By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - The stretch run in MLS has arrived. Teams have a handful of matches left on their schedule and have scant few opportunities to snag points to make one last desperate push to make the playoffs or try and jockey for a better spot in the table. Then there's LAFC. The second-year club has four matches left and sits atop the Western . . .
Mexico needs the Nations League
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 11, 2019) US Soccer Players - Everything was going just fine for Mexico and coach Tata Martino. Entering Tuesday’s matchup against Argentina, Mexico had gone 10-0-1 in Martino’s first 11 games in charge. Even that draw was a win on penalties during the Gold Cup. All of that came to a sudden and jarring halt. In a span of 16 minutes during the first-half, . . .
MLS Power Rankings: The problem with the East
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 5, 2019) US Soccer Players - Every three months, there is a great number of coaching casualties. At least that's the trend that exists in MLS in 2019. It happened in May when three coaches got the sack. It happened again in August when another three coaches joined the MLS unemployed. MLS Teams have either become frustrated with the performance or, in the case of . . .
What Chicharito’s move means for MLS
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - As the summer winds down and temperatures begin to drop, the frenetic pace of players switching teams also slows. There was one late move though that sent a ripple through Mexico and MLS. It sent a message that at least one of the two leagues is not quite the buyer's market that it appeared it was. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez bid . . .
Carlos Vela in the clutch
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 28, 2019) US Soccer Players - Carlos Vela has been having himself a season. The LAFC talisman has shattered MLS records and dominating opponents and is likely to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Aside from his 27 goals and 15 assists though it was his team's performance in last weekend's LA derby that makes his MVP case stronger. With the game in the . . .
The rivalry problem in MLS
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 22, 2019) US Soccer Players - MLS has done a great job at building the league up over the last decade-plus. After the 2007 MLS season, 12 teams were in existence. Now, 24 teams are vying for the MLS Cup title. On Tuesday, the league announced St Louis as the 28th franchise. Forming the league has been a systematic process based on geography, venues, and willing . . .
Carlos Vela’s ridiculous season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 14, 2019) US Soccer Players - It's a long list of Mexican players who have played in MLS, but that list is a bit of a hodgepodge collection of talent. While there have been some big-name players, many of those big names were past their prime by the time they arrived in the league. Not Carlos Vela. The Mexican international scored his 23rd goal of the season in . . .
LAFC wakes up the Galaxy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 7, 2019) US Soccer Players - The best way to wake up the LA Galaxy is by having another team in Los Angeles and having that team succeed. When that other LA team is open to spending cash on incoming players, both teams improve and by extension so too does MLS. With the transfer deadline set to close on Wednesday, both LA teams have been buyers, trying to add . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Plenty of changes but LAFC stays top
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 1, 2019) US Soccer Players - The theme in the league this year seems to be inconsistency. One week, teams look like MLS Cup contenders and the very next, they look like they are in preseason form. This has made it quite difficult for teams to settle into a rhythm here in these rankings. LAFC has shown consistency from the start and remains atop the league. Two . . .
LAFC and the Galaxy at the break
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 31, 2019) US Soccer Players - Heading into the summer stretch in MLS, both LAFC and the LA Galaxy have shown signs mostly signs of strength. LAFC leads the league with a 15-3-4 record, good for 49 points. The Galaxy is one point out of 2nd-place place on 37 points and beat LAFC earlier this month. Lately though the clubs have hit a bit of an inconsistent spell. . . .
