By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 11, 2019) US Soccer Players – This is the time of year where the MLS champion, and congratulations to the Seattle Sounders, becomes the center of a debate over whether they are in the conversation for the best team in league history. It's also perhaps the first time in a decade that the post-playoff debate isn't about who's the best ever. MLS revamped the . . .
The revamped playoffs gave us an underdog MLS Cup
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 4, 2019) US Soccer Players – Were these the best MLS Cup Playoffs in league history? It's always easy to lean to the present for hyperbole. In this case, however, it may prove true. Better players, stronger coaching, and a revamped format all certainly helped. The one-and-done playoff format contributed to a greater sense of urgency. The home-field advantage . . .
The 2010s for the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 28, 2019) US Soccer Players – The 2019 MLS season brings to a close a decade where the league not only grew in size, but also in respect. It was also a decade that saw, to date, seven different teams win MLS Cup. It's the result of a league that's not only grown in terms of the number of teams but also one that remains very unpredictable. That's why preseason . . .
Changing tactics in the MLS playoffs
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 21, 2019) US Soccer Players – The MLS Cup Playoffs have brought with it drama and excitement in what is now a single-elimination tournament. That also means a newfound urgency and with it new tactics. This fall has brought with it a set of tactical trends that differs from the regular season. It's the type of thing to expect from do-or-die games at this level. . . .
NYCFC and the value of soccer-specificity
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 14, 2019) US Soccer Players – Playoff fever has certainly gripped New York. With the brisk fall weather this month comes another season where baseball fans hope their beloved Yankees can win yet another World Series. At the same time, both NYCFC and the Red Bulls are in the playoffs. While the intersecting of baseball and soccer is rare, it’s not entirely . . .
The USMNT in the Nations League
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 7, 2019) US Soccer Players – The October international window is interesting for the USMNT. The United States prepares to take on Cuba and Canada in a pair of games that feel like friendlies, but count for something thanks to the Nations League. As the team prepares for these games, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter has to examine what the new competition means for . . .
Canada’s deadline
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 30, 2019) US Soccer Players – Canada's National Team is at a crossroads. It's been here many times before over the past two decades. Wins is what this team needs as it embarks on a pair of high-stakes games against the United States. The Nations Cup, which resumes in October, has made all games meaningful. It represents another chance for Canada to gain . . .
The Columbus Crew tries to move past a difficult 2019
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 16, 2019) US Soccer Players – A visit to MAPFRE Stadium on a June afternoon brings with it all the energy and passion we've become accustomed to seeing at a soccer game in this country. An original MLS franchise dating back to the league's inaugural season in 1996, the Columbus Crew are a big part of the story about the sport's growth in this country. MAPFRE . . .
Living on the edge of the MLS playoffs
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 16, 2019) US Soccer Players – It's easy to criticize the MLS playoffs. Specifically, the number of teams that make the postseason. Fourteen teams will make the playoffs, two more than last season, in a rebranded format. For critics of the league, this turns the regular season into a long qualifying tournament. Maybe it is, but that only adds to the pressure . . .
The pressure on Christian Pulisic and Chelsea
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 9, 2019) US Soccer Players – Chelsea is off to a rough start this season. After four games, the team is in 11th-place with just five points. For a club with ambitions of a top-four finish, that's already a problem. New manager Frank Lampard still has the time to get things right. American fans are keeping a particular eye on Chelsea since Christian Pulisic . . .
