with a win at West Ham that was more comfortable than the 2-1 scoreline suggested. Chelsea were in control throughout and retain their 10-point lead.

6. Borussia Dortmund(new)

Scoring 10 goals in two games will get you plenty of attention… and a place in my rankings! Dortmund thrashed Leverkusen 6-2 in the Bundesliga and then struck four times to sweep past Benfica and into the Champions League quarterfinals.

7. Monaco(no change)

A 4-0 win against Nantes took Monaco past the 80-goals mark in Ligue 1 this season and, more importantly, saw the French leaders maintain their three-point lead over PSG. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, as speculation about his future continues.

8. Tottenham(new)

Another edition of the Harry Kane-Dele Alli show saw Mauricio Pochettino’s men beat Everton 3-2 to claim their ninth win in their last 12 league games. Kane scored twice to take his season tally to 24 goals in all competitions.

9. Benfica(no change)

They are still top in Portugal, one point clear of Porto, but Benfica’s Champions League run ground to a sudden halt at the hands of Dortmund. Rui Vitoria’s side took a 1-0 lead into the second leg but simply had no answer to the Germany side.

10. Sevilla(no change)

They are still just four points off top spot in La Liga but Monday’s 1-1 draw at Alaves, in which they took the lead only to concede a late equaliser, was a setback. Leganes are next for Sevilla, who the visit Leicester in the Champions League.

Dropping out: Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City.

 

I watched a little of the US Ladies vs Germany game Wed Night – first Germany in Green and the US in all Red looked like Ireland vs Portugal – kind of weird.  Overall a whole lot of new faces on the US team – new goalkeeper (thank goodness), new players all over – still it was the old guard Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Christian Press doing a lot  of the heavy lifting before newcomer Lynn Williams knocked in the only goal off a rebound.  The US faces England Sat at 5 pm on Fox before wrapping up the tourney vs France on Tues night at 7 pm on Fox Sports 1.

So after 2 of my favorite teams got to the MLS finals last year with my longtime favorite Seattle Sounders winning it all – we are ready for a new season of MLS – with 2 new teams on board in Atlanta United and Minn United.  MLS kicks off Friday night with Portland hosting new club Minnesota United at 9:30 pm on Fox Sports 1, while the other new team Atlanta United will host NY Red Bulls on Sunday on FS1 at 7:30 right after Orlando City opens its new stadium with NY City FC on ESPN at 5 pm.  (See full season previews and predictions below).

So leg two of the Sweet 16 Rounds of Champions League returns next Tues/Wed.with Arsenal hosting Bayern Munich and needing a downright miracle to comeback out of a 1-5 hole.  Defending champs Real Madrid travel to Napoli on FS2 down 2-1.  Wednesday Barca will try to swim out of the 4-0 hole with PSG at home on Fox Sport 1 at 2:45 while Dortmund will hopefully start or at least play American Christian Pulisic earlier in their home matchup with Benefica with a 4-2 lead.

This weekend the big game has Arsenal traveling to a reeling Liverpool Sat at 12:30 pm on NBCSN as the battle for top 4 continues, while Pulisic and Dortmund face Chicarito and Bayern Leverkusen at 9:30 on FS2 right after Man U host Bournemouth at 7:30 on NBCSN.

BIG GAMES ON TV THIS WEEK

Fri, Mar 3

9:30 pm Fox Sports1                        Portland Timbers vs Minnesota United

Sat,  Mar 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Man United vs Bournemouth

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Bayern Leverkusen

12:30 NBCSN                 Liverpool vs Arsenal

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England (She Believe’s Cup)

Sun, Mar 5

8:30 am   NBCSN         Tottenham (US Vickers) vs Everton

11:30 Fox Soccer        Hamburger (US Woods) vs Hertha (US John Brooks)

5 pm ESPN                       Orlando City vs NYCFC (MLS new stadium)

7:30 pm Fox Sport1  Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls (new MLS team)

Tues Mar 7 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1    Arsenal vs Bayern Munich (1-5)

2:45 pm FoxSport2    Napoli vs Real Madrid (1-2?)

7 pm  Fox Sports1      US Women vs France

Weds Mar 8 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1      Barcelona vs PSG (0-4)

2:45 pm FoxSport2      Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Benefica (4-2)

Fri, Mar 10

2:45 pm beIN sport   Juventus vs Milan

US

Retooled US Ladies Win 1-0 over #2 Germany

US 1-0 Win Over Germany in She Believe’s Cup

She Believes Cup a Litmus Test for US Team in Transition  SI.com

Unrecognizable USWNT prepares for Future with She Believes Cup

US Women’s Coach Jill Ellis Talks Keepers, 3-5-2 and more – Philly.com

Fox’s coverage of She Believes Cup – includes live Streaming of non US Games

Tobino –

US U20s beat Mexico 1-0 Hi-lites

US U20s beat Mexico story face El Salvador Friday 6:30 on Facebook live

Pulisic turned down Liverpool this summer

Trump Travel ban could hamper US bid for World Cup

MLS

MLS Predictions – Who will win MLS Cup, Supporters Shield?  ESPNFC

MLS predictions – SI

MLS Power Rankings – Seattle on top ESPNFC Video

SI MLS Power Rankings Preseason – SI.com

Biggest Question Facing all 22 MLS teams ahead of 2017 Season – ESPNFC

MLS Making Strides but has a way to Go still – Doug McIntyre ESPNFC

Eastern Conference Preview – Team by Team – NBCSN

Western Conference Preview Team by Team – NBCsports

West vs East – Has Power Shifted?

Columbus Crew Announce New Jersey Sponsor –soctake.com

Sneak Peak at Orlando City’s New Soccer Stadium – soctake.com

All 22 MLS Stadiums

Full MLS Schedule

Champions League – 3/7+8, 3/14+15

Odds of Advancing after the 2^nd legs

Dortmund hope home record advances

Barca have 4-0 Mountain to Climb at home vs PSG

Leicester needs help at home down 2-1 to Sevilla

Monaco eye another Englash Scalp as Man City Visits up 5-3

Juventus holds aces on home soil vs Porto up 2-0.

Atletico on top 4-2 as Leverkusen visit again – and my Daughter Courtney will be at the game – yea! 

 WORLD SOCCER

Power Rankings have Juve on Top

Weekend action in the EPL will Arsenal or Liverpool Recover this weekend?

Barca Coach Enrique to leave after season

Big Stories in Europe Include Man U Cup Win and More – SI

Man City Wins FA Cup Replay vs Huddersfield

Zlatan helps Man U win EFL Cup

Atletico’s Torres Ok After Scary Head Bash in Game

 Indy 11 + NASL

If its not Broke – don’t fix it – Indy 11  – Aaron Gunyon SocTakes.com

Former Butler Forward Goldsmith on Trial with the 11 – Kevin Johnson Soctakes.com

Indy 11 Win 1^st Pre-season game vs Butler 1-0

New Signings Settling In

Defender and Capt Colin Falvey has minor surgery to miss PreSeason

Single Game Tickets on Sale Now

John Harkes out as Coach at Cinncinati – SocTakes.com

 GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Mar 3

6:30 pm CONCACAF Facebook   US U20s vs El Salvador WCQ – also Univision

9:30 pm Fox Sports1                        Portland Timbers vs Minnesota United

Sat,  Mar 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Man United vs Bournemouth

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Bayern Leverkusen

9:30 am Fox Soccer Koln vs Bayern Munich

10 am NBCSN                Leceister vs Hull City

10 am CNBC                    West Brom vs Crystal Palace

10:15 am beIN sport                        Eibar vs Real Madrid

12:30 NBCSN                 Liverpool vs Arsenal

4 pm Univision             LA Galaxy vs Dallas (Carmel’s Matt Hedges)

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England (She Believe’s Cup)

Sun, Mar 5

8:30 am   NBCSN         Tottenham (US Vickers) vs Everton

9 am beIn Sport          Udenes vs Juve ITALY

11 am   NBCSN             Sunderland vs Man City

11:30 Fox Soccer        Hamburger (US Woods) vs Hertha

5 pm ESPN                       Orlando City vs NYCFC (MLS new stadium)

7:30 pm Fox Sport1  Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls (new MLS team)

Mon, Mar 6

3 pm NBCSN                   West Ham vs Chelsea

Tues Mar 7 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1    Arsenal vs Bayern Munich (1-5)

2:45 pm FoxSport2    Napoli vs Real Madrid (1-2?)

7 pm  Fox Sports1      US Women vs France

Weds Mar 8 –Champions League 

2:45 pm FoxSport1      Barcelona vs PSG (0-4)

2:45 pm FoxSport2      Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Benefica (4-2)

Fri, Mar 10

2:45 pm beIN sport   Juventus vs Milan

Sat,  Mar 11

7:15 am Foxsport 1   Middlesborough vs Man City – FA

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Dortmund (US Pulisic) vs Hertha BSC (US John Brooks)

9:30 am Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Frankfurt

10 am NBCSN                Everton vs West Brom

Sun, Mar 5

10 am Fox Sport 1      Tottenham vs Millwall

12 NBCSN                                                 Liverpool vs Burnley

12:30 Fox Sport2        Hamburger (US Woods) vs Bourussia Mgladbach (US Johnson)

5 pm ESPN                       Minn United vs Atlanta United

7 pm Fox Sport1          LA Galaxy vs Portland  

Mon, Mar 13

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Chelsea vs Man United FA Cup

Retooled U.S. women open SheBelieves Cup with 1-0 win over Germany

By Graham Hays | Mar 1, 2017espnW.com

CHESTER, Pa. — The United States hoped to play this game in Rio de Janeiro. It hoped the backdrop would be the sun setting over the Maracana. It hoped it would represent the final step in a march to history, the first team to win World Cup and Olympic titles in successive years.The Americans instead had to settle for a smaller setting Wednesday on the banks of the Delaware River, the threat of thunderstorms standing in for any South American sun. There was no history on the line, just another in the many and very early steps toward greater aspirations.It still feels good to beat Germany, of course. It always feels good to beat Germany.What mattered more Wednesday was how the U.S. women played in a 1-0 win against the team one spot behind them atop the FIFA world rankings. And there is no better place to start than a goal that was the product of everything the team has talked about being in this post-Olympics reset.

Playing a game of this magnitude for the first time, 23-year-old Lynn Williams scored the winner in the 56th minute. The player who made such a splash last fall by scoring the fastest debut goal in U.S. history, even if the record lasted only a few days, made her second goal a memorable one.But the other part of the story is how the ball arrived at her feet, a play set up by a tackle at midfield from someone who has scored 41 goals in 81 appearances for the national team. A tackle from a player who sees herself as no less a part of the answer than the newcomers.U.S. coach Jill Ellis wants her team to press, wanted it against the team that won Olympic gold and wants it as a general principle.Who better to do so than Christen Press?While the United States outplayed Germany almost from the outset, not by a mile but by enough to notice, the game hit a lull in the early minutes of the second half. American pressure that had put Germany on its heels early waned and a stalemate loomed. Then Press closed quickly on German defender Isabel Kerschowski near the sideline. Press won the ball, took off down the right side, cut inside with a soft touch and fired a shot that smacked off the goal frame.The rebound off the frame fell to Tobin Heath, whose own shot was blocked by a defender in front of goal — but only as far as the feet of Williams, who one-touched the ball into the net.Official assist or not, it still came about because of Press. A veteran who took a circuitous route to the national team in the first place, Press has both always been a willing servant and needed to be when asked to play a variety of roles by multiple coaches. But when she and Ellis spoke recently about her role in this new look, she took on a new challenge willingly.”Playing her in the pure No. 9 is probably her most natural position,” Ellis said. “But just her commitment in terms of pressing the ball and physically challenging to the ball, we can use her. We wanted to press, so we needed a forward that makes sure they can physically commit to the game, obviously both sides of the ball. Christen committed to that. And I think her work rate has been tremendous. Now couple that with I think she’s a natural goal scorer. She’s always looking to get in behind, she’s always off shoulder.”She’s done well in training and you’ve got to reward that.”

More from espnW.com

U.S. women debut with win over Germany

SheBelieves Cup is next test for U.S. women

Rapinoe left off roster for SheBelieves Cup

U.S. Soccer’s Lloyd seals Manchester City move

Spirit announce Dunn’s departure for Chelsea

Foudy: USWNT union changes are step in the right direction

Rampone retires from U.S. Soccer at age 41

This was not a safe lineup for the United States. Keeping the three-back that she turned to with regularity last fall, Ellis started Crystal Dunn and Mallory Pugh as the wide players on either side of those three defenders (the coach rejected the idea that Dunn and Pugh were traditional wingbacks who were expected to drop in and defend alongside the center backs, saying she wanted them on the front foot at all times). To that end, Germany coach Steffi Jones noted after the game how little time her team had to play out of the back. Playing that aggressively doesn’t work if people don’t buy in to the philosophy, whether or not they find themselves playing their preferred position or role.That’s true of Dunn when she plays wider and deeper than she might like. It’s true for Pugh, who came on in a similar role. It’s true for Casey Short, a natural outside back playing farther inside. And it’s certainly true for Press, closing down the ball on the sideline.”It was about prepping for 2019 and where she wants me to be there and kind of dreaming big and trying to expand my capacity a little bit,” Press said of what she and Ellis talked about. “So that when we’re in this year that seems like an off year, it’s actually the most important time to grow. So we talked about the areas she wants to see me develop, which is being a better physical presence holding up the ball and being more aggressive and confident in my play.”

Whatever vision Ellis has works only if both old and new mesh. The new faces like Williams draw much of the focus for now because they’re new. The unknown is more compelling than the known. But those who were here before are needed just as much, whether closing in on 100 caps, like Press, or 20 caps, like Samantha Mewis.”I think that in the last year, and especially in the last couple of months, it’s definitely more open for competition,” Press offered in a concurring opinion. “I think Jill has been bringing in players who are playing excellently in the league, and that pushes the players that have been around and also gives hope to all the players in the NWSL.”That the product looked promising is what matters. Although beating Germany is nice.The opening act offered its own drama, as third-ranked France beat fifth-ranked England 2-1. A Jordan Nobbs goal put England up 1-0 in the first half, but two familiar faces rescued France late. Marie-Laure Delie tied the score with an 80th-minute header off a cross from Elodie Thomis. Then with what proved the final kick of the game, and after a quick counter started by French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard headed home Amel Majri’s corner kick for the winner.France went winless and goalless in the first edition of the tournament. It will face Germany on Saturday in Harrison, New Jersey, while England will play the United States later the same day. (See more Stories at Bottom)

Tobin Heath: U.S. win over Germany ‘the best place we could be’

Updated: MARCH 2, 2017 — 12:29 PM EST

by Jonathan Tannenwald , STAFF WRITER  @jtannenwald |  jtannenwald@phillynews.com

After the U.S. women’s soccer team beat Germany, 1-0, at Talen Energy Stadium on Wednesday night, I got an exclusive interview with star midfielder Tobin Heath.

Your thoughts on the win?

I thought it was fantastic. It was our first game back since November, so obviously, playing a quality opponent like Germany and getting the result we did – and I think the way that we played, we were always on our front foot during the game. I thought that was great. Obviously, there were a lot of things that we need to clean up and make a little bit better, but to start the tournament like this, I think it’s the best place we could be.

How is the transition to playing a 3-5-2 formation going?

It’s going well. I mean, this is the first time we’ve actually played it against a good opponent, so I think for us, we just need to keep playing it and keep challenging ourselves in the formation, and be in uncomfortable situations. Because it’s one of those formations where in most situations, you’ve got to give up some territory. Knowing [how to] be positionally accurate in order to solve those. And just playing with the new players, and stuff like that. It’s important to get those connections going in order to make the formation buzz in the way we want it to.

And for you in particular, as one of the outside players – I know you’ve played some outside back in a four-back formation at times in the past – but what’s this like?

It’s different. I would say it’s a lot of work, but I think it can be rewarding at times. I think it’s one of those positions where you have to always kind of expect to either transition out of it and be a great option [in attack], or put in that last-ditch run back. So in that way, I think you have to be focused and tuned in.

For us, it’s me, Crystal [Dunn] and Mal [Pugh] who played out there today. I think it’s a little bit different for us, because we basically have the whole sideline to deal with. In that way, it puts us in situations that are a little unique for us in this formation. I think we’re learning, and I think we’re growing. So it’s good.

This is a heck of a way to do it, to jump into a tournament with Germany, England and France. And on top of that, as you said, the U.S. team hadn’t played a game for a few months. So what’s it like for you all to be thrown right into the deep end?

That’s exactly what we need. Especially in this time in the cycle. We need these games. We need this flexibility in order to play a system like this with the new players that we have.

Because we don’t have anything to lose. Although this is a great tournament with great opponents, at the end of the day, we’re just trying to grow and find out things about the team that we need to know. The only way we’re going to find out is against these teams. So in that way, it’s a good time to try things.

Last question. When the tournament ends, you go back to Portland to join the Thorns as they prepare for the start of the National Women’s Soccer League season. How big a year is this going to be for the Thorns and the NWSL?

I’m so stoked to get back to Portland and start the NWSL [season]. I love playing there. I love being there. I love playing for [head coach] Mark Parsons. I think we’ve got a great team. It’s the first time we’ve gotten kind of a consistent team from last year to this year, so in that way, I’m excited to get back on the pitch – and go for another championship, hopefully.

SheBelieves Cup provides a litmus test for a USWNT in transition

QUICKLY -Over the next week, the U.S. women’s national team will go up against England, Germany and France–three of the top five teams in the world.AVI CREDITOR3 hours ago

Saturday, March 4 at Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.

2:15 p.m.: Germany vs. France (FoxSportsGo.com)
5:00 p.m.: United States vs. England (Fox)

Tuesday, March 7 at RFK Stadiu, Washington, D.C.

4:00 p.m.: England vs. Germany (FoxSportsGo.com)
7:00 p.m.: United States vs. France (Fox Sports 1)

Coming off the low of an Olympic failure, the U.S. women’s national team was confronted with another harsh reality. Meaningful games will be few and far in between for about two years, and the opportunity to pick itself back up and prove itself as a world champion again won’t come around that often.Well, one of those such opportunities kicks off Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup, when the top-ranked (according to FIFA) U.S. hosts Olympic gold medalist and second-ranked Germany at Talen Energy Stadium in Pennsylvania. The tournament also pits the U.S. against fifth-ranked England (March 4 at Red Bull Arena) and third-ranked France (March 7 at RFK Stadium), with four of the world’s five highest-ranked teams going against one another in a high-profile, quick-hitting round robin. What the week-long exercise provides is a true litmus test for a U.S. team in a transition phase and trying to figure out its way going forward.Hope Solo hasn’t been the goalkeeper since the Olympics and it doesn’t appear she will be anytime soon, if at all. Manager Jill Ellis has left behind the Meg(h)ans Klingenberg and Rapinoe, and is also taking a look at 16-year-old midfielder Brianna Pinto. Plenty of the core U.S. players remain in place, but with time comes change, and competition for places should ramp up with the amount of relative newcomers Ellis has at her disposal. There is no surefire U.S. XI right now, and that’s entirely to be expected in the middle of dormant period in the international women’s soccer cycle.So while standing atop the winner’s podium for a second straight year in this nascent competition is of utmost importance to the U.S., figuring out who belongs in the mix for the run up to the 2019 Women’s World Cup is the other high-priority item on the to-do list.”We’ve now had two camps together this year and I’ve seen some good things across the board,” Ellis said. “Now we’re looking to translate that into three games against fantastic opponents. We will be greatly tested, and these are the moments where you learn the most about yourself, which is exactly what we need right now.”The transition with the U.S. women (who still don’t have a new CBA amid the ongoing equal pay fight) extends a bit to the club level, as well. While the NWSL schedule came out on Wednesday, at least the opening half of it won’t pertain to Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd, and it won’t at all to Crystal Dunn, the three U.S. stars (in addition to retired national team midfielder Heather O’Reilly) who have taken their games overseas. Their moves won’t alter their standing with the U.S., but they do provide a new logistical hurdle for Ellis, who is used to having a full squad of domestic-based talent. “In my tenure, I haven’t dealt with international players joining us purely at FIFA windows so it’s a slightly different experience for me personally but obviously we’ve kept in contact with them, both visually in terms of watching their games, and obviously through constant communication,” Ellis said. “We’re excited to have them join us in camp and ready for them to help us be successful.”In all, change is in the wind for the U.S. women. After their subpar showing in Rio, there is plenty they can learn from this competition, and there’s plenty we’ll learn about the U.S. in the process. Here’s the U.S. squad for the competition:

GOALKEEPERS: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS: Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Manchester City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Brianna Pinto (CASL)

FORWARDS: Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (UCLA), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)

An unrecognizable USWNT will prepare for the future at 2017 SheBelieves Cup

You may not fully recognize the United States women’s national team when it kicks off the second edition of the SheBelieves Cup in Chester, Pa., on Wednesday. And that’s entirely by design.There is no Hope Solo, of course, long since ostracized for her multi-page rap sheet – and injured, to boot. Out, too, are the retired Christie Rampone, Heather O’Reilly, Abby Wambach and Lauren Holiday. Meanwhile, Megan Rapinoe isn’t yet fit after a long-term injury. Meghan Klingenberg is also on her way back, while Amy Rodriguez has just been off for a year while she had her second son.[ SheBelieves Cup: Live match updates | Harris’ personal triumph | Solo’s long road ]

The defending Women’s World Cup champions are very much in transition as a new cycle begins in earnest following last year’s debacle at the Rio Olympics – the quarterfinals elimination to Sweden on penalties was the worst American finish at a major tournament ever.Now begins the slow rebuilding process towards the 2019 Women’s World Cup – and the qualifying tournament in late 2018 or early 2019 – in the first major test since Brazil. The SheBelieves Cup has come to replace the Portuguese Algarve Cup as the U.S. women’s national team’s annual Spring proving ground. And the quality of opposition has been highThis year, like last year, Germany, France and England will participate. Which means four of the top-five teams in the world will play a round-robin over three days outside Philadelphia, in New Jersey and in Washington, D.C., on March, 1, 4 and 7.These will be tough tests. Last year, the Americans went 3-0-0 but won by scores of 1-0, 1-0 and 2-1, respectively. That’s quite a difference with the typical friendly blowouts they tend to register against anybody but the world’s elite. After the Olympics, the U.S. won the remainder of its 2016 games by scores of 9-0, 3-1, 4-0, 5-1, 8-1 and 5-0.Head coach Jill Ellis wants to expose new players to these types of challenges. That’s why 18-year-old wunderkind Mallory Pugh is back in the team after some time off. And it’s why Ellis called in 16-year-old Brianna Pinto – who was born in 2000, potentially making her the national team’s first post-Millennial.“In this phase we’re in, it’s about taking players who are ready or needing to gain experience. The reality is if a player is not ready right now, we have a big window in which to continue their evaluation and assessment,” Ellis explained in a Q&A on USSoccer.com. “I think with Brianna, part of it is that you have to make sure that a player can help immediately, but also ask yourself, what do you see potentially in this player? And what I see in her is someone that already from a January camp until now is getting more comfortable, is answering questions in meetings and asking questions on the field. Giving her the exposure and experience of being in SheBelieves, which is a big tournament, is a massive investment.”This tournament, then, will be much less about the established stars in their own right as Ellis figuring out where they still fit in – if anywhere. The English-born head coach with the recognizable hybrid accent is a perpetual builder with a long-running project of modernizing a national team shackled to the same style and players for so many years.

As such, her leaving certain established players home hardly means they’re out of the picture for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. She has said that she only wanted players who were fully fit or very close to it for this SheBelieves Cup, so as not to waste the opportunity of really seeing where players stand against the preciously rare quality opposition. With more than two years remaining to piece together the puzzle, other chances will be plentiful.So the thing to watch is not how the team copes without the players not there, but how the battles and chemistry among those present shapes up. Who will seize the starting job in goal in this post-Solo era? Alyssa Naeher or the fascinating Ashlyn Harris?Who sticks out in the ever-crowdedfight among the forwards? And between Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Crystal Dunn, Pugh, Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald, who forms the best pairing? Or trident?What midfield configuration will yield the ideal balance between freeing up creative talents like Tobin Heath – or a healthy Rapinoe – and shielding the defense?There are many questions and three quality games to seek answers. A sea of time sprawls out between now and the next major women’s tournament, but the preparatory process has already begun.

Meet the U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR 2017 SHEBELIEVES CUP:

GOALKEEPERS (3): No. 18-Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), 24-Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride).

DEFENDERS (6): 8-Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), 11-Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), 5-Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), 7-Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars); 15-Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC).

MIDFIELDERS (8): 6-Morgan Brian (Houston Dash, 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), 9-Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), 16-Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), 10-Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), 20-Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), 3-Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), 22-Brianna Pinto (CASL).

FORWARDS (6): 19-Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC), 14-Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), 13-Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais), 23-Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), 2-Mallory Pugh (UCLA), 12-Lynn Williams (NC Courage).

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.

USWNT coach Jill Ellis on goalkeepers, Alex Morgan on Lyon, Ali Krieger on playing 3-5-2

Updated: MARCH 1, 2017 — 9:23 AM ESTU.S. women’s soccer team striker Alex Morgan chatted with reporters at Talen Energy Stadium ahead of the Americans’ game against Germany.by Jonathan Tannenwald , STAFF WRITER  @jtannenwald |  jtannenwald@phillynews.com

Here are some highlights from the U.S. women’s soccer team’s pregame conversations with the media on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s SheBelieves Cup game against Germany at Talen Energy Stadium (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1).U.S. coach Jill Ellis spoke from the podium at a press conference, striker Alex Morgan spoke to a gaggle of reporters outside the locker room, and defender Ali Krieger spoke exclusively to me a few minutes later.By the way, if you’re on the fence aboug going to Chester on Wednesday, U.S. Soccer said that as of Tuesday evening, around 1,000 tickets remained for sale.

Jill Ellis

On Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Carli Lloyd deciding to play abroad for a while:

These players want to explore other environments. In 2015 and ’16, we’ve been heavy with our programming. This year, the commitment to the NWSL is when they’re in that league, we’re playing FIFA dates. So that obviously puts everybody in the same category, whether you’re playing domestically or overseas.

I think for them, it’s an opportunity to see something different and experience something different. All three of them have never been overseas. I think for them, it’s a great opportunity for them to experience high-level teams, or slightly different things. Every environment you can go to that you can take away something [from] I think is going to benefit us in the long run.

On the contest between Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris to be the top goalkeeper on the depth chart:

That’s part of this. What I committed to after the Olympics was giving them games. Well, in truth, this is the biggest game for Ash and Alyssa. These are the biggest games right now, because when you’re suddenly competing to get on a podium, it puts a whole other emphasis on the importance – or the stress, really.

So I think for both of them, these games are big tests. Listen, is one game going to determine it? No. You have to look at consistency in a player. So what I’m committed to there is to get them games. I know [Harris] has done very well in the league, but again, it’s a different level.

And it’s not just seeing them one-off, or in a couple of games, or a game against a lesser opponent. It’s seeing them against these big opponents, to see how they manage the stress, the pressure, and obviously the action, because they can get a lot of it.

On her expectations for 16-year-old midfielder Brianna Pinto, and what fans should expect:

Having her in here, she’s gaining so much just being in and around it, training with these players every day. Pinto is a player – and I’ve said this before – it’s a position, the No. 6 [defensive midfielder], with [Andi] Sullivan getting hurt, I think we still need to deepen that spot.

She’s done well. She’s, of course, young. And what I’m trying to look at is, okay, where is she now and where could she be in two years with investment with us in here. That’s really why I’m looking at her. Will she play in this tournament? I don’t know. To be determined. But getting this major tournament under her belt at 16 years old, I think is going to benefit us.

Alex Morgan

On what it’s been like in Lyon so far:

It’s definitely been challenging a lot of times. It’s been fun and exciting to get to know my new teammates, to get to know the club a little bit better. But it’s not always easy.

There’s difficult moments, and the last two weeks have been pretty difficult with the illness [she’s had the flu] that I had, and then having a little knock to my ankle as well. So it’s been a tough couple of weeks, but I’m happy to be back in the U.S. and representing my country.

On how her time in France has changed how she plays:

I think I have gained a different style. Learning to play a different way. With Lyon, it’s more of the technical side and coming back for the ball, and making your runs more sophisticated. A lot of teams that we play against kind of sit a little deeper because they don’t want to get beat. So for me it’s trying to still contribute and open up space for myself even though that space is limited.

Then, at the same time, bringing my best to training every day, because we have a lot of the best players in the world on that team, as you saw from the FIFPro (Women’s Team of the Year) nominees. I think there were 50 nominees and 11 of those were on Lyon.

[It was 55 total, not 50, but Morgan was right that Lyon had 11.]

It’s amazing to see, it’s really challenging every day, and I feel like we’re able to challenge ourselves and create a competitive environment every day. So it’s fun to be a part of that.

Ali Krieger

How big do you think this tournament is?

Huge. This week is going to be incredible. This week is what we all dream of being a part of. At the highest level, you’re playing against the best teams in the world. We’re all in the top five teams int he world. So I think this is an awesome experience for all of us.

This is who we want to play all the time. These are the opponents that we dream of playing against, not only in big tournaments but during the year. It makes us better, it challenges us, we grow from it, and it gives us more experience. It’s nice to just have a small, intimate tournament domestically for us to really build the game.

At the same time that this tournament is happening, Orlando City is opening the fancy new stadium that you’ll be playing in with the Orlando Pride. How good a place is it?

What a dream. I can’t say that I’ve been because we’ve been so busy with training and things like that. I haven’t yet gone to the stadium tour, but I hope to do that right when I get back.

It is incredible. They’ve thought about every single last detail, and I can’t wait to see it, to be a part of it, to open up the stadium for the inaugural season coming up. It’s soccer-specific, the atmosphere is going to be amazing. It’s a dream that we as women footballers get to play in the same stadium as the men.

How much of the stadium really belongs to the Pride specifically?

It’s half and half. We share it completely with the men. And they understand that too. We’re a family, we’re a community, and I feel just as much a big part of that, even though I haven’t even been there yet – really involved with the team. I really feel a huge part of it. We share it 100 percent with the men, and that’s something that you feel like you’re rewarded in that way from the organization.

Alex Morgan is at Lyon, Crystal Dunn is at Chelsea, and Carli Lloyd is headed to Manchester City after the SheBelieves Cup ends. How much of a different element does it bring to the national team when top players are playing abroad?

It allows players to kind of step up, and it allows players to go and achieve their individual goals that they want to do. I had the whole European experience, and I would tell every single one of my teammates that they should go and experience it as well if you’re able to. I think these two off years [2017 and 2018] are really a good time for them to do that.

To have that experience, check it off their lists, and to fight for a Champions League title – that’s something I already have in my back pocket, and I’ve experienced, and I’ve grown so much as a person. I don’t think I would be where I am on this national team if I hadn’t gone.

So for them, it broadens the game and opens up, maybe, doors for other players to feel the same. I think it’s an awesome experience, and I’m really happy they’re doing that.

Jill Ellis is trying to get this team to play a 3-5-2 formation. What has that transition been like for you?

It’s amazing, because I think it fits my style a lot better than a four-back [formation]. So I’m really excited about that. I can just defend, I can focus on winning the ball back and giving it to the front six players who can do their magic.

I love playing in a three-back [formation]. I really enjoy it, because of the speed of play and the opportunities to get the ball and play it into the front six. I think it’s nice to have a variety of lineups and formations to use against different opponents, depending on what they bring.

