By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - In 1975, Saturday Night Live poked fun at the hysteria around the movie "Jaws" with a skit called "Land Shark." The title character, dubbed "the cleverest of all sharks," able to "strike at any place, any time," preyed on apartment dwellers foolish enough to open the door when the creature knocked under false pretenses. At which . . .
Atlanta shuts out Houston, Revs win again
The soccer news starts with MLS games on the midweek schedule. Atlanta United shutout Houston 5-0 at home. The Dynamo went down a man in the 6th minute with a red card to Alberth Elis for violent conduct. Darlington Nagbe scored for Atlanta in the 27th minute with Brandon Vasquez making it 2-0 in the 29th. Josef Martinez scored in the 60th and 79th minutes with Julian Gressel adding a goal in the . . .
Aaron Long and the Red Bulls way
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 17, 2019) US Soccer Players - It’s that time of year when temperatures hit triple digits and the clubs across Major League Soccer face the question of whether to sell now, sell later, or sell not at all. The league's growing profile means a few things, many of them good. More spending means better players, which means a higher quality of play. That in turn also . . .
The new MLS playoff problem
By J Hutcherson (Jul 16, 2019) US Soccer Players - Judging good and bad in MLS has long been an issue. The playoffs haven't always helped. From 2002-04, only two teams missed out. It took multiple rounds of expansion to make the playoffs count. In 2010, half the league qualified. The league added two teams and two playoff spots the following season. MLS also couldn't help but tinker. In a nod to . . .
The early MLS Rookie of the Year candidates
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 15, 2019) US Soccer Players – MLS is a league that plays through FIFA international dates and major tournaments. Throw in a crowded schedule that includes the US Open Cup, and coaches learn quickly that rookies are instrumental to the success of any team. The need to rotate players makes the league one of the best in the world when it comes to giving young . . .
Concacaf throws a curve with new World Cup qualifying format
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 12, 2019) US Soccer Players - As the home to a few huge, powerful nations and a litany of far smaller and less wealthy ones, Concacaf has always faced a large and fairly unique challenge. The confederation's trickiest task is to help its giants grow and prosper in their pursuit of the world's elite while still respecting and elevating the many minnows in . . .
Taking the 2019 US Open Cup seriously
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 12, 2019) US Soccer Players - We've reached that point in the US Open Cup tournament when the trophy is close enough that everyone is taking it seriously. For the Major League Soccer clubs still standing, that means no more reserve-heavy lineups featuring players more likely to suit up for the USL affiliate on a given weekend than play in a topflight league . . .
Gio Dos Santos returns with Club America
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 10, 2019) US Soccer Players - Normally, if a Liga MX team signed a Mexican international who had spent his entire career abroad, the move would seem nothing short of genius. First of all, Mexicans typically start at home and emigrate to the Old World. Secondly, any Mexican player who can make a living abroad is likely someone who can step onto any Liga MX team . . .
The 2019 transfer season in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 10, 2019) US Soccer Players - The MLS summer transfer window opened Tuesday, with a small burst of fanfare. Only a handful of teams had deals ready to go when the day arrived. None of those deals will make a significant splash, though a few are of the Targeted Allocation Money variety. That means they involve signing players whose budget charge is above the . . .
Concacaf’s next move
By J Hutcherson (Jul 9, 2019) US Soccer Players - The final of the 2019 Gold Cup highlighted exactly what the organizers seem to want by design. Mexico vs the USMNT in a packed NFL stadium that ended with both teams looking like they could've taken the trophy. That it was the first time since 2011 that the bracket worked to advance the two biggest teams in the region is a success. So are all the . . .
