The soccer news starts with Atlanta United officially introducing new coach Frank de Boer to the media. As expected, the mood was upbeat with de Boer saying all of the right things about the club. Easy enough when the club in question is the defending MLS champion. De Boer's job role is clear. He can't allow the club to noticeably drop off from last season's form. That he could be doing that . . .
Premier League losses for Newcastle and Fulham
The soccer news starts with the USMNT players in Europe and Mexico. In the Premier League, DeAndre Yedlin subbed out in the 82nd minute for Newcastle United's 2-1 loss at Chelsea. Failing behind in the 9th minute, Ciaran Clark equalized in the 40th. Chelsea scored their winner in the 57th minute. "We’ll look at that performance and take belief out of it," Clark said. "We’ve come away to Stamford . . .
Gaming the MLS SuperDraft
The soccer news starts with the Philadelphia Union's intriguing approach to the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. They opted out entirely, trading all five of their picks to expansion club FC Cincinnati in return for an immediate $150k in general allocation money and the potential for $50k more. FC Cincinnati now enters the draft with 10 picks. Whether or not this was good business for either team is the . . .
Things change again in Carson
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jan 9, 2019) US Soccer Players - The city of Los Angeles is the home of smog. A blanket of unsightly gray air drapes over LA and its surrounding metropolitan area. Getting rid of it is not likely to happen soon or easily. However, around Carson, some 12 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the poor-quality air has given way. Specifically around Dignity Health Sports . . .
Osvaldo Alonso moves on
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jan 9, 2019) US Soccer Players - Osvaldo Alonso is out-of-contract after 10 years manning the midfield for the Seattle Sounders. The likelihood is very high that the Cuban will move on this winter, departing Seattle and landing in another MLS lineup for the 2019 season. To lean on a well-worn cliche, it’s truly the end of an era. The mechanics of the Sounders . . .
Playing through the winter break
Though it might not last for much longer, English soccer's insistence on not taking a winter break will be one of those things we miss when it's gone. The Premier League and the lower divisions not only play through, they load up on games around the holidays. Even if the weather isn't accommodating, the games continue. There's no stop-start to the season, resetting in January when the transfer . . .
Timothy Weah at Celtic
The soccer news starts with the official announcement that USMNT forward Timothy Weah will join Celtic on loan for the rest of the Scottish Premier League season. Celtic is currently in 1st-place in the SPL table, tied on points with Rangers with a game in hand. Weah leaves PSG after spending the first-half of the season trying to break into PSG's group of elite forwards. PSG rewarded his effort . . .
Seniors in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 7, 2019) US Soccer Players – The curtain on the 2019 MLS season unofficially opens this Friday with the SuperDraft. Although an influx of younger players continue to stream into the league without entering the draft, the MLS SuperDraft remains a major source of talent for Major League Soccer. Despite being secondary to the academy system, many college . . .
Atlas wins Clausura opener
The soccer news starts with USMNT players in Europe and Mexico. The 2019 Liga MX Clausura opened with Omar Gonzalez's Atlas winning 2-1 at Queretaro. Falling behind in the 40th minute, Jesus Isijara equalized in the 42nd. Osvaldo Martinez scored in the 50th minute. Michael Orozco's Lobos BUAP shutout Santos Laguna 2-0 at home. Leonardo Ramos scored in the 57th minute with Yago Cesar equalizing in . . .
Five USMNT questions in 2019
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - January is here and the blank slate of a new year, a new cycle, and a new era awaits the USMNT. Gregg Berhalter is about to convene his first training camp as head coach. The first match of 2019 kicks off in under a month. There’s a Gold Cup trophy to defend come summer. A new competition, the Concacaf Nations League, starts in . . .