2017 MLS predictions: Who will win MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, MVP?

With the 2017 MLS season just about to kick off, ESPN FC asked its writers and analysts to make predictions for who will win the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, Golden Boot and MVP.

Who will win MLS Cup in 2017?

Vancouver Whitecaps: Is it crazy to think that a team that two years ago was in contention for the Supporters’ Shield without a goalscorer find themselves with one of the most exciting goalscorers MLS has ever had, and not be in the mix? I’m all in on a Cascadia Treble. — Herculez Gomez (@herculezg)

I’m going to go for Vancouver Whitecaps, though that may be as much about the way that the season and playoffs offer the kind of twists and turns that see solid-but-unspectacular teams find a way through by the time early December rolls around. The Whitecaps were derailed by injuries last season, but were better than their final position suggested. A lot depends on whether Yordy Reyna returns from injury in the summer like a new signing, or whether he ends up as a cap writeoff for the year, but let’s guess that he helps Cascadia keep its winning sequence running into a third surprise year. — Graham Parker (@KidWeil)

Also picking Vancouver is Steve Nicol (@SteveNicol61)

FC Dallas: Even with Mauro Diaz likely to miss half the season due to the Achilles injury he sustained last year, Dallas looks to be the most complete team. Javier Morales has been brought in to fill the attacking void, but more importantly, Dallas’ core that includes Kellyn Acosta, Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman is a year older and wiser. If Cristian Colman provides the goals from the forward position, look out. — Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle)

Last season’s Supporters’ Shield winner take it a step further and validate regular season dominance with a successful MLS Cup run. — Alejandro Moreno (@AleMorenoESPN)

It’s their time. FC Dallas has all the tools to take home the crown in 2017: A strong defense, speed on the wings, a creative midfield and now a striker to finish chances. Once Mauro Diaz returns from injury in June, they will be unstoppable. — Arch Bell (@ArchBell)

Maybe I’m swayed by their CONCACAF Champions League demolition of Arabe Unido, but Dallas just seems poised to hang banners in 2017. Kellyn Acosta is so good and they’ve got — arguably with Seattle — the best center-back pairing in MLS. Oscar Pareja has really built a powerhouse. — Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT)

Also picking Dallas is Paul Mariner (@Paul_Mariner)

Toronto FC: Were the most dynamic team down the stretch run of last season and have kept all their major pieces intact. Unlike Columbus the year before, I believe they will use losing MLS Cup at home as the fuel to fire a return a year later and will go one better. — Adrian Healey (@AdrianHealey)

The Reds came oh-so-close to hoisting the hardware last season, losing a final they dominated on penalties. That experience pushes them over the edge this year. — Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN)

Toronto FC is my pick to win MLS Cup, reaching the goal they nearly accomplished last season. A host of big changes and new signings across the league make this as unpredictable a season as there’s been in recent memory, but TFC stands out thanks to their proven core of MLS elite talent and a handful of strong additions. — Jason Davis (@davisjsn)

 Who will win the Supporters’ Shield in 2017?

FC Dallas: So consistent during regular season play, these kids know how to handle the grind of a long MLS season. Look for a repeat of the Supporters’ Shield. — Herculez Gomez

FCD won the Shield last year, and look plenty capable of delivering a different kind of double this season. — Jeff Carlisle

Also picking Dallas is Alejandro Moreno.

Hard to look past Dallas again, as they’re strengthening at all levels of experience and have a formidable pipeline of youth talent compared to other clubs. Still need to work on concentration coming through knockout rounds, but in the regular season, any club that beats them probably has to do better than last year’s points total. — Graham Parker

The CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal win over Arabe Unido showed that FC Dallas are still plenty dangerous even without Diaz in the fold. There will be plenty of challenges in coming out of the West — Seattle, Los Angeles — but Oscar Pareja’s group should ride to a second straight Supporters’ Shield. — Arch Bell

 

Toronto FC: The Double hasn’t happened too often recently, but Toronto are primed for it this year. They will have the advantage of playing a regular schedule rather than the first eight games on the road as they did last year. Dallas, Sporting Kansas City and even Columbus could push them close, though. — Adrian Healey

After MLS Cup heartbreak, I bet TFC comes out hot to start the season. Toronto managed to keep its team together, and the intriguing addition of Victor Vazquez — who was player of the year in Belgium two seasons ago — could further spark an already combustible attack. — Sebastian Salazar

Seattle Sounders: Boosted by their championship swagger and the return of Clint Dempsey, the Sounders will become the first MLS Cup holder to win the Shield since Columbus did it eight years ago. — Doug McIntyre

The Sounders’ 2016 championship means they had an extremely short offseason. That could mean a slow start, but with Brian Schmetzer settling further into the job and Clint Dempsey back on the field, Seattle should still be among the best teams in the league. After last year’s aberrant regular season, I’m picking the champs to bounce back with a points title. — Jason Davis

Sporting Kansas City: Lots of firepower up front, creative in midfield and young improving defenders at the back. — Paul Mariner

Vancouver Whitecaps: — Steve Nicol

Who will win the Golden Boot in 2017?

Sebastian Giovinco: Do I really need to explain myself? Just look at his numbers over the past two years. — Herculez Gomez

Fueled by his MVP snub in 2016, when the little Italian wasn’t a finalist despite leading the league in combined goals and assists, I see Giovinco outscoring everyone this year. — Doug McIntyre

Also picking Giovinco is Steve Nicol.

Fanendo Adi: Adi tied for fifth last year with 16 goals, but with Sebastian Blanco brought in to provide another supply line alongside Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe, Adi should not only exceed that total this year, but lead the league. — Jeff Carlisle

A striker who has it all, who Portland have done amazingly well to hang on to. Has got better every year in MLS and this is the year he puts it all together and tops 20 goals for the first time. — Adrian Healey

 

David Villa is the safe bet here, because he’ll net a big chunk of NYCFC’s likely 60-plus goals. But Adi has scored at a great clip since entering league in 2014, and with Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe and now Sebastian Blanco creating danger, the Nigerian international will get plenty of chances. — Sebastian Salazar

David Villa: Going to suggest David Villa squeaks this one with the strengthening New York has done in the attacking midfield positions around him; less work as a creator and more as an opportunistic finisher may give him the edge over the usual contenders. — Graham Parker

New York City FC’s high-flying attack won’t miss a beat with Maxi Moralez slotting into the midfield along with Andrea Pirlo, thus setting up David Villa with plenty of scoring chances. Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls will provide stiff competition, but this year it’s the Spanish striker taking home scoring honors. — Arch Bell

Also choosing Villa is Alejandro Moreno.

Bradley Wright-Phillips: Chances created, chances finished, stays fit, plays most games and his conversion rate has improved over the years. — Paul Mariner

Who will win MVP in 2017?

Sebastian Giovinco: Are we still doing this? He was snubbed last year. Wasn’t even top three! Insane. Shame on you. — Herculez Gomez

Sebastian Giovinco should have won it last year, only to be completely snubbed. No matter. This season he’ll reclaim the trophy he won in 2015. — Jeff Carlisle

Since Giovinco won it two seasons ago, and should have won it last season, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t have yet another outstanding season. — Alejandro Moreno

Missing out last year really seemed to stick in Sebastian Giovinco’s craw. Assuming he stays happy in Toronto and also stays injury free, then he should be the one to beat again. — Graham Parker

After not even being named an MVP finalist in 2016, Giovinco should pick up his second MVP trophy (2015) in what stands to be another fantastic season for the Italian in Toronto. With Jozy Altidore healthy, Giovinco’s numbers (17 goals and 15 assists in 2016) will only improve. — Arch Bell

He’s the best player in MLS, and maybe the best in league history. The fact that Giovinco wasn’t even an MVP finalist last year still gets on my nerves. Hope the voters get it right in 2017. — Sebastian Salazar

 

Benny Feilhaber: In similar fashion to the production of Sacha Klejstan last year, Feilhaber has the potential to do the same this year with the added motivation of getting back in the national team picture. Sporting are going to make their presence felt in the West, and Feilhaber will be the fulcrum for everything they do. — Adrian Healey

Nicolas Lodeiro: The Uruguayan World Cup vet was so good in 2016 he had an argument for the award even though he didn’t arrive until late July. In his first full season, the league’s most complete player will just edge out Giovonvo as MLS’s best. — Doug McIntyre

We got a taste of what the Uruguayan could do when he arrived in Seattle in midseason and subsequently pushed his new team all the way to an MLS Cup title. A full season of Lodeiro, augmented by the return of Clint Dempsey, should be extremely productive. A 15-goal, 15-assist season isn’t out of the question. — Jason Davis

 

Mauro Diaz: Best No. 10 in the league, a creator, can finish chances and is magic on restarts. — Paul Mariner

Fredy Montero: — Steve Nicol   Follow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.

SI’s expert 2017 MLS season predictions

SI’s expert panel makes picks for the 2017 season, including MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, Golden Boot and much more.SHARESI.COM STAFFan

The 2017 MLS season is nearly upon us, with the Portland Timbers and expansion club Minnesota United pulling back the curtain on the new campaign Friday night at Providence Park. It’s been a few months since the Timbers’ rival, the Seattle Sounders, captured their first MLS Cup title in Toronto. Since then, two new full rosters have been built (Minnesota and fellow expansion club Atlanta United); big-name, big-money stars have moved on (farewell to the likes of Robbie Keane, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard); a new cast and breed of talent has joined the fold (hello to Miguel Almiron, Josef Martinez, Sebastian Blanco, Alberth Elis, Romain Alessandrini and Albert Rusnak, among others); and future league expansion remains on the horizon. With a nine-month road ahead, you have a couple of options: watch it play out, or have it all spoiled for you with our fearless and peerless, never-wrong season predictions. So with that, take a look below as SI’s experts Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Alexander Abnos make select picks for how the league’s 22nd season will play out:

Who will win MLS Cup?

WAHL: Toronto FC. Somehow, TFC failed to win the MLS Cup final in December despite being on its home field and despite outplaying Seattle before falling on penalties. That will be plenty of motivation to get back to the final—and win it this time.

STRAUS: FC Dallas. Last year’s treble dreams were shattered along with Mauro Díaz’s Achilles tendon. But instead of feeling sorry for itself, FC Dallas went out and got better. Javier Morales was acquired as a replacement playmaker, striker Cristian Colmán arrived from Paraguay and Belgian winger Roland Lamah was signed to fill the hole left by Fabián Castillo. Defenders Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman are evolving into national team candidates while FCD’s academy gold mine has produced Paxton Pomykal, Jesus Ferreira and Reggie Cannon.

FCD’s trophy drought ended with last year’s Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield. Now it can focus on MLS Cup. Coach Oscar Pareja will be more patient in pacing his team, Díaz will return in the fall and Dallas will hit the playoffs focused and in form. It’s their time.

ABNOS: FC Dallas. Morales was an inspired pickup, and his veteran presence will not only help a very young team in the absence of Diaz, but also in the period after Diaz comes back. Pareja always has his team playing without fear, and that should serve them well come playoff time.

Who will win the Supporters’ Shield?

WAHL: Dallas. Even without the injured Mauro Díaz for most of the season, Dallas has a good short-term replacement (Javier Morales) and a cast of terrific veterans and emerging youngsters.

STRAUS: There will be no hangover in Toronto, despite the short offseason. The pain of that agonizing MLS Cup final loss will fuel the Reds through the spring and summer, while a tactical and personnel changes by the New York Red Bulls and Dallas’s shifting priorities remove the past two Shield winners from the equation. Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco are unstoppable and Spanish playmaker Víctor Vázquez will help TFC diversify its attack. Toronto finished seven points behind FCD last year after spending the season’s first two months on the road. With a more normal slate at BMO Field in 2017, Toronto will make up those points and more.

ABNOS: Toronto FC. Greg Vanney’s side is just stacked from top to bottom, so they stand a good chance of picking up points even when one or all of Altidore, Michael Bradley or Giovinco are unavailable. Plus, don’t discount the motivating factor of losing last year’s MLS Cup final. That team will be doing everything it can to get that taste out of their mouths as quickly as possible.

Who will win the Golden Boot?

WAHL: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto. The most dangerous scorer in the league, period.

STRAUS: David Villa is 35, but until he stops being awesome he’s going to get the benefit of the doubt. NYCFC plays a wide-open game and it attacks with flair through the Spanish veteran. Villa, who finished one goal off the golden boot pace last season, won’t split the scoring load like Giovinco will in Toronto. That’ll make the difference for the 2016 league MVP.

ABNOS: Fanendo Adi. He’s scored 16 goals in each of the last two seasons and has the fearsome trio of Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri and newly arrived DP Sebastian Blanco behind him in Portland.

Who will be the highest-scoring American in the league?

WAHL: Jordan Morris, Seattle. Kind of crazy that the highest-scoring American in MLS last year was (wait for it) Chris Pontius. Morris is emerging as a star, and I think he’ll be the guy this year.

STRAUS: Altidore appears to have overcome his hamstring issues. He’s found his comfort zone for both club and country and has a powerful team behind him in Toronto. Even though Giovinco will score plenty, a full season at his full potential will be enough to lift Altidore to the top of the American scoring chart.

ABNOS: Altidore. When healthy, Altidore is as hard-working a forward as there is in the league, and he proved at the end of last season that he can be a volume scorer as well (15 goals in his last 21 games with Toronto in 2016, including playoffs).

Which 10 teams will miss the playoffs?

WAHL: East: Chicago Fire, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union; West: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United, San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps

STRAUS: East: Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union; West: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United, San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps.

ABNOS: East: Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, Montreal Impact, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City; West: San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United, LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps.

Who is your sleeper, under-the-radar team due for a bounce back?

WAHL: Columbus. Last season was a strange one for Gregg Berhalter’s team, and with greater stability this season I suspect 2016 will end up being viewed as an anomaly.

STRAUS: Agree with Grant here. Last year was an everything-that-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong stumble for Columbus. But the yellow kits are back and the Crew’s 2015 mojo will return as well. Ola Kamara will continue to score, and coach Gregg Berhalter addressed the issues in defense with the signing of DP center back Jonathan Mensah and left back Jukka Raitala. Columbus has depth and talent in center midfield and if Federico Higuaín can stay healthy, the Crew should have no issue returning to the postseason.

ABNOS: New England Revolution. The Revs really found a groove toward the end of 2016 and you know Jay Heaps has spent all off-season thinking of a way to get all the talent in their front six to play well together. They’ve improved just enough on the defensive side of the ball that I think they’ll bounce back in a big way in 2017.

Which off-season acquisition will look like an act of genius?

WAHL: Javier Morales, Dallas. Mauro Díaz left big shoes to fill while he’s out. It says here that Morales has one more season in him in that spot.

STRAUS: Chicago’s turnaround will get a jumpstart from striker Nemanja Nikolić. He scores goals at a robust rate and will remind us of the days when a vigorous Eastern European influence helped carry the Fire to trophies. Nikolić was born in Serbia, plays for Hungary but broke through in Poland, where he tallied 55 goals in 86 games across 1.5 seasons at Legia Warsaw. He struck six times in 11 Champions League matches last season. He’s a pure finisher, and with Michael de Leeuw and David Accam providing service and Dax McCarty and Juninho locking things down in midfield, Nikolić will get his chances.

ABNOS: McCarty to the Chicago Fire. “Act of genius” may be a little strong for this one, actually. It’s more like “Act of spellbinding obviousness.” The Fire clearly had developed a losing culture at the club, and McCarty proved in his time with the Red Bulls that he brings the exact opposite. Together with some of the Fire’s other moves, McCarty will make a noticeable difference in Chicago. I’d be shocked if they finish near the bottom of the table again this season.

Who are your breakout player candidates?

WAHL: D.C. United’s Ian Harkes is my pick for Rookie of the Year; FC Dallas’s Kellyn Acosta is on the brink of stardom; NYCFC’s Tommy McNamara won’t be just a cult hero anymore in 2017.

STRAUS: Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas; Luciano Acosta, D.C. United; Jordan Allen, Real Salt Lake; Fabian Herbers, Philadelphia Union; Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders

ABNOS: Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Medranda is a spark plug of a player that seemed to get better and better as last year went on. If he can cement a permanent spot in the SKC lineup, look out; FC Dallas did damage last year without a go-to center forward, so the addition of the 23-year-old Cristian Colman could elevate an already-good team to another level. He’s been in good form in preseason. Real Salt Lake homegrown player Jordan Allen performed well when called upon last season and should have an even bigger role this time around for a more balanced RSL team than we’ve seen.

How will Atlanta United and Minnesota United fare in their respective Year 1 campaigns?

WAHL: Atlanta will make playoffs after finishing sixth in the East. Minnesota will finish last in the West.

STRAUS: There’s a reason the Sounders are the only first-year club to make the playoffs since MLS’s initial expansion in 1998—it’s hard to build a cohesive side in a few months. So while both Atlanta and Minnesota will be fun to watch, it’s a tall order to expect either to play in November. Atlanta is stocked with young talent and has enormous potential. But relying on 22- and 23 year-olds with no MLS experience will pose challenges, and by the time this team gels and gets comfortable, it’ll be too late. But watch out in 2018. Minnesota will score goals thanks to Christian Ramirez, Johan Venegas and Kevin Molino, but United will be far too busy in back to contend this year.

ABNOS: Atlanta will be inconsistent but occasionally very, very good. However, it’s tough to expect an expansion team starting from scratch to make the playoffs. Minnesota, on the other hand, will struggle.

Which cities will be given MLS expansion teams by year’s end (including Miami)?

WAHL: Miami, Sacramento, St. Louis. Sacto and STL are the favorites, and David Beckham’s group will finally get their act together in Miami.

STRAUS: Miami will figure it out and finally nail things down. St. Louis and Sacramento were the heavy favorites entering 2017. But a couple of political hurdles remain for the former, while the latter stumbled last month thanks to some internal ownership intrigue. Don Garber has made no secret of his interest in San Diego, and an impressive plan there (plus the Chargers’ departure) could see it spring a surprise.

ABNOS: Sacramento, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Miami would be a good addition to MLS but that bid only ever seems to lose momentum despite having one of the sport’s biggest celebrities behind it.

Dempsey, champs Seattle Sounders top preseason MLS Power Rankings

The first ESPN FC Major League Soccer Power Rankings of the new season are here. With no official match action outside of preseason to go on, we took into account last year’s finishes and each team’s offseason acquisitions in an attempt to figure out who is primed for success in 2017.It seems only right that the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders get the top spot and the league’s two expansion sides bring up the rear as the season gets underway. With the season set to kick off on Friday, here’s where the other 19 teams in the league stack up in between.

1. Seattle Sounders
   The champs get the top spot to start the season because, well, they’re the champs. It also doesn’t hurt that Clint Dempsey is ready to return, the core of the team is intact and preseason returns are looking good so far.
2. FC Dallas
   No Mauro Diaz, no problem. If FC Dallas’ 4-0 CONCACAF Champions League thrashing of Arabe Unidois anything to go by, Oscar Pareja’s team looks like an MLS Cup contender even without its injured Argentine playmaker.
3. Toronto FC
   The defending Eastern Conference winner returns all of the core pieces that pushed it to the MLS Cup final in 2016, and the team has added a potential solution to its creative problems in midfielder Victor Vazquez.
4. Colorado Rapids
   The Rapids are essentially the same group that finished second in the West in 2016. We are giving them the benefit of the doubt for now, but with so few goals available, Colorado could slip if Tim Howard and the defense aren’t as good as they were last season.
5. Montreal Impact
   Didier Drogba is gone, but Montreal managed to hold on to its most important player: Ignacio Piatti. His decision to stay in Quebec is a huge boost for Mauro Biello’s men.
6. New York Red Bulls
   Questions at Red Bull Arena swirl mostly around the midfield after the departure of Dax McCarty and a tweak in formation executed by head coach Jesse Marsch. There’s been enough change to warrant some caution over expectations for the Eastern Conference winners in 2016.
7. New York City FC
   The boys in blue went in a different direction with the signing of Maxi Moralez as a designated player this winter, but what the new addition lacks in name recognition, he could make up for in impact on a team that manager Patrick Vieira promises will be even better than expected.
8. D.C. United
   United didn’t dive into the transfer waters as heavily as most this offseason, putting continuity at the top of the club’s lists of strengths heading into the new year. Keep an eye on Patrick Mullins, who won the starting striker job at the end of 2016.
9. Portland Timbers
   The Timbers expect to bounce back in 2017 with a reshaped back line, Darlington Nagbe settled on the left side of midfield and Sebastian Blanco on the right.
10. Sporting Kansas City
    Benny Feilhaber is back to feed Dom Dwyer, but will that be enough to make Sporting an MLS Cup contender? The team stayed the same through the middle but added players at wing positions this offseason.
11. LA Galaxy
    Gyasi Zardes is set to miss the start of the season, and now the back line has been hit by an injury to Ashley Cole. With so much change in L.A. — manager Bruce Arena is gone, as is veteran Robbie Keane — there’s potentially reason for concern.
12. Real Salt Lake
    RSL said goodbye to a legendary No. 10 with midfielder Javier Morales’ departure. Albert Rusnak will be the man who will try to fill those extremely large shoes.
13. Philadelphia Union
    As always, the Union will have to avoid injuries to have a chance in the East this year. An offseason marked by cautious spending means it’s another season of fine lines in Chester. But there are players in place — Alejandro Bedoya and Charlie Davies, to name a couple — to help Jim Curtin’s team reach the postseason again.
14. Orlando City SC
    After a year marked by a midseason transition on the sideline with Adrian Heath’s departure, Orlando City enters the season full of confidence with Jason Kreis settled in as head coach. Can Kaka and Cyle Larin help the team reach the playoffs for the first time in the club’s short history?
15. New England Revolution
    If it wasn’t for Crew SC and the Timbers, the Revs might have been 2016’s biggest disappointment. With so much attacking talent available in players like Kei Kamara and Lee Nguyen, how does Jay Heaps juggle them in 2017?
16. Columbus Crew SC
    A revamp of the defense and a reinforced midfield aim to fix what ailed Columbus in 2016. Spending DP money on center back Jonathan Mensah sends a message that the Crew won’t be the goal-leaking sieves they were last year.
17. San Jose Earthquakes
    With a Dominic Kinnear-coached team, there are rarely any surprises with regard to style or personnel. But with a host of young talent on his roster this season, the old dog might throw caution to the wind.
18. Houston Dynamo
    Wilmer Cabrera inherits a team that did very little right last year, but new signings have fans hopeful in the Bayou City. Is this the year Erick “Cubo” Torres regains his scoring touch?
19. Vancouver Whitecaps
    The Caps got their season off to a decent start with a draw at Red Bull Arena in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday, but the loss of Yordy Reyna to foot surgery is a definite setback. Fellow new arrival Fredy Montero will now be asked to carry the scoring load up top.
20. Chicago Fire
    The league’s worst team in 2016 made a host of changes, but none of them bigger than acquiring a new duo to man the midfield. As Dax McCarty and Juninho go, so will the Fire in 2017.

21A. Atlanta United
The plight of an expansion team: You’ve got to prove it before you get out of the bottom of the Power Rankings. That said, expectations are very, very high in the ATL with an experienced manager in Gerardo Martino and veteran players like Greg Garza and Michael Parkhurst on board.

21B. Minnesota United
See above, with a slight difference: Minnesota United’s cautious building process and late roster additions mean they might sneak up on teams in the West. Jason Davis coves Major League Soccer and the United States national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @davisjsn.

MLS Preseason Power Rankings: How do new clubs Atlanta, Minnesota fit in?

QUICKLYWhere do all 22 teams rank entering MLS’s 22nd season? Plus, a key question for each club ahead of the new campaign.ALEXANDER ABNOSTuesday February 28th, 2017

Preseason is over. All the drafts are done. Thanks to the CONCACAF Champions League’s continually-weird scheduling, some teams have already played official games. The 2017 MLS season is upon us, which means it’s time for the first edition of MLS Power Rankings.The league has added two new teams in Atlanta United and Minnesota United, and that combined with the fact that no teams have played a league game yet will make this edition of the Power Rankings different from those that will follow.These one emphasize off-season moves and improvements to last year’s rosters (or the crafting of new ones), as well as gauging the general sense of momentum surrounding each team as it heads into the season. That’s why, for example, Atlanta United is ranked so high despite never having played an official game, and also why the Red Bulls are ranked in the middle of the league despite being of of MLS’s strongest teams last year (unexpectedly trading your club captain will tend to have that effect).Feat your eyes on this now, because this is MLS, and this list will be constantly in flux throughout the season. But for now, here’s where the league’s 22 teams stand entering its 22nd season:

2017 MLS Preseason Power Rankings

• 1TORONTO FC

LAST SEASON: 14–9–11, 3RD IN EASTERN CONFERENCE, 5TH OVERALL; MLS CUP RUNNER-UP

The Big Question: Can the Reds recover? Toronto FC followed a solid season and a brilliant playoff run with a loss at home in the MLS Cup final that could hardly have been more heartbreaking. TFC returns just about everyone from the team that got them to that point–and added a vital piece in attacking midfielder Victor Vazquez–and Sebastian Giovinco looks poised to continue his reign as the league’s best player. The biggest challenge for this team may be to simply put last year’s final loss behind them and maintain focus throughout a long regular season.

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• 2FC DALLAS

LAST SEASON: 17–8–9; 1ST IN WESTERN CONFERENCE, SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD; ELIMINATED IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

The Big Question: Can Javier Morales impersonate Mauro Diaz? FCD’s 2016 regular season could hardly have been better, and a big reason for that was the playmaking ability of Mauro Diaz. However, Diaz’s late-season Achilles injury disrupted the club’s playoff run and will keep him out of the club’s plans for this season until summer. Enter Javier Morales, who played a Diaz-like role with Real Salt Lake for nearly a decade before he was abruptly let go this offseason. Morales is 37, but the rest of Dallas’s roster remains as young, dynamic, and exciting as it was last season, with no other major pieces gone. If Morales can fill in capably until Diaz returns, chances are Dallas will once again be favorites for the Shield and MLS Cup in 2017.

• 3SEATTLE SOUNDERS

LAST SEASON: 14–14–6, 4TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE, 7TH OVERALL; MLS CUP CHAMPIONS

The Big Question: Can they repeat? In every other season they’ve been in MLS, the Sounders have done well in the regular season only to flop in the playoffs. Last season, it was entirely the opposite–they floundered through much of the regular season before turning it on around playoff time and winning MLS Cup despite several key absences. The most key of those absences, Clint Dempsey, is back after dealing with a heart condition, and Jordan Morris has one amazing rookie season under his belt. This team is deeper than last year’s and looks on paper to be better in every way. However, if this is a team that needs to suffer before success, maybe that’s not a good thing.

• 4NEW YORK CITY FC

LAST SEASON: 15–10–9, 2ND IN EASTERN CONFERENCE, 4TH OVERALL; ELIMINATED IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

The Big Question: Will the defense improve? NYCFC made huge strides in 2016, playing some really stylish soccer under coach Patrick Vieira and developing Jack Harrison, Khiry Shelton, and Tommy McNamara into solid contributors even while DPs David Villa, Frank Lampard, and Andrea Pirlo each enjoyed fine seasons. NYCFC swapped the retired Lampard for Argentine attacker Maxi Moralez, so chances are this team will continue to score tons of goals. That puts the onus on the back line to improve, and with a new goalkeeper (Sean Johnson), defensive midfielder (Fininish international Alexander Ring), and center back (Peru international Alexander Callens), they have an excellent chance to do so.

• 5SPORTING KANSAS CITY

LAST SEASON: 13–13–8, 5TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE, 8TH OVERALL; ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUT ROUND

The Big Question: Who will score (other than Dom Dwyer)? Sporting Kansas City was solid enough last season but continually struggled with a one-dimensional attack. Put simply: if things weren’t going through Dom Dwyer or Benny Feilhaber, they generally weren’t going anywhere. The team’s attempt to fix this comes in the form of Guinea-Bissau DP winger Gerso Fernandes, as well as Latif Blessing, the player of the season in Ghana’s Premier League. If either of those two can take the load off Dwyer, that will make all the difference for a team that is otherwise solidly constructed from the top down.

• 6ATLANTA UNITED

N/A

The Big Question: Can the coaching staff and players adjust quickly to MLS? Atlanta United has done just about everything so far–it hired a top-class coach with an international profile never seen in the league before, unveiled a sharp (if not totally original) inaugural look, secured an impressive home field and stocked its roster with gobs of young skillful talent (I’m particularly excited to see if 22-year-old Argentine Yamil Asad can do things like this regularly). Problem is, none of that will mean much if Atlanta suffers a rocky first season. To justify all this hype, Tata Martino will need to get this brand new team rolling like one that’s been around for years. Luckily, he has all the tools to do so.

• 7COLORADO RAPIDS

LAST SEASON: 15–6–13; 2ND IN WESTERN CONFERENCE, 2ND OVERALL; ELIMINATED IN CONFERENCE FINALS

The Big Question: Was last year a fluke? The Rapids were MLS’s ultimate surprise package in 2016, challenging for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in a year when many predicted them to be hovering around the bottom of the table. They did this thanks to its absurdly stingy defense, which conceded just 32 goals in 34 games last season and returns the entire starting back four, the defensive midfield and goalkeeper Tim Howard from that squad (though Howard will be injured to start the year). Still, the likelihood of repeating a defensive season like that is fairly low, so the Rapids need to improve on last season’s dismal 39-goal output (tied for second-worst in the league). Forward Alan Gordon, a free agent acquisition, could hardly be a better fit for the team’s style.

• 8MONTREAL IMPACT

LAST SEASON: 11–11–12, 5TH IN EASTERN CONFERENCE, 11TH OVERALL; ELIMINATED IN CONFERENCE FINALS

The Big Question: Will more of the same be good enough? The Impact stayed remarkably quiet throughout the offseason, with their biggest move letting Didier Drogba go (which is just fine, as Matteo Mancosu outplayed Drogba toward the end of last season). That may seem fine for a team that made a run to the conference final, but just like last season, the aggregate age of this team may be a factor–every member of the team’s front six is over 30. The season may come down to how effectively the team’s depth is able to step in and get the job done.

• 9NEW YORK RED BULLS

LAST SEASON: 16–9–9, 1ST IN EASTERN CONFERENCE, 3RD OVERALL; ELIMINATED IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

The Big Question: Will off-field drama carry over? The Red Bulls enjoyed two of their most successful years ever with Ali Curtis as sporting director, Jesse Marsch as head coach and Dax McCarty as captain. Two of those characters are now gone, with McCarty traded to Chicago and Curtis relieved of his duties after a curious off-season saga. Why the Red Bulls would make either move with things going so well begs a bevy of questions, especially with the opaque and sometimes contentious way both departures were handled. The team still has plenty to like on the field–Sean Davis performed well in McCarty’s absence through injury last season–but there’s a danger that the good vibes that permeated the last two seasons may have gone.

