The soccer news starts with Bayern Munich winning the 2018-19 Bundesliga title. It's not lost on anybody that this is the season for defending champions retaining their status, with Bayern joining Manchester City, Juventus, PSG, and Barcelona in successful defenses. It's an interesting situation for Europe, where none of those teams are playing for the Champions League title later this month. All . . .
Johannsson’s last game for Werder Bremen
The roundup of USMNT players in Europe and Mexico starts with the finale of the 2018-19 Bundesliga season. Aron Johannsson subbed on in the 87th minute for Werder Bremen’s 2-1 home win over Tyler Adams’s RB Leipzig. Milot Rashica converted a penalty in the 35th minute to put Werder up with Nordi Mukiele equalizing in the 86th. Claudio Pizarro scored Werder's winner in the 88th minute. Adams . . .
Arena’s Revolution plan
Friday's soccer news starts with Bruce Arena talking to the media after taking over as New England's sporting director and head coach. Arena made it clear that the only thing he has to prove is that he can turn the team around over the longterm. New England is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference. “It’s not going to happen in the next two weeks, but I’m confident over the next couple . . .
Midweek MLS sees Toronto and DC draw
The soccer news starts with midweek MLS games. Toronto and DC United finished 0-0 at BMO Field. Toronto put 13 shots on target to DC's 2 with United goalkeeper Bill Hamid credited with 12 saves. Given the amount of offense, it's no surprise that Toronto was proud of their performance even without it ending up with goals and three points. "Putting the game on our terms, being aggressive, playing . . .
Cincinnati’s technical side, Zardes a DP in Columbus
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 15, 2019) US Soccer Players - The MLS calendar year is just one 12-month season of change. A rash of coaching changes in the early going of the 2019 campaign means more than usual to talk about when it comes to new faces and reorganization. New England has handed the reigns of their program to Bruce Arena. Colorado installed Conor Casey as an interim manager . . .
Manchester City and UEFA’s Champions League
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the latest issue for UEFA and its Champions League. The NY Times has spent two days reporting on Manchester City's financial compliance issues, with the potential for UEFA to ban the Premier League champions from the Champions League. This comes at a time when the format of the Champions League itself is in question, with Europe's super clubs pushing for what . . .
Does MLS know that it’s a league in transition?
By J Hutcherson (Mar 14, 2019) US Soccer Players - Three MLS clubs decided to “part ways” with their coaches over the last few weeks, a euphemism for firing them. In most cases, that ends up with two resets for the club involved. From the coach that started the season, to the interim, and then to whoever takes over. Considering the situations that normally lead to that “parting of the ways” it’s . . .
Arena takes over in New England
A day after the New England Revolution announced that they were "parting ways" with longtime general manager Mike Burns, the club announced the hiring of Bruce Arena as coach and sporting director. The move was hinted at shortly after the club fired Burns, with that following last week's dismissal of head coach Brad Friedel. “Bruce is one of the most successful coaches in American soccer . . .
Big seasons for USMNT players in the Bundesliga, Scotland, and Belgium
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 13, 2019) US Soccer Players – If August brings with it the promise of what could be, May is the time to assess results. That’s what teams, coaches, and players who earn a living across Europe do at the end of every season. Over the past nine months, we’ve witnessed many successes and plenty of failures. For Americans playing in Europe, it has once again been a . . .
The Premier League’s expected result
Monday's soccer news starts with Manchester City doing as expected and winning yet another Premier League game to take the title. City put together a 14-game winning streak to make Liverpool's unlikely title challenge impossible. Losing three out of seven games in December was the only time City looked vulnerable. A final day slip at Brighton never seemed like the end to their 2018-19 Premier . . .
