By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 29, 2018) US Soccer Players - Not so long ago, MLS coaching work was something of a closed shop. Head coaches generally came from a certain sort of pedigree, usually domestic and often part of one or two influential personal networks. Back in 2016, the league's official site dubbed those networks “coaching trees." They originated with Bruce Arena and Sigi . . .
The Champions League situation with one game remaining
The soccer news starts with USMNT players in the Champions League. Christian Pulisic's Borussia Dortmund drew 0-0 with Ethan Horvath's Club Brugge in Group A. Horvath needed two saves to keep the clean sheet with Club Brugge putting none of their 5 shots on goal. Dortmund had 74% of the possession. The result advances Borussia Dortmund to the knockout round. With one game remaining in the group, . . .
Pareja’s chance with Club Tijuana
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 28, 2018) US Soccer Players - In Mexico, a much-rumored and not-at-all secret coaching move became official this week. No, it is not Gerardo “Tata” Martino taking over El Tri. Instead, it's a move that could have more impact than that one. Club Tijuana reached north and plucked Oscar Pareja away from FC Dallas and MLS. With it, the Liga MX club lured away one of . . .
The next Orlando City rebuild
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 28, 2018) US Soccer Players - Orlando City hasn’t had much success on the field, failing to reach to the playoffs in every one its four top division seasons. Over that period, the club has gone through three different head coaches and several different strategies for breaking out of the also-ran group in Major League Soccer. None of the coaches (with the jury . . .
Atlanta United, the Western Conference, and the Armas scenario
The soccer news starts with the clear favorite in the 2018 MLS playoffs, and that's Atlanta United. With all due respect to the other half of the bracket, this is now Atlanta's MLS Cup to lose. It would take a meltdown of epic proportions in the second-leg on Thursday (7:30pm ET - FS1) for the New York Red Bulls to stage an unlikely comeback. FiveThirtyEight puts that Red Bulls scenario at 6%. . . .
Soccer’s unnecessary reminder in the Copa Libertadores and the Champions League
By J Hutcherson (Nov 27, 2018) US Soccer Players - This has turned into a tough week for soccer in two continents. CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores is still without a champion as the confederation reportedly considers moving the postponed second-leg of the Boca Juniors vs River Plate series out of South America. That's the result of a weekend's worth of violence trying to get the game in at River . . .
FIFA, the World Cup, and changes to world soccer
Over the weekend, reports linked CONMEBOL with the latest proposal for FIFA holding the World Cup every other year. How seriously FIFA decides to take that proposal is an open question, but it does raise a simple issue. If FIFA wants a global Nations League in the even years between World Cups, how is that different from a World Cup? It's CONMEBOL asking. “The proposal we have made to FIFA is to . . .
What to watch as the USMNT moves forward
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 26, 2018) US Soccer Players – The recent defeat to Italy in stoppage time officially drew the curtain on the USMNT’s 2018 schedule. There remain plenty of "what ifs" with this squad, but there is also no doubt that the US has steadily progressed in the right direction over the past 12 months. That interim coach Dave Sarachan laid the groundwork for the future . . .
Halftime of the 2018 MLS conference finals
It's halftime of the 2018 MLS conference finals and that's bad news for the New York Red Bulls. The Eastern Conference final opened in Atlanta with United taking the first-leg 3-0. In the Western Conference, Portland and Sporting finished their opening leg 0-0. Mercedes-Benz Stadium once again showed why it's a tough venue for the away team. Atlanta shutout the Red Bulls 3-0. Josef Martinez . . .
Liga MX regular season concludes
The 2018 Liga MX Apertura concluded its regular season over the weekend. Ventura Alvarado's Necaxa lost 1-0 at Queretaro. The game's only goal came in the 41st with Queretaro playing a man down from the 86th minute. Omar Gonzalez's Atlas lost 3-1 at Monterrey. Trailing 3-0 from the 80th minute, Jefferson Duque scored for Atlas in the 88th. Michael Orozco's Lobos BUAP shutout Toluca 2-0 at home. . . .
