By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - Year one under a new head coach is often an exercise in balancing excitement and expectation with the reality on the ground. No coach can remake a team in his image in the short time frame of a single offseason. For coaches who don't step into a job until later in the winter, the challenge is significant. The Major League Soccer . . .
Goal for Gooch
The soccer news starts in England's League One with Lynden Gooch scoring in Sunderland's 5-0 home shutout of Tranmere Rovers. Duncan Watmore opened the scoring in the 24th minute with Christopher Maguire doubling the lead in the 26th. Gooch made it 3-0 in the 39th with Will Grigg scoring in the 83rd. Luke O'Nien finished off the goals in the 90th minute. Gooch subbed out in the 54th. "We have got . . .
The uniqueness of the San Jose Earthquakes
The soccer news starts with the San Jose Earthquakes' situation as their 2019 season concluded on Sunday. Reports had their coach Matias Almeyda considering a move to Liga MX after one season in MLS. Instead, Almeyda confirmed that he will be staying with San Jose. "There's no need any more clarification," Almeyda said during a press conference. "Although the season is finished just yet, we need . . .
The Western Conference playoff bubble
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - The thing about bubbles is that they aren't particularly stable. Every bubble rides the edge between existence and the decided lack of existing at all. One moment it's there, the next, it's gone. Sitting on the bubble, in the common parlance of sports, is never a good thing. It means that your chances to qualify for the . . .
Blue-Collar MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Before we get started with a discussion of the 2019 Major League Soccer teams most worthy of the blue-collar label, a disclaimer. It's just a coincidence that both of these clubs wear blue as their primary color. Now to frame a discussion about what "blue-collar" means when applied to a professional soccer team. It's a term that . . .
The friendly situation in MLS
The soccer news starts with what's now the expected response from MLS clubs playing summer friendlies. Play the reserves, play trialists, substitute as needed. After all, there's the league schedule to consider. Colorado went that route in their 3-0 loss to Arsenal in front of a sellout crowd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids selling out their stadium is a rarity in better times, much . . .
MLS games, Toronto’s revival, and San Jose’s problems
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 22, 2019) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer is taking the FIFA international break... to a point. While most of the league will be off through this week and into next, 10 teams have games on the schedule. That, quite naturally, means 10 teams will be dealing with key absences when they hit the field for matches that matter. Never an ideal situation, the . . .
The season looms for six MLS coaches
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - After an offseason of rampant change, the 2019 Major League Soccer season arrives with more unanswered questions than perhaps any in league history. With the league now at 24 teams, that should mean more movement of players and coaches than ever before. The coaches will be a particular focus in 2019. Six teams made changes at the . . .
Matias Almeyda and the future in San Jose
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 10, 2018) US Soccer Players - The San Jose Earthquakes have, if nothing else, been a predictable club. Since the Earthquakes’ resurrection in 2008, the team has delved back to its early days to try and plow forward. Frank Yallop and Dominic Kinnear each returned to the club to coach the team as did former player Chris Leitch. So it comes as a surprise then that . . .
New coach for the Earthquakes
The soccer news starts with Steve Ralston's run as interim coach at San Jose continuing through the end of the season. The Earthquakes announced on Monday the hiring of Matias Almeyda as their new coach for 2019. "Because we realized we could not hold this announcement for four weeks until the end of the season, we decided to announce the head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes today for the . . .