 MLS making strides toward becoming destination league, but has a way to go

As Major League Soccer prepares for the start of its 22nd season on Friday, there is much for the league to celebrate. After not increasing its footprint in 2016, the arrival of two new teams, Atlanta United and Minnesota United, swells its ranks to 22 clubs with at least one more newcomer, Los Angeles FC, slated to arrive next year.A dozen other markets are clamoring for four more coveted spots, all of them prepared to pay a $150 million expansion fee for the privilege. Attendance and fan engagement are at all-time highs. There is labor peace, at least for now. Even the TV numbers are up significantly. By any measure, these are good times for a circuit that came perilously close to extinction just 15 short years ago.During his annual State of the League address before MLS Cup in December, longtime MLS commissioner Don Garber once again reiterated the league’s desire to become one of the top soccer circuits in the world. Nothing new there. Garber has been beating that drum for four years now, and why wouldn’t he?MLS has become one of the great success stories in sports since Garber became commissioner in 1999, in large part because of the New Yorker’s savvy. He helped the league survive its brush with death in 2001, when two of its 12 teams folded, by creating a profitable marketing arm to help underwrite its clubs’ losses. He recruited a stable of new investors, more than doubling MLS size and putting it on the stable ground — quite literally, as most teams now play in custom-built stadiums — that’s the foundation of the league today.Yet it was notable that Garber didn’t mention exactly when MLS would stand toe-to-toe with global juggernauts like the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga during those remarks in Toronto. In the past, there was an oft-quoted end goal of 2022. Now that aim seems a bit more opened ended, with a growing recognition among MLS insiders that the league must first catch up to its southern neighbor before truly beginning to compete with Europe’s elite.”The Mexican league has a really good standard. For me, Liga MX is one of the top 10 leagues in the world,” Seattle Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey told ESPN FC in a phone interview.  “If you can beat those teams regularly in the [CONCACAF] Champions League, which we haven’t been able to do so far, then we’re on our way to becoming one of the best leagues in the world. Hopefully we’re able to achieve that at some point.”Mexican teams have utterly dominated the region for the past two decades. MLS teams have made the final just twice since the current format was introduced nine years ago. The last to claim a title was the LA Galaxy in 2001.The main reason is, not surprisingly, money. Not only do Mexican teams spend more on player salaries than their MLS counterparts, they distribute those funds more evenly across their rosters, resulting in substantially greater depth.MLS has tried to narrow the gap in recent years by investing more in their squads. It’s working.”Two years ago, when teams put out their reserves during preseason, some guys shouldn’t even have been on the field,” said Philadelphia Union Coach Jim Curtin. “Now you have some really experienced players out there.”Still, you can be sure that whoever wins the Tigres-Pumas CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal will be favored against either the New York Red Bulls or Vancouver Whitecaps when the semis kick off next month.During the past decade, Garber often compared MLS to a teenager still finding their way in the world, while correctly pointing out that the European and Mexican top flights have been around for a century and the other North American sports leagues for almost as long. He correctly reminded anyone who would listen that the league, for all its successes, couldn’t catch up overnight.But back in December Garber again called his league “young”. He wasn’t wrong. But if MLS was an adolescent a decade ago, it’s now more like a college grad who moved back in with the parents before really making a go of life alone. A few years from now, it might be harder to invoke youth when explaining why other leagues boast more talent.”Player investment is the single biggest driver [of success],” Lagerwey said. “It’s not the only driver by any means, but it’s the single biggest one.”Development is included in that, and MLS academies — which got a later start than the league as a whole — are only now beginning to make a real contribution to first-team rosters. Eventually that will help close the gap, too.And MLS does have some built-in advantages when it comes to luring top foreign players, such as more favorable tax laws and the relative anonymity that comes with being a professional soccer player living in the United States and Canada.But the truth is that MLS, a league that is thriving thanks to its insistence on financial responsibility, won’t be one of the top leagues in the world until it can afford to spend like one. And on that front at least, MLS still has a way to go yet.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

Indy Eleven 2017: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Why Indy should and probably will do exactly what we saw last year. February 17, 2017by Aaron Gunyon http://www.soctakes.com

INDIANAPOLIS — There are no surprises here.  The Indy Eleven have retained a core group of players from last season.  A season which included record goal scoring and a championship run.  Indy Eleven’s head coach Tim Hankinson is a seasoned leader and he is pragmatic with his approach.  There is a home unbeaten streak to protect.  There is hardware to win in 2017.  Fans of the NASL have seen firsthand just how important stability and chemistry can be in such a volatile league.  It takes a while for systems and players to grow together into a cohesive unit.  The Indy Eleven’s top brass hope that there will be less need for a discovery period this time around and that is evidenced by their recent roster activity. In last night’s Season ticket holder meeting, Coach Hankinson suggested that he would start next season with a playing style similar to last season’s.

Indy Eleven have announced a total of 13 (at the time of publication) players that will return from last season’s squad.  Most of which are starters or of starting quality in the NASL.  I find that comforting.  One of the leagues top defenses returns almost entirely intact.  Greg Janicki has retired, but a back line with Colin Falvey, Marco Franco, Nemanja Vukovic and Lovel Palmer can be seen as a stable building block.  Those four combined for 99 appearances and their abilities are well proven on this stage.  It would take a monumental swing in opinion for Colin Falvey, last years captain, to lose his place as the field general and the organizer from the back.  Falvey will be sidelined for the entirety of preseason due to an offseason surgery for a sports hernia, but he is expected to return in six weeks.

Kwame Watson-Siriboe is a central defender with MLS experience.  He was recently signed to add depth and perhaps test a starting role, but he will get a good look in the next few weeks leading up to the regular season.  Interestingly though, at 30, Watson-Siriboe would be the second youngest member of the defensive unit behind the baby face of 26 year old Marco Franco.  Perhaps that youthful infusion will be a departure for Hankinson’s veteran approach, but really, it looks like more of the same.There was a touch of a positional battlle for the right back spot between Palmer and Franco in which the latter won out in the end last year.  Palmer is a valuable and versatile asset for Hankinson and it’s not yet known where the Jamaican veteran will slot in, but coach has alluded to Palmer’s abilities to fill in at center back if needed.  Look for that in preseason along with a healthy Cory Miller who has surfaced on Palmer’s social media account.  The two could be seen lacing up in the locker room and obviously in the early stages of training camp.  There has been no official announcement from the team regarding Miller’s return, but it worth noting he has apparently worked his back to strength after last year’s season ending injury.  Hands clapping emoji.  Both Miller and Franco have been around since late in the 2014 season and players like that are becoming a rarity on this squad.

I asked coach Hankinson about some of his philosophy and if he considered himself to be a pragmatist.  I said I wanted to put him in a box and categorize him.  I used the phrase ¨If it ain´t broke…¨

¨THAT´S FAIR. I TAKE THINGS AS THEY COME.  THERE WERE SOME PLAYERS THAT WE WANTED THAT WERE FREE AGENTS THAT WONT BE WITH US THIS YEAR.  WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT I DON´T BELIEVE IN CHANGE JUST FOR CHANGE.  IT´S ALL ABOUT CONTINUITY.¨ -INDY ELEVEN HEAD COACH TIM HANKINSON

Continuity is key in the defensive third and that is why Jon Busch and Keith Cardona will return as shot stoppers for Indy.  Busch is transitioning to another phase of his career, but the 40 year old showed no real signs of aging with 29 starts and 11 clean sheets during his most recent campaign.  Cardona is is the heir apparent and he will be back for his third season in the circle city.  The only question here involves just when the passing of the torch will occur.  Busch maintains dual duty as Indy’s goalkeeper coach but his sole pupil hasn’t been allowed to spread his wings completely.  It’s not much for drama, but it’s about all we’ve got in Indy so far.  Cardona was spotted on a trial with the Philadelphia Union in MLS just a few weeks ago, but no announcements have been made by either club regarding his departure from Indy. Certainly, at last night’s ticket holder meeting, Cardona looked relaxed and ready to take on the next season.Both of Indy’s star forwards will also be back.  Justin Braun and Eamon Zayed formed a notable partnership on the pitch.  The two combined for 23 goals and 11 assists as they were the preferred tandem up top.  The scouting reports for Indy’s opposition will detail how to address these threats first.  That does not mean that they are unstoppable, but it means that sleeping on this duo is not a winning strategy.  Coach Hankinson fondly refers to Zayed as El Raton (The Rat who finds his cheese) and Braun is said to run like the legendary Steve Prefontaine.There were no challengers in the striker position that were worthy of taking time away from either attacker.  Zayed’s 2,686 minutes and 31 appearances were second only to Nemanja Vukovic who was the team’s Ironman.  Braun logged just over 2,000 minutes, but his mileage could not be topped.  Hankinson has suggested that he would like more options going forward but it is hard to imagine intentionally disrupting this pair without cause.

The name Dino Williams has been reintroduced into the conversation regarding attacking reinforcements.  Williams had been loaned to Indy last season, but an injury forced the Eleven to reconsider and to pick up Omar Gordon instead.  Both Williams and Gordon had been teammates under Hankinson at Montego Bay United just before Hankinson departed for the Midwest in December of 2015.  Both Williams and Gordon were league leaders in goals scored while in the Red Stripe Premiere League, but Gordon found little success translating the Jamaican league in America.  Gordon is not returning, but subbing one Jamaican golden boot for another is not exactly reinventing the wheel.  There are no official reports of Williams’ return…yet. Based on Coach Hankinson’s comments last night, it’s likely that Williams would be a loan, rather than a permanent, signing for Indy XI.

The midfield is messier and a lot less clear how things will shake out.  Don Smart, however,  is bae. The 29 year old will return to Indiana’s team as one of only two players to have been to all four preseason camps.  Brad Ring is the other.  And assuming he continues to impress the coach, Smart will be Indy’s first player to 100 appearances.  My count puts him at 76 so it is within reason for a 32 game season.   Even though Smart is committed to the club, there are questions about whether the club values him highly; it is understood that Smart’s contract – the same he signed with the club 3 years ago – has him at a markedly low base salary.

Gerardo Torrado is back.Brad Ring is back. #Legend returns after his own lengthened contract negotiation.  Taking nothing away from the others mentioned, Ring is one of the most familiar faces on the team.  Hoosiers have adopted him as one of their own because of his work ethic and his celebrations with the Brickyard Battalion.  Ring is a bulldog in the middle that doesn’t shy away from challenges.  His 34 tackles won and 106 duels won were second only to midfielder Dylan Mares whose departure leaves the biggest hole in the Indy Eleven lineup.Hankinson revealed to me, in an interview, that Miami FC signed Mares to a new contract that would have made him the highest played player in Indianapolis.  With his age, his attacking prowess, and his defensive stats; it wouldn’t be too hard to make that case for value.Duke Lacroix has (at this time) moved on as well.  The 23 year old is a speedy Ivy League product, but he was not retained by his first pro team.  It is not for a lack of trying although it may be due to a lack of money.  Lacroix is currently shopping around and had been seen on trial with MLS side Minnesota United.  That didn’t pan out.  It is unknown where Lacroix is attempting to find work, but Hankinson mentioned that he continued to reach out to the young up-and-comer. There haven’t been very many new faces in the locker room and Indy has announced only three names in addition to the 13 that have worn checkers before.  All of those players are in positions that have notable departures.  One central defender and two midfielders leads me to believe that Hankinson is only addressing the cracks caused by normal roster movement.  It is safe to say that Hankinson seems very comfortable in who he is bringing back and what they can do.  There are no upgrades addressing current players who aren´t quite up to snuff.

Ben Speas will be a replacement for Dylan Mares and Craig Henderson has international experience.  Indy Eleven fans are in for a treat with Speas.  Soc Takes’ own Kevin Johnston recently analyzed his role on the team in an interview with Hankinson.

At this time last year, there were many more unknowns.  A bevy of new players had been introduced, to the fortunate remnants of unsuccessful seasons past.  The team stumbled and slogged through preseason as they attempted to gel into a cohesive unit.  By the end of the 2016, all who witnessed were believers.  The second best offense and the second best defense went on the road for the championship only to remain second best.  They were tested and came up short even though it was only just.  Penalties can be a cruel mistress. Now is not the time to begin anew and this team doesn’t have to.  This team is ready to go as is.  Training camp is now three days old.  Indy Eleven will welcome talent and reinforcements into the fold, but get ready for a lot of what we saw last year.  The Eleven will be stingy on defense and the boys in blue will be relentless in attack.  The fire fueled by defeat is going to be a powerful driving force as well as a continual theme throughout 2017.

Former Butler standout David Goldsmith trialing with Indy Eleven

If he makes the Eleven roster, Goldsmith will likely back up Justin Braun in the second forward role.

February 25, 2017by Kevin Johnston

INDIANAPOLIS — David Goldsmith must’ve felt like he was wearing the wrong kit. Well, it would’ve been blue or white either way.

Just months removed from his decorated senior season at Butler, Goldsmith lined up on the other side of the field Friday night at the Butler Bowl, and might be on the verge of signing his first professional contract. The 5-9 forward — though he is from Bristol, England — won’t have to travel far from his adopted home to do so if he puts ink to paper.The Indy Eleven have invited Goldsmith in as a trialist for the preseason.The 23-year-old played in the second half of Indy’s 1-0 scrimmage win against his former teammates and looked quite impressive. He nearly had an assist when he rolled a perfect pass into the box from the right wing, but Butler goalkeeper Eric Dick made a stellar save on the ensuing effort on frame.“He’s doing really well so far,” Eleven assistant coach Tim Regan told 1070 The Fan’s Greg Rakestraw on Soccer Saturday. “(He) set up a really good chance in the second half.”

One of 15 semifinalists for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy awarded each year to the top college soccer player, Goldsmith produced 12 goals and four assists in leading the Bulldogs to the 2016 Big East title. He was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the conference.

If he makes the Eleven roster, Goldsmith will likely back up Justin Braun in the second forward role, playing underneath a strike partner. At Butler, Goldsmith often featured as the lone striker in coach Paul Snape’s preferred 4-5-1 setup, but in the pros he projects as more of a withdrawn forward who can drift from touchline to touchline in the attack.His hold-up play is better than one would expect from an undersized striker, and he possesses a savvy goal scorer’s instinct. He’s also capable of setting up his teammates, as he showed last night.After being snubbed by Major League Soccer in the 2017 SuperDraft, Goldsmith appears to have a good shot at winning a job with the “Boys in Blue,” especially considering Indy’s current lack of depth at the forward position. The Eleven would be wise to give him a long look. He’s already extremely talented and will only get better as he faces professional competition day in and day out in training.

What are Champ League team’s chances of going through?

Wednesday 1 March 2017 by Paul Saffer & Rob Esteva

Can Barcelona do something unprecedented? Who has the statistical edge between Leicester and Sevilla? We look at each team’s chances of going through from their current position.

• The eight UEFA Champions League round of 16 first legs produced eight different scorelines, with six of the initially home teams having leads to defend away from home and two needing to overturn deficits.Scores ranged from 1-0 and 2-1 to an unusual 5-3, and convincing 5-1 and 4-0 victories. But who does history say will go through?We looked at every past first leg in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League and European/UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with an identical scoreline to the current round of 16 ties and noted which teams went though.So while the precedents say Leicester and Sevilla are virtually level, Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen must both attempt to do things that only one club has managed in the past, and in Barcelona’s case something that has never been achieved. Oh, and if all six ‘unseeded’ sides hold on and go through, that too will make history …Two-legged heroics Great UEFA Champions League comebacks

 7 March  2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Napoli v Real Madrid (1-3)
Times first-leg scoreline has happened in UEFA men’s club competition: 329
Home side in second leg through: 75 (22.8%)
Away side in second leg through: 254 (77.2%)

Arsenal v Bayern München (1-5) 
Times: 80
Home side in second leg through: 1 (1.2%)
Away side in second leg through: 79 (98.8%)

• The only team to recover from a 5-1 defeat were Real Madrid, who beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 in the 1985/86 UEFA Cup third round to progress on away goals.

8 March 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Borussia Dortmund v Benfica (0-1)
Times: 990
Home side in second leg through: 402 (40.6%)
Away side in second leg through: 588 (59.4%)

Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain (0-4)
Times: 58
Home side in second leg through: 0 (0%)
Away side in second leg through: 58 (100%)

14 March 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Juventus v Porto (2-0)
Times: 339
Home side in second leg through: 330 (97.3%)
Away side in second leg through: 9 (2.7%)

Leicester City v Sevilla (1-2)
Times: 587
Home side in second leg through: 287 (48.9%)
Away side in second leg through: 300 (51.1%)

15 March 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1 & 2
Atlético Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen (4-2)
Times: 29
Home side in second leg through: 28 (96.6%)
Away side in second leg through: 1 (3.4%)

• The only side to fail to successfully defend a 4-2 lead at home were Barcelona, after a 4-1 loss against Metz in the 1984/85 European Cup Winners’ Cup first round.

Monaco 3-5 Manchester City
Times: 10
Home side in second leg through: 4 (40%)
Away side in second leg through: 6 (60%)

Bonus UEFA Champions League round of 16 stat …

How many seeds (home in second leg) have gone through
8: 2013/14
7: 2005/06, 2010/11
6: 2006/07, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16
5: 2003/04, 2004/05, 2008/09
4: 2009/10
3: 2007/08

U-20 MNT DEFEATS MEXICO 1-0 WCQ

CAPTAIN ERIK PALMER-BROWN’S 29TH MINUTE HEADER LIFTS USA PAST EL TRÍ; USA CAN GUARANTEE FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP BERTH WITH WIN OR DRAW AGAINST EL SALVADOR ON FRIDAY

U-20 MNT Feb 27, 2017

TIBÁS, Costa Rica (Feb. 27, 2017) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team rode a 29th minute header from captain Erik Palmer-Brown and a solid defensive effort to shut out Mexico 1-0 in the opening match of the Classification Stage at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The win broke Mexico’s 20-match unbeaten streak at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, a run that dates back to the 2009 edition of the tournament.pplying high pressure throughout the match, the U.S. frustrated Mexico from the first whistle and went ahead just before the half-hour mark when Brooks Lennon’s corner kick from the left found Palmer-Brown for his first goal of the competition. The goal was also the first conceded by El Trí in its four tournament matches.ater chances from Lennon, Jeremy Ebobisse, Justen Glad, Coy Craft and Jonathan Lewis were denied by Mexico goalkeeper Jose Hernández, while a swarming U.S. midfield and suffocating play from the back line limited El Trí to just three shots, none of which were on target. With the victory, the U.S. can advance to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic should Mexico either draw or lose against El Salvador on Wednesday. If Mexico wins, the U-20 MNT can punch their ticket to both the World Cup and Sunday’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship match with a draw or win against El Salvador when the two sides meet in the Group D Classification Stage finale on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET; UDN, Facebook Live).Up Next: The U-20 MNT closes out the Classification Stage of the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Friday, March 3 against El Salvador. Kickoff from Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the match can be seen live on Univision Deportes Network and the CONCACAF Facebook Page.

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Ok so its official now – with Cladio Ranieri getting the sack at Leicester City on Thursday – the dream season where the magical team that could – the team with the least money in the EPL who won the 2016 EPL Title is officially over.  Those who follow the game know that City is struggling this year just above the relegation zone – just 1 season after winning the title.  Heck they had not scored this calendar year despite returning almost the entire squad from last year’s magical season.  They are still alive in Champions League and the 2-1 loss on Wednesday leaves room for them to still advance to the Elite 8.  Hard to believe the same guy that worked miracles last season with a roster that won the EPL could be fired just 9 months after such a remarkable feat.  But that’s football in the EPL I guess.  It sounds like he lost the locker room which is sad – not many on that squad are really great players – and Ranieri is responsible for making many of them a lot of money. For me I will watch – but I will no longer be rooting for Leicester – ah the sad state of Soccer in Europe making what Leicester did last year even more amazing.

Wow – there were some fantastic Champions League games this week with the highest 1^st leg games ever – an amazing 8 goals scored with Man City 5 vs Monaco 3 and 6 with Atletico 4 vs Leverkusen 2.   Looking forward to the return games March 7/ 8 and March 14/15.

Hard to believe but the Indy 11 and MLS seasons are right around the corner.  In fact MLS kicks off next Friday night with Portland hosting new club Minnesota United at 9:30 pm on Fox Sports 1, while the other new team Atlanta United will host NY Red Bulls on Sunday on FS1 at 7:30 right after Orlando City opens its new stadium with NY City FC on ESPN at 5 pm.  Meanwhile the INDY 11 will play a preseason match vs Butler this Friday at 5 pm at the Butler bowl.

This weekend in we get Atletico hosting Barcelona on Sunday @ 10:15 pm on beIN Sport, while Tottenham host Stoke Sun at 8:30 am NBCSN, and Leicester and their new manager host Liverpool Mon at 3 pm on NBCSN.

EPL

Leicester right to sack Ranieri – Mark Odgen

Ranieri pays price for sticking with his players

Social Media response to the Sacking

Timeline on Ranieri

How did Leicester go from Fairy Tale Champs to Relegation Zone?

Rooney I am staying here

Rooney to China?

Is Arsene Finally Going to be Out at Arsenal?  – Jon Wilson SI

Man U comes from Behind to beat Blackburn on Ibra goal

Mark Clattenburg to Ref for Premier Games before heading to Saudi for more $

Have to Love FA Cup football as Arsenal readied to play 5^th Division side Sutton United on Monday –  ps they won 2-0.

 

Champions League

Power Rankings – Shaka Hislop

Highest Scoring Champ League 1^st Ties Ever

Vardy’s Strike Gives Leicester City a Lifeline in 2-1 loss to Sevilla

GK Schmeichel Keeps Leicister afloat

Man City vs Monaco was Flawed but perfect – Marcotti ESPNFC

MArcotti’s Musings

Atletico pastes Leverkusen 4-2 on the road

Juve use sendoff to help in 2-0 win at Porto in the battle of Legendary Keepers

Renaldo pulls off sick move in Champions League Game

Keeper Love – 2 of the top goalies of all time played Wed Buffon vs Cassillas

Ikar Cassillas Interview

Vote Goal of the Week

 

MLS + Indy 11

Real Madrid Might Face MLS AllStars in Chicago Aug 2

Full  Rosters MLS teams

Predicting Starting Rosters for Starts on March 4

Jonathan Spector a good Fit at Orlando City

Critiquing New Jerseys in MLS

Standout Transactions this offseason and nice discussion on MLS

Coach Hank Breaks Down the Roster so Far

Indy 11 to Face Butler at Butler Bowl Friday night, 5 pm

 

US

US soccer Players Re-Wind – Christian Pulisic almost scores UCL Goal

Dempsey is Cleared to Return to Club Soccer

US Carli Lloyd joins Man City Ladies

Former US Right Back Steve Cherundolo the Mayor of Hanover – coaching for his club still in Germany

What to Know US U20 Qualifying for World Cup this week

US U20s lose 1-0 to Panama despite being up a player for 60 minutes

Pulisic dad returns to states to coach in USL

 GOALKEEPERS

Ikar Cassillas Interview

GAMES ON TV  

Thurs,  Feb 23

12:30 pm Foxsport2 AS Roma vs Villarreal

2:55 pm FoxSport2    Tottenham vs Gent

Fri, Feb 24

5:30 pm Facebook     USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis

Sat,  Feb 25

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Bayern Munich vs Hamburger (US Bobby Woods)

10 am   NBCSN             Chelsea vs Swansea

Sun,  Feb 26

8:30 am   NBCSN         Tottenham vs Stoke City (US player)

9:30 am Fox Sport2   Ingolstad vs Borussia Mgladbach  (US Johnson)

10:15 am beIn Sport? Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

Mon, Feb 27

3 pm NBCSN                   Leciester City vs Liverpool

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

Tues Mar 7 – She Believes Cup

7 pm  Fox Sports1      US Women vs France

Highest-scoring Champions League first leg ties ever – ESPN Stats & Info

Manchester City and AS Monaco combined for eight goals during the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie — and they weren’t the only clubs with a potent attack.The 34 goals scored in the first leg ties were the most in Champions League history, surpassing the 26 scored in 2013-14, according to ESPN Stats & Info.City won 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, highlighted by a frantic second half in which the two teams alternated claiming the leaBayern Munich scored five goals against Arsenal on Feb. 15, Paris Saint-Germain scored four times in a shutout of Barcelona on Feb. 14 and Atletico Madrid won 4-2 at Bayer Leverkusen.Four players — City’s Sergio Aguero, Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara and PSG’s Angel Di Maria — all contributed a brace for their sides.That doesn’t compare to 2014, when three players scored a brace in the same game. Real Madrid won 6-1 away at Schalke in the first leg, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale all spurring their club to victory.Madrid, who eventually won the Champions League that year, advanced past Schalke on 9-2 aggregate. City and Monaco need to combine for just three goals in the second leg to match that output — and if the first leg is any indication, it seems entirely possible it could happen.

The players have failed Leicester this season but Ranieri has paid the price –

Ian Macintosh- ESPNFC  – Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd once said that sacking Sir Bobby Robson in 2004 was like “shooting Bambi.” He had it easy.Leicester City’s decision to sack Claudio Ranieri is like shooting Bambi, if Bambi had just won you the GDP of a medium-sized European nation on the lottery and had the winning ticket held gently in his mouth, a sparkle in his eye and an impish grin on his face. This is the most controversial, most cold-blooded, most ruthless decision taken by a football club in recent years.And yet it’s the right decision.With Ranieri in charge, Leicester were going down. They have been wretched this season, profoundly awful in every way, and there has been nothing to suggest that their form would change. Don’t let Leicester’s improved second-half performance against Sevilla fool you. In fact, let it guide you. Leicester started the season badly and have been increasingly dreadful as the season progressed. And yet oddly, they remain competitive in Europe. Almost as if the players are raising their game for the big occasions, but lowering their standards for the day-to-day grind. Imagine.The noble course of action would have been to do nothing. If decisions in football were determined by honour alone, everyone concerned would conclude that Ranieri’s achievements last season were so spectacular, so earth-shattering, that he above all others had earned the right to oversee Leicester’s relegation. Faith in him should have been constant and unwavering until the very moment that their demotion was confirmed. He deserved nothing less.But this is football. Modern football, so cruel and calculating. And this is relegation in 2017. This is not Manchester United being relegated in 1974, when the blow was merely an embarrassing setback not even considered worthy of removing the manager. Relegation in 2017 means that your snout is hauled roughly out of the cash trough. It means that your players will leave. It means that the ones who stay will lose interest. It means sweeping redundancies behind the scenes. And while it’s easy enough to say that you’ll rebuild and return, it’s much, much harder to do.Look at Aston Villa, former European Cup winners, now spiralling toward the third flight with five points from a possible 30 since Boxing Day. Look at Nottingham Forest, look at Leeds United, look at Blackburn Rovers. Look at the devastation caused by the gulf in revenue between the Premier League and the Championship. Relegation from the Premier League is a catastrophe to be avoided at all costs. No matter who you have to sacrifice. No one can be bigger than the club.It is abundantly clear, regardless of what has been said publicly, that the bond between Ranieri and the players has perished since their triumph. They are simply not playing for him. Their title success last season was the product of many factors, but most of all, it was a product of a good, regular XI playing at their absolute peak, giving all that they had to give, refusing to buckle under pressure, on the pitch or off the pitch. No one could say that those players have come even close to replicating those performances of late. Right up until the moment on Wednesday night when it seemed that they would be humiliated by Sevilla in front of everyone. Then they deigned to care.Rumours that the dressing room was lost some time ago are legion in Leicester. Performances in 2017, and remember that they haven’t so much as scored a single Premier League goal since the turn of the year, certainly support those claims. It would not be the first time that a successful manager has swiftly lost his players. Jose Mourinho was rumoured to be nowhere near as popular in the Chelsea dressing room as was made out towards the end of his first spell at the club, and indeed toward the end of his second. Footballers can be selfish. Footballers do not always enjoy sharing their praise with their superiors.Ranieri did not deserve this. He has made mistakes this season, certainly. He has been too loyal to some, too untrusting of others and his frequent tactical changes failed utterly to reverse the team’s fortunes. But he did not deserve this. There were those who, as he lifted the trophy on that unforgettable day in May, hoped that he might recognise that no one could ever exceed such a moment, and that he might retire and walk away at the very pinnacle of his career. It’s too late for such a dignified exit now.It is some compensation that his place in history, both for Leicester and for the English game, is secure forever. He was not the first to lead an unfancied provincial club to the title, but given the huge inequalities in the game, he may be the last. He is, and always will be, a genuine legend.As for the players, they have no such consolation. Do or die, they are damned regardless. If they go down, with ample time to save themselves, then they will not be able to blame Ranieri for their shortcomings. If they improve and stay up, as you very much suspect they might now, then searing questions will be asked about their sudden rediscovery of competence.This is a sorry episode in the season, a glaring moment of sobriety after the giddiness of that incredible night in May. But if Leicester were to have any chance of staying in the top flight, this is what had to happen.Iain Macintosh covers the Premier League and Champions League for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @IainMacintosh.

Leicester right to sack Claudio Ranieri

There was an ominous change of mood at Leicester City before a ball had even been kicked this season, after their remarkable Premier League triumph during the 2015-16 campaign.Two days before the champions faced FA Cup winners Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri held a press conference at the club’s Belvoir Drive training ground. At it, he complained about the attitude of his players during the preseason and the delivery of 19 Azure Blue sports cars, given as presents by club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha to the squad for winning the title three months earlier.”There are some gifts, only for them?” Ranieri said. “Let me think about the match, not the cars. It’s not important to me to think about cars.”The Italian was irritated by the gesture, believing that his attempts to focus his players on the challenge ahead, rather than backward toward the prolonged celebrations of the summer, had been compromised by his employers.Last summer, at Leicester’s Los Angeles training base, Ranieri first noted the altered mindset of his players. They had been happy to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Santa Monica and photo shoots with actor Will Ferrell, but on the pitch, they were hammered 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, and Ranieri was alarmed.”I want more than the maximum; that’s why I was not happy in Los Angeles,” he said. “I did not see the same mentality together. Everybody worked hard, but not as a team, and that is the difference.”Unfortunately for Ranieri, though he saw the danger signs, he was unable to prevent the team’s fall from grace and his fears of complacency back in August went unheeded. The players took their eye off the ball, wallowed in their achievement, and could not rediscover the magic.As a result, after being told on Feb. 7 that he had the “unwavering support” of the ownership, Ranieri was sacked Thursday, less than 24 hours after Jamie Vardy’s first goal of 2017 in a 2-1 first-leg away defeat against Sevilla gave Leicester genuine hope of progression to the Champions League quarterfinals.They may still get there, but they will have to do so without Ranieri.But while the European dream remains, Leicester hover just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, and survival is the priority. The club’s owners believe the team has a better chance of achieving that with somebody else in charge of the team.That could be Roberto Mancini, Alan Pardew or even Nigel Pearson, the architect of Leicester’s “great escape” two years ago and the man who made way for Ranieri in the summer of 2015.If no appointment has been made by Monday, assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell will be in charge when Leicester host Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, by which time they could find themselves in the bottom three.Hull and Swansea have dragged themselves from seemingly doomed positions after changing managers since the turn of the year, and now Leicester must hope for a similar change of fortune. If they are to do that, they will need more from the men on the pitch as well as a new manager.Of Ranieri’s title winners, perhaps only goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel could claim to have performed anywhere close to his best this season.Losing N’Golo Kante to Chelsea before this season was a hammer blow, but were Leicester really about just one man last season?  Vardy has scored just seven goals this season, and none in the league since early December, while Riyad Mahrez has gone from the heights of being crowned PFA Player of the Year to performing like the misfit who once struggled during a trial with Scottish outfit St Mirren.Wes Morgan and Robert Huth have seen their rock-solid central defensive partnership crumble on a weekly basis, and Danny Drinkwater has reverted to being the journeyman he had become before last season’s heroics alongside Kante.Ranieri was let down by the players he guided to the title; he attempted to fire them up again after last season, but nobody was listening. But that is also a failing of the manager: If his message is not getting through, he needs to be smart enough to change it, and Ranieri was unable to do so.And although sacking him appears brutal and lacking in any kind of recognition of what he achieved last season, this is the right decision. Ranieri had time and public backing to turn it around, but with relegation beginning to loom large, Leicester could not gamble any longer on loyalty.Not all fairy tales can have happy endings, and Ranieri has discovered that the hard way. But the time in Los Angeles suggested he knew what was coming anyway.Mark Ogden is a senior football writer for ESPN FC. Follow him 

U.S. Soccer’s Carli Lloyd seals Manchester City move

By Jonathan Smith | Feb 15, 2017

FIFA World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd has joined Manchester City on a short-term contract.U.S. national team captain Lloyd will play for the current FA Women’s Super League champions in the 2017 Spring Series, FA Women’s Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League.The 34-year-old could stay with City until June 1 if they reach the Champions League final before returning to the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States.The signing is a major coup for City, who remained unbeaten last season as they won their first Super League title as well as the FA Women’s Cup. They also reached the Champions League quarterfinals, where they will play Danish side Fortuna Hjorring in March, and Lloyd is eligible for both legs.”I’m incredibly excited to be joining Manchester City — a club, which is leading the development of women’s football both on and off the pitch,” Lloyd said.”Having played in the U.S. throughout my career, the chance to fulfil a long-held ambition to test myself in a new footballing environment, as well as playing in the Champions League, is something I am relishing.”With the challenge of the Spring Series and the FA Women’s Cup ahead of us too, I really can’t wait to pull on my City shirt in front of our fans and make them proud.”The signing of the two-time FIFA Player of the Year is a major statement from City, who have invested heavily in their women’s team.Lloyd, who scored a hat trick for United States in the 2015 World Cup final, will train at City’s £200 million ($248m) state-of-the-art Etihad Campus, where Pep Guardiola coaches the men’s first team.City women’s head coach Nick Cushing said: “We are a successful team but a young team too, having only entered the Women’s Super League three years ago, so adding players to our squad with substantial experience is crucial to our development.”Carli has had an incredible career and is recognised as one of the best in the world. There is much we can learn from her that will help us to improve as a team. We are all looking forward to working with her over the coming months.”Lloyd, who has scored 96 goals in 232 appearances for United States, joined Houston Dash after the 2014 season and is expected to return to the Texas club.As well as European competition, she will play for City in the Spring Series — a one-off competition created to bridge the gap between seasons — as the FAWSL moves from being a summer league to the traditional football calendar.Two other U.S. internationals, Crystal Dunn and Heather O’Reilly, have also moved to England, with Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively.

