Wednesday's soccer news starts with the November 2020 version of club vs country. FIFA altered the release rules for clubs, but that option to keep players out of international duty only applied in specific circumstances. Games that count was the biggest decider, with UEFA scheduling Euro qualifiers and Nations League games, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and South America playing World Cup . . .
Valuing goalkeepers in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 13, 2020) US Soccer Players - Like with everything else we usually do, the Major League Soccer end-of-season awards are happening despite the strangeness of the current moment. There are several questions worth asking as the soccer community debates honors like "Defender of the Year," "Young Player of the Year" (new in 2020!), and "Most Valuable . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Regular season ender
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 11, 2020) US Soccer Players - The strangest regular season in league history has come to a close. Nobody could have ever imagined a season that saw a complete shutdown after two games, a midseason tournament, and games with no fans in the stands. Yet, the league persevered with some not-so-minor setbacks, and now the playoffs are looming. In a season like . . .
The Canadian MLS clubs in 2020
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 11, 2020) US Soccer Players - The 2020 Major League Soccer regular season is over. We all know that means reckoning with the results. Plenty of clubs, whether they made the playoffs or not, will use the unique 2020 COVID-19 conditions of the season to justify the final standings. Ambition is a factor, of course. Some clubs won't be satisfied with anything but a . . .
That extra game in the Western Conference
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the Western Conference. Major League Soccer reset the West when play resumed, shifting Nashville to the Eastern Conference and leaving the West with 12 teams. That meant qualifying eight teams directly to the playoffs rather than needing the East's play-in round. That also means a difference in making the playoffs in the West. That playoff line looms in every . . .
The Red Bulls way forward
By J Hutcherson (Nov 10, 2020) US Soccer Players - The New York Red Bulls finished sixth in the Eastern Conference, taking the final automatic playoff place and with a sizeable lead over the rest of the clubs in the play-in round. Given that the club fired a coach and shouldered significant criticism over its squad this season, it's a success of sorts. Points per game gave them the edge over three . . .
5 MLS teams in contention
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 9, 2020) US Soccer Players – It's that time of year again. The MLS regular season is done and the teams that made it to the postseason get something of a reset. Win the games ahead of you and chart a path to the title. That's the job after Decision Day. If the long regular season is the appetizer, the playoffs will be the main course even in this season of . . .
Decision Day sees Philadelphia winning the Supporters’ Shield
Monday's soccer news starts with the roundup of MLS Decision Day. Philadelphia won the 2020 Supporters' Shield with a 2-0 home win over New England. Sergio Santos scored for the Union in the 42nd minute with Cory Burke doubling the lead in the 69th. "What our team has been able to do during the toughest season of Major League Soccer is truly remarkable," Philadelphia sporting director Ernst . . .
The Earthquakes get it together
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 6, 2020) US Soccer Players - To properly tell the story of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2020, we have to go all the way back... to last season. You remember 2019, right? Smiling faces, full stadiums, soccer that didn't feel like it was happening in the middle of a slowly unfolding apocalypse. Back in 2019, things were "normal," whatever that means, and the San . . .
Decision Day looms for MLS
Friday's soccer news starts with the conclusion of the 2020 MLS regular season. Sunday is Decision Day, with lots left to play for courtesy of the points per game version of the league table. That includes Philadelphia (hosting New England) or Toronto (at the Red Bulls) winning the Supporters' Shield. Points per game is having its convoluted way, with MLSsoccer working through the various . . .
