Friday's soccer news starts with another Major League Soccer club deciding that at least a partial answer to their problems is a rebrand. Goodbye, Montreal Impact. Hello, Club de Foot Montreal, CF Montreal to its friends. Also welcome the kind of logo that's going to get what we'll politely refer to as a divisive response. If Impact Black, Ice Silver, and Sacre Bleu look familiar, it's because the . . .
Fulham draws at Spurs, Juventus and Barcelona advance
Thursday's soccer news starts with Fulham getting a point in a version of the London derby. Antonee Robinson's Fulham drew 1-1 at Spurs in a game rearranged due to Aston Villa's coronovirus issues. Trailing from the 25th minute, Ivan Cavaleiro equalized in the 74th minute. Tim Ream was on the bench for Fulham, in 18th-place with 12 points from 16 games. "To a man we were superb under what we . . .
The importance of the link to MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 13, 2021) US Soccer Players - Mesut Ozil added his name to an illustrious fraternity on Monday. The Germany international and erstwhile Arsenal midfielder took to Twitter to answer questions from fans. When asked what he might do when his contract with the Premier League club runs out, Ozil responded by saying that he’d like to play in the United States and . . .
MLS in the January 2021 transfer market
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 11, 2021) US Soccer Players – The new year brings with it the wheeling and dealing of the January transfer market. That allows European clubs, many in need of reinforcements, to add or drop players to their rosters before embarking on the last half of the season. MLS, in the middle of their off season, should feel at least some impact from what takes place over . . .
Inter Miami opts for an interesting offseason
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 8, 2021) US Soccer Players - Whatever else we can say about Inter Miami, the brand new MLS club isn’t boring. Considering the market the team represents, maybe that’s exactly as it should be. Let’s review the last month for Inter Miami. Following Inter’s ouster from the playoffs at the hands of fellow expansion club Nashville SC in November, the postmortem on . . .
The LA Galaxy calls on an alum to rescue them from the doldrums
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 7, 2020) US Soccer Players - Are the LA Galaxy still members of the MLS elite? This once would have been a ludicrous question given their league-leading five MLS Cup titles, well-heeled ownership in AEG, and glitzy identity to match their Southern California setting. Lately, however, a good deal of the Galaxy shine has rubbed off. The club that won three . . .
Vanney named LA Galaxy coach
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the LA Galaxy naming Greg Vanney as their new coach. The move wasn't exactly a surprise, with strong links to the open job since Vanney left Toronto following the conclusion of the 2020 MLS season. Vanney, a former Galaxy player, now faces at least a partial rebuild to try to turn the Galaxy into a playoff team. “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to . . .
MLS reopens CBA
Wednesday's soccer news starts with ESPN's Austin Lindberg reporting that Major League Soccer would be reopening its collective bargaining agreement with the players. In a statement, the MLSPA confirmed that the league "intends to invoke the Force Majeure clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. "This action sets in motion a process that could result in the league and its owners abandoning . . .
The 2021 soccer schedule
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 28, 2020) US Soccer Players – 2020 was an unprecedented year loaded with obstacles, rescheduled games, and health protocols. Even when soccer came back, it wasn't the same. Tournaments played in bubbles, no fans allowed into stadiums, and piped in crowd noise became common this year. Despite all of this, enough of the games continued to create a new normal. . . .
After turbulent 2020, Black Players for Change look to turn tumult to triumph
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 24, 2020) US Soccer Players - From a deadly global pandemic and widespread economic suffering to political dysfunction and police killings, 2020 visited plenty of pain on MLS players, just like the rest of the world. One silver lining amid that woe was the founding of Black Players for Change. BPC officially launched on Juneteenth, a date rich with historic . . .