#HANKSPEAK – Indy 11 PRESEASON BY POSITION

Coach Hankinson breaks down the roster fit for 2017 so far

Feb 14, 2017

The “Boys in Blue” hit the field on Wednesday for the first time in 2017 with mostly familiar faces leading the line at Grand Park. Head coach Tim Hankinson touched on trialists and new additions in yesterday’s hit on the guys being back in town; today he spoke with IndyEleven.com about how the roster is shaping up as a whole, his tactical approach to the 2017 season, and how he feels this year’s squad may be Indy’s most balanced yet.

Goalkeepers

Starting with the ‘keepers, Hankinson only saw Plan A as the option – keep Jon Busch and Keith Cardona and let their work from the 2016 season continue. By exercising their options, he got exactly what he wanted.

“Jon has hinted after the season at possible retirement, but I’m not buying it yet (laughs). But, he’s prepared himself again physically to have a great year. He and Keith were great work partners last year, and part of Jon’s responsibility other than preparing himself for games is to grow Keith’s readiness,” Hankinson said.

“Buschy” manned the net most weeks in 2016 while Cardona continued to develop, with the latter seeing minutes towards the tail end of the year to gain some valuable reps. Now their work continues, but with the caveat that Cardona will step into a more advanced role.

“For Keith, it’s the biggest year of his career. He’s got to develop the performance that makes us unquestionably look at him as the future,” continued Hankinson. “For him, the future comes now. If Jon does retire, he’ll want to be considered the man that Jon has been for us, and he may be the next man. It may be a bigger year for Keith than any other player on the team.”

Defenders

In front of those two is a solid defensive core that includes returning players Lovel Palmer, Nemanja Vukovic, Colin Falvey, Marco Franco, and newcomer Kwame Watson-Siriboe. Like with last year’s signings, Hankinson stressed leadership and ability to work within the system that he built – one that was successful throughout the whole of last year.

“It brings back the ‘know-how.’ They have confidence in each other, they know what Jon [Busch] wants from them and are confident in that, and they’re confident in our defensive concept as a whole,” said Hankinson. “Getting a new defender to step in amongst three experienced ones makes that transition easier. Even our younger players that are developing are there as well and out to prove that they can do a job.”

One of thse “younger players” will be the 13^th returning member from last season’s squad … whose official return is set to be announced on Wednesday.

Midfielders

With the addition of Ben Speas into an already active midfield, the group of Brad Ring, Gerardo Torrado, Don Smart, and Sinisa Ubiparipovic will no doubt be fighting for time, and that’s before any newer additions or returning players are announced (again, this could include another official addition as early as Wednesday).Hankinson likes the prospect of a selection headache, though, saying that “great competition” is in order ahead of the season opener on March 25 in San Francisco.

“Clearly, either Brad [Ring] or Gerardo [Torrado] can hold down the midfield in that No.6 role, and sometimes it’s even effective to use them together when we’re trying to solidify our presence in that part of the park,” explained the 2016 NASL Coach of the Year. “Having players that are as strong defensively as Brad and ‘G’, it gives us the luxury to be able to play a guy like Sinisa [Ubiparipovic] as a playmaker.”

About the ‘new guy’ Speas, Hankinson appreciates the versatility the ex-Minnesota United FC performer – and more newcomers – will bring to the collective.

“In looking at new players like Ben Speas, who we have penciled in as an outside midfielder, he can also play as an attacking midfielder at the top of the diamond, and we’re hoping to bring one or two more guys in that are equally as versatile.”

Forwards

Up top, the balance in scoring once again falls between the partnership of the clinical Eamon Zayed and his workhorse of a partner, Justin Braun. The former quickly smashed club records for the most goals on both a season and career basis with 15 regular season tallies, thanks in part to notching the first two hat tricks in NASL play by an Indy performer. Meanwhile, Braun’s eight goals and five assists solidified him as another big threat, placing him in the NASL’s top 10 in both categories. After cueing smoke from the Brickyard Battalion stand at a prodigious rate in 2016, Hankinson is hoping for even more from the dangerous duo.

“I’m expecting even more production out of our front two than last year, but only because they already have that understanding, that partnership, that I touched on earlier. I remember many practices early on last year where we had to stop the entire practice because those two did not yet grasp the other’s tendencies – we won’t have that this year,” said Hankinson. “Those things are understood now. What were misunderstandings then have transitioned to fluency now. As the season went on last year with so many minutes and games under their belt, they depended on each other to be successful. That’s where we get to start. The production should be seen early and often.”

With most of the pieces in place for the 2017 season, the almost coaching veteran is now hoping that his decisions pay off.

“I think we may be even more attacking this year. When we started last spring, for example, you generally don’t attack as well when you don’t possess the ball. But, we weren’t a good possession team,” said Hankinson.

“Now I think we have players, and confidence, and knowledge of how to work together, that should get us off to a quicker start and create more opportunities from the get-go. As I said, the competition for playing time and a starting spot will take senior players who assume they will return to their starting role and drive them to new heights. It will be a battle.”

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

Check out The Ole Ballcoach online www.theoleballcoach.com –

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

So disappointing to see US youngster Pulisic sit the pine for 80 minutes – in the 1-0 loss for Dortmund @ Benefica.  I thought Dortmunds mistake was not putting in the American earlier – after blowing chance after chance in a game where they outshot the home team 6-1 it was Pulisic who added new life to Dortmund with his lightening quick runs.  He had a few good runs that could have led to assists and 2 blistering shots from the top of the 18 on corners.  His first deflected and would have scored if not for the lucky reaction save by the Benefica keeper.  Ten minutes earlier on the sub and perhaps Pulisic finds an assist in the game – he was that good in his 14 minutes on the pitch.  Maybe next game they will offer him the start?  Great games this week – as Bayern Leverkusen and Mexican star Chichirito face Atletico Madrid Tues and Man City hosts Monaco.  Let me know if anyone wants to meet to watch the games somewhere for a late lunch!   The Indy 11 start preseason at Butler on Friday night at 5 pm.

Champions League

Chicarito Great since the Break for Leverkusen

Oblak can Return in Net for Atletico

Can Leicester Find a Way to Get a Result Despite Recent Dropoff

Renaldo pulls off sick move in Champions League Game

GAMES ON TV  

Sat, Feb 18

9:30 am Fox Sport2   HerthaBSC (US John Brooks) vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Huddersfield vs Man City – FA Cup

12:30 pm FS1                Wolverhampton vs Chelseas – FA Cup

Sun, Feb 19

9 am Fox Sport 1         Fulham vs Tottenham FA Cup

9:30 am FS2                    Borussia M’Gladbach (US Johnson) vs Red Bull Leipzig

11:30 FS1                         Blackburn vs Man United FA Cup

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

Indy 11 and MLS

Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances. Brian Straus

US Soccer

Bob Bradley I am an American Coach – Players Tribune

Predicting the Starting 11 in Qualifiers for US – MLS.com Doyle

Champions League

Bayern Brilliant at Home in 5-1 blowout of Arsenal

How it Happened at Bayern

Hope for Barca and Gunners – Great 2^nd leg comebacks?

Madrid Scorers Show up for 3-1 win at Home vs Napoli

Barcelona undone by PSG Pressing Upfield

PSG Show their worth vs Barca

PSG Blow out Barca 4-0

Benifica slip by Dortmund 1-0 at home

Player Ratings for Dortmund in loss

MLS expansion city profile: Indianapolis

BRIAN STRAUS  Friday February 10th, 2017

Market Analysis

It may very well be the most underrated sports city in the country. Indianapolis has only two major league teams. That’s not a lot. But the public and political commitment made to the Colts and Pacers is notable, as is the region’s connection to the sports world beyond the “big four.”It begins, of course, with the iconic Indy 500, which consumes the city each Memorial Day weekend. It’s the planet’s largest one-day sporting event. There’s the Brickyard 400 as well. It’s not nearly as old as its open-wheel counterpart, but it remains a highlight of the NASCAR calendar and one of the circuit’s richest races. Back in the city, the Indianapolis Indians are minor league baseball’s second-oldest team—they first took the field in 1902—and last season they attracted the second-highest average attendance below MLB. The Indiana Fever have won a WNBA title and draw crowds that exceed the league average. And Wayne Gretzky began his pro career with the old Indianapolis Racers.Indianapolis is the site of the NCAA and the NFHS, which governs sports at the high school level. Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse is home to several well-known Cinderella basketball stories, from the Bulldogs’ two recent Final Four runs to Milan High’s stunning state title in 1954. The Hickory Huskers won their championship there as well—that one’s much easier to find on film.Super Bowl XLVI, seven men’s and three women’s Final Fours, the Big Ten football championship, the 1987 Pan Am Games, the 2002 FIBA world championship—they all were hosted in Indianapolis.Now the city that calls itself the “Crossroads of America” and its three-year-old NASL club, Indy Eleven, hope to attract MLS. And they’re using that impressive, if under-appreciated, sporting culture as a lure. “No city in the country has made sports a focal point quite like Indianapolis—and no city is better equipped to welcome Major League Soccer,” the Eleven’s bid summary reads.It calls Indianapolis, “A city that has fully embraced the role of sports as a both a driver of growth and the centerpiece of its civic identity across the last four decades.”

That civic identity and commitment will be central to Indy’s bid, since the market itself doesn’t particularly stand out from its MLS expansion competitors on raw numbers. Indianapolis anchors the 34th most populous metro area in the USA. That’s not too small for MLS—San Jose is 35th and Salt Lake City 48th—but it means Indy will have to excel in other areas. As a media market, it’s a more attractive 27th. That’s higher than several expansion rivals.Four Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the area and multinationals like Honda, Salesforce and Rolls-Royce have significant presences. Forbes named Indianapolis as the country’s 10th best city for young professionals thanks to the area’s job growth and relative low cost of living. Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus used to be president and CEO at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He knows Circle City sports, and he said top-tier soccer would be a perfect fit.“There is momentum for our stadium. We’ve got good local ownership. Indianapolis is a sports market,” he told SI.com. “[MLS] is so logical for us … [The response to the MLS bid] has been overwhelmingly positive. Folks look forward to having MLS here in Indianapolis and feel like it would be a great addition to this community.”

Ownership Group

Indy Eleven and the MLS bid are led by Ersal Ozdemir, a native of southern Turkey who moved to Indiana to study civil engineering at Purdue. He made his millions as the founder of Keystone, a construction and real estate company now based in Indianapolis. Ozdemir launched the Eleven in 2013 and hired soccer start-up savant Peter Wilt to build the team and front office.Ozdemir is very well connected in Indianapolis. His board memberships include the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the University of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He also co-chaired a host committee ahead of Super Bowl XLVI.Joining Ozdemir in the MLS investor group are National Bank of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Business Journal chairman Mickey Maurer, Heritage Environmental Services president and CEO Jeff Laborsky, Elwood Staffing CEO Mark Elwood and Mohr Auto Group founder Andy Mohr.

Stadium Plan

The plan is to rely on Indy’s love for sports. The city, county and state’s support for athletics is hard to miss on a stroll through Indianapolis’s small but dense downtown. The massive Lucas Oil Stadium isn’t only the “House That Peyton Built.” The $720 million venue opened in 2008 thanks largely to the collection of tourism-related taxes (food, hotels, rental cars, etc.) in the city and surrounding counties. The Colts chipped in $100 million.The Pacers’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse opened its doors in 1999 and cost $183 million. It was paid for through similar means, and the Pacers have collected additional millions since then to cover operating and maintenance costs. Marion County’s Capital Improvement Board, which managed the funding of the two major league arenas, also funneled $20 million toward the Indians’ stadium and $53 million toward renovation of Indiana Farmers Coliseum, which hosts the ECHL’s Indiana Fuel and IUPUI basketball.The key to adding a soccer stadium to that portfolio, Belskus said, is the creation by the state legislature of what is called a Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA). Once the PSDA’s boundaries are defined, the city and county can pass bills providing for the collection of taxes within the footprint. Indy Eleven is asking for the creation of a PSDA that would enclose the stadium it hopes to build between the NFL venue and the White River. Belskus said the taxes would be raised through stadium usage—from tickets, concessions and parking to the salaries of those who work there.“If you don’t go to events at the stadium or you don’t work at the stadium, you don’t pay,” Belskus explained.The stadium would be owned by the city and leased back by the club, which also intends to contribute some $10 million toward construction, which Belskus estimates would cost around $120 million. Ozdemir and his partners will foot the entire MLS expansion fee.In 2015, the Eleven’s first attempt to secure stadium funding died in committee. The Indiana State House agreed to funnel user taxes toward a new venue. The senate preferred to spend money to upgrade Carroll Stadium, the Eleven’s current home on the campus of IUPUI. The government was willing to raise $20 million and spend the money, it just couldn’t figure out how to do it. Nevertheless, Belskus said those “yes” votes indicate a genuine interest in soccer. “That’s part of the reason for our confidence and optimism about getting this done. They’ve shown support in the past,” he said.MLS’s expansion standards require the new stadium, so that’s the goal. And the key will be explaining the project to the public.“We’ve been paying attention to social media and down at the State House in terms of the reaction, and reports have been positive and the coverage has been positive by and large,” Belskus said. “The only negative we seem to run into from time to time is, I’ll call it ‘stadium fatigue.’ People don’t necessarily understand the project and they’re afraid we’re asking for tax increases or that we’re trying to take money away from other projects, neither of which is the case. That’s the only negative we run into.”

Soccer and sports scene

Despite the robust sports scene, the Eleven have carved out their niche and been a noteworthy soccer success story over the past three years. They play in a convenient stadium (Carroll is within walking distance of downtown). They’ve got a cool logo featuring the Victory statue from Indy’s imposing Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. And at the start, they had Wilt’s experience and savvy. Combined, that helped attract sell-out crowds eclipsing 10,400 at every NASL game in 2014. That figure included 7,000 season ticket holders. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is a big soccer fan, lives near Carroll and has stopped by on occasion.Indy struggled on the field in ’14 and ’15 and attendance dropped to 8,362 per match last season. Still, over those three years, only Sacramento Republic has brought in more fans among clubs below MLS. The Eleven’s on-field fortunes turned last year, with the club finishing second in the regular season standings before losing the NASL final to the New York Cosmos on penalties.The semifinal victory over FC Edmonton, which drew 9,700, was the biggest soccer game played in Indianapolis in some time. The senior men’s national team has never played in Indiana, and the women visited Indianapolis twice in the late 1990s. In August 2013, nearly 42,000 showed up for a Chelsea-AC Milan friendly at Lucas Oil Stadium. And the city has hosted four neutral-site U.S. Open Cup finals, most recently in 1997.Bloomington, which is home to Indiana University’s juggernaut soccer program, is about 55 miles south of the city. The state boasts a strong youth soccer base, which includes approximately 65,000 registered players. Carmel United SC, which is now part of the Chicago Fire Juniors program, won U.S. Soccer Development Academy titles in 2008 (U-16) and ’09 (U-18).Beyond the soccer field, the Colts play to capacity crowds and the Pacers are averaging 16,704, which is some 1,200 seats below capacity.

MLS Pros

Indy has a strong, established fan base and a good brand. Bringing a proven entity into MLS should be more comforting than starting something from scratch. And an MLS team might provide an obvious regional rival to either the Fire or the Columbus Crew, two clubs which still haven’t managed to stoke much long-term reciprocal hatred. The proposed stadium location is attractive and pretty much the MLS ideal. Indianapolis boasts a growing downtown, and there’s plenty of food, drink, entertainment and recreation available within a short walk of the site.

MLS Cons

The Eleven are relying on politicians. That’s not a comfortable place to be, and the lack of certainty surrounding the project will turn off MLS if the league is ready to name teams No. 25 and 26 before the required votes are cast. That would lower Indy’s odds. MLS loves a public-private partnership, but sometimes those don’t work out. Soccer came close but ultimately failed two years ago, and it’s still a few hurdles away from the finish line now.In addition, Indianapolis doesn’t really represent a hole in the MLS map. The Midwest is crowded with existing teams and expansion hopefuls, and there are several other directions MLS could go. The Eleven have three years of traction. But Detroit has a bigger market and investors with NBA cache. St. Louis has those deep soccer roots, Cincinnati boasts bumper crowds and Nashville has a coolness quotient plus the Ingram family’s billions. Indy is a mid-size market that has work to do if it hopes to stand out from the crowd.

Deputy Commissioner’s Thoughts

SI.com reported that Indy planned to bid for a team on Jan. 30, the day before expansion applications were due. Ozdemir had not gone public with his intentions and as a result, MLS commissioner Don Garber and other officials hadn’t commented on the city’s prospects.MLS president and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott conducted a media conference call after applications were submitted and said, “The thing that I think is interesting is … the team there has been successful from its perspective, and they have begun work on a downtown stadium plan. Other than that, I don’t have a lot of specifics to comment on with respect to their plan, but those were two components that obviously we’re aware of.”

Armchair Analyst: Predicting Arena’s USMNT squad for World Cup qualifiers

February 6, 20179:22PM ESTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer MLS.com

LISTEN: Don’t let the Super Bowl get you down. The ETR crew is here to help you forget (unless you’re a Revs fan), starting with USMNT January camp redux and the latest MLS news. Once that’s out of the way, FourFourTwo’s MLS ace Paul Tenorio calls in to explain why it’s possible Chicharito could arrive in MLS this summer — and just how much cash it would take to get the deal done. You won’t want to miss any shows leading up to opening day, so be sure to subscribe on iTunes!

Bruce Arena’s first camp in his return to the helm of the US national team is in the books. We laughed, we cried, we learned a lot and we scored a very little. These are all things that are to be expected as players shake the rust off every winter, and as I wrote elsewhere, I’m much more pleased about The Process™ than I am discouraged by the lack of goalscoring.  Why’s that? Because when the games really matter, Arena will be able to call upon guys like Bobby Wood, Christian Pulisic and Fabian Johnson. Put those guys in a coherent system, and you’ll get results more often than not.  With that in mind, here is the 23-man roster I’d expect to see Arena call for the must-win qualifiers against Honduras and at Panama at the end of March. I’m going to include some bonus call-ups as well, since Arena has hinted he’ll be calling more than 23 players in next month.

GOALKEEPERS

• Nick Rimando(RSL)
• Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough)
• Bill Hamid(D.C. United)

Guzan would have the No. 1 job sewn up if he was playing at all, but he’s not. He’s played 180 minutes since August, and unless Victor Valdes strains a muscle that number’s not likely to budge.  So I have Rimando at No. 1, with Hamid (please get and stay healthy, Bill) edging out guys like Luis Robles, David Bingham and Ethan Horvath for the No. 3 job. If he’s not fit, one of the other guys – let’s say Bingham – gets the nod instead.

Bonus: If Tim Howard is close to healthy, he’ll get called into the squad.

LEFT BACKS

• Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna… for now)

Johnson eventually became a very good defensive player, highlighted by his performance this past summer in the Copa America.
Prior to that, when Jurgen Klinsmann was playing Johnson at RB or LB, he’d just cut our primary wing playmaker (Landon Donovan) and wasn’t calling in our creative central mids (Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen). Our pool has now developed a few wide playmakers (Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe & Paul Arriola), and Arena has committed to getting a playmaking central midfielder on the field as well.That means Johnson is less crucial as a wide attacker, and in fact resource allocation suggests he’d be best used as a LB.
Villafaña straight up won the job with a great performance at camp, though he could lose it if he doesn’t find a club that’ll put him on the field.

Bonus: DaMarcus Beasley forever!

RIGHT BACKS

• DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)
• Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)

Yedlin, who’s been called “the best fullback in the Championship,” is a lock to start if healthy. Lichaj, who’s been one of the most consistent fullbacks in the Championship this decade, has plenty of experience playing on either flank and 11 US caps to his name, so there’s no real worry that he’ll be overwhelmed in the moment or suffer from the same type of adjustment pains that have plagued other Euro-based players.

Plus he’s one of the few guys out there who’s equally adept at both right and left back, which is handy when making up gameday 18s. His ability to play either spot could make it very easy for Arena to drop down to three fullbacks, and then add a bit of extra depth elsewhere on the roster.

Let’s get back to Yedlin for a minute. He’s been awesome this year, particularly on the overlap:

We saw against both Serbia and Jamaica that the US can lack both width and penetration if the fullbacks don’t push forward, and Yedlin – with his 1.3 key passes per game – brings both. He also has the kind of electric recovery speed that is necessary when pushing the game, which the US will have to do.Bonus: Graham Zusi will be at this camp as a right back, but I don’t think he’ll appear.

If you’re wondering why Timmy Chandler, who’s starting for a top three team in the Bundesliga isn’t on this list: The US are 9-10-6 all-time when he starts, and 2-3-2 in official competitions. Enough.

Hat tip to the great Paul Carr for those numbers.

CENTER BACKS

• John Brooks (Hertha Berlin)
• Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
• Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca)
• Steve Birnbaum(D.C. United)

Brooks had the single worst performance I can ever remember from a US player in that 4-0 loss at Costa Rica, and was the man who lost Rafa Marquez on the Mexican game-winner in Columbus days earlier. I don’t, however, believe that’s the real John Brooks. I believe the real John Brooks is the guy we saw in last summer’s Copa, and the guy who goes 90 minutes every week for Hertha Berlin.There’s concern on that second part in Cameron’s case, as he’s been hurt for nearly four months now. But he’s supposedly on the verge of returning, and if he gets games over the next six weeks then there’s no reason for Arena to go in a different direction.Gonzalez, who is having another strong year in Liga MX, and Birnbaum round out my group of four.

Bonus: I expect at least one, and perhaps all three of Matt Besler, Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman to be called in. And it wouldn’t shock me to see Arena officially carry five CBs instead of four, at the expense of one of the FBs.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

• Michael Bradley(Toronto FC)
• Dax McCarty(Chicago Fire)

Here’s the part where I start splitting hairs. In short: I think it’s important to carry two guys who are specifically, unambiguously defensive midfielders on the roster. Clearly that’s Bradley’s best spot and it’s his job to start, and at this point I think McCarty is the second-best option in the pool.

Bonus: You could talk me into Perry Kitchen or Danny Williams, for sure. But given the roster integration and chemistry issues at play here, I think it’s much more likely we see those guys during the Gold Cup in summer.

CENTER MIDFIELDERS

• Jermaine Jones(LA Galaxy)
• Sebastian Lletget(LA Galaxy)
• Alejandro Bedoya(Philadelphia Union)

These guys are all technically “central midfielders,” but I have a suspicion each is more likely to be used out wide by Arena in what I think will be a 4-1-3-2. If Pulisic is on one side of that “3”, then the other can/should be balanced by a more conservative, more defensively robust player who’ll tuck inside to help in possession and in maintaining defensive shape. Jones is suspended for Honduras, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start vs. Panama. To me it feels like the starting role vs. the Catrachos comes down to the veteran Bedoya, or the relative newcomer in Lletget.

These guys can and do all play the box-to-box role if Arena wants to change from a version of the 4-4-2 to a version of the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

Bonus: I bet Kellyn Acosta will be in camp.

PLAYMAKERS

• Kljestan (RBNY)
• Feilhaber (Sporting KC)

In an alternate universe this has been the defining positional battle of the decade for the US. Oh well, at least they’re back now!I thought Feilhaber was the better player against Serbia and Jamaica, and it was his creativity that led to the only goal under Arena thus far:

That said, Kljestan was the better player in MLS last year, and he was very good when he got on the field for qualifiers late in the summer. Creating instant chemistry with Bradley and Pulisic – even against relative minnows – is not something to take lightly.Either way, both of these guys should be on the roster, and one of them should be on the field. It’s also important to note that both are about as honest as any No. 10 in the world when it comes to defensive tracking, which should allow Arena to comfortably trot out a 4-1-3-2/4-3-1-2 without worrying about defensive structure and integrity. Nguyen’s lack of the same is why I think he’s on the outside looking in.

Bonus: If Emerson Hyndman keeps getting on the scoreboard for Rangers, I’d be happy to see him called into this camp. But I do think it’s much more likely we see him in the summer.

WINGERS

• Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
• Nagbe (Portland Timbers)

Pulisic is the starter, and hopefully this generation’s version of Donovan – an inventive, lightning-quick attacker who can take good moments and turn them into decisive moments.Nagbe is different in that his productivity has only sporadically matched his potential, but he showed well against Serbia in stretching the field, and will get a chance to do so for Portland this year, too. There seems to be real hope that this is the year the switch is finally flipped and he becomes a dominant attacking player.Even if that doesn’t happen, though, Nagbe still brings so much stuff to the table. I could easily talk myself into starting him on one side of the midfield with Pulisic on the other, and tasking Nagbe with staying tight to the central midfielders in order to bolster possession and gum up opposing transition opportunities. He’s done that job for his club before, and it’s literally the first job he ever did for his country when he made his debut against Trinidad & Tobago in November of 2015.That might make one of the three guys listed as central midfielders above expendable, but I’m not even close to sure of that.Bonus: I hate myself for leaving Arriola off this roster, because he’s been so good for Tijuana this year. You could argue he’s been the best two-way wide player in Liga MX, and he’s certainly been productive in his US appearances thus far.

FORWARDS

• Jozy Altidore(Toronto FC)
• Wood (Hamburger SV)
• Jordan Morris(Seattle Sounders)

These guys are pretty clearly the top three in the current forward stable, and Morris does, of course, have a level of comfort playing wide if Arena wants to switch to a 4-2-3-1.Let’s all remember that the best part of 2016 was 1) the chemistry the first-choice center defense showed with Bradley at d-mid, and 2) the chemistry Altidore and Wood showed up top together when pretty much everything behind them was falling apart:

If they’re starting in front of a midfield that has a sensible structure, Pulisic on one of the wings, a true No. 10, and a pair of fullbacks who threaten on the overlap, then I’m pretty confident they’ll figure out a way to put the ball into the net more than once.

Bonus: Gyasi Zardes is pretty clearly in the mix here if he gets healthy. And I want Juan Agudelo to be because his hold-up play is arguably the best in the pool, but he needs to start banging in goals right out of the gate for New England.  There’s also that Clint Dempsey fellow. ESPN’s Taylor Twellman reported last week that Arena swore Dempsey wouldn’t be involved in the March qualifiers, but Deuce has been cleared to play and has now actually taken the field for Seattle in preseason. It’s just 30 minutes and I’m sure it’s a long way back to full fitness, but if he’s kicking the ball in anger for the Sounders come March, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have a role in a pair of do-or-die games for the US.

And here, for posterity, is my XI vs. Honduras:

Wood/Altidore

Pulisic//Kljestan/Lletgit

Johnson/Brooks/Cameron/Yedlin

Rimando

I Am an American Coach- Bob Bradley

FEB 15 2017

HOTO BY HARRY TRUMP/GETTY IMAGES

BOB BRADLEY   VARIOUS CLUBS / MANAGER

When I was introduced at Swansea City, I was asked what it meant to be the first American manager in the Premier League. My answer was simple and straightforward: I was proud. Very proud. But then I quickly switched gears because I didn’t think any of Swansea’s diehard supporters would care about that angle. A day or so later, a journalist wrote that I was defensive about being American. That was wrong. I just didn’t think it mattered.

Maybe I was wrong about that.The thought of being an American manager rarely crosses my mind. My ideas and philosophies have been shaped by the experiences I’ve had around the world, with players and coaches from all types of backgrounds. A great friend, former Seton Hall coach Manfred Schellscheidt who studied at the German Sport University Cologne, helped me to understand the differences between a pair of German coaching legends, the practical Hennes Weisweiler and the studious Dettmar Cramer. I coached Hristo Stoichkov, a Bulgarian, who had a lot to say about the influence of Johan Cruyff, a Dutchman, at Barcelona. The Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff told me a wonderful story about the time before the 1998 World Cup that Aimé Jacquet pulled both him and Zinedine Zidane aside and told them, “You two must be the sunshine for the French team.” I went to Egypt after the 2011 revolution to manage the national team. Just a few months after I arrived, 74 fans lost their lives in the tragedy in the stadium at Port Said. The next time the national team got together, I looked into the eyes of players who had held dying young men in their arms inside the dressing room. I challenged them to be a united example for their country.But for as much experience as I’ve had with the game all over the world, I am an American first and foremost. When I was a teenager I went to a basketball camp in northern New Jersey where Hubie Brown asked us, “What do you catch a pass with?” There was silence in the gym after somebody immediately said, “Your hands.” And then Coach Brown said, “No, my friend. You catch a pass with your eyes.” A decade later, when I was an assistant to Bruce Arena at Virginia, I became friends with the assistant coach of the women’s basketball team. His name was Geno Auriemma. The three of us would huddle quietly in the soccer office (conveniently located next to the visitors’ locker room in University Hall), where we would listen to greats like Dean Smith, Jim Valvano and Mike Krzyzewski address their teams.

I’ve learned a lot from observing Sacchi, Ferguson and Guardiola. I also learned just as much from watching Pete Carril — the former men’s basketball coach at Princeton, where I was the soccer coach from 1984 to ’95 — teach his players the importance of a good pass. I still learn from the intelligent way Gregg Popovich handles his team and the media.

