We start Monday’s soccer news with a simple question. How do you cause an issue where none existed before? If you’re an MLS team, turn the future of your coach into an open question for no real benefit. Before the weekend MLS schedule started, the Houston Dynamo opted to do just that and take the San Jose Earthquakes along for the ride.
Someone decided to share with Houston Chronicle reporter Jose de Jesus Ortiz that Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear could leave for one job and one job only. That might’ve come as news to San Jose coach Mark Watson, but apparently the Quakes coaching job is somewhat open. Should San Jose come calling, Kinnear can leave the Dynamo.
This led to former USMNT players and current ESPN analysts Taylor Twellman and Alexi Lalas trying to workout exactly what that means during halftime of the Sunday night MLS broadcast. Good luck with that gentlemen, because it shouldn’t make sense to anyone.
In a single-entity league that avoids free agent competition like the plague, why would MLS allow two teams to arrange an opt out for a coach? It just doesn’t make sense, putting Dominic Kinnear in the frankly ridiculous position to have to pledge his fidelity to his current job or wait for the phone to ring about his old one.
Their Words
“I’m always kind of fighting those rumors. I think it’s unfair that it’s always brought up because San Jose already has a coach and I have a contract through 2015.” Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear.
Also in Monday’s soccer news, rumors make the rounds with the USMNT and the roster for the October friendlies. the first of those games serves as Landon Donovan’s swansong with the USMNT. It goes to figure that Donovan is making his exit from professional soccer on form and looking like one of the best players in MLS.
The Radar
- Landon Donovan sets up three and scores one while the New York Red Bulls are left to wonder what happened on Sunday night.
- It could’ve been worse for the Red Bulls in a game where their goalkeeper Luis Robles played well.
- Jurgen Klinsmann gets a taste of the American version of the soccer news cycle, with rumors that he might call in an NASL player to his next USMNT roster dominating the coverage.
- Everton gets a late goal and a point against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
- Southampton keep pace in the Premier League as perhaps the most unlikely 2nd-place team.
Soccer News
Date overlap as FIFA makes 2016 blockbuster events official – from Inside World Football’s Paul Nicholson: The Europe versus the Americas battle is now on for broadcast rights and global sponsors.
From travel experiences, Philadelphia Union’s Michael Lahoud takes leading role in raising awareness about Ebola – from The Washington Post’s Steven Goff: Fear of the virus spreading prompted the Leone Stars, as the team is known, to be quarantined at an airport last month.
Pulse returns to MLS playoff pursuit – from The Vancouver Sun’s Gary Kingston: but consider the role the San Jose Earthquakes have played, and will play, in this dogfight.
Crew must keep momentum as it hits road in playoff push – from The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy: Buckle up, Crew fans.
Manchester City v Roma: Joe Hart fails to see positives in Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to rest him – from The Telegraph’s Mark Ogden: “I am not the manager, just a player, and I live by the decisions of the manager.”
Schalke’s win over Borussia Dortmund has their fans riding high – from The Guardian’s Raphael Honigstein: In the Revierderby, however, the usual rules of engagement don’t apply.
Ibrahimovic blames Guardiola for Barcelona not winning Champions League – from World Soccer: “It’s nothing to complain about today.”
Burnley look doomed without a plan B – from BBC Sport’s Kevin Kilbane: So their midfield is focused on protecting their defenders rather than trying to support their lone striker up front.
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