By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 3, 2020) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer's pandemic shutdown rendered the league's primary transfer window effectively useless. While sports around the globe sat idle and no clear plan for a return-to-play existed, MLS clubs lacked the impetus and the information to sign new players. Even if they could bring in new talent with travel restrictions and . . .
Why MLS, USL, and other leagues are taking such risks to get back on the field
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 2, 2020) US Soccer Players - Over the decades, MLS has lent itself to a lot of comparisons. A startup company. A legacy software program. Don Quixote tilting at windmills. The proverbial 800-pound gorilla, and so on. As the league plunges ahead with its MLS is Back tournament amid a steady stream of positive COVID-19 tests among the players on-site in . . .
Pulisic does well in Chelsea loss
Thursday's soccer news starts with another strong showing from Christian Pulisic, playing a part in both goals for Chelsea in a 3-2 loss at West Ham. Pulisic set up the penalty Willian converted in the 42nd minute. West Ham equalized in the 51st with Pulisic assisting on Willian's goal in the 72nd minute. West Ham went ahead for good in the 89th minute. "It is a big positive, he is playing well . . .
The USL Championship’s plan to play
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 1, 2020) US Soccer Players - First, every plan to hold professional sporting events during a global pandemic is risky. No plan is airtight to the point of certainty. As the country and the world struggle to contain a disease that is stretching healthcare to its breaking point, pro sports are in an interesting situation. It doesn't take much to argue for other . . .
Wigan Athletic wins but enters administration
Wednesday's soccer news starts in the Championship with Antonee Robinson's Wigan Athletic shutout Stoke City 3-0 at home. An own-goal opened the scoring in the 40th minute with Kal Naismith adding goals in the 65th and 68th. "Credit where credit's due," Wigan manager Paul Cook said. "From Saturday's game where we were on the back foot and it looked like it was heading towards a 0-0, tonight was . . .
Will the bubble change MLS?
By J Hutcherson (June 30, 2020) US Soccer Players - Let's assume that the bubble holds. Major League Soccer makes it through their MLS is Back tournament as planned. There's no additional hiatus, no crisis moment, and all involved play out the schedule as if it's business as usual. Even better, the concentrated environment improves play, leading to a bitter fight for a championship that resonates . . .
Spain’s big three
Tuesday's soccer news starts in Spain, where it rarely takes much of an interest to figure out which teams are in the top three. It's the order that's trickier. Since the resumption of the season, Real Madrid has passed Barcelona for 1st-place, 71 points to 69 with Atletico 11 points back of Barca in 3rd. All three are still alive in the Champions League. In this weirdest of seasons, that has no . . .
The present and future of MLS stadiums
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 29, 2020) US Soccer Players – The growth of MLS over its 25 years of existence has depended in large part on the stadiums the teams call home. In the league's inaugural season in 1996, all 10 MLS teams played in large football stadiums. With MLS averaging 17,000 fans that season, stadiums looked mostly empty on television and offered very little in terms of . . .
Marsch’s trophies
Monday's soccer news starts with Jesse Marsch coaching Red Bull Salzburg to the 2019-20 Austrian Bundesliga title. Marsch's championship represents another accomplishment for American coaching development. Before leaving the New York Red Bulls for an assistant role at RB Leipzig and then the head coaching job at Salzburg, Marsch played and coached exclusively in Major League Soccer and with the . . .
Werder Bremen and Fortuna swap places in the Bundesliga
The roundup of USMNT players in Europe starts with the conclusion of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season. The biggest news for USMNT fans was Josh Sargent's Werder Bremen jumping ahead of Alfredo Morales and Zack Steffen's Fortuna Dusseldorf for 16th-place and the relegation playoff spot. Werder Bremen started the final matchday in 17th-place, two points behind Fortuna Dusseldorf. Sargent scored in . . .