When I took the UEFA Pro Licence course, which is required to coach in a top league in Europe, I explained to a few of my Norwegian friends that there are no basketball coaching licenses in the U.S. Coaching is a craft. You learn from playing, doing, experimenting, emulating, adjusting. You never stop learning. You learn from your players, from your experiences.

You learn from the game.

Before the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, I wanted our national team players to hear another voice besides my own. A voice of experience. Someone who understood winning. So I had Bill Russell join us for a few days. His wisdom on how to both compete and give to teammates fit perfectly with our work to be a team with a strong mentality. That was ready to fight until the last whistle. I think it helped us win our group, which we did when Landon Donovan scored a stoppage-time winner against Algeria.

When I was done coaching the U.S., I wanted new challenges. I wanted to get better. To prove myself. So I went to Egypt. The dream for all Egyptians was to go to the World Cup.

After the massacre in Port Said in February 2012 the Egyptian Premier League stopped play. Because of that, players went unpaid. There was great uncertainty. The national team was forced to play important home matches in empty stadiums. Nearly every day, I was asked by reporters and colleagues, “Why are you still here?” My answer was always the same: As a leader you have responsibility. You must be an example. You can’t be the first one out the door.  O BY SCOTT NELSON/SI/GETTY IMAGES

The Egypt national team won seven of eight qualifiers but did not make it to the World Cup. It will always be one of my biggest disappointments. More than anything I wanted Mohammed Aboutrika to finish his career playing in the World Cup in Brazil. During my two years in Egypt he was my blood brother. It was an honor to coach him.A few months later, I had the chance to return to club football. This time in Europe. I took over Stabæk in Norway in January 2014.The club was struggling financially and operating on a very small budget. Most of my friends and contemporaries told me to stay away — that there was no way to survive in Norway’s top league and that relegation was a certainty. But this small club had a big heart. It had soul. The first year we battled to finish mid-table. In the second season we competed with Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg until the final weeks before finishing third and earning a place in Europa League. My players and I were proud of what we accomplished. I felt ready to take on another challenge.

I went to France and took over Le Havre A.C., a member of Ligue 2, in November 2015 — the first time I had joined a team in the middle of a season. The team did well, but the last day of the 2016 season was a roller coaster. A mix of pride and disappointment. We won 5–0 that night, but it wasn’t enough. We finished tied with Metz for third place. The top three teams in Ligue 2 would be promoted to Ligue 1. We had the same points. The same goal differential. The next tiebreaker was goals scored. Every player pushed until the very end, but we fell one goal short.

The night ended with supporters embracing players on the field.

All those experiences led to my opportunity at Swansea. The 2016–17 season had already started at Le Havre, but I got word that Swansea might be interested in making a coaching change. I knew if I went there that I would be entering a tough — maybe impossible — situation. The team had started poorly and the takeover by American owners had angered the club’s supporters. But managing at the top level of English football was the ultimate challenge. I had worked hard to prepare for this opportunity. I had to go for it.  O BY KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES

As the first American manager in the Premier League, I fully understood how hard it was going to be to establish myself. Without the benefit of a preseason, the work to change the team would have to be done gradually. The key in the short run was to take enough points to satisfy critics and restore confidence with the players.When I first arrived I met with a group from the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust. I knew that they were disappointed that they hadn’t been consulted before I was hired. So I spoke candidly to them. I said, “I understand there’s some work to be done, and I understand what this club means to all of you. I’m here to do things in a way that makes the supporters proud of what they see on the field, and to make sure that the connection between the club and its most faithful supporters is strong.”

My first meeting with the players didn’t last long. We needed to get to work. So I gathered them together and said, “I’m looking forward to working with all of you. I don’t arrive with the answers. I have come to listen. To observe. To get to know you. For you to get to know me. To make you a better player and a better person. I have my ideas on how we should do things and what the team should be about, but this is about all of us.”

After 70 days with the club, I had dinner with the owners and the chairman. There was confidence and optimism that night following an important 3–0 win over Sunderland at the Liberty a few days earlier. We had won a respectable eight points from my eight matches in charge and, more importantly, had two wins and a draw in our last four games.

But in the week that followed we lost two away matches. The script was familiar. We’d start well, but concede the first goal. Playing from behind meant taking risks and opening up. Confidence dropped and we were not able to build on our positive results.OMy postgame interview after a 3–0 loss to Middlesbrough only made matters worse. I said that we needed to show more resilience “on the road” (the English prefer the word away), and referred to a penalty kick as a “PK.” People on social media screamed that American sports terms had no place in the Premier League.

By the time we returned home to the Liberty for our next match against West Ham, I knew the pressure was on. But I am battle tested and never doubted myself. As a coach you must understand that the one thing you cannot control is the result. You control the work. You control the message. I have always encouraged my players to play without fear, and the West Ham match was no different. Again we started well, but our failure to clear a free kick saw us go down 1–0. Changes at halftime didn’t change the result. We lost 4–1. By the end the frustration and anger from the supporters was clear.  As always, I was the first one to the training ground the next morning. My routine stayed the same. In the morning, recovery for the starters and on-the-field work for the guys who hadn’t played. In the afternoon, video work and preparation for the next match against Bournemouth. When I arrived home that night I received a message from the chairman: “Would you meet me at the academy?”

When I got that message, I knew exactly what was happening.

As they say in the Premier League, I got the sack. I failed. Failed to put my stamp on the team at Swansea. To give it a real identity. A real personality. I never managed to find the right balance between attack and defense. I couldn’t find the answers for this group to play with the commitment and passion that so many of my other teams possessed. We never found consistency or confidence.

Paul Clement followed me as manager and has done an excellent job. Team shape has improved and the confidence has returned. Yes, Paul benefitted from the transfer window that I never had. But that’s football. It can be a tough business and it’s important to respect good work. Full credit to Paul.

One last word for the supporters. I loved my time at your club. I was committed to making it work. I’m sorry I couldn’t be your manager longer.For 85 days I put my heart and soul into Swansea City. I listened and observed. I watched games over and over. I constantly engaged the players and staff to figure out how we could become a good team. I pushed training and challenged the players to believe. To get better. To understand me and my ideas. I drew on all my experiences, and was never afraid to be myself or to take responsibility. With the players. With the staff. With the media. And with all the people I met in Swansea. It’s the only way I know.To get anywhere in life you must experience failure. I remain proud and strong. I am ready for the next challenge.And yes, I am an American coach.BOB BRADLEYCONTRIBUTOR

Aubameyang, Dortmund forget their finishing boots at Benfica

Wasteful Borussia Dortmund suffered a highly undeserved 1-0 loss at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, after being the highly dominant team over 90 minutes.

Positives

There are very few teams that take the game to Benfica like Dortmund did on Tuesday night. After an atrocious performance in their 2-1 shock defeat away to bottom Darmstadt on the weekend, the Black and Yellows were in need of a good performance. Although the result didn’t show it, the BVB players in unison told reporters after the game, that they will progress to the next round with the same performance at the Westfalenstadion.

 

Negatives

There is no way past looking at the spurned chances. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fluffed a hat trick of clear cut chances — including a weakly taken penalty. BVB have only themselves to blame for coming home empty-handed.

Manager rating out of 10

7 — Thomas Tuchel’s team were the dominant side and looked better prepared than the hosts but were just unable to finish off their chances.

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

GK Roman Burki, 6 — Not much to do for the goalkeeper, who was unlucky the ball bounced perfectly for Kostas Mitroglou.

 

DF Erik Durm, 5 — A solid showing by the right-back, who is often times doing the dirty work so his teammates can shine.

 

DF Lukasz Piszczek, 5 — Missed his marker when Dortmund conceded the goal in the 48th minute.

 

DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 7 — A resolute performance by the Greek centre-back, who had Benfica’s attackers in his pocket more often than not. With BVB putting pressure on the hosts upfront, Papastathopoulos could win many balls by moving out of his defence.

 

DF Marc Bartra, 8 — “Very good,” Sokratis said about his partner in defence after the match. There is little more to add to describe Bartra’s performance. As the game went on, the Spaniard moved further forward and conducted the play.

 

DF Marcel Schmelzer, 6 — Could have attempted a flat pass behind Benfica’s back line more often from his advanced position as left wing-back.

 

MF Julian Weigl, 8 — Weigl must like trips to Portugal as he is awarded a lot of space, especially compared to the Bundesliga where he is marked out of the game more often than not. Said after the match that he “didn’t mind” the space with a cheeky smile. He was a big reason why Dortmund could impose their dominance.

 

MF Raphael Guerreiro, 6 — Linked up well between Weigl and the attack, but lacked accuracy for a fully glorious performance.

 

MF Ousmane Dembele, 6 — The 19-year-old was BVB’s focal point in the first 20 minutes, as he wreaked havoc in Benfica’s half. With a little more calmness, he could have lobbed Ederson rather than putting the ball straight at the Benfica keeper. Went off the boil in the second half.

FW Marco Reus, 6 — The 27-year-old ran tirelessly for his team tonight, making important runs in Gegenpressing.

 

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 3 –– For all the clear-cut chances he missed — including one of the most unconvincing penalties ever to be taken by a Dortmund player. Arguably a harsh rating, but it was a truly dreadful night for the striker, who has lost his finishing touch since the turn of the year.

Substitutes

FW Andre Schurrle, 3 — With Tuchel getting frustrated with Aubameyang, Schurrle got a run-out in the 62nd minute. However, it wasn’t much of an improvement.

 

MF Christian Pulisic, NR — Introduced in the 82nd minute for Marco Reus, the youngster couldn’t pull off a mazing run through the Benfica backline.  (Ok this sucks – Pulisic had 2 solid shots in 12 minutes of play – had a solid cross that Dortmund couldn’t get a head on and a mazing run through the backline that served a perfect ball across the goal that no one could get a foot on – 15 more minutes might just have lead to an assist for the American –man his deflected shot that he blasted in the 90^th minute could have changed his life! – OBC)

 MF Gonzalo Castro, NR — Replaced Raphael Guerreiro with eight minutes left on the clock. Won some balls deep in the opponent’s half, but didn’t find the right solution going forward in the hectic minutes.Stefan Buczko covers Borussia Dortmund for ESPN FC. Twitter: @StefanBuczko.Sponsored Headlines

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

Check out The Ole Ballcoach online www.theoleballcoach.com –

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Anyone up for a Champions League late lunch Tues or Wed 2:45 pm of either week let me know at shanebestsoccer@gmail.com.

So Champions League Round of 16 Returns this week on Tues/Wed with 4 matches including huge games featuring PGS hosting Barcelona on Tues 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1, while Dortmund and US youngster Christian Pulisic face Benefica on the road on FS2 and Arsenal traveling to Bayern Munich Wed at 2:45 again on FS1, while defending champs Real Madrid host Napoli on FS2.

Champions League

Champions League Predictor – ESPNFCTV

Can Real Madrid win back to back Trophies? While All Else have Failed?

Dortmund under pressure vs Benfica

Marcotti – PSG vs Barcelona both coaches on the Line

PSG captain Thiago Silva is out vs Barca

Will the EPL Strike Back in Champions League Knockout Round?

Arsene Wenger faces delicate Situation with Ozil off form for Arsenal heading into Bayern showdown

Xfactor for each team in Champions League Sweet 16

Why each team in Sweet 16 can win -Fox Sports Soccer

10 Best Goals of the Group Stages?

 

The Sweet 16 Records UEFA

Bayern’s Phillip Lahm Set to Retire after season

Biggest comebacks in Champ League History

Paris SG prepare to face Barcelona Again

How Brilliant has Falcao been for Monaco?

Monaco not looking easy for Man City

Napoli thinks they can take Real Madrid

US Christian Pulisic Assists on goal in Dortmund win in German Cup

GAMES ON TV  

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Thurs, Feb 16 – Europa League

1 pm Fox Sport 1        Gent vs Tottenham

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Man United vs Saint Etienne

Fri, Feb 17

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Juventus vs Palermo

 Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Champions League round-of-16 W2W4: Real’s chances to repeat, Bayern vs. Arsenal (again!), must-watch Monaco

Repeat? Get Real

No club has ever won back-to-back European Cups in the Champions League era. But that doesn’t mean Real Madrid cannot be the first.Things are complicated, however, by a fixture pile-up caused by the FIFA Club World Cup and the postponement of their league game at Celta Vigo last weekend. Plus, after going a record 40 games unbeaten, Real have wobbled since the turn of the year, a little like they did in Carlo Ancelotti’s final season two years ago.Real also go into the round of 16 as a second seed after failing to top their group for the first time in four years. Zinedine Zidane’s side trailed Sporting at the Bernabeu until the 89th minute and in Poland vs. Legia Warsaw until the 85th.There is a suspicion that, even for a club like Real that defines itself by this competition, winning La Liga is slightly more of a priority this season. After all, they’ve been Spanish champions only once in the past nine years.

Gabriel Jesus to galvanise Man City?

Has any other club signed as big a talent ahead of the second half of the season? Julian Draxler at Paris Saint-Germain comes to mind, but that’s it. Sure, it would maybe have been better if Man City had addressed their defence. But Jesus can inspire them.Pep Guardiola has reached the semifinals of the Champions League every year during his coaching career and City themselves reached the last four a year ago. And did they not also beat Barcelona in November with arguably the performance of the group stages?The Champions League is not the Premier League. In Europe you still have to be aggressive and control second balls — something Guardiola admits he has needed time to get to grips with in England — but the emphasis often lies elsewhere.There are other nuances. In the Champions League, Guardiola can perhaps be himself a little more and play the football he would like to play. Not that he has compromised his philosophy these past six months. Monaco will be a big test, though. A trap, even.

Auf wiedersehen, Arsenal?

Not necessarily, for Bayern Munich have their own problems. There has been a dip in intensity under Carlo Ancelotti, although his relaxed approach to high-pressure situations is often held up as the reason why he is the most successful manager of all time, along with Bob Paisley, in this competition.Bayern didn’t allow opponents to breathe under Guardiola. But that has changed. In the group stage, for example, they lost to Rostov. Changes to a more counterattacking style haven’t exactly helped Thomas Muller, while Renato Sanches hasn’t made as big an impact as was hoped, though it is early days.Then there are other personnel issues to consider. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge criticised Jerome Boateng in November for taking on too much outside of football. Last week, captain Philipp Lahm announced he will retire at the end of the season. The timing of the announcement surprised Bayern rather than the decision itself. Not everyone is on the same page.

Can Mertens make Madrid pay?

In December, on the day Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final, Napoli’s Dries Mertens went one better and scored four. With 13 goals in his past eight appearances — that’s one every 54 minutes — there isn’t a hotter player in Europe at the moment. The papers in Italy are calling him “Dries Armando MaraMertens.”

Goalkeepers’ union

“For me, you the best!” Ikea Casillas tweeted at Gigi Buffon. “I don’t choose, we are the best!” Buffon replied. The best goalkeepers of their generation meet again when Porto play Juventus and, while Casillas has declined dramatically in comparison with Buffon, who remains as brilliant as ever, his performance against Sporting recently did roll back the years.

24 Jan

Iker Casillas 

✔ @IkerCasillas

@gianluigibuffon , what do you think? For me, you the best!! https://twitter.com/championsleague/status/823877048947142656 …

 Follow

Gianluigi Buffon 

✔@gianluigibuffon

@IkerCasillas @ChampionsLeague I don’t choose. We are the best

8:47 AM – 25 Jan 2017

Eye of the Tiger

It looked like Radamel Falcao was finished but El Tigre is back as top scorer for Europe’s top-scoring team. Falcao’s goal-per-game ratio in European competitions is 0.91. To put that into context, of players with more than 30 career goals, it’s higher than Gerd Muller (0.89), Ferenc Puskas (0.88), Lionel Messi (0.82) and Alfredo di Stefano (0.77).

Must-watch Monaco

Monaco have scored 101 goals this season, which is quite the contrast to the defensive team that counterpunched to the quarterfinals the season before last. They haven’t evolved completely, though: This team isn’t top-heavy.Instead, it has great balance between youth and experience, physicality and finesse. Plus, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar are all superstars in the making. Leonardo Jardim can outcoach the best of ’em, too.

The Eagles’ nest

Benfica vs. Borussia Dortmund pits some of the best young stars in Europe against each other. Among them, the full-backs capture the imagination. Nelsinho is on Bayern’s short list to succeed Philipp Lahm and it remains a mystery why Barcelona let Grimaldo go. Meanwhile, Raphael Guerreiro, Portugal’s left-back at Euro 2016, has been reinvented as a midfielder since moving to Dortmund.

The madness of King Jorge

For the first time in four seasons, the Europa League will have a new winner because three-time winners Sevilla are not defending their title. Instead they are moving up a weight, like a prizefighter, and their knockout pedigree is second to none.Jorge Sampaoli’s crew ended Real Madrid’s record-breaking unbeaten run in January and few are giving Leicester a chance. Sevilla’s games are often spectacular — what else would you expect when you sign seven attacking midfielders in two windows — and, while Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino is out, the philosophical spirit of Marcelo Bielsa lives on.

Dortmund must grow up

“Stay young. Stay foolish” would be an appropriate motto for Dortmund right now. Thomas Tuchel’s team is very talented, but very raw. While it is hard to expect consistency from young players, some are taking longer than others to get used to the way things work.

Dortmund can blow teams away; they were the top scorers in the group stage with 21 goals, and Tuchel is one of the smartest coaches out there. But their defence is shaky and their away form miserable. They’ve won just three times on the road all season in the Bundesliga.

Have Barca forgotten how to play?

Well, that was the subject of an article in El Pais last week. Barcelona have frequently looked ordinary this season, which is quite extraordinary given that Luis Enrique has got Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to call upon.But that’s something of a general theme this season. Real, Barca and Bayern all remain formidable but don’t appear, at least so far, to be the forces they were. Opponents have more reason to believe.

Is this the Old Lady’s year?

When you’ve won five league titles in a row and then sign your rivals’ best players, creating the (false) impression of having killed the competition at home, then greater scrutiny of European performances is guaranteed.Juventus’ midfield isn’t as good as when they reached the final two years ago and they have struggled, relatively, for balance this season. But only Atleti defend as well and Juve are every bit as reliable as they are versatile.Their new “Five Star” formation, with Mario Mandzukic sacrificing himself on the left, has brought back memories of the role Samuel Eto’o played during Inter’s 2010 treble win. Might it be the difference, the final piece of the puzzle? The Old Lady is humble enough to recognise that she will also need Lady Luck on her side.And finally …Never ever rule out Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid.James covers the Italian Serie A and European football for ESPN FC Follow him on Twitter @JamesHorncastle.

So Champions League Round of 16 Returns this week on Tues/Wed with 4 matches including huge games featuring PGS hosting Barcelona on Tues 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1, while Dortmund and US youngster Christian Pulisic face Benefica on the road on FS2 and Arsenal traveling to Bayern Munich Wed at 2:45 again on FS1, while defending champs Real Madrid host Napoli on FS2.  Anyone up for a Champions League late lunch Tues/Wed of either week let me know at shanebestsoccer@gmail.com.

The Indy 11 have released their Spring NASL Schedule with a majority of the roster returning for this season, and the NY Cosmos a shell of their former selves, I suspect Indy will be the team to beat this spring.  Season tix and the ever popular 8-Flex Pack are on sale now as the season kicks off March 25 with the first home game Sat – April 1 vs Puerto Rico at 3 pm.  Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances.

The US Men wrapped up their 2 week Jan camp with a 1-0 win over Jamaica as the MLS players battled to prove to new coach Bruce Arena they belong in the 23 when the US returns in late March for their ever so important next 2 matches vs Honduras and in the Hex.  I thought a few players made good impressions that should lead to their inclusion in the future including Forward Jordan Morris, MF’s Feilhaber, Lletget and Nagbe, and defenders 23 year-old Center back Walker Zimmerman of Dallas FC really looked good along with Villafana on the left.This weekend Liverpool faces a must win match at home vs Tottenhamn on Sat at 12:30 on NBCSN, while Arsenal look to get back on the winning track vs Hull City Sat at 7:30 am.

GAMES ON TV  

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

9:30 am Fox Sport1   Ingolstad vs Bayern Munich

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

12:30 pm FoxSport2                         Schlake 04 vs Hertha BSC + US John Brooks

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Osasuna vs Real Madrid

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

11 am NBCSN                Swansea vs Leicester City

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Caglairi  vs Juventus

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Thurs, Feb 16 – Europa League

1 pm Fox Sport 1        Gent vs Tottenham

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Man United vs Saint Etienne

Fri, Feb 17

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Juventus vs Palermo

Sat, Feb 18

9:30 am Fox Sport2   HerthaBSC (US John Brooks) vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Huddersfield vs Man City – FA Cup

12:30 pm FS1                Wolverhampton vs Chelseas – FA Cup

Sun, Feb 19

9 am Fox Sport 1         Fulham vs Tottenham FA Cup

9:30 am FS2                    Borussia M’Gladbach (US Johnson) vs Red Bull Leipzig

11:30 FS1                         Blackburn vs Man United FA Cup

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

Indy 11 + MLS

Reactions to Bidding for an MLS Team

Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances.

Indy 11 Releases the Spring Schedule

Indy 11 Release on Schedule

Bloody Shambles How Indy 11 Gets to MLS – Brandon Cockrum

Bloody Shambles- USSF makes D2 a Shambles with USL and NASL competing

Tickets — Season tix and the ever popular 8-Flex Pack

12 Teams Vying for MLS next 2 Teams  ESPN FC

MLS Talking Points for 2017

USA

US Starters vs Honduras?  ESPN FC?

Bruce Arena Back in Charge – SI – Grant Wahl

Arena won’t Favor Europe Based Players over MLS – it Just depends – ESPNFC = Jeff Carlisle

US Morris Scores in 1-0 Win

Zimmerman and Benny Feilhaber Show Well in Win over Jaimaica  Player Ratings Jason Davis ESPNFC

How Does Bruce Integrate MLS with Europe Based Players –  SI Brian Straus

By the #s  2017 Camp Wrap-up US Soccer

Bobby Wood scores for Hamburg

Grant Wahl – SI – Mail Bag on US

Gulati – US Soccer and USWNT will come to an Equitable Agreement on CBA-  SI

German supports US World Cup Bid for 2026

US U20 Team Announced for WCQuals in Feb.

Champions League

The Sweet 16 Records UEFA

Bayern’s Phillip Lahm Set to Retire after season

Biggest comebacks in Champ League History

Paris SG prepare to face Barcelona Again

How Brilliant has Falcao been for Monaco?

Monaco not looking easy for Man City

Napoli thinks they can take Real Madrid

World /EPL

Power Rankings

Leicester’s Fairy Tale is Turning into a Horror Story  Ian Darke ESPNFC

#INDYMLS – HEAD COACH TIM HANKINSON, M BRAD RING, AND GK JON BUSCH REACT

Part of Indy’s solid returning core comment on Indy Eleven’s MLS Expansion bid

Feb 1, 2017

When Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir delivered the team’s bid to MLS HQ on Tuesday, there was an unparalleled buzz arising in the Circle City. Through the world’s game, Indiana’s team was looking to rise to the highest level of American professional soccer and put a feather in the cap of the nation’s best sports city.Meanwhile, Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson and his team are preparing for the road ahead. The 2017 season promises to be a challenging one as clubs like the Cosmos and Miami FC reload ahead of what will be an exciting postseason push for The Championship Final, and coach Hankinson, midfielder Brad Ring, goalkeeper Jon Busch, and the rest of the “Boys in Blue” are all ready to get to work.With plenty of past experience in Major League Soccer, coach Hankinson sees a clear road ahead for the club, assuring the fans that while the process is long, they are in the right place.”I started with the league in 1996, running the first L.A. Galaxy open tryout. We had that in Pasadena and that day we assessed over 1500 players,” said Hankinson. “You could see the excitement in player of all walks of life and areas of the world wanting to be a part of it.”Since then, Hankinson’s roads have taken him all over the country, and the world, leading the way for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer before continuing his career outside of the United States. If there is one thing he’s sure of now, though, it’s that the league is growing – and will continue to grow – past his expectations.”Being a part of the league in its first nine years, you saw it evolve from its first stages and growing pains. Now 20 years later, you look at the magnitude of the league and marvel at it. It’s recognized worldwide, and that’s why it’s attracting worldwide talent and players.”Jon Busch is no stranger to Major League Soccer, as well. A veteran of over 18 years at America’s highest level, Busch sees similarities between the markets he has played in and the City of Indianapolis.”I think [an MLS club] would be a tremendous addition to the city. As far as the fan base, the Indy Eleven fans – especially the Brickyard Battalion, Slaughterhouse group, and other supporters – are the best fans in the NASL. I think that an MLS club would be a just reward to all of their work from day one as fans.”Additionally, with his entire professional career spent in the American game, the goalkeeper believes that this city and this market have the credentials to take soccer to the top behind the support of both the fans and the front office. However, that won’t distract the team from reaching their potential this year, with the ultimate goal of winning The Championship Final come November.”It’s exciting times for everyone – whether you’re a player, a coach, a fan, or a staff member, etc. There’s a lot that goes into it from placing the bid to getting the franchise, so we aren’t going to get ahead of ourselves as players.We understand the work ahead of us and, for us, it’s business as usual for the upcoming NASL season,” said Busch.”Indianapolis has what it takes, though. I’ve been fortunate that two out of my three MLS clubs have been in the Midwest with Chicago and Columbus. This situation is more towards the Columbus side where you have an extremely passionate fan base dedicated to the team, and the fans stick through no matter what happens. This is one of the most consistent cities I’ve ever seen, and it would be a fantastic place to put a Major League Soccer club.”Another Indy Eleven star who has spent time in the MLS, Brad Ring echoed Busch’s statement with one of his own.”Indy Eleven has been the top team in the NASL since our existence in terms of an exceptional attendance and unmatched atmosphere,” said Ring. “We have a proven and committed fan base as well as a devoted owner. I have no doubt that Indianapolis would improve an already thriving MLS if selected.”Make no mistake, though. Despite all the buzz behind the bid, coach Hankinson & co. are locked in on the top prize this year. For them, it’s the only thing to fight for.”I certainly think that every player aspires to take the next step in their careers and players who perform at the highest level of the NASL might have an opportunity,” said Hankinson. “But Indianapolis is a city of winners, and we want to elevate that profile this season and in seasons to come. It all begins in two weeks with the first day of camp, and we go from there.”

Let the Games Begin! Indy Eleven Learns 2017 NASL Schedule

Regular Season Opens on the Road March 25 at San Francisco Deltas;

Slate of 16 Home Games at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium Starts April 1 vs. Puerto Rico FC   –  17-Game Season Ticket Package and New 8-Flex Voucher Pack Now Available

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, February 6, 2017) – In conjunction with the North American Soccer League, Indy Eleven has released its 32-game schedule for the 2017 NASL regular season, to be evenly split between a pair of 16-game Spring and Fall Seasons. Within each season, every club will play the other seven opponents home and away, plus two additional matchups.Indy Eleven will begin the defense of its 2016 NASL Spring Season title on the road Saturday, March 25, by serving as the Inaugural Game opponent for expansion side San Francisco Deltas. Kickoff for the season opener at historic Kezar Stadium in San Francisco is set for 10:00 p.m. ET.A week later on Saturday, April 1, “Indiana’s Team” starts its 16-game home slate at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against Puerto Rico FC. Indy Eleven will look to continue its 19-game regular season undefeated streak at “The Mike” dating back to October 2015 when it welcomes the Caribbean Club Championship participant to the Circle City.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2017 INDY ELEVEN SCHEDULE

“This year’s roster is full of players that tasted some success and got to the cusp of lifting the Soccer Bowl Trophy last year. The fire that has been burning since last November’s final will be a great motivator to fight our way back and get the job done in 2017, and we’re excited to get things underway,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson, who captured the NASL Coach of the Year award following his debut season with Indy Eleven last year.All but one of Indy Eleven’s 16 home games in 2017 will fall during weekends, the lone exception being the Wednesday, Sept. 13, contest against North Carolina FC. All other games will fall on Saturdays until the regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 29, against North Carolina FC.The Spring Season Champion and Fall Season Champion will each earn a spot – and semifinal hosting rights – in The Championship, the league’s four-club postseason tournament. The remaining two postseason spots will go to the two clubs that collect the most combined points over the course of the overall 32-game competition (Spring and Fall Seasons).“Over the years, our intense split-season competition has produced the drama and excitement that fans crave,” NASL Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal said. “The 2017 season will be no different, and we can’t wait to watch our clubs battle each other week in and week out.”In conjunction with today’s schedule release, Indy Eleven is introducing its new 8-Flex Pack, featuring eight ticket vouchers that can be turned into tickets for any of the team’s 16 regular season games at Carroll Stadium. For more details, visit www.indyeleven.com/flex-pack.Fans looking to catch every game can take advantage of discounts of up to 48% versus single-game pricing and enjoy a plethora of exclusive benefits by securing 2017 Season Tickets, which will include all 16 NASL regular season matches plus a bonus game (U.S. Open Cup, exhibition or playoff). Visit www.CueTheSmoke.com for the full listing of benefits and prices.Fans can stay tuned to www.indyeleven.com/schedule to keep track of updates to the 2017 Indy Eleven calendar and visit www.nasl.com/schedule to see the full schedule for the league’s seventh season of play.

Who should Arena start when the U.S. resumes World Cup qualifying?

Now that the January camp is over for the U.S. men’s national team, attention is firmly focused on the World Cup qualifiers next month, at home versus Honduras on March 24 and in Panama four days later.We asked our writers to name the lineup they would like to see coach Bruce Arena select the next time the national team takes the field (suspended and long-term injured players were not considered).

Jeff Carlisle

With Tim Howard unlikely to be fit, Arena really has no other choice than to go with the experienced Brad Guzan, even if he hasn’t been playing at club level. The back four reprises the group that performed so well at Copa America (if Geoff Cameron can’t go, Steve Birnbaum could slot in). In midfield, Jermaine Jones’ suspension means a start for Sacha Kljestan. The big question is on the right. Gyasi Zardes would provide more speed, but the onus will be on breaking Honduras down, which suits the craftier traits of Darlington Nagbe or Alejandro Bedoya. Clint Dempsey is unlikely to be back, so Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood play up front.

Doug McIntyre

It’s hard to see Howard being ready, but Cameron, who has been out since October with a knee injury, is close to returning for Stoke and should be match-fit by March. Jones’ absence through suspension actually helps Arena select a more balanced lineup; Bradley is the ball winner, with playmaker Kljestan behind the two strikers, while speedsters Christian Pulisic and Gyasi Zardes (whose hard running defensively will be key) are on the wings. That said, it wouldn’t be a shock me to see Bedoya on the right.

Jason Davis

Goals are needed against Honduras, and since Altidore is most effective with a strike partner, Wood is the obvious choice to play alongside. In midfield, there are obvious questions of balance; Kljestan provides better defense (to go with his playmaking) than Benny Feilhaber. Nagbe, thanks to his ability on the ball, gets the call opposite Pulisic. Lack of full-back options means Fabian Johnson plays in defence and Omar Gonzalez fills in for the injured Cameron. The only keeper getting club playing time, Nick Rimando, starts in goal.

