By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 18, 2022) US Soccer Players – When the United States defeated Mexico in World Cup Qualifying, the 2-0 win was very familiar. What wasn't familiar was the venue. Instead of Columbus, the US won in another Ohio city with a rabid fan base and MLS franchise. Cincinnati's TQL Stadium proved to be a wonderful place for such a key match. The US, however, returns to . . .
The evolution of LAFC
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 21, 2022) US Soccer Players - Soccer clubs are always in the business of selling. Fans aren't going to line up to see your team play if you tell them everything is bad. Even teams with no reasonable way to spin obvious failure will line their pitch with words of hope. For clubs that haven't lived up to expectations, the people who make the decisions have . . .
Inter Miami tries to find itself in year three
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 20, 2022) US Soccer Players - It was easy to set expectations for Major League Soccer's long-awaited return to South Florida. Bold and splashy, according to the conventional wisdom, with no room for the missteps that ultimately doomed the Miami Fusion back in the early 2000s. Glitz, glamour, and a centrally-located, suitable stadium almost became . . .
The Homegrown Player rule continues to work for MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 19, 2022) US Soccer Players - It's the season of signings in Major League Soccer. On Tuesday, Houston set a club record in a deal for 23-year-old Libertad forward Sebastian Ferreira. He arrives as a proven goalscorer in the Paraguayan Primera Division with the appropriate transfer fee. He's the latest in a series of moves where MLS clubs pay for the present . . .
The 4-3-3 in MLS
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 18, 2022) US Soccer Players – Major League Soccer is getting plenty of attention in recent weeks. The annual SuperDraft introduced a group of players who could follow recent examples of draft picks turning into key contributors. Ricardo Pepi and Daryl Dike are off to Europe in high-profile moves, adding to the wealth of American talent already there. Another . . .
What the transfer market may mean for the USL Championship
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 14, 2022) US Soccer Players - For most soccer fans, the transfer market and its many vagaries are part of the appeal of following the world's game. Tracking the rumors and intrigue that comes with the multi-million dollar moves that dominate headlines adds a dash of off-the-field drama to the events between the lines. Soccer has levels when it comes to its . . .
US Soccer circles back to the National Training Center concept
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 13, 2022) US Soccer Players - Like most of us, Gregg Berhalter tends to speak more expressively on topics he's passionate about. The LA Times' Kevin Baxter landed on one of those during Monday's USMNT media availability from the current January camp in Phoenix when he broached the recurring subject of a proposed training facility for US Soccer. "Kevin, you . . .
Jordan Morris and Aaron Long’s return to the USMNT
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 12, 2022) US Soccer Players - The USMNT's January camp includes two players fighting against bad timing. In December, Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris and New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long returned to the squad and are now part of the group training in Phoenix in advance of the next round of qualifiers. Both were in line to be major contributors in . . .
Building a competivive roster in MLS is not getting any easier
By J Hutcherson (Jan 11, 2022) US Soccer Players - Roster building in Major League Soccer is still a somewhat loose concept, working within the constraints of MLS budget rules but open to workarounds. Without a template, it becomes difficult to figure out what should work. For instance, Premier League clubs build rosters around total transfer spend. The more a club spends, the more likely it is to . . .
Getting the SuperDraft right always counts in MLS
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 10, 2022) US Soccer Players – The annual MLS SuperDraft that takes place on Tuesday will mark the unofficial start to the 2022 season. Once again, an expansion side will get the top spot with Charlotte FC making the #1 pick. For Charlotte, it's a chance to add a key player to their roster as the new franchise looks to compete in their debut season. Charlotte . . .
