By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 11, 2019) US Soccer Players - On Monday in Austin, Texas, a group of luminaries from local government, soccer, and even Hollywood gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of Austin FC's future home. The event marks the beginning of the construction process on a venue that seemed impossible as recently as 18 months ago. Back then, Austin FC didn't exist beyond a . . .
MLS Week 27: Playing through the September break
A short Saturday schedule was it for week 27 of the 2019 MLS season. With players missing due to international duty, MLS played on with five games starting in Yankee Stadium. NYCFC came back to beat New England 2-1 at home. The Revs went up in the 2nd minute through Juan Fernando Caicedo, but were playing a man down from the 9th minute with a red card to Antonio Mlinar Delamea for denying an . . .
Blue-Collar MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Before we get started with a discussion of the 2019 Major League Soccer teams most worthy of the blue-collar label, a disclaimer. It's just a coincidence that both of these clubs wear blue as their primary color. Now to frame a discussion about what "blue-collar" means when applied to a professional soccer team. It's a term that . . .
Robin Fraser makes a rare breakthrough for black coaches in MLS
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Labor Day Weekend served up several surprising results across MLS. One of the most unexpected was the Colorado Rapids' efficient 2-0 road win over the New York Red Bulls, traditionally one of the league's strongest sides at home. It marked a sweet debut for Robin Fraser, Colorado's newly-hired head coach. The last time Fraser . . .
USMNT vs Mexico and MLS vs Liga MX
The soccer news starts with USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter and Mexico coach Tata Martino making an old point ahead of Friday night's friendly at MetLife Stadium (8:30pm - FS1). Berhalter started by favoring Mexico in a comparison of the state of the two country's soccer. Shocked looks, Martino agreed with Berhalter's assessment. However much weight you want to put on words like "slightly" and "a . . .
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 . . .
LAFC with and without Carlos Vela
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - The criticism was as easy as it was predictable. Following LAFC's 2-0 loss to Minnesota United on Sunday night in Los Angeles, voices from many quarters declared the league's best team so far in 2019 "average" in the absence of its Mexican superstar, Carlos Vela. LAFC certainly did not look as dominant without Vela, who missed the . . .
The changing Eastern Conference
The soccer news starts with one game making a difference in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia's 3-1 win over Atlanta United on Saturday reset the table, with the Union in 1st-place on 51 points, NYCFC in 2nd on 50, and Atlanta two points behind in 3rd. There's now a six-point gap between Atlanta and 4th-place DC United, with that now the easy line that separates the contenders in the East. . . .
MLS in the global market
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 2, 2019) US Soccer Players – For years, many called MLS a retirement league. Aging European superstars crossed the Atlantic for what critics decried was an easy payday. The young talent from South America joining the league over the past few seasons pushes against that, but it's still an easy criticism to make. It shows up every time a European player of a . . .