Noah Davis

, right now, Altidore and Wood are the best options. Meanwhile, Kljestan is disciplined and covers plenty of ground and should be Bradley’s partner. (Yes, Bradley should start and continue to do so.) Run the attack through Pulisic, who’s shown in limited time that he’s the most creative and dynamic player on the field. Assuming Cameron is fit, he’s a sure starter along with John Brooks. While DaMarcus Beasley is a bit of a stretch at left-back, he knows the position and has the experience of playing in big games.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena won’t favor Europe-based players over MLS talent

U.S. men’s national team manager Bruce Arena indicated that when it comes to building his roster for the March World Cup qualifiers, “it doesn’t matter” whether a player is playing domestically or overseas.Arena just concluded the U.S. team’s annual January camp, one that saw him get a close look at 31 domestic players. But with the MLS season not set to begin until March 3, there are questions as to how sharp they will be heading into the critical matches against Honduras in San Jose, California, on March 24, and then away to Panama four days later.As a point of comparison, foreign-based players will have been playing for about eight months. But Arena insisted he’ll look at each player on a case-by-case basis.”We’re going to follow every player, both in Europe, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, and decide on who we think are the best group of players to help us get some results,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “It doesn’t matter where they come from. We have players in Europe who aren’t playing.”We have players in Europe that are playing a lot. It’s the same case in Mexico. And then in the U.S. the players we’ve had in camp are for the most part the players that will be under consideration for the March roster.”They have a bit of a jump, so they have another six weeks or so to be prepared for the March camp.”Arena added that he’ll be visiting U.S. players playing in Germany, England, and Mexico over the coming weeks.Included in that group are fringe players like Nottingham Forest outside back Eric Lichaj and Club Tijuana midfielder Paul Arriola, with Arena stating that they were under “strong consideration” for the March camp.”[Those visits] will help us make some final determinations as to how he’ll piece together our roster,” he said.One player who hasn’t been seeing time is Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Guzan, who will join MLS expansion side Atlanta United in the summer, has been stuck on the bench behind starter Victor Valdes. But Arena said Guzan remains very much a candidate to take the field against Honduras.”Brad Guzan is a very experienced goalkeeper, and as we saw in the case of Nick Rimando in the January camp, that experience means a lot,” said Arena. “Because they’re not getting games on a consistent basis doesn’t mean you can rule them out. I think Brad has shown enough that he’s still a strong candidate to be our No. 1 goalkeeper.”Guzan’s status is impacted in part by the groin injury Tim Howard sustained back in November that required surgery. But Arena wasn’t necessarily ruling out Howard being on the squad either.”[Howard] is on schedule to maybe start the first week of the MLS season. Having said that, [his recovery] could be off a couple of weeks, and perhaps he won’t be a candidate for March. But right now he’s in the picture, and that’s a positive as well,” Arena said.Arena also seemed more optimistic about the status of Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron, who has been sidelined by a knee injury since October.”[Cameron] is making progress and he’ll be back in full training shortly,” said Arena.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle. 

Arena’s next challenge: Integrating abroad-based U.S. players with little prep time

Bruce Arena will visit and evaluate players based in Europe and Mexico over the next few weeks before picking his U.S. roster for March World Cup qualifiers.  BRIAN STRAUSThursday February 9th, 2017

Bruce Arena got to spend three and a half weeks with more than 30 U.S. national team veterans and contenders right on his Southern California doorstep. Arena has lived in the L.A. area since becoming coach of the Galaxy back in 2008, and when he left the MLS club to take over the U.S. in November, he had to move his office just a few feet down the StubHub Center hall.The commute and surroundings were familiar, and Arena and his staff (comprised of his former Galaxy colleagues) were able to use weeks of practice and then friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica to make a thorough evaluation of their players’ progress and potential.Now comes the hard part.In about five weeks, Arena will have to select the players he intends to call in for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Honduras (March 24) and Panama (March 28). The Americans’ 0-2-0 record, which leaves them last in the six-team Hexagonal, was the catalyst for Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal. The climb out of the CONCACAF cellar must begin next month, meaning the new (and former) manager has to get this roster right. And although he now has a pretty firm grasp on the domestic player pool, Arena won’t have been able to spend any time working with the men based abroad, nor will have had the opportunity to see how they mesh with their MLS counterparts under match conditions.It’s going to take a few very productive days of practice next month, and a lot of homework between now and then, to figure it all out.“The goal now is to merge our players abroad with our domestic players and come up with the best roster for those games against Honduras and Panama,” Arena said Thursday during a media conference call. “We’re working right now with a pool of approximately 40 players, give or take a few numbers, and we need to break it down to somewhere near 25 players to call in for March when we report to San Jose [California, the site of the Honduras match].”So Arena and his staff are going to hit the road. He went abroad in early December, shortly after taking the job, and saw and/or met with Fabian Johnson, Christian Pulisic, Timmy Chandler, Bobby Wood and John Brooks during a few busy days in Germany. That was before the recent national team camp, however, so Arena now should have a better idea of the team’s needs, strengths and how those players will fit in next month. “We’re going to visit them,” Arena said of his Europe/Mexico-based contingent. “We remain in contact with all of these players and as of today, we’ll probably have had contact with every player in our pool … emails, phone conversations, and then visits. I’ve already been in touch with most of these players personally, visiting players in Germany in December and I plan to go back in the next week or so, as will other staff members. We’ll be going to Germany, England, Mexico, as well as following the players in the United States.“We understand how we’re going to play. We have a depth chart, and we’re going to sit down and have some conversations, make sure the players understand what we’re trying to do before we even get [to San Jose].” If it’s a challenge, it’s a good one to have. Arena said he thought Wood, Pulisic and DeAndre Yedlin, who’s at Newcastle United, all have been playing well and that Johnson and Brooks are healthy and returning to form. Arena also mentioned Julian Green, who scored his first goal for VfB Stuttgart on Monday, and Timmy Chandler, who’s suspended for the Honduras game but has been solid at Eintracht Frankfurt.“Certainly those players are going to be given strong consideration,” Arena said.English Championship-based defenders Eric Lichaj and Tim Ream also received a Thursday shout-out, as did Liga MX regulars Paul Arriola and Omar Gonzalez.“I think in particular Lichaj and Arriola are players right now that we have to strongly consider for the March camp. We’re going to get to see those players in the next couple of weeks to help make some of those decisions,” Arena said.Two big names that Arena likely won’t be able to see this month are veteran goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guzan. Howard was hurt in the November loss to Mexico and the subsequent surgery on his groin kept him out of the Colorado Rapids’ conference finals series against the Seattle Sounders and then January camp. Guzan has been stuck on the bench at Middlesbrough. He’s played only five times for the Premier League club this season.Arena had praise for Nick Rimando, who was the No. 3 goalie for most of Klinsmann’s tenure and who shut out Serbia on Jan. 29. But the manager said he hadn’t given up on Howard and Guzan.“Brad Guzan’s a very experienced goalkeeper and as we saw in the case of Nick Rimando in the January camp, that experience means a lot and just because they’re not getting games on a consistent basis doesn’t mean you can rule them out,” Arena said. “Brad has shown enough that he’s still a strong candidate to be our No. 1 goalkeeper.”Arena added that Howard’s prognosis at the time of his injury was a break of 12-16 weeks.“He’s on schedule to hopefully start in the first weekend of the Major League Soccer season,” Arena said. “Perhaps he won’t be a candidate for March, but right now he’s in the picture and that’s a positive as well.”It’s a picture that came into slightly sharper focus last month. Benny Feilhaber and Dax McCarty are back, Sebastian Lletget and Jorge Villafaña are legit, and there is an increasing plethora of permutations in defense. There are more questions in goal than usual, and how the U.S. will balance winning the midfield while providing Jozy Altidore with the support he needs to thrive remains uncertain. Now throw in all the foreign players and the uncertainty of early season fitness and form for those in MLS, and you get a sense of the scope of Arena’s task.Now the process of narrowing that picture begins.

In-need U.S. men’s national team re-enters Bruce’s unchanged arena

• Bruce Arena guided the U.S. men’s national team to unparalleled success, and now he’s back as a Band-Aid to help the Americans qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

GRANT WAHLThursday February 2nd, 2017This story appears in the Feb. 13, 2017 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. 

In mid-January, a few days before he led the U.S. men’s soccer team into practice for the first time in 11 years, coach Bruce Arena settled in for a long dinner at Mangiamo, his favorite Italian haunt near his home in Manhattan Beach, Calif. One of Arena’s companions ordered a Cabernet from Chateau Montelena and told the story of the scrappy Napa Valley winery: how in 1976 it competed in a blind-tasting challenge—the so-called Judgment of Paris—against leading French vintners and won, to the shock and consternation of Old World connoisseurs.Arena, 65, nodded, knowing full well that this was a conversation about soccer, too. If the history of a football culture were all that mattered for World Cup success, “then we should just drop out of FIFA because most of the other countries are far more advanced,” said Arena. “But that’s not the way Americans think. We can be the best. We are advanced enough now to move the sport forward on our terms with our culture. We will eventually be the envy of every country in the world. I hope to be alive at that point.”No coach has done more to raise the global profile of U.S. men’s soccer than Arena, who first took over the team following a last-place finish at World Cup 1998 and then led the U.S. to the quarterfinals in 2002 (before a first-round exit in ’06 led to his departure). Yet the challenge to start Arena’s second tenure is more immediate: to qualify for World Cup ’18, by any means necessary.“That,” Arena says, “is my only goal right now.”The U.S. is one of just seven countries to have competed in every men’s World Cup going back to 1990, but that streak is in real danger after two straight losses—zero points—to start the final round of regional qualifying, in November, led to the firing of coach Jurgen Klinsmann.“Once we decided a change was going to be made, I think Bruce was very much the obvious choice, given three things,” says U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. “One, his record and experience. Two, his knowledge of the player base and the work at hand. And three, the timing issue: There’s a relatively short period of time to get ready for our qualifiers. You put all those together, and the catchphrase would certainly be safe hands.”Arena believes that to best position itself, his team needs to pick up at least four points—a win and a tie—in its next two qualifiers, against Honduras (in San Jose) and at Panama, in March. That would bring the U.S. out of last place in the six-team, 10-game CONCACAF Hexagonal tournament, from which the top three (and perhaps even four) will qualify for Russia.

Arena won’t make sweeping personnel changes; he believes it’s too late to experiment. But he spent the U.S. team’s January camp preaching a return to the defiant aggressiveness that defined the U.S. teams of Arena (from 1998 to ’06) and Bob Bradley (from ’06 to ’11).We need to take initiative, regardless of who we are playing,” says Arena, who famously preached “first tackle, first foul, first shot, first goal” in the locker room before the U.S.’s World Cup 2002 upset of Portugal. “We can’t be intimidated. We want to compete like we compete in everything we do in our society. We are aggressive people. We want to be leaders in every field.”Arena was plenty busy in the 10 years he was away from the U.S. job, guiding the LA Galaxy to three MLS championships, bringing his MLS total to a record five (along with five NCAA titles at Virginia). But he always watched the national team closely, and never in public. His feelings were just too personal, especially when Costa Rica drilled Klinsmann’s outfit 4–0 in November and several U.S. players appeared to quit on the field.“He felt terrible,” says his wife of 40 years, Phyllis. “It really bothered him.”The culture of pride that Arena helped build was buckling under Klinsmann.“I was always proud during Bob’s tenure,” says Arena. “Whether [the team] looked good or didn’t, there was fight—the right mentality, the understanding of team and playing together. In this business, results don’t always go your way, but you want to make sure the group is there collectively, and during Bob’s tenure that was the case.”“The last four or five years [under Klinsmann], I just didn’t feel a connection to the program,” Arena continues. “There were too many swings up and down along the way that didn’t show the same culture that was developed after ’98. Right or wrong, Jurgen marketed a concept that never got there—about how good they were going to be and the style of play. We [coaches] don’t have a lot of control over that. If you want us to play like one of the great countries in the world, it’s not likely to happen in the short term. That doesn’t mean [our style is] wrong or bad—that means we’re playing the cards that are dealt to us.”

et Arena isn’t here just to bury Klinsmann, whose U.S. team, after all, did advance from a difficult group in World Cup 2014 before performances started dipping in the two subsequent years.“He brought enhanced visibility to the program,” Arena says, “and he convinced U.S. Soccer that the national team demands a certain level of support it never had before. I remember going to Europe [on scouting trips] and having to buy a cellphone and a SIM card because they wouldn’t give me a global phone. I know I step into a position that is greatly supported.”The other side of that equation: With greater investment come expectations that are higher than ever. Hundreds of millions of dollars—and, in many ways, the continued growth of American soccer—are riding on the U.S. qualifying for 2018. Failure is not an option.

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On the first night of the U.S. team’s January camp, Arena spoke at a dinner for the players. He welcomed them, told them it was an honor to be back and laid out his plans for the year ahead, including July’s Gold Cup. But he couldn’t help but drop a wisecrack: “I did these camps back when we played the Gold Cup in January—remember that, Beaz?” Arena said, motioning to DaMarcus Beasley, the oldest field player in the room. “Beasley was about 30 years old at the time,” Arena deadpanned in his native Brooklynese. Everyone laughed, including Beasley (who was a 19-year-old midfielder on that 2002 roster). The Bruce was back.

Eleven years after Arena last coached the U.S., he may be older and a little wiser, but not much else has changed. “The nuts and bolts of Bruce are pretty consistent,” says U.S. assistant Dave Sarachan, who has worked at Arena’s side going back to the 1980s. “All the details are covered. His passion to win hasn’t changed. His instincts are still good. I’d say he’s got a greater perspective on what the game can bring, the highs and the lows; his patience is better. . . . But the ball-busting, the little jokes and jabs here and there? Nothing will change on that end.”For U.S. captain Michael Bradley, the shift in the team’s tenor under Arena is palpable.“From the first day Bruce came in, he’s done a really good job of setting the right tone and making sure guys understand that we let some things slip,” Bradley says. “He has been clear in terms of what he wants to see, what he wants our team to be about. It’s exactly what we needed at this moment.”Away from the field, the biggest changes for Arena since 2006 are his two grandkids—Wayde, 4, and Holden Bruce, 3—who live a block away in Manhattan Beach and are constantly visiting the man they call Pepaw. Their father, Kenny, is also an assistant on the current U.S. staff. And while Arena has never been a social media guy, his late-in-life willingness to laugh at himself has led to multiple Internet memes, whether it’s been a photo of Arena swigging from a champagne bottle at the podium after winning the 2014 MLS Cup title or a snap of him cuddling with his dog at home.To hear Arena, he’s more prepared than ever to take on the challenge. With experience, he says, he can see things on and off the field more quickly, can talk to players and already sense what they’re going to say. In comparison with 15 years ago, he says, “I’m probably more understanding—yet I also understand when you need to bring the hammer down. I still have the ability to communicate with players at any level. Anyone can put 11 players on the field, but how you deal with it off the field is equally important.”In Arena’s camp there are no curfews (as Klinsmann had), and agents are allowed in the team hotel lobby (after being banned by Klinsmann). In January, players were required to attend team breakfast and lunch but were free to go out on their own for dinner. Arena essentially has two rules: Be on time, and no cellphones at team meals.“I don’t think that being called into the national team means you need to be locked in prison for 30 days,” he cracks. “What’s the point of that? Are we going to change their diet and habits for the next 300 days of the year? If you go out and have a beer, the world isn’t over. And I have no interest in sitting in a hotel lobby, checking on curfews and all that other s—. I have enough headaches to deal with.” Don’t expect many changes to the starting lineup—Play the cards you’re dealt. A few things are clear, though:

•  He sees Bradley, 29, as a defensive midfielder.Whereas Klinsmann often tried to use the U.S. captain in an attacking role (with mixed results), Arena wants Bradley in a ball-winning position in front of the back line. “He’s a guy who can help you in buildup and possession,” the coach says. “He’s got a great work rate. He’s a leader. He’s vocal. So he checks a lot of boxes.”
•  Sacha Kljestan could get a lot more playing time.The 31-year-old attacking midfielder had a career year with MLS’s Red Bulls in 2016 (six goals, 20 assists), and he earned a long-awaited callback to the national team. Now he could become a starter. “We need a better player in the midfield in terms of passing and being more creative,” Arena says. “Sacha has some skills that we need on the field.”
•  The German-based Americans who rose under Klinsmann will still play a big part.Though none of them were involved in the January camp, which took place outside of a FIFA international window, Arena clearly values their roles. He started his new tenure in December by visiting five players stationed in Germany: winger Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), forward Bobby Wood (Hamburg), midfielder Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and defenders John Brooks (Hertha Berlin) and Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt). “That’s an important part of it,” Arena says. Their performance will be crucial in the eight World Cup qualifiers of 2017. The 18-year-old Pulisic, in particular, is on the verge of stardom.
•  Clint Dempsey won’t play an immediate role.The No. 2 all-time U.S. men’s goal scorer, now 33, has been one of the national team’s few reliable finishers in big games, but an irregular heartbeat has kept him from playing competitively since last August. Dempsey has started training again with MLS’s Seattle Sounders, but Arena has ruled him out from playing for the U.S. in March.

After four decades of coaching soccer, almost nothing is new to Arena. He has an abiding belief in the American footballer, and he thinks today’s U.S. players are technically better and more physically advanced than their predecessors.“But mentally, whether they’re better or not is a question mark,” he says. “One would think that if you’re physically and technically better, you should be better—but I’m not ready to agree with that. The mentality has to be right; the environment has to be right. There’s enough talent to get this team to Russia, but we are behind the eight ball. Zero points doesn’t look good.”And so while the only goal right now is to qualify for the World Cup, deep down Arena is aware of something else: How you reach the tournament has nothing to do with how you play once you’re there. Consider 2002, when Brazil barely qualified but went on to win the tournament. Arena’s U.S. team had the same experience that year—it struggled in qualifying but then enjoyed the best World Cup run by an American men’s team in modern history. (Arena knows how slim the margins can be; he saw the other side of that in ’06, when he says “we were probably a couple of players from being in position to advance to the next round [that year].”)Visions of the U.S. again advancing to the quarterfinals can wait for another day.“This could be a real ugly situation in a short period of time—or it could be a much better situation,” Arena says. “The best advice you could ever give a team is to expect the unexpected. Never feel real good or real bad, because s— is going to happen.”The next nine months will feature plenty of potholes and mishaps on the road through Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Arena has been here before. That’s why he’s here again.

Jordan Morris, Walker Zimmerman impress as Arena’s U.S. fringe side win

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The extended year-opening training camp for the U.S. men’s national team is over after Friday’s 1-0 friendly win against Jamaica. Now the attention shifts to two pivotal World Cup qualifying games in March that will go a long way toward determining whether the Americans can snare an invite to the global party in Russia next year.The planning for those matches will begin immediately. And while only half of the players who took to the artificial turf field against the Reggae Boyz at Finley Stadium are likely to be on coach Bruce Arena’s roster for those qualifiers against Honduras and at Panama, Friday’s contest — and the three-and-a-half-week camp overall — will in many ways serve as the foundation for what happens in March.”The game tonight was fast, not an easy game to play in,” Arena said after picking up the first win in his second stint as coach of the national team, after a scoreless draw with Serbia last week.”The Jamaican team really got after us, they attacked us well. It made it a good game for me to look at our players and evaluate them.”The biggest thing we’re trying to do is form a team out of this group of players and take a little pride in what they’re doing.”We’ve had two games where we haven’t conceded a goal, which I think is a real positive.”It was far from the only one.Before the camp-ending two-game slate, Arena said he was hoping to use the matches to answer some outstanding questions he had, mainly about individual players. Since many players in the projected American lineup for March were unavailable versus Jamaica because they’re with their club teams in Europe and Mexico — and since March lineup locks Jozy Altidore and captain Michael Bradley were on the bench to start this game — it was a golden opportunity for this squad of mostly MLS players to show what they could do.Mission accomplished on that front. Jordan Morris got the only goal the U.S. would need after a slick second-half buildup with Benny Feilhaber, who made his first international start in more than four years. Young defender Walker Zimmerman, in his U.S. debut, was flawless. Others took full advantage of their chance too, putting themselves in position to earn a recall for the games that really matter”Morris has made a statement,” Arena said of the Seattle Sounders forward, who was named man of the match. “He’s clearly a likely candidate for our camp in March.”  Zimmerman appeared to be a long shot for the qualifying squad at the beginning of January, but the 23-year-old was so poised that he might be considered a depth option behind veterans John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez. Sebastian Lletget put in what Arena called a “workmanlike” performance in the midfield, where Dax McCarty excelled in Bradley’s usual holding role. Juan Agudelo, Morris’ partner up top, was lauded by the manger for his “real good effort” despite missing a first-half chance to score.And Jorge Villafana and Graham Zusi manned the full-back positions competently if not spectacularly, which pleased Arena, too.”That’s a position that I have some concerns about, the outside back positions,” Arena said.”So to have those two both play in two games and hold up pretty well, that’s encouraging.” Clearly, the players knew what was at stake. They were also happy to get Arena, who previously led the U.S. from 1998 to 2006, his first U.S. victory in more than a decade.”That’s something that we really wanted to get out of this match, getting a win and getting that winning mentality, because that’s what’s going to help us in March,” Lletget said.It wasn’t all perfect, of course. Then again, in what was effectively a glorified scrimmage for a group of players who have been idle for a long stretch, in some cases since late October, it wasn’t expected to be.”I would’ve liked to have us to score a few more goals in these past two games, but that usually comes a little later in the preseason,” Arena said. “Usually, the attacking players need a little bit more time.”Still, Morris’ strike was a thing of beauty.”Dax played a great ball in to Benny,” Morris said, “and Benny, a very skilled player, flicked it, and I think we just played a one-two around the guy and space opened up, and luckily I was able to finish it.””Dax found a great ball to me,” Feilhaber added. “And Jordan’s ball was fantastic.”But perhaps the most impressive thing about Friday’s game was the defensive showing; keepers Luis Robles and David Bingham, who played a half each, didn’t face a single on-target shot.For a team that struggled mightily at the back in the two November qualifying losses that cost ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann his job, that’s no small thing — even if the personnel were different this time around.”Our biggest thing, what we can influence the most with the team, is our mentality when our opponents have the ball and how we move and react,” Arena said. “I’ve been encouraged by how we’ve been able to become a pretty solid defensive group over the last couple of weeks.”It also gives Arena and his team something to build on for next month.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

Walker Zimmerman, Benny Feilhaber push U.S. to win against Jamaica

In the second match of the second tenure for Bruce Arena as U.S. national team head coach, the Americans managed to do two things they couldn’t in Arena’s first match in charge against Serbia: score a goal and collect a win. Despite the relative weakness of the Jamaican team, the U.S. ends January camp on a positive note with the 1-0 victory.

Positives

With two forwards ahead of creative influence Benny Feilhaber, the U.S. looked to be a more dynamic side than they were against the Serbians on Sunday. Feilhaber roamed freely under the front line, picking up the ball and dribbling into space on a fairly regular basis. The backline played a near-perfect game, especially the center-back pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Steve Birnbaum.

Negatives

Until the breakthrough in the 59th minute, the U.S. looked relatively toothless. Possession, something that was a given considering the inexperience of the Jamaican side, did not lead to enough real chances. Too much was left for Feilhaber to do and rarely did an American cross lead to anything of substance. A one-goal win hardly feels like the complete performance the Americans wanted.

Manager rating out of 10

6.5 – Arena changed up his lineup for the second match of the January camp, going so far as to leave Michael Bradley on the bench to start the game. Switching to a two-striker system paid some dividends, and the defensive set up was solid. Arena’s substitutions gave him a good look at most of his roster when combined with the Serbia match.

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

GK Luis Robles, 5 — Had very little to do in his 45 minutes on the field, though he was called upon to punch out a driven cross. Played the ball into the path of a Jamaican player, which luckily did not result in a goal.

DF Graham Zusi, 6 — Played well when pushed up and on the ball, giving the U.S. a smart option to release pressure. Struggled with one-on-one defending and beaten with speed more than once.

DF Steve Birnbaum, 6.5 — Guilty of doing very little wrong in a 90-minute performance. Made a handful of strong defensive interventions.

DF Walker Zimmerman, 8 — Excellent all night. Composed and aggressive when necessary. Passed well out of the back and showed bravery by pushing the space in front of him when available.

DF Jorge Villafana, 6.5 — Solid performance that will put him in good stead moving forward. Rarely out of position. Worked well up the left in attack.

MF Dax McCarty, 6.5 — Broke up play from his holding-midfield position well. Strong passing for most of the night but did turn the ball over uncharacteristically to start the second half. Played a great pass to set up the goal.

MF Chris Pontius, 5 — Popped up only sporadically on the right side of the midfield. Presented with a good chance to get a head on a cross in the first half and whiffed. Created a few good moments by pushing to the end line.

MF Benny Feilhaber, 7.5 — A creative force in the middle of the field during the entirety of his 60 minutes but really showed his quality by setting up the Jordan Morris goal.

MF Sebastian Lletget, 6 — Provided some good combination play with Villafana on the left side in the first half. Hit a few dangerous crosses and showed his versatility.

FW Jordan Morris, 7 — Did what forwards are supposed to do by scoring in the 59th minute. Missed a good chance when played in against Jamaica keeper Andre Blake in the first half. Covered lots of ground.

FW Juan Agudelo, 6.5 — Set the tone for the U.S. with effective pressing early. Excellent workrate but couldn’t find the ball in dangerous areas. Faded in the second half.

Substitutes

GK David Bingham, 6 — Touched the ball only twice in a very quiet second half.

MF Michael Bradley, NR — Came in just after the U.S. goal and brought composure in central midfield. Sat deep and played smart passes.

MF Darlington Nagbe, NR — Good with his touch and passing, misplaced a few passes. Did the smart thing to help close out the game.

DF Brad Evans, NR — Good on the ball. Tested by Sounders teammate O’Neil Fisher more than once and coped well.

MF Alejandro Bedoya — Added energy and ground coverage in central midfield in a cameo appearance. Missed just one pass.

DF DaMarcus Beasley, NR — Overlapped very early in his appearance at left back with his trademark speed but touch let him down.Jason Davis covers ESPNFC

Sunil Gulati: U.S. Soccer, USWNT will come to ‘equitable agreement’ on CBA

The U.S. women’s national team and U.S. Soccer remain engaged in talks over a new collective bargaining agreement, and after one meeting with the new player reps and legal representation, the tone of those talks has changed, federation president Sunil Gulati said in a wide-ranging interview with SI’s Grant Wahl on the Planet Futbol Podcast.The U.S. women’s player’s association moved on from Rich Nichols, who had been representing the players and their interests of securing equal pay to that of the U.S. men, hiring the firm of Bredhoff & Kaiser and naming Becca Roux the interim executive director. The three players at the forefront of the discussions are now Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press and Meghan Klingenberg.“We’ve had a couple meetings,” Gulati said. “They have new leadership in terms of their legal representation. We’ve had one introductory meeting with that leadership. There are more scheduled for the next few days and subsequent period. The whole discussion has a different dynamic, a different tone. That’s certainly a positive. That greatly reflects the leadership of the team and their views in making a decision they were going to change leadership and who that representative is. In the end, the players are the ones who set that tone.”With the equal pay discussion being a complex one given a number of factors that differ on the men’s and women’s side, Gulati says that what he is hoping to achieve is an “equitable agreement,” one that is fair for both sides based on those variables.“I always use the term ‘equitable pay.’ What is fair. And I have no doubt we’ll come to an equitable agreement with the players. There are so many differences in the agreements now in some of the benefits that the women’s players get and some of the benefits the men’s players get. There are differences in revenues. All of that will be part of the discussion. The men don’t have guaranteed contracts year-round. The women do. And it’s for a very important set of reasons.” Elsewhere on the women’s soccer front, the NWSL just signed a three-year broadcast TV deal with A+E Networks and Lifetime (with A+E Networks purchasing a stake in the league), which will increase the exposure on the growing league. Gulati sees this as a difference maker in terms of getting the league more commercial viability and greater exposure than the handful of games that have been televised in the past few seasons.“It’s a huge positive, because it gives the league exposure that it’s never had,” Gulati said. “This is 20-plus games every year … In the last three hours, I’ve had a couple emails of commercial entities which are interested now in talking to the league. You’re treated much more seriously when that happens.”Listen to the full interview with Gulati in the podcast above and subscribe to Wahl’s weekly interviews via iTunes here.

Breaking down the 12 cities vying for the next round of MLS expansion

Jan. 31 marked deadline day overseas, as the transfer windows for various leagues slammed shut. In North America, it was a deadline day of a different sort, as Tuesday was the final day for cities to submit their bids to acquire MLS expansion franchises.All told, 12 cities submitted bids, and in the coming months, they will aim to convince MLS owners that their combination of market, stadium and ownership groups should be chosen. MLS has said it will select two cities in the second or third quarter of this year, with the other two to be chosen at a later date.Here’s how the various bids shape up.

 Charlotte

Ownership: Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Stadium: The current proposal would demolish Memorial Stadium and replace it with a 20,000-seat, $175 million venue.
Overview: The stadium is often the trickiest hurdle to clear for expansion candidates, and such is the case in Charlotte. The city council declined to vote on a $43.75 million funding package after Mecklenburg County approved a similar measure, though Smith has said he intends to press on. Charlotte’s market size is in the middle compared to its competitors, and when combined with the stadium issues, breaking away from the pack during the evaluation could be difficult. Some positives are the area’s growth and that MLS is eager to fill a geographic gap in the South.

 Cincinnati

Ownership: Carl H. Lindner III, co-CEO of American Financial Group, owner, chairman and CEO of FC Cincinnati
Stadium: The team currently plays at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium but has plans to build its own venue and is currently narrowing its list of potential sites.
Overview: FC Cincinnati has been a huge success story at USL level, drawing crowds of more than 17,000 on average last season. But the club knows it can’t stay at Nippert Stadium forever, and details are still sparse in terms of potential sites. Cincinnati’s market is also the smallest of the candidates. That said, it’s a bid that has generated significant momentum in the past year, and the Lindner family’s net worth of more than $2 billion is more than enough to satisfy the financial requirements of MLS.

 Detroit

Ownership: Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, Inc.; Tom Gores, owner of the Detroit Pistons, founder, chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity.
Stadium: Gilbert and Gores are proposing a $1 billion development at the Wayne County Jail site that will include a 23,000-seat stadium at a cost of $250 million.
Overview: For all the talk about expanding the league into the southeastern corner of the U.S., there are still some pockets in the Midwest that the league would like to move into, and Detroit is one of them. Among the expansion candidates, only Phoenix has a larger metropolitan area. Gores and Gilbert, owners of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively, bring deep pockets and knowledge of running a sports team.

 Indianapolis

Ownership: Ersal Ozdemir, founder and CEO, Keystone Realty Group, owner of NASL side Indy Eleven; Mickey Maurer, chairman of the board, National Bank of Indianapolis and IBJ Corp; Jeff Laborsky, president and CEO of Heritage; Mark Elwood, CEO of Elwood Staffing; Andy Mohr, founder and owner of Mohr Auto Group.
Stadium: There is a proposal to build a $100 million stadium downtown. The site is still to be determined, but the preferred site is near Lucas Oil Stadium.
Overview: Indy Eleven have been a success both on and off the field in the NASL — no small feat, given the league’s difficulties in 2016. Concerns have been raised about the ownership group’s financial heft, but additional investors are being recruited. One big question is if the city and state will help pay for the stadium. The city sounds reluctant, but the fact that this is an MLS project and not an NASL project gives the bid hope that the state will be more helpful.

