By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 29, 2018) US Soccer Players - Laurent Ciman scored the first-ever goal in Banc of California Stadium history back on April 21. The center back hit a hard, low free-kick that Seattle’s Stefan Frei fumbled into his net. LAFC would go on to win the game, creating an indelible memory for the capacity crowd in the venue and for all of the new fans of Major League . . .
Nemeth, Ramirez, and the MLS transfer window
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 8, 2018) US Soccer Players - The MLS secondary transfer windows officially closes at midnight on Wednesday, meaning teams have just a few more hours to finish any business for the balance of the 2018 season. The deadline doesn’t often spur a flurry of trades and transfers as it might in other leagues. Still, a few transactions did go down on Tuesday that will . . .
LAFC trades for Christian Ramirez, Kroenke’s Arsenal move
The soccer news starts with LAFC making yet another major signing in their debut season. Christian Ramirez joins the club from Minnesota United. Heading in the other direction is what we've come to expect in this era of MLS, allocation money. Minnesota gets $250k in General Allocation Money over the next two seasons, $100k in Targeted Allocation Money this season, $200k in TAM in 2019, and . . .
What’s next for Orlando City?
If you want to part ways with a coach in MLS, dropping the news on a Friday when the attention is on the World Cup is certainly a strategy. That was the Orlando City scenario, announcing that ever popular parting of the ways with Jason Kreis and assistants CJ Brown and Miles Joseph out. The move wasn't exactly shocking. Orlando is currently 6th-place in the table, tied on 19 points with 7th-place . . .
Does Minnesota United get enough respect in MLS?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Apr 4, 2018) US Soccer Players - On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota United lost to Atlanta United at TCF Bank Stadium by a score of 1-0. The Loons fell to Atlanta despite playing up a man for nearly an hour after defender Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez received two yellow cards in the first half, putting the visitors as a significant deficit. Minnesota controlled the balance . . .
Making big moves in LA and Minnesota
The soccer news starts with MLS teams improving their squads a month into the 2018 MLS season. The biggest move is Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the LA Galaxy, one that's drawn a lot of opinions on signing an older European star in the contemporary version of Major League Soccer. If it's a throwback to an earlier era, it's working from a public relations perspective. Not that the first edition of the . . .
MLS Week 4: The Red Bulls shutout Minnesota United
It was a Saturday only schedule for week 4 of the 2018 MLS season with the games coming during the March international break. We start the roundup with the New York Red Bulls shutting out Minnesota United 3-0 at home. Alex Muyl had New York up in the 15th minute. Bradley Wright-Phillips added goals in the 42nd and 78th with Luis Robles making four saves to keep the clean sheet. United goalkeeper . . .
Derailing an MLS season
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Mar 14, 2018) US Soccer Players - Traditionally speaking, it doesn’t take much to derail an MLS season. A decided lack of depth beyond the first 11-14 players on the roster meant that losing even one or two starters for protracted periods of time could lead to a string of bad results. The safety net in Major League Soccer is significant thanks to six playoff spots . . .
Is Minnesota United better in 2018?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - To their credit, it doesn’t seem as if Minnesota United is too bothered by being constantly compared to the other member of their 2017 expansion class, Atlanta United. While Arthur Blank’s flashy exercise in stretching the meaning of “MLS budget” made waves in their initial year thanks to a big name coach, South American attackers, . . .
Christian Ramirez’s American Dream
By Jeff Rueter – SAINT PAUL, MN (Jan 11, 2018) US Soccer Players - It’s safe to say that Christian Ramirez has had to earn every opportunity he’s gotten in his career thus far. The son of two Colombian immigrants, Ramirez was born in California and spent ages one through seven in Colombia, the oldest of four kids. His family settled into a two-bedroom apartment, dreaming of finding a better . . .
