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 . . .
The Philadelphia Union plays for a trophy
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 30, 2020) US Soccer Players - The Philadelphia Union entered Major League Soccer on a wave of enthusiasm. It took a decade for the club to reward it. In an era when MLS expansions prospects were decidedly less exciting than they are now, a brand new franchise claiming Philadelphia was a big deal. MLS had just the year before inaugurated the Seattle Sounders, a . . .
Philadelphia, New England, and the East
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Philadelphia winning 2-1 at New England. An own-goal put the Union up in the 34th minute with Anthony Fontana doubling the lead in the 69th. Tajon Buchanan pulled a goal back for the Revolution in the 80th minute. The result has Philadelphia in 2nd-place, three points behind Toronto and four points ahead of Columbus. Toronto and Philadelphia have played 19 games . . .
Brenden Aaronson makes his move
Friday's soccer news starts with Philadelphia announcing a deal to transfer midfielder Brenden Aaronson to Red Bull Salzburg. It's an interesting destination for a player not connected to the New York Red Bulls, and perhaps evidence of Red Bull management paying close attention across MLS. The transfer doesn't happen until the January window, with Aaronson remaining a Union player through the end . . .
The problems at the top of the Eastern Conference
Wednesday's soccer news starts with MLS taking the work week off, a rarity since the season resumed. Many are correctly asking if it's possible to determine much of anything about this league week-to-week. Pick a team, and there's probably a lack of coherency and results that are cause for concern. The playoff safety net still looms, but it's going to be a questionable reward for the teams that . . .
Player development shows the value of MLS is Back
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 7, 2020) US Soccer Players - What was once a product of necessity is now something of a hot commodity in the world of Major League Soccer. The league's return-to-play model, the MLS Is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida, is winding down with only Tuesday's final left on the schedule. Fifty-one games in total, played on training fields for the sole benefit of . . .
Kevin Durant, the Union, and MLS celebrity
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 17, 2020) US Soccer Players - On Monday, NBA star Kevin Durant officially became a minority investor/operator of the Philadelphia Union, purchasing 5% of the team. Per Union majority investor/operator Jay Sugarman, the Union is worth $325 million, putting Durant's stake at $16.25 million. Durant also holds an option to purchase an additional 5% of the team in . . .
MLS remains offense first
Monday's soccer news starts with an old idea in American club soccer. If you're going to spend money, spend it on players that put the ball in the back of the net. At the very least, spend it on players that help to put the ball in the back of the net. As that thinking goes, better to spend on an offensive player that doesn't work out than, you know, put significant money into recruiting . . .
The top three in the East
The soccer news starts with the top of the table in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC is in 1st-place with 58 points, Atlanta has 54 in 2nd, and Philadelphia is in 3rd with 52. Though the Union is only four points ahead of 4th-place DC United, the top three in the East are on 31 games played to United and the rest of the top six's 32. The three points that extra game represents is enough of a . . .
The changing Eastern Conference
The soccer news starts with one game making a difference in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia's 3-1 win over Atlanta United on Saturday reset the table, with the Union in 1st-place on 51 points, NYCFC in 2nd on 50, and Atlanta two points behind in 3rd. There's now a six-point gap between Atlanta and 4th-place DC United, with that now the easy line that separates the contenders in the East. . . .