Ownership: John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Industries, Inc. board of directors; Bill Hagerty, former commissioner of Economic Development for Tennessee.
Stadium: The current plan is light on details, though Mayor Megan Barry has proposed a site near the Nashville Fairgrounds. Ingram hopes to build a 25,000-seat stadium downtown.
Overview: The ownership group might not be big, but the net worth of Ingram’s family is more than $4 billion, so that isn’t a concern. Nashville has historically supported national team games well. But Ingram will need to provide more details on his stadium plan and convince MLS that he can make the smallest market among the expansion candidates work. The location in the South certainly doesn’t hurt, nor does the level of support received by the NFL’s Titans and the NHL’s Predators.

 Phoenix

Ownership: Berke Bakay, governor, Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, Kona Grill; Brett Johnson, co-chairman Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, Benevolent Capital; Mark Detmer, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, managing director, JLL; Tim Riester, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, RIESTER; David Rappaport, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
Stadium: The owners have plans for a climate-controlled stadium on a 45-acre site that is already under contract.
Overview: Among the expansion candidates, Phoenix is the largest city in the U.S. without an MLS team, and the fact that its stadium site has been secured is a big plus. The site plans include housing the club’s academy and access to light rail. That the ownership group has USL experience is a plus, though the team didn’t draw well last season.

 Raleigh/Durham

Ownership: Steve Malik, chairman and owner of North Carolina FC.
Stadium: Malik has identified three potential sites in hopes of building a 20,000-seat stadium, though he hopes to narrow that down in the next few weeks.
Overview: The area has some roots in the game, including youth, college and an NASL side that has been around since 2006. Similar to Charlotte, the area’s location would also give MLS more geographic diversity. Malik purchased North Carolina FC (formerly known as the Carolina RailHawks) in 2016. But Malik, who made his money in the healthcare sector, will need to bulk up his ownership group. There’s also a question of whether the market is big enough to support another professional sports team, in addition to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

 Sacramento

Ownership: Kevin Nagle, chairman and CEO, Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, and minority owner of Sacramento Kings; Meg Whitman, investor, Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Jed York, owner and CEO of San Francisco 49ers.
Stadium: The plan for a downtown stadium has already been approved by the city council.
Overview: Having existed as USL team Sacramento Republic since 2012 and with a stadium plan in place, Sacramento appears to have ticked all the boxes. But friction between SRFC and Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings (the entity that made the bid) is threatening to spill into the open. SS&EH is trying to acquire SRFC, but the two sides have yet to agree on a price. With San Diego making a strong push, Sacramento will need to get everyone pulling in the same direction to pull this off.

 St. Louis

Ownership: Paul Edgerley, senior advisor at Bain Capital, managing director at VantEdge Partners, part owner of Boston Celtics; Terry Matlack, managing director of Tortoise Capital, partner at VantEdge Partners; Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, founder of Saint Louis FC; Dave Peacock, former president of Anheuser-Busch Inc., chairman of St. Louis Sports Commission.
Stadium: Ownership is currently trying to push through a plan to build a 20,000-seat stadium near Union Station.
Overview: Given the long history of support for the game, St. Louis has all the makings of an ideal MLS city. The departure of the NFL’s Rams to Los Angeles would appear to create a sporting vacuum that the prospective ownership group would love to exploit. The presence of Dave Peacock, who worked closely with Don Garber when the former was at Anhaeuser-Busch, doesn’t hurt, either. But there are still questions about how the stadium construction will be financed. The state of Missouri has already said no, and the ownership has had to make up a $20 million decrease in funding at city level. It now looks like the city’s funding proposal will get on the April ballot. The success or failure of the project will likely hinge on that vote.

 San Antonio

Ownership: Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Stadium: The team already plays at 8,000-capacity Toyota Field, and the infrastructure is such that it could be expanded to 18,000.
Overview: The San Antonio bid is blessed with an owner with vast experience in running a sports business and one that has built up considerable goodwill through the years, thanks to the success of the NBA’s Spurs. An existing, expandable stadium would appear to be a plus, but it sits 12 miles outside the “urban core” that MLS touts. That said, the stadium location on the north side of the city puts it that much closer to another coveted market: Austin. The demographics that include a large Hispanic population are such that there is a base of support for the game, but there are questions as to whether MLS wants a third team in Texas.

 San Diego

Ownership: Mike Stone, founder and managing partner of FS Investors; Peter Seidler, managing partner of the San Diego Padres; Massih and Masood Tayebi, co-founders of the Bridgewest Group; Steve Altman, former vice chairman and president of Qualcomm; Juan Carlos Rodriguez, media executive and entrepreneur.
Stadium: Ownership is proposing a 30,000-seat stadium to be shared with San Diego State University, where Qualcomm Stadium currently sits.
Overview: Garber has been quietly advocating for San Diego since he reached out to Mike Stone two years ago, and as is the case in St. Louis, the departure of the NFL’s Charges to L.A. has left a void in the city’s sporting landscape. The stadium plan seems to have strong political support, and the market seems primed for more soccer, despite the proximity to Liga MX side Club Tijuana just over the border. MLS loves its rivalries, but Southern California will have two MLS teams starting in 2018, when LAFC comes on board to join the LA Galaxy. Does it need another?

 Tampa/St. Petersburg

Ownership: Bill Edwards, owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL).
Stadium: The plan is to invest $80 million in expanding Al Lang Stadium from 7,200 seats to 18,000.
Overview: The Tampa/St. Pete area is the largest media market without an MLS team, and its stadium plan is solid, which is something not every bid can say. Edwards is very outspoken and didn’t hold back in his criticism of the NASL when he left that league for the USL at the conclusion of the MLS season. But he has experience running a professional soccer team, which is always a plus. One question is whether Tampa’s proximity to existing MLS side Orlando City is a help or a hindrance.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Great UEFA Champions League comebacks

Monday 6 February 2017–Inspired by the New England Patriots’s stunning Super Bowl victory on Sunday, UEFA.com delved into the record books to unearth six of the greatest UEFA Champions League comebacks.

The New England Patriots’ against-all-odds recovery to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI got UEFA.com thinking: what are the greatest comebacks in UEFA Champions League history?

• 2005: AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on pens)
  The most famous of them all, the ‘miracle of Istanbul’. Trailing 3-0 at the break, Rafael Benítez’s side stormed back in the second half with three goals in seven minutes to set up a dramatic shoot-out triumph. Andriy Shevchenko, author of the winning spot kick in the 2003 final against Juventus, was this time denied by Jerzy Dudek to give Liverpool a remarkable victory. Snap shot: Liverpool’s Istanbul heroes

1993: Werder Bremen 5-3 Anderlecht
For the second straight group match Otto Rehhagel’s charges found themselves 3-0 down, but if their fightback had come up short a fortnight earlier in a 3-2 loss to Porto, there was no stopping them this time. Incredibly they did not score until the 66th minute, through Wynton Rufer, yet when the New Zealander netted again 23 minutes later it was to complete a brilliant fightback.

2001: Deportivo La Coruña 4-3 Paris Saint-Germain
“For the first five or six minutes of half-time I just let the players sit in silence,” recalled Javier Irureta after his team traipsed in trailing 2-0. The Deportivo coach’s medicine didn’t work immediately – Laurent Leroy soon made it three – but the players eventually got the message. A furious spell of attacking football brought four goals in 27 minutes, including a hat-trick of headers by substitute Walter Pandiani.

2005: Porto 2-3 MFK Petržalka
The hosts, UEFA Champions League winners 16 months before, were approaching half-time on cruise control but Peter Petráš’s strike gave the Slovak visitors (then known as Artmedia Bratislava) hope. Coach Vladimír Weiss seized his chance, throwing on another striker. “I told the players it’s better to lose 5-2 than not try to change something,” he reasoned. Goals from Ján Kozák and Balázs Borbély were his reward.

2014: Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht
Even the Belgian side were left struggling to come up with an explanation after they staged the most unlikely of comebacks in north London. The writing appeared to be on the wall when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened up a 3-0 lead just before the hour, yet two Anthony Vanden Borre strikes and a last-minute equaliser by Aleksandar Mitrović earned the Brussels club a point.

2016: Beşiktaş 3-3 Benfica
The Portuguese team were 3-0 up and coasting with almost an hour gone in this group fixture. Then came the Beşiktaş response, started by half-time substitute Cenk Tosun. Benfica still seemed to have done enough as the game entered its final ten minutes. However, Ricardo Quaresma pulled another one back from the spot and, with 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Porto loanee Vincent Aboubakar dramatically levelled.

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So our Indy 11 have finally put their hat into the MLS Expansion pot for this round.  I think with the new stadium issues and just too many other cities with deeper pockets that Indy is certainly a long shot for MLS Expansion this go round – but its nice to see we are in the running.  Someday maybe – a nice new stadium over by Lucas Oil near the White River would be nice.

So Bruce is back in charge of the US team and we still can’t score.  0-0 with Serbia was certainly not the result we were looking for  – but I thought we of course dominated possession and had some good moments in the game. I thought Benny Feilhaber brought instant offense when he check in.  I also thought Sebastian Lletget gave some really good moments in the 2^nd half beside Michael Bradley who once again didn’t really impress.  I thought the Zusi experiment at right back went well – though I still think oustarting  right back playing really well in England right now.  It will be interesting to see how the midfield plays on Friday night 7:30 pm vs Jamaica on Fox Sports 1.

Big games this weekend as Arsenal gets there shot at Chelsea without Arsene Wenger on the sideline 7:30 am on NBCSN and Dortmund and US starlet Christian Pulisic face surprising Red Bull Leipzig at 12:30 on Fox Sports 1 or 2?  Sunday Leicester tries to fight its way above the relegation zone in a huge home match vs unbeaten in a long time Man United at 11 am on NBCSN.

GAMES ON TV  

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

 

Indy 11 + MLS

Indy 11 Bids for MLS Spot – SI

US Defender Oguchi Onyewu Returns to MLS with Philly SI

USA

Who should start for US vs Jamaica

US goalie Dilemma- Stars and Stripes

Jones and Kljestan leave camp

Will the US qualify for the World Cup?

Christian Pulisic vored one of top youngsters in Germany

 

Indianapolis will become 12th city applying for MLS expansion

BRIAN STRAUSMonday January 30th, 2017

On the eve of Major League Soccer’s expansion application deadline, Indy Eleven has made it 12.The NASL club’s president, Jeff Belskus, confirmed to SI.com late Monday that the Eleven, owner Ersal Ozdemir and the city of Indianapolis are pursuing one of the four MLS expansion openings. Ozdemir will deliver the application by hand to the league office in Manhattan on Tuesday. Indianapolis is the 12th city to declare its MLS intentions. In mid-December, the league announced its plan to add four more teams, bringing the eventual membership to 28 (including Los Angeles FC next year and David Beckham’s quixotic Miami project). At that time, prospective investors in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa Bay already had come forward. An 11th applicant, the USL’s Phoenix Rising, then joined the fray last week.Indy’s absence on the original list was notable, but not entirely unexpected. The Eleven have done well at the gate and Ozdemir had met with MLS officials as far back as 2013. Indianapolis seemed like a city that was on the right trajectory. But stadium legislation stalled in 2015 when the Indiana house and senate couldn’t come to an agreement on whether to funnel usage taxes toward a new facility or use state funds to upgrade the Eleven’s current home, Carroll Stadium. So Indy’s MLS plans stalled as well.Then last summer, they were back on track. Confident that usage taxes (or taxes generated by the existence of the new stadium) would get the political traction required at the state and city levels, the Eleven re-opened conversations with MLS. Those talks led to the decision to bid and Ozdemir’s trip to New York.Belskus, who was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO before running the Eleven, said the club’s MLS stadium will be a public-private partnership and that Ozdemir and his unnamed partners would be kicking in a “significant amount of private money.” Ozdemir will remain the majority owner.If built, the new stadium would be located in downtown Indianapolis between the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium and the White River.“We have a lot of energy for building a soccer stadium here,” Belskus said. “We’ve proven Indianapolis has the fan base to support soccer. It will support pro soccer and it will support Major League Soccer … It’s so logical for us.”Sponsors are lined up, he added, and Ozdemir’s investor group “is committed. They want to see this work. The want to see it work for this community.” The Eleven kicked off as an NASL expansion team in 2014. Although the team fared poorly on the field in its first two seasons, support was strong. Indy’s average attendance led the league in ’14 (it surpassed 10,000 per game) and 2015 before falling to second, behind MLS-bound Minnesota United, last season. But that slight slip was offset by wins. Behind former Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids coach Tim Hankinson and Irish-born Libyan international Éamon Zayed, an NASL Best XI striker, Indy finished finished second in the overall 2016 regular season standings and fell to the New York Cosmos in the league title game.It will remain part of the NASL this year while pursuing a place in MLS.

 

Who should start for the USMNT vs. Jamaica?

A few lineup suggestions for Bruce to ignore.by Rob Usry@RobUsry  Jan 31, 2017, 8:45am PST

The first match of Bruce Arena’s second tenure as United States men’s national team manager didn’t go as anyone hoped. It’s hard to takeaway any positives from a boring and stale scoreless draw. I’ve seen some respected media members claim that the team’s shape looked more structured as if they had a better understanding of their roles. To that I’d sort of agree, but it’s just hard to lean on that narrative after just 90 minutes. The match on Friday against a decent CONCACAF side in Jamaica should tell a better tale.We’ve already seen Jozy Altidore come out and wonder if playing with a lone striker is the right move or not, with Arena responding that he could change up the formation at any time. Assuming that he decides to stay the course and trot out the same 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 he did against Serbia, what changes could we see? Two starters from Sunday are guaranteed to be replaced with Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljestan leaving camp. Here’s a lineup I’d like to see on Friday if the formation and philosophy stays the same:

With Kljestan unavailable that leaves a hole in the No. 10 position. In my eyes, the only two options to replace him are Benny Feilhaber or Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe’s role for the Timbers the past couple of seasons has seen him shift into a central role, predominantly as a box-to-box player to support Diego Valeri, but he has the ability to be the primary playmaker to rely on. We saw what he can do on the wing against Serbia, now it’s time to get a feel for his contribution in the center pulling the strings.Replacing Jones is a little more complicated. The obvious pick is Sebastian Lletget, who came on a halftime for the veteran and did pretty well as a box-to-box midfielder. However, I’d like to see Dax McCarty inserted into the lineup for two reasons that both include Michael Bradley. The first is, McCarty offers a more defensive pure No. 6 option that would allow Bradley the freedom to move up and down the field as he pleases. He’s a defensive midfielder who needs a more defensive partner and that’s what McCarty offers. The second is looking toward the second half. Take Bradley out at halftime and replace him with Lletget no matter how the team is doing. It’s time to see a half of soccer that isn’t dedicated to finding the right scenario for Bradley to succeed.Jordan Morris on the wing is something the Sounders did several times throughout their MLS Cup run. Specifically in the Western conference finals against FC Dallas where the move paid off significantly despite objections from yours truly. His pace and attacking mentality offers that dynamic aspect that Jozy alluded to in his 4-3-3 concerns.The back line changes are all about seeing different options. Villafana looked good in his brief substitute appearance and Walker Zimmerman has apparently impressed in camp. Give those two a full run-out and give Luis Robles a chance in goal just as a reward for a long camp and being one of the most consistent performers in MLS for a long while.If Bruce decides that it’s time to change things up and adhere to Jozy’s concerns over a lone striker formation here’s a lineup I’d throw out there:

It’s the same personnel except for the switch of McCarty and Lletget. Having both McCarty and Bradley in a narrow formation like this would seem too defensive, akin back to the four CDM days under Klinsmann.Giving Altidore some striking support in Morris would make him happy and having Nagbe behind them doing his ‘sprint dribble past five players’ thing should open up some space for everyone.It’s not the most ideal lineup, but it could be effective.What do you think about these two options? What changes would you make if you were Bruce? Show us your tactical genius in the comments.

Jones and Kljestan leave USMNT camp, opening door in midfield

Leave a commentBy Nicholas MendolaJan 30, 2017, 8:01 PM EST

Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljesten were sent home from United States men’s national team camp following the team’s 0-0 draw against Serbia on Sunday.Jones will not play in March’s World Cup qualifiers due to suspension, so Bruce Arena sent him home to get used to his new LA Galaxy teammates.And Kljestan’s wife is giving birth, meaning he won’t play against Jamaica.That opens up the midfield for several U.S. players to seize an opportunity on Friday.It shouldn’t be hard for any one player to make a statement given the lackluster attacking performance from the MLS-only squad.Darlington Nagbe and Sebastian Lletget both impressed against Serbia, granted they stood out in a match that was offensively uninspiring.Benny Feilhaber didn’t get a ton of time to make an impact, and had a moment or two in his quarter-hour return to the fold. Chris Pontius came close to scoring during his 25-plus minutes, but neither ran wild against a team which entered the day with a combined eight caps.The only U.S. midfield player not to get a run was Dax McCarty, and it seems likely the new Chicago Fire man will see plenty of time against Jamaica.Perhaps Arena will line ’em up like so:

Robles

Zusi — Zimmerman — Evans — Villafana

McCarty — Bradley

Nagbe — Feilhaber — Bedoya

Altidore

The USMNT Goalkeeping Dilemma

The short term future of the goalkeeping position is in serious doubt.

by Adnan Ilyas@Adnan7631  Jan 31, 2017, 7:00am PST

News broke out late January that Brad Guzan would be leaving Middlesbrough in the Premier League in the summer and moving to the MLS expansion side, Atlanta United. While this is a big move for Atlanta, it does present a little bit of an issue for the USMNT. With Guzan’s move, there are no American goalkeepers left playing in the English top flight. Nor in any of the first divisions of Germany, Spain, Italy, or France. This hasn’t happened since Kasey Keller joined Leicester City in 1996, two decades ago. With Guzan leaving, there won’t be any USMNT caliber left in Europe except for Ethan Horvath, who recently moved to Club Bruges in the Belgium first division, the Jupiler League. With this change in situation, we need to evaluate the talent of the American goalkeeping pool.
By my count, these are the players who could be in the running for the starting place this year or in the near future.

Brad Guzan

Tim Howard

Ethan Horvath

Bill Hamid

David Bingham

There are other players who have played for the USMNT but who don’t appear to be in significant contention for the starting place. That includes Rimando, Robles, Cropper, and Yarbrough. But for the sake of time and relevance, I am limiting the discussion to that list of 5.

Guzan

Guzan’s been with the USMNT for a long time, dutifully serving as the backup behind Tim Howard. After Howard took a sabbatical following the 2014 World Cup, the starting position has been Guzan’s. The past few years have been a little bit rough for Guzan. An excellent stop-shot, Guzan was arguably the most important player in keeping Aston Villa from being relegated in 2013-14 and 2014-15. However, Guzan lost form with Villa in the last season and left to join Middlesbrough for free after the Birmingham side were relegated. Life with Middlesbrough has not gone as well as the Chicagoan would have hoped. The club brought in the Spaniard, Victor Valdes, to play as the starting keeper, with Guzan relegated to the backup role once again.

Guzan’s time as the starter with the USMNT has similarly been mixed. While the USMNT struggled in the months following the World Cup, Guzan played quite well. However, during the 2015 Gold Cup, he made several prominent errors, specifically in the semifinal against Jamaica. While throwing a ball to a teammate, Guzan accidentally carried the ball just past the boundary of the penalty box. The ref blew for a hand ball and Jamaica scored on the freekick. The US lost and were knocked out of the tournament (Guzan won the award for best goalkeeper, to my astonishment.) After the Gold Cup and the return of Tim Howard, Klinsmann announced that Guzan would split time as the starter with Howard. Guzan was named the starter for the Copa America Centenario in 2016, where he performed admirably. However, the policy of rotating between Guzan and Howard was re-implemented, with Howard playing in the loss against Mexico, at least until he was forced off with injury.

With a new coach leading the USMNT, Guzan’s role is, again, in doubt. Guzan no longer has the prestige of playing in the Premier League. Nor does he have consistent playing time to justify his inclusion, at least not until he arrives in Atlanta in the summer. At 32, Guzan’s age needs to be considered. While it is true that goalkeepers peak and decline later than outfield players, 32 is still towards the older side of the spectrum. He cannot be considered a project with hopes of improving. He’s at the age where his career has hit the peak and will advance no further. At worst, we could start to see the decline from age. If Guzan’s not starting, serious questions need to be asked if it would simply be better to bring in someone who will be relevant after the 2018 World Cup. Of course, this is all a moot point if Arena decides Guzan’s clearly the best talent the US has at this point. But that question has been debated, and may very well continue to be debated going forward.

Tim Howard

Tim Howard is a USMNT legend. He has the most caps for any goalkeeper in USMNT history. He’s played in 2 World Cups, setting a record for most saves in a single match in the loss against Belgium. However, at some point, the Secretary of Defense’s term must come to an end. Tim Howard is 37, approaching 38. He has seen a decline in form followed by a transfer to MLS and a long-term injury in the form of tear in his abductor muscle. At this point, if one were to ask if Howard were still the best goalkeeper for the US, the answer quite possibly could be “No”. Indeed, one could ask if Howard will even still be playing as a 39 year old by the time Russia 2018 rolls around. However, Howard is still the experienced veteran, the established name who can be depended on to marshal the defense into an impenetrable shield. If the USMNT needs results now, does that mean relying on Howard one more time to get through qualifying? Klinsmann seemed to at least consider it. We will have to see if Arena will be willing to try it, as well.

Ethan Horvath

Now we come to the prospects. Ethan Horvath is one of the brightest talents in the American Goalkeeping pool. Horvath was at Molde starting from 2013 where he eventually made 39 appearances, serving as a brilliantly effective keeper in the Norwegian League. Those consistent and distinguished performances led to a January transfer to Club Bruges, the leading club in the Belgian league. At just 21, Horvath has both a lot of talent and a lot of potential. However, he is serving as the back up for Club Bruges starting keeper, Ludovic Butelle, and has yet to make a start. Horvath certainly has a bright future ahead of him. The question is whether he will rise and become the next American starlet at keeper, and how quickly that rise will happen. There’s an opportunity for him to make a big splash this year, but it depends on how he presents himself in camp.

Bill Hamid

Bill Hamid has been the Next Big Thing for over a half-decade. While he’s been spectacular at times with DC United, including a Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2014, Hamid has had trouble turning that club success into a big offer from a European club or international success. Mostly, this has been because of a string of injuries. Hamid can’t seem to stay healthy long enough to get time with the national team, earning just 2 senior caps in 5 years. In this very January Camp, Hamid came in and was forced to leave early due to an injury. At the age of 26, Hamid has a huge opportunity to take the USMNT starting spot and make it is own, along with a big-money move abroad. But to do that, he’ll need to be consistent and, above all, healthy.

David Bingham

At 27, David Bingham is not exactly a prospect. However, the supporter turned player has performed admirably with the San Jose Earthquakes, emerging as one of the clear standouts in MLS. With Howard and Guzan aging, Bingham has a chance to eventually take the head spot, depending on how Hamid and Horvath turn out. It’s an outside shot, but he’s got a chance.

Will the U.S. Men’s National Team qualify for World Cup?

Originally posted on The Sports Daily  |  By Jack King  |  Last updated 2/1/17

Sandwiched in between a friendly match against Serbia and an upcoming friendly against Jamaica this Friday, new USMNT manager Bruce Arena has said that he sees no reason why his squad shouldn’t qualify for World Cup play.For context, we’ll take a look back to Nov. 20, when the USMNT was embarrassed 4-0 in Costa Rica. In the days following the loss, former manager Jurgen Klinsmann publicly stated that he was 1,000 percent sure that the team would advance to Russia in 2018. The U.S. found itself 0-2 in group play after losing to Mexico in a prior match, and Klinsmann was shown the door.For national team managers, their careers and team expectations are like milk carton expiration dates. Such is the case with Arena. He is well aware that the expectations placed upon him are twofold. First, he must pull the USMNT out of their slump and garner enough points in the next eight qualifying matches to compete in Russia.  With the top three teams making the trek (and a fourth involved in a home and away scenario), it would seem that the U.S. should advance. Once in Russia, it is expected that his squad will make a run deep into the competition.With two matches remaining against under-performing Panama and two against a weak Trinidad and Tobago team, ten points is likely to be earned and all twelve is not out of the question. The two games against Honduras should garner four points, and a home game against Costa Rica will produce no worse than a draw and a possible win. The other game on the schedule, against El Tri at The Azteca, will prove to be the most difficult qualifying match and even a point might prove elusive. But the USMNT will ultimately amass enough points to make the trip to Russia, which is the immediate task at hand for Arena.The CONCACAF region as a whole does not have any powerhouses, compared to what lies in Europe and South America. It relies primarily on Mexico and the U.S. to showcase its talent to the world, and both teams have underperformed in the past few years. That the USMNT has to fight its way to earn a qualifying spot within CONCACAF is not a benchmark for success, but it is a crucial first step. With all eyes on Arena as the new manager, he can only be as successful as his available talent.  The Serbia friendly that ended in a 0-0 draw saw a dearth of talent from his MLS players, given that they played against a tired Serbian squad comprised entirely of “B” and “C” team players. While most of the MLS-laden team will not make Arena’s final World Cup squad, the friendlies are critical to identifying role players, as well as providing depth to the team. While the manager was kind with his words, there were few standout performances following a three-week camp. The Jamaica friendly on Friday will be the last chance for these players to make an impact on the team before the next set of qualifiers begins on March 24th.That leaves the USMNT to rely upon their overseas players. But isn’t that where the USMNT was under former manager Klinsmann? While he favored the German system to train his players more than other leagues, the talent pool is no larger than it was last year. While the emergence of a player like Christian Pulisic is helpful to the team, at 18 years of age his biggest contribution will be in future Cups. Bobby Wood shows promise in the forward slot, while attacking midfielder Julian Green has demonstrated he belongs on the squad. While these players have value to the USMNT, if they aren’t stars on their club teams, it would be folly to expect such results as they compete on the world stage.The core of the USMNT team has quietly aged as well. Players like Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones have lost more than a couple of steps, and 33 year-old Clint Dempsey’s heart ailment leaves his playing career in question.One would think that new manager Arena has taken all of that into account and is fielding the best team available to him in a short amount of time. It appears that the shape of the U.S on the pitch has taken a more defensive posture, possibly to reduce their vulnerability from a counter-attack due to their lack of speed. All of that comes at a price, however, as forward Altidore has said that he isn’t keen on his lone-striker role. Look for the U.S. to provide more support to the flanks, which is where the team has taken a beating in recent matches. At age 65, Arena’s experience has taught him to keep the games close enough to be in a position to pick up points in each match.The Klinsmann era of the turbo-charged three-forward offense has passed. Arena’s style of play will be slower and more defensive-minded.  But if his squad is to have any chance to qualify for World Cup play in Russia in 2018, he might just need to make lemonade from lemons to advance.

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So the US Men’s National team under returning coach Bruce Arena kicks off with 2 games this week Sunday on ESPN 2 at 4pm vs Serbia and Friday at 7:30 pm vs Jamaica on Fox Sports 1.  It should be interesting to see how the US looks with just MLS players on the field- of course more interesting will be in a few months with the next round of qualifiers.  It’s a FA Cup weekend on Fox Sports so no EPL games to till the Tuesday Liverpool vs Chelsea match at 3 pm.  Chelsea then faces Arsenal with no Arsene Wenger the following Sat, Feb 4 at 7:30 am on NBCSN.  Will see if someone can bite into their lead.  Don’t forget Champions League is back the 2^nd week in Feb.

GAMES ON TV this Week 

Fri, Jan 27

2:30 pm Fox Sport 2                         Schalke vs Frankfurt

2:55 pm Fox Sport 1                         Derby County vs Leciester City (FA Cup)

Sat. Jan 28

7:30 am Fox Sport1   Liverpool vs Wolverhampton (FA Cup)

9:30 am FS2                   Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Chelsea vs Brentford (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 1

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund 

12:30 Fox Sport1        Southhampton vs Arsenal  

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 2

Sun,  Jan 29

6 am beIN Sport          Real Betis vs Barcelona

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am Fox Sport 1   Man U vs Wigan Athletic – (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 3

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 4

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

4 pm ESPN            USA men vs Serbia

Tues, Jan 31

3 pm NBCSN                   Liverpool vs Chelsea

Weds,  Feb 1

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 1

2:45 pm NBCSN           West Ham vs Man City

3 pm NBC Extra            Man United vs Hull City

3 pm NBC Extra            Stoke City vs Everton

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1  USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

USA

US has the Players do They have the Identity However- ESPNFC – Gomez

Has Bruce got what it takes to Turn things Around for the US?

The Question of Commitment when Wearing the Red, White and Blue?  SI

Five Things to know about Sunday’s foe Serbia

US Pulisic signs thru 2020 with Dortmund

Smart Move by Pulisic to Re-sign with Dortmund – ESPNFC Video

Jordan Morris – I made the Right Choice to Stay in Seattle

US Ladies Alex Morgan and GK Ashlyn Harris are Concacaff players of year

US Ladies GK Ashlyn Harris

Champions League

Bayern expects tough match with Arsenal in Champions League

Who will be Upset in the Round of 16 UCL? Video

Can Higuain inspire Juve thru UCL?

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

WORLD

Wenger Gets 4 match Ban

Rooney Becomes Man United’s All Time Leading Scorer with Streak Saving Screamer

Real’s 40 game Streak Comes to End – well below European Records

Real Madrid breaks Barcelona’s Record for No losses at 40

US Coach Bob Bradley Gets Raw Deal at Swansea

Steven Gerrard to Start Coaching at Liverpool

The World Order – FIFA’s Rankings over Time

MLS + Indy 11

China interest in Giovincho is worrisome – EPSN f C

Clint Dempsey Back to Training with Seattle after Heart Issue

US Defender Jonathan Spector Joins Orlando City

Kaka Plans to Stay with Orlando City

Tampa Bay Rowdies hope to be Next MLS Squad

San Diego has Investors with Hopes too

San Antonio Throws Name in Hat

MLS Schedule has Gold Cup Break in July

Indy 11 Season Starts April 1

Franco Returns

 GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Jan 27

2:30 pm Fox Sport 2                         Schalke vs Frankfurt

2:55 pm Fox Sport 1                         Derby County vs Leciester City (FA Cup)

Sat. Jan 28

7:30 am Fox Sport1   Liverpool vs Wolverhampton (FA Cup)

9:30 am FS2                   Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Chelsea vs Brentford (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 1

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund 

12:30 Fox Sport1        Southhampton vs Arsenal  

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 2

Sun,  Jan 29

6 am beIN Sport          Real Betis vs Barcelona

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am Fox Sport 1   Man U vs Wigan Athletic – (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 3

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 4

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

Tues, Jan 31

3 pm NBCSN                   Liverpool vs Chelsea

Weds,  Feb 1

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 1

2:45 pm NBCSN           West Ham vs Man City

3 pm NBC Extra            Man United vs Hull City

3 pm NBC Extra            Stoke City vs Everton

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City 

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

How might the USMNT lineup against Serbia Sun?

1 CommentBy Nicholas MendolaJan 23, 2017, 9:08 PM EST

It’s six days to Sunday, the first time we’ll see Bruce Arena manage the United States men’s national team since his rehiring late last year.The Yanks host Serbia in San Diego before moving to Chattanooga for a match against Jamaica. Both matches should be open-and-shut wins, as the Americans’ MLS-only lineup get “B-teams” from Serbia and Jamaica.[ MORE: Serbia, Jamaica rosters ]

Possible starting center back Matt Hedges a Carmel High Grad and his FC Dallas teammate, Kellyn Acosta, will miss through injury, while Arena sent Kekuta Manneh to Wales for Vancouver Whitecaps camp.That leaves 28 names — full roster at bottom — and the level of competition means Arena can take risks, like his choice to try Graham Zusi at right back.Arena used several different formations with the Galaxy last season, opting for anything from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-1-1.Here are some options against Serbia.

4-2-2-2

Arena could steady the middle of the pitch while using a pair of attack-minded veteran midfielders with points to prove.

Robles

Rosenberry — Birnbaum — Zimmerman — Beasley

Bradley — McCarty

Feilhaber —————————Kljestan

Morris — Altidore

4-4-2 (diamond) — Veteran heavy

Arena likes his veterans, and may want to give them the benefit of the doubt in front of fans and the eyes of U.S. Soccer.

Rimando

Zusi — Marshall — Evans — Beasley

Bedoya — Bradley — Jones — Kljestan

Altidore — Zardes

4-3-3

Bingham

Rosenberry — Birnbaum — Zimmerman — Garza

Bradley

Nagbe — Bedoya

Zardes — Altidore — Morris

Full roster

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls), Brian Rowe (LA Galaxy)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Unattached), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Jorge Villafan (Santos Laguna)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

Has Bruce Arena got what it takes to lead the U.S. to World Cup 2018?

By the time his topsy-turvy, five-year reign as United States head coach finally ended in November, Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal was greeted with relief and even joy among an overwhelming segment of fans.Bruce Arena’s hiring as Klinsmann’s replacement, however, was more divisiveMany saw the experienced Arena, who was previously in charge of the national team from 1998-2006, as the logical — and perhaps only — choice to steer the U.S. away from the bottom of the Hexagonal standings and back on course to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But others viewed the hire as a step back.”I might be biased, but I don’t think so: The person who can get the most out of this group of players right now is Bruce,” said Landon Donovan, the leading scorer in U.S. history. He debuted under Arena and played for him at two World Cups and during parts of eight seasons with the LA Galaxy. “I can also understand that the people who haven’t been around want to see progress. But this isn’t the time to experiment with a young coach who has two or three years of experience as a professional. This is the real deal, and we need to get to the World Cup.”But Kasey Keller, a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and Arena’s starting goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is less enthusiastic than his former teammate.”It’s hard to look at it with total rose-colored glasses and say we’ve done exactly what we needed to do here to qualify for a World Cup,” said Keller, who was a frequent guest coach on Klinsmann’s staff. “Bruce was successful before as U.S. manager. He qualified the team twice. Bruce was also 26 minutes from getting knocked out before the Hex stage his first time around. So it will be interesting to see how it goes in his second stint. A lot of coaches in all sports have gone around the block a second time and haven’t fared too well.”Other skeptics have cited the fact that Arena has been out of international coaching for over a decade, and he admits the game has changed.”The sport is faster,” he said shortly after taking the job, citing improvements in conditioning and equipment. “Doesn’t mean that the players are better, but it’s a faster game.”The question is: Has Arena also evolved? Donovan believes so.”You can’t be successful for this long if you don’t have a firm belief in who you are and how you do things, but also if you’re not able to adapt,” he said. “[Arena has] continued to adapt to change with the times.”Arena insists he’s a better coach now than he was in 2006, when his contract was not renewed after the U.S. failed to survive the World Cup group stage. After a season and a half with the New York Red Bulls, he took over at the LA Galaxy in August 2008.In the eight full seasons that followed, Arena led LA to three championships and four MLS Cup appearances. He initially brokered a truce between Donovan and David Beckham and, over the years, won the respect of other high-profile players, such as Robbie Keane and Nigel de Jong. On the practice field, Arena’s training sessions became shorter but more intense.The Galaxy’s veteran-laden rosters were part of the reason for that switch, though, which is why it’s fair to wonder if the coach, who made Donovan and fellow 20-year-old DaMarcus Beasley focal points during the U.S. World Cup quarterfinal run in 2002, has become more conservative about giving opportunities to new players.Then again, Arena, who is now 65, helped turn raw college talents such as Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes into international regulars during his time in L.A. In 2009, Arena persuaded Gregg Berhalter to join him with the Galaxy. Berhalter, a former U.S. defender and current Columbus Crew coach, mentored Gonzalez.Berhalter doesn’t believe Arena will overlook deserving, young talent.”His intensity hasn’t wavered at all,” Berhalter said. “He still knows how to motivate young players. His strength is getting players to perform. That’s clear. He still has that, definitely. He gives young players trust. He gives them backing. And he’s not afraid to put them on the field. Sometimes coaches hesitate to play young players, but Bruce has never done that.”But Arena’s immediate remit is less to do with a process and more focused on results. He wasn’t brought in to groom the next generation; he was hired to get the U.S. to the World Cup in Russia. That means quickly restoring confidence after those ugly November qualifying losses to Mexico and Costa Rica. Two weeks into the national team’s January camp, the process appears to be well underway.”Everybody feels like they’re coming in with a clean slate,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan told ESPN FC last week. “There’s a freshness in the group again.”Part of the reason for that is Arena’s laid-back style. Klinsmann and Bob Bradley, his predecessor, liked to micromanage. But Arena is far less rigid.”He doesn’t over-train players; he’s sort of the anti-Jurgen in that way,” Donovan said. “He lets you be an adult, and that’s one thing that seems to me had gotten away from the team a little bit. It didn’t seem, at least when I was there, enjoyable to be in camp anymore. Bruce makes it fun. You can go have dinner with guys. You knew what you were there for, but he treated you like a professional. And if guys took advantage of it, then they weren’t there next time.”The first impression Arena has made on the camp’s newcomers has also been a good one.”He cracks some jokes here and there,” said Kellyn Acosta, who, at 21, was the youngest player called into the January camp. “He’ll catch you off-guard, like, ‘Did he really say that?'”When it’s time to get serious, though, Arena will ensure that everyone knows what is expected.”He doesn’t beat around the bush,” Donovan said. “If you’re going to play, he’ll tell you. If not, he’ll tell you.”D.C. United coach Ben Olsen, who played for Arena at club and international level, says Arena’s “ability to make players understand their role is very good.””It’s not that he’s not extremely sharp tactically — he is — he just understands that sometimes players need things boiled down and simplified. I don’t know what his secret is,” Olsen added. “He’s unique. Some guys, it’s easy to say he’s a disciplinarian. Or he’s a tactician. But it’s really tough to pigeonhole Bruce’s coaching style”Perhaps Arena’s biggest strength is as a man-manager, skills that will be put to the test when his full team convenes just days before what he has called a “must-win” qualifier against Honduras on March 24. It will mark Arena’s first chance to work with his European- and Mexican-based players and to address any rift either caused by, or at the root of, Tim Howard’s recent comments that suggest division exists within the national team’s locker room.It’s certainly not an ideal scenario but, given the timing and the job itself, Keller admitted that if a change was going to be made, there were not too many other options.”Who on the world stage is going to take this U.S. national team job?” he asked. “Carlo Ancelotti? Jose Mourinho? Where are we in that pecking order? Would Jurgen have taken it if he wasn’t married to an American and living in Southern California? It’s too difficult to say if this or that person is the right guy, because the reality is we’re kind of stuck in the middle as a nation. It’s not a big enough job to go grab these big-name managers, but it’s too big of a job to just give it to anyone.”For now, the job belongs to Arena and, for a side that looked lost at the end of Klinsmann’s tenure, the measure of success could not be more straightforward.”We have a team that can qualify for the World Cup,” Berhalter said. “We have the quality; it comes down to the psychological part of it. That’s a big part of the game. He’ll have the players motivated to perform, that I can guarantee.”And after 2018, it will be someone else’s turn.”If Bruce was the coach for the next 12-16 years, I’d say that’s a problem,” Donovan said. “And Bruce would admit that. He thinks we need to be developing younger coaches, and we are. But right now, his job is to coach, not to teach. He needs to get the most out of these players. And he will.”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

The U.S. national team and the uncomfortable question of commitment

AVI CREDITORThursday January 19th, 2017

“Think about who you try to disenfranchise.” – Mix Diskerud to Abby Wambach, December 2015

For over a year, an uncomfortable topic has been debated quite publicly by prominent U.S. men’s and women’s national team players: Foreign-born Americans and their commitment to representing the U.S. national team and the crest over the heart of the jersey they don. In the social-media-charged age of 2017, any public comment along those lines, one way or another, will be interpreted and spun a bevy of ways. And any clarification of comments can easily be viewed as an admission of guilt—a way to backtrack, placate and become more acceptable in the public eye. It’s important to note that not all comments on this topic are created equally. Some absolutely reek of tone-deafness and insensitivity, while others, although not phrased in the most appropriate of ways, may shed light onto deeper chemistry issues inside the locker room.born U.S. players, as he did in interviews in Los Angeles over MLS media day, is he making a sweeping generalization about all U.S. dual-nationals? Or is he, someone who has played for the U.S. for 15 years and seen different iterations of the team, giving a glimpse into the true, harsh reality about the state of the team? Either is possible, but it’s incredibly hard for anyone on the outside to know which it is. No matter, it opens an awkward discussion, one that emits reactions across a wide spectrum, including from those closest to the topic.  “It’s dangerous stuff where you have to be careful what you’re saying,” German-born midfielder Jermaine Jones told ESPN FC, in response to Howard, his teammate for both club (last season in Colorado) and country. “With all the respect for Timmy, I feel it’s not if you’re half American or full-American. It’s more what you have in here [your heart].”If you go on the field and you give everything for this country, then of course sometimes there’s a situation where you’re not playing good. But it’s normal. That can happen to everybody, and that’s what you have to understand.”Jones is absolutely right. Pride in the national team isn’t exclusive to someone born in the U.S., and when things go south, it’s not because of a player’s birthplace.The fact is—as has been reported over the last few years for those following closely enough—the U.S. men’s team has not always been tuned to perfect harmony, and roster overhauls haven’t always been seamless. As with teams in any sport and at any level, cliques and factions may develop, motivations can differ and unity isn’t easily achieved. When results don’t go the right way, these issues rise to the surface. That doesn’t mean it’s only because specific players weren’t born in the U.S., though it is possible that it can be a contributing factor depending on individual situations.  Howard clarified his initial remarks to try and say as much.”Some of them are [dual nationals], but I think others are players who have their roots here in America too. It’s not exclusive to them because some of our dual-nationals have been brilliant,” Howard told ESPN FC. “Jermaine Jones has been a rock for our national team. He’s been one of the heartbeats. Fabian Johnson has been brilliant for us. So, no, that wasn’t aimed at any one person in particular.”When it comes to representing a national team, certainly pride in that country and a stake in its fortunes is a factor. It has to be. For some, that may mean that if you’re involved in representing the U.S. for a longer time, then you’re more personally invested, and you’re more likely to be involved for a longer time if you’re born or grew up on U.S. soil. For example, Landon Donovan told Sirius XM Radio last December that, upon being cut from the U.S. World Cup team in 2014, he told Jurgen Klinsmann: “There’s at least a few players that are on your World Cup roster that are going that don’t care in the same way that I do. I grew up as a part of this whole system. I feel like it is a part of me and I think there’s players in that locker room who if you go three and out in the World Cup they’ll go back to their club teams and won’t even blink twice, whereas if we go three and out I’ll be devastated and I think that’s a piece that’s important.”It’s possible there’s plenty of truth to that. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an attack on all foreign-born Americans, no matter how it’s perceived. It’s an individual’s statement based on a close-up observation, and it will surely irk anyone who won’t entertain the possibility that there’s an unbiased foundation and basis for the remark.  Now, if this proves to be an issue of widespread xenophobia and jingoism on the national team, then that will be an absolute shame and disgrace. This is America, a welcoming melting pot full of differing stories and connections to the nation; and for some foreign-born players, their families have sacrificed an immeasurable amount to represent and protect this nation far from a soccer field. If you go back decades, U.S. players born both here and abroad have been important contributors to the national team and equally passionate about playing for the U.S. One of the indelible images of the 1994 World Cup is German-born Thomas Dooley celebrating the USA’s win over Colombia running around the field while carrying the U.S. flag. “The thought that the sons of American citizens who are overseas because they are serving their country in the armed forces have less of a right to play for the United States than someone else is just absurd,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati told SI’s Grant Wahl in 2014. “That sort of thinking is everything America shouldn’t stand for. [These players] were American citizens the day they were born.”If there are players, foreign-born or not, who see playing for the U.S. as a paycheck or a way to boost their own value and nothing more, then that’s a problem. But it’s not an excuse to generalize and accuse. There’s no place for that, and it’s on the manager—now Bruce Arena, who has had his own previous bout with word choice and opinion on dual-nationals—to navigate the issue with class and complete thought, choosing players he think can make the national team the most successful. It’s O.K. and healthy for him and others to question players’ commitment to the national team. It’s not O.K. to do that solely because of anyone’s origin. No matter if you’re the U.S. coach, a player or a fan, it would be wise to heed Diskerud’s pointed warning from 13 months ago.

Christian Pulisic made the right decision to sign a new contract with Borussia Dortmund

If Pulisic wants to become the best player he can be, he's best served by staying with Dortmund for the foreseeable future.by Kevin McCauley@kevinmccauley  Jan 24, 2017, 12:39pm EST

The United States’ biggest soccer talent will be staying put for a few more years. Borussia Dortmund has announced that Christian Pulisic signed a new contract that runs through 2020, ending speculation about an imminent transfer.Pulisic, just 18, was heavily linked to a Premier League move over the summer. He’s performed well for Dortmund this season so that interest was likely to resume this summer, but his inking of a new contract will probably keep him in Germany through at least one more summer. With Pulisic tied down through 2020, Dortmund now has zero incentive to sell to anyone, at any reasonable price.While Pulisic got a raise, Liverpool — the club Pulisic was most heavily linked to — can pay a lot more than Dortmund can, so it’s fair to say that Pulisic made a decision to prioritize other things over money in the short term. While there’s never anything wrong with players trying to get paid as much as possible, USMNT fans should be happy that Pulisic is currently putting his development as a player ahead of that.And given the playing time he’s getting at the moment, he appears to have made a good decision for the development of his career. If Pulisic moved to another country right now, he’d need some time to adjust and might fail to crack the starting lineup due to factors outside of his control. He’s made 31 appearances at a high level before his 19th birthday, and that’s something he’s probably interested in not messing up.Dortmund also has a lot of young players that Pulisic can grow alongside. It’s unlikely that the team has reached their ceiling. Just look at the ages of his teammates.

JORDAN MORRIS ONE YEAR LATER: “I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE”

MNT Jan 20, 2017

Perspective is a powerful thing.A year ago, forward Jordan Morris was coming off an NCAA College Cup title with Stanford and found himself in January Camp weighing his professional future.Having already earned seven caps and scoring a goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team, the highest touted collegiate prospect in some time had the option of signing with his hometown club Seattle Sounders FC or making the jump to Europe with German side Werder Bremen.Taking both under serious consideration, Morris actually left MNT training camp to check out the Bundesliga club. Eventually he made the decision to start his career at home in Seattle.A Rookie of the Year award and M.L.S. Cup trophy followed, and as he finds himself back in MNT camp one year later, Morris thinks he took the right path.“I’m 100 percent happy with the choice I made,” he told ussoccer.com. “I have no regrets — it was an awesome season playing in Seattle. Obviously it went well for us, but it’s just so good being around family and being able to play in my hometown. It’s been awesome.”Morris was a clutch performer for Sounders FC, helping the club rebound from being Western Conference cellar dwellers last July to earning a spot in the M.L.S. Cup Playoffs. Once there, Morris put the club on his back, scoring in both legs of the Western Conference Final against Colorado Rapids before Seattle defeated Toronto FC on penalty kicks in the M.L.S. Cup Final.

In total, Morris tallied 18 goals and five assists through 40 matches for the Sounders last year and credited his early National Team experience with preparing him for his rookie campaign.“It helps getting your first games, and then towards the end of the season when the stakes are high it definitely helps to have that experience. I was very fortunate and lucky to have played in some of those games before entering my professional career.”With 12 total caps to his name, the 22-year-old striker has more international experience than 17 players on the January Camp roster, including club teammate Chad Marshall. Currently taking part in his first MNT camp since 2010, Marshall has collected 11 caps. Morris thinks it’s an opportunity well deserved. “That can be a little funny,” Morris said of his 32-year-old teammate. “I think Chad is such a great player and I think he deserved to be in the pool. Obviously he was before, but he’s been out for a little bit. He’s such a great player and 100 percent deserves to be here.Though injuries and time spent with the U-23 MNT limited him to just five senior caps last year, Morris has his sights set one firming up his role with the full team in 2017.“The goal is to keep working and continue to have that confidence. Being in camps before definitely helps me come in and feel more comfortable. It’s just having that confidence to go out and prove that I can play and hopefully get more minutes on the field.”

Bob Bradley reflects on a tumultuous 85 days in charge of Swansea City

In the days following his firing as manager of Swansea City, Bob Bradley ran through the gamut of emotions. There was disappointment that his bosses didn’t stick with the plan agreed when he was hired, plus frustration that he had just 85 days in charge.But in a wide-ranging interview with ESPN FC, conducted in the days after he was dismissed, Bradley also gave some insight into his thinking, his experiences with the players, his hopes for the transfer window and even his approach to stabilizing Swansea’s defense. There was also introspection as to what he would have done differently if he had to do it over again.Wherever Bradley has gone, he has taken great pride in putting his stamp on whatever team he happened to be in charge of. But he admitted that, when he took over at Swansea on Oct. 3, it was obvious there were more pressing concerns. Stability was a priority and so were points. Everything else would have to wait.”The emphasis on everything we did from the time I got there was re-establish good habits, try to restore confidence,” Bradley said via telephone. “We worked in that way, and we were still fighting for consistency. When you have a team that has gone through a tough stretch, when you have a team that now is being scrutinized by the supporters, then as a manager you’re going to stand strong for your players. I made sure of that. I was positive, I took responsibility, I never blamed any players and threw it at them.”With the Swans currently bottom of the Premier League and having fired two managers already this season — Bradley and his predecessor Francesco Guidolin — it’s a squad that, as currently constituted, is facing relegation. The summer departures of defender Ashley Williams to Everton and forward Andre Ayew to West Ham left a void that has yet to be filled. Bradley admitted he was direct in his conversations with the coaching staff, board and ownership that the team needed to be strengthened in January, but wonders if that approach damaged him.”It can hurt you because it can create a feeling that you don’t believe in the squad,” he said. “But I separate two important things. First is the message that you give to the players. I went out of my way with this group of players to be very positive. Maybe even too positive, but I chose that because I knew they were down on confidence and I thought they needed someone to put their arm around them and say, ‘C’mon guys, here’s how you’ve done it in the past, we’re going to do it the same way. As long as we’re in it together, we’re going to make this work.'”Now in other moments, you have meetings as a staff and you talk with the owners and you talk with the chairman, and in those moments, for me, it was important to be very clear, that I felt we needed to improve ourselves. Now if that gets taken wrong, and people say I don’t believe in the squad because I’ve been direct and straightforward, I don’t know how you can get anywhere in football if you don’t have those kind of real discussions. But they have to be done in the right times and they have to be done confidentially. At the same time, I think some of that was taken wrong.”As for where reinforcements were needed, Bradley said Swansea needed help from back to front, but mostly in defense.”Certainly, the loss of Ashley Williams was a big one,” he said. “I felt we needed a central defender who could still, no matter who he played with, make the others better. We talked about possible additions in the midfield. We spoke about some attacking players with some speed who could play on the outside, who were threats to get behind but also worked hard. We talked about different things, and we had some good names. It was going to be interesting to see what we could make happen.”In the meantime, Bradley was left to make do and nowhere were his struggles more profound than at the back. The numbers are brutal no matter how you look at them: Swansea allowed 29 goals during his 11 games in charge.Bradley chopped and changed, using six different back-line combinations among eight different defenders, with centre-back a particular pain point. He initially opted for Guidolin’s approach of using Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez in the center but, after his first match in charge, a 3-2 away defeat to Arsenal, the new manager didn’t like what he saw.”At the end of that match, I felt like in the center of defense we weren’t strong enough,” he said.The next match was against Watford and, in a bid to combat what Bradley described as the Hornets’ “direct” style, he started Mike van der Hoorn and Alfie Mawson, giving the latter player his Premier League debut. Swansea recorded one of only two clean sheets in Bradley’s tenure with a 0-0 draw and, during the next few weeks, he persisted with that partnership. After losses to Stoke and Manchester United, though, he used the international break to reassess.”I think our feeling was that as much as these young defenders are going in a good direction, it’s too much to expect that they can play all the games,” he said. “Now over that international break, I’ve challenged Fede. ‘We need to get your level higher. I don’t think you’re as fit as you should be.’ Now we have a good chance to work, and when we go and start with Everton, we go back and say, ‘Okay, let’s see if we can back up a little bit in terms of the way we play and see if this makes sense.'”The defense seemed to improve and only a late Seamus Coleman goal allowed Everton to record a 1-1 draw on Nov. 19.A week later came a remarkable encounter against Crystal Palace, a match that proved to be a prime example of a hollow victory. Swansea were up 3-1 and cruising before a period of calamitous defending allowed Palace to take a 4-3 lead. Bradley’s men staged a late fightback to win a thriller 5-4 but, in the manager’s eyes, the manner of the game seemed to blunt the impact of his first Premier League win.”From a confidence standpoint, man if we win that 3-1 or tack on another goal and finish 4-1 it would go a lot more,” he said. “And now, at that point, [Fernandez] breaks his toe, so now we have to make a change again.”A 5-0 hammering at Tottenham was followed by a 3-0 win against Sunderland but then came three straight defeats — against West Brom, Middlesbrough and West Ham — in which Swansea gave up a total of 10 goals.”Without a doubt, the changes that we made were constantly to find consistency and find a group that we thought was going to gel the right way,” Bradley said.The “Swansea Way” has historically been that of a slick-passing, possession-based approach. The team have gotten away from that during the past few seasons and, while Bradley felt that progress was made in that regard, it was overshadowed by bigger problems.”If you don’t combine [possession] with being good in the penalty area on both sides, then you’re not going to win enough matches,” he said. “When I talk about improving ourselves, that’s where we needed to improve.”Bradley also took issue with any assertions that Swansea played too aggressively. The one exception, he felt, was the loss to Tottenham when, with the team down 2-0 at half-time, he challenged his players to take more risks in a bid to get back into the game. Otherwise, the problem was down to basic defensive errors.”We conceded too many goals in terms of defending corners in the second phase, where we actually got our head on the ball first, we didn’t do well enough, and now the ball is still in and around the box, and when we needed to react and finish that part of the play, we were second best,” he said. “That was the very first game at Arsenal — the second goal — that was early on at Stoke to put us behind 1-0. That was a couple of the goals that turned the Crystal Palace game upside down.”And then we conceded too many goals where our initial reaction when a ball turned over, to get back, was very good. But once we got numbers back, our ability to then step up and make the play defensively wasn’t good enough. So those are the two biggest categories in terms of goals we gave up. That gets magnified in situations when you’ve gone down and now you have to take more chances.”Bradley insisted that he had good relationships with most players and that he left on good terms: “I had a number of guys when I shook hands with [Wednesday] when I said goodbye who said, ‘From the day you got here, you challenged us, you were honest with us, training was great, we were prepared, and in the end it still comes down to the fact that we’ve got to be able to do it on the field. We let you down.’ Now, not every player feels that way, not every player says that. But I had a bunch of guys that said that. I had guys on the staff who said that to me.”There’s always going to be some that maybe at the moment aren’t playing as much, or maybe now you’ve had some tough conversations and there’s something in it that they don’t like. This is what happens in football. This is what happens where in moments where some of the agents of those players have certain contacts in the media and put things out there that are totally false. But that’s not just happening to me in my first go-round in the Premier League.”As for what he would do differently, Bradley said there was plenty. Most of it centered on his individual interactions with various people at the club.”You try to tailor your message every day, with the group you have,” he said. “And so you look back on all that, and you think about, ‘This is your work,’ and so you think maybe this didn’t come across right. I think about all that.”When asked for specifics, Bradley dug a little deeper.”I’m not going to give you names, but maybe I showed trust in some players who didn’t deserve it,” he said. “I would say in both France and here, there were also days where I delegated more and I think in the long run that’s important. But does that also mean on a given day that the quality of the training session wasn’t what I thought it could have been or should have been? So yeah, I can think about stuff like that.”Sometimes we had discussions about players like Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow. (Swansea first-team coach) Alan Curtis, who is a great guy and has been around the club for a long time, I think Alan felt that maybe these are guys that still are best for 30 minutes. I think sometimes I’ve had success in the past where I’d say, ‘Look, I understand that’s what the book says, but I think we need to challenge that to see if we can add to that and make it bigger, make it better.’ We played Mo from the start most of the games I was here and over time we would make a decision as to whether that helped or whether Alan had it figured out at the beginning. So there’s things like that you look back on.”In the upcoming days and weeks, Bradley will now have even more time to analyze his Premier League experience.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

The World Football Order

International football has changed a lot in the past two decades. But some things still seem to stay the same.

JAMES TYLER, WITH JESSICA LOPEZ AND GUS ELVIN

FIFA rankings may not be the perfect measurement of success but without a more coherent way to compare and contrast the world’s footballing superpowers, it’s a decent overview of where everyone stands.Since the late 1990s, the sport’s top countries have experienced significant fluctuations in FIFA’s estimations due to the rigors of tournament play. It’s worth looking at the major patterns to see what’s changed over the past two decades and, in some cases, what’s more or less the same.How far ahead are the top-tier nations? And are teams like the U.S. and Mexico that far behind?

The Rankings

HOW THE CHART WORKS: Check the boxes to the right of each nation to highlight their individual progress. Click the country name to either add or remove them from the visual. Hover over the chart to see year-by-year rankings for each country.

U.S. Vs. Mexico: El Tri Have The Edge

Even though the USMNT enjoy things like “dos a cero” (until 2016, at least) and other notable victories over their neighbors to the south — for example, the 2-0 round of 16 victory at the 2002 World Cup — they have steadily been a cut beneath El Tri in the eyes of FIFA.

Whether it’s the consistency of Mexico’s top players across Europe or the number of notable results in big games (2011 Gold Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Cup), there’s been precious little for the U.S. to celebrate. Beyond Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and the latest crop of Americans abroad, the efforts of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen), Rafa Marquez (Monaco, Barcelona), Carlos Vela (Arsenal, Real Sociedad) and the Dos Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan have outpaced the Yanks over time.

The best year for both sides was 2005: Mexico hit No. 5 thanks to a brilliant run through World Cup qualification, scoring 67 goals and winning 15 of 18 games en route to a seeded spot in 2006, while the USMNT won the Hex on a tie-breaker. However, a failure to win a single game in Germany that summer saw the Yanks plummet to 31st the following year while Mexico dropped to 20th after a last-16 exit.

The most damning thing for the U.S.? Arena takes over a team ranked worse than the one he took over two decades ago, and with a number of key players (Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard) to eventually replace. Christian Pulisic leads the next generation, but he’ll need help.

England: The Ultimate “Nearly There”

The biggest note for the Three Lions is that they are steadily around the Top 10: in the year-end rankings since 1998, they’ve only been worse than 10th on six occasions. It’s a testament to their consistency in international play but more than that, it’s a comment on the relative ease of UEFA when it comes to qualifying for major competitions.

Whether winning eight of 10 qualifiers en route to a quarterfinal defeat at the 2006 World Cup vs. Portugal (England finished the year ranked fifth overall, their highest mark in 20 years) or going undefeated in 2011 (ranked fifth) before a Euro 2012 quarterfinal defeat to Italy, the pattern keeps repeating: qualify with ease, build expectations and let the nation down come tournament time.

England suffered just five defeats from March 2010 to November 2012, a span of 34 games, but never came close to glory. To wit, their last semifinal appearance at a major competition was in Euro 1996.

Germany: Rebuild Works To Perfection

With the exception of a huge drop from fourth in 2002 to 19th in 2004 after a humiliating group stage exit at the Euros that year, Germany are arguably one of the benchmarks in international football over the past two decades. The story is well-told: a renewed effort by the DFB (Deutscher Fussball-Bund, Germany’s FA) following similar embarrassment at Euro 2000 saw a flood of investment in national talent centers and requirements for Bundesliga clubs to build grassroots academies.

The aim was to “feed” players up through the ranks to the national team, and it worked: the emergence of anchors like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller helped fuel a generation of success: they’ve not dropped lower than sixth in the year-end rankings since 2005, all while continuing to bring new talent through to form the backbone of future generations: Julian Weigl for Schweinsteiger, Joshua Kimmich for Lahm, Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Neuer and, perhaps, Julian Draxler for Muller.

And throughout this renewed focus on Die Mannschaft, only twice (Euro 2002 and Euro 2004) did they fail to reach at least the semifinals of a major tournament, even winning the World Cup in 2014 and finishing second in 2002 and at Euro 2008.

Brazil Fluctuate, Argentina Stay Steady

The Selecao lean on Neymar and as goes Lionel Messi, so goes Argentina. Yet the two stars have lived through wildly different generations with their respective countries.

Brazil were the best in the world at the end of 1998 thanks to their run to the World Cup final, remaining at No. 1 for seven of the nine years that followed including victory at the 2002 World Cup. The transition from Ronaldo to Neymar was a difficult one as they dropped as low as 12th in 2012 but despite having 10 different managers over the past 20 years, their natural talent helped mask any off-field problems. Winning three Confederations Cups and four Copa Americas since 1996 also covered up any apparent volatility or inflated expectations from fans.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s wait for a major trophy — their last World Cup was in 1986, their last Copa America in 1993 — has kept them in that agonizing “nearly there” bracket throughout the international careers of two of their biggest ever stars, Carlos Tevez (debuted in 2004) and Lionel Messi (debuted in 2005). The clock ticks for Messi on a major trophy: they’ve been runner up in four of the last five Copa Americas and never lower than 10th in the FIFA rankings since Bruce Arena’s first appearance as U.S. coach.

It feels a bit like England — great in qualifying, desperately unlucky in competition — only with, you know, Messi.

Spain: Stunning Success, Unsure Future?

La Roja feel like something of an anomaly in international football having won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with the same generation of players. This never happens on the national stage: too much can go wrong (injuries, loss of form, the ebb and flow of international football) but if anything, Spain have been the ultimate tournament team in modern football, never beaten even when not dominant.But with that sustained success — reflected in the FIFA rankings, they were No. 1 for six straight years, matching Brazil’s run of the 2000s — comes a tricky segue to a stunted generation who’ve waited longer than expected for their turn. As Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Silva (ahem) Fernando Torres fade out, the next wave is still finding its feet, as evidenced by their tepid round of 16 exit at last summer’s Euros.

Don’t Underestimate Star Power

Wales (ranked 112th in 2010, ranked 12th at the end of 2016), Chile (as low as 84th in 2002, as high as fourth in 2016 after back-to-back Copa Americas) and Belgium (steadily rising from 66th in 2009 to first in 2015) all show that you can make waves if you have a handful of world-class talent around which to build a half-decent team.The Welsh boast Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, Chile have dominated South America thanks to Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez while the Belgians are enjoying the peak of a “Golden Generation” (Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen, Thibaut Courtois).These clusters of all-world talent may come along seemingly by accident — unlike Germany’s ascent, Belgium’s crop of megastars were largely developed by clubs in other countries — but riding them high up the rankings isn’t a difficult thing to do.

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